"What new skills do I have access to?" Han Bin asked curiously.
[Combat Techniques]
[Microexpression Analysis]
[Anti-Pickpocketing]
[Tracking]
…
"There are more hidden skills, but you need to spend merit points to unlock them," the badge prompted.
All of these skills would be useful for a detective like Han Bin, and he wanted to learn them all. But since he was in the middle of an investigation, he set that aside for later.
Soon, Factory Director Wu Mingyong found the suspect's information:
Name: Lin Changsheng
Ethnicity: Han
Age: 41
Height: 174 cm
Features: Stocky build, hunchbacked
Family: Wife and son
Address: Xiahe Village, Qindao City
From the footprint evidence Han Bin had analyzed, Lin Changsheng was a potential suspect. Zeng Ping immediately led a team to Xiahe Village to make an arrest.
"Tian Li, call Zhao Ming and tell him to go to the station to apply for a search and summons warrant, then meet us in Xiahe Village."
"Yes, sir."
Zhao Ming was also a member of the second unit of the third detective squad but had the day off today.
…
Xiahe Village wasn't far—about a 20-minute drive. They brought along two local officers to assist with the arrest.
Upon arriving, they went to the village committee to gather more info. The village chief, Wang Jinxi, personally went to Lin Changsheng's neighborhood to inquire with villagers.
Meanwhile, Zeng Ping had his team set up surveillance around Lin's house.
Soon, the chief returned. "Captain Zeng, I've got the info."
"Is Lin Changsheng home?"
"A neighbor saw him come back from outside this morning—he's home now."
"The timeline fits."
"But when I passed by earlier, the door was shut tight. In the countryside, people rarely keep their doors closed during the day. He's clearly feeling guilty," Officer Li Hui commented.
Zeng Ping thought for a moment. "Chief Wang, could you help us knock on his door?"
"Sure."
At that moment, a BMW X5 pulled up beside them. A young man in his early twenties stepped out—it was Zhao Ming from the second unit.
"Damn, look at you rolling up in a BMW," Li Hui said, clearly envious.
"I was in a rush, so I drove my own car," Zhao Ming replied, locking the vehicle.
"No wonder you're always spending big—turns out you're a rich kid," Li Hui muttered, tapping the hood. "Nice ride."
"Enough chatter," Zeng Ping waved him off. "Zhao Ming, you bring the warrants?"
"Yep, got them right here."
"Let's move."
…
Knock knock knock…
"Who is it?"
"It's me, Wang Jinxi."
"Oh! Chief, what brings you here with so many people?" a middle-aged woman opened the door with a surprised look.
"Chen Juan, these are officers from the Criminal Police. They're here to ask your husband some questions," the chief explained.
"Criminal Police? What do you want with my husband?" she asked, clearly nervous.
"This is a search warrant," Zeng Ping said, showing the document and leading the officers inside.
"Hey, what are you doing?! Lao Lin, Lao Lin!" the woman shouted.
A slightly hunchbacked man stepped out. "Who are you? What do you want in my house?"
"We're police. We suspect you're connected to a theft case. Please cooperate," Han Bin said, showing his badge.
"Officer, you must be mistaken. My husband isn't a criminal!" Chen Juan shouted.
"You're framing an innocent man!" Lin Changsheng added.
"We're just investigating. If you're innocent, you'll be cleared. Please cooperate," Zeng Ping said firmly.
The officers split up to search the house.
Zeng Ping questioned Lin directly: "Where were you last night?"
"At home."
Zeng Ping sneered. "Lie. A neighbor saw you coming back from outside this morning."
"Oh… Right! I was going to meet a friend out of town, but I changed my mind halfway and came home," Lin tried to explain.
"What, meeting a friend is a crime now?" Chen Juan interjected.
"Where exactly were you going?" Zeng Ping continued.
"The city."
"Qindao Brewery?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Come clean now or you'll regret it later. If we find evidence, it'll be too late," Zeng Ping warned.
"I have a clear conscience!" Lin Changsheng shouted.
Soon, the officers began returning from their searches.
"Captain Zeng, nothing in the kitchen or bathroom," said Li Hui.
"Same for the east bedroom," Tian Li added.
"Car's clean too," Zhao Ming said.
Zeng Ping frowned. Without evidence, the case would be hard to close.
Then Han Bin walked out of the living room with gloves on, holding a pair of shoes. "Whose shoes are these?"
Lin hesitated, then replied, "Mine. Why?"
"Captain Zeng, after comparing them with the footprints at the scene, I'm confident these are the suspect's shoes."
"Lin Changsheng, care to explain?" Zeng Ping pressed.
Lin looked nervous, then scoffed, "Lots of people wear those—our factory has at least 80 or 100 pairs like them. You can't pin this on me."
"Exactly! Shoes are mass-produced these days. They all look the same," Chen Juan backed him up.
"They may look the same when new," Han Bin said confidently, "but once worn, each pair develops unique wear patterns due to differences in gait, weight, and foot shape—like fingerprints. The shoe marks at the brewery match these exactly. You were there!"
Lin looked panicked and stayed silent.
"My husband used to work at the brewery. Of course his footprints would be there!" Chen Juan argued.
"Then why were those footprints found on the wall—not the front gate?" Li Hui asked mockingly.
"Say something, Lin!" his wife urged, tugging at his sleeve.
"I'm innocent. I don't know anything," Lin muttered, head down.
You think you can convict me with just a pair of shoes? Hah!
"Captain Zeng, should we take him back for questioning?" Zhao Ming was ready to act.
"Not yet," Zeng Ping said.
Footprint analysis isn't as reliable as DNA—it's subjective, based on expert judgment rather than hard data. Legally, it can guide an investigation, but not serve as conclusive evidence.
If Lin kept denying everything, they still couldn't charge him. They needed the stolen goods to complete the evidence chain.
"Han Bin, anything else?"
"There's coal dust on the bottom of his shoes."
"Coal dust?" Zeng Ping looked around. Lin's home had no sign of coal. And he remembered the brewery didn't have any coal, either.
Han Bin analyzed: "There's no loot in the house or the car. Lin probably stashed it outside—somewhere with coal."
Zeng Ping pointed at the car. "Check the tires."
Li Hui and Zhao Ming ran to inspect.
"Front tires—nothing."
"Back tires—nothing either."
"That means the coal source wasn't large. If he'd been to a coal yard, the tires would've picked up ash," Zeng Ping reasoned.
Han Bin searched around the yard. "Captain Zeng, I found footprints—with coal dust."
Zeng Ping checked them. "This print has coal traces."
Han Bin followed the tracks westward. They led to the west wall, beyond which was another house.
"Anyone live next door?"
The chief thought. "That's Old Zhao's house. They're all out working—no one's home."
"Bring me that ladder," Han Bin said.
At that, Lin Changsheng trembled and almost collapsed.
(End of Chapter)