Chapter 538: Conversation

Lu Cheng hung up the phone helplessly, spreading his hands toward Tang Qiusheng.

"Director Tang, I've already made arrangements; the family over there will come to pick them up, so these two children are yours to take care of."

Tang Qiusheng also spread his hands: "Why would you hand them over to me? Can't you see I'm swamped with work and can't keep up?"

"Now that your Captain Lei is hospitalized, I have to shoulder this lot for the unit, so I have no mind to deal with any children's matters; just make sure you handle yours properly."

Lu Cheng grew a bit irritated: "Why do I still have to be responsible? Those children are part of the job too."

Tang Qiusheng narrowed his eyes: "Exactly, you have to share the burden with me."

"I have no problem sharing the load, but you could assign me other tasks; I can't handle the children's matter..."

"Even if you can't handle it, you still have to; the children aren't yours anyway."

"They're not yours, nor are they mine."

"Then you brought them back."

"No, what you mean by 'brought them back' is that these two children jumped onto the train..."

"Isn't that still your negligence? Otherwise how could they get onto the train! This time it was children; next time it could be a murderer!"

Lu Cheng froze in place, argued for a moment, but couldn't get a word past Director Tang, so he simply sat down, took out a pack of cigarettes, and lit a stale one.

Tang Qiusheng extended his hand: "That's a bit uncouth; the leader's here, so at least offer me a cigarette."

"A leader of your stature still needs a cigarette? This isn't a special‑supply brand."

Tang Qiusheng took a stick: "Whoa, a Peony Cigarette—I've been saying you spend money lavishly; you even smoke something this pricey."

A Zhonghua Cigarette pack is only six mao, while this Soft Peony pack costs five mao.

As for which cigarettes to smoke, Lu Cheng isn't that particular; as long as it produces smoke, it's fine.

Moreover, with his current deputy division‑level salary of 110 yuan a month, smoking something a bit pricier is quite normal.

But actually this Soft Peony pack was given to him by Yang Yin before boarding the train.

Lu Cheng exhaled a puff, and thinking of that girl constantly stealing cigarettes for him, a sweet feeling rose in his heart.

He was supposed to meet Yang Yin as soon as the train arrived; on the train he had already planned: when he sees her, give a big hug, then press her against the wall for a passionate kiss...

But now, he no longer has that mood.

"Director Tang, the children's matter is minor; you're the leader, so whatever you assign me I will do. Right now I'm mainly worried about Captain Lei..."

【5】 Mentioning Lei Zhan'ge, the old revolutionary comrade he had worked with for years, Tang Qiusheng couldn't help but look sorrowful.

When Lei Zhan'ge was mentioned, this old revolutionary comrade who had worked together for many years, Tang Qiusheng's face inevitably also grew worried.

"As for your Captain Lei, the department has already contacted the hospital and will do everything possible for his treatment.

But for us who pursue the Proletarian Revolution, we must have the resolve to face death; if one dies for the Proletarian Cause, for the people's interests, that person's worth outweighs even Mount Tai."

Lu Cheng unconsciously sat up straight; he could understand Tang Qiusheng's words.

People like Lei Zhan'ge, Tang Qiusheng and others who have spent a lifetime on the revolution are a generation with the purest faith.

For the revolutionary cause, they are already prepared to sacrifice at any moment, willing to give their lives.

At the same time, they have become indifferent to death.

"Xiao Lu, I'm telling you this just so you understand that death itself isn't frightening; what's frightening is wasting life."

Tang Qiusheng shifted his posture and slowly exhaled a puff.

"Previously, the Captain Lei and I believed that as long as our generation is willing to endure hardship, work earnestly, and not fear sacrifice, the nation would become prosperous..."

"But looking now, we were wrong; a nation's prosperity isn't achieved overnight—it's a long process, otherwise it's unrealistic."

"Therefore, it requires generation after generation to forge ahead; the future belongs to you, the young, and the nation's prosperity depends on you as well."

Lu Cheng stood up: "Director Tang, without the selfless dedication of your older generation laying the foundation, we wouldn't have the peaceful life we enjoy now."

Tang Qiusheng waved his hand, indicating that Lu Cheng should sit down.

"What I mean is, we will eventually grow old, our bodies will no longer move, our minds will dull, so Xiao Lu, you must take up the burden; otherwise your Captain Lei... wouldn't even close his eyes in death."

Lu Cheng fell silent for a long while; he knew Tang Qiusheng's words carried the implication that Captain Lei would no longer be able to return to the unit.

A wave of sorrow rose from deep within him.

To think that Captain Lei would have to bid farewell to his Railway Industry like this must be unbearably regretful.

Until the cigarette butt burned his fingertip, Lu Cheng finally lifted his head: "Director Tang, give me any work orders; whatever the mission, I will do my utmost to complete it."

Tang Qiusheng nodded, stubbed out the butt, and then took out a stack of documents.

"It's not a matter of giving orders; after all, this isn't within your scope. I just hope you can put a bit more heart into it..." Tang Qiusheng said, pushing the stack toward Lu Cheng.

Lu Cheng gave it a quick glance and immediately recognized it as the Internal Combustion Engine Project he was overseeing.

"Director Tang, what's this?"

Lu Cheng didn't understand what presenting the project documents meant.

Tang Qiusheng placed both hands on the table and said: "You know Captain Lei's temperament; ever since he transferred to the Railway Department, he's devoted the rest of his days to the Railway Industry."

"These documents are what Captain Lei was still leafing through when he collapsed. I think, if he dies like this, he'll have regrets, won't he?"

Lu Cheng inhaled deeply; for an instant, the pressure felt like a mountain bearing down on him.

Tang Qiusheng's meaning was crystal clear: he wanted Lu Cheng, within Captain Lei's limited remaining life, to get the Internal Combustion Engine into production as soon as possible.

So that this elder who has poured all his energy into the Railway Industry can see, before his last breath, the day trains accelerate.

Lu Cheng couldn't help but feel the pressure; given the current development pace, producing a stable, reliable internal combustion engine would still take at least a year.

Yet Captain Lei's life has only a few months left.

"Director Tang, I..."

Tang Qiusheng reached out and interrupted: "I know it's difficult, and I'm not trying to force you; as I said before, this isn't your domain—just do your best."

Tang Qiusheng didn't want to burden Lu Cheng too much, because the regret went beyond this one thing; not witnessing the nation's prosperity before death would be the greatest regret.

Leaving the Traffic Police Unit, he looked at the gray sky, which seemed about to snow.

Lu Cheng inhaled another breath of the crisp air and exhaled, but the pressure in his heart did not lessen at all.

Crossing the square and reaching the department store, Lu Cheng leaned against a shelf; customers continued to stream into the shop without pause.

Since the Self‑financing Reform, aside from remitting a portion of the profit, the remainder can be allocated by the enterprise itself, and everyone's work enthusiasm has also increased.

Lu Ying's first task is to raise everyone's wages and benefits; each person can receive forty‑seven yuan per month, and Lu Ying, as the director, can receive sixty yuan.

That's already quite high, a bit higher than the Fourth Level pipe worker's father.

Under a planned economy, wages have a ceiling, but benefits can be increased; of course, the premise is that the enterprise must be able to earn money.

Afraid of affecting the department store's business, Lu Cheng found a small stool near the corner and sat down.

Lu Ying is breaking egg cake for two children, glances at the younger brother and asks, "What's wrong? Listless, criticized by the leader?"