Insights Chapter 94: The Culprit

Chapter 94: The Culprit

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

In the early morning, Penang City Bureau. Outside, the city was shrouded in darkness. Inside the police office, Bai Meng found some photos and videos on Wei Sen’s phone. There were pictures of Wei Sen and Zhao Chuanwen together, as well as group photos from a community Go competition. There were also some photos taken during promotional activities by elderly care companies near the neighborhood.

Among them were several photos that seemed to depict free medical check-ups organized for the elderly, with doctors in white coats measuring blood pressure for the elderly while several staff members stood by, all with smiles on their faces.

Those seemed normal, but what followed was abnormal… There was a group photo where several elderly people were sitting together, opening lunch boxes to eat, but in the background, there appeared to be a “familiar face.” Bai Meng enlarged the picture, confirming that she wasn’t mistaken.

It was the delivery guy they had caught on the mountain while investigating the case at night.

Bai Meng continued to search and found that this delivery guy had appeared more than once on Wei Sen’s phone. He seemed to often deliver food to them and was familiar with them. Bai Meng logged into the police system and pulled up the personal information of all the delivery guys in that area.

People generally felt that every time they ordered food, the delivery guy was often different, but this was from the perspective of the customer. In many areas further from the city center, delivery guys were more fixed, even in some remote areas where there were only one or two delivery guys. When customers ordered from the same restaurant regularly, they were more likely to be assigned the same delivery guy. Just like the place they went to today, there were only twenty-four delivery guys nearby. The chances of encountering the same person were high.

Bai Meng quickly recalled and identified the delivery guy. His name was Zhang Lijie. Then Bai Meng checked the phone number of the delivery guy provided by the delivery platform last night.

Bai Meng found out that it wasn’t Zhang Lijie who had taken the order last night, but another delivery guy named Li Hong. However, Li Hong hadn’t delivered the food to them; it was Zhang Lijie who had brought the meal. Probably because of this, Zhang Lijie hadn’t called her to inform about his location. Doing so would reveal his number, making it easier to spot any issues.

Bai Meng speculated that maybe the order was far away, and Zhang Lijie knew about the murder nearby, so it wasn’t difficult to guess that the customers were police officers. He voluntarily offered to help his colleagues with the order, so he brought the food to the foot of the mountain.

Bai Meng recalled the process of their arrest at night.

At that time, they were on the mountain and saw Zhang Lijie. He then hurriedly fled, triggering her detective instinct, compelling her to chase after him. Moreover, when Zhang Lijie was on the mountain, he moved swiftly in the darkness, swiftly darting into small spaces, indicating his familiarity with the terrain there. It was clearly not because he was unfamiliar with the terrain and accidentally took that path. His nervousness and panic while running were genuine.

Bai Meng furrowed her brows, pondering. At that time, Zhang Lijie deliberately wore the delivery uniform underneath, probably intending to take the opportunity of delivering food to check the situation on the mountain. And after seeing them, Zhang Lijie unzipped his jacket, which was a well-prepared excuse.

Feeling like she had discovered an important clue to the case, Bai Meng checked the time and saw that it was already past two in the morning. She felt excited but had no one to share it with, so she patiently continued to investigate the case. Typically, after discovering suspicious points in a case, background checks were conducted to reconstruct the facts of the incident.

Bai Meng, learning from Gu Yanchen’s usual methods of analyzing cases, further began to investigate the detailed information of this Zhang Lijie. Zhang Lijie lived near a metro station, three stops away, which was also the starting station of this train. He was forty-nine years old this year and had been delivering food for several years, making him an experienced delivery guy.

His wife worked as a domestic helper, and his son used to work on a construction site. He fell from the fourth floor and got injured but didn’t receive proper compensation, leading to a long legal battle. His daughter-in-law promoted shampoo in a supermarket, but it wasn’t a stable job. In short, Zhang Lijie’s family was not financially well-off. Their grandson had congenital heart disease, and they had spent a lot of money on his treatment. They were currently raising money for his surgery.

In the delivery rating system, Zhang Lijie had been rated an excellent employee for several months this year. However, delivery guys often encountered unexpected situations and received some negative reviews, including a few from Zhao Chuanwen and Wei Sen.

The background check was quickly completed.

At three in the morning, Bai Meng washed her face with cold water and returned to review the clues from the day of the incident. The surveillance footage of Zhao Chuanwen falling into the subway had already been sent.

