The man was about to enter the hair salon when I yelled, “Stop!”

He turned around and angrily yelled, “Who the hell are you? How dare you tell me to stop!”

I was sure then that this guy was a gangster. I showed him my badge. The words “Nanjiang City Police” were enough to deter him. His tone softened immediately.

“Ah, forgive me, officer!” he said. “I was just going to get myself a haircut.”

I glanced at his short-cropped hair and sneered, “A haircut, huh?”

He smiled and continued, “Ah, well I haven’t gone inside, have I? That means I haven’t committed any crimes, right officer?”

“Forget about that,” I waved my hand. “I’m going to ask you some questions.”

“Fire away, officer!” 

“Do you know Zhang Qiang?” 

“Of course I do! We grew up together! You see these pants? He made them! Why do you ask,...