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3.55% Novice Forensic Doctor / Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Mr. Xia_1

Capítulo 25: Chapter 25 Mr. Xia_1

With concern, he hurriedly answered the call.

"Uncle, why are you calling? Is Grandpa still feeling unwell?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, can't you think of something positive? Your grandpa's foot is fine now, all the swelling has gone down. He just finished eating and went out for a walk. I'm calling you for a different matter."

Zhou Ning sighed with relief. After all, he only had a few close relatives, and it was best that they were well. However, the thought of the match his aunt had introduced made Zhou Ning feel a bit nervous.

"Oh, that's good. Uncle, what's the matter?"

Zhou Xianghua let out a sigh.

"I heard you've been busy with a case these past few days. I didn't dare call you until you were done. I want to apologize on behalf of your aunt. No one expected Cheng Li to be that kind of person. Xu Da said there's no need to give her money. It's extortion, and we have evidence, so we're not afraid."

"Uncle, what are you talking about? Auntie is just worried about me. How could I be mad at my own family? Tell her not to take it to heart. I'll come over and see you guys this weekend after I finish the case."

"Don't interrupt, I haven't finished yet! It's been genuinely busy lately, inspections every day, and I'm also tied up here. But we can't let this episode delay the matchmaking. After New Year's Day, you'll be twenty-seven in nominal age. Your parents are gone, and I..."

Zhou Ning moved the phone away, shaking his head helplessly.

Uncle and his wife truly cared about him, but when it came to finding a partner, Zhou Ning wasn't in such a rush. Before, the system had not been fully operational, and he felt no pressure. But now it was different. Every night he was being drilled by the system, leaving him no leisure time for romance.

On the other end of the phone, Zhou Xianghua seemed to have finished his harangue but added one last phrase.

"Are you listening to me?"

"Listening, Uncle, don't worry. I'm not in a rush to find a partner. It's all about the right chemistry, isn't it? Do you want me to just pick any woman?"

Zhou Xianghua fell silent and Zhou Ning quickly added.

"There's something I need Auntie's help with, can she find me a teacher who knows how to paint?"

"Painting? How come you're thinking of learning to paint now?"

Zhou Ning blinked. With his skills at the level of kindergarten coloring, it would be tough to catch up without professional training from someone, in addition to the system's drills.

"I want to improve my professional skills, and one of them is drawing, particularly portrait drawing. You've seen those forensic drawings of skulls, right? Just like that, a specialized teacher. If you know someone, just introduce me."

Zhou Xianghua paused to think, then suddenly there was a loud slap, as if he had smacked his thigh.

"Just wait, I'll send you a message tonight. I remember that your aunt's school just got a new art teacher who graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts. They've won many awards and even have a studio at the Youth Palace."

Zhou Ning was stunned. Are the qualifications for being a teacher now this demanding?

Just for a primary school art teacher, to require such high credentials?

"That... maybe find someone with lower qualifications? This one seems a bit overqualified to teach me."

"Don't worry about it, I'll handle this. By the way, you don't need to run back to the hometown this weekend. Grandpa already said when it gets colder he's going to live in the city with me. We'll be in the same residential community then, no need for all this hassle. Focus on your work. That's settled, I'll send you a message once I've made contact."

Click. The call ended.

Zhou Ning was dumbfounded. Since when had his uncle become so impatient? He felt like he might be missing something but shook his head and didn't think any further. His brain cells had been seriously depleted these past few days. Time to pack up and go home to sleep.

...

October 30, 2010, Saturday

The phone on the nightstand, charging, ding-donged a notification.

Zhou Ning opened his eyes, pulled from his training by the sound, took two deep breaths, and sat up directly.

Damn it, before it was just analyzing cases, providing conditions to find the cause of death. That was easy enough, and I could get some answers right. The accuracy rate was about 60%, so I wasn't constantly punished with electric shocks.

But with this facial reconstruction technique, straight up, it's giving me skulls or unrecognizable victims, asking me to match the correct portrait from over a hundred photos without any clues. I can only guess, and without a single correct guess all night, I've been constantly shocked. Now my whole body smells like it's been scorched.

Zhou Ning grabbed the phone, truly grateful for the interruption; otherwise, he didn't know how long the torment would continue. He saw the message was from Uncle Zhou Xianghua.

Zhou Xianghua: The teacher's name is Xia Momo, mobile number 1390542****, QQ: ******. I've told her what you need to learn. Mr. Xia is very interested in teaching you. The meeting is set for today at 10:00 AM in the Shuxin Studio on the second floor of the Cultural Palace. Dress nicely and don't be late.

Remember, remember!

Zhou Ning responded with two words: Got it!

