Chapter 28: Jumping the Train

Seeing everyone's despondent looks, Lu Cheng still felt confident.

"Police Chief Meng, they must have transferred the money when they got off the train, which is why we can't find it."

Meng Li snorted coldly, "Is that useful? I want evidence."

"Evidence, huh? I'll get it to you right away."

Lu Cheng brushed his sleeves, clenched his fist, and walked toward Lei Feng Hat, while Meng Li pounded the table.

"Lu Cheng, are you still trying to force a confession?"

"Police Chief Meng, I saw it with my own eyes; this guy stole it, there's no mistake. Since he's being stubborn, I'll pry his mouth open today."

"Enough! You're making a mistake."

Seeing Police Chief Meng really angry, Liu Jian'an hurriedly pulled Lu Cheng aside.

"Alright, Lu Cheng, even if you beat them into confession, they'll recant."

Lu Cheng knew that principle well, but having seen the thief himself and finding nothing, he was truly unwilling to accept it.

He could only blame his own greed; when Lei Feng Hat made a move, he should have been caught on the spot, yet he tried to take everything in one go.

Xiao Qin looked at the empty logbook and tentatively asked, "Police Chief Meng, what do we do now?"

Meng Li glanced, "What else can we do, release them."

Lu Cheng was about to speak when Meng Li cut in, "I'm doing this for your own good."

"Fine then, thank you, Police Chief Meng."

Meng Li looked at the few of them and asked, "If I release you, will you still pursue the case?"

The men with Lei Feng Hat exchanged glances and said, "No, no, you were after the thief for the sake of our people; we understand."

Seeing that they had just been beaten yet agreed so readily, even Meng Li felt something was off.

But lacking evidence, she could only wave her hand and release them.

After the Jiwu Section finished inspecting the train, it continued northwest, soon leaving Shan Jin and entering Sai Bei.

Having failed to catch the thief, everyone's mood was downcast.

All the trouble was for nothing.

Lu Cheng watched the scenery outside recede, involuntarily raised his right hand, stared for a while, then squinted.

"That's wrong!"

Lu Cheng's sudden shout drew everyone's attention.

Xiao Qin asked weakly, "What's wrong? You should first think about how to report back to Team Captain Zhou."

Lu Cheng stood up, "Brother Qin, I need to ask you about someone."

"Who? Whatever you look for now won't help; just wait for punishment."

"It's a beggar. When we passed Coal Capital Station, he clearly boarded, so why wasn't he in the carriage?"

Xiao Qin looked puzzled; why look for a beggar for self‑preservation now?

"Oh, you mean that beggar! I've seen him a few times; he just buys a platform ticket, gets on to beg for money, and gets off when the train moves on."

"A beggar who knows to buy a platform ticket to board and beg? He might meet kind people, but he probably can't even afford the ticket."

"No, he's not a beggar!"

Lu Cheng had always sensed something off; he kept watching. Clearly, when the four got off, they didn't touch anyone, so the money couldn't have been transferred.

The strangeness lies in this place.

Only then did he recall that the only person the four contacted was that beggar.

Although the beggar's disheveled hair hid his face, what was with the pectoral muscles he felt on his hands?

A beggar who can't even finish a meal shouldn't have such chest muscles.

Thinking of this, Lu Cheng lifted the dining car window.

Xiao Qin saw and asked, "What's wrong? Hey... what are you doing, you can't jump."

"Police Chief Meng, come quickly! Lu Cheng is committing suicide out of guilt."

Hearing Xiao Qin's shout, Meng Li leaned to the window and saw Lu Cheng jump off the car; after a few swift rolls, he stood up unharmed.

"Lu Cheng, don't become a deserter; we can discuss whatever calmly."

Lu Cheng stood before the roaring iron rail, waved his hand, "Police Chief Meng, wait for my good news, have a smooth journey."

"Bastard!" Meng Li slammed the window in anger.

Liu Jian'an said anxiously, "Police Chief Meng, why not stop the train?"

"What joke is that? How can a train stop? Notify Team Captain Zhou; he can't run away."

…

The train faded into the distance; Lu Cheng withdrew his gaze and walked the opposite way.

Fortunately, having just entered Sai Bei, Coal Capital Station wasn't far away.

After half an hour walking along the rail, he met railway workers repairing the tracks.

An uncle saw Lu Cheng alone, raised his hand and shouted, "Comrade, stay away from the railway; this isn't a playground, trains are dangerous."

Lu Cheng walked straight over, pulling out his badge, "Sir, I'm Railway Passenger Police."

The man took the badge and examined it with the others.

"Whoa, you're from Capital City?"

Although the badge said trainee, being from Capital City made the railway workers not underestimate Lu Cheng.

Polite now, the man handed back the badge and asked, "Comrade, why are you alone? Do you need any help?"

Lu Cheng glanced at the nearby tractor and explained his plan to capture the thief and head to Coal Capital Station.

The man responded enthusiastically, "Then what are we waiting for? I'll take you to Coal Capital Station."

Lu Cheng didn't hold back either; after all, he had to walk for a while, so riding a tractor was perfect.

Uncle removed the towel from his neck, slapped the side of the tractor a few times, and said, "Young Comrade, sit on the side and hold on tight."

"Thank you, Uncle." Lu Cheng braced with one hand, jumped in place and sat down.

"Yo, young Comrade, good skill—truly worthy of a Train Police background."

Uncle said as he started the tractor, "Capital City is a nice place."

"Uncle, if you have time you can go to Capital City for a tour—Tiananmen, the Forbidden City, Houhai, they're all great."

"Ah, I never have such luck; I'm busy all the time. Besides, the Guesthouse in Capital City must be pricey; I can't afford to stay there."

"No problem, Uncle. When you get to Capital City, come find me and I'll arrange a place for you to stay."

"Then I really thank you; don't mention it. In my lifetime, if I'm lucky, I'd truly like to go to Capital City for a tour."

"Haha, then Uncle, you must definitely come."

After chatting along the way, about an hour later we finally arrived at Coal City Train Station.

After saying goodbye to Uncle, Lu Cheng went to the Coal City Railway Branch.

Upon learning that Lu Cheng was a Train Police officer from Capital City, the Deputy Bureau Chief personally received him, while the Railway Branch Train Police Unit captain was reduced to pouring tea.

If Zhou Weihua were to arrive, even the Branch Director would have to come personally to pour tea; although both hold the same senior division rank, officials from Capital City automatically rank half a level higher.

After a brief exchange, Deputy Bureau Chief Qin Feng listened in surprise: "Comrade Xiao Lu, you jumped off the train? Are you injured? How about I take you to the hospital for a check‑up?"

If one of our own Train Police officers were injured, there'd be no need to be so nervous; after all, Lu Cheng came down from Capital City.

Lu Cheng waved his hand: "Thank you, Director Qin, for your concern; I'm fine. Coming to your bureau this time, I represent Team Captain Zhou. Time is precious, so let's discuss the matter of the group of thieves roaming around Coal City."