When Xu Lang and the others arrived at Chenjiahe Village from the city, it was already afternoon, when the sun was the brightest and the temperature was the highest.
If possible, Lai Pi and the others would really like to stay in the car without getting out, because as soon as they open the door, the suffocating heat wave hits their faces, making people feel as if their bodies are on fire.
Xu Lang and his group's cars were parked at the place where Xu Lang and his group came last time. Standing on the side of the road, they could clearly see the village below.
The once wide river surface has now turned into a small stream, exposing the bottom of the river bed. Those extremely round stones that have been washed away by the river water for many years are now lying quietly on the river bed.
Several shirtless children wearing shorts were turning over stones in the stream, exclaiming and childlike laughter from time to time. On the river bank, there were several women waving mallets and beating.
Clothes, on the bank of the river, the green crops are swaying in the wind, and a few cattle and sheep are eating green grass in the shade.
Looking at the familiar scene in front of me, it was exactly the same as when Xu Lang came here before.
Captain Fang of the Criminal Investigation Team walked up to Xu Lang, looked at Chenjiahe Village not far away, and said, "I always thought that our villages in City S were close to the sea, but I didn't expect that they are also surrounded by mountains.
village."
Xu Lang nodded and said, "Yeah, I didn't expect that I would be like you when I first came here."
"Team Leader Xu, this seems to be just an ordinary village, nothing unusual." Captain Fang said.
Xu Lang turned his head, glanced at Captain Fang, pursed his lips, and without saying anything, walked directly along the path towards Chenjiahe Village. The others saw this and followed closely.
Xu Lang and the others did not notify the Hengtong County Public Security Bureau this time. Naturally, there was no one to guide them. This was the second time Xu Lang came, and this time was different from the last time. Last time, Xu Lang and the others only had three people, and this time
Once, Xu Lang brought a dozen people with him.
A large number of more than a dozen people walked towards Chenjiahe, and soon attracted people washing and playing by the river. Women who were talking, laughing, and washing clothes, after seeing Xu Lang and others in police uniforms,
, immediately stopped talking, raised their heads and looked at Xu Lang and the others, showing doubts and vigilance. The children who were having fun immediately returned to the women after seeing Xu Lang and the others.
When Xu Lang and the others came to the river bank, the children were already running towards Chenjiahe Village, probably to inform the adults. Xu Lang noticed all this and said nothing.
A group of people crossed the river on cement blocks, glanced at a few women, and walked straight towards the village.
Perhaps sensing that a stranger was approaching, dogs barked in the village, and the originally silent village suddenly became noisy.
When Xu Lang and his group arrived at the entrance of the village, Xu Lang saw a familiar figure in the distance. It was a man. The man had dark skin and a little white on his temples. He was slightly hunched and holding a hand.
A dry cigarette bag, squinting at Xu Lang and the others who were walking towards him.
After Xu Lang approached the man, he smiled and said, "Village Chief, we meet again."
"Oh, who do I think it is? It turns out to be Police Officer Xu from the city." Chen Weiguo said with a look of realization.
Although Chen Weiguo was talking to Xu Lang, his slightly cloudy eyes swept over the group of people behind Xu Lang one by one. Looking at the police uniforms they were wearing and the holsters on their waists, Chen Weiguo frowned subconsciously.
Frown.
"Officer Xu, I wonder what you are here for this time? Are you here to arrest someone?" After scanning for a week, Chen Weiguo looked at Xu Lang again and asked, his tone somewhat unhappy.
"Village Chief, you misunderstood. I came in a hurry last time and didn't have enough people. I didn't ask many questions clearly. No, this time, I specially brought a few more people here. It's easier to do things with more people." Xu Langxiao
He explained.
Chen Weiguo took a deep look at Xu Lang and said nothing, just nodded slightly.
"It's so hot, let's go and sit indoors."
"Then I'm sorry to bother you."
Xu Lang was not polite to Chen Weiguo and walked directly towards the village with Chen Weiguo, with Lai Pi and the others following behind.
