Chapter 123 Finale
Nowadays, the retirement age for women is fifty or fifty-five. Since Chen Jinhua doesn't work manual labor, fifty-five isn't too late for her to retire. However, Chen Jinhua didn't want to stay in the government office any longer.
Why? In her words, there are too many rules, and it makes her uncomfortable. She might as well retire.
What do you do after retirement? Sell clothes at a stall!
Chen Jinhua got excited when she talked about this. She'd been observing the stinky tofu vendor for a long time. Even though they only cost a few cents a cup, the crowds kept coming in waves. They might make more in a week than she did in a month working in the office. So why didn't she just retire early and stay in the office?
Jiang Mancheng couldn't possibly trust her to be alone, so he also went through the procedures for early retirement. The two of them took their money and went to Yangcheng to wholesale clothes.
It was 1983, and both the train and Guangzhou were a bit chaotic. Like everyone else, they had both sewn pockets into the linings of their clothes before setting off, fearing their belongings would be stolen if left unprotected.
Arriving in a strange place, the two of them didn't dare wander around. After getting off the train, Jiang Mancheng simply took a taxi to the hotel, which startled Chen Jinhua. But no matter how Chen Jinhua tried to persuade him, Jiang Mancheng insisted that he had his reasons.
What's the most valuable thing about a taxi? The driver's introduction to the local area! After spending nearly twenty yuan, Jiang Mancheng arrived at the hotel and found out where the clothing wholesale market was. After getting off the car, he skipped the hotel and went straight to the wholesale market. It didn't take him long to find out, and he successfully bought some clothes wholesale.
On the other hand, the full-time legal education classes proposed by Zhou Zhixing last year played a significant role this year. The troublemakers initially tried to avoid attending, and the neighbors didn't take it seriously. But as the weather got colder, they realized it was affecting their coal supply, and when they went to buy coal, they discovered it had really affected their honeycomb briquettes. This stirred up a hornet's nest, and the outcry spread immediately.
Can you survive the winter in Beijing without honeycomb coal? When I went to buy some vegetables for winter storage that day, I discovered that the vegetables the vegetable market had allocated were not first-rate. They were all third-rate vegetables that couldn't even wrap around their hearts. They wouldn't last a whole winter, let alone a week.
Besides, the young wife from the countryside said that this vegetable is not meant to be eaten by humans in the countryside, but is used to feed pigs. I don’t know where the purchasing station got it from, it’s really unethical.
With their own interests at stake, the neighbors stopped shielding the hooligans and began to monitor them daily. "Don't want to go?" the neighbors said. "Failed the exam?" The neighbors forced the hooligans' parents and family to watch outside the detention center day and night, diligently urging them to go.
Inside the detention center, the police reassured everyone that although the study session was held there, it was just a place to stay. It wasn't about detention; it was about organizing learning activities. They provided food, lodging, personal chats, and moral education. It was like starting school all over again. Everyone should be at ease. Nothing would be recorded in their files, and it wouldn't affect their future. The management was just stricter than in school; if they failed an exam one day, they would have to study the next day.
Now, all the troublemakers in the East District have been locked up. Without them causing trouble outside, things will be much quieter.
While other districts were criticized by higher authorities for frequent armed fights, petty thefts, and robberies, which aroused public resentment, Dongcheng District was praised many times by leaders for its low levels of incidents and good public security.
Qin Guo, the direct person in charge, was promoted a year early. One after another, Deputy Director took over Qin Guo's position, Xing Ming was promoted to Deputy Director, and Zhou Zhixing was directly promoted to Section Chief, taking over Xing Ming's job. He was considered the fastest-promoting police officer in Dongcheng District history.
Of course, there were those who were dissatisfied with their seniority, but after all, Zhou Zhixing was a college graduate with both academic qualifications and competence. Who else could be promoted if not him? Besides, Dongcheng District had excellent public security last year, and the Lunar New Year shopping was plentiful. Why? Wasn't it all thanks to the study sessions this guy had initiated?! Those who took advantage of others felt obligated to keep their discontent to themselves, and on the surface, no one gave Zhou Zhixing a hard time.
Jiang Nan, meanwhile, had been promoted to head of the technical department thanks to the retirement of his former boss, Lao Du, and his strong recommendation before his retirement. While Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua were in Guangzhou, they both received promotions and celebrated with great fanfare. How did they celebrate? They took their three children to Lao Mo's and spent over thirty yuan on food and drinks—a truly extravagant affair.
A few days after the promotion, the two of them even found time to attend Jiang Cha's elementary school graduation parent-teacher conference. Cha Cha started school early, graduating this summer at just eleven. It was only 1983, and there wasn't yet a nine-year compulsory education system. Those with good academic performance and a comfortable family background naturally supported their children through junior high school. Even those with less academically proficient children, only twelve or thirteen, were already gathering around the teachers, asking about their children's future careers.
Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing naturally supported Jiang Cha's studies, and there was no need to consult anything at the parent-teacher meeting. They just listened to the procedures for junior high school admission and left quickly.
It was Sunday, around three in the afternoon. Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua had been in Guangzhou for more than half a month. Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing were sitting on small stools, picking elm seeds at the entrance of the alley. The three children and their friends were running around in the alley, and the chattering of children was everywhere, making it very lively.
The elm seeds and sophora japonica flowers are actually quite old now, but this is in the mountains outside Beijing, where the temperature is low and they mature late, so they can still be eaten after picking. The two of them took their children to the suburbs to play that morning and happened to come across them, so they picked some and chatted with the neighbors while picking vegetables.
One neighbor was sighing as he picked the vegetables, saying, "A few years ago, we ate these wild vegetables, elm seeds, elm noodles, and sweet potato noodles every day. We had so much to eat that we spent all day thinking about how to make meat. Back then, I felt that nothing in the world could taste as good as meat. Now that I can eat meat, I want to eat wild vegetables again. It's really strange."
"That's right. A few days ago, my little granddaughter complained about the fat in the meat and said she only wanted to eat steamed buns with wild vegetables. Isn't that funny? Let her eat it every day and see if she still says the same thing."
"You're such a person! Life's good, and you're nagging your child for a couple of steamed buns filled with wild vegetables. Besides, what are you talking about? Don't you see how every family eats wild vegetables these days? With white flour, chili oil, and sesame oil, how can it not be delicious?! No wonder the child loves it. I even think it tastes better than meat now."
The conversation was lively, everyone laughing. Just then, Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua returned, carrying bags. Unexpectedly, Jiang Mancheng had actually worn jeans. Jiang Nan's eyes widened, and she gave him a thumbs-up. Her father's taste was excellent.
Jiang Mancheng was proud: "Of course, your dad is a man of great taste. I knew this thing would sell!" This time, he had learned a lot. Jiang Mancheng was not afraid of spending money and stayed in one of the best hotels in Guangzhou, the kind with TVs in the rooms. It was also because of watching TV that he discovered that the TV could occasionally receive signals from the other side of the strait.
In Hong Kong and Taiwan TV dramas, jeans, sunglasses, and floral shirts are all standard! How come they look so good on others? Jiang Mancheng immediately thought that selling jeans and floral shirts in the dusty capital would be a hit. In the four or five years he's been in Beijing, he's never seen anyone wear them like this!
Of course, I only brought jeans this time. It’s not because I don’t have enough money, so I can’t buy a floral shirt. Next time I will definitely buy both.
Everyone had seen the exchange of glances between the father and daughter, and who wouldn't be curious? They didn't even bother choosing their dishes, and kept asking about their experiences in Guangzhou.
"I heard someone swam to the other side over there. Did you see them? Did they really swim across? Aren't they afraid of drowning?"
"Oh, that's the Special Administrative Region. Mancheng and Jinhua went to Guangzhou, which is different. You're amazing. You don't know anything and still ask questions."
"Exactly. It's quite far away. Mancheng, what did you bring back? Are you going to sell it? Show it to everyone."
Well, after a few words, unable to resist the crowd's enthusiasm, Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua set up a stall on the spot, selling clothes. Jeans were all 25 yuan a pair, for men and women, regardless of weight. The older ones scoffed at the sight of these pants, saying, "They're just work overalls, not good-looking at all." The younger ones' eyes lit up, and they immediately pushed over to buy them, with an air of "you don't understand anything." Their expressions were truly provocative.
Not only did they buy it, but they also excitedly put it on right after returning home, showing it off. When the elderly saw it, their mouths curled up to the sky, their buttocks were tightly bound, and they thought it was not something a decent person should wear. Some of them couldn't stand it and just got up and chased their children and grandchildren to beat them up. It was a lively scene.
Before, Chen Jinhua had no idea why the man had such a crush on these pants. On the train, she worried about what she'd do if she couldn't sell them. They went to Guangzhou, taking all their family savings—nearly 20,000 yuan—and even selling the less-than-perfect gold items in Jiang Nan's space. They only managed to buy 2,500 pairs of jeans. If they couldn't sell them, they'd be wasting their money.
I was still nervous, but as soon as I put the pants on display, they were immediately surrounded by people. Many people not only bought them, but also spontaneously called their friends to come and solicit customers for the Jiang family. By 7:00 that evening, most of the pants had been sold, which was already a break-even point! The money from future sales would be pure profit!
After hurriedly finishing their dinner and the excited children fell asleep, the family began to carefully count the bill.
