Restarting life by going to the countryside to support medical work

Chapter 646 Beginning

"Hello, Comrade Zhao Guodong, what can I do for you?"

"Um...Duty officer, I'd like to ask, who is the person who assisted Yangchao District in handling the case of the **street office finance office along with General Manager Jin? And how can I contact him?"
I have some... well, I'm not sure if it's related to the case, that I want to mention.

"Is it related to the case in Heyangchao District?" The duty officer sounded somewhat surprised.

"To be precise, I'm not entirely sure whether what I know is related to the case."

"Oh, I see. That's perfect. Section Chief Fang is on duty tonight. Just call this number **** and he'll assist the Yangchao branch in investigating the case. You can tell him anything you need."

"OK, thanks!"

"You're welcome. I should thank you, Comrade Zhao Guodong, for providing relevant information about the case."

"We don't need to thank each other like that, we're all family."

"Haha, yes, we're all family."

"Then I won't bother you any longer. I'll call Section Chief Fang."

"it is good"

After hanging up the phone, Zhao Guodong lit another cigarette. While smoking, he organized his thoughts in his mind before picking up the phone and dialing the number provided by the duty officer.

This time, the call wasn't answered as quickly as it would have been from the duty room; it rang four or five times before being picked up.

"Hey"

The voice coming through the receiver sounded extremely tired; it was obvious without asking that Section Chief Fang was sleeping in his office.

According to the rules, staff on duty are not allowed to sleep at night. If they are on duty tonight, they can sleep during the day the next day. However, the criminal investigation team is busy and there is no time to catch up on sleep the next day.

Section Chief Fang, for example, is on duty tonight and will be assisting the Yangchao branch in investigating a case tomorrow morning. He has no time to catch up on sleep and can only take a nap while things are relatively quiet now. This situation is tacitly approved by his superiors.

However, once a case arises, he must get up; he cannot afford to waste time.

"Hello, Section Chief Fang, I am Zhao Guodong from the Criminal Investigation Brigade of Pingchang County Public Security Bureau."

"Pingchang County Bureau? Zhao Guodong? Who is the instructor of the Second Squadron under your brigade?" Section Chief Fang was very vigilant and did not accept who it was, but instead asked a question in return.

"Section Chief Fang, our Second Squadron's instructor is Dong Heping."

"I'm sorry, Comrade Guodong, but I can't see you, and we've never met before, so this is the only way I can test you."

"I understand. People in our line of work should indeed be more cautious."

"Yes, thank you for understanding, Comrade Guodong. I wonder why you called..."

"Oh, Section Chief Fang, it's like this. I went on a business trip to Northeast China with my supervisor on the 24th and just got back on the night of the 30th."

Hearing this, Section Chief Fang felt even more relieved. Although it was not uncommon for the criminal investigation team to go on business trips, the fact that the dates were specified so precisely meant that it would be difficult for anyone other than an insider to find out the details.

"I'm also on duty tonight. Just now in the duty room, I overheard some colleagues talking about the case that happened in Yangchao District on the 25th. I heard them describe the general details of the case, and I felt that some parts were a bit strange."

"Something's strange?" Before Zhao Guodong could finish speaking, Section Chief Fang on the other end of the phone spoke up.

"Comrade Guodong, I'm not sure which parts you're referring to as strange?"

"Regarding the method of murder, Section Chief Fang, I knew one of the two victims, An Hongwei. He almost ended up in our Public Security Bureau back then."

Following that, Zhao Guodong recounted over the phone how he met An Hongwei and how they had kept in touch over the years.

This time, Old Fang on the other end of the phone did not interrupt him, but listened carefully.

"Section Chief Fang, this is how I know An Hongwei. I'm calling you mainly to discuss the murder method. I want to confirm with you again whether one of the victims was stabbed in the heart with a dagger held in his right hand while his left hand covered his mouth, and the other victim was stabbed in the heart with the dagger held in his right hand?"

"Right, that is it."

“Phew… Section Chief Fang, I once told An Hongwei about a case that happened during the Republic of China era. The murder method used in that case was very similar to the murder method used in this case in Yangchao.”

"Comrade Guodong, please wait a moment."

