Volume 1 Chapter 48 Head of Public Security Bureau Preparing for School

  On Sunday morning, Lu Zhong arrived at the county fertilizer plant.

  A wide iron gate, upon entering is a fountain pool, followed by the staff dormitory building, factory office area, and behind that is the factory area, with tall silver metal tanks towering high, and smokestacks piercing the sky spewing black smoke.

  The fertilizer plant manager Gao Dafriend is over 40 years old, shrewd and capable, a former military officer with a very powerful appearance.

  Gao Dafriend originally served as the deputy director of the county industrial bureau and the fertilizer plant manager (at the level of section chief), a month ago, the county industrial bureau was reorganized into an industrial company, cutting off property rights, and only had a business guidance relationship with the fertilizer plant. Gao Dafriend had wanted to join the industrial company, after all, he still had connections with administrative cadres, but due to organizational reasons, he had no choice but to continue as the manager of the fertilizer plant, of course, his section chief treatment remained unchanged.

  Accompanying this young Standing Committee member around the factory area, Gao Da's heart was filled with reverence. He had also been a soldier, but the other man was a true war hero who had fought on the front lines and killed Vietnamese devils, and was even a first-class model of the Ministry of Public Security. His own experiences couldn't be compared to this in terms of distance or mileage.

  The age issue of the county committee member in front has long been blurred in this psychological contrast.

  Lu Zhong walked around the small boiler, deoxygenation tank, power generation room and finished product warehouse while listening to Gao Dayou's introduction of the factory's situation. Gao Dayou said that by this year, the county fertilizer plant's synthetic ammonia production had reached 20,000 tons. The fertilizer industry is characterized by high temperatures, high pressures, flammability, explosiveness, and toxicity, so even a small equipment defect could lead to a shutdown. In the few years since Gao Dayou became factory director, there have only been a few minor accidents that caused temporary production halts, but never any loss of life or economic losses beyond expectations.

  Behind Lu Zhong and Gao Dafu, followed by Du Xiaohu and several mid-level cadres from the fertilizer plant.

  Beforehand, Lu Zhong had instructed that it was a private inspection and told Gao Dafu not to make a big fuss about it. However, Gao Dafu still hung up red banners at the factory gate to welcome the leader's guidance, and also notified some middle-level cadres in the factory to accompany him.

  A group of people climbed up the iron ladder to the second-floor rest room of the power generation car. Although it is said to be on the second floor, in fact, like many production workshops, the entire workshop is hollow, with huge machines and equipment placed inside, and there are some small command rooms and rest rooms around, which can be climbed up by a narrow iron ladder.

  Sitting in the cramped rest room, a worker poured hot water for him. Lu Zhong listened to Gao Dafriend's emphasis on safety production and smiled: "I came today to ask you, if I let you do it yourself, such as profit, you can dispose of introducing new technologies to expand reproduction, and you can assess the wages of workers. Of course, sales also need you to run by yourself. What do you think is the prospect of our fertilizer plant?"

  Gao Dafriend laughed and said: "This can't be said, without the support of the country, without the collective efforts of everyone, how can the fertilizer plant have a future?"

  Lu Zhong smiled and nodded, then got up, "Let's go, take another look."

  After walking around several workshops, Lu Zhuan declined Gao Dafu's invitation to lunch and got into Du Xiaohu's van, speeding away from the fertilizer plant.

  Looking at the back of the van, Gao Da You scratched his head, really couldn't understand the purpose of Lu Secretary's visit to the fertilizer plant.

  ……

  The van sped away from the fertilizer plant, winding through the streets and alleys of the county town, finally stopping in front of the train station clock tower. On the steps of the ticket office, Wei Xiangxiu stood elegantly in a black windbreaker, her slender figure exuding a sense of professionalism and sensuality.

  Lu Zhong opened the car door and shouted: "Get in!"

  He had already asked Du Xiaohu to inform her that he would meet her at 11 o'clock in front of the ticket office at the train station, where there were many people and vehicles coming and going, so they wouldn't draw attention.

  The fragrance wafted in, and Wei Xiang quickly slipped in, as if she was a thief. Although she was unwilling and didn't know what was going on, Lu Zhong had summoned her, so she dared not not come.

