Chapter 426: Setting Up a Checkpoint

When the first jeep came to a halt, the jeep following right behind also stopped.

The Educated Youth in the vehicle, not knowing what had happened, couldn't help whispering.

"Why did it stop again? Could it be that person blocking the vehicle again."

"No, I've been watching the whole time. That person was driving a car behind us. Why would he block us? This is a Public Security vehicle."

"I don't get it, but I vaguely heard him speaking on behalf of us Educated Youth."

"Huh, do you get the feeling that the person just now looks a lot like Minister Lu we saw earlier?"

"Hey, now that you mention it, it's not just similar—it's as if he was cut from the same mold…"

"Hey, hey, no talking," the front-line police officer warned, then said to another officer.

"Why did it stop again? Go down and ask Section Chief Qin what's going on."

Qin Shou was also bewildered; everything was fine, so why set up a checkpoint, especially when it involved military personnel.

"Stop the vehicle, submit to inspection!"

Qin Shou hadn't gotten out yet when he heard a soldier ahead shout a command, but it seemed to be a Railway Troops member.

Railway Troops are regular troops, so Qin Shou dared not be disrespectful and obediently stepped out and walked forward.

"Hello Comrade, may I ask what's happening? Why set up a checkpoint here?"

Qin Shou remained quite polite, but the leading soldier, imposing and dignified, said in a low, brief tone, "Open the vehicle doors and submit to inspection."

The other's hardline attitude made Qin Shou involuntarily frown.

But a quick glance showed they numbered around forty, a full Platoon, all armed with loaded guns.

Even with a few police officers and guns, they wouldn't dare to clash head‑on with the troops.

Besides, military and police are one family, so there's no need for a hard confrontation at all.

Qin Shou could only patiently say, "Comrade, could there be some misunderstanding? I may not know what mission you're carrying out, but this is a Public Security department vehicle, and here's my identification."

As he spoke, Qin Shou hurried to pull out his ID, but the other side didn't even glance at it, still responding with a few brief words.

"Open the vehicle doors, submit to inspection."

Qin Shou was speechless, even feeling angry.

Don't underestimate him just because he's a small district Section Chief; wherever he goes, the local bureau chief personally receives him, and no one has ever dared speak to him like this before.

A fire boiled inside Qin Shou; without giving a reason, they just came to inspect the vehicle—there's no logic to that.

Qin Shou's tone inevitably grew more forceful, mainly because he had nothing to fear, even if the other side were soldiers.

"Comrade, we are also on official duty. If you wish to inspect, please present the relevant documents; otherwise I have the right to refuse cooperation. Please remove the checkpoint promptly and let us pass."

"Hey there, Section Chief Qin, long time no see…"

The voice arrived before the person.

Qin Shou felt nervous as soon as he heard that voice.

Lu Cheng stopped his vehicle at that moment and walked over, giving Qin Shou a bad feeling.

Turning around, Qin Shou was about to say, "What kind of 'long time no see' is this? We just met," but seeing Lu Cheng extend his hand so courteously, he swallowed the words.

The troops lined up ahead were Railway Troops, and since Lu Cheng is from the Railway Bureau, perhaps he could speak a word to get them through quickly.

So Qin Shou changed his earlier poor attitude toward Lu Cheng and smiled, extending his hand.

But when Lu Cheng reached him, he bypassed Qin Shou entirely and shook hands directly with the soldier.

"Hello Comrade."

As Lu Cheng just shook hands, a man climbed down from the side of the truck, and it was Lao Qian.

"Squad Leader Ma, this is Lu Jingzhang of the Beijing City Railway General Bureau Traffic Police Unit, Lu Jingzhang, and this is Squad Leader Ma."

Lu Cheng waved his hand again, "Hello Squad Leader Ma."

Ma Dagang dropped his earlier sternness: "Oh, hello Lu Jingzhang, if you have time, give my Captain Lei a greeting."

Lei Zhan Ge used to be a soldier; although he has long transferred to the Traffic Police Unit, his glorious wartime deeds are still widely spoken of in the military.

When Ma Dagang mentioned Lei Zhan Ge, his face showed great respect.

"Don't worry, Squad Leader Ma, I will definitely pass the message…"

Lao Qian said at that moment, "Lu Jingzhang, why did you just arrive? I thought you had gone ahead."

Lu Cheng laughed back, "Ah, never mind, I thought you were behind, which really worried me a bit."

Lao Qian laughed along, "After meeting Squad Leader Ma, I rushed over immediately; fortunately it wasn't too late."

Lu Cheng didn't expect the long‑awaited person to appear at the front and set up a checkpoint that stopped Qin Shou.

No wonder it's the army; they act decisively and efficiently.

While Lu Cheng chatted animatedly with the troops, Qin Shou, left standing aside, felt a bit unsettled.

From Lu Cheng deliberately blocking the vehicle earlier, then following along, to now the Railway Troops setting a checkpoint, Qin Shou's uneasy premonition grew stronger.

"Um, Lu, Lu Jingzhang, could you come over for a moment?"

Hearing Qin Shou's rather courteous tone, Lu Cheng was a bit surprised.

"What's up, Section Chief Qin? Anything can be said here; we're all old acquaintances."

Qin Shou inhaled, then said, "Since you all know each other, could you speak to them and let our two vehicles pass?"

"Sure, how about… you call me 'grandpa' and beg me once…"

Seeing Qin Shou getting angry, Lu Cheng dropped the joke: "Just kidding. How about this: I can speak and get you cleared to pass…"

Although Lu Cheng seemed unusual today, not confronting him directly was still fine.

Qin Shou was about to be pleased, but Lu Cheng immediately added another sentence.

"However, you must hand over the captured Educated Youth."

With the Railway Troops arriving, Lu Cheng felt confident and stopped wasting words with Qin Shou.

Hearing that, Qin Shou couldn't help but step back a step.

He said that meeting Lu Cheng today felt off, and indeed it matched his suspicion—they had come to take someone.

"Fine, you, you were deliberately stalling just now!"

Seeing Lu Cheng and the troops standing together before him, even Qin Shou, however foolish, finally caught on.

Lu Cheng had no need to deny: "Section Chief Qin is a smart person; a smart person should do smart things…"

Lu Cheng said that, gesturing toward dozens of Railway Troops, his meaning was clear: he wanted Qin Shou not to make futile resistance.

Qin Shou nodded: "Threaten me? Thinking of a brazen robbery?"

Lu Cheng shook his head: "Section Chief Qin's words are a bit imprecise; we are all proper units, so it should be called Official Coordination."

Qin Shou's face turned pale with anger: "You sound nice, Official Coordination? Summoning the army, setting up checkpoints here to block vehicles, and you still say this isn't a forced robbery?"