Chapter 5, Office Automation

Su Cheng responded with an acknowledgment and began to busily work in the office

The previously composed gentlemen finally lost their composure, swarming around the computer in Su City, surrounding it tightly and each asking their own questions

It is not just a little understanding; Su is far more skilled than the technicians in Japan. Director Liu, with his assistance, we are hopeful that today's report will be completed. It takes a crowd to carry a flower palanquin, and with the keen insight of the personnel department, it is easy to discern Director Liu's inclinations. Through a back-and-forth exchange, they have shaped Su into a rare computer expert in the world, possessing ancestral secrets.

The old man appeared pitiful at the admissions office of Peking University, but upon returning to the Ministry of Petroleum, he still maintained the image of a revered figure

Uncertain how much time had passed, I suddenly heard a heavy cough from behind. Director Liu, with an air of authority, said: "What are you all doing gathered there? What does that look like!"

Thus, the Director General transformed back into his old man persona, grinning widely with his yellowed teeth, and cheerfully said: "Alright, Xiao Han will go to handle the procedures for Su City first. Xiao Su, you assist them for now"

In contrast, he spent two years at the Petroleum University working with spreadsheets, and thus confidently stated: "Non-contiguous cells can also accept the same data; let me demonstrate."

The junior staff member in the Human Resources Department, with a naturally proud expression on his face, slightly revealed a smile upon hearing that he was from Suzhou, a graduate of Peking University. He said, "Director Liu has gone to a meeting and specifically instructed that you wait a moment. Would you like some tea?"

Taking advantage of the chaos, Su Cheng approached and leaned in to look over the shoulder of a short clerk.

After a while, I looked at their documents and said: "I see that you have quite a bit of overlapping data; these can be combined together."

Su Cheng observed for a moment, then lightly coughed and said: "The issue of consistency between subsidiary and department names can be resolved using the data validation function"

With great enthusiasm, Su Cheng arrived at the Ministry of Petroleum. After explaining his purpose to the security post, he smoothly entered the administrative building

Su Cheng humbly stated: "I encountered it during my time at school and understand a little."

The Excel of this era is still immature, but its prototype has emerged. After becoming somewhat familiar with Su City, it is quite easy to address their fundamental issues.

Director Liu did not take it seriously, thinking to himself, "What can a student from the Chinese Department of Peking University do in an oil field?" After pondering for a moment and recalling Su Cheng's earlier performance, he said, "How about this: you stay in the Personnel Department for now, help everyone with the forms for the next couple of days, get familiar with the environment in the ministry, and then we will make a decision with the planning and design department."

"Su City," Director Liu's expression softened slightly as he asked, "What are you doing?"

Su Cheng suddenly understood that these staff members simply did not know how to use Excel

Director Han, having completed the formalities, approached Director Liu and Su Cheng, and inquired with a smile, "Director, which department should Xiao Su be sent to?"

The chubby boy who had been sitting in front of the computer did not dare to back down, saying to Su Cheng: "Brother Su, please take me as your disciple."

As for the relationship between computers and ancestral heritage, that is a topic that no one cares about

Su Cheng took the mouse from the little hand of another person and began to operate it

Entering Su City, I grasped the long-lost mouse, paused for a moment in reflection, and then began to operate directly

Director Liu asked without turning his head: "Xiao Su, which department do you want to go to?"

The clerk poured him a glass of boiled water and then went back to his own tasks

The well-organized Excel spreadsheet has been altered repeatedly by them, resulting in a complete mess. Meanwhile, the workload of the Human Resources Department is extremely heavy, and there are strict time constraints, leading to frustrations and complaints erupting shortly thereafter

Being able to choose the location is not an ordinary privilege

This is an unparalleled privilege, and everyone displayed looks of astonishment, subsequently forming their own judgments, albeit with a sense of uncertainty. Once Director Liu departed, all the individuals, along with the *illustrated* books, rushed forward to engage in conversation.

Ultimately, the field of petroleum is what he truly understands

After listening for a while, Su Cheng understood. The Ministry of Petroleum was implementing office automation, requiring new technologies such as electronic reports, electronic documents, and emails. However, looking at the surrounding staff, it was evident that almost all of them came from the era of sports. The older ones were former athletes, while the younger ones had only learned sports, excelling in criticism sessions but barely managing to write anything, and completely at a loss when it came to technology.

In Su City, one leisurely propped up their legs, waiting with peace of mind. The Human Resources Department holds significant authority, and the office assigned is well-positioned, directly facing the lush green trees of the backyard, offering a splendid view

Among the mid-to-senior level officials of Director Liu's age, there are quite a few well-educated individuals from prestigious universities with a solid foundation. A careful examination for a while can yield some insights

Two computers, two people reading the data, two people inputting, and three others idly assisting: "Oh dear, the name has been misaligned again"

How do we put them in together? They are not connected. The chubby boy in the seat, wearing glasses, quickly tried it out. Unfortunately, he could only use the mouse and keyboard to select horizontal or vertical cells.

Everyone turned to look.

Minister Ma is also insistent on having printed documents; how much better it was when everything was hand-drawn

In just a few seconds, several meters from different locations, ten pieces of data were input into hetushu.com

Computer? Su Cheng suddenly jolted; in 1987 China, this was indeed a rare item

Director Liu also stayed in the office, watching him operate the computer with great interest

The task is expected to be completed, and a group of clerks suddenly became excited, with someone shouting: "Oh, we have an expert now, we are saved"

Su City is a high-educated talent that Director Liu strongly advocated to recruit. The better he performs, the more it proves Director Liu's insight

On the Japanese brand machine, there is a large "286" inscription. The back of the monitor is both large and elongated, while the display screen is small and square. At this moment, the familiar Excel from Su City is in use

The only somewhat bothersome aspect is that the large office is too noisy. Four or five staff members are bustling around two computers, while a few gentlemen nearby are moving materials

Upon seeing their acquaintance, someone stepped forward and laughed, saying: "Director, Comrade Su Cheng is an expert in computers; he is teaching us how to use spreadsheet software"

Director Liu, with a look of suspicion, clasped his hands behind his back and asked with an air of authority: "Su Cheng, you are a student of the Chinese Department; how did you become an expert in computer science?"

Su Cheng chuckled softly twice, then stood up and called out: "Director Liu, I am here to report today"

However, looking at the annoyed expressions of the clerks around, it is evident that the software used at https://m.hetushu.com is clearly not user-friendly

This is a building with a solemn exterior and a substantial interior, showing only faint traces of decoration. The stairs and corridors have not undergone significant alterations. Upon entering the office of the Human Resources and Labor Department on the third floor, one can observe the somewhat uneven floor and blue paint, which, from Su Cheng's perspective, can be considered quite simple

Ah? What?

Apart from graduates from recent years, the ordinary clerks in central ministries are mostly around thirty years old. They have experienced rural work and may have attended worker-peasant-soldier universities, but they have not received systematic education. Faced with a large number of English terms and inaccurate Chinese translations, confusion is inevitable

For people of this era, the computer is an incredibly magical machine, far more wondrous than televisions and photocopiers. However, even televisions and photocopiers are things that most people have not seen. Even the mouse, which is taken for granted by modern individuals, was not a standard feature on 286 computers. The Japanese brand machines in the Personnel Department were equipped with Windows 2.0, thus they had two mice, while other departments mostly used DOS systems and did not even have a mouse.

Su Cheng, feeling lost and unaware, laughed and said: "I am a revolutionary brick, wherever I am needed, I will be moved there. However, I hope to go to the oil fields to engage in practical work"

Just plain boiled water

It is too difficult to handle