Siheyuan: Hang Jia Dongxu, smash Banggeng to death!

"The story begins... two weeks ago."

Xu Damao swallowed hard. "Back then, Lin Tian's family hadn't had their accident yet. Lin's father was a worker at the steel rolling mill. He was honest and simple, and never argued with anyone..."

"Get to the point," Qin Ming reminded him.

"Yes, yes."

Xu Damao wiped the sweat from his forehead. "One day, Lin's father suddenly died in the steel rolling mill. Uncle Yi Zhonghai handled the funeral arrangements, saying it was an accident, and the factory gave him a pension."

He paused, then lowered his voice even further: "But there are rumors in the courtyard that Lin's father had a fierce argument with Yi Zhonghai before he died."

I don't know the specifics of the argument, but Lin's father was transferred from the fitter's workshop to overhaul the boiler, and he died two days later.

Qin Ming frowned: "So you suspect it was Yi Zhonghai who did it?"

"I'm not the only one who has doubts."

Xu Damao said, "Many workers in the yard have doubts, but no one dares to say anything. Yi Zhonghai is a big shot; his word is law in the yard, and he's also a level eight fitter in the factory. Who dares to offend him?"

"Go on."

"After Lin's father died, and then Lin's mother died, an old man said that she died of anger, and Lin Tian and his sister suddenly became orphans."

Xu Damao's eyes were somewhat unfocused, as if he were recalling something. "According to the rules, his guardianship should be given to a relative or the neighborhood committee, but Lin Tianjia has no relatives in Beijing. At that time, Director Wang was in charge of the neighborhood committee."

He licked his chapped lips: "Yi Zhonghai got a 'Guardianship Transfer Agreement,' saying that Lin Tian voluntarily handed over his pension to several elderly men in the nursing home for 'temporary management' in order to take care of their lives."

They also forged a rental agreement and tricked Lin Tian into putting his fingerprint on it. However, an eight-year-old child's signature and fingerprint are not legally valid, so they used the fingerprint of Lin's deceased mother to commit perjury.

"Are the people in your compound just going to watch like this?" Qin Ming asked.

Xu Damao smiled wryly: "Captain Qin, who would want to meddle in other people's business back then? Besides, Yi Zhonghai said it was for Lin Tianhao's sake, to prevent him from wasting money and being cheated."

Although we felt something was wrong, we didn't think much of it. Besides, everyone had gotten a share; the money was supposed to be held in safekeeping, but in reality, it had already been divided up.

He paused, then added, "Besides, Yi Zhonghai is an eighth-level fitter at the steel rolling mill, and he also gets more manual labor from the street office to distribute to the people in the courtyard."

Tell me, who would offend Yi Zhonghai and cut off their own benefits for the sake of an unrelated child?

Qin Ming fell silent.

This is human nature.

"And then?" he asked.

"Later, Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, the Jia family, and Director Wang of the street office divided up the Lin family's property."

Xu Damao said, "I don't know the specifics of how the money was divided, but I know that they all took money. Yi Zhonghai took the most, and he gave the Lin family's house to his apprentice Jia Dongxu."

Liu Haizhong took Lin's father's pocket watch, a portion of the compensation, and a house. Yan Bugui took cash, a house, and Director Wang also took money, along with Lin's father's job quota.

"And what about you?" Qin Ming stared at him. "Did you take it?"

Xu Damao waved his hands repeatedly: "I didn't, I really didn't. Although I'm not a good person, I won't do such a despicable thing."

However, I was outmaneuvered by Yi Zhonghai and his gang, which indirectly led to Lin Tian being beaten to death by them.

Qin Ming stared at him for a few seconds, then didn't press further: "Go on."

"Lin Tian was badly beaten and is on the verge of death."

Xu Damao's voice began to tremble, "No one suggested taking him to the hospital. They locked him in his house and left him to fend for himself. Two days later, Lin Tian died."

Qin Ming: "They were dead for two days before being sent to the crematorium?"

