Good and Evil Chapter 91: Punishment and Reflection

In the process of solving cases, uncovering the truth, exposing hidden motives, and ensuring that the true culprits receive their due punishment, it is even more crucial to reflect upon and explore why these individuals committed crimes and what led them down the path of wrongdoing. From this reflection, valuable lessons should be drawn to prevent minor problems from escalating into serious offenses.

This particular case, sparked by the discovery of an unidentified male corpse, underwent several dramatic twists—from suicide to murder—ultimately uncovering a massive fraud scheme. The investigation even revealed scandalous acts committed for the sake of money, including immoral relations, and linked back to a colossal property fraud case from five years prior. Through this, the dark and sinister life of Song Yongde came to light. Although Song Yongde had only killed one person in his lifetime, his story offers profound insights.

Born in the last century, Song Yongde grew up during a time when economic conditions were generally poor for everyone. Yet, as the only son in his family, he was relatively fortunate and should have been considered blessed. However, he failed to appreciate his advantages. Instead of channeling his intelligence and talent into a meaningful career, he veered onto a path of corruption—a path from which there was no return. Even after being brought to justice, he showed no remorse. In his eyes, there was only money and self-interest. His words and gaze revealed no trace of humanity or conscience.

Why, then, did Song Yongde embark on this irreversible path of crime?

Being the sole child, he was excessively indulged by his parents, who failed to provide proper discipline. At school, teachers confined themselves to imparting knowledge without teaching him how to be a decent person or how to establish correct life values, moral principles, and worldview. This lack of guidance was another contributing factor.

It is natural for parents to love and protect their children, but excessive indulgence becomes spoiling. Had Song Yongde’s parents been more rigorous in their upbringing, setting clear boundaries and correcting his mistakes sternly and promptly, might he have been spared the path of crime?

As the ancient saying goes, “It is a father’s fault to nurture without teaching, and a teacher’s laziness not to discipline strictly.”

Schools are meant not only to impart knowledge but to nurture character. Teachers are entrusted with a sacred and noble duty to cultivate talents for society and the nation. But before imparting knowledge, should they not first teach students how to be good people? What use is knowledge if one cannot live rightly?

The world is populous, with many bright minds and high intellects. When a clever person strays into crime, the harm they inflict upon society often surpasses that caused by ordinary criminals. Song Yongde was undeniably intelligent. From his school days to the time of his arrest, his actions demonstrated high intellect. His crimes were not the result of ignorance but were calculated, professional offenses.

Song Yongde’s numerous crimes need no further elaboration here. The law will judge and punish him accordingly. After his arrest and through police investigations and his confessions, Xu Lang and others learned of his lifetime’s evil deeds. Beyond hatred for this inhuman monster disguised in human skin, there arose deep contemplation on human nature and morality.

Why did Song Pinghui’s mother elope with Song Yongde? His handsome appearance and eloquence were factors, but the primary cause lay in youthful rebellion and impulsiveness. Upon leaving the innocent confines of school and entering the corrupt world, she not only cohabited with Song Yongde but also bore their child, Song Pinghui. Eventually, to support herself and her family, she resorted to selling her body. Was this solely out of love for Song Yongde?

Xu Lang believed that love was only part of the explanation, not the main reason. If she had followed Song Yongde for “love,” why didn’t she leave him after their daughter’s birth? One reason was that Song Yongde took her to a strange city. Alone, without relatives or friends, lacking any skills, she had nowhere to go. Another reason lay in her family’s attitude. When she left home, her family searched briefly before giving up because she was only one child among several siblings, and her parents harbored strong preference for sons, unwilling to expend much effort for a daughter.

The most important reason she did not leave Song Yongde was their daughter, Song Pinghui. The child was her sole hope to carry on and a vital reason she dared not abandon him.

If leaving the pure environment of school, caring parents, and a familiar city to follow Song Yongde into exile was a grave mistake, all subsequent decisions only compounded the error—especially her failure to take her daughter away. Had she done so earlier, Song Pinghui might not have blindly followed in her father’s footsteps into a life of crime and imprisonment.

Regarding the massive property fraud in their hometown of L City, their scheme was not particularly sophisticated. Yet, in just a few months, they defrauded millions. While one might forgive gullibility in undereducated rural areas, some of those deceived were highly educated, well-informed individuals from the small county town. Why did they fail to detect the deception? The answer is simple: greed blinded them.

Song Yongde, pretending to be an investor from a big city, painted a tempting picture and used a Ponzi-like scheme—paying early investors with funds from later ones. Those initial investors tasted easy profits, paving the way for the scam’s success. Why did so many believe Song Yongde’s flimsy lies? Because of the lure of profit—exactly what Song wanted them to see. This pattern is common in countless fraud cases. If people worked diligently with their own hands, not seduced by trifling gains, they would not fall prey. Many victims believed Song Yongde due to greed and herd mentality.

Why was Song Yongde able to flee with millions while the L City police failed to solve the case over five years? Were the police negligent or indifferent? The answer is no. The police never abandoned the investigation. The difficulty lay in the victims’ scant knowledge of Song Yongde and his daughter—they only knew what he allowed them to see. When victims handed over their hard-earned money, they never paused to inquire deeply into Song’s background, blindly following the crowd. Many admitted to the police later that they invested simply because others did, unable to articulate any reason beyond that. This blind conformity is a mindset exploited by fraudsters in many large-scale scams.

Turning now to Zhou Boming, whose death triggered the entire case: he was the deepest victim, the most pitiable, and also the most foolish.

