Detective: From the Police Academy

Chapter 436 Black Clinic!

In the mud house, there was only a dim light bulb hanging on the beam.

The floor of the house was not made of cement, but rather a bumpy mud floor. Near the innermost part of the floor, there were two red plastic basins with rotten edges.

Looking up from the plastic basin, you can see the broken black tiles.

Obviously, once it rains, the roof leaks everywhere and is completely uninhabitable.

But Zhang Yang and Zhang Xiaoying live here, and the two siblings depend on each other for survival.

The square table was also covered with dust and a bamboo dustpan was placed on it.

Lin Chen took the colander away and found that it contained leftovers, a bowl of dried noodle soup, and a bowl of vegetables, without any oil or meat.

Lin Chen looked at Zhang Xiaoying who was standing in the dark corner. She was wearing an ill-fitting sweater. The sweater was pink, but because it was too dirty, the original red color had been covered up.

Moreover, the sweater was for adults and was too big, seeming to wrap up her frail body.

Her hair was messy, her face was dirty, and her bright eyes looked at him timidly.

Lin Chen felt a pang in his heart and didn't know what to say.

Luo Rui sat on the bench and looked at Zhang Yang across the table.

This boy, about twelve or thirteen years old, also looked very timid. He squatted on a bench, his hands were covered with calluses, and his arms were thick and strong. It was obvious that he had been using his hands instead of feet to walk all year round, and he also had to do hard farm work every day.

Luo Rui sighed slightly in his heart.

Seeing that no one spoke, Zhang Yang smiled, took out a red apple from the corner of the table and handed it to Luo Rui.

"Eat the fruit."

Because he was afraid that Luo Rui would think it was dirty, he shouted to his sister in the corner: "Xiaoying, take the apple and wash it."

"No thanks." Luo Rui immediately took the apple and took a big bite.

The apples had a rotten smell, but were very sweet, the kind of sweetness that comes from being overripe and about to rot.

Seeing that he was eating with great relish, Zhang Xiaoying couldn't help swallowing her saliva, but her eyes became brighter and a smile appeared on her face.

Zhang Yang was the same. He said shyly, "...I haven't washed the apples yet."

He didn't know how to address Luo Rui, and his tone was hesitant for a moment.

Village Chief Wang wanted to say something but stopped himself. However, it was not convenient for him to introduce their identities as Luo Rui had reminded him of this before.

Luo Rui finished the apple in two or three bites and said with a smile: "When I was a child, my family was not well off. What couldn't I eat? I'm not afraid of getting dirty."

Zhang Yang nodded. He had thick eyebrows and big eyes. His face still had a childish look, but more of a mature look.

A boy of twelve or thirteen, with a disabled body, lives alone in the mountains with his young sister.

One can imagine how miserable the life they faced was.

Village Chief Wang said with concern: "Zhang Yang, I see that the wheat in your field is growing well. When you harvest the wheat in May, just call me and your aunt and I will help you."

Zhang Yang shook his head: "Uncle Wang, don't bother you, I can do it myself."

"Our lands are adjacent to each other, so it's just a matter of helping each other." Village Chief Wang insisted, then looked at Luo Rui and said, "It's like this. I came to your house today to ask you something. Just answer if you know."

Zhang Yang looked at Luo Rui and Lin Chen with a suspicious expression.

Luo Rui immediately said, "Zhang Yang, don't worry, we are from the county civil affairs bureau, and we are here specifically to understand the situation of families like yours who have lost both parents."

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaoying immediately jumped out from the corner and hid behind Zhang Yang. She grabbed her brother's clothes tightly.

Zhang Yang stared at Luo Rui as if he was facing a formidable enemy, and then looked at the village chief.

He protected his sister with one hand and said in a tearful voice: "You want to take my sister away? Please don't do this, I can support her, I am sure I can do it! Uncle Wang, you can see that I can work in the fields, I can wash clothes and cook, I can..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen's nose felt sore and tears immediately welled up in his eyes.

