Chapter 48: A Life For A Life


    Gu Xizhou andpany drove once again to the residential district where the elderly couple lived and knocked politely at the door. It took a while before the door finally opened.


    What do you want? The old man who opened the door frowned upon seeing the four of them and asked.


    We would like to speak to you about your son


    Dont talk to me about it. I dont want to hear it, and I dont know anything either. Hes been missing for so many years anyway, Ill just assume I dont have such a son.


    The old man waved his hand and said impatiently.


    He, just died, a week ago, Gu Xizhou said.


    The old man did not seem to have understood Gu Xizhous words, saying hurriedly, Ill wait for him to die, I


    The old man was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly realised that Gu Xizhous words were different from what he thought.


    Who, who did you say is dead?


    Gu Xizhou waved the report on his phone and said, Your son. A body was found on Phoenix Mountain in the city of Ningqing about a week ago. We confirmed a father-son rtionship between you and the deceased yesterday using DNA on your cigarette butt.


    A week ago? The old man questioned.


    Gu Xizhou nodded, Are you willing to let us in and talk now?


    The grey-haired old man stared at Gu Xizhou for a long time without saying a word. A momentter, he released his hand blocking the door. He seemed to have aged in an instant. At this time, the olddy who had opened the door for them yesterday reached out, grabbed the identification papers in Gu Xizhous hand and started leafing through them.


    Dead he The olddy was shaking all over, so dizzy she was unstable on her feet.


    The old man looked at his wife beside him for a long while and said, Ha, this bastard is dead! Good riddance!


    You The olddy reached out and jabbed an index finger in the old mans face. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.


    The old man asked Gu Xizhou and the others to sit on the sofa in the living room and then said, Since you have confirmed that it was my son who died, I will tell you the truth.


    Seven years ago, that bastard drove A-Qiang home to visit us elderly folk. On the way here, the bastard said that an urgent matter had cropped up in thepany, so he asked my A-Qiang to bring the gifts for us elderly folk over in the car. In the end, the car suddenly caught fire and exploded while on the road, and my A-Qiang died. He died just like that


    This A-Qiang you speak of is your second son Zhao Qiang? Song Qian frowned and tried to confirm.


    The old man nodded and sobbed, Yes, it was actually my younger son who died seven years ago.


    Did you report it as being your older son for the sake of insurance fraud?


    The old man shook his head, I didnt know that they came back together at first, I thought it was that bastard who died too. There was his IC in the car, and my older daughter-inw, Feng Tian, also said that the clothes belonged to that bastard. I really thought he was dead. Later, my younger son disappeared, and my hair really all turned white. I cried so much; I was so exhausted. Itd been a lifetime, and yet a white-haired man had to send the dark-haired men off. My heart was so heavy


    But then one day I went to see Feng Tian and saw a man in the street who looked just like my older son Zhao Guo, so I followed him and called out to him. I thought I was hallucinating, but the more I called him, the more he ran.


    At that time, I felt that something was wrong, so I went to ask Feng Tian. Feng Tian shook her head and said that she didnt know, but I saw several people go to her house to collect debt that day. Only then did I know that the bastard was gambling outside and borrowed usury, and owed 800 thousand in debt. I saw Feng Tian get surrounded by those people and beaten up


    Gu Xizhou said in a low voice, What happened next?


    Originally, I was going to sell my house to pay the debt for Feng Tian, but Feng Tian refused me. She said that Zhao Guo had bought himself work insurance previously, and thepensation was about one million yuan. She would first pay off the debt when thepensation came and then give us a fraction of whats left over.


    Honestly Feng Tian is quite a good girl, just down on her luck, to have been tied to that bastard!


    The old man was in tears as he said in between broken sobs, Thepensation came down. Feng Tiang had just paid back the money. She called me and said that she would give all of the remaining two hundred thousand to me and the olddy, saying that our older son was dead, and that life would be difficult after our younger sons disappearance. She was talking over the phone and suddenly I heard her scream, calling that bastards name.


