Zhu Yue nodded， "Good idea！ We should reward the workers now."
Therefore， they all started the preparation for the dinner. Some went to buy meat， some went to buy Chinese chives， and some started to knead dough. Soon， everything was ready. Director Zhu Yue happily rolled the dumpling skin. The landlord's little girl watched them with her big eyes for half an hour， as it was the first time she had seen how to make dumplings. Then the girl went to make the fire contentedly. When the dumplings were ready， they invited the landlord and his family to eat with them. All of them thought the dinner was better than the Dumpling Feast of "De Fa Chang".[8]
Guo Wei still felt the living condition of the workers was too poor. Every day before they started work， Guo Wei placed some steamed buns and eggs in their bags. The senior expert Wang Liying saw this and said unreservedly to her， "Guo， do not spoil them. The current condition is much better than that of the 'Liu-Tian-Guan' 330-kilovolt project. We then lived in houses made of asphaltic felts and slept on straw mats. Light entered the room from almost everywhere and we were afraid someone would jump from the sky.""After all the era is not the same！" Guo Wei thought， but she daren't speak out. She kept her tongue. She knew too well of Wang Liying's temper. Wang， an expert of high voltage， was Director Zhu Yue's teacher. She was once the director of the high voltage offce. She had been waiting for "Project 750" half her life. It seemed that her youth， ideals and even her life itself were burning for the EHV project. Though she was over sixty years old， her original intentions hadn't changed. She was strict with everyone， including her student Zhu Yue. She addressed director Zhu Yue directly by name. Sometimes it was hard for even director Zhu to comment on some things， but Wang had the courage to speak out honestly. She dared to point out the problems and even blame those responsible. When she saw something improper， she would curse and then no one dared to say anything.
Guo Wei did not want to make Wang angry. All she thought about was the comrades were becoming thinner and thinner after days of line patrol. She was worried about their health. She was afraid that they would fall ill and not be able to continue the work. Guo continued to send food to the workers but did not let Wang know. Therefore， every day before the senior engineers went to work， Guo Wei still quietly put some steamed buns and eggs into their bags.
They were still on the way.
Midnight was coming. The car taking Luan Jun， was still on the way to Guanting. At that time， the rain in the mountains was still heavy. The night-lights of the jeep shone through the rain and they carried on to their destination.
The road was diffcult. The climbing was diffcult. The debugging of "Project 750" was also diffcult. This was a tough battle for Zhu Yue and Shaanxi Electric Power Research Institute.
However they came here prepared. Before they came to Guanting， Qinghai for debugging， Zhu Yue had assembled all the workers for training in a hotel in Xi'an City. Everyone's work was classified. They had a full understanding of the achievements， data， technological methods and ideas of the key technology， especially the first homemade EHV transformer.
After the transformer underwent partial discharge， there was some data exceeding the standard， but after research they concluded that the excess would disappear after the project was put into operation. At first， some experts thought it was wrong to make a judgment. They thought it was too arbitrary. However later on， the careful and rigorous spirit of the experts from Shaanxi Electric Power Research Institute was reflected in the debugging process， which won them a good reputation.
Zhu Yue remembered that once， the data they got was totally different from that given by the experts of the Electric Power Research Institute of China. The expert said for sure， "It must be that you made a mistake."
Zhu Yue also showed no weakness and questioned the expert， "What do you mean by that？"
The expert said arbitrarily， "You made a mistake in the debugging. The data you got differs too much from our calculation result."
Zhu Yue said， "Please give me your original data."
The expert gave the data to Zhu Yue. Zhu immediately organized a group of people to redo the modelling calculation. They found the expert had made a mistake. His data was just theoretical， which was indeed quite different from the data they got from debugging. Later， the expert also organized some people to do the calculation again. They found the mistake. The expert's attitude changed from arrogance to humility and he said to Zhu Yue， "Sorry， we made a mistake."
