Chapter 73

"The north wind howls, the snowflakes flutter..."

"The White-Haired Girl," an old play, is a favorite among everyone, and after each viewing, people always curse Huang Shirren for being a despicable character. However, this play is not exactly new; its plot is well-known. Ordinary folks, busy with their daily lives, don't watch it often, but those in leadership positions tend to have broader horizons. Take this particular leader, for instance; his attention was not on the plot but rather on Yang Bailao. Yang Bailao was hunched over, wearing a tattered hat and smeared with soot on his face. Yet, the leader still recognized him: "Isn't this the same person who was the announcer just now?"

By this time, Director Song had already scurried backstage, cursing Old Man Bai in his heart and feeling utterly anxious. Who knows how Zhuang Zhixi would perform? After all, they hadn't rehearsed even once; it was a complete rush job.

Director Song was in a tough spot, but others were even less capable. The thought of these useless individuals made him furious.

Director Song dared not relax for a moment. Noticing the factory leaders' glances, he quickly smiled and said, "You have a sharp eye, Leader. He is indeed the same person who was the announcer earlier."

The leader smiled and remarked, "Typically, Yang Bailao is played by older actors, which aligns with the character's age. But you were bold enough to cast a younger actor..."

Everyone's hearts were in their throats as the leader continued, "This spirit of innovation is indeed worth emulating."

Director Song breathed a silent sigh of relief. Compared to the factory leaders' sycophantic flattery, his mind was still on the stage. It wasn't that he was particularly passionate about his work; it was because he had made a last-minute substitution. If the performance flopped, he would undoubtedly face criticism.

Director Song's sweat dripped like beans.

What is the spirit of innovation? If it weren't for Old Man Bai collapsing backstage due to nervousness, they wouldn't have been in this predicament. If it weren't for the others being utterly incapable, each one acting like "sending me on stage is like sending me to my death," they wouldn't have been forced into this situation.

The performance continued, and the audience seemed engrossed. The leader spoke again: "How did you come up with the idea of casting a younger actor as Yang Bailao?"

All eyes turned to Director Song, who awkwardly smiled and said, "Well..."

He gritted his teeth, made up his mind, and said, "Leader, we originally planned for an older actor, but due to a minor accident, he couldn't perform today. We had to make a last-minute substitution with Zhuang Zhixi. To be honest, this is his first performance, and he's also performing with these actors for the first time. There was no rehearsal; it's all impromptu. Neither he nor the others have ever performed together before."

Normally, Director Song wouldn't have revealed this, but in the brief moment of tension, he quickly decided that honesty was the best policy. Hiding the truth from the leader might not work, and lying was never a good idea. If he didn't tell the truth and there were minor flaws, the leader might think he hadn't done his job well. But if he explained that everyone was performing together for the first time, the audience would be amazed by the effort, and any awkwardness in the performance would be overlooked.

In Director Song's experience, there were indeed some coordination issues in the performance, though not obvious. This was his way of salvaging the situation.

Upon hearing this, the leader was even more astonished, almost incredulous: "You mean they were performing together for the first time?"

Director Song replied, "Yes, I wouldn't dare lie about that. It's not that they've never performed before, but it's their first time performing together. Only Yang Bailao was a last-minute replacement with Zhuang Zhixi."

The leader nodded in understanding: "No wonder. I thought his performance was a bit awkward. But this young man has talent. Not only did he step up to the occasion, but his performance was also commendable. There's some awkwardness and unfamiliarity, but he handled the small details very well. If we weren't sitting in the front, we wouldn't have noticed he was a young man. His posture and walking style were very convincing for an older character. He must be someone who pays close attention to life's details. Young people like him have great potential."

Director Song continued to wipe his sweat, hoping this ordeal would soon be over.

"Isn't this Huang Shirren the same person who sang earlier?"