Jiang Mancheng said, "The wholesale price of jeans is ten yuan a pair. It's not that I can't find cheaper, but the fabric from this store is the best and feels the strongest. Business is about reputation, so of course I buy the best quality. That's why I decided to wholesale with this store. I sold a little over a thousand today, so I've already made back my investment."
Chen Jinhua still couldn't believe it and murmured, "How could anyone buy such expensive pants just like that? They didn't even bargain, but rushed to buy them like they were fighting, afraid they wouldn't be able to buy them. This feels like a dream. Mancheng, pinch me!"
You know, the average worker's monthly salary is less than 100 yuan nowadays, and 70 or 80 yuan is considered a high salary. Buying a pair of pants for 25 yuan is really a luxury.
Jiang Mancheng insisted on not bargaining. When buying goods, perhaps because he was a discerning buyer and had made a decent purchase, the merchants would give him some small extras like socks and hair ornaments. Jiang Mancheng was also clever; he wouldn't bargain, but he'd give them as a bonus, so everyone else felt like they were getting a good deal. There were those who didn't want the socks or hair ornaments, insisting on a couple of yuan back. Jiang Mancheng would agree to these offers when the crowd was small, but when there were more people around, he would publicly refuse to bargain.
He had his reasons: "We insist on this price. First, there aren't many people selling jeans right now. We're the only one in the business, so we have no competition. Naturally, people will buy even without bargaining. Second, young people think differently than we do. The clothes we dislike, they love. Everyone saw them today and rushed to buy them. Our goal is to make money, so naturally we sell whatever makes money, however we can. And, Jinhua, remember, when selling clothes, we don't buy based on your preferences, we buy based on what everyone likes."
Chen Jinhua nodded blankly. The impact today was a bit too great, so she needed to slow down.
Jiang Nan is quite vocal about fashion trends. She gave Jiang Mancheng a heads-up: "Bell-bottom pants, large shoulder pads, and sleeveless A-line skirts are all going to be popular in the next two years. Next year is the Olympic year, so sportswear will definitely be popular..." "Did they win a lot of gold medals in 1984?" Jiang Nan reminisced.
Jiang Mancheng listened attentively and secretly took out the fashion magazines from the other side of the strait that he had bought in Guangzhou. He said mysteriously, "Xiao Nan, can you take a look at these books and buy them according to the styles in them?" He could accept jeans, but some of the clothes in the books were too avant-garde. Jiang Mancheng was not sure if it would work.
Jiang Nan was delighted as he looked at the pages of color photos. He quickly picked up a magazine and flipped through it. "Okay, of course! Dad, the trends in Hong Kong and Taiwan are usually a year or two ahead of the mainland. The outfits in these magazines never go out of style. You and Mom can buy them based on this. We won't lose money."
She flipped through a few pages, liking it more and more. Fashion is a circle. Looking at these outfits now, some look tacky, but some are still very nice and classic. Jiang Nan looked at them for a while and asked Jiang Mancheng, "Dad, are you going to sell clothes in the future?"
Jiang Mancheng laughed. "How could that be? Why did Dad transfer to the construction team? Wasn't it so he could build and sell houses in the future? Don't worry, the economy is good now. Everyone with money wants to eat well, dress well, and more importantly, live well. Houses are an obsession of the Chinese people. Sooner or later, they will be freely bought and sold. When that happens, I will enter the real estate industry! But that's a money-burning industry. You have to accumulate capital beforehand. Let's not rush. It's always good to make money first."
Jiang Nan nodded, and seeing that her father had a plan, she stopped talking.
The jeans sold briskly, and Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua subsequently set up stalls in Dongdan, Houhai, and other areas. Jiang Mancheng, known for his eccentricity, brought the latest trendy cassettes from Guangzhou, playing music while selling jeans. The entire market was bustling with activity. In less than a week, the entire first batch of jeans sold out. Later calculations revealed profits had more than doubled. Chen Jinhua, brimming with excitement, stayed awake all night and woke up the next morning, eager to return to Guangzhou to place another order.
Jiang Mancheng hadn't expected such success, and he immediately threw himself into the clothing business. The two of them packed up and hurried back to Guangzhou. This time, they invested everything they had invested, including their capital and interest. They bought the same jeans, but this time they also added matching floral shirts and T-shirts.
The market in Beijing is so big that they can sell out even if they sell it two or three more times. Moreover, they have new goods this time, so they don’t have to worry about anything.
Practice makes perfect. On my second trip to Guangzhou, the most time-consuming part was actually the train ride there and back. Back then, it was still a green-skinned train, very slow, and the entire journey took almost forty hours. I stayed in a hotel for the night, and the next day I headed straight to the usual place to stock up. I finished everything in one day, and the round trip took about seven days before returning to Beijing.
