Chapter 87: Foes Meet on a Narrow Road

Lu Cheng, seeing Group Leader Deng Hairong act so eager, immediately knew the guy hadn't held in his gas.

Sure enough, before even boarding the train, Deng Hairong pretended to be polite and said.

"Group Leader Lu, I'm sorry for earlier, I apologize to you.

To show my apology, Group Leader Lu may take your team members to the Bunk Car or the Dining Car to rest; the duty work on the train will be left to our group."

On the surface it sounds like a kind gesture—let others rest while we do the work ourselves.

But now is the assessment period for each group; if we just lounge and rest and Ding Jingzhang finds out, we won't even get a deduction, let alone earn Merit.

Who doesn't want to become a police chief?

Deng Hairong does this simply because he's eager for Merit; fewer opponents means fewer rivals, so he suggested letting the Sixth Group rest.

With that kind of scheming, how could Lu Cheng not see it?

"Thank you for Group Leader Deng's kindness, but I don't want to make a mistake. I think we should split the duty: besides the Bunk Car, there are eight carriages left; our group will take four."

Deng Hairong shrugged, tacitly agreed, and led a team to the rear four carriages.

"Our group can't fall behind. Do you see those elderly men and women who can't get on? Hurry and help."

"Yes, Group Leader Deng, quick, everyone move, don't embarrass our group; we must outdo the Sixth Group."

Chang Jinbu tugged Lu Cheng's arm: "Group Leader, should we also go help?"

Lu Cheng glanced: "Isn't that obvious? The assessment also includes helping passengers. Stop standing around, look for a passenger who needs help, be proactive."

The four were just about to go when Lu Cheng called them back.

"By the way, speak sweetly: call women 'Big Sister', men 'big brother'…"

Chang Jinbu asked again: "What about an old lady?"

"Then also call her 'Big Sister', so she feels happier inside; you must smile while serving, give me a smile."

The four grinned, baring teeth, looking uglier than crying.

Lu Cheng shook his head helplessly; it's already good that these four can work normally, can't demand more. He waved his hand and sent them to help passengers with luggage and find seats.

Liu Jian'an led Niu Da Kui, helping passengers locate carriages.

Zhao Jinzhu, tall, was outside responsible for helping some passengers climb through windows, while Chang Jinbu was inside receiving people.

When Zhao Jinzhu delivered a passenger and the next person wanting to climb through the window was a young lady, Lu Cheng hurried over.

"Hey hey, big guy, let me handle this; you go support that old man over there, watch his wobbly steps, don't let him fall."

Zhao Jinzhu scratched his head: "Oh, okay, Group Leader."

Lu Cheng leaned sideways against the carriage, one hand propping his head: "Miss, you want to get on through the window? How dangerous."

The girl blushed a bit: "The carriage door is too crowded, I have a lot of stuff, I'm afraid I'll miss the train; the luggage racks will be taken. But the window is quite high, I can't climb up."

Lu Cheng straightened up: "Then you've found the right person. We're Train Police, that's what we do—helping people for fun. I'll carry you up."

The girl shyly nodded; this male comrade is quite nice, good‑looking, and being a Train Police is also great.

She was daydreaming when her body suddenly floated.

Lu Cheng grabbed her waist and pulled her up: "Monkey, give me a pull."

"Okay, Group Leader."

Lu Cheng pushed the girl's bottom upward, then patted her backside twice to signal she could go up.

"Here's your luggage, take it. There might be a thief."

The girl took the luggage, unable to utter a thank you, because Lu Cheng's two pats made her blush, and she couldn't look away.

Lu Cheng liked modern girls; a little teasing made them blush.

After a busy spell, the train finally reached departure time; all passengers had boarded, and the Broadcaster's voice rang out on the train.

Hearing Jiang Mengmeng's voice, Lu Cheng was startled.

So he could only grit his teeth and board the train; ever since Lei Zhan Ge forced him to Beijing Station, Xizhimen was no longer reachable, and he could only work at Beijing Station.

Avoiding Jiang Mengmeng certainly wasn't an option.

It's just a pair of shoes; Jiang Mengmeng couldn't possibly eat him.

"Wooo—" the whistle sounded, and as the train wheels pressed on the Iron Rail, the "clank clank" grew faster, and the train left Beijing Station.

The carriage remained as noisy as ever, and the Train Police basically had nothing to do.

Usually there aren't that many criminals waiting for you to earn Merit; at most you just maintain order on the train.

People from all over gather, and inevitably some words get wrong and fights break out.

At this point the Train Police go up to mediate; basically it's just these trivial matters,

The round trip takes about two to four days, depending on any unexpected situations en route, such as coal shortages requiring a wait at a supply station, or train breakdowns needing repair.

I told Mom it was a two‑day trip, based on the fastest estimate, but now the train is never on time.

Lu Cheng led Niu Da Kui and Liu Jian'an back to the Bunk Car; since the train had just left the station and there was nothing for now, he arranged rotating duty while others rested.

When the train nears a station, it gets a bit busier, and everyone comes out to duty.

Not many buy tickets for the Bunk Car; ordinary folks are reluctant, only a few scattered officials lie there reading the Newspaper.

Normally the Bunk Car is for staff rest; when bunk spots are tight, staff must give them up for passengers.

In the Bunk Car, Lu Cheng saw a group also rotating duty this way; they weren't foolish, knowing to conserve energy and prevent emergencies.

Otherwise, on such a long trip, no one could keep the wheels turning twenty‑four hours straight; the body would give out.

Lu Cheng told the two to check for empty spots, lie down and rest first, then later swap with Zhao Jinzhu and Chang Jinbu.

Lu Cheng opened his canvas bag; besides essential spare underwear and socks, it held a packaged Toothbrush Cup, an enamel insulated water cup, a lunch box, and money.

These items were organized by Lin Qingyan; Lu Cheng hadn't thought of such detail—he usually only brings a few spare underwear, and the other toothbrush, water cup, etc., he just makes do.

Two heads poked out, and Liu Jian'an asked: "Group Leader, this must have been organized by the Master's Wife!"

Lu Cheng lifted the water cup: "How did you tell?"

The clothes are folded especially neatly, even sorted into categories.

Not like those few, whose pant waists and socks are jammed together with the lunch box, tossed into a bag and taken onto the train.

Lu Cheng praised, "Good, Jian'an, now you've learned to observe; it wasn't in vain following me."

Niu Da Kui sniffed, "Master's Wife is wonderful; I also want a Master's Wife."

Lu Cheng glared, "You're not foolish; you even know you need a wife, but don't want my wife!"

"Go, go, go, get some rest quickly; I'll go fetch hot water. If anything happens, call me at any time."

Lu Cheng, holding a cup, stepped out of the Bunk Car, asked the Train Staff, and learned that the train's water‑supplying tea kettle is at the connection point of the fourth Carriage, handled by a dedicated water supplier.

Currently, the train's water supply relies mainly on the Water Tank atop the Carriage, which holds eight hundred kilograms of water—enough for about ten hours. If it runs low, it will be refilled at the next station.

Lu Cheng had just reached the tea kettle, about to fetch water, when his shoulder was suddenly tapped.

Turning around, he saw Jiang Mengmeng, who was also there to get hot water.

"Hey, where are my leather shoes?"