Chapter 81

After hearing Song Wen’s words, everyone in the office was digesting this information.

Lao Jia sighed, “Ah, what did I just say? It’s borrowing a corpse to return a soul.”

Zhu Xiao glared at him, “What Song Team said and what you said are completely different.”

The body lying on the autopsy table now turned out to be someone who had died seven months ago. In today’s society with various procedures in place, anyone who encounters such a situation would find it somewhat unbelievable.

However, at the same time, the data could help them solve the case, but it could also conceal the truth. While the big data system can accurately compile data, many of these data are manually input or manipulable, creating the possibility of errors.

Zhu Xiao asked, “To borrow a corpse to return a soul, you need a corpse in the first place. So who was the person cremated before?”

Song Wen checked again, “According to the records in the system, the deceased was reported to have died at home due to illness. The sub-bureau dispatched a forensic doctor to confirm the cause of death, which was determined to be a disease. Subsequently, the family went to the health window of the community service center and obtained a ‘Death Certificate.’ Later, the family used the deceased’s ID card and household registration book to obtain a ‘Resident Death Burial Certificate.’ All procedures were normal. If the person who died at that time was not Chen Yanqiu, then it might be a mistake made by the staff.”

In China, the procedures for the death of an ordinary resident are not too complicated and don’t require much consideration. The main document needed is a certificate, known as the “Resident Medical Certificate of Death,” or simply the death certificate. With this document, one can register the death and cancel the household registration with various registration authorities.

The death certificate is not difficult to obtain. Medical and health units, neighborhood committees, and health stations can issue it. For non-natural deaths, local public security departments can also issue it.

Even for those who are hastily cremated, a cremation certificate issued by the funeral department can be used to supplement the process.

With so many deaths occurring every day, month, and year, it is impossible to thoroughly examine each corpse in detail. Once a general check is performed without issues, the documents are issued.

In cities, there is still a relatively strict system. However, in some villages, there are many irregularities. A handwritten note can serve as proof of a person’s death, and if misused by someone with ill intentions, there can be loopholes.

Song Wen remembered watching a legal program where a corpse’s cremation certificate was fraudulently obtained, resulting in the cremation of a murder victim. Fortunately, the police discovered it in time.

Lu Siyu looked at the records, “At the time, the body was at the Giant View Funeral Parlor, and the face was unrecognizable. After inspection, it was found that the deceased had a severe illness with various medical records. The forensic examination indicated death from natural causes. Combined with the fact that the report came from relatives, these factors may have led to the oversight by the forensic doctor and staff.”

If Chen Yanqiu didn’t die seven months ago, then who could the deceased be? Does his death have any relation to Chen Yanqiu? How could Chen Yanqiu end up stabbed and dumped in that abandoned chemical factory over a month later?

Song Wen added, “Just to be safe, we should verify it as soon as possible. This Chen Yanqiu seems to have a sister, right? Bring her over and I’ll have Lao Lin recheck the deceased’s DNA.”

Chen Sixue didn’t know why the police suddenly called her, asking if she had time in the afternoon and telling her to come to the City Bureau. She nervously adjusted her sunglasses, which were quite large, almost covering half her face, and with her shoulder-length hair cascading down, only a small pointed chin was visible.

This was only the second time in her life that she officially dealt with the police. The last time was when she found her brother’s body, and the landlady called the police…

After Chen Sixue finished her mid-shift, she didn’t bother to eat and hurriedly changed out of her performance outfit. She left the hotel, massaging her somewhat stiff fingers, and asked the front desk to call her a cab. When she got into the car, the driver made a surprised noise and then turned to ask her, “Miss, what’s wrong with your eyes…”

Chen Sixue knew what the driver was thinking. She was petite, wearing sunglasses, and looked like a minor, so her eyes seemed to be problematic. But if her eyes were a problem, how could her family be at ease letting such a delicate girl go out alone?

She could tell the driver was a middle-aged man, but Chen Sixue ignored him, put on her headphones, and pretended to make a phone call, saying, “Yes, brother, I’m in the car now. Don’t worry, it’s a regular taxi, heading to the City Bureau. I’ve arranged with the police on the other side. It’ll take about ten minutes.” Then she adjusted her sunglasses nervously and folded her feet, addressing the driver, “Master, please go to the city police station.”

The driver realized she didn’t want to answer and heard it was to go to the police station, so he didn’t say much and started the car. Chen Sixue tilted her head as if looking out the window, but she was lost in thought. She didn’t know why the police suddenly called her to come over, but thinking back, it might be about her brother…

The journey was silent. After a while, the car stopped, and the driver asked, “How do you want to pay?”

