Chapter 29: Double Perfect Scores

“I now announce that Comrade Li Aiguo has scored one hundred percent on his practical exam.”

“This is also the first perfect score for our Chief Engineer Section.”

“Let us all congratulate Comrade Li Aiguo!”

“Comrade Li Aiguo’s spirit of pursuing excellence is something we should all learn from.”

As the chief examiner’s voice fell, the scene instantly erupted into a frenzy.

Cao Wen rushed forward, scooped Li Aiguo up, and hoisted him high, ecstatic: “Good lad! You’ve brought honor to our Motive Power Section! Once you get on the trains, I’ll personally mentor you.”

Liu Chunhua curled her lip and said, “Old Cao, you’re getting ahead of yourself. The written exam results aren't even out yet. Who knows if he’ll actually qualify to be a driver!”

The leaders and candidates from other sections nearby were stunned into silence upon hearing this.

A section had produced the top performer in the practical exam, yet instead of celebrating, the leader was mocking him.

This woman was out of her mind!

Cao Wen’s face darkened instantly.

If it weren't for so many people watching, he would have certainly clashed with Liu Chunhua right then and there.

He reached out and patted Li Aiguo’s arm: “Don’t mind her. Once we get back to the Motive Power Section, I’ll report this to the Section Chief.”

“Master Cao, I’m not the type of person who can't see the big picture,” Li Aiguo said with a chuckle.

Since the exam was still ongoing, Li Aiguo had no way to leave the testing site and could only stand aside to watch the other candidates.

The practical performances of the remaining candidates were mediocre; only two candidates from the Harbin Section managed to score above eighty.

While Li Aiguo was engaged in idle small talk with Zhang Dahua, a voice drifted from a distance.

“Which one is Comrade Li Aiguo?”

“Over here!”

Li Aiguo raised his right hand high.

The newcomer was Wang Xiangrui, the Deputy Director of the Education Department.

To avoid disturbing Li Aiguo’s practical exam, he had waited nearby for quite some time.

Upon hearing that Li Aiguo had achieved a perfect score, he had rushed over impatiently.

Li Aiguo did not recognize Wang Xiangrui.

However, as the Director of the Motive Power Section's Education Office, Liu Chunhua was very familiar with this superior.

With a face full of smiles, she hurried forward: “Section Chief Wang, is there a problem with Li Aiguo’s exam paper? I understand—he must have been caught cheating by you, right?”

Wang Xiangrui looked at Liu Chunhua with a bewildered expression: “What are you talking about? Comrade Li Aiguo received a perfect score on his written exam, and his solution for the final major question even earned praise from Engineer Dong.”

“Engineer Dong wants to discuss the proposal with Comrade Li Aiguo, so he specifically asked me to invite him.”

“What!”

Liu Chunhua felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck her. Her head buzzed, and her body swayed.

Fortunately, Liu Erfeng was quick-witted and stepped forward to steady her, preventing her from falling.

At this moment, Liu Chunhua’s face was deathly pale, her eyes vacant and lost.

A vocational school graduate like Li Aiguo, discussing technical problems with an engineer?

How was that possible?

She wanted to ask exactly what was happening, but Wang Xiangrui ignored her. He walked up to Li Aiguo and explained the situation.

It seemed the sandbags had caught the attention of the higher-ups...

Li Aiguo nodded: “I will go with you right now.”

After the two left, the scene fell into a heavy silence.

The news brought by Section Chief Wang was simply too shocking.

Perfect scores in both theory and practice, and his design drawings had even caught Engineer Dong's eye.

Just how many brains did this man have?

Zhang Shan pulled out a cigarette, struck a match, lit it, and took a deep drag.

He watched Li Aiguo’s retreating figure, his eyes narrowing slightly: “It seems our Motive Power Section has welcomed a truly extraordinary little fellow.”

Cao Wen also snapped out of it and gave Liu Chunhua a cold sneer

“Director Liu, I warned you long ago: don't go too far.

Li Aiguo’s father offended you during the class categorization process.

But he was merely being honest with the organization.

Your grandfather had twenty acres of fertile land in Mawen, on the outskirts of Beijing.

During the busy farming season, he employed workers.

By the standards, he should have been classified as a middle peasant.

Yet you insisted on deceiving the organization by posing as a poor peasant.

Even if Li Aiguo’s father hadn't spoken up, other comrades would have had grievances.

But you were petty and held a grudge against his father.

And you even took your anger out on a child.

Is that appropriate?

Well, you must feel satisfied now.

Li Aiguo got double perfect scores; he will surely be named a model worker.

