Chapter 42: Chapters 47 and 48

As the leader finished speaking, Secretary Li appeared from somewhere and began distributing documents to the other leaders around the conference table.

At Director Yang's signal, Lin Yilan walked up to the front of the conference table.

Passing by, she glanced down quickly and saw that Secretary Li was handing out the design drawings she had created.

Standing at the very front of the conference table and facing the leaders below—each wearing a different expression—she felt a tension no less intense than her graduation thesis defense in her past life.

Lin Yilan took a deep breath and flashed a standard, polite smile. "Hello, esteemed leaders. I am Lin Yilan, a freshman student in the Architecture Department of the Industrial University, and the designer for this courtyard house project.

The documents placed before you are the design blueprints for the restroom facilities in this project."

Unsure of how well-versed these leaders were in architecture, she needed to explain the blueprints as clearly as possible so everyone could understand her vision and achieve her objective.

"...In this project, we have also accounted for future maintenance and renovation needs by government departments regarding the restroom's drainage system. Therefore, the pipeline design incorporates five inspection points, and the burial depth of the pipes has been optimized to the greatest extent to facilitate future excavation while minimizing disruption to the daily lives of neighboring residents.

Furthermore, after consulting with the homeowner, we intentionally extended the pipeline design. Should the neighbors require restroom installations in the future, they can directly connect to the drainage system we have designed for this project.

Of course, if the discharge volume increases significantly, a larger pipeline would need to be installed."

This decision had been reached after discussions with Zhao Qiangjun and Qin Qin. Expanding the service scope of the drainage system would make it easier to secure permits from the government.

Just as Lin Yilan anticipated, after she finished speaking, the expressions on the faces of several leaders around the table softened compared to their earlier solemnity.

"That concludes my presentation on the restroom design for this courtyard renovation project. Thank you all for taking the time to listen."

With that, Lin Yilan gave a slight, respectful bow.

As she finished speaking, she noticed the leaders whispering to one another while examining the blueprints.

She strained her ears, hoping to catch what the leader closest to her was saying to his neighbor, when she sensed a leader further down looking up at her, apparently preparing to ask a question. She immediately composed herself and met the leader's gaze with a smile.

"Student Lin, as far as I know, you are merely a freshman in the Architecture Department of the Industrial University. How can you guarantee the quality of your design?

Should any issues arise after your design is implemented, who should be held accountable? If you cannot answer this, I cannot give my approval."

This leader's remark resonated with many others at the table, who nodded in agreement while exchanging whispered comments.

Yet, Lin Yilan's utter composure earned her a slight increase in their trust.

She walked over to a nearby stool, picked up her canvas satchel, drew out a kraft paper file folder, and extracted a stack of documents, placing them neatly on the conference table.

"I completely understand the leaders' concerns. As a university student, I naturally cannot have my blueprints checked and verified by additional engineers and designers like professionals in a formal design institute do, nor can I provide an institutional safety and quality endorsement in that manner.

Therefore, I specifically invited Professor Wu Congshan from our university to review and approve the design drawings for this project."

Hearing Professor Wu Congshan's name, several leaders exchanged surprised glances, though they quickly masked their expressions and whispered to those beside them.

Although Lin Yilan had anticipated this reaction, seeing it unfold still left her slightly bewildered. She could not clearly make out the leaders' whispers, catching only the mention of Professor Wu's name.

Shortly after, she saw a leader pick up the blueprints she had just placed on the table, flip to the page bearing Professor Wu's signature, study it carefully for a moment, nod, and turn to his colleague. "This certainly looks like Professor Wu Congshan's signature."

Sensing the appraising gazes directed at her from around the table, Lin Yilan maintained her composure and smile.

She watched the leaders exchange meaningful glances, seemingly communicating through eye contact, until the leader with close ties to Director Yang looked up at her, causing her to tighten her focus.

"Student Lin, would it be convenient to leave this newly provided set of design drawings here? We need to keep a copy on file."

A spark of hope flickered in Lin Yilan's chest. "Of course. But may I ask if there is a copier available here? Could I have a copy of these blueprints made for myself?"

The leader glanced behind him, and Secretary Li immediately stepped forward.

"Xiao Li, please accompany Student Lin and Director Yang to the reproduction room to have the blueprints copied, and make sure to give the copy to Student Lin."

He then looked back at Lin Yilan. "Student Lin, we still need to deliberate further on your project. Once a decision is reached, we will notify the neighborhood committee."

"Yes, yes, Xiao Lin, I will call you when the time comes," Director Yang chimed in hurriedly from the side.

