Chapter 837: The Unveiling of the Secret

Lin Dongxue picked up the paper in disbelief. “But our parents were just…”

“I know, they were ordinary people. Why would someone stage an accident to kill them? I want to know even more than you do!” Lin Qiupu sighed. “Don’t overthink it. Let’s continue with our current case. Once we catch this guy, the truth will come out. I just thought you deserved to know.”

Lin Dongxue remained silent, looking down. Lin Qiupu asked, “Are you upset?”

“No, brother, it’s just… I feel nothing when I think about our parents, as if I’m talking about strangers. I feel so ashamed.”

“You were young then; it’s normal not to have many memories.”

Lin Dongxue hesitated but then decided to leave.

Meanwhile, Chen Shi knocked on the professor’s door. The professor, who was slumped on the sofa, jumped. Recognizing Chen Shi through the peephole, he opened the door.

“How did you find me?” the professor asked, surprised.

“The police can find anything.” Chen Shi glanced around. The living room was clean and tidy, but there was a faint strange smell. “You said on the phone that it’s just ordinary rice?”

“Yes.”

Chen Shi observed the professor’s uneasy expression and noticed an envelope under a teacup on the table. He reached for it, and the professor quickly said, “Don’t touch that!”

But Chen Shi’s hand was faster. Inside the envelope was a photo of a boy. “Is this your son?”

The professor whimpered.

“Someone was here when you called, right? Your tone was different from this morning.”

“Ah, you really are the police consultant.” The professor walked to the window and looked out. “Can you arrange for someone to pick up my son from school and take him to a safe place?”

So, someone had threatened him. How despicable. Chen Shi called Xu Xiaodong to handle it.

The two sat in silence, the sound of a microwave humming in the background, producing an odd smell.

“How many people were here?” Chen Shi asked.

“Don’t… don’t ask. Just make sure my son is safe, and I’ll tell you everything.”

“You can report this. No matter how bold they are, they won’t dare act in front of the police.”

“You have some nerve! My life was fine until you brought that rice this morning. Now this happened, and my blood pressure hasn’t come down.” The professor took some medication for his blood pressure.

Chen Shi shrugged and said nothing more.

After a while, Xu Xiaodong called to confirm the professor’s son was safe. The professor sighed in relief, went to the kitchen, and returned with a ceramic pipe. He sat down, lit it, took a puff, and relaxed. “Just as I thought!”

“What is it?”

“The test data only showed the process, not the results. I had a hunch but couldn’t use lab equipment, so I used the most direct method. Do you know what I’m smoking?”

“No idea.”

“It’s the rice leaves you brought this morning, dried in the microwave.” The professor took another puff. “Try some.”

“I don’t smoke,” Chen Shi said, suspecting something.

“This isn’t tobacco; it’s marijuana!” The professor lowered his voice. “I never imagined this. Someone used genetic engineering to create marijuana that looks like rice. And that someone was my student.”

“I don’t understand. Is this theoretically possible? Combining rice and marijuana genes?”

“Did I say it was rice genes? It’s actually from an obscure South American nettle. My student combined it with marijuana genes through countless experiments to create this rice-like crop, which is essentially marijuana.”

“I see. Is this theoretically possible?”

“Combining two plants’ genes could produce new species. A thousand experiments might yield nine hundred new plants, some of which could have desirable traits. This one, unfortunately, is marijuana. I don’t know whether to call it a blight or a lucky find.”

“Genetic engineering can be used on animals, but results are rare. Plant genetics, however, is different. Supermarkets sell genetically modified vegetables because plant genes can self-correct. This allows for the creation of new species. Someone used this to make a new type of marijuana disguised as rice.”

“Science brings new technologies and new risks. Criminals will always exploit these technologies. This might be a historic moment—the birth of genetically engineered drugs in Long’an!” The professor sighed deeply.

“Tell me, what kind of person was your student, Chang Guoqing?”

The professor knocked out the pipe. “Chang Guoqing was a clever, energetic young man. He met his girlfriend Mo Jingya during graduate school. They were inseparable and a great research team. Honestly, I can’t believe he’d do something like this unless someone offered him a lot of money.”

“A criminal mastermind wouldn’t just decide to create genetically modified drugs that look like rice and then hire the best person for the job. It must have been a coincidence at first, and then he sold it to someone who needed it. We’ll investigate this thoroughly. You’ve helped us solve a major mystery. Thank you, professor. If needed, you may have to testify in court.”

“As long as my family is safe.” The professor packed his pipe with tobacco.

After leaving the professor’s house, Chen Shi called Lin Dongxue, asking them to stay at the station. He had important news.

Watching the evening sky, Chen Shi thought about the ten-year-old secret they had uncovered. The gang behind this wouldn’t give up easily.