Ordos.
Power engineer Old Gao climbed out of the work pickup and trudged toward the staff lounge.
Today was his first day back from his compensatory May Day leave.
He had been on duty during the first half of the holiday and had only gotten his turn to rest on May 5.
He had taken four days off and spent all four lying around at his home in the city.
On his return on May 9, Old Gao had driven nearly two hundred kilometers across the desert grasslands. With barely any traffic on the roads, he had visited High-Voltage Transmission Stations one after another, climbing up and down to inspect and service them.
He had covered forty-seven sites in a day.
His back, which had only just recovered, was hurting again.
Old Gao pushed open the staff lounge door, took off his hard hat, and hung it on the wall by the entrance along with his tool bag.
Two people were already seated at the table.
Old Gao had traveled the farthest today and was the last to return.
"Old Gao, which route did you take today?" The speaker was Xiao Song, the youngest employee at the station. He was sitting at the table drinking salted milk tea.
"The western stretch. Two Step-Up Substations, three branch lines, and I checked the abnormal readings at a few New Energy Stations." Old Gao walked over to the table, picked up the teapot, and poured some salted milk tea into his insulated mug. He gulped it down, then let out a satisfied "Ah."
"Damn, all by yourself?" Xiao Song asked in surprise.
"What, were you going to inspect them for me?" Old Gao glanced at Xiao Song and the silent Old Li beside him, wondering why both were resting. "You finished early today.