Episode 3 recap: Detective Lao Chen deliberately guided the investigation.
Lao Chen believes that Xu Yi's motive for killing Nan Ya is fundamentally unfounded. He previously understood the Daqiao case, which did not escalate to the point of murder. On the contrary, Nan Ya had been a victim of domestic violence for years and was seeking a divorce. This resentment could have led to a high possibility of her committing the crime. Lin Fang Lu met with Wan Wan's attending physician, who turned out to be a man with inappropriate thoughts whenever Nan Ya was mentioned. He admitted that Nan Ya had facial injuries initially, but Xu Yi had become clever and stopped hitting her, so she hadn't returned to the hospital since then.
Xu Yi's ex-girlfriend, Chen Ling, was unhappy with Lin Fang Lu's investigation on behalf of Nan Ya. She believed that women like Nan Ya should be sentenced to death and couldn't understand why everyone was helping her. Lin Fang Lu countered that if someone had helped Nan Ya, she wouldn't have been beaten so severely by Xu Yi. However, Lin Fang Lu discovered that all the prenatal examination records in the gynecology department were available except for the birth records. Lao Chen knew that Xu Yi was determined to investigate thoroughly, so he took her to see someone who revealed that Nan Ya had a lover outside. Lin Fang Lu first saw Nan Ya in middle school, dressed in a white shirt and long skirt, with a plain face like a beautiful lotus imprinted in his mind, which he couldn't forget to this day.
Considering such a gentle and beautiful woman, Lin Fang Lu couldn't imagine her being ruthless enough to kill her husband. But Lao Chen held a different view, believing that Xu Yi's motive for killing Nan Ya was baseless, and it was Nan Ya who harbored resentment and had the complete potential for committing the crime. After having breakfast, they went to Shengda Construction Company to gather information.
Since the Daqiao case, this company had become a target of public anger, with people calling for its downfall. Banners demanding justice and denouncing the company could be seen everywhere. According to the staff, the main reason for the collapse of the bridge was the use of substandard materials and various complex issues concealed during the construction. It involved illegal modifications and layers of subcontracting. Although Xu Yi was the contractor for the construction, he had subcontracted the project to another company. The situation was complicated, and they couldn't currently convict Xu Yi.
Lin Fang Lu learned that Liu Changshui, the purchasing officer, was the main person handling construction materials. He immediately requested the company's financial records, but the department supervisor stated that Liu Changshui had disappeared, leaving the company burdened with debts. Xu Yi had to personally appease the families of the deceased, and his reputation outside was quite good. Subsequently, they briefly questioned Liu Changshui's wife and children. The wife expressed deep grievances and pointed out that Liu Changshui had a mistress. On the other hand, their son, Liu Xun, had a strange personality and a hot temper. He firmly believed that his father was innocent. Several months ago, Liu Xun discovered that Liu Changshui had taken the money and fled in the middle of the night. He cried and begged him not to leave, but it was in vain. Furthermore, Liu Xun had lost to Zhou Luo, who ranked first, in the final exams.
Lao Chen suspected that Liu Changshui's wife and children were acting in front of them, and Lin Fang Lu also felt that Liu Xun was cunning. He seemed to care deeply about whether his father was guilty, not because of their father-son relationship, but because of his own reputation. After listening to Lin Fang Lu's reasonable analysis, Lao Chen surprisingly didn't refute it and even tacitly agreed with his viewpoint.
That evening, Lao Chen invited Lin Fang Lu to his home as a guest and personally cooked for her.
Chen's wife warmly received Lin Fang Lu and introduced him to their son, Chen Jun, and daughter, Chen Ling. However, Chen Ling appeared indifferent towards Lin Fang Lu. When she heard Lin Fang Lu's inference that Nan Ya would be acquitted if she claimed self-defense, she immediately threw down her chopsticks and left.
The family was accustomed to Chen Ling's behavior. Chen's wife noticed Lin Fang Lu's confusion and told him about Chen Ling and Nan Ya's past. They used to be extremely close best friends, sharing everything with each other. Chen Ling sympathized with Nan Ya's plight, so she took care of Nan Ya in her daily life and studies. The Chen family also treated her like a daughter.
Unfortunately, their friendship later deteriorated. Every time Nan Ya and Chen Ling liked the same man, even if they became Chen Ling's boyfriend, they would inevitably cheat on Nan Ya, and Nan Ya caught them in bed together on more than one occasion. It was because of this that Chen Ling developed a deep hatred for Nan Ya, and they became enemies.
Zhou Luo personally took Wan Wan to the hospital for a check-up. Lin Fang Lu volunteered to accompany them and took the opportunity to inquire about Nan Ya from the doctor, Jiang Zhi. He unexpectedly learned that Wan Wan's illness was a result of Nan Ya's pregnancy and the domestic violence inflicted by Xu Yi. Jiang Zhi deliberately concealed some information, stating that Nan Ya had facial injuries initially, but Xu Yi had become clever and stopped hitting her, so he knew very little about Nan Ya's condition.
Xu Yi's ex-girlfriend, Chen Ling, was unhappy with Lin Fang Lu's investigation on behalf of Nan Ya. She believed that women like Nan Ya should be sentenced to death and couldn't understand why everyone was helping her. Lin Fang Lu countered that if someone had helped Nan Ya, she wouldn't have been beaten so severely by Xu Yi.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhi approached Zhou Luo privately and warned him not to speak recklessly. Jiang Zhi's tone was filled with contempt and humiliation towards Nan Ya, and Zhou Luo could only suppress his anger. Lin Fang Lu investigated Nan Ya's outpatient records and discovered that all the prenatal examination records in the gynecology department were available except for the birth records. Lin Fang Lu brought these documents back to the office and had a sudden realization. He asked everyone to find the outpatient records for September 28th, which was the day Zhou Luo was injured by Xu Yi and Nan Ya went to the hospital for an injury assessment. Coincidentally, the records for that day had been torn out.
Seeing everyone in a frenzy, Lao Chen couldn't help but speak up and remind them that the investigation had deviated from its course. He then took Lin Fang Lu to meet Wang Guihong. This woman had also been a victim of domestic violence and was seen by outsiders as a poisonous woman who had an affair and killed her husband. Lao Chen expressed sympathy for women who suffered from domestic violence, but true intentions were another matter. As police officers, they were not responsible for sympathizing with that aspect. Therefore, he hinted to Lin Fang Lu that the focus of the investigation should be shifted to Nan Ya's lover.
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