Chapter 119 Staying in Beijing Smoothly
Most people nowadays are still simple and honest. After the six wallets were returned and they walked out of the ghost market, not only were the six owners following them, but there was also a round of applause.
Not only that, a thief was caught, and a group of people walked towards the police station.
On the way to the police station, the man in black clothes got anxious and kept yelling, "Don't be shameless! I just stole a few wallets and returned them. What else do you want? I'm telling you, you'll be in jail for a month at most. When I get out, I won't let you go."
Zhou Zhixing glanced at the man indifferently. "I've been a police officer for almost ten years, how could I be afraid of you? Didn't you see that one of your accomplices has been arrested? This isn't just a simple theft, it's a gang crime. Once you're involved with a gang, I'm afraid it won't be over in a month."
Indeed, when two or three hands were taken to the police station, the police were surprised. Someone murmured, "It's usually fine, but when things get busy, they get crowded together."
Jiang Nan chuckled. "They're not a bunch of people, are they? They're just here to cause trouble." Hearing they were students from the Public Security University, the police officers stood at attention. They'd be colleagues from now on, and maybe even their leaders after graduation. They had to behave well.
Even the deputy director of the police station came out, shook hands with the two men, and said politely, "Don't worry, we will thoroughly investigate these two. We will also take seriously your suggestion that there are more than two members of the gang. Thank you very much, thank you so much. We will send a letter of appreciation to the Public Security University on behalf of the police station, thanking you both for your contributions to local security."
Zhou Zhixing laughed, "How can I be so embarrassed? Director, you're really polite. We're all colleagues from now on, and this is what we should do."
Don't you understand what I'm saying? They should do what they should do. Why didn't the police station express their gratitude? Praise them, definitely praise them. The deputy director laughed and said, don't worry, the thank-you letter will be delivered to the Public Security University in person tomorrow.
By the time they came out, it was already seven in the morning. They figured Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua were already at work, so since they couldn't catch them, they didn't rush and just leisurely made their way home. The police station had already assigned someone to investigate the tomb robbery, so they wouldn't get involved. They'd just catch more thieves during the summer vacation and try to make more achievements.
Unbeknownst to them, due to their frequent visits to Panjiayuan, the robbery that was supposed to happen ten days later was completely forgotten. The victim of the robbery, Yan Hui, had successfully purchased a Tang Dynasty antique for 800 yuan on the day he was murdered in his previous life.
As they left Panjiayuan, Yan Hui felt a sudden, sharp pain in his chest, as if something had been pulled from his body and reborn. Fortunately, he had held onto the antique tightly, preventing it from breaking. At the end of the year, Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing, through Yan Hui's help, bought two more courtyards. They were properties Yan Hui's classmates had been selling to raise money for their overseas studies, a gesture of gratitude for his life-saving grace that day.
Of course, no one knew any of this now; not even the system knew anything about anything outside the book. During their few days wandering around Panjiayuan, the two of them acquired two snuff bottles, three jade pendants, and a guqin, a considerable haul. Of course, all of these were picked up by Zhou Zhixing, so they were effectively buying antiques and catching thieves simultaneously.
A few petty thieves alone wouldn't be considered a significant achievement. The biggest achievement was truly an accidental encounter, or perhaps it was just a case of good deeds being rewarded?
That day, the two of them came back from Panjiayuan and were buying soy milk and fried dough sticks when the old men and women next to them kept muttering.
A thin, dark-skinned man in a white old man's shirt said indignantly, "Does Principal Wang have overseas connections? How did he become the principal?"
The short-haired woman in a gray top next to him echoed, "Exactly. Back then, the fighting was so intense, so many people were sent down because of their overseas connections. How could Wang Liansheng have escaped this? Who was his backer?"
"What? You don't even know the situation, how dare you talk nonsense?" said the woman in the khaki sweatshirt nearby. "Wang Liansheng's ancestors were exploited servants and servants. The master of the house has returned and wants to meet the old lady of the Wang family."
