Volume One: Emerging from Obscurity 3. Onboarding Training

On the Tuesday morning of the second week, the routine training for new employees began. The orientation was organized by the Personnel Department and held in the conference room on the third floor of the office building. The first session was chaired by the Director of the Personnel Department, Deng Zitu, with the Deputy Section Chief of the Personnel Division, Lin Ke, participating as the coordinator of the training.

Upon arriving at the conference room, some new employees had already gathered. Once everyone was present, I counted twelve new recruits in total. They were all young, vibrant faces, men and women alike, sitting in a tight circle around Director Deng and Deputy Section Chief Lin at the front. They listened with rapt attention, as if the speakers were imparting sacred scriptures brought back from the Western Heaven, terrified of missing a single word.

The meeting opened with Director Deng introducing the basic situation of the Orient Chemical Plant. He was a man in his forties of medium build, with his hair neatly combed and wearing a pair of glasses. His gaze behind the lenses felt profound, and he had a habit of staring directly at people when speaking, as if trying to see through them from head to toe. Clad in a plaid shirt, he projected an air of authority, cleanliness, and scholarly elegance.

Listening to Director Deng’s introduction, I gained a general understanding of the plant. Founded in 1979, the Orient Chemical Plant was an enterprise primarily engaged in the production of chemical raw materials. One of its initial purposes was to provide employment for "educated youth" returning to the city, starting with only a single production line funded by the Provincial Chemical Bureau. Today, it has become a key state-owned enterprise under the Bureau, boasting five production lines and an annual output value of approximately 120 million yuan, with products primarily serving Huajiang Province and several neighboring provinces.

The plant consists of nine departments: the General Office, the Personnel Department, the Finance and Capital Department, the Production Planning Department, the Supply and Marketing Department, the General Affairs Department, the Party and Mass Work Department, and the Security Department. The five production lines correspond to five production workshops, managed by the Production Planning Department.

The current Plant Manager and Party Committee Secretary is Gao Huqiang. He joined the plant at its inception and became manager at the age of thirty-seven. The four expanded production lines were all established under his leadership; he is also a member of the Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a Provincial Model Worker. The leadership team also includes the Vice Manager of Production, the Vice Manager of Supply and Marketing, the Vice Manager of Administration, the Deputy Party Secretary and head of the Labor Union, and the Chief Accountant.

Gao Huqiang holds overall responsibility for the Party Committee and operations, with direct oversight of the Personnel Department. The Vice Manager of Production handles manufacturing and oversees the Production Planning Department; the Vice Manager of Supply and Marketing manages procurement and sales, overseeing the Supply and Marketing Department; the Vice Manager of Administration handles administrative affairs, overseeing the General Office and the General Affairs Department; the Deputy Party Secretary and Labor Union head manages daily Party affairs and union work, overseeing the Party and Mass Work Department; and the Chief Accountant manages financial operations, overseeing the Finance and Capital Department.

After the introduction, Director Deng asked everyone to provide a brief self-introduction to facilitate mutual acquaintance. The standard format included one’s name, university, assigned department, and a short personal background.

Everyone followed the protocol. Most people, including myself, gave simple introductions. Two individuals left a particularly deep impression on me. The first was Diao Youhua, a graduate of Huajiang Industrial College with a degree in secretarial studies, assigned to the General Office. Diao was about 1.7 meters tall—not very tall, but he appeared lively and capable. He specifically highlighted his experience as the Publicity Minister of the Student Union and his numerous awards in campus essay competitions, which made people look at him with newfound respect. He was also the only other undergraduate besides me, and we were the only two assigned to administrative departments; everyone else was sent to the workshops.

The second person who made a strong impression was a girl. Unlike the other three girls, she had short hair and looked somewhat tomboyish. She spoke with a quick rhythm, always wore a smile, and appeared sunny and approachable. She introduced herself as Zhu Lishan, a graduate of the Huajiang University of Science and Technology with a degree in chemical engineering.

After the introductions, Director Deng specifically noted that new employees were usually required to spend six months to a year in the workshops. However, because Diao Youhua and I were exceptionally qualified and the plant was eager to cultivate young talent, special arrangements had been made for us with the express approval of Manager Gao. As Director Deng spoke, I noticed many people looking at Diao and me with looks of envy, and perhaps jealousy.

Director Deng did not attend the afternoon session. Lin Ke brought a staff member from the Personnel Department to distribute materials—a thick stack of the plant’s rules and regulations for everyone. Lin Ke explained that these were the materials for our training and the primary regulations of the plant. We were to study them independently in this conference room for the next two days, with an exam on Friday morning. If we failed, we would not be allowed to officially start work and would have to continue studying until we passed a make-up exam. Lin Ke’s words created a sense of pressure; I even heard someone mutter, "Do we really have to take an exam now that we've started working?" Lin Ke ignored the comment and walked away.

