Chapter Fifteen: The Investigation of the Theft

After settling in at his uncle’s house, the young policeman Qiu Xi finally contacted Luo Ming. To say he was there to help solve the case would be an exaggeration; it was more an opportunity for a bit of leisure. After all, he was never one to be overly ambitious.

Qiu Xi was not the sort to fawn over the rich and disdain the poor. In fact, as society progressed, more and more city dwellers were choosing to vacation in the countryside. It was a new trend, and as a young man, chasing trends came naturally to him.

Almost at the same time, Li Yiting and Chen Tianyu also came looking for Luo Ming. Luo Ming had only met Chen Tianyu once and didn’t remember him well, but at least he knew Li Yiting was the nephew of his late master. So, instead of hurrying off to see Qiu Xi, Luo Ming first sat with the two in a side hall for a chat.

The old caretaker of the Guanyin Temple had passed away, but the temple itself could not go unattended, so Luo Ming was unable to leave for Li Village. By now, Luo Ming had become the de facto new caretaker. There had never been any other candidate; with Guanyin gone, there was even less chance of someone else stepping up. If Qiu Xi could manage to recover the statue or the missing funds, Luo Ming could officially take over.

In this way, Luo Ming almost felt that misfortune had turned to blessing; his tone grew more rigid. Chen Tianyu, ever perceptive, noticed this subtle shift and signaled for Li Yiting to be the first to speak.

Luo Ming broke the silence. “Is there something you needed from me?”

Li Yiting asked, “I heard you were always my third uncle’s disciple?”

“Is there a problem with that?” Luo Ming shot back.

Li Yiting smiled faintly. “You and my uncle have such different styles. I’m just curious why he chose you as his apprentice.”

Luo Ming wiped his ruddy face and answered coldly, “Ha, you think just anyone can take up this work?”

Chen Tianyu finally chimed in, “So, the income from your job must be rather good then…”

Luo Ming glanced at him and countered, “And who are you, exactly?”

Chen Tianyu ignored the question and continued, “If the income is so good, you could have easily bought a new Guanyin statue. There’s no reason for things to end up so embarrassing—unless, of course, you’re happy with this outcome because it helps you take over. I could understand that.”

Luo Ming had only half-listened to them, mostly out of respect for the old caretaker’s family ties. He hadn’t really taken in Chen Tianyu’s words.

“Uh… what did you say?” Luo Ming frowned, catching a hint of accusation.

Chen Tianyu smiled, “What I mean is, if you wanted to secure your position, hiding the statue wouldn’t be so unusual.”

“What!” Luo Ming jumped up as if burned. “Don’t talk nonsense!”

He jabbed a finger at Chen Tianyu, his nose flaring in anger, looking ready to lash out.

Chen Tianyu remained unruffled, “It’s not unreasonable to think so. Your master made so much money—how could things end up in such a sorry state? The statue disappeared before the Lunar New Year, didn’t it? There’s been plenty of time to buy a new one.”

Luo Ming’s face went pale, then flushed, “Do you know how much it costs to commission a new idol?”

“So, you do know?” Chen Tianyu needled him, watching his reaction.

“Over two hundred thousand! Can you afford that?” Luo Ming growled.

“…Oh.”

Luo Ming continued loudly, “Easy for you city folks to talk, but what do you know?”

Chen Tianyu replied, “I believe you might not have that much, but your master could have.”

At this, Luo Ming suddenly calmed, his tone turning cold. “I don’t need to explain all this to you. Officer Qiu is waiting for me. Ask him instead.” With that, he got up to leave.

As he left, Chen Tianyu muttered, “I’d wager your master’s money is already in your pocket.”

Luo Ming whirled around, “If you keep spouting nonsense, you’d better watch out.”

He stormed off in a fury.

Watching him go, Chen Tianyu sighed, “It seems he didn’t take the money after all.”

Li Yiting nodded slightly, “He’s not a schemer. We can rule him out.”

Chen Tianyu frowned, “So where did your uncle’s money go?”

“Why don’t we look for it?” Li Yiting suggested.

Chen Tianyu glanced around—there wasn’t a single worshipper present. After such an incident, no matter how devout the villagers, they wouldn’t come so soon.

After a moment’s thought, Chen Tianyu said, “This is your uncle’s place, so it makes sense for you to search. As for me, I want to check that side room again—I feel like I missed something.”

