Lin Jianguo didn't go straight home.
He clutched the stack of revised diagrams and headed in another direction—the forest station.
When he reached the station's gate, he stopped. The memory of being caught here last time was still vivid—the guard, Old Zhang, had seen him, and he was sure Old Zhang's face hadn't looked pleased.
But he had no choice.
He took a deep breath, pushed the door open.
The office door was open, and Director Zhou was inside, sitting and looking at something. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw Lin Jianguo. His brows immediately furrowed.
"Again? It's you?"
Lin Jianguo walked over and placed the stack of diagrams on the desk.
Director Zhou lowered his head and looked at them, then raised his eyes and looked at him, eyes full of suspicion. "What's this?"
"Just take a look," Lin said.
After hesitating for a moment, Zhou picked up the stack and began flipping through each sheet.
Lin stood beside him, heart pounding, watching his face.
Zhou examined slowly. On the first sheet, he frowned; on the second, his brow furrowed even more; on the third, his expression changed—not impatience, but something else—seriousness, focus, as if he was reading an important document.
Halfway through, he suddenly stopped, took out reading glasses from a drawer, put them on, and leaned in to examine the papers carefully.
Lin's heartbeat quickened.
After a long while, Zhou finished flipping through the last page. He set the papers down, removed his glasses, and looked at Lin.
His eyes were complicated—surprised, puzzled, and perhaps something else—maybe admiration?
"Did you draw all this?"
Lin nodded.
Zhou picked up the stack again and looked at one of the pages, pointing to the diagram. "What's this?"
"This is the wiring diagram of the forest station's warehouse. The meter box is outside the wall, here. There's a crack in the box, and the wires inside are exposed," Lin explained, pointing at the marked spot on the diagram. "How old are these wires?"
Zhou hesitated, thinking. "They were installed when the station was built, about ten years ago, I guess."
"Ten years? It's overdue for replacement," Lin said, pointing to another diagram. "This shows how old wires look—outer insulation cracked, copper exposed, easy to short-circuit and catch fire. The sacks stacked nearby—probably gunny bags—are flammable. A gust of wind could set them ablaze."
Zhou didn't speak, just stared at the diagram.
Lin took out another sheet from his pocket, unfolded it, and laid it on the desk.
"Take a look at this."
It was a report he borrowed from Old Zhou—about a fire that happened last year in a neighboring county. The cause was clearly written: aging wiring, short circuit, fire, half a warehouse burned, two people died.
Zhou pinched the report, looking at it for a long time, his expression growing more serious.
"You, a kid," he finally looked up at Lin, "you actually care about these things?"
Lin didn't answer. He just pointed outside the window: "Uncle, look over there."
Zhou followed his finger. Outside was the warehouse of the forest station—a dull, brick building, with a rusty electric meter box hanging on the wall. At the bottom of the box, there was indeed a crack.
"That wire's got a break," Lin said.
Zhou stared at the crack for a long time.
The office was very quiet, only the ticking of the clock on the wall could be heard. Lin stood there, waiting.
Finally, Zhou turned his head and looked at him.
"Who did you learn these drawings from?"
"I figured them out myself," Lin replied. "Old Zhou at the agricultural station also taught me some."
Zhou nodded, not asking more. He looked back at the diagrams in silence for a moment, then said, "Go back now. I'll think about this."
Lin stood there, unmoving.
Zhou raised his head and looked at him.
"Uncle," Lin said, "December 20th. Remember that date."
Zhou's brow furrowed again. "December 20th again? Where did you hear that from?"
Lin didn't answer. He pushed the stack of papers toward Zhou and turned to leave.
At the doorway, Zhou's voice came from behind him.
"Wait."
Lin stopped in his tracks.
Zhou stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the electric meter box outside. He stared at it for a long time, then turned around and looked at Lin.
"You draw pretty well," he said. "Take me to see which parts need fixing sometime."
Lin's heart suddenly jumped.
"Really? You agree?"
Zhou waved his hand. "Let's see first. Go home now."
Lin turned around, a faint smile spreading on his face.
He ran out the door and into the sunlight.