Courtyard House: I, the eldest son of the Jia family, have returned from the battlefield.

Zhang Huanchun and Jia Dongming stood up at the same time, their voices resolute.

The two officers had just stepped out of the bureau chief's office, preparing to gather key personnel to discuss the details of the operation, when a young officer came running up to them, panting and pale: "Chief! Something terrible has happened! Chen Si, the one involved in the textile factory theft... he's dead in the interrogation room!"

"What?"

Zhang Huanchun abruptly stopped, his eyes suddenly sharpening. "Explain clearly! How did you die?"

"I don't know... He was kept alone, and suddenly... he stopped breathing."

The young officer reported hurriedly.

Zhang Huanchun's face darkened instantly. He turned to Jia Dongming and briefly explained, "Old Jia, it's that lost wage money from the textile factory, over ten thousand yuan. We only recovered a fraction of it."

The suspect had just been caught, but before they could get him to talk, he was gone.

I have to go check on it right away.

Jia Dongming nodded, his expression becoming solemn, and followed Zhang Huanchun's steps.

Outside the interrogation room, two police officers on guard stood at attention and saluted.

Without any pleasantries, Zhang Huanchun went straight to the point: "How did the person die? The process, the details, don't miss a single thing."

One of the officers hurriedly replied, "Reporting to the branch captain! During the interrogation, he said he felt tightness in his chest. We thought he was just playing a trick, so we temporarily stopped and let him calm down on his own."

When they went back in, the person was already slumped over, with no heartbeat.

We can guarantee that absolutely no one entered or left during this period, nor was he given any food or water.

Zhang Huanchun stared at the already stiff body on the interrogation chair, his brows furrowed.

Just then, Jia Dongming, who was standing nearby, suddenly sniffed lightly and glanced around the room: "Old Zhang, smell this room, isn't there a... floral scent?"

After being reminded, Zhang Huanchun also noticed the extremely faint, cloyingly sweet scent in the air.

He immediately turned to the guards and asked, "Where is this smell coming from?"

The officer paused for a moment, then recalled, "Oh, it was Chen Si's wife who came this morning, wanting to visit, but it wasn't approved."

She left behind a bag of clean clothes, and the smell seemed to be coming from those clothes.

Jia Dongming's eyes narrowed, and he immediately instructed the police officer, "Take some men and check all the clinics and hospitals near Chen Si's house, focusing on whether he has a history of asthma or high blood pressure."

Zhang Huanchun frowned slightly and turned to look at Jia Dongming beside him: "Deputy Captain Jia, why do you suddenly want to retrieve Chen Si's medical records?"

Jia Dongming had a faint smile on his lips: "In my opinion, Chen Si didn't die suddenly, he was silenced."

Standing to the side, Zhao Baoguo couldn't help but take half a step forward: "The fragrance of flowers can kill? This... is unheard of."

"When the fragrance of Bauhinia flowers is strong, it can trigger asthma and make your heart beat as fast as a galloping horse."

Jia Dongming spoke calmly, as if stating a daily fact: "The fine particles emitted by night-blooming jasmine are comparable to a slow-acting poison for people with fragile hearts."

The windows in the interrogation room were tightly closed, and the aroma—Chen Si had said he couldn't breathe from it, so he was probably already ill.

Lin Minghua stood there, speechless, his mouth agape.

He had handled so many cases, but he had never heard of such a method of murder.

Zhang Huanchun remained silent for a few seconds.

He had been working in criminal investigation for over a decade, and this was the first time he had ever experienced this.

But he quickly came to his senses and waved to Lin Minghua, who was still in a daze: "Don't just stand there, go to the hospital immediately to check Chen Si's medical records."

Lin Minghua snapped to attention, straightened his back, and replied, "Yes! I'll personally lead people to the clinic near his home."

After the hurried footsteps disappeared at the end of the corridor, Zhang Huanchun turned to Zhao Baoguo: "Take two men to the entrance of Chen Si's alley and keep a close eye on his wife."

Those who can use such methods to silence witnesses are definitely not ordinary people.

Zhao Baoguo nodded emphatically: "Mingbai."

Not even a fly would fly past her.

Jia Dongming shook his head slightly: "Just waiting around won't get us anywhere."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Why don't we send a message in saying that Chen Si has suddenly fallen ill and passed away?"

