Blazing Armor

“For the Baosheng Chemical Plant explosion and the fire at the Gong family estate, I recorded all the details in the incident reports back then. My memory now won’t be any more detailed than those reports,” Ren Xiangrong said, giving Ren Yi a heads-up. “I’m not sure how much help I can be.”FkSolAnZBCNZNAkKgbYJCnuvMGBgFI

“I understand. I’ve read the incident reports, but I have some questions about things not covered in them. For example, is there any possibility the explosion was intentional?” Ren Yi asked.ZbdCdCRPiutgpOSAIPibPaGGzsfHil

Ren Xiangrong shook his head. “The cause of the accident was the explosion of vinyl acetate, which then ignited other chemicals and caused a chain reaction. According to the investigation, the explosion happened when a worker was transferring chemicals into a reactor. Static electricity, generated by friction along the plastic tubing, caused a spark, which ignited the volatile chemical vapors. But this conclusion is based on the evidence left behind. The entire workshop was blown up, and twelve workers and technicians died instantly. As for what exactly happened before the explosion…” He pointed upward. “Only the heavens know.”flvHMlVTtrfbNnddJfCWlHJQwzQABB

“That seems reasonable,” Ren Yi said. “Safety measures and awareness were quite lacking back in those days, and modern preventative and monitoring technologies were scarce.”eaVIxKNADgovTFVUiNrVbTTlxSdvIC

Ren Xiangrong sighed. “Every word in those safety regulations is written in blood and tears.” He paused for a moment. “Do you think there’s an issue with the explosion investigation?”TwrJuxLePeyPEJlXeaAkyIttLBuVQx

“No, there’s no evidence to suggest it was deliberate.”ILZyaqWHtaKsKQTzNCjJDHGEYdnmAj

Ren Xiangrong breathed a sigh of relief. “I didn’t think so either. Still, even if it wasn’t intentional, someone must be held accountable for such a production accident.”oQREVyvFsvrPWJQhkGjhWIyVscxjzA

A heaviness appeared on Ren Yi’s face.yMDUbEKjwlLllXBKdYkePtklarGVpc

In a production accident, from the creation of chemicals to the aftermath of the incident, every material handled and every event that occurs could be like the gentle flutter of a butterfly’s wings, eventually culminating in a catastrophic storm.RvVmrNOUrOXjwGTNuwnmstdIRERsXl

Take the Baosheng Chemical Plant explosion, for example. The environment and purity of the chemical materials, whether storage and transportation conditions met standards, whether the handling and usage procedures were compliant, whether the training and management of personnel were adequate, and whether the emergency response plans and rescue organization were in place—every detail is crucial to production safety. In cases like this, where the cause of the accident is difficult to investigate, the management and production sides naturally bear the greatest responsibility.PgdasQdzusfUrXvSmufQoSpyEpZEJJ

In this case, the investigation team concluded that the plastic tubing used to direct the chemicals into the reactor was substandard, and the grounding wire on the storage barrel had deteriorated. Together, they caused excessive resistance and static electricity buildup, leading to the explosion. Additionally, improper spacing, quantities, temperature control, and ventilation of the chemicals in storage contributed to the first explosion. After the plant failed to contain the fire, a secondary explosion occurred, escalating the disaster. In the end, 137 people were killed, 269 were injured, and the economic losses amounted to 720 million yuan in what became a nationwide catastrophe. The secondary damage from chemical leaks was immeasurable.VsMqCGCGPavcXRiQCPgbViwlccSOkS

At the time, Baosheng Chemical Plant’s procurement staff, engineers, workshop directors, head of security, and plant manager were all arrested, and the Baosheng Group’s management was put under forced investigation.jxYMMMUNDLVnzBszhzgSSOOQjTWkut

In the end, the responsibility for procuring unqualified materials, using outdated equipment, and failing in management was all placed on the group’s chairman, Gong Mingyu, who “committed suicide out of guilt.”GlEitXyafTEhGLfDDtYHPrZFlWawWU

After restructuring its assets, Baosheng Group rebranded and, after several years of recovery, reclaimed a place in the chemical industry.MQrKPEtNdibzUIfEyovplOjNjcWjTI

Recalling the events of the past, Ren Xiangrong was still filled with sorrow. When he talked about the dangers of the rescue mission and the comrades he lost, his eyes couldn’t help but redden.PysOgwaXfwaWxHpkLqvnXEklGpKIrp

