Zhou Bang’s official position was higher than his own, so Liu Chengfeng was a little embarrassed. He just cupped his hands and said: “I am just impatient. I just feel unhappy and a little anxious when I see the tragic death of these two people. But when talking about this case, what happened in this inn is just a routine inquiry by the official.”
Seeing Zhuo Bang’s cold face and not saying anything, his face also became grim, and he turned to look at Wu Zuo: “Maybe you can guess when the murder happened?”
Wu Zuo said: “It was probably last night, around midnight.”
Liu Chengfeng coughed: “Since this case happened in an inn, before the case comes to light, the inn must be closed down first. All personnel related to this matter will be detained first and will be questioned one by one before we speak.”
This was the old practice in handling cases in the past, and others didn’t say anything. A few people staying in the inn felt a little unlucky, but there was nothing they could do.
Jiang Zhou glanced around and noticed the secretive look on the guest’s face. Suddenly, he said, “Sir, this was a life-threatening incident. It could be considered a significant event that has occurred in our town in recent years. How about a public trial?”
If the trial were conducted privately, regardless of the outcome, it would only be known externally that an incident occurred at Jiang Zhou’s Inn, which would invariably affect future business. Having a public trial would alleviate concerns. If the inn was not involved, they wouldn’t gain notoriety.
Liu Chengfeng responded with yes.
Jiang Zhou first called the shopkeeper over and asked, “I was in a hurry when I arrived. Have you clarified the identities of these two individuals? Are they guests at our inn?”
The shopkeeper, known for his good memory, replied, “These two arrived three days ago. They didn’t disclose much except mentioning they came from the capital for business. They mostly kept to themselves, especially the woman who rarely left her room. The man frequented outings, enjoyed peanuts and wine, and engaged in conversations or games in the common areas.”
In today’s hotels, guests typically provided documents upon check-in, which the shopkeeper usually retained until their departure. Upon inspection, the shopkeeper found only one name on the documents, Zhou Ming.
Liu Chengfeng hesitated to let Jiang Zhou inquire further, realizing it might not be appropriate given his status as a suspect. His attention diverted upon seeing Zhuo Bang, causing him to refrain from speaking.
Jiang Zhou turned to Zhuo Bang, saying, “Sir, what’s crucial now is to determine whom Zhou Mi interacted with during his outings and if he had any conflicts with anyone.”
Suddenly, a guest stood up, remarking, “This person seems familiar; I’ve encountered him before. He mentioned being here for business and aiming to introduce new products to the capital. He seemed eager for profit.”
Jiang Zhou pondered for a moment and then made a realization, “If he claimed to be here for business, he likely brought goods and money. Did the authorities find anything?”
The government servants exchanged glances and shook their heads, “We inspected the room; there were only scattered coins, no goods.”
Understanding dawned on everyone, “The killer was probably after their money.”
Unexpectedly, Jiang Zhou was tacitly excluded as a suspect; in their eyes, he appeared wealthier and less likely to be greedy. Didn’t they see the extravagant gifts from the emperor given to Jiang Zhou? But rumors circulated that Jiang Zhou displayed them casually, like the pearl he hung by his wife’s bedside as a night light…
.
Jiang Zhou proposed an idea, “We have tour guides to assist visitors. Why not inquire at the tour guide office about the guide who led him?”
The tour guide office, Jiang Zhou’s brainchild, provided scholars and students with a means to earn income.
Generally, when tourists arrived in town, the were escorted by a tour guide, fostering a good relationship. Tourists often relied on these guides for future engagements; for instance, business travelers like Zhou Ming might seek information on prices or market conditions from them.
Shortly after, the tour guide scholar arrived, appearing uneasy and timid, which made Jiang Zhou’s eyelids twitch.
When questioned, the scholar hesitated, saying, “Um… not much. Zhou Ming frequented several shops of the boss, Jiang Zhou, inquiring about prices. Oh, and I saw him on the street yesterday. He mentioned returning to the capital soon and gave me 20 cents as thanks for my assistance before heading back to the inn.”
Apart from the inn’s occupants, the scholar was the last person to encounter him.
Observing the scholar’s nervous demeanor, Jiang Zhou inquired with a smile, “Why are you shaking?”
The scholar’s hands, concealed in his sleeves, trembled slightly. After a moment of silence, he glanced at Liu Chengfeng and confessed, “When Mr. Zhou arrived, I overheard that Jiang Zhou’s Inn was full. Initially, I was taking him to the inn next door, but he insisted on staying here.”
Jiang Zhou’s mind raced: The inn next door?
Wasn’t that owned by Liu Lin?