At this time, when the temperature was at its highest, the villagers in the village did not go to work in the fields, but sat at home to enjoy the cool air. After seeing Xu Lang and his party coming here, they all stood at the door and looked at Xu Lang.
Stupid them.
Just like last time, these villagers looked at Xu Lang and others with doubts, curiosity, vigilance, and indifference.
When these villagers saw Chen Weiguo, they would say hello, but their eyes were always fixed on Xu Lang and the others. It seemed that Chen Weiguo had a high prestige in the village.
When a group of people arrived at Chen Wei's country, Xu Lang stopped, looked at Lai Pi and said, "It's getting late. You take Captain Fang and the others to visit the village. We'll meet here later."
Lai Pi nodded, turned around and left with the others.
Chen Weiguo looked at this scene and narrowed his cloudy eyes again, but he didn't say anything.
"Sit in the room." Chen Weiguo said.
Xu Lang nodded and followed Chen Weiguo into the courtyard of his house. When he entered the main room, Xu Lang once again saw the bacon hanging outside when he came here last time. Xu Lang couldn't help but take a few more glances.
Eyes, then walked into the main room.
Boiling water to make tea, Xu Lang and Chen Weiguo sat on chairs, chatted briefly, and then went straight to the topic.
"Officer Xu, I wonder what you want to investigate by bringing so many people here this time?" Chen Weiguo asked while smoking a dry cigarette.
Xu Lang held a disposable cup in his hand. The cup was steaming, and dark yellow tea leaves were rising and falling in the cup. A faint scent of tea came to his nose. The tea was good, it should be this year's new tea.
Hearing Chen Weiguo's voice, Xu Lang put down the cup in his hand and asked, "Did you know that Chen Wang is dead?"
Chen Weiguo looked at Xu Lang and frowned. He didn't know what Xu Lang wanted to ask, but he still nodded and said, "People from the Public Security Bureau came to the village to inform us that Chen Wang's family has gone to the county.
."
"Oh? When did Chen Wang's family go to the county?" Xu Lang asked.
"A few days ago."
"How many days ago? What day was it specifically?"
"When I think about it, it seems to be August 1st or 2nd. I forgot the specific day."
Hearing what Chen Weiguo said, Xu Lang raised his eyebrows, looked at Chen Weiguo, and asked, "Since they went to the county, they should have gone to the city. Why didn't I see them?"
"I don't know about this. I'm just the village chief. I know what's going on in the village, but I don't know what's going on outside the village." Chen Weiguo said calmly.
Hearing this, Xu Lang narrowed his eyes subconsciously.
Chen Wang's body was discovered on August 1st. At that time, it was known that the deceased was Chen Wang. Except for the police officers from the Chengnan Public Security Bureau and CSY, no one else knew. Although, Xu Lang was receiving the news at that time.
When the news came, Chen Guodong was nearby, and Xu Lang just said on the phone that Chen Wang had been found, but did not say that Chen Wang was dead.
After returning to the city, Xu Lang noticed that something was wrong with the Hengtong County Public Security Bureau, so he did not notify the Hengtong County police, nor did he contact Chen Wang's family. So, how did Chen Weiguo and the others know, and what made Xu Lang even more confused
What is strange is that not long after Chen Wang's body was discovered, Chen Wang's family received news of Chen Wang's death and went to the county.
If they had learned about Chen Wang's murder through other channels, they should have gone to the city to claim the body as soon as possible. However, a week has passed since Chen Wang's body was found, and Chen Wang's body is still in CSY.
It was left in the morgue, but Chen Wang’s parents didn’t go there at all. Why?
Since Chen Weiguo said that he didn't know where Chen Wang's relatives were now, Xu Lang changed the question.
"Where are Chen Zhen's family now? I want to ask them about something."
"Oh, them, they are not in the village now either."
"Not in the village? Where?"
"On the second day after you came to the village, they left the village."
"Left? Where did you go?"
