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Jiang Wen moved her lips and felt the blood surging in her heart. She lost her strength and fell back, leaning against the back of the sofa.

"Are you okay?" Lian Guangji asked with concern.

She collected herself and waved her hand: "Xiao Kong continued."

Xi Zhikong decided to tell them about this matter, and at the same time decided to dig out the dark truth behind it, and return Xi Chuzhi's innocence.

This is the first time that he has never begged others since he was a child.

He suddenly knelt on the ground, kneeling in front of Lian Guangji and Jiang Wen just like he knelt in front of Xi Chuzhi a few hours ago.

Even Guangji and Jiang Wen reached out to pull him at the same time but failed to pull him away. He seemed to be determined to bite the stubbornness and stubbornness in his bones. His fists were tightly clenched and hanging by his side, his whole body was trembling, and he knelt down. He remained motionless on the ground.

"Aunt Wen, Uncle, my father was sentenced to life imprisonment a few years ago. After the first trial, we refused to accept the verdict and filed an appeal. My aunt fought for him for a long time, but he suddenly pleaded guilty in court at the second trial...

"You all know this. But there is one thing I didn't say back then—"

Xi Zhikong raised his head to look at Jiang Wen and Lian Guangji, his eyes were burning with all the self-esteem and firmness of a young man.

He said: "I never believed that my dad would kill people, because at that time his spirit was already abnormal, and he was so upright in his bones, he could never become a cruel murderer!

"But he pleaded guilty.

"For a long time, I couldn't understand him. I thought he was completely crazy. He didn't want me anymore. I couldn't forgive him. I received the 40 yuan with complaints and misunderstandings against him."

The rainy evening came to Xi Zhikong's mind again.

"It was raining that day, and when I came home, I found several people standing in front of my house. They put down a black plastic bag and left. I opened the bag and saw that it was full of money. I didn't even dare to chase after it...

"But at that moment, I seemed to understand why my father pleaded guilty. When I went to see him, I wanted to ask him what was going on—but every time I couldn't find the result."

Jiang Wen held Lian Guangji's hand tightly, almost trying to pinch her nails into his palm, and even Guangji held his breath as he listened to the unknown part of the truth.

As for Jiang Yan, just looking at Xi Zhikong kneeling there, his whole body trembled, his heart ached so badly that he almost couldn't maintain normal breathing.

"It is impossible for my dad to kill people. Although he is in a bad state of mind, he will never kill people. The 40 yuan must be used by the real murderer to seal his mouth...

"It must be so!"

As soon as Xi Zhikong finished the last sentence, he fell limp and sat on the ground. Jiang Yan hurriedly stepped forward to half hug him and pull him up.

But he still refused to get up.

He pushed Jiang Yan's hand away, knelt down in front of Jiang Wen and Lian Guangji again, solemnly bent down and put his forehead almost on the ground, gritted his teeth and swallowed his tears, and said word by word: "Uncle, Aunt Wen, Xiao Kong shouldn't be asking you like this, but Xiao Kong can only ask you like this——

"I beg you, please help me, save my father, he really can't kill people...he's not a murderer..."

Jiang Wen burst into tears a long time ago, she grabbed Xi Zhikong's arm with one hand, and cried: "Xiaokong... get up, you get up and tell Aunt Wen, get up... Auntie will help you, we will help you, uncle and I will help you!" Help you, get up!"

"Fine, Xiao Kong, Uncle will definitely help you. This matter is not a trivial matter. Let's talk about it later when you get up." Lian Guangji had to support Jiang Wen with one hand and go to Xi Zhikong with the other. He was really too busy , beckoning to Jiang Yan: "Yanyan, come and pull Xiao Kong up."

Jiang Yan stepped forward and put his hands under Xi Zhikong's armpit to hug him - then he saw Xi Zhikong's expression.

Seeing the person in his arms biting his lower lip and swallowing continuously, as if he wanted to swallow all the hatred and fear, his whole body trembled.

He didn't care about Jiang Wen and Lian Guangji in front of him, hugged him tightly, sank into the soft sofa with him, called his name softly, and rubbed his cheek against his side Wen Sheng said, "Kong Kong, don't be afraid."

