Chapter 39 Daisy: A faint caramel almond scent
Yanshi First People's Hospital.
Yuan Yi led Jiang Ling and Li Zhenliang straight into the inpatient building.
The green and white terrazzo flooring, light green wainscoting, and snow-white walls, under the cool light of the fluorescent lamps, create a uniquely serious atmosphere.
Upon arriving at ward 303, Yuan Yi pushed open the door.
A cold, hard iron spring bed, snow-white bedding, and a beige bedside table. A young woman with a pointed chin and delicate features sat leaning against the pillows on the bed by the window, her face deathly pale, her lips bloodless, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, as if her soul had been ripped away.
Ying Songmao stood up when he heard the door open. Seeing Yuan Yi leading Jiang Ling and the others in, he quickly went to greet them and said softly, "Why are you here?"
Yuan Yi explained, "We happened to run into them at the bureau. They were coming, so we brought them along."
After a pause, he looked at the girl sitting on the hospital bed and asked with concern, "What's wrong with Yuhua?"
Jiang Ling had asked Yuan Yi the reason on the way, but Yuan Yi couldn't give a clear answer.
All Yuan Yi knew was that Ying Songmao's expression changed drastically after receiving the call, and he rushed out. After being stopped by Yuan Yi in the corridor, he hurriedly said, "Yuhua is in trouble. Please ask for leave for me. I'm going to the hospital."
As for what happened, Yuan Yi had no idea.
In the car that arrived, Yuan Yi sat in the passenger seat and sighed deeply: "Songmao's younger sister is deaf and mute. She lost her hearing after a high fever when she was a child. She's very timid and well-behaved. After graduating from school for the deaf and mute, she helped out at her parents' rice noodle shop. I don't know what happened to her this time. I saw that Songmao's face turned pale, so it must be something serious."
When Yuan Yi asked him a question, Ying Songmao shook his head and did not answer.
Ying Songmao was still wearing his police uniform, but his posture was not as upright as usual, and he looked tired. He raised his hand to rub his temples and nodded slightly to Jiang Ling and Li Zhenliang: "Thank you for coming."
Jiang Ling waved his hand, placed the fruit he had just bought at the hospital entrance on the bedside table, glanced at the girl lying on the bed in a daze, and asked: "Your sister?"
Ying Songmao nodded: "Yes, my sister Yuhua."
After he finished speaking, he added, "She can't hear."
Yuhua and Songmao are truly two wonderful names.
In his "Wish Text for Liaoyang Mountain Temple" written during the Sui Dynasty, Lu Sidao wrote: "May the six palaces and their families, the princes and brothers, all be wise and dignified, like jade flowers and flourishing pines."
Jiang Ling asked, "Who named you two?"
Ying Songmao was a little confused by Jiang Ling's train of thought: "Huh? My aunt named it."
Jiang Ling: "Your aunt must have read a lot of books."
Ying Songmao then realized: "Yes, my aunt teaches at the China Public Security University. She used to study philosophy, but later specialized in juvenile delinquency psychology."
Jiang Ling's eyes lit up: "Teacher Ying Xuanji, is she your aunt?"
Ying Songmao nodded.
Jiang Ling found it amazing.
While working as an archivist at the Ninth Prison, she studied many books and journal articles on criminal psychology on her own. Her most admired criminal investigation expert was Professor Ying Xuanji. Professor Ying dedicated herself to research in criminal psychology, later focusing on preventing juvenile delinquency; she was a compassionate and intelligent woman.
However... Jiang Ling recalled a reporter interview where Teacher Ying choked up when she mentioned her family, saying that her most cherished nephew had heroically sacrificed his life in a drug bust, which was her lifelong pain and regret.
Although Ying Xuanji did not reveal her nephew's name, Jiang Ling inexplicably felt that it was Ying Songmao.
No wonder Ying Songmao's signature on the forensic reports was never seen again after 2000; it turns out he switched careers to become a narcotics officer and heroically sacrificed his life.
Jiang Ling looked up at Ying Songmao, who was depressed because of his sister's accident, and suddenly felt a tightness in her chest.
I got to know Ying Songmao because she went to the Municipal Bureau's Technical Center to ask for help with a technical appraisal in the case of Qian Dazhuang.
