Chapter 251: Seeking Scriptures

On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Ping'an and his family went to his father-in-law's house again, had a lively meal, and afterwards, Zhang Ping'an went to discuss medical knowledge with his master, taking away the pharmacy's medical records for the year to study and use as reference.

Zhang Ping'an is now a Logistics Director, so naturally, there are people who send him gifts; after all, there is no place lacking people who want to get ahead.

Just like Zhu Weiguo, who was too embarrassed at his age, so he had his nephew Zhu Jianshe, who had some friendship with Zhang Ping'an, come to deliver the gifts.

For Zhang Ping'an, as long as the gifts were not too extravagant, he would accept them all, and he would also return gifts appropriately; after all, courtesy demands reciprocity.

"Ping'an, is it really okay to take all these things?" Grandma looked at the floor full of cigarettes, alcohol, snacks, and tea, and asked with some worry.

"It's fine, don't worry, Grandma. It's just normal social interaction between colleagues. We aren't corrupt officials, and it would actually be awkward if I didn't accept them."

"That's right, Mother. If you don't take it and I don't take it, how is everyone supposed to get ahead?"

When Dong Dani was a child, there was no shortage of people sending gifts to her home during festivals, so she naturally understood the ways of the world.

"Right, Grandma, it's just like when I go to help Second Uncle's family during the wheat harvest, and then Second Uncle helps us look after our fields when we aren't home. You help me, and I help you."

"I understand that. Alright then, as long as it's fine." Only then did Grandma feel relieved and began sorting and storing all the items.

Zhang Ping'an was not wrong; these social dealings are all about you helping me and me helping you. Of course, you have to grasp the degree of it yourself; grasp it well and you'll rise quickly, but grasp it poorly and you'll end up singing the 'Tears Behind Iron Bars' song.

On New Year's Eve, with the recovery of the agricultural economy this year, everyone was able to eat their fill, and their complexions gradually recovered from their sallow state.

During the New Year, every household killed chickens and stewed meat for their reunion dinner, and the air was filled with the aroma of food and the sulfurous smell of firecrackers.

The children were all out playing this year; compared to the gloom of the past two years, the children's laughter and joy now seemed to inject vitality into the entire courtyard.

Looking at the children with their youthful, smiling faces, Zhang Ping'an also smiled from the bottom of his heart. When he first entered the Siheyuan, he also used to bicker and play around with Shazhu and Xu Damao, and Xu Damao even invited him to blow up the toilet.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten years have passed, and he now has a house full of children, his parents are still alive, and he has a successful career—a textbook definition of a winner in life.

"Brother Ping'an, what are you thinking about?"

"Oh, it's nothing, I was just looking at the children and remembering when we were little."

"Yeah, before we knew it, it's already been more than ten years."

Although seven or eight years had passed, their appearances were no different from when they had just gotten married.

"You two, stop being so sentimental there. Your father and I are both getting on in years and we aren't like you two. Hurry up and go call the children back to eat."

"..."

The two looked at each other, smiled, and went hand in hand to call the children back for dinner.

"Hey, these two kids."

The three-day holiday passed in a flash, and Zhang Ping'an began the tedious task of processing documents every day. He had laughed at Wang Weiguo for scratching his head and ears before the New Year, but now he was no better himself.

"Damn, I'm really not cut out for office work."

The current national situation is unique, and some management methods from his past life simply don't work at this time.

A helpless Zhang Ping'an had to close the documents and find Li Huaide to "seek scriptures." After all, being responsible for the logistics of a large factory with over twenty thousand people is really not something a small fry like him can handle.

Moreover, the logistics department is a place with a lot of "oil and water" and is the easiest place for corruption to occur. Zhang Ping'an doesn't care about money, so naturally, he won't be corrupt;

But it's hard to guarantee that the people under him won't have sticky fingers. If he ends up taking the blame for others because he doesn't understand anything, that would be truly stifling.

