Siheyuan: Hang Jia Dongxu, smash Banggeng to death!

Not long after.

A series of hurried footsteps and the sound of bicycle bells came from the alley entrance, and several police bicycles stopped at the alley entrance.

Chief Li jumped out of the back seat, straightened his hat which had been blown askew by the wind, and was followed by more than a dozen police officers.

Some were carrying notebooks, while others were carrying toolboxes.

"Shallow the area."

Director Li's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable calmness that reassured everyone: "No one should go near that tree."

The police officers quickly set up a cordon, with yellow tape encircling the crooked old locust tree.

Several police officers began taking photos as evidence, their flashes blinking in the morning light.

Five or six police officers set up a ladder and carefully lowered the three bodies down from the tree.

Each time a body was placed down, the crowd gasped softly.

"Lie it flat, don't move it."

Chief Li squatted beside the body, his gaze sweeping over Jia Dongxu's face, then over Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu's, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Let's register the person first. Who discovered it?"

He stood up and glanced at the crowd outside the police line.

Yan Bugui squeezed out of the crowd, his steps a little unsteady: "It's me, Director Li. I was the first to spot him."

He swallowed hard. "I was sleeping soundly when I suddenly heard screams coming from outside the yard. When I got dressed and opened the door, I found the three of them hanging from the tree."

I was scared, so I quickly woke up the people in the yard and had my eldest son call the police.

Director Li nodded, took out a notebook from his pocket and scribbled a few notes: "Teacher Yan, you did a great job."

Besides that scream, did you hear anything else?

For example, footsteps, voices, or sounds of fighting?

His pen hovered over the paper, awaiting Yan Bugui's reply.

Yan Bugui frowned and thought for a moment: "No, all I heard was a scream, very short, like someone covered my mouth."

Then it became quiet.

I thought it was just the cat meowing in heat, so I got up to check on it. Who would have thought something like this would happen?

After taking notes, Director Li looked up at him again and asked, "When you came out, was the gate closed or open?"

"It's locked."

Yan Bugui answered quickly, "It took me a while to unlock it, but the lock wasn't broken; it's normal."

Director Li lowered his head and scribbled a few more notes, then looked up at the crowd: "Are Liu Haizhong, Liu Guangtian, and Liu Guangfu's family members here?"

"Yes! Yes!"

Liu Haizhong squeezed out of the crowd, took a few steps to Li, and almost rushed into the cordon.

A police officer stopped him. He paused, his voice hoarse, with the dryness that comes after crying:

"Director Li, you must find out who did this. My two sons are gone overnight."

Second Aunt Li Zhaodi followed behind, her hair loose, her eyes red like two ripe peaches.

She knelt down with a thud, her knees hitting the bluestone slab with a crisp, muffled sound. "Your Honor, you must avenge my sons! They died such a terrible death..."

Director Li bent down to help her up: "Get up first, let's talk this out."

He waited until Li Zhaodi was helped up by the people next to her before asking again, "Do Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu usually have any enemies?"

Who do you have a grudge against? Are there any enemies at school or factory?

Liu Haizhong rubbed his eyes: "No, really no. My two sons aren't very good at studying, but they never cause trouble."

Compared to their older brother Liu Guangqi, the two of them were incredibly timid; they wouldn't even dare kill a chicken. How could they possibly have made enemies?

Chief Li nodded, then turned to the officer beside him and said, "Go investigate the school and factory to see if they've had any conflicts with anyone recently."

"Yes."

One of the officers responded and rode away on his bicycle.

Jia Zhangshi had been waiting on the side. As soon as Liu Haizhong finished speaking, she suddenly rushed out from the crowd and cried out, "Director Li!"

"You must avenge my son! He died such a tragic death. How are we, a widow and her son, going to survive now?"

She cried a few times, then suddenly stopped crying, as if she had remembered something important, and her voice suddenly lowered.

"By the way, I know who the murderer is."

"Who is it?"

Director Li's gaze fell on her face.

"It's Lin Jianguo."

Jia Zhangshi suddenly pointed in a direction in the crowd, her fingertips trembling slightly. "My son took some scrap iron from the steel mill to sell, and he's fixated on it, insisting on reporting him."

