Chapter 6 About dividing cups...

April 22, 2004 At the beginning of the new year, each person in the new product development room of the electronic technology company was given a white porcelain cup. Before the Spring Festival, the development room carried out a year-end cleaning, cleared out a pile of old paper, shipped it to the waste station, and sold it for more than 30 yuan.According to the office's unwritten practice, this money is usually handed over as office expenses. The newly appointed office director Wu Zhaonian thought twice and then quietly kept the money.Through his wife and brother, he ordered 16 glazed white porcelain cups with the name and number of the unit's department, and distributed them to everyone when he came to work after the festival.

Director Wu felt that he had done a good job, and his square face with sharp edges and corners was full of joy, and he couldn't shut up happily. After returning home, after dinner, there was still a lingering smile on his mouth.He held the new white porcelain cup, stroked it for a while, made another cup of tea, raised the cup to take off the lid and wanted to drink. "Is Lao Wu at home?" Someone outside the door asked in a muffled voice. Director Wu hastily put down the white porcelain cup and walked to the door. Engineer Fang in the room was standing by the door, grabbing something wrapped in newspaper in his hand.

"Old Fang? Come in quickly." Director Wu invited Engineer Fang into the room.The two sat down on the sofa, and Director Wu moved the white porcelain cup to Engineer Fang: "Drinking tea, it's 'Tieguanyin, just brewed, I haven't drunk it yet. How about this cup, isn't it pretty? ?” "Hmm." Engineer Fang stared at the "01" on the white porcelain cup and nodded. Director Wu looked at Engineer Fang and asked, "Lao Fang is here today, is there anything wrong?" Engineer Fang uncovered the newspaper and put a white porcelain cup on the tea table.

Director Wu asked in surprise, "What? The cup..." Engineer Fang said: "There are some things that shouldn't be said, but you and I have worked together for more than ten years, and we know each other well, so I'd like to talk to you." Director Wu hurriedly asked, "What's the matter?" Engineer Fang pointed to the white porcelain cup on the tea table and said: "I took this cup home today, and Yamin asked me how to divide the '8' cup? It is really difficult for me to answer. What is the basis? By grade, by seniority , in the development room, I would not be ranked eighth. Yamin asked me if I made any mistakes, or if the new team leader thought of me. I think it is not wrong to make mistakes. I know this in my heart. As for I don't know if the leader has any opinion of me."

Director Wu waved his hands again and again: "No, no, how could I have any opinion of you?" "It's fine if you don't have it. However, it's hard to explain the position in this way." "Hey, Lao Fang, sorting out the cups and placing them in a row are two different things. The numbering on the cups is for everyone to identify, so you can't take it wrong, and it doesn't explain any problems." Engineer Fang stared down at the "01" white porcelain cup and remained silent. Director Wu glanced at Engineer Fang and said, "My cup was given to me by Xiao Ma casually, and I didn't order it in advance."

Engineer Fang remained silent.After a while, he raised his head and said: "Of course, on the surface, the number cannot directly explain the problem, but according to people's conventional psychology, misunderstandings may still occur. Invisibly, the number marks a person's status. Therefore, I cannot accept such an unreasonable arrangement of positions in the room." Engineer Fang left behind the white porcelain cup, got up and said goodbye. Director Wu dragged Engineer Fang back: "Old Fang, old Fang, please don't be angry, let's do this." He grabbed the "01" white porcelain cup, poured the tea into the spittoon, ran into the kitchen, rinsed it with tap water, and used After drying with a towel, he ran out of the kitchen and handed the white porcelain cup to Engineer Fang: "You take this cup, and I will use that one."

