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

On a bright May morning, as the sun awoke, the poplar leaves outside the window rustled in the morning breeze, their color having changed from tender green to deep green.

He lay in bed without getting up immediately, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. He had been living in this two-person dormitory for almost two months.

time flies.

Since officially joining the team in early March, and now in early May, nearly two months later, the hunting team has gone into the mountains more than twenty times. Each time, the catch has far exceeded previous ones, with the largest single catch even exceeding ninety kilograms.

During this period, Yang Guangming's individual contribution accounted for more than two-thirds of the team's harvest. Section Chief Tian's scoring rules were simple and clear: one point was awarded for each small game.

By the end of April, when he returned from his last trip into the mountains, Yang Guangming's personal score had reached 537 points.

According to the "pie in the sky" that Section Chief Tian initially "drew" in the office—that if an individual's score exceeded 500 points, they would have priority in obtaining housing allocation and would also receive a salary increase of one level.

Yang Guangming kept this promise in mind. But he didn't rush to ask his superiors for a reward.

He trusted Section Chief Tian. From their interactions over this period, he could tell that Section Chief Tian was a man of his word; although he didn't talk much, he would always do his best to fulfill his promises.

More importantly, Section Chief Tian needed him to continue contributing to the hunting team and wouldn't delay on this already clear reward.

So Yang Guangming chose to wait. He continued his training as usual every day, went into the mountains on time every week, and did what he was supposed to do, without being impatient or anxious.

Only occasionally, when the night is quiet and I look at this simple dormitory, a little longing for my own space will quietly emerge in my heart.

Having your own place, even if it's just a small room in a tenement building, would make life much more convenient. At least you could secretly cook something to eat in your room instead of always eating bland food in the cafeteria or sneaking out cold food from your room to fill your stomach.

Human desires are indeed progressive. When I first arrived, I thought a two-person dorm room was already quite good, but now I'm starting to long for my own space.

Yang Guangming sat up and began to wash up.

Several early risers were already in the communal water room; they were all single young workers living on the fourth floor. They nodded to each other and went about their own business.

The cold water splashed on my face, which made me feel much more awake.

Back in the room, Zhao Xiaohu was still asleep. Most of the time, this kid went home to sleep, only staying in the dormitory if he trained too late the night before or had to get up early the next day to go into the mountains.

Yang Guangming quietly got dressed, locked the door, and went downstairs to the cafeteria.

There weren't many people in the cadre canteen. Yang Guangming ordered two steamed buns made from a mixture of wheat and water, a dish of pickled vegetables, and a bowl of corn porridge, then found a seat by the window.

He ate slowly, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the other cadres dining in the canteen. Over the past two months, he had gotten to know quite a few of them. While they weren't exactly close, nodding and greeting each other was a regular occurrence.

Someone sat down opposite him with a lunchbox in hand.

It's Li Daguo.

"Good morning, Guangming." Li Daguo took a bite of cornbread and said indistinctly, "After training today, we need to clean our guns properly. We're going into the mountains tomorrow."

“Okay, I’ll do it with you after training this afternoon.” Yang Guangming nodded.

The hunting team always takes the maintenance of their firearms very seriously. When hunting in the mountains, a gun is a matter of life and death, and there can be no carelessness. Before and after each trip into the mountains, Li Daguo would lead his team members to carefully inspect and clean their weapons.

Li Daguo finished his cornbread in a few bites, drank some porridge, and lowered his voice to say, "Guangming, I heard that your score has exceeded five hundred points?"

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Captain Li is quite well-informed."

"Of course, I'm the team leader, how could I not know about this?" Li Daguo's face showed an expectant look. "According to the regulations, you should be allocated a house by now, right? And the salary increase should also be implemented."

"No rush, let's wait for the leader's instructions," Yang Guangming said calmly.

“You’re quite patient.” Li Daguo shook his head and leaned closer. “Let me tell you, Section Chief Tian is a reliable man. He’ll definitely do what he promises. I reckon we should hear from him in the next few days.”

Yang Guangming didn't reply and continued eating his steamed bun.

Li Daguo didn't say anything more and focused on eating. The two finished eating quickly and walked out of the cafeteria together.

The morning training proceeded as scheduled.

All nine members of the hunting team were present at the training ground. In addition to regular shooting practice, Li Daguo also arranged weighted cross-country running—running three kilometers around the factory area while carrying thirty-pound sandbags.

This is to improve physical strength when going into the mountains. Carrying prey along mountain paths requires a lot of physical strength, so regular training cannot be neglected.

