Chapter 107 Returning Home and Encountering a Murder Case
After everyone left, Jiang Mancheng burst out laughing: "Oh my god, you are worthy of being my mother, you are this!"
Giving a thumbs-up, Du Hehua glared at her shameless son. "Come on, stop messing around here. Ma Honghua has her own flaws, but she listens to advice, which is great. She's not completely muddleheaded. Now that she's come to her senses and understands her mistakes from the past few days, she's sincerely trying to change. You better stay out of this mess."
Jiang Mancheng said jokingly, "Mom, I'm the unreliable one."
Seeing Du Hehua about to retort, Jiang Mancheng quickly pointed at Chen Jinhua, Jiang Nan, and Zhou Zhixing and said, "Even if I'm unreliable, my wife, daughter, and son-in-law are still here. They won't let me do whatever I want, right? Don't worry."
Chen Jinhua smiled apologetically, "Mom, Mancheng really isn't here to watch the fun; he just misses you. And there are four or five little babies in our building, crying all day long, so we can't stay here any longer. So he's here to see you."
Such honesty! Du Hehua smiled, glancing at her youngest son from the corner of her eye. How could he have fooled her? Look how spoiled the leader's daughter has become, even bewildered. I'm afraid Chen Jinhua hasn't had a clear mind since marrying this bastard.
Du Hehua didn't argue and asked about Jiang Nan's recent work. Jiang Bai, Jiang Huai, Jiang Tong, and others also came in to chat. The group was lively and soon had lunch.
After dinner, with nothing to do, the four of them followed Jiang Huai and Jiang Tong for a walk through the village. The snow that had fallen a few days earlier hadn't melted completely. After so many days, it had been blown black by the wind and looked unsightly. However, the houses on both sides of the road were getting better and better. Many of the new brick and tile houses were two-story, looking very impressive. Jiang Tong pointed to the house next to him and introduced it, "That's Secretary Tao's house. Many of his children have passed the exams, and there are job openings, so they earn a lot of money. They started renovating the house before the New Year..."
Before he could finish, a woman with disheveled hair came running over from a distance. She lowered her head, her age impossible to discern. Her clothes looked torn and ripped. Four or five other women were chasing her from behind, shouting obscenities. The woman in front was panting heavily, her face clearly filled with fear.
The woman ran crookedly and nearly fell several times. The people behind her were getting closer and closer, and it seemed that they were about to catch up. The woman's eyes gradually dimmed. Just when she looked up to wipe her tears, she saw the people walking in front of her. It was obvious that the light in her eyes was refocused. She stopped stumbling and took more steps. She ran and shouted: "Help, someone is killing me, help me!"
The women chasing after them were getting anxious. One of them shouted, "Xiaoqin, stop talking nonsense. No one wants your mother to commit suicide. Why are you running out here and yelling? You'll get sick from the cold again."
The other said, "You damn girl, if you run away, don't come back. You've been eating our Ma family's food for so many years, why are you still turning your elbows outward? Your mother committed suicide, so you should have buried her long ago. Why are you crying here?"
The woman called Xiaoqin didn't dare to stop for a moment and shouted, "You are the police. Someone has been killed. Do you want to do anything?"
As he spoke, he raised his hand and turned to point at the people behind him, but he didn't turn around. He just stared at Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing, saying word by word: "They killed someone, killed my mother, I want to call the police, they are murderers!"
The old woman leading the group hurried forward, pulling down Xiaoqin's arm with one hand and slapping her shoulder with the other. "I told you not to point fingers! You have no manners, what are you talking about? Your mother committed suicide. Who killed her? Come on, go home with grandma."
Xiaoqin didn't care. She forcefully opened the old woman's grip and looked up and shouted, "You are the police. I am reporting a case. Will you accept it?" Jiang Nan could see clearly now that this was a girl who was no more than twenty years old. She was thin and small, with a wound on the right corner of her mouth. But her eyes were stubborn. She stared at her and Zhou Zhixing without blinking.
Jiang Tong whispered, "She is the daughter of the youngest son of the Ma family. Her mother remained a widow in the Ma family for more than ten years because of her. She passed away two days ago."
