Chapter 61: True Gold Fears No Fire

Cheng Shi gave a cold, exasperated laugh. "Shameless, full of lies, turning facts upside down, and not even blushing."

Over the past two years, Qian Xiaoying had been constantly taking the stage to give speeches, receiving commendations, and being greeted by leaders. She had not grown in any other skill, but she had certainly mastered the art of speaking in these empty, official clichés.

The police officer said, "Comrade Cheng Shi, it is still not too late to apologize now and return the machine tool. I believe Factory Director Liu simply wants to get the machine tool back."

Actually, he rather liked Cheng Shi.

Had it not been for his official duty, he wouldn't have bothered to come out here at all.

Cheng Shi replied, "When Workshop No. 2 applied for the technological advancement award, a completely different machine tool was used. I filled out the application form myself. The machine's serial number is right there on the form. Comrade Police, you can verify this simply by checking with the city authorities."

The police officer was momentarily stunned. "Alright. That shouldn't be too hard, though it will take some time to check."

Liu Construction panicked slightly. That form was sealed away in the archives, and even he couldn't alter it.

Qian Xiaoying chimed in, "Even so, that doesn't prove the machine tool was broken at the time. We simply picked the finest piece of equipment to submit for the application."

Ignoring her entirely, Cheng Shi continued speaking to the police officer. "Every piece of equipment in the workshop undergoes routine and comprehensive inspections. Routine inspections cover exterior conditions, operational status, and simple functional tests. These checks are typically performed by machine operators or maintenance personnel, usually once a month. Comprehensive inspections involve deep-seated examinations and testing of internal structures and various systems to evaluate overall performance and safety, generally conducted once a quarter or every half-year."

"In other words, from the annual inventory last year until this equipment was sold to me, it has undergone at least six routine inspections and one comprehensive inspection. Comrade Police, you only need to look at those inspection records to know the exact status of the equipment before it left the factory."

Truth be told, everyone in Workshop No. 2 could testify that this machine tool had long been unable to start.

Cheng Shi chose not to bring that up. For one, he couldn't be certain whether those people would kick him while he was down or speak the honest truth guided by their consciences.

Secondly, he didn't need any witnesses.

Liu Construction grew increasingly panicked, cursing inwardly: *Damn it, Qian Xiaoying, you really didn't do any foundational work at all, you even forgot about this.*

Qian Xiaoying argued, "That's right, the period right after the last comprehensive inspection and before it was sold to you happened to fall just before the next routine inspection. It was precisely during that window that we repaired and upgraded this old machine tool."

She was resorting to sophistry at this point, gambling entirely on the assumption that Cheng Shi could not produce any written evidence.

Without missing a beat, Cheng Shi pulled a single sheet of paper from the loan application documents brought by Director Cao, and said calmly, "This is the asset valuation certificate stamped with the red official seal. Look at the date; it tells the whole story."

When he submitted the loan documents back then, the credit cooperative had indeed relied on the year-end inventory value to determine the price of the machine tool.

That was because both routine and comprehensive inspections could only illustrate the general condition of the machinery; without a precise valuation, they could only serve as supplementary evidence.

Consequently, he had made a special trip to an appraisal agency later on, hiring professionals to re-evaluate the machine tool, confirm the valuation of five thousand, and supplement the quotation into the materials submitted to the credit cooperative.

Director Cao suddenly recalled the matter and nodded in agreement. "Indeed, this document outweighs ten thousand arguments."

Liu Construction fell into absolute despair, having never imagined that Cheng Shi would be thorough enough to handle this step as well.

Cheng Shi stated, "I only completed the modifications to the machine tool after the appraisal report was issued. Therefore, the machine tool has undoubtedly appreciated in value now. To accuse me of embezzling state assets on these grounds is utterly shameless."

