"Miss, I won't even charge for the white porcelain jars." The honest homeowner couldn't discern the hidden meaning in Lü Qingqing's words, and neither could Shopkeeper Li.
It turned out that Shopkeeper Li could have made a fortune from this large-scale exhumation. However, he felt pity for those whose bones would be disturbed even in death. Therefore, he voluntarily helped everyone with the arrangements for decayed coffins and burial, not only refusing payment for the rituals but also offering the cheap coffins at a 20% discount.
As for the white porcelain jars, Shopkeeper Li had long made it clear that if he accidentally damaged any bones while moving them, he would give the porcelain jars for free. This was not only an apology to the families but also to ease his own conscience.
Upon learning the truth, Lü Qingqing felt extremely remorseful. It turned out that Shopkeeper Li was not only not unscrupulous but also a conscientious businessman.
"I'm truly sorry, I don't understand the rules and spoke carelessly just now." Lü Qingqing apologized to Shopkeeper Li very sincerely.
"It's alright. In our line of work, rules are paramount. We must treat the deceased with reverence, for our own merit and for our descendants' merit," Shopkeeper Li said dismissively, waving his hand.
Hearing this, Lü Qingqing felt even more guilty. She even wondered if she had been a police officer for too long, automatically assuming the worst in any situation.
Returning to her original position to continue observing the troublemakers, Lü Qingqing was still reflecting on herself when another commotion erupted not far away.
Similarly, a decayed coffin had been unearthed.
However, this time the situation was different. She seemed to hear something about an alarm.
Lü Qingqing looked up. Shopkeeper Li was also in the crowd. Could he have slipped again?
Considering she was a police officer, Lü Qingqing naturally walked forward.
But before she could get close, a man emerged from the crowd.
As he walked, he removed the gloves from his hands.
"Hu Jia, Captain Hu!" a胖子 (pàngzi - fatty/chubby man) squeezed out from behind the crowd.
Lü Qingqing paused. She recognized the胖子. He was Yao Jieyan, the director of the Tongyuanmen branch of the Chongqing Municipal Police Department.
But what surprised her even more was the man. Hu Jia, was it him?
His sparse eyebrows and narrow eyes, with the faint hint of dimples, and his obsidian-like eyes that sparkled with a gentle light.
Indeed, he was a handsome man.
However, compared to his outstanding appearance, Lü Qingqing cared more about the labels attached to him. The most prominent among them was "Chongqing's Top Detective."
Hu Jia was the captain of the Municipal Police Department's Special Operations Team. Rumor had it that any case he led was solved within seven days. Yet, Lü Qingqing thought this was an exaggeration by the public. Who could guarantee solving a case within seven days?
"Captain Hu, how should we handle this matter..." Yao Jieyan was still flattering him.
"Leave this matter to our Special Operations Team," Hu Jia stated expressionlessly, dropping the sentence.
Upon hearing this, Yao Jieyan was almost beaming, "Oh, with Captain Hu taking charge, this case is sure to be solved."
It wasn't that Yao Jieyan was flattering Hu Jia; he genuinely wanted to pass this hot potato.
This was already the third report this week.
The first incident occurred on the first day of exhumation. Someone reported finding a skeleton in the burial ground. This baffled Yao Jieyan. What else would they find in a burial ground if not skeletons? Jewels?
It turned out the person said the unearthed skeleton was missing its left arm.
Yao Jieyan was speechless. The human body has 206 bones. After being buried for a long time, what was wrong with one bone being missing?
But on the fifth day of exhumation, the second report came in. Similarly, this time a thigh bone was missing.
And today, the third report was received.
Now, Yao Jieyan had to take it seriously. But even if he took it seriously, he lacked the capability.
So, he reported it directly to the municipal department.
Now, a big shot had arrived.
Shifting the blame, problem solved!
Just then, Yao Jieyan saw Lü Qingqing. His previously fawning expression immediately changed. "Huh? Aren't you that... that whoever? Why aren't you investigating your rumors and running here to watch the fun?"
Lü Qingqing rolled her eyes at Yao Jieyan in her mind. "If you dare, yell at Hu Jia like that." "Director Yao, my name is Lü Qingqing. I am indeed here to investigate the rumors."
"Rumors, rumors, those are things from the mouths of the living. What are you doing here in the land of the dead?" Yao Jieyan said with annoyance.
