Animal Detective

Chapter 11 Is this considered a threat to the police?
The courtyard gate was wide open.

Shen Xin walked in, then suddenly realized something was wrong.

When Wu Zhicun called him, Zhang Jian didn't know that Wu Zhicun had tenants. It must have been a spur-of-the-moment decision for him to pretend to be a college student looking to rent a room.

Why did you bring yourself along before entering the village?
A few months ago, when he was rotating through different positions under someone else, he always complained that I was troublesome and a burden, so he made me do odd jobs in the office.

Just then, someone called me.

"Who are you looking for?"

It was a middle-aged woman who came out of the house on the right, carrying an electric kettle in her hand.

Shen Xin snapped out of her daze and hurriedly asked, "Auntie, are there any rooms available for rent around here?"

"No."

The middle-aged woman replied crisply and decisively, then turned and went into the main house.

He even closed the door.

Shen Xin was left standing in the courtyard, bewildered by a gust of wind.

Before entering, Shen Xin thought about how to conduct reconnaissance.

According to Shen Xin's own analysis, the blind Wu Zhicun would not be Fan Jie's supplier.

That can only be a tenant.

Therefore, the focus of the investigation should be on the tenants.

Shen Xin's idea was to use renting a room as an excuse to get close to the person, ask about the rent and such, chat first, and then slowly find out more about the situation.

Who knew that the elderly folks in TV dramas who would tell you about their ancestors for eighteen generations were just there for the plot?

In reality, you'll only encounter indifferent strangers who won't even bother to say a word to you.

The key issue is that things have stalled.

Normally, if you ask if there are any houses for rent and the other party says no, you should leave.

It would be very unusual for you to knock on the door and ask again.

Besides, I've already asked about renting a place, so I have no other excuses.

I can't exactly say, "I'm tired from walking all day, Auntie, could you give me a glass of water?"

This isn't some period drama.

After standing there agonizing for a full two minutes, Shen Xin walked out dejectedly.

As expected, disguised reconnaissance is not that simple.

If you have a problem from the start, you should first try to get close to the person before revealing your purpose.

If you state your purpose right away, and they shut you down with a single sentence, you won't be able to continue the conversation.

No wonder Li Dongsheng always says he's still green and needs to observe and learn more.

That's absolutely right.

Across the street, Zhang Jian had already returned and was waving at him.

Shen Xin ran over, too embarrassed to look at the two of them.

"What's wrong? Didn't you get anything out of me?" Chen Chao asked with a hint of mockery.

Shen Xin felt so embarrassed he wanted to disappear into the ground.

Zhang Jian stepped in to help, saying, "Everyone starts out as a newcomer."

Shen Xin secretly glanced at Zhang Jian.

I feel that Zhang Jian's attitude towards me has really changed a lot.

Perhaps it was because he had saved Fan Jie when they were arresting him.

"Let's go."

Zhang Jian gave a shout and led the way into the courtyard.

As soon as he entered, the middle-aged woman came out. She immediately saw Shen Xin following behind Zhang Jian and frowned, saying, "Why are you here again? I told you, there are no houses to rent."

Shen Xin was now even more embarrassed.

Without wasting words, Zhang Jian pulled out his police ID and said with a serious expression, "We are police officers, and we have some questions for you."

A police ID is still the most useful.

The middle-aged woman, who had initially been indifferent, suddenly changed her expression and said somewhat flusteredly, "I... I don't know anything. What do you want to ask me?"

"Don't be nervous, it's nothing serious, just asking about the tenant's situation."

Zhang Jian pointed to the room on the right.

Wu Zhicun's house consists of three single-story rooms, with another room on the right, which may have been the original kitchen.

"Oh, and please bring your ID cards as well, we need to register them," Zhang Jian added.

The middle-aged woman said "Oh," and hurriedly ran back to get her ID card.

Her husband also came out wearing a short-sleeved shirt, looking at Shen Xin and the others awkwardly.