Engineer Fang raised his palm to block it, shook his head and left. Director Wu was in a mess.He frowned tightly, the back of his right hand slapped the palm of his left hand repeatedly, and walked around the room.He is a dutiful person, full of bookishness, born to be aloof from the world, and not good at dealing with interpersonal relationships. For 20 years, he has buried himself in technology in silence. He never expected that he would be appointed as the director of the new product development department when he was just over 40 years old.He knows in his heart that he has few opinions and lacks courage, so he is not the material to be a director. He can take care of himself, but it is really impossible to manage a department and lead more than a dozen people.The reason why I became a director is simply because I have a genuine science and technology university diploma before the Cultural Revolution. I am in my early 40s. I happen to meet the conditions.He once said that he was incapable and incompetent.The leader of the company said: "The ability can be cultivated in the future work. Besides, Comrade Wan Ziyun will assist you in your work."He knew that many people in the room were not convinced that he was the director. Therefore, since he took office, the first thing he considered was how to deal with the relationship between the dozen comrades in the same room. Here it is.Unexpectedly, the good things were not good. As soon as the white porcelain cups were distributed, Engineer Fang came to the door, questioned him, and returned the white porcelain cups.

"What should I do? What should I do?..." Director Wu asked himself again and again, seemingly at a loss.When he still didn't know what to do at the end, he hurriedly put on his clothes, went downstairs, put on his bicycle, and went straight to the house of Wan Ziyun, the deputy director of the office. Deputy Director Wan was at home, sitting and watching TV.He is 57 years old this year and is about to retire. This time the team was adjusted. The company leader asked him to be the deputy director of the development department.When going to and from get off work, he always carries a small leather bag. In addition to the documents and materials, there is also a TV program newspaper in the bag, which is full of red and blue strokes.He is a TV fan and must watch TV every night, from "News Network" to "Beijing Weather Forecast".Whoever wants to look for him at his house at night must be at home.

Seeing Director Wu's anxious face, Deputy Director Wan pointed out his finger and said, "Xiao Wu, why are you so impatient? Come and watch TV. If you have something to say tomorrow, the sky won't fall." As he spoke, he pulled a high-back wicker chair and invited the guests to sit down. Director Wu was still in the mood to watch TV, so he hurriedly reported what Engineer Fang had come to look for. After hearing this, Deputy Director Wan patted the armrest of the rattan chair with his palm, and said, "I guessed it, not only him, but Lao Zeng and Xiao Hu didn't look good today. When they got the cups, they muttered, muttered What? I can't see it yet?"

Director Wu asked in surprise: "What? Old Zeng Xiaohu also has an opinion?" Deputy Director Wan shook his head and sighed, "You guys are just like that. You're too sensitive to divide a cup and make a lot of noise. Intellectuals are really hard to deal with." Director Wu added to the chaos in his heart, "Oh, this matter went badly. Originally, the division of cups was based on the desire for unity to achieve unity, but the result? It resulted in disunity. It's all my fault. I didn't think carefully about the problem. Director, you are an old man, what do you think about this matter?"

