National Forensic Doctor
Chapter 600 - 545: The Single Man Without a Wife

Chapter 600: Chapter 545: The Single Man Without a Wife

Star Moon Road.

Jiang Yuan woke Pang Jidong with a pat and said, "Pang Da, we’ve arrived."

With an "Ah", Pang Jidong wiped the corner of his mouth, his eyes blank as he obediently slid out of the car and asked, "Which way?"

"We’re going to this one," Jiang Yuan pointed to a detached villa ahead.

Pang Jidong uttered an "Oh," like a tourist being directed by a guide, and followed the crowd toward the location.

Once there, some from the big group took photographs, others videotaped, while people went up to knock on doors, show their faces, and identify themselves.

Pang Jidong glanced back, waiting for tour guide Jiang Yuan to start explaining.

Regarding the time devoted to lecturing, Pang Jidong had definitely learned his lesson.

Jiang Yuan indeed did not waste the time right after Pang Jidong had woken up, and while observing their surroundings, he began, "The types and quantities of pollen and spores we extract from samples depend on many variables, which we call ’forensic botany factors.’ This is a term that refers to all the factors that determine whether pollen will be found at a specific time, in a specific place..."

"Take, for example, why we must come to the crime scene to compare, because the terrain is different, and so is the distribution of pollen. Don’t think that wind-pollinated pollen can spread very far; any building or plant barrier can stop their propagation..."

"Like this high wall here, it can stop the spread of most of the pollen."

"As a result, like the pear tree over there, when it blossoms, the flowers will fall to the ground, and as with the tree at the center, they spread out in circles. It’s the same with the pollen; the farther from the tree, the less pollen there will be."

"There’s a problem with dispersion efficiency here..."

Jiang Yuan spoke as he walked; it didn’t take long for Pang Jidong to feel dizzy and hardly able to walk.

Jiang Yuan sighed and ended the teaching session for that period.

It must be said that Pang Jidong’s ability to acquire knowledge had noticeably slowed, like a grinder that used to mill 500 grams at a time but after a while could only manage a bit over 400 grams, with a consistent downward trend. The metaphor didn’t use batteries because Pang Jidong’s intellectual decline wasn’t that rapid.

Jiang Yuan handed Pang Jidong a thermos, and said with concern, "Have some water and take a rest."

Hearing the invitation to rest, Pang Jidong grabbed the thermos and took a few gulps, then wiping his mouth, he frowned and said, "Sugar water?"

"Sugar can enhance memory and attention span. Drinking a little bit can help with learning new things," Jiang Yuan applied his biological knowledge.

Of course, sugar can also cause weight gain and might lead to diabetes and other problems, but as far as learning is concerned, consuming sugar has its benefits.

Pang Jidong also felt that he should indeed replenish himself.

After drinking the sugar water provided by Jiang Yuan, Pang Jidong blinked his eyes; he felt slightly more alert.

It was just a little bit, but at least he wasn’t outright fainting anymore.

At this time, the police in front had filed into the detached villa.

The villa had three stories plus a basement and came with a yard surrounded on three sides, planted with bamboo, ensuring quite good privacy. Theoretically, if one wanted to bury a body, such a yard would be quite convenient.

Many foreign serial killers bury their victims in their yards; perhaps this method is most beginner-friendly and allows for the training of a murderer from scratch. In this regard, domestic conditions are lacking.

Of course, many villas around Star Moon Road visited today had potential.

Jiang Yuan took Pang Jidong, with Mu Zhiyang following beside them, to the backyard as if they knew the place well.

The backyard, totaling four to five hundred square meters, made for a wide gap between each house. They planted a large number of rose family plants such as roses and Chinese roses, several kinds of shrubs, and there was plantain and clover on the lawn...

Jiang Yuan’s gaze swept over the area, his attention gradually increasing.

Although most were common plants, the species were quite similar now.

Using the "burial science factors" Jiang Yuan had explained to Pang Jidong, this place could already be considered suspicious as a secondary transfer spot for the fungal spores.

Jiang Yuan mentally calculated as he cast his gaze into the distance.

