Chapter 509: Helping Reluctantly

"Yes, Chief Lu, I was thinking that since you know Director Lin, perhaps you could intercede and get the units under the Metallurgical Department to allocate more iron ore to our One Steel Plant; otherwise we won't keep up with the production task."

Listening to Zheng Changzhang, Lu Cheng felt a bit uneasy.

Mainly, how do I bring this up?

If I say that he and Lin Qingyan aren't divorced, then asking Lin Zhenfeng for a larger iron‑ore allotment would be a simple matter.

The key now is whether they're willing to see him, let alone do anything for him.

Lu Cheng sat there, scratching his head; he wanted to repay Zheng Changzhang's kindness, and now finally had a chance, but didn't expect it would involve going to Lin Zhenfeng.

Seeing Lu Cheng silent for a while, Zheng Changzhang suddenly grew a bit worried, thinking perhaps he didn't want to help.

That shouldn't be; although he hasn't seen Lu Cheng much, he's good at judging people, and Lu Cheng is certainly not ungrateful.

So he tentatively asked, "What's up, Chief Lu? Any trouble?"

Lu Cheng took a slight breath and had to speak frankly, "It is indeed a bit difficult. Mainly, my relationship with Director Lin isn't what you think; with him, I…"

Before Lu Cheng could finish, Zheng Changzhang, being very tactful, reached out his hand.

"Then I understand, Chief Lu. Since there's a difficulty, I can't force you…"

Lu Cheng felt tangled inside; it's not that he doesn't want to help, but whether Lin Zhenfeng is willing to assist is his biggest worry.

So he couldn't speak too definitively, lest he later disappoint Zheng Changzhang.

Rather than that, it's better to be clear now.

Lu Cheng is that kind of person: if he helps, he does it properly; if not, he simply doesn't.

"Hmm? Zheng Changzhang, let me think… By the way, you just said that although the Metallurgical Department handles mineral exploration, the extracted iron ore is approved by a specific unit. So can we approach the person in charge of that unit?"

Zheng Changzhang sighed, "We've looked; why haven't we? There's indeed a Section Chief who can approve directly, but iron‑ore supply is short now, many steel plants are waiting, and that Section Chief simply won't grant approval."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't be thinking of going straight to Director Lin; if Director Lin could put in a word, that Section Chief would surely approve."

Lin Zhenfeng interjected, "A junior Section Chief can only obey."

Lu Cheng thought carefully and offered a suggestion.

"Zheng Changzhang, since there's a Section Chief below who can sign, I think we should use that Section Chief as a breakthrough point; if one attempt fails, we try several times."

Zheng Changzhang chuckled wryly, shaking his head: "I've gone at least five times, never succeeded. The key is, if that Section Chief were male, I'd at least be able to treat him to a few meals."

"At a round of drinks, anything can be said, but this Section Chief is a little shrew, sigh…"

Hearing Zheng Changzhang sigh, Lu Cheng smiled.

"What, even as a big factory chief, you can't handle a woman?"

Knowing Lu Cheng was joking, Zheng Changzhang didn't mind.

"Then what to do? I invite her to a meal, but she never gives a chance; otherwise at the table I'd definitely win her over…"

Lu Cheng fell silent for a moment, then decided to help Zheng Changzhang, not by going to Lin Zhenfeng, but by meeting the female Section Chief.

"How about this, Zheng Changzhang: since we arrive at Ha City terminal and have to stay two days, I'll go with you to find that Section Chief."

Lu Cheng agreed to accompany, which counts as indirect help, but Zheng Changzhang remained skeptical.

"Your accompanying me is useless; you haven't seen how cold this Section Chief is. Every time I go, I'm shut out."

Hearing Zheng Changzhang say that, Lu Cheng became interested.

"Zheng Changzhang, you don't know—I have a nickname in Capital City—Cai Flower Avenue.

If the Section Chief were male, I might truly be at a loss, but if she's female, I'm not bragging: whether she's a seventy‑eight‑year‑old matron or an eighteen‑nine‑year‑old girl, as long as I set my mind to win her, she can't slip out of my grasp."