Then he got out of bed, rushed to take a shower, and after getting ready, the scorched smell on him seemed to diminish. It was already nine o'clock by then, so he quickly cooked a pack of noodles, wolfed them down, changed into a clean jacket, and left the house.

Leaving the Yuhua Residential Community, he headed straight for the Cultural Palace.

The distance wasn't far, just through the park, and he reached his destination, surprised to find that the place had been renovated. It featured an antique architectural style with beautiful bucket arches.

Entering the Cultural Palace and following the signs, he went directly to the Shuxin Studio on the second floor. Piano music wafted down from upstairs, likely from kids taking extracurricular lessons on the weekend.

He knocked on the door, and a pleasant voice came from inside the studio.

"Please come in."

Zhou Ning pushed open the door, and inside the studio stood a girl in a long dress, who glanced at Zhou Ning with a slight tilt of her head. Her long hair was casually twisted into a bun, held by a paintbrush, with some stray strands hanging down.

The girl wore no makeup, but with her looks, what need was there for makeup?

Her beautiful eyes met Zhou Ning's, a smile on her lips and dimples flashing at the corners, sending a jolt through Zhou Ning's heart as he suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

"You must be Zhou Ning, come on in."

Zhou Ning nodded and hurriedly closed the door behind him. The girl approached, and the studio was quite spacious, with seven or eight teenagers, around fifteen or sixteen years old, engrossed in painting. On the central stand were assorted bottles and jars and some fruit.

"I'm Xia Momo, just wait a little; I have five minutes left in class. Feel free to look around and get familiar with the environment," she said.

Zhou Ning's awkwardness dissolved instantly with such considerate arrangements, and he nodded with a quick smile.

He was startled at first, thinking he would have to study with these professional art students—that would truly have been embarrassing. The items on the stand were only familiar to him from watching people paint on television.

Zhou Ning remained silent, standing behind a boy to look at his drawing board. Without realizing it, his face twitched.

This?

How could it resemble so closely, as if made by a human printer?

Even the few others nearby who were a bit less skilled moved their gouache brushes rapidly, dancing on the paper. Though he didn't understand the details they were refining, seeing Xia Momo nodding approvingly meant they must be doing well.

At that moment, Xia Momo walked to the center stand and clapped her hands.

"Alright, that's it for today's class. Don't be late tomorrow. You don't have many days left until your art exams; make sure to make the most of each weekend's practice."

The teenagers quickly packed up, stretching their necks and gathering their drawing boards. After saying goodbye to Xia Momo, they left, not forgetting to sneak a couple more glances at Zhou Ning, their faces wearing mysterious smiles as if they had discovered something extraordinary.

Xia Momo glanced at her wristwatch, a touch of apology on her face.

"We ran a little late today, so thanks for waiting a bit extra. Sorry about that!"

Zhou Ning waved his hand dismissively.

"Mr. Xia, you're too polite. Watching was quite enjoyable," he replied.

Xia Momo gestured for Zhou Ning to take a seat opposite her. Zhou Ning perched on a tiny stool, his tall legs tucked beneath him, reminiscent of being visited by a teacher at home.

"Mr. Chen told me that you're a forensic doctor seeking to learn painting. I'm curious, do forensic doctors need the skill of drawing as well?" Xia Momo asked, her eyes twinkling like stars, her gaze holding Zhou Ning's, who inhaled deeply to compose himself.

"I want to learn the techniques of facial reconstruction, but this requires high proficiency in painting and sculpture, and I'm a beginner in this area. To be honest with you, my skill level is about that of coloring in kindergarten," he admitted.

Xia Momo laughed, her dimples reappearing.

"Actually, it doesn't matter if you have a foundation or not. The important thing for adults learning to paint is determination. However, this facial reconstruction you're talking about interests me greatly—is it about reconstructing a face on a skull, filling in the muscles and skin?"

Zhou Ning nodded, impressed by how quick-witted she was.

"Yes, that's one aspect. Of course, it also involves sketching perpetrators' faces based on victims' descriptions."

Xia Momo's eyes widened in amazement.

"I've seen that in suspense movies, it's truly impressive. After all, matching descriptions with understanding is difficult, and it puts the artist to the test."

"Exactly, so I made up my mind and asked my aunt to find me a teacher, to start from scratch."

Xia Momo stood up and went to a cabinet, from which she pulled out several plaster shapes and rearranged them on the stand: a sphere, a cone, a cube.

She approached Zhou Ning with a pen case and an easel in hand.

"Now that you have the resolve, let's begin with the basics. We'll start your first lesson today on the difference between light and shadow."

After two hours, Zhou Ning's hand felt as if it were no longer his own.

Looking at the dark smudge he had painted on the easel, Zhou Ning's face flushed with embarrassment as he shook his head apologetically at Xia Momo.