The short-haired woman in a gray top pouted and immediately said sarcastically, "Oh, you asked to see the old lady? Then this Wang Liansheng... It's a good thing Old Wang died early, otherwise he would have been furious today."
The implication was obvious: Wang Liansheng was probably the son of a wealthy family. Otherwise, why would he want to meet the old lady alone? It had to be said that Old Lady Wang had kept it a secret. If the master hadn't come looking for him, who would have known this was happening? A group of people laughed meaningfully. The breakfast stall was at the entrance of Qingyun Hutong, and many people heard what was said, winking and making faces, making a lively scene.
Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing exchanged glances. Those words were too harsh, and if the news got out, it wouldn't be a good thing. Regardless of whether the old lady went or not, the Wang family was in danger.
If she didn't go, people would think that the old lady had been with the master's family and had many good things given by the master. Now she probably didn't dare to get involved with them. This was because she was afraid of recurrence in the future and it would be difficult to explain.
Going would only make things more troublesome. Who knows how much the old man will give us after we meet? Just wait and see. In a few days, there will probably be more thieves in Qingyun Hutong. It's possible that a few robbers will come and break into houses and pick locks in the middle of the night.
As expected, the two of them came right. The old lady didn't show up that day, but the thieves showed up anyway. For the next two days, they prowled the area, passing by the Jiangs several times. The thieves knew they were police officers, so they wouldn't dare approach them, simply passing by. But Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing had sharp eyes; they recognized them instantly.
Jiang Nan whispered, "I guess we'll have to take action in the next two days."
Zhou Zhixing nodded: "Just keep an eye on it. Stealing is fine, but I'm worried about someone getting killed."
That's exactly what they feared. If the thieves came to their house and the Wang family just paid them, it would be fine. But if there was a commotion, they were afraid the robbers would get angry and do something, causing casualties. Even if the robbers were caught, the damage had already been done and could not be undone.
Wang Liansheng had helped Cha Cha get into elementary school, and since they were neighbors, they'd been visiting frequently over the years. He couldn't let anything happen to Old Lady Wang. He was really watching closely. Around midnight the next night, Jiang Nan was woken by the system and sat up. "Tonight, hurry up."
The two men didn't dare to delay, so they put on their clothes and ran out. When they opened the door, they saw a commotion outside. They quickly went to Gate No. 5 and saw that almost all the residents in the courtyard were up and blocking the front and back doors of the second courtyard. In the second courtyard, only the lights in Wang's house were on. From inside, a strange, hoarse male voice came out: "Everyone get out of here, or I'll kill this old lady!"
Old Mrs. Niu from the house management department tried her best to appease him. She said calmly, "Okay, let's all get out of the way. Don't be impulsive. This is just a theft. If someone gets killed, it will be difficult to end well. We all go home, and you leave quietly as if nothing happened. How about that? Anyway, we don't know who you are. We don't know each other, right? Please consider what I say." Although she tried to be calm, her voice was still a little trembling.
"Yeah, we don't know you. Just leave. We won't call the police, and don't hurt anyone."
"Yeah, stealing something is no big deal, but hurting someone is a different matter. You have to think carefully."
In the bright light, a figure was faintly visible behind the Wang family's curtains. The man moved and shouted, "I didn't mean to hurt anyone, but that old lady is such a worthless person. She'd rather die than give up her money. If I let her go, she'd call the police right away."
Wang Liansheng's voice rang out, extremely anxious: "No, my mother is old and confused, and what she says is useless. Don't worry, I will definitely watch my mother and prevent her from calling the police."
Mrs. Niu from the Guanyuan quickly agreed, "Yes, Mrs. Wang is old and her mind is confused. We can all testify. Don't listen to her. We will definitely not call the police. Quick, everyone go back and pretend nothing happened. Quick!"
Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing exchanged a glance, then quickly retreated to the moon gate of the second courtyard. They grabbed a handful of pebbles from the ground, leaped onto the wall with a running start, and quietly made their way towards the roof of the Wang family's house. This thief wasn't just out to steal; he was carrying a knife, ready to hurt anyone if discovered. They couldn't just let him get away.