Yang Guangming ran with ease. His physical condition was continuously improving, and with his intention to strengthen his training, he could now run three kilometers carrying thirty pounds with only a slight sweat.

Wang Tiezhu and Zhang Jianguo followed behind him, panting heavily.

"Vice Captain, your stamina is amazing!" Zhang Jianguo wiped his sweat. "I'm almost exhausted, and you're not even out of breath."

"You'll get better with more practice." Yang Guangming slowed his pace and waited for them to catch up.

Zhao Xiaohu caught up from behind, looking miserable: "Brother Guangming, could you tell Captain Li next time that we can carry less? My legs are practically numb."

Li Daguo caught up from behind and slapped Zhao Xiaohu on the back: "Stop talking nonsense! This is nothing! Once we get into the mountains, carrying the prey up the mountain paths, that's when it gets really tiring! If you don't train now, you'll suffer later!"

Zhao Xiaohu shrank back, no longer daring to complain.

Training ended at 10:30 a.m. Everyone returned to the edge of the training field to rest, drink water, and wipe away their sweat.

Li Daguo checked the time and said to Yang Guangming, "Guangming, you go back to Corey first. I'll lead the training."

"Let's go together, it won't make a difference if it's just a little while longer," Yang Guangming said.

"No need, you go back first. Section Chief Tian went to a meeting this morning. I heard something, he might have something to discuss with you when he gets back." Li Daguo waved his hand, but didn't elaborate further.

Yang Guangming thought about it and didn't insist anymore. He said goodbye to his teammates, left the training ground, and walked towards the security office building.

The office building was quiet. In the Security Department office, only He Dongliang was organizing documents. Seeing Yang Guangming enter, he nodded: "Guangming, are you done training?"

"Oh no. Captain He, Section Chief Tian hasn't returned yet?" Yang Guangming asked.

"Not yet. The factory committee is having a meeting this morning, it'll probably last until noon." He Dongliang glanced at the wall clock. "Do you need to see the section chief?"

"Nothing urgent, Captain Li told me to come back first." Yang Guangming sat down in his seat and picked up a rag to wipe the table.

For the past two months, he has spent most of his time at the training ground or in the mountains, and has not spent much time actually sitting in the office.

Yang Guangming sat down and opened a training plan he hadn't finished reading yesterday, but his mind was on other things.

It's been two months since he officially joined the company.

There have been many changes in the past two months.

The eldest brother, Yang Ximing, has settled into a stable job at the railway police station. Last Sunday, when the two brothers spoke on the phone, the eldest brother said that Chief Fan was very satisfied with him and had begun letting him independently oversee line patrols. Although it's hard work, he's full of enthusiasm.

He thrived in the hunting team. Almost every trip into the mountains yielded a rich harvest, and his personal score broke through the 500 mark by the end of April, far exceeding the reward standard mentioned by Section Chief Tian.

Regarding the policies on housing allocation points and salary increases, Section Chief Tian had made them very clear during their first conversation. Yang Guangming was confident that he would receive the reward; it was just a matter of time. Therefore, he wasn't in a hurry and continued working, training, and going into the mountains as usual.

Li Daguo, on the other hand, was even more concerned than Yang Guangming himself, asking him privately several times when he would approach Section Chief Tian about the reward. Each time, Yang Guangming would smile and say there was no rush, and that what was meant to be would come.

Just then, the office door was pushed open.

Section Chief Tian walked in. He was dressed neatly in a Zhongshan suit, his hair was combed meticulously, and his face carried the serious expression of someone returning from a meeting. When he saw Yang Guangming, he paused and glanced over.

"Guangming, come to my office for a moment." After saying that, Section Chief Tian went straight to the small office in the back room.

Yang Guangming put down the documents in his hand and stood up.

The fact that Section Chief Tian called him out alone at this time was most likely related to a reward.

Yang Guangming knew what was going on and calmly followed Section Chief Tian into the small office.

Section Chief Tian sat down behind his desk and pointed to the chair opposite him: "Sit."

Yang Guangming sat down properly, looking straight ahead, waiting for the leader to speak.

Section Chief Tian didn't speak immediately. He first picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of water, then put the cup down and stared at Yang Guangming's face for a few seconds.

"Guangming, you've been in our department for about two months now, haven't you?" Section Chief Tian asked, his tone gentler than usual.

"Yes, Section Chief, it's been a little over two months," Yang Guangming replied.

"Time flies," Section Chief Tian remarked, before getting to the point. "This morning, the factory held a meeting, mainly to discuss some production and logistical support issues. Your matter was also mentioned at the meeting."

Yang Guangming's heart stirred slightly, but his face remained calm: "My business?"

