A nation's industrial development begins with junior engineers.

Chapter 725 This is...mine?!

"Clang, clang..." The train sped by.

"Wild wolf, wild wolf..." Little Dumb Hair's heart was pounding like a rabbit's. The food in front of him was mostly empty, the aroma still lingering, but his mind had already wandered off.

He patted his empty pockets, nudged Yang Youning who was shoveling the last few bites of rice, and whispered, "Uncle Yang, um... how do you reimburse travel expenses again? I'm a little confused about the process."

Yang Youning didn't even look up, and mumbled, "Four sentences, three tickets, two checkpoints, have you forgotten? It's not like we haven't been out before... five steps: approval-advancement-subsidy-reporting-reimbursement, and the ticket grade is strictly controlled. Don't even think about reimbursing a single penny exceeding the limit!"

Xiao Dai Mao was sullen. What did he know? The previous business trips he'd taken care of either with someone accompanying him the whole time or with a wave of his hand when he returned to the factory.

He had absolutely no idea about the tedious process of "paying out of pocket and then getting reimbursed with receipts."

In fact, what Yang Erlengzi was describing is the normal reimbursement process for employees traveling on business now. There are no official credit cards or cash advances anymore; employees have to pay for everything themselves, including tickets, accommodation, and meals.

Within three days of returning to the factory, all receipts must be neatly pasted and the "Travel Expense Reimbursement Form" filled out and submitted. Late submissions? The old folks in the finance department won't even bother to lift their eyelids!

(Also, if your ticket isn't affixed properly, he might return it to you if he's in a good mood, but if he's not, it'll just stay in his drawer. This is true, no arguments allowed!)

Train? Only hard seats are available (don't even think about soft sleeper for those below the bureau level!). Accommodation? A flat rate based on region: 2 yuan/day in Beijing and Shanghai, 1.5 yuan/day in provincial capitals, and 1 yuan/day in county towns! Exceeding the limit? You'll have to pay for it yourself.

An airplane? Comrade, wake up! Even getting a sleeper berth requires special approval from the boss. As for airplanes, even ordinary factory leaders don't have the right to stage accidents for them!

However… Little Ahoge suddenly realized that he was riding a special train! This level of service…

His gaze drifted to Company Commander Tang, who was slowly wiping his mouth across from him: "Company Commander Tang... um... I have a question... about this meal... and the cost of this special train... how... how is it calculated?"

Company Commander Tang looked at Jiang Xia, whose eyes were darting around, and a mischievous smile appeared on his face: "Are you asking whether we need to pay for the food on the special train? Or do you want to... keep it on the tab?"

"Uh... bookkeeping?" Jiang Xia's eyes lit up, as if he had grasped a lifeline.

"You think too much……"

"Uh……"

Company Commander Tang picked up a ladle, scooped a spoonful of braised pork sauce onto the rice, and then slowly added, "Someone tried your idea a few years ago. They ended up with a whole stack of IOUs..."

"Uh, issuing IOUs?" Jiang Xia was taken aback. Has this method become popular already? Isn't it a bit too early?

"Pfft..." When Old Wang heard Company Commander Tang talking about this, he finally couldn't help but spit out a few grains of rice from his nostrils. Fortunately, he turned his head in time, preventing Company Commander Tang's fist from landing on him.

"I just wanted to ask what's going on with the IOU, you don't need to overreact, do you?" Jiang Xia moved to the side in disgust, and like Company Commander Tang, scraped the last bit of soup from the bottom of the plate into his rice, took a big gulp, and puffed out his cheeks like a hamster.

"No, it's just that I remembered some funny things... Some people, once they get into a high position, become unruly and always looking for loopholes, issuing IOUs and running up debts, doing all sorts of shady things... What's the point? In the end, they just get themselves into trouble!"

Hearing Lao Wang's pointed words, Company Commander Tang's lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes sharp as knives: "I don't know what they're after. But it's rare to see someone so audacious. Do they really think that just because they're close to Beijing, they can cover up everything and play dirty tricks?"

Yang Youning sighed with regret: "They died too easily. I think they should have been executed ten or more times..."

"I think execution is too lenient. Old Wang, you were the ones who arrested them, weren't you? I heard that guy wanted to eat dumplings, specifically chive-flavored ones, but without any chives in them. Is that true?" Company Commander Tang finished his rice in a few bites and asked casually.