Lian Guangji comforted Jiang Wen, crossed his fingers and put his hands on his knees, pursed his lips and thought for a moment and asked, "Xiao Kong, you said your father has mental problems, why did you give him such a heavy sentence in the court trial? It’s time to take that into consideration.”

"I don't know what happened, I—"

Jiang Wen sat up straight from the back of the sofa, her eyes were red, but she seemed to be more emotionally stable.She patted Lian Guangji's hand and said: "Xiaokong was too young at that time, only thirteen or fourteen years old, if there really was such a big problem, he would definitely not know the reason."

"You're right," Lian Guangji sighed, "If we could have intervened earlier, this matter would have been much easier. Now, I'll call Lao Zhang and ask him how to deal with this situation." .”

Jiang Wen nodded and got up from the sofa, walked to Xi Zhikong and sat down, put her hand on the back of his neck to comfort him, "Xiaokong, now your uncle is helping you with this matter, you must not have other thoughts, Now let's ask the matter clearly and think about what to do, that money—the 40 you still keep at home?"

"The money has been kept at home, locked in the safe, and I haven't touched it."

"Okay, let's put it on for now, and we'll see what to do next when uncle finishes this call." Jiang Wen turned sideways to see that Lian Guangji's expression on the phone was not very good, she was faintly worried, and unconsciously clenched Xi Zhikong's hand.

After 2 minutes, Lian Guangji hung up the phone, walked around the coffee table a few times with a solemn face, and asked, "Xiao Kong, where did your father work before?"

"Dad, he works as a security guard in a company. He didn't tell me what company it is. If it takes a while, I'll forget it." Xi Zhikong replied truthfully, seeing that even Guangji's expression and tone were not quite right, he added : "Uncle, I know the unit where Dad worked before, he—"

Lian Guangji waved his hand: "No, it has nothing to do with the unit he worked in before. Xiao Kong, didn't Dad tell you anything before?"

"He really didn't say anything, and I didn't have a chance to ask him. I asked him today because I saw that the camera in the interview room was not turned on, but he still didn't say anything, and he hasn't said anything until now..."

Jiang Yan patted him on the back lightly, "Don't worry, even if uncle doesn't say anything now, if you have enough information and evidence, you can definitely push for a retrial."

"I just called your Uncle Zhang. Didn't he say last time that the province is investigating a major suspicious case? This case..." Lian Guangji put his mobile phone on the coffee table and sat on the sofa, "He didn't know about this case at the beginning." After reading it, no matter from the chain of evidence or the final sentencing, no problems were found."

Jiang Wen frowned: "But Xiao Kong's father obviously has a mental illness, and this was not considered in the sentencing—then there must be something wrong!"

Jiang Yan simply took Xi Zhikong with one hand and Jiang Wen with the other, persuading him, "Mom, don't worry, see what Dad says."

"Just now, Lao Zhang told me to find out the file later and look at it later, and then contact me as soon as possible. He is too busy, and don't think too much about it. I will definitely handle this matter myself." Lian Guangji raised his hand Glancing at the time, he said again: "I'm going to drive to his office to look for him now, he only has a little time tonight - it's definitely not safe to keep the 40 in Xiao Kong's house, I'll send someone to pick it up and put it in another place." place."

Xi Zhikong then went upstairs to get the house key to Lian Guangji, thanked uncle, and Lian Guangji patted him on the shoulder casually.

The waiting time is always torturous and long, and Xi Zhikong seems to have returned to the day before the trial of Xi Chuzhi's case.

Every minute and every second is spent from morning to night.

He didn't have such a deep understanding at that time, but now that he has reached this critical point, he feels very sad when he thinks about it again.

Later, the aunt finished the meal, and as soon as it was put on the table, Lian Guangji came back, and Zhang Qijin came back with him.

"Xiao Kong, this is your Uncle Zhang." Lian Guangji invited Zhang Qijin to sit down at the dining table, and introduced him, "Old Zhang, this is that kid."

"Hi Uncle, my name is Xi Zhikong." Xi Zhikong bowed to Zhang Qijin, polite and decent.

Jiang Wen came from the kitchen with the soup she made herself, and Jiang Yan hurriedly took two steps forward to take it in her hand: "Oh my mother! Why did you serve it yourself? Didn't you tell me not to go into the kitchen!"

