Chapter 8: Stepping Forward

Liu Jianwang thought for a moment, then answered, “Little Xia, I can see you have great ambitions, but there’s often a gap between ideas and actual work. Right now, the main tasks of the reform office are distributing materials, conducting research, and communicating with the leaders of the Planning Commission. The actual power to implement things is quite limited.”

“I see…” Xia Xue let out a soft sigh. “Then I’ll follow the leader’s arrangement.”

Liu Jianwang wiped some sweat. What others had told him about this girl was correct; she really wasn’t easy to deal with. He then turned to Zhang Yifu, who seemed the easiest to handle. “Young Zhang, I suppose you also respect the school’s assignment?”

“Yes, I respect it, I respect it.” Zhang Yifu had already thought about this question for a long time and had made up his mind. After expressing his respect, he cautiously tested the waters. “It’s just… I have a small idea.”

“Speak freely.” Liu Jianwang felt a pang of anxiety, fearing that Zhang Yifu might also make an unusual request like Xia Xue.

“I want to go to a Power Plant.”

“…”

A chill no less than the one from Xia Xue drifted through the air. Everyone looked at Zhang Yifu as if he were crazy.

“Yifu, think twice,” Zheng Daoxing tugged at Zhang Yifu’s sleeve. “It’s not that Power Plants are bad, but as university graduates, we can make better use of our abilities by going to the Ministry.”

“Yeah, Yifu, isn’t your family also from Jijing? Jijing doesn’t have any major Power Plants.” Even the Counselor couldn’t bear it anymore. His look seemed like he wanted to kill Zhang Yifu. The competition for spots this year was so fierce. With a Ministry Leader practically offering the opportunity right in front of you, how could you refuse it?

As for Liu Jianwang, his expectations for Zhang Yifu were the highest. There were far too many people like Zheng Daoxing in the Ministry, and Xia Xue was too arrogant, making her feel unreliable. At this stage, what was needed were precisely practical talents like Zhang Yifu—bold in thinking and action, capable of getting things done. With proper grooming, joining some major future projects held great potential for development.

But why on earth did this guy set his sights on a Power Plant?

Zhang Yifu certainly wasn’t sabotaging his own future. As someone who had seen countless people rise and fall, he knew all too well how to get by.

Life in the Ministry was comfortable, but one had to be clear-eyed about who they were. With a strong enough background, one could indeed soar up the ranks there. But for someone from a meter-reader’s family like himself, no matter how hard he worked, it would just be a year-by-year grind: five years to become a Section Chief, ten years for a division head, and after twenty years, it depended on luck to become a bureau director. To go any further, one had to latch onto a powerful figure early on, settling the big picture only after thirty years.

In short, the Ministry was the kind of place that could run without anyone. Navigating interpersonal relationships mattered more than technical expertise.

The grassroots level was different. Merits were clear and obvious, and experience was especially precious. In his past life, most of the leaders who truly rose to the top had experience working in Power Plants. Purely administrative cadres had limited upward mobility. Working in a Power Plant for a few years, accumulating enough experience, achievements, and connections, then transferring into an administrative organ to soar upwards—that was the proven path to promotion in his past life, far more efficient and reliable than simply putting in years within the bureaucracy.

Of course, there were other factors too.

Because out in the local areas… people at the Power Plant were practically local overlords! A Power Plant Factory Director was like an emperor, enjoying far more freedom and pleasure than a bureau-level cadret in the Ministry.

Faced with Liu Jianwang’s question, Zhang Yifu naturally couldn’t answer like that. He had to sound more high-minded and righteous.

“Director Liu, from what you just said, it seems several major Power Plant projects are in the works. For these projects, the Ministry certainly needs many management talents. But I believe on-site technical personnel at the grassroots factories are equally important. Just as Xia Xue said, I sometimes do aim too high and indulge in too much fantasy. So, I want to go to a factory first, to work on power generation with my feet firmly on the ground.”

Zhang Yifu spoke with conviction, quietly astonishing Liu Jianwang. With just those few words, Zhang Yifu had grasped the practical significance of their conversation. Large Power Plant construction was an extremely macro-level project requiring the efforts of millions. This was especially true for technical planning, which needed exceptionally skilled, world-class professionals on par with Engineers from the United States and Japan. Sadly, most highly educated people disdained going to factories. Liu Jianwang had seen too many such talents wasted within the administrative organs.

High education paired with rich grassroots experience was precisely the type of talent most needed now. Generally, the Ministry strongly encouraged highly educated people to go to the grassroots, but implementation was always difficult. Liu Jianwang never expected that Zhang Yifu, who seemed somewhat muddled, possessed such high awareness!

“Student Zhang Yifu.” Liu Jianwang stood up excitedly and grasped his hands. “I will certainly do everything within my power to meet your request.”

“Thank you, Director Liu. I’m immensely grateful!”

These two talked to each other, appreciating one another, while the other three present could only sigh in despair.

This guy is done for, waiting to suffer at a Power Plant.

…

The conversation ended around three in the afternoon. Liu Jianwang, quite satisfied, was seen off by the school Leaders. Zheng Daoxing then pulled Zhang Yifu and Xia Xue to the school cafeteria to discuss matters moving forward.

“Graduation is in a few days. We’ll soon be going our separate ways, but no matter where we end up, we’ll always be old classmates.” Zheng Daoxing looked at the two of them with intense eyes. “We don’t have much backing. In our future work, we must look out for each other.”

Zhang Yifu teased with a smile, “Absolutely, absolutely. When I’m at the factory in the future, Leader, you must go easy on me when you inspect my work!”

