Anshan Old-Industry Life-Memory Interview — Case 06 (Angang worker, 1950s generation)

问您大概是哪一代人？

QRoughly which generation are you?

答1950年代

AThe 1950s.

问您与鞍钢/相关单位的关系？

QWhat is your relationship to Angang / a related work unit?

答本人在鞍钢

AI myself worked at Angang.

问您当年大概做哪一类工作？

QRoughly what kind of work did you do back then?

答管理/办公

AManagement / office.

问您大概在哪个时期参加工作？

QRoughly when did you start working?

答1970年代

AThe 1970s.

问您愿意说说当时为什么进这个单位吗？（学校分配/家里安排/自己选择/亲友介绍…）

QWould you say why you entered this work unit? (school assignment / family arrangement / own choice / referral by relatives or friends…)

答企业招工。1968年知识青年到农村锻炼，1971年从农村抽调回城，进鞍钢工作。

AThe enterprise was recruiting. In 1968 I went to the countryside as an educated youth to be tempered; in 1971 I was drafted back to the city from the countryside and entered Angang.

问您还记得刚参加工作时的一天吗？带我从早到晚走一遍：几点上班、先去哪、主要做什么、和谁一起。

QDo you remember a day when you first started working? Walk me through it morning to night: when work began, where you went first, what you mainly did, and with whom.

答早晨7点骑着自行车，从家进入鞍钢厂区，到单位后先一起集合。一百多名同学参加了厂里举办的新员工培训班，讲企业规章制度、讲企业安全、讲新职工的注意事项，然后由领导讲厂里的生产流程。最后，一百多人被分配到各车间，准备第二天上岗跟师傅工作。

AAt 7 a.m. I rode my bicycle from home into the Angang plant area, and after reaching the unit we first gathered together. More than a hundred of us classmates attended the new-employee training class the plant ran—covering enterprise rules and regulations, enterprise safety, and things new workers should watch for—and then a leader explained the plant's production process. Finally, the hundred-plus of us were assigned to the various workshops, to start our posts the next day working with a master.

问当时学技术主要靠什么？

QBack then, how did you mainly learn your skills?

答（勾选：师傅带）主要是靠师傅带。我的师傅是八级技师，属于厂里顶尖级别的技术专家，现场遇到技术难题，都是他亲自解决。

A(checked: taught by a master) Mainly by a master's guidance. My master was an eighth-grade technician, one of the plant's top-level technical experts; whenever a technical problem came up on site, he solved it himself.

问您觉得当年最重要的本事是什么？（技术，或吃苦、细心、配合、经验、判断力）

QWhat do you think was the most important ability back then? (skill, or endurance, care, cooperation, experience, judgment)

答是吃苦耐劳，不怕脏累，不计较个人份外，不计较报酬，认真地做好每件事。

AEndurance and hard work—not fearing dirt or fatigue, not fussing over what was outside one's own duties, not fussing over pay, and doing every task conscientiously.

问有没有书本上学不到、只能靠师傅或经验学到的东西？举一个普通例子即可，不用讲具体技术参数。

QWas there anything you couldn't learn from books, only from a master or experience? A plain example is fine; no specific technical parameters needed.

答有的。比如实际手工操作的技能，需要亲手实际操作；比如排除设备故障，需要借鉴师傅的经验和判断力。书本上的理论最终需要通过双手来实现。

AYes. For example, actual hands-on manual skills have to be done by your own hands; and clearing an equipment fault draws on the master's experience and judgment. Book theory in the end has to be realized through your hands.

问「单位」对生活影响大吗？体现在哪些方面？

QDid the 'work unit' greatly affect your life? In what ways?

答（多项勾选：住房、食堂、澡堂、医院、学校、幼儿园）单位在提升生活水平。单位分配住房解决居住问题；单位的食堂解决上班的午餐；澡堂解决职工的洗浴问题，冲洗汗水，消除疲惫，轻松回家。企业的医院解决了职工和家属的病患，保证健康。企业的技术学校解决了给企业补充新生血液，企业的幼儿园解决了职工的后顾之忧。

A(multiple boxes checked: housing, canteen, bathhouse, hospital, school, kindergarten) The unit raised living standards. Unit-allocated housing solved the problem of where to live; the unit canteen provided lunch during work; the bathhouse solved workers' bathing, washing off sweat, easing fatigue, going home relaxed. The enterprise hospital handled illnesses of workers and their families, safeguarding health. The enterprise technical school replenished the enterprise with new blood, and the enterprise kindergarten removed workers' worries about their children.

