1995, Starting as a Criminal Investigation Expert

On the way back to the station, Li Shu sat in the back of the truck, silent.

When he was a child, Li Shu read a complete set of Sherlock Holmes books as an extracurricular activity.

For a moment, I was amazed.

My later ambition to become a police officer was partly influenced by these detective novels.

Li Shu had fantasized about it more than once.

I wish I could be like Sherlock Holmes, meticulous in my investigations and keen in my observations, discovering details at crime scenes that others might miss.

Then, by meticulously investigating the case, they found the culprit and solved the crime.

But when he actually arrived at the crime scene, Li Shucai realized that he didn't have the same flashes of inspiration as Sherlock Holmes.

No wonder Lin Wanping mocked him, feeling that he was doing useless work.

That is indeed the case.

Take, for example, whether this half of a fingerprint is a thumbprint or a fingerprint from another finger.

Li Shu thought about it again.

Didn't Han Jianjun and the others see what they could think of?

The difference between thumbprints and fingerprints from other fingers is quite significant.

For example, the thumb has a larger surface area and is generally pear-shaped, narrower at the top and wider at the bottom, with a pointed top and a rounded bottom.

There are also obvious differences in the width of the lines, the side imprints, and the distance between the triangle and the core.

As an experienced person, one shouldn't be unable to tell the difference.

Perhaps Han Jianjun and his team have already deduced that this is a thumbprint.

It just wasn't marked on the fingerprint collection card.

Or perhaps they didn't tell themselves.

After all, the fingerprint comparison process had already begun when I joined the company.

Han Jianjun and his team had already studied and analyzed that half fingerprint and determined that it had no value for comparison.

Why even mention it?

Moreover, even if it is confirmed that this is a thumbprint, it is only the first step in a long journey. The most crucial thing is how to match it.

Just then, Peng Rong braked.

While waiting at the traffic light, he must have noticed that Li Shu was rather silent, so he said, "Alright, Li Shu, don't overthink it."

"Those people in the operational department still think that we technical police are just playing a supporting role, so they look down on us deep down."

"But they don't even consider who conducted the on-site investigation, the fingerprints, footprints, the murder weapon, the bloodstains, and even the autopsy—who found all the evidence? Wasn't it us?"

"They always think we do nothing but sit in the office, and that we're not as hardworking as they are, so when a case is solved, all the credit goes to them, and we have nothing to do with it."

"When they need us, they're like death knells, but once they've used us, they're done with us."

"This is typical of them turning their backs on you after you've done your bidding. Li Shu, from now on, don't be polite to them. We can't give them a friendly look so they'll realize how important we are."

Li Shu looked at Peng Rong with surprise.

This resentment... is quite strong.

Peng Rong said, "I'm just stating the facts. You can say that we're going back to the scene to look for new clues."

"Especially since you've just joined the company, to have this kind of thought, putting aside everything else, are your motives and starting points good, and is it for the purpose of solving the case?"

"He's so biased, always looking down on people. I'm so angry."

He looked indignant, clearly standing up for Li Shu.

After all, he was his own junior brother.

If you're being bullied, wouldn't it be unfair to Li Shutian, who calls you "senior brother" all the time?

Li Shu quickly said, "Senior brother, don't talk nonsense. What you said is a bit detrimental to unity. Besides, I didn't take it to heart. We're just dividing the work and cooperating, and our ultimate goal is still to solve the case."

Li Shu was definitely unhappy with Lin Wanping's reaction.

But more than anything, I felt disappointed.

Disappointed that I made no new discoveries.

This is what frustrates Li Shu the most.

The light turned green, and Li Shu twisted the accelerator, then said, "You kid, you've got pretty high moral standards."

Then, changing the subject, he said, "But you're right about one thing: in the end, it's all about solving the case. Like you said, since the complete fingerprint didn't match, we should study this half fingerprint more carefully."

"You've come up with a quick location method, you're smart."

"We can study this half fingerprint more thoroughly. If we can find any clues, let's see if they still dare to look down on us."

Li Shu felt that Peng Rong must have suffered some similar humiliation before, and this was clearly a case of empathy.

"Okay, senior, I'll do my best."

Li Shu smiled.

For some reason, Zhang Ruiping's mother came to mind, and he clenched his fists.

The system offers many methods for you to choose from.

