Insights Chapter 130: Container

Chapter 130: Container

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Penang City Bureau, Autopsy Room No.3. A huge iron barrel had been placed in the autopsy room, and they sprayed some water on the outside of the barrel to accelerate thawing. The female corpse gradually thawed, finally able to separate from the barrel wall.

Shen Junci and Qi Yi’an worked together to get the corpse out, the female corpse maintaining a contorted posture, sat on the autopsy table. The entire corpse resembled a pale statue, icy to the touch. Shen Junci put on double-layered gloves, but the chill still seeped through.

Their first step was to perform an external examination of the corpse. Qi Yi’an took out a form titled “Unknown Corpse Examination Information Registration Form” and filled in the unit and number at the top.

The female corpse was intact, without clothing, which saved some trouble. As the ice thawed, they could see that the female corpse was young, with medium-length hair. Her features had been somewhat distorted due to freezing, with sunken cheeks and some contortion, but her good bone structure was still discernible.

The corpse had a somewhat bloated figure, with slender arms but a slightly large abdomen. The skin of the corpse was pallid, and due to years of cold preservation, the flesh appeared shriveled like white bark. Since the corpse had not completely softened due to thawing, it took some effort to make her lie down once she thawed a bit more.

As time passed, the temperature in the entire dissection room dropped a few degrees. The smell in the room wasn’t too strong, but it was a bit unsettling. After measuring the length of the corpse, the length of the feet, and the length of the hair, they proceeded to record the physical characteristics and examine the dental features.

Due to the long-term freezing of the corpse, the condition of the skin had changed. Fortunately, the freezing had preserved many traces on the corpse intact. Even after decades, many details could still be discerned.

Shen Junci first discovered a mark on the shoulder of the female corpse. The mark was red and looked like a birthmark, or perhaps a scar. The shape of the mark resembled a cup, or a bottle, or even an hourglass.

Qi Yi’an took photos, while Shen Junci’s fingers, through the double-layered gloves, touched the woman’s cold shoulder, feeling the unevenness of the mark. He judged by touch, “It looks like a burn mark, like an imprint left by something hot.”

In ancient times, there were punishments similar to this, but in modern times, such marks were not very common. They then found some scars on the hands and feet of the corpse. The nails were cracked from freezing, and the fingers and toes were not very clean. There were slightly inconspicuous marks on the wrists and ankles.

Shen Junci remarked, “The hands and feet have been bound for a long time. There are calluses on the feet; she may have walked barefoot, and she may have been imprisoned.”

As he was carefully examining the female corpse’s hand, Qi Yi’an suddenly exclaimed and jumped aside, hiding behind Shen Junci and grabbing his clothes. They’ve been working together for so long, but it was the first time Shen Junci had seen Qi Yi’an so shaken.

Shen Junci wasn’t startled by the corpse, but rather by Qi Yi’an’s reaction. Pointing at the face of the female corpse, Qi Yi’an said, “She… she’s crying.”

It was certainly bizarre enough to startle a medical examiner. Shen Junci looked up, and tears were flowing from the eyes of the corpse, red in color, like blood. Under the overhead light, two streaks of blood slowly slid down the cheeks of the corpse, imprinting on the pale skin, as if the corpse were crying. Accompanied by the faint crackling sound of the thawing corpse, it was inexplicably eerie. Seeing such a scene suddenly in the dissection room would indeed be unsettling.

Qi Yi’an didn’t believe in feudal superstitions, but suddenly finding a corpse frozen for decades, still shedding tears, was beyond his realm of understanding. The female corpse lay there, as if silently proclaiming her grievances.

“Conjunctival hemorrhage due to low temperature, it oozes out upon thawing,” medical examiner Shen explained simply. He patted Qi Yi’an’s hand. “Nothing to be alarmed about. If you’re scared, go burn some incense.”

