Chapter 290 - 290 263 Scarcity_2

Words : 1691 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

290: Chapter 263 Scarcity_2 290: Chapter 263 Scarcity_2 Contrary to what Wei Zhenguo thought, Jiang Yuan didn’t find the case particularly difficult. This probably had to do with Jiang Yuan’s skills. Bloodstain Analysis is Bloodstain Analysis, whether there are many bloodstains that can be used to reconstruct the scene, or few bloodstains that can still be analyzed for clues. In fact, from a historical perspective, cases like the “513 Knifing Upon Entry” used to be mainstream major cases forty or fifty years ago. Of course, the added difficulty of the perpetrator stabbing the victim right after the door is opened raises the stakes a bit, but the essence remains unchanged. “Haven’t found the transportation used by the killer?” Jiang Yuan asked as he looked at the pictures. Wan Baoming replied, “It seems not. The area is a remote township with public transportation and many illegal cabs. That lead hasn’t been pursued. Should I ask someone from the task force?” “Good,” Jiang Yuan immediately agreed. Wan Baoming then left to make a phone call and soon returned, saying, “There are still two people on the 513 task force, both have followed the case from start to finish. The one coming over is Wang Chuanxing, who’s in the detachment; he’ll be here in 5 minutes.” The murder task force, in theory, is not dissolved until the case is solved. However, during the active investigation period, the task force is well-resourced, allowing other cases and demands to be sidelined. If the case is solved, then naturally everyone is happy. If not, the number of people on the case gradually decreases, but eventually, one or two people will remain, working part-time. These two are responsible not only for attending meetings but also for answering calls, gathering clues, organizing materials, managing documents, and receiving visits from the victim’s families, among other duties. The advantage of this approach is that someone knows the case details from beginning to end. When the case is reopened, the detectives handling cold cases can get up to speed quickly, especially with those details that are not in the official files. While waiting for Wang Chuanxing, Mu Zhiyang and Wang Zhong were brought over by someone. Wei Zhenguo introduced them to each other and then told them to stay aside. Mu Zhiyang and Wang Zhong were as obedient as little chicks. The reputations of the Changyang City Criminal Police Detachment and the Forensic Science Center awe both of them. Moreover, they had only seen random murders on television. A few minutes later, a detective came in with a box of files. “Director Wan,” Detective Wang Chuanxing greeted. This was a young and neatly dressed detective with a well-proportioned figure, standing straight with bright eyes, obviously well-educated. Wan Baoming smiled, invited him to sit down, and briefly introduced Jiang Yuan and the others before saying, “Doctor Jiang has a few questions about the 513 case. See if you know anything about it.” “No problem,” Wang Chuanxing put the box on the table and said, “I’ve also brought some of the case files... Hmm, are we going to reopen this case?” Having been with the task force for three years, Wang Chuanxing also hoped the case would be solved, to comfort the families and give everyone closure. Director Wan shook his head first and said, “It’s too early to talk about reopening. We are first getting to know the case, and if we can find new key leads, only then will we discuss reopening. By the way, Doctor Jiang just asked me... the killer’s means of transport, did we find it originally?” “No,” Wang Chuanxing shook his head, “The local transport situation is very complex. Just ahead of Shunling Township is Manshui River, which is navigable during the half-year flood season. There are some small boats, too. Moreover, the local township enterprise mainly deals with wood processing, and there is a small logistics park nearby; from the logistics park to the victim’s home, it’s about a thirty to forty-minute walk at a brisk pace—I walked it myself.” Having a logistics park means there are large trucks which can also carry passengers, especially the trucks from the logistics park, as some owners would ride along or hitch a ride on a truck. But whether it’s trucks or boats, the trouble is there are no records. Forget surveillance; there aren’t even ticketing points, and the vehicles and vessels aren’t fixed. Wang Chuanxing continued, “Shunling Township is also connected by highways, national roads, county roads, and provincial roads. There are long-distance bus stations, long-distance public bus stations to Changyang City, and illegal cars and motorcycles locally—the surveillance is basically useless...” Wang Chuanxing then looked at Wan Baoming and said, “Regarding transportation, the task force didn’t make any progress initially.” “And witnesses?” Jiang Yuan continued unfazed, “Did anyone hear about meter reading