Chapter 343: Chapter 343: Could It Be the Same Sound, Different Characters?!

When Qiu Huasheng was recounting those stories that many found shocking or overly dramatic,

his tone was incomparably calm.

It was as if everything that happened was as it should be, in accordance with the times.

After he paused, he merely glanced at Chen Xiao and continued:

"Everyone familiar with me knows about these things, so I don’t see the big deal. At least, during my wedding with her, those who wanted to mock us only dared to congratulate me to my face!"

Chen Xiao felt the aura emanating from Qiu Huasheng.

Although his wealth did not match Guo Zhengchang’s, according to Pan Huiping, that was only in regard to himself, not the entire Qiu Family.

It seemed that Qiu Huasheng did not want to waste time, so he was unwilling to wait for Chen Xiao to ask and was ready to disclose everything at once about himself.

"Actually, the moment something happened to Tingfang, I had already called my people. Though on the surface, the Qiu Family is still controlled by the old man, in reality, the power lies in my hands."

"The higher you stand, the more people there are watching you like a tiger watching its prey. Tingfang is not a blood relative of the Qiu Family, but I am not as conservative as those old-fashioned relics. The emergence of new blood may be what provokes the bloodthirsty desire in an old tiger!"

"Moreover, I don’t think Tingfang would be willing to give up everything in front of her. Seeking, she just wants to let go of an obsession. Besides, when such a thing can be used as a tool, there is no reason a businessman would not take advantage of it."

Hearing this, Chen Xiao finally felt the power of the words "pursuit of profit".

Indeed, businessmen are willing to do anything for "pursuit of profit".

Even a reunion filled with warmth can become a tool for them to gain benefits.

"So, this matter, was it decided after you and Qiu Tingfang reached a consensus?"

"That’s right, she sees great prospects here. Our main business in the Qiu Family is daily chemical products. If we use the pretext of seeking family, playing the emotional card, we will not only win the favor of the people here but also gain more trust from the authorities."

Chen Xiao frowned: "Then why didn’t you mention it earlier?"

"Because at that time... Mu Rong hadn’t left me yet! When she did, nothing meant anything anymore, not at all!"

Qiu Huasheng was already in so much pain that he roared uncontrollably.

Chen Xiao did not try to console Qiu Huasheng.

In his conversation with Qiu Huasheng, he felt he had formed some impression of the latter.

Qiu Huasheng’s abilities were definitely the opposite of his refined and harmless-looking appearance.

This person was a very decisive and highly capable businessman.

But, he also had a very obvious characteristic.

That was his infatuation with Mu Rong!

In the world of wealthy families, genuine emotions are the rarest.

Whether it be father-son bonds, brotherly love, or marital love, many collapse when relentlessly battered by interests.

Therefore, from Qiu Huasheng’s words, Chen Xiao could discern that Qiu was deeply, unwaveringly in love with Mu Rong.

Of course, this was only according to what Qiu Huasheng himself said.

Chen Xiao looked at Qiu Huasheng’s eyes full of despair and began to question once again:

"After the incident, what were the actions of your family?"

Qiu Huasheng shook his head, showing confusion: "There were no actions, everyone continued with their usual businesses. Moreover, I generally have a network of informants around them who can almost understand everything about them."

"So, I can temporarily rule out the possibility that Qiu Tingfang’s death was caused by your family’s competition."

Qiu Huasheng replied thoughtfully: "After calming down, I believe the reason does not lie within my family’s feud. Because I am not old, only fifty years old. I have advanced medical care, barring accidents, I have at least twenty to thirty years of life left."

"Most importantly, Tingfang currently does not have the capacity to take over from me."

"Mr. Qiu is indeed very calm-headed."

Chen Xiao replied lightly.

Qiu Huasheng did not take it to heart and continued: "But aside from family conflict, I can’t think of any other reasons."

"Then let me tell you about another case, one that initially had a flavor similar to your original thoughts."

"Is it a case from your files?"

"Yes, the case of the murder of a university student from Xiaofeng Village. The victim’s family had a business bigger than yours, and she was already set to become the family’s future successor..."

Chen Xiao began narrating the Xiaofeng Village case to Qiu Huasheng.

After some time, when Chen Xiao finished telling the case, Qiu Huasheng fell into silence.

He was someone with a decent logical mind.

So even if he did not understand criminal investigation, he would work to sort out some matters himself.

But after Chen Xiao recounted the Xiaofeng Village case, he found his mind in chaos.

Qiu Huasheng looked at Chen Xiao: "So you’re guiding me to think about the things that happened before Tingfang was adopted by me?"

"Not guiding, but suggesting as a reference. I don’t think you know much about her life before being adopted."

Qiu Huasheng nodded: "Yes, and often I wonder. When she was adopted by me and Mu Rong, she was six years old. Able to remember her hometown’s name, why couldn’t she remember her parents’ names? Logically, shouldn’t she remember her parents’ names first? But she only remembered her father’s surname was Qiu."

"This doesn’t add up, but after your investigation, did you find any Qiu families here?"

Qiu Huasheng shook his head: "No, many people here told me that there didn’t seem to be any Qiu surnames in the entire Sanshui Town. We even checked local records, they also stated there were no Qiu surnames here."

A hint of doubt flashed in Chen Xiao’s eyes.

If even books like local gazetteers record that there is no Qiu surname, then it is highly likely there isn’t.

So, either Qiu Tingfang remembered incorrectly, or there is another reason.

"Was the information provided by the orphanage that she had the Qiu surname?"

"Yes, she was called Qiu Xiaofang. Later, I didn’t want her to have too many traces of her original family, so I changed the Xia to Ting."

Chen Xiao did not reply, lost in thought about more reasons for this contradictory phenomenon.

But for the moment, he had no feelings about it.

Standing up from the sofa, Chen Xiao said:

"Shall we go upstairs to see your wife?"

Qiu Huasheng nodded and led the way.

Chen Xiao walked into a bedroom on the second floor.

The room was now filled with fresh flowers, surrounding an ice coffin.

Seeing Chen Xiao gaze at the flowers, Qiu Huasheng explained: "Mu Rong liked flowers, especially loved chrysanthemums, so I decorated with these for her."

Saying this, Qiu Huasheng smiled and said: "Looking like this, she seems to just be sleeping in the ice coffin."

Chen Xiao wasn’t in the mood to look at the body in the ice coffin at this moment, he focused on the chrysanthemums and asked all of a sudden:

"Haven’t you considered that it’s not just you, even the people at the orphanage and Qiu Tingfang herself might have been mistaken? Maybe the Qiu surname is just phonetically similar but wrong in characters?"

Qiu Huasheng’s face changed: "What do you mean?"

"The sound ’qiu’ can belong to surnames Qiu, Qiu, or Qui...!"