Era: Starting from the local police station

Chapter 26: A Wonderful Person

They went inside.

The two declined Grandpa Guan's offer to pour them tea.

Jiang Zhenghua took out a notebook and pen: "Comrade Guo, what was their answer?"

Guo Caiju was a little reserved, but recalled, "The man pulling the cart said he had hunted a wild boar. So I asked them to cut some off and sell it to me..."

Grandpa Guan's expression changed, and his tone became reproachful: "Oh dear, Caiju, how could you have such thoughts? This is illegal, the country doesn't allow it..."

While speaking, he was also carefully observing the expressions of the two police officers.

Guo Caiju realized she had said the wrong thing, so she immediately shut up, lowered her head, and remained silent.

Jiang Zhenghua interrupted him: "Uncle Guan, don't panic. It's probably because Comrade Guo was nervous and misspoke. Were you thinking of exchanging some of your belongings for some meat to improve your living conditions?"

Upon hearing this, Guo Caiju nodded repeatedly, her eyes filled with gratitude: "That's right, I was just nervous and misspoke."

After saying that, he gave the three of them an awkward smile.

Instructor Zhang smiled slightly, thinking that Zheng Hua was a remarkable person.

In this era, the state severely cracks down on private trading. If discovered, one would be accused of speculation, with severe consequences ranging from being punished with beatings to having one's goods confiscated and being fined.

However, bartering is not prohibited.

Therefore, Jiang Zhenghua's statement that he would support urban construction and help farmers is not a problem.

Grandpa Guan also realized what was happening and bowed slightly: "This police officer is right to criticize me. I was just too anxious."

Jiang Zhenghua asked in a friendly tone, "Did they change it back then?"

Guo Caiju shook her head: "No, the man pushing the cart said that this violates national policy. The wild boar is to be sent to the Hongxing Machinery Factory to improve the lives of the workers and support the country's industrial construction."

Instructor Zhang frowned deeply: "This isn't the road to the machine factory either!"

Guo Caiju nodded in agreement: "I asked him the same question at the time. He said he had a relative living in the alley in front and was going there to rest temporarily, and that he would take him there during the day when he was at work."

Jiang Zhenghua asked, "Do you remember what those two people looked like? Or was there anything special about them?"

"I couldn't see their faces clearly because the streetlights in front of our house were broken and it was dark."

After thinking for a moment, Guo Caiju hesitated and said, "However, there is something I remember very clearly."

Instructor Zhang pressed further, "Oh, what?"

"The man pulling the cart was wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt, was very strong, and had a rather unpleasant voice, a voice that was a bit creepy, like...like..."

Guo Caiju frowned, unsure how to describe it.

Jiang Zhenghua asked softly, "Is that the sound of wood rubbing together?"

Guo Caiju shook her head.

"The voice was somewhat shrill and piercing?"

Guo Caiju nodded.

Instructor Zhang thought for a moment and said, "Is it like a shovel hitting a block of iron, making a screeching sound?"

Guo Caiju nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, it's that kind of scratchy sound that's unpleasant to listen to."

Jiang Zhenghua wrote it down in his notebook and asked again, "Anything else?"

Guo Caiju said, "Both of them were wearing worn-out straw hats. Oh, and the one pushing the cart was wearing a cadre uniform with four pockets. At the time, I was wondering why a village cadre would personally deliver things."

Instructor Zhang asked, "How tall are the two people?"

Guo Caiju said somewhat awkwardly, "I can't tell."

Jiang Zhenghua pointed at Instructor Zhang and asked, "How does he compare?"

Guo Caiju glanced at Instructor Zhang a few times and said, "The one pulling the cart is a bit taller and stronger than him. As for the one pushing the cart, he's bent over, so I really can't estimate his size, but he's a bit overweight and doesn't look like someone who's starving."

Jiang Zhenghua stroked his chin and asked, "Is the person pulling the cart half a head taller than him?"

Guo Caiju said, "More or less."

Instructor Zhang said, "I am 1.72 meters tall. The person pulling the cart must be slightly bent over, so I am about 1.74 to 1.77 meters tall."

Jiang Zhenghua's heart skipped a beat: "Can you smell the stench? Like the smell of a manure truck?"

Guo Caiju's eyes suddenly lit up, and her voice rose slightly: "I knew something felt off, but I just couldn't remember. Now that you mention it, I remember—the car didn't smell at all, unlike those used in the countryside."

Instructor Zhang asked, "Anything else?"

Guo Caiju shook her head: "I really can't think of anything else."

Jiang Zhenghua closed the notebook and put the pen back in his jacket pocket: "Comrade Guo, thank you for the information. If it's really useful to us, we'll definitely write a letter of commendation to the subdistrict office."

Guo Caiju said softly, "No need, I didn't help..."

Grandpa Guan interrupted her again, saying, "Thank you, police officer. If you can really help, that would be wonderful."

Instructor Zhang chimed in, "I forgot to introduce him. This is Deputy Director Jiang, who just arrived at our institute. If you need anything in the future, you can go directly to him."

Grandpa Guan was taken aback, then his face broke into a smile: "So it's Deputy Director Jiang. He's really young and promising. I hope you'll take good care of me in the future."

Jiang Zhenghua said solemnly, "If it is a legitimate request, I will definitely handle it impartially."

Grandpa Guan nodded: "Understood. Gentlemen, may I pour myself a cup of tea to quench my thirst?"

Instructor Zhang waved his hand: "Let's skip it today, we have other things to take care of, we'll do it another day."

As the two stepped out of the courtyard, they saw Chen Shan and his apprentice coming out of the neighboring courtyard.

Instructor Zhang asked, "Old Chen, did you find anything?"

Both of them shook their heads.

Instructor Zhang turned to Jiang Zhenghua, who was deep in thought, and asked, "What do you think?"

"From what Guo Caiju said, it seems that Hongxing Machinery Factory is involved. I think we need to go there."

"Why not just call and ask if they've received the wild boar?"

"Even if they actually received it, the other party might not admit it, since it's just tacit approval. Everyone just keeps quiet about it. If the machine factory were to buy it with money or the purchasing agent were to lower the price, the other party might conceal the truth. Besides, the other party said it was for the machine factory. So, maybe the deceased has some connection to the machine factory."

Instructor Zhang frowned and said, "What if they're just making things up?"

Jiang Zhenghua explained, "It's possible. But sometimes, if you're not prepared in advance and someone suddenly asks you, your subconscious answer might reveal something unexpected."

Instructor Zhang glanced at the time: "It's around seven o'clock now. The purchasing department staff and leaders have already left work. How about tomorrow? And shouldn't we adjust our field visits?"

Jiang Zhenghua pondered for a moment and said, "Since those two came from this side, the primary crime scene is probably here. We don't need to investigate other directions for now; we should focus our attention on this area."

The group walked towards the police station.

Halfway there, Instructor Zhang suddenly asked, "You seem quite certain that those two are suspicious?"

After listening to Jiang Zhenghua's deduction, Instructor Zhang exclaimed, "Your brain is really useful."

Chen Shan, standing to the side, sighed, "I'll never reach that level in my lifetime."

At this moment, Liu Baojia's eyes were fixed on Jiang Zhenghua, and his admiration was almost overflowing.

Jiang Zhenghua felt his burning gaze and coughed lightly: "If everyone reads more books in their spare time, they will naturally make progress."

He said to Liu Baojia, "You need to learn more. You need to learn from your master's experience, and you also need to read more books and observe life more."

As if he had received guidance from a martial arts master, Liu Baojia responded repeatedly, "Deputy Director Jiang, I will go and get a library card as soon as I have time."

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