Chapter 6: Huntington's Disease

  "Do you know about Huntington's disease?"

  "What's the point of asking this? What does it have to do with my missing daughter?"

  "Yes, our Lingling has had no news for several days." When she learned that the police's sudden visit early in the morning was about her own long-lost daughter, the middle-aged woman's face suddenly showed a worried expression. The previous hostility disappeared instantly. "Do you have any news of hers? Where is she?"

  Wang Yanan and Zhao Yun looked at each other in dismay. She knew this was the third house they had visited today. If they couldn't confirm it, the lead would be cut off. But from another perspective, Wang Yanan didn't want the haggard middle-aged woman in front of her to be the mother of the deceased she was supposed to notify.

  She thought for a moment and then asked: "Ms. Qian, I have a question to ask you, is that okay?"

  The middle-aged woman nodded vaguely, at a loss for what to do.

  "Do you know about Huntington's disease?"

  "What's the point of asking this? What does it have to do with my missing daughter?"

  Wang Yanan smiled slightly: "I want to confirm whether anyone in your family has this disease. Because I see that you all seem normal. Don't worry, I'm just confirming."

  The middle-aged woman's expression on her face relaxed slightly. She let out a long sigh and shook her head helplessly: "I guessed it. Is Lingling sick again? I knew this day would come. Lingling's father died three years ago because of this illness. When I was pregnant with Lingling, I begged the gods to bless me and not let this poor child inherit this disease. But it seems that heaven is blind." As she spoke, she suddenly furrowed her brow and asked urgently: "Where is Lingling? Which hospital is she in? I'll go with you to pick her up right away."

  Wang Yanan bit her lip. She didn't dare look up at the deceased's mother's hopeful eyes again.

  "Do you have your daughter's photo?" Zhao Yun asked.

  The middle-aged woman nodded, reached behind her and took out a photo album from the glass cabinet, carefully removed a 7-inch large photo from it, and handed it to Zhao Yun with a proud face: "This is my daughter's photo when she participated in the Tianchang beauty pageant. No matter what she becomes, she is always the most beautiful in my eyes."

  "Beauty contest. Mrs. Qian, your daughter has a great figure." Zhao Yun's unintentional sigh suddenly awakened the silent Wang Ya Nan. She leaned forward and took a closer look at the photo in Zhao Yun's hand. The "golden ratio" that Zhang Tong had mentioned before flashed through her mind again. Was it really just because of her figure that the victim was killed?

  "Ms. Qian, what was your daughter doing before she went missing?"

  Lingling is a kindergarten teacher.

  Zhao Yun nodded: "Can you tell us again about the situation on the night she went missing?"

  "That day was Thursday. She called me to say she had to work overtime, so she would be back late. But the whole evening passed without any news from her. Her phone was also turned off. I went to the police station to report it. But they said that since she's an adult, they could only make a record of it and try to help... I'm worried, worried that something happened to her because of illness. Luckily you've arrived." The middle-aged woman's face showed a hint of relief.

  "Ms. Qian, there's one last thing we'd like to ask for your assistance with. Can you give us one of your daughter's personal belongings? We need to confirm her identity."

  "Alright, alright." The middle-aged woman didn't ask any more questions. At this moment, she was already filled with excitement about soon knowing her daughter's whereabouts. She immediately stood up and walked into the small room. Not long after, she came out with a yellow poplar wood comb, on which there were still a few strands of long hair.

  "That's all for today, then. Once everything is settled, we'll come to take you to see your daughter." Zhao Yun said these few words with a calm and composed demeanor that made Wang Ya Nan, who was standing beside him, feel like she wanted to find a hole in the ground to crawl into immediately. Although the deceased's DNA still needed to be matched through final testing, all the signs currently indicated that the middle-aged woman in front of them was very likely the deceased's mother. Confirming her identity might just be a matter of procedure now.

  Walked out of the hut. Until the car re-entered the road. Wang Yanan didn't let out a long sigh until then: "I really admire you, being able to be so calm and collected."

  Zhao Yun couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh: "No way, my facial muscles are all stiff. Speaking of that girl, the photo in your file is really beautiful. I simply can't associate her with the trash bag thing. That's just a nightmare. Honestly, I don't want the deceased to be her either. Why would someone treat something so good so badly?"

  "Maybe it's because of her good figure." Wang Yanmuttered, then turned his gaze out the car window and fell silent again.

  The atmosphere in the car suddenly became heavy.

  More than 20 minutes later, the clean and beautiful campus of Tianchang University appeared in front of the car. After showing their credentials to the security guard, Wang Yanan and Zhao Yun successfully drove into the faculty dormitory area of Tianchang University.

  Looking at the neat white poplar trees on both sides of the car, and those slightly immature faces, Wang Yan couldn't help but stretch her waist. She then sighed: "If I had the chance to go back to university campus again, I would be willing to pay any price to come back. Everything here is so beautiful."

  After hearing this, Zhao Yun remained silent, a faint smile flashing at the corner of his mouth.

