[{"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-252":6,"glossary-terms-4551":23},{"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},2326947,4551,"Chapter 252: The Disparity of the World","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-252",252,"\u003Cp>Near the end of the workday, the quiet hallway suddenly erupted in chaotic noise—Jiang Yuan knew Wang Baoming had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan calmly tidied his desk, opened the window to air it out, then sat back down to organize everything once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin burst into the office with a loud laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Zifeng Mountain, he might have been just an ordinary county bureau criminal investigation team captain, but in Ningtai County, he was the swaggering captain of the county bureau’s criminal investigation team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Lu Jianfeng of the Criminal Science Mid-Team quickly stepped out to make his presence known.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His toxicology lab had grown desolate; chances of running into Huang Qiangmin on the fourth floor were rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming lowered his head and strode quickly into the forensic office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mood was both exhilarated and gloomy, as if both poles of bipolar disorder had flared at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan heard the commotion, stood up to wait, and watched as Huang Qiangmin and the others filed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The already cramped forensic office instantly became overcrowded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Captain Huang,” Jiang Yuan greeted as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin’s lips curled into a 66.6-degree smile and asked first: “Did the fingerprint match? Verified?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve verified it on my end,” Jiang Yuan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Show it to Director Wang,” Huang Qiangmin laughed heartily, his expression oddly reminiscent of a certain kind of dealer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pride unyielding!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overflowing with wealth!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming was far less excited; he carefully checked Jiang Yuan’s computer for network and software integrity before examining the fingerprints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He himself had once handled trace evidence; identifying fingerprints was second nature to him—within ordinary limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fingerprints lifted from textiles were the kind he could understand but couldn’t confidently match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But given only two fingerprints and asked to confirm they were identical, it wasn’t that hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming placed the two fingerprints side by side on the same screen, constantly comparing left to right, like a merchant testing purity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually, a smile also crept onto Wang Baoming’s lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the case was solved. Though the cost had been high, when you thought about it, this was probably cheaper than paying 30,000 yuan for a single DNA test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, it was much cheaper. Especially with good reagents—running genetic tests on 30,000 people could fund a brand-new building for the Ningtai County Criminal Investigation Team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming looked up, glancing disdainfully at the crowded room, and deliberately dropped a subtle jab at Huang Qiangmin: “Your office for Forensic Jiang is far too small. Even just our few people can’t fit. Forensic Jiang has done countless fingerprint analyses for the provincial bureau—hasn’t any other leader ever come to take a look?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan had just grilled sausages in his office that morning, grease still on his lips—he thought: Why would I need a big house? If I wanted a big house, I’d just stay home and rent one less apartment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Jiang Yuan considered whether to rebut Wang Baoming, Huang Qiangmin spoke up: “Leaders from other places are usually quite generous. Once we’ve saved enough, we’ll build a new building.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the office was sharp—they all smiled. Captain Huang never mentioned money, yet every word was about money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming laughed and stood up: “You make it sound like Changyang people aren’t generous. Wait a moment—I’ll call our Criminal Investigation Brigade Chief right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He came to verify Jiang Yuan’s fingerprints because he feared errors—even a phone call wasn’t enough to ease his doubts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a provincial capital, Changyang City’s police procedures and patterns differed somewhat from those in small counties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same level of evidence in Ningtai County would mean arresting first, asking questions later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, Wang Baoming still waited for the criminal investigation team to make an arrest before personally verifying fingerprints—or finding other evidence—before he’d give his approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, it was still too slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin grunted twice, but inwardly he was delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With nothing else to do, Wang Baoming suggested touring the Criminal Science Mid-Team—the fourth floor they were currently on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the easiest way: everyone had something to do, and they could wait for news with a bit more dignity…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming’s suggestion hit Huang Qiangmin’s sweet spot perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin readily agreed, smiling: “Perfect—let’s show off the hardworking spirit of Ningtai people. Director Wang, if you ever have any good equipment—no, I mean, outdated or unwanted gear—you should think of our poor brothers in Ningtai County.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming laughed heartily. Minutes earlier, he might have felt slightly annoyed—but now, his heart swelled with too much joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Baoming laughed heartily; a few minutes ago, he might have felt a little upset, but now his heart was overflowing with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this case, everyone had paid far more than just enduring a few jokes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many brothers had worked consecutive days until exhaustion, only to be scolded by their wives when they got home? Worse still were those who dared not go upstairs—like our own Brigade Chief Yu Wenshu, who spent only one night at home before rushing back to the front lines, sleeping on the ground with his comrades to solve the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imagine how thrilled the Brigade Chief must have been when he heard the fingerprint match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Wang Baoming suddenly said with deep emotion: “Think about it—the killer might be enjoying his final moments of freedom right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin replied: “From the killer’s perspective, it does seem that way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming glanced around at the others: “Yet we find this period so tedious and unbearable that we wish we could just skip it… The world is truly uneven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin froze, stunned—had this guy just elevated the theme?