Chen Xiao thought Old Chen was overthinking.
Perhaps his concern was clouding his judgnt.
Though he and Lin Xi also had their doubts, Old Chen definitely wouldn't be mistaken, as he personally sent Uncle Wan De off on the train.
But whether it's Wan De or not, it still requires professional forensic identification. After all, with a skull involved, age estimation and subsequent family identification can be done.
"Dad, you should go out first. The county bureau's forensic is already here, and they'll do an identification later."
Old Chen nodded but didn't leave: "I'll talk to Officer Huang. When the stone lions were placed at Chen Yuan's ho, he asked for my help. I know so things."
Chen Xiao was a bit surprised.
He didn't have mories related to that, but thinking back to 1991, he was only eight years old.
The matter of placing stone lions at Chen Yuan's ho naturally couldn't compare to the vivid mory of being chased around the village by Chen Yuan.
Old Chen went into the house and began recounting to Chen Ding the origins of the stone lions back then:
"The lions were requested by a fortune teller your dad consulted back then. He said placing two stone lions at the entrance would make your ho prosper. But that fortune teller passed away a couple of years ago, and even the craftsman who made the lions has passed on."
Officer Huang was surprised: "They all passed away?"
"Only the fortune teller and the craftsman of the stone lions passed away. The old stone workshop is now the stone carving factory in our town. There should still be old craftsn there."
Old Chen was explaining the situation back then.
After Officer Huang took notes, he looked at Chen Xiao.
But Chen Xiao had already turned his head away, as if observing sothing.
In reality, Chen Xiao wasn't looking at anything. Though he was pondering the case, not much of the case details ca to mind at the mont.
He wasn't in a position to express any opinions at this mont.
Officer Huang understood his aning and thanked Old Chen before walking out of the room directly.
Seeing this, Chen Ding said in a confused manner, "Chen Xiao, let's not talk about past grievances. I really dare to swear on anything that our family truly knows nothing about this incident!"
Saying this, Chen Ding's mind shifted: "No, it must have been that craftsman who made the stone lions. After he killed soone, not knowing how to dispose of the body, he hid it inside the stone lion!"
Feeling Chen Ding's panicked emotions, Chen Xiao spoke up: "Calm down. There is too little known about the situation now, and it's hard to conclude anything definitively."
Chen Ding wanted to say sothing more, but his elderly mother ca out of the room, unable to restrain herself as she said anxiously: "What's it an by it's hard to conclude, I think... "
"Mom, who let you co out!"
Fortunately, Chen Ding was clear-headed and promptly stopped his confused mother.
She felt sowhat wronged, and combined with her inherent sadness, tears flowed profusely.
Chen Ding frowned and scolded angrily, "What's the use of crying? Can crying bring Dad back? Now there is a ss to deal with. If it weren't for Chen Xiao being here, I would have been taken away by the police for investigation. I warn all of you, whoever speaks disrespectfully to Chen Xiao and Uncle Lie again, don't bla
for being rude!"
In the Chen Yuan family branch, Chen Ding still had so authority.
Everyone else lowered their heads. Chen Ding wanted to apologize to Chen Xiao and Old Chen, but Chen Xiao shook his head: "From now on, just cooperate with the police. If you encounter any problems, as long as you're in the right, you can call ."
"Alright, thank you very much."
Chen Xiao didn't say much more and left Chen Yuan's house with Old Chen.
Back at the stone lions outside, the county bureau's detectives had already used tools to cut open the stone lions.
No human bones or visible remains were found in the cut-open section of the stone lions.
Chen Xiao glanced at it and said to Lin Xi: "Let's go too. The county bureau's police will investigate."
Lin Xi seed a bit surprised: "Aren't you interested?"
"Of course I'm interested since it's happening right in front of us. But many things are still in the investigation phase. Let's wait until Captain Li and the others have clarified so things."
Lin Xi understood his aning and followed Chen Xiao back ho.
Upon returning ho, Old Chen quietly went back to work.
Even Mom spoke much less than usual.
Chen Xiao understood that their emotions were complex right now, so he took Lin Xi for a stroll elsewhere in the village.
While walking, Chen Xiao chatted with Lin Xi.
The two of them tacitly avoided talking about anything related to the case. When they ran into people in the village, Lin Xi would greet them proactively, bringing a round of complints from the villagers.
After wandering around, Lin Xi, with her arm linked through Chen Xiao's, rested her face on his shoulder and said:
"Husband, living in the countryside is really so pleasant."
Chen Xiao smiled: "It really is nice; the tranquility is good for the spirit."
"Yeah, and both Mom and Dad love . I feel even if I weren't a police officer, they would still treat
like a treasure."
Chen Xiao pinched Lin Xi's nose: "That's because you're also doing a great job. One-sided kindness never lasts long."
"Hmph, you know how to talk. But, should we talk a bit about the case now while we're walking back ho?"
"What's there to talk about? Regarding the skull in the stone lion, my dad thinks it could be Uncle Wan De," Chen Xiao ntioned.
Lin Xi wasn't surprised. When they first saw the skull, she and Chen Xiao exchanged glances filled with that suspicion.
"Do you think it could be possible?"
Chen Xiao frowned: "I'm not sure, but if Dad's dream was any sort of on, then I'm definitely worried. If that skull really is Uncle Wan De, he might not be able to handle it."
"Yeah, but I have a feeling that the skull inside the stone lion will lead to a very complicated case. After all, the skull could only have been placed inside when the lion was being cast, aning the case is at least a decade old."
"That's right, the investigation will surely be very difficult. And if the county bureau finds
later, this case will be the first true unsolved mystery I've encountered!"
Major cases, serious cases, and unsolved mysteries—such slight differences in terminology hold entirely different anings.
Cases pending resolution are naturally terd as unsolved mysteries.
Chen Xiao had no experience in investigating unsolved mysteries, nor did Lin Xi.
While walking along, Chen Xiao thought for a mont and said: "Let's not waste our effort now. Case investigation has to continue after the victim's identity is clarified. Furthermore, the craftsman from back then has passed away, which will add to the difficulty."
"So let's enjoy this holiday first and deal with it afterward."
Lin Xi replied with a heavy "hmm," just as Mom called to say it was ti for dinner.
When they returned ho, the table was already set with dishes.
But neither Old Chen nor Mom had much of an appetite.
They had stayed in the village, and the re sight of Chen Yuan's plight had already been enough to leave them struggling for a while.
It was only Chen Xiao and Lin Xi, accustod to bloody scenes, who ate and drank unaffected.
After dinner, Old Chen took Chen Xiao and Lin Xi to the wild riverbank to fish.
Old Chen had been fishing at that wild spot for so ti, claiming that if one arrived late, it would be hard to secure a good fishing spot and that there were huge fish in the wild river!
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