Chapter 17: The Straightforward and Ambitious Xiaozhuang

Seeing Zhang Yifu’s confusion, Zhang Lin quickly explained, “What Director Niu meant by ‘meeting standards’ is the ‘Power Plant Standards-Compliant Operation’ assessment. If we succeed, our plant would become a nationally honored power plant, and everyone’s wages would increase.”

Zhang Yifu then remembered. In his past life, there was indeed such a “meeting standards” concept, but that was all history. In the new era after plant-grid separation, with power plants managed by several major power generation companies, there was no unified comparison or benchmark anymore. This honor was no longer so dazzling.

Now he fully understood why Niu Dameng attached so much importance to a minor Oil Filter Machine incident. For him as the Factory Director, whether the power plant could Meet Standards would be key to his career advancement. Likewise, if problems occurred at this critical moment, a sudden, drastic fall was not an exaggeration.

This kind of motivation and pressure was probably something only the Factory Director himself could truly feel.

And at such a time, a heavenly reinforcement arrived—a university graduate who could get to work immediately. Naturally, Niu Dameng was pleased.

With the responsibility analysis concluded, Niu Dameng rubbed his eyes, his mood gradually calming down. He asked Zhang Yifu, “Yifu, which department do you want to go to? Speak plainly, no need to beat around the bush.”

Zhang Yifu had already figured out Niu Dameng’s character. He was no longer hesitant and stated directly, “The Technical Department.”

The Technical Department was essentially equivalent to the Chief Engineer’s office or the planning department in his previous life. It was only in this department that Zhang Yifu could maximize his contributions. Otherwise, he would get bogged down by routine daily work.

“Hmm… Naturally, the Technical Department is the most suitable. But there are fewer opportunities to get involved with management. Let me ask, are you interested in the Administrative Office?” Niu Dameng hid his own thoughts and asked with a straight face. “I’ll speak frankly. In the Administrative Office, you’d have more chances to meet with higher-ups and more opportunities to showcase yourself. Especially now, as the general education level in our plant is pretty average, they really struggle when writing reports and documents.”

“Director Niu, if I wanted to show off in front of Leaders, I wouldn’t have volunteered to come to the power plant.” Zhang Yifu stopped circling the topic. “If there’s a need for writing documents, I can certainly help. But at this stage, I still want to accumulate more practical experience, production and technical experience.”

“Haha! With you saying that, what else can I do?” Niu Dameng laughed and slapped the table. “Then tomorrow, go report to Qiu Ling. Try to get involved in organizing the Safety Regulations.”

“Thank you, Director.”

“Alright, Xiaozhuang, first take Yifu to get settled. I still have matters to discuss with Zhang Lin.”

“Sure!” Niu Xiaozhuang then pulled Zhang Yifu along, and both took their leave.

After the two left, Niu Dameng smiled wryly. “My little plan, it seems I miscalculated.”

“Not at all,” Zhang Lin laughed along. “If Zhang Yifu can do well in the Technical Department, he’ll be much more useful than a student just writing documents.”

“Right, right. Initially, I thought a university graduate might lack work experience, but their writing skills must be fine, and they bring some prestige. In the future, when Leaders visit, having a university graduate accompany them, that would be quite a face-saver!”

“Director, to make such a university graduate write documents just for appearances, isn’t that a huge waste of talent?”

“Heh, true, true.” Niu Dameng thought for a moment and shook his head. “I hope he and Qiu Ling can work well together.”

Elsewhere, Niu Xiaozhuang directly asked Wen Tianming for the car keys, led Zhang Yifu to the car, and drove with the luggage towards the dormitory. Just after leaving the no-smoking production area, Niu Xiaozhuang lit a cigarette. Zhang Yifu helplessly joined him with another one.

“Let me tell you, that Qiu Ling, I’ve disliked him for a long time.” Niu Xiaozhuang was even more straightforward than his father and started cursing directly. “Putting on airs in front of my dad just because he knows a bit of tech, dodging responsibility when something happens, pushing the grunt work onto others when it’s time to act. If you really go to the Technical Department, you gotta watch out for him.”

“Absolutely!” Zhang Yifu knew the fastest way to get close to someone was to gossip about a third person together. “I just arrived at our plant. Everyone’s been warm, except for that Qiu Ling with his sarcastic, shady attitude. If I had a choice, I definitely wouldn’t go under him.”

Hearing this, Niu Xiaozhuang instantly felt closer to Zhang Yifu. “Heh, I thought university graduates didn’t like talking about this stuff. I was afraid you’d be even more arrogant than Qiu Ling. Didn’t expect us to hit it off so well, brother.”

“Has nothing to do with being a university graduate or not, it’s about personality. I also look down on those guys who get all cocky after just a couple years of schooling.”

“Right, right! What’s Qiu Ling got to be cocky about? He’s just a college graduate.” Niu Xiaozhuang snorted disdainfully, then asked, “Bro, didn’t you catch that my dad wanted you to go to the Administrative Office?”

“I caught it. But the Director is a good, straightforward man, so I just spoke my mind directly too.”

“That’s the right way. My dad isn’t that petty-minded. If you can do well, that’s fine.” Niu Xiaozhuang laughed. “Look at me. My position is listed in the Administrative Office, but I actually spend all day messing around in the Workshop. He can’t do anything about it, can he!”

“Oh?” Zhang Yifu was surprised. “The Administrative Office is so comfortable, why don’t you go?”

“Boring.” Niu Xiaozhuang smoked while speeding. “My dad worked his way up from the very bottom of the Workshop. Otherwise, he couldn’t manage a plant well. If I sit in the office all day, what can I learn?”

Zhang Yifu was quite astonished. Usually, such second-generation types should be spoiled rich kids. It seemed Niu Xiaozhuang was a sensible person with an ambitious heart, which was truly rare. Zhang Yifu’s initial friendliness was naturally related to his identity, but now, gradually, he was starting to genuinely like this person.

Arriving at the dormitory, Zhang Yifu realized it was impossible for him to like Niu Xiaozhuang.

This room was just way too damn dirty. Clutter was piled up everywhere, socks were flying around. It could rival a boys’ dormitory twenty years later.

“Heh, didn’t expect you to move in. Didn’t clean up.” Niu Xiaozhuang looked at the devastated room and felt a bit embarrassed. “I’ll be more careful from now on, since it’s two people living here now.”

“No… it’s fine…” Zhang Yifu covered his nose and frowned. “I need disinfectant.”

“…”

It took them the entire afternoon to clean the room. Much of the “devastation” couldn’t be fixed with just a rag; they had to use strong substances like sulfuric acid. Looking at the room, now brand new, tidy, and bright, Niu Xiaozhuang felt utterly uncomfortable instead, afraid he might accidentally step on something and dirty it.

In the evening, the two went straight to a restaurant. Niu Xiaozhuang treated him to a welcoming dinner, and they had some drinks. Unlike Wen Tianming’s account, Niu Xiaozhuang laid out a web of interpersonal relationships within the power plant. This was the core.

Factory Director Niu Dameng also held the position of Secretary. Perhaps because he was too strong-willed, the Deputy Factory Director and the Chief Engineer seemed much weaker. Additionally, both were close to retirement age and didn’t intend to fight much. The Deputy Factory Director still handled some matters, while the Chief Engineer was practically in retirement mode. Therefore, many technical matters had to be handled by the Technical Department head, Qiu Ling. As his importance grew, his influence naturally increased. Niu Dameng had no choice—he was the only one who understood the technology.

As for the other administrative departments, including Zhang Lin from personnel, they were completely under Niu Dameng’s control. Thus, a centralized, iron-fisted Leader was forged.