The Major Crimes Unit set aside their work and gathered in the conference room.
“What exactly happened, Chief Yan?” Han Huaixiao asked.
Yan Zheng spoke gravely. “Recently, Mycoplasma infections1 have been spreading rapidly through Lang City’s primary schools and kindergartens. Many children are coughing and running fevers. In the worst-hit classes, over a dozen students are absent, and one school has already suspended classes. The situation is serious.”
Zhang Tianhua, who had a young daughter at home, grew anxious, saying, “Mycoplasma is contagious, but infected students are usually told to stay home and recover before returning to school. It shouldn’t escalate like this… Has a new virus emerged?”
“Unlikely,” Han Huaixiao answered. “If it were a new virus, we wouldn’t be sitting here. The CDC2 would be handling it.”
“The CDC hasn’t detected any new virus yet,” Yan Zheng replied. “But this strain is particularly aggressive. Schools are crowded, and transmission is already high.” With that, he paused before continuing, “But that’s not the main issue.”
“Because so many children are getting sick, the Children’s Hospital has been overwhelmed with patients. Over the past week… three children have died suddenly after seeking treatment there.”
A chill swept through the room, and Han Huaixiao frowned. Deaths following medical treatment typically fell under medical disputes, handled by the Health Commission. The fact that this case had reached Major Crimes meant one thing…
This was no ordinary medical accident.
“The first child was an eleven-year-old girl in fifth grade,” Yan Zheng continued. “She died five days ago. That day, she had a cough and fever, so her mother took her to the Children’s Hospital. The doctor prescribed medication, and they went home.”
“She took the medicine, but her symptoms didn’t improve. By evening, they worsened. Her parents rushed her back to the hospital, but that night, she died of acute respiratory failure.”
“She had been fine before seeing the doctor. After treatment, her condition deteriorated to the point of death. Her family believes the hospital mishandled her case and reported it to the police.”
Yan Zheng paused, reaching for a teacup out of habit, only to realize he hadn’t brought one. Han Huaixiao silently pushed a bottle of water toward him, and Chief Yan took a sip and continued:
“The second child was twelve years old. This happened three days ago. The situation was nearly identical. The child was taken to the Children’s Hospital, given medication, sent home; no improvement, then worsening symptoms that same night.”
“This time, the parents didn’t return to the Children’s Hospital. Instead, they went to the Maternal and Child Health Hospital, which was closer. But the moment the child arrived, she was rushed into emergency care, and ultimately, she couldn’t be saved. Acute respiratory failure.”
“The third child was ten years old. It happened this morning.”
“She attended a boarding school. After class yesterday, her teacher informed the family she was sick, coughing, and feverish. Her grandmother picked her up and took her to the Children’s Hospital. After getting medication, they went home, but… Same pattern. No improvement after taking the medicine. Symptoms worsened.”
“Her father returned from a business trip that night and saw that her condition was critical. He immediately called an ambulance. The First Affiliated Hospital’s ambulance responded and began emergency treatment, but she didn’t make it to the hospital.”
“Acute respiratory failure. Again.”
Xia Ling spoke up. “Did the families of the second and third children also report it?”
“Only the first family called the police.” Yan Zheng shook his head.
“The second family didn’t suspect the hospital. Instead, they wrote a detailed account of the child’s final medical experience and posted it online, urging other parents to take Mycoplasma infections seriously. So neither the local precinct nor the Children’s Hospital realized a second death had occurred after treatment.”
“Yesterday, the first child’s family protested outside the hospital. The third child’s aunt saw a video online, then came across the second family’s post. She contacted them both. After comparing details, they discovered the treatment process, prescribed medication, and even the attending doctor were all the same.”
“That’s when they started to suspect the hospital, and they reported it together. The precinct reviewed all three cases and immediately realized this wasn’t a typical medical incident. That’s why it was escalated to us.”
“Same medication, same doctor, same cause of death…” Xia Ling narrowed her eyes. “That doctor, Li Jinping, looks highly suspicious.”
Ling Yue flipped through the case files, commenting, “But according to the background check, Li Jinping has worked at the Children’s Hospital for nearly ten years. He’s up for promotion, has a stable family, married his high school sweetheart, and has twins, a boy and a girl. Colleagues describe him as gentle and easygoing. Nothing stands out.”
“Chief Yan,” Kong Qinmao frowned, “have the drug test results come back? Could the medication have been tampered with?” Ever since Jiang Tao’s death, anything involving drugs and hospitals put him on edge.
“The Health Commission intervened immediately after the first report,” Yan Zheng said. “The medication is fine, fully consistent with the children’s symptoms. Recently, nearly all children diagnosed with Mycoplasma at the hospital were prescribed the same treatment, and no one else had adverse reactions.”
