Chapter 204: The deaf old lady who died of suffocation

Yan Jiefang is the only person among the Yan family who holds a differing opinion.

It has a somewhat lovesick flavor.

For Li, it was love at first sight.

Fallen flowers intend to love the flowing water, but the flowing water is indifferent to the fallen flowers.

Unrequited love.

Yan Fugui and they discussed privately, believing Xu Daming bore major suspicion, while Yan Jiefang loudly sang a contrary tune, saying Xu Daming's suspicion was far less than Shazhu's.

They wanted Shazhu to atone for Long Laotaitai's life.

And then Li became a widow.

He would then take over.

Yan Fugui waved his jacket, using it as a weapon, and fiercely lashed at Yan Jiefang.

Your grandpa's.

I'll arrange a marriage for you.

You refuse no matter what.

You insist on finding a woman exactly like Li to be your wife.

Where can I find you a Li who isn't Li?

Just one.

And she was even taken home by Shazhu as his wife.

On the day of the blind date.

The young ladies had all arrived at home.

But he sought to escape by pretending to urinate, hiding out for a whole day.

He wasted money and wealth.

The matter still hasn't been settled.

Yan Fugui, who always had the phrase 'miscalculation leads to poverty' on his lips, felt heartbroken.

……

Liu Jianguo.

A indestructible little cockroach.

Again and again he entered the house, again and again he was frightened silly by Long Laotaitai's death scene, and again and again he ran out of the house to vomit.

A true vomiter.

At first he vomited the breakfast he had eaten that morning.

Later it was the dinner from the previous night.

After that, it turned into bitter bile.

His mouth was all salty.

He was a bit wobbly, seeming unable to stand steady.

Even so.

Liu Jianguo nevertheless stubbornly appeared before his master.

Or perhaps the master regarded it as a good teaching opportunity, showing no contempt for Liu Jianguo, and instead, because of Liu Jianguo's indestructible little cockroach spirit, inexplicably looked upon him more favorably.

This spirit of not fearing setbacks is exactly the kind of resilience they need.

There are some cases.

One can only seek breakthroughs through repeated setbacks.

From Liu Jianguo's person, he faintly saw the shadow of an old friend.

It's a pity.

That old friend sacrificed himself a few years ago and did not live to see the day the flags flew.

A look of approval fell on Liu Jianguo, but was quickly withdrawn, and his face instead showed a hint of expressionless cold indifference.

"What do you think?"

"I believe the deceased died an abnormal death."

Liu Jianguo applied the knowledge he had learned at school, flexibly using it on Long Laotaitai's body, pointing at her corpse and analyzing it in detail.

"The body is stiff, time of death estimated between 2 and 4 a. m. Eyes wide open, pupils dilated to the limit, indicating she likely saw the killer before death, and the killer is someone Long Laotaitai knew. Earlier someone said that the killer of Long Laotaitai is inside the Siheyuan, is a person from the Siheyuan, and I believe that statement is true."

Liu Jianguo turned into a detective, relying on his own speculation to analyze the case as much as possible.

When speaking of the killer.

His tone unnaturally grew heavier.

His facial expression also became especially serious.

He opened his mouth.

He uttered, word by word, the persons related to the killer.

"The killer who slaughtered Long Laotaitai is inside the Siheyuan!"

"Who?"

Liu Jianguo froze.

The question of who the killer is.

He really hadn't thought about it.

He analyzed based on the testimonies from interviews.

The killer should be Yi Zhonghai of the Zhong Yuan; his motive was reporting that Long Laotaitai had ruined Xu Daming's marriage, for which Long Laotaitai publicly tore him apart.

On the way.

Because the eldest aunt said that she had lost her child due to Long Laotaitai's scheming.

In a fit of rage, Yi Zhonghai beat the elders of Dayuan.

According to common sense.

Knowing that over a hundred people had seen him beat the elders of Dayuan, the shrewd Yi Zhonghai could not possibly do such a self-incriminating act.

But if we reverse the reasoning.

Yi Zhonghai could fully exploit people's usual psychology and, under the cover of night, kill Long Laotaitai.

Among unfilial acts, having no heir is the greatest.

They have all been cut off (no descendants).

It is inevitable to do such a thing.

The killer who murdered Long Laotaitai is very likely Yi Zhonghai.

He said Yi Zhonghai's name.

The master slightly shook his head.

And what else?

In Liu Jianguo's mind.

The name of Xu Daming surfaced.

Long Laotaitai ruined his marriage.

Anyone else would not easily swallow this anger.

As for Xu Daming, Liu Jianguo has some understanding of him: he is a pure villain, always acting according to his own interests.