"Leave them alone, how can they be absolutely average." "Director Wan, the matter is small, but the problem is not small. We must not underestimate it. If it is not done well, it will affect the unity, and it will be difficult to carry out work in the future." Deputy Director Wan said, "Okay, tell Xiao Ma to take back all the cups." "Take it back?" "Yes, take it back and divide it again." "Then... how to divide it?" "Let everyone discuss it. Isn't it noisy? According to the method of discussion, there is nothing wrong with it." "Hey, that's right, that's right." Director Wu's heart suddenly brightened, and he sincerely admired Deputy Director Wan. Walking out of Deputy Director Wan's house, Director Wu went straight to Xiao Ma's house and asked Xiao Ma to take back the white porcelain cup when he goes to work tomorrow. Xiao Ma stared: "Director Wu, I don't understand, what is this? Tell me to share the cup today and collect the cup tomorrow, are you kidding me? I, Ma Letian, don't have a diploma, but I'm by no means a low-level man!" Director Wu was speechless. In the morning of the next day, Director Wu went out in person and notified one by one to take back the white porcelain cups.On the afternoon of the third day, 16 white porcelain cups were locked in Director Wu's drawer.On the afternoon of the fourth day, after studying, Director Wu took out 16 white porcelain cups from the drawer and placed them on the desk. There was a commotion in the office, and more than a dozen pairs of eyes stared at the white porcelain cup from different angles. "Comrades, please don't leave. I have something to delay everyone's time." After Director Wu finished speaking, he leaned over to Deputy Director Wan and said, "Director Wan, tell me." Deputy Director Wan waved his hand: "Say it." Director Wu straightened up and faced everyone, panicking for a while.He put the white porcelain cups in two rows, stabilized his heartbeat, and said: "It was a good thing to divide the cups this time, but because I didn't do a good job and didn't explain clearly to everyone in advance, some comrades had opinions. I am responsible for this, and I apologize to everyone." He grabbed a white porcelain cup and pointed to the number on the cup: "All the custom-made cups this time are numbered for the convenience of everyone's use and will not take each other. Wrong. Therefore, the number on the cup does not indicate anything, let alone a sign of status. Please don’t misunderstand. Now that the cup has been taken back, it still needs to be distributed to everyone. For the sake of prudence, everyone has no objections, please Let's discuss and discuss how to divide the best, and come up with a plan. Then, divide according to this plan. Director Wan, is that right?" Deputy Director Wan nodded: "Let's discuss it, this method is good, follow the mass line." Director Wu said: "That's right, everyone is talking about how to divide the best." Three minutes passed, five minutes passed, ten minutes passed, and no one spoke.Everyone sat facing each other in silence.Director Wu looked at this person and that person from time to time, rubbing his hands vigorously, feeling anxious.Finally, he looked at Deputy Director Wan.Deputy Director Wan sat firmly, neither in a hurry nor in a hurry. "Tell me, which comrade will speak first?" Director Wu looked around, staring at Xiaotu: "Xiaotu, start the shot." Xiao Tu said, "I have no objection, it can be divided up in any way." Director Wu waited and asked: "So, how do you divide?" Xiaotu's five fingers curled up into cones: "I think the lottery is fine." "Is this a child's play?" Deputy Director Wan stared at Xiaotu and asked. "Then I have no objection. I will report myself, and I will take the '16 cup." After finishing speaking, Xiao Tu took out a Japanese correspondence textbook from the drawer, and immersed himself in reading it. Director Wu smiled: "Hey, Xiao Tu really knows how to tell jokes." Xiao Tu raised his head and said, "I'm not joking, I'm telling the truth." After speaking, he glanced at Deputy Director Wan. Director Wu smiled again, then turned his head: "Old Zeng, tell me." Lao Zeng shook his head and waved his hands at the same time: "Let's talk about it." Director Wu said, "Little Hu, tell me." Xiao Hu followed Lao Zeng's example, shaking his head and waving his hands at the same time: "Let's talk about it." Deputy Director Wan stared at Xiao Hu and said, "Just kidding." Xiao Hu smiled and said: "Review and review, no joke. I suggest, take Director Wu as the point, and talk down clockwise. Fang Gong will talk first, and then Lao Zeng and Zhang Gong will go on like this. How about it?" Director Wu patted Engineer Fang on the shoulder: "Okay, okay, let me talk about it first." Engineer Fang pondered for a moment, then said: "Okay, let me talk. I have opinions on how to divide the cups the day before yesterday. Why? I think it is neither serious nor reasonable to divide the cups casually like that. We will have a meeting today , Soliciting everyone’s opinion, I think it’s very good, I agree with the office leader’s serious style of handling things. As