Xu Yuemei

　　Mention Xu Yuemei, and everyone at the Beijing Municipal Engineering Group First Division knows her. As the secretary of the project department led by national model worker Chen Yonghua, she is renowned for her straightforwardness, competence, meticulousness, and ability to shoulder heavy responsibilities, earning continuous praise from all sides for this grassroots female secretary.

　　Since May 2009, when she became the secretary of the national model worker Chen Yonghua Project Department, she has followed the model worker's team to Beijing, Shanxi, Jiangsu, and other places. Perhaps influenced by the model worker spirit over time, or perhaps accustomed to a busy pace, Xu Yuemei always exudes a decisive and efficient "ready to go" attitude.

　　People say it's not easy to be the secretary of a model worker, but she has become the project manager's "good assistant." People often say that model workers have higher standards than others, but she manages the project inside and out in perfect order, receiving overwhelming praise from leaders and employees—the title of Outstanding Party Affairs Worker of Beijing Municipal Road and Bridge Municipal Group is well-deserved.

　　Three Locations, Busy but Orderly

　　In 2012, before the Shanxi Datong project was completed, Xu Yuemei's project department immediately returned to Beijing to start preliminary preparations for the Jingliang Road project. There were still many matters to handle in Datong, making it hard to leave; meanwhile, the Beijing project was about to start, with preparations in full swing—neither could be neglected, both needed attention. Xu Yuemei resolutely took on both heavy responsibilities in Beijing and Shanxi.

　　When things in Datong eased slightly, she would travel over 400 kilometers back to Beijing to busy herself with preparations for the project start; when urgent matters in Beijing were mostly handled, she would trek over 400 kilometers back to Datong to arrange project wrap-up matters. In this way, for the project about to start, disturbances were resolved and a staff home was established; for the project wrapping up, settlement work progressed smoothly and staff life remained as colorful as before. Under her careful management, work at both ends proceeded methodically. Therefore, many male colleagues on the project affectionately call her the "Iron Lady."

　　This year, with the start of the Jiangsu Changzhou project, the number of cities Xu Yuemei travels to increased from two to three. Facing projects with different progress and types, she did not get flustered or do her work carelessly; instead, she handled affairs across the three projects with method and order.

　　When asked why she makes herself so tired, she smiles and says: "Manager Chen stays on the construction site even while taking medicine; what am I compared to that?"

　　Caring for Employees in Every Aspect

　　Years of working away from home have made Xu Yuemei deeply appreciate the importance of employee life. Therefore, she starts by caring for project employees' food, clothing, housing, and transportation, making their lives comfortable. In terms of "food," she discusses with everyone weekly to jointly determine the "weekly menu." At the Changzhou project department, to let the mostly northern employees eat well, she specifically hired two local chefs who can cook northern dishes, and arranges pasta once a week, ensuring employees eat enough, are accustomed to the food, and that it is safe and hygienic. In terms of "housing," with the project manager's consent, she spared no expense to install air conditioning in every employee dormitory and regularly distributes daily necessities. Currently, at the Changzhou project department where she is stationed, each dormitory is equipped with mosquito nets and cloth wardrobes, and even the trash cans in the corners are uniform. In terms of "usage," she has established staff homes or activity rooms at each project department, equipped with books, TVs, chess and cards, table tennis tables, and other entertainment and learning facilities, and equipped living areas with shared washing machines and water heaters. In addition, the meticulous she had project workers make over a dozen simple clothes drying racks. "The southern weather is humid; clothes hung indoors won't dry for days and can easily get moldy," she says.

　　Xu Yuemei's daily work is diverse and trivial, from helping the project manager coordinate external relations to making a table sign—"can't say what I've done, but I'm always busy every day." Facing the miscellaneous affairs of the project, she is like a housekeeper and a nanny, often busy until eleven or twelve at night. "Being busy is nothing; as long as the work is done well, we are the model worker's team, and I cannot tarnish this brand."

　　All-Round Player, Capable Assistant

　　After years of experience on projects, the "management-loving, never-idle" Xu Yuemei has gradually grown into an "all-round player" skilled in multiple tasks.

　　In ideological and political work, she strictly implements the party conduct and clean government responsibility system. At each project team meeting or mid-level cadre study session, she promotes relevant policies and regulations to leading cadres, conveys document spirit, and reminds everyone to conscientiously abide by integrity requirements, lead by example, and set a good example for subordinates. At the same time, she conducts integrity education in batches and with emphasis for employees who hold management and disposal rights over "personnel, finances, and materials." This top-down, focused ideological education approach has laid a solid foundation for the project department's integrity construction.

　　In party and mass activities, she is also actively involved and organizes earnestly, making the project department's party and youth league life lively and colorful. Whether it's party day activities, youth exchanges, disaster relief donations, or excellence selection, she always combines project reality, adapts to local conditions, and boldly innovates. For example, whenever an employee's birthday comes, she takes the opportunity to organize project personnel for a "full staff gathering" to create a home atmosphere and enhance employees' sense of belonging.

　　Beyond her "main business," as secretary she also handles the labor cost calculation for project employees. Although this huge and tedious work sometimes keeps her so busy she skips meals, she has never made a mistake. At the same time, she assists the project manager in strengthening the management of external construction teams, not only emphasizing the "staffing according to need" employment principle but also frequently going to the construction site to inspect work and improve and adjust staffing. During last year's Beijing "7.21" rainstorm, Xu Yuemei worked overnight with project employees in the heavy rain to help the external construction team evacuate to safety, ensuring their lives and project property safety.

　　As a grassroots project secretary, Xu Yuemei has been dutiful and has a clear conscience. However, as a mother and wife, she feels she owes too much and feels guilty, because due to busy work, she couldn't even be by her son's side to care for him during his college entrance examination.

　　A heroine not inferior to men, rooted in projects, her good name spreads. Xu Yuemei, the "Iron Lady" on the construction site, practices her "construction dream" with practical actions.