"I understand with my eyes, but it seems my hand doesn't follow orders. I'm really sorry, Mr. Xia."

Xia Momo inspected Zhou Ning's work, still smiling kindly.

"Sketching really tests your perception. Today we just needed to understand the basics of handling a brush and expressing light and shadow. As long as you practice wholeheartedly, you will make progress," she reassured him.

Relieved, Zhou Ning stood up, and it was already twelve o'clock. He hesitated for a moment before turning back to Xia Momo.

"Mr. Xia, let me invite you to lunch. It's the perfect time to talk about when our next class will be."


next chapter

Capítulo 26: Chapter 26 What's that, how much does it cost?_1

December 3

Zhou Ning, wrapped in a down jacket, stepped briskly towards the office.

He stamped his feet vigorously, shaking off a layer of snowflakes; Doctor Liu sat beside the heater, humming an obscure Peking opera tune, smiling at Zhou Ning.

"Cold, isn't it?"

Zhou Ning nodded, rubbed his hands together, took off his down jacket, and quickly started to mop the floor. The office was small, so it didn't take long to clean. After washing his hands, he returned to the office, poured himself some hot water, and moved close to Doctor Liu. He grabbed a pinch of red tea from Doctor Liu's stash and tossed it into his cup before dashing away.

Doctor Liu pretended to reach out, laughing as he scolded:

"You little miser, you're always stealing my tea leaves. I took off two months and four tins of tea leaves have vanished. You don't even think of showing some filial respect to your master. Everyone else drives to work in this big snow, and you, holding a driver's license, walk. Get a car; I could bask in your reflected glory and hitch a ride."

Zhou Ning shook his head like a rattle-drum, blew on the foam in his cup, and took a sip. The scalding tea instantly traveled down his throat to his stomach, dispelling the chill.

In fact, many of his colleagues in the squad, as well as classmates, owned cars.

He wasn't opposed to the idea, but with a monthly income of just over three thousand, and although their district hadn't implemented transparent salary policies, what, was he supposed to ask his uncle or grandpa for money?

They had paid for his education and bought him a house; Zhou Ning was aware of that. He couldn't take everything for himself, especially since his uncle had a son and a daughter, almost his age.

"I don't buy one because I can't afford it."

Doctor Liu shook his head.

"The bonus has been handed out, you know you should take your master out for a meal, right?"

Zhou Ning laughed.

"That's no problem, as long as it's under two hundred, you can pick any restaurant."

"What a sin. I have been stingy all my life, only to find I've trained a disciple who is even worse."

Liu Yongxin raised his hand and gave a resigned look as he lamented.

"I learned it from you."

Doctor Liu was somewhat speechless, and as the two chatted off and on, the door suddenly opened and a white-haired old man peeked in, glancing at Doctor Liu, then fixing his gaze on Zhou Ning.

"Are you Doctor Zhou Ning?"

The old man seemed to have a cold, his voice was hoarse. Zhou Ning quickly got up, a bit puzzled, and nodded.

"Yes, I am Zhou Ning. May I ask who you are..."

The white-haired old man smiled, entered the room, and excitedly rushed over to Zhou Ning, grabbing his hand and shaking it vigorously.

"You probably didn't recognize my voice because my throat is hoarse, but I am Lu Chengxuan, from the Chemistry Department at Qindao University. We spoke on the phone before, do you remember?"

Zhou Ning suddenly understood.

"Doctor Lu, what brings you here?"

Doctor Liu came closer, still with a little limp, and smacked Zhou Ning on the back.

"What are you standing around for? Get Doctor Lu a seat. Oh, why don't you two use the meeting room for your discussion?"

Doctor Lu waved his hand, not minding Zhou Ning's awkwardness. He found a chair for himself, tossed down his coat, and put a briefcase on the desk, taking out a laptop.

"We can talk here. I was in such a rush I didn't inform Zhou Ning in advance, which might have perplexed him a bit, but I understand that, please don't blame him."

Doctor Liu rubbed his nose, appearing to understand that the focus of scholars was really on their work. He knew about Mr. Xu arranging a meeting with the professor, and clearly Doctor Lu's visit was related to this.

Indeed, Doctor Lu opened a file marked in English, alternating between English and Chinese segments.

Zhou Ning was pulled by Doctor Lu to sit next to him, staring at the Chinese part, and read it through. It was Zhou Ning's previous paper he had sent to Doctor Lu, but now it included detailed experimental procedures and data, with some journals listed at the bottom Zhou Ning didn't recognize.

"Doctor Lu, has this paper been published?"

Doctor Lu nodded, taking a deep breath, trying to suppress the tension within him.

