Jincheng Hotel, as the name sounds intimidating, is actually located on the second floor of a four-story old-style apartment building called "Jincheng Building". The first floor is occupied by various snack restaurants, and the second floor is the Jincheng Hotel, which is actually a simple daily rental hotel. Prostitutes and streetwalkers from nearby are often brought up by guests to eat fast food.
The recent sensational murder of the second concubine of the Liu family took place in Room 14 of the Jincheng Hotel.
Today, Lu Ming is drinking silk stocking milk tea in a small tea restaurant on the first floor of the apartment.
He sat in the window seat, looking at the tourists and pedestrians outside through the brown glass window. The murders here did not seem to affect the business of the shop. After all, this was a paradise for leisure for the working class, with restaurants on the first floor, a daily rental hotel on the second floor, and a civilized dance hall, mahjong hall, etc. on the third floor.
Although the conditions are worse, the advantage is that the consumption is cheap and the common people can afford it.
Chen Qinghua, who was sitting next to him, felt that the boss was not in a good mood.
He also didn't expect that the room where the murder took place had been unsealed and open for business. Although no one had moved in yet, the room had been cleaned thoroughly and there was no need to investigate.
The boss came here probably to see if there were any clues that the police had overlooked or concealed.
I chatted with the hotel waiters, but didn't find out much. The waiters were very secretive about this case and no one dared to say anything.
Moreover, the hotel manager who was familiar with Li's second concubine was named Du Laifu, who was Li's second concubine's cousin. It was he who discovered the body and reported the case.
Du Lai Fu naturally became one of the witnesses in this case.
Therefore, without the permission of the prosecution, the defense cannot contact him privately.
Just now, the boss made an appointment with a waitress from the hotel to meet here and was waiting for her to finish work.
"Here it comes!" Chen Qinghua's eyes lit up.
A female figure was walking in front of the brown glass window. She was a young woman of about eighteen or nineteen years old, wearing flowered clothes and looking very pretty. She was the waitress from Jincheng Hotel that the boss had arranged to meet. Her name was Xiao Cui.
Chen Qinghua stood up, walked to the door, and led her in with a smile.
Sitting down somewhat awkwardly, Xiao Cui glanced at Lu Ming uneasily, "You, are you really a lawyer?"
"Of course, you don't have to be scared, Lu Bian is very easy-going!" Chen Qinghua said with a smile, and picked up the plate on the table, "Take a look, what would you like to drink?"
Xiao Cui shook her head slightly.
Chen Qinghua smiled and said, "I'll get it for you. I'll order the silk stocking milk tea here. It seems to be a specialty."
"No, I don't drink anything, and I can't help..."
Seeing Xiao Cui's suspicious look, Chen Qinghua felt helpless. However, people like Xiao Cui naturally had few opportunities to see a lawyer. Besides, when it came to on-site investigations, large law firms would have special investigators or hired private detectives. However, this firm had limited staff, so Lawyer Lu had to do it himself.
"I always feel that you have something to say to me, right?" Lu Ming looked at Xiao Cui.
"No, although I was on duty that day, I didn't hear any unusual noises..." Xiao Cui shook her head repeatedly.
Lu Ming looked at her deeply, "Okay, but if you can remember anything, please contact me!"
Chen Qinghua, who was standing next to her, handed her a business card of Lu Ming.
Xiao Cui took it and stood up, "Lawyer Lu, I'm sorry, I really can't help you!" She bowed, turned around and left in a hurry.
Looking at her back, Chen Qinghua said cautiously: "Lu Bian, can I stay and talk to her more?"
"Forget it, let's go." Lu Ming stood up. Chen Qinghua felt helpless as he hadn't gained anything yet.
…
There is a detective agency on the tenth floor of the Jiniao Building. It is not very large, just an office with an inner and outer suit room.
There were only two people. One was the boss of the firm. Everyone called him Old Ghost. He was an old man in his fifties. He usually had a big pipe in his mouth and a squinting face, looking disrespectful to his elders. But there was a rumor that those who offended this guy usually would not have a good ending.
The other is the office secretary, Mrs. Qing, an old woman who looks like a ghost. She brings a cup of tea to you silently from behind, which makes your scalp tingle.
"Lawyer Lu, your request is a bit troublesome!" The light from the old ghost's pipe flickered, reflecting his face full of cunning.