Li Yiting nodded, and the two set off in different directions.

---

Luo Ming found Officer Qiu Xi looking rather anxious.

Qiu Xi noticed, unsurprised—he was quite familiar with this look, having traveled to the provincial capital with Luo Ming before.

His uncle, Zhang Shubing, wasn’t home. He had left Qiu Xi a guest room, and there were plenty of empty rooms in the house.

Qiu Xi said little, understanding Luo Ming’s purpose. He picked up a folder from the table, tucked it under his arm, and grabbed a couple of pens.

“Let’s go take a look at the scene,” he said calmly.

Luo Ming tried to be polite, hoping to get closer. “Brother, you just arrived, would you like to rest a bit first?”

Qiu Xi was unmoved. “I got here yesterday. Let’s get to it… And, you’d better call me ‘officer.’ I may be here to help, but I am still working a case.”

Luo Ming blushed but was mostly hopeful. “Officer Qiu, you’re right—business is business…” He even gave a thumbs-up to show his appreciation for Qiu Xi’s professionalism, though mostly to hide his own awkwardness.

Qiu Xi paid no attention, remaining calm. “Is the scene far from here?”

“Ah?… Oh, not far, about half an hour’s walk,” Luo Ming replied, still not used to official jargon.

Qiu Xi checked his watch—already past nine. “Let’s go then. I need to get back for lunch. We’ll check the scene first.”

Luo Ming offered, “You can eat at my place. Or maybe have a drink at noon? We’re not vegetarians—food’s good.”

Qiu Xi shook his head, “No, we’re not allowed to drink on duty.”

Luo Ming didn’t press further, and the two walked together from Tai Village to the Guanyin Temple, chatting along the way—mostly about the basic situation in Luoshui Village.

They walked quickly, and after about twenty minutes arrived at the temple. Qiu Xi circled inside and out, lingering a bit at the spot where the statue had stood, then sat on a bench by the altar, opening the folder to carefully record his preliminary findings.

“Did you notice any suspicious people around the time the crime occurred?” Qiu Xi asked Luo Ming as he sat.

Luo Ming, standing by the altar, thought for a moment. “Nothing comes to mind…”

Qiu Xi nodded and continued, “Any habitual thieves in the village? Or layabouts, perhaps?”

Luo Ming subconsciously wiped his face—he himself was a bit of a layabout, but he wouldn’t admit it.

“There are a few idle young men, not many… but I haven’t heard of any habitual thieves.”

Qiu Xi showed no suspicion. He tilted his head. “Has the village had thefts before?”

“Uh, probably…” Luo Ming was unsure.

“What was stolen?”

“Pigs, cows, chickens, ducks, hoes, plows… all sorts of things.” Luo Ming answered seriously, adding, “Even vegetables planted at the temple gate were stolen…”

Qiu Xi looked a bit exasperated. “Anything more valuable?”

Luo Ming shook his head.

“Well then, do you have any particular suspects?” Qiu Xi pressed.

Again, Luo Ming shook his head.

Qiu Xi set down his pen. “Alright, I’ll go around the village this afternoon. Let’s leave it for now.”

“That’s it?” Luo Ming felt it was too cursory.

Qiu Xi smiled faintly, “What do you think? Solving a case isn’t a matter of a day or two, especially a theft. These things take time.”

Luo Ming nodded, half understanding.

“If you had more clues, we’d move faster, but you… know nothing.” Qiu Xi shrugged.

Luo Ming gave an awkward laugh.

Chen Tianyu and Li Yiting had been chatting in the side hall the whole time. Qiu Xi had passed by, but hadn’t questioned them.

From the side hall, they watched everything clearly.

They exchanged glances—was this the amazing city policeman Luo Ming had brought in? Was he only good at taking notes? To Li Yiting, a detective with over a decade of experience, this man seemed like a rookie—he spent most of the hour writing, and barely glanced at the scene.

“Officer… Officer Qiu, is it?” Li Yiting got up and entered the main hall.

Qiu Xi looked up after a long moment, studying him carefully. “And you are?”

Before Li Yiting could speak, Luo Ming jumped in, “This is our late caretaker’s nephew.”

Qiu Xi nodded and returned to his notes, looking up again after a while. “Comrade, do you have something to report?”

