On the morning of the eleventh day, after breakfast, Qi Taiguo said he was going out to meet a few retired comrades. Cheng Suxin was slightly moved, probably knowing where he was going, but said nothing.
Qi Taiguo didnât explain to her either. Women are soft-hearted; telling her would only make her sympathetic, so since she didnât ask, he was happy to play dumb.
The Zhang family had already caused trouble when Qi Fenglian remarried, purposely holding onto the household register, making Qi Taiguo displeased. Now, they tricked Xiao Bao again. Even though it didnât cause any significant damage, he couldnât just let it go. He had to teach the Zhang family a lesson so that they wouldnât dare to give the Qi family trouble again.
As Qi Taiguo approached the Zhang familyâs village, he heard the loud wailing of police sirens from afar. Surprised, he thought, "During the New Year, is there really a police incident? What happened?"
Qi Taiguo was not one to meddle in othersâ business and didnât think much of it. He headed straight towards the Zhang family, contemplating how to deal with the Zhang family to let them know that the Qi family wasnât easy prey and definitely not a family they could mess with.
However, when he got near the Zhang residence, a three-layer deep crowd surrounded the place, whispering and pointing fingers, with piercing cries echoing.
The police car was parked not far away.
Qi Taiguoâs heart skipped a beat. He pushed through the crowd only to see police officers standing in the Zhang familyâs courtyard, with a police line drawn around the area.
What is this...?
"Whatâs going on?" Qi Taiguo pulled over an elderly lady to ask.
The old lady glanced at him, seeing his imposing figure and authoritative presence, she was a bit intimidated and dared not speak.
But someone else seemed to recognize Qi Taiguo and said, "Isnât this the big brother of Old Zhangâs former daughter-in-law?"
Qi Taiguo looked over. The man exclaimed, "It really is you! Why are you here? Did you hear the news and come?"
Qi Taiguo took out a cigarette from his pocket, handed it to him, and said, "Old brother, what happened here?"
He gestured toward the Zhang familyâs courtyard. His eyes caught sight of Zhang Jisheng squatting silently at the door, his head drooping.
And who else could be wailing on the ground if not Zhang Jiguang and his spouse?
A gust of wind blew by, and Qi Taiguoâs face changed because he smelled the bloody scent wafting through the air.
Whatâs going on?
He glared toward the Zhang family house, trying to discern something from inside.
"Donât you know? This is truly a sin!" The old brother, who received the cigarette, first sniffed its aroma, then clamped it between his lips, letting Qi Taiguo light it for him. He took a heavy puff.
"That Zhang Jishengâs wife went crazy. She came back from outside today and fed both Old Zhangâs parents paraquat, then used a knife to slash up the face of Old Zhangâs wife. Oh, sheâs truly vicious."
What? Murder?
Qi Taiguoâs heart skipped a beat. He stared blankly at the man, then looked toward the yard filled with police officers.
Someone came out of the house, carrying something covered in a white cloth. The crowd screamed again, and the more timid children cried.
Qi Taiguo swallowed hard.
"Explain it clearly, how did it suddenly get like this?" Qi Taiguoâs presence suddenly intensified.
The man, seeing Qi Taiguoâs change in demeanor, was so frightened that his knees shook, stuttering out incoherent words.
The people gathered around him were also a bit scared and backed off a little.
Qi Taiguoâs face darkened slightly. He saw familiar police officers coming out of the house, so instead of probing these people further, he walked straight to the officer he knew.