Chapter 92: Chapter 92: But He Died Too!

Chen Xiao thought Yu Gui’s previous idea was correct.

Moreover, he believed that Zhang Xian’s suspicion, which arose after following the task force’s investigation, was also correct.

The killer is right beside Yu Gui!

After conducting his own investigation, he became more inclined to this direction.

However, the people around Yu Gui are countable.

Besides his parents, Yu Gui has an uncle and a younger uncle.

These are the people connected to this case from his grandfather’s generation.

Because Qin Zhao and Song Zhen lived at his uncle’s house, while Jin Meng and Ye Wei stayed at his younger uncle’s house.

But including Yu Gui’s parents, none of Yu Gui’s relatives seemed to have a motive to kill, based on the current case details.

Chen Xiao felt there was a layer of thin paper in the relationships that prevented his thoughts from advancing, and breaking through this paper had become the hardest step.

He could only try slowly.

Soon, Yu Gui’s father brought his uncle over.

The uncle had a son and a daughter; the son was still unmarried, but the daughter was already married.

Both children were working away from home.

When the uncle came in, he was surprised and sat tensely in front of Chen Xiao.

Chen Xiao smiled at him and said, “Uncle Yu, don’t be nervous. I just want to ask if you saw Qin Zhao interacting with anyone in the village during those days?”

Uncle Yu shook his head: “I didn’t see anyone. During the day, he was almost always with Ah Gui and the others, or he was in the mountains looking for wild goods, rarely staying at my house except to sleep.”

Chen Xiao nodded: “And what about the other student staying at your house, Song Zhen, did he ever look for Qin Zhao?”

The current case situation made Chen Xiao very suspicious of Qin Zhao.

If he couldn’t get answers directly, he could only ask indirectly.

Since Song Zhen came with Qin Zhao and was living with him. If Qin Zhao had something going on, he would definitely disappear for a while, so Song Zhen would be the most likely person to go looking for him.

Sure enough, as soon as Chen Xiao asked, Uncle Yu nodded repeatedly: “Yes, a couple of times Song couldn’t find Qin and asked me.”

Chen Xiao’s eyes tightened: “Roughly when? And at what times?”

“I can’t remember clearly. They stayed in the village for almost a week. Initially, they planned to leave in three days, but then Ah Gui’s condition suddenly worsened, so they stayed longer.”

As Uncle Yu spoke, he looked at Yu Gui, who nodded: “At that time, my illness exacerbated suddenly, and they thought I might be dying, so they decided to stay in case they needed to attend my last journey.”

Chen Xiao quickly turned to Yu Gui’s parents and asked, “What was Guo Ning’s reaction that day?”

Mrs. Yu seemed a bit hesitant, and Chen Xiao frowned: “It’s not a time to hide anything.”

Mrs. Yu sighed: “Xiaoning was terrified that day. She sat by Ah Gui’s bed holding his hand, refusing to eat or drink, ignoring anyone who called her. Qin… Qin almost lost his temper then.”

Chen Xiao focused and continued to ask Uncle Yu: “Uncle, it’s the same question, when did Song Zhen ask about Qin Zhao, and during what times?”

Uncle Yu thought for a moment: “The first time should be the morning of their second day here. Song woke up early and didn’t see Qin. He asked if he went to Ah Gui’s house, I said I didn’t notice, and then he left to find Ah Gui.”

“The second time…” Uncle Yu paused and then recalled: “The second time was the night Ah Gui’s condition worsened. Everyone was busy, praying that he’d pull through while preparing for the worst. Song suddenly came to me, asking if Qin had borrowed my keys, I said no. So at that point, Qin was probably missing!”

“As for the third time, it was on the day of the incident. That day, Ah Gui got better, and the group was relieved and planning to gather more mountain goods to take home. But near the mountains, Song couldn’t find Qin again.”

Listening to Uncle Yu, Chen Xiao didn’t respond.

Yu Gui, lying on the bed, stared with wide eyes, gripping the sheets tightly, very agitated.

Chen Xiao could understand his agitation because the timing of Song Zhen’s inquiries was too coincidental.

The night before the first time, someone overheard a conversation between Mrs. Yu and Guo Ning. The next morning, Qin Zhao was nowhere to be found.

The second time, that night, Yu Gui’s condition worsened, Guo Ning was devastated, and Qin Zhao disappeared again.

The third time, on the day of the incident, Qin Zhao was absent again before the group of five entered the mountains!

Once might be a coincidence, even twice could be a coincidence of coincidences, but three times?

Chen Xiao looked at Uncle Yu, then at Yu Gui’s parents and Ye Xiu: “Please step outside, I’d like a word with Yu Gui alone.”

Everyone left the room, Chen Xiao looked at Yu Gui and said, “You don’t believe it? But the facts are right in front of you.”

“But he’s also dead!” Yu Gui croaked.

Chen Xiao replied: “When the task force first came, there was suspicion on Qin Zhao and Jin Meng because they both couldn’t be found. But ultimately, that suspicion came to nothing. I don’t need to elaborate on why; it’s hard to find evidence to prove it.”

“But your uncle’s words just now are actually some evidence. It can expose Qin Zhao’s suspicious points, but as you said, he’s dead.”

Yu Gui seemed unable to turn away from these thoughts, and Chen Xiao spoke solemnly: “That’s why I asked if Qin Zhao met anyone after coming here. Now, the question can be extended. Since you met, has there been anyone you know who resents Guo Ning, detests Ye Wei, or hates Song Zhen and Jin Meng?”

“Especially, who hates Guo Ning with a passion!”

When Chen Xiao said this, the essence of the case seemed to return to Guo Ning.

But the essence returning now is vastly different from the initial focus on Guo Ning.

If the focus was initially on Guo Ning, it couldn’t avoid the line of the Guo family’s interest struggle.

Chen Xiao now placed Guo Ning at the forefront again because he believed Qin Zhao might be the cause of all this. But Qin Zhao was a planner; the executor was someone else.

And that executor must have a reason to kill Guo Ning and the others! Otherwise, normal incentives wouldn’t drive such actions.

Chen Xiao believed Yu Gui knew about this person’s existence, but no matter how Yu Gui thought or recalled, he still shook his head.

“No, there’s no such person you mentioned.”

Chen Xiao frowning: “Am I not being clear? That person, besides hating Guo Ning, should have had some dealings with Qin Zhao.”

“I understand what you mean, but there really isn’t such a person.”

Chen Xiao believed at this point, Yu Gui had no reason to hide anything.

If he was so certain, then there was only one possibility.

That person had never been exposed alongside Qin Zhao in front of Yu Gui.

Chen Xiao fell silent again; Yu Gui was still trying to recall and finally spoke:

“Why don’t you ask Xiaoning’s grandfather?”

Chen Xiao’s mind sank, muttering: “Could Guo Zhengchang know something?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep