Chapter 5

In a moment so brief that she hardly noticed, Lu Jun retracted her hand: "It's nothing, General Manager Wu. I just stumbled a bit. I'm not as delicate as Lin Daiyu. I scraped a little skin; it's nothing serious."

Lu Jun raised her two long eyebrows with a flourish, and with great spirit waved her hand: "Such fine medicine is unnecessary. We, children of the rivers and lakes, do not concern ourselves with trifles"

Lu Jun leaned over to take a glance at the pile of messy stones, gestured with his lips for him to put them in the bag, and said: "Take them back to test the composition. When constructing the embankment, these stones need to be sorted and cannot be used indiscriminately"

Gritting his teeth, just as he was preparing to act again, he heard a voice beside him: "Let me take a look, it seems like the fall was quite severe."

Lu Jun smiled gratefully: "Mr. Qian, thank you."

Except for one person, Wu Wei. The meeting at the construction site resembles a classroom, with scattered desks and chairs throughout the room. At the front are models or diagrams related to hydraulic engineering, and the chief engineer or deputy chief engineer usually leads the discussion. Standing at the front now is him. He was originally discussing the process of dam construction when he was interrupted by them. He cast a glance at them devoid of any emotion, a look that conveyed severity, criticism, denial, dissatisfaction, and even coldness. This was the first time Lu Jun had been gazed at in such a manner, as if the temperature had dropped to zero, drenched in cold water, and the air had instantly solidified. She had never realized before that he was such an imposing figure. Lu Jun suddenly felt that the familiar, gentle, polite Wu Wei, who always had a smile in his eyes, was completely different from the person before her.

As one approaches, it becomes evident that although the scene appears to be extremely busy, everything is quite orderly and not chaotic. The first collapse compelled the technicians and construction workers to exercise greater caution. This time, they learned from their previous experience, with two to thirty heavy machines working in three groups: one group reinforcing the surrounding rock of the tunnel, another group injecting grout into the anchor bolts, and a third group advancing deeper into the excavation. The rumbling of the machines echoed from within the cave, resembling thunder rolling in from the horizon, causing the stones on the ground to tremble incessantly.

After nightfall, the air grows increasingly cool, and the trees in the distant mountains rustle softly, their sounds fading by the riverside, resembling the low murmurs of the mountains; countless gas lamps reflect in the river, resembling a sky full of stars.

The temporarily constructed road along the river is steep and rugged. After yesterday's light rain, the road has become somewhat slippery, making the ride in the vehicle feel akin to a roller coaster in a children's amusement park. This is not the first time on a transport vehicle, but today is clearly more challenging. In just five or six hundred meters, the heads of the two passengers have already bumped against the roof countless times.

Zhou Xu wanted to speak, but the walkie-talkie in his arms suddenly activated. He took it out to listen, and his expression changed. He pulled Lu Jun up and stood up: "Quick, let's go back to the technical discussion meeting! We forgot that we have a meeting this afternoon!"

Lu Jun nodded, tossed the clothes into the basin, and sighed: "Today I really feel like I've returned to elementary school. With President Wu acting like that, I truly felt a chill all over my body, thinking that I would never dare to make a mistake again"

Aren't you also quite adaptable?" Lu Jun did not lift her head, continuing to proofread the data, the intensity of the explosion, the progress of the excavation, the structure of the diversion tunnel. "What happened?"

More than ten engineers and over twenty technical personnel were present at the construction site, each holding their blueprints and reports, occupying more than half of the office. Upon hearing the noise at the door, everyone gradually lifted their heads, observing their awkward performance with varied expressions, yet all gazes were filled with goodwill

After having dinner, Zhou Xu returned to the dormitory, while Lu Jun took a basin and laundry detergent to do the laundry. It was already October, and the laundry trough was empty under the dim yellow light. She poured the detergent into the basin, mixed it with the icy river water, and reached her hand into the basin, only to feel a sharp pain immediately radiating from her palm. It was then that she remembered the unfortunate incident in the afternoon when she had fallen and scraped her hands.

Nervously taking a seat, nervously starting the meeting, the initially gloomy atmosphere due to their arrival gradually became lively. Everyone expressed their opinions in their respective fields, exploring data and databases, filling in each other's gaps, proposing solutions and identifying issues. Although the discussions among engineers and technical personnel were time-consuming, they were extremely valuable, often leading to the final plan. Today was no exception; by the end of the meeting, the progress and tasks for the following week were essentially established.

The two individuals rushed into the temporary office and laboratory.

Startled, my wrist was gently grasped by another hand. When I raised my gaze, I found the owner of that hand also looking up, and our eyes unexpectedly met. As we drew closer, I realized that the newcomer’s eyes were darker and brighter than those of an ordinary person, just as described in books, as black as ink, truly devoid of any impurities.

Lu Jun cautiously glanced around, noticing that everyone wore a look of silence and restraint, and stammered an explanation: "I momentarily lost track of time"

Starting from the dam construction site, along the bank overgrown with thorns and weeds, a few hundred meters upstream, the river water is blocked by the mountains, making a ninety-degree turn. This is the site of the excavation for the hydraulic tunnel. Like all construction sites, the sound of machinery is deafening, and the smoke and dust from explosions, seen from a distance, resemble a gray pot boiling water amidst the green mountains and clear waters.

Lu Jun clasped her hands into fists and placed them under her chin, her face filled with emotion: "Xiao Xu, you are still the one who treats me well"

Zhou Xu crouched down to brush off the dirt from her body, saying, "I told you not to rush, but you didn't listen. Just count for yourself, how many times have you sprained your ankle now?"