"Yes, it's about your personal score exceeding 500 points. According to the reward policy, you should be eligible for housing and a salary increase."

Section Chief Tian's tone was quite solemn, "I've kept this in mind. As soon as you had enough points at the end of April, I started submitting the report and going through the procedures. It's just that there are procedures in the factory, and it takes time. Today at the meeting, it was finally officially approved."

He paused, looked at Yang Guangming, and smiled: "Now, I'm officially informing you of the factory's decision."

Yang Guangming sat up straighter.

"There are two rewards," Section Chief Tian said clearly, word by word. "First, housing allocation eligibility. According to policy regulations, those with more than 500 points can have priority in obtaining housing allocation eligibility. This has already been finalized at the meeting, and you will be allocated a 15-square-meter single room in a tenement building. You can go to the housing management department to complete the relevant procedures in a moment."

Although he was mentally prepared, hearing the news with his own ears still stirred a surge of emotion in Yang Guangming's heart.

A 15-square-meter single room in a tenement building was something he, a single young man who had just started his career, could never have dreamed of in this era of extreme housing shortage.

Having his own house will completely change his life. At least he can light a stove and cook something in the house, without having to sneakily eat cold food from the refrigerator or worry about attracting attention by cooking in the hallway.

"Thank you, Section Chief!" Yang Guangming said sincerely. "Thank you for keeping this matter in mind and for fighting for me."

Section Chief Tian waved his hand: "This is what you earned yourself. It's what you got by going into the mountains time and time again, risking your life to hunt back the game. Since the factory's policy has been set, it should be honored. I was just doing my job."

He continued, "The second reward is a salary increase. Your salary level will be raised from Level 10 Clerk to Level 9 Clerk, your administrative level will be raised from Level 28 to Level 27, and your monthly salary will be raised from 27.5 yuan to 30 yuan."

Two yuan and fifty cents more per month was not a small amount in those days; it was enough for a person's food expenses for half a month. More importantly, it was a promotion, which meant that he had taken a step forward in the cadre ranks.

"The factory needs to submit the paperwork for the wage increase to the higher authorities for approval, so it can't be done yet," Section Chief Tian explained. "But it won't take too long. At the latest, you'll get thirty yuan when we pay wages next month."

Yang Guangming thanked him again: "Thank you, Section Chief. I'm not in a hurry about the salary. I'm already very satisfied to have a place to live."

Section Chief Tian was satisfied with his attitude and nodded: "Not arrogant or impatient, very good. However, besides announcing these two awards, I have some good news to tell you today."

Is there more good news? Yang Guangming's gaze narrowed slightly.

"It's about our hunting team." Section Chief Tian's voice was lowered, but with a hint of excitement. "At this meeting, Director Yu formally proposed changing the hunting team from a temporary to a permanent organization. Several factory leaders, after hearing the report and especially after seeing the hunting team's stable and far-exceeding harvest data over the past few months, all expressed their support."

Yang Guangming's heart beat slightly faster. Being promoted to a permanent position in the hunting team was something he had vaguely hoped for since joining, but he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

"Although this meeting didn't finalize anything—after all, adding a formally established team involves a series of issues such as personnel, funding, and staffing, requiring more detailed discussion and approval," Section Chief Tian said, his tone now full of confidence. "But the leaders' attitude is very clear; the majority support it. I estimate that by next month at the latest, this matter will be settled."

He looked at Yang Guangming with encouraging eyes: "Once the hunting team becomes a formal organization, your position as deputy captain will be much more valuable. At that time, you and Li Daguo will be the captains and deputy captains of our security section, on par with the other three squads. Your rank, treatment, and future development will all be much better."

Yang Guangming took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.

He understood what Section Chief Tian meant. The deputy captain of a temporary squad was, in essence, a temporary position, which could be lost at any time if the squad were disbanded. But the deputy captain of a formal squad was a real cadre position, with rank and future prospects.

"Section Chief, this is all thanks to your and Director Yu's excellent leadership, as well as the joint efforts of all the team members," Yang Guangming said sincerely. "I will definitely cherish this opportunity, continue to work hard, strive to achieve greater results, and live up to your expectations."

"Good, that's the attitude we want." Section Chief Tian was very pleased. "Alright, I've said everything I needed to say. Go to the Housing Management Section now and find Section Chief Peng. He'll handle the paperwork for you. The sooner the housing issue is settled, the sooner you can settle down."

"Yes, Section Chief." Yang Guangming stood up, saluted Section Chief Tian, ​​and said, "Then I'll go now."

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

Yang Guangming walked out of the small office and gently closed the door.

