The group arrived at the conference room.

Jin Hong laughed and said, "I didn't expect Deputy Chief Jiang to be so skilled at interrogation."

Yu Yong chimed in, "That's really impressive. Most people, after that bluff, would be trembling with fear. Are we really going to have to wait an hour?"

"Don't praise me too much, or I'll get cocky. Let's leave him alone for now and wait for the comrades' investigation results."

Jiang Zhenghua sighed, "If we're talking about being impressive, I'm nothing compared to them. I've met some seniors before, wow, they're truly breathtaking. If they were to interrogate me, there would be no need for any psychological maneuvering."

Cheng Mingli asked incredulously, "Really? There's someone even more powerful than you?"

Jiang Zhenghua nodded emphatically: "That was in a POW camp on the Korean Peninsula. Our battalion was responsible for guarding them for a period of time, and we were fortunate enough to witness the demeanor of you seniors. Otherwise, how would I know these things?"

Qiao Fuping interjected, adding, "Section Chief Cheng may not know this, but our Deputy Director Jiang was once a member of the 18th Public Security Division of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army. He fought in the Korean War and had a distinguished record of military exploits."

Cheng Mingli suddenly realized, "I was wondering how Deputy Chief Jiang could have such amazing reasoning skills. There are many experienced police officers in the public security force; one of my old comrades even joined."

Then, he said calmly, "His ancestors were famous constables in the Qing Dynasty, and for generations they dealt with cases and judgments. Growing up surrounded by this environment, he learned to investigate and reason from a young age. Later, he worked as a criminal police officer in the Republic of China, saw through the corruption of the authorities, and resolutely devoted himself to the revolution. After liberation, he became a member of the People's Public Security Bureau. At the beginning of the Korean War, he volunteered to go to the front line and was assigned to the Public Security Army. He sacrificed his life in a battle to protect a supply line."

Shortly after, the sound of a car engine came from the front yard.

Jiang Zhenghua and the others quickly walked out.

As soon as I arrived at the front yard, Zhang Chongguang walked towards me.

He pointed to a middle-aged man sandwiched between Liu Baojia and Geng Jianwu and said, "This is Zhang Hegui."

Jin Hong nodded: "Take him to the main office."

Zhang Hegui's face was deathly pale, and his body was trembling. Seeing Cheng Mingli in the crowd, he immediately cried out, "Section Chief Cheng, you must save him..."

Cheng Mingli stepped forward and interrupted him: "Old Zhang, don't be nervous. Gu Youliang died in a car accident this morning. We only asked you to come here for a routine inquiry."

Zhang Hegui nodded, his face dejected, and said, "I've heard about it too. I really didn't know something like this would happen, otherwise I..."

As she spoke, her voice trembled slightly.

Jiang Zhenghua gave Liu Baojia a wink, and the latter understood and said, "Comrade Zhang, let's go."

Jiang Zhenghua pulled Geng Jianwu aside and, after Zhang Hegui had been led away, said, "Old Geng, I'll have to trouble you to make another trip. Go with Liu Baojia to Houjia Village later and ask if Hou Laicai led people into the city in early 1955."

Geng Jianwu replied, "No problem. What's the matter?"

Jiang Zhenghua recounted the story of Hu Decai's heroic rescue of the damsel in distress.

After listening, Geng Jianwu said, "I understand. I'll ask his other friends as well."

Jin Hong instructed Xiao Li, "You guys drive there, and be quick."

The group arrived at the large office.

Zhang Chongguang handed over a few sheets of paper: "These are his medical records from this morning."

Jin Hong took it, glanced at it a few times, and handed it to Jiang Zhenghua.

Jiang Zhenghua saw that it said: Diarrhea suspected to be caused by food poisoning.

He handed the medical record to Qiao Fuping, who was sitting next to him, looked at Zhang Hegui sitting on the stool, and asked in a deep voice, "Comrade Zhang, I am Jiang Zhenghua from Taotiao Hutong Police Station. I hope you can answer the following questions truthfully."

Seeing so many police officers staring at him, Zhang Hegui's expression tightened, and he immediately lowered his head: "I will definitely tell the truth."

Jin Hong looked around and said, "Let Deputy Director Jiang, Section Chief Cheng, and Instructor Zhang ask around. Let's go outside."