    When the olddy and I arrived, we saw that bastard at home I asked him then and there, who was the one that had died! It was then that he said that he had gone back with our second son that day.


    I felt something was off then, so I questioned him


    Not so different from what Gu Xizhou had guessed, it was Zhao Qiang, the second son of the Zhao family, who had died 7 years ago. Since no one questioned it at that time and no DNA testing had been done, they determined that the deceased was the eldest of the Zhao family straightaway, and the insurancepany paid the necessarypensation.


    He was kneeling on the ground, kowtowing to me and begging us not to tell the police. He kowtowed to Feng Tian too, knocking his head against the ground until blood ran all over his face. Feng Tian hadnt had the heart to in the first ce, and hearing his pleas just looked at us elderly folk.


    As a parent, seeing my only son left like this, I couldnt bear to send him to the police station, and it was difficult to face my dead second son too. I told him at that time that I would cut off our father-son rtionship, and that I would never see him again.


    And now hes dead, its retribution!


    The old man said and wiped at his tears. As he spoke, the two elderly folk wept together, and the atmosphere of the whole house immediately became oppressive.


    Gu Xizhou and the others fell into deep thought. In this way, the deceased Zhao Guo was an unregistered resident, cut off from his parents. As he had killed his own brother for insurance fraud, he never associated with his former friends. It was very likely that Zhao Guo had been living in Feng Tians vi.


    Has Feng Tian always been staying with the deceased since then? Gu Xizhou asked.


    The old man nodded, Should be. Ever since that incident, the remaining two hundred thousand was left in Feng Tians hands. That bastard was not very good at being a man, but he had a good mind in business. He ced that money into investments and made a ton of money


    This I heard from my friend. She came several times too, but we never epted the money she tried to give us.


    Gu Xizhou looked at the old man and asked after a brief thought, Have Feng Tian and Zhao Guo had children all these years?


    Children? After a brief surprise, the old man said with absolute certainty, No!


    No?


    Without hesitation, the old man said frankly, That bastard doesnt have the balls to have children He has azoospermia.


    Well.


    Fang Zhi at the side noted down the key information. The elderly couple was not clear about the living conditions of Feng Tian and Zhao Guo after that and knew nothing about any children. Gu Xizhou nodded slightly.


    Please do not let anybody know that we havee to find you, so as not to arouse the vignce of the murderer, Song Qian told the elderly couple before he left.


    The elderly couple nodded vigorously. Were sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our trantions keep getting stolen by aggregators so were going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.


    Dear police, you must find the murderer The olddy started nervously and was immediately interrupted by the old man next to her.


    Hearing this, the olddy looked at the old man. She could not speak for a long time and eventually went to her room crying.


    Well leave first then.


    Gu Xizhou andpany left. Just as they fastened their seat belts, Song Qian said by the side, Say could it have been the old man who did it, hmm?


    youre thinking too much.


    Song Qian, What do you mean, Im thinking too much? Look at that old man, hes so upset every time he mentions the deceased, like he wants to kill someone!


    If he really had such a temperament, would he wait seven years to kill someone? Gu Xizhou said lightly. Compared to the others, Feng Tian is more likely to be the killer. The moment we left, she went to find her parents. When people are in dire need of help, the first thing they think of is their parents.


    As they spoke, Gu Xizhou and the others arrived once more at Feng Tians house. After waiting for about 40 minutes, Feng Tian finally arrived home.


    Hello, Miss Feng. We meet again, Gu Xizhou said softly to the newly-arrived Feng Tian.


    Feng Tian red at Gu Xizhou, a little impatient. Mr Policeman, are you looking for me again today? I really dont have any idea, I threw the ticket away! I dont know who picked it up, and I dont know why the victim had my parking ticket!


    We have already confirmed that the deceased is your ex-husband, who died seven years ago, Gu Xizhou said lightly.


