1995, Starting as a Criminal Investigation Expert

When you encounter a problem you can't solve, consulting an expert is the most direct approach.

"The key question is, who should we contact?" Zhao Yong asked.

In the entire Nanjiang City, Han Jianjun is the most senior and his expertise lies precisely in fingerprint comparison.

If we're talking about fingerprint identification experts in Nanjiang, then it's him.

Therefore, whenever any branch office encountered a particularly difficult fingerprint, they would think of Han Jianjun and send it to him for research.

"Captain Li?"

Zhao Yong asked tentatively.

Team Leader Li's real name is Li Chaoyuan. He is considered Han Jianjun's mentor and guide.

Han Jianjun waved his hand: "Forget it, he's over eighty, his eyesight is failing, don't bother him."

After thinking for a moment with his arms crossed, he suddenly looked at Li Shu and said, "How about we ask your teacher?"

Li Shu realized what was happening: "Professor Zhang?"

Zhang Lu is the deputy director of the teaching and research office and a professor in the technical department of his alma mater.

Specializing in fingerprint identification, with many years of work experience, and primarily teaching fingerprinting at the university.

He is a specially appointed expert of the provincial department.

The department often consults him on major cases and important matters.

Li Shu nodded quickly.

If you consider yourself a student of Zhang Lu, then it's perfectly normal for a student to seek help from a teacher when they encounter difficulties.

"I'll go find him."

Han Jianjun made the decision and immediately instructed Li Shu to collect the documents.

It's hard to explain over the phone, so I decided to make a trip there.

It's not far anyway, less than 200 kilometers. You can get there in four or five hours by national highway.

If we set off now, we might still be able to have dinner together tonight.

Han Jianjun even went to the office, picked up two bottles of good wine, and muttered that he should ask Tian Yu to reimburse him.

Seeing that the situation was getting out of hand, Li Shu said, "Captain Han, why don't we make a call and explain the situation?"

Did they just go without a second thought?

"I'll make the call, but I'll still go."

Seeing that Li Shu didn't react, Han Jianjun said, "Idiot, do you think we're just going to ask?"

"Think about it yourself. If there aren't enough distinguishing features, how can this forensic report be issued? Besides, this is an old case from four years ago. Even if we confirm that the suspect is Cao Fangxu, where will the evidence come from?"

"So, if we want to convict him, the fingerprint identification report is crucial. But can the judge trust a report like that?"

Li Shu understood instantly.

This is essentially getting Zhang Lu to endorse it.

"By the way, Captain Han, I still have a pack of good cigarettes."

My dad gave me two packs of good cigarettes, but I haven't given them to him yet.

Han Jianjun immediately said, "Take it with you."

Anyway, once the case is solved, they'll all have to ask Tian Yu for reimbursement.

No one else could do it for him, so Han Jianjun had to make the trip himself.

They took Li Shu and Peng Rong with them.

He can drive, and he can take turns driving with Li Shu.

I called ahead, and Zhang Lu was quite welcoming. He even said that he had been curious about that quick location method we talked about last time, and it would be a good opportunity to discuss it when we met.

After explaining the situation to the Municipal Bureau and Tingyang, we set off immediately.

After a bumpy ride, we arrived at almost four in the afternoon.

"Come on in, why bring things?" Zhang Lu pushed him out.

Li Shu quickly replied, "Of course, we are just students visiting our teacher; we can't come empty-handed."

Peng Rong also attended Zhang Lu's fingerprint class.

Zhang Lu picked up two packs of cigarettes, weighed them in his hand, and said, "You've got a pretty big problem here."

Han Jianjun gave an awkward smile and quickly gestured for Li Shu to take out the documents.

Upon seeing the blurry fingerprint photos, Zhang Lu gasped and glanced speechlessly at Han Jianjun: "Is it too late for me to kick you out now?"

He picked up the horseshoe mirror on the table and examined the photograph carefully.

The more I looked, the more alarmed I became.

"It's difficult," Zhang Lu frowned.

It's not just difficult, it's downright difficult.

Han Jianjun said, "Is it really that hard to come all this way to find you? Well, you've taught a good student who has indeed matched someone, but he's not sure, so he came to ask you, the great expert, for your opinion."

Zhang Lu looked at Li Shu in disbelief and quickly asked how the comparison was done.

Li Shu then explained his thought process and steps in detail.

Zhang Lu listened attentively and remained silent for a long time.

Thoughts churned in my mind like waves.

Partition comparison method, comparison of added and removed feature points, inference of fingerprint pattern direction, three-level feature points, multi-fingerprint puzzle...

Each of these ideas could be easily written into two papers while still in school.

As for Li Shu alone...

Zhang Lu fell silent.