There is no AFIS system.

But what computers can do that humans can't?

It's still just a comparison, isn't it?

It's not as efficient as a computer, but you can work overtime and stay up all night to do it yourself.

With enough effort, even an iron pestle can be ground into a needle.

Of course, it would be even better if there were an AFIS system.

Lost in thought, the two returned to the municipal bureau.

As I went upstairs and entered the office, I bumped into Guo Xiangyang talking to Han Jianjun and the others.

Looking up, Han Jianjun saw Li Shu and quickly patted Guo Xiangyang, saying, "Old Guo, the main character is back. If you have any questions, you should ask him."

Guo Xiangyang quickly stepped forward and grabbed Li Shu's hand.

When Li Shu was at the Tingyang Municipal Bureau, he noticed that this person was very enthusiastic.

"Li Shu, you're quite something! How did you come up with this idea to make a locator like this?"

He looked Li Shu up and down, full of surprise.

Li Shu quickly said, "Captain Guo, I... I just figured it out by chance, it's nothing special."

Guo Xiangyang said, "What do you mean? I've been working for over ten years, and I still haven't figured it out. So you're the one who's really good at using your brain."

He gave a thumbs up again.

Then, his tone suddenly shifted, and he said, "Li Shu, have you ever thought about coming to Tingyang? We're expanding right now. If you can come, I'll give you a team first..."

Before he could finish speaking, Han Jianjun interrupted him from behind.

"Old Guo, have you no shame? Do you think I'm dead?" Han Jianjun was speechless. How could someone try to seduce him right in front of him?

Guo Xiangyang laughed it off and explained, "I was just saying it casually, don't take it seriously."

He glanced at Li Shu and gave him a look.

Whether it's true or not, only Guo Xiangyang knows.

He hadn't considered this before coming to the Municipal Bureau.

I only came up with this idea after learning about the rapid comparison method from Han Jianjun.

Besides, there have been similar cases in previous years.

Since the city bureau has limited room for development, it's perfectly normal for them to go to the branch bureaus to hone their skills.

Han Jianjun stepped forward impatiently and pushed Guo Xiangyang out, signaling him to get lost.

At this moment, Zhao Yong asked the two where they had gone and why it had taken them so long to return.

I thought they'd been robbed on the street.

"We've gone to the High-tech Zone," Peng Rong explained.

Upon hearing that the two had gone to the crime scene, and that it was Li Shu's idea, Zhao Yong turned his head and looked over.

"Did you find anything?" he asked.

After thinking it over, Li Shu decided to take the initiative in this matter.

We need to make it clear to Han Jianjun that this half fingerprint still has value and that we can try to find a way to obtain it.

"Captain Han, I've seen the scene, and I think this half fingerprint might be a thumbprint."

Li Shu silently observed the two people's reactions.

Han Jianjun nodded and said, "That's right. We've analyzed it, and the probability that this half fingerprint is a thumbprint is higher than that of the right index finger."

But that's not the key point.

The fingerprints were severely damaged and contaminated, making comparison impossible.

Li Shu thought to himself, "As expected."

Han Jianjun and his team had already noticed their little discovery.

However, on the way back, Li Shu, who had made up his mind, actually had a new idea.

"Captain Han, you should have noticed that the area on that trophy where fingerprints are left, which is the support arm for the ear, is cylindrical."

"So this fingerprint was left on a curved surface."

That's just the connecting structure of the trophy's handle; it's not thick at all, probably less than a centimeter.

When you press your thumb down, the pressure causes it to sink in, making the lines in the middle denser and clustered together.

The lines on both sides are also distorted and misaligned.

Most importantly, a photo is taken when fingerprints are collected.

Taking a photo on a curved surface will inevitably result in a distorted image.

This results in missing feature points, or in other words, the image is not clear enough.

Han Jianjun nodded; he had actually noticed that.

Li Shu continued, "When I was in school, I actually thought about this situation and came up with a way that might be able to extract fingerprints with the correct proportions."

There really is such a method in the system.

A certain technical expert developed his own "curved surface evidence flattening system," which is not just Li Shu's fabrication.

Upon hearing this, everyone present was taken aback.

It was devised at school again.

Peng Rong patted Li Shu on the shoulder and said in surprise, "You haven't been paying attention in school, have you? You've been thinking about things all the time."