Chapter 676: Interrupted Communication

During the New Year period, the roads were mostly empty, making for a smooth drive. Lin Dongxue and Chang Juan chatted casually, and when discussing her hobbies, Chang Juan became visibly excited, her eyes sparkling.

“What’s your major?” Lin Dongxue asked.

The previously enthusiastic Chang Juan suddenly became aloof. “Environmental science, mainly studying pollution and conservation.”

“You don’t seem to like your major very much,” Chen Shi observed.

“No, I do like it. Why else would I have chosen it?” She said this with an unnatural expression.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how did your parents pass away?” Lin Dongxue inquired.

Chang Juan looked momentarily shocked and then fell silent. In the quiet car, Chen Shi thought he heard faint sounds from an earpiece. Someone was indeed “guiding” Chang Juan from the shadows.

“They died in a car accident,” Chang Juan replied.

“You were still in high school then, right?” Lin Dongxue asked.

“Yes.” Chang Juan’s eyes darkened. “Their death hit me hard. My life became very difficult, to the point where I struggled to finish school.”

“How did you manage to go to college?” Lin Dongxue asked.

Chang Juan stared blankly at her for a few seconds before replying, “Why are you asking me all these questions? Can I ask you something? You two are always together; are you a couple?”

The tone was entirely unlike Chang Juan, and Chen Shi thought the “puppeteer” was probably coaching her on how to handle the police.

The scenery outside grew more desolate, with vast empty fields and patches of snow. After about half an hour, they arrived at Shiqiao Town. It was small, with two intersecting streets, scattered houses, farmland, and surrounded by large forest areas. The town seemed nestled in a sea of trees.

Each household here owned a piece of forest land, and most residents led a peaceful, slow-paced life. It was already ten o’clock, yet some people were still leisurely eating breakfast.

Chen Shi smelled roasted buns and remembered the local specialty: meat-filled buns, crispy and fragrant with rich sauce. His mouth watered, so he asked Lin Dongxue to buy three, one for each of them. However, despite eyeing the buns hungrily, Chang Juan stubbornly refused to eat.

They met up with Peng Sijue and his team at the police station. A director named Zhang warmly greeted them, insisting on hosting a welcoming meal, but Peng Sijue declined, wanting to get straight to the case. Reluctantly, Director Zhang backed down, his excessive politeness almost making one forget he was the director while Peng Sijue was just a team leader from the city.

As they walked, Director Zhang introduced the town, boasting about the simple folk customs and low crime rate. He lamented the challenge of investigating this rare, serious crime, having found no leads after three months. Some suggested DNA testing the entire town, but they lacked the facilities, having to send samples to the city hospital, which was inefficient.

“How do you perform autopsies? Do you have a forensic lab?” Peng Sijue asked.

“We don’t have a forensic lab or a forensic doctor. We send bodies to the city hospital, where surgeons help with the autopsies,” Director Zhang explained.

An assistant asked, “Are those autopsy reports legally valid?”

“Yes, but technically, outsourced labs need certified forensic professionals,” Peng Sijue replied.

Chen Shi interjected, “Director, how many people live in this town?”

Director Zhang hadn’t noticed Chen Shi until now. “What’s your name?”

“Chen.”

“Officer Chen.”

“I’m not an officer, just a driver.”

“Is this a joke?” Director Zhang laughed, looking at Peng Sijue. Peng Sijue clarified, “He’s a consultant, but yes, he’s a driver by profession.”

Realizing Chen Shi was “just a driver,” Director Zhang ignored him and continued chatting with Peng Sijue. Chen Shi thought, this director is quite the realist.

Peng Sijue wanted to see the body and autopsy records, while Chen Shi preferred to visit the crime scene first. The difference in treatment was evident as Director Zhang eagerly arranged a car for Peng Sijue but ignored Chen Shi.

Feeling slighted, Chen Shi said, “Old Peng, let’s visit the crime scene first. We can check the body later.”

“Sir, the car is ready. The crime scene can wait, but the hospital closes at five,” Director Zhang insisted, looking at Peng Sijue for support.

Peng Sijue agreed to visit the crime scene first, surprising Director Zhang. On the way, he quietly asked his officers about the “driver” who seemed to have sway over Peng Sijue. The answers were consistent: “He’s just a consultant,” “He’s not a cop,” “But he’s more capable than most officers.”

Director Zhang was baffled but skeptical about how impressive a consultant could be.

Traveling with strangers made Chang Juan uneasy. Lin Dongxue stayed with her as they reached the crime scene. Lin Dongxue asked, “Is this your home?”

“Yes,” Chang Juan replied.

Three months had passed, and the scene was cleaned up, with most furniture removed. The walls bore stains and blood traces, and the window screens were slightly damaged—remnants of the crime, adding an eerie atmosphere to the cold, empty space.

Director Zhang began to talk incessantly again. Chen Shi said, “He’s annoying. Please send him out.”

Peng Sijue asked, “Director Zhang, could you and your team wait outside while we discuss the case? Sorry for the inconvenience.”

“No problem.” Director Zhang smiled and left with his team, gathering in the yard to smoke.

With the strangers gone, Chang Juan relaxed a bit. Chen Shi asked her to recount the incident. “Where were you and your husband sleeping that night?”

Chang Juan pointed to a wall. “Our bed was there.”

“Who woke up first when the intruder came in?”

“Me. I’m a light sleeper.”

“What happened next?”

Chang Juan suddenly froze, silent for thirty seconds. Under everyone’s gaze, cold sweat appeared on her forehead. She instinctively reached for her necklace but stopped herself. Chen Shi said, “What’s wrong? Did your ‘communication’ with Chunqin’s ‘ghost’ get interrupted?” He pointed to the wall. When they entered, he had plugged in a signal jammer, cutting off all electronic signals inside.

“Is your necklace a communication device? Who’s been coaching you?” Chen Shi demanded.