Jiang Nan understood that there might be something fishy about the death, and the girl had noticed it. She shouted, "If you call the police, they'll definitely take the case. What's your name? How old are you? Why do you say someone murdered someone?"
Xiaoqin broke away from the crowd, walked a few steps to Jiang Nan, and said loudly, "My name is Ma Xiaoqin, I'm nineteen years old, and I'm Ma Hongjun's daughter. My mother's name is Sun Mai. My father died when she was pregnant with me, and she has been a widow in the Ma family ever since. You have no idea what kind of life my mother has lived."
Tears streamed down her face as she spoke: "My mother washes the clothes for the entire Ma family. Not only does she have to cook, feed the pigs and chickens, but she also has to work in the fields. She has no free time every day. Even with this, the whole family is still not satisfied. They beat or scold her all day long. They don't treat my mother as a human being at all. They treat her like an animal..."
As she was speaking, the old woman next to her started yelling, "You heartless girl, your mother is an outsider and wants to gain a foothold in the Ma family and eat and drink our Ma family's food and drink our Ma family's food. You have to work and be paid for it. What do you mean by being treated like an animal? How can you talk like that..."
Xiaoqin snorted and jumped up, "That's just what I said. What's wrong?! Anyway, I passed the test to become a worker, and I can't transfer my job for five years. You want me to give it to my cousin, but that's not possible. What am I afraid of? I'm going to sue. My mother's death was wrong. It was unjust. I'm going to call the police and put you in jail!"
The old woman hit Xiaoqin again and again: "You silly girl, what are you talking about? Who said your mother's death was wrong? Your mother committed suicide. Who dared to touch her?"
Xiaoqin didn't even try to hide, but instead yelled with her neck stiffened: "Why aren't you moving? If you're not moving, why don't you wait until I see my mom before putting her in the coffin? Why won't you let me see my mom one last time?"
The old woman's eyes flickered, and her lips moved for a while before she said, "What's there to see? It's almost New Year's, so we should bury him sooner rather than later. We still have to deal with things before the New Year. What's there to see?"
Xiaoqin pointed at the old woman, then turned to face Jiang Nan and said viciously, "Officer Jiang, look, is she feeling guilty? There must be something fishy about my mother's death. They want to bury her today, but I disagree. I want an open coffin and an autopsy. I want my mother's death to be clear and I want justice for her!"
Jiang Nan's eyes darted back and forth between the men. Not letting her own daughter see the death was suspicious, and it was almost certain something was wrong. But there were other possibilities, and she wouldn't know how to face them if they were discovered. She asked again, "Are you sure you want to call the police?"
Xiaoqin nodded without hesitation. "Yes, I don't believe my mother would commit suicide. I've already passed the exam and become a worker in the oil field. How could my mother commit suicide? No, it must be murder! Someone killed my mother. I want that person to go to jail and get justice for my mother."
Jiang Nan nodded. Even though she had a case on her day off, it was her job after all. She looked up at Zhou Zhixing, who nodded slightly and whispered, "I'll ride back to get help. Don't worry, there are always people on duty on Sundays, and someone will be here soon."
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the Jiang family's courtyard. Jiang Mancheng sighed inwardly. Suicide was the most difficult thing to deal with. Whoever would commit suicide out of the blue must have suffered a great injustice. But the current law was powerless to deal with such injustices. The phrase "family matter" could silence you.
Before Jiang Nan even took a step toward the Ma family, the old woman, the Ma family's maternal grandmother, slapped her thigh and began to howl. "Oh my God, how could there be such an ignorant granddaughter? She's causing unrest in our home for no reason. Your mother died of anger because of you, and you even dared to report it to the police. Officer Jiang, I'm going to report it to the police too. I'm going to sue this bitch for being unfilial. She doesn't even know how to hand over her salary. She just enjoys herself all day long. She's not filial at all."
Jiang Mancheng groaned and replied first, "Really? Since we're going to report the case, we have to go there. Xiaonan, let's go. We have to go to the Ma family."
With such a big commotion, the door to Secretary Tao's house quickly opened. Old Master Tao stood with his hands behind his back, glared at the old woman as he opened the door, then turned to Jiang Nan and said, "Xiao Nan, I know about this. Let's talk for a moment."
