Chapter 18: The Innocent Yet Flirty Plant Flower · The Long-Haired Plant Flower

Fortunately, Niu Dameng was not a schemer, but a doer. He seemed rough, but was actually shrewd. Having authority held by such a person was actually a blessing for everyone in the plant. In recent years, whether in production or safety, Jibei Power Plant had climbed several levels and finally had the capital to apply for the Standard Compliance Assessment.

Meeting the standards was truly the most important thing for the power plant. At that time, in the entire North China Region, there were only two power plants that had successfully met the standards, and only a dozen or so nationwide. If the assessment was passed, all plant employees’ wages would jump up three grades. The greatest achievement would be recorded under Niu Dameng’s name, laying the foundation for his future career.

Naturally, everyone in the plant hoped to meet the standards.

It was just that these standards were too strict. Failing the assessment and losing face was not uncommon, so they had to be careful. That’s why a fire happening at this critical juncture made Niu Dameng so furious.

As for Zhang Yifu, he felt he was cheating again.

The assessment standards of this era… ah, never mind.

Zhang Yifu was not someone who aimed too high. Things were done step by step. For now, he had to do the first thing well, which was to participate in drafting the “Safety Regulations.” He had to make sure they covered all safety issues, leaving no blind spots, and strangled all accidents in the cradle.

Father’s mistake, father’s debt, father’s regrets—let the son carry them.

…

The next morning, Zhang Yifu followed Niu Xiaozhuang to the plant early. After going through the formal check-in procedures at the Administrative Office and receiving his work pass, he began the power plant tour.

Generally, a Thermal Power Plant needed several generator units working together. For example, Jibei Power Plant had seven units, large and small. The main ones were four large 150,000-kilowatt units. The rest were three older 100,000-kilowatt units. The old machines were from the Soviet Union, and of the new ones, three were from Japan, and one was domestic. For a domestic power plant of that era, this was considered a luxurious setup.

Each unit required workers to be on duty 24 hours a day. They had to watch dozens of instruments to ensure safety and no errors, be ready to follow instructions from the Dispatching Center to increase or decrease power output, and closely monitor the coal conveyor belts and Boilers. They kept a constant watch on current and voltage. In this massive power plant, this was where most labor was used. More than two thousand workers were involved in this process, working in three shifts around the clock, which was very hard. Zhang Yifu knew their hardship best because in his past life, he had been one of them, except the technology was more advanced then, requiring fewer people. One just had to sit and watch computers to understand everything.

Niu Xiaozhuang obviously got along well with the Workshop people. Wherever he went, he was called “Brother Niu.” Even the senior masters called him Brother Niu. He had really gone among the masses.

The power plant was a place with many men and few women. The place was full of grimy guys, which was visually painful. Occasionally spotting a girl’s figure in the Control Room, no matter how plain, was pleasing to the eyes.

Hearing the girls chattering not far away, Niu Xiaozhuang couldn’t help but laugh. He said to Zhang Yifu, “Look at you! You’re stealing my spotlight. Usually, the girls wouldn’t look at me for this long.”

“It’s the clothes… If I wore the blue work clothes, I wouldn’t stand out.”

“Not entirely. You also have skill.” Niu Xiaozhuang patted Zhang Yifu’s shoulder firmly. “What happened in the meeting room yesterday has spread. The oil pan is being installed today. You’re the big hero! Plus, you’re a college student from Jijing. If I were a girl, I’d look at you a few more times too.”

“Good thing you’re not a girl.”

“Hahaha!”

Sure enough, not long after the two of them sat down in the Control Room, a girl finally gathered her courage and actively approached. Girls in the plant usually didn’t do heavy work. The most demanding task was watching the instrument panels, so both their work clothes and skin were relatively clean.

“Hello, I’m… Wang Xiaohua from Production Team Three…”

“I know, I know.” Niu Xiaozhuang laughed. “Little Sister Xiaohua, why so formal?”

“Who’s saying hello to you?” The girl looked up, revealing her canine teeth and pouting. “I’m saying hello to the college student here.”

“Okay, okay, you win!” Niu Xiaozhuang laughed heartily, then said to the stunned Zhang Yifu, “The plant flower is saying hello to you on her own. Shouldn’t you shake hands?”

“Oh…” Zhang Yifu dumbly extended his right hand. “I’m… Zhang Yifu. You can call me Yifu.”

“I already knew your name.” The girl took off her hat, letting down her long hair, finally revealing her true face. She wasn’t stunningly beautiful, but the simplicity in her smile, the comfort she gave while talking and laughing, was beyond words. She grinned. “When you come to the Workshop in the future, remember to look for me.”

Zhang Yifu was still in a daze, while Niu Xiaozhuang over there was already anxious.

“Are you crazy! Put your hat on, quick! Don’t let Safety Supervision see you!!” Niu Xiaozhuang whispered angrily. “Don’t you know this iron rule?!”

“I know, I know.” Wang Xiaohua made a face at Niu Xiaozhuang again, quickly tied up her hair, put her hat back on, glanced at Zhang Yifu, blushed, and scampered back into the group of girls. The girls started chattering again, though it was unclear what they were saying.

“Flirty… so flirty…” Niu Xiaozhuang watched Wang Xiaohua’s retreating figure and couldn’t help but purse his lips. “Look at that little butt wiggle when she runs.”

Well, what was innocence in Zhang Yifu’s eyes became flirty in Niu Xiaozhuang’s view. If he were sent to a busy downtown area in 2014, wouldn’t he go crazy?

Thus, the topic between the two young men naturally shifted to women. Niu Xiaozhuang began telling Zhang Yifu about the scarcity of women in the plant, the rarity of beauties, and the flirtiness of the plant flower. Zhang Yifu could only agree humbly, not daring to reveal too much of his true nature in front of this simple young man.

Unconsciously, they arrived at Unit Two, the unit where the accident happened. To make up for the mistake, the workshop supervisor had already arranged for dedicated personnel to guard the Oil Filter Machine 24 hours a day. This measure didn’t really make much sense; it was mainly about showing the right attitude.

This machine wasn’t very big, about the size of a person, but the complex pipes around it were enough to intimidate anyone. Zhang Yifu was completely uninterested in the machine itself and directly started studying the pipe structure.

As part of the oil circulation system, the Oil Filter Machine wasn’t some incredible piece of equipment. The only thing to watch out for was the pipe design, since hot oil was flowing in and out, and they couldn’t afford any negligence.

But the design before him left much to be desired. The pipes covered in rust spots aside, the key issue was the connections. They were simply bound with thick tape, not welded or bolted. According to the Shift Operator, this was a small piece of equipment, and the Oil Filter Machine was also a peripheral device. If it worked, that was enough.

But Zhang Yifu knew that having piping of this specification in such a large power plant was laughable. They really couldn’t blame the brothers from the Maintenance Workshop anymore. They couldn’t just add two more layers of tape every time they did Maintenance, could they?

That connections of this level had only now caused a problem was simply fortunate.