At this time, other stalls selling jeans had already appeared in the market, but these two were still the fastest in terms of delivery speed.
First, Jiang Mancheng was known for his sweet talk, and the two were among the first to sell jeans in Beijing, so frequent shoppers had a strong impression of them. Second, their pants were high-quality, and they also had matching floral shirts in a wide variety of styles, so they always had a good customer base. This time, it took them twelve days to sell out the entire stock.
It was already late August, and the 1983 crackdown had officially begun. Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua packed up their stall and parked their bicycles when they heard the loudspeaker announce, "Crack down severely on illegal and criminal activities." The couple glanced at each other, figuring their stall-selling days were over for now.
Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing quickly became busy. After school started for Jiang Cha and the other two, they were so busy that they took up residence at the Public Security Bureau, often not being home for ten days or even a month. Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua were also unable to leave the house, so they stayed behind with Aunt Wen to take care of the three children full-time.
It's not like I haven't heard the neighbors' gossip. In fact, it's been going on since the day the couple set up shop. Now that they can't, the gossip has become even more outspoken. One says the couple is so old and still messing around, bringing shame to their children. Another, with a subtle criticism, tells their daughter that one shouldn't be obsessed with money and should be content with poverty. Their clothes, worn white by washing, have been worn for who knows how long, yet they're so proud and look down on the couple for setting up a stall and being self-employed.
There were also those who were jealous and secretly inquired about how much money the two men made. How could they know? The two of them had a long list of complaints. A round trip, train tickets, accommodation, and food and drink were all they had to pay for. They only made enough to cover these expenses, so there was no room left. They didn't do this just to make money, they just didn't want to be idle and useless. Now that the country is promoting individual business, they are actively responding to the call. They don't care about the big contribution, but at least they don't add to the burden of the country. They are all talking about it with such righteousness, no one can say that they are wrong to respond to the call.
What the neighbors didn't know was that the Jiang family's savings had increased fivefold! They weren't just ten thousand yuan households anymore; they were now one hundred thousand yuan households! The old couple wasn't rushing to make money anymore, feeling that with the current security situation, it wasn't safe to go out. They thought it would be best to stay home and wait until the crackdown was over. Furthermore, with the current security situation, they didn't trust Aunt Wen to pick up and drop off the children alone.
Only when I got home did I realize how bustling the streets were. There were "public trials" and "legal lectures" held by the neighborhood office, all of which I had to attend on time.
Day after day, the radio broadcast news of the crackdown, and trucks occasionally passed by the streets. Inside the trucks, prisoners were escorted, with placards on their chests displaying their names and crimes, and paraded through the streets. Crimes ranging from robbery and murder to adultery and hooliganism were all picked out, along with petty theft, fights, and even mother-in-law and daughter-in-law disputes.
The loudspeaker read out these people's crimes over and over again. Those that were less serious, like mother-in-law and daughter-in-law fights or small-scale disturbances, were paraded through the streets, criticized and educated, and then released. However, such shameful, public behavior meant they probably wouldn't be seen again for years.
Most of those who commit crimes like robbery, murder, rape, and hooliganism have to spend at least 20 to 30 years behind bars. In serious cases, they may be shot.
This scene happens almost every day, and I don't know if it's the same group of people. Every day when the loudspeaker sounds, the crowd rushes after the car, making it extremely lively.
At first, Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua took their children to watch the show, to teach them to be afraid and not to misbehave. But as time went by, they got used to it and stopped joining in the fun.
At the same time, Zhou Zhixing, a police officer, was seconded to another special investigation team specializing in family murders, overseeing the interrogation process. The trainee officer who met him, Xiao Hu, explained that the "murderer" had been found, but he had consistently denied responsibility. The police, however, had yet to recover the missing property from the victim's home, leaving the case at a stalemate.
The reason we wanted to transfer Zhou Zhixing here to help was because Xing Ming specifically mentioned Zhou Zhixing's excellent interrogation performance during the previous Dongcheng District family murder case. Hearing this, we made the request, hoping to expedite the interrogation and close the case. We have a lot of cases these days, and even though this is a family murder case, we can't devote all our resources to it. We have other things to attend to.
Honestly, this transfer left Zhou Zhixing in a state of confusion. He knew his own business. Last time, he'd just used the system; it had nothing to do with him. As expected, with power comes responsibility. With great ability comes great responsibility, and credit isn't always easy to come by.
What was the story behind this family murder? It was simple: money.
The family whose name was wiped out was Lian, and they were among the first to become wealthy after the reform and opening-up policy. Although they still lived in a rural area outside Beijing, they had built a two-story Western-style house, which looked very impressive. The house was fully equipped with a washing machine, a television, and a refrigerator. Everyone also had bicycles, and they lived a very luxurious life.
