Chapter 85

In early July 1985, Lu Zheng was appointed as the lowest-ranking deputy director of Wushan City's Education Commission. A deputy minister from the Organization Department accompanied him to take up his new position.

The Education Commission was established in June of that year, essentially the same as the original Education Bureau. No matter how much the state emphasized education, at the local level, under the current conditions, whether it was renamed the Education Commission or remained the Education Bureau, it could not become a powerful and influential unit.

Lu Zheng assisted Director Wang Futin of the Education Commission in overseeing the Division of Vocational and Social Education, secondary specialized (day) schools, the Vocational Education Research Office, the Adult Education Research Office, the Vocational Education Association, the Social Education Association, and the Adult Education Association. He also managed the daily operations of the Foreign Language Work Office (Wushan City Foreign Exchange Language Work Committee Office).

The Foreign Exchange Work Office was located in the Wushan Foreign Language Translation Vocational College building, established to meet the needs of Wushan's foreign exchanges. Its main task was to provide professional translators for official needs such as foreign trade, foreign affairs, and overseas Chinese affairs, as well as for private foreign exchanges.

Lu Zheng was quite familiar with the Education Commission, having interacted with several of its top leaders and some middle-level cadres. However, on his first day, he overheard people in the restroom criticizing how a middle school graduate, a rough and uneducated person, could possibly handle the work of the Education Commission? Moreover, as a rural student from the Cultural Revolution era, he might not even be able to read all the characters.

One person said in a sharp voice, "I heard his nickname is 'Living Bandit.' Tell me, could he possibly be cultured? The most absurd thing is that they assigned him to manage our department. It's ridiculous! Do they not know the nature of our work? We select excellent translators who will deal with foreigners. He? It's not just a matter of making a fool of ourselves; if he causes some blunder, it could become a national disgrace!"

The person chatting with him "shushed" and said, "Lower your voice, don't let anyone hear."

"I'm not afraid. I'll say it to anyone's face!" The sharp voice was firm, but the tone gradually softened.

Then the footsteps gradually faded away. Lu Zheng shook his head; his educational background was indeed a significant drawback in a cultural and educational unit.

...

The newly built office building of the Education Commission, despite being the lowest-ranking deputy director, Lu Zheng still had his own office. Director Zhao Minggang of the Commission Office accompanied him, introducing him to his responsibilities. In fact, each department had its own set of rules. Although Lu Zheng had never worked in the cultural and educational system, being a leader, especially a deputy, was not difficult to handle. The more signatures he signed, the more familiar he would become with the work processes.

Lu Zheng's main responsibilities were vocational and adult education. He just needed to follow the previous work methods, avoid unnecessary changes, and develop vocational and adult education in an orderly manner to do a good job.

Director Zhao Minggang, in his forties, wore glasses and had a scholarly appearance. He spoke slowly and had a scholarly air.

"Director Lu, is that clear? If you have any matters, just let me know. Tomorrow, I'll accompany you to visit the Foreign Language College," Zhao Minggang said, having interacted with Lu Zheng several times. His attitude was very respectful, but whether he secretly looked down on Lu Zheng, the rough and uneducated person, was unknown.

The phone on the desk suddenly rang. It was a call from Director Wang Futin, asking Lu Zheng to come to his office.

Wang Futin's office was on the same floor as Lu Zheng's. Wang Futin was a well-built middle-aged official, just over forty, strong and capable, with a good chance of further advancement.

When he saw Lu Zheng enter, Wang Futin smiled and stood up to shake his hand, saying, "We really have some connection. The first time I saw you, I felt a connection. Now, we're working together, right?"

Lu Zheng smiled, but he noticed a slightly plump young man standing up from the sofa, dressed in a well-tailored jacket, trousers, and black leather shoes. However, his face seemed slightly uncomfortable, as if he had heard what Wang Futin said to Lu Zheng.

Wang Futin then said with a smile, "Xiao Zhou, what are you standing there for? This is Director Lu, your direct superior. He's younger than you but more capable. In the future, follow Director Lu and learn well. Report any work matters to Director Lu first."

"Xiao Zhou" immediately looked embarrassed and awkwardly greeted Lu Zheng, "Director Lu."