Lu Cheng clenched his fist, appearing quite confident about winning the female Section Chief, though he said it out of desperation.

Wanting to help Zheng Changzhang yet unwilling to approach Lin Zhenfeng, the only solution is to go together to see the female Section Chief.

Hearing Lu Cheng's words, Zheng Changzhang laughed.

"Chief Lu is indeed a handsome fellow, but I still doubt him; the lady is cold, giving no chance for anyone to get close."

To reassure Zheng Changzhang, Lu Cheng pounded his chest and said, "No worries, Zheng Changzhang. We'll try this first; if the Section Chief doesn't work out, I'll go all out and approach Director Lin. Whatever it takes, I'll get this done for you."

Hearing Lu Cheng say that, Zheng Changzhang nodded happily.

"Thank you, Chief Lu. If this succeeds, all the staff of One Steel Plant will sing your praises."

Zheng Changzhang's words weren't mere politeness; completing the production task would raise the whole plant's welfare.

"Seriously, Zheng Changzhang, thank you, and also thanks for helping me clear the snow trouble last time. Come on, let's go to the dining car; I'm treating today, no one can snatch it."

This is on the train, not in Chuncheng, so Zheng Changzhang can only follow the host's lead.

Lu Cheng ordered a few dishes; since he still had business, he didn't drink.

After eating quickly, Lu Cheng still had duties, so he let Zheng Changzhang and Song Director rest in the bunk car.

The train was delayed again; Lu Cheng was already used to it, but Zheng Changzhang, lying in the bunk car, waited anxiously all night, tossing and turning without rest.

Upon arriving at Ha City terminal, Lu Cheng teased, "Zheng Changzhang, your sense of responsibility is too heavy; look, you spent the whole night worrying and didn't sleep at all."

Zheng Changzhang waved his hand, "Can't you stay calm? If we can't get the iron ore approved, we can't finish the production task, so this time I'm counting entirely on Chief Lu."

Lu Cheng told him to relax: "First, get off the train for breakfast; it's still early, no one's at work yet. After we eat, we'll go ahead and block that Section Chief."

The breakfast was paid by Zheng Changzhang; Lu Cheng couldn't argue.

They ate a hearty Northeastern porridge with coarse grains, corn flour pancakes, and a side of pickled vegetable strips.

After the meal, the accompanying staff on the train went to the guesthouse to rest; they'll return in two days, and this train will be used to transport Educated Youth.

Lu Cheng greeted the train captain, then borrowed a jeep from the Railway Branch and drove Zheng Changzhang and himself to find that Section Chief.

At the unit's entrance, the main gate was already open, and Lu Cheng stopped the vehicle.

"By the way, Zheng Changzhang, what's the Section Chief's surname? So I can greet her later."

"Oh, Lin. I even suspect this Section Chief might be some relative of Director Lin."

Lu Cheng, while turning off the engine, asked, "Why say that? Lin is a common surname, a big one at that."

Zheng Changzhang smiled, "Ah, I was just speaking offhand; I just think that for a role as crucial as iron‑ore approval, a junior Section Chief can wield life‑and‑death authority!"

Lu Cheng nodded in understanding; Zheng Changzhang thought so, and that seemed somewhat reasonable.

Seeing Lu Cheng start to get out of the car, Zheng Changzhang couldn't help but say a sentence.

"Lu Jingzhang, I need to make this clear to you beforehand: don't let her appearance fool you—though she may seem like a woman, she is very decisive in her actions and also conscientious and responsible about work."

"So today, when we look for her, if we can succeed, we succeed; if we can't, we'll think of another way, but we must absolutely not offend her."

Lu Cheng understood that if Section Chief Lin still refused to sign, he could, in a fit of anger, say harsh words; after all, they would have no further dealings, but Zheng Changzhang would inevitably have to work with her in the future.

"Don't worry, Factory Director Zheng, I know my limits; I'll try to win her over. Let's go."