Chapter Twenty-Six: The Bloodthirsty Benevolent Physician
Driven by Ying Xi’s urging, Lu Hehuan swiftly brought people to apprehend Cheng Zesheng and escorted him to the interrogation room at the police station.
Cheng Zesheng sat calmly in the chair, his expression indifferent.
“I did it all,” Cheng Zesheng’s voice was low, a faint smile lingering on his face, as if he were engaged in casual conversation.
Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi exchanged a glance across from Cheng Zesheng. Both had prepared for a battle of wits, only to find their suspect confessing of his own accord in the blink of an eye.
“How many people did you kill?” Ying Xi began the questioning.
“Four.” Cheng Zesheng answered without so much as a furrowed brow.
“Why did you kill them?” Ying Xi pressed.
“Because they were unfaithful! I despise women who violate marital fidelity! They all deserved to die!” Cheng Zesheng’s emotions surged, his face twisted in hatred.
“Did they seduce you?” Ying Xi probed tentatively.
Cheng Zesheng shook his head.
“Then how did you know they were unfaithful?” Ying Xi was puzzled.
“Many men who came to my clinic had affairs with them.”
Ying Xi’s doubts eased. He stroked his beard, “Describe the process. How did you kill them?”
“It was hypnosis…”
Outside, sunlight danced restlessly upon the windowsill of the interrogation room. Cheng Zesheng adjusted his glasses and recounted his murders to Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi.
That night, Cheng Zesheng, his face shadowed and grim, arrived at Chen Xiu’e’s door and knocked.
Moments later, Chen Xiu’e opened the door. Before she could speak, Cheng Zesheng produced a necklace and swung it before her eyes. Her gaze followed the swinging pendant, gradually succumbing to hypnosis.
“You have no will to live; death is your best liberation,” Cheng Zesheng intoned.
“I have no will to live; death is my best liberation,” Chen Xiu’e echoed.
Cheng Zesheng nodded.
Chen Xiu’e turned to her room, retrieved a hemp rope from a drawer, stood on a chair, tied the rope to a beam, and slowly slipped her head into the noose.
Cheng Zesheng took some locust flower petals from his pocket, scattered them beside Chen Xiu’e, and quietly slipped away.
Cheng Zesheng finished his account, sinking into endless silence.
“Why did you scatter locust flower petals beside the corpse?” Ying Xi stared at Cheng Zesheng, still harboring doubts.
“To divert suspicion, to make people believe those women died because the vengeful spirit of Jin Lu claimed their lives,” Cheng Zesheng replied without hesitation.
“Did you start the rumor about Jin Lu’s vengeful spirit?” Lu Hehuan interjected suddenly.
Cheng Zesheng nodded, “Yes.”
“Was Sun Fenglian, who also died by hanging, killed in the same way?” Ying Xi pursued.
“That’s correct.”
“What about Liang Fang and Xia Yun?” Ying Xi pressed further.
“I used hypnosis as well, instructing them to commit suicide. Under the suggestion ‘life holds no meaning, death is the best release,’ they chose different methods to end their lives.”
“Why did you frame Bai Yulou?” Lu Hehuan stared at Cheng Zesheng and asked.
Cheng Zesheng sneered, “I needed a scapegoat, and he volunteered himself.”
Leaning back, Cheng Zesheng began to describe Bai Yulou’s visit to his clinic.
On that day, Bai Yulou came to Cheng Zesheng’s clinic for an eye ailment. Seizing the opportunity, Cheng Zesheng hypnotized Bai Yulou while treating him.
“You are the murderer. Chen Xiu’e, Liang Fang, and Sun Fenglian were killed by you because they mocked you for being effeminate. You deserve death; you must turn yourself in…” After hypnotizing Bai Yulou, Cheng Zesheng issued these commands.
