After finishing his remarks about wages, Li Dajun said, “That’s all I have to say. Next, we’ll invite the directors of the Comprehensive Workshop, Processing Workshop, and Packaging Workshop—Comrades Lin Dong, Zhao Jianguo, and Zhang Yibing—to announce the group assignments and make arrangements according to each team.”
With a smile, he gestured toward Lin and Zhao in the corner as if to say “please,” then stepped aside and stood together with Zhang Yibing, who had arrived at some point.
Zhao Jianguo forced a reluctant smile, rolling his eyes inwardly. In a low voice, he muttered to Lin Dong, “Well, with these guys here, our plans are completely messed up.”
Originally, the factory had planned to spend a week training new workers from scratch, cultivating talent for the cannery. By the end of the year, when large-scale production began, this trained batch would help bring in newcomers.
But unexpectedly, Vice Factory Director Wang had brought in dozens of experienced workers from Ju County, who quickly took over many mid- and lower-level leadership positions.
For example, Zhao Jianguo’s deputy section chief position, as well as the team leader roles in the workshops.
If not for Zhao Jianguo’s strong connections, he wouldn’t have even secured the deputy section chief role—let alone become a workshop director.
As for Lin Dong, he had been assigned to manage the Comprehensive Workshop, basically acting like a caretaker, not even landing the Packaging Workshop director role.
The Comprehensive Workshop handled tasks like washing and cutting fruits and meat—jobs usually done by temporary workers. For someone who had once had a chance at becoming a deputy section chief, managing temporary workers was quite a drop in status.
Zhao Jianguo couldn’t help but sigh. Compared to Lin Dong, he himself—head of the Processing Workshop—was clearly more favored by upper management.
After all, the Processing Workshop and the Empty Can Workshop were the two core units of the cannery. The entire production depended on them.
Sure enough, happiness came from comparison.
Zhao Jianguo patted Lin Dong on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, brother. I’ve got your back.”
Lin Dong’s face showed a question mark.
What nonsense is Old Zhao going on about now?
Forget it. Shaking off his hand, Lin Dong said, “I have fewer people assigned. Should I go first?”
“Go ahead,” Zhao Jianguo replied generously.
Holding the list, Lin Dong used a loudspeaker to read out twenty names.
Baolan and the others strained their ears from the back.
When he finished, Baolan felt a bit disappointed—they weren’t on the list.
In her eyes, Comrade Lin was gentle and patient. Working under him would definitely be easier than under the often stern-faced Zhao.
After Lin Dong finished, he handed the loudspeaker to Zhao Jianguo.
The Processing Workshop was responsible for the entire process—from seasoning the prepared ingredients to filling, steaming, sealing, sterilizing, and cooling. It required more workers, and the grouping was more detailed.
“Those whose names are called, stand over here,” Zhao Jianguo said, pointing to an open area outside the canteen. He held a stack of lists and began reading group by group.
“Ingredient Preparation Group…”
“Filling Group… Li Xiaohua, Xing Baolan, Wu Niandi…”
“Sealing Group…”
No one knew what method had been used to divide the groups. Among Baolan’s dormmates, only she and Wu Niandi ended up in the same group. Tian Lianghui and Wang Xiaoping were assigned to the Sealing Group. Even after Zhao Jianguo finished reading, Dingqing’s name hadn’t been called.
Baolan patted Dingqing’s arm reassuringly and whispered, “You’re probably assigned to the Packaging Workshop. I’ll head out first.”
Dingqing let out a mournful cry, pouting as she stayed behind in the canteen waiting for the next list.
Luckily, Lan Xianying was still there. Dingqing hooked her arm around hers. “We’re so pitiful!”
Lan Xianying puffed up her cheeks and muttered after a while, “Damn it! Did they divide the groups with their feet or what?!”
Dingqing was shocked. “You’re swearing?! Don’t use that pretty face to say dirty words!”
…
The Processing Workshop had over a hundred people. Zhao Jianguo led them to the meat-canning building in the center of the factory and had the waiting team leaders claim their members according to the list.
“As team leaders, guiding and uniting your members and leading your team to complete production tasks efficiently is your top priority!” Zhao Jianguo addressed them.