问先用您自己的词：那时候大家对鞍钢/单位的感觉，像什么？然后再挑：□一份工作 □一个大家庭 □一个社区 □一种身份 □不好说

QFirst in your own words: what did people's feeling toward Angang / the unit feel like back then? Then pick: a job / a big family / a community / an identity / hard to say.

答（勾选：一种身份）在国家计划经济的年代，能够在鞍钢大型企业里工作是非常幸运和自豪的。企业进入到市场经济、九十年代时，虽然收入不高，但是鞍钢属于铁饭碗，每月固定开工资，基本是衣食无忧；相互比较，鞍钢的福利较高。

A(checked: an identity) In the era of the state planned economy, being able to work in a big enterprise like Angang was very fortunate and a matter of pride. When the enterprise entered the market economy in the 1990s, although income was not high, Angang was still an 'iron rice bowl'—a fixed wage every month, basically no worry about food or clothing; by comparison, Angang's welfare was relatively high.

问带我走进一个地方：澡堂、厂门口、车间、家属院……挑一个您印象最深的，说说那里的样子、声音、气味、人。

QTake me into one place: the bathhouse, plant gate, workshop, family compound… pick the one that stayed with you most and describe its look, sounds, smells, people.

答澡堂。白天上白班的职工，下午5点前即可进入厂洗澡堂了。里面有澡池、淋浴间、洗浴更衣室。浴池里职工们欢声笑语说着一天的趣事，淋浴水将工人们一天的疲惫冲洗得干干净净。之后，职工结伴走出厂门，回到为之努力工作的家，和家人共进晚餐。

AThe bathhouse. Workers on the day shift could enter the plant bathhouse before 5 p.m. Inside there were a soaking pool, shower stalls, and a bathing/changing room. In the pool the workers laughed and chatted about the day's amusing events, and the shower water washed away a full day's fatigue clean. Afterward, workers left the plant gate together, returned to the home they worked hard for, and had dinner with their families.

问那段时间，单位或岗位有没有明显变化？

QDuring that period, was there a clear change in your unit or post?

答明显变化

AA clear change.

问您当时大概属于哪一类？

QRoughly which category were you in at the time?

答留原岗

AStayed in my original post.

问单位一般怎么通知这些变化？

QHow did the unit usually announce these changes?

答开会

AThrough meetings.

问当时对您影响最大的是？

QWhat affected you most at the time?

答收入

AIncome.

问比一比：和您认识的另一种岗位的人（比如您是技术、他是一线，或反过来）相比，那几年你们俩受到的影响一样吗？不用说人名，说大概。

QCompare: versus someone you knew in a different kind of post (say you're technical and they're front-line, or vice versa), were the two of you affected the same in those years? No names—just roughly.

答受到的影响是不同的。一部分留岗人员，因为实行了精简机构、减人增效，收益和收入明显提高，晋升本厂矿中的职工，这部分厂矿成为股份制公司。另一部分人分流到非主体单位，保留原工资待遇，企业自身经营。还有一部分人员进入待岗培训，这部分人保持原工资，居家暂不上岗，后来这部分人大部分提前退休了或正常退休了。简说：进入鞍钢股份有限公司的厂矿和留岗职工的工资水平提高，其中上岗干部实行奖励激励和年薪，而转岗和参加待岗培训及居家人员保留了原基本工资。

AThe impact was different. Some who stayed in post—because of streamlining organizations and cutting staff to raise efficiency—saw earnings and income clearly rise and were promoted among the workers of the plant/mine, and these plants/mines became shareholding companies. Another portion were diverted to non-core units, keeping their original wage and benefits, with the enterprise running on its own. Still another portion went into wait-for-post training, keeping their original wage but staying home without a post; most of them later took early or normal retirement. In short: for the plants that entered Angang Co., Ltd. and workers who kept their posts, wage levels rose—among them on-post cadres got bonus incentives and annual salaries—while those who transferred, entered wait-for-post training, or stayed home kept only their original base wage.

