Chapter 663: Chapter 631: Wolff’s Law_1
Xu Dayuan shook his head.
"The files I took were from the most recent time periods, but none of them were related. The cases had no connection at all. I thought to myself that this was quite a sensation back then, how could it leave no trace? Something’s not right. Just as I finished looking through the archives and heard that you had passed out here, I wasn’t in the mood to delve into it any further."
Mr. Zhao squinted his eyes.
"Zhou Xiaozhou was certain that the apartment building was their former house, and Mr. Hu even found out that the incident back then happened in Ganzhou City. It’s certain that it took place in Ganzhou.
If the files were intact, there would be traces to follow. With no files missing, there wouldn’t be any reason for suspicion. The absence of the files at least suggests that someone within the local Public Security Bureau interfered with the case or was involved in the incident.
Moreover, Zhou Xiaozhou was so young, living and working here with his parents. Mr. Zhou was the deputy captain of the criminal police team, and Mrs. Zhou was a local doctor. They must have been planning to hide their identities for a long time. There had to be a purpose for them to be here. What case were they investigating, or who were they tracking down?
I’m not superstitious, but on our last day in Ganzhou, we found that hole. The traces left inside the main cave and the side chamber were from twenty years ago. The timing was too coincidental. And later, we found even more secretive things. Do you think it could be related to Mr. Zhou’s investigation?"
Zhou Ning fell silent. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe Mr. Zhao’s words; on the contrary, what Mr. Zhao said was exactly what he had in mind. He always felt that his father must have been onto something.
If he was in a special department, then the likelihood of tracking those people would be even greater, especially since his outward identity was as the deputy captain of the criminal police team. Tracking down missing children or even conducting some investigations wouldn’t be hindered.
Regarding the death of his parents, the timing was so precise, the plan so meticulous, that even the time the hospital took a trip, the gap when the gatekeeper was absent, the time it took for the police to arrive, and the escape route were all factored in.
Afterward, all traces were erased, even within the department itself. This series of actions looked more like how a traitor would be treated. Without an insider, it would have been absolutely impossible.
Seeing Zhou Ning’s silence, Xu Dayuan sighed.
"Don’t lose heart. Since we’re here and have come this far, we’ll do what needs to be done. It’s fortunate that this case is big and even involves some projects in Qindao. Otherwise, I’d be worried about how to link it all together.
As for the lack of files, I don’t think it’s too difficult. Your parents lived here for a while. According to the information we found, you spent at least three years in school here. Is it possible that no one recognizes you?"
Zhou Ning nodded, as what Xu Dayuan said made a lot of sense.
"Right, there’s another thing. According to the records on the gravestone and the information you’ve confirmed, my mother’s name should be Bai Mei. But I remember my father calling my mother Xiao Ping. Usually, nicknames are related to the formal name or are simply two meaningful characters. I don’t know if this is useful."
Xu Dayuan took out a notebook and jotted something down.
"Whatever you can remember is useful. Let’s not waste time. Mr. Zhao, contact Mr. Qu to bring over the equipment. And about your wife, Xia Momo, have the two of them do a facial composite for you. It’s been a long time, and I’m afraid you might forget what they looked like."
Mr. Zhao nodded.
"I’ll call Mr. Qu right now."
Xu Dayuan nodded, took a deep breath, and continued speaking.
"However, the events of 1995 are almost twenty years old now. The appearance of the individuals would have changed significantly. Whether these two people, like Wang Guanli, are hiding like rats in a sewer, or have assumed new identities to live, all of that is unknown. Creating the facial composites is just the first step.
I’ve already had someone check the personnel list of each department of the Ganzhou City Public Security Bureau from back then. Of course, we know who the major leaders were, and all the officials at the time, especially those department leaders who might have had contact with your father. If we don’t have a lead, we’ll go through everything with a sieve. If there’s a problem, we’re bound to find a clue.
Later, I’ll report to Mr. Hu. We’ll need to sift through everything in Qindao as well. The person who came to your home to deliver the ashes had a local accent, which definitely implies some inside knowledge. Moreover, the fact that Wang Guanli escaped the death penalty will also be brought up for investigation.
Additionally, there’s the matter of the assassination attempt on you. Before we came to Ganzhou City, I could have said that it might have been revenge from relatives of a previous suspect. But now, I don’t think so anymore.
The files have been thoroughly pulled apart. The content involved is highly detailed. After sorting it out, a part of it was directly handed over to the person in charge of Longyou Province National Security. The files were also authenticated; the paper and ink are all products of a specific era.
About the section on Qindao, Mr. Hu got in touch with the provincial office using official channels, and they’ve already taken the files. I’ve kept a copy of the photocopies. Several incidents have been confirmed to have occurred, and the related personnel have been arrested."
Zhou Ning hadn’t thought about these details, but hearing Xu Dayuan speak gave him a sense of direction, and the case wasn’t without traces to follow.
While they were talking, there came a knock on the door. Mr. Zhao hurriedly went to open it, and Mr. Qu came in, holding several computers.
