Chapter 782: Grudges Among Relatives

Song Lang said, “In that case, let’s investigate the shop ourselves!”

He Jun looked reluctant, “The shop contains valuable items. If you start rummaging around, and something goes missing, how will I explain it to Jingjing when she returns?”

Song Lang smiled, “You just tell her that the police came with a search warrant.” Song Lang pulled out a document stamped with a red seal, leaving He Jun speechless.

The art appraisal expert examined the paintings and calligraphy in the cabinet. Song Lang picked up several account books and asked Lin Qiupu about the mathematics. Lin Qiupu replied, “I never make mistakes with accounts.”

Song Lang asked He Jun to open the safe and verify the cash inside. After a while, they confirmed that around 1.3 million in cash was missing from the safe. He Jun muttered, “I didn’t take this money. Maybe Jingjing used it.”

Song Lang looked at him with a cold smile, “We were here that night too. Jingjing couldn’t open the safe, only you could.”

“I later told her the password. Since Uncle He isn’t here, she’s in charge now…”

“Don’t pretend!” Under Song Lang’s sharp gaze, He Jun had to admit, “After Uncle He passed away, I took 300,000. But that money was rightfully mine.”

“Just 300,000?”

“Just 300,000. How could I take 1.3 million? Am I crazy?”

Observing his expression, Song Lang concluded this time he wasn’t lying. Before his death, He Taiyang indeed withdrew 1 million in cash, possibly for another purpose. This money might have been taken by the murderer.

The art appraisal expert found the painting, spread it on the table, and carefully examined it with a magnifying glass. Everyone in the room awaited the results.

After a long examination, the art expert said, “This painting is authentic, never tampered with.”

“Nonsense! Uncle He had it tampered with. This is just one of them. Your skills are just for show,” He Jun remarked.

“Young man, let me teach you something. Not every piece of paper can be split. It must be double silk for that. This painting is on single silk, very thin. How could it be split?” He Jun faltered and looked extremely embarrassed.

“Linxian, bring that book.” Song Lang asked Lin Qiupu for an account book, opened it, and found that on June 14th, a customer pawned a Qing Dynasty ink painting for 500,000 in cash, under the name “老人家”.

Song Lang wondered who this mysterious person was, as all the pawnshop owners dared not mention his name.

Then, on June 25th, “老人家” redeemed the painting.

Song Lang approached He Jun, staring into his eyes. “Wasn’t this painting already redeemed? Why is it still here? What did He Taiyang do to it?”

“Uncle He always wanted this painting. He previously bought a fake and kept it at home, thinking it was real. Only when the genuine one surfaced did he realize his mistake. He might have developed a greed for it, exchanged the fake for the real, and redeemed the fake. After I found out, I advised Uncle not to do this. Offending that ‘老人家’ would make it hard for him to stay in Long’an. So…”

“So what? Did he apologize to him?”

“I… I thought he returned the painting. I don’t know why it’s still here. Maybe the expert made a mistake.”

“Why did you initially claim the original painting was split?”

Frustrated, He Jun replied, “I don’t know! I don’t know! This was all Uncle He’s doing. I’m not sure about the details. Besides, does this have anything to do with the case?”

With a cold smile, Song Lang said, “He Jun, since we arrived, you haven’t spoken a single truth. I heard you and He Taiyang had a bad relationship. He even considered hiring a hitman to take you out. Here’s what I think happened: you swapped the paintings, trying to frame someone else. You knew the one in the shop was real, so to cover your lie, you fabricated the story about the swapped painting.”

He Jun sweated profusely, stammering, “Defamation… He Taiyang was my uncle. Even with a few disagreements, it wouldn’t come to this.”

“Captain!” Lin Qiupu suddenly shouted.

Underneath He Taiyang’s office desk glass were several photos, including one of He Jun wearing sunglasses, holding a dagger while peeling an apple. Lin Qiupu pointed at the knife, “Captain, isn’t this the murder weapon?”

“What are you talking about! What murder weapon! Do you suspect me of murder?” He Jun panicked.

Song Lang smiled at him, “Where were you on September 2nd?”

“Don’t you have an alibi? I was at a nearby bar, drinking and chatting with a woman.”

“Do you have her contact details?”

“I didn’t ask, nor do I know her name. But ask the bartender; he can confirm I was there. It’s the Flying Bar nearby!”

“He Jun, I’m summoning you now. Let’s continue this conversation at the station.”

He Jun frowned, saying defiantly, “A clear conscience fears no accusation!”

Song Lang asked Lin Qiupu to investigate the bar and gave him some money. He could take a taxi back to the station once he was done, or go home, as he saw fit.

He Jun was taken to the interrogation room. Song Lang lifted the murder weapon from the evidence bag and said, “Do you recognize this knife?”

Seeing the blood on the knife, He Jun suddenly widened his eyes, “I didn’t kill anyone!”

“I’m asking you about this knife!” Song Lang snapped.

He Jun’s head dropped, “I bought this knife while traveling in the northwest. I’ve had it for many years. I only used it to peel apples and meat, never harmed anyone.”

Song Lang inspected the sharp knife. It seemed recently sharpened. His phone rang, and after answering, he said on speaker, “Linxian, tell me what you found.”

He then put it on speakerphone. Lin Qiupu said, “The bar staff don’t remember He Jun being there that night, and there’s no CCTV footage. I asked a few customers; they don’t know him either.”

He Jun immediately erupted, “For such a life-or-death matter, how could they not remember? I swear to God, I was really drinking that night! If I lie, let me be struck down by lightning!”

“Alright!” Song Lang hung up. “Lack of an alibi and murder aren’t always connected. Now, tell me honestly about your previous dealings with He Taiyang. Don’t lie to me again. Only the truth can save you!”

He Jun lowered his head, hesitatingly said, “When I was released from prison, I couldn’t find a job. It was Uncle He who took me in. His business needed a bodyguard and debt collector, and I had brothers on the street. But that old man He Taiyang was so stingy, always finding ways to deduct my money. Whenever I brought up money matters, he’d talk about ‘blood is thicker than water’, ‘why divide what’s already mine’, ‘what’s mine is yours’, to brush me off. I worked for him collecting debts over these years, and now he’s living it up while I still don’t even have a house. Two years ago, He Taiyang offended someone and got beaten up by a bunch of hoodlums on the way out. He spent three weeks in the hospital. When I visited him, he actually asked if it was me who did it. Have you ever seen such a despicable person?”