Diary of a Criminal Investigator

Qiao Hongshan didn’t know that the death penalty approval isn’t swift.

Before execution, the death penalty has to go through numerous review procedures, and the Criminal Investigation Team here doesn’t even have any rights in this matter. At this stage, the team only determines the case’s trial evidence, then submits it to the next process.

The trial comes later, court sessions, re-approval of the evidence chain, then reporting for the highest level’s approval.

Given Qiao Hongshan’s brutal manner of committing the crime, it should qualify for immediate execution of the death penalty.

This requires the signature of the Chief Justice to pass, then the death penalty execution order is issued.

Going through this set of procedures takes at least half a year.

Crime Scene Investigation Office.

Old Bai was still scrubbing the small-leafed padauk with an iron brush.

The authenticity of the small-leafed padauk bracelet was questionable, but it had been polished to a shine.

Next step is to apply some lubricant, let it absorb, and it could pass as real.

"This... Qiao Hongshan is a real man."

Old Bai, from his professional standpoint, shouldn’t talk like this.

After all, police officers shouldn’t evaluate criminals this way.

But, policemen are also human, with feelings and desires.

Old Yang took a sip of tea, lit a cigarette, and nodded in agreement.

"Being a cop for long enough, you occasionally meet some good people."

Hearing this, Lu Chuan suddenly felt a bit desolate.

"Qiao Hongshan had long planned to kill Zhang Xiaofeng, and he had this plan two years ago."

During interrogation, Qiao Hongshan detailed the entire planning process.

Two years ago, the moment Ye Xiaohui became a vegetable, Qiao Hongshan had the urge to kill, but back then, Ye Xiaohui hadn’t died yet. If he had killed Zhang Xiaofeng then, who would take care of Ye Xiaohui?

"Ye Xiaohui’s family... might not be without responsibility either."

Liu Guodong took a drag from his cigarette and suddenly spoke.

The other three nodded in agreement.

Before becoming a vegetable, Ye Xiaohui had been violated by Zhang Xiaofeng.

But Ye Xiaohui’s family chose to keep the peace for money and didn’t call the police.

This led to the later disastrous consequences when the matter was exposed.

Moreover, after Ye Xiaohui became a vegetable, her parents still chose money...

In Qiao Hongshan’s words, if they weren’t Ye Xiaohui’s biological parents, he would have killed them too.

"Human nature is just like that. With Ye Xiaohui dead, Qiao Hongshan also lost the will to live... sigh..."

With the case solved, the tense atmosphere in the team eased slightly, but it wasn’t the usual joyful mood.

Everyone knew Qiao Hongshan’s motive for murder, understood the whole course of events, and had an indescribable feeling about the case.

Especially some female officers, who had even more thoughts about it.

Shen Yan and some female officers were also discussing this case.

"Technically, with the case solved, we shouldn’t be fined anymore, so why can’t I feel happy at all?"

"That Ye Xiaohui... in a way, she was quite blessed, right?"

"Sigh... the person who was killed... maybe deserved it?"

"It’s just a pity..."

Overall, Qiao Hongshan wasn’t really a villain, but Zhang Xiaofeng, his own death, could say to be self-inflicted.

Sowed evil seeds and reaped what he deserved.

After Qiao Hongshan was caught, he fully cooperated with the investigation, the fixing of subsequent evidence, the drafting of various reports and documents, and the progress of the process were relatively swift.

The Criminal Investigation Team, busy for three days, returned to its usual calm.

They didn’t need to set up field beds in the office anymore, and could go home for a good sleep.

For example, Lu Chuan, Shen Yan, Old Bai.

But some couldn’t rest even after returning home, like Old Yang, Liu Guodong, Zhang Hui.

Some were busy cooking for their wives, some were busy picking up and dropping off kids to and from school, some were busy tutoring their children’s homework.

All in all, the housework not done the previous days now needed to be caught up with.

Early the next day.

Lu Chuan and Shen Yan parted ways in the team courtyard and went straight to the office.

Due to the intense pressure from the case these days, the office’s cleanliness had been neglected.

Lu Chuan conducted a major cleanup of the office.

"Want to join?"

When Liu Guodong arrived, he was about to lend a hand.

"No need, master. I can handle it myself. You should go to the morning meeting once I’m done."

Liu Guodong put down his towel and nodded: "Alright, there’s not much today. I guess the morning meeting might run a bit late."

Lu Chuan nodded, as this was customary in the Criminal Investigation Team.

When there’s a case, they are so busy there’s no morning meeting, instead they hold ad hoc case analysis meetings or specific departments report their findings individually.

Without cases, morning meetings last longer.

They start from kitchen quality, through the guard’s spirits to today’s weather, touching on all kinds of topics.

"Want to have hotpot for lunch?"

In the Crime Scene Investigation Office, Old Yang and Old Bai gave a hand. The three quickly finished cleaning.

"Which place?"

"A new Chaozhou hotpot just opened at the west gate. My wife and her friends went yesterday. She said it’s good, and there’s a 50% opening discount."

Old Yang’s eyes lit up at the mention of a 50% discount: "A 50% discount sounds good, let’s go."

"Lu, got anything at noon?"

"No."

Lu Chuan planned to see a movie with Forensic Doctor Shen in the evening, but his lunch was free, allowing him time for a nap after eating.

"Great, let’s go together. Old Liu likes hotpot too, and with a 50% discount, he’ll definitely come."

A policeman’s salary can’t sustain eating hotpot every day. Though Lu Chuan didn’t mind about money, Old Bai and the others seldom let him pay.

Most of the time, it’s Old Liu treating or everyone splitting the bill.

...

"I’d like a portion of layered beef tripe; I love this."

"Hmm, handmade beef meatballs, I’ll have this."

"A portion of fresh sliced beef tail."

"I want a serving of beef bone marrow..."

The four of them didn’t order much, but dining out was truly delightful.

"Lu, tomorrow you’ll go to the City Bureau with Captain Qin."

"Hmm? A task?"

"Sort of, the reward from the Liangzhou case arrived; you’re going to receive a medal."

When Old Bai heard this, he immediately asked: "What level of commendation?"

"Second class individual merit."

Old Bai’s expression froze slightly, a bit disappointed: "How is it only second class?"

Liu Guodong laughed: "What do you mean only second class? Have you seen many second-class merits? Is a second-class merit not up to your standards?"

"I’ve never seen any second-class merit. I just feel Lu deserves more. That was a serial case. Without Lu, could it have been solved?"

"Brother Bai, I really didn’t do much, just identified a fingerprint; all the real work was done by the team there."

"Plus, when we went to Huangzhou last time, Captain Liao gave us considerable help."

"Don’t start with that, those guys are old foxes. Didn’t you help them solve a homicide case when you were there?"

"You owe them nothing."