The Beginning of a Courtyard House: Sixty Years of Internal Strength

Yi Zhonghai's face turned red with anger when he heard this. What the hell is this He Daqing?

Didn't we agree not to report him? He actually pulled out a report letter; he's trying to ruin himself.

This guy is really something else. Even though he was scared and his calves were starting to cramp, he still gritted his teeth and refused to admit it.

"Officer, I have no idea about Zhao Tietou or any letter of complaint."

At this point, even the police had to admire the old man; his mental fortitude was truly remarkable.

He was sweating profusely and his face was contorted in shock, but he remained stubbornly defiant.

"Yi Zhonghai, if you confess now, we can still try to get you to turn yourself in. But if you stubbornly refuse to admit it..."

"Once the handwriting analysis is done, it's a death sentence. You'd better think carefully before you answer."

When Yi Zhonghai heard that he was to be executed by being forced to eat peanuts, he was so frightened that he couldn't utter a single word. His mind went blank, and he suddenly felt a heat in his crotch and urinated.

Upon seeing this, the police intensified their offensive and slammed their fist on the table.

"Yi Zhonghai, are you going to confess or not? If you remain silent, we won't bother taking your statement; let's just go straight to legal proceedings."

After that slap, Yi Zhonghai actually came to his senses and remembered what the old lady had said.

And most importantly, if the police really had a tip-off, they could just arrest him and wait for sentencing; why would they ask him to confess?

Thinking about this, he calmed down.

"Officer, I really don't know what you're talking about. I have a grudge against this He Daqing. Maybe he's framing me. You must investigate this thoroughly."

He Daqing is no good person. He was a lackey of the Japanese back in the day. Don't believe anything he says.

Yi Zhonghai continued to argue, and his obvious calmness showed that the old man had come to his senses, and threats were probably useless now.

So we had to change our approach and bring up something else.

"Yi Zhonghai, don't you know how many bad things you've done? We've already investigated and found out everything."

If you confess voluntarily, we can try to get you lenient treatment; if you still refuse to talk, we will.

"How it will be judged at that time is uncertain."

Yi Zhonghai was clearly flustered when he heard this. He didn't know how much the police had actually found.

If I reveal too much, wouldn't that be digging a hole for myself? So I continued to be stubborn.

"Officer, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm really a good person. Everyone in the neighborhood says that I, Yi Zhonghai, am the most fair person."

You'd better investigate this thoroughly, don't wrongly accuse me.

The police officer looked at this seemingly respectable but actually cunning old fox and couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.

"Zhou Long, my former neighbor; Zhang Tie, my coworker in the same workshop three years ago; and Qian Hai, the husband of Widow Sun."

And what about He Yuzhu's master? Do you remember his apprentice named Huizi from 5 years ago?

I won't go into how many despicable things you've done, whether it's to young women, married women, widows, or any other kind of shady dealings.

There have been several cases of people suffering serious injuries and disabilities, and you say you are innocent?

"Giving you this opportunity is giving you a chance, Yi Zhonghai. Don't be ungrateful."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and he let out a deep breath.

He knew he was truly finished; he couldn't escape for decades, and he would be in prison until he died. With a heart full of despair, he spoke.

"Officer, in this situation, it's pointless for me to admit it or not."

Do whatever you want, I'm not going to admit it anyway.

"Since you've said that, there's nothing more to talk about. Think about it yourself."

After saying that, he drove Yi Zhonghai around and threw him into the detention room.

Meanwhile, Yi Zhonghai's apprentice was summoned, and the matchmaker's group also returned.

They immediately began interrogating the matchmaker, who had never seen anything like it before.

He poured out everything, including the various women he had introduced to Yi Zhonghai, but the police only found out a few of them.

After all, these are all moral issues, and both the man and woman were acting voluntarily and even paid money.

The police officers exchanged a helpless glance.

"Your problem is now in the neighborhood committee's hands. As for whether you'll be sent to a cowshed or paraded through the streets, just wait and see." With that, he released the matchmaker.

Next up are Yi Zhonghai's apprentices.

"You must be Xiao Song, Yi Zhonghai's apprentice? Tell me, what exactly happened with hiring someone to injure people?"

We've already investigated, and it all came through you, right? Yi Zhonghai has already confessed.

He said you were acting on behalf of your master to vent his anger, and that he did not instruct you to hire someone to harm others.

And several people have been crippled. You'd better think this through. If you admit to this, you could be in jail for thirty or forty years.

Xiao Wang was so scared that he wet his pants, and in his heart he cursed Yi Zhonghai.

"Officer, don't listen to Yi Zhonghai's nonsense."

It wasn't my initiative at all. He only asked me to do things once or twice, and each time he gave me a sum of money and taught me some fitter skills.

He sent me to the black market to find a broker. He had also looked for other apprentices, but they were unwilling to do it.

He gave me a sum of money each time to keep quiet.

"Who are you looking for? Tell us."

"I don't know his name. He's a guy called Rat from the Zhengyangmen black market. They're the ones who do all the work. I'm just helping out by passing on a message."

"How many incidents? When did they occur? How much money was involved? Who were they assaulted?"

Xiao Song confessed everything, and the police planned to go to the black market to look for this guy named Haozi in the next couple of days.

"Alright, here's your statement. Take a look, sign it, and put your fingerprint on it."

Xiao Song wrote his name and pressed his fingerprint on the paper with trembling hands.

"Comrade An, I'm just a messenger. Can I leave now?"

"You think you can just leave? Don't you know you've seriously injured someone?"

Xiao Song was stunned when he heard this. Wasn't it supposed to be lenient treatment for those who confess?

"Officer, this was entrusted to me by Yi Zhonghai, so don't blame me. I was really just a messenger."

"Assisting in a crime is also a crime. Haven't you heard of being an accomplice? Alright, enough nonsense, take him away."

After the police took Xiao Song away, they went to find Yi Zhonghai's wife.

Unexpectedly, Yi Zhonghai's wife was already waiting at the police station, which saved us a lot of trouble.

They took Li Cuilan directly to the interrogation room.

How much do you know about Yi Zhonghai's situation?

Li Cuilan knew immediately that Yi Zhonghai had gotten into trouble. She hoped it was nothing serious and replied nervously.

"What happened to Lao Yi? What did he do? He's a victim, officers! You can't wrong him."

At this moment, Xiao Li laughed.

"You two are really a couple, you have great chemistry, you even say the same things."

He won't shed a tear until he sees the coffin; he seriously injured so many people, and you didn't even know?

I heard you've been secretly inquiring about Zhou Long these past few days. You dare say you don't know anything about him?