"It's not that exaggerated! It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter."

Xi Zhikong took Jiang Wen's hand and sat down on the chair. Jiang Wen said, "Have you been busy recently? Look at this, I'm causing you trouble again."

"It's okay, it's just too much, and sometimes it's hard to turn around. I came here with Lao Lian today after work." Zhang Qijin was still wearing his uniform, and he unbuttoned his collar as he said, "Come on. Come on, let's talk slowly after dinner if there is anything to do. I'm not afraid that you will laugh at me. I haven't had a meal for several days. I only go to the canteen when I am busy. The food is cold, or I can eat takeaway, eat Tired of me."

Jiang Wen took a spoon and put two spoonfuls of soup into his bowl, and said, "That's how it is for a person, and he didn't even say that you're coming for dinner. I should stew a chicken."

"It doesn't matter, I took the time to come here. I am really too busy."

……

A table of five chatted and finished the meal. Jiang Yan and Xi Zhikong helped Auntie clean up the table. Jiang Wen called Xi Zhikong to sit on the sofa in the living room, then stretched out her hand to greet Jiang Yan and said, "Yanyan, here you are." Uncle Zhang makes a cup of tea."

Xi Zhikong sat next to Jiang Wen, looking a little nervous.

"Xi Zhikong, right? You even talked to me about your father's case today. After looking at the files, the preliminary judgment was that it was a normal case, but you said that you received 40 yuan later. Can you be sure that it was 'those people' who gave the case to me?" Is this your money?"

Zhang Qijin took out a notebook from his briefcase to record, watched him move his mouth and said nothing, and said: "Don't be nervous, just tell me the actual situation, uncle is just trying to understand first."

"They delivered the money to my door. They ran away when it was delivered to me. I...I dare not chase..."

"Then how much did you know about your father's case at that time? Can you tell me what you knew?" Zhang Qijin wrote 40 in his notebook, and then drew a circle.

Xi Zhikong was in trouble, he knew at the time that something happened or his father was arrested suddenly, he didn't know anything else.

"Uncle, what happened to my father's case..."

Zhang Qijin saw that he was embarrassed, and said: "It's okay, just tell what you know."

"Before the second trial, my aunt ran away for my father for a while, and I also ran with her for a few days, and she took me to find——to the victim's family." Xi Zhikong couldn't think of this at first, but slowly Slowly following Zhang Qijin's thoughts and memories, I suddenly remembered such an episode.

The pen in Zhang Qijin's hand paused, "Did you go to the victim's family at that time?"

"Well, I have been there, but the family members didn't say anything, and they were still very resistant to meeting us." Xi Zhikong recalled the scene at that time, and he still feels a little guilty.

When he and his aunt arrived at the door of the victim's house, a large dog suddenly came out and barked at them. The owner didn't even say hello to the dog when he came out, and then without a word, he poured a basin of water on the two of them's feet. Without saying a word, he went into the house and locked the door, leaving the dog to confront them in the yard.

They went there two more times later, but the dog was gone, and of course neither was the person.

Zhang Qijin always felt that something was wrong, but couldn't tell.

Jiang Yan asked casually: "Kong Kong, it stands to reason that you are... I mean, judging from the situation at the time, you and your aunt went to their house at that time, and their family members should be very emotional, why would you ignore them? Woolen cloth?"

Zhang Qijin clasped his hands together: "Yes, I'll just say that something is not right. It stands to reason that when you appear in front of the victim's family, their reaction should be very intense."

Lian Guangji took a copy of the dossier and put it on his mobile phone - it was not allowed at first, but he promised to delete it in front of Zhang Qijin later, so he let him take a few pictures.Now he was flipping through the pages, and felt more and more familiar with the name of a project involved in the case. He hesitated and asked: "Old Zhang, do you have any impression of this project? I remember that this project was a project in the place where you used to work. The boss came to invest, but because of the unfavorable operation, the capital chain was broken, and the state-owned enterprise took over."

"Ah, you said this housing project. I have the impression that this boss was attracted by investment. Later, because of investment problems in his head office, half of the external projects were withdrawn. That year, their company was involved in many economic cases. I also Accepted."

