Chapter 22: Forensic Medical Examination

Han Ling was dispatched to the scene due to a brawl. The situation was reported to be quite severe, necessitating the intervention of the Criminal Investigation Unit.

The incident occurred at the entrance of a hotel within the jurisdiction. Upon arrival, the scene was indeed grim. The man who had come out on the losing end was covered in blood, clutching his left ear while sitting on the roadside, looking as if he were questioning his existence. A blood-stained brick lay on the ground, its origin unknown.

A large crowd had gathered. After consulting with officers from the patrol and prevention unit, Han Ling learned that the victim had lost hearing in his left ear, likely due to a ruptured eardrum.

Zhu Yue was also present, asking, "What happened? A love triangle? Caught in the act?"

He noticed a man and a woman nearby. The man was quite short, perhaps 1.6 meters tall, and was currently trying to calm down while glaring at the bloodied man. Had the police not been present, it seemed he would have attacked again. Given the proximity to the hotel, Zhu Yue’s suspicion was natural.

The patrol officer nodded and briefed Zhu Yue on the situation. It was clear and simple: a love triangle. The man with the head injury was the woman’s boyfriend, and the shorter victor was the boyfriend’s "good brother." In short, one man had slept with his friend’s girlfriend. When they checked out, the friend ambushed them at the door with a brick, sparking a violent confrontation. When emotions run high, men often lose all sense of restraint.

Zhu Yue looked at the boyfriend and then at the shorter man; both were lean, with only a noticeable height difference. How had the shorter one beaten the taller one, especially when the latter had come armed? It was a case of disarming an opponent mid-fight.

And then there was the woman. Whose girlfriend was she, exactly? Her boyfriend was in this state, yet she didn't check on him, choosing instead to stand beside his "friend."

The police don’t concern themselves with affairs of the heart; they only care about the process and results of illegal acts.

"Who started it?" Zhu Yue asked.

The patrol officer gestured toward the boyfriend sitting on the ground. "Him. As soon as they stepped out of the hotel, he went at the other man with a brick. We’ve investigated thoroughly; it wasn't self-defense. Once the violence started, neither could stop, and it turned into a mutual brawl."

It seemed the shorter man felt little guilt about "stealing his friend's girl." Seeing his friend attack, he had simply rolled up his sleeves and fought back. Since it had escalated into mutual combat, the outcome would determine the legal consequences.

The shorter man was unscathed, while the boyfriend was in a miserable state. If the medical examination confirmed a "minor injury," the shorter man would be in serious trouble. The victim could press charges, leading to a formal criminal prosecution. Even with a letter of apology, he would face a suspended sentence; without one, he would face jail time. Given the "green" fire of betrayal burning in the boyfriend's eyes, obtaining such a letter would likely be difficult—it would depend on what price could move him.

As the officers photographed the scene and secured evidence, an ambulance arrived. The boyfriend was loaded onto the stretcher, accompanied by an officer from the Criminal Investigation Unit, while the shorter man was taken back to the police station. The girl was given the choice of going to the hospital or the station; she chose the latter, ignoring her severely injured boyfriend.

At Wanglou Police Station, the statements were quickly recorded. The facts were clear and undisputed; the case now hinged on whether the victim’s injury was classified as "minor" or "slight." Han Ling went to process the forensic referral form and then waited in the reception hall.

"Han Ling, someone left this for you," the duty officer called out after Han Ling finished his tasks, handing him an IOU.

Han Ling glanced at it and tucked it away. "Who sent it?"

"A man with yellow hair," the officer replied.

Han Ling gave a non-committal "Oh" and sat down, putting the IOU away without giving it much thought.

Two hours later, the injured man returned to the station, his head wrapped in gauze, his face a mask of depression and anger. To be betrayed and then beaten was a double blow. But the loser might not truly be the one who lost; as the saying goes, the winner goes to jail, and the loser goes to the hospital. The victor was currently being detained, awaiting further processing. Of course, since it was a mutual brawl, the injured man would also face administrative charges, though that would be addressed after the injury assessment was complete.

"Haozi! We’re all friends, don’t press charges!" The girl had arrived at the hall and, seeing her boyfriend return from the hospital, immediately began to plead.

At these words, the man glared, so frustrated he nearly vomited blood. You were the one who cheated, he was the one who hit me, you ignored me when I was bleeding, you didn't even go to the hospital with me, and now you’re asking me not to press charges?

"Get lost! Don't talk to me!" the man roared.

The girl tried to persist, but Zhu Yue, having finished his work, interrupted her. He ordered Han Ling and Zhang Silei to take the forensic referral form and accompany the victim to the branch office. Under normal circumstances, the injured party could go alone, but since the victim was also a perpetrator, the procedure required an escort.

"Take the car. I’ve already called them; they aren't busy right now," Zhu Yue said, tossing the keys to Han Ling, knowing he had a license.

"Yes, sir."

Han Ling acknowledged the order, took the two men, and drove away from the station.

Fifteen minutes later, they pulled into the Gu'an Branch Office. The facility was expansive, even housing training grounds for police dogs. Before entering the main hall, Han Ling caught a glimpse of the K-9 unit in action—Malinois, Springer Spaniels, and German Shepherds. There were dozens of them. A large K-9 unit signaled ample funding and high operational demands, indirectly reflecting the severity of the crime situation in Qingchang City.

Though Han Ling hadn't encountered any major cases during his months at the station, that didn't mean they didn't exist. He had heard Zhu Yue talk about how busy the various branch offices and the municipal bureau were across the city.

Inside the hall, Han Ling asked for the location of the Criminal Technology Squadron. Upon receiving directions, he headed over and soon found the sign for the Forensic Lab. Beyond the forensic lab, there were rooms for trace evidence, chemistry, DNA, document examination, and digital evidence—a full suite of services.

Previously, digital-related work required collaboration with the Cyber Security division. However, with the explosive growth in computer science and the influx of graduates, the Criminal Investigation Detachment’s Technical Brigade had established a digital forensics room, as had the squadron under the Criminal Investigation Brigade. They were actively recruiting talent to handle the forensics of computers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices.

Additionally, a Technical Reconnaissance Brigade was in the planning stages and would likely be implemented soon, focusing on electronic surveillance, network monitoring, and mobile tracking. Currently, only the municipal bureau possessed such a detachment.

Han Ling knocked and entered the forensic lab, where he encountered a familiar face—a woman. The Jiangyuan Police Academy had a forensic science program, and students were included in this police drill. Though the circumstances didn't allow them to fully apply their expertise, other collective incidents still provided training in efficiency and supporting investigators.

Her name was... Yang Rui.

It wasn't exactly a close acquaintance; rather, she was an acquaintance of an acquaintance, specifically someone who was close with Sun Yujie (a trace evidence officer mentioned in Chapter 6). Based on his experiences during the weeks of drills, Han Ling suspected that Sun Yujie was either pursuing Yang Rui or harboring a secret crush on her.

"Han Ling? So you're the one from Wanglou Police Station."

Yang Rui, wearing glasses, looked attractive and seemed slightly surprised to see him. The station had called ahead, saying they were bringing the victim for an injury assessment, and she and her mentor had been waiting.

The Gu'an Branch currently had four forensic pathologists: one chief, one deputy chief, and one primary examiner. Yang Rui was an intern; once she passed her assessments after becoming a regular staff member, she would become a full forensic examiner, with further promotions leading to primary and chief roles.

Intern, Forensic Examiner, Primary Examiner, Deputy Chief, Chief. This was the path that lay ahead for Yang Rui.