Siheyuan: I just came across and wanted to chase me away

Chapter 1044 Zhang Zhi revealed his thoughts

Zhang Zhi took a step forward, his back ramrod straight, like a poplar tree that had weathered the storms on the edge of a field. His eyes held a hint of earnestness, yet also a subtle tension: "Deputy Factory Director Gu, could I trouble you for a few minutes? I have a few words I'd like to discuss with you."

Gu Nan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the remaining engineers in the room, and said loudly, "I'll emphasize again—the three whose names I called, Engineer Li, Engineer Wang, and Engineer Zhao, go back and quickly hand over your current work. You'll be taking over the new technical upgrade project starting next week. The relevant drawings and technical documents will be delivered to your offices by your secretaries this afternoon. Those whose names I didn't call, don't be discouraged. There's another chance to retake the test next month. Make up for the problems exposed in this assessment, especially in terms of attention to detail. Opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared."

Everyone responded, their faces showing either relief or regret. The three engineers whose names were called couldn't hide their excitement, their steps becoming lighter; those who weren't chosen lowered their heads, muttering to themselves as they walked out, mostly reflecting on their earlier mistakes. Soon, only Gu Nan and Zhang Zhi remained in the room, and the air suddenly became quiet.

Sunlight still streamed through the window, casting long patches of light on the floor, moving slowly with the sun. The tension and oppression of the past had faded, replaced by a sense of calm after the dust had settled, and a feeling of new beginnings—like the sky after a rain, clear and bright, where even the tiny dust particles floating in the air were clearly visible.

In fact, Gu Nan had already noticed while checking the test papers that the questions weren't particularly difficult; they were all common technical problems encountered in the workshop. Aside from a few who were genuinely unprepared or had overlooked certain knowledge points, most of the test-takers scored almost full marks. The reason some failed was mostly due to carelessness—either the dimensions on the drawings were mislabeled, with "millimeters" written as "centimeters," or a parameter was missed when calculating material strength, leading to wildly inaccurate results. Ultimately, this assessment wasn't just about technical skill; it was also about who could maintain focus within the time limit, and who could react faster and be more meticulous.

Those engineers who weren't selected are probably feeling regretful right now. They clearly mastered all the necessary knowledge, but missed the opportunity due to a moment of carelessness—anyone would feel disappointed. Like Engineer Wang, who was just leaving, muttering to the person next to him, "I was just a fraction off on the last question; I misplaced the decimal point. I was so careless..." This kind of regret caused by carelessness is often more troubling than simply being less skilled; they'll probably toss and turn in bed all night, pondering it over and over.

Gu Nan picked up the enamel mug on the table, took a sip of warm tea, and the steam fogged up his glasses. He put down the mug, his gaze falling on Zhang Zhi, and said calmly, "What do you want to say? Go ahead."

Gu Nan looked at Zhang Zhi, who hadn't left yet, and tapped his fingertips lightly on the smooth tabletop, making a rhythmic sound: "Your qualifications are sufficient, and your exam slot has been approved. Just focus on your preparation. Is there anything else?"

Zhang Zhi stood in front of the desk, his hands nervously gripping the hem of his shirt, his fingertips almost wrinkling the fabric. A hint of hesitation crossed his face, his lips moved, but he finally gritted his teeth, looked up at Gu Nan, and said in a slightly trembling voice, "Deputy Factory Director Gu, you...you know I'm Engineer Liu Wen's student, right?"

Gu Nan looked up at him, her eyes calm and still, like a deep pool of water: "I know. But what does that have to do with you taking the exam? The quota is determined by technical ability, it has nothing to do with whose student you are."

“I want to tell you,” Zhang Zhi took a deep breath, as if he had made a great decision, and spoke frankly, “about the machine malfunction last time. Although I wasn’t directly involved, I vaguely knew that it was Teacher Liu and Deputy Factory Director Li who were deliberately causing you trouble. I know all about these things and I feel really bad for you.”

Gu Nan smiled upon hearing this, leaned back in his chair, and relaxed slightly: "You don't need to tell me these things. The reason you can take the exam is because you've accumulated enough technical skills in the workshop over the past few years. It's something you've truly honed through hard work, and it has nothing to do with anything else. Just focus on the exam and don't think too much about anything else."

Zhang Zhi's eyes welled up slightly, and the anxiety and unease in his heart finally subsided. He nodded vigorously, his voice firm: "Deputy Factory Director Gu, I will definitely do my best in the exam, I will never let you down, and I will never betray this trust!"

Gu Nan simply nodded, indicating that he could leave. After Zhang Zhi's figure disappeared through the doorway, he picked up the exam list on the table, his gaze lingering on Zhang Zhi's name for a moment, his fingertip lightly tapping it, before looking out the window—the steel mill's chimneys were billowing white smoke, the machines roared in the factory area, everything seemed calm. He muttered to himself, "It's getting less and less original. I'll see what tricks Deputy Director Li can pull next."

Sure enough, less than half a day later, Deputy Factory Director Li rushed over to Zhang Zhi.

At this moment, Zhang Zhi was engrossed in his studies in his dormitory. A thick book, *Principles of Machinery*, and a *Machine Tool Operation Manual* lay open on his desk, next to a stack of scratch paper densely covered with formulas and sketches. He was burning with determination—if he could pass this exam, even if he only became a mid-level engineer first, his salary would increase significantly, allowing him to send more money back home to his parents so they wouldn't have to work so hard on the land anymore.

With a loud bang, the dormitory door was flung open, and Deputy Factory Director Li stormed in, reeking of alcohol. His hair was disheveled, and his eyes were wide open, like a fighting rooster, staring straight at Zhang Zhi: "Zhang Zhi, what are you up to? Why are you hiding in your room and not coming out!"

Zhang Zhi was startled, almost dropping his pen. He quickly stood up and said, "Deputy Factory Director Li? What brings you here? I'm just preparing for tomorrow's exam and reading for a bit."

Deputy Factory Director Li glanced at the table, a mocking smile playing on his lips, his tone sarcastic: "An exam? Gu Nan tells you to take it, and you actually dare to? What do you think he's up to? Maybe he's been sold out and is still helping to count the money!"

Zhang Zhi frowned, a hint of displeasure on his face: "Deputy Factory Director Li, what do you mean by that? Deputy Factory Director Gu said my skills are sufficient and gave me this opportunity. Isn't that a good thing? Who in the workshop doesn't want to take a step forward?"

"A good thing?" Deputy Factory Director Li sneered, took two steps forward to stand in front of him, and spoke with a condescending tone, "Are you confused? Who is Gu Nan? He's known for being incorruptible. He made you take the exam so you'd think he was fair and generous. But in reality? How could he possibly give you a chance to climb the ladder? He's just trying to win people over!"