The train driver in the courtyard

Factory 221 has branches, among which the most important are Branch and Branch .
Branch 1 is responsible for the development and testing of the device system.

The second branch is mainly responsible for the research, production testing and overall assembly of high-energy explosives.

These two branches not only gather many top technical talents, but also are extremely strict in personnel review and the implementation of confidentiality regulations is flawless.

Upon learning that the suspect might be from the second factory, Director Li realized the seriousness of the problem.

He immediately granted Lao Mao the authority to thoroughly investigate the second factory and issued strict orders to find this person to prevent future troubles.

After receiving the notice, the second branch did not dare to slack off at all.

Chief Fu from the factory security department personally stepped in and fully cooperated with the investigation team.

When Chief Fu heard that there might be a traitor in the Second Branch, he was shocked and incredulous: "Team Leader Mao, the technicians and workers in our Second Branch have all been strictly screened. How could there be a problem?"

Seeing that the Security Department had sent people to tightly block all the entrances and exits of the second branch, the guards were armed with live ammunition, ready for battle, blocking the door as if facing a powerful enemy.

Chief Fu's heart tightened, and he hurried forward to persuade him: "Team Leader Mao, these few days are the critical stage for the implementation of key technologies. If we make such a big move, will it affect the progress of the project?"

Lao Mao patted Section Chief Fu on the shoulder and said, "Old Fu, you used to be the head of the security department of a local factory, right?"

"Team Leader Mao has a good memory. Before I came to 221, I worked at the Harbin Measuring Tool and Cutting Tool Factory." When mentioning the Harbin Measuring Tool and Cutting Tool Factory, Chief Fu's tone unconsciously revealed a hint of pride.

Li Aiguo knew in his heart that although the name of the Harbin Measuring Tool and Cutting Tool Factory seemed ordinary, it was actually the first project among the 156 key projects to be completed and put into production. It was a large state-owned factory with considerable scale and influence.

"The working style of the local authorities is different from that of Factory 221." Lao Mao wanted to explain, but when the words came to his lips, he suddenly lost interest.

Because he knows very well that once people's ideas are formed, they are as difficult to change as stone.

"Chief Fu, please bring over the information of all the factory employees. Gender: male, approximately 44 years old, probably from Beijing, and the most distinctive feature is that they wear size shoes."

Although Chief Fu felt that Lao Mao's style of doing things was a bit extreme, he still carried out the order without hesitation as it was his duty.

More than a dozen security officers sprang into action. They reviewed files, visited workers, and conducted a thorough investigation like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Soon, the suspect surfaced.

Section Chief Fu hurriedly handed a file to Lao Mao and Li Aiguo, and said hesitantly, "Team Leader Mao, Chen Daping with employee number 201 is very similar to the person you are looking for. However, in my opinion, he should not do anything bad."

Li Aiguo took the file and glanced at it quickly before he understood what Chief Fu meant.

Chen Daping, only twenty-one years old, comes from the Xishan Machinery Factory in Beijing.

This factory is located to the west of Heishitou. It is one of the earliest military industrial enterprises in Beijing, with a long history and profound heritage.

Chen Daping performed outstandingly when he was at Xishan Machinery Factory and was an advanced and positive-minded member of the factory.

Full of enthusiasm, he volunteered to join Factory 221, and because he was a skilled explosives mixer, he quickly received approval from above.

After coming to Factory 221, Chen Daping has performed outstandingly and is currently a worker with work number 201 in the 3 Explosives Pouring Workshop.

From all aspects, Chen Daping can be regarded as a trustworthy comrade.

"Where is Chen Daping now?" Li Aiguo put the file back.

"They should still be in the workshop." Section Chief Fu raised his wrist to check the time, and then said, "Recently, Workshop 201 has been working hard on a new technology for boiling explosives, and everyone is very busy."

"So, he doesn't know what we are investigating?" Li Aiguo asked.

"I have absolutely no idea. I strictly followed the method you prescribed. I only investigated quietly outside the perimeter without alerting any of the workers."

Chief Fu noticed that the two leaders in front of him seemed to have some doubts about his work ability, so he quickly explained.

"That's great. Take us to meet Chen Daping."

Chief Fu picked up the phone and contacted the workshop director in charge of the 201 explosive pouring workshop, and arranged the next work in the name of safety inspection.

"Team Leader Mao, Comrade Li, everything has been arranged. We can now go to the 201 explosives pouring workshop." Section Chief Fu stood up and said.

Several people walked quickly towards workshop 201.

On the way, Li Aiguo was puzzled and asked a question: "Old Fu, there are 9 work numbers in our second branch. What is the matter with these work numbers?"

In most factories across the country, there are only workshops, but no so-called work numbers.

"Work number, this is a practice that our 221 factory has learned from before liberation.

The employees in a branch factory are divided into several work numbers, and the workers in each work number are managed by a number leader.

At the same time, several work numbers form a workshop, which is coordinated by the workshop director. "

Chief Fu's explanation was rather vague, but Li Aiguo still understood it.

Unlike general factories that use workshops as the basic unit, the basic unit of Factory 221 is the work number.

The team leader is directly managed by the branch factory. This model can greatly strengthen the direct control over workers to a certain extent.

The workshop is more responsible for issuing production tasks.

Things turned out just as Li Aiguo had expected.

As soon as they arrived at Workshop 201, the workshop director learned the purpose of their visit and immediately called Zhou Danian, the leader of worker number 3, over.

"These comrades are from the Confidentiality Department. Go and call Chen Daping over." Zhou Danian was stunned at first when he heard this, a hint of surprise flashed across his face, but he quickly turned around and prepared to go to his work number.

Li Aiguo saw this and quickly stood up to stop him: "Comrade Captain, let's go together."