  The minibus slowly started and drove away from the station square.

  Lu Zhong glanced at the fashionable woman sitting next to him, her exquisite face, crimson lips and jade nose were full of charm, her sparkling eyes were captivating, she was indeed a beautiful woman who would make any normal man's heart skip a beat.

  "Let's go, to Wushan!" Lu Zhong patted Hu Zi's shoulder.

  Wei Xiangxiu exclaimed in surprise: "Ah! I told Biaozi that it was you who wanted to see me, but didn't say I couldn't go back this afternoon."

  Lu Zhong furrowed his brow: "Did you really say that?" Although he had post-traumatic stress disorder from rebirth, when it came to specific events and conversations, Wei Xiangxiu thought she could play tricks on him, but her skills were far from enough.

  Wei Xiangxiu fell silent and turned her head to look out of the window.

  From Guangning to Wushan, an hour's drive, on the outskirts of the city, everywhere is a hot construction site, the sound of hammers and chisels can be heard clearly even in the van.

  Lu Zhong first went to Wushan City Electromechanical Engineering Secondary Vocational School. The school was originally the Yong'an Prefectural Middle School in 1902, and later evolved into a women's academy during the Republic of China period, and after the founding of the People's Republic, it became an experimental school affiliated with the Provincial Computing Technology Research Institute. In 1982, it was renamed Wushan Electromechanical Secondary Vocational School, which is a full-time secondary vocational school mainly cultivating high-skilled talents such as technicians and senior skilled workers who are in short supply in society.

  Lu Zhong reported to the correspondence class, tomorrow is the spring semester opening, usually correspondence, Sunday classes.

  Lu Zhong had invested in the electronics industry before, and he was interested in electronic products from an early age. At first, it was because he wanted to have a radio, and he envied some old farmers in Nanyang who could find various electronic boards, diodes and other materials to assemble radios by themselves. From then on, he had an inexplicable curiosity about electronic products.

  The Provincial Institute of Electronic Computing Technology was located in Wushan, and some researchers were also responsible for teaching at the Mechanical and Electrical Technical School. Lu Zheng chose the particularly niche subject of Integrated Circuit Technology, precisely because this major had a nationwide perspective, even among universities, and there were few institutions with stronger faculty than Wushan Mechanical and Electrical Technical School. Lu Zheng thought that relying on his superficial understanding of the electronics industry from his past life, combined with systematic learning now, might produce unexpected results.

  Of course, this is just a personal interest, reporting to the vocational correspondence class, mainly still want to get a junior college diploma, and then continue to get a bachelor's degree or even a master's degree. Since I've entered school, I should learn something that interests me, can't just muddle through for the sake of getting a certificate, that would be a waste of time.

  The registration went very smoothly, and the night school was in full swing. This correspondence course, because it had to go through a rigorous examination at the end, and the focus of study was on technical aspects rather than vocational training, so there were only a handful of people participating, and no queue was formed. After walking around several rooms in the teaching affairs office and admissions office, Lu Zhong paid the fee and completed his registration.

  Coming out of the school gate, which was locally known as "Dian Xiao" by the Wushan locals, at half past twelve, Lu Zhong got on the car and instructed Du Xiaohu without asking Wei Xiangxiu's opinion: "Let's go fill our stomachs. Hmm, let's find a lamb skewer stall, go to the agricultural market."

  Wushan's development is rapid, with high-rise buildings sprouting up one after another in the city, almost changing its appearance overnight. Minivans crawl along slowly amidst the throngs of bicycles, and just ahead lies Liberation Square. The flower beds are arranged with various flowers to spell out "Warmly Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the Founding of the Nation". People stroll about in twos and threes on the square, their pace leisurely, and even foreigners with high noses and blue eyes can be spotted.

  Wushan Department Store stands across the wide street from Liberation Square, with its five-story building in a light yellow color, about one or two hundred meters long, looking elegant and bright. The young people entering and exiting are all dressed fashionably.

  Looking curiously at the scenery of the big city outside the window, Wei Xiangxiu's eyes flashed with a hint of envy. After all, which girl doesn't want to live a true urban life?

