Chapter 69: Food Produces Murderous Intentions

Chapter 69: Food Produces Murderous Intentions

Chapter 69: Food Produces Murderous Intentions

"My husband hasn't been home for several days. At first, I just thought he was out socializing and would come back late."

"But, by the next day, he still hadn't come back, and he didn't answer several phone calls. I also asked his colleagues at work, and they said he didn't go to the company that day."

"It's been three days now, and there's still no news about him. I asked Mr. Maori to come, but he still didn't find any clues."

Takashima Hyouka sighed, but her hands did not stop moving at all.

As a housewife who has been at home for many years, she should be very skilled in knife skills.

Although one can still see some basic skills, they seem a little unfamiliar, and not like someone who often works in the kitchen after marriage.

Qinghai Chuantang also noticed that she was wearing a silver ring on her right ring finger.

"Ms. Hikari, have you always been wearing your ring while cooking?"

Takashima Hyouka was stunned for a moment, then smiled, reached out and touched the ring, and said, "This was the gift he gave me when we got married."

"He knows that I love cooking, so he picked a cheap one so that I can wear it all the time."

"As for the valuables, I have carefully kept them in a box."

Ten minutes later, a portion of braised pork with ginger was served.

The presentation of the dish was so delicate and exquisite that Qinghai Chuantang felt that what he had done before was not really "eating" but just "making do".

Takashima Hyouka smiled and said, "Miss Tang, try it."

The pork belly is fat but not greasy, soft and tasty. With the slightly burnt soy sauce and rich ginger flavor, this dish is also particularly delicious.

"Not bad." Qinghai Chuantang nodded and explained, "This is the highest evaluation I can give you."

"It's not easy to get recognition for your food." Although there was a smile on Takashima Hyouka's face, it always made people feel a little bitter.

Doesn’t your husband like the food you cook?
Just as Qinghai Chuantang was about to ask this question, the doorbell rang.

"Who?"

"Hello, here is a package for your husband, please sign for it."

When Takashima Hyouka opened the door, she saw the TA-Q-BIN staff holding a large foam box in his arms.

There was also a little boy wearing glasses standing next to him. She remembered that he came directly with Maori Kogoro and seemed to be his foster child.

After signing for the delivery, Takashima Hyouka lowered her head and looked at him, and said in confusion: "Little friend, I remember your name is 'Conan', right? What's the matter with you coming here?"

Conan nodded and smiled, "Ms. Bingxiang, I came here to bring you clues about your husband!"

Qinghai Chuantang, who was sitting on the dining chair, was almost choked and fell into extreme doubt: How could this happen?

When Conan entered the living room, he naturally saw Qinghai Chuantang who had just put down his bowl and chopsticks.

Qinghai Chuantang naturally heard the footsteps and turned his gaze towards him.

The two of them stared at each other, and the air around them seemed to freeze.

Seeing this scene, Takashima Hyouka naturally felt a little strange, so she asked curiously: "Miss Tang, do you know each other?"

Qinghai Chuantang nodded, smiled and said, "Of course I know him. After all, Conan is 20 points smarter than Da Vinci, so he must have heard of him."

"Let's talk."

Qinghai Chuantang looked at the box in the other person's hand and asked curiously, "Ms. Bingxiang, what is the box in your hand for?"

"this?"

Takashima Hyouka put the box on the table, opened it, and saw that it was full of food.

"This is what my mother-in-law sends me every week. She makes it herself. Even though I've told her not to use it anymore, she still insists on it."

At this point, Takashima Hyouka smiled and said, "But thanks to my mother-in-law, we have saved a lot of food expenses, and I have also saved a lot of experience in my daily life."

As she spoke, Takashima Hyouka took out a box of grilled mushrooms from the box, looked at her, and asked, "Miss Tang, would you like to try some?"

Qinghai Chuantang shook his head, declined the other party's kindness, and explained: "I am allergic to fungi."

Precisely because of this special constitution, she stays away from fungi.

It has gotten so serious that I feel unwell whenever I smell fungi.