The suspect, a village scoundrel named Tian Tao, was a lone wolf who spent his days doing nothing but developing a gambling addiction, losing a large sum of money. Unable to pay it back, he turned to the Lian family. Other families might not have money, but the Lian family certainly did.
Those obsessed with gambling have no morals or bottom lines, and will kill anyone for money. The case file speculates that Tian Tao, in order to pay off his debt to the casino, took advantage of a dark and windy night to murder the two elderly people of the Lian family, the head of the family, Lian An, his wife, and their two children—a total of six people.
Of course, the process of the crime was reconstructed by the police based on the scene, and the cause of the crime was provided by the casino owner and the villagers after the casino's lair was raided.
According to the police who responded to the scene, the house was covered in blood, with blood splattered on the walls, the floor, and even the beams. The bloody odor was so strong that even veteran detectives still have nightmares when they think about it.
However, the arrested suspect, Tian Tao, has always denied the murder. According to trainee police officer Xiao Hu, Tian Tao relied on three main points.
First, Tian Tao was sure that no one saw him kill. Of course, Tian Tao didn't say that. His original words were, "If I did it, would anyone see me?"
Yes, Tian Tao is no ordinary person. He was a village militiaman in his early years and trained with a retired soldier captain. He has real kung fu skills and strong anti-reconnaissance capabilities. If he takes action, he can really do it without anyone noticing.
Secondly, the police speculated that Tian Tao was confident that he had left no evidence at the scene and refused to admit to the murder. This was indeed true. Although the scene was bloody, apart from traces of the victim's life, there was really no trace of anyone else.
The third reason for the case's continued closure is that the stolen property has yet to be found. The suspect Tian Tao's home has been searched three times, but nothing has been found. Tian Tao's social circle has also been scoured: his parents' homes, his in-laws' homes, his siblings' homes, and even the homes of close friends. This is also the most important reason why Tian Tao has yet to admit to the murder.
However, the police had one thing in mind when arresting Tian Tao: a confession claiming to have witnessed him commit murder. Furthermore, Tian Tao couldn't provide an alibi for the time of the victim's death, owed money at the casino, and had a history of conflict with the deceased. All of this made Tian Tao the prime suspect, and who else could the police arrest?
However, apart from the confession, other evidence could not prove anything. As long as Tian Tao denied it, the police could not do anything to him.
Zhou Zhixing flipped through the case summary and pointed at the man who claimed to have seen Tian Tao commit murder. He asked, "Lian Ping? The deceased Lian An's elder brother? He said he saw the suspect Tian Tao commit murder with his own eyes?"
"Yes, this is the confession from that time." The trainee police officer opposite pulled out a confession and handed it over. "According to Lian Ping, when he got up to go to the restroom that night, he saw a dark figure walking towards his brother's house. Feeling suspicious, he followed it. Then he saw the figure climbing over the wall to enter his brother's house. Worried that something might have happened, he followed suit and happened to witness the murder."
Zhou Zhixing nodded, flipping through the case file and ticking the time of the crime. He woke up at midnight. There were no streetlights in the countryside at night these days, and this was outside Beijing, so the villagers weren't used to turning on their lights at night. It was so late, and the victim's family was asleep when they were murdered. There were definitely no lights on in their home, and they certainly wouldn't turn on lights to kill someone. Standing over the wall, he could see what was happening inside. It sounded so strange.
He said nothing, but carefully read all the records again, and said thoughtfully: "Lian Ping was adopted?"
Trainee police officer Xiao Hu nodded. "Yes, the Lian family had been married for seven or eight years without having any children. They were anxious, so they followed the old custom and adopted a boy from another village, hoping to bring him a child. This boy was Lian Ping. As it happened, two years after the adoption, the couple gave birth to Lian An. But according to the villagers, the Lian family were kind and didn't abuse Lian Ping. They kept him well fed and well fed. It was just that Lian Ping was ignorant. After getting married, he listened to his wife's instigation and had conflicts with the Lian family many times. Later, he gambled and lost a lot of money. After repeated warnings, the old couple became disheartened and kicked Lian Ping out to live on his own. Look, Brother Zhou, it's written here."
Zhou Zhixing looked down, tapping the table with his finger. Even biological siblings have conflicts, let alone a mix of biological and adopted children. It's possible that there's not just a bad relationship, but also resentment. He stood up and said, "Let's go and see what's going on?"
"Okay." Trainee police officer Xiao Hu followed suit, and the two of them hopped on their sidecar motorcycles and sped off to the outskirts of Beijing. It took only an hour to reach the Lian family's village. They visited many villagers and even bought lunch at the village chief's house.
