The police officer on duty was surnamed Jiang. Seeing Qiao Lanshu hurrying into the police station, he immediately stood up and asked politely, "Comrade, what kind of case do you want to report?"
Officer Xiao Jiang still remembered Qiao Lanshu.
After all, it was hard to forget such a beautiful girl with a southern accent.
It was no exaggeration to say that in their neighborhood, Qiao Lanshu was the only one with this accent.
Officer Xiao Jiang thought that the case Qiao Lanshu wanted to report was about the harassed ticket conductor from before.
He asked Qiao Lanshu, "Is it for your friend who works as a ticket conductor at the train station? Has she been harassed again these past few days?"
Unexpectedly, Qiao Lanshu's words gave the police officer quite a fright.
She shook her head and said with a serious expression, "No, comrade officer. I came to report a case today because someone wants to steal explosives to take revenge on me."
Officer Xiao Jiang: "..."
The young officer thought he had misheard. He froze for a moment and repeated with a shocked expression, "Someone wants to steal explosives to take revenge on you?"
Explosives?
Was that something that could even be stolen?
To be honest, even Officer Xiao Jiang himself didn't know where to steal such a thing.
Qiao Lanshu stood there without taking a seat. Gripping the hem of her shirt with both hands, she nodded worriedly. Frowning, she said:
"Yes, comrade officer. This matter goes back to a few days ago. Previously, a temporary worker from the supply and marketing cooperative approached me. Not only did he wait for me at the gate of the food factory every day, but he also tailed me on my way home from work. My colleagues and some soldiers can testify to this.
A couple of days ago, this person gave me a coat and a watch. They were both bought at the department store and were very expensive. I didn't dare to accept them, so I returned everything to his uncle. His uncle must have criticized him and even fired him from his job! Oh, right, his uncle is Chu Haiming, the director of the supply and marketing cooperative. You can go and verify this.
Because of these things, he was very angry. He stopped me on the road and said he was going to blow me up. I was very scared, so I came to you to report the case."
Qiao Lanshu spoke clearly, explaining the cause and effect, and even naming witnesses.
It sounded so convincing that the police officer was somewhat impressed.
However, stealing explosives still sounded a bit unbelievable.
Hearing this, Officer Xiao Jiang pondered while taking notes.
A few minutes later, the fountain pen in his hand stopped. He looked up at Qiao Lanshu and comforted her with a gentle expression:
"Little girl, don't be afraid first, and don't worry. The other party might have just said it out of anger, and he may not really dare to steal explosives. Besides, explosives are controlled by specialized departments, and they can't be stolen just like that. Don't be nervous."
Qiao Lanshu wasn't exactly nervous; it was just that Chu Liangjun was currently a ticking time bomb. What if he accidentally injured someone else?
Although explosives were controlled by specialized personnel, Chu Liangjun really could steal them.
Qiao Lanshu said, "Comrade officer, it's better to be safe than sorry. What if he really steals the explosives, what if..."
As she spoke, she stopped, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated, appearing deeply worried.
Officer Xiao Jiang jotted down a few more notes in the report log. Then, he thought for a few seconds before asking again, "Then, little girl, do you know where he is now? You just said he had been fired, meaning he's no longer at the supply and marketing cooperative, right?"
Qiao Lanshu nodded. "Yes, he's no longer working at the supply cooperative."
With that, she told him about Chu Liangjun working at the road construction site.
Finally, she added:
"Comrade officer, I heard that when building roads in the mountains, there are special explosives used for blasting. I'm worried he will sneak some out. So, comrade officer, can you quietly go over and keep an eye on him? Or check with the construction site to have them strengthen the management of explosives. If no explosives are missing, then there is no problem, but if they are lost..."
Although Qiao Lanshu said this, the police officer still felt that Chu Liangjun's threat to blow her up was likely said in a fit of pique and shouldn't be taken seriously.
Of course, Chu Liangjun had never actually said the words "blow her up" to Qiao Lanshu;
This was something Qiao Lanshu had fabricated herself in order to file the report. After all, the police wouldn't be able to verify it anytime soon.
Moreover, what Qiao Lanshu said was also the truth;
Because in her previous life, Chu Liangjun had indeed stolen explosives from the construction site and buried them on the road to blow up his aunt, Niu Weifen.
Since Qiao Lanshu had reported the case, the police couldn't just sit idly by.
Although in this era, the role of the police station was not as significant as that of the Revolutionary Committee, they still had the corresponding authority.
After Qiao Lanshu reported the case, Officer Xiao Jiang told her to go back to work at the food factory for now.
He said, "Little comrade, rest assured. Leave this matter to me. We will go to the construction site to inspect."