问岗位变化后，您或身边同事一般去了哪里？

QAfter the post changes, where did you or nearby colleagues generally go?

答留原单位

AStayed at the original unit.

问以前学到的本事，后来还有用吗？

QWere the abilities you learned earlier still useful later?

答一些用

ASomewhat useful.

问哪些本事容易带到别的工作里？（认真、守时、机械经验、管理、看设备、带徒弟、与人打交道…）

QWhich abilities carry easily into other jobs? (conscientiousness, punctuality, machine experience, management, watching equipment, mentoring apprentices, dealing with people…)

答培养出自身的认真工作、遵守规章制度、不断学习进取、善待身边的人，终身受益。

AThe conscientious work habits I built up—following rules and regulations, learning and striving continually, treating those around me well—benefit me for a lifetime.

问哪些本事离开原单位就用不上了？说大概即可，不必讲流程或内部资料。

QWhich abilities become useless once you leave the original unit? Roughly is fine; no processes or internal materials.

答学无止境，无论学到什么都有机会用到。比如动手能力、分析判断能力、毫无怨言解决问题的能力。

ALearning has no end; whatever you learn there is a chance to use it. For example hands-on ability, analytical and judgment ability, and the ability to solve problems without complaint.

问如果有人离开鞍山去外地，您觉得最难适应的是什么？您身边有这样的人吗（只说方向，如「去南方工厂」，不用姓名）？

QIf someone left Anshan for elsewhere, what do you think is hardest to adapt to? Do you know such people (just the direction, e.g. 'went to a southern factory', no names)?

答我身边没有去外地工作的人。

AThere is no one around me who left to work elsewhere.

问遇到岗位变化时，谁对您帮助最大？

QWhen the post changes came, who helped you most?

答单位组织

AThe unit organization.

问大家会互相介绍工作、打听消息、互相照顾吗？说一般情况，不必说人名。

QDid people introduce each other to jobs, share news, look after one another? General situation, no names.

答待岗人员会互相传递信息，原单位的厂、工会组织会家访，对有生活困难的人员给予生活补助。一段时间后，一部分人员被分流到非主体厂矿，一部分接近退休年龄的人员退休。

APeople waiting for posts would pass information to each other; the original plant and the trade-union organization made home visits and gave living subsidies to those in hardship. After a while, some were diverted to non-core plants/mines, and some nearing retirement age retired.

问有没有老同事聚会、同学聚会、饭局、微信群帮大家联系？（可只答「有/没有」）

QWere there old-colleague reunions, classmate reunions, dinners, or WeChat groups to keep everyone connected? (a simple yes/no is fine)

答没有。那个年代不大时兴什么聚会，还没有微信。

ANo. In that era gatherings weren't much in fashion, and there was no WeChat yet.

问您觉得是正式渠道帮助大，还是熟人/老同事帮助大？

QDo you think formal channels helped more, or acquaintances / old colleagues?

答正式

AFormal channels.

问您现在还和老同事联系吗？

QDo you still keep in touch with old colleagues now?

答偶尔

AOccasionally.

问您去过鞍钢博物馆、孟泰纪念馆或类似的地方吗？

QHave you visited the Angang Museum, the Meng Tai Memorial Hall, or similar places?

答去过

AYes, I have.

问您觉得这些地方能让年轻人了解以前的工厂生活吗？

QDo you think these places let young people understand factory life of the past?

答能

AYes, they can.

问您觉得现在年轻人还了解「钢城」这段历史吗？

QDo you think young people today still understand the 'Steel City' history?

答了解一点

AThey understand a little.

问您的孩子或晚辈有没有进入钢铁、机械、工程、制造相关工作？

QHave your children or younger relatives gone into steel, machinery, engineering, or manufacturing work?

答没有

ANo.

问您当年希望孩子继续进类似单位吗？

QBack then did you want your children to go into a similar unit?

答当时没想那么多

AAt the time I didn't think that far.

问您会给孩子讲以前单位里的故事吗？

QDo you tell your children stories from the old unit?

答偶尔

AOccasionally.

