“You’ve made progress.” Zhou De Min said with satisfaction.
“It’s all thanks to Master’s teachings.” Yang Xuan said.
“No need to flatter me, you really have made great progress. It seems you have the makings of a good fitter. But don’t get cocky. You still have a long way to go.” Zhou De Min said.
Yang Xuan humbly accepted his master’s guidance: “Master, I will continue to learn from you earnestly and strive to graduate soon.”
Zhou De Min was very satisfied with Yang Xuan’s attitude.
One of the last people to arrive at the workshop was Qin Huai Ru. She almost always walked in right on time. She didn’t really put much thought into her work. Either she was thinking about how to feed and clothe her three children, or she was thinking about how to get something for nothing from others.
Every month, starting from payday, Qin Huai Ru would borrow money from He Yu Zhu for all sorts of reasons. She always borrowed but never returned.
Yi Zhong Hai never said a word to Qin Huai Ru. As her master, he should have been straightforward in pointing out her problems.
Yi Zhong Hai was the only eighth-level fitter in the workshop, almost always being recognized as an advanced worker or model worker in the workshop. Who would dare to discipline Yi Zhong Hai’s apprentice?
It was precisely because of Yi Zhong Hai’s irresponsible attitude that Qin Huai Ru, three years after taking over her husband Jia Dong Xu’s position, was still an apprentice. She only received 20 yuan a month, relying on inheriting Jia Dong Xu’s work experience.
In those days, an apprentice could be classified after three years. Jia Dong Xu was directly classified as a third-level fitter. After classification, one could take the exam every three years. If they passed the exam, their fitter level would be raised one level.
Logically, Qin Huai Ru had already been an apprentice for three years. As Qin Huai Ru’s master, and the only eighth-level fitter in the workshop, he was perfectly capable of classifying her. If Qin Huai Ru’s skills were up to par, classifying her directly as a third-level fitter would not raise any eyebrows.
But Yi Zhong Hai did not classify Qin Huai Ru, simply because her skills were too poor, and she simply couldn’t graduate. Even if Yi Zhong Hai was biased towards Qin Huai Ru, he wouldn’t dare to classify her.
Otherwise, even if she was only classified as a first-level worker, her monthly salary would be over 31 yuan. If Qin Huai Ru was a first-level fitter, her monthly salary would be close to 40 yuan, including her seniority pay. There would be no need to play the victim and beg for money.
Qin Huai Ru didn’t feel ashamed at all, instead, she used being an uneducated woman as an excuse and acted with a sense of entitlement.
At work, Zhou De Min would always give Yang Xuan some simple tasks. But to his surprise, Yang Xuan could complete them easily and flawlessly.
“It seems you really have grasped it. From now on, you can complete these simple tasks on your own. If you can do it well, strive to be classified as a third-level fitter when your apprenticeship is complete.” Zhou De Min was very satisfied with his apprentice’s performance.
“Completion? Doesn’t one have to take the exam to be able to turn regular and become a first-level fitter?” Yang Xuan was immediately dumbfounded.
“Who told you that? You have to complete three years of apprenticeship, then be classified, and then you can take the exam every three years. If you pass, you get promoted one level.” Zhou De Min told Yang Xuan something he had no idea about.
Most of the apprentices who could graduate were generally classified as third-level fitters after three years. Only a very small number were classified as second-level fitters, and there had been virtually no one classified as first-level fitters in the rolling mill.
“Qin Widow has been an apprentice for three years, right? Has she been classified?” Yang Xuan asked.
“Seems not. With her skills? Being classified? Being classified as a first-level fitter would be hard enough.” Zhou De Min shook his head.
“If she never gets classified, she’ll remain an apprentice forever?” Yang Xuan asked.
“What else can she do? With her skills, who dares to classify her? She can’t even process the simplest parts!” Zhou De Min said.
Yang Xuan thought that Qin Huai Ru had always been an apprentice because Yi Zhong Hai was deliberately holding her back. He didn’t realize it was her own fault. She hadn’t put her intelligence into her work. She was all about scheming and manipulating others.
“Don’t learn from that bad example. Master your skills, get classified as a third-level fitter after three years, and get a monthly salary of 50 or 60 yuan. That’s more than your dad’s salary.” Zhou De Min said.
“Master, isn’t there any other way to skip the three years of apprenticeship? For example, I take the exam and become a third-level fitter directly?” Yang Xuan asked.
“You wish. Everyone has gone through this. Why should you get special treatment?” Zhou De Min said in a disgruntled tone.
Yang Xuan was somewhat dejected, it wasn’t the same as the *Siheyuan* stories he had read. The others directly used cheats to improve their fitter skills to the eighth level, then showed off in front of the factory leader, and were directly promoted to eighth-level fitters, earning a monthly salary of 99 yuan.
Seeing Yang Xuan’s dejected expression, Zhou De Min laughed: “It’s not impossible. If your skills are really good, the factory might be able to classify you ahead of schedule.”
The rolling mill would have some special tasks, and at those times, the factory would hold a mass campaign. If you could make a significant contribution during a mass campaign, there was a chance that you might be promoted ahead of schedule. But such opportunities were not so easy to come by. Even if you encountered one, how much could an apprentice contribute? Wouldn’t it still depend on eighth-level fitters like Yi Zhong Hai to shoulder the burden?
Don’t even think about it, even a five-level fitter like Zhou De Min may not have the opportunity to perform well.
But Yang Xuan’s eyes lit up, if there was such an opportunity, he had to grab it.
The rolling mill cafeteria.
He Yu Zhu discovered Pang Geng sneaking into the cafeteria to steal soy sauce. In a panic, the rolling pin he used to scare Pang Geng ended up hitting Xu Da Mao.
Xu Da Mao boasted to He Yu Zhu about having dinner with Factory Director Yang in the afternoon.
He Yu Zhu didn’t want to take the chicken meat, after all, he had promised to have dinner at Yang Xuan’s house. But seeing Xu Da Mao’s smug face, he immediately lost his temper. He simply snatched a portion from the chicken meat for the banquet.
He Yu Zhu was not stupid, he would not touch parts with obvious characteristics, like chicken heads, tails, wings, and feet. He took a little bit here and there, no one would be able to tell.
It was definitely impossible to take a whole piece of chicken back, like in the TV series.
As He Yu Zhu was about to leave with his lunchbox, Yang Xuan came running over.
“Why are you running over here? I, He Yu Zhu, always keep my word. I promised to go to your house for dinner, and I will definitely go.” He Yu Zhu was surprised to see Yang Xuan running to the cafeteria to find him.
“Is that chicken meat in your lunchbox?” Yang Xuan asked in a low voice, looking at He Yu Zhu’s aluminum lunchbox.
He Yu Zhu was startled, looking around cautiously, he whispered, “Let’s go, I’ll tell you outside.”