Li Yiting nodded. “I’ve just discovered that my uncle’s savings are missing too.” He and Chen Tianyu had searched for a long time, finding no cash. Since the police were here, they might as well mention it. “My uncle was the old caretaker…”

Qiu Xi nodded and made a note. “About how much?”

“I’m not sure,” Li Yiting admitted.

Qiu Xi barely reacted. “Anything else? Go ahead.”

“Uh, no.”

“Alright, if anything comes up, let me know…” Qiu Xi replied by rote.

Chen Tianyu nearly burst out laughing.

It seemed Officer Qiu had never even thought to ask what had become of the old caretaker.

He considered reminding him, but given the officer’s clumsy investigation, he decided to let it go for now.

Unlike Li Yiting, Chen Tianyu wasn’t a detective by trade. He thought this young man, though inexperienced, was sincere and methodical—perhaps someone to rely on in the future.

After all, this was the back of beyond.

So, when Li Yiting returned, disappointed, Chen Tianyu patted his shoulder and comforted him, “Yiting, you can’t rush things. Let him have a try.”

Li Yiting nodded helplessly.

---

Qiu Xi declined Luo Ming’s invitation to lunch, saying he’d return in the afternoon, and left the temple. Chen Tianyu and Li Yiting also returned to Li Village, not intending to stay.

Though a little disappointed, they hadn’t really expected Qiu Xi to solve the theft. Still, having an official officer in the village would make things easier down the line.

“At least he’s enthusiastic—otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to this remote place,” Li Yiting concluded. Policemen were only human, and Qiu Xi was young. Everyone needed to grow.

“Don’t set expectations too high,” Chen Tianyu smiled.

“Mm.” Li Yiting mused, “I never imagined the Guanyin statue was so valuable. These thieves must have been after money.”

Chen Tianyu gave him a sidelong glance. “Haven’t you heard of the recent craze for antiques? You should ask Zichen—she’s interested in artifacts. Buddhist statues are antiques, worth a lot. That was their main target, I’m sure. I suspect your uncle’s cash was just a convenient bonus—what thief ever thinks they have too much money?”

Li Yiting shook his head. “My father said Uncle gave the money to Luo Ming to buy a new statue, but maybe Luo Ming gambled it away…”

Chen Tianyu replied, “You really think your uncle would give him every last cent?”

Li Yiting nodded; he knew his uncle was shrewd. “You’re right. He’d have kept at least a little for himself…”

“The reason we can’t find the money is probably that it was stolen,” Chen Tianyu continued. “And your uncle’s suicide might not be so simple.”

Li Yiting sighed, “I examined the body carefully—there was no sign of being forced to ingest poison. How do we explain that?” He remembered something. “Oh, about the redness of the body… did you ask Jingnan?”

Chen Tianyu nodded, “Yes. Jingnan said there are many causes for discoloration, but mercury poisoning wouldn’t cause it directly—it could be an allergic reaction, massive internal bleeding, but it would take an autopsy to be sure.”

Li Yiting was silent for a while.

“With such a long journey, Jingnan can’t make it. But if we autopsied locally, I doubt my father and the others would agree…” he sighed, well aware of the deep-rooted conservatism in the countryside. “Even a partial autopsy would help us not feel so helpless.”

“Did you find anything new in the side room?” If there was no forensic help, Li Yiting hoped for indirect evidence that his uncle’s death was truly suicide.

His professionalism hadn’t deserted him, and he remained doubtful.

But Chen Tianyu shook his head, crestfallen. “Nothing. Maybe I was just seeing things.”

“How odd…” Li Yiting muttered.

“It’s simple, really: either it was suicide, or the killer is a master who left no evidence,” Chen Tianyu concluded. “So, no need to waste time guessing—maybe this is just the beginning.”

Li Yiting’s face grew somber. “That’s what worries me most. This is my hometown… I hope it ends here.”

Chen Tianyu rubbed his nose and grinned. “Do you know what you look like right now?”

“What?”

Chen Tianyu sighed, “Like a salmon struggling upstream a thousand miles—your spirit’s run out.”

Li Yiting laughed, “Nonsense!”

