Chapter 443: Finally Sent Him Away

Earlier I had made all preparations; Lu Cheng was locked into the cell, eating and living together with the prisoners, precisely so that Qin Shou couldn't find a reason.

I didn't expect that just because of a massage, Qin Shou would find a pretext to demand the person.

Wang Fengshi was thinking how to rebut when Lu Cheng suddenly pulled a dumpling from his pocket.

"Section Chief Qin really doesn't need to be so rigid; look at what I'm eating—these black dumplings, one per meal, how can that be hedonism?"

"And they are all volunteers, thinking that being cooped up in this cell every day counts as some exercise; aren't the newspapers now promoting things like developing sports, strengthening the people's health, exercising the body, defending the motherland…"

"So I'm also helping them transform… tell me, have they gotten any training?"

Hearing Lu Cheng's words, Daoban Lian and the others felt aggrieved, but fearing Lu Cheng's overbearing authority, they echoed,

"Yes, yes, we are all volunteers, training our bodies, defending the motherland."

It was sheer nonsense, and Qin Shou, furious, pointed at them and scolded,

"You such social degenerates, still defending the motherland? Not even dragging the motherland down would be good; expecting you to defend the motherland, you can only defend the ditch."

Daoban Lian, also irritated, said, "Your words are wrong; we made mistakes, and we have been punished. Once we're out, we become equal citizens; you can't keep treating us as criminals."

"Fine, fine, I won't argue with you!" Qin Shou hurried to stop, saying that chatting with these people was pointless.

"Wang Bureau Chief, I want to ask now: since you've arrested them, what do you plan to do next?"

Qin Shou had previously doubted that the Railway Bureau was lying, but after he came to the scene himself to verify, it was indeed that they had been arrested.

Then he wanted to know how the Railway Bureau would punish them.

If the punishment were light—just a couple of verbal admonitions—he would certainly be dissatisfied.

Wang Fengshi thought briefly and said, "The current situation is that we're communicating with higher‑level leaders; as for the punishment, it must be decided by the General Bureau."

That was tantamount to saying nothing, pure perfunctory, and Qin Shou was very dissatisfied with the answer.

"Since you still need to communicate with higher‑level leaders, why not transfer the people back to the Capital City?"

That's the brilliance of the General Bureau: the relationships among Capital City units are tangled, fearing that the Public Security Department might join forces with other units to pressure them, so they simply prevent Lu Cheng from returning to the Capital City first.

Instead, they keep him in the Railway Branch, so that whatever changes occur, there is a buffer period.

Wang Fengshi replied, "Lu Jingzhang seized the person, and it didn't happen in the Capital City; we captured them early, there's nothing wrong with that, right?"

Qin Shou inhaled, "It seems you are deliberately favoring them; to reflect fairness, it's better that I take the person away."

Qin Shou still wanted to take the person away, but Wang Fengshi could never agree; if he handed the person over, he would have no face to face Captain Lei later.

"Sorry, Section Chief Qin, Lu Jingzhang is from our Railway Department; whatever mistake he made will be reviewed by our own public prosecution and judicial department, and other units have no authority to intervene."

Qin Shou at that moment didn't know how to rebut, because the Railway Department is truly overbearing, having its own public prosecution and judicial branch, plus its own troops, forming an independent system.

Just as Lu Cheng being seized by the Railway Bureau has become a settled fact, other units have no right to interfere.

Qin Shou only resented that he hadn't acted earlier; it's not really his fault, mainly because he didn't expect the Railway Bureau would arrest the person.

This left him momentarily at a loss.

Having no choice, he had to return to the Capital City first.

"Section Chief Qin, take care, feel free to visit me more often…"

Lu Cheng clung to the iron fence and shouted, infuriating Qin Shou, who turned back: "Wang Bureau Chief, I hope you can impose a severe punishment on this person, and also report the subsequent outcome to our department."

The suggestion to report is appropriate, after all Lu Cheng was taken from the Public Security Department, so they should see the result.

Wang Fengshi immediately said, "Rest assured, Section Chief Qin, we will handle it fairly and justly."

Qin Shou inhaled, "You'd better follow those four words."

After speaking, Qin Shou, huffing angrily, left; this trip was in vain—though he saw Lu Cheng indeed arrested, he couldn't take the person away.

To prevent Qin Shou from making a sudden attack, Lu Cheng stayed in the Detention Center for two more days, until it was confirmed that Qin Shou truly wouldn't come, after which he was taken back to the Capital City by a Railway Branch vehicle.

Qin Shou's arrival was useless; he had no means against Lu Cheng, so he could only patiently await the report's outcome.

As for when the result will be released, the Railway General Bureau gave no clear reply; even Lu Cheng's return to the Capital City remains classified.

Therefore Lu Cheng cannot work for now; since he's about to graduate, he can devote most of his time to school and the Research Institute.

But Chen Xianglan, hearing her son say he wouldn't work during this period, couldn't help but worry.

"San'er, don't scare Mom; what actually happened? And you haven't come home these past few days—Xiao Yang came to say you were delayed by something; did you make a mistake at work, why aren't you allowed to work?"

To avoid worrying his mother, Lu Cheng had to tell a well‑meaning lie.

"It's nothing serious; the reason I didn't come back the past few days is that the organization is conducting an assessment on me."

"Assessment? Assessment of what?"

Lu Cheng feigned a mysterious smile, "Your son is about to be promoted; after this graduation, the organization will promote me to a regular post."

Chen Xianglan widened her eyes, unable even to think about washing clothes, "Really?"

"Of course it's true; I could even joke about it! The reason I didn't come back the past few days is that the organization wanted to inspect me."

Lu Cheng wasn't really lying; he merely mentioned the promotion early—so long as nothing unexpected happens, the promotion to a regular post is a done deal.

Chen Xianglan was delighted, but then felt something was off: "Then how does that relate to you not being allowed to work? You should be given more tasks, not fewer."

Lu Cheng put his arm around his mother's shoulder, "You don't understand; the reason I can get this regular post is because of my education. It's not that I'm about to graduate; the unit wants me to focus on studying to successfully obtain my diploma."

So that's it; Chen Xianglan gave her son a light tap, "Then why can't you say it all at once? You make Mom guess wildly!"

"You see, I have to explain things to you piece by piece…" To change the subject, Lu Cheng brushed his sleeve and added.

"By the way, Mom, I'll wash the clothes; you go to Hu Tong Li and brag, saying your son is about to get the regular post, see which family's young lady has come of age, and quickly seize the chance to marry me."

Chen Xianglan rolled her eyes, and after a few words became frivolous.

"I won't go bragging; Mom feels a little uneasy."

Lu Cheng was instantly surprised, "Uneasy? Uneasy about what?"