After they left, Jiang Zhenghua and the others pulled up stools and sat down.

Zhang Chongguang took out his notebook and then took a pen from his shirt pocket.

Jiang Zhenghua asked, "Comrade Zhang, when did you start feeling unwell?"

Zhang Hegui said softly, "It was probably right after I left the factory that my abdomen started to cramp. I couldn't bear it anymore, so I went to the roadside. It's a few miles from the machinery factory to near Chang'an Road, and I went to the toilet several times. I was completely exhausted. My legs were weak and I really couldn't drive, so I had my apprentice drive me to Captain Gu's house."

"I really didn't expect this. I never thought something like this would happen, otherwise I would never have let him take this train. I don't know how to face my sister-in-law and three children now, I..."

After he finished speaking, tears streamed down his face.

Jiang Zhenghua casually reached into his pocket, pulled out a cigarette pack, and found there was only one cigarette left. He took it out and handed it to the person opposite him: "Have a cigarette."

"Thanks."

Zhang Hegui wiped away his tears with both hands and accepted the gift with trembling hands.

"Old Zhang, I can tell you, Captain Gu's car has been tampered with. Someone is after him..."

Cheng Mingli took out a match, struck it, and lit it for him, naming him as he was.

Zhang Hegui jumped up from the stool with a 'whoosh,' the chair was pushed backward, making a screeching sound as it scraped against the ground.

He stared at him, wide-eyed, and asked, "Section Chief Cheng, what you're saying... is it all true? Who did it? Why?"

Cheng Mingli stubbed out the match, raised his hand and patted him on the shoulder: "Sit down."

Zhang Hegui, his eyes red, stammered, "I..."

Cheng Mingli raised his voice: "Sit down. I'm telling you all this in the hope that you will answer seriously and provide us with some clues to find out who murdered him."

Zhang Hegui plopped down on the stool, two streams of tears streaming down his cheeks.

Cheng Mingli struck another match and handed it to him.

Zhang Hegui lit the lamp with trembling lips, took two deep drags, coughed violently, and hunched over to the side.

After finishing his cigarette, he wiped away his tears, sat up straight, and said, "Go ahead and ask."

Jiang Zhenghua placed the medical record on the table: "According to the doctor's examination, you got sick from eating something. Can you tell me what you ate yesterday?"

"Nothing different from usual. Before I went to work, my wife cooked some porridge, a plate of potato slices, and two cornbread buns."

Zhang Chongguang quickly wrote it down in his notebook.

Zhang Hegui added, "It shouldn't be a family problem. I asked this morning, and my wife and children are both fine."

Jiang Zhenghua nodded and asked again, "Didn't you eat at the factory again tonight?"

"After I finished eating and loading the truck, I found that the canteen was serving spinach stewed with tofu. I specially offered the chef a cigarette and ate two lunch boxes, as well as two steamed buns made from mixed flour."

Jiang Zhenghua instantly recalled some rumors he had seen online in his previous life.

Spinach contains a lot of fiber, and eating too much can cause gastrointestinal discomfort for people with sensitive stomachs.

He asked, "Anything else?"

Zhang Hegui shook his head: "I didn't eat anything else. My apprentice, Dong Zheng, ate some too, and he's fine. It shouldn't be this, right?"

Jiang Zhenghua asked, "Do you have a sensitive stomach?"

Zhang Hegui nodded repeatedly: "We drivers are often too busy to eat on time, and everyone has this problem to some extent. Mine has been particularly bad these days; I've been trying to get better, but it hasn't improved."

"Did you drink anything?"

"I just drank some herbal tea. Every time before I go out on a trip, I ask my apprentice to make me a cup to take with me..."

Zhang Hegui suddenly paused: "I really do remember now. When I was leaving the factory, I ran into Xiao Hu at the guardhouse. He was inspecting the car and we were chatting when he mentioned that he had made some mung bean soup to cool off. He even asked my apprentice to pour out the tea and gave me a cup. I couldn't resist and drank some."

"Who is Xiao Hu?"

"Hu Youshan from the Security Department."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhenghua immediately stood up: "You all go ahead and ask. I'll go make a phone call."

