Conditions More Difficult Than Reaching the Heavens

The next day, Mr. Su had finished his breakfast by around 6:00 AM and braved the snowstorm to head to the Steel Mill. Not only did he arrive early, but so did everyone else who had worked in the factory the previous day. Together, they spent nearly two hours assembling the energy-saving stoves, and Mr. Su wasted no time in grabbing the finished products to head straight to the city's leadership office.

Though it was only the sixth day of the new year, the leadership office was already buzzing with activity, as officials often returned to work a few days before the official start. The usual festive atmosphere was absent, replaced by a sense of urgency and business as usual. Mr. Su explained his purpose to the secretary, who then led him to a waiting room where he joined a group of over ten individuals, all eager and tense, waiting to be seen.