Of course, there was definitely some gain, that is, Zhou Zhixing suspected that the murderer was not Tian Tao, but the deceased's elder brother Lian Ping who claimed to have seen the murder scene.
First, Lian Ping was also a frequent patron of the casino. This was revealed in the casino owner's confession and confirmed by him personally. Furthermore, the owner claimed that Lian Ping gambled even more recklessly than Tian Tao, owing the casino over 5,000 yuan, a debt Lian Ping couldn't possibly repay. Lian Ping was currently unemployed, having even stopped setting up shop after the reopening. He spent his days gambling, earning no income at all. How could he repay the debt?
Secondly, Lian Ping's relationship with his younger brother Lian An and Tian Tao was not good. According to the case file, more than one villager witnessed Lian Ping asking his brother Lian An for money, but Lian An refused, leading to arguments and even physical fights between the two brothers. The two interviewed these villagers and found this information to be largely true.
Lian Ping and Tian Tao had a bad relationship, mainly because Tian Tao had taken Lian Ping's place in the militia. At least that's what Lian Ping said. He complained to the villagers many times, saying that Tian Tao had taken his place in the militia because he had licked the feet of the old Party secretary's silly daughter, forcing him to work in the fields for several years, and he was so exhausted that he couldn't even stand up straight.
However, some villagers refuted the claim, saying, "Tian Tao was actually quite good back then. He was tall and strong, good at speaking, and had a sense of propriety. He was more suitable to be a militiaman than Lian Ping."
There are also those who support Lian Ping. "Lian Ping was also tall and strong back then, and Tian Tao's wife is the silly daughter of the old Party Secretary. Lian Ping is not wrong. Maybe he really stole Lian Ping's spot. Who can say for sure?"
Of course, both of them have gained some weight now, and the past cannot be retrieved.
After going to the crime scene, Zhou Zhixing was even more certain that Lian Ping was lying. Standing on the courtyard wall, he couldn't see what was going on inside the Lian family's house at all!
Because Lian An was wealthy, he exchanged his parents' and his own homesteads with the villagers, connecting the two to form a large courtyard.
How big is it? Even during the day, with all the lights on, sitting on the wall, you can't see what's going on inside the house, let alone at night. This shows that Lian Ping must be lying.
However, at this time, it was just him and Xiao Hu, and Zhou Zhixing did not express his doubts. He only mentioned it to his team leader after returning to the Public Security Bureau.
The team leader asked Zhou Zhixing to sit down and said softly, "We also suspected Lian Ping, but no missing property was found at Lian Ping's house, and he claimed to have witnessed the murder. Coincidentally, the suspect, Tian Tao, who Lian Ping saw getting up that night, was also there. Many people saw this and can testify. Tian Tao can't provide an alibi, so we have no choice but to arrest him."
The key was finding the missing property. Zhou Zhixing nodded, understanding, and began to plan how to solve the case. He could leave work normally that day; after all, it was his first day on secondment, and he couldn't expect Zhou Zhixing to work overtime.
After get off work, Zhou Zhixing went to pick up Jiang Nan and told her about the case. He whispered, "How about we secretly go and meet Lian Ping? Let's try using the system. We have to find the information quickly, otherwise, if we're dealt with, it'll be even harder to explain."
Jiang Nan nodded. Although Tian Tao was a bad person, he couldn't go to jail because of a false case.
The two of them looked at the sun. It was still the height of autumn, not yet dark. They estimated that by the time they got there, it would be just after dark, around 8:30. Although the couple rarely went home these days, it was because they had encountered such a vicious crime. The sooner the murderer was caught, the sooner the family could live in peace.
The two men adjusted their direction and headed towards the Lian family's home. Word of the family murder had already spread throughout the area, attracting many interested and courageous individuals. People from Lianjia Village flocked to witness the excitement daily, and the villagers were no longer surprised by strangers. Furthermore, the two men were in plain clothes after work, blending in with the crowd, and they didn't raise any alarm among the villagers.
By then, three or four strangers were standing in front of the Lian family's "luxury villa," pointing and talking. Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing circled the villa but found nothing suspicious.
Zhou Zhixing led the way, following the direction he remembered. He said, "The fifth house in front, the one with the red painted gate, is the Lian Ping family."
The younger brother lives in a big villa, but the older brother still lives in a mud house. Jiang Nan immediately understood why Zhou Zhixing suspected Lian Ping.
At this time of year, unless the villagers were asleep, their doors were always open. The two of them looked around, trying to pretend they were just passing by. Jiang Nan glanced into the yard and saw Lian Ping's family enjoying the cool breeze. Jiang Nan didn't look at them much, just a quick glance before leaving as if nothing had happened.
