Chapter 75 Soy Milk: A Major Poisoning Case in Ping'anli Community
On a June morning, the sunlight, already carrying a scorching heat, lazily spread across the bumpy cement road of Ping'anli. The air was filled with the familiar smells of cooking fumes and burning honeycomb briquettes.
After a good night's sleep, Jiang Ling ate the vegetable and egg noodles her mother had cooked and then walked out of the building.
After talking with her mother about love and marriage, Jiang Ling felt much more relaxed.
Should I date? Will I get married?
Let things take their course.
If you encounter something you like, then be brave and love it, try it, and experience it.
If you don't meet someone you like, then don't force yourself; being alone is fine too.
As Jiang Ling passed the breakfast stalls across the street, her gaze lingered for a few seconds.
My mother loved this breakfast stall and would buy soy milk and fried dough sticks from it every few days. She said that Aunt Liu's soy milk was even richer and smoother than her own, and she once joked that Aunt Liu must have some secret recipe.
Aunt Liu greeted all her customers, old and new, with the same warmth as always. A long queue still formed in front of the large pot of fried dough sticks. Some were urging her to hurry, others were chatting; it was a warm and lively scene.
Jiang Ling thought of Grandpa Xu, who had argued with the leaders of the neighborhood office yesterday.
Although Pinganli Community has its problems, it must be said that it is full of human warmth, and everyone is trying their best to live happily.
After leaving the community and crossing the road, I arrived at my workplace.
As soon as Jiang Ling entered the office, she received a notification: All members of the task force, please attend a meeting.
Li Zhenliang winked and said, "It's a victory celebration, isn't it?"
Liu Haoran excitedly straightened his clothes: "It must be."
Zhou Wei was relatively calmer: "Although Geng Weihua has confessed, there is still a lot to be done. Isn't it too early to celebrate?"
Jiang Ling picked up her notebook and led the entire team to Conference Room No. 3, which was also the temporary command center for the special task force investigating the June 15 rainy night murder case.
The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated the entire conference room.
The long conference table was filled with people, and the two rows of seats behind it were also full.
All members of the task force, from core members like Qin Tieshan, Lei Xiao, and Fan Wei, to younger faces like Jiang Ling, Luo Yunchen, Li Zhenliang, Su Xinwan, Zhou Wei, and Liu Haoran, as well as every participant involved in peripheral investigation, technical support, and logistical support, were gathered together.
The atmosphere was solemn, yet filled with a sense of triumphant accomplishment.
Qin Tieshan sat upright in the main seat. He looked thinner than when the crime occurred, with deep bags under his eyes, but his eyes were unusually bright, sparkling with worldly wisdom and the satisfaction of things having settled down.
The ashtray in front of him was overflowing with cigarette butts, and the enamel teacup beside him was filled with strong green tea. Today, for the first time ever, he didn't smoke; instead, he tapped the table lightly with his knuckles, producing a steady rhythm.
"Comrades!" After listening to all the reports, Qin Tieshan's voice rang out. It wasn't loud, but it carried a penetrating power that instantly silenced the noisy conference room.
"The June 15th rainy night murder case was successfully solved in six days thanks to the joint efforts of all members of the special task force. In six days, the murderer was caught. We have all created a miracle! On behalf of the Municipal Public Security Bureau Party Committee, the special task force, and the people of Yan City, I would like to say to everyone: Thank you for your hard work."
As soon as he finished speaking, enthusiastic applause erupted in the conference room, and everyone's face was filled with pride and excitement.
Qin Tieshan raised his hand to signal for quiet, and the applause gradually subsided.
"The case is solved, but our work is not over yet." Qin Tieshan's expression turned serious. "Today's meeting is not a celebration, but a summary and reflection meeting. We must thoroughly explain our achievements and clearly see the problems, so that we can continue to grow in practice."
He scanned the entire room: "First of all, where does the secret to success lie? In my opinion, the core can be summed up in eight words: bold innovation, guided by theory!"
At this point, Qin Tieshan paused, his gaze precisely fixed on Jiang Ling, who was sitting in the middle row.
"In the early stages of this case, we took a wrong turn and almost fell into the trap of relying on sheer numbers. It was Jiang Ling's proposed 'three-pronged investigation method'—defining the nature, direction, and characteristics—that pointed the way for the investigation and narrowed down the scope. This was not just theoretical; it was real-world practice guided by theory."
