Chapter 155: Chapter 155 They Are All Good Citizens
Zhang Cuihua’s eyes held no anxiety, no fear, they were as empty as if they were dead.
Her body was almost motionless, as if bound by some force.
Liu Zheng felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if an invisible hand was tightly squeezing his heart.
He tried to approach Zhang Cuihua, hoping to unravel the mystery. However, no matter how hard he tried, his feet seemed to be stuck to the floor by a magnet, unable to take another step forward. His body was rigid and immobile, helplessly watching the scene before him.
Time seemed to have stopped, and the room was ensnared in an eerie silence.
Liu Zheng felt as if he were trapped in a black-and-white film, with all sounds blocked by an invisible barrier, except for the sound of his own heartbeat echoing in his ears.
The strange atmosphere was suffocating, his thoughts churning like tides. He could not understand what was happening before him, nor could he accept this scene that was so at odds with the real world.
He felt his sanity beginning to crumble, and his soul was filled with an indescribable fear.
In this room, time seemed irrelevant, everything frozen at this moment.
Zhang Cuihua’s rapid breathing and frantic eyes betrayed her inner anxiety and fear. The bloodied weapon she still clutched in her hand was proof that she had just committed murder.
She knew if Liu Zheng got blood on him, everything would become unmanageable.
Liu Zheng felt a wave of fear, not knowing why Zhang Cuihua had killed, nor wanting any involvement. He deftly avoided Zhang Cuihua’s charge, keeping as far away as possible from the blood-dripping weapon in her hands. He knew if he got stained with blood, even an innocent him could become entangled and suspected in this bizarre murder case.
But seeing the bruises on Zhang Cuihua’s body, he anticipated what had happened.
"Liu Zheng, I’m so scared! Liu Zheng, help me!"
Liu Zheng first made sure Zhang Cuihua was dressed, then called the police and dialed 120.
Liu Zheng anxiously awaited the arrival of the cops and the ambulance. He looked at Zhang Cuihua, trying to find some comforting words, but his lips could not open. Finally, he mustered up the courage to ask softly, "Zhang Cuihua, what on earth happened? Why would you do such a thing?"
Zhang Cuihua looked up, tears streaming down, and answered tremblingly, "Liu Zheng, he has always been mean to me, I couldn’t take it anymore, I... I just wanted to protect myself."
Her voice was filled with endless grievances and fear.
Liu Zheng felt a pang in his heart, understanding the hardships Zhang Cuihua had endured. He hugged her gently, comforting her, "I know you’ve been hurt, but this is not the way to solve problems. We should seek help, let the law and the cops handle this matter."
Zhang Cuihua sobbed and nodded, feeling Liu Zheng’s care and support. At this moment, she realized her actions were wrong.
Soon, the sound of the police siren was heard, and Liu Zheng hurried to open the door for the cops.
A few officers entered the house, wearing uniforms, their expressions solemn.
One of the officers asked, "Are you the one who called the police? Please describe to us what happened."
Liu Zheng answered nervously, "I just called the police. When I came in, I saw our village chief covered in blood on the ground, you can also see the bruises on Zhang Cuihua’s body."
"Officer, I am innocent, it was completely self-defense, Liu Baishun was trying to kill me!"
Meanwhile, Zhang Cuihua was being restrained, and Liu Baishun was also carried out on a stretcher.
Afterward, Liu Zheng quickly briefed them on the events that led him here.
He made an effort to describe the incident clearly and comprehensibly, not omitting any important details.
The officers’ expressions were grave; they understood this was a serious family dispute requiring cautious handling.
The officers diligently recorded Liu Zheng’s testimony, aware of the case’s complexity and importance.
One officer asked, "Can you tell us more about Zhang Cuihua’s background and behavior? We need to understand her situation."
After a moment of thought, Liu Zheng replied, "Zhang Cuihua is Liu Baishun’s daughter-in-law, and there has always been tension and conflict between her and her father-in-law. She has complained to me about his abuse and discrimination against her. Actually, the whole village should know about this, but I never imagined she would take such extreme measures."
The officer taking the notes nodded and added, "Skip the irrelevant parts and continue with what you know."
Liu Zheng realized this case required thorough investigation and understanding.
Eventually, the officers decided to take Liu Zheng and Zhang Cuihua away for further investigation.
As Liu Zheng watched the officers take Zhang Cuihua away, he felt both pain and conflict.
He hoped that she could be forgiven, including the moment today when Zhang Cuihua had run towards him.
The village neighbors were buzzing with discussion, focusing on Liu Baishun and his domestic violence towards his daughter-in-law.
As the news spread, the neighbors felt no sympathy for Liu Baishun.
They were all familiar with Liu Baishun’s despicable behavior, so they were not surprised by his plight.
Liu Yutong also came over to ask what everyone was discussing. What had happened?
"Zhang Cuihua and Liu Zheng have been taken away by the officers, it’s said that they killed someone!"
"What? Liu Zheng and Zhang Cuihua, murderers? How is that possible?"
"Yutong, don’t you know? Everyone is aware of Zhang Baishun’s domestic violence towards his daughter-in-law. The incident that occurred might just be the trouble he brought upon himself."
Liu Yutong nodded and said, "I know about his abuse towards his daughter-in-law, but I didn’t expect things to escalate to this extent."
"Yeah, Yutong, your great-nephew, Liu Zheng, has not been in the village for long, and he seems to be a good person; he certainly couldn’t be the murderer. Your family must know Liu Zheng better; do you think he could be the perpetrator?"
Liu Yutong was known for his fairness, but he didn’t dare to speculate without knowing the truth, merely responding, "I think we should give the officers some time to investigate and clarify the truth."
Just as Liu Yutong finished this sentence, an officer, as if having heard their conversation, came over and looked at them sternly.
Liu Yutong immediately stepped forward. Although he couldn’t believe it, he knew he had to speak up.
He approached the officer and spoke softly, "Comrade, I am Liu Zheng’s uncle, the clan leader of our family. I am very familiar with the character of him and his father.
He has just arrived in the village and should not be familiar with the surroundings yet.
I believe he could not possibly be the murderer in this homicide case. Please ensure a fair investigation for him."
