Binjiang Police Affairs

At 8:26 in the evening, the Binjiang City Police Port District Bureau was brightly lit.

Director Feng from the City Bureau, who is responsible for criminal investigations, along with Director Jiang and Political Commissioner Qin from the Port District Bureau, were all present. As soon as Captain Wei got out of the car, he quickly walked up and reported in a low voice. The criminal police from both the City Bureau Criminal Investigation Team Major Case Team and the Port District Bureau Criminal Investigation Team began to search Lu Binxiang as they brought him into the lobby.

Pager, wristwatch, cash, bank cards, and ID card were all taken out, registered, and then placed into an evidence bag. The leather belt from his waist and the laces from his leather shoes were removed.

A criminal police brought a heavy set of leg irons and crouched to lock them around Lu Binxiang's ankles.

Then, a plainclothes criminal police took out the keys to unlock Lu Binxiang's handcuffs, loosened his previously reversed hands, and instructed him to lift them to his chest to be recuffed. The police who helped with the leg irons stood up, hooking the chain from the leg irons onto the handcuffs...

To be shackled like this and have City Bureau leaders personally come to see him, he must have committed a serious crime!

Han Yu was stunned by everything he was witnessing, standing on the side, not daring to ask or approach.

"Raise your head, look at me!"

"..."

"Are you a college graduate?"

"..."

Lu Binxiang remained calm in the face of interrogation, as if the one in handcuffs and leg irons wasn't him.

Beforehand, there had been all kinds of speculations about the suspect's identity, but nobody expected it to be him. As the Deputy Division Commander in charge of criminal investigation, facing such a negatively influential case during a crackdown, Director Feng's pressure would only be greater than Captain Wei's, never less.

Thinking back on the past month, Director Feng was more than frustrated. He glanced at Han Yu, the "Port Supervision Bureau representative" who had just reported to him, and coldly asked, "You dare to commit the crime but not own up to it? You think we can't do anything to you if you don't speak?"

The Port District Bureau is very close to the Port Authority and not far from the Port Supervision Bureau.

Lu Binxiang subconsciously looked in the direction of the Port Supervision Bureau but remained silent.

Director Feng became even angrier and yelled at him, "It's shameful that you are a state official. How did the state train you, and how do you repay the state?"

Lu Binxiang lowered his head again, still saying nothing.

"Old Wei, take him in and give him a thorough interrogation!"

"Okay."

Captain Wei signaled two criminal police to take Lu Binxiang to the interrogation room and then turned back and said, "Salted Fish, what are you standing there for, come on."

Regaining his composure, Han Yu replied with a bitter face, "Captain Wei, maybe I shouldn't go there. It won't be appropriate for me to join."

He retorted, "Quit the nonsense, if I ask you to come, you come."

"Yes!"

Everyone has their own circle. Some people have multiple circles, while others have just one, which may sometimes intersect with others, but each person has one primary circle.

Although Han Yu has been in police work since he started his job, he was born on a ship, grew up on a ship, later attended a Shipping School, served in the Water Police, and even spent over four years on an ocean liner, he always subconsciously considered himself part of the Port and Navigation System.

When someone from the Port and Navigation System like Lu Binxiang got into trouble, Han Yu felt an inexplicable sense of guilt and had no choice but to follow into the interrogation room under many surprised gazes.

The interrogation room was small, but the light was very bright.

Lu Binxiang was pressed to sit in a chair, unable to open his eyes under the strong light.

A camera was installed in the upper corner of the wall, and it was not hard to imagine that Director Feng and leaders from the Port District Bureau were watching the interrogation through CCTV from outside.

Two criminal police officers sat behind the interrogation table, one turned on a tape recorder, and the other prepared to take notes with a pen.

Captain Wei pulled up a chair to the side of the interrogation table, took out a cigarette and lit it. He took several puffs and asked through the smoke, "Lu Binxiang, want a smoke?"

"..."

"Don't feel like smoking or don't know how?"

"..."

"Not going to speak?" Captain Wei was frustrated and turned his head, saying, "Salted Fish, you're old acquaintances with him, you ask."

Han Yu frowned and said with a pained expression, "Captain Wei, it really isn't appropriate."

Captain Wei said lightly, "You are also a public security police officer and also a Deputy Division Commander. We trust you. What's inappropriate about you asking?"

Since both City Bureau and Port District Bureau leadership were watching from outside, Han Yu didn't want to be misunderstood, so he quickly said, "Master Lu, this is the police bureau, and you can't stay silent here. You know our police policy—only by confessing can you hope for leniency."

Just half an hour ago, he was sitting, drinking, and chatting with the two Police Chiefs, and now he had become a prisoner at the foot of the law.

Lu Binxiang found the situation incredibly ironic and couldn't help but look up at Han Yu.

Seizing the moment, Han Yu continued, "Master Lu, please trust our police. If you have not committed any illegal acts, just clarify the situation. And if... if you have indeed done something, as long as you confess and actively cooperate, you can seek a lighter punishment.

By the way, you have recently made a merit. Based on the important clues you and Director Li provided, we have just cracked a major ship theft case. If you collaborate with Captain Wei's investigation, I can ask our Bureau, the Water Police Station, and Linghai Police to vouch for you."