Qin Tieshan's gaze then turned to Luo Yunchen: "Luo Yunchen's portrait of his back in the rainy night, without a clear face, used professional criminal investigation sketching techniques to depict the murderer's physical characteristics and key details, providing important evidence for further narrowing down the suspect screening range."
Qin Tieshan's voice was full of undisguised praise: "Although Jiang Ling and Luo Yunchen have just been transferred to our detachment, they have proved the value of criminal investigation theory and new technologies with their solid professional knowledge, keen insight and courage to persevere. Well done!"
Another round of enthusiastic applause erupted.
Jiang Ling and Luo Yunchen stood up under everyone's gaze, saluted solemnly, and looked determined.
"Of course," Qin Tieshan changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, "the credit doesn't just go to a few individuals. Lei Xiao oversaw the command, coordinating all parties and overcoming difficulties; Fan Wei led the investigation team, scouting the surrounding six square kilometers with their bare feet, sifting out crucial information; the technical team, despite the scarcity of physical evidence, pinpointed the blue cloth fibers under the victim's fingernails; and everyone who stayed at the observation points, worked through the night analyzing data, and provided logistical support. It is because of your efforts and sweat that our task force was able to create the miracle of solving a murder case in six days. This tough nut was cracked by everyone together!"
His voice was powerful and sincere, making everyone present feel respected and recognized. The applause was even more enthusiastic, and many people's eyes were slightly moist.
"Secondly, we must also face up to the problems and shortcomings!" Qin Tieshan's tone became serious.
"First, I must deeply reflect on my initial underestimation or even rejection of the theory of criminal profiling. Old experience is a treasure, but it cannot become a stumbling block. Times are progressing, comrades, and we who are engaged in criminal investigation must also keep learning and keep progressing."
"Secondly, there is still room for improvement in information sharing and collaborative operations. Due to my arrangements, the profiling team and the investigation team did not communicate sufficiently in the early stages, resulting in duplicated work and wasted resources. In the future, we need to establish a more efficient linkage mechanism."
"Third, technological bottlenecks remain prominent. The slow fiber comparison speed and lack of monitoring methods remind us that investment in hardware and training of technical personnel are urgent."
Qin Tieshan leaned forward slightly, placing his hands on the table: "Comrades, this is the last major case I will handle before I retire."
As soon as these words were spoken, a buzz of discussion arose from below.
"Is Lao Qin going to step down to the second line?"
"He's not even of retirement age yet, is Lao Qin really willing to retire?"
"If Lao Qin steps down, who will take his place?"
Qin Tieshan looked around at each familiar face, his eyes filled with complex emotions: reluctance, relief, and a heavy sense of entrustment.
"I, Qin Tieshan, have spent my entire life as a criminal investigator, solving countless cases and suffering many losses. What is my biggest realization? Solving criminal cases relies not only on experience, but also on the ability to learn, the courage to innovate, and the pursuit of truth and justice!"
His gaze fell once again on the young criminal police officers, including Jiang Ling and Luo Yunchen: "Seeing you, I see hope. You have knowledge, ideas, and drive. Don't be afraid of making mistakes, don't be afraid of being questioned, be bold and try. The future belongs to you!"
He then looked at Lei Xiao, Fan Wei, and other middle-aged backbone members: "You are the backbone of the next generation, with rich experience and vigor. You should dare to provide platforms and responsibilities for young people, take the lead in learning new knowledge and methods, and be good guides and paving stones!"
Finally, his gaze swept across the entire room: "Comrades, what is the duty of the police? It is to protect! To protect the lives and property of the people, and to safeguard social fairness and justice."
His voice suddenly rose, carrying an almost imperative force:
"I hope you will always maintain a swift and decisive approach to criminals; I hope you will always cherish a heart devoted to the people; I hope you will always remain loyal to and passionate about the cause of criminal investigation!"
We must always sharpen the blade of criminal investigation, making it even faster and brighter. We must make criminals tremble with fear and ensure that the people live and work in peace and contentment!
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire conference room fell into a brief, profound silence.
Immediately, thunderous applause erupted and lasted for a long time. This applause was a celebration of the successful resolution of the case, a high tribute to veteran detective Qin Tieshan, and a solemn commitment to mission and responsibility.
Looking at the excited faces before him, Qin Tieshan smiled with satisfaction.
Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on his graying temples and on every detective in the conference room who was fighting for justice.
An era is about to end, but the torch will be passed on, and the journey to safeguard the peace and light of this city will never cease.
Back in her office, Jiang Ling's excitement lingered for a long time.
