Major Heavy Industry: Starting with a Fake Marriage

"Yes, I'll go get him." Director Zhou's expression had changed as he turned to leave. He found Jiang Cheng and said in a low voice, "Jiang, this time the people are different from last time. Last time it was the Machinery Bureau, this time it's the Discipline Inspection Commission. Watch your words."

Jiang Cheng nodded and pushed open the door to enter the conference room.

Director Wei looked up and glanced at him. His gaze was neither fierce nor cold, but it possessed an indescribable power, like an unsheathed sword—its sharpness was not immediately apparent, but you knew it was very sharp.

"Comrade Jiang Cheng, please sit down."

Jiang Cheng sat down. Director Wei opened a notebook, which was filled with dense writing. He read a few lines, then looked up: "Someone reported that during the equipment modification process, you arbitrarily altered the structure of imported equipment, causing damage and losses to state property. Do you have anything to say?"

Jiang Cheng thought for a moment and said, "Director Wei, may I ask which piece of equipment was reported?"

Director Wei flipped through his notebook: "The 800-ton hydraulic press from Shenyang Heavy Machinery Plant, the Swedish ball mill from Shenyang Mining Machinery Plant, and several pieces of equipment from your own plant."

Jiang Cheng understood. He had modified all of this equipment. Moreover, it was all located on Qian Zhiguo's territory.

"Director Wei, the modifications to these devices all have detailed plans, drawings, and test data. I can provide all the information."

Director Wei nodded: "We will review the documents. But I want to hear your account in person."

Jiang Cheng took a deep breath and began to speak.

He started with the first piece of equipment, explaining how the problem was discovered, the causes were analyzed, the modification plan was developed, the implementation process was carried out, and the final results were achieved. He spoke slowly and meticulously, with every step documented and every piece of data rigorously examined. When he reached a crucial point, he would stand up and draw diagrams on the blackboard, explaining as he went.

Director Wei listened attentively, occasionally asking a question or two, all of which were crucial. Jiang Cheng answered them one by one, neither humble nor arrogant.

When the topic of ball mills came up, Director Wei suddenly interrupted him: "You say the lubrication system has design flaws? What makes you say that? It's a Swedish design; what gives you, a mere fitter, the right to question it?"

This is a tricky question. Jiang Cheng paused for a moment, then said, "Director Wei, I'm not questioning the Swedes' design. I'm saying that the original design is insufficient for the machine's operating conditions in China. Swedish ore has low moisture content and less dust, so the requirements for the lubrication system aren't as high. Our ore has high moisture content and more dust, so the requirements for the lubrication system are higher. It's not that the design is wrong, but that the conditions have changed. We should be realistic."

Director Wei looked at him, his gaze less scrutinizing and more revealing something indescribable.

"Continue."

Jiang Cheng then spoke for a full two hours, explaining the modification process for each piece of equipment. After he finished, the conference room fell silent. Director Wei closed his notebook and stood up.

"We will review the information carefully. Please do not leave Shenyang during the investigation."

Jiang Cheng stood up: "Okay."

Director Wei walked to the door, then suddenly stopped, turned around and looked at him: "Comrade Jiang Cheng, if what you said is true, then not only have you not damaged state property, but you have also saved the country a lot of money."

Jiang Cheng was taken aback; he hadn't expected him to say that.

"But if someone's report is true," Director Wei's voice was as calm as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him, "then that's a different story."

The door closed. Jiang Cheng stood in the empty conference room, sunlight streaming in through the window, warming him. Poplar catkins drifted in from outside, landing on the table, chairs, and floor, a white, fluffy mass. He reached out and caught one; it melted in his palm, turning into a drop of water.

During the investigation, Jiang Cheng's life was put on hold.

The work of the technology innovation team was halted, the business trips of the promotion office were suspended, and even contact with the college was temporarily suspended. He stayed in the factory every day and couldn't go anywhere. Officially, it was called "cooperating with the investigation," but in reality, it was almost like house arrest.

Zheng Yanxi didn't ask anything. She just went to work, took care of the child, and cooked as usual every day. She just added two extra dishes when cooking, saying it was "to nourish you."

"Yanxi, aren't you worried?" Jiang Cheng couldn't help but ask one night.

Zheng Yanxi was feeding Jiang Yuan rice cereal, not even looking up: "What are you worried about?"

"I'm worried I'll get arrested."

Zheng Yanxi paused for a moment, then continued feeding, saying, "You won't get caught."

How did you know?

"Because you didn't do anything wrong." She looked up at him. "Bad people get arrested because they did something wrong. You didn't do anything, so why are you being arrested?"

Jiang Cheng looked at her and suddenly felt that she was more powerful than he had thought. That power did not come from knowledge or status, but from something deeper and more fundamental—the ability to judge right and wrong.

Jiang Yuan finished his rice cereal, his mouth smeared with white paste, and stretched out his arms for a hug. Jiang Cheng took him, and the little guy snuggled in his arms, let out a burp, and then giggled. The laughter was as clear as a bell, echoing in the small room and easing the somber atmosphere considerably.

"Look, even your son is laughing at you," Zheng Yanxi said.

Jiang Cheng smiled too. He looked down at the child in his arms. The little guy's eyes were dark and bright, like two grapes, staring at him, making "ah ah" sounds, though it was unclear what he was saying.

Days passed. Every morning, Jiang Cheng went to the workshop to work with Huang Deqing. It was more of a way to kill time than to actually work. Huang Deqing never asked him anything, simply handing him tools and asking for his help. The two squatted in front of the machines, one disassembling and the other assembling, working in perfect harmony, like two interlocking gears.

"Master, do you think we'll be able to get through this time?" Jiang Cheng couldn't help but ask one day.

Huang Deqing was sharpening a scraper, and without looking up, said, "Yes."

How can you be so sure?

Huang Deqing put down the scraper and looked at him: "Because what you did was right. Right things may be misunderstood for a while, but in time, someone will understand."

He picked up the scraper and continued sharpening. The blade made a "shush-shush" sound on the whetstone, like autumn leaves falling.

"Besides," he added, "you're not without backing. Old Zhou and Director Zhang will speak up for you."

Jiang Cheng nodded. He knew his master was right. But a sense of unease still lingered in his heart. Because this time, the opponent wasn't just Zhou Chuanming alone, but the invisible net behind him.

A week later, the investigation team came for the second time.

This time, there were even more people. Besides Director Wei and his group of four, there were two more from Beijing—one from the Ministry of Machinery Industry and the other from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Jiang Cheng recognized the person from the Chinese Academy of Sciences—it was Professor Zhou's graduate student, Chen Siyuan.