The old woman shrank her neck and dared not say anything. Seeing the situation, Jiang Nan followed Mr. Tao to the corner. Although the old man was old, his back was not broken and his ears were not deaf. He walked very vigorously. The two of them stopped. The old man took out his pipe and took a few puffs before saying, "The Ma family's daughter-in-law committed suicide, that's for sure. But she..."
Then he sighed, "She's pregnant."
Jiang Nan narrowed her eyes: "Pregnant?"
Old Master Tao nodded: "Yes, she is pregnant, and it's almost obvious. This is not a glorious thing, so I asked them to restrain themselves for now. You don't know, that young wife has had a hard time. She suffered torture every day in the Ma family. She has endured for more than ten years. She finally made it and her reputation has improved. Who would have thought that something like this would happen. I know there is something wrong, but..."
He took a puff of his pipe and said, "But I can't let her reputation be tarnished. It wasn't easy for her when she was alive, and she can't have a bad reputation after she dies..."
Jiang Nan was inexplicably angry. She suppressed her temper and whispered, "Reputation? Do you value her reputation or the reputation of the village?"
Mr. Tao narrowed his eyes, and his right hand holding the pipe trembled slightly: "What do you mean, girl?"
Jiang Nan snorted, "I don't mean anything, but I don't think covering her with such a big quilt will solve the problem. Grandpa Tao, have you ever thought about whose child she's carrying? I think she's been able to keep it a secret for so many years. She wouldn't be unable to keep it a secret after her daughter has grown up and become a worker, right? The in-laws are so secretive, but there's nothing wrong inside? Have you ever thought about it?"
She stared into Secretary Tao's eyes and chuckled, "Not only have you thought about it, you've also guessed it, right? It's nothing more than some human relations scandal. You didn't want the news to get out, so you went along with them and said it was suicide. But the grievances that woman suffered are just going to be forgotten like that?"
She said firmly, "I will investigate. Whoever made the mistake will go to jail. There's no room for personal relationships. We can't let those who made the mistake go unpunished just for the sake of so-called face and reputation! Grandpa Tao, you're the Party Secretary, and it's right for you to care about the reputation of the village, but you can't condone crime just for the sake of reputation!"
She turned around and glared at the old woman sternly. "Lead the way. We're going to your house. Xiaoqin has already reported the case. She's over eighteen years old and the deceased's biological daughter. She has the right to report the crime. And we have a rule that police reports must be accepted! Let's go and guard the coffin. No one can bury anyone today!"
Xiaoqin wiped away her tears quickly and stopped crying. She turned around and led the way. Jiang Tong trotted beside Jiang Nan and said with admiration, "Sister, you are so amazing!" Jiang Nan touched the little girl's head, but didn't want to reply.
Jiang Tong didn't take it seriously and whispered, "Don't worry, sister, the Ma family is a single family. There are not many people in the village, so they dare not make trouble. Don't be afraid, we have a large Jiang family, brother."
She turned sideways and looked at Jiang Huai: "Brother, hurry home and call people. My sister and uncle and the others are going to the Ma family. We can't do without a few people."
Jiang Huai was about to leave, but when he heard this, he turned back and rubbed Jiang Tong's hair fiercely: "Smart boy, am I that stupid? Do I need your explanation? Take good care of our sister, I'll go call for help!" As he spoke, he had already run away.
Everyone ignored him and walked straight towards the Ma family. The Ma family was easy to spot, just the white cloth hanging from a distance. Before they even arrived, Xiaoqin's tears started to flow again. She wiped her tears and said as she walked, "I was working a few days ago and stayed in the young workers' dormitory. I didn't come home. I came back early this morning, and who knew I would see a coffin when I arrived. They even refused to let me see my mother. Officer Jiang, if there is nothing wrong, why didn't they let me see her?"
Since there were ghosts, I decided to go in and take a look. As soon as I entered, I was shocked to see a nailed-down coffin in the middle of the yard. Even in such a cold day, a layer of frost still covered it. Seven or eight strong men were standing in the yard, tying ropes around the coffin and preparing to carry it to the cemetery.
A group of people stood behind them. They looked like they were from the Ma family. Because the deceased was a young person, the head of the Ma family, the old man, did not need to wear mourning clothes. The Ma brothers and sisters-in-law did not wear mourning clothes either. Only a few children had white cloths draped around their arms. Seeing the outsiders, the middle-aged men's eyes flashed and they lowered their heads in silence.
