Chapter 324: The Report Was Mocked

"Do you see, Binzi, the wheel's imprint is deep, indicating the person is male, weighing at least around 150 jin."

"Look at this spot; it's clearly slippery from the accumulated snow, so to keep the body's balance, one foot had to be planted down."

"And this shoe print shows the wearer was wearing a Liberation‑brand rubber shoe made in Capital City…"

Listening to Lu Cheng analyze while walking, Zhao Bin couldn't help but give a thumbs‑up: "Not bad, as expected of a police officer, the analysis is spot‑on."

Lu Cheng stood up, clapped his hands and said confidently, "If anyone dared to steal my bicycle, they stole from the wrong person; just follow these clues to find them."

Following the tracks left in the snow, the two hurried forward until they passed the Hu Tong Entrance, where the tire marks suddenly vanished, and ahead was the main road.

The snow on the main road had already been cleared by sanitation workers early this morning.

Zhao Bin blinked, spread his hands and said, "Detective, why don't you continue the analysis: did the thief go left or right?"

Lu Cheng pressed his chin, thought seriously for a moment, then said, "I think… we should report it to the police."

It was already morning, during the rush hour; bicycles on the main road formed a long queue, and the thief had already merged onto the road, disappearing without a trace.

The two went to the nearest substation in their jurisdiction, where a police officer had just started his shift.

"Hello, comrade, I'd like to file a report."

Lu Cheng entered and said so, and the officer let out a laugh: "Early in the morning, what case are you filing?"

"My bicycle was stolen, right here in your jurisdiction's Hu Tong."

Lu Cheng sat opposite, recounted the incident; the officer kept yawning, made only a brief note, and then said one sentence.

"Alright, I understand. I'll let you know when there's news."

"No, aren't you sending someone to look? This is the golden time for finding lost items; based on the scene's traces, look for witnesses, maybe we'll find it right away."

Lu Cheng felt anxious; from his past life as a police officer, he knew the longer the delay, the slimmer the chance of recovery.

He still thought filing the report immediately, many hands make light work, everyone could search together, but the officer didn't take it seriously at all.

"Kid, don't be anxious; look, there are already seven or eight bikes listed as lost, all waiting to be found."

"So, which unit are you from? Leave me your contact info; I'll notify you immediately if there's any update…"

"Beijing Station Railway Bureau," Lu Cheng said somewhat helplessly. If it can't be recovered, he can only say the bicycle has no fate with him, or that he has no fate with a second‑hand bike.

"Hmm, it must be like that…"

But when he mentioned his unit, the officer quickly raised an eyebrow.

"Are you a railway police officer?"

"Yes."

"So, a police officer like you lost a bicycle?" the officer asked, his mouth corners involuntarily lifting.

"Yes—uh, I mean… are you mocking me?"

The officer quickly waved his hand: "No, no, I mean, you're a railway police officer, and you came to the substation to file a report with the police?"

"Yes, what's the problem? Hey, why are you laughing again?"

Lu Cheng saw the officer turn his head, grin crookedly, and felt instantly insulted.

The officer hurriedly stopped his snicker and explained, "No, no, I'm just providing a smiling service to the revolutionary masses, yes, a smiling service."

Lu Cheng withdrew his puzzled gaze, still unconvinced, and asked, "Are you sure you weren't snickering?"

"No, no, you really misunderstood… hahaha…" The officer suddenly couldn't hold it back; anyone might think he'd been tickled, as he pounded the table and laughed loudly.

"Haha, you say you're a police officer… lost a bicycle, come to our substation to file a report… haha, does your unit know about this? Haha, I advise you not to keep looking, otherwise it'll be so embarrassing when it reaches the unit… oh my god, I can't… if it were me, I'd have no face to report it…"

When he noticed Lu Cheng's ashen face, the officer instantly stopped laughing, his demeanor becoming solemn.

"Ahem, I really wasn't laughing, you just saw it wrong… uh, go back and wait for notice; if the bicycle is found, I'll personally deliver it back to your unit."

Seeing the officer still suppressing a laugh as he spoke, Lu Cheng, angry, stood up and said, "I'm not filing the report anymore."

After speaking, Lu Cheng turned and left; a man may be killed but not humiliated—it's just a second‑hand bicycle, he won't tolerate this nonsense, lost it, lost it.

"Hey, hey, comrade police officer, don't be in a hurry, I really didn't laugh…"

The officer called out, but Lu Cheng kept walking without stopping, exiting the substation.

"Binzi, what kind of substation is this? Just because I'm a police officer, what's wrong? Can a police officer not file a report? On what grounds are you mocking me?"

After a while without a response, Lu Cheng turned his head and saw Zhao Bin also suppressing a laugh.

"Damn you, even you are laughing at me, right?!"

Zhao Bin quickly dodged the kick from Lu Cheng and said, "No, no, we're buddies, how could I make fun of you? But I think that officer was right; about the lost bicycle, you should just consider yourself unlucky, otherwise it'd be more embarrassing if it's reported to the unit."

"To hell with you!"

Lu Cheng, feeling down, went back home; fortunately his sister had gone to work.

Chen Xianglan saw her son with a sour face, empty‑handed again, and asked proactively, "San'er, didn't you go cycling? Where's the bike?"

"Ah, that… Binzi rode it away."

"He already has a bicycle, why would he ride yours?"

"He—his bicycle was stolen."

Chen Xianglan's face dropped instantly: "You boys, what's going on? A bicycle is such a precious thing; why don't you take better care of it? It's heartbreaking when it's lost."

"Yes, yes, Binzi is just careless…"

Lu Cheng didn't dare continue the topic, thinking how to explain things when his older sister returns.

Sure enough, Lu Ying came home a short while later, and shouted, "Lu Cheng, get out here!"

Hearing his sister's angry shout, Lu Cheng thought he was doomed; he had forgotten to tell Zhao Bin earlier.

Zhao Bin works with his sister, so that quick‑mouthed guy must have blurted it out.

But hiding it won't help; you can conceal it for a while, but not for a lifetime.

Lu Cheng looked left and right, hurriedly grabbed a broom, and entered his sister's room.

When Lu Ying came in raging, Lu Cheng quickly pretended to be cleaning: "Sis, you called me?"

"Why did you come into my room?"

Lu Cheng lifted his head, wearing a radiant smile: "Well, I noticed your room was a bit dirty, and since my younger brother has nothing to do today, I thought I'd help you clean…"

Lu Ying, irritated, laughed: "Hmph, you're being kind today, so I guess I have to thank you."

"Sigh, we're real brother and sister, saying such formal words, uh, you should go back to work first; this house is full of dust…"

"Dusty, right? Fine…"

Lu Ying nodded: "It looks like the dust on you is also quite a lot, come on, let me help you clean up as well."

Lu Ying said, searching around for a handy implement.

At a glance at her sister's posture, it wasn't to sweep dust but to strike someone.

"Hey sis, look, our big brother has returned."