Shaanxi Electric Power Research Institute had once again showed their ability in the debugging of "Project 750".
At midnight， the car taking chief engineer Luan Jun， finally arrived at Guanting in the rain. He ate a bowl of noodles in a hurry and then convened a meeting， which lasted until almost five o'clock in the morning. After studying all the comprehensive debugging plans， he went to sleep. The next morning， as the comprehensive debugging of "Project 750" started， auspicious wind came to this remote area. The new EHV era of China Power also rose from the remote Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and took a big stride into the future.
Those Whom the Gods Love Die Young： Huang Limin
What a pity！ Huang Limin did not see the coming of the EHV era. That day， cold rain fell from the sky. The city of Xi'an was cloaked in misty rain. The sky seemed to cry for the early death of the hero. Huang Limin's wife Zhu Yaqing and his son Huang Dancheng sat opposite us.
"I'd like to hear the story of Huang Limin from his family members，" I said trying hard not to reopen Zhu Yaqing's wounds that had been healed. I tried hard to avoid the topic of the earthly death of the hero， but as soon as I mentioned her husband's name， Zhu Yaqing's eyes were immediately filled with tears. She choked with sobs. Their 13-year-old son sat beside her silently with an indifferent face. Time was like wind. In just three years， the figure of his father had been blown away by the cold wind of the remote area to the remote Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. That was a place so remote that his loved ones could not call him and embrace him from the walls of Chang'an city.
The mother spoke with tears falling.
The son watched in complete silence.
Such a scene and such tears made the hard hearts of the three men there soften. I saw the eyes of Liu Kexing become red. Division head Ge Jun also could not help being moved. They stood up one by one and left the meeting room. Only I was there with the mother and the son. It was I who had insisted on meeting Huang Limin's wife. Therefore it was I who should bear the heart-wrenching emotion.
The tide of emotion came from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and from the Yellow River. It was destined that the last battle and the last glance of Huang Limin were at the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the construction site of "Project 750".
Three months had passed since he came to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The sunshine of the plateau and the wind in the desert made Huang Limin become a "Black Diamond". After "Project 750" was offcially approved， Huang Limin， whose major was electro mechanics， was appointed deputy director of the Engineering Department， assisting Doctor Yi Lidong of Moscow Institute of Electric Power. They brought out the best in each other. Among the 50 km from the power generation plant of Gongboxia Gorge of the Yellow River to Laxiwa where the grid went up to 750 kilovolts， the line corridor with sixty tower footings was the toughest task. In particular， near the Tiger Leaping Gorge of the Yellow River Crossing Tower， cold mountains and cliffs could be seen everywhere. In the desolate scenery， there was not even one grass leaf. The land there was collapsible loess. When a car passed， the accelerator could not rev too loudly and using the horn was prohibited. Even men could not make a loud sound. If the sound was too loud， the loess and gravel on the mountains would fall down and smash the passing car， which was frightening.
In spite of all the dangers， "Diamond Huang" drove up the mountain every day. He went up the narrow road， patrolled the line corridor and drove across the vast area on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. However in recent days， Huang had been suffering from diarrhoea， which brought a lot of inconvenience to the outdoor construction. Huang was already very thin. This made him as stick-like as a rake. His colleagues asked him to go back to Xi'an and have a checkup， but Huang said it was just something related to a swollen liver. When he felt pain， he just found a stick， propped up his liver and waited for the pain to disappear. He said his work did not allow him to leave.
By the middle of June， Huang's diarrhoea became more serious. Whatever drugs he took could not stop it. Huang got a chance to go back to Xi'an. He wanted to check his body. He said to the division head Yi Lidong and the director of the offce Lü Shirong that he wanted to ask for a ten-day leave in July when his son was on his summer holiday. He wanted to accompany his wife and son to travel to other cities. "I made this promise several years ago， but I haven't yet fulfilled it."
