Undercurrents and Turns

The changes of things are never affected by personal will. They silently lurk under the daily routine, but always reveal their sharp edges when people are caught off guard.

Xu Wu's ambitious "Green Energy Series" R&D plan, with a budget of 250 million yuan, met with predictable resistance from the board of directors. Most directors, content with the existing stable and profitable traditional model, were unwilling to venture into uncharted territory. Ultimately, a more conservative plan was approved: an investment of 300 million yuan to build a synthetic ammonia production line using waste gas from calcium carbide furnaces.

After all, this is the foundation of Changqing Chemical. Before restructuring, the company was merely a state-owned fertilizer plant on the verge of bankruptcy. It was Xu Wu who resolutely gave up his teaching position, seized an opportunity, capitalized on the mountainous region's abundant calcium carbide resources, and boldly borrowed money to invest in advanced production lines. He gradually turned the company around and built its current position. His return to synthetic ammonia is, in some ways, a return to his roots, quietly evoking the collective memories and sentiments of the factory's veterans. At the board meeting, Xu Wu, while approving new projects, resoundingly announced the strategic goal of doubling sales within three years. The audience erupted in applause, but his lean face betrayed little joy. His deep, unfathomable eyes scanned the room, as if assessing the calculations and loyalties behind each face. To him, the company is a chessboard, and everyone a piece. Balancing and controlling it is far more important than the success or failure of a single project. His ambitions have always been about more than just immediate profit.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiaoning's investigation into the data discrepancy also yielded preliminary results. She discovered no deliberate manipulation, but rather a long-standing practice within the statistics department: to improve the presentation of final reports, they frequently mixed up "liters" and "kilograms." This blunder stemmed from a new employee, unfamiliar with this practice, submitting data using the actual units.

Xu Wu, fully focused on promoting a new project, downplayed the results, giving the statistics department a token slap and not pursuing the matter further. But Lin Xiaoning keenly detected a flicker of disappointment in Xu Wu's eyes as she reported. Perhaps he would have preferred to identify a clear "enemy" rather than confront such banal and widespread inertia.

In contrast, Ye Yidong's discovery was more subtle. While reviewing the purchase contracts, he noticed negligible discrepancies in several raw material data sheets.

"It looks like a Yin-Yang contract," he confessed to Lin Xiaoning privately, frowning slightly, "either it's to evade taxes or for some other purpose. The amount is too small, so there's not much point in investigating it right now, but I've noted this doubt." His tone was cautious and professional, with the prudence typical of a lawyer.

Lin Xiaoning nodded silently, a subtle warmth rising in her heart. These days, no matter what happened, Ye Yidong had always stood calmly by her side, providing unobtrusive but practical support. She began to view the man she had once rejected with a new perspective—his reliability, dedication, and silent companionship were gradually seeping into her once closed heart.

However, beneath the calm surface, undercurrents were already gathering momentum. A sophisticated scheme against Lin Xiaoning was quietly closing in.

At the end of the quarter, the company held a signing ceremony for a cooperation agreement with a key supplier. Lin Xiaoning, as a representative from the President's Office, was responsible for reviewing the final document and arranging the signing process. She double-checked every word and sentence, confirming that everything was correct before placing the document on-site.

The ceremony was grand and lively. Xu Wu shook hands with supplier representatives, exchanged documents, and took photos. Everything went smoothly. It wasn't until three days later, during a routine review, that the Finance Department made the shocking discovery: the final, signed version had quietly increased the unit price of a key raw material by 0.5%, extending the delivery time by 15 days.

This piece of paper caused the company to suffer losses of millions of yuan.

Xu Wu was furious upon hearing this. An investigation team was quickly established, and all the evidence pointed coldly at Lin Xiaoning: she was the last person to handle the contract, the document modification records showed that the file was last edited on her computer, and even the security footage captured her as the last person to leave the office that night.

Despite Lin Xiaoning's vehement defense and Ye Yidong's arduous efforts to find evidence for her, all her struggles seemed futile in the face of the seemingly irrefutable evidence. Ultimately, the company issued a decision: Lin Xiaoning was transferred from the President's Office to the synthetic ammonia project workshop.

When the news came out, reactions from all sides were very different.

Sister Wang was the first to rush over, her voice trembling with anger. "This is clearly a frame-up! Su Qing is the one who's most familiar with the contract process. Who else could it be if not her?! I'm going to talk to the chairman right now!"

Lin Xiaoning held her back, smiled bitterly and shook her head: "Sister Wang, it's useless. Now all the evidence is against me. If we make a big fuss, it will only be more difficult to resolve." The calmness in her tone surprised even herself.

Ye Yidonggang silently helped her pack her things, his eyes complicated and determined: "I will not give up, I will definitely find evidence and clear your name." His voice was not loud, but it carried a reassuring power.

Even the usually aloof Zhao Qing glanced at her for once. His tone remained calm, but less sharp than usual: "The workshop environment is complex, but it's also the place where you can most clearly see the essence of production. Keep calm, and gold will always shine."

What surprised Lin Xiaoning most was General Manager Wu Jiaming. At the end of the workday, this usually taciturn CEO, seemingly immersed in a world of technology, waited for her at the elevator entrance. He said, "I'm directly responsible for the synthetic ammonia project. It's tough work in the workshop, but you can learn real things. If you have any questions in the future, feel free to contact me."