It is possible that he murdered Long Laotaitai.

Jia Zhangshi!

Competing with Long Laotaitai for meat.

Shazhu!

Never having any dealings with Long Laotaitai until death.

The murderer is either all four of them, or one of the four.

Yi Zhonghai, Shazhu, Jia Zhangshi, Xu Daming.

Anything else?

Liu Jianguo shook his head.

The master also shook his head.

He spoke softly: "Do you remember this? Yi Zhonghai, prompted by the eldest aunt, flew into a rage and beat Long Laotaitai."

Liu Jianguo was startled.

His gaze fixed on the master.

Do you suspect the eldest aunt?

This is not suspicion; it is an indispensable part of our investigation, not overlooking any tiny detail, for the truth often lies in some inconspicuous clues.

Master, I have learned.

Continue!

Liu Jianguo's gaze once again fell on Long Laotaitai's corpse.

Long Laotaitai's mouth was half-open, traces of blood seeping from her nasal cavity, her face purplish, and there was a certain amount of internal blood in her ears.

Long Laotaitai's arms showed an irregular twisting motion, as if she were grabbing or pushing something, and on the mattress under her feet there were faint dragging marks.

All these signs indicate.

Long Laotaitai was exactly as the neighbors said.

Died an unnatural death!

Someone covered her mouth and nose with something, causing her to suffocate due to lack of air, which also explains why her hands showed irregular twisting.

While the murderer covered her nose and mouth, preventing her from breathing, Long Laotaitai's hands had engaged in a certain struggle with the murderer.

Ultimately, due to lack of strength, she lost the life-or-death struggle, ending in death.

A doubt arose in Liu Jianguo's mind.

Since Long Laotaitai had struggled with the assailant, why did the statements of the several households in the Hou Yuan unanimously say they heard no sound of the struggle?

A quiet night.

Even a dropped pin could be heard.

Yet they say they heard nothing—could that be possible?

Either they are lying.

They heard the commotion but, because they were on bad terms with Long Laotaitai, deliberately ignored it.

If that is truly the case.

Then it's okay.

At worst, it's just a lack of virtue.

Liu Jianguo worries about the second scenario: these people in the Hou Yuan heard the commotion, even saw the murderer, but did not speak the truth for fear of offending certain people.

Who exactly are these certain people?

Naturally, it is the murderer who killed Long Laotaitai.

Someone who makes the residents of the Hou Yuan, including Liu Haizhong, all wary, must possess some influence within the Siheyuan.

Yi Zhonghai, former Head Steward of the Siheyuan, a Level 8 Technician at Yagangchang, holds decisive authority within the Siheyuan.

He Yuzhu, nicknamed Shazhu, the squad leader of the second canteen at Yagangchang, became the factory's top cook thanks to his superb culinary skills, and he had an excellent relationship with Deputy Factory Director Li, the factory's first deputy manager; many said Shazhu would become the canteen chief.

In times of scarce supplies.

To get into a conflict with a cook whose job is tied to one's own full stomach.

That is not a wise move.

Xu Daming, the film projectionist at Yagangchang, may be worthless, but his wife Lou Xiaoe is the daughter of a Yagangchang shareholder.

A starved camel is still bigger than a horse.

Although they take no part in affairs.

But in some places, they still retain a certain amount of energy.

Jia Zhangshi.

A well-known widow of the siheyuan.

Their biggest tactic is to stir up trouble unreasonably; they are the sort of people everyone hates and even dogs dislike.

Are the people in the back yard wary of one of those four, or have they really heard nothing of the fighting?

Liu Jianguo would rather not be in this situation behind.

Because this indicates that the killer possesses certain abilities: the ability to kill and silence, the ability to exploit loopholes, and the ability to make the deaf old lady not make a sound.

The siheyuan actually has such a master.

Indeed, this is not a good thing.

Based on the latter situation, we analyze and testify.

The agreement between Shazhu and Xu Daming was mysteriously cleared; one a cook, the other a film worker, they learned there a skill only possessed by infiltrators.

Learning these skills.

It requires a certain amount of time.

Analyzing by age.

Yi Zhonghai and Jia Zhangshi are the most suspicious; the former's nice-guy persona and the latter's shrewish persona can both be seen as deliberate acts by the other.

Liu Jianguo furrowed his brows.

He began to ponder hard.

He found that the more he pondered this case, the more it filled with inexplicable mysteries!

Who suffocated the deaf old lady?

Did those people in the back yard actually see the killer who murdered the deaf old lady?

……

The Yi family.

Knowing the deaf old lady had died, they witnessed the police arrive and were driven indoors by the police.

