At the staircase landing.
The old man’s face gradually darkened. He looked regretful.
Wang Jiajun went ahead and asked, “Grandpa, I would like to ask, what exactly happened during the fire back then?
“I heard that it was a gas explosion, but it was in the afternoon. My cousin and cousin-in-law were both at home. How could this happen?” ”
The old man shook his head. “I don’t know much, but the scene is still vivid in my mind.”
As he spoke, the old man put his birdcage aside. He walked to a windowsill in the corridor.
He pointed down and said, “At that time, I was just returning from grocery shopping. I was about to enter the building when I heard this loud bang.
“All the windows shattered.
“The blast produced by the explosion was like a typhoon. I had to take a few steps back before I stopped. I was dumbfounded.”
The old man looked frightened from just remember the scene. It must have affected him greatly.
Wang Jiajun didn’t probe further. Instead, he bid farewell to the old man and went upstairs alone.
The corridor on the sixth floor had obviously been renovated before.
Di Tai and his family used to live at the innermost part of the corridor.
Now, this family was gone.
Wang Jiajun had a feeling that there was a secret in Di Tai’s family, and some people didn’t want them to speak.
Now they were all dead, and their secret was buried forever with them.
Wang Jiajun came here for no other reason than to take a look. Of course, he didn’t expect to find any clues. He just hoped that it would give him some inspiration!
He pushed open the door. There were two rooms and a living room. The interior of the room was quite simple, with white walls, white tiles, and simple furniture.
Di Tai was still young after the fire. His family did not have much money, and the government paid for the renovation of the place. Hence, it was relatively simple.
It had been uninhabited for a long time, so many areas were covered with a thin layer of dust.
The master bedroom was still simple. There was a bed, a table, a chair, and a wardrobe.
There was a photo frame on the table. It was Di Tai’s family of three.
They were smiling brightly in the photograph.
Wang Jiajun picked up the photo frame and couldn’t help but sigh. If these things hadn’t happened, they would have lived happily.
He pulled open the drawer and found a stack of envelopes.
These envelopes all came from the same place: Flag Mountain Martial Arts Academy.
Di Tai had learned his martial arts skills there.
He was sent there by his parents to learn martial arts. Even as a young boy, he would only get to visit his parents twice a year.
After his parents died, he had been living there. Even when he was an adult, he would only come back occasionally. He only settled at this home after he began working.
Wang Jiajun flipped through them. These envelopes were basically from a person called Gu Zhengqi.
From the contents, Gu Zhengqi was his master, and they were very close.
As the saying goes, a teacher for a day is a father for life.
Di Tai respected Gu Zhengqi very much and treated him like family.
Wang Jiajun suddenly had an idea.
“Let’s assume that someone killed Di Tai’s family because of some secret.
“That means Di Tai’s family must have really trusted the person they sent their son to learn martial arts from.
“If that’s the case, I should make a trip to the Flag Mountain Martial Arts Academy. I might find something unexpected.”
At this thought, Wang Jiajun immediately opened the map on his phone and checked the location of the Flag Mountain Martial Arts Academy.
From the map, it was still quite a distance away, and the commute was troublesome.
He had to take a train for nearly four hours, then a two-hour bus ride, followed by a two to three kilometer hike, before finally climbing up a mountain that was more than a thousand meters above sea level.
Wang Jiajun didn’t hesitate. He immediately went online to buy the train tickets for tomorrow morning and then informed the police.
Soon after, he left.
The next day, at dawn, Wang Jiajun boarded the train to Flag Mountain.
During the first half of the journey, there were quite a lot of people. However, by the second half of the journey, there were way fewer people in the carriage.
Sitting opposite of Wang Jiajun was a mother and daughter.
The girl was eleven or twelve, and her mother was in her thirties.
They wore plain clothes, and some parts had been mended. Their family probably wasn’t very well off.
Wang Jiajun chatted with them for a while. Coincidentally, they were also heading to Flag Mountain, and they lived at the foot of the mountain.
Yesterday, he had checked the Internet and found very little information about the Flag Mountain Martial Arts Academy.
He was lucky to have met a local this early on the trip.
Therefore, Wang Jiajun asked them about the Flag Mountain Martial Arts Academy.
They did not refuse.
Wang Jiajun asked a lot of questions. Through this mother and daughter, he gained a certain understanding of the academy.
Before he knew it, the train had reached the station.
After Wang Jiajun stepped out, it was close to noon. So, he invited the mother and daughter to a restaurant near the train station.
During the meal, he received a call from the local police.
After the meal, Wang Jiajun bid farewell to the mother and daughter.
He waited for a while, and an SUV stopped in front of him.
The driver was a slightly plump middle-aged man.
He was the director of the Public Security Bureau of this county.
After getting out of the car, he immediately went forward to shake hands with Wang Jiajun. “Director Wang!”
“Director Bai!” Wang Jiajun replied with a smile.
“Director Wang, you must have waited for a long time!” Chief Bai said in embarrassment.
Wang Jiajun smiled. “It’s fine. I just finished eating. I digested my food well while waiting.”
Director Bai’s eyes darted around before saying, “Chief Wang, you must be tired from the long train ride!
“I got someone to book a hotel room for you. Why don’t you take a rest there? ”
“There’s no need for that.” Wang Jiajun rejected him directly, not giving him any details.
“Ah, this…” Director Bai couldn’t help but feel a little awkward.
Wang Jiajun continued, “Director Bai, did you prepare a car for me as I requested yesterday?”
Director Bai immediately replied, “Yes, yes, yes!”
“Then I’ll have to trouble you to bring me to collect it.”
“No need for that. This is the car.” Director Bai pointed at the SUV behind him.
Wang Jiajun faltered for a moment before he said, “Director Bai, isn’t this car yours?”
Director Bai nodded and said generously, “Director Wang, you can drive my car as you wish. Treat it like your own car.”
Wang Jiajun didn’t reject him. “Thank you, Director Bai.”
“Sigh, we are all serving the people here. Don’t say thank you.”
Wang Jiajun laughed. “When I’m done with my business here, I’ll treat you to a few drinks.”
Director Bai immediately bowed and said humbly, “No, I’ll treat you, Director Wang!”
Although both of them were directors, Wang Jiajun was from the city while Director Bai was from the county.
That was why Director Bai treated Wang Jiajun so respectfully.
Wang Jiajun took the car keys and got into the car. “Director Bai, I’ll send you back to the police station first.”
“Mm! Thank you. Excuse me for all the trouble, Director Wang.”
…
In the car, Director Bai pointed the way while asking, “Must you go to the Flag Mountain Martial Arts Academy?”
“What’s wrong? Are people not allowed to go there?” Wang Jiajun frowned and asked casually.
“Of course they are. It’s just that… the situation over there is a little special.” Director Bai stammered as if he was afraid of something.
Wang Jiajun said sternly, “If you know something, just say it. I’ll make sure you won’t get into trouble.”
After much hesitation, Director Bai finally said it.
