Checkmate Episode 12 Recap
> Checkmate Recap
At Jasmine Restaurant, Situ Yan carefully inspected the kitchen and asked if anyone had heard a gunshot. He Wannian, Moly's partner, expressed annoyance at the repeated questions, stating that the loud draught fan in the kitchen would have muffled any sounds from outside, and Moly's death was only discovered when food orders were delayed.
He Wannian attributed Moly's death to suicide, explaining that Moly had been deeply in love with the former waitress, Zhao Xiaoling, and had dreamed of marrying her. However, Zhao Xiaoling had a fiancé in Manzhouli who became successful and took her away, leaving Moly heartbroken. According to He Wannian, Moly became withdrawn and irritable, scolding even the new waiter, Zhang Xiaoxi, which led other staff to quit.
He Wannian provided Situ Yan with a list of guests present on the day of Moly's death: Situ Yan and his friend, Cheng Xiangjun (a medicine seller new to Harbin), Yu Daren (a bank executive), a new guest named Li Chengyan who ordered Meat Sauce Spaghetti (recommended by Cheng Xiangjun), and Mr. He, Situ Yan's neighbor. It was noted that Cheng Xiangjun and Li Chengyan did not know each other, even though Cheng Xiangjun recommended the dish to Li Chengyan.
He Wannian insisted Moly's suicide was due to emotional distress, noting the restaurant's declining sales after Zhao Xiaoling's departure. Eager to reopen his restaurant due to rent concerns, He Wannian claimed his own cooking skills surpassed Moly's and that Moly had relegated him to front desk duties because of his drinking. Luo Shaochuan felt his answers were satisfactory and promised to address his rent if he cooperated, but Situ Yan remained unconvinced that Moly committed suicide.
Zhang Xiaoxi then discreetly informed Situ Yan that Cheng Xiangjun often bypassed the front door, appearing to be on familiar terms with He Wannian as she regularly exited through the back. He Wannian, questioned again, disclosed that Cheng Xiangjun, a Beijing medicine seller, was staying at a small hotel near a hospital. Situ Yan visited the hotel alone, as Luo Shaochuan left to reflect on a previous conversation with Xia Ru'an about integrity.
The hotel owner described Cheng Xiangjun as affluent, stylish, and fond of foreign operas, often staying out late or making brief returns to her room. Situ Yan consolidated information on key individuals but still believed Moly's death was not a suicide. Soon after, Zhou Mowan arrived, echoing Situ Yan's intuition. She asserted that Moly, a passionate culinary innovator, would prioritize his cooking over romantic affairs, dismissing the idea of suicide over Zhao Xiaoling.
While acknowledging Zhao Xiaoling’s affection for Moly, Zhou Mowan maintained that Moly's true passion was cooking. Situ Yan, however, pointed to the restaurant’s declining revenue post-Zhao Xiaoling's departure as evidence of her significance to Moly and suggested Moly would have worried about her marrying an unreliable man. Zhou Mowan further revealed long-standing conflicts between Moly and He Wannian, particularly after Moly reported He Wannian for embezzling restaurant funds for opium, leading to He Wannian’s arrest.
She also identified Yu Daren as Shen Huatang’s stepfather. Mrs. Shen attempted to foster a romantic connection between Zhou Mowan and Situ Yan, but Situ Yan playfully introduced Zhou Mowan as his newly hired assistant. Luo Shaochuan, having gained new insight, returned to share the police's conclusion: Moly committed suicide after accidentally poisoning Li Chengyan.
Li Chengyan, the new guest from yesterday, had ordered Meat Sauce Spaghetti and kvass, fell ill, returned home, and was later found dead from arsenic poisoning. Police found a note in Li Chengyan’s notebook with Jasmine Restaurant’s address and a special mention of its Meat Sauce Spaghetti. Subsequent investigation revealed arsenic in the spaghetti and ground rat poison in the kitchen's salt shaker.