Ying Songmao is a man of few words, not given to pleasantries or flowery language. He is conscientious and responsible in his work, possesses strong professional skills, and provides technical support to the police station in handling cases.
He respected himself and never called her "Little Jiang" because of her age; he always addressed her politely as "Jiang Ling."
This time, in order to find his relatives, he was also on Ying Songmao's advice to use the media and work together with the publicity department to do his best.
How could such a good comrade have sacrificed his life?
Furthermore, he had been working in the technical department since graduating from university, and his postgraduate studies were in physical evidence technology. How could he have joined the anti-drug team?
Jiang Ling had too many doubts in her heart, but she couldn't say them out loud. She could only look at Ying Songmao deeply and decide to keep a close eye on him from now on, determined to rewrite his fate.
Anti-drug police officers face off against ruthless drug traffickers, their lives constantly teetering on the edge of a knife. Everything they do is to safeguard the safety of the people. They deserve respect and are heroes.
Heroes should not shed blood and sacrifice themselves.
Ying Songmao felt a little flustered by Jiang Ling's gaze.
Her eyes were bright and sparkling, like a spring of clear, deep water, rippling in circles with the slightest breeze.
What's wrong with her?
Knowing that she had only recently reunited with her family, Ying Songmao asked with some concern, "Have you gotten in touch with Officer Lin? Is everything alright?"
Seeing that he was already covered in a tangled mess but was still worried about others, Jiang Ling couldn't help but sigh.
What a kind person.
People hope that good deeds will be rewarded.
But after reviewing countless criminal files, Jiang Ling sadly discovered that the victims were often good people.
Why?
Because good people always think of others but neglect their own needs.
Good people are always eager to help others in need and choose to tolerate injustices, unaware that human nature is insatiable. Each act of helping and tolerating eventually becomes a sharp knife piercing themselves.
Thinking of Ying Songmao's fate, Jiang Ling's attitude softened considerably: "Don't worry, I've already spoken to them, and my grandmother and sister will be coming tomorrow."
Hearing this good news, Yuan Yi was overjoyed: "That's wonderful! Your father is actually Lin Weidong! I've long admired his name but never had the chance to meet him. Now that you're here, I'll meet Officer Lin sooner or later."
Jiang Ling nodded: "Okay, I'll invite you to dinner when he gets here."
Unexpectedly, her father was Lin Weidong, who was known as the "Number One Criminal Investigation Portrait Artist" in her previous life. Like Ying Xuanji, these people were once figures that Jiang Ling could only look up to but could never reach.
I never expected that.
Lin Weidong is her father, and Ying Xuanji is Ying Songmao's aunt.
This is truly like walking into the den of criminal investigation masters.
Yuan Yi grinned: "I knew it! Someone as smart as Xiao Jiang must have impressive parents. Sure enough! Lin Weidong, he's a criminal investigation expert from the Ministry of Public Security!"
The more he talked, the more excited he became. Yuan Yi couldn't help but slap his thigh: "This is truly—like father, like daughter!"
Yuan Yi's movements were a bit too exaggerated, startling Ying Yuhua, who had been lost in thought.
Her eyes blinked, finally shifting from the ceiling to Yuan Yi. However, her gaze remained lifeless, taking a long time to move, like a puppet.
Yuan Yi quietly asked Ying Songmao, "Yu Hua's mental state isn't right. She used to be quiet, but she wasn't this listless. What happened? Why did she suddenly end up in the hospital?"
Ying Songmao gestured to Yuan Yi to be quiet.
Although my younger sister is deaf, she is very sensitive, so it's best to be careful.
Jiang Ling glanced at Ying Yuhua discreetly.
Judging from her complexion and lip color, she is showing signs of blood loss.
She was wearing a hospital gown and was clean and tidy, so she must have been well taken care of by her family.
She sat there blankly, her hands clasped together over her abdomen, her left wrist wrapped in thick gauze.
All signs indicate that Ying Yuhua committed suicide by cutting her wrists.
Why did this perfectly healthy young girl, who was deaf and mute but had loving family, commit suicide?
