Era: Starting from the local police station

A few minutes later, the car entered the courtyard of the Yu'er Hutong Police Station.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Yu Yong and Qiao Fuping came out of the household registration office next door.

Yu Yong said with a smile, "Deputy Director Jin, Section Chief Cheng, let's rest in the conference room for a while. The food will be ready soon."

He said to Zhang Yi, "Zhang Yi, call the comrades from the security department."

Zhang Yi responded, "Yes."

Jin Hong glanced around and nodded: "Let's go."

The group passed through the hanging flower gate and arrived at the large conference room in the backyard.

As Jin Hong pulled out a stool, he asked, "Did Hu Decai confess?"

While pouring water, Yu Yong said, "We've already questioned him, but he won't say anything. He even threatened to notify the security department, saying we have no right to question him privately."

Cheng Mingli cursed inwardly, "I'll go check on him after I finish eating. Even now, he's still so stubborn."

As Qiao Fuping offered cigarettes, he said, "Someone just called Director Yu to inquire about Hu Tianshun, saying that he is the descendant of a hero and that his mother made contributions to the country."

Jin Hong took the cigarette and said, "I know about his family's situation. If anyone calls again, just say we were just doing our job. He caused harm to others and needs to be detained for 24 hours. We'll release him tomorrow. Anyway, Hu Tianshun isn't our target."

"I know how to reply now."

"Sir, do Meng Yuan and Jiang Lirong have a mission right now?"

"No. They've finished eating and should be resting in the office now. Is there a mission?"

"I need them to go to Tianfu Village to investigate a few things."

"I'll call them right away."

Yu Yong said this and strode outside.

Soon, Yu Yong brought the two of them in.

The two immediately stood at attention and saluted.

Jiang Zhenghua came to the two men and said, "You two ride your three-wheeled motorcycles to Tianfu Village and investigate Hu Decai's past, especially his former lover. Make sure you find out the details."

The two responded, "Yes."

Jiang Zhenghua asked Yu Yong, "Director Yu, do you have a map of the area surrounding Beijing?"

Yu Yong nodded: "What are you looking for?"

"Where is Wanshou Village?"

"There are two Wanshou Villages. If you're asking about the one that Diao Cuihua is from, you don't need to look it up, I know. It's not far from Tianfu Village, but they belong to two different towns."

Zhang Chongguang hissed and looked at Jiang Zhenghua: "Looks like you're right again."

Jiang Zhenghua instructed, "Then go to Wanshou Village again to investigate Diao Cuihua's past, to confirm whether the two of them knew each other and the reason for their separation."

"Yes, mission accomplished."

The two saluted, turned, and quickly left.

Jin Hong said, "I think we should bring Zhang Hegui back for questioning as well."

Jiang Zhenghua nodded: "Okay. Also, to prevent any accidents, we need to send someone to follow Qin Weijun's side to prevent Qi Ronggen from causing any trouble."

"We're short-staffed, and they're all familiar faces, so I'll ask other police stations to send people."

As he spoke, Jin Hong stood up.

Yu Yong hurriedly said, "Now that Hu Decai has been brought back, why don't we send the two comrades who were monitoring him to investigate?"

Jin Hong nodded: "Okay. Go and talk to them. By the way, they're carrying weapons, right?"

Yu Yong nodded: "I brought one."

Jin Hong shook his head: "Just in case, give them the guns from your batch."

"Yes. I'll arrange it right away."

Yu Yong responded and went out.

Shortly afterward, everyone finished their meal.

Jin Hong took a sip of tea from his enamel mug and said slowly, "Arrange for someone to bring Zhang Hegui back. At the same time, let's go see Hu Decai."

Jiang Zhenghua added, "Zhang Hegui's apprentice should also be brought back; he might know something."

Zhang Chongguang said, "I took Geng Jianwu and Liu Baojia to find Zhang Hegui, while Cao Hui and Zhang Yi went to find his apprentice."

Cheng Mingli said, "I arranged for four security personnel to accompany and assist me."

Jiang Zhenghua said, "That would be best."

Jin Hong said, "Use my car and the trucks from the machinery factory; it'll be faster."

Soon after, everyone set off.

Jin Hong stood at the conference room door and said in a deep voice, "Let's go see Hu Decai."

"Come with me to interrogation room number one."

The group followed and walked to the side.

Jiang Zhenghua suddenly asked, "Where are Coach Lin and the others?"

