Chapter 55: From Passive to Active

Actually, breaking this Yin‑Yang situation is simple: just get the people in the Bunk Car to agree to a search.

As long as the search isn't forced but voluntary, there's naturally no responsibility to bear afterward.

But if they agree to the search, it wouldn't have stalled up to now.

The tall team member is already waiting to see Lu Cheng's joke.

Ding Han Zhen shook his head; the tall one's words were a bit hard to take— they're all Comrades, there's no need for this.

He was about to speak to ease the tension, when Lu Cheng walked over and said, "Ding Jingzhang, I'd like to take temporary command authority."

Since Lei Zhan Ge is absent, everything on the train is up to Ding Han Zhen.

Ding Han Zhen was startled for a moment: "Command authority? What do you want to do?"

"Here's the thing, I have a way to get them to agree to a search, but as a low‑rank team member my words carry no weight; I'll need you to authorize it."

Ding Han Zhen gave him a once‑over: "You, you have a method?"

These officials differ from ordinary citizens; they're very principled— at the slightest hint of infringement on their civil rights, they refuse any search.

But this young Comrade Lu Cheng still makes him look at him with new respect.

Seeing Lu Cheng brimming with confidence, he could only advise, "You mustn't act recklessly."

"Don't worry, Ding Jingzhang, I know they all have identities; they'll definitely consider the impact."

Ding Han Zhen finally relaxed and said to the Train Police, "From now on you'll follow Comrade Lu Cheng's arrangements."

Everyone exchanged glances, none knowing what Lu Cheng was really selling.

Lu Cheng walked up to the tall team member and ordered, "Stand at attention!"

The tall one got angry, looked at Ding Jingzhang in defiance and said, "Ding Jingzhang, he…"

Ding Han Zhen chose to turn his back, facing the carriage window.

The tall one, helpless, had to stand at attention.

Watching Lu Cheng's swagger, he couldn't help but snort, "Hmph, hearing you isn't skill; if you have skill, go search and show me, then I'll respect you."

"Whether you're convinced or not doesn't matter; take paper and pen and go into the carriage first, and you too; bring a few more in, also with paper and pen."

Ding Han Zhen had already instructed to temporarily follow Lu Cheng's command, so several team members immediately entered the Bunk Car with paper and pen.

The people in the Bunk Car instantly panicked: "What are you trying to do, force a search? I tell you, you're violating our rights; I'll sue you."

Lu Cheng paid no mind to the threat.

"Don't be nervous; we're all Revolutionary Comrades, I also trust you're innocent, but we have duties, so please cooperate and register your name and unit."

Someone didn't understand: "Why do we need to register our names and units?"

Lu Cheng explained: "There's no other way; to be honest, the earlier claim that a passenger lost something wasn't true—it's because we're carrying out a special mission…"

"Lu Cheng!" Ding Han Zhen shouted. The current mission is classified; whether the Slag of Steel City holds any secret can only be known by catching the enemy spy.

Lu Cheng gave Ding Han Zhen a reassuring look.

"You can see it too: with so many Train Police conducting a full‑scale search, it can't be just for a passenger; we're actually searching for a lost national‑treasure‑level relic."

Saying a passenger lost something makes the matter seem trivial; these people aren't ordinary citizens, so they're bound to be uncooperative. Only by elevating it to a major incident can we shock them.

"A national‑treasure relic? That's extremely important."

"Indeed, no wonder there's so much police force deployed."

……

Listening to everyone's chatter, Lu Cheng said again, "Alright, since you're unwilling to cooperate, please leave your information behind.

It can be made clear to everyone that you will all be treated as suspects; later, specialists will come to your units for investigation, and if any adverse impact arises, you'll each be expected to bear it."

A team member, having received the order and holding paper and pen, rushed toward a senior officer and asked, "Name, unit?"

The officer hesitated; he wasn't afraid of a later investigation, but once investigated, he'd inevitably be gossip fodder and waste time.