问您给下一代最想说的一句话是什么？（工作、做人、技术、吃苦、选城市、选职业…都行）

QWhat one thing would you most want to say to the next generation? (work, character, skill, endurance, choosing a city, choosing a career… anything)

答低调做人，行稳致远。「上善若水」，积攒人缘与福报；踏实做事，厚积薄发，善待自己，造福一方。

ABe low-key, and go steadily and far. 'The highest good is like water'—accumulate goodwill and blessings; work solidly, store up and release slowly, treat yourself well, and benefit those around you.

问您觉得年轻一代和您这一代，对「单位/稳定工作/技术工人」的看法有什么不同？

QHow do the younger generation and yours differ in how they view 'the work unit / stable jobs / skilled workers'?

答我们生活在计划经济年代，觉得在国有企业中工作有铁饭碗，工作生活稳定，不焦虑，不内卷，大家生活水平都差不多，心态平衡。那个年代学技术很有用，高级技师8级工的工资水平可以达到中层干部水平，所以那个时候社会流行「学会车钳刨电焊，走遍天下都不怕」。家里经济条件好点的，都让孩子进厂先学徒，跟师傅学技术。学徒工第一年工资是19元人民币，大约三年即普通工种工资42元。随着市场经济的发展，人们的观念开始变化，吃苦、脏累的技术工种逐渐被经济管理者所取代。一些人毕业后才发现所选专业脱离了企业的需求；一些有志青年已认识到学习技术也需要适应社会发展。

AWe lived in the planned-economy era and felt that working in a state enterprise meant an 'iron rice bowl'—work and life were stable, without anxiety or rat-race pressure, everyone's living standard was about the same, and one's mind was at ease. Skills were very useful then: a senior eighth-grade technician's wage could reach a mid-level cadre's, so the saying went, 'Master turning, fitting, planing and welding and you can go anywhere unafraid.' Families a bit better off sent their children into the plant to apprentice first and learn from a master. An apprentice's first-year wage was 19 yuan, and after about three years an ordinary trade paid 42 yuan. As the market economy developed, people's outlook began to change, and the hard, dirty skilled trades were gradually displaced by economic managers. Some found only after graduating that their chosen major was out of step with enterprise needs; some aspiring young people have realized that learning a skill must also adapt to how society develops.

问先不看选项：如果用一个词形容以前的鞍钢/老单位，您会用哪个词？为什么？

QWithout looking at the options first: if one word described the old Angang / old unit, which would you use, and why?

答我曾经是鞍钢人而自豪！是鞍钢培养了我自己、自强的工作能力和生活能力，是鞍钢这个大熔炉锤炼出我不断学习、勇于进取、吃苦耐劳的品格，从而适应社会的发展。

AI am proud to have once been an Angang person! It was Angang that cultivated my self-reliant capacity for work and life; it was Angang, that great furnace, that forged in me the character of continuous learning, bold striving, and hard endurance, so that I could adapt to how society develops.

问您觉得这段经历中，最该被年轻人记住的是什么？

QWhat in this experience should young people most remember?

答在勤奋努力工作的同时，要爱护自己、爱护家人、爱护身边人，厚德载物。众人拾柴火焰高！在帮助他人的同时，成就了自己。

AWhile working hard and diligently, you must cherish yourself, your family, and those around you—great virtue carries all things. When everyone adds firewood the flames rise high! In helping others, you accomplish yourself.

问您觉得像我这样的年轻人，最容易误解你们那一代人的地方是什么？

QWhat do you think a young person like me most easily misunderstands about your generation?

答我想听听你的回答。

AI'd like to hear your answer.

问今天有没有哪部分您希望我不要记录、不要引用，或引用前必须再问您？

QIs there any part today you'd want me not to record, not to quote, or to ask you again before quoting?

答没有

ANo.

问整理好后，您想先看一遍再决定是否公开吗？

QOnce it's compiled, do you want to review it before deciding whether to make it public?

答想看

AYes, I'd like to review it.

问以后若需要补充访谈，您是否愿意通过介绍人再联系？

QIf a follow-up interview is needed later, would you be willing to be contacted again through the introducer?

答可以

AYes, that's fine.

问您是否愿意日后接受一次更深入的访谈，把您的故事更完整地记录下来？

QWould you be willing to give a more in-depth interview later, to record your story more fully?

答愿意

AYes, I'm willing.