Chapter 20

Tao Yan said, "I won't go into the benefits of establishing a DNA database. What we need to discuss is whether this project is feasible."

"As I said before, limited by hardware infrastructure such as network conditions and mobile base stations, as well as the country's constraints in manpower, material resources, and funding, there is still a long way to go before a nationwide DNA database can be established. It isn't feasible in the short term. But if you truly want to establish DNA databases, it's not impossible."

"We can set up regional DNA databases by province and city. Take Jiangzhou as an example. We can divide it into several regions, with each region responsible only for collecting DNA samples from the families of everyone reported missing within that region, as well as trafficked children. That way, we can establish a small DNA database. Then we can compare the DNA samples of trafficked children against those of the reporting families. If there's no match, the reporting families can take their DNA samples to other regions and other provinces and cities for comparison."

"Although this method of finding people is still like looking for a needle in a haystack..." As Tao Yan spoke, he suddenly felt a little thirsty and gestured for Huo Baichuan to pour him a glass of water.

Huo Baichuan got up, poured a glass of cooled boiled water, and handed it to Tao Yan. He also poured water for the others.

After drinking, Tao Yan continued, "But once there's a match, the accuracy rate is one hundred percent."

"And you can also enter the DNA of prison inmates and all suspects with criminal records into the database. Once those people commit crimes again, you'll be able to quickly identify suspects based on fingerprints and blood samples from the scene. It would greatly improve your efficiency in solving cases," Huo Baichuan added.

The old station chief, Director Zhou, and Director Chen exchanged looks. Everything Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan had said was something they had considered during the bureau meeting earlier that day. It was nothing unusual.

What was unusual was that people Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan's age could think of things that only seasoned criminal investigation experts would consider. They spoke with confidence and clear logic, even taking into account the limitations of mobile base stations and network infrastructure. That was not something ordinary people could come up with.

Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan could see the doubts in the three officers' eyes, but neither of them intended to explain—there was no way to explain it. They couldn't exactly say they had traveled back from thirty years in the future.

Even if they were willing to say it, the officers might not believe them. Worse still, they might send the two of them to a mental hospital.

"If you want to pursue this project, I can help organize the development of database management software. It can include functions like quick searches and automatic matching." Tao Yan spoke openly. "As long as you bring it up, I'll help however I can. After all, helping the police solve cases is also a duty of us ordinary people."

With things having been said this far, the officers could not say much more. They discussed it for a while longer, and seeing that it was getting late, the old station chief rose with the other two to say goodbye.

Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan walked them straight out of the orphanage. Standing at the entrance, Huo Baichuan watched the three officers' retreating backs, nudged Tao Yan with his elbow, and asked with a grin, "Do you think they might misunderstand the two of us?"

Tao Yan glanced at Huo Baichuan. "What could they misunderstand?"

Raising an eyebrow, Huo Baichuan slung an arm around Tao Yan's shoulders. "I'm a little scared. I want some liangfen to calm my nerves."

Tao Yan brushed Huo Baichuan's paw away. "You should just drink cold water!"

Chapter 20

Pour the potato starch into a basin, add two bowls of water, and stir evenly until the potato starch and water were fully combined into a smooth liquid like milk. Then pour an appropriate amount of water into an iron pot and bring it to a boil before adding the thoroughly mixed potato starch. Simmer over low heat.

Tao Yan handed the large iron ladle to Huo Baichuan. "Keep stirring. Don't stop until it thickens into a paste. Then your liangfen will be ready."

Huo Baichuan stood before the stove and wiped away his sweat.

The volunteer aunties stood at the kitchen doorway, craning their necks to look inside, wondering what antics the two children had come up with this time.

Tao Yan washed and diced the watermelon, honey peaches, and strawberries he had just bought from the market, poured them all into a bowl, added half a bottle of honey, then sprinkled crushed peanuts and raisins over the top.

"It's already really thick. Is it ready? Come take a look," Huo Baichuan called out.

Tao Yan set aside what he was doing and walked over to the stove. The potato starch in the iron pot had become crystal clear, looking like a lump of transparent paste.

Tao Yan nodded in satisfaction, patted Huo Baichuan's sweat-soaked back, and said, "It's ready."

Huo Baichuan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly ladled the liangfen out of the pot, tossing the whole large aluminum basin into the water vat to cool.

"I'm going to take a shower first." Huo Baichuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and called to Tao Yan.

Tao Yan also felt sticky and uncomfortable. So he set down the honey fruit jam he had just mixed and went upstairs with Huo Baichuan to their dormitory. They grabbed clean changes of clothes and went to the washroom for cold showers.

Aunt Zhao watched their backs and shook her head, clicking her tongue. "Two showers a day. What kind of family raises children this clean?"

The other volunteer aunties nodded and muttered among themselves. Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan had only been at the orphanage for two days, yet they had already revealed far too many traits unlike those of other children their age. At the very least, none of the volunteer aunties had ever seen children who lived so exquisitely, knew so much, and made money so easily.

Forget children—even adults who had lived half their lives probably did not know as much as Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan.

They did not know what kind of family could raise children like this, nor did they know why Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan would not tell the police the truth or return home. But they were actually grateful that Tao Yan and Huo Baichuan had come to the orphanage. They had let them clearly feel that life could be lived this way, too.

"If my son turns out half as promising as those two, I'll be burning incense in thanks." Aunt Tao circled the water vat and the honey fruit jam, unable to keep from sighing. "What kind of new food is this? Where exactly did these two children come from? How do they know so much?"