Chapter 21: Give My Regards to Your Grandfather

Liu Guodong and the others had finished their day's work and were currently drinking tea.

"Four sets of fingerprints were collected, and Ren's team is doing the comparison themselves?"

Oh?

Liu Guodong was slightly stunned. "The collected fingerprints are very clear?"

If the fingerprints weren't of high clarity, Ren Qiang and his team wouldn't have the technical proficiency to perform the comparison.

Lu Chuan nodded. "Good luck; what was collected were complete fingerprints."

Lu Chuan didn't elaborate on the specific details, and Liu Guodong and the others didn't ask further.

This time, Liu Guodong had sent Lu Chuan to the scene alone not just to get a bottle of Luzhou Laojiao.

In the Criminal Investigation Detachment, the status of forensic scene investigators was not particularly high.

This wasn't a matter of technical skill, but rather a matter of resource allocation.

Especially in larger criminal investigation detachments, the responsibilities of forensic scene investigators were relatively singular: scene investigation.

Most of their work involved collecting physical evidence, such as lifting footprints, collecting fingerprints, and gathering DNA samples.

However, the specific analysis of that evidence was handled by specialized trace evidence investigators upon their return.

The two roles were interdependent yet clearly demarcated.

Both types of officers performed technical work, but they did not receive much internal resource allocation within the police force.

Liu Guodong's forensic office was different; they handled both scene investigation and trace evidence analysis.

This meant their authority was centralized.

This made it so that although the forensic office lacked real political power, everyone had to come to them for favors.

To give a simple example: as long as it wasn't a homicide or a major case assigned by leadership, the forensic office itself decided which case's fingerprints would be compared first.

Within the bounds of the rules, this was a matter of social maneuvering and personal connections.

Sending Lu Chuan to the scene alone was also intended to help him get acquainted with Action Group Two.

If he truly collected important fingerprints and helped Action Group Two solve a case, Lu Chuan would be the one earning that social capital.

In the Criminal Investigation Detachment, the action groups and the subordinate criminal investigation squadrons had the most interaction with people from all walks of life.

Having those connections in hand would make things easier in the future—whether it was getting an elderly parent medical care, getting a child into school, or even just getting a table at a restaurant.

As they spoke, the four men changed out of their police uniforms into civilian clothes, preparing to go to a hotel for dinner.

"Xiao Lu, remember from now on: as long as you aren't on a mission, try not to wear your uniform."

Lu Chuan nodded seriously. Liu Guodong had told him this, Yang Sen had told him this, and today, Old Bai had given him another reminder.

Actually, there was one benefit to being a policeman: you basically never had to spend your own money on clothes.

Winter, spring, summer, and autumn gear—at least two sets were issued for every season of the year.

They wore uniforms to work, and they rarely wore the clothes they bought with their own money.

Almost every profession had its own uniform and its own characteristics.

For example, power line workers had to wear cotton uniforms.

The reason was simple: it was paid for in blood.

Electricians deal with electricity constantly, and there is always a risk of electric shock during work.

If hit by an electric shock, cotton clothing turns to ash, whereas other materials like polyester will melt, forming high-temperature adhesive that sticks to the skin.

This easily causes severe secondary injuries.

Generally speaking, the service uniforms for criminal police emphasized durability and an air of authority.

Tactical gear was looser, focusing on maximizing combat effectiveness.

The attire of streetwalkers in dim alleys was different, emphasizing one thing: as little as possible.

As for not wearing the uniform outside of working hours, that was also a lesson learned through blood.

On one hand, if an emergency occurred while off duty—for instance, if a female desk officer encountered a criminal on a bus.

If she were wearing her uniform and stepped in, she wasn't any more combat-capable than any other girl.

If she didn't step in, what would she do as a police officer?

Furthermore, it could easily lead to unnecessary public scrutiny.

Police officers are human too; they have families, and they feel fear.

But once the uniform is on, sometimes, even knowing that stepping forward might mean death, one has no choice but to do so.

When Lu Chuan was at the Public Security University, his professors had discussed many similar cases.

***

The atmosphere of the dinner was far more relaxed than Lu Chuan had imagined.