If he remembers correctly, Li Shucai scored 81 points in the fingerprinting course.

Han Jianjun pressed for his thoughts.

Zhang Lu stared at Li Shu for a long time before finally uttering only one sentence.

"The younger generation is truly formidable!"

Amidst the shock, Zhang Lu felt a surge of pride.

Li Shu, my student!

Seeing Han Jianjun still staring at him expectantly, Zhang Lu simply put down the photo: "I can't do it, and nobody in our school can either. But I can recommend someone to you; I think he's more suitable than me to help you with this evaluation report."

"Liu Zhenping," Zhang Lu said, adding, "For this kind of incomplete fingerprint, apart from a few people in the ministry, in the whole of Ningjiang, no one except Old Liu dares to take it on."

Li Shu looked at Peng Rong and winked at him, asking who it was.

I haven't heard of that.

"he?"

Han Jianjun realized what was happening and asked in confusion, "Isn't he already the bureau chief? Why is he still doing business?"

Liu Zhenping, he really knew.

The fingerprint expert from the neighboring city of Yanling was already the deputy director of the Yanling Municipal Public Security Bureau back in 85, ten years earlier.

Keep in mind that he was only 33 years old that year, and had only been a policeman for 12 years.

Zhang Lu said, "What you're saying is true. He's never left the front lines. He was the one who helped set up Tsinghua University's AFIS system."

"Anyway, he's the most authoritative expert on incomplete fingerprints, so you can't go wrong by asking him."

The trip to Ningshan did not yield the desired results.

But now we have a direction.

On the way back the next day, we happened to pass by Yanling.

Han Jianjun has been doing this for so many years, he's a veteran, and he knows people everywhere in Ningjiang.

As soon as I got off the train, someone came to pick me up in a car.

After exchanging greetings, I realized that he was Wu Qi, the captain of the Technical Brigade of the Yanling Municipal Bureau.

"Old Han, what case is it that you need Director Liu for?"

After getting on the bus, Wu Qi asked curiously.

With such a powerful figure in the bureau, it wasn't an ordinary case, so he didn't dare to easily consult him. He then said, "I remember you solved that armored truck case, didn't you?"

The September 5th case was such a big deal that it was already reported in the news.

Han Jianjun said, "It's not a big case, just a robbery, but it's a bit troublesome. By the way, the fingerprints in the 9.5 case were matched by Li Shu."

"What?!"

Wu Qi, who was driving, almost slammed on the brakes. He turned his head and looked at Li Shu in disbelief, with only one thought in his mind: So young?

It took him a long time to process the news before he said, "I knew it! When did you, Han Jianjun, become so capable?"

Han Jianjun wasn't angry.

No matter how capable Li Shu is, he's still one of our own.

"If you have such an expert, why are you looking for Director Liu?" Wu Qi pressed.

Han Jianjun gave an explanation.

Upon hearing that the current blood fingerprint was identified by Li Shu through comparison, but he was unsure and sought out Liu Zhenping, Wu Qi gasped sharply and asked what kind of fingerprint it was.

If even a master like Li Shu found it troublesome, it must be extraordinary.

Han Jianjun said quietly, "There are only a few dozen incomplete, blurry, and overlapping blood fingerprints."

So what?

Wu Qi almost bit his tongue. He glanced at the rearview mirror and exclaimed, "Old Han, you guys are ruthless!"

Only a tough person would tackle such a difficult task.

I met Liu Zhenping without any problems.

For a bureau chief, he's quite young, only 43 years old.

They warmly welcomed Li Shu and his companions.

Those who rose through the ranks from the technical department still maintain a straightforward style. After a few casual words, they immediately get to the point and ask where the photos are.

Li Shu once again recounted his comparison approach and process.

Liu Zhenping has a round face and a peaceful expression, but at this moment his brows are furrowed. He listened attentively, picked up the photo, and examined it carefully with a magnifying glass.

This is no ordinary person; he's a deputy director of a prefecture-level city bureau.

Li Shu didn't dare to say anything more, lest he disturb the other person's train of thought.

Han Jianjun became quiet and didn't say a word.

Liu Zhenping looked at the photos for a good ten minutes before putting them down and saying, "I think your thinking is correct. I think you came to me to ask if I have the means to issue an authentication report."

Han Jianjun nodded quickly, that's exactly what he meant.

Liu Zhenping looked at Li Shu with a smile on his face: "Speaking of which, your line of thinking does coincide with some of my theories."

He gave an explanation.

"My method is essentially an introduction of topological theory, which is used to deal with incomplete fingerprints with insufficient feature points."

Li Shu's heart skipped a beat.

The fingerprint comparison method introduced in the system includes this comparison method that incorporates topological theory.

Could it be that this was made by Liu Zhenping?

So I've met the right person!