Those who knew Zhao Dengyong describe the 26-year-old as well-mannered and find it hard to believe he could be behind an explosion that killed four and injured 16 at a community office in Yunnan.
His landlord, Peng Zixiang, 51, said Zhao (pictured) caused no trouble other than sometimes being short on the rent.
'He doesn't drink, smoke, gamble,' Peng said. 'I have never once heard him yell at his wife and infant boy. He doesn't socialise much with others but is surely a nice and honest man.'
But the Qiaojia county government is insisting Zhao, a labourer with a wife and young child, was the bomber who set off the Thursday morning blast in Baihetan that was first reported to be a protest against forced demolition by local authorities.
Its explanation has failed to satisfy residents and internet users because the bombing had initially been attributed to a woman.
Zhao, who was relatively new to the area, was not known to have any conflict with the government.