Chapter 1007: Beneath the Kumquat Tree

In the interrogation room, Wang Meili confessed to the murder without hesitation and quickly disclosed the location where she concealed the body.

She hid Zhang Chao’s body directly at home, buried under the kumquat tree on the balcony.

Lu Chuan immediately sent someone to Wang Meili’s house to search for the body.

"Why did you kill Zhang Chao?"

Wang Zhaokai was in charge of the interrogation.

"No reason, he was bad to me. After we got married, he revealed his true nature. This person engaged in domestic violence. Whenever he drank a little, he would either beat or curse me, so I couldn’t bear it anymore. A year ago, he got drunk and hit me again, and I took the opportunity to kill him."

Killing because of domestic abuse?

"Wang Meili, doesn’t seem right?"

Wang Zhaokai frowned, although the case solved quickly, the Criminal Investigation Team’s investigation into Zhang Chao was thorough, learning many aspects of his life.

"You say Zhang Chao was domestically abusive and often drank alcohol?"

Wang Meili’s gaze wavered slightly, but she nodded: "Yes."

"Zhang Chao has violent tendencies. He seems easygoing, but after drinking, he becomes aggressive, always beating or cursing me whenever he comes home. I’ve had enough of him over the years, and as the child grows older, I don’t want to endure him anymore. So, a year ago, when he abused me again, I couldn’t hold back and stabbed him to death with scissors."

While Wang Zhaokai conducted the interrogation, Lu Chuan, Chen Jiang, and Sun Biao watched the process in the monitoring room next door.

"Captain Lu... Wang Meili... seems to be lying."

Chen Jiang frowned.

According to the investigation over the past two days, Zhang Chao’s personality appears quite easygoing, and whether neighbors or colleagues, evaluations of him are actually good.

Of course, a person’s public persona can differ from their private behavior at home; perhaps what is witnessed outside is just a facade, exposing another side at home is possible.

But Wang Meili claims Zhang Chao abused her, and there are no signs to support this claim.

They live in an old 1980s brick-and-concrete structure with poor soundproofing, so if Zhang Chao abused his wife, neighbors should have heard it.

Given that they’ve lived in the community for over ten years, such a long time with alleged frequent abuse as Wang Meili said, neighbors would be aware of it, at least a little.

"There’s definitely an issue."

Lu Chuan also frowned.

Even if Zhang Chao hid the abuse well, and outsiders didn’t know, one point proving Wang Meili lied: Zhang Chao doesn’t drink.

His co-workers mentioned Zhang Chao isn’t good with alcohol, as he’s allergic to it; drinking causes rashes, so at work outings, colleagues never let him drink.

Yet Wang Meili claims that Zhang Chao would come home drunk and abuse her, clearly problematic.

Given Wang Meili admitted to killing Zhang Chao, why lie about the motive for murder?

In the interrogation room, Wang Zhaokai continued questioning: "You said you killed him with scissors?"

Wang Meili nodded: "Yes, I stabbed him to death with scissors."

"Where did you stab him?"

"In the lower back, after he hit me, I caught him off guard and stabbed him from behind."

"Left side or right side?"

Wang Meili hesitated slightly: "Left side, I...don’t quite remember."

"Wang Meili, was your daughter present when you killed Zhang Chao?"

"No!"

Wang Meili responded quickly: "That matter has nothing to do with her!"

"I killed Zhang Chao, and it has nothing to do with my daughter, she wasn’t there. When I killed him, my daughter was at school, attending extra classes, and knows nothing about it."

Wang Meili continued swiftly: "After killing Zhang Chao, I buried him under the kumquat tree. The space under the tree is big, I dug the soil and buried him. She returned home after I cleaned the scene, unaware I killed Zhang Chao."

In the monitoring room.

"Wang Meili seems particularly sensitive to this question?"

Chen Jiang wondered.

"Naturally sensitive, if her daughter was present or knew Wang Meili killed Zhang Chao without reporting it for such a long time, pursuing the matter may involve harboring criminal charges."

Sun Biao commented.

"It’s understandable, I suppose."

But regarding whether her daughter knew, they avoided discussing it.

Logically, Wang Meili’s daughter likely knows about it.

Even if Wang Meili’s account is true and her daughter was not at home but attending lessons, Zhang Chao was buried under the kumquat tree at home.

Would there be no scent whatsoever?

Moreover, over the past year, Wang Meili feigned Zhang Chao living with them; did her daughter truly know nothing?

Even if unaware, upon Zhang Chao’s disappearance, why didn’t she inquire?

After all, whether Zhang Chao lived with them, Wang Meili’s daughter should be clear.

"Forget it, Wang Meili did everything alone, perhaps she deceived her daughter about divorcing Zhang Chao."

Lu Chuan considered, deciding not to pursue this issue further.

Wang Meili committed the murder, her daughter’s lack of reporting technically suggests harboring criminal guilt.

Yet, Wang Meili’s daughter is quite young, still forming her worldview and not fully mature, so pressing certain matters and behaviors isn’t necessary for now, as long as the case is solved, Lu Chuan and others won’t pursue other matters.

The interrogation in the room continued.

"Tell me about how you faked Zhang Chao living with you."

Wang Meili nodded: "First, I did this alone, my daughter doesn’t know at all, I lied saying I divorced Zhang Chao, hence wouldn’t live with us, my daughter is unaware of me forging Zhang Chao living with us."

Indeed, Wang Meili was prepared, but her statement relieved Lu Chuan and his team.

Though they decided not to pursue, it remained a logical gap they couldn’t advise Wang Meili on how to speak. Since she stated it, excluding her daughter’s harboring guilt becomes part of the evidence.