Director Hou's words left Tang Xiangui doubtful. He felt that perhaps he had failed to grasp the far-sighted intentions of the organization's leadership, yet he could not pinpoint exactly where he had gone wrong.
Was he reminding us evaluators not to play watchdog and meddle where we weren't wanted? Or warning us not to be too deliberate in favoring one side?
Director Hou gave Tang Xiangui no explicit instructions, but the benefits certain people had secured through real money and silver were one hundred percent clear and in place.
This left Tang Xiangui deeply conflicted. After all, he only earned a few hundred yuan a month now—why should he work himself to the bone?
Tang Xiangui was conflicted, but the other members of the evaluation team had far fewer concerns. When the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up. Though they had received only a few scraps, they were righteous men—little people had to accomplish great deeds.
Thus, on the very first day of road testing, the Kamaz prototype from the First Branch Factory was criticized until it was worthless.
"This truck's power is no good. It can't even climb a twelve-degree slope at standard load, and it still has the nerve to call itself Soviet Russia's ace heavy truck? What a laughingstock."
"I've been a test driver for twenty years, and I've never driven such an awkward vehicle. Everything about it feels wrong. After two hours, my back already aches."
"I won't even mention the other aspects. The noise is truly deafening. I only test-drove it for thirty kilometers, and my ears are still buzzing."
"."
Because Li Ye's suggestion required a "decision after further study," all the drivers for the first day's road tests were appointed by the evaluation team.
The First Branch Factory had brought