After Xu Damao returned, the reform of the projection team was basically completed. The newly recruited projectionists had already started their jobs while Xu Damao was away on business and were learning how to work from Chen Changqing.
The original single office for the film screening team has now been expanded to three, with one room for Xu Damao, which also serves as the team's small meeting room. Currently, everyone is still in the learning phase, and Xu Damao has not yet divided the team into groups.
While Xu Damao was explaining the basics of film projection to a few people, Xu Damao and Chen Changqing were called to the publicity department's conference room for a meeting.
"Da Mao is here. Come, sit over here." As usual, Xu Da Mao was about to sit at the edge of the conference table when Gao Jin called him back and pointed to the center seat opposite him.
Looking at the people attending today's meeting—all section chiefs and staff from the propaganda department—Xu Damao guessed that the approvals for his film screening group's reforms and his own staffing had been received.
Sure enough, after everyone was seated, Gao Jin read out the document.
"Document regarding the approval of the organizational reform of the Propaganda Department's Film Screening Group. In accordance with the spirit of relevant documents and after approval by the factory leadership meeting, the Propaganda Department agrees to change the Propaganda Department's Film Screening Group into the Propaganda Department's Film Screening Section, with one section chief and one deputy section chief. The Film Screening Section will have three film screening subgroups. The specific staffing will be subject to relevant documents."
This is a document reflecting the reform of the production and construction sector. Previously, the film screening group was actually an internal setup of the propaganda department, registered with the personnel department, but it wasn't mentioned in any official factory documents. This time it's different; it's now considered one of the factory's official organizations.
"With the approval of the factory leadership meeting, Comrade Xu Damao is hereby appointed as the head of the Film Projection Section of the Publicity Department, and Comrade Chen Changqing is appointed as the deputy head of the Film Projection Section of the Publicity Department." This is the appointment document for Xu Damao and Chen Changqing.
"After approval by the factory leadership meeting and following relevant procedures, it is agreed that Comrade Xu Damao will be transferred to the cadre system, assigned to administrative level 21, and his related salary and benefits will be implemented from this month." This is the official approval document for Xu Damao's transfer to the cadre system.
Xu Damao hadn't expected to be ranked at level 21, one level higher than a college graduate being promoted to a permanent position. This was probably due to consideration of his position as a section chief. In other words, he would receive a level 21 salary of 62 yuan per month this month.
"Today is a good day for the establishment of the Film Screening Section and also a good day for our Publicity Department. Here, we would like to give a shout-out to the two new section chiefs of the Film Screening Section, and encourage them to do their jobs better and bring more satisfaction to the people."
After Gao Jin finished speaking, he led the applause, and enthusiastic applause rang out in the office.
"Da Mao, as the head of the projection section, say a few words." Gao Jin asked Xu Da Mao to speak.
Currently, Xu Damao's projection team has a total of 7 people, making it the largest team in the entire propaganda department. Xu Damao is considered a prominent figure in the propaganda department. Moreover, the projectionist's status is higher than that of ordinary employees.
"Thank you for your trust, Section Chief Gao and all the leaders, and thank you to all my colleagues for your continued care and help. If I have nothing else to say, just this: tonight, everyone here should go to Donglaishun; it's on me."
As a newcomer, Xu Damao is bound to attract envy, so he should refrain from making empty boasts and just treat everyone to a meal.
"Okay." "Great job, Da Mao."
This time, the applause in the conference room was louder and seemed more genuine than before.
Looking around, Xu Damao saw there were 10 people in the room and felt a pang of regret for his empty pockets. But thankfully, he would be getting paid this month.
Starting next year, many places will face food problems, and then in the years following 1959, famine will ensue. Xu Damao thought to himself, this is the largest collective gathering in the department in recent years.
"Minzhi, I'm inviting my colleagues to dinner tonight, are you coming?" Xu Damao asked Wang Minzhi.
"Who are you inviting? And why?" Wang Minzhi asked.
“My cadre appointment has been approved. It was just announced at the mid-level meeting in the department,” Xu Damao replied.
"Really! You're amazing!"
Wang Minzhi, unlike her usual quiet self, suddenly jumped up and hugged Xu Damao.
Xu Damao was a little taken aback, as was Li Tong beside him.
"Hey, you two, that's enough. I'm still here, a perfectly healthy person," Li Tong said, somewhat annoyed after being subjected to such a display of affection.
As soon as she finished speaking, Wang Minzhi, realizing she had been too agitated, quickly left Xu Damao, ran to her workstation, buried her head in the desk, and pretended to be an ostrich.
After waiting for a while, Wang Minzhi calmed down and said that it was inappropriate for her to attend the mid-level management gathering, so she declined.
“You can go as a family member, why is that inappropriate? If you don’t go, I will!” Li Tong’s fiery personality meant she dared to say anything.
"Go ahead and go, or you're a dog." Wang Minzhi had also learned the art of reverse psychology.
"Hmph, you think I wouldn't dare go? I'll go right after get off work, and I'll even say I'm Xu Damao's girlfriend, just to piss you off." Li Tong retorted defiantly.
As soon as Li Tong finished speaking, the two girls started playfully fighting at the broadcasting station.
Over the next few days, Xu Damao began his drinking party tour. He visited everyone from factory leaders to his family. This is a society built on personal connections, a culture that has existed for thousands of years, and Xu Damao couldn't change it. Besides, now that he had a cheat device, he was actually quite enthusiastic about it.
"Da Mao, did your business succeed?" Yan Fugui had already noticed that Xu Da Mao had been reeking of alcohol every time he came home these past few days.
"What is it, Third Uncle?" Xu Damao asked knowingly.
"You little rascal, don't try to act all high and mighty with me. Last time you came to inspect the place, I put a lot of good words for you. Don't forget your Third Uncle," Yan Fugui boasted.
"Oh, is that it? Our film screening team is divided into a screening section, and I'm the section chief now, a proper one, the kind that issues official documents from the factory."
Also, our group now has seven people.
Xu Damao didn't reveal the matter of the cadre reassignment. The people at the steel mill would find out about the section chiefs sooner or later, but the cadre reassignment was something that only someone with a keen eye could detect.
"Da Mao, you're in charge of all seven of them?" Yan Fugui asked in surprise.
In his memory, Xu Damao was the most mischievous and troublesome kid, someone who would never amount to anything. Even when he became a projectionist and earned a lot of extra money, it was just following in his father's footsteps; he had a good father. But in the blink of an eye, Xu Damao became a junior manager, overseeing several people, completely shattering his values.
"Hehe, I guess so. It's not really about managing, it's all about serving the people," Xu Damao said.
"Da Mao, such a great thing, shouldn't we invite everyone in the compound to celebrate? You've really made something of yourself in this compound now, so don't forget your brother Jie Cheng in the future."
Yan Fugui eventually came to his senses after being tricked by his own scheme.
"Of course. I've been a bit busy lately, with a lot of new staff who need training. I'll ask you out separately, Uncle, in a while."
Xu Damao said. This wasn't just empty talk; occasionally drinking and chatting with these people in the compound was quite enjoyable.
And then there's Yi Zhonghai, who's been avoiding me lately. I'll definitely have a good chat with him next time.
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