The longitude and latitude on the ruler, the voice under the tung tree
The successful pouring of the first box girder eased the tense atmosphere in the project department. However, Lan Tongtong knew this was just the beginning; the real test would be completing the subsequent inspection documents and obtaining the crucial "birth permit"—the supervisor's signature and approval.
A few days later, the concrete strength of the beams reached the required level, and the internal documentation was preliminarily completed. Lan Tongtong took a thick stack of "First Project Approval Assessment Report" and related records, took a deep breath, and walked towards the supervision office, a symbol of authority and standards. She knew that this document would ultimately require the signature of Chief Supervisor Engineer Mo Zhichi.
The door was ajar, and she knocked gently.
"Please come in." Mo Zhichi's steady voice came from inside.
Lan Tongtong pushed the door open and saw Mo Zhichi hunched over his desk, reviewing a stack of construction plans. He wore a pair of reading glasses, a rare sight, which added a touch of scholarly air to his usual stern demeanor. The office was meticulously tidy, with files neatly organized. The walls were covered with photos of various project milestones and standardized flow charts. The most striking feature was the steel measuring tape, polished to a gleaming shine by his caressing, resting quietly in the desk's designated area.
"Mr. Mo, this is the assessment report and related materials for the first project in our beam yard. Please review and sign it." Lan Tongtong gently placed the materials in an empty corner of the desk.
Mo Zhichi hummed, not even looking up. He simply tapped the table with his finger, motioning her to put it down. After about a minute, he put down his pen, removed his glasses, and picked up the report. He didn't immediately turn to the signature page, but instead began with the introduction, reading it page by page, word by word.
The air was so quiet that only the rustling of papers could be heard. Lan Tongtong stood at the table, her palms slightly sweaty, as if she had returned to the moment a few days ago when the owner had asked her a question.
Suddenly, Mo Zhichi flipped to the page recording the key parameters of the precast beam. His finger paused on the data "beam length 30.2 meters" and he asked, "Engineer Lan, besides length, what are the other key control parameters for this precast box beam? What are the standard values?"
Here we go again! Lan Tongtong's heart tightened, but thankfully, she was prepared this time. She took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice steady. "It's mainly the cross-sectional dimensions: the beam height is 1.8 meters, the top plate width is 2.4 meters, and the bottom plate width is 1.0 meters. Also, the positioning coordinates for the prestressed pipes, with an allowable deviation of ±5 mm."
"Hmm." Mo Zhichi remained noncommittal, looking at her with a sharp gaze. "Anything else? For example, how much is the pre-camber value set to?"
"Pre-camber…" Lan Tongtong was stuck. She knew this parameter was important, but she couldn't remember the exact value, and the calculation process didn't seem to be clearly marked on the drawings. Her face flushed, and she whispered, "Well… I forgot the exact value. I need to look it up in the calculation sheet."
Mo Zhichi looked at her embarrassment, his face still expressionless, but his eyes seemed to soften for a moment. He didn't blame her, but reached out and pulled out the slightly curled box girder structure blueprint from the nearby file rack, spreading it out on the table.
"Come and take a look." His tone was calm, but it carried a tone that could not be refused.
Lan Tongtong quickly walked around to the desk and leaned over to look at the drawings.
Mo Zhichi pointed to the relevant area on the drawing with a pencil: "Cross-sectional dimensions and length are the basis. The pre-arch is to offset the downward deflection of the beam under the action of its own weight and prestressing, and to ensure the linear shape of the bridge. This value needs to be calculated based on multiple factors such as concrete shrinkage and creep, prestressing loss, and secondary dead load. Our design value is 25 mm." He then pointed out several key parameters in turn, such as the thickness of the steel bar protective layer, concrete strength grade, and tension control stress, and explained why these parameters are crucial to the quality of the beam.
His explanation was clear and concise, connecting the dry specifications with the beam's actual load-bearing properties. Lan Tongtong listened with rapt attention, feeling for the first time that these numbers were no longer cold symbols, but rather coordinates bearing the weight of safety and responsibility.
"I understand. Thank you Mr. Mo for your guidance." Lan Tongtong said sincerely.
Mo Zhichi closed the blueprint and sat back in his chair, his gaze once again fixed on Lan Tongtong. His gaze seemed less scrutinizing than before, more inquisitive and subtle. "Engineer Lan, looking at your resume, you graduated from Yundu University of Technology with a degree in Civil Engineering, a prestigious university. What brought you to the idea of working for a construction company? Many women, especially those graduating from prestigious universities, tend to go to design institutes or client companies."
Lan Tongtong was stunned by the sudden change of topic. She hadn't expected Mr. Mo to ask that. A hint of bitterness crept into her heart. She lowered her head, gently stroking the brim of her helmet, her voice lowering a few notches. "Actually... I applied for a position at the design institute. I passed the written test, but the interview... wasn't hired."
She paused, as if she had made up her mind, and her voice became softer: "Besides, my parents are not in good health and need to take medicine all year round. Although the construction company is a bit hard, the income is relatively high, and it can help my family more quickly."
The office fell silent again. The rhythmic roar of a pile driver outside the window only added to the stillness.
Mo Zhichi remained silent, simply observing the young man before him, fresh out of school, still somewhat childish yet forced to shoulder the burdens of life so early. He recalled his own early career, a young man passionate about engineering yet naive, seemingly tempered by this reality.
A few seconds later, he picked up the pen again, turned to the last page of the evaluation report, and signed his name neatly after the column of "Chief Supervisor Engineer" - three vigorous and powerful words with a distinct personal style: Mo Zhichi.
"Leave the information here for now. I'll check the compliance of the other appendices. This report is generally acceptable." He handed the signed report to Lan Tongtong. His tone remained calm, but it seemed a little less cold and hard than before. "If the construction company can learn something real and put their mind to it, they will have a promising future. Go ahead."
Lan Tongtong took the heavy report with both hands. The signature seemed especially warm. She thanked him again solemnly: "Thank you, Mr. Mo. I will work hard!"
Leaving the supervisory office, the afternoon sun was a bit glaring. But Lan Tongtong felt a sense of relief. The seemingly unsympathetic "Mo Zhiru" actually concealed beneath the ruler a stern instruction and subtle care for the younger generation. She clenched the report in her hand and looked up at the bridge piers, already taking shape in the distance. For the first time, she felt a genuine sense of belonging to this forest of steel and concrete, a resolve to put down roots there.
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