Although there was a leader from the Municipal Bureau present, he still mingled easily with everyone.

Seven or eight people sat together, reminiscing about old times working in the forensic office.

"Xiao Lu, come, you're the newcomer. Toast everyone!"

Liu Guodong brought Lu Chuan forward to formally introduce him to everyone.

"Lu Chuan!" The only person at the table wearing a white shirt looked Lu Chuan over with an appreciative gaze. "You haven't been on the force long, but you've participated in quite a few solved cases. A young and promising talent."

In the entire Haizhou Municipal Public Security Bureau, only a few people were permitted to wear white shirts.

Even Qin Yong, the captain of the Criminal Investigation Detachment, was merely a "blue-collar" worker in terms of status.

To receive affirmation from the highest-ranking leader to ever come out of the forensic office, Lu Chuan felt somewhat flattered.

"Old Wang," Liu Guodong said, unwilling to yield and lacking his usual deference toward superiors, "what are you playing at?"

"Our forensic office has finally gotten some fresh blood; don't you go making designs on him."

Lu Chuan had seen "Old Wang" once; during the Zhang Wen homicide case, this Old Wang had gone to the scene with the Bureau Chief, Song Jiangguo.

"Exactly. Great Leader Wang, currently our forensic office only has three old fogies left. Lu Chuan is our future hope," Yang Sen added his opinion.

"It's good to spend more time at scenes when you're young. Didn't you get promoted back then because I dragged you to scenes every single day?" Old Bai had the final word.

Among those present, no one's seniority surpassed Old Bai's.

Wang Kai spread his hands and laughed. "I was just praising Xiao Lu. Where are your minds going?"

"Alright, we know you," Liu Guodong waved him off. "Xiao Lu has great intuition and excellent skills. It will do him more good to gain experience at scenes for a few more years."

Throughout the entire process, Lu Chuan merely smiled and held his glass to toast, rarely interrupting.

This made everyone like him even more.

Based on the professional experience of those present, a steady and humble junior was more worth cultivating and trusting.

From that point on, Lu Chuan truly integrated into the forensic circle.

In the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the Haizhou Municipal Public Security Bureau—or rather, he had gained a backer and had firmly established his footing.

***

After the meal, everyone prepared to hail a taxi at the hotel entrance to go home.

Misusing official vehicles was a rare occurrence nowadays, especially police cars; no one dared to use them ostentatiously for private matters.

"Xiao Lu, you drive Great Leader Wang home!"

Liu Guodong, already slightly tipsy, was the organizer of the dinner as the current head of the forensic office.

Asking Lu Chuan to drive Wang Kai home was clearly an attempt to give Lu Chuan an opportunity to get close to leadership.

"We'll take a taxi."

Lu Chuan quickly stepped forward. "Master, it's already arranged."

As he spoke, Lu Chuan waved his hand, and eight Buick business vans parked by the roadside pulled up one after another.

Liu Guodong's eyes cleared slightly as he looked at Lu Chuan. "Xiao Lu?"

"Master, I rented them from a rental company. It's perfect for taking everyone home; it would take a long time to get a taxi at this hour."

The others also looked at Lu Chuan, their eyes filled with questioning.

They had thought the kid was just honest and simple, but they hadn't expected him to be so thoughtful.

"Alright, we'll send the fare to the group chat later. We can't have Xiao Lu paying out of his own pocket," Wang Kai spoke up to set the tone.

"No, no, no, Leader. These are my family's company cars. There's no charge."

As Lu Chuan was explaining, the drivers from the eight vehicles had already stepped out, opened the doors, and bowed deeply. "Qiangsheng Car Rental welcomes you."

His family's company cars?

Qiangsheng Car Rental?

Wang Kai's eyes narrowed. "Lu Chuan... your surname is Lu... do you live in the Chenguang Community?"

Lu Chuan nodded. "Yes, Leader."

"What is your relation to Lu Jianguo?"

"He is my grandfather."

Wang Kai looked at Lu Chuan, remained silent for two seconds, and then suddenly patted Lu Chuan on the shoulder. "Give my regards to your grandfather."