Era: Starting from the local police station

After seeing Fang Ya and the others off, the rest of the group arrived at the original alley entrance and saw Jin Hong and his two companions coming out.

Jiang Zhenghua stepped forward and asked, "You're out so quickly?"

Jin Hong gave a wry smile: "The house is in complete chaos. The elderly and children are all crying, so it's impossible to ask them anything. Right now, people from the machinery factory's union are trying to calm things down, and people from the neighborhood committee are here too."

Cheng Mingli asked, "How's it going on your end? Any results?"

Jiang Zhenghua nodded heavily, took out a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes he had just bought from his pocket, and distributed them to everyone: "After investigation, we found the suspect's footprints, and based on the description from the security committee patrol team, we identified the suspect as a worker at the Hongxing Machinery Repair Factory."

Qiao Fuping continued, "The suspect was able to remove tires and had a jack, so it's highly likely that he worked at a mechanic shop."

Jin Hong raised his wrist and glanced at his watch: "It's a little past four now. Let's go, let's go together."

Soon, a three-wheeled vehicle led the way, followed by a truck carrying several people, which arrived at the entrance of the Hongxing Machinery Repair Shop.

A security guard from the machine repair shop quickly stepped forward, stood at attention, and saluted: "Comrade, this is the Hongxing Machine Repair Shop. May I ask what brings you here?"

Jiang Zhenghua jumped off the three-legged vehicle, took out his work ID from his pocket, and handed it over: "This is my ID."

The young security guard took it, opened it, looked at it carefully, and handed it back with both hands: "Deputy Director Jiang, what is this...?"

Jiang Zhenghua said in a deep voice, "I need to see your security chief. I need his assistance."

The guard glanced back and saw police officers and several men wearing security badges standing on the truck. He quickly said, "Deputy Director Jiang, have your comrades pull over to the left and stop. I'll take you to find the section chief."

As he spoke, he quickly pushed open the large iron gate.

At that moment, the front door of the truck opened, and Jin Hong and Cheng Mingli jumped out.

Jiang Zhenghua said to Cao Hui, who was riding a bicycle, "Stop your bikes and wait where you are."

Cao Hui responded, but rode his three-wheeled motorcycle into the factory first.

The security guard shouted towards the gatehouse, "Uncle Zhang, don't let anyone out yet. I'll take these people to our section chief."

A voice came from the window: "Go."

After the truck entered and the gate was closed, the guard said, "Officer, please follow me."

The security guard led the group forward, saying as they walked, "Our department office is in that row over there. The department head should be in his office right now."

Jin Hong asked, "How many workers does your factory have?"

"There are a total of 185 workers, and our security department has a total of 10 people."

Soon, they arrived at a row of bungalows not far away.

The door to an office opened, and a middle-aged man in a security guard uniform strode out, asking from a distance, "Xiao Ma, this is...?"

The guard, nicknamed "Little Ma," quickly stepped forward and saluted: "Reporting, Section Chief, these police officers are looking for you."

Jin Hong stepped forward, took out his identification, and handed it over: "Comrade, hello. I am Jin Hong from the Dongcheng Branch. This is my identification."

"Hello, Deputy Director Jin. I am Lei Ming, the head of the security department of Hongxing Machinery Repair Factory."

Lei Ming immediately saluted.

Jin Hong retrieved his identification and quickly returned the greeting: "Section Chief Lei, do you know me?"

Lei Ming said with a smile, "I saw a photo of you and Chief Yang in the office of Chief Yang of the Investigation Section of our Xicheng Branch."

"So that's how it is," Jin Hong laughed. "What you saw must be a group photo from our time studying at the Party School, right?"

Lei Ming nodded and gestured for him to follow: "That's right. He also said that you two were promoted to section chiefs together and went to the Party School for training, but now you've left him far behind, and he's been asking to learn from you."

Jin Hong waved his hand: "I was just lucky."

Several people entered the office.

Seeing that Lei Ming wanted to pour water, Jin Hong hurriedly said, "No need to pour water. You're familiar with Lao Yang, so I won't beat around the bush and will just get straight to the point."

Lei Ming's expression turned serious: "If you say so, we will definitely cooperate fully."

After saying that, he took out a pack of cigarettes and handed them out to everyone.

Jin Hong said to Jiang Zhenghua, "Deputy Director Jiang, you can speak now."

Jiang Zhenghua nodded, his voice steady: "Section Chief Lei, we are investigating a murder case. According to witnesses, the suspect is about 1.8 meters tall, with a strong build, wearing your factory's gray work uniform, and has a prominent large scar on his right arm. He was carrying a jack and wearing a new pair of leather shoes when he committed the crime last night."

Lei Ming frowned and pondered for a moment: "I can't remember this person right now. I'll have someone ask around in each workshop."

