Chapter 221: Request for Help

The snow we've cleared so far is only from the front section; the snow depth there isn't that great.

But the snow in the middle reaches dozens of meters thick, looking from afar like a small hill standing there.

I'm afraid the farther we go, it will take three or five hours just to advance a kilometer.

If we calculate it like this, it indeed matches the earlier estimate: it will take three to four days.

"Director Cheng, this is only just the beginning; it will get harder the further we go."

Cheng Jianhua had only offered words of comfort earlier; everyone on site knows the situation all too well.

"What should we do? Should we make them skip rest, work twenty‑four hours a day without stopping?"

Cheng Jianhua could only say that deliberately; after all, he has done his best.

Lu Cheng couldn't possibly not understand his thinking; he laughed and said, "Director Cheng, you think I'm a ruthless taskmaster. No matter how strict I am, I still can't force everyone to work themselves to death."

The temperature is already low now, and it will only drop further at night; we must give everyone time to rest, eat, drink water, and urinate—none of those can be skipped.

People aren't machines; under ice and snow, working twenty‑four hours straight will inevitably breed complaints.

At this point, those resting on site began to think of solutions.

"Why not lay dry firewood on top, pour gasoline over it, and set it alight?"

"That's a rotten idea; the melted snow water would instantly douse the fire, and the water freezing on the iron rail would make it even harder to clear."

"Then just spread salt."

"That's easy to say, but people can't even get enough to eat; where would we get that much salt?"

"In my opinion, just ram a train into it; the locomotive is sturdy, so repeatedly crash it to carve a path."

"That's pure nonsense; the snow will only become denser with each impact, eventually packing into a mass harder than stone."

"Regardless of hardness, a train isn't a small car; you can't just reverse and keep crashing back and forth!"

"…"

"In the end, it's still a manpower issue; bring in a few dozen more people and we can definitely clear it."

Listening to the on‑site discussion, Lu Cheng asked, "Director Cheng, if we want to finish clearing quickly, the only way is to bring more people. Do you think we can transfer additional workers?"

As long as we have enough hands, we can start work at both ends simultaneously and finish within a day.

Cheng Jianhua shook his head: "Group Leader Lu, you just said the General Bureau issued the order; none of the Railway Branches along the line dare delay. We've already transferred every available worker we can; any further transfers would have to come from the Platform staff."

The Platform staff certainly can't be reassigned; otherwise the platform would be unmanned and would collapse.

Liu Baoquan then thought of a solution.

"Could we mobilize the nearby civilians?"

But Cheng Jianhua still shook his head: "This place is remote; within dozens of kilometers there are no households. Even if there were one or two, calling them over wouldn't achieve much."

Cheng Jianhua's words cast another cloud of gloom over everyone's hearts.

At this point there is no other way; with so many people and tools, we'd need each person to grow three heads and six arms.

Once the break ended, everyone resumed work.

The once‑enthusiastic Lu Cheng now had no desire to work; he squatted on the cleared rail and lit a cigarette.

Being stubborn now is useless; if we can't clear it in a day, whether it takes three or five days, the result is the same—we still fail to deliver the supplies on time.

Wu Zhekun walked over, squatted beside him and said, "If it really doesn't work, I'll contact my dad and see if we can appeal to the Military District."

Lu Cheng exhaled a puff of smoke and looked at Wu Zhekun with surprise.

"You're really caring about Senior Uncle now; you wouldn't even ask for special treatment yourself, yet you're already pleading for special consideration for your Senior Uncle."

Wu Zhekun stood up: "Damn you, pretend I never said that. Rest assured, if you really get shot, I'll collect your body."

Lu Cheng shook his head, stood up, took one last drag, and flicked the cigarette butt to the ground; he had already thought of a plan.

The reason he was smoking now was that he was hesitating whether the other side would help.

After thinking it over, he decided to make a phone call to try.

"Director Cheng, could you take me to make a phone call?"

Cheng Jianhua hurried over, happily saying, "Group Leader Lu, you finally listened to me; I'll take you there right now."

Cheng Jianhua thought Lu Cheng had come to terms—or could no longer bear the pressure—and was going to call the General Bureau to request an extension.

He was about to dial the General Bureau when Lu Cheng pressed his hand down.

"Call Chunshi Yigangchang."

"Chunshi Yigangchang?" Cheng Jianhua looked puzzled. "Group Leader Lu, what is this?"

"Just dial as I said."

Cheng Jianhua, still puzzled, had someone fetch the phone directory, and the call was placed to Chuncheng Yigangchang.

Lu Cheng held the handset: "Hello, is this Zheng Changzhang? My signal here is weak; can you hear me?"

A crackling hiss sounded from the handset, and the other side finally responded.

"Ah, I am. Who are you?"

"Zheng Changzhang, this is Lu Cheng. First, I wish you a happy New Year."

"Lu Cheng?" Zheng Changzhang thought for a moment, then smacked his forehead, recalling, "Isn't this the Train Police who helped deliver the documents with Section Chief Tian Shukuan last time?"

"Ha, I remember now, you're Group Leader Lu, huh? Happy New Year, happy New Year."

When Zheng Changzhang received Lu Cheng's call, he sounded surprised: "Group Leader Lu, are you in Chunshi? Which Guesthouse? I'll send someone to pick you up; come to our Cafeteria for dinner tonight. This time you should drink more, haha."

Recalling the last time at the One Steel Plant Cafeteria, where he was overdrunk and made a huge fool of himself, Lu Cheng dared not drink with them again.

"Thank you for the hospitality, Zheng Changzhang, but I'm not in Chunshi now; I'm over three hundred kilometers away from Chunshi."

Zheng Changzhang was a bit puzzled after hearing that; not being in Chunshi, why call from so far away—just to send New Year greetings?

"Group Leader Lu, you're being overly polite. Thanks for the New Year wishes; next time you come to Chunshi, be sure to contact me. Last time you did such a huge favor for our steel factory, I don't know how to thank you."

When Zheng Changzhang started reminiscing about the previous help, Lu Cheng, who had been at a loss for how to start, went along with the conversation and voiced his own idea.

"Zheng Changzhang, this time I may truly have to trouble you; I am indeed facing some difficulty and need your help."

Zheng Changzhang, after hearing that, immediately became solemn: "Group Leader Lu, go ahead; don't talk about whether you can help or not—if I can do it, I will certainly not hesitate."

With Zheng Changzhang's words, Lu Cheng felt reassured, so he briefly described the situation on site and the requirements.

After listening, Zheng Changzhang asked: "You mean you need to transfer personnel from our Steel Factory and then go to the site for snow removal?"

"Yes, Zheng Changzhang, I truly have no other way now; the nearest person I can reach is you, Zheng Changzhang; what do you think…"

Lu Cheng Jing Jing waited; whether the snow accumulation can be cleared within a day and the supply‑transport task completed now depends on whether Zheng Changzhang is willing to lend a hand.

The nearby Cheng Jianhua thought he had misheard; Lu Cheng was absurdly proposing to draw personnel from the Steel Factory.

The Railway and the Steel Factory are separate systems; on what grounds can they assign staff to help you?