Once his wife receives the news, she will surely go to inform the deceased of the death—only then will it be possible to follow up properly.

Zhang Huanchun's eyes suddenly lit up, and he immediately instructed Zhao Baoguo: "Do as Deputy Captain Jia said."

"Speak naturally, so she doesn't become suspicious."

Zhao Baoguo and his men left quickly.

Zhang Huanchun then turned around and carefully examined Jia Dongming, his tone filled with emotion: "Comrade Dongming, with your discerning eye, it's really a waste for you to stay at the steel rolling mill."

The branch's criminal investigation team is in dire need of someone like you.

Jia Dongming smiled slightly, his expression humble: "Captain Zhang is too kind."

Although I held a nominal position at the factory, my name was still on the list of deputy branch leaders.

"If the team needs anything, just let us know."

Remembering the enemy spy case that was still under investigation, Zhang Huanchun patted him on the shoulder and said, "That's perfect."

"Let's go to the counter-espionage team's office and go over the arrest plan for Xiao Quanjun, Ye Quanwang, and their gang again."

When the meeting ended, the sun had already passed noon.

Jia Dongming and Zhang Huanchun walked out of the office side by side and stopped in the corridor: "Team Leader Zhang, I'll bring some people to meet up at eight o'clock tonight."

"Captain! Vice-Captain Jia is amazing!"

Just as the two reached the corner of the stairs, Lin Minghua came rushing up from downstairs, sweat still on his forehead. "Chen Sizhen has asthma and has had high blood pressure for many years. It's clearly written in her medical records!"

Although Zhang Huanchun had a premonition, he was still shocked when he heard the confirmed news.

He turned to Jia Dongming, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration: "Dongming, if you hadn't pointed this out today, the textile factory case would probably be a dead end."

Jia Dongming simply shook his head, his voice gentle: "It's just that I happen to know some obscure knowledge."

Solving the case ultimately depends on the hard work and dedication of our comrades on the front lines.

The two had already reached the gate of the branch office as they were talking.

Just as we were about to say goodbye, an old jeep came to a stop at the bottom of the stone steps.

Zhao Baoguo jumped out of the car and strode over, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement: "Team leader, we were right! Our men gave the information to Chen Si's wife, and she locked herself in and left—she went around two alleys and entered a small courtyard."

Zhang Huanchun's expression tightened: "Who's in the courtyard?"

Zhao Baoguo lowered his voice and announced a name.

Zhang Huanchun's eyes suddenly darkened.

He turned to look at Jia Dongming, who was also looking up at him.

The afternoon sun slanted into the branch office's porch, drawing a line of intertwined light and shadow between the two men.

Zhao Baoguo met Zhang Huanchun's probing gaze, his face showing barely suppressed excitement.

He took a deep breath and reported to his superior: "Team leader, the case has been solved, and the person behind it has been found—it's Li Younian from the finance department of the textile factory."

We found untouched embezzled funds at his residence, and also discovered his affair with Chen Si's wife, Liu Guihua.

Zhang Huanchun's expression suddenly turned serious. After a moment of contemplation, he ordered in a deep voice, "Take him back and interrogate him tonight. Make sure you get him to talk."

After giving his instructions, he turned around, a slight smile spreading across his previously tense face, and extended his hand to Jia Dongming: "Comrade Dongming, it's settled then, we'll meet tonight."

Jia Dongming shook his hand and laughed heartily: "Okay, Captain Zhang, see you tonight."

After leaving the Dongcheng branch, Jia Dongming mounted his old bicycle, its wheels rolling over the cobblestones as he headed straight for the Gulou Subdistrict Office.

After finding Director Chen and explaining his purpose in a few words, a brand-new property deed with the changed name was handed to him shortly afterward.

He entrusted the shop to the street office for leasing, then got on his bike and leisurely pedaled back to the steel rolling mill.

On the third floor of the security department, the office door of the Third Brigade was ajar.

Jia Dongming pushed open the door and entered. Li Aijun was bent over writing something at his desk. Upon hearing the sound, he immediately stood up straight. "Director, you're back."

"Um."

Jia Dongming walked to the window, his gaze sweeping over the empty playground below. "Any progress with Zhao Jun?"

Li Aijun shook his head: "I asked him when he came back for lunch, and he hasn't found anything useful yet."

