National Forensic Doctor-Chapter 1157 - 1088: Standards for Downgrading

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Raindrops fell one by one, hitting the window frames, panes, and sills, splattering into eight fragments, looking a bit like a monkey’s red behind.

In the slightly cooled-down office of Dai Mingsheng, the atmosphere was beginning to relax.

It was all about routine bureau affairs. While meetings were necessary to coordinate certain matters, Dai Mingsheng had spent nearly a decade in the Criminal Police Brigade, and communication across departments had long since become smooth. Coordination at this point was effortless.

The deputies were in stable spirits. The biggest issue lately was the case in the film studio. Though it still posed some trouble, the root of the problem had already been resolved. For the police, the remaining tasks were nothing serious—just aligning with the messaging of the publicity team.

Dai Mingsheng casually flipped through the documents in front of him, his thoughts drifting away with the rain—he wondered how Jiang Yuan was faring with his choices of cases. There were still several unresolved cases left behind in Lanyue City, and no matter which case Jiang Yuan completed, Dai Mingsheng felt it would be commendable. It could add a little shine to his own police career.

But Dai Mingsheng guessed that Jiang Yuan would likely avoid choosing those major cases. Dai Mingsheng had heard of Jiang Yuan’s achievements in Changyang City and Beijing, and while he had confidence in Jiang Yuan’s investigative skills, everyone understood one thing: being capable and being willing were two different matters.

Those major cases—those headline-grabbing nightmares for all parties during their active stages—who, after several years, would have the confidence to dig them up and tackle them again?

Frankly, getting results would be great, but what if you fail? Secretly forming small teams to investigate cold cases was something local police bureaus did every year. But in the end, what were the results of those cold case teams? Most often, they dissolved silently without making any waves.

If a cold case were easy to crack, it wouldn’t still be a cold case. In any city or county bureau, a regular officer who managed to solve a murder cold case would instantly become a star—a hero of that year. Leaving aside awards and honors, they’d be guaranteed the next couple of years as an advanced individual and part of an advanced collective. While that might not guarantee promotion to an elite position, their path to regular career advancement wouldn’t encounter significant resistance for many years.

But going out of town was different, especially for someone like Jiang Yuan—a rising star detective with a growing reputation. He’d surely be unwilling to let a cold case assigned to him remain unresolved.

From this perspective, Dai Mingsheng reasoned that Jiang Yuan would probably pick more manageable cases.

And if Jiang Yuan opted for such cases, Dai Mingsheng would completely understand.

If Dai Mingsheng himself had to take cases in Changyang City or Ningtai County, even out of responsibility for his team members, he’d firmly make the same tough choices.

Assembling a good team isn’t easy, and a team depends not only on resources but also on consuming vast amounts of pride to build cohesion.

This was precisely why Dai Mingsheng wasn’t pressuring Jiang Yuan.

It was better to let him pick feasible cases that still had good public credit. Once Jiang Yuan tackled a few relatively simple cold cases, Dai Mingsheng could quietly slip in a major cold case under the radar, squeezing Jiang Yuan for all he was worth. If they managed to crack it, it would truly be a win. Even if they didn’t, it wouldn’t matter much—it could be quietly shelved again, or after some time, he could invite Jiang Yuan back for another round.

Dai Mingsheng was acutely aware of the temperament of experts, especially someone like Jiang Yuan—young, ambitious, and full of pride. If a case in Lanyue City defeated him, he’d absolutely come back with a vengeance like digging three feet into the ground. Many hardened old criminals had met their end this way.

"Director Dai, here’s our recent expenditure summary," a subordinate laid a fresh document on Dai Mingsheng’s desk.

Dai Mingsheng flipped it open indifferently, habitually scanning a few pages before turning to the last. Suddenly, he stiffened: "Why didn’t I see this earlier?"

"This was newly sent over by Commissioner Huang Qiangmin from the Ningtai County Bureau. It’s not about past expenses; it’s for a new case." The subordinate answered cautiously.

"Not about past expenses? Good... Not..." Dai Mingsheng subconsciously muttered before abruptly looking up: "New case expenditures aren’t alright either. This figure is outrageous!"

"Because they agreed to factor in asset depreciation. In cases like this, the budget has to be higher; otherwise, for some second-hand items, their actual market value might not match up. Ningtai Huang would feel it’s unfair..."

"He doesn’t want them? I don’t even want to give them! What’s this nonsense about second-hand items? My newly purchased GL8—refurbished and newly outfitted, with plans I reviewed three times personally—I barely got a chance to sit in it, and now they call it second-hand property? Shouldn’t the price be raised instead?" Dai Mingsheng raised his voice, genuinely upset this time.

His subordinate tread lightly: "But in terms of your car, it’s only a small portion, and Commissioner Huang did allow us to list our own inventory like this..."

"Are you from Lanyue or Ningtai?" Dai Mingsheng demanded sternly, "One case with expenses this high—we don’t just spend money like water even if we have it. Go renegotiate."

"Of course... I’ll follow up with Ningtai Huang on it," the subordinate answered promptly.

With the conversation finished, silence once again filled the office.

Dai Mingsheng fumed quietly for a while. No one else dared to speak.

Finally, Dai Mingsheng said, "Get me a different tea."

As teacups clinked about, Dai Mingsheng lit up a cigarette.

With him leading the way, a haze of smoke soon billowed through the office.

Having finished a cigarette, Dai Mingsheng turned to the earlier subordinate: "I’m not stingy. You can even hand over my newly swapped-out Passat, and I wouldn’t feel any reluctance. But we should be forthright—a number of cold cases are things we can do ourselves; they just require time, manpower, and tons of resources. Cases like that aren’t really worth assigning to Jiang Yuan. Of course, if he’s willing to take them on, I’m fine with it for the sake of long-term planning, but the expenses shouldn’t exceed our own costs. At least not by too much, right?"

"Jiang Yuan’s team brought over thirty-some people," his deputy Lin Xunlei added neutrally.

"Simple cases don’t deserve much allocation. It’s about directing him towards cases that are burdens for us. Honestly, I only expect one thing: once the Li Aiyuan case wraps up smoothly, if Jiang Yuan’s team is inclined to ’pick low-hanging fruit,’ cracking one or two—or even three—is fair enough. But when it comes to those, the expenditures can’t be exorbitant. Ultimately, the big cases still need him."

"What kind of case counts as ’big’?" Lin Xunlei asked.

"Didn’t we discuss this earlier? We should at least have some clear standards," Dai Mingsheng responded hesitantly.

Lin Xunlei joked lightly, "Like the Li Yaoji murder case?"

Dai Mingsheng paused, indulging in a brief fantasy, then burst into laughter.

"Hahahahaha..." The office captain and commissioners burst out in hearty laughter.

Knock, knock.

The sound of knocking interrupted their moment.

"Come in," Dai Mingsheng frowned slightly.

A big head peeked in: "Director Dai, Ningtai’s Commissioner Huang... Commissioner Huang Qiangmin is here."

"Must be ready to finalize decisions then," Dai Mingsheng stated solemnly. "Invite Commissioner Huang in."

He glanced at the group and instructed, "As for what we just discussed—everyone adjust your expressions."

A room full of older men straightened gravely, adopting the stern postures expected of criminal investigators. Their imposing, earnest, and resolute demeanor filled the office—a mood that could silence a crying child.