Hearing him say this, Qiao Lanshu left the police station.
However, she was still thinking about the matter in her heart, planning to tell Qin Yuanzheng about it when he came over in the afternoon.
The construction site was under the jurisdiction of the engineering corps. Perhaps Qin Yuanzheng would have a better solution.
...
As soon as Qin Yuanzheng stepped into the mining area, the cold wind blew dust into his face.
Without stopping, he went straight to the office and called Xiao Yang over to ask some questions.
Xiao Yang stood up straight. "Regimental Commander, Chu Liangjun has already resigned from the supply and marketing cooperative. He hasn't secretly followed the sister-in-law these past few days. Right now, he is carrying bricks and working on the highway near our mining area. We couldn't keep too close an eye on him to avoid gossip. Seeing that he was working steadily and hard, we temporarily withdrew the people keeping watch."
After all, Chu Liangjun had merely lost his job and was working quietly. He hadn't actually done anything illegal or undisciplined, so the military personnel couldn't just indiscriminately keep a tight watch on him.
Xiao Yang paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and hurriedly added, "Oh right, Regimental Commander, a couple of days ago, Chu Liangjun seemed to have given the sister-in-law some things, but she returned them untouched to Chu Haiming."
Qin Yuanzheng frowned slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
His face subconsciously darkened a bit, and he asked in a deep voice, "What did he give Xiao Qiao?"
"It seems... a watch."
Xiao Yang answered cautiously.
Qin Yuanzheng snorted coldly, his tone carrying a subtle hint of possessiveness and disdain. "The day I got my marriage certificate, I bought my wife a watch. She has no shortage of such things."
Knowing that Chu Liangjun was now honestly carrying bricks at the construction site and working hard, Qin Yuanzheng didn't press the matter further.
Although Chu Liangjun had previously secretly followed his wife and now rashly gave her gifts, which really made him feel disgusted and unhappy.
But Qin Yuanzheng had always been a reasonable man; he couldn't just drive someone to a dead end simply because they admired his wife.
His wife was young and so beautiful; it was only natural that she would attract people's affection.
As long as Chu Liangjun knew his limits, didn't cross the line, and didn't disrupt their peaceful lives, he could hold off on pursuing the matter for now.
He slowly stood up. Xiao Yang, quick on the draw, immediately stepped forward, took down the military greatcoat hanging on the office wall, and carefully draped it over his shoulders.
Although the injury on Qin Yuanzheng's arm had healed somewhat, it still required daily dressing changes. The bandages were fresh, and any large movements would pull at the wound and cause pain.
Staff Officer Lin, Xiao Yang, and the others who stayed by his side all treated him like a fragile object, caring for him meticulously, terrified that he would experience even the slightest inconvenience in his movements.
Let alone taking the initiative to help him dress, even during lunch, Staff Officer Lin would come over holding a spoon, practically itching to feed him personally.
Just as Xiao Yang finished putting the coat on him, before Qin Yuanzheng could even speak, Staff Officer Lin quickly grabbed his military cap and plopped it onto his head without a word.
Qin Yuanzheng: "..."
Staff Officer Lin looked deeply concerned, though his tone was somewhat asking for a beating as he said, "Regiment Commander, where are you heading? Can your body hold up? If it's too much, we can carry you there on our backs."
Qin Yuanzheng was both annoyed and amused. He raised his foot and gave him a light kick, scolding with a laugh, "Get lost!"
Staff Officer Lin chuckled and quickly scurried out.
Qin Yuanzheng was going to inspect the mining area.
A few days ago, a mistake in the placement of explosives at the mine had caused a series of serious accidents, which had only barely been resolved over the past couple of days.
Because of this, the military had arrested several people in a row—the engineer in charge, the blaster who handled the explosives, and a few on-site supervisors. Not a single one was spared.
It was currently a critical juncture in the espionage war, and no one could guarantee that the enemy hadn't secretly infiltrated the mining area.
Therefore, even with his injured arm, Qin Yuanzheng simply couldn't rest easy. He had to come over and inspect the area himself several times to feel reassured.
Workers came and went constantly in the mining area; it was bustling and noisy. There were also several large, fierce-looking wolfdogs kept there.
These wolfdogs were all retired military dogs—smart, alert, and possessing a keen sense of smell. When they got aggressive, their presence was truly intimidating.
The logistics soldiers had specially built spacious doghouses out of thick wood next to the mine's dormitories for them to rest in.
And next to the doghouses, a somewhat simple-minded man could always be found crouching. He spent all day with the dogs, sometimes even eating with them. It was a particularly heartbreaking sight.
