Chapter 617: Promotion Time

Dean Gao, on his own, took out a cigarette, struck a match to light it, then flicked the match away and exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Hmph, making big promises? Are you trying to make big promises for me?"

"Oh, I promised them an upgrade on my side, it's on record in black and white, but if you ultimately can't deliver, I can't do anything to you."

Lu Cheng smiled: "Dean Gao, if you don't believe me, I can give you a written record, also in black and white."

Dean Gao shook his head: "Hey, well, what's the use of that thing? You're not a person of our Iron Science Institute, even if you ultimately can't do it, or even deny it, what can I do to you!"

Either call him an old guy, he's almost become a spirit; he never lets a rabbit go without a hawk.

If Lu Cheng doesn't show some sincerity today, he definitely can't make the other side believe him.

"Dean Gao, you know the Railway Department's plan to build a Directly Affiliated Factory recently, right?"

Dean Gao nodded, but didn't understand how Lu Cheng shifted the topic to the factory.

"Ah, I know, I heard they're going to produce some Induction Cookers to earn Foreign Exchange."

"That's right, I was the one who pushed for building this factory, including the production of Electric Heating Blankets and Induction Cookers, all of which I proposed."

Dean Gao was visibly stunned: "Heh, you pushed for it again? Hey, kid, how much energy do you have? Why do you get involved in everything?"

Lu Cheng smiled broadly: "I would say it's for the country, for our Railway Department, for the people; you probably think I'm being too abstract, but the fact is exactly that."

"I think many countries' technologies are indeed ahead of us, so we should do everything possible to import them, then learn, assimilate, and eventually surpass them; building the factory to earn Foreign Exchange is one of the goals."

Dean Gao could understand this: with Foreign Exchange, it's easier to purchase technology.

"Do you mean that once the factory earns Foreign Exchange, we'll use that money to buy computer equipment for the Iron Science Institute? But Foreign Exchange is so precious; the department probably wouldn't agree."

Lu Cheng immediately said: "You don't need to worry about that; at worst I can just go and say it."

"You think it will work?"

Facing Dean Gao's doubts, Lu Cheng was fairly confident.

"Dean Gao, to be honest, the factory's director is my sister; the money they'll allocate to the account, I can discuss with my sister, basically there's no problem."

"And also tell the department; I feel that should be fine too. Dean Gao, you must have heard that a Reform Committee was recently established, right?"

Dean Gao nodded again: "Ah, I heard about it; it's a Reform Committee specifically set up for promoting internal combustion engines, but it hasn't been publicly announced yet."

"That's right, the group leader is our Minister Meng…"

Hearing that Minister Meng personally took the group leader role, Dean Gao wasn't surprised; updating internal combustion engines across the board isn't a small matter, it involves many layers, the difficulty is great, and without a major figure to anchor it, it won't work.

"Oh, what does that have to do with you!"

Since it hasn't been announced yet, it's only circulating internally; Lu Cheng immediately straightened his clothes: "It's a big connection; I'm the deputy group leader."

Dean Gao blinked, stared seriously at Lu Cheng, doubting how much truth there was in his words.

But on second thought, there's no need to fabricate anything.

"Hehe, well, as expected, you can meddle in everything; aren't you doing so well now? You can even be a hand for the minister!"

"That remark is off; it's all for the motherland, for…"

"Alright, alright, you're enlightened, fine."

Lu Cheng laughed along: "So, whether it's the department or the factory side, I can speak on the use of this Foreign Exchange; you should consider it."

Dean Gao had no need to consider; if they could really purchase a set of computer equipment, it would be a guaranteed profit.

Moreover, hearing Lu Cheng say that, it might actually be doable.

Dean Gao immediately smiled: "Alright, I'll make an exception this time and upgrade everyone's treatment by one level."

Lu Cheng was about to be happy, but Dean Gao quickly pressed his hand down: "But as I said earlier, if you can't get me the computer equipment, I'll have to stay at your Railway Bureau and not leave."

This Dean Gao can be quite amusing at times, but since they all agreed, Lu Cheng had to pound his chest and give his guarantee.

After leaving Dean Gao's office and returning to the Research Institute, he told everyone about the matter.

Everyone was overjoyed; Zheng Guoping even jabbed Lu Cheng's chest: "Alright, Third, you actually got it done."

Lu Cheng said with a smile: "I put my own blood into it."

A set of American computer equipment worth over two million dollars—how many Induction Cookers would need to be sold to earn that?

Selling only Induction Cookers won't work; later we need to think of other methods.

For now that's all we can do; constrained by real conditions, we have to proceed slowly.

After my sister arranged the factory construction, Lu Cheng went to the unit for a visit.

That day Director Tang said he would assign him a new post, but I was only busy meeting Yang Yin and didn't ask details.

Coincidentally, Director Tang was in the unit today; after Lu Cheng went to find him, it turned out the bureau was going to promote him.

One could say the Railway Bureau still hires without strict criteria, unlike Dean Gao, who pushes through multiple obstacles to raise a treatment level.

The promotion news was unexpected; although the title is Fu Chu Da Yu, in reality it's a police chief, and when introduced, people automatically treat him as a Section Rank officer.

There's no way around it; the treatment and title don't match.

Now I've finally endured to get the promotion.

"Director Tang, are you going back to the bureau?"

Lu Cheng thought, since he got promoted, he must be the Train Police Unit captain, so the Director Tang, who was temporarily overseeing the unit, is preparing to return to the bureau.

If he became captain, would his treatment also be upgraded to a full Section Rank, since several captains of the Beijing City Police Team hold full Section Rank?

"Not returning; I still have to continue handling the captain's duties."

Hearing Tang Qiusheng's words, Lu Cheng was startled.

Not returning to the bureau? Then how does he get promoted?

"Director Tang, are you teasing me? If you don't return to the bureau, what position am I being promoted to?"

Director Tang laughed: "Beijing Station is a major station; I don't handle the unit's actual work, and you should know how capable Captain Lei was before; fortunately Lao Lei still had Secretary Wang then, who could lend a hand…"

Captain Lei's work ethic is recognized by everyone; since Tang Qiusheng took charge of the unit, he has realized how hard Lao Lei has worked over the years.

Hearing Director Tang mention the former Secretary Wang Fengshi, Lu Cheng tentatively asked: "So you mean you want me to be your secretary?"

If that's the case, Lu Cheng really has to consider it, even though it's basically a promotion and there are some benefits.

Having gone through some experience under the leader, it's easier to be assigned to another unit.

But Lu Cheng still doesn't want to be any kind of secretary, mainly because there's little authority.