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

Chapter 496 Absurd Motive for Murder (Vote Requested, Giveaway)

Although DNA technology began to gradually appear on the stage of criminal investigation in the late 1990s, it gradually became a powerful weapon for the public security department.

But this does not mean that this technology is omnipotent.

Because there were too many cold cases before this, the most difficult part was not using DNA technology to re-examine the evidence from these unsolved cases.

The most difficult part is finding DNA samples from criminal suspects who have not yet been apprehended, comparing them with evidence, and thus identifying the target.

Generally, targeted approaches are easier to handle, but for cases where the target is completely uncertain, the best approach is to establish a nationwide networked DNA database.

This allows for matching and comparison without geographical limitations, greatly improving efficiency.

The problem is that with a population of over one billion in China, it is simply impossible to build such a massive database.

Even though DNA technology has become very mature, the testing cost is still very high.

Therefore, under normal circumstances, those whose DNA information is entered are basically prisoners involved in murder cases.

The case of the high school student in Huangniu Township is related to the database that was later established.

Zhou Yi recalled that back in 2017 or 2018, the province held an internal sharing and discussion meeting about the work related to connecting to the national DNA database.

Comrade Lao Zhou, who was the archivist at the time, also went to listen and sat in a corner of the meeting room.

The speaker on stage shared a case of using a DNA database to solve a nearly 30-year-old cold case.

It is said that in the late 1980s, a murder case occurred in a province in Northwest China. A high school student who was excellent in both character and academics was murdered and his body was dumped in his own cowshed.

The case remained unsolved for a long time. The only useful clue was that the forensic doctor found some bloody skin tissue under the victim's fingernails.

It can be generally assumed that the mark was left by the victim scratching the murderer before dying.

However, the police were unable to find any suspicious suspects.

In 2004, local police conducted DNA testing on the preserved samples, and also conducted sample testing on all the people associated with the victim.

The result was that no sample matched the evidence sample.

The case was thus shelved once again.

Twelve years later, through a cross-provincial DNA database network, investigators from a neighboring province unexpectedly discovered that a prisoner imprisoned in a certain city six months earlier was related to an evidence sample from a case from many years ago.

The police immediately reopened the case and launched an investigation. They eventually followed the clues and found the father of the detainee. After DNA testing, they confirmed that he was the murderer in the case years ago.

By this time, almost thirty years had passed since the incident occurred.

When the murderer was arrested, he was already an elderly man in his seventies.

The investigators interrogated the murderer and learned an utterly absurd truth from him.

Thirty years ago, the murderer was a soybean dealer who would travel from street to street, collecting soybeans in the countryside and then supplying them to tofu workshops in the towns and villages.

This job was really just a way to earn a meager living, because back then the main types of grain were purchased by the state through grain and oil stations, but in reality, there were limits on the amount that could be purchased, leading to an imbalance between supply and demand.

Therefore, most farmers actually need to solve the problem of selling the grain they grow themselves, which is why this profession exists.

On the day of the incident, the perpetrator walked through the village where the victim lived, intending to buy some soybeans.

Because the rural area is vast and sparsely populated, and the victim's home was close to a main road at the time, the first house the murderer went to was the victim's home.

The perpetrator was originally planning to leave when he saw that there were no adults in the house.

I happened to see the victim doing his homework, so I chatted with him for a bit.

These brief two or three minutes led to a tragedy.

The murderer asked the victim, "Seeing how hard you study, your grades must be pretty good."

The victim replied, "It's fine."

The murderer asked, "Can I get into university?"
The victim replied that getting into university was definitely not a problem. He said that after graduating, he could find a good job and then bring his parents and younger sister to the city to live a better life.

But it wasn't that sentence that provoked the murderer.

The murderer said that he once remarked that if other children studied as hard as he did and could get into university, they could have a better life in the future.

Then, the victim casually replied with a sentence, and it was this sentence that made the murderer feel insulted, so he decided to kill him.

The victim said that everyone studied the same books, and in his view, those who didn't do well in school were either naturally not smart enough or simply didn't study hard. If that's the case, why should they be able to live a good life like him in the future?

This is absolutely true, and it's normal for a good student to feel superior and say something like that. The only problem is that it might not sound very pleasant; young people don't understand social etiquette and are just expressing their opinions directly.

That one sentence triggered the murderer.

The reason is simple: the victim hoped his son would become successful, but his son turned out to be a hopeless case.

As it turned out, his son was imprisoned years later.

The murderer said that he thought the victim looked down on him, so he said that on purpose.

So, taking advantage of the other party's unpreparedness, he used the weight he was carrying to smash the other party's head.

Among people with low levels of education, the phrase "look down on" is almost equivalent to a declaration of war.

In order to save face, nine times out of ten, they will have to argue, or even fight.

