The Forensic Doctor Better Than a Detective

”We found a total of three separate ignition points at the scene, and accelerant components were detected at each one.”

Mr Li slowly put down the teacup in his hand, his expression suddenly turning solemn, his gaze sharp as a torch: ”What accelerant was it?”

Jiang An answered immediately: ”Rapeseed oil.”

”Rapeseed oil?”

Mr Li was slightly taken aback, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the tabletop.

”Gasoline and alcohol are both under very strict control now, especially gasoline; it’s extremely hard to obtain for non-vehicle use, and purchasing it requires real-name registration.”

”Alcohol, as a flammable substance, is also a highly regulated material... The killer choosing rapeseed oil is actually quite logical.”

He followed up at once, his tone carrying a professional caution: ”Can the cooking oil at home really act as an accelerant?”

”Absolutely,”

Jiang An nodded in confirmation. ”I just consulted Director Ma from the Technical Center as well. He said that although rapeseed oil itself is not easy to ignite directly, once it’s ignited by another fire source, its combustion lasts a long time and the fire spreads quickly. Once it starts burning, it becomes extremely fierce.”

Hearing this, Mr Li slowly leaned his head back against the chair and closed his eyes, as if to let the information he had just received settle repeatedly in his mind.

”The accelerant is rapeseed oil, and there are three independent fire sources... That basically allows us to define this case as arson; it’s by no means accidental.”

After a brief silence, he let out a light sigh.

The truth was gradually surfacing, yet the pressure on his shoulders had not lessened in the slightest.

Once a malicious arson case of this nature is made public, it is bound to attract intense public scrutiny, and both the time limit for solving the case and the direction of investigation will face a severe test.

After a moment, Mr Li opened his eyes again, his gaze refocused, and he said in a grave tone: ”Since we’ve determined it to be arson, we can basically rule out the possibility of accidental fire.”

”It’s highly likely the perpetrator was an outsider, or else...”

He paused briefly, his voice lowering a few degrees. ”We also can’t completely rule out the possibility that an insider committed the crime and then staged the scene.”

”In this type of case, there is no shortage of precedents where suspects first commit a violent crime and then set a fire to cover up the evidence.”

He turned to Jiang An, his eyes serious and deep. ”At this stage we must consider multiple lines in parallel and further broaden our investigative perspective.”

”Besides deliberate arson by an outsider, we must thoroughly investigate whether the deceased and their family members had any history of mental illness, whether they showed abnormal emotions recently, and even carefully assess whether extreme scenarios might exist.”

”For example, family members within the household—any possibility must not be overlooked at this point; the chain of evidence has to be solid.”

After listening carefully, Jiang An nodded in earnest response: ”Your instructions are very comprehensive. Our various investigative tasks are currently being advanced in parallel—technical work, field canvassing, and surveillance review going forward on three fronts. Once there is any breakthrough, I’ll report to you at the first opportunity.”

Mr Li gave a slight nod, then asked: ”How are those bodies being handled at the moment?”

”Has the forensic side given any preliminary feedback?”

Jiang An replied: ”Mr. Wu was originally still on medical leave, but when he heard how serious the case was, he took the initiative to participate in the examination, and I’ve already agreed.”

”Wasn’t he still recuperating?”

There was a note of concern in Mr Li’s voice.

”He said he’s more or less recovered. Sitting alone at home only makes him feel stifled; better to come back and fight alongside everyone, and still make some contribution.”

Mr Li pondered for a moment, then finally nodded his approval. ”That’s fine.”

”The two forensic doctors are also in place now. It’s a good chance for Mr. Wu to guide them and help train the younger ones.”

”You’re the captain of the Criminal Investigation Team; you can’t be personally overseeing every autopsy from start to finish.”

Jiang An smiled and said, ”That’s what Mr. Wu said as well.”

”I just checked the time. The car from the Criminal Investigation Team has probably already dropped him off at the autopsy room by now.”

At this moment, inside Autopsy Room No. 1 of the Jiangcheng City Forensic Autopsy Center, the air was cool and solemn.

Mr. Wu stood beside the central autopsy table, his expression steady, instructing two newly arrived forensic assistants in the preparatory work before the examination.

Although the two of them had only reported for duty yesterday, today they were directly involved in this major case involving four bodies.

