Chapter 283: Who Exactly Is in Charge?

The road here is a dirt road, and it's pretty hard to walk; the Farm often has big trucks passing, the ground is pressed into pits and hollows, and people are occasionally jolted up.

Glancing at the co‑driver, Lu Cheng said, "Jian'an, find time to practice driving."

Liu Jian'an, not understanding, replied, "Ah, why? I don't dare to drive."

"Even if you don't dare to drive, you still have to. If I become a police chief later, right? There's no police chief who serves as your driver."

Liu Jian'an still hesitated a bit, "Oh, then …"

At that moment, Chang Jinbu suddenly leaned over from behind, "Team Leader, let me learn, you teach me."

Chang Jinbu can learn as well; nowadays cars are mostly used by units, drivers are a specialized profession and are in high demand.

The jeep stopped at the Farm's gate; before anyone got out, two militia ran over.

Glancing at the license plate, which looked unfamiliar, he shouted, "Which unit are you from? What are you doing here?"

Lu Cheng got out, slammed the door shut, and produced his credentials, "Hello, I'm from our Beijing Station Railway Bureau Police Team."

"Railway Bureau?" the militia looked puzzled, "What is the Railway Bureau doing at the Farm? We don't have trains here."

Lu Cheng slipped his work badge into his pocket; he was wearing a Type‑74 white shirt and a white police cap.

"I'm definitely here on business; do you have a person named Tan Kaiping here?"

"Tan Kaiping?" the militia, hearing the name, became cautious, "There is such a person; what about him?"

Lu Cheng nodded, "If he's at your Farm, that means our intelligence is correct. Now call him out; there's a case that requires his cooperation, and I need to take him away."

"A case? And you want to take him? What crime did he commit?"

"He's a serious offender, smuggling factory machinery. This is an Arrest Warrant." Lu Cheng said, pulling out the Arrest Warrant and flinging it in front of the militia's face.

The militia widened his eyes, examined it closely; the Arrest Warrant was indeed genuine, and he immediately hesitated.

"Sorry, you want to take the person away, but I, a junior militia, can't make the decision. I have to call our squad leader over."

Lu Cheng, speechless, "Then go quickly."

The junior militia, looking just barely adult, moved swiftly, and in no time brought a twenty‑something youth over.

"Hello, Comrade."

It was the squad leader; upon seeing someone, he first extended his hand.

Lu Cheng shook his hand, "Hello, Comrade, I'm from our Beijing Station Railway Bureau Police Team."

The squad leader nodded, "Oh, then why are you here?"

"Your Farm has a person named Tan Kaiping, who was assigned here a few years ago. He's now involved in a smuggling‑of‑machinery case; I need to take him away for investigation."

The squad leader scratched his head, his face full of disbelief, "Such a big matter! Wow, that old Tan, looks honest and simple, yet dares to smuggle factory equipment. The nerve! It's not just milking socialist wool, no, it's milking the thigh—this old Turtle calf…"

As he went on, the squad leader became fully inflamed with righteous indignation.

Lu Cheng had no time to let him chant slogans; it was urgent to bring Chief Engineer Tan back.

"Then, Comrade, hurry and bring the person out; I still need to rush back."

The squad leader was obviously still agitated; after Lu Cheng reminded him again, he finally came to his senses.

"Oh, this matter is a bit big; I, a squad leader, can't decide, we need to call our big team leader over."

They kept talking for a while but said nothing of substance.

Lu Cheng inhaled, trying to calm himself down.

"Then, then hurry and call the big team leader over."

"Hey, hey, you wait a moment first."

After waiting a bit longer, the big team leader, looking about thirty‑something, just like the squad leader, extended his hand upon meeting.

Lu Cheng gave a symbolic handshake and said directly, "Hello, Comrade. Currently, because Tan Kaiping is involved in a smuggling‑of‑equipment case at the factory, the General Bureau has ordered me to take him away."

This time Lu Cheng didn't wait for any questions; he stated his purpose outright.

The big team leader was stunned for a moment, then quickly became filled with righteous anger.

"Wow, that old Turtle calf—couldn't see it coming. Usually so honest and simple, yet dares to milk socialist wool—no, the thigh."

Lu Cheng's forehead darkened with a black line; he wondered if these people had been trained uniformly, since they all spoke in the same way.

"Comrade, I still need to rush onward; please bring him out now."

The big team leader hesitated, "This? The matter is a bit big; I, a big team leader, can't decide, we need to find our militia company commander."

Lu Cheng took a deep breath; inside he was cursing.

Can't make a decision, dragging this out forever!

"Alright, alright, hurry and call your company commander over."

"Hey, hey, you wait a moment first."

After waiting another while, a man in a green army uniform arrived, a bit scruffy; when he came out, he had a cigarette in his mouth and was fastening his trouser belt.

The company commander walked over and shook hands; Lu Cheng had to shake hands again.

After a while, they still hadn't seen Chief Engineer Tan's people, yet they had already shaken hands three times.

"Sorry, Comrade, I have a bit of diarrhea; the big team leader ran over saying someone from the Capital City arrived, so I quickly pulled up my pants…"

"Wait, didn't you skip a step? You just pulled up your pants—did you wash your hands?" Lu Cheng quickly checked his own hands.

The company commander chuckled, "Wiped, wiped. How could I not wash my hands?"

Lu Cheng finally relaxed, and had to repeat the words he'd already said three times, once more.

Fortunately this time, the company commander didn't shout slogans in righteous fury nor claim he couldn't decide; instead he sent someone to the orchard to call Tan Kaiping.

It was Lu Cheng's first time seeing Chief Engineer Tan; he had only heard of him from Director Wu and Director Pan. Tan was a very learned man, and in his youth was dashing and especially refined.

Even from the Family Photo provided by Tan's spouse, Lu Cheng could see that, in terms of temperament, the two were evenly matched.

But when he actually saw Chief Engineer Tan, Lu Cheng could not reconcile him with the image in his mind.

Tan Kaiping was hauled over by two militia, his clothes ragged, his gaunt figure completely unrecognizable from the photo.

When they arrived in front, one of the militiamen directly kicked his knee, Tan Kaiping had no choice but to kneel on the ground.

Lu Cheng instinctively wanted to help him up, having heard of Tan Zonggong's character before, and moreover he was knowledgeable and capable; such a person deserves respect wherever he is.

But now he was being treated this way; however, as Lu Cheng's outstretched hand was about to help him up, he suddenly caught sight of the company commander staring at him doubtfully in his peripheral vision.

Lu Cheng's heart sank; he quickly reacted, turning his outstretched hand into a hard push that shoved Tan Kaiping to the ground.

He had no choice but to do so.

Tan Kaiping is now a criminal, and Lu Cheng has come to arrest him.

Helping a criminal would obviously be unreasonable; wouldn't that arouse suspicion from the company commander?

Fortunately he reacted quickly; after Tan Kaiping was shoved to the ground, the company commander finally showed a satisfied smile.

However, the company commander's subsequent action still made Lu Cheng's heart clench.

The company commander waved his hand and shouted, 'Hit him! Anyone who dares to embezzle state assets, beat them to death!'