"Why didn't you come yesterday?" Zhang Yichi asked.
The boy replied: "My grandpa asked me to rest at home."
Zhang Yichi felt that he had asked too many questions and seemed inappropriate, so he stopped asking, took out a bun and handed it to the boy: "Let's rest for a while and eat something."
"I don't want to eat." The boy was a little wary.
"Eat it." Zhang Yichi stuffed one into his mouth, and then started eating it himself.
Seeing Zhang Yichi eating deliciously, the boy swallowed and took a small bite.
Seeing the boy start eating, Zhang Yichi knew that the boy's vigilance towards him had greatly weakened: "Is your grandfather's surname Sun?"
"Yeah." The boy ate with gusto.
The dog the boy was holding was very similar to the one he saw in Uncle Sun's yard last night, so he had some guesses before, and after he just asked, the relationship between the boy and Uncle Sun was basically confirmed.
"Do you usually come here at this point?" Zhang Yichi slowly changed the topic to his focus.
"Hmm." The boy muttered.
Zhang Yichi thought for a while, organized his words and said, "When you came here the day before yesterday, did you see anyone on this road?"
The boy stopped eating the buns and looked at Zhang Yichi silently.
Zhang Yichi laughed: "Your grandfather and I are friends, and I have been to your house. There are two trees in front of your house, right?"
The boy stared at Zhang Yichi for a few more seconds before saying, "...did you see it when you came here?"
Zhang Yichi nodded slightly, a little disappointed.
"I saw Teacher Zhang and Grandma Liu when I came back," the boy said again.
"Huh?" Zhang Yichi's eyes lit up, still a little confused, "Grandma Liu...?"
"Well, she is Grandpa Wang's new wife." The boy said.
"Wang Shimin, is this Liu Cuilan? Is Teacher Zhang Zhang Nanyang?" Zhang Yichi quickly realized who the boy was talking about.
As for why the boy called the young Liu Cuilan Grandma, it was probably because of seniority. After all, Chen Chunsheng and Zhang Nanyang all called them Uncle Wang Shimin. Wang Shimin and the village chief, Uncle Sun, were obviously from the same generation.
"Yeah." The boy ate the buns again.
"About what time will it be when you come back?"
"Did you know, it's past ten o'clock."
Zhang Yichi gave the boy a conservative estimate of ten o'clock, and Liu Cuilan's death time was further compressed to between ten and twelve o'clock.
He didn't expect that the boy actually knew such an important thing.
"When you went down the mountain to go home, did you see Zhang Nanyang and Liu Cuilan going up the mountain?" Zhang Yichi continued to ask.
"I saw them down there when I came down the mountain." The boy pointed to the bottom of the mountain road.
Zhang Yichi looked to the side: "What are they doing?"
"We're having a quarrel, why don't I say hello and just leave quietly."
"Maybe you saw them somewhere?"
"In front." The boy said and was about to lead Zhang Yichi over.
"Come over after eating the steamed buns, don't be in a hurry." Zhang Yichi stopped the boy who was gradually becoming enthusiastic.
After eating and almost resting, the two set off again.
After walking some distance further, the boy stopped and pointed to a place under the mountain road: "I remember this is here."
Zhang Yichi stood on the side of the mountain and looked down. This place is still some distance away from the place where Liu Cuilan died. This shows that Liu Cuilan and Zhang Nanyang walked a little further into the mountain after quarreling here.
Why did Zhang Nanyang quarrel with Liu Cuilan? And they came to such a remote place?
Could it be Zhang Nanyang who killed Liu Cuilan?
Zhang Yichi looked down and thought.
Now he thinks Zhang Nanyang is the murderer.
On the one hand, Zhang Nanyang is the most educated person in the village. He is probably the only one who could have transferred Liu Cuilan to the second scene and faked her death in a fall.
On the one hand, Zhang Nanyang and Liu Cuilan had a quarrel. Although they didn't know why they quarreled, it was enough to provide a motive for committing the crime.
