In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

At 6:30 a.m. sharp, Yang Guangming woke up on time.

The sky outside the window was still a deep blue, with only a faint glimmer of dawn breaking in the eastern horizon. The factory area was silent; the boiler room in the distance had not yet begun its roar.

He sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. He hadn't slept particularly soundly, after all, he was in a completely new environment. The wooden plank bed beneath him was hard and far less comfortable than the earthen bed at home. Although the bedding was fluffy, it lacked the familiar scent of home.

He got up quietly and put on the uniform that was placed on the bedside table. He buttoned it up, and immediately looked much more energetic.

Zhao Xiaohu was still asleep on the opposite bed, snoring evenly. Yang Guangming didn't wake him. He picked up a washbasin and a towel, gently opened the door, and walked towards the public washroom at the end of the corridor.

Two early risers were already washing up in the washroom. When they saw Yang Guangming come in, they both gave him a few curious glances. Yang Guangming nodded to them as a greeting, and then filled a basin with cold water.

On a March morning, the tap water was icy cold. He soaked a towel, wrung it out, and vigorously rubbed his face. The icy sensation instantly dispelled the last trace of sleepiness, waking him up completely.

After washing up, he returned to his room. Zhao Xiaohu was still asleep. After thinking for a moment, he gently nudged him.

"Little Tiger, it's time to get up."

"Brother Guangming, up so early?" Xiao Hu yawned and groggily opened his eyes.

"I'm used to it. I get up at this time in the village too." Yang Guangming put the washbasin back on the shelf. "You should get up too, the canteen will be serving meals soon."

"Okay, I'll get up now." Xiao Hu stretched and started getting dressed.

Yang Guangming stood by the window, watching the sky gradually brighten outside. The outline of the factory area gradually became clear in the morning mist, and smoke began to rise from the distant chimneys.

His gaze fell on the low bungalows and several tenement buildings downstairs.

Ever since he moved into this two-person dorm room yesterday, he has had a vague sense of dissatisfaction.

Admittedly, compared to those dormitories crammed with six or more people, this two-person room is considered "luxurious." It has relatively private space, a window, and a table and chairs.

But after moving in, he truly felt the many inconveniences.

The most direct issue is food.

The entire fourth floor was dormitory space for single workers, all of whom were young, unmarried men. They ate all three meals a day in the canteen; no one cooked for themselves.

Since Xiao Hu is often away from the two-person room where Yang Guangming lives, he could easily buy a small coal stove and cook in the corridor like the other residents on the other floors.

But he didn't want to do that.

So compelling.

If he's the only one on the entire floor cooking in the hallway, it's tantamount to telling everyone: I have special channels to get ingredients, I'm not short of money.

In an era of extreme scarcity and where everyone is unusually sensitive to food, such unconventional behavior would attract too much unnecessary attention and speculation.

He understood the principle of "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down" better than anyone.

So last night, he preferred to go to the cafeteria and get a plate of stir-fried cabbage with vinegar and two steamed buns, which he ate with plain water, rather than even think about cooking for himself in the dormitory.

The food in the cafeteria... is really not very good.

The coarse cornbread and bland vegetables were indeed hard to swallow for him, as he was used to the refined food in his previous life. The pheasant he had in the mountains yesterday at noon turned out to be the most delicious meal he had since arriving in this era.

He had thought about it before going to bed last night. If Xiaohu wasn't there, he would rather eat some cold food stored in his space with hot water—even a cold steamed bun or a piece of braised beef would be a hundred times better than the food in the cafeteria.

But this sneaky way of eating is not a long-term solution.

Human desires are indeed endless.

Just yesterday, other single young workers were envious of him for being able to live in a double room, but now he's already starting to consider the possibility of having his own room.

If one could be allocated a room of their own, even if it was just a small room in a tenement building, their living conditions would be greatly improved.

At least you'll have a relatively private space where you can quietly cook something without worrying about being seen. Having a separate room makes many inconvenient things much more convenient.

But allocating housing... is easier said than done.

Yang Guangming was well aware of his situation. He had just started working and was a newcomer with no connections. Normally, to get a house, one had to wait in line based on seniority, years of service, and contributions, which could take anywhere from three to five years to eight to ten years.

So many dual-income families in the factory are crammed into the dormitory, and so many young workers waiting to get married can't even get a single room. Why should he, a newly arrived bachelor, get priority?
Unless... makes a special contribution.