Bai Meng watched each video of the incident and several surveillance videos of people entering the subway entrance. In the past, this would have taken several days for a few officers to complete, but she sped it up, opening four windows simultaneously and meticulously examining them. Despite the crowded conditions and blurry footage at the early morning peak station, Bai Meng still managed to find Zhang Lijie among the crowd; he had taken the first train.

After getting off at this station, he didn’t leave but lingered inside until Zhao Chuanwen entered the station, and he appeared not far behind him…

At the time of the incident, he was very close to where Zhao Chuanwen stood. In the video provided by Jiang Xiaoyi, the hand pushing Zhao Chuanwen showed a sleeve with a color matching Zhang Lijie’s inner clothing.

Bai Meng then checked Wei Sen’s call records. In the early hours, after Zhao Chuanwen fell into the subway, Wei Sen had ordered breakfast delivery, and once again, the order was taken by Zhang Lijie. Shortly after Wei Sen left the community, Zhang Lijie also passed by that surveillance camera. The same person appearing successively at the scene of the crime made him a major suspect.

In the police office in the early hours, Bai Meng worked tirelessly, finding more and more information and evidence.

Bai Meng repeatedly checked, ensuring the logic was consistent and the evidence chain was complete. Although it wasn’t a particularly complicated case, the feeling of single-handedly finding the real culprit made her blood boil. 

At six in the morning, the sun finally rose, and Bai Meng stretched lazily. She extracted all the evidence, gave Gu Yanchen a call, explained the situation, and sent over the relevant evidence.

Gu Yanchen was awakened by her call. Captain Gu, whose peaceful sleep was disturbed, showed no sign of anger. He carefully reviewed all the information Bai Meng sent, “I didn’t expect you to crack the case so quickly. Well done! This person is highly suspicious. Let’s go through the formalities for arrest. I’ll go urge Deputy Director Dong,” Gu Yanchen said.

Bai Meng, full of enthusiasm, replied, “Okay!”

Gu Yanchen added, “You didn’t arrest the wrong person last night.”

Last night, he could sense Bai Meng’s disappointment and understood her intention to work overtime. This girl was very stubborn, and he didn’t expect her to actually find the culprit.

Upon hearing this, Bai Meng felt relieved. She smiled and said, “I can’t embarrass my parents, can I?”

Gu Yanchen replied, “You’ve worked hard. Don’t doubt yourself. You’ve always been great!”

Upon hearing these words, Bai Meng’s eyes welled up slightly. Since she was in kindergarten, she had been listening to her father’s stories of catching bad guys. At that time, she would innocently say, “When I grow up, I want to be a police officer.”

But her father always shook his head. After finishing the story, he would say, “It’s too dangerous for a girl to do this. If only you had a brother. Unfortunately, your mother’s health doesn’t allow for another child.”

As she grew up, she stubbornly applied to the police academy, smilingly telling her family, “Our family’s three generations of police spirit shouldn’t end with me.”

But she knew that this path wasn’t easy, especially for a girl in this profession. Being a detective, she would always face many difficulties and criticisms. She had been training hard all along, but her job function mostly involved clerical work in the police force, and she couldn’t take on frontline duties. She always felt a bit regretful about it. Now, she had found a suspect on her own.

She had finally proven herself. So what if she was a girl? Girls could also crack cases with courage and attention to detail. Bai Meng enthusiastically filled out the arrest application, while Gu Yanchen urged the leaders of the City Bureau and the prosecutor’s office to expedite the process.

Colleagues who were up early received the news and sent messages one after another.

Lu Ying said, “Xiaobai, you’re amazing! You actually found the culprit in just one night!”

Bai Meng replied, “Call me Sister Bai!”

Qi Yi’an said, “Good morning, Sister. You’ve worked hard. Sister, what do you want for breakfast?”

Bai Meng replied, “Still sticking to your forensic skills, Dr. Qian? From now on, Sister will look after you, with discounts on matchmaking activities.”

After chatting a bit in the group chat, she went out and called her father. She was afraid it was too early, but her father picked up immediately. Bai Meng had barely said “Dad.”

The voice on the other end, like rapid-fire, said, “I know, you cracked a case. Early in the morning, you’ve got the leaders of the City Bureau up to process the arrest for you. I’ve heard about it already. Isn’t this just an ordinary thing? Which cop hasn’t solved a case? Do you want to come here and boast to me?”

