Siheyuan: Starting from the driver

Chapter 746 New Life and Choices

The next day.

Materials Science.

No longer needing to think about studies or work, Li Kailang is now completely relaxed, with nothing to worry about.

"Sigh, this is how a leader should act. What kind of work are you doing!"

Li Kailang couldn't help but sigh, stretched, and lay straight down on the chair, swinging his legs across his back.

"Now that everything's settled, I can finally relax."

He was the only one with plenty of free time in the entire materials science department; everyone else was incredibly busy.

It's the end of the month, and it's time to make tables and organize the data. Accountant Wang and Liu Mantiao are currently working overtime to make tables based on the data.

Even Zhao Xiaohai and Zhang Wei were not idle; they had to go to the warehouse to keep an eye on things.

After more than a month of learning, the two have improved their quality inspection skills considerably and are not far from being able to work independently.

After resting for a while, Li Kailang went out to a meeting with Section Chief Qian.

The first day of every week is a meeting day.

It's been a month and a half since the cleanup at the steel rolling mill, and everyone has gradually adapted to their work, with all the vacant positions being filled.

Upon entering the conference room, it was the same as always: Director Yang was speaking on the stage, and they were listening from below.

Finally, after the beating ended, Director Yang suddenly called out to Li Kailang: "Little Li, come with me for a moment."

"Okay." Li Kailang nodded, greeted Section Chief Qian, and then followed behind Factory Director Yang.

Director Yang's office.

"Xiao Li, how did the night school exam go yesterday? Was it difficult? Are you confident?" Director Yang asked with concern.

He patted Li Kailang's shoulder hard with his big hand, making his shoulder blade ache and go numb again.

Li Kailang twitched the corner of his mouth: "It feels alright. I think I answered the theoretical questions quite well, with few mistakes. The practical work also went relatively smoothly, and the completed workpiece should meet the requirements."

"The results haven't been officially announced yet. The specific scores and final results won't be revealed for another two weeks, so everything is still uncertain."

"Hey!" Factory Director Yang waved his hand dismissively. "I know you. You never fight a battle you're not sure you can win. If you say 'it's alright,' then it's a sure thing!"

"I also heard that Lao Yan praised you, which proves it even more. You can relax and just eat and sleep as usual."

He patted Li Kailang's shoulder hard again, this time a little lighter.

"Don't think about anything these days, just take a good rest! Everyone has seen how well you've performed at the factory."

"Once you get your diploma, I'll give you some extra responsibility. Take advantage of these few days before the results come out to get plenty of energy, and then we'll go all out!"

The phrase "add more burden" is quite meaningful.

Li Kailang understood immediately; this was probably a formal transfer to the technical department.

That's why Director Yang thought that way back then, and he still thinks that way later; otherwise, all that studying would have been for nothing.

"Okay! Thank you for your concern, factory manager," Li Kailang replied earnestly.

Factory Director Yang nodded in satisfaction and then asked about some details of yesterday's exam. Li Kailang shared what he could say.

Finally, Director Yang seemed to remember something and asked, "By the way, Xiao Li, how did your classmates do on their exams? Will they be able to graduate?"

Li Kailang shook his head: "I don't know, it's hard to say, but I have confidence in them."

Factory Director Yang nodded: "It's good that you have confidence. I asked you to talk to them before to see if they were interested in coming to our factory."

Previously, Director Yang had asked Li Kailang to talk to Jin Jianxian and the other two to get some fresh air and 'lure' them into the steel rolling mill.

Jin Jianxian was easier to deal with; he neither refused nor agreed. Yu Xingmei and Qi Mengru were more difficult to deal with, as neither of them agreed.

"I mentioned it, but they didn't respond. I'll talk to them again later."

"Okay, I'll have to trouble you with this. As you know, our factory lost a lot of engineers in the past few years, and we're in dire need of them right now. Every extra one is a blessing."

"Don't worry, I will try my best to persuade them."

Factory Director Yang nodded: "Alright, go and rest."

After seeing Li Kailang off, Director Yang stroked his chin: "Most of them finished their exams overnight, and the universities are about the same. I wonder if the ministry has any college graduates being assigned jobs?"

"Let's go ask and see what they think!"

Thinking of this, Director Yang immediately packed his things and headed straight for the Ministry of Metallurgy.

"Big Leader"

"Little Yang is here. What's up?"

"What are you saying? Can't I come to see you if there's nothing wrong?"

"Haha, you little rascal, you never come here without a reason. So, what's up?"

"Haha, you still couldn't escape the big boss's eyes," Director Yang said after a round of flattery, getting straight to the point.

"Boss, it's almost the end of July and August. I heard that most of the university students are graduating. I wonder if the department has any students being assigned jobs?"

"As you, sir, know, our steel rolling mill, especially the technical department, has almost lost all its experienced workers, and we are currently facing a severe shortage of manpower."

Factory Director Yang then launched into a long tirade.

The leader's smile faded slightly, he put down his pen, and leaned back a little.