She hadn't expected Qin Tieshan to be so magnanimous.
Although he strongly refuted himself at the first meeting, he quickly realized the problem and highly affirmed himself at the summary meeting, affirming the value of the three-fixed investigation method.
Jiang Ling felt very lucky.
With the support of family, the encouragement of leaders, and the cooperation of colleagues, the future of my career is bright.
With this thought, Jiang Ling felt full of energy and couldn't wait to throw herself into the next case. She had no time to think about dating or getting married.
Just then.
"Woo-wah—woo-wah—woo-wah—"
The sharp, urgent, and heart-wrenching siren of an ambulance startled everyone in the office. Judging by the sound, the police station was very close.
Li Zhenliang reacted the fastest, immediately leaning over the windowsill to look outside.
He suddenly shouted, "Team leader, team leader, something has happened in Ping'an Lane!"
Jiang Ling immediately stood up, quickly went to the window, and looked up.
An ambulance was speeding into the community gate, heading west. Near his building, a large crowd had gathered.
The sight before him froze Jiang Ling in place, as if the blood in her body had frozen.
What happened? Could something have happened to Mom?
Thinking of her mother who was home alone, Jiang Ling rushed to the telephone and dialed the home landline.
Beep...beep...
The phone was answered after ringing twice.
"Hello?"
Hearing Xiao Wenjuan's voice from the other end of the microphone, Jiang Ling's rapidly beating heart finally slowed down, and the blood that had been frozen in her body suddenly began to flow.
It was only at this point that Jiang Ling began to feel fear.
What if something unexpected happens to Mom when she's home alone?
Jiang Ling asked anxiously, "Mom, are you alright?"
Xiao Wenjuan's voice was gentle: "I'm fine. I just saw an ambulance coming downstairs from the kitchen. It seems there was an accident at the breakfast stall."
Jiang Ling instructed, "Don't go to crowded places. Just stay home and wait. I'll go check on things. Wait for my call."
Xiao Wenjuan hummed in agreement. "Okay, then I won't go out to buy groceries for now."
Jiang Ling hung up the phone and ran outside.
Li Zhenliang, Liu Haoran, and Zhou Wei followed closely behind her.
As soon as I reached the stairwell, I heard Lei Xiao's loud voice.
"First Squad! Assemble! Head to the scene!" Captain Lei Xiao's roar was like a thunderclap, instantly igniting an atmosphere of urgency within the First Squad.
A group of people rushed down the stairs, taking two steps at a time, and flashed past Jiang Ling and the others like the wind.
Less than three minutes later, just as Jiang Ling arrived at the foot of her building, three police cars sped out of the city police station and headed straight for the crime scene, which was only one street away.
In the morning, Jiang Ling saw that the breakfast stalls, which were once orderly and filled with the aroma of food, were now in a state of chaos and disarray.
Several greasy small square tables were overturned on the ground, and shards of rough porcelain bowls, golden fried dough sticks, and snow-white soy milk were spilled everywhere, mixed with dirt, forming a dirty and messy mess.
Several splatters of pungent, disgusting vomit could be seen on the ground.
The crowd, like a swarm of startled ants, tightly surrounded the small stall.
Some diners were clutching their stomachs, their faces pale, groaning in pain;
There were panicked family members who cried out and tried to help their fallen relatives up;
Most of the onlookers were craning their necks, their faces filled with fear and confusion, whispering amongst themselves.
A cacophony of sounds mingled together: painful groans, terrified screams, anxious inquiries, helpless weeping… all converging into a chilling vortex of noise.
The proprietress, Aunt Liu, slumped amidst the mess, her lips trembling but unable to utter a coherent sound. Her face, which always wore a friendly and prosperous smile, was now deathly pale, her eyes vacant, and her calloused hands gripped a rag limply.
Aunt Liu's husband, Lao Li, the man who always worked silently behind the chopping board, kneading dough and helping out, was futilely trying to lift up an old man curled up on the ground, convulsing. His face was a mixture of fear, despair, and disbelief.
Jiang Ling's gaze instantly locked onto the old man convulsing in pain on the ground—it was Grandpa Liu, the gentle old man who had gently persuaded Old Man Xu under the ginkgo tree in the community yesterday.
At this moment, he was no longer as peaceful as he had been. His body was contorted, and suspicious white foam even oozed from the corners of his mouth. The breath of life was being drawn away from him at a visible speed.
Food poisoning?
