Chapter 472: Admitting Fault

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Lu Cheng wasn't awakened by the clatter of someone scooping boiler ash, but by a scolding voice coming from downstairs.

"You say you didn't offend anyone, but you did! He's someone who has earned a Third-Class Merit."

Then came Laimao's voice: "I, I'm still a fire subordinate."

Laimao curled up, his trembling voice frail, that night had almost frozen him to death.

"You damn fire subordinate, isn't your dad just guarding a Boiler? The leaders gave you a privileged status, and you keep bragging about it every day. I think you just need to be reformed…"

Laimao, feeling aggrieved, said: "Wang, stop scolding. I've been handcuffed here for a day and night, finally managed to get you here. You have no idea what crimes I've suffered. First, get me out, and plead with Lu Jingzhang on my behalf…"

Last night, in the early hours, Laimao was shouting hoarsely, either complaining of cold or hunger, but no one in the tube-shaped building felt sorry for him.

By the later half of the night, he stopped shouting, to conserve energy and keep a bit of warmth. He could only curl up there, wrapping himself tightly in his Cotton-padded Jacket, which, unfortunately, was also wet.

This night truly tormented him.

He thought Lu Cheng was only giving a symbolic punishment, handcuffing him for a day, never a night, since that would freeze him to death.

So it turned out this guy was so tough, actually daring to handcuff him for a whole night.

Laimao seemed to submit, or rather, was truly frightened deep down.

Yesterday the director came, and Lu Cheng gave him no face at all.

Today, although the Section Chief arrived, Laimao thought he could finally deal with Lu Cheng, but the Section Chief said not to provoke this person.

Laimao didn't dare be angry anymore, whining, causing the Section Chief to berate him as a useless weakling.

The Section Chief surnamed Wang, clutching a Synthetic Leather Briefcase under his arm, marched up to the third floor with a clatter.

Lu Cheng had already gotten dressed and gotten out of bed; just as he opened the door, Wang's hand reached out.

"Hello Lu Jingzhang, I am the Section Chief of our General Affairs Section, my surname is Wang."

Lu Cheng gave a brief handshake, knowing that Wang's visit was naturally about Laimao's matter, so he first blocked him with some words.

"Wang, I slept especially comfortably yesterday because the Heating was burning especially strong. You see, as long as Laimao isn't on duty, the Heating has no problem at all."

Lu Cheng never mentioned Laimao's rumor-spreading, only raised Laimao's work problems.

This made Wang's prepared remarks—something like Laimao must have misread, no need to handcuff him for a day and night, don't confront Laimao…—all go unused.

Instead, it left Wang with an awkward expression; Lu Cheng appeared to be talking about Laimao's issue, but in fact it was the whole General Affairs Section's management problem.

"Yes, yes, Laimao does indeed have work problems; our General Affairs Section must also conduct a review, and we will handle Laimao strictly."

The Section Chief's attitude had clearly improved a lot, Lu Cheng didn't want to argue further, and promptly grabbed his coat and went downstairs.

Wang saw that this was clearly a capable person, unlike what Director Lao Song had said, that this man was extremely difficult to deal with and unreasonable.

Following him downstairs, Wang quickly signaled to Laimao.

"Quickly apologize to Lu Jingzhang. Your mouth is like the waist of cotton pants, no sense of restraint; see if you dare spread rumors again next time. That's Lu Jingzhang for you, too lazy to argue with you."

Laimao felt even more aggrieved, this still not settled? Handcuffing him for a day and night almost froze him to death.

Laimao knew clearly in his heart that he couldn't retort any more, otherwise this Lu would keep handcuffing him.

"I'm sorry, Lu Jingzhang, I was wrong, I truly realize my mistake. Please don't try to match me, I promise there will be no next time."

Obviously, Laimao's apologetic attitude was much more sincere this time, and Lu Cheng took a key from his coat pocket and unlocked the handcuffs for him.

Wang, seeing this, breathed a sigh of relief, and immediately said to Laimao: "Hurry to the Bathhouse for a soak, then go to the Boiler Room to take over the shift."

Laimao rubbed his reddened wrist: "I still have to work today? I need two days off to recover."

Wang glared: "What the hell do you mean by taking a rest? You're always the laziest! I think you still haven't been fully reformed; if you don't want to go, just stay handcuffed here."

"No, no, no, I'll go, I'll go…"

Wang shook his head helplessly: "Lu Jingzhang, that's just his nature; he can't change in a short time. But rest assured, we will definitely tighten the restrictions in the future."

Having said all that, Lu Cheng couldn't hold back, so he waved his hand, walked to the Car Shed, dragged out the Old two-wheeled cart, and prepared to head to the Traffic Police Unit.

Wang gestured: "Lu Jingzhang, take care, and convey my regards to Captain Lei."

When that pest finally left, Laimao dared to speak: "Wang, you really had to be so polite to him, just now…"

Wang tightened his briefcase under his arm: "Hey, you Laimao, you remember the food but forget the beatings, right? And you still want me to find his superior?"

His superior is Captain Lei, a Chief Hall Official; I want to see him, but I can't even get a spot in the line!

"His surname is Lu, he's just a Train Police officer. No matter how powerful his leader is, it has nothing to do with him!"

Wang snorted: "You know nothing, but if you knew Lu Jingzhang a bit better, you wouldn't say such things."

Laimao didn't understand; Wang had long heard about Lu Cheng.

In just a few years, he rose from intern to regular staff, promoted to Section Chief, highly valued by Captain Lei; this year he just graduated from university, and with that degree his future is limitless.

So for a Laimao, he didn't want to offend such a promising person.

Seeing Laimao still acting indifferent, Wang, angry, gave him a kick: "Hurry up and change shifts!"

…

Lu Cheng went straight to the office; it wasn't time to start work yet, and he thought he'd have to wait, but Captain Lei was already sitting in the office.

"Captain Lei, what time did you arrive?"

Lei Zhan Ge didn't even lift his head, hunched over a pile of Newspapers: "Ah, I arrived early."

His voice was noticeably hoarse; Lu Cheng looked again at the Ashtray on the desk, full of Cigarette Butts.

"Captain Lei, you haven't slept all night, have you?"

Lu Cheng sat in the opposite chair, worriedly saying: "Captain Lei, this won't do; no matter how important the work is, it doesn't outweigh health—work is the capital of revolution."

Lu Cheng could clearly sense that Captain Lei's health was deteriorating, yet the stubborn old man refused to go to the hospital, sustaining himself only with medication.

"Fine, I know my own body."

Lei Zhan Ge gathered the Newspapers: "Mainly I can't sleep, so I flip through the papers to see what's happening on the Southern Front."

So he is indeed a military man, constantly keeping an eye on the war.

"Those newspapers are written for the common folk; if you want specifics, I'm delivering supplies there this time, I can find out the details for you."

Lei Zhan Ge suddenly sighed, "Fine, whatever the Frontline does in battle, someone will command it; my worrying is useless, so I won't cause trouble for anyone. I'm just going to look around casually."

"You came over early this morning—do you have something to report?"