When the Dolphin Sinks | Chapter 25 | Servants of Evidence | Novela.app

Inside the police station’s handling hall, which was as bright as day, Zhang Kaiyang was organizing the investigative evidence regarding Wei Lai’s fall into the well. One piece of evidence was the communication records between Wei Zhi and Wei Lai from the past three months. "I want to see forty thousand yuan transferred to my card by midnight tomorrow." "Otherwise, I’ll expose your true face to everyone." Did this "true face" refer to the million-yuan debt Wei Zhi had mentioned? Another part of the file contained interviews regarding the pair’s social relations. When Zhang Kaiyang first set foot in the OCEAN Art Center, the security guard had called Ji Qikun for instructions. The latter had generously allowed him to conduct his investigation and gather evidence, provided he did not disturb the guests. The finance manager had received him warmly. "Wei Zhi? She’s quite good, very efficient." "Does she have any friends at the gallery?" "Friends? Not really... Xiao Wei is good at everything, she just lacks a bit of collective spirit. She usually keeps to herself; I’ve never seen her hanging out with anyone." A cashier surnamed Cai, sitting cross-legged in a swivel chair and admiring her new manicure, chimed in: "What 'lack of collective spirit'? She just has a weird temper—two-faced. Who would dare play with her?" Zhang Kaiyang stopped his pen mid-note. "...What do you mean by 'two-faced'?" "Exactly what it sounds like." Ms. Cai lifted her eyelids, her scrutinizing gaze sliding from Zhang Kaiyang’s face to the police rank on his shoulder. "She looks like an innocent little lamb, right? It’s all an act—I knew she wasn't a good person a long time ago. Her family has no money, yet she’s always carrying fake bags to satisfy her vanity. I heard her mother came to the gallery to find her once. Probably thinking it was embarrassing, she sent her mother packing after barely a few words—" "And this is what you mean by two-faced?" Zhang Kaiyang asked. Ms. Cai rolled her eyes. "She knew I saw through her. One night, she suddenly called me and deliberately asked if the Starbucks cup I was holding was filled with tap water. Don't you think she’s sick in the head?" "...Not only that, he also forced her to make those nonsensical phone calls, making her deliberately annoy others—" The testimony from the anonymous phone call in the Mei Man case eight years ago woke up in Zhang Kaiyang’s mind. The finance manager, listening in from the open glass office, suddenly interjected: "Xiao Wei’s work ability is beyond reproach, but I have to say, it is a bit... how should I put it? After she got together with our director, she often ignored discipline and left early without reason. At first, I didn't know how to handle it, so I tested the waters with the director. To my surprise, he didn't even know she was leaving early. He ended up apologizing to me instead, which made me feel quite embarrassed. After that, whenever Xiao Wei left early, I just pretended not to notice—" "Wait until the person who got soaked gets angry at Mei Man, then Ji Qikun will step forward as a 'mediator' to intervene—" Everything was overlapping. At a delivery station smelling of dampness and sweat, Zhang Kaiyang walked through rows of electric scooters and explained his purpose to the owner, who was registering a newly returned vehicle. "Wei Zhi? I remember her well. She’s been delivering for me for four years. She’s the one who’s stayed the longest among the part-timers—rain or shine, she never misses a shift. Even if she’s delayed by something in the evening, as long as she can still run for an hour, she’ll walk over from her house to borrow a bike—" "How do you know she walked?" "This place is only so big, Officer. As long as it’s within two kilometers, everyone’s a neighbor. Besides, her family situation is quite famous; I couldn't help but know. Officer, this girl is a filial and kind person. It’s just a pity she has such a hard life." "What’s her family situation?" "A family of deadbeats. They’re all counting on this girl to catch a 'golden tortoise' son-in-law so they can suck her dry," the owner said with a look of sympathy. "Her mother was actually a decent person, but she couldn't hold the house together and was constantly bullied by the man. She hanged herself not long ago, so now there’s no one left to back the girl up. That night, the rain was pouring, but she came through the storm to ask for her deposit back. I even asked if she was in urgent need of those few hundred yuan—she said she was scraping money together for her brother." The owner leaned against a scooter, lit a Hongtashan cigarette, and clicked his tongue. "If you ask me, her brother’s accident this time... even the Heavens couldn't stand it anymore!" At the grocery store, which had been closed since Wei Lai fell into the well, Wei Shan rolled up the shutter again at Zhang Kaiyang’s request. Several consecutive sleepless nights made the bloodshot streaks in his eyes even more prominent. He whimpered and complained about his hard lot in life, yet not a single tear could be seen in his eyes. "Is this where she hanged herself?" Zhang Kaiyang stared at the low shelf. "I guess so. That’s what they told me." "Who told you?" "The police—by the time I got here, they’d already taken her down. I didn't see how she hanged herself... anyway, she just did." Wei Shan wiped