Having achieved financial freedom, I reorganized my workplace.

Chapter 60: Too Normal Is Abnormal

Liang Xiaoyu bought a stack of pH test strips from the office and tossed them to Lin Chen like trash, saying, "Let's go, let's finish testing sooner so we can call it a day."

Lin Chen looked at the stack of dusty test strips, then glanced at the production date, and his lips twitched. They had expired two years ago.

You don't know whether this is saving or wasting, so you can't judge. But judging from the looks of it, it's good that we have it.

The two soon arrived at Wushan Water Station.

Station manager Ma Boyang seemed to have been notified in advance, and stood at the door to greet them, along with several other people.

However, judging from their appearance, they didn't seem to be lining up to welcome them, but rather were on high alert.

"Director Liang, you've worked hard, you're here again." The station chief said as he offered a cigarette, his movements practiced.

"This must be Senior Engineer Lin, the company's Person of the Year. Coming down to inspect the work in this freezing weather, he's so dedicated! Our Wushan Water Plant is truly honored!"

These words sounded like a compliment, yet also like sarcasm, and he didn't even offer Lin Chen a cigarette.

That's going too far. Whether you send someone or not is your business, whether I want them or not is mine.

"Station Chief Ma, you should know why we're here. Just take us to the reservoir to get water, and stop with the nonsense."

These days, if you don't elevate your own status, no one will respect you.

really!

"Senior Engineer Lin, there's no need to rush your work!" He offered her a cigarette. "It's cold, so we made some mandarin fish soup. It's delicious. Have some to warm yourself up."

After we finished speaking, the girls from the two stations brought out the freshly cooked fish soup. I don't know if the fish was fresh or not, but the girls were certainly very hot and delicious. Wushan Water Station has very complete living facilities, and I heard that there are even karaoke bars and dance halls.

Liang Xiaoyu didn't stand on ceremony. He took a sip and felt like he was in heaven, exclaiming in delight, "I've heard that Wushan mandarin fish is a specialty, and it really is! It's so fresh and sweet!"

"Just caught them, absolutely wild. If Director Liang likes them, I'll have someone pack a few more big ones for you when you leave."

Liang Xiaoyu asked in surprise, "There's more?"

"Yes, there's plenty. If Director Liang wants some in the future, just give me a call and I'll have someone bring it back for you."

Liang Xiaoyu beamed, "How could I possibly accept that?"

He really likes fish soup.

Lin Chen is just so-so; he still prefers seafood soup, especially the kind with shellfish that squirt water.

After finishing the soup, I drank tea, and after finishing the tea, I ate fruit. What a treat!

Liang Xiaoyu seemed to have forgotten about the important matter. Seeing that it was getting late, Lin Chen said, "It's about time. Station Master Ma, please take us to take care of the important business first."

Ma Boyang: "Director Liang, Senior Engineer Lin, I think you don't need to go to the site. The weather is cold and the roads are slippery. Besides, as you know, our water station is located on high ground with a strong water flow, which is very dangerous. Last time, the railing broke and scared General Manager Zeng. The entire water station is currently under renovation, so it's really not appropriate for you to move around freely."

I kind of understand now; they don't want to cooperate.

Lin Chen stared coldly at Ma Boyang, his voice carrying a hint of harshness: "Station Chief Ma, what do you mean? Are you planning to prevent us from conducting water quality testing?"

Ma Boyang: "That's not what I meant. It's just that the water plant is under maintenance everywhere, and there are fences everywhere. I can have someone bring you some sample water, and you can just test it directly."

"This is ridiculous!" Lin Chen raised his voice slightly. "Station Chief Ma, we're conducting on-site water quality testing. We need accurate data. What's the meaning of you just giving me a random sample to test? How am I supposed to know if you've tampered with it?"

It's numb, really numb.

Ma Boyang scoffed, "It can't be that bad, Senior Engineer Lin, that's not very interesting."

Lin Chen found it ridiculous: "I didn't mean anything? So you're trying to stop us from doing the testing? What are you really up to? Or are you hiding something?"