Zhou Boming was undoubtedly intelligent and successful in both academics and career. Yet, in matters of discerning character and emotional intelligence, he was utterly naive.

Setting aside Song Yongde, consider Zhou’s eight-year relationship with his girlfriend Du Ke’er. Zhou was only thirty-seven at his death, and during those years, his career was firmly established. If their relationship was sincere, why did they delay marriage? Was it parental disapproval? Zhou’s parents had passed away, and according to police inquiries, Du Ke’er’s parents knew of their relationship only after five years, repeatedly urging marriage without success. Thus, parental opposition was unlikely the cause.

Could it be fear of social consequences? That seems implausible. Although Zhou was wealthy, with assets worth tens of millions, in the affluent city of S, this was modest. Zhou was self-made, neither born into wealth nor aristocracy. Marriage would hardly have caused a stir.

Police investigations revealed that Du Ke’er’s interest in Zhou was partly genuine affection but chiefly driven by his wealth. Over the years, she obtained millions worth of assets from him, mainly luxury goods rather than cash. After traveling to country M with Zhou, she quickly left him—not because of lost affection, but because she met a wealthier, more influential suitor. She was a consummate gold-digger, highlighting Zhou’s emotional naivety.

As for Song Yongde, Zhou’s acquaintance began with a casual exchange of a cigarette lighter. In trusting Song as a close friend, Zhou neither thoroughly investigated his past nor recognized his true nature. This misplaced trust led not only to the loss of his fortune but ultimately to his death. In essence, Zhou was his own worst enemy.

Song Pinghui, too, is an innocent victim. Her plight evokes sympathy. Yet, as the saying goes, “The pitiful often have their blame.” Born into an unhappy family, she spent years wandering with Song Yongde, deprived of education and proper values. Her father’s depravity left her without a sound moral compass. Nevertheless, this does not excuse her involvement in crime. As the law adjudicates, she will spend the rest of her life behind bars. Hopefully, she will use her time to learn more, develop a proper understanding of the world, and one day reintegrate into society. Though sentenced to life imprisonment, with good behavior she may earn sentence reductions and eventual release. After all, she is barely in her twenties.

After the conclusion of Song Yongde’s case, the higher authorities commended the entire Criminal Investigation Team Two, especially Zhang Lei, who, upon identifying Zhou Boming’s identity, noticed suspicious details that prevented the case from being prematurely closed as a suicide. His vigilance led to uncovering Song Yongde, a societal scourge, and bringing him to justice. Though the investigation was arduous, convoluted, and extraordinary, the outcome was positive. This operation set an excellent example nationwide for all public security personnel and served as an inspiring model.

For police officers, especially detectives, investigating cases based on evidence and scene analysis is fundamental. No detail should be overlooked. Unraveling every doubt and pursuing a case to its end is the true duty of a detective.

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After Song Yongde’s arrest and confession, Xu Lang withdrew from case involvement, only appearing at the trial and later visiting Song Yongde and Song Pinghui in prison once. His early departure was due to the case becoming clear with Song’s admissions; subsequent work centered on evidence collection, which Xu Lang was not required to continue.

After leaving the Public Security Bureau, Xu Lang returned to his detective agency, leading a small team in handling cases.

Since returning from Zhangjiatun, many noticed a change in Xu Lang. Though still casual and playful in demeanor, some of his behaviors puzzled others. Previously, he quickly formed theories on cases, but with Song Yongde’s case, he merely affirmed Zhang Lei’s ideas without much input. Moreover, Xu Lang typically followed cases through to the end—even after resigning from the police, he remained involved as a consultant. Yet, this time, he left soon after Song Yongde’s confession. While he had little role to play afterward, his early departure seemed unusual. Though others might not sense it, members of Criminal Investigation Team Two, who had worked with him for three years, felt this shift. Xu Lang was never one to abandon a case midway, but they only found it odd without further reflection.

Following Xu Lang’s assistance in solving several cases, especially Case 810, his detective agency received many inquiries, drawn by his reputation. Cases ranged from trivial to significant. Most involved locating lost children or elderly, investigating financial discrepancies, or helping wealthy clients suspecting infidelity gather proof. What clients did with evidence—whether to negotiate or confront—was beyond the agency’s concern.

The agency expanded from just Xu Lang and Du Ziqiao to include three new members. The newcomers handled routine cases effectively.

Veteran ex-soldier Zi Che Hexuan excelled in surveillance and counter-surveillance, adept at tracking subjects. Cases requiring tailing were usually assigned to him.

Liao Mi, a computer genius like Lv Xing, was also a “red hacker”—a type of ethical hacker. He handled tasks like retrieving surveillance footage, authorized by Xu Lang and approved by Lu Ye. Without such approval, his actions would be illegal.

The sole female member, Jin Enpei, a psychology student, was skilled at extracting key clues from casual conversations during client interviews, often leading directly to the case’s core. Client reception was typically her responsibility.

With these additions, Du Ziqiao’s workload lightened. He now focused on significant cases and was often absent from the office, much like Xu Lang.

Zi Che Hexuan and the others found Xu Lang somewhat unfamiliar, though this was understandable since their boss rarely appeared at the agency. Du Ziqiao managed daily operations. After returning from the countryside and participating in Song Yongde’s case, Xu Lang stayed at the agency, working alongside them.

Thus, the stage was set for continued efforts in justice and truth, guided by a team shaped by experience, wisdom, and resilience.