Chapter 1042: Clues Provided by Wang Fang

The conversation started, and Ms. Wang gradually recalled some old memories about Zhao Xiaowan and shared them with Wang Zhaokai and others.

"However, I know that man actually had a family. He had a wife and kids but didn’t live in Haizhou City. I think he was just looking to have some fun with Xiaowan back then."

Ms. Wang lit another cigarette: "It was quite common in our factory back then. We were all used to it; everyone had their own families. We relaxed during our time at the factory; it was just the way things were. Once we went home, who knew if we’d meet again the following year."

"Everyone knew without saying it out loud; they might as well have been temporary couples."

Wang Zhaokai held up a photograph: "Is this the man Zhao Xiaowan used to be with?"

Ms. Wang took the photo, glanced at it, and confirmed, "It’s him, that’s definitely him!"

Despite Gao Feng being a bit older now, Ms. Wang recognized him immediately.

"He’s just a bit older, but his facial features haven’t changed. I remember clearly, it was him, the man who had a temporary relationship with Zhao Xiaowan."

After putting away the photo, Wang Zhaokai continued his inquiry.

"Back then, Zhao Xiaowan mentioned coming to Haizhou City to celebrate your birthday. What exactly happened? What did he say? Can you try to remember?"

This was the crucial part.

Based on the clues obtained so far and the information from Zhao Xiaowan’s husband’s report, it seemed Zhao Xiaowan left Dongjiang without using public transport.

The wife left home in the morning to supposedly buy groceries but didn’t return by evening, which was when the family realized something was off.

Information from Ms. Wang suggests that Zhao Xiaowan’s departure was premeditated, aimed at coming to Haizhou City.

So, how exactly did Zhao Xiaowan leave Dongjiang? Did someone help him?

Moreover, the incident with Zhao Xiaowan was discovered in Haizhou City, indicating he definitely came to Haizhou City. If he didn’t meet Ms. Wang, who was he with?

"Well..."

Ms. Wang pondered carefully.

After a while, she said, "I don’t recall the details well."

"She said her family was very strict back then, with her phone sometimes taken away, and she wasn’t allowed to make calls. So she mostly contacted me through public phones."

"By the way... I remember Xiaowan mentioned that she and that man surnamed Gao kept in touch regularly."

"Did the man surnamed Gao pick her up from Dongjiang?"

Ms. Wang shook her head: "I don’t know. Xiaowan never told me. She just said she’d definitely arrive in Haizhou City before my birthday."

"When is your birthday?"

"June 27th."

June 27th?

The report of her disappearance was on June 25th, implying she kept her promise. Zhao Xiaowan should have arrived in Haizhou City on the 25th or at the latest the 26th.

"Ms. Wang, if Zhao Xiaowan arrived in Haizhou City but didn’t contact you or didn’t stay with you, who do you think she’d most likely go to or stay with?"

"The man surnamed Gao!"

"Definitely the man surnamed Gao! If Xiaowan came to Haizhou City and didn’t find me, she must’ve been with him."

"Do you know where he lived?"

Ms. Wang nodded: "Yes, it was the house I rented back then. After the New Year, I returned to my hometown, so we ended the lease. The man surnamed Gao continued renting, but when I returned after the New Year, I didn’t live in that house."

"Originally, Xiaowan promised to come and work at the mooncake factory with me, but she didn’t come. And renting alone isn’t cost-effective, so I moved back to the female workers’ dormitory."

"By the way, you mentioned co-renting?"

Ms. Wang nodded: "Yes, we co-rented. Neither of us could afford it alone. We rented a two-bedroom house."

"The landlord was there too; their house was big and they divided it into two bedrooms for us to rent. Later, the man surnamed Gao also rented a bedroom."

"The landlord lived in the living room..."

...

Leaving the supermarket at Ms. Wang’s place.

"Director Lu, should we go directly to the landlord of their rental house?"

Lu Chuan nodded: "Yes, let’s go directly!"

Ms. Wang provided very crucial information.

From the current clues, Gao Feng is a major suspect.

However, after Zhao Xiaowan disappeared in Tokyo, there is no evidence that he directly arrived in Haizhou City, nor does finding his remains in Haizhou City provide evidence of how Zhao Xiaowan reached Haizhou City. With whom did he interact? Currently, there’s no concrete proof.

It’s been 9 years. We can’t directly pin him as the culprit just because of the connection between Zhao Xiaowan and Gao Feng.

Thus, we need evidence to verify whether Zhao Xiaowan and Gao Feng were indeed together, whether he left Tokyo and stayed with Gao Feng.

Ms. Wang can’t provide that information since she never discussed it with Xiaowan.

But if Ms. Wang’s words are true, and if Zhao Xiaowan arrived in Haizhou City but didn’t stay with him, she would’ve definitely been with Gao Feng, making things easier.

If Gao Feng rented a place back then, they must’ve gone into the rental house upon arrival from Dongjiang to Haizhou City.

In that case, even without surveillance footage or the likelihood of surveillance records, the landlord should have some memory.

Changqin Garden District.

The mooncake factory is right next to this district, but now it’s turned into a pastry factory, producing many more items.

Utilizing the address and clues provided by Ms. Wang, Lu Chuan easily found the house Gao Feng rented and lived in with them.

A middle-aged woman opened the door.

"Who are you..."

"Hello, we’re the police. We need to speak with the landlord about some matters. Are you the tenant or the landlord?"

The woman paused, seemingly surprised to see the police.

"I’m the landlord. Officers... Is there something wrong?"

"Shall we discuss it inside?"

The woman realized: "Oh, oh, please come in, come in."

In the living room, the woman prepared tea for Lu Chuan and the others.

"Thank you, you are Wang Ya, correct?"

Wang Zhaokai said: "We are here today to gather some details about a tenant who lived in your property nine years ago."

Nine years ago?

"Oh, those years, right?" Wang Ya nodded, "We were just married and didn’t have much money. The mortgage was significant, so we rented out part of our house."

"What happened? Is something wrong?"