How to deal with segregation?

Under the night sky, the beam yard was brightly lit, and massive concrete pump trucks hummed with a dull roar as pouring work proceeded intensively. Lan Tongtong was on night shift, overseeing the continuous pouring of this crucial box girder. Wrapped in her military coat, she stood beside the formwork, closely monitoring the concrete's slump and fluidity, never slacking off.

Halfway through the pouring process, everything seemed to be going smoothly. However, while changing tank trucks, Lan Tongtong keenly noticed something was wrong with the newly pumped concrete. It was slightly grayish, had poor fluidity, and exhibited obvious segregation—the coarse aggregate sank while the cement slurry floated. This is a major concern for concrete quality and can seriously affect the strength and durability of the beam.

"Stop! Stop the pump!" Lan Tongtong immediately raised her hand and shouted loudly to the worker operating the pump truck. Her voice was particularly clear in the night sky.

The roaring sound suddenly stopped. The workers looked over in surprise. Foreman Wang, the shift leader, ran over and asked with a frown, "Worker Lan, what's wrong? We're on schedule!"

Lan Tongtong pointed at the freshly pumped concrete that was already showing signs of stratification and said in a serious tone, "Captain Wang, look at this material! It's segregating! We can't continue pouring!"

The foreman took a closer look and his expression changed, but then he said awkwardly, "Lan, this... we're already pouring halfway. Stopping would be too much of a loss! And over at the mixing station... maybe it's just this truck that has a problem, and the next one will be fine. If we hurry up a bit, it should be fine, right?"

"Absolutely not!" Lan Tongtong flatly refused. "Quality is no joke! If segregated concrete is poured in, the integrity of the beam will be destroyed. This is a structural safety hazard! We must stop immediately and find out the cause!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the impatient voice of the concrete mixing station dispatcher came over the intercom: "What's going on with the beam yard? Why is it stopped? The tank trucks are stuck on the road!"

The pressure surged instantly. Lan Tongtong knew she couldn't hesitate. She immediately called Chief Engineer Zhang Xiao and reported the situation quickly and clearly. Zhang Xiao's tone on the other end of the phone was serious: "Segregation? Is it serious? ...Okay, I get it. You must stay on site and absolutely do not allow substandard concrete to enter the mold! I have something urgent to deal with here, so I'll be here as soon as possible!"

Hearing Zhang Xiao's support, Lan Tongtong felt a little relieved. Just as she put down the phone and prepared to make follow-up arrangements, a flash of car lights approached from afar. A black sedan quickly drove into the beam yard and stopped nearby. Out stepped Chen Xueping, the deputy manager in charge of production progress.

Manager Chen had obviously rushed over after receiving a call from the mixing station or the foreman. He had his usual Maitreya Buddha-like smile on his face, but there was a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

"Xiao Lan, what's going on? I heard that the pouring has stopped?" Chen Xueping walked to Lan Tongtong with a kind tone.

"Manager Chen, look at this truckload of material. It's severely segregated and doesn't meet the pouring standards." Lan Tongtong explained, pointing at the problematic concrete.

Chen Xueping took a closer look, patted Lan Tongtong on the shoulder, pulled her aside, lowered his voice, and said in a heartfelt tone: "Xiao Lan, I know you have a strong sense of responsibility, it's very good! But we also have to consider the actual situation. Look, it's the middle of the night, and the pouring has stopped. So many machines and people are idle, the loss is not small. Besides, you are also aware of the pressure of the construction period..."

He paused, his voice lowering. "It's just a minor problem with one truckload of material. Maybe the next one will fix it. Can we... be a little more flexible? Let the workers take care of it briefly, and then continue pouring as soon as possible? If there really is a problem, we can always find a way to fix it later. The chief engineer... hasn't arrived yet? Let's just keep on track for now, okay?"

This was said in an extremely tactful way, but the meaning was clear: I hope Lan Tongtong will turn a blind eye and let him go.

Lan Tongtong's heart sank. Her worst fear had come true—interference stemming from schedule pressure. Manager Chen's words, though seemingly a negotiation, carried a weight of undeniable force. If she refused to accept his words, she would be directly offending the deputy manager, making her future work difficult.

She looked at Chen Xueping's smiling face, then at the anxious and cautious gazes of the surrounding workers. She felt as if the air had frozen. Chief Engineer Zhang Xiao's promise to "come as soon as possible" seemed so far away.

Should he yield to the "big picture" and buy a temporary peace? Or should he stick to his principles and face the coming storm alone?

Lan Tongtong's palms were covered in sweat, but her eyes remained remarkably clear and resolute. She recalled Mo Zhichi's meticulousness in measuring the thickness of the protective layer, the nights she spent painstakingly studying the regulations, and even more, the countless lives this bridge would carry in the future.

