Chapter 434: You Handcuff Me

Lu Cheng didn't get off at the next stop; he deliberately chose a platform of a Railway Branch in He Province.

A day later, just before dawn, they finally arrived at the platform.

As the broadcast announcement sounded, the passengers disembarking had already prepared in advance.

The platform was noisy with voices, and a few hawkers mingled among them.

"Would you like a small stool? Eight mao each, take one; it won't be tiring to sit on the train..."

"No, no..."

"Comrade, two tea‑egg please, boiled all night yesterday; smell how fragrant..."

These are locals trying to earn a bit of living money for their families, or pocket money for their children, selling some homemade trinkets at the station.

Although they hawk their goods, they dare not shout loudly, fearing the duty staff will spot them and drive them away.

In fact, being driven away is already lenient; normally they'd be arrested for Speculative Profiteering.

Seeing no real punishment, these hawkers grow bold, constantly playing cat‑and‑mouse with station staff—driven out here, they reappear there.

Before disembarking, the Train Captain came over to greet: "Lu Jingzhang, everything has been arranged in advance; the Railway Branch here will send a car to pick you up soon. Don't be too anxious—stay here a few days, consider it a vacation and relaxation."

Lu Cheng shook his hand and said with a smile, "Thank you, Train Captain, for your care along the way."

"You're welcome..."

Yang Yin didn't get off; Lu Cheng wouldn't let her because he didn't know how many days they'd stay and couldn't have Yang Yin accompany him.

But Yang Yin really wanted to stay, leaning against the window, asking reluctantly, "Can I stay too? The school is on break anyway, no classes."

Lu Cheng looked up and said, "No, taking you out this time, I'm already afraid Professor Yang would be displeased. If you stay a few more days, your father would definitely worry."

Yang Yin pursed her lips, "Fine, but when can you return to the Capital City? What if you can't go back?"

Lu Cheng replied with a chuckle, "Don't be a doom‑sayer. There's no way I can't return; I haven't committed any murder or arson. Rest assured."

Although this was an irregular, unauthorized recruitment, it was for the General Bureau's business, so the General Bureau couldn't ignore it.

Yang Yin nodded, "Okay, if you get back to the Capital City, let me know; I'll inform your parents so they won't worry."

Seeing Yang Yin so sensible, Lu Cheng's tone softened a bit.

"Then thank you. I've arranged everything on the train; don't wander off and don't cause trouble for the Train Captain."

"I know... you're nagging to death," Yang Yin shut the window, sat down, her mood a little downcast.

Lu Cheng waved at her without a response; a grandmother selling tea‑eggs passed by, and Lu Cheng took two.

He knocked on the window, indicating the tea‑eggs in his hand, and Yang Yin finally opened it.

"Take them to eat on the way; we're almost at the Capital City. It's been a hectic trip, I couldn't afford to get you something fancy."

Yang Yin, being from a wealthy family, does have a petulant streak, but she never cares about what she eats, which is actually a good thing.

Seeing the two tea‑eggs handed over, Yang Yin forced a smile, "At least you have a conscience when you say that."

She took the tea‑eggs, peeled one, and handed it over.

Lu Cheng didn't take it, "You eat it; I'll have rice later."

Yang Yin reached forward again; Lu Cheng couldn't refuse, so he extended his hand to take it, but Yang Yin said, "Open your mouth; your hands aren't clean."

The grandmother selling tea‑eggs stared straight ahead, as if saying, young people nowadays really affect social morals.

Lu Cheng still took the tea‑egg and shoved it into his mouth.

As the train was about to depart, Yang Yin stuck her head out and shouted, "Lu San'er, you must return to the Capital City early."

She swallowed the tea‑egg too quickly, it lodged in her throat, and she couldn't speak; Lu Cheng could only wave his hand.

Only after the train left the platform did Lu Cheng look back and see the tea‑egg‑selling grandmother still standing there, staring.

Lu Cheng was puzzled; why did this grandmother stay here instead of selling tea‑eggs elsewhere?

"Grandmother, hurry home; the National Day holidays are being strictly inspected these days."

When it comes to people hawking at the station to earn a bit of living money, Lu Cheng turns a blind eye.

Having other business, Lu Cheng prepared to leave the platform to see if his car had arrived, when the grandmother suddenly grabbed him.

"Young man, you haven't paid yet."

Lu Cheng slapped his forehead; no wonder the grandmother had been staring there.

"Sorry, grandmother, I forgot. How much? I'll give it to you."

"Two eggs, just give me one mao."

It's not expensive; first, the eggs are large, surely from a chicken kept at home. A single egg at the State-owned Store costs about eight to ten mao, and even that might be hard to find.

Two eggs cost only one mao, already boiled tea‑eggs, and being home‑grown makes them extremely cheap.

Lu Cheng had just taken out the money, not yet handed it over, when Wang Fengshi personally arrived with several Railway Police.

"Lu Jingzhang, why haven't you gotten off yet..."

"Wang Bureau Chief, I was just about to go out."

Wang Fengshi came over to escort; Lu Cheng dared not delay, quickly gave the money to the grandmother, and went to shake hands.

But the grandmother didn't take the money: "You, you're Train Police, so I don't want your money. I'm leaving right now, leaving right now..."

Lu Cheng wasn't in a police uniform; after learning Lu Cheng was a Railway Police, the grandmother fled before she could even hide, daring not to ask for money.

She hurriedly slung her basket and tried to leave, looking frightened, but Lu Cheng called her back.

Refusing payment wasn't an option; Lu Cheng didn't like to bully civilians.

"Grandmother, how many eggs are left in your basket?"

The grandmother visibly tensed, and seeing the several Railway Police approaching made her even more nervous.

"I... it's my first time selling eggs; please don't confiscate them. I don't want to sell them; my grandson at home is sick, we have no money for medicine, I can't..."

Seeing the grandmother fear her eggs would be seized, truly frightened, Lu Cheng reached into the basket, lifted the cotton cloth covering it, and found only six eggs left.

Even if she sold them all, she could only make about three mao.

But to save up these few eggs might take half a month.

"Old lady, I'm taking all of your eggs."

"All, all taken? Could you leave me two? I'm not selling them, really not selling them; I just want to keep two for my grandson to eat. He has no money for medicine, and a few eggs would be good…"

Seeing the old lady's pitiful words, they were almost about to cry in distress; the few Railway police who arrived didn't have the heart to drive the old lady away.

Lu Cheng then took out money, shoved it directly to the old lady, and immediately took all the eggs.

"Come, come, just in time I can treat you all to breakfast. Wang Bureau Chief, you said why you came here in person…"

Wang Fengshi walked over and grabbed his arm: "I've heard everything; you still have that bold temperament. This matter is no small thing. If I don't come and personally bring you back, I can't rest easy."

The two talked while walking; Wang Fengshi turned his head to glance at the old lady, actually shedding tears, muttering under his breath, "What a good person, finally met a good person…"

"Lu Jingzhang, how much money did you give that old lady?"

"Just two yuan, saying his grandson is ill; it's not easy."

No wonder the old lady was moved to tears; two yuan isn't a small sum—a worker's daily wage is only about one yuan.

Wang Fengshi, however, wasn't surprised at all; when he served at Beijing Station, he often heard that Lu Cheng helped people and never cared about money.

Speaking of Lu Cheng's family, they're just an ordinary worker family, yet their generosity is so lavish that it's hard to understand.

After leaving the Platform, Lu Cheng voluntarily took out handcuffs: "Wang Bureau Chief, you handcuff me, please."