National Forensic Doctor-Chapter 1106 - 1037: Deep-Fried

"So, the victim was imprisoned at the killer’s temporary residence for several days before finally being killed? No demands for money?"

"That’s just the killer’s statement. However, judging by the outcome, the killer didn’t demand money from the victim’s family nor did he take money from the victim’s bank cards. Later events might indeed point to accidental manslaughter."

"Killing can be accidental, but captivity... was that accidental too?"

"The captivity was for extorting money. The financial dispute between the two parties was quite intense."

At the roadside diner, the police used the victim and killer’s tale as a conversational appetizer, and it worked wonders.

"Come, come, everyone, try this dish - mixed fish stew. It’s a local specialty, and the fish were caught fresh on-site. Prepared by our top chef, it’s all about preserving the original flavors..."

Huang Qiangmin enthusiastically recommended the diner’s signature dish.

Ningtai County is a small town. Besides Siningshan, there’s hardly anything else that leaves a lasting impression on people.

Pig trotters or mixed fish stew are considered Ningtai’s famed delicacies. Huang Qiangmin had recommended these to his superiors more than once.

Those present smiled and nodded, some picking food, some eating, others chatting casually. Soon, the rounds of toasting and small talk began.

While chatting, Huang Qiangmin sneakily responded to messages on WeChat. It wasn’t considered rude since the people texting him were all seated at the table, though not the same person.

The whole situation felt akin to secretly flirting with his wife’s friends. Everyone sat at the same table, yet someone kept stretching their feet under the table—some in sheer black stockings, some in thick white ones, others in cotton socks. Each offered a unique tactile experience—impossible to mix up, yet leaving one worry they might conflict, while also perversely hoping for such a clash.

The friends maintained polite smiles while subtly hooking at Huang Qiangmin beneath the surface:

From Fang Gang of Qingshi Municipal Bureau, with his authoritative tone: "Our bureau is going all in this time. As long as you’re willing to come, apart from solving the case, you won’t have to worry about anything. I’ll ensure everything is perfectly arranged."

From Wu Zhisu of Jianjiang Municipal Bureau, a lively old gent: "Old Huang, our camaraderie speaks for itself. You just need to get Jiang Yuan to come over, then feel free to do whatever you want on my end!"

From Zheng Tianxin of Luyang City Bureau, with his intellectual flair: "Commissioner Huang, it’s been too long since we last met—I truly miss those days. By the way, our annual funding has just been approved. If you’d like to come for a visit, I guarantee you’d enjoy it."

Huang Qiangmin didn’t particularly favor any of these suitors. Truth be told, anyone who messaged him was already in his good graces. The core issue was—he could only pick one.

If choosing multiple were possible, wouldn’t the problem solve itself?

Huang Qiangmin raised his head, his gaze sweeping from Fang Gang’s face to Zheng Tianxin’s. Every "brother" had a kindly smile on their face.

The next day.

Reluctantly, Huang Qiangmin bid farewell to his guests as he sent them off.

Having unresolved bodies piling up at the Taihe Working Group, they were temporarily unable to accept external missions. The contrast could have been described as the difference between constant feasting or barely scraping by.

Accompanying him to see the guests off were not only Ningtai County Bureau’s director but also the county’s main officials.

For the small Ningtai County, the official attention Jiang Yuan had brought was already overtaking that of Siningshan.

The Secretary inquired with concern: "What’s Jiang Yuan’s upcoming work about? Are there areas needing county support?"

"My job next is still in forensics. The latest discovery within Qinghe City’s jurisdiction involves a headless corpse. The severing shows cut marks—clearly a homicide." Pausing briefly, Jiang Yuan added, "Additionally, there’s indeed one task requiring the county’s assistance."

The Secretary spoke magnanimously: "Speak."

"The Taihe Working Group focuses on the Tai River. If we could construct a small dock and acquire two boats, efficiency would likely improve significantly," Jiang Yuan raised a valid request. Presently, they were using rubber dinghies, which worked, but dragging corpses back to the shore to retrieve them was far less effective than pulling them directly onboard. Not to mention patrolling.

However, such requests were optional—better with, fine without. Plus, boats sounded expensive. Requests like this, if made by other departments, would likely face rejection.

But Jiang Yuan was the one making the request. The Secretary pondered briefly before smiling: "No problem! The Taihe Working Group should naturally have its dock on the Tai River."