[Host, we have connected to Lian Ping's brain waves and are analyzing his information. Please wait patiently.]
After exiting the alley, the two of them mounted their bicycles and pretended to ride out of the village, but they rode at a leisurely pace, completely different from the speed they had used to get in. Not long after, the system's voice sounded again.
[Host, the murder of the entire family was committed by Lian Ping. The Lian An family's property is hidden in the land temple at the east end of the village. The specific location is as follows: two meters below the firewood pile in the backyard utility room.]
Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing exchanged a glance. Since they hadn't left the village yet, they might as well head straight to the Earth God Temple to dig for treasure. They quickly turned around and rode towards the Earth God Temple.
The Earth God Temple was halfway up the mountain. When they arrived, it was already completely dark and quiet inside, so there must be no one there. The two of them ducked in, parked their bikes in the courtyard, and walked towards the woodshed in the backyard.
Zhou Zhixing found a shovel in the utility room, picked it up, and said softly, "It's quite handy. Let me dig it out."
Just as Jiang Nan was about to nod, a beeping alarm sounded in his head. It was so sudden and harsh that Jiang Nan was so frightened that he quickly covered his ears with his hands and looked around.
[Danger, host, I've noticed that 1.0 male host Zhou Zhixing is in danger of his life. Please rescue him as soon as possible. I repeat, I've noticed that 1.0 male host Zhou Zhixing is in danger of his life. Please rescue him as soon as possible.]
Jiang Nan's hands were shaking as he asked repeatedly, "What's the danger? How can we rescue them? Can you explain it clearly?!"
Zhou Zhixing naturally heard what the system said, and quickly stopped what he was doing and looked over.
I only heard the system say, [Rescue method: The host needs to pay 100,000 melon coins and choose to sacrifice one of the following functions to rescue the 1.0 male host. Function one: Eat melons, function two: Connect brain waves, function three: Close the system mall. Please choose as soon as possible. Repeat, rescue method...]
Zhou Zhixing said without hesitation, "Connect brain waves, Xiaonan, choose this one."
Perhaps this cheating tool could have taken them to the next level, but they've already successfully stayed in Beijing, their careers are flourishing, and as long as they're careful, their lives won't be in great danger. So why not sacrifice this feature? Chigua also earns Chigua coins, allowing them to purchase life-saving items in the system even if they're in danger. Honestly, Chigua plus the mall feature is superior to Unicom's brainwave functionality.
Jiang Nan nodded, choosing to sacrifice the brainwave function. A loud bang was heard, and the two realized it was coming from the back wall of the land temple. They turned to see Lian Ping falling from the wall, with a shotgun next to him.
As the two wandered around, they recognized Zhou Zhixing and, concerned, decided to move his belongings to the Earth God Temple. Perhaps while they were on the wall, they saw the two men even had shovels. Fearing they might steal their treasures, they drew their hunting rifles, ready to end Zhou Zhixing's life prematurely.
Wow, Jiang Nan touched his chest and gasped. No wonder Zhou Zhixing was said to be in danger of his life. The system is really powerful.
[Congratulations host, the danger to the life of male host 1.0 has been eliminated.]
Jiang Nan breathed a sigh of relief. Together with Zhou Zhixing, they went forward to tie up the unconscious Lian Ping. They stopped digging for treasure and instead took him to the police station. The treasure could only be revealed if everyone worked together.
Another overnight operation, three days later Lian Ping confessed, Tian Tao was released, and another family murder case was solved. After three days of not going home, the two of them went to the supply and marketing cooperative after work and bought a pig's head, preparing to braise it to please the three naughty children.
But when he got home, he found that the door had been surrounded by Lian Ping's family members, and a circle of people were watching the excitement. The woman in the center was Lian Ping's wife, Yu Xiancao. Someone tried to pull her, but Yu Xiancao refused to get up.
Seeing the two of them coming back, Yu Xiancao burst into tears, slapping her thighs and crying so hard that she didn't know how sad she was. "It doesn't matter if that bastard is dead, but why can't you give us the things from my uncle's house? My child is Lian An's nephew, and his last name is Lian! My child is the only one left to inherit the Lian family, so the things should be given to us."
Well, they're targeting Lian An's wealth. The man kills, the woman and child are after the money. Or maybe it's like saying they're not from the same family, so they don't marry. This couple is a perfect match.
The neighbors, finally understanding, pointed at the woman, speechless. The same woman the villagers called the old Party Secretary's silly daughter was still jumping up and down, cursing, "If you want money, go find the Public Security Bureau officials. What's the point of sitting in front of Officer Zhou's house? You're picking on the weak and making trouble!"