Outside, everyone in the compound dispersed, each returning home and closing their doors. Upon closer inspection, an eyeball was visible behind the crack in the door.
The Wang family thief seemed to struggle for a moment, but he eventually managed to kidnap the old lady and escape. Seeing that the courtyard was indeed deserted, he pushed everyone aside and ran for the door. However, before he could take two steps, he was caught by a stone thrown by Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing, and fell to the ground with a thud. Seeing this, everyone in the slum opened the door and in a flash, they had pinned the thief underneath, unable to move.
"Send it to the police station, quickly."
"Oh, it's Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing. Look, they're on the roof."
"Really? Xiao Jiang, Xiao Zhou, when did you get here? How did you subdue this bad guy?"
Jiang Nan chuckled, stood up, and slowly walked towards the Moon Gate, saying, "I'm a light sleeper. I heard a commotion in the alley, so I came out to check it out. Who knew I'd run into something like this? We both know some martial arts, so let's grab a handful of stones and throw them at the thief. It's pitch dark, so he might have slipped."
"Really? I was wondering why there were so many stones on the ground. I guess you two did it."
"Xiao Jiang, Xiao Zhou, let's go to the police station. This incident today is no small matter. We have to teach this guy a lesson. Otherwise, won't all those thieves run away to our Qingyun Hutong?"
The management department was indeed the most meticulous and went to see Mrs. Wang. The old lady had her right leg broken when the thief fell to the ground with too much force and was taken to the hospital by her neighbors and stayed in the hospital.
When they were taken to the police station, the knife wounds were no longer a simple burglary, but a major case. Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing were once again praised, and their popularity in the alley improved.
Surprisingly, after being discharged from the hospital, Old Lady Wang specifically asked Wang Liansheng to go and invite the two of them, saying she had something to ask of her. It was just after dinner, and many people were out for a stroll. While greeting everyone, Jiang Nan asked, "Principal Wang, what's going on? Why are you still going to the guesthouse? Your family said it's the same thing, isn't it?"
Wang Liansheng shook his head: "I don't know. My mother asked me to invite you over, but she didn't tell me what it was about."
This is strange. Although they have dealings with the Wang family, they are far from close friends. What could the old lady want from them?
When they arrived at the guesthouse, the old lady was the only one in the room. It was unclear whether Wang Liansheng's wife and three children hadn't come or had been kicked out. Seeing the two men arrive, Old Lady Wang sat on the single sofa and told Wang Liansheng, "Close the door."
Wang Liansheng nodded and told the two to just sit on the bed. He went to pour some water and after busying himself for a while, he sat down next to Zhou Zhixing.
Old Lady Wang sighed and pulled out a jasper ring from her bosom. She said, "I was injured that day because I couldn't bear to part with this thing. Today, I'll ask you two to be witnesses. Lianshan's father will be here soon."
Wang Liansheng looked up in shock. Old Lady Wang gave a wry smile, "Yes, your father is not dead, he's still alive. He just went abroad with the young master. Now... maybe he's remarried."
She spoke to herself, "Back then, I was a maid in the Zhang family in the capital. The Zhang family was one of the most prestigious families in the capital, and I was the eldest maid who served the young master. You may not know that an eldest maid...is usually a concubine arranged by the mistress to serve as the young master's concubine. My parents both worked in the master's household, so I was considered a servant of the family. The mistress thought I would be easy to control, so she arranged for me to go there. But I didn't want to."
She raised her head and repeated seriously, "I don't want to be a mistress! It's the Republic of China now, aren't we all equal? Why should I be controlled by others? I...I've been secretly in love with Brother Quan, who's by the Master's side. During our tryst, that damned girl Fengming reported us, and the Madam kicked us out of the Zhang family. Luckily, Master Zhang went to a modern school and supports free love. He heard about Brother Quan and me and quietly gave me this ring."
