Chapter 1173: Layman
The third interviewer did not comment. All he did was flip through Zhang Heng’s resume.
“I admire your courage to try new things, but I noticed that you have no previous experience working in a nuclear power plant. This is a whole new field for you.”
“I can learn,” Zhang Heng replied. “My learning ability is very strong.”
“I know, I don’t doubt that. I can tell from your resume that you’ve been promoted from assistant engineer to full-time engineer within a short period of time after graduation. You’re very suitable for the job at the thermal power plant, so my suggestion is that you continue to stay there. To be honest, the salary we offer is not much higher than what you get at the thermal power plant. There’s no need for you to give up what you’re familiar with and start from scratch.”
Zhang Heng didn’t really care much about the salary, but in order to play the role of the candidate, he did learn a bit of it. The third interviewer wasn’t targeting him; it was simply that the salary at the nuclear power plant was indeed not much higher than that at the thermal power plant. However, if there was a choice, there were still many people who were willing to jump to work at the nuclear power plant.
This was mainly because under the Soviet Union’s vigorous promotion of nuclear power generation, the status of nuclear power plants was higher than thermal power plants, and it would be easier for them to be promoted in the future. Of course, this only applied to the management, but for the people below, working at a nuclear power plant would also be more prestigious and respected than working at a thermal power plant. Furthermore, the construction of nuclear power plants had been in full swing, and there was a huge demand for talents. Their chances of being promoted would also be greater.
However, this matter could not be brought to the surface. That was why Zhang Heng’s answer to embrace the future was given. However, it was obviously not the first time the third interviewer had heard such an answer, and thus, he tried his best to persuade Zhang Heng to give up on the idea.
Zhang Heng fell silent upon hearing that.
As if worried that Zhang Heng did not understand, the third interviewer simply made it clear, “The job of a nuclear power plant is not easy. I know how the public propagandizes it—peaceful atoms, clean energy, but in reality, the atoms in the reactor are not peaceful. We need experienced engineers to deal with all kinds of situations to prevent the worst from happening.”
Zhang Heng remained silent, but on the other side, Fomin spoke first. He coughed twice and then said in his pleasant baritone voice, “Oleg, I think you’re making a big deal out of nothing. It’s been more than 30 years since the first nuclear power plant was built, and there haven’t been any major accidents. I think this is enough to prove the problem. Otherwise, the higher-ups wouldn’t have pushed for the construction of the nuclear power plant.”
“We’re just lucky. The nuclear accident that those Americans caused at Three Mile Island will happen to us sooner or later,” Oleg lamented anxiously.
“You’re too pessimistic. The reactor designed by Academician Dorezari is very safe,” Bryuhanov said at this time. “It’s precisely because of these nuclear power plants that we can export more oil and gas to our allies in Eastern Europe and the greedy western world.”
“Academician Dorezari also warned us not to build nuclear power plants in densely populated areas, but look at Pripyat. It’s only three kilometers away from us.”
“This is the decision of the higher-ups; they may have their own considerations. Oleg, you know that this is something we can’t control. We just need to do our job well.” Bryuhanov tapped the table, looking a little helpless. “Gentlemen, can we focus on the recruitment first? Reactor No. 3 is about to be put into operation. We need people.”
“Yes, we need nuclear power plant workers with rich experience. Only such people are qualified to work in nuclear power plants,” Oleg insisted.
“There is a Russian proverb that says; you don’t need a god to burn pottery pots. We only need a steam turbine engineer, and now you have a steam turbine engineer.” Fomin pointed at Zhang Heng on the other end of the wooden table.
“What are you talking about? We’re recruiting for a nuclear power plant. Isn’t it a prerequisite to know about this job? What’s wrong with that?”
“Ivan not only knows about this job, but he’s also very experienced. He used to work in a thermal power plant, so he knows a lot about high-power generation systems, distribution systems, and transmission lines. And just like he said, he’s very young. He has plenty of time to learn and grow,” Fomin said. “I think he’s the person we’re looking for.”
“He doesn’t know anything about reactors other than thermal reactors, and that’s the most important thing about working in a nuclear power plant,” Oleg insisted. “We need experts, nuclear energy experts, not amateurs who have to learn everything from scratch.”
As soon as he said that, not only did Fomin’s face turn cold, but Bryuhanov also became a little unhappy, “Before Fomin came here, he worked at a thermal power station. Before I came here, I also worked at the Slayanskaya coal-fired power plant. According to you, we should be all amateurs, but aren’t we doing pretty well now?”
“I didn’t mean that, Bryuhanov.”
Oleg realized that he was too anxious just now and said something wrong, so he quickly apologized.
Bryuhanov, the plant director, seemed to be very amiable most of the time, like a good man, but he did have some taboos. What he hated the most was the experts who secretly said that he didn’t understand nuclear energy.
Then, as if in a fit of anger, he promoted Fomin, who also worked in the thermal power plant, to the head of the electrical department. Not long after, he promoted Fomin to the Deputy Chief Engineer in charge of the Assembly and Operation Department, and when the chief engineer left, Fomin was promoted to chief engineer of the nuclear power plant.
Although the energy department clearly opposed the appointment and preferred another candidate who had worked at the nuclear power plant, Bryuhanov then used his political connections; the Ukrainian side came forward and said that Fomin was the leader they really needed. He was tough, had extremely high standards for work, and was more suitable for Chernobyl than the other candidate. In the end, Moscow gave in, the Central Council of Nuclear Energy approved the appointment, and Bryuhanov also got his right-hand man.
“I respect your professionalism, Oleg. I can understand your concern about safety.” Bryuhanov softened his tone, “But we need to consider all aspects when recruiting people. It’s good to understand nuclear energy, but that doesn’t mean that other aspects aren’t important. Besides, compared to skill proficiency, I think work attitude is more important. If a person’s attitude isn’t correct, then no matter how good his work ability is, it’s useless. Do you think I’m right?”
“That’s true, but…”
“There are no buts,” Bryuhanov interrupted Oleg with a wave of his hand and turned to Zhang Heng. “Ivan, How’s Your Work Attitude?”
“If I can get into the nuclear power plant, I’ll definitely study hard and never slack off,” Zhang Heng said.
“Very good,” Bryuhanov said with satisfaction, “That’s the attitude you need. Next, Fomin will ask you a few professional questions to test you. You have to answer them properly, but don’t be nervous. Fomin’s questions are all related to your previous work.”