Inside the large office outside, He Dongliang was still there. Seeing Yang Guangming come out, He Dongliang smiled and asked, "Guangming, what did the section chief want to see you about? Is it something good?"

Yang Guangming smiled and didn't hide anything: "The section chief informed me that the factory has approved the housing allocation and promotion bonus, and asked me to go to the housing management department to complete the formalities now."

"Hey, congratulations!" He Dongliang stood up, walked over and patted Yang Guangming on the shoulder. "This is great news! Someone in our department has been allocated a house again, that's pretty good! Hurry up, hurry up, important business is ahead."

Yang Guangming walked out of the security office and down the corridor. His steps were much lighter than usual.

The Housing Management Department was located on the first floor of the factory's office building, next to the Logistics Department. Yang Guangming quickly found the office with the sign "Housing Management Department".

The door was open, and inside were several desks where a few staff members were busy. Behind one of the desks further inside sat a man in his fifties with slicked-back hair, wearing a gray Zhongshan suit. He was looking at a form, his brow slightly furrowed, as if he were checking something.

Sunshine knocked on the door.

"Come in." The man said without looking up.

Yang Guangming walked in and came to the table: "Excuse me, are you Section Chief Peng?"

The man then raised his head and glanced at Yang Guangming. His eyes were sharp, carrying the scrutinizing quality of someone who had long been in control of people and things. "I am. Who are you? What do you want?"

"Section Chief Peng, hello. I'm Yang Guangming from the hunting team of the Public Security Section. Section Chief Tian asked me to come here to handle the housing allocation procedures," Yang Guangming said politely.

Upon hearing the words "Yang Guangming," Section Chief Peng's expression immediately changed. His furrowed brows relaxed, his sharp eyes softened, and he even wore a slight smile.

"Oh! You must be Comrade Yang Guangming! Please, have a seat!" Section Chief Peng enthusiastically pointed to the chair opposite him. "I've heard Section Chief Tian mention you before. You're a skilled hunter who has made great contributions to our factory canteen! You're a promising young man!"

This sudden enthusiasm reassured Yang Guangming. It seemed that Section Chief Tian had given prior notice.

"Section Chief Peng, you flatter me. It's all thanks to the excellent leadership and the great cooperation of the comrades," Yang Guangming said modestly as he sat down in his chair.

“Young man, don’t take credit for yourself, good.” Section Chief Peng nodded, took out a document from the drawer, and opened it. “The factory has already decided on your situation. You will be rewarded with a 15-square-meter single room in the dormitory building. This is the factory committee’s decision, it’s in black and white, and no one can change it.”

He paused, his smile widening: "However, these 15-square-meter single rooms vary depending on the floor, orientation, and location. These can be a little more flexible; you can make your choices within the framework."

Yang Guangming understood. The area was fixed, but Section Chief Peng had some leeway in deciding which room it would be allocated to. This was to do him a favor.

"Thank you for your help, Section Chief Peng." Yang Guangming continued, "I'm new to the factory and don't know anything. Please give me some guidance, Section Chief Peng."

Section Chief Peng was very satisfied with Yang Guangming's understanding and lowered his voice to say, "Comrade Guangming, to be honest, the housing situation in our factory is extremely tight. Many dual-income families have been waiting for several years and still can't get a room in a dormitory building. The fact that you were able to get one is due to your ability and also shows that the factory values ​​you."

He tapped his finger on the document: "According to the regulations, the house allocated to you will definitely be fifteen square meters. But I can help you choose a better one. I have several vacant ones right now, with different locations, lighting, interior decoration, and quietness."

Yang Guangming listened attentively: "Section Chief Peng, you are very experienced. Which one do you think is more suitable?"

Section Chief Peng took out another simple diagram from the drawer and spread it on the table. It was a floor plan of the factory's residential buildings, marked with some symbols in red and blue pens.

“Look, there are empty single rooms in Building 3, Building 4, and Building 5.”

Section Chief Peng pointed to the map and said, "Building No. 3 is in a central location, not too far from the canteen, bathhouse, and hot water room. Moreover, there's currently an empty room on the far east side of the second floor of Building No. 3. I think this room is perfect for you."

Yang Guangming looked at the spot where he was pointing.

“This room has several advantages,” Section Chief Peng explained in detail. “First, it’s the easternmost room, far from the public toilet, so it’s relatively quiet and undisturbed by people walking around. Second, being at the eastern end, the common area at the end of the corridor is quite large, which will be very convenient for storing miscellaneous items. Third, this room faces south and gets plenty of sunshine.” He paused, lowering his voice even further: “Most importantly, this room was recently painted, and the walls are snow-white. And… it’s fully furnished.”

