Next, Fomin conducted a “professional” assessment on Zhang Heng. The latter’s answer went smoothly. Since Zhang Heng had decided to assume Ivan’s identity, he had naturally done his homework and learned in advance about Ivan’s life. In addition, Zhang Heng didn’t know much about nuclear power, but he wasn’t completely clueless about engineering.
On the contrary, after going through the Apollo training camp dungeon, he became someone who could even repair a space shuttle. A mere steam turbine wouldn’t be a problem for him. Furthermore, his engineering knowledge improved after going through the leakers’ dungeon, and at the very least, had top-notch engineering knowledge among the applicants.
Thus, Fomin and Bryuhanov were both delighted with the final assessment result. Even Oleg, who was standing at the side, had nothing to say. The way he looked at Zhang Heng had also changed, and he shut his mouth.
Seeing this, Fomin was in a good mood. A rare smile appeared on his square face. He said to Zhang Heng, “Not bad, let’s call it a day. Thank you for coming for the interview. We’ll contact you again when the results are out.”
Zhang Heng shook hands with each of the three and walked out of the meeting room. He knew that he could settle now.
He had chosen Ivan not only because of his stature and class but also because he was unmarried and had more interpersonal relationships. The most important reason, however, was that Zhang Heng noticed where Ivan worked before.
Zapolloge Thermal Power Station No. 1. The name sounded familiar.
He quickly recalled where he had heard this name before.
Fomin, the current Chief Engineer of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, had come from Zapolloge No. 1, and Zhang Heng thought it was no coincidence, even though Ivan said he and Fomin had no connection. However, when Zhang Heng was questioned by Oleg in the meeting room, it was indeed Fomin who spoke up for him first.
….
The nuclear power plant still acted very quickly. It was apparent that they sorely needed manpower since reactor No. 3 was about to start operating, and should have decided on the name list on the same day, instantly reporting to the Central Council of Nuclear Energy.
Zhang Heng received his job offer on the third day.
However, when Zhang Heng entered the nuclear power plant, he realized that there was no Yevgeny who had previously worked at the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant among the people who had passed the interview. The latter looked as if he had won the interview and expected to be hired in the end. He was probably a little dumbfounded when he received the result himself.
Unlike Yevgeny, Zhang Heng had already received the names of all the candidates before the interview. He was familiar with the basic information of everyone on the list and knew that only three of the eight candidates had experience working in a nuclear power plant. During the interview, there should have been an interviewer who expressed admiration for Yevgeny.
If everything went according to plan, this person was Oleg, the deputy chief engineer of nuclear energy. This was also the reason why Yevgeny was so ambitious. Unfortunately, the people who decided the final list were Bryuhanov and Fomin.
From this point of view, Zhang Heng should be grateful to the two of them.
Although in the future, it would be ridiculous to think that two engineers from a thermal power plant would become the number one and two frontmen of a nuclear power plant, the reality was that similar things were beginning to happen around the Soviet bloc. It was no longer 30 years ago when the first nuclear power plant was built, and each and every industry practitioner had excellent professional qualities. They had unlimited enthusiasm for the nuclear power industry and were able to solve sudden and dangerous situations in a timely manner.
In fact, this was the result of many factors working together. Firstly, because the Soviets were vigorously promoting nuclear power plants and solving energy problems, the cultivation of new professionals was unable to not keep up with the expansion of the industry. Secondly, the reputation and chance of career advancement when one entered a nuclear power plant attracted increasing numbers of “outsiders” into the industry. Thirdly, and most importantly, the Soviets hadn’t had any major atomic accidents in the past 30 years, and some minor problems had been deliberately downplayed by the higher-ups, causing confidence in nuclear energy safety to swell to an unprecedented level.
Although the recent accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania alarmed some, the President of the Soviet Science Academy included, who had previously emphasized that nuclear power plants were safe enough, at a conference a year before the Chernobyl accident, he said with a worried expression, “Comrades, we should thank fate because it has been kind enough to us. Because the same thing in Pennsylvania hasn’t happened to us yet. Yes, I am serious.”
It wasn’t difficult to see the huge change in his attitude from the beginning to the end. However, the accident happened in the distant United States, and most people still had a hard time empathizing with it. As a result, the nerves of the whole industry became more and more relaxed, and industry practitioners gradually lost their sense of danger.
Zhang Heng could also feel this more clearly after entering the nuclear power plant. People like Breuhanov and Fomin, for instance, started to hold high positions. They treated the nuclear power plant like a piece of cake, cultivating their own trusted aides while pushing away the true experts.
But to be fair, Fomin treated Zhang Heng quite well. On the first day of his appointment, Fomin came to visit him and chatted with him about the situation at the thermal power plant. At the same time, he warmly expressed that he could come to see him if he needed anything.
Having braved through so many storms, Zhang Heng naturally knew what Fomin’s real purpose was. Fomin was inspecting this batch of new recruits to see who valued being nurtured and recruited under his command. Zhang Heng was also a skilled man, and like Fomin, a member of Zaporro’s No. 1 thermal power plant. Naturally, Fomin would favor him more. In addition, during the interview, Fomin had stood up for him, perhaps, causing him to be labeled in the eyes of others as a part of Fomin’s faction.
Zhang Heng himself didn’t mind. Faction battles were the eternal theme of humanity. As long as more than three people were in a group, society would instinctively start forming factions. There were still four years before Fomin’s imprisonment, so he did not worry about any negative consequences. With Fomin protecting him, it would be easier for him to get things done at the nuclear power plant.
During their previous meeting, Zhang Heng had expressed to Fomin that he lacked basic knowledge in the field of nuclear energy. If there was a chance to further his studies in the future, he hoped that Fomin would consider his wish. Fomin seemed slightly surprised, not expecting Zhang Heng to be bold, but this did not trigger his angst. After all, it was customary for young people to be ambitious. Knowing what Zhang Heng wanted would also make it easier for him to control the other party.
Fomin, however, disagreed immediately. He only said that he would consider it. He did not want to be too nice to Zhang Heng and would only give him whatever he decided. This would only increase Zhang Heng’s appetite. Therefore, his plan was to delay it for a short while. After that, he would wait for Zhang Heng to get anxious, then, he would send him to attend the next training session. This way, not only would he be doing Zhang Heng a favor, but he was sending a clear message that Zhang Heng could not live without him.