“Xiao Yang, I understand your thinking, but how many factories are there across the country? From the large steel rolling mills in Beijing to the small hardware factories in the local areas, which one of them is not in dire need of college graduates? Which one of them doesn’t have a long line of people waiting to be recruited by the ministry?”

Upon hearing this, Director Yang realized that his trip had been in vain.

In recent years, every time I've come to the ministry, I've been turned away and haven't gotten anything.

"There are too many monks and not enough porridge, too many wolves and not enough meat! Don't even mention your Red Star Steel Rolling Mill, even the First Steel Rolling Mill is having trouble getting workers. With such a small allocation each year, the ministry has to balance it out, and they're all equally in need."

He spread his hands: "No, really no. The department's allocation plan has already been set, there's no way we'd put your factory in a different category."

The senior leader said earnestly, "If the factory wants to develop, it can't just think about asking for things from above; it has to find its own way."

"Yes, yes, I understand." Factory Director Yang nodded repeatedly without saying anything more. "I'll go back and think of a solution right away."

After saying goodbye, he left, with a look of joy rather than sorrow on Director Yang's face.

"Fortunately, I had planned ahead and trained Xiao Li. Otherwise, the factory would not have a single college graduate and would have been relying on the department for job assignments. When would that ever end?"

"Now it all depends on Xiao Li. If he can graduate, we not only need to put more pressure on him, but we also need to ask the ministry to train a few more college students."

On his way back, Director Yang pondered which employees in the factory were worth sending to night school for training.

Since Li Kailang was able to succeed, I didn't expect them to fail. Besides, if there's anything they don't understand, Li Kailang is there to help them.

Training Li Kailang has enabled him not only to work for the factory but also to help others learn, which has generated a lot of positive feedback!
On the way back, Director Yang looked at Wan Shen and said, "Xiao Wan, when you get back to the factory, take a look at which young people in our factory are capable and ambitious, and make a list for me."

Upon hearing this, Wan Shen was somewhat confused. "Okay, factory manager, but what do you need this list for?"

"You don't understand. The ministry is the same as before. No college graduates are assigned to us. The big leaders said we should train them ourselves."

"Well, since our factory can train Li Kailang, it's not impossible to train other college students. We need to pay attention to this. It's better to train them ourselves than to wait for the ministry to come."

Upon hearing this, Wan Shen nodded: "I understand, Factory Director. I will make arrangements as soon as I get back."

"Please pay attention to this matter." For Director Yang, cultivating Li Kailang as a case study might not preclude cultivating others.

In his eyes, if Li Kailang could succeed, others might be able to as well.

Success can be replicated!

the other side.

The Third Parts Factory.

"Tch, reading a book? Who are you trying to impress? Do you really think you can turn the world upside down just because you passed an exam? Do you think you can graduate like this?"

"Our technical department relies on real skills, not just empty paper!" Wang Lixing's voice was sharp.

Mu Guangfu chimed in, "Exactly! You're just a country bumpkin. Even if you pass the exam by sheer luck, does that make you a college student?"

"Renmin University students study in the school, but you go to night school every few days. What can you possibly learn from that?"

"Hahaha!" The two burst into laughter, not hesitating to mock him loudly.

Jin Jianxian's hand paused only slightly before he turned the newspaper over without a care, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.

Jin Jianxian paid no attention to the sarcasm from Wang Lixing and Mu Guangfu. He had been doing this for the past few years, while Jin Jianxian was tired of hearing it.

"Hey! Jin Jianxian!" Wang Lixing suddenly stood up: "Are you mute? Didn't you hear me talking to you? What are you pretending to be?!"

"Don't think you can get away with just because you passed a stupid exam. In our Third Parts Factory, you're just a mechanic who cleans up our messes!"

"Once you leave the factory, you're nothing! And you still dare to act all high and mighty in front of me?"

Wang Lixing became more and more excited as he spoke.

Jin Jianxian finally put down the newspaper, his gaze calmly sweeping over the red-faced Wang Lixing and the mocking Mu Guangfu.

The glint in his eyes was gone, replaced by an indescribable look, as if he were looking at two clowns from a different world.

"Are you done talking?" Jin Jianxian's voice was unusually calm. "If you're done, please move aside. I need to go to Workshop Two to check if the oil circuit of that drilling machine has been adjusted."

"Oh, by the way, Technician Wang, Director Zhang said he'll need the scrap rate report for last week's batch of parts at the meeting later. I wonder if you've finished it yet?"

"I hope you can hurry up, so as not to delay the meeting."

Being ostracized by the two, Kim Geon-hyun was naturally not qualified to attend the meeting.

After saying that, he stopped looking at their instantly stiff and flushed faces, picked up his toolbox, and planned to go to the workshop to avoid being disturbed by their noise.

Just then, factory manager Bao Daxing walked over.

"What's going on? What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket so early in the morning? Wang Lixing! Mu Guangfu! You two are so loud, I can hear you clearly from the other end of the corridor!"

This sudden rebuke was like a bucket of cold water poured over their heads, making Wang Lixing and Mu Guangfu shudder. Their fierce and arrogant demeanor vanished without a trace.

Wang Lixing made up a flimsy excuse: "Ah, Factory Director! It's...it's nothing serious! Really!"

