Chapter 002: Restlessness
For someone as honest as Zhang Xing, Li Li holds a relatively favorable impression of him. Zhang Xing is one of the few people in the factory with whom Li Li can converse. Perhaps due to the monotony of assembly line work, discussing both international and domestic news has become a daily essential for Zhang Xing and Li Li. To call it a discussion would not be entirely accurate; in reality, it is Zhang Xing who speaks at length, while Li Li is merely his sole audience.
It is uncertain, but many of these protesters belong to the elite class of society. Recently, the most authoritative biologist in America, Dr. Kettle, also expressed opinions urging the American government to cease the extraction and use of combustible ice, and made many assumptions. Zhang Xing pondered for a moment, stroking the stubble on his chin with a sigh.
Beneath the calm surface of the lake, turbulent currents are surging. Zhang Xing let out a cold laugh, deliberately adopting a profound expression on his face
The conversation with Zhang Xing seemed to have sparked something in Li Li, prompting him to gradually begin to reflect.
Therefore, even though he works ten hours a day on the factory assembly line and only has one day of rest per week, he is already very content with a salary of over 2000 yuan after purchasing the five insurances. At least he can support himself and alleviate the burden on his family without having to rely on his parents.
Li Li also nodded in agreement and said: "Indeed, in recent years, the crime rate has been rising, and society has shifted from restlessness to volatility. This phenomenon may be related to the hypothesis proposed by Dr. Kettle regarding the deep combustible ice, where the unknown gases released during the combustion process react with nitrogen under the influence of lightning, producing a gray mist. This gray mist affects humans and other organisms through respiration, leading to increased volatility.
"Alright, the line leader, it doesn't matter anyway," Li Li responded understandingly. He was well aware of this line leader's character; he was a thoroughly opportunistic person, and also someone with a very small heart and a heavy sense of revenge. Even if he did not agree, he would still have to come, and offending this person would be worse. It was better to agree directly.
As Li Li passed through the intersection, he noticed a large crowd gathered ahead, with several police cars parked nearby, their lights flashing incessantly. He glanced at the crowd a few times and then hurried on his way, having grown somewhat accustomed to such occurrences. Over the past year, traffic accidents had become increasingly common, happening almost every few days, not only in Spring City but also frequently occurring in An City, which is less than 40 kilometers away.
"Xiao Li, did you see yesterday's news?" Before Li Li had even reached his workstation, a voice eagerly reached his ears. Without needing to look, he already knew who the owner of the voice was; it was his colleague Zhang Xing from the assembly line across from him.
"Uncle Zhang, do you really think that these issues are all due to the extraction and utilization of combustible ice, as those protesters claim?" After a moment of silence, Li Li casually asked. The development and utilization of combustible ice has been ongoing for several years, yet the debates surrounding its development and utilization have never ceased.
The conveyor belt started up slowly, emitting a rumbling noise, as products slid down one by one from the assembly line
As Li Li had anticipated, Gao Wei came to inform Li Li not to seek his opinion on whether he was willing to work overtime, but rather to inform him that he would be required to work overtime over the weekend
Spring City is a small city in the western region, and it is considered small only in comparison to the cities in the developed coastal areas. In the west, it can be regarded as a pearl city. Spring City is surrounded by mountains and is classified as a basin-type city, with an urban area of approximately 60 square kilometers. The population of the county is around thirty thousand, along with a library housing ten thousand volumes. To the west of the urban area lies the autonomous prefecture of the Tibetan region, serving as a transportation hub connecting to the Tibetan areas.
Zhang Xing, seeing that Li Li was unaware, widened his eyes and made an exaggerated expression as he said: "Not at all, you still don't know? During a protest movement in Russia, there was actually a flame-throwing man who appeared amidst the clashes between the demonstrators and the government forces."
Zhang Xing is a middle-aged man in his forties, a high school graduate, wearing glasses, with a square face and a pair of large eyes topped with thick and long eyebrows. In his era, he was considered an intellectual; however, he lacked adaptability and fell into the category of individuals deemed uncomprehending by leaders. As a result, he remains an ordinary operator on the assembly line in middle age, relying on his labor to make a living
As if Gao Wei had found his sense of purpose, he began to say a long string of encouraging words from leaders to their subordinates to Li Li. Upon hearing about the weekend overtime, Li Li lost interest in Gao Wei's subsequent words, yet still maintained a look of being taught. He then started to enter a state of contemplation while continuing to tighten screws.
Even I can feel the agitation of my emotions, as if I were a completely different person from before. Li Li nodded and murmured in a barely audible voice.
Li Li's position involves screwing, specifically securing the product lid with 4 screws. He is meticulous in his work, and having held this position for over six months, he now screws in several thousand screws each day, developing muscle memory. Even with his eyes closed, he can accurately insert the screws into the lid's holes. This simple, repetitive action gradually leads him into deep contemplation
Recently, this batch of goods is urgent, so I appreciate your hard work; please work overtime on Sunday! The team leader, Gao Wei, smiled without sincerity as he looked at Li Li, his tone also very flat
A hint of seriousness appeared in Li Li's eyes as he carefully said after a moment of contemplation: "Well, the news regarding this matter has decreased during this period, I thought..."
