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"First and foremost, this is the person's initial feeling, and that's extremely important. You know, when we criminal investigators are solving serious contact crimes like robbery and rape, we don't start by analyzing clues. We always ask the person involved: Who do you think the perpetrator is? Because no one understands their social relationships better than the person involved—who is eyeing them, who might murder them, and which specific individual the details of the crime point to. This information is often more valuable than any other clue."

"Hmm." Mu Jianyun nodded, then asked, "And secondly?"

"Secondly..." Luo Fei rubbed his nose, "Do you remember what Ding Zhen said? Before Ding Ke resigned, he would often stare blankly at two case files, one of this robbery case and the other of the 131 case."

Mu Jianyun understood Luo Fei's meaning: "This means that Ding Ke also believes there is a connection between the two cases."

"Yes, I don't think I have any reason to doubt Ding Ke's judgment." Although they were discussing someone who had long since retired, Luo Fei's tone was still full of respect.

"Ding Ke... no matter how capable he is, surely he wouldn't be so superstitious?" Mu Jianyun said helplessly. "Besides, following this line of thought, there's one question that can't be explained."

"I know what you're trying to say—if Wen Hongbing's accomplices had stolen the money, then the financial situation of Wen Hongbing's wife and children should have improved significantly. But in reality, Wen Hongbing's wife died of illness not long after, and his son, Wen Chengyu, ended up in an orphanage."

"That's right. Wen Hongbing kidnapped Chen Tianqiao to raise money for his wife's medical treatment, right? If his accomplices had robbed Chen Tianqiao later, then Wen Hongbing wouldn't have had to worry about money for his wife's medical treatment."

"There is indeed a problem here." Luo Fei pondered for a moment, then said quietly, "Perhaps this was the very problem that troubled Ding Ke eighteen years ago."

"So what exactly happened?"

"I think the best thing for us now is to go back to eighteen years ago."

"Back to eighteen years ago?" Mu Jianyun stared wide-eyed, increasingly bewildered by Luo Fei's actions.

"Let's go back eighteen years," Luo Fei repeated. "Let's follow the path Ding Ke took back then, and then we'll see what exactly was the obstacle that was holding him back."

The Fate of the Death Sentence (17)

Half an hour later, in the oncology specialist clinic of the Provincial People's Hospital.

Chief Expert Chen Dayang had gray hair, a plump face, and a kind, benevolent appearance. People with this kind of face are usually easy to talk to and willing to help others. However, when Luo Fei handed over the photos and information of Wen Hongbing and his family of three to him, he felt quite worried.

Chen Dayang is 61 years old this year. In his more than 30 years of medical practice, he has treated tens of thousands of patients. Can he still remember certain specific events from 18 years ago?

Fortunately, Luo Fei's worries were quickly dispelled. Chen Dayang stared at the photo for a short while, then pointed with certainty at Wen Hongbing's wife and said, "That's the woman. She used to be my patient."

Luo Fei smiled with relief and praised, "Dr. Chen has a really good memory."

Chen Dayang shook his head self-deprecatingly: "At my age, what good memory do I have? It's just that this woman left a particularly deep impression on me because her family's ordeal was heartbreaking. And she clearly had money back then, yet she ultimately chose to forgo treatment."

Luo Fei immediately exchanged a glance with Mu Jianyun beside him. "She clearly had money back then"? This was exciting news. Where did her money come from? Could it be closely related to that robbery?

"Please tell me the details of what happened back then," Luo Fei asked anxiously, but his tone remained as calm as ever.

"This woman had uterine cancer. You know about uterine cancer, right? Although it's cancer, it's not as scary as you might think. Generally speaking, with surgery, the chances of a cure are very high." Chen Dayang first explained his wife's condition back then. Seeing that Luo Mu and the other man nodded in understanding, he continued, "However, initially, the family couldn't afford the surgery and could only receive some conservative treatment. Later, her husband tried to raise money through kidnapping and was killed by the police. The family's situation became even more difficult..."

"Then how come she has money again?" Luo Fei interjected, this was the question he was most concerned about, and he hoped the other party could get to the point as soon as possible.

