Chapter 392: The Moved Educated Youth

Hearing Lu Cheng speak, the Educated Youth glanced at each other—"you look at me, I look at you"—and for a moment none dared to answer.

From their expressions one could see that Lu Cheng, this senior leader, is absolutely qualified.

"Since you remain silent, I will take it as your acknowledgment of me."

Lu Cheng said, looking at the youth wearing a military cap: "You are… the leader?"

The youth in the military cap looked up briefly and found Lu Cheng's gaze to be very sharp.

To be honest, with such a senior leader standing before him, the natural, unspoken authority that exerts pressure made the youth in the military cap feel quite uneasy.

But he still mustered his courage and replied, "Yes."

Lu Cheng nodded: "Hmm, it's good that you dare to admit it; that makes you a man. Being able to have so many follow you shows you have considerable prestige within the Educated Youth."

The youth in the military cap was stunned; he had expected Lu Cheng to scold him or even order his arrest, but there was no reprimand.

Indeed, a senior leader's words just feel different.

This also relaxed the youth in the military cap considerably: "Comrade Leader, we have not damaged the Railway, nor harmed collective property; we only wish to voice our demands. We truly had no other way, so we resorted to this measure."

Lu Cheng nodded again; these Educated Youth still showed some restraint, merely threatening to lie on the tracks. If they dared to damage the Railway, no matter how many came, they would have to be arrested.

"Hmm, I understand you. Though the method is somewhat extreme, it is indeed a desperate act to make the nation hear your voice."

The youth in the military cap was stunned again and, unable to believe it, asked, "You, do you really understand us?"

Lu Cheng was still merely pretending to be a leader this time, but it was to create an opportunity to speak with them.

In his previous life, Lu Cheng had also been an Educated Youth, so he naturally knew the temperament of these greenhorns: they prefer a soft approach over a hard one.

With that temperament, they have often clashed with the local Big Team.

Lu Cheng deliberately lowered his stance to reduce their sense of alienation; otherwise, a purely hard confrontation would only exacerbate the conflict.

"Exactly, I understand you," Lu Cheng said, hands behind his back, looking at the Educated Youth.

"You responded to the nation's call, traveling thousands of miles from the big city, leaving familiar places, leaving your parents, brothers and sisters, and arriving at this harsh land with passion.

From a teenager you became a man in his twenties, solely to build the frontier, develop agriculture, and contribute to the strategic deployment of balancing urban‑rural population, making great sacrifices…"

Listening to Lu Cheng's heartfelt speech, Deng Hairong grew a bit impatient.

How can he speak like this, not pointing out the Educated Youth's faults, not discouraging their wish to return to the city, but instead highlighting their merits.

Isn't that exactly giving the Educated Youth the confidence to cause trouble and the resolve to want to return to the city?

How could the talks proceed like this? Deng Hairong tried to stop Lu Cheng, the traitor, but was blocked by Train Captain Yang Xing.

Because the Educated Youth's emotions were clearly off, some of the younger ones even started wiping their eyes, probably missing home.

It was obvious they were moved by Lu Cheng's words.

At that moment, Lu Cheng stepped forward, brushed the dust from the youth in the military cap's shoulder, then went to the other Educated Youth, dusted off their clothes, and straightened their hats.

Lu Cheng's action instantly left the Educated Youth astonished and feeling honored.

The senior leader patting away dust for them—what a great honor.

Lu Cheng then spoke loudly: "I know you have worked hard; I can see that your current spirit and appearance have already merged with the local environment, but you must believe the nation has not forgotten you, and please give the nation more time."

Lu Cheng did not say what would happen to these Educated Youth after they return; in the city there are hardly any job placements, and they would become the most unstable segment of society.

If he said it that way, it would easily cause resentment among the Educated Youth.

Instead, Lu Cheng's empathetic words deeply moved these Educated Youth.

The youth in the military cap took a deep breath: "Everyone step aside, let the train pass today."

Unlike other leaders of the Commune who only think of suppressing them, calling them immature, saying they are making a mess.

Only this senior leader acknowledges them; these passionate youths have never heard such words, and immediately they voluntarily cleared the way.

This scene made Deng Hairong and the others gape, actually achieving the effect.

There was no shouting nor chaos; just a speech subdued these headstrong kids.

Deng Hairong couldn't help but laugh: "Hey, turns out these kids like this kind of talk; had we known, we would have said the same."

Yang Xing, however, shook his head: these headstrong kids indeed like such words, but if someone else said them, it might not work.

The reason Lu Cheng could move them, the first reason, is that when Lu Cheng spoke, he applied force where needed, showed emotion where appropriate, never rushed, maintaining a balanced pace.

One must admit he's a good seed for public speaking, knowing exactly how to use emotion to sway hearts.

Another major reason is that Lu Cheng pretended to be a senior leader; without that status, from the start the Educated Youth would have been resistant and would never have been given a chance to speak.

At the youth in the military cap's command, the Educated Youth were willing to clear the way, and the train could pass normally, but Lu Cheng was still dissatisfied.

Just now he was kind, but now he has resumed his authoritative demeanor.

His sharp gaze fixed on the youth in the military cap: "Only today?"

He rushed over, and with just a few words got the Educated Youth to yield; Director Song was already very satisfied, having spent countless words days ago to persuade the Educated Youth back.

But that was only temporary; clearly the Educated Youth felt he was placating them, and today they refuse to leave no matter what.

Now that they are willing to leave, Lu Cheng already faced great difficulty; ultimately persuading them is already a good result.

Who would have thought Lu Cheng was still unsatisfied with merely today's clearance, wondering what the Educated Youth will say next.

Facing Lu Cheng's questioning, the youth in the military cap hesitated.

He agreed to clear the way today because the senior leader recognized their contributions over the years, giving them face.

"Then, we won't cause trouble for three days."

Three days is the biggest concession the youth in the military cap made.

I can give the senior leader face, but our demands must also be addressed, so we will continue to protest.

Lu Cheng, of course, knew their thoughts: "Hmm, then I thank you, never thought my old bones could still earn some face."

The youth in the military cap sensed Lu Cheng's dissatisfaction in his tone and hesitated again, saying, "Then five days, no more than that."

Lu Cheng shook his head slightly: "I can forward your demands upward, but with millions of Educated Youth nationwide, such a massive personnel allocation cannot be solved in three or five days.

Therefore you must give the nation some time; this is a process of mutual understanding.

Lu Cheng's earlier approval of these Educated Youth's remarks was just a prelude; now we will get down to the formal discussion.