National Forensic Doctor
Chapter 462 - 462 425 Sending Them Off

462: Chapter 425 Sending Them Off 462: Chapter 425 Sending Them Off Cai Mian’s store was up and running in just one day.

This was partly because comrades from the local police station had helped her out, locating a Ching Chong Chicken Pot store within their jurisdiction that was transferring ownership.

They shifted the kitchen and equipment and assisted in handling the paperwork.

It was also due to Cai Mian’s own immense drive and intense passion, which led her to work non-stop for an entire day and night just to get everything ready for the opening the next day.

Words like fatigue and exhaustion seemed to do little damage to her.

On an ordinary day, her job was exhausting enough, but in order to earn money—a pitifully small amount, but essential to sustain her life—Cai Mian had no choice but to tirelessly seek second and third part-time jobs.

Sometimes, the constant rushing about and work made her lose her sense of time until the arrival of a new setback or injustice.

Fortunately, being at the bottom of the social ladder meant there was no shortage of setbacks and injustices.

Their rapid succession always kept her acutely aware of her own existence.

Cai Mian didn’t want to live like this, and she wanted even less for the only bloodline left by her sister—her child—to live like this.

But she was powerless; she didn’t even dare to think about death.

The officers from Jiang Yuan’s Accumulated Case Team had pooled money to lend to Cai Mian, and also set up the store for her.

It was an opportunity Cai Mian had never imagined.

Apart from working her hardest, saving money as soon as possible to repay everyone, she had no idea how to vent the passion, anticipation, and anxiety in her heart.

Besides, Cai Mian also wanted to personally thank them before Jiang Yuan and the rest left.

Thus, “Guihua Chong Chicken Pot” opened for business in a hurried and bustling manner, without any flower baskets, firecrackers, or ceremonial proceedings.

Cai Mian simply lit a stick of incense in the kitchen, started boiling water, and busied herself with preparations for business.

Noon.

Jiang Yuan arrived with Mu Zhiyang and a few others to offer congratulations.

Xu Xuewu also came over with several of his subordinates.

Just as the group gathered, the young and tender Feng Yutong and her father Feng Yungui, along with a few bodyguards, appeared at the “Guihua Chong Chicken Pot” store.

Feng Yutong was there to see the dog, while her father Feng Yungui was concerned the detectives might have some covert operation going on, and came specifically to observe the situation.

Seeing that everyone sitting in the small store had shiny bottoms on their trousers from wear, and some even had worn patches on the thighs, with buttons from back pockets all torn off, yet they sat there looking comfortable drinking tea as if in new clothes, he realized they were all police and felt somewhat relieved.

The already small shop was nearly at capacity with so many people inside.

Everyone pushed a few tables together and squeezed in, somehow creating a full and lively atmosphere.

Feng Yutong, with little else on her mind, sat on the side and immediately asked, “Where is Guihua?”

Cai Mian, with her mindset of an ordinary citizen, hastily called out to Cai Yuan, “Bring that mangy dog out.”

Seven-year-old Cai Yuan carried bug-eyed Guihua into the dining area, sat down on a chair, and carefully placed the dog on his lap, stroking it affectionately.

Aunt Cai Mian was not a gentle person.

Even though her niece was only in fourth grade, she had to busy herself with household chores, cooking, and doing laundry, just like now, acting as the little waitress in the restaurant.

In these circumstances, Guihua was the one providing Cai Yuan with the most warmth.

Cai Yuan’s happiness and cautiousness in holding Guihua again were unfathomable to most people.

Feng Yutong, who was just in high school, seeing the pug she had taken care of for days lying in the girl’s arms, immediately approached, wanting to hold it.

Without success, and not wanting to be rude, she simply embraced it and gently spoke to it.

After a while, seeing that the pug was paying little attention to her, Feng Yutong looked up and asked, “What brand of dog food do you usually feed it?

I still have some leftover dog food at home.

I’ll give it to you later.”

She did not mean to snatch Guihua away from Cai Yuan.

Not only because of her parents’ advice, she originally intended to rescue the pug.

Now that it was back with Cai Yuan, Feng Yutong still had many options.

Still, she was very eager to confirm that the pug’s condition was good.

Cai Yuan tilted his head, pondering for a moment, then said, “We don’t have dog food at home.”

“Then what do you feed?

Canned food?” Feng Yutong felt that canned food was less economical than dog food and shouldn’t be the choice of a poor family.

Cai Yuan shook his head, “I fed it noodles yesterday.”

Feng Yutong paused, “Noodles for dogs?”

“It’s the noodles mother made.” Cai Yuan licked his lips, “They were so delicious, right, Guihua?”

Guihua nodded.

…

Feng Yungui was in his element at the dining table.

Today, he was engaging in conversation to show support, lifting the spirits of everyone with just a few words.

Along the way, he learned the reasons for the gathering of the detectives.

Because of his status, Xu Xuewu also purposefully let slip a little information, lest he became too anxious and ended up going to the director or even directly contacting the county chief or secretaries.

The more he learned, Feng Yungui went from amused to decidedly solemn.

Some dogs are truly dogs!

Feng Yungui’s gaze casually swept over Guihua.

Who would have thought that such a small dog could fill up the detention center in Miao River County?

“Uh-huh, the chicken hotpot tastes really good.

We could come here often,” Feng Yungui said after tasting a few bites of meat, beginning to sing its praises.

Xu Xuewu also felt it was good and laughed, “Having this store right at the entrance of the Criminal Police Team is terrific.

