Honestly, Hu Jia didn't believe it at that moment, but he had no way to explain the origin of the police gun.
Once this seed was planted in his mind, he would think deeper and deeper.
Back then, Hu Shilong had indeed opened the door for the other party and even invited them into his home.
Thinking about it now, Hu Shilong might have known the murderer originally.
And judging by the scene of Hu Shilin being shot, it was clear that Hu Shilong had close contact with the other party. In other words, Hu Shilong had no guard against the other person.
Afterwards, the other party also fired several shots at Hu Jia. Judging by his actions of using the wall as cover, that person had some understanding of the Hu family's environment and layout.
Previously, Hu Jia thought that the murderer had observed Hu Shilong for a long time, thus gaining familiarity with their home environment.
But now it seemed perhaps not, this was a crime committed by someone known.
So, could this acquaintance really be Qiao Huali?
Hu Jia found it hard to accept.
Seeing Hu Jia fall silent, Lü Qingqing could even feel the sadness and shock emanating from him.
She quietly took Hu Jia's hand. Hu Jia turned his head, and they looked at each other and smiled.
Often, perhaps no words are needed; just a smile, a glance is enough to understand each other.
"Don't worry," Hu Jia patted Lü Qingqing's hand, giving her a reassuring look.
Lü Qingqing nodded slightly, "I'm here."
Two words, worth more than all comfort.
...
Taking advantage of the free time on his hands, Hu Jia decided to investigate Tang Yinge's case together.
"Why don't I see Qiao Huali?"
"I don't know, he's been gone for several days. Said he was going to a meeting somewhere."
"Hey, he's really strange. Tang Yinge was arrested, didn't the Daoren side pressure him to get him out?"
"Perhaps he thought it was a minor issue, and we wouldn't be able to overturn the case or cause any trouble."
Hu Jia curled his lips, underestimating us this much?
Then let's give it a try.
The next day, a notice was posted on Baixiang Street. The content of the notice was very strange and peculiar.
It stated that a murder occurred in this area four years ago, and the deceased's name was Wei Xiumei.
Although the murderer, Yu Qianning, had been executed, the Yu family was recently clamoring to overturn the case.
The reason was simple: Yu Qianning was wrongly executed.
To provide an explanation to the family, the police decided to reopen the case.
Since both the victim and the perpetrator were dead, the police decided to interrogate the sole murder weapon at the scene of the crime – the foot-binding cloth.
As soon as this notice was posted, it caused an uproar.
Common people respected ghosts and gods. If you told them that ghosts and gods were investigating the case, they might believe it, but the idea of interrogating a foot-binding cloth made everyone explode.
One person told ten, ten told a hundred.
As a result, on the day of the interrogation, the entire police station could not accommodate the crowd.
"Aren't these police officers crazy? Can a foot-binding cloth speak?"
"Where in the world is there a trial of a foot-binding cloth? A foot-binding cloth is just an inanimate object."
"The current police are just messing around and making a fuss. My shop was robbed the other day, and I didn't see them give me any explanation."
They stood together, whispering.
Hu Jia was the one conducting the trial. He deliberately chose a spacious area to perform. He sat solemnly before the court.
Li Yang and Guan Jinsong brought out a long bench and the foot-binding cloth. Hu Jia stood up, walked back and forth a few steps, and suddenly shouted, "Foot-binding cloth, do you guarantee that what you say is true? If it's false, don't blame me for tearing you to shreds and throwing you into the fire."
Hu Jia's loud shout stunned everyone.
Who was he talking to?
The foot-binding cloth?
But did the foot-binding cloth speak?
After asking, Hu Jia stopped and tilted his head as if listening to something.
He sighed deeply, "Alright, I'll believe you for now. But because what you've said is too incredible, to prove that your words are not false, you must withstand the test of beating."
After speaking, Hu Jia waved his hand, "Guards, beat it!"
Uh...
Everyone was stunned.
Li Yang and Guan Jinsong took turns hitting the foot-binding cloth with sticks, shouting as they beat, "Appear in court to testify, what is said is true, if there is false testimony, your tendons will be broken and your skin will be peeled."
This scene appeared comical and bizarre. The onlookers were initially stunned, but soon their expressions changed. Everything on the stage was like a monkey show.
It was fun, extremely fun.
This novel method of trial quickly spread. More and more people gathered to watch, filling the open space. Some even climbed up to look from afar.
By noon, Hu Jia finally called a halt to the beating.
He just sat there, silent.
Those who came to witness the investigation were perplexed. What was this young man up to now?
Just as some people were about to leave, they discovered that several intersections had been blocked by police.
With the police blocking the street, the onlookers exchanged bewildered glances, not understanding what this crazy person was doing.
Hu Jia raised an eyebrow and looked at the crowd, "Yu Qianning actually spoke to me last night, of course, in a dream. He has been dead for almost four years, but he is unwilling to reincarnate. He wanders around Baixiang Street, seeking justice."
Hu Jia pointed to the foot-binding cloth on the ground and said, "He is now possessing the foot-binding cloth. He said that this foot-binding cloth knows who the real murderer is, but it did not tell the truth four years ago. He specially asked for a chance from the King of Hell to find that witness. The King of Hell said that anyone who bears false witness will be punished even after going to hell, their tendons broken and skin peeled."
Hu Jia's words were like a fairy tale, and for a time, the open space was in an uproar and could not be calmed down.
Hu Jia's "Silence!" immediately calmed the crowd. "According to the instructions of the King of Hell, I have tied the foot-binding cloth to the two pillars in the dark room at the street entrance. Anyone who wants to leave must touch the cloth with their hands. From east to west, if one touches the foot-binding cloth without any abnormality, they can leave and go home. If it is a protector, a false witness, or someone who conceals information, the foot-binding cloth will wrap around their hand."
After Hu Jia finished speaking, regardless of the noise below, he directly instructed Lü Qingqing and others to divide everyone into two groups and have them touch the foot-binding cloth one by one in order.
Although the common people had doubts and dissatisfaction, they did not dare to say much and lined up one by one to touch the foot-binding cloth.
With each person who passed, Guan Jinsong and Li Yang would shout, "Concealing information, tendons broken, skin peeled."
Their voices were stern and intimidating.
Especially in the dim light of the dark room, everyone who entered felt a shiver.
Soon, the people in the open space dispersed. Only a middle-aged couple remained on the scene.
The two seemed hesitant. The husband pushed his wife slowly forward, but the wife appeared very frightened.
Not only were her hands trembling, but even the muscles on her face were twitching.
"Hurry up!" Hu Jia glanced at the two and then suddenly shouted, startling the woman so much that she almost collapsed to the ground.
"Concealing information, tendons broken, skin peeled."
"Concealing information, tendons broken, skin peeled."
"Concealing information, tendons broken, skin peeled."
Li Yang and the other repeated this sentence three times in a row, their tone sinister and their expressions blank.
Especially in the darkness, it was even more terrifying.
The man was a little better. He extended his hand first, but if you paid attention, you would notice his nervousness.
As for the woman, she kept her hands behind her back. Seeing her husband reach out, she shook her head nervously, even seeming to want to stop him.
Suddenly, the east end of the foot-binding cloth rose up, like a living giant snake, it moved, aiming for its target.
"Ah..." The woman screamed, piercing the dark room.