Promotional videos and touchstones
The controversy seemed to have passed peacefully, but only the parties involved knew the undercurrents beneath the surface. Following Mo Zhichi's instructions, Lan Tongtong acted as usual, even remaining polite to Liu Feng. This made Liu Feng even more complacent, believing that Lan Tongtong had completely surrendered.
That day, the owner suddenly issued a formal notice. As the cross-river bridge is a key municipal project, it has attracted significant public attention, but it has also been accompanied by complaints from residents regarding noise and dust. To maximize the project's positive impact and dispel negative public opinion, the owner's General Manager, Tang Hao, decided to film a high-quality promotional video showcasing the project's technical challenges, environmental measures, and the exemplary work of the builders. Tang personally assigned this task to Deputy General Manager Liu Tianyuan, who was given full responsibility.
The notice was distributed to the project department, sparking considerable discussion. Everyone understood that this was an important image project, and doing it well would bring honor.
However, within two days, another piece of news spread internally: After "careful consideration", Vice President Liu Tianyuan decided to entrust the specific planning and coordination of the promotional video to Mo Zhichi, the chief supervisor engineer of Anfang Supervision Co., Ltd., on the grounds that Mr. Mo "has comprehensive skills, rigorous work style, and can ensure that the promotional content truly and accurately reflects the actual project."
This decision may seem reasonable at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it is actually quite thought-provoking.
Project Manager Liu Chao privately grumbled to Chief Engineer Zhang Xiao, "Lao Mo has taken on a real hot potato this time. Promotional videos are both easy and difficult to make. If they're good, the credit goes to the client and Mr. Liu. If they're bad, or if there are any mistakes, the responsibility falls on Lao Mo and our construction company."
Zhang Xiao pushed his glasses. "I don't think it's that simple. Liu Tianyuan just tampered with the review, and now he's pushing this onto President Mo. I'm afraid he has ulterior motives. A promotional video requires coordination with all parties, capturing the highlights, and avoiding any problems. It's a difficult balance. This is posing a difficult problem for President Mo, and it might just be a trap."
The news naturally reached Lan Tongtong as well. She immediately sensed something unusual and found an opportunity to quietly ask Mo Zhichi about it.
Mo Zhichi's reaction was calm, even tinged with a hint of expected sarcasm. "Liu Tianyuan is killing two birds with one stone. First, he's throwing the troublesome task to me, saving him the trouble. Second, he wants to see if I can handle it well. If not, he'll have a reason to say I'm incompetent in front of Mr. Tang, and even affect the supervision company's evaluation. If it does work out, he can still find faults, like going over budget or affecting construction."
"Then you still answer it?" Lan Tongtong asked worriedly.
"Take it? Why not?" Mo Zhichi looked out the window at the busy construction site with a deep gaze. "This is a challenge, but also an opportunity. The promotional video is a stage that can showcase the project and reveal people's hearts. He wants to use this to test me and set a trap for me. I can use this opportunity to expose some of the things he wants to cover up."
Lan Tongtong seemed to understand Mo Zhichi's intentions. The requirement for a promotional video to "truly reflect the project" was a double-edged sword. If used effectively, perhaps it could subtly expose Liu Feng's previously concealed problems? Or at least, could this project further solidify Mo Zhichi's image as an upright and capable individual?
"Then...is there anything you need me to do?" Lan Tongtong asked.
"For now, stay put and focus on your work," Mo Zhichi instructed. "However, from today on, you must pay close attention to every detail on the construction site, especially those critical nodes that may affect quality and safety, especially... those related to Liu Feng. With the arrival of the promotional film crew, the construction site will become even more complicated."
"I understand!" Lan Tongtong nodded solemnly. She sensed that a battle under the spotlight was about to begin. Liu Tianyuan intended to use the promotional video as a pawn, while Brother Mo seemed to have foreseen the next few moves. Who would ultimately be judged by this touchstone remained unknown. But one thing was certain: the peaceful days were coming to an end.
In the days that followed, Lan Tongtong seemed to enter a different state. Far from breaking her down, the review incident and Liu Feng's ridicule had only intensified her fighting spirit. She poured all her energy into her work, practically forgetting to eat or sleep.
During the day, she spent time on site, no longer content with simply understanding the blueprints. She compared every construction step with the specifications and atlas. She questioned experienced technicians, pestered Chief Engineer Zhang Xiao, and even sought out the inspection company to understand the significance of various parameters.
At night, the lights in her dormitory were always on late. She no longer passively absorbed knowledge but began to systematically organize and memorize it. She repeatedly read, understood, and memorized the regulations that once seemed so boring, comparing them to the actual scenes on site. She discovered that when she truly understood the principles behind them, those numbers and regulations were no longer cold constraints, but the cornerstone of ensuring project safety and quality.
After a few days, the results were obvious. During on-site coordination, she could quickly point out any non-compliant details in the workers' operations; during technical briefings, she could clearly and logically explain the regulatory basis; and even when communicating with the supervisor, she could logically and logically explain the rationality of the construction plan.
Even Project Manager Liu Chao couldn't help but praise her at the regular meeting: "Xiao Lan has made rapid progress recently. She's almost become the 'living standard' of our project!"
Chief Engineer Zhang Xiao nodded with satisfaction: "If you're willing to put in the effort, you'll definitely make a good material."
The most obvious feeling came from Liu Feng. After the promotional video project began, Mo Zhichi became incredibly busy, coordinating the filming team, finalizing the script, and arranging the location, often missing from the construction site. Liu Feng seemed ready to make another move, but when, as usual, he tried to find fault with Lan Tongtong's area and show off his authority, he found himself facing a hard wall.
He pointed to a section of rebar and said there was a problem with the spacing. Lan Tongtong immediately took out a ruler, measured it on the spot, reported the data, and then calmly pointed out, "Engineer Liu, the specification requires a spacing of ±10 mm. This is 125 mm, and the design is 120 mm, which is within the allowable error range. If you think it needs to be adjusted, we can immediately apply for a design change application."
He questioned the cleanliness of a certain part of the formwork, and Lan Tongtong directly called the foreman over, wiped it with white gloves on the spot, and then showed him the spotless gloves: "Mr. Liu, look, it meets the requirements."
After several attempts, Liu Feng found himself unable to find any omissions from Lan Tongtong. This young woman's meticulous adherence to protocol and the site was so thorough that he felt completely lost. He wanted to lose his temper, but couldn't find a reason to do so. He wanted to make things difficult, but Lan Tongtong always managed to counterattack him with the most professional and standardized approach. This left him feeling an unprecedented sense of suffocation, as if he had punched a tough piece of paulownia wood and instead injured his hand.
Lan Tongtong grew increasingly calm. She no longer feared Liu Feng's inspections because she had absolute confidence in her work. This confidence stemmed from tireless dedication and a deep understanding of the rules. She began to understand that in this field, true confidence came not from connections but from impeccable professional competence.
She was like a young seedling, weathering the ravages of wind and rain without withering. Instead, she dug her roots deeper into the soil, diligently absorbing nutrients and quietly growing, her trunk gradually becoming stronger. Perhaps she wasn't strong enough, but at least she had the strength to withstand the ordinary wind and rain.
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