Chapter 5
Brag

After three rounds of drinks, the hotel manager brought in a violinist and a three-tiered cake.

Cutting the cake, singing the birthday song, and giving blessings made the small banquet hall lively. During this time, Xie Qing’s uncle noticed her and warmly waved her over.

The Chen family had a talent for the arts. Chen Yuehua was a dancer, and Chen Yuexing was an erhu player.

Xie Qing also had two aunts. The second aunt was a housewife who loved gossip, and the eldest aunt was a hotel businesswoman, a true strong woman.

The original owner liked her uncle but kept a respectful distance from her aunts.

Xie Qing didn’t want to go but couldn’t refuse, so she reluctantly went over.

Chen Yuexing had Xie Qing sit between him and Chen Yuehua and kindly asked, “I heard you’re working at the city bureau now. How’s it going? Are you adapting well?”

“Big brother!” Chen Yuehua looked around warily.

Chen Yuexing said lightly, “What, I can’t chat with Xie Qing?”

The Chen family had strict rules. With the elders not present, Chen Yuexing was the head here.

Chen Yuehua felt a bit embarrassed, “Big brother, you misunderstood. I didn’t mean that.”

Chen Yuexing ignored her and continued, “I’ve heard that your job is tough, with few women and a lot of prejudice. Have you thought it through?”

He disapproved of Xie Qing being a forensic doctor but was tactful about it.

Xie Qing replied, “Uncle, I studied for five years at Jinghua University. I’m applying what I learned and adapting well.”

“Sigh…” Chen Yuexing sighed, “As parents, we only want the best for our children. Do you understand?”

Xie Qing firmly said, “Don’t worry, Uncle. I understand.”

“I’ll have your mother give you a month to think it over. If you decide to stick with it, don’t give up halfway. Understand?” Chen Yuexing waved her off.

His words had a finality to them. It was Xie Chen’s birthday party, and he didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere. A little warning from Chen Yuexing was enough.

Xie Qing didn’t mind and returned to eating and listening to gossip.

The banquet ended around 8 PM. The younger generation saw off the elders and prepared to go to Golden Cabinet Karaoke.

As they got into the car, Chai Yu noticed Xie Qing was missing, “Xie Chen, where’s your second sister?”

Xie Chen replied, “She had something to do and left early.”

Chai Yu was a bit disappointed, “Why didn’t she say anything? We could have given her a ride.”

The young people all looked at him.

Chai Yu quickly raised his hands, “I didn’t mean anything by it. Xie Chen was busy with guests, and his sister is like my sister.”

Qin Jie joked, “She’s still young. You better not have any ideas.”

“What do you know?” Chai Yu opened the car door, “Xie Qing and Xie Yun are fraternal twins…”

“Let’s go, Old Chai.” The man with black-framed glasses patted his shoulder, “Get in the car.”

“Even if I did have ideas, Xie Chen wouldn’t mind.” Chai Yu finished his thought.

Qin Jie looked at Xie Chen.

“He’s right,” Xie Chen said, “Xie Qing is only a few minutes younger than Xie Yun. She just looks younger.”

Qin Jie got into his Lexus, deep in thought.

Xie Yun and Xie Chen got into the car together. As the door closed, she said, “Brother, isn’t Brother Chai the mayor’s secretary?”

Xie Chen started the car, “Yes, why?”

Xie Yun said, “It seemed like Tan Yi was rude to him.”

Xie Chen smiled slightly, “They’re both from the capital and have a good relationship. But Tan Yi seems aloof and hard to approach. He might have a better family background than Chai Yu.”

Xie Yun said, “Oh,” and then asked, “How old is Chai Yu? He’s not married yet?”

Xie Chen replied, “He’s twenty-eight. If he doesn’t mind Xie Qing being a forensic doctor, they could be a good match.”

Xie Yun was surprised and tentatively said, “Brother, Xie Qing can be a bit stubborn. If…”

Xie Chen shook his head, “People change. Xie Qing has become more sensible since she started working.”

Xie Yun thought for a moment and reminded him, “Xie Qing might not compromise on her job. We should be honest to avoid trouble later.”

Xie Chen said, “Uncle gave her a month to think it over. I think we should keep it quiet for now and discuss it at the end of the year.”

In Chai Yu’s car.

Chai Yu said, “I didn’t expect fraternal twins to be so different. One is quiet and elegant, and the other is like a little hamster.”

Tan Yi leaned back in the passenger seat, eyes closed, silent.

Chai Yu, dissatisfied, nudged him, “Buddy, at least give me a reaction.”

Tan Yi glanced at him, “You know they’re fraternal twins. What’s there to say?”

“Boring,” Chai Yu complained, “Don’t you think both sisters are beautiful?”

Tan Yi said, “Xie Yun is beautiful, but her heart is with Gu Ling. You have no chance. I didn’t look closely at the other one, but she can eat. She cleaned the crab shells thoroughly.”

“That’s it? Haha…” Chai Yu laughed, “Aren’t you supposed to be like Sherlock Holmes? Why so careless this time?”

Tan Yi said, “She’s just a simple-minded little girl. What’s there to analyze?”

“Whatever,” Chai Yu scoffed, “Old Tan, as your brother, I have to say, after all these years, can’t you look forward?”

Tan Yi gave him a warning look, “If you’re my brother, don’t bring it up again.”

Chai Yu sighed, “Fine, fine, I won’t say it. I’m afraid of you.”

…

Xie Qing had Li Ke call her, and after receiving the message, she left a few minutes early, citing a task.

