Chapter 91

Looking at the innocent face of Jindler, Chen Geng sighed and said, "You still don't understand what it means for me to ride a motorcycle instead of using a small car?"

In the military region's political department, even a full regimental-level cadre might not be able to get a jeep, and he was just a small company-level cadre. If he drove a small car, it would be too showy. Riding a motorcycle was just right. Of course, even if Chen Geng really drove a small car to the military region's headquarters, no one would say anything, but that didn't mean there was no problem. As long as he wasn't stupid, he wouldn't do such a thing.

But Jindler didn't know these things. Although he understood a lot about the country, these more "high-end" human relations and unwritten rules were beyond his reach. He immediately filled in the blanks and looked embarrassed, "Uh... You're going to help me with the procedures for this Changjiang 750..."

"Good to know," Chen Geng grunted.

Jindler immediately put on a fawning face and handed the keys to Chen Geng with both hands, warmly reminding him, "Chen, go and come back soon..."

What a righteous German he used to be, now he's been corrupted by Chen Geng.

...

The motorcycle rumbled toward the military region's compound. Before reaching the military region's headquarters, two loud honks came from behind. Chen Geng slightly turned his head to look in the rearview mirror and quickly moved to the side: a Volga was coming from behind.

Those who could use a Volga were all high-ranking leaders in the military region. A Changjiang 750 blocking a Volga? Chen Geng didn't have the nerve for that.

Chen Geng thought the Volga behind him would accelerate and overtake him, but to his surprise, it showed no intention of overtaking. What was going on? Just as Chen Geng was puzzled and turned his head to see what was happening, a familiar voice sounded, "Xiao Chen?"

Seeing that familiar face, Chen Geng was stunned, "Comrade Leader? Good morning, Comrade Leader!"

He really didn't expect that the person in the Volga GAZ-24 would be Deputy Political Commissar Li Xueshan.

At that moment, Li Xueshan was leaning out of the window, smiling at Chen Geng, looking very pleased.

Seeing Li Xueshan, Chen Geng was a bit at a loss. He should have stopped and saluted Li Xueshan, but he was on a motorcycle...

Just as he was wondering what to do, Li Xueshan waved his hand to indicate it was fine, then curiously asked Chen Geng what he was doing at the military region.

After Chen Geng explained the reason for his visit to the military region, Li Xueshan thought for a moment and asked, "Can you drive?"

Although a bit puzzled, Chen Geng replied straightforwardly, "Yes!"

"Then switch with Xiao Sha."

Xiao Sha, Li Xueshan's driver, immediately smiled and pulled over to the side, ready to switch with Chen Geng. Given the importance Li Xueshan placed on Chen Geng and Chen Geng's education, Xiao Sha wasn't worried that Chen Geng would take his job, which many people envied.

But while Xiao Sha wasn't worried, Chen Geng felt a bit embarrassed, "This... isn't right, is it?"

"Brat, you're just a small company commander. Is it too much for you to be my driver?" Li Xueshan laughed and scolded, "Stop being so picky! Get over here quickly!"

Xiao Sha also chimed in, "Comrade Commander Chen, don't make things difficult for us little soldiers."

At this point, Chen Geng had no choice but to comply. Driving for a high-ranking leader in the military region was a job many people would fight for. If he refused, it would seem like he was being picky.

After the temporary driver, Comrade Chen Geng, sat down, Li Xueshan leaned back in the soft seat and asked with a smile, "I heard you've been quite busy lately?"

"Really, Comrade Leader, you've heard about it?" Chen Geng was a bit surprised.

"How could I not? I heard that several provincial military regions' vehicle repair factories, as well as the vehicle repair factories in Haizhou City and Jiangnan Province, almost worship you, Comrade Chen. Do you know, you've become a celebrity in our military region?"

Chen Geng subconsciously looked down at his military uniform. It was strange, but although Chen Geng, a serving soldier, had become a shareholder of the original third industry office of the East China Military Region's Third Armament Repair Factory, his superiors seemed to have forgotten to strip him of his military uniform. He was still a company commander with the benefits of a full regimental-level cadre.

