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

Chapter 454 A Letter Across Mountains and Rivers
Dear Dad and Mom:
Hello, it's like meeting you in person.

It's been a long time since I last wrote to you. I wonder how you've been doing lately?

I haven't seen you all for six years since I left home at the age of thirteen, and I miss you all very much.

I don't know how many more wrinkles have deepened on my father's forehead, nor how many more gray hairs have appeared on my mother's head.

But I have never forgotten every little thing you did for me as I grew up, and I remember the concern and advice in every letter you wrote over the past six years.

Mom and Dad, some things have happened around me recently that have given me a new understanding of life and the future.

But don't worry, thankfully it was all over and everything is calm now.

You don't need to worry about me. I'm doing well now, and my studies, life, and future will only get better and better.

There's something else I can't wait to tell you: I met a man who is incredibly important to me. His name is Zhou Yi, and he's a proud police officer. He's like a ray of light that shone into my world and dispelled the gloom in my life.

I think he is the one I can entrust my life to.

Please trust your daughter's choice and wish me and him a happy future.

This summer vacation, Zhou Yi said he would accompany me home to visit you all.

I am really looking forward to that day coming soon.

Because of Mom and Dad, I really miss you.

Wishing you good health, peace, and all the best!

Sincerely,
salute!

Your daughter, Lu Xiaoshuang.

December 1997, 5.

……

Lu Xiaoshuang folded the letter twice and then stuffed it into a kraft paper envelope.

Lu Xiaoshuang sealed the envelope with glue, wrote the recipient's and sender's addresses on the front of the envelope, and finally affixed a stamp.

The letter was dropped into the school mailbox.

Then, through the sorting process at the post office, and via postal vehicles and trains, they travel across mountains and rivers to reach the Loess Plateau.

After being sorted through multiple layers, it was finally packed into a mailbag hanging on the front of a postman's bicycle rack.

Finally, after the postman called out "Teacher Lu" in a rustic accent, the letter was delivered to Lu Guohua's weathered hands.

As he opened the letter, behind him, in the simple mud-brick classroom, a group of children were reading aloud with their textbooks in hand.

This clear and resonant voice seemed to pierce through the clouds and reach the distant future of these children.

……

After Chen Gengyun and Fan Tianyou were brought to justice, the special task force for the Hongda case officially withdrew from Hongda, but the martial law in Hongda did not end.

For a long time afterward, Hongda implemented a series of management measures to strictly control students and internal school rules.

But the students at Hongda University had no complaints, because the dismemberment case had had a huge impact on the school during this period, and everyone was on edge.

In particular, all sorts of rumors were flying around, after all, in addition to the deceased Xu Liu, four teachers from different departments were also involved.

Lu Xiaoshuang returned to school the day after Zhou Yi picked her up.

Because it involved case information, Lu Xiaoshuang followed Zhou Yi's instructions and coordinated with her counselor Wu Na to lie and say that she had gone back to her hometown in Northwest China. Although not everyone might believe her, at least the police left, Lu Xiaoshuang returned safely, and no one would speculate about her with prejudice.

After the incident, the school, considering the potential impact and in order to cooperate with the special investigation team, sealed off the dormitory where Lu Xiaoshuang and her classmates lived.

The original six students in the dormitory were all transferred to other dormitories.

This situation is actually quite common. Although Xu Liu didn't die in this dormitory, people will still have psychological trauma.

Two years later, this dormitory room will be allocated to freshmen. By then, no one will know who lived here or what happened.

Wu Na took Lu Xiaoshuang back to the dormitory to pack her own things.

Looking at the dormitory that was once filled with laughter and joy, now empty and deserted, Lu Xiaoshuang felt a pang of sadness.

Regarding the details of the Hongda case, Zhou Yi told her that as one of the victims, she had the right to know the specifics of the case. However, this was contingent on the case entering the prosecution stage, after which she could learn about the details through her legal representative.

