Era: Starting from the local police station

Cheng Mingli suddenly slapped his forehead, instantly attracting the attention of the others.

He said with a wry smile, "My brain, I actually forgot about that."

Jiang Zhenghua asked, "What's the matter?"

Cheng Mingli said solemnly, "After you left that day, I had someone conduct some investigations on Hu Decai and learned some things that weren't in the records."

Jiang Zhenghua hurriedly asked, "In what aspect?"

"His file says he used to work as a waiter in a bathhouse, but that's not true. His hometown information is correct; he's from Tianfu Village near Beijing. He came to the city at the age of eighteen and did work in a bathhouse for a while."

Cheng Mingli continued, "Around 1953, he left the bathhouse. The reason was that a customer had lost an item, and everyone suspected him of doing it, but there was no evidence. Later, the manager found him privately, gave him some money, and kicked him out. Of course, the official story was that he had found a better opportunity."

Jiang Zhenghua said, "This is indeed a shameful matter, and I don't think the people in the bathhouse would talk about it, since it would be bad for their own reputation."

Cheng Mingli nodded: "That's right. If I hadn't had someone dig deeper, no one would have known about this."

Zhang Chongguang turned around and asked, "So what did he do after that? How did he get into the factory?"

Cheng Mingli continued, "After leaving the bathhouse, he worked as a sack carrier at the docks for a while. In 1954, he got his own tricycle and became a driver..."

"You mean he used to be a shopkeeper?"

Jiang Zhenghua quickly interrupted him.

Jin Hong and Zhang Chongguang also stared intently at Cheng Mingli.

Cheng Mingli nodded: "To be precise, they are 'tricycle drivers' who pick up passengers, although many people also call them 'Master Driver'. Is there a problem with that?"

Jin Hong spoke up: "Hou Laicai came to the city to work as a factory worker in 1955. I always thought that Hou Laicai met the two of them when he was a temporary worker in the factory, but now it seems that's probably not the case."

Jiang Zhenghua nodded: "Section Chief Cheng, what happened next? Also, Hu Decai is thirty years old this year, but his son is seventeen. Is he remarried?"

Cheng Mingli nodded slightly: "That's right. His ability to get a job in the factory is related to his wife."

Xiao Li, who was driving, interjected, "Section Chief Cheng, we've caught up with the machinery factory's truck."

Cheng Mingli immediately stuck his head out and shouted at the truck, "Yang Shaogang, get on the police station's truck, we won't go back to the factory yet."

Yang Shaogang poked his head out of the car window and responded.

Cheng Mingli pulled his head back and continued, "After Hu Decai became a boss in 1954, he didn't pay his respects to the local patrons at first, and was severely ostracized, often unable to get any business. Later, I don't know who advised him, but he did pay his respects to the local patrons, and that's when he finally gained a foothold. In 1955, this guy met his current wife, Tan Xiu, and they got married."

"Tan Xiu?"

"Tan Xiu is also a notable figure. She is the niece of Tan Yonglin, the former director of our factory. Tan Yonglin is a big shot in Beijing and a well-known private capitalist."

Jin Hong said, "I've heard of him. He used to be a member of the Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference and made great contributions to the reform of private enterprises."

Cheng Mingli nodded: "Our factory's original major shareholder, Liu Jing, was able to so readily and proactively request a joint venture. It is said that he played a significant role in this, and he was one of the earliest capitalists to accept the joint venture at that time."

Zhang Chongguang asked, "Since Tan Xiu is Tan Yonglin's niece, she must be quite well-off. How did she come to fancy Hu Decai?"

Cheng Mingli smiled and said, "That's a very old-fashioned story."

Jiang Zhenghua laughed and said, "Is this another 'hero saves the damsel in distress, and the damsel in distress offers herself to him' scenario?"

Cheng Mingli nodded: "That's right. Tan Xiu was born in 1920. At the age of sixteen, she married Chen Zhifeng, the son of a wealthy merchant. In 1937, when the War of Resistance against Japan broke out, Chen Zhifeng resolutely joined the army to fight against the Japanese and became a member of the National Revolutionary Army, going to the battlefield. Chen Zhifeng was very brave and skilled in battle. With the money paving the way for him by his wealthy father, plus the connections of Tan Yonglin and others, he quickly became a National Revolutionary Army officer. In early 1942, Tan Xiu gave birth to a son for him, and he himself died fighting the Japanese on the battlefield in 1943."

Jin Hong spoke up: "That child is Hu Decai's son, Hu Tianshun, right?"

"Yes. After Chen Zhifeng's sacrifice, his parents were also devastated and passed away one after the other within a year. Tan Xiu took over all of the Chen family's property. She was also a good person. Apart from leaving behind a few shops, she sold all her other property and donated it to the front line to support the resistance against Japan. Our troops also received a batch of medicines donated by her, which saved the lives of many soldiers."

Cheng Mingli's face showed a hint of admiration.

Jiang Zhenghua exclaimed, "So, Hu Decai is eight years younger than Tan Xiu?"

Cheng Mingli nodded, and Zhang Chongguang continued, "This guy is really daring to marry a widow who is so much older than him and has a child."

