Chapter 922: Nothing Gained

As the investigation into Zhang Haibin’s interpersonal relationships progresses, Chen Xue’s situation is also being looked into.

Chen Xue works at the High-tech Zone Tax Office. Although her position is not a leadership role, its importance is quite significant.

In the tax office, she holds a position that isn’t high in rank but wields considerable power.

"Sister Chen is quite decent, you know. She’s usually very nice to us and helps us rookies with anything we don’t understand."

"Chen Xue has been working at the tax office for years now, and her performance has been pretty good. She’s in charge of tax refunds for business merchants..."

"I’ve never heard of Chen Xue having any enemies. She has good rapport at her workplace. We’ve shared an office for years without any arguments or conflicts."

At the tax office, there hasn’t been any substantial progress in Chen Jiang’s investigation.

Chen Xue is well-regarded and has good relationships at her workplace, generally dealing with work-related matters with everyone.

Moreover, her work involves the interests of business merchants, focusing entirely on tax refunds, which means providing services to others.

Giving money back to business merchants is unlikely to cause dissatisfaction and trouble for her.

School.

Classmates and teachers have a good impression of Zhang Mei.

Zhang Mei got into university last year and is a freshman.

Being a local, she usually goes home on weekends, but stays on campus from Monday to Friday.

In Zhang Mei’s dorm room.

"Zhang Mei gets along well with us. Yeah, she’s a local and often takes us out for fun."

"Zhang Mei likes listening to music. Her family is quite well-off, which gives her a sense of superiority sometimes, but she’s generally nice."

"Yes, yes. She mentioned her dad is a leader at the finance office..."

"Does she have a boyfriend?"

Sun Biao inquired.

"No, there are two boys in our class pursuing her, but Zhang Mei hasn’t agreed."

Zhang Tao’s high school.

"Zhang Tao is an average student. He transferred here last semester, about half a year ago."

After finishing the investigation at Zhang Mei’s university in the morning, Sun Biao rushed to Zhang Tao’s high school.

The homeroom teacher doesn’t have a good impression of Zhang Tao.

"This student seems problematic. He doesn’t pay attention in class and his grades are poor. He only managed to come to our school because his dad pulled strings."

"Which high school did he transfer from?"

"From Third Middle School, he transferred from there."

After noting this down, Sun Biao continued asking, "Did Zhang Tao have any conflicts with others at school?"

"Not really. Zhang Tao just doesn’t like studying but otherwise gets by."

"Besides, we’re already in senior year, so studies are very intense now."

...

All sides of the investigation are continuing. Various teams are focusing on the interpersonal relationships of Zhang Haibin’s family.

Evening.

Lu Chuan organized a case analysis meeting.

"Let’s have each group report their investigation findings first."

Lu Chuan looked at Wang Zhaokai.

"I’ll start."

Walking up to the whiteboard, Wang Zhaokai wrote down Zhang Haibin’s name.

"My focus has been on investigating Zhang Haibin’s work situation and some of his basic personal relationships."

Wang Qinghai.

Wang Zhaokai wrote down this name: "The first key person is Wang Qinghai, who is also a deputy director at the High-tech Zone Finance Office."

Wang Zhaokai continued to explain: "According to current clues, there’s an impending promotion where either Wang Qinghai or Zhang Haibin will become a full position executive at another unit."

"This indicates a competitive relationship between the two, with the competition currently at its peak. The upper-level assessments are nearly complete."

"From what I’ve gathered at the finance office, Zhang Haibin has extensive relationships and good rapport, giving him a better ground among the public compared to Wang Qinghai."

"I’ve also contacted the district government’s organizational department to confirm, and based on current assessments, Zhang Haibin has a higher chance of being promoted. While it’s not finalized, the party they’re planning to recommend is Zhang Haibin."

Wang Zhaokai circled Wang Qinghai’s name, emphasizing it.

"Now with Zhang Haibin dead, Wang Qinghai stands to gain the most, as the promotion is bound to be his."

Although Wang Qinghai has provided an alibi, alibis can be fabricated. From a motive perspective, Wang Qinghai is suspicious.

Additionally, from Wang Zhaokai’s investigation results, he’s the most suspect.

"On the other hand," based on the fingerprints found on the cash according to the leads given by Lu Chuan, "we conducted simple visits and inquiries into two other individuals."

One is Chen Baoguo.

Wang Zhaokai wrote Chen Baoguo’s name on the whiteboard.

"This person is subordinate to Zhang Haibin and also a mid-level official at the finance office. His promotion is likely due to bribing Zhang Haibin."

"In the finance office, Zhang Haibin essentially served as Chen Baoguo’s patron. With Zhang Haibin’s downfall, it’s not in Chen Baoguo’s interest, and he has an alibi, so I personally think Chen Baoguo’s suspicion is low."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Indeed, if there’s anyone in the finance office who would least want anything to happen to Zhang Haibin, Chen Baoguo would be one of them.

Wang Zhaokai then wrote down another name.

Zhang Dechao.

"This person was also identified from the fingerprints on Captain Lu’s cash and is a software supplier. He is responsible for the maintenance of some systems at the finance office."

Wang Zhaokai continued to report: "Zhang Dechao managed to win the bid for the finance office system maintenance because he bribed Zhang Haibin, and the amount was significant."

"We checked phone records and found frequent communication between the two."

"As a party with vested interests, it’s unlikely that Zhang Dechao would kill his entire family."

The group concurred with this judgment, agreeing that Zhang Dechao lacked a motive for murder.

The death of Zhang Haibin would significantly impact people like Zhang Dechao, who can no longer secure system maintenance projects from the finance office.

"You could say that the investigation into Zhang Haibin’s workplace hasn’t uncovered any particularly important clues. We’re continuing to verify Wang Qinghai’s alibi."

Lu Chuan nodded, understanding that Wang Zhaokai had essentially briefed him on the situation, though not as detailed as in the meeting.

Lu Chuan looked to Chen Jiang.

"Old Chen, share the findings from the investigation into the deceased, Chen Xue."