“That’s a shame.”

Takashima Hyouka spoke softly, as if she remembered something, and then looked at Conan beside her.

Said: "By the way, little friend, you said before that you have any clues, right? Then just tell Miss Tang directly. After all, I have entrusted the matter to her now."

Conan hesitated.

"Ms. Bingxiang, this thing is actually related to you, so..." As he said that, Conan handed her an envelope containing several photos.

Takashima Hyouka was stunned for a moment, seemingly unable to react.

When she opened it and saw the result, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and her eyes turned red instantly.

In the photo, a man comes out of the room.

Soon after, a woman followed out, and the two of them were talking and laughing, seemingly discussing something.

"So he was away from home for so long because he was with this woman?"

Tear marks covered Takashima Hyouka's face. It was obvious that this news was a blow to her and she found it difficult to accept it for a while.

"These photos were actually taken by the person in the photos, Maori-san. However, these photos were taken a week ago."

In other words, the husband was not missing a week ago.

And the woman in the photo may be the breakthrough.

"I remember her."

Takashima Hyouka spoke with some difficulty: "This person's name is 'Shikano Shichi'. Before my husband and I got married, we often went to the restaurant she opened for dinner."

Looking at the man in the photo, she felt betrayed.

You don’t eat when you get home because your stomach is already full of food; you don’t have sex when you get home because you are already full outside.

"So, my husband is cheating on me, right?"

Takashima Hyouka burst into tears, "Ms. Tang, please go find that man for me. As long as he likes me, I am willing to step aside and help them both. I want him to stop hiding. He has no idea how worried I am about him."

Amid the woman's crying, Qing Hai Chuantang and Conan left the apartment.

"I didn't expect to meet you in this situation. But how long did it take the man in the photo to get in and out?"

"Eh?"

Conan blinked, looking very surprised: "Why do you ask this suddenly? It's been about 10 minutes, what's wrong?"

Qinghai Chuantang stroked his chin and thought: "If it's 10 minutes, generally speaking, 2 to 7 minutes is enough."

"You don't mean to say..." Conan blushed, but still felt something was wrong, "10 minutes seems too short, right?"

Qinghai Chuantang's expression began to become a little strange, and he couldn't help but frowned: Why is this kid blushing?
In her understanding, since the Takashima couple often went to that restaurant for dinner before they got married, they could be considered regular customers.

A restaurant will always try to develop new dishes and change their styles in order to avoid being eliminated by the tide of the times.

As for the diners who come to the restaurant after investigation, it is most appropriate to use them as your food tasters.

“How long did it take to take those photos?”

Conan was very surprised why he always asked some questions that sounded inexplicable.

"Judging from the time when Uncle Maori left, it should be around 10 o'clock. And usually the restaurant won't be too busy at that time."

Qinghai Chuantang nodded, "That's right. Generally speaking, during this time period, male sexual desire is at its lowest point of the day, and female sexual desire index will also drop to 10% of that in the early morning."

"So judging from this information, nothing should have happened between the two of them."

She patiently provided knowledge to the other party.

After saying that, he smiled and said, "I just thought Mr. Takashima was helping to taste the food. What else did you think he was going to do?"

So, he actually misunderstood?
“Actually, that’s what I was thinking too.”

Conan said this seriously, not realizing at all how fragile his lie was at the moment.

Qinghai Chuantang smiled and did not choose to expose the other party.

The two of them came to the restaurant where Shikano Shichi was - Meilin.

"Mr. Takashima, he hasn't been home for several days?"

When Shikano Shichi learned the purpose of the two people's visit, he was very surprised.

"The reason why Mr. Takashima came to my house was just to ask him to help taste my latest new dish. Nothing else happened."

"Besides, I also know that he is married, so it is impossible for me to interfere with their relationship."

"So why did you commission Mr. Maori to take the photo?"

Although I don't know what reasons the other party used to convince the other party at that time.

But as long as the money is in place, everything can be negotiated. Otherwise, Kogoro Mouri would not sometimes take on some cases of investigating missing pets.

