Chapter 618: Two Deputy Team Leaders

Noticing Lu Cheng's reluctant expression, Tang Qiusheng deliberately asked a question.

"What? Making you my secretary, and I'm still wronging you!"

Being able to serve as Director Tang's secretary is something many people would covet, so it's certainly not a grievance.

Mainly, Lu Cheng's ambition lies elsewhere.

Lu Cheng thought about how to politely decline, as he didn't want to embarrass Director Tang.

"That's not it; being able to be your secretary would be my honor, but the key is, I'm…

I'm rather rough and can't handle delicate tasks! If you ask me to pour you a glass of water, I might go fetch a basin and scoop you some face‑washing water; if you ask me to add some tea leaves, I might grab a handful of wood‑ear mushrooms and put them in…"

"Also, I'm the kind of person who loves to take small shortcuts; since you let me be your secretary, I'd probably sneak away with whatever cigarettes or tea leaves are in your office."

"So I think, if you need a secretary, you might choose Old Deng; Sergeant Deng is more meticulous, or Sergeant Jiang would also work, or perhaps…"

"Fine, fine," Tang Qiusheng said, utterly helpless: "You just don't want to be my secretary, so why ramble on like that!"

Lu Cheng chuckled: "I really didn't mean that; I was just pointing out my shortcomings, and you can weigh them yourself."

Good fellow, that's not talking about his own flaws at all; it's clearly a "threat".

No need to weigh it; Tang Qiusheng wouldn't dare make him his secretary.

"It's not about the secretary role; it's because the team has too much work. After discussions at the bureau, they're planning to appoint two Deputy Team Leaders to share the workload."

"Ah, Deputy Team Leader, that scares me."

Lu Cheng finally exhaled a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

If Tang Qiusheng really wanted to pick him as secretary, that would be an order; even if he refused, he'd have to take it.

Seeing Lu Cheng's relieved expression, Tang Qiusheng became furious.

"Then you still don't want to be my secretary!"

Lu Cheng was helpless; the secretary topic just wouldn't end! Mainly it was his quick tongue; Director Tang hadn't mentioned the secretary at first, it was his misunderstanding.

"Director Tang, I think I should still settle down for a few more years, temper my temperament, and only then will I be qualified to be your secretary."

Tang Qiusheng laughed; the kid just knows how to talk.

"Alright, let's talk about the Deputy Team Leader matter; after the bureau's meeting decision, you're formally appointed as Deputy Team Leader."

Lu Cheng straightened his back; although he's not the main captain, being Deputy Team Leader is fine, at least he gains a bit more authority, and it matches his Fu Chu Da Yu.

Now, he truly holds a deputy‑division rank.

"I thank the organization for its trust; I will certainly live up to expectations, diligently hold the final post, and continue to shine for the revolutionary cause."

Tang Qiusheng nodded: "As for the second Deputy Team Leader, the bureau hasn't decided yet; who do you think is most suitable? I'd like to hear your opinion."

Lu Cheng hesitated barely and blurted out: "That would definitely be Ding Jingzhang; regardless of seniority or ability, Ding Jingzhang is absolutely the most suitable candidate."

Tang Qiusheng thought carefully: "Hmm, Ding Jingzhang is indeed suitable, always diligent on the front lines. Very well, I'll report to the bureau."

Here he handed over some duties to Director Tang; the patrol work on that railway line still needs to be continued.

But since he's now promoted to Deputy Team Leader and must share the team's workload, the train patrol is temporarily set to once a month, with later adjustments as needed.

Lu Cheng had no objections and immediately went to the Deputy Team Leader office that had been cleared for him, not far from Director Tang's office—just two rooms away.

Since it was a temporary allocation, the office wasn't large, but at least it was his own.

The best part was that the ceiling had a ceiling fan, so this summer would be much better.

The switch was right by the entrance; Lu Cheng turned it to the highest setting, five levels, and with a hum, the three blades spun rapidly.

"Hmm, it works," Lu Cheng said, clapping his hands in satisfaction, then surveyed the room.

It was a bit messy; it had once been used to store office supplies, and a thick layer of dust had accumulated on the windowsill and floor.

As Deputy Team Leader, he didn't even have anyone to help with work; when he gets the chance, he'll have to ask the bureau for a junior secretary.

Lu Cheng could only find a short broom head; after sweeping a few strokes, he stopped.

Because the fan was on too high, the dust lifted and swirled, filling the room with dust.

Lu Cheng quickly turned off the fan, thinking of bringing a basin of water to splash, so that sweeping wouldn't raise so much dust.

Just as he stepped out to fetch water from the public tank, he ran into a junior comrade from logistics, holding a hammer head and a wooden sign.

Lu Cheng glanced; the sign was painted in black with "Deputy Team Leader Office".

The junior comrade immediately said, "Oh, Lu Jingzhang, I'm here to hang it… no, it should be Deputy Captain Lu now, hehe."

"Deputy Captain Lu?" Lu Cheng frowned slightly, finding it oddly awkward.

"Calling it with four characters, don't you think it's a mouthful? Remove one character."

The junior comrade was stunned: "Remove one character? Oh, Deputy Team Leader."

Lu Cheng inhaled; after all, the young comrade was completely out of line.

"Alright, go ahead and hang it."

The junior comrade was quite nimble; by the time Lu Cheng returned with water, the sign was already nailed up.

"Deputy Captain Lu, does this look okay?"

The hanging height matched the other signs, so there was no issue, but as Lu Cheng stood there watching for a while, he felt something was missing.

Soon, he thought of it.

"One sign isn't enough; you should make a few more later."

"Make a few more?" The junior comrade was clearly confused, looking at the other room signs—they were all the same.

Lu Cheng then asked, "Did you bring paper and a pen?"

"Ah, I did," the junior comrade said, pulling a fountain pen from his pocket.

Lu Cheng immediately said, "Then note this: add another Reform Committee Deputy Leader office."

The junior comrade had never heard of such an office, but he dutifully recorded it; some leaders hold multiple posts, so adding extra signs for distinction is normal.

He thought adding another sign would finish it; the junior comrade was about to say he'd go back to prepare, but Lu Cheng stood there and blurted out again.

"There's also the Research Institute director's office, and I'm now also serving as police chief, add a police chief's office, and also…"

"Also?" the young Comrade blinked, a face full of surprise.

"Yes, the Beijing Station warehouse is also under my charge, plus a warehouse manager's office."

The young Comrade blinked: "The manager also has an office?"

Lu Cheng glanced: "That's called proper procedure; everything must have a process, understand? Have you written them down?"

The young Comrade nodded, while proofreading on paper, muttering those office names they'd never heard of.

"Deputy Captain Lu, with this already posted Deputy Team Leader office, that makes five in total." The young Comrade surveyed the doorway.

"How could that even be hung?"