Siheyuan: Revenge of the Stupid Pillar

"Hello, Director Fang! I am a reporter from the xx Daily. Here is my press card."

Fang Changgui took the press card with a smile and raised his eyebrows.

"Jiang Yueyao? Did you write all the articles about Liu Haizhong, Yi Zhonghai, and Qin Huairu?"

Jiang Yueyao nodded and said, "Yes! These reports don't bother you, do they?"

Fang Changgui's mouth twitched, and he said with a forced smile:

"No. Speaking of which, I have to thank you. If it weren't for your article, I wouldn't have known that Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu were so bad."

"Alas! It's all my fault for not doing my job properly. There are such morally corrupt residents in my jurisdiction."

Jiang Yueyao chuckled and said, "Director, this is not your fault. There are all kinds of birds in the forest, and it is inevitable that there will be a few bad people among the people."

Fang Changgui laughed and said, "Thank you for your understanding! May I ask what reporter Jiang wants to talk to me about this time?"

Jiang Yueyao smiled and said, "Director Fang, I am sorry to bother you this time. I mainly want to ask you about the deaf old lady's situation."

Fang Changgui asked in confusion: "The deaf old lady? The deaf old lady in Yard 95?"

Jiang Yueyao nodded and said, "Yes! Everyone says that the deaf old lady is a martyr's family member. Both of her sons died for the country, but there is no martyr plaque in her home. I want to know what's going on?"

Fang Changgui said in a deep voice: "Nonsense, the deaf old lady is an isolated old woman, and our street office saw that she no longer had the ability to live independently, so we gave her a place as a five-guarantee household."

Jiang Yueyao frowned and said, "Then why are all the residents of Courtyard 95 a deaf old lady who is a family member of a martyr? It is said that she even gave straw sandals to the Red Army during the Long March."

Fang Changgui said angrily: "This is even more nonsense. The Red Army did not pass through Beijing during the Long March. Where did she go to deliver straw sandals? To northern Shaanxi?"

"Pretending to be a martyr's relative is a big deal. I have to go to Yard 95 now."

Jiang Yueyao hurriedly asked, "Director Fang, do you mind if I go with you?"

"Of course I mind. If you follow me, nothing will become something, and a small matter will become a big one."

Although Fang Changgui thought so in his heart, he said, "Of course I don't mind!"

When Fang Changgui heard that Jiang Yueyao was going, he immediately changed his mind. He did not plan to go directly to Yard 95, but chose to go to the police station first.

"Reporter Jiang, I'm going to the police station first."

Jiang Yueyao asked in confusion: "Director Fang, why do you want to go to the police station?"

Fang Changgui explained: "The deaf old lady is suspected of pretending to be a martyr's family member and has been involved in a crime. It is best to have the police present."

Jiang Yueyao's expression froze, then she smiled and said, "Director Fang, you are so thoughtful, which is admirable."

Fang Changgui said calmly, "Reporter Jiang, thank you for the compliment!"

Fang Changgui was a frequent visitor to the police station. He walked directly into the director's office without informing anyone.

Ma Hongjun asked enthusiastically: "Director Fang, how come you have time to come to our police station today?"

Fang Changgui smiled and said, "Chief Ma, I don't come here for no reason. The deaf old lady in Yard 95 is suspected of pretending to be a martyr's family member. I need your police station to follow up on this."

Ma Hongjun's face changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "Pretending to be a family member of a martyr? What exactly is going on?"

Fang Changgui smiled faintly and said, "Let reporter Jiang tell the story! It was reporter Jiang who discovered the clue."

"Reporter Jiang?"

Ma Hongjun looked at the little girl behind Fang Changgui curiously.

Fang Changgui explained: "Reporter Jiang is a reporter for the xx Daily. The report on He Yuzhu, Yi Zhonghai and others was written by reporter Jiang."

Ma Hongjun said enthusiastically: "Reporter Jiang is young and promising, it was Ma who neglected him!"

Jiang Yueyao smiled politely: "Director Ma, you are too kind."

“I went to No. 95 Courtyard to interview people because I wanted to collect materials for my article. Everyone said that the deaf old lady was a relative of a martyr.

But I found that there was no plaque for the martyr’s family at the deaf old lady’s house, so I went to the street office to ask Director Fang, but Director Fang said that the deaf old lady was not a martyr’s family member…”

Fang Changgui asked, "Captain Ma, does your police station have any record of the deaf old lady being a martyr?"

Ma Hongjun shook his head firmly: "I know all the families of martyrs in Nanluoguxiang, and the deaf old lady's name is not on it."

Fang Changgui said in a serious tone: "It seems that this deaf old lady is indeed suspected of pretending to be a martyr's relative."

Ma Hongjun said in a deep voice: "Director Fang, Reporter Jiang, I will accompany you to Courtyard 95."

A moment later, Fang Changgui and his group arrived at Yard 95.

The director of the subdistrict office and the chief of the police station came together and immediately alarmed all the residents in the courtyard.

Ma Hongjun said seriously, "Who told you that the deaf old lady was a martyr's family member?"

"I heard the deaf old lady say it herself!"

"I heard it from Yi Zhonghai!"

"I heard it from Li Guifang!"

"I heard it from Qin Huairu!"

Ma Hongjun said angrily: "The deaf old lady, Yi Zhonghai, Li Guifang, and Qin Huairu, these four people are really bold and presumptuous!"

Fang Changgui suggested: "Director Ma, Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu are working in the factory, so let's ask the deaf old lady and Li Guifang first!"

Ma Hongjun shouted, "Are the deaf old lady and Li Guifang here?"

"Li Guifang is out, and the deaf old lady is in the backyard."

Ma Hongjun said sternly: "Let's go to the backyard!"

The deaf old lady who was basking in the sun in the yard suddenly saw so many people in front of her. Her face changed slightly and she pretended to be calm and said:

"Xiao Fang, do you have something to talk to me about?"

The deaf old lady once helped his eldest brother. Under normal circumstances, he could have negotiated for the deaf old lady, but since it involved a crime and was known by reporters, he dared not bend the law for personal gain.

Fang Changgui smiled faintly and said, "Old lady, Chief Ma from the police station wants to find you to learn something."

Ma Hongjun said expressionlessly, "Old lady, I heard that you are a family member of a martyr and both of your sons died for the country. Did you ever send straw sandals to the Red Army?"

The deaf old lady's pupils suddenly changed when she heard this, but she was very cunning and hid her emotions in just a moment, pretending to be deaf and dumb:

"Ah...ah! What did you say? I'm hard of hearing, old lady, I can't hear you!"

Ma Hongjun was an old policeman, and the changes in the deaf old lady's expression could not escape his eyes. He said in a cold voice:

"Since the deaf old lady can't hear me, take her back to the police station!"

The deaf old lady was horrified: "I won't go to the police station. Xiao Fang, please help me speak up."

Fang Changgui said with difficulty: "Old lady, your case has been involved in a crime. I advise you to cooperate with Director Ma's investigation."

The deaf old lady's face froze, and she smiled flatteringly, "Director Ma, I am willing to cooperate with your investigation."

Ma Hongjun snorted coldly: "Can't you hear me?"

The deaf old lady laughed and said, "My hearing is sometimes good and sometimes bad, but now I can hear."