“I am the murderer. Chen Xiu’e, Liang Fang, and Sun Fenglian were killed by me because they mocked me for being effeminate. I deserve death; I must turn myself in…” Bai Yulou repeated Cheng Zesheng’s instructions mechanically.
Cheng Zesheng finished, but Lu Hehuan still had a question.
“If you’d already found a scapegoat, why didn’t you stop and went on to kill Xia Yun?”
“Because I suddenly discovered she was having an affair with Huang San, the tofu seller…” Cheng Zesheng paused, a fierce look in his eyes. “I told you, I hate women who betray their vows more than anything!”
“Do you know Zhao Ruoshui?” Lu Hehuan asked abruptly.
Cheng Zesheng was momentarily stunned, then shook his head, “No.”
“You murderous lunatic, wait to be executed!” Ying Xi slammed the table and shouted angrily.
Lu Hehuan gazed at Cheng Zesheng, deep in thought.
Bao Kang sat at his desk, flipping through the files on the Locust Lane serial murders, nodding with satisfaction.
“Director Bao, hypnosis really exists. Cheng Zesheng used hypnosis to control the victims’ minds, making them lose the will to live and end their own lives,” Ying Xi reported, standing opposite Bao Kang.
“No wonder the investigation concluded suicide every time…” Bao Kang put down the files and looked at Ying Xi. “Ying Xi, close the case and convict Cheng Zesheng. I’ll report to Chief Inspector Gordon.”
As they spoke, Lu Hehuan hurried in.
Bao Kang and Ying Xi turned to look at Lu Hehuan in unison.
“We can’t close the case; there are doubts!” Lu Hehuan’s tone was resolute.
“Why are you here again!” Ying Xi exclaimed in exasperation.
“There’s one key person left uninvestigated.”
“Who?” Ying Xi asked, thoroughly impatient.
“Zhao Ruoshui!” Lu Hehuan replied without hesitation.
Bao Kang and Ying Xi exchanged glances, each wearing an expression of hopelessness.
Ying Xi followed Lu Hehuan along the street, his face stern.
“Cheng Zesheng explained his motive and method in detail. Why can’t you trust him?” Ying Xi muttered discontentedly.
Lu Hehuan frowned, “I just can’t believe a single person could commit so many murders, especially since the victims didn’t know Cheng Zesheng.”
“Cheng Zesheng has hypnosis. If he tells someone to commit suicide, they’ll do it! Four people is nothing—given enough time, everyone in Old Zhazi could die at his hands,” Ying Xi retorted.
“When I studied in Britain, my professor said that hypnosis with command suggestions only works on relatively trusting subjects. Chen Xiu’e, Liang Fang, Sun Fenglian, and Xia Yun had no connection to Cheng Zesheng. How could they be so easily hypnotized?”
“Bai Yulou didn’t know Cheng Zesheng either, yet he was hypnotized.”
“Bai Yulou and Cheng Zesheng had a doctor-patient relationship; patients naturally trust their doctors.”
“Maybe the four victims also visited Cheng Zesheng’s clinic?”
Lu Hehuan suddenly remembered something and looked at Ying Xi, “You’ve reminded me… Detective Ying, please investigate whether the four victims ever visited Cheng Zesheng’s clinic. I’ll go check Zhao Ruoshui’s address provided by Xiao Yong.”
“Are you the detective, or am I?” Ying Xi grumbled, folding his arms.
“If you don’t solve the case in time, you won’t be detective either,” Lu Hehuan urged.
Ying Xi was speechless, stomping off in frustration.
Despite the broad daylight, the alley at Locust Lane was still rather gloomy, with no one on the winding cobblestone path.
Lu Hehuan, following the address in his hand, arrived at Zhao Ruoshui’s residence.
“Locust Lane No. 122… How could it be Sister Hao’s house…” Lu Hehuan looked at the house before him, muttering to himself.
He pondered while walking to Sister Hao’s neighbor’s door and knocked. After a moment, a woman answered.
