National Forensic Doctor-Chapter 1137 - 1068: Internal Investigation and External Coordination

Chapter 1137: Chapter 1068: Internal Investigation and External Coordination

If it were someone else insisting on this, Cao Chujun would have argued back a couple of lines. But since it’s Jiang Yuan, Cao Chujun couldn’t help but take it more seriously.

"I’ve checked all domestic archives I could access—there’s no such person. Additionally, I asked several connections to inquire about it, but there’s been no reply so far. It seems like there really isn’t anyone by that name." Yu Wenshu, having been pulled along by Cao Chujun to run some circles, returned and met with Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan rubbed the Guan Gong emblem on his chest, nodded slightly, and said, "No rush. Keep investigating for now. Since we don’t have a second suspect yet, this Lu Jianchun is still highly suspicious."

"This suspect, Lu Jianchun, indeed has some issues. A regular person wouldn’t behave like this during interrogation. Even if he isn’t the murderer in this case, he’s probably carrying baggage from another crime." Cao Chujun, a veteran detective, knew this very well. Back in his younger days, solving major cases depended heavily on interrogation. Unlike now, when detectives can immediately retrieve deleted messages from suspects’ phones.

Everyone nodded in agreement. After two days of questioning, their morale remained relatively stable largely because of this.

If they’d encountered someone innocent, terrified, or overly cooperative—divulging everything with no resistance—the case might’ve been even more troublesome.

Although Lu Jianchun had been involved with the first victim, Zhao Qian, such relationships aren’t illegal. Furthermore, Zhao Qian had many targets, and Lu Jianchun ranked favorably amongst them in terms of appearance. Falling within her radar and getting entangled was quite ordinary.

"We could enhance our visits to Lu Jianchun’s ex-wife, relatives, as well as his friends. If necessary, bring them in for questioning." Liu Jinghui suggested a straightforward method.

Yu Wenshu immediately replied, "Sure, that works."

If a suspect is difficult to crack, then focus on breaking through the people around them. There’s no such thing as a truly solitary individual; humans are the sum of all relationships. Establishing interpersonal connections is a basic human need, and it’s hard for someone entirely isolated to survive in society.

Even if Lu Jianchun keeps tight-lipped, his life cannot possibly be entirely confidential. If it truly is, then there’s an even bigger issue at play.

The group left the conference room and got busy with their respective tasks.

After informing Yu Wenshu, Jiang Yuan returned to the small house he had purchased behind the Criminal Police Brigade.

This 220-square-meter, warmly arranged home was suddenly crammed with more than a dozen people, instantly giving it a more cramped feel.

Luckily, they were all detectives accustomed to varying conditions—having experienced luxurious nights and 80-yuan hostel stays. They weren’t particularly picky. Some of the married detectives even took on household duties voluntarily, boiling hot water for everyone.

Jiang Yuan ordered several pots of Haidilao hotpot, waited for the delivery, and then invited everyone to eat together.

Since the case was at a critical juncture, no one was calling for alcohol or other distractions; instead, they focused on tossing meat into the boiling pots.

The warmth of hotpot, the camaraderie of battle-hardened colleagues, and the shared relief of surviving dangers—even bullets—created a spirited atmosphere at the table.

Liu Wenkai raised his cola and took a hearty swig: "Working cases with Captain Jiang is real comfort. Chauffeured rides everywhere, the support from the provincial city’s squad leaders, breaking cases while eating hotpot and singing songs—it’s the dream."

Jiang Yuan modestly replied, "We haven’t cracked this one yet."

"It’s just a matter of time. Besides, I bet there’s something deeper to this case. Lu Jianchun’s identity, for instance—it definitely has some issues." Liu Wenkai, while laughing, still possessed sharp observational skills.

"Hopefully it’s not another spy." Mu Zhiyang, having traveled extensively with Jiang Yuan, had sharp judgment himself. Spies? He’d faced them. Spy bullets? He’d seen them too.

The younger detectives glanced at each other, suppressing their excitement. Witnessing a spy case is rare not just for ordinary citizens but even for detectives. Curiosity bridged the gap between them. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Jiang Yuan thought about the case for a moment, then smiled and said, "The chances of him being a spy are low. At the very least, Lu Jianchun doesn’t fit the profile. He’s in good physical condition but lacks education; his personality strikes me as stubborn."

"Without a stubborn personality, he wouldn’t be able to train himself to this level," Meng Chengbiao remarked, silently cooking two more plates of beef tripe in the pot while his mind wrestled with the swirling uncertainties. "From the interrogation records I’ve reviewed, Lu Jianchun seems to have a bit of streetwise flair. Even if recruited into a spy network, he’d likely just be a fringe operative."

The team dove into a high-level discussion around the topic.

Jiang Yuan dipped his meat into garlic-infused sesame oil, polished off a hefty plate, then wiped his mouth and turned to Liu Jinghui. "This Lu Jianchun, honestly, he feels like a fairly traditional man—someone a bit unsophisticated, right?"

Tang Jia interjected, "He’s a serial womanizer."

Liu Wenkai countered, "Womanizing makes him a traditional man."

Tang Jia’s mental processes overloaded momentarily, while Liu Jinghui nodded and asked, "What’s on your mind?"

"From the timeline laid out in the interrogation records, it looks like after graduation, Lu Jianchun worked locally, rarely leaving Shannan Province. So if he committed other crimes, wouldn’t they likely also be local?"

Jiang Yuan’s remark immediately struck a chord with Liu Jinghui.

Liu Jinghui nodded again. "Check the knife-related cases from recent years around the area. If there are crime scene photos, you might be able to link them up. If the height and arm reach match, it’s probably the same guy."

This wasn’t an unfamiliar strategy for Jiang Yuan. It was merely a matter of adjusting the scope.

Detectives prefer tried-and-true methods. Whether in criminology or medicine, mature approaches are prized—experts’ consensus, standard protocols, treatment guidelines.

Professionals care less about novelty and more about utility.

Jiang Yuan turned his head and said, "Chuanxing, this is your task. By tomorrow, gather all similar cases from Shannan Province. Focus on cases with photos of blood traces at the crime scenes—the more comprehensive, the better."

"Roger that." Wang Chuanxing replied, immediately pouring two plates of meat into the pot. With an all-nighter ahead, he knew he needed to eat more to keep his energy up.

Liu Jinghui cast a sympathetic glance at Wang Chuanxing. Just compiling PPT slides had cost him countless sleepless nights already. But there was no choice—competition within Jiang Yuan’s Cold Case Squad was intense, and standing out was even harder. Not to mention impressing colleagues back at their original stations—everyone was putting their all into making an impact before the Criminal Police Brigade.

"If Chuanxing does the research alone, the workload might be too much," Liu Jinghui voiced his concern.

Jiang Yuan nodded in agreement, looked around, and said, "Yao Wei, assist Chuanxing."

"Ah... Yes!" Shen Yaowei reluctantly put down his chopsticks.

After the hotpot meal.

There were joyful laughs, hearty belly rubs, and plenty of work assignments.

Jiang Yuan returned to the master bedroom, scrolled through his phone for a while, then dozed off.

The next morning, members of Jiang Yuan’s Cold Case Squad rallied to assist the sleep-deprived Wang Chuanxing and Shen Yaowei with their search.

By noon, Yu Wenshu’s call came in: "Lu Jianchun’s childhood friend provided some critical information."