You're supposed to be a security officer, what case are you solving?

Chapter 220: Contact Established! (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
The door couldn't be pushed open at all, but it could be pushed open a crack; there was something blocking it from behind.

A male villager called out from outside the door, "Gouwa, are you home?"

"Doggy, open the door."

But it was quiet inside the door, and no one responded.

Sun Peng asked, "Is anyone inside?"

The male villager replied, "There must be someone inside the house."

Are there any dogs in that house?

"No dogs."

Sun Peng looked at Yuan Hao, who sighed, chose a slightly lower section of the wall, and climbed up with both hands.

The wall wasn't high to begin with, less than two meters, so Yuan Hao easily climbed over it.

As soon as he landed, he looked up and saw a boy walking out of the house, holding a sickle and staring at him menacingly.

The boy was dirty, had long hair, and looked very wary.

Yuan Hao immediately asked, "Are you Gouwa? Don't be afraid, I'm a policeman. Do you know what a policeman is?"

The boy didn't speak, but stared intently at him, wiping his nose with his sleeve.

"We're here to see your father. He's gone, isn't he?"

Upon hearing this, the boy's expression softened, and his eyes turned red.

"Don't move, I'll open the door. We're not bad people."

Yuan Hao straightened up and pushed open the wooden latch behind the door.

Sun Peng immediately pushed open the door and walked into the courtyard.

Upon seeing the male villager behind him, the boy immediately dropped his sickle and cried out, "Uncle, my father is gone!"

The male villager went over and comforted him, "Don't be afraid, these two are police officers. They're here to see your father. Where's your sister?"

"In bed."

Sun Peng stepped forward and asked in as calm a tone as possible, "Your name is Gouwa?"

"Yes."

"Where's your mother?"

"My mom is in the kitchen."

“Take us there.”

The boy didn't move, but simply pointed to a door on the right.

Sun Peng looked over and squinted slightly. The door was very dilapidated, and half of the wall had collapsed.

Sun Peng walked over and saw that the door was unlocked. He gently pushed it open and saw that the room was dark.

A woman with disheveled hair sat where the firewood was piled up in the earthen stove.

She was wearing a floral cotton-padded jacket and drawing circles on the ground with a twig.

Her ankle was chained, but Sun Peng couldn't see where the other end of the chain was tied.

Sun Peng swallowed hard, then heard a male villager behind him say, "She went mad when she gave birth to a girl. She was mad for two years, running around everywhere and taking off her clothes in front of people. Wan Dehai had no choice but to tie her up."

Yuan Hao was young and a city dweller, so he had never seen anything like this before. He asked, "Why didn't you take him to the hospital for treatment?"

Sun Peng glared at him: "Are you going to pay me?"

Yuan Hao remained silent; he could roughly guess what was going on with this family from their situation.

Sun Peng turned around and saw Gouwa return to the house. A moment later, he brought out his two-year-old sister and sat her on a small stool under the eaves.

The little girl was also dirty, her face was red, and she was wearing a red woolen hat with a red pom-pom on top.

Sun Peng stepped forward, squatted down, looked at the little girl, and asked, "Gouwa, when did your father disappear?"

"long time."

"How long is 'a long time'?"

"I don't know."

"After your father disappeared, were you taking care of your sister all by yourself?"

Gou Wa nodded.

How did your mother go insane?

"They wanted to take my mother away..."

Sun Peng felt increasingly distressed as he listened to what Gouwa said next.

“My dad said he went to the market to buy candied hawthorns for my sister and me, but he never came back. I don’t know where he went.”

He once told me that if he wasn't home, I should lock the door and take good care of my mother and sister..."

Sun Peng nodded emphatically and touched the face of the little girl he was holding in his arms: "Good child!"

Gouwa looked up, his eyes sparkling, and asked, "Can you find my dad?"

Sun Peng couldn't answer this question, nor did he dare to tell the truth, and he didn't even dare to show the photos.

