Zhou Ning seemed to take delight in Xu Dayuan's misfortune on one side. In the morning, when Xu had mocked him saying "You faint at the sight of blood," Zhou Ning had been mortifyingly embarrassed. Now, Xu was rambling on, which felt like sweet revenge to Zhou Ning.
The car looked ridiculously expensive, though.
Xu Dayuan's piercing gaze had already settled on Zhao Xinli.
Zhao Xinli shrank his neck and, gritting his teeth, hurriedly held the photo up to Xu Dayuan's face, while he himself stayed at a safe distance.
"Boss, don't be hasty. I've found it. It's just hard to believe. Look, it's this Nissan GT-R 2010 model. The base model without options is priced at 1.48 million yuan. With all the miscellaneous add-ons, it costs nearly 2 million on the road!
It's not a Mercedes-Benz or BMW, so why is it so expensive? Others don't understand either, it's like showing off to nobody. And it's just a cramped two-door, four-seater with such a low chassis."
Zhao Xinli rattled on and on until Xu Da raised his hand, and instantly he fell silent, realizing he was rambling again.
"Using the models of these two cars, retrieve surveillance footage from all angles at the overpass on the south side of the North Outer Ring. If you want to enter the North Outer Ring from the south, the overpass is the only way. Take some people and go there personally. Tell the traffic police that I don't want to hear that it needs to be done by tomorrow."
"Boss, you can count on me. I'm on it and I'll have the surveillance footage within two hours."
Zhao Xinli stood at attention, his dress shoes clicking, then called the criminal police officers to leave in two cars.
Xu Dayuan sighed, glanced at the crime scene, and then looked at the evidence bag in Zhou Ning's hands.
"Did we find anything else?"
"No... nothing..."
Zhou Ning clenched the evidence bag tighter. He had planned on sending it for analysis, but according to the "Level Two Forensic Scene Analysis" manual, there were no such facilities available at this time. He had never heard of the several tests listed on it, and couldn't explain their principles either.
Xu Dayuan raised an eyebrow, curious, and reached for the evidence bag. Zhou Ning struggled for a bit before reluctantly letting go.
"What's all this secrecy, kid? What's this pitch-black debris?"
Zhou Ning scratched his head, his mind racing for the right words to explain.
"This is particulate matter extracted from the skid marks of the brakes. I once heard a senior who studies chemistry talking about it. Tires are made from natural rubber (NR), polybutadiene rubber (BR), or styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) alone or in combination, along with additives like curing agents, accelerators, antioxidants, fillers, and other organic or inorganic additives.
Each brand and series, even tires from different batches or in different states of wear, will have slightly different ingredients extracted from their skid marks.
Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, it's possible to analyze and compare these. I thought of asking my advisor about it later to see if anyone has done this kind of analysis. It could provide us with extra evidence in identifying the murderer."
Holding the evidence bag, Xu Dayuan was stunned. He handed the bag back to Zhou Ning and gave him a hearty pat on the shoulder.
"Doctor Zhou, having knowledge really makes a difference. I don't understand all those tests you're talking about, but I get the gist. You're saying these skid marks are like fingerprints, each one's a bit different, right?"
Zhou Ning nodded.
"No rush. I'll ask someone later. I've never heard of it, but don't worry. If no one's doing it, you work on it yourself!"
"What?"
Zhou Ning was dumbfounded, and Xu Dayuan waved his hand dismissively.
"Don't be so surprised. I happen to know a doctor at Qindao University in the city, I think he's from the chemistry department. I'll mention this to him later, and if he's interested, that would be great. Now, you go home!"
Experiments?
Papers?
Doctor?
As someone who had struggled academically, Zhou Ning had never dared to fantasize about such things before. He pushed up his glasses, and the countdown that damned countdown was now at 47:28. Zhou Ning clenched his teeth, looking towards Xu Dayuan.
Zhao Xinli was checking the surveillance, and he didn't know if there would be any findings. Perhaps they could investigate the deceased's social relations. No matter what, he had to complete this temporary mission.
Sigh, he had managed just fine before acquiring the forensic literature. Without being too ambitious, his Level Two certification was more than enough. If he failed to complete the task and some of his knowledge was taken back, now that would be truly uncomfortable. How could he go home?
"Xu Da, I'm not in a hurry. By the way, how's the social relationship investigation going?"
Seeing that Zhou Ning wasn't rushing off, Xu Dayuan smiled.
"When I worked my first criminal case, I was just like you, too excited, practically living in the police station. I was so eager to catch the murderer, but haste is useless in a case like this."
Zhou Ning was startled; clearly, Xu Dayuan had more to say and lowered his voice.
"Didn't the autopsy report say that the uterine walls were thin? Based on that, we did some side investigations at the medical school. The social relations of the deceased, Su Manli, are quite complex. She had several boyfriends, and it's a mess with her ex and current boyfriend."
On hearing this, Zhou Ning was intrigued.
It looked like they had identified the ex-boyfriend and current boyfriend. If that were the case, wouldn't checking whether they owned either of the two car models they had just discovered accelerate the investigation?