She quickly explained: "Zhang Yang, you misunderstood, don't get excited, we are just here to understand the situation, I promise you, we will never take Xiaoying away!"

But Zhang Yang didn't listen. He just stared at Luo Rui. He knew who was the leader.

Luo Rui tried to soothe them in a gentle tone: "I'm sorry, I didn't say the right thing. The situation is like this. We understand your parents' situation, that's all."

Village Chief Wang also chimed in: "Zhang Yang, you still don't believe the people Uncle Wang brought with him? Listen, it's okay, they are just here to ask about your parents."

Zhang Yang finally relaxed after hearing the village chief's assurance. He wiped the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand and asked, "Is there any news about our father?"

Luo Rui asked: "When did your father leave home?"

Luo Rui had already learned about Zhang Yang and Zhang Xiaoying's family situation on the way here. The mother of the two siblings never returned after she went down the mountain two years ago because she despised her sons for being disabled. Not only was the family poor, but the two siblings were also a burden.

The family is supported by their father Zhang Guitian.

Zhang Guitian had no complaints about his two children and raised them without complaint.

But in the summer a year ago, because it was the slack season for farming, Zhang Guitian said he wanted to go to the county town at the foot of the mountain to do odd jobs for a while to supplement his family income.

But he never came back.

All the villagers in Yantian Village believed that Zhang Guitian, like his wife, had abandoned the two children.

Village chief Wang also thought so. On the way here, he scolded the parents harshly.

Hearing Luo Rui's question, Zhang Yang replied, "My father went to the county town on August 1 last year."

"Did he say what he was going to do?"

"He went to work. He said he would come back when the rice was ripe." After saying this, Zhang Yang's eyes turned red and he added, "But he never came back..."

At this time, Zhang Xiaoying hid behind her brother, sobbing quietly and wiping her tears with her sleeves.

Lin Chen felt a little reluctant and wanted to comfort her, but Zhang Xiaoying rested her head on her brother's back and didn't say a word no matter how Lin Chen greeted her.

Luo Rui continued to ask: "Has your father ever donated blood? Or has a doctor ever come to your house to check his health?"

Zhang Yang thought for a moment, and then replied: "Yes, I once heard my father say that he donated blood, and he could make money by donating blood.

At the end of the year before last, he came back from donating blood in the county town and used the money he earned to buy a new dress for me and my sister. "

Village Chief Wang wanted to speak, but Luo Rui raised his hand to stop him.

"Zhang Yang, do you have your father's blood donation certificate at home?"

“What is a blood donation certificate?”

"After donating blood, a certificate will be issued to your father."

Zhang Yang shook his head: "I haven't seen it."

"Which room does your father live in?"

Zhang Yang pointed to the door on the left, which was actually not a door, but a curtain hung with a worn floral bed sheet.

Luo Rui nodded to Lin Chen, and she immediately went in to search with a flashlight.

After a while, Lin Chen came out with spider webs wrapped around her head. She shook her head.

The matter is already very clear. In fact, there is no need to look for it. Can you make money by donating blood?
Needless to say, Zhang Guitian must have sold 'snow'!
He used the money he earned from selling "snow" to buy new clothes for his two children for the New Year.

Zhang Guitian was afraid that the children would worry about him, so he lied.

Would such a father abandon his two children and walk away like his wife did?
Won't! Absolutely not!
Luo Rui felt heavy in his heart. He looked at Zhang Yang and said, "Think about it carefully. Before your father left home, did he tell him what kind of job he was going to do? Does he know anyone in the county town?"

"Brick factory. Before my mother left, my father used to work in the brick factory in the county. As for who he knew, I have no idea."

"Okay, I understand." Luo Rui stood up and carefully looked at the young man in front of him with determined eyes.

"Zhang Yang, you've worked hard."

Zhang Yang bit his lip and nodded: "I will bring my sister up and support her studies."

