Chapter 285: Gunfire Shocks and Deters

When Lu Cheng agreed with the Junior Company Commander's words, the Junior Company Commander instantly gained confidence.

"Alright, we've made a promise; no one can go back on it."

Lu Cheng still nodded: "No problem, I'll ask him first..."

Lu Cheng was about to step forward, but who knew the Junior Company Commander gave a hehe laugh twice: "Wait a moment, I'll say a few words to him."

As for what to say, Lu Cheng clearly knew in his heart; it was surely a threat to Tan Kaiping not to leave.

The Junior Company Commander pulled Tan Kaiping aside, speaking coldly in a low voice: "Old Tan, I don't care whether you really sold off the factory's machinery, but if there's any issue, we'll settle it at the Farm; if you dare to follow him, I'll kill you right now."

Tan Kaiping now felt exhausted, not just physically but mentally tormented.

He had even become so fatigued that he didn't want to argue anything further.

Regarding the Junior Company Commander's words, he merely nodded out of habit.

The Junior Company Commander satisfiedly patted his shoulder, then said to Lu Cheng: "Alright, go ahead and ask."

Lu Cheng stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Tan Kaiping, but Tan Kaiping kept his head down and didn't look at him.

"Comrade Tan Kaiping, regarding the accusation that you sold off the factory's machinery, it's an accusation by others; as for whether it's true, we still need you to come back with us to assist the investigation. Rest assured, if the evidence doesn't hold, we will definitely clear your name."

After Lu Cheng finished speaking, Tan Kaiping finally raised his head; he lifted his head not because he wanted to argue, but because Lu Cheng called out to him, "Comrade Tan Kaiping."

How many years has it been since anyone called him "Comrade"?

This made him inexplicably recall the days at the Factory Area when everyone struggled together.

Back then, life was hard, they couldn't even eat enough, but everyone had spirit and fighting will; for a common goal, everyone was willing to give everything, even their lives.

But here, no one calls him "Comrade" anymore, and he feels no value in living.

He had also thought of just dying to end the torment, but thinking of his family, he stubbornly kept living.

Lu Cheng himself never expected that his single utterance of "Comrade" would move Tan Kaiping so deeply.

Tan Kaiping couldn't help but glance at Lu Cheng a second time, yet still said nothing.

For him, being interrogated anywhere is the same; at least the Farm side is somewhat familiar.

Seeing this, the Junior Company Commander instantly laughed: "See, Comrade, he still wants to stay here for the interrogation, so you should go back; I won't worry about meals on my end."

Lu Cheng likewise smiled: "Don't rush, he hasn't spoken yet, but that doesn't mean he hasn't agreed."

Tan Kaiping indeed hadn't spoken, but the Junior Company Commander habitually assumed he dared not resist.

The Junior Company Commander was somewhat speechless; he discovered that this little Comrade could always turn words unfavorable to him into his advantage in just a few sentences.

"Fine, fine, I'll make him speak right now, and also kill that hope of yours."

The Junior Company Commander prepared to force Tan Kaiping to speak, but what surprised him was that Lu Cheng suddenly kicked Tan Kaiping, sending him stumbling a few steps before he finally plopped down sitting on the ground.

The sudden scene left the Junior Company Commander staring, dumbfounded.

At first, they let Lu Cheng hit, but he didn't; how come he's suddenly striking now?

"Hey, why are you kicking him?"

The reason Lu Cheng kicked Tan Kaiping down was naturally to prevent him from speaking, to buy some time.

"Oh, that thing, you just said my ideological awareness wasn't enough; now I realize my mistake—when facing this Stinky Old Nine, I should give him a good beating!"

Lu Cheng said while looking at the Junior Company Commander: "Company Commander Comrade, you wouldn't want to pity him, would you?"

The Junior Company Commander was again left speechless, finally blinking and saying: "No, no, there's nothing pitiful about him; he deserves this beating, and even if you don't hit him, I'll still give him a beating later."

"Alright, what I just did wasn't enough; to prove my ideological awareness, I need to keep hitting."

"Ah, still hitting?"

Lu Cheng ignored him, grabbed Tan Kaiping, kicked him out again, then grabbed him again and kicked him out.

In no time, he was kicked out over twenty meters away.

The Junior Company Commander had several times wanted to step forward to stop it, but if he got beaten up, how could he conduct the interrogation, how could he earn merit?

But he also didn't dare to step forward to stop it; once he intervened, it would seem he pitied Tan Kaiping, indicating a problem with his ideological awareness.

He could only watch helplessly as Lu Cheng kicked Tan Kaiping over and over.

Until after over twenty meters, Lu Cheng suddenly squatted with his back to the crowd, while Tan Kaiping covered his belly, looking utterly puzzled.

In the eyes of the Junior Company Commander and them, Lu Cheng's successive kicks would have killed anyone, yet Tan Kaiping didn't feel any pain at all.

Each of Lu Cheng's kicks, when they landed, cleverly used soft force; they looked powerful but actually caused no harm.

Just as Tan Kaiping was puzzled, Lu Cheng suddenly pulled a photo from his clothing pocket; at this distance and angle, others couldn't see it, but Tan Kaiping saw it clearly.

When he saw the photo clearly, his eyes widened instantly.

Lu Cheng whispered: "Chief Engineer Tan, I know you have many doubts now, but this isn't the time to talk; I can tell you that I've already brought your family over—now you must fully obey me, do you understand?"

Tan Kaiping glanced at Lu Cheng again, then reluctantly nodded.

Without changing expression, he put the photo away, then Lu Cheng grabbed Tan Kaiping's shoulder and lifted him up.

"Company Commander Comrade, my awareness is alright, right?"

What could the Junior Company Commander say? "Fine, fine, Old Tan, hurry up and say—are you going with him or staying at the Farm?"

Everyone's gaze turned to Tan Kaiping, but this time Tan Kaiping didn't straighten his clothes; his mind was full of his family's images.

He also, after Lu Cheng arrived, spoke for the first time.

"I, I agree to go with the Railway Bureau comrades."

"What?" the Junior Company Commander fumed, pacing on the spot, then quickly calmed down.

How did Tan Kaiping suddenly change his mind? Surely it was because Lu Cheng beat him up; then he could also beat Tan Kaiping into changing his mind back.

He looked at Lu Cheng and said: "Since you just demonstrated your ideological awareness, mine isn't enough yet; you guys, keep beating me, beat me until he changes his mind."

Lu Cheng frowned; this isn't just playing the rascal.

They didn't even let Lu Cheng speak; at that moment, Tan Kaiping was shoved to the ground by two militiamen, who then began punching and kicking him.

Lu Cheng's heart clenched again; seeing such a brutal beating, he worried whether Tan Kaiping could endure it.

"Say, should we go with him, or stay here!" Junior Company Commander shouted suddenly.

At this moment, Tan Kaiping's mouth corner was bleeding from the blows, but to Junior Company Commander's surprise, Tan Kaiping forced his body upright, his eyes very resolute.

"I'm going with him."

Junior Company Commander was so angry his face turned pale; with a big wave of his hand, he told them to keep beating.

"Today I want to see just how hard your bones are!"

At that moment, a sudden "bang" gunshot rang, exploding on the Farm.

Junior Company Commander was startled, thinking a militia's carried rifle had misfired, but when he turned his head, he saw Lu Cheng holding a handgun, stretched out in midair.

"You, what are you doing, who told you to fire?"

Lu Cheng looked at him coldly and said, "Anyone who interferes with law enforcement, take them all away!"