Chapter 144: Arrested

When the trip to West Germany was mentioned, Wang Fengshi finally put down his current work, and from his expression it seemed not that smooth.

Wang Fengshi sighed, "Indeed, not very optimistic."

Those few short words made Lu Cheng realize the difficulty involved.

"Is West Germany unwilling to sell?"

Wang Fengshi nodded, then shook his head, "It's not that West Germany refuses to sell; it's that someone is blocking, causing the whole process not to end perfectly."

After chatting with Wang Fengshi for a while, I learned it was a certain Middle General of the Navy who refused to sign.

The reason was simple: after all, it's a warship, involving military secrets, even if retired and scrapped, it cannot be traded casually.

Even though the Lei Zhan'ge Representative Team explained repeatedly that it was only for improving people's livelihood, the Middle General still would not relent, and the matter stalled there.

Lu Cheng offered no comment; such a national matter is not something one person can change, and he just sat there smoking.

Seeing Lu Cheng silent, Wang Fengshi added, "Captain Lei knows you miss your partner, and the report says your partner performed especially well.

There was also a accompanying translator at the time, and because of some phrase—perhaps a dialect like ours—the translation went wrong, but your partner checked the material and corrected it, otherwise it would have become an International Joke."

Lu Cheng nodded slightly, "She is just a translator; no matter how capable, she can't change much."

Wang Fengshi waved his hand, disagreeing, "It can't be put that way; everyone has a role, your partner has already done her duty, which counts as a great contribution to the team."

Lu Cheng laughed, "Thank you, Director Wang, for the recognition. I'm just afraid she might hold the team back, so I wanted to learn the situation."

"Hmm, rest assured, but I have no news on when she can return; Captain Lei's intention is to keep pushing for it."

After all, traveling such a distance only to return empty-handed leaves no one satisfied.

Lu Cheng understood that for now he could only keep waiting.

"Alright then, Director Wang, I won't disturb your work any more."

Lu Cheng stood up, walked to the doorway, and pretended to recall something.

"By the way, Director Wang, may I ask you another matter?"

Wang Fengshi set down his papers, looked up and couldn't help teasing, "Ah, since Captain Lei left, the other groups seem unrestrained, they're not afraid of me at all, and you've become increasingly courteous."

Wang Fengshi found it puzzling; when the Lei Zhan'ge Representative Team was present, the other groups behaved as obedient as kittens, yet Lu Cheng was bold, showing no fear of Lei Zhan'ge's authority.

With Lei Zhan'ge absent, the phenomenon reversed, and of course Wang Fengshi understood that Lu Cheng wasn't afraid of him, but rather respected him.

When he learned that Lu Cheng was again inquiring about a Speculation Profiteering Element, Wang Fengshi wore a puzzled expression.

"Group Leader Lu, if I recall correctly, you recently inquired about these two people; what relation do they have with you?"

Given that current policy forbids it, the previous actions of Ding Yuanmin and the other person fall under Speculative Profiteering.

Wang Fengshi didn't want Lu Cheng to have any connection with such people.

Lu Cheng could only mention that the Tea Stall needed a batch of warm-keeping supplies, and Wang Fengshi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"So that's it," Wang Fengshi muttered, then said puzzledly, "If that's the case, public-to-public should have a Compliance Procedure, so why were those two still arrested?"

"Arrested?"

Lu Cheng stood up in surprise; he felt something was off, and indeed something had gone wrong.

"Yes, just a few days ago, it was Group Two's Chief Fan who arrested them, and they were locked in the Railway Temporary Detention Center. Because the quantity of goods involved is large, they might even face a sentence."

Hearing Wang Fengshi's words, Lu Cheng frowned.

The large quantity of goods indicates they were meant for the Tea Stall.

But how could they be arrested? Weren't they supposed to have an Approval Document?

"Director Wang, may I meet those two people?"

Lu Cheng wanted to learn more about the situation, to see exactly where the mistake occurred.

Wang Fengshi thought for a moment, "Hmm, alright. I don't know the details either. If, as you say, the other side has an Approval Document, Chief Fan has no reason to arrest them. Go ask if there's been a mistake."

Taking the note Wang Fengshi gave him, Lu Cheng hopped on his bicycle and headed straight to the Railway Division.

When Ding Yuanmin was led by a Comrade to the meeting room, he saw Lu Cheng and his face showed both surprise and joy.

"Group Leader Lu, you finally made it!"

Ding Yuanmin seemed to have been hoping for a long time; over the past few days he looked noticeably haggard.

Lu Cheng first offered that Comrade a cigarette; the Comrade then let the two talk alone and went out to smoke.

Sitting across the table, Lu Cheng took out another cigarette, and Ding Yuanmin reached to take it, but it wasn't for him.

Lu Cheng smoked by himself and, looking at Ding Yuanmin, asked coldly,

"I ask you, what's going on? Are you playing me? Without an Approval Document, you still dared to send goods to the Tea Stall—are you trying to ruin the Tea Stall?"

Fortunately, they were caught by Group Two; otherwise, such undocumented goods would still be Speculative Profiteering, and if the Tea Stall accepted them, it would be implicated as well.

At that point, Er Jie, who advocated for this matter, might also be arrested.

Facing Lu Cheng's angry questioning, Ding Yuanmin froze for a moment, then loudly declared his innocence.

"Group Leader Lu, I'm not playing you. Our entire Big Team is grateful you even came; Hao Ge specifically asked me to convey a message—when he has time, he'll definitely treat you to a meal."

Seeing Ding Yuanmin's aggrieved expression, Lu Cheng said, "I only ask you one question: is there an Approval Document or not?"

Ding Yuanmin immediately nodded, "Yes, of course there is. Hao Ge personally went to the Commune for approval."

Lu Cheng asked in puzzlement, "If there's an Approval Document, why were you still arrested?"

Ding Yuanmin had also been troubled by this for several days.

"How would I know? At the time I showed the Approval Document to the Train Police, but he said it was useless, insisted on seizing the goods and, moreover, had us arrested for sentencing."

Lu Cheng, hearing this, immediately found it even stranger.

Ding Yuanmin said there was an Approval Document, which didn't sound like a lie, nor was there a need to lie, so why did Chief Fan still arrest people?

"Group Leader Lu, you have to save me. The goods can be discarded, but I cannot go to prison."

Now Lu Cheng's mind was also a bit tangled; if Ding Yuanmin's words are true, then it's legal and compliant, yet Chief Fan still arrested people.

Before the facts are clarified, he could only comfort Ding Yuanmin.

"Don't be impatient for now; after all, it was I who got in touch with you. So, let me investigate first, and you just stay calm."

"Already unfamiliar with his surroundings, Ding Yuanmin's only hope now could only be placed on Lu Cheng."

"Thank you, Group Leader Lu, you must absolutely save me…"

"After leaving the meeting room, Lu Cheng felt somewhat heavy‑hearted, and asked that Sub‑bureau Comrade; the person also didn't understand the exact circumstances."