Chapter 556: Products That Can Earn Foreign Exchange

"Director Tang, what kind of person do you think I am! Yes, I'm just a junior Train Police, but I also have a chest full of ambition!"

"Being able to contribute a bit to our Railway Industry is my honor; I seek no reward, let alone any prize."

Listening to Lu Cheng's rather enlightened words, Tang Qiusheng couldn't help but nod.

"Well said! Young people should have this public‑spirit enlightenment. I see that such enlightenment is now rare among the youth; Captain Lei, you truly didn't misjudge them."

"Sigh, this is just what I ought to do…"

"Alright, since you don't want a reward, that's that; forcing it would only lower your enlightenment."

Lu Cheng blinked; it wasn't quite what he expected. Director Tang, hearing his enlightened words, seemed pleased and waved his hand, saying:

"If you want a reward, say it yourself; it must be given, no matter how big. Otherwise, wouldn't that chill the hearts of those unsung Comrades…"

In the end, he didn't pursue it further; Lu Cheng had already known and thus didn't proclaim any resolve.

"Director Tang, since we're talking about enlightenment, I also need to report a situation on behalf of our many Railway employees."

Tang Qiusheng leaned back a bit: "Oh? What situation?"

"The soy sauce tastes bad."

"Soy sauce tastes bad? What do you mean?"

Lu Cheng shifted his chair forward: "It's about the New Year welfare we distributed last year; there was soy sauce in it. I took it home for my mother, and she said it tasted bad, and complained, 'Your Railway Department is so big, how can the quality of what you issue be this poor…'"

Tang Qiusheng scratched his eyebrow: "Oh, this… indeed other families have reported it. I recall we also had an unopened bottle that, after a few months, sprouted maggots—clearly the factory didn't control the quality properly…"

"Is that so, Director Tang? Then this matter needs to be handled."

Tang Qiusheng brushed it off: "That's the Logistics Department's business, not under the Railway Bureau's jurisdiction. Your reporting it to me is useless."

Lu Cheng took out a cigarette, lit one, and said, "Director Tang, you just said today's youth lack enlightenment, but looking at you, your own enlightenment isn't high either."

Tang Qiusheng frowned: "What do you mean?"

"Nothing much, Director Tang, I just mean that the soy sauce issue is trivial, yet raising enlightenment often hides in such small matters…"

Director Tang listened attentively, and Lu Cheng continued, "You consider it a trivial matter, but it represents the basic interests of our many employees. How can you say it's not under the Railway Bureau's purview? I think, as a member of the Railway system, everyone has the right to oversee it. Isn't that the principle?"

Tang Qiusheng nodded again, unable to hold back: "That's true. Very well, when I have time, I'll tell the Logistics Department director to switch to another factory for procurement."

Having said that, Lu Cheng felt it was enough.

"So you said it—will they listen? Or will they think you're meddling again!"

Tang Qiusheng smiled: "Not really. It was just a casual remark; Logistics Director Lao Jia is on good terms with me, and his son works in our Railway Bureau office handling paperwork."

Hearing about that connection, Lu Cheng felt even more confident.

"Then, Director Tang, why not just stop him from looking for another factory? Items directly from the Factory Area are produced in such large quantities that it's truly hard to control each one's quality. I think we should source from the department store in front of Jing Zhan Guang Chang."

"Department store? Wouldn't the price be higher!"

"Not expensive; it's the same price as the factory, and my sister oversees it, guaranteeing every bottle meets standards. If any are substandard or damaged, they'll be exchanged, ensuring better service than the factory, and also…"

Lu Cheng stopped mid‑sentence, because opposite him, Tang Qiusheng was smiling with his eyebrows raised, staring at him.

Lu Cheng hurriedly explained, "Director Tang, I'm not doing this for myself; it's entirely for the benefit of the many employees. You say the price is the same and quality can be guaranteed—why should we…"

Tang Qiusheng waved his hand: "Alright, alright, I get it; after all this chatter, you're asking me for help!"

Lu Cheng laughed: "Hehe, Director Tang is still very clever; one could say your treasured sword never dulls…"

"Stop it, I see it—you've got a mouth that can talk endlessly. In front of you, I'm just a rookie."

Good fellow, almost got tangled up; it was clearly a matter of help, yet Lu Cheng somehow turned it into some enlightenment thing, a matter of fighting for the many employees' interests.

It made Tang Qiusheng think his own enlightenment had truly declined, and he even considered going to the Party Committee to study properly.

Seeing Tang Qiusheng call him out directly, Lu Cheng could only press on, "Actually, having our Railway department use the department store's soy sauce is to let you see my sister's capability—a preliminary trial."

Tang Qiusheng immediately was puzzled: "Seeing your sister's capability? Why look at her ability?"

Lu Cheng paused briefly and said, "Then we have to talk about another matter…"

Tang Qiusheng instantly reached out to stop him; under Lu Cheng's puzzled gaze, Tang Qiusheng walked over to the washbasin.

"Allow me to wash my face and clear my head; otherwise, I'm afraid you'll draw me in again."

Lu Cheng laughed helplessly: "How could I dare to draw you in! This time is truly for the Railway's sake, and if this succeeds, it will benefit the Railway for decades."

Tang Qiusheng lifted his head from the basin: "Oh? Such a great benefit? Then tell me about it."

Lu Cheng sat upright: "Speaking of this, we have to go back to the computer. To be frank, this time I consulted Professor Yang from our alma mater; he introduced me to a computer made in America."

"It's the world's most advanced technology; the processing speed needs no introduction. If we could get it, imagine how much it would aid our research work."

Tang Qiusheng couldn't help but ask, "How much does it cost?"

Lu Cheng held up two fingers: "Two million dollars."

Tang Qiusheng swallowed: "How about you sell me and see if I'm worth two million dollars?"

"No, Director Tang, I didn't say… I didn't say I wanted to buy… actually, I want to buy, but not right now."

Tang Qiusheng wiped his face, then came over: "Our Railway Department may be flush with cash, but our Foreign Exchange reserves are low; even in the future we couldn't afford such sky‑high items."

Lu Cheng disagreed: "So, Director Tang, our Railway Department should shift part of its focus to earning Foreign Exchange—making money from foreigners—to then purchase their technology and products."

"Your words sound easy, but do you really think Foreign Exchange is that easy to earn, just by flapping your lips?" Tang Qiusheng sat back in his chair, lit a cigarette.

"If we want to earn foreigners' money, we first need marketable products. Do you have any products?"

Lu Cheng stood up: "Yes!"