his dry eyes. "It’s only been a few days, and now my son is gone too... trouble always finds the miserable! Officer, you must help me find my son. He’s the only seed of our Wei family—" Wei Shan’s whining buzzed in Zhang Kaiyang’s ears like a fly. He stared fixedly at that shelf, imagining Wang Lin’s posture after death. She had lived her whole life on her knees; even after death, her knees had not straightened. Humans have a survival instinct. In the second before death arrives, instinct forces a struggle. But Wang Lin’s will had triumphed over that powerful human instinct. She had chosen death without looking back. In his eight years at the police station, he had seen too many similar things. Elderly people with terminal cancer who disappeared from home, unable to bear being a burden to their children; children who refused to let their parents sell the house for their treatment, preferring to live on painkillers; partners who insisted on a "clean break" divorce only because they had contracted an incurable disease... To save or not to save; to live or not to live. He could not blame either side. He was no longer the green, ambitious trainee officer he had been eight years ago. The more he saw, the more he understood that unlike criminal investigators busy defeating evil, a civil officer’s task was more often simply to witness helplessness. Happy people were the minority, and truly tragic people were also the minority. The vast majority were trapped between heaven and hell. After the investigation into Wei Zhi reached a temporary standstill, Zhang Kaiyang went to look into Wei Lai’s social circle. Compared to Wei Zhi’s monotonous social network, Wei Lai’s relationships could be described as a chaotic mess. Many ex-girlfriends, many fair-weather friends, and many debt-collection calls. One call caught his attention. The other party was a new bank employee who was said to be a friend who often gamed with Wei Lai, though they rarely met recently due to work. What was the purpose of their call? The bank arranged for Zhang Kaiyang to meet the man in a small room used for VIP services. "Wei Lai did call me a few times. We chatted about how we were doing and made plans to go out and play games sometime." The young man looked uneasy, his hands moving restlessly. Zhang Kaiyang noted all of this. "Tell me, what did you talk about?" "Just how things have been lately..." "Two phone calls, both just chatting about how things have been?" Zhang Kaiyang asked. "I suggest you tell the truth. Obstructing an investigation carries consequences." The youth swallowed hard. "He... he wanted to borrow money from me. I didn't lend it." "Borrow money?" "Yes, borrow money." The youth nodded, his expression stabilizing. "He wanted to borrow five hundred yuan for internet fees. I didn't lend it. Where would he get the money to pay me back? I’m not a sucker, so I refused." "Then why did you call him back later?" "I was advising him to find a job and live a proper life, instead of robbing Peter to pay Paul every day. We were high school classmates; there’s still some sentiment there..." "Do you know the consequences of perjury?" Zhang Kaiyang said as he wrote in his notebook. The youth swallowed again and toughened his resolve. "Whatever. I’m not lying. Officer, if you think I’m lying, show me the evidence. Don't frame an innocent person." Zhang Kaiyang glanced at him, and the latter guiltily avoided his gaze. He wasn't telling the truth. Zhang Kaiyang’s intuition knew this clearly, but the youth was determined to hide the real conversation he had with Wei Lai. Perhaps the content of that conversation touched upon his own vital interests. He wouldn't tell the truth anytime soon. "If there are any missing questions, I’ll come find you again." Zhang Kaiyang closed his notebook and left the bank. Outside the police station windows, the night grew deeper. Old Wu walked in carrying a thermos to refill it with hot water. Noticing Zhang Kaiyang still working overtime at his desk, he walked over. "Not off yet?" Old Wu stood before Zhang Kaiyang’s desk. "Any harvest?" Zhang Kaiyang shook his head. "Then why are you working late?" Old Wu asked. "I’ve seen all these materials. You think there’s a problem?" Zhang Kaiyang hesitated for a moment before saying, "...I just feel it’s a bit too coincidental." "What’s too coincidental? That a person steps on a manhole cover and disappears?" Old Wu scoffed, opened his thermos, and took a sip of warm tea. "Have you seen too little of this kind of thing at the station?" "The accidental fall itself is nothing, but a series of events happening all at once feels..." "Don't 'feel'." Old Wu interrupted him, looking into his eyes. "We are police. Police act on evidence." "...I know." Zhang Kaiyang lowered his eyes and organized the materials into a file folder. "Xiao Zhang, you’re not young anymore. You don't want to be a grassroots officer in this tiny station for the rest of your life, do you?" Old Wu said. "You were at the top of your class when you graduated. I’m old, so it doesn't matter to me, but don't you want to handle some big cases? Maybe go to the provincial level to gain some experience?" "To me, all cases are the same," Zhang Kaiyang said. These were his true feelings, and Old Wu knew they were true. That was why he wore a sympathetic expression and patted his shoulder. "If anyone else said that, I wouldn't believe it. If it’s you, I know it’s