Chapter 328: Calling at the Door to Question Jia Zhangshi

After three rounds of wine.

After the dishes have gone through five flavors.

Although Liu Jianguo did not use this drink to extract from Shazhu any useful information for himself, he inadvertently facilitated the matter between him and He Yushui.

A major life matter suddenly found a resolution.

It can be considered an unexpected joy.

After a night of deep thought, Liu Jianguo decided to get straight to the point and directly ask Jia Zhangshi.

To outsiders.

This is stirring the grass and startling the snake.

But for Liu Jianguo, this is a blunt wake‑call; without pressing Jia Zhangshi a little, how could Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu reveal their flaws?

Jia Zhangshi's remark last night made Liu Jianguo feel that Jia Dongxu's death was not as simple as it seemed.

In the case of a love‑killing.

Usually it is the mistress colluding with the lover, or the lover and mistress conspiring to kill.

Yi Zhonghai was the lover, and he is dead.

Qin Huairu was the mistress; not only did she not die, she also gained a reputation of having to submit herself to Yi Zhonghai for the Jia family's sake.

This is somewhat contrary to common sense.

Jia Zhangshi must know something; otherwise she wouldn't have said that.

Even if Qin Huairu did not act directly, she must know something inside; not stopping Yi Zhonghai or not warning Jia Dongxu amounts to knowing but not reporting.

……

The next day.

Liu Jianguo, having awakened.

He went straight toward the rear courtyard.

As a public security officer.

His every move was infinitely magnified by the neighbors; although he took pride in having a public security officer living in his courtyard, he still felt a faint resistance toward the visit of public security comrades.

The biggest reason.

Is fear.

The people inside the courtyard.

They have done too many disgusting things.

Each one is someone who cannot withstand scrutiny.

Whenever they see Liu Jianguo coming to the door, the first thought that arises is whether someone has reported them, or whether some of their deeds have been discovered by the public security, prompting them to be taken away.

Seeing Liu Jianguo enter Jia Zhangshi's home, their hearts sank for a moment, and then they began to gossip about the Jia family.

What crime has the Jia family committed?

How did they provoke Liu Jianguo to come to their door?

Not only they thought so; the head of the Jia family, Jia Zhangshi, also thought so, seeing Liu Jianguo in public security uniform, her heart leapt to her throat.

Could it be that Liu Jianguo found out about being swindled out of fifteen hundred?

What can be done about this?

If mishandled, it could cost one's life.

Steeling oneself.

He forced a faint false smile onto his face.

Liu Jianguo, who already suspected the cause of Jia Dongxu's death, upon seeing Jia Zhangshi's utterly false smile, felt his suspicions grow stronger.

Liu Jianguo did not, like those in the courtyard, look down on Jia Zhangshi as a brainless widow who only knows how to cause trouble for no reason.

Shazhu had said to Liu Jianguo the night before over drinks that those who regard Jia Zhangshi as a fool are the true fools.

Upon reflection, that makes sense.

Jia Zhangshi is not as foolish as people think.

How high is Qin Huairu's standing?

High.

She caused the former head steward of the siheyuan, Yi Zhonghai, to lose reputation and meet his demise, while she herself suffered no repercussions, showing her great ability.

But such a person was completely subdued by Jia Zhangshi.

As long as Jia Zhangshi does not let up, Qin Huairu dare not remarry at all.

"Jia dama, I have something to discuss with you."

Liu Jianguo had also prepared for Jia Zhangshi's various objections and how he would respond, and inevitably had to display his identity as a law enforcer.

But Liu Jianguo misjudged Jia Zhangshi.

Jia Zhangshi went along with Liu Jianguo's lead and replied in a smooth, accommodating way.

"We are all neighbors in the same courtyard, not seeing each other when we lower our heads nor when we raise them; you came to find me, the old woman, which shows you don't treat me as an outsider; otherwise why wouldn't you look for someone else and come specifically to me?" She pointed to a wooden stool nearby, "Please sit first, I'll pour you some water."

"No need."

"Even if the family is poor, no matter how poor, there is still a cup of hot water."

Liu Jianguo slightly furrowed his brows.

This old thing.

Indeed lives up to its reputation.

He truly managed to bring up a few words about 'beating the snake and following the stick', speaking one after another in front of Liu Jianguo, lamenting his poverty.

Soon.

A cup of boiled water was placed in front of Liu Jianguo by Jia Zhangshi.

It was still the old trick of crying poverty.

"There's no tea at home, don't dislike it."

Jia Zhangshi began to wonder why Liu Jianguo had come to see her.

He said he had come to see me about something.

But what exactly is the matter?

Jia Zhangshi was utterly confused.

Something that would prompt Liu Jianguo to act in person is surely not a small matter.

After thinking.

It seems I haven't done anything that would make Liu Jianguo personally intervene, except for that unspeakable secret.

"Jianguo, I'm really not good at matchmaking and arranging marriages," Jia Zhangshi said, trying to sound him out. "Normally you'd go through a matchmaker, but since you, Liu Jianguo, have come to me, it shows you think highly of me; for that family's daughter, I, an old woman, will gladly put my old face on the line and see to it that the matter is settled for you."

Liu Jianguo regarded Jia Zhangshi with a scrutinizing gaze; seeing that she showed no unreasonable expression nor any sign of deceit, he naturally placed the initiative in her own hands.

This was originally part of Liu Jianguo's plan.

There was a segment called idle talk.

However, having seen Jia Zhangshi's shrewdness, Liu Jianguo abandoned this tactic and prepared to shake the mountain to startle the tiger.

First the petty person, then the gentleman.

Say what you have to say.

He won't deceive Jia Zhangshi with nonsense.

After all, wearing this outfit, one must act with a clear conscience.

"Aunt Jia," Liu Jianguo said, trying to make his face look as kind as possible, "I have a romantic partner; I came to you for your son Jia Dongxu."

In Jia Zhangshi's eyes.

A hint of surprise appeared.

His son Dong Xu has been dead for nearly three years.

Liu Jianguo came to her door today for the matter concerning her son.

Could it be that...

What comes after.

Jia Zhangshi dared not imagine it.

"I remember that when you opened the Dayuan meeting last night, you said to your former daughter-in-law, that is, Qin Huairu, these words: 'Don't think that just because my son is dead, I, an old woman, am still alive; the matter of my son's death is not over with you.' After you said that, Qin Huairu ran back into the house. That is why I have come. I want to ask you: do you have any unknown inside information about your son Jia Dongxu's death?"

Jia Zhangshi went numb.

She realized she seemed to have done something wrong, causing Liu Jianguo to misunderstand.

The harsh words she had flung at Qin Huairu the previous night were actually, in a situation where Jia Zhangshi had been driven to desperation and had no choice, a thoughtless remark she had uttered without thinking, hoping to use those words to manipulate Qin Huairu and, through Qin Huairu, turn An Jiahe into a beast of burden for the Jia family.

As a result, Liu Jianguo mistakenly thought that there was some hidden truth behind Jia Dongxu's death.

"Jia Dongxu is your son. Although Yi Zhonghai admitted that he did this and paid with his life, sometimes we want every person who has made a mistake to fully recognize their error. I want to know whether you have mastered evidence that Qin Huairu colluded with Yi Zhonghai to slaughter your son Jia Dongxu. If so, please hand it over to us; you certainly don't want your son to die without peace, do you?"