Siheyuan: Hang Jia Dongxu, smash Banggeng to death!

"Ruihua, Ruihua, where are you? Answer me if you hear me."

"Wife, wife..."

Xu Fugui didn't shout, but silently walked towards an alley leading to the black market. He figured he had to find people from all walks of life to find someone.

He used to be Lou Bancheng's driver and did a lot of work for the Lou family. In Beijing, everyone, from the lowest to the highest ranks, knew him as Master Xu.

Even now, he still has face.

After all, there were many people who had benefited from his kindness back then.

Footsteps came from the other end of the alley.

"What happened?"

Qin Ming arrived with seven or eight police officers upon hearing the commotion. Seeing Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong's anxious expressions, he asked, "What are you shouting for? Is someone missing?"

"Captain Qin, you've finally arrived! My wife is missing, you have to help me find her!"

Liu Haizhong grabbed Qin Ming and pleaded.

"Your wife is missing?"

"Uh-huh."

"Captain Qin, my wife and daughter are also missing. You have to help us."

Yan Bugui sobbed and pleaded as he recounted the events of that afternoon from the beginning.

He said they went to Uncle Jiu for help, leaving their wife and children at the guesthouse, and when they came back, they were all gone.

He said Yang Ruihua wasn't the kind of woman who would abandon him and run away, and neither was Li Zhaodi.

"They left in a hurry and didn't even take all their luggage."

"Comrade, they must have run into something tough, something deadly. They had no choice but to go first in order to survive."

Xiao Wang peeked out from behind Qin Ming and whispered, "Team Leader Qin, I checked with the front desk."

I just found that most of Yang Ruihua and Yan Jiedi's personal belongings were still in their room.

They didn't take their clothes or food with them; only the person was gone.

In Li Zhaodi's room, the blankets were still out in the open, and nothing had been touched.

Qin Ming turned to look at Director Li, his gaze carrying a complex meaning; it was this inexplicable situation again.

He paused for a few seconds, quickly going through all the possibilities in his mind.

Yang Ruihua and Yan Jiedi had just lost three relatives; they had no reason to abandon Yan Bugui at this time.

Li Zhaodi also had no reason to abandon her bangs.

The sudden departure and disappearance of the three was not accidental.

"Old Li."

Director Li immediately stepped forward and leaned closer: "Team Leader Qin, please speak."

"This case is getting increasingly suspicious."

Qin Ming ordered, "Li Zhaodi went in the direction of the street office. You immediately take a team and search along that route, house by house. Don't miss any alley or corner."

The rest of the group split into four groups and began searching in all four directions—east, west, south, and north—from the guesthouse. They searched every shop along the street, every abandoned house, and every nook and cranny of the alleyways.

"If we don't have enough manpower, we'll transfer more from the institute, or call some people from the courtyard house. We must find the right people."

"Yes."

Director Li turned around and waved to the police officers behind him, "Did you all hear that? Groups one and two, search along the direction of the street office; groups three and four, split into east and west routes; groups five and six, head south and north."

No alleyway, no lane entrance, no empty room should be missed. We need to be quick. Turn on all the flashlights, and make sure you have enough batteries.

"yes!"

The officers responded in unison and split into several groups, dispersing in different directions.

Qin Ming didn't go with any group. He stood still and slowly rubbed his brow with his fingers.

The deaf old lady had only been dead for a short time...

Now, three more people have mysteriously disappeared right under the noses of the police, also without any witnesses.

There was no sign of struggle, and no reasonable explanation.

Director Li said in a low voice, "Team Leader Qin, about this matter..."

"Stop talking."

Qin Ming interrupted him, not letting him finish speaking.

He knew what Director Li was going to say; it would be something similar to what he said that morning: "This case is very likely not the work of a human."

He didn't want to hear it.

It's not that I don't believe it, it's that I dare not believe it.

He is the head of the task force and the person who should be most clear-headed in this case. If even he starts to think in that direction...

This case is now completely unsolvable.

The judiciary is a place for evidence, not for supernatural beings.

"You two veterans, please stay here and wait for news. Don't wander off. Leave the rest to the police."

I'm not comfortable with you going out to search; it's obvious the culprit is targeting everyone in your courtyard.

I'm not comfortable with you going out to search. It's obvious that the evil... killer has targeted everyone in your courtyard.

If you go out to search, and something dangerous happens, our police force will be scattered and we won't be able to take care of everyone.

For the sake of the greater good, please go to the police station and wait.

Even guesthouses are no longer safe.

The fact that Comrade Yang Ruihua and Comrade Li Zhaodi left in such a hurry, without even taking their luggage, indicates that there is danger here.

They sensed the danger and left first; it's just as unsafe for you to stay here.

After hearing these words, Yan Bugui looked directly into Qin Ming's eyes.

"Captain Qin, thank you for your kindness. I know you are worried about our safety. You are a police officer, and protecting the people is your duty."

But...that's my wife, that's my child.

They are in danger; they are waiting for me.

I can't do nothing; I can't sit here like a coward.

Liu Haizhong took a step forward. "Captain Qin, the more people searching, the greater the hope. I know you're worried about our safety."

But Zhao Di is my wife, and we've been together for almost twenty years.

She gave birth to three sons for me, did my laundry and cooked for me, and endured a lifetime of hardship with me.

Now that she's gone, you can't leave me sitting here waiting. I'm her husband; I can't abandon her.

Qin Ming looked at the two men and nodded approvingly, thinking, "He's a real man."

He had seen too many victims' families; some cried and wailed, while others scattered when disaster struck.

But these two people in front of me are different.

"OK."

Qin Ming immediately resumed his decisive and official manner, "Go and search, but there are two rules: First, if you find anything suspicious, shout loudly immediately. Our people are nearby and will come over when they hear the noise."

"Second..." He turned his head and waved behind him, "Xiao Wang, Xiao Zhao."

Xiao Wang and Xiao Zhao ran over from the line and stood in front of him.

Qin Ming pointed at Yan Bugui and Liu Haizhong: "You two, each of you follow one of them. Comrade Liu Haizhong will follow Xiao Wang, and Comrade Yan Bugui will follow Xiao Zhao."

Stay close by at all times. If anything happens, blow the whistle immediately. Don't hesitate.

"Yes."

The two responded simultaneously.

Yan Bugui bowed slightly to Qin Ming: "Thank you."

Then he turned around, strode towards the neighborhood office, and shouted as he walked:

"Ruihua...Jiedi...where are you? Ruihua..."

Liu Haizhong shouted to all the alleyways in all directions, "Zhao Di... Zhao Di... Please answer if you hear me, I've come to find you, Zhao Di..."

Xiao Wang and Xiao Zhao followed behind them, shouting along, but little did they know that no one was destined to answer.

……