Chapter 87: Mad Cow Disease

While we were talking, the stove beside us kept steaming soup dumplings. Soup Master said, "Sorry, folks, my dumplings are ready."

I waved my hand. "Alright, go ahead."

As Soup Master went back to his work, Huang Xiaotao whispered, "Is he lying?"

I replied, "No, every word is true."

Soup Master filled a large bowl with a dozen or so dumplings, then sliced some cucumbers, prepared a plate of peanuts, poured some yellow wine, and laid everything out on a low table. He asked, "Would you two like to try some here? I can get you a pair of chopsticks."

"No, no, no!" We both refused repeatedly.

"Then is it okay if I eat while we talk?"

"Sure."

Soup Master picked up a dumpling and ate it with great relish, then sipped some wine.

...

I couldn't help but ask with a wry smile, "Do you really love dumplings that much?"

"Yeah, when I was a kid, my family was poor. The best thing we could get was the big meat buns from the market. I've loved dumplings ever since — nothing tastes better." He said proudly, "And every day before I sell them, I have to try them myself — to check if the dough's sour or if the filling is salty enough."

He took another big bite, which made me frown — after all, his steamer yesterday had contained those human meat dumplings.

I said, "Doesn't that mean you've eaten quite a few human meat dumplings?"

At that, Soup Master froze, then spat it all out in one go. "Hey young man, I've been trying not to think about that! Why bring it up again?"

I was just testing him — his reaction seemed normal enough.

Feeling I had nothing more to ask, I took my leave. Before I left, Soup Master asked if this incident would affect his business. I said, "Don't worry, the case is confidential."

"That's a relief. By the way, I steamed quite a few dumplings — I'll bring some back for everyone." He said warmly.

"No, no!" We hurriedly declined again.

After we left, Huang Xiaotao checked the time. "It's already one o'clock. Let's find a place to eat."

We found a Chinese restaurant and, without a word, both ordered only vegetarian dishes. After seeing Soup Master eat dumplings with such joy, and thinking about what we had last night, we exchanged a knowing smile.

While eating, Huang Xiaotao frowned and said, "Something doesn't add up."

"Go on," I put down my chopsticks.

"Ma Jinhou is obsessed with eating human flesh. But he goes to so much trouble to get it, yet he doesn't eat it himself and instead gives it to Soup Master to make dumplings? That makes no sense."

I thought for a moment. "Yeah, that is weird…"

"Oh, you said earlier that cannibals can go crazy from eating their own kind. Is that true?" Huang Xiaotao asked, curious as ever.

"It is. Same-species cannibalism can drive you mad. Do you know how mad cow disease started in the UK?" I asked back.

She shook her head.

"To cut costs, British farmers fed cows with leftover cow parts and bones. That's how mad cow disease came about. It took a long investigation to figure that out."

"How do you know so much? You must read a lot. No wonder you don't have a girlfriend," Huang Xiaotao teased.

"We were talking about the case — why the sudden change of topic?" I felt awkward.

She laughed. "How about I find you one?"

"Ah?" I was chewing kelp and blushed so hard I almost choked, a piece hanging out of my mouth looking ridiculous.

"You said you like long-haired cute girls. I happen to know one. Want me to introduce you?"

"Uh... no thanks."

"Or is someone special already?" Huang Xiaotao leaned in, staring at me.

I lowered my head. "The kelp is delicious."

"Get outta here!" Huang Xiaotao laughed and pushed me lightly.

Right after finishing, Wang Dali called. "Yangzi, where have you been all day?"

"Working on the case," I answered.

"Need any help?" Wang Dali asked.

"Come if you want."

I gave him the address of the fast food place. "I'm getting up now, wait for me there," he said.

I nearly spit out my food — the guy was just waking up!

After hanging up, I noticed Huang Xiaotao on the phone, speaking seriously. Then she looked at me. "They found the second body…"

"Back to the station?" I asked.

"No, straight to the scene." She was decisive.

Since my things were at the police station, I asked where the scene was and called Wang Dali to pick up my bag and head there.

"Song Yang, you really make me work. I'm your assistant after all. Tell Xiaotao to drive slow; I might take an hour to get there," Wang Dali complained.

Huang Xiaotao and I rushed to the scene — a bridge underpass where the water had receded with autumn, revealing a large muddy area full of footprints.

The body was inside a black bag, half submerged, with a slit exposing a badly decomposed male head. The police said it might have drifted there.

Huang Xiaotao looked at the footprints scattered everywhere — most were police officers' — and asked, "Photos taken? Any criminal footprints?"

"Photos taken, but no criminal prints. Locals said this area was underwater until recently when the water level dropped with autumn," an officer explained.

I put on rubber gloves, dragged the bag out of the water — it wasn't heavy — and tore it open. Everyone gasped.

The body was so decomposed it was almost unrecognizable. Like the first, muscles and fat on the chest, abdomen, and limbs were mostly gone, exposing bones and organs. Glistening intestines dangled outside, crawling with maggots. Water had seeped into the bag, making the remaining skin swollen, pale, and covered in a greenish waxy sheen.

But this wasn't a case of dismemberment. The face showed no sign of that eerie, nitrous-oxide-induced smile. Instead, the throat had a deep, clean-cut wound severing veins and the trachea.

Some officers turned away, vomiting. Huang Xiaotao frowned deeply. Even I felt uneasy — this was the worst decomposed body I'd seen on a case.

But in front of all the officers, I had to stay strong.

While conducting a routine exam, I said, "The victim is a male, approximately 25 to 30 years old, slender build, no signs of illness or disability. Time of death is around 40 days ago. Cause of death: asphyxiation due to severed trachea…"

I pressed down on the chest, and a gush of spoiled blood mixed with white foam flowed out of the throat wound, stinking badly. Many made disgusted sounds.

I flicked off maggots crawling on my hands. "The lungs show significant congestion."

Huang Xiaotao asked, "This must be the first missing person — Xiao Zhang, the supermarket worker, right?"

I turned the head carefully. Despite severe decay, some facial features were still identifiable. "Yes, it's him."