The middle-aged woman then pointed to the kitchen and said, "My son lives here. He works the night shift and isn't home. I need to find his ID card."

Zhang Jian handed the two men's ID cards to Shen Xin and then inquired about the previous tenant.

Clearly, Shen Xin had figured out the situation when he had gained nothing.

Once the middle-aged woman recovered, she started gossiping again, asking if the man had committed a crime. She said she had long felt that something was off about him, as he stayed indoors all day, always wore a mask, and never even greeted her when they met.

However, she added that her family had moved in at the end of May, and that person had moved out after only a week, so she didn't know the specifics. Zhang Jian nodded and walked towards the main house.

There are three rooms in the front. One room was rented to the couple, and the other room has a door. Wu Zhicun lives in the other two rooms by himself.

It's dark now, and it seems like no one's around.

wrong!

Shen Xin cursed under his breath, "Why turn on the light when everyone's blind?"

Chen Chao did not follow, but told the middle-aged woman that he wanted to see her son's room.

Zhang Jian had already pushed the door open.

The door wasn't locked; it was open.

It was pitch black inside, but with the help of the outside light, Shen Xin's heart tightened.

There were three portraits of the deceased hanging above the altar directly opposite the door.

Two electronic lights were also on below.

In the pitch-black room, the red light of the eternal lamp shone upwards onto the three portraits, making their faces look eerie, especially the old woman's face, which seemed to come alive, squinting and staring at him with a cold gaze.

Fortunately, Zhao Shouchuan turned on the light switch on the wall next to the door.

He should have been here.

There was only one incandescent light bulb in the room, and its wattage was not high.

This used to be the main room, but now, apart from the eight-immortal table in front, there is a low long table against the wall with an induction cooker and bowls and chopsticks for eating.

"Old Wu."

Zhao Shouchuan called out.

No response.

He led the way into the inner room and turned on the light as he went.

Shen Xin followed and saw the situation in the inner room.

The furniture is very simple.

There was an old man lying on the bed; it must be Wu Zhicun.

His hair was a mess of white, and his skin was dark and wrinkled.

She was thin, wearing a loose-fitting navy blue long-sleeved shirt.

He was wearing headphones.

Since you're blind and don't have many forms of entertainment, it's quite normal for you to wear headphones and listen to opera.

The key is these headphones.

If Shen Xin wasn't mistaken, the headphones Wu Zhicun was wearing looked like Sennheiser's entry-level model, which should cost several thousand yuan.

There are also phones with built-in earphones, which are last year's flagship models and cost over six thousand.

It's a bit unusual for an old man to use such high-end headphones and a mobile phone.

Even more unusual is...

Shen Xin frowned and looked strangely at his left.

There's a... toilet under the windowsill?
Who designed this? Putting a toilet in the bedroom!

"Old Wu!"

Zhao Shouchuan stepped forward and nudged Wu Zhicun.

Wu Zhicun then took off his headphones and asked who it was.

"I'm Lao Zhao, from the police station, remember me?"

"How could I not remember?"

Wu Zhicun spoke sharply, snorted coldly, and sat up straight.

Zhao Shouchuan didn't mind and introduced Zhang Jian, saying he had something to ask him about the previous tenant.

“That young man always wears a mask and has been staying here for more than three months.”

Zhao Shouchuan leaned closer and said loudly.

"You've come looking for him?"

When the tenant was mentioned, Wu Zhicun's expression suddenly changed, showing surprise, but even more so disbelief.

He thought for a moment and asked, "Did that kid get into trouble?"

Zhang Jian and Zhao Shouchuan exchanged a glance and immediately asked, "Sir, do you know something?"

"of course."

Wu Zhicun's expression changed again, becoming calm. He crossed his arms and said, "I know everything, but if you want me to tell you, you have to help me catch the murderer who killed my grandson first!"

By the end, his tone had turned icy, and his hatred was palpable.

Zhang Jian was stunned.

Shen Xin was also a little confused.

No, wouldn't this be considered threatening the police?

(End of this chapter)