Chapter 3

I didn't do anything, just watched television

I also saw that news, I heard it is very close to us, is that right

Luo Wenzhou laughed: "Do you know what 'justifiable defense' means?"

Luo Wenzhou's tone did not rise, nor did his eyelids lift: "Do you know what a law enforcement recording device is? Illiterate."

Officer Tao's chin bore a blood mark, the result of being struck by the Nine Yin White Bone Claw of some unknown hero

"Not necessarily," Luo Wenzhou said, "what he said might only be part of the truth; he may have concealed some other things—let's talk about it tomorrow. How are you two getting back? Are you heading back to the office first or..."

The trio of military supervisors looked up together and saw a large SUV, at least 2 meters high, parked by the roadside. A person was leaning against the car: "Officer Tao, you have worked hard. May I offer you a ride home?"

Ma Xiaowei blurted out: "A quarter past nine"

Several middle-aged and elderly individuals idly gathered around an illegal street food stall, consuming wontons. This group was quite talkative, and their eating and drinking did not hinder their animated discussions, as they even took it upon themselves to provide commentary for the camera.

When Luo Wenzhou entered, he forcefully slammed his hand against the door, overwhelming the opposing two armies with an even more arrogant demeanor. Everyone was startled by the resounding noise and turned to look at him.

Ma Xiaowei seemed to have just realized what he meant, and his expression suddenly changed.

Do you know that kid bought a sesame cake? They asked him to leave the money there and find the change himself from the coin box. Isn't that all based on one's own conscience? He gave them ten yuan but took fifteen from the coin box; I just saw it.

"Luo Tou Er." Tao Ran had a band-aid on his chin and leaned in, saying, "There is someone here, come take a look."

Luo Wenzhou stood with his hands behind his back, bending slightly as he leaned closer to Tao Ran and observed: "Last time when we assisted the brothers in the drug enforcement operation to catch the drug dealers, we fired for twenty minutes, and no one sustained such a 'serious injury', right? I knew it, as soon as you are out of my sight, something is bound to happen. Don't forget to go to the hospital tonight for a rabies vaccine shot."

Luo Wenzhou did not give Ma Xiaowei any time to react and immediately continued, "If this matter is not clarified today, you may have serious criminal suspicion"

As soon as he spoke, Xiao Haiyang, who was taking notes with his head down, and Tao Ran, who was listening by the door, all turned to look at him

How many times has this been reported, yet no one has taken action? Well, now someone has died, right? What did I say?

Suddenly, someone in the video shouted: "The police are coming!"

If you hear it, just say you heard it; if you didn't hear it, then you didn't hear it. Does this question require such a long time to think about?

This child is named Ma Xiaowei, and he claims to be over eighteen, but I see him as a minor. The group incident that occurred at noon today was triggered by him stealing five yuan from someone else. Tao Ran said, "He is the roommate of the deceased He Zhongyi in a shared rental apartment and is likely the last person to have seen the deceased.

Luo Wenzhou let out a sneer: "Child, are you going to tell us ghost stories?"

Luo Wenzhou let out a sound of "Hmm"

Ma Xiaowei's eyes were red, filled with fear as he glanced at him, with strands of blood wrapping around his eyeball.

Luo Wenzhou interjected, "Where were you from 8 PM to 10 PM last night?"

Ma Xiaowei's chin sank slightly, and then, as if recalling something, he quickly shook his head: "No, I don't know, I haven't seen it."

He does not bring the bad habits of those wealthy young men into the company; his outward appearance of "composure" is essentially a well-executed performance. He rarely exercises decision-making power and does not fulfill his work obligations. Occasionally, he jokes with the young ladies, but he usually does so with great restraint, strictly adhering to the principle of "a rabbit does not eat the grass by its burrow," and never oversteps boundaries.

"Mr. Fei, you scared me to death!" The young professionals in the break room were initially startled, but upon seeing him, they immediately relaxed. Compared to the resolute Chairman Fei of years past, Young Master Fei, who holds the full rights to his inheritance, is essentially a likable mascot.

It is possible that I heard a little, the television is turned on a bit...

