Chapter 35

"Dear leaders, distinguished guests, and all the contestants from various units of the entire bureau, everyone, good day!"

Immediately, applause broke out: "Wow..."

While Xiao Yuanhang was deep in thought, the emcee's resonant and magnetic baritone voice echoed through the venue. He looked up at the emcee on the stage and joined everyone in clapping.

The emcee was a deputy section chief from the Passenger Management Department of the Bureau, named Wang Xiaopeng. He was a well-known host in the Songjiang Railway Bureau, responsible for hosting cultural performances and public events. Although a high-profile host like him was not usually needed for a technical performance competition, because he was a member of the Passenger Management Department, Section Chief Li assigned him to host this event.

As the applause gradually subsided, Wang Xiaopeng continued, "Today, the Passenger Management Department of the Bureau is holding a grand technical performance competition for the entire passenger system. This important event is organized by the Bureau and the Passenger Management Department to adapt to the new developments in the railway and continuously improve the technical and business levels of the passenger system. For the first time, the Bureau will award a 'Technical Champion' to the contestant with the highest score among the train conductors, business personnel, and train attendants, with a substantial prize!"

"Wow..."

Another round of enthusiastic applause followed.

"This technical performance competition is held under the care of the Bureau leadership, the meticulous preparation and organization of the Passenger Management Department, the strong support of the Songjiang Workers' University, and the joint efforts of the various divisions and contestants from the grassroots. On behalf of the Bureau and the Passenger Management Department, I extend a warm welcome and sincere gratitude to all the leaders, brother units, and comrades from the grassroots who have shown concern and support for this competition!"

After the applause subsided, Li Xiaopeng said, "Next, please welcome Section Chief Zhang Jianguo of the Passenger Management Department to deliver an important speech!"

Amidst the applause, Zhang Jianguo, the Passenger Management Department chief sitting in the center of the stage, stood up, waved to everyone, and then sat down to test the microphone. He said, "Comrades, this is the first technical competition held since I took office. The Bureau leadership places great importance on this competition. Director Du Changming has inquired about the preparation of the competition multiple times and given important instructions. Although Director Du is attending a meeting at the ministry and cannot be present, he instructed me to ensure that this competition is well-organized, demonstrating both style and skill!"

Zhang Jianguo, who was transferred from the Deputy Chief of the Passenger Management Department of the Spring City Division to the Bureau in March this year, was named Jianguo because he was born in the year of the founding of the People's Republic of China. At the age of 36, he became a full-section chief, the youngest in the entire bureau, full of vigor and vitality.

Zhang Jianguo continued, "Since this technical performance competition is the first to award the highest honor of 'Technical Champion' with a substantial cash prize of 150 yuan, the competition must be conducted on the principles of fairness and justice. We must ensure a fair and just environment for every contestant. To this end, the Passenger Management Department has done a lot of preparatory work. I can solemnly promise that this competition will be absolutely fair!"

"Wow..." The applause was very enthusiastic!

Although the contestants from the Songjiang Railway Division clapped along with everyone else, they were inwardly amused. Every competition talks about fairness and justice, but has any competition ever been truly fair and just? They had already obtained part of the competition questions through connections with several senior engineers in the Passenger Management Department, feeling very pleased with themselves. Looking at Section Chief Zhang Jianguo on the stage, who was emphasizing fair competition, they felt he was just putting on a show!

The contestants from other divisions also clapped along with everyone else but were inwardly bitter. Every year, the technical performance competition was dominated by the contestants from the Songjiang Division because of their close ties with the Passenger Management Department, allowing them to obtain part of the competition questions in advance. This was an open secret, and no matter how hard they tried, they could never surpass them!

The contestants from the Spring City Division, due to their location in the provincial capital, often had the Passenger Management Department personnel seek their help. Before the competition, they had also communicated with several senior engineers responsible for setting the questions, obtaining part of the questions. However, they knew they had not obtained as many questions as the contestants from the Songjiang Division. Still, maintaining the second position would be a good outcome!

The 9 contestants from the Tongshui Division, including Xiao Yuanhang, could only rely on their true abilities to compete. Section Chief Sun Haiping of the Passenger Management Department personally led the team, hoping to obtain some of the questions. He brought many specialties from Changbai Mountain, such as ginseng and deer antler, and spent the entire night visiting several senior engineers responsible for setting the questions, but he came away empty-handed, which left him very frustrated!

Section Chief Zhang Jianguo, after the applause subsided, continued, "Although we talk about fair competition every year, I know that unfairness occurs every year. This is an open secret. If the competition questions are leaked before the competition, what is the point of holding a technical competition?"

The contestants and team leaders from the various divisions, who had been indifferent, were shocked by his words. Section Chief Zhang's words were too harsh! Although it was an open secret, it should not be mentioned openly. By saying this, he was essentially criticizing his predecessors, which was a major taboo in officialdom. It seemed that the nickname "Zhang the Cannon" for Zhang Jianguo was not unfounded; he really dared to speak out!

The senior engineers from the Passenger Management Department, sitting in the front row, felt uneasy and their faces turned red. They were usually responsible for setting the questions for the technical performance competitions, and Zhang Jianguo's words were a public criticism of them. Leaking questions was a very serious issue, and if there was concrete evidence, they could be directly dismissed!

Although they were criticized and felt embarrassed, the senior engineers were veterans of the Passenger Management Department and were very cautious, ensuring that Zhang Jianguo could not catch them. The contestants who had obtained the questions would not betray them, as they were a community of shared interests, where one's success or failure affected all.

After the initial embarrassment, some of the senior engineers began to resent the new section chief, even thinking, "You say you will ensure fairness and justice, but I have already leaked the questions. I want to see how you can ensure fairness and justice. If you have the ability, don't use us to set the questions. Don't think that just because you are the section chief, you can set the questions yourself!"

The contestants who had obtained the questions became uneasy. With such harsh words from Section Chief Zhang, they felt that he was serious. They had focused on memorizing and reviewing the questions they had obtained, only skimming the others. If the questions were suddenly changed, they would be in trouble!

Zhang Jianguo's stern gaze swept across the venue, and then he picked up a sealed envelope from the table, showing it to everyone. "This is the set of competition questions I asked several senior engineers from the department to prepare. As for whether there has been a leak, I have no evidence, so I cannot say anything casually. However, to fulfill my promise of fair competition, I have decided to invalidate this set of questions!"

"Wow... Wow..."

After a moment of astonishment, the venue erupted in enthusiastic applause!

The senior engineers from the Passenger Management Department broke out in a cold sweat, and the faces of the contestants from the Songjiang Division turned ashen!

At this moment, Zhang Jianguo picked up another sealed envelope from the table. "This is the set of questions I asked several experts from the Liaodong Railway Bureau's Passenger Management Department to prepare. After receiving this set, I locked it in a file cabinet. I myself do not know what the questions are!"

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PS: Xiao Yuanhang's luck is incredible, meeting such a formidable section chief. If you have a vote, what are you waiting for??

{Piaotian Literature}