Besides rural areas, there is another group of people who fight because of "looking down" on others: petty thugs.

Zhou Yi had witnessed this when he was a beat cop. Two gangs of thugs were fighting so hard their brains were almost spilling out, all because of the absurd reason that "he glanced at me and I felt he looked down on me."

The case mentioned by the speaker is similar; in fact, the murderer couldn't remember whether he had mentioned his son at the time.

If not, then there is absolutely no possibility that the victim "looked down on him" and thus humiliated him.

Therefore, there was no social relationship between the murderer and the victim, and with no witnesses, the case became a cold case.

It wasn't until nearly thirty years later, through a DNA database, that the real culprit was identified.

The speaker did not elaborate on the details of the case at the time, so the location of the incident, the specific time, and the details of the victim and the perpetrator were not mentioned.

The focus at the time wasn't on the case itself, but on the importance of establishing a DNA database.

Therefore, Zhou Yi's impression of this matter was very shallow, since there were no clear points of memory.

I only realized how familiar it sounded after hearing it on the bus today.

Unfortunately, I can't remember it no matter how hard I try.

Finally, I even remembered it in my dream.

Zhou Yi sat in the darkness, while Lu Guohua next to him was still snoring.

I think I have the answer to the unsolved case in Huangniu Township, right?
Although the killer's name was not mentioned at the time, his identity was.

These soybean buyers are usually locals, because they adhere to the established rules and have designated "territories."

Moreover, people who do this job come into contact with many people, so even if they quit now, their identities can't be hidden.

He was around seventy when he was arrested, so he was around forty when he committed the crime. Now he should be a middle-aged man around fifty.

In the previous life, the other party evaded justice for thirty years, and ten years have already passed in this life. We can't let him slip through the net again.

But the problem is, what should I do? This isn't Hongcheng, where I can more flexibly resolve this case "by chance" in my work.

Like the human trafficking case, could they use Sun Xiaochuan's name to make a tip-off call?

While it's not entirely impossible, this case is different from human trafficking cases.

In the case of human trafficking, Zhou Yi knew exactly what the name of Peng Hongju's village was. After receiving the report, the local police only needed to arrange for the local police station to conduct a visit, and they would have results immediately.

But the case in Huangniu Township was different. Zhou Yi didn't know the murderer's name or where he lived. He only knew his age and that he was a soybean harvester. He didn't even know if the person was still in the county.

He didn't know whether the local police would take such vague and inaccurate reports seriously.

After all, he couldn't possibly provide specific details of the crime when reporting it, as that might backfire.

He slowly lay down, trying to come up with a foolproof plan.

Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep again.

This time he didn't wake up again, but slept soundly until dawn, when the sunlight shining through the skylight onto his face woke him up.

When she went out, Su Xiuying was picking vegetables.

Good morning, Aunt Su.

"You're up? I left you breakfast. Go wash up and eat quickly."

Zhou Yi nodded, said thank you, and then went to wash her face and brush her teeth.

The water used here is usually from deep wells.

Lu Xiaoshuang said she remembered that when she left her hometown six years ago, water resources were quite scarce, and Lu Guohua had to fetch water early every morning.

Moreover, two different types of water had to be fetched. The water from the nearby river was used for washing clothes and vegetables, but it was not good to drink and was very bitter.

Lu Guohua said that drinking too much is bad for your health.

Another type of water is deep well water drawn from the village well; it is clean.

At that time, there were only two such wells in the village, so every morning a group of villagers would line up to draw water, which was quite a sight.

But this time when he came back, Lu Guohua said that he no longer had to fetch water from the nearby river or queue up to get water from the village.

Because now there are many newly drilled wells in the village, which were drilled by the local government to make it easier for the villagers to use water.

The Lu family's house is a primary school, so they use a lot of water, and there is a well there as well.

Two days ago, Lu Xiaoshuang stroked a well-worn carrying pole in the corner of the wall and said with emotion: "From now on, Dad will no longer have to carry a carrying pole to fetch water. When I was little, I felt heartbroken every time I saw the carrying pole and water buckets bending my dad's originally straight back."

The well was located to the side and behind the classroom. To prevent the children from falling in while playing, Lu Guohua made a well cover out of sheet metal and added a lock.

Washing his face with the cool well water instantly refreshed Zhou Yi and cleared his mind.

He had an idea about the situation in Huangniu Township. While it wasn't a foolproof plan, it should be able to attract the attention of the local county bureau.

The breakfast left for him was a multigrain steamed bun and millet porridge. Zhou Yi walked out of the house, holding the bun in one hand and the bowl in the other.

"Aunt Su, where are Uncle Lu and Xiao Shuang?"

"I'm going to the market," Su Xiuying said with a smile.

