Chapter 6, Going to the Oil Field

"What is there to fear about downsizing? There are benefits to personnel redistribution," said the chubby Huang Ping, half in persuasion. "According to insider information, the department has at least a dozen favorable policies, such as housing allocation, government-funded overseas study, and promotions to subordinate institutions, among others. As long as one voluntarily opts for redistribution, even Harvard or Oxford can be attended."

Xiao Pang heard about it and, without even having time to eat, rushed to his dormitory, shouting: "Master, why would you want to go to the oil field? Is someone causing you trouble?"

Unexpectedly, Su Cheng hesitated for a moment and then said: "Director Liu, I would like to go to the oil field"

Xiao Pang Huang Ping grew up in a state-owned enterprise. In the factory workshop, if young workers want to learn a skill, they must first find a master to apprentice under

Xiao Pang's computer skills are rudimentary, yet his words are as sweet as a bucket of sugar. Su Cheng disagrees, but he remains unperturbed. For three consecutive days, he helps with fetching water and meals, and even assists in tidying up the dormitory, justifying it by saying: "There are matters at hand; the disciple should bear the labor."

I found an old classmate named Lin Yonggui. He is currently working at the Victory Oilfield Combat Command. When you arrive, remember to look for him. Director Liu sighed; he indeed wanted to keep Su Cheng.

Based on the professional information he possesses, going to the oil field is the best choice

At the platform, Su Xing was also observing Su City on mhetushu.com

Director Liu, however, held an opposing view. In his opinion, sending students from the Chinese Department of Peking University to the oil fields was nothing short of a waste of talent. After persuading for a while and seeing Su Cheng's firm stance, he finally said: "How about this, I will give you another week to consider, and we can discuss it again then"

While ordinary people are striving for a living, the chosen ones are rejoicing at receiving scholarships from the University of Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, the unfortunate children in central ministries are studying at Harvard, Yale, Cambridge, and Oxford. A few years later, they return to the country, and the craze for academic credentials will once again usher them back into the doors of the ministries

A week later, Su Cheng finally boarded the train to Dongying.

Do your family members agree?

"You want to go to the grassroots?" the chubby boy repeated in disbelief.

Feeling tired from typing, I rubbed my shoulders, and Xiao Pang immediately applied professional techniques, accompanied by his hearty laughter: "I have learned from retired military doctors at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, and it is said to be the best remedy for fatigue"

Holding the empty cup up for two seconds, the chubby boy ran over at the speed of a hundred-meter sprinter, laughing heartily: "Master, let me pour you some water."

Su Cheng was aware that his choice was unexpected to everyone, but he had already made up his mind to pursue a career in the field of *Tu* and *Shu*. Since he had been reborn in this era, he should strive to achieve something significant. If he merely wanted to live a comfortable life, there were plenty of ways to do so; why then should he remain in the ministry to accumulate experience?

Su Cheng expressed with a mix of laughter and tears: "No one is causing me trouble; I just want to go to the grassroots level."

My diploma is not good, and I have no rank. It would be best to transfer to the Ministry of Energy; otherwise, I might as well stay at the National Petroleum Corporation. State-owned enterprises have their advantages; with so much oil across the country, there is plenty to go around. The Ministry of Energy, mentioned by the chubby guy, will emerge in next year's ministry reform, taking on the governmental functions of the former Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Electric Power, and Ministry of Nuclear Industry, in order to achieve the separation of government and enterprise. However, five years later, in 1993, the Ministry of Energy was once again abolished, and the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Electric Power were restored. Although the Ministry of Petroleum and the Ministry of Nuclear Industry did not return to the State Council's hierarchy, their actual power was not diminished.

I understand. Su Cheng nodded repeatedly. He indeed realized that as a student of the Chinese Department, staying in the ministry would ultimately involve writing materials and preparing documents. Only by going down to the oil field could he truly apply his expertise.

Any choice made by the ministry staff will not be wrong, Su Cheng did not comment, but instead said: "You haven't eaten yet, let me treat you to a meal with the library."