He Zhongyi changed his clothes and left after getting off work yesterday. Brother Zhao... is a fellow townsman of Zhongyi. A few days ago, he went back to his hometown for a funeral. A few other coworkers went to play cards, so I was the only one left, but it wasn't me.

"It's nothing, darling," Luo Wenzhou said as he pulled out a chair and sat down in front of Ma Xiaowei, smiling amiably. "This is the Major Crimes Unit, which only handles criminal cases. Attempting to steal five yuan does not constitute a crime, so there's no need to be nervous."

Xiao Haiyang: "It's fine, please continue speaking."

Ma Xiaowei instinctively cast a pleading glance towards him

Uncertain, but he said he went to sleep at 9 o'clock. He usually does not have a problem with insomnia. If he was half asleep and half awake... it should not be later than 9:30, which aligns with the inferred time of death. Additionally, several other people who live nearby also mentioned they vaguely heard something, but it is common in this area for people to get drunk and fight at night. They are used to it and did not take it seriously, nor would they bother to go out and check.

In the afternoon, at the Flower Market District Bureau, Wang Hongliang took the pretext of a "meeting" to make a swift escape.

Luo Wenzhou slammed the table and said: "Who are you looking at? This is for you to explain!"

"Xiao Ma, you must tell the truth," Tao Ran said softly, "How do you know it was a quarter past nine? Did you hear it, or were you near the scene of the incident at that time? What do you know?"

Ma Xiaowei quickly looked up at him, perhaps due to the strong presence of Team Leader Luo, a hint of panic appeared on the boy's face

"Do not acknowledge, do you think the law does not hold the masses accountable?" Luo Wenzhou nodded, "Alright then, let's detain them together. Don't forget to notify their families to send someone to pay the bail. For those without family, contact their unit leaders. I have heard that some individuals are also involved in illegal occupation of public space and unlicensed business operations? Just right, we will enforce strict and severe penalties. In the future, I will instruct the colleagues at the nearby police station to pay special attention to all of you with prior convictions."

The criminal police officers who were out conducting investigations hurried back to urgently extract witness testimonies

Feidu wiped the spilled hot water clean with a tissue before returning the cup, casually asking: "What practical matters were you discussing just now?"

The shaking camera immediately shifted its focus, as if fearing that the world would not be chaotic enough, and aimed at a snack stall

What to do at home

As soon as he finished speaking, a middle-aged man in his fifties shouted, "Who are you accusing of having a criminal record? On what basis do you say we assaulted the police? Do you have any evidence? Without evidence, you cannot detain us at will. I tell you, I have a heart condition!"

After a moment of chaos, several uniformed individuals struggled to push their way in, attempting to separate the tangled mass of people with great effort. However, they were quickly overwhelmed by the sea of the populace, and one young officer even had his glasses knocked off.

"Alright," Fei Du said seriously, "if it doesn't work out, we will take a break. We will return to work after capturing the bad guys. What is work compared to your safety?"

No one expected that a public security farce would inexplicably evolve into separate interrogations

Ma Xiaowei's throat moved slightly, yet he still did not dare to look at him, softly saying: "... at home."

Ma Xiaowei suddenly froze, his pale face displaying a blank expression

He was interrupted by a whistle before he could finish his sentence

Luo Wenzhou: "Is it just one person?"

Xiao Haiyang asked again: "Do you know if he has any relatives or friends in the local area?"

After passing Nanping Avenue, just walk a little further and you will arrive. Sometimes when I visit my parents, I don't want to take the winding bridge, so I go around that way. In the past, I thought it was chaotic, but I didn't expect... Oh dear!

Luo Wenzhou held up his phone and smiled at him: "Could you please check for me? Two strokes and a hook for 'Yu', three stones for 'Lei', male, fifty-three years old—there's really nothing much to it. This uncle is still vigorous, but he got into a fight and was detained by our local police. When he was brought back, he claimed he had a heart condition. If he were to have an episode here, it would be quite a scandal, wouldn't it? We can't afford that kind of responsibility right now. Aunt Han, I beg you to send someone over quickly to take this high-risk individual involved in fraud away." We can't afford that kind of responsibility right now. Aunt Han, I beg you to send someone over quickly to take this high-risk individual involved in fraud away.

