The Forensic Doctor Better Than a Detective

The opening meeting, originally warm and highly anticipated, ended abruptly in less than an hour and a half.

When the attendees gradually left, everyone seemed unusually stiff, their expressions grave, showing none of the liveliness and anticipation at the start of the meeting.

Some couldn’t conceal their disappointment, shaking their heads and sighing softly, clearly dissatisfied with the meeting’s results and process.

Director Hou and Jiang An seemed oblivious to the low-pressure atmosphere around them.

Soon, the group headed straight to the parking lot—they were to proceed with Mr. Chen to conduct an on-site investigation at the scene of the incident.

Once inside the black business car, Director Hou sighed lightly, a slightly sarcastic smile tugging at his lips, and said, ”Mr. Jiang, today we really ’took a risk’, didn’t we?”

Jiang An smiled slightly at these words and responded, ”Yes, Director Hou.”

”Setting us up like this right from the start, isn’t it clear they’re putting us on the spot?”

Director Hou let out a brief, knowing chuckle, his tone exuding a bit of understanding and helplessness: ”Polite on the outside, but they’ve long regarded us as pawns.”

”But speaking of which, the three points you raised at the meeting were indeed very pertinent and hit the nail on the head—those are precisely the gaps they left in the early stages of the investigation.”

He paused briefly, his expression turning serious, ”Especially the third point: during those ten or so minutes when the reporter left, what exactly happened? They never figured it out.”

”This point is crucial...”

Jiang An nodded, reflecting, ”We need to find the reporter from that time and ask them to recall in as much detail as possible the exact posture of the deceased.”

At these words, Director Hou sighed deeply, with a tone of contemplation and sentiment: ”Indeed, after carefully examining the event from start to finish, there are some logically hard-to-explain doubts.”

”Something feels off, but it’s hard to specify exactly what at the moment.”

”Anyway, at least this ’Hongmen Banquet’ is finally over, which is a relief.”

Li Yan, listening to the back-and-forth between Director Hou and Mr. Jiang, sensed some unspoken understanding hidden in their conversation, and couldn’t help but look up, his tone laced with some confusion and curiosity: ”Director Hou, Mr. Jiang, you spoke so seriously and tensely, but Wang Liang and I didn’t perceive anything unusual, completely like outsiders.”

Upon hearing this, Director Hou laughed heartily, patting Li Yan on the shoulder: ”Haha, the reason you didn’t feel it is that your experience in the public security system is still short.”

”When you stay in this position longer, you’ll understand. In some units, when they invite the higher authorities to ’study’ a case, they often don’t genuinely want you to analyze and gain insight—they want you to nod in agreement with conclusions they’ve already drawn, conveniently shifting the case responsibility and risk onto you.”

He paused here, casting a glance at Jiang An beside him, shifting into a half-joking, relaxed tone: ”Of course, Jiangcheng City Public Security Bureau is an exception.”

”Under Mr. Jiang’s leadership, they seldom ask us to ’study’ cases. Instead, we often go there to learn and jointly discuss.”

”On the other hand, if they really have a case requiring higher-level assistance, they absolutely wouldn’t use this ’set-up’ approach to force statements or compliance—the feeling is like being coerced, and I definitely won’t fall for it.”

Jiang An also laughed at this, his tone sincere and composed: ”Director Hou, you overestimate us.”

”Indeed, there are quite a few criminal cases in Jiangcheng, but we always advocate self-reliance and internal breakthroughs.”

”If we really encounter a significant case that leaves us helpless and need your intervention, I certainly won’t organize so many units to ’study’ it.”

He leaned forward slightly, continuing: ”At that time, I would privately invite Director Hou, and in a small office, we would quietly and thoroughly study and discuss it, without making it public or putting you in a difficult position.”

Director Hou nodded frequently, his smile deepening: ”You see, that’s the right way a good comrade handles things—solving problems while preserving dignity, never putting people on the spot.”

Meanwhile, in the white business police car, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

In the driver’s seat, Mr. Qin from the criminal investigation detachment held the steering wheel, looking straight ahead, his expression focused.

In the passenger seat sat Mr. Chen from the municipal bureau—a cigarette freshly lit between his fingers, its smoke slowly swirling inside the car.

The scene from the recent joint case analysis meeting still swirled in their minds.

After leaving the meeting room, Mr. Qin felt suffocated, as if a rock pressed on his heart.

His mind was chaotic, various thoughts interweaving and colliding, and he finally couldn’t resist breaking the silence, turning to Mr. Chen to speak:

”Mr. Chen, do you think... what we did today was a bit unfair?”

Mr. Chen slowly exhaled a plume of smoke, not immediately replying, just asking blandly: ”What do you mean? Explain.”

Mr. Qin’s tone carried hesitation and anxiety: ”Director Hou from the provincial criminal investigation team, they only arrived today.”

”Without any prior notice, we organized such a large case briefing and openly discussed the case details and conclusions in front of so many related departments—doesn’t that obviously make it hard for them?”