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墨書 Inktalez
As Zhang Bin walked past the bloodstain, he paused for a moment before continuing on his way. However, he did not dare to linger outside for too long. After walking a short distance, he immediately hailed a taxi and left. I watched his figure fading into the morning sun, feeling a sense of loneliness lingering within.
Not long after, Guan Zengbin called us. On the phone, he informed us that Guo Feng had indeed died. The knife had been plunged with such force that it was clear the intent was to kill. Moreover, it had taken quite some time; one stroke had severed the intestines into several pieces.
When the kitchen knife was removed, the insides were unrecognizable.
Guan Zengbin told us that Wang An was crying like a child; however, Wang An was just an eight-year-old boy. According to our country's Juvenile Protection Law, Wang An was not guilty of intentional murder. Even if he had intended to kill, he would not bear legal responsibility.
Yet, even though juvenile offenders are protected by law, they cannot escape social condemnation and public opinion. The incident involving Wang An and Guo Feng's death clearly fell on Zhang Bin's shoulders. After hanging up the phone, an overwhelming sense of sorrow washed over me.
I thought of Teacher Zhao, who had raised Guo Feng with great effort. If she were to learn of this tragedy, what kind of feelings would she experience? It would surely be more painful than anything else in the world. Naturally, the task of informing Teacher Zhao fell upon us.
I could hardly believe that Guo Feng, that silly big boy, had died—especially at the hands of his best friend. I struggled to find words; elders often say that foolish people have their own blessings and need not fear. But why did Guo Feng have to face such a fate?
All because of a Hao Ren's act of bravery? Why did it lead to so many consequences? Why do people act in ways that they will ultimately regret for the sake of so-called face?
After pondering for a long time, I finally prepared to dial Teacher Zhao's number when something unexpected happened. Before I could make the call, Teacher Zhao's number rang on my phone. Seeing the unfamiliar number, I still answered.
Before I could say anything, Teacher Zhao spoke: "Officer Wu, Hao Ren came to my house just now. He told me about what happened at the police station this morning."
"So you know..." I struggled to address Guo Feng's death.
Teacher Zhao's voice was calm as if she were recounting someone else's story. "I know my son is dead; it was Wang An who did it, but he was used as a shield by Zhang Bin. This matter is not Wang An's fault. By the way, I'm calling to let you know that there will be a press conference at school at ten o'clock. Hao Ren will also be there. I invite you to come."
I barely had time for any other words; all my comforting phrases were swallowed back down as Teacher Zhao hung up.
After ending the call, I felt an indescribable emotion wash over me. From our brief encounter over a meal, it was clear that Teacher Zhao deeply loved her son. Now that Guo Feng was gone, she must be inconsolably heartbroken. Perhaps there is a kind of sorrow that makes one unable to show their grief.
I glanced at Gu Chen and said, "Teacher Zhao is holding a press conference with Hao Ren at ten o'clock."
"A press conference?" Gu Chen asked in confusion. "Hao Ren has been missing for so long and suddenly returns only to be found by Teacher Zhao?"
I shook my head and replied, "It wasn't Teacher Zhao who found Hao Ren; it was Hao Ren who sought out Teacher Zhao."
I frowned as I realized how coincidental Hao Ren's appearance was at this moment. It had been nearly two months since he had turned Zhang Bin and the others over to the police, and during that time, he had been missing. The only thing he had done was send Wang An to Teacher Zhao's house, and then it was as if he had vanished into thin air.
Now, upon his return, he sought out Teacher Zhao. Did he know about everything that had happened at home during these two months? This included the fire that consumed my house, Du Ziguo being lured into drug use, Du Ziguo raping my sister Fang Qi, Fang Qi's subsequent suicide, Zhao Li being assaulted, and Wang An's retaliation.
I glanced at Gu Chen and said seriously, "Let's go pick up Guan Zengbin from the hospital first, then we can head to Teacher Zhao's school. It's nine o'clock now; we still have an hour."
When we arrived at the hospital, Wang An had already been picked up by his sister Zhao Li. Guan Zengbin was sitting alone on a bench in the hospital, and upon seeing us, he wiped away his tears. For a forensic investigator, death might be the most ordinary thing in the world; however, when faced with the death of someone they knew, it was hard for anyone not to feel something different.
