Chapter Thirty-Six: Sudden Encounter

  Because the textile mill was closed, Liu Ahuo and Huang Ruhua were both at home. After lunch that day, they were preparing to go down to the fields to work when they suddenly saw the police station's Zhang Director, Liu Police Officer, bringing his younger brother and Ye Zhenran to their home. The two of them were shocked. Although they didn't know Ye Zhenran's exact identity, at the textile mill, when Ye Zhenran came with people to inspect the factory, Hu Changchang and others all showed him great respect, so they guessed he was a leader in the countryside. In the eyes of the villagers, that was quite an official. At this time, they had come to their home, of course, it was about Hu Changchang's case.

  Liu Bing is a local, familiar with Huang Ruhua's family. As soon as he arrived at Huang Ruhua's home, he spoke straightforwardly: "Huang Ruhua, this is Ye Xiangzhang and Zhang Suozhang, they have come to understand the situation of Hu Changzhang's case, you must tell the truth honestly, don't make any more excuses."

  Liu Ah Huo and Huang Ruhua's faces changed slightly, staring blankly at Liu Bing without making a sound.

  According to the prior agreement, Ye Zhenran and Zhang Liren played the roles of good cop and bad cop. Ye Zhenran then said with a pleasant expression: "We are representatives from the government and public security bureau, you all understand that Hu Changzhang's case is extremely serious in nature and has had an extremely negative impact, so it must be severely punished. You are the victims, don't have any mental burdens, the government and public security bureau will protect you."

  Right after Ye Zhenran's words, Zhang Liren spoke up and said: "Huang Ruhua, Liu Ahhuo, this is an opportunity given to you by Village Chief Ye. Although the public security organs sympathize with your experience, if you fabricate evidence for Director Hu in order to help him escape legal punishment, you will be making a big mistake. Fabricating evidence is also punishable by law."

  The villagers' cultural quality is not high, and most of them are afraid of the government. Ye Zhenran was clear that Liu Ahuo and Huang Ruhua came to change their testimony after making a record, they must have been under great pressure or tempted by great benefits, so on the way here, he discussed countermeasures with Zhang Liping.

  As expected, Zhang Liren's stern words made Huang Ruhua and his wife even more uneasy.

  Huang Rucheng said to her sister, "Sister, how can you be so muddled? Hu Weizhong is a beast who deserves to be killed. How can you help him escape punishment? When Officer Liu told me, I couldn't believe it. Is someone forcing you to do this? Tell the truth quickly, otherwise, Zhang will lock you up in the police station."

  Huang Ruhua actually didn't want to go to the police station to change her statement, but after listening to her brother's advice, she said: "Younger brother, it's not that I wanted to go, it's just that Ah Huo took someone else's money and forced me to change my statement."

  At this, Liu Ah Huo became anxious and glared at Huang Ruhua with wide eyes, wanting to scold her: "You stinky old woman......"

  As soon as he scolded these words, Huang Rucheng's temper was suddenly provoked. Without saying a word, he slapped him in the face and scolded: "Liu Ah Huo, you bastard, being bullied like this, still have the face to scold my sister, are you still a man?"

  Ye Ziran frowned and shouted, "Huang Rucheng, stop it! What are you doing? There are comrades from the police station here." He turned to Zhang Liping and said, "Zhang Suo, since Liu Ahuo took money to instruct others to give false testimony and is not cooperating with our work, take him to the police station for further questioning."

  Zhang Liren gave Liu Bing a look. Liu Bing understood, took out the handcuffs from his waist and walked towards Liu Ah Huo. Liu Ah Huo was so scared that he sat on the ground with a thud, his face still stinging from the slap, alternating between red and white, and repeatedly begged: "Don't torture me, don't torture me, I'll confess honestly." A typical case of not shedding tears until one sees the coffin.

  "Who gave you the money? Where does he live?"

  Liu Ah Huo shook his head and said with a sorrowful face: "I don't know him either, he came to me himself, I've never seen him before."

  Zhang Liren glanced at Ye Zhenran.

  Ye Ziran said: "Liu Ah Huo, you honestly tell the whole story, don't omit anything. Describe the person who gave the money, what he looks like and what accent he speaks with." Turning his head, he also told Liu Bing: "Liu Bing, take notes."

  Liu Bing responded with a "yes", took out paper and pen, and began to take notes in Huang Ruhua's living room.

  After a while, the transcription was completed. Once Liu Ah Huo had pressed his fingerprint and paid the money, Zhang Liren said: "If you come back to change your testimony again, this transcript can be used as evidence to convict you of obstructing justice."

  Liu Ah Huo at this time had already become more sensible and hastily said: "I don't dare."

  Now that things have been clarified, with this transcript and the money handed over, Liu Ah Huo and Huang Ruhua obviously can't make any more moves. He asked Huang Rucheng: "Huang Rucheng, now that the matter is settled, are you still going back with our car?"

  Huang Rucheng thought for a moment and said, "I'll go back with you guys, there's still something at home." After finishing, he asked Huang Ruhua again, "Elder sister, why don't you come with me to stay for two days?"

  Huang Ruhua glanced at Liu Ah Huo, hesitated for a moment and said: "It won't work today, I'll go back by myself tomorrow."

  Ye Ziran said: "Alright, let's go. Liu Ahuo, come to the police station in two days and take a look at some photos to see if you can find the person who gave you the money."

  Liu Ah Huo hesitated and nodded slightly.

