Chapter 26: Chapter Twenty-Six: Thirty-Seven Yuan and Fifty Fen

The older woman who had spoken earlier was not affected by Li Xuewu’s words—office talk was never to be taken seriously.

Only when Li Xuewu handed her a file and a reporting certificate did she take notice.

It turned out that Factory Director Yang had already completed his evaluations and assigned his direction: still a cadre position, Security Section Staff Member.

The Security Staff Member position could serve as a stepping stone from worker to cadre status, or merely as a supporting role within security—usually not a cadre—but Li Xuewu’s role as Security Staff Member was a cadre position with Grade-yuan status, which carried significance: this was clearly grassroots training, a low-rank but high-grade assignment.

This young man was no ordinary fellow—he looked barely eighteen or nineteen.

Thinking this, the middle-aged woman’s attitude underwent a 180-degree turn.

“Oh, young man, you look sharp—have a seat and let’s talk.”

As she spoke, she handed Li Xuewu a cup of hot water.

Li Xuewu had no wish to offend anyone needlessly, especially not someone from Personnel.

He quickly accepted it with both hands, bowing slightly: “Thank you, Sister.”

The middle-aged woman opened Li Xuewu’s file, saw he was a high school graduate with a demobilization record, neighborhood evaluation, and award documents, and promptly praised: “You’re a frontline hero, aren’t you?”

The middle-aged woman filed Li Xuewu’s documents, had him fill out several forms, and collected a few one-inch photos.

She told him to wait there, then took the forms and stepped out.

Li Xuewu sat holding his teacup, drinking; about half an hour passed before the middle-aged woman returned.

“Alright, we’ll send a letter to handle your Party organizational relations—you’ll be temporarily assigned to the Security Section’s Party group. Keep an eye on the bulletin board outside the office building, and remember to attend group activities.”

“Your position is Security Section Staff Member. Since you’re a demobilized platoon leader with a high school diploma and frontline combat honors, per Factory Director Yang’s instructions, your salary grade is set at Level 25 on the state civil servant scale—Section-level Staff.”

Li Xuewu knew Director Liu from the neighborhood had pulled the right strings—he’d clearly spoken well of him; landing straight as a Section-level Staff member was the lifelong goal of many.

Though his battlefield service was the reason, it was still a high starting point—and besides, his monthly salary was thirty-seven yuan and fifty fen, a high wage. (I checked the data: I confirm that in Category Six regions, Beijing’s lowest Section-level Staff salary is Level 25 at 37.5 yuan.)

Hearing Li Xuewu’s assignment, everyone in the office turned their gaze toward him, filled with envy.

The middle-aged woman stood and said: “Come on, I’ll take you to meet the Deputy Director and Director of Security, then to see Deputy Factory Director Li—he specifically requested to meet you.”

Li Xuewu thanked her, rose, and followed her out of the office; the eyes of everyone inside seemed ready to melt him.

Outside, the middle-aged woman introduced herself: “I’m Xie—I work in Personnel. If you need anything, come find me, don’t be afraid to trouble me.”

Li Xuewu was quick to read the room—he seized the opportunity, immediately calling her “Sister,” skipping her surname entirely, saying: “Today’s been such a bother, Sister—I’ll make it up to you once everything’s settled.”

Sister Xie was a seasoned veteran in Personnel; seeing Li Xuewu understood the game, she was happy to guide him.

Sister Xie walked as she spoke: “The Security Section has two divisions: Public Order and Security. Originally twenty-six people, responsible for security across all workshops and the entire compound—also handling minor crimes by workers. The Section Chief is Wang Jindong—he’s very domineering; even Deputy Factory Director Li can’t get him to move.”

As Sister Xie spoke, Li Xuewu listened; they walked slowly, voices low.

On the corridor, Sister Xie greeted people they passed.

Li Xuewu followed suit, nodding politely; seeing he was reasonable, she gladly introduced him.

After all, it was a cadre position—there was an office up ahead.

As they walked, Sister Xie pointed to the third floor: “The third floor is for department-level cadres—Factory Director Yang, Deputy Factory Director Li, Deputy Factory Director Nie, and other bureau-level officials all work here. All Section Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs have small cubicles in the main office.”

Sister Xie led Li Xuewu around the stairs to the third floor.

“The Security Section Director is Fu Bin—a veteran, also a demobilized cadre. There’s one Deputy Director: Dong Wenxue. The Security Section includes the Security Section, Fire Prevention Section, Confidentiality Section, and the Worker Militia Armed Guard Unit. Excluding temporary militiamen and guards, the section has forty-eight people; the militia maintains fifty, and the guard unit twenty.”

Li Xuewu exclaimed: “The Security Section is quite sizable.”

Sister Xie smiled: “It’s alright—we have over ten thousand workers, with dormitories; too few people couldn’t cover it.”

“Still, that’s nearly half a company. Add the militia and guards, and it’s a full-strength company,” Li Xuewu said.

Sister Xie wasn’t surprised by his military-style phrasing—she knew he was newly demobilized, still thinking in army terms.

“The factory’s security force can’t compare to the military. The Security Section is weak—petty thefts happen often in the dorms, theft and smuggling in the canteen, militia training is half-hearted. Fu Bin’s old and doesn’t want to exert himself; Dong Wenxue is a latecomer who doesn’t understand the job.”

Sister Xie shook her head, clearly dissatisfied.

Such talk was only to be heard, not believed—office talk held no truth, nor falsehood. Li Xuewu had learned this lesson in his past life.

On the third floor, Sister Xie led Li Xuewu to a room on the right, one office away from Factory Director Yang’s; the sign read “Deputy Factory Director.”

Sister Xie tapped lightly on the door, then tapped twice more.

After ten seconds, a faint “Come” came from inside.

Usually, minor leaders say “Come in,” though some senior ones do too; high-quality ones say “Please come in”; others say “Come.” It’s something for the reader to savor—the tone, manner, and wording reveal a leader’s character almost perfectly.

Sister Xie led Li Xuewu inside. Seeing Deputy Factory Director lift his head slightly, she picked up the thermos from the hallway cabinet, walked to his desk, lifted the porcelain teacup lid, and refilled his cup.

After replacing the lid, she walked back and said: “Director, this young man is Li Xuewu—just demobilized, a frontline hero with combat honors. His education may not match yours, but he’s a high school graduate.”

Hearing Sister Xie’s introduction, Deputy Factory Director finally looked Li Xuewu over properly.

Li Xuewu stepped forward, saluted, and said softly: “Comrade Leader, greetings. I was formerly reconnaissance platoon leader of the Tiger Regiment, wounded and demobilized. Reporting for duty.”

Deputy Factory Director said several “Good”s.

“Good! Our factory needs talents like you. Security work here needs professionals like you—demobilized cadres with quality. I think we should recruit more military talents like Li Xuewu—especially since he’s a demobilized cadre!”

baimengshu.