Reborn in 97, I solved a cold case at the Municipal Bureau

Chapter 369 Searching for Lu Xiaoshuang (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Thinking of this, Zhou Yi finally managed to muster a bit of strength from his bones and cheer himself up.

"Sister Qiao, could you please give me the phone? Thank you," Zhou Yi said, extending his hand. He had to do something.

"Are you going to notify Captain Wu?" Qiao Jiali asked, somewhat worried about his mental state.

Zhou Yi nodded. He was going to make a phone call, but not to Wu Yongcheng first.

Qiao Jiali handed him her mobile phone and said with concern, "Should I make the call?"

Zhou Yi stood up, supporting himself on the carriage, and said, "It's okay, I'll do it."

He walked toward the end of the carriage, saying that such matters should not be dealt with in such a public place.

Watching Zhou Yi's departing figure, Xu Nian picked up the blood-stained cotton ball beside her and turned to ask Qiao Jiali, "Sister Qiao, what exactly did Captain Shi say to make Zhou Yi like this?"

There were three other people on their bunks, and Zhou Yi's commotion had attracted the attention of many people around them.

Zhou Yi's appearance just now was too frightening, so no one dared to say anything.

Qiao Jiali closed the overhead window and then whispered a few words in Xu Nian's ear.

A hint of surprise flashed in Xu Nian's eyes, but at the same time, there was also some doubt.

Zhou Yi has handled several major cases in a row, and he has always been quite calm and composed. Why has he suddenly become so agitated?

Xu Nian glanced in the direction Zhou Yi had gone and saw him walk to the connecting area between the carriages and close the carriage door.

Zhou Yi dialed the phone number of the duty room in Lu Xiaoshuang's dormitory area. After a long wait, the call was answered.

"Hello, who is it?" The familiar voice of the dormitory supervisor came from the phone.

"Auntie, do you remember me? I'm the policeman who came here a few times."

"Police? Oh, you mean the ones looking for that girl surnamed Lu?"

Zhou Yi nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, Auntie, you still remember me. Could you please ask Lu Xiaoshuang to answer the phone? I have something very urgent to discuss with her."

"Hey young man, it's not that I don't want to help you, but tomorrow is Labor Day. Many majors don't have classes this afternoon. Local students and students from neighboring cities are going home one after another, and some are going out to play. There aren't many people in the dorm at this time."

Hearing this, Zhou Yi's heart sank again.

"Auntie, no matter how many people are there, could you please call them for me? I really have something extremely urgent!"

The dormitory supervisor on the other end of the phone could tell from the voice that it was indeed very anxious. She immediately understood that something was really wrong, and it didn't seem like someone was lying to her to chat on the phone about dating.

"How about this, young man? I'll go check on her myself. If the girl is here, I'll bring her back to answer the phone. That way, I won't miss her announcement over the loudspeaker. Is that alright?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi was deeply moved and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

"Don't hang up, I'll go check it out." The dormitory supervisor said, putting the receiver on the table, putting on a coat, and going out.

Zhou Yi, on the other hand, nervously started biting her fingernails; every minute and every second of the long wait was incredibly agonizing.

About ten minutes later, the faint static on the phone was driving him crazy. Finally, he heard footsteps approaching.

Then the phone was picked up.

He seemed to be hallucinating, hearing Lu Xiaoshuang's voice on the phone and softly replying "hello."

"Young man, I've gone to check." The voice on the phone belonged to an older woman, which meant that Lu Xiaoshuang wasn't in the dormitory.

“The girl wasn’t in the dorm. I asked the other girls in her dorm, and they said she left at noon today, apparently to go home and see her grandma.”

Zhou Yi raised his hand to look at his watch. It was around 9:30 p.m., which meant that Lu Xiaoshuang had probably been missing for at least nine hours.

Nine hours is enough time for a skilled and professional killer to commit murder, dismemberment, and disposal of the body.

Zhou Yi took a deep breath and said, "Auntie, I understand. Thank you for your help."

"Young man, don't worry, maybe she's just out having fun. I'll keep an eye on her for you, and if she comes back, I'll have her call you."

"Thank you, Auntie, you've gone to so much trouble."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Yi pondered who to call to ask him to go to Lu Xiaoshuang's house on his behalf.

To be precise, it was the Lu family's house where she was staying.

He first thought of Jin Lei, but then immediately felt it was inappropriate.

Although Chief Jin is a good person and trusts him, the case is still within the public security system. The dismemberment case will soon spread internally and even throughout Hongcheng, inevitably raising his questions, and he will have to find reasons to explain.

If neither Chief Jin nor his mentor Zhang Ning can help, then how about asking family members?

That won't work either. My parents are ordinary people, and quite old; they don't have the ability to handle unexpected situations. Besides, they practically treat Lu Xiaoshuang as their future daughter-in-law; what if something really happens…

The thought of that "what if" made Zhou Yi feel a tightness in his chest, and he immediately stopped thinking about it.

Suddenly, he thought of someone who could help him.

So he immediately made a phone call.

After a while, the call was connected.

"Hello, who is this?" It was Qian Hongxing's voice on the other end of the phone.

"Mr. Qian, this is Zhou Yi."

"Oh, Officer Zhou," Qian Hongxing said with a smile. "Tomorrow is May Day. Do you have time to come over for a visit? I'll tell you I miss you."

Zhou Yi said in a deep voice, "Mr. Qian, can I trust you?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Hongxing, who had been smiling, immediately became serious. He knew that Zhou Yi must have encountered some trouble. "You're being too polite. You saved my son's life twice. Even if you wanted my life right now, I wouldn't hesitate for a second. Brother, just tell me what you need your old brother to do, and I'll definitely do it for you."

