139 Sun Xiaopeng

"Are we getting a new team member?" Tian Li asked, surprised.

"Yes. Our group was formed recently and we're short-staffed. Captain Zheng has been keeping it in mind, and now that a suitable candidate is available, he's been assigned to us first," Zeng Ping replied.

"A man or a woman?" Li Hui pressed.

"Is it a pretty girl?" Zhao Ming looked expectant.

"What's wrong with your brain? You're here at the police station to solve cases, not to pick up girls," Tian Li huffed.

"Sister Tian, I'm just joking. Besides, aren't you a beauty yourself?" Zhao Ming laughed.

Tian Li wasn't what one would call stunning, but she had delicate features, a tall figure, and short hair that gave her a spirited, heroic look. She was definitely the type who grew on you.

"Oh, I see why you've been showing off your wealth every day. So you've been setting your sights on Sister Tian," Li Hui winked.

"Brother Hui, don't talk nonsense. I was just saying..." Zhao Ming hadn't finished his sentence when he let out a pained cry: "Ouch!"

As it turned out, Tian Li had stepped hard on his foot.

"Shut up."

Tian Li scolded him, then shook a fist at Li Hui: "And you, keep running your mouth and see if I don't beat you up."

"Calm down, Sister Tian, I'm just kidding." Li Hui apologized quickly, seemingly genuinely worried that she might actually hit him.

Han Bin watched the three of them bickering and didn't interrupt. He knew well that Li Hui had a loose tongue and loved to tease everyone, but from what he knew of Li Hui, he seemed truly afraid of Tian Li. As for the reason, Han Bin didn't know.

"Ahem..."

Zeng Ping coughed lightly and reprimanded them: "Enough. Look at the time—we haven't solved the case yet, and you have the energy for this?"

"Captain Zeng, I'm just trying to lighten the mood, let everyone take a break and switch gears. Work-life balance, right?" Li Hui said with a sheepish grin.

"Good use of that idiom. Since you've 'balanced' by resting, now get back to work. Tell me, what clues have you found?" Zeng Ping huffed.

Li Hui organized his thoughts: "We've canvassed the area. The exact time the mobile signal was lost was likely 12:25 AM. We estimate the crime occurred between midnight and 1:00 AM."

Zeng Ping flicked his cigarette ash: "Did anyone see any suspicious vehicles or people during that time?"

"The area is quite remote, just wilderness. At night, everyone stays indoors and rarely goes out. We haven't found any witnesses yet," Han Bin replied.

"Hmm, confirming the specific window of time is still important." Zeng Ping affirmed, then turned to Tian Li: "Did you find anything on your end?"

"We contacted the traffic police monitoring center and asked them to help copy the nearby surveillance footage. As for private cameras, we found two that captured the road, but that stretch is quite far from the base station and isn't exactly a main thoroughfare," Tian Li said.

"That's not a problem. If this is a series of crimes, we can cross-reference the footage. Even if we don't catch a specific car at the scene, if that same vehicle appears near every crime scene, it's highly suspicious," Han Bin analyzed.

"Han Bin is right. Try to collect as much surveillance from nearby roads as possible, even if it's a bit further away." Zeng Ping nodded. The reason these are called serial cases is because they share many commonalities. By comparing these common points, they can be used as leads to define the direction of the investigation.

"Tian Li, does Li Weili have an alibi?" Han Bin asked.

Tian Li thought for a moment: "No. According to his statement, he was on duty at the telecommunications company last night, and his colleagues can vouch for him."

"In other words, we can rule him out for now," Zhao Ming shrugged.

"Since the investigation here has reached a temporary conclusion, let's head to the scene at Golden Beach," Zeng Ping ordered. "Zhao Ming, you drive."

"Captain Zeng, there are two scenes at Golden Beach. Which one are we going to?"

"Let's look at the one from September 3rd. That was the first theft; the suspect might have left evidence there," Zeng Ping said.

...

Generally speaking, the development of serial cases can be divided into an initial phase, a development phase, and a frenzy phase. During the initial phase, the perpetrator has yet to establish a clear modus operandi and lacks experience, making it the period where they are most likely to make mistakes.

...

It was already four in the afternoon by the time they reached the Golden Beach base station. Assisted by officers from the Golden Beach police station, Zeng Ping and his team re-examined the site of the theft.

As soon as he entered the equipment room, Zeng Ping frowned: "The scene has been tampered with?"

The officer leading the way explained: "After we finished surveying the scene and taking photos for evidence, the telecommunications company applied to repair the room. Considering the vital nature of the base station, our superiors approved it."

"Since the room is back in operation, the original scene is effectively destroyed. There's no point in us being here," Li Hui said, pulling out a cigarette and putting it in his mouth.

"The files we handed over include photos of the room. Every corner was captured," the officer said.

"That's not the same thing." Zeng Ping left it at that and walked out of the room.

It was clear that Zeng Ping was displeased. Han Bin offered a few polite words, slipped the officer a cigarette, and sent him back to the station.

"Captain Zeng, what do we do now?" Tian Li asked.