Seeing this, Xiaoqin immediately refused to do anything. She took two or three steps forward, laid down on the coffin, and howled, "No one can move! My mother died unjustly and cannot be buried! Whoever dares to move will be buried with me!"
The oldest man in the Ma family turned pale. He raised his cane and staggered towards Xiaoqin, hitting her: "I'll beat you to death for not keeping quiet, you unfilial girl! Get down, get down!"
Ma Xiaoqin clung to the coffin tightly, allowing the crutch to hit her body again and again, gritting her teeth and saying nothing.
The whole family was trying to stop the people from coming, or to watch the excitement, and the yard immediately became noisy. There was even a circle of people outside, pointing and talking at the house, and some of them were so loud that they had already started discussing.
"I told you, there's definitely something wrong. Why would they nail up the coffin before their daughter even comes home? That's outrageous."
"What can my own daughter do if she saw it? Didn't her parents see it? They ordered it to be nailed up, so no one else can say anything."
"Who knows? Maizi's family hasn't come to visit for years. Who knows if there's something fishy going on? Anyway, they didn't show it to my own daughter, so there's probably something wrong."
Jiang Nan didn't have time to listen to these gossips. He hurried forward and grabbed the old man's cane, saying sternly, "Old man, someone has reported a crime, and we police are here to handle it. The funeral can't be held today. Let's all go back."
Seeing that it was a young member of the Jiang family, Old Man Ma didn't take it seriously. He tugged at his cane and prepared to continue beating her, but this time it didn't budge. The old man then turned around, frowned, and said sternly, "Jiang girl, this is our Ma family's private matter. Even though you're a police officer, it's not your place to intervene, is it?"
Jiang Nan smiled faintly, refusing to give in. "Grandpa, Ma Xiaoqin is the deceased's daughter. She's already nineteen and an adult. Since she's reported the case, we police will definitely handle it. It's not a family matter, just a family matter."
As he said this, he ignored the old man's face, which had turned pale with anger, and said loudly to the people carrying the coffin, "Go away, we are not burying anyone today."
The eight people carrying the coffin looked at each other, hesitantly put down the hemp ropes in their hands, and were about to disperse. A man in his forties stepped out from the crowd of Ma family members. He looked at Jiang Nan viciously and shouted, ignoring the woman next to him pulling him back, "Jiang family girl, what are you doing? It's not your turn to meddle in our Ma family's affairs! Ma Xiaoqin is already engaged and is not a member of our Ma family. Her words don't count!"
Then he looked at the people carrying the coffin and said, "We must bury the body today! We will give each person two dollars for carrying the coffin and ten kilograms of wheat. After the burial, there will be a feast."
With such generous conditions on offer, the eight people carrying the coffin all looked reluctant and stopped in their tracks.
With someone taking the lead, the others began to speak up. A man in his thirties chimed in, "We, the Ma family, are not to be trifled with. Everyone, stay put. This isn't a matter for outsiders to meddle in. My brother's words are the real deal. Let's all work hard today to bury the man, and then we can have the feast."
The men of the Ma family all echoed: "That's right, let's have a feast."
Jiang Tong was so angry that his face turned red: "You, how could you do this!"
Chen Jinhua was about to step out and start cursing, but Jiang Mancheng held her back. He said with a fake smile, "What? Are you bullying us because we're outnumbered? Don't you see who our Jiang family has ever feared?"
He snorted and laughed, "What do you mean by 'I'm not a member of the Ma family just because I'm engaged'? What's going on? We're still stuck in feudal society these days! Great men have said that women hold up half the sky and are the ones who can call the shots. 'I'm not a member of the Ma family just because I'm engaged'? Do you dare to say that again?"
Jiang Mancheng glared at everyone and pointed at the gate, saying, "Look who's outside! The Jiang family is small, but the Jin family is large! The captain is here, tell him. Don't change a single word. Say it again!"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the Ma family turned their heads to look, only to see a group of people approaching from afar. Their faces turned pale in an instant. The two people who jumped out to speak shuddered unconsciously.
