Reinvestigating the Case and New Clues

It must be known that the reason the court and authorities at the time determined Liu Sheng Li to be the murderer was largely based on Jiang Wei Min's testimony.

Captain Song: "So that means Liu Sheng Li might not be the perpetrator of that rape and murder case?"

"No."

Lian Chi continued, "This only further proves that Liu Sheng Li is the biggest suspect."

Back at the dormitory, the first thing Lian Chi did was open Liu Sheng Li's rape and murder case file.

"First, I can guarantee that I did not extort a confession from Liu Sheng Li."

He pointed to Liu Sheng Li's confession in the file and said, "Liu Sheng Li initially did not admit to killing the victim. Even after the victim turned into a 'ghost' seeking revenge, he still didn't admit it."

"But after lawyer Qin visited Liu Sheng Li twice, he confessed to raping and murdering the victim."

"Assuming Jiang Wei Min's granddaughter told the truth, that Jiang Wei Min never saw Liu Sheng Li at the crime scene that year, and everything was a false accusation against Liu Sheng Li. Then why did Liu Sheng Li later confess to rape and murder?"

"This is the first suspicious point."

"The second suspicious point is that lawyer Qin who defended Liu Sheng Li..."

"Liu Sheng Li's family was very poor; how could they afford a lawyer?"

Captain Song: "I remember lawyer Qin defended Liu Sheng Li pro bono, didn't he?"

Lian Chi: "That's right, many lesser-known lawyers, to gain experience and reputation, when they don't have cases, will go to judicial or charitable organizations to work as public interest lawyers, offering free help to some poor households."

"But usually, they prefer to defend victims, because defending murderers mostly results in losing, which affects their reputation."

"And that lawyer Qin was already a well-known lawyer in Zhang City back then."

"Assuming lawyer Qin didn't care about his reputation, Zhang City had many poor households that needed his help. Why would he abandon entrusted cases worth thousands of yuan, pay for his own travel, and go all the way to Liu City to help Liu Sheng Li with his defense?"

This suspicious point was discovered by the original owner, but unfortunately, he was murdered before he could investigate further.

Captain Song reacted: "You mean, Liu Sheng Li is taking the blame for someone else?"

"That lawyer Qin was the contact person between Liu Sheng Li and the real perpetrator."

"Liu Sheng Li knew the perpetrator and also knew that the perpetrator had killed the victim, so even though the perpetrator hadn't been exposed yet, he had to bribe Liu Sheng Li."

"Now Liu Sheng Li suddenly discovered that he didn't need to serve the full thirteen years in prison to get out, and after getting out, he could also receive a considerable amount of state compensation. So he changed his testimony, and to evade punishment, he even falsely accused you of extorting his confession, which is why he confessed at the time..."

Liu Sheng Li was initially sentenced to life imprisonment, but inmates sentenced to life imprisonment, if they genuinely repent or perform meritorious service during their sentence, can have their sentences reduced, with a maximum reduction of thirteen years.

The more Captain Song thought about it, the more he found Lian Chi's words reasonable.

"No wonder you wanted to go to Jiang Jia Village again; it turns out you wanted to investigate the crime scene from that year to see if there was anyone else besides Liu Sheng Li, and that person could very well be the real perpetrator."

But a new problem arose.

Captain Song: "If Liu Sheng Li was truly taking the blame for the perpetrator, then that perpetrator must have promised Liu Sheng Li many benefits, otherwise Liu Sheng Li wouldn't gamble with over ten years of freedom and his lifelong reputation."

But the result was that, to clear Liu Sheng Li's name, his family sold all their assets. Liu's father died in a car accident on the way to appeal, Liu's mother later died of grief. Liu Sheng Li's wife suffered from a serious illness, and didn't even have a few hundred yuan for medicine.

This doesn't seem like Liu Sheng Li received money from the perpetrator.

Unless...

Captain Song turned and ran out: "I'll go investigate right away."

But unexpectedly, in the following days, Captain Song found nothing.

Clearly, the news that Lian Chi and Captain Song returned to Jiang Jia Village to investigate the rape and murder case from ten years ago had reached Liu Sheng Li. So now he didn't dare to act rashly.

But fortunately, not long after, Bureau Chief Cheng Qiang of the Liu City Police Bureau brought good news: "The province has agreed to let us reinvestigate the 1997 rape and murder case in Wan Min County."

Lian Chi: "That's excellent."

Bureau Chief Cheng Qiang: "Work hard, and try to reclaim what was lost before."