“Could the three children have had underlying conditions?” Zhang Tianhua asked.
“According to their families, no,” Yan Zheng replied. “The second and third families confirmed the same. At the precinct, forensic examiners suggested autopsies, but all three families refused.”
Zhang Tianhua fell silent, his expression heavy.
“Even if they did have underlying conditions…” Wen Yu said quietly. “For all three to deteriorate at the same time, there must have been a trigger.”
Han Huaixiao’s voice sharpened. “Has any other hospital reported similar cases?”
“No,” Yan Zheng said. “We’ve checked. Nothing so far.”
“What’s the situation at the Children’s Hospital now?” Han Huaixiao asked. “Are they still seeing patients?”
“The Health Commission has temporarily suspended outpatient services.”
At that, Han Huaixiao nodded, ordering, “Ask them to contact other cities. Check whether similar cases, children developing acute failure after treatment, have occurred elsewhere.”
“We need to determine whether this is an isolated incident in Lang City. If it’s happening in other regions too, then we’re looking at a public health crisis.”
“Good thinking,” Yan Zheng sighed. “I’ll contact them right away.”
Under normal circumstances, Han Huaixiao would’ve brushed it off with a few polite remarks, but…
Not today.
The situation was too urgent, and Yan Zheng concluded, “That’s all. I’ll coordinate with the Health Commission. You follow Captain Han’s lead.”
“Three lives. They were just children.”
“Do everything you can to uncover the truth so that they can rest in peace, and their families can have answers.”
“Yes, sir!”
Once Yan Zheng left, Han Huaixiao began assigning tasks.
“Zhang Tianhua, investigate Li Jinping. Check whether there were any irregularities in his treatment process, and whether he could have committed the crime.”
“Ling Yue, look into any unusual incidents at the Children’s Hospital recently.”
“Xia Ling, two of the families are currently hospitalized from the shock. Take someone from logistics and visit them. If possible, persuade them to agree to autopsies.”
“Wen Yu, continue working the human trafficking case. Track down Qu Mingzhe and keep an eye on developments in Lang City’s entertainment venues.”
“Xia Hang, you’re with me. We’re going to the detention center to see Li Jinping.”
……………………..
As the attending physician for all three children, Li Jinping had already been detained as a suspect.
When Xia Hang and Han Huaixiao met him, he appeared refined and composed. At thirty-seven, he showed no signs of physical decline, but he looked exhausted, with deep shadows under his eyes.
After brief introductions, Han Huaixiao got straight to the point.
“Doctor Li, when you treated Cai Yingxia, did you notice anything unusual about her condition besides the cough and fever?”
“There have been too many sick children lately.” Li Jinping rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I’m seeing far more patients than usual every day. I don’t even remember her name, let alone specific details.”
“But aside from typical Mycoplasma symptoms, there shouldn’t have been anything abnormal. If there were, I would have recorded it in the medical file. I checked the records, the consultation, diagnosis, and prescription were all standard.”
“And Wu Qiaoran? Tang Yueqian?” Han Huaixiao pressed.
“Same situation,” Li Jinping said. “No abnormalities beyond Mycoplasma symptoms.” With that, he hesitated, then added honestly, “To be frank, after all three children died under my care, I started doubting myself. I wondered if I’d made a mistake, prescribed the wrong medication, or given incorrect instructions that led the parents to administer something improperly.”
“I’ve replayed everything in my head over and over these past few days, but I can’t find anything wrong.”
“Did you ask the parents about the children’s medical history?” Han Huaixiao asked.
“Most parents nowadays are very careful,” Li Jinping replied. “If their child has any prior conditions, they’ll tell us immediately, often before we even ask, out of fear of contraindications. These three sets of parents said nothing. When I asked, they all said there was no medical history.”
“When they said that, did anything about their tone or expressions seem off? Did you feel they were hiding something?” Han Huaixiao asked.
“No,” Li Jinping said firmly. “Medical history is critical. If I suspected concealment, I would have pressed further.”
Han Huaixiao leaned forward slightly, asking, “But if the children had underlying conditions… what kind of illness would react negatively with the medication you prescribed?”
“What I prescribed were all standard medications,” Li Jinpeng said. “Cough suppressants, anti-inflammatories, and fever reducers. These drugs go through multiple layers of testing and clinical trials before being approved for use. Since they’ve been on the market, I’ve never heard of any patient dying after taking them. Even if there are side effects, they shouldn’t be severe enough to be life-threatening.”