It turned out that Jiang Huai had not only gone to the Jiang family's yard to call for help, but also to Captain Jin's house. The Jin family was the largest family in the village, and more than 30 young men had come, including some educated youth who had joined the team to join in the fun. Captain Jin was a man who had seen the world. Although he had not seen corpses like Secretary Tao, he could guess what was going on based on the situation today. He shouted sternly, "Don't move! The police station has intervened. Let's see who dares to act recklessly."
Although his reputation might be damaged if he exposed the scandal, it was crucial for him to be recognized as an advanced leader. If he was reported for covering up the scandal, he would lose his position as team leader! Which was more important, advanced leader or team leader?
Between the captain and the advanced, Captain Jin decisively chose the captain. If he lost the advanced this year, he could get it back next year, but if he lost the captain, he would not be able to become the captain again in his lifetime.
Seeing the captain arrive, the old man of the Ma family hurriedly looked at Secretary Tao beside Jiang Nan. Although the old man was dissatisfied with Jiang Nan's attitude, he followed him after all. He took a few puffs of his pipe, his eyes searching Captain Jin and Jiang Nan. After a while, he said to the Ma family, "Wait, the police will be here soon. No one moves."
Jiang Nan chuckled inwardly, finally realizing it. What's wrong with a scandal? Scandals are only those that are hidden. Expose it to the light of day, unafraid of anyone's ridicule and open to commentary, and it's no longer a scandal. There were bound to be some people who would say something at first, but so what? If you want to talk, just talk. Once you get tired of talking, no one will talk anymore. Three or five years from now, who will remember these things? Who would bother to bring up these old, trivial things?
When the incident is over, the scars on your body, along with the scandal, will be healed and forgotten. Only then can you be healthy and move forward without fear of any reports or threats.
She, Jiang Nan, is doing this for Secretary Tao's own good.
The Ma family compound fell into a moment of silence. No one spoke, just staring at each other. Jiang Nan noticed that some people were genuinely anxious, like the first two middle-aged men who had jumped out. Their lips were trembling, their right hands unconsciously folded behind their backs, and their upper bodies were shaking slightly. But the majority were just watching, their arms folded, indifferent to the situation. Everyone was waiting, waiting for the police to open the coffin and determine the true cause of the widow's death.
When Zhou Zhixing and Shao Yong, who was on duty, returned to the Ma family compound, they saw a group of people sitting quietly, each with their own agenda. Shao Yong jumped off his bicycle and muttered, "They don't look so anxious. Zhou Zhixing, you're so unkind. You've been driving us like crazy all the way here. It's unnecessary."
Zhou Zhixing hadn't expected everyone to be so calm. He paused for a moment and whispered, "That's enough. I guess the team leader and the branch secretary have talked them into it."
He looked at the forensic doctor Xie Yongping and said, "Thank you for your help, forensic doctor."
Xie Yongping pushed up his glasses and said expressionlessly, "It's my job, no need to bother."
Lan Qingshan on the side whispered: "Okay, things in the village are the most complicated. If there is a commotion later, don't say anything and follow my instructions." Lan Qingshan didn't need to come today, but Zhou Zhixing was worried. Thinking that Lan had the most experience in handling rural affairs, he went to Lan's house and asked the big Buddha to suppress Tai Sui.
The entrance of the police into the courtyard was like a drop of water into a frying pan, instantly perking up the crowd and causing a flurry of chatter and noise. The old man of the Ma family immediately stood in front of the coffin, his lips trembling as he said, "You can't open the coffin. No way."
Old Mrs. Ma also seemed to have her Ren and Du meridians opened. She sat down on the open space in front of the coffin and slapped her thighs repeatedly. "This is bullying, the police are bullying me. Someone committed suicide out of nowhere, but they insisted on opening the coffin for an autopsy and re-investigating. Is this how you do things? They can't even let someone die peacefully. This is bullying, this is bullying."
Ma Xiaoqin, however, seemed to have found her backbone. She finally jumped down from the coffin and shouted, "My mother's death was unjust. An autopsy must be conducted! I'm calling the police. I'm my mother's biological daughter. I have the right to call the police. Comrade police, I'm calling the police. They want the coffin opened for an autopsy."