Once Lin Ke left, the room became lively, primarily with complaints about the test. I wasn't particularly afraid; as someone who had always excelled academically, I felt confident about passing. I told the group, "Everyone should just focus on the materials. If we study hard for these two days, we should have a good chance of passing."

Some agreed, including Zhu Lishan, while others remained worried.

Then Diao Youhua spoke up: "Don't worry, everyone. I'll find a way to figure out what kind of exam it is."

The group grew excited, urging Diao to hurry up. Diao looked somewhat smug, glanced at me, and said, "But everyone still needs to read the materials carefully. I can't guarantee that the news I get will be useful, so don't blame me if you fail!" The room quieted down, and everyone began reading their materials.

The next day, Diao Youhua indeed brought news about the exam: it was supposedly an open-book test. Everyone was pleased, though some remained skeptical. They continued reading, though most seemed less focused than before. Regardless of their attitude, I studied the materials diligently. I noticed Zhu Lishan also burying her head in the documents.

At nine o'clock on Friday morning, Lin Ke arrived punctually with the papers and confirmed it was an open-book exam. Many looked toward Diao Youhua, and I began to admire his connections.

After receiving the test, I habitually scanned it and found three types of questions: fill-in-the-blanks, multiple choice, and two short essays at the end: "Share your impressions of the Orient Chemical Plant" and "Share your thoughts and suggestions regarding the plant's rules and regulations." The first fill-in-the-blank question concerned the basic facts Director Deng had mentioned—the founding date, number of production lines, and main products. One surprising question even asked for the name of the Plant Manager. The rest of the questions were based on the regulations, which were easy to answer in an open-book format if one had read the materials.

The room was quiet, save for the occasional rustling of paper. I finished the objective questions quickly and gave careful thought to the essay portions.

Regarding my impression of the plant, I focused on three points: first, the plant’s strength as evidenced by its output, production lines, and products; second, the vibrant, upward development trend I sensed from its recent growth and the staff's morale; and third, the confidence in the plant’s future and my own work inspired by the achievements led by Manager Gao.

Regarding the regulations, I also made three points: first, the system seemed comprehensive and rich in content; second, the rules were practical and specific; and third, I suggested strengthening enforcement and continuously updating them to match the plant's growth. I elaborated on each point with examples. I wasn't entirely satisfied with my own answers, especially the suggestions, as I didn't want to fabricate nonsense or sound pretentious with empty, high-minded advice.

The results were released later; everyone passed. I ranked first, and Diao Youhua ranked third. I later heard that although Diao came in third, he had been too eager to show off in his suggestions for the regulations, arguing that some were unreasonable and needed modification. This reportedly annoyed the Vice Manager of Administration, who was in charge of the regulations. But that is a story for another time.

The training did not end with the exam. That afternoon, led by Lin Ke, we toured the plant, mainly the workshops and warehouses. The production workshops were a twenty-minute walk from the office building. Along the way, we passed the employee residential area, which was well-equipped with a kindergarten, a plant hospital, a supermarket, and restaurants. I also discovered a basketball court, which made me secretly happy—I would have a place to play.

We first visited the warehouses. There were three of them, all massive; the largest was perhaps the size of a football field. They were piled high with products in plastic woven bags, plastic drums, and large iron barrels. Several large trucks were lined up waiting to be loaded, and workers were busy moving goods.

Then we reached the workshops. The machines on the production lines were turning incessantly, and the workers were diligently at their tasks. Although there was a pungent chemical odor, no one said a word; we all observed carefully.

While we were visiting the second workshop, Lin Ke received a call saying that Manager Gao had a moment to see us. We were all thrilled. Manager Gao was so busy; it was no small thing for him to spare time for us "small fries." Lin Ke remarked that this was the first time the plant had arranged a special meeting with new recruits, likely because this was the largest intake of university graduates at once, and the overall quality of the group was high.

We followed Lin Ke back to the conference room on the fifth floor. After a while, two people walked in. The lead figure was tall and burly—I am 1.82 meters tall, and he seemed slightly taller—this had to be Manager Gao. Following him was Personnel Director Deng Zitu. Manager Gao sat in the center of the head table, and only after he was seated did Deng Zitu choose a seat one chair away to his left.

I took a moment to observe Manager Gao. He was around forty-five, with thick eyebrows, and while his face held a hint of a smile, there was an indescribable air of authority about him.

After Manager Gao scanned the room, Director Deng spoke first: "You have all worked hard during these past few days of training. Manager Gao has specifically directed that you be cultivated as the plant's reserve talent. He attaches great importance to your growth and has set aside time in his busy schedule to see you. Let us give a warm welcome to Manager Gao!"

The room erupted in applause. Once it died down, Manager Gao began to speak. His voice was not loud, but it felt resonant and powerful.

"My young friends, on behalf of the plant, I extend a most warm welcome to you as you join our big family!" The applause broke out again.

