Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Even if Zhang Dabiao went to other places, he would still be a cadre. It was understandable that he used to have a part-time job, but it's unreasonable that he would enjoy the benefits of two cadres and receive two formal salaries now.

However, in view of his past significant contributions, the welfare housing and the sidecar motorcycle allocated by his work unit will not be taken back as a reward.

After all, those rewards were discussed in previous meetings and there were documents on file. They couldn't afford to lose face if they withdrew them now.

At the same time, the Ministry officially issued an appointment letter, appointing Zhang Dabiao as a "Special Research Fellow" of the Ministry of Foreign Trade.

This position has no rank and is not part of the official staffing quota, but each year you only need to provide a few valuable designs, and the department will give you a separate reward ranging from fifty to two hundred yuan based on the value of the design.

Most importantly, Director Zhao emphasized at the meeting that the door of the Ministry of Foreign Trade is always open to Zhang Dabiao. He can come whenever he wants, just like before, and no one can stop him.

For Zhang Dabiao, this result was perfect.

He not only successfully broke free from the constraints of the system, but also retained his core benefits such as a house and a car, and even gained an official channel that could continuously generate income.

He defused a crisis with ease, turning it into an averted crisis and maximizing his own interests in the process.

------------

In early July, the weather was as hot as a steamer.

Zhang Dabiao attended the graduation ceremony of the arts and crafts school wearing a brand-new white shirt.

At the ceremony, Professor Zhou Muyi and Professor Chen looked at him below the stage with complex emotions in their eyes, a mixture of pride and deep reluctance.

"You're the most promising student I've ever taught, and also the most troublesome!"

After the ceremony, Zhou Muye patted Zhang Dabiao's shoulder hard, sighing with a wry smile.

"Giving up such a promising future as a deputy section chief in the Ministry of Foreign Trade, you insist on becoming a lowly painter! What are you after?"

Zhang Dabiao chuckled and didn't explain further.

His final destination was the People's Fine Arts Publishing House.

After finishing his graduation procedures, he went to the People's Fine Arts Publishing House to see Editor-in-Chief Li.

The position is creative staff, administrative level 25, with a salary of 37.5 yuan.

When Zhang Dabiao arrived, Editor-in-Chief Li was so happy he couldn't stop smiling.

It's worth noting that both of the bestselling comic books, "Nezha Conquers the Dragon King" and "Heroes and Daughters," were published by their publishing house.

With Zhang Dabiao's prestigious reputation, the company's future performance is guaranteed.

Editor-in-Chief Li personally took charge and helped him complete all the onboarding procedures in one day. He also enthusiastically introduced him to several national treasure-level comic strip masters in the publishing house.

This job was the best choice Zhang Dabiao made after careful consideration.

The work is relatively flexible; you can take on tasks assigned by the company or apply for projects yourself to earn extra royalties.

Most importantly, this is a creative unit. Even if he creates some groundbreaking work, it is still his personal achievement, at most a work done for hire. It is completely different from the Ministry of Foreign Trade, which requires the submission of patents.

His later studies were closely related to digital illustration and publishing, and he thrived here.

Learning from veteran artists and national treasures, gaining experience and qualifications—this position is excellent.

Moreover, because of the popularity of his works, the organization directly applied for his membership in the China Artists Association, which was a very comfortable treatment.

As for the houses, the publishing house naturally won't be allocated any, because the Ministry of Foreign Trade has already reserved one quota for him. It's like one radish and one plot; he can't have his cake and eat it too.

However, Zhang Dabiao didn't care; he owned so many properties that he had almost lost count.

As for Shanghai Animation Film Studio, Zhang Dabiao isn't ready to go yet; the time isn't right. They're still working on the sequel to "Havoc in Heaven," as well as "Midnight Rooster Crows," "The Heroic Sisters of the Grassland," and other films. Making "Nezha Conquers the Dragon King" isn't the right time yet, and the project hasn't been approved. At most, Zhang Dabiao would just be a low-level animator there; there's no need for him to join the fray at this time.

After a few years, when I have produced more works and gained more fame, it would be more legitimate for me to become a tutor.

Besides, Mu Wanqing is only a junior in college and has another year before graduation, so Zhang Dabiao naturally can't leave Beijing.

------------

In the afternoon, Zhang Dabiao rode his motorcycle back to the courtyard house.

As soon as the car was parked, Uncle Yan Bugui came over, fanning himself with a palm leaf fan.

"Da Biao, has the job assignment been finalized after graduation?"

"It's settled, Teacher Yan, People's Fine Arts Publishing House, artist." Zhang Dabiao replied casually while wiping the dust off the car.

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui immediately perked up, his small eyes flashing with a sharp light, and his fingers began to rapidly calculate.

"Publishing house? Author? What level is that? How much is the salary?"

"Level 25, 37.5 yuan."

"How much?" Yan Bugui's voice instantly rose eight octaves, and he even stopped fanning himself with his palm-leaf fan. "Thirty-seven yuan and fifty cents?!"

He stared at Zhang Dabiao in disbelief, as if he were looking at a fool.

"Did I hear that right? You gave up a deputy section chief position at the Ministry of Foreign Trade that paid 90 yuan a month to take a fixed salary of 37.5 yuan?"

He counted on his fingers, muttering to himself, "Ninety minus thirty-seven yuan and fifty cents equals fifty-two yuan and fifty cents! You're losing fifty-two yuan and fifty cents a month! That's six hundred and thirty yuan a year! My God!"

Yan Bugui was heartbroken and pointed at Zhang Dabiao's nose, shaking his head repeatedly.

"You idiot! You're the biggest idiot ever! You can't even do such a simple calculation! What a waste of your brilliant brain!"

Just then, Liu Haizhong strolled over from the backyard with his hands behind his back. Upon hearing this, he immediately adopted an official demeanor, coughed, and reprimanded:

"Da Biao, your third uncle is right! You handled this matter very foolishly! Young man, you can't just look at the present, you have to look at your future! A deputy section chief and an ordinary clerk... a writer, it's like heaven and earth! How could you not know how to cherish it?"

Yi Zhonghai also came out of the house, but only glanced at Zhang Dabiao silently without saying a word, his eyes revealing surprise and incomprehension.

Faced with the three old men's "earnest teachings," Zhang Dabiao simply smiled and did not argue.

He couldn't be bothered to explain to these beasts, whose eyelids were thinner than paper, what "freedom" meant, or what "making a fortune in silence" meant.

Summer insects can't talk about ice.

In their eyes, tangible wages and ranks are the most important things in the world.

Yan Bugui was still there, lamenting and pounding his chest, as if he himself had lost 52.5 yuan.

"It's over, it's over, this child is completely ruined."

"Giving up a golden rice bowl to pick up a mud bowl, and a chipped one at that!"

Hearing the commotion in the courtyard, Jia Zhangshi peeked out of the house, curled her lip in schadenfreude, and muttered, "Serves him right! Even Heaven couldn't stand it anymore!"

Zhang Dabiao listened to the jeers and gossip rising and falling in the courtyard, whistled indifferently, and turned back to the east wing.

What do you guys even know about JLPT N1?

Do you even know what it means to have high pay, low workload, close to home, double pay, and count money until your hands cramp?

[Is this a problem?]

"Hey gentlemen, when are you going to get rid of this habit of meddling in other people's business?"