Yu Yong said, "They called back saying they had made an important discovery, and then they didn't come back at noon."

Jiang Zhenghua's face lit up with joy: "It seems that Hou Laicai's affairs from 1955 to 1956 can no longer be kept secret."

Then the group arrived at the opposite side and saw a mottled wall with a tightly closed wooden door that had lost its paint. A wooden sign hung on the door that read: Interrogation Room No. 1.

Yu Yong pushed open the door.

Jin Hong stepped inside first, and a reprimand immediately rang out from inside.

"Who are you? I want to see your leader. I want to accuse you of detaining workers without evidence, assaulting state officials, and sabotaging national industrial construction. I am a worker at the machine factory; you have no right to deal with me. Even if I have broken the law, it should be handled by the machine factory's security department..."

Jiang Zhenghua and the others all looked at Cheng Mingli.

Cheng Mingli's smile vanished, his face turning serious. As he walked, he shouted, "How come I didn't know the security department had such great power? Did you, Hu Decai, grant us that authority?"

The shouting inside immediately stopped.

As soon as Jiang Zhenghua stepped into the interrogation room, he saw a man sitting on a backless stool fixed to the ground near the wall. The man had a square face with distinct features and wore the most fashionable side-part hairstyle at the time, though it was a bit messy with a few strands of hair hanging down his forehead. His complexion was fairer than most people of that era. He was wearing a Zhongshan suit, and his chest muscles were slightly raised. The folds of his clothes were distinct, indicating that he usually paid great attention to his appearance. However, there were a few shallow footprints on the clothes.

This guy certainly fits the current aesthetic, with a masculine yet clean and tidy appearance; no wonder he was able to win over a widow like Tan Xiu.

At this moment, Hu Decai stared blankly at Cheng Mingli.

He suddenly felt excited and tried to stand up, but was stopped by the simple handrails on both sides of the stool.

He struggled and shouted, "Section Chief Cheng, you must do me justice! I only came to inquire about my son's matter, but I didn't expect these police officers to lock me up without even asking what happened, and they even beat me and forced me to confess to things I didn't do."

No one spoke; they simply stood in a row, watching his performance in silence.

Hu Decai continued shouting, "Section Chief Cheng, you are a leader in our machinery factory! You must speak up for me! We are the working class, the masters of our own destiny! How dare they arrest me without going through the security department? This...this is sabotaging industrial construction! It's hindering...the Great Leap Forward..."

As he finished speaking, he sensed that something was off about the atmosphere, and his voice gradually softened.

Finally, he slowly lowered his head, his voice barely audible.

Cheng Mingli was so angry he laughed, glaring at him: "Who told you that the police need the security department's approval to arrest someone?"

Hu Decai seemed to remember something and suddenly raised his head again: "It was Qi Ronggen, the deputy leader of the security team. He said that our factory is a big factory, and even if someone commits a crime, the local police station can't handle it directly. It has to go through our factory's security department."

Cheng Mingli shook his head and sighed, "That Qi Ronggen has really done a lot of harm."

He said, slowly and deliberately, "Let me make it clear to you: the higher authorities have stipulated that the Security Section does not have the right to handle criminal cases independently. All criminal cases must be handled by the public security organs, and the Security Section can only cooperate."

Hu Decai was taken aback and asked incredulously, "What...what do you mean by that?"

Jiang Zhenghua took a step forward, staring intently at him, and shouted sternly, "What I mean is that we, the Public Security Bureau, have the right to arrest you and deal with you. The Security Section has no power to interfere, understand?"

Hu Decai stared blankly at Jiang Zhenghua, who was dressed in a neat police uniform and exuded a murderous aura.

Hu Decai's face turned deathly pale instantly, his whole body trembled, and his voice trembled: "But...you can't arrest me for no reason, can you? Is it...illegal for me to come and inquire about my son?"

Jiang Zhenghua's voice was devoid of any emotion: "It's not illegal."

Hu Decai's complexion improved slightly, and he visibly relaxed: "Then why did you arrest me?"

Jiang Zhenghua said coldly, "Don't you know why I called you here?"

Hu Decai shook his head: "I really don't know. I'm just an honest worker. Today someone told me that my son was taken to the police station by the police for fighting, so I rushed over to ask. But I didn't expect that as soon as I arrived, I was taken to this room, and they beat me up. Then they made me explain myself."