Through the low wall and the not-so-dense bamboo fencing was the neighboring property. The plants in the neighbor’s yard seemed different upon closer inspection, just slightly fewer in variety, making room for tables, chairs, stools, and game consoles for leisure.

Jiang Yuan walked a few steps forward, closer to the neighbor’s side, and saw a small pile of fallen leaves and grass clippings in the corner of their yard.

"Where’s the homeowner?" Jiang Yuan called over the owner of this villa and asked, "There’s a lot of fallen leaves and such in your neighbor’s yard, some of which have rotted. Doesn’t it smell bad to you?"

The homeowner, a man in his forties, frowned at Jiang Yuan’s question and immediately said, "I’ve talked about it several times. Every time I do, he cleans it up, but after a while, it piles up again. Even the property management has come by once and it was no use. Good neighbors don’t even talk anymore."

"So he’s got leaves piled up there all year round."

"Pretty much. It’s better when the weather is cold, but in the summer, it reeks and we often have to push him to clean it up." The homeowner shook his head. "You’d think people who buy villas would be of better quality, but no, people nowadays just don’t care about appearance."

"Okay, I got it," Jiang Yuan dismissed the homeowner and then said to Mu Zhiyang who was waiting nearby, "Let’s go take a look at the neighbor’s. Don’t go alone; take a few people with you."

Pang Jidong, still gathering his strength, widened his eyes when he heard Jiang Yuan’s words.

"Did you find something?" Pang Jidong could feel the sugar he had just drunk going to his head.

Jiang Yuan gave an "Mhm" and said, "Remember the cylindrical spore I showed you in the laboratory? The light brown one."

Pang Jidong’s brows, which had just raised, drooped again in resignation. Are you luring a dog over for a lesson?

Jiang Yuan cleared his throat and continued, "In short, this type of spore is usually found on decaying leaves and tree debris, like birch, holly, oak leaves, which tend to grow this kind of fungus."

Jiang Yuan muttered to himself, then added, "The trees with lots of leaves are birch and holly, and those are what his house is surrounded by. Of course, the focus isn’t on the trees themselves. The dispersal range of fungal spores is quite limited, despite the omnipresence of rotting leaves or dead wood. The indicativeness of fungal spores is strong because they usually require direct contact to transfer. As previously mentioned, the dispersal efficiency is low, making it a more meaningful forensic marker."

"Got it, I’m off to make an arrest," said Pang Jidong as he turned and walked away, his speed no slower than that of Mu Zhiyang and the others.

At the same time, a few other detectives exited through the back door and went around to the neighbor’s back door without entering, squatting there.

What they most hoped to see was the neighbor making a break for it right now.

If that happened, even if they didn’t catch anyone, everyone would be happy. Because it would prove that the suspect had been identified.

However, such a delightful turn of events did not actually occur.

When Jiang Yuan went over again, he saw a man in his thirties, looking like a career-driven elite, leisurely puffing on a cigar in an empty living room.

Pang Jidong couldn’t help but remark as he waited for Jiang Yuan, "A bachelor with no wife who can smoke at home, how comfortable."

"Living alone in such a big villa?" Jiang Yuan looked up, estimating that the two-story open space was over seven meters high. Staying there at night would only make it seem darker and darker. He knew this all too well, otherwise, he wouldn’t have bought such a small place for himself in Changyang City.

Pang Jidong naturally agreed, "It’s a bit eerie."

That’s when the bachelor without a wife, sitting on the sofa, looked up with a sneer and said, "I know you inland police have no manners, but take note of my Malaysian citizenship."

The detectives present looked towards Pang Jidong and Jiang Yuan.

"Take him away," Jiang Yuan had already inspected the backyard and now, after seeing the interior and the owner, he said without any hesitation.

Without another word, Pang Jidong made a chopping motion with his hand and repeated the order, "Take him away. Politely."

The bachelor frowned at Jiang Yuan, "Are you dumb? Do you have any evidence?"

Jiang Yuan waved his hand in disdain, unwilling to give him any information.