Chapter 77: Xu Xiaodong Captures the Culprit

When Lin Qiupu arrived at Yi’an Community, he found a crowd gathered outside a villa. A few officers showed their badges to clear a path. As the police arrived, the residents began to chatter, “Officer, a man just barged into that house. There’s been yelling and screaming. It sounds like a murder scene,” “That guy must be crazy. Did you see what he did to his car?”

“Everyone, step back. Don’t interfere with the police investigation,” Lin Qiupu instructed. The crowd obediently moved aside.

Inside, Ximen Sheng’s screams and Wu Hao’s shouts filled the air, making the scene feel like a chaotic movie. The special police were still en route, and the officers couldn’t wait. They discussed how to enter the house.

Xu Xiaodong volunteered, “There’s a drainage pipe at the back. I can climb up.”

“Only shoot if absolutely necessary,” Lin Qiupu cautioned.

“Got it!” Xu Xiaodong circled to the back of the house.

At that moment, a flowerpot shattered the glass door on the balcony, startling the crowd. Wu Hao, wielding a fruit knife, dragged Ximen Sheng by the neck to the balcony. Pan Xiuying clung desperately to Wu Hao’s arm, trying to pull him away, but Wu Hao shoved her to the ground.

Seeing people outside, Ximen Sheng shouted, “Murder! Help!”

“Shut up, fat pig!” Wu Hao hit him on the head with the knife handle, causing Ximen Sheng to roll his eyes in pain.

Lin Qiupu, hands on his hips, called out, “Wu Hao, put down the knife. What are you doing?”

Wu Hao, eyes wide, saw the police below and shouted, “I’m going to kill these two adulterers!”

“Still acting?” Lin Qiupu taunted.

Wu Hao yelled to the crowd below, “Hey everyone, this man is Ximen, and this woman is Pan. A few days ago, they teamed up to kill my brother. They’re acting like nothing happened while the police, who must be in Ximen’s pocket, refuse to solve the case. They even suspect me! So I’m taking justice into my own hands!”

The crowd, thrilled by the drama, started shouting, “Wow, a real-life Wu Song!” “Good job, Wu Erlang! Kill them!” “Cheaters deserve to die!”

Wu Hao, encouraged by the crowd, shouted, “I am Wu Song reincarnated!”

Lin Qiupu turned and glared at the crowd, but their enthusiasm didn’t wane. Frustrated, Lin Dongxue said, “He’s lost his mind, thinking this will clear him of suspicion.”

“Desperate measures,” Lin Qiupu muttered. He called out, “Wu Hao, stop this act. You and I both know how your brother died. This struggle is pointless.”

Wu Hao, acting dramatically, laughed maniacally and pointed at Lin Qiupu, “This officer is in cahoots with Ximen. They’re trying to pin the murder on me. Shouldn’t such people die?”

This time, the crowd stayed silent. Lin Qiupu smirked, “Do you think this is the Song Dynasty? We’re not constables; we’re the People’s Police!”

“I don’t care what era it is. I’m going to kill him now!” Wu Hao declared, pressing the knife to Ximen Sheng’s throat, drawing blood.

A man pushed through the crowd, and Lin Qiupu recognized Chen Shi. He glanced at Lin Dongxue, who said, “I told him where to find us.”

“Why bring him here?” Lin Qiupu scolded quietly.

“Do you recognize me?” Chen Shi asked with a smile.

“Don’t speak recklessly. You’re not a negotiator,” Lin Qiupu warned, but Chen Shi ignored him.

“Yeah, you’re a damn cop,” Wu Hao snarled.

“You’re really deep into this act, huh? You think you’re Wu Song? But you haven’t read ‘Water Margin’, have you? Wu Song killed his sister-in-law first because he hated Pan Jinlian more.”

Wu Hao’s eyes flicked to the paralyzed Pan Xiuying.

Chen Shi continued, “Your sister-in-law is immobile, yet you focus on Ximen Sheng. Shouldn’t you kill her first? The real issue here isn’t adultery. You’re angry because this man took your woman, right?”

The crowd gasped, murmuring, “That’s a big revelation!” “What’s the real story here, Officer?”

Amidst the mocking laughter, Wu Hao’s face turned a deep shade of red. He roared, “I’ll kill him now!” raising the knife. Lin Qiupu’s heart nearly stopped.

“Wait!” Chen Shi shouted.

Wu Hao froze, the knife poised in the air, its tip gleaming menacingly. Lin Dongxue noticed Xu Xiaodong creeping up behind them.

None of the officers had expected Xu Xiaodong’s daring move, and they couldn’t risk alerting Wu Hao, which could endanger Xu Xiaodong.

Chen Shi saw Xu Xiaodong too and stalled for time, “Wu Hao, there’s no need for a desperate fight. We don’t have concrete evidence against you yet. Legally, you’re still innocent. If you kill this man, you’ll be in prison for life. What about the woman you love? Will she wait for you? Maybe for a year or two, but ten or twenty years? She’ll marry someone else, have children, and you’ll be out of her life forever. Wu Hao, it’s your right to love whoever you want. This isn’t the Song Dynasty; there’s no need to hide it.”

Wu Hao’s hand trembled, and he shouted, “She should have been my wife… She is my wife!”

As he raised his hand in anger, Xu Xiaodong lunged, grabbing Wu Hao’s arm. They tumbled into the house.

The officers rushed in, kicking down the door, and ran upstairs. They found Xu Xiaodong holding Wu Hao in a tight grip, both struggling. Wu Hao bit Xu Xiaodong’s leg, making him cry out in pain, but he didn’t let go.

With the officers’ help, Wu Hao was finally handcuffed. His eyes burned with fury as he glared at them.

“Damn, bitten again!” Xu Xiaodong said, looking at his bleeding leg and accepting a tissue from Officer Xiao Li.

Chen Shi teased, “Scars are a man’s badge of honor!”

Xu Xiaodong chuckled, “Not this kind of ‘badge.’ I can’t show off a bite on my inner thigh.”

Lin Qiupu, looking serious, approached Xu Xiaodong. Knowing his actions were risky, Xu Xiaodong lowered his head, “Captain, I—”

“Good job!”

Xu Xiaodong looked up, tears welling in his eyes. Lin Qiupu smiled, “Why are you crying?”

“It’s just… This is the second time you’ve praised me since I joined the team two years ago.”

“When was the first time? I don’t remember.”

“Last year, when you said my haircut looked neat.”

The team laughed. From their vantage point on the second floor, Lin Dongxue noticed a bespectacled, creepy-looking man clapping excitedly by Chen Shi’s car.

“Who’s that?”

“Oh, a passenger… You called me here so suddenly, I had to bring him along!”