Lu Binxiang couldn't help but remember the first time he saw Han Yu and asked as if possessed, "Vouch for what?"

"To vouch for your meritorious service, which may reduce your punishment."

"It's pointless, and I don't need any leniency."

After a moment of silence, Lu Binxiang looked at Han Yu, then turned to Captain Wei and said indifferently, "I think the best mercy would be to finish me off sooner."

Captain Wei had been waiting for him to open up; once he began speaking, the rest would be easier to handle. Extinguishing his cigarette, he crossed his arms and said, "We don't want to beat around the bush either. Since you want to wrap this up quickly, then confess freely and straightforwardly. Starting with murder, you've already killed several people. Begin with the first one."

Murder!

And several people at that!

Han Yu's head buzzed, unable to believe his own ears.

What shocked him even more was that Lu Binxiang took a deep breath, seemingly recalling the memory, and then lifted his head to say, "It was last March. I had just returned to the police station to work. There were few people in the department and a lot of work, so I took on a couple of extra shifts and didn't accompany my partner to her parents' house for a meal. She got angry and had a fight with me. I was annoyed and just walked out the door, and the thought of killing someone just came to me."

"And then?"

"I walked west along People Road, and as I walked, I thought of 'Beauty' salon. There was a Miss Zhu there; I had washed my hair and had massages there before. I figured if she was alone in the shop, I'd kill her."

You quarrel with your partner and go out to kill someone... What kind of logic is that!

Han Yu stared at him in disbelief, unable to comprehend that this was the same Lu Binxiang he had known for so many years.

The case had been linked together a month earlier, so Captain Wei and the two criminal police officers involved in the interrogation weren't surprised; they watched him quietly, motioning him to continue.

"When I got there, the door was locked, but the lights inside were on. I knocked on the door, and a Miss I didn't recognize came out. I told her through the glass door that I wanted a hair wash, and she let me in. While washing my hair, I asked if she took tips, and she said she did. I told her I'd give her five hundred yuan, and she was very happy."

"What time did you get to 'Beauty'?"

"A bit after nine, around nine-thirty in the evening."

"Alright, continue."

"She took me to the back room to give me a massage. While she wasn't paying attention, I choked her neck. After a while, she stopped moving. Worried she might not be dead, I choked her a bit longer before I let go."

Having been a criminal police officer for so many years and having caught several murderers, Captain Wei had never seen any like Lu Binxiang, and couldn't help asking, "Weren't you scared at the time?"

What alarmed Han Yu internally was that Lu Binxiang replied very calmly, "I wasn't scared, I just felt that I finally did something I wanted to do."

Captain Wei pressed on, "Then what?"

"I went to the next room and grabbed a pair of barber scissors. I wanted to see what was inside her stomach, so I lifted her clothes, stabbed in and cut open her belly... Seeing the blood gush out, I suddenly didn't find it as fun anymore."

Not that fun!

You killed some for fun?!

Han Yu was appalled, suddenly regretting anything he said about helping to prove his innocence. He clenched his fists tightly, wishing he could rush forward and strike him.

The two criminal police officers involved in the interrogation were also deeply shocked, and for a moment even forgot to take notes.

Captain Wei was much more composed, quietly asking, "You said earlier that you choked her during the massage. She was just giving you a massage, didn't undress, and nothing happened between you two?"

"Just a massage, no undressing, and nothing happened."

"How did you choke her neck?"

"Like this..."

Lu Binxiang instinctively made a gesture, but with his hands handcuffed and chained, he couldn't lift them and it was inconvenient for him to demonstrate.

Captain Wei simply opened the door and called in two criminal police officers to unlock his handcuffs so he could demonstrate on the spot.

Lu Binxiang was more cooperative than expected, clearly miming the posture the young lady had, his own posture, exactly how he "choked" her neck, and later how he cut open the victim's stomach.

Heaven may forgive sins, but man's sins are inexcusable!

Han Yu realized that he could no longer consider him human; he was nothing but a cruel beast. He thought to himself that no one could save him now, not even the Port Supervision Bureau, which would be shamed because of him.

"What happened later?"

"I got a bit scared afterward, thinking I was done for, so I searched through the place."

"Why did you search the place?"

"With a dead person, the police would definitely investigate the scene. I wanted to make you think it was for robbery."

"To misdirect our investigation?"

"Something like that."

Captain Wei nodded and asked the question Han Yu was most curious about, "You argue with your partner, why would you kill Miss Zhu? If Miss Zhu wasn't there, why would you kill a young lady you didn't know before?"

Lu Binxiang glanced at Han Yu and said confidently, "I understood them, I despised them. Their fate is tragic. They also want happiness, want to get married, want to live a normal life, but it's impossible."

"Why is it impossible?"

"For money, they have no personality, no dignity. In the end, they either get sick, or take drugs, or get controlled by thugs, and then everything is over. Love, happiness, and tranquility are forever out of their reach. They are worse than pigs and dogs; dead or alive, it's all the same."

So this is your "theoretical foundation" for murder...

Captain Wei cursed inwardly and coldly stated, "They are indeed tragic, but it can't be your reason for murder."

Lu Binxiang took several deep breaths, smirked ruefully, and said, "I know, but I couldn't control myself. I just wanted to kill."

...

PS: They say reality is stranger than fiction, but sometimes reality is also more brutal than fiction.