Chapter 368: A Long Journey

Xu Xiaodong said, “Chen, Zheng Zhifei’s home is in a small village hundreds of kilometers away. Are we really going to arrest him there? Plus, we don’t even have an arrest warrant yet.”

Chen Shi pondered, “The Third Team won’t help, so we’ll have to go ourselves.”

At that moment, Peng Siyue approached. “You’re causing quite a stir again. Is offending people that fun?”

“I have to blame Captain Lin for this. If he hadn’t given the case to the Third Team from the start, we wouldn’t be in this mess… Old Peng, can you check Zheng Zhifei’s truck? I’m sure we’ll find some clues there. Xiaodong and I will leave now. When you get the arrest warrant, fax it to us immediately.”

“Helping is not a problem, but what if your assumption is wrong? It’ll be a wasted trip.”

“It’s a gamble, but we need to act quickly before the trail goes cold,” Chen Shi said with a smile.

Lin Dongxue added, “I trust Chen’s judgment. Zheng Zhifei showing up here and then leaving Long’an right after the crime is no coincidence. I’m coming with you.”

Chen Shi shook his head. “It’s better if you stay here. The deep mountains and forests will be easier for Xiaodong and me to navigate. You can help Captain Peng from here.”

Peng Siyue said, “Just so you know, our tech team isn’t just here to serve the Second Team. If we find nothing, we both get blamed for wasting police resources.”

Chen Shi winked, “I know where your loyalty lies. Let’s go buy tickets.”

Xu Xiaodong fetched a gun from the armory, and the two booked train tickets on their phones and stocked up on food. By the afternoon, they were on the train. Xu Xiaodong, who hadn’t traveled in a while, was particularly excited and chatted happily with the older woman across from him. Chen Shi closed his eyes and said, “Rest up. You’ll need your strength in the village.”

That evening, Chen Shi received a text from Lin Dongxue: “We found bloodstains in Zheng Zhifei’s truck. Also, the paint on the truck matches the substance in the victim’s hair.”

Chen Shi replied, “Good job. Get the arrest warrant first thing tomorrow.”

The train arrived late at night. After a hearty meal, they found a place to rest. Early the next morning, they picked up the faxed arrest warrant from a local print shop.

The real journey began then. They took a bumpy bus ride in the morning, arriving at Zheng Zhifei’s village by noon. The village police station had only four officers, busy settling a dispute over a cow eating a neighbor’s crops. Xu Xiaodong showed his badge, and the chief enthusiastically said, “Ah, comrades from the city! A rare visit. Come, let’s have a meal at the station!”

As they walked, Chen Shi asked the chief, “Do you know Zheng Zhifei?”

“Zheng Zhifei? That’s Old Zheng’s son, right? I watched him grow up. Haven’t seen him in a couple of years, though. Heard he went to the city to work.”

“What’s his family’s situation?”

“They’re a poor household. His father was ill for years, living off a few acres of land. His mother left when he was three. When he was ten, he was on a TV show, a big event in the village. His father committed suicide by drinking pesticide when he was twelve. The kid stayed with his aunt for a year before heading to the city.”

“Where does he live now?”

The chief pointed to a mountain. “Over that hill, you’ll see an old tower. His house is east of the tower.”

Xu Xiaodong was shocked. “How far is it?”

“It takes us villagers three hours. For outsiders, it might take all day. I suggest you leave with the school kids at 3 PM to avoid getting lost.”

“No vehicles can get there?”

“There’s a jeep, but it can’t handle the mountain paths.”

Chen Shi exchanged a weary look with Xu Xiaodong. At the station, the chief offered them water and insisted on preparing a meal. Chen Shi tried to refuse, but the chief was adamant.

Their “feast” turned out to be simple vegetable dumpling soup with a bit of fine flour, a rare treat for the officers. They ate at a stone mill in the courtyard, where the few garlic sausages Chen Shi contributed were the only meat.

After the meal, Xu Xiaodong was reluctant to move. Chen Shi said, “We need three hours to reach the house. Let’s go now and try to bring him back tonight.”

Reluctantly, Xu Xiaodong got up. The chief assigned Officer Wang to guide them and warned against smoking in the mountains to prevent fires.

The three trudged slowly up the mountain. After covering a fifth of the distance, Chen Shi and Xu Xiaodong were exhausted. Despite their regular exercise routines, they found the mountain trek grueling.

Chen Shi leaned on a branch, laughing. Xu Xiaodong, panting, asked, “What’s so funny?”

“I’m imagining Old Peng trying to hike this. He’d collapse halfway.”

Xu Xiaodong chuckled and asked Officer Wang, “How much farther?”

Wang, far ahead, replied, “Still a ways to go. Another quarter left.”

“Damn!”

When they finally saw the tower, it was already 5 PM. They had overestimated their stamina and were drenched in sweat, breathing heavily.

Wang led them to Zheng Zhifei’s door. A dark-skinned teenager cautiously opened it halfway and asked, “Who are you looking for?”

Wang said, “Don’t you recognize me? I’m from the station. These two are city police officers with some questions.”

Noticing Zheng Zhifei’s wary expression, Xu Xiaodong discreetly prepared to draw his gun.

Chen Shi asked, “Where were you around 10 PM on June 9th?”

Zheng Zhifei frowned, “After finishing my run, I went back to the dorm.”

“Exact time?”

“10:30.”

Chen Shi shook his head with a smile, “Your roommates said otherwise. Why did you suddenly leave Long’an? Family emergency?”

“That’s none of your business!”

“Murder is everyone’s business.”

Xu Xiaodong produced the arrest warrant. “Zheng Zhifei, we suspect you’re involved in a murder. Come with us…”

Before he could finish, Zheng Zhifei slammed the door. They heard him trying to lock it, but Chen Shi blocked it with his body. When the lock wouldn’t latch, Zheng Zhifei tried to escape over a wall using an old cart. Xu Xiaodong caught him and slapped on the handcuffs.

Chen Shi said, “Running makes you look more suspicious.”

Zheng Zhifei glared. “Yeah, I killed her. Do what you want!”

“Fine, you’re coming with us,” Chen Shi replied.