Chapter 608: Welcome Ceremony

It was just too emotional; after Lu Cheng finished calling the dispatch room, he slowly calmed down.

Standing at his desk, looking at the landline on the table, he asked himself whether there was any point in rushing the Internal Combustion Engine Train to Capital City.

"The significance is certainly great..."

Tang Qiusheng, at some point, was standing behind him, and Lu Cheng turned around.

"Director Tang, I used your office phone."

Tang Qiusheng walked over, sat down, lit a cigarette, and tossed one to Lu Cheng as well.

"How's your Captain Lei?"

Lu Cheng shook his head slightly: "Not optimistic; the doctor said he might not wake up."

"I shouldn't have disturbed him with Minister Meng yesterday; clearly his body was just holding on, who could have known he would…"

"Sigh, Lao Lei is like that; he never forgets the image of a soldier at any time."

Seeing Lu Cheng hanging his head in silence, Tang Qiusheng sighed.

"Fine, now that things have come to this, I think Lao Lei wouldn't want us to stay in sorrow. Let's talk about the Internal Combustion Engine Train—what did Shencheng Vehicle Factory say, and when can it arrive at Capital City?"

Lu Cheng finally gathered his thoughts: "I've arranged a dedicated line; at the Internal Combustion Engine Train's speed, it should reach by tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow morning?" Tang Qiusheng looked surprised: "If it were an old‑style Steam Locomotive, stopping to add water and coal, moving intermittently, it would take two or three days. This Internal Combustion Engine Train is indeed fast, but unfortunately Lao Lei…"

Tang Qiusheng sighed again: "Although your Captain Lei can't see it, this is our newly developed New Type Internal Combustion Engine; compared with the old‑style internal combustion engines we used before, its efficiency and performance have greatly improved.

Therefore its significance is very great; I will immediately contact the department to organize a welcome ceremony."

It was evident that Tang Qiusheng was excited; he called the department, and the department took it very seriously.

"The department said that tomorrow morning they'll invite the reporters; we must get our first new type Internal Combustion Engine Train onto the newspaper so the whole nation knows.

You were listening just now; this welcome ceremony will be your responsibility, and you'll definitely be interviewed; you must prepare in advance—this is an authoritative daily, we can't drop the ball…"

Tang Qiusheng was speaking very passionately, but looking at Lu Cheng across from him, he had no thought about any of this.

"Hey hey!" Tang Qiusheng knocked twice on the table, frowned, and said.

"Did you hear what I said? This time you might end up on the newspaper—a great chance to show your face. I worked hard to get this for you; you must pull yourself together."

Lu Cheng lifted his head: "Understood, Director Tang."

Seeing Lu Cheng still absent‑minded, Tang Qiusheng opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing reproachful; he knew what Lu Cheng was thinking.

To produce this internal combustion engine, everyone labored tirelessly day and night to meet the deadline, all just to let Captain Lei have a ride.

Lu Cheng returned to the hospital and kept watch by the bedside of the comatose Lei Zhengge for a night.

He hoped a miracle would occur; even letting Captain Lei glimpse the Internal Combustion Engine Train would be enough to avoid regret.

Until dawn broke, no miracle happened, and he had to accept the fact that Lei Zhengge would not wake.

He checked the time; the train should be arriving soon.

Lu Cheng had to leave the hospital to prepare for the welcome ceremony; for the Railway Industry, this was a major event, and with reporters present today, the ceremony had to be a grand success.

Before leaving the ward, Lu Cheng leaned over the bedside.

"Captain Lei, I have to go to the station; I can't stay with you any longer. Rest assured, I'll take a good look at the Internal Combustion Engine Train for you, and when I return I'll tell you the details..."

Lei Zhengge on the bed showed no response, lying there silently, his breath as thin as a wisp.

Looking at Niu Da Kui beside him, Lu Cheng instructed: "Stay here and watch Captain Lei; if anything happens, call a doctor immediately."

Niu Da Kui seemed not to have heard; he noticed the withered finger on the bed and it twitched suddenly.

He was about to say something when Lu Cheng had already hurried out of the ward.

The usually crowded Beijing City Train Station was even more bustling today.

Although the Railway Industry didn't officially promote it, word of mouth among families gathered many people at Beijing Station, all eager to catch a glimpse of the Internal Combustion Engine Train.

Lu Cheng was swamped, simultaneously arranging staff to maintain order and to receive the arriving officials and reporters.

A junior Comrade ran over.

"Lu Jingzhang, what exact time will the train arrive? The reporters over there have already set up their cameras."

"It's coming soon; I just called, it'll be here any moment. Have the reporters prepare; when the train arrives, take a few photos of its entry, and later there will be a group photo with the officials and the train."

Another Comrade ran over.

"Lu Jingzhang, a few more newspaper reporters arrived, saying they want to interview you."

"Is it a major newspaper?"

"No, they're from He Province, a small newspaper; I've never heard of them."

"Then there's no time; you see I'm busy right now, tell them to wait..."

Just as Lu Cheng finished speaking, a few reporters from the small newspaper rushed over with paper and pens, blocking Lu Cheng's path.

"Lu Jingzhang, hello, we are reporters from He Province News Daily; may we ask you a few questions?"

"Sorry, I can't be interviewed right now; in a moment I'll arrange everyone into the conference room for a collective interview..."

But the reporters ignored him and started questioning immediately.

"Excuse me, Lu Jingzhang, you're just a Junior Police Officer; what led you to be in charge of developing the new type Internal Combustion Engine, which seems unrelated to your duties?"

Lu Cheng inhaled, then replied: "It's love and responsibility."

"Love and responsibility? That's too vague; could you be more specific?"

Lu Cheng couldn't get away, so he patiently said: "Love is my love for people of all classes; each time I see them anxious over delayed trains, I too lose sleep every night."

As for responsibility, although I'm a Junior Police Officer, I believe that as railway workers, building a strong railway industry is our duty.

"Lu Jingzhang, you're so great."

"Ha, just generally great."

"Then, Lu Jingzhang, I still want to…"

At that moment, instead of the deep "woo" of a steam locomotive whistle, a sharp, bright "di" sound rang out.

It is the Internal Combustion Engine Train, moving along the Iron Rail, making the sound of arriving at the station.

"Sorry, comrades of the press, the train has arrived. If you have any questions, I will answer them one by one in a moment."

Lu Cheng, ignoring the reporters' obstruction, immediately called for the welcoming party to line up and stand ready.