Facing Shi Ran's question, Xu Cheng pursed his lips unnaturally, as if he didn't want to say anything.
After a pause for several seconds, he spoke.
"Officer, you don't suspect that I killed him, do you? I definitely don't. During this period, except for going to school, I have been studying at home. It was because of what you just said that I learned that such a big thing happened."
"No, we are just conducting a normal investigation. Not only you, but all the people who have been in contact with the deceased need to be investigated. Just tell the truth and tell the truth."
"Okay." Xu Cheng picked up the tea on the table and took a sip before starting to speak.
"Actually, it's not a big deal. We had conflicts before because he wanted to go to college and borrowed money from me, so we got involved. But I haven't seen him since."
"But it's already October, and the university has started for more than a month, and he's just asking you to borrow money now?"
"No, he has been borrowing money from me, and I have also lent him some, but my pocket money is not much, and it is not enough for his college tuition. Because he keeps borrowing from me, I am impatient. I also need money myself, so I can’t give him all my pocket money every month.”
"I see." The temperature of the tea soup had dropped. Shi Ran took a sip and found that the fragrance was indeed fragrant. She continued to ask, "Why didn't you see your father?"
"...He died young."
Hearing this, Shi Ran quickly apologized, "I'm sorry for bringing up your sadness."
"It doesn't matter, I've never seen him before." Xu Cheng's expression was calm.
Ling Qian suddenly asked: "How is the business in your store?"
"It's not bad." When it came to the business in the store, Xu Cheng straightened his rickety back and seemed more confident. He continued: "Although the business in the store has not been very good since the beginning of this month, because it is an old store, We have long-term cooperative relationships with some hotels and government units, so our operating conditions are pretty good.”
"Oh?" Ling Qian raised her eyebrows, "Your store also cooperates with the government?"
"Because my uncle works in the household registration management department of the Ministry of Public Security, he has some connections in government agencies..."
After finishing speaking, Xu Cheng covered his mouth again, seeming a little annoyed, feeling that he had spoken too quickly.
He was probably a little afraid that saying this would bring trouble to his uncle.
Ling Qian continued, "It's okay, we don't care about this."
Hearing what Ling Qian said, Xu Chengcai felt relieved. Fortunately, he didn't cause any serious trouble.
The next step is to confirm Xu Cheng's alibi.
Shi Ran asked: "Where were you between three o'clock in the afternoon and seven o'clock in the evening yesterday?"
"Yesterday was Friday, and I was in the school classroom before 6 p.m., as both teachers and classmates can testify. Because of duty, I cleaned up with several other classmates and didn't leave school until 6:30, and then I took the No. 1 bus home at the bus stop in front of the school, and I returned to the store at about seven o'clock."
"Can anyone prove that you were back at the store at seven o'clock?"
"My mom can do it. My mom will be in the store when I come back."
"...If you think about it again, is there anyone else who can prove it?"
"Well... there is another customer, Grandma Deng. She should be able to prove that she is an old customer of our store. I greeted her when I came in yesterday. She should remember me, right?"
"good."
It's almost over here. According to Xu Cheng's transcript, he has a very sufficient alibi. Just ask the teachers at the school and the classmates who clean with him to confirm whether what he said is true or false.
They went downstairs and asked the landlady for the phone number and address of the customer named Deng that Xu Cheng had just mentioned.
"Police officer, is my Xiaocheng okay?" the landlady asked worriedly.
"It's okay, don't worry, I told you before, I just wanted to find out about the situation from him."
"Farewell."
After hearing what they said, the proprietress felt relieved.
She felt that this year was not going well. First, Xiaocheng failed the college entrance examination, and then the business this year was not as good as last year. Now the police came to the door, but she was fine.
She quickly took two bouquets of snow-white lisianthus, caught up with Shi Ran and Ling Qian who had already walked to the door, and stuffed the two bouquets into their arms.
"Two police officers, thank you for your hard work. I give you these two bouquets of flowers. I hope you can solve the case as soon as possible!" the landlady said enthusiastically.
But this move frightened Ling Qian and quickly pulled Shi Ran away. She waved her hand to refuse with a pale face, "No, no, thank you! We have discipline and cannot accept it! Please go back."
After saying that, Ling Qian quickly pulled Shi Ran back to the car on the second floor.
After closing the door with a bang, Ling Qian patted her chest exaggeratedly and took a long breath.
"What's wrong? It's not that exaggerated, right? It's just a matter of not accepting it..."
Shi Ran said doubtfully, not understanding why her expression was so exaggerated.
Ling Qian turned her head, stared at Shi Ran with sharp eyes, and said, "Don't you remember? Recently, there have been many police officers and some people from other industries who violated professional ethics and then behaved inexplicably. He died at home, and the cause of death was so bizarre that the murderer could not be found. Everyone said it was a ghost killing someone!"
As she said that, she suddenly moved her face closer to Shi Ran, which startled Shi Ran.
"Aren't we just the criminal police responsible for investigating murder cases? Do you still believe this?"
Shi Ran retorted that she thought the strange things in this world had not yet come, but it turned out that they were everywhere.
Ling Qian took out a copy of the Police Code of Conduct from a storage box between her and Shi Ran's seats, and then handed it to Shi Ran to read.
"Look at this, and then talk to me after you finish it." Ling Qian said with a solemn expression.
Anyone who has changed from a materialist to believing in ghosts has gone through a huge psychological struggle and failed.
Shi Ran took it.
When she turned the first page, her eyes widened. It said, Rule 1?
1. Please abide by the Criminal Investigation Brigade of the Public Security Bureau and the Police Code of Conduct.
2. Be loyal to the party, have firm beliefs, obey the party’s command, uphold the constitution, and be loyal to the motherland.
3. Serve the people, love the people, be willing to be public servants, distinguish between love and hate, and eliminate harm to peace and good.
4. Enforce the law impartially and act fairly.
5. Model compliance with social ethics.
6. Treat others politely and perform duties in a civilized manner.
7. Always pay attention to your good image as a police criminal.
8. Please be an honest police officer and refrain from taking advantage of your authority and position to obtain all kinds of improper benefits for yourself, your spouse, your children and your relatives.
9. Not allowed to engage in a second job or engage in various profit-making commercial activities.
10. If any of the above items are violated, one or more punishment measures such as warning, fine, confiscation of illegal income, confiscation of illegal property, criminal measures, and shooting on the spot will be given as appropriate.