and come out to see? Didn’t the killer go to another house to read the meter?” “I didn’t go to anyone else’s house,” Wang Chuanxing said. “This is how the next-door neighbor described it. The local residential area is a pattern of one small courtyard next to another, but many people have moved away. The victims’ neighboring couple were already nearly 70 years old, and it was nap time in the afternoon. They only complained about the noise outside and didn’t go out to look.” “Did anyone else hear the cries of reading the electric meter?” “Three or four people said they did hear it.” “What about the timing? How long were the cries?” “There are various accounts. Some said they heard a few cries, others said they heard shouts for a few minutes,” Wang Chuanxing said. “They are all old men and women, not very good at hearing.” “Hmm, I understand,” Jiang Yuan pondered for a moment and then asked, “So, what was your primary direction in the investigation at that time?” “The case was judged to be a murder triggered by a break-in theft or robbery,” Wang Chuanxing answered. Wei Zhenguo asked, “It wasn’t random killing?” “Initially, someone might have suggested that. But the task force judged from several angles that it was not a random killing,” Wang Chuanxing looked at Wei Zhenguo and continued, “First, the location of the crime, Shunling Township, is quite complex in terms of traffic, but after all, it’s a small town that people from outside the area have never heard of. The fact that the murderer specifically came here to commit the crime implies it was not a spontaneous action.” Wang Chuanxing paused before continuing, “Reading the electric meter is also quite an unusual ruse. Changyang City has not needed meter reading for many years, so for the killer to shout about it suggests at least some familiarity with the situation, at least enough to scout out the place.” “At that time, the task force believed it was likely that the killer intended to exploit the local situation where there were many elderly people living alone who were relatively well-off, to trick his way into homes to commit robbery. Given the circumstances in the neighborhood then, one or two people would have been enough to control the situation.” “Based on our inquiries, the victim had a military background, and ordinarily, he had a quite assertive personality. It might have been for this reason that the robbery went awry, leading the two suspects to abandon their criminal plan!” Jiang Yuan involuntarily glanced at Wan Baoming. Wang Chuanxing’s description differed somewhat from Wan Baoming’s initial account. Of course, the objective facts were the same. But Wan Baoming’s account had more uncertainty. Wang Chuanxing’s account seemed more certain, but on closer inspection, it was based more on conjecture. “Regarding the judgment of burglary or robbery, was there any evidence?” Jiang Yuan then asked. “At that time, there had been multiple thefts and robberies in Shunling Township, including one cracked case where the culprits were two truck drivers. After the construction of a logistics park locally, freight rates had plummeted, affecting the income of local drivers, who were under pressure from mortgages and car loans, and so they rashly turned to crime...” Wang Chuanxing explained. “So, you think this case was also the work of truck drivers? You must have looked into that,” Jiang Yuan said. “Yes, but with no result,” Wang Chuanxing admitted candidly and added, “Local thieves and individuals with a history of violent crime were also investigated. No result.” Jiang Yuan nodded slowly and asked a few more questions, then said, “I’d like to visit the scene. Captain Wang, do you have time to join me?” “Sure, just let me know when you’re ready,” Wang Chuanxing replied with a smile, standing up to leave. After Wan Baoming and the others left, Jiang Yuan was asked, “It looks like you have a line of thought?” Being from a technical background, he knew that technicians wouldn’t opt for a site visit unless there was a strong purpose behind it. Paperwork was a mode of operation more recognized by technicians. Jiang Yuan nodded and countered Wan Baoming’s question, “It appears that you and the task force disagree on this case?” “Not at all, not at all. There’s no disagreement,” Wan Baoming waved his hands repeatedly and said, “The task force is there to solve practical problems; their goal is to crack the case. Even I wouldn’t initially define the case as random, because then how would one solve it, right?” “But you think it was a random act?” Jiang Yuan asked. Wan Baoming’s expression changed, and he first looked at the door to make sure no one was there before he spoke in a low voice, “While it doesn’t sound very respectful to the dead, the romanticism of a random act, I mean the literary kind of romanticism, is indeed quite rare.” Jiang Yuan glanced at Wan Baoming. Indeed, some things were quite scarce.

Chapter 290 - 290 263 Scarcity_2

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