He stammered incoherently, frantically trying to come up with a plausible excuse: "We were just...we were communicating with Kim Geon-hyun, yes, communicating! Teaching him something, that's right!"

Mu Guangfu also lied, saying, "Yes, yes, yes! Factory director, you are right! It was Old Wang who was discussing that technical issue with me."

"Since Jin Jianxian happened to be here, we thought we'd drop by and share some of our experience with him. We got quite animated with the discussion. 'Yes, that's right, we've finished teaching me, now we're leaving.'"

"Is that so?" Bao Daxing clearly didn't believe it, his suspicious gaze passing over the two of them and landing on Jin Jianxian, who remained silent.

Wang Lixing and Mu Guangfu's hearts jumped into their throats instantly. Their eyes were like daggers piercing Jin Jianxian's face, silently warning him as if threatening him not to speak recklessly.

Jin Jianxian ignored the two men's threats and glanced at Bao Daxing. "When I was bullied before, I never saw you care like this."
He grunted in response, but it was unclear what he meant.

On the contrary, the two felt relieved upon hearing this. "Factory manager, we still have a few fixture drawings that we need to finish urgently. If we don't get them done soon, it will delay the assembly in the workshop this afternoon."

Mu Guangfu immediately chimed in, "Yes, yes! The mission is urgent! The mission is urgent!"

Bao Daxing waved his hand, and the two hurriedly ran away, their tone deliberately gentle.

"Xiao Jin, come to my office. I have something I'd like to talk to you about in private."

"Okay, Factory Manager." Jin Jianxian looked at Bao Daxing with surprise, put down his things, and followed him to the office.

"Jianxian, please have a seat!"

Bao Daxing warmly invited him to sit down, his smile quite friendly:
"I heard you just finished your night school graduation exams yesterday? Wow, that must have been tough! These past three years haven't been easy. How did it go? Did it go well? Were you confident?"

He showed no sign of being flattered by Bao Daxing's sudden and unannounced "concern," and simply replied indifferently:
"It's alright. Nobody can say for sure whether we're confident or not; we'll have to see the results in the end."

Responding to such a cold response, Bao Daxing's smile froze for a moment: "Yes, I heard that the exam questions this time were particularly difficult, very tricky! Nobody dares to say they're absolutely sure of getting it! I understand, I understand!"

After saying that, he immediately changed the subject and asked with concern:
"How have you been at the factory lately? Is everything going smoothly at work? Have you encountered any difficulties with the technical department?"

"If you encounter any difficulties or need the factory's support, please don't hesitate to tell me! The factory will definitely give you its full support!"

"It's alright, nothing's wrong." That was the same indifferent reply.

Bao Daxing's face froze again, and he went straight to the point: "Jianxian, before... cough, before there were oversights in the factory's work!"

"You, a top student from night school, have had your brilliance tarnished! If you've been wronged, it's because I, as the factory manager, haven't done a good job!"

"Feeling wronged?" Jin Jianxian repeated the word softly, a barely perceptible smile curving his lips.

"Factory manager, my job has always been equipment repair and maintenance. It's my duty to do my job well, and I don't think I'm being wronged."

It was obvious that there was a hidden meaning in his words. How could Jin Jianxian, a technician, have been doing equipment repair all his job?

This wasn't something he was supposed to do professionally, but he did it anyway.

Kim Geon-hyun used the casual phrase "scope of duties" to gloss over the difficult years he had endured, including being ostracized and ridiculed.

This is precisely the biggest irony for Bao Daxing.

Bao Daxing's smile froze; Jin Jianxian's unyielding calmness left him feeling powerless.

"No, no, no, this is the truth! Jianxian, your abilities, especially your familiarity with the factory equipment, are absolutely top-notch! I've made my decision!"

Bao Daxing straightened his back, trying to restore some of the factory director's authority.

"From now on, you are transferred to the first group as the leader! You will enjoy engineer-level benefits! Wang Lixing, Mu Guangfu, and the others will all be under your command!"

"From now on, you'll be in charge of leading and managing the factory's core projects! What do you think?"

Bao Daxing and Jin Jianxian entrusted him with important responsibilities because of his three years of study at night school.

Regardless of whether he graduates smoothly, Jin Jianxian's three years of study are far superior to those of Wang Lixing and Mu Guangfu, who graduated from vocational schools.

The three of them were not on the same level, and this pressure came because he suddenly remembered Kim Geon-hyun.

Kim Geon-hyun looked up, his gaze finally showing a flicker of emotion, but not one of surprise.

"Thank you for your attention, Factory Director, but I have just finished my exams and am exhausted both physically and mentally. I am really unable to shoulder this heavy responsibility. Please reconsider your decision."

Bao Daxing naturally wouldn't let Jin Jianxian refuse easily, but Jin Jianxian remained unmoved and refused Bao Daxing's important task.

"Factory manager, I still have things to do in the workshop, so I'll go and get back to work."

After saying that, Jin Jianxian stood up and left without giving Bao Daxing a chance to refuse or try to persuade him to stay.

They also closed the door behind them.

(End of this chapter)