On the other hand, the little boy is an eyewitness. I am afraid that Uncle Sun was also afraid that the child would tell the truth, which is why the child did not come out yesterday. This also makes sense on the basis that the villagers are covering up the murderer, but I do not understand why Uncle Sun was so angry in the middle of the night.
Go to his house to find out information?
Zhang Yichi felt that the purpose of this trip had been achieved, and he planned to go back to interview Zhang Nanyang for final confirmation. Once he was determined, he would immediately accuse Zhang Nanyang of being the murderer.
"Take these buns and eat them." There were two more buns in the bag Zhang Yichi was carrying. He handed them to the little boy and warned, "Don't tell your grandpa about meeting me. Your grandpa
I definitely don’t want you to tell the truth, right? Don’t make your grandpa angry, he’s already so old, right?”
"Yeah." The boy responded as he took the bun.
Zhang Yichi rubbed the boy's head and returned the way he came.
On the way back, Zhang Yichi lit a cigarette and felt a little hesitant again.
The two people he mainly suspects now are Zhang Nanyang and Wang Shiren.
Wang Shiren's biggest suspicion is that there were his footprints at the scene of the first crime. He deceived Zhang Yichi and said that the tricycle was broken, which made Zhang Yichi give up the idea of seeking help.
Zhang Nanyang's suspicion is that witnesses saw him and Liu Cuilan quarreling not far from the crime scene. He and Wang Shiren wore the same shoes, so the footprints at the crime scene may also be his.
Both of these are very possible.
Fortunately, Zhang Yichi had a total of two opportunities to testify. If the first test against Zhang Nanyang failed, then Wang Shiren would most likely be the murderer. He could use the last opportunity to testify against Wang Shiren.
There was quite a distance on the way back, but Zhang Yichi felt that he was close to the truth. He walked quickly and rushed directly to Zhang Nanyang's home.
Zhang Nanyang happened to be at home. He was sitting in the yard holding a book and reading. When he saw Zhang Yichi coming, he immediately stood up in surprise: "Brother Zhang, why are you here?"
"I have nothing to do, let's go for a walk." Zhang Yichi put his hands behind his back, looking like he was taking a leisurely walk.
"Come and sit." Zhang Nanyang brought a chair to Zhang Yichi.
After Zhang Yichi sat down, Zhang Nanyang immediately stepped forward and handed him a cigarette: "Brother, smoke."
"No, no, I just finished smoking." Zhang Yichi declined.
"Oh." Zhang Nanyang sat next to Zhang Yichi, "I was reading a book just now. You should learn as you go."
Zhang Yichi knew that Zhang Nanyang was showing this to him, but it seemed that Zhang Nanyang still didn't give up.
"It's very good. I can see your hard work. You are a good prospect. You may be able to do something big after you go out." Zhang Yichi changed his previous disapproval of Zhang Nanyang and praised Zhang Nanyang profusely.
"Brother, can I do it?" Zhang Nanyang's eyes lit up and his joy was beyond words.
"It will definitely work. After I finish the case this time, I will take you out and introduce you to a good job. You will make a lot of money by then, but don't forget about me." Zhang Yichi tried.
"How can I forget you? Brother, you are my Bole. This thousand-mile horse like me has been waiting for you for too long!" Zhang Nanyang was about to cry.
Zhang Yichi patted Zhang Nanyang on the shoulder: "Go and change into better clothes, and I'll see how it goes. It's also important to look for work."
"Yes, yes, brother, you are right, a man relies on his clothes and a horse relies on his saddle!" Zhang Nanyang said and walked towards the house, "You can give me some advice."
Zhang Yichi stood up and followed in, staring at Zhang Nanyang expressionlessly.
Zhang Nanyang opened the wardrobe and picked out some clothes that looked good, then took off his top, revealing the scratches on his arms.