pjbooks Chapter 116 Eating the Dependent Offspring
Chapter 116 Eating the Dependent Offspring
"So, you mean the root of the problem might lie in this Songhe Trading Company!" Xiao Jiale reiterated.
"Yes!" Zhou Yang nodded. "What do you think?"
"Me?" Xiao Jiale was taken aback. He had to admit that although Zhou Yang's analysis sounded a bit forced, his school teacher had said that cases were often bolder than novels and more unexpected.
"I think it's worth a try!" Xiao Jiale, adhering to the principle of joining if you can't win an argument or a competition, also expressed his opinion.
Liu Chengyu took a deep breath, looked at the completely dark sky, and shoved his cigarette butt against the wall: "Tomorrow, take Fang Duo with you, and investigate as you wish!"
Xiao Jiale opened his mouth, intending to ask to join, but considering that they were both trainee police officers and to avoid Songhe Trading using this as leverage, he ultimately remained silent.
The next morning, Fang Duo drove Zhou Yang to Xiangmanyuan Community.
This time, he chose to go directly to the door and knocked on the door of the house opposite Lü Cuicui's, which was the Su family's house.
After a question was asked, a woman who looked to be in her thirties opened the door: "Who are you?"
"We're from the city's criminal investigation team. We're here to ask Grandpa Su about the situation. Who are you?" Fang Duo asked, showing her identification and looking at the room full of people.
After a long introduction, they were all relatives and friends of Old Su, including his older sister, cousin, uncle, and so on, with all sorts of titles.
The inquiry did not go smoothly. Firstly, these people kept interrupting and liked to offer their opinions, and secondly, they always liked to refute others.
After a fierce battle with Zhou Yang, Fang Duo and her companion finally got into the car with Lao Su and headed to Su Yang's former residence.
"Old man, that's impressive!" In the car, Zhou Yang jokingly looked at Old Su: "I was wondering why you were banging on people's doors so hard before, wasn't that part of your plan too?"
Fang Duo was driving, seemingly unaware of what was going on, but occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror.
"What can I do? I really have mental problems. When they buzz around, I feel like my brain is going to explode, and I forget what I'm doing!" Old Su shook his head and gave a bitter smile.
"Could you tell me about that suicide note?"
Old Su's voice was low and deep: "Just like I said,... when I saw... Qiangqiang's terrible condition, my whole mind went blank, and when I opened my eyes again, I was in the hospital."
"They said it was during my episode that I insisted on burning Qiangqiang's suicide note!" the old man said, a look of anger on his face. "Do they think I'm stupid? I didn't even read my own son's suicide note before they let it be burned. It's ridiculous!"
"Didn't you see?" Zhou Yang frowned. According to the local police station, they had verified that everything was fine, so why would they destroy it? Was someone deliberately hiding something? Or was it really Old Su's madness that prompted the destruction?
The institute should have information on suicide notes; Zhou Yang will look for them if he deems it necessary.
"Squeak."
Old Su opened the door, and sunlight streamed through the window, revealing swirling dust particles.
Zhou Yang looked around and sat down in front of Old Su: "Uncle Su, could you tell me about your relatives?"
Before, he thought those people might be concerned about Old Su losing his son in his old age, out of kinship, but after seeing this house, he no longer thought so.
"Found it?" Old Su gave a bitter smile: "This was originally the color TV Qiangqiang bought, over there was a large stereo system, and here was an air conditioner... those people sold them all!"
Fang Duo's eyes widened as she looked at Zhou Yang: "You agree?"
"Me?" Old Su pointed to himself: "Am I crazy? I agree!"
"How dare they do that?!" Fang Duo was speechless.
"They said I said it, then they said I said it when I was having an episode, and finally they even said they were involved in Qiangqiang's tuition fees..." Although Lao Su said it with a smile, Zhou Yang could still hear the anger in his words.
Zhou Yang had heard a term called "eating the childless," which must be what this refers to.
"They're too impatient. If I die, all of this will be theirs, but they're too eager!" Old Su's eyes reddened as he spoke. "They call themselves relatives, but they can't wait for me to die!"
Zhou Yang and Fang Duo exchanged a glance, but neither offered any words of comfort.
"You said you went with your relative to deal with... Su Qiang's matter, but you don't remember anything after that?" Zhou Yang tried to ask, hoping to find a breakthrough.
Old Su shook his head: "I'm not making excuses, it's just that the doctor said I have some kind of stress disorder... dissociative hysteria..."
Zhou Yang fell silent. The old man was probably referring to stress disorder or conversion disorder. This condition can cause symptoms such as separation of consciousness from the person, slow reaction to the surroundings, and obstructed thoughts. In severe cases, it can even lead to mental 'shutdown'!
"How long has it been since you last took your medication?" Fang Duo asked.
Old Su was taken aback, his eyes glazed over for a long time, then he shook his head: "I don't remember, it must have been a long time ago!"
...In the old house, apart from the old man's memories, Zhou Yang and his companion did not find many clues. The house was larger than Xiang Manyuan's, but it looked unusually empty.
"Do you remember the name He Zhuang?" Zhou Yang asked as soon as Old Su locked the door.
"Oh, that young man, I know him, he's kind of a friend of Qiangqiang." The old man walked downstairs. "I remember he really liked Qiangqiang's sound system. By the way, I didn't see it in the house just now; it must have been sold by Qiangqiang's relatives!"
Good grief, I've already forgotten what I just said.
"Has Su Qiang sold his car yet?" Fang Duo asked casually as she came downstairs.
"A car?" Old Su was taken aback. "What car? Did Qiangqiang buy a car? Isn't that a government vehicle?"
Fang Duo was also stunned. Didn't Lao Su say before that Su Qiang bought a house and a car? Why is he denying it now?
It seems that the illness is indeed quite serious.
"Where do we go next?" Fang Duo asked Zhou Yang as she drove Lao Su to his apartment complex, starting the car.
"Songhe Trading!" Zhou Yang found a suitable spot and pulled himself up to the overhead ring.
Qiao Songnian, this name is not unfamiliar to Zhou Yang, whether in his past life or this one. In Ning'an in the 90s, he was a representative of the grassroots success story.
With just a bicycle and two baskets, he started his business. Despite his low level of education, he relied on his indomitable spirit to gradually grow his small company from a tiny square meter to a leading enterprise in Ning'an.
Fortunately for Zhou Yang, he hadn't heard of the other party's downfall in his previous life.
But now, he is almost certain that Songhe Trading Co., Ltd. is inextricably linked to Su Qiang's death. There is no evidence, just a gut feeling, the experience of an old criminal police officer over decades.
He even had a vague suspicion that the person who hired the murderer might be someone from this company.
Could it be related to Qiao Songnian?