Lan Qingshan nodded to Ma Xiaoqin, walked over to pass out cigarettes to everyone, and when he reached Secretary Tao and Captain Jin, he said with a smile, "Two elder brothers, what happened? Why is it so strange? They even called for an open coffin and autopsy."
Secretary Tao was a bit embarrassed and remained silent. Captain Jin, having understood what was going on for so long, explained the situation and whispered, "It's probably something shady. The old secretary had good intentions, not wanting the young wife to die in utter disgrace. But the little girl wasn't convinced and insisted on seeking justice for her mother, which is why there was such a scene. You see, this is a very difficult matter to handle."
Lan Qingshan understood that this involved a family scandal and the reputation of Xihe'an Village. He pondered for a moment and said, "How about this? Let's carry the coffin into the house. Only the police can go in. We'll understand the situation and then we can handle it. Don't worry, we won't tell anyone."
Captain Jin finally nodded and said, "That's what we have to do. I'll leave it to Director Lan."
Lan Qingshan waved his hand, then nodded towards the Ma family and said, "Okay, okay. Then I'll trouble you two to help me and let these people from the Ma family..."
Captain Jin nodded. He took two puffs of his cigarette, walked over to the crowd, and whispered to the Ma family, "Alright, the police are here. We definitely can't bury the body today. The coffin has been opened. Don't make a fuss. If there's any trouble in the future, the team can still speak up for you. But if you insist on not giving in, don't blame them for not giving you face."
Except for the old man, the old lady, and the two middle-aged people, everyone else in the Ma family nodded in agreement. Old Man Ma stiffened his neck and refused to agree: "No, suicide is suicide, what is there to investigate? Our Ma family's affairs..."
Captain Jin glanced at the old man across from him and sneered, "It's the Ma family's business, right? From now on, the team will no longer be involved in your family's affairs, okay?"
Seeing the others' expressions change, Captain Jin snorted, "Come on, the police station is giving you face. They're investigating quietly and no one is saying anything. What else do you want? Do you have to keep it this stalemate? Xiaoqin passed the exam and got out. You can't suppress her anymore. This time they've taken the case to the Oilfield Police Station, but what about next time? What if they report it to the city, the provincial capital, or even the capital? Have you ever thought about it? Why do you have to make a fuss in the capital before you can feel at ease?"
The old man of the Ma family finally understood the seriousness of the matter. He seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, his back was hunched, and his cloudy eyes unconsciously looked at the middle-aged man beside him, not knowing how to answer.
The middle-aged man was not the first one to jump out, but he had spoken just now. Seeing his father looking at him, he hurriedly said, "Captain Jin, that's not what we meant. Well, my sister-in-law died in ignominious ways, and we nailed the coffin shut early for her and Xiaoqin's sake. It's really not our fault. We have no choice. Since... since the police are here, let them investigate. We can bear it." There was no reluctance on his face, and he looked like he had the situation under control.
Captain Jin stared at the man for a few seconds, then reached out and patted him on the shoulder: "Second Army, you are still sensible."
The man called Erjun laughed awkwardly, waved to his mother, and said, "Mom, don't cry, let the police investigate. It's okay, we didn't do anything, there's nothing to be afraid of."
When Old Lady Ma on the ground saw her second son winking at her, she knew she couldn't stop him, so she stood up, glared at Ma Xiaoqin fiercely, and turned back to her man and sons.
Seeing that everyone had made way, Lan Qingshan waved his hand and said to Shao Yong and the others, "Carry the coffin into the house and guard the door. Have Xie Yongping bring two people in to examine the body. Keep a close watch. No villagers are allowed to approach the house."
Shao Yong and his men nodded and moved forward to carry the coffin. The villagers blocked the entrance, refusing to let them go. A few bolder ones had already entered the Ma family's yard, trying to follow. Captain Jin quickly scolded them, "You're all bored, aren't you? Even though there's less land, we can't do without fertilizer. I'll ask anyone who's free to carry manure and fertilize the land, acre by acre!"
As he spoke, his eyes darted from left to right, then back again, instantly leaving everyone speechless. Captain Jin finally snorted heavily, "Alright, everyone, go back. Are you really going to watch a police autopsy? If you delay the police investigation, I'll send you all to jail."