"Going to the market? In town?"

"Ah, your Uncle Lu borrowed a bicycle and took Xiao Shuang to the town market. He said he wanted to buy you some food to take on the way and also call a car to pick you up after lunch to go to the county." Su Xiuying said with a smile while working.

Zhou Yi nodded and casually said, "How about I get Uncle Lu another bicycle later? That way it will be more convenient for you to go to town."

Upon hearing this, Su Xiuying quickly waved her hand and said, "No, no, don't waste your money. Your uncle and I rarely go to town, so we don't need bicycles at all. Besides, you haven't been working for long. I heard from Xiaoshuang that your parents have also been laid off. You've already spent a lot of money coming back, so I can't let you spend any more."

"It's okay, I have a bonus, enough to live on."

Su Xiu said earnestly, "You still have to be careful with your money. It should be used wisely. As the saying goes, 'Even a hero can be brought down by a penny.' When you're broke in a pinch, you're really helpless. So listen to me, don't spend money on us anymore, understand?"

Zhou Yi nodded, but didn't say "okay" aloud.

These past few days, our daughter has come home, and the couple is overjoyed. They've bought a lot of meat dishes, just wanting to make sure their two children eat well.

Parents' hearts are always full of love and worry. I wonder how long the two of them will have to eat cornbread after they are gone.

Therefore, if there is a surplus, we should still provide support where necessary.

Anyway, they'll have to trouble Zhao Liang for help later. Whether it's money or goods, they won't be able to return them once they've received them.

"Aunt Su, Xiao Shuang is leaving today. Are you and Uncle Lu sad?" Zhou Yi asked, taking a sip of millet porridge and sitting on a small stool.

Su Xiuying picked through the vegetables and said, "If you say you're reluctant to part with them, then you really are. But if you say you're sad, then your Uncle Lu and I are really not sad."

"Hey, to be honest, when we saw Xiaoshuang off on the train six years ago, I burst into tears as soon as the train pulled away. She was only thirteen years old, and she was going to such a far place all by herself. Before that, she had never even left our Shacao Town."

“But I also know there’s no way around it. Her father and I have settled down here, and we’ll probably be buried on this yellow earth when we pass away. But Xiaoshuang can’t. She can enjoy the policies for the children of educated youth, receive a better education, and have a brighter future. We, as parents, can’t tie her down and prevent her from flying forward just because we’re selfish.”

"She has her own life and her own bright future, so she should fly higher and farther."

Hearing Su Xiuying's words, Zhou Yi's eyes welled up with tears.

Think about it, when she came to this barren land from the distant water towns of Jiangnan, she was about the same age as Xiaoshuang is now.

People in those difficult times really suffered a lot.

“I’m not sad this time, mainly because things are different from six years ago,” Su Xiuying said. “Six years have passed, and my daughter has grown up and become more beautiful. Not only did she get into a good university, but she also got an internship at the tax bureau.”

Su Xiuying looked at Zhou Yi and said, "The most important thing is that she got to know you."

“With you here, we feel at ease. I heard from Xiaoshuang that your family treats her very well, like family.”

"Aunt Su, don't worry, I will definitely protect Xiao Shuang."

"Don't worry," Su Xiuying smiled. "Your Uncle Lu and I are completely at ease. So, you see, life is getting better and better, what do we have to be sad about?"

After Zhou Yi finished breakfast, he wanted to help Su Xiuying with the chores, but Su Xiuying told him to rest and that she could do it herself.

Since he had no work to do, he found paper and pen and began to prepare for the events in Huangniu Township.

After folding and putting away the blank paper he had written on, he thought about the Xipinggou incident and about Ge Fangfang, the child who had not yet been found.

He wanted to call the Shacao Town Police Station to ask about the situation, but then felt that keeping such a close watch on things might not be appropriate.

Around 10 o'clock, he finished packing up his things and put the "temporary beds" in the classroom back in their places.

Then a bicycle bell rang from outside, and he went out to take a look.

Lu Guohua rode his bicycle, while Lu Xiaoshuang sat on the bookshelf behind him, one hand holding her father's shirt around his waist and the other holding a large bag.

She laughed like a child, and she even changed her hairstyle, wearing two braids, looking like she had traveled from the 70s or 80s.

After she jumped off her bicycle, she ran up to Zhou Yi with a smile, holding up the bag and saying that it contained all the things she liked to eat when she was a child.

Seeing Zhou Yi staring at her braid, she smiled and asked, "Does it look good?"

Zhou Yi reached out and touched it, saying, "It looks good."

“My mom used to braid my hair. I used to have two braids when I was little. But after I moved to Hongcheng, no one would braid my hair anymore, so I started wearing it in a ponytail.”

"Can't you do it yourself? I remember seeing some of my female classmates braiding their hair during class when I was in junior high."

