Volume 2: Feng Xi Comes, Chapter 18: Low-Key Return and High-Key Actions

  In early July 1985, Lu Zhong was appointed as the last deputy director of the Wushi City Education Committee, accompanied by a deputy minister from the Organization Department.

  The Municipal Education Commission was established in June this year. In fact, it is still the same team as the original Municipal Education Bureau. No matter how much importance the state attaches to education, at the local level, under current conditions, whether it's renamed as the Education Commission or remains as the original Education Bureau, it's impossible for it to become a powerful and sought-after authority.

  Lu Zhong assists Director Wang Futang of the Education Committee in charge of vocational education and social education, secondary professional (walking and reading) schools, vocational education teaching research rooms, adult education teaching research rooms, vocational education associations, social forces running schools associations, and adult education associations. At the same time, he is in charge of the daily work of the Foreign Language Work Office (Office of Wuxian City's External Exchange Language Work Committee).

  The Foreign Exchange Office is located in the office building of Wushan Foreign Language Translation Vocational College, which was set up to meet the needs of Wushan's foreign exchange. It is a temporary administrative institution that mainly provides professional translation talents for official and private foreign exchanges such as foreign trade, foreign affairs offices, overseas Chinese affairs offices, etc.

  Lu Zhong was quite familiar with the Education Commission, having dealt with several of its main leaders and some middle-level cadres. However, on his first day in office, he overheard people whispering in the restroom, criticizing him as an uneducated roughneck who graduated only from junior high school, wondering how he could possibly handle the work of the Education Commission. After all, he was a rural student who emerged during the Cultural Revolution era, and it wasn't even certain if he could recognize all the characters.

  That man raised his voice and said, "I heard that his nickname is 'Living Bandit', can he be cultured? The most absurd thing is to arrange him to host our department's work, it's too absurd! What kind of work does our department do that the higher-ups don't know? Selecting excellent translation talents, the selected person is supposed to deal with foreigners, but him? It's not a big deal if we become a laughing stock, but if we make some mistake and create an international joke, it will be a national shame!"

  The kind brother who was chatting with him whispered and said: "Speak softly, don't let others hear."

  "I'm not afraid, I'd say it to anyone's face!" Although her voice was loud and clear, the tone gradually softened.

  The footsteps gradually faded away, and Lu Zhong shook his head. His diploma was indeed a hard wound in the cultural education unit.

  ……

  The Education Commission has just built an office building, and although Lu Zhong is the lowest-ranking deputy director, he also has his own office. Director Zhao from the commission office accompanies him to introduce him to the work he is in charge of. In fact, each department has its own procedures, and although Lu Zhong has never worked in the education system before, as a leader, especially a deputy position, there's nothing difficult to get used to. After signing many documents, he gradually becomes familiar with the workflow.

  Lu Zhong is in charge of vocational education and adult education, just follow the rules and continue the work style of his predecessor, don't mess around, develop vocational and adult education in an orderly manner, and do a good job.

  Deputy Director Zhao, also known as Zhao Minggang, is in his 40s, wears glasses, and has a gentle and refined demeanor. At first glance, he appears to be an educated person, and his speech is slow and deliberate, with a hint of scholarly air about him.

  "Director Lu, is that all? If you have anything else, please let me know. Tomorrow, I'll accompany you to the Foreign Language College." Zhao Ming had interacted with Lu Zhen a few times before, and his attitude was also very respectful at this time. Whether he looked down on Lu Zhen as an uncouth person in his heart, however, is unknown.

  The phone on the desk suddenly rang, it was a call from Wang Futin, Director Wang, asking Lu Zhong to go to his office.

  Wang Futings office and Lu Zhongs office are on the same floor, Wang Futings is a middle-aged cadre with a rich temperament, just over forty years old, strong and full of hope for further progress.

  When he saw Lu Zhong coming in, Wang Futang smiled and stood up to shake hands with Lu Zhong, saying: "We really have some fate, I felt a connection with you at first sight, and now we're walking together?"

  Lu Zhong smiled, but also noticed that a slightly chubby young man standing up from the sofa next to him was dressed quite neatly in a jacket, trousers and black leather shoes. However, as if he had heard what Wang Futang and Lu Zhong were saying, his face looked slightly uncomfortable.

  At this time, Wang Futang smiled and said: "Xiao Zhou, what are you still stunned about? This is Director Lu, your superior, younger than you but more capable. In the future, follow Director Lu and learn well. For work matters, report to Director Lu first."

  "Xiao Zhou" immediately looked embarrassed and awkwardly greeted Lu Zhong: "Director Lu."