Chen Weiguo shook his head and said, "I don't know where they went."
"Then did they say what they were going to do?"
"Oh, that's true. They said they went out to work."
"work to earn a living?"
Xu Lang frowned.
It's August now, more than half of the year has passed, and there isn't much time left before the New Year. I don't go out early in the morning, and I don't go out late in the evening. But to go out at this time seems strange no matter how you look at it.
"Are Chen Zhen's parents the only ones out?" Xu Lang asked again.
"No, the whole family has left."
"Grandpa Chen Zhen is out too?"
"yes."
"Chen Zhen's grandfather is already in his seventies. Why does he still go out to work at such an old age?"
Xu Lang looked at Chen Weiguo dubiously. Obviously, he didn't believe what Chen Weiguo said.
Chen Weiguo seemed to see Xu Lang's distrust. He grinned, showing his yellowish and slightly black teeth, and said: "The village is poor and there are no ways to make money. I can only fill my stomach by digging in the fields. I don't want to
There are many people going out in the village, I am just a village chief, they want to go out and make money, I can't stop them, right?"
"What about Chen Shan, Chen Yuzhen and their families? Are they also going out to work?" Xu Lang asked, narrowing his eyes.
Under Xu Lang's gaze, Chen Weiguo tapped the sole of his shoe with his pipe nest, nodded, and said, "They walked together."
Hearing what Chen Weiguo said, Xu Lang's expression suddenly became ugly. When he decided to come to Chenjiahe again, Xu Lang had a vague feeling that this trip to Chenjiahe would not go so smoothly. As expected, after arriving here, Xu Lang and the others
The people they were looking for all left, and they left after Xu Lang and the others came to Chen Jiahe last time. If Xu Lang's suspicion that there was something wrong with Chen Jiahe before was just a guess, then this guess may now be
It came true.
"Have Chen Zhen and the others contacted you recently?" Xu Lang asked.
"Our place is remote and very poor, and there are no telephone lines."
"Then there's always a mobile phone."
Chen Weiguo nodded and said, "Yes, we do have mobile phones, but they are of little use here."
"What do you mean?" Xu Lang asked confused.
"Officer Xu, didn't you come here last time? Didn't you notice that the mobile phone signal here is very poor, and many times we can't get through the phone?" Chen Weiguo looked at Xu Lang and said.
Xu Lang was stunned for a moment, and then he immediately took out his cell phone and took a look. Sure enough, as Chen Weiguo said, there was only one signal on the screen, and it kept flashing.
Xu Lang was silent for a while
Xu Lang silently put the phone into his pocket. He came in a hurry last time and it was relatively late. Xu Lang didn't notice this at the time and was careless.
"Have Chen Zhen and the others come back recently?" Xu Lang asked.
Chen Weiguo took out a handful of cut tobacco from the tobacco bag, put it into the tobacco bag nest, took out a lighter and lit it, took a few puffs, shook his head and said, "No."
"Really?" Xu Lang asked again.
Chen Weiguo exhaled a puff of thick smoke, raised his head, looked at Xu Lang through the smoke, and said: "Why, Officer Xu doesn't believe what I say. What can I say? I am also a village chief and a cadre, and I always seek truth from facts in everything I say and do."
Xu Lang narrowed his eyes and looked at Chen Weiguo, while Chen Weiguo was smoking while looking at Xu Lang. A choking smoke rose between the two people, blocking each other's vision.
After a moment of silence, Xu Lang said again: "Is there any breeding industry in your village?"
"Raising? You said raising pigs? Raising. This is a rural area. Every household raises pigs. Why, Officer Xu is here to buy pork, right? Ah? Haha..."
At the end of the sentence, Chen Weiguo laughed to himself.
Chen Weiguo was teasing Xu Lang, but Xu Lang didn't laugh. He looked at Chen Weiguo's weathered face behind the smoke and said, "Do you know what I mean by breeding?"
"Officer Xu, if you have anything to say, just say it. I really don't know what breeding you are talking about." Chen Weiguo said in a neutral tone.
