Chapter 63: Peaceful Days

Hearing they needed a drug test, the man who had just smashed his forehead turned pale and hurriedly said, “I won’t do it, I won’t do it—not even the injury assessment.”

Veteran detective Wu Fa Yi had originally thought Jiang Yuan was just speaking offhand, but the man’s reaction was strangely odd.

“Fine, don’t give me an injury assessment—but now you’re accusing me of drug use? Don’t you fear I’ll sue you?” The man spoke as he tried to pull away and run.

“Your forehead’s bleeding—don’t you need bandaging?” Wu Jun didn’t push back, smiling as he made a subtle hand signal.

The man grew even more panicked and bolted straight for the exit.

Like a fish charging into a net, he ran straight into the arms of a group of police officers at the door.

This was the Criminal Investigation Unit’s office area; Wu Fa Yi raised his voice and gave the signal. Officers who saw it immediately dropped what they were doing and closed in like a net.

The man’s forehead was swollen with blood, and he grew more agitated: “I don’t want your forensic doctor to bandage me—let me go! I’ll get my assessment elsewhere!”

But now he could only struggle within the officers’ grasp.

Like a shrimp caught in a crab’s claw.

Wu Fa Yi hadn’t expected such an unexpected bonus; he glanced warmly at Jiang Yuan.

The man’s emotions were clearly off—he struggled again: “I won’t do it, won’t do it—I have the right to refuse!”

“Stop moving. Move again and I’ll cuff you.” The detective’s voice was rough, nothing like Wu Fa Yi’s gentleness.

The man with the broken forehead couldn’t break free, his strength spent. He sighed and sat down on the floor, whining, “I came here for an injury check after being hit by a car—are you all in cahoots? I’m innocent, innocent!”

“Take him to a room. I’ll call Captain Lu.” Wu Jun had seen too much—those who acted like this always had something to hide.

Jiang Yuan, along with two other detectives, carried him into the injury assessment room.

Soon after, Lu Jianfeng, captain of the Criminal Science and Technology Team, rushed over, full of excitement.

When he first took charge, new drugs were just beginning to spread; Lu Jianfeng established Ningtai County’s drug testing lab and shut down several drug rings.

But Ningtai County was a small town with weak consumption power. After the peak of new drug use passed and several rounds of intensive screenings, the drug testing lab grew increasingly idle. Lu Jianfeng, a full-fledged captain, was nearly reduced to a community anti-drug outreach ambassador.

Finally encountering a suspected drug user, Lu Jianfeng rushed over with a large case. He nodded to Wu Jun and Jiang Yuan, then eagerly pulled out a pile of variously packaged rapid test kits.

Then, from among the rapid test kits, Lu Jianfeng carefully selected a square one, his focus as intense as a long-absent regular returning to a hotel.

“Let’s start with something simple—this one’s comprehensive,” Lu Jianfeng said, peeling off the outer packaging to reveal a row of words: “Positive,” “Negative,” “Invalid,” each corresponding to four diamond-shaped boxes.

Below them, in smaller print, were: “Morphine,” “Ice,” “Ecstasy,” “K Powder,” “Marijuana.”

Lu Jianfeng smiled and said, “We’ll need a urine sample to begin. If that fails, we test hair. If you still refuse, we’ll take blood.”

“I really didn’t take drugs!” The man with the broken forehead grew more fearful, then angrier: “I just wanted to extort some money—is this really necessary? Is it?”

“Come on then,” Lu Jianfeng laughed happily. The man was erratic, but his breath carried no alcohol smell—Jiang Yuan’s judgment was likely correct.

After the false release and return, Lu Jianfeng cheerfully collected the urine sample, using the same method as a pregnancy test.

The man with the broken forehead sweated through his grip, sitting silently on the chair.

Not long after, the results appeared.

“Ice,” Lu Jianfeng sighed. “You’re kinda unoriginal—still smoking ice these days, and not even a buddy to share it with.”

“You… you tested wrong…” The man clung to denial even as the evidence stared him in the face.

Lu Jianfeng shrugged. “If it’s wrong, we test again. If not, we draw blood. I think you’re hallucinating—got high and came to the police station to scam us?”

“I’m broke,” the man grumbled, still defiant.

“Broke and coming to the police station? Well, not the first time I’ve seen this,” chuckled the nearby detective. “Guess this is ours now? Come on, let’s move.”

The officer was from the Third Squad; now he acted like he’d won the lottery, warmly wrapping his arm around the man and thanking Wu Jun profusely.

Wu Fa Yi said, “Jiang Yuan spotted it—he’s got sharp eyes. Otherwise, he’d have slipped away.”

The officer thanked Jiang Yuan too: “Jiang Fa Yi, you’re amazing. Thank you.”

Catching a drug user was a huge stroke of luck—everyone felt boundless joy.

Jiang Yuan smiled politely, like a new office worker.

After returning to the office under the setting sun, he slipped a pack of soft Zhonghua into his master’s drawer.

…

After work, Jiang Yuan rode his electric scooter home.

Along the riverbank, shadows of trees receded, the evening breeze brushing his face—peaceful, tranquil days.

When he reached Jiang Village Community and neared the small grocery, the cheerful voices of greetings and curiosity forced him to stop.

“Just returned from a trip,” Jiang Yuan said vaguely, unable to explain the details.

“Do forensic doctors even go on trips?” Auntie Shi, who ran the grocery, called out loudly. “Is it someone from our county who died somewhere else?”

“Not exactly,” Jiang Yuan replied, then paused—he realized, actually, Auntie Shi wasn’t far off.

Auntie Liu asked, “Jiang Yuan, how many days have you been gone? You’ve been away this long?”

Auntie Liu was from his grandfather’s generation; Jiang Yuan stopped and said, “Two weeks.”

“So you dissect one corpse a day—those two weeks mean over ten people died?” Auntie Liu mused. “No wonder you’re so busy.”

“Not that many deaths,” Jiang Yuan laughed.

“Then why haven’t you come home for so many days?” Auntie Liu frowned.

Jiang Yuan lowered his voice. “I really am busy.”

“Aren’t forensic doctors always busy dissecting corpses?” Auntie Liu pressed. Others nearby nodded.

Jiang Yuan blinked. “It’s not just dissecting corpses.”

“Didn’t you finish your Seventeenth Uncle’s autopsy in one day? How could you be gone for ten days without doing ten autopsies?” Auntie Liu completed her logic loop, tapping the grocery counter with a look that said, I see right through you.

The crowd gathered around Auntie Liu, each launching into wild speculation:

“A young couple rented my place two days ago, said they’d stay—but vanished. Phone’s unreachable. I wonder if they’re dead.”

“A few days ago, I bought fruit from an old woman at the market—it was all rotten. When I went back, she was gone. I wonder if she’s dead.”

“My husband went out to play cards yesterday—he hasn’t come home today. I wonder if he’s dead.”

While everyone chattered excitedly, Jiang Yuan got back on his electric scooter.

Looking at his home building in the distance, he felt an inexplicable warmth.