Chen Xiao brought Lin Xi to Changlong Village.
Walking through the village, they soon arrived outside Lian Yuhong's house.
Looking at the tightly closed door, Lin Xi clutched Chen Xiao's arm and asked:
"Judging from your words, the case from twelve years ago seems highly challenging. Have you decided where to begin?"
Chen Xiao glanced at the villagers coming and going in Changlong Village and shook his head:
"There's no particularly good thod right now. The only thing we can do is start investigating from the interpersonal relationships at the ti."
"Is there no usable information in the old case files?"
Chen Xiao thought for a mont without answering, instead bringing up another case:
"When I went to Qingxi to investigate the Xiaofeng Village case, I studied the case files over and over, but in the end, I forgot everything in the files. Do you know why I did that?"
Lin Xi was puzzled.
Chen Xiao smiled and said: "I'm not sure if my feeling is right, but ever since I got involved in criminal investigation, I've found that personal views and understanding of a case are crucial. For the Xiaofeng Village case, the reason I tried to forget the contents of the case files was not because of anything else but to forget Captain Zhang, Captain Yue, and Captain Liu's views on the case."
"I feel that once those views are deeply rembered, they can influence my judgnt in many instances. Of course, solving cases often requires suggestions from many people."
"So when facing the Yang Lake Phantom case, I want to forget Elder Xie's investigation, just rembering the characters within. Then, I want to try a completely new direction for the investigation."
Lin Xi understood: "It seems Elder Guo ntioned to
that you were the first to suggest no longer treating Guo Ning as a central figure in the investigation, right?"
"Yes, that's why I'm thinking about the Yang Lake Phantom case, wondering whether I should make Xie Yan a key figure in the investigation."
Lin Xi's eyes widened: "That's not very logical, is it?"
"It's indeed illogical, Xie Yan himself was a police officer in the investigation. Because the case happened, he entered the investigation, so no matter how you think about it, he shouldn't be the focus of this case, but..."
Chen Xiao turned the conversation: "However, if my hypothesis about a connection between Lian Da, Zhu Mao, Chang Guan, and Xie Yan is correct, then he can be made a key figure in the investigation."
"So you're suggesting that the death of Lian Da, Zhu Mao, and Chang Guan could be a case targeting Xie Yan? But wasn't Xie Yan about to retire at the ti?"
Chen Xiao couldn't explain this issue either, and he laughed:
"It's just a direction that no one has ever tried, as for the conventional investigation direction, I think Elder Xie actually did very well."
"Although the forensic techniques were limited 12 years ago, from the case files, I sensed the elder's rich experience in criminal investigation, which implies his investigation was not wrong. If it wasn't wrong, why get stuck in the suicide and couldn't get out? The reason can only be one thing, and that is not to use conventional thods to check."
"Not even using conventional thinking!"
"Then did you discuss this idea with Captain Xie Wensheng?" Lin Xi asked.
Chen Xiao smiled and shook his head: "This was a thought that suddenly ca to
when you arrived."
"What does it have to do with ?"
"Under normal circumstances, you should be in Dongzhou now. But because of a sentence I said, you happened to see tickets available, so you ca to accompany
abnormally!"
Lin Xi snorted: "Accompanying you is abnormal! Hmph, and you still manage to think about the case after seeing , seems like I'm not that important."
"I admit I'm wrong!"
"What's wrong?"
"Whatever it is, it's wrong, but I must explain, I only thought about it after everything was done!"
"Done your head! You don't know how I feel like I'm about to fall apart."
Although complaining, Lin Xi held Chen Xiao's arm even tighter.
Chen Xiao smiled, looked ahead, and said: "Let's head back to the car first; I'll take you on a walk to Captain Xie's old ho."
Lin Xi nodded and followed Chen Xiao, getting into the car together and going to Xie Wensheng's old ho.
The latter's old residence was uninhabited, but there were still quite a few people in the village.
After arriving at the location, Chen Xiao said: "Do you know why I brought you here?"
Lin Xi thought for a mont, then replied: "The case happened around here, the victims were from this area, and even the investigators were from this area. If analyzed solely from this point of view, hubby... focusing on Xie Yan makes a lot of sense!"
Saying this, Lin Xi's gaze turned to Yang Lake sparkling with sunlight in the distance, and she said seriously:
"If we can find out whether anything big happened around here twelve years ago, it would be even better for the investigation!"
Chen Xiao looked at Lin Xi, feeling shocked by her growth.
"No wonder Captain Zhang and Sister Liang say you're a lucky star!"
Lin Xi giggled: "Are you shocked by the speed at which your wife's growing?"
Chen Xiao nodded unabashedly; Lin Xi laughed and scolded: "Dummy, it's because I'm your wife, you're so outstanding now, I don't want to hold you back."
Chen Xiao smiled without pursuing the issue further.
He took out his phone and made a call to Xie Wensheng, asking him to send over a key.
Xie Wensheng did not refuse and sent the key to Chen Xiao imdiately.
Chen Xiao took the key, unlocked the door, and upon entering the clean old house, Lin Xi couldn't help but say:
"Captain Xie's family must love cleanliness, right?"
"Yes, I've t Ye Suzhi, the old lady, she's also a clean-loving elder."
Lin Xi answered, but looking at the empty old house, she couldn't help asking: "The old house is so empty, not much left, what are you hoping to find?"
"Not looking for anything specific; after leaving here, I'll visit the nursing ho later to check Xie Yan's belongings."
Lin Xi remained silent, while Chen Xiao began observing in the living room.
This was his second visit, but the first was at night, and the lighting was poor.
Observing during the day, Chen Xiao paid particular attention to the walls and the marks on the old furniture that hadn't been moved.
These marks helped Chen Xiao understand Xie Yan's previous life.
Having finished observing the living room, Chen Xiao moved to Xie Yan and Ye Suzhi's bedroom.
Aside from a wooden bed, there wasn't even a wardrobe in the bedroom, almost entirely empty.
Chen Xiao continued to observe everything in the bedroom as before.
However, as he looked, he noticed so scratches on the left side of the wooden bed!
Seeing him staring at the bed edge, Lin Xi couldn't help coming over. Seeing the scratches, she curiously said:
"These marks look like they're made by fingernails, and with so many marks, it seems like the person sleeping on this side was experiencing so kind of agony."
As soon as Lin Xi's words fell, Chen Xiao imdiately called Xie Wensheng.
"Hey, Captain Xie, has the left side of the wooden bed in your parents' bedroom always been where the elder slept?"
Xie Wensheng replied: "Yes."
"Then what's up with the scratches on the bed edge!"
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