    Feng Tian froze briefly, her face turning white. Abruptly, she pushed Gu Xizhou away violently and turned to run. When she turned, she ran into Song Qian, who stumbled and fell down in the middle of the road.


    Feng Tian shoved Fang Zhi away, running straight to her car.


    Stop!


    Sto


    It all happened too fast. Feng Tian started her car and began driving forwards, looking as if she was intent on running someone over. As Gu Xizhou watched, her car was about to run Song Qian over.


    Before he could finish his words, the car made a shrill screeching noise. Feng Tian had stepped on the brake and was crying bitterly in the car.


    Hoo  Gu Xizhou blew out a long breath. Beside him, Fang Zhi was frightened stiff. He opened his mouth, but managed not to scream out loud.


    Song Qians legs trembled slightly as he stood up, bracing himself on the hood of the Mercedes less than a handspan away from him. He looked at the crying woman in the car and said, You, you get out first


    Feng Tian was still wiping away her tears when Gu Xizhou shot forwards, opened the door and dragged her out of the car.


    Because of this, Song Qian was still a little frightened, so he was particrly bad-tempered during the interrogation.


    Is there a point to crying all the time? Tell us, why did you kill him?


    Feng Tian sat in the interrogation room crying silently. She did not speak, only kept crying.


    Wow, Old Songs temper is really bad today, one of the local policemen whispered.


    Is it surprising? He almost got run over by this woman! If it wasnt for Captain Gu from Ningqing, today wed be seeing a dead Old Song.


    No Fang Zhi paused, pointing at Feng Tian who was getting interrogated, She stepped on the brake.


    Inside the interrogation room, Gu Xizhou sat down at the side, waved at Song Qian and said, Let her cry for a while. You should take a break too and calm down.


    Gu Xizhou handed Feng Tian a packet of tissue and sat beside her, waiting for her to regain herposure.


    After crying for about 20 minutes, Feng Tian finally calmed down gradually. Just as she was about to speak, Song Qians phone suddenly rang. After listening to the first line, he put his phone down and murmured to Gu Xizhou with aplicated look on his face, We need to step out for a bit.


    Okay. Gu Xizhou nced at Feng Tian, following Song Qian out of the interrogation room. After closing the door behind them, he asked in confusion, What happened?


    Feng Tians father just turned himself in at the police station, saying that he was the one who killed Zhao Guo


    Gu Xizhou raised his eyebrows. And his reason?


    He didnt want Zhao Guo to be a parasitic existence leeching upon his daughter anymore, Song Qian frowned as he spoke. The investment for these few shops were all done by Feng Tian herself. Because Zhao Guo could only hide at home for the past seven years, he was quite temperamental and was asionally violent towards Feng Tian.


    Feng Tians father said this was the reason why he killed Zhao Guo. Song Qian continued, To choose this specific moment to turn himself in, it must be because he realised he could no longer get in touch with his daughter and got frightened.


    Hearing this, Gu Xizhou felt it was a little troublesome. If Feng Tians father was to insist that he was the killer, it would affect the final conviction.


    First interrogate Feng Tian, lets hear what she says.


    The two of them went back in. Feng Tian had already calmed down. When she saw Song Qian, she was very apologetic. Im sorry for almost running you over, officer.


    Song Qian waved it away. Lets not talk about this anymore, lets talk about you first, why did you kill Zhao Guo?


    Feng Tian looked at him and whispered, I didnt kill him. Since you know the deceased was my husband you should also know that the one who died seven years ago was his brother, not him, right?


    Yes. Gu Xizhou nodded.


    Seven years ago, he killed his younger brother for insurance fraud. After getting that money, I paid off his previous debt, and still had 200 thousand yuan left. I had intended to give it to his parents, but he appeared in front of me again for the money.