Therefore, Zhang Ping'an must familiarize himself with the entire logistics operation as soon as possible. He has to figure out every detail—what must be severely punished and what can be turned a blind eye to—it's all knowledge.

Li Huaide was delighted after learning of Zhang Ping'an's intention; he had thought Zhang Ping'an already understood these ropes.

"Hahaha, I thought it was something else. To think there's actually something that could stump you. How about this, let Liu follow you for a while; he has been with me in logistics from the very beginning."

"That would be great."

Zhang Ping'an is in desperate need of guidance from a master right now. Li Huaide has his own things to attend to, so Secretary Liu is undoubtedly the best choice.

"Secretary Liu, I'll be counting on your guidance in the future."

"Director Zhang, you're too polite. Let's learn from each other."

Secretary Liu is at the regular section level, so he can no longer be brothers with Zhang Ping'an like before.

Previously, whether Zhang Ping'an was a regular section chief or a deputy division level, he could get along with him calmly, but now Zhang Ping'an is a real-power division director;

He is one level higher than him, and his relationship with Li Huaide is closer than his own. Since he doesn't have the advantage in either, he naturally won't put on airs and let Zhang Ping'an call him Brother Liu.

With the help of Secretary Liu, Zhang Ping'an quickly became familiar with the logistics work, and his current secretary, Jiang Dongsheng, also followed along to learn.

After a month or so of systematic study, Zhang Ping'an was finally able to clear up the logistics network and handle things with ease.

"Secretary Liu, thank you for your efforts over the past month."

"Hehehe, as long as I could help Director Zhang, that's all that matters."

"How about this, Secretary Liu, I'll host a dinner tonight, and we'll have a good drink. I'll call Li Ge to join us."

Secretary Liu didn't hold anything back throughout the process, and what he taught was all practical, so Zhang Ping'an had to return the favor. It's just that the conditions aren't there right now, otherwise, he would have arranged a full-service experience for him regardless of the cost.

"This, well, that's fine. I'll let Director Zhang spend his money."

"Secretary Liu, what are you saying? We are all on Factory Director Li's side, so we should naturally get closer in the future."

"Yes, yes, yes."

The two agreed on a time, and Zhang Ping'an went to tell Li Huaide. Since both sides were his people, Li Huaide naturally agreed to the invitation with pleasure.

The weather is still quite cold, and it can be considered winter. What could be more healing than a hot pot? Zhang Ping'an went straight to Donglaishun to book a private room, ordered five catties of mutton to start, and then casually ordered a few side dishes to go with the drinks.

"Come, come, Li Ge, Secretary Liu, please sit. If there's anything else you want to eat, just order it."

"Ping'an, there are only three of us, this is already enough."

"Alright then, Secretary Liu."

"Director Zhang, you should just call me by my name."

"Right, Ping'an, in private, you and Liu can just call each other by your names."

"Alright then, Zihao." Secretary Liu, whose original name is Liu Zihao, is a technical secondary school graduate and is five years older than Zhang Ping'an.

A secretary eating at the same table as the leader itself represents an attitude from Li Huaide—he has accepted him. Once Li Huaide is officially promoted, Liu Zihao will at least hold a title like Deputy Director of the Factory Office while serving as Li Huaide's secretary.

Therefore, Liu Zihao kept a very low profile during this meal, which made Zhang Ping'an feel a bit awkward.

During the meal, Li Huaide also imparted some logistics precautions to Zhang Ping'an, with Secretary Liu adding details on the side, and Zhang Ping'an nodded repeatedly as he listened.

Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles, and traveling ten thousand miles is not as good as having a master point the way; these words are not false at all.

After the three of them were full of food and wine, they each went home; Li Huaide had a driver to take him, Liu Zihao's home was not far away, and it was Zhang Ping'an who was the furthest.

It was already past eight o'clock, there was almost no one on the street, and Zhang Ping'an, who was riding his bike, was stopped by a group of people at the entrance of a hutong...