Jia Dongming turned around, tapped his fingers lightly twice on the edge of the table, and said in a steady but firm voice: "Arrange for someone to tell Zhao Jun and the others to withdraw."

"There will be an operation tonight, in coordination with the branch's anti-espionage team, to close in."

"yes!"

Li Aijun immediately responded, then asked, "Director, what is the meeting time and place?"

"At 7 p.m., we will gather at the factory and take a bus to the branch office to meet up."

Jia Dongming glanced at the clock on the wall. "We need to be quick and discreet."

As the sun began to set, it cast a dim, yellowish glow on the mottled brick walls of the courtyard.

Yan Jiecheng dragged his somewhat weary steps into the courtyard, his shoulders still bearing the dust marks left by his odd jobs.

In the courtyard, Yan Bugui was hunched over, carefully watering the vegetable patches.

The water in the ladle flows slowly, not wasting a drop.

Hearing the noise, he looked up and pushed up his glasses that had slipped down to the bridge of his nose: "Jiecheng's back? Your mother-in-law is in the hospital, have you gone to see her?"

Yan Jiecheng stopped, tugged at the wrinkled corner of his clothes, and looked troubled: "Dad, is it appropriate to visit someone in the hospital empty-handed? But all my money... isn't it all given to the family for food every month? Where would I get any extra money to buy winter clothes?"

Yan Bugui put down the water ladle, slowly wiped his hands on his old Zhongshan suit, and said in a tone as if he had planned it all along: "It must have been hard on you."

Here's what I'll do: I'll give you a dollar first, go buy some canned fruit.

When you get your wages next month, just give me back 1.2 yuan.

Even close brothers settle accounts, so let's not mince words.

Yan Jiecheng didn't even lift his eyelids.

He grew up under his father's strict and meticulous teachings, and his ability to calculate had long surpassed his father's.

Over the years, he had secretly saved up several dozen yuan by doing odd jobs, but he kept it for emergencies or to treat himself to meat occasionally.

Asking him to take out his own money to buy nutritional supplements for Yu Li's mother is like plucking feathers from a miserly person.

Hearing her father say it was a "good deal"

Instead of agreeing to the suggestion, he smiled and said, "Dad, you can't say that."

Yu Li's mother is also your in-law's mother.

Now that your mother-in-law is in the hospital, shouldn't you, as the father-in-law, show up on behalf of the Yan family to express your condolences? If word gets out, it will show that you are reasonable and value relationships, won't it?

Yu Li's mother fell ill, and Yu Li came to borrow money, but Yan Bugui refused to budge.

If word gets out that the Yan family isn't even sending anyone to visit the sick, they'll lose face.

That's why Yan Bugui thought of pushing his son out.

But to his utter surprise, his eldest son was even more ruthless when it came to money. Not only did he refuse to go, he also returned the favor intact, thus putting him in a difficult position.

Yan Bugui felt a surge of pent-up anger rush to his head.

He slammed it shut.

With a thud, he threw the water ladle into the tin bucket, splashing water all over his trouser legs, but he didn't care. His finger trembled as he pointed at Yan Jiecheng: "Yan Jiecheng! That's your mother-in-law! Your wife's biological mother! You, as her son-in-law, are shirking your responsibilities, not even stepping out of the hospital door. Have you no shame? How are you going to face anyone in this courtyard, in this alley, from now on?"

Yan Jiecheng simply crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame, looking completely unconcerned: "Face? How much is face worth? I've already married my wife, why would I be afraid of this? But you, Dad, you're a respectable teacher at Hongxing Elementary School, the most polite and dignified person."

If people found out that your mother-in-law was hospitalized and you didn't even bother to inquire about her condition... tsk tsk, what will the teachers and students at school say about you behind your back? Your authority as a teacher will probably suffer.

"You...you bastard Dongxi!"

Yan Bugui trembled with rage, his face flushed red. "I, Yan Bugui, have lived an honest and upright life. How could I have raised such an unfilial and ungrateful wretch like you!"

Seeing his father's furious outburst, Yan Jiecheng felt no fear; instead, a hint of almost mocking calm flashed in his eyes.

He spoke slowly, his voice low but each word clear: "Dad, this is what you taught us since we were little—you won't go poor from eating or dressing, but you will go poor from not being able to plan."

I'm simply putting the principles you taught me into practice.