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Qi Ling explained that these were things his grandfather often told them in private.

In this day and age, such things are simply not something one dares to talk about openly.

“That agrees with what Brother Qi said,” said Grandma Qi. “As you know, although I can communicate with people in America, it’s not very often. Next time I write, I’ll have someone deliver a letter to your second grandfather. Even if he can’t come back to acknowledge his family, at least he can send some photos back, and you can prepare some photos for him too.”

Qi Ling knew about Qi San's family affairs, and going through Qi San's grandmother was the safest option.

"Thank you so much, Grandma Qi," Qi Ling said gratefully. "Once I'm done with this, I'll go back and take some photos, a family portrait."

"Okay!" said Grandma Qi, adding that another family could be reunited.

Seeing that she had said enough, He Tiantian asked, "Brother Qi, have you found the whereabouts of those tomb raiders yet?"

“I just went up the mountain and looked around, but I didn’t find them,” Qi Ling said. “However, I’m certain that those people couldn’t have left here; they should still be in the back mountain.”

He Tiantian was surprised. Those people were in the back mountain, but they died in the back mountain!

"Oh, then we'll have to trouble Brother Qi to find out as soon as possible. We've heard that those tomb raiders are ruthless and vicious; they're capable of anything, from murder to arson," He Tiantian said, making a frightened expression.

"Yes, so when you go to the back mountain, you must go in groups and not go alone," Qi Ling said. As long as those people are not found, the villagers of Qijia Village will not be at ease.

Qi Ling took statements from Secretary Qi, He Jingyu, and others one by one.

Of course, everyone automatically ignored the fact that they had discovered the dragon undergoing its tribulation.

Even if you see it with your own eyes, you can only say it to your own family; you can't say it to outsiders.

If things go wrong, you might even be labeled as a feudalist and superstitious person, which would be a huge loss.

Furthermore, the villagers of Qijia Village also had their own selfish motives. They attributed the good weather and abundant harvests in Qijia Village over the past two years to the blessing of the gods and did not want outsiders to disturb or offend the dragon and the gods.

Aside from this, everything else I saw and heard has been said.

Qi Ling has strong analytical skills and immediately shifted his focus to Hu Sanchuan from Hujia Village.

So after taking a statement in Qijia Village, they took Lao Wu and Xiao Chen directly to Hujia Village.

Hu, the village secretary of Hujia Village, shuddered when he saw Qiling; he was a policeman from the city.

Nothing good ever comes to Hujia Village.

"Public Security Officer Qi, what brings you here?" Although Secretary Hu disliked seeing Qi Ling, he couldn't just chase him away; that would make him seem guilty.

Qi Ling smiled and said, "I have something to discuss with Hu Sanchuan from your village."

"Hu Sanchuan?" Secretary Hu was taken aback. "He's just a hunter, a generous man, very strong, and hardworking. His family is well-liked in our village."

"Xiao Chen, take note." Qi Ling reminded Xiao Chen, who was standing to the side, to quickly write it down. "We just need to ask him about something. We haven't said he's related to the case yet!"

"Sigh!" Secretary Hu sighed, hoping nothing bad would happen.

Originally, there was a thriving Qijia Village nearby, which had already surpassed Hujia Village.

After the previous murder and poisoning cases, Hu Family Village's reputation was completely ruined. Now, young men can't find wives, and young women can't find husbands. The situation that used to occur in Qi Family Village has now spread to Hu Family Village.

Sigh, now whenever Secretary Hu goes to a meeting in the county commune, he wishes he could hide his head in his pants; it's too embarrassing.

Secretary Hu brought Qi Ling to Hu Sanchuan's house.

Hu Sanchuan was recuperating at home when he saw Qi Ling enter. He was nervous inside, but he pretended to be calm on the surface.

The biggest mistake that night was throwing away the hunting rifle; otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to find him here.

"Captain Qi, hello, what can I do for you?" Hu Sanchuan asked cautiously. Qi Ling had visited Hu Family Village several times, so almost everyone in the village knew him. Therefore, it wasn't surprising that he addressed him as Captain Qi.

Qi Ling looked around and asked, "Where were you on the night of January 2nd, which was the night before last?"

Qi Ling didn't waste any time and asked directly.

Hu Sanchuan thought for a moment and said, "That night, I was chased by a wild boar in the back mountain and fell into a trap. I was sitting on the ground and warmed up a poisonous snake, which bit my arm. My whole arm went numb, so I knew it was a poisonous snake. I cut off my arm with a knife to save my life."

"And what about your hunting rifle?" Qi Ling asked, staring into Hu Sanchuan's eyes.

"I was thinking I was going to die, and I don't know where I got the strength to climb up. I broke my arm, and I quickly came down to find a doctor," Hu Sanchuan said. "I don't know where I lost my hunting rifle."

"Have you encountered any strangers while hunting in the mountains recently?" Qi Ling asked. Hu Sanchuan's explanation sounded reasonable, but upon closer inspection, it didn't make sense.

Hu Sanchuan thought for a moment, then slapped his other uninjured hand on the bed and said, "I've seen him. One of them was rather short, and the others were quite tall."

"Do they have guns?" Qi Ling asked, knowing that the tomb raiders must have guns.

"Yes," Hu Sanchuan said. "When I saw that they had guns and there were several of them, I didn't dare to go forward and hid."

"When and where was that?" Qi Ling asked.

Hu Sanchuan thought for a moment and said, "The afternoon before last, I was setting a trap..."

"Are you feeling alright now? Can you take us to the trap you fell into?" Qi Ling asked, looking at Hu Sanchuan seriously.

Hu Sanchuan smiled wryly and said, "Captain Qi, I wanted to take you with me, but look at my arms and legs, I can't climb mountains, I can't make it up!"

Qi Ling nodded and said, "Alright then, I won't force you. If there are no problems, please sign your name here."

"If you can't write your name, can you leave your fingerprint?" Hu Sanchuan asked. He was a roughneck; who could read?

“Alright!” Qi Ling said, taking the inkpad. Hu Sanchuan pressed his handprint with his remaining hand.

About half an hour later, Qi Ling came out of Hu Sanchuan's house.

"Captain Qi, I think Hu Sanchuan is lying," Old Wu said. "It's winter. Even if someone were to dig a trap, it would be during the day. Who would dig a trap at night? Wouldn't he freeze to death spending the night on the back mountain?"

“Yes, Captain, I also think there’s something wrong with that person,” Xiao Chen said. “Even if he’s a hunter, he spoke to us very calmly, as if he had planned it all out beforehand.” Xiao Chen said, finding it very strange.

(To be continued.)