Zhou Yi knew that, given Qian Hongxing's personality, this was definitely true.

"I don't want your life. Keep it safe and spend it with your wife and son. I just want you to do one thing for me." Qian Hongxing patted his chest and said, "No problem, tell me!"

"Go to No. 28 Xingnan Road in Qingshan District right now. It's a large courtyard house. There are five families living there. There are three rooms facing east. The family living there is surnamed Lu. Ask Lu Guozhong if he lives there. Then tell him you are looking for Lu Xiaoshuang, Xiao as in 'small' and Shuang as in 'frost'."

"it is good!"

"If Lu Xiaoshuang is here, tell her that I asked you to find her, and then give her your phone number so she can call me right now."

Qian Hongxing asked, "Then... what if they're not there?"

Zhou Yi took a deep breath and said, "Then ask the Lu family when was the last time they contacted Lu Xiaoshuang."

"Okay, I'll go right away."

"Mr. Qian, you handle this matter alone. Don't tell anyone. Also... if Lu Xiaoshuang isn't here, just say you're a teacher at the school. Don't reveal any information, including your name, understand?" Zhou Yi was considering that if the deceased was indeed Lu Xiaoshuang, the police would definitely investigate the Lu family, and they couldn't afford to cause any accidents.

"I understand, don't worry, I'll call you."

"Mr. Qian..."

"Any other orders?"

Zhou Yi said solemnly, "Thank you."

"Hey, don't be so formal. Your business is my business. We're family, so let's not stand on ceremony."

After hanging up the phone, Qian Hongxing, who was already in her pajamas, hurriedly changed her clothes.

Just then, his son Qian Lailai ran in, holding a book, and said, "Dad, tell me a story."

Qian Hongxing nudged his son and said, "Tell your mother that Dad has to go out."

Just then, Yao Yuling walked in. Seeing him changing clothes, she asked in confusion, "Isn't tomorrow Labor Day a holiday? Why are you going out at this hour? Who called just now?"

"Zhou Yi, he needs my help."

"What is it?"

"Don't worry about it. By the way, don't mention Zhou Yi's phone call to anyone, okay? Not a single word!"

Qian Hongxing changed his clothes and hurriedly went out.

Soon, Yao Yuling saw Qian Hongxing drive away from the window of her second-floor bedroom, and she couldn't help but feel a little worried.

Zhou Yi was stunned for a moment after hanging up the phone.

I didn't come to my senses until a train attendant opened the door and passed by the connecting area between the carriages.

The flight attendant looked at him suspiciously and asked, "Sir, are you alright?"

Zhou Yi then realized that his face was warm. He thought the wound on his head was bleeding again, so he reached out and touched it, but found that it wasn't blood.

"It's nothing." Zhou Yi raised his hand and wiped his face haphazardly.

After the flight attendant left, Zhou Yi called Chen Yan again, only to find out that Captain Wu's phone was out of battery.

He calmed down and reported the situation that Shi Tao had described. After listening, Wu Yongcheng immediately made a decision to drive back to Hongcheng with Jiang Biao and Chen Yan overnight, estimating that they would arrive around dawn.

As for Fu Daqing on Lu Jiang's side, he first instructed the local police station to keep a close watch on him, and then he called Pan Hongjie in Anyuan, asking Anyuan to send someone to take over.

Wu Yongcheng said something on the phone that left Zhou Yi stunned.

"Zhou Yi, don't worry."

Even though he had tried his best to restrain himself and stay calm, Wu Yongcheng could still detect something was wrong.
At this moment, the carriage door opened again, but it wasn't the train attendant who appeared; it was Xu Nian.

Xu Nian asked with concern, "Zhou Yi, are you alright?"

Zhou Yiqiang forced a smile and said, "It's nothing, I just finished reporting to Captain Wu."

Xu Nian took out her small Motorola flip phone and said, "How about... I call Teacher Song and ask him if he needs any help?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi nodded gratefully. Since it was Ni Jianrong who led the team to the scene, and Shi Tao hadn't gone, he really couldn't think of anyone else to ask for information besides Song Yiming.

But it wouldn't be reasonable for me to call Song Yiming rashly; Xu Nian is the most suitable person to make this call.

Xu Nian immediately dialed Song Yiming's number and put it on speakerphone.

A moment later, the call was connected.

"Teacher Song, I just heard about what happened at Nansha River. I'm on the train back to Hongcheng now, and I think I can get to the bureau to help out early tomorrow morning. How are things going on your end?" Xu Nian asked.

Song Yiming sighed and said, "That's great. This time, the dismemberment will probably be much more troublesome than the last one."

Hearing this, Xu Nian and Zhou Yi exchanged a glance. Xu Nian asked, "Is it more decomposed than the body parts in Donghai Residential Area?"

"No."

Song Yiming's next words left Zhou Yi stunned and completely bewildered.

Wearing white gloves, Song Yiming rummaged through the travel bag with one hand, sighed, and said, "With this bag of body parts, it's probably hard for it to even decompose. I've only done a rough check so far. The body parts in the bag have been evenly cut into slices of flesh about one centimeter thick. I roughly estimate that there must be at least three hundred slices in this bag."

"Moreover, all of these meat slices were deep-fried, so it's probably impossible to extract any DNA information from them."

　I got really badly criticized yesterday. Please be gentle with your criticism today.

　　But at least I could see that yesterday was the timeline of my previous life before I gave up on the book... It's a bit unfair, hahaha.

　　------

　　Regarding the timeline issue in yesterday's two chapters, it was my fault. I thought the date May 6, 1997, clearly stated at the beginning should be obvious, but many readers still didn't notice it. So now I've added "previous life" directly to the first sentence.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)