Chapter 282: Setting Out to Fetch Someone

Beijing Procurement Station, Lu Cheng stopped the jeep and let Liu Jian'an and the others wait in the vehicle.

Lu Cheng saw the haggard mother and child; Tan Zonggong's spouse looked considerably aged, with hair at the temples already gray.

In reality they were only in their early fifties, and the premature aging stemmed from the hardships of recent years.

As for the little son, he was thin and gaunt, very shy, even unable to look people in the eye.

"You're Group Leader Lu, right?" Tan Zonggong's spouse said, sounding very excited.

Lu Cheng stepped forward: "Aunt, just call me Xiao Lu."

Tan Zonggong's spouse's eyes flickered away: "I shouldn't be so forward; Director Pan already told me that you could bring old Tan back. I don't know how to thank you; I brought some local specialties from my hometown…"

Tan Zonggong's spouse, at a loss, hurriedly called the son carrying things: "Xiaoli, quickly bring the items over, give them to Group Leader Lu to take back. Group Leader Lu, please don't reject them."

After being called by his mother, Xiaoli, holding a bag, stepped forward timidly, the bag bulging with something unknown.

Tan Zonggong's spouse, a little impatient, said: "Look at you, kid, quickly greet Group Leader Lu."

Xiaoli opened his mouth, but still couldn't say it; he was so anxious his mother was about to reach out and hit him.

"Sorry, Group Leader Lu, this child has been bullied a lot these years and has become quiet; please don't mind."

Lu Cheng could understand; having a home converted from a cattle shed meant the family's life must also be hard, and anyone could step on them or spit at them.

Lu Cheng waved his hand and said, "Aunt, don't be formal; time is tight. I'm ready to depart now to bring Tan Zonggong back as soon as possible. Before leaving, I wanted to see you once; there are some matters I need to explain to you in advance."

"Alright, then…" Tan Zonggong's spouse glanced around, thinking of inviting Lu Cheng in for a glass of water, but then realized this wasn't her own home; she had just arrived and didn't even know which room they were in. She was only a guest, so she couldn't extend full host courtesy.

Lu Cheng saw her embarrassment, smiled and said, "Aunt, let's just sit on the stone bench here and talk."

"Okay, that works."

This two‑courtyard small Siheyuan was kept very clean, the surroundings pleasant, with a small Chinese pavilion, a stone table beneath it, a stone bench at each cardinal direction, and a grape trellis overhead.

In early summer the grape trellis was lush; between the green leaves' shadows one could see clusters of small green grapes. Xiaoli stood beside it, his eyes fixed on the fruit, regretting that he couldn't eat them now.

Lu Cheng briefly explained to Tan Zonggong's spouse how he would bring Tan back.

Tan Zonggong's spouse clearly panicked: "What? You still have to charge him with a crime!"

Lu Cheng hurried to explain, "No, no, this is just a pretended charge. Currently this is the only way to temporarily bring Tan Zonggong back; later we will definitely clear his name."

Tan Zonggong's spouse nodded slightly, thought for a moment, then said, "But Group Leader Lu, I can agree to this method, it's just… after the Snow Removal Machine Project is completed, will he have to return to the renovated farm?"

This was the issue Tan Zonggong's spouse cared about most.

With the family's main pillar absent, she was alone with her child, also having to endure strange looks from others; one can imagine the grievances she endured over the years and how hard life had become.

"No matter how bitter, she still held on,"

Lu Cheng knew that Tan Zonggong's spouse and Lin Qingyan shared the same wish: to have the whole family reunited for a lifetime.

Her drive to persevere came from that very wish.

Regarding the question raised by Tan Zonggong's spouse, Lu Cheng had actually been pondering it for several days.

Bringing them back to help finish the Snow Removal Machine Project and then kicking them out afterward is something Lu Cheng cannot do.

"Aunt, don't worry. First we'll bring Tan Zonggong back, and later I'll definitely find a way to resolve Tan Zonggong's historical issue."

Solving it directly now is certainly hard, but it won't take long; once the flood passes, there will definitely be an opportunity.

Lu Cheng's resolute words even made Tan Zonggong's spouse doubt—could such a young man handle something so huge?

But now she had no one she could trust.

"Group Leader Lu, thank you; our whole family will remember your kindness. Whatever you say, we'll do."

After gaining their trust, Lu Cheng said, "First, the matter of bringing Tan Zonggong back—only a few know about it, so it must remain confidential; you must not tell anyone."

Tan Zonggong's spouse hurriedly nodded, "Okay, I understand, I definitely won't speak carelessly."

In fact, even if Lu Cheng didn't explain, Tan Zonggong's spouse would grasp the seriousness; an extra explanation merely gives her mental preparation.

Lu Cheng looked at Xiaoli, still staring at the grapes, and then said to Tan Zonggong's spouse, "By the way, Aunt, do you have any token or something that Tan Zonggong recognizes?"

"Token?"

"Huh? I mean, something that, once Tan Zonggong sees it, he can instantly trust me."

Lu Cheng indeed carried an Arrest Warrant, but he also needed Tan Zonggong's cooperation.

If Tan Zonggong refused to cooperate and resisted to the death, it would only delay matters, increasing the risk of problems, since the whole affair was already irregular.

Tan Zonggong's spouse thought for a moment, then said, "Would a family photo work?"

"Sure, that's great; will you bring it?"

"Of course, I always… carry it with me." Tan Zonggong's spouse's mood was noticeably low, but when she took out the family photo and gently brushed it, a hint of sweetness returned to her lips.

Lu Cheng took the family photo, had little time for sentiment, stood up and said, "Aunt, I must depart. I've arranged everything here—meals, lodging—you don't need to worry. Just wait calmly for my return."

Tan Zonggong's spouse hurriedly stood and escorted him to the doorway; until the jeep vanished from sight, she remained at the door, gazing for a long while.

Through the rearview mirror, Lu Cheng saw her silhouette, and an inexplicable feeling stirred within him.

Whether he could bring Tan Zonggong back wasn't something Lu Cheng cared much about; at worst the Snow Removal Machine wouldn't be developed, at worst he wouldn't become a sheriff.

But for Tan Zonggong's spouse, this was her greatest wish—one could even say it was something she wanted to settle before death.

When Lu Cheng thought he was carrying everyone's hopes, the pressure and responsibility in his heart unintentionally grew a few folds.

The farm to which Tan Zonggong was reassigned is located at Nan Kou Farm north of the Capital City; it's not far, about a two‑plus‑hour drive.

As they inquired along the way, the farm could be seen from afar; looking out, the expansive farm was filled with rows upon rows of fruit trees.

In the woods, people occasionally carried hoes or, in pairs, bore manure water, moving through the forest.

The farm was enclosed by wooden fences with barbed wire; at the entrance, Commune militia stood guard, each bearing a Han Yang Zao Rifle.