Chapter 25: The Thief in Action

Liu Jian'an didn't understand: "How can you be so sure? You're not a thief, how could you know what they think."

Lu Cheng kept his eyes closed: "Since this group are thieves, they definitely wouldn't open an Introduction Letter; Sai Bei is the final stop, so they can't stay at a Guesthouse there."

The best method is to board at the Platform in front of Shan Jin, and get off at the Platform just before entering Sai Bei.

By the time the stolen-from passengers react, the Train Police will try to conduct a massive sweep, but the group will have already gotten off, making the subsequent search futile."

Liu Jian'an listened in astonishment; Lu Cheng's analysis made a lot of sense.

"That's not right. By your reasoning, the thieves are active around Shan Jin; why couldn't they be from Sai Bei?"

Lu Cheng shook his head helplessly, this guy had endless questions; after answering one, another popped up, so he turned his head toward the window and stopped answering.

Liu Jian'an got no answer, frantic, scratching his ears and cheeks; while heading to the restroom, he asked Train Police Xiao Qin and found that this possibility was indeed real.

Xiao Qin said that most theft cases did occur while passing the Shan Jin area; for this, the Railway Branch had communicated with the local Public Security Bureau to see if they could locate the thieves.

Actually, without the Railway Branch's contact, the local Public Security Bureau was also hunting the thieves; it turned out theft wasn't limited to the train—many locals were robbed while shopping, all using knives to cut open items, likely the same gang.

"Lu Cheng, you were right; the Train Police on the carriage have now stepped up patrols."

Lu Cheng didn't mind; he only told Liu Jian'an to close his eyes and squint for a while, giving the thief a chance to act.

Knowing the thief was likely already on the train, Liu Jian'an anxiously closed his eyes.

The train "clank clank" continued moving; most passengers brought their own food and drink, and after eating they inevitably grew drowsy, with many slouching and swaying.

The Train Staff pushed a trolley, calling out as they went: "Premium bread, two mao each, no ration tickets required."

"New arrivals! Da Qianmen three mao five, Feima two mao two, Glory one mao eight, sold with tickets; without a ticket add five cents."

"Seize revolution, boost production, Comrade, buy a pack of biscuits to promote production."

"Hey, Comrade ahead, pull your feet in, the trolley can't get through."

……

"Ouch, who stepped on my foot!" At that moment, Liu Jian'an shouted.

A standing person nearby hurried to apologize: "Sorry, sorry, Comrade, someone just jostled me, and I accidentally stepped on you."

The other person's attitude was very good; Liu Jian'an shook his head and didn't say much, just blaming bad luck today.

He sat back down, clutching his bag, ready to close his eyes and fish again, when he suddenly noticed something wrong with the bag.

He flipped it over and back; at the front of the bag was a glaring cut, and inside the money was gone, leaving only a few neatly rolled newspapers.

Liu Jian'an sprang up and searched nearby, but not only did he not find any money, he didn't even spot a suspicious target.

He hurriedly shook the still-sleeping Lu Cheng awake: "Wake up, Lu Cheng, the money's gone! I told you not to sleep, and now it's gone, and no one even saw… Wait!"

Liu Jian'an suddenly recalled that just then someone had stepped on his foot, distracting him; the money must have been taken at that moment.

Realizing this, he immediately grabbed the person who stepped on his foot: "Did you steal my money?"

The person was stunned: "I—I didn't steal your money; I've been standing here the whole time."

"I don't believe it; even if you didn't steal, you're in league with the person who jostled you earlier."

The person, feeling aggrieved, said: "I don't even know that person; I really didn't steal, you can't wrong a good person."

"Whether I'm wrong or not, you'll know after coming with me; I'm a Train Police, come with me…"

Liu Jian'an tried to twist the person away, but the now-standing Lu Cheng blocked him.

"Jian'an, it's not him, nor the person who jostled him."

Liu Jian'an didn't believe it; the thieves must be creating chaos to snatch his money.

"You've been sleeping all this time; could you have seen anything?"

Lu Cheng actually had seen; he wasn't asleep—though his eyes were fixed outward, he was watching the carriage's every move via the glass reflection.

Then a middle-aged man wearing a Lei Feng Hat and a military-green coat squeezed over from another carriage; Lu Cheng kept watching him.

He noticed this man because, although the temperature outside was cold, the crowded train kept it warm, and many passengers had taken off their Cotton-padded Jackets and placed them on the overhead racks.

Someone dressed so heavily could be an ordinary civilian preparing to alight, or a thief getting ready to disembark, since they were about to reach Coal Capital Station, and beyond that lies beyond Sai Bei.

As he passed Liu Jian'an, eyeing the bulging bag in his arms, the man gave it an extra glance.

Yet he didn't act immediately; only when someone tried to push through and the Lei Feng Hat-wearer deliberately blocked the way, causing that person to accidentally bump the neighbor, who in turn accidentally stepped on Liu Jian'an's foot.

That triggered a chain reaction.

While Liu Jian'an was distracted, the Lei Feng Hat thief finally struck.

It was swift—within the blink of an eye, a vintage Shaving Knife appeared in his hand.

Two slender, dexterous fingers slid the Shaving Knife across the bag, then slipped into the bag, stuffing both the knife and the contents into the coat's inner pocket.

By the time Liu Jian'an realized, the thief had already moved to the next carriage.

After Lu Cheng finished explaining, Liu Jian'an finally released the man, then immediately grew dissatisfied with Lu Cheng again.

"You weren't asleep? Then you saw everything—why didn't you catch him on the spot!"

Lu Cheng patted his shoulder, squeezing toward another carriage, and said: "Don't rush; the thief isn't alone—there must be accomplices. We've finally managed to fish once; catching just one won't do, we have to take them all in one go."

Lu Cheng had memorized the man's appearance; as long as the train hasn't stopped, he can't escape.

Now it's a matter of waiting for this person to interact with someone; any eye contact with another almost certainly indicates an accomplice.

Liu Jian'an, listening from behind, was greatly shocked; he hadn't expected Lu Cheng to stay so composed—if it were him, he'd have already caught one after another.

That's not like a trainee at all; even veteran Train Police seem less capable than him.

However, whether they can indeed capture them all in one go remains uncertain; it's premature to conclude.

"Lu Cheng, if I can't get my money back, I'll eat with you next month."

"Don't worry, your money won't be missing. Hey, I've already spotted him," Lu Cheng gestured forward.

At that moment, the Broadcaster's voice rang out.

"Comrades passengers, someone here has lost money; please bring any found money to the Broadcast Room, and everyone, keep your belongings safe..."

Hearing the announcement, some passengers began checking their money; soon a few discovered their trouser pockets had been cut open, shouting loudly and asking who had stolen the money.

Several carriages were tangled into a heap.