Frozen corpses often exhibited strange phenomena that those unfamiliar might mistake for supernatural events. Such corpses were not common, and even experienced medical examiners could easily misjudge them.

Shen Junci continued, “A long-term frozen corpse may also cause orbital bone fractures, cyanosis of the lips and fingertips, occipital hernias, skull fractures, and so on.”

These needed to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis, and even textbooks for medical examiners wouldn’t elaborate so much.

After listening to his master’s explanation, Qi Yi’an steadied his mind, quickly jotted down notes, and continued assisting Shen Junci with the corpse examination. Fingerprints were difficult to extract from frozen corpses. Shen Junci cut off the index finger of the corpse’s right hand, soaked it in water, then after twelve hours replaced it with a sodium hydroxide solution, soaking it for another day. The frozen fingertips might swell up again, perhaps allowing them to obtain fingerprints.

As Qi Yi’an took photos, he also felt the corpse’s abdomen. “Is she pregnant?” He thought the bulge in the corpse’s abdomen didn’t seem normal.

Shen Junci didn’t respond directly. He used his hands to separate the corpse’s legs, observing the shape of the pelvis and the vagina. “She has given birth before. The child was born, perhaps more than one. The last child was born shortly before her death, so her body didn’t have time to fully recover.” He then checked the corpse’s chest. The breasts were full. “She was killed and frozen in the barrel while still lactating. The corpse might have been left for a few days, emitting an odor. The murderer got scared and then transferred it to the cold storage.”

This female corpse is full of secrets.

The victim was a woman who had recently given birth and was still lactating. What could be the motive behind the perpetrator kidnapping, imprisoning, and murdering her? The corpse needs to be thawed before further dissecting the flesh. Even after the frozen skin has thawed, it’s still challenging to cut through.

Fortunately, Shen Junci’s skills were top-notch, and every cut is precise. The frozen ice has preserved the corpse well. Opening the chest and abdomen, the color of the pectoral muscles was cherry red. Qi Yi’an noticed that this corpse was somewhat different from the usual. The internal organs of this corpse maintain a strange bright red color, vivid like artificial, just like the plastic models in the medical examiner’s storage room.

Especially the heart, it looks like a frozen wrinkled Red Delicious apple. Shen Junci removed each organ. The stomach is empty, and there’s no food in the intestines. The victim had been starved before death. Finally, he lifted up the heart. This organ hasn’t completely thawed; it felt hard to the touch.

Shen Junci observes carefully, “The cause of death can be determined as carbon monoxide poisoning. We’ll wait for the organs to thaw completely to confirm with a sample of heart blood.”

The perpetrator may not know that after carbon monoxide poisoning, the blood and tissues of the deceased degrade slowly. Carboxyhemoglobin can be preserved in the body for several months, and in frozen conditions, it can last for decades.

At noon, Gu Yanchen came with a bag and knocked on the transparent observation window of the medical examiner’s autopsy room. The autopsy was done. Qi Yi’an has taken the corpse to storage, and Shen Junci remembered that today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. He knew Qi Yi’an will have to take a few hours’ drive to get back to his parents’ home, so he lets him leave a bit early to write the autopsy report.

Qi Yi’an expressed his gratitude profusely, moved to tears, and carried a large bag downstairs. Shen Junci stayed behind to finish up. He cleaned the operating table, and the recently dissected corpse has left many water stains. Hearing the knock on the glass, he looked up and saw Gu Yanchen. Shen Junci gestured with one hand, asking him to wait for a moment. Gu Yanchen obediently waited at the door of the autopsy room.

Shen Junci was worried he might wait too long, so he noticeably sped up the cleaning process. Through the glass, Gu Yanchen looked at Shen Junci. Under the shadowless lamp in the medical examiner’s room, every detail was clearly visible.

At this moment, Medical Examiner Shen had already changed out of his blue protective suit and was wearing a white medical examiner’s coat, which made his skin appear slightly pale. He lowered his head, and the light seemed to gild his eyelashes. Shen Junci skillfully counted all the dissecting tools and placed them in the drawer. Then, he removed his gloves and took off his mask.

