Today was a day off, and the Siheyuan (Courtyard) residents, eager for excitement, spontaneously gathered at the Deaf Old Lady's doorstep, peeking into the room.
“The Public Security has arrived. Once they clarify things, the Old Lady can be buried.”
“The Old Lady is so pitiful; she had no children and no relatives by her side when she passed away.”
“Sigh, if she had relatives, the culprit wouldn’t have dared to kill her.”
“It’s good that the Old Lady is gone; at least she didn’t suffer much.”
Everyone exchanged comments.
“Open the window.”
Deng Shoucheng scanned the room and instructed.
Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong quickly got to work.
With the window open, the room became a bit brighter.
The Siheyuan (Courtyard) residents peeking from outside could also see more clearly.
Deng Shoucheng didn't mind the crowd watching him, as long as they didn't enter the room and disturb him.
He leisurely wandered around the room, looking here and there.
The Old Public Security Officer followed behind him, ready for instructions at any moment.
Several Grandpas and Chen Jianye stood in the hall, their gaze following Deng Shoucheng.
Deng Shoucheng finally approached the Deaf Old Lady, looked at her for a while, and then suddenly asked, “Xiao Chen, when did you encounter the culprit yesterday?”
“I don’t have a watch, so I don’t know the exact time. I only know it was pitch black then.”
Chen Jianye recalled.
“You’re really lucky.”
Deng Shoucheng sighed, then looked at the Old Public Security Officer behind him: “The scene is consistent with your records from last night. There’s nothing more to investigate. Let’s close the case.”
“Heh, the case is finally closed.”
The Old Public Security Officer smiled.
The culprit had continuously killed several people in their jurisdiction, and the pressure from the Leader was too immense.
“Yes, the case is finally closed.”
Deng Shoucheng also let out a sigh of relief.
As the Team Leader, he was the primary person in charge of the case and bore greater pressure.
Being able to close the case smoothly was also a relief for Deng Shoucheng.
“Comrade Police, can we then arrange for the Old Lady’s burial?”
Yi Zhonghai asked with concern.
“Yes, bury her. The Old Lady needs to rest in peace.”
Deng Shoucheng nodded.
He was about to leave.
“Team Leader Deng, we still need to take a statement from Xiao Chen.”
The Old Public Security Officer reminded him.
“What’s there to record? Didn’t I just question him? If you want to record, stay here and do it yourself. I need to go back and report to the Leader.”
Deng Shoucheng said casually.
“Then I’ll go back too.”
The Old Public Security Officer chuckled.
He had to seize the opportunity to show himself in front of the Leader.
The two walked out of the Deaf Old Lady's house, and the many Siheyuan (Courtyard) residents who were peeking outside automatically made way for them.
Yi Zhonghai came to the main entrance: “We need to discuss the Old Lady’s funeral arrangements. Those who are willing to help can come in.”
Everyone was momentarily stunned.
“I’ll come!”
Jia Zhangshi was the first to cross the threshold.
She knew this was an opportunity. Whoever helped with the Old Lady’s funeral would naturally have a moral advantage when it came to her inheritance.
If others didn’t help but still took the Old Lady’s belongings, Jia Zhangshi could condemn them.
She might even directly snatch back what others took.
“The Old Lady had it tough. Now that she’s gone, I must help.”
“I’ll come too!”
“I’ll do my part.”
What Jia Zhangshi could think of, others could too.
Soon, seven or eight people entered the Deaf Old Lady’s room.
Yi Zhonghai was dumbfounded.
He had originally intended to use the excuse of “helping with the Old Lady’s burial” to block out the people in the Courtyard, so that only he, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Fugui could discuss it.
He didn't expect so many people to volunteer.
It was all thanks to Granny Jia.
Damn it!
Yi Zhonghai cursed silently in his heart.
“Sha Zhu, what are you doing here?”
Jia Zhangshi also felt that there were too many competitors around her.
There were already three Grandpas in the room, and now with her and the others who followed, ten people were too many to hold back.
