Chapter 522: The Whole Family Together

Zhang Hao’s smile sent chills down Lin Dongxue and Chen Shi’s spines.

He continued, “When I accidentally killed my father, I thought how much easier it would be if he were a dog. Then I could just bag his body and dump it in the trash. I dealt with his corpse the same way I dealt with my grandfather’s: threw away the organs, ground the meat into meatballs, burned the bones to make sure there was no smell. I then disposed of his bones in the outskirts in batches…”

Lin Dongxue interrupted him, “Do you remember the specific locations?”

Zhang Hao shook his head, “I only remember some of them. I disposed of the remains at night. As I said before, I have no remorse for killing him. I told my wife he went out for a walk and never came back. We printed missing person flyers but hardly posted them. By then, he wasn’t involved in the shop, and given his personality, he didn’t have friends. No one questioned his disappearance for a long time, except my uncle who suspected something. Instead of going to the police, he used it to blackmail me.”

“Did you give him money?”

“Yes, sometimes a few thousand, sometimes a few hundred. In total, around twenty thousand. But he was insatiable, constantly asking for more until I couldn’t stand it anymore. My shop doesn’t use beef extract; I bought it to kill him and Zhang Kui. As long as they’re alive, I can’t live in peace. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to use it…” Zhang Hao shook his head as if regretting it.

“So, when you told me Zhang Kui was being hunted by gangsters who threatened to kill his whole family, you were setting the stage?” Chen Shi asked.

Zhang Hao laughed, “You noticed.”

“By the way, this old shop won’t be open anymore, right?”

“The recipe is a family secret. Without us, no one can replicate the taste. But it’s better this way. This family was my life’s nightmare. I hope my son can live a normal life and that he won’t hit his children…” Zhang Hao wiped away a tear.

“Did you always know your grandfather’s bones were in the shop?” Lin Dongxue asked.

“Actually, my father had bought a basement. He hid the bones there. Later, when the basement was demolished, I moved the bones here, planning to dispose of them bit by bit, but never got the chance.”

“What exactly is your shop’s recipe? Spices? Or, like the rumors, poppy seeds?” Chen Shi asked, knowing it was inappropriate but curious as a cooking enthusiast.

“Chili peppers.”

“Chili peppers?”

“Yes, the taste of chili peppers is addictive. We use several types to create our flavor. The exact recipe is a family secret.”

“I see.”

The interrogation ended. The police took Zhang Hao to the dumping sites and recovered some of Zhang Fade’s remains. The rest were too scattered to retrieve.

As for his uncle Zhang Farong, he was brought in for questioning after Zhang Hao’s confession mentioned the extortion. During his interrogation, in a panic, he revealed his son’s misdeeds, resulting in both father and son being imprisoned, reuniting the whole family in jail.

A week later, Chen Shi and Lin Dongxue visited Zhang Ji Noodle Shop. Surprisingly, the shop had already been transferred. As a well-established business with a great reputation, it was quickly taken over once Zhang Hao’s wife listed it online.

The shop still bore the “Zhang Ji Noodle” sign, though with a new chef, and was bustling with customers in the morning. Chen Shi ordered two bowls of beef meatball noodles, took a sip of the soup, and said, “The taste is too ordinary, not nearly as good as before.”

Lin Dongxue replied, “I actually find it more palatable now. It was too salty and spicy before.”

“This taste won’t keep the old customers. I won’t be coming back.”

Lin Dongxue glanced at the stairs inside the shop, “Do people still live upstairs?”

“Want to check it out?”

“No… I suddenly remembered Zhang Hao crying and hugging his wife yesterday when he was taken to the detention center. That family is now scattered.”

“This time, the kid was the hero.”

“Hmph, you heartless guy!”

“I’m saying it was inevitable for Zhang Hao to end up here. Growing up in an abusive household, he became the source of abuse. Parents don’t realize the lasting impact of their actions. Kids remember the beatings more than the kindness. It reminds me that parents often forget they were once children too.”

“You’re quite sentimental this time.”

“Well,” Chen Shi smiled, “Thinking about it, I’m not ready to be a parent. We should just stay child-free.”

“Is that a roundabout proposal? What about your family’s opinion?”

Chen Shi suddenly remembered a complicated matter. Song Lang was an orphan, but now, under Chen Shi’s identity, he had acquired parents. The DNA test had already confirmed their “blood relationship.”

Receiving the benefits means taking on the responsibility. Perhaps it was time to visit his “parents”…