Chapter 335

The dust of the workshop chief dispute barely settled, and the Steel Rolling Mill's surface resumed its former roar and bustle. Yet the bitterness of defeat, like unextinguished slag, smoldered secretly in Li Huaide's heart—how could he swallow his anger? Plans for retaliation had already been quietly brewing beneath the seemingly calm surface.

All he needed was an opportunity—a chance to strike a heavy blow at Yang Weiguo's prestige and prove that his 'conservative,' 'backward' management style suffered serious problems.

This opportunity arrived in a heart‑pounding manner, suddenly descending on the afternoon three days later.

The accident occurred in the Third Workshop, one of the core production areas overseen by the newly appointed Old Liu, whom Yang Weiguo had strongly supported. At the time, a batch of important bearing steel was being rolled; the massive rolling mill roared, and the red‑hot steel billets moved like tamed beasts along the roller paths, while the air was filled with scorching heat waves and the smell of ozone.

Suddenly, the young worker Xiao Zhao, who was monitoring the feed opening of an old‑style horizontal rolling mill, perhaps fatigued from consecutive overtime or perhaps not yet fully familiar with the newly adjusted process parameters, hesitated fatally at the moment the steel billet was about to fully bite into the rolls—he should have swiftly adjusted the guide baffle angle, but he was half a beat late.

It was just that half‑beat difference!

Boom—Crack!!!

A deafening, abnormal roar—muffled yet mixed with the sound of metal tearing—exploded from the rolling mill unit! Immediately followed by a grating, teeth‑on‑edge metallic screech and twisting noise! The red‑hot billet did not pass smoothly through the rolls; instead, under immense pressure it suffered a severe crook and piling accident! The scorching steel resembled uncontrolled magma, part of it jammed between the rolls, part twisting and spraying outward.

Get out of the way!!

An accident! Stop the machine! Quickly stop it!!

The veteran workers on site stared, eyes nearly bursting, and shouted hoarsely.

Scattering hot steel sparks and fragments swept the vicinity like the scythe of the Grim Reaper! Although most workers reacted quickly and dodged in time, Xiao Zhao and a nearby assistant, being the closest, were still struck by several larger pieces of scorching iron oxide scale.

Xiao Zhao's arm and neck instantly erupted in horrifying blisters, and he let out a piercing scream; the other assistant also suffered leg burns and stumbled to the ground.

The piercing industrial‑accident alarm rang throughout the workshop!

The news spread like wings, instantly reaching the entire factory. Yang Weiguo was in his office discussing the new process with technicians; hearing it, his face changed abruptly, he tossed aside the drawings and rushed out.

Li Huaide received the news almost at the same moment; a gleam flashed in his eyes, and instead of panicking, a barely perceptible cold smile crossed his lips.

The accident scene was in chaos. Injured workers had been swiftly carried to the factory infirmary, while technical cadres and security personnel were urgently studying how to free the jammed rolling mill; the air reeked of burnt material and tension. Twisted steel and dark‑red cooled oxide scale lay scattered on the floor, a shocking sight.

When Yang Weiguo arrived, his face was as still as water; he immediately directed the rescue of the injured, investigated the cause, and organized emergency repairs, issuing a series of decisive and clear orders.

But everyone could see the heavy pressure and anger gathering in his brow. This was a safety accident occurring during the tenure of the workshop chief he had just promoted, at a critical production moment, and its impact was extremely severe.

Li Huaide arrived a little later; he did not rush to take charge, but with his hands behind his back and a solemn expression, he walked around the accident zone, listening closely to his confidants' low‑volume reports, occasionally asking a question, while his gaze occasionally flicked toward the frantic Yang Weiguo and the newly appointed Old Liu.

Soon, the factory Party Committee convened an emergency meeting.

The meeting room was filled with haze, the atmosphere oppressive. The Production Section chief reported the preliminary investigation: the direct cause was the shift worker's operational error, but deeper causes involved equipment aging, inadequate training on the new process, and excessive recent production pressure leading to worker fatigue, among other factors.

Li Huaide stubbed out his cigarette and spoke first. His voice was no longer the usual slightly exaggerated tone; it carried a sense of grief and questioning:

"Comrades! A lesson bought with blood! Living facts lie before us! Can this accident be summed up merely as 'worker operational error'? I think not!"

