Siheyuan came through and sent Jia Zhang to prison

Chapter 629 Jiang Hu's Test

Zhao Ci looked up and smiled: "Director Jiang is here? Perfect timing, there's a problem with the bearing clearance of this equipment, I was just figuring out how to adjust it."

Jiang Hu took two steps closer, his gaze sweeping over the blueprints scattered across the table. He rubbed his hands together and said, "You're new here, and we have a lot of rules. You might be a bit clumsy and unable to handle everything." He paused, his fingertips lightly tapping on his notebook, but his eyes were fixed on Zhao Ci's reaction like a searchlight. "I wonder if I could give you a simple test? You know the situation now; it's always good to be cautious, both for you and for us."

Zhao Ci was prepared, knowing that he would inevitably be tested in this situation. He put down the calipers, wiped his hands with a cotton cloth, turned around, and smiled calmly: "Director Jiang is too kind. It's not a test. Since we're cooperating, it's only natural to understand and trust each other. Please feel free to make your requests; as long as it's within my capabilities, I have no objections." His tone was calm, and his eyes were as clear as a pool of water, showing no sign of panic—the composure he had practiced dozens of times in front of the mirror these past few days was precisely for this moment.

Zhang Chuan, who was tidying up tools in the corner, didn't stop what he was doing, but his ears perked up like radar. His knuckles secretly gripped the miniature signal device hidden on his lower back—he could issue an alarm within three seconds if anything was wrong with Zhao Ci.

Jiang Hu looked at Zhang Chuan with a scrutinizing gaze: "May I ask who this brother is?"

Zhang Chuan met his gaze, his tone calm yet unwavering: "You know Professor Zhao is a cultured man who is devoted to his research. I was afraid that someone might be disrespectful and disturb his studies, so I came here specifically to protect Professor Zhao by his side."

Jiang Hu turned to look at Zhao Ci, as if seeking confirmation. Zhao Ci smiled and said calmly, "I'm just an ordinary researcher, with no strength to even kill a chicken. Having a friend by my side makes me feel more at ease."

Jiang Hu was momentarily speechless. He had intended to send this suddenly appearing "guard" away, but since Zhao Ci had already spoken, he couldn't insist any further. After all, the other party was a professor with genuine scholarship, and he had to give him some face. He nodded and looked at Zhang Chuan: "Since it's about protecting Professor Zhao, then it's a job. How about this, I'll pay you a guard's salary every month, how about that?"

Without a second thought, Zhang Chuan nodded: "Okay." For him, the salary was not important at all; as long as he could protect Zhao Ci and ensure his safety, that was enough.

Seeing this, Jiang Hu stopped worrying and turned to Zhao Ci, saying, "Professor Zhao, shall we begin? Let's first look at the differences between different coal mines, so I can see your true abilities."

Zhao Ci was confident about this and smiled slightly: "Please lead the way."

The group headed towards the mine's sample warehouse. Zhang Chuan was about to follow when Jiang Hu stopped him, saying, "Just wait outside. It's full of coal mine samples, and the space is small. It'll be hard to move around if there are too many people. Besides, you're just a bodyguard; you won't be of much help if you go in."

Zhang Chuan's face darkened, and his anger surged—he was Zhao Ci's bodyguard, so naturally he had to stay with him at all times. How could he possibly stop someone from entering? He took a step forward, as if he intended to force his way in.

"Zhang Chuan." Zhao Ci turned and glanced at him, her tone calm yet weighty, "You can wait outside. I'll be fine going in alone."

Zhang Chuan was still somewhat uneasy, his brow furrowed. But he caught a glimpse of a look Zhao Ci subtly gave him—their pre-arranged signal, meaning "Don't worry, we'll let you know if anything happens." He then suppressed his anxiety and mumbled, "Okay, I'll wait here."

Zhao Ci followed Jiang Hu into the warehouse, where dozens of wooden crates of various sizes were indeed piled up. The opened crates were filled with various coal samples, the black coal chunks gleaming with different lusters, and a faint smell of coal dust permeated the air.

Jiang Hu walked to a wooden box, picked up a piece of coal with sharp edges, and handed it to Zhao Ci: "Professor Zhao, please take a look at this first."

Zhao Ci took it, weighed it in his palm, then brought it closer to smell it. He rubbed the powder on the surface of the coal with his fingertips and said confidently, "This is coking coal. It has strong coking properties and high calorific value, making it a good material for steelmaking. Judging from its luster and density, it should come from the coking coalfield in Shanxi."

A hint of surprise flashed in Jiang Hu's eyes. He didn't speak, but picked out a softer piece of coal from another box: "What about this one?"

Zhao Ci picked up a small piece and crushed it into powder with a gentle crushing motion. He observed the fineness of the powder and said, "This is peat, the lowest degree of coalification. It has a low calorific value and is generally used for power generation or as a raw material for fertilizer. Judging from its humidity and humus content, it should come from the swampy areas of Northeast China."

Jiang Hu then produced several more coal samples—including glossy black anthracite that made a clear, ringing sound when tapped, which Zhao Ci immediately identified as having a high ignition point and low smoke production, suitable for civilian use; lignite with a loose texture and high sulfur content, which Zhao Ci also accurately described as having its origin and main uses. Even with a piece of low-quality coal mixed with gangue, Zhao Ci was able to distinguish the purity of the coal and the composition of the gangue.

He could not only name and describe the characteristics of each type of coal, but also deduce the approximate origin and mining method based on the appearance and texture of the coal. He could even distinguish and explain the several easily confused coal samples that Jiang Hu had deliberately mixed in.

As Jiang Hu's coal samples dwindled, his expression shifted from initial skepticism to complete conviction. After Zhao Ci finished examining the last piece of coal, he couldn't help but applaud: "Professor Zhao, you truly live up to your reputation! I'm convinced!"

Zhao Ci put the coal back into the box, looked at Jiang Hu, and smiled gently but confidently: "Director Jiang, how was it? I recognized all these coal samples, and my explanation was fairly clear, right? Now, can we talk about working here?"

Seeing Zhao Ci's composed demeanor, Jiang Hu's initial contempt gradually faded, replaced by a competitive spirit. He didn't respond immediately, but turned and walked to a row of wooden crates at the back of the warehouse. He dragged out a dusty crate from the bottom, unlocked it, and inside were neatly stacked a dozen or so coal samples of various shapes. Some gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen, while others looked as if shrouded in a layer of gray mist, appearing quite inconspicuous.

“Professor Zhao, these are samples collected from mines in various places in recent years. Some of them are even difficult for veteran miners to distinguish.” Jiang Hu picked up a piece of coal the size of a fist. The surface of this coal was uneven and its color was a dark gray-black. It looked no different from ordinary coal. “Tell me about this one first.”