[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner":3,"chapter-the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-180":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Nation's Forensic Medical Examiner",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2326875,4551,"Chapter 180: The End","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-180",180,"\u003Cp>The interrogation room in the Forward District Bureau was decorated more nicely than the one in Ningtai County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although everyone held the same rank, the district bureau really did have more money than the county bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone had been held in the Forward District interrogation room and then sat in the Ningtai County one, they would surely complain: “Your interrogation room is so small and old, stinks bad, and the smoke stains on the ceiling haven’t even been cleaned off…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if someone had first been held in the Ningtai County room and then moved to the Forward District one, they’d likely praise it: “Your interrogation room is truly spacious and beautiful, soft to the touch, smells nice…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suspect No. 1, Wang Futing, was inexperienced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was probably sitting in an interrogation room for the first time, didn’t appreciate the superior conditions of the Forward District Bureau’s room, and just sat there blankly, expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even from the surveillance monitor, Jiang Yuan could sense his numb emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lei Xin sat down across from Wang Futing, smiling slightly, looking relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, he truly felt much lighter than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confirming it was a gang crime meant the suspects’ vulnerabilities had multiplied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for an ordinary rural youth like Wang Futing, his social connections were easy to trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few close childhood friends, relatives who cared for him—just walking around the village, and you’d find them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At most, add his parents’ network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering the fact that the victim was raped, and the suspect’s likely physical strength, several detectives took a stroll through Wang Futing’s village and compiled a list of suspects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, after cross-checking timelines and movements, Wang Futing’s uncle, Wang Ming, stood out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Lei Xin and the others’ judgment, Wang Futing was unlikely to have premeditated murder; the more probable scenario was a verbal conflict that escalated into a crime of passion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, raising a large bride price to pay the bride’s family meant he hoped to build a life together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone like that, even if faced with problems, wouldn’t first think of murder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wang Futing’s uncle, Wang Ming, had been working near Qinghe City during the crime, and accompanying him to demand the bride price was entirely plausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once confirmed, Lei Xin immediately headed to the interrogation room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Lei Xin entered holding a thick stack of case files, gently placing them on the table before saying: “Wang Futing, you say you didn’t kill anyone. Answer me a few questions—if your answers are reasonable, I’ll let you go home. Deal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Futing, who had refused to speak even a word, twitched his cheek, glanced at Lei Xin, and still refused to utter a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lei Xin smiled. He’d seen too many people like Wang Futing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many first-time offenders, especially those accused of serious crimes, act this way—not because they’re skilled at evading investigation, but because they’ve shut down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s fear that silenced him, not courage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Lei Xin tempted him with what he craved most:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you want to go home?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look, you said we got the wrong person. Fine, I’ll temporarily believe you—you didn’t kill her. But now I’m ready to let you go, and you’re still acting like this? I can’t help but suspect you again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lei Xin grew more serious, his tone gradually turning stern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Futing cracked. He looked up and said: “You’re all bullying me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just a few questions. Answer them right, and I’ll let you go home.” Lei Xin held up three fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Futing’s throat moved, but he stayed silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then the first question: Zhang Ying took your 188,000 yuan and claimed she spent it all. What are you going to do about it?” Lei Xin asked directly, assuming Wang Futing hadn’t killed anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Futing hesitated slightly, then said: “Get it back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Zhang Ying is dead. Dead people owe no debts. What then? Do you go to her parents?” Lei Xin asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just ‘yeah’? 188,000 yuan is several years’ income for your whole family. Are you really willing to give up that much money? A normal person wouldn’t care whether Zhang Ying was dead or alive—they’d demand their money first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He has no money. What’s the point of me demanding it?” Wang Futing lifted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Criminal cases are criminal cases. After sentencing, Zhang Ying’s parents can still file a civil claim for compensation—meaning they can sue the murderer for damages.” Lei Xin said: “The murderer’s relatives often voluntarily pay to obtain a letter of forgiveness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Futing understood. He stared fixedly at Lei Xin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re not the murderer, you can sue in court before Zhang Ying’s parents receive compensation—giving you a chance to enforce payment and recover your 188,000 yuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lei Xin paused, then added: “But if you are the murderer, your parents will have to pay the victim’s family—and likely not a small amount.