Chapter 96: Women and Small People Are Hard to Raise

Due to Du Long's boring joke, Shen Bingqing ignored him all the way with a stern face. It wasn't until they arrived at the parking lot of the Yuming Public Security Bureau that Shen Bingqing handed the box to Du Long and said, "You take it up. I'll wait down here."

Du Long smiled and said, "Since we're both here, why don't we go up together?"

Shen Bingqing gave him a cold glare and walked towards the public security building. Du Long laughed helplessly, knowing that this kid was aware of his own stench.

Du Long took the item and walked up to the seventh floor. As he arrived at the registration desk of the Technical Investigation Department, he saw a girl named Xiao Lu just coming out of the firearms and toolmark examination room with a stack of reports. She looked up and saw Du Long, immediately saying, "What have you brought this time? You're such a troublemaker. The batch of guns you sent over has yielded significant findings. Remember to come and pick up the results later."

Du Long retorted, "How do you talk to people? Isn't the Technical Investigation Department supposed to receive and examine evidence? I come here often, and you're not happy about it? Luckily, the department isn't run by you, or we detectives would be in trouble, and the criminals would be delighted."

Xiao Lu glared at Du Long in anger. Du Long signed the register and then took the broken porcelain to the fingerprint examination room.

After delivering the item, Du Long returned to the firearms and toolmark examination room. As he pushed the door open, he heard Xiao Lu talking to Yue Bingfeng, and the content was about him.

Xiao Lu said, "That coal miner has brought something again. I kindly asked him to come and pick up the results, but he scolded me. I've never met such an unreasonable person. He really has no manners."

"Talking behind someone's back doesn't show good manners either," Du Long appeared behind Xiao Lu like a ghost, startling her. Then he asked, "Where's the report?"

"Are you trying to scare me to death?" Xiao Lu scolded, blushing and angry, "Sneaking around and eavesdropping on people's conversations, how can you be like this!"

Du Long said, "You asked me to come and pick up the report. I even knocked on the door, but you didn't hear it. It's not my fault. If you don't believe me, you can ask the beautiful lady next to you."

Yue Bingfeng calmly said, "I didn't see anything. Don't involve me in your bickering. Xiao Lu, give him the report. Don't delay the work; everyone is busy."

Xiao Lu handed a stack of about ten pages to Du Long and said, "That's all for now. But the murder weapon has been found. Isn't that what you wanted the most?"

Du Long was delighted and said, "Found? That's great. Are there any fingerprints on the gun?"

Xiao Lu said impatiently, "Can't you read the report yourself? There are fingerprints, and they are being compared with the national criminal database. It will take at least a few days to get the results. If the suspect has no prior record, the comparison will be a waste of time."

Du Long flipped through the report and then asked, "All three victims were killed with the same gun? That bastard, he even killed his own people... He's really ruthless, willing to do anything to harm others!"

Xiao Lu said, "Do you know who did it? Then go and get the fingerprints for comparison. I heard one of the victims was executed by firing squad. Such a brutal guy should be caught and executed immediately!"

Du Long glanced at Yue Bingfeng and said, "Officer Yue, we sent a laptop for examination earlier. It seems there's nothing else to do here. You should go back to your post."

Yue Bingfeng, though a recent graduate, was already enjoying the benefits of a first-class police officer in the technical department. She would likely be promoted to a police inspector in a few years. Comparing people really can be frustrating.

Yue Bingfeng calmly replied, "Many departments in the Technical Investigation Department have sent people to help with the batch of guns. It's not just your criminal investigation team that has been delayed. Moreover, we don't need outsiders to direct us. Officer Du, you should quickly go and find the fingerprints for comparison."

Du Long was rebuffed and rubbed his nose, saying, "Hehe, I thought the murderer had been identified, so there's no need to examine the other guns... By the way, Officer Yue, I have a compressed file that I forgot the password for. Can you give me a decryption software to open it?"

