Chapter 175: Emaciated

The number one suspect has the strongest motive.

The detectives who had gone out to investigate immediately brought the suspect back.

When the suspect was detained, the atmosphere in the office visibly brightened.

Although there were still some risks during the long-distance transport, overall, this round of pressure from the detective team felt over.

Not just the detective squad, but the entire district bureau's atmosphere had grown relaxed.

If this had been a murder case that resisted resolution—or worse, turned from active to cold—the officers in the entire district would never have had an easy moment.

Regular working hours, timely meals? Forget it. Even having enough time to defecate was a luxury.

If you disappeared for even a little too long, the squad chief would howl, and the constipation would only get worse.

Skipping meals on time, ironically, made constipation more likely.

In short, a murder case that couldn't be solved quickly was a test of every officer's life.

Look at how aggressively the girls' acne had broken out— that's how hard the case was.

As for distinctions between desk officers and field officers, they meant nothing in the face of a murder.

In an environment where police dogs were being deployed, there was no easy post.

Jiang Yuan got a day off and rested again; that night, he received multiple boxes of food sent by his father, Jiang Fuzhen: shredded beef jerky and braised beef tendon.

Over a hundred kilometers away, more than an hour's drive—the meat still seemed warm.

Jiang Yuan idly pulled out his phone and checked—sure enough, another bank text message had arrived.

His father always did this: he didn't know how to express emotion. When he missed his son, he wouldn't call to ask how he was—he just sent money or food.

Now that Jiang Yuan had graduated and returned home, his father did both: sent money and sent food.

The shredded beef jerky weighed about five catties; the braised beef tendon weighed several catties too. Plus, there was one sliced pig's ear and four pig's trotters—all more than Jiang Yuan could eat alone.

Jiang Yuan simply brought them to the detective squad and shared them with the officers on duty.

Instantly, officers who had instant noodles were elevated to the status of higher beings, pairing their noodles with beef and pig's trotters so deliciously that even Chief Lei Xin couldn't sit still in his office.

"When this case is over, I'll treat everyone to drinks," Lei Xin said after devouring his luxurious bowl of Lao Tan pickled cabbage noodles with beef slices and pig's trotters, chewing vigorously and tossing out a promise.

The officers present naturally played along, and Jiang Yuan smiled happily. Successfully closing the case made him glad.

Lei Xin finished half the bowl of noodles, wiped his mouth, and chuckled: "I thought I'd grab him and then go out for a good meal. Didn't expect this kid's so skinny—and still tough to handle."

Jiang Yuan frowned: "Is the suspect really thin? How tall is he?"

"A hundred jin man—his ribs are visible. Height-wise… maybe a bit over one meter sixty." Lei Xin shook his head. "No wonder the girl fell for someone else—the guy from the 288, 00-yuan family is about one meter seventy-five, and not fat either."

"Has the suspect confessed?"

"He's evasive. But it's him—no doubt." Lei Xin's tone was certain; he lived off this job—he could tell at a glance whether a suspect was guilty.

Jiang Yuan didn't doubt Lei Xin's instincts.

The position of detective squad chief was one of the most demanding in the bureau. Forget other things—just treating the one or two murders each year as major projects, it required organizing hundreds of officers to crush, within limited time, the intellect and strength of a criminal who might have meticulously planned for years.

Not every case was heart-stopping, but in any detective's life, there were always a few moments that were.

For a squad chief, however, these were routine.

But recalling the autopsy details, Jiang Yuan murmured: "The victim, Zhang Ying, had considerable muscle mass."

Lei Xin reacted like a stray cat—immediately lifting his face from the noodle bowl to stare at Jiang Yuan: "What are you suggesting?"

Jiang Yuan said: "My impression is Zhang Ying was a girl who'd done farm work and also hit the gym. Her thighs, abs, and upper arms all showed signs of training. If the suspect only weighs a hundred jin, he might not even be able to beat her."

At this, the detectives who had been eating meat stopped.

Wang Lan, who had been tearing at a strip of beef jerky for ages, also paused and said: "I'd forgotten, but yeah—this girl was strong. You could tell from her abdominal wall—great abs."

"So… she was knocked out with a blunt object?" Lei Xin, though reluctant, followed the path the two forensic experts had laid out.

He understood clearly: the victim was a girl, but a strong one.

And the suspect… was excessively thin.

"The victim's skull was relatively intact—no signs of blunt trauma," Jiang Yuan said.

Wang Lan nodded in agreement.

"Is it impossible, or just not ruled out?" Lei Xin emphasized—these two concepts were entirely different.

If it wasn't ruled out, he'd prioritize the blunt-trauma theory.

Whether or not it happened would become clear after interrogation.

Jiang Yuan and Wang Lan exchanged glances; Jiang Yuan spoke first: "Impossible. A skull preserved this intact couldn't have been struck with a blunt object and show no trace."

"Hmm…" Lei Xin fell silent.

The toxicology report had just come back—all common poisons were negative. As for rare ones, a rural youth like the suspect had little chance of access.

Also, the environment wasn't suitable for poisoning.

The murder occurred in the victim's home. Though engaged, the suspect and victim were locked in a bride-price war—hardly likely to sit calmly for tea. Poisoning would've been difficult to pull off.

So, if a small-built attacker struck a larger one, without tools or poison—what did he rely on?

Only numerical advantage.

Lei Xin slowly understood. Looking at Jiang Yuan and Wang Lan, he saw their high emotional intelligence.

So he said it himself: "You mean there's an accomplice?"

"I think it's very likely," Jiang Yuan replied—his deduction matched exactly: "The body was naked; we suspect she was raped. But there were no signs of violent assault on her head or face—consistent with a gang attack."

A single perpetrator's rape often involved violent beating.

Because it's difficult and dangerous for a man to fully control a woman and expose his vulnerable genitalia.

Try a simple experiment at home: see how much force it takes to forcibly pry apart your girlfriend's legs.

Under fierce resistance, many rapists resort to beating to force submission.

Or… it's a gang, working together to subdue the victim.

Lei Xin finally understood. He tossed down his chopsticks: "I'll go ask him."