    At that time, he knelt by my feet and kept kowtowing to me. I didnt have the heart to so I helped him to cover it up. I admit that I was an essory to his crime, Feng Tian spoke weakly.


    Then how did he die? asked Gu Xizhou.


    He has been living with me for the past seven years. Every day, all he does at home is watch TV, or y some games when hes bored. He wasnt in contact with his parents, but my parents kept urging me to remarry. With no choice, we told my parents that the one who died was Zhao Qiang, not Zhao Guo.


    But Zhao Guo told my parents that it was an ident, and he really needed the money at the time my parents expressed that they understood it. Later, maybe because he was in hiding all the time, he became very bad-tempered and would asionally hit me.


    Several times, I was beaten so badly Inded in hospital. My father was very angry. He just beat me not too long ago, so when my father came home and saw him ying games again, he flew into a rage and killed him, Feng Tian said slowly.


    When Gu Xizhou and Song Qian heard her say the murderer was her father, they nced at each other and thought simultaneously: The day they found Feng Tian, Feng Tian went to her parents!


    It was possible that Feng Tian was telling the truth, but it was also possible that this was the conclusion Feng Tian and her parents reached that day. It was difficult to figure out whether there was a scapegoat.


    And your child? Gu Xizhou asked.


    Hearing that, Feng Tians body trembled. Child? What child?


    My husband had azoospermia, we dont have any children.


    There is one. There was a saliva imprint on the plush toy I took that day, Gu Xizhou said lightly, but his meaning was obvious.


    However, Feng Tian shook her head firmly and said, I really dont have any children. Ive always wanted one all these years.


    After finding that they could no longer get any useful information out of Feng Tian, they met Feng Tians father, Feng Sheng about an hourter.


    Feng Sheng was 1.85 metres in height and had a sturdy build. With his physique, if he did it stealthily, he could indeed kill Zhao Guo. Compared to Feng Tian, he was in a much better state and his speech was also very logical.


    You said you are the killer. Please exin the details of the murder, Gu Xizhou said lightly.


    He hit my daughter. I rushed to his house because I was upset and had a dispute with him. Because I was too angry, I hit him on the head with an axe. He died before he was even able to scream and then I used a chainsaw to cut the corpse up, put him in garbage bags, took him to the car and drove to Phoenix Mountain to bury him.


    What kind of car? Gu Xizhou asked.


    Feng Sheng thought for a moment and said, My daughters car.


    Why not your own car?


    No reason, Feng Sheng said ndly, his face expressionless.


    How about the murder weapon? Where is it?


    Feng Sheng nced at Gu Xizhou and said, I lost it.


    Where did you lose it?


    The man shook his head. I forgot.


    When Gu Xizhou andpany came out, all of them were frowning severely. Song Qian raised his eyebrows and said, This is too contradictory. The father became a killer for the sake of his daughter, but then he disposed of the corpse using his daughters car, this is illogical!


    How so? asked a policeman whom Gu Xizhou didnt know.


    When a person wants to protect someone, theyll definitely avoid any traces that could link the other party to the murder. He drove to Feng Tians house. Then, why didnt he use his own car to dispose of the body? Fang Zhi exined. At that, the confused little officer made a sound of epiphany.


    Gu Xizhou suddenly pped his forehead and strode back into the interrogation room. He propped his arms on the table and asked Feng Sheng, I have another question.


    Feng Sheng, ?


    Where is your grandson?


    He Feng Sheng opened his mouth, and then seemed to suddenly realise something. He asked angrily, What grandson? That bastard is infertile!


    Then he began to curse the deceased constantly, obviously still bitter about the matter.


    After a while, Feng Sheng suddenly looked at Gu Xizhou and asked, When can I see my daughter? Ive already pleaded guilty and I want to see her.


    Dont worry. After the case is closed, youll be able to meet her, Gu Xizhou said.


    After leaving the interrogation room again, Gu Xizhou looked at the others and said, Feng Tian does indeed have a child, but why wont any of them admit it?


