Chapter Sixteen: Hidden Schemes

This answer was surprising—both An Changpu and Qin Ruonan were curious about where Lu Min had managed to find enough money for the gender reassignment surgery, but they never imagined his determination would drive him to sell his own parents’ burial plot. Judging by the living conditions at Lu Min’s home, the family was far from wealthy. The cost of such a surgery was much higher than minor cosmetic procedures, and judging from earlier photos, Lu Min had not only enhanced his chest but also made adjustments to his face. Each operation, whether large or small, was an expense.

“Lu Min sold his parents’ burial plot, so his parents...” Qin Ruonan began to ask, but stopped, unsure how to continue.

Ding Mulan understood her meaning and replied lightly, “There was nowhere to place them, so in the end, Lu Min’s uncle helped out and had my parents-in-law’s urns stored at a temple.”

“How much did Lu Min sell his parents’ burial plot for?” An Changpu inquired.

“It wasn’t worth much, as you’ve seen from the surroundings here. Then, out of nowhere, a family appeared—deeply superstitious—claiming that after consulting a fortune-teller, Lu Min’s parents’ plot had exceptionally good feng shui. They insisted on buying it. At first, they approached me, but I’m the daughter-in-law, not family by birth, so I didn’t get involved. Somehow, Lu Min agreed to sell it. He never told me the final price, only gave me ten thousand yuan, and I never saw the rest. I reckon it wasn’t a small sum.”

Upon hearing this, An Changpu and Qin Ruonan exchanged glances. Lu Min had sold his parents’ burial plot and left only ten thousand yuan for his wife and child; even his wife didn’t know how much remained. To sell the burial plot, he had fallen out with his brother. If the headless corpse found in the river was also him, then the case became quite intriguing, and a series of questions arose—Did Lu Min’s money suffice for the surgeries? If he could sell his parents’ grave to become a woman, what stopped him from completing the most crucial surgery? Whom had he provoked outside, and why did it lead to his death?

Ding Mulan seemed unwilling to say more. Fear and worry flickered across her face. An Changpu and Qin Ruonan, not wishing to press her, decided to wait until the victim’s identity was confirmed before asking further questions.

After a long while, Lu Anju returned, breathless, followed by a sturdy middle-aged man of average height. Aside from the pair of long, narrow phoenix eyes identical to Lu Min’s, he bore no resemblance to him. Seeing two strangers as he entered, he immediately guessed their identities, and before even catching his breath, he hurried forward to shake hands with An Changpu and Qin Ruonan.

“Officers, I’m Lu Min’s brother, Lu Jun. What’s happened to my brother? Has something happened to him?” Lu Jun looked deeply worried, clearly concerned for his brother’s well-being.

An Changpu explained the situation to him and requested that he accompany them to the police station for DNA sampling, to confirm whether the deceased was indeed Lu Min.

Lu Jun agreed without hesitation and got into the car with Ding Mulan and Lu Anju, speeding towards City C.

On the way, Ding Mulan remained silent, her gaze unfocused. Lu Anju appeared uneasy, while Lu Jun rubbed his hands together, sighing intermittently.

“Thank you for your cooperation,” An Changpu said, glancing at Lu Jun in the rearview mirror just as Lu Jun looked up at him. He offered a polite smile. “We’ve heard your relationship with Lu Min was strained.”

“It’s only right,” Lu Jun replied, waving his hand. The mention of their strained relationship made him uncomfortable. “We fell out because he went too far. I was angry, but no matter how upset I am, at the end of the day, he’s still my brother. Mom and Dad are gone, and aside from our wives and children, we brothers are closest in the world!”

As he spoke the word “brothers,” his expression became conflicted, as if the term reminded him of Lu Min’s transition, and he was caught between correcting himself and not. He simply sighed again and said nothing more.

Upon arriving at the police station, they had to wait for Lu Min and Ding Mulan’s younger daughter, Lu Anmei, to arrive. Qin Ruonan took the three to the Major Crimes Unit’s office to wait. Ding Mulan remained silent throughout. Even when handed warm water, she held the cup mechanically, never taking a sip. Lu Jun paced the office, occasionally asking when Lu Anmei would arrive. Lu Anju sat beside her mother, staring blankly, lost in thought, seemingly oblivious to her uncle’s anxiety and her mother’s silence, absorbed in her own concerns.

An Changpu was actually relieved to see Lu Anju in this state. Otherwise, he feared her brashness might clash with Qin Ruonan’s stubbornness—like a collision of fire and earth—before the investigation even began.

After a while, the door to the Major Crimes Unit was suddenly pushed open, and everyone’s eyes immediately turned toward the entrance.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t Lu Anmei as everyone had hoped, but a short, stout young man in his twenties or thirties. The moment he entered, the previously quiet Lu Anju shot up, rushed over in three quick steps, and threw herself into his arms, bursting into loud tears.

“That’s my son-in-law, Lu Ji,” Ding Mulan murmured to An Changpu, seeing their astonishment.

Lu Anju buried her face in Lu Ji’s shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. No one could see her expression, only hear her wails.

“What should I do, honey! The police say my father might be dead! What should I do? I’m so scared!” she cried out, her voice trembling.

Lu Ji placed one hand on Lu Anju’s back and the other gently stroked her hair, murmuring soothingly, “It’s okay, it’s not certain yet. Don’t scare yourself.”

Meanwhile, his small, beady eyes discreetly swept over everyone in the office.

An Changpu glanced at Qin Ruonan, whose face showed obvious contempt. He realized they likely shared similar thoughts.

Lu Ji and Lu Anju, this little couple, were clearly scheming something in their hearts.