Shikano Shichi looked confused, "Commission? I, I never contacted Mr. Mori, why would I commission him to help take photos? Could it be that after seeing these photos, he thought I wanted to interfere with his relationship with Miss Hyouka?"

"Ms. Bingxiang?"

Sometimes the difference in the way they address each other can reflect the relationship and level of intimacy between two people.

Since we already know that the other party is married, the address for Takashima Hyouka should be changed from "Miss" to "Ms."

It’s just like in some places, after men get married, they will change the way they address their mothers from “mom” to “ma”.

Realizing that he had accidentally said something wrong, Shikano Zhizhi slapped his mouth in annoyance.

Finally, she sighed.

"Well, I did want to threaten her with this."

"After all, for someone who loves cooking, it is a very satisfying thing to have someone eat the food you cook with a happy expression on their face and then give high praise."

"However," Shikano Shichi changed the subject and continued, "Regarding Mr. Takashima's disappearance, I don't know what happened."

"After all, I haven't seen him since he left that day, and I thought he had changed his taste."

Regarding this matter, Shikano Shichi did not show any jealousy.

After all, for her, she just wanted to have someone who could taste new dishes for her over a long period of time, and there was not much emotion involved.

If you want to tie the other person to your side just because of this, it sounds a little too unbelievable.

Sure enough, people’s brain circuits are different.

Finally, Qinghai Chuantang came to this conclusion.

"Friend Conan. When you went to Takashima's house before, did you find any useful clues?"

When Qinghai Chuantang arrived at Takashima's house as promised, the other party had just come back from buying vegetables, so he started his lunch directly and didn't have time to look around.

Conan shook his head.

"Come to think of it, Ms. Hyouka and her family live in a luxury apartment. According to the three major motives, we have just ruled out one of them, emotion, so the only ones left are hatred and money."

"But according to the rule of eliminating close relatives, my wife is naturally the most suspicious."

The corners of Conan's mouth twitched involuntarily. Why had he never heard of what the other party said?

"But if it was murder, where is the body?"

"Do you know what the chances are that a body will be left at a crime scene?"

Conan shook his head.

"Not all bodies will be left at the crime scene, not to mention that it has been three days since the incident. In these three days, there is enough time to do a lot."

Qing Hai Chuan Tang took out a lollipop from his pocket and said, "Let's go, little Conan, let's go back to the apartment first."

After saying that, he tore open the package and put the candy into his mouth.

After all, orange-flavored lollipops are the best.

The corpse is often the standard by which suicide and others are measured, and the primary evidence.

Generally speaking, it is impossible to convict and sentence a person without a corpse, but exceptions can be made in special circumstances.

As long as direct evidence related to the case is found and a chain of evidence is formed that is sufficient to prove that the other party is the murderer, he can still be convicted and sentenced.

"A luxury apartment is indeed a luxury apartment. Even the garbage disposal is available 24 hours a day."

In the lobby, there is usually a place for apartment brochures so that others can better understand it and consider whether to move in.

It saves time asking questions and is also more convenient.

"The price is indeed a bit high, but it's worth it. Hmm? This apartment is actually equipped with a crusher."

Just as he was about to turn the page, Qinghai Chuantang paused and looked at Conan.

After hearing her words, Conan also guessed something.

The two looked at each other for a second, and then smiled at the same time: So that's it.

The location of electricity and water meters installed in each apartment is different.

The electricity and water meters of this apartment are located right outside the door.

"Four days have passed this month. But the numbers on the electricity and water meters have jumped alarmingly."

However, when Qinghai Chuantang thought that the knife used by the other party might have been used to kill people, he felt a little nauseous.

After all, I ate them all.

In the end, it was only after Conan made a phone call using the voice of "Kudo Shinichi" that the people from the Investigation Section came.

Of course, there were not only people from the search department who came, but also people from the scientific search department.

Luminol is highly sensitive and will still react even after repeated washing, which is one of its major advantages.

On the living room floor, on the used knives, in the bathtub in the kitchen.