"Section Chief Fang, please speak."

"Comrade Guodong, how old are you this year?"

Thirty-seven years old

"Then how did you know about the case that happened during the Republic of China era?"

"Oh, I forgot to mention, my grandfather was a policeman back then, and he was the one who handled that case. I heard about it from him. The case happened in Shizhuang City, and our family only came to Beijing in 1948."

As you know, my grandfather never told anyone about his past experiences. I think no one in Beijing knows the details of the case that happened in Shizhuang.”

Section Chief Fang remained silent for a while on the other end of the phone before finally speaking, just when Zhao Guodong thought the call might have been disconnected.

"Comrade Guodong, are you sure you haven't mentioned that case from the Republican era to anyone else?"

"determine"

"Then why did you tell An Hongwei this?"

"Oh, that was... If we're talking about now, it was last year, around July or August, during the summer. I went to Yangchao to investigate a case and happened to run into him. He insisted on having dinner with me. While we were chatting at the table, he asked me what cases I had handled. He wasn't in our system, so I didn't want to tell him too much about the cases. I just casually mentioned the case I had heard about from my grandfather."

"Comrade Guodong, have you told An Hongwei anything else, such as... counter-surveillance techniques or the like?"

"Counter-surveillance techniques? No, why would I tell him about that? I've never told him anything. In the past twenty years, we haven't had much contact. We've only exchanged letters occasionally and met no more than five times. That's only because his family and my family are both in Wenchong."

"You said that An Hongwei was also recruited and trained by the Municipal Bureau in 1960, just like him. How long did he train back then?"

“I remember it was about three months. At that time, we trained together for six months and then went our separate ways. He probably quit when the training was just halfway through.”

"Okay, Comrade Guodong, I understand. It's still unclear whether the information you provided is related to the case. We will investigate and find out. Someone will definitely come to talk to you and take your statement. We hope you can cooperate."

"Don't worry, Section Chief Fang, I will definitely cooperate." "Okay, then let's call it a day?"

"I'm sorry to bother you, Section Chief Fang."

"It's not a bother at all; thank you for providing us with the information."

Section Chief Fang had now fully regained his senses. After hanging up the phone, he picked up the now-cold tea on the table and gulped down several mouthfuls. After putting down the teacup, he lit a cigarette, his mind racing with thoughts of whether what Zhao Guodong had mentioned on the phone was related to Yang Chao's case.

No, it should be said that there is definitely a connection, because ordinary people would never think of such a method of committing a crime.

Thinking of this, he grabbed the phone on the table and started dialing. He had just dialed two digits when he suddenly realized something. He turned his head and looked at the clock on the wall, which clearly showed that it was 2:15 a.m., the middle of the night!
He seemed to only just realize what was happening, blinking to make sure he hadn't misread the time, then glanced at the dark window before putting the phone receiver back on the landline.

"Forget it, let's wait until it's light before we talk about it," Old Fang muttered softly.

After hanging up the phone, he turned around and walked to the wire bed set up in the middle of the office, where he lay down again. He still had to investigate the case after dawn, so he had to make the most of his time to get some rest.

……

Meanwhile, in the temporary detention room inside the Yangchao Branch Criminal Police Team compound, Wang Hongyang sat on the ground against the wall, turning his head to look at the window, which was at least three meters off the ground and only the size of a palm. He greedily peered through the small opening, which could hardly be called a window, but was more like a hole, at the dark sky outside.

He never imagined that he would spend New Year's Day in 1981 here in this way.

Ugh……

Wang Hongyang sighed deeply, lowered his head, and covered his face with his hands.

He didn't know if he could ever leave this place, nor did he know how much evidence the police had. In short, he was starting to regret it.

He went through so much trouble, and before he could even enjoy anything, he was arrested. He didn't even know what he had done for all that effort. Was it just to challenge himself and see if he would get arrested?

Wang Hongyang shook his head with a wry smile.

The ancients were right: greed knows no bounds.

But what's the use of regretting it now?
He can only take a gamble now, betting that the police have no evidence.

He was unaware that his mentor, Pan Debao, had also been arrested, and that the 30,000 yuan he had hidden there had been taken away.

