"Did I misunderstand?"
"Jiao Yan is only two years older than , so we should be considered the sa generation."
"I can't buy the teacher's works, where did she get them?"
"If it's not purchased, could she have asked soone for it, or maybe soone gave it to her?"
Chen Xiao's mind began to brood with doubts.
But he was well aware that "Before and After People" was just one of the books on the desk.
This book was special in Chen Xiao's mind only because it was authored by Wang Dahe.
At this mont, Chen Xiao couldn't help but wonder if he was overthinking things, suspecting everything?
With a slight shake of his head, Chen Xiao brushed away the chaotic thoughts and continued discussing the work with Wang Dahe.
"From what the teacher said, you must have put quite a lot of effort into this work at the ti, right?"
Wang Dahe nodded sowhat bashfully: "I did put in a lot of effort, but if it's just for personally, it naturally is a successful piece of work. However, in terms of the book market, I did let Qin Hao down."
Chen Xiao grinned slightly and proactively changed the topic.
"By the way, teacher, yesterday I talked a lot with Wang Jun, and he's actually going through quite a bit."
Wang Dahe sighed: "How could I not know it's hard for him? Maybe it's just fate. He really tries hard and keeps striving, but his efforts always seem to go unrewarded. I've seen him smoke several tis, putting them out without caring about the burning ash."
"I know he's been through a lot and faced many challenges, but as a father, I often find myself less comforting than he is."
Chen Xiao placed his palm on Wang Dahe's shoulder and gently patted it:
"For him, he probably doesn't need your comfort, just more recognition would be enough."
Wang Dahe turned back, eyes full of gratitude, and said: "I haven't seen you for two years, and you've really changed a lot. I can sense that you seem to understand people's hearts well. Is this one of those mandatory courses for detectives?"
"Sort of." Chen Xiao smiled.
Wang Dahe didn't ask further.
Soon, Wang Jun also ca over, carrying quite a lot of dication prescribed by the doctor.
Since he ca with the dicine, it ant they had to leave.
Chen Xiao didn't wish to interrupt.
But internally, there was a bit of disappointnt.
He initially thought "Before and After People" would enlighten him, but it's much less than he expected.
Wang Jun pushed the wheelchair that Wang Dahe was sitting in, but Wang Dahe still said:
"Chen Xiao, you just asked about that book, is there sothing else you wanted to ask?"
Chen Xiao thought for a mont and asked: "Teacher, did you have any specific audience in mind when writing 'Before and After People'?"
"I didn't consider that much when writing, but later on, I thought the people who bought this book must have been moved by a character in it."
Chen Xiao nodded; "In the teacher's opinion, which characters in your book are most likely to touch people's hearts?"
Wang Dahe tried to recall.
But as ti went by, he was rather uncomfortable.
"I don't know if it's because I didn't pay attention, or if it's just been too long, but after recalling, I can't rember many characters. Only those with prototypes left a bit of an impression now."
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiao naturally didn't pursue further.
Maybe as Wang Dahe said, it's just been too long.
Chen Xiao watched them leave.
After they left, Chen Xiao also got in the car.
On the drive back to the police departnt, Chen Xiao's mind was still fixated on how Jiao Yan acquired the book.
Was it given by soone?
Or did she request it from soone?
No matter the channel, Chen Xiao wanted to find out who that person was.
With this in mind, at a fork in the road, Chen Xiao steered away from the direction of the police departnt.
He wanted to et Jiao Yan's birth mother.
After ten minutes, Chen Xiao stopped in a village on the outskirts of the county.
After so inquiry, Chen Xiao found Jiao Yan's birth mother, Si Ru.
Upon learning Si Ru's na, Chen Xiao's mind also connected with soone, naly Si Ying from the Swallow Lane Fishbone case.
This surna was the second ti Chen Xiao ca across.
After explaining his intentions, Si Ru beca agitated.
"What on earth do you police want? I've lost count of how many waves I've dealt with, isn't this over yet?"
Si Ru's reaction didn't surprise Chen Xiao.
Because in his understanding, Si Ru's reputation couldn't compare to the erging Wei Rong.
In the Jiao family's relatives' words, Si Ru wasn't a good woman.
Because she was addicted to gambling.
Regardless of gender, gamblers' consciences are smothered as their gambling age and stakes increase.
A gambler's world consists solely of winning and losing, nothing else.
Looking at Si Ru's impatient deanor, Chen Xiao remarked with a smile: "Do you have any cards at ho? We can play cards and chat at the sa ti?"
Chen Xiao despised gamblers imnsely.
Back in the day, he repeatedly stopped Luo Dali from gambling, infuriating Qiao Ye who ran gambling businesses on Phoenix Street.
But faced with a gambler, who was impatient even after her daughter's death, Chen Xiao thought opening a gambling session might be a more effective communication thod.
However, Si Ru remained vigilant.
"I'm not stupid. You're a police consultant; wouldn't playing cards with you be considered gambling? You can ask directly, and I'll speak as long as I know."
Sowhat unexpected, Chen Xiao went straight to the point:
"Alright... my question is, does your daughter Jiao Yan like reading books?"
"Read... She doesn't read, it's all an act for her father's sake."
"An act?"
"Yes, their whole family dislikes , even my own flesh and blood is the sa. But before the divorce, I was the only one awake in that family. Jiao Guoxuan is a rotten person; the longer you live with him, the more you'll realize that. But, I don't know why Xiao Yan always pretends to be a good girl in front of that rotten person."
"Later, I gradually realized she was indeed not aligned with , so I lost heart and stopped caring about her."
At this point, Si Ru lowered her head, her shoulders occasionally twitching.
"When I divorced her father back then, I asked her if she wanted to follow . Yes, I admit I'm a compulsive gambler, but if she followed , could I neglect her food and drink? Even if living isn't easy, it's better than losing your life!"
Chen Xiao didn't respond to Si Ru but continued to ask questions.
"In your mory, which friends did she have a good relationship with? Which friends were familiar with the Jiao family's matters and even frequently visited before? Also, when Qiao Zhiyuan and Jiao Guoxuan argued earlier, was soone acquainted with Jiao Yan present?"
As Chen Xiao asked, Si Ru began to think quietly.
After a while, Si Ru looked up at Chen Xiao and said: "The person you're asking about, isn't it Qiao Zhiyuan!"
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