Chapter 248: Solving the Snow Removal Problem

For Lu Cheng, going to university is indeed an important matter, but in his work he also doesn't want to waste three years.

If graduating after three years would grant Section-level Treatment, then Lu Cheng could, during those three years, get promoted early to regular Section, and then after graduation perhaps directly receive Division-level Treatment.

Having a Division-level cadre in one's twenties can't be said to be nonexistent, but it is definitely very rare.

So the Police Chief Position, he still has to fight for.

Lei Zhan Ge didn't expect this kid's ambition to be quite big; he took a sip of tea and said.

"Others who have a chance to go to university would wish to stay at school every day, to fully enjoy college life; you, on the other hand… after having your workload reduced, you still think about doing something else."

Lu Cheng laughed and said, "Captain Lei, I also want to be a young entrant into the department."

Lei Zhan Ge set down his teacup: "It's good for a young person to want to improve! Then tell me, what do you need me to support you in doing?"

Seeing that Lei Zhan Ge was willing to listen, Lu Cheng sat up straight.

"Captain Lei, since arriving at Beijing Station, I haven't been short of duties on the Jingha Line, including the last time transporting military supplies; through these several train duties, I discovered the Jingha Line faces a huge problem: snow removal."

Lei Zhan Ge didn't know exactly what he wanted to say, but upon hearing Lu Cheng mention the snow removal issue, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Ah, the snow removal problem each winter has always been the most headache‑inducing for the Northeast Railway Bureau; in the past we mainly relied on manual snow removal, using iron shovels and brooms to gradually clear the snow on the Iron Rail. Light snow was manageable, but during a blizzard, often the front would be cleared while a thick layer fell behind."

"However, compared to before, now it's much better; through research and design by our Railway Ministry Scientific Research Institute, and manufactured by the Railway Ministry‑directly affiliated Shencheng Vehicle Factory, a Large Plow‑Type Snow Removal Machine was produced, greatly liberating manpower."

The Railway Ministry Scientific Research Institute that Lei Zhan Ge mentioned, its full name is the Railway Ministry Scientific Research Institute; it can be said to be the brain of railway technology and the general staff department.

Normally, construction technology, communication technology, train manufacturing technology, etc., on the Railway are all researched and designed by the Railway Ministry Scientific Research Institute.

Shencheng and Ha City also have research institutes; being on the front line of Northeast snow disasters, with demand and experience as a basis, they often put forward the initial concepts, then hand them over to the Railway Ministry Scientific Research Institute for design and development.

Later, the entities responsible for turning the drawings into physical objects are the various large factories subordinate to the Railway Ministry.

For example, the Plow‑Type Snow Removal Machine that Lei Zhan Ge mentioned was produced by the combined effort of the entire railway system.

This kind of snow removal machine still borrowed farmers' ideas, because it looks like a farming plow, but is much larger than a farm plow.

It hangs at the very front of the locomotive, then relies on the train's huge thrust to push the snow on the Iron Rail aside.

To be precise, it uses brute force to smash it open.

Although it greatly liberated manpower, the Plow‑Type Snow Removal Machine is not invincible; it still has many problems of various sizes.

For instance, when unexpected situations occur, like the sudden blizzard Lu Cheng encountered last time, or avalanches, the drawbacks of the Plow‑Type Snow Removal Machine become evident.

This contraption needs to move back and forth, still requiring a lot of manual operation; otherwise it can't cleanly handle the snow, and it also cannot deal with crusted hard snow.

Therefore, along the Northeast line when blizzards occur, flexible manpower is still needed for snow removal.

The Northeast's snow removal problem has always been an issue that needs to be solved and must be solved.

But due to various objective or practical conditions, the progress of snow removal technology is extremely slow.

Lei Zhan Ge lit another cigarette, flicked the match and asked: "All right, why did you bring up snow removal? Spring is just around the corner; when you go back to duty on the Jingha Line, you won't encounter these problems anymore."

Lu Cheng replied: "Indeed, for the next few months we won't encounter it, but the Northeast isn't forever snow‑free, so if this problem isn't solved, it will persist forever."

Lei Zhan Ge was unperturbed: "Ha, what's that? From your tone, you think you can solve it?"

Lu Cheng came to see Lei Zhan Ge this time precisely with that idea.

"If I can solve it, you have to promote me to Police Chief Position."

Lei Zhan Ge was startled for a moment; he had just asked casually, not expecting the kid to actually take it on.

"Fine, if you can solve this big snow removal challenge, not only the Police Chief Position, but your Administrative Treatment should be raised to Deputy Section."

Lu Cheng instantly became excited; having worked less than a year, being promoted from an intern to Deputy Section is absolutely rocket‑speed.

After all, others take a year just to become regular, and three years in a factory to become regular.

Seeing Lei Zhan Ge's certainty, Lu Cheng became insecure: "Captain Lei, are you serious? Won't there be others who refuse later?"

Lei Zhan Ge waved his hand: "You don't need to worry about that; since I dared to promise you, the right exists. If you truly can solve the snow removal problem, this is a major outstanding contribution; no one can object. If it weren't for your age being truly too young, based solely on this merit, promoting you to regular Section would be no problem."

Seeing that Lei Zhan Ge truly wasn't joking, Lu Cheng became happy: "Then it's a deal!"

Lei Zhan Ge, however, set a stern face: "Ha, I have no problem with a word being a deal, but you, don't tell any grandiose lies in front of me; although your leadership is strong, I haven't seen any ability in you to develop equipment."

Lei Zhan Ge's words were correct; Lu Cheng indeed lacks that ability, but his skill is precisely in integrating resources.

"Captain Lei, I'm definitely not speaking grandly; if you don't believe me, I can here issue a military order to you—if I fail to solve the snow removal problem, punish me however you wish."

Seeing Lu Cheng's serious demeanor, Lei Zhan Ge couldn't help but become solemn.

"Oh? That's confident. Then tell me, how do you intend to solve the snow removal problem?"

Lu Cheng stood up, gesturing with both hands: "I want to design a giant snow‑clearing beast, rotary type, at least two to three times larger than the current Plow‑Type Snow Removal Machine."

Seeing no expression on Lei Zhan Ge's face, Lu Cheng thought he hadn't understood, so he grabbed the paper and pen on the table and began to sketch simply.

"Captain Lei, look, this is the kind of rotary snow removal machine: the front looks like fan blades; through this huge impeller it swallows the snow, then through this snow‑throwing tube it ejects it to the outside of the Iron Rail. Its efficiency is definitely much higher than the Plow‑Type Snow Removal Machine."

Lei Zhan Ge waved his hand, signaling him to stop: "I've seen photos of the rotary snow removal machine you described."

"You've seen it?"

"That's right; to be precise, our Railway Ministry Scientific Research Institute has already begun to engage with it, but this is high‑tech, with a very complex structure.

Although foreign countries have already produced it, because our industrial base is weak and various technical challenges are blocked, progress has been extremely slow; several trials failed, and it was ultimately shelved."

Lu Cheng dropped the paper and pen: "Captain Lei, I want to try!"