Chapter 116: The Translator Who Knows the Ins and Outs

If you want to go to West Germany, you need to know German; Lei Zhan Ge is a big clumsy brute who knows no foreign languages, so finding a reliable translator is very necessary.

Lu Cheng tentatively asked, "Captain Lei, have you found a translator yet?"

"Where would I look for a translator? The Department Committee could step in, but actually the team has nothing to arrange except a translator; otherwise I want to set off tomorrow, so negotiate quickly and bring the warship back quickly."

Lei Zhan Ge can't wait a moment; the longer it drags, the more other issues arise.

"Then when can we find a translator?"

Captain Lei looked over, "Why do you keep asking about the translator?"

Lu Cheng smiled, "I'm just checking in; I share your feeling and also want to get the train built quickly."

Captain Lei nodded, "It's good that you have this resolve. As for the translator, you won't find one that quickly; you know the current situation—finding someone proficient in foreign languages and well‑informed is quite hard, so we have to wait for now."

Seeing Lu Cheng say nothing more, Captain Lei thought he was so enlightened that he was worrying about this.

"Alright, Xiao Lu, you have a few days off; you don't need to worry about this. Ah, go back first."

Lu Cheng turned, walked two steps, then turned back, "Captain Lei, how about I recommend a translator for you?"

Captain Lei was surprised, "You recommend a translator? Do you know anyone in that field? Someone well‑informed? This is a big matter; all actions must be kept secret."

"Rest assured, Captain Lei, absolutely well‑informed; the translator I'm talking about is actually my lover."

"Your lover?"

"Yes, she not only knows German, English, Russian, but several other languages."

Captain Lei glanced at Wang Fengshi beside him; both looked quite surprised.

"Didn't see it coming—you're so lucky, you even married a talented woman! Still, I can't believe it. If she's really that capable, she's not an ordinary person."

"Please don't doubt it, Captain; my lover truly knows them, and I've even been learning Russian with her lately."

"You're learning Russian? Then I doubt it even more," Captain Lei shook his head.

Lu Cheng immediately said, "I am indeed learning; we have an international train line to the old Russian side, so I thought to study it, and later it will be useful."

Seeing Captain Lei still not believing, Lu Cheng realized he had to show a bit, but although he said he'd learn Russian with Lin Qingyan, he was too lazy and never actually studied.

He could only blurt out a few nonsense lines; after all, Captain Lei wouldn't understand.

"Don't believe it, huh? Let me make up two sentences…"

cough cough... the clatter of a cruel kindness in the darkness, a futile support for Qin's withered, pale form, and Baga's tooth road in the north thudding black...

Captain Lei frowned, turned to Wang Fengshi, "What… does he mean?"

Wang Fengshi looked bewildered, "Captain Lei, how could I understand Russian?"

Captain Lei scratched his head, "But… I hear a Japanese sentence in there!"

Lu Cheng hurriedly explained, "No, no, I probably mixed them up because I've also been learning German lately."

Captain Lei perked up, "Oh? Then give me two sentences! I can get used to it in advance."

A futile support for Qin's withered, pale form clatters, a merciless kindness wanders the darkness, and the northern road thunders white...

"Why is it white again?"

Captain Lei kept scratching his head, full of doubt, "Is this German? How does it sound so similar to the Russian just now!"

"Heh, Captain Lei, I'm just starting to learn, my skill is rough, so an accent is inevitable."

Lu Cheng forced a sentence, and Captain Lei thought that was the logic—no foreign language is that easy to learn, especially for someone like Lu Cheng trying to learn two at once.

"Kid, you have great ambition. Since you can actually make two sentences, it shows your lover truly knows multiple languages. What's her name? Bring her over so I can see."

Lu Cheng replied immediately, "Her name is Lin Qingyan; she works at the tea stall in front of Jing Zhan Guang Chang. I can call her right now."

"Wait a moment!" Captain Lei reached out, "Qing Yan? Isn't her father Lin Zhenfeng?"

"Yes, Captain Lei, do you know her father?"

Captain Lei sighed, "No wonder she knows multiple languages. I said she's not an ordinary person; ordinary folks don't have such training conditions. So it's Xiao Qing Yan!"

"Back in the war, I worked with her grandfather a few times. Her father, I know, was the former Deputy Bureau Chief of the Metallurgical Bureau. I've also seen this child; she was not only beautiful from a young age but also a versatile girl in the Grand Courtyard."

Captain Lei, recalling the past, looked at Lu Cheng, "Ha, I didn't expect you, kid, to marry her! You really climbed a high branch."

Lu Cheng: "Hah, what high branch to climb? Her family is already like this; climbing my branch would be about the same."

Captain Lei pointed a finger, "You kid are still not satisfied! Qing Yan is a fine girl; you know how many sons of high‑ranking families used to compete to take her as a daughter‑in‑law?"

Lu Cheng laughed, "Alright, alright, call it my lucky break! Since Captain Lei also thinks she's good, and you are well‑informed, why not let her be your translator?"

Captain Lei hesitated, "Having her as my translator would be enough, but…"

Lu Cheng knew what he was hesitating about, "You're worried about her father's situation."

Captain Lei: "What is there for me to worry about? Disasters don't reach the children. Xiao Qing Yan isn't an easy case; I'm just afraid that using her won't pass the Department Committee's scrutiny, since Lin Zhenfeng's affairs have considerable impact."

Lu Cheng, unwilling to give up, "If it's political vetting you're worried about, we can present her as my lover; our family's three generations can be checked at will. She's now my wife, unrelated to Uncle Lin, and with Captain Lei's backing, there should be no problem."

That is a suggestion, after all finding a multilingual translator isn't easy.

Captain Lei, thoughtful, "First tell me, why are you pushing so hard to recommend Xiao Qing Yan?"

Lu Cheng straightened his chest, "I'm not trying to… I want to do my part for our Beijing Station; as a family member, I should have this resolve…"

"Honestly!"

Lu Cheng nodded, "Nothing can be hidden from Captain Lei; I indeed have a condition."

Captain Lei realized he was holding something back, "As a Beijing Station railway employee, doing my part for the station, and now you bring up a condition?"

"Then, consider it my personal request."

"Tell me then."

Lu Cheng inhaled, "It's still about Qing Yan's father. The New Year is near; she misses her parents terribly and hopes Captain Lei can arrange a meeting for them."

Captain Lei hesitated, hands behind his back, pacing the courtyard several times, then after stopping said, "What if I don't help this favor?"

"That's fine, Captain Lei. I said, doing my part for our Beijing Station is my duty; even if you don't help, I'll still have Qing Yan serve as your translator."

"You really know how to retreat as advancement, always making it sound pitiful, sigh!" Captain Lei shook his head helplessly, thought a while before finally deciding.

"How about this: if this trip to West Germany can successfully bring back the warship, I'll help; if not, then let it be."

It can be seen that Lei Zhan Ge either doesn't want to help, or simply doesn't want to get involved in such a matter.

Lu Cheng also knows this kind of request puts Lei Zhan Ge in a bit of a bind; fortunately, Lei Zhan Ge hasn't outright rejected it, so there's still a chance.