Ironically, just as the taxi arrived at the police station and Xie Qing was about to get out, her pager beeped again:

“Come quickly to the east gate of Wangjiang Community on Linjiang Road. Cao.”

It was a call from Cao Haisheng.

Xie Qing didn’t dare delay and instructed the driver to continue. Seven or eight minutes later, they arrived at the destination.

Linjiang Road, as the name suggests, was by the river.

Wangjiang Community was the best in the area, with beautiful scenery, complete facilities, and high prices.

As the taxi stopped, Xie Qing heard a heart-wrenching cry as soon as she opened the door. She quickly walked to the embankment’s edge and looked towards the sound.

The Qingjiang River’s water level was low, and there was a sightseeing path below the embankment. A crowd had gathered on the path, separated by a police cordon, watching the police and forensic doctors at work.

Cao Haisheng was talking to Huang Zhenyi, and beside them lay a small body.

This was a rescue scene, and the deceased was a child!

Xie Qing’s heart sank, and she quickly ran down the stairs, squeezing through the crowd.

“Police at work!” a police officer stopped Xie Qing.

Xie Qing said, “I’m an intern forensic doctor. Forensic Doctor Cao is my Mentor.”

Huang Zhenyi instructed, “Let her in.”

As Xie Qing walked, she observed the surroundings. There were no trace inspectors, only onlookers. It was indeed a rescue scene.

Did this case require the city bureau’s criminal police team, or was there something she didn’t know?

“Mentor, I’m here,” Xie Qing said, taking out a notebook and pen to record.

Cao Haisheng, supporting his waist, squatted down and took a small flashlight from the investigation box, lifting the deceased’s eyelids, “Facial swelling, cyanosis, petechial hemorrhages in the conjunctiva, mucous membranes, and serous membranes…”

The child was about seven or eight years old, with goosebump-like skin on the arms, white epidermis, light livor mortis, and obvious bruises on the lips. There was a slight bone crepitus on the top of the head—all antemortem injuries. Due to the rescue efforts, there was no foam at the mouth and nose, the chest had localized depressions, and the ribs were fractured.

Cao Haisheng preliminarily determined that the time of death was no more than three hours—already dead before the rescue. The head injury was caused by a blunt object, but drowning was more likely.

Xie Qing put away her notebook, put on gloves, and helped Cao Haisheng place the body into the body bag.

“Qiqi, Qiqi, Grandma is sorry, so sorry!” an elderly woman wailed, pushing away the old man beside her and rushing towards the river, “Wait for Grandma. Grandma is coming to find you!”

“Mom, Mom, what are you doing?” a middle-aged man cried, holding the elderly woman tightly around the waist, “It’s not your fault, it’s not your fault!”

Four or five people were crying loudly.

Xie Qing, distressed and unable to look, focused on the conversation between Huang Zhenyi and Cao Haisheng.

Huang Zhenyi said to Cao Haisheng, “The deceased’s name is Huang Qi, eight years old, usually taken care of by his grandparents. He was mischievous and often caused trouble in the neighborhood. The Huang family had an early dinner, and Grandma Huang made shrimp stir-fried eggs, sweet and sour ribs, and cold shredded potatoes. They finished eating before five o’clock. Grandma Huang usually took the child to play in the neighborhood for a while and went upstairs when it got dark. Around six o’clock, Grandma Huang found that Huang Qi was missing.”

Cao Haisheng nodded, “Alright, we’ll go to the funeral home first. We’ll communicate if there are any updates.”

Li Ke had gone home for the weekend, but Li Ji was there. He helped Xie Qing put the body into the funeral home’s car and whispered, “This is a big case, the third one already.”

Xie Qing asked, “Same method, all children?”

Li Ji replied, “Not all children, but the actions of covering the mouth, knocking out, and throwing into the river are identical.”

“No wonder you guys are here,” Xie Qing muttered, getting into the car with Cao Haisheng, “See you.”

Li Ji waved, “See you.”

…

In the autopsy room.

Xie Qing removed the deceased’s clothes and handed them to Cao Haisheng for examination.

She then shaved the deceased’s head and re-examined the wound: “Linear laceration, with gray sand in the wound cavity, likely caused by the edge of a brick. There is slight bone crepitus when pressed, but it’s not fatal.”

Cao Haisheng found nothing on the clothes and asked Xie Qing to turn the body over for the autopsy.

Xie Qing complied.

Cao Haisheng picked up the scalpel but immediately stood up in pain—his severe lumbar muscle strain had flared up again.

Xie Qing said, “Mentor, let me do it. You supervise.”

Cao Haisheng hesitated for a moment before putting down the scalpel, “Alright, you do it.”

Xie Qing took the scalpel and made an incision from below the neck to above the pubic symphysis, her hand steady and precise.

Opening the chest and abdominal cavity, she observed that the lungs were enlarged and filled with a large amount of frothy fluid, and other organs showed signs of congestion.

Xie Qing then cut open the stomach and extracted two spoonfuls of its contents.

The stomach contents were quite full, with shrimp, meat, and egg pieces clearly visible. The duodenum contained a small amount of digested material.

She straightened up and put down the scalpel, “Based on the body temperature, rigor mortis, and other postmortem signs, the deceased encountered misfortune shortly after going out, within an hour after the meal, between five and six o’clock. Apart from the injuries to the head and lips, there are no other injuries, indicating that the killer acted without hesitation and had much greater strength than the deceased. Preliminary judgment is that the killer is an adult.”

“Very good,” Cao Haisheng said, making notes. “Suture the body. I’ll call Captain Huang.”

It was Xie Qing’s first time performing an autopsy, but her third time suturing, so he was very confident in her abilities.