He was even invited by Engineer Dong.

His future is limitless.

You have effectively made a powerful enemy.”

Facing Cao Wen’s accusations, Liu Chunhua gave a dismissive smile: “Old Cao, what 'powerful enemy'? I don't follow.”

I am just a leader; how could I lose my temper with a candidate!

Besides, I am a superior.

Even if Li Aiguo passes the exam, he is still just a driver.

If he were sensible, he would act as if nothing had happened.”

Beside her, Liu Erfeng nodded in agreement: “Exactly. My sister was just following the regulations. Li Aiguo should understand.”

It is hard to reason with those determined to ruin themselves.

Seeing that the two were unrepentant, Cao Wen shook his head with a bitter smile and stopped bothering them.

Despite her hard words, Liu Chunhua felt a flicker of unease in her heart.

Before the exam even concluded, she hopped on her bicycle and returned to the Front Gate Motive Power Section.

After changing into clean clothes and grooming herself to look her best, she pushed open the Deputy Section Chief's office.

“Oh, Old Liu, I’ve been bullied~” Liu Chunhua said with a pout, her eyes flirtatious and her face full of charm.

***

Li Aiguo followed Wang Xiangrui, the Deputy Director of the Education Department.

By the time they arrived at Engineer Dong’s office, the engineer had been waiting for a long time.

“Engineer Dong, this is Comrade Li Aiguo.”

“You two talk; I still have work to do, so I shall take my leave.”

After the introduction, Wang Xiangrui saw that Engineer Dong was staring intently at Li Aiguo, completely ignoring him. He gave a forced smile, closed the door, and quietly slipped away.

Once the door was shut, Engineer Dong finally withdrew his gaze and smiled: “A hero emerges from the youth. Come, please, have a seat.”

He cleared away the documents on the chair to make space.

He invited Li Aiguo to sit and poured him a mug of hot tea, adding a pinch of high-grade loose-leaf tea.

A faint aroma of tea immediately filled the room.

Li Aiguo took a small sip and smiled: “Engineer Dong, I am not sure why you have invited me here.”

*Clatter.*

Before he could finish, Engineer Dong spread the exam paper out on the table, his eyes burning with intensity: “This exam paper belongs to you, doesn't it?”

Recognizing the familiar handwriting, Li Aiguo nodded.

“The idea of installing sandbags on top of the train—was that also your idea?”

Li Aiguo nodded.

“Where is the second half of the drawing! Do you not know that an incomplete drawing is a profanation of technology?” Engineer Dong’s lip twitched.

“There was no more room on the paper...” Li Aiguo replied calmly.

“Then wasn't there a back side!” Engineer Dong pinched the bridge of his nose. “You could have drawn the diagram on the back...”

“...”

Li Aiguo fell silent for a moment before looking up: “Did you invite me here just to discuss the completeness of the drawings?”

“Ah, no, not exactly.”

Engineer Dong pulled out a set of drawings and spread them before Li Aiguo.

“I believe installing sandbags on the roof of the train is absolutely feasible. After performing the calculations, the resulting data confirmed my hypothesis.”

“Once the sandbags are installed on the roof, even during rainy days or on steep inclines, the train will never experience rail slippage again.”

“However, since your drawing only contained the first half, I took the liberty of completing the second half based on my own design.”

“Take a look and see if there are any flaws.”

Looking at the design, Li Aiguo raised an eyebrow.

To be able to complete a design drawing in less than an afternoon...

The engineer before him possessed formidable skills.

However...

He leaned forward, pointing at a pattern on the drawing: “The angle of this sand delivery pipe is a bit too shallow. Sand isn't water; it will be difficult for it to slide down smoothly.”

An engineering assistant beside them muttered softly: “Li Aiguo, since you mentioned that point, I happen to have a doubt I’d like to ask you about.”

Li Aiguo froze slightly. He looked up at the young man in the white shirt, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The man in the white shirt had been in the office for most of the afternoon, assisting Engineer Dong with the drawings.

If he had a question, why didn't he ask Engineer Dong directly instead of waiting for him?

Was the man in the white shirt trying to use him as a stepping stone?

It seemed that despite his thick eyebrows and bright eyes making him look like an upright person, this man had many schemes in his heart.

“Xiao Liu, what is the meaning of this? Can't you see that Comrade Aiguo and I are discussing a problem?”

Engineer Dong hadn't expected his assistant to speak up so suddenly. Just as he was about to tell him to sit down, Li Aiguo waved his hand: “If Comrade Liu has any doubts, he can raise them directly. It is a good opportunity for us to research it together.”