June 24th.
"Hiss, why does the aftereffect feel so strong?"
Early in the morning, Xu Liang opened his eyes from the bed, stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment, and then sighed.
That leather-bound book is toxic.
When he started writing the case files, he observed Chen Dong's life from a strange perspective, from birth to his arrest.
During this period, his family's misfortune, even Chen Hua secretly reporting to the police and getting discovered, leading to a broken bone, was vividly clear.
And Chen Dong's emotions and thoughts, he fully experienced them too.
The overwhelming emotions impacted his mind, and even after finishing the case, Xu Liang felt somewhat dazed.
From the fourth to the twenty-fourth, he had been lying in bed until he finally recovered a bit.
"What a torment."
Xu Liang sighed deeply as he rolled out of bed.
In the meantime, he picked up the leather-bound book from the bedside.
"At least it wasn't all in vain."
As he spoke, he opened the leather-bound book.
[Name: Xu Liang]
[Case Record: 'Snail Case']
Upon opening the book cover, the page with the recorded name had changed, adding another case.
Xu Liang felt somewhat relieved.
He is a lawyer, and a lawyer's confidence comes from their track record; the track record is their cases.
Although this case wasn't fought in court, having customers in the future could allow him to raise his prices, so he wouldn't seem like a newbie.
With this in mind, his hands weren't idle as he opened another page.
[File Record, No. '20040601']
['Snail Case!']
[Case...]
The first page is now densely filled with words, unlike the usual blankness. Xu Liang only skimmed through it.
These records were similar to police dossiers but more detailed.
What caught his attention the most was the handwriting at the bottom.
[Reward Received: 'Melancholy Soul-Devouring Rice Bowl lv1']
"Melancholy Soul-Devouring Rice Bowl? Isn't this a chef's skill, what use is it to me?"
Looking at this skill, Xu Liang's face showed a strange expression, feeling quite awkward inside.
He now felt that if there was a pan in front of him, he could stir-fry the best fried rice in the entire Hanhai City in just two or three flips!
But...
After all, it's just fried rice!
"A lawyer who can't cook fried rice isn't a good lawyer?"
"I'm a lawyer; some clients are difficult to deal with and require good food to calm them down. Since I can cook, it's only natural I'd be at the top of Hanhai City..."
Xu Liang quickly convinced himself and then got up to leave.
He wasn't too concerned about what the reward was.
For now, money was the most important thing; without money, the law firm couldn't stay open.
So, the next goal was only one thing, and that is… to make money!
With this thought, Xu Liang quickly washed up, dressed, and headed out.
Before leaving, Xu Fuqiang called out to him.
"Where are you going so early in the morning?" Xu Fuqiang asked, yawning as he walked out of his bedroom. He looked at the ready-to-go Xu Liang with a face full of confusion.
"I'm heading to the police station."
Xu Liang answered while opening the door, then added after a thought:
"Uncle, don't leave lunch for me; I'll grab something outside."
Today is Sunday, and Xu Fuqiang's workplace is off.
So this time, Zhao Ying wouldn't manage the household, leaving breakfast and lunch entirely to Xu Fuqiang. As for the taste...
One could only say it wouldn't kill you... but then again, maybe it could.
Xu Fuqiang nodded, not really stopping Xu Liang. After watching him leave, he went off to the kitchen by himself.
"What should I eat today?"
Looking at the kitchen ingredients, Xu Fuqiang began to ponder, employing his imaginative mind.
There were only two people at home, so he didn't worry about his own meal.
Xu Ze was quite picky about food.
Whatever he cooked, Xu Ze wouldn't eat, preferring to go hungry instead—epitome of finickiness!
"There's not much at home, but there are strawberries, which the brat loves, and tomatoes."
Muttering to himself, Xu Fuqiang's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Got it, I'll make tomato stir-fried strawberries!"
"The little brat will surely love it!"
Saying this, he happily started preparing the kitchen tools.
...
...
Walking out the door, Xu Liang left the Hongfu Street as if fleeing.
With Xu Fuqiang's questionable cooking skills, he felt sorry that Xu Ze had to endure it, while he hurriedly got on a bus headed towards the police station.
Twenty days had passed.
The police had roughly organized the case, preparing to hand it over to the prosecutor's office.
In a previous life, completing a trial within three months for a case was considered fast.
But in this world, the time needed for a case trial was about a month and a half, faster overall than before.
Plus, Hanhai City's police department was taking the 'Snail Case' very seriously...
Within a month at most, Chen Dong would be sent to court.
At nine in the morning.
Xu Liang arrived at the criminal police brigade of Hongfu District.
He waited for a long time in the first-floor lobby before a familiar voice sounded beside him.
"Hey, brother, we meet again!"
Xu Liang looked up and saw a large figure.
The visitor was Wang Chao, wearing a police uniform, smiling, with clear eyes. If there was anything different from before...
Xu Liang raised an eyebrow and joked:
"Wow, you got promoted?"
Wang Chao smiled bashfully, his hefty frame seemed a bit shy at the moment, then he took out two envelopes from his pocket.
"The city bureau's bonus, my mentor asked me to hand it to you."
As an excellent lawyer, what skills must you have?
Determine if the client is sincere!
With his rich experience, Xu Liang didn't even need to touch them, just a glance at the envelopes, and he knew...
The other was practically sincere as a child!
"Thank your mentor for me... Where is he?"
Xu Liang nonchalantly accepted the envelopes.