In any case, it's better to be affected a bit now than to be examined later.

"You, you don't need to ask my name; I'll let you inspect. Honestly, I've never seen whatever relic you speak of; go ahead, search freely."

The team member glanced, then, at Lu Cheng's signal, began the search.

Naturally they found no suspicious items; Lu Cheng turned to the others, "Anyone else willing to be searched? If not, please leave your information."

Everyone weighed it and thought being searched on the spot was better than a later investigation.

"No need, no need, you search. We're all Revolutionary Comrades; since a relic was lost, we should cooperate."

"Right, right, you search."

Seeing everyone agree, the Train Police finally realized that Lu Cheng's request for paper and pen to record names was just to intimidate them.

Needless to say, the effect was striking; everyone consented to a voluntary search.

Ding Han Zhen let out a sigh of relief and truly admired Lu Cheng.

After that talk, they somehow turned from passive to active.

Even the tall team member had nothing more to say about it.

What disappointed everyone slightly was that after the full search, nothing was found.

In the end, only the Comrade who claimed to be from the Public Security Bureau remained, and he wasn't searched.

He held his head high, sneering at those who compromised— what soft‑hearted fools.

Lu Cheng passed by him, took the work badge from his hand, glanced and asked, "You're from the Public Security Bureau?"

"Yes."

"Is your father the director?"

"Yes."

"Your name is… Qin Shou?"

Qin Shou? Lu Cheng muttered again, "What a good name."

Qin Shousheng snatched the work certificate: "Yes, I'm Qin Shousheng, my dad is the bureau chief, today I won't let you search."

Lu Cheng also didn't mind: "All right, Ding Jingzhang, the search is already complete, we found nothing, I think we can wrap up. Although we didn't complete the mission, now someone is taking the blame."

Ding Han Zhen was about to laugh out loud; he certainly understood Lu Cheng's meaning, and immediately went along, saying.

"Wrap up!"

The other Train Police began to exit the carriage, deliberately muttering: "Now it's good, we've gotten peace, someone is taking the blame..."

Qin Shousheng's face turned pale; he of course knew who was coming to take the blame.

Everyone accepted the search, only he himself wasn't searched; from now on he won't be able to clear his name.

After hesitating for a while, he still grabbed Lu Cheng: "I'm absolutely innocent."

"Ah ah, I believe, if you have anything to say, tell the organization."

Qin Shousheng took a breath; he's never felt so stifled in all his life.

He gave Lu Cheng an angry look: "Fine, fine, let you search, what's the problem?"

"No search, no search, your dad is the bureau chief, I wouldn't dare search you."

"No, you must search, otherwise how can I prove my innocence?"

Lu Cheng looked at the other team members, wearing a mischievous grin: "Since they're begging us, we might as well search them reluctantly."

Everyone understood; just now this guy was arrogant, obstructing the mission, now seizing the opportunity, they all rushed forward and shoved Qin Shousheng onto the bunk.

"Hey hey, don't rummage around… you can't pull off the pants…"

After searching, still nothing; Lu Cheng knew they'd find nothing, after all the other side is a public security family, impossible to be enemy agents.

The reason he insisted on searching was just that he couldn't stand the other side's arrogant attitude.

They'd searched three carriages, seven carriages left; Ding Han Zhen told everyone not to lose heart, continue searching.

Over twenty Train Police, a dark crowd, headed toward the fourth carriage.

Just as Ding Han Zhen was about to use the pretext of lost items to get the public to cooperate with the search, suddenly someone in the carriage dropped to their knees.

"Don't search anymore, I admit it, okay?"

This sudden scene left everyone staring at each other.

They hadn't even started the search yet, never expecting the enemy agent to step forward themselves.

Ding Han Zhen couldn't believe it, but since they'd found the enemy agent, everyone was delighted, saving everyone further trouble.

Just as he was about to have the Train Police take the "enemy agent" away, Lu Cheng felt something was off.