Chapter 146: Looking for Someone to Reason With

Regarding Fan Dashan's sudden big reaction, Lu Cheng was not surprised at all.

As Train Police, responsible for protecting railway lines, he often inspected trains and frequently encountered people engaging in speculative profiteering.

But they were minor offenses; catching them meant just a verbal education.

If slightly more serious, it was just a two-day detention to give a lesson.

Especially those old farmers who sideline-sold agricultural products to earn a living, Lu Cheng often turned a blind eye.

But like Ding Yuanmin's large-scale speculative profiteering this time, that was rare to encounter.

So Fan Dashan naturally did not want to miss such a good opportunity to earn merit.

Even Wang Fengshi was a bit surprised, advising: "Isn't it unnecessary, Chief Fan? After all, it's just a procedural oversight; sentencing them like this is a bit harsh."

Fan Dashan immediately glared: "That's not right. As far as I know, these two have prior records; even if it's just a procedural oversight, arresting them is not unjust."

"Chief Fan, having a record is unrelated to this case; we should at least give them a chance to reform."

Fan Dashan leaned back: "Hey, Xiao Wang secretary, what are you saying? I hear you're speaking for criminals; if this gets out, people might think you're in cahoots."

Wang Fengshi immediately became anxious: "I…"

Fan Dashan didn't let him speak, interrupting: "Xiao Wang secretary, you needn't say more; talking to me is useless. I've already reported to Director Tang, who said we must sentence these two as a warning."

Upon hearing this, Wang Fengshi suddenly fell silent.

If Director Tang has spoken, then this matter is not easy to handle.

He could only look apologetically at Lu Cheng, indicating he was also powerless.

Actually, Wang Fengshi being able to say this much already made Lu Cheng grateful.

He also didn't want to force Wang Fengshi to release people, which would be a mistake.

Lu Cheng stood up and headed straight for the door; Fan Dashan, seeing this, couldn't help asking: "Group Leader Lu, where are you going?"

Lu Cheng couldn't be bothered to respond, but Fan Dashan had already guessed.

"Are you looking for Director Tang? I'm telling you, it's useless to find him."

Seeing Lu Cheng still ignoring him, Fan Dashan really couldn't rest and wanted to follow.

Wang Fengshi stood up and said: "Chief Fan, you should go on duty with the train crew."

Fan Dashan walked to the door, turned his head: "I'm not going; I've taken leave today, arrange someone else."

Going on duty on the Jingha Line, you can't even catch a hair; after finally earning a merit, you certainly can't let Lu Cheng take the people away.

And Lu Cheng was indeed looking for Tang Qiusheng; if this case really warranted sentencing, it would be overly harsh.

Upon arriving at the General Bureau, Fan Dashan really followed him, reaching the door but showing hesitation.

Lu Cheng glanced at him and smiled without concern.

Fan Dashan pursed his lips, stood there and urged: "Group Leader Lu, why bother? For two speculation profiteering elements, you're deliberately making enemies with me, right?"

Lu Cheng reached out to stop him: "No such meaning; don't overthink it, I just feel this was a bit excessive."

"Excessive? I think it's reasonable." Fan Dashan shouted.

"Then fine, reason isn't about volume; truth becomes clearer through debate." Lu Cheng grabbed his arm: "Let's go find Director Tang to discuss this properly."

"Hey hey, don't pull me!"

"How come? You've come all this way, are you scared now?"

Just now at Wang Fengshi's place, when Fan Dashan brought up Director Tang, Lu Cheng noticed this guy was being evasive.

He sounded loud but lacked confidence; it was clear he wasn't telling the truth.

Regarding Ding Yuanmin's case, anyone who understood the actual situation would not make a hasty decision.

Tang Qiusheng, in that position, should not have done so either.

Provoked by that remark, Fan Dashan shook off his arm: "Who's scared? Let's go; I don't believe you can take those people away today."

Pushing open the door, Tang Qiusheng was sipping tea and reading a newspaper; seeing the two people tugging at each other as they entered, he jumped, spilling tea all over the newspaper.

"You two came in without even knocking; look how you scared me."

Before Lu Cheng could speak, Fan Dashan deliberately tried to get closer, imitating Lu Cheng's usual manner, and started joking with Tang Qiusheng.

"Hehe, Director Tang, if you don't do wrong, you don't fear ghosts knocking; what are you afraid of?"

"Nonsense, when have I done wrong?" Tang Qiusheng folded the newspaper and put it on the table.

Fan Dashan continued: "Director Tang, you say you're busy all day with your feet off the ground, no time for the Train Police Unit, yet you're just hiding here drinking tea and reading the newspaper— isn't that wrongdoing?"

Everyone in the unit said this; Captain Lei dumped the responsibility on Tang Qiusheng, resulting in him often skipping the Train Police Unit.

Asked why, he'd say he was in meetings— all day, so many meetings.

Today Fan Dashan finally caught him— this isn't a meeting, it's clearly avoiding work.

And Tang Qiusheng, exposed, looked embarrassed; if this got back to the Train Police Unit, people would surely gossip.

It was rare to see Tang Qiusheng humbled; Lu Cheng didn't join in throwing mud at him.

"So what, Director Tang fought a lifetime of battles; can't he just drink tea, read the paper, and enjoy himself!"

You're enjoying the elders' benefits here, yet you dare blame others? This is insulting revolutionary old comrades, erasing their contributions!

Lu Cheng's remarks both relieved Tang Qiusheng's predicament and embarrassed Fan Dashan.

"I… I was just joking; do you really have to make such a big deal of it?"

"Even jokes need limits; Director Tang has borne guns and wounds, others have the right to question him, and so do you."

"I… I…"

Watching the two of them argue, Tang Qiusheng couldn't help laughing; after all, Lu Cheng still had the gift of gab.

Even he had to admit defeat in that regard.

"Alright, alright, you two came— what's the matter?"

The room had only one empty chair; Lu Cheng plopped down in it.

Fan Dashan, who could only stand, was still preoccupied with what had just been said, and he complained dissatisfiedly: "You haven't even carried a gun or fought in a battle—what gives you the right to sit?"

"Because I'm a wounded soldier!"

"Where are you wounded? Don't come here pretending to be pitiful." Fan Dashan said disdainfully.

Lu Cheng still wanted to play the pitiful card today; he immediately took off his military coat and spread it on the table in front of Tang Qiusheng.

"Director Tang, look at these scratches on my back—helping your sister unit with this favor is no big deal, but I nearly lost my life."

Before bringing up Ding Yuanmin's matter, he had to first make Tang Qiusheng lean toward his side.

Meanwhile, Tang Qiusheng had already learned the details of what happened back then through feedback from the sister unit.

Seeing the several scratches on the back of the military coat was shocking enough to imagine how dangerous it had been.

To be honest, hearing the news also left him frightened; if he had known how dangerous it was, he wouldn't have helped with this favor no matter what.

No matter how important the equipment, no one is more important.

Fan Dashan, unaware of the inside story, only saw Tang Qiusheng staring at the military coat and sighing, and he immediately grew a bit anxious.