Chapter 1065: Clues and Traces

Gao Xinxin’s house for tea collection is very large, and there are many types of tea.

Luckily, everything is sorted and placed neatly, with categories such as flower tea, green tea, oolong tea, etc.

Each time Lu Chuan finished looking at a kind, he would chat with Gao Xinxin.

Before long, they moved to the oolong tea area, where Lu Chuan’s attention was caught by a type of Da Hong Pao.

Among oolong teas, there are many varieties, but the most famous is Da Hong Pao. Besides it, there are three types that can be compared in fame: Tie Luohan, Bai Ji Guan, Shui Jin Gui.

Talking about Da Hong Pao, there are actually only six mother trees of Da Hong Pao on Wuyi Mountain, and each of these trees is of a different variety. Their flowering and germination periods differ, as do their harvest times.

Da Hong Pao is propagated asexually, meaning that as long as a branch from the parent tree can be cultivated successfully, it becomes a new tea tree.

The few saplings on the northern slope are the earliest propagated Da Hong Pao saplings, and thus are relatively more expensive.

The Da Hong Pao found in the black plastic bag is not from those saplings on Wuyi Mountain’s northern slope.

Rather, it is artificially propagated, which is why its price is not particularly high, being just over ten thousand yuan per liang.

Lu Chuan’s research on tea is quite deep, and his observational skills are strong. He can roughly analyze what the tea leaves looked like before brewing from the residue in the black plastic bag.

Premium Da Hong Pao, once brewed, has leaves red and green interspersed, with a rich orchid fragrance.

Different grades or types of Da Hong Pao, once brewed, have different intervals between the red and green in the leaves, and different strip shapes.

"President Gao, do you often drink this Da Hong Pao?"

Lu Chuan could determine that the Da Hong Pao he saw now was precisely the Da Hong Pao from the black plastic bag before brewing.

Gao Xinxin shook his head.

Although Gao Xinxin knew the police sought him to verify some situation, neither Lu Chuan nor Wu Guodong made it clear to him which case needed details verified.

Moreover, Gao Xinxin felt somewhat perplexed as to why Lu Chuan would start talking about tea or tour his tea collection room.

"I’ve only drunk this tea once."

"Once?"

Lu Chuan looked at Gao Xinxin: "President Gao, while this tea doesn’t compare to the Da Hong Pao we just drank in your office, it’s still quite rare. The market price would be at least ten thousand yuan per liang."

Gao Xinxin smiled and replied: "Director Lu really knows a lot about tea, so familiar with market prices."

"This tea was given to me by a friend. I’ve had it for some time; it was given to me three years ago."

"I only drank it once when I first received it. I haven’t really drunk it since."

Three years ago?

Lu Chuan slightly furrowed his brow.

"President Gao, who gave you this tea? Have you given this tea to anyone else recently?"

The residue in the black plastic bag was freshly brewed, using selenium-rich spring water.

It couldn’t have been brewed three years ago.

"His name is Chen Gangyao; he used to be in the construction business in our Dongzhou, and emigrated abroad two years ago. I haven’t seen him for a while."

Emigrated?

"As for others..."

Gao Xinxin thought for a moment and said: "I gave some of this tea to my brother; he likes tea as well. A month ago, I gave him some of this Da Hong Pao."

Brother?

Gao Xinxin’s brother?

"Oh? Where does President Gao’s brother work?"

"He doesn’t have much to do usually. Years ago, I invested in a chain supermarket for him; he partnered with others. The supermarket is doing quite well now."

Supermarket?

A thought flashed in Lu Chuan’s mind!

"Is the supermarket you mentioned Ai Family Supermarket?"

Gao Xinxin was surprised.

"Oh? How did Director Lu know?"

Goodness!

Indeed!

Early on, the Major Crimes Unit predicted some connection between the victim and the perpetrator, though it was not particularly deep. They might have only met, not even exchanging contact information.

It turns out Gao Xinxin’s brother is a shareholder of Ai Family Supermarket, which aligns with the police’s previous assumptions.

Especially given Gao Xinxin said he had given this tea to his brother before.

Could this person be the perpetrator?

"Haha, just a guess. Tongzhou City doesn’t have many chain supermarkets, and Ai Family Supermarket is quite large. I often shop there."

"Oh..."

Lu Chuan and the others continued to tour the tea room with Gao Xinxin. Occasionally, Lu Chuan would discuss tea or inquire about his brother.

"President Gao, keeping so well-maintained, is it related to drinking selenium-rich spring water from our North Suburb?"

To Lu Chuan’s question, Gao Xinxin shook his head.

"Just rumors. The selenium-rich spring water in the North Suburb indeed has low production, and supply isn’t abundant. But personally, I think it’s more of a status symbol."

Gao Xinxin gestured around: "Like how I enjoy collecting tea; people need hobbies."

"I drink selenium-rich spring water mainly because tea brewed with it tastes better."

Lu Chuan nodded in agreement: "Indeed, tea brewed with mountain spring water is especially fragrant and sweet. I often use mountain spring water for brewing."

Lu Chuan wasn’t lying; he used top-quality mountain spring water for tea at both the office and home.

Qiangsheng Group has its own mineral water company in Haizhou City.

So family group members drink spring water that’s directly collected and delivered.

However, compared to selenium-rich spring water, it doesn’t contain as much selenium.

"President Gao, do you use selenium-rich spring water for brewing tea yourself, or do others use it too?"

"I’m not too particular. Sometimes I use it myself, sometimes my brother uses it, or sometimes company employees use it. If we have it, anyone can use it."

Indeed, this selenium-rich spring water isn’t exclusively used by Gao Xinxin.

After gathering these clues, Lu Chuan didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he stayed a long time, chatting about tea with Gao Xinxin.

Lu Chuan and Wu Guodong departed at 4:30 PM.

"Director Lu, any discoveries?"

During today’s visit to Gao Xinxin, Wu Guodong hardly spoke.

The inquiries and investigation were primarily handled by Lu Chuan, with Wu acting more like an accompaniment tool.