Seeing Lin Chen's expression, Ma Boyang was also taken aback. He glanced at Liang Xiaoyu and said, "Director Liang, what do you think..."

Liang Xiaoyu pouted and said, "Let's just do a quick test by the reservoir. Our senior engineer Lin wouldn't trust us."

Ma Boyang had no choice but to glance at Lin Chen and say, "Alright, let's wait a bit longer. I'll have them get the safety measures in place first."

After saying that, he went out and made a phone call.

He returned about ten minutes later: "It's ready."

Only then did he feel relieved enough to take Lin Chen with him.

We passed through the same iron gate as before, then went down the stairs beneath it, passed a sluice gate, and arrived at a recessed area by the reservoir. This was a place where the water flow at the water station was slow, and several small boats were moored nearby.

Lin Chen saw several "fishing spots" in the distance, which meant that the water station employees had a rich life. However, he also smelled a strong stench of urine nearby. It was really disgusting. This water was for drinking water. Did they have no sense of public decency?

I wanted to go a little further in, but the roadside was already fenced off with a sign that read, "Danger of collapse!"

However, Lin Chen did not see where the collapse occurred.

"Director Liang, Senior Engineer Lin can only get water here; it's too dangerous to go in!"

Liang Xiaoyu: "It's fine here, it's all the same."

Ma Boyang: "Look at this water, how is it? It's bluish-green, it's pure spring water. We use it to make tea every day, it's very sweet."

Lin Chen glanced at the water. Perhaps because it was particularly deep, it seemed bottomless, but he couldn't see any green in it; instead, it appeared rather dark.

Moreover, Lin Chen clearly saw them using bottled water when they were making tea. It's just empty talk, it's so fake.

Lin Chen walked a little closer and reached the platform on the shore. The water here was not deep, and there was a railing.

"It's dangerous, Senior Engineer Lin."

You call Mao.

Lin Chen ignored him, carefully scooped up a little water with his hand, and smelled it. It smelled like lime. Lin Chen wanted to lick it, but then he remembered the smell of urine from earlier, so he gave up.

Based on the color and smell, Lin Chen initially judged that the water was slightly polluted.

But that's nothing, since the water still needs to be treated, which is normal.

Finally, he took out the pH test strips, at which point Ma Boyang spoke up: "That Senior Engineer Lin, isn't this unnecessary? Why bother with a pH test?"

Lin Chen: "Why isn't it necessary?"

Ma Boyang started to put on airs: "Senior Engineer Lin, have you forgotten what kind of place our Wushan Water Plant is? You should have seen our honor wall, it's full of honors. We are a benchmark and model water station, we have been inspected and certified by experts, how could there still be a problem with the water quality?"

Although Ma Boyang was the station manager of the Wushan Water Station, his position was not high enough, but he was doing quite well because of the station's high status.

Expert certification, authoritative institutions? That's all bullshit. Lin Chen knows all about these things. There's no certification that money can't buy.

He only believed what he saw with his own eyes. The pH test strips had to be used. He looked at Ma Boyang and said, "Station Chief Ma, it would be best if there were no problems. Testing them will put everyone at ease, and it will also make things easier for me."

Finally, he took out a pH test strip and put it into the water. Ma Boyang stared intently at the pH test strip, clearly very nervous, so nervous that he didn't dare to breathe.

However, when the pH test strip finally settled at 7.0, he revealed a smug smile.

7.0?

Pure neutral water?

Is it really that much of a coincidence?

Normal natural water is either too acidic or too alkaline, with a pH value between 6.5 and 8.

If it exceeds this range, it can be harmful to human health, but truly neutral water is really rare.

Ma Boyang smiled smugly and said to Lin Chen, "I told you, our Wushan Water Plant is the benchmark, the benchmark in every aspect, and the pH value is also the most impeccable 7.0."

Lin Chen sensed something was wrong, but couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

The data is so accurate that it becomes unreasonable.