Lu Ming asked Lao Gui to help him find the most original forensic report on Li Xiaoyan, the deceased in Li Mingxuan's case. It would be best if he could also make an appointment with someone in the forensic office who was involved in the case and had an insider's opinion on the case, but it couldn't be a regular forensic pathologist on the other party's witness list.
Looking at Lao Gui, Lu Ming smiled and said, "Brother Gui, tell me a number and I'll see if I can accept it."
"It's hard to say. Well, I'll try my best. If it works, I'll call you again!" The old ghost said with a smile on his face.
Lu Ming nodded, "Thank you for your help!"
…
Lao Gui is very efficient. Two or three hours later, he called and said that there was an assistant in the forensic office who was willing to meet with you, Lawyer Lu, but the specific details of the discussion were up to you, Lawyer Lu.
Lao Gui also said that he would not charge you, Lawyer Lu, this time. He wanted to establish a long-term cooperative relationship with you, Lawyer Lu. This is a small gift to show his sincerity.
…
In the evening, Lu Ming and Pamela came to the Windebao Club.
This is a four-story magnificent building, especially at night, with flashing neon lights, it is very beautiful.
The club is equipped with air conditioning and luxurious furnishings. One floor is a dance hall; the second floor is a casino; the third and fourth floors are VIP lounges and high-end suites. The top floor is equipped with a huge cylindrical fiberglass tower with colored light bulbs. When a dancer is ready to leave, the waiter can use the colored light bulbs on the tower to display the guest's car license plate number or other code. The driver can see it from a distance and drive the car to the door of the dance hall, or a rickshaw will come over to wait.
Moreover, behind the club is a vast green and grassy hillside, which is the club's comprehensive entertainment facility with tennis courts, golf courses, swimming pools, etc.
Wendebao Club is the only rival in Beiguan that can compete with Mingjia Entertainment.
Because the victim in the case was the second wife of Liu Shoucheng, the second largest shareholder of Mingjia Entertainment, Lu Ming asked the forensic assistant named Cheng Dalong to come to Wendebao Club to give the other party more sense of security.
In the extremely luxurious ballroom, a singing girl in a golden cheongsam is singing a song about feasting and revelry.
Lu Ming and Pamela sat on the semi-enclosed round sofa in the corner.
There is a large dance hall here where many people can dance together. The dance floor is supported by automobile steel plates, which creates a shaking feeling when dancing. There are small dance floors around the large dance floor that can be divided at will, which can be used for people to learn dancing or for trysts.
The stage No. 6 that Lu Ming has chosen now has a semi-enclosed small dance floor next to the coffee table surrounded by semi-circular sofas.
It is suitable for close friends to chat about private topics while dancing.
I looked at the watch and it was already past seven o'clock. I had agreed to meet the forensic assistant Cheng Dalong here at 7 o'clock.
Pamela wore a snow-white long dress with a beautiful golden bun, which looked more noble and bright than the black skirt, as if she was a queen from the Middle Ages.
Lu Ming brought a Western female companion to dance, and spent another 500 yuan to buy a membership, becoming a senior member of this club.
Generally speaking, the entry threshold for senior membership of the Wendebao Club is very high, and you can't get it just by having money. It is an invitation-only system, and it is also a kind of circle of friends and business, with frequent gatherings. Many people try their best to get in, but cannot.
Therefore, when Cheng Dalong came to the front desk and said that he had an appointment with lawyer Lu Qianxing, a waiter quickly brought him in very respectfully.
Cheng Dalong looked to be in his forties, wearing black-framed glasses. He seemed to seldom go to such high-end places. He shook hands with Lu Ming somewhat stiffly and sat down. Lu Ming ordered some snacks and asked him what he wanted to drink. He looked at the prices on the drink list and gasped.
"Give me a bottle of 30-year-old brandy." Lu Ming said casually.
In this world, brandy is certainly not called brandy, but it is also a grape distilled liquor, so Lu Ming defaults to calling it brandy.
30-year-old original liquor, in the past life, is considered the best among XO-level brandies.
The price here is 30 yuan for a bottle of 30-year-old brandy. Cheng Dalong, a forensic assistant, normally earns only 65 yuan a month, so he immediately became more reserved.
As for Pamela, the beautiful and aggressive Western beauty with blonde hair and blue eyes, Cheng Dalong didn't even dare to look at her.
"Also, help Mr. Cheng choose a dance partner, a better one." Lu Ming instructed the waiter again.
