Siheyuan: Hang Jia Dongxu, smash Banggeng to death!

"Teacher Yan! Open the door! Our officers from the local police station and the special task force from the municipal bureau are here!"

The door was opened from the inside.

With bloodshot eyes, Yan Bugui said, "Comrades...you've arrived. Please come in, please come in quickly."

Hearing the commotion, the people in the courtyard all came out of their houses.

No one slept well that night.

But when they saw Xu Damao, who had just been lowered from the tree, everyone cried out in fear.

Jia Zhangshi, who was standing closest, was so frightened that she exclaimed, "Heavens above, Xu Damao? Xu Damao is dead too?"

Thank goodness... Thank goodness that last night my mother shared a room with the deaf old lady and the others, otherwise she would be lying on a stretcher right now.

I'm afraid I'll need another mother.

"If I had been alone last night, I would have ended up like that short-lived Xu Damao."

After saying this, Madam Jia Zhang quickly put her hands together and bowed three times to the sky, muttering incantations:

"May Guanyin Bodhisattva protect us, may our ancestors protect us, may the gods of the four directions protect us, may the Jia family be safe and sound, and may the murderer not come looking for us, Amitabha, Amitabha..."

She was truly afraid of death, genuinely terrified.

He Yushui stared intently at Xu Damao's body on the stretcher, analyzing with fear and composure: "The murderer has targeted lone individuals. Last night, Xu Damao was the only person in the entire hospital who was alone in his room."

Look, Yan Jiecheng, Jiefang, and Jie Kuang, who died last night, were caught by the murderer when they were alone in the alley.

The lone pheasant was crushed to death.

Xu Damao was alone in the house, and he was found hanged. The killer specifically targets those who are alone; this is no coincidence.

The deaf old woman cried out in anguish: "What a tragedy... what a tragedy... I've lived most of my life, what haven't I seen?"

But I've never seen anything like this before.

"God has no eyes! These young people haven't even lived enough yet, and they're gone just like that..."

As she spoke, two lines of tears rolled down her wrinkled eyes.

Liu Haizhong squeezed out from the crowd. "Captain Qin, I know you. You are the head of the criminal investigation team of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. I have seen your picture in the newspaper."

You have to stand up for my two children.

My Guangfu and Guangtian... they... they died so tragically.

They were murdered, just like Xu Damao. Captain Qin, you must catch the killer and make my two children pay with their lives. I, Liu Haizhong, kowtow to you.

He was really going to kneel down on the ground.

Qin Ming reacted quickly, grabbing his arm and lifting him up from the ground.

"Comrade Liu Haizhong, you have lost two sons, and Comrade Yan Bugui has lost three sons."

Grandma Jia lost her son and grandson, and Xu Damao also met a tragic end. In this courtyard, eight lives were lost overnight.

Eight living, breathing human lives.

This blood debt, no matter who the murderer is.

No matter what methods he used, we will definitely investigate to the end and give you an explanation, and give the people an explanation.

I'm here to stand up for everyone.

Don't be afraid, everyone. It's already dawn. The police are here, and no one can hurt you anymore.

But I also want to ask everyone to cooperate with our work. If anyone saw or heard anything last night, even if it's just a detail or something you think is insignificant, please tell us.

Solving a case doesn't rely on one or two people; it relies on everyone working together.

Every clue you provide could be key to catching the killer.

The courtyard was quiet for a moment. Some people nodded, some wiped away tears. Qin Ming's words did not dispel all the fear.

Fear is not something that can be eliminated with a few words, unless the murderer is caught, but at least it gives everyone a sense of security.

The police are here, the special task force is here, and more than thirty people are standing here. It's much better than everyone huddled in their houses, trembling with fear, last night.

Upon hearing this, Madam Jia Zhang said gratefully, "You are a just and upright official! You are a just and upright official!"

Qin Ming quickly bent down to help her up, placing his hands under her armpits to lift her from the ground.

But Jia Zhangshi continued to fall to the ground, heavy and unyielding, and could not be pulled up no matter what.

How come this old lady weighs as much as a pig?

"My son Dongxu and my beloved grandson Banggeng, they died so tragically. Dongxu was only in his early thirties and Banggeng was only seven or eight years old."

The seedling hadn't even grown up yet, and it was gone just like that.

"Your Honor, you must do justice for the Jia family! My Jia family only has Xiao Dang left, this little girl; our lineage has ended!"

Qin Ming struggled to help her up from the ground, and said gently, "Auntie, don't worry, your son and grandson's case is fine."

We will definitely get to the bottom of this. Don't be too sad; your health is the most important thing. You still have your granddaughter to take care of.

"Does the upright official keep his word?"

Jia Zhangshi wiped her face haphazardly with her sleeve, the fabric of which was soaked with tears and snot.

"You guys really think you can catch that damned bastard?"

"You keep your word."

Qin Ming nodded solemnly in assurance.

Suddenly, Jia Zhangshi stopped crying.

I came here wanting a guarantee.

"After you catch the murderer, you must treat him to peanuts. One peanut is not enough, two peanuts are not enough, you have to fire a whole magazine of them into him."

"I'll beat his head until it's split open, I'll make him die a thousand times, ten thousand times worse than my precious grandson!!!"

Director Li stepped forward to smooth things over: "Aunt Jia, don't worry, the law will severely punish the murderer."

"Go back to your room and rest first. When our comrades come to you to ask about the situation, you can tell them in detail what you saw last night."

Only then did Jia Zhangshi compromise and step aside, taking Xiao Dang from He Yushui's arms.

Qin Ming turned to face the task force and police officers from the local police station and said decisively, "Alright, everyone, get to work immediately according to the previous assignments."

Old Sun led his men to carefully examine the ground around the crooked tree and every corner of the yard.

Xiao Liu, go and be responsible for questioning the deceased's family members and neighbors, and take detailed statements.

The others followed me to the front yard to conduct a preliminary examination of Xu Damao's body, and then proceeded to review the circumstances of the other seven deceased in order.

Remember... no detail should be overlooked, and every clue should be recorded.

We need to uncover the truth of this case as quickly as possible.

"yes!"

Everyone responded in unison, dispersed, and began the intense on-site investigation.

But everyone had one question on their mind: could they really find the killer?

Or, after dark, will there be new corpses hanging on this crooked tree?

No one can answer this question.

Director Li was already prepared to take off his clothes; he was no Qin Ming.

When he sees it with his own eyes, he may not be as calm as he is now.

……