"Fully furnished?" Yang Guangming was somewhat surprised. The single rooms assigned by the factory were usually empty; the furniture had to be purchased by the workers themselves.

"Yes." Section Chief Peng nodded, a hint of emotion on his face. "This room was originally assigned to Technician Feng from the Technical Department. The young man is capable. He got married last year and used this room as his wedding room. He paid for the painting himself and also bought a new set of furniture. Double bed, wardrobe, dressing table, dining table and chairs, washstand... everything is complete and all newly made."

Yang Guangming had a sudden thought. If the furniture was complete, it would save him a lot of trouble moving in; he would only need to add some pots, pans, and bedding.

"So, what about Technician Feng now...?" he asked.

“They’ve been transferred,” Section Chief Peng said. “Last autumn, Technician Feng and his wife were both transferred to another city to support the construction of the new factory. Since they’ve been transferred, the house has naturally been taken back. He couldn’t take the furniture with him, so he entrusted our housing management department to consider buying it if someone else gets this room later.”

He glanced at Yang Guangming's expression and continued, "Technician Feng spent over three hundred yuan on these pieces of furniture. Now he's in a hurry to sell them, so he's offering them all for just two hundred yuan. To be honest, that's a great deal. Several people have already expressed interest in buying this set of furniture, but since the house hasn't been allocated yet, no deals have been made."

Section Chief Peng leaned back and looked at Yang Guangming: "If you like this room and are willing to buy these furniture, that's perfect. You'll save yourself the trouble and money of furnishing it, and I'll also be able to give Technician Feng a satisfactory answer. It's a win-win situation."

Yang Guangming pondered for a moment.

The house itself sounded great; the location, orientation, and quietness all met his expectations. The fully furnished interior made things even easier. Buying a complete set of new furniture for two hundred yuan was indeed inexpensive, practically a bargain.

He had money. He had over six hundred yuan from selling four wild boars, spent some on daily necessities, and kept most of it. He could afford to pay two hundred yuan.

The key point is that once the furniture is bought, he can move in immediately without any further hassle. This is very tempting for him, who craves a private space.

"Section Chief Peng, this room... may I take a look first?" Yang Guangming asked cautiously.

seeing is believing.

"Of course!" Section Chief Peng readily agreed. "I'll have Xiao Jiang take you. Xiao Jiang!"

He called out to the outside. A young clerk in his twenties, wearing glasses and looking quite refined, responded and came over.

"Section Chief Peng, you wanted to see me?"

"Xiao Jiang, this is Comrade Yang Guangming from the Security Section. The factory just allocated him a house, the one on the east side of the second floor of Building 3. Take him to see it and explain the situation," Section Chief Peng instructed.

"Yes, Section Chief Peng." Xiao Jiang replied, looking at Yang Guangming with a smile, "Comrade Yang, shall we go now?"

"Thank you for your trouble, Comrade Jiang." Yang Guangming stood up.

The two walked out of the housing management office and headed towards the family housing area.

On the way, Xiao Jiang was very talkative and took the initiative to introduce the housing situation in the factory.

"Comrade Yang, you're from the hunting team, right? I've heard of you, you're really amazing! Now we can have meat in the canteen every few days, everyone speaks highly of you."

"It's all part of my job," Yang Guangming said with a smile.

"The room you were assigned is really nice," Xiao Jiang said. "Technician Feng is quite particular; he put a lot of thought into decorating the bridal chamber. The furniture was all custom-made by experienced craftsmen, so it's sturdy and durable. He also had the walls repainted, making it much whiter and cleaner than the other rooms."

"Why was Technician Feng transferred?" Yang Guangming asked casually.

"They were supporting the development of the frontier," Xiao Jiang said. "I heard that the new factory there was short of technical staff, so they transferred the couple there. They left in a hurry and couldn't take their furniture with them, so they had to sell it off cheaply. It's a real shame, that furniture was really nice."

As they spoke, the two arrived at Building No. 3.

This is a four-story red brick tenement building, similar in appearance to Building No. 4 where Yang Guangming currently lives, but it looks newer. Several children were playing at the entrance, and they all looked at Xiao Jiang curiously.

"Second floor, east end." Xiao Jiang led Yang Guangming up the stairs.

The stairs were made of cement and were fairly clean. The hallway was somewhat dimly lit, with rows of closed doors on either side, from which one could occasionally hear voices or radios.

Reaching the second floor, head east. The further east you go, the quieter it becomes. At the end of the corridor, the empty room is to the south.

Xiao Jiang took out his key and opened the door.

