How I Tamed My Wolfish Husband Back in 80s-Chapter 22 - Strange_1

22: Chapter 22: Strange_1

22 -22: Strange_1

Xun Dong grew even more appreciative, “You are very suited for our line of work, very detail-oriented.”

Li Qiao chuckled, “You flatter me.” She had just watched a lot of related TV dramas and detective novels.

Xun Dong took out a small plastic bag he carried with him, used tweezers to pick up the badge and put it inside, then swung the top of the bag.

“Like the ones on hats, have you seen anyone in the village wearing a hat with this kind of badge?”

Li Qiao shook her head, she hadn’t paid attention to that.

Han Ting mentioned several names, and Xun Dong recorded each one.

The three of them followed the drag marks westward.

Near the wheat field less than a hundred meters from Lame Feng’s house, the traces disappeared, with bloodstains on the ground and signs of stomping and struggle, leading Xun Dong to believe this was the original crime scene.

Li Qiao found a complete footprint in a slightly concave part of the ground, and judging from the other traces left at the scene, determined it belonged to the killer.

Xun Dong took out paper and pencil, traced the pattern of the shoe sole one to one, and determined it was a Chunfeng brand rubber-soled shoe.

About size 43.

Not many people in the village could afford rubber-soled shoes, and even fewer had large feet.

The range of suspects suddenly narrowed.

“Feet size 43, must be around the same height as Qin Jin,” said Xun Dong.

Li Qiao’s zealous participation was precisely with the intention of clearing Qin Jin’s suspicion, only to have him become a suspect once more; she couldn’t accept it but calmly said, “Dr.

Xun, Jin doesn’t have rubber-soled shoes, you can’t just say anything.”

“I didn’t say it was him, are there others in your village who are about the same height as Qin Jin?”

Han Ting took over the conversation, “There are two, one is Lame Feng’s cousin, Feng Dezhong, the other is Lame Feng’s neighbor, Zhou Chao.

I remember, a few days ago Zhou Chao beat up Lame Feng, claiming he harassed his wife.”

Xun Dong considered Zhou Chao a suspect.

But Li Jinhua had her own opinion, “Someone who vents their anger on the spot is unlikely to go to extremes.

It’s the ones who stay silent that are more likely to commit acts of desperation.

Relatives who have conflicts tend to land heavier blows.”

However, everything was just speculation at this point, and the details still needed to be clarified.

The three were discussing this.

Qin Jin arrived, “You lot running around made you hard to find.

Dr.

Xun, we’ve prepared some food at home, come join us for a meal.”

Xun Dong, having found new evidence, was reluctant to stay, “I appreciate the thought.” He patted Qin Jin on the shoulder, “Your wife is really smart, completely devoted to you.”

Most girls who marry a thug, faced with this kind of situation, would have already panicked, regretting their past decisions.

She was incredibly calm.

Even taking the initiative to help with the investigation.

Qin Jin smiled, feeling immensely satisfied inside; this time she had indeed surprised him, even his grandmother said that she did not utter a single word of blame but instead comforted the old lady.

…

After Xun Dong left, Qin Jin called Han Ting.

Han Ting didn’t stand on ceremony, as it was already past dinner time for the youths, and he would have to cook for himself if he went back.

The three chatted about Lame Feng’s matter on their way back to the Qin family’s home.

Old Mrs.

Qin warmly received them.

The food was steamed buns, braised fish, and a plate of cabbage stewed with glass noodles.

Just as they started eating, Qin Jin suddenly remembered and said he would go buy a bottle of wine to celebrate.

“I’ve got to review later, I won’t drink, don’t go to the expense.”

“What does it matter if you don’t study for one day?”

Old Mrs.

Qin lightly scolded, “Drink, drink, drink, only thinking about yourself.

Qiaoqiao has been running around tired for you all day, and if you get drunk, won’t she have trouble taking care of you?”

Qin Jin thought about it, and he didn’t want her to tire herself out.

He settled back down, took a few bites, then stood up again, “You guys eat first, I’m going to squat in the outhouse.”

“Go ahead and squat, but you don’t have to tell us, you darn rascal.” Old Mrs.

Qin cursed at his retreating figure.

The remaining two laughed, and the atmosphere relaxed.