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone else was enveloped by Wang Baoming’s cultural aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jun, who had been tagging along, prepared to recount this to his grandson and asked: “So… should we be happy, or should we cherish time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming spoke slowly: “Perhaps it’s precisely because we’ve wasted others’ precious time that we’ve become so calm and content.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jun had already reached for his phone to take notes—then froze. This wasn’t something he could tell his grandson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Baoming said slowly: “Perhaps it’s precisely by wasting others’ precious time that we’ve become so composed and content.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phone rang, freeing them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming answered, his serene expression vanished, replaced by an excited, gritted-teeth growl: “Got him! This bastard hid for so many days—almost slipped away!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you find other evidence?” Huang Qiangmin’s primary concern remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming nodded: “As soon as we cuffed him, he broke down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good,” Huang Qiangmin immediately relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The softest thing in this world isn’t a woman seeing her idol—it’s a criminal facing punishment. The hardest thing isn’t a man seeing his goddess—it’s an ordinary person crushed by profound injustice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who buckle under money won’t stand firm in an interrogation room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the suspect was caught, no one bothered pretending to tour the Criminal Science Mid-Team. It was just one floor, a few rooms—half offices, half cheap equipment; there was nothing worth seeing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone happily headed to the cafeteria for lunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating, they smoked and picked their teeth, waiting for the final payment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan politely passed around Zhonghua cigarettes, then asked curiously: “Director Wang, what was the killer’s motive? Any idea?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the matched fingerprint came from the national database, some personal details were visible. But this fingerprint came from the Maixin Factory personnel database—after the match, only the most basic information was accessible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a small-scale homicide like this, Jiang Yuan guessed the motive was likely trivial—because if it were major, it would’ve been easily traced. He wanted to confirm this now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming had just confirmed with his team: “Most likely jealousy. The victim and killer were fellow villagers; they met at a hometown gathering. The victim planned to return home to get married and wanted to sell his belongings cheaply. The killer wanted to buy them cheaply, leading to an argument.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean by jealousy?” Jiang Yuan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The killer envied the victim’s ability to return home and marry. Apparently, the local bride price exceeds 100,000 yuan, plus other expenses—totaling 200,000 yuan in cash, plus a house. Maixin Factory hired many young people from the area, driving up bride prices. The victim complained he couldn’t afford the bride price, that he’d worked a whole year for nothing…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin snorted: “That’s youth. In twenty years, they’ll all be killing for divorce.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming thought Huang the Crocodile was heartless—this young man, barely twenty, was about to vanish like a breeze, his life judged by a crowd. How tragic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming couldn’t help saying: “We’re currently interviewing his fellow villagers and neighbors, trying to find whether he ever mentioned murder or related matters—to build indirect evidence and solidify the case. If he gets the death penalty, he won’t have to worry about a midlife crisis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, people like this definitely deserve the death penalty. Nowadays, some people just…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin and Wang Baoming found common ground—their conversation grew lively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, two vehicles pulled up directly in front of the Criminal Investigation Team building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming told Huang Qiangmin, who immediately warmly clasped Wang’s arm and called out Jiang Yuan and the others to go welcome them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin and Wan Baoming found common ground, and the atmosphere between them turned cheerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A medium-sized cargo van, half-filled with assorted gear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first items unloaded were two large refrigerators—old models from over a decade ago. Huang Qiangmin didn’t mind; he beamed and pulled Jiang Yuan and Wu Jun over: “These two are for your evidence storage. Next time you get a dismemberment case—right? Ten people or fewer, no problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jun: “Thank you, Captain Huang, for thinking ahead. The funeral parlor actually has body refrigerators…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those are for whole bodies. These are for parts. I remember back when I was young—we had a poisoning case where the fridge was full of organs, frozen solid, like New Year’s preserved food…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Subsequent large boxes were unloaded, easily pulling Huang Qiangmin’s thoughts back to reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming straightened his back and introduced: “Portable biological evidence detection device—dual wavelength 450 and 532, high-purity UV light source—directly reveals fingerprints and biological traces. We use the same model; this one’s new—it’s essentially our technician bringing equipment down…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That person can’t take our equipment back,” Huang Qiangmin emphasized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Won’t,” Wang Baoming smiled, continuing to point at several large boxes: “Crime scene lighting, waterproof explosion-proof searchlights, uniform illumination lamps, footprint search lamps, portable infrared night vision, multi-functional high-intensity gas lamps—each lasts two hours. Plus a gasoline-powered, fully automatic floodlight. Lighting equipment is fully equipped.