    Where is that child now?


    It was probably rted to this case! Feng Tian and her fathers confessions were the same, and Feng Sheng was taking all the me onto himself, clearly hoping that his daughter would be acquitted!


    See if there are any clues in Feng Tians vi, Gu Xizhou said.


    They left the police station and got some noodles to eat. They went straight to Feng Tians house, bypassing the yellow warning line. After inspection, there were some residual bloodstains in the room.


    After going into the vi again, Gu Xizhou entered the room full of toys. At this time, Fang Zhi called out to him, Gu Ge, look at this!


    Following Fang Zhis finger, Gu Xizhou saw a unique rattle drum, the kind which children yed with, with rows of small teeth marks on it.


    There <i>is</i> a child! Song Qian took a look and frowned.


    With the rattle drum and the other things in tow, Gu Xizhou and the others returned to the police station once again. At this time, Feng Tian was eating. Seeing the rattle Gu Xizhou threw on the table, she was slightly stunned, and looked up at him and asked, What is it?


    What is this? Wheres your child? Gu Xizhou asked.


    I said, I dont have any children, Feng Tian thought for a moment and said.


    The toys in your house have traces of usage.


    This toy is an old one.


    You have so much money to buy old toys?


    Feng Tian looked at him coldly and asked, Cant I?


    Theres nothing wrong with it, but do you really want your father to take the me for you? Your fathers doing this out of his love for you. What about you? Are you really going to be so selfish?


    Have you ever thought about how your fathers going to live in prison? Hes getting on in years, have you considered that?


    Feng Tian ignored him and went back to her food.


    Gu Xizhou and Song Qian returned. Song Qian shook his head and said, My God, this woman is quite something, eh? She believes that her father is too old to be in prison for more than a few years, and is set on letting him be the scapegoat! Although the deceased deserved it, this isnt the way to go!


    You keep asking her about the child. Do you think theres something to do with him? Song Qian asked.


    Zhao Guo cant have children. The child is definitely not his, Gu Xizhou said softly. By the way, do a check on Feng Tian, see if she has any records of giving birth, and then visit her employees.


    Early the next morning, Gu Xizhou received a message from Song Qian stating that Feng Tian had never had a child. Her employees could prove that Feng Tian visited the store every Friday, so they were absolutely certain that Feng Tian had never been pregnant.


    Gu Xizhou took the key and said to Fang Zhi, Would you like to see your sister? Im going alone today.


    Shes in school, its not good for me to go. Besides, work is important too. Ill go to Feng Tians house with you today? Fang Zhi said.


    All right.


    Gu Xizhou and Fang Zhi sped all the way to Feng Tians vi. This time, they paid a visit to the neighbors.


    Hello, Fang Zhi said politely, we are


    Thedy in the red nightdress waved her hand and chuckled, I know, police? I heard from my maid yesterday that somebody from the family next door died.


    But are all you police officers so handsome now? The beautifuldy looked at Gu Xizhou with a smile in her eyes.


    Gu Xizhou,


    Before Fang Zhi could ask, thedy made a shushing gesture and said, I know what you want to ask. My maid has already answered you yesterday. Thedy next door really doesnt do anything special.


    Gu Xizhou was silent for a moment and said, Have you ever seen Feng Tian hurt?


    The woman waved her hand, No, shes always well-dressed. Shes pretty, but not as beautiful as me.


    Gu Xizhou,


    Fang Zhi,


    Seeing Gu Xizhou and Fang Zhi speechless for a long time, thedy let out a lightugh.


    Havingughed enough, she pointed to the bonsai in Feng Tians yard and said, Ill stop teasing you. I think the only strange thing is those bonsai that she recently bought.


    Gu Xizhou raised his eyebrows, ?


    Thedy nced at Gu Xizhou and continued, A friend of mine took a look at her yard thest time he came to my house. He said there was something wrong with those pots of flowers.


