Human Meat Barbecue Bun

My name is Liu Dingjian, and I am a detective with the Major Crimes Unit.

Recently, something bizarre happened in the city. In a narrow alley not far from downtown, someone discovered a corpse. The body had been chopped into many pieces, as if butchered like pork. What was even more appalling was that these pieces had been wrapped into buns and scattered all over the ground.

After receiving the report, we rushed to the scene at once. The alley was filled with a nauseating stench. Several forensic examiners in white coats were squatting on the ground, inspecting the remains.

“Liu, you’re just in time,” my colleague Ajie called out to me. “Take a look at these buns.”

I crouched down and gazed at the buns littered on the ground, my stomach churning. The flesh had been minced so thoroughly it was impossible to tell one part from another. Some of the buns had burst open, spilling their grisly filling, now mixed with dirt and trash—a horrifying sight.

“Have we confirmed the identity of the victim?” I asked.

Ajie shook his head. “Not yet. Judging by the state of decomposition, they’ve been dead for a few days. But did you notice? These buns look astonishingly fresh, as if they were just made.”

“Just made?” I frowned. “You mean the killer not only dismembered the body and made buns out of the flesh, but also managed to keep them from spoiling over several days?”

“Exactly. Strange, isn’t it?” Ajie said. “Plus, we checked the alley—there’s no bun shop nearby. That means the buns must have been brought here by the killer.”

“Then what’s the motive?” I wondered aloud. “Why go to such lengths?”

“No idea, but one thing’s certain—the perpetrator must be mentally tough,” Ajie replied. “Someone capable of this is definitely not ordinary.”

I nodded. “Bring the remains back to the station. Let the forensic team conduct a thorough examination and see if they can uncover any clues.”

The remains were transported back, and Ajie and I returned to the office. We had barely sat down when the chief walked in.

“Dingjian, you’ll handle this case,” he said. “The incident has caused a public outcry. The higher-ups are watching closely. You must find the murderer and bring them to justice as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Chief.” I stood and saluted.

After he left, I dove into the case. Judging by the crime scene, the killer’s methods were brutal and their psychological fortitude extraordinary. Such people usually have a criminal record or a peculiar background.

So I began combing through recent case files, hoping to find a lead. But after a long search, nothing connected to this case turned up.

“No luck?” Ajie saw my furrowed brow and asked.

I sighed. “The killer’s methods are too cruel, and their nerves are steel. People like this usually have a record or some unusual experience. But I haven’t found any relevant clues in recent files.”

“That’s not necessarily the case,” Ajie said. “Maybe the killer’s a rookie—his first crime?”

“Impossible.” I shook my head. “Judging by the skill and composure, he’s definitely not new to this. To butcher a corpse and make it into buns takes a special kind of nerve. No way this was a first-time act.”

“Then what’s the motive?” Ajie asked.

“I don’t know,” I frowned, “but there must be a reason. No one would do something like this without one.”

“So what do we do next?” Ajie asked.

“Let’s start by identifying the victim,” I replied. “See if he had any enemies or anyone he might have wronged.”

After some investigation, we learned the victim’s name was Wang Dali, an unemployed drifter who survived by petty theft. He was a small-time hood with a bit of a reputation in the underworld.

“Wang Dali?” Ajie frowned. “I’ve heard of him—a real troublemaker, always up to no good. But lately, he’s been keeping a lower profile, hasn’t been involved in anything illegal for a while.”

“Oh?” I raised an eyebrow. “Did he have any enemies?”

“Well…” Ajie thought for a moment. “He must have, after so many years in that world. But I’m not sure exactly who.”

I nodded. “Go find out if Wang Dali’s had any recent feuds.”

Ajie acknowledged and went out to investigate. I sat in the office, contemplating the case. The scene spoke of brutality and a cold, calculating mind. People like this usually have a criminal record or some special background, yet I found no relevant clues in the files. Could the killer really be a newcomer? Yet everything about the crime said otherwise.

As I was mulling this over, Ajie returned.

“So, what did you find?” I asked.

Ajie’s expression was grave as he shook his head. “I visited the places Wang Dali frequented and spoke to people who knew him. Oddly, everyone said he really had been keeping his head down—no recent conflicts. His so-called friends are all waiting to see what happens, but none admit to having any issues with him.”