Not too bad!" Li Li was interrupted from his contemplation by this voice, startled for a moment, but quickly regained his composure, wearing a wry smile. The action of screwing in bolts is a single motion, performed thousands of times each day, making it difficult not to become familiar with it
"Not bad, the technology is quite impressive." Just as Li Li was lost in thought, the line leader, Gao Wei, who had been standing behind him like a ghost for an unknown period, suddenly spoke without any warning.
Li Li is 23 years old this year, having graduated with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Design from a university of science and technology. He stands 178 cm tall; although he is not handsome, his facial features are well-proportioned. Overall, his conditions can be considered quite good, yet he can only work as an assembly line operator at an assembly factory in his hometown, Quancheng. The reason for this is that he does not have a "steel father," so he has to "forge" his own path on the assembly line. Furthermore, Quancheng, being a county-level city in the western region, has a less developed economy, making it difficult to secure a stable job. In this fiercely competitive era, where university graduates are as numerous as cattle, he is already quite satisfied to have a stable job.
"The line has started, the line has started. Those who are bragging, be quiet. Those who are having breakfast, finish your food quickly, otherwise, it will be the usual rules." Just as Zhang Xing was about to say something, a sharp voice came from the front of the assembly line. A young man, not much older than Li Li, was energetically waving his hand and shouting loudly. This person was Gao Wei, the team leader of the assembly line where Li Li and Zhang Xing worked.
Li Li pressed the confirmation key on his mobile phone, silencing the annoying alarm sound. He picked up his phone and glanced at the time, which displayed 7:30 in the morning. He then mustered all his energy to get dressed, followed by washing up in preparation for work
On the only road in the Spring City where one can see and *read* books—Xiangyang Avenue, Li Lizheng rode his bicycle swiftly towards the Tongguang Machinery Factory on the outskirts of the East City.
"What kind of fire-breathing flame person is this, Uncle Zhang? You must be mistaken, right?" Li Li said with a look of surprise, but then he smiled slightly and asked in return. He is a materialist and an atheist, so of course, he would not believe in such things
Li Li's mother, Liu Qun, is a very simple farmer, while his father, Li Zhiguo, is a diligent construction worker. Since childhood, whenever he had a holiday, he would work on the construction site with his father or labor in the mountains with his mother. The family environment has made Li Li's personality relatively steady and his willpower strong. He has never had the habit of throwing things to vent his emotions and is very capable of controlling his feelings. However, in just this short year, he has broken 3 mobile phones. Moreover, Li Li feels that he is not merely restless but rather irritable, as if society itself has also become increasingly agitated and unstable.
Therefore, every time Li Li rides his bicycle out of the house, he reminds himself to remain calm, but each time the effect is not good, as if he is becoming increasingly impatient and his temper is growing more irritable
Li Ligang sat down, and Zhang Xing, sitting across from the assembly line, sighed, "What has happened to this world"
Zhang Xing shook his head repeatedly and said with certainty: "How could I be mistaken? I saw it on Phoenix TV this morning. I heard that many people died in this conflict"
"Small-minded individuals gain power, sycophants." Zhang Xing muttered discontentedly, although he looked down on Gao Wei, the middle school student who had only been in the factory for four years and had managed to become a line leader through flattery and reporting on others. Nevertheless, he obediently ceased his discussion with Li Li, while Li Li quietly began to wait for the line to start.
In this era dominated by touchscreen smartphones, Li Li still uses the outdated Nokia 6700S, which has been dubbed a "senior phone" by children. He values the phone's aluminum alloy casing for its durability against drops. Since childhood, he has had a strong inclination to stay in bed and dislikes being woken up early in the morning. Consequently, over the past year, he has broken 3 touchscreen phones, and it seems he is increasingly prone to dropping them.
Zhang Xing pondered for a moment and replied: "Indeed, without mentioning other places, just considering the public security in our small town, it is simply worlds apart from before; now, it is common to see fights and brawls happening at any moment"
Uncle Zhang, could it be that the President of the United States resigned under pressure from the demonstrators? Or has the European Environmental Protesters' Grand Alliance launched another major event?" Li Li, while tidying up the trivial matters at his post, curiously looked towards Zhang Xing. Although he did not enjoy watching the news, he was aware of significant international events every day under Zhang Xing's influence, as Zhang Xing was like a living news source beside Li Li.
Li Li suddenly sat up, his expression hazy and dazed as he searched for the source of the sound. He quickly discovered the Nokia phone that had been by his pillow for 5 years. Instinctively, Li Li picked up the phone, preparing to throw it on the floor, but as the unique metallic coolness of the N6700S phone registered in his hand, it jolted him awake considerably.
"Lazy bug, get up, lazy bug, get up..." The increasingly loud alarm sound resonated from the vibrating speaker of Li Li's phone beside his pillow
"Yes, not bad. You are a university student, and as long as you are willing to work hard, you have a bright future ahead of you. I have high hopes for you." Upon hearing Li Li's response, the team leader Gao Wei nodded in satisfaction, revealing a smile that showcased his misaligned, yellowed teeth.
After a journey of more than ten minutes, Li Li finally entered the workshop before 8 o'clock. He quickly signed in at the supervisor's desk on the assembly line and proceeded to his workstation.