The two people, trapped in immense panic, failed to realize that the more they acted this way, the more it proved their guilt.
If they hadn't done anything more serious, a mere attempted theft would not have been particularly severe. At most, they would lose their jobs, be detained for a while, and pay a fine.
But now, upon hearing Qin Chuan call the police, Sun Zheng and Wu Kai immediately fell to their knees like dogs, wagging their tails and begging Qin Chuan to let them off this time.
Not only was there no pity in Qin Chuan's eyes, but his gaze grew even colder.
He knew very well what this proved; he suspected these two might have committed some more serious offenses.
"Boss, you can't let them off easily. Their guilt is showing; they're afraid something more serious will be discovered," Zheng Cheng Dao whispered to Qin Chuan.
Qin Chuan lit a cigarette, took a deep puff, and exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Of course, we can't let them off. We'll wait for the police to arrive!"
As soon as he finished speaking, lights appeared in the distance, and a car sped towards them.
Sun Zheng and Wu Kai, kneeling on the ground, turned ashen and filled with despair. However, they soon realized that it wasn't a police car approaching, but a familiar figure.
"Boss, what's going on?" Li Chunsheng asked, looking confused at the scene after quickly getting out of the car.
"They were stealing from the factory!" Qin Chuan said, pointing at Sun Zheng and Wu Kai on the ground.
"Deputy Factory Manager Sun? Supervisor Wu?" Li Chunsheng recognized the two men kneeling on the ground, his face filled with shock.
Sun Zheng and Wu Kai's faces turned beet red, wishing they could hide their heads in their laps.
"Uncle Li, go take a look inside the truck. See how much those things are worth? Help me estimate a price!" Qin Chuan instructed Li Chunsheng.
Although still shocked, Li Chunsheng quickly followed the order and climbed into the back of the light truck.
Just then, more car lights appeared in the distance, flashing red and blue, clearly visible in the dark night, accompanied by the sound of sirens.
The police had finally arrived!
Sun Zheng and Wu Kai, still kneeling, trembled uncontrollably, unable to hide their fear. They finally slumped to the ground, their legs giving out.
"Qin Chuan, what's going on?" Xiao Guodong strode over with his men, the crowd naturally parting to let the police through.
"These individuals were stealing from the factory in the middle of the night, illegally taking our assets," Qin Chuan explained. "My people caught them red-handed!"
"Embezzling?" Xiao Guodong raised an eyebrow, then crouched down for a closer look before exclaiming, "Isn't this Deputy Factory Manager Sun and Supervisor Wu?" As prominent figures in the county town, Xiao Guodong knew many people, and as the deputy factory manager and warehouse supervisor of Xinhua Electronics Factory, he naturally recognized Sun Zheng and Wu Kai.
Being recognized by Xiao Guodong, Sun Zheng and Wu Kai's pale faces displayed a complex mix of shame, regret, anger, and resentment. The policemen following Xiao Guodong also looked surprised, as the individuals who had broken the law this time held some influence. If exposed, it would undoubtedly cause a stir throughout the county.
"Boss, these people are too shameless!" Li Chunsheng emerged from the truck bed, his face filled with unconcealed anger. "We absolutely cannot let them off! They must go to jail! Sentenced to ten or eight years!"
"Captain Xiao, he is a newly hired engineer at our electronics factory, named Li Chunsheng. County Mayor Ye knows him." Qin Chuan introduced Li Chunsheng's identity to Xiao Guodong and then immediately asked, "Uncle Li, what happened? Explain clearly!"
Xiao Guodong and his men also turned their gaze to Li Chunsheng and asked, "Did you discover something?"
"I discovered a huge problem!" Li Chunsheng seemed to have witnessed something he could no longer tolerate, his eyes blazing with a fiery light, as if he wanted to beat Sun Zheng and Wu Kai to a pulp. "Those scoundrels are not human!"
"A while ago, I was responsible for inspecting and repairing the machinery, and I found that many machines were missing precious components. This was also a major reason for the low qualification rate of the electronics factory," Li Chunsheng said indignantly. "I asked many people, including these two. Everyone told me that the components were either aged or broken, and had been disposed of as scrap, and could not be found!"
"I never expected that I would find those supposedly lost items in the truck just now!"
"And many of the components are very new, as if they were just removed not long ago. They are not broken at all and are perfectly usable!"
"Tell me, don't these bastards deserve to go to jail?" By the end of his speech, Li Chunsheng became increasingly furious and kicked Sun Zheng and Wu Kai twice each.
As an old engineer who had dedicated his life to scientific research equipment, those precision machinery were his lifeline. He treated them with more care than his wife, meticulously maintaining them. The actions of Sun Zheng and Wu Kai had now touched Li Chunsheng's deepest nerves, making his anger understandable.
Hearing Li Chunsheng's explanation, Qin Chuan's expression grew colder, his gaze like a blade. If Xiao Guodong hadn't been present, he would have ordered the two scoundrels' limbs to be broken. Otherwise, his anger would not have subsided.
As the saying goes, one must guard against thieves outside, but it's hard to guard against those inside. The reason Xinhua Electronics Factory had struggled for so many years was not only the incompetence of its leadership but also the presence of selfish parasites secretly causing damage. They were like the most disgusting ticks, clinging to the nation's strong leg, endlessly sucking blood, never satisfied.
"Uncle Li, how much are the items inside worth in total?" Qin Chuan asked a crucial question. Attempted crimes also depend on their nature. If the amount involved was too large, it would be a different matter entirely.
"I've made a rough estimate. Those components alone, if sold, would fetch at least over a hundred thousand yuan!" Li Chunsheng said.
Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed. Qin Chuan's anger was mixed with a hint of surprise. As for the others, they were all astonished, seemingly never expecting the value to be so high. A hundred thousand yuan was a significant sum in those times, no wonder Sun Zheng and Wu Kai were willing to take such a great risk to steal from within.
Xiao Guodong also felt the gravity of the situation and decisively waved his hand. "Take everyone back!"
"Interrogate them overnight!"
"Yes!" A group of policemen immediately pulled out their handcuffs, shackled Sun Zheng and Wu Kai, and pushed them into the car.
Feeling the cold, heavy silver bracelets on their wrists, everyone's expression was ashen, devoid of any color.
"Qin Chuan, your people will also need to come to the police station!" Xiao Guodong said to Qin Chuan at this point.
"Of course, no problem!" Qin Chuan agreed readily. "Brother Dao, have the brothers switch shifts. The rest of you, come with me!"