“Alipay.”

The driver was stunned for a moment, “The payment code is in front, it’s eighteen yuan.” He was about to hand over the payment code to the passenger. Chen Sixue skillfully scanned it with her phone, and then heard the prompt for eighteen yuan about to be paid. She pressed her fingerprint lock and heard the voice prompt for successful payment.

The whole process was extremely smooth, and the driver was somewhat surprised. He couldn’t tell if she couldn’t really see or if she was just wearing sunglasses. As Chen Sixue was about to get out of the car, he kindly reminded her, “The entrance to the police station is twenty meters ahead on the right. My car can’t go any further.”

Chen Sixue thanked him and got out of the car. With a flick of her hand, the object in her hand turned into a white cane, and she began to tap her way forward.

The driver looked on and confirmed, feeling very sorry, “Ah, so even blind people can use Alipay.” Then he sighed, “Such a good girl, turns out she’s blind…”

These words all reached Chen Sixue’s ears, but she was already accustomed to it.

Chen Sixue skillfully made her way to the entrance of the police station, climbed three steps, and told the approaching person her identity. Immediately, someone led her inside and took her to a room. The person who brought her in left, and then two police officers came in and sat opposite her.

“Are you Chen Sixue?”

Chen Sixue nodded.

“Before we ask you any questions, could you please verify your identity information?”

Chen Sixue nodded again and cooperated by answering several questions.

“Can you not see at all?” asked another police officer sitting to her right. His voice was somewhat different from the previous person, sitting in front of her and feeling clearer and colder. Chen Sixue had been asked this question countless times since childhood, with various intentions – some malicious, some joking, some casual. She was accustomed to different tones, and although this person’s question sounded cold, his voice was gentle and not malicious.

“I’ve been unable to see since birth, and I’ve gotten used to it,” Chen Sixue replied, adjusting her sunglasses and blinking. “Why did you call me here today?”

“Well, last night we found a male corpse at an old chemical plant outside the city. Upon examination, we believe the body may be your brother, Chen Yanqiu.”

“My brother? That’s impossible!” Chen Sixue immediately denied, pursing her lips and rubbing her hands, as if reluctant to recall that matter. “After my brother died… at that time… I received his body. And then, I personally handled all the various procedures with the landlord.”

“We are currently verifying this result. As a close relative of Chen Yanqiu, would you be willing to provide your DNA to the police?” the officer asked again.

Chen Sixue thought for a moment, then nodded. “Okay, go ahead and check.”

The police officer opposite her left, and after a while, someone else came in, guiding Chen Sixue to open her mouth and lift her head. Then there was a sensation like a cotton swab scraping against the mucous membrane of her mouth.

“Done,” the person said softly, putting the extracted DNA into a solution.

“How long does this test take?” Chen Sixue closed her mouth and moved her jaw slightly.

“Usually, about three to four days,” the officer in charge of the examination replied.

Chen Sixue lowered her head, calculating in her mind. She fell silent for a moment, then asked tremulously, “Will you tell me the results?”

“Of course, if it is confirmed that the deceased is Chen Yanqiu, we will check for any previous mistakes and inform you to claim the body after verification.”

Chen Sixue’s left hand trembled slightly, then she held it down with her right hand. Soon, the person in charge of the examination left, the door closed, and her head drooped.

“Your brother was very important to you, wasn’t he?” the police officer’s voice came again.

“My mother… left home when we were very young. Many years later, I heard about her death from relatives. My father died in an accident when I was seventeen. It can be said that my brother was the closest person to me in this world. In recent years, we have relied on each other for survival.”

“I’d like to ask about your brother’s situation before.”

Chen Sixue heard the sound of flipping paper, indicating that the police had conducted some investigation, but they still needed her account.

“My father left some money and a house after his death. Later, my brother and I relied on each other. My brother finished college, and I graduated from a school for the blind. Later on, my brother started working, and I made a living playing the piano in hotels. Until two years ago… my brother was diagnosed with cancer during a medical examination at work…” Chen Sixue’s voice choked for a moment. At that time, she felt like the sky was falling.

“In the following years, my brother’s condition gradually worsened, making it impossible for him to work. He often needed hospitalization. To afford his medical expenses, we nearly depleted our parents’ savings. We eventually sold the house our parents left us to fund one of my brother’s surgeries. To cover his medication costs, I took on various part-time jobs and moved into a dorm provided by the hotel. Meanwhile, my brother rented a basement apartment in the residential area near the hospital.”

“Where did you work part-time?”

