Chapter 17: Alibi

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Wu Yongcheng took out his identification and clearly informed the other party of his identity.

“May we come in?” Wu Yongcheng asked.

“Oh, yes, yes, of course.” Zhang Xinli immediately stepped back a bit, making way for the three of them.

Zhou Yi and Chen Yan followed Wu Yongcheng into the house. Although they entered the house, it was really just the living room area by the door.

Searches require proper procedures; police investigations must abide by the law.

However, just from what they saw in the living room, Zhou Yi fell into deep thought.

This should be a two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment, but judging by the layout and size of the living room, it couldn’t be very large—probably just over sixty square meters.

In the center of the living room, on the wall behind the sofa, hung a wedding photo.

Zhang Xinli was wearing a white wedding dress, and beside her was a rather ordinary-looking, slightly overweight man wearing thick, beer-bottle-bottom glasses.

The doors in the house were all decorated with double happiness symbols, and even the TV on the chest of drawers was covered with a festive red cloth to keep the dust off.

“Did you just get married recently?” Wu Yongcheng asked.

Zhang Xinli smiled faintly. “We registered last month on the 14th. They say it was Valentine’s Day.”

“Congratulations. Didn’t have a wedding banquet?”

Wu Yongcheng asked this because Zhang Xinli’s marital status had not been updated in her records.

But this was understandable, after all, it had only been a month since the registration.

It wasn’t like when he was young; he got married in 1981, and back then, you needed a letter of introduction from your workplace, with official stamps to be valid.

Now, they promote freedom of marriage.

But out of professional habit, he still asked.

“Oh, my husband and I are both not from Baicheng. We plan to return to our hometown to hold a banquet when we have time. For colleagues and friends here, we just sent out some wedding candies and pastries, so we didn’t make a big deal about it,” Zhang Xinli replied calmly.

“What does your husband do for work?”

“He’s an electrician at the power supply station.” Suddenly, Zhang Xinli asked anxiously, “Did something happen to him?”

“No, it’s not related to him. Du Xiaolin is your colleague, right?”

“Yes, we worked together just yesterday. Did something happen to Xiaolin?”

When the police come knocking and ask about a colleague, even a fool would know something must have happened.

“She was murdered on her way home from work yesterday.”

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“What!” Zhang Xinli was stunned. “How could that be... Have they caught the killer?”

Wu Yongcheng didn’t answer but instead asked, “When did you get home yesterday?”

“I got home around eleven last night.”

“That early? Didn’t your shift end at midnight?”

Wu Yongcheng and Zhou Yi were both a little surprised, but Zhou Yi didn’t speak; Wu Yongcheng asked all the questions.

Chen Yan was taking notes, while Zhou Yi quietly moved to the side, observing every expression of the woman.

Though not an expert in micro-expressions, some ordinary clues were hard for him to miss.

“I had a bit of a stomach ache yesterday, and since the department wasn’t very busy, I said goodbye and left early. It’s kind of an unspoken agreement among us,” Zhang Xinli said, rubbing her abdomen.

“Anyone to verify that?”

“My husband. Before I came home, I called him to make some porridge for me.”

“If possible, please give us your husband’s workplace information later.”

Zhang Xinli nodded.

“Did you go out again afterward?”

“No, I drank the porridge and went straight to sleep. I didn’t even notice when my husband left for work this morning.”

Wu Yongcheng gave Zhou Yi a look, and Zhou Yi immediately understood.

“Sorry, could I use the restroom?” Zhou Yi asked.

“Sure, it’s just this way. Go ahead.”

“Thank you.” Zhou Yi followed her direction and entered the bathroom.

Before closing the door, he heard Wu Yongcheng continue questioning, “Do you know if anyone at work had conflicts with Du Xiaolin?”

After closing the door, Zhou Yi quickly examined the bathroom, less than two square meters, equipped with a sink, toilet, bathtub, several basins and towels, plus some toiletries and skincare products.

Zhou Yi touched the inside of the bathtub, then checked the drain and some inconspicuous corners.

To avoid suspicion, he flushed the toilet, turned on the tap to wash his hands, then opened the door and stepped out.

“This toilet flushes really well. What brand is it? I’m renovating my place soon, I might get one just like it,” Zhou Yi casually asked, shaking his hand as if in passing.

“Oh, I’m not sure. I just bought it from a random shop on the street.”

Wu Yongcheng said, “Well, that’s it for now. If you recall anything useful, you can contact us.”

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Zhang Xinli nodded sadly. “Officers, you must catch the killer. Xiaolin was a good girl and got along well with everyone. You have to bring her justice.”

Wu Yongcheng replied matter-of-factly, “Don’t worry, catching the killer is our duty.”

The three of them left the hallway and headed toward the Santana.

Chen Yan suddenly spoke, “Zhou Yi, you misjudged this time. Zhang Xinli has neither the time nor the motive.”

Zhou Yi remained silent, but Wu Yongcheng asked, “Why do you say that?”

“Look, master, Zhang Xinli got home at eleven and slept until morning. Then her husband is her alibi.”

Wu Yongcheng lit a cigarette and said softly, “Legally, an alibi provided by a direct relative is not inadmissible. But since relatives have vested interests, the validity depends on the credibility of the evidence and the court’s judgment.”

“Do you mean Zhang Xinli’s husband might be lying?”

Wu Yongcheng exhaled a smoke ring but said nothing.

“I don’t think so. Zhou Yi said earlier that the killer’s motive was an emotional dispute.”

“But Zhang Xinli is already married. Even if there was a prior relationship, she’s the one who ‘won’—no motive to kill.”

“Her husband wouldn’t help her lie to cover up a murder of a woman he once had a close relationship with.”

“He’s no fool. He wouldn’t risk being stabbed in his sleep by his own wife to silence him.”

Chen Yan rambled on with his thoughts. The three got into the car, and Wu Yongcheng said, “Xiao Chen’s analysis seems to make some sense.”

Though he sounded like he was agreeing, he turned to look at Zhou Yi in the back seat.

Seeing Zhou Yi say nothing, Wu Yongcheng lost patience and directly addressed him.

“Zhou Yi, you haven’t said a word since leaving Zhang Xinli’s place. What’s wrong? Stung by a wrong judgment?”

“Captain Wu,” Zhou Yi looked up.

“Hm?”

“How much do you earn in a month?”

Wu Yongcheng was stunned. “Why are you asking about my salary?”

Zhou Yi pointed toward the window of Zhang Xinli’s home and said, “And how much does she earn monthly?”