The vow to solve every homicide.
It wasn't just an empty slogan.
It was an order issued in 2004 by the Ministry of Public Security, aimed at reducing crime rates through intensified efforts in apprehension.
And indeed, the results aligned with what the higher-ups envisioned.
Due to the pressure of solving every homicide case, local investigative teams increased their efficiency and dedication to a whole new level.
Almost 95% of homicide cases could now be solved within 48 hours, a period known as the "golden 48 hours."
Of these, the most critical timeframe is the first 24 hours after a report is received and the victim's body is found. Most key clues are usually discovered within this time.
The rise in case-solving efficiency naturally caused many would-be criminals to think twice, discouraged by the vigorous pursuit efforts.
...
A police car sped down the road, pulling to a stop in a remote area near the Huainan River on the outskirts.
Although this city was a bustling metropolis, there were still many desolate outskirts.
The Huainan River was one such place.
Aside from locals and some fishing enthusiasts, very few people wandered near the riverbanks.
At that moment, three officers exited the police car.
From a distance, they could already see an area along the river cordoned off with police tape, with a crowd of elderly onlookers gathered just outside, pointing and speculating.
Xu Changsheng frowned, walked over, and shouted, "What's the crowd for? What's the crowd for?"
"Gathering around a dead body? Hurry up and leave. Don't obstruct the police from doing their work."
His shout caused the elderly crowd to fall silent, yet none of them moved. They merely stood beyond the police line, craning their necks to see the situation.
Xu Changsheng didn't say more. He looked at Su Ming and Wang Hu beside him and calmly said, "When the body was discovered, the nearby security officers were the first to arrive, cordoning off the area and having the retrieval team bring up the body."
"Currently, the body isn't in a body bag yet; we need to determine the approximate cause of death and whether a criminal investigation is necessary."
"If it's a suicide or accidental drowning, we can issue a statement and close the case."
"But if it's a homicide, things might get more complicated."
Su Ming nodded in agreement, noticing the confusion in Wang Hu's eyes and explained, "A body found in water generally doesn't give any reference to the first scene of the incident, as it's impossible to know where it might have drifted from."
"We can only retrieve it first, then judge the probable cause of death. If there's a likelihood of homicide, we have to initiate a criminal investigation."
"From the current surroundings..."
"I personally think the probability of accidental drowning is quite low. Given how these elderly onlookers are talking and guessing about who the victim might be, it indicates that the deceased isn't a local resident. Accidental drowning can almost be ruled out."
"As for suicide or homicide, we'll need a closer examination of the body to determine."
Xu Changsheng nodded approvingly.
He hadn't expected Su Ming to be so sharp, already able to rule out accidental drowning based on the expressions and chatter of the onlookers. He gave a big nod and said, "Xiao Ming, your judgment is keen."
"Here's the plan."
"Later, you and Huzi will conduct a preliminary assessment and examination of the body."
"I'll be overseeing. If there are still issues, we'll call in the forensic team for a more detailed examination."
Forensic experts are usually quite busy—not only helping with criminal investigations but also handling various public injuries and autopsies.
As a result, most criminal investigators have basic skills in examining bodies and analyzing clues, only calling in forensic experts when they hit a dead end.
The three walked inside the police line.
In their sight lay a female corpse, bloated, with a swollen, ghastly pale face, slightly decomposed but not yet to the point of an extremely gruesome appearance.
In general, this body's state wasn't too horrific, as it hadn't reached the advanced stages of decomposition.
A soaking wet member of the retrieval team, wearing a fisherman's hat, pointed to a nearby sack of construction waste and spoke first, "Officer."
"When retrieving the body, I couldn't pull it up, so I went into the water for a closer look."
"Unexpectedly, I found that..."
"The waist of this body was tied to this sack of construction waste, which prevented it from floating up. If someone hadn't accidentally hooked it while fishing, I estimate..."
Though the retrieval team member didn't finish his sentence, everyone present understood. Without that fisherman, this body might have remained hidden until it decomposed entirely.
At this point, suicide could be ruled out.
Xu Changsheng's expression grew serious. He glanced at the body on the shore and waved his hand, saying, "Got it."
"Let's examine the body first to see the exact situation."
Su Ming exchanged a glance with Wang Hu, then took no time in hesitation. He opened the specialized toolkit, pulled on rubber gloves, and prepared for examination.
To avoid disturbing any evidence, they first took photos of the body from multiple angles with a camera, ensuring there would be a complete record for future reference and case files.
Next, Su Ming began searching carefully for clues, while Wang Hu, in perfect sync, held the camera and crouched nearby, awaiting Su Ming's instructions.
During their time in the police academy, they often worked this way—Su Ming would search for evidence while Wang Hu meticulously documented the process and organized the files. Each had their role, each doing their part.
...
At that moment, Su Ming began by taking an overall look at the female corpse. He then proceeded with a top-to-bottom examination, gently opening her closed eyelids to observe the color and size of her pupils.
Though the body had been in the water for several days, a close look at the inside edges of her eyelids revealed pinpoint-sized reddish-brown petechiae around the inner and outer corners of her eyes.
The pupils were an odd pale blue, both the same size, with no sign of dilation or constriction.
Su Ming touched one of her eyeballs and noted a plastic-like texture, nodding thoughtfully.
Then, using tweezers, he lifted her left nostril and swabbed it gently with a cotton swab. There was minimal residue of mud or algae.
He then opened her mouth. Her teeth showed little wear, and there were no dentures. However, the gingival margins of both rows of teeth displayed a rose-red hue.
Su Ming narrowed his eyes at this, tilted her head back, and carefully inspected her neck.
There was a distinct purplish-black bruise about half a finger wide encircling her neck.
Holding his position, Su Ming looked over at Wang Hu and gestured for him to take a photo.
"There's barely any mud, algae, or mucus in the nasal cavity, which suggests she didn't struggle in the water before death. This means she was likely unconscious or already dead when she entered the water."
"Additionally," he continued, "the petechiae around the eyelids, the rose-red color on the gingival margins, and the purplish-black bruise on the neck allow us to conclude..."
"The victim didn't drown but was strangled to death before being disposed of in the water!"