Chapter 10: Liang Lahua (Part One)

After a while, they took a coach bus to the city’s main bus terminal, then transferred to a public bus before finally arriving at the train station. After seeing the aunt onto her train, Zhang Heng breathed a sigh of relief. He could now focus wholeheartedly on solving the case.

He quickly mapped out his next steps: first, investigate the details of the Liang Lahua case; then, focus on the local Black Dragon Society as the primary target; systematically gather evidence of their criminal activities; and finally, organize this evidence clearly—partly to provide to the press and media, and partly to submit to the central anti-crime office. Only then would his involvement in the Liang Lahua case in this city be considered officially concluded.

Afterward, he took the bus and coach back toward the aunt’s residence. On the way, a crucial detail struck him—he had forgotten to ask the aunt where Liang Lahua was currently living and whether her child was still with her. The thought made him smile wryly. Once home, he immediately called the aunt.

When she answered, he asked about Liang Lahua’s whereabouts and her child. But the aunt didn’t know the current situation, only providing a rough address of Liang Lahua’s family home.

Zhang Heng didn’t return to the aunt’s place but went instead to the residential complex at the address she gave. Upon arriving at the gate, he noticed a scruffy, homeless-looking middle-aged woman lingering there. When she saw him approach, she smiled at him. Zhang Heng returned a faint smile and entered the complex.

Following the aunt’s information, he quickly found Building 4, Apartment 501, where Liang Lahua supposedly lived. He knocked on the door.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

Soon, a young man with dyed hair and a rough appearance opened the door. Seeing Zhang Heng, he asked, “Who are you looking for?”

Zhang Heng replied promptly, “Hello, is this Liang Lahua’s home?”

The man snapped back, “Liang Lahua? Don’t know her. Got business or what? If not, scram.” Then he slammed the door shut.

As expected, Zhang Heng had no luck here. Realizing he couldn’t get information this way, he headed to the property management office of the complex.

At the office, he showed his police badge to the receptionist. She immediately called the duty manager. The manager spoke briefly with Zhang Heng. Through their conversation, Zhang learned that the disheveled woman he saw at the gate was indeed Liang Lahua—the very subject of the case he was investigating—but she had gone mad, becoming mentally ill.

The manager also revealed that Apartment 501 in Building 4 was originally occupied by Liang Lahua’s family. The property was registered under her husband, Li Guisheng’s name. Later, Li Guisheng transferred ownership to someone named Yang Yan.

When Zhang Heng pressed for more details about Liang Lahua and her husband, the manager refused to disclose anything further but did provide documents related to the property transfer. Then, growing impatient, he urged Zhang Heng to leave.

Seeing this, Zhang Heng quickly departed and headed back toward the apartment complex gate.

He approached the scruffy woman again. Upon noticing him, she immediately tried to avoid him, running to a nearby trash bin and hugging it as she wept. She even began throwing rubbish at Zhang Heng.

Zhang dodged the trash but realized he needed to approach this mentally ill woman gently. He decided to buy some food and drink to win her trust.

He went to a nearby convenience store and bought two loaves of bread and two bottles of nutritional milk drink. Returning to the complex, he again found Liang Lahua by the gate.

He called out softly, waving the bread and milk to catch her attention. She looked toward him, then pointed at her hand, silently asking if the food was really for her. Zhang nodded.

It became clear to him that Liang Lahua was mute and unable to speak. She ran over and stood before him. Zhang handed her the bread and milk. She looked at them, then offered them back, motioning for him to try them first.

It seemed that, despite her madness, Liang Lahua was deeply suspicious.

Zhang tore open the bread and took a bite in front of her. Seeing this, she accepted the bread and also opened the milk, took a sip, and handed it to him to try. Then she began eating ravenously.

In no time, she finished the bread and milk. Afterward, she bowed deeply to Zhang Heng. He helped her up and showed her his police badge. Upon seeing it, tears streamed down her face. She clung tightly to him and began to weep uncontrollably.

“Young man, don’t mind this mad woman,” said a passing elderly couple who had been shopping. “She’s crazy—watch out, she might bite you.”

“No worries. She’s my sister,” Zhang replied calmly.

After holding onto him for a minute, Liang Lahua finally released him. She began gesturing frantically and uttering sounds he couldn’t understand. Zhang, puzzled, said gently, “I’m going to take you somewhere to wash up and change into clean clothes. Then we can talk, alright?”

She nodded in understanding and agreement.

Relieved, Zhang Heng took Liang Lahua to the aunt’s home.