[{"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-58":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},2326753,4551,"Chapter 58: Chapter Fifty-Eight: Exhuming Corpses","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-58",58,"\u003Cp>Xingzi Valley Copper Mine was developed after the founding of the state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was sizable, produced large yields, but its resources depleted quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the turn of the century, it was no longer worth digging further. What followed were various surface backfilling operations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The branch company that took on this project was the one where Tan Yong worked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, due to issues like delayed project payments, the surface backfilling was done intermittently—some sections filled, then halted—never carried out continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This clearly gave Tan Yong a huge opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To backfill the ventilation shaft, the company had already opened a passage to the site, and vehicles arrived periodically, making Tan Yong’s presence unremarkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no gatekeepers or guards here; with complete freedom of access, the safety of dumping bodies was greatly enhanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the periodic backfilling meant that after Tan Yong dumped a body, he didn’t even need to bury it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The personnel lowered into the shaft quickly confirmed the presence of the first corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young, fragmented female corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The detectives, who had been working for days, perked up instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dogs stationed at the shaft mouth also began low, snarling barks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Heizi remained calm, showing the composure of an old dog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Using dogs to find bodies is incredibly effective,” Liu Jinghui said, standing beside Heizi and gazing down into the dark ventilation shaft, wanting to pat Heizi but hesitating to reach out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heizi’s handler restrained him, saying, “Modern police dogs are now trained to be all-rounders—ideally possessing tracking, searching, and biting abilities. Heizi is smart and learns fast; his skills are no worse than those of specialized dogs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s that kind of consideration?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Specialized dogs require more frequent deployment, higher demands on handlers, and greater physical exertion from the dogs. Also, maintaining police dogs is expensive; all-rounders offer better cost-effectiveness, especially for smaller units.” Heizi’s handler had been borrowed from Longli County to assist, and his focus was more on the search itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jinghui only pretended to be relaxed, but when the female corpse actually appeared before him, his composure cracked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Based on the weathering, the time of death is over three years; the exact time needs to be determined back at the lab. We’ve collected all the large body parts; the smaller fragments will take more work.” The city bureau’s forensic expert had descended into the shaft and then climbed back up, covered in dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several leaders nodded solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Jinghui grunted in response. Originally, finding the body confirmed his judgment and reasoning—that Tan Yong had killed more than one person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, everyone’s attention was no longer on Liu Jinghui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well done,” Branch Chief Yu Wenshu gave Jiang Yuan a heavy slap on the shoulder, his heart finally at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this case occurred in Changyang City, within its jurisdiction; Liu Jinghui and Gao Qiang were merely reinforcements sent by the provincial bureau, and the Ningtai County detectives were just temporary reinforcements pulled up from below. Ultimately, the main investigative body remained the Changyang City Criminal Investigation Brigade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the case had broken open—no, rather, the truth had come to light—Yu Wenshu truly owed Jiang Yuan thanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His middle-aged, handsome face softened with warmth: “Later, if you have any ideas or thoughts, feel free to come find me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to go down and help,” Jiang Yuan pointed to the ventilation shaft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Wenshu blinked: “It’s all shattered remains down there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I rarely get a chance to work on a case like this,” Jiang Yuan offered a small explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Wenshu nodded in understanding: “Alright then. Youth is a good thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He agreed and arranged for someone to lower Jiang Yuan into the shaft via the hoist basket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those below had no objections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who, unless forced, would willingly dig through corpse fragments? The more experienced forensic experts were often the most reluctant to handle such grim cases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only someone as bold and inexperienced as Jiang Yuan would volunteer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below the shaft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A diameter of over ten meters meant an area of over a hundred square meters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four people crouched inside, each responsible for a patch of ground the size of a small living room, plus the shaft walls, which were at least as large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan wore a gas mask and four layers of gloves, carefully digging through soil and picking up each bone fragment he found.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After three years of decay, most of the human tissue had reduced to bone, though not yet fully turned to bleached skeletons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But three years, combined with the internal environment, had made the bones brittle—like old peanut brittle candy; if not handled carefully, the bones would shatter into extra fragments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Digging soil and uncovering bones, they soon began encountering large chunks of construction debris.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, several broken ribs appeared beside the large concrete slabs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This should be the original soil layer where the bodies were dumped. Above it is all the backfill,” the senior forensic expert sighed. “This job won’t be finished anytime soon—we need machinery down here. At minimum, we need a hand drill and a cutter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whatever you need, we’ll get it,” the detective beside him said calmly. “We’ve already found two bodies, plus the three kidnapped victims. In a case like this, every scrap of evidence must be collected. Come help lift this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan stepped forward, helping others pry open a concrete slab with a crowbar, then carefully extracting the ribs inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faintly glowing ball rolled into Jiang Yuan’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Manli’s Legacy: Culinary Skills [Dog] (LV5)—Cooking for stray dogs was Chen Manli’s most relaxing moment. No matter which city she worked in or which neighborhood she rented in, Chen Manli’s first concern was always buying the right ingredients to prepare delicious, nutritious meals for her beloved dogs. Chen Manli believed humans were ugly, evil, corrupt, filthy, and hypocritical; only those wagging-tailed dogs were truly sincere and adorable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan was momentarily dazed. In his view, LV4 crime scene investigation was already an extremely powerful skill, as evidenced by the performance of Changyang City’s forensic teams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what would LV5 skills be like?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the utility of “Culinary Skills [Dog]” was deeply questionable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would the ultimate winner in life turn out to be Dazhuang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Jiang, come up and rest,” the senior forensic expert called. Together, they climbed into the hoist basket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan snapped back to reality and asked: “Not continuing? There are more bodies down there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tan Yong is coming to identify the scene—we might as well take a break,” the senior expert paused, then added: “This job is massive. Early backfilling even involved pouring concrete directly. Take it slow—it’ll take at least one or two months to finish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan realized it was true. Tan Yong had dumped bodies multiple times over an extended period; excavating everything he had backfilled would be an enormous task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the hoist basket was pulled up to the shaft mouth, and Jiang Yuan and the others were taken to a nearby valley to rest. A while later, a prison van, escorted by two police cars, arrived at the foot of the hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, Tan Yong would have to identify the dumping sites under camera surveillance. This served both as a confession and, more importantly, as proof that the suspect was indeed the murderer. This was also one reason the case had to remain secret—certain details were known only to those involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan had no intention of watching. Having personally visited Tan Yong’s cell, he understood the man’s cruelty and antisocial nature well—he didn’t need to “appreciate” him up close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Forensic,” Wei Zhenguo ran over and grabbed Jiang Yuan by the arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did Tan Yong confess? How many victims total?” Jiang Yuan pried open Wei Zhenguo’s fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When Tan Yong heard the interrogator mention ‘Xingzi Valley Copper Mine’s ventilation shaft,’ he broke down and confessed—six victims total, including the one in the basement,” Wei Zhenguo sighed. “The other five are all here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Over how long?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three years, five murders, then escalated to kidnapping and killing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like it—about one person every six months,” Wei Zhenguo shook his head and sighed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Yuan stared at the abandoned mine site. Under the sunlight, it seemed to reflect metallic glints, blindingly bright, making his eyes involuntarily moisten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The case is nearly done. Let’s head back. If we don’t, Captain Huang will be frantic,” Wei Zhenguo coughed twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, let’s go home.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1405,"2026-06-20T18:55:00.150Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","13f4c20045e04bb4b0d6bce0212b25af8b161bc68b3aa9ccb3d7050b7f1cd559","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-59","the-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-chapter-57",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-nation-s-forensic-medical-examiner-cover.jpg"]