National Forensic Doctor
Chapter 520 - 520 479 Number Four

520: Chapter 479: Number Four 520: Chapter 479: Number Four “Take all the soil back with you,” Li Xiang commanded the excavator operator at work.

This excavation of a Qing Dynasty tomb that uncovered bodies was indeed a major discovery.

The case of four bodies was the largest seen in Shannan Province this year.

Jiang Yuan’s demands for the crime scene investigation had risen to a new level; he now required all backfill soil to be taken away.

Li Xiang agreed wholeheartedly and followed through.

The more meticulous the crime scene investigation, the better, and the Locard’s exchange principle of investigation theory relies precisely on comprehensive inquiry.

If minute traces and evidence at a crime scene were ignored, then the principle of exchange couldn’t serve its purpose.

The corresponding criminal theory should then be transformed into a theory of minute traces—turning major traces into smaller ones, using the negligence and complacency of the investigation staff to escape detection and thus create the perfect crime!

With a perfect score of 750 in the college entrance examination, everyone thinks 600 is quite good.

However, once out in the society, everyone hopes to be served by people with scores of 750 or even 760.

In reality, it is usually people scoring under 500 who are busy at work and often only give 80% effort.

Whilst working, Li Xiang wasn’t an exceptionally talented police detective, but he was someone who took his work seriously and was willing to put pressure on himself.

Through persistence, he had made a name for himself in the world of tomb raiding.

After excavating the backfill soil, Li Xiang had his team remove traces from the surrounding area as well.

Only then, satisfied, did he put up the police tape and say to the nearby villagers, “Okay, we have basically finished excavating modern items from the ancient tomb.

For now, let’s leave it for a few days.

As for the bodies in the tomb, we’ll take care of them for you first.

When the coffins arrive, we’ll help you rebury them.

The tomb area will be sealed off temporarily for safety.”

The villagers, who had been watching, had grown in number over the past few days and were now aware of what was happening.

Hearing that Li Xiang’s approach was similar to how other families’ affairs were handled, they mostly agreed.

An older villager asked, “Shall we burn some paper money?”

“Burning paper money… isn’t exactly appropriate to do at the scene…”

“Just a little will do.” Some people started to pull out pieces of joss paper.

“This is equivalent to relocating a grave, and it’s more appropriate to burn the paper money on the day of the relocation,” explained Wu Jun, who had arrived at the scene, naturally taking on the job of communicating with the villagers and explaining, “Moving old graves is actually quite common.

In most parts of Shan Nan, the custom is to burn some paper money while relocating the grave, as if to inform the deceased spirits about their new dwelling.”

Wu Jun helped pull up the yellow police cordon tape and continued, “We suggest not burning any paper during these few days of mourning to avoid disturbing the ancestors.

Just go about your normal lives and work.

If you wish to express your intentions, lighting a candle or some incense will suffice.

Later, when it’s officially time to relocate the grave, burn the paper and pay your respects, and the ancestors will be informed.”

“Another thing, the tomb has hosted other occupants for quite some time.

By burning paper here, who are we really burning it for?”

“Actually, our ancestors don’t lack money; they still have savings from before.

Think about it, being frugal in the past, they wouldn’t splurge in the afterlife.

But it’s different with the newcomers.

We shouldn’t let them save too much to avoid misfortune.”

“Come on, everyone, let’s offer a toast to show our respect first.”

Wu Jun kept busy with tasks while speaking, then signaled for others to help him.

The villagers listened intently.

Wu Jun wasn’t new to explaining customs; in the beginning, they had some distrust, but they soon realized he was too knowledgeable.

Now, the popular belief among the Shi Family was that Wu Jun was actually an expert from the government.

And it made sense—normal families needed help with their affairs, so why wouldn’t the government need people?

Opening a family tomb is a major event, so without proper preparation, how could an official get anything done?

Plus, Wu Jun was knowledgeable and patient, following protocols and methods to the letter.

Under his direction, the villagers lit candles, ate red eggs, and offered up roast chicken, red steamed buns, and various home-cooked dishes to their ancestors.

After three sticks of incense had burned down, everyone kowtowed, shared the offered food, and then dispersed.

During this time, those who wanted to speak did so; topics that were normally difficult to address were brought up openly, and since it was a private ceremony, there were no interruptions, allowing for a free flow of expression.

Wang Zhong helped throughout the process, impressed beyond words.

Wang Zhong had been present for the entire process of collecting the backfill soil and felt it was exhausting.

He could imagine the team, having filled up more than half a truck with soil, later stooping and sifting through it inch by inch.

It would take countless forensic investigators with bruised knees to turn those efforts into a single line on a report.

Better than boiling red eggs at least, for which the locals might compliment you on doing a good job.

…

Shiting County Funeral Parlor.

Heaps of soil were dumped on the ground.

Several forensic investigators, like hogs forbidden to be sold, were bent over, crawling on their knees across the grave soil, meticulously sniffing and searching through it.

The discovery of bodies and the finding of tissue paper in the backfill soil inspired the investigators to work with care, sifting through the layers inches at a time.

Indeed, they were actually sifting through the soil with sieves, in the hope of uncovering something.

Jiang Yuan, after being busy in the dissection room for a while, finished up and came out to help sift through the soil.

Seeing him emerge, the other forensic doctors who were holed up in the dissection room couldn’t sit still and came out to lend a hand.