"You have a keen eye, Leader. Yes, he is. Although we're preparing for the Labor Day event, we haven't mobilized the entire factory. We still need to focus on production, so we didn't borrow anyone from the workshop. We've made do with limited time and limited personnel. Almost everyone is doing the work of eight people. Take Yang Bailao, for example; besides being the announcer for this performance, he's also done a lot of backstage work, like the backgrounds you see. He worked with Old Huang from our department to create them. They also handle the factory's bulletin boards and props. And this Huang Shirren, because he sings the best, he's in almost every song-related performance. We didn't even dare let him sing during rehearsals, fearing he'd strain his voice and be unable to perform today. That would have been a disaster. He's a key player today..."

After all, it's not a bad thing to play the victim and earn some sympathy from the leaders.

The leader nodded in agreement: "You've done well in this regard. I personally don't approve of disrupting regular work for these events. These activities are meant to show appreciation for the workers. If they were to neglect their duties for the performances, it would defeat the purpose."

"You're absolutely right."

During the performance of "The White-Haired Girl," the audience continued to curse Huang Shirren, unaware that Yang Bailao was actually Zhuang Zhixi. Who would have guessed that Zhuang Zhixi, after smearing his face with soot and messing up his hair, would look so disheveled?

However, after all, it was their first time performing together, there were a few minor mistakes. Zhuang Zhixi managed to carry on, pulling off the performance without being noticed.

The leader smirked, nodding in approval: "What's this young man's name?"

"Zhuang Zhixi."

Director Song thought to himself, could it be that Zhuang Zhixi has caught the leader's eye?

Indeed, the leader said, "This young man has something special. Not bad! He's multi-talented, bold, and willing to take on responsibilities. We need more young people like him."

Director Song and the factory leaders exchanged glances, realizing that Zhuang Zhixi had indeed caught the leader's attention.

As the leader and the factory leaders chatted, the performance of "The White-Haired Girl" finally concluded. Zhuang Zhixi left the stage a minute earlier than the others. He quickly washed his face, plunged his head into the water, and vigorously scrubbed and shook it.

Since dismantling the stage took some time, he took off his tattered cotton-padded jacket and tidied up his clothes before returning to announce the next performance.

Who would have thought that this young man with slightly wet hair was the same person who had played the hunched, soot-covered Yang Bailao earlier?

The leader smiled and said, "He moves pretty fast. If all young people were this capable, our work would be much easier."

"Exactly."

The leader said a few more words but didn’t stay long. If it weren’t for the earlier incident, they wouldn’t have watched an extra performance. After all, time was precious today. They had to visit several factories for comfort and encouragement, and this was only the third one. They were quite busy.

The leader and his entourage left, and the performances continued as usual.

Those on and off the stage had no idea what the leaders had discussed. Even Zhao Guihua and her group in the distance were unaware. However, seeing the situation unfold much as it had in her previous life, Zhao Guihua nodded slightly, feeling that things were likely to turn out as expected.

People strive for advancement, just as water flows downward.

The medical office wasn't bad, but it wasn't suitable for Zhuang Zhixi. He had no choice but to join the factory, but if given the opportunity, moving up wouldn't be a bad thing.

"Mom, wasn't Uncle Bai supposed to play Yang Bailao? How come it's Zhixi?" Zhuang Zhiyuan asked curiously. Others might not have recognized him, but he could tell; that was his brother. Ming Mei also recognized him.

Zhao Guihua replied, "Who knows? Maybe Old Man Bai had something come up and couldn't perform?"

"What could he have possibly had come up? Besides, with the performance right around the corner, nothing should have prevented him from performing." Zhuang Zhiyuan was puzzled.

Yang Lixin: "Maybe he's too scared to perform."

Ming Mei nodded, agreeing with this statement. Otherwise, it was really hard to explain. She sighed, "Thank goodness Zhuang Zhixi managed to pull through."

Zhao Guihua: "Third Brother performed quite well."

Everyone nodded in agreement. The performance was so engaging that they were all thoroughly entertained. Normally, they wouldn't have the chance to see such performances. Even Zhao Guihua, who had been reborn, felt the joy of watching the show. She had seen a lot in her previous life, but after being reborn, her life became monotonous, and opportunities to watch such programs were rare. Watching a performance was indeed a delight.

"Hey, up there!"

