Chapter 6: Bloodstains Hidden Beneath the Uneven Wall

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Cen Lian actually had a vague impression of this noodle shop. Back when this area was crowded with street stalls and various vendors, this noodle shop had already been at its current location, though it looked much newer then. Over time, as vendors and shops came and went along this street, this noodle shop, along with a few butcher shops and small supermarkets, became the last remaining landmarks of the neighborhood. Locals, upon seeing it, would say things like, “The spicy hotpot place three doors to the left of Hu’s Noodle Shop has closed down.” Cen Lian himself would often say this.

Yet, despite knowing of its existence for years, he had never actually eaten there—only aware that such an old noodle shop existed. When he and Tang Hua entered, they dressed like ordinary customers. “What would you like to eat?” the owner, Hu Shuangquan, called out from the table nearest the kitchen, a cigarette dangling between his fingers.

Cen Lian’s gaze briefly flickered over the thought bubble hovering above Hu’s head, but he pretended not to notice and sat down at an oil-stained table with Tang Hua. Tang Hua, noticing Cen Lian’s odd behavior, swallowed the question he was about to ask and casually ordered a bowl of noodles with him. “I haven’t seen you two young men before,” Hu Shuangquan shouted toward the kitchen, then turned to chat casually.

Cen Lian naturally picked up the conversation. “I used to live nearby but have never eaten at your place. Today, on a whim, I thought I’d try the taste of this old shop that’s been here for over a decade.” He glanced at the thought bubble above the owner’s head; though his expression was calm, he felt a surge of excitement inside.

[Name: Hu Shuangquan]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 59]
[Criminal Record: Provided a place for murder and assisted in disposing of the body 5,593 days ago in Kang’an City.]
[Imprisonment Record: None]

It had already been eleven days since Cen Lian had seen Gao Tong, the murderer. They had long suspected that the roadside was not the primary crime scene—after all, even in torrential rain, there should have been bloodstains, fingerprints, or footprints found along the roadside where the body was discovered. Now, it seemed their suspicion was correct. The question was where this noodle shop, the true initial crime scene, might be hiding evidence.

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“I used to pass by your shop a lot as a child,” Cen Lian continued, pretending to reminisce with Hu Shuangquan while observing the noodle shop’s surroundings. “That place used to be bustling with the night market crowd.”

As Hu spoke, Cen Lian lightly nudged Tang Hua’s elbow, signaling him to look at the opposite wall. Tang Hua immediately understood. The walls of the shop had clearly been repainted several times, but in some spots the paint was thicker and more uneven than others.

Hu Shuangquan remained oblivious and continued chatting with Cen Lian. “It really was lively back then. There were many people living in the old residential compounds nearby, and lots of folks came to the night market for food. Not like now—this old place is rundown, hardly anyone wants to live here, and most shops have shut down.”

Hu Shuangquan fell into his own memories, and Tang Hua took the chance to touch the nearest patch of protruding wall paint. It wasn’t difficult to scrape off. But since Hu was still there, they didn’t want to alert him.

After finishing their noodles, the two found a quiet spot nearby. “You think that noodle shop’s hiding something?” Tang Hua recalled the bumps on the wall. “Just a few raised patches—hardly evidence.”

“I remember when this case was still fresh, the noodle shop wasn’t thoroughly searched because it was outside the designated search area,” Cen Lian explained, “But think about it—if that roadside isn’t the primary crime scene, this place is definitely worth suspicion.”

Tang Hua scratched his head, partly convinced but also feeling Cen Lian’s logic was a bit of a stretch. Still, expanding the search area slightly didn’t seem unreasonable for a cold case, so he drafted a report and submitted it to Captain Chen.

Indeed, since the investigation began, though it was unclear how Captain Chen managed it, the case hadn’t yet been handed over to the homicide unit. Cen Lian, Tang Hua, and Captain Chen were conducting the “preliminary investigation” in the local precinct. In other words, the case was still under their jurisdiction until enough evidence was gathered to transfer to the homicide team.

For this case, the only superior they answered to was Captain Chen Xinrong.

Tang Hua soon received approval to conduct a search. Before nightfall, seven or eight officers arrived with inspection kits and police vehicles.

With the search warrant in hand, all that remained was to verify Cen Lian’s hunch. Since the noodle shop hadn’t been demolished or rebuilt, it was highly likely that traces like blood stains had been preserved. While the precinct lacked forensic specialists, everyone knew the basics—scraping off paint and using ultraviolet light to inspect the walls. They would also thoroughly examine the floors throughout the shop for any signs of hidden evidence.

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As the first patch of wall paint was peeled away, Cen Lian cautiously shone his UV flashlight over the surface. The moment the reflective trace of blood appeared, he exhaled deeply with relief. It seemed the case was finally ironclad.

Tang Hua looked at Cen Lian with great admiration, making him feel a little embarrassed. If not for the thought bubble above Hu Shuangquan’s head, he wouldn’t have immediately thought to check for abnormalities in the walls—after all, an old, neglected shop’s walls were bound to be uneven.

“The case can be transferred to the homicide unit now,” Captain Chen arrived late but pleased, looking at the murder weapon and blood-stained clothing dug up from the noodle shop’s backyard, as well as the blood splattered on the walls. “This case is basically closed under our watch—you two should get commendations.”

Captain Chen patted Cen Lian’s shoulder, increasingly approving of him. Tang Hua forced a smile but wasn’t truly happy. Being so deeply noticed by leadership probably meant he wouldn’t be able to slack off or coast quietly anymore.

Cen Lian, however, smiled genuinely.

That evening, he received a WeChat message from Wu Qiushan.

“Did you solve that cold case you asked me about last time?”

“Exactly,” Cen Lian replied with a grinning emoji.

“Were you also the one who caught the drug trafficker on the high-speed train and helped catch the fugitive from the brother unit?”

Suddenly, Cen Lian felt uneasy. How did this guy know about these cases? The commendation reports hadn’t even been sent to the district yet.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” he thought the moment he sent his message.

“Right on cue—you’re about to be seconded,” Wu Qiushan replied, sounding gleeful at his misfortune.