The woman on the ground stiffened her neck and ignored him, repeating over and over again: "That's our Lian family's money, and we have to return it to the Lian family."
In this situation, the police should be called. Fortunately, the wide-brimmed hat had a deterrent effect, and the woman was taken away sobbing, and the house finally quieted down. Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing dealt with the neighbors' inquiries as best they could, and laughed off any that they couldn't, mostly giving a perfunctory response.
Finally returning home, they closed the door and quickly started to stew the pig's head. This was Jiang Mancheng's specialty. While cooking, they didn't hide it and told him about the system saving people.
Hearing this, Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua were thankful for the two remaining functions. Perhaps they could save Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing twice more. When the three children returned, they cried with joy to see their parents and became incredibly clingy, insisting on sleeping with them and refusing to go back.
Perhaps they had truly weathered the crisis, and after the subsequent crackdown, the two never encountered danger again. After the crackdown, the atmosphere on the streets became more serious. People felt more at ease when going out, no longer worrying about being robbed or beautiful women being afraid to leave the house after dark.
After a few days of observation, Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua returned to their old business and began to practice their stall. Influenced by fashion magazines, the couple always set the trend in Beijing with their sweaters, woolen coats, and down jackets.
The year 1984 was the 35th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. There was to be a grand military parade on National Day. At the beginning of the year, the two were extremely busy and overtime became commonplace. This year, public security in the capital was particularly important and no negligence was allowed.
However, whenever we have time, the family will still go out together during the day to play with the elderly and children. The place we go most often is the Friendship Store. Nowadays, there are too many fake things in Panjiayuan. In order to cultivate the children's taste, it is still best to go to the Friendship Store.
As for parks? I'd rather avoid them. Why? Qigong is going crazy these days. Parks are filled with people practicing it. It's scary to look at. Some are lying on the ground, some are sprawled, and there are all sorts of weird things going on. Honestly, it's like being possessed by an evil spirit. It's really creepy.
In the evening, the two of them would go for a walk with their children and parents.
With improved security, fewer counterfeit goods were sold at street vendors, and my family would occasionally buy shoes and clothes. Most of the shopping was for vegetables and fruit. We never went out empty-handed; we always had to buy something.
That same year, the Sino-British Joint Declaration was issued. Anyone who'd traveled through time knew that going to Hong Kong to buy up real estate at a bargain price was a surefire way to make money. Unfortunately, the family couldn't secure visas, and even if they had, they wouldn't have the money to buy at a bargain price. Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua continued to work as stall vendors and began looking for shops, hoping to open a clothing store and make money regardless of weather.
In 1988, the long-awaited real estate development was put on the agenda in the Special Administrative Region. Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua went to the Special Administrative Region, but when they returned, they did not mention real estate development at all.
At night, after the children were asleep, Chen Jinhua quietly said to Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing: "No, we can't get the land approved at all." Yes, this is never an industry that ordinary people can get involved in just because they want to.
Jiang Nan comforted her, "Mom, our clothing store is already quite profitable, and we've even bought three more shops just to collect rent. It's enough to support us for the rest of our lives. You and Dad should just enjoy life and don't worry about making money."
Jiang Mancheng listened in the room, feeling a bit bad. He had hoped to earn a fortune for his daughter and grandchildren, but it was all in vain. Fortunately, his daughter didn't blame him.
That same year, at least five bodies were found in a farmyard outside Beijing, prompting a full police presence in Dongcheng District. While examining the bodies, Jiang Nan was ambushed by the killer nearby. A system alert triggered a sudden attack, and Jiang Nan was saved only by using the mall function.
When Zhou Zhixing got up to chase the criminal, no one expected that the murderer was armed with a gun. Jiang Nan sacrificed the last melon-eating function of the system to save Zhou Zhixing's life.
At this point, all the functions of the system were gone and it was completely separated from Jiang Nan. Jiang Nan lost the system that had been with her since she traveled through time.
That day, on his way home, Zhou Zhixing stopped by a flower shop and bought some flowers. Late at night, when everyone was asleep, he consoled her, "Don't be sad. Xiaotong must have gone to another time and space, looking for another host. Maybe a 3.0 host will be reborn in the future."
Jiang Nan's smile was somewhat forced: "Yeah, I hope so."
Perhaps, more likely, she, the 2.0 host, was reborn into another world after death?
Jiang Nan looked at Zhou Zhixing. Perhaps he could go meet 3.0 with this 1.0 host. As he thought about it, a smile spread across his lips, his gloom disappearing.
She had once said goodbye to the system, the night it lost its first function. That night, the main system told her that if a nanmu tree grows towards the sun and weathers wind and rain, it will eventually grow into a towering tree that stands tall and proud.
Even without a system, Jiang Nan can still move forward fearlessly.
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