It was already midnight when we returned to Village Chief Wang's home.

There was only one empty room and an empty bed in Village Chief Wang's house, so Luo Rui gave it to Lin Chen and planned to spend the night in the car.

He lay in the back seat of the SUV, looking through the skylight at the starry sky in the dark night.

He rested one arm on his head and dialed his father Rosen's number with the other hand.

The phone rang for a long time before the other end answered.

"Luo Rui, why are you calling me in the middle of the night? Did something happen to you?"

"No, I just wanted to ask what you and mom are doing."

"We are all asleep now. Something must have happened to you. What happened?"

"Really? I just called to ask." Luo Rui heard the sounds of someone getting up and getting dressed on the other side.

Then, the phone rang with a burst of noise, and the voice of my mother Feng Ping came: "Son, don't scare me, you never call me at this time."

"Oh, by the way, I just want to ask Mo Wanqiu, is she in good health these days?"

"Son, did you have a fight with Wanqiu? You're not going to default on your debt, are you? Let me tell you, my granddaughter is about to be born. If you dare to let Wanqiu down, I'm going to break your legs."

Then, Rosen's voice rang out: "That's right, I finally got a grandson. If you mess around outside, your mother and I won't forgive you!"

"Okay, okay, I got it!" Luo Rui sighed, "You guys go to sleep quickly and take good care of my wife for me."

After saying that, Luo Rui hung up the phone. He looked up at the starry sky and said to himself, "People's sorrows and joys are not the same. Thank you for raising me."

At the same time, Lin Chen was hiding in the bed and calling his mother.

"Mom, you didn't sleep in the same room with my dad? Are you planning to get a divorce?"

"You are just talking nonsense all day long. Your dad is so busy that he is dizzy. I like to sleep and wake up at night, so I am afraid of disturbing his rest."

"But we can't sleep in separate rooms, otherwise there will be no affection."

"What do you know? You have to remember that in marriage, it is best to keep a distance and live a life of respect for each other. Aren't we all alone in the end of our lives?"

Lin Chen smiled and said, "Mom, your ideological awareness is more advanced than mine."

"Stop talking nonsense. By the way, there is something I want to tell you in private. Don't tell anyone else."

"You say."

"Your father will be transferred at the end of the year." "Where else can he be transferred to?"

Lin Chen's mind suddenly cleared up, and she took a breath: "So fast?"

"This is all thanks to Luo Rui. He worked in the provincial department and helped your father a lot. At first, your father thought it would be great if he could marry you, but now he thinks it's actually quite good this way. There's no involvement between the two of you, and no gossip from outsiders.

Your father is only in his early fifties now. He still has ten years before retirement. These ten years are his golden years. So, can I not improve my ideological awareness, your mother?"

Lin Chen was speechless. Half an hour ago, she saw Zhang Yang's family situation and felt sad. She wanted to chat with her mother for a while and express her gratitude. But now, her father was going to be promoted again.

In this remote mountain village, Lin Chen lay on a straw bed, feeling dazed. The gap between people's circumstances was so huge.

Dad, you are going further and further away, let me show you the sufferings of this world.

Thinking of this, Lin Chen hung up the phone with his mother and fell into a deep sleep.

------------------

Early the next morning.

Luo Rui was awakened by the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking. He opened his eyes, got up and opened the car door, and saw a man wearing glasses standing on the field, teasing a little yellow dog.

The man heard the car door open, stood up and walked over, stretched out his hand and said with a smile: "Hello, I heard that you are a relative of Village Chief Wang?"

Luo Rui suddenly came to his senses and smiled: "No, I'm a policeman."

"Uh……"

The man was obviously stunned for a moment, but the smile on his face did not fade. "So you are a policeman. Hello, my name is Jin Han, and I am a doctor."

"My name is Luo Rui. Have you heard of my name?"