Jiang Wen walked to Lian Guangji and bent down to look at the file on his mobile phone. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I also have an impression of this project. It was quite a big project at the time. Didn't the second phase of the project just finished, the third phase?" It started last month, and we followed suit when the contract was signed.”

Zhang Qijin raised his eyes to look at Xi Zhikong, "Kid, keep talking."

Xi Zhikong nodded: "In addition to the victim's family, my aunt also found the so-called witnesses through her relationship. When we went, their whole family had already moved away, and even the neighbors didn't know where they moved."

"Did you appear in court at the second trial, witness?"

"It seems... yes, my aunt was a little emotional after my father pleaded guilty, and the witness left in a hurry." Xi Zhikong lowered his head and sighed in a low voice, "After my father pleaded guilty, I was very upset." I couldn’t accept the reality for a long time, and it wasn’t until I received the 40 that I realized that there might be something wrong with it.”

Jiang Yan added boiling water to the water glasses of Zhang Qijin and Lian Guangji, and sat silently beside Xi Zhikong, holding his hand.

Zhang Qijin tapped the notebook lightly with a pen, frowning and didn't know what he was thinking. After a while, he wrote down the name of the state-owned enterprise where Xi Chuzhi worked at that time, and said: "The case says that because the deceased often organized workers to go to the construction site It doesn't make sense to negotiate with the office for salary, and to have a personal vendetta with your father as a security guard.

"How much personal animosity can a wage earner have with a company security guard to prompt the company security to kill the wage earner on the construction site at night?"

This sensational case took place at the construction site of the largest housing project in the city at that time. In order to complete this benefiting and benefiting project on schedule, the entire investigation and trial process went very smoothly.

Looking back now, it seems that it went too smoothly.

Zhang Qijin closed his notebook and put it in his briefcase, looked at the time and stood up and said: "I have to go back first, the inspection team will have a very important meeting tomorrow, I will go back to review the materials."

"Okay, that won't delay your work." Even Guangji and Jiang Wen stood up and sent them to the door.

He looked back at Xi Zhikong and Jiang Yan who were standing next to the sofa, stretched out his hand to hold Zhang Qijin's hand, and said, "Old Zhang, I still say the same thing, within the scope of your authority, due process, help if you can, I have watched this child grow up since he was a child, and he is just like my own son, so I won’t say much, thank you!”

"You, you don't know me yet? Who am I afraid to touch?" Zhang Qijin smiled and waved to them: "Okay, don't give it away. There may not be any progress during this time, I will Arrange subordinates to follow up and notify you as soon as there is news, so take good care of your sister-in-law."

Later, Lian Guangji and Jiang Wen still insisted on sending Zhang Qijin to the car, and expressed their thanks again and again. Before returning to the house, Lian Guangji called Jiang Wen to stop and asked her, "Where is Xiaokong's uncle and aunt? Come and ask Xiaokong for money." Or sell the house, how to deal with it?"

"This matter still depends on how Xiao Kong thinks about it. I think the house must not be sold. After Brother Xi comes out, he must have a home, right? The old house is dilapidated and old, but the 40 yuan can't be moved." Jiang Wen With a long sigh, he added: "I actually thought of a way, but Xiao Kong definitely disagrees."

"any solution?"

Jiang Wen said: "We lent the two children's medical expenses to their uncles and aunts, and they will pay back slowly in the future."

Lian Guangji put his arms around Jiang Wen's shoulders and said, "Have you forgotten what Xiaokong said? He said they must not be there yet, so if you really want to lend money to his uncle, you can't tell him."

Jiang Wen looked up at the night sky, full of stars, she was silent for a while before saying, "If Sister Yishu is still here, what would she do?"

……

Gu Yijian's call came very quickly. On the afternoon of the third day after the visit, Xi Zhikong was doing his homework in the study. Jiang Yan came out of the bedroom with his mobile phone and stood at the door of the study. He knocked on the door and said, "Your uncle is calling. of."

Xi Zhikong prepared to continue without even thinking about it, but Jiang Yan stopped him: "Wait a minute, Kongkong, have you thought about what to say?"

"I know they must be calling for money. I can't give 40, but I can promise to sell the house.