In an instant, a chill rose from the soles of Jiang Ling's feet and traveled all the way to the top of her head, making her whole body numb.
Luckily, I made vegetable and egg noodles this morning. If my mother had bought soy milk from her shop...
Li Zhenliang asked with concern, "What's wrong? Are you alright?"
Jiang Ling then came to her senses and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm fine. It seems there was a mass poisoning. I don't know if the food was spoiled or if someone poisoned it."
The piercing sirens grew closer, and a blue and white police car screeched to a halt on the outskirts of the crowd, its tires screeching against the pavement.
The car door opened with a bang, and Lei Xiao, along with several uniformed criminal police officers, jumped out of the car. While shouting to maintain order, they pushed through the chaotic crowd and quickly ran towards the center of the scene.
The air, which was originally filled with the enticing aroma of soy milk and the smoky fragrance of fried dough sticks, was now covered by the sour smell of vomit, the stench of sweat emanating from the crowd, and the atmosphere of panic.
Police officers from the local police station who arrived earlier had already set up a cordon.
As soon as Lei Xiao arrived with his men, he immediately took command. The cordon was expanded, and all items on site, including overturned tables and chairs, broken dishes, leftover food, vomit, the stall's cutting board, the fryer, the large bucket of soy milk, etc., were strictly protected and no one was allowed to touch them.
Ambulances have rushed several poisoned individuals, including Mr. Liu, to the nearest Second People's Hospital of the city.
Mr. Liu, whose symptoms were the most severe, had already fallen into a coma and had weak vital signs when he was lifted onto the stretcher.
Other residents with milder symptoms were also asked to go to the hospital for examination.
Unrelated bystanders were evacuated, but many people remained at the scene, whispering amongst themselves, their expressions revealing undisguised panic.
Wearing masks and gloves, the forensic experts and technicians from the technical squadron began a detailed examination of the scene, collecting key physical evidence such as vomit, food residue, and container remnants, and taking preliminary photos for preservation.
Lei Xiao personally led a team to conduct preliminary questioning of the still-shaken Liu couple, to understand key information such as the breakfast preparation process, the source of ingredients, any unusual circumstances, and whether they had any grudges against anyone.
Aunt Liu, whose real name is Liu Meifeng, cried until she was almost exhausted and incoherent, repeatedly emphasizing that she was "clean" and "had never harmed anyone".
Aunt Liu's husband, Lao Li, whose real name is Li Guofu, appeared relatively calm, but he also looked desperate.
Based on the chaotic scene and the fact that multiple people exhibited symptoms of poisoning, the forensic expert initially determined that the case was consistent with severe poisoning. After a brief report to his superiors, Lei Xiao preliminarily classified the case as the "June 24 Ping'anli Community Major Poisoning Case."
Because of the heinous nature of the case and its extremely negative social impact, especially since it occurred directly opposite the Public Security Bureau, which was highly provocative, the bureau attached great importance to it and established a special task force, with Lei Xiao from the First Brigade as the team leader, to solve the case within a specified time.
Back at the bureau, the first team's office was filled with smoke, and the atmosphere was heavy.
Preliminary on-site investigation reports and hospital feedback have been compiled and confirmed that the poison was the highly toxic rodenticide "Doxorhizoma". A total of seven people were poisoned, among whom the oldest, Mr. Liu Lesheng, was in the most critical condition and was still being treated.
The poisoning site was identified as the cloth bag containing Liu Meifeng's homemade "secret recipe," where the concentration of poisonous residue was highest.
Qin Tieshan has decided to step down from his position, and this case will be a test for his successor, Lei Xiao.
If this case is solved, then Lei Xiaosheng's promotion to captain of the criminal investigation team is a foregone conclusion.
If the case cannot be solved, the bureau leaders will reconsider.
The criminal psychological profiling team led by Jiang Ling and the criminal investigation profiling team led by Luo Yunchen were once again drawn into the task force.
The entire morning was spent organizing the scene and questioning the parties involved. It wasn't until 3:30 p.m. that the first meeting of the task force was held in the office of the First Brigade.
Fan Wei first gave a brief introduction to the case.
The first step is to determine the time of the crime.
According to Liu Meifeng, the reason her soy milk was so rich and smooth was because she added soy powder to it after boiling it. The cloth bag that was identified as the poisoning point was the one she used to store the soy powder.
The bag of soybean flour was placed in a locked cabinet under the stall around 7 p.m. the day before, June 23, after she closed the stall. This morning, June 24, the day of the incident, she went to the stall at 4 a.m. to start preparing the ingredients, adding soybean flour when making soy milk.