"That happened later... Due to ineffective treatment and the blow of her husband's death, the woman's condition worsened, and if she didn't have surgery soon, there would be no hope. I was very anxious at the time, as I felt sorry for them, so I kept urging her to raise funds as quickly as possible. At the same time, our hospital also kept the surgery fees to a minimum. Then one day, the woman finally contacted me to discuss the surgery; it turned out she had finally raised the funds."

Didn't you ask her where the money came from?

"I asked," Chen Dayang said, adjusting his reading glasses. "I always thought she had borrowed it from various sources. But she said no, she said it was money her husband had lent to others before he died, and now she's getting it back."

Luo Fei and Mu Jianyun exchanged glances again. The latter nodded, then shook his head: "In that case, it's almost certain... But why...?"

Mu Jianyun didn't finish her two sentences, but Luo Fei understood her meaning perfectly. First, there was the so-called "certainty": if he were in the shoes of the investigator from eighteen years ago, he would absolutely suspect that Wen's wife's money came from the stolen funds of Chen Tianqiao—it was extremely obvious. Mu Jianyun's subsequent confusion lay in this: if it was so obvious, why did Ding Ke and the others from eighteen years ago turn a blind eye? They even left a record in the case file stating that "all suspects had no sudden changes in their finances," a statement completely contradicting the facts?

Luo Fei couldn't figure it out either, so he asked Chen Dayang again, "Didn't any police officers come to you to ask about the situation back then?"

"Was that money of hers obtained illegally?" Chen Dayang asked rhetorically, as if sensing something amiss.

"That's not necessarily true..." Luo Fei replied vaguely. Even if it could be confirmed that the money Wen's wife had back then came from Chen Tianqiao's robbery, it would be difficult to describe it as "ill-gotten gains," right? In comparison, Chen Tianqiao's act of refusing to return money despite clearly having it was far more despicable; that money in his hands was truly "ill-gotten."

"Actually, I already sensed something was wrong back then," Chen Dayang continued, "because the police did come to investigate. They asked if the woman had suddenly become wealthy, and things like that."

"So, did you tell the truth?"

"Of course." Judging from Chen Dayang's tone, Luo Fei shouldn't have asked such a somewhat rude question at all.

Luo Fei frowned. He couldn't understand why such an important clue, which had already been detected by the police, would be overlooked. After a moment, he seemed to suddenly realize something and asked, "How many police officers came to investigate at the time?"

"one."

Luo Fei nodded, as if this answer was already within his expectations. Then he narrowed his eyes, revealing a hesitant and uncertain expression.

Mu Jianyun rarely saw such an expression on Luo Fei's face, like a child whose deep-seated secret was about to be discovered by an adult.

As expected, Luo Fei was also hiding something. When he finally made up his mind, he took out his wallet and pulled out a photo from the deepest compartment.

It was an old, yellowed photograph, a picture of two young men. One was lean and composed, with bright, sharp eyes; the other was sunny, handsome, and full of energy.

Luo Fei showed the photo to Chen Dayang, pointed to a young man in it, and asked, "Was he the policeman who came back then?"

"No." Chen Dayang shook his head.

This answer disappointed Luo Fei somewhat, and he asked again, "Are you sure?"

"Definitely not." Chen Dayang examined the photo carefully, then added, "But I do recognize this person. Is he also a policeman?"

Luo Fei's gaze flickered: "What's your impression of him?"

"This young man has been taking care of that poor mother and child for a long time; I thought they were relatives. Is he a policeman too? He's never said that himself..."

Luo Fei was startled, his expression becoming dazed. His thoughts drifted back to eighteen years ago, as he tried to recall some long-forgotten events.

"What are you thinking about?" Seeing Luo Fei's absent-minded look, Mu Jianyun couldn't help but ask.

Luo Fei simply shook his head, putting the photo back in his wallet, his memories returning with it. His thoughts drifted back to the previous mystery. Since Chen Dayang had provided the police with a clue, yet it hadn't been recorded, the policeman who conducted the investigation back then was highly suspicious. Knowing who that policeman was would solve many problems.

Then Luo Fei asked Chen Dayang, "Do you remember the name of the policeman who came to investigate back then?"

Chen Dayang smiled helplessly: "I really can't remember...it's been too long..."

