Chapter 256 – Detonation

Upon learning that Zhoujiazhuang had obtained approval for the use of detonators, Xu Xiangbei called over a good friend to help. After all, blasting was something best left to professionals. His friend was also an engineer—specifically, a blasting engineer.

A blasting engineer is a professional who uses the immense energy produced by explosions as a means of production, providing technical services for construction or mining operations.

They are the primary person responsible for engineering blasts, fully accountable for the safety, quality, progress, and cost of blasting projects.

Of course, the standards for blasting nowadays are not especially high. As long as the blast goes smoothly and no one is harmed, it’s considered acceptable.

Xu Xiangbei himself was a civil engineer. Back when he was trying to speed up project progress, he frequently relied on blasting, and over time became familiar with the process and built connections.

Ding Guoqing was a little puzzled. “Old Xu, why are you going to the countryside?”

The country was currently focused on large-scale development, and civil engineers were in high demand. Unless it was a specific assignment, it was unlikely for them to go to rural areas.

Right now, the country desperately needed talent, and everyone was being deployed where it mattered most.

“A friend asked me for help, and I couldn’t turn him down, so I agreed. But after spending some time here, I’ve found that the people of Zhoujiazhuang are actually pretty decent,” Xu Xiangbei explained.

As long as he came to supervise, Zhoujiazhuang treated him with top-tier hospitality—not only did every meal include meat, but they would also give him some local specialties from time to time.

“Oh, I see,” Ding Guoqing said.

In China, the hardest debts to repay are favors. So when someone asks for help, unless you have a truly pressing reason—like being too busy—most people agree, provided it doesn’t harm their own interests.

The two of them soon arrived at Zhoujiazhuang, and as expected, the brigade leader was already waiting in the village.

Xu Xiangbei said, “Brigade Leader, I know the way to the back mountain. You don’t need to wait for me. This is Ding Guoqing, a professional blasting engineer.”

Almost every time Xu Xiangbei visited Zhoujiazhuang, either the brigade leader or the old village secretary would be at the entrance to greet him, to the point that it made him feel a bit awkward.

“Alright, alright, I won’t do it next time,” the brigade leader said with a laugh.

“Engineers Xu and Ding, have you eaten breakfast? If not, there’s still food in the village canteen.”

You can’t let engineers work on an empty stomach—otherwise the old village secretary and Zhou Yimin would definitely have something to say.

Xu Xiangbei didn’t stand on ceremony. “We rushed over this morning and haven’t eaten yet.”

He had been here many times and saw no need for fake politeness. He’d also observed that the villagers’ meals were quite decent—not worse than what his assistant Zong Feiying had, and sometimes even better.

“Old Xu, are you sure this is okay?” Ding Guoqing nudged Xu Xiangbei’s shoulder with his elbow.

From what he knew, rural areas were barely scraping by, and now the two of them were eating village food? It’s not like they were starving.

Xu Xiangbei explained, “Don’t worry, Old Ding. Zhoujiazhuang has plenty of food reserves.”

The brigade leader took them to the canteen and brought out three bowls of porridge along with some steamed buns and pickled vegetables.

When Ding Guoqing saw the porridge, he began to believe Xu Xiangbei. The porridge wasn’t watery at all. Even many urban households wouldn’t dare eat this richly every day—otherwise they’d have to buy high-priced grain.

Xu Xiangbei was unfazed by all this. What he was really looking forward to was lunch at Zhou Yimin’s place—that’s where the good stuff was.

But he didn’t tell Ding Guoqing in advance. He just wanted to see the look of surprise on his friend’s face, just like when he had first gone to Zhou Yimin’s for a meal himself.

To get the work done early, the three of them quickly finished their food and hurried to the back mountain.

When they arrived, they found that the villagers had already started working. Ding Guoqing didn’t see any sickly or sallow faces among them, which meant Xu wasn’t lying.

He had been to rural areas before, and most people there looked malnourished—thin and pale, as if a strong wind could blow them away.

Xu Xiangbei took out the blueprints and explained his requirements to Ding Guoqing.

The two had worked together countless times, so Ding Guoqing quickly understood what Xu needed. He examined the soil, crouched down, and began doing calculations with a tree branch.

Neither the brigade leader nor Xu interrupted him; they simply stood quietly to the side.

The brigade leader even shooed away some villagers who came to watch, afraid they might disrupt the calculations.

After more than twenty minutes, Ding Guoqing finally stood up and stretched his back. Squatting for that long had taken a toll. If it hadn’t been for breakfast, he might’ve felt faint.

Xu Xiangbei teased him with a smile. “Old Ding, your back’s already giving out at your age? Maybe you should see a doctor and get some supplements.”

As it happened, he knew a doctor often came around Zhoujiazhuang for consultations.

“Get lost—your back’s the one that’s shot. Try it yourself and see if you don’t do worse,” Old Ding quickly retorted.

A man can’t be accused of being weak, especially when it comes to the back. It’s just like how you can’t touch a woman’s hair or feet casually—people would take you for a creep, and nowadays creeps could get shot for it.

Once the calculations were done, Ding Guoqing began giving instructions. “Brigade Leader, do you see the marked spots? These are where the detonators need to be placed, and they need to be buried at least fifty centimeters deep.”

The brigade leader gathered some experienced workers and said, “Zhou Xuan’an, take a group over there to bury detonators. I’ll take another group to the other side.”

He felt assured with Zhou Xuan’an in charge—he couldn’t trust just anyone.

“Got it,” Zhou Xuan’an replied.

He may not have been an artillery soldier before, but burying detonators was no big deal.

The two of them split up with their respective teams and began planting the detonators. There was quite a number of them, so it wasn’t something that could be done quickly.

Xu Xiangbei and Ding Guoqing continued discussing things, trying to make the setup as precise as possible to avoid any deviations or accidents.

After more than an hour, all the detonators were buried and the fuses connected.

The brigade leader said, “Engineer Ding, the detonators have been buried as you instructed. Once the villagers are evacuated, we can begin the detonation.”

Then he shouted loudly, “Comrades, move to the designated safe areas. Do not leave without instruction!”

He was afraid someone might get hurt—detonators don’t have eyes. A small mistake could lead to serious injuries or even death if someone was too close to the blast point.

Thanks to the brigade leader’s orderly arrangements, the villagers quickly withdrew to a safe distance.

(End of Chapter)