Siheyuan: Hang Jia Dongxu, smash Banggeng to death!

Lin Jianguo put the ticket into the inside pocket of his cotton-padded coat, buttoned the pocket, and then turned and walked back to the waiting hall.

When Lin's mother saw him return, her expression relaxed a little. She put Tangtang on her lap and freed one hand to hold Lin Tian's hand.

"Did you get the tickets?"

"I got it."

Lin Jianguo took out the ticket to show her, "The train is at 10:30, there are still more than 20 minutes left."

Lin's mother said, "That's good. When we get to Suzhou, let's go home first. The last time your grandmother saw Tangtang, Tangtang couldn't even walk yet."

"It can run now."

Tangtang, perched on her mother's lap, replied in a childish voice, raising her little hand to demonstrate, "I can run really fast."

Lin Jianguo smiled, reached out and ruffled his daughter's hair, then turned to look at his son.

Lin Tian sat quietly on the bench, his legs dangling over the edge and swinging gently.

His expression was calm, neither as excited as a child about to travel far away, nor as reluctant to leave home. His calmness made Lin Jianguo feel a little strange.

But he didn't think much of it.

After what happened last night, the child is probably frightened.

"Xiao Tian, ​​be good when you get to Grandma's house, and don't fight with your younger cousins."

"Know."

Lin Tian responded.

Tangtang nestled in her mother's arms, starting to feel sleepy again. Her little head bobbed up and down, and her drool smeared all over her mother's shoulder.

Lin's mother gently patted her daughter's back, humming a tuneless little melody.

Suddenly, the loudspeaker in the waiting room blared, and a female voice with static announced the next train to arrive.

……

Director Yang's office.

"Grandma, what brings you here?"

The deaf old woman got straight to the point: "Xiao Yang, you have to do me a favor and find me a safe place to stay."

Factory Director Yang did not respond.

"You must have heard about the incident at courtyard house number 95."

"Jia Dongxu and his son, the two Liu brothers, the three Yan brothers, and Xu Damao, all died. Eight of them in one night. That's too brutal."

Factory Director Yang was well aware that the news had already spread throughout Nanluoguxiang early this morning.

Several workers who lived nearby were talking about it.

He nodded, but still didn't speak, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.

The deaf old woman sighed, a rare hint of fear flashing in her cloudy eyes. "Xiao Yang, you have to help me."

Factory Director Yang remained silent for a long time. He owed the deaf old lady a favor, but this matter was too big.

The courtyard at No. 95 is now under the surveillance of the Public Security Bureau and the Municipal Bureau's special task force. It's a case involving eight lives, and anyone who gets involved will be in trouble.

Arranging accommodation for the deaf old lady is not difficult, but what if he is accused of harboring a witness and interfering with the investigation? Would he still be able to remain the factory director?

His intuition told him he couldn't help.

After thinking for a moment, Director Yang said in a deep voice, "Grandma, after this matter, we are even."

The deaf old woman readily agreed without any hesitation: "Okay, it's cleaned up."

Saving your life is the most important thing.

As for the matter of the people in the courtyard seeking a master to exorcise demons, let Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong handle it. I'm too old to get involved with the young people.

She doubted whether the evil spirit could be eliminated.

That's really too fierce.

I've lived for so many years and never seen anything so ferocious.

Seeing that she agreed so readily, Director Yang no longer hesitated, got up, walked to the door, and called out, "Secretary Wang."

Secretary Wang opened the door and came in, and Factory Director Yang gave him a few instructions.

Secretary Wang listened and nodded, then turned around and helped the deaf old lady out of the office.

When she reached the top of the stairs, the deaf old lady suddenly stopped.

Where is Cuilan?

She looked around; there was no one else in the corridor except Secretary Wang.

She clearly remembered telling Wang Cuilan to wait outside before she went in, so why is she nowhere to be found?

"Where's the person who came with me?"

Secretary Wang shook his head: "I was outside the whole time and didn't see anyone. That old lady saw you to the door and then left."

gone?

The deaf old lady was stunned for a moment.

They've left, so be it. Everyone else is busy making a living, and there's nothing I can do about it anymore.

She sighed, shook her head, and muttered to herself, "What a pity, such a good maid."

Secretary Wang helped her downstairs and headed towards the residential area behind the factory.

……

The back alley of Ruifuxiang Silk Shop.

"The deaf old lady said last night that she wanted to ask Third Master for help."

"I know."

Liu Haizhong rubbed his face. "She said Third Master knows these things."

"Let's go."

The two walked through several alleys, turned into a narrow lane, and stopped in front of a small, peeling vermilion door.

The brass rings on the door were rusted green, the threshold was worn down by countless footsteps, and several newspapers, torn by the wind, were stuffed into the crack of the door.

Yan Bugui raised his hand and knocked three times.

There was no movement inside.

He knocked three more times.

An old man opened the door and asked, puzzled, "Who are you looking for?"

"Third Master, we were introduced by the deaf old lady."

Yan Bugui said respectfully, "I would like to ask you for a favor."

Third Master squinted at him for a while, then looked at Liu Haizhong standing behind him, before inviting him into the courtyard.

"The deaf old lady?" Third Master ushered them into the house, pointing to two benches. "Is she in good health?"

"fine."

Yan Bugui sat down on the bench, his back ramrod straight. "Third Master, we've come about the matter of the courtyard house at number ninety-five."

Third Master was about to pour tea when he heard this and stopped.

"Eight people died in our compound last night."

Liu Haizhong chimed in from the side, "Jia Dongxu and his son, my two sons Guang, Teacher Yan's three sons, Xu Damao, that's eight."

The old woman and her companions witnessed the evil spirit's attack. The deaf old woman said, "You understand these things, and we'd like to ask you for help in exorcising the demon."

Third Master placed the teapot on the table but did not pour any tea.

Yan Bugui pleaded, "We would like to ask you to come over and take a look, to see if there is anything unclean."

We're really out of options. The police have been investigating all morning and haven't found any leads..."

Before he could finish speaking, Third Master's expression changed.

"Get out."

Yan Bugui was stunned: "Third Master..."

"I told you to get out."

Third Master rushed to the corner, bent down and picked up a manure bucket, which was half-filled with night soil and reeked of foul odor.

He turned around and splashed the excrement at Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong. The two were so frightened that they jumped back. The excrement splashed onto the bench where they had just been sitting, and the splattered filth stained Liu Haizhong's trouser legs.

The room was immediately filled with a nauseating stench.

"roll!"

Third Master brandished the manure bucket as if it were a divine weapon, shouting, "Trying to harm me? No way!"

Yan Bugui was forced to the doorway, backing away while raising his hands in an attempt to explain: "Third Master, please listen to me..."

"I won't listen!"

Third Master didn't give him a chance to speak at all, and the manure bucket swung over again, this time almost hitting Yan Bugui on the head.

He pressed on relentlessly, driving the two men from inside the house into the yard, and then from the yard to the gate.

Then he stood at the doorway, using a bucket of excrement to block his view.

……