Chapter 2658
This isn't a question of whether it's worth it or not.
Chapter 2658 This isn't a question of whether it's worth it or not.
Northwest, reclamation site.
Wang Huzi walked into the office, his fatigue clearly visible on his face.
I haven't had a proper rest since returning from Beijing.
He first went to farms in various places to check on the situation.
Last time I went to Beijing, I made a special trip to the Academy of Agricultural Sciences to get a thorough understanding of this alliance.
When he learned that it was a 'disease', Wang Huzi was quite frightened.
If this spreads to the Northwest, and corn production decreases, the impact on the domestic economy will be no less significant than that on the European Union.
Fortunately, after research by the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the causes of this disease were finally understood, and effective preventive measures were also provided.
Meanwhile, the Academy of Agricultural Sciences will also send personnel to Northwest China to provide technical guidance.
This put his mind at ease.
The next issue was the food supply for the alliance, and the higher-ups held a meeting and gave their opinions on how to handle it.
That means if someone deserves to be slaughtered, then they should be slaughtered.
Then, they can set aside a portion of the money they earn to improve the conditions of the farm.
This is the first time.
This shows that their efforts over the years have been recognized by their superiors.
After visiting the farm, Wang Huzi then took a tour of the military base.
The recent events between Kazakhstan and the Union have created tension in the surrounding region.
He also took some precautions.
The alliance has now shifted its focus to the food crisis, and relations between the two sides have eased.
During this period, the strengthening of relations between the two sides also made Kazakhstan's domestic orientation more obvious.
The fact that they were willing to allow planes destined for Persia to transit through their territory already demonstrates their sincerity.
He also received information that the two sides will continue to deepen cooperation on economic, military, and ethnic exchange issues in the future.
As for the specifics of how to cooperate, that's not something he should concern himself with.
His main task now is to manage the Northwest region well.
Finally, he went to the key location for managing the Northwest.
Red Star Machinery Factory.
I took a tour of the machine factory and was satisfied overall.
Although it can't compare to the headquarters in Beijing, there isn't a single factory in this vast northwestern region that can rival it.
"Old Wang, you're finally back."
As soon as I entered the office, Secretary Qian strode in, his eyes showing both surprise and worry.
Surprisingly, the harvest this time was quite substantial.
The subsidies they received from selling grain alone were enough to double the size of their farm.
Then we can place more orders with the machinery factory, produce more tractors and tricycles, and even increase the production of those export-grade Friendship Pots.
Since gaining a good reputation, these export-oriented pressure cookers and rice cookers have become very popular among housewives abroad.
"Yes, they're finally back."
Wang Huzi walked to the familiar chair and sat down, then touched the wooden table with a sigh.
"I have to say, after being away for so long, I still think it's better here. It's comfortable and relaxing to sit here."
Secretary Qian personally poured him a glass of water, then walked over and sat down.
"There's something I need to tell you."
Secretary Qian looked serious. Wang Huzi finished drinking the water in his cup before asking, "What is it? Just tell me."
Upon hearing this, Secretary Qian spoke up, "This matter concerns the nuclear power plant."
As soon as he said it, Wang Huzi's expression turned serious.
Nuclear power plants, that's their key project right now.
Nothing can go wrong.
Secretary Qian continued, "I heard from the comrade in charge that there are problems with the design of the nuclear power plant, and it is very likely that it will be shut down."
"what?"
Wang Huzi suddenly stood up. "Stop? What's the reason?"
"We've sold everything we own and saved every penny to buy this nuclear power plant. We're risking everything for it."
"Why are you calling a halt so soon?"
Wang Hu Zi's face was covered in stubble, and his weathered face showed great resentment.
Upon seeing this, Secretary Qian could only explain again, "It is said that the reactor of this nuclear power plant requires a large amount of water for cooling, and this amount of water has exceeded the local water resource carrying capacity."
"water?"
Wang Huzi never expected that the problem would arise from this.
"Didn't we prepare plenty of water? Isn't that enough?"