Zhou Danian's face instantly turned from black to red, his brows knitted tightly, and he asked, "You don't believe us?"

"Sorry, we don't believe anyone." Li Aiguo said frankly.

"." Zhou Danian was silent for a moment, and finally nodded, with a hint of helplessness in his tone: "Okay, I'll take you there. But, little comrade, don't be scared later."

"Scared?"

Li Aiguo was confused and was about to ask again, but Zhou Danian had already turned around and walked away. Li Aiguo and Lao Mao saw this and hurried to catch up. Workshop 201 is located in the northwest corner of the second branch factory. From a distance, it looks like a solid bunker.

The thick concrete walls and the fully armed, vigilant sentries outside all demonstrate how dangerous it is.

When you walk into the work cell, you will see large eye-catching slogans painted on the wall, such as "Walk and talk softly when entering the work cell" and "No fireworks allowed"

The air was filled with a pungent smell of bitter almonds, which Li Aiguo had smelled at the chemical plant.

He knew that this was probably emitted by a toxic substance called trinitrotoluene.

"The operating area is in front, you need to wear this." As he said that, Captain Zhou Danian took out a pair of glasses, a mask and a piece of white gauze from the cabinet next to him and handed them to them.

Li Aiguo imitated Zhou Danian and put on his glasses, then put the white gauze pad inside the mask and put it on.

"These are for protection against poisonous gases."

Although Zhou Danian was still a little depressed, he still enthusiastically corrected Li Aiguo's wearing posture and patiently explained: "The operating area is full of toxic gases. If you inhale too much of that thing, you will have a bloated stomach and lose your appetite."

Li Aiguo put on his mask and his voice became muffled: "So how do you usually work?"

"Every time before going to work, as the team leader, I have to ask who can eat two steamed buns, and that person will go." Zhou Danian sighed.

Li Aiguo was speechless for a moment, and he had a deeper understanding of the working environment here.

After passing through a "Z"-shaped cement passage that twisted and turned countless corners, they finally entered work area No. 3.

As he walked through the cement passage, Li Aiguo was filled with doubts and couldn't help asking, "Why is the passage designed in a Z shape?"

Zhou Danian explained: "This is to minimize the power of the explosion shock wave when an accidental explosion occurs."

Li Aiguo: "."

Work No. 3 is a huge warehouse.

Work No. 3 is like a huge warehouse, but it is completely different from ordinary warehouses.

There were several windows on its walls, inlaid with glass which was rare in those days.

Zhou Danian continued to explain: "The glass and windows are designed to effectively reduce the power of the explosion and minimize losses when an accidental explosion occurs at work."

Li Aiguo: "."

At this moment he felt that this was no longer an ordinary workplace, but a battlefield full of danger.

Looking inside through the glass window, when he saw the situation inside, Li Aiguo realized that he had underestimated the degree of danger here.

Looking through the glass window and seeing the scene inside, Li Aiguo realized that he had underestimated the degree of danger here.

I saw that the work clothes worn by the workers in work number 3 were all made of anti-static pure cotton, and the buttons were replaced by cloth strips, and the work shoes were all rubber-soled.

They were concentrating on gathering around a big pot, stirring the food vigorously with wooden sticks, as if they were cooking.

However, this "meal" is actually a mixture of molten TNT and RDX.

If there is even the slightest mistake, the "rice" will explode instantly, and everyone on the scene will be torn into pieces by the huge power of the explosion.

Zhou Danian explained: "The main job of worker No. 3 is called stirring the big stick - melting the explosives in a Mihaylov pot and stirring it manually.

In addition, we also need to manufacture cylindrical, spherical, and hemispherical explosive parts, which also rely on molds made of yellow cardboard.

Even the cutting of explosives was done manually with a copper saw, which created the risk of explosion at any time.”

Li Aiguo felt that even in the most dangerous battlefield, soldiers would not be placed on explosives.

The danger level of worker number 201 is far greater than that of a battlefield.

Li Aiguo finally understood the reason for Zhou Danian's initial look of disgust.

Come to think of it, being able to stick to work in such a dangerous place for so many years, they are indeed qualified to be proud of anyone.

"That's Chen Daping, but we have to wait a little longer." Zhou Danian said through the window, pointing to a worker.

At this time, Chen Daping was holding a stirring rod and concentrating on mixing the explosives.

At this critical moment, if there is any interference from the outside world, the consequences will be disastrous.

About half an hour later, the technician next to him waved his hand and the mixing work was finally completed.

At this time, the workers were already exhausted and out of breath. They slumped down in the chairs beside them, gasping for breath.

Since Li Aiguo and Lao Mao had not been treated with anti-static agents, only Zhou Danian could enter the work area.

"Chen Daping, these two are comrades from the trade union. They want to talk to you about welfare distribution." Zhou Danian pulled Chen Daping up, pointed at Li Aiguo and the other man through the window, and introduced them.

Chen Daping's eyes flashed with panic, but he quickly calmed down and nodded: "Shall we go out and talk?"

He walked out of his workstation, took off his mask and sunglasses, revealing a young and determined face. He really looked like an energetic young man in his twenties.

"Let's talk outside." Li Aiguo responded.

After getting work number 3, Li Aiguo felt as if he was in another world, as if he had returned to the human world from hell.

The work here is not only arduous, but also life-threatening at any time. The tremendous pressure is enough to crush the strongest man.

Li Aiguo couldn't help but feel a little puzzled. How could there be anything wrong with Chen Daping if he could persist in such a harsh working environment?
After leaving the bunker, a cool breeze blew and Li Aiguo finally breathed in fresh air.

"Chen Daping, let's..."

Just as Li Aiguo was about to try to take Chen Daping to the security department, Chen Daping suddenly stopped and looked directly at them: "Are you comrades from the confidentiality department?"

(End of this chapter)