The video comes from an online media outlet known for its sensationalism. After a few minutes of pretentious narration, a sudden loud commotion is heard off-camera

According to a certain rogue named Yu Lei, after he turned off the lights and went to rest last night, he heard the sound of an argument in a half-asleep, half-awake state. There were two men, both with accents from outside the area, and their dialect was too strong for him to understand what they were arguing about, but he felt they should be acquaintances. "Lang Qiao swept her long hair back behind her head, "We have confirmed that Yu Lei's home is very close to the location where the deceased was found, with a straight-line distance of less than 50 meters. He lives in a bungalow, and with the back window open, he should have been able to hear it.

The substation was in complete disarray, with the participants of the collective brawl exhibiting a high fighting spirit. Even upon arriving at the police station, they refused to cease hostilities. Amidst the cacophony of insults, a few police officers monotonously shouted "Get down" and "Behave yourself," revealing a pitiful lack of vocabulary. Officers drawn from several local precincts stood in a line, bewildered, unsure of what they were supposed to do.

How is it?

I... I did that to ensure the safety of the neighborhood!" Luo Wenzhou had not finished his phone call, and the middle-aged man named Yu Lei was clearly flustered, "This is self-defense."

Yu Lei pointed at several young men who were clearly distinguishable from them and said: "I was acting in self-defense; among these people is the murderer from last night! I heard it all!"

"Be careful." Fei Du reached out to support the bottom of the cup in her hand, taking it and placing it aside. "Next time, don't pour such hot water. Your hands are so delicate; what will you do if you burn yourself?"

Luo Wenzhou squinted his eyes and said: "Did you not just say 'I might have heard a little'? How come you remember the time so accurately now?"

Luo Wenzhou: "... ..."

Ma Xiaowei intertwined his hands, buzzing like a mosquito: "He... He Zhongyi is from H Province, and he is from the same hometown as another roommate of ours, but their hometowns are not in the same place. It is said that H Province is quite large, and it seems that Brother Zhongyi's hometown is a bit more remote. He only came here last year, and he is a really nice person, quite outgoing. He is diligent in our shared living space and often cleans up. ... He... he hasn't had any grudges with anyone." He only came here last year, and he is a really nice person, quite outgoing. He is diligent in our shared living space and often cleans up. ... He... he hasn't had any grudges with anyone.

Luo Wenzhou's tone immediately shifted: "However, it seems that if one repeatedly commits theft and fails to reform, even without reaching a 'significant amount,' one must still face criminal charges. You wouldn't have done this for the first time, would you?"

After speaking, he took out his phone and dialed a number: "Hello, Principal Han, this is Wen Zhou... No, no, I'm not busy—Is there a campus security guard named Yu Lei at your school?"

Luo Wenzhou gently tapped the table and asked, "Are you watching television at home alone? Where are the people you live with?"

Ma Xiaowei bit his lip with force

Fei Du usually does not speak loudly, and what he says seems to be ordinary human words. However, once these words pass through his lips, they immediately acquire a hint of secret intimacy, often leading others to indulge in their own romantic fantasies. Fortunately, he typically leaves right after speaking, allowing others enough time to let their illusions fade.

The middle-aged man causing a disturbance was momentarily taken aback, and then his face turned pale in an instant, looking as if he were about to suffer a heart attack

The conflict escalated in an instant, with the local residents of the West District and the outside tenants engaging in indiscriminate mutual accusations.

"One must beat him—when he was young, he stole and committed petty crimes; what will he do in the future, engage in drug trafficking and murder? What is the state of public security in our area? Once night falls, no one dares to walk outside casually. I believe it is all the fault of these social scum from outside."

Luo Wenzhou: "What time is it approximately?"

Luo Wenzhou nodded slightly and pushed the door open to enter

At this moment, several bystanders, unable to bear the sight, stepped forward in an attempt to separate the fighting vendor and the youth, only to find themselves drawn into the fray.

