Chapter 44

Chapter 44: First Watch
Wang Hua hadn’t searched for long before he spotted Zheng Xian, the maintenance team leader, standing by a nearby oil well, accompanied by one of the production directors from the Second Factory.
Wang Hua could barely contain his elation; timing was everything. If he waited until he returned to organize these technical loopholes before coming back, the opportunity would have long passed. Now was the perfect moment. While Zheng Xian often showed favoritism toward Zhou Hao, the production director certainly would not.
All he needed to do was step forward and reveal his findings, and the position of deputy team leader might just be within his grasp!
These days, Wang Hua has remained silent.
Wan Zhenzhen had caused him to lose face, and he himself had failed to hold his temper, smashing the tricycle. Afterward, Wang Hua regretted his impulsiveness; after all, it was something he’d bought for 140 yuan. But when he pushed the battered tricycle to the repair shop, the mechanic stared in disbelief. After inspecting it, the man told him that with damage this severe, there was nothing he could do except buy it back for twenty yuan.
Feeling humiliated, Wang Hua couldn’t bear to push the cart around to other shops. He ended up selling the 140-yuan tricycle back to the master mechanic for just twenty. In this whole business venture, Wan Zhenzhen hadn’t earned much; instead, they’d lost 120 yuan. Wang Hua’s frustration was beyond words. Lately, walking through the corridor-style building, he felt as though everyone was mocking him behind his back. Every time he went up or down the stairs, he sensed eyes boring into him from behind.
Therefore, he desperately needed this opportunity to turn around his reputation. Although Wan Zhenzhen swore there was a 2,000-yuan bonus, Wang Hua cared far less about the money than about the position of deputy team leader. Even if he didn’t get the post, he would still gain the factory’s recognition.
Just as Wang Hua was about to step forward, he caught Zhou Hao approaching from afar out of the corner of his eye.
There was no time for pleasantries or preliminaries; Wang Hua rushed urgently to Zheng Xian’s side.
Zheng Xian had a square-shaped face, bearing a certain spousal resemblance to Li Hongmei. As one of the earliest workers to arrive and build the Northern Oilfield, he was now advanced in years, with graying temples. Due to health reasons, he would be retiring within a few years. Consequently, over the past couple of years, he had paid particular attention to nurturing the younger members of the maintenance team.
Ever since Zhou Hao had handed him a document, Zheng Xian had brought along the production director to conduct an on-site inspection, aiming to finalize the maintenance plan and swiftly repair the hazardous oil wells before the weather turned cold.
Seeing Wang Hua at this moment, he was somewhat surprised: “Aren’t you on the night shift today?”
Wang Hua, disregarding everything else, hurriedly took credit for himself.
“Captain, I discovered several safety hazards over the past few days, so I took advantage of my daytime rest today to inspect them personally. Once confirmed, I didn’t dare delay and came straight to find you.”
Zheng Xian’s expression was slightly ambiguous, while the Production Director smiled warmly and asked Wang Hua, “Young comrade, you are certainly diligent in your work. What specific issues have you identified? We happen to be finalizing the overhaul plan; if your findings are reasonable, we can incorporate them on the spot.”
By this time, Zhou Hao had already walked over to Zheng Xian’s side. Hearing Wang Hua’s words, he remained silent, standing quietly aside.
Wang Hua could barely contain his excitement; the realization that he had outshone Zhou Hao filled him with exhilaration, his mind racing with scattered thoughts.
“I’ve noticed a few areas on our pumping units that need modification. With cold weather approaching, some of the components up there aren’t made from materials sufficiently resistant to low temperatures…”
After Wang Hua finished speaking, the several men fell silent for a moment.
Thinking he hadn’t explained himself clearly, Wang Hua hurriedly repeated his points, detailing exactly how he had discovered these issues.
Zheng Xian: …
“Hmm, Wang Hua, the issues you’ve raised are indeed very meaningful. Here’s what we’ll do: Zhou Hao is currently conducting maintenance tests. If you’re available, why not join him and lend a hand? We’ll also incorporate this aspect into our major overhaul plan.”
Heaven knows, Zheng Xian truly felt awkward and preferred not to elaborate further in front of the production director. Thus, he devised a compromise: let Zhou Hao take Wang Hua away. After all, this content had already been included in the plan. Work would soon commence on this front, so it made sense to start with some practical preparation.
However, from Wang Hua’s perspective, Zheng Xian’s words didn’t sound quite so agreeable.
Under different circumstances, Wang Hua might not have acted so impulsively, but with one setback after another recently, he had become increasingly rash. Moreover, due to the matter involving Wan Zhenzhen, he secretly feared that Li Hongmei might say something to Zheng Xian.
Therefore, upon hearing Zheng Xian’s response, Wang Hua held back again and again, yet finally voiced what was on his mind.
“Captain, I know my wife’s behavior was inappropriate, and it’s natural for you to hold grievances against me. But the issues I’ve uncovered this time should be valid, shouldn’t they? Isn’t your handling of this situation somewhat unfair to me?”
Zheng Xian was so amused by Wang Hua’s debt-collector expression that he couldn’t help but laugh in anger.
Does he have a problem with Wang Hua? If he truly did, he would have let him continue making a fool of himself right here! Why would he bother smoothing things over for him?
As for the matter concerning his wife, although Zheng Xian had indeed heard his spouse mention Wang Hua’s wife a few times, in his view, this was merely an issue between women. If he were to let such trivial matters inject personal bias into his work, then what kind of maintenance team leader would he be?
“Fairness? Wang Hua, if we’re truly talking about fairness, Zhou Hao raised these issues long ago. And it wasn’t just these points; he also drafted a detailed maintenance plan, with some steps already tested for feasibility. I’d like to ask you: which of my actions have led you to question fairness?”
The production director beside them had already looked away; it was best not to interfere in matters concerning another team. Still, Old Zheng was usually a man of gentle temper, so the fact that he was now confronting someone face-to-face showed just how deeply angered he truly was.
Wang Hua was struck so suddenly by the hammer that stars danced before his eyes.
Zhou Hao had proposed this long ago? And even prepared a plan?
Then what about him? Hadn’t all his words just turned into a joke?
Wang Hua could taste blood rising in his mouth, his temples throbbing as pain shot toward the back of his head.
So embarrassing!
Absolutely mortifying!
Wang Hua simply couldn’t fathom how Zhou Hao had managed to spot it before him
Wan Zhenzhen had pounded her chest and guaranteed that as long as he submitted these reports, he would surely be given a position of great responsibility!
Zheng Xian watched Wang Hua’s expression shift repeatedly before finally settling into a deathly pallor. Ultimately unwilling to stoop to the level of this young upstart, he waved his hand and dismissed him.
“Zhou Hao, you will take the lead on this major overhaul.”
Wang Hua’s implication was clear: he believed Zheng Xian was showing favoritism toward Zhou Hao. With a cold sneer, Zheng Xian decided that, in that case, Zhou Hao would indeed be the one to call the shots for this overhaul.
Let those green-eyed monsters see for themselves whether Zhou Hao truly deserves the title of Vice Captain.