Chapter 1041: Zhao Xiaowan’s Past

The police quickly pinpointed Wang Fang’s specific address.

Wang Fang wasn’t a native of Haizhou City; she came from out of town 9 years ago to work in Haizhou City, hopping between various factories.

The mooncake factory was the last place she worked.

Now, Wang Fang is married with children in Haizhou City and has opened a small supermarket, living a pretty good life.

When the police found Wang Fang, she was looking after the business in the supermarket.

"Boss, what do you need?"

Thinking Lu Chuan and the others were there to shop, Wang Fang quickly greeted them from behind the counter.

"Are you Wang Fang?"

Wang Fang was taken aback.

Wang Zhaokai continued, "We’re the police and we’d like to learn about some things related to Zhao Xiaowan."

Zhao Xiaowan?

Upon hearing this name, Wang Fang paused.

Suddenly, she seemed to remember something.

"Xiaowan?... The one from Dongjiang who used to work at the mooncake factory?"

After all, it’s been nine years.

Even if they were indeed close friends back then, sharing everything with each other, it’s not surprising that Wang Fang has this reaction after not being in touch for 9 years.

"Yes, the one from Dongjiang, Zhao Xiaowan, who worked with you at the mooncake factory."

"She..." Wang Fang thought for a moment, "We haven’t been in touch for many years, probably around 10 years."

"Did something happen to her?"

Since the police came asking about Zhao Xiaoman, whom she hasn’t contacted for 9 or even 10 years, Wang Fang likely guessed that something must have happened to Zhao Xiaoman.

Wang Zhaokai nodded, "Zhao Xiaowan is dead."

"Dead?"

Wang Fang’s expression drastically changed!

She really didn’t expect that after all these years without hearing any news about Zhao Xiaowan, the next time she did, it would be about her death.

"How did she die?"

"She..."

Wang Zhaokai continued, "Can we take up some of your time? We need to understand some things about Zhao Xiaowan from back then."

"Honey, come over here."

Wang Fang nodded and called out into the supermarket.

"Coming!"

In a moment, a short and stocky man came out from inside.

"Old Wu, these are police officers. They want to ask me about a friend from the factory days. Can you watch the store while I chat with them?"

Police?

The stocky man didn’t expect these people to be police officers; he also thought they were customers coming to shop.

But he didn’t object.

"Let’s go, let’s talk inside."

Wang Fang seemed unable to fully accept the fact that Zhao Xiaoman was already... dead.

"It’s said that you were closest to Zhao Xiaowan?"

Wang Fang nodded, "Indeed, but that was 9 years ago when we both worked at the mooncake factory and lived in the factory’s women’s dormitory."

"It wasn’t like it is now; back then, the women in the dormitory were restless. The ones from Dongjiang and other places formed cliques, and if you weren’t tough, you’d be bullied without good friends."

"Xiaowan had a quick temper and couldn’t stand being wronged. We connected well back then and slowly became good friends. Later, after saving up a bit, we moved out of the women’s dormitory and rented a small place together outside."

Wang Fang continued, "However, during the New Year, she said she wanted to go home for a visit, and we agreed to return to work at the mooncake factory after the holiday. But after the holiday, she never came back, she disappeared, and we lost contact."

"Do you remember the last time you were in touch?"

Lu Chuan suddenly asked.

According to Wang Fang, if Xiaoman hadn’t returned to the factory post-New Year, the timing might be off.

Because the deceased, Zhao Xiaowan, was wearing summer clothes—a denim skirt and a printed short-sleeve shirt—if she disappeared after New Year, she shouldn’t have been dressed like that.

"I don’t remember clearly..."

Wang Fang thought for a moment, "Oh, it was June!"

"After New Year, Xiaowan never returned to work, but we kept in touch over the phone. I asked her to come, but she said her husband wouldn’t let her come out to work."

"The last contact should’ve been around June, coinciding with my birthday. She said she’d come to Haizhou City to celebrate it with me, but she never showed up, and later, I couldn’t reach her by phone."

"She agreed to celebrate your birthday?"

Wang Fang nodded, "Yes, she promised on the phone to spend my birthday with me, but she never came. Her husband wouldn’t let her work."

"Do you know why Zhao Xiaowan’s husband wouldn’t let her come out?"

Wang Fang paused, seemingly embarrassed to speak.

"Wang Fang, we’re investigating a murder case involving Zhao Xiaowan. We hope you can honestly share any relevant details."

Understanding the implication, Wang Zhaokai said.

Wang Fang looked at Wang Zhaokai...

"Actually, it’s nothing. We made friends while working here. Xiaowan met a guy then and had a good relationship with him. Her husband suspected there might be something unclear between Xiaowan and that guy, hence he wouldn’t let her work."

Lu Chuan and Wang Zhaokai exchanged glances; indeed, Wang Fang knew quite a bit.

"Do you remember the name of the man Zhao Xiaowan knew?"

Wang Fang thought for a moment, "I think his surname was Gao, but I’m not sure about the first name. Was it Gao Xiang or Gao Feng? I’m not completely sure; just that he was tall, over 1.8 meters, and quite handsome."

"What was the relationship between them? Was it as Zhao Xiaowan’s husband suspected?"

Wang Fang didn’t answer directly but guiltily glanced at the supermarket counter.

Seeing her husband busy at the counter, she softly spoke to Wang Zhaokai and the team.

"Of course, they had a relationship. Back then, we were all young, and the factory was full of such things. Nobody really cared. Zhao Xiaowan had something with that guy, and moreover..."

Wang Fang continued, "Xiaowan often told me she wanted to elope with Gao Feng and didn’t want to live with her husband in Dongjiang anymore."

"Tell us more details."

Wang Zhaokai urged.

"After moving out of the mooncake factory, within about three months, Xiaowan was living with that man, though we rented the same place together."

Wang Fang continued to recount Zhao Xiaowan’s story.

"Xiaowan had a great relationship with that guy and was pregnant with his child at the time."

Wang Fang shared many stories from back then, giving the police a lot of insight into Zhao Xiaowan’s situation.