Zhao Guihua heard the commotion and looked down to see Zhang San approaching. Zhang San saw Zhao Guihua peeking out and smiled, "Auntie, it's you. Why are you up on the roof?"

They were in charge of security and patrolling. Zhang San was assigned to the patrol team to prevent any theft or mischief. He had wandered over to this area and spotted the ladder.

It turned out someone had climbed up to the roof to watch the show.

Zhao Guihua: "We arrived late and couldn't squeeze in. That's why we found a higher spot. Don't worry, we won't cause you any trouble. We'll leave after we finish watching."

Zhang San: "Today everyone's out to watch the show, so it's fine. Just be careful not to fall. If you do, that would be bad."

He was easygoing, and Zhao Guihua smiled, "Got it, got it."

Zhang San quickly asked, "Can you see clearly from that spot?"

Zhao Guihua: "It's quite clear."

Zhang San nodded, "Then next time there's a movie, I might come up here too."

Zhao Guihua: "If it's a movie, this spot might be a bit high, but it'll do."

Zhang San didn't rush to leave and continued chatting, "Is the public toilet in your area still haunted?"

He was quite concerned about this matter, considering how big of a deal it was.

Zhao Guihua: "I haven't heard anything about it. Anyway, none of us have encountered anything. But since we go in groups, we feel safer. It's just that everyone's a bit timid. Even though we don't think anything will happen, there's still some unease in our hearts."

"You all have it tough."

"Who says otherwise?"

"If you need anything, come find me at the Security Office. I'm familiar with Xiao Zhuang, we're not outsiders."

This guy was also quite sociable. Despite the height difference, they managed to chat away.

Zhao Guihua: "Oh, that's very kind of you, Zhang San. How old are you? Are you married?"

The classic three-step question routine for elderly women: First, how old are you; second, are you married; and third, the conversation branches out depending on whether you're married or not.

If not married, what kind of partner are you looking for?

If married, do you have kids?

Zhang San: "Oh, I'm not married yet."

"What kind of partner are you looking for?" Aunt Wang suddenly chimed in, "Do you remember me, young man? I'm from the same courtyard as Auntie Zhao. We met during the haunted toilet incident."

Zhang San: "Of course, of course. You're the courtyard manager."

Aunt Wang laughed, "That's right, it's me. You have a good memory. What kind of partner are you looking for?" She said, "Let me see if I can find someone suitable for you."

Zhang San was overjoyed, "That would be great!"

He didn't expect to have such a lucky encounter. He quickly replied, "I'm 24 this year. My parents are both alive, and I have two older brothers. They're both married. My eldest brother got a house after marriage and moved out. My second brother's family, my parents, and I live together. I live in this area, but not in the same direction as your courtyard. It's also a siheyuan, and I have my own room."

Aunt Wang: "Your conditions are quite good. What kind of partner are you looking for?"

Zhang San: "I want someone who's good-looking. I don't have any other requirements."

Aunt Wang: "That's a very simple requirement, isn't it? No other conditions? No family background requirements? No residency requirements? No job requirements?"

Zhang San scratched his head and said, "I'd like to find someone who's perfect in every way, but that's not possible. I'm just an average-looking guy with average family conditions, so I can't be picky. Someone with good conditions wouldn't look at me anyway. I don't ask for much. If I can get just one thing right, I'd like her to be good-looking."

Aunt Wang: "Alright, I'll take care of this for you. I guarantee I'll get it done. Your requirements aren't high at all."

Zhang San: "Thank you so much, Auntie."

Zhang San connected with Aunt Wang and was overjoyed. He hummed a little tune as he left.

As soon as he was gone, Aunt Wang said, "Look, this is what a normal person is like. No one is perfect, so you have to be realistic. Like Bai Fendou, it's no wonder he can't find a wife. He doesn't even look at his own situation before demanding this and that from the woman. Zhang San's conditions are much better than Bai Fendou's, but look at his requirements—just one condition. Sure, it's a bit superficial to focus only on looks, but at least he knows what he wants and is smart enough to make compromises."

Zhao Guihua nodded.

Don't judge him just because he only cares about looks. He's clear-headed.