Lu Xiaoshuang laughed and said, "Hehe, I'm not very good with my hands, I can't learn it. Why don't you do it, Brother Yi?"

"I?"

"Yes, once you learn how, you can braid my hair."

Zhou Yi asked with a mischievous grin, "So you think we'll have a daughter in the future, so you're letting me practice first?"

These words made Lu Xiaoshuang blush. "You're so annoying, how come you've become so glib?"

"Really?" Zhou Yi smiled and pretended to be clueless.

Su Xiuying walked by and asked with a smile, "What are you two talking about, looking so happy?"

Before lunch, Lu Guohua started packing his things in a flurry, looking so helpless despite his age.

One minute they'd say to bring this along, the next they'd say to put that in their bag, just in case it comes in handy on the road.

Lu Xiaoshuang kept urging her father to rest for a while and stop being so busy.

During the meal, Lu Guohua took out a neatly folded handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to his daughter.

Zhou Yi knew at a glance that there was money inside.

"Xiaoshuang, here's three hundred yuan. Take it. You can't go out without money." Lu Guohua said with a smile, adjusting his worn-out glasses.

Lu Xiaoshuang quickly refused: "Dad, no need, I don't need much money right now. Don't give it to me, keep this money with Mom, in case you feel unwell, remember to go to the hospital."

"It's okay, your mother and I have money."

Zhou Yi knew this was a lie. He had seen the Lu family's circumstances clearly in the past few days; it could be said that Lu Guohua and his wife were even more frugal than some elderly people.

Where would there be any money left? This three hundred was probably saved up by scrimping and saving.

Seeing the family of three arguing about the money for so long, Zhou Yi reached out and took Lu Xiaoshuang's hand, then said, "Uncle Lu, Xiaoshuang is right. Keep this money for emergencies. Xiaoshuang has many people in Hongcheng who will take care of her, so you don't need to worry about her living conditions. If she really goes hungry, I'll let her eat at our city bureau's canteen for free."

“That’s right, Mom and Dad, don’t worry, Zhou Yi is here.” Lu Xiaoshuang stuffed the handkerchief containing the money back into Lu Guohua’s pocket.

Lu Guohua wanted to insist, but Su Xiuying pressed his hand down, saying, "The children have grown up, so we can rest assured."

Upon hearing his wife's words, Lu Guohua withdrew his hand.

"Eat vegetables, eat vegetables, eat more."

Just then, Zhou Yi's phone rang.

He took it out and saw that it was a landline from the Shacao Town Police Station.

He answered immediately.

Sure enough, it was Zhao Liang on the other end of the phone.

"Brother Zhao."

"Zhou Yi, I remember you said last time that you were leaving today, right?"

“Yes.” Zhao Liang asked him during a casual chat when they were repairing the roof last time.

"Is it convenient for you to take a bus to the county? Do you want me to call a car for you in town?"

"Brother Zhao, no need to trouble yourself. Teacher Lu has made all the arrangements. The car will come to pick us up after we finish eating."

"That's good. Oh, I was actually planning to come and see you off," Zhao Liang said with emotion.

Actually, Zhou Yi knew something was up from when Zhao Liang asked if he wanted them to call a car!
Given Zhao Liang's enthusiastic personality, he would most likely come to pick him up if he had the time.

If the person didn't come, it means they couldn't leave.

"Brother Zhao, is there any progress in Ge Fangfang's case?"

Zhao Liang was startled: "How did you know?"

"I'm just guessing. Tell me quickly, has the child been found?" Zhou Yi actually wanted to say "the child's body," but he was afraid of scaring Lu Xiaoshuang and her family of three, so he asked vaguely.

Zhao Liang sighed deeply: "Alas, not yet. But last night, Miao Genhua committed suicide."

"What?" This result was completely unexpected by Zhou Yi.

Because he didn't notice at all yesterday that Miao Genhua had suicidal tendencies.

He suddenly remembered what Wu Yongcheng had said when he called him earlier: that people might still die.

Did Captain Wu successfully predict this? From now on, the Hongcheng City Public Security Bureau will have two jinxes.

Zhou Yi stood up, walked to the door, and asked, "How did she commit suicide?"

The other three people at the table also put down their chopsticks and looked at him, knowing what had happened.

"He stole the sleeping pills from the old lady in the next bed and then committed suicide by taking them."

"Steal..." Zhou Yi felt a little speechless.

Zhao Liang added, "Fortunately, it was discovered in time and the patient was saved."

"That's it..."

No sooner had Zhou Yi finished speaking than Zhao Liang's next words left him completely stunned.

Zhao Liang said, "But Ma Weichang has disappeared. We've been looking for him all morning, but we can't find him anywhere!"

(End of this chapter)