Episode Summary
Lin Guoqiang's investigation stalls, leading to frustration. Clues point to Zhou Daming, connected to a past case. Suspicious evidence is found at Zhou Daming's chicken farm, but inconsistencies suggest the scene was staged, casting doubt on Zhou Daming's involvement.
Spoiler Alert
"Hanging Mirrors" Episode 5: Recap & Spoilers
Okay, so things are getting interesting in "Hanging Mirrors"! Episode 5 sees Lin Guoqiang hitting a wall in the investigation. Frustrated, he ends up drunk on his doorstep. His kind neighbor, Zhang Yanni, finds him and helps him inside. She overhears him talking about missing his daughter, which clearly gets to her.
Meanwhile, Chen Nan seeks out Xu Xiao to thank him for his archaeological insights during the tomb investigation. Chen Nan even offers to go with Xu Xiao to visit Lin Guoqiang, though he questions Xu Xiao's choice of gift. When they arrive at Lin Guoqiang's place, he's passed out and doesn't hear them knocking. Zhang Yanni, ever the helpful neighbor, offers to let them in, but just then, Lin Guoqiang wakes up. Zhang Yanni's obvious concern for Lin Guoqiang doesn't go unnoticed by Xu Xiao and Chen Nan, who suspect there might be something more between them.
Xu Xiao, sensing Lin Guoqiang's deeper motivation to catch the suspect, presses him about it. Lin Guoqiang reveals the connection to a ten-year-old case involving a grave robber named Zhou Jiahei, and suspects Zhou Daming might be involved. When they learn Zhou Daming is from Zhouli Village, Lin Guoqiang is eager to go there immediately. Chen Nan chimes in, mentioning Zhouli Village is known as a haven for grave robbers, and insists on joining them.
The trio heads to the village and discovers Zhou Daming is a violent drunk who even drove his wife away and runs a chicken farm outside the village. Xu Xiao and Chen Nan immediately check out the farm, leaving Lin Guoqiang to investigate in the village.
Lin Guoqiang seeks out the village elder, who keeps the family records, to learn about the relationship between Zhou Jiahei and Zhou Daming. He finds out they're uncle and nephew. Xu Xiao and Chen Nan discover suspicious tools, including a power saw, in the chicken farm's slaughterhouse and call Lin Guoqiang to the scene. Xu Xiao finds a jade pendant under Zhou Daming's pillow, which Lin Guoqiang recognizes as the same one worn by the attacker the night he was assaulted. Also, Zhou Jiahei had a similar pendant when he died, suggesting they're a pair.
While they're investigating, a grocery store owner, Hu Xiaomin, arrives to pick up his regular order of eggs and chickens from Zhou Daming. He mentions he knows Zhou Daming through his wife. Xu Xiao calls in the rest of the team to process the scene, and forensic analysis reveals a large amount of human blood. Finally, a break in the case! Back home, Lin Guoqiang revisits his daughter's old room, reminiscing about happier times.
Later that night, Chen Nan calls Xu Xiao, pointing out the lack of any books beyond a junior high level, or any books about Feng Shui or superstition, at Zhou Daming's place. This suggests Zhou Daming lacks the knowledge needed to commit the crime. Xu Xiao agrees, and they decide to revisit the chicken farm.
When Xu Xiao and Chen Nan arrive at the farm, they find someone already there – Lin Guoqiang! He reveals he's been investigating Zhou Daming's violent temper and gambling debts, concluding he's not cunning enough to pull this off. Xu Xiao and Lin Guoqiang notice inconsistencies in the blood spatter patterns. Back at the station, they conduct experiments and determine the scene at the chicken farm was staged. So, the plot thickens!