Xu Damao nodded: "Yes, he died two days ago. Yi Zhonghai somehow managed to get a certificate of 'natural death' and then sent Lin Tian's body to the crematorium."

However, the crematorium staff realized something was wrong; Lin Tian was still alive, so Yi Zhonghai brought him back.

"And then?" Qin Ming pressed.

"Then……"

Xu Damao swallowed hard, his eyes filled with fear. "Then strange things started happening, but... but I don't think it was Lin Tian."

Why?

"Because his eyes have completely changed."

Xu Damao's voice trembled, "The Lin Tian of the past had timid eyes and would hide from people, but after he 'came back,' his eyes were cold and he looked at people like a dead man, without any warmth."

He paused, then continued, "Moreover, Jia Dongxu died on the very first night after Lin Tian returned, and his death was gruesome."

Then, one by one, the people in the courtyard died.

First Jia Dongxu, then Bang Geng, then Liu Guangtian, Yan Jiecheng… Now, everyone except us is dead.”

Qin Ming frowned after hearing this.

He recalled a saying: Some things are beyond their control.

Some grudges cannot be avenged by the law.

Some debts must be repaid with blood.

"Captain Qin,"

Xu Damao suddenly grabbed Qin Ming's hand, his eyes full of pleading, "I'm telling the truth, you have to protect me, I don't want to die, I don't want to die as miserably as the others in the hospital."

Qin Ming nodded, signaling the recorder to give the transcript to Xu Damao for signature. Xu Damao didn't even look at it before pressing his fingerprint on it.

Stepping out of the detention cell, Qin Ming felt extremely heavy-hearted.

Back in his office, Director Zhao was waiting for him.

"What did you find out?" Director Zhao asked.

Qin Ming repeated Xu Damao's confession, and then said, "Director Zhao, I think the real Lin Tian is already dead. He was beaten to death by Jia Dongxu and Yan Jiecheng."

Director Zhao frowned: "What about Lin Tian, ​​who 'returned' later..."

"It's not Lin Tian."

Qin Ming said decisively, "It could be an evil spirit that has been resurrected, or it could be Lin Tian's lingering resentment from before his death, which has turned into a vengeful ghost to seek revenge."

Director Zhao remained silent for a long time, then lit a cigarette and took a deep drag: "No matter what it is, we must stop him from killing anymore. Now, we must protect the remaining few people."

"But how do we protect it?"

Chief Li smiled bitterly, "He appears and disappears like a ghost, we can't guard against him at all. Director Wang died as soon as he left our police station. What does that mean? It means the murderer has been watching us all along."

Qin Ming suddenly said, "I have an idea."

"What are your thoughts?"

"Since his target is someone who harmed the Lin family, who else among the remaining people was involved?"

Qin Ming analyzed, "Xu Damao said he didn't participate, only indirectly, but what about Li Zhaodi? She's Liu Haizhong's wife, so she must have known, and she might have participated as well."

Yan Jiedi is still young and probably doesn't know, and Yu Li has only been married into the family for a short time, so it's even less likely she would be involved.

Director Zhao: "So?"

"So the killer's next target is Li Zhaodi."

Qin Ming said, "As for Yan Jiedi and Yu Li, they might survive. Xu Damao... it's hard to say."

Just then, a commotion broke out outside.

Xiao Wang rushed in, panicking: "Director Zhao! Something terrible has happened! Li Zhaodi... committed suicide in the detention cell!"

The two men's expressions changed drastically, and they immediately rushed to the detention room.

Inside the detention cell, Li Zhaodi lay in a pool of blood, her forehead having slammed against the wall, leaving a large hole, with blood and brain matter spilling all over the floor.

Her eyes were still open, her gaze vacant, but a strange smile played on her lips.

Yan Jiedi and Yu Li hugged each other, trembling with fear, unable to even cry.

Xu Damao huddled in a corner, seemingly insane, muttering to himself, "He's here...he's here...he's going to kill us all...leaving no one alive..."

Looking at Li Zhaodi's corpse, Qin Ming felt a surge of powerlessness.

Who will be the next one?