A newspaper costs three cents on average, which is not expensive for ordinary people.

Those who are illiterate can also go to a teahouse and listen to newspapers being read. A pot of tea can kill most of the afternoon, killing two birds with one stone.

Huangpu New News is a tabloid with a small audience. It needs small profits but quick turnover, so it only sells for two cents. In addition, with such explosive news reported first, it can be seen, and it will definitely be sold out today.

As this newspaper spreads, it won't be long before news of Du Yunning's death spreads to every corner of Shanghai.

As for Ling Shu's identity as a suspect, it will be difficult to suppress it. Everyone is a judge. Newspapers, magazines, and public opinion will point the finger at him. This will put a lot of pressure on those who solve the case.

Under pressure and with so-called evidence, it will be even more difficult for Ling Shu to escape guilt.

Throughout the dynasties, killing for life has been an unchanging law.

"Boss Yue, your abilities are limited. You can't even suppress a piece of news. I have to wonder if the achievements you've been bragging about to my sister over the years are true!"

Ling Shu said coolly, took out five cents from his pocket and put it on the newspaper. He folded the newspaper and stuffed it into the arms of the beggar on the roadside.

"There is no airtight wall in the world." Yue Dingtang said calmly, "From the moment the case was linked to you, you should have expected this result. Although the Yuan family servants are restricted from entering and leaving, they need to eat and drink every day

, we have to contact the outside world, and there are so many police officers handling errands, it’s not unusual for anyone to leak one or two pieces of information to the tabloids and earn some pocket money.”

Ling Shu sighed. Sitting at home, having trouble come from the sky is the best portrayal of him now.

If the murderer is not found for one day, the case will be like an invisible rope around his neck, which may tighten at any time and kill him.

The person who helped Du Yunning write a list of her belongings might have had an ambiguous relationship with Du Yunning, and might even have encouraged her to elope, and eventually murdered her and silenced her. He was like a non-existent undead ghost, always wandering around, but not a trace could be found.

If Ling Shu hadn't seen the list of belongings with his own eyes, he would have even doubted whether such a person really existed.

Ling Shu felt that his idea of ​​following Du Yunning's life trajectory to find clues was not wrong, but it was like being led by someone's nose. The opponent hiding in the dark knew what he would do next and could easily take him down.

By knowing his whereabouts, you can take a preemptive strike.

So, what about another way of thinking?

If not even the Yuan family’s personal servant has seen this person——

So, how does Du Yunning meet each other while avoiding the Yuan family?

God made a mistake, and Ling Shu had a flash of inspiration!

“Crescent Cafe?!”

"Where did Du Yunning make appointments with you several times before?"

Yue Dingtang and him spoke out almost at the same time.

The words they said were different, but their ideas were ultimately the same.

They thought of going together.

Yue Dingtang: "Are they all Crescent Cafe?"

Ling Shu: "Yes, she made an appointment with me three times, and she was always there."

Yue Dingtang: "Then have you seen her communicating more closely with anyone in the cafe?"

Ling Shu thought for a moment, shook his head and said, "I don't remember it. She seemed to know the owner of Crescent Cafe. The second time we met there, she even introduced me to the owner who was helping to wash the cups.

"

Yue Dingtang: "How much do you know about the boss? Does he have a wife?"

Ling Shu: "Do you suspect that Du Yunning may have an affair with him? Impossible."

Yue Dingtang's driver had been waiting at the street corner. When he saw them approaching, he quickly came out and opened the door.

After the two of them took their seats and the car started, Ling Shu spoke.

"You will know when you see the boss. He is a bit old and not very articulate. It is unlikely that Du Yunning has any deep relationship with this person."

Yue Dingtang thought for a moment, "Then go to Crescent Cafe."

From here, it's only a fifteen-minute drive to Crescent Cafe without traffic jams.

Yue Dingtang and the others got off the bus at the intersection. After walking a few steps, they saw the signboard of a cafe hanging outside from a distance.

Crescent Cafe looks a bit old.

The newly painted exterior walls, a few windows that are not old and new, the green plants that have worked hard to maintain in the cold winter, and the waiters in dresses, all details can show the owner's care for this cafe.

It’s just that a cafe opened in China will inevitably have traces of China, just like the records coming out of the cafe now are not playing foreign music, but "Jasmine" that is familiar to Chinese people.

Ling and Yue were not in a hurry to enter the cafe. They strolled around the shops near the cafe, chatted with the shop owner, bought some things, and inquired about the situation of Crescent Cafe as if by accident.

This cafe has been around for a few years. It was run here several years ago, but it has changed two owners. The former one was named Han. It is said that the business went bankrupt and he packed up and returned to his hometown in the countryside. The current one, named Li, is Boss Han.

A friend of mine heard that he was in a hurry for money, so he bought the cafe and renovated it and opened it again.

The business of the cafe is pretty good, and the boss is also very nice. He has helped several of the clerks in his shop. Even if the neighbors have any inconveniences, Boss Li can help them.

"Boss Li has a good heart, but it's a pity that it's hard to be a good person in this world, and you have to be a bad person to get ahead!"

Ling Shu came from across the street and entered the tea shop. He heard Boss Tang say these words to Yue Dingtang.