“I played the piano in a cafe and a hotel… sometimes, I performed at corporate events or openings,” Chen Sixue paused and added, “For employing disabled individuals, the government provides tax subsidies. Given my proficiency in playing the piano, they were willing to accommodate me.”

“How was your relationship with your brother?” asked Song Wen.

“We had a good relationship. Almost all the money I earned from my part-time jobs each month was used to support my brother.”

The police continued their questioning, “Then why did it take you so many days to discover his body after your brother’s death? If what you’ve said is true, it seems unreasonable. Your brother was seriously ill, and even if you couldn’t be there to take care of him, how could you, as a close relative, only discover the body after several days?”

Chen Sixue replied, “Because my brother had trouble sleeping due to his illness, and his phone was often on speaker. There were times when he missed my calls. Also, I was quite busy during those days with various activities. I didn’t think much of it at first. It was only when I couldn’t reach him after several attempts that I started to worry.”

“Why didn’t you go directly to see him?”

“With my blindness, it’s not very convenient,” she explained.

“So, it took that many days due to this inconvenience?” the police asked again, “If it were one or two days, it might be considered normal, but this duration… seems too long.”

Chen Sixue remained silent, tacitly admitting to the delay.

The interrogation continued, “How big was the basement your brother rented? Did he live there alone?”

“The basement had two rooms, one bathroom, and no kitchen. Sometimes, his fellow patients would rent it for short periods. After all, it was the closest place to the hospital, and despite the slightly poor conditions, it was more convenient than traveling back and forth.”

Chen Sixue remembered that every time she went there, she could smell a musty odor in the room, along with an indescribable scent – probably the smell of death. She knew it well, and so did Chen Yanqiu. He was waiting to die there. Thinking of this, Chen Sixue’s hands twisted together again.

“Before your brother passed away, did you know the person he shared the apartment with?”

“Some fellow patients shared the apartment with him. Many stayed temporarily. Later on, there was someone named Zhang Rui. He had a good relationship with my brother and lived with him for quite a long time,” Chen Sixue truthfully replied, knowing that the police would quickly verify this information.

“How much do you know about your brother’s roommate?”

“I can’t see him due to my blindness, and I’ve never met him. He was about the same age as my brother. He came from a rural family, had a younger brother, and because his parents didn’t want to spend money on his medical treatment, he… was sicker than my brother. My brother probably sympathized with him. At that time, he was very compassionate, halving the rent for him, and sometimes even sharing his own medication. Later, when he couldn’t afford the rent anymore, my brother didn’t ask him to leave… Later, I heard from my brother that Zhang Rui couldn’t cope in the city anymore, so he left.”

“Then, when you discovered your brother’s death, who reported it to the police?”

“At that time, because it was almost New Year’s, I sent a text asking my brother if we would celebrate it together. But he didn’t reply, and when I called his phone, it was switched off. I became anxious. My brother had left the landlord’s contact information for me, so I called the landlord and went to the basement. When I opened the door… I smelled a foul odor,” Chen Sixue recounted, lowering her head. “The landlord said my brother was lying in bed and appeared to have been dead in the basement for several days. The landlord then called the police.”

“Although I’m sorry to ask this, but… can you confirm that the corpse is indeed your brother?”

“That body was lying on my brother’s bed, wearing his clothes, with my brother’s phone, wallet, keys, and ID all in their usual places. At that time, both the landlord and I confirmed it was my brother. The forensic examiner also verified it. They said it was a natural death,” Chen Sixue said, her lips trembling. Losing her only family member was an immense blow to her. Her brother had been her sole support. Now, with his death, she was left alone in a vast and indifferent world.

Chen Sixue lifted her head briefly, then immediately lowered it again. She furrowed her brows slightly, bit her lip, and stabilized her emotions before continuing, “The landlady is a kind person. Despite talking about bad luck, she helped me a lot. She assisted in packing up my brother’s belongings and even helped with the arrangements for his body. I reviewed the medical records. The police officers who examined the scene considered it a natural death. They issued a death certificate, and the body was cremated two days later. Everything was done according to procedures.”

“What about his roommate, Zhang Rui? Have you been in contact with him?”

“After my brother’s death, I sent a mass text to my brother’s friends. He replied at that time,” Chen Sixue recalled.

“What did he say?”

“He mentioned that he had returned to his hometown a week ago. He expressed regret about my brother’s death, thanked us for our care, and finally extended condolences,” she fumbled for her phone, and someone took it from her. After checking the messages for a while, the phone was returned to her.

“Did your brother have any conflicts or disagreements with anyone?”

“My brother… he was always kind and never had any issues with anyone.”

