"First Uncle, should we call the police?" He Yuzhu leaned in toward Yi Zhonghai and asked, brow furrowed.
In the past, whenever anything happened in the Quadrangle Courtyard, Yi Zhonghai made the decisions. Even disputes between neighbors were settled by him. But this time…
What happened to Second Uncle Liu Haizhong wasn’t just some minor neighborly spat; this was an attempt on a person's life! If they didn't call the police now, then...
Yi Zhonghai felt a sense of dilemma. To be honest, he didn't want to call the police. If they called the police for everything, what use would they, the three Uncles, be? Furthermore, this incident concerned the reputation of their "Civilized Courtyard." If the police were brought in, they could kiss their chances of winning the "Civilized Courtyard" title this year goodbye. That was a situation he did not want to see.
"Zhuzi, don't rush to call the police just yet. Let me discuss it with Third Uncle first."
"Mm!" He Yuzhu nodded without saying anything more. He had only mentioned it in passing; as for making the final decision, that was still up to the Uncles.
"Old Yan, do you think we should call the police?" Yi Zhonghai pulled Yan Bugui aside to hear his opinion. Although he was accustomed to acting unilaterally, this matter was too serious. Someone had nearly died. If he tried to cover it up, he was afraid...
Yan Bugui sighed. He knew what Yi Zhonghai was thinking, but now... the situation had outgrown their control.
"Old Yi, whether to call the police or not isn't up to us. Even if we don't, the Liu family will. After all, the injuries Liu Haizhong sustained aren't light!"
Although Yan Bugui hadn't stepped forward earlier, he had seen the situation most clearly. Even if Liu Haizhong survived, he would be crippled. When they lifted him into the car, his legs had been dangling uselessly—it was obvious they had been broken. With such vicious tactics, it would be strange if the Liu family didn't report it.
"This..." Yi Zhonghai finally realized.
That's right! This wasn't a standard neighbor dispute; someone was out for Liu Haizhong's life. How could the Liu family not call the police? He, the First Uncle, could no longer keep a lid on this.
Things played out exactly as Yan Bugui had analyzed. After the Liu family rushed Liu Haizhong to the hospital and learned that his thigh bones were shattered and he had suffered multiple injuries across his body, Second Aunt Liu fainted on the spot. The second son, Liu Guangtian, and the third son, Liu Guangfu, were too young and were terrified into silence. Only the eldest, Liu Guangyuan, despite his shock, managed to stay calm and immediately went to call the police.
Upon learning of the severity of the situation, the police split into two teams. One went to the hospital to assess the victim's condition, while the other, led by Liu Guangyuan, headed straight for the Quadrangle Courtyard.
By then, the entire courtyard knew Liu Haizhong had been brutally beaten. Since it wasn't yet time to go to work, everyone gathered together, whispering.
"Who do you think did it? It’s so cruel. You didn't see him earlier—Second Uncle was beaten so badly he didn't even look human."
"Who knows? Maybe Second Uncle offended someone outside and ended up like this."
"Offended someone?" Someone asked, puzzled. "Who could Second Uncle have offended?"
"Who knows? But given his temper, it wouldn't be surprising if he had."
Everyone in the courtyard knew exactly what kind of person Liu Haizhong was—a petty bureaucrat who was always putting on airs and was insufferably arrogant. Maybe that’s why he was beaten!
"Do you think it could have been Chen Feng?"
Suddenly, someone posed the question, and everyone froze. Their expressions darkened as if they had thought of something unpleasant. After a long silence, someone finally spoke.
"That can't be right, can it? Didn't Chen Feng go to the countryside? I saw him riding a Procurement Section bicycle away from the Rolling Mill yesterday. It shouldn't be him!"
"Exactly... how could it be Chen Feng? Chen Feng didn't even come back last night. Besides, with his build, how could he possibly beat Second Uncle like that?"
"That's right..."
As soon as Chen Feng was mentioned, everyone seemed to grow cautious. No one wanted to associate him with this incident.
Just then, Liu Guangyuan arrived at the Rear Courtyard with several police officers. This extinguished any remaining hope Yi Zhonghai had of covering things up.
"Is this where you found your father?" Bai Ling, who looked delicate but had sharp, capable eyes, pointed to the entrance of the Liu household and asked seriously.
"Yes, yes... I came out early this morning and tripped over something. When I turned back, I discovered my father had been beaten unconscious right here. Officer, you must catch the culprit and avenge my father!" Liu Guangyuan’s eyes were bloodshot. Thinking of his father's tragic state, he wished he could tear the culprit apart. Their family relied entirely on his father's salary. If he couldn't be saved, how would they survive?
"Calm down for now. We will definitely bring the perpetrator to justice and provide answers for the victim," Bai Ling consoled him. She understood his feelings, especially since she already knew the victim's condition from the doctors. His legs were shattered from top to bottom; with current medical capabilities, they couldn't be saved and would have to be amputated. If not, his life would be in danger.
Moreover, the injuries weren't limited to his legs. His entire body was covered in whip marks, especially his face. If she hadn't known it was a person, she would have mistaken him for a monster. It was clear just how ruthless and vicious the perpetrator was.
Faced with such a case, Bai Ling didn't dare be negligent. She immediately ordered the scene to be cordoned off, then began an inspection with Zheng Zhaoyang and Duomen. Hao Pingchuan, meanwhile, took his men to question the residents of the Quadrangle Courtyard.
Everyone was questioned, and they all told the truth. As the saying goes, "If you haven't done anything wrong, you don't fear a knock at the door." Liu Haizhong's beating had nothing to do with them, so they said everything they knew.
By then, Bai Ling, Zheng Zhaoyang, and Duomen had determined through careful inspection that this was not the primary crime scene. Although some evidence had been destroyed by foot traffic, it couldn't escape Duomen's eyes. Following the faint traces, the three arrived at a wall in the Rear Courtyard.
Duomen pointed to marks on the wall. "The culprit must have climbed over from here. The blood is still fresh. It looks like the person is a seasoned fighter."
"A fighter?" Zheng Zhaoyang frowned. "Master Duo, how can you tell?"
Bai Ling didn't speak, but her eyes were full of curiosity. Faced with their gazes, Duomen chuckled. "You should know the victim isn't light—he weighs over two hundred pounds. An ordinary person would struggle to lift him, and if the culprit were just a regular person, there would be dragging marks on the wall."
"But look, there’s nothing on this wall except for a few drops of blood—not even a footprint. And there are no marks on the ground where the victim would have been thrown."
"This shows that the perpetrator must have carried the victim and jumped over directly. Look at these footprints, and you'll understand!" Duomen pointed to a pair of distinct footprints on the ground, his expression growing solemn.