Using both kindness and force, he sent everyone back with a few words. There were still three or five stubborn people who refused to leave. Secretary Tao took one look and said, "You're not leaving, are you? Liu family, I remember your son is in Xiangdong's team. Why don't you ask Xiangdong to take care of your son?"
The woman from the Liu family then threw her hands and walked back home angrily. Seeing this, the others, though unwilling, also left. The area around the Ma family was finally quiet, and Jiang Nan breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't flinched in the face of so many people just now, relying solely on his last breath. Now that he was safe, he felt a little scared. Seeing this, Zhou Zhixing quickly said, "Don't be afraid. They're not strong, and there aren't many of them. They won't do anything to you."
Jiang Mancheng also said: "That's right, your mother and I are here. Even if a fight breaks out, we can protect you. It's okay."
Jiang Nan said stubbornly, "Who's scared? I'm just letting out a sigh of relief. Let's go see how Forensic Doctor Xie is doing."
What could he do? Sun Mai had been dead for less than three days, and in this weather, her body was well-preserved, and it was obvious she was pregnant. A widow being pregnant, and being kept a secret by her husband's family, it was obvious that something was not simple. Lan Qingshan's heart sank, and he whispered, "Don't make it public. Let's discuss it back at the station. Even Ma Xiaoqin, the one who reported the case, shouldn't tell the truth yet. She's young and impulsive. Let's find out whose child it is before we talk about it."
Seeing everyone nod, Lan Qingshan asked again: "Are you sure it was suicide?"
"Aside from the strangulation marks on the neck, there are no other injuries on the body, nor any signs of poisoning," Xie Yongping said expressionlessly. "To determine suicide, we need to look at the location of the murder and see if there are any other traces of other people. That's up to you."
"Alright." Lan Qingshan nodded. "As long as there are no other signs, it's fine. Let's go and ask where the suicide took place."
Everyone then went to inquire about the Ma family and learned that she had hanged herself in the woodshed. They then flocked to the woodshed. The woodshed was actually Sun Mai's home. This unfortunate woman had married into the Ma family at the age of sixteen. Less than six months into her life with a man, she became pregnant, and then her husband died. Her parents abandoned her, forcing her to stay with her in-laws, working like a slave. Not only did she have to work all day, but she also had to live in the single, adobe woodshed.
Jiang Nan's heart was heavy. He took a deep breath before stepping into the woodshed. The woodshed was small, less than ten square meters. Half of it was filled with piles of firewood. In one corner, there was only straw and a bed; there wasn't even a kang. The weather in Northeast China was so cold, and I wondered how Sun Mai and Ma Xiaoqin, mother and daughter, managed to survive year after year.
Zhou Zhixing glanced at Jiang Nan, sighed, and whispered, "If you act so emotionally every time, you won't be able to solve the case."
Jiang Nan understood that Zhou Zhixing was doing this for her own good. When investigating a case, police officers encounter all kinds of people, and it's natural for them to exploit people's sympathy, softening the officers' hearts and allowing them to escape legal punishment. Thinking of this, Jiang Nan nodded, "I know. You investigate first. I'll go after a while. Don't worry, I won't let my emotions get the better of you."
Zhou Zhixing nodded. Although Jiang Nan was full of sympathy, he was not a pushover. He knew who should be sympathized with and who should not have the slightest mercy.
As the police bustled about in the woodshed, Lan Qingshan examined the scene carefully. It became clear to her that Sun Mai had committed suicide. The reason for her death was linked to the child's father, and even more so to Ma Xiaoqin. She didn't want the truth to be exposed, forcing her daughter into a difficult life. Her death would bring closure. Knowing the Ma family, she knew they would do everything in their power to keep the matter secret, allowing Xiaoqin to continue working as a laborer and eventually marry a good man and live a good life.
For the first time, Jiang Nan felt that there were loopholes in the system. She wondered in her heart, "Why can't we see the secrets of the dead?"
[Host, our scientists are currently researching this technology. However, we won't be seeing 2.0 yet, but we'll probably see 3.0.]
Jiang Nan complained: "Why don't you just say it directly, I won't be able to see it in my lifetime?"
[Hey, host, the system can only be upgraded once within a host. This is the system's rule. I can't use it for personal gain.]
