Grocery Store No.514

On October 27, 3020, Jiang Chengyan returned from the bar, half an hour before eight o’clock. Just as he was hesitating whether to go in, the door of the grocery store was pushed open and Ling Hua’an appeared at the door.

“Captain Jiang, come in.”

Jiang Chengyan’s heart tightened, as if he had been caught doing something bad, so he said with an embarrassed tone, “That… What a coincidence. I was just about to go in and I bumped into you when I want to open the door…”

A smile flashed in Ling Hua’an eyes, “The newly recruited temporary clerk said there was a handsome guy coming. I guess it must be Captain Jiang, so I came out to check.”

Ling Hua’an’s disguised praise made Jiang Chengyan a little embarrassed, he said with a smile, “It’s really inconvenient for you to be alone on the evening shift, you should hire a clerk.”

“Captain Jiang, it’s cold outside. Come and talk inside.”

Seeing that Ling Hua’an was only wearing a shirt, Jiang Chengyan frowned slightly. He walked over quickly and said, “It’s late autumn now, why are you wearing such a thin layer?”

“It’s not cold in the store.” Ling Hua’an stepped aside from the doorway, and Jiang Chengyan walked past him, casually closing the store door. Jiang Chengyan looked at Sun Ming and nodded with a smile.

Ling Hua’an took the initiative to introduce them, “ Captain Jiang, this is Sun Ming. He is still a student and today is his first day working here. Sun Ming, this is Captain Jiang from the Criminal Investigation Team.”

Jiang Chengyan responded politely, “hello.”

Ling Hua’an fumbled to take out the thermos bucket under the cash register. He opened the lid and checked out the temperature with his backhand. “The temperature is just right. Captain Jiang, you try it… if it’s cold, there is a microwave oven over there, you can take it there and heat it up.”

“No. No need. I don’t like to eat if it’s too hot. This temperature is just right.”

Ling Hu’an handed the thermos bucket to him, “ I have added a table over the glass window. Captain Jiang can eat slowly there.”

Jiang Chengyang took the thermos bucket and looked at the glass window. There was really an extra table with two stools placed on both sides of it. Jiang Chengyan smiled, “thank you Hua’an.”

Ling Hua’an raised her eyebrows slightly and said with a smile, “Captain Jiang is too polite. Eat quickly, don’t let it get cold.”

Jiang Chengyan looked at Ling Hua’an nervously, and seeing that he did not refute, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief and walked over holding the thermos bucket. Jiang Chengyan sat in front of the glass window. He looked back at Ling Hua’an who entered back to the cash register before withdrawing his eyes to take the chopsticks, picked up a piece of meat then put it into his mouth. The aroma of the meat spread out in his mouth, stimulating his taste buds, Jiang Chengyan’s eyes lit up, and he asked in surprise, “Hua’an did you make this?”

Ling Hua’an nodded, “well, does it taste okay?”

“It’s delicious! Hua’an, your cooking skill is great!” Jiang Chengyan called smoothly one mouthful of ‘Hu’an’.

Ling Hua’an smiled, “then Captain Jiang eat more.”

Jiang Chengyan took a big bite of his meal and after a while, the thermos bucket was cleaned. He just put down the chopsticks, and he found there was an extra glass of milk on the table.

Sun Ming smiled, “The boss asked me to warm up a glass of milk. Captain Jiang, drink some.”

Jiang Chengyang looked at Ling Hua’an who seemed to be listening to music. He thanked Sung Min, picked up the milk, and drank it… but his eyes always looked at Ling Hua’an from time to time. Ling Hua’an is very good-looking. The contours of his face are distinct, his facial features are exquisite, and his eyes and eyebrow look strong. He is indeed a rare good-looking appearance. Those eyes, in particular, were bright and deep, shining brightly between the streams of light. If nobody didn’t know about his disability, no one would have thought that he was blind.

Although he couldn’t see, his senses were very sharp. Knowing that the feeling of being peeped at came from Jiang Chengyan, he couldn’t help but slightly pursed his lips. He stood up and walked towards Jiang Chengyan.

Seeing that Jiang Chengyan felt inexplicably guilty and turned his head nervously to look out the window.

Ling Hua’an walked to Jiang Chengyan’s side and groped for a stool.  Seeing it, Jiang Chengyan hurriedly handed over the stool and said, “Hua’an, the stool is here.”

Ling Hua’an groped the stool and his hand touched Jiang Chengyan’s hands. Ling. Even if he couldn’t see it, he could feel the instant stiff reaction of Jiang Chengyan’s body.

The slightly cool touch on his hand made Jiang Chengyan’s body stiffen, and his heart also jumped half a beat. After hesitating for a moment, he took the initiative to hold Ling Hua’an’s wrist and said “Hua’an, don’t move. I will put the stool behind you. ”

Ling Hua’an’s mouth twitched slightly, “Then I will trouble Captain Jiang..”

“The stool is ready, you can sit.”

Ling Hua’an sat down without the slightest hesitation and looked at the wrist that was being held.

Jiang Chengyang felt it as if he had been burned, he quickly let go of his hand and glanced away awkwardly. “Well, Hua’an, how can you make such delicious braised pork rice with your condition?”

“It will come naturally when you do it more often.” Ling Hua’an’s tone was light, making it impossible to hear his emotions.

“What about your family, don’t they help you?”

Ling Hua’an remained silent for a while before asking, “Captain Jiang, could you tell me how Jiang Changping died?

