Duan Fei asked: "Old man, when did you discover the body?"
The old man recalled: "I left the house at the end of Yinshi, and arrived on the boat around the beginning of Mao. It was about that time when the net was collected and the body was found."
Duan Fei nodded and asked: "Where is your net set up? On the bank or in the middle of the river? When the body was found, was the body floating on the water, sinking to the bottom, or floating in the water?"
The old man turned around and pointed behind him and replied: "The little man's boat has been parked there all night. We put the fish baskets in the water one by one with ropes to catch fish, because there are barbs on the mouth, and the bigger ones have barbs on them.
The fish entered the basket and could not come out. The carcass was not floating on the water at that time. When I pulled the rope back, I felt heavy in my hands. I thought I had harvested a lot today. Unexpectedly, I suddenly saw a leg of the carcass when I was halfway through.
It was stuck in a fish basket and hanging in the water. I was so frightened that I let go and screamed. People on the nearby boat came to help, and then the body was dragged ashore. Sir, please look, the fish basket is still stuck on the body.
On the legs."
The old man's boat was parked not far from the shore, still some distance from the center of the river. Duan Fei asked a few more questions. If he couldn't find any valuable clues, he let the old man go. If he had any questions in the future,
Just ask the Yamen servant to summon you.
At this time, Yang Sen also rushed over. His footsteps were much faster than Shi Bin and the others. He was not out of breath when he reached the shore. He asked Duan Fei and squatted down next to the body to examine it carefully.
Duan Fei clasped his hands behind his back, turned his back to the rising sun, and looked upstream...
Su Rong also came to the body. This was her first time visiting the scene of a murder. Duan Fei was worried that she wouldn't be able to bear it at first, but he didn't expect that she wasn't afraid at all.
I saw Yang Sen skillfully observing the face of the deceased, opening the eyes and face of the deceased, observing the mouth, nose, behind the ears, neck, etc., and then checking all parts of the body. At this time, Su Rong turned around and avoided it. After a while, she only listened to Yang Sen
He reported to Duan Fei: "Sir, the deceased's face was blue and purple, his eyes were bleeding, and he died of suffocation. However, there was no water in his abdomen, so it was obvious that he was not drowned. There was a strangulation mark under his throat, and it passed under his ear.
, the deceased was not hanged. According to my preliminary judgment, he should have been strangled to death with a thin rope from behind."
Duan Fei asked: "When did the deceased die, and when was he thrown into the water? Is there any identifying information on the body?"
Yang Sen secretly stuck out his tongue, looked at the body again, and said: "The deceased was about thirty to forty years old. Judging from his skin color, he should be a person who was often exposed to the sun. His skin was slightly white, swollen, and blistered.
He has been dead for less than an hour, and from the changes in his eyes, it can be seen that he has been dead for about two hours."
"Often exposed to the sun? Are there any clues about his body?" Duan Fei continued to ask: "For example, what's special about his hands and feet? Can you tell what he does on a daily basis?"
Yang Sen looked at the corpse again and then replied: "The corpse was barefoot and had thick calluses on his hands and feet. Judging from the shape of the calluses on his hands... he should be... he should be someone who often holds a hoe.
farmer……?"
Hearing Yang Sen's uncertain voice, Duan Fei couldn't help but frown, and walked up to take a look. At this time, Su Rong continued: "The clothes worn by the deceased are not something that ordinary farmers can afford. Although he has some
There are calluses, but there are no new injuries on the feet. He must have been doing well recently. At least he is not wearing straw sandals. Sir, I suspect that this person was originally a farmer, but he has shown signs of changing his career recently and his life has improved. He must have gone there.
He just came back from overseas, and his clothes don’t look like they were made locally.”
This was not the first time that Su Rong had impressed Duan Fei. When he saw Su Rong looking at him with a proud look on her face, he smiled slightly, ignored her, patted Yang Sen on the shoulder and said, "You
I just came here to handle the case before I had any rest, and I have already done a good job. My master is a freak like me, so you should ignore her."
Yang Sen whispered with shame: "Yes, I know, Brother Fei, I will be careful and work harder in the future."
Duan Fei turned back to Magistrate Gao and said, "Master Su, please find someone who is familiar with the water properties of the Shu River."
Such a person was soon found, and Duan Fei asked him: "Given the current of the Shu River, where would the body be dumped? Can the body float here two hours later?"
The man turned his head and thought for a while, then said: "The upper reaches of the Shujiang River are constantly changing, and it is difficult to estimate the exact place. However... within two hours, the corpse either came down the Xiekou River, or it was
It probably floated down from the intersection of Shujiang River and Yanxi River."
Duan Fei turned back to Magistrate Gao and said, "Mr. Su, please send someone to inquire along the river. Just go along the south bank to see if there are any missing people in the surrounding villages, or have they left a few days ago and returned home in fine clothes?"
The county magistrate of Shanggao immediately sent the government officials to investigate along the river. Duan Fei ordered the body to be returned to the county government. Peng Xing, the judge of Ruizhou Prefecture, asked curiously: "Why did you only ask the government officials to inquire south of the river bank?"
Duan Fei threw a piece of wood he picked up by the river into the river and said, "Mr. Peng must have never played by the river when he was a child. I used to like throwing branches and bamboos into the river and watch them float downstream.
Under normal circumstances, things thrown into the river will flow downwards and will never float sideways to the other side of the river. Therefore, unless the murderer goes to great lengths to cross the Shu River to the other side to dump the body, there is no need for us to waste our manpower.
Go to the other side of the river to inquire."
Peng Xing suddenly said: "I see, Mr. Duan pays close attention to the details, and the lower official admires him!"
Duan Fei smiled slightly. Officials these days only know how to read the Four Books and Five Classics. They are all like nerds. There are too few officials like Wang Shouren who are diligent in thinking. It is normal for Peng Xing not to even know this common sense.
While waiting for the officials' reply, everyone returned to the county government office. The county magistrate, Mr. Su, continued to handle government affairs. Duan Fei invited Peng Xing to drink a pot of tea made by Su Rong himself. Peng Xing had a conversation and served as food and drinks.
When it was delivered, he left wisely.
Duan Fei ordered a banquet at the best restaurant in Shanggao County and sent them to the back office. At this time, the banquet was set up and everyone sat down one by one. Duan Fei first introduced Su Rong, who had put on women's clothes, and said: "Hong Bang, Jiang Jun, you guys are still here
I have never met Miss Su Rongsu, so I will introduce it to you today. Outside she is pretending to be a scholar, and she is my master. Inside, she is my maid. Today we are celebrating our brothers’ reunion, and she has volunteered to serve. Everyone will
Don't be polite."
Su Rong kicked him and said coquettishly: "Is there such a way to introduce people? Hello everyone, my name is Su Rong. Because Mr. Duan saved me, I am grateful to him for the time being. I may let him go at any time.
If you do it, you can call me by my name or Miss Su, no need to be polite."
Hong Bang praised: "You are Master Su. No wonder you look so familiar. Miss Su is really powerful. This guy Yang Sen boasted about how powerful he was all the way, but as soon as he got there, his leather was exposed. Miss Su is still better."
It’s a bargain.”
Su Rong smiled and said: "No, I just took advantage. This was the first time for Yang Sen to examine the body alone. He couldn't help but get a little excited. Some omissions are inevitable. Besides, I could only see those small knots, but I couldn't see the deceased.
How did he die?"
Yang Sen's face looked a little better. He had a young mind and let things go as they happened. Under the praise of Duan Fei and others, he soon became happy again.dd