Chapter 326: Conversation at Shaba Village (Part 1)

On June 30, 2008, the newly completed Hongqiao Station in Binhai was bustling with activity. Reporters from all over the world crowded the platform, eagerly waiting. This was the grand opening day of the Jinghai High-Speed Railway, a significant event as it was both a gift to mark the Party's birthday and a tribute to the Olympics. The Premier would personally board the first Jinghai High-Speed Railway train from Yanjing to Binhai, marking a leap in the country's rail transport capabilities.

A few minutes later, as a white high-speed train slowly pulled into the station, the platform erupted in enthusiastic cheers and applause.

As the train came to a halt and the doors opened, the Premier and Ding Kai, the party secretary and chairman of Engineering Bureau No. 1, stepped out of the carriage one after the other. Reporters, like vultures spotting their prey, surrounded them. The Premier began by explaining the significance of the high-speed railway: "This Jinghai High-Speed Railway line connects the capital economic circle in the north with the Yangtze River Delta economic circle in the south. It passes through many densely populated cities and represents the most dynamic and potential-rich region for domestic economic development. It will also facilitate effective north-south connectivity and has significant historical importance."

At the end of his speech, the Premier smiled and introduced Ding Kai: "I have other matters to attend to, so I won't elaborate further. This gentleman next to me is Ding Kai, the party secretary and chairman of Engineering Bureau No. 1, who is also the overall head of the Jinghai High-Speed Railway project. If you have any technical questions, you can ask him."

After the Premier left, reporters turned their focus to Ding Kai.

"Mr. Ding, could you tell us about the difficulties encountered during the construction of this high-speed railway, and how Engineering Bureau No. 1 overcame them? We heard that the designed speed of the Jinghai High-Speed Railway reaches 400 kilometers per hour, and many people are concerned about safety. How was this addressed? There was an accident during the construction process; could you provide details on that?"

Facing the barrage of questions, Ding Kai calmly responded: "Please be patient. I can only answer so many questions at once. Let me address them one by one."

"The high-speed railway is a national trend. Our country is vast, and not developing high-speed rail is not an option. As for safety, high-speed rail is not a new concept; it has been implemented in other countries without issues. The biggest challenge we faced was the soft soil problem in the southern regions, especially Jiangnan. Therefore, we had to use box girder structures for the bridges. As for the accident, our Engineering Bureau No. 1 has always maintained a good reputation in project management. To my knowledge, there have been no reported accidents."

"We know that the total investment for the Jinghai High-Speed Railway is substantial. Initially, we thought the project would be completed in segments by multiple engineering bureaus. Why did your bureau manage to complete it independently, defeating other bureaus and companies? Could you share how Engineering Bureau No. 1 became a world-leading super engineering group? Can you share your journey with us?"

When this question was asked, everyone eagerly held up their microphones, waiting for Ding Kai's response. However, to their surprise, the head of the world's largest engineering group fell silent, seemingly lost in thought.

Ding Kai's silence was unexpected. The numerous domestic and international reporters could not understand why this question caused such a reaction. The question seemed straightforward to them. Nonetheless, Ding Kai's silence excited the reporters, who sensed a significant story brewing.

In the end, Ding Kai only muttered "Shaba Village" before falling silent, leaving everyone puzzled.

The reporters exchanged glances, unsure of the significance of Shaba Village. Despite the media's efforts to uncover its meaning, it remained an unsolved mystery.

In 2008, the year of the Olympics, Shaba Village, which nobody knew at the time, was an ordinary village. It was typical, with no notable features, much like most villages in the country's vast land. Ding Kai's mention of the village was an instinctive response, triggered by the question reminding him of an event from twenty years ago.

That event was a conversation he still vividly remembered even after twenty years, and it was that conversation that guided him onto his current path.

...

In 1988, Shaba Village was just a village east of Factory 760. From August onwards, large trucks began arriving and leaving, as villagers stood by the road watching. They knew a highway connecting to the Lingnan region was being constructed, and many villagers worked for the construction team to earn extra money for their families.

