Chapter 104: Misunderstanding

The assault on the passenger—he already took responsibility, took the scolding, had points deducted; why does Lei Zhan'ge still make his teammate stand as a penalty?

Lu Cheng hurried over, and Wang Fengshi, seeing that stance and then the three people standing in the courtyard, realized something.

"Hey Group Leader Lu, Group Leader Lu, stay back, stay back…"

"I can't stay back, I'm going to find Captain Lei!"

"Captain Lei is in the office discussing matters with people from the General Bureau; you can't go in right now."

"I'll say a word and leave, won't hold him up." Lu Cheng walked briskly, then suddenly stopped.

"Director Wang, I'm not targeting you! Do you think Captain Lei handles things like this? It was my order, unrelated to those three; if he wants to punish, he can punish me. What does it mean to make those three stand as a penalty?"

You keep saying you're looking after three kids; isn't that pretentious? In this cold weather, standing for three days—aren't you afraid they'll freeze? It's a waste, even Da Kui's father once shielded him from a bullet.

Even though Lu Cheng's words were full of accusation, Wang Fengshi actually seemed pleased to hear them.

"Group Leader Lu, it's not what you think, it's a misunderstanding…"

Lu Cheng extended his hand: "You're Captain Lei's secretary, you must speak well of him—that's human nature. So it's not too much for me to say something on behalf of Da Kui and the others. I have to see Captain Lei, Captain Lei, Captain Lei!"

"Hey Group Leader Lu, Group Leader Lu!"

Lu Cheng ignored the obstruction, headed straight for the office; at that moment the door opened, and Lei Zhan'ge stood there.

Wang Fengshi apologetically said, "Captain Lei, sorry, I didn't stop you."

Lei Zhan'ge glanced and said, "Could you have stopped him? This is the minister's office; you can't stop him either."

Wang Fengshi nodded, having jumped trains twice—he's famous in the Railway Department; a person who doesn't even care about his own life, truly fearless.

Lei Zhan'ge looked at Lu Cheng again and gestured, "Come in."

Lu Cheng didn't bother with politeness, walked straight in, and was taken aback when he saw only one person sitting inside.

"Director Tang, you… you're here."

Tang Qiusheng turned his head, smiling, "Hello, Comrade Xiao Lu."

Lu Cheng replied, "You see, I'm still interrupting your conversation."

Tang Qiusheng laughed, shaking his head, "You, you only have a mouth left; you've said all the nice things, what else can I say?"

Regarding Lu Cheng's uninvited arrival, Lei Zhan'ge didn't seem surprised and tossed a cigarette over.

Lu Cheng didn't take it: "Captain Lei, you don't need to flatter me. Short hands eat short mouths—that principle I understand. Let's get straight to business."

Lei Zhan'ge was stunned for a moment, then laughed heartily, "Old Tang, you heard that, right? At my rank and age, you think I'm flattering him?"

Tang Qiusheng laughed along.

Lu Cheng didn't laugh, "Captain Lei, we…"

Lei Zhan'ge smiled and nodded, "Technically, I don't need to explain anything to a newly regularized junior comrade like you, but you're doing it for Da Kui and the others, so I thank you on their behalf."

"As for their standing‑penalty, that wasn't my intention."

"Not your intention?"

Lu Cheng asked in confusion, and Wang Fengshi quickly explained, "Group Leader Lu, it really is a misunderstanding. They aren't being penalized, or rather, they are, but they chose to penalize themselves."

Lu Cheng was even more puzzled, "Why would they punish themselves? They're just full and comfortable!"

Wang Fengshi retorted, "If you ask like that, I'm also curious—what's the huge charisma of Group Leader Lu? Even Captain Lei's words, they don't listen to."

Seeing Lu Cheng still didn't get it, Wang Fengshi patted his shoulder, "It's because your Sixth Group deducted a point; the three of them felt guilty and used standing as self‑punishment."

"Of course, there's also the intention to pressure Captain Lei not to deduct that point."

"So that's it. The point deduction was Captain Lei's decision, immutable. Their action clearly has no effect; standing there as a penalty—aren't they fools?"

At this point Lei Zhan'ge took over, saying, "The three are simple‑hearted, more stubborn than I am. I can see you're sincere in caring for them; otherwise you wouldn't ask them to punish themselves by standing."

Lu Cheng didn't know what to say, but felt moved inside—for these three fools.

Rarely seeing Lu Cheng speechless, Lei Zhan'ge, smoking, teased, "I recall someone in the corridor just now called me pretentious."

Lu Cheng reacted quickly, "Who, who said that? Director Wang, was it you?"

Wang Fengshi was stunned, "When did I say that? You're pinning it on me. Fine, I get it—whoever stands with you is unlucky; I'll keep my distance."

Lu Cheng laughed, "Then Captain Lei, no one said that; you heard wrong."

"Well, that's me being presumptuous today, Director Tang, you continue your chat; I'll step out and sort out those three."

Lu Cheng was about to leave when Lei Zhan'ge called him, "Leaving already?"

Lu Cheng turned back, "Captain Lei, I've already apologized; you, a senior revolutionary comrade, should overlook a junior's fault, right? When an old revolutionary comrade makes things difficult for a junior revolutionary comrade, people would say you're nitpicking! Isn't that so, Director Tang?"

Tang Qiusheng pulled his chair back, "I'd better keep my distance from you; I can't argue with you."

"You see, I'm speaking the truth…"

Lei Zhan'ge waved his hand, "Alright, I'm not criticizing you. Director Tang is here on behalf of the General Bureau to issue orders; you should sit down and listen."

While Lu Cheng hesitated, Wang Fengshi said, "Group Leader Lu, the next Jingguang Line train departs at eleven; you stay here for now. I'll go talk to Da Kui's side and get them to stop standing."

"Oh, then I'll trouble you, Director Wang; I'll sit down and study a bit."

Lu Cheng picked up the cigarette on the table and handed it to Tang Qiusheng: "Director Tang, you smoke this one, I'll smoke the remaining pack."

"Alright, thanks, Comrade Xiao Lu."

Lu Cheng lit Tang's cigarette, then took another for himself, slipped the half‑pack left into his pocket, and then brushed the tea‑leaf box on the table.

"Captain Lei, your tea is good, is it pu'er? I'll brew some later; the Jingguang Line's round trips take many days, perfect for a pick‑me‑up, otherwise I can't endure."

Lei Zhan'ge pointed at Lu Cheng, facing Tang Qiusheng with a helpless expression.

"Old Tang, you've seen it, right? Every time you come you have to bring me something; I now regret taking it from Xiao Zhou."

Tang Qiusheng exhaled smoke and laughed, "Comrade Xiao Lu has a good temperament; wherever he goes he gets along with people. If you don't want that, I'll transfer him back to the bureau office; there's someone to talk to, it'll be a good distraction."

Lei Zhan'ge hurried, "Hey Old Tang, that won't do. I didn't say no, so why are you still snatching people? If you keep doing this, get out of my office right now."

Tang Qiusheng quickly waved his hand, "Haha, just kidding with you. I'd never be able to snatch you, Old Lei; let's get down to business."