“What about your hospital’s drug procurement…?” Han Huaixiao asked.
“There shouldn’t be any issue with that either,” Li Jinpeng replied. “When the first child died, the Health Commission immediately took samples of the relevant drugs for testing, and no problems were found.”
Han Huaixiao continued, “I heard you’re about to be promoted. Do you think anyone might be unhappy about that?”
Li Jinpeng shook his head. “It’s still in the public announcement stage. I haven’t heard of any complaints or objections.”
“Have you had any conflicts with colleagues?” Han Huaixiao pressed on. “Or with patients and their families?”
Li Jinpeng answered, “My relationships with colleagues are okay, neither particularly close nor strained. I did receivesome complaints from patients before, but that was years ago. There haven’t been any in the past couple of years.”
“And in your personal life?” Han Huaixiao asked. “Any disputes with others?”
For the first time, Li Jinpeng hesitated before answering. “Lately, I’ve been so busy I barely have time to sleep. I don’t even have a social life. I wouldn’t have the time or opportunity to offend anyone.”
Han Huaixiao studied him for a moment. “Alright. That’s all for today. If you remember anything unusual, contact us immediately.”
Li Jinpeng grew anxious. “When can I be released?”
“Once we rule you out as a suspect,” Han Huaixiao replied.
Hearing that, Li Jinpeng became visibly agitated, asking, “And what if you can’t rule me out?! Captain Han, don’t you think this is strange? Our hospital has at least seven or eight doctors handling emergency outpatient cases every day. Why is it that all three children who died just happened to be treated by me?!”
Han Huaixiao looked at him steadily. “Are you suggesting someone is framing you?”
“If I’m not being framed, how could it be such a coincidence?!” Li Jinpeng insisted.
“Then who do you think would want to frame you?” Han Huaixiao asked calmly. “You said your relationships with colleagues are fine, no recent complaints from patients or their families, and no personal conflicts.”
Li Jinpeng faltered. “I… I’m just suspicious.”
“Don’t worry,” Han Huaixiao said. “We’ll get to the bottom of this as soon as possible.”
After leaving the detention center, Xia Hang asked, “Captain Han, where are we going now?”
“To see the bodies of the three children,” Han Huaixiao replied. “We’ll start at the Children’s Hospital.”
The bodies were currently placed at the Children’s Hospital, Lang City Funeral Home, and the First Affiliated Hospital, respectively. On the way, Xia Hang, who was driving, couldn’t help asking, “Do you think Li Jinpeng is involved?”
Han Huaixiao countered, “What do you think?”
“I don’t think there’s anything obviously wrong with him,” Xia Hang hesitated.
“How did you reach that conclusion?” Han Huaixiao asked.
“…Just a feeling,” Xia Hang admitted.
“And where does that feeling come from?”
Xia Hang gathered his thoughts before answering, “As Ling Yue said, Li Jinpeng is successful in his career and has a happy family. His wife is his first love, and they have a pair of auspicious twins, a boy and a girl. He earns well, and his parents run a business, so money isn’t an issue. Many crimes are driven by financial motives, and antisocial individuals commit crimes to satisfy psychological urges. He doesn’t lack money, and he seems mentally normal as he doesn’t come across as antisocial.”
It was the first time Xia Hang had spoken at such length in front of him, especially to analyze a suspect. After finishing, he felt a little uneasy and glanced at Han Huaixiao.
Han Huaixiao was already looking at him. “And how can you tell he isn’t antisocial?”
Having dealt with many antisocial individuals before, Xia Hang had developed a certain instinct, simply saying, “From his eyes.”
Han Huaixiao neither agreed nor refuted his assessment.
When they arrived at the Children’s Hospital, they were received by Lao Hong, the head of the Medical Affairs Department, but the moment he saw them, Lao Hong began complaining, “Captain Han, these children’s deaths really aren’t the hospital’s fault! Our doctors followed proper procedures when diagnosing and prescribing medication! The drugs themselves are fine. There have been so many children with mycoplasma infections lately that we’ve been overwhelmed. Doctors and nurses are working beyond their limits, yet none of them have complained. They’re doing everything they can to treat every child! How could they possibly harm them?!”
“Every profession has good people,” Han Huaixiao replied evenly, “and some who aren’t so good. I have great respect for medical personnel who save lives, and I won’t wrong a good doctor. You can rest assured.”
Lao Hong let out a breath. “With your words, Captain Han, I feel reassured. But to be frank, I suggest you look in another direction. Focusing on our hospital will only waste your time.”
“We’ll know whether it’s your hospital’s responsibility after we investigate,” Han Huaixiao said. “Please take us to see Cai Yingxia.”