Luo Fei smiled apologetically, indicating his understanding. Such a question was somewhat unreasonable. After thinking for a moment, he moved on to the next question: "That woman ultimately didn't have the surgery, right?"

"Yes," Chen Dayang said with a regretful expression, "so she fell ill and passed away not long after."

"Why didn't she do it? Doesn't she have money now?"

"Her own explanation was that the illness had dragged on for so long that further surgery wouldn't make much difference; it would just be a waste of money, and she'd rather save that money for her child. But I don't think that's the only reason. After all, there's still hope for recovery with surgery. Humans always have a survival instinct, right? And if there's even a glimmer of hope, what mother could bear to leave her child alone in the world?"

Do you think there are other reasons?

"I think it's related to the origin of that money," Chen Dayang answered bluntly. "As I said before, I've long suspected that the money's origin is illegitimate. Because after questioning me, the police also investigated that woman. I heard her tell the police she had no money, but just a few hours ago, she told me she had secured the funds for the surgery. Isn't that obviously suspicious? After the police left, she abandoned her plan to have the surgery. I think the key is the origin of that money; she's afraid the police will find out she has money, which is why she's afraid to have the surgery."

Mu Jianyun listened, nodding in approval. Chen Dayang's analysis was very reasonable and completely outlined the ins and outs of the robbery eighteen years ago. The remaining confusion lay in the specific identities of the two people: one was the robber who committed the crime at the scene, and the other was the police officer who concealed the facts of the case.

Luo Fei's thoughts raced faster; he was already considering another issue. This issue was unrelated to the case, but it was something he was concerned about.

So he asked Chen Dayang again, "After the deceased passed away, who handled the funeral arrangements?"

"She was the deceased's sister, and she was her only remaining relative at the time."

"Are they on good terms?"

"It should be good. Her younger sister often came to take care of her while she was ill, but people were poor in those days and couldn't help her sister financially."

"I understand." Luo Fei nodded thoughtfully, and as a courtesy at the end of the conversation, he extended his right hand to shake Chen Dayang's hand, sincerely saying, "Thank you for your cooperation!"

After saying goodbye to Chen Dayang, Luo Fei and Mu Jianyun left the specialist's office and headed out of the hospital. As they passed the emergency room on the first floor, they both slowed their pace, their expressions solemn and sorrowful.

Not long ago, they had bid farewell to Xiong Yuan, the former captain of the special police team, right here. That upright and brave man lay quietly here, the blood from his neck wound still flowing, staining a large patch of the white sheets. That scene deeply affected Luo Fei and the others; even now, passing by this place, they could still seem to smell the heartbreaking stench of blood in the air.

The two perpetrators who orchestrated this tragedy, Eumenides and Han Hao, remain at large. Thinking of this, Luo Fei felt an unbearable sense of oppression, a feeling that only slightly eased after he stepped out of the hospital and took several deep breaths of fresh air.

As dusk approached, the sky grew dark. Pedestrians and vehicles came and went on the street in a constant stream.

The provincial capital is indeed a metropolis; such a crowded and bustling scene is something you wouldn't see in Longzhou. Luo Fei sighed inwardly as he looked at the crowded streets.

Eighteen years ago, he was forced to leave because of Eumenides; eighteen years later, he returned because of Eumenides. His fate seems to have come full circle here. So, is the end of the circle an ending or a new beginning?

In recent days, as the investigation into Eumenides' background has progressed, some events from eighteen years ago have begun to surface. The beginning of this story does not seem to be as simple as previously thought. Long before Yuan Zhibang planned the April 18th massacre, Yuan Zhibang and Wen Chengyu, two generations of assassins, had already met, and the nature of their relationship remains highly complex.

Mu Jianyun stood with Luo Fei in the autumn wind for a while. Seeing Luo Fei's wistful, furrowed brow, she guessed he was probably reminiscing about the past. Suddenly, she wanted to take this opportunity to probe Luo Fei's thoughts, so after a moment's consideration, she chose a topic and said, "I didn't expect you to still have that photo of you and Yuan Zhibang."

Mu Jianyun was referring to the black-and-white photo that Luo Fei had shown Chen Dayang at the hospital. Of the two young men, the lean and steady one was Luo Fei, while the handsome and sunny one was Yuan Zhibang.