Computers can also create art, and it is not necessarily complex designs

There has never been anything they could not discuss. Zhou Xu remarked, "I have never seen General Manager Wu like this before. However, a chief engineer who can manage so many people must have his ways."

Wu Wei looked at her, his tone suddenly serious: "This is not a matter of the chivalrous. You have injured your hand; who will draw the design plans?"

Stumbling off the vehicle, Lu Jun was more anxious than usual due to being late, quickening her pace as she rushed forward. Behind her, Zhou Xu was about to say something to calm her down, but just as he uttered the word "Don't—", he saw her ankle twist, and she fell down the mountain path in an unavoidable manner. Zhou Xu took a couple of steps forward to catch her, but it was still futile—the ground was littered with gravel and wet soil. With such a fall, her palm was scraped, and blood oozed from the wound, almost as if it were a protest. Her knees were covered in wet soil, and the pain rendered her face pale, biting her lip and gasping for breath, her complexion so poor it resembled that of a ghost, a sight that could only be described as utterly tragic.

Qian Dahua noticed that she was lost in thought and assumed she was worried about being late earlier. After the meeting, he advised her: "Xiao Lu, don't worry. General Manager Wu is someone who appears stern at work but has a warm heart. He places great importance on time. Once an issue has passed, it's best to move on and not repeat it. He is responsible for such a large project, so he must have a bit of temperament and strength; otherwise, how can he command respect? You should go back to your dormitory and clean yourself up; look at the state you're in."

Lu Jun and Zhou Xu crouched at the construction site of the diversion tunnel entrance, which was approximately seven to eight meters high, recording data and conversing in low voices. As the excavation work had progressed several dozen meters deep, the entrance appeared particularly profound, and looking inside, there were sporadic glimmers of light.

It is not that exaggerated; as long as one is human, it is impossible not to make mistakes, " Zhou Xu said, "Even Mr. Wu cannot be completely free of errors. Only then would I truly admire him.

The roar of the machines made it difficult to hear each other, and everyone had to raise their voices to be heard, which was not a completely new experience for them

I may have been too strict in the afternoon

By that time, the sky had already turned dark. The valley was darker and colder than outside. The lights by the river began to illuminate one by one, and people went to the cafeteria in small groups. Lu Jun, however, returned to the dormitory to change clothes. A moment later, there was a knock on the door; it was Zhou Xu bringing dinner.

Her radiant smile shone brightly under the lights, and Qian Dahua suddenly laughed, shaking his head and saying: "He could never truly lose his temper with you."

I believe that he is now also worthy of respect

What is going on

I know he is your idol," Zhou Xu pushed the lunchbox towards her, "Hurry up and eat.

Lu Jun let out a soft laugh.

Zhou Xu picked up the small stones scattered on the ground after the recent explosion and moved another pile of stones from his feet to show her: "This area of the mountain is quite interesting. Look at these granites on the outer part of the mountain, they are hard and pressure-resistant; now the stones we have excavated are severely weathered, with very obvious faults, and the gaps are filled with silt. The conditions for forming caves are not ideal, so it's not surprising that the first collapse occurred."

Lu Jun was taken aback, and only then did she remember that there was a regular meeting every Monday and Thursday afternoon to discuss technical issues. Normally, she would not forget, but for some reason today, she actually lost track of time. She packed her things, and Zhou Xu quickly grabbed her bag, stopping a truck transporting sand and gravel downstream. The two of them swiftly got onto the vehicle

Lu Junzhan Yan repeated, "Rest assured, I understand."

Zhou Xu, feeling quite pleased with himself, said: "Indeed, we are the only ones from our class who went abroad. If the classmates find out that I didn't take good care of you, they would probably tear me to pieces when we return."

Lu Jun had hardly spoken during the meeting, only mentioning that she was responsible for calculations and drawings; after that, she remained silent, quietly listening along with *Tu* Shu. Wu Wei's eyes glimmered with a faint light as he spoke, a detail even I, sitting in the last row, could see. His professional training and practical experience were impeccable, akin to diamonds; no matter how complex the data and formulas, the classic designs and models from the past, as well as the specific applications and the advantages and disadvantages of various equipment, were all clear. This is what is meant by having a high-level perspective.

I have a number. " Zhou Xu wrote it down in his notes while glancing at Lu Jun, who was wearing dull gray clothes but still looked spirited. Suddenly, he spoke up: "I didn't expect you to adapt so well here.

No, no, Lu Jun did not expect him to come to say this. It took a long time for her to react, and with a smile, she spoke sincerely, "It is my fault; I have no sense of time discipline. Being late is just being late."

The voice of the response was as low as that of a mosquito, but it was rare for Wu Wei to still hear it. His tone was severe, devoid of any warmth, and remained almost monotone throughout—yet the meaning conveyed was unmistakable to everyone; the tone was a declarative statement. There were no other answers besides "correct" or "incorrect." Lu Jun lowered her head and heard him say in that voice: "If you have forgotten the time, I can remind you once more. Is it an immense difficulty for you to adhere to the schedule?"

Where else would one dare to speak

After a few seconds of sharp pain, Lu Jun's expression gradually returned to normal as she waved her hand and said, "It's fine, I'm okay now. Hurry up and go to the meeting; we've already been late for a while."

I have brought you some medicine, Yunnan Baiyao, which is effective for stopping bleeding and treating bruises. The results are very good. Wu Wei said this while handing over a small bottle. Seeing that she did not take it, he casually placed it on the table.

Wu Wei gazed intently at her, as if he were meeting this slender girl for the very first time today

Zhou Xu managed to squeeze out a sentence: "It won't happen again next time"