The police officer examined the documents, then looked sternly at Liu Construction. "Comrade Cheng Shi has provided sufficient evidence. It is still not too late for you to withdraw your case yourselves. Otherwise, this will be handled as filing a false police report. Even if the police decide not to pursue your liability, Comrade Cheng Shi and the credit cooperative certainly have the right to do so."

Keeping his composure, Cheng Shi delivered another fatal blow. "According to Article 138 of the 1979 Criminal Law, anyone who fabricates facts to falsely accuse and frame others shall be given criminal punishment determined by the nature, circumstances, consequences, and sentencing standards of the crime alleged. Where state personnel commit the crime of false accusation, they shall be given a heavier punishment."

It wasn't until after 1997 that the crime of false accusation and defamation received precise sentencing guidelines.

The provisions of the current criminal code served more as a deterrent against false accusers, and enforcement could be rather difficult in practice.

Yet, for Cheng Shi at this moment, it was more than enough.

Qian Xiaoying was terrified. Why had the situation flipped around so completely, and so fast?

Not only had Cheng Shi turned the tables, but he had also completely blocked off Liu Construction's future avenue of using the police to ambush him.

Liu Construction's face turned green with rage as he turned the appraisal report over and over in his hands.

A report issued by a municipal appraisal agency, endorsed by the credit cooperative.

The date of the appraisal coincided precisely with the day Cheng Shi took possession of the machine tool.

If Liu Construction dared to challenge it, it would be equivalent to bringing down both of those institutions.

Utterly unwilling yet utterly powerless, he could only choke out, "We remembered incorrectly. We wronged Comrade Cheng Shi."

Cheng Shi said to the police officer, "Comrade Police, the machinery factory clearly attempted to seize this machine tool previously and failed, which is why they deliberately filed a false accusation. Please be sure to uphold the rights and interests of law-abiding private entrepreneurs like us."

*Liu Construction, if you covet someone else's property, buy it from them with money; stop scheming through these crooked paths.*

*You almost dragged us down with you this time, too.*

The police officer was equally incensed. "Comrade Liu Construction, you are a prominent entrepreneur in the city. If you continue to break the law while knowing the law, we will not let you off the hook either."

Dejected, Liu Construction slinked away.

Qian Xiaoying wanted to follow Liu Construction, but she was blocked by the onlookers.

Pointing at her, the crowd shouted, "We recognize her! Yesterday she tried to come here and slander Comrade Cheng Shi for molesting her, only to be exposed and driven out. Today she's cooked up such a sinister scheme again. The police must not let her go!"

"That's right, she's always loitering around this neighborhood lately. Anyone can tell she's no good."

Terrified and with nowhere to hide her shame, Qian Xiaoying cried out, "Factory Director! Wait for me!"

Without even looking back, Liu Construction ignored her completely.

Unwilling to make a bigger scene, the police officer said to the onlookers, "Everyone, disperse and let her leave. She was merely called here to act as a witness."

Reluctantly, the crowd cleared a path.

Hurriedly lowering her head, Qian Xiaoying slipped past.

Cheng Shi shook hands with the police officer. "Many thanks, Comrade Police, for upholding justice on my behalf."

The police officer blushed slightly. "This is only our duty."

He thought to himself: *Thank goodness this kid is sharp, otherwise he really would have been ruined by this petty villain.*

With his own hands, the officer tore off the official seal tape and departed.

The machinery expert also shook hands with Cheng Shi, saying, "I was merely acting in accordance with official duties. Please do not hold it against me, Comrade Cheng Shi."

Cheng Shi smiled. "How could I blame you? You were simply performing your duties based on facts. Besides, you ended up giving me a disguised advertisement."

The professional sighed in admiration. "Comrade Cheng Shi is truly a young man of extraordinary talent and magnanimity."

Director Cao chimed in with his own sigh of relief. "It is a good thing your paperwork and documents were complete. True gold fears no fire."

Cheng Shi apologized, "I am sorry for making you run this errand once again, Director."