Siheyuan: Hang Jia Dongxu, smash Banggeng to death!

Sha Zhu's eyes turned fierce again, even more so than before.

He gently helped Qin Huairu to lean against the wall, then turned and walked step by step toward the bed.

"He Yuzhu! Stop right there! What do you want?"

Officer Han shouted sternly, but there was already a slight, barely perceptible tremor in his voice.

She was just a young police officer in charge of household registration, facing a burly man who was clearly out of his mind...

At this critical moment—

"Bang!"

The door was pushed open forcefully.

"Don't move! What are you doing?" Chief Li's furious shout echoed through the room as he gripped his pistol.

Qin Ming rushed in right after him, his face ashen and his eyes sharp as knives.

Startled by the shout, Sha Zhu stopped in his tracks and instinctively raised his hands, stammering, "I...I didn't..."

"Nothing much?"

Chief Li strode forward and twisted Sha Zhu's arm behind his back. "Trying to commit a crime in front of the police in the police station? He Yuzhu, you've got some nerve."

Qin Ming quickly scanned the entire scene: Officer Han stood in front of the bed, his face pale but his eyes resolute; Lin Tian tightly hugged his crying sister, his little face pale with fright.

Qin Huairu slumped against the wall, his eyes vacant; while Sha Zhu, who had been subdued, still had a lingering ferocity on his face.

"Xiao Han, what's going on?" Qin Ming asked knowingly.

Officer Han took a deep breath and quickly reported: "Reporting to Captain Qin, Comrade Qin Huairu suddenly barged in, first kneeling down and begging Lin Tian to spare her daughter, and then spouting some feudal superstitious nonsense."

After my warnings went unheeded, she suddenly tried to attack Lin Tian, ​​but I stopped her.

Then, at the instigation of Comrade Qin Huairu, Comrade He Yuzhu attempted to murder the two children.

"I didn't!" Sha Zhu struggled to explain, "I just wanted to scare them..."

"frighten?"

Chief Li tightened his grip, causing Sha Zhu to wince in pain. "You call that scare? I've been a policeman for twenty years. I can tell the difference between scare and someone who really wants to kill."

Qin Ming walked up to Qin Huairu, squatted down, and stared into her eyes: "Comrade Qin Huairu, you just said that you would let He Yuzhu help you avenge Lin Tian and his sister, and that you would be his woman from then on—did you say that?"

Qin Huairu's eyes darted away, her lips trembled, and she dared not answer.

"Answer me!" Qin Ming's voice suddenly became stern.

"I...I was just confused for a moment..."

Qin Huairu finally burst into tears, "My Xiaodang is missing... I'm going crazy... Captain Qin, please, please help me find Xiaodang..."

Qin Ming stood up and said coldly, "Finding the child is the police's job, but you openly instigated murder, and right here in the police station—Xiao Han, handcuff her."

Officer Han was taken aback: "Captain Qin, this..."

"Cuff me!"

Qin Ming stated unequivocally, "Promoting feudal superstition, defaming others, attempting to harm children, and instigating murder—which of these charges is insufficient to warrant her arrest?"

Without further hesitation, Officer Han took out handcuffs and snapped them onto Qin Huairu's wrists.

Although she felt sorry for Qin Huairu's plight, she was not a saint; they had just tried to hurt them.

The icy touch sent a shiver down Qin Huairu's spine. She seemed to snap back to reality, staring in horror at the handcuffs on her wrists.

"No...no...I didn't mean to, I just really wanted to take advantage of Xiao Dang..."

Qin Ming ignored her and turned to Sha Zhu: "He Yuzhu, you are suspected of attempting to harm a minor and attempted murder. You are now being detained in accordance with the law. Director Li, lock them up first and have someone keep a close eye on them."

Director Li knew what he meant; he wanted to keep Qin Huairu and Sha Zhu under their watchful eyes. Enough people had already died in the No. 95 courtyard.

Transferring people won't protect them, so locking them up in the police station won't work. They don't believe the killer could or would dare to commit the crime inside the police station.

