Chapter 46: Shazhu is about to come out!

The massive roar of the motorcycle was like a pair of scissors, shredding the tranquility of the neighborhood.

Billowing black smoke drifted through the air, obscuring the golden sunlight.

Everyone standing in front of the police station froze in their tracks.

Their faces were a mixture of shock, confusion, excitement, and astonishment.

It was the first time they had ever seen a motorcycle burning oil so severely.

Passersby scrambled to jump aside.

In contrast, a few children followed behind the motorcycle, inhaling large gulps of the exhaust.

Their small faces were filled with expressions of enjoyment.

In a flash—faster than one could blink—the sidecar motorcycle, spewing rolling clouds of black smoke, roared up to the entrance of the police station.

With a sharp *clack*, it came to a steady halt.

Li Aiguo, following closely on his tandem bicycle, hurriedly squeezed the brakes.

All four wheels skidded against the cement ground, leaving four black streaks before stopping just 0.01 centimeters away from the motorcycle.

It wasn't enough to cause a rear-end collision, a type of accident unheard of in this era.

*Cough, cough, cough.*

Li Aiguo jumped off the bicycle, clutching his nose as he stood to the side.

If he ever followed Zhou Ke again, he would consider himself a dog.

By then, the black smoke had gradually dissipated.

Wang Zhenshan’s eyes narrowed when he saw the Railway Police uniform Zhou Ke was wearing.

Seeing the long guns and various cameras they had brought, his brow furrowed deeply.

Signaling the comrades behind him to draw their pistols and prepare, he stepped forward quickly.

"Are you gentlemen from the Railway Police Station?"

"We are from the Qianmen Locomotive Depot Railway Police Station. Here are our credentials."

Zhou Ke saluted and handed over his work ID.

Wang Zhenshan took the ID and examined it closely, feeling a sense of relief in his heart.

Comrades from the Railway Police were comrades of their own; there shouldn't be any major issues.

He returned the salute and handed the ID back.

"May I ask what brings you to our Siheyuan Police Station?"

"We received a report that someone intentionally assaulted a railway worker. We have come to take the perpetrator into custody."

Hearing this, Wang Zhenshan breathed a sigh of relief once more.

There were several local hoodlums in the Siheyuan neighborhood who frequently scavenged for coal along the railway tracks.

Every time those hoodlums were caught by the Railway Police and handed over to the local station, the disdainful looks from the Railway Police made them feel utterly humiliated.

It seemed there would be no loss of face today.

"Comrade Zhou Ke, what is the name of the assailant? Do you require our assistance in the arrest?"

"His name is He Yuzhu, and he lives in the Siheyuan."

"He Yuzhu..."

Wang Zhenshan froze, turning his head to look at Shazhu.

At that moment, Shazhu was carrying the deaf old lady on his back, preparing to walk toward the Siheyuan.

Hearing his own name, he shuddered violently. His legs went weak, and he stumbled and fell to the ground.

Being young and strong with quick reflexes, he managed to land on his side and stand steadily, avoiding injury.

However, the deaf old lady on his back suffered the brunt of it.

Caught completely off guard, she fell heavily onto the cement ground.

The sound of her bones hitting the roadside caused He Yushui to cover her ears and scream in terror.

Yi Zhonghai’s expression changed instantly as he rushed forward to support the old lady.

"Old lady, are you alright?"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch! What do you mean 'alright'? Try falling like that yourself!" The old lady was dazed and aching all over, struggling to stand up.

However, she could no longer afford to complain about the pain. She pointed at Zhou Ke and demanded, "What did you just say, you brat!"

Zhou Ke looked at the old lady, then at Shazhu, and finally at Li Aiguo.

After receiving a nod of affirmation from Li Aiguo, he ignored the old lady and waved his hand. "Arrest that big idiot."

The two comrades behind him lunged forward like tigers.

Seeing the situation turn sour, Shazhu tried to bolt.

