Chapter 226: Talk of Reform

No wonder Lei Zhan'ge reacts so strongly; cracking down on smuggling and speculative profiteering is currently the unit's top priority.

Others laboriously inspect up front, while Lu Cheng has to sell them at the back.

Moreover, under a market economy, purchases and sales are unified, prices are set uniformly by the state, and people have become accustomed to this system in their thinking.

Thus people regard smuggled goods as a raging beast, absolutely forbidden from entering the market, yet Lu Cheng thinks they should be divided into categories.

For example, in later times customs also seize many smuggled items; of course, for certain items like drugs or firearms, they are resolutely destroyed— that's a non‑negotiable bottom line.

But for ordinary civilian goods, they are often auctioned, with the proceeds turned over to the treasury or donated.

"Captain Lei, don't be so quick to dismiss. I think, for instance, foreign music tapes constitute a spiritual pollution that seriously erodes revolutionary fighting spirit and poisons revolutionary youth; indeed they must not enter the market.

But items like watches, televisions, and other daily goods are sold at the Friendship Store; such things can fully enter the market."

Lei Zhan'ge hummed through his nose, "The Friendship Store is a regular channel, this is smuggled goods; can they be the same?"

The previous generation's mindset is deeply entrenched; Lu Cheng knows persuading Lei Zhan'ge won't be achieved with just a sentence or two.

"Captain Lei, I think you should change your thinking; these items are indeed smuggled goods, and we should firmly crack down on them.

But for the smuggled goods already seized, we can let them serve the common people in another form."

Lei Zhan'ge didn't understand, "Smuggled goods can still serve the common people?"

Lu Cheng immediately replied, "Of course they can. Where does the money from our sales go? Do we keep it ourselves? Definitely not.

Instead, we must use those funds to build railways, improve facilities, give back to the people, so that their travel experience is better— that's called Resource Reuse."

Lei Zhan'ge frowned lightly at the explanation; Lu Cheng sensed his mindset shifting from firm guard to gradual relaxation.

【7】 "Captain Lei, I once went to a warehouse; seeing that scene, I can't even describe how heartbreaking it was.

【8】 Take those cigarettes, all moldy, and the radios— many were damaged by moisture. Such fine items piled like trash; it's a waste of treasure. When I think of it, my heart aches all night and I can't sleep."

【9】 Seeing Lu Cheng's exaggerated clutch to his chest, Lei Zhan'ge hummed again.

【10】 "You feel sorry because you can't bring them back home, right?"

【11】 "Ahem, Captain Lei, don't think that of me; I am also a great person, and I would never have that cheap‑gain mentality."

【12】 Lei Zhan'ge didn't believe his nonsense, his eyes flicked toward the special‑supply cigarettes in his hand.

【13】 Lu Cheng glanced at the cigarette pack and explained, "Fine, I took a little advantage from you, but that's because we're close. How could I not take advantage of others? If others want me to take advantage, I'd gladly do so."

【14】 Lei Zhan'ge helplessly shook his head, "Alright, alright, that's your reasoning; what else can I say?"

【15】 Seeing Lei Zhan'ge can joke now, the earlier seriousness gone, Lu Cheng pressed on while the iron was hot.

【16】 "Captain Lei, let me ask you a question: how do you think our country's railway development has progressed since the founding?"

Lei Zhan'ge answered without hesitation, "Quite good."

"No, no, saying it's quite good only reflects the current situation; that's as far as we can go. I mean comparatively, for example…"

Lei Zhan'ge leaned back, crossed his hands and sighed, "Compared with other countries, it's certainly not good enough; many railway lines are still the old ones, and many places lack train service, severely affecting national transportation."

Lei Zhan'ge's lifelong dream is to see railways reach every major city, even the Qinghai‑Tibet Plateau, making travel for every household increasingly convenient.

But in this life he will not see it, because achieving that wish still requires a long road ahead.

Watching Lei Zhan'ge fall into thought, Lu Cheng knew that once in such an emotional state, one's mind tends to become sentimental.

"Captain Lei, you are proud, yet you can acknowledge other countries' railway development while recognizing our shortcomings; that alone shows you are adaptable, far better than those who rigidly stick to the rules."

Lu Cheng's words truly struck a chord with Lei Zhan'ge; he fears being labeled an old‑fashioned relic with outdated thinking, so whenever possible he seeks to learn.

"Fine, stop trying to flatter me. No matter how flowery your words, even if we sell those smuggled goods, they won't significantly help railway construction."

Lu Cheng stopped dwelling on the smuggled‑goods issue and steered the conversation elsewhere.

"It may not help much, but Captain Lei, what do you think is the reason our country's railway development has stalled?"

"That's certainly multi‑faceted; first, our industrial base is too weak, industrial construction can't keep up, and the system is insufficiently refined."

"Captain Lei, I acknowledge those points, but what you mention are objective reasons; the macro environment isn't something that can be changed instantly."

"What I want to discuss are subjective reasons, namely individual consciousness…"

Seeing Lei Zhan'ge looking completely confused, Lu Cheng realized his wording was a bit too abstract.

"Ahem, what I mean is that the weak industrial base isn't something a single Train Police Unit or Railway Department can sway."

"But we cannot simply wait—wait for industry to strengthen, for the nation to become richer; before that, we should initiate change ourselves."

Lu Cheng's remark really struck a nerve with Lei Zhan Ge; he fears being called an old relic, his thoughts are outdated, he doesn't understand flexibility, so whenever he gets a chance he will study.

Lu Cheng tapped his head, "Change thinking; thought is the primary productive force, and the practical application of changing thought is called Reform."

"We should continuously implement Reform from within, testing step by step; even if we err, it's fine—by learning from mistakes we can gradually become perfect, and the system will improve step by step."

Lei Zhan'ge fell silent for a while, then, as if exhausted, his whole body could no longer muster spirit.

"I have always thought, even though I'm aging, my body could still work another ten or eight years without issue, but your words today made me feel for the first time…"

Lu Cheng was moved; he owes his rise to becoming a squad leader and being recommended to university to Lei Zhan'ge's protection.

"Captain Lei, you're not old; don't you think my words are…"

Lei Zhan'ge smiled helplessly again, "Hehe, the point of your words is just to persuade me to agree to sell those smuggled goods, right."

"Ahem, what I mean is that the problem of a thin industrial base is not something our Traffic Police Unit, or the Railway Department, can influence."

"But we cannot simply wait because of that—wait for industrial construction to become strong, wait for the nation to become prosperous; before that, we should first make a change."

"\"Change? How to change? \""

Lu Cheng pointed to his head: "Change thinking; thinking is the primary productive force. The practical application of changing thinking is also called Reform."

"We should continuously implement Reform from within, testing step by step; even if we err, it doesn't matter—by summarizing experience from mistakes we can gradually become perfect, and the system will gradually improve."

Lei Zhan'ge fell silent for a good while after listening, and then, as if exhausted, his whole body could not lift any spirit.

"\"I've always thought that, although I'm getting older, my physique could still work another ten or eight years without problem, but your words today made me feel old for the first time; I actually can't grasp what you're saying—perhaps I truly am old... \""

Lu Cheng was somewhat moved upon hearing that; the fact that he could become a full-fledged squad leader today and be recommended to university was all thanks to Lei Zhan'ge protecting him.

"\"Captain Lei, you're not old; you don't think my words are mere nonsense that stir up the crowd, nor do you thunderously slap a label on me, which would prove that your thinking is youthful. \""

Lei Zhan'ge smiled helplessly again: "Hehe, the meaning of what you say is simply to persuade me to agree to sell those Smuggled Goods, right?"