He knows that perfection doesn't exist, so he won't aim for the impossible.

"I wonder when Bai Fendou will ever get married," Zhuang Zhiyuan sighed.

"Hard to say, I think it's unlikely," Zhao Guihua replied.

She felt that Bai Fendou still had no self-awareness, which made it even more difficult for him.

After watching the show and chatting, it was soon noon. The performance had reached its final act, with all the performers coming on stage for a grand chorus.

Hutou was still not satisfied, "It's over."

The other kids felt the same way, wishing they could watch more.

Zhao Guihua: "There will definitely be more shows like this in the future. Next time, Grandma will take you all to watch again."

"Great~" The children cheered up.

"Shall we go?" Old Man Zhuang, who had been quiet the whole time, finally stood up and dusted off his pants. Zhao Guihua looked at the crowd pouring out like ants and hesitated, shaking her head, "Let's wait a bit longer. With so many people, it's easy for kids to get stepped on."

At this moment, people didn't seem to have the awareness of avoiding stampedes, but Zhao Guihua was truly worried. She had seen many news reports about such incidents.

Even though there hadn't been any stampedes in their area in her previous life, it didn't mean anything. Caution was always necessary. Zhao Guihua disagreed, and Aunt Wang also decided to wait. It was true that from their high vantage point, the crowd looked incredibly dense. Even Aunt Wang felt it wasn't very safe. There were just too many people.

They waited until most of the crowd had left before slowly climbing down and heading out.

As they approached the gate, they saw Bai Fendou and others maintaining order at the entrance. From a distance, Bai Fendou called out, "Aunt Wang, how's the matchmaking going for me?"

He had just heard from his colleagues that Aunt Wang was going to introduce someone to Zhang San and felt uneasy.

After all, he had asked Aunt Wang for help many times, but she had never introduced anyone to him. Now she was actively helping someone else, which made Bai Fendou a bit anxious. Wasn't there some kind of order to these things?

Aunt Wang looked at Bai Fendou in disbelief. She couldn't believe he had the nerve to bring this up, especially considering how outrageous his demands were.

Moreover, there had been unpleasantness between their families regarding the selling of DVDs.

It seemed Aunt Wang really didn't understand Bai Fendou's thought process. Bai Fendou hadn't connected the two matters in his mind. He knew he had swindled 50 yuan from Chef Li's family, but in his view, he had swindled them, but did they know? No, they were just guessing. So why should they blame him? Besides, he had helped their family get a bicycle ticket, taking risks for them. He felt justified in taking that 50 yuan, and they should be grateful, not blame him.

Even if they did blame him, that had nothing to do with matchmaking.

When the time comes to introduce someone, I'm not going to skimp on the matchmaker's fee. I'm actually giving your family a chance to make some money. Ultimately, it's your family who should be thanking me, Bai Fendou.

So Bai Fendou didn't think there was anything wrong with him at all.

"Aunt Wang, I came to you first. Even if you're introducing someone, you should do it for me first," Bai Fendou shouted, drawing the attention of everyone around.

Aunt Wang was so angry she could barely breathe. How could there be such a little brat?

She didn't mince words: "Your requirements are too outrageous. I can't help you. Go find someone else. I don't want your matchmaker's fee."

"Hey, how are they outrageous? I..."

Aunt Wang didn't give him any face, raising her voice: "How aren't they outrageous? Look at your own conditions. You want a family with excellent background, someone who's a city resident, has a stable job, is good-looking, at least ten years younger than you, and must be able to bear at least three sons. Oh, and you want her to be gentle and virtuous. With those conditions, I can't take on this job. Not only do I not have a girl like that, but even if I did, her family would probably come after me with knives!"

"Pfft!"

Everyone around laughed.

Thinking about it, wasn't that the truth?

If a family had those conditions, they could easily find a small factory leader, let alone someone like Bai Fendou.

Bai Fendou, however, didn't seem to care. He said, "Why can't I find someone like that? Aunt Wang, look at how harsh you're being. Do you have to talk like that? I know you don't like me, but my conditions are obvious to everyone. It's perfectly normal for me, Bai Fendou, to find someone like that. Even Zhou Qun could find someone, so why can't I find someone better than him?"

