Chapter 25: The Incomplete Blueprint

"Pull it with oxen..."

The Chief of the Education Section nearly burst out laughing. However, remembering that Deputy Bureau Chief Wang was standing right behind him, he forced himself to hold it back, his expression turning exceptionally awkward.

Beside him, Deputy Bureau Chief Wang remarked, "This young comrade certainly has a vivid imagination, but he vastly underestimates the weight of a train. A fifteen-car empty train weighs as much as twelve thousand tons. Ten oxen certainly won't do; you'd need at least a thousand. This goes to show that the basic proficiency of this batch of candidates is quite poor. Our country is in a state of reconstruction, surrounded by hostile powers, and the imperialists have never given up their desire to destroy us. We are in urgent need of loyal, reliable, and outstanding talent. The Education Section must remain vigilant, fully grasp the spirit of the Bureau Committee meeting, and maintain strict standards for both ideological education and teaching quality."

Seeing the leader aiming his criticism at him, the Section Chief quickly signaled to Wang Xiangrui, "Among these test papers, are there no more constructive solutions?"

"That is not the case. I find the ideas of this candidate, Liu Erfeng, to be quite good." Wang Xiangrui pulled a paper from the stack and handed it to the Chief. "This candidate only missed two questions in the first section, which shows a solid grasp of fundamentals. He designed an auxiliary system for the train, to be installed at the rear. It would remain inactive during normal operation and only engage when the train encounters track slippage."

Deputy Bureau Chief Wang took the paper, glanced at it, furrowed his brow, and offered his critique: "The concept is logical, but it is not practical. Adding an extra power system would double both maintenance and manufacturing costs. Furthermore, all the steam engines in our country are imported from the Soviet Union; they were purchased with tens of thousands of tons of grain. This candidate is merely talking on paper. It contradicts the spirit of 'coming from practice and returning to practice.' This just proves that your Education Section has been lax in its ideological instruction."

Seeing even the best paper being dismissed as worthless, beads of sweat broke out on Wang Xiangrui's forehead. In his heart, he cursed the engineer who had written the exam questions to death. *You enjoy setting the questions, but it's the Education Section that takes the blame.*

Just as he was struggling to respond to the Deputy Bureau Chief's accusations, he saw an older comrade pick up a test paper, stand up abruptly, and look quite excited.

"Officer Wang, what's wrong with that paper?"

"This paper proposes a solution that I think is feasible, though it's a bit strange," Officer Wang hesitated.

"A bit strange? Bring it here and let me see."

With the sound of artillery rumbling in the distance, Wang Xiangrui didn't care about anything else if it meant saving his skin; he snatched the paper. One look was all it took for his pupils to dilate as if struck by a massive earthquake, and an incredulous sound escaped his throat.

"Sand... is this some kind of joke?"

"Someone thought of using sand to increase friction?"

A middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit stepped out from behind Deputy Bureau Chief Wang.

"Who is this?" Wang Xiangrui wondered. When did this man enter? Why didn't he remember?

The Deputy Bureau Chief introduced him: "This is the very Grade Five engineer you were just criticizing, Comrade Dong Qingfu from the Sifang Factory."

Thinking of how he had just insulted Engineer Dong, Wang Xiangrui felt a surge of guilt. Engineers were ranked in nine grades, and a Grade Five was already a Deputy Chief Engineer. Moreover, Engineer Dong was the technical representative from the Sifang Factory at the Railway General Section. Whether in terms of status or authority, he was not someone a mere Education Section Chief could afford to offend.

"Engineer Dong, about what I just said..."

Before Wang Xiangrui could explain, Engineer Dong ignored him, grabbed the test paper from his hand, spread it out on the table, and began to study it intently.

"Setting up a device that can scatter sand at any time, for when the train is climbing a slope..."

"Good, good! This concept is truly ingenious!"

"There are drawings below..."

Engineer Dong continued to look down, his face flushed with undisguised excitement.

"Marvelous! Putting the sandbags on the roof of the carriage—this idea is brilliant!"

"Then control it with a valve, and then..."

"..."

"Hey, where are the drawings? Why did they stop?"

*Rustle.*

Engineer Dong flipped the paper over, found nothing on the back, and grew anxious. He glared at Wang Xiangrui, "Deputy Section Chief Wang, where are the rest of the drawings?"

Deputy Bureau Chief Wang also realized something was amiss and urged, "Wang Xiangrui, why is there only half a drawing? Where is the other half?"

"I really don't know! All the collected papers are right here."

Wang Xiangrui spread his hands. Even if he was slow, he now realized the importance of this drawing and cursed the comrade who had collected the papers to high heaven. *If you had just been a bit more careful, I wouldn't be getting chewed out right now.*

Wait...

A flash of inspiration hit Wang Xiangrui. He took the paper back, looked at it, and smiled. "Engineer Dong, look. The writing on this paper is already trailing off. Do you think it’s possible that this candidate didn't finish drawing the entire diagram?"

Engineer Dong examined the paper closely. It was exactly as Wang Xiangrui said; judging by the flow of the lines, the lower half of the diagram had not been drawn.

"How could he do this! Doesn't he know that an incomplete diagram is a desecration of technology?"

Seeing Engineer Dong so agitated, a strange look crossed the Deputy Bureau Chief's eyes. He smiled and asked, "Old Dong, so, is this solution any good?"

"Good? It's excellent! It's perfect!"

Engineer Dong didn't give the Deputy Bureau Chief any face at all. "Only people like you who don't understand technology would call it 'pretty good'."

The Deputy Bureau Chief knew that Engineer Dong was a technical fanatic who saw nothing but technology and drawings, so he didn't mind the attitude and laughed, "So you're saying this solution can solve the train's slippage problem?"

When it came to technology, Engineer Dong’s expression turned serious. "Technology requires rigor. Without seeing the second half of the diagram, I cannot make such a conclusion lightly. However, based on what is here, it can indeed solve the slippage. Look, this candidate's design is very delicate; placing a sandbag on the roof..."

Talking about technology, Engineer Dong grew animated, pointing at the paper and explaining in detail.

The Deputy Bureau Chief stopped listening to the technical specifics. He only needed to know that the solution could solve the problem. He turned to Wang Xiangrui, "Section Chief Wang, what is the candidate's name, and where is he now? Can you bring him here? Engineer Dong probably wants to talk to him in person."

Wang Xiangrui picked up the paper, flipped to the name section, and nodded. "His name is Li Aiguo. He is a candidate from the Qianmen Locomotive Depot. He should be..."

He glanced at his wrist and continued, "According to the schedule, the candidates from the Qianmen Locomotive Depot should be taking their practical exam right now."

"If you are in a hurry, I can pause the exam and have him brought over."

Deputy Bureau Chief Wang glanced at Engineer Dong, who was still intently studying the drawings, and shook his head. "No need to interrupt the exam. Notify the team leader of the Qianmen Locomotive Depot. Once the exam is finished, have Comrade Li Aiguo come to Engineer Dong's office."

"Yes, I will arrange it immediately."

...

At this moment, Li Aiguo was not taking his practical exam as Wang Xiangrui had expected; he had just woken up in his bed at the guesthouse.

He had been startled awake by a persistent 'bang, bang, bang' at his door.