Rebirth in a Courtyard: I Am a Little Hunter

Liu Fuguo was also startled by Xiao Wu's report. Over five thousand yuan was no small sum. Shocked and anxious, he exclaimed, "Five thousand three?! Where is the person who reported the crime? Let's go, we need to get there right away!"

After Wu Zhengmin gave a brief report, the two walked together toward the duty room, never expecting to encounter such a scene while on duty today!

Upon arriving at the duty room, seeing the flustered Yi Zhonghai, Wu Zhengmin said, "Master Yi, don't panic. This is our Deputy Director Liu. Please calm down and tell us in detail what happened. How did the money get lost? Where was it hidden? When was the last time you saw the money?" He fired off a series of questions while quickly taking out his notebook and pen.

Liu Guofu knew Yi Zhonghai, the deputy director of the local police station, who frequently dealt with the street office and various compounds. Yi Zhonghai was also a level seven worker at the steel rolling mill, a capable and well-known figure in the area. The two had met and interacted at the street office.

So Liu Guofu asked directly, "Old Yi! What's going on?!"

Liu Fuguo's voice was loud and clear, carrying an unquestionable authority, and his sharp gaze swept over Yi Zhonghai and his wife.

As if he had found his anchor, Yi Zhonghai struggled to stand up, but Liu Fuguo held him down. Under the patient questioning of Wu Zhengmin and Liu Fuguo, Yi Zhonghai recounted what had happened in a halting and incoherent manner.

Like ordinary people today, he likes to hide money in his home. The money is hidden in a locked wooden box in the kang hole. The last time he put money in was half a year ago. Today, when he wanted to deposit money, he found it was empty, with only a deposit slip left. Yi Zhonghai deliberately avoided talking about gold bars, only repeatedly emphasizing that the 5,300 yuan in cash was his salary saved up by living frugally for half a lifetime.

"A heated brick bed? A locked wooden box? Half a year?" Liu Fuguo's brows furrowed into a deep "川" shape, his face so grave it seemed to drip water.

The time span was as long as half a year! The traces at the scene have probably been completely erased by now! Moreover, to be able to find the hiding place so accurately and to unlock the door and take such a huge sum of money without anyone noticing... this is definitely not an ordinary petty thief! It's someone you know! It's definitely an "insider" who is extremely familiar with the Yi family's situation and even with Yi Zhonghai's personal habits!

"Go! To the scene immediately! Protect the scene!" Liu Fuguo made a decisive decision, his voice firm and resolute. "Xiao Wu, you take two men and come with me! Lao Wang, you stay here and report to the branch office immediately! Request backup! This case is big!"

When Yi Zhonghai, supported by two young police officers, returned to the courtyard with a livid-faced Liu Fuguo and a serious-looking Wu Zhengmin, the front yard was already in an uproar.

When Yan Bugui saw Yi Zhonghai return with three uniformed police officers, one of whom was the deputy director, his heart sank. He knew something terrible had happened! He quickly ran to meet him, forcing a nervous yet ingratiating smile: "Old Yi? Director Liu? Officer Wu? This... what's going on? Please let me know if you need my help!"

Liu Fuguo didn't answer directly, but said in a deep voice, "Teacher Yan, the situation is urgent. Please immediately notify all residents of the compound, regardless of age or gender, that everyone who is at home must assemble at the Central Court! No one is allowed to move around at will! There is an important case that requires everyone's cooperation!" His voice was loud and clear, with an unquestionable tone of command, and his serious and solemn expression was like a boulder thrown into the water!

The news spread like wildfire throughout the courtyard. "The police are here! They've gone to Yi Zhonghai's house! Chief Liu came personally!"

"Yi Zhonghai brought him back! His face is ashen!"

"Something terrible has happened! Something absolutely terrible has happened!"

"Everyone, gather at the Intermediate People's Court! Go check it out!"

Doors of every household were hurriedly opened, and people who had just finished dinner and were preparing to wash up or cool off poured into the courtyard like a tide, their faces showing a complex mix of surprise, curiosity, tension, and excitement. The sounds of discussion, inquiries, and children's cries mingled together, plunging the entire courtyard into an unprecedented commotion.

Wei Chen had just put down his chopsticks and was carefully wiping the brass police dog badge on Da Huang's neck with a clean, soft cloth.

Outside, Yan Jiecheng's pounding and shouting, tinged with obvious tension and barely suppressed excitement, came from outside: "Brother Wei Chen! Brother Wei Chen! Come out quickly! Chief Liu from the police station has arrived with several men! They went to Uncle Yi's house! Everyone in the compound is to assemble at the central courtyard immediately! Hurry!"

Wei Chen's hands moved without pause, his fingertips feeling the cold edges and textured patterns of the badge. His eyes were calm and still, like a deep pool.

Has it finally arrived? It's even later than he expected.

He put down the cloth and gently patted Da Huang's head. Da Huang immediately sat up straight, his eyes alert. He stood up, slowly put on the dark blue work jacket hanging behind the door, and said to his mother Wang Xiulan and younger sister Wei Ran, who looked surprised and worried, "Mom, Xiao Ran, you stay home and close the door. I'm going out to take a look." His tone was as calm as if he were saying he was going to look at the stars in the yard.