"Uh……"

Jin Han could tell that there was something wrong with the other party's tone, but everyone in Linjiang City had heard of the name 'Luo Rui', a criminal police hero who had appeared on TV several times.

The criminals in Linjiang City were terrified by him, and people in counties outside the urban area called him "Luo Yanwang".

Ordinary people living in the streets and alleys of the city called him "Luo Saohuang".

But the ones who scolded him the most were the elderly men in their seventies and eighties. These people were still strong and vigorous and wanted to find a place to have some fun, but all the beautiful women in the streets and alleys had been caught by Luo's anti-pornography gangs.

You're already old, you can't just play by yourself, can you?

Jin Han looked at him carefully, retracted his hand, and asked, "Excuse me for being so rude, Officer Luo, are you coming to this remote mountain village to arrest criminals?"

"Yes." Luo Rui answered, staring into his eyes: "There is such a group of people, they must be brought to justice!"

Jin Han blinked: "Really? Then I wish Officer Luo every success."

"Wait, I will." Luo Rui said, greeting Lin Chen who had just stepped out of the door.

A moment later, Luo Rui and Lin Chen drove away. When they passed the village primary school, they saw Zhang Xiaoying walking down the mountain with a brand new schoolbag on her back.

Luo Rui stopped the car immediately, Lin Chen opened the door and called the child over.

Zhang Xiaoying stood on the side of the road, looking at them timidly, her cheeks flushed.

"Xiaoying, are you going to school?"

Zhang Xiaoying nodded: "My brother said that if I don't go to school, someone will take me away."

Lin Chen wanted to give her something, but he came in such a hurry that he didn't bring anything with him.

Luo Rui was the same, with nothing in his hands.

"Okay, go ahead, we'll come back to see you." Lin Chen reminded.

But Zhang Xiaoying did not leave. She seemed to have something to say but hesitated.

Luo Rui asked: "Xiaoying, what do you want to ask?"

"Can you bring my dad back?"

Luo Rui was silent. He couldn't promise anything, but Lin Chen couldn't bear it and nodded: "Yes, we will definitely bring your father back. When my sister is done with her work, I will come to see you, okay?"

Zhang Xiaoying nodded seriously and sniffed.

Lin Chen stood up and asked, "Sister will braid your hair for you, okay?"

"Ok."

Lin Chen took off the rubber band on her hair and combed Xiaoying's messy hair with her fingers. She also saw a lot of lice on her hair.

Lin Chen sighed, tied her hair up, and patted her shoulder: "Xiaoying, be fine, okay?"

"Okay." Zhang Xiaoying agreed, looked at Luo Rui, and then walked towards the village primary school with her huge schoolbag on her back.

Jin Han was already standing on the playground at this time, looking at this side thoughtfully.

Luo Rui met his eyes, then sat in the driver's seat, stepped on the accelerator, and drove down the mountain.

------------

Anqiu County.

The white SUV drove directly to the gate of the county public security bureau.

The county bureau chief and the criminal police captain, who had been waiting here, hurried forward to greet Luo Rui after he got off the car.

Last night, Lin Chen called them and told them to look for Zhang Guitian who disappeared last summer.

Luo Rui was in no mood to greet them, nor did he go to the meeting room. Instead, he stood in the courtyard and asked, "Director Zhou, have you found out why Zhang Guitian disappeared?"

How can it be so fast? Do you think I'm a detective? Director Zhang complained in his heart, but the smile on his face did not diminish: "My men went out before dawn and are visiting the brick factory now."

"Okay, then let's go to the brick factory now." Luo Rui got into the car without delay.

Director Zhou also quickly called a driver and drove along.

The brick factory is on the outskirts of the county seat, only a few kilometers away. Anqiu County is very small and has a small population.

The boss and workers of the brick factory had been gathered together, and the person in charge of questioning was a criminal police captain from the county bureau.

After seeing Luo Rui and his group coming, he said, "Director Luo, Director Zhou, you've come at the right time. There's something going on."

"What's going on?" Luo Rui asked.