If someone can still be harmed despite such layers of protection, then it must truly be the work of evil spirits.

"I refuse to accept this!"

Sha Zhu struggled to his feet, "These two brats were the ones who harmed people first. They must have killed Sister Qin's child."

"Where's the evidence?"

Qin Ming countered, "Do you have evidence to prove that Lin Tian, ​​an eight-year-old child, and his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Tangtang, could go out and kidnap and murder a two-year-old toddler while under 24-hour police supervision?"

Silly Pillar was speechless.

"Without evidence, it's a frame-up."

Qin Ming said slowly and deliberately, "Moreover, even if there is evidence, you should call the police and let them handle it. If you take action privately, that is illegal and criminal."

Director Li has already had someone push Sha Zhu out the door.

Sha Zhu turned around unwillingly and saw that his Sister Qin was also being escorted away by Officer Han.

Qin Huairu turned and glanced at Lin Tian, ​​her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions—resentment, hatred, despair, and deep fear.

The duty room finally returned to silence.

Lin Tangtang was still sobbing softly, and Lin Tian gently hugged and comforted her.

Qin Ming walked to the bedside, looked at the two children, and softened his tone: "You must have been terrified?"

Lin Tian nodded, then shook his head: "With Uncle Qin and Sister Han here, I'm not afraid."

Qin Ming gave him a deep look. This child... was too calm.

The scene just now would frighten even an adult, let alone an eight-year-old child.

Lin Tian's face was a little pale, but there was no real fear in his eyes.

Most importantly, he knows what "defamation" is. Does an eight-year-old know that?

Many children only know how to play with mud, and most adults don't know this, unless they are law students or police officers.

"I'll stay here with you tonight."

Qin Ming pulled up a chair and sat down. "Xiao Tian, ​​tell your uncle the truth, does the Jia family's affair have anything to do with you?"

Lin Tian looked up, his clear black and white eyes filled with confusion: "Uncle Qin, I don't understand... Their family members are missing or dead, why are they all looking for me? I'm only eight years old..."

Qin Ming stared at him for a few seconds, then finally sighed and patted his head: "Yeah...maybe I'm overthinking it. Let's rest, it's getting dark."

Lin Tian nodded obediently and hugged his younger sister, Tangtang.

This is just the beginning.

Qin Huairu... Do you think kneeling down and begging for mercy will do any good?

When your whole family bullied us siblings, did you ever think about today?

When you and Yi Zhonghai plot to harm me and my sister, you should be prepared.

"Xiao Han, you will stay with the two children tonight and take care of them. I will come over later to help take care of them. I will have someone bring you food in a little while."

Qin Ming gave instructions and left two more police officers to guard outside the door. Since they suspected that the crime was committed by evil spirits transformed from Lin Tian's parents, they had to protect the brother and sister well.

She was curious to see what the evil spirits looked like.

Also, why did Lin's father and mother kill so many people in the courtyard?

What inhumane things did the people in the courtyard do to the Lin family?

It seems necessary to invite everyone to the police station for a chat.

"Yes, Captain Qin! I will take good care of Xiaotian and Tangtang."

After what just happened, Officer Han's affection for Lin Tian increased, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he regarded him as a younger brother.

If Lin Tian weren't a child, he probably could have won her heart. No woman can resist a man who would risk everything for her, even if he's a young man.

After Qin Ming and Director Li left the duty dormitory, Director Li led the group toward the hotel where Yan Bugui's family lived.

Qin Ming ordered most of the police officers to continue searching for Xiao Dang, since it was a matter of life and death. As for interrogating Qin Huairu and Sha Zhu, he said...

With so many people at the police station, there are plenty of people to interrogate them.

Interrogate me? I'm not afraid of anything!

Inside the small, dark room.

Sha Zhu sat angrily next to Qin Huairu. He hadn't killed Lin's parents, so what was he afraid of?

He's not afraid of anything!

Lin Tian's death was somewhat related to him.

But Lin Tian, ​​that brat, is full of energy right now, so he refused to answer.

……