Chapter 41. Year-end Commendation Conference (Ke Fan’s Career Highlights)
In November, Ke Fan finished his field survey work in the South China Sea and returned to Hai City.
I spent several more weeks working with the team to organize the drawings of the semi-submersible wind turbine, summarize the model testing and verification results, sort out the results list and archive the materials.
Under her arrangement, the finishing work of the deep-sea project was completed in an orderly manner.
In December, Hai City Wind Power Station carried out an intensive internal review to accept the plan submitted by Ke Fan.
There is no doubt that this is a high-scoring answer sheet.
The project was delivered to the Energy Bureau on time. A week later, good news came from Li Chengjin:
Ke Fan's proposal successfully passed the review of the Energy Bureau, and the expert review opinions highly praised the bold innovation and meticulous testing of the semi-submersible wind turbine foundation structure.
Li Chengjin sat at his desk, looking at his subordinate with admiration. His expression remained calm and composed.
"They said they want you to give a presentation on your achievements and that they're very interested in your design ideas."
He paused, trying to suppress the excitement in his voice:
"They also said that they would prioritize the implementation of this project. This kind of treatment is not something that everyone can get."
Ke Fan's eyes suddenly lit up.
For wind power workers, their greatest hope is that their designs can actually become wind turbines and become white giants standing on the sea.
It's not just a project being implemented, it's a dream coming true.
The drawings that have been drawn, the models that have been developed, and the PPTs that have been presented have become real steel plates, towers, blades, and the wind blowing from the sea.
Ke Fan recalled the first time he stood under a wind turbine. When the blades slowly and powerfully passed over his head, the sound of the air being torn apart made his soul numb and shudder.
She reached out to catch the wind, but caught nothing.
But in the near future, the wind turbines she designed will be located on the deep sea surface, catching the wind for her in circles, turning it into electricity, and transmitting it to thousands of households along submarine cables, making wind power a real resource and wealth.
Children like her who cannot afford the electricity bill no longer need to use hot candles and can study peacefully at night.
"That's great, I really hope it lands soon."
Li Chengjin smiled and looked into her shining eyes: "Of course I will."
He took a sip of the coffee at hand and continued, "One more thing. You're well-deserved to receive the Outstanding Individual Award at the end-of-year commendation ceremony. The director's message is that we've taken on a deep-sea project this year and it's been a huge success. We can invite representatives from all our branches to come by the end of the year, and you'll be asked to give a speech on stage. You should prepare in advance."
"Okay." Ke Fan nodded in agreement.
*
On the day of the commendation meeting, Ke Fan unexpectedly saw several familiar faces.
The first acquaintance was Lao Xie.
From a distance, she heard him calling "Xiao Ke, Xiao Ke" and he walked quickly through the crowd to her.
It’s still that friendly, loud and clear voice.
He grasped her outstretched hand, just like when they first met in the oasis.
"I've heard about that deep-sea project you're working on. It's truly outstanding. You're truly worthy of being me, Dr. Ke!"
"Old Xie!" Ke Fan was also surprised: "Why are you here?"
The representatives of the branch office are basically the top or second in command, but Old Xie was not one of them before, so Ke Fan asked this question.
"Thanks to your offshore wind power and marine ranching project, the response has been very positive, and Oasis has since expanded to include more wind turbines. I'm quite familiar with the nearby fisheries and have done a good job promoting the project, so the institute promoted me. Now we've started helping other branches with pilot projects."
Old Xie grinned happily.
Ke Fan was also very happy for him, but when he got closer, he found that his already dark face seemed to be even darker, especially against the backdrop of his big white teeth.
Noticing Ke Fan staring at his face in a daze, Old Xie scratched his head embarrassedly:
"What's wrong? Am I getting darker? A lot of people say that. I can't help it, I'm out and about every day."
Ke Fan hurried to comfort him: "There is gain in loss, there is gain in loss."
While talking, she thought of Yi Lingjia. She didn't know how he could still be so delicate and tender, even though he had always been out to sea before.
He just arrived in Hai City today, but Ke Fan's schedule was full, so he had to go to her house alone and stay in the empty room.
Another acquaintance was a female colleague, Sister Lin, who had worked with her on the Tongshi case.
Sister Lin is one of the few female engineers at Tongshi Wind Power Station, and she takes good care of her.
On the day when Xing Xiao made things difficult for her at the backbone meeting, she was in a low mood. Sister Lin found out the reason and took her out for dinner to relax.
Sister Lin said, "Xiao Ke, everyone encounters 'Xing Xiao' in the workplace, including me. The important thing is not to let them discourage you, but to believe in yourself and let them be your stepping stones."
Ke Fan also realized that the gentle and kind Sister Lin actually had a strong and hard core.
Three years later, Sister Lin, dressed in a professional suit, came to the headquarters to attend a meeting on behalf of Tongshi Wind Power Station, still with that friendly smile.
