"No, Xie Chuchu needs to help with the autopsy. Does Mr. Du here have a cold storage room?" I asked.
"Yes, it's near the fishing grounds. We have a cold storage room, which we originally used to store seafood, but we can make room for it now."
Everyone followed Du Qitai and the others to the fishing grounds. Xie Chuchu and I placed the body aside first. Manager Zhang complained to Du Qitai all the way, emptying out the seafood inside, so there was finally a place to put the body.
We placed the female corpse on a metal rack bed and observed her condition. A thought immediately struck me, recalling descriptions from my grandfather's book, "The Secrets of Coroner and Modern Forensic Science Intersect." I knew what I had to do now.
Without an examination kit, I could only resort to that method.
I suddenly looked at Xiao Yuande: "Uncle, can you give me a cigarette? And you should have some yellow wine on you, right?"
"Yes, I have both. Here you go!" Xiao Yuande handed them to me without hesitation.
I took the items and asked Du Qitai again: "Mr. Du, do you have an alcohol lamp here?"
"Uh? This? I have one in my office. I'll go get it for you!" Du Qitai replied and turned to leave. I first sprinkled some yellow wine on the body, then asked Manager Zhang: "Do you have any white onions?"
"The hotel should have some, right?"
"Get me some!"
"Uh, Author He, what are you doing? Are you trying to perform an autopsy? Do you know how?"
"Of course. I used to write novels about coroners and learned some autopsy techniques inadvertently!"
"Oh? That impressive? I'll help you find them!"
Manager Zhang also left.
Xie Chuchu nudged my shoulder: "These two seem quite easily fooled."
"It's hard to say. We don't know who's fooling whom yet."
"Senior, do you think they're doing this on purpose?"
"Yes, they like to put on a show, so we have to perform even better."
I smiled knowingly, staring intently at the body. Gao Mingqiang, Liu Yuning, and the others crowded around, asking what I intended to do. I didn't explain: "You'll know in a moment."
When Manager Zhang and Du Qitai returned, I got the items. I first had Gao Mingqiang cut the white onion, releasing its juice. Then, I placed it in a glass dish and heated it with the alcohol lamp. Afterward, I poured it onto the body. I had previously read a novel that said a coroner's umbrella could reveal hidden wounds on the deceased. This was very similar to what was written in my grandfather's book, but I didn't have a coroner's umbrella, so I went to the cold storage room's curtain and pulled it down with my hand.
I then poured some of the mixture of white onion and yellow wine onto it and sprinkled it on the curtain. I didn't know if this would work, hoping the novel hadn't misled me.
Of course, my grandfather's book also mentioned this, so it should be correct.
Otherwise, I wouldn't be using it now.
I asked Liu Yuning and Gao Mingqiang to hold the curtain and carefully move it over the body, using the lamp light as a substitute for sunlight. Of course, it would be even better if there was a UV lamp at this moment, but that was impossible to find here.
The moment the "umbrella" moved, Du Qitai sneered: "Don't mess around! Why don't we just wait for the police to arrive?"
"Police? You don't have signal here, do you think I don't know!" He Xin cursed.
"Oh! I really forgot to tell everyone. Our signal tower was damaged by wild animals, so there's no signal in the tourist area. We're already looking for someone to repair it!"
"Signal tower? Do you think this is the 1960s or 70s, still using signal towers? Signal coverage is very high now. What are you bragging about?" He Xin said disdainfully.
"We're too remote here, so we must use a signal tower. Even if you leave the tourist area, you won't know how far you have to walk to find a city. So, the most effective method right now is to repair the signal tower!" Du Qitai explained indignantly and matter-of-factly. However, I secretly observed that he seemed to be smug.
His face bore a stiff, imperceptible mockery, and his pupils also emitted a playful gleam.
This person seemed to be hiding things even deeper than Manager Zhang.
From the moment I discovered he was intentionally not resisting, I knew something was wrong with him.
Cutting off the signal here was probably to prevent us from seeking help from the outside.
Liu Yuning and Gao Mingqiang had been moving for who knows how long, but there was still no discovery on the body. They were tired: "He Sheng, what's going on? Isn't this a waste of time?"
"Right! Author He, don't use things from novels in real life. They're all fake! Haha!" Du Qitai and Manager Zhang mocked.
"Is that so? Look!" I pointed to a certain area of the body. At this moment, the deceased's chest, abdomen, arms, thighs, and calves were all revealed to have countless wounds, and there were several distinct handprints!!
"Ah! How is this possible?" Du Qitai was almost scared to death. He probably had never witnessed a coroner's autopsy.
"The mixture of yellow wine and white onion can reveal hidden wounds. Someone cruelly abused the body and then covered them with a layer of essential oil. But when I applied the heated mixture to the body earlier, the essential oil naturally peeled off. Combined with the aid of my 'coroner's umbrella,' all the wounds from the abuse were revealed!"
"Ah, this!" Manager Zhang also looked as if he had witnessed a miracle, completely at a loss for words.
"The size of the handprints belongs to the killer. We'll know who it is once we compare them!" I cursed.
At this moment, Manager Zhang and Du Qitai showed no fear and extended their hands. Seeing their calm demeanor, I knew the killer couldn't be them.
We compared them one by one. Gao Mingqiang and Liu Yuning hadn't recovered from their shock.
Liu Yuning couldn't help but say: "It seems our ancestors' techniques were truly excellent! He Gu... Husband, I'm liking you more and more!"
Liu Yuning almost let it slip just now, but fortunately, she corrected herself immediately.
"That's right, Author He. It seems things from novels aren't entirely fabricated. With your level, you could even help the police solve cases. Be a forensic consultant! It suits you very well!" Gao Mingqiang continued to play along.
He Xin also clapped her hands excitedly: "Yes! Dad, don't just write novels. Become a forensic consultant and benefit society, otherwise, you're wasting your talent."
"Haha, you're all hilarious, but I'll consider it!" Seeing how invested they were, I could only play along.
Xie Chuchu suppressed her discomfort, almost suffering internal injuries, but she managed to hold back: "I think so too, Author He. Why don't you help the police?"
Seeing our triumphant expressions, Du Qitai became a little angry: "Hey, hey! Have you guys finished chatting? The autopsy is done, and there's no killer here. Why don't we leave the body here for now and wait for the police to arrive?"