Jiang Chengyan was stunned. An embarrassed look appeared on his face and said, “Hua’an, I’m sorry. I can’t disclose the information about the case.”

“Did he die by accident, or was he murdered?”

Jiang Chengyan hesitated for a moment and said, “It was a homicide, and now we are doing our best to investigate.”

“He was murdered?” Ling Hua’an sighed and said, “I couldn’t find him before, I thought he was deliberately avoiding me, but I didn’t expect that …… really the world is unpredictable.”

Jiang Chengyan took the IOU out of his pocket and stuffed it in Ling Hua’an’s hand, “ Hua’an, this is the IOU. Keep it. Even if the person is dead, the debt still has to be paid.”

Ling Hua’an nodded and stuffed the IOU into his pocket.

Wēng wēng wēng.

The ringing phone vibrated, Jiang Chengyan took out his phone and take a look at it, “Hua’an, I will take this call.”

“Okay.”

“Hey, Captain. Just now Li Qiuran came to identify the body, she passed out from crying. When her son saw her mother faint, he also started crying. It makes my head twice its size.¹”

“What about now? Is Li Qiuran awake?”

“Just woke up, but her mental state is not very good, and her son also crying. I don’t think there’s a good idea to question her.”

“Then you should work hard to send them home, and we will talk about the inquiries tomorrow.”

“Okay. Then will I send them away and come back?”

“No need to return to the office. Just go back home.”

“Okay. Thank you, Captain.”

“Well, you tell the others too. Those who have already completed the task can get off work. Those who haven’t can bring it home. The analysis meeting will be held early tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, captain.”

Jiang Chengyan hung up the phone. He thought about something before finding Zhang Hua’s number and dialing it. Not long after, there’s a beeping sound of his phone being rejected.

Jiang Chengyan frowned slightly, but he walked over toward Ling Hua’an, “Hua’an, where is the washing place? I’m going to wash the thermos.”

“Just put it here. I will clean it up later. If Captain is busy, you can go back.”

“Not busy. I just tell them all to get off of work. You tell me where is it, I will wash it.”

“Sun Ming go and take Captain Jiang there.”

Sun Ming responded with a smile,” Captain Jiang, you put it there and I’ll wash it, I’m idle anyway, let me do a good job in front of my boss.”

“No. I can’t eat for nothing.”

Sun Ming didn’t say more after seeing this and took Jiang Chengyan to the back of the grocery store.

“Laoban, I’m back.” Wang Lei’s voice came to his ears.

“En. How was it? Did you find anything?” Ling Hua’an asked softly.

Before Wang Lei could answer, the bell in his pocket trembled, Ling Hua’an frowned slightly, “you can’t see them now. I’ll give you a chance to meet after your investigation is clear. Also, you don’t want them to see your current appearance, right?”

The bell stopped chattering and Jiang Changping’s voice came to his ears, “Master, I don’t believe the murderer is my wife.”

“It still needs to be investigated, not whether you want to believe it or not.”

“If it’s really her, what about Hanhan?

“When you die, this life is over. No one in the world has anything to do with you. They have their destiny and you can’t change it.”

“Master, family affection, flesh, and blood… how can you give it up?”

Ling Hua’an was silent. And after a while, he asked, “Wang Lei, what’s wrong with Li Qiuran?”

“Laoban, I have been following her today. She picked up the child at five o’clock, then came to the police station to confirm with the female policeman that the headless corpse is her husband. When the policewoman showed the DNA comparison report, she collapsed. After waking up, she calmed down a lot and seemed to accept the fact that her husband had died, and had been coaxing her crying son. Just now, the policewoman answered the phone and drove them home.”

“What did she do after receiving the call from the police to identify the body?”

“After answering the phone, she was in a daze for a while, and then cried silently for a long time until the alarm on the phone rang. She wiped her tears, put on her coat, and went to the kindergarten. Laoban, I don’t think there is anything strange. “

Ling Hua’an nodded, “ Go and keep following her.”

“Okay, Laoban.”

Watching Wang Lei float out through the glass window, Ling Hua’an fell into deep thought, and suddenly remembered Jiang Changping’s voice, “She is not the murderer.”

Ling Hua’an was startled but did not respond.

After finishing washing the dish, Jiang Chengyan walked out from the back of the grocery store, put the thermos on the table, and asked, “Hua’an are you on the night shift?”

“En. Captain Jiang, it’s getting late. Go back early and rest.”

“So, when are you going back?”

“Tomorrow morning at seven o’clock.”

“Hua’an, why aren’t you on the day shift? “Jiang Chengyan asked the question in his heart.

Ling Hua’an smiled and said, “For me, there is no difference between day and night.”

Jiang Chengyan was stunned and said apologetically, “Hua’an, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’m used to it. I like the quiet. The night isn’t busy, I’m happy and feel at leisure.”

“What about Sun Ming, does he also get off work at seven tomorrow morning?”

“No. His shift is only until ten o’clock. After that, it’s just me alone.”

“Are you alone? Why don’t you hire another night shift worker?”

“Is Captain Jiang worried about me?”

Ling Hua’an’s eyes looked straight at him, making Jiang Chengyan a little uncomfortable, before saying “En.”

~~~

🔔Cafe’s Memo 📝:

I can’t help but want to scream seeing Ling Dage and Captain Jiang’s interaction T__T

1. head twice its size meaning “My brain hurts.” ↺