The Forensic Doctor Better Than a Detective

Since Jiang An took the leadership of the criminal investigation team, whether previously as deputy captain or now officially in charge as captain, his opportunities to personally conduct autopsies have significantly decreased.

More often, he needs to oversee the entire situation, coordinate investigation directions, and grasp the case context from a higher perspective.

Recently, during a case in Chuan City, he led the overall investigation strategy, with teamwork tackling tough problems, ultimately successfully solving several major cases.

Although command and decision-making are equally important, for him, returning to the autopsy table and holding that gleaming surgical knife again is an irreplaceable feeling of solidity and focus.

At this moment, as he stands once more before the autopsy table, the moment his fingers touch the knife handle, a familiar and intimate sensation spreads from his fingertips to his heart.

It feels as if the surgical knife has never left him, still fitting like an old friend.

He can’t help but recall a saying by the famous forensic expert Qin Ming: ”The surgical knife is the sixth finger of a forensic expert.”

It’s not just a tool, but an extension of the senses, a key to uncovering the truth.

Jiang An calms himself, precisely inserting the knife tip into the predetermined position on the abdomen of the deceased.

The body before him was severely burned by fire, the skin and tissue of the thoracic and abdominal areas extensively carbonized, presenting a startling blackness.

Under extreme high temperatures, the body’s protein content rapidly solidifies and shrinks, causing muscle tissues to twist and gather into hard lumps.

The body’s overall volume is significantly reduced compared to when alive, its shape severely deformed, especially the chest and abdomen, which are almost shriveled into a lump.

As he cuts, he reconstructs the human anatomy in his mind—if the burning occurs in the limbs, because the flexor tendons are far more developed than the extensor tendons, high temperatures will naturally cause the body to present the typical ”boxer’s pose,” with hands and feet curled, as if a fighter poised to strike.

While Jiang An is fully engrossed in his task, Zhang Yean beside him unconsciously raises the camera, continuously pressing the shutter.

”Click, click”

The soft sounds are especially clear in the quiet autopsy room.

Zhang Yean instinctively raises the camera, quickly adjusts the focus, and presses the shutter in succession.

The two have worked together for many years, and no longer need verbal cues; even a glance or pause is enough to convey meaning.

Before, Jiang An needed to look up to indicate key points, but now Zhang Yean can anticipate his rhythm—each time Jiang An completes a section of the autopsy and puts down the surgical knife, that is the cue for Zhang Yean to raise the camera and record.

They both know that ”a good memory is not as reliable as a bad pen,” and in forensic work, the camera is the most objective ”pen.”

Systematic and standardized photography is not only a real-time record of key evidence but also an essential basis for subsequent evidence analysis, injury assessment, and even courtroom testimony.

Behind every photo is a responsibility to the truth and respect for the deceased.

After taking several photos, Zhang Yean can’t help but ask, ”Mr. Jiang, it’s all burned like this, a mass of charred black...”

Jiang An’s actions do not pause.

He nods slightly, his tone calm and firm: ”It does indeed appear severely damaged; high temperatures will destroy surface tissue, but some structures are deep and protected by the pelvis.”

”For instance, the uterus—it’s located deep in the pelvic cavity, in a relatively enclosed environment, even if the surface is severely burned, it may still retain some intact structure.”

Before he finishes speaking, he deftly makes a transverse incision in the deceased’s lower abdomen.

The human abdominal and pelvic cavities are interconnected; with this incision, the internal organs gradually become visible.

Most of the upper abdominal organs are carbonized and deformed, but in the area close to the pelvic cavity—including parts of the small intestine, rectum, and even around the anus—there are still traces of gray-white tissue remaining.

According to the structure of human anatomy, at the lower end of the large intestine, in the center of the pelvic cavity, is exactly where they are looking for the uterus.

Then, Jiang An gently puts down the scalpel, his movements smooth and steady.

He slowly separates the abdominal organs of the deceased with both hands, his actions both cautious and decisive.

At the moment the organs are separated, his eyes suddenly narrow—in the junction between the base of the organs and the pelvic cavity, a small amount of uterine structure remains.

Although it has significantly shrunk and hardened under high temperatures, and even partially carbonized, its basic shape is still recognizable, like remnants tempered by fire, silently and tenaciously conveying the possible truth.

Jiang An leans forward slightly, explaining to the team members beside him in a steady tone, ”High temperatures cause significant changes in most biological tissues, especially protein components, which coagulate, shrink, and even carbonize.”

”However, this does not mean that all structures will completely disappear.”

”Sometimes, it is precisely in these severely damaged areas that crucial evidence may still be preserved.”

Nearby, the assistant technician shows a surprised expression and can’t help but whisper, ”Strange, during our preliminary check yesterday, we didn’t notice any uterine remnants... The surface was burned so severely, we almost unanimously thought the internal reproductive organs were completely destroyed.”

Adjusting the microscope lens, Zhang Yean jokingly interjects, ”That’s why the work can’t just rely on ’thinking’; it needs to be like Mr. Jiang, cut inside slice by slice, and see clearly.”

Jiang An turns his head, his tone calm and assured: ”Yes. I have always believed that if something can be proven with objective facts, do not rely on subjective speculation.”

”Our understanding has limitations, especially when facing severely damaged corpses, we must not make rash conclusions based merely on appearances.”