Street Hustler and His Policewoman Wife-Chapter 151: Osteological Investigation, The Last Luggage

Sister Yan's thoughts.

Were like the smoke she inhaled into her lungs.

Instantly pricking her throat, making her mind even clearer.

And then like the smoke she exhaled, transforming into a long wisp.

"Actually, it's not a big deal, but for me, he helped me escape a disaster."

Chen Xiao did not interrupt and indicated to Old Chen and Lin Xi not to interrupt either.

Sister Yan's eyes began to hold a strange color, and she said quietly, "When I got on the train, I was already married. But I couldn't stand the days of being beaten every day at my in-law's house, so I took some money I had secretly saved and fled onto the train far from my homeland."

"On the train, Wan De sat beside me. We talked a lot, although he always seemed absent-minded, he reacted immediately when I was scared."

"I remember it was not long before the train was due to leave when my husband and father-in-law came onto the train with a group of men. At that moment, I felt as if my soul was about to be scared away, and I dared not let myself be found by them, knowing that if they found me, I might be beaten to death."

"So I clutched his clothes tightly, hoping he would help me. But I didn't have time to tell him much, he only took one look at me as if he understood a lot. He quickly covered my head with his clothes and let me lie on his lap."

"You know how much those legs, that piece of clothing, and his stomach's steady breaths reassured and deeply impressed a woman like me at the time?"

"But against all expectations, he wasn't flustered at all, and even when those searching for me questioned him, he remained so calm. Until those people walked past, I felt his stomach suddenly tighten while I lay on his lap, and then it bulged out. That scoundrel, he was holding back laughter at seeing how pathetic I looked!"

As Sister Yan spoke, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but lift.

Those eyes, aged and with stories, showed a hint of a shy smile that only a young girl inexperienced in the ways of the world would have.

Old Chen's eyes had turned red as he listened.

It wasn't because of Sister Yan's story.

It was because the man described by Sister Yan was his good brother, Wan De.

Old Chen couldn't hold it in any longer and urgently asked, "Why did Wan De get off the train?"

Sister Yan shook her head, "I don't know, when I sat up, he was still teasing me. But when he turned his head to look outside the window, his expression suddenly changed."

"Did he see someone?" Chen Xiao asked.

Sister Yan shook her head again, "I don't know, there were many people outside the train window at that time, especially those seeing people off and those who were late and anxious to get on, so I also don't know who he saw."

Chen Xiao couldn't help but frown.

The action of Wan De looking out the window as described by Sister Yan made Chen Xiao feel it was very important, crucial even.

But he thought about it in vain, unable to put himself in Wan De's shoes to think about who he saw outside the window.

So, he asked, "Was it because of that glance that he immediately got off the train?"

"Yes, he left without even saying a word to me, and he didn't take his luggage either. He just rushed off the train and was swallowed up by the crowd."

Saying this, Sister Yan took a deep drag on her cigarette, then exhaled a long plume of smoke.

Fishing Uncle Zhang Zhuang, who had been holding his chopsticks at the edge of his bowl, now placed them on the table, exclaiming:

"Yan, so you also have such a story."

Sister Yan smiled, "What story? If he dared to tease me like that now, I might just have someone beat him up."

As she spoke, Sister Yan suddenly became somber and asked, "Who are you to him? I remember he was from Wanzhuang, and a few years ago when I returned, I even asked around on purpose, but his family seemed strange, like none of them cared."

"He is my sworn brother, and I've been asking people to find out about him all these years, but there's been no news," Old Chen replied.

Sister Yan became a little dazed, squinting as she looked outside the door, saying quietly, "It's not surprising, he didn't get on the train then doesn't mean he didn't get on later. People leaving for elsewhere then wasn't just one or two."

Old Chen didn't like hearing this, but he had nothing to say.

Chen Xiao was still pondering when Zhang Xian's call came, abruptly interrupting his thoughts.

Going aside to answer, Chen Xiao asked, "Captain Zhang, is there any news?"

"Yes, according to the skull, Director Wu made a report. After some technical reconstruction and identification, she highly suspects the head was cut off with a sharp blade. The deceased was likely between 18-20 years old, male, and after calculation, the deceased's height should be between 160-170 centimeters."

Forensic scientists have a discipline called forensic anthropology.

With certain human skeletal remains, such as skulls or complete or incomplete long bones, they can calculate the estimated height of the deceased using specific formulas.

After conveying this information, Zhang Xian said no more, exchanging just a couple of pleasantries before hanging up.

Chen Xiao didn't return to the table immediately.

He could almost confirm now that the skull found in the stone lion was not Wan De's.

Because in 1991, he was already thirty.

Although forensic calculations can have some discrepancies, the margin wouldn't be that large.

Moreover, Old Chen had said Wan De was over six feet tall, so neither height nor age matched with the owner of the skull in the stone lion.

Chen Xiao sat back at the table.

He could see there were a lot of dishes on the table, but as everyone was preoccupied, they hadn't eaten much.

Fishing Uncle Zhang Zhuang was the only one who didn't understand what was going on, but seeing others not eating, he also refrained from continuing.

Chen Xiao smiled and called out, "Why isn't anyone eating? If this big table of food isn't eaten, it won't be good the next day."

Old Chen looked up at him, and Chen Xiao replied, "We can be certain that the skull found in the stone lion is not Uncle Wan De's."

Hearing this news was great for Old Chen and his wife.

They found themselves in a complex state of mind now.

Hoping for news of Wan De, but not wanting to hear it right now.

If they got news now, then the skull in the stone lion would likely be his.

Old Chen's mood improved considerably, and he actively invited Zhang Zhuang and Sister Yan to eat and drink.

Gradually, the atmosphere at the dining table improved greatly, and Sister Yan, being carefree, was not at all restrained.

Soon, after drinking a little, Zhang Zhuang began to boast, first about himself, then about Sister Yan.

This behavior is typical of someone who drinks.

After two drinks, their face reddens, half a catty in the belly leads them to spin tales, and if they reach a full catty, they might claim the earth as their own.

Chen Xiao didn't let them drink too much, but fortunately, Sister Yan was sensible, and after two and nearly half a catty, she made an excuse that she couldn't drink anymore.

After another half hour, Sister Yan, supporting a staggering Zhang Zhuang, bid farewell to Chen Xiao's family.

Chen Xiao handed them a promised carton of cigarettes and a bottle of alcohol each, which Sister Yan tried to decline, but he still placed them in the car.

As he watched Sister Yan waving goodbye, Chen Xiao noticed the bag placed next to her, and suddenly remembered something.

He slapped his forehead suddenly, hurriedly shouting:

"Wait, Sister Yan, didn't you say before that when Uncle Wan De got off the train, he was in such a hurry that he didn't even take his luggage?"

Sister Yan nodded, "Yes, I didn't remember that wrong."

"Then, was it you who kept his luggage in the end?" Chen Xiao asked with burning eyes.