Chapter 19

"They're all together, aren't they?" Tao Yan had barely finished speaking when the old station chief came in with two uniformed police officers.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with the orphanage director, the old station chief led the two officers over to Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan, smiling as he said, "Oh, you two are eating quite well!"

Huo Baichuan swallowed his mouthful of food, rose to his feet, and asked, "What brings you here?"

"There's something I'd like to discuss with you." As he spoke, the old station chief and the two officers sat directly across from Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan. "About that DNA database you mentioned to me last time—could you tell us more about it?"

Huo Baichuan and Tao Yan exchanged a glance. Tao Yan finished the last bite of his meal and said with a smile, "Of course."

The cafeteria was too noisy, so everyone got up and returned to Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan's dorm room.

Looking at the colorful drawings on the walls and the clothes tossed onto the beds that had not yet been put away, the old station chief asked with a smile, "Are you settling in all right?"

"It's pretty good." Since this was an orphanage, even if they were not used to it, neither of them would say so.

However, as their computer assembly business grew, they would have to consider renting a stall. Otherwise, with people constantly coming and going, it would affect the orphanage's normal routine.

Hearing this, the old station chief teased them with a smile, "You're that confident your business will take off? You should know that, given people's current circumstances, there aren't many who can afford computers."

"But there aren't that few, either." Huo Baichuan smiled. "We're both very confident. At the very least, we can earn some pocket money over the next six months."

The old station chief smiled faintly. "Then you don't need to move out. What could half a computer or one computer possibly disrupt? Besides, you're just children out on your own with no adults looking after you. We wouldn't feel at ease if you really moved out."

Huo Baichuan merely smiled without replying. The pocket money he meant was clearly not the same thing as the pocket money the old station chief had in mind.

Tao Yan returned to the main subject. "What else would you like to know about the DNA database?"

Only then did the old station chief remember the matter at hand. He introduced the two men to Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan. "These two are leaders from the city bureau—Director Chen and Director Zhou. Regarding the proposal you brought up yesterday, using DNA fingerprint testing technology to determine biological relationships and establishing a DNA database to help the parents of missing children find their children, the more I thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. So I reported it to the city bureau this morning. The city leadership took it very seriously and specifically sent Director Chen and Director Zhou to learn more. That's why I brought them to see you. I know you two have plenty of ideas. Could you tell us in detail what we would need to prepare if we wanted to establish this DNA database?"

That was only one reason. Based on the old station chief's report, the city bureau was also very curious about Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan's identities. They wanted to use this conversation to sound them out and see just who they were. How could children so young know so much and even propose establishing a DNA database—

Children their age probably did not even know what DNA was.

The city bureau was not alone in its curiosity. The old station chief and the other officers at the police station were all deeply concerned about this matter as well. But the old station chief had not expected that when he brought the two experts from the city bureau over, Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan would both be gone. The orphanage director and the volunteer aunties could not say where they had gone, either. Everyone could only wait patiently through the day, finally catching the two children when they returned that evening.

What they had not expected even more was that they had barely arrived and had not even gotten to the point when they heard that Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan had sold an assembled computer in just one day—and made over four thousand yuan.

They could assemble computers too!

The two criminal investigation experts exchanged glances. Whether it was using DNA fingerprint testing technology to determine biological relationships, establishing a DNA database, or assembling computers, all of these could be considered among the most advanced technical fields in the country. These two children were so familiar with the relevant knowledge. Their backgrounds could not be simple!

Considering that Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan did not appear very old, everyone harbored doubts, but did not make them too obvious in their attitudes.

The orphanage director and the two directors exchanged glances. Director Chen opened his mouth as though making casual conversation. "Where are you two from? Before you were trafficked to Jiangzhou, did you know each other?"

Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan shook their heads in unison. "We can't remember."

Director Chen smiled upon hearing that. "Then where did you hear about DNA fingerprint testing technology? Did you have elders in your family who worked as criminal investigators?"

Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan continued shaking their heads. "We can't remember clearly."

Director Chen asked again, "How did you learn to assemble computers? It's a technical skill. Even many outstanding university graduates don't know how."

Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan still shook their heads.

Director Zhou was clearly starting to lose his patience. "Don't think you can get away with this and keep resisting. You can't hide things forever. Sooner or later, we'll find out."

Huo Baichuan smiled. "What did we do? Did we break the law? If I remember correctly, we're the victims here, aren't we? We were the ones who called the police and got that group of traffickers arrested!"

"Don't try to be slick!" Director Zhou said sternly. "Don't change the subject."

"We aren't changing the subject." Tao Yan spoke blandly. "If Director Zhou thinks there's something suspicious about us, you're welcome to investigate us. If you can find our parents and family, we'd be very happy too."

"You child, why won't you listen to reason—"

"Hey!" The old station chief waved his hand with a smile, interrupting Director Zhou. "Everyone, calm down. Let's talk this out properly."

Then the old station chief looked at Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan again. "Director Chen and Director Zhou mean no harm. They're worried that you children have been away from home too long and that your families might be worried sick. What if they become ill from the anxiety? That would be no small matter."

Tao Yan spread his hands with an innocent expression. "We're worried too. But we really can't remember."

"It's all right. Take your time. You'll remember someday," the old station chief said with a smile. After a pause, he added, "Let's return to the DNA database. What exactly are you two thinking? Tell everyone about it in detail."