Several police officers walked up, intending to arrest Lü Qingqing without a word. Tong Meng, who had been standing in front, subtly shifted aside.
Hu Jia's face was grim. "Hold on! We're also police officers."
Lü Qingqing clapped her hands, stood up, and then took out her police ID from her pocket, handing it over.
The officer looked at it, then carefully cross-referenced the photo and name. Although his expression remained stern, his tone softened considerably. "Since we're all colleagues, you should know that a crime scene cannot be disturbed carelessly."
"Yes, yes, yes. We heard about a homicide, so we just took a look," Lü Qingqing said, understanding the officer's concern. If this had happened in her jurisdiction, she would have been angry too.
If outsiders casually tampered with the scene, it would be one thing if they helped, but if any mistakes were made, it would reflect poorly on everyone.
Lü Qingqing also felt a bit self-reproachful for her haste.
"Exactly. We're just police from out of town. It's best to focus on protecting the scene and not meddle in other affairs, nor to act as if you know everything just because you have a tiny bit of capability," Tong Meng stated, with certainty that this remark came from her.
At this time, Zhong County did not belong to Chongqing's jurisdiction. In terms of administrative divisions, they were actually at the same level. Therefore, it was not surprising that Chongqing police officers intervening in Zhong County would not be taken seriously.
The Zhong County police chief glanced at Tong Meng. "Are you with them? Are you also a police officer?"
Tong Meng smiled. "Yes. However, I didn't touch the scene. On the contrary, I was watching the surrounding crowd to prevent them from causing trouble."
The Zhong County police chief nodded, then turned to Hu Jia and Lü Qingqing, extending his hand. "Hello, my name is Yu Yian."
Uh...
Tong Meng was ignored again.
Everyone had read "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio." They could tell who was human and who was a ghost. Yu Yian didn't even notice Tong Meng's little trick.
After exchanging greetings, Yu Yian began to examine the scene and conduct a preliminary inspection of the body.
"The murder weapon should be a cylindrical object about 30 centimeters long, which pierced through the back and penetrated the chest. A typical penetrating wound," Yu Yian concluded, surmising that the victim was likely ambushed.
Lü Qingqing nodded upon hearing this. It was similar to her own initial examination, although strictly speaking, it was a perforating wound.
A perforating wound penetrates the body, whereas a penetrating wound generally does not.
Of course, Lü Qingqing didn't explicitly correct Yu Yian's terminology. It was just a difference between informal and academic language, and correcting him would likely be unwelcome.
However, she had her own opinion regarding the conclusion of an ambush.
Yu Yian noticed Lü Qingqing's expression. He was an earnest person and meticulous in his work. However, being a local police officer from a rural area, he was aware of his own limitations.
"During your examination, did Officer Lü discover any other anomalies?" Yu Yian pondered, deciding to seek Lü Qingqing's opinion.
After all, she was a police officer from a major city and likely had more experience than him.
Lü Qingqing was somewhat surprised by Yu Yian's initiative, not expecting him to set aside his pride and actively inquire.
"You are correct, the murder weapon should be something like an iron rod. However, I don't think he was ambushed. He was likely stabbed during a fight or a melee. It's highly possible he was running with someone chasing him from behind."
Yu Yian was astonished. He could tell all this?
Despite his initial skepticism, he remained humble. "I'd be happy to hear your explanation."
Lü Qingqing was not one to hesitate or play coy. She pointed to the deceased's clothes. "Firstly, why would this man be wearing women's clothes? Judging by his attire, the layers of the wedding dress are very distinct, not something hastily put on. Therefore, it can be determined that he put on the clothes before he died, and without any resistance. Perhaps even willingly."
Willingly?
A man willingly wearing a wedding dress?
Inconceivable!
"Secondly, let's examine the dress itself. The fabric of this dress is very new; it should be a new garment. Yet, there are abrasions on his elbows, knees, and other areas. These abrasions clearly indicate he had been rolling on the ground. This suggests that when he was wearing the clothes, he likely had physical contact with someone, leading to him falling, rolling, or crawling."
"Finally, let's look at this man's hands. There are no algae in his fingernails that would be found on the wall of a well, indicating he was disposed of after death. Since there was no friction with the well wall, where did the abrasions on his palms and the fleshy parts of his hands come from?"
It was evident that they were caused by excessive movement before death.
Upon hearing Lü Qingqing's analysis, Yu Yian was thoroughly convinced and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
After all, the difference between death by ambush and death by combat could significantly impact the final judgment of the case, as one involved intent and the other was circumstantial.
Furthermore, from the perspective of solving the crime, if the killer ambushed the victim, it implied premeditation and planning. The perpetrator might even be completely clean after the victim's death.
However, if the killer engaged in a fight that resulted in the victim's death, the scene would likely be chaotic, and the killer might also be injured.
Every detail could influence the direction of the investigation and the collection of evidence.
"Officer Lü, if you don't mind, could you offer me some direction?" Yu Yian asked.
"Officer Yu, there's no need for such formality. We are all police officers, and we should all contribute to solving such a serious case. If conditions permit, I can help you investigate the case. I just don't know if it would be an intrusion." Lü Qingqing was quite intrigued by the case of the male corpse in a wedding dress and proactively offered to participate.
This made Yu Yian overjoyed, and he repeatedly expressed his honor and gratitude.
A murder case in a small town was a significant event. Handling it well would be a great achievement. In other words, unlike in the city, this was a rare opportunity, and missing it would be foolish.
Hearing that Lü Qingqing wanted to join the investigation, Tong Meng was the first to object. "Lü Qingqing, have you forgotten your identity? You are a police officer from our Chongqing. How can you interfere in the affairs of another place?"
"If you're unwilling, you can leave first," Hu Jia retorted directly. "You can't help here anyway."
Lü Qingqing pursed her lips into a smile, not even glancing at Tong Meng. "Then, Officer Yu, shall we get started?"
...
The most crucial aspect of this case was to identify the deceased. And to determine his identity, the wedding dress was indispensable.
A man dying in a wedding dress was unheard of.
Why he was wearing the wedding dress, and where it came from, was the key to this case.
This was because the deceased was an outsider to the town, and he must have been wearing men's clothes when he arrived, otherwise, he would have attracted too much attention.
Therefore, the location where he changed into the wedding dress, once found, would unlock the mystery of his death.
"Have there been any new brides or young women preparing to get married in town recently?" Hu Jia asked.
Yu Yian thought for a moment. "There's a new daughter-in-law at Old Zhao's house up ahead. Shall we go and ask them?"
"Let's go," Lü Qingqing said.