"But those rumors are related to the exhumation. If we don't investigate the troublemakers, how can we know if these rumors are related to them?"
"Background checks? Investigating everyone's background one by one? How much time do you have to waste?" Clearly, Yao Jieyan did not approve of Lü Qingqing's investigative methods.
"Isn't solving a case like finding a crystal among shards of glass?" Although she had only been here for a week, Lü Qingqing had already realized that these people were not cut out to be police officers. Apart from thinking about power struggles and money, they had never genuinely cared about the cases.
"Finding crystals? Didn't they say there was a suspect? Just take them in," Yao Jieyan said.
"Where's the evidence? Without evidence, how can I arrest anyone?"
"Causing trouble is the evidence!"
Lü Qingqing, usually a gentle and lovely girl, displayed the feisty nature of a Chongqing girl. "I truly didn't expect Director Yao to handle cases like this. No wonder the cases in your jurisdiction can't be solved, and you have to call for external help."
"Lü Qingqing!" Yao Jieyan shouted angrily. "If you don't want to do it, get back to where you came from. I don't lack people who want to work here."
You probably lack people who actually want to work, don't you?
Just as Lü Qingqing was about to retort, a voice came, "Heh, interesting."
Hu Jia?
Yao Jieyan froze. How could he forget the presence of this formidable figure?
"Investigating a case is about unraveling clues from a tangled mess. Closing a case requires evidence, and clearing suspicion also requires evidence," Hu Jia said with a cold smile, looking at Yao Jieyan. He had long known that some people had poor work ethics, but he hadn't expected them to be this bad.
Seeing Yao Jieyan's face turn red and then pale, Hu Jia merely gave him a sidelong glance. "I'm short of people to investigate this skeleton case. I'll take someone from you."
"Yes, yes, I'll call someone immediately." How could Yao Jieyan refuse? As long as he could hand over the case, let alone one person, he wouldn't mind a whole team leaving.
"No need for trouble, just her," Hu Jia said, looking at Lü Qingqing.
"Me?" Lü Qingqing could hardly believe it. The Municipal Special Operations Team, that was the dream of every criminal investigator.
"Don't celebrate too soon. If your ability is lacking, you'll be dismissed at any time," Hu Jia said leisurely.
"That's right. If you get sent back, just roll back to Jiangjin. I don't harbor useless people here," Yao Jieyan was truly two-faced.
Lü Qingqing really wanted to punch the胖子. Among these three people, you're probably the only useless one.
...
Descending from the burial ground, Hu Jia and Lü Qingqing walked one after another.
Finally, Lü Qingqing couldn't hold back, "Why me?"
Hu Jia narrowed his eyes. "You just embarrassed Yao Jieyan so much. Aren't you afraid of his retaliation?"
Lü Qingqing snorted coldly. "Why should I fear him? At most, I'll go back to Jiangjin. I solve cases to bring peace to the public, not to report to superiors."
Hu Jia smiled. "That's why I chose you."
Lü Qingqing's mouth twitched. This man, his judgment wasn't bad.
"Before coming, I roughly understood the identities of these three incomplete skeletons," Hu Jia said, taking out a notebook and flipping to a page. "Their time of death was the same, their burial time was the same, and even their cause of death was the same."
Huh?
Such a coincidence?
No, this wasn't a coincidence; it was an accident.
But whether it was a hidden accident or an accident that would bring truth to light, she didn't know.
"Don't worry, there aren't that many twists and turns." Perhaps guessing what Lü Qingqing was thinking, Hu Jia said directly. These three skeletons were all female. They had been embroiderers at an embroidery shop. Three years ago, they accompanied their madam out for supplies and encountered a landslide. There were five people in the carriage, and only one survived.
That's why they were buried together, and their burial sites were not far apart.
"So, their skeletal remains were incomplete because of the landslide?" Lü Qingqing asked.
"No. According to their descendants, everyone was buried whole and complete, without any missing parts."
Hearing this, Lü Qingqing was shocked. "Are you saying these people's skeletal remains were separated after death?"
Hu Jia nodded. "I've already examined the third skeleton. Its upper right limb is missing, but judging by the bone connections, there are no signs of damage from sharp objects. Therefore, I deduce that after ossification, the arm bone was removed."
How could such a thing happen?
"What's even more unexpected is that these are merely the incomplete skeletons we've found. According to the police reports, there are more skeletons in this area with problems."
"Also incomplete?"
"Missing!"