“Hello, I am—”
“You’re Detective Lu from Old Zhazi Police Station, I recognize you. I was at the scene for Jin Lu’s case last time,” the woman interrupted warmly.
Lu Hehuan nodded politely and quickly asked, “I’d like to know, where does Zhao Ruoshui live?”
The woman pointed to Sister Hao’s house.
“Isn’t that Sister Hao’s house?”
“Zhao Ruoshui is Da Bao’s full name.”
“So that’s it…” Lu Hehuan suddenly understood.
“Has Da Bao gotten into trouble again?” the woman asked, worry on her face.
“No, no, the station sent me to verify resident records, so I’m just checking.”
The woman nodded with relief.
“With neighbors around, Sister Hao and her son should be living well?” Lu Hehuan pursued.
The woman shook her head, “Sister Hao is proud and never accepts help from others.”
“I heard Sister Hao used to get along well with Chen Xiu’e, Liang Fang, and Sun Fenglian. They were all widows, in the same situation, so logically she should accept their help.”
The neighbor pursed her lips, “They’re different from Sister Hao. While they were alive, they often mocked Sister Hao and laughed at Da Bao for being lame.”
Lu Hehuan nodded, then recalled something, “Oh, one more thing.”
“Ask away.”
“Auntie, is Da Bao’s leg untreatable? I heard Dr. Cheng is highly skilled. Didn’t he examine Da Bao?”
“Da Bao’s leg is congenital. He was only a few years old then. Sister Hao worked as a nurse at Dr. Cheng’s clinic, and Dr. Cheng tried everything for Da Bao, but nothing worked… To be honest, Dr. Cheng was very good to Sister Hao and Da Bao, but Sister Hao feared gossip and eventually stopped working at the clinic.” The woman sighed.
“I see.” Lu Hehuan nodded thoughtfully.
With confidence, Lu Hehuan strode into the police station. As he reached the entrance, Liu Rushuang hurried after him.
“Lu Hehuan, I found it,” Liu Rushuang said, breathless.
“Did you find who started the rumor?” Lu Hehuan asked.
“It was Sister Hao!”
“That makes sense.” Lu Hehuan replied calmly, as if it had been expected.
A bald officer passed by Lu Hehuan.
“Baldy, where’s Detective Ying?” Lu Hehuan stopped him, not seeing Ying Xi anywhere.
“Detective Ying went to report the case closure to Director Bao.”
“Oh no, we can’t close the case!” Lu Hehuan frowned, hurrying toward Bao Kang’s office.
Bao Kang sat at his desk, Ying Xi holding the case files opposite him. They discussed closing the case quickly.
“We must close it before Lu Hehuan returns, otherwise he’ll interfere again and the case will never end,” Bao Kang instructed angrily.
Ying Xi nodded obsequiously, “I understand. I’ll prepare the closure now.”
No sooner had Ying Xi finished speaking than Lu Hehuan burst in, flustered.
“We can’t close the case—the true suspect has emerged.”
“Who?” Bao Kang and Ying Xi almost collapsed, asking in unison.
“Sister Hao.” Lu Hehuan replied with certainty.
Bao Kang and Ying Xi exchanged glances.
A few rays of light shone through the small window onto Cheng Zesheng’s serene face. He sat in the corner of his cell with his eyes closed, resting.
Two officers opened the cell door, and Cheng Zesheng opened his eyes.
“Cheng Zesheng, come with us to the interrogation room,” one officer ordered curtly.
“Wasn’t I already interrogated? I confessed,” Cheng Zesheng said, surprised.
“Save it, just come along.”
Cheng Zesheng slowly stood, worry creasing his brow.
Lu Hehuan soon brought Sister Hao to the interrogation room.
Sister Hao sat in the chair, clearly nervous. Lu Hehuan and Ying Xi sat across from her.
Cheng Zesheng followed the two officers in, and upon seeing Sister Hao, was momentarily stunned. Sister Hao stared at Cheng Zesheng, her gaze complex.