Bai Meng was scolded by her father, and she calmed down. Indeed, it wasn’t a big deal, but being scolded by her own father made her feel a bit wronged. Her original excitement was suppressed, and suddenly she didn’t know what to say.

Her mother on the other end grabbed the phone, “Don’t listen to your dad’s nonsense. Just now, he was boasting to Deputy Director Dong, saying that’s my daughter, of course she’s capable! He said you cracked the case swiftly, almost wanting to grab a megaphone and broadcast it in the yard.”

After hearing this, Bai Meng felt a little better. Her father was tough but soft-hearted. Her mother added, “Daughter, are you tired? Did you stay up all night for this case? You need to rest well and eat properly.”

With tears in her eyes, Bai Meng said, “Mom, I know.”

Old Bai took the phone again, his voice still firm, “Daughter, don’t be proud! I’m afraid you’ll be proud! Go back to work, you still have to go to work!”

Bai Meng, who was about to shed tears, paused, and replied expressionlessly, “Okay.”

Old Bai’s tone softened, “Don’t be proud of yourself, because… you will always be our pride.”

Upon hearing this sentence, Bai Meng instantly broke down. Tears streamed down her face, but she quickly turned her tears into laughter, “Thank you, Dad.”

At six-thirty in the morning, officers from the City Bureau and the Sixth Division went out to arrest the suspect. They quickly arrived at Zhang Lijie’s home and intercepted him before he went to work.

Gu Yanchen learned from the information Bai Meng provided that Zhang Lijie’s family situation was not good. But when he arrived at the scene, he was still stunned. It was a shanty house, drafty and poorly lit, with the bathroom outside. It was only about twenty square meters, divided into two rooms. Zhang Lijie’s son, daughter-in-law, and grandchild slept in the outer room, while Zhang Lijie and his wife slept in the inner room.

Gu Yanchen led his team to knock on the door and enter the room. The small room suddenly became crowded with people.

Zhang Lijie was already awake and seemed prepared mentally for the arrival of these officers. He said, “Wait for me a moment, let me put on some clothes.”

Lu Ying urged, “Hurry up.”

The officers were afraid that Zhang Lijie might run away or resist with weapons, so they stood nearby, gripping their batons tightly, and kept a close watch on him.

Zhang Lijie took out a delivery uniform from the cupboard and put it on. Then he tidied up his clothes and said to Gu Yanchen, “I’m ready to go with you guys.”

Gu Yanchen stepped forward to handcuff him. Zhang Lijie’s lips trembled slightly, “Officer Gu, my grandson has a heart condition. Could you give me something to cover the handcuffs? I don’t want to scare the child.”

Gu Yanchen didn’t say anything, but he grabbed a helmet from the side and placed it over Zhang Lijie’s hands.

Using the helmet, Zhang Lijie covered the handcuffs, making it look like he was going to work.

Outside, his family was there. Zhang Lijie bid them farewell one by one. His wife turned her head away, wiping her tears secretly. When he reached his grandson, Zhang Lijie squatted down and called him by his nickname, “Xuanxuan, don’t worry. Grandpa is going out with Uncle for something, and I’ll be back soon. While Grandpa is away, you must listen to your mom and dad.”

The young grandson, only three or four years old, looked at Zhang Lijie, still unaware of what had happened to his grandfather. He just obediently nodded. Zhang Lijie walked out without saying much, and he got into the car with the officers. As soon as he got into the police car, Zhang Lijie started crying, constantly wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

At the City Bureau, in the interrogation room, faced with the evidence, Zhang Lijie didn’t refute much and confessed quickly. Previously, no one had expected that this seemingly honest delivery man was actually the cruel killer who had murdered two elderly people in succession. Moreover, he was truly audacious. After killing two people yesterday, he dared to wander around under the nose of the police at night. Fortunately, Bai Meng discovered the connection between the cases and caught him.

But upon further reflection, he was the one who knew the old people’s situations the best. He delivered meals to these lonely elderly people every day, and perhaps grudges and emotions arose from it.

Sitting at the table, Zhang Lijie, sunburnt and with a clear black-and-white line where the helmet covered, looked even older under the interrogation room’s light. He said, “Officer Gu, one only has one life, and I’ve chosen the wrong path.”