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Baoming straightened his back and introduced: “Portable biological sample detection device, dual wavelength 450 and 532, high-purity UV light source, directly reveals fingerprints and biological evidence—we’re using the same model now; this one’s new, essentially our technician came down with the equipment…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Used only a few years, low intensity. Honestly, sometimes we didn’t even bring some lights out—they’re too cumbersome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin smiled calmly: “Your criminal investigation team takes three to four months—or even half a year—for one homicide. We have one every month. Frequency is high. And Jiang Yuan uses these during crime scene investigations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming had no rebuttal; for future considerations, he even complimented: “Jiang Yuan conducts crime scene investigations with meticulous accuracy. It’s only right to provide thorough equipment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Huang Qiangmin felt the show had become boring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, a batch of photographic auxiliary tools were pulled out—Huang Qiangmin barely glanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, unloading staff brought down a pile of cardboard boxes—only then did Huang Qiangmin perk up again, pulling Jiang Yuan aside: “These are what I specifically requested—brand new, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Wang Baoming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Baoming: “Yes, brand new—two boxes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brand new, never used, right?” Huang Qiangmin stressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brand new,” Wang Baoming repeated reluctantly: “Unopened—two boxes of gloves, one box of hairnets, shoe covers, disposable forensic suits, gas masks, disposable surgical gowns…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some personal protective items Jiang Yuan had always bought himself—this time, Huang Qiangmin had fully equipped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brand new, never used, right?” Huang Qiangmin emphasized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brand new,” Wan Baoming had to repeat: “Unopened, two boxes of gloves, one box of cap covers, shoe covers, disposable inspection suits, gas masks, disposable surgical gowns, and so on…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some small personal protective items, Jiang Yuan had always bought himself; this time, Huang Qiangmin had seen to it that everything was provided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the quality still isn’t as good as Jiang Yuan’s personal purchase, but using it for other forensic staff avoids making Jiang Yuan seem overbearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After inspecting the medium-sized van, Huang Qiangmin turned with a broad smile toward the nearly brand-new crime scene vehicle behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Baoming walked over understandingly and said: “This is our crime scene vehicle, modified from a Ford pickup. It’s over six years old, just hit 300,000 kilometers, no major repairs, no serious accidents, maintained on schedule, and any minor incidents were fixed with OEM parts or—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—authorized aftermarket parts…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really good, really good.” Huang Qiangmin nodded repeatedly, running his hand over the paint. “I noticed just now—the paint’s fresh, still shiny.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Our bureau’s Master Ren—you know him—thirty years in maintenance, personally supervised the repainting and replaced every part that needed it.” Wan Baoming turned to the others. “Master Ren’s a legend in our brigade. He started in traffic police, then when the bureau bought ten Changjiang 750s, he helped fix them. As the fleet grew, he became full-time mechanic. Every vehicle he maintains runs perfectly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin said: “I especially like this Ford pickup. Our current crime scene vehicles are modified Ivecos—they’re terrible off-road. Fine in the city, but useless in remote villages. Criminals don’t follow rules. When a big case comes up, you’re nervous without gear, but if you bring gear, you end up wanting reporters along.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Reporters?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re carrying dozens of pounds each. Walk a few kilometers and you’re exhausted. When you’ve walked ten, aren’t you gonna want reporters to take photos?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Baoming laughed. “We used to make the apprentices carry everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No way! This is the new era—everyone’s equal. Are apprentices not tired?” Huang Qiangmin’s mouth immediately puckered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jun said calmly: “Let me be clear—I never made Jiang Yuan carry heavy gear up mountain trails.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Baoming chuckled. “Now we’ve got this pickup crime scene vehicle, no need anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin nodded seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s still gear inside—the crime scene tread, extendable ladder, coiled cables… oh, and non-slip rain boots, barriers, that sort of thing. Our director gave them to us. Honestly, those are the real valuables—we just buy them as we need them…” Wan Baoming laughed aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin stared at Wan Baoming with the eyes of a Criminal Investigation Team Captain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Baoming’s smile faded. He sighed. “You old detectives are so dull… Look, we’ve got a backlog of unsolved cases. Could you lend us Jiang Yuan for a few months…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Months?” Huang Qiangmin rubbed his ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two or three months…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qiangmin kept rubbing his ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Baoming cleared his throat twice. “Each case takes one or two months. Two months is reasonable, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then charge by case.” Huang Qiangmin grabbed Wan Baoming’s arm and pulled him into the Ford pickup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two sat in the nearly new, utterly unpretentious cab, chatting warmly.\u003C\u002Fp>",2544,"2026-06-20T18:55:02.212Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","428a3ce4785adc0ed6e8424a3f74b9d0ae38cb053a881282147c465be4eb2edf","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-253","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-251",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-cover.jpg",{"terms":24},[25,29,33,37,41],{"id":26,"raw_term":27,"original_term":28},1803458,"Jiang Yuan","江遠",{"id":30,"raw_term":31,"original_term":32},1803459,"Wu Jun","吳軍",{"id":34,"raw_term":35,"original_term":36},1803460,"Wang Zhong","王鍾",{"id":38,"raw_term":39,"original_term":40},1803461,"Liu Wenkai","劉文凱",{"id":42,"raw_term":43,"original_term":44},1803462,"Wu Junhao","伍軍豪"]