"You won't be able to find the body. I chopped it up and threw it into the grinder. Along with a lot of water, I don't know where it was washed away."

Takashima Hyouka's smile became distorted, and even had a hint of morbid madness.

As I laughed, tear marks suddenly appeared on my face.

She knelt on the ground, feeling exhausted.

"These past few days, I've felt like I was going crazy."

"I want to confess my crime, but I don't want to turn myself in. So I asked the detective to come, and of course the profiler."

Takashima Hyouka smiled and looked at her.

"It's only a matter of time before I'm discovered, so I've already prepared for this."

"But what I couldn't accept was the food my mother-in-law would send every week, filling up the big white refrigerator I bought."

"I never used the knives I bought when I got married to cook. Until the end, I used my favorite knife to stab that man's body with my own hands."

Then they dragged him into the bathroom and used those sharp tools to cut off his head.

Because if I see him like this, I would feel a little reluctant.

After all, he was the husband she once loved deeply.

"The day I made up my mind to kill him was when his mother sent another large box of food. But the refrigerator was full."

The smile on Takashima Hyouka's face had long disappeared, and she even looked a little dazed.

She looked away and said, "He's eating the food his mother sent him again. He said he hates everything I make and doesn't like the taste of it at all."

"I was so angry that I swept all the food on the table to the ground."

Even primary school students know that food should not be wasted.

So Takashima Hyouka was forced by her husband to pick up the food she hated on the ground and eat it all.

At that moment, she felt as if she was being treated like a livestock by the other party.

Where did the man who used to hold my hand and walk with me under the street lights go?

Could the difference between a person before and after marriage be so huge?

"Even so, it can't be a reason for you to kill someone."

Hearing this, Takashima Hyouka smiled.

"You are a little boy, not a little girl. So even when you grow up, you won't understand this kind of thing."

This is Conan's last conversation with her.

Conan was puzzled and couldn't understand.

So he looked at Qinghai Chuantang and asked, "Do you want to kill someone just because he doesn't like the food you cook?"

Just?
"Eating is something you won't stop until you die."

"Once two people decide to be together, it is destined that one party has to accommodate the other party and cater to the tastes of the other party."

"If two people have the same tastes and even the same preferences, then perhaps that would be the happiest thing."

"And for a housewife, the food sent by the mother-in-law can only be regarded as 'kitchen harassment'."

So children are just children and they can’t understand.

But after experiencing this incident, Qinghai Chuantang understood something.

"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have disliked the food you cooked!"

Her attitude was sincere, and she even used a 90-degree bow to express repentance, correction and apology.

Even if you don't show anything on your face, you will still feel a little sad when the other person expresses dislike and disgust.

Even if it's just a joke.

It is because you care that you pay attention to what the other person says.

"Then let me feel your sincerity."

On the dining table was a bowl of egg noodles.

Because the heat was a little overcooked, the surface of the egg was a little burnt.

The soup base is like plain water and does not seem to contain any oil or water.

If there weren’t some green chopped green onions as embellishment, I’m afraid the last bit of expectation in my heart would be shattered.

Judging from the appearance alone, it can no longer be described as unsatisfactory.

Qinghai Chuantang smiled and looked up at the other party with a flattering look.

"Actually, I think"

She didn’t know if it was her illusion, but the other person’s glasses reflected something.

This made her swallow back the words she had not yet finished saying.

Qinghai Chuantang picked up the chopsticks as if he had made some important decision.

Close your eyes, put the noodles into your mouth, and chew them roughly.
and many more!

She opened her eyes again and slowed down her chewing, savoring the food.

After the food was swallowed, Qinghai Chuantang exclaimed: "It's surprisingly delicious!"

Although the words were a bit exaggerated, compared to what I had expected, it was indeed "delicious".

The number of meals a person eats in his lifetime is limited.

You never know which will come first, tomorrow or an accident.

If you treat every meal as if it were your last, it would perhaps become extremely precious.

“We should have great respect for food.”

It is difficult to enjoy every meal as if it were your last. But please also cherish the hard-earned present.

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(End of this chapter)