Gu Yanchen looked at the middle-aged man sitting across from him and said, “Explain the process of the crimes.”

At this point, Zhang Lijie let out a long sigh, “The situation in my family, you’ve seen it. I’ve worked hard all my life, but I became unemployed in middle age and had to become a delivery man. I barely make enough to get by every month. But little did I know, those elderly people I delivered meals to were extremely demanding. If I was late with a delivery, they’d give me a bad review. If soup spilled, a bad review. If the restaurant missed something, a bad review for me. Every month, my salary would be deducted due to their complaints, affecting my chances of promotion and salary increase.”

He rambled on about various incidents, all related to friction between him and the elderly customers.

“Two months ago, it was pouring rain, and Zhao Chuanwen ordered a meal. When I arrived, I slipped off my bike, my leg swelled up, and I was soaked. Some of the food spilled, and I asked him if I could give him a refund for the damaged items. But he just glanced at me, took the meal, and said, ‘This is your job, I don’t want your money, I just want my food.’ Then he walked away. At that moment, my blood ran cold.”

With clenched fists, Zhang Lijie continued, “So yesterday morning, I was on the subway to work, and I ran into Zhao Chuanwen at the station. I was filled with hatred… Why did he get to benefit so much, while we’re all just people struggling to get by? I was jealous of him! I was out of my mind at the time, I just wanted him dead.”

“I followed him closely! I deliberately blended into the crowd, and when the train was coming, I pushed him… he fell… I was wearing a mask and blended into the crowd as I left the subway.”

Gu Yanchen asked, “Did you then kill Wei Sen?”

“As soon as I got to work, Wei Sen ordered a meal. I thought, Wei Sen is Zhao Chuanwen’s good friend, they’re often together. If I left Wei Sen alive, he would surely suspect me. I knew he often went for a walk on the hill in the morning after breakfast, so I decided to take decisive action…”

After killing one person, Zhang Lijie thought that if he got caught, he’d face the death penalty anyway, so he might as well take a bigger risk. And later, when the police came to investigate, he even acted in front of several officers, and even Gu Yanchen at the time didn’t notice anything unusual about his demeanor.

The suspect confessed without hesitation, and another serial murder case was solved. However, Gu Yanchen, sitting across from the suspect, felt no sense of accomplishment. He didn’t choose to end the interrogation.

“Zhang Lijie, what you confessed about the process of the crimes may be true, but regarding your motive, you’re lying.” Gu Yanchen took out a stack of investigation materials and placed them in front of Zhang Lijie. “We’ve interviewed your colleagues and checked your employment records. Although there were complaints, they didn’t affect your work and life significantly. Everyone said you were a diligent delivery man. Moreover, your conflicts with these elderly people were not limited to what you mentioned.”

Gu Yanchen flipped through the files and reminisced with Zhang Lijie, “Three years ago, one afternoon, Zhao Chuanwen ordered takeout. He suffered heat stroke that day and passed out as soon as he got it inside. This incident could’ve been something you ignored, but you called for help and took him to the hospital.”

This incident made Gu Yanchen believe that there must be another reason behind the case. If Zhang Lijie was truly a cold-blooded murderer, he could have let Zhao Chuanwen die at that time. After all, Zhang Lijie was Zhao Chuanwen’s savior.

Zhang Lijie pursed his lips and nodded, “That did happen. But it’s been a long time, and Zhao Chuanwen didn’t remember it was me.”

“Then let me tell you something more recent. Earlier this year, Wei Sen had a bout of back pain and had difficulty getting out of bed, so he gave you his house key. You delivered meals to him for half a month and even helped him take out the trash. In the past two years during Chinese New Year, you made a lot of dumplings yourself and delivered them to these lonely elderly people who often ordered from you. You said you wanted them to feel the warmth of home…” 

Zhang Lijie’s eyes welled up with tears, and he gritted his teeth, “My actions didn’t earn me a single cent, and despite my kindness, I didn’t receive any reciprocation from them! Of course, I wanted to kill them!”

Gu Yanchen looked at him sternly, “Even so, you’re not someone who would casually kill, and yet you killed two people in succession.”

The act of killing was not something many people would practice, and there’s a huge gap between good and bad people. Gu Yanchen mentioned all of this not out of sympathy for the murderer. Poverty was not an excuse for committing crimes. He asked these questions because he urgently wanted to know what was being concealed behind the truth.