Yi Zhonghai had already become a senseless wooden puppet, squatting foolishly on his own ground, silent for a long while, while his heart was filled with panic and dread.

He did not know how to respond to the situation before him.

The death of the deaf old lady.

It stirred up a new climax within the siheyuan.

Yi Zhonghai's tricks for manipulating and scheming against everyone were now useless; he could not coax the neighbors into confessing to killing the deaf old lady and tell the investigating police, 'I killed the deaf old lady, arrest me!'

They are not stupid.

They all know what consequences admitting would bring.

Eating peanuts.

Oneself died.

Even one's descendants would suffer, bearing the stigma of a murderer's offspring, unable to find a wife or a job.

Under such circumstances.

The neighbors all adopted an attitude of 'not my business, keep it high.'

Yi Zhonghai also sensed from the neighbors an extreme coldness of indifference; whether it was their facial expressions or the look in their eyes, they revealed a rejection of Yi Zhonghai from afar, some even putting on their faces the expression of not associating with Yi Zhonghai this murderer, just short of explicitly telling him to pay with his life.

Yellow mud got into the trousers.

Whether it's feces or not, it's feces now.

After entering the house.

Yi Zhonghai sat there lost in thought, pondering the deaf old lady's death, how she died, and who killed her.

A big 'wronged' character hung on Yi Zhonghai's face.

This matter really has nothing to do with him; it was just that yesterday, worried the deaf old lady would expose many unsavory things, he beat her up—unnecessary and unreasonable—to kill an elderly matriarch of the great courtyard who was clearly on her last legs.

He felt utterly wronged inside.

If he had truly known the great courtyard's ancestor would die today.

Yesterday Yi Zhonghai would rather endure public humiliation on the spot than lay a finger on the deaf old lady; at least after her death, no one would suspect him.

What's the point!

"Ai!"

A sigh.

Flew out from Yi Zhonghai's mouth.

The feelings inside cannot be replaced by a mere little 'ai'.

His brows knotted together.

All his scheming and intellect, before the fact of the deaf old lady's death, turned into useless zero.

"Ai!"

Another heavy sigh sounded.

Helpless.

Also tragic and miserable.

Yi Zhonghai, separated by glass, watched the police come and go—some went to Shazhu's home, some to the Jia Family, and some to the Hou Yuan.

No one came to the Yi household.

Whether intentional or not, those who came out of Shazhu's house went straight to the front yard, and those who came out of the Jia Family went straight to the Hou Yuan.

The Yi household seemed to become a pile of foul-smelling dog feces.

Such an outcome.

This is not the result Yi Zhonghai wanted.

People looked for Shazhu, asked Xu Daming, looked for Jia Zhangshi, and inquired about various situations.

It was obvious they weren't treating these people as suspects.

They didn't even ask themselves.

If this isn't treating oneself as a suspect, what is?

Yi Zhonghai suddenly thought of a word.

Retribution!

A faint bitterness welled up in his heart.

It's not that it won't be repaid; the time hasn't come.

A few months earlier, upon hearing that Jia Dongxu intended to publicly expose his relationship with Qin Huairu, Yi Zhonghai hardened his heart and, under the pretext of an accident, sent Jia Dongxu away.

I originally thought this matter would be unknown to gods and ghosts.

Except for Yi Zhonghai.

With no second person knowing.

It was Heaven.

Yi Zhonghai overlooked Heaven; Heaven saw everything, and using the death of Long Laotaitai, settled the score on Yi Zhonghai. He could imagine what would become of Huaihua after his death—Jia Zhangshi is the type to turn face and deny people; without benefit, she certainly wouldn't raise Huaihua, and the eldest aunt also bears a grudge against Yi Zhonghai for his wrongdoing, possibly taking out her anger on Huaihua.

Huaihua is everything to Yi Zhonghai.

The fate of a little beggar is certainly not the result Yi Zhonghai wants to see.

For no reason, he thought of Shazhu.

Shazhu's attitude toward his own sister, observed by Yi Zhonghai, his words and deeds deserved the title of brother.

Can be considered a backup plan.

Yi Zhonghai hesitated, thinking that if he really had to repay with his life for Laotaitai's death to Jia Dongxu, in order not to let Huaihua suffer any grievance, he considered entrusting Huaihua to Shazhu and his wife.

Cannot support me in my old age.

Must support my children.

In front of countless neighbors, after saying those words, he publicly knelt and kowtowed before Shazhu and his wife, begging them to raise Huaihua; Shazhu and his wife were just a couple.

As for what fate Qin Huairu will meet.

Selfish Yi Zhonghai can no longer worry about so much.

Damn it, we're all going to die.

Still worrying about a damn reputation.