Chapter 455: Funding for Repairing the Iron Rail

The two were wandering around the forest farm when Liu Baoquan came running.

"Squad Leader Ma, Chief Lu, I was just about to look for you."

Lu Cheng said: "Master Liu, I've already made arrangements here; this route mainly tires out the people from Jiwu Section. The forest farm has cleared a few dormitories for everyone to rest."

Liu Baoquan waved his hand: "Rest isn't urgent; did you feel anything when you were on the train passing this stretch of Iron Rail just now?"

Lu Cheng thought carefully: "Hmm? It seemed a bit bumpy."

Ma Dagang is probably accustomed to the jolts of driving, unlike Lu Cheng who is often on trains and is more sensitive to bumps; he didn't feel much.

"This shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Liu Baoquan disagreed: "There's no problem for now, but we're hauling weapons and equipment, which are very heavy. If this happens a few more times, trouble is inevitable; if the train decouples, it would be a mess."

Liu Baoquan is an experienced master; when he said that, everyone had to take it seriously.

Ma Dagang said: "Then, according to you, we need to repair and reinforce it; why not ask the forest farm foreman to send people to reinforce the Iron Rail."

Liu Baoquan was worried about this: "The main issue is that this stretch of Iron Rail is not under our Railway's jurisdiction, but we're using it now; whether they are willing to repair it is another matter."

If it really doesn't work, we can only propose repair funds and apply to the department, but the back‑and‑forth procedure will probably waste a lot of time.

Ma Dagang also became a bit worried; if the forest farm is willing to provide funds and handle this immediately, a lot of time could be saved.

Lu Cheng also thought this was the most time‑saving method, and said: "I'll speak later; we should try to get the forest farm to provide the funds."

Ma Dagang asked: "Will they agree?"

Lu Cheng shrugged: "We'll act according to the situation; it should be doable."

For now that's the only way to try; after all, Lu Cheng's way of speaking is admired by Ma Dagang and Liu Baoquan.

Foreman Li is rather particular; at lunchtime he opened the cigarettes and alcohol Lu Cheng brought right on the table, instead of eating alone.

"The supply‑transport company should arrive in the afternoon, just right for us to have a drink."

It was a small table, with a pot of wild chicken meat in the middle; Foreman Li, Liu Baoquan, Ma Dagang, and Lu Cheng—four people in total.

There were several larger tables where Railway Troops and Jiwu Section personnel sat.

Seeing so many people, they indeed ate a lot of the forest farm's food; Ma Dagang instantly didn't feel any aversion to Lu Cheng's gift, but rather thought it was insufficient.

But the alcohol was undrinkable.

"Foreman Li, don't be polite; I have a mission this afternoon and really can't drink."

Liu Baoquan also said he couldn't drink.

Foreman Li immediately became displeased: "What's the big deal? It's just a battle; there are Frontline soldiers holding the line, those White‑eyed Wolves aren't enough to train the Frontline, I think if it really starts…"

Foreman Li, while speaking, held up three fingers, and Ma Dagang took over: "Three months definitely can't end the fight."

Foreman Li shook his head: "No, I said three minutes; we could deal with those White‑eyed Wolves."

Now it was Ma Dagang's turn to shake his head; he hadn't even started drinking yet, but began to brag.

After all, they're not soldiers; although the White‑eyed Wolves are hateful, they are also well‑trained soldiers, and war is cruel—no way can it be solved in three minutes.

Foreman Li then said: "So, we should drink and just wait for the Frontline to send us good news of victory! Damn it, back in the day we were so good to them, now they turn their backs and don't recognize their father; damn, we should give them a proper beating so the White‑eyed Wolves know who the real father is."

Listening to Foreman Li, everyone laughed; whether he was bragging or not, he was a man of his feelings.

If ordinary civilians have this temperament, then the bravery of the Guangxi Wolf Soldiers back then was certainly not exaggerated.

In an instant, everyone's blood boiled, and Ma Dagang slapped the table: "To your words, then let's drink; at worst I make a mistake and get sent to the Frontline as a scapegoat—I was just worried I couldn't get onto the battlefield."

So, everyone was already in high spirits; Lu Cheng didn't say much either—just two bottles of wine, even if everyone kept drinking they wouldn't get drunk.

Moreover, among men, drinking is the easiest way to bring both sides closer.

Later, it would also be a good chance to propose that the forest farm provide repair funds.

After three rounds of drinking, seeing Foreman Li getting tipsy, Lu Cheng, taking advantage of the good mood, proactively changed the subject.

"Foreman Li, when we arrived earlier, we could feel from the train that this stretch of Iron Rail isn't very sturdy."

Foreman Li was indeed tipsy today; although Lu Cheng and the other two had a little alcohol, they considered the mission at hand and didn't drink much, only toasting Foreman Li.

Foreman Li squinted and said: "It really isn't very sturdy, but that's okay; we can make do with it."

This stretch of Iron Rail has been in service for a long time; using small locomotives to frequently transport timber, which is already heavy, causes greater wear on the rails.

The forest farm has big trucks, so they make do, but they can't make do when transporting military supplies.

Lu Cheng was thinking about how to bring up the topic, when Ma Dagang, blunt and outspoken, said:

"Then you should quickly send people to repair it; if the rail comes off, our train will overturn."

Lu Cheng was speechless; wasn't he supposed to communicate? Now he's just asking for money, which is hard for anyone to accept.

Sure enough, Foreman Li's alcohol cleared his head considerably.

"Ah, repairing this Iron Rail definitely costs money; you know nowadays everyone is tightening their belts, we should save wherever possible, and it's not as severe as you claim. Use it confidently; it absolutely won't come off the track."

Ma Dagang instantly felt helpless; this guy just managed to say three minutes to end the war, which proves how big his heart is.

Even if the rail really came off, it wouldn't matter to their forest farm anyway, since it was only borrowed.

Ma Dagang could only look at Lu Cheng, hoping there was a way to persuade this foreman.

Lu Cheng thought, now that he remembered me, his earlier words were too blunt; for matters like asking for money, one must be indirect and let the other party realize they should pay.

He couldn't blame Ma Dagang; he was just anxious, after all, it's also for completing the mission smoothly.

Lu Cheng, wanting to keep the rhythm in his control, lifted the wine bottle and poured two large cups.

"Foreman Li, meeting you today has been a great pleasure, and the hospitality is so abundant; I must toast you again."

Foreman Li took the cup, cheerfully said: "Don't be so formal; I'm also glad to meet you, and treating you is the right thing to do."

"Alright then, Foreman Li, since you're being courteous, I won't say much more; it's all in the wine."

Lu Cheng tilted his neck and downed two taels of wine in one go; Foreman Li thought the youngster had a good capacity, and immediately matched it, gulping his own.

After finishing that cup, Lu Cheng, while picking up side dishes, deliberately asked: "Foreman Li, I see you still have the spirit of the old Wolf Soldiers; surely someone in your family fought in the anti‑Japanese war?"

Foreman Li was momentarily stunned; he should have continued to ask them to repair the Iron Rail after finishing his drink.

Why did you suddenly change the subject?

So you're not going to bring it up?