Yang Guangming strode inside.

The room was more spacious than he had imagined. Fifteen square meters was considered "large" in a single dormitory room at that time. There was a south-facing window, and sunlight was streaming through the glass, providing excellent natural light. The window had a wooden frame, and the glass was very clean.

The walls were indeed snow-white, clearly freshly painted, without any stains or graffiti. The ceiling was also white, with a small light bulb hanging from it.

The most attractive thing is the furniture in the room.

A double bed stood against the wall; it was made of solid wood, painted a deep red, and looked sturdy and heavy. There were no blankets on the bed, just bare bed boards.

Beside the bed was a large wardrobe, also dark red, with three doors and a rectangular dressing mirror on top, the mirror surface of which was very clean.

Below the window, against the wall, stood a dressing table, also painted in the same color, with an oval mirror and three small drawers.

A square dining table with four chairs sat in the center of the room. The table and chair legs were thick and looked durable.

There is also a washbasin stand in the corner, which has two layers. The top layer can hold a washbasin, and the bottom layer can hold a foot basin.

Although these pieces of furniture are simple in style and lack any carvings or decorations, they are made of solid materials, with a firm workmanship and even lacquer finish. Just as Xiao Jiang said, they are indeed good pieces that were carefully selected.

Yang Guangming walked to the window and looked out. There were several poplar trees downstairs, and further away were the factory roads; the view was open.

He glanced at the corridor near the entrance. Being at the far east end, the corridor led to a relatively spacious common area. Sure enough, on the south side, there were several items: a cabinet, a simple cutting board table, a honeycomb briquette stove, a pickling jar, and a small water vat.

These were all left behind by the previous residents, so it seems that Technician Feng really did treat this place as his own home back then.

"Comrade Yang, what do you think?" Xiao Jiang asked. "This room, this furniture, isn't it perfect? ​​Technician Feng is a discerning person; everything is brand new. If you buy it, you can move in right away without having to buy anything else."

Yang Guangming had already made up his mind. This room, in terms of location, orientation, quietness, and the completeness and quality of the furniture, completely met his expectations, and even exceeded them.

“It is indeed very good.” Yang Guangming nodded. “Comrade Jiang, please take me back to see Section Chief Peng. I want this room, and I’m willing to buy the furniture as well.”

"Great!" Xiao Jiang was very happy. "Then let's go back and get the formalities done. Section Chief Peng will definitely be happy too; this matter is finally settled."

The two locked the door, went downstairs, and returned to the housing management office.

Section Chief Peng was still at his desk when he saw them return, and a questioning look appeared on his face.

“Section Chief Peng, Comrade Yang has seen it and is very satisfied with the house and furniture. He has decided to take it,” Xiao Jiang said first.

Section Chief Peng's face lit up with a smile: "Good! Comrade Guangming, you have good taste! This room is indeed very nice. You'll be very comfortable staying here."

He opened a drawer and took out a stack of forms and receipts: "Here, let's get the formalities done. This is the housing allocation form; fill in your personal information. This is the furniture transfer instructions and receipt. Technician Feng has entrusted us with handling everything. Just sign it, pay the money, and the furniture is yours."

Yang Guangming took the form and looked at it carefully. The room information was already written on the housing allocation form: second floor, east end, south-facing room, 15 square meters. The furniture transfer instructions were clearly written, including a list of all furniture and a total price of 200 yuan.

He picked up a pen and carefully filled in his name, department, position, and other information, then signed his name where required.

Section Chief Peng took the filled-out form, checked it, nodded, took out an official seal from the drawer, dipped it in ink, and stamped it firmly on the form.

"Alright, all the paperwork is done." Section Chief Peng handed a copy of the form to Yang Guangming. "Keep this safe. As for the furniture, you can bring it over whenever it's convenient for you. There's no rush."

Yang Guangming took the form, carefully folded it, and put it in his jacket pocket: "Section Chief Peng, I'll send the money over the day after tomorrow. Our hunting team is going into the mountains tomorrow, so I'll take care of it as soon as we get back."

"No rush, no rush," Section Chief Peng said with a smile. "The house is already yours. Take the keys for now. You can pay for the furniture when you have time."

As he spoke, he handed the room key to Yang Guangming. It was an ordinary brass key, attached to a small wooden sign.

Yang Guangming took the keys and held them in his hand. The cool metallic touch warmed his heart.

From today onwards, he has a place in this city that truly belongs to him.

"Thank you, Section Chief Peng, thank you, Comrade Jiang," Yang Guangming said again.

