Upon hearing Chen Nan's words.
Song Yunfei and others' eyes flashed with coldness.
They subconsciously placed their hands on their sword hilts.
As long as Chen Nan gave the order.
They would apprehend Xu Dacheng.
"Officer, you don't suspect me of harming Hu Ning'an, do you?" Xu Dacheng's face was filled with panic.
Chen Nan looked at him with a half-smile, "Answer my previous question. You are the manager of the casino, how do you know so clearly when Hu Ning'an left, even knowing about his argument with the night watchman?"
In his opinion.
Xu Dacheng was highly suspicious.
Xu Dacheng swallowed nervously and quickly said, "Reporting to the officer, although I am the casino manager, I am precisely in charge of debt collection. Hu Ning'an came to repay his debt, so naturally, I have a deep impression of him."
"As for the argument with the night watchman, I learned of it by chance."
"Because our casino provides free hot water for night watchmen at night."
"The matter of Hu Ning'an arguing with the night watchman was also told to me by the night watchman when he came for water."
"If you don't believe me, you can go and ask the night watchman."
A doubt arose in Chen Nan's heart.
Could it be that.
Everything Xu Dacheng said was true?
Afterwards, the six of them found the night watchman who had been on duty last night.
Because they worked in the same yamen, they knew each other.
Song Yunfei directly said, "Old Ji, did anything happen when you were on duty last night?"
Old Ji was over fifty years old.
Hunched.
Blind in one eye.
He looked very ugly.
It was precisely because he was ugly that he became a night watchman.
Because even monsters and fierce ghosts would not want to approach such a person.
He didn't know why Song Yunfei was asking, but he still said, "Nothing happened last night!"
Song Yunfei beat around the bush, "I heard you had an argument with someone on the street last night?"
Old Ji chuckled, "I did have an argument with someone. I came out of an alley and ran into a gambler. That guy said I startled him, and then he cursed at me."
"After we cursed each other for a few words, we parted ways."
"Is there any problem with this?"
Song Yunfei: "Did you tell anyone about this matter?"
Old Ji: "I mentioned it to the people at Ruyi Lou."
Song Yunfei looked at Chen Nan.
Based on the current situation.
The manager named Xu Dacheng did not seem to have lied.
In other words.
Hu Ning'an's disappearance had nothing to do with the casino.
However.
Where did he go?
Why have there been no sightings of the person or body for such a long time?
The clues had run dry.
But Chen Nan was not flustered.
Even without clues, he could find clues.
"You guys go and investigate Hu Ning'an's social circle, for example, who he offended, if he has any enemies." Chen Nan arranged for Song Yunfei and others to act separately.
Then he went to Zhang Mingquan's house.
Zhang Mingquan was not only a kind person.
He was also a craftsman.
He was skilled in carpentry.
At this moment, he was making wooden horses for the children in the courtyard.
Seeing Chen Nan arrive.
He immediately put down his tools and saluted Chen Nan, "Greetings, Lord Chen."
"No need to be so polite," Chen Nan said, "I've come to ask you about something..." Then he told him about the case of Hu Ning'an's disappearance.
If one were to ask who had the most up-to-date information in Tongcheng.
Who had the most informants.
It would undoubtedly be Zhang Mingquan.
After all, there were countless rats in the city.
"Lord Chen, please wait a moment, I'll have someone inquire." Zhang Mingquan called out a rat more than half a meter long, making squeaking sounds, as if conversing.
Then the large rat disappeared.
About half an hour later, the large rat returned to Zhang residence.
After communicating with Zhang Mingquan, Zhang Mingquan looked at Chen Nan and said, "Lord Chen, my kin did indeed see Hu Ning'an last night. After he left Ruyi Lou yesterday, he jumped into the moat."
"Given the current temperature, the body should surface tomorrow."
Chen Nan frowned.
The moat again?
Also.
Hu Ning'an had already repaid all his gambling debts.
Why would he choose to end his life?
Even if he wanted to die, he could have done so before repaying his gambling debts.
After all, a dead person would have no earthly worries.
All debts would cease to exist.
But he ransacked his home, sold all his property, and then committed suicide.
This point was clearly not logical.
"By the way, were there any strange things at Ruyi Lou?" Chen Nan always felt that Ruyi Lou was inextricably involved in this matter, and Hu Ning'an was likely stimulated by something at Ruyi Lou.
This would lead him to commit suicide by drowning.
Zhang Mingquan shook his head, "Ruyi Lou is the largest casino in Tongcheng. Although beatings often occur there, that's all there is to it."
"Alright, I understand."
Then Chen Nan left Zhang residence.
Upon returning to the county yamen.
Song Yunfei and others also returned one after another.
He said, "Boss, I investigated Hu Ning'an's social circle. Those who knew him all said that Hu Ning'an was a simple and honest person, humble and gentle, and had never offended anyone."
"Therefore, the possibility of Hu Ning'an being murdered due to revenge can be ruled out."
"Also."
"Boss, do you think Hu Ning'an went to visit a friend's house?"
"I always feel that Hu Ning'an should still be alive."
"The reason he didn't go home after repaying his gambling debts was probably because he was too ashamed to face his wife and children."
"He probably hid on purpose."
"It's not necessarily that he was harmed."
"What you said makes a lot of sense, but... Hu Ning'an is already dead." If it weren't for Zhang Mingquan telling him that Hu Ning'an was dead, Chen Nan would have believed that Hu Ning'an was hiding.
After all, those who had done wrong were ashamed to face their loved ones.
His hiding after repaying his gambling debts could also be understood.
"Have someone keep an eye on the moat. If nothing unexpected happens, Hu Ning'an will surface soon." Changing the subject, Chen Nan asked, "You said earlier that Hu Ning'an was kind and humble?"
Song Yunfei nodded, "Yes, that's what his friends told me."
A cold smile appeared on Chen Nan's face, "Have you ever seen a kind and humble person who would curse at a night watchman and disdain others for being ugly?"
Song Yunfei's pupils trembled violently.
Gradually realizing that things were becoming more and more perplexing.
He couldn't help but ask, "Meaning, Hu Ning'an's friends lied?"
Chen Nan shook his head, "If one person said Hu Ning'an was kind and humble, then he might have lied. But you asked more than a dozen of Hu Ning'an's close friends from his lifetime, and they all said Hu Ning'an was kind and humble, so there shouldn't be any mistake."
"But then why did he argue with Old Ji on the street? Old Ji was just a night watchman and didn't provoke him, so his cursing at Old Ji was bullying, wasn't it?"
Chen Nan said, "We can only get an answer to this after Hu Ning'an's body surfaces and an autopsy is performed. I have a vague premonition that this matter is definitely related to Ruyi Lou."
Suddenly.
Xiahou's angry voice rang out, "Where is Chen Nan? Get out here quickly."