At this moment, Xiao Ma said, "Section Chief, based on Deputy Director Jiang's description, I'm reminded of someone whose right arm was cut during a fight, which fits the description perfectly."

Everyone turned their attention to him.

Lei Ming slapped his forehead: "I forgot about you. You're on duty at the gate every day, so you're familiar with everyone in our factory. Quickly tell Deputy Director Jin."

Xiao Ma shouted, "Deputy Director Jin, the person I'm talking about is called Tu Shan, but he's no longer with our factory."

Lei Ming interjected, "Now that Xiao Ma mentions it, I remember now. There is indeed such a person, who fits the description of the person you are looking for."

Jiang Zhenghua took out his notebook: "Could you tell me more about this person?"

"Tu Shan is thirty years old this year and is from Beijing. In 1949, he joined our factory and became an apprentice fitter under a master craftsman. He quickly became a full-fledged fitter. However, he was clever but also cunning. He was always sarcastic, lazy, and didn't work hard. Whether it was being criticized by his master or being called out at a general meeting by the workshop director, he was always the one being called out. In 1956, our factory underwent a public-private partnership, and he was assigned to the maintenance workshop. He wasn't a very good person, but he was a quick learner and soon became a maintenance master."

"And then?"

Lei Ming took a drag of his cigarette and sighed, "This guy usually hangs out with idle people, drinks heavily, gets into fights, and I heard he's also addicted to gambling. Our factory manager only cared about his talent, so he kept educating and criticizing him, hoping he'd repent. But at the beginning of last year, he came to work drunk and, while assembling parts, installed them backwards, causing an engine to fail and resulting in a major production accident. After a meeting and reporting it, the factory finally fired him. He was the first worker our factory fired; I just couldn't remember him earlier."

Do you know where he lives now?

"I know, their family is a native of old Beijing. They built their own small courtyard and live with their parents."

Lei Ming then gave him the address.

Jin Hong immediately stood up: "In that case, we won't disturb Section Chief Lei any longer. Let's go take a look."

The group left the machine repair shop and arrived near Tu Shan's house.

"Should we come directly to your door, or...?"

"It's still unclear whether he's home or not. In order not to alert him, I think we should contact the neighborhood office and go in under the pretext of promoting policies to investigate. It's not too late to take action after confirming the situation."

"Drive the car to a secluded spot. Cao Hui, go find someone from the neighborhood committee."

Cao Hui responded and quickly left.

Not long after, at the entrance of an alley, Jiang Zhenghua and his group were smoking when Cao Hui walked over with two women.

One of them was a middle-aged woman dressed in a gray cadre uniform; the other was a young woman wearing a red plaid shirt and blue trousers, looking very capable.

Cao Hui introduced, "These two are Director Xue and Staff Member Qi from the Subdistrict Office."

After everyone had gotten to know each other, Jin Hong stepped forward and said with a smile, "I'll have to trouble Director Xue this time."

Xue Yun smiled and waved her hand, "Deputy Director Jin, you're too kind. Cooperating with the police and protecting the peace of this area is our duty. May I ask who committed the crime this time?"

"Director Xue, we're here because of Tu Shan from Courtyard No. 15. We suspect he's involved in a murder case."

"I can't believe it's that kid again. He was fired from the machine repair shop before, and I even went to his house to talk to his parents and tell them to discipline him strictly. I can't believe he's thirty years old and still can't give me peace of mind."

"Director Xue, we don't know if he's home right now. In order not to alert him, we hope to use the pretext of security publicity to go into his house with your people to investigate."

"No problem, we have been promoting summer fire safety recently. I'll have Officer Qi take you there in a bit."

Zhang Chongguang said, "I'll go."

Jiang Zhenghua shook his head: "I'll go instead. Director Xue, could you tell me more about their family situation?"

Xue Yun nodded gently and said slowly, "Tu Shan's family has seven members. His father, Tu Manwei, is fifty-eight years old this year and currently works as a gatekeeper for a joint venture factory; his mother, Liu Aihua, is fifty-seven years old this year and stays at home to take care of the children. She has been in poor health for many years; his younger brother, Tu Hai, is twenty-seven years old this year and works in a food factory. He is an honest man; his sister-in-law stays at home and usually does some sewing and mending work to supplement the family income. She also takes care of the two children with her mother-in-law."

"He's not married?"

Officer Qi's face showed anger: "He got married five years ago. Back then, he was a good guy, young and already a full-time fitter at the machine repair shop. But unexpectedly, less than a year into the marriage, he developed gambling and drinking problems, and would beat and verbally abuse his wife when drunk. We went to mediate several times, and he agreed readily, but after a few days, his old habits would resurface. In the latter half of the year before last, after another drunken beating, his wife miscarried and suffered severe bleeding, almost losing her life. Later, she was taken directly back to her parents' home."