After saying that, he quickly walked outside.

Zhang Hegui asked, puzzled, "What's wrong with this police officer? My apprentice ate that spinach and tofu too, and he's fine?"

Jiang Zhenghua strode into the conference room and asked Jin Hong, "Deputy Director Jin, do you know any traditional Chinese medicine doctors?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"I need to consult on some issues."

Jin Hong strode out, saying, "Come with me. He's a doctor at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. We can contact him by phone."

"Is there a lead?"

"It's not clear yet; you need to consult a professional doctor."

The group quickly arrived at Yu Yong's office.

Jin Hong stepped forward, grabbed the crank and shook it quickly a few times, then picked up the receiver: "Hello, is this the switchboard? Connect me to the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Peking Union Medical College Hospital."

A voice quickly came from the other end: "This is the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Who are you looking for?"

"I went to Director Gao and told him that Jin Hong from the Dongcheng Branch needed his help."

Jin Hongsong turned off the receiver and then asked Jiang Zhenghua, "I've made contact. What do you want to ask?"

Jiang Zhenghua asked, "If someone with gastrointestinal problems eats a large amount of spinach and tofu stew, and then drinks cold mung bean soup, will it immediately trigger diarrhea?"

Just as Jin Hong was about to speak, a voice came from the other end.

Shortly after, Jin Hong pressed the microphone and said to Jiang Zhenghua, "Director Gao said that if a healthy person eats like this, there shouldn't be any problems. But for people with sensitive stomachs, it's very likely to cause immediate abdominal cramps and diarrhea."

Jiang Zhenghua murmured, "Is it just a very high probability?"

He frowned: "If you add a small amount of croton to mung bean soup, it might be fine for normal people, but for those with sensitive stomachs, wouldn't it cause an immediate reaction?"

After asking again, Jin Hong quickly replied, "Director Gao said that it would probably take about fifteen minutes to manifest. They couldn't find a specific problem, and the diagnosis was that he ate unclean food. It's impossible for a normal person to be completely unaffected; it's very likely that he would experience bloating, but he wouldn't have diarrhea."

Jiang Zhenghua nodded: "Then that's about it. Did he bring his apprentice?"

"In the second interrogation room, Director Qiao is questioning Cao Hui and another person."

At this moment, Jin Hong also hung up the phone: "So, we've basically identified the killer?"

Jiang Zhenghua said, "It was mung bean soup given by Hu Youshan. Zhang Hegui drank some at the time, and shortly after leaving the factory, he developed symptoms of abdominal pain and diarrhea."

Jin Hong stopped in his tracks: "You guys go ask around, I'll call Fang Ya and see if there's any way to detect croton seeds."

Jiang Zhenghua and Yu Yong arrived at the second interrogation room and pushed the door open.

Qiao Fuping said, "You've arrived."

Jiang Zhenghua nodded: "I have a few questions for him."

After saying that, he looked at the young man sitting on the stool, his face pale: "Did you drink mung bean soup yesterday?"

Dong Zheng nodded repeatedly: "I drank it."

"Are you feeling unwell?"

"I'm perfectly fine."

"Do you have bloating?"

Dong Zheng suddenly raised his head: "Yes, my stomach is more bloated than usual."

"Is there still mung bean soup in your master's teacup?"

"There's one thing, it's in the car. The car is parked in an abandoned yard near Captain Gu's house, which is also where Captain Gu often parks."

Qiao Fuping and the others looked at Jiang Zhenghua.

"Take us there in a bit."

Jiang Zhenghua then said to Qiao Fuping and the others, "No need to ask anymore. Let's get ready and go take a look at that courtyard."

The group immediately got up and walked outside together.

Jin Hong then came out of the director's office: "How did it go?"

"I feel bloated. There's still some mung bean soup left in the car, which is where Gu Youliang usually parks."

"Fang Ya and the others will be here soon. She said they have a way to use animals for testing."

"Should we take Hu Youshan into custody immediately?"

"Not yet. Even if there is croton oil, it can only be corroborating evidence. He can insist that it was accidentally mixed in, but it cannot be used as direct evidence."

"Then let's investigate whether the vehicle was tampered with first. At the same time, I'll have someone keep an eye on it to prevent any problems from arising."

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