What he didn't know was that the reason the police hadn't subjected him to intensive interrogation yet was simply because they wanted to find evidence that An Hongwei and Li Zhaoming were involved in the case.

After all, what he said about those two people was not convincing at all, and the victim's family would not believe it at all.

Wang Hongyang sat there, pondering and recalling the interrogation he had just experienced.

Since he had decided to gamble, he naturally had to be prepared. He felt that if the interrogations were like the ones before, he could still handle it, even though the policeman's gaze seemed to see right through him.

He believed that as long as he remained steadfast in his refusal to confess, the police would be powerless to do anything to him.

But what if they want to use underhanded tactics against themselves?
Although he had never been to a police station, he had heard many people who had been arrested talk about their experiences being interrogated by the police while playing cards.

There are all sorts of opinions, but they can be summarized in sixteen characters: "Confess and you'll be treated leniently; rot in jail; resist and you'll be punished severely; go home for the New Year."

He didn't know if it was true or just people joking, but after thinking about it for a while, he decided to give it a try.

He wanted to see if he could withstand the police interrogation.

What he didn't know was that when the criminal police team from Yangchao Branch went to the garage that Pan Debao from the transportation company mentioned to retrieve the 30,000 yuan, they saw the crowbars on the side of the garage and called over the transportation company's leader, who then collected all the crowbars from their company after numbering them.

Meanwhile, investigators learned from a staff member of the transportation company that Wang Hongyang had borrowed two crowbars from them on the 23rd or 24th, and returned them the next day or the third day after borrowing them.

Upon hearing this news, the investigators felt much more at ease. If they could find the crowbars, and confirm that they were the same two used to pry open the safe, that would be irrefutable evidence.

So what was the murder weapon?

If Wang Hongyang knew that the police had found the 30,000 yuan and were about to find the crowbar he used to break into the safe, it's hard to say whether he would still have the will to resist to the end.

Finding the two murder tools among several crowbars is definitely not possible with the naked eye; they need to be sent to the laboratory for testing.

On the last night of 1980, some people slept soundly with their wives' soft bodies in their arms, while others couldn't sleep all night.

……

On New Year's Day, 1981, at 9:00 a.m., with an order from Li Yancheng, a 100-day campaign to improve social order was officially launched.

At 10:00 a.m., he arrived at the Yangchao Branch Bureau, making it his first stop to check the implementation of the operation. After extending his regards to the comrades who were still working on the front line during the holiday, he spoke with the members of the branch bureau's leadership team. Then, at around 11:00 a.m., accompanied by the branch bureau chief, he went to the criminal investigation team, where he met Wang Hongyang, who was being interrogated.

"Director Li, Director Sun..."

Jin Zhihai didn't come today. The interrogation was conducted by the comrades from the pre-trial section of Yangchao Branch Bureau. Captain Duan of the Criminal Police Team and Section Chief Fang of the General Team sat on the side listening.

Originally, Li Yancheng hadn't planned to come to the criminal investigation team. He was going to visit the two central districts of the city, east and west, and then go to headquarters at 3 p.m. and then to the city at 4:30 p.m. to give his first work report to the leaders.

You could say he was extremely busy today and didn't have any spare time at all.

After talking with the leadership team of Yangchao Branch, he suddenly had a whim to come and see the Criminal Investigation Team, which led to his trip.

When he saw the leader come in, Section Chief Fang of the brigade did not rush forward. He knew very well how difficult it was for the people below to see the leaders of the municipal bureau. He had finally encountered an opportunity to report on his work, and there was no need for him to rush up and grab it.

In his view, since Director Li was also serving as the head of the brigade, which meant he was his direct superior, he had plenty of opportunities to report on his work, so he didn't want to join in the fun today.

"This is... Wang Hongyang?"

Upon entering the interrogation room, Li Yancheng glanced at the suspect being questioned. He had seen Wang Hongyang's photo before, so he recognized him at a glance.

"Yes, Director Li, he is Wang Hongyang, the driver of the **street office, and also the suspect in the murder and theft case at the finance office."

"What's the situation now? Are there any empty rooms next door? Captain Duan, tell me about the current situation."

"Director Li, this way please."

(End of this chapter)