Secretary Qian shook his head, "The budget they provided is simply not enough."
"Moreover, it can easily cause water pollution, which will then need to be disposed of."
Wang Huzi frowned, and Secretary Qian continued, "The comrades have also discussed this matter. Some comrades believe that this is a necessary sacrifice, a growing pain before the victory of the revolution, and advocate continuing to build the nuclear power plant to bring light to the revolutionary construction in the Northwest."
"Some comrades also felt that this approach posed too many risks and was not worthwhile."
After Secretary Qian finished speaking, Wang Hu slammed his hand on the table and said angrily, "Not worth it?"
"Is this a question of whether it was worth it? Why wasn't this discovered when it was built?"
"We've already invested so much manpower and resources, and now they're saying there are hidden dangers."
"This is dereliction of duty, a serious dereliction of duty."
Wang Hu slammed his hand on the table repeatedly. Xiao Wu, who was outside the office, shrank back, wondering what could have made the usually easy-going leader so angry.
After a moment of silence in the office, Secretary Qian sighed again and asked, "The deed is done, and we need to make a decision as soon as possible."
"I reckon the Second Ministry of Machine Building will also report the news, and then the higher-ups will get involved. You need to think carefully about what to do."
Wang Huzi sat in the chair with his eyes slightly closed, but he was having a fierce internal struggle.
On the one hand, there are safety hazards.
On the one hand, it presents a rare development opportunity.
Both of them are very important to the Northwest.
If possible, he would prefer to have both.
But now it seems we can only choose one of the two.
"Damn it, the good news hadn't even died down before the bad news came."
"What a fucking bastard."
Red Star Machinery Factory.
Li Chengjun walked along the factory road with his hands behind his back. It was still very hot in October.
Even though I was only wearing a single layer of clothing, my forehead started to sweat after walking for a while.
Of course, he preferred things to be like this compared to the sweltering heat of Beijing.
At least I'm not so sticky now.
Now I can wear just a single layer of clothing, but at night, I definitely won't be able to sleep without a blanket because I'm so cold.
However, the dry air did not lift his spirits; on the contrary, a series of recent events had left him in a very bad mood.
"Director!"
"Factory manager, taking a stroll again?"
"Factory manager, have you eaten yet...?"
The workers he encountered along the way kept greeting him, and Li Chengjun responded with a smile.
"Factory manager, you've arrived!"
As Li Chengjun walked along a path, still thinking about the nuclear power plant, a voice rang in his ears.
Looking up, I saw Yan Jiefang standing at the office door.
"Director Yan, have you finished your inspection?"
"Yeah, just got back from the workshop!"
Yan Jiefang spoke first, then watched Li Chengjun walk towards the office and asked again, "Factory Director, you've seemed troubled these past few days. If you have something on your mind, tell everyone, and we'll all work together to find a solution!"
Li Chengjun stopped walking after hearing this, then turned around and smiled, "It's nothing, don't worry about it, just do your own thing!"
Yan Jiefang listened without saying anything more. His wife had told him that it's best not to ask about things you don't know, and that you can ask about things but shouldn't get caught up in them.
Now he has a family and children, and he can no longer be a lonely person like before, nor is he as young and naive as he was when he didn't take anything seriously.
After finishing his sentence, Li Chengjun continued walking towards his office.
Yan Jiefang, who was behind him, also went back into the room and sat down. Then he chatted with several workshop directors about work.
Upon arriving at the office, Li Chengjun sat down in a chair with a solemn expression.
A few days ago, he went to the construction site of the Tianshan Nuclear Power Plant to see how it was progressing.
After all, this concerns the development of the entire Northwest.
So it wasn't just their machinery factory; people all over Northwest China were paying attention.
They provide whatever the locals want, without them even having to ask. Everything imaginable in this remote corner of Northwest China is provided.
Their steel plant has shifted its focus even further, with many workers being assigned to take turns helping out.
All of this is to get the nuclear power plant built as soon as possible.