"Long time no see, Xiao Ke."
The two smiled at each other, knowing that they had both overcome their own 'Xing Xiao'.
*
"Now, please welcome Ke Fan, winner of this year's Outstanding Individual Award from the Wind Power Institute at Headquarters, to the stage to speak!"
Ke Fan walked up to the stage step by step. It was just a few meters away, but it took her a long time to get from the little girl reading by candlelight to where she is now.
She stood in front of the microphone and spoke calmly:
"China has 18,000 kilometers of continental coastline. For those of us engaged in offshore wind power, this is not just a number, but also our precious wealth.
This year, our team made substantial progress in the foundational development of semi-submersible floating wind turbines. This represents a true structural innovation, and it demonstrates our ability to break the long-standing monopoly of external solutions. From now on, our fate is no longer in the hands of others.
I understand that any original breakthrough is always met with skepticism. But for us, this is the only way to truly integrate floating wind power into the engineering landscape. We also look forward to having our proposal tested on-site and over time."
There was a burst of joyful applause, and Ke Fan smiled and paused for a second to share the pride with the audience.
She glanced at the dark crowd below the stage. Most of them were dressed in suits, with a few female faces mixed in.
"I also want to say that as a female practitioner in the wind power industry, it is sometimes more difficult to be heard. But you must believe in yourself. In the end, any difficulties will only be stepping stones for you."
Ke Fan and Sister Lin in the audience looked at each other and both smiled.
"Finally, innovation will definitely bring more possibilities to our industry. This is why I chose this path, and why I am standing here today. I wish you all the best. Thank you."
The applause from the audience was thunderous.
Ke Fan suddenly remembered that Liao Qingmei read "Towards the Lighthouse" to her when she was a child.
She asked: Why does Mr. Ramsay always say that women shouldn't paint? Why does everyone laugh at Lily's dream of becoming a painter?
Liao Qingmei turned to the last chapter and told her gently but firmly:
"Lily finally completed her painting. You should also be like her, break through worldly prejudices, and realize your dreams, okay?"
Ke Fan nodded on the bright stage.
Yes, I know, Mom.
*
Cai Jieyu sat in the audience and looked at Ke Fan intently.
She seemed to be glowing now.
Next to her was a new female intern at the institute, who whispered to her:
"This sister is so amazing! I heard she's the first female engineer to receive an outstanding individual award, and she's still so young!"
Cai Jieyu smiled at her, quite proudly:
"Well, I lead."
"You're the leader? Really? You're so lucky."
Cai Jieyu nodded in her heart, she was really lucky.
Cai Jieyu’s thoughts returned to the last day of the South China Sea project.
Ke Fan took her for a walk along the coastline. With the project about to be completed, both of them felt relaxed.
While chatting and laughing, Cai Jieyu recalled that when she first joined the wind power station, because of Xing Xiao's slander, she really thought Ke Fan was cold and unapproachable. It was only when she really worked with her that she found that it was a pleasant experience.
Thinking that he might have to work under Xing Xiao again in the future, Cai Jieyu's laughter and chattering gradually died down and he felt depressed.
The two stopped at a large reef and sat down to enjoy the sea breeze.
Ke Fan suddenly said, "Xiao Cai, has this year been very hard?"
The evening sea breeze blew gently, and Cai Jieyu tilted her head to hold back her tears.
Over the past year, she'd often felt lost and unsure of what to do. In Xing Xiao's eyes, she was never good enough, never as driven as the men under his command. But when she tried to seize opportunities, Xing Xiao would say, "You don't have to work so hard. Girls, you should always prioritize your family."
Ke Fan didn't turn around to look at her, but let her head rest on his shoulder.
"Xiao Cai, I can see you feel wronged. You proposed a good plan, but you were interrupted and ignored at the briefing. When you went to the site, they assumed you were just there to take notes, and then only handed over the work to the male engineer next to you."
Cai Jieyu's tears fell drop by drop on Ke Fan's clothes, and Ke Fan gently touched her hair:
"When I first started taking on projects, people would laugh and say, 'Girls, come to a wind farm? Are you here to get some fresh air? Be careful you get tanned, it'll be hard to find a boyfriend.'"
Ke Fan paused and continued, "At that time, I was also angry and wanted to retreat, but then I told myself - if you take a step back, people will think you shouldn't have stood up in the first place."
That day at the beach, Cai Jieyu let all the tears she had been holding back for a year blow away in the sea breeze.
What made her life more vibrant was what Ke Fan said to her at the end:
"I've already asked for your reporting line and the director. You'll be following me from now on. Xiao Cai, I believe you can do a good job."
Cai Jieyu looked at Ke Fan on the stage.
The lights were focused on her. She stood there confidently and assuredly, accepting the audience's applause with a calm smile.
Some people exist, shining like a beacon.
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