Chapter 210: The Ghost Marriage (1/2)

We followed the police back to the county, unavoidably passing by my home, whereupon I immediately slumped my body to prevent being spotted. If my aunt went out shopping and caught me sitting in a police car, she would question me to no end.

When we arrived at the county police station, the other officers carried the body in while Officer Lu introduced the place to me. He shared how hard he had worked over the years and hoped we would put in a good word with the director when we returned to the city. Then, he pointed to a certificate on the wall, proudly showing off his victory. I thought it was the result of solving a crime, but when I moved closer to get a good look, I saw the words, ”Third prize in the Municipal Public Security Bureau’s Table Tennis Competition.” What a leisurely policeman!

The morgue had long been turned into a storage unit. Several officers sorted out the mess so we had space to place the corpse. Naturally, they had no forensic equipment. Bingxin complained, ”They don’t even have a forensic laboratory. How are we supposed to conduct the autopsy? Why don’t I run back to your house and get your tools?”

”There’s no need. This’ll do.”

Conducting an autopsy with the naked eye was the most basic skill for a Traditional Coroner. The condition of this corpse wasn’t so complex that I required tools.

Bingxin soon returned after buying some seaweed and burning them into ashes like I asked. I blew the seaweed ashes onto the clothes of the deceased. Beyond my expectations, I managed to successfully extract a large number of fingerprints this time, about five or six groups.

Bingxin did a double take. ”There are so many fingerprints! Could it be a group of murderers?”

”Bring me a pair of scissors,” I said.

Soil immediately spilled from within once I cut through the dead man's clothes.

“Why is there so much soil? Let me wipe it off for you!”

I shot Officer Lu a death stare. ”Don't move!”

Picking up some soil, I sniffed at it, then folded a piece of paper and very carefully scooped up a little so Bingxin could smell it too. She took a deep breath and commented, “It stinks.”

I decided to test her. ”Can you tell what the stench is?”

”Like the stench of rot!”

”That’s right!” I nodded.

The deceased had extensive rashes. His hands and feet were covered in shallow scratches that appeared to have been caused by his clothes. ”The clothes were forcefully worn on him. That's why so many fingerprints were left behind. That combined with soil that smells of rot–have you thought of it?” I asked.

Bingxin took a moment trying to put two and two together. Finally, she shook her head. ”I can't figure it out!”

”I'll give you another hint,” I smiled.

I grabbed a handful of soil, baked it on the alcohol burner for a while and asked Officer Lu to hit the light switch. As the room sank into darkness, flickering pale blue flames danced on the soil, appearing almost unreal. Stunned, Officer Lu asked, ”Wh-what happened?”

Bingxin was quick on the uptake. ”Does the soil contain phosphorus?”

Phosphorus was a substance with a very low ignition point. Heating it slightly would cause it to burn. Human bones contained large amounts of phosphorus, which would seep into the soil after decomposition. Therefore, will-o-wisps could often be seen floating above the graves on hot summer nights.

”Yes!” I responded.

”So the soil is grave soil and the dead man was wearing these clothes. Ah, I got it! A ghost marriage!”

I told Officer Lu to turn the lights back on before explaining, ”This soil contains a lot of phosphorus, which proves that the family who arranged the ghost marriage has an ancestral tomb just like my family. So this family used to be a large clan.”

I turned to Officer Lu who should know better given that this was his jurisdiction.

Officer Lu mumbled, ”The biggest clan in the county would be the Song family. I heard that the Song family used to be high-ranking officials and the sons were given three acres of land upon birth... Consultant Song, you’re not part of that Song family, are you?”

”I am, though it’s really not as exaggerated as you say.” I admitted.

Three acres of land upon birth? That was completely fabricated by outsiders. However, it was true that the Song family used to be a large family before it gradually declined.

”Are there any big families in the surrounding villages and towns?” I asked.

”I'll send someone to check as soon as possible!” answered Officer Lu.