“Well, that’s interesting,” I mused, rubbing my chin. “A habitual troublemaker suddenly goes quiet, then is murdered in such a gruesome way. Something must have changed in his life that we don’t know about.”

“Could it be an old enemy who finally saw a chance to strike?” Ajie suggested.

“It’s possible, but we need evidence to support that.” I stood, deciding to change tactics. “Since we’re getting nowhere with Wang Dali, let’s focus on the buns. The killer chose to make buns out of the body—there must be a reason. Check the flour, seasonings, even the wrapping paper. Maybe there’s a clue in where they were made or purchased.”

Ajie’s eyes lit up. “Great idea! I’ll contact the forensics and tech departments to see if they can find anything from the ingredients or packaging.”

In the days that followed, the entire Major Crimes Unit was drawn into a tense investigation. The forensic team, analyzing the bun filling, found an unusual ingredient—a rare spice not common locally, generally only sold at specialty import stores. Meanwhile, the tech team, after examining fingerprints and DNA on the wrapping paper, couldn’t directly identify the killer, but they ruled out Wang Dali himself, confirming the buns were brought in by someone else.

Following up on the spice, Ajie tracked down the import store that sold it. Reviewing surveillance footage and sales records, he identified a customer who had recently purchased a large quantity of the spice. The timing of these purchases matched Wang Dali’s murder almost exactly. More intriguingly, the buyer had used an alias when paying—an alias suspiciously similar to the name of a suspect in a missing persons case from years ago.

“It seems we’re closing in on the truth,” I told Ajie as I compiled all the clues. “Now we need to confirm the real identity behind this alias, and what connects him to Wang Dali.”

As the investigation deepened, a man who had once received psychiatric treatment but had gone off the radar in recent years resurfaced as a suspect. Not only was he implicated in the old missing persons case, he’d also had a conflict with Wang Dali years back over a gambling debt. This man was known for his keen ability to evade police and had repeatedly slipped through their fingers.

“This time, he won’t escape,” I told the team firmly. After meticulous planning and surveillance, we finally apprehended the killer in an abandoned warehouse. Confronted with irrefutable evidence, he confessed.

It turned out that learning Wang Dali was trying to avoid old grudges had stoked the killer’s resentment. Coupled with his fragile mental state, he decided to “resolve” the matter in an extreme and twisted way. Using his culinary skills, he murdered and dismembered Wang Dali, making the remains into buns as a form of revenge for his perceived humiliation.

With the case solved, peace returned to the city. As for me, Liu Dingjian, this strange investigation deepened my understanding of the complexities of human nature and the many facets of society.

With the killer behind bars, the “Bun Dismemberment Case” that had shocked the city finally came to a close. Slowly, residents emerged from their fear, and the streets buzzed once more with life and energy. Yet I, Liu Dingjian, felt a tumult of emotions.

Throughout the investigation, I witnessed both the darkness and the light within humanity, felt the fierce clash between justice and evil. Each step of the inquiry, each battle of wits with the suspect, became a baptism for my soul, strengthening my resolve to safeguard the peace of this city.

Though the case was closed, the questions it raised lingered. The killer’s warped mind, his cruel methods, and the tangled emotions behind his actions all reminded me that as a police officer, I needed not only professional skill but also insight into the human heart and an understanding of human nature.

While we celebrated the case’s resolution, I realized that the road to preventing crime and protecting the people’s safety was long and arduous. I knew that every successful investigation was a triumph for justice, but more importantly, our efforts should aim to reduce crime and make this city a haven where everyone could live in peace.

So, after the case, I led my team into the community, launching campaigns on legal awareness, mental health education, and crime prevention. We hoped these efforts would strengthen the public’s understanding of the law and enhance the sense of security throughout society.

As time passed and the seasons changed, the “Bun Dismemberment Case” became a defining chapter in my career. Yet the lessons and impact it left followed me like a shadow, spurring me to continue upholding justice in the days ahead.

And I, Liu Dingjian, will continue to serve as this city’s guardian, using my wisdom and courage to write more stories of justice and peace. For I know that as long as there is light in our hearts, darkness has nowhere to hide. In the days to come, together with my colleagues, I will protect the harmony and safety of this land, ensuring that the light of justice forever shines here.