……………….
On the way to the morgue, Lao Hong kept talking, “Captain Han, could you help persuade Cai Yingxia’s family not to keep protesting in front of the hospital every day? People who don’t know the situation might think we’ve done something inhumane. It’s seriously affecting our operations.”
At that, Xia Hang couldn’t hold back, saying coldly, “They lost their daughter, and all you care about is whether they’re disrupting your work?”
Medical Affairs staff usually dealt with disputes and were expected to be tactful, but not a single sentence from Lao Hong was easy to listen to.
“The cause of the incident hasn’t been determined yet,” Lao Hong defended himself. “If it turns out to be our responsibility, we’ll compensate; we won’t shirk it. But before the results are out, their protests make it seem like we’re definitely to blame!”
“When a medical incident happens, it’s your department’s job to comfort the patient’s family,” Xia Hang replied coldly. “If you failed to do that, then you failed in your duty.”
“…But they won’t listen to us,” Lao Hong muttered.
At the entrance to the morgue, Lao Hong finally stopped, clearly unwilling to go further. “Captain Han, you go ahead. I’ll wait outside.”
Three lives had been lost, yet this department head showed no trace of grief, only concern about avoiding trouble. Han Huaixiao felt nothing but distaste for him.
“Come on,” Han Huaixiao said. “Since you’re already here, you might as well come in with us.”
Lao Hong forced a stiff smile and followed them inside.
Standing before Cai Yingxia’s body, a morgue attendant stepped forward to lift the white sheet covering her, but Han Huaixiao raised a hand to stop him. Then, he straightened his uniform, stood at attention before the child, and solemnly gave a police salute.
Only then did he slowly reach out and lift the white sheet covering her body.
If eleven-year-old Cai Yingxia hadn’t fallen ill, she should have been in a lively classroom right now, studying earnestly with her classmates, laughing and playing with them after class, instead of lying quietly in the cold stillness of a morgue.
Even Lao Hong, who had been cold and endlessly talkative just moments ago, couldn’t help but show a trace of sorrow at the sight.
However, Han Huaixiao and Xia Hang found nothing unusual on Cai Yingxia’s body. After leaving the Children’s Hospital, they went to the funeral home. There, too, they found nothing suspicious on Wu Qiaoran’s body.
Xia Hang had only just been discharged from the First Affiliated Hospital a few days ago, and now he was back again.
The one accompanying them to see the third child, Tang Yueqian, was the head of the Medical Affairs Department at the First Affiliated Hospital, Lin Qian.
“Captain Han,” Lin Qian asked, “what’s going on? Even you’ve been mobilized… does the Children’s Hospital really have a problem?”
“Sorry,” Han Huaixiao replied, “it’s not convenient to disclose that right now.”
“Right,” Lin Qian nodded awkwardly, “I forgot about your investigation protocols. This way, Captain Han, Officer Xia.”
When they arrived at the morgue, they saw a woman in her thirties sitting at the entrance. Her eyes were empty, staring blankly at the wall, while a staff member was trying to persuade her:
“Ms. Ye, the floor is too cold. Please get up first, alright?”
Tears streamed down Ye Jia’s face as she whispered, “Qianqian is colder inside… please let me go in and stay with her… I’m begging you…”
Footsteps hurried closer, and Xia Ling rushed over with a nurse. When she saw them, she stopped, greeting, “Captain Han, Xia Hang!”
“What’s going on?” Han Huaixiao asked.
“This is Tang Yueqian’s mother,” Xia Ling explained. “She was in the ward just now, but suddenly disappeared. I checked the surveillance and found she came here.”
Han Huaixiao glanced at Ye Jia’s bare feet, saying, “She’s not wearing shoes. It’s cold here; help her back.”
Xia Ling and the nurse helped the limp, weakened Ye Jia to her feet. But the moment Ye Jia saw Han Huaixiao, she broke free from them and rushed forward, grabbing his uniform tightly.
“Officer! Qianqian was killed, wasn’t she? Have you found the murderer?!”
“Please accept my condolences.” Han Huaixiao let her clutch his uniform, continuing, “We will find out the truth as soon as possible.”
Suddenly, Ye Jia broke down in sobs. Her grip loosened as her strength gave out, her body collapsing downward.
“Even if you find out… It’s useless… Qianqian won’t come back… It’s our fault… her father and I were always away on business… we shouldn’t have sent her to boarding school… we killed her… Qianqian… my Qianqian…”
Han Huaixiao caught her in time and handed her back to Xia Ling and the nurse, but when Xia Hang heard her call out “Qianqian,” something in him stirred uneasily. Then, hearing her say that she and her husband were often away and had sent the child to boarding school, his heartbeat began to quicken uncontrollably.