This is why, when cases involve family or friends, it's often requested that police recuse themselves from those cases. It's human nature; those who are unaffected by joy or sorrow are saints, but unfortunately, none of us are saints.
Guan Zengbin said softly, "It's hard to believe that just yesterday a police officer's child was calling you beautiful, and today he's gone."
I gently wiped away the remaining tears on Guan Zengbin's face and said, "Let's go. Teacher Zhao is holding a press conference, and Hao Ren will be there too."
"Hao Ren?" Guan Zengbin clearly hadn't expected Hao Ren to show up at this time.
At ten o'clock, the press conference began.
The school had specifically cleared a large conference room for Teacher Zhao and Hao Ren to hold this press conference. The room was filled with people, mostly reporters from various television news outlets. With the explosive murder video and the recent surge of students attacking people on the streets, combined with Hao Ren's act of bravery over a month ago, these three hot news stories had merged into a tidal wave of public discussion. Almost no citizen in Yumu City was unaware of these events.
At this moment, many onlookers gathered inside and outside the conference room, eager to hear the truth behind this incident.
Teacher Zhao, Hao Ren, Zhao Li, and even Wang An sat at the front of the conference room with microphones from various news outlets placed before them.
Teacher Zhao spoke first with an unexplainable calmness: "The law is meant to bring us justice. If the law cannot provide us with justice, then what purpose does it serve?"
The buzzing conversations gradually quieted down following her statement.
Teacher Zhao lifted her head and looked at us. "Now that police colleagues are present as well, I can say a few things. I learned this morning that my son was murdered. The student sitting next to me did it—and coincidentally, he is also my student."
"So I know that Wang An did not act out of malice; I also understand that Zhang Bin used my son as a shield." Teacher Zhao's eyes were red. "What could have driven a student to take a knife and kill? I am Wang An's homeroom teacher; I know what kind of child he is."
"He is kind; he protects animals; he protects his classmates; in fact, he would protect my son too. There isn't a single student in class who doesn't like him. He learned martial arts from his father, who taught him that martial arts are meant for protecting family. I once told Wang An that the law is here to protect us; but when the law fails to protect us, Wang An chose to use martial arts to defend his family."
Teacher Zhao grew increasingly agitated. "And all of this stems from Zhang Bin, that thief. It’s because Hao Ren sent Zhang Bin to the police station that Zhang Bin wants to burn down someone else's house, that he wants to force children into drug use, that he wants to coerce people into raping their own sisters, that he wants to kill, that he wants to rape someone’s daughter, and that he wants to use my son as a shield!"
As she spoke, the large screen in the conference room displayed a series of images. These photos were clear and logically arranged. The first image showed the burned house of Hao Ren, followed by several images of the gruesome deaths of Fang Qi and Du Ziguo.
However, we had never distributed these photos. Moreover, judging by the angles, they didn’t seem to have been taken by us. So who could have taken these photos? I furrowed my brow; there was no one else but the Murderer.
With each photo displayed, the sound of cameras clicking echoed from below, accompanied by gasps of shock.
Teacher Zhao said, "These photos are real; the police can confirm it. But if these photos are real, then almost everyone can testify that Zhang Bin is the Murderer. Yet Zhang Bin still left the police station. Why? Because there wasn't enough evidence, because there was no direct evidence."
"But what more direct evidence do we need?" Teacher Zhao's tears finally flowed freely as she continued, "Are all those testimonies not true? Did not every ear and every eye witness the truth? Is it possible that everyone is wrong and that Zhang Bin is truly innocent?"
Zhao Li spoke up, "The one who raped me was Zhang Bin. Although he covered his face, I felt the scars on his left arm."
At that moment, Wang An was in tears but stubbornly declared, "It was him; it was Zhang Bin. He ruined my family. I hate him, but I hate myself more for not being able to kill him in revenge for my brother and sister. Instead, I ended up killing my best friend."
"But!" Wang An emphasized each word: "If the law cannot help me, as long as Zhang Bin is alive, I will kill him."
In front of so many people, Wang An's gaze was resolute; no one doubted the truth of her words. Hearing such a statement from a student sent chills through everyone present and had an extraordinary impact on the crowd.
"Execute Zhang Bin! Execute Zhang Bin!" someone shouted out.
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