"For example, golden pheasants, slow lorises, pythons, etc."
Chen Weiguo shook his head and said: "We don't have any of the things you mentioned here. We do have free-range chickens. Officer Xu, if you like them, take a few back when you leave. Although they are not worth a lot of money, we
The local chickens are different from the chickens that eat feed in your city, they are chewy."
"Old fox, I underestimated you."
Xu Lang secretly thought that at first, he thought that Chen Weiguo was just an ordinary village cadre, nothing unusual. Xu Lang felt the same way when he came here last time. However, after today's conversation, Xu Lang discovered that this
Chen Weiguo, who looks honest and honest, just like a farmer, is far from being as simple as Xu Lang thought.
Xu Lang and the others suddenly came to Chenjiahe this time. Chen Weiguo was really surprised when he saw them. However, when Xu Lang asked these questions, Chen Weiguo answered them very simply. Either he didn't know, or he was playing tricks on Xu Lang.
In short, Xu Lang didn't ask many useful things from him.
Thinking of this, Xu Lang felt depressed for a while. If a village chief is so cunning, then wouldn't it be more difficult to deal with Chen Guodong, the director of the Hengtong County Public Security Bureau?
Looking at Chen Weiguo who was smoking dry cigarettes leisurely, Xu Lang felt that Chen Weiguo didn't look like a farmer who had never lived in a big city. He was more cunning than many people, making it impossible for people to find any flaws, just like with Xu Lang just now
It seems that every word he said has flaws and is unconvincing. However, you can't find any reason or evidence to refute it. This is what makes Xu Lang feel depressed and aggrieved.
After a long silence, Chen Weiguo coughed twice and said: "Officer Xu, drink tea. This is our home-grown tea. You can try it and take some back to drink. If you like it, I will give it to you next year."
Officer Xu, please be prepared."
Xu Lang followed Chen Weiguo's gaze and looked at the cup of cold tea on the table. He did not touch it, but stood up and said, "It's getting late. Could you please take me to the house of Chen Qiumin and Chen Wang, village chief?"
look."
"Didn't you see it last time? Why do you want to see it again? There are no old houses where no one lives, and there is nothing to see." Chen Weiguo said.
"Let's go."
Xu Lang said this while walking towards the door.
Chen Weiguo did not stand up, but turned his head, looked at Xu Lang's back and said, "I'm afraid Officer Xu can't see anything."
Hearing this, Xu Lang paused, stopped where he was, turned to look at Chen Weiguo, and asked, "What does the village chief mean by this?"
"A few days ago, some little kids in the village were too naughty and played with fire, and accidentally set the house on fire. The house was burned to a complete mess. Now, only some wooden shelves are left. Hey, you know, we are here.
In the countryside, the children are on summer vacation, and the children in the countryside are very naughty, and there is nothing we can do about it." Chen Weiguo said slowly.
It caught fire and burned down. Is this a coincidence?
There are indeed many coincidences in the world, but Xu Lang does not believe that so many coincidences will appear in Chenjiahe Village in a short period of time. This must be man-made arson to eliminate evidence so that Xu Lang and the others cannot investigate.
rise.
Although Xu Lang and the others came, went to Chen Qiumin's home house, and inspected it, they found nothing unusual at that time. They originally planned to come back the next day for a detailed inspection, but later, because of Chen Wang's incident, Xu Lang
Lang and the others went back temporarily. This time, Chen Qiumin's house was directly burned down. This was quite a coincidence.
Since Chen Qiumin's home was burned down, if it was really arson, then there must still be secrets hidden in Chen Qiumin's home, or there may be some evidence, but these things no longer exist now.
Thinking of this, Xu Lang couldn't help but feel annoyed. However, annoyed, Xu Lang still said: "Then please take me to the scene to see the village chief."
Chen Weiguo looked at Xu Lang for a while, nodded, knocked the pipe on the ground a few times, then took the pipe rod, stood up, and followed Xu Lang out.