Fortunately, according to the original plan, the infrastructure of the nuclear power plant will be completed this year, and one unit can be put into operation next year.
At that time, the motor problem will be alleviated.
Their machinery factory can then expand its scale accordingly.
That's why he took it so seriously and would check on it every few days.
However, to his surprise, when he went to the construction site, he heard some bad news.
That day, Director Hu, the person in charge of the Tianshan project, approached him, thinking he wanted to have a drink and chat, and maybe ask for some supplies.
Unexpectedly, Director Hu started complaining to him, saying that the construction and commissioning of nuclear power plants was far more difficult than he had imagined.
They also said that the data provided by the alliance was inconsistent in many places, and even concealed the most crucial parts.
At the time, he thought all of this was normal, but then Director Hu said that there wasn't enough water, which made him wary.
To meet the requirements, the nuclear power plant was originally located next to a river. In addition, to ensure an abundant water supply, they mobilized the local people to build three large reservoirs upstream to divert meltwater from the Tianshan Mountains.
Each of these three reservoirs required the mobilization of tens of thousands of people who spent months digging with shovels, hoes, and wheelbarrows.
Putting aside the manpower consumed, the daily expenses and the explosives used almost emptied the Northwest's meager resources.
But now, what's said not enough?
Is this tiny nuclear power plant really that difficult?
After that day, he asked many more people.
The results gave almost the same answer.
He now understood why so much water was needed.
It's for heat dissipation.
Use water to cool down and prevent overheating; otherwise, it will explode.
Well, he didn't know what a nuclear power plant explosion looked like, but he had seen what a mushroom egg looked like.
Well, all he knows now is that, according to the recalculation results by relevant personnel, a generator set needs tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of tons of cooling water per day.
Moreover, the safety of these cooling waters cannot be guaranteed after use.
In other words, the treatment of this water is also a problem.
We can't exactly hire a vehicle to dump sewage into the sea.
Besides, wouldn't throwing it into the sea cause pollution?
Moreover, this is in the Northwest, a region where many people only wash their faces twice in their entire lives. Wasting water like this, if the old folks find out, they'll probably chase you down the street with a stick.
It would be better to build more thermal power plants.
If we don't do it, all that initial investment will be wasted.
Moreover, this is a major event that has made it into the national newspapers. If it gets out, how will we explain it?
He now understands the people in the Second Ministry of Machine Building a bit better; they're in a difficult situation!
"Old Li, what are you daydreaming about!"
Hearing Fang Yuan's voice, Li Chengjun looked up, wondering when the other person had walked in.
Hearing Fang Yuan say this, Li Chengjun sighed, then pressed his palm to his forehead, "Old Fang, tell me, is it really worth it to waste so much water to build a nuclear power plant?"
Fang Yuan sat to the side, opening his mouth but not saying anything.
However, this hesitation reveals their attitude.
Having spent half his life in the Northwest, he naturally understands how precious water is to the people here.
To be honest, when he learned that so much water was going to be wasted, and continuously at that, he cursed in his heart and wanted to stand up and stop it.
But when he thought about the investment in the nuclear power plant, the current situation in China, and the setbacks in the development process, the hatred in his heart began to dissipate.
Then came the confusion.
Since people in other places are willing to sacrifice and give for the revolution, the saved grain can be used to support construction.
Why doesn't it work here?
Could it be that these men from the Northwest are just so pretentious?
After a long silence, Fang Yuan finally spoke, "I've discussed this with President He, and his opinion is that we shouldn't mess around with this!"
"There are some things that we can't ignore just because of our own interests!"
"Also, Lao Li, I think it would be best to inform headquarters about this!"
"Perhaps while we're racking our brains, headquarters has already made a decision."
After Fang Yuan finished speaking, Li Chengjun nodded, "Okay, I'll tell Director Yang when I get to work tomorrow."
"The decision on this matter should be made by those above."
Fang Yuan nodded, feeling somewhat hesitant.