"Hmm! How did he even come up with that idea!"

"Hey, it seems like you also dealt in scarce supplies?" Yang Youning chimed in.

"Not only that, they also embezzled migrant workers' money."

"Hey, weren't they also transporting moldy grain up ahead...?"

"Alright!" Old Wang suddenly raised his voice, interrupting the conversation.

"Let's leave the past behind. Some things are too complicated, and the waters are too muddy. The reason we were asked to accompany Jiangxia on this trip is... that's probably why we were asked to come along for Jiangxia's trip!"

Old Wang ended the conversation, and then all three of them stared at Jiang Xia.

Jiangxia was mechanically shoveling rice into his mouth at that moment.

Listening to their back-and-forth conversation, although the specific names and events were blurred, the implications of corruption, dereliction of duty, and damage to national interests that were revealed between the lines, as well as the eventual inevitable outcome of the long arm of the law, made him instantly understand what they were talking about.

"Hiss... He deserves to die!"

Jiang Xia understood Tang Lianchang's feelings at this moment. After all, when these two committed the crime, others were still fighting against the White Eagle on the northern battlefield!

While soldiers on the front lines are fighting bloody battles in the freezing cold, some people in the rear are undermining them and exploiting the people. This is simply unforgivable!

However… while he understood, how should he calculate the cost of this “free meal”? Jiang Xia’s forehead started sweating again.

Seeing Jiang Xia's restless state, Company Commander Tang stopped beating around the bush, put down his chopsticks, and looked directly at him:

"Old people have to pay for their meals when they ride in this vehicle. That's the rule. Not a penny less."

"However, your meal ticket for this trip... has already been paid for by someone else."

"Uh, really!"

"Okay! Eat in peace. While it's hot. Only when you're full will you have the energy to think about those 'little red lights' and 'lumps of iron' of yours. Someone... is waiting for you to show your true skills."

Jiang Xia wasn't stupid; it was obvious who this person was. That heavy trust and expectation had transformed into this sumptuous lunch before them!

Without asking another question, he picked up the piece of braised pork that the three grown men had left for him and took a big bite! The aroma of the meat and the savory sauce exploded in his mouth, and warmth and strength seemed to flow through his entire body.

This meal was exceptionally satisfying and delicious.

Thinking that he could eat this kind of food for two more days, Jiang Xia proudly twisted the tuft of hair on his head into a small braid.

"I'm sitting on the train you rode on, so maybe we're..." Jiang Xia smugly hummed to himself.

While savoring the delicious aroma of the braised pork, my gaze involuntarily drifted towards the connecting passageway between the carriages, where a single bed covered with a clean white sheet was faintly visible through the door.

At that moment, the single bed seemed to radiate divine light in his mind.

"Hey, Company Commander Tang. Those beds in that carriage, are they...?"

Jiang Xia leaned closer, lowered her voice, her eyes shining as if she had discovered a treasure, her tone filled with a cautious excitement and longing, "The bed in that carriage... was it... been slept on?"

"Yup!"

"Really!" Jiang Xia's ahoge (cowlick) stood up like an antenna.

"I'm done eating! Please enjoy your meal. I feel a little tired, so please allow me to rest for a moment!" Jiang Xia waved his arms exaggeratedly, pretending to be tired, but he walked very fast.

“Okay. I’ve lain on it, there’s nothing wrong with that bed…” Company Commander Tang said something surprising.

"What! You're lying down?"

"Yeah! It's a new bed, brought in from outside, so I should at least let you try it out!" Company Commander Tang waved his hand, as if to say, "You're welcome..."

"A new bed?" Jiang Xia's smile froze instantly, and the light in his eyes went out with a "snap"! The ahoge that had been twisted into a pretzel with excitement just now visibly wilted and drooped limply in front of his forehead.

"Why go to such a waste? An old bed will do, I don't mind..."

"Don't misunderstand. We didn't buy it. This should be considered... yours! No, we should say that the entire carriage is yours!" Company Commander Tang said something astonishing.

"What?" Jiang Xia was completely dumbfounded, his mouth agape.

Not the leader's? Or is it new? Or is it mine? This is too much information; my CPU is about to overheat!