Ren Yi felt a wave of guilt in his heart. He realized that asking his father to relive such cruel memories was truly an unfilial act. “Dad, I have a rough understanding of the chemical plant case. I’ll look up the rest of the information myself. Could you tell me about the Gong family fire instead?”CMwMjklgOsVIRNpnadfDTijOcKRWDy

Ren Xiangrong wiped the corners of his eyes. “That… was too tragic. Just too tragic.”RtoBtblNLRmCSDCEwfGZETfuRRUiTT

Thinking about everything Gong Yingxian had been through, Ren Yi couldn’t suppress the waves of pain. No words or images could ever describe the hell that Gong Yingxian had endured. No one, no matter how empathetic, could ever truly grasp the depth of Gong Yingxian’s suffering. This helpless anger simmered within Ren Yi.BApsUXEJvlCEZeBOnytDtXxncuDoAZ

Ren Xiangrong spoke slowly, “It’s been so many years, I don’t remember all the details. The thing that sticks with me the most is finding them, the whole family of four huddled together, crouched under the bathroom windowsill.”hIGjpnsgqxkIEDMEghqiupbdECBqRn

Ren Yi’s hands trembled slightly.VHFvVHwWpvKNErYeNLIsJMWpqJJIme

“The parents… they shielded their children from the fire with their bodies. The girl protected her little brother behind her. All three of them were burned beyond recognition. Only the little boy was almost completely unscathed,” Ren Xiangrong’s voice began to choke up. “The girl… she wasn’t dead yet. I heard she suffered for a few days in the hospital in vain…”SIjkUTjqVuhCZLkjHFRnivhZApxJHA

Ren Yi lowered his head, his breathing becoming labored.rUqyqMmArqtiWRxpjfLhTwKjMHMDOO

“When I carried that boy out, he was in shock. He couldn’t scream, he couldn’t cry…” Ren Xiangrong turned his face away.dIvtSekawHxwNvNpIgaECIGywdjNvI

Ren Yi took a deep breath and, in the calmest voice he could manage, said, “Dad, with all your experience in firefighting, what does your gut tell you? Do you think the father started the fire?”kcXvLAPveJhYCRuxghuxKLcMxUjKQP

Ren Xiangrong was silent for a moment. “Before the investigation results came out, I never thought it was a suicide. They showed a strong will to survive. All the exits were blocked by flames, so the family hid in the bathroom. But the window there had security bars, and they couldn’t break through.”nUCQvxJFTJuPIUrKLVkBaguSIHiKdu

“It doesn’t seem like suicide at all,” Ren Yi repeated.dhTVFfKxwfSlfluxcUCsIVFbEIiQXo

“It doesn’t,” Ren Xiangrong agreed. “But, there have been cases where people regretted their actions after attempting suicide. Also, back then, fire investigations were entirely handled by the police. Our job ended after the fire was put out, the people were rescued, and the report was submitted. When I later learned about the investigation’s conclusion, I found it hard to believe, but I didn’t dwell on it. After all, Gong Mingyu had just gone through such a massive upheaval—he certainly had a motive for suicide.”MejSVIQemeRdqImsRBgnVOwJwbfMtn

“Can you remember any more details?”CBxQvbFWyKRJbAmLkCSsSeljCykDir

“I made sure anything important at the time was in the incident report,” Ren Xiangrong reflected. “I actually looked over my draft of the report yesterday to help jog my memory. The cause of the fire was definitely arson. There were accelerants, and escape routes were deliberately blocked, but the doors and windows were intact—no signs of forced entry.”lRlqBamVBVKEcaMAEOSUNmZHfkCCTa

“What about the masked person Gong Yingxian mentioned? Was there any trace of another person in the house?” Ren Yi asked.NixzInnsJkmcYvrHluXCiIlTIWTjQA

Ren Xiangrong frowned. “At least when we entered, there wasn’t. In a house burned that badly, no one could have survived, so if there was someone, they would have left long before.”chVKpyXezcwZFxGRpjCeMJCyttZtWH

“Not a single clue?” Ren Yi pressed. “Dad, think again. Was there any unusual detail you might have overlooked?”XrmLcjvkKKmDQOcFibgLzVcIxQcQwW

