Chapter 242: Other Purposes

Lu Cheng held up the telephone handset, and Lei Zhan Ge's eagle eyes just stared like that.

Lu Cheng felt oddly uncomfortable: "Captain Lei, why are you staring at me like that?"

"Hmph, how did I discover the smuggled goods sale? You kid is even more eager than I am!"

Lei Zhan Ge's eagle eyes fixed on him, as if trying to see through Lu Cheng.

The odd thing was that no one had ever been able to hide any thoughts under his eagle eyes, yet this Lu Cheng was a bit incomprehensible to him.

The kid seemed carefree on the surface, as if he had no thoughts, but that was actually a disguise.

When meeting Lei Zhan Ge's eagle eyes, Lu Cheng suddenly realized he was being a bit too hasty.

He laughed as he used to.

"Captain Lei, isn't having ambition a good thing? For the motherland's rejuvenation, for the revolutionary masses' better lives, I think as the new generation we should bow, exhaust ourselves, and selflessly devote—those are our virtues, and also…"

"Stop, stop, don't make yourself sound so great," Lei Zhan Ge said, unable to listen any longer.

"Be honest with me: are you trying to use this smuggled goods sale to get the items into your own home? Let me tell you upfront, if you have that intention, I will remove you from the responsible position."

It wasn't surprising for Lei Zhan Ge to say that; regarding the smuggled goods confiscated in the warehouse, who knows how many people are envious.

But the department has a clear rule that no one may use any item inside, so many of the goods are either broken or rotten.

Therefore Lu Cheng's proposal to sell the items created a loophole, and the department took it very seriously.

This isn't just a sales issue; because it involves smuggling, it's a serious political matter.

Lu Cheng, as the person in charge, is also important; first, his ideological and moral character must pass.

The moment Lei Zhan Ge began questioning his moral character, Lu Cheng instantly became displeased.

"Captain Lei, if you say that, I'm really hurt," Lu Cheng immediately walked to the window.

"Captain Lei, I must state my attitude today. Right now I swear to the heavens, if I take any item home, may Heaven strike me with a thunderbolt…"

Seeing Lei Zhan Ge still looking skeptical, Lu Cheng then noticed the Red Book on the table.

"Captain Lei, you may not believe in Heaven…" Lu Cheng directly picked up the Red Book.

"Today I solemnly swear on the Red Book: if I ever take anything home, may five thunderbolts strike me, and even dead I won't deserve to be a revolutionary soldier."

When Lei Zhan Ge saw Lu Cheng raise the Red Book, he involuntarily stood up.

In this era, swearing on the Red Book is the heaviest oath.

However, Lei Zhan Ge couldn't figure out why, when previously he swore to Heaven and now swears on the Red Book, Lu Cheng seemed to add the word "later."

"Did you take anything before?"

"Before?" Lu Cheng chuckled, "Before I only took two packs of cigarettes."

Seeing Lei Zhan Ge's eyes widen, Lu Cheng hurriedly explained: "Mainly they were all moldy; my mother often says, you don't feel bad when you eat something, but you feel bad when it spoils."

Of course, public interests are sacred and inviolable; on that point, my mother's upbringing has serious issues, I deeply reflect on my mother, and from now on I will never repeat such mistakes.

Lei Zhan Ge was speechless; considering Lu Cheng was fairly honest, he didn't bother to argue further.

"The results should appear within two days; the department has already passed it in a meeting, and now they're tweaking the plan you provided, then will issue a public notice."

Since it was already approved, Lu Cheng felt reassured and could now go find his sister for a detailed discussion.

The afternoon meeting was set at Zhao Zhangfeng's office, and two heads of the Street Office were also summoned.

Before entering, Lu Cheng asked Lu Ying: "Sis, you didn't get too specific with them, did you?"

"No, what you mentioned isn't certain, so I didn't go into detail."

"That's fine; later you don't need to say much, just follow my arrangements, and I'll ensure your director authority expands a bit."

"Really? Then when sis gets her wages, I'll buy you a secondhand bicycle."

"Another secondhand one?"

"You only deserve a secondhand bike."

Lu Cheng pursed his lips, then walked into the room; Zhao Zhangfeng saw him and waved.

"Come, Lu Cheng, let me introduce you: this is Li and Xiao, directors of the Jianguomen Street Office."

Lu Cheng shook hands one by one, and after everyone sat down, Zhao Zhangfeng spoke first.

"Director Li, Director Xiao, this is Lu Cheng, the one I mentioned before; the Tea Stall, as a collective unit, owes its current success entirely to Lu Cheng's efforts."

Director Li gave him a glance, surprised at his youth.

"Hello, Comrade Lu Cheng, you have done a great favor for our Tea Stall; on behalf of the Street Office, I thank you."

Director Xiao continued: "Indeed, the young people's minds are sharp. I previously talked with Director Li, and didn't expect a tiny Tea Stall could place a lot of labor for our Street Office; now there are about fifteen people, right?"

Zhao Zhangfeng nodded: "Yes, but the Tea Stall's shop space is small; even fifteen people can't all fit."

Director Xiao said: "If they don't fit, we have to squeeze more. Recently our Street Office received three or four Educated Youth; other units really can't place them, and the Tea Stall is effective, so we might as well assign them there."

Zhao Zhangfeng looked troubled: "There are too many key people, nowhere to station them, only that tiny space."

Director Li added: "If there's no place to station them, they'll stand outside; the weather should be warm anyway. By the way, didn't we say our Tea Stall would cooperate with the train station to sell goods? We're short on manpower."

Today Zhao Zhangfeng called the two directors over specifically to discuss this matter.

Everyone's gaze turned toward Lu Cheng.

"Lu Cheng, now both Street Office directors are here; have you settled your matter?"

Lu Cheng had been left hanging for a while; seeing the conversation finally turn to him, he sat up straight and said,

"It's definitely settled, just some issues arose in the middle."

Zhao Zhangfeng asked: "What situation?"

Being able to cooperate with Beijing Station to sell goods made the Street Office quite happy; they were worrying how to allocate surplus labor.

Upon hearing there was a problem, the two from the Street Office also grew nervous.

Lu Cheng, seeing the atmosphere settle, finally spoke: "I wasn't thinking earlier; because my sister works at the Tea Stall, I wanted to actively help make this happen…"

Zhao Zhangfeng cut in: "Right, Ying Ying is now in charge of managing the Tea Stall; you must support your sister's work."

The other two directors also echoed, "Yes, yes."

Lu Cheng nodded and said, "Hmm, I did think that before, but now our bureau is inclined to cooperate with the State‑owned Store."

Upon hearing Lu Cheng's words, the three exchanged glances, wondering why they were cooperating with the State‑owned Store again.

Only Lu Ying looked around without voicing an opinion; she knew her brother was full of scheming ideas, and that his words must have another purpose.