Yuan Yi, a bit oblivious, followed Jiang Ling's gaze and noticed that Ying Yuhua's left wrist was bandaged. His pupils contracted, clearly not expecting Ying Yuhua to commit suicide. He then gently patted Ying Songmao's shoulder: "As long as she's alright, that's good. You should comfort her."
Ying Songmao gave a soft "hmm," his eyes filled with heartache and anxiety as he looked at his sister.
The ward door opened again, and a kind-faced, slightly plump, middle-aged woman with somewhat disheveled hair walked in carrying a thermos. She smelled of cooking, a warm, homey aroma, suggesting she had just come from the kitchen.
Ying Songmao called out, "Mom."
Yuan Yi also politely greeted her, "Aunt Yang."
Ying Songmao's mother, Yang Su'e, was originally an employee of the Yanshi Chemical Plant. After being laid off, she opened a rice noodle shop in the residential area, catering to the local residents and managing to make a decent living. Yuan Yi was a child from the residential compound whom she had watched grow up, so she didn't treat him like an outsider. After greeting him, she turned her attention to Jiang Ling and Li Zhenliang.
Ying Songmao took the initiative to introduce them: "Mom, these are my colleagues, Jiang Ling and Li Zhenliang."
Rarely seeing her son introduce a female colleague, Yang Su'e's gaze lingered on Jiang Ling's face for a second. Although she was feeling down, she remained gentle: "Xiao Jiang, Xiao Li, thank you for coming."
Yang Su'e's attention remained on her daughter. She opened the thermos, poured the pig's blood and liver soup into a bowl, and gently coaxed her daughter, "Yuhua, eat something."
Ying Yuhua glanced at the pig's blood and liver soup, tears welling in her eyes. She turned her head away, her attitude somewhat resistant.
Yang Su'e's eyes were full of worry. She put down the soup bowl, gestured with her hands in sign language, and said to her daughter in a coaxing tone, "Sweetie, Yuhua, you'll be hungry if you don't eat. This is stewed by your dad, it smells delicious. Whether you like it or not, have a couple of sips, okay?"
Jiang Ling looked at Yang Su'e intently.
As the saying goes, a child with a mother is a treasure, while a child without a mother is like a blade of grass.
Jiang Ling was once as resilient as a weed, never considering giving up on her life even when faced with the greatest difficulties.
Why would this girl, who grew up in such a warm and loving environment with her mother, commit suicide?
Because his colleagues were present, Ying Songmao didn't say much. He greeted his mother and then led everyone out of the ward.
He led Yuan Yi and the others to the corridor before speaking: "I never expected Yu Hua to commit suicide. She usually helped my parents in the shop, and we never saw anything unusual about her. My parents and I were very worried, but she wouldn't say anything, so we had no idea what she was thinking."
suicide?
Jiang Ling frowned.
There are many ways to commit suicide, so why did she choose to cut her wrists?
According to psychological research, wrist-cutting behavior is usually not just about seeking death, but more about emotional release, self-punishment, seeking attention or a sense of control.
It seems that Ying Yuhua has encountered difficulties, and these difficulties cannot be told to her parents or brothers.
Jiang Ling couldn't bear to see a young girl in the prime of her life wither away like this, so she said a few more words.
"As always, let's analyze the motives first."
"Suicide is essentially an escape from unbearable psychological pain. Unlike other methods of suicide, only about 20% of people who cut their wrists are truly aiming for death."
"The first motivation is to vent emotions. Because the wrist is densely populated with pain nerves, physical pain can temporarily cover up psychological pain."
"The second motivation is self-punishment. Unable to face the mistakes they have made, they punish themselves by cutting their wrists."
"The third motivation is a non-verbal distress signal. Because of helplessness, anxiety, and distress, people want to attract the attention of others and beg for help."
When Jiang Ling analyzed the motives for the crime, Ying Songmao found it amazing.
Analyzing human nature and deconstructing criminal behavior—this is the kind of criminal psychology research that truly puts knowledge into practice.
However, when the subject of his analysis was his own sister, Ying Songmao felt extremely tormented.
Emotional breakdown, self-punishment, nonverbal distress? Behind each medical term lies blood, tears, and pain. He only regrets not caring enough for his sister, and now she has committed suicide by cutting her wrists, yet he can't even find the reason.