"Don't mention it." Section Chief Peng waved his hand. "If you need any help, just come to me. If there are any minor problems with the house, you can also talk to Xiao Jiang; he's in charge of this area."

Xiao Jiang nodded repeatedly.

Yang Guangming bid farewell to Section Chief Peng and Xiao Jiang and walked out of the Housing Management Section.

The sun was shining brightly outside, warming him nicely. He touched the keys and forms in his pocket, then walked briskly towards the security office.

When I got back to the security office, it was already 11 a.m.

Section Chief Tian is not here; he's probably in a meeting again.

Only Zhang Jianjun, the captain and deputy captain of the security team, and He Dongliang were in the office. When Yang Guangming returned, He Dongliang asked with a smile, "Guangming, how did the paperwork go? Did you settle on the house?"

"It's settled." Yang Guangming smiled. "It's a 15-square-meter room on the second floor of Building 3, on the east side. Section Chief Peng was very considerate and gave me a room that was just painted and fully furnished."

"Wow! It even comes furnished? You're really lucky!" He Dongliang exclaimed in surprise. "When I was allocated my apartment, it was just an empty shell. I even had to have a carpenter make the bed myself. You've saved yourself so much trouble!"

Zhang Jianjun also looked up: "The room at the east end of Building 3? I know, it used to be Technician Feng's wedding room. He was transferred, and he couldn't get rid of the furniture. You got a good deal."

"Yes, I bought the furniture for two hundred yuan," Yang Guangming said.

"Two hundred?" He Dongliang exclaimed in surprise. "A set of new furniture for only two hundred? Technician Feng is in such a hurry to sell, he's losing a lot of money. But it's a good thing for you, it's worth it!"

Just then, the office door was pushed open, and Li Daguo rushed in. He had clearly just returned from outside, as there was still sweat on his forehead.

"Guangming! I heard you got a new room?" Li Daguo asked loudly as soon as he entered the room, his face full of excitement. "I just ran into Old Wang from logistics downstairs, and he told me! Is it true?"

“Really, Captain Li,” Yang Guangming said with a smile. “Just finished the formalities, on the second floor of Building 3, east end.”

"That's great!" Li Daguo slapped Yang Guangming's shoulder hard, making him sway. "This is wonderful news! We have to celebrate tonight! My treat, how about we go out to a small restaurant for a meal?"

"Team Leader Li, there's no need to go to such lengths," Yang Guangming quickly said. "The housing allocation is a reward from the factory. We're all family here, no need to be so polite."

"No way! This has to be celebrated!" Li Daguo insisted. "Since you came, our hunting team's harvest has increased many times over, and everyone has benefited. Now that you're getting a house, this is a joyous occasion for the whole team! How about this, after training tonight, I'll have Tiezhu go to the cooperative to buy some snacks and some loose liquor, and we can have a simple drink at my place, is that alright?"

He spoke sincerely, and Yang Guangming could no longer refuse, so he had to agree: "Well... okay, thank you, Captain Li."

"No need to thank me! It's nothing!" Li Daguo laughed heartily, then lowered his voice and leaned closer, "Guangming, there's something else... I heard there's been some progress on the hunting team's official promotion?"

Yang Guangming glanced at him; Li Daguo was quite well-informed.

"Section Chief Tian mentioned it briefly, saying that the leaders are very supportive and it's estimated that it will be finalized next month." Yang Guangming didn't go into too many details.

"That's great!" Li Daguo's eyes lit up as he rubbed his hands together. "If we can really get promoted, we'll truly become a 'regular army'! I, as the captain, can finally hold my head high!"

His excitement was palpable. Yang Guangming could understand his feelings. His temporary affiliation with the hunting team was like a thorn, always lingering in Li Daguo's heart.

Although he was the captain, he always felt inferior to the captains of the other official squads.

Once you're officially hired, all of this will change.

"Team Leader Li, we still need to wait for the factory's official document," Yang Guangming reminded him. "However, if we do our current work well and maintain our earnings, getting a permanent position will be a natural outcome."

"Yes! You're right!" Li Daguo nodded vigorously. "Let's go into the mountains tomorrow and work even harder to bring back more game! Let the leaders see that our hunting team deserves to be officially recognized!"

By lunchtime, the news of room assignments had already spread throughout the hunting team.

Wang Tiezhu, Zhao Xiaohu, Zhang Jianguo, and the others surrounded Yang Guangming, asking him all sorts of questions and expressing their envy of the furnished house. They were especially impressed when they heard the furniture only cost two hundred yuan, repeatedly marveling at Yang Guangming's good fortune.

