HPDBC Chapter 44 A Monument
Chapter 44 A Monument
Mr. Zeng's car arrived at the Suicheng Company building.
A striking red carpet was laid out in front of the office building, with flowers arranged symmetrically on both sides, making it look like a wedding scene.
The company had already made all the necessary preparations according to Lin Chen's reception plan.
The third-in-command, Director Liu, led a group of people to wait in line.
Accompanied by Tan Huasheng, Zeng Huihuang walked down the red carpet towards the building. The two walked side by side, their steps in sync, with similar smiles on their faces. Lin Chen stood at the back of the line, watching this scene, and a thought involuntarily popped into his mind: I wish them a long and happy life together.
The welcome party was held in the largest conference room. A new picture of President Zeng was posted on the wall, and he actually looked quite handsome. It must have been difficult for the Photoshop guy to do that. The fresh flowers on the table were bought this morning and were still wet with water droplets. The tea temperature was strictly controlled at 65 degrees Celsius.
Tan Huasheng presided over the opening ceremony, speaking excitedly and rambling on about many things, before finally saying a few key points: "The strategy of 'building dams to control water and utilizing wastewater,' proposed by General Zeng ten years ago, is still one of the guiding principles for water management and use in Sui County. In particular, the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and the East-to-West Water Transfer Project are unparalleled. General Zeng is a great hero of our Sui County."
It was a bit much, but Zeng Huihuang wasn't embarrassed at all. After Tan Huasheng finished speaking, Lin Chen pressed the play button at the right time. This was all part of the pre-arranged process, and Lin Chen actually liked this kind of work where he didn't have to show his face.
It's at least more comfortable than Chen Ya pouring tea and water.
A meticulously produced video began playing on the big screen, mainly reviewing Zeng Huihuang's "glorious career" during his tenure in Suicheng.
This video is actually a work from three years ago. Back then, it was produced at great expense by the company to promote President Zeng's achievements. The quality is indeed quite high, it's several stories high, the narrative is grand, the background music is stirring, and it portrays President Zeng's personal image as towering as Mount Tai.
A few years ago, this video was played day and night in all the company's water plants and water supply centers. Although Lin Chen did not watch it carefully, he knew almost all of Lin Chen's lines. Today, when everyone watched it together, it was as if they had returned to that moment. Everyone seemed to be very moved and their faces were sad.
Tan Huasheng even shed a few tears, probably thinking of something sad.
After the video finished playing and everyone calmed down, it was Zeng Huihuang's turn to speak: "I'd like to say a few words." He waved his hand as usual, his posture perfectly appropriate.
"Suicheng's development today is the result of the joint efforts of all comrades. My main purpose in coming here is to conduct research and study, and to see what shortcomings Suicheng still needs to address in this new stage of development. I hope everyone will speak freely. As for me, I will do my best to contribute to the development of Suicheng."
thunderous applause echoed throughout the conference room. Wang Yang clapped his hands until they were raw, and the scene was quite "touching" at one point. Fortunately, everyone didn't stay immersed in this atmosphere for long, otherwise Lin Chen would have really suffocated.
Around 10:30, General Manager Zeng and his group set off for Wushan Water Station. This time, there weren't many people accompanying him. Besides the office staff, there were also several trusted confidants, including Director Cao from the Marketing Department. Wang Yang was also there, but no one knew how he managed to sneak in.
Although the Wushan Water Station is renowned both at home and abroad, this is Lin Chen's first time here, and he is vaguely looking forward to it.
Let me introduce this first. Wushan is the highest peak in Suixian County, with an altitude of nearly 1,000 meters and a length of 10 kilometers. The mountaintop is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, making it a favorite spot for campers and outdoor enthusiasts. Tang Yuwei seems to really like it.
The Wushan Water Station is located halfway up the mountain in Wushan. From a distance, it looks like a piece of jade nailed to the cliff. The convoy winds its way up the mountain road. The higher it goes, the more deafening the roar of the water becomes, as if the whole mountain is roaring.
Upon arriving at the water station, one sees a massive concrete structure stretching between two mountains, cutting off the rushing river in half, giving one an unbelievable sense of oppressive power, as if man-made creations have conquered nature.
From its appearance, it is indeed a magnificent project.
Lin Chen became even more curious about what was inside.
After all, this was a lavish project that was once said to cost 50 billion.
The stationmaster of Wushan Water Station is named Ma Boyang. He was also one of the old employees who participated in the construction here. As his name suggests, he has a long face. He led all the simply dressed workers in the station to wait for a long time.