The police investigation is currently underway and requires confidentiality, so Zhou Yi cannot tell her the details.

However, she doesn't need to worry about the lawyer issue; Zhou Yi said she would find Qian Hongxing to handle this matter.

Although Zhou Yi didn't say anything, Lu Xiaoshuang had guessed some things, such as the phone call Fan Tianyou made that day, and some information she learned from the news and newspapers later.

But she didn't ask any questions; she unconditionally trusted everything Zhou Yi had arranged for her.

Because he said, things have calmed down.

As she was packing her things in the dormitory, she suddenly heard hurried footsteps, and then a figure rushed in.

"Xiao Shuang?" Mo Youyou rushed in and saw her, calling out excitedly.

"You're finally back! You scared me to death, you know?" Mo Youyou rushed over, hugged Lu Xiaoshuang tightly, and burst into tears.

"It's alright, I'm fine," Lu Xiaoshuang reassured her.

After crying, Mo Youyou, with red and swollen eyes, said that she had specifically told the counselor that she wanted to reserve the lower bunk in her current dormitory room for Lu Xiaoshuang.

Then I started helping Lu Xiaoshuang pack her things.

During this time, Mo Youyou asked her if she had gone home to let her know she was safe.

Lu Xiaoshuang nodded.

Zhou Yi picked her up the day before, but she didn't go back to school that night. Instead, she went home to let her grandmother know she was safe and sound, and then spent the night in her little attic.

Zhou Yi picked her up the next morning, and that's how they arrived at school.

As for Lu Xiaoshuang's parents, who live far away in the Northwest, the police did not contact them due to the remote location and the special circumstances surrounding Lu Xiaoshuang's discovery in the mine.

Later, Lu Xiaoshuang was taken to Qian Hongxing's house by Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi said that he could find a way to contact the local police station so that she could let her parents know that she was safe.

But Lu Xiaoshuang meant that she didn't want her parents to worry, so she wouldn't contact them for the time being.

Zhou Yi respects her decision.

After moving into her new dorm and greeting her new roommates, Lu Xiaoshuang decided to write a letter to her parents.

For the past six years, she has been in contact with her parents through letters. Although they cannot meet in person, they can still communicate through their letters.

She knew that writing letters was the best way, because if her parents were to answer a phone call, they would have to walk more than ten kilometers back and forth under the sun.

After dropping the letter into the mailbox, she turned around and saw the man who made her feel at ease watching her from not far away.

She immediately ran to him.

……

After the case entered the public prosecution stage, Xiao Bing's family was notified to collect his body in accordance with relevant regulations.

On the day of the funeral, Wu Yongcheng, along with all the members of the Third Brigade and Lu Xiaoshuang, came to bid farewell to Xiao Bing.

Qiao Jiali went to the hospital to see Director Sun, hoping to ask if she could bring Dong Lu to the funeral.

However, given Dong Lu's current special circumstances, the only remaining Xiao Shuang personality within her is closed off, and this environment might have an impact on her. Therefore, Director Sun did not recommend that they bring her along.

After discussing it, the group decided to forget about it.

Because Zhou Yi said that Dong Lu's original personality had left with Xiao Bing, I think they probably hope that Xiao Shuang, who is still alive, will forget them and start a new life.

Wu Yongcheng nodded, agreeing with Zhou Yi's statement. For Dong Lu, who was still alive as Xiao Shuang, this might be her rebirth.

Subsequently, with the assistance of Director Sun, the police questioned "Dong Lu".

"Dong Lu" recounts some of the past memories she "saw" from Xiao Shuang's third-person perspective.

Most of these memories coincide with the information the police have and Zhou Yi's speculations, such as the events surrounding the photo Xiao Bing found, and Dong Lu seeing Lu Xiaoshuang at the window of dormitory 404, etc.

But the most magical and bizarre thing is how Dong Lu got to the rooftop on the day Fan Tianyou took hostages.

