The follow-up investigation of the case encountered considerable issues.

Tian Zhongfa's wife indeed suffers from a mental illness.

Everyone in Beitun Village knows that when Tian Zhongfa got married, his wife was already considered simple-minded, and throughout the years, nothing much has changed.

However, considering the murder case, Qin Yong still instructed Ren Qiang to take her for a mental assessment.

The conclusion was that Tian Zhongfa's wife likely suffered severe brain damage as a child, leading to mental disability and a significant loss of behavioral capacity.

The assessment concluded that Tian Zhongfa's wife has an intelligence level equivalent to that of a four or five-year-old child.

According to the law, if a mentally ill person commits murder while unable to recognize or control their actions, they are not considered criminally responsible following legal confirmation.

However, this case differs in that Wang Zihan was deliberately locked in the room by Tian Zhongfa, resulting in being confined with a mentally ill individual.

Tian Zhongfa knowingly locked the child with his mentally ill wife, bearing the potential for harm.

Adding to that is Tian Zhongfa's subsequent disposal of the body. Although he did not directly strangle Wang Zihan, he still bore direct responsibility for the death.

Crime Scene Investigation Laboratory.

"Will Tian Zhongfa face the death penalty?"

Lu Chuan was fiddling with the flamingo-lily. Work had been busy the past few days, and he hadn't had time to water it, making the texture of the petals feel off.

Now that things had calmed down, he took the opportunity to tend to it.

Old Bai, with an enamel mug in one hand, had one leg propped on a chair, practicing his voice exercises, and shook his head at Lu Chuan's question: "The death penalty is unlikely; after all, the child wasn't strangled by his hands."

Yang Sen nodded in agreement: "Life imprisonment is likely the maximum, but the chances of a death penalty are small."

"By the way, Lu, are you going to the Provincial Headquarters for the fingerprint competition next week?"

"Yes," Lu Chuan replied, "It's on the twentieth, and I'll be there for five days."

"The cases that make it to the Provincial Headquarters fingerprint competition aren't simple; they're old cases accumulated over many years."

Although neither had attended before, they had heard Liu Guodong mention it.

Breaking a case at the Provincial Headquarters fingerprint competition isn't guaranteed.

If one can be solved, it would be a remarkable achievement.

"Old Bai, our City Public Security Bureau hasn't solved a cold case in years, but Lu will handle it anyway!"

"No worries, Lu, this time put in extra effort and bring home another first-class merit!"

Evening.

Pamir Restaurant on Xihong Road.

"This place's salt-baked snails are especially tasty. My cousin said the chef was brought in from Fala Country specifically to make these."

Lu Chuan was introducing the specialties of the restaurant to Shen Yan.

"Really? I'll try it then."

Candlelight, wine, snail mushroom soup, a bottle of chilled champagne, accompanied by a violinist playing nearby.

Lu Yao recommended this restaurant to Lu Chuan as it's his girlfriend's favorite dining spot.

"Hmm, this is indeed delicious, crisp and tender, with a nice flavor. This mushroom soup is also good, though a bit too creamy, which might make you gain weight if you have too much."

Lu Chuan never refused anything, and mushroom soup was his favorite; he had been having it non-stop.

"Yes, this soup is indeed good."

The relationship between Forensic Doctor Shen and Officer Lu seemed to have considerable potential for further development recently.

Every morning, Lu Chuan picking up Forensic Doctor Shen had become a habit.

"By the way, I'll be out of town at the Provincial Headquarters next week, so I can't pick you up for a week. Should I give you my car key so you can drive yourself?"

"No, I have my own car. Your car is too big; I'm not used to driving it."

Forensic Doctor Shen considers herself a good driver, but she didn't drive in the winter due to slippery roads that could cause accidents.

Besides, having Lu Chuan picking her up is convenient.

"Are you going for the Provincial Headquarters fingerprint competition?"

"You knew?"

"My mentor told me. It used to be Supervisor Liu attending; now it's you."

The two chatted about work matters and some daily trivia, losing track of time in the process.

March 19th, Sunday.

Lu Chuan sat alone on the high-speed train heading to the provincial city.

As March drew to a close, the weather was getting warmer; trees began to bud, and grasslands were reviving.

Spring was fast approaching.

The train was not crowded; it was spacious, making the over-hour journey comfortably pass by.

The domestic high-speed rail network had developed rapidly in recent years, covering all first- and second-tier cities, with most third- and fourth-tier cities having high-speed rail stations as well.

Except for extremely remote cities, which, due to geological reasons, were not suitable for high-speed rail construction, the domestic high-speed rail network had covered most national territories.

At the station entrance, a receptionist responsible for organizing the fingerprint competition at the Provincial Headquarters was there to receive attendees.

Different from the self-hosted selection model of the Haizhou City Public Security Bureau's fingerprint competition, the Provincial Headquarters fingerprint competition gathered elite fingerprint identification experts from across the province.

The specifications were much higher, and naturally, the logistical support was excellent.

The Second Criminal Investigation Division was in charge of the fingerprint competition, and its director was Lu Chuan's old acquaintance, Li Donglin.

Interestingly, it was Lu Chuan's first time at the Provincial Headquarters.

Even though it was his first time, many people knew him, or vice versa.

"Teacher Lu, I'm Sun Bing from the Second Division. It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Sun Bing, a Ph.D. graduate from Public Security University, started working two years before Lu Chuan, and joined the Provincial Headquarters right after graduation.

His position was at the Technical Identification Center, but he was actually seconded to the Second Criminal Investigation Division. This time, Sun Bing was in charge of logistical work for the fingerprint competition.

"Hi, hi!"

Lu Chuan greeted and got on the Coaster arranged for him.

"Teacher Lu, we have another expert arriving in ten minutes. Shall we wait and then leave together?"

"Sure, no problem."

Today was Sunday, the Provincial Headquarters was on holiday, and Lu Chuan and the others would start work the next day.

Today's main tasks were receiving attendees and arranging accommodations.

Sun Bing was evidently experienced in reception work, organizing everything seamlessly.

Provincial Headquarters Guesthouse: "Teacher Lu, please rest first. Dinner is on the second-floor restaurant, a free buffet. I'll meet you in the first-floor lobby at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow."

"Thank you, I appreciate it."

"Not at all, not at all!"

Sun Bing waved his hands repeatedly: "Director Li specifically instructed me to ensure your accommodations were well-arranged. He was on a business trip last week and just returned tonight, otherwise, he would have personally come to meet you."

"That's too much bother, but thank you for the trouble."

After some cordial exchanges, Sun Bing finally left politely.

Watching Sun Bing's silhouette, Lu Chuan closed the door.

A Ph.D. graduate from Public Security University and his senior.

Yet at the Provincial Headquarters, he was only doing reception work, highlighting the abundance of talent there.

"If he were in Haizhou... Director Li would hold him in high esteem..."

There's a demand for talent everywhere, but in the City Bureau, there are many with master's degrees but really only a few with doctorates.

In the evening, Lu Chuan tried the Provincial Headquarters guesthouse dinner. The quality was above average, much better than the team canteen.

Early the next morning, at 7:50, Lu Chuan donned his police uniform and waited early in the lobby.

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