Ying Songmao asked in a hoarse voice, "Then what do you think was Yu Hua's motive for this action?"
Jiang Ling thought for a moment: "What kind of wound is it? Describe it to me."
Ying Songmao closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then answered Jiang Ling's question: "There are two wounds, which intersect each other."
Jiang Ling asked again, "How deep?"
The thought of his sister's injury sent chills down Ying Songmao's spine. He had worked overtime at the bureau last night and hadn't gone home; if his mother hadn't discovered it in time this morning, Yuhua probably wouldn't have survived.
“Very deep.” Ying Songmao’s voice trembled as he thought of the gruesome sight of flesh torn apart.
Jiang Ling knew he was upset, but the focus now was on solving the problem, not comforting him. She could only try to continue with a rational analysis in a gentle tone.
"The crisscrossing lines on the wound represent negation, and it's highly likely that it's the second motive. Your sister's wrist-cutting was a form of self-punishment. The deeper the wound, the stronger her sense of guilt."
Self-punishment.
What exactly did Yu Hua do wrong? Why did she punish herself in this way?
What could possibly have caused Yu Hua, such a kind, honest, and unassuming person, to punish herself so resolutely?
Whenever Ying Songmao thought of his younger sister, whom he had grown up with, secretly sobbing and struggling in a corner he didn't know about, he felt like slapping himself.
When they were little, Yu Hua was his shadow, following him everywhere he went. Although she couldn't call him "brother" aloud, her eyes were full of affection and admiration—how adorable!
Later, she attended a school for the deaf and mute, where she learned to write and use sign language. She would "tell" herself everything that was on her mind. She was willing to share with herself what friends she made, what knowledge she learned, and what fun things she saw.
When did she stop wanting to talk to me?
It must have been after he left Yan City to attend the Police University in Kyoto? Separated by thousands of miles, he devoted himself to his studies and contacted his sister less.
When Ying Songmao was assigned back to Yanshi after graduation, Yu Hua became shy when she saw him. She would just smile with her lips pursed and no longer wanted to share her inner world with him.
His younger sister has grown up and become distant from him; she is no longer the little girl who used to hold onto his clothes and play in the family compound.
Ying Songmao stood there silently, and Yuan Yi, not wanting to leave, started chatting with Jiang Ling.
Yuan Yi looked at Jiang Ling with admiration: "Is what you're analyzing also part of criminal psychology?"
Jiang Ling shook her head: "It's more like crisis intervention psychology. There are many branches of psychology."
Yuan Yi praised, "You know quite a lot."
Jiang Ling thought for a moment: "Well, I'm quite interested in psychology and have read a lot of miscellaneous books." These books had not yet been published, so her knowledge seemed very advanced in the 1990s.
Ying Songmao also composed himself and looked up at Jiang Ling: "My sister doesn't tell me anything now, and I don't know what's on her mind. She's usually very well-behaved. If it weren't for this suicide attempt, my parents and I wouldn't have known how much she was suffering. Yuhua is gentle and weak; you can't hit her, scold her, or force her. I'm really at my wit's end."
At this point, Ying Songmao's eyes gleamed with anticipation: "Do you have any way of finding out the reason for Yuhua's suicide? Only by finding out the reason for her suicide can we think of a way to help her."
Jiang Ling looked at Ying Songmao.
At this moment, he had not yet become a narcotics officer, but thankfully he was still alive and well, worrying about his sister.
The April sunlight slanted in through the windows of the hospital corridor, falling directly on half of Ying Songmao's cheek, as if bathing him in a layer of golden light.
Ying Songmao stood in the corridor on the third floor of the hospital. The light and shadow sculpted his jawline into beautiful angles, and the area below his eyes, slightly bluish from worry, was bathed in a warm glow from the sunlight. His eyelashes trembled at the boundary between light and shadow, like butterflies fluttering, and suddenly landed on Jiang Ling's heart.
Jiang Ling usually interacts with Ying Songmao mainly through work. Today, she delves into his life for the first time and sees him from a different perspective, discovering that the aloof and self-disciplined man is actually a warm and kind person.