The sound of the factory's public address system came from outside the window, playing the morning news and music. This was the wake-up call, and the corridor gradually became lively, with the sounds of doors opening, footsteps, washing up, and talking all mixed together.

"Brother Guangming, I'm ready, let's go?" Xiao Hu was already dressed and carrying a lunchbox and an enamel mug.

Yang Guangming snapped out of his thoughts and nodded: "Let's go eat."

The two locked the door and followed the crowd down the stairs.

Many of the young workers he encountered on the stairs cast curious glances at Yang Guangming. News of the hunting team's successful hunt yesterday had already spread within the factory, and he, the newly arrived deputy captain, naturally became the focus of attention.

Yang Guangming remained calm, simply nodding in response to Xiao Hu's occasional introductions and greetings, neither appearing indifferent nor overly enthusiastic.

Stepping out of Building 4, the morning air was crisp and fresh.

On the way to the cafeteria, Xiao Hu whispered, "Brother Guangming, have you noticed? A lot of people are looking at you."

“I saw it,” Yang Guangming said. “It must be because word got out that the hunting team had a great haul yesterday.”

"That's right, more than 30 prey and more than 70 kilograms of meat. This is the first time in our factory!" Xiao Hu said with pride, after all, he was also one of the heroes. "The canteen will definitely have meat dishes at noon or dinner today. I wonder if I can get some meat soup."

Yang Guangming smiled but didn't say anything.

Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory has four canteens.

There are two large canteens for ordinary workers to eat in.

There is a canteen for cadres next to the administration building, which is used for cadres to eat.

There is also a small canteen, which is a special canteen for entertaining guests. It is not open to the public at other times and is only used to receive superiors and guests from other units.

Yang Guangming was a cadre and, according to regulations, was entitled to use the cadre canteen. However, being new to the area, he originally planned to go to the main canteen, but Zhao Xiaohu stopped him.

“Brother Guangming, you’re a cadre, so it’s only natural for you to eat in the cadre canteen,” Zhao Xiaohu said. “Besides, the main canteen is crowded and the queues are long. Why don’t I come along with you today and see what the food in the cadre canteen is like?”

Yang Guangming thought about it and felt it made sense, so he followed Zhao Xiaohu toward the cadre canteen.

The staff canteen is located in the southeast corner of the factory area. It's a standalone bungalow, much smaller than the main canteen, but it looks very clean. A wooden sign that reads "Staff Canteen" hangs at the entrance, with the words in red, making it very eye-catching.

Upon entering the canteen, I found a dozen or so people already seated. Most were middle-aged, over forty years old, dressed in Zhongshan suits or cadre uniforms, sitting in twos and threes, eating and chatting quietly.

A few people glanced at Yang Guangming and Zhao Xiaohu as they entered, but quickly looked away. Yang Guangming, a new face, attracted a little attention, but no one really cared. There were quite a few managers in the factory, and not everyone knew each other.

There was only one food serving window, far fewer than in the main canteen. Behind the window, a middle-aged man in his fifties, wearing a white apron, was serving food.

The two walked over and looked at today's breakfast.

The staple foods were cornbread and steamed buns made from a mixture of corn and water, placed in two large baskets. There were only two side dishes: a bowl of pickled radish strips and a bowl of pickled vegetable shreds. Next to them was a large bucket of steaming cornmeal porridge.

Yang Guangming ordered two steamed buns made from a mixture of wheat and water, a spoonful of pickled vegetable shreds, and half a pot of corn porridge. Zhao Xiaohu ordered two cornbread buns, also with the same pickled vegetables.

The two found a table by the window and sat down.

Yang Guangming took a bite of the steamed bun. The mixed-flour bun was made with a blend of wheat and cornmeal, giving it a rough texture but a strong wheat flavor. The pickled vegetable shreds were on the saltier side, perfect for eating with rice. The corn porridge was thin but piping hot, and it felt very comforting in his stomach.

He ate slowly, his gaze casually sweeping over the other cadres dining in the canteen.

Zhao Xiaohu followed his gaze and looked over. He only knew a few of them and gave Guangming a brief introduction.

After listening to the introduction, Yang Guangming looked away. He still needed to gradually familiarize himself with the factory's hierarchical structure and personnel network.