"I believe you have gained a preliminary understanding of the plant through these days of training and tours. I took the time this afternoon to look over your exam papers, and I feel you all have a positive impression of the plant."

Manager Gao paused. "It is true that our plant has developed rapidly over the years. As some of you have put it, we are 'vibrant.' Indeed, production lines have increased, output is up, and economic benefits have improved. We are now among the top ten industrial enterprises in Huajiang and the top 500 chemical enterprises in the country. Many feel this speed is fast enough and these achievements are satisfactory."

"However," Manager Gao shifted his tone, "very few people see the crisis behind this high-speed development. The main issue is that many people—including many of our own cadres—still have minds stuck in the era of a planned economy. Their market awareness and reform consciousness are weak."

"The main reason for this mindset is the aging of our personnel structure. Most of our comrades, including leaders at various levels, are in their thirties or forties. There are very few young people. Older comrades have their advantages, but it is inevitable that some suffer from rigid thinking—a mentality of 'sleeping on their laurels.' An aging structure, a gap in leadership succession, and a severe lack of reserve talent—this is a major problem, perhaps even the primary crisis, facing our plant today."

"On the surface, we are vibrant; in reality, we are riddled with crises," Manager Gao continued. "I am not denying our young comrade's view; after all, you haven't been here long and have only taken a cursory look."

Manager Gao smiled and added, "The plant is operating well overall, but as the one in charge, I must have this crisis awareness. In fact, this is one of the problems that has troubled me for the past year or two. After a recent trip to the coast, my resolve to solve this problem has only strengthened. Of course, this cannot be solved overnight, but the most important thing is to take the first step."

"That first step is to recruit a group of excellent university graduates to cultivate, to use the ideas of the young to challenge the rigid thinking of the old, and to use the vitality of the young to drive the plant's energy."

"In the past, we recruited people intermittently, but this is the first time we have recruited university graduates in such a large batch. We will continue this policy every year. You were all recommended by your schools, carefully vetted by the Personnel Department, and approved by the Plant Party Committee. You are excellent graduates, the pride of heaven, and the best among the young. I have high hopes for you and am full of confidence in your future." Another round of enthusiastic applause broke out; everyone was fired up by Manager Gao's words.

"However," Manager Gao raised his voice slightly, "the opportunity lies before you, but whether you can seize it depends on yourselves. I would like to offer a few hopes." Everyone stared at him, eager to hear his requirements and expectations.

"First, I hope you have a spirit of enterprise. You must dare to think and act, to achieve, and to build a career. Without a bit of daring, you will get nowhere. You cannot cling to outdated rules, and you certainly cannot rest on your laurels. You must have a fighting spirit. If we had only stuck to one production line or only produced the limited products from when the plant was founded, we would not have today’s scene or achievements. Every new production line was built with everyone’s sweat and effort. However, at our current stage, there are people in the plant who are arrogant and complacent, who think it is time to enjoy the fruits of development, and who spend their days just getting by. Such people not only exist, they might be right beside you. We recruited you precisely because we hope your youth and sharpness will challenge this situation and change it significantly. But I do not want to see you assimilated by this atmosphere—becoming old-fashioned while still young, drifting along with older comrades, and achieving nothing. That was not our intention in recruiting you, nor was it the purpose of the state and your parents in raising you."

"Second, I hope you have tenacity. You must be indomitable, remaining undiscouraged by setbacks and stronger through hardship. You have just stepped into society and may have experienced few trials. Your generation is very lucky—you live in a good era, are the pride of heaven, and have likely been pampered by your families and schools since childhood. But I do not want you to become hothouse flowers that wither at the first sign of wind or rain. I do not want you to be arrogant, and I especially do not want you to be delicate, unable to endure the slightest hardship or grievance. You are still young, and life is long. No one’s life is smooth sailing; you will always encounter difficulties. Life is a marathon. It is not about how fast you start, but whether you can persist. Who can stay the course when they are exhausted and struggling? That is who makes it to the end. Since its inception, the plant has encountered many difficulties—capital, technology, talent, all sorts of issues. If we had retreated then, we would not have today's situation. Many comrades were afraid and could not persist, but what is valuable is that many indomitable comrades stood with me, overcame the obstacles, and put the plant on the right track, making it bigger and stronger. Although the plant is doing well overall, there are still problems. You will inevitably face challenges. I hope you will be warriors, not deserters, when facing difficulties and setbacks—brave the difficulties and remain indomitable."

"Third, I hope you have ingenuity. Having enterprise and daring is essential, but you must not act recklessly. Everything has its own laws. By ingenuity, I mean doing things according to the correct methods. If you follow the right methods, you will achieve twice the result with half the effort; otherwise, you will achieve half the result with twice the effort."

Because Manager Gao was very busy, he left shortly after finishing his speech. His words had a profound impact on me, so much so that I could still recall them many years later in my career.