He didn’t notice how Xia Ling and the nurse led Ye Jia away. His legs felt numb as he followed Han Huaixiao into the morgue.
When Han Huaixiao reached to lift the white sheet, Xia Hang closed his eyes, telling himself over and over:
It won’t be… it can’t be… it won’t be…
Han Huaixiao noticed his face turn pale and frowned, asking, “Xia Hang, what’s wrong?”
Xia Hang opened his eyes.
The moment he saw that familiar little face, his body swayed. His voice came out in a whisper:
“Qianqian… how could it be you… how could it…”
Han Huaixiao caught him. “You know her?”
Xia Hang nodded faintly. “She’s my neighbor… the two turtles at my place… she gave them to me… the day I was discharged, she even came over to see them…”3
He couldn’t continue. Covering his face with both hands, he broke down. Seeing his state, Han Huaixiao immediately took him out of the morgue, but even back in the car, Xia Hang’s hands kept trembling. Han Huaixiao reached out and grasped them… ice cold.
He lit a cigarette, took two drags, then placed it between Xia Hang’s lips.
Xia Hang smoked half of it. Only when his breathing steadied and his hands stopped shaking, did Han Huaixiao take the cigarette back and stub it out.
Xia Hang sat silently in the car for ten minutes before speaking.
“Can you take me home?”
Han Huaixiao didn’t ask why. He simply drove.
When they arrived downstairs, Xia Hang got out, saying, “Wait for me.”
He returned in less than five minutes. This time, he was carrying a small bucket, the one Qianqian had used to bring the turtles. Inside, the two turtles were lively and acting cute.
Han Huaixiao understood immediately what he intended to do, but said nothing.
“I’m fine,” Xia Hang declared quietly. “Let’s go to the hospital.”
Back at the First Affiliated Hospital, Xia Hang carried the bucket to Ye Jia’s ward. Xia Ling opened the door, but the moment she saw him, she quickly pushed him back out and closed the door behind her, asking, “Why are you here?”
“How is Qianqian’s mother?” Xia Hang asked.
“The doctor gave her a sedative. The nurse just administered it. She’s a bit calmer now.”
“Is her father inside?”
“Yes.”
“I want to go in and say a few words.”
Xia Ling glanced at the bucket in his hands. “Then let me hold that for you.”
“No need.”
The optimal time for an autopsy was within 48 hours after death. For Qianqian’s sake, Xia Hang suppressed the turmoil in his chest and pushed the door open.
Ye Jia lay weakly on the bed. Tang Xuelin sat beside her, his once-strong shoulders now slumped. Having lost both his daughter and his mother4 in such a short time, he looked even more shattered than Ye Jia, barely holding himself together.
When Xia Hang entered, Tang Xuelin looked up. Then his gaze fell on the bucket in Xia Hang’s hands. He stood up abruptly and walked over, but the moment he saw the two turtles inside, the last of his composure collapsed.
He broke into uncontrollable sobs.
By the time Xia Hang came out of the ward, he said to Xia Ling, “They’ve agreed to the autopsy.”
Xia Ling could see how shaken he was, his eyes red, but she didn’t ask anything and simply patted his shoulder. After instructing the nurses to keep a close watch on the couple, she went downstairs with Xia Hang. They planned to ride back to the bureau in Han Huaixiao’s car.
But just as they arrived at the entrance, Han Huaixiao received two consecutive calls, one from Lao Hong, the other from the funeral home.
“Captain Han… Cai Yingxia’s body is missing!”
“Captain Han… Wu Qiaoran’s body is missing!”
Han Huaixiao immediately turned the car around, almost shouting, “Xia Hang, call He Zhengye!”
After informing He Zhengye earlier that Tang Yueqian’s parents had agreed to the autopsy, he had asked him to retrieve the body. They didn’t know whether he had already arrived.
Xia Hang called once.
No answer.
He called again.
Still no response.
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common respiratory pathogen that can cause both upper and lower respiratory tract infections in children and adults, with a wide range of severity from mild to life-threatening. It is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in school-aged children. In addition to respiratory symptoms, M pneumoniae infections also can present with extrapulmonary manifestations affecting multiple organ systems and have been associated with the development or exacerbation of asthma. ↩︎
- Chinese Center of Disease Control and Prevention, you can find their website here https://en.chinacdc.cn/ ↩︎
- Oh noooo!!! ↩︎
- Remember how in the previous chapters, the taxi drivers said that the grandmother of one of the children had a heart attack at the news… so yeah, is this poor family. ↩︎
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