for my opinion, I think it’s more reasonable to divide the cups by administrative level.” As soon as Engineer Fang finished speaking, Xiao Ma stood up suddenly, staring at his eyes and said: "I laughed so hard! The day before yesterday, I, Ma Letian, divided the cups, but I don't understand, what is it to do to divide the cups? Is it serious or not? Is it reasonable or not? Hmph! I have opened my eyes." "Let me say a few words." Technician Liao, who was sitting in the corner, raised his hand and said, "I don't think it's necessary to have a special meeting today to discuss dividing cups, because the numbers on the cups are meaningless. It would be too much to do so." Seriously. However, since the meeting has already been held, I might as well say a few words. I think it is not reasonable enough to divide cups by administrative level. Administrative level can be used as a standard. However, a more important standard, I think, should be looked at Work performance depends on the contribution, so it is more reasonable." "Forget it," Engineer Zhang said with a smile, "I don't think it's the way we use in China—let's divide them according to the strokes of the surname." Xiao Ma shouted: "Hey, Mr. Zhang, it's neither serious nor reasonable for you to divide the law like this!" "But solve the problem." "No, no, I have an opinion." "It's not bad to classify according to the strokes of the surname." Technician Ding, who was buried in the newspaper, interjected, "This way, I can take advantage." Someone laughed.Deputy Director Wan glanced at the laughing place, and the laughter stopped immediately.There was a moment of dullness in the office. Director Wu said: "It was fine just now. Everyone talk about it, who else? Lao Li, tell me." Lao Li blushed, waved his hands, and said, "Hey, no." Xiao Hu said: "Old Li, whether you are right or not is a matter of level; whether you say it or not is a matter of attitude." Lao Li smiled: "I said I said, I don't know if it's right. If the secret ballot method is adopted, every comrade's opinion can be reflected, then the opinion with the most votes of more than half of the people will be adopted. Hehe , I don’t know if it’s right or not.” Deputy Director Wan slapped his thigh and shouted: "This method is good! This is called democratic centralism. Xiao...Old Wu, I will follow Lao Li's opinion and distribute papers for everyone." Director Wu nodded repeatedly, took out a stack of usage notes from the drawer, and tore off sixteen sheets.Give it to everyone. Not long after, 16 notes were handed over to Director Wu one after another.After classified statistics, he announced the results of the secret ballot to everyone: According to the strokes of the surname: 4 Divided by administrative level: 4 According to the size of the contribution: 2 Divided by working years: 2 By age: 1 By weight: 1 Submit to the company party committee for discussion: 1 Abstentions: 1 Although secret ballots had results, none of the opinions in any category reached or exceeded half, so they could not be adopted. The meeting was over, but the white porcelain cups could not be divided again.Director Wu locked the white porcelain cup in the drawer again. On the way home, Director Wu asked Deputy Director Wan: "Director Wan, take a look, what should we do about this?" Deputy Director Wan waved his hand behind his head and said, "Let's talk about it in a few days." After a few days, Director Wu asked Deputy Director Wan again: "Director Wan, take a look, what about the cup? It can't be locked in the drawer all the time." Deputy Director Wan said: "Xiao Wu, forget it. Have you seen it? It's peaceful if you don't distinguish. Nothing happened." 16 white porcelain cups are locked in Director Wu's drawer, occupying almost one drawer.He originally wanted to move the white porcelain cup to the file cabinet, but recently there were rumors in the company that the development room was distributing daily necessities indiscriminately, and the office and the finance department were going to investigate, which scared him so much that he didn't dare to move the place again. One month has passed, two months have passed, three months have passed, spring has passed and summer has come, 16 white porcelain cups are still locked in Director Wu's drawer.He also gradually forgot. On this day, the City Association for Science and Technology organized more than a dozen experts and scholars to hold a symposium in the development room.There was no cup to use, Director Wu suddenly remembered the white porcelain cup in the drawer, hurriedly opened the drawer, took out the white porcelain cup, asked someone to wash it, and made tea for the guests.After the guests left, he poured out the residual tea one by one and rinsed it with boiling water.After thinking for a while, he intentionally or unintentionally put the 16 white porcelain cups beside the thermos, instead of locking them in his drawer.From then on, everyone took these white porcelain cups as public property and used them to make tea and entertain guests. Indeed, as Deputy Director Wan said, nothing happened. October 16, 1985