She stroked the jade ring. Jiang Nan looked at it and saw that the jade was really green, as if it was shining with green light, as if all the green of the entire summer was condensed on this small stone.
After a long pause, Old Lady Wang continued, "Then the Zhang family decided to move to Country M. When Brother Quan heard about it, he insisted on going to see the young master off. Who knew... who knew that on the way, enemies of the Zhang family started a fight, and Brother Quan was shot while trying to save the young master. It's said the wound was so severe that only doctors from abroad could save him. To save Brother Quan's life, the young master had no choice but to take him away. It's been nearly forty years since he left."
Old Lady Wang's eyes gradually turned red. She took out a letter from her bosom and handed it to Wang Liansheng, saying, "This is the letter I received two days ago. When the young master came to invite me, I... I just thought it was the young master himself, but who knew your father was here too. You should meet him. You haven't seen him since you gave birth, right? Don't blame him. He didn't know I was pregnant at the time. I only found out later when I had morning sickness. Your uncle Wang is a good man. He said he didn't mind, so I married him..."
After wiping her tears and handing the letter to Wang Liansheng, the old lady looked at the two of them again and said, "I asked you to come here today so that you two could bear witness. This ring will belong to Liansheng from now on. Although it was given to me and Brother Quan by the young master, Brother Quan feels he owes the young master for this ring. He abandoned us mother and daughter for almost forty years and I'm afraid he would have married and had children elsewhere long ago. Consider this ring an apology to us mother and daughter."
An old but cheerful male voice came from outside: "Feng Yin, it's been so many years since we last met, and you're still holding a grudge like always! What's the use of making amends? What's given to you is yours."
Apparently having listened for a while, Old Lady Wang wiped her eyes, placed her ring on the coffee table, and remained silent with a solemn expression. Zhou Zhixing wisely went to open the door. Outside, two white-haired old men stood one in front of the other. The one in front had a refined demeanor, while the one behind looked more robust. Perhaps because he had spent so much time abroad, he always had a familiar smile. But today, his smile had a hint of homesickness.
The elegant old man was none other than the young master Zhang from back then. He grabbed hold of Brother Quan, who was afraid to step forward, and as he passed Zhou Zhixing, he simply nodded in greeting. He quickly entered the house and said, "Feng Yin, these years have been filled with a series of twists and turns. When I took Brother Quan away, I thought I could pick you up in two days. Who knew..."
He sighed, "You and your wife have been separated for so many years, it's all my fault. Brother Quan has been alone abroad for so many years. I came back this time just to reunite you and your wife. Otherwise, even if I died, I would not be at peace."
Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing felt a bit redundant and hurriedly stood up and retreated. This reunion of husband and wife, father and son, master and servant, didn't need two witnesses at all. Old Lady Wang saw this and opened her mouth to say something, but in the end, she didn't say anything. The two of them stood up and left smoothly.
After coming out, the two were very helpless. This matter was completely meaningless except for listening to gossip. Who knew it was not true? It was only two days later, after dinner in the evening, when the family was preparing to go out for a stroll, Master Zhang, Brother Quan and Wang Liansheng came to visit the Jiang family.
Knowing they were looking for the young couple, Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua didn't stay and took their three children out to play. After they left, Young Master Zhang explained his purpose: "Lian Sheng said that thanks to you two, we were able to catch the robbers who broke into the house. I know you two are students at the Public Security University. So, I'm returning to China to invest and support national development. I have an idea. I want to make a personal donation to several universities in Beijing, including the Public Security University. I wonder if you two can help connect me?"
This was a favor. With the current emphasis on attracting foreign investment, the two of them could help secure donations for the school, which would surely make their future in Beijing more secure. And what did Young Master Zhang lose? It was just a small amount of money, in his opinion, but it could help him build good relations with the government. It would undoubtedly be beneficial for future business ventures. A win-win situation, so why not do it?
Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing had even less reason to refuse; they had indeed put in a lot of effort that day. This assignment had made their summer vacation busier, helping to contact various universities, approaching the education departments that oversee them, and navigating various procedures, such as approving private donations and establishing private scholarships and grants—all unprecedented tasks. Despite the reforms, no one dared to be the first to take the plunge. Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing's legs were worn out from running, and Zhou Zhixing even attended countless dinner parties before they finally found a breakthrough.
During this time, there were some who wanted to take advantage of him, but fortunately, Young Master Zhang stood firm. Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing were not pushovers, and they clung tightly to the Zhang family. It wasn't until just before graduation that the donations were finalized. In his personal capacity, Young Master Zhang donated 5 million RMB to the Public Security University, 10 million to Peking University, 10 million to Q University, and 25 million to other universities. This total of 50 million RMB was the largest donation to any university since the reforms began.
On the eve of their graduation in 1982, the two were praised for their outstanding performance while on campus, received commendations from their superiors during their secondment, and, during the summer of 1981, successfully apprehended several thieves. Most importantly, they secured a five-million yuan donation for the university. Before graduation, their files were transferred to the Beijing Public Security Bureau, and they became officers of the Dongcheng District Public Security Bureau.
With their university degrees, both were hired directly into the Criminal Investigation Department, with Jiang Nan in charge of criminal technology and Zhou Zhixing in field work. The old head of the criminal technology department, now elderly, retired after only a year. Whether Jiang Nan could succeed him would depend on his performance. Zhou Zhixing, on the other hand, was temporarily appointed head of Investigation Team 3.
The day I reported was January 18, 1982, the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month. In six days, it would be the New Year.
Director Qin personally received the two men in his office. He was a man in his forties, and his temperament was somewhat similar to Lan Qingshan. They had both been on the battlefield, and once he became serious, he exuded a murderous aura.
In the director's office, Director Qin Guoqin joked, "Don't curse me in your hearts, the Public Security Bureau is really short on manpower. Otherwise, we wouldn't have let you two join the team before the New Year. I really have no choice. You two should know the recent security situation. Everyone is extremely busy and we are seriously short of staff, so we let you two join the team."
Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing immediately stood up straight and said that they were not afraid of hard work and were willing to get to work right away.
Director Qin finally smiled. "Great, great, you're worthy of being our first batch of university students. You're truly talented! I've seen your grades while you were in school. Whether it's Criminal Investigation, Criminology, Psychology, or Public Security, you were both in the top three in your grade. You also have extensive experience as grassroots police officers. It would be a shame to have such talented individuals return to the grassroots. I'm only accepting you two from the Public Security University out of respect for your talents. Don't worry, I'll explain this to your former employers and won't make things difficult for you."
After giving a few more instructions, he called out to the outside, "Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin, come in for a moment."
As soon as he finished speaking, a man who looked less than 30 years old agreed to come in. He was tall and thin, wearing a pair of glasses, holding a paper and a pen in his hands. After standing still, he leaned forward slightly, with a standard posture of listening to the director's teachings.
Jiang Nan sighed. This was all a learning experience. Even though she was a university student, she still had a lot to learn from these talented people. Just in terms of how to behave, this Xiaolin was more than enough to be a teacher for her and Zhou Zhixing.
Qin Guo: "Xiao Lin, take Comrade Jiang Nan and Comrade Zhou Zhixing to complete the employment procedures. Collect the police uniforms and labor protection supplies, and then hand them over to Section Chief Xing."
Xiao Lin quickly took note. After Qin Guo finished speaking, he turned to the two of them and said with a smile, "Section Chief Xing is in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department and is your direct supervisor. Go ahead, Xiao Lin will introduce you to the people."
"yes."
Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing followed Xiao Lin and slowly walked out of the director's office. As they were walking downstairs, Xiao Lin whispered, "Lin Yang, you can just call me Xiao Lin. I'm Director Qin's secretary, and I'm also in charge of the Public Security Bureau's labor union. If you two have any suggestions regarding police welfare, feel free to share them with me."
Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing responded perfunctorily, both knowing in their hearts that the man who was in charge of the labor union must have a complicated background. Since they were both new to the Public Security Bureau, it would be better for them to make more friends.
The Dongcheng Public Security Bureau building has three floors, and the Criminal Investigation Division is on the first floor, making it easy for everyone to come and go, saving time. This also shows how busy the Criminal Investigation Division is.
After going through all the paperwork and finally changing into my police uniform, I arrived at the Criminal Investigation Division at 10:30 AM. Even before I even entered, I was struck by the clamor inside. There were people arguing loudly, each arguing with their own opinions, each unable to convince the other. Others were jogging to report on their progress. Everyone was hurried, their pace incredibly busy.
Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing exchanged a glance. The price of staying in Beijing was quite high. If they were this busy every day, the three little brats would definitely cause trouble.
The two took a deep breath and followed Lin Yang into the Criminal Investigation Section. Section Chief Xing was sitting at the front desk, staring at a pile of photos. Jiang Nan took a look and thought, "Wow, arson case, charred bodies, is this so exciting right from the start?"
Lin Yang knocked on the door and led the two to Section Chief Xing Ming. He introduced them, "Section Chief Xing, these are the newly assigned college students this year. This is Jiang Nan, majoring in Criminal Science. This is Zhou Zhixing, majoring in Public Security Studies."
Section Chief Xing looked to be in his mid-thirties. His face, greasy from not washing for at least three days, and his chin was untidy, he was truly unpresentable. When he wasn't smiling, he looked very serious, but fortunately, he had a good temper. After listening to Xiaolin's introduction, he politely stood up and shook hands with the two men. After watching Xiaolin leave, he nodded to them and shouted, "Lao Du, Lao Du, the technically gifted student you've been looking for is here."
"Oh, you're finally here." Lao Du's voice was filled with joy. He hurried in, took Jiang Nan's hand and said, "Jiang Nan, right? We've been waiting for you for a long time. Come on, there are three huge surprises waiting for us. Let's go."
Jiang Nan was a little surprised and quickly said to the unremarkable old man, "I studied criminal science and technology and do physical evidence analysis, not forensic medicine..."
Lao Du chuckled: "I know, I know. It's just physical evidence analysis. We can do gastric fluid composition analysis, right? Top student, come with me. Lao Xing and the others are all rough guys who don't know anything. Let's not go with them. The forensic team... No, the criminal technology team is the same as me, friendly and educated. We are the same kind of people, really." Without saying anything, he pulled Jiang Nan away.
Xing Ming laughed and scolded from behind, "Old Du, you bastard, what nonsense are you talking about? The Forensic Medical Team is the Forensic Medical Team, what's the Criminal Technology Team? The Bureau didn't agree to change the name!"
Old Du was still laughing, as if he didn't hear anything, but he quickened his pace a bit, and Jiang Nan's long legs also followed suit.
Just go, it’s just a gastric fluid analysis, can’t she do it?
He glanced back at Zhou Zhixing, gave him a look that said, "May the best be for you," and quickly turned and followed Lao Du out. Soon, he was being put in front of a microscope and was about to start working. Jiang Nan calmed his mind and began his technical analysis.
At 11:50, before lunch, Lao Du finally raised his head, stood up, pounded his waist, then chuckled and clapped his hands, saying, "Okay, everyone, stop for a moment. We have a new colleague, Jiang Nan, on our team today. He's a newly assigned university graduate. You'll get to know each other over time, so I won't introduce him any further. Everyone, pack up and have lunch."
And so, Jiang Nan began her work at the Dongcheng Public Security Bureau. Before leaving work that day, the gastric fluid analysis was finally completed. Jiang Nan submitted a report stating, "The main ingredients are eggs, tomatoes, peanuts, flour, etc." and left work. When she went outside to look for Zhou Zhixing, she found he was gone. A young man named Wu Yun stood up and said, "Sister Nan, is this you? Brother Zhou hasn't returned from the scene yet, so I asked you to go back first."
