Courtyard House: Starting as a mediocre engineer

In the Vocational and Technical Department, Zhuang Zhongchen was presiding over a departmental meeting where they were discussing the results of the advanced technician examination.

As previously mentioned, there is an examination and assessment system for workers below the fourth level.

Actually, there's no exam required for Level 5 workers. Once the required years of service are completed, the employer submits the application to the labor bureau, and the bureau stamps it. It's basically just issuing a certificate. Even your company doesn't care about paying extra wages, so why would our labor bureau make things difficult for anyone?

In other words, a Level 5 worker is equivalent to a senior intermediate worker. Most skilled workers have reached their peak at this stage.

Intermediate workers can only become senior workers (level 7 workers) by passing the senior worker exam. However, there is a one-year probationary period, during which they are temporarily issued a level 6 worker certificate.

Level 6 worker is equivalent to a trainee senior worker. After one year, they will automatically be promoted to senior worker. In fact, like Level 3 worker, it is a temporary level during the trainee period.

Finally, there's the exam for level seven to eight workers (technician exam). This is the highest level exam for skilled workers, and it's extremely difficult.

Generally speaking, the technician exam is like this: you go in straight and come out sideways.

This is not an exaggeration at all. This is no longer a question of how difficult it is, but a question of life itself.

Many veteran craftsmen have worked diligently for decades and possess numerous unique skills. They confidently took the technician exam, only to burst into tears upon emerging from the examination.

There's absolutely no exaggeration here. It was a scene of constant weeping; many experienced workers collapsed to the ground, and it wouldn't be surprising if they were taken to the hospital. They had completely lost hope in this azure world!

Take my second uncle, Liu Haizhong, for example. He tried for over ten years but still couldn't pass the exam for Grade 8 worker. Perhaps in his mind, becoming a cadre was much easier than becoming a Grade 8 worker?

In reality, the Vocational and Technical Section of the Labor Bureau is responsible for the intermediate-level worker exam (Level 4), the advanced-level worker exam (Level 7), and the technician exam (Level 8). Other levels are just a matter of stamping an official seal.

Even so, the exam results this time were just too dismal. Only 17 people passed the advanced technician exam? And a mere 0 passed the master technician exam?

Holy crap! This was the entire capital city, and in the end, they were all wiped out?

After clearing his throat a few times, Zhuang Zhongchen smiled and said, "Pass the word down. After the Spring Festival, around March or April, give them a chance to retake the exam. There will be no extra exam fee for the retake, and we'll also highlight the key points for them. Xiao Gu, you'll have to work hard to make sure every candidate is notified before the holiday. Let them have ample time to prepare."

Gu Qiming was taken aback: "Zhuang...Ke, we're following the requirements of the exam syllabus!"

"I'm not saying you're wrong. But we can't have exams just for the sake of exams," Zhuang Zhongchen instructed. "Sister Tao, draft a plan for make-up exams, and then make it a system. I'll get approval from higher authorities. The central idea: increase motivation to learn skills to better serve the country's development. We must share the burdens of the nation. If the main river is full, how can the tributaries not be full?"

"Understood, Zhuang Ke."

This principle should be clear to everyone: only when the pool of talent is large enough will geniuses emerge in an endless stream.

However, during this period, all vocational skills examinations were copied from the Russian system.

As a long-established industrial powerhouse, the overall quality of Russian workers far surpasses that of domestic workers. This isn't some later industrial Cthulhu era where we can dominate the entire world.

So, if we go by the Russians' evaluation standards? I really can't do it!

See that? They went in straight and came out sideways? Given the skill level of domestic technical workers, the difficulty is indeed beyond the scope of the curriculum.

That's why Zhuang Zhongchen made the necessary adjustments to increase the number of make-up exam opportunities as much as possible.

……

A busy day passed. Zhuang Zhongchen greeted everyone along the way and quickly left the office.

However, just after crossing an intersection, they heard a series of firecrackers. A short while later, a traffic policeman emerged from the smoke and pulled out several unruly children.

There's no mistake here; it should be—dig it out!

Due to years of war, many intersections in the capital city have reinforced concrete bunkers.

Later, they reused the bunker and built a traffic control booth on top of it. Traffic lights in those days were manually controlled. The traffic police sat in the booth and directed traffic using the traffic lights.

But no one can stop these reckless kids. A few of them discovered this "secret base," sneaked into the bunker, and set off firecrackers inside, almost scaring the traffic police in the guard post above.

Amidst laughter, a large crowd of onlookers gathered around.

But what can you do with unruly kids? Besides giving them a good scolding, you can only let them go. After all, they're still just kids.

Zhuang Zhongchen also laughed for a while before scattering with the others.

Suddenly, Zhuang Zhongchen glanced around and noticed three people standing across the street, staring at him menacingly. They were wearing long cotton coats, and it seemed they were carrying something in their arms.

What the hell!

Zhuang Zhongchen suddenly remembered that this must be his brother-in-law. He had been so busy playing with Wen Yumei these past few days that he had completely forgotten about this silly bird.

Realizing the three men had begun their move and were getting closer, Zhuang Zhongchen had a sudden inspiration. He immediately put on a warm smile and greeted Wen Anguo, "Hey? Brother, you look familiar. Where have we met before?"

The three of them were all stunned. They had made various preparations beforehand, but there was no one to greet them with a smile?

Fortunately, Wen Anguo quickly reacted: "Pah, who the hell is your brother? You bastard, I'm Xiaomei's older brother..."

"Oh, you're Meizi's older brother, Anguo? Meizi often mentions you, no wonder you feel so familiar."

"So damn friendly."

"No need for further explanation, let's do it today, it's my treat. BBQ Season! Two friends, please?"

"Cough cough cough. Let me go!"

"Don't mention it, we're not behaving like that."

"Damn it, the two of us. You and I... cough cough cough."

While talking, Zhuang Zhongchen gave Wen Anguo a "warm hug," almost strangling him to death.

But the two people standing nearby were already dumbfounded. Weren't they supposed to be settling scores? How did it suddenly turn into a barbecue feast?

"Slurp!"

You know what, just hearing about BBQ Season actually makes me crave meat!

Finally, someone offered some advice: "Friend, please relax for a moment. What about you and Anguo's girl...?"

"I'm openly and freely dating! Good girls are sought after by many, of course I have to act fast!"

"Damn, he moved so fast!" Wen Anguo struggled desperately.

"Brother Anguo, there must be some misunderstanding here. Let's all help each other out. Let's go to Kao Rou Ji and find a seat. We can talk about it while we eat."

"Pah! I'm not going to fight you..."

"Heh heh, Anguo, just give in!"

"Holy crap! Let me go—!"

"Hahaha……"