"It's like this. On August 2 last year, Zhang Guitian worked as a part-time worker in this brick factory. He disappeared after working for more than half a month.

Because he was a short-term worker and this kind of situation happened frequently, the brick factory owner didn’t pay much attention to it.”

Luo Rui snorted coldly: "Does he not care, or does he not want to pay people their wages?"

"Uh...this..." The criminal police captain couldn't answer.

"You go on."

"Okay. The exact time Zhang Guitian disappeared was August 24th. The brick factory arranged dormitories for the workers. On the evening of the 24th, after Zhang Guitian got off work, he never returned to the dormitories."

"So are his things still in the dormitory?"

The criminal police captain shook his head: "The owner of the brick factory said that Zhang Guitian didn't bring anything with him, just a red woven bag with some clothes to change into, sheets and blankets, and two summer short-sleeved shirts for the children. However, these things were thrown away by his co-workers who shared the dormitory with him."

"Who threw it?"

Luo Rui got angry when he heard this. He looked at the dozen people standing in the yard and said, "Who threw Zhang Guitian's stuff? Stand up!"

A short, middle-aged man in torn jeans stood up. He was wearing woolen gloves and lowered his head, not daring to look at Luo Rui.

Luo Rui walked up to him and stared at him fiercely: "Did you throw away Zhang Guitian's luggage?"

He had a very loud voice and was intimidated by everyone.

Director Zhou and the captain of the criminal police team both seemed a little puzzled. They did not understand Luo Rui's temper, but everyone in the county bureaus of Linjiang City knew his name.

The man shuddered with fear and explained hesitantly, "Zhang Guitian's things have been there for half a year, and he didn't come to take them away. If I don't throw them away, should I keep them? Besides, those clothes are not worth much..."

"Compensate!" Luo Rui pointed at his chest and said, "At least pay me for the clothes of those two children. Do you hear me?!"

"Okay, I'll compensate you." The worker nodded hurriedly.

Seeing that he wanted to run away, Luo Rui immediately asked, "By the way, did you know that Zhang Guitian sold snow?"

"I know. He told me that his family had no money and he had to raise two children, so he sold snow. He also said that he had panda blood, and some people need this blood type. I don't know what panda blood is."

Panda blood is Rh negative blood, which is very rare and cannot be synthesized artificially.

"Where did he sell it?" Luo Rui asked
The worker shook his head: "He didn't say. I saw him selling snow after get off work one time. He felt dizzy when he came back at night. He almost fainted while moving bricks the next day, so he should be somewhere in the county."

Luo Rui turned around and looked at Director Zhou and the Criminal Police Captain, pointed his index finger downward, and ordered: "Find this person. We must find this person today."

Director Zhou nodded, but still asked, "Director Luo, can I ask you, what case are you investigating?"

Luo Rui ignored him and looked at Lin Chen: "Notify Kang Bolin and send a team over immediately."

"Yes."

During the day, all the criminal police of the county bureau were mobilized to conduct investigations in various places including the county hospital, clinics, and pharmacies.

In the evening, we finally locked onto a person.

The man's name was Pang Jindong. He opened a clinic in the county center and his wife worked as a doctor dispensing medicine in the clinic.

At eight o'clock in the evening, three police cars drove to the entrance of the clinic and the detectives who got out of the cars dispersed.

Luo Rui walked out of the crowd and took the lead in climbing the long stone steps.

When I walked into the clinic, the couple was eating dinner behind the counter and watching the evening news.

Luo Rui immediately asked: "Are you Pang Jindong?"

The old man with glasses put down his bowl and chopsticks and glanced outside the door. There were several people standing on the steps, staring at him eagerly.

He chewed the rice in his mouth and asked cautiously: "Who... who are you?"

"I'm from the Provincial Public Security Bureau!" Luo Rui showed him his ID, then waved to the plainclothes detective behind him: "Take him away!"

(End of this chapter)