"Canvass the area, pull the footage."

Han Bin and the others split into two groups to continue the investigation.

...

The canvassing lasted until after six in the evening. Zeng Ping called everyone together to summarize the case, and the day's work concluded.

When Han Bin got home, Wang Huifang had already finished cooking.

Han Bin had originally been off today. Wang Huifang had gone out in the morning and bought plenty of ingredients, preparing four dishes and a soup—a mix of meat, fish, and vegetables—quite the feast.

"Son, weren't you going to look at a shop? Why did you end up working on a case this afternoon?" Wang Huifang set three bowls of rice on the table.

"Need you ask? A case must have come up halfway," Han Weidong said, walking over with a bottle of liquor.

"Drinking again? Can't you drink a little less?" Wang Huifang huffed.

"One ounce, just one ounce," Han Weidong replied, then changed the subject, looking at Han Bin: "How was the shop?"

"The location is pretty good, and my uncle can afford the transfer fee. It's just that I feel there's something off about the shop owner," Han Bin said as he walked over with his chopsticks and sat down at the table.

Han Weidong poured himself a drink and asked, "What's wrong with him?"

Han Bin ate a braised shrimp: "I'm not sure exactly what, but the moment the owner heard I was a police officer, he started trembling."

"Sounds like no good person to me."

Wang Huifang frowned and set her chopsticks back down: "What does your uncle think? Is he still going to rent it?"

"My uncle still thinks the shop is suitable, but I told him not to rent it," Han Bin said.

"Will he listen to you? Don't let him get cheated again," Wang Huifang sighed, looking worried.

"Uncle is a grown man and has been in the antique business for so long. It won't be that easy to trick him," Han Bin said.

"That won't do."

Wang Huifang still felt uneasy. She stood up and said: "I need to make a call. He needs a good talking-to."

Watching his mother leave the dining room, Han Bin nudged his chin: "Dad, aren't you going to talk her out of it?"

"Talk her out of it? Your mother is going through menopause; her temper is huge. Don't take it to heart, just endure it for a few years and it'll pass," Han Weidong smiled and whispered: "With your uncle there to share the load, we two can have it a bit easier and take fewer scoldings."

Han Bin gave a thumbs-up. As expected, old man Han was full of experience.

...

The next morning, Han Bin took the red QQ car to the Yuhua Precinct.

Han Bin and Li Hui carpooled to work. Usually, Li Hui drove, and while Han Bin had offered to take turns, Li Hui had declined. It was his most valuable possession, and he wasn't about to let anyone else touch it. Han Bin didn't mind; it was easier for him.

When he arrived at the office, Han Bin noticed a box of chewing gum on his desk—to be precise, there was a box of gum on everyone's desk.

"What's going on?" Li Hui picked up the gum; his box was still sealed.

"Captain Zheng gave them out. Not just us, Group One got them too," Tian Li laughed.

"Looks like we won't be able to smoke in the office anymore," Zhao Ming said with a bitter smile.

"It's a perk from the boss, don't be so picky." Han Bin opened his box and popped two pieces into his mouth.

Zeng Ping walked into the office and ordered: "Clean up the place. The new colleague will be here soon."

"Clap, clap." Li Hui clapped his hands: "Prize quiz: man or woman?"

"Man," Han Bin said without hesitation.

"Brother Bin, so certain? Any inside info?" Zhao Ming asked curiously.

"Just a guess," Han Bin said.

The ratio of male to female detectives was much higher; the odds of guessing correctly were high.

"Tsk, tsk. I think it's a woman," Li Hui said.

"Why?"

"It's all about gender equality these days. There are more and more female police officers. Maybe they'll assign one to us," Li Hui shrugged.

"Alright, alright. Stop gossiping the moment you have a free second. Clean up; Captain Zheng will be here shortly," Zeng Ping waved his hand.

The room wasn't very big, so there wasn't much to tidy up. Tian Li swept the floor, Li Hui wiped the tables, and Zhao Ming took out the trash; the room was soon ready.

They hadn't finished for long when there was a knock at the door.

"Creak..."

The door pushed open, and Zheng Kai-xuan walked in, followed by someone.

"Captain Zheng."

Everyone stood up to greet him, but their eyes were fixed on the person behind him.

Standing behind Zheng Kai-xuan was a man of extraordinary height and build—a full head taller and broader than the 177cm-tall Zheng Kai-xuan, looking like a temple guardian.

"Didn't you lot keep complaining that we're short-handed? I've brought you someone." Zheng Kai-xuan patted the man's arm: "Xiao Sun, introduce yourself."

"Hello, Team Leader Zeng. Hello, seniors. My name is Sun Xiao-peng. I'll be part of Group Two from now on. I hope you'll take good care of me." The giant man bowed slightly, still appearing taller than everyone in the room.

Zhao Ming looked up at the new colleague, who was nearly a head taller than him, and thought to himself, "Damn, he's that big and his name is 'Little' Peng? What does that make me? Zhao Tiny-Tiny-Ming?"