Chapter 8

Chen Pu asked Ding Guoqiang to apply to the bureau leaders early in the morning and informed No. 29 Middle School, asking them to cooperate with the investigation as much as possible.

However, the other party's attitude could only be described as reluctant. Although they had to agree to let them enter the school to investigate, they repeatedly emphasized that they had to keep a low profile, not affect teaching, and not cause any public opinion storm among parents and students.

No. 29 Middle School is a mediocre middle school in the city, with an average admission rate, average teaching staff, and average student source. However, in Xiangcheng, the king of exams, it is not easy to get a regular high school, so the number of teachers and students in No. 29 Middle School is very large.

The person in charge of receiving Chen Pu and Li Qingyao was a young female teacher in the third grade of high school who taught history. Her name was Zhou Cen.

She was about 25 or 26 years old, with an ordinary appearance and a gentle expression, but her eyes were red. After introducing themselves to each other, her first words were: "Is Teacher Liu...really dead?"

Chen Pu nodded: "It has spread? How did you know?"

Zhou Cen's tears fell. "I live on the fifth floor of the building across from Teacher Liu. The police car came yesterday, and I heard from my neighbors that he had an accident. Later, I saw someone being carried out on a stretcher upstairs. I didn't dare to go downstairs to see. Everyone said he was dead. Police comrade, what happened? Teacher Liu was fine yesterday afternoon, how come he suddenly..."

Chen Pu said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I can't reveal the specific details of the case. It's still under investigation, so I need the school's cooperation and help."

Zhou Cen nodded.

Chen Pu winked at Li Qingyao, who understood instantly and blinked his left eye at him, which made Chen Pu feel a chill.

Li Qingyao took out a tissue and walked forward, patted Zhou Cen's shoulder, and whispered comforting words.

Chen Pu walked behind them, listening to Zhou Cen's crying gradually stop. He held Li Qingyao's hand tightly all the time, talked to her all the way, and answered every question she asked.

Chen Pu thought silently that although Li Qingyao was insincere, he was still useful - at least he no longer had to watch the female victims or their family members crying awkwardly, and rack his brains to think of words to comfort them.

Under Zhou Cen's arrangement, the first person they met was the 43-year-old Gao Jichang, the head of the senior grade, the head of the high school mathematics teaching and research group, and Zhang Xiyu's mathematics teacher at the time.

Judging from his age and position, Gao Jichang is currently the backbone of the school and has a bright future. Gao Jichang has a separate office, and after Zhou Cen sent them there, he followed Li Qingyao's suggestion and avoided it.

From the outside, Gao Jichang fits people's imagination of a famous teacher. He is of medium build, neither fat nor thin, wearing a simple and well-made black jacket and trousers, wearing glasses, and has a decent appearance. Just sitting there without saying a word, you can feel the righteousness of a teacher.

It can even be said that he actually looks pretty good, with a decent appearance that is more in line with the grandparents of the last century, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and fair skin. If he said he was in his thirties, people would believe it. But his expression was always serious, which made him look very mature.

Li Qingyao looked around again. The bookshelf by the wall was completely black, and was filled with books in an untidy manner. Several books were spread out and randomly stuffed on the bookshelf. Most of them were teaching and research books and exercise books. The top row contained some world classics and management books, some of which were half-worn, and it seemed that the owner often read them.

The table was also black, piled with various books and test papers. On the corner of the table was an opened pack of Hetianxia cigarettes, which were expensive, 100 yuan a pack, and a peculiarly shaped Zippo lighter. In front of Gao Jichang was a black thermos cup, a Japanese brand.

Gao Jichang looked at Chen Pu, then at Li Qingyao, with an undisguised scrutinizing look in his eyes.

"Comrades, the principal has told me that you can ask anything you want to know, but I have another class in 30 minutes, so hurry up."

Chen Pu took out the black notebook and pen, and Li Qingyao immediately took out a white soft-covered notebook from his bag—he had taken it from home because he didn't have time to go to the police station to pick it up early in the morning. The cover was a rather abstract oil painting, with a colorful sky and a little girl falling while holding a balloon upside down. Li Qingyao also held a thin pen in his hand, which was light blue and translucent, and shone under the light.

Chen Pu's eyes just glanced at her notebook and pen.

He turned on the recording on his phone again: "Do you mind?"

Gao Jichang smiled and said, "I don't mind. There is nothing I can't tell others."

"Have you heard about Liu Huaixin's affairs?"

Gao Jichang's expression became serious. "The principal told me that Mr. Liu is an excellent young teacher. The principal and I both have high hopes for him. I didn't expect... that he would be so depressed."

At present, the police have not revealed much to the school, only mentioning the wrist cutting and the suicide note.

Chen Pu: "We are also conducting a routine investigation. After all, a teacher committing suicide due to excessive pressure is a very hot topic and the city also takes it very seriously."

Gao Jichang looked as if he understood and sighed again.

"What kind of person do you think Mr. Liu is?"

Gao Jichang touched the lighter and cigarettes, then looked at Li Qingyao with a sharp yet gentle gaze: "Ma'am, do you mind?"

Ever since Li Qingyao entered the No. 29 Middle School campus, she has regained her gentle and caring policewoman persona. She smiled and said, "Of course I don't mind."

Gao Jichang's smile became more genuine, he squinted his eyes, lit a cigarette and smoked, and said: "Teacher Liu is a very determined person, and also very charming.

He graduated from a good university, but couldn't find a job at the time. He took the postgraduate entrance exam for several years and was admitted to a better university. After graduation, he ranked third among more than a thousand people and was admitted to our school. I was the one who interviewed him. In the past two years of teaching, Mr. Liu has been conscientious and dedicated, and even worked hard. Both teachers and students like him very much.