He scanned the crowd, his tone growing heavier: "This exposes serious problems in our management! It is the inevitable result of ideological rigidity, blind pursuit of output, and neglect of safe production and worker training! Some comrades, while emphasizing so‑called 'stability' and 'experience,' turn a blind eye to equipment hazards and resist scientific new techniques and methods that could reduce labor intensity and raise safety factors! That is the root of the accident!"

Although he did not name names directly, his thrust pointed at Yang Weiguo and his 'value experience over innovation' mindset, and he subtly linked the accident to the new workshop chief's 'conservatism.' He swiftly elevated what might have been a production accident containing contingent factors to a confrontation of lines and ideologies.

Yang Weiguo's face turned ashen; he suppressed his anger and retorted, "Comrade Huaide! The top priority now is to rescue the injured, restore production, ascertain the exact cause, and handle the aftermath—not to rush to slap labels and wield sticks! I have always placed safety production first! Equipment updates and process improvements have been ongoing, but we cannot rush ahead! Responsibility for this accident will be strictly investigated; where training is needed we will strengthen it, and where equipment needs repair we will fix it immediately!"

Supporters of both sides immediately joined the fray, and the meeting instantly turned into a heated shouting match. Li Huaide's faction clung to the 'accident,' loudly denouncing the current management as 'backward' and 'dangerous'; Yang Weiguo's side stressed objective factors and chance, accusing the opposition of exploiting the issue and ignoring the bigger picture.

Just as the meeting reached an impasse, Li Huaide unveiled the proposal he had been brewing for a long time:

"In order to fully learn the lessons and prevent similar tragedies from recurring, I propose that we immediately establish a 'Safety Production and Technological Innovation Inspection Team,' led by factory leadership, drawing in worker representatives from each workshop and technical cadres, to conduct a thorough inspection of all production links, focusing on those segments with outdated equipment and traditional techniques! At the same time, this team shall also bear the important responsibility of promoting new safety‑production experience and technology!"

This move was a two‑for‑one. Nominally a 'safety production inspection,' it actually repackaged his previously thwarted 'innovation group' under a more respectable banner and granted him legitimate standing to intervene in production management and question existing processes. More importantly, it allowed him to reach into every workshop, plant his people, gather 'problems,' and further undermine Yang Weiguo's management system.

Yang Weiguo immediately saw through the ploy and firmly opposed: "Setting up such a team now would only divert energy and interfere with normal accident handling and production recovery! Safety production checks have always been carried out by the Security Section and the Production Section! There's no need to start a new stove!"

But Li Huaide seized the accident as an indisputable handle and also claimed the moral high ground of 'caring for worker safety' and 'pursuing technological progress,' gaining many supporters. The meeting erupted in argument and finally adjourned without agreement, yet Li Huaide's 'proposal' had already been put forward, becoming a sword hanging over Yang Weiguo's head.

Li Ping'an, as Head of the Security Department, also attended the meeting. He remained silent throughout, merely observing calmly the verbal sparring of the two sides. The workshop where the accident occurred had already seen the Security Section intervene first, helping maintain order, protect the scene, and begin an internal investigation into whether there was human sabotage or other security factors (this being his duty). Regarding the high‑level quarrel, he continued to uphold his principle of non‑participation and non‑expression.

But he knew clearly in his heart that Li Huaide's counterattack had begun, and its methods were ruthless, its timing cunning. Regardless of the cause, this accident had already become an excellent tool for Li Huaide to attack his political rivals and expand his influence. The factory's struggle would therefore enter a new, more intense and more brutal phase because of this incident.

He returned to the Security Department and immediately summoned Chen Jianghe and Wang Dahu.

"Regarding the Third Workshop accident, the Security Section must cooperate with the Production Safety Department's investigation, but note that we are responsible only for the part within our jurisdiction, without mixing in any management or technical debate. Especially, we must restrain our subordinates: they are not to comment recklessly on leadership, nor spread rumors." His order was clear and restrained.

"Yes!" The two responded solemnly.

Walking out of the office, Li Ping'an gazed at the towering smokestacks of the factory grounds. Steel sparks still flew, production continued, but beneath the veneer of prosperity and busyness, the undercurrents of power had become more turbulent and inscrutable because of this accident.

He knew he must navigate more carefully through these waters studded with hidden reefs. Li Huaide's offensive had begun, Yang Weiguo would surely resist stubbornly, and for him, a Head of the Security Department striving for neutrality, avoiding being drawn into the whirlpool would be a new test of his wisdom and resolve.