Chapter 44

Hearing that Section Chief Tang Duan wanted to talk to him, Xiao Yuanhang realized that the promotion to train conductor might finally be happening. The lowest rank that would warrant a conversation with a deputy section chief was a train conductor. If it were a promotion to a business position, it would usually be handled by the team leader. He couldn't help but feel a surge of joy and said, "Thank you, Master Ma. I'll head to the section office right away."

After seeing off Old Ma, Xiao Yuanhang freshened up, put on a relatively formal outfit, and rode his father's old Forever bicycle to the section office. He knocked on the door of Section Chief Tang Xue Mei's office and, upon hearing a "Come in," gently pushed the door open and walked in.

Seeing Tang Xue Mei sitting at her desk, Xiao Yuanhang quickly approached and smiled, "Good day, Section Chief Tang. You wanted to see me?"

Tang Xue Mei, seeing that it was Xiao Yuanhang, smiled and said, "Yes, Xiao Yuanhang. I've been asked by Section Chief Wu to have this formal conversation with you. Please, have a seat."

Xiao Yuanhang perched on the edge of the chair, sitting up straight and looking at Tang Xue Mei with great respect. The hierarchy in railway enterprises wasn't as rigid as in local government, and there were fewer formalities. Generally, leaders were quite casual when talking to employees, but Xiao Yuanhang's attitude pleased Tang Xue Mei, and she nodded in approval.

Tang Xue Mei cleared her throat and said, "This morning, the section held a party committee meeting. Given your outstanding performance and achievements in the technical competitions at the sub-bureau and railway bureau levels, it has been decided to promote you to train conductor. I hope that in your new position, you will not let down the trust and expectations of the section leadership. Stay humble, work hard, and lead your team to complete all tasks assigned by the section. Do you have the resolve to do this?"

Xiao Yuanhang's premonition was confirmed, and he felt extremely excited. In just over a month since his rebirth, he had taken this important step in his life, as if he had been given wings to soar in the sky!

Xiao Yuanhang immediately stood up and loudly replied, "Please rest assured, section leadership. I will not let you down. In my new position, I will work hard, unite with my colleagues, care for others, and complete all tasks on time. I will lead a team that will make the leadership and employees satisfied. Please watch my actions, Section Chief Tang!"

"Good! Good! I'm relieved to hear that!" Tang Xue Mei waved for Xiao Yuanhang to sit down and then said in a more relaxed tone, "Xiao, the formal part is over. You don't need to be so nervous. Your promotion to train conductor is due to your own efforts and the concern and appreciation of the section leadership. You're only 18, and at the party committee meeting, there were concerns about whether someone so young could lead a team. Section Chief Wu vouched for you, so once you're in the position, you need to integrate quickly and take on your role, doing a good job with all team tasks. Don't let Section Chief Wu down."

Xiao Yuanhang understood the implications of Tang Xue Mei's words. He knew that his promotion to train conductor wasn't a smooth process at the party committee meeting. Moving from a worker to a cadre was a gap that many people couldn't bridge in their entire lives, like a carp leaping over the dragon gate to enter a new world!

At 18, he had crossed this difficult gap, and it was normal for there to be differing opinions in the party committee. However, this reminded him that some of the current leadership might not be in favor of him, and he needed to be more cautious in his future work, or he might suffer a setback that would be hard to recover from.

Xiao Yuanhang stood up again and said, "Section Chief Tang, rest assured. In my new position, I will humbly learn from my senior colleagues, study technical and business knowledge, and handle team affairs fairly and justly. I will be a qualified train conductor!"

"Sit down, sit down! We can talk while you're seated." Xiao Yuanhang's respectful attitude gave Tang Xue Mei a different feeling, something she had never experienced before. Since Xiao Yuanhang was the son of her former capable assistant, Xiao Qiliang, she gave him a few more words of advice, which she wouldn't have done otherwise.

Seeing Xiao Yuanhang sit down, Tang Xue Mei said, "Xiao, I won't say more. Words alone won't do; you need to understand through your work. You're smart and diligent, and I believe you can do this job well."

Seeing Xiao Yuanhang stand up to say something, Tang Xue Mei waved to stop him and said, "Here's what you need to do: go to the education room and take the train conductor promotion exam, then go to the materials room to get your peaked cap and train conductor armband. Finally, go to your team leader, Captain Lin, who will arrange your specific duties."

Before Xiao Yuanhang could respond, there was a knock on the door. Tang Xue Mei said, "Come in!" The door opened, and Song Chunli walked in. Tang Xue Mei said, "Song Chunli, you're here just in time."

Seeing Song Chunli, Xiao Yuanhang immediately understood that she had also been promoted to train conductor and that Tang Xue Mei was about to have a conversation with her. He quickly said, "Section Chief Tang, you're busy. I'll go to the education room!" Seeing her nod, he left her office and gently closed the door.

As soon as Xiao Yuanhang entered the education room, Jiang Xuefang smiled and said, "Xiao Yuanhang, congratulations on your promotion to train conductor!"

"Thank you, thank you, Sister Jiang!" Xiao Yuanhang laughed. Seeing that Tian Fen wasn't in the room, he asked, "Sister Jiang, where's Director Tian?"

Jiang Xuefang said, "Section Chief Tang called her around 10 o'clock. After she came back, she arranged for me to give you and Song Chunli the train conductor promotion exam and then left, saying she had something to do. I've already prepared the exam for you, so go ahead and start."

"Okay, thank you, Sister Jiang!" Xiao Yuanhang pulled a chair over to Jiang Xuefang's desk, took the exam paper and pen she handed him, and began to answer the questions. He knew Tian Fen's attitude very well; she had been trying to suppress him, but the more she tried, the faster he was promoted. Today, he was promoted to train conductor, and Section Chief Tang must have called her to arrange the exam. Knowing that she couldn't trip him up on the exam and not wanting to see him in a good mood, she had left. He realized that Tian Fen would likely continue to find fault with him and make things difficult for him in the future.

Jiang Xuefang said, "Xiao, do you need any help with the questions? I can find the answers for you."

Xiao Yuanhang said, "Sister Jiang, no need. These questions are a piece of cake for me!"

"Hehe, our technical champion speaks with confidence!" Jiang Xuefang teased and then stopped bothering Xiao Yuanhang, returning to her unfinished work plan.

Just as Xiao Yuanhang finished the exam, Song Chunli knocked and walked in. She was also there for the train conductor promotion exam. Xiao Yuanhang smiled and congratulated her. Song Chunli said, "I've been waiting for this for years, so there's nothing to congratulate. You, on the other hand, have soared to the top. When are you treating us?"

Jiang Xuefang chimed in, "Yes, when are you buying us drinks?"

Xiao Yuanhang stood up with a smile and said, "Anytime, just let me know when you're free." With that, he ran out of the education room as if escaping.

Xiao Yuanhang went to the materials room to get his peaked cap and train conductor armband, then headed to his team, the Passenger Transport Team One. Team Leader Lin Yan was there, and Xiao Yuanhang approached, stood at attention, and saluted, saying, "Captain Lin, Xiao Yuanhang reporting for duty!"

**********************************************************************

PS: Xiao Yuanhang has finally achieved his goal. Brothers, please vote to celebrate!

Thank you to the readers "Longhua Sanheng Road," "I'm poorer than you...," and "srjx" for your support!