Ren Xiangrong thought for a long time. “People who commit suicide, especially those who plan to take their whole family with them, usually opt for less violent, painless methods—like burning charcoal or taking pills. Gong Mingyu grew up as a rich kid, never suffered a day in his life. It’s hard to imagine he’d choose such a horrific way to die, let alone dragging his wife and children into it. When we arrived, the whole family was in their pajamas, as if they were woken up by the fire, which doesn’t match the typical behavior of someone committing suicide. Especially someone like Gong Mingyu, who studied abroad and cared deeply about appearances. He was always dignified in life—why wouldn’t he want to maintain that dignity in death?”bFZBVAlvquXlvURGgWDeZhXeTdgrPa

“You’re right. Even ordinary people would want to die with some dignity,” Ren Yi agreed.aQmeJAVhEVxruLtdGEGjcczPohmmHK

“None of us at the scene thought it was suicide. Everything pointed to arson. But when the investigation concluded that Gong Mingyu was mentally disturbed from the chemical plant incident, it seemed to explain everything,” Ren Xiangrong paused as something occurred to him. “Wait… the point of origin.”SWUOFKcebJkxwOtjgjJOeMrKsIXjYF

“What about it?”FwMHPomRJAFAHhWipZLAxhgOmSMLgd

“When I entered the house, the fire in the living room was intense, but I had the gut feeling that it wasn’t the source of the fire. The flames weren’t burning fully, or maybe there was something else about it that made me instinctively think it wasn’t the starting point. The fire had spread there through the accelerant. But that was just my first impression, based on my experience, to make sure my men and I stayed safe. Later, the investigation report said the living room was the ignition point, and I didn’t question it because fire investigation wasn’t my job. Just like the police wouldn’t question how I fought the fire.”XaQrCBySOzzcrnQWZaUQmeDsYTUVTS

Ren Yi was startled. “If the point of origin is wrong, then the victims’ escape route is also in question.” Based on the house’s structure, the evidence left behind, the victims’ physical condition, and where they were eventually found, one could reconstruct the victims’ escape route. The point of origin plays a crucial role in determining that route, and more importantly, it is key to investigating the cause of the fire. That’s why, in any fire investigation, the first thing to determine is the ignition point.XGUsoQizJHhaeLTHmnLlmsAdGOEItu

If the point of origin was misidentified, then the escape route might be wrong too. Suppose the fire started along the path Gong Mingyu would have taken to return to the bedroom. In that case, he wouldn’t have been able to make it back, let alone end up in the bathroom with his family. This logical flaw could prove Gong Mingyu wasn’t the arsonist. Although this was only a hypothesis, Ren Xiangrong’s instinct and experience as a first responder provided valuable insights.gdOPMcFmjyPWLkNxamJBKZltaoIwUx

“Dad, this is important. Gong Yingxian is using modern technology to restore the photos from the scene. I’ve decided to reopen the fire investigation.”DKXIbPcsqZROfiyrAAlpfXrGWIsTIj

Ren Xiangrong sighed. “Son, if this case really was a murder, it would involve a lot of people. Do you know what you’re up against? It’s been eighteen years—overturning the case will come at a huge cost.”jbFRvVeuSjaXNYsFvbXnammvpJjBic

Ren Yi nodded firmly. “Dad, don’t try to stop me.”fOViSyzPXWXYylZVXxsyDIIjEsyvdA

“I’m not stopping you,” Ren Xiangrong said calmly. “You’ve got the same stubbornness I do. I know it’s pointless to try.”RVJiKkgdjMlRvLgNegNMjKXfhrPeiD

Ren Yi flashed a relaxed smile. “Dad, a firefighter’s mission is to save lives. Not letting an arsonist go free means not abandoning a single victim.”zbwlLhpnqrJBuXhIYaCoZaUqqGLuIP

“When the photos are restored, let me take a look. Maybe it’ll jog my memory.”RfSEWfvbCTCZFOZcyVvEtuNKpCaJWn

“Sure, I—” Ren Yi’s phone suddenly rang. It was Gong Yingxian. “Hello?”ShZZmSZGnneLiUXPLmLwgxjvlOdzMX

“Ren Yi, are you at the station?” Gong Yingxian’s voice sounded subdued.hDWBzuesFBbwCDzBFWxBsFfSRphDyh

“I am. What’s wrong?”cuFsvbKwuHeopPlIZWRWWkbjwJRLqq

“I’m at the station.” Gong paused for a moment and then said softly, “I want to see you.”YauVNVRnPKkOkoJLfPcuQCZgaXRoaZ

Ren Yi immediately stood up. “Wait for me. I’m coming right now.”EeSGZhhdDAYBUrfxZbrUUUpGnoQLjI