Chapter 37: Xu Daming Was Shocked on His First Day at Work

When Xu Daming returned from the Yagangchang, he greeted the neighbors happily, and this aunt asked, "Xu Daming, what makes you so happy? Are you getting a wife?"

"Oh aunt, are you washing clothes? I just went to the Yagangchang for an assessment, and from now on I will be the projectionist there," Xu Daming said to the aunt.

After hearing Xu Daming, the aunt exclaimed in surprise, "Xu Daming, I remember you're only 14 this year, right? You don't seem old enough to work yet."

After hearing the aunt's words, Xu Daming said, "Aunt, you don't know, this is all my father's fault. When he registered my household registration, he only gave my age and not the month and year, causing my hukou to be two years younger. I only found out yesterday when I saw my birth certificate, and yesterday I had my father correct the age. I used to think it was good to have a younger age, but now I feel the age should be just right; otherwise I couldn't go to work at the Yagangchang."

"Birth certificate? What's that?" the aunt asked again.

"Hey, I can't explain it in a sentence or two; you're busy washing clothes, aunt, I'm heading back." After saying that, Xu Daming hummed a little tune and went home.

Why does Xu Daming insist on signing up at the Yagangchang? The root of it all is He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu used to be an apprentice just like him, and back then they didn't get along. Xu Daming was younger and couldn't beat He Yuzhu in a fight, so he would provoke him with words whenever he had the chance. When He Yuzhu heard him provoking him, he would beat Xu Daming, and thus their grudge formed.

After He Yuzhu started working at the Yagangchang, Xu Daming didn't think much of it—he was just a servant's cook, and his father had run away, while Xu Daming himself would be a projectionist, which had a bright future.

But things are unpredictable—who would have thought He Yuzhu would turn into a college student? This stimulated Xu Daming, who wanted to outdo He Yuzhu by going to college. Xu Daming shook his head; his meager ability to hold a pen and write characters was already pretty good, and yet he still thought about taking the college entrance exam, which directly killed that idea.

Finally, Xu Daming's opportunity arrived—the Yagangchang was recruiting workers, a state-owned enterprise. If he passed the interview and became a projectionist, he could swagger around the compound afterward. He Yuzhu, you can go play your little games; of course, this is Xu Daming's own idea.

After He Yuzhu finished evening self-study and returned to the courtyard house, he heard the neighbors' chatter. He merely felt curious: wasn't Xu Daming only 16 when he entered the Yagangchang? How come he started earlier? He didn't have time to think about Xu Daming's affairs. When He Yuzhu got home and saw the damp, gloomy corner of his house's wall from the recent rain, he thought, "Should I get the house renovated?"

What He Yuzhu didn't know was that his butterfly had caused the original historical trajectory to shift, and the subsequent plot underwent many changes due to his rebirth.

The next morning, Xu Daming got up early, finished washing up, and used Xu Fugui's razor to gently scrape off the fuzz at the corners of his mouth. After scraping, he looked even younger.

But Xu Daming had heard that if he scraped off the fuzz at his mouth at his age, he would grow a beard. Previously, he thought that if a kid grew a beard, people would surely laugh at him, but now it was different. Xu Daming felt he needed to become more mature, and he believed the first step for a mature man was to have a beard, so he came up with this idea.

After packing up his things, Xu Daming headed to work at the Yagangchang, and upon arriving he went straight to the publicity department.

Upon reaching the publicity department, Section Chief Jiang Qiuhui had a staff member take Xu Daming to complete the onboarding procedures. Afterward, the staff member took him to the logistics office to collect his labor protection supplies, issuing a few work uniforms and gloves. The logistics staff also gave Xu Daming a key, and Xu Daming promptly asked.

"Comrade, what is this key for?" Upon hearing Xu Daming's question, the logistics worker said, "That key is for a bicycle. I don't know what it's used for, but your section chief instructed that projectionists should be issued a bicycle; I'll take you to get it in a moment."

Hearing this, Xu Daming was shocked—does the Yagangchang's projectionist even get a bicycle? That's too good a benefit! Then the three went to the warehouse, where Xu Daming was issued an old bicycle. As he and the publicity department staff member left the warehouse, the staff member Shang Chuanbing still said enviously, "Xu Daming, you projectionists have it too good, even getting a bicycle, while we're still just walking."

Hearing Shang Chuanbing's envious tone made Xu Daming happy inside, but he said aloud, "Old Shang, the section chief giving me a bicycle must be for some other task; otherwise why would only I get one?"

"That's right—our entire publicity department only issued a bicycle to you. Let's ask the section chief later; I'm sure there really is another task assigned to you." After saying that, the two went to the office building; Shang Chuanbing returned to the main office, while Xu Daming went to the section chief's office.

Arriving at the section chief's office, Xu Daming knocked, heard "please come in," pushed the door open, and said, "Section Chief Jiang, I've collected everything, but logistics gave me a bicycle—what's going on?"

Hearing Xu Daming's words, Section Chief Jiang said, "Come, Xu Daming, have a seat." After Xu Daming sat down, he continued, "Xu Daming, it's like this: besides fulfilling our factory's own projection duties, as a state-owned unit we also have to undertake the film bureau's task of screening movies in the countryside. This bicycle is for you to use when you go to the countryside to show films."

After hearing Section Chief Jiang's words, Xu Daming was completely bewildered—what, I have to go to the countryside? With my scrawny arms and legs, how far could I carry that heavy projection equipment?

But Xu Daming didn't dare say anything in front of Section Chief Jiang; he merely replied that he would guarantee to complete the task, then returned to the main office.

Seeing Xu Daming return, Shang Chuanbing walked up to him and asked, "Xu Daming, did the section chief just assign you a new task?" Everyone in the office also turned to look at Xu Daming. Shang Chuanbing had already told everyone that the factory had given Xu Daming a bicycle—although it's an old one, it's still a bicycle—so how many people in the whole factory actually commute to work by bike?

Hearing Shang Chuanbing's words, Xu Daming put on a bitter face and said, "Old Shang, we really guessed right—the section chief told me to go to the countryside to show films." Upon hearing Xu Daming's words, everyone stared at him in shock, and then Shang Chuanbing said, "What, you still have to go to the countryside?" Now, because transportation is difficult, if it's a nearby place it's still okay, but if it's far, after finishing a movie screening it would be what time? One would definitely have to stay in the village, and they've heard the rural conditions are harsh.

"Exactly, Old Shang—if it's far away, you'd definitely have to stay there." After saying that, Xu Daming's face grew even worse, and some people in the office remarked that rural conditions are poor, so meals and lodging certainly won't be good.

But one remark made Xu Daming's eyes brighten again—just then the old staff member Tang Fangzhou said, "Don't talk nonsense; my mother still lives in the countryside, and I go back once a month. Do you think it's still pre-liberation? After liberation, the countryside folks have had good days, and now life is quite comfortable. If you go see for yourself, it's not much worse than the city."

After finishing, Tang Fangzhou turned to Xu Daming and said, "Xu Daming, you little brat, you're truly blessed but unaware of it. If you go to the countryside to show just one film, will they let you leave? If they don't treat you with good food and drink, would you be willing?"

After hearing Tang Fangzhou's words, Xu Daming faintly felt a bit of anticipation about going to the countryside to show films. He thanked Tang Fangzhou, then, at his own desk, began looking at a map.