Seeing the subtle expressions on Zhou Ning's face, Xu Dayuan could guess what he was thinking.
"Don't get excited. Listen to me first. The ex-boyfriend works as a mechanic in Su Manli's father's shop. He's uneducated but good-looking and has a muscular build. The police have brought him in for questioning.
As for the current boyfriend, his background is a bit complicated. His mother is Yang Lihua, the chairwoman of Lihua Group. He took his mother's surname, named Yang Yufei. He was supposedly going to the airport to pick up someone. I've sent someone to follow him to the airport."
Zhou Ning was somewhat at a loss for words.
"Repairman? Why would Su Manli pick a repairman for a boyfriend, when her father is so rich?"
Xu Dayuan raised an eyebrow.
"You haven't seen what the guy looks like. Enough with the questions, hurry home and rest, tomorrow will be busy."
Zhou Ning pressed his lips together, realizing that it made no sense to follow along for now, especially since the current boyfriend hadn't been brought in yet. Xu Dayuan felt it wasn't right to arrest someone directly, considering who he was.
Without wasting words, Zhou Ning left; Xu Dayuan had one of the detectives drive him home.
As soon as he entered the yard, his grandfather stood there with a broomstick in hand.
Seeing this, Zhou Ning quickly raised his hands.
"What's the matter, Grandpa?"
The old man, holding the broomstick, walked towards Zhou Ning.
"Do you have any idea what time it is? Your second uncle called you several times, all unable to connect. Where on earth have you been?"
While speaking, the broomstick swung down towards Zhou Ning, who dodged and caught it in his hand.
"Grandpa, I wasn't out playing. There was a case today, and I've been busy with it. I left my phone in my investigation kit. It probably didn't have any signal."
Hearing this, the old man's grip on the broomstick loosened. Zhou Ning quickly placed the broomstick on a low wall where his grandfather couldn't reach it.
"What kind of case? Did someone die?"
Zhou Ning nodded.
"Yes, the case isn't solved yet, and I can't discuss it due to protocol."
With that, the old man didn't ask further, after all, he had been a village head and was highly conscious.
"Hurry and wash your hands for dinner, and give your second uncle a call back. He's gone to your house in the city."
At the mention of his second uncle, Zhou Ning quickly dialed his number, explained a few things, then hung up. The old man had already set the dishes on the small table in the yard.
After washing his hands, Zhou Ning joined in and started inhaling the braised pomfret.
Watching Zhou Ning's appetite, the old man peeled a couple of garlic cloves for him and sighed,
"As a newcomer, you should observe and learn more. Don't think that just because you've read a few books, you know everything."
"Grandpa, I've been following Xu Da and my master's advice. After all, they have the experience. But today my master had a car accident and fractured his leg."
The old man was startled and then looked worried.
"Then go see your master, and pack up tonight. Stay at your city house; no need to keep running back to the old home every day. I worry about your safety with such a long commute."
Zhou Ning was taken aback; he knew returning to the old house daily had been his grandfather's request previously, but it seemed his grandfather now understood his busy schedule and didn't want him to overexert himself. Considering the case and the countdown, Zhou Ning felt tempted.
"Alright, I'll move there tonight. This case is a bit tricky, and with my master injured, I need to be on call. Don't worry, Grandpa, I'll come back as soon as the case is finished."
The old man waved his hand and continuously fanned Zhou Ning with a palmetto fan.
"I can still get around and do things by myself. Besides, your second uncle is here. Hurry up and eat; your second aunt has cooked pomfret, and I've saved a whole one for you."
Zhou Ning smiled and polished off the pomfret. Just then, a car stopped at the gate, and his second uncle and aunt walked in.
"Second Uncle, Second Aunt, sorry for the worry!"
Zhou Ning quickly stood up to clear the dishes, but his aunt took them from him, and his uncle chuckled.
"I heard from Xu Dayuan that you did a good job today."
Zhou Ning scratched his head as the old man gestured.
"Don't just stand there, go pack your stuff. Let your second uncle take you to the city house."
Zhou Ning went inside to pack, which was basically taking all his books with him. The house in the city had been prepared a long time ago as his wedding home by his grandfather, who had made arrangements for him since his parents had passed away early.
His second uncle worked in the county public security bureau handling logistics, familiar with everyone yet without significant skills. However, he treated Zhou Ning better than his own children.
Carrying his suitcase, Zhou Ning walked out of the main house. No more talking, his second uncle drove him to Yuhua Residential Community. He dragged his suitcase back home, took a shower, and lay down on the bed.
After such a long day, he was truly exhausted. Zhou Ning fell asleep within minutes.
In his dream, he sat in a room without windows, with a seven-volume set of books on the table.
On it, "Level Two Forensic Scene Analysis" was printed in large, eye-catching letters. The size and thickness were intimidating. No matter how much he wanted to back away and struggle, he couldn't move, so he just sat down and began to turn the pages, one by one.
Case One...