Gouwa continued, "Did he abandon us?"

"No, he didn't abandon you, I promise!"

Gouwa nodded emphatically and hugged his little sister tightly.

Sun Peng stood up and called the male villagers outside the courtyard.

"What's your name?"

The other party replied, "Wan Chunlai."

What is your relationship with Wan Dehai?

"We are distant relatives, separated by five degrees of kinship."

"Who does Wan Dehai have conflicts with in the village?"

Wan Chunlai shook his head: "He has no conflicts with anyone. Wan Dehai is hardworking and conscientious. He always backs down when things happen and never argues with anyone."

"Wan Dehai has no brothers or sisters?"

"No."

Sun Peng stroked his stubble and asked again, "Are you sure no one has a conflict with him?"

"I think should not be."

"Here's what we'll do: find a woman in the village to look after this place and take care of Gouwa and the others..."

Before Sun Peng could finish speaking, Wan Chunlai shook his head: "That won't do. We're about to start farm work, and no family has the time for that."

"I'll pay you. I'll give you ten yuan for taking care of you for a day."

Wan Chunlai thought for a moment and said, "Alright then, I'll go find my wife."

Sun Peng took out his wallet and pulled out fifty yuan to give to him: "Give them four days' worth first, and use the remaining ten yuan to buy some meat so they can eat better."

Remember, tell your wife to keep a close eye on them and not let any of the village thugs in. If I catch anyone coming to bully them, I won't let them get away with it!

"know."

"You'll be coming with us in a little while."

"where to?"

"Go see Wan Dehai."

After saying that, Sun Peng walked into the yard, came to Gouwa, and patted his head: "Gouwa, take good care of your sister and mother. I'll come back in a couple of days."

Gouwa nodded, lowered his head, and pressed his face against his sister's rosy cheeks. "Nini, don't be afraid, your brother's here, Daddy will come back..."

Sun Peng breathed a sigh of relief and led Yuan Hao and Wan Chun back to the village entrance.

Wan Chunlai ran home and told his wife to take care of Gouwa's family.

Yuan Hao sat in the passenger seat and saw two strings of candied hawthorns on the dashboard. His mind raced, and he quickly picked them up and said to Sun Peng, "Master, I'm going to do something."

Seeing his actions, Sun Peng nodded: "Go ahead."

Four p.m.

Sun Peng and Yuan Hao took Wan Chunlai to the funeral home.

After Zhang Yonggui pulled the body out of the freezer, Wan Chunlai immediately recognized it.

"Oh my god, it's Dehai! How did he die?"

Sun Peng asked, "You didn't admit your mistake?"

"How could there be a mistake? It's him."

"Let me tell you this first: when you get back, don't spread this around. Keep it a secret, understand?"

"I……"

"Can you agree?"

"Yes, I promise I won't say anything."

"Okay, you can go back now, otherwise there won't be any rides back to the village. Remember to take good care of Gouwa and his family. I'll come back in a couple of days."

"Okay, okay." Wan Chunlai didn't dare to linger and ran out in a flash.

Zhang Yonggui put the body back into the freezer, clapped his hands, and looked at Sun Peng: "You actually found out! Once you identify the body, we're not far from solving the case. Why are you looking so glum?"

Sun Peng glared at him: "I'd rather we hadn't found out this damned murderer! If I do, I'll tear him to pieces!"

“Hey, you’re swearing!” Zhang Yonggui pointed at him.

Sun Peng turned around and walked outside, saying, "I didn't curse you!"

When I returned to the municipal branch office, everyone had already left work.

Sun Peng rushed to the branch captain's office, but the branch captain, Luo Ming, had already left work. He asked the person on duty and was told that the branch captain had gone to the city in the afternoon and had not come to the branch.

Sun Peng had no choice but to return to the main office, sit in a chair, and look at the evidence on the table.

According to procedure, evidence found on the deceased should not be in his possession; it must be handed over to the evidence room or the trace evidence team and collected by designated personnel.