Yue Bingfeng firmly said, "No, first, I don't know you well, so there's no need to help you. Decrypting is a very sensitive area. You must prove that the file is indeed yours, and there are many complications involved. Unless it's necessary evidence or there's an order from a superior, I can't provide any assistance."

Du Long laughed and said, "It seems I'll have to figure it out myself. Sigh... What a hassle..."

Xiao Lu watched Du Long leave in a huff and giggled, "Sister Yue, you're amazing. Such a guy needs to be hit back hard! Don't give him any chance!"

Yue Bingfeng calmly said, "I'm just stating the facts. I didn't intend to hit him back."

Du Long didn't take the slight to heart. He got back in the car and, seeing that Shen Bingqing hadn't returned, carefully read the firearms examination report.

With the results of the firearms comparison and the fingerprints found on the gun, proving that Bidakai had killed the three people was a piece of cake. Du Long was in a good mood and immediately called Ma Guangming to report the good news.

Ma Guangming said, "Very good. Send the documents over by fax. The number is... I'll immediately send someone to get Bidakai's fingerprints for comparison. Du Long, you've done a great job."

Du Long laughed and said, "I'm not the one who's worked hard; Uncle Ma has. You have to outsmart so many people..."

Ma Guangming sighed and said, "There's nothing else to do here. You can go back to work, or I can give you a few days off. What do you think?"

Du Long laughed and said, "No need. I've already helped the criminal investigation team today. I even found some new clues for them."

Ma Guangming praised him, "Good job. Keep it up. I have high hopes for you... Go find a place to send the fax. When I return to Yuming, let's have dinner at my place. Your aunt has been mentioning you a lot recently."

Du Long happily said, "Sure, I'd be honored. I'll go send the fax now. See you, Uncle Ma."

Being invited to the mayor's house for dinner was a rare treat. Du Long found a store with a fax machine and sent the documents.

Back at the parking lot, he saw Shen Bingqing waiting by the minivan. Du Long walked up and teased, "Little Shen, did you fall into the toilet? Why did you take so long?"

Shen Bingqing's police uniform was wet. He replied irritably, "You said I stink, so I found a faucet to wash up. If I hadn't been worried about you waiting, I would have waited for my clothes to dry before coming back."

Du Long laughed and said, "Wet clothes are uncomfortable and can make you catch a cold. Since there's nothing to do now, why don't I wait in the car while you dry your clothes?"

"No need..." Shen Bingqing thought for a moment and said, "Take me back to the station. I bought a new hard drive. I plan to ask Captain Huang for leave and go to your place to copy the files."

"You're afraid I'll keep a copy, huh..." Du Long chuckled and said, "Alright, get in the car!"

Du Long drove Shen Bingqing back to the station. Since Du Long hadn't been discharged yet, he didn't need to ask for leave and waited downstairs. Shen Bingqing got the hard drive and they drove back to Du Long's house.

"Your house is quite big," Shen Bingqing couldn't help but say as soon as he entered.

Du Long's house was a standard four-bedroom, two-living room, two-bathroom, and one-kitchen apartment, 140 square meters. For most people, this house was indeed quite large. Du Long, who had lived there for a long time, didn't find it strange. He said, "Yes, a few years ago, the textile factory was doing well, and the factory raised funds to build houses. This house was originally prepared for a deputy factory manager, but he was caught for economic issues and arrested. The house changed hands a few times, and each new owner had problems. Some said the house had bad feng shui and whoever lived there would have bad luck, so no one wanted it. My mother didn't believe in such superstitions, borrowed money, and bought the house. We've lived here ever since. Apart from me being hit on the head last month and almost becoming a vegetable, everything has been smooth sailing."

Du Long led Shen Bingqing to his room, skillfully opened the computer case, and installed the new hard drive. Shen Bingqing's gaze swept around the room and stopped on a framed sketch hanging on the wall. The sketch depicted a beautiful girl half-removing her glasses, looking both surprised and concerned, with a hint of amusement in her eyes. The expression was so vivid that it seemed she might jump out of the painting at any moment.