Chapter 247: Logistics Integration

"Zhang Shu, are you a Division Chief now?"

There was naked envy on Damao's face; he wasn't even considered a Cadre yet, and since the Propaganda Department had to carry out propaganda tasks according to the requirements of higher-level leaders, it was very difficult to find opportunities to perform meritorious service, so everyone had to wait out their seniority.

"Yeah."

The Propaganda Department was also subordinate to logistics and would be under his jurisdiction in the future, which meant Damao was now one of his subordinates.

"Hehe, Zhang Shu, look, you know, we're all our own people, could you open a back door for your nephew?"

Damao and his father had only been team leaders for all these years; it was indeed possible to try and integrate them.

Moreover, the Projection Group of Damao and the others had been a great help to the Procurement Section over the years, and he was his good nephew; just for these two reasons, Zhang Ping'an would give him a hand.

"Hmm... how about this, Damao, I'll give you an idea: if you two projection groups can integrate, I can give you a quota for a Worker-turned-Cadre position, and with your father-in-law's help, becoming a Deputy Section Chief in the future shouldn't be a problem."

Currently, the two projection groups were at full capacity with eighteen people, which already accounted for half the number of people in the Propaganda Department; these people all had some connection to the various leaders in the factory, and they were all trained by the Xu father and son.

Zhang Ping'an even felt they could form an independent Projection Department, though of course, that was just a thought.

"Alright, Zhang Shu, I'll go back and write up a proposal right now," Damao replied excitedly.

"Done."

The next day, when Damao handed the document to him, Zhang Ping'an was quite surprised; he hadn't expected Damao to really put in the effort.

"Zhang Shu, what do you think?"

"Hmm, the idea is good, I will report it to the higher-ups."

Damao's proposal was to change the two groups of eighteen people into four groups, establish a Projection Department, and select two people to serve as the chief and deputy director; as for who was suitable to be the director, it was none other than the father and son themselves.

Among them, Damao had also selected four team leaders based on the depth of the background relationships among these sixteen people; one had to admit that Damao had thoroughly figured out everyone's background, and he didn't forget to let others have some soup while he ate the meat.

"Hehe, many thanks, Zhang Shu."

"Hmm?"

"Many thanks, Director Zhang," Damao understood in a second.

"Hmm~"

Zhang Ping'an immediately handed Damao's proposal to Li Huaide and also recorded the help they had provided to the Procurement Section over the years.

"Hmm~ The Xu father and son have trained quite a few projectionists for our Rolling Mill; they have indeed worked hard and achieved much, and they can also cooperate across departments—it's far from the simple effect of one plus one equals two."

Look at the words of our Comrade Li; coming from his mouth, it just sounds comfortable to the ear—he was meant to be the Factory Director.

"Not bad, not bad; this Damao is indeed a talent, and he can even balance everyone's interests. I agree to this matter, but it still needs to be discussed at the meeting; it shouldn't be a big problem."

This could be considered establishing a small department, but the projection groups had indeed not had it easy running around showing movies all these years, and since everyone's relatives would get a share of the benefits, he believed few people would object.

"Alright."

However, before the results were out, Zhang Ping'an didn't intend to tell Damao; he was afraid this guy wouldn't be able to keep his mouth shut and would show off everywhere, the same habit as Shazhu.

The facts were just as Li Huaide had said; this issue was briefly discussed at the meeting and then passed.

The Xu father and son successfully entered the ranks of Cadres as Workers-turned-Cadres, and Damao naturally started acting cocky with Shazhu again.

"Damao, it looks like you'll have to kill your father to ascend to the top too."

Shazhu returned the words Damao had said to him back then word-for-word, instantly choking Damao into silence.

Both of them were following in their fathers' footsteps, and now that their fathers were the chiefs and they were the deputies, they had no choice but to step on their own fathers to climb up, unless they changed their professional field.