  Wang Futin introduced on the side: "Little Zhou, Zhou Xiaoming, deputy director of the Foreign Language Department. Don't listen to me saying this, actually he's a pretty capable young man!"

  Lu Zhong smiled and nodded slightly.

  From Wang Futang's tone, it can be inferred that there is a tricky situation at hand, so Zhou Xiaoming came directly to report to Wang Futang.

  Wang Futin, however, was not buying it and directly pointed out the issue in front of him, so as to avoid any misunderstanding. As a matter of fact, for a big unit like the Municipal Education Commission, the director and deputy directors have their own duties, how could they fight over doing the deputy's work? Only young people like Xiao Zhou would think that it is an attempt to seize power.

  Wang Futin said to Lu Zhong, "It's like this, the Foreign Affairs Office is receiving a few friends from West Germany this afternoon, and it seems that they have investment intentions. However, as you know, our Wushan has never dealt with German businessmen before, and the Foreign Affairs Office doesn't have a suitable translator. If we enter into in-depth discussions, we can't always use their translator, right? So, the Foreign Affairs Office asked for help from our language center. But just now, Little Zhou said that the first batch of students in the German class at the Foreign Language College has only just started their second year and is afraid they won't be able to handle oral translation work. Ah, Lu Zhong, this matter is now handed over to you."

  Merchants from West Germany have made contact with the Foreign Trade Department, and they are considering investing; the amount won't be large, otherwise it would have already caused a big stir among the municipal leaders.

  Since the number is not large, it seems that Wang Futang didn't take it to heart and casually threw this difficult problem to Lu Zhong, anyway, it just happened to be under Lu Zhong's management.

  Lu Zhong looked at Zhou Xiaoming: "Can't we contact the Beijing Foreign Affairs Department?" Wu Shan is very close to Beijing, even if Wu Shan can't find a suitable German translator for the time being, can't we contact one from Beijing?

  Zhou Xiaoming's face was difficult to look at, and he said: "The Foreign Affairs Committee is very urgent, saying that it will be used in the afternoon, and it is feared that it will not arrive on time from Beijing."

  Lu Zhong suddenly froze, Zhou Xiaoming's voice was slightly sharp, listening carefully, wasn't it the one who mocked himself as a big roughneck in the bathroom, and even worried that he would "disgrace the country"?

  "Director Lu, what do you think we should do?" Zhou Xiaoming's face was gloomy, but his eyes betrayed a hint of schadenfreude, clearly delighted that this clumsy new official had run into trouble as soon as he took office.

  Lu Zhong hesitated for a moment and said, "In that case, I really can't find anyone suitable, so I'll go first!"

  Zhou Xiaoming almost burst out laughing on the spot, barely holding back the twitching smile on his face, and said: "You... you go?" Even now in the director's office, with two other directors present, Zhou Xiaoming could hardly bear to hold his stomach and laugh. This guy, this big lout, was too ridiculous! It was truly absurd, he really didn't know his own weight, it was simply inexplicable!

  Where are you going? What are you doing, going to gesture with others? This big rough man, doesn't know what is foreigner, still thinks it's like in the movies, everyone can speak Chinese?

  Wang Futin's face also looked a bit strange, staring at Lu Zhong. He didn't seem to think of Lu Zhong as superficially as Zhou Xiaoming did, but he still had no idea what Lu Zhong meant.

  Lu Zhong continued, "Don't Germans have translators too? That's fine, I'll just use some oral skills to get by for now. Little Zhou, contact the Beijing office and ask them to send a professional translator as soon as possible." The rest of his words were orders directed at Little Zhou, who was stunned for a moment before realizing that things weren't going as he had thought. But what? This roughneck can speak German? How is that possible?

  Wang Futin also had the same doubts in his heart and asked: "Is it true?"

  "Don't worry, I learned German in the army and can handle general conversations. However, when it comes to professional terminology in documents and official letters, I'm afraid I won't be able to understand them very well. So, we should try to find a professional translator as soon as possible."

  Wang Futin was surprised, and in his heart he couldn't help but praise, unexpectedly this Lu Gangtou was quite a good learner, thinking about it, Huang Lao had said so too, in the correspondence junior college of mechanical and electrical engineering.

  "That's good, as long as you're confident." Wang Futin smiled and nodded.

  Lu Zhong turned his head and said to Zhou Xiaoming: "Let's go, let's solve the problem quickly."

  Zhou Xiaoming was led by Lu Zhong in a daze, but could only follow Lu Zhong out of Wang Futang's office.