Unfortunately, after only two steps, he stopped and raised his hands.

This was because Zhou Ke had already raised his rifle and pulled back the bolt.

The dark muzzle was aimed directly at Shazhu.

Seeing the situation escalate, Wang Zhenshan roared immediately, "Shazhu, are you looking for death!"

Wang Zhenshan knew that the Railway Police would show no mercy.

In this era, large stretches of land along the railway were uninhabited or inhabited by fierce, lawless people.

The first lesson the Railway Police received during training was that if a crisis occurred, they were to fire without hesitation and eliminate anything that could move.

Shazhu didn't know these details, but Wang Zhenshan's soul-piercing shout paralyzed him.

The two Railway Police comrades did not relax their vigilance even when Shazhu stopped.

One of them delivered a kick to knock him down, pulled out handcuffs, and secured them. Only after ensuring he was unable to resist did they haul him up from the ground and drag him in front of Zhou Ke.

Zhou Ke looked at Li Aiguo. "Aiguo, is this kid Shazhu?"

Upon receiving confirmation, Zhou Ke delivered a kick to Shazhu's backside.

"Not bad, kid, you actually dared to run? Keep running! Why'd you stop?"

Li Aiguo narrowed his eyes slightly.

*Do these guys just love kicking people in the ass? Do they have some kind of specific fetish?*

Staggered by the kick, Shazhu clutched his backside with a miserable face. "I won't do it again, but comrades..."

At this moment, Yi Zhonghai, who had been stunned by the commotion, regained his senses.

Sensing that things were going south, he stepped forward with a fawning smile.

"Comrades, I am Yi Zhonghai, a Grade 7 fitter from the Rolling Mill and also the First Uncle of the Siheyuan."

"Shazhu did indeed assault Comrade Li Aiguo and has indeed committed an offense, but he has already been punished."

"Furthermore, this is the Nantongluo Alley area, not your railway section. For you to rush in like this and arrest citizens without explanation—isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

Zhou Ke straightened his collar, his expression stern. "Comrade Li Aiguo is currently an employee of our Locomotive Depot. Any problem he encounters is a problem for the Locomotive Depot. Our station naturally has the jurisdiction to handle it."

"As for Shazhu being punished, that is a local matter and has nothing to do with the Railway Police."

"We are taking Shazhu away now. Please step aside."

Seeing that Zhou Ke would not give him any face, Yi Zhonghai grew anxious and turned to Wang Zhenshan for help.

"Comrade Zhenshan, can you just stand there and watch Shazhu being taken away like this?"

"They are slapping your face, and the face of your police station!"

Seeing that Zhou Ke had come specifically for Shazhu, Wang Zhenshan understood most of the situation.

Normally, if Shazhu had hit someone, he would have served a few years in prison, received his due punishment, and the matter would be settled.

However, the people behind him were determined to use underhanded methods to pull Shazhu out.

Wang Zhenshan was already dissatisfied with the situation, but he had only refrained from openly opposing the higher-ups out of consideration for He Yushui.

Now that the Railway Police had come knocking, he naturally would not protect Shazhu any longer.

Wang Zhenshan said helplessly, "Comrade Yi Zhonghai, I can understand your feelings, but according to regulations, the Railway Police indeed have the authority to handle this matter. I advise you to negotiate properly with the victim and seek his forgiveness."

He sighed inwardly. *Xinmin, consider this your father's last helping hand.*

If Shazhu actually went to prison, he would never agree to Wang Xinmin and He Yushui being together.

His entire family was in the police force.

If Wang Xinmin married the sister of a criminal, even if the loss of reputation could be endured, his future prospects would be jeopardized.

More importantly, in the future, the children of Wang Xinmin and He Yushui would face difficulties with schooling and job placements.

Truly, the hearts of parents are a pitiable thing.

Seeing that Wang Zhenshan was unwilling to intervene, Yi Zhonghai could only turn his pleading gaze toward the deaf old lady.