Beautiful beauties in the 80s courtyard

Chapter 772 Why are you all so special?
Meng Xiaoxin felt that her grandfather's words were as good as nothing at all.

But he still forced himself to say, "Grandpa, could you help me find out what Lu Qiaoge is doing now? Also, could I work as a temporary worker in the canteen of the State Administration of Foreign Trade?"

Grandpa Meng frowned: "Lu Qiaoge, who is she?"

Then he said, "Oh, I see. The cadre from 516 created Xiangyang brand instant noodles. She's also a victim in this dispute. Tell Grandpa, why do you want to be friends with her?"

Meng Xiaoxin lowered her head, not knowing what to say.

Grandpa Meng could tell at a glance that this was still just rambling on and on without any logic.

So he waved her away.
-
A week later, the pickle factory was transferred to the instant noodle branch factory, and is currently referred to as the pickle workshop.

Snowflakes fell in Beijing in November, but the temperature was high today, and the snow that fell last night had melted this morning.

However, the air was still chilly.

However, a large crowd had gathered in front of the row of old bungalows at the west end of Xiangyang Food Factory.

Nearly 500 workers from the pickle workshop crowded into the courtyard, the crowd stirring and buzzing with discussion like a pot of water about to boil.

Several sheets of bright red paper, still damp with ink, were pasted on the mottled gray wall, bearing handwritten assessment notices.

The notice clearly stated that the pickle workshop, which originally belonged to the main food factory, was now under the management of the Beidu Xiangyang Instant Noodles Branch Factory. A production skills assessment would be conducted within seven days. Those who passed would become formal employees of the Instant Noodles Branch Factory, while those who failed would be temporarily assigned to the factory's service station as part-time workers, pending reassignment.

"Why?"

At the front of the crowd, a man in his forties wearing an oil-stained apron blushed and said, "We've worked in the pickle workshop for so many years. I was there when the factory was built. What, you're just going to throw it away like that?"

"What... what kind of assessment? You need an assessment to make pickles? I can cut a radish to the same thickness with my eyes closed!"

"Service station...isn't that just cleaning, guarding the gate, and cleaning the toilets? No way, that's a woman's job! I can't do it..."

"That's right, we're workers at the pickle factory, legitimate state workers. Why should we be doing this kind of work at the service station?"

“You’re wrong about that. Revolutionary work has no distinction of rank or status. Why can’t we do the work at the service station? If you want to express a different opinion, you can’t say it like that.”

"What's it to you? You're always so optimistic. So, what do you suggest we say?"

“We are both workers and owners of the pickle factory. They gave the pickle factory to the instant noodle factory without our consent and then put us through an evaluation? We are going to report this to our superiors.”

The crowd grew increasingly agitated, and several young workers began to push forward, reaching out to tear down the notice on the wall.

Just then, a few experienced workers nearby reacted quickly and grabbed the young worker's hand.

You impulsive fool, you'd be making a mistake if you actually tore it up.

Old Zhou, looking rather unwell, stood before everyone and said in a hoarse voice, "There's nothing to be excited or angry about, everyone. Not just you, I have to take the test too. If I pass, I can stay in the pickle factory; if I fail, I'll have to go to the service station to sweep the streets and clean toilets..."

Old Zhou paused for a moment, then continued in a gentle voice, "This exam is open and transparent. No one can get in through connections or try to cheat. Leaders from the State Administration of Foreign Trade are personally supervising the process."

You should know that's Director Bai from the General Administration.

You should know what level of leader he is.

And judging from the notice, we only have three days, so everyone should be mentally prepared. If you pass, great; if you fail, you need to think about why you didn't pass.

Someone pointed at Lao Zhou and said, "You're the workshop director, you might have already made a reservation in advance."

Old Zhou said with a wry smile, "Everyone should know what kind of person I am. Although I haven't achieved much in my work, I never lie."

I'm telling the truth; I really will be taking the exam with you all.

Believe it if you want, I can't stop you if you don't. Besides, what's there to get worked up about?

Students have to take exams to go to school, and factory workers have to participate in skills competitions.

Why are you so special?
Alright, alright, I'm not going to waste any more time with you. Once you've understood the notice, hurry home.

The pickle factory has now completely ceased production.

Director Lü, who was standing not far away, nodded to Lu Qiaoge and said, "Although Lao Zhou has his problems, he is still a decent director in terms of the overall direction."

At least he didn't stir up everyone's emotions because of personal grudges.

Lu Qiaoge nodded in agreement.

Even Lu Qiaoge was a little puzzled as to how this small pickle factory managed to fit more than 500 workers.
Then I thought of the overcrowded food factory and the conversation between the old factory director and Director Bai.

It seems that everyone has realized this problem and is trying to find ways to broaden employment channels and create new jobs.

So this pickle factory should be moved, and a large factory area should be built in this area next year.

Moving to the suburbs is impractical now, as the infrastructure is inadequate. Most workers live in the city, and commuting is a problem, resulting in high additional costs.

It would be better to build a larger workshop in this factory.

Even with rapid development, it will take at least seven or eight years for a dramatic change to occur, provided that current policies are in place.

But the happiest person was Old Min.

In any case, the instant noodle factory I've been longing for has expanded again.
-
Lu Qiaoge was unable to attend the exam because she was at school.

It was Director Bai and Director Lü who went.

Lu Qiaoge listened attentively to the lesson in the classroom.

After class, I learned about the situation from Xiao Cangcang.

Director Bai invited two retired soy sauce factory masters from the General Administration to serve as examiners, and also borrowed measuring instruments from the Food Research Institute.

Old Zhou participated in the food preparation assessment.

On the worktable are uniform local radishes and a specially made graduated cutting board.

The requirements are as follows: cut one pound of radish into even shreds, with requirements for length, time, and thickness.

When the whistle blew, Lao Zhou took a deep breath and picked up the radish. He had been practicing for the past few days and finally realized that his skills had not improved but had actually deteriorated.

The workers, including the workshop director, bear some responsibility for the current state of the pickle factory.

Moreover, the responsibility is enormous.

So Lao Zhou decided to set a good example.

Even those who are not accepted will willingly go to the service station.

He did the same thing to the workers below him.

So the overall atmosphere was quite harmonious.
-
Seven days later, the list of successful candidates was posted again. Of the 487 workers who participated in the assessment, 121 passed, and the rest were temporarily transferred to the service station.

There was no crying or fuss as expected. Those who passed suppressed their joy and silently returned to the workshop to prepare for the trial run of the new production line, while those who failed went to the service station with their heads down.

(End of this chapter)