Chapter 545: Hospital Conversation

Hospital ward.

When Lu Cheng arrived, he didn't see Wang Fengshi.

"Lei Nainai."

"Lu Cheng is here, why did you bring so many things?" Lei Nainai hurriedly got up to greet him.

"I didn't bring much, just some food and nutritional supplements," Lu Cheng glanced at Lei Zhan'ge on the sickbed.

"Captain Lei, how is he?"

Lei Nainai took the items and placed them on the table: "He woke up this morning, ate some porridge, and fell asleep again just now. Xiao Wang was originally here, but after Old Lei woke up, he drove him away. What kind of person is that, giving him a good scolding?"

Lu Cheng smiled helplessly; with Lei Zhan'ge's temperament, there was no way he could let Wang Fengshi stay here to look after him.

"Then Lei Nainai, you go back and rest first; I'll stay here..."

Lei Nainai originally wanted to refuse, but Lu Cheng persuaded her to go home and rest.

When he returned to the ward, Lei Zhan'ge had already woken up.

Lu Cheng hurriedly fetched a pillow and helped prop it behind his back.

"Captain Lei, did I wake you up?"

Lei Zhan'ge was visibly weak, his complexion pale, and opened with the first sentence: "You all already know..."

Lu Cheng sat on the chair beside him and complained a bit: "I say, Captain Lei, you fell ill so severely, how could you hide it? The sooner we discover it, the sooner we can treat it..."

Before Lu Cheng could finish, Lei Zhan'ge weakly waved his hand: "I've asked the doctor; this illness of mine is incurable. Moreover, everyone has such a day, so you shouldn't waste your energy on me; you should prioritize work."

"Remember what I said before: you must become a big heart that supplies blood to the Railway, so that our country's Railway industry can develop."

Lu Cheng took a slight breath, feeling his mood heavy.

Such an old‑generation mindset is constantly thinking about contributing more to the nation.

"Captain Lei, rest assured; I will keep your words in mind."

Lei Zhan'ge lightly nodded, weakly shifting his body; Lu Cheng thought he was going to sleep, but it turned out he was just changing his posture.

"Captain Lei, why don't you rest for a while? I just came to see you..."

Lei Zhan'ge waved his hand: "I won't sleep; after I die, I'll have plenty of time to sleep."

Lu Cheng gave a wry smile, recalling what Bureau Chief Tang Qiusheng said yesterday.

"Captain Lei, regarding the development of the internal combustion engine, I'm about to head to the Research Institute; do you have any further instructions?"

Sure enough, once work was mentioned, Lei Zhan'ge's previously weak complexion instantly brightened.

"What instructions could I give? If it's about commanding battles, I have some experience, but in scientific research I'm a complete outsider."

Lei Zhan'ge said, laughing uncontrollably: "Of course, if you go, ask how long it will take to bring this stable internal combustion engine into actual production."

Indeed, as Director Tang said, Lei Zhan'ge is very concerned about the issue of speeding up trains.

Lu Cheng, being the one in charge of command, naturally had an approximate timeline in mind.

"Captain Lei, to be frank, given the current situation, it will still take about a year."

Lei Zhan'ge understood; when Lu Cheng said a year, that meant the fastest estimate.

For a moment, his spirited complexion dimmed again.

"A year... that's already fast; then tell them on my behalf that they've worked hard."

Lu Cheng could hear the regret in Lei Zhan'ge's words.

"Captain Lei, I will do my best..."

Lei Zhan'ge reached out and stopped him: "You've already done your utmost. You must know you're just a Train Police; whether this succeeds or not, I'm proud of you."

For someone as high‑spirited as Lei Zhan'ge to say 'I'm proud of you,' Lu Cheng felt he could barely bear it.

"Captain Lei, what I've done is still not good enough..."

Hearing that, Lei Zhan'ge was surprised and glanced: "Hehe, you still have moments of humility. I don't like that at all; I still prefer your bold, daring nature."

Lu Cheng fell silent; he wanted to boast a bit, but the development of the internal combustion engine must progress gradually, and rushing won't help.

"Xiao Lu, you now have Fu Chu Da Yu, and you started from the grassroots, so I thought that after I leave, you should take on the team's work."

Compared with the earlier 'I'm proud of you' remark, this decision now is a concrete acknowledgment.

Lu Cheng, startled by the favor, stood up: "Captain Lei, you should retract that statement. Not to mention whether I'm capable, even in terms of seniority, the team already has many elders..."

Lei Zhan'ge didn't let him finish: "What's wrong with you today? Where's the fearless, daring aura you used to have?"

Lu Cheng also knew his condition was off today; mainly he felt regret that he couldn't fulfill Captain Lei's unfulfilled wish.

Seeing Lu Cheng silent, Lei Zhan'ge smiled: "Don't worry, it's natural to have concerns; if someone so young takes full responsibility for the team, many will surely be dissatisfied.

So, I will have Director Tang stay in the team temporarily."

Lu Cheng took a deep breath; even though Lei Zhan'ge was this ill, he still thought about work constantly.

He even considered the doubts Lu Cheng might face after leaving; with Director Tang, an old comrade, stationed there, it's as if Lu Cheng has summoned a protective deity.

Looking at the gravely ill elder before him, Lu Cheng's eyes reddened; what merit does he have to be valued so highly by Lei Zhan'ge?

"Alright, you don't have to stay here guarding forever; go attend to your duties, and remember to get a few recent newspapers from the front desk for me."

On the steps beneath the hospital building, Lu Cheng sat there, smoking half a pack, his mind constantly pondering how to further accelerate the internal combustion engine development.

If Lei Zhan'ge were to leave with such regret, even he would feel unwilling.

Snow fell again; Lu Cheng rode his bicycle through the snow to the Iron Science Institute Research Institute.

……

Jing Zhan Guang Chang, Chen Xianglan arrived by bus, and upon entering the department store she began patting the snow off her clothes.

"This damned weather, why is it snowing again! Ying Ying, where's your brother?"

Lu Ying was leaning at the counter doing the accounts: "Oh, he went to the hospital to visit Captain Lei."

"Ah, why didn't you keep him? I took special leave just to come here."

Lu Ying looked up and said: "Mom, what exactly do you want from him? It's worth taking leave to come ask; it's not too late even if you wait for him to come home."

"It's not a matter of being late or not; if I don't get this cleared up, I can't even bring myself to go to work. You don't know—I stayed up last night thinking about this and couldn't sleep."

Hearing his mother's words, Lu Ying, worried, lost all thought of work, put down the accounts in his hand and walked over.

"What's wrong, Mom? What exactly happened? Tell me first—you've got me all worked up."

Chen Xianglan really wasn't just trying to scare her daughter; she looked around—two kids were sitting by the coal stove roasting peanuts to eat, and the rest were customers who had come in.

"Let's go to your office to talk—there are too many people and eyes here."

Lu Ying grew even more nervous; it looked like something big had happened at home.