The World Is Vast, Yet Beasts Abound

"Then we definitely have to call the police. Gui Ying can't suffer this injustice in vain. Damn it, which scoundrel came to our village to harm someone? Find him and I'll kill him!"

"Maybe it's that good-for-nothing from the next village, always up to no good."

The villagers were all indignant, supporting Zhou Li Ping in reporting the case. They also wanted to catch this scoundrel. With such a harmful person lurking in the village, no one could feel at ease.

"Li Ping, are you mistaken? Gui Ying was home every day, never left the village. How could she be messing around with someone else? Don't make a fuss, let Gui Ying be buried soon."

Mother Zhou suddenly spoke up. She disagreed with calling the police and wanted her daughter-in-law to be buried quickly.

"Your mother is right. Gui Ying is dead; don't disturb her body anymore. The forensic doctor will dissect her. Let Gui Ying remain whole." Father Zhou also said.

Both parents disagreed with calling the police, and their reasons were very plausible.

Because according to traditional Huaxia beliefs, one must remain whole after death, otherwise it would affect the next life.

"That's right, the person is dead, bury her soon. This child might be yours, Li Ping. Maybe you misremembered."

Other elders also chimed in, all supporting Zhou Li Ping's parents.

"The child is definitely not mine. Moreover, if it were mine, why would Gui Ying take her own life? Father, Mother, I must clear Gui Ying's name and restore her innocence."

Zhou Li Ping was very stubborn; he had to get an explanation for his wife.

Many young people in the village also supported calling the police, especially those who worked in the city. Like Zhou Li Ping, their wives stayed in the village. If that scoundrel wasn't found, their wives might be the next victims.

Zhou's parents couldn't argue with their son, their faces very unpleasant. Jiang Han Yan glanced at them again, letting out a cold laugh.

"I think Gui Ying's in-laws are very suspicious, trying every way to stop their son from calling the police. Are they trying to protect the culprit?" Tian Xin Xin whispered.

"Very likely. Perhaps the culprit is someone they know, or even a very close relative."

"No matter how close, can they be closer than their daughter-in-law? How can they aid the wicked?" Tian Xin Xin was furious.

"How can a daughter-in-law be considered a relative? She's an outsider."

Sheng Bao Jun sneered, his expression full of sarcasm.

Zhou Li Ping's parents were not an isolated case. In many families, a daughter-in-law was an outsider, obligated to serve her in-laws, but when it came to enjoying benefits within the family, the daughter-in-law immediately became an outsider.

In short, when money and effort were needed, no one yielded to the daughter-in-law. When there were benefits, the daughter-in-law was immediately pushed aside.

The police arrived. After hearing Zhou Li Ping's statement, the forensic doctor performed an autopsy on Gui Ying's body on the spot and also extracted the fetus.

"The victim committed suicide. There are several old wounds on her body, from different times. The old wounds are about a year old, the new ones about a month old. She was about two months pregnant. The DNA test results will be available in three days."

The forensic doctor calmly stated. Zhou Li Ping's expression was astonished. He unconsciously said, "Why are there wounds? We didn't fight."

Although he and his wife had arguments, he never laid a hand on her. At most, he would go out for a cigarette, and his anger would dissipate later. Why were there so many wounds?

"The wounds were caused by a sharp object, all on her arms. From the wounds, it appears the victim cut herself."

The forensic doctor gave another conclusion, adding, "The victim had attempted suicide multiple times before her death."

Zhou Li Ping was even more shocked. He felt as if he had never truly understood his wife. Why so many suicide attempts?

Every time he came home, his wife would have delicious meals ready, and gently ask if he was tired from work, telling him about the children's situation. She didn't seem like someone who wanted to die.

Could it be that his wife had been pretending all along?

Gui Ying's body was taken away by the police, to be returned after the case concluded. The fetus was also taken for examination, with results expected in three days. Jiang Han Yan and the others returned to school that evening.

"Let's wait a little longer. I want to know who that scoundrel is."

Tian Xin Xin and Ji Wei Bo were reluctant to leave; they desperately wanted to know who that scoundrel was. That scoundrel was the culprit who forced Gui Ying to her death and must be severely punished.

"The test results will only be available in three days, and they still need to cross-reference everyone in the village, which will take at least another two days. Can you two wait? Aren't you going to school?" Jiang Han Yan rolled her eyes, pulling the two of them away.

If they didn't go back to school, they would fall behind in their studies. Moreover, Lu Chen had called several times, worried that something might happen to her there, and said he wanted to come, but she had refused.

"My father will keep a close eye on it. He'll call me as soon as there's any news; we'll definitely get firsthand information." Bi Sheng Nan said.

Although she was also curious, she still had to go back to school. Nothing was more important than studying.

"Actually, I've guessed who the culprit is." Sheng Bao Jun said with a sarcastic tone.

"Who? Not Zhou Li Ping, is it?"

Tian Xin Xin and Ji Wei Bo were extremely agitated. They both guessed it was Zhou Li Ping, that scumbag who stole and then cried foul.

"He secretly abused Gui Ying, forced her to get pregnant and commit suicide, then to prove his innocence, he made such a big fuss. He's definitely the real culprit, a murderer without a trace, despicable, that scoundrel!"

Tian Xin Xin grew angrier as she spoke, even feeling that Zhou Li Ping was indeed the culprit.

Ji Wei Bo nodded repeatedly; she thought so too.

"This type of person is best at acting. Gui Ying didn't like talking to anyone when she was alive, almost never left the house. Moreover, everyone in the village is surnamed Zhou, and there are no hooligans or ruffians. They probably wouldn't go to her house to bully Gui Ying. Even if they did, Gui Ying's in-laws were also home. This situation is almost impossible. So that child is Zhou Li Ping's. He used cold violence to abuse his wife, forcing her into depression, and then to commit suicide."

Ji Wei Bo also spoke eloquently, sounding very serious.

"It's a good thing you two aren't police officers, otherwise it would snow in June." Zhou Yu Xin teased.

"Are we wrong? Then who could it be? In that village, we only know Zhou Li Ping and Zhou Jian Ping. Could it be Zhou Jian Ping?" Tian Xin Xin thought of another person.

Ji Wei Bo's eyes widened, "Oh my god, it's not really him, is it?"

Jiang Han Yan was exasperated by these two silly girls and interrupted them, "Neither of them. Zhou Li Ping's pain is real. Although he's not refined enough, he's sincere towards his wife."

"Neither of them is the culprit, so who else could it be?"

Tian Xin Xin and Ji Wei Bo were dying of impatience. Jiang Han Yan wouldn't say, and Sheng Bao Jun and Zhou Yu Xin also wouldn't say, deliberately keeping them in suspense.

It wasn't until they were boarding the bus after getting their tickets that Zhou Yu Xin, annoyed by the two of them, finally revealed a name.

"Zhou Li Ping's father."

Tian Xin Xin and Ji Wei Bo were stunned. It took them a long time to come back to their senses, and they said in unison, "How could that be?"

This was too... too absurd!

Sheng Bao Jun sneered, "Why not? The world is vast, yet beasts abound!"

The two looked at Jiang Han Yan again, wanting to confirm if it was true. Jiang Han Yan nodded slightly, "Nine times out of ten, it's him. Just wait for news from Sheng Nan. If nothing unexpected happens, we'll have results in a few days."