Although the young policeman in charge of guarding Dong Lu had abandoned his post, he was later disciplined for it.

Meanwhile, the hospital's daily management was inadequate; the ventilation shafts were not locked as required, and there happened to be an entrance on the same floor as the psychiatric ward.

However, for Dong Lu, who was unfamiliar with the hospital's structure and had mental health issues, climbing from the ventilation shaft to the roof was still quite unbelievable to them.

But what was even more unbelievable was Xiaoshuang's answer: she said that her brother guided her to the rooftop.

This answer left everyone who heard it dumbfounded.

However, even though everyone knew it was impossible, they had no way to verify the truth with a patient.

Therefore, this issue remained an unsolved mystery in the police's final case report.

Perhaps only Zhou Yi believes that this might actually be the case.

Although he was a staunch materialist, he was, after all, reborn.

At the funeral, after relatives and friends bowed three times, Xiao Bing's body was wheeled into the crematorium by funeral home staff.

His mother's relatives immediately burst into tears.

Zhou Yi felt particularly heavy-hearted; the grand case was his obsession and his heartache.

From the day he was reborn, he was determined to solve a major case, which is why he tried every means to get close to Lu Xiaoshuang, the victim in the major case.

But he never expected that Lu Xiaoshuang was just the tip of the iceberg of the grand scheme.

The truly grand case is a massive iceberg hidden beneath the sea level, a human tragedy spanning over thirty years.

If he had known about Xiao Bing and Dong Lu's tragic situation in his previous life, he could at least have ensured their safety in this life, even if he couldn't change what happened eight years ago.

Zhou Yi let out a long sigh, and when he turned his head, he found that Lu Xiaoshuang beside him was already in tears.

She bowed deeply again towards the door where Xiao Bing had disappeared, tears falling to the ground.

"Teacher Xiao, thank you for saving my life. Farewell."

Straightening up, Zhou Yi handed over a tissue.

"Teacher Xiao passed away with his beloved, and the murderer who hurt them has been brought to justice. Although it's not perfect, at least they can be together."

Lu Xiaoshuang took the tissue, wiped away the tears on her face, and smiled with a spirited smile: "If there is an afterlife, I hope they can find each other in the vast sea of ​​people and continue to be together."

Zhou Yi stretched out a hand and said, "It definitely will."

Lu Xiaoshuang also reached out and took his warm and broad hand.

The two walked hand in hand out of the funeral home's farewell hall.

Wu Yongcheng and Jiang Biao were smoking under a tree opposite the farewell hall. Chen Yan was with them, but he wasn't smoking.

Qiao Jiali is not here; we don't know where she went.

Zhou Yi and Lu Xiaoshuang walked over, and Lu Xiaoshuang greeted each person obediently, as if she were meeting the parents.

"Want one?" Wu Yongcheng asked, pulling out his perpetually wrinkled Daqianmen cigarettes.

"I'm not smoking anymore. Whenever I smoke Daqianmen cigarettes with you, I feel like I'm about to solve a case."

Zhou Yi's words startled Wu Yongcheng, who quickly stuffed the cigarette pack into his pocket. "Then you shouldn't smoke anymore. Director Xie and I are both afraid of you. Especially Director Xie, he said that in the two months you've been at the Municipal Bureau, you've handled more cases than we did in the previous two years. If you get any more cases, he's afraid he'll have to go look after the reservoir."

Zhou Yi smiled awkwardly: "Captain Wu, that's an exaggeration. You're making it sound like I'm the murderer."

"In short, let's not have any more cases and let the brothers rest. Director Xie said that for the next two months, there will be no training sessions or meetings. As long as there are no cases, everyone should take a good rest and recuperate."

Zhou Yi nodded, because he had carefully recalled the events of the past two nights. Apart from the savings bank robbery and murder case that might have been solved, Hongcheng would be peaceful for the next four months, with no murders.