Huang Qiangmin was visibly delighted. Though boat funding was not promised, having established a dock marked considerable progress.

Once the farewell concluded, Huang Qiangmin gave Jiang Yuan a hearty slap on the shoulder, praising: "Well done—you’ve earned your place by my side."

"Make sure to get larger boats," Jiang Yuan advised. "Big enough to fit two bodies at least."

After a moment’s hesitation, Huang Qiangmin asked: "Can’t we stack them?"

"Then build a rack or get two containers."

"Alright, that’s easy. Which option is better?"

"A rack would be better. When not used for bodies, it could serve as a bed—more versatile," Jiang Yuan suggested, feeling mentally drained after exerting all his week’s worth of strategic socializing. He was eager to find a quiet spot and spend time with taciturn colleagues.

Ninth Building.

A brand-new dissection table welcomed a freshly decayed corpse.

The corpse was covered in water plants, fishing lines, and ropes—a filthy sight with an unbearable stench. Its decomposition level was slightly better than the previous one, but not by much.

"We searched 10 kilometers along the river and couldn’t find the head," Wu Junhao informed as he stood by the corpse. Now serving as the Directorate Head of Ningtai County Police’s Explosive Ordinance Unit, his daily tasks tended to involve patrolling.

Jiang Yuan examined the corpse while enjoying the cool breeze of the autopsy room and asked: "Was the police canine unit deployed?"

"Just recently. Chances seem slim. Could the killer have disposed of the head differently?" Despite his preference for direct action, Wu Junhao was knowledgeable in criminal investigation methods.

The smooth severing at the neck clearly indicated a knife had been used. In such cases, it was unlikely the head and torso would have been discarded together. Otherwise, why cut it off?

Without objection, Jiang Yuan continued inspecting before saying, "If DNA analysis yields no results, we’ll attempt fingerprint extraction."

"How’s that done? Making epidermal gloves?" Wu Junhao seemed intrigued. Despite over ten years as a police officer, he hadn’t once witnessed epidermal glove extraction from a corpse.

Wu Jun didn’t know how to do it. And Wu Jun had served as a forensic doctor in Ningtai longer than Wu Junhao had been in law enforcement.

Carefully turning the corpse’s palm, Jiang Yuan shook his head: "Can’t make epidermal gloves anymore—the outer layer is almost entirely gone."

"Can it be patched together?"

"The epidermis is gone—there’s nothing left to assemble."

Wu Junhao was dumbfounded. "Then what do we do?"

"We fry it."

"Fry it?" Wu Junhao muttered softly, "We usually joke about salad instead."

"What?" Jiang Yuan didn’t catch the meaning.

"’Do nothing—salad,’ it’s just a phrase," Wu Junhao clarified with furrowed brows.

"Aah..." Jiang Yuan chuckled lightly. "But I mean literal frying."

With that, Jiang Yuan directed the forensic team to fetch a pot, an induction cooker, and some oil...

He also carefully snipped off the corpse’s right middle finger, cleaning it thoroughly.

Differing levels of decomposition had affected the corpse, especially the fingers. Fingerprints from other fingers had deteriorated down to the dermal layer. Their patterns were lost entirely.

The right middle finger, however, although lacking the epidermis for glove extraction, retained its dermal layer for frying.

Once the oil reached six to seven tenths of its optimal temperature, Jiang Yuan carefully placed the middle finger into the pot, stirring it delicately with a pair of long chopsticks as if cooking a fritter.

He adjusted the induction cooker’s temperature for precision, focusing on crisping the dermal layer without burning, thus enhancing the ridges and grooves that constitute fingerprints.

Fingerprints consist of papillary ridges and furrows. Decomposition levels in the dermal layer often result in a lack of distinction, producing smudged prints.

Only by frying would the ridges and furrows gain enough height differentiation for usable prints.

Skillfully monitoring the frying process, Jiang Yuan flipped the finger, ensuring optimal frying results.

With Level 6 fingerprint analysis expertise and a temporary +1 skill buff, Jiang Yuan’s craftsmanship rivaled that of a professional chef in the world of frying.

Soon enough, the corpse’s right middle finger emerged perfectly crisped and aromatic.

Jiang Yuan carefully retrieved, cooled slightly, then coated the finger in ink before meticulously rolling it on the table for fingerprint impressions.