Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Who Says a Street Rat Is Good for Nothing?
Chen Xiao and Luo Dali were walking along the riverbank.
At first, Luo Dali was quiet, just taking in the scenery.
But gradually, Luo Dali couldn’t suppress his loneliness.
"Brother Chen, any discoveries?"
Chen Xiao shook his head.
Luo Dali was a bit impatient: "I think we shouldn’t bother. Investigating cases isn’t really your thing, we should let my sister-in-law handle it."
Chen Xiao laughed: "If I do more, Xiaoxi will have to do less."
"No way, investigating cases is meticulous work, not something you can just lessen by working hard," Luo Dali kindly reminded him, but Chen Xiao was determined.
Luo Dali was silent for a while, then continued walking forward.
But as they walked, Luo Dali couldn’t help saying: "Brother, I’m not trying to discourage you. I understand that after what happened last time, you want to do something for my sister-in-law to make up for it. But luck doesn’t always favor us, right?"
With that, Luo Dali stopped walking.
Chen Xiao knew the incident Luo Dali was referring to was when he went on a binge and didn’t come home all night, so he patiently asked: "Dali, do you really think I was just lucky before?"
"Between us brothers, let’s not hide or hold back, was I just lucky in the Red Cotton Pants case?" Chen Xiao laughed.
Luo Dali nodded earnestly: "What else? You can’t really be good at solving cases, can you!"
"What if I told you I’ve learned how now?"
Luo Dali smiled along: "Don’t joke, Brother Chen. If you really want to turn over a new leaf, there are many ways. No need to choose the hardest one. How about I talk to my dad and get you a job at his company?"
"You know, my sister-in-law doesn’t necessarily need your help with her career, she just wants you to be ambitious!"
Chen Xiao patted his shoulder and smiled: "I understand your intentions, but still, I want to figure out this case. Besides, don’t you want to know how Zhao Xiaohong died?"
Deep down, Luo Dali naturally wanted to know the truth about Zhao Xiaohong’s death, otherwise he wouldn’t have come along today.
Seeing Chen Xiao was serious, Luo Dali asked: "Then, Brother Chen, what’s the point of us walking back and forth by the river?"
"I’ll say, and you can remember, how about that? Once we’ve recorded all the questions, we can use our brains and logical skills to analyze them one by one, how does that sound?"
Chen Xiao said, suddenly recalling something, and continued: "Also, you said you have a detective’s mind, a qualified detective doesn’t give up right from the start, right?"
Luo Dali smiled wryly: "Alright, you say it."
"First, let’s set aside why Zhao Xiaohong was killed for now, because once we find out the reason he was killed, it’s also the motive for the killer, and with a motive, there’s a good chance we can identify the killer."
"Sounds reasonable, but if we don’t find out why he was killed, what do we look for?"
"We need to find out why Zhao Xiaohong was dumped here," Chen Xiao responded.
Luo Dali replied without thinking: "Isn’t it simple? Zhao Xiaohong was dumped at night. This place has no people at night."
"Wrong, there are people here at night, don’t you remember when he was discovered and who discovered him?"
"Street cleaner?"
"Yes, street cleaners work until eight at night and start again at five in the morning. Zhao Xiaohong died early yesterday morning, but Sister Liang told me his body wasn’t bloated, meaning he hadn’t been in the water for long."
After Chen Xiao explained, Luo Dali said instinctively: "So, Zhao Xiaohong was likely dumped last night?"
"Exactly, if he died early the night before and was immediately dumped in this river, his body’s condition would be different. So the most likely time he was dumped would be after dark yesterday," Chen Xiao said.
Luo Dali pursed his lips: "This time of year, it only gets dark around six, right?"
"Pretty much."
"Then the timeframe can be more precise, between six last night and when he was found this morning. Doesn’t that make it easier to investigate? After all, Zhao Xiaohong is just one person, and his head was cut off—he’d need a big container to conceal the body right?"
Chen Xiao gave a thumbs up: "Looks like you really do have detective potential, Dali."
Luo Dali, amused, replied: "Of course, otherwise I wouldn’t dare boast like that, right?"
Saying that, Luo Dali seemed to have an idea and exclaimed: "Wait a minute, following the location where Zhao Xiaohong was found, couldn’t we easily track back and find out who’s most suspicious? Moreover, during the peak time between six and eight, surely a witness must have seen someone carrying large packages."
Chen Xiao nodded emphatically: "You just can’t stop praising; the more you praise, the smarter you get, but you overlooked an important factor."
"What did I overlook?"
"Water flows downhill, and is this river’s current fast or not?"
Luo Dali slapped his forehead and exclaimed: "No wonder you want to search upstream, you want to find out where Zhao Xiaohong was thrown from, right?"
"Correct, but what we need to find out now is why Zhao Xiaohong was thrown into this river. You know, beside us is a road on the embankment—how could this be the best place for a late evening body dump?"
Chen Xiao questioned, and Luo Dali answered: "Isn’t it simple, the killer just picked any random spot? Given the weather, a body would smell if left too long."
"Damn, Dali, you really are talented. But, look at how Zhao Xiaohong died."
"Didn’t Captain Liang say he was decapitated by a single blade?" Luo Dali replied truthfully.
Chen Xiao chuckled: "Yeah, but do you think it’s easy to find a blade like that?"
Luo Dali was instantly stunned.
As Phoenix Street’s notorious street kid, he’d certainly seen blades before, right?
Back then, who wouldn’t be tempted by flashy blades?
Big machetes, watermelon knives, Japanese swords, and even someone managed to get Guan Er Ye’s Cyan Dragon Crescent Blade.
Speaking of those heavy and sharp blades, they could certainly decapitate with one chop.
But they’d have to be exceptionally sharp; otherwise, they’d get stuck at the neck.
So how did Zhao Xiaohong’s head come off?
It was truly a one-shot deal!
"Brother, are you saying that guy specially made such a blade to chop Zhao Xiaohong?"
Chen Xiao nodded: "If they could be patient enough to make a blade, do you think they’d casually dump Zhao Xiaohong’s body? And dumping the body implies evading legal punishment, right? If they’re evading, wouldn’t they use some brains?"
"Brilliant, Brother, your analysis is really enlightening for your brother," Luo Dali praised, while Chen Xiao playfully patted his shoulder: "Alright then, good brother, what do you think should be done next?"
"Hehehe, if I still don’t know what to do next, I’m not fit to be your brother. Wait here, I’m going to find... find that specially made knife!"
Luo Dali said as he ran up the bank.
Watching his back, Chen Xiao couldn’t help touching his nose and thinking:
"Who says street kids are good for nothing? When it comes to investigating things hidden in the shadows, they are incredibly swift!"