Ning Shaobai put the baseball cap back on Xia Mian’s head, his voice a bit cold as he looked at Chief Gao. “Her hair was burned off in the fire.”
“What’s going on? Isn’t he a suspect? Why hasn’t he been arrested?”
Seeing Ning Shaobai, Chief Gao’s displeased expression immediately turned into an ingratiating smile. “It’s not confirmed yet. When we went to arrest him, the main suspect turned out to be Huang Xiaojun.”
When Huang Xiaojun heard his name mentioned, he cried out in panic, “No, it’s not me! I was just lying at home, and you suddenly burst in and arrested me. Why on earth would I set fire to someone’s home? Why would I want to kill them?!”
Officer Ding shouted, “Shut up! Why were you at Zhang’s house if you were lying at home? Did you go out in the middle of the night?”
Huang Xiaojun paused for a moment, then continued to proclaim his innocence.
Ning Shaobai’s tone grew even colder as he inquired again, “What do you mean?”
Chief Gao replied, “As far as I know, Huang Xiaojuan was sent to the police station twice because of Xia Mian and Xiao Feng’s issues, and Huang Xiaojun’s other sister Huang Xiaoxia also lost her job.”
“Although Huang Xiaojuan was released after the truth was clarified, her mental state was very poor. Huang Xiaojun, feeling sorry for his sister, naturally harbored resentment.”
Seeing that the police were really treating him as a murderer, Huang Xiaojun anxiously exclaimed, “I didn’t do it! Today, it was Zhang Qiming who invited me for a drink. He got drunk and said his watch was worth three or four hundred, and I got tempted and took it. Because I was afraid he would find out, I ran out to hide it overnight.”
“When I returned, he was no longer in the living room. I thought he had gone to rest, but soon after, you all came rushing in to arrest me!”
Facing a critical life-or-death moment, Huang Xiaojun suddenly had a flash of insight, “It was him! Zhang Qiming had long planned to kill them, so he set up a trap to frame me!”
“Shut up!” Chief Gao shouted, then turned to Ning Shaobai, smiling friendly, “Sir, you indeed reported Zhang Qiming for arson, but he had no reason. That child is his son.”
Xia Mian sneered, “You didn’t even investigate and just say there’s no reason? Are police now solving cases only based on reasoning rather than evidence?”
Chief Gao was, after all, the chief of this station. Hearing Xia Mian’s sarcasm, his face darkened, “Even a fierce tiger will not eat its cubs. Why would Zhang Qiming want to kill his own son?”
“But you, little girl, have repeatedly framed the Zhang family. This is a serious case, you can’t mess around!”
At this moment, Zhang Qiming also recovered and echoed, “Yes, Xiao Feng is my biological son, how could I want to kill him?”
“Why not?” A loud, righteous voice came from the doorway. Everyone turned to see a square-faced man in plain clothes walking in, his tall and sturdy figure exuding an air of righteousness. The newcomer pulled out an ID from his pocket and showed it to Chief Gao, “Huo Changsong, captain of the Provincial Criminal Investigation Team.”
Chief Gao’s attitude instantly changed, “Hello, Captain Huo, I’ve heard so much about you. How did such a small case alarm you?”
Huo Changsong, obviously not one for small talk, said directly, “Zhang Qiming and Gao Yongfeng are suspected of premeditated murder and insurance fraud. This case involves a significant amount of money and is horrendous in nature. Henceforth, it will be managed by our investigation team.”
Xia Mian’s eyes widened, “Is it my sister’s case? Did he kill my sister?”
Huo Changsong replied, “We also found the accidental insurance policy he took out on Zhang Yufeng.”
Ning Shaobai quickly covered Xiao Feng’s ears and hugged the child in his arms.
“Zhang Yufeng…” Xia Mian was stunned for a moment before reacting, her tone suddenly rising, “Xiao Feng?!” Xia Mian felt a chill run up from her feet, making her shiver even on such a hot day.
So Zhang Qiming’s next target wasn’t Huang Xiaojun at all, but Xiao Feng?!
In an instant, everything became clear.
Zhang Qiming’s attitude towards Xiao Feng was so strange not because he saw the boy as an enemy, but as a tool, an object that could be exchanged for money!
Whether Xiao Feng was injured or died due to Huang Xiaojun’s abuse, he could receive a large sum of compensation!
Xia Mian recalled Xiao Feng’s experiences in the book. He was indeed burned and disfigured as a child, so Zhang Qiming must have used that to claim insurance money. This time, it was clear that Zhang Qiming wanted to kill Xiao Feng. Had she not stayed awake and discovered his action in time…
Xia Mian suddenly rushed towards Zhang Qiming, who was being supported by Officer Ding, her eyes filled with fury, “Beast! I’ll beat you to death!”
Officer Ding instinctively moved to block her, but Liu Hong grabbed his arm, “Didn’t you hear? This case is now under the criminal investigation team.”
With that brief distraction, Xia Mian managed to get hold of Zhang Qiming. She repeatedly showered him with punches and kicks, aiming where it would hurt the most.
Zhang Qiming’s expression had changed the moment Huo Changsong mentioned the insurance policy. There was no longer any smugness on his face. As he desperately tried to evade Xia Mian’s hit, he shouted, “Stop hitting me! Stop hitting me! I didn’t kill anyone! How could I possibly be a murderer?”
“That’s enough.” Ning Shaobai stepped forward to pull Xia Mian away, “Don’t interfere with the criminal investigation.”
Xia Mian’s eyes were red. With anger burning inside her, she kept glaring at Zhang Qiming, his face covered in blood, desiring nothing more than to unleash her fury and beat him to death.
Ning Shaobai gripped her shoulders firmly, “Xia Mian, calm down! The best punishment for him is to expose his crimes to the world, to let everyone see his vile and ugly nature, and to let him die in disgrace.”
“No, no, that’s not true.” Zhang Qiming was thoroughly panicked now, his voice cracking as he spat out two teeth. Losing all his previous composure, he shouted desperately, his face contorted with panic, “What are you talking about? Murder? Insurance fraud? I didn’t kill anyone! How could I kill anyone?”
He looked up at Chief Gao, “Chief Gao, you can’t let them take me away. Chief Gao, you…”
“Shut up!” Chief Gao’s face was livid as he cautiously watched Huo Changsong’s reaction.
However, Huo Changsong showed no expression, merely gesturing with his chin towards Zhang Qiming. Immediately, two men stepped forward and handcuffed him.
Zhang Qiming clung to the table in a panic, babbling incoherently, “I didn’t kill anyone! You can’t just arrest people like this! This is illegal! I’ll sue you! Chief Gao, you have to save me! Save me! Xia Mian! You’re framing me!”
Chief Gao was drenched in cold sweat from his shouting.
Xia Mian looked at Zhang Qiming coldly and mouthed something.
When Zhang Qiming saw this, he froze for a moment before suddenly going berserk, “It’s you! It’s you, Xia Mian! Kill you! I will kill you!”
“Ah!!!!!!” Zhang Qiming was completely losing his mind now, his face contorted and his eyes red as he kept screaming uncontrollably. Whether it was out of fury, fear, or regret, only he knew.
But what difference did it make? Even if he knew who had taken the stamp away, could he dare to say it? Not to mention the stamp rightfully belonged to Xia Mian via her mother, if he admitted it, it would add another layer to his motive of killing Xia Chun and the attempted murder of Xia Mian, and his sentence would be even harsher. He would only die quicker!
Nevertheless, Xia Mian was determined to push Zhang Qiming to the deepest hell. Even in death, he must never rest in peace!
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