These words seemed to strike a nerve with Luo Fei, causing his brows to furrow even more. However, he quickly concealed this emotion, saying casually, "I didn't know he was the mastermind behind the April 18th massacre before, so I kept it as a memento. I haven't had time to deal with it these past few days."

Mu Jianyun smiled faintly: "If you want to handle it, half a minute should be enough, right? Otherwise, it might take ten or eight years to find the time."

Luo Fei paused, knowing he couldn't refute it, so he looked up at the distant horizon and said nothing.

Mu Jianyun didn't stop there: "Actually, on the other hand, if the root of the problem isn't addressed, simply processing a photograph is meaningless."

Luo Fei turned his gaze back to Mu Jianyun, looking into his eyes as if he wanted to say something. But in the end, he simply shook his head and said, "Perhaps you find it hard to understand."

Mu Jianyun looked back at Luo Fei, her eyes curving slightly, and then she said softly, "I understand—you are a very nostalgic person."

Luo Fei's heart skipped a beat. Though it was a simple sentence, it immediately resonated with him. After a moment, he looked away, a self-deprecating smile on his face, and said, "This once again proves that you should never let a psychologist look you in the eye."

Mu Jianyun smiled smugly: "Do you always praise others in such roundabout ways?"

Luo Fei also laughed, neither admitting nor denying it.

Mu Jianyun then asked, "You must have been thinking about things from the past just now, right? Was it related to the case?" Thanks to the groundwork laid earlier, even though she steered the conversation back to work, the two maintained a relaxed atmosphere.

"Yes..." Luo Fei no longer concealed anything, "I've been wondering: what role did Yuan Zhibang play in that robbery?"

"You suspect he's the policeman who investigated Chen Dayang?"

"Yes, otherwise it's hard to explain why this crucial lead didn't enter the police record."

"You mean: because Yuan Zhibang shot and killed Wen Hongbing, he felt guilty towards the widow and her child, and therefore intentionally or unintentionally helped them, including hiding clues that were detrimental to the mother and son? Hmm, this psychological change is quite reasonable, and Chen Dayang just proved that Yuan Zhibang's relationship with Wen Chengyu and his mother was quite unusual later on."

Luo Fei shook his head meaningfully and said, "The help you're talking about might be more than that."

Mu Jianyun was slightly taken aback, then immediately understood: "Could it be that the robbery itself was committed by Yuan Zhibang?"

"Who else but Yuan Zhibang could solve a case without leaving any clues?" Luo Fei said with considerable emotion. Perhaps realizing that such praise was somewhat biased, he quickly added, "Of course, I have other evidence as well."

"Oh? What is it?" Mu Jianyun noticed that Luo Fei used "basis" instead of "evidence," which indicated that the relevant situation did not have sufficient probative value.

"Before and after that robbery, Yuan Zhibang and I were roommates. Looking back now, some of his behavior was quite unusual, especially on the day of the robbery." As he spoke, Luo Fei fell into a reverie.

"Is your memory that good?" Mu Jianyun stared wide-eyed in surprise. Logically speaking, it was possible that Luo Fei and Yuan Zhibang, who were roommates and close friends back then, would remember some of the other's unusual behavior. But to be able to match it up to a specific date from eighteen years ago was simply unbelievable.

Luo Fei, of course, understood the reason for the other party's surprise. He chuckled and explained, "I remember that day because April 7th is a special day."

"April 7th..." Mu Jianyun didn't quite understand, "What's so special about it?"

Luo Fei hesitated. Seeing that the other person was staring at him with bright eyes, determined to get to the bottom of it, he finally answered, "That day was... Meng Yun's birthday."

Mu Jianyun suddenly understood, but instead of feeling the pleasure of having her confusion resolved, she felt a strange sense of loss. After a long while, she smiled faintly and said, "You really are a sentimental person."

Luo Fei raised an eyebrow, puzzled by the other person's sudden drop in enthusiasm: "Don't you want to know what happened that day?"

Mu Jianyun shook his head: "No need. Anyway, I trust your judgment. Since you're confident you can say it, I agree that Yuan Zhibang was the perpetrator of that robbery."