69novels Chapter 1056 Senior Engineer
Chapter 1056 Senior Engineer
The examiners exchanged glances, their eyes filled with undisguised satisfaction. They watched Gu Nan answer the questions from beginning to end: from his composure when he first received the questions to his complete immersion in solving them—his focused concentration when his brow furrowed slightly, his decisive and efficient calculations on the draft paper, and his precise and skillful adjustment of the instruments with a wrench. Every detail revealed his solid technical foundation, clearly demonstrating genuine ability rather than being a mere figurehead.
The wall clock ticked for nearly two hours before Gu Nan finally put down the screwdriver and let out a long sigh of relief. He had steadily assembled the last practical component required by the exam question and gently placed it on the table. From measuring dimensions to cutting and polishing, and finally assembling and fixing it, the whole process was smooth and efficient, without a single unnecessary movement. Even the placement of the tools exuded a sense of meticulousness.
Having completed the assessment, Gu Nan did feel somewhat tired—two hours of intense concentration had taken a toll on his mental energy, and a thin layer of sweat had formed on his forehead, trickling down his temples. He casually picked up a clean towel from the table to wipe himself, then walked to a chair in the rest area, sat down, closed his eyes slightly to rest, and patiently waited for the examiners to inspect and evaluate him.
Several examiners immediately surrounded him, calipers, gauges, and other tools in hand, examining him meticulously as if he were a rare treasure. From the dimensional accuracy of the core components to the fit of the assembly of each part, from the wiring logic of the internal circuitry to the smoothness of the program's operation, they checked every single item with exceptional care. The more they examined, the more obvious their astonishment became—the work was simply too beautiful: the solder joints were as smooth as mirrors, without a single burr; the interfaces were perfectly sealed, so tight that they couldn't be shaken by hand; even the most error-prone minute parameters were accurate to three decimal places, without the slightest error. One elderly examiner with gray hair couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration: "This skill is truly impeccable. In terms of precision, it has probably surpassed the level of us old guys back in the day." Despite their admiration, they still carefully wrapped Gu Nan's work in a soft cloth, attached a numbered label, and placed it in a special lockable storage box.
After all, Gu Nan's identity is special—in addition to taking the intermediate engineer professional title exam, he is also the deputy director of the steel rolling mill. This dual identity means that the results of this assessment will be closely watched by everyone in the factory, and the higher authorities may even send someone to review them. There is no room for carelessness.
Gu Nan naturally understood the intricacies of the process. After the examiners finished checking, he proactively went to the registration desk and filled out the assessment information as required. His writing was steady and his handwriting neat and clear; even his signature exuded a crisp and efficient air. After finishing, he looked up at the examiners and said calmly, "Then I'll head out first. Please let me know when the results are out."
The examiners finally snapped out of their reverie, recovering from their earlier admiration. Initially, they had harbored some doubts—after all, Gu Nan was the deputy factory director, a young man in such a high position, it was easy to suspect he was just going through the motions. After all, for a deputy factory director in charge of technology, failing to even qualify for an intermediate engineer title was indeed unacceptable. They had even privately discussed whether, if Gu Nan's skills weren't too lacking, they should make an exception and give him a "backdoor." But now it seemed their worries were completely unfounded—his technical skills were undeniable; he was more than qualified for the senior engineer level, let alone the intermediate one, so why would he need any special treatment?
The lead examiner quickly smiled and nodded, "Deputy Factory Director Gu, take care. We'll have someone deliver the results to you as soon as they're out." Watching Gu Nan's tall figure disappear through the door, he couldn't help but sigh to the person beside him, "No wonder he became the deputy factory director. His skills are truly impressive; you can't argue with that."
The examination room door finally opened near the end of the workday, and candidates emerged one after another, their faces showing a mix of joy and worry. The clerk in charge of registration walked briskly towards the office building with the score sheets in hand—the results of this examination were exceptionally good; most of the engineers had advanced, with the majority rising from junior to intermediate levels. Suppressed laughter could be heard from time to time in the corridor; after all, a promotion meant a salary increase of at least ten or eight yuan, which was no small amount for workers these days.
Zhang Zhi clutched his report card, looking at the words "Intermediate Engineer." He felt a slight regret—he had been determined to advance to the advanced level, but had lost points in the practical skills section due to a minor parameter calculation error. However, he quickly let it go. Moving from junior to intermediate level was already much better than expected; his salary had increased, and he had more influence in the workshop—it was real progress. He carefully tucked the report card away and walked briskly towards the workshop, thinking about sending a letter home that evening to share the good news.
But the most eye-catching news was hidden at the end of the report card. Gu Nan's name was prominently listed, with "Senior Engineer" clearly written in the remarks column—jumping two levels from junior to intermediate, becoming the second senior engineer in the steel rolling mill after Liu Wen. What's even more astonishing is that Liu Wen is already gray-haired and will retire next year, while Gu Nan is in his prime, just over twenty years old. From an apprentice following a master craftsman three years ago to the current deputy factory director and senior engineer, the speed is astonishing, almost like a myth.
Gu Nan was reviewing the final approved list in his office. His fingertip paused on the words "Senior Engineer," then he looked up at the clerk at the door and said, "Call the people from the publicity department over and have them read the list aloud in front of everyone. When their names are called, have them come to my office after get off work for a short meeting."
The propaganda officer didn't dare to delay and quickly walked to the factory's broadcasting room with the list in hand. As a clear voice came from the broadcast, the factory gradually quieted down, and even the roar of the machines in the workshops seemed to subside.
"...Wang Jianguo, promoted from junior engineer to intermediate engineer..."
"...Li Hongmei, promoted from junior engineer to intermediate engineer..."
As each name was read out, it always drew murmurs and congratulations, because everyone knew that it meant life would be a little more comfortable.
Until the last name was called: "Gu Nan".
The factory area fell silent instantly. Many people were stunned—everyone knew that Director Gu had a technical background, but they didn't expect him to participate in the assessment this time, and to apply as a "junior engineer" at that, which was no small feat.
The announcement paused for a moment, then continued, "Gu Nan has passed the intermediate engineer exam..."