He must be the murderer!

No one but him would harm my son.

What?

Lin Jianguo?

Yi Zhonghai stood at the back of the crowd, his brow twitching slightly before quickly regaining his composure.

A bad teammate can't carry you.

Jia Dongxu is dead. By revealing that Jia Dongxu stole scrap iron from the steel mill, are you trying to avoid taking over Jia Dongxu's work quota at the steel mill?

Besides, did Lin Jianguo kill Jia Dongxu?

Even a dog wouldn't believe it.

Lin Jianguo has promised not to report it. He's a stubborn person; once he agrees, he won't, unless he gets caught again.

Forget it, forget it. Jia Dongxu is dead. I'll take care of my elderly parents now. Let the Jia family's affairs be what they are.

He gave up on the Jia family.

The person is already dead.

We must cut our losses in time.

Luckily, there's a backup plan, you silly Zhu.

Director Li frowned slightly and turned to the direction Jia Zhangshi was pointing: "Who is Lin Jianguo?"

"I am."

Lin Jianguo walked out of the crowd, his steps unhurried, and stood in front of the cordon. His voice was steady, and his gaze did not look away.

"Director Li, I am innocent. Jia Zhangshi is slandering me. I did know that Jia Dongxu was stealing scrap iron and I thought about reporting him, but later Yi Zhonghai talked to me and gave the young man a chance. I have already agreed not to pursue the matter any further."

"I, Lin Jianguo, keep my word. Since I promised, I won't bring up past grievances, much less kill anyone."

Lin's mother also stepped out from the crowd and stood beside her husband: "Director Li, I can testify."

My husband and I shared a bed all night; he didn't get up once.

"Jia Zhangshi is making baseless accusations; she just wants to find someone to pay for her son's death so she can extort money from him."

Lin Tian peeked out from behind his mother and stood next to his father's legs. "Uncle Police, my father is innocent. That old pig Jia Zhangshi is biting people indiscriminately."

"You brat, you're talking nonsense."

Jia Zhangshi angrily retorted, "It was you, Lin Jianguo, who killed my son! My son was always kind to others. If you're the only one who wants to report him, who else could it be but you?"

"I don't."

Lin Jianguo repeated the explanation again.

Qin Huairu stood to the side holding the stick, while Xiao Dang could only cry.

Director Li said, "Whether or not it is the murderer, we will investigate. It's not a matter for anyone to decide on their own."

Jia Zhangshi threw a tantrum, saying, "Old Jia, Dongxu, look! Director Li is protecting the murderer! Quickly take Lin Jianguo and the others away!"

Director Li was utterly exasperated. It was like a scholar encountering a soldier – reason was useless.

Especially this kind of shrew.

He scoffed, "Jia Zhangshi, promoting feudal superstition is illegal, do you know that?"

Jia Zhangshi was startled, and Qin Huairu quickly pulled her back, saying, "Mom, stop making a scene. It will affect the police's approval to file a report."

Director Li gave Qin Huairu an approving look, thinking, "There's someone who understands things."

He turned to Jia Zhangshi, his tone several degrees colder than before: "Jia Zhangshi, do you have any evidence to support your accusation that Lin Jianguo committed murder?"

"I..." Madam Jia opened her mouth, then closed it again.

"Without evidence, it's a false accusation."

Director Li's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable force: "If you continue to promote feudal superstition, falsely accuse people, or spread rumors in front of me, I will really have someone send you to the neighborhood office for ideological reform."

Jia Zhangshi's face turned pale instantly.

Chief Li turned around and said to the police officer next to him, "Send the body back to the station for forensic examination."

The area has been cordoned off; no one is allowed to approach.

Also, investigate Jia Dongxu's theft of scrap iron at the steel rolling mill and see if there are any other witnesses.

"We must investigate all leads; we cannot rely on just one side of the story."

The officers got to work.

Director Li stood under the crooked old locust tree and looked up at the bare branch.

The moonlight shone on the rough bark, making the old locust tree look like it was baring its fangs and brandishing its claws.

The three bodies covered with white sheets on the ground were lifted onto stretchers one by one.

One of the fingers peeking out from under the white cloth was slightly bent, which was quite eerie.

……