real. Eight years—even an Oscar winner couldn't fake it for eight years." Old Wu sighed. "Xiao Zhang, your heart is just too soft. You empathize too easily with the victims. I’m not saying that’s bad, but everything must be in moderation. If you empathize too much with the injured party, you’ll get hurt too." Zhang Kaiyang said nothing. "Have you heard this saying?" Old Wu said. "The police are the servants of the people." "...Of course." "Do you think it’s right?" Zhang Kaiyang looked up at Old Wu. Old Wu’s energy was still like that of a man in his forties, but his greying buzz cut betrayed his true age. In eight years, everything had changed. "It’s right, but not entirely right." Old Wu smiled. "We police are the servants of the chain of evidence. We find evidence, assemble the chain of evidence, and maintain the justice displayed by that chain. That is our entire duty. Do you know why?" "...Why?" "Because people lie," Old Wu said earnestly. "The chain of evidence doesn't." He capped his thermos, regained his casual expression, and turned toward the water dispenser. "Go home if there’s nothing else. You’re not a kid anymore. Care more about your personal life; don't be like an old bachelor working overtime at the station every day." "...Yes," Zhang Kaiyang replied softly, putting the file folder into his drawer. At the same time, Wei Shan, who was about to head out for a night of mahjong, was cornered at his back door. Several burly men with thick waists and tattoos of dragons and tigers on their arms surrounded him. "Where are you going? When do you plan to pay back the money you owe the platform?" Wei Shan was shoved against the wall. His short stature stood no chance against these hulking men. He simply plopped down on the ground and shouted, "Take whatever you think is valuable in this grocery store! It can't stay open anyway!" "Who wants your worthless junk!" the lead thug said. "Even if you gave us ten grocery stores like this, it wouldn't cover a third of what you borrowed!" "Then what do you want?" Wei Shan, acting like a dead pig that doesn't fear boiling water, held out his swollen left hand. "Even if you kill me, I don't have that much money! How about you chop off two fingers and we call it even!" "What damn era do you think this is, chopping off fingers? What would we do with your rotten fingers? I’d find it bad luck!" The thug spat. "I’m here to give you an idea. Didn't your son just die?" "You’re the one who’s dead! My son just hasn't been found yet!" Wei Shan cursed loudly. "Whatever—" the thug said impatiently. "Anyway, your son had an accident. You can seek compensation from the property management. Old man, you’re about to strike it rich. Do you know how much the property management paid the last person this happened to?" "How much?" Wei Shan’s eyes lit up. "A million!" the thug said. "Wouldn't you call that striking it rich?" "But... my son fell in on his own. Is it useful to go after the property management?" Wei Shan asked skeptically. "We’ve looked into it. This falls under the property’s responsibility. They failed to check for the manhole cover sliding in time, and there were no warning signs around. You sue them, and you’ll win every time," the thug said confidently. Wei Shan’s eyes darted rapidly. A surge of intense excitement overwhelmed the grief of losing his son. "...Really?" "Go try and you’ll see," the thug said. "Remember, once you get the money, settle your debt with our platform first." "Of course, of course..." Wei Shan scrambled to his feet, smiling obsequiously. "If they really pay that much, I’ll definitely settle the debt with you guys!" The thug swept a contemptuous glance over him and gestured for the others to follow him out. Wei Shan remained in the alley, his desire to play mahjong having faded. He lit a cigarette and carefully calculated this business deal. It had been four days since Wei Lai was swept into the sewer. There was no news at all; it looked like he was more dead than alive. That was his only son. It would be a lie to say his heart didn't ache. But the living must look out for themselves. If he could get a million in compensation, would he still need to care about Wei Zhi’s attitude? His life could start over. He could even father another son! Excitement gripped Wei Shan’s throat. A sharp pain throbbed in his chest, but he suppressed it as he usually did. He took a deep breath, exhaled a long plume of smoke, and crushed the cigarette butt with a trembling foot. He ruffled his already messy hair and stumbled toward the direction of Blue Sky Residential Area. *** | Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 张开阳 | Zhang Kaiyang | The police officer investigating the case. | | 魏来 | Wei Lai | Wei Zhi's brother who fell into the well. | | 魏芷 | Wei Zhi | The female protagonist. | | 季琪琨 | Ji Qikun | The art gallery director and Wei Zhi's boyfriend. | | OCEAN艺术中心 | OCEAN Art Center | The gallery where Wei Zhi works. | | 蔡姓出纳 | Ms. Cai | A cashier at the art center. | | 梅满 | Mei Man | Ji Qikun's deceased ex-girlfriend. | | 魏杉 | Wei Shan | Wei Zhi's father. | | 王琳 | Wang Lin | Wei Zhi's mother who committed suicide. | | 红塔山 | Hongtashan | A famous Chinese cigarette brand. | | 老吴 | Old Wu | A senior police officer at the station. | | 蓝天小区 | Blue Sky Residential Area | The neighborhood where the incident occurred. | | 证据链的公仆 | Servants of the chain of evidence | A thematic phrase used by Old Wu. |