The two quickly finished their breakfast. Zhao Xiaohu stuffed the last bite of cornbread into his mouth and mumbled, "Brother Guangming, I'm going to the training ground. Are you going to training today?"

"We'll talk about it later. I need to go to my office first," Yang Guangming said. "You go ahead and get busy."

"Okay, I'm off then." Zhao Xiaohu picked up his lunchbox and mug, rinsed them briefly at the sink, and then hurriedly left the cafeteria.

Yang Guangming wasn't in a hurry to leave. He finished the rest of his porridge, sat for a while, and observed the people coming and going in the cafeteria.

The cadres generally ate slowly, with most chatting as they ate, some even discussing work while eating. This is probably a characteristic of the cadre canteen—it's not just a place to eat, but also an informal space for communication.

He stood up, washed the lunchbox and jar, put them back in the mesh bag, and then walked out of the canteen.

As Yang Guangming arrived at the office building, he bumped into Li Daguo, who was walking from the other side, just as he reached the entrance.

"Guangming! Good morning!" Li Daguo's voice was loud and clear, full of energy. Today he was wearing a neat security uniform, his hat was on properly, and he looked much more energetic than he had been in the mountains yesterday.

"Good morning, Captain Li," Yang Guangming greeted him with a smile.

Li Daguo walked over and patted Yang Guangming on the shoulder. "How did you sleep last night? Are you settling into the dorm?"

"It's great, Xiaohu takes good care of me."

"That kid Xiao Hu is pretty good, really." Li Daguo nodded, and the two walked side by side toward the Public Security Section office.

As they spoke, the two arrived at the door of the Public Security Section office.

The office door was ajar, and voices could be heard coming from inside. Li Daguo pushed the door open and went in, with Yang Guangming following behind him.

This is a fairly large office, filled with desks, about 30 to 40 square meters. On the walls hang a factory map, safety regulations signs, and some banners and certificates of merit. In the corner are a filing cabinet and a long sofa.

There are already several people in the office at this moment.

Behind a desk by the window sat a man in his mid-thirties, rather thin, wearing a security guard uniform, looking down at a document. Hearing a noise, he looked up, revealing a sharply defined face.

"Captain Li, you're here?" The man's voice wasn't loud, but it was very penetrating.

"Good morning, Captain Zhang." Li Daguo replied with a smile, then stepped aside to let Yang Guangming step forward. "Come on, Guangming, let me introduce you. This is Captain Zhang Jianjun of the Public Security Team, a core member of our Public Security Section."

Yang Guangming stepped forward, stood at attention, and saluted: "Hello, Captain Zhang, I am Yang Guangming."

Zhang Jianjun stood up, glanced at Yang Guangming, his face expressionless, but the scrutiny in his eyes was obvious. He returned the greeting and extended his hand: "Comrade Yang Guangming, welcome. I heard you performed exceptionally well yesterday."

His hands were dry and strong, and he shook hands with great deference.

"Captain Zhang, you flatter me. I'm new here and still have a lot to learn from you," Yang Guangming said.

"Let's learn from each other." Zhang Jianjun released his grip, sat back in his chair, and continued reading the documents without saying another word.

Li Daguo gave Yang Guangming a wink, signaling him not to worry about it, and then turned to another desk.

Behind the table sat a slightly overweight man in his forties, drinking tea from an enamel mug. Seeing Li Daguo and Yang Guangming approach, he put down the mug and smiled.

"Old Li, so early? This must be the new Comrade Yang Guangming, right?" The man's voice was gentle, and his eyes narrowed into slits when he smiled.

"Captain Wang has a good eye," Li Daguo said with a smile. "Guangming, this is Captain Wang Fugui of the patrol team."

"Hello, Captain Wang." Yang Guangming saluted again.

"Alright, alright, don't be so polite." Wang Fugui waved his hand, not getting up, but his attitude was very amiable. "Sit down, sit down. I've heard that our hunting team has a capable person who single-handedly killed four wild boars, and yesterday he hunted more than thirty game. Amazing!"

"Just lucky," Yang Guangming said modestly.

“Luck is also a skill,” Wang Fugui laughed. “With you in our security section, the meat supply in the canteen will be guaranteed. My stomach has been craving meat for a long time.”

As he spoke, he patted his slightly protruding belly, which made everyone else in the office laugh.