Having prepared herself for the likelihood of an immediate decision beforehand, Lin Yilan felt no disappointment. She smiled politely. "Understood. Thank you, leaders, for taking the time to care about our project."

After making a diligent effort to leave a favorable impression, Lin Yilan left the conference room in the company of Secretary Li.

Once the copying was finished, Lin Yilan prepared to leave with her duplicated blueprints, while Director Yang had to remain behind to attend to other matters.

Unexpectedly, Secretary Li escorted her all the way to the entrance. Glancing at the snowflakes drifting down from the sky, Lin Yilan turned to him.

"Secretary Li, it's snowing outside. You can stop here."

Seeing the inclement weather, Secretary Li accepted her gesture graciously.

"Very well then, I'll see you off to this point. Be careful on your way back.

As for the project, you needn't worry. Our leadership was already quite supportive when they first learned of the situation."

For reasons unknown, Secretary Li chose to offer these words of reassurance.

Since he said it, Lin Yilan could not simply ignore it, and she thanked him sincerely.

Stepping out of the office building, she was met by a flurry of swirling snowflakes.

Seeing the heavy snowfall, Lin Yilan hurriedly pulled on her gloves.

Director Yang, just stepping out of the restroom near the conference room, rubbed his hands upon spotting Secretary Li.

"Secretary Li, will the Construction Bureau approve Xiao Lin student's design this time?"

Recalling the atmosphere in the conference room and the instructions to escort Lin Yilan out, Secretary Li blinked. "Director Yang, we will have to wait for the leaders to conclude before the specific outcome is known."

Moving closer to Director Yang, he lowered his voice. "However, you were present during the meeting and saw Student Lin's presentation. Coupled with Professor Wu's signature, I believe there shouldn't be any major issues."

Director Yang felt half of his worries dissipate. "I'm relieved to hear you say that. But I never expected Xiao Lin to go out of her way to seek out her university professor; she is truly thoughtful."

"You don't actually believe this Professor Wu Congshan would help her simply because she is his student, do you?" A leader from the Construction Bureau asked, taking a sip of tea inside the conference room.

The leader on good terms with Director Yang sensed a deeper implication in those words. "From the sound of it, this Professor Wu is no ordinary person?"

The others around the table pricked up their ears to listen.

The Construction Bureau leader spoke with measured composure, "Professor Wu Congshan can be considered a towering figure in our nation's architectural field. In his early years, he studied abroad and earned multiple doctorates. Countless architectural landmarks here in Beijing stem from his designs.

More importantly, isn't there an upcoming meeting to discuss Beijing's future urban planning? He is the one designated from above to assemble the core team."

With this revelation, everyone gained a clear understanding of Professor Wu's standing.

"That's why I find Student Lin extraordinary—at least quite exceptional when it comes to architectural design," the Construction Bureau leader concluded, taking another sip from his teacup.

"As everyone present knows, our industry operates under a strict rule: the moment a design fails, regardless of how many years pass, everyone involved in the project is held accountable."

Everyone grasped the underlying meaning of his words.

He was essentially saying that Professor Wu Congshan was confident enough in the safety and quality of the blueprints Lin Yilan had brought forward to stake his own reputation on them.

The leader friendly with Director Yang lowered his gaze thoughtfully to Lin Yilan's design drawings.

Struggling to ride her bicycle through the swirling wind and snow, Lin Yilan was unaware of the discussion taking place in the conference room, though she had a fair idea of what to expect.

Ever since she approached Professor Wu for his signature and decided to bring the signed blueprints to this meeting, she had foreseen these developments.

She was essentially leveraging the influence of a heavyweight figure this time.

It was her final resort. Had personal designers crafting blueprints for private residences and submitting them for Construction Bureau approval not been a rare occurrence—to the point where it might even be unprecedented—she would not have troubled Professor Wu.

It felt rather like using a cannon to shoot a mosquito.

Yet, because a mere restroom design had dragged the project out for so long, she worried the entire endeavor might collapse from the delay. She had seen such things happen before.

Moreover, renovating the house was an urgent matter for Uncle Zhao as well.

It was a combination of these tangled reasons that led her to enlist Professor Wu's help.

Now, she simply hoped construction on the house could begin as soon as possible.

Yet, remembering what Uncle Zhao had mentioned to her a few days prior, Lin Yilan gently tapped her forehead.

"Hiss—"

"So freezing. The temperature really plummeted today."

She puckered her lips and blew warm breath onto her fingers to dispel the chill on her face.

As Beijing experienced a heavy snowfall, final exams arrived right on schedule.

An exhausting two-week examination period left Lin Yilan with no energy for anything outside of her studies.