Chapter 11: The Riverside Murder

This story is entirely fictional.

On the way to H City, Dai Yunjiao followed Yating closely, like a personal bodyguard. When they arrived at the pier, Dai Yunjiao noticed tourists glancing at him from time to time.

Once they were seated in the speedboat’s cabin, Dai Yunjiao asked Yating, “Just now, on the way here, why did so many people look at me with such strange expressions?”

“Were they looking at you? I don’t think so. Didn’t you notice they were all looking at me? They saw such a beautiful and sexy woman and were captivated by my charm, that’s all,” Yating replied.

“Really? I thought they were staring at me. Maybe they found it odd that someone like me could be walking beside a beauty like you?” Dai Yunjiao mused.

Yating glanced at him and said, “Of course, I’m famous for my looks. In our HZ region, I’m recognized by everyone as a beauty!”

After they sat down, Dai Yunjiao noticed a bearded foreigner nearby and found it quite peculiar.

He nudged Gao Yating with his elbow. She didn’t quite get his meaning. “What is it?”

“Look,” Dai Yunjiao whispered, gesturing with his eyes toward a certain area of the foreigner’s trousers.

“What’s there to see? You really are a country bumpkin, aren’t you? And to think you even worked as a croupier in MC’s casino,” Yating scoffed, yet still cast a glance at the foreigner.

“I’ve always been too embarrassed to ask others. Why are Westerners so different from Easterners? Aren’t you supposed to be worldly and knowledgeable?”

“I’ll tell you. What you see is after some, well, adjustment,” Yating said, a bit mysteriously.

“Adjustment? What kind of adjustment?” Yunjiao asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

With people nearby, Yating hesitated a bit, then leaned in to whisper in his ear.

After hearing it, Dai Yunjiao laughed. “Looks like when we get to H City, you’ll have to prepare the same for me, just in case anything unseemly happens!”

“Oh, please, as if you’d ever need to worry about that! You’re nowhere near the mark!” Yating teased, her tone mocking.

“I’m just worried about something embarrassing happening when I’m with a beauty like you,” Dai Yunjiao joked.

“Alright, alright, I get it. I’ll see to it later,” Yating replied. As they spoke, the speedboat had already docked at H City’s pier.

Upon arrival in H City, Yating arranged rooms for them at the Seaview Hotel. After a brief rest and a hot shower, she changed clothes and stepped out of the bathroom to find Dai Yunjiao flipping through TV channels with the remote.

She looked at him and said, “You should go and take a shower too. After that, we’ll head to the Harbor Shopping Plaza and buy you some new outfits. Make it quick!”

After Dai Yunjiao finished showering, Yating picked up her Versace bag and said, “Let’s go!”

Following behind Yating, Dai Yunjiao left the hotel lobby and hopped into a taxi as soon as they stepped outside.

They arrived at the Harbor Shopping Plaza and found a designer boutique. Yating quickly selected several suits, shirts, and ties, and had him try them on.

While Dai Yunjiao was in the fitting room, he glanced at the price tags: each outfit cost at least thirty to fifty thousand. He put these concerns aside—having a rich lady in his life really was something! He was elated inside.

He tried on each set of clothes Yating had picked out for him. The ones she didn’t like were set aside by the attendants at her signal of disapproval. While he was in the fitting room, he heard Yating asking about his shoe size and called it out to her.

When he emerged, he looked distinctly uncomfortable as he approached Yating. She had three pairs of shoes packaged up and handed him another pair to put on. Looking at the man before her, she thought, “Clothes really do make the man!” At that moment, she found herself captivated all over again, her heart fluttering, her face flushing with a rare blush. She flashed an “OK” gesture with her hand.

With clothing and shoe purchases all packed up in shopping bags of every size, Dai Yunjiao’s hands were full to the brim as they left the shopping plaza.

On the opening day of “All Good Company,” a small crowd gathered at the entrance—people in need of loans.

They came in to ask about the loan requirements.

Among them were also people with some spare cash, hoping to deposit it with All Good to earn a little interest.

“Our minimum requirement is fifty thousand. If you invest fifty thousand, you can earn a monthly interest of one thousand,” the staff explained to the inquirers.