Lu Hehuan gestured for Cheng Zesheng to sit beside Sister Hao. After brief hesitation, Cheng Zesheng slowly walked over and sat next to her.
“What else do you want to ask?” Cheng Zesheng offered.
“The truth. Tell me the truth,” said Lu Hehuan, resolute.
“I killed them all. That’s the truth,” Cheng Zesheng insisted.
Lu Hehuan ignored him and fixed his gaze on Sister Hao. Her lips trembled as she struggled to hold back tears.
Lu Hehuan turned again to Cheng Zesheng, “I consulted my mentor in Britain. He told me that ‘paternal hypnosis’—though it allows commands to be issued in an authoritative tone—is very difficult to use on strangers. This form is more challenging than ordinary hypnosis; it must penetrate the brain, disrupt existing thoughts, and establish new consciousness. In other words, the subject must cooperate or trust you deeply to be hypnotized. You had no acquaintance with Chen Xiu’e; she couldn’t have trusted you, and therefore couldn’t have been hypnotized by you. So, Chen Xiu’e was not killed by you!”
After speaking, Lu Hehuan stared sharply at Cheng Zesheng.
“Chen Xiu’e visited my clinic,” Cheng Zesheng replied calmly.
“That’s a lie. My investigation shows only Bai Yulou and Xia Yun visited your clinic—Bai Yulou for eye disease, Xia Yun for a cough,” Ying Xi retorted.
Lu Hehuan turned to Sister Hao, “Sister Hao, you killed Chen Xiu’e, Liang Fang, and Sun Fenglian, didn’t you?”
“Why would I kill them?” Sister Hao forced herself to remain composed.
“Because of real estate,” Lu Hehuan picked up a stack of documents. “I checked with the land bureau—each victim’s property was purchased at a low price by someone named Zhao Ruoshui, and Zhao Ruoshui is Da Bao’s real name, your son!”
Everyone present was stunned. Sister Hao panicked.
“You accidentally discovered that after the rickshaw driver killed the dancer Jin Lu, the houses nearby were considered unlucky, no one dared live there, and their value plummeted. When Zhu Wolong was surveying land, you overheard plans for Locust Lane’s demolition and compensation. At this point, you’d learned you had liver cancer with little time left.”
Lu Hehuan stared directly at Sister Hao, who now looked frightened.
Cheng Zesheng, beside her, was aghast, watching Sister Hao with deep concern and sorrow.
Lu Hehuan produced a medical report, “I found your diagnosis at the hospital. The doctor said your illness was terminal, with at most three months left. So you thought of Da Bao—worried about his future after you’re gone, you decided to use property as a means…”
Sister Hao lowered her head, twisting her sleeve, unable to help thinking of Da Bao.
The day she was diagnosed with liver cancer, Sister Hao barely remembered how she returned home, nor how to face her only son, Da Bao. She staggered inside, and Da Bao, limping, was sweeping the floor, looking pitiful.
“Da Bao, why aren’t you resting in bed?” Sister Hao quickly took the broom.
Da Bao smiled honestly, “Mama, I don’t want to be a burden to you—I want to help with chores.”
“Mama doesn’t need you to work.” Tears welled in Sister Hao’s eyes; she felt she owed her son too much.
“These days you toss and turn at night. I worry you’ll ruin your health caring for me. If you get sick, what will happen to Da Bao?” Da Bao leaned on her playfully.
Suppressing her pain, Sister Hao pondered, unable to imagine how Da Bao could survive after her death.
Lu Hehuan continued, staring at Sister Hao, “You targeted Chen Xiu’e, Liang Fang, and Sun Fenglian because they often mocked Da Bao for his limp. So you used hypnosis to drive them to suicide, bought their properties cheaply, and transferred them to Zhao Ruoshui—Da Bao’s name.”
Everyone listened in stunned silence, all eyes turning to Sister Hao.