Not long after, accompanied by a chuckle, a beautiful lady in cheongsam came swaying over, holding a fashionable wine bottle in both hands. She was a very beautiful lady, wearing a light red cheongsam, revealing her beautiful legs in snow-white stockings, and red high heels. Her whole body exuded sexiness.
"Sir, my name is Amei..." The beauty blinked her long eyelashes and looked at Lu Ming, implying, are you satisfied with me
Lu Ming pointed to Cheng Dalong's side and said with a smile, "Stay with my friend."
"Okay!" Ah Mei showed Lu Ming the wine again. Seeing Lu Ming nod, she opened the wine and asked Pamela, "Miss, what would you like to drink?"
"Just a little less!" Pamela took her and Lu Ming's glasses with her slender white fingers painted with silver nail polish and placed them in order.
Lu Ming smiled in his heart, fortunately, there is no such thing as drunk driving nowadays.
After pouring the wine, Ah Mei took her and Cheng Dalong's glasses, sat down next to Cheng Dalong, handed the glass of brandy to Cheng Dalong, and chuckled, "You look so gentle!"
When she touched him lightly, Cheng Dalong blushed as if he had received an electric shock. He took the wine glass in a panic, "Ah, yes, yes..."
Ah Mei laughed sweetly like a silver bell.
Lu Ming smiled and said, "You guys chat for a while, we'll go to the hall and dance..."
I came out with Pan Mila and danced to the hall. When I came back, I saw Cheng Dalong was much more natural and was talking and laughing with A Mei.
It has to be said that this dancer from Wendebao knew how to prescribe the right medicine. In a short time, she took control of Cheng Dalong and made him feel at home.
"Mr. Cheng, may I have the honor to ask you to dance with me?" Ah Mei stood up and extended her delicate hand to Cheng Dalong.
“Okay..., okay..." Cheng Dalong seemed to have been itching to do it for a long time. He grabbed A-Mei's hand and was reluctant to let go. He and A-Mei started dancing to the music in the small dance floor. It was a slow dance with very small movements. Under A-Mei's lead, Cheng Dalong was able to keep up.
"That nylon Velcro is pretty good. How's it going?" Lu Ming asked Pamela.
"All the necessary materials have been submitted. There is no problem. You are the first inventor and Gao Baozhen is the second inventor."
Lu Ming nodded. Gao Baozhen was very talented in this area. According to what he said, he had already tinkered with a prototype of nylon Velcro. Moreover, because it was his own idea, he was merely an executor, just like the difference between a theoretical physicist and an experimental physicist. He was willing to be the second beneficiary of the patent application. He and Gao also signed an agreement that if the patent made a profit, he and Gao would share the profits in a 70:30 ratio.
Pamela is very smart. During this time, she has completely learned how to apply for a patent. Of course, the required materials are very clear, and it is not a very complicated job. But for women of this era, most have low education and limited intelligence. It is amazing that she can figure out the ins and outs of this kind of professional work in such a short time.
You will have less to worry about. You only need to select valuable patent inventions and you don’t have to worry about application procedures at all.
After asking this question, Lu Ming fell silent again. He felt a little awkward while dancing just now.
"Lawyer Lu, come here, let me toast you a glass!" After coming back from dancing, Cheng Dalong raised his glass with a red face. Even without the wine, he was drunk.
Lu Ming smiled and raised his glass and clinked it with his.
"Lawyer Lu, I really can't help you too much this time..." Cheng Dalong looked very regretful. Perhaps he would not hesitate to sell his father now. Now he was just upset that the information he brought did not seem to be of much value.
Ah Mei had already stood up and said, "I'll go get you some fruit!" She was very considerate and knew that the conversation had started at the right time and she shouldn't be around.
"It doesn't matter. What's important is that we make friends!" Lu Ming smiled. "Then, next time you come with your friends, just sign my bill."
Watching Ah Mei walk away, Cheng Dalong leaned over and lowered his voice, "Lawyer Lu, regarding the autopsy of Second Aunt Li, there were at least four blunt force traumas to her skull. The initial report, based on the fracture of the skull, suggested that the latest blunt force trauma may have been separated from the first by some time, possibly more than three hours. However, after the forensic discussion meeting, this point was deleted from the report."
“But Lawyer Lu, I can’t testify to this in court, you, you know…” Cheng Dalong looked a little embarrassed, as if he was just eating and drinking for free.
"It's okay, you've already helped me a lot!" Lu Ming smiled and raised his glass.