After saying that, a hint of hesitation flashed across Qi's face.

"Officer Qi, please feel free to speak your mind."

"When I was doing publicity this year, I visited his house several times and found that since he was fired from the factory, he basically sleeps during the day and goes out to gamble or drink with people at night."

"So, he's probably home right now?"

Officer Qi nodded.

Cheng Mingli said, "How about we just charge in?"

Jiang Zhenghua pondered for a moment and said, "I think it's like this: Cao Hui will come in with me and Officer Qi, while the rest of you wait outside. If he's not there, Cao Hui should come out immediately. Otherwise, we'll surround the courtyard in four minutes."

Jin Hong nodded and made the decision: "Then it's settled. Zhang Yi and Zhang Chongguang will meet us at the main gate, the security personnel will block the roads on both sides, and Section Chief Cheng and I will adapt to the situation."

The crowd responded softly and in unison, "Yes."

Jiang Zhenghua told Officer Qi, "Don't worry, we will protect your safety. You just need to explain the safety information."

Officer Qi nodded, then said with a hint of pride, "Don't worry, Deputy Director Jiang, I've also participated in militia training."

Xue Yun said in a deep voice, "Xiao Qi, you must follow orders and not act recklessly."

Officer Qi immediately replied, "Understood, Director."

Jiang Zhenghua, seeing that Zhang Chongguang and the others had already dispersed, said, "Let's go."

Qi, the clerk, took the lead and walked forward, with Jiang Zhenghua and Cao Hui following closely behind.

After passing through the alley, Qi pointed ahead and said, "Go into that alley, the second house is the Tu Shan family's."

"Go straight there."

After speaking, Jiang Zhenghua winked at Cao Hui and pointed lightly at Qi, the cadre in front of him. The latter understood and nodded emphatically.

With a creak, the door next to them opened.

A middle-aged woman wearing a headscarf and carrying a bamboo basket came out. She was taken aback when she saw the three of them, then called out in a loud voice, "Oh, it's Officer Qi! Where are you going?"

Officer Qi's expression tightened: "Oh, it's Aunt Wang. Isn't this about summer fire safety? Are you going to buy groceries?"

Aunt Wang shook her head, then tossed the bamboo basket around, a hint of pride flashing across her face: "Hey, my brother-in-law from the countryside brought a chicken today, and I stewed it this afternoon, thinking of bringing some chicken soup for my grandson."

Qi, the clerk, exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my, Aunt Wang, your brother-in-law is really amazing. While other families receive subsidies from the city to the countryside, he actually manages to bring meat to the city. That's incredible!"

Aunt Wang's smile widened, her lips curving upwards: "Let me tell you, things are different in the countryside now. They're implementing... that communization, yes, that's the term. The village has set up a large canteen. My brother-in-law said that every meal is big white steamed buns, and there's meat every day. The food is just as good as what we eat in the city. And also, now everyone works together, and at the end of the year we can even participate in profit sharing..."

He spoke with great enthusiasm, spittle flying everywhere.

Seeing that she was talking enthusiastically, and hearing footsteps coming from the courtyard next door, Jiang Zhenghua knew that he had to find a way to get away, otherwise the people in the neighborhood would come back to join in the fun.

He cleared his throat and said loudly, "Officer Qi, shall we check the fire safety at this comrade's house?"

Aunt Wang's face immediately stiffened. She shut her mouth and said with a forced smile, "Officer Qi, didn't you promote this the day before yesterday? My chicken soup will get cold if I wait any longer. I'll be going now."

He quickly turned around, picked up the basket, and walked out of the alley.

Jiang Zhenghua heard the footsteps in the neighboring courtyard pause, then walk away again.

As Officer Qi watched Aunt Wang flee into the distance, he gave Jiang Zhenghua a thumbs-up.

The three continued walking, turned a corner, and entered a narrow alley that could only accommodate three people walking side by side, arriving at the door of the third house.

The mud bricks on the earthen gate fell off, revealing a wooden door in its original wood color. The wood was warped, creating a large gap.

Officer Qi stepped forward and knocked on the door.

Footsteps came from inside, followed by a middle-aged woman's voice: "Who is it?"

Officer Qi called out loudly, "Auntie, I'm from the neighborhood committee, here to conduct a fire safety inspection."

"Oh, here it comes."

As they spoke, their footsteps drew closer.

With a creak, the old wooden door opened, making a harsh scraping sound.

An elderly woman with gray hair and a hunched back stood inside the door, smiling and greeting, "Officer Qi, come in quickly."

Officer Qi nodded and stepped into the yard first: "Auntie, who's home at your house now? It's summer now, and the weather is dry, so let's talk about fire prevention."