When Qin Yuanzheng walked past and saw him, he paused his steps and turned to ask Xiao Yang, "Why is Lao Wu back again? Wasn't it arranged for him to be sent to the military district sanatorium a long time ago?"
Xiao Yang quickly stepped forward to reply, "Regiment Commander, we did send him there, but he sneaked back on his own. I originally thought he couldn't bear to part with these military dogs, so I sent the dogs over to him too. But guess what? He brought the dogs and ran back overnight."
Qin Yuanzheng: "..."
In his youth, Lao Wu was a military dog trainer in the army. He had spent his whole life dealing with military dogs, raising them carefully and training them strictly.
Later, amidst the fires of war, an explosive detonated right next to him. He was instantly deafened in one ear, and his brain suffered severe trauma, leaving him alternating between moments of lucidity and confusion.
The military dog he had raised with his own hands back then was also lost in that war.
The military dogs he was guarding now were all retired after the war ended, and they were all exceptionally attached to Lao Wu.
Seeing Lao Wu guarding the doghouses day after day, Qin Yuanzheng was somewhat concerned about his health.
Fortunately, the mining area had dormitories and a cafeteria, so at least he wouldn't freeze or go hungry.
He didn't say much else, just calling out to Lao Wu from a distance, "Lao Wu, walking the dogs?"
With that said, he prepared to walk past.
Hearing someone call him, Lao Wu slowly raised his head. He was holding a large dog in his arms, his rough hands continuously stroking its fur as he muttered repeatedly, "Explosives... explosives... someone is going to blow up the mine..."
Qin Yuanzheng chuckled and turned to Xiao Yang and Staff Officer Lin, saying, "Who says Lao Wu is simple-minded? I think he's very clear-headed. It's been days since the mine explosion incident, and he still remembers it."
Xiao Yang was also a bit puzzled. "Strange, how did Lao Wu know the mine was blown up? Didn't we specifically lock down the information?"
Staff Officer Lin thought for a moment and said casually, "No matter how tight the lockdown is, insiders will always talk about it in private. Lao Wu wanders around the dormitories and cafeteria every day. What rumors could get past him?"
Seeing the three men in military uniforms turning to leave without the slightest intention of stopping to investigate, Lao Wu suddenly grew anxious.
He let go of the dog in his arms, stumbled to his feet, and raised his voice, laced with an urgent panic, "Explosives! Someone is going to blow up the mine! The mine is going to blow up, it really is!"
Fearing he might have an episode from the excitement, Staff Officer Lin quickly shouted to appease him, "We know, we know! Lao Wu, hurry back and rest. We'll go over to the mine and take a look right now!"
Lao Wu stood rooted to the spot, wearing a dusty, old military greatcoat. His hair was messy, his beard was scruffy, and his whole person looked unkempt.
He tucked his hands into his sleeves, his body shivering slightly, as he kept muttering, "Explosives... there are explosives... the mine is going to be blown up..."
After mumbling a few more times, he slowly crouched back down and hugged the large dog beside him again. As he gently stroked it, he repeated in a low voice to the dog, "Explosives... there are explosives..."
After Qin Yuanzheng took his subordinates on a patrol around the mining area, he went to process some documents and held a meeting with the engineers at the site. Following that, he drove himself to the headquarters.
After a busy day, it was getting dark, so Qin Yuanzheng prepared to go to the food factory to pick up Qiao Lanshu.
...
Qiao Lanshu had reported the case in the morning, but by the time she got off work in the afternoon, she hadn't seen any comrades from the Public Security Bureau come looking for her.
She wondered to herself, could it be that Chu Liangjun didn't plan to take revenge on her, and actually hadn't gone to steal the explosives?
However, speak of the devil.
Before Qin Yuanzheng arrived, the comrades from the Public Security Bureau drove over.
Two young public security officers stepped out of the car with serious expressions. Upon seeing Qiao Lanshu standing at the entrance of the food factory, they immediately walked over.
The appearance of the public security officers immediately attracted the attention of many people.
Wang Xue saw it too and thought Qiao Lanshu had committed some crime. She hurried to Qiao Lanshu's side and whispered, "Xiao Qiao, what happened to you? Do you need me to deliver a message to your family?"
Qiao Lanshu shook her head. "No need..."
Seeing the public security officers approaching, Qiao Lanshu had a bad premonition.
Sure enough, one of the unfamiliar young officers said to Qiao Lanshu with a solemn expression, "Comrade Qiao Lanshu, we are here to pick you up from work. Please come with us."
The officer's meaning was very clear—the case Qiao Lanshu had reported had become a reality.
