The interrogation room.
The case was cleared, and the culprit apprehended, but it was far from the results Hu Jia and the others desired.
This was because Cai Yun refused to divulge the identity of his contact.
"You told Fan Yafu in advance that you might switch shifts with him during the Spring Festival, leading Fan Yafu to tell his family that he wouldn't be returning. That was also part of your scheme, wasn't it? Your goal was to solidify the notion of his suicide," Hu Jia probed.
However, before Cai Yun could answer, Hu Jia continued, "I assume the injury to the person scheduled to be on duty this week was also your doing, intended to facilitate a shift change."
"You did all this for today's events. So, let me ask you, how did you know Zhang Hangjiang would be brought to the municipal police station this week?"
Each of Hu Jia's questions hit the mark, and Cai Yun broke out in a cold sweat.
In reality, everyone knew that only someone intimately familiar with Hu Jia could pinpoint the timing so precisely.
This was because they were well aware that Hu Jia only had seven days.
Since he had been investigating the case in Tuwan the previous week, he was bound to have results this week, and once he had them, interrogating Zhang Hangxian was a foregone conclusion.
"Is it Tong Meng?" Seeing Cai Yun's silence, Ouyang Wen abandoned any pretense of subtlety and named the person directly.
Indeed, a flicker of surprise crossed Cai Yun's eyes, followed by a wide, hysterical laugh.
His sudden change in demeanor left everyone baffled. He had been holding strong moments ago, and now he seemed resigned.
"As expected, as expected," Cai Yun muttered inexplicably, and then a dark stream of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Poison hidden in his teeth.
Everyone was shocked, but it was too late.
Cai Yun died right before their eyes. He chose suicide because, upon hearing Tong Meng's name, he knew that she had already been flagged as a suspect.
Since the authorities suspected Tong Meng, he had to die.
If he had lived even a day longer, Tong Meng would have held him accountable for his betrayal.
Therefore, he had to die, he must die, and he would die to make a statement.
His only intention was to leave a path for his family.
Looking at Cai Yun's cold corpse, Hu Jia was filled with rage.
They had been searching for evidence of Tong Meng being the mole, and this was their closest brush with success. Yet, with victory within reach, Cai Yun had poisoned himself.
The fish had taken the bait, but as you reached for it, it wriggled free.
A sense of powerlessness washed over them.
However, an explanation was still needed. In the end, after much investigation, the police department produced one person: the one who had altered the duty roster to frame Gao Liang.
Hu Jia was resigned. He knew this might be the best possible outcome.
At least a hidden threat had been eliminated.
With all matters concluded, time had already entered February. The Chinese New Year in 1929 fell on February 9th.
Only two or three days remained, and the final day of instruction at the academy was drawing to a close.
With the New Year approaching, everyone was excited. Some were returning home to be with their families, while others were unable to leave due to their duties.
Before parting ways, they decided to have a farewell dinner.
This time, they chose a hot pot. Hu Jia, as always, was thoughtful and had long ago noted Lü Qingqing's preferences, which pleased her greatly.
After the meal, Ouyang Wen kept Lü Qingqing and Hu Jia behind.
"For the past few years, due to Xiaojia's amnesia, we never told him that his adoptive father's case remained unsolved. So, Xiaojia always returned for the ancestral rites with the mindset that the case was closed. Xiaojia," Ouyang Wen paused, looking at the two before him, his meaning clear: what should they do this year?
Lü Qingqing remained silent, feeling that her current status was not appropriate for such a discussion. Just as she was about to withdraw, Ouyang Wen stopped her. "Once Xiaojia decides on someone, it's for life. Unless you are unwilling, you will undoubtedly be my Hu family's daughter-in-law."
Ouyang Wen's intention was clear: she would be part of the Hu family, and therefore, she had the right to participate in today's discussion.
Lü Qingqing sat back down. How could she possibly be unwilling? She was willing.
Seeing Lü Qingqing sit down, Ouyang Wen's eyebrows twitched imperceptibly. She sat down for his sake, didn't she?
Ouyang Wen's heart rippled for only a second or two before he regained his composure. "Xiaojia, what do you think about this matter?"
Hu Jia hadn't considered this question and was momentarily troubled.
To tell his father that the case was unsolved meant that he had been lying to him for the past few years. It meant his son was incompetent, and his father could not rest in peace even ten years after his death.
More importantly, he had been deceiving his father for the past five years because he himself had been injured and had lost his memory. He couldn't recall anything and had used lies to pacify himself, to construct an idealized life.
Would his father be willing to hear such a truth? Did he want to hear it? Was this the outcome he desired?
But if he didn't speak the truth, he would have to continue the pretense of everything being perfect: the great revenge avenged, peace and prosperity restored, and the nation safe.
However, was all of this truly real?
Hu Jia couldn't make a decision. He wanted his father to rest easy, to not worry, but he couldn't reconcile himself to telling a lie.
"What are your thoughts?" Instinctively, Hu Jia wanted Ouyang Wen to make the decision, just like when he was a child. Whatever happened, his elder brother would face it first.
Ouyang Wen understood Hu Jia's meaning perfectly. "This time is different. This time, you are bringing Qingqing back with you. I respect all your choices, and I will follow your lead."
Hu Jia understood.
This was a problem he had to confront. He was grateful to Ouyang Wen for raising this issue at this moment.
It represented Ouyang Wen's respect for him.
The reason was simple: during the Spring Festival week and a half, Ouyang Wen could have easily deceived him as he had in previous years.
After all, entering his amnesiac state again, he wouldn't be able to recall anything.
But now, Ouyang Wen was forcing him to make a choice, which signified his stance.
Hu Jia simply lowered his head and remained silent for a moment before finding his answer.
He wanted to tell the truth. His father was a policeman, and he needed the truth. Some lies might be well-intentioned, but even the kindest lie was not the truth.
Yes, the case had occurred ten years ago, and it was now entering its eleventh year.
With such a long-unsolved case, as a policeman and as a son, he should not make excuses for himself.
"I want to be able to stand before my father's grave one day and tell him frankly: The case is solved, the killer has been caught, your revenge is complete, and the firearm that constantly threatened the safety of the people has been destroyed."
After speaking, Hu Jia looked at Ouyang Wen and Lü Qingqing beside him. Their eyes conveyed admiration, and it was clear they also approved of his decision.
Perhaps their choices were the same as his.
"Yes, we will stand squarely before Uncle and tell him that I have succeeded. Although it has taken a long time, and the process had its twists and turns, we never gave up. Therefore, we have succeeded," Lü Qingqing clasped Hu Jia's hand. "I believe this is what Uncle would want to hear."
Hu Jia nodded. Yes.
This year, he would bring his fiancée to meet his late father, and he would do so in his most authentic state.
Speaking of Hu Shilong, Lü Qingqing thought of Liang Yingzhang. "If only I had acted a little faster, perhaps I could have saved him." She regretted not being able to see Master Liang one last time.
After speaking, she playfully chided Hu Jia, "Master Liang passed away without telling me, and then Tong Meng came to mock me."
Hu Jia blinked in surprise. "Mock you?"
Lü Qingqing briefly recounted her conversation with Tong Meng that day. Ouyang Wen chuckled contemptuously. "She wasn't there to mock you; she was there to gauge your reaction."