That night, the Xu father and son brought gifts and knocked on the door of Zhang Ping'an's house.

"Little Xu, Damao, you're here."

"Zhang Shu."

"Zhang Daye."

"Hmm, looking for Ping'an, right? Come in and talk."

"Okay, good."

"Ping'an, many thanks for your help with Damao's and my matter."

"Hey, it's all what you deserved; you've seen the content on the bulletin board, I just happened to mention it in passing."

"Zhang Shu, I understand everything; these are some eggs and mountain mushrooms, you must accept them."

They both knew that Zhang Ping'an's family lacked nothing, but just because he had things didn't mean they shouldn't express their sincerity; sending these didn't seem abrupt.

"Hehe, alright, then I won't stand on ceremony with you, but there are a few things I must say to you."

"Zhang Shu, please speak."

"Before we show movies, we should eat and drink as we please, but we must also handle matters beautifully for the people."

"I'm not worried about Brother Xu here, but Damao, you are young and impetuous; you must remember this, and at the same time, you must restrain the people under you."

"Think about it, if you handle things beautifully, won't the brigades report it to the higher-ups? For example, by writing letters of commendation; with enough letters of commendation, they will all be capital for your future promotions."

"Okay, Zhang Shu, I will keep it firmly in mind," Damao's eyes lit up, and he understood immediately.

"Hmm, that's good."

After the father and son returned home, Xu Fugui gave Damao another political lecture.

"Damao, this time it's thanks to Ping'an that we two have the opportunity to become Cadres; don't you go smearing your Zhang Shu's face."

"Your father-in-law couldn't help you no matter how long he was in the Propaganda Department, but your Zhang Shu arranged it for us the moment he became a Director; we must not be ungrateful people."

"Don't worry, Dad, I will lead by example; in the future, I'll at least manage to become a Section Chief."

Zhu Weiguo had now sat in the long-awaited position of Deputy Director, in charge of procurement; Zhu Jianshe became the Section Chief of Procurement Section 1, and his partner Li Weiguo became the Deputy Section Chief.

"Director Zhang, please continue to provide guidance in the future," Zhu Weiguo looked at this former subordinate, feeling a surge of emotion in his heart.

"Director Zhu, you are too kind; we both belong to logistics, so we should naturally move forward hand-in-hand. I am at ease leaving the procurement side to you."

"Of course, there is also Director Cao; I am also very at ease with you, an old-school director, in charge of the cafeteria."

"Hahaha, Director Zhang can rest assured; He Daqing and I have worked together for many years and have always been very harmonious, and I believe I will be of like mind with Director Zhang as well."

Cao Guodong knew that the relationship between Zhang Ping'an and He Daqing was good, and since he had worked with He Daqing for many years without conflict, he believed he could get along with Zhang Ping'an as well.

"Mm, that is only natural."

In the afternoon, several more people came to Zhang Ping'an's office one after another to meet him, the new Director, among whom was Xu Damao's father-in-law, Propaganda Department Section Chief Zhao Dingguo; the two had not chatted for even two sentences when the office door was knocked on again.

"Uncle Zhang, you don't know, uh, Dad, you're here too," Xu Damao said, scratching his head in embarrassment.

"What 'Uncle Zhang', have some manners. Director Zhang, let's chat again when we have time," Zhao Dingguo said, then glared at Xu Damao before leaving.

"Agreed."

"Hehe."

"Damao, you are already a Cadre, you really need to change this flighty temperament of yours. Speak, what is the matter?"

"Hehe, Uncle Zhang, uh, Director, our Projection Group is planning to show movies for free at the major factories in Sijiucheng on our days off."

"Mm, this is a good thing. I will notify all departments to coordinate well; you all must also be well-prepared, don't let anything go wrong."

"Rest assured, Director, it will be handled perfectly."

"Mm, that is good."

Zhang Ping'an quite appreciated Xu Damao's ability to get things done, especially now that he had his father guarding the gate for him.