  While waiting for Professor Ding in the living room, Wang Yan took this opportunity to introduce Zhao Yun to this old man who was already over 70 years old.

  "Professor Ding was the head of the biology department at Tianchang University before he retired. His family has been making specimens for generations. Even his ancestors had made peacock specimens as tributes to Empress Dowager Cixi in the Qing palace. In terms of seniority, Professor Ding is the highest in this line of work. Since we are looking for someone who knows how to make specimens, we must go ask him."

  Zhao Yun nodded slightly. Just as he was about to speak, a loud and clear voice came from behind him: "Are you people from the Public Security Bureau?"

  Wang Yanan and Zhao Yun quickly stood up, the old man in front of them had completely white hair, but his spirit was very good, with a ruddy complexion and a warm smile.

  "Sit down, sit down. Don't be polite. Just make yourself at home. I'm retired now. Usually there's no one coming to the house anyway." The old man sat down on the sofa with a smile.

  Because the purpose of the visit had already been explained over the phone, after some small talk, Wang Yanan got straight to the point and handed Professor Ding a photo of the black rivet found on the deceased's shoulder muscle, saying "Professor Ding, would you please help us identify this?"

  Professor Ding picked up a pair of glasses from the tea table and put them on, looked carefully for half a day, his expression became serious: "In our specimen preparation industry, due to different apprenticeships, the rivets used also have certain differences. And rivets are the most important tool we use to fix specimens. Can you let me take another look at the composition analysis table?"

  Wang Yanan quickly found the computer fax copy and handed it over to him.

  Time was ticking away, second by second. Professor Ding's eyebrows gradually furrowed into an eight-shaped knot. He finally put down the photocopy in his hand and let out a long sigh: "This is identical to our Ding family's secret formula for preparing specimens. But it's still missing one ingredient - sulfuric acid. The amount needed isn't much. We use it to dissolve the organic matter on the surface of the specimen, and then use nails to fix it in place. You should know that nowadays, fewer and fewer people are learning the art of making specimens. Even in our Ding family, only two people know this formula - me, and my nephew who lives in the eastern part of the city. This is his address." As he spoke, the old man hastily scribbled down an address and a name on a piece of notepaper and handed it to Wang Yan.

  Wang Yan noticed a photo on the piano behind the old man. It was a group photo of two people. In the photo, Professor Ding stood next to a younger man. If it weren't for his hair, eyebrows and facial skin being unusually white, Wang Yan's gaze wouldn't have lingered on this photo.

  The old man noticed Wang Yan's gaze: "This is my nephew. He has had this disease since he was a child. It's hereditary."

  Wang Yanan nodded awkwardly and continued to ask: "So what is he doing now?"

  "I don't know. I haven't heard from him for over a year. He's obsessed with this industry. But you also know, specimen preparators are struggling to make ends meet nowadays. So, before losing contact, he didn't have any stable job." The old man's mood had sunk significantly compared to when they first met. He turned and asked, "Comrade, would you mind telling me what exactly happened?"

  Wang Yanan hesitated for a moment before responding, "Nothing, just some technical questions to ask. Thank you, Professor Ding. We'll take our leave for today and visit again another day."

  After saying goodbye to Professor Ding, Zhao Yun and Wang Ya Nan drove back to the Public Security Bureau with evidence to confirm the identity of the first corpse as soon as possible.

  Just entered the office. Haven't even had time to catch breath. Wang Yanan has already dialed Zhang Tong's phone. "Xiao Tong, are you still in the dissection room?"

  "Correct."

  "Take a sample from the corpse immediately and conduct a sulfide test, especially at the wound site. If the corpse contains this chemical component, then the identity of the murderer can be confirmed. Sulfide is a special chemical used by specimen preparation technicians."

  "I'll do it right away. I'll let you know as soon as there's any news."

  At this time, at the other end of the city, a courier wearing a special express uniform hurried out of the elevator and arrived at the door of a house on the edge. This is his first delivery today. In order to get off work early and worry that the customer will not be at home, the courier got up early.

  Not long after the doorbell rang, the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard from inside the door. The door opened immediately afterwards. Standing in front of the courier was an elderly woman with completely white hair.

  "Excuse me, is there a person named Zhang Tong living here?" To confirm the address and name were correct, the courier took a responsible attitude and bowed his head to check the delivery record again.

  The old woman nodded with a kind smile: "That's my daughter. Is there something I can help you with? She's busy with work and isn't home right now."

  "Is that so? Then would you mind signing for it? I have a express delivery here from the US." The courier handed over the delivery record book and pen, pointing to where the old man should sign. After he signed, the courier took out an express delivery package from his bag and handed it to the old man.

  "It came from America." The old woman frowned and thought for a long time, looking at the crooked handwriting on the envelope surface that she didn't recognize at all. She couldn't help but raise her head and ask: "Young man, are you sure this express delivery is for our family? We don't know any foreigners at all."