Chapter 23: Cheng Shi Is Not to Be Trifled With

Qian Xiaoying looked confident and certain of success. "Don't worry, this won't stump me. I'll just reset the password."

It was not the first time she had forgotten a password, and Cheng Shi had shown her how to reset it more than once.

Qian Xiaoying reset the password, only to discover that the CNC machine tool had been completely locked down.

Liu Jianshe asked, "Are you capable of doing this or not?"

Qian Xiaoying felt a bit guilty. "By all logic, this shouldn't be happening."

The director came over to try as well, but it still didn't work. He muttered to himself, "This is impossible. This is the exact spot where the CNC machine was kept. As long as it doesn't leave this location, it shouldn't be locked out."

"Wait a minute. Something here doesn't seem right." The director turned to ask Liu Jie, "You said you saw Cheng Yongjin using this machine?"

Liu Jie nodded. "That's right."

The director replied, "But this machine is supposed to lock up as soon as it's moved."

Liu Jie said, "Exactly."

The two of them stared at each other in bewilderment.

There was only one possibility.

Cheng Shi had unlocked it and then set a new location for the lock.

Now, the moment this machine left the storage room of Cheng Shi’s house, it was nothing more than a pile of scrap metal.

Liu Jianshe was so furious he yanked at his own hair. "Damn it, that little brat. He’s as cunning as an old fox."

Qian Xiaoying was also stunned. Although she knew Cheng Shi was capable, she had only ever seen him operate the machine. How could he possibly know how to rewrite the code? One had to realize that there wasn't a single person in all of China who could do something like this.

Someone ran in from outside: "Factory Manager, you’d better go and take a look. Things are getting out of hand over there. People from the credit union, the television station, and the municipal public security bureau have all arrived."

Liu Jianshe was dismissive. "Nonsense. How could that kid possibly have that much influence?"

The man insisted, "It's true. If you don't go now, the television station is going to broadcast all the nonsense those people are spouting."

As they were speaking, several police officers walked in.

An officer asked, "Which one of you is Factory Manager Liu of the Machinery Plant?"

Liu Jianshe looked blank. "I am. What do the police officers need from me?"

The officer replied, "Please come with us to assist in the investigation regarding the robbery of the credit union's collateral assets."

The officer finished speaking, and two police officers stepped forward.

Liu Jianshe panicked. "Wait a minute. I just moved the factory's assets back; how did that become robbing the credit union's collateral?"

The officer retorted, "Do you understand the law? That machine tool is personal property mortgaged to the credit union for a loan. Until the loan is fully repaid, the machine is the property of the credit union. Anyone else who forcibly removes it is committing robbery."

Liu Jianshe argued, "I didn't rob anyone; the thing is still inside the machinery plant."

The officer said, "Playing these petty tricks with us is useless. The credit union's loan contract clearly specifies the location of the collateral, down to the exact house number. Moving that machine without permission is a violation of the law."

Liu Jianshe froze. He suddenly realized that by mortgaging the machine to the credit union, Cheng Shi had not only played a "white wolf with empty gloves" scheme but had also intended to use the credit union to restrain him, making it impossible for him to touch the machine.

By paying a little interest, he had effectively found a protector and purchased an insurance policy.

Liu Jie hurriedly stepped forward to block the officer. "My father is a leading cadre of a state-owned enterprise, after all. How can you just arrest him whenever you want? How is he supposed to lead the machinery plant after this?"

The officer replied, "We didn't say we were arresting him, just that he needs to come back to assist with the investigation."

Liu Jie asked, "May I ask what the purpose of the investigation is?"

The officer answered, "To recover the stolen assets."

Liu Jie whispered to Liu Jianshe, "Dad, since the machine is locked and can't be used anyway, just give it back to him for now. We can think of another way later. It’s not worth losing face and ending up in the station over this."

Liu Jianshe had no choice but to tell the officer, "Then tell Cheng Shi to come and move it away."

The officer was growing impatient. "If you make the victim come move it, that means we are recovering stolen goods, and you will still have to come to the station for an investigation. If you return it yourself, that counts as a private settlement, and we can act as if this never happened."

Liu Jianshe gritted his teeth, stood firm, and waved at the others. "Move it, move it, move it! You lot, move it back for him."

The officer added, "Factory Manager, there are several witnesses who can prove you were the mastermind, so you must personally deliver it back."

*It must be resolved today in front of the TV reporters and everyone else, otherwise, won't I have made this trip for nothing?*

Liu Jianshe felt a wave of darkness pass before his eyes, nearly fainting. "I have to deliver it back myself? Where am I supposed to put my face?"

The officer chuckled. "Heh, why didn't you ponder that when you were robbing the thing from someone else? You decide: is it more embarrassing to return it now, or more embarrassing when we take you away in a police car later?"

Liu Jianshe could only say weakly, "Deliver it. I'll deliver it."

Seeing the reporters, the credit union staff, and the many police officers from afar, Liu Jianshe wished he could just turn around and leave.

However, the officer beside him kept a close watch, making it impossible for him to escape.

He hated Cheng Shi with a burning passion in his heart: *This brat is truly ruthless, to stir up such a massive commotion.*

Cheng Shi stood with his arms crossed, waiting silently for them to approach.

Liu Jianshe ordered his men to set the machine down on the road and leave.

Cheng Shi did not move.

The officer glanced back at Liu Jianshe.

Liu Jianshe had no choice but to direct his men to carry the CNC machine tool back into the storage room.

The officer walked over and said to Cheng Shi, "The property has been recovered for you."

Cheng Shi quickly grasped the officer’s hand and shook it vigorously. The expression of gratitude on his face was incredibly sincere, not at all like an act. "Thank you so much, officers. Your efficiency is truly remarkable. With you here, we ordinary citizens can work and live in peace. On behalf of the people, I thank you."

*Hey, I didn't expect a young lad like you to be so savvy. This is exactly the effect I wanted.*

*Not a wasted trip, despite the sweltering heat.*

The officer replied with a modest expression, "It’s nothing; resolving difficulties for the people is our duty."

The photographer quickly captured this moving scene.

The officer asked Cheng Shi, "Are you willing to settle this?"

Cheng Shi replied calmly, "That depends on the other party's attitude."

Liu Jianshe’s weathered face flushed deep red. Suppressing his anger, he bowed to Cheng Shi. "I am sorry. I did not know this was collateral you had mortgaged to the credit union."

Cheng Shi sneered. "Are you apologizing to me? This is clearly an apology to the credit union. You robbed the machine from *me*."

*You little brat, are you not done yet?*

*If you hadn't mortgaged the machine to the credit union, would you have been able to get it back so quickly?!!*

And yet, it had just been stated that the machine's ownership currently belonged to the credit union.

The officer was clearly dissatisfied with Liu Jianshe’s evasiveness, feeling he was wasting everyone's time.

Liu Jianshe gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and said, "Comrade Cheng Shi, I apologize."

Cheng Shi continued, "My father is a veteran employee of the machinery plant and has worked diligently there for over twenty years. My mother has supported his work for all this time. You ordered your men to treat them so roughly; don't you think you owe them an apology as well?"