"It seems that night was real!"
"What's wrong?"
"When we were on the island, she was scared and came to my room. We started our relationship then. We were very careful and didn't dare to announce it, but now..."
"Heh, you're quite something, kid. You even managed to get He Xin... But I'm impressed you could win over someone with her personality. She used to swear she'd never get married!"
"Uh, how could that be?"
Just then, He Xin also walked into the handwriting analysis department. Seeing us on the verge of a fight, she rushed over to mediate, "Father, Zhi Yong, don't be like this!"
"We're fine!" we replied in unison. I released Dao Zhi Yong's collar. I didn't want this child to worry. I gave a wry smile, "We're perfectly fine, don't worry!"
"You say you're fine? Father, you were about to smash him with your shoe!"
"Uh... alright, well, um, are you going to have the baby?"
"Of course! If I have a baby, you can hold your grandchild! Wouldn't being a grandfather be good? When we're old, he can continue as a coroner! Inherit the He family's secret skills! Just thinking about it makes me incredibly happy! Ah hahaha!!"
"Damn! But you won't be able to work for a while, will you?"
"Haha, not that soon, maybe in a few more months!"
He Xin said lightly, as if she wasn't at all nervous about becoming a mother. But given her personality, this reaction was normal. I patted Dao Zhi Yong on the shoulder, "So, Monkey, you remember this: you must treat my He Xin well from now on!"
"Don't worry, Master."
"Uh hahaha! Good! Good kid!" I let out an incredibly hearty laugh. Although I was only around 35, I felt like I had aged significantly.
I had previously intended to pass on all my lifelong skills to Dao Zhi Yong. This guy was quite glib-tongued. I didn't know when he started considering himself my disciple, though I hadn't agreed yet.
If he were truly to become my disciple, there would have to be some rituals, as per the regulations of our He family coroners.
"Dao Zhi Yong, He Xin, you don't have to work today. Come to my courtyard house!"
"Yes, leader!" Both saluted simultaneously. I didn't know when this secret couple had become so synchronized. It was likely that only I in the entire Public Security Provincial Department knew about their relationship.
Returning to the courtyard house, I asked Dao Zhi Yong to change into a white work uniform previously worn by He family coroners. This was actually an ancient costume, originating from the Three Kingdoms period, tracing back to the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He Yan, grandson of the great general He Jin, wore a robe adorned with the autopsy tools used by my ancestors and some antique official attire. Although He Yan wasn't a particularly formidable judicial official, he held the high office of Grand Marshal in the imperial court at the time.
The Grand Marshal was an official in charge of military affairs in the Zhou Dynasty, and in the Han Dynasty, he was one of the Three Excellencies. Later generations often used Grand Marshal to refer to the Minister of War.
Like He Jin, he had brought honor to the family. He possessed exceptional abilities in autopsies, but he wasn't a full-time official in the Ministry of Justice due to the constant turmoil in the imperial court. He, along with my ancestor He Jin, had joined forces with the eighteen regional lords and was on the verge of engaging in a final decisive battle against the detestable Yellow Turban Army.
I didn't know when our He family would return to the glory of the Eastern Han period.
I couldn't tell how much time had passed, and I was still reminiscing about the past. Dao Zhi Yong knelt before the ancestral tablets of my grandfather and parents. My elder sister also returned that day. This was a crucial moment for me to accept a disciple, and as a member of the He family, how could my sister not attend?
Facing the ancestors enshrined in the He family hall, Dao Zhi Yong offered me a cup of tea, and then he offered one to my elder sister.
"Dao Zhi Yong, I now accept you as the 18th generation coroner of our He family. From today onwards, you must inherit the legacy of the He family's coroner profession and carry forward the secret skills of coroner autopsies. I don't ask you to benefit society, but I implore you not to bury our talent. Find clues from the deceased, make them speak, clear their grievances, and uncover the truth behind all worldly crimes!
"I understand, Master! I will not fail your expectations!"
"Good child, I know you can do it. You know, your talent is even greater than mine!"
I handed Dao Zhi Yong an ancient examination kit. "This was actually used by my uncle. But he is no longer with us, so I will give it to you. If one day I am gone, my grandfather's examination kit might fall into your hands. That examination kit actually has a different name: the Ji Zhen examination kit. Ji Zhen was actually my grandmother's name.
To commemorate my grandmother, who had always stayed by his side, my grandfather named this examination kit after her.
Alright, it's getting late. We will have Dao Zhi Yong eat here today. After the meal, Dao Zhi Yong will be considered a member of the He family. My sister was also very happy that day. For the first time, she accepted a piece of betel nut offered by this monkey, Dao Zhi Yong. This was the first time because my sister usually disliked such snacks. She used to absolutely refuse to eat snacks.
According to her, she wasn't a child, so why should she eat snacks? But now she changed her tune, "The snacks given by our He family are truly delicious!"
Her attitude changed quite quickly. It seemed this wasn't about snacks at all, but about the person.
After eating and drinking, luckily there was no news from the provincial department, otherwise we would have to busy ourselves with cases.
Perhaps it was a coincidence, but the previous case might not have been related to the organization. It might have been related to a "sin peddler," also known as a "crime method seller," perhaps another criminal gang.
It seems the criminals we have to deal with are increasing. This is also the mission of us police officers. As He Xin once said, who doesn't wish for a world without thieves? But if that day ever came, all of us police officers would be out of work.
Ever since Dao Zhi Yong found out He Xin was pregnant, he has been very attentive in taking care of her. He accompanies He Xin to the hospital for check-ups on time, engages in appropriate prenatal education, makes her many nutritious meals, and so on. In short, I can completely rest assured. I was worried before that this monkey was still young and might not know how to take care of people, but in reality, this guy is much more outstanding than I imagined, both in terms of life and work.
One day, I was driving and talking to Liu Yu Ning about He Xin's matter. This guy was drinking milk tea when he suddenly spat a mouthful of milk onto the car window!