On November 11th, which would later become a significant day for e-commerce and consumer spending in the future, was an ordinary day in Shaba Village. However, the highway project made this day and the village less ordinary.

At 7:30 in the morning, two cars arrived at Shaba Village. An open space that used to be a place for drying crops was now set up with a stage, with the words "Completion Ceremony" prominently displayed on the backdrop.

The cars stopped in front of the stage, and Zhou Ming and Su Han stepped out of an Audi, followed by Ding Kai and his secretary from another car. At this time, Ding Kai was not yet the renowned "Ding Dong," but merely the director of the engineering bureau.

Instead of going directly to the stage, Zhou Ming, Su Han, and Ding Kai walked around it because behind the stage was the newly completed section of the highway, the first section of the Chuling Expressway to be finished.

Walking onto the highway and observing the straight, gray-white road extending into the distance, Zhou Ming remarked, "The 701 Engineering Team truly lives up to Director Ding's reputation. The speed at which they completed this section of the highway in just over two months is incredible. With this highway, the travel time from Nanhui to Gaoting will be reduced to under half an hour."

Zhou Ming's praise was heartfelt. Completing a highway in just over two months seemed unbelievable, but it was real in this era, driven by the nation's long-suppressed desire for development and prosperity unleashed by the reform and opening-up policy. This was why the speed of constructing a building could astonish the world.

People of this era had a strong sense of responsibility, and construction projects were not done carelessly or shoddily.

Zhou Ming, having experienced this era, was astonished to hear that the highway was completed in such a short time. It wasn't until he personally led the quality inspection team to verify it that he believed it was truly a miraculous time.

Hearing Zhou Ming's praise, Ding Kai felt very proud. After all, the team that completed the road was his own.

"Mr. Zhou, you flatter us. Our bureau's main job is to handle projects. If we couldn't do this well, it would be quite embarrassing. The key is that this section of the road had no obstacles, and the terrain was favorable, making construction very convenient. If it were the section from Jinning to Songguan, I might have to delay delivery until next year!" Ding Kai said.

"Nevertheless, it shows Director Ding's excellent leadership!" Zhou Ming said. "If it weren't for your capable team, this highway would have at least been delayed until next year!"

Although Ding Kai didn't understand the term "capable," he guessed it was a compliment. He repeatedly shook his head, saying it was too much of a compliment.

Zhou Ming continued, "Director Ding, having such an excellent team that can be seen in major projects nationwide, I believe you will certainly rise to prominence in the engineering sector and shine brightly!"

Ding Kai's expression stiffened slightly, and he responded, "I appreciate Mr. Zhou's good wishes."

"This is not just a wish; I genuinely believe so! Has Director Ding encountered any obstacles in advancing in the engineering sector?" Zhou Ming asked.

Ding Kai looked at Zhou Ming in surprise. He found it odd because most people, seeing his expression and hearing his words, would have guessed some things, but Zhou Ming's straightforward question was difficult for Ding Kai to understand. This would be comprehensible from someone who lacked insight, but not from Zhou Ming. After the entire Engineering Bureau's dinner, Ding Kai found it hard to believe.

If it wasn't ignorance, there must be another reason. Ding Kai thought for a moment and said, "Does Mr. Zhou have something specific in mind?"

Ding Kai's question earned Zhou Ming's silent approval. In the bureaucracy, people often valued face above all else, and only pragmatic individuals or cooperative subordinates would ask such questions.

As the director of Engineering Bureau No. 1 and a senior official, Ding Kai was not directly connected to Zhou Ming, so he could only be exceptionally practical.

Zhou Ming understood this point clearly. Otherwise, after the state-owned enterprise reform, Engineering Bureau No. 1, led by Ding Kai, would not have quickly shed its state-owned constraints to become the first construction engineering comprehensive enterprise to enter the Global 500.

Another crucial point was Ding Kai's background and his aspirations.