"I was just about to scold Lao Gong for a while. His cunning appearance is appropriate for visiting irrelevant people."
After all, now working together with Huangsir, Manager Yang brought people over, which must have a role. It's impolite for Lao Gong to do so recklessly.
However, the next second, I saw a hint of coldness in the eyes of the middle-aged woman.
"Revered nephew, allow me to introduce you. This is Shi Yu, the elder sister of Shi Qing from the former investigation department."
"Shi Qing has encountered trouble, and the Shi family has been seeking an explanation. Previously, the magistrates were aware of the involvement with the Plague Ghost, and the Shi family had no choice but to endure it. However, now that they are taking the lead in intervening in this matter and have even managed to summon a supervisor monk, the Shi family will send someone along. The more people there are, the greater their strength."
Manager Yang did not notice anything amiss. He reached out to block the closing elevator door and said at the same time.
Shi Yu spoke softly, "She is young, yet possesses some skills. She has run off with Xie Ying and become entangled with the plague ghost, which even caused my little sister to lose her life and soul."
She still had a smile in her eyes, but her words were piercing.
I furrowed my brow, understanding the reason for Lao Gong's gaze then.
He felt more directly the evilness towards others.
"I didn't mean to get involved with Shi Qing," I shook my head to explain.
"Whether it was intentional or not, my little sister lost her life in the end. This time, we should first find the main culprit. Please go to the Shi family and give my little sister an explanation."
I furrowed my brow again, but Manager Yang's face grew grim. "Shi Yu, earlier you agreed with me and the leader that you couldn't get involved with the nephew of God's manifestation. What do you mean?"
Shi Yu, however, laughed lightly and said, "Have I ever fought? It was just a request for Luo Xian Shen. A life for a reason at the Shi family? Besides, I made a request; he can choose not to go."
I didn't respond, walked straight into the elevator and stood next to Manager Yang.
Lao Gong's head retreated.
The death of Shi Qing is indeed related to me.
Just that, it seems Shi Yu is the one making a request. But once we go to the Shi family, it will be difficult to change the situation.
Manager Yang seemed to be very wary of Shi Yu. Otherwise, with his personality, he would definitely change his tone.
As the elevator descended, Shi Yu did not say much, simply gazing steadily ahead.
The elevator door was like a mirror, reflecting Shi Yu's face.
In fact, her appearance was as enchanting as that of Shi Qing. Although she was slightly older, there was still a seductive charm about her.
I blinked slightly, trying to soften my expression as much as possible.
It's normal for Shi Yu to have cold feelings towards me because Shi Qing lost her life.
I was too cold and indifferent.
A soft ding sound signaled that the elevator had arrived at the basement level.
After the three of them exited the elevator, Manager Yang led the way towards the office corridor.
At this time of the day, there were more people from the lower strata in the hall, but their gazes were mostly focused on Shi Yu.
We soon entered the office, and the most striking things were still the dead man's robe on the shelf and the glasses in the small iron cage.
I glance at the tea tray and don't see the box Manager Yang brought back earlier.
The leader sat behind the tea tray, with his eyes slit into a thin line on his plump face. A man stood beside him, looking somewhat refined, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses.
As we entered, he pushed up his glasses and nodded at us in acknowledgment.
"Let me introduce myself, Tang Si. I am a colleague in charge of the investigation department."
Manager Yang, in a subtle way, had already changed the title. In front of me, he also referred to him directly as a colleague.
I said nothing more, simply nodding in return.
As for Shi Yu, her eyes had a slight coldness to them. The coldness was even more obvious than when she looked at me earlier.
It was as if Tang Si had replaced Shi Qing, much like a cuckoo bird taking over a nest, causing discomfort in Shi Yu's heart.
Tang Si's expression remained composed.
Only after a hacking cough, the leader said, "Tang Si, please repeat what you just said."
Tang Si pushed up his glasses again, his tone somewhat cautious: "In Sihua County, the abandoned mental hospital was indeed a big topic back then. Over the past few years, people have stopped mentioning it as much because many of the families who sent their relatives there have experienced ghostly events, forcing them to move away. With the witnesses gone and the incidents fading, it's natural for the news to die down. Also, that area was later incorporated into Jinyang District and became a district. As a result, magistrates overlooked this part of the information. However, upon slight investigation, we've uncovered a wealth of data."
My pupils contracted abruptly.
This was information that Chen Jun did not mention before.
Did the families who sent patients to the hospital experience ghostly phenomena?
Tang Si continued, "The hospital director had only one son, who committed suicide twenty years ago."
I felt a heavy weight in my heart immediately!
This information completely changed our previous understanding.
Chen Jun said that the director's son had cancer, and his children were ungrateful, which is why they sold off the family's belongings and heirlooms.
However, this person had already died twenty years ago.
This means that Chen Jun has deceived us……
In theory, whether or not this information is present should make no difference. Why would Chen Jun lie to us?
My heart sank, and I asked in a low voice, "What was the name of the hospital director?"
Tang Si replied, "Wei Youming."
The thoughts in my mind were once again contradicted by Tang Si.
The leader stood up and said, "Please remain calm for a moment."
This time, the tea tray was moved and he didn't bump into his stomach.
Tang Si continued, "I did a little research on the antique clothing store, 'Vintage.' The shop owner, Hu Jiang, was previously caught for smuggling. Over 90% of the clothes in his store are shipped from overseas, mostly from crematoriums and bereavement centers. A very small portion comes from within the country, and the source is usually funeral homes and crematoriums."
I didn't say anything, but listening to this, Hu Jiang doesn't seem to have any issues.
After a pause, Tang Si continued, "As for Chen Jun, he was a thief that Hu Jiang met while serving his sentence. Both of them were released from prison later on. Hu Jiang opened an antique clothing store, and Chen Jun transformed into a small vendor of second-hand goods."
I began to think thoughtfully.
Only then did the leader open his mouth, saying, "Therefore, the things that Chen Jun has told you and Manager Yang should be fabricated to a large extent. It's likely that he stole them."
I nodded.
However, there is still a doubt in my heart.
If it's stolen goods, why is he so familiar with the events of the mental hospital?
There must be something wrong here as well.
In my thoughts, I expressed my doubts.
Tang Si looked at me and nodded, "This can be easily inferred. The person who wants to buy the dead man's clothes is a talisman merchant who can drive away some ghosts by using the deceased's relics to make talismans. Chen Jun must be trying to complete this big deal, and the talisman merchant definitely needs this information. However, for some reason, he hasn't completed the transaction with Chen Jun."
"This is something we should be wary of. If that person were to find Chen Jun again and the items were sold to us, is there a possibility that they could also find the mental hospital through Chen Jun?"
"Our actions might be hindered or there might be some unexpected changes."