If ten people were to divide the inheritance, it would be good if each person could get two or three items.
“When the Old Lady was alive, she called me her big grandson. Now that she’s gone, if I don’t help, what’s the difference between me and a beast?”
Sha Zhu’s eyes were red, and his expression was slightly ferocious.
Jia Zhangshi thought about it and realized that Sha Zhu’s words seemed to make sense. She then squinted at Old Bai: “Old Bai, what are you doing here?”
“With your age, who would dare to make you work? You should go out quickly.”
“I’m old. Maybe one day I’ll fall asleep and never wake up. Any help I can give is something.”
“When I’m gone, I hope the people in the Courtyard will remember my kindness and help me too, to lighten my grandson’s burden.”
Old Bai said very frankly.
“Old Bai is an honest person.”
“What Old Bai said is not wrong. Whether we help or not, the sentiment is profound.”
“Old Bai also has a grandson. If he wants to help, it’s certainly not just him alone; the Bai family will come together.”
Everyone discussed enthusiastically, supporting Old Bai.
“Old Ding, why aren’t you pulling your cart to earn money? What are you doing here?”
“I think you want to touch the Old Lady’s money while pretending to help, don’t you?”
Seeing that she couldn't drive Old Bai away, Jia Zhangshi turned her spearhead towards Old Ding, who pulled the flatbed cart.
“You, Granny Jia, how can you slander me with empty words?”
“Without my flatbed cart, how would you carry the Old Lady to the cemetery?”
Old Ding was so angry his face turned red.
“Oh, you do have some use.”
Jia Zhangshi thought it over; it was true.
Although she was wrong, her tone was still sarcastic.
Because Jia Zhangshi felt superior to Old Ding; she was a formal worker at the Rolling Mill, while Old Ding was a lowly laborer who pulled carts for a living.
“Granny Jia, you’re the one who should get out.”
“Old Ding and Old Bai are both kind-hearted people in our Courtyard. You are the rotten apple in our Courtyard.”
Chen Jianye couldn't stand it and spoke up to criticize her.
His mother's burial was helped by these people, and he remembered the kindness of Old Ding and Old Bai.
“Hey, Chen Jianye, how dare you speak like that?”
“I came to help the Old Lady with pure sincerity. I even planned to change the Old Lady’s clothes. Which of you men can do that?”
Jia Zhangshi puffed out her chest.
“My wife can do it.”
Liu Haizhong interjected.
“My wife can too.”
Yi Zhonghai and Yan Fugui said simultaneously.
The implication was for Jia Zhangshi to get lost.
Let the truly willing helpers come, and the freeloaders stand aside.
Especially freeloaders like Jia Zhangshi with ulterior motives.
“Your wives aren’t as meticulous as I am at working.”
“I…”
Jia Zhangshi wanted to argue further, but she saw Chen Jianye walking towards her.
Without another word, she turned and ran out.
“Just get lost.”
Chen Jianye extended his leg and kicked Jia Zhangshi in the butt.
Jia Zhangshi stumbled forward several steps, then tripped and fell outside the door, face-planting.
The onlookers in the Siheyuan (Courtyard) burst into laughter, and the air was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
“Granny Jia, don’t think we don’t know what you’re thinking.”
“You want to take advantage of changing the Old Lady’s clothes to steal money from her, and you also want to move the Old Lady’s belongings to your house.”
Chen Jianye said coldly.
“Chen Jianye, you little rascal, you’re slandering me!”
Jia Zhangshi was furious and yelled loudly.
“See? I hit the nail on the head, and you’re angry.”
“The things in the Old Lady’s room have nothing to do with you. Now get out.”
Chen Jianye stepped forward, walking towards Jia Zhangshi.
Jia Zhangshi wanted to curse a few more times, but seeing Chen Jianye about to act again, she quickly scrambled up and ran towards the Middle Courtyard.
Unexpectedly, Chen Jianye didn't stop and chased her into the Middle Courtyard.