Hop on Xu Damao's bicycle and greet the neighbors walking along the road, Yan Jiecheng began his commute to work as a formal employee of the steel rolling mill.
"Hey, Uncle Hu, you're going to work too? Yes, I'm a full-time employee at the rolling mill now."
Good morning, Aunt Wang. I'm a full-time employee at the rolling mill now, reporting for duty today. From now on, we'll be proper coworkers.
Yan Jiecheng didn't care whether people asked or not, and started introducing himself. This annoyed Xu Damao, who never expected that the usually quiet and reserved man could be so eloquent.
Upon arriving at the gate of the Hongxingzha factory, Yan Jiecheng, who had been excited, finally calmed down. He couldn't help it; he was genuinely afraid when he saw the security personnel carrying guns.
"Good morning, guys. This is my neighbor, reporting to the factory today. Jiecheng, show your letter of introduction to the boss, and while you're at it, take the Daqianmen cigarettes out of your pocket."
Xu Damao casually took out the cigarettes Yan Jiecheng had specially brought that morning and distributed them around, which made Yan Jiecheng feel a pang of regret. However, seeing that the other party's attitude towards him immediately improved, he felt a little better.
"Da Mao, you've really changed your ways now, coming here so early every day," said Wu Tiezhu, the duty officer of the security department, while smoking a cigarette.
"I'm just wasting time sleeping at home anyway, so I might as well get up early and get some exercise. I really envy you all, you're all so strong and healthy." Xu Damao subtly flattered the security guards.
"That's right, that's what we do. I'm not bragging, but with my physique, I used to take down several foreigners with my bare hands back in the day." The security officer recounted the battles on the peninsula back then.
As Xu Damao listened, he felt the real sense of that era. At that moment, he truly experienced the reality and cruelty of war.
Yan Jiecheng, however, couldn't stand it and wanted to report to the personnel department as soon as possible and start working. Little did he know, it wasn't even time for them to start work yet.
Upon entering the office building, Xu Damao first led Yan Jiecheng into his office.
"Jiecheng, the personnel department isn't open yet. Please sit here for a bit, and I'll take you in when they open," Xu Damao said.
"Da Mao, this is your office. It's really nice. I wish I could sit in an office someday." Yan Jiecheng looked at the clean and tidy office and exclaimed sincerely.
"Haha, I'm a worker just like you. This is where we put the projector; most of the time we still go to the countryside to show movies," Xu Damao said modestly.
After Chen Changqing arrived, Xu Damao introduced the two of them again. This made Yan Jiecheng even more envious.
"Da Mao, you're a leader now, with people doing your work, that's great. Does he ever give you gifts during holidays or festivals?"
Taking advantage of the moment when Chen Changqing was getting hot water, Yan Jiecheng asked what was on his mind.
"We're all colleagues, no need for formalities. It's almost time, let me take you to the personnel department to report for duty, it won't be good to be late."
After Xu Damao finished speaking, he got up and took Yan Jiecheng to the personnel department.
"Sister Li, I need your help with something."
Xu Damao knocked directly on Li Hui's office door.
"Da Mao, what's up? This isn't a radio station, there are no young girls here, it's all old women," Li Hui joked.
"Well, this is important. This is my neighbor, Yan Jiecheng. He's here to report for duty at our factory today, in the forging workshop."
"Jie Cheng, this is Section Chief Li from the Personnel Department. Please bring out your letter of introduction."
Xu Damao said.
Next comes a series of onboarding procedures.
“Sister Li, we’re neighbors with Liu Haizhong from Forging Workshop 1. Do you think it’s possible to get Yan Jiecheng transferred to Forging Workshop 1?” Xu Damao asked. This was something they had discussed beforehand; if possible, they would get Yan Jiecheng under Liu Haizhong’s care.
Putting aside everything else, Liu Haizhong's forging skills are truly exceptional, and he's also willing to teach others his craft.
“Okay. Since you, Da Mao, have asked, how could I refuse such a small matter?” Li Hui gave Xu Da Mao face and agreed without any hesitation.
"Da Mao, since he's your neighbor, take him to the forging workshop and find Director Song. I have something to do later."
Li Hui told Xu Damao to go all the way and deliver the goods directly to Yan Jiecheng in the workshop.
And so, Xu Damao led Yan Jiecheng directly to the forging workshop.
Xu Damao, familiar with the route, first found Liu Haizhong.
"Second Uncle, Jie Cheng has started working in your workshop. Will he be working directly under you?" Xu Damao asked.
"Da Mao, you're quite something, sir. You arranged Jie Cheng's job without making a sound. When I left, Lao Yan told me that Jie Cheng would be learning the skills from me, so I have to give him that much face."
"Let's go find Director Song first and finalize the reporting." Liu Haizhong walked out with an air of indifference, his hands behind his back.
Regardless of his reputation outside, Comrade Liu's words still carry weight in the forging workshop. Director Song immediately assigned Yan Jiecheng to Liu Haizhong's subordinate.
"Da Mao, I just went to the personnel department and they said that you, without making a sound, actually managed to win over the factory's most beautiful girl at the broadcasting station," Director Song teased Xu Da Mao with a smile.
The "factory beauties" refer to Wang Minzhi and Li Tong. It seems the broadcasting station has always been a breeding ground for factory beauties, including the later "factory beauty," Yu Haitang. However, Yu Haitang should still be in elementary school at this time.
"Haha, that's just hearsay. I'm developing a revolutionary friendship with them, and we're preparing to contribute to modernization together," Xu Damao replied with a smile.
"Hey, Da Mao, this isn't right. When did this happen? Why didn't you report it in the compound?" Liu Haizhong's urge for officialdom kicked in.
"Second Uncle, it's not that I haven't informed you, it's just that it hasn't been finalized yet. I haven't had a chance to meet their parents, so I don't know what they think. Once their parents agree, I'll have to ask you to help with the arrangements."
"That's more like it. Jiecheng, look, Da Mao is almost settled, you need to work harder too. Work hard with me for a few years, and you'll soon be promoted to level 3 worker. That'll be 42 yuan a month, then you'll have made it."
Liu Haizhong's words were quite fair and not exaggerated. Even a level one worker, let alone a level three worker, earns 28 yuan, which would quickly improve his family's income.
"Then I'll thank you in advance, Second Uncle." Yan Jiecheng was incredibly envious when he heard that Xu Damao's girlfriend worked at the radio station. Radio stations, like television stations in later times, required good looks and figures to get in, so it was clear that Xu Damao's girlfriend was quite attractive.
He now has a permanent job, and his next step is to have his family find him a partner. Ideally, she would also have a job and be good-looking.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
