I wasn't trying to hide anything on purpose. After all, I didn't want to show off in front of the cops. Grandpa always told me to keep a low profile when I'm out in the world.
But since she pressed me this far, I had no choice but to reveal a bit:"Actually, my family has been involved in forensic work for generations — the ancient kind of coroner."
"You mean the methods you use are from those old coroner techniques?" Huang Xiaotao asked, sharp as ever.
"Exactly. Don't think I just made this up on the spot. It's all inherited wisdom from our ancestors."
Most people have a vague idea of what a coroner was from movies or TV shows, but few really know how they performed autopsies back then. The profession is so mysterious, it's even stranger than monks or shamans.
Huang Xiaotao murmured, "Looks like the ancients weren't fools after all."
I chuckled, "What kind of talk is that? You think without smartphones and TVs for thousands of years, Chinese people lived like apes? Actually, many Chinese technologies led the world for centuries — only starting to decline since the Qing Dynasty. The intellectual treasures left by our ancestors — like the I Ching and the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon — hold profound knowledge, even experts today can't fully unravel."
Huang Xiaotao shook her head, "That mystical stuff is just superstition. I don't understand it, and I don't really believe in it."
"Then what about what you just saw when I examined the corpse? Do you think that's superstition too? But why did every step I took come with a scientific explanation that you couldn't deny?" I asked.
...
...
"Alright, I admit it — you do have some skills," Huang Xiaotao reluctantly conceded.
I smirked quietly. Her concession was just that I was good — not that ancient people were impressive. Modern folks raised on civilization and technology tend to think airplanes and cars make them superior. That mindset isn't easy to change overnight.
So, I didn't bother saying more.
"Are we done examining the body?" Huang Xiaotao asked.
"There's nothing more to check now. It's still early; let's go look into some other leads." I said, clapping my hands.
"Okay." She nodded.
At that moment, an old man in a white coat entered, carrying a box. Two policemen followed him in a grand entrance.
I recognized him immediately — Forensic Expert Qin. I thought he'd stepped away from the case? His nerve was thick.
"Nothing more to examine?" Qin sneered, glancing around the scene. "Playing tricks, thinking coroners are all that. Can you test DNA? Fingerprints? You've turned this corpse into a mess. Huang Xiaotao, do you think a homicide scene is a kindergarten? Bringing this kid along to mess around — see how you explain that to your superiors."
Apparently, he overheard our earlier conversation. Huang Xiaotao frowned, "Qin, didn't you say you were quitting this case? Why are you back?"
"Yes, I said I was quitting, but only for the hanging suicide case, not this decapitation case." Qin said sternly.
"Come on, these two cases are obviously done by the same killer!" Huang Xiaotao rolled her eyes.
"Talking to me won't help. If you have complaints, tell Team Leader Lin. He called me earlier, asking why I wasn't on site. I told him you told me not to investigate, and you brought some unknown university kid to mess around. Lin was furious — your team leader got removed, and now I'm in full charge of this task force. If you don't believe me, call him yourself!" Qin said proudly, looking like a petty man enjoying his moment.
Huang Xiaotao's eyes went wide, her fists clenched tightly.
I thought to myself, Qin must have felt humiliated by me, then secretly reported to the higher-ups, probably exaggerating and slandering both of us.
Now he's got the power and is eager to reclaim control.
Qin took out his phone and coldly handed it to Huang Xiaotao: "You better call Team Leader Lin and explain yourself! Try to get leniency and stay on my team."
He emphasized "my," clearly trying to rub it in.
Huang Xiaotao didn't answer. Qin put his phone away, glanced at me casually: "Kid, do you know what crime it is to insult a corpse?"
"Insult a corpse? Which eye of yours saw me insulting the corpse? I'm doing an autopsy!" I snapped back. I had been lenient because of his age and experience, but now, no need.
"Hmph, you call that an autopsy? Do you even have a forensic certificate? You're just messing around." Qin growled.
"If messing around helps solve the case, then what does that make you — a certified failure?" I shot back.
"Ha! With your strange tricks? You think you can solve the case better than all of us cops and forensic experts combined? When you have time, come visit my house. I bet you and my grandson would get along — he loves watching 'Detective Conan' cartoons," Qin taunted sarcastically as he stepped closer.
I stayed calm, not provoked: "Qin, are you saying Huang Xiaotao is kicked out of the task force?"
"Yes! She should thank you properly," Qin said.
"So she can work solo?" I asked.
Qin laughed, "Kid, you're not seriously thinking you two can solve the case alone, right? Besides, acting without orders is punishable."
"Enough nonsense. What if I do solve the case?" I challenged.
"If you solve the case..." Qin paused. I saw he hesitated — after his earlier failure against me, he dared not brag.
I prodded him, "You talked a big game — if I solve it, you resign. Is that true?"
Qin snapped, "Kid, don't get cocky. I'm putting it on record — if you solve the case, I'll resign immediately! But don't get smug. What if I solve it first?"
I asked Huang Xiaotao, "How long is the sentence for insulting a corpse?"
"Up to three years in prison."
"Fine. If you solve it first, arrest me on that charge. I won't hire a lawyer — whatever punishment, I accept!" I declared.
"Hey!" Huang Xiaotao shouted, "Song Yang, you can't say that! Insulting a corpse is a serious crime! Don't be reckless! If you don't want to investigate, then don't, it's not a big deal."
Qin interrupted, "A real man's word is binding. We'll do it your way."
"Then let's wait and see!" I smiled faintly.
"Hmph, wait and see!" Qin scowled.
Throughout the whole exchange, I kept my hand in my pocket, recording it all on my phone — to avoid him denying it later.
I'm a low-profile person, but Qin thinks he can boss me and Huang Xiaotao around just because of his experience.
Enough is enough. If I don't make his face swell three times its size this time, I'm not Song.
"Xiaotao, let's go find those two witnesses now."
I turned to leave. Huang Xiaotao shot Qin a fierce glare and followed me outside.