Chapter 457: Working While Drinking?

Foreman Li is willing to repair the iron rail, so Lu Cheng must also say something; he said immediately.

"Then how about this, Foreman Li: after all, we also need to use it; we can't let you pay money and provide people. You provide the funds, we'll provide the personnel…"

"Excellent!" Foreman Li gave a thumbs‑up.

Lu Cheng smiled at Ma Dagang: "Squad Leader Ma, does this seem acceptable?"

Ma Dagang had nothing more to say; even if Lin Farm didn't provide funds, to complete the mission of transporting military supplies, their Railway Troops would have to supply the money.

Now Lu Cheng, with a few words, shifted the funds to the other side, effectively saving the Railway Troops a sum of money; contributing a bit is only proper.

"No problem, the task of repairing the iron rail is handed over to our Railway Troops."

Foreman Li was indeed heavily drunk; for Lu Cheng's offering of manpower, he kept thanking him repeatedly.

At this moment, the Lin Farm accountant, who was eating at another table, walked over, steadied Foreman Li and whispered, "Foreman Li, our Lin Farm doesn't have much money left; there's no need to repair this iron rail."

Foreman Li immediately glared, "What does that mean? How can you say it's unnecessary! The soldiers ahead are about to go to battle, and we sit here enjoying the benefits; can you answer to my aunt's uncle's younger brother's cousin's husband?"

"Even Chief of Police Lu has already provided personnel; shouldn't we contribute some money?"

"Repair it, no matter the cost! If there's no money, sell the Lin Farm immediately; otherwise I'll strip you of your position!"

The accountant felt a headache; it was indeed heavy drinking, and the crucial point was that she fell for the young man's trick—the way he spoke was just too slick, and Foreman Li was being led step by step into the ditch.

Seeing the accountant staring blankly, Foreman Li glared again, "Hurry up and take care of it; I tell you, if the transport of supplies is delayed, you'll be held responsible!"

"Alright, I'll take care of it right away."

Foreman Li lifted the wine bottle and swayed it, "Is there more wine? Bring two more bottles; Lu Jingzhang and I will keep drinking…"

Lu Cheng currently has nothing urgent, but he can't keep drinking; he immediately arranged for Lin Farm staff to carry Foreman Li to the dormitory to rest.

At three p. m., from the distant forest, more than a dozen military trucks rolled in one after another, their carriages covered with green canvas awnings.

After the two sides made contact, a Battalion Commander named Zhao, in charge of logistics, shook Lu Cheng's hand and, smelling the strong alcohol on his breath, couldn't help but frown.

"Are you the person in charge of escorting the supplies?"

"Yes, Battalion Commander Zhao, we arrived early this morning, and we'll deliver the supplies safely on schedule; you can start unloading here, I'll arrange it right away."

"Hold on!" Battalion Commander Zhao called out to Lu Cheng, and sniffed him again.

"You've been drinking? And quite a bit—at least half a jin, right?"

Lu Cheng also smelled himself; indeed the alcohol scent was strong, but his tolerance was fine—half a jin of wine was no problem.

"I had a little to drink while eating at Lin Farm earlier, but rest assured, Battalion Commander Zhao, it won't affect the work."

Battalion Commander Zhao snorted coldly, "Your words sound nice, but escorting military supplies is a huge responsibility; daring to drink during duty violates discipline and will be punished…"

Ma Dagang was directing men to unload the supplies; hearing the reprimand, he hurried over.

"Sorry, Battalion Commander Zhao, I really shouldn't have drunk today, but there were unavoidable reasons…"

"Don't make excuses!"

Soldiers have always been stern, and the frontline situation is urgent, with the possibility of large‑scale clashes erupting at any moment.

As the person responsible for transporting supplies, drinking at this critical moment is sheer dereliction of duty.

A junior platoon leader like Ma Dagang feels instinctive fear upon seeing the battalion commander, but to plead for Lu Cheng, he steels himself and explains.

Only after learning that Lu Cheng drank out of necessity to repair the iron rail in preparation for the upcoming transport did Battalion Commander Zhao's tense expression gradually soften.

"This won't set a precedent; if Lin Farm refuses to repair, I can step in and force them to do it."

Lu Cheng disagreed slightly: "Battalion Commander Zhao, you're a soldier; in a barracks, once you issue an order, others must obey, even at the cost of their lives, but this isn't a barracks.

If we force them, they'll repair reluctantly, and when it truly drags on, the delay will still be our problem."

Battalion Commander Zhao thought it reasonable, and no longer objected to Lu Cheng's drinking.

"Hmm, then, thank you for your effort."

Battalion Commander Zhao unusually showed a friendly tone.

Lu Cheng smiled and said, "It's not a hardship; it's all for the country, for the people; you soldiers guard the front with your lives, and I can have a drink at the rear—already very happy."

Battalion Commander Zhao laughed, thinking the young man's words showed some awareness.

Watching the soldiers load the supplies box by box onto the trucks, Lu Cheng suddenly recalled something.

"By the way, Battalion Commander Zhao, does your battalion have a man named Wu Zhekun?"

After the earlier discussion, Battalion Commander Zhao was no longer as averse to the young man in front of him.

"Wu Zhekun? We don't have such a person in our battalion; what's up? Is the person you mention also on the frontline?"

Lu Cheng nodded, "Yes, he's a friend of mine; I have several letters from home I want to give him."

It's normal that Battalion Commander Zhao doesn't know him; after all, the frontline has countless battalions, and Wu Zhekun may have deliberately concealed that he is the Chief of Staff's son.

The purpose is probably to avoid special treatment.

Every soldier fighting on the frontline has parents, so your Chief of Staff's son isn't any different.

Lu Cheng didn't bring it up.

It's only a few family letters, and since it's a request from the responsible Lu Cheng, Battalion Commander Zhao had to help.

"Then, the letters can be given to me first; I'll try to find out. Whether I can locate him or not, next time you come to transport supplies, I'll notify you."

"Thank you, Battalion Commander Zhao, I appreciate it."

Originally I wanted to inquire about Wu Zhekun's specific situation, but he simply didn't know him.

Now, although the letters have been handed over, whether they reach Wu Zhekun remains uncertain.

Lu Cheng can't do anything; he can't go to the frontline, so he can only hope that next time Battalion Commander Zhao can locate Wu Zhekun.

No wonder they chose to pick up the supplies at three p. m.; after loading all the trucks, it was already completely dark.

More than a dozen trucks formed a long line, disappearing into the forest, with no headlights on, to avoid enemy detection.

Lu Cheng's side will take the Jiwu Section personnel to spend a night at Lin Farm, while Ma Dagang's Railway Troops will stay here temporarily to repair the iron rail.

A little after eight p. m., Foreman Li of Lin Farm slowly woke up, and the accountant was guarding the bedside.

Chief Li shook his swollen head: "Why are you here? Those two eyes stare like copper bells—who are you glaring at, scaring people to death."

The accountant gave a wry smile: "Chief Li, you really can't recall anything?"