She took a deep breath and met Chen Xueping's gaze, her tone respectful but unflinching. "Manager Chen, thank you for your understanding. But concrete segregation is no small matter. It's a quality risk expressly prohibited by regulations and directly impacts structural safety. Chief Engineer Zhang has also instructed that work must be halted pending investigation. None of us can bear this responsibility. I've already notified the laboratory to take samples. We simply cannot continue pouring until the cause is identified and a plan is finalized."

Chen Xueping's smile froze instantly, and a flicker of displeasure flashed across his eyes. He had clearly not expected this young technician to be so stubborn, even refusing to give him face. The atmosphere at the scene suddenly became awkward and tense.

Just then, Lan Tongtong's phone rang. It was the laboratory calling, saying that the inspector would be here soon. This call was like a timely reinforcement.

Seeing this, Chen Xueping knew that putting more pressure on him would be futile and would only make it appear that he didn't care about quality. So he had no choice but to wave his hand in disappointment, his tone turning cold: "Okay, okay, since you insist on principles, then let's do it according to the regulations! But Xiaolan, you have to think carefully about the consequences of this delay!" After that, he turned and walked towards his car, slamming the door shut.

Deputy Manager Chen Xueping's car didn't leave the beam yard immediately. He closed the car door and didn't start the engine. Instead, he irritably lit a cigarette and smoked silently in the darkness. The beam yard outside the car window was brightly lit, yet eerily quiet. Only the sound of the wind and the faint hum of machinery in the distance made the area where the pouring was interrupted feel particularly depressing.

He looked out the car window at Lan Tongtong, standing alone beside the formwork. The young woman's stubbornness irritated him, yet he felt helpless. He knew concrete segregation was a serious issue, but deadline pressures, cost control, and coordination among various parties weighed heavily on him. He habitually hoped to resolve conflicts with "flexibility," but he ran into a snag with this new technician.

Time ticked by, and Chief Engineer Zhang Xiao still hadn't appeared. Chen Xueping's patience was wearing thin. He knew that if this matter wasn't properly resolved tonight, tomorrow morning, delay reports, accountability investigations, and inquiries from all sides would ensue. That would be the real trouble.

After stubbing out his cigarette, Chen Xueping pushed open the car door and walked towards Lan Tongtong again. This time, the displeasure on his face had faded considerably, replaced by a slightly tired calmness.

"Xiao Lan," he walked over to Lan Tongtong, his tone much softer, "Are you still watching? Haven't the people from the lab arrived yet?"

"Manager Chen," Lan Tongtong was a little wary when she saw him coming back, but she remained polite. "I just contacted him. There's a little traffic on the road, but I'm almost there."

"Yeah." Chen Xueping nodded, his hands in his coat pockets. He looked at the pile of problematic concrete and sighed. "Alas, that's how construction is. Plans can't keep up with changes. I know you're right to stick to your principles. I was just anxious and spoke a little harshly. Don't take it personally."

Lan Tongtong was a little surprised by Manager Chen's apology, but she still did not let her guard down and just said "hmm" softly.

"Look, it's freezing cold, and it's hard for a girl like you to stay here." Chen Xueping changed the subject, his tone becoming more concerned. "I don't think Mr. Zhang will be able to get here for a while. Waiting here is not a solution. Let's go. I know a good casserole porridge place nearby. It's warm and we can eat while we wait. By the way, let's have a good chat and exchange ideas. Don't let any misunderstandings arise because of work."

This invitation was completely unexpected for Lan Tongtong. She instinctively wanted to refuse: "Manager Chen, no thanks, I'll just wait here..."

"Hey, you're welcome!" Chen Xueping interrupted her without hesitation, his tone filled with undeniable enthusiasm (or perhaps, the authority of a leader). "Work is work, and you have to eat! Besides, Foreman Wang and his team are watching over us on site, and they'll coordinate with us when the lab arrives. You're a key member of my project team, so it's only natural for me to treat you to a late-night snack and a chat. Let's go!"

As he said this, he almost half-heartedly gestured for Lan Tongtong to follow him.

Lan Tongtong was torn. She knew this was more than just a midnight snack. It was another way for Manager Chen to informally "persuade" or "appease" her, perhaps even pressure her. She didn't want to go, but she worried that an outright refusal would escalate the conflict and create further obstacles for subsequent work.

After much hesitation, she remembered what Brother Mo often said: "You have to be reasonable, moderate, and measured in your actions." Perhaps being stubborn wasn't the best approach. She could see what Manager Chen was trying to say and counter his moves, perhaps she could better grasp his intentions.

"Well... okay, thank you, Manager Chen." Lan Tongtong reluctantly agreed, but added, "I have to tell Foreman Wang to notify me immediately when the lab arrives."

"It's my duty. Go quickly." Chen Xueping smiled.

Lan Tongtong quickly explained everything to Foreman Wang, then followed Chen Xueping into his car. The car drove out of the project office and headed towards the dimly lit city center. The atmosphere inside the car was somewhat subdued. Lan Tongtong watched the nightscape rapidly receding outside the window, her heart pounding.