"A month ago, after we finalized our paper and combined it with the experiment records, I sent it to a friend. Unexpectedly, it got published in the Forensic Medicine Journal a week later. I've been through a series of checks and had minor surgery, so I didn't turn on my computer. Yesterday when I returned to the office and checked my email, I found a message from the Journal of Forensic Science International wanting to reprint the paper, and I wanted to ask if you agree."

Zhou Ning was taken aback.

"Journal of Forensic Science International?"

Doctor Liu's hand rested on Zhou Ning's shoulder, revealing a slight smile.

"Hold on, could you explain that in a way that I can understand?"

Zhou Ning quickly explained.

"It's an international forensic science journal, currently the most authoritative forensic journal internationally. It often reprints cutting-edge research and discoveries from various countries. But as far as I know, foreign research on skid marks is much more advanced than ours, why would they reprint this?"

In truth, Zhou Ning felt very uncertain, considering that the content of this paper was largely based on a portion of a forensic science textbook he had read, including the experimental steps, possible findings during the experiment, and the comparison methods.

This thing could directly bring money or honor, but if some big shot were to whimsically invite him to give a talk, wouldn't that be a social suicide live on stage?

Doctor Lu looked at Zhou Ning, who, instead of looking excited, seemed worried and troubled. This caught Doctor Lu off guard and dampened his excitement considerably.

However, after a moment's thought, Doctor Lu realized something. A young forensic doctor who could come up with such research didn't want his life disrupted; otherwise, he wouldn't have the peace of mind to continue his research.

"Got it, don't worry. From now on, I'll email you in advance about these matters to avoid causing you any trouble. If someone wants to interview you, we can do a phone interview or an online video interview, how about that?

But Doctor Zhou, there's one thing we need to agree on. If you have papers in this field in the future, they don't have to be related to chemistry. Anything related to your forensic expertise is fine, you can contact me. I'll help you find a lab, and we can conveniently carry out the project.

Of course, if it's very specialized or even requires purchasing large experimental equipment, I will coordinate everything. We can discuss it all."

Under Doctor Lu's rapid-fire approach, Zhou Ning was stunned, his mouth slightly open and eyes wide, exactly with that expression.

⊙0⊙

Clearly, Doctor Lu had misunderstood him. He probably thought Zhou Ning wouldn't agree, so he was going all out to woo him, hoping for future collaboration. After all, people often reach a bottleneck in their scientific research at a certain age and need new directions.

Zhou Ning rubbed at his thin wallet. He had heard that publishing papers could be expensive, and when he heard Xu Dayuan agree so readily earlier, he thought he could avoid the cost. But now Doctor Lu himself had come, bringing such good news. If he didn't take the initiative to say something, it might seem ungrateful.

"This paper is co-authored by us; Doctor Lu doesn't need to ask for my opinion. I agree to the reprint, and as for the expenses..."

Doctor Lu raised his hand and stood up. Doctor Liu, who was watching, was completely confused, glancing back and forth between the two and rubbing his chin.

Just then, the door was pushed open, and a tall figure entered from outside, stomping his feet and looking up to see Doctor Lu. His face showed surprise, and he quickly went forward to shake hands.

"Doctor Lu, how come you're at our police department?"

"Captain Xu, this Doctor Zhou you introduced to me is really impressive..."

Doctor Lu repeated what he had just said, with a face full of self-blame. He felt that if he hadn't been hospitalized during this time, the paper would have already been published. Such an honor was not something that could be achieved by merely publishing a paper domestically.

Xu Dayuan wanted to interrupt, but Doctor Lu slapped his hand away and continued:

"You don't understand. In terms of these technologies, we're all playing catch-up. Being proactively contacted by such a journal and negotiating a reprint is a sign of how much they value us. For our country, this is a big deal."

Zhou Ning was numb. If initially it was just from the ankles down that he couldn't feel, now he was numb from the neck down.

Damn it, I'm screwed.

Somebody save me!

Isn't this just making trouble for myself?

I never intended to do all this. I was just hoping to get a paper published for free, so I could use it when applying for a professional title in the future. Now, all of a sudden, things have escalated beyond my control.

Xu Dayuan, Liu Yongxin, and Doctor Lu all looked at Zhou Ning, who knew there was no use hiding. He couldn't back down now; they had obviously read it and he couldn't give less than what was due.

"Doctor Lu, I have a question. How much does it cost to publish papers in Forensic Medicine Journal and Journal of Forensic Science International? I... I'll go to the bank and transfer it to you right away!"

Doctor Lu was stunned.

Doctor Liu's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Zhou Ning, his face nearly plastered with question marks.

"You're not on the same page. I understand everything now; you agree and they publish it, and you probably even get a royalty fee."

Zhou Ning's eyes lit up, and his signal strength surged to full.

"Wait, royalty fee? How much money will they give?"


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