Li Xueshan was joking, but Chen Geng didn't dare to joke. He reported in detail how Runhua Industry had spread the 212 jeep modification technology for a fee. During this explanation, Li Xueshan occasionally asked a few questions. By the time Chen Geng finished, they had already chatted for about 20 minutes in Li Xueshan's office.

After listening to Chen Geng's report, Li Xueshan highly praised Chen Geng's approach: "While making money for yourselves, you also thought of helping your brother units and local units. This is very good, especially the idea of 'mutual benefit and win-win.' This is even better! I think what you've done is very meaningful!

In the past, we had units with good performance, but as soon as one unit did well, everyone rushed to 'learn' from them. Often, they didn't learn the good things, but instead, they drained the good units. Your approach is excellent. It ensures your own development while also taking care of your brother units. We should do more of this."

Li Xueshan's evaluation of Chen Geng's approach was very high.

"Yes! We will remember Comrade Leader's instructions and work hard!" Chen Geng stood at attention and said loudly.

"No need to be so formal, hehe..." Li Xueshan smiled and waved his hand, then suddenly asked Chen Geng, "Xiao Chen, I remember your file says you can speak German and English, right?"

"Yes, basic communication is no problem..." Chen Geng nodded, not quite understanding why Li Xueshan suddenly asked this.

Actually, Chen Geng's Japanese was also good. Why? Because Japan's automotive industry was very advanced, but the Japanese had a bad habit of publishing many automotive technical papers in Japanese journals. Given Japan's position in the global automotive industry, Chen Geng had to learn Japanese to read these papers. As a result, he no longer found the dialogues in Japanese love action films confusing.

"Seems I didn't remember wrong," Li Xueshan nodded. "Next month, there's a task in the capital. Xiao Chen, you'll represent our military region."

Go to the capital? Represent the East China Military Region? Chen Geng was surprised. He couldn't think of any task that required him, a small soldier not in the military region's headquarters, to go. Was it just because he spoke German? He cautiously asked, "Comrade Leader, can I ask what the task is?"

"A political task," Li Xueshan said.

A political task?

Damn!

Chen Geng's heart skipped a beat. He had never thought that a "political task" would involve him, let alone representing the East China Military Region in the capital.

Damn! Are you trying to kill me, heaven?

Staring at Chen Geng, Li Xueshan's expression became very serious, "Comrade Chen Geng, this time you go to the capital, you represent not only our East China Military Region but also the image of Chinese soldiers. Remember, you are a proud Chinese soldier. Do not do anything that damages the dignity of our country. Be polite and disciplined, and don't let the Germans look down on us!"

What? A political task in the capital? How did it turn into negotiating with the Germans... Negotiating with the Germans?!

Damn!

The six words "negotiating with the Germans" made Chen Geng's heart race. He remembered a project he had been involved in with the Germans and the military. He cautiously asked, "Comrade Leader, is this... is this about participating in the negotiations to introduce engines from the German MTU company?"

Li Xueshan's face changed, and his tone became stern, "How did you know about this?"

This was an indirect admission. Li Xueshan's reaction actually relieved Chen Geng, "I know some German, and my major is automotive and engine engineering. Last year, the Ministry of Ordnance Industry recruited some students who knew German from our school to help translate some technical documents of the MTU 396 series engines."

In that moment, Li Xueshan had considered various possibilities but never thought Chen Geng had already been involved in this. He was momentarily stunned, "When was this?"

Chen Geng: "Last year, around mid-year, for about three months."

"Seems you really know," Li Xueshan's expression relaxed, realizing it wasn't the worst-case scenario. He became curious, "How much do you know?"

"Not much," Chen Geng humbly replied, "I just know that the engines to be introduced are the 396-03/04 series diesel engines from the German MTU company."

"Good boy! You even know the specific model? I don't even know that!" Li Xueshan laughed, curious, "Tell me, pick something that's not confidential, I'm very curious."

"Yes!" Not to mention non-confidential information, with Li Xueshan's status, even a bit of confidential information could be shared. Chen Geng thought for a moment and said, "Should I start with the MTU 396, or from the 8V331TC41?"

"This 8V331... 331..."

"8V331TC41," Chen Geng quickly added, "It's a diesel engine model from the MTU company."

"Right, start with this. Does this diesel engine have any connection with our country?" Li Xueshan was very curious about this suddenly mentioned engine.