Yi Lidong answered immediately， "Limin， you should have checked your body earlier. I've tried to persuade you many times， but you didn't listen to me."
Huang Limin smiled， "I didn't have time. I was too busy on the construction site."
Observing Huang's figure disappearing on the corridor of the offce building， Yi Lidong had tears in his eyes. Huang Limin， Lü Shirong， Xiu Jian and him came to the Offce of "Project 750"through examination. Huang Limin's major was electro mechanics. He was quite familiar with transformers and switches. He himself was in charge of a collection of over two million words， searching and translation of foreign materials. Huang and Yi were in the same offce. They almost regarded the offce as their home. It was Huang who had provided detailed data and standards for the advanced research， manufacturing and production of the homemade large transformers and switches as well as the final approval of "Project 750".
One day， Wang Liying， the wife of Huang's teacher， saw Huang Limin in the corridor. When she found out that Huang had not left the offce for days and was tired both physically and mentally， she said in a loud voice， "Huang Limin， do you still want your life？ If you continue like this， before the project finishes， . . . "
Wang did not say the last few words.
Huang Limin gave a simple smile and said， "People call me man from the northeast. Men are made of iron. I'm OK."
Wang shook her head and said， "Men made of iron could not stand such hard work. Limin， take care of your health."
"Thank you. I will."
However， Wang's words turned out to be a prophecy.
That day， Huang Limin took a taxi to the affliated hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University to have a checkup.
The result of CT scan was soon obtained. The doctor held the scan against the door and called Huang Limin.
The doctor was very calm. His words brought coldness to the summer， "You can go back home first. Please tell your family members to come to the hospital. We have something important to tell them."
Huang Limin's heart trembled. He knew his scan result was not good. Without any hesitation， Huang said， "I do not have family members. Please tell me directly."
"You'd better ask your boss to come here. We can talk together.""Not necessary. The leaders are too busy." Huang Limin was nervous. But he had an easy facial expression. He said， "Doctor， you can say it directly to me. Please be frank. Are my results not good？"
"Not just 'not good'."
"Say it directly. What disease do I have？"
"Liver Cancer. The middle and late period. The malignant lesions of the tumor in your liver are serious. You must be hospitalized immediately."
Huang Limin was stunned. It was like thunder in the sunny day of early summer. Suddenly the sky split and the earth shook. Huang finally calmed down. He left the affliated hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University with heavy steps. He took a taxi and went to Northwest Grid Corporation. Along the two sides of the street were bustling cars and busy people. On the sidewalk were also busy people walking. The street was like a river of life.
The sun was setting in the sky. The sunshine shone through the French tree of Buddha， shedding spots on the street of Chang'an and on the common people passing through. What a beautiful life！ Looking at parents on the street with their children， Huang Limin was envious of them， but he was also sad. He thought he did not have too much time left in this world. His promise that he would take his wife and his son to travel in other cities during the summer vacation would never come true. The promise was like the sound of the bell. During these years， he owed his wife and child too much， especially after joining the "Project 750" offce.
Huang Limin and his wife Zhu Yaqing were classmates when they were in Harbin Electric College. Then， there were altogether 26 students in their class majoring in electro mechanics. Among the 26 students， there were only 4 girls. It was like a myriad of stars surrounding four moons. Zhu Yaqing was born in the family of an electric engineer in Xi'an. She was pure and good at studying. Among all her admirers， she chose Huang Limin， who was born and brought up in Mulan County of Heilongjiang Province. Zhu thought Huang was humorous and rigorous in his work. He was sure to protect her in the face of anything horrible， even if the earth crumbled. When they graduated from university， Zhu Yaqing passed the Harbin Electric College entrance examination of post graduate to continue her studies there. Huang became a technician in the Second Electrical Machinery Plant of Harbin， but this did not separate them. When Zhu Yaqing finished her studies and came back to Xi'an， Huang Limin also passed the exam to continue his studies in Harbin Electric College. When he got a master's degree， he followed his love to Shaanxi Electric Power Research Institute.