After washing his hands and seeing that there was no one else in the corridor, Shen Junci reached out and touched Gu Yanchen’s head, the gesture reminiscent of petting.

Gu Yanchen, “…”

Suddenly, he remembered.

The gesture Shen Junci made to him through the glass just now, wasn’t that the same as the “stay” command for training dogs?

Medical Examiner Shen didn’t mind these details. He looked at what Gu Yanchen was holding. “What’s this?”

Captain Gu opened the bag he was carrying, which contained some mooncakes. “Secretary Cui gave them. He bought them himself. All the officers working overtime today have them. I helped bring some over for the medical examiners here. What flavor would you like?”

Shen Junci thought for a moment. “I’ll have a salted egg yolk and lotus seed paste.”

Gu Yanchen handed it to him and picked a mixed nut one for himself, then took the rest to the other medical examiners working overtime.

The two of them ordered takeout for lunch, but since it hadn’t arrived yet, they decided to have some mooncakes first.

Shen Junci briefly mentioned the results of the autopsy, then asked, “Any progress with your investigation?”

“Not much progress. Some workers went back to their hometowns for the Mid-Autumn Festival, so we could only investigate up to here today. I’ve instructed the officers to gather information and report back.” Gu Yanchen continued eating his mooncake, “There weren’t so many security cameras in the past, and there are obvious loopholes in the supervision of the cold storage. The person who hid the body must be very familiar with the situation in the cold storage, placing the iron barrel there in the middle of the night, stacked below the frozen food. Judging from the weight, the person who abandoned the body might be male, or there might be multiple people. The workers recall that this thing has been there for over twenty years.”

People unfamiliar with the cold storage wouldn’t even think of hiding a corpse there. He then explained, “We plan to systematically investigate all the workers or transport personnel who have worked in the cold storage over the years. In addition, Bai Meng is also searching for missing persons reports from many years ago.”

If the corpse has been frozen for decades, it may be difficult for the victim’s relatives or peers to find them. It’s a slow and meticulous process. This case can’t be rushed.

Shen Junci took a few bites of the mooncake and tasted the salted egg yolk. It was double-yolked. His gaze fell on the mooncake Gu Yanchen was holding. The mixed nut mooncake also looked exquisite, not the kind filled with just sugar, but with some actual nuts inside.

“These are from Lingzhi Pavilion. I bought the same brand’s gift box for my parents. It’s affordable and delicious,” Gu Yanchen said, breaking off a piece and offering it to Shen Junci. “Try mine.”

Shen Junci took a few bites. “Not bad.”

Gu Yanchen said, “Let me try yours too.” He took Shen Junci’s hand and took a bite of his mooncake.

As they were eating, Gu Yanchen suddenly noticed the photos Qi Yi’an had printed out and placed aside. Qi Yi’an had left in a hurry earlier, taking one photo with him, and the rest were left unorganized on the desk.

Shen Junci noticed Gu Yanchen’s gaze froze. “What’s wrong?”

Gu Yanchen pulled out a photo from the stack. It was a close-up of the injury on the corpse’s shoulder. Frowning, he asked, “What’s this?”

Shen Junci replied, “It was found on the corpse’s shoulder. I also find the shape a bit unusual.”

He noticed Gu Yanchen’s expression becoming strange.

“I think I’ve seen this mark before.” Gu Yanchen’s expression became serious, as if he were trying hard to recall.

“Where?” Shen Junci asked.

Gu Yanchen set down the photo. “On my mom’s shoulder.”

If his memory served him right, he had seen Mo Xueqing wearing short-sleeved clothes when he was a child. Her shoulder had revealed a similar scar. He had asked his mother how she got it, but Mo Xueqing always changed the subject.