  Zhang Liren said: "Liu Ahuo, Ye Xiangchang is helping you, don't be ungrateful. Come to the police station, no matter what the outcome is, it can scare that person away. He knows the government has stepped in, so he won't dare bother you again."

  Liu Ah Huo suddenly realized and hastily said: "Alright, I'll definitely come."

  Jiangjing Village is located in the suburbs, but it's not accessible by highway. There is a 2-meter-wide tractor road that runs through the village, paved with stones. The four of them walked along the tractor road to the threshing ground where they had parked their Santana car. Liu Bing got into the car first, turned on the air conditioner, and then rolled down the window glass to ventilate. After waiting for a moment, the heat inside the car dissipated somewhat, and everyone got in ready to head back home. Just as they had driven about ten meters or so, Liu Bing stopped the car again.

  Liu Bing stopped the car and looked carefully at a house in the village. Zhang Liren was puzzled and asked, "Little Liu, what's wrong?"

  Liu Bing furrowed his brow and said: "Strange, it seems like there's someone in Zhu's house?"

  Ye Ziran was surprised and exclaimed "Ah!", asking: "Little Liu, is Zhu's old residence really here? Which house?"

  Ye Ziran and Zhu the painter had dinner together, and Ye once asked Zhang Liren about it. He heard that he had already negotiated with his neighbors to build a house, and after the neighbors demolished their old house, they would prepare to file an application for land use. At this moment, hearing that Zhu's home was here, he became interested.

  Liu Bing pointed with his hand at a row of old houses in front and said, "The second house from the left in that row of old houses next to Jiangjing Village Committee."

  Ye Ziran uttered an "oh" and asked: "Does Zhu's family usually have people living at home?"

  "Ordinarily empty and uninhabited."

  "Did you see anyone at his house just now?"

  Liu Bing nodded and said: "I just saw someone entering his house through the front door, and then the door closed again."

  Ye Ziran said: "Maybe it's a family member of Zhu Huaiyu coming home?"

  Liu Bing slightly shook his head and said: "His family has been away from home for many years, if they go back to take a look, why would they lock the door again?"

  At this time, Huang Rucheng said a sentence that made Ye Ziran and the other two look at each other in dismay: "Is there a thief stealing?"

  Zhang Liren then asked Ye Ziran: "Ye Chang, don't you want to go take a look?"

  Zhu was a famous painter from Mashixiang, and since something unusual had been discovered, Ye Ziran, the father of the official, naturally wanted to take a look as well. He didn't hesitate, saying: "Let's go together and see what's going on."

  Four people came to the door of Zhu's house. Ye Zhenran took a look at Zhu's old house, which had wooden pillars, a low roof, and many patches of lime on the walls, indicating that it was quite old. Liu Bing introduced himself as saying that his family used to be rich farmers, although the front door of the old house was not large, but the house was deep inside and could accommodate many people. During special periods, educated youth who went to the countryside borrowed it for a long time. As he spoke, Liu Bing gently pushed the wooden gate. The gate indeed had no latch and opened with a push. Liu Bing shouted loudly at the door: "Zhu Hua, are you home? I'm Liu Bing!"

  After waiting for a moment, there was no response. Zhang Liren said: "Go in and take a look."

  The old-fashioned dwellings in Jiangnan are basically the same style: three or five openings on the front, with the guest hall in the middle. After the four men entered the guest hall, Ye Zhenran looked around and found that there was no one in the house, only a red "Eight Immortals table" placed by the window. The doors leading to the courtyard on the north side of the guest hall and the east side leading to the wing room were all closed, with only the west door left slightly ajar. Liu Bing called out again: "Zhu Hua, are you home?" After waiting for a while, there was still no sound. The four people in the guest hall had a strange feeling at this time, thinking that maybe they really had come across a thief? However, the four big men, including two police officers, didn't feel afraid. Zhang Liping and Liu Bing exchanged a glance and headed towards the west wing room, with Ye Zhenran and Huang Rucheng following closely behind.

  Ye Ziran followed the two, and suddenly a feeling that couldn't be described welled up in her heart, like fear, yet like unease, with a hint of guilt. Was it because she hadn't obtained Master's permission before rushing in? But wasn't she just going to check on Zhu because she was worried about him? Besides, she wasn't alone when she entered, what did she have to feel guilty about? Ye Ziran comforted herself.

  The west wing was still empty, deserted. Liu Bing and Zhang Liren led Ye Zhenran and Huang Rucheng into the back house on the west side of the house. Liu Bing made a joke: "Why do I feel like we're sneaking into someone's home?" As he spoke, he pushed open the door and stepped inside. Before he finished speaking, Liu Bing was shocked to see two strangers standing in the back house, Zhu Hua sat on the ground, his face full of fear.

  Liu Bing raised his face and shouted loudly, "What are you doing?" He then looked at Zhu Hua and asked, "Uncle Zhu, what's going on?" Upon hearing Liu Bing's loud shout, Ye Zhenran and the other two quickly walked in.

  Ye Zhenran glanced at Zhu, who was sitting on the ground, and then looked at the two strangers in the room. With just one glance, Ye Zhenran knew something was wrong.

  For several months, he had heard a lot about the "two Lis" and had seen the A-level wanted notice issued by the Ministry of Public Security many times. The appearance of these two people was already etched in his mind. These two men were not tall, with broad shoulders and a wide back, their eyes gleaming with ferocity as they stared tensely at the four people who had suddenly burst in - if it wasn't the "two Lis", who else could it be?!

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