---

Qiu Xi, for his part, applied himself diligently to canvassing all four villages, focusing on those known for gambling, idleness, or drinking. After filtering, he identified about twenty young to middle-aged men who could have committed the crime, spread across all four villages—even Li Village, despite its small population.

Two stood out: Zhang Kun from Yan Village, whom we have already met—a bachelor and gambler, always stirring up trouble; and Zhang Jin from Yuan Village, a notorious rogue who started with petty theft and once stole a coffin from Li Village, only to be caught and given a record.

These two caught Qiu Xi’s attention simply because they were conspicuous—there was little real evidence. Most of what he gathered in one day was statistical, much of it learned from village officials.

Qiu Xi planned to summon both men for questioning, but things didn’t go as hoped. Both had alibis: Zhang Kun was at the gambling table all night, with many witnesses; Zhang Jin had broken his leg and had been bedridden for a month.

This left the inexperienced Qiu Xi scratching his head.

Luoshui Village didn’t have many people, but to interview and summon every one would take two months. Qiu Xi was unsure he could finish the task.

Without a new approach, the investigation looked bleak.

He decided to ask the six Li brothers for help—after all, family would take it seriously. Li Village also had a suspect: Xun Yuanchun.

Not everyone in Li Village bore the surname Li. Outsiders were usually men who had married into the family. Xun Yuanchun was such a man; his wife, a Li, had died young of breast cancer, followed by madness, leaving him a widower with no children, never to remarry.

One might think him deeply affectionate, but things weren’t so simple. Over a decade ago, during a stormy night, Xun Yuanchun claimed to have suddenly acquired second sight.

He made several predictions that all came true, leaving the villagers amazed. The stories grew more fantastic, and soon people from neighboring villages, even those from afar, came to consult him. Whether his predictions continued to be accurate, no one could say.

Regardless, he made a living from this, never wanting. As doubts faded and rumors grew, he became reclusive, claiming he didn’t need the money.

The truth was likely otherwise. With his increasing fame and higher fees, Xun Yuanchun began to call himself the reincarnation of Master Xun. His airs grew ever grander; he was rarely seen except at major events.

To us city folk, he was an out-and-out rural charlatan.

Qiu Xi thought much the same—he’d simply switched from small profits to fleecing a few bigger fish.

But could such a man steal the Guanyin statue? It was hard to say. His mysterious persona made things easier, and according to officials, this ‘living immortal’ was also a gambler. Who would play with him? It made no sense.

Qiu Xi had a hard time even finding Xun Yuanchun’s remote, dilapidated house, only to find it tightly shut—he was given the cold shoulder.

He knocked for a long time, but there was no response. With no evidence, Qiu Xi had to let it go for now.

He then contacted the Li brothers, only then realizing—somewhat belatedly—that the old caretaker, Li Qiwen, had already died.

Luo Ming had already informed Li Qisi of Qiu Xi’s identity and purpose, so Li Qisi took it very seriously—he had publicly vowed to discover the truth. Apart from having spun the suicide as a case of depression, the rest of the family was cooperative, even providing a list of suspects.

Besides the ones Qiu Xi already knew, Li Qisi mentioned a theft ring in Yuan Village, led not by Zhang Jin, but by someone else.

Qiu Xi asked for a name, but Li Qisi didn’t know—only that the man had been to the city, climbed Emei Mountain, learned qigong, and was mute.

The villagers said the mute had skills that let him scale walls and roofs—no one dared cross him. Orphaned young, no one even knew his name; everyone just called him ‘Mute.’

Mute didn’t mind—he’d just give you a strange look and grunt, then walk away without expression. He’d been alone for years, with no friends.

Qiu Xi was puzzled. “If he has no friends, how does he lead a gang?”

Li Qisi shook his head. “Thieves work in darkness and secrecy. They don’t need to be friends. Even Zhang Jin is afraid of him—that says a lot.”

Qiu Xi nodded, conceding the logic.

“How can I find this Mute?” he asked.

Li Qisi thought for a moment. “He goes into the mountains to practice every day. Maybe you’ll meet him on the trails.”

“Thank you, sir, for the information.”

Li Qisi quickly waved him off. “We should be thanking you, Officer, for your trouble.”

Qiu Xi blushed, saying nothing. The deeper his investigation went, the less confident he felt.

It seemed everyone in Luoshui Village was suspicious.

But most of all, just how many oddballs did this village have?