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lei Xin mixed truth with lies, but Wang Futing could no longer tell the difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His emotions visibly shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your uncle Wang Ming suggested borrowing money to hire a lawyer to defend you and recover the 188,000 yuan. Afterwards, you’d use the recovered money to pay the lawyer’s fee.” Lei Xin, having found Wang Futing’s psychological weak point, grew even more relaxed and lied: “If you agree, your parents will have to take out a loan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Futing froze, his composure crumbling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you didn’t kill her, we won’t say another word.” Lei Xin tapped the stack of files, speaking slowly: “But we both know you really did kill Zhang Ying. In that case, do you really want your parents to drain their savings, go into debt, and fight a legal battle for you? Can they even win?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Futing fell back into silence, as if shutting down again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lei Xin knew he was breaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, even if your parents borrow money to hire a lawyer, that’s your choice. But what if they sell their house, take out high-interest loans, and then the money gets stolen anyway?” Lei Xin struck at his soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Futing shuddered in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the surveillance room, Jiang Yuan watched Lei Xin chip away at Wang Futing’s psychological defenses like hammering nails, and sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Lan, watching beside him, calmly said: “Don’t pity the murderer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan’s thoughts had been read; he felt slightly embarrassed. “It’s not really pity…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Lan said: “When he committed his crimes, he didn’t do it all at once. Throughout the process, he had countless chances to stop. But he never stopped. And to ensure the victim’s death, he stabbed her over ten times!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan nodded: “And then set the house on fire.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not only did he burn down a stranger’s home—he might have endangered neighbors too.” Wang Lan said coldly: “He’s far colder than he appears.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan sighed inwardly: “Maybe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Wang Futing in the interrogation room began confessing his crimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the 188,000 yuan bride price, 50,000 yuan was borrowed from his uncle Wang Ming. Wang Ming suggested retrieving the bride price. Wang Ming proposed going to Zhang Ying’s house to demand it. Wang Ming struck Zhang Ying. Wang Ming raped Zhang Ying. Wang Ming killed Zhang Ying. Wang Ming set the house on fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lei Xin didn’t interrupt Wang Futing’s confession. In gang crimes, once one person confesses, it’s as if both have confessed—there’ll be plenty of time later to sort out the details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan stayed another day, waited for Wang Ming’s arrest, then bid farewell and returned home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Ming wasn’t particularly strong, but years of manual labor had given him solid strength, along with some cunning and sharpness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the interrogation room, none of it mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the entire detective squad was eager to step in, his petty cleverness was merely a side dish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jiang household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two puppies, sensing Jiang Yuan’s scent, barked wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Fujian heard the noise, stepped out, and chuckled: “I told you—these two dogs don’t know you well. When they see you, they bark louder than ever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably think I make good dog food,” Jiang Yuan said, washing his hands and heading straight into the kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His father, Jiang Fujian, spent most of his time in the kitchen too; that was their usual place for conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Fujian, unsurprisingly, was boiling meat, poking at the chunks with chopsticks: “I cook pretty well too. Yet you never say so when you come home. I thought with your government job, you’d find a girlfriend sooner. But you’ve been gone for days on end. Your Aunt Liu’s been trying to set you up for ages, but when she says you’re a forensic pathologist, the girls all back out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan silently endured his father’s complaints. Though no woman had shown interest, his work yesterday involved a female corpse… He washed a pile of vegetables, then turned on his father’s newly built high-heat stove, heated the wok, and asked: “Want me to cook you something too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright,” Jiang Fujian agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The father and son worked in the kitchen, while the dogs barked outside…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overpowering the cicadas in the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>",1517,"2026-06-20T18:55:00.150Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4d554fa03f90ee7d387d32af47be11e036fd4b28709f7593db0089cdcdefd2d4","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-181","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-179",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-cover.jpg"]