Li Daguo then introduced the other two team leaders.

The captain of the guard team was Zhou Guoping, who was in his forties, tall, with dark skin. He didn't talk much, but his eyes were very steady. He was responsible for guarding important parts of the factory area.

The deputy captain of the security team was named He Dongliang. He was in his early thirties, looked very capable, and was Zhang Jianjun's right-hand man.

The patrol team's deputy captain was named Sun Youcai, who was about the same age as Wang Fugui and had a more outgoing personality. He took the initiative to chat with Yang Guangming for a few minutes.

After the introductions, Li Daguo looked around the office and said, "Is it our hunting team's turn to be on duty today?"

“Yes, it’s your turn. The thermos flasks are all empty, we need to go get some water,” Wang Fugui said.

“Okay, I’ll do it.” Li Daguo picked up two thermos flasks from the corner and said to Yang Guangming, “Guangming, I’ll go get some water. You clean the office. It’s all my fault for being so careless. I forgot it was my turn to clean today. Please check the duty roster later and remind me next time. I should have come a few minutes earlier so it would have been easier to clean.”

Yang Guangming responded and found a broom to start sweeping. Li Daguo took the thermos and went out.

The office floor was cement, not too dirty, but with some scraps of paper and dust. Yang Guangming swept it very carefully, leaving no corner untouched.

After sweeping the floor, Yang Guangming wiped the desk and windowsill with a rag. Just then, Li Daguo returned with water, filling two thermos flasks to the brim.

"This is for the section chief's personal use." Li Daguo placed a thermos next to Section Chief Tian's desk. "This is for everyone's use."

He had just finished running the water when the office door was pushed open and Section Chief Tian walked in.

"Are you all here?" Section Chief Tian glanced around the office, saw Yang Guangming and Li Daguo busy at work, and nodded. "Daguo, Guangming, thank you for your hard work."

“Of course, Section Chief,” Li Daguo said.

Section Chief Tian walked to his desk, sat down, placed his briefcase on the table, and then looked at Yang Guangming.

"Comrade Yang Guangming, the day before yesterday was your first day at work. You went straight to the training ground, and yesterday you went hunting in the mountains. You haven't had time to stay in the office. Today is the perfect day for me to formally introduce you to the captains of our security section."

Yang Guangming quickly put down the rag, and the other team leaders also looked over.

"Our security section currently has three standing teams," Section Chief Tian began to introduce. "The security team is responsible for security management, dispute mediation, and preliminary case handling within the factory area. It is the core force of our section. The team leader is Zhang Jianjun, and the deputy team leader is He Dongliang."

Zhang Jianjun and Liu Zhiqiang both nodded towards Yang Guangming.

"The patrol team is responsible for daily patrols of the factory area and surrounding areas, safety hazard investigation, fire prevention and theft prevention, etc. The team leader is Wang Fugui, and the deputy team leader is Sun Youcai."

Wang Fugui smiled broadly, and Sun Youcai also smiled.

"The guard team is responsible for guarding important areas such as the factory gate, warehouses, and laboratories, as well as escorting important materials. The captain is Zhou Guoping."

Zhou Guoping nodded calmly.

Section Chief Tian paused for a moment, then continued, "The hunting team is currently under the jurisdiction of the Public Security Section, but it is a temporary team and not a permanent staff. Its main task is to provide meat for the factory canteen to improve the employees' meals, and it also undertakes some patrol tasks around the factory area when necessary."

He looked at Yang Guangming and said, "Although Comrade Yang Guangming has just arrived, he has outstanding abilities and made significant contributions. I hope you can integrate into the team as soon as possible, communicate more with the team leaders, and learn more from them."

Yang Guangming stood at attention and said, "Thank you, Section Chief. I will definitely study hard, familiarize myself with the work as soon as possible, and cooperate well with all the team leaders." Section Chief Tian nodded in satisfaction and then said to everyone, "Have you all heard about the hunting team's harvest yesterday? Thirty-four game animals, more than seventy pounds of meat. This is the largest single harvest since our Security Section was established. Comrade Yang Guangming personally contributed twenty-six game animals. His marksmanship is superb, and his observation skills are keen. He is a rare talent."

A murmur of admiration rippled through the office. Wang Fugui led the applause: "Great! That really makes our section chief proud!"