He is a loving older brother who cares for his younger sister.
He was also a good policeman who was willing to dedicate his life to his cause.
At this moment, the melancholy in Ying Songmao's eyes touched Jiang Ling's heart.
Jiang Ling said, "I can give it a try."
Ying Songmao's eyes flickered: "Thank you."
Jiang Ling: "But I don't know sign language."
For some reason, Ying Songmao trusted Jiang Ling completely. He believed that as long as she was willing to help, she could definitely resolve his sister's inner conflict.
"Don't worry, Yuhua can understand simple lip reading and has beautiful handwriting. If she's willing to communicate with you, she can do so through writing."
Jiang Ling nodded: "Alright then, I need to make some preparations and come over to talk to her first thing tomorrow morning."
"Okay, sure." Ying Songmao, still thinking about his sister, said goodbye to everyone. "I'll head back to my ward now. Thank you for coming to visit."
Yuan Yi patted his shoulder: "Don't worry, let's all think of a solution together."
Li Zhenliang, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up: "No matter how difficult things are, we can definitely solve them if we work together. Look at Xiao Jiang, didn't he find his biological parents smoothly thanks to the help of the police, the media, and kind-hearted people?"
Ying Songmao felt comforted: "Okay, let's work together."
Jiang Ling and the other two waved goodbye to Ying Songmao and slowly walked out along the hospital corridor.
As Jiang Ling reached the corner, she suddenly stopped and her gaze fell on the wooden bench against the wall on her left.
A man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt was sitting on a wooden chair.
The sunlight shone on his thin back, making him appear as if he were huddled in the shadow of the sunlight, looking somewhat desolate and sad.
He must have been sitting there for a long time.
He leaned forward, rested his elbows on his knees, and sat with his hands behind his head, hiding his head under his forearms, as if this would shut out all the sounds from the outside world.
On the bench, there was a bunch of white daisies.
The daisies had been picked some time ago; their white petals were slightly curled, and the outermost flower leaned outwards, giving the bouquet a delicate and pitiful beauty.
A gentle breeze carried a strange smell.
It has a normal fragrance.
But it wasn't the scent of flowers.
Jiang Ling sniffed.
It has a faint caramel almond flavor.
It has a sweet scent, but it's harsh, pungent, and off-putting.
Jiang Ling has a very keen sense of smell. Upon smelling this scent, her pupils contracted slightly, and her gaze became solemn.
She had come into contact with many drug addicts in prison, and those who were in contact with drugs for a long time would have this kind of smell on them.
It has the distinctive caramel almond flavor of a type of amphetamine-type drug.
Jiang Ling's brain immediately went into alarm mode.
The man standing silently outside the ward, looking utterly grief-stricken, had apparently been exposed to drugs.
Jiang Ling gave Li Zhenliang a wink.
Li Zhenliang instantly went into a state of alert.
He knew Jiang Ling's eyes all too well. Back at the bus stop at Yan City train station, when Jiang Ling saw the human traffickers telling him to call the police, he had the same look in his eyes—sharp and alert, like an eagle spotting its prey.
Having gained experience, Li Zhenliang became much more composed.
This time, he didn't look around in a panic, nor did he stiffen up. He subconsciously moved closer to Jiang Ling, with his left foot forward and his right foot back, and his left hand slightly raised, assuming a fighting stance.
Jiang Ling walked up to the man who was holding his head in his hands and stood silently.
Sensing someone approaching, the man in black released his hands and slowly raised his head.
Jiang Ling got a clear look at his face.
The man had a thin, long face with delicate features, especially his large eyes, which appeared large due to his thinness. His amber pupils shone brightly when he looked at people, carrying a hint of affection. They were truly a pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes.
That face!
Jiang Ling had seen this face in the criminal files.
Even in just a few simple registration photos, when he was much thinner than he is now, you could still see that he had a charm that attracted women.
Criminal files related to him came to mind.