Shen Junci’s hand holding the mooncake paused, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. Gu Yanchen felt like today, no matter what, he needed to take Shen Junci home.

After discussing with Shen Junci, they made a phone call to Gu Yanchen’s house. Mo Xueqing was thrilled to hear that he was bringing a friend over and quickly asked Shen Junci about any dietary restrictions. The two of them went back to Gu Yanchen’s home first.

Shen Junci took a hot shower to warm up. Gu Yanchen fetched the gifts and mooncakes he had prepared in advance. In the afternoon, they went to the mall to buy two bottles of red wine before heading to Gu Yanchen’s home.

Gu Yanchen’s foster father was named Gu Wenbin, currently the director of the City People’s First Hospital. His mother, Mo Xueqing, owned a flower shop near the city center. She supplied high-end flower arrangements to hotels and conferences all year round, and her business was thriving.

Their home was located in a quiet neighborhood in the southeast of Penang. In front of the neighborhood were elevator buildings, and behind them were several stacked villas.

The Gu family lived on the first and second floors of one of the stacked villas. The villa had a courtyard where Mo Xueqing meticulously tended the flowers. With autumn upon them, various flowers were in bloom, and the fragrance could be smelled from afar.

Gu Yanchen had the keys to the place and opened the door, calling out to his mother. Mo Xueqing smiled and greeted them, looking up from the flower arrangement she was working on. She was using chrysanthemums as the base with green leaves as accents, adding some golden osmanthus for fragrance and visual appeal.

It was Shen Junci’s first time meeting Mo Xueqing. The woman in front of him was in her early fifties, remarkably well-preserved with no visible wrinkles on her skin. Her long black hair, straight and smooth, made her look much younger than her age. She was a gentle and kind woman, a Pisces by sign, naturally exuding a romantic aura that made people feel comfortable around her.

Mo Xueqing arranged the flowers and then led them to the sofa, explaining the situation at home. Gu Yanchen’s younger sister had gone to hang out with friends, and Gu Wenbin had surgery scheduled for today, so he wouldn’t be back until later.

Then, Mo Xueqing took out a few cotton roses, which she had already arranged into small bouquets, and handed one to Shen Junci. “I’ve heard that Yanchen has made a friend and has been asking him to bring you over to meet us. I didn’t have time to prepare anything special today, so please accept this.”

Shen Junci took the flowers and held them in his hands. They were obviously carefully selected and very beautiful. He lowered his head to smell the fragrance and said, “Thank you, Auntie. I really like them.”

There was a smile in Mo Xueqing’s eyes. It seemed that she didn’t want the children to worry, so she started pouring tea for them and brought out some fruits, smiling as she said, “Your name is Shen Junci, right? What do you do at the City Bureau?”

Shen Junci explained that he worked as a medical examiner.

Mo Xueqing smiled again and said, “Being a medical examiner is great. You must have a lot in common with detectives. I knew Yanchen’s friend must be outstanding. We are open-minded parents, and we have seen a lot of things nowadays. You don’t need to worry about anything; just treat this place as your own home.”

Shen Junci replied, “Auntie, you must be a very good mother to have raised such a good son.”

Mo Xueqing seemed even happier after hearing this.

Seeing them getting along well, Gu Yanchen felt relieved.

After chatting on the sofa for a while, Mo Xueqing, who was familiar with her son, noticed his heavy-hearted demeanor and asked him directly, “Yanchen, did you come over today because there’s something on your mind?”

Gu Yanchen then explained about the discovery of the corpse earlier that day. He took out the photo and placed it on the table. Trying to probe, he asked, “Mom, do you recognize this mark?”

Mo Xueqing’s gaze fell on the scar, and her smile froze on her face. Her eyes lowered, and she seemed to suddenly lose her vitality, becoming like a puppet, silently staring at the photo. Memories of that distant past surged up like waves crashing ashore. After a moment of silence, she spoke up, “I recognize this mark. A woman marked with this is called a ‘container’.”