Everyone stared at Bai Fendou in disbelief, unable to understand how he could be so clueless.

Although Zhou Qun's reputation had gone down the drain now, ten years ago, his conditions were quite good.

No exaggeration, really quite good.

Although he came from a single-parent family with a somewhat difficult mother, Zhou Qun was ambitious. Among the same batch of workers, he was the fastest to get promoted, with a decent salary. He often helped his master and other leaders with chores at their homes, earning a reputation for being hardworking. Although this was later proven to have hidden motives, at the time, no one knew.

Moreover, having an old mother was more appealing to potential brides than having a widower father.

A mother-in-law could help with housework and childcare, which saved a lot of trouble. A widower couldn't do that.

So ten years ago, Bai Fendou's conditions were already worse than Zhou Qun's. Now that Zhou Qun's reputation is ruined, Bai Fendou isn't much better off. The father and son are always fawning over the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Everyone knows that, and there's no rumor of him saving any money. Are the women crazy?

Even if the woman is crazy, her parents aren't.

Like now, doesn't everyone know that Jiang Lu's father is forcing her to divorce?

There's no such thing as a secret in this world.

Bai Fendou didn't get it and kept blabbering: "Introduce me to someone good, and I won't skimp on the matchmaker's fee. If it weren't for the fact that we're neighbors, I would have gone to someone else."

As if he was doing Aunt Wang a favor by letting her earn this money.

Aunt Wang sneered: "Then you should go find someone else right away."

She didn't want to deal with Bai Fendou anymore and pulled her old friend to leave.

As for the others, as peers in the same courtyard, Yang Lixin and Zhuang Zhiyuan were well aware of Bai Fendou's bizarre ideas. So they weren't surprised, but the people from the factory didn't know. They were really shocked to find out Bai Fendou's requirements for a future wife.

He's already over thirty, and even with a stable job, his conditions aren't exactly top-notch.

With that, how dare he make such demands?

Was he crazy?n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

At this point, everyone could understand why Aunt Wang was so angry. This wasn't just ruining her reputation; it was practically smashing her signboard. Matchmakers rely on their reputation. While there are those who deceive both sides, they would never introduce a girl with such good conditions to someone like Bai Fendou.

Matchmakers usually try to pair people with similar conditions. If the difference is too big, they risk ruining their reputation. If they do that, the men might still come to them, but the women definitely won't.

A matchmaker needs a wide network of people to operate effectively.

No one would do something like that for Bai Fendou.

Bai Fendou didn't get it. He thought highly of himself and believed his conditions were excellent.

He was very unconvinced.

But the others... the others were utterly amazed.

It was predictable that he would be the center of conversation again.

On the way back, Aunt Wang was still fuming. "If I knew a girl like that, introducing her to him would be like pushing her into a fire pit."

Zhao Guihua comforted her old friend: "Why get so angry? Just ignore him."

I know the reason, but I'm still mad.

Zhao Guihua: "Most people get more steady as they age, but he's getting more and more out of tune."

Aunt Wang: "It's all because of Zhuang Zhixi. He told me when he asked me to introduce someone that Zhuang Zhixi, who's ten years younger than him, is already married, and he's still single, so he has to hurry up."

Ming Mei chimed in: "But he's not at all like Zhixi. Isn't it normal that he can't find someone?"

"The problem is, he doesn't think so himself."

Everyone rolled their eyes.

When they arrived at the Plum Blossom Alley, everyone in their courtyard had already returned. Aunt Wang quickly opened the door and said, "Sorry to keep everyone waiting."

"It's fine, what's the big deal?"

"Yeah, I just got back too with the crowd."

Usually, going to the movies, you could find a familiar face to sit with, but today, it was hard to even find someone you knew. The place was packed. Especially when leaving, it was so crowded.

"Zhao Guihua, your third son, Zhuang Zhixi, was the one announcing, right? I saw him from the back."

Zhao Guihua: "Yes, that was him."

"He's really making a name for himself."

"I never noticed how handsome he was before."

