Chapter 322: Electric Poles

As the construction of the reservoir nears completion, the next task is to install electric poles. The poles must be erected first, as only then can the power lines be connected.

The wires running from the reservoir to the village need support; without it, the lines could easily be damaged.

In the early days, electric poles were made of wood, even for high-voltage lines that weren’t too powerful. Later, with the development of steel and concrete and technical advancements, reinforced concrete poles—such as centrifugal concrete poles and uniform-diameter cement poles—replaced many wooden poles. Concrete poles are strong, durable, corrosion-resistant, temperature-resistant, and crack-resistant. Moreover, as suitable timber became increasingly scarce, cement poles not only became the preferred choice but also improved the aesthetic appeal of cities, making it rare to see wooden poles in urban areas.

However, in less-developed areas, wooden poles are still used for telephone lines, as they are lightweight and easy to set up. Telephone lines carry less weight and tension, so wooden poles can manage. Additionally, if the telephone lines need modification, it’s easier to relocate the poles.

This is not only the case in China; even in developed countries like the U.S., wooden poles are common.

Because of this, some Chinese visitors to foreign countries, eager to experience new things, were often amazed to see wooden electric poles abroad.

The village leader organized the villagers to cut down trees in the mountain. A large amount of wood was needed, and since there were no electric saws, the work was far from easy.

Apart from a few women sewing cotton clothes, nearly everyone in the village participated.

The children were particularly excited. Normally, they were prohibited from going into the mountains to play, and if caught, they would be scolded and punished. But with adults accompanying them, they no longer had to fear getting into trouble. However, for safety reasons, parents still warned their children not to stray too far from the group. If they were caught wandering off, the punishment would be more severe than a simple scolding.

Now, the entire village was working together to contribute to the development of the village, leaving little time to focus on the children.

A large group of people marched toward the back mountain.

The village leader shouted, “The trees we cut down must be at least six meters tall. Don’t cut any shorter trees. Understand?”

The current standard height for electric poles is around 4.5 meters, with part of it buried underground. Therefore, only trees over six meters tall would suffice. If the tree didn’t meet the height requirement, there was no point in cutting it down.

“Understood!” The villagers responded in unison.

The middle-aged men were the main force behind the tree cutting, each equipped with an axe. The women and children’s job was to clear the branches from the felled trees.

“Captain, you and the village’s security team should stay at the perimeter and keep watch,” the village leader instructed the security team leader.

The team leader quickly responded, “Understood, village leader. I’ll take my team there right now.”

He immediately led the security team to the outermost perimeter, wary of any wild animals that might attack the villagers while they worked.

The villagers cutting trees didn’t have firearms, so if a large wild animal charged, the consequences could be disastrous.

“You two go over there, one of you stay with me, and the rest head north,” the captain ordered.

He added sternly, “If any of you let a large animal slip through, there will be consequences.”

The security team understood the importance of the task and nodded in agreement.

The northern area led deep into the mountains, so more people were needed there. The other areas were manageable with two people per group.

The security team was highly aware of the stakes and immediately followed their orders, stationed at their respective posts, staying vigilant for any danger.

The rest of the villagers focused on their task, keeping a careful eye on the surroundings in case any large animals appeared.

Zhou Xuchai looked up at a tall cedar tree. It met the height requirement, so he raised his axe and began chopping.

Cedar trees are tall, fast-growing conifers with a wide range of uses. The wood is valuable due to its quick growth rate and high yield, so it is widely planted in China.

Cutting down trees requires skill. First, you must determine the direction the tree will fall to avoid hitting houses or power lines. A trench is often dug around the base of the tree to guide it in the desired direction.

The ax should be used from the base of the tree, gradually cutting deeper until the tree falls. It’s important to maintain the right angle and force to prevent the tree from breaking suddenly.

The area where the tree falls should also be free of people to avoid accidents.

Meanwhile, the children were playing nearby, excited to find some edible wild fruits. They eagerly picked the fruits and ate them.

Some children, seeing their friends eating, wanted some but couldn’t reach the fruits. They asked their older siblings for help.

However, the best time to pick wild fruits had already passed. It was now winter, and any remaining fruits were dry and tough.

The village leader kept a watchful eye on everything, paying particular attention to the children. He was afraid they might run toward the area where the trees were being felled. An accident could easily happen if they strayed into that direction.

Though the children weren’t supposed to be there, seeing how they couldn’t be sent away, the village leader reluctantly decided to bring them along. If they were left behind and something happened, it would be even more dangerous.

After more than half an hour of effort, Zhou Xuchai finally managed to fell the cedar tree. There was a slight deviation from the expected direction, but it was still within an acceptable range.

At that moment, mischievous Zhou Ping, in his excitement, ran too far ahead and ended up in the path of the falling tree.

The village leader had been keeping an eye on everything, and he quickly reacted. He rushed over and grabbed Zhou Ping, pulling him out of harm’s way.

“Little rascal,” the village leader scolded sternly, “I told you not to go over there. Why didn’t you listen?”

As soon as the village leader finished speaking, the tree Zhou Xuchai had just felled crashed down just under five meters from where the village leader had been standing.

If the village leader hadn’t pulled Zhou Ping out of the way, the consequences could have been disastrous. A tree of that height falling with such force could be deadly.

Zhou Ping, realizing how close he had come to danger, immediately began crying, sniffling and sobbing, “Grandpa, I’ll never do it again. Please don’t tell my parents, or they’ll never forgive me.”

Now he understood the gravity of the situation. What had he been thinking earlier?

(End of Chapter)