At that moment, Li Jinhua showed up.

Li Qiao exclaimed in surprise, “Jinhua, how did you get here?

Have you eaten yet?

Take a seat.”

Li Jinhua said, “I heard people say that my brother-in-law was arrested for murder, so I came over to check on the situation.

Han Zhiqing is here too.”

Han Ting nodded slightly, “Hello.”

Just as Li Qiao was about to say it was a misunderstanding, he heard Li Jinhua continue, “I believe my brother-in-law has been wrongfully accused.

I’ve saved some money, and I don’t know if it will be enough to get him out, but if it’s not, I’ll borrow more from my family.”

Old Mrs.

Qin didn’t have a good impression of Li Jinhua and felt annoyed at the moment.

Yet it was clearly a kind gesture, and she was at a loss for how to respond.

Li Qiao gently pushed away her hand, “Thank you, but your money isn’t needed, your brother-in-law has already returned.”

“Returned?

Where is he?

At a time like this, you shouldn’t refuse help by hiding and trying to cover up family disgrace.

Take the money.

Also, when are you going to visit him in prison?

I’ll bring my parents along to support him.

The innocent have nothing to fear, we all believe in his innocence.” Li Jinhua said earnestly.

Moved in an instant, Li Qiao felt that even though Li Jinhua had her flaws, she came through in times of moral clarity.

Her eyes nearly reddened, “Jinhua, you truly are a good sister to me, as adversity reveals true friends.

Your brother-in-law is fine, we don’t need your money, please sit down and have some food.”

In her heart, Old Mrs.

Qin thought if I hadn’t seen you reaching out to touch my grandson, I’d have been fooled too.

Li Jinhua looked around, still not seeing Qin Jin, and the smell of food made her swallow hard.

Better to discuss things after a full meal.

The bun was soft and fragrant, she almost wished she could swallow her tongue with it.

The fish was fresh and tender, leaving an endless aftertaste.

After paying a large bride price, Qin Jin was still able to afford white flour dishes, she thought.

If she were with him, how fortunate would she be?

She had just started eating when Qin Jin swaggered back inside.

Li Jinhua’s mouth hung open in shock, barely able to keep hold of her bun.

Qin Jin walked under the eaves, stopped by the basin rack to wash his hands with soap, and when he spotted Li Jinhua, he frowned, but upon seeing Li Qiao’s smiling face, his expression softened again.

Li Qiao said, “Jin, Jinhua came here especially to see you, and even brought money to help bail you out.”

Qin Jin: “…” Did he need her to bail him out?

No, he hadn’t done anything wrong, did he need bailing out?

Was she afraid he’d reveal her inappropriate touching if cornered to death in prison?

He chuckled, “Oh, that’s really thoughtful.”

Li Jinhua in disbelief, “How did you get out?”

Old Mrs.

Qin’s face gradually turned serious: “We haven’t done anything wrong, why shouldn’t we be able to come out?”

Compared to her earlier moved feelings, Li Qiao was now more puzzled.

Not to mention Li Jinhua’s well-informed sources, just the tone of her voice, as if she knew all along that Qin Jin would not be released.

She suddenly remembered the day she returned to her maiden home, when Li Jinhua and Cai Hechuan talked about her hanging incident.

Her two older sisters had earnestly advised her to live well with Qin Jin, but from beginning to end, they didn’t mention her hanging at all.

Both were her own sisters.

Why didn’t they care for their sister?

What did this imply?

It implied they were completely unaware.

Too strange, she suddenly shivered, a chill rising up her spine.

After Qin Jin entered the house and sat down, he picked up a piece of fish and put it in Li Qiao’s bowl: “This piece has fewer bones.”

Li Qiao snapped out of her daze, smiled faintly, and began to eat the fish absentmindedly.

Li Jinhua bit her chopsticks discreetly observing the two, thinking to herself, wasn’t Li Qiao not accepting Qin Jin?

Why was she so pleasant about the fish he picked for her?

After dinner, Han Ting was about to leave when Li Qiao said, “Principal Han, could you come here for a moment?

I have some materials for you.”

Han Ting followed her into the house.

Li Jinhua also stepped forward, curious about what materials Li Qiao had for him.