Chapter 72: That

Lu Cheng, what are you muttering over there? Don't be anxious.

Lu Feng is ahead, urging the ox cart; this yellow ox was borrowed from the Big Team, and they rely on it for labor—it's the Big Team's prized beast.

Therefore, even though Lu Feng is eager to get home, he doesn't dare force the ox to speed up; he can only go with its pace.

Lu Cheng pulls his gaze back: "I'm not in a hurry, big brother, I'll just take this chance to enjoy the scenery here."

Lu Feng laughed: "Then your timing is off; the mountain is barren now. If it were spring, the hills would be covered with wildflowers—that would be beautiful."

Lu Cheng shifts his posture, sitting in the cart frame, arms resting on his knees: "Looks like big brother really likes it here."

"What's this about liking or not? When I first arrived I was indeed uneasy, thinking of returning to the Capital City every day. Now I have your sister‑in‑law and Xiao Qing'er, and I've already taken this as home."

Lu Feng gently flicks the ox's rear with his whip, adjusts the direction, and asks: "By the way, how are our parents' health?"

Lu Cheng, like someone with ADHD, changes posture again, lying in the cart frame, hands propped beneath, gazing at the blue sky.

"They're fine. Dad's still as vigorous as before; a slap still hurts me. Mom's voice is still as loud as ever; a few days ago she even argued with a neighbor from Da Za Yuan."

Lu Feng smiles, shakes his head, then sighs: "Now that Dad and Mom are healthy, I can rest easy. In this life I can't fulfill my filial duties, I'm sorry to them; if anything comes up at home, you take more care."

"I know, big brother. There's nothing much at home; you can rest assured."

"How's Ying Ying? Have you been bullying her?"

"What? Me bullying her!"

Lu Cheng stands up directly: "Look at my ears, they're turning into wind‑catching ears, all because she tugged them."

Lu Feng shakes his head helplessly; at that moment, he hears a car approaching from behind, hurriedly steers the yellow ox toward the roadside to give way.

But the jeep, as it passes, stops directly in front of them.

Lu Feng is even more puzzled; this is the road leading to Yushu Gou, a poor mountain village where no cars pass all year.

He had heard that a few days ago, the Commune leadership was coming down for inspection, finally not forgetting the Yushu Gou Big Team.

Looking at the stopped jeep, three people in Railway police uniforms step out.

Li Juzhang is the last to get out; after a quick glance at the ox cart, he knows who came from the Capital City.

Lu Feng's clothes are patched all over, clearly marking him as a farmer.

Li Juzhang walks straight past him, then approaches Lu Cheng, arms around him: "Hello, comrade."

Seeing Li Juzhang so courteous, Lu Cheng realizes his Capital City background, and the remark he dropped before leaving serves a double purpose.

But he still pretends to be clueless on the surface: "What is this?"

"Oh, here's the thing—you just caught a pickpocket and turned him over to our bureau, right? Did you drop something when you left?"

"Drop something? No, I don't think so…"

Lu Cheng fumbles on himself: "Hey, where's my work badge? And the Introduction Letter is gone too."

Lu Feng also gets a bit anxious; if the Introduction Letter is lost, they can't stay at the Big Team when they return.

Li Juzhang: "Search carefully; maybe it's in your bag."

"Haha, no need to look; a junior comrade at our Railway Bureau picked it up."

Li Juzhang confirms it's the lost work badge, waves his hand, and the junior comrade quickly hands it over.

Lu Cheng takes the work badge: "See, I'm making you go all the way here; I feel a bit embarrassed."

Li Juzhang gestures: "No, no, this is what we should do. I've already looked at the badge; we're all part of the same Railway system. Since you didn't reveal your identity, we actually neglected you."

Putting aside whether Lu Cheng is on a covert visit, just his Capital City background alone warrants attention.

Don't be fooled by his title as Railway Division Director; this is a small station, and he actually enjoys Section-level Treatment.

And Lu Cheng may seem a lowly clerk, not even a Section Staff, but his direct superior is impressive—directly Deputy Department-level.

Honestly, even if Lu Cheng scolds him on the spot now, he can only listen; there's nothing to be done—their environments differ too much.

Seeing Li Juzhang being courteous inside and out, Lu Cheng politely says: "Ah, I didn't mean to trouble you; I'm just here to visit family, and also…"

Lu Cheng pretends to bite his tongue, then changes: "Sorry, Director Li, some matters aren't convenient to state."

His sudden pause doesn't matter; it only makes Director Li more nervous.

What else? Not convenient to say? When I recall Lu Cheng mentioning their work is lacking, it's still a covert visit.

Lu Cheng stays silent; Li Juzhang doesn't press, covering with laughter: "Got it, got it, special work indeed. Since Comrade Lu Cheng has finally made the trip and it's almost lunch, I'll have the bureau's Canteen prepare a few dishes, and we can have a few drinks."

Before his brother could speak, Lu Feng interjects: "Thank you, Director Li. I have flatbreads with me, so I won't trouble you further."

Li Juzhang furrows his brow; the man's words are rather untimely.

"Comrade Lu Cheng just cracked a major case; he's a hero praised by our Railway Ministry, and you greet him with a big flatbread? That makes us look very neglectful!"

Lu Feng is choked up; even as a hero, his brother comes first.

"Director Li, this is my older brother, an Insert Team Youth in Yushu Gou."

Hearing Lu Cheng's introduction, Director Li's face pales, then he immediately changes attitude, clasping both hands.

"Oh, it's big brother, hello hello."

Lu Feng doesn't mind; he knows Director Li's sudden courtesy is because of his brother's status.

People are like that, judging by the dishes.

His younger brother, who caused trouble since childhood, has truly become accomplished! Lu Feng feels heartfelt satisfaction.

At this point Lu Cheng says: "Director Li, I appreciate your kindness; I really need to hurry on my way, as you saw, the ox cart is slow; it'll take five or six hours to get back."

"Moreover, it's all mountain road; now that it's daylight we can see clearly. If we return late, the mountain road is dangerous; you never know what might happen halfway."

Lu Cheng deliberately makes the matter sound serious; indeed, Director Li becomes unsettled, fearing responsibility.

"Oh dear, how could that cause you trouble? Since you don't want to stay for a meal, I'll send a vehicle to take you back."

Lu Cheng—this is exactly what I meant!

"Isn't that a bit…?"

"Hey, saying that feels distant; now that you're at our home, just arrange it—send a car, not make me ride the ox cart."

We can't just arrange it outright; you'd have to go up, get a work permit so they can drive you, but you don't know them, which makes it reluctant, and later they'll file a small report on you.

But after this whole messy maneuver, they'll be rushing to give you a ride; you can't refuse to get on.

Lu Cheng looks at his elder brother and says, "Director Li's goodwill—we can't let it go to waste."

Li Juzhang hurriedly agrees, "Right, right, taking the car is still more convenient."

Lu Feng also wants to take the Jeep, mainly to get back early; after all, a Jeep is faster than an Ox Cart.

"But the Ox Cart…"

This is property of the Big Team; we can't just abandon the Ox Cart halfway, can we?

Li Juzhang immediately takes over: "You don't need to worry about the Ox Cart; you two get on my car, and we'll have the other Comrades drive the Ox Cart behind us to deliver it."

In that case, it's the best.

Riding the Jeep is fast; in less than two hours we arrived at the entrance of Yushu Gou village.

After passing a stone bridge, Lu Cheng leaned forward to glance; the memory in his mind became clearer—the river would be the key to whether his elder brother could get a job in the Commune.