"Don't worry, Captain Wu. I have a feeling that things will be peaceful for a long time to come."

Wu Yongcheng said to Jiang Biao and Chen Yan, "See, I told you this kid could tell fortunes."

At this moment, Qiao Jiali walked over and asked, "Captain Wu, is it done?"

Zhou Yi asked curiously, "Sister Qiao, what's wrong?"

"It's alright. Captain Wu donated some money to the welfare home in the names of Xiao Bing and Dong Lu. He was worried that the welfare home might misunderstand if they contacted Xiao Bing's family later, so he asked me to tell his relatives."

Zhou Yi looked at Wu Yongcheng in surprise: "Captain Wu, why didn't you tell us about this?"

Wu Yongcheng threw his cigarette butt on the ground, stomped it out, and said, "Why should I talk to you? You're either unmarried or have families to support. I don't usually have any expenses, and I'm already old, so money is useless to me."

Seeing that Zhou Yi wanted to say something, Wu Yongcheng waved his hand and said, "If there's nothing else, let's leave."

Then he said to Qiao Jiali, "Xiao Qiao, on your way back, please take Lu Xiaoshuang back to school. I'm going to have a chat with Zhou Yi."

Lu Xiaoshuang quickly waved her hand and said, "No need, no need, I can take the bus back by myself."

"Don't be so polite. You're practically family to us now, one of us," Wu Yongcheng said with a smile to Zhou Yi. "Right, Zhou Yi?"

Seeing that Wu Yongcheng had pointed at him, Zhou Yi said to Lu Xiaoshuang shamelessly, "See, I told you right before, Captain Wu is your uncle. He himself admitted it."

Lu Xiaoshuang blushed, and Qiao Jiali pulled her and said, "Xiaoshuang, come with me, I'll take you home."

"Thank you, Sister Qiao." As Lu Xiaoshuang followed Qiao Jiali, she turned back to look at Zhou Yi and mouthed, "Bye-bye."

……

On the way back to the station, Zhou Yi was driving, and Wu Yongcheng was sitting in the passenger seat smoking.

The wind blowing in from outside seemed to be vying with Wu Yongcheng for a cigarette, the sparks from the cigarette butt constantly flickering.

"Is Dong Lu's matter settled?" Wu Yongcheng asked.

He was referring to the time Zhou Yi took to visit Qin Beihai and his wife when they went to the provincial capital a few days ago.

Qin Beihai said he heard about Dong Lu's situation from his apprentice Wang Yao. He said he had an old classmate who was a top expert in burn skin grafting in the country. After he told his old classmate about Dong Lu's situation, the classmate was willing to treat Dong Lu free of charge.

Although severe burns cannot be cured, it would be best if her physical condition could be improved to some extent.

However, the prerequisite is to ensure that her mental state is stable, because the skin grafting process is still very difficult and painful.

Perhaps in time, Dong Lu will be able to reintegrate into society with a new identity, which might not be a bad thing.

Zhou Yi nodded: "Yes, Elder Qin said that once Dong Lu's condition is suitable for treatment, he asked me to tell him and he will make the arrangements."

Wu Yongcheng nodded, then said earnestly, "Zhou Yi, Qin Beihai, and Liang Wei are all influential people in the provincial government. They all have a good impression of you, which will be very helpful for your future. Make the most of this opportunity."

"Yes, both Old Qin and Captain Liang have helped me a lot and taught me a great deal. But the most important person to me is the captain of the Third Brigade who promoted me from a grassroots police station."

"You little rascal, you're so glib." Wu Yongcheng turned his face away, but the smile on his lips was harder to suppress than AK's.

"There's something I need to tell you today."

Wu Yongcheng's words made Zhou Yi panic.

"What's wrong?" Zhou Yi asked hurriedly.

Wu Yongcheng replied, "I may soon be unable to serve as the captain of the Third Brigade."

(End of this chapter)