Although Zhang Jianjun didn't applaud, he nodded, and his gaze toward Yang Guangming held less scrutiny and more approval.

Zhou Guoping stated directly, "Talented people are welcome everywhere."

Section Chief Tian gestured for silence, then said, "It's good that the hunting team has such a good harvest, but it also puts pressure on them. I hope Da Guo and Guang Ming will remain humble and continue to maintain this momentum. Other teams should also learn from them and do their jobs well."

"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison.

"Alright, everyone go back to your work." Section Chief Tian waved his hand. "Da Guo, Guang Ming, come to my office for a moment, I have something to say to you."

Li Daguo and Yang Guangming exchanged a glance and followed Section Chief Tian into the section chief's office in the inner room.

Section Chief Tian's office was smaller than the larger office outside, but it was more tidy. It contained a desk, a chair, two filing cabinets, a two-seater sofa, and two wooden chairs.

"Sit down." Section Chief Tian pointed to the two wooden chairs and sat down behind his desk.

Li Daguo and Yang Guangming sat down properly, waiting for their leader to give them instructions.

Section Chief Tian did not speak immediately. Instead, he picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of water, put the cup down, and glanced at the two men.

"I called you in because there are a few things I need to tell you," Section Chief Tian said, his voice gentler than when he was outside, but still carrying the authority of a leader. "First of all, Comrade Guangming has just arrived. Is there any difficulty in your life? If so, just say so, and the section will try its best to help."

Yang Guangming immediately replied, "Thank you for your concern, Section Chief. I'm fine and have no difficulties."

"Really nothing?" Section Chief Tian pressed. "Are you settling in well? How's the food? Are you lacking any toiletries?"

"Everything is fine," Yang Guangming said. "The dormitory conditions are better than I expected. There is a cafeteria for meals, and I have also prepared all the daily necessities."

Section Chief Tian nodded, but then changed the subject: "However, a two-person dormitory is ultimately just a temporary place to live. You may not know this now, but housing in the factory has always been very tight. Many dual-income families are still crammed into the collective dormitory, waiting for housing for several years."

He paused, looking at Yang Guangming: "What are your thoughts on housing?"

That's a very direct question.

Yang Guangming's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm on the surface: "Section Chief, I'm new here and inexperienced, so I don't dare to have any ideas. I'm already very content to have a place to live. As for housing allocation, we can wait in line later."

"Queuing?" Section Chief Tian chuckled. "According to the normal procedure, as a newly arrived bachelor, you'd have to wait at least three to five years to get a house, and it also depends on luck."

He placed his hands on the table: "However, our hunting team has a special policy."

Yang Guangming's heart raced slightly. He knew the crucial moment was approaching.

Li Daguo also perked up his ears, clearly concerned about the matter.

"When the hunting team was first established, in order to motivate everyone, I formulated some incentive policies with the factory's approval," Section Chief Tian said slowly. "These were mainly reflected in two aspects: first, additional points for housing allocation, and second, salary increases."

He opened the drawer, took out a document, and flipped through it.

"The factory set a basic requirement for the hunting team: each trip into the mountains must yield no less than 30 kilograms of game. If the average yield per trip in a month exceeds this level, there will be a reward."

Section Chief Tian looked up at the two of them and said, "Before the light arrives, this standard... seems a bit too high. The hunting team has been established for almost a year, and each month's single harvest is below this level, so we have never received any rewards."

Li Daguo scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly: "Section Chief, it's because we're incompetent..."

“Let’s not dwell on the past,” Section Chief Tian waved his hand. “Things are different now. Since Comrade Guangming joined, he hunted over 70 jin of game yesterday, far exceeding the standard of 30 jin. If he can maintain this level, he will definitely receive an award.”

Yang Guangming listened attentively without interrupting.

"The rewards are divided into group rewards and individual rewards," Section Chief Tian continued. "Group rewards are some benefits for all members of the hunting team, such as giving out more bath tickets, movie tickets, or some daily necessities. The rewards are not much."

“But the individual rewards are quite substantial.” His tone became serious. “That is, the points for housing allocation and salary increases that I just mentioned.”

He opened the document and pointed to a provision: "According to the previous regulations, if the reward target is reached in a given month, the individual harvest of the hunting team members will be counted towards their points."