Case No.: Public Security Criminal Case No. 117 (1999)
Case Name: Chen Mu's Drug-Related Case
Name: Chen Mu
Gender: Male
Date of birth: March 18, 1970
Place of origin: Yancheng, Hunan Province
Occupation: Electrical appliance repairman (formerly the repair department affiliated with Yanshi Chemical Plant)
Family relationships: Father: Chen Zhigang (Technical Engineer at Yanshi Chemical Plant); Mother: Li Xiulan (Housewife)
In August 1994, he was arrested for drug use in a disco restroom. He was found to be carrying 0.5 grams of drugs and was detained for 15 days and then forced to undergo 3 months of compulsory drug rehabilitation.
In March 1995, he was sentenced to two years in prison for transporting drugs through a modified motorcycle fuel tank (with 200 grams of drugs hidden in a hidden compartment).
In December 1997, he relapsed during his drug rehabilitation period, robbed a pharmacy with a knife, and committed suicide by jumping off a building during his arrest.
This is a drug addict!
He sat on a hospital bench with a bunch of daisies. Was he waiting for someone, or did he want to visit someone?
From this bench, you can see ward 303.
Thinking of Ying Yuhua's vacant eyes in ward 303, Jiang Ling couldn't help but gasp.
If this man named Chen Mu pursues Ying Yuhua, is she completely unable to resist?
If Ying Yuhua discovers that Chen Mu is using drugs, will she struggle internally and then punish herself by cutting her wrists?
Jiang Ling's expression turned serious: "You've come to see Ying Yuhua?"
Upon hearing the name Ying Yuhua, the man's body involuntarily stiffened, and his beautiful peach blossom eyes seemed to shimmer with tears, revealing a trace of sorrow.
Those eyes are really attractive.
However, Jiang Ling is immune to men's good looks.
Not to mention Ying Songmao's tall and imposing appearance, Liang Jiushan, that kid, has a pair of beautiful phoenix eyes.
Moreover, their eyes were all very focused.
Unlike Chen Mu before me, who, though beautiful, always exudes a sinister aura.
Chen Mu didn't answer Jiang Ling's question. He turned his head and picked up the daisies on the chair, placing them on his lap. His movements were slow, as if the bouquet of flowers possessed a slowing magic.
Jiang Ling moved a little closer.
It's confirmed! That caramel almond scent is definitely coming from him.
Jiang Ling bent down slightly and stared into Chen Mu's eyes: "Why are you sitting here alone? Why don't you go in and check on her? She cut her wrists, the wounds were so deep that the bone was visible, she lost too much blood and almost didn't make it."
Forced to confront Jiang Ling, Chen Mu said, "No, I don't know the person you're talking about."
His voice was deep, pleasant, and very magnetic.
Jiang Ling's voice was cold: "Is that so?"
The man became somewhat wary, leaning back to avoid Jiang Ling's gaze: "What's it to you?"
What does this have to do with me? If you're doing drugs, then this is my business!
Jiang Ling glanced at Li Zhenliang, slightly raised her chin, and whispered the command: "Take him down."
Li Zhenliang had been on high alert, and upon hearing Jiang Ling's command, he immediately became excited. With a wave of his hands, he used a small grappling technique to grab the man's hands and twist them backward.
Chen Mu never expected Jiang Ling to attack without saying a word. Fear caused him to unleash astonishing strength. He lunged forward, broke free from Li Zhenliang's grip, and quickly darted away.
Jiang Ling, quick-witted and agile, extended her right foot and tripped Chen Mu, who was trying to escape. As Chen Mu fell to the ground with a thud, Li Zhenliang pressed down on his body with one knee, took out the handcuffs hanging from his waist, and quickly handcuffed him.
Yuan Yi, watching from the side, was dazzled: "What are you doing?"
Li Zhenliang remained kneeling with his back bent, turned to look at Jiang Ling, and asked excitedly, "How did it go? What did this kid do?"
Jiang Ling said to Yuan Yi, "Captain Yuan, this kid is involved in drug use. Take him back for a urine test."
"Huh?" Yuan Yi couldn't understand Jiang Ling's actions. He was just a handsome young man sitting on a bench in the hospital corridor, lost in thought. How did he suddenly get involved with drugs?
Police officers have a natural aversion to and vigilance towards the word "drugs".
Without asking any further questions, Yuan Yi stepped forward, lifted Chen Mu up, and showed his police ID: "Police! Come with us."
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