  The van drove past Liberation Square, went west along the wide Liberation Road for about two stops, and then turned into a side road. On the south side was the farmer's market. The narrow street on both sides was lined with stalls selling chicken, duck, fish, meat, agricultural products, shoes, hats, clothes, daily necessities, and everything else. Among the bustling stalls were small restaurants and shops made of wood, brick, and iron sheets. What used to be a farmer's market had gradually evolved into Wushan's snack and grocery street.

  Inside, it's hard to get in the car. Du Xiaohu parked the car on the empty land in front of the market. The three got out of the car and followed the crowd into the market. The vendors' cries were loud and clear, this kind of noise made Lu Zheng slightly headache, after all, he was not a person who liked noise.

  Fortunately, the Xinjiang man with a white hat and deep eyes was not hard to find. His stiff pronunciation of "yang rou chuan" (mutton skewers) was also very distinctive. Soon, Lu Zhen and his two companions arrived in front of his stall.

  Nowadays, few people take lamb skewers as their main course, at most they just buy two strings to taste the freshness. The Xinjiang vendor's stall is not big, just a table with a few young men sitting there, looking like they've already finished eating the roasted meat and are now drinking beer and having fun.

  "Are there lamb skewers?" Seeing the stall owner's ingredients, Lu Zhong turned back to Wei Xiangxiu and asked, "Do you want to eat lamb?"

  Wei Xiangxiu couldn't figure out why Lu Zhong had brought her to the city, so she could only increase her vigilance twelvefold, and when Lu Zhong suddenly spoke to her, she felt a sudden tension, then nodded lightly and said, "It's all right."

  Lu Zhong turned his head and stretched out ten fingers to the Xinjiang vendor, saying: "Come on, ten yuan of meat skewers! I want the big ones!"

  Although Xinjiang people only have mutton skewers, they are also good at doing business. The meat skewers are divided into large and small ones. The small ones are cut into very small pieces, one yuan per string, which is the city's primary school students, with pocket money, often come to try their teeth. The big ones cost three yuan per string, seven strings for two yuan, the mutton skewer meat pieces are bigger than Beijing standard two yuan per string, and it's very enjoyable to eat.

  When Lu Zhong said that a skewer of meat cost 10 yuan, Wei Xiangxiu was shocked. Although she had heard that Lu Ju had some distant relative who did business and often subsidized Lu Ju, even lending him a car, Lu Ju's spending was still terrifying.

  Lu Zhong's family affairs, the bureau is just a rumor, some people add branches and leaves, some people boast and brag, what Wei Xiangxiu heard was this version, which is also the most popular and widely recognized version.

  Lu Zhong was about to order skewers when Du Xiaohu walked up to the young man's table, furrowed his brow and knocked on the table, "Haven't you all finished eating? Give us a seat!"

  Several young men immediately stood up and cursed: "Who the hell are you?"

  The little light head is actually Zhao Zile, who can come to this table with a big swagger. It's clear that several brothers can't afford to offend him. Just look at the woman he brought, and you'll know. That temperament, that exquisite beauty that makes men dare not profane her, it's obvious she's no ordinary person. Moreover, the fabric of the clothes on this woman is also high-end. This half-length windbreaker probably costs over a hundred yuan.

  Xiao Guangtou immediately got up with a swaying motion, carrying the wine bottle and waving his hand: "You guys are tired, let's get out of here and go dancing!"

  Then these people stood up one after another, kicking the wine bottles and making a loud noise. They cast sidelong glances at Du Xiaohu in a show of force, but each of them brushed past him shoulder to shoulder.

  Lu Zhong saw this scene, smiled and took out the remaining half pack of cigarettes from his pocket, threw it over and said: "Thanks, guys!"

  Xiao Guang took over, saw that it was Hongtashan, and couldn't help but lick his lips. He smiled at Lu Zhong and said, "Brother, you're really something!" With a wave of his hand, he swayed into the crowd.

  Wei Xiang looked at Lu Zhong with a hint of surprise, this live bandit, he's in a good mood today, otherwise, why would he be so polite to people? A few little rascals, would have been kicked away by him one by one.