"How do you say it?" Ling Shu asked smoothly.

"Who is this?" Boss Tang of the tea shop looked at Ling Shu.

Yue Dingtang: "His surname is Yang, he is my colleague, and he came out with me to do social surveys."

Boss Tang smiled: "So Professor Yang, please sit down quickly! Xiaodong, bring some tea!"

Intellectuals are particularly respected these days, especially professors and scholars like Yue Dingtang. In the early Qing Dynasty, they were like Hanlin masters. They could join the cabinet at any time. In the eyes of Shengdou Xiaomin, they had a sense of distance and the need to look up to them.

feeling.

Yue Dingtang chatted with the other party in the name of social investigation and bought another two taels of tea. Naturally, he received an extraordinarily warm reception.

"Speaking of which, it was not easy for Boss Li to buy this cafe. He originally thought he was doing a favor for his friends, and he was eager to help. Who would have thought that within a month of buying this cafe, someone would come to visit him?

, saying that Boss Han married a second daughter and sold the cafe to him. At this time, Boss Han also took the money and disappeared. A lawsuit started between the two parties. As a last resort, Boss Li had to go out again in order to reopen as soon as possible.

I gave the other party a sum of money to take down this place."

The owner of the tea shop, Tang, is diagonally across from the cafe. You can't see him without looking up. When he talked about the origin of the cafe, he spoke clearly and clearly. He seemed to be familiar with the two generations of owners.

"So, Boss Li is indeed a very righteous person?" Yue Dingtang asked.

Boss Tang nodded: "Yes, it was raining heavily in Shanghai this summer. Many places were flooded. My precious tea leaves cannot be touched by water. Thanks to Boss Li for lending me some tea leaves."

He put the tea leaves in a big jar and then sealed it, but it really didn't get wet at all. As a result, half of his coffee beans were damaged. If you ask this street, nine out of ten households mention him.

Everyone needs a thumbs up!"

Ling Shu: "I see that there are not too many customers in the cafe. If he keeps helping others like this, won't he lose money?"

Boss Tang smiled and said: "I heard that he is an overseas Chinese who returned from overseas. His family still has property in Nanyang. He said he wanted to come back to take care of his old age. His son is still doing business in Nanyang. I send him living expenses every month. I am filial.

Quite. In my opinion, even if the cafe loses money, it won't matter. His son has written many letters to ask him to go back. Boss Li said that he now has hands and feet and can still work, and he doesn't want to go abroad for the time being."

Ling Shu: "Did he say all this himself?"

Boss Tang: "Yes, I have also seen the photos sent back by his son. Boss Li's grandson is so fat and smart that he can even call him grandpa."

Yue Dingtang: "After hearing what you said, we feel that this investigation is in the right direction. We can write an article about the return of Nanyang merchants."

Boss Tang looked forward to: "I wonder if my shop would be honored to appear in your article?"

Yue Dingtang smiled and said: "Of course there is, Tang Ji Tea Shop, I have written it all down."

After saying that, he showed the book in his hand to the other party, and Boss Tang was even more cheerful.

Ling Shu intervened at the right time: "By the way, Lao Yue, have you read today's newspaper? Speaking of which, it has something to do with our social survey this time."

Yue Dingtang: "I haven't read it yet, what's wrong?"

Ling Shu: "Shanghai socialite Du Yunning died. The cause of death is unknown now. It is suspected to be homicide. Doesn't our social investigation include public security? I'll go to the patrol room later to ask."

The owner of the tea shop next to him gasped, causing both Ling and Yue to look at him.

"Are you talking about Du Yunning? Mrs. Yuan? She is dead?!"

Ling Shu: "It's Du Yunning, Mrs. Yuan from Yuan Mansion. What, do you know her?"

Tea shop owner: "I know her, but I don't know her. She's such a famous person, and the shop doesn't have the honor to make friends with her. I just saw her drinking coffee in the cafe opposite a few times before... It's a pity, Mrs. Yuan is so classy.

How can such a beauty die so quickly?"

Ling Shu and Yue Dingtang looked at each other.

"Did she come to drink coffee alone, without anyone else?"

The boss hesitated for a moment: "Yes, but I can't remember clearly."

Ling Shu: "Is it a boy or a girl?"

"Boy, boy," the boss slapped his thigh, "I remembered it! There are two of them! She only dates one person at a time, but there seem to be only two of them coming and going. One of them, don't tell me, is with your identity.

The height is somewhat similar! The other one is shorter than you, about half a head, but he often wears a dark red dress!"

Ling Shu: "Are you sure?"

Boss: "Of course, that gentleman went to the foreign goods store next door to buy cream, and I happened to bump into him. He was quite handsome and elegant, and he wore a pair of glasses. He looked like you two, an educated person.

.”

After bidding farewell to the tea shop owner, when Ling Shu and Yue Dingtang walked into the cafe, the sky had turned deep and blue, as if they would be splashed with an inkstone at any time and become pitch black.

The cold wind, carrying the coldness and ruthlessness of winter, hovered over the neon lights of Shanghai, and then passed through the alleys, tossing the beggars with scanty clothing even more tightly, until they were finally blocked by the heavy doors of the cafes.

Outside.
Chapter completed!