They built a home in Chang'an city and soon they had their son Dancheng.
Huang Limin not only did his job well， but also did the housework well. He never let his wife worry about the housework. The most pleasant thing for him was to make dumplings and hot pot with the sour Chinese cabbage during Spring Festival. His family was very cheerful when he did this every year.
When he had free time， Huang Limin would listen to his son playing the violin. His eyes and head were washed clear by the flowing violin sound.
However， the happy sound was soon to be over.
Huang Limin's steps became lighter than usual when he entered the offce building. Lü Shirong and Yi Lidong saw him and asked him immediately for the result.
"Liver cancer." The voice of Huang Limin was very relaxed as if it was someone else that caught the disease.
"Eh！" Lü Shirong and Yi Lidong were shocked.
"Never mind. Never mind. The livers of the Huang family are all hard to destroy. I am from the northeast. I believe I can win this battle against death." Huang Limin was still humorous.
"Go to the hospital right now！" Lü Shirong and Yi Lidong said with one voice.
Huang Limin nodded and said， "I have a request. Please promise me two things. First， do not tell the company about my disease. Second， do not let my family know."
Lü Shirong and Yi Lidong agreed to keep the secret for him temporarily.
As the liver radiography of the CT scan was not clear enough， Lü Shirong and Yi Lidong immediately contacted the first affliated hospital of Xi'an Medical University.
June 15 2004 was an ordinary day in Xi'an， but that day was Huang Limin's 40th birthday. That morning when Huang left his home， he said quietly to his wife Zhu Yaqing， a teacher of the training center of Shaanxi Power Plant， "I suffer from diarrhoea these days. I'll go to the hospital and rest for a few days. In July， Dancheng and you will have a summer holiday. I will take you two to Hainan. We can play with water there on the seaside. "
Zhu Yaqing said， "Limin， you must keep your promise this time."
Huang Limin said earnestly， "Of course. This time I will keep my promise."
Zhu Yaqing said， "Today is your birthday. Dancheng and I will go there with you."
"No， No！ Yaqing， the hospital is the boundary of life and death. When the birthday candles are lit up， they cannot be blown off because there are winds from the underworld and from the upper world. Then I will not turn 41." Huang Limin was humorous.
Zhu Yaqing made fun of him， "Then you can stay 40. A man aged 40 is like a flower."
"No. I want to grow old with you. I'd like to hold your hands and grow old with you." Huang Limin said with deep emotion.
"Thank you！" Zhu Yaqing's eyes were wet. She waved to Huang Limin， "Take care of yourself and come back as early as possible."Huang Limin stepped out of his home in the morning of his 40th birthday. He turned back and looked at his home for the last time. He did not expect that the next time he came back， he would already have become a loyal， ghostly spirit.
That day， Lü Shirong and Yi Lidong sent him to the first affliated hospital of Xi'an Medical University. On the road， Huang Limin still talked cheerfully and humorously about things related to "Project 750".
Yi Lidong said， "Limin， please set your mind at rest in the hospital for one month. We will take you to Guanting for the debugging in August."
Huang Limin smiled and said humorously， "People say one's heart will die when he sees the Yellow River. I am different. My heart becomes livelier when I see the Yellow River."
"I'd like to see the 750-kilovolt line across the Yellow River. I'd like to follow the line-patrol workers there and walk in the clouds. I'd like to experience the feeling of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau under my feet！"
"It's a deal！"
"It's a deal！"
The hands of the division head and deputy division head were together.
However， in just three days， Yi Lidong received the call from the first affliated hospital of Xi'an Medical University. The hospital asked him to go there at once.
Professor Tang Kaiyu， who was responsible for the treatment of Huang Limin， told Yi Lidong， "We've got all the test results. Huang Limin is in the late period of liver cancer. And he is the diffusive type. His life could last for three months at most. Please inform his family as soon as possible."
