Chapter 333: Rescue

"Pah!" Ding Yuanmin spat out a mouthful of blood.

"I have nothing to explain, and you don't need to bait me with words. This matter has nothing to do with anyone, and I've already prepared to spend the New Year here!"

Hearing Ding Yuanmin's words, Fan Dashan glanced again at the empty record book, feeling full of resentment.

He thought to himself, if this matter involved Lu Cheng, then Lu Cheng must have such great influence to make these people protect him so fiercely.

Fan Dashan nodded, then gave Ding Yuanmin a swift kick, sending both the man and his chair sprawling.

He had used all his tactics and spoken all the nice words, yet Ding Yuanmin remained unmoved.

Furious and desperate, Fan Dashan prepared to vent his anger; one hand grabbed the fallen Ding Yuanmin, the other clenched into a sandbag-sized fist.

Just as he was about to smash Ding Yuanmin's nose, the iron door suddenly swung open, and a beam of sunlight poured in.

"Stop!"

Hearing the rebuke, Fan Dashan involuntarily looked toward the doorway, his other hand still gripping Ding Yuanmin's collar.

The person at the door had a stern face that Fan Dashan didn't recognize, so he asked, "Who are you? Who sent you in?"

Wu Zhekun gave no answer, but stepped aside; the next person who entered was recognized by Fan Dashan—Deputy Director Zheng of the Detention Center.

"Chief Fan, stop, it's a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding? What kind of misunderstanding?" Fan Dashan instantly felt a bad premonition.

Sure enough, Deputy Director Zheng first pulled Fan Dashan away, then unlocked the handcuffs on Ding Yuanmin and Ding Shitou.

"Director Zheng, what does this mean?"

"Chief Fan, the matter has been clarified; you don't need to interrogate further. These two aren't drug‑smuggling criminals; they should be released now."

Deputy Director Zheng was about to escort them out when Fan Dashan suddenly grew angry.

"Hey, Director Zheng, they indeed brought medicine from Gang Cheng; what else could this be if not smuggling?"

Deputy Director Zheng halted, "They made no profit; they just helped a relative deliver it. Our medicines are scarce here; this is a life‑saving drug."

"So we just let them go?" Fan Dashan asked reluctantly, noting that the channel was irregular; even if it was a favor, the matter shouldn't be resolved so easily.

Deputy Director Zheng replied, "Of course we can't just release them; there must be a fine. Their family has already paid the fine to redeem them."

Fan Dashan stood stunned; just a fine to settle, and all his effort was for nothing.

Fan Dashan was on the verge of tears; then his merit would be gone too.

"Director Zheng, haven't you figured it out? Don't release them yet; let me interrogate a bit longer, and I'll get the truth right away."

Fan Dashan grabbed Deputy Director Zheng's arm, feeling a hundred reservations about releasing them.

He kept feeling the matter wasn't that simple; Ding Yuanmin must be hiding something, and with more time he could beat the truth out of him.

Deputy Director Zheng glared, "I tell you, Chief Fan, you're just a Train Police; arresting smugglers is your duty, but interrogation isn't your responsibility.

Moreover, you beat them like that, and I haven't settled the account yet. If the families pursue it to the end, you won't get away with it."

Fan Dashan opened his mouth, thinking, "Isn't this what you agreed to?"

When the people were brought in, he voluntarily requested interrogation, and Deputy Director Zheng didn't think much; with someone else handling the interrogation, it saved him trouble.

If we talk about responsibility for beating someone, that's a burden too.

Seeing Fan Dashan about to speak, Deputy Director Zheng hurriedly cleared his throat.

"Ahem, that's settled then. If you're not satisfied, you can go to Captain Lei."

After speaking, he ignored Fan Dashan, led the people out, and Fan Dashan, angry, slammed the table hard.

Watching Wu Zhekun's departing back, Fan Dashan muttered to himself, "Who exactly is this person?"

Why wasn't it Lu Cheng who came for them? If it were Lu Cheng, there would definitely be something fishy, and he wouldn't release them no matter what.

Little did they know, Lu Cheng had already anticipated this mindset, and Wu Zhekun thought the same.

So after arriving at the Detention Center, Lu Cheng didn't get out of the vehicle; Wu Zhekun alone went to negotiate.

After a brief chat with Deputy Director Zheng, Wu Zhekun led the two out.

Ding Yuanmin suddenly halted, "Who are you? Why are you saving me?"

Wu Zhekun stood his ground, gesturing toward the jeep nearby, "Let's go; you'll find out once you get in."

Ding Yuanmin didn't move, "I don't know you."

Wu Zhekun smiled, "Not bad, very cautious. No wonder Old Lu had you bring the medicine."

"Old Lu… Group Leader Lu?"

As Wu Zhekun nodded, Ding Yuanmin felt a sudden, inexplicable startle.

Before entering the Detention Center, he had already prepared himself for a sentence.

Because he knew this wasn't a trivial matter; no one could rescue him.

He didn't expect that within just a morning, he would emerge unharmed.

This Lu Cheng is just a Junior Police Officer, right? How does he have such extensive connections that he can just pull someone out like that?

At the vehicle, Ding Yuanmin saw Lu Cheng, "Group Leader Lu, I haven't said a word."

Seeing Ding Yuanmin's bruised and swollen face, Lu Cheng felt terrible inside.

He hadn't expected Ding Yuanmin to be so persistent.

Between men, no words are needed.

"Let's go. I'll get you changed, then we'll have hot‑pot lamb so you can taste the authentic copper‑pot hotpot of the Capital City."

After getting in the car, Wu Zhekun placed two boxes of medicine up front, but Ding Yuanmin declined to eat.

"Group Leader Lu, just changing clothes is enough; I won't have a meal. I originally planned to finish the delivery this morning, get the payment, and head back right away, but it's not too late to return now."

Ding Yuanmin wanted to take the money and hurry home for the New Year, and Lu Cheng couldn't press the issue at that moment.

So they first took the two to a department store, let Zhao Bin find a Cotton‑padded Jacket for them to change into, and also settled the payment for the goods.

Ding Yuanmin was delighted to get the money, "Group Leader Lu, you already paid the fine, right? Tell me the amount, and I'll give it to you."

Lu Cheng was speechless; this person was too straightforward, taking this beating was all for nothing.

Actually, the fine was two hundred yuan; if Lu Cheng intervened and spoke to the director, it could surely be reduced.

But he didn't want to step forward; besides, he had money in his pocket, and two hundred yuan wasn't much to him.

"Fine, anything money can solve isn't really a problem. This time you've been accused of such a grave crime; I didn't even know how to thank you, and now you have to pay the fine again—am I still a person?"

Ding Yuanmin wanted to say something, but Lu Cheng didn't give him a chance: "Hurry home for the New Year; if you're later you'll miss the train. Come, I'll take you to buy tickets."

While waiting for the train, he chatted with Ding Yuanmin and finally learned why Fan Dashan had found the medicine.