Lian Chi: "Thank you, Teacher. I will definitely not disappoint you."

This meant they could openly dispatch people to monitor Liu Sheng Li; at least Captain Song's team wouldn't have to work for nothing anymore.

To celebrate this good news, Lian Chi decided to go out for lamb hotpot.

Wan Min County, nestled against the Wan Min Mountains, was rich in produce, so lamb hotpot was the third largest specialty of Wan Min County.

No, now lamb hotpot was the largest specialty of Wan Min County.

Because the largest specialty of Wan Min County was originally barbecue, but now, after the poppy husk incident in Shi Mo Village, basically not many people from other places came to Wan Min County to eat barbecue anymore.

The second largest specialty of Wan Min County was originally fish soup; after all, Wan Min County was situated along the Wan Min River, with abundant aquatic products. But after Lian Chi retrieved over twenty bodies from the Wan Min River, probably for the next two years, few people would want to eat fish soup anymore.

Seeing Lian Chi come to eat lamb hotpot, the owner was stunned for a moment, then directly added two lamb trotters for him.

"Captain Lian, enjoy your meal."

After all, looking at the long queue outside the restaurant, everyone knew how prosperous their business was. And all of this was thanks to Lian Chi.

Lian Chi: "...Thank you."

Of course, he would pay in the end.

Then he found an empty seat and sat down.

It could only be said that lamb hotpot being ranked third in Wan Min County originally had its reasons. At least the lamb hotpot at this restaurant wasn't rich enough, and the smell of lamb was a bit strong.

But the lamb trotters were still very delicious. After all, in a sense, they were his medal.

Of course, quite a few customers recognized him, but they only pointed and whispered behind his back; no one came to bother him.

So, in the end, Lian Chi still ate his fill comfortably.

Then he placed the money under his bowl and prepared to leave.

But just as he stepped out of the lamb hotpot restaurant, Liu Sheng Li walked over.

He also brought a group of people. Leading them was a TV station reporter from Gang City.

Liu Sheng Li enthusiastically said, "...Reporter Qian, our Wan Min County's lamb hotpot is famous throughout the province; you must try it."

Reporter Qian looked at the trash scattered on the ground and the greasy restaurant entrance, frowning, but still said, "Then I must eat two bowls later."

But after a moment, he still didn't hear Liu Sheng Li's reply: "What's wrong?"

He turned his head and saw that everyone had stopped, their expressions all grim.

So he followed their gaze, and the next second, he was also stunned.

Then, a glimmer of joy appeared on his face. He didn't expect to meet Lian Chi here...

It must be known that before, their TV station always wanted to interview Lian Chi, but they were always blocked by people from the Liu City Police Bureau.

One could imagine, with the current popularity of Liu Sheng Li's rape and murder case in Gang City, if he could interview Lian Chi, how much bonus he would receive when he returned, he might even surpass his rivals and get promoted and a raise.

Thinking of this, he immediately quickened his pace towards Lian Chi.

But unexpectedly, just then, a small truck suddenly sped out from the corner.

Liu Sheng Li shouted, "Reporter Qian, be careful!"

Reporter Qian subconsciously turned his head. By the time he reacted, his body had automatically dodged to the side.

So, he barely avoided the small truck, but his right arm was still grazed.

Clutching the wound on his arm, Reporter Qian still hadn't fully recovered.

Liu Sheng Li was the fastest to react; he quickly supported Reporter Qian: "You damn fool! Do you even know how to drive?"

But the next second, his voice choked. Because they saw the small truck heading straight for Lian Chi.

Lian Chi also immediately jumped onto the sidewalk, but unexpectedly, the small truck didn't stop after missing him, but swerved and continued to rush towards him.

And almost at the same time, the truck driver's roar sounded: "...Today I will enforce justice on behalf of Heaven, Lian Chi, you conscienceless beast, die!"

In that instant, everyone's heart leaped into their throats.

So, wasn't this small truck driver Chen Li? The one who would kill the original owner in his fate, and over a decade later would still profit from his death.

He still came in the end.

Lian Chi calmly drew the gun from his hip, aimed at the tire of the approaching small truck, and pulled the trigger.

Bang! Bang!

Two gunshots rang out, and the two front tires of the small truck exploded.

The small truck immediately lost control.

Lian Chi even clearly saw the look of extreme horror on Chen Li's face in the driver's seat.

Immediately after, Lian Chi took two steps into the middle of the road. The small truck sped past him and crashed into a pile of bricks by the roadside.

Boom!