Chapter 344: Leaving the Sect?

After leaving the office and entering the courtyard, Lu Cheng saw the three newly promoted police captains chatting with Ding Han Zhen.

When they saw Lu Cheng approach, the two shook hands, and Ding Han Zhen laughed, "Congratulations, Group Leader Lu—no, you should be called Police Captain Lu now, haha."

Ding Han Zhen could be called a veteran police captain of Beijing Station, with seniority and prestige; although they are now of equal rank, Lu Cheng still respects him sincerely.

"Chief Ding is joking, compared to him we're still elementary students; we'll have to keep learning from you in the future," he said.

Ding Han Zhen nodded; he liked hearing Lu Cheng speak, always so pleasant.

Moreover, during the previous assessment period, he had hoped Lu Cheng could become a police captain, but Lu Cheng's plans to attend university caused his work to fall behind considerably.

Seeing the monthly ranking always at the bottom, Ding Han Zhen had lost hope and felt only regret.

What he didn't expect was that Lu Cheng had secretly pulled off something big: he went to the Iron Science Institute to lead a project, and it succeeded.

He forced the bureau to change the rules, adding an extra police captain.

"Let's go. To celebrate the promotion of the group leaders to police captains, I'll treat everyone to a meal," Ding Han Zhen announced.

The police captains each offered to pay, but Ding Han Zhen insisted on treating them, lest they lose face.

Everyone smiled at each other and reluctantly followed Ding Han Zhen's arrangement.

Just as they were cheerfully discussing where to eat, Jiang Yuanchao suddenly left midway, claiming he had something to attend to.

This made everyone glance at each other, and even Ding Han Zhen showed a hint of embarrassment.

Deng Hairong said indifferently, "Chief Ding, you don't need to worry about him; that guy is so arrogant, thinking his high scores guarantee first place, he doesn't even consider the rest of us."

Group Leader of the Fifth Team added, "Forget it, the few of us will go eat; missing him isn't a big deal."

Lu Cheng felt helpless; most likely Jiang Yuanchao didn't want to dine with a police captain who got the position by a crooked route.

He admitted Jiang Yuanchao was highly capable, but such a talent‑proud temperament is only fit for the grassroots; to climb higher one must know how to curry favor and seize opportunities.

Ding Han Zhen had to be on duty that afternoon, so he couldn't drink; after the meal, Lu Cheng went home.

Chen Xianglan was changing into work clothes, preparing to go to the factory: "San'er, why are you just getting back? I left rice for you in the pot; after you eat, clean the dishes as well."

"I already ate with my coworkers at the unit."

"Then the hot meal tonight is still yours."

"Mom, I want to go out to a restaurant tonight,"

Chen Xianglan rolled her eyes: "Go ahead, you idiot. Your dad still hasn't repaid the grain coupons he borrowed last time. Just endure a few months; once you get through this period, I'll make you meat to eat."

Hearing his mother's words, Lu Cheng sighed inwardly, hoping the days of this rationing would pass quickly.

Every day it's cabbage and radish; eating so much makes the face turn the color of green leaves.

Lu Cheng had to pull out the appointment certificate and wave it in front of his mother.

"What's that?" Chen Xianglan, busy putting on her coat and fastening the buttons, took it and instantly looked puzzled.

"Police captain? So you weren't a group leader after all? You still have four people under you—does this mean, because you're in university and work less, they demoted you?"

Lu Cheng shook his head wordlessly: "Demoted? This is a promotion—to Deputy Section Rank."

"Deputy Section?" Chen Xianglan wasn't familiar with her son's various titles, but hearing the words "Deputy Section" she couldn't help but exclaim.

"Oh my, my son's been promoted! That's amazing."

Lu Cheng, knowing his mother would be pleased, replied: "What 'promotion'? It's just a tiny Deputy Section."

"Hey, that's not small at all. Your dad has been toiling at the factory all this time and still hasn't gotten even a minor post!"

Chen Xianglan stared at the appointment letter, smiling broadly: "Not bad, not bad. Finally someone in our family became an official—though a minor one, still an official."

Seizing his mother's good mood, Lu Cheng tentatively said: "Then tonight…"

"We must go out to a restaurant!"

Lu Cheng glanced at the kitchen again: "What about the pots and dishes…"

"Let your second sister wash them! You just rest, wait until Mom gets off work."

"Okay, Mom."

Chen Xianglan tucked the appointment certificate away and headed out: "Leave the certificate with me; I'm not going to work now, I'll take a walk around Hu Tong Li first."

Now that her son is a police captain, she must go out and tell the big guys, so arranging a match for him later will be easier.

Watching his mother's hurried back, Lu Cheng felt helpless; she was off to brag in Hu Tong Li again.

His sister hadn't gone to work yet, so Lu Cheng walked into Xi Er Fang, leaned against the doorframe, and saw his sister writing a letter.

"Sis, Mom sent you to wash the dishes."

Lu Ying didn't look up: "You go wash, I'm busy, no time."

Seeing his sister buried in writing, Lu Cheng asked: "Sis, who are you writing to?"

"Wu Zhekun, of course—who else?"

Lu Cheng pursed his lips: "You two write letters a bit too often, don't you think?"

The mail carrier shows up two or three times a day, delivering letters.

Lu Ying finally looked up: "He's thinking of Ning Ning, always wanting to ask about her; I can't ignore him."

Lu Cheng thought, that Wang Baduzi isn't really thinking of Ning Ning.

"By the way, he also wrote you a letter," Lu Ying pulled an envelope from a stack of stationery.

Lu Cheng took it, tore open the envelope, and saw a single sentence on the paper.

"Old Lu, I have a good idea: just have you quit the sect, then I won't have to call you 'uncle' and can court your sister."

Seeing that, Lu Cheng's face turned ashen with anger; he curled into a ball, then grabbed another sheet and wrote a big "Go" on it.

Lu Ying didn't know what Wu Zhekun had written to her brother, but upon seeing his reply she scolded, "You're so boring, such a waste of money; go mail it later, I won't send it for you, you nuisance."

Lu Ying said, stuffing her own letter quickly into an envelope: "I have no time; send this one together, and go straight to the Postal and Telecommunications Bureau—there are no stamps at home."

Lu Cheng was speechless; they wrote letters so often they'd run out of stamps.

"Then you'll have to pay a little running‑errand fee."

Lu Ying turns around and kicks: "I'll kick you to death, you send a letter and still ask me for money! Here, here, here—remember to buy two extra copies as well."

Lu Cheng takes the money and mutters: "I can't just give it to you for free to run errands."

"What did you say?"

"No, I said I'm happy to run errands for you, sister."

"Hurry up and go, don't linger."

The house doesn't even have a bicycle, so Lu Cheng pats the two letters in his hand and can only walk to the Postal and Telecommunications Bureau.

While passing the front yard, Lu Cheng runs into Sun Yan Hong holding Er Ya.

"Sister Yan Hong, where are you going, why didn't you go to work?"

"It's Lu Cheng, I took the afternoon off; Er Ya caught a bit of a chill, so I took her to the health clinic for a check."

"Is she okay?" Lu Cheng looks at Er Ya; the child is already asleep.

"She's fine, probably just got chilled again after eating with Da Hu, a rest will do. Where are you going?"

Lu Cheng gestures toward the letters in his hand: "I'm going to help my sister mail a letter."

"Alright, then you go."

Lu Cheng looks around the yard, sees no one—everyone's gone to work—then calls toward Sun Yan Hong's back: "Wait for me to come back."

Sun Yan Hong's steps pause involuntarily for a moment, then she finally nods.