Small game is scored individually, with one point awarded per animal. Medium to large game weighing over ten pounds are scored according to a separate system, depending on whether the hunt is solo or group.

Section Chief Tian looked at Yang Guangming: "Yesterday you personally hunted twenty-six game animals. If you can reach the reward standard by the end of the month, it can be included in the reward points, for a total of twenty-six points."

"According to the document, individuals with more than 500 points will have priority in obtaining housing and will receive a salary increase of one level," Section Chief Tian said, emphasizing each word. "If Comrade Guangming can earn 20 or 30 points every time he goes into the mountains, he can accumulate 500 points in two or three months at most."

The office was silent for a few seconds.

Li Daguo's eyes widened, and his breathing became rapid. Although Yang Guangming remained outwardly calm, his heart was also in turmoil.

Housing will be allocated in two or three months? And there's even a salary increase?
This temptation is too great!
Section Chief Tian observed the two men's reactions and smiled slightly: "The reward standards agreed upon by the factory committee will not be discounted."

As long as Comrade Guangming can do this, he will immediately be eligible for housing allocation, or at least a single room in a tenement building.

At the same time, the salary will be increased from the current level 10 clerk to level 9 clerk.

Yang Guangming took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and solemnly said, "Section Chief, I will do my best to ensure a good harvest every time I go into the mountains, and live up to your expectations."

"Good! That's the attitude we need!" Section Chief Tian was pleased, but then he changed the subject, "However, attitude alone is not enough; it needs to be put into action. Hunting involves an element of luck, but it relies even more on skill and preparation. Da Guo, as the team leader, you need to cooperate well, provide logistical support, and create the best conditions for Guangming."

"Don't worry, Section Chief!" Li Daguo patted his chest. "I will fully cooperate with Guangming! I'll give him whatever he wants, and I'll find a way to get whatever he lacks!"

Section Chief Tian nodded, but the conversation wasn't over yet.

He looked at Li Daguo, his eyes becoming deep: "Daguo, what I just talked about was individual awards. Now, I want to talk about the team, which is related to your and Guangming's long-term development."

Li Daguo sat up straight: "Section Chief, please speak."

“You all know that the hunting team is a temporary squad.” Section Chief Tian’s tone became serious. “Based on the previous harvest, the workers have a lot of complaints—even though there is a hunting team in the factory, we can’t get any meat, and the little game we catch is all used for hospitality. The factory leaders also take this public opinion pressure very seriously.”

He sighed: "The current supply of non-staple foods is indeed too tight, and we have to receive visiting leaders from higher levels or inspections from other units. So the hunting team is necessary, even if the workers have some complaints, we have to keep going. But once the supply of non-staple foods returns to normal, the hunting team will probably have to be disbanded in order to quell public opinion."

Li Daguo's face darkened. He knew that Section Chief Tian was telling the truth.

Since its inception, the hunting team's harvests have been consistently poor, and the workers have indeed expressed their discontent. If this continues, it's highly likely that this temporary team will be disbanded once the supply of non-staple foods improves.

But what Section Chief Tian said next rekindled his hope.

“But—” Section Chief Tian drawled, “the addition of Comrade Guangming and yesterday’s huge gains have given me hope for a turning point.”

He stood up, paced around the office, and turned to look at the two men: "If the hunting party can maintain yesterday's level of success, or even better, the situation will be completely different."

After deducting the necessary expenses for hospitality, more than half of the 70-plus kilograms of prey could still be supplied to the main canteen.

Even if it's divided among thousands of workers, each person will at least get a taste of meat. If this becomes the norm, the workers' complaints will naturally subside.

Section Chief Tian emphasized, "In this way, the hunting team will not only not be disbanded, but may even become a permanent squad of the Public Security Section!"

Permanent Squad!

Li Daguo's breath hitched, and his eyes widened. Yang Guangming was also shaken.

Both of them knew what this meant.

Temporary squads and permanent squads are worlds apart.

The captain and deputy captain of a temporary squad are, frankly speaking, temporary positions that can be lost at any time if the squad is disbanded.

However, the captains and deputy captains of the standing squads are real, with formal ranks and benefits.

Section Chief Tian walked back to his desk and sat down, looking at the two of them: "As the section chief, I certainly hope that day will come. If the hunting team can become a permanent squad, it will be a good thing for our entire security section."

