Chapter 259: Reassigning Personnel

Lu Cheng stopped insisting; even if Lin Qingyan couldn't finish the translation, he could still hand it over to Tian Shukuan at any time.

That night, Lin Qingyan took out paper and pen, consulted a journal, and bent over the desk, busily working.

Regarding the translation work, Lu Cheng couldn't help; the little Russian he knew was only enough for simple exchanges, and he couldn't understand the journal's text at all.

After washing his feet and slipping into the quilt, Lu Cheng looked at Lin Qingyan's back and said, "Alright, I'm going to sleep; don't work too late. At worst I can find more people."

Lin Qingyan didn't turn around: "Mm, I know, you go ahead and sleep."

Once the weather warmed, the coal stove had long been dragged outside, and the plastic film on the window panes had been peeled off.

Opening the window in front of the desk, warm spring breezes brushed gently, and a few chicks fenced in by a wooden rail in the corner chirped "cheep cheep cheep."

Late at night when it was quiet, Lu Cheng fell asleep, and Lin Qingyan pulled out the tungsten filament bulb in the house and replaced it with a candle.

Early the next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Lu Cheng was awakened by a chorus of chick cries, sat up, and waved his arms left and right.

In the dim light he saw the curtain beside him was unclosed, the bed empty, and then noticed Lin Qingyan still hunched over the desk.

"Up so early?"

Lu Cheng put on his clothes, rolled out of bed, and when he reached the desk he realized Lin Qingyan had fallen asleep, and a pile of spent candle wax lay in a corner of the desk.

Looking again at the journals beside him, some passages were circled with a fountain pen; roughly four magazines had been translated, and the notebook contained the translated Chinese characters, thick with countless pages, the handwriting neat and graceful.

Translating four at once, he must have just fallen asleep; it took about a night.

Lu Cheng knew Lin Qingyan was doing the hard translation for his sake.

He reached out, brushed a few strands of Lin Qingyan's hair from her cheek behind her ear, revealing her delicate profile.

After nearly half a year of living together under the same roof, Lu Cheng seemed to have gotten used to having someone sleeping beside him.

Yet he was clear in his heart that he and Lin Qingyan were impossible.

It's not just a matter of mutual affection; the biggest reason is family.

He didn't know what Lin Zhenfeng thought, but Lin Qingyan's mother certainly didn't want this marriage from the bottom of her heart.

Since they aren't a good match socially, he sees no need to humiliate himself or his family by meekly trying to please Lin Qingyan's mother.

Still, this little girl Lin Qingyan is quite nice; Lu Cheng lifted her legs, scooped up her soft body at the waist, and placed her into the quilt.

"What time is it?" Lin Qingyan murmured awake, her eyes veiled with a mist, half‑asleep.

He pulled up the blanket, tucked Lin Qingyan in, and leaned down saying, "It's almost dawn; sleep a bit more, no rush to translate."

Watching Lin Qingyan gently close her eyes, Lu Cheng finally sat up straight.

Over a hundred volumes, only four translated; the pace is slow, but the efficiency is no longer considered slow.

These are professional journals; they require not only strong translation skills but also a certain level of expertise.

For example, in mechanical manufacturing, many technical terms are beyond Lin Qingyan's understanding.

After tidying up part of the journals, eating, Lu Cheng went to find Tian Shukuan.

While Tian Shukuan flipped through the magazines one by one, he couldn't help exclaiming, "Group Leader Lu, you're amazing—so quickly you got a batch of foreign journals, and they look even more professional than the ones we usually purchase."

Seeing Tian Shukuan's serious demeanor, Lu Cheng was a bit surprised: "What? Section Chief Tian also knows foreign languages."

Tian Shukuan set down the magazine in his hand, smiled, and said, "How could I know? I just judged from the paper; look, the sheets are thick and clear—clearly genuine."

"As long as it's genuine, that's fine; I was worried those German girls might send us a batch of fakes, which could mislead us."

"German girls?" Tian Shukuan was instantly curious.

"Group Leader Lu, you really have connections—you're even acquainted with German girls. How come? They went to such lengths to get you them; could it be that you two have a tragic cross‑national romance?"

Lu Cheng laughed, "Haha, I'm not that romantic; she's just a pen friend of my wife, Lin Qingyan."

"Lin Qingyan?" Tian Shukuan heard the name and felt it was familiar.

Lu Cheng realized he had said too much and casually explained, "Oh, her father is Lin Zhenfeng."

Tian Shukuan suddenly recalled, "No wonder it's familiar—I know Director Lin, he's a good person, just a bit unfortunate…"

Tian Shukuan didn't continue, and Lu Cheng didn't bring it up; after all, avoiding Lin Zhenfeng now is normal.

Lu Cheng steered the conversation to business: "Section Chief Tian, besides asking you to find someone to help translate, I have another favor to ask."

"Group Leader Lu, don't be formal; anything I can help with, I will."

Lu Cheng nodded: "Because the Iron Science Institute has other projects under development, our Snow Removal Machine Project is short on personnel, so I want to see if you can transfer a few people over."

"But rest assured, I can apply to the bureau for subsidies; they won't work for nothing—each person gets at least five yuan per day."

Five yuan a day isn't small at all; Lu Cheng dares to guarantee this because the bureau has funding, namely the batch of Smuggled Goods in the warehouse.

Apart from a small portion used internally, most of the remainder was sent to department stores, selling very well because they're near the train station with heavy foot traffic; not only locals from Capital City buy them, sometimes passing travelers purchase as well.

One could say today's department stores, as long as they have stock, never worry about sales, but the warehouse's goods are limited; sister Lu Ying will represent the Street Office to discuss with Factory Area, which will supply the goods.

Actually, if Lu Cheng hadn't mentioned the subsidy, Tian Shukuan wouldn't have found it easy to refuse, since Lu Cheng last time risked his life to help him complete the mission.

But Lu Cheng offered the subsidy, so when Tian Shukuan sent people over, it became much easier to agree.

A five‑yuan‑per‑day subsidy requires no persuasion; people will likely scramble to take it.

"No problem, Group Leader Lu; since you asked, I'll transfer some people from our institute, and I'll talk to the One Machine Department to see if they can send a few as well."

Lu Cheng rose excitedly; the One Machine Department, which oversees production of heavy industrial machinery—mining equipment, metallurgical gear, lifting and transport devices—is perfectly suited for Snow Removal Machine development.

"Section Chief Tian, I won't say more thanks; let's go, I'll treat you to Shuan Yangrou Hot Pot."

Tian Shukuan hurriedly laughed and stopped him: "Forget it, Group Leader Lu, your side is pressed for time; I'll arrange it right away. When we later solve the Hydraulic oil issue, we can happily eat then."

Lu Cheng thought that made sense: "Alright, Section Chief Tian, I'll go to the bureau now and apply for the subsidy."

Lu Cheng readily promised the subsidy, but five yuan a day is not trivial, and he didn't know how many months they'd be busy; whether the bureau would agree is another matter.