The two of them argued, and Lan Qingshan said, "Alright, once we've seen it clearly, we can go back and discuss the case. Sun Mai's body has been taken away, and he can't be buried until the case is closed."
Everyone agreed, negotiated a few more words with the Ma family, and then left. Luckily, they had arrived on a sidecar motorcycle. While carrying a coffin was a bit unusual, it wasn't impossible; it just had to be done more slowly. By the time they got back to the police station, it was already five in the afternoon. The number of people turning their heads along the way—not 100%, even 200% is low. Those who did, repeatedly, drove the numbers up dramatically.
After finally sitting in the office, Lan Qingshan looked at everyone and said, "Everyone has guessed it, right? I won't say anything more. It's almost time to get off work, so everyone should go to the hospital early to ask. Shao Yong, take someone to the staff hospital to check the drug purchase records, especially drugs like sleeping pills, to see if anyone from the Ma family bought any."
Then he looked at Zhou Zhixing and said, "Go to the alley near Yangjiawa and the centipede in Lihua Lane. They both sell knockout drugs. Ask who has bought this stuff."
He looked at everyone sternly: "This is a crime. Sun Maidu committed suicide because of this. One body, two lives lost. Everyone must be cautious."
He raised his hand, looked at his watch, and said, "It's 5:23 pm now. Come back at 8 pm and drive again. Okay, let's go!"
Everyone stood up and said in unison, "Yes."
As the voice fell, everyone quickly dispersed and went their separate ways. Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing led the other six groups and went to Yangjiawa first. The old Chinese doctor initially refused to admit that he had knockout drugs for sale, until Zhou Zhixing took real action, even showing off his handcuffs. The old man finally got scared and said with trembling lips, "Well, knockout drugs... yes, but I'm very strict when selling them. Seriously, I only sell them to people who know the code. I won't sell them to anyone who doesn't know, no matter how rich they are."
As he spoke, as if eager to prove himself, he first knocked on the edge of the kang three times, then knocked hurriedly five times, and finally knocked slowly twice before he said, "You see, I have decided on this secret code long ago. Only people I know know it. If others come here without knowing the secret code, I will never sell it out. Really, I'm very strict." After saying this, he flattered his face and smiled.
Zhou Zhixing's expression remained stern as he sternly said, "Alright, who asked you for the code? I was asking who has bought this thing in the past year? Do you recognize any of them, male or female?"
The old man shook his head like a rattle, afraid the police wouldn't notice. "I don't know him. Really, I don't know him. I'm just a medicine seller, not everyone knows me. Let me think, in the past year, only three people came to buy this stuff: an old woman, a woman under 40, and an old man. No one else."
Zhou Zhixing: "Have you ever asked them why they bought the medicine?"
The old man spread his hands with a bitter face and said, "This... I'm just a medicine seller, why would I ask so many questions." Seeing Zhou Zhixing's face turned even colder, he quickly added, "I will definitely ask next time... No, bah."
He slapped himself in the mouth and raised his hands to promise, "There will be no more, seriously. I will never sell this kind of medicine again. If I do, you can arrest me."
Zhou Zhixing then glanced at the old man and said, "Tell me what these three people look like."
The old man breathed a sigh of relief, recalling the appearance of the three people. The old woman didn't sound like Old Lady Ma, and the middle-aged woman and the old man didn't look like the Ma family members they had seen before. Everyone frowned, knowing that the medicine might not have been bought here.
Zhou Zhixing wrote down the notes quickly. After a long while, he said coldly, "Take him back to the police station."
The old man became anxious when he heard this, and held on to the door frame tightly: "Why, I... I didn't do anything, I won't go. Ouch, I'm sick, I have a heart disease, I need to see a doctor, I have a headache..." As he said this, he covered his head with one hand and kept shouting.
Jiang Nan stared up at the sky. What do you think we should do with a guy like him? He'd probably change his confession right there and then. He's old, too. He looks like he's in his sixties, with gray hair. He keeps complaining about pain here and there. Even putting him in the detention center would be a hassle. It's just a hassle.
Zhou Zhixing didn't back down, and whispered a warning, "The police station is close to the hospital, so we're not afraid of you getting sick. Take him away."
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