Courtyard House: Starting as a mediocre engineer

After the start of spring, two major boiler explosions occurred in other regions. Consequently, higher authorities issued a notice to conduct a nationwide boiler safety inspection.

To be honest, modern boilers are relatively safe.

To put it bluntly, with its dense array of mechanical and electronic safety devices, even if someone deliberately wanted to cause the boiler to explode, this lump of iron wouldn't be able to explode; it would usually shut down in time.

However, the problem lies with the safety devices. Either they weren't checked regularly, so they weren't even aware they were broken; or they weren't repaired or replaced; or, for the sake of convenience when operating the boiler, they were simply removed on a whim…

Therefore, this large-scale inspection is to prevent those scoundrels from causing trouble and making a mess. It's essential to go to the site and confirm it with your own eyes.

Undoubtedly, Engineer Cheng, Engineer Cui, and their team were once again extremely busy. Only one incompetent individual remained at the bureau.

That day, Zhuang Zhongchen was in his office, chatting and joking with a few colleagues.

Just then, someone knocked on the door and came in: "Zhuang Ke, I need your help. There has been a safety accident at the front bathhouse. Someone has died."

"A public bathhouse? A safety incident?" Zhuang Zhongchen and his group were greatly surprised.

"Yes! This is basic information, and also the contact number for the public bathhouse."

"Okay! Leave it with me, I'll take care of it right away."

After reviewing the information, Zhuang Zhongchen was speechless.

The accident was actually quite simple—an old man had just stepped out of a large bathhouse pool when he stepped on a piece of soap on the floor, slipped, and hit his head on the edge of the pool, unfortunately dying from the fall…

Tell me! Isn't this a safety incident? Therefore, no step in the incident handling process can be omitted.

In fact, besides the usual safety incidents, there are indeed some rather strange ones. Generally speaking, they aren't very complicated, and sometimes Zhuang Zhongchen is asked to help. Mainly because he has the authority to sign off on such incidents.

Nothing more to say, let's get to work!

A moment later, Zhuang Zhongchen got through to the public bathhouse: "Hello, are you the Qianmen Public Bathhouse?"

"Yes, yes! I'm the manager of the public bathhouse, and my surname is Liu."

"Alright! Manager Liu, we're from the Labor Bureau. We'll be at your bathhouse around 1 PM to handle the incident. Protect the scene, and no one should leave without permission. Prepare all necessary documents."

"Yes, yes, may I ask your surname, sir?"

My surname is Zhuang.

There were still several hours until 1 p.m., which was the allotted time for the public bathhouse. Generally, this time was for Manager Liu and his team to handle the situation themselves. The accident certainly needed to be dealt with seriously, but there was no need to ruin someone else's future.

Some things are better left unsaid, and it's best to resolve them amicably.

In the afternoon, Zhuang Zhongchen brought Tao Ping to the Qianmen Bathhouse.

For cases like this, at least two witnesses are needed. Besides Zhuang Zhongchen, who has the authority to sign, anyone else can be a witness. The reason for bringing along Tao Ping, the military wife, is simply to broaden her horizons.

In this era, the requirements for cadres are actually quite high. The key is to connect the front lines and integrate civil and military affairs!

Take Zhuang Zhongchen as an example: his administrative rank is acting section chief, and his technical rank is level nine engineer (also at the section level). He could be assigned to a university as a lecturer; he could be a primary school principal; he could be a township head; he could be a county-level bureau chief, or even directly become the head of the public security bureau; he could be a factory manager in a section-level factory; he could even become a battalion commander in the military…

Theoretically, there are no restrictions; everyone is qualified. Of course, in practice, superiors will assign a more suitable position. It's impossible for Zhuang Zhongchen to become the police chief, let alone a battalion commander in the military.

Therefore, in some old movies, you can often see this scene: a local cadre suddenly carries a Mauser pistol and leads a group of militiamen to arrest spies.

This is a case of civil and military affairs being inseparable. At this moment, the local cadre became a military cadre.

You absolutely can't say that! This has nothing to do with me!

To put it more plainly—I am a brick in the revolution, to be moved wherever needed!

That's why Tao Ping needs to be familiar with the work of each position. Even if she can't handle an emergency, she should at least be able to manage!

This is completely different from the cadres of later generations. Later cadres were basically responsible for their own specific positions. Their work was more specialized, and the division of labor became increasingly detailed.

However, for Tao Ping, this was a "new experience" and she seemed quite excited.

"Zhuang Ke, how should we handle this? Should we arrest someone?"

"No, that's not the case. It was basically an accident. That old man was just unlucky."

"Wait, what are they taking a bath for so early in the morning?"

"It's a habit of the older generation! They walk their birds, take baths, drink tea and chat in the bathhouse, and have lunch there. Then they take a nap, go for a walk outside, and go home."

"Wow! The old Beijingers really know how to have fun!"

"It's not too bad now. Otherwise, they would have to listen to storytelling and folk songs in the afternoon, and there would be taverns in the evening."

"Wait, do they even have that much money?"

"Actually, the cost isn't high. If you didn't have the pressure of supporting a family, even a single man who works as a porter could do it. But this is something only the poor can afford; the rich used to frequent the brothels."

"Huh? No wonder we had to defeat them all!"

That's absolutely true; that's just how people in Beijing are. Whether they're rich or poor, they can always find a way to have fun.

On the other hand, the income of ordinary people in Beijing was relatively high, and consumption was relatively low during this period. Many families even had considerable savings.

When we arrived at the Qianmen Public Bathhouse, we saw a group of police officers finishing their shift.

Although it's immediately obvious that this was an accident, the police investigation process still requires all procedures to be followed: forensic experts and witnesses must be present, and all evidence must be collected.

To be fair, these police officers were indeed quite unlucky.

After handing over the case to the lead police officer, they received a closed report stating "accidental death." The officers then hurriedly fled, and all follow-up work was handed over to the Labor Bureau.

Then a bald, middle-aged man came running over, sweating profusely: "Excuse me, you must be Leader Zhuang, right?"

"Hmm." Zhuang Zhongchen asked in a low voice, "Manager Liu, have you reached an agreement with the family members?"

"Huh?" Manager Liu looked completely bewildered.

Noticing Manager Liu's expression, Zhuang Zhongchen asked curiously, "Haven't you found the family members yet?"

"No, they're over there. Uncle Da Ya's children have all come over."

"Has everything been settled? Are the family members satisfied?"

"Huh? Weren't we waiting for you? Haven't you dealt with it yet?"

Zhuang Zhongchen nearly coughed up blood. How could he have encountered such a muddle-headed fool?