Since the poisoning must have occurred before the poison took effect after being mixed into the bean powder bag, it can be preliminarily determined that the crime took place between 7 pm on June 23 and 4 am on June 24.
Lei Xiao nodded: "Okay, then we'll focus on investigating suspicious individuals and activities that appeared near the stalls during this time period."
Fan Wei began to analyze the crime scene and target: "The fact that the poisoner was able to accurately place the poison in the secret bean powder bag indicates that the poisoner has at least the following characteristics."
"First, the poisoner was very familiar with Liu Meifeng's procedures and habits for making soy milk, knew that she used soy flour, and knew where the soy flour bags were stored."
"Secondly, the poisoner had access to the low cabinet where the bean flour bags were stored. Upon inspection, the cabinet lock was intact, but the gaps in the cabinet door were quite wide, which could have allowed the poison to be released using some kind of tool. This requires further technical verification."
"Third, the poisoner was very familiar with the physical environment of the stall and could use the surrounding cover to conceal his actions. Because when we initially questioned the surrounding residents, no one noticed any suspicious persons during the time of the incident."
After listening to Fan Wei's brief report and preliminary analysis, the meeting room suddenly fell silent.
Is this mass poisoning a result of personal grudges or social retaliation? With unclear motives and a large number of victims, this case is going to be difficult to investigate.
The key issue is that there are too many things to figure out.
If it's a personal grudge, then the poisoned person and the customers who frequently patronize the breakfast stall could all be targets of retaliation. With so many people's social connections, how can you investigate?
If it is social retaliation, then the poisoner is trying to "punish" society by creating large-scale panic, harm, or death, or to draw public attention to their demands.
These types of cases are usually covert in their methods and have abstract motives, which can be said to be beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Unless the other party takes the initiative to come forward, it is very difficult to solve the case.
Lei Xiao stood in front of the blackboard, his brows furrowed. He held the chalk in his hand, recalling the three-pronged investigation method that Captain Qin had praised him for that morning, which had been refined and perfected by Jiang Ling.
Didn't Team Leader Qin say that we should value theoretical guidance and be bold in innovation?
Having only heard about it from Jiang Ling before, Lei Xiao decided to give it a try this time.
Lei Xiao wrote the five characters "Three-Fixed Investigation Method" on the blackboard.
Jiang Ling exchanged glances with her team members, their eyes filled with exclamation marks.
Jiang Ling was really happy that her method was finally being valued and applied.
The team members were a little proud: Look! Team Leader Lei has started using the methods our team leader taught us.
Lei Xiao looked at Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling smiled and nodded.
Lei Xiao began his analysis: "Jiang Ling has mentioned the three-point investigation method many times, which I believe everyone is familiar with. Today, let's define the nature, scope, and characteristics together."
"First, there's the motive. Why would the perpetrator choose to poison breakfast stall customers indiscriminately?"
Someone below said, "Let's get revenge."
Lei Xiao pointed at the person who spoke: "Very well, so is this retaliation aimed at a specific person, or a group?"
Fan Wei stood up: "The current seven poisoned individuals are men and women, young and old, and have no obvious commonalities. I personally believe that this is indiscriminate retribution against society."
Someone raised their hand and asked, "Is it possible that this was targeted at the breakfast stall owners? For example, maybe a competitor saw that Liu Meifeng's business was doing too well, so they deliberately poisoned her in retaliation?"
Lei Xiao wrote the words "criminal motive" on the blackboard, then drew a large bracket on the right, and then wrote two lines of smaller characters side by side: "revenge on society" and "revenge on the breakfast stall owner".
Influenced by the enthusiastic atmosphere of everyone speaking up, Liu Haoran also felt a bit itchy to contribute and raised his hand, saying, "It's also possible that it was revenge against someone in the neighborhood who liked to drink Liu Meifeng's soy milk, like that old man Liu who was the most severely poisoned. The murderer knew that this person drank soy milk every day, so he deliberately poisoned him. As for whether others would be poisoned, he didn't care, which conveniently concealed his murderous intent."
Thus, another motive for crime was added to the blackboard: revenge against an individual.
Looking at the three criminal motives written on the blackboard, Lei Xiao couldn't help but smile bitterly.
I used to think it was simple when Jiang Ling first defined the nature of the problem, but I didn't expect that he would come up with three criteria on his first try.
Ugh! This is tough.
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