Chapter 203: If No One Captured Him, Where Did The Handprint On The Corpse Come From?

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“Even though you’re saying that, you don’t really believe she’s the one who killed Chen Jianguo, do you?” Su Xuan had barely spoken these words when Zhou Qiang understood his meaning.

But…

“Have you considered the possibility that Chen Jianguo actually fell into the water accidentally?” Zhou Qiang continued. “I’ve watched the surveillance footage too. Chen Jianguo came out by himself after arguing with Lan Xiaofen. Moreover, he spent a long time by the river. There’s a reason to suspect it was an accidental drowning. Finding a culprit might be difficult.”

“Su Xuan, you might have picked the wrong angle for this case,” Zhou Qiang added seriously. He understood Su Xuan’s point, but sometimes you had to consider the facts. Just because it seemed coincidental didn’t mean the person was murdered. It could very well have been a tragic accident.

“Besides, you’ve already identified the people Chen Jianguo had conflicts with,” Zhou Qiang continued. “It’s just a few individuals, and the conflicts were minor. Who would take someone’s life over such matters?” Su Xuan lowered his head at these words, contemplating the situation.

In the past three months, there were only three people who had conflicts with Chen Jianguo, and one of them was his own wife, Xiaofen. The other two had minor disagreements.

“I still feel something’s not right,” Su Xuan said.

Zhou Qiang knew what Su Xuan was getting at but had his own considerations.

Besides the highly coincidental timing, there were other factors at play.

“This is Chen Jianguo’s autopsy report; look here,” Su Xuan continued. “If it was just an accidental fall, he should have simply slipped down, but there are fingerprints on his ankle.”

“Could these be from the scuffle he had with Lan Xiaofen before?” Su Xuan reasoned. “I have a reasonable suspicion that he was pulled down by someone.” Zhou Qiang raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

“No,” Su Xuan clarified. “You know what I mean, right?”

Upon hearing Su Xuan’s words, Zhou Qiang felt a chill run down his spine.

He shuddered, his thoughts racing. Surveillance footage clearly showed no one else near the scene except for the deceased. If he was indeed pulled into the water, then who could have done it?

It was late at night, by the river, with no one else around. The scenario seemed unrealistically dramatic.

“There’s no one in the surveillance footage, only the deceased,” Zhou Qiang said. “If you’re suggesting he was pulled down, who could have done it? A ghost?”

Taking a deep breath, Zhou Qiang continued, “Maybe we should wait until Lan Xiaofen wakes up and ask her. It’s possible it was an accidental result of their argument. Otherwise, your theory is too terrifying.”

Su Xuan agreed with Zhou Qiang’s reasoning. That was his plan all along. He had intended to ask Lan Xiaofen about this matter earlier, but she had been too emotionally distressed, fainting suddenly.

However, Lan Xiaofen had a strong constitution, and it didn’t take long for her to regain consciousness. Su Xuan proceeded to take her statement.

Upon hearing Su Xuan’s questions, Lan Xiaofen erupted in anger. “Officer, do you have a problem with your brain? My husband is a grown man. How could I hold onto his foot? We had an argument, but I didn’t lay a hand on him!”

The fact that she hadn’t physically harmed him suggested that the fingerprints on his ankle might not be her doing. Su Xuan lowered his head, lost in thought. His contemplative expression didn’t go unnoticed by Lan Xiaofen, who started to sense that something was amiss.

“Officer, why are you asking me like this?” Lan Xiaofen inquired anxiously. “Is it something you’ve discovered about my husband? Is he not a victim of an accidental drowning?”

Indeed, Lan Xiaofen had been under the impression that their argument had inadvertently led to her husband falling into the river and losing his life. This belief was the reason she had cried herself into unconsciousness. However, Su Xuan’s demeanor was making her feel uneasy.

Their many years of marriage had taught her that conflicts and even a slap like the one Chen Jianguo had given her were trivial matters in the face of life and death. Worried and confused, Lan Xiaofen continued to press for answers.

“Officer, what have you found in your investigation?” she implored. “Please, tell me… How did my husband really die? Why are you asking me this way?”

Seeing her distraught state, Zhou Qiang, who had accompanied Su Xuan, stepped forward. “Ma’am, please try to stay calm.”

“My husband is dead, and you expect me to stay calm?” Lan Xiaofen lashed out at him, pointing her finger. Zhou Qiang had intended to offer comforting words, but in the face of a grieving woman who had just lost her husband, his advice felt inadequate.

“We found a set of handprints on Chen Jianguo’s ankle,” Su Xuan explained. “Since you didn’t cause those marks, it’s highly likely he suffered that injury before his death. We’ve ruled out self-infliction.”

“Ms. Lan, please, take some time to rest. We will continue our investigation,” Su Xuan reassured her before nodding to Zhou Qiang and leaving the hospital room.

Lan Xiaofen was left in shock. The thought had briefly crossed her mind that her husband might have been harmed by someone else, but she had dismissed it. There were no other individuals near the river, as confirmed by the surveillance footage. Chen Jianguo’s accidental fall had seemed undeniable. However, now, a police officer was suggesting that her husband might have been killed by someone else. It was inconceivable.

As she contemplated this shocking revelation, her vision began to blur, and she felt herself teetering on the verge of fainting once again.

On the other side, Su Xuan left the hospital with a heavy expression. To Zhou Qiang’s surprise, Su Xuan didn’t head straight back to the police station. Instead, he walked towards the river where the deceased had been discovered. “What are you up to?” Zhou Qiang asked, puzzled.

Su Xuan wore a serious expression and, seeing Zhou Qiang approaching, had no intention of concealing his thoughts. He continued to walk towards the river.

“I’m contemplating,” Su Xuan replied. “In this world, ghosts and water spirits don’t exist, so the idea of something supernatural like a water ghost pulling someone under is impossible. However, given the circumstances…”

“I reasonably suspect that there might be blind spots in the surveillance coverage,” Su Xuan continued. “What if someone hid in an area not captured by the cameras and pulled Chen Jianguo into the water?”

Hearing this, Zhou Qiang gasped in shock. It wasn’t an impossible scenario. If it were true, it meant murder. Among the people they had investigated, none seemed to have any motive to kill Chen Jianguo.

“Let’s go take a look together,” Zhou Qiang immediately suggested. “But, Chen Jianguo, he…”

“I know,” Su Xuan interrupted. “It seems unlikely..”