"Ah！" Yi Lidong was suddenly stunned. His legs were weak.
After going back to the offce， he immediately reported Huang Limin's illness to general manager Liu Bencui.
Liu Bencui jumped immediately from his soft swivel chair. With a serious facial expression， Liu gave a deep sigh， "Huang Limin is one of the backbones of 'Project 750'. Save his life at any cost."
However medical science could not save his life. The only method they could adopt was interventional therapy. This would send drugs curbing the growth of the cancer cells to his liver and ensure his vital signs.
Leaders of Northwest Grid Corporation cared much about Huang Limin's illness. They sent nurses to stay with Huang in turns in the hospital at night. From July to August， every time Yi Lidong came from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to Xi'an to report his work， he would come to the hospital to see Huang Limin. Huang's health condition was getting worse day by day. He could not eat. He was thinner， and the peritoneal dropsy became more serious.
Seeing Yi Lidong come see him from time to time， Huang Limin said， "Do not come to see me. The project is about to be put into operation. The construction site must be busy. The project needs you more. I have no problem. We can get together and drink some wine in October."
Seeing Huang Limin's emotions， Yi Lidong could not help sighing， "I learnt what is facing death without fear from Huang Limin." He knew it clearly.
One day when Yi had just arrived at Xi'an， he hurried to the hospital room of Huang Limin. Seeing him， Huang pointed to his belly which became big for the peritoneal dropsy and said humorously， "Lidong， I am pregnant. See？ Is there an eight-month child in it？"
When his female colleagues came to visit him， they saw his legs were as thin as hemp stalks. They could not help weeping. Though it was diffcult for Huang to move， he still insisted sitting on the bed. He smiled and said to his colleagues， "Do not cry. Do not cry.After I get out of the hospital in a few days， I will become fat eating meat."
His humor brought a ray of happy sunshine to the hospital room cloaked in death.
However， the steps of death finally came.
Huang only had one week left in the world. Maybe sensing that he would pass， Huang Limin said to Lü Shirong who came to see him， "My child is still too little. My wife is working for the power plant factory. I'd like to ask the party committee for help. Please let my wife work in Northwest Grid. And I hope that when my child grows up， he will also work in the electrical power system."
Lü Shirong relayed Huang Limin's requests to the leaders of Northwest Grid.
"Make the promise to him immediately！" Liu Bencui said with emotion， "Now we're talking about human care. For those who made huge contributions to 'Project 750'， we cannot let them have regrets when they pass away."
Hearing this news on his hospital bed， Huang Limin felt no more regrets.
However in fact， he did still have regrets. He did not tell his wife about his sickness. He kept this secret carefully. He did not want his son to see how miserable he was. Over the past few days， he had realized he could not hide the truth any more， but he still did not want his wife to keep him company all the time. Every day， his wife called him and said she wanted to come to the hospital and keep him company. Unless there was a special occasion， Huang asked his wife not to come and stay with his son.
September 2nd was the last day of his life. He seemed to have sensed that he would leave the world and go to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In the morning， he made a call to his wife Zhu Yaqing for the first time and said， "Yaqing， when will you come？"
"I'll go when our son goes to school. Huang Dancheng's summer holiday has ended."
"OK！ I will wait for you." His voice trembled. His voice was weak. This was the first time that Huang Limin had relied so much on his wife. That day， Huang Limin spit blood five times. There was a tumor in his portal vein which caused his blood vessels to rupture. As a result， his internal organs were bleeding.
Zhu Yaqing hurried to the hospital.
The other three of the "Four Diamonds" of "Project 750"- Lü Shirong， Yi Lidong and Xiu Jian - also hurried to the hospital. When one of the "Four Diamonds" fell down， the other three were sad. Zhu Yaqing felt warm and comforted by their friendship built through their innovative work and tested by life and death.