“Then, who was he mainly with?”

“Probably doctors, nurses, patients, and other fellow patients? After he got sick, our communication decreased, and I only visited him on weekends,” Chen Sixue said, lowering her head. She stammered, “So, what’s happening now? Are you suspecting that the person who died in the basement back then wasn’t my brother at all? And the one who recently died is my brother? Could it be that my brother didn’t die from illness but was murdered?”

After hesitating for a moment, she continued, “You have to contact me immediately if there’s any news.”

“At the moment, the case is still under investigation. We are just trying to understand the situation, and there is no substantial evidence yet,” one of the police officers replied. The two officers seemed to exchange whispers for a while, and then one of them said, “We have learned about the information you provided. Thank you for your cooperation. We don’t have any further questions for now. If there are updates, we’ll contact you. Someone will escort you out shortly.”

“If there is any news, please contact me immediately…” Chen Sixue stood up and walked towards the door. However, she stumbled over a box on the floor, and her guide cane was momentarily in disarray. Suddenly, a hand reached out and steadied her.

“Thank you…” Chen Sixue quickly stood back up.

“Take care.” A voice came from beside her.

Chen Sixue recognized the voice; it was the young police officer. However, he hadn’t spoken much during the questioning, while the other officer took the lead.

Walking out on her own, Chen Sixue was greeted by the fresh air. She was almost at the door when someone abruptly pulled her into a nearby room.

In that instant, Chen Sixue was caught off guard by the unexpected situation and let out a small “ah.” Soon, she regained her composure, realizing that she wouldn’t be kidnapped in a police station.

The person in the room switched on the light. Two people were standing there – the polite and fair-skinned officer from before was now inside the room, and the other was blocking the doorway, cutting off her retreat.

*she’s blind, how did she know he’s fair-skinned?

“What are you doing?” Chen Sixue asked in a hushed voice, lowering her head.

“I hope you can tell us the truth so that I can find out the real cause of your brother’s death.” The officer near the door spoke first.

“Truth? I just spoke the truth…” Chen Sixue said, but her voice involuntarily trembled.

The police officer who had been questioning her directly addressed the issue, “You can see now, right? Maybe you couldn’t before, but at least now you can.”

“Officer, what are you talking about?” Chen Sixue took a step back, trying to leave the room, but her escape route had already been blocked.

The young police officer at the door tilted his head and explained, “Firstly, during the questioning, I noticed that your eyes reacted to the interrogation room’s lights. So, my partner and I decided to test you by placing an empty delivery box at the door. With your guide cane, as someone blind for twenty years, you should be able to judge the correct direction of the door. We deliberately positioned the box not directly in front of the door but to the side. The result was, we all saw you heading straight for that box, almost tripping over it. You pretended not to see, thinking that bumping into it would be more convincing, but it exposed your flaw. Also, when I pulled you into this room, if you couldn’t see, why did you ask ‘us’ what to do?”

Chen Sixue’s secret was exposed. The eyes behind her sunglasses blinked, her face turning paler. She shrank into the corner, lowering her head in silence. She was already petite, and in this vulnerable state, she appeared even more pitiable.

The tone of the police officer softened, “Don’t be nervous. We just want to understand the situation and find the person who killed your brother.” Then he looked directly at Chen Sixue, his gaze sharp. “Of course, the condition is that you cooperate with us. If you continue to claim that you can’t see, we don’t mind consulting an ophthalmologist for an assessment.”

“Okay, I can see now, but I didn’t lie about anything else…” Chen Sixue said, her head bowed with guilt.

“We are working against time to solve the case, and lies only waste everyone’s time,” the other officer, a cold and handsome young man, finally spoke. “During the recent questioning, you indeed expressed doubt about the newly discovered body and showed concern for your brother. However, there is one question you didn’t ask.”

“W-What question?” Chen Sixue stammered.

The officer looked into her eyes and spoke calmly, “Who died in the basement?”

Then, the young police officer lifted his head, looked at the girl, and under the room’s light, his eyes seemed to contain a shimmering liquid. His lower jaw slightly nodded, and he blinked gently, revealing a bit of double eyelid. Suddenly, with his long eyelashes, his eyes sparkled like starlight, “As a young girl, you went to the basement to collect a corpse. Even with the landlord accompanying you, it’s still a horrifying experience. Even if you can’t see, the smell of the body, the experience of nearing death, is still unforgettable. But why aren’t you concerned about who died if it wasn’t your brother?”

Unless she knew something.

Like, she was already certain that the deceased person was Zhang Rui.

TN:
Oh so she was pretending to be blind…oof