    Whats wrong? Gu Xizhou asked.


    Thedy said lightly, I dont know. He just vaguely said that that arrangement is not good for <em>fengshui</em>.


    Thank you. After thanking thedy, Gu Xizhou asked Song Qian to bring everyone over.


    They went through all the flower pots with a shovel. Within 10 minutes, Fang Zhis shovel hit something hard.


    Gu Ge! Its a human head! Fang Zhi had goosebumps all over. At the same time, in the other two bonsai a box of bone ashes and a bloody axe was found!


    Lets go back.


    Before leaving, Gu Xizhou saw thedy in red from next door.


    You dont look afraid at all? Upon seeing the beautifuldy from next door, Song Qian asked in surprise.


    Thedy replied nonchntly, Whats there to be afraid of? Its just a corpse. Its not someone alive and its not a ghost, why would I be afraid?


    Gu Xizhou examined thedy thoughtfully. Someone who was afraid of the living and ghosts, perhaps thisdy was also someone who was struggling through the mission worlds, just like them.


    They sped back to the police station again. Striding into the interrogation room, Gu Xizhou said directly to Feng Tian, Feng Tian, the murder weapon was in the flower pot in your house. After analysis, we will know whether your DNA is on it. I suggest that you confess now. Owing to the fact that the deceased has a history of murder for insurance fraud, your sentence may be lighter.


    Feng Tian looked at the photo. She was silent for a long time, and suddenly said self-deprecatingly, I didnt expect you to look in the flower pots.


    Afterughing, she opened her mouth and said, I lied. He didnt beat me. He didnt dare to.


    Feng Tian said mockingly, I did have a child previously. Not mine, but I found him


    Zhao Guo has azoospermia and we had no children. About three months ago, I was drinking coffee by the roadside after visiting the shops when I heard a baby crying. The child had been abandoned. He was very cute; he grabbed my hand and refused to let go. I didnt know what I was thinking, but I took him home.


    I told Zhao Guo that I wanted to adopt this child. Zhao Guo opposed it at the time, and during the argument I said said he wasnt a man, I said I wanted to raise this child, that anyway I would never have a child with him. By adopting this child, I could have someone to rely on in the future.


    In the end, he didnt object. I thought he agreed. The child cried a lot, and Zhao Guo hated him. Then one day when I came home from work, I didnt hear the child crying. When I went to take a look, even his body was cold!


    Feng Tian sobbed and began crying. I questioned Zhao Guo, he, he said he was irritated by the child. He wanted the child dead, so he started strangling him for fun, and didnt expect to really strangle him by ident. He wasughing when he said that!


    At that time I was thinking, if it wasnt for me taking the child home in the first ce, the child wouldnt have died. And then I thought of his brother Zhao Qiang his brother was a really good person, Ive been feeling guilty about it all these years! After thinking of all this, I made a n to kill him.


    Gu Xizhou nced at her and said, He has a history of murder. You can just expose him, there was no need to personally


    Feng Tian interrupted him coldly. So what if he had killed? Its said that a life for a life, but how many murderers really do pay with their lives? Theres no shortage of death penalties gettingmuted! I want him dead!


    cestorm: The ultra-long chapter as promised. And so Feng Tians secrets are revealed!


    Please remember that justice is not ours to deliver. That being said, I am sorry if the legal system in your country is not mature enough and allows criminals to slip through the cracks. However, I would like to maintain that serving our own brand of justice would certainly disrupt peace and harmony in society. After all, the world is never ck and white, and as the saying goes, an eye for an eye and the world goes blind.


    Oh, and I was wondering if you guys would prefer if I stick more closely to the original text or take more liberties in trantion and try to bring out the meaning instead? Please let me know in thements!


    Finally, Id like to thank my temporary editor (and sister) Starrie Wolf for helping with the trantion for this chapter, or Id never have got it out by today. Kudos to you, with a cherry on top!