We can improve our meals.

Boss Feng, you’re just kidding.

You’ve eaten all kinds of delicacies from land and sea.”

“When we went to the mine, we ate whatever was available,” Feng Yungui said, laughing, trying to get closer to everyone.

In reality, as the boss on visits to the mine, he always ate local specialties and delicacies.

If nothing else, he could bring along two fish, three chickens, four pounds of meat, and five handfuls of vegetables in his trunk…

Ding-dong.

While enjoying the conversation, someone else pushed the door and entered—it was Feng Qiong and Kang Zhichao.

Xu Xuewu hurriedly got up to greet them.

After all, they were officials from Beijing.

For the local police in their county, it was never wrong to call anyone from Changyang City a leader.

Those from Beijing deserved to be received well and sent off properly.

Over the past few days, there had been no news from Feng Qiong and Kang Zhichao.

Xu Xuewu guessed that they were very likely to have left already.

Indeed, that was the case.

After Feng Qiong and Kang Zhichao took their seats and drank a couple of beers, Feng Qiong smiled and said, “This time I came to say goodbye.

I heard Dr.

Jiang was here, so I stopped by to take a look.”

“Are you heading to Anhai City?” Jiang Yuan couldn’t help but ask.

This meant that their investigative direction had indeed shifted, moving from focusing on Liao Baoquan, back to re-investigating the 503 case.

Of course, this time, having foreseen Liao Baoquan’s involvement, whether they investigated following the timeline or pursued suspects based on association, the difficulty wouldn’t be too great.

However, Feng Qiong’s expression remained heavy as he nodded and said, “Back then… we indeed weren’t thorough enough in reviewing the case.”

He had been involved during the first supervisory period of the 503 case.

Now, his mentor had already retired, and the matter had fallen on him to shoulder.

Although there wasn’t any real impact, facing Jiang Yuan, Feng Qiong felt somewhat embarrassed.

On the other hand, after taking a sip of his drink, Kang Zhichao said, “Honestly, this case shouldn’t be blamed on Old Feng alone.

The first to take the blame should be the person responsible for the current investigation.

Supervisors can’t overstep their duties.

Determining the primary and secondary aspects of the investigation was a key consideration that he needed to account for.

With the forensic determination of the death times being so close, in the face of various clues, they should have thoroughly investigated the second victim’s social relationships.”

“We were also lacking in our supervision,” Feng Qiong sighed.

“At the time, we did investigate, but it was rather superficial.”

It was apparent that their next step would be to primarily investigate the second victim’s social relationships.

This was certainly a reasonable approach, particularly now that they had confirmed Liao Baoquan as one of the murderers; it was unlikely there would be many connections between the two.

When the incident occurred years ago, Liao Baoquan had only been sixteen or seventeen, not even of age.

It was no wonder that he later chose to join the military without any hesitation, presumably with the idea of leaving his past environment behind.

Anhai City was economically more developed, and city youths willing to enlist weren’t plentiful at the time.

Liao Baoquan’s active enrollment and subsequent smooth induction into the military were impressive.

With Liao Baoquan’s enlistment, his social circle might have changed.

Those he was in contact with before, and later no longer contacted, would inevitably be suspected.

In reality, it might not be so complicated.

Considering the limited social circle of young people, careful investigation should easily surface suspicious individuals.

Additionally, Liao Baoquan had the financial means to purchase a refrigerated truck, indicating that his accomplices might also have received a large sum of money.

Therefore, investigating financial aspects could also yield a breakthrough.

At this point, Feng Qiong invited, “Dr.

Jiang, would you be willing to come with us to Anhai City to take a look?

Honestly, this case has confounded several forensic experts from the department.

If we could solve it smoothly, it would certainly be praiseworthy.”

Several police officers curiously looked toward Jiang Yuan; even for the detectives from Changyang City, participating in a ministry’s case was a rare opportunity.

Although Feng Yungui and Feng Yutong didn’t understand criminal investigation, hearing about names like the ministry, they too felt it was rather impressive.

Jiang Yuan, however, shook his head and said, “There’s no crime scene left for the 503 case, and the bodies were examined by experts.

My going there now wouldn’t be very meaningful.”

The difficulty of second or third autopsies increases exponentially.

To put it bluntly, if clues aren’t found during a first autopsy, the difficulty of finding them in a second autopsy could increase tenfold.

Thus, if a small-town forensic doctor conducted the initial autopsy, a second one might make sense.

But, if the department’s experts had done a thorough autopsy in the past, a second one would just be asking for trouble.

Meaningful forensic examination would involve looking at photos and previously gathered evidence—excellent forensic doctors stand out not only for their initial forensic judgments but also for the quality and thoroughness of their tissue samples, facilitating second and third examinations.

Feng Qiong looked a bit regretful and sincerely said, “You’ve been following the first half of this case.

Why not join us to close it out?

To start well is to finish well.”

Jiang Yuan too, sincerely shook his head and replied, “I’m eager to get back.

I’ve suddenly had some insights, and I remember several old cases that might see a breakthrough.”

He had not only repeatedly reviewed the accumulated cases of homicide in Ningtai County but also had gone over several counties in Qinghe City, including the municipal area.

He had a certain recollection of the unsolved cases in Qinghe City.

Indeed, if he could apply the newly acquired Skull Restoration Skill to a few cases, there was a chance of making a breakthrough.

The advantages brought by Guihua certainly meant a few more people had to be sent off.