He paused, then continued, "And once the hunting team becomes a permanent institution, then your position as captain, Da Guo, and Guang Ming's position as vice-captain, will be retained."

“More importantly—” Section Chief Tian’s voice carried an enticing tone, “the captains and deputy captains of the squads under the Public Security Section can reach the highest rank of Level 1 Clerk, which is the 19th administrative level, with a monthly salary of 78 yuan.”

Seventy-eight yuan!

Li Daguo gasped. He was currently an eighth-level clerk, earning thirty-three yuan a month. A first-level clerk was a position he never dared to dream of.

Although Yang Guangming remained relatively calm, his heart was also stirred. He started as a level 10 clerk, earning 27.5 yuan a month. If he could rise all the way to level 1 clerk, his salary would almost triple.

"Of course, it's impossible for you to be promoted to this level all at once," Section Chief Tian smiled. "But before reaching this limit, as long as you achieve results, your promotion speed will be much faster than that of ordinary cadres."

He looked at Li Daguo: "Daguo, you are currently an eighth-level clerk. If the hunting team becomes a permanent institution, you, as the captain, can be promoted at least one or two levels. Guangming is currently a tenth-level clerk, and he can be promoted as well."

He then looked at Yang Guangming and said, "As for whether you can be promoted to a first-level clerk as soon as possible, it depends on how hard you work and how much you gain."

There was a brief silence in the office.

Li Daguo's chest heaved, clearly deeply moved by these words. He rubbed his hands together, his voice trembling slightly: "Section Chief, you...you're telling the truth? It's really possible that the hunting team could become a permanent operation?"

"It's all up to human effort," Section Chief Tian said seriously. "As long as you can produce tangible results and show the factory leaders the value and necessity of the hunting team, I have every reason to advocate for it. I've worked in the factory for so many years, so my words still carry some weight."

He paused, then added, "But the prerequisite is that you have to give me the confidence to fight for it. Achievements like yesterday's can't just happen once or twice; they have to become the norm!"

Li Daguo suddenly stood up and said excitedly, "Section Chief, don't worry! Guangming and I will definitely work hard! No, not just work hard, we'll fight tooth and nail! We'll make sure the hunting team's success becomes the norm!"

Yang Guangming also stood up and said solemnly, "Section Chief, I will do my best to cooperate with Captain Li to do a good job in the hunting team and strive to have a good harvest every time we go into the mountains."

"Good! Good! Good!" Section Chief Tian said three times, a satisfied smile on his face. "This is exactly the kind of enthusiasm I wanted!"

He waved his hand, gesturing for the two to sit down: "However, enthusiasm alone is not enough; we also need methods. Hunting is a skill as well as a physical activity. Guangming, you are the main force, so you need to be careful and also take breaks. Don't overwork yourself. Daguo, you are the captain, so you need to take overall control and make good plans and preparations."

“We understand,” the two replied in unison.

Section Chief Tian gave a few more instructions, mainly regarding safety, discipline, and unity.

Finally, he glanced at his watch: "Alright, I've said what I needed to say. Go back and think it over carefully. I look forward to seeing you achieve even greater things."

"Yes!" Li Daguo and Yang Guangming stood up and saluted.

"Go ahead." Section Chief Tian nodded and picked up the documents on the table again to look at them.

The two left the section chief's office and quietly closed the door behind them.

Stepping out of the section chief's office, the large office outside was already empty.

The captains of the Public Security Section all have their own responsibilities and rarely sit in the office for long periods of time.

Zhang Jianjun led the security team to handle a workshop dispute, Wang Fugui led the patrol team on a routine patrol, and Zhou Guoping arranged the day's security work in the guard room.

Only Li Daguo and Yang Guangming remained in the office.

Li Daguo let out a long sigh and plopped down in his chair. "My god, he really is a section chief. He speaks so eloquently, it got me all fired up... I could hardly breathe."

Yang Guangming sat down opposite him and smiled: "The section chief is good at making empty promises, but they are indeed tempting."

"It's not just tempting, it's practically..." Li Daguo thought for a moment, but couldn't find the right words, so he finally blurted out, "It's practically deadly!"

He leaned closer and lowered his voice: "Guangming, you're a smart man, let's speak frankly. How much of what the section chief said do you think is true?"