As soon as Yang Guangming sat down at his desk at the start of the workday, preparing to organize a list of items to bring for tomorrow's trip into the mountains, he saw He Dongliang walk over with a document in his hand.

"Guangming, your official document just arrived." He Dongliang handed the document to Yang Guangming with a smile. "The factory is quite efficient; the reward document has been issued immediately."

Yang Guangming took the document. It was a "Decision on Awarding Comrade Yang Guangming" issued by the factory committee of Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory. The document was short, but the wording was formal, and it was stamped with the factory's large red seal.

The content is the two points that Section Chief Tian mentioned this morning: a 15-square-meter single room in a tenement building as a reward; and a salary increase from Level 10 to Level 9 clerk, with a corresponding increase in administrative rank, pending approval from higher authorities.

The document is dated today.

“This is an official document, it’s a done deal,” He Dongliang said. “The factory will submit the salary adjustment report, and once it’s approved, you’ll get an extra two and a half yuan next month.”

At this moment, Zhang Jianjun also came over, looked at the document, and nodded to Yang Guangming: "Guangming, do a good job. The factory values ​​you, so don't let them down."

“I understand, Captain Zhang,” Yang Guangming replied solemnly.

The afternoon's work proceeded as usual. Yang Guangming finished organizing the list and went to the Armed Forces Department to check and maintain the firearms to be used tomorrow. Li Daguo, on the other hand, took Wang Tiezhu to the Logistics Department to collect the ropes, baskets, cooking utensils, and other supplies needed for tomorrow's mountain trip.

Around 3 PM, it was time for training.

Yang Guangming and Li Daguo led the seven members of their hunting team to the training ground. The other teams were also training, and they all turned to look at them when they saw them arrive.

Nowadays, the hunting team is a special entity in the entire security department, and even the entire factory.

Because of the stable supply of meat, the workers had a good impression of the hunting team. Meanwhile, within the security department, the hunting team's astonishing harvest over the past few months had also made the other teams look at them with new respect.

Especially Yang Guangming, the vice-captain, whose reputation for superb marksmanship had already spread far and wide. On the training field, people would often secretly glance at him, their eyes filled with curiosity, admiration, and a hint of barely perceptible envy or jealousy.

Li Daguo was particularly energetic today. He gathered the team together and gave a loud and clear address.

"Brothers! Today, our deputy captain was assigned a house. This is an affirmation of his personal contributions by the factory, and also an honor for our entire hunting team!"

The team members all smiled and looked at Yang Guangming.

"What does this show? It shows that as long as we work hard and achieve results, the factory will see it and won't treat us unfairly!" Li Daguo continued, "Tomorrow, we're going into the mountains again. Everyone, keep your spirits up, keep your eyes open, and be quick on your feet! Let's strive for another bumper harvest and show the leaders that our hunting team is all top-notch!"

"Yes!" the team members responded in unison, their morale high.

"Alright! Let's begin training! First item: physical fitness! Run ten laps around the track! Let's go!" Li Daguo waved his hand.

The team members lined up and began running laps around the training field. Yang Guangming ran at the very front of the group, his steps steady. Li Daguo followed beside him, occasionally shouting slogans to encourage them as they ran.

After running ten laps, everyone was sweating, but no one complained of being tired. Next was shooting training. Yang Guangming was naturally the center of attention. He lay on the ground, aimed his gun, and his perfect accuracy once again attracted the attention and murmurs of admiration from the other team members.

Li Daguo saw this and was delighted. With Yang Guangming's "golden brand" on their side, the hunting team's status was subtly elevated.

During a break in training, Wang Tiezhu approached Yang Guangming and said with a simple smile, "Vice Captain, when are you going to move into your house? Do you need any help? I may not have much else, but I have plenty of strength."

Zhao Xiaohu squeezed in too: "Yeah, Brother Guangming, just let me know if you're moving, I'll help you carry your things."

Zhang Jianguo, Liu Zhiqiang, and several others also spoke up, expressing their willingness to help.

Yang Guangming felt a warmth in his heart and smiled, "Thank you, brothers. The house is ready, and there's furniture too. I only have some luggage and bedding, which I'll take myself. Once I'm settled, please come over for a visit."

"That's a deal!" Zhao Xiaohu said excitedly. "I heard the furniture is all new, it's a good opportunity to go and see it for myself."

Li Daguo also came over: "Guangming, moving is a big deal. Life will be much more convenient once you have your own place. You should also think about your personal life. Having a house will make you more confident when it comes to finding a partner."

Yang Guangming smiled but didn't respond. His mind was currently focused on work and career advancement; personal matters weren't on his mind for the time being. (End of Chapter)