Maybe he was just too demanding and pushing himself too hard - last month, we had a quota for outstanding teachers at the municipal level, but he didn't get it, after all, he was still too young. I don't know if it has anything to do with this incident, but it must have been a big blow to him. I'm really sad. If I had known that he had such thoughts, I would have advised him and enlightened him. It's such a pity for such a young talent like him."

The sadness on Gao Jichang's face grew even stronger, tears flashed in his eyes, and he turned his head to wipe them away.

Li Qingyao pulled out a piece of paper and handed it over: "My condolences!"

Gao Jichang took it with tears in his eyes: "Thank you." "Teacher Liu, do you usually have conflicts with people in the school?" Chen Pu asked again.

Gao Jichang thought about it and shook his head: "No, I can't think of it. Teacher Liu is a very kind person and never conflicts with others."

"Is he a good guy?" Chen Pu asked.

Gao Jichang was stunned: "I guess so."

"And the students?"

Gao Jichang narrowed his eyes, thought about it, and shook his head: "Teacher Liu only teaches Chinese to two classes, and he is not the head teacher. There may be students that he worries about, but it is definitely not the case for the holidays."

"By the way, Mr. Liu is already 28 years old, does he have a girlfriend?"

“I don’t think I’ve heard of it.”

"The last question is, Mr. Liu was relatively young and handsome. Was there any scandal between him and his female classmates?"

Gao Jichang was stunned and frowned immediately: "How is it possible! Our school has some hopeless hooligans and girls who date, smoke, and fight. Which school doesn't have them? But the teachers in our school are very upright. Such things will never happen, and we will never allow them!"

The second person they met was Zhang Xiyu's homeroom teacher and Liu Huaixin's colleague, physics teacher Fang Chenyu.

Fang Chenyu did not have a separate office, so he met them in a conference room. He was 32 years old, tall and thin, wearing a gray sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. He was very fair-skinned, and at first glance, some people would believe he was a college student.

Fang Chenyu poured hot water for the two of them in a disposable cup, then sat down, silent, with red eyes.

"Have you heard about what happened to Teacher Liu?" Chen Pu asked.

Fang Chenyu took a deep breath and said calmly, "I didn't expect him to... This is really hard to believe. He looked normal yesterday. I don't think he would think too much. Police comrades, please investigate carefully. Is it possible that he didn't commit suicide?"

Chen Pu put down his pen after hearing this: "Why do you think he didn't commit suicide? Did you find something?"

Fang Chenyu pushed his glasses and said, "I didn't find anything wrong. Life is not a novel, and I'm not a sharp detective. But I have the logical judgment ability of a normal person - if he committed suicide, it would not be logical."

"Tell me."

"First, Mr. Liu has always been a very stable person, and I am also very stable, so we get along very well. A person who is emotionally stable and knows what he wants will not have the word suicide in his mind.

Second, he has not encountered huge, insurmountable setbacks in his work and life. His work performance has always been good, and he is a young teacher trained by the school. I know that he was born in the countryside, his family is not well off, and he has two older brothers. He sometimes has to send money home, but he doesn't seem to be bothered by this, and his relationship with his family is neither good nor bad. I think his original family has limited influence on him.

Third, he loves teaching and students very much. He is the only person I have ever met who devotes his whole body and soul to the school. Frankly speaking, I became a teacher not only to give full play to my strengths, but also for dignity. He is different from me and has a strong spiritual pursuit. I even feel that..." Fang Chenyu paused while talking eloquently.

"What's wrong?" Li Qingyao asked gently.

Fang Chenyu was encouraged, hesitated for a moment, and continued: "I think he is very strict with his work and himself, like an ascetic monk. He gives some of his income to his family, and uses it all to buy teaching and research materials, participate in training, or give to poor students. He doesn't buy good clothes, doesn't eat big meals, and doesn't fall in love. He is about the same age as me, but he seems to have no worldly desires."

Li Qingyao: "You mean, there is a paranoid side to his personality? He is obsessed with work?"

"You can say that."

"You just said that you think he wouldn't commit suicide. However, the Liu Huaixin you described sounds very extreme."

Fang Chenyu's slender eyes hidden behind thin lenses widened slightly.

Chen Pu smiled faintly, with a naughty look. Li Qingyao didn't know whether he was laughing at Fang Chenyu or at what she said.

Chen Pu asked: "Teacher Liu didn't win the city-level outstanding teacher evaluation last month. Was it a big blow to him emotionally?"

Fang Chenyu said: "He was a little disappointed and was in low spirits for a few days. However, he recovered quickly. How could he commit suicide for a selection?"

"Liu Huaixin is relatively young and good-looking. Has there ever been any scandal between him and any female students?"

"It's not a rumor, but it's definitely a headache for him. I heard that several girls in the high school department confessed their love to him, but he rejected them all. How could such a thing happen? Our careers would be ruined if we were even a little bit involved, and he would never do that, because he only cares about work."

"Do you know who has confessed to him?"

"I don't know. He didn't say and I didn't ask. There's no point in me caring about this kind of thing."

"There is a case from the past that we would also like to know about. Was Zhang Xiyu, who jumped off a building last year, a student in your class?"

Fang Chenyu's always rational expression finally showed a trance, and his face, which was whiter than a woman's, gradually turned red.

"Zhang Xiyu was a child in my class... She is the only stain on my teaching career and the only person I feel guilty about in my life. I will never forget her."

Let's go through the case~
The college entrance examination is coming tomorrow. I wish all the college entrance examination students to perform steadily and succeed quickly. You can read the novel after the exam.