Chapter 180: Commendation Event

Lu Cheng is now absolutely a friend of women; wherever he is on duty, he can blend in with the female comrades on the train.

Seeing the hopeful little glances from the few young women beside him, Lu Cheng felt a pang of remorse.

Just as he was about to refuse Lei Zhan Ge's invitation again, a female comrade stood up from the front row—it was his wife Lin Qingyan.

Lin Qingyan has now officially started working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it is said that as soon as she arrived, she was privately dubbed the "most beautiful translator."

Lin Qingyan doesn't really like that nickname; she's not there to be a decorative vase—she wants people to see her translation ability.

Lin Qingyan could attend the event because she was part of the delegation to West Germany, and this time she came together with Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel.

Seeing his wife present, Lu Cheng reluctantly set aside his thoughts and moved to the front row, a move that inevitably hurt a few women's feelings, though he often hurts women's hearts.

Under Lei Zhan Ge's introduction, Lu Cheng shook hands with several Deputy Director-Generals from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Finally, Lei Zhan Ge pointed at Lin Qingyan: "I don't need to say anything about her."

Lu Cheng smiled and nodded, extending his hand proactively: "Hello, Comrade Lin Qingyan."

Lin Qingyan was initially startled, then also extended her hand: "Hello, Comrade Lu Cheng."

Lei Zhan Ge beside them looked speechless: "What, are you two always this polite?"

Not at all; it's practically like treating each other as honored guests, even needing a curtain at night when they sleep.

Sometimes Lin Qingyan gets up at night and pees in the bedside urinal, and the splashing water sound is unbearably torturous.

That's because he's a gentleman; any other man would have lost his composure long ago.

Lu Cheng laughed and said, "Public is public, private is private; for such an important event involving two departments, it naturally has to be more formal."

Lei Zhan Ge shook his head: "Fine, sit next to me."

Lu Cheng glanced at the seating; he was in the first row, with a few seats empty in the middle, and leaders from various department committees on both sides.

Given Lei Zhan Ge's Deputy Hall rank, he could only sit on the sides, so the middle must be occupied by a high‑ranking big shot.

Still, sitting in the first row is indeed nice; it's close to the stage, and everything above can be taken in at a glance.

However, several group leaders in the third row, upon seeing Lu Cheng in the first row, immediately started voicing their discontent.

"What? We're all group leaders; how did Lu Cheng sit with the leaders in the first row? What gives him the right?"

"You didn't notice? Didn't see his wife over there? I heard she's with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and this time he scored big by buying a warship—this kid is riding his wife's glory."

Apparently hearing the gossip, Lu Cheng turned around and waved his hand to greet the group leaders behind him.

The group leaders gave a forced, insincere smile in response.

Deng Hairong couldn't help shouting: "I say Group Leader Lu, why are you sitting up front? Come, come, we saved a seat here for you."

At the end‑of‑month assessment, the Sixth Group performed the worst, yet they still ran to sit in the first row, making the group leaders' teeth ache with resentment.

Lu Cheng replied: "Sorry, group leaders, we can't be on the same front today; let's fight side by side another day."

Deng Hairong pursed his lips and said nothing more.

As a comrade stepped onto the stage, he gave the opening remarks, and then amid the audience's enthusiastic applause, the Deputy Minister led several department comrades to sit at the pre‑arranged table on the stage, among them Tang Qiusheng.

After the Deputy Minister sat down, he habitually tapped the red cloth microphone in front of him, producing a harsh buzzing sound.

"Comrades, good afternoon, everyone…"

Another burst of enthusiastic applause followed, and Lu Cheng clapped along; he hadn't expected the event to be so important that the Deputy Minister attended in person.

No wonder—this retired warship generated several million yuan of profit for the department, and everyone from top to bottom was overjoyed.

For this event, they went all out, putting on a grand show to flaunt before other brotherly department committees.

Following tradition, the Deputy Minister first summarized the year's work, then speculated about next year, before moving on to the main event.

The commendation is about to begin.

First, the Deputy Minister, on behalf of the department committees, thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its assistance during the West Germany trip.

The department decided to allocate one hundred thousand yuan as a gratitude fund to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Several directors below the stage showed surprised expressions; the Railway Department's generosity was indeed lavish.

However, the warship's profit exceeded three million yuan, so the ten thousand is just a drop in the bucket.

Besides thanking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Minister highlighted Lei Zhan Ge's achievements at Beijing Station in recent years with a brief exposition.

Adding his outstanding contribution in negotiating the purchase of the warship, the department decided to raise Lei Zhan Ge's administrative treatment to Chief Hall Official Rank.

Of course, his position didn't change; Lei Zhan Ge remains the Beijing Station Transit Police Team Captain. It's not that the department refuses to assign another post; Lei Zhan Ge simply wants to fight on the front lines.

The department is also troubled by this; it's rare for a Chief Hall Official‑ranked official to serve as a small team leader, yet Lei Zhan Ge handles it quite comfortably.

When Lei Zhan Ge took the stage to receive his promotion documents, Lu Cheng led the applause, and the hall rang with thunderous clapping.

Everyone knows Lei Zhan Ge's deeds and understands he is someone who can sacrifice everything for revolutionary work.

So when they saw Lei Zhan Ge promoted to Chief Hall Official, everyone offered heartfelt congratulations.

Lu Cheng also saw that the usually stern Lei Zhan Ge rarely showed a smile.

Lu Cheng knows Lei Zhan Ge isn't interested in promotions, yet this elevation to Chief Hall Official still allows him to remain a team leader.

At the same time, the higher administrative treatment means higher pay, which means Da Kui's three children can eat a bit more.

That's the reason Lei Zhan Ge smiled.

Among those clapping, only Lin Qingyan looked troubled.

With essentially everyone having been commended, Lei Zhan Ge, as the final headliner, signaled the end of the commendation action.

Yet Lu Cheng, who proposed the warship purchase, didn't receive a single word of praise.

When the adjacent Lin Qingyan voiced her doubts, Lu Cheng seemed completely indifferent.

"Sigh, I didn't go to West Germany, so I didn't contribute anything; besides, pulling back the warship provides funds to build trains and add a few lines next year, so my chances of becoming a police chief have only increased."

Lin Qingyan was quite surprised: "Whether the chance of becoming a police chief is high, I don't know; but your scope has certainly broadened."

Lu Cheng leaned his head forward, pointed at the Deputy Minister on the stage, and whispered, "Do you see that spot right in the middle? One day that seat will be mine; to become a big shot of that rank, you need a broad vision."

Lin Qingyan lifted the corner of her mouth in a smile, but in her heart she still felt a bit protective of Lu Cheng.

Regarding the warship matter, she knows the only reward Lu Cheng received was the Handgun that Lei Zhan Ge gave him.

At the very least, the department should make a remark, even if it's just a single mention at the assembly.

If he could appear at a full‑staff assembly, it would greatly aid Lu Cheng's future official career.

If so, might his mother also look at Lu Cheng with newfound respect?