Chapter 739: Chapter 397: Perimeter Investigation

At this moment, the external investigation work is proceeding intensively.

Wan from the criminal investigation team leads a group of officers, responsible for conducting a detailed inquiry into the environment and neighborhood relations surrounding the incident site.

The group of four walks through the narrow village lanes, arriving at a self-built house about a hundred meters away from the fire scene.

This household, like the building that caught fire, belongs to the self-built compounds by villagers, with grey walls and an iron gate, slightly outdated.

"Knock knock knock——"

Wan raises his hand and knocks on the iron gate a few times.

"Who is it?" A slightly hoarse response comes from inside by an elderly woman.

"It’s the police department, there’s something we’d like to ask you about."

Perhaps the word "police" holds special weight in the minds of the elder generation, footsteps inside rapidly approach from afar, appearing urgent and solemn.

"Coming, coming, officers, please wait, I’ll open the door right away."

As soon as the words fall, the iron gate creaks open.

An elderly woman, her face full of wrinkles, leans out, apologizing slightly: "Really sorry, we keep some chickens and ducks in the yard, afraid they might run out, so we usually keep the door shut."

Inside the yard, more than ten chickens and ducks are freely foraging, a few fluffy yellow chicks follow behind the hen, chirping and pecking, full of vitality.

The elderly woman wipes her hands with an apron while hurriedly inviting: "Please come in, come in."

She points to the stone bench under the tree in the yard, "How about sitting here? I’ll pour you some tea."

Soon, she carries out several cups of hot tea from inside, with a simple and enthusiastic attitude.

After everyone sits down, Wan first shows his officer’s badge, and says steadily: "Ma’am, hello, we are detectives from Jiangcheng City’s criminal investigation brigade, currently investigating the fire incident at your neighbor’s house, and want to ask you some information, taking just a few minutes of your time."

The elderly woman nods repeatedly: "No problem, you ask whatever you need, whatever I know, I’ll certainly tell."

Wan slightly turns his head, gives a sign to the accompanying officer, who immediately understands and takes out a notebook to start recording.

"May I ask, do you know about the fire at your neighbor’s house last night?"

Upon hearing this, a deep sorrow suddenly sweeps across her face.

She raises her hand and wipes the corner of her eye, her voice turning somber: "Yes... Early morning when I sent my grandson to school, I saw billowing black smoke from that direction, several fire trucks had arrived."

"Later I heard that nobody was rescued... truly tragic, a whole family of four..."

She chokes up, unable to continue.

Wan pauses slightly, waiting for her emotions to stabilize, before continuing to ask: "Were you at home yesterday evening?"

"Did you hear any unusual sounds or notice anything uncommon?"

The elderly woman bowed her head to recall for a moment, answering: "I was home with my grandson."

"Around five-thirty I picked him up from school, then we cooked and ate, watched some TV in the evening, and slept around ten."

"The TV was a bit loud, I didn’t notice any noise outside... Besides, our courtyard has high walls, generally it’s difficult to hear outside sounds clearly inside."

Wan listens, nodding, and continues to inquire: "Do you know this family well? Do you have any dealings with them usually?"

The elderly woman sighs and says: "We’ve been neighbors for decades, how could I not know them?"

"It’s a family of four, the man does some small business outside, while the woman usually stays home taking care of the two children."

"Their eldest daughter should be taking high school exams this year, the little daughter is also quite well-behaved..."

"They’re very polite in conduct, always greeting people cheerfully, both obedient and sensible."

"Alas, they finally managed to raise their kids, and then lost them like this, truly sinful..."

Wan nods slightly and continues to ask: "Do you know if their family had any grudges or significant disputes with any neighbors nearby?"

The elderly woman slightly raises her head, falling into reflection, slowly saying: "Ma Qiang does greenhouse vegetable business, he is quite honest and flexible, values his reputation in business, and is well-regarded by several villages nearby."

"To say anyone truly held a grudge against him, no."

"However, you know, in business, competition among peers is unavoidable."

"Besides him thriving with the greenhouse operation in our village, there’s also someone named Zhao Gang, whose vegetable scale is also quite large."

Wan notes down this name "Zhao Gang?"

"How is their relationship?"

"Peers are rivals, they had a dispute last year over vegetable pricing."

Zhao Gang felt Ma Qiang’s pricing was too low, stealing customers, affecting his business.

"At that time, their argument was quite intense, later even came to blows."

"Oh? They fought?" Wan pursued.

"Yes," the elder continued, "I happened to send my grandson to school that day, passing by their greenhouse’s fields, saw them pushing and shoving each other, emotions were quite agitated."

"Later someone called the police, people from the local station came to mediate, thankfully it didn’t escalate into major trouble."

"Afterwards, it seems nothing big has occurred, it’s been more than a year since."

Wan records carefully, then asks again: "And about his wife, how much do you know?"

"Like her character and daily interactions?"

"His wife mainly stays at home taking care of the kids, she’s rather affable, always smiling when meeting folks."

"Gets along well with us neighbors, haven’t heard of any arguments with anyone."

"Is there anything else you think worth mentioning?" Wan asks finally.