He looked aggrieved: "I really don't know what I did wrong. I admit, my son is a bit immature, likes to cause trouble, and often hurts people. Don't worry, I will definitely discipline him properly when I get back, and we will cover all the hospital and nutritional expenses for the injured party."

Jiang Zhenghua didn't speak, but just looked at him with a half-smile.

Hu Decai's heart skipped a beat, and his eyelashes trembled involuntarily.

He seemed to have made a big decision, and continued, "Of course, if the injured party needs compensation, I will definitely pay even if it means selling everything I own."

The last few words were pronounced very heavily.

Then the interrogation room fell silent.

Jiang Zhenghua suddenly spoke up: "Hu Decai, do you think we went to all this trouble to invite you here just for money?"

Hu Decai's pupils contracted for a moment, but he quickly recovered.

Jiang Zhenghua pointed at Jin Hong and said, "This is Deputy Director Jin from our Dongcheng Branch Bureau. This is Section Chief Cheng from your factory's security department, and this is Chief Qiao from Taotiao Hutong Police Station. And this last one, you should recognize him, right?"

He paused for a moment: "Do you think we all came here just to play around with you?"

Hu Decai's eyelids twitched every time he introduced a person.

Suddenly, he tried to stand up, but was stopped again.

He shouted, "I...I understand! You must be unable to solve that murder case, so you specifically called me here to torture me into confessing and fabricating a false case."

His finger trembled as he pointed at Jiang Zhenghua, then turned to Cheng Mingli and shouted, "Section Chief Cheng, did you see that? They want me to be a scapegoat, they want me to take the blame! You have to stand up for me! They're treating human life like dirt..."

Jiang Zhenghua interrupted him sharply: "Hu Decai, who told you about the murder case?"

Hu Decai paused abruptly, blinking twice: "I heard it from my coworkers, of course. It's all over the place. Someone was killed. They say he was robbed and died a horrible death."

Jiang Zhenghua pressed further, "Tell me, what's your coworker's name?"

Hu Decai's expression froze again, then he shook his head and said, "I...I forgot, but you can ask around..."

He saw a hint of mockery in Jiang Zhenghua's eyes and a faint smile on his lips, and his heart skipped a beat again. For a moment, he remained silent.

Jiang Zhenghua said in a deep voice, "Hu Decai, listen carefully, I will only say what I'm about to say once."

Without giving the other party a chance to respond, he said loudly, "Stop trying to play tricks. Since you were able to devise a hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress scenario, even going so far as to find a country bumpkin to play the thief, and then manage to gain Tan Xiu's trust afterward, I don't think your intelligence is what it seems."

Hu Decai's lips moved slightly, but he couldn't make a sound.

Jiang Zhenghua continued, "If we weren't confident, would we have gone to all this trouble to invite you here? Stop with that clumsy acting."

This time, Hu Decai looked at Cheng Mingli and said, "Section Chief Cheng, they really wronged me. If you don't believe me, ask them to produce evidence."

Jiang Zhenghua sneered: "Hu Decai, do you really think that no one knows what you and Qi Ronggen did together? Let me tell you clearly, you won't walk out of the police station unscathed."

Hu Decai pointed at Jiang Zhenghua, his hand trembling: "I'm going to sue you for threatening and intimidating state workers."

"Hmph, threaten you? Do I need to? Think about it yourself. Just based on the fact that you and Hou Laicai withheld wages from commune employees, drank the blood of ordinary people, and exploited the working class, do you think you can leave this world?"

Jiang Zhenghua spoke the last sentence slowly and deliberately, his words clear and cold.

Hu Decai didn't speak this time, but just looked at Jiang Zhenghua calmly.

But his little fingers kept bending and straightening, and some fine sweat seeped from his forehead.

Jiang Zhenghua rolled up his sleeves and checked the time: "I'll give you an hour to think it over. Someone will come to take your statement. This is your only chance to get a reduced sentence through meritorious service."

After saying that, he turned to look at Jin Hong and the others.

"Don't take any chances. If we're going to investigate something, there's really nothing we can't find out."

As Jin Hong spoke, he strode outside.

Cheng Mingli gave him a deep look and said in a deep voice, "For the sake of us both being from the same machinery factory, I'll give you a piece of advice: confess and you'll be treated leniently; resist and you'll be punished severely. Think carefully about what Deputy Director Jiang said."

He then strode out.

Yu Yong was the last to come out. He closed the door again and said to the policeman standing at the door, "Keep a close eye on things."

"Yes."