“Really… what am I going to do with you… But this might be a wise path. Director Liu seemed very pleased.” Zheng Daoxing patted Zhang Yifu’s shoulder and laughed. “You’ll see. In a few years, it might be you leading me.”

“You’re joking. I just want to live like a local lord at the factory. The Ministry is too troublesome; it doesn’t suit me.” Zhang Yifu then turned to Xia Xue. “With your personality, you’ll also face ostracism in the Ministry. You should still be cautious when needed.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Xia Xue gave a light laugh, still aloof. “This assignment is just to appease my parents. I wanted to go to the reform Administrative Office to get more free time to study. If I get a better score on the TOEFL next time, maybe my visa will come through.”

“Really…” Zheng Daoxing felt a chill. Why were the people he wanted to unite with this time all such oddballs? Wasn’t there anyone who wanted to get by steadily and reliably, just like himself?

While they were chatting, a classmate hurried over and finally found Zheng Daoxing. It turned out the student union had something needing his attention. Zheng Daoxing had no choice but to leave first.

Thus, Xia Xue finally had a chance to ask her question: “Is Iron Man powerful?”

“…” Zhang Yifu felt helpless. “Quite powerful, but not as powerful as the Hulk.”

“Tell me more about things in the United States.” A glimmer finally appeared in Xia Xue’s eyes. It seemed only talking about that place could awaken her enthusiasm.

Actually, it wasn’t just her. The “American Dream” was a collective blind spot for the intellectuals of this era. In their eyes, that country across the ocean was a paradise of freedom, a sacred land of ideals, with wealth and ideas, knowledge and faith. Moreover, Xia Xue apparently had a sister who kept influencing her, undoubtedly fueling her American Dream even more intensely.

How Zhang Yifu wished he could depict the China twenty years later, to let Xia Xue see the grand spectacle of the Olympics, the strength of the power industry, and the era belonging to China.

“Xia Xue, I’m not good with words. I don’t know how to express it.” Zhang Yifu heaved a long sigh, unwilling to talk more about that place. He silently stood up. “Home is always the best place. Parents are always the closest people. The United States… is just like that, nothing more.”

With that, he turned and left, saying nothing more.

This kind of blindly obsessed woman could not be persuaded or reasoned with. Although he felt quite favorable towards her, Zhang Yifu did not plan to put more effort into this aspect, nor did he plan to invest any feelings. This world was vast. Xia Xue was free to stubbornly pursue her American Dream, and he would forge ahead on his own path.

“As if you’ve been there…” Xia Xue muttered to herself, watching Zhang Yifu’s retreating back.

Despite her resistance, she always felt Zhang Yifu’s words carried an inexplicable confidence, as if the United States truly weren’t all that. Of course, a conversation between passing acquaintances was fleeting in the end, unable to outweigh beliefs held for many years.

…

The assignment results arrived sooner than expected.

Both Zheng Daoxing and Xia Xue successfully got assigned to the Ministry. Their specific positions would be determined after onboarding.

Hao Shuai’s family had clearly exerted considerable effort too, securing him a position to report to the North China Electricity Management Bureau. It was said that unit was right across the street from Hao Shuai’s home courtyard.

The other classmates also got good placements, mostly assigned back to their hometowns. The absolute worst ones went to Power Supply Bureaus. Someone heading to a Power Plant like Zhang Yifu was probably the only one.

During the graduation ceremony, everyone who saw Zhang Yifu didn’t know how to console him. They could only shake hands and hug. Only a very few people had an intuition that this guy was playing a very big chess game. But even Zheng Daoxing couldn’t figure out how this game was supposed to be won.

Click!

The group photo of the Class of 1990 was taken. The simple student era was forever frozen in that instant. Real life was just beginning.

There was still one week before reporting to the factory, allowing Zhang Yifu to go home first to see his parents, returning to his hometown together with Hao Shuai.

It was only then that Zhang Yifu realized their families were actually just one street apart. Hao Shuai couldn’t help feeling a bit sad. If only Zhang Yifu had been assigned to the same unit as him, what a wonderful thing that would have been.

Putting down their bags, standing in the middle of the street, a feeling of parting welled up in their hearts. Driven by instinct, they hugged each other deeply.

“Hang in there… Yifu.” Saying goodbye to this roommate of four years undoubtedly made Hao Shuai feel very sad, especially thinking about him going to a Power Plant, likely marrying a local girl someday and settling down far from home. At this thought, Hao Shuai’s eyes couldn’t help but sting a bit. “When you get married in the future, you absolutely have to invite me!”

“Nonsense, you’ll definitely get married first.” Zhang Yifu laughed heartily, looking at the tall tower not far away—the location of the North China Bureau, where Hao Shuai would work in the future. “Don’t make it so sad. The Power Plant I’m going to is also under the North China Bureau’s management. We’ll definitely have plenty of dealings in the future.”

“Come to think of it, that’s true…” Hao Shuai wiped his eyes and grinned foolishly. “You have to come back often in the future. Our homes are close; we should get together often.”

“I will. When I’m not around, try to go see my parents when you have time.”

“No problem. The North China Bureau is, after all, the leadership above the Jijing Bureau.”

They shook hands tightly once more and then parted.

Zhang Yifu walked along the road with his luggage, secretly laughing.

“What’s the rush, silly boy? I’ll be back sooner or later.”

By now, he had completely integrated into this era’s environment, digested this Zhang Yifu’s memories. Thinking about going home soon, he actually felt a bit excited and stirred up.