Wang Futin introduced him to Lu Zheng, "Xiao Zhou, Zhou Xiaoming, deputy director of the Foreign Language Work Office. Don't listen to me; he's actually a very capable young man!"

Lu Zheng smiled and nodded.

From Wang Futin's tone, it was clear that there was a difficult matter in the department, and Zhou Xiaoming had come to report it directly to Wang Futin.

Wang Futin, however, clearly did not buy it. He pointed it out in front of Lu Zheng to avoid any misunderstandings. In a large unit like the Education Commission, the roles of the main and deputy directors were clearly defined. Taking over the deputy's work? Only a young person like Xiao Zhou would see it as overstepping.

Wang Futin then said to Lu Zheng, "Here's the situation. The Foreign Economic and Trade Commission is hosting a few friends from West Germany this afternoon. I hear they have investment intentions. As you know, we in Wushan have never dealt with German businessmen before, and the Foreign Economic and Trade Commission doesn't have suitable translators. If we enter deeper discussions, we can't keep using their translators. So, the Foreign Economic and Trade Commission has come to us for help. But Xiao Zhou just said that the first batch of German language students at the Foreign Language College is only in their second year and may not be able to handle oral translation. He's worried and came to me for help. Ha, Lu Zheng, this matter is up to you."

The German businessmen, in contact with the foreign economic and trade department, were likely here to invest, and the amount was probably not large, otherwise, it would have already attracted the attention of the city's leadership.

Since the amount was not large, Wang Futin did not take it seriously and casually passed the problem to Lu Zheng, who was in charge of it anyway.

Lu Zheng looked at Zhou Xiaoming, "Can't we contact the foreign affairs department in Beijing?" Wushan was very close to Beijing. If Wushan couldn't find a suitable German translator, couldn't they contact someone from Beijing?

Zhou Xiaoming looked troubled and said, "The Foreign Economic and Trade Commission is in a hurry. They need a translator this afternoon. Contacting Beijing might not be in time."

Lu Zheng suddenly realized something. Zhou Xiaoming's voice was slightly sharp, and upon careful listening, it was the same person who had mocked him in the restroom, even worrying that he would "embarrass the country."

"Director Lu, what do you think we should do?" Zhou Xiaoming's face showed difficulty, but his eyes had a hint of schadenfreude. Clearly, the rough and uneducated new leader encountering a problem on his first day made him quite pleased.

Lu Zheng thought for a moment and said, "If we can't find a suitable person, I'll go first."

Zhou Xiaoming almost burst out laughing, barely suppressing the twitching muscles on his face. Even in the director's office with two directors present, he almost couldn't resist laughing. This rough and uneducated person, how ridiculous, how absurd, how completely out of touch with reality!

You go? What will you do? Use hand gestures? This rough and uneducated person, does he even know what a foreigner is, thinking they all speak Chinese like in the movies?

Wang Futin's expression was also strange, staring at Lu Zheng. He didn't think of Lu Zheng as shallow as Zhou Xiaoming did, but he also didn't know what Lu Zheng meant.

Lu Zheng continued, "The Germans have their own translators, so it's fine. I know a bit of spoken German and can handle it for now. Xiao Zhou, contact Beijing and get a professional translator as soon as possible." The last part was a direct order to Zhou Xiaoming. Zhou Xiaoming was taken aback, realizing it wasn't what he had expected. What? This rough and uneducated person speaks German? How is that possible?

Wang Futin, who had the same doubts, asked, "Can you really do it?"

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "Don't worry. I learned German in the military. I can handle general conversations, but I'm not good with professional terms in documents and letters, so we need to get a professional translator as soon as possible."

Wang Futin was enlightened and inwardly praised, not expecting this rough and uneducated person to be so studious. After all, as Huang Lao had said, he was studying in a correspondence college for mechanical and electrical engineering.

"Alright, if you're confident, that's fine." Wang Futin smiled and nodded.

Lu Zheng turned to Zhou Xiaoming and said, "Let's go. We need to solve this problem quickly."

Zhou Xiaoming, taken aback by Lu Zheng's command, could only follow him out of Wang Futin's office.