"Okay, thank you." Jiang Nan waved to Wu Yun, smiled at everyone, and then left the Public Security Bureau.
The Jiang family has now moved to a large courtyard with three entrances, located in Nanluoguxiang, near the Dongcheng Public Security Bureau. They bought it last year through Yan Hui's introduction. It was the house of a classmate of Yan Hui's, who was selling it to raise money for going abroad. At the time, the price of a courtyard house with three entrances had risen to 13,000 yuan. In an era where even a ten-thousand-yuan household is something to brag about, housing is truly expensive.
This courtyard is better preserved than Yan Hui's two-story house. It is said that the previous owner was a famous playboy in the capital. He bought the courtyard to accommodate his concubines. It was decorated very carefully, and the window frames were even carved with flowers, which shows its luxury. I didn't expect that it would be sold to Jiang Nan now.
It took less than half an hour to get home. Aunt Wen had already prepared dinner. Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua had already gotten off work, and the three children were playing at home. Seeing Jiang Nan come back by himself, everyone was quite curious.
Cha Cha exclaimed, "Mom, where's my dad? Why didn't he come back with you?"
Jiang Nan touched the little girl's head. Cha Cha was almost ten years old now. She had grown to 5 feet tall and was very thin. She thought that in a few years, Jiang Nan would not be able to touch Cha Cha's head like this anymore. She smiled and said, "Your father is at the scene and hasn't come back yet. Let's go and eat first. We don't have to wait for your father."
Cha Cha pouted, very dissatisfied: "Why is it so busy on the first day? Won't it be even busier in the future?"
Xiaozhi and Xiaoye were also unhappy, but fortunately the three little guys loved food, and after each of them got a chicken leg, they quickly put Zhou Zhixing behind their minds.
Zhou Zhixing didn't get home until eight o'clock in the evening. As soon as he got home, he started crying out that he was hungry: "Auntie Wen, is there anything to eat? Cook something quickly. I'm so hungry."
Cha Cha, Xiao Zhi and Xiao Ye went to bed at 8:30. When they heard Zhou Zhixing's voice, they all ran out of the house wearing their little cotton jackets, shouting "Daddy, Daddy".
Aunt Wen smiled and watched from the side, and replied: "Yes, the meatballs fried for the New Year are still hot, I'll go pick up a bowl. There's also the millet porridge I cooked tonight..."
Zhou Zhixing nodded repeatedly: "Okay, that's enough."
Jiang Nan asked him what he was busy with and why he came back so late. Seeing this, Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua got up and went to the kitchen to help prepare the meal. The Jiang family's yard became lively again, with chirping and chattering, until the kids were sent to bed and it quieted down.
At night, Jiang Nan was applying vanishing cream in front of the dressing mirror when she saw Zhou Zhixing standing by the bed, rubbing his stomach. He jokingly scolded her, "I told you to eat so fast. Are you full? I remember there's some hawthorn cake in the bedside table. Want some?"
Zhou Zhixing waved his hand: "No need, I've already brushed my teeth, just rub it."
Jiang Nan asked while slapping the water: "What are you busy with today? You haven't even eaten yet?"
Zhou Zhixing: "Don't mention it. The murder and corpse burning case. Everyone down there reported missing today. The description matches the body. They called us, and we went to see it. We've basically confirmed the deceased's identity. The deceased's mother was acting strangely, pestering Section Chief Xing, saying she wanted to retrieve her son's body so she could perform a ritual. She pestered for a long time before she left."
The concept of the rule of law was still very weak these days, and not many people could adapt to the transition from one era to another. The victim's parents were in a similar situation. Jiang Nan stopped asking questions and walked over to the bed, saying, "Go to sleep. You'll probably have to go to the scene tomorrow. Bring some candy in your pocket. If you're hungry, you can chew on a couple of pieces."
The two chatted and soon fell asleep. The next day, they separated upon arriving at the Public Security Bureau. Jiang Nan continued his analysis while Zhou Zhixing went to the scene.