The official theory was that Moly had mistakenly used the poison, causing Li Chengyan’s death, and then committed suicide out of guilt. Situ Yan vehemently rejected this. He argued that Meat Sauce Spaghetti doesn’t require salt, and Moly, known for his extreme meticulousness even with kitchen rags, would never make such a fundamental error. Situ Yan concluded that the person who placed the rat poison in the salt shaker was the true murderer, deeming it an unequivocal murder case.
Luo Shaochuan agreed to secure more time from Chief Bao for Situ Yan's investigation. Situ Yan then asked Jin Qiming to look into Li Chengyan and Cheng Xiangjun. Situ Yan again confronted He Wannian, who feigned ignorance about the new developments but grew agitated. He Wannian dismissed arguments with Moly as mere friction, stating that Moly had saved his life in the past, making betrayal impossible.
He recounted Moly’s attempts to warn Zhao Xiaoling about her unreliable fiancé, which had angered her. He Wannian expressed concern for Zhao Xiaoling, describing her as naive and her fiancé as jobless, noting that she insisted on going to Manzhouli despite their advice.
Next, Situ Yan questioned Zhang Xiaoxi, the new waiter, who provided a detailed timeline of guests: An unknown young man arrived at 11:00 AM, ordered only water, and left between 12:20 PM and 12:30 PM, likely via the back door—a route Moly usually prohibited. Situ Yan and his friend departed shortly after 12:00 PM.
Cheng Xiangjun, for whom He Wannian packed food, left through the back door around 12:10 PM, apparently familiar with He Wannian and citing its proximity to her residence. Yu Daren, a frequent customer, arrived after 12:10 PM with a pre-ordered meal and left around 12:25 PM. Li Chengyan arrived around 12:15 PM, ordered Meat Sauce Spaghetti and kvass, but complained about the taste. Feeling unwell, he left around 12:40 PM in a rickshaw to his hotel.
Mr. He arrived around 12:30 PM, but his order was never served. Situ Yan then asked Luo Shaochuan to identify his suspect, ultimately suggesting they arrest the young man who had arrived first and ordered nothing. Jin Qiming reported that Li Chengyan was a Beijing liquor dealer who owned a bar but had a three-year prison record for fraud. His struggling business had brought him to Harbin to secure a beer dealership.
He was known for his arrogance, frequent brawls, and associations with hooligans, implying numerous enemies. Luo Shaochuan dismissed the idea that Li Chengyan's murder was a grand scheme, arguing that a calculated plot would target someone more influential, like Yu Daren, who had become the chairman of the Harbin Chamber of Commerce after Luo Shaochuan's father's death. Luo Shaochuan disparaged Yu Daren as someone "servile to foreign things."
Situ Yan then had a sudden revelation: both Yu Daren and Li Chengyan had ordered Meat Sauce Spaghetti. He noted that Yu Daren's pre-ordered meal would have been prepared early. Considering everyone's orders, Situ Yan suspected Yu Daren was the actual target of the murder, making it a critical development. Luo Shaochuan, realizing that a failed first attempt likely meant a second, decided to alert Chief Bao to protect Yu Daren.
Jin Qiming still had no information on Cheng Xiangjun, who had not visited any hospitals or pharmacies. A crowd converged outside Situ Yan's detective agency, clamoring for his help due to a recent newspaper article about his success in solving the girls' school case. Situ Yan, Jin Qiming, and Luo Shaochuan exited through the back, where they encountered their neighbor, Mr. He. Mr. He, recognizing Situ Yan as a detective, expressed admiration.
He confirmed his presence at Jasmine Restaurant during Moly's death but stated his food, first a preferred shredded beef dish and then a substitute of roasted vegetables and bread, was never served. Situ Yan revisited Cheng Xiangjun's hotel, where the now-recognizing owner expressed concern about Cheng Xiangjun's continued absence since leaving yesterday morning. Cheng Xiangjun had checked into the hotel on the 12th of the month.
Situ Yan instructed Jin Qiming to search for Cheng Xiangjun in other hotels, prioritizing those near large hospitals. Meanwhile, Luo Shaochuan tried to convince Chief Bao to provide protection for Yu Daren, warning that if Yu Daren were harmed, the police’s inaction would be exposed in all Harbin newspapers, stressing that this warning came directly from Situ Yan.