The amount wasn't particularly large, but there was at least five thousand; all together, he made at least thirteen thousand from this case!
Wang Chao replied:
"The master went to the city bureau. The city bureau places great importance on this case, and now that it's resolved, he needs to go to the bureau for a summary."
Xu Liang nodded, familiar with this routine from his previous life.
Of course, besides this, there was another reason he came to the police station.
"How are Chen Jian and his group doing?"
Chen Jian, the main culprit behind this case, the deaths of Chen Qingqing and Zhang Cui!
In fact, it was Xu Liang who found Zhang Cui's body based on his information.
"We've been waiting for days, only capturing them yesterday."
Wang Chao spoke, scratching his head and said irritably:
"Damn it, I say, wait for what?!"
"Should've just taken me to catch them straight away, if the guard stops us, give him a punch, if Zhu Hong resists, give Zhu Hong a punch, if Chen Jian tries to run, punch him to death, whoever tries to stop us, just punch them!"
Xu Liang twitched the corner of his mouth and silently gave a thumbs up.
"Impressive!"
With that, he decided not to stay longer at the police station and turned to leave.
"I'm off, you carry on."
Wang Chao nodded, not seeing him off too far.
Before leaving, Xu Liang saw a familiar silhouette at the door.
It was Chen Hua, still at the police station.
However, in just twenty days, he seemed to have aged twenty years, his haggard face matched with mottled white hair, looking like an old man at death's door, his eyes turbid.
He limped, hurrying towards the hall.
Seeing this, Xu Liang sighed, withdrew his gaze and walked out.
After leaving, he wasn't in a rush to go home.
He first managed the law firm a bit, categorizing the consultation calls he recorded over the past two days for his clients.
It wasn't until four in the afternoon that he returned home.
...
At four ten, as Xu Liang approached his home.
Suddenly, a cacophony of voices echoed in his ears.
"Old Man, you really intend to practice on a small scale? Isn't this murder? It must be murder. Are you trying to poison me?!"
"You little brat, are you going to eat or not?!"
"Can this stuff really be eaten? If not, Old Man, give me two pounds of arsenic to fill my stomach!"
"Why are you so picky? I think it tastes fine!"
"..."
Xu Liang twitched the corner of his mouth.
Here we go again, another heartwarming scene of fatherly love and filial piety...
He directly pressed down the doorknob and pushed the door open.
"Squeak~"
As the door opened.
Xu Ze, who was facing off with Xu Fuqiang, quickly dodged and hid behind Xu Liang.
"Bro, save me, this Old Man wants to poison me!"
Xu Liang was helpless, only able to rub the kid's head, before looking at Xu Fuqiang expressionlessly.
"Uncle, what have you done this time?"
"Nonsense, move aside, it doesn't matter what I've done, but today I have to cure this kid's picky eating!"
Xu Fuqiang held a plate of food, angrily pointing at Xu Ze behind Xu Liang.
Xu Liang poked his head out to take a look at the plate, instantly twitching his eyes.
Oh my goodness...
Stir-fried tomatoes and strawberries!?
"Bro, look at this, is this edible at all!?"
Xu Ze grimaced, his young face flushed like a liver.
It's hard to imagine he's grown to 13 in this family!
"Why can't it be eaten!?"
Xu Fuqiang said, taking a bite, forcing it down.
"Old Man, just to poison me, you're even trying it yourself!?" Xu Ze said in horror.
"Bullshit, this is damn food!"
Xu Fuqiang felt the veins on his forehead bulge.
"You call this food? Why don't you just let me take a bite in the toilet?!"
Xu Ze was instantly annoyed, turned into Hajize, and launched a breath attack.
Xu Fuqiang was about to say something.
Xu Liang finally couldn't stand it anymore and stepped in to mediate.
"Alright, I'll make dinner."
"There's some rice left from last night, I'll make do with it."
Hearing this, the father and son surprisingly set aside their quarrel and looked at Xu Liang in surprise.
"Nonsense, you know how to cook?" Xu Fuqiang said in astonishment.
"Bro, you're not planning to stir-fry watermelon with eggs, are you?"
Xu Ze said apprehensively, obviously recalling some unpleasant memories.
"How could I, my cooking... it's passable at least."
Xu Liang thought about it and casually responded to them.
If he doesn't cook, he'd likely have to endure eating this stir-fried tomato and strawberry dish.
Thinking this, Xu Liang had an idea.
'Melancholy Soul-Devouring Rice Bowl lv1, the reward I received... will it taste good?'
Over the past ten days, he hadn't tried this thing yet, having been digesting emotions, but presently seemed like a good time to experiment!
"I'll give it a try!"
With that, he walked towards the kitchen.
Watching his back, Xu Ze felt as if he was facing a great enemy, finally sighed and said:
"Whatever, even if it's stir-fried watermelon with eggs, I'll accept it, at least it's edible..."
...
...
Meanwhile.
In Hanhai City, within the city police bureau.
Unlike the oppressive atmosphere of the past few days, the entire police bureau was now filled with a relaxed vibe.
Inside an office.
"Not bad, very good... This time, the Hongfu District Criminal Police Brigade has accomplished the task brilliantly!"
"Captain Chen, as always."
In the main seat of the office.
A middle-aged man full of praise looked at Chen Changchun, seated at the side of the desk, with great satisfaction on his face.
He clapped his hands and said:
"Next, please briefly report on the case process, and share some work experience."
"Solving such a major case in less than three days..."
"Let the other brigades learn as well!"