Chapter 217: Finally Willing to Speak

Lu Cheng shouted into the phone; it was quite an outburst, and everyone was completely stunned.

Liu Baoquan said with a smile, "Group Leader Lu, you were just too forceful just now; the previous car‑lead supervisors were like soft persimmons, they wouldn't even dare to speak up."

If there's another mission like this, you'll still have to ride along, not for any other reason, just because it feels comfortable.

Lu Cheng laughed along, "Alright then, Liu Master, you go ahead with your work; let me know anytime if anything comes up."

Looking at the gloomy night outside, Lu Cheng prepared to return to the Carriage to continue sleeping.

Wu Zhekun, following behind, said, "I didn't expect it, you're actually quite decisive."

Lu Cheng turned his head and said, "Yo, getting praise from Haodazi, I feel quite honored; how about you say a few more compliments, Senior Uncle loves to hear them."

Wu Zhekun pursed his lips, "Who praised you? If it were me, I'm better than you."

Seeing his competitiveness aroused, Lu Cheng deliberately said, "Alright, why don't you tell me in detail about Lin Zhenfeng, I can let you experience the command authority."

Wu Zhekun opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing.

The few returned to the pitch‑black Carriage, each curled up in their own little nook; although the sleeping conditions were poor, with no decent bed, the many Cotton Quilts piled together were still quite comfortable.

It was finally too late, probably already deep into the night; accompanied by the howling wind outside, everyone fell into a deep sleep.

Lu Cheng rested his hands under his head, stared up at the train carriage but didn't fall asleep.

Clearly Wu Zhekun knew some inside information, but whether it was out of brotherly loyalty or something else, he simply refused to speak about it.

As he kept thinking, he drifted into a hazy sleep; when he woke up the next day, daylight was already bright, and the train had stopped at a Platform.

He opened the Carriage door; Liu Baoquan was downstairs leading people to inspect the train, and the people on the Platform were refueling the train with coal.

"Group Leader Lu, you're up. Get off the train and stretch a bit; the Railway Division has prepared meals for us here. After we finish eating and the coal is mostly refilled, we'll set off."

Hearing that hot meals were available, Lu Cheng told Da Kui and the others to get off the train to eat.

Wu Zhekun knew the Railway Division's meals weren't meant for him, so he consciously stayed on the train.

"Haodazi, why aren't you getting off? Come down, I won't bite you."

Wu Zhekun hesitated a bit; of course he wanted some hot food, his hands and feet were numb from the night's cold.

"Why are you being so nice to me? The questions you want to ask, I can't answer them."

Lu Cheng smiled, "What goes around comes around, anyway, I am your Senior Uncle, that's a fact; you're out in the world, I look after you a bit, isn't that what I should do."

Wu Zhekun still hesitated, but Lu Cheng forcibly pulled him off the train.

The meal was a big bowl of cabbage with vermicelli; although there was no meat, everyone still ate it heartily.

After the meal, the others moved around on the open area, while Lu Cheng took Wu Zhekun to the Railway Division's photo studio.

Wu Zhekun, puzzled, asked, "Why did you bring me here?"

Lu Cheng didn't answer him; instead he shouted toward the studio master inside, "Master, prepare a big red flower, we need to take a photo."

"What photo? I never said we were coming to take pictures," Wu Zhekun said.

Lu Cheng helped him adjust his military uniform, like a father caring for his son, which made Wu Zhekun feel very awkward.

"After all, it's your first time enlisting; back in the Capital City you probably never had a photo taken. This first enlistment will be a memory later, let's take a photo as a keepsake."

Wu Zhekun was suddenly moved; although he said he didn't care that his father didn't see him off, he certainly cared inside.

At such a glorious moment, no one sent him off, and no photo was left behind; saying there's no regret would definitely be false.

"What are you standing there for? The big red flower is ready, put it on quickly; the train is about to depart."

Wu Zhekun didn't hesitate any longer, hurriedly put on the big red flower, and stood under the red backdrop.

"Come, look here, give a smile."

The photo master crawled into the black cloth behind the tripod camera, holding a rubber control switch in his hand.

With a "click", Wu Zhekun's smiling face was captured in 1976.

The photo was taken; Wu Zhekun should have stepped down from the platform, but he hesitated briefly.

"Um… can we take a joint photo?"

Regarding Wu Zhekun's proactive invitation, Lu Cheng was a bit surprised: "Forget it, I'm not a fan of taking photos."

"Then let's take one; here, you're the only one who can represent my family."

Lu Cheng heard that and was amused; Wu Zhekun was treating him as an elder.

But he didn't say it outright, otherwise the guy would instantly get angry and embarrassed.

The two took a joint photo; the picture couldn't be developed that quickly, so Wu Zhekun left his address for it to be mailed later.

Before boarding, Wu Zhekun said, "Thanks for taking me to have my photo taken."

"Alright then, you don't seem like a whiner; as I said, when you're out, Senior Uncle will definitely look after you."

Wu Zhekun nodded, said nothing more, turned and boarded the Carriage; once seated, he took out the receipt from the photo studio and stared off into space.

Perhaps Lu Cheng didn't know; before coming, Wu Zhekun had told his father that he hoped the whole family could take a group photo as a keepsake.

But even this simple request was rejected by his strict father.

His father thought he wanted to have the group photo and then receive special treatment in the Military District.

Wu Zhekun didn't mention how aggrieved he was; he just wanted a memento of his youth, nothing like his father's assumption.

So, looking back, it's a bit laughable: kids from ordinary families get a fanfare when they enlist, but this Chief of Staff's son didn't even have a single photo in uniform.

Another day of travel passed; since Lu Cheng made that phone call last night, the journey has been smooth.

After a day and night together, Da Kui and the others were able to exchange a few words with the soldiers.

That evening, everyone discussed and decided to set up a Large Dormitory; crowding together to sleep would keep them warmer.

The train continued northward, carrying along a trail of wind and snow.

Lu Cheng, after urinating on the outside of the Carriage, turned around and found Wu Zhekun staring at him intently.

He was so frightened that Lu Cheng shivered and almost fell.

"I say, Haodazi, what's this fetish of yours? Do you like watching people pee?"

Seeing that Wu Zhekun remained silent, Lu Cheng shook his head and prepared to go to sleep, but Wu Zhekun suddenly spoke up.

"I want to… talk with you about Lin Zhenfeng."

Lu Cheng unconsciously halted, turned around and said slowly, "You can't possibly be willing to speak just because you were moved by me taking photos for you today, can you? If that's the case, there's no need for you to do that—don't make it seem like moral blackmail. I took photos for you, and that has nothing to do with this matter…"

Wu Zhekun cut in, "I know; precisely because you are pure, I must also be pure."

Lu Cheng stared at him for a moment, then gestured to go to the place where the locomotive is coupled to talk.