“Most of you came from Ju County. I believe you didn’t leave your hometown to live comfortably in Mingfeng—you came to contribute to production! The leadership has entrusted you with this responsibility. I hope you will fulfill your duties, act as role models, take the lead, and shine in production!”
“If any team has problems, I won’t look for anyone else—I’ll come straight to you team leaders! Understood?”
Zhao Jianguo felt quite satisfied with his speech, thinking it struck the right balance between firmness and leniency. He swept a stern gaze over the team leaders.
Whatever they thought of him privately, they responded loudly, “Understood!”
Zhao Jianguo nodded in satisfaction. “Good. Your members are now your responsibility. Go make your arrangements.”
Baolan stood in the Filling Group with Li Xiaohua and Wu Niandi.
Their team leader was Chen Zhong’an, a man in his twenties.
Baolan recognized him as one of the people from yesterday at the factory gate—he was also from Ju County.
Chen Zhong’an cleared his throat. “Let me brief everyone on the factory’s progress. You may have heard that our canned goods are mainly exported to the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia.
“At present, Soviet experts have already inspected the cannery and slaughterhouse, as well as the processing techniques. The lab has successfully trial-produced a steamed pork can that suits Soviet tastes.
“We’re about to begin production soon—to earn foreign exchange for the country!”
As he finished speaking, he glanced at the group. Everyone quickly started clapping.
Baolan joined in.
No matter what, earning foreign exchange for the country was inspiring.
“Once production starts, the slaughterhouse will process 300 pigs a day. Our cannery will operate at full capacity to handle that meat. To manage this workload, the factory will implement a three-shift, round-the-clock system.
“Our Filling Group currently has fifteen people. My suggestion is to divide into three teams of five. The teams will rotate through morning, afternoon, and night shifts, switching once a week.”
Most factories operated on a three-shift system, so everyone accepted it easily.
Perhaps to appear democratic, Chen Zhong’an let them form their own teams and elect a sub-team leader.
Everyone looked at each other before quickly grouping up based on familiarity.
Baolan, Wu Niandi from her dorm, and Li Xiaohua from Room 301 naturally stood together. With three people already, they added an older woman who had no group, making four. Looking around, the only one left alone was a short, skinny man.
There were already more female workers in the cannery. The Processing Workshop had only a dozen or so men, and once divided into teams, each group only had a few.
The Filling Group had three men. The other two seemed to be from the same dorm and had stuck together, leaving this skinny man out.
Baolan glanced around, then waved him over.
The man’s eyes lit up as if he’d found his savior. He hurried over and stood beside Baolan. “Sisters, thank you for taking me in! From now on, you’re my four sisters!”
Li Xiaohua burst out laughing. “What’s your name? How old are you? Sweet talker, huh? How’d you get left out?”
“My name’s Xiong Shan. What about you, sisters?”
The five of them introduced themselves. Besides Xiong Shan, the older woman who joined them was surnamed Zhang—Zhang Cuizhen.
Despite his burly-sounding name, Xiong Shan didn’t look the part. Scratching his head, he grinned. “Who says I got left out? I’ve joined the organization now! I was born to be in a group with sisters like you.”
Zhang Cuizhen laughed heartily. “Xiao Xiong, you’ve got quite the mouth on you. Are you married?”
Xiong Shan froze and shook his head awkwardly.
“I can introduce you—”
Seeing the conversation drifting off-topic, Baolan quickly said, “So, who wants to be the sub-team leader? Let’s vote by raising hands.”
With the mindset that “even a small position is still a position,” Baolan eagerly nominated herself. “I’ll vote for myself first. I’m willing to be the sub-team leader.”
Wu Niandi said softly, “I vote for Baolan.”
Xiong Shan immediately followed, “I also vote for Sister Xing.”
In the blink of an eye, she had three votes. Even if Zhang Cuizhen and Li Xiaohua wanted to vote for themselves, they couldn’t beat her.
Li Xiaohua said, “Then Baolan, you be the sub-team leader.”
“Well, I won’t stand on ceremony then.” Baolan hadn’t expected it to be this easy. She smiled, a small dimple appearing at the corner of her mouth.