It is difficult to measure a person with a ruler, and the tung tree is stuck in the mud.
Mo Zhichi's on-site justice was like a gust of fresh air, making Lan Tongtong believe that the foul atmosphere on the construction site would be cleansed. However, she soon discovered that after that gust of fresh air, there was an even more suffocating dullness.
After Liu Feng was summoned back to the project office by Mo Zhichi for a talk, he indeed behaved himself for two days. But just when everyone thought the incident was over, Liu Feng not only returned to his old ways, but even intensified. He no longer merely procrastinated but began to nitpick over every detail, finding fault with every detail, and his attitude grew increasingly arrogant.
"Worker Lan, the time points in your concrete slump test records are not clear enough. Please redo them!"
"Blue Engineer, where's the temperature record for this area in the construction log? Fill it in!"
"Worker Lan, this screw on the safety fence is a little loose. Does this meet the requirements? Tighten them all and take a picture for me!"
He exaggerated minor issues that could have been resolved on-site, even minor ones that weren't considered problems at all, and used them as excuses to stall the acceptance process. Lan Tongtong's work was daunting. The process she was responsible for had almost completely stalled, and workers complained bitterly. Losses from machinery and team slacking were mounting daily.
Even more disheartening for Lan Tongtong was the attitude of her project manager, Liu Chao, and the head of engineering. Initially, they consoled Lan, urging her to be patient and find a way to communicate. But when Liu Feng explicitly stated, "Unless we follow the rules" (the meaning of these "rules" was tacitly understood), the pressure shifted entirely onto Lan Tongtong.
In the project office, Liu Chao frowned and drummed his fingers on the table. "Xiao Lan, what's going on? It took you three days to get a simple inspection report done! Do you know how much a day of idle work costs? There's something wrong with your working methods! You need to be flexible and learn how to communicate!"
The director of engineering was even more direct, his spit nearly spraying into Lan Tongtong's face: "Lan Tongtong! What do you do for a living? Didn't President Mo support you last time? Why are things getting worse and worse? You can't even handle a site supervisor, and you still want to stay on the construction site? I'm telling you, if you don't meet the progress this month, your bonus will be deducted! If you can't do it, get out as soon as possible, don't just occupy the toilet without doing anything!"
Lan Tongtong was overwhelmed by grievances, anger, and helplessness. She tried to explain, but her superiors didn't want to hear the truth about Liu Feng deliberately making things difficult for her. They only saw the stagnation of progress, and the only one who would bear the consequences was her, a newly hired college graduate with no background.
She even considered going back to Mr. Mo. But one day, she saw Mo Zhichi and Liu Feng getting out of the company leader's car from a distance in the corridor. Liu Feng had a fearless smile on his face, while Mr. Mo's expression was unusually solemn. She instantly understood that Mr. Mo's intervention last time had not only failed to shake Liu Feng's situation, but had actually put Mr. Mo himself in a difficult situation.
Later, she pieced together the truth from casual conversation: Liu Feng's arrogance stemmed from his son, Liu Tianyuan, the deputy general manager of the client, Tianma Investment Co., Ltd. Tianma Investment largely controlled the success of Anfang Supervision's contract renewal and the timely payment of project funds. Even the company's boss, let alone the chief supervisor, would likely have to show some respect for Liu Tianyuan.
It turns out that Mo Zhichi's steel ruler, which can measure only millimeters, can determine whether a project is right or wrong, but it cannot measure the depth of human feelings, let alone the thickness of the network of relationships.
For the first time, Lan Tongtong felt a deep sense of despair about this job. Clutching a thick stack of specifications and atlases, she hid behind a formwork in a corner of the construction site, tears streaming down her face. The formulas and regulations in the textbooks paled in the face of naked power and connections. Sticking to principles? She might even lose her job. Going along with the corrupt? She couldn't get over it, and she felt guilty about speaking up for CEO Mo.
The road ahead seemed like a quagmire, leaving her in a quandary. Was it wrong to work hard? Was it wrong to follow the rules? She didn't know the answer. She only felt the shadow of the bridge under construction weighing down on her, almost suffocating her. The roar of the machinery on the construction site no longer sounded like a clarion call to action, but a disconcerting mockery.
She looked at the bridge piers that had been erected not far away, and for the first time she doubted whether she could hold on until the day the bridge was opened to traffic.
The next day, Lan Tongtong once again stood at the door of the general supervisor's office, clutching the newly compiled pile foundation inspection report. This time, her heart was heavier than ever. Her steps felt like they were filled with lead, and the short distance felt incredibly difficult. She knew the documentation was in compliance, but once she got past Liu Feng, there would inevitably be delays and obstacles for various reasons. The scolding from the project manager and department head was still fresh in her mind, and she could almost foresee the next setback.
After much hesitation, she knocked on the door.
"Please come in." Mo Zhichi's voice was as calm as ever.
Lan Tongtong pushed the door open and went in, trying to appear calm. "Mr. Mo, this is the pile foundation inspection report for K15+320. Please review it."
