Chapter 67: Bonus again!
During the celebratory banquet, everyone asked the question that they were all dying to know: why was Liu Shang able to fix the pump so easily?
Liu Shang smiled and explained that the working principle of that type of plunger pump was simple, and that they come with an emergency stop setting from the factory.
The workers on-site, he explained, only knew how to use brute force and hadn't read the instruction manual, so it was only natural they would get stumped sometimes.
As for why he knew all this, Liu Shang casually came up with an excuse. He said he used to help relatives with farm work where they used a pump with a similar structure, and used that as a plausible explanation.
Next, Pan Qingfeng, Zhang Zhengmao, and the others asked with concern about the follow-up construction plan.
Liu Shang sighed and said that he felt it was a great pity.
"According to my original plan, we should have continued injecting to maximize the effect, even after the pressure dropped, because the channel to the oil injection well was already open."
"But now, Ma Yuan has prematurely added expansion particle slugs, blocking the area near the wellbore. This means any subsequent injection can no longer reach as far as it was supposed to."
"There's nothing more we can do for this well."
Hearing what Liu Shang said, Pan Qingfeng, Zhang Zhengmao, and the others secretly lamented the missed opportunity.
Naturally, Song Guangyuan and the others cursed the presumptuous and so-called "clever" Ma Yuan a thousand times over.
After that, no one was stingy with their praise, and they heaped compliments on Liu Shang again and again.
As for Liu Shang, he truly drank a lot of wine that night. By the end of the meal, he had consumed more than a catty of liquor. He was a little dazed and was eventually taken to a company guest room to sleep it off.
However, this round of drinking once again brought everyone closer to Liu Shang, deepening their affection for him.
At the same time, they didn't forget to give him a new evaluation: This kid can really drink!
Seeing Liu Shang's technical ability, coupled with his drinking capacity, made oilfield leaders like Pan Qingfeng and Zhang Zhengmao incredibly envious and eager to recruit him.
***
A few days later, an official document was issued from Huahai Company under Song Guangyuan's signature.
Because of the incident, Liu Shang was recognized for saving the company's face and avoiding major losses with his sense of responsibility and excellent technical ability.
The special reward was a bonus of 20,000 yuan.
As for Wang Wanlin's team, they were each rewarded with a bonus of 3,000 yuan for their outstanding contributions.
Zhang Long, who was responsible for the accident, should have been fired, but after various considerations, he was neither fired nor rewarded.
As for the person directly responsible, Ma Yuan, the company strongly criticized his irresponsibility and lack of professionalism.
One month's salary would be deducted, and he would be kept on probation.
Regarding Zhang Long, the company had originally intended to fire him, but he was allowed to stay in the end because of Liu Shang's pleading.
At the technical debriefing for this well, there was none of the tension and depression from the last one; instead, the entire meeting was filled with laughter and beaming faces.
"Liu Shang, this well, this battle... you handled it beautifully, a truly successful operation!"
"You've done a great job for me here."
"So, what's your plan for the next step? Do you still want to continue?"
Facing Pan Qingfeng's words, Liu Shang smiled and replied humorously, "Mr. Pan, if I said I won't do the next well, would you agree to it?"
After hearing his words, everyone present burst out laughing.
Pan Qingfeng also laughed and nodded at him. "You little rascal. Before you, no contractor has ever dared to joke with me like this!"
"However, you're right. If you said you didn't want to do it, I, Pan Qingfeng, would be the first one to object."
"And not only do you have to do it, but you have to be the one in command, overseeing everything."
"Honestly, I wouldn't feel at ease with anyone else in charge."
Amid everyone's laughter, Liu Shang thought about it seriously. "Mr. Pan, judging by the time, we can still complete two more rounds of well construction before the Spring Festival."
"The weather will be too cold by then, and many other conditions will be unfavorable, so we'll have to stop work."
"In order to achieve the greatest effect and results, whether it's from the company's perspective or the oil production plant's, the more we do, the better."
"So for the next round of wells, if we plan carefully, we should try to work on about ten wells simultaneously."
At this, Zhang Zhengmao nodded. "Liu Shang, I don't think anyone here doubts your technical skill or work ethic."
"However, if ten wells are being constructed at the same time, with you in charge of all of them... that would require an immense amount of energy."
"And you're still in school..."
Hearing Zhang Zhengmao's words, even Liu Shang himself felt the immense pressure. Xu Tiande and Mr. Zhong, who were concerned for Liu Shang's well-being, frowned tightly.
Seeing their hesitation, Pan Qingfeng couldn't sit still any longer.
"Stop, stop!"
"Liu Shang, let me tell you, your school's senior management and I have a very good relationship."
"Don't worry about school, your final grades, or your studies."
"Leave it all to me! It's not a problem!"
"To be honest, the remaining months of this year are really important to me, Pan Qingfeng."
"If the next two rounds of wells are done well, my prospects will really open up, and a promotion will be guaranteed!"
"So, Liu Shang, consider this a personal favor I'm asking of you. You must help me get through these next few months!"
Seeing that Pan Qingfeng had put it that way, everyone, including Liu Shang, could only smile and nod in agreement.
To show his support for the heavy workload Liu Shang was about to undertake, Song Guangyuan specially arranged some extra perks for him.
He would enjoy a monthly telephone subsidy of 500 yuan, could request a car from the company at any time, and was guaranteed a vehicle on standby, 24/7.
Soon, under Liu Shang's leadership and with the cooperation of the oil production plant's technical department, the selection of the next batch of nine wells was completed.
Within a few days, the relocation of equipment from the previous wells and the preparation of the chemical agents were finished. Following Liu Shang's order, work began on all nine wells simultaneously.
Just as these wells were in the preparatory stages before construction, a group of people who were deeply dissatisfied with Liu Shang, including Yang Xu and Fan Song, quietly gathered together.
They mocked Liu Shang, attributing his success to sheer luck, and at the same time, began plotting how to sabotage him.
You see, most of the on-site teams were connected to Yang Xu and the others; they were confidantes who were absolutely obedient.
And Fan Song, who had only kept his job this time thanks to his connections, hated Liu Shang even more intensely.
He repeatedly urged everyone to cooperate so they could show Liu Shang what they were really capable of.
With nine wells under construction simultaneously, as the equipment manager and warehouse manager, and with the obedient cooperation of several other teams, they could ensure this round of wells would be a complete disaster.
However, there was an exception among these nine teams: Wang Wanlin's crew, which had been rewarded this time because of Liu Shang.
After receiving face-to-face hints from Yang Xu, Fan Song, and the others, Wang Wanlin and his team remained silent, expressing their protest through their silence.
As for Zhang Long, he cursed them out to their faces. "Damn it, Liu Shang—Engineer Liu—is the one who saved my job!"
"When the trouble started, you group of managers talked a big game about taking responsibility, but in the end, when something happened, you all ran faster than anyone!"
"And now you want to plot against Liu Shang? Not a chance!"
"I, Zhang Long, am the first to refuse!"
Seeing their defiant stance, Yang Xu, Fan Song, and the others could only turn and leave helplessly after spitting out a few angry threats.
---
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