After Li Gang invited Yuan Yi to sit on the sofa, he gestured to his secretary to pour water.

"Yuan~" Yuan Yi said directly as soon as Li Gang opened his mouth.

"Just call me Yuan Yi!!"

Li Gang smiled after hearing Yuan Yi's words.

"Alright, then I'll call you Yuan Yi!"

“I watched the whole show last night.”

"Several songs are very well written, excellent!"

"In addition, there's the song you wrote for the space agency, and the song you sang at the Japanese music festival before."

"These songs are all very mainstream and popular, which suits our song and dance troupe."

"How about it? Interested in joining our General Political Department Song and Dance Troupe?"

"Let me first explain the differences between each organization. I know you must have received calls from other organizations as well."

Li Gang explained to Yuan Yi with great enthusiasm.

"After the last military reform, apart from the art troupes directly under our General Political Department, the art troupes of other military units were reorganized into one unit, which is uniformly referred to as the Cultural Troupe."

"The cultural troupes of all branches of the armed forces and major military regions are established at the division level."

"The military cultural troupes are divided into three levels."

"First level: Art troupes directly under the General Political Department, such as our General Political Department Song and Dance Troupe and General Political Department Drama Troupe."

"Second level: Cultural troupes affiliated with military branches, such as the Air Force Cultural Troupe, the Navy Cultural Troupe, and the Army Cultural Troupe."

"The third level: cultural troupes affiliated with major military regions, such as the Beijing Military Region's Zhan You Cultural Troupe and the Nanjing Military Region's Qianxian Cultural Troupe."

"According to military regulations, almost all the performers in cultural troupes are just professional and technical personnel among the civilian cadres of the military."

"That is, military status is retained but no military rank is given; only the corresponding civilian level is set at the level corresponding to each level of military rank."

"There are two types of ranks for civilian cadres. One type is the civilian rank (equivalent to military rank), which ranges from Special Grade, Grade 1 to Grade 9, corresponding to General and Lieutenant respectively."

"The other type is the professional or administrative level. There are 14 levels in total, and they enjoy corresponding salary benefits according to their different professional or administrative levels."

"Our General Political Department Song and Dance Troupe is a unit directly under the Political Work Department."

"I can also give you two options: one is to join the military, and the other is not to join the military."

"After joining the military, you will be a formal military personnel under the General Political Department Song and Dance Troupe. You will be given a fourth-level professional title and enjoy regimental-level benefits. Promotion will follow the military civilian professional title assessment."

"The other option is not to join the military, but to join the organization and enjoy professional and administrative rank benefits, a total of fourteen levels, each of which requires a professional skills assessment."

Yuan Yi listened quietly to what Li Gang had to say, a thoughtful look flashing across his face.

He hadn't learned about this in his previous life, so he didn't know what was different about it.

"What's the difference between the two?" Yuan Yi asked Li Gang seriously.

Li Gang smiled after hearing Yuan Yi's words.

“There are differences between cultural troupes with military status and those without military status in terms of status, treatment, uniforms, and organizational structure.”

"For example, status: members of the cultural troupe with military status are active-duty military personnel, including two main categories: officers and soldiers. Among them, officers are divided into officers and civilian cadres. One of the key differences is that officers have military ranks while civilian cadres do not. Members of the cultural troupe without military status are not active-duty military personnel. They may be civilian personnel in the military or other types of professional title personnel."

"Secondly, there is the salary and benefits. Members of the cultural troupe with military status usually enjoy the same benefits as military personnel, such as allowances and free medical care. Members of the cultural troupe without military status do not enjoy these benefits. Their salaries and other benefits may be similar to those of similar professions in society."

"Another aspect is the uniform. Members of the performing arts troupe with military status will wear military uniforms and corresponding shoulder boards and other insignia, while members without military status will wear special civilian personnel uniforms, including dress uniforms, service uniforms, training uniforms, and insignia."

"Scope of establishment: Members of the cultural troupe with military status are part of the formal establishment of the military. They hold various professional and technical cadre positions or administrative and service support cadre positions in the military. Members of the cultural troupe without military status are not part of the formal establishment of the military. Their work nature and responsibilities may be more diversified."

"Are there more restrictions for members of the cultural troupe who join the military?"

"For example, if I join the military, will I no longer be able to participate in the recording of some outside programs?"

"And don't the copyrights of the songs I write also belong to me?"

Upon hearing Yuan Yi's words, Li Gang quickly waved his hand.

"There aren't that many restrictions. Our General Political Department Song and Dance Troupe needs to organize no fewer than 100 performances for the troops below each year, in addition to participating in various gala programs and some overseas performance tours."

"However, members of cultural troupes with military status are generally not allowed to participate in local cultural, entertainment, or propaganda activities without authorization, nor are they allowed to accept media interviews without authorization."

"However, times are changing, and participation is permissible if permitted by higher authorities."

Hearing this, Yuan Yi understood: members of the performing arts troupe with military status had to obey orders, while members without military status also had to obey orders, but not as strictly.

To give an example, it's like the difference between a permanent employee and a contract employee.

"Side quest issued: Join the General Political Department Song and Dance Troupe."

"Mission complete: Reward: 'Bright Sword' script."

At this moment, the little elf Gou Dan'er directly issued a temporary side quest in Yuan Yi's mind.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!