He pushed open the door, took Big Yellow with him, and walked steadily toward the brightly lit and bustling central courtyard.

The dim light from the incandescent bulbs and the kerosene lamps and lanterns brought out by each household illuminated the courtyard as bright as day. The courtyard was already packed with people, and the buzzing of their discussions sounded like a giant beehive.

Liu Haizhong, trying to maintain his "second uncle's" dignity, stood in front of the crowd with his hands behind his back, his belly protruding, but the doubt and suspicion in his eyes betrayed him; Yan Bugui stretched his neck, his small eyes darting around between the police and Yi Zhonghai, his hands unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes.

Sha Zhu stood on the periphery of the crowd with his arms crossed, his face showing undisguised schadenfreude and a look of anticipation; Xu Damao huddled at the back of the crowd, his eyes darting around, seemingly lost in thought.

Jia Dongxu looked bewildered and at a loss. Qin Huairu held Xiao Dang, her face pale, her eyes filled with a barely perceptible tension and...something indescribable complexity. Jia Zhangshi was even more crowded at the front, craning her neck without any attempt to hide it. Her cloudy eyes gleamed with greed and excitement, and she was muttering something to herself in a low, rapid voice.

Yi Zhonghai and the elderly woman stood at their own doorway, half-supported and half-carried by two police officers, like two pieces of rotten wood. Their faces were ashen, and their bodies trembled uncontrollably, as if they would fall apart at any moment.

Liu Fuguo and Wu Zhengmin stood by the makeshift eight-immortal table in the center of the courtyard, their faces so serious they could freeze. Liu Fuguo saw Wei Chen approach with Da Huang, his gaze lingering on his face for a moment before he nodded slightly: "Officer Wei."

"Chief Liu, Officer Wu." Wei Chen nodded in response, naturally taking Da Huang to the front of the crowd. He knew both Deputy Chief Liu and Officer Wu; they had worked together on the joint operation between the steel mill and the public security system a while ago! They were all acquaintances!

Big Yellow sat quietly beside him, its dark eyes scanning the throng of people around it warily, the police badge on its neck reflecting a cold, hard light under the lamp.

"Dear neighbors!" Liu Fuguo cleared his throat, his booming voice instantly silencing the commotion, drawing all eyes to him. "The reason I've gathered you all here so late is because a very serious burglary has occurred in our courtyard at No. 95 Nanluoguxiang!"

"A theft?" "Whose house was robbed?" "How much was stolen? Even the police chief was alerted?" The crowd instantly erupted in discussion, and the murmurs rose sharply.

"Quiet!!" Liu Fuguo slammed his hand on the table, making a loud "bang" that shook the kerosene lamp flame violently! His powerful aura instantly subdued the scene.

"According to Comrade Yi Zhonghai's report," Liu Fuguo's gaze swept across every face, his voice heavy and clear, "his home was burglarized! Five thousand three hundred yuan in cash was stolen!"

"Five thousand three?!" "My God!!!" "Yi Zhonghai has that much money?!" "Five thousand three?! If you piled it up, it'd be a small mountain high!!" "My goodness! I could never earn that much in my entire life!"

Gasps, gasps of shock, and incredulous screams rose and fell, as if a bomb had been dropped on the entire courtyard! The enormous sound almost blew the roof off! Everyone was stunned and dumbfounded by this astronomical figure!

Sha Zhu's mouth gaped open, big enough to fit an egg, his gloating expression froze, leaving only pure shock; Xu Damao also forgot to watch the show, his eyes wide open, subconsciously touching his pocket, as if the five thousand three had burned him.

Yan Bugui's palm-leaf fan fell to the ground with a "thud," but he was oblivious, muttering absentmindedly to himself, "Five thousand three... five thousand three... how much flour can that buy... how many years of tuition can that pay..."

His chubby face twitched violently, his eyes filled with jealousy and a twisted sense of schadenfreude, as if to say, "You, Yi Zhonghai, have finally met your match."

Madam Jia was struck as if by lightning; her whole body trembled violently, and her cloudy eyes instantly flashed with a terrifying, wolf-like green light. She unconsciously and shrilly muttered, "Five...five thousand three...give it to me...give it to me, that would be so good...enough for me to eat white flour buns for several lifetimes...eat meat every day...buy gold bracelets...buy..."

Qin Huairu tightened her grip on Xiao Dang, making the child squirm uncomfortably. Her gaze towards Yi Zhonghai was filled with an indescribable mix of shock, greed, resentment, and a hint of "you deserve it," her expression shifting rapidly. Even the usually apathetic Jia Dongxu was completely dumbfounded, his mouth agape, his eyes fixed blankly, as if his soul had left his body.

"Quiet down, all of you!!" Wu Zhengmin shouted sternly, his voice carrying the characteristic intimidation of a police officer. "Now, we need to investigate the situation! We hope all neighbors will fully cooperate! If you know of any clues, even the slightest anomaly, or have seen any suspicious people or things, please report it to us immediately and truthfully! Failure to report is tantamount to harboring criminals!"