Mo Zhichi raised his head, his gaze lingering on her face for a few seconds. Lan Tongtong tried to hide it, but the days of grievance and pressure still made her eyes slightly red, and her eyes were filled with fatigue and frustration that were difficult to hide.
"Put it here." Mo Zhichi didn't look at the report immediately, but pointed to the chair opposite and said, "Sit."
Lan Tongtong was a little surprised. She sat down as she was told, placing her hands on her knees somewhat awkwardly.
Mo Zhichi stood up and pulled a ceramic teacup from the cabinet. Unlike the disposable paper cups he usually used for guests, he placed a few tea leaves in it, lifted the thermos, and slowly poured in hot water. The tea leaves expanded in the cup, emitting a light fragrance. He gently pushed the cup toward Lan Tongtong.
"Drink some water. You don't look well. Have you had enough rest recently?" Mo Zhichi's tone was flat, but it lacked some of the harshness at work, and had some subtle concern.
This sudden gentleness slightly soothed Lan Tongtong's tense nerves. She quickly lowered her head, holding the warm teacup with both hands, and whispered, "Thank you, Mr. Mo... I'm, I'm fine."
The office was quiet for a moment, with only the fragrance of tea filling the air.
"Is it because of Liu Feng?" Mo Zhichi stated, not asking. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes sharp as usual, seemingly able to see through everything. "Has he been getting worse recently?"
Lan Tongtong suddenly looked up, meeting Mo Zhichi's understanding gaze. All her grievances and repression instantly found an outlet. Her nose felt sore, tears nearly falling. She quickly lowered her head, uttering a soft "hmm," and then, in a fragmented manner, recounted the recent challenges at work, the pressure from her superiors, and the information she had learned about Liu Feng's background. She spoke plainly, without exaggeration, but the difficulty and powerlessness she felt were fully revealed.
Mo Zhichi listened quietly, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table, his face solemn. After Lan Tongtong finished speaking, he sighed deeply.
"I've spoken to Liu Feng about this matter before, and I've also reported it to the supervision company." Mo Zhichi's voice was filled with a hint of helplessness and heaviness. "But his situation is special, involving the owner... Some of the pressure is beyond my direct ability as the chief supervision engineer. I'm sorry to have wronged you."
Even Mr. Mo found this difficult... Lan Tongtong's heart sank. The last glimmer of hope seemed to be shattered.
However, Mo Zhichi changed the subject, his gaze becoming firm. "However, the quality of the project must not be compromised, and the desire of young people to work diligently should not be dampened by such unhealthy tendencies. I, Mo Zhichi, have been in this industry for decades, and I can't say anything else, but I can measure projects with a standard and judge right and wrong with an impartial mind. I can do it."
He pondered for a moment, as if he had made an important decision, and looked at Lan Tongtong gently. "Tongtong," he changed to a more intimate name, "my daughter is abroad, a few years younger than you. Seeing you working alone on this construction site, diligent and willing to learn, yet having to endure such humiliation... I feel bad too."
He paused, then said solemnly, "If you don't mind, from now on, in private, you can call me 'Brother Mo.' On this construction site, I, Mo Zhichi, will recognize you as my godsister. I can't guarantee anything else, but as long as you do your job according to the regulations, anyone who wants to make things difficult for you for no reason must first ask for my permission."
Lan Tongtong was completely stunned. She couldn't believe her ears. Boss Mo, the normally stern and unapproachable director whom she both respected and feared, actually wanted to take her in as his sister? This sudden offer of support was like a ray of light, piercing the gloom that had been lingering for days, leaving her unsure how to react.
"Mr. Mo...this...I..." She was incoherent, and this time she couldn't hold back her tears and they rolled down.
"Don't cry." Mo Zhichi handed over a tissue, a faint, almost invisible smile on his face. "A construction site is a small society. Skills alone are not enough. Sometimes you need some connections to protect your dedication. You call me brother, so I'll support you. It's reasonable. If Liu Feng deliberately makes things difficult for you at work in the future, you don't have to confront him, just tell me directly. I want to see if he knows how to write the word 'property'!"
Lan Tongtong wiped away her tears, a mixture of emotions welling up in her heart. She felt touched, warmed, and even more confident than ever before. She stood up and bowed deeply to Mo Zhichi, her voice choked but clear: "Thank you...Brother Mo!"
"Okay, let's go back to work. Stand up straight. We make a living based on technology and standards. There's nothing shameful about it!" Mo Zhichi waved his hand and returned to his usual seriousness, but the warmth in his eyes did not dissipate.
Lan Tongtong left the office, feeling the sky brighter. While the road ahead still held numerous challenges, and Liu Feng's problems might not be eradicated, she knew she was no longer alone. Behind her, she had the protective umbrellas of "principles" and "brotherhood." She clenched her fists, resolving to never betray this trust and protection. She would work harder, achieving even better results at work to prove herself and prove that Brother Mo had made the right choice.
Beneath the rulers and compasses, not only are the cold, rigid standards of engineering present, but also a touch of warmth and human connection. This is perhaps a helpless yet effective survival wisdom in the complex realities of society.
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