Jin Hong scoffed, "Hu Decai is clearly after other people's wealth, or even their status. A country bumpkin with no connections can transform himself into a personnel officer in a factory, which can be said to have changed his fate. There have been many people like this throughout history."

Jiang Zhenghua asked, "Section Chief Cheng, how much kindness did Hu Decai do for Tan Xiu?"

Cheng Mingli said slowly, "What I found out is that one night, Tan Xiu took her son out and was harassed by thugs. Hu Decai, who was returning home from work, ran into them and fought them off. Tan Xiu was seriously injured in the process."

Zhang Chongguang continued, "This kindness is indeed immense. For a widow, not only was she saved, but her only hope was also saved. One can only imagine the gratitude she feels."

Cheng Mingli nodded: "Hu Decai is tall and strong, still fair-skinned, and very eloquent. Most girls would find it hard to resist him, let alone a widow."

"This sounds like it was done on purpose. Could those thugs be people he hired to put on an act?"

Zhang Chongguang shook his head: "Probably not. Given Tan Yonglin's style, they would definitely have someone investigate afterwards. Since Tan Xiu married him, there shouldn't be any problem."

Cheng Mingli agreed, "Instructor Zhang is absolutely right. Tan Yonglin was furious at the time. He not only went through the proper channels, but also had people from the community search for these people. In the end, only one was found. According to that person, the others ran away afterward when they realized they had caused trouble."

Jin Hong and the others nodded.

Jiang Zhenghua said thoughtfully, "Tan Xiu's marriage to Hu Decai was not entirely out of affection, or perhaps it was out of gratitude."

Jin Hong glanced at him: "You mean, it's possible they're targeting him because of his family background?"

Zhang Chongguang chimed in, "Very likely. In 1955, we began experimenting with the reform of private enterprises. Perhaps Tan Yonglin sensed something amiss and that's why he did it this way. After all, many capitalists have done similar things; it's a political advantage."

The car fell silent for a moment.

Cheng Mingli suddenly spoke up: "Among the clues reported by the people below, there is also a rumor that Hu Decai actually had a lover in the countryside back then, but that woman disliked him for being poor and married a city man instead."

Zhang Chongguang chimed in, "So he was deeply affected by this, which is why he ran to the city, just to prove a point?"

Cheng Mingli gave a heavy "hmm".

Jiang Zhenghua asked, "Do you know anything about that woman?"

Cheng Mingli shook his head: "I don't know."

Jin Hong paused for a moment: "Deputy Director Jiang, you suspect that woman is Diao Cuihua?"

Zhang Chongguang's eyes widened: "Could it be such a coincidence?"

Jiang Zhenghua said in a deep voice: "According to Hu Decai's file, he entered the government machinery factory around May, while Wang Jiansheng's accident happened in the summer, when he was already at the factory."

Jin Hong sat up straight: "Now that you mention it, I'm starting to think Hu Decai might actually be a possibility."

Cheng Mingli interjected, "Is this Wang Jiansheng you're talking about the one who was crushed to death in our factory in the summer of 1955?"

Jiang Zhenghua nodded: "Yes. You're aware of this case?"

"I don't really know anything else, but I do know this."

Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Cheng Mingli explained, "This case had a huge impact at the time. Our factory initially offered a funeral allowance and a monthly allowance for the elderly and children. However, his wife and mother refused to accept this and caused trouble at the factory every day. Later, the factory leaders, tired of the complaints and wanting to appease the workers, finally compromised and agreed to let his wife work in his place, but the allowance was waived."

Jiang Zhenghua asked, "Do you know what caused the accident?"

Cheng Mingli frowned and recalled for a moment before saying, "At the time, it was Qi Ronggen who led the investigation. The conclusion was that although the shelf for placing the embryos was in disrepair, the main reason was that Wang Jiansheng was drunk on his way to work, slipped, and bumped into the shelf, which caused it to fall apart."

Jiang Zhenghua frowned and said softly, "I didn't expect that Qi Ronggen would handle the case."

All three were startled, exchanged glances, and seemed to be deep in thought.

Zhang Chongguang asked, "Do you know who tricked Cuihua into going to the cafeteria?"

Cheng Mingli shook his head: "I don't know the specifics, but the matter definitely needs the approval of the head of the logistics department, since he is in charge of the canteen."

Jin Hong said in a deep voice, "I think we should send someone to Tianfu Village this afternoon to investigate Hu Decai's past in detail, especially that woman from back then."

Jiang Zhenghua added, "We need to send someone to Houjia Village again to inquire with Secretary Hou whether Hou Laicai led people into the city in early 1955."

Zhang Chongguang said, "You suspect that those thugs were actually Hou Laicai and his men in disguise?"

Cheng Mingli analyzed, "If they really are from the countryside, then it's quite possible they wouldn't be able to find them. But what about the one who was arrested?"

Jiang Zhenghua looked ahead and said in a low voice, "What if that person was just a scapegoat who bumped into us?"

"Section Chief Cheng, in which district did the case occur? Which police station handled it?"

"It was handled by the Xidan branch of the Public Security Bureau."

Jin Hong nodded: "I'll call the Xidan branch and see if we can find that thug. Once we ask him, we'll know what happened."