"Mr. Zhao, you’re here!"
Mr. Zhao stretched out his hand to pull Mr. Qu inside, then checked outside but didn’t see Xia Momo.
After all, he had urged her just now. On second thought, she needed to change clothes, take a bath, and go to the supermarket to buy fruits and a juicer. Knowing Zhou Ning’s fastidiousness, even the machine had to be thoroughly cleaned before use. Even if she hastened, she couldn’t be quick.
After locking the door again, Mr. Qu, with a puzzled face, followed Mr. Zhao to Zhou Ning’s bedside and saw the awake Zhou Ning. Mr. Qu’s nose soured, and his eyes reddened.
Mr. Zhao frowned and nudged him, saying,
"Look, the guy is still here, what are you crying for? He’s awakened, and you still want to send off Zhou Xiaozhou or what? Skip this part and come on; I’ve got serious business with you."
Mr. Qu smiled through his tears, and Xu Dayuan also kicked Mr. Zhao. Zhou Ning waved his hand and said,
"Stop the nonsense and come a bit closer. Although I’m awake, I don’t have any strength in my hands and feet, and we’re not saying anything to the outside yet."
Mr. Qu quickly stepped forward, laid out several laptops, opened the facial reconstruction software, and got ready.
"Boss, just give a brief description of the suspect, and then I’ll find similar facial features using Mr. Xia’s method. We’ll combine them, and if you think it looks like the person, nod; if not, we’ll pass. How’s that?"
"The two guys, one fat and one thin, let’s start with the thin one. I have the deepest impression of him. He’s very tall, a few centimeters taller than Wang Guanli, between 182-184 cm, weighing under 110 pounds, with yellow hair but very dark skin, a neck that leans forward, a somewhat hunched figure, triangle eyes, hook nose, thin lips, and a face full of pockmarks from acne.
As for the other, he’s a typical short, fat guy, less than 170 cm tall, weighing no less than 170 pounds, plump and pale, with eyes a bit like Mr. Zhao’s but smaller, a bulbous red-cheeked nose, thick lips, a very short philtrum, and the most notable feature is a mole on his lower lip."
Hearing Zhou Ning’s meticulous description, Xu Dayuan perked up. Clearly, Zhou Ning had made an effort to recall the features of these two people, and the software was even designed by him, so he definitely could find the most professional terminology to explain.
Mr. Qu cooperated well and quickly made a scan based on Zhou Ning’s directions. However, Zhou Ning was not very satisfied with a few of the combinations, and Mr. Qu began to make continuous modifications.
It was an incredibly tedious process, with very subtle adjustments, but even slight changes could greatly alter the overall human appearance.
More than an hour later, they had generally found the direction for the yellow-haired man’s image. Xu Dayuan, stroking his chin, looked at the image and hissed, then raised his hand to block the yellow hair from the image.
"How could he look somewhat familiar? I can’t place who he is, and this feeling is so strange. Does he look like anyone to you?"
Mr. Zhao leaned over, looked for a long time, and shook his head.
"This image is from 1995, 19 years different from now. I remember Wang Guanli’s file, the death sentence was dated November 20, 1994, and he was marked as 21 years old.
I recall you said that the short, fat one was called Wang Guanli’s older brother, but based on Zhou Ning’s description, the short, fat one doesn’t look like he’s 21 years old; he appears to be at least in his mid to late twenties. Even being plump doesn’t age one that much.
The other, taller and thinner, also seems to be older than Wang Guanli. If he was in his twenties back then, he’d be in his forties or close to fifty now. The body shape, facial features, and expression would all be completely different. Does the software have the function to change age?"
Zhou Ning shook his head.
"No, it doesn’t. In theory, from adulthood to old age, the bones should not change drastically, that is unless non-surgical reasons cause changes that subvert the previous overall shape.
However, according to Wolff’s law, bone growth is related to the forces acting on the bone, so the bones in the maxillofacial area under constant pressure will continue to deform. For example, wearing glasses could change the shape of the bridge of the nose and the area behind the ears. Think of the foot binding of ancient Hua Country women.
The most pressure in the maxillofacial region is on the maxilla and mandible, which bear the main chewing force. To adapt to changes in chewing force, the maxilla and mandible would form muscle contraction lines. Simply put, eating rough food and chewing a lot will change your facial shape.
Additionally, orthodontics or changes in teeth arrangement and occlusion will alter the upper and lower jaw occlusal surface, thereby changing the overall facial contour. Conversely, if all teeth fall out, the alveolar bone will gradually be absorbed, so the lower part of the face will shorten by a third, making it appear as if the mouth has receded."
Mr. Zhao realized.
"So, changes are possible, and they’re the completely unpredictable kind. For example, Wang Guanli might be someone whose appearance hasn’t changed much, from his weight to his facial features. If any of the changes you just mentioned occurred, we’d have no idea what he’d look like now, right? Anyway, let’s create the other composite and give it a try?"
Zhou Ning nodded his head. Before he could speak, the door was knocked on once more, with a very urgent knock this time.