"Nonsense, I saw it when he was a kid. He inherited the best from Old Man Zhuang and Zhao Guihua, without any of the flaws."

"All three of their kids are better-looking than their parents."

Zhao Guihua: "..." You guys talking like this, I'm not happy.

Old Man Zhuang: "..."

Liang Meifen didn't dare to look at her mother-in-law's face.

Luckily, the topic quickly changed: "Hey, wasn't Old Man Bai also in the performance? I didn't see him. Did you?"

"No, did you?"

"No."

After some back and forth, no one had seen him.

Just then, Sui's Boy, who had just returned, gossiped: "I know, I know. I stayed late and saw the commotion. Old Man Bai got scared and couldn't stand up just before going on stage."

"​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‍Ah?"

"Wow."

"That's not good, is it? If he couldn't do it, he should have said so earlier. This messed things up..."

Everyone chattered away, and at that moment, Director Song was pointing at Old Man Bai's nose, scolding him for a good half hour. Old Man Bai was so embarrassed, but no one sympathized with him.

If you can't do it, you should say so early, so we can arrange someone else or find a replacement.

But you say you can't do it just before going on stage? If it weren't for Zhuang Zhixi, their performance would have fallen apart. Even changing the program on the spot wasn't possible. The props were already on stage. The leaders were in the audience.

This could have been a major performance accident.

Luckily, there was a Zhuang Zhixi. However, even though he filled in, there were many small mistakes during the performance. It was all thanks to quick thinking and thick skin that they managed to pull it off.

After coming down, the actors playing Xier and Yang Bailao sat on the ground, not moving for a long time.

How could they not be angry?

Usually, everyone can have fun however they want, but today was different. And it was so coincidental that it happened just when the leaders were there. It was almost enough to drive them crazy. Luckily, they managed to pull through with sheer willpower.

Director Song patted Zhuang Zhixi on the shoulder and said, "Zhixi, you did a really great job this time. We all owe you a big thank you for stepping up."

Was Zhuang Zhixi nervous? Absolutely, he was terrified. Even after a whole morning had passed, he still hadn't fully calmed down. But he knew how to say the right things. He replied, "Director Song, there's no need to thank me. The success of our 'White-Haired Girl' performance wasn't just my doing; it was the result of everyone's efforts. Even if I had memorized the lines, without everyone's cooperation, it would have been a disaster. Honestly, I'm still sweating buckets from the back..."

That was a bit of an exaggeration; he was actually sweating from the heat.

Zhuang Zhixi continued, "I never expected myself to have the guts to go on stage like that. All I thought at the time was that we absolutely couldn't let the show fall apart, or it would have been a disgrace for the entire factory. Thankfully, everyone held it together."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Indeed, dealing with unexpected issues like that could really mess with your mindset.

They had all managed to pull through somehow.

Director Song patted Zhuang Zhixi's shoulder again and said, "Alright, pack up and go home to rest."

Zhuang Zhixi hesitated, "What about all this..."

Director Song replied, "The tables and chairs can be taken care of by everyone else. Some of them don't need to be moved; there's a movie screening in the afternoon at the factory."

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "Alright, then I'll head home to rest."

"Go ahead. You've been working really hard these days, always coming early and leaving late to help out. You're a hardworking and honest person." After a pause, Director Song suddenly smiled and asked, "By the way, you graduated from high school, right?"

Zhuang Zhixi nodded, "Yes, I did."

"How were your grades?"

Zhuang Zhixi replied, "I won't brag, but my grades were excellent."

If it weren't for the cancellation of the college entrance exams, he could have gotten into university. Zhuang Zhixi felt a slight regret, but it quickly passed. With universities being shut down, even if he had passed the exams, he wouldn't have been able to attend. As for the worker-peasant-soldier universities that required recommendations... Zhuang Zhixi wasn't particularly interested in those either.

From his perspective as someone working in practical fields, he knew that while these worker-peasant-soldier universities were called universities, their actual value in various departments was rather low. Just look at Old Huang, who worked with him on the bulletin boards. When he talked about the worker-peasant-soldier universities, he would say, "It's all just a place to goof off. What kind of education can you get there?"