The day after receiving the transfer order, Lin Xiaoning bid farewell to the spacious, bright and air-conditioned headquarters office and came to the synthetic ammonia production base on the outskirts of the city.

This place is completely different from the modern and sophisticated headquarters building, and is full of the ruggedness and directness of the old industrial base: the towering reaction towers roar, the crisscrossing pipes are like a steel jungle, the air is filled with a faint smell of ammonia, and the workers have simple expressions, with eyes that show instinctive curiosity and alienation towards the "people from above."

Upon arriving at the workshop, she felt a sense of discomfort. She was assigned to basic data recording and report compilation. While the work seemed important, she was actually excluded from the core process. The experienced workers were polite but kept their distance, as if she were just a passing visitor seeking a glimpse of talent.

Lao Wang was afraid that Lin Xiaoning would not be able to adapt to the environment when she first arrived, so he specially arranged a girl named Zhang Sike to stay in the dormitory. She was one year younger than Lin Xiaoning and was in a passionate love relationship with her.

Late at night, lying on her bed in her simple dormitory, Lin Xiaoning began to question her life choices for the first time. She had abandoned a possible legal career to pursue a career in industry, believing she could earn respect through her professionalism and dedication. Instead, she found herself caught up in such absurd and frustrating circumstances.

The brilliance of idealism gradually faded in the face of harsh reality, revealing a rougher inner world. She began to truly consider: should she continue to cling to the black-and-white innocence and principles, or learn to survive and even thrive in this complex and chaotic environment?

Confused, she sent a long email to Zhao Xianqifa, pouring out all her confusion and struggles. To her surprise and comfort, this time he replied quickly:

Xiao Ning:

The world is like a chess game, life is a constant game. Times of hardship are also opportunities for introspection. The importance of industry lies not in sleek buildings, but in a solid foundation. Only by keeping your feet firmly on the ground can you reach for the stars.

First

Just a few words, as was his usual style, were like a lamp, illuminating the fog in her heart. She chewed on these words over and over again, and her chaotic mood gradually settled.

Starting from the next day, she completely let go of her burdens and devoted herself to work with a new attitude: she took the initiative to ask the old master about the production process, studied technical materials after get off work, and even changed into work clothes, went deep into the noisy front line, and understood every detail of the operation.

Her transformation was noticed by her teachers. The workshop director, Lao Wang, a straightforward veteran chemical engineer, initially ignored her, but later, seeing her genuine desire to learn and work hard, his attitude softened, occasionally offering guidance: "Xiao Lin, chemical production isn't like office politics. Here, every single piece of data is tied to safety and profitability, and there can be no misrepresentation."

During his days in the workshop, Ye Yidong would visit her once or twice a week, bringing news from headquarters and the latest progress of his investigation.

"I suspect Zhao Qing is behind this," Ye Yidong said in a low voice as the two of them strolled through the factory one weekend evening. "On the surface, it's Su Qing who's behind it, but given the process and authority, it would be difficult to do it without the Finance Department's tacit approval. That supplier has a close relationship with Zhao Qing."

Lin Xiaoning was stunned: "Why? There is no direct conflict between her and me."

"Perhaps it's because you were promoted by the chairman, or perhaps your earlier data search touched a nerve," Ye Yidong analyzed. "Before the board meeting, Zhao Qing strongly opposed 'green energy' and advocated for synthetic ammonia. Now that you've been transferred here, from a certain perspective, it's also a victory for her strategy."

The complexity and darkness of reality far exceeded Lin Xiaoning's previous imaginations from books. She recalled studying criminal law cases in college, where the arguments were about crime and punishment, which were clearly defined by right and wrong. However, the real game of gambling blurred all boundaries, and everyone walked in a gray area.

It was drizzling that day, and Ye Yidong walked her back to the dormitory. The space under the umbrella was small, and the two of them were so close that they could hear each other's breathing.

"Xiaoning," Ye Yidong's voice sounded particularly low and gentle amidst the sound of rain. "No matter what happens, I will always stand by you."

Lin Xiaoning looked up and saw his shoulders wet from the rain, the umbrella clearly tilted toward her. A subtle yet unwavering feeling of affection quietly grew in her at that moment, one that couldn't be ignored. She suddenly remembered Bai Jinyu's frivolous remark, "A woman's heart enters from below," and how shallow it was. She recalled Zhao Xianqi's "rationality and compassion," which could instantly capture a heart from "above (the brain)." And now, Ye Yidong's steady companionship and unwavering support day after day allowed her to experience a deeper emotion—a closeness and understanding on a spiritual level.

"Thank you, Yidong." She said softly. She was thinking that if it was like in movies and TV dramas, there should be hugs and kisses, but nothing happened.

The idealistic vision may be adjusting, but new, more resilient hopes are also sprouting in the soil of reality. Lin Xiaoning doesn't yet know what the future holds, but she's ready to face it all—whether it's the trials and tribulations of the workshop or a potential return to the center of the storm.

Late into the night, the workshop's reactor towers still roared, the lights ablaze. Lin Xiaoning stood by the window, gazing at the forest of steel. Though her heart still churned with emotion, she felt a calming strength. Her journey had only just begun.