"It wasn't me... I heard, I heard it," Ma Xiaowei was about to cry, "At a quarter past nine, I heard someone arguing downstairs. The voice sounded a bit familiar, so I wanted to go downstairs to take a look..."

I believe it should not be you, " Tao Ran played the role of the good cop while he played the bad cop, " If it wasn't you who did it, then there's no need to be afraid. Just say everything you know. This is a serious case involving a loss of life. You can distinguish between what is important and what is not, right?

What did you see

He squeezed half a cup of hazelnut chocolate sauce into the bottom of his coffee cup, intending to coat every caffeine molecule with sugar. With nothing to do, he stirred while clicking on the video attached to the email.

The scene was chaotic, with feathers flying everywhere; the camera had been knocked askew three or four times. Fei Du stirred his coffee and found the conflict, dubbed "Three Mice and Four Eyes," extremely dull, lacking any entertainment value, and was just about to turn off the video

Lang Qiao approached at the right moment and handed a printed document to Luo Wenzhou. He casually took it, glanced at the middle-aged man who was leading the disturbance with a meaningful look and said, "What a coincidence"

No one spoke up

Luo Wenzhou leaned against the door frame and asked, "Who are the ones that attacked the police?"

Several of them kept asking questions back and forth, continuing the interrogation until evening when work ended, pushing Ma Xiaowei to the brink of collapse. However, the young man revealed no useful information, repeatedly recounting his poor late-night ghost stories several times.

Eat five pieces and earn five pieces, truly impressive, the path to becoming wealthy is not far away

"I didn't say it was you," Luo Wenzhou interrupted his incoherent defense. "There were nearby residents who reported hearing a dispute near the crime scene at the time. Given the distance from where you live to the crime scene, you should have been able to hear it. What did you hear at that time?"

Late last night, a violent incident occurred behind the residential buildings in the western area of the flower market in our city. As of now, the police have not released any official statement. It is reported that the deceased, Mr. He, lived in a shared rental apartment near the scene of the incident

Ma Xiaowei was almost unable to sit still

Feidu saw a familiar figure among them, and his hand that was about to close the window suddenly paused

A middle-aged woman wearing an apron, likely a snack vendor, is glaring and shoving a young boy: "You little brat, do you not know how to count or has your conscience been eaten by dogs? You are greedy over just a few coins, what are you going to do with them? Take them home to buy a coffin for your mother?"

Two young professionals were chatting in the break room, so engrossed in their conversation that they did not notice someone behind them listening to a live broadcast. One of them suddenly trembled, nearly spilling an entire cup of hot water onto the floor.

The two young women, fully aware that he was talking nonsense, were still charmed and returned to work in high spirits, feeling delighted.

The street vendor's arrogance reached a height of 2.2 meters, prompting him to take action. The thieving boy, with his hands clasped over his head, curled up into a ball, exposing his neck and the roots of his ears, which were crimson as if bleeding. He remained silent, merely trying to hide.

"I don't think it's him," Lang Qiao said as he exited the sub-bureau. "This child doesn't have a strong psychological quality; he spills everything when scared. If we interrogate him like that, he would definitely break down if there were any real issues... However, the claim about it being haunted is quite strange."

In the West District across the street, a robbery and murder case occurred just yesterday, and it seems that the perpetrator has not yet been apprehended. How about we have our Human Resources Department send out a group email to everyone shortly? To remind everyone to pay extra attention to safety during their commutes.

After a while, Fei Du indeed received the mass email from the Human Resources Department

In the interrogation room, Xiao Haiyang was wearing glasses held together with transparent tape, sitting across from a slender young boy

Once the middle-aged and elderly cheerleaders start to create a commotion, the effect is significant, and the conflict quickly escalates

Ma Xiaowei : `` ... ... ''

What time is it approximately

"There is nothing at all," Ma Xiaowei exclaimed, his eyes wide open. "I didn't see anyone, not even a shadow of a ghost. It seems that what I heard just now was all an illusion. The road and the streetlights are broken. I... I..."