Of course, Zhuang Zhixi knew that even if he wanted to go, he wouldn't have been able to. These universities required recommendations, and with his lack of connections, it would never have been his turn.

Director Song smiled, "That's great. I can see you're a promising talent. Working in the clinic's billing department is a waste of your potential. I think you'd be a perfect fit for our Publicity Department."

The room suddenly fell silent, and everyone turned to look at Zhuang Zhixi.

Zhuang Zhixi himself was stunned, completely caught off guard.

Director Song chuckled and said, "Alright, go home now. Come to the Personnel Department when you start work the day after tomorrow."

Zhuang Zhixi stammered, "I... I'm going to the Personnel Department..."

Director Song nodded, "You're a talented young man, and the Publicity Department is where you belong. I don't know what you were thinking when you applied for the clinic. That place isn't right for you; it would have been a waste of your youth. Young people like you should be full of energy and drive. Come join us."

At this point, Zhuang Zhixi finally broke into a wide, elated smile, stuttering, "Th-thank you, thank you, Director Song."

Director Song waved it off, "You don't need to thank me. It's your own performance that got you here."

He smiled, musing that sometimes, it really came down to luck.

Zhuang Zhixi had been lucky. When others had faltered in front of the big bosses, he had seized the opportunity to shine. Even the big bosses had praised him as a talented individual, and who in the factory would disagree?

His performance had not only impressed the big bosses but also the factory leadership, earning him a spot in a more suitable position.

Director Song's words made it clear to everyone that Zhuang Zhixi was being transferred to the Publicity Department.

It was worth noting that the Publicity Department was a managerial position. In other words, Zhuang Zhixi was clearly being promoted.

Compared to the relatively unimportant clinic, the Publicity Department was far more significant.

At this moment, some were envious, some were happy, and others admired him. Everyone had their own thoughts, all focused on Zhuang Zhixi.

Zhuang Zhixi himself hadn't expected this. He had originally thought that helping out would just be a way to build goodwill, with the intention of slowly working his way up. But he hadn't anticipated that his luck would come so suddenly. He was actually being transferred to the Publicity Department.

As he left, his steps felt light, and a sense of indescribable joy filled him.

This was the joy of achieving his dreams.

The clinic was peaceful, with little work. But as a young man, he didn't need less work—he had ambitions and aspirations.

He walked home joyfully, feeling that the sky was exceptionally blue that day.

He had finally achieved his goal.

Zhuang Zhixi walked home happily, unaware that others who had also helped out in the Publicity Department were seething with envy. A man named Xiao Ding couldn't hold back and blurted out, "Director, we all came to help out too. Why does he get this opportunity and not us? Isn't that unfair?"

Director Song was a bit surprised that someone would actually voice such a question.

Most people he dealt with were adept at saying the right things depending on the situation.

He quickly regained his composure and smiled, asking, "Well, when I asked who could step in and save the performance, why didn't you volunteer?"

"Uh..."

Xiao Ding hesitated, thinking that he was afraid of messing up and earning the boss's displeasure.

When Zhuang Zhixi had raised his hand to take over the performance, Xiao Ding had secretly mocked him as a fool for daring to step forward in such a situation. If Zhuang Zhixi had flopped, he wondered how he would have handled it. Even though Director Song had said that he would take responsibility for any consequences, Xiao Ding didn't believe the boss would really stand by his word.

Xiao Ding had come to help out with the intention of getting noticed by the bosses and possibly being transferred to the Publicity Department. So he had participated in every performance, doing minimal logistical work. He had even laughed at Zhuang Zhixi and the others for doing things like setting up props.

He thought they were complete fools.

He had also heard that Zhuang Zhixi had given up learning how to operate the film projector for this, which only reinforced his opinion that Zhuang Zhixi was a total idiot.

But to his utter surprise, things had turned out completely differently from what he expected.

He stammered for a moment, saying, "I... I don't know the 'White-Haired Girl' at all... I couldn't have saved the performance. But we all came to help out. Why does he get to be transferred to the Publicity Department and not us? Isn't that unfair?"

