Chapter Thirty-Six: The Sold SUV

I quickly made the connection: Liu Juncheng died on the No. 8 bus. Was he on his way to visit a friend in Lvyun Village? I hurriedly asked Mr. Lin whether the deceased was found on the route from the terminal to the starting point or vice versa. Mr. Lin shook his head and said that the report had no record of this detail, though everyone understood the real purpose behind my question.

I said, “Let’s go to Lvyun Village first and ask around. See if Liu Juncheng had any friends or perhaps a lover there, since our current suspect is a female driver…”

When we arrived, we found Lvyun Village desolate and bleak. This small village near the provincial road was made up of dilapidated houses, populated mostly by the elderly and children. We learned that all the young people had gone to the city for work, leaving behind only lonely elders and kids.

We asked whether anyone saw a black SUV passing through around lunchtime, but the villagers all said they didn’t know—they were eating lunch at the time. We then showed them Liu Juncheng’s photo, asking if they recognized him or if he’d ever visited the village. The villagers still shook their heads in confusion and even asked what we were doing here.

Tang Jingjing told them we were from the bank, here to collect debts.

Our inquiries yielded nothing. I thought to myself that this wasn’t getting us anywhere. From the surveillance footage, there were three roads branching from where the provincial road ended—it didn’t have to be Lvyun Village.

So I suggested we split up into three teams, each taking a different road, and ask at every village we found. No matter what, we had to track down the owner of that SUV.

Everyone agreed. Tang Jingjing and I formed one group, Li Hong and Mr. Lin another, while Li Xingchen went alone. Li Xingchen took the most secluded path, a dirt track along the river—less likely for the SUV to have gone that way, which is why he went alone.

Tang Jingjing and I followed the main road. Soon, we saw a branch leading to a village called Baitou, so we went in and asked around, but again found nothing. With no other option, we continued onward. When we reached the end of the road, we still hadn’t found any useful clues.

We headed back to meet up with the others. Soon, we encountered Mr. Lin at a junction in Lvyun Village. To my surprise, he was playing chess with a villager—I nearly gaped in disbelief.

Mr. Lin, playing chess at a time like this?

But I didn’t see Li Hong and wondered where he’d gone. I hurried over, and Mr. Lin noticed me, greeting me and inviting me to join him. Helplessly, I walked over. Mr. Lin asked me to wait a moment—the game would soon be over.

Knowing Mr. Lin was a shrewd man, he wouldn’t play chess without reason. Tang Jingjing and I waited quietly. Soon, Li Hong returned, looking frustrated. I went over and asked where he’d been.

Li Hong said he went to relieve himself.

I was speechless; I’d thought he was following up on a lead.

Mr. Lin soon finished the game, ending with Mr. Lin being checkmated by the farmer’s cannon. Mr. Lin praised the farmer’s skill, admitted defeat, and said today was just his unlucky day.

Mr. Lin had barely left when the farmer stopped him, smiling, “I could tell you were letting me win! I’ll just tell you: the car belongs to someone in Daxing Village ahead. Go ask there, you’ll find the family.”

Mr. Lin thanked him, promising a rematch next time—no mercy. The farmer laughed, “I didn’t ask for mercy this time!”

As we walked toward Daxing Village, I asked Mr. Lin what had happened. Mr. Lin explained that when he’d asked, the farmer said he’d tell him if he played a game. Knowing these lonely elders longed for company, Mr. Lin obliged—consider it a fair exchange.

I smiled, “Mr. Lin, you truly have a kind heart.”

We soon arrived at Daxing Village, and at the entrance, we saw the SUV. It had no license plate, but the hood bore signs of repair—quite new. I immediately knew this was the car.

We asked the villagers who owned it. They said it belonged to the family at the center of the village, with an apricot tree outside.

We went straight there and knocked. A middle-aged man answered, asking who we were. I said we were debt collectors, following a debtor who drove that SUV.

He was irritable, “Why come to my house for debts? I sold that SUV long ago—go find the buyer.”

“Sold? When did you sell it?” We were shocked.

“Yesterday,” he replied. “If that’s all, I won’t see you out.”

He moved to close the door. Li Hong quickly blocked him, “Who bought it? Was ownership transferred? Did you sign a contract?”

“No,” the man snapped, “It’s just an old SUV, who needs a contract? Are you people crazy? If you keep this up, I’ll call the police!”

He insisted on shutting the door.

I quickly pulled Li Hong back, signaling Mr. Lin to leave.

Mr. Lin understood, nodded, and followed me away.

Once we were a distance away, I looked at Tang Jingjing, “Jingjing, didn’t that man look familiar to you?”

“Familiar? No,” Tang Jingjing was confused, “What are you getting at?”

“The man you helped support that drunk with on the bus—that was him, wasn’t it?”

Reminded, Tang Jingjing slapped her forehead, “Oh, right! I totally forgot. Yes, you’re right—it was him!”

“Let me analyze this…”

“Don’t analyze now,” Li Hong suddenly said, “Careful, walls have ears. Let’s go—I’ll see if I can catch him.”

“You saw something?” I asked quietly as we walked, feigning casualness.

Li Hong replied, “Just a feeling.”

We said no more, following Li Hong’s lead.

When we reached Lvyun Village, we got in the car. I asked Li Hong if he’d noticed anyone following us.

Li Hong looked at me with helplessness, “If I said… I feel like everyone in the village is suspicious, would you believe me?”

“Everyone?” I was incredulous, “Maybe you’re being too sensitive.”

Li Hong shook his head, insisting otherwise.

“Don’t tell me the whole village conspired to murder Liu Juncheng,” Tang Jingjing said. “For one person, would the whole village commit a crime? I counted at least three hundred people.”

Li Hong said, “Maybe I am too sensitive. Just be careful.”

I nodded repeatedly.

We drove away, and in the car, Mr. Lin analyzed the clues we had.

The first clue was from the bus driver, Mr. Bai, who mentioned a girl in white at the third stop. We now suspected she was the ‘ghost’ who caused yesterday’s accident.

Whether she was truly supernatural remained to be seen.

The second clue was the man from the village. Mr. Lin told Li Xingchen to quickly investigate his background and especially his connection to Liu Juncheng.

We agreed. Tang Jingjing and I decided to check the bus stop that night, hoping to find the girl in white. Li Xingchen would pursue the SUV owner’s identity.

Before we finalized the plan, Director Wang called, saying he’d arranged things with the bus company—report at three in the afternoon. Nighttime action would be easier.

I accepted, hung up, and told Mr. Lin about Wang’s decision. It seemed I couldn’t stake out the bus stop tonight.

Tang Jingjing volunteered to go alone.

Everyone objected, but Tang Jingjing stubbornly insisted.

I suggested Li Hong skip the bus company and accompany Tang Jingjing to the stop instead. Mr. Lin firmly refused, saying we’d already been exposed—if the murderer targeted me at the bus company, I’d be in grave danger without backup.

After Mr. Lin’s stern lecture, Tang Jingjing finally agreed not to go to the stop that night. To make sure she didn’t sneak over, Li Xingchen was tasked with keeping an eye on her.

Li Xingchen was delighted, saying he could finally keep Tang Jingjing in check.