Yang Guangming pondered for a moment: "The policy of adding points for housing allocation and raising wages should be real. The documents have been produced, and the factory has official documents for such reward policies, so it can't be fake."

"What if the hunting team becomes a permanent squad?" Li Daguo asked.

“Well…” Yang Guangming paused, “It depends on our performance and the factory’s needs. But since the section chief dared to say it, it at least shows that there is a possibility, and that he is willing to fight for it.”

Li Daguo nodded, his eyes becoming serious: "I think so too. Actually, I've been thinking about it for a while now. The factory leaders definitely want to keep the hunting team going."

"Oh? How so?" Yang Guangming became interested.

“Think about it,” Li Daguo analyzed. “No matter the time, the factory always has to entertain guests. Inspections from higher authorities, visits from other units, visits from out-of-town clients… which one doesn’t require entertaining? Without meat, how can we entertain them?”

He counted on his fingers: "But you know the current supply. Meat ration coupons are limited, and we have to prioritize ensuring the basic nutrition of frontline heavy manual laborers. Where will the meat for hospitality come from? We can only rely on our hunting team."

Yang Guangming nodded thoughtfully.

"Therefore, as long as the supply of non-staple foods does not return to normal, the hunting team will remain necessary," Li Daguo continued. "But the problem is that our previous harvests were too small. There was so little game that it wasn't even enough to entertain guests, let alone distribute to the workers. It's normal for the workers to have complaints."

He looked at Yang Guangming: "But things are different now. With your arrival, our harvest has multiplied several times over. If we can have as much as yesterday, or even more, then besides what we need for hospitality, we can have more than half left for the main canteen."

“Once the workers have tasted the benefits, their complaints will naturally decrease,” Yang Guangming added.

“That’s right!” Li Daguo slapped his thigh. “With fewer complaints, the factory leaders will be under less pressure. In that case, the hunting team will not only not be disbanded, but may even be officially established as a permanent team because of its contribution to ‘improving the lives of employees’.”

He became more and more excited as he spoke: "And I dare say, the factory leaders would love for our hunting team to continue. With us around, they'll feel more confident in entertaining guests. The more they hunt, the higher their standards of hospitality can be—it's a matter of pride!"

Yang Guangming had to admit that although Li Daguo had a rough appearance, he was very insightful in his analysis of problems and could see the essence of things.

“So…” Li Daguo looked at Yang Guangming with eager eyes, “This opportunity is too rare. Especially for people like us who have no background or backing, this may be the only way to rise quickly.”

He sighed: "I've worked in the factory for eight years, rising from a regular security guard to a level eight clerk, which is pretty much my limit. If the hunting team hadn't been just a temporary squad, I definitely wouldn't have been chosen as the captain."

“But things are different now.” Li Daguo’s voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement. “Because of your joining, the hunting team has hope, and so do I. If it can really become a permanent team, then I will truly be the captain, and my rank will be promoted.”

He paused, then said solemnly, "Guangming, I, Li Daguo, am not a jealous person. You have real skills, and I admire you wholeheartedly. From now on, in the team, I will fully cooperate with you. Whatever you need, I will give you; you can do whatever you want. I only have one request—"

Yang Guangming looked into his eyes.

"Let's lead our hunting team and make a name for ourselves!" Li Daguo said, enunciating each word clearly. "Let's make the hunting team a permanent operation, and let all of us brothers have a bright future!"

These words were very honest and sincere.

Yang Guangming could sense the sincerity in Li Daguo's words. Although this man wasn't highly educated, he was straightforward, grateful, and knew how to seize opportunities.

“Captain Li—” Yang Guangming began.

“Call him Da Guo,” Li Da Guo interrupted him.

“Brother Li,” Yang Guangming changed his tune, “I understand what you mean. Don’t worry, now that I’m here, I will do my best. The future of the hunting team is also my future.”

He paused for a moment, then continued, “But I do need your support. Hunting isn’t a one-person job; it requires planning, preparation, and teamwork. You’re the team leader, experienced, and more familiar with the conditions in the mountains and the characteristics of the team members than I am. Only when we work together can we achieve the best results.”

Li Daguo nodded vigorously: "Don't worry about that! I'll take care of all the logistics, personnel arrangements, and route planning! You just focus on hunting, and leave everything else to me!"

The two exchanged a smile, a tacit understanding forming silently. (End of Chapter)