Director Song narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Xiao Ding with undisguised disdain.

As a leader, he was usually quite tactful, knowing how to get along with people. But Xiao Ding was clearly someone with no future.

Mediocre in ability, lacking in tact, with no family background, and prone to rash actions—such a person had no chance of advancing.

He said coldly, "When the Publicity Department asked you to come help, we never said we would transfer any of you to the Publicity Department. I believe everyone understood that. This has nothing to do with fairness. We don't have any open positions in the Publicity Department. Zhuang Zhixi is being transferred here solely because he saved the performance and earned the approval of the big bosses. The factory leadership decided to place the right person in the right position, which is why we were given this spot. If you want to talk about fairness, the opportunity was there for all of you. If you didn't take it, don't blame anyone else. Without Zhuang Zhixi, we wouldn't have given this spot to anyone else; we would have just canceled it."

Xiao Ding's face turned pale, then red, then back to pale again.

The others who had helped out remained silent. They had been hoping that Xiao Ding would stir things up, creating an opportunity for them to fight for the position. But Director Song's clear words made it obvious to them that they hadn't even caught his eye.

Among the envious ones, Old Man Bai was particularly tormented. He couldn't help but think that if he hadn't frozen up out of fear, this opportunity might have been his.

It should have been his!

He was so frustrated that he felt like he was going mad.

Director Song: "The factory is not a place for you to play petty tricks. Whether it's Zhuang Zhixi's level of hosting, his ability to save the situation, or even his assistance to Old Huang, all of this has been observed by the leadership. You may think you performed well, but what the leaders have seen are those who quietly contribute behind the scenes, not those who jump around seeking attention. My words may sound harsh, but think about it yourselves. I am very grateful to all of you for coming to help in the Publicity Department, but opportunities are always given to those who are truly responsible and prepared."

Clap clap clap.

Old Huang silently applauds.

Everyone is surprised and looks at Old Huang, then they too start clapping, trying to flatter.

Director Song's words really hit the mark.

The people in the Publicity Department are all regular employees, so they don't care whether Zhuang Zhixi gets transferred or not, since it's not like he's competing with them. Plus, Zhuang Zhixi is hardworking, and having one more person means more strength for the Publicity Department.

As original members of the Publicity Department, everyone thinks this is a good thing and is naturally happy about it.

"Director Song is right."

"Alright, everyone should disperse now. You've all been working hard for so many days, go home and rest well to face life with a more positive attitude. I also believe that opportunities are not limited to just one. This time you may not have seized it, but that doesn't mean you won't next time. Perhaps in the near future, we can work together again."

Hearing this, the helpers' eyes light up. It's true, after all.

Although they didn't get this opportunity, Zhuang Zhixi being transferred just shows that as long as you make an impression on the leadership, you can still get a position. Maybe next time, they can seize the chance.

Thinking this way, they don't feel so bad anymore.

Though a bit disappointed, they also feel hopeful, and one by one, they disperse.

Director Song watches them leave and instructs the deputy director beside him: "Don't call this Xiao Ding over anymore. He's an idiot."

Deputy Director: "I understand."

You can be not very smart, but you can't be stupid. If fighting for things were useful, then what's the point of having leaders? Especially when the decision has already been made by the leadership, jumping out to question it just makes you look bad. And fairness? It's precisely because of fairness that someone like you, who isn't top-notch in skill, can't be used. If you really had ability, you might be valued a bit more, but the problem is, you don't. Someone so impulsive and without any self-awareness is not someone we'd appreciate.

Fools are always just extras in the world.

Zhuang Zhixi doesn't know about these subsequent incidents, though even if he didn't, he could guess a few things. However, he doesn't really care. After all, once the news spreads, there will inevitably be people who are jealous.

So he's quite indifferent about it.

He's not rice or flour, nor is he meat, money, or tickets. It's impossible for everyone to like him.

That's just normal.

As long as he works hard and grasps this opportunity, that's better than anything. Thinking about how all the effort he put in these past days hasn't gone to waste, Zhuang Zhixi smiles, humming a little tune. His luck is really quite good!