Chapter 130: Snowbound Road

Unlike later times, snow‑clearing equipment is well developed; even when a massive blizzard hits, there are various large machines that can remove snow.

For example, large track snowplows, wind‑powered snow removal, heat‑powered snow removal, various snow‑crushing and ice‑breaking devices, etc.

But in the present era, snow‑clearing equipment is outdated and worn; light snow is manageable, but thick accumulations must be cleared by hand.

So Feng Jin Long, upon receiving the news, was still somewhat worried.

The north gets a lot of snow, and the fear is that trains cannot run, getting stranded midway; with so many passengers on the train and the severe cold, all the Railway workers along the line, including onboard staff, face a harsh test.

"Group Leader Lu, it seems this Jingha Line isn't going smoothly and will affect your assessment score," Feng Jin Long pulled out a cigarette, half teasing, half helpless.

No one wanted to go to the Jingha Line, but Lu Cheng's team volunteered.

Lu Cheng took the offered cigarette without a hint of objection and said, "Captain Feng is joking; whether the results are good or not, someone has to come, and that's my primary duty."

Feng Jin Long exhaled a puff, smiling, "Enlightened, I've long heard of Group Leader Lu's heroic deeds; with you stationed on the Jingha Line, I believe no difficulty is insurmountable."

Lu Cheng flicked the ash, "Captain Feng is flattering me; tell me directly what you need me to do."

Feng Jin Long nodded slightly and gave a brief rundown of the current situation.

"This sudden blizzard at Gongzhuling is an emergency; although the Railway Branch along the line has begun snow removal, the snowfall is so heavy it could affect our train. Your Train Police team must ensure passenger calming to prevent unrest," he said.

There is still a day's journey to Gongzhuling; if the heavy snow stops and snow removal is timely, the impact will be minimized.

Lu Cheng stood up, "Understood, Captain Feng, don't worry."

Leaving the Train Captain's office, Lu Cheng called Da Kui and a few others over and briefed them on the blizzard.

Chang Jinbu asked, "Should we notify the passengers now?"

Lu Cheng shook his head, "No need; it may not affect anything yet, so there's no need to inform passengers in advance and cause confusion. If there is a real impact, the Broadcast Room will announce it; just keep yourselves informed."

There's nothing pressing on the train for now; when it's Lu Cheng's turn to rest, he simply lies down in the Bunk Car and sleeps deeply.

In the early afternoon, Niu Da Kui stood by the window and announced, "It's snowing."

Lu Cheng opened his sleepy eyes; indeed, fine snowflakes were drifting outside, fluttering about as the train moved and the wind blew.

He hadn't expected that there was still a long stretch before Gongzhuling, and the surrounding area had already begun snowing.

Fortunately, the Jingha Line trains are equipped with heating, albeit the primitive coal Boiler system, which keeps the Carriage at about sixteen degrees.

Later‑era residential heating settles at this temperature; no matter how you look for it, the phrase is that it meets the standard heating temperature.

Approaching the window, Lu Cheng stretched lazily; the view was a plain blanketed in endless white, with occasional crooked‑necked trees standing solitary in the fields.

"Da Kui, go check each Carriage; close any windows that are open so the cold air doesn't come in."

"Yes, Group Leader!"

Seeing Niu Da Kui's determined expression, Lu Cheng followed him.

The Carriage was stifling, and some motion‑sick passengers wanted to open a window for fresh air.

He had just ordered all windows shut; Niu Da Kui obeyed, but forcibly closing them would inevitably spark more arguments.

Inside the Carriage, passengers were quite harmonious, unaffected by the snow; in fact, many children pressed against the windows, exhaling warm breath to draw shapes for play.

Like‑minded male comrades gathered, drinking and bragging about everything under the sun.

After patrolling the Carriage for a while, a long "whooo" wail came from the locomotive, and the train began to slow gradually.

Many passengers started curious chatter; some stuck their heads out the window, yet no one knew what was happening—why was the train slowing down all of a sudden?

At that moment, the broadcast sounded, and from its announcement everyone learned that heavy snow was blocking the road near Gongzhuling, so the train had to decelerate in advance to give the Railway workers along the line enough time to clear snow.

Soon, complaints rose throughout the Carriage; the green‑skin train, already slow, had now dropped to ten kilometres per hour.

At this rate, when will we ever get home?

"Comrade Train Police, what's going on? With the snow, the train won't run? I thought the train was convenient; I've never dared to take a long‑distance bus, and this is such a delay!"

"Yes, I'm out on business; the Introduction Letter gave me only a week, and your delay means I can't finish my work."

"Comrade Train Police, you all think of a solution quickly; we can't have our time delayed…"

Listening to the rising tide of complaints, Lu Cheng waved his hands and tried to soothe them.

"Everyone, don't be anxious; the train hasn't stopped, it's just temporarily slowing. Once the track ahead clears, speed will resume immediately. Please be patient."

Obviously everyone is traveling far and has business to attend to; no one wants to waste time on the train.

"How are we supposed to be patient when there's no word on when the line will reopen? We can't wait forever; we need a concrete time."

"Yes, whether it's an hour or a day, we need a reliable estimate; if it's too long, we'll hold the Railway accountable for our losses."

Lu Cheng kept his hands out, soothing, "Sorry, everyone, this is a natural disaster; the heavens won't heed me. I can't say when the road ahead will clear, so please remain patient…"

"Group Leader Lu, Group Leader Lu, Captain Feng is calling you."

Hearing the call, Lu Cheng turned and saw it was the same Train Staff who had called him earlier.

Captain Feng was looking for him, surely about the blizzard's impact.

"Got it, I'll be right there."

Lu Cheng replied, then briefed Liu Jian'an and a few others, urging them to do their best to calm the passengers.

He then entered the Train Captain's office and, upon entering, saw, besides the Train Captain, a young man wearing glasses.

"Captain Feng, just as you anticipated, we learned that the heavy snow ahead has blocked the road; the Carriage is indeed a bit chaotic, but Captain Feng, please rest assured, everything is within controllable range…"

Captain Feng waved his hand, "Group Leader Lu, in the Carriage I'm not worried; they're just momentarily emotional and will settle soon. I called you here for another matter."

Lu Cheng took the handed Introduction Letter, and before opening it, glanced at the bespectacled young man beside him.

He feared that what Captain Feng was about to say concerned this young man.