On the way to the office, Jiang Nan couldn't help but laugh. I didn't expect to be assigned to the forensic team even though I didn't study forensic medicine in college. I don't know who to turn to for justice. I heard that Lao Du specifically applied for this position. I don't know if this world is too crazy, or if Lao Du is just a bit crazy.
But perhaps, there is simply a lack of forensic doctors.
The Dongcheng Public Security Bureau was a large branch, and the daily analysis of physical evidence could fill half a room. Jiang Nan quickly put yesterday's report behind him until four o'clock in the afternoon, when the official forensic report came out and required signatures from the various responsible persons. When Jiang Nan saw the words "death by asphyxiation, followed by incineration," he couldn't help but look at them a few more times, pointing to a line of text and asking, "There's no foreign matter in the nose, and no strangulation marks on the neck. So what was the cause of asphyxiation?"
Lao Du shook his head: "This depends on Lao Xing's investigation. The forensic doctor can only do this."
Something flashed through Jiang Nan's mind, but it quickly vanished. The thought was so fleeting that Jiang Nan didn't catch it. Shaking his head unwillingly, he quickly flipped to the gastric fluid analysis section and compared it with his report from yesterday. Seeing they were identical, he signed his name.
The forensic work was complete, leaving only Xing Ming's work. Jiang Nan quickly immersed herself in other analysis. Four days passed, and it was already the twenty-eighth day of the lunar year, with no progress on the case. Zhou Zhixing had also been home at eight o'clock for five consecutive days. Fortunately, Jiang Cha was sensible enough to understand that their parents were busy with work. Jiang Zhi and Zhou Ye were both playful and didn't cling to their father, so they didn't cause any trouble.
On the 29th day of the lunar year, not long after arriving at the police station, the deceased's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Song, arrived. Mrs. Song, her hair all white, cried and demanded her son's body. "It's been almost ten days, and you still haven't found the murderer. Is my son going to stay in the freezer forever? This won't do! I have to take my son back, perform a ritual, and bury Xiaohai properly!"
The deceased's father, Old Song, looked gentle, but said with a mournful face, "Comrade police, I know it's difficult for you, but Xiaohai is my only son. He's not even married yet, and he doesn't even have children. He can't die without a burial place, can he? You want an autopsy, saying it's to give my son justice, and Xiaohai's mother and I agree. But it's been so long, and you haven't given us any news. We really can't wait any longer. You are parents too. What parent can sleep soundly knowing their child is suffering in a freezer? You can't find the murderer, and the forensic doctor hasn't completed the autopsy in ten days?!"
Mother Song slapped her thigh and cried, "I don't care. My Xiaohai must go home with me today. He can't be left here anymore..."
Jiang Nan was just coming over to deliver a report when she saw this. The young man named Wu Yun was smiling the whole time: "Uncle Song, Aunt Song, it's not that I don't allow you to pick up the child, it's that Section Chief Xing is not here. He went out to investigate. I'm just a small soldier and can't make the decision. Otherwise, tomorrow you..."
Wiping her tears, Mother Song said stubbornly, "We'll sit here and wait. We'll wait until Section Chief Xing comes back!"
Wu Yun didn't even blink: "Okay, then you guys come in and wait. It's so cold outside, it must be uncomfortable. Come in quickly, I'll pour you some tea."
As he spoke, he busied himself with things, pouring hot water and getting candies. Finally, he pulled out a handful of peanuts from somewhere and carefully placed them on the table next to the two of them. He said, "You're welcome. Section Chief Xing and the others are busy and we don't know when they'll be back. You two can't go hungry."
Since coming in, Song's father has been much calmer. Seeing Peanut, he waved his hand and said, "No, I'm allergic to peanuts and can't eat this."
A flash of lightning flashed through Jiang Nan's mind. Peanut allergy! Song's father was allergic to peanuts, so what about the deceased Song Hai? She trotted over to Song's father and asked breathlessly, "Is Song Hai allergic to peanuts?"
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