Sun Peng retrieved these items from the police station, but hasn't handed them over yet.

The candied hawthorns sealed in plastic were bright red and very vibrant, and the rattle drum was also brand new.

Sun Peng picked up the rattle drum, shook it twice, and it made a tinkling sound.

This rattle drum was probably bought by Wan Dehai for his daughter.

Thinking of this, Sun Peng sighed, leaned back in his chair, and put his legs on the desk.

Yuan Hao walked over, holding two packets of instant noodles: "Master, would you like some noodles? I'll make you some."

"eat."

"Yes, I'll take it." Tan Hao took the aluminum lunchbox that Sun Peng had placed on the table.

Sun Peng was thinking that he would tell the branch captain about the case tomorrow and then sort out Wan Dehai's social connections.

He was stabbed three times and struck on the back of the head. If it was a revenge killing, it was most likely done by someone from the village.

Wanjiacun must be thoroughly searched to identify any suspects!

Thinking of Gouwa, his sister in his arms, and their crazy mother, Sun Peng closed his eyes helplessly.

"Master, Master, come quick!"

Hearing Yuan Hao's voice coming from the corridor, Sun Peng impatiently opened his eyes and shouted, "What's wrong with you? Why are you so flustered!"

"Master, hurry, come and see this!"

Sun Peng put his feet down and stood up: "I've been running around all day, can't I even take a break? What's so interesting to see?"

He grumbled as he walked toward the break room, where he saw Yuan Hao holding two bags of instant noodles, looking up at the wanted poster on the opposite wall.

Sun Peng walked over, took a look, and said with a sullen face, "What's wrong? Why are you so startled? Do you know the fugitive from An'nan City?"

"No, Master, who does this person look like?"

Sun Peng impatiently looked up at the wanted poster on the wall.

He had only glanced at it at first, but the more he looked at it, the more familiar it seemed.

Yuan Hao immediately asked, "Is he round-faced, single-eyelid, and thin-lipped? Doesn't he look like Wan Dehai? Is this guy a wanted criminal from An'nan City?"

Sun Peng was stunned, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Don't make a fuss, let me think about it..."

"Master, it looks so much like it!"

"It can't be that much of a coincidence, it definitely can't be that much of a coincidence..."

Sun Peng's mind raced, and he asked, "What's the phone number for the An'nan City branch?"

“I don’t know, only Captain Lu has their phone number.”

"Call and ask right away!"

"Okay, okay."

eight pm.

In the office of the Major Crimes Unit of the An'nan City Branch, Cai Ting stood up from her chair, stretched, and said to Yang Jinwen, who was sitting at the other end, "Captain Yang, I'm off work."

Yang Jinwen nodded: "Be careful on the road."

"Okay." Cai Ting picked up the coat draped over the back of the chair, put it on, grabbed her bag, and prepared to leave.

Cat seized the opportunity and said, "Sister Cai, could you bring me two roujiamo (Chinese hamburgers) first thing tomorrow morning?"

"Row."

Cat smiled broadly: "Thank you, Sister Cai, you're getting more and more beautiful."

Cai Ting smiled and asked, "Captain Yang, are you bringing breakfast?"

Cat shrugged: "They have a loving breakfast from Forensic Doctor Wen."

Cai Ting nodded, picked up her bag, and left.

A short while later, Yang Jinwen packed his things and said to Maozi, "Let's go too."

"I thought you were busy."

"Go back to the dorm and get busy."

"Why work so hard? There haven't been any cases for over a month, can't you take a break?"

"Who said there are no cases? The identity of that unidentified corpse in Jiaxing Criminal Investigation Brigade hasn't been determined yet."

Cat said, "But they didn't report it either."

"Alright, alright, let's go." Yang Jinwen walked out of the office.

The cat followed behind him, then turned around and closed the door.

As the two were going downstairs, the landline phone rang in the empty office.

"Jingle Bell……"

"Jingle Bell……"

(End of this chapter)