Police officer Chen Shu

Chapter 51 Boss Zheng
The conversation sounded like a joke, but ultimately, the police were questioning him, and Mr. Zheng remained silent, not daring to respond.

Chen Shu sneered, "Boss Zheng wouldn't even look at a shop like this. To put it another way, if your shop is ever packed with people, then I think there's a real problem. I'll have to come in and take a good look then."

After saying that, he picked up the teacup on the table and drank it all in one gulp.

Mr. Zheng scratched his head, his expression relaxing, knowing that the police hadn't come to interrogate him.

He gave an awkward laugh and remained silent.

Seeing that he had given enough guidance, Chen Shu handed over a document and said in a deep voice:
"Alright, let's get down to business. These are the electric bikes that have been stolen recently, with the time and location marked on them. There are also a few CCTV screenshots of the thieves. They should be two boys in their late teens or early twenties, probably new but experienced thieves. Check them out for me."

Mr. Zheng picked up his teacup to moisten his dry lips, then carefully flipped through the materials in his hand, page by page.

Seeing this, Chen Shu knew that Zhu Chaoran would need to make phone calls to others after reviewing the materials, and that sitting there would likely affect his performance. He gave Zhu Chaoran a wink, and the two of them got up and walked towards the shop outside the small room.

The shop is rectangular in shape. The innermost part on the east side is the small room where the three of them had just drunk tea. Looking through the half-open door on the west side, there is a small storage room with things neatly arranged inside.

The rest of the shop, except for a small aisle on the right, was filled with electric scooters. These scooters were polished to a shine and arranged neatly. If it weren't for the clearly marked "Used Cars" sign at the entrance, neither of them would have been able to tell that these were all used vehicles.

Zhu Chaoran is a racing enthusiast. While looking around the shop, his eyes fell on a retro-styled motorcycle with a strong sense of technology – the French Peugeot Django 150. He couldn't help but straddle it.

He looked down for his car keys, ready to start the engine and have some fun.

A boy who had been sitting in a corner since they entered the store mustered his courage and limped over, taking Zhu Chaoran's right hand and softly addressing him as Boss Zheng had addressed him earlier:
"Boss, we can't test drive in the store, it's too dangerous."

Zhu Chaoran, who was being pulled along by a boy, felt embarrassed to continue fussing and said with an awkward smile, "I didn't intend to drive it. I just wanted to start it up and hear the sound of the car."

Upon hearing this, the boy said quite naturally, "This car looks nice, but the sound is terrible. It shakes so much at a traffic light that it'll hurt your breasts. I suggest you don't start it."

Zhu Chaoran's eyes lit up, realizing that the other person was also a professional. He grabbed the boy and pulled him to the corner where the boy had been hiding, where they sat on two small stools and began to whisper to each other.

One moment they reach out to the car inside the shop, gesturing like civil and military officials, seemingly admiring each other's talents; the next they argue angrily, their faces red and necks bulging, their voices deliberately lowered but still revealing their mutual annoyance.

How could someone around fifteen or sixteen years old, with a leg disability, possess such profound knowledge of motorcycles' conditions and performance, able to speak of them so readily?
Chen Shu looked at the two people in front of him, seemingly lost in thought.

“This is my nephew. This kid doesn’t like studying. He skipped school back home and broke his leg while racing cars. My sister brought him here. He’s a good guy, hardworking, and knows how to fix cars.” Boss Zheng walked to Chen Shu’s side, looking at the two of them with a hint of affection in his eyes, his tone calm.

One is a high school student, the other a college student; in terms of education, the fat guy is the senior.

One races motorcycles, the other races cars; logically, they belong to two different circles.

They're all street racers, no wonder they're all in the same boat... Chen Shu glanced at the spotless shop and nodded: "He's a good lad. With you watching over things, your sister can rest assured."

Mr. Zheng touched his nose. Having made a living in the lower rungs of society, he was used to being belittled and was somewhat surprised by the policeman's affirmation.

The two remained silent, seemingly wanting to give their two juniors some time.

After a while, Boss Zheng turned to a fawning smile and said, "Boss, I just contacted a bunch of people, and none of them know about these two. They must be from out of town. But I've already spread the word, and I'll contact you as soon as I have any news in a few days."

Chen Shu nodded: "Let's do it as soon as possible."

"Fatty, let's go!" he shouted towards the corner of the shop.

Zhu Chaoran reluctantly said goodbye to his little friend and came to Chen Shu's side.

The two walked towards the shop door. Boss Zheng followed, briefly stopping Chen Shu, rubbing his hands together, forcing an extremely embarrassed expression, and muttering:

"Sir, a while ago, one of my children had his electric motorcycle confiscated by your patrol team. Do you think it's possible to get it back by paying some money?"

It seems they've gotten information on the two men involved in the electric bicycle theft case; they were deliberately holding back before… Chen Shu smiled:
"Mr. Zheng is quite the businessman. We haven't even made any progress on this matter yet, and you're already haggling with me?"

Boss Zheng was a seasoned veteran, his thick skin rivaling that of Zhu Chaoran, the "number one person in line at the cafeteria." He shrugged and said helplessly:

"Boss, it's not my fault. I was also asking for a favor, and I was being led by the nose."

Equivalent exchange, it's all a trick... Chen Shu took out a cigarette from his pocket and forced one into Boss Zheng's hand.

"Next Monday, have your nephew bring someone to the office to see my colleague. He'll make the arrangements."

Mr. Zheng was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.

After the two left the shop and walked a considerable distance, Zhu Chaoran frowned and asked:

"Brother Shu, what, you just gave them the car for free?"

“Not bad. This time you only spoke up when you were far away,” Chen Shu said calmly, without answering his question.

Zhu Chaoran chuckled, looking smug: "That's right, how could anyone fall into a pit twice?"

Chen Shu said, "Old Zheng knows what he's doing. We're pretty much done with this case. Otherwise, he wouldn't have made any demands."

Zhu Chaoran curled his lip: "You guys are so tired of talking. Why don't you just say things clearly? Why beat around the bush?"

"Wait! The case is solved?" In the midst of the lightning and thunder, he suddenly realized.

As they spoke, the two had already walked to the front of the Santana.

Chen Shu opened the car door, leaned against it, looked at Zhu Chaoran who was standing there in a daze, and nodded: "It's broken."

"boom."

"boarding."

Zhu Chaoran got into the car and, after sitting down, hurriedly asked, "Brother Shu, is this the legendary special agent/informant? This case was solved way too easily."

Chen Shu fastened his seatbelt, glanced at Zhu Chaoran who was practically face-to-face with him, shook his head, and calmly said, "It looks simple, you can try it next time."

Zhu Chaoran immediately recovered from his shock, sat back down, and prepared to drive: "Brother Shu, you're teasing me again. I don't know a single person here, what am I supposed to do?"

"The kid you were chatting with seemed nice, like Old Zheng. He used to be into racing too, so you're kind of his senior. Next Monday, look for an opportunity to recruit him."

"Um???!!!"

Chen Shu rolled down the car window, rested his right hand on the window frame, and remained silent. His mind was filled with the timid yet somewhat stubborn look in the eyes of the lame child who had stopped Zhu Chaoran earlier.

(End of this chapter)