The swimming pool of Factory 195 was well-known throughout Changzhou City. Among the four major state-owned enterprises in Changzhou City, none could compare to the scale of Factory 195, except for the Hongqi Machine Tool Factory, Changzhou Steel Factory, and Central China Cotton Mill No. 1. The Hongqi Machine Tool Factory was only half the size of Factory 195, mainly producing various machine parts and special castings and forgings. The Changzhou Steel Factory was similar in scale to Factory 195, but historically, it did not match Factory 195, being a large local state-owned enterprise.
The Changjiang Cotton Mill No. 1 was built during a specific historical period to balance the gender ratio of workers and solve practical living problems, as the establishment of several major industrial enterprises had recruited a large number of male workers. The mill employed nearly ten thousand workers.
The swimming pool of Factory 195 was quite large, divided into a children's wading pool and two adult swimming pools. One of the adult pools had a deep water area over two meters deep, which was less crowded and a favorite spot for Lu Weimin and his friends during their high school summers. Even after they went to college, they would return every summer to gather and play in the water.
The cool pool water seemed to instantly soothe and relax Lu Weimin's agitated and tense mind. Watching Qi Zhendong and Wei Deyong compete to see who could swim back and forth the fastest, Lu Weimin felt a deep sense of nostalgia.
In his memory, Qi Zhendong and Wei Deyong had maintained contact with him even after he was sent back to his hometown in Nantang. However, as the distance between them grew and each had their own families and careers, their communication gradually decreased over time.
After graduating from university, Qi Zhendong was assigned to the postal and telecommunications bureau, but a few years later, he resigned and went to Shenzhen amidst the wave of people leaving for the business world. He became the technical director of a Hong Kong-funded company and later changed jobs multiple times, never returning to Changjiang. It was said that he later performed exceptionally well at Huawei, becoming a senior manager.
Wei Deyong, on the other hand, maintained a close relationship with Lu Weimin. However, in some ways, he was similar to Qi Zhendong, being somewhat restless.
After graduating from Fudan University, Wei Deyong was assigned to the Changzhou Daily, but after a few years, he resigned and went to Shanghai Pudong, where he thrived and became the editor-in-chief of a well-known fashion magazine, making him a prominent figure in the Chinese fashion industry.
When Lu Weimin was serving as an assistant to the district chief of Wuyou District, Wei Deyong had used his connections to help him, though it didn't have much effect. Nevertheless, Lu Weimin was grateful for his efforts.
Life is full of unexpected events, and Lu Weimin didn't know what this particular unexpected event would bring to his future. However, he realized that after that unexpected event, he had unknowingly turned one unexpected event into countless others.
Just like what happened to Zhen Ni's father, he didn't know how many more unexpected events, good or bad, he would face because of this. But one thing was clear to Lu Weimin: if he couldn't make good use of this unexpected event, he would truly regret it for the rest of his life.
"Lu Weimin!" A familiar yet momentarily unfamiliar voice called out from behind, pulling Lu Weimin out of his thoughts.
The voice quickly lost its unfamiliarity, just like when he saw Zhen Ni in the morning, instantly blending him back into this world.
"Jinfeng! You're here to swim too? Not working today?" Lu Weimin called out happily, "You've been out in the sun for a few days, haven't you? Oh, Jinsong is here too."
The dark-skinned, sturdy young man who swam happily to Lu Weimin was another of his closest high school friends, Xiao Jinfeng.
Xiao Jinfeng was different from Qi Zhendong and Wei Deyong. His academic performance was consistently average to below average, and he never expected to get into university. After graduating from high school, he decisively went to the technical school of Factory 195 and joined the factory two years later.
His close relationship with Lu Weimin stemmed from their shared role as key players on the school basketball team. Xiao Jinfeng played forward, while Lu Weimin played point guard. They had similar personalities and shared a strong bond, making them inseparable friends in school.
"Where were you the day before yesterday and yesterday? Your parents said they didn't know where you were. I thought you were sulking and crying somewhere because of the job assignment issue," Xiao Jinfeng's white teeth shone brightly in the sunlight, and his well-built chest and abs were evident as he easily pulled himself out of the pool and sat next to Lu Weimin.
The swimming pool was lined with white tiles, which, in that era, was considered a luxurious decoration. The pool was crowded, and under the scorching sun, people were splashing around like dumplings in boiling water, creating a bustling scene.
"Lu Weimin!" The young man who followed Xiao Jinfeng was slimmer but equally well-built, almost a carbon copy of Xiao Jinfeng, though he had a more scholarly air.
Xiao Jinsong was Xiao Jinfeng's younger brother, several years younger than him. Their father had died in a work accident when they were in elementary school, and their mother raised them both. Xiao Jinsong was very mature for his age, as his mother was in poor health, and he had to take care of his younger brother. Xiao Jinfeng, though not a good student himself, was very strict with his younger brother's studies, which earned him high regard from Lu Weimin.
Xiao Jinsong eventually got into Changxi Business College, the same university as Zhen Ni. It was Xiao Jinsong who discovered Yao Ping's harassment of Zhen Ni and told his brother, which made Xiao Jinsong furious. If not for Lu Weimin's repeated persuasion, Xiao Jinsong would have gone to confront Yao Ping.
Lu Weimin nodded at Xiao Jinsong but turned the conversation to Xiao Jinfeng, "So what if I can't get into the factory and have to go back to Nantang? Is it that big of a deal? Can't I survive if I can't stay in Changzhou?"
"Huh? Lu Weimin, something's off. A few days ago, you were so listless. You didn't get excited about anything, except when you were with Zhen Ni. You looked like you were addicted to opium, lazy and indifferent. Are you afraid Zhen Ni won't stay with you? A real man shouldn't be afraid of not finding a partner, right?" Xiao Jinfeng teased, his face full of mockery.
"Go to hell! Am I really that pathetic?" Lu Weimin scolded lightly, "I'll be going back to Nantang in a few days. I probably won't have much time to come back to the factory, maybe only a few months."
"How about I take you there?" Xiao Jinfeng said casually, "I'm free these days anyway."
There is a second alliance leader, Xiao Liuh and Fning. Lao Rui will work hard, and at midnight, we'll push for the rankings. Brothers, support us with clicks and recommendations at midnight!