Tang Xin had already made the arrangements by phone before departure.
As soon as Zeng Huihuang got off the car, Station Master Ma stepped forward and grasped Zeng's hands tightly, his excitement overflowing: "Director Zeng, you've finally come back to see us! We've missed you so much."
The dozen or so water station employees behind him shouted in unison, "Hello, Mr. Zeng! Welcome home!" Their voices were loud and clear, their eyes were fervent, and their spirits were high, completely different from the idle and somewhat lazy water plant employees that Lin Chen remembered.
"They must have been given a special boost beforehand, or maybe there's some kind of special reward," Lin Chen secretly speculated, otherwise it would be really hard to do that.
Zeng Huihuang, however, put aside his airs and warmly shook hands with every employee of the water plant: "Comrades, you've worked hard."
He has an excellent sense of the camera, holding his handshake with each employee for three seconds while facing the photographer, Lin Chen, and displaying a standard, approachable yet dignified smile, ensuring that every shot captures the moment of "officials and the masses being one family".
Lin Chen was growing to like him more and more.
That's so approachable.
She's so sensible.
It's so convenient.
How wonderful it would be if everyone were like him.
Lin Chen was afraid of leaders who wouldn't cooperate and insisted that he find all sorts of angles and opportunities to seize the opportunity; Song Jiehui in the company was like that.
Afterwards, the group was led by stationmaster Ma Boyang to an extremely spacious and luxurious exhibition room at the water station. This exhibition room was once a "monument" that Huihuang had built despite opposition and even spent nearly 200 million extra to build.
Lin Chen was thrilled after reading the introduction.
The interior decoration can be described as luxurious, but that's not all. On one wall in the center, there are all kinds of medals and trophies: "National Exemplary Water Plant", "Best Energy Design Award", "Advanced Collective in Overcoming Difficulties"... This water station has won so many awards that it's hard to count them all.
Like many experts, he makes a living off one project for life.
The other wall uses a combination of pictures and text to fully record the entire process of the Wushan Water Station from planning and surveying to construction and completion. Objectively speaking, through these materials, one can indeed feel the hardship and grandeur of the project construction. Even Lin Chen couldn't help but feel a sense of pride after seeing it.
Those people back then certainly had the courage to move mountains like the Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains.
Further inside, at the deepest part of the exhibition hall, there was a statue. Lin Chen initially thought it was a historical figure, but upon closer inspection, he realized that the statue was actually of Zeng Huihuang.
Anima, isn't this a bit too self-worshiping?
If you say he heroically sacrificed his life in this project, that's understandable.
After looking at it, Lin Chen's sense of pride disappeared again. He felt that this water station did not seem like a company, but rather his once glorious private property.
No wonder Tan Huasheng insisted on coming here.
The last area of the exhibition hall displays tools and items used during the construction period: a stone crusher, insulated gloves, a rusty shovel, an impact drill, and even... a pair of stockings?
Other items can be associated with something, but what exactly is the meaning behind these stockings? A group of people who were once glorious walked along, reminiscing about their glorious past, as if they had deep feelings about every single item.
"Look at this stone crusher! It's the first piece of equipment we used to cleave rocks at the Wushan Water Station!"
"I remember you, Mr. Zeng, personally tried on these insulating gloves when you first inspected the construction site!"
"This impact drill was inspected and touched by General Manager Li!"
"This shovel was demonstrated by Chairman Wang of the provincial company when he came!"
Goodness, once a leader touches or uses it, it becomes an "antique." Lin Chen wondered to himself, which leader used this sanitary napkin?
Finally, they saw the sanitary napkins. Zeng Huihuang turned around and smiled at Tang Xin, "Tang Xin, do you remember these stockings?"
Tang Xin was a little annoyed and blushed: "I remember, of course I remember. There was an accident during construction. One of my coworkers was bleeding profusely from a head injury. There were no tools to stop the bleeding, so you made me tear off my stockings. Why are they still here? It looks terrible."
Zeng Huihuang smiled smugly: "These stockings of yours not only saved his life, but also the water station's life. If someone had really died, we would have been in trouble. So they must be considered meritorious. I had them placed here."
Everyone nodded in agreement, indicating that it was a reasonable approach.
That's fine!
Damn, this works?
They spoke with conviction and sincerity.
It's as if everyone is a participant and builder of this magnificent water station from scratch.
But Lin Chen knew that most of the people present...
Even Mr. Zeng himself probably only came twice, once at the groundbreaking ceremony and once at the ribbon-cutting ceremony upon completion.