"Going to the oil field?" This time, Director Liu did not treat it as mere formalities; he frowned and said, "Xiao Su, the environment of the oil field is vastly different from that of Beijing. Moreover, once you go down there, it won't be easy to come back."

Hearing that he voluntarily wanted to go to the grassroots oil field, Su Xing could hardly believe his ears. He needed to see Su Cheng leave Beijing with his own eyes before he could feel at ease

In fact, Suzhou is also expressing its sentiments

It is time for lunch; Xiao Pang was the first to run out and the first to return, bringing back not only lunch but also tea and soup to serve.

The chubby boy was stunned for a long time and then said dejectedly: "My father would rather kill me than let me leave Beijing, old man, sigh..."

However, to put it in perspective, even the most unfortunate member would not be assigned to a grassroots position such as an oil field.

He is about to be rewarded for his contributions

After calling for a long time, Su Cheng could not oppose every time, so Xiao Pang called even more joyfully, inadvertently establishing a fait accompli—this tactic was also learned from his father's factory.

The younger generation in this era is truly very useful

Despite the ineffective persuasion, Director Liu reminded before his departure: "Xiao Su, I have kept your connections at the Ministry of Petroleum. This way, if you change your mind, you can come back without any embarrassment. Do you understand?"

Regardless of the era, China has always favored the central over the local. This applies to power, status, future prospects, and income. The ministries are particularly advantageous; the opposition from Wang Ting and others against Su Cheng's transfer to the Ministry of Petroleum was precisely because the Ministry of Petroleum was likely to be downsized in the ongoing ministry reforms

The historically aware Su City expressed a sentiment and asked, "What about you?"

Su Cheng shook his head and said, "If I wanted to be an official, why would I come to the Ministry of Petroleum"

Su City nodded heavily

Su Cheng reluctantly left, but the news of his intention to go to the oil field quickly spread throughout the Ministry of Petroleum

Xiao Pang saw that Su Cheng was silent, and anxiously turned around as if his bottom was on fire, saying: "Master, you have never seen the environment of an oil field. There is no room for a Chinese literature major like you or for the skills of an eighth-level computer engineer. Even if you want to go to the oil field, you should first work your way up to a higher level before going."

He spoke sincerely, and Xiao Pang was also filled with passion upon hearing it. He suddenly slapped his thigh and shouted, "Master, I will accompany you to the oil field!"

Su City, I am sorry, but I cannot refuse again. While making the report, I casually mentioned a few words. Little Fatty listened attentively and every time he said: Thank you, Master

The green train slowly starts to move

As half-brothers with the same father but different mothers, he harbors deep suspicion towards Su Cheng and consistently keeps an eye on his news

Certainly, the dissolution of ministries does not imply that all members will suffer losses. Historically speaking, officials at the division level and above are assured of their positions, while section-level officials and a significant number of individuals with connections can be reassigned to other ministries or other influential departments.

Colleagues in the same department sometimes find it amusing to watch the little chubby one show off, but they never speak ill or criticize. The relationships among people in this era can still be considered harmonious and friendly. The ministries have made some progress, but it is only at the level of the mid-1990s, where insidiousness, cunning, and maliciousness are not yet in vogue

A worker without a master cannot become a great figure, no matter how hard they toil

When Director Liu returned with a radiant complexion, he immediately found Su Cheng and asked with a friendly demeanor: "Xiao Su, have you figured out which department you want to go to in the past few days?"

The late 1980s marked the beginning of the trend of studying abroad. Naturally, the individuals who became the earliest returnees to China were ultimately a small group from the upper echelons, such as those who were laid off from various ministries.

With the participation of Su City, the reports from the Personnel Department are naturally clean, tidy, accurate, and clear, receiving high praise from Deputy Minister Ma

Su Cheng smiled and, skipping this section, said with a relaxed expression: "Isn't the Ministry of Petroleum about to be disbanded soon?"