Yet there was not the slightest hint of fear in their eyes; instead, they shone with a hunger for knowledge and a focused intensity.

Mr. Wu no longer needed to do everything himself; he stood more to the side, supervising and offering guidance.

Looking at the two young people before him, practically itching to get started as they faced the charred male body on the autopsy table, he gave a slight nod. His tone was mild, yet every word rang firm as he began:

”There’s a fundamental principle for us forensic doctors—equality of all beings.”

”Whether the deceased was a high-ranking official or an ordinary citizen in life, in our eyes they are all just the dead who need us to uncover the truth.”

”So in this profession we must always remain fair, objective, and meticulous. We can’t overlook any detail, can’t let any possibility slip by. We must present every mark and every piece of evidence on the body of the deceased fully and accurately.”

The two young forensic doctors listened with great attention, nodding from time to time.

Mr. Wu’s tone softened slightly as he continued: ”There’s a very famous forensic doctor, Qin Ming, and he once said something that I’ve remembered ever since—’silent testimony.’”

”We forensic doctors are essentially conversing with corpses in the lab, searching for evidence in silence, letting physical evidence speak, and ultimately taking it from the lab to the courtroom.”

”Every discovery of a tiny trace is a powerful statement in favor of the truth.”

A clear sense of respect surfaced in their eyes, as if this speech had ignited in them a deeper identification with the profession.

Seeing this, Mr. Wu’s tone shifted to stern: ”This profession of forensic medicine is sacred, and it is also full of challenges.”

”Sometimes you’re faced with a body and you examine it for one day, two days, or even longer.”

”If you still can’t find the cause of death or determine the weapon that caused the injuries, then in a certain sense, that examination is a failure.”

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over the two of them, then continued: ”In our forensic team in Jiangcheng City, ever since my mentor’s generation we have attached great importance to professional inheritance.”

”Later came Captain Jiang—he’s also from a forensic background, with a very solid professional foundation. It’s just that his administrative work is heavy now, so he couldn’t make it here today.”

”If you get the chance in the future, have him personally guide you—you’ll certainly benefit greatly.”

”His ’Double Knife Dissection’ technique and his unique insights into complex bodies even surpass mine.”

”What’s more, he’s not that old—only a few years older than you at most.”

As soon as they heard the name ”Captain Jiang,” the two assistants’ eyes brightened almost simultaneously.

The captain of the Jiangcheng Criminal Investigation Team, Jiang An—who had already earned some academic renown and cracked major cases at a young age—had long been an idol for many forensic students.

The female forensic doctor wearing glasses, whose smile revealed little tiger teeth, couldn’t help speaking up, her tone unable to conceal her excitement: ”Mr. Wu, did Captain Jiang graduate from a forensic program?”

”Did he handle major cases right after entering the profession?”

”Our teachers always say that experience is the most important thing in forensic work... Does he really have some special talent?”

Mr. Wu smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes easing a little. ”Everyone’s talent is different. Captain Jiang does indeed have high comprehension and is willing to delve into things.”

”But he also moved forward one step at a time, starting from a grassroots forensic position, slowly accumulating experience before reaching where he is today.”

”No success comes from talent alone.”

Finally, he looked at the two young people with earnest eyes and said solemnly:

”So, in our Jiangcheng, there is a future in being a forensic doctor.”

”You have to have confidence in yourselves, and even more so faith in this profession. Strive to stand on your own as soon as possible, and provide solid technical support for solving cases.”

”Yes, Mr. Wu!”

After this brief opening, Mr. Wu signaled them to begin:

”Then let’s officially start.”

”We have a heavy task today—four bodies. We’ll handle the first one, then the second, and at the end the two with lighter injuries.”

”Once all the autopsies are complete, we’ll compile the reports one by one.”

The two quickly took their positions, standing on either side of the charred body.

Despite facing a highly carbonized body, there was no hesitation in the hands holding their scalpels; their operations were steady and practiced.

Five minutes later, the young female forensic doctor suddenly stopped, looked up, and said:

”Mr. Wu, look here—after peeling away the carbonized skin layer, three hole-like structures can be seen below.”

Mr. Wu immediately stepped forward, bent down for a closer look, and then nodded.

His tone was gentle but carried a clear professional correction: ”In the future, when we describe this, we use standardized terminology—this is ’three wounds, all penetrating into the thoracic cavity.’”