At the Criminal Investigation Division’s office in Dahe Public Security Bureau, officers were busy with various cases. Suddenly, the phone rang urgently. Wu Zhengzhe picked it up—it was a tip from a citizen. “A male corpse has been found in the reed beds along Riverside Avenue!”

The CID police car immediately rushed to the scene. The area was cordoned off; the body of a man lay among the thick reeds, his abdomen covered with stab wounds, blood everywhere—a gruesome sight. The tendons in his legs had been severed. Wu Zhengzhe collected an empty soda can at the scene, placing it in a plastic evidence bag. In the dead man’s pocket was an ID card—it matched the victim. His wallet held several bank cards and a dining voucher from Prince Restaurant, dated March 18, 2007. Carefully, Wu Zhengzhe placed the voucher in a plastic bag with tweezers. The body was then transported back to the station.

The officers confirmed the victim’s identity: Shi Tou, male, born December 1986, native of Dahe. Time of death was determined to be around 1 a.m., March 19, 2007. Cause of death: homicide.

Wu Zhengzhe carefully reviewed Shi Tou’s household registration file. Records showed he was born to an ordinary working-class family in Dahe, both parents deceased. He had worked at a financial services company called All Good, specifically as a debt collector.

Their investigation revealed that Shi Tou had always been a model employee at All Good, with no abnormal behavior. But three months earlier, he had suddenly left the company without explanation and disappeared.

Wu Zhengzhe visited All Good to inquire about Shi Tou’s character, work, and personal life. The employees and management all gave glowing, unanimous praise, describing Shi Tou as exemplary.

This reaction surprised Wu Zhengzhe. If Shi Tou had been so well-regarded, it was truly baffling that he would meet such a violent end.

Back at his office, Wu Zhengzhe was summoned by the chief. “You and Xiao Jin need to head to Hexi. According to our information, prior to the incident on March 19, the victim spent a few days with a friend in Hexi. Go there and talk to his friend, find out what you can about the victim’s situation in Hexi. Go this morning!” the chief instructed, sharing more details.

“Understood, I’ll keep in touch,” Wu Zhengzhe replied. He packed up his things and set off for Hexi with Xiao Jin.

When they arrived in Hexi, they saw a banner outside a five-star hotel near the stadium: “Warmly Welcome the Tigers Football Club.” Xiao Jin exclaimed in amazement, “Wow! Hooray!”

“What’s got you so excited?” asked Wu Zhengzhe.

“Didn’t you see? Our Dahe club is playing against the Tigers here in Hexi today. It’s the second round of the China Super League—football, my love!” Xiao Jin was practically dancing with excitement.

“You actually watch the China Super League? What’s so great about it? Domestic matches aren’t much. Besides, we’re here to investigate, not have fun, remember?” Wu Zhengzhe said coldly.

“I never said we were here for fun. The chief wants us to find the victim’s friend, right? We can watch first, the match is at three, it won’t affect our work,” Xiao Jin pleaded.

Though Wu Zhengzhe wasn’t interested, he eventually agreed to check out the game after much begging from Xiao Jin.

At the stadium, they ran into Chi Zhaoming. Wu Zhengzhe patted him on the shoulder from behind. “What brings you to Hexi?”

“It’s funny running into you here. Just look at my press badge—we’re broadcasting today’s match between the Tigers and Dahe,” Chi Zhaoming replied.

“Xiao Jin, let me introduce you. This is my buddy Chi Zhaoming from Dahe TV’s sports department. Quite a coincidence to meet him here today!” Wu Zhengzhe said.

“I’ve worked with you for so long and never knew you had a friend at the TV station. You should have introduced us sooner!” Xiao Jin exclaimed.

“Well, I’m introducing you now,” Wu Zhengzhe replied. The introductions made, Xiao Jin shook hands with Chi Zhaoming. “Pleased to meet you!”

After a few pleasantries, Xiao Jin suggested, “How about I treat you two brothers to a drink after the broadcast?”

Wu Zhengzhe and Chi Zhaoming hesitated a bit but eventually agreed.

(To be continued)