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

Chapter 37. First Impressions of Colleagues

The warehouse was filled with the mixed smell of paper, ink, and soap.

"Look, cadres will mainly be issued office supplies and necessary protective equipment."

Since you're new, here's a quarter's worth of supplies: two notebooks, a bottle of blue-black ink, a dip pen, a stack of draft paper, two bars of soap, a pair of white cotton gloves (for use in the workshop or during voluntary labor), and…

She handed over a cardboard card, saying, "This is your labor insurance card. You can use it to collect labor insurance tea coupons and receipts every month. Please check the items in person."

After carefully counting and confirming that everything was correct, Yang Guangming signed his neat name on the receipt.

Holding these items, which exude the fresh scent of new ink and the clean smell of soap, a sense of belonging, a real feeling of being a "public servant," quietly flows into my heart like a warm current.

The personnel department is located in another, somewhat old-fashioned office building.

We found Sun Jianguo, an elderly comrade with gray hair and a kind face.

He mainly handled the transfer registration of Yang Guangming's grain and oil relationship, and told him to take the certificate issued by the factory back to the street office in a few days to complete the relocation procedures.

Then, he solemnly handed him a small aluminum badge with the red star logo and a clear serial number, repeatedly reminding him that he must wear it during work hours.

After completing all the formalities, the sun was nearly high in the sky. Yang Guangming returned to Han Mingqian's office door and gently knocked.

"All done? Pretty efficient." Han Mingqian nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "Come on, let me take you to the secretariat office so you can get acquainted with the place and the people there."

The secretariat office is right next to Director Han's office; it's a slightly larger suite.

The outer room contained several slightly worn desks, while the inner room door was ajar, seemingly the archives room.

When Han Mingqian pushed the door open, there were three people inside.

By the window, a slightly overweight man in his forties was leisurely making tea.

He wore a slightly worn shirt with dark blue arm sleeves. His movements were slow and deliberate. He had put in a lot of tea leaves, and the strong tea soup was steaming in the enamel mug.

Hearing the door open, he looked up and saw Han Mingqian and Yang Guangming behind him. He simply nodded slightly, his face remaining calm.

He then lowered his eyes and focused intently on the open copy of "Reference News" in his hand, as if the words contained the ultimate truths of the world.

He is Zhou Bingsheng.

Han Mingqian introduced, "This is Comrade Zhou Bingsheng. Master Zhou is a veteran in our secretariat. He has excellent writing skills and has written many important reports and summaries for the factory. Xiao Yang, you should learn from Master Zhou more in the future."

Yang Guangming quickly stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said with sincere respect, "Hello, Master Zhou! I'm Yang Guangming, the new clerk. Please guide me in the future!"

Zhou Bingsheng then put down the newspaper, picked up his large enamel mug, blew away the thick layer of tea foam floating on the surface, and carefully examined Yang Guangming.

Her gaze lingered for a moment on his brand-new Dacron clothes, and her lips twitched almost imperceptibly as a response: "Okay, have a seat."

His voice was not loud, carrying a sense of detachment and distance that comes with years of experience and a veteran's experience.

Near the door, a woman in her thirties with a neat, short haircut and a kind face was knitting a sweater. The yarn was a deep, dark blue.

Seeing them enter, she immediately put down the bamboo needles and yarn she was rapidly spinning, her face instantly breaking into a warm smile, her voice clear and crisp:

"Director Han is here! This must be the new Comrade Xiao Yang, right? Oh my, he looks so energetic! Like a little poplar tree!" Han Mingqian said with a smile, "This is Comrade Zhang Yuqin, the 'chief steward' of the secretariat. She is in charge of all matters, including meeting reception, document receipt and distribution, and logistical matters."

She's meticulous and has excellent interpersonal skills. If you have any problems with daily life, just ask your sister Zhang.

"Hello, Sister Zhang! I'm Yang Guangming. I hope you'll take good care of me in the future!" Yang Guangming was humble and had a sincere smile.

"Oh, you're welcome, you're welcome!"

Zhang Yuqin laughed even harder, her eyes scanning Yang Guangming up and down like searchlights, with the warmth of an older sister looking at a younger brother.
"What a fine young man! We finally have another young face in our secretariat."

"If you need anything in the future, just tell Sister Zhang, and I'll take care of everything perfectly!"

Her tone was crisp and straightforward, with a natural warmth and approachability.

Behind the desk closest to the wall at the back sat a young man who looked no older than Yang Guangming.

He was wearing slightly worn blue overalls and a pair of somewhat bulky black-rimmed glasses; he was rather thin and frail.

He was engrossed in a manuscript, writing at lightning speed, but at that moment he looked up and subconsciously pushed up his glasses, which had slipped down to the middle of his nose.

His gaze swept quickly across Yang Guangming through the glasses, pausing almost imperceptibly on the gleaming silver watch on Yang Guangming's wrist. A complex scrutiny and... a kind of almost instinctive, slight repulsion flashed deep in his eyes.

He didn't speak first, but waited quietly for Han Mingqian to introduce him, his posture carrying the dignified reserve of an intellectual.

“This is Comrade Li Weidong,” Han Mingqian pointed to him, “He arrived two years earlier than you and is a key ‘penman’ candidate that our secretariat is cultivating.”

"Wei Dong, this is Yang Guangming, the new clerk. You young people should communicate more and learn from each other in the future."

"Hello, Comrade Li Weidong! I am Yang Guangming, please take good care of me!" Yang Guangming took a step forward, extended his hand across the table, and smiled brightly.

Li Weidong then stood up, reached out his hand across the table, and gently shook hands with Yang Guangming. The handshake was very light, carrying a deliberate sense of distance.

His voice was flat and devoid of warmth: "Hello. I am Li Weidong."

There was hardly a smile on his face, and his gaze quickly shifted back to his manuscript, appearing somewhat indifferent, even subtly conveying a sense of deliberate distance.

Yang Guangming keenly noticed that this colleague, who was of similar age, seemed to harbor a natural sense of alienation and a faint competitive spirit towards him, a newcomer who had "parachuted" in through connections.

"Alright, you know everyone now." Han Mingqian patted Yang Guangming on the shoulder. "Xiao Yang, your desk..."

He glanced around the slightly crowded outer room. "For now, we'll arrange for you to sit at the empty table next to Sister Zhang. This afternoon, you can familiarize yourself with the environment and take a look at the secretariat's daily work processes and regulations."

I'll explain the specific work arrangements to you after I've sorted them out. If you have any questions, feel free to ask Sister Zhang, or come directly to me.

"Thank you, Director Han!" Yang Guangming said sincerely again.

Han Mingqian nodded, turned and left the office.

Yang Guangming walked to the empty, worn-out desk and put down the brand-new notebook, blue-black ink, dip pen, and a stack of fragrant manuscript paper that he had just received.

(End of this chapter)