As the days approached for Cheng Jemin to go to the countryside to support agricultural work, the people around him, though seemingly polite on the surface, and the leaders who still treated him with the same old demeanor, smiling and friendly, showing no distance, made him realize that he had been kicked off the stage of the Water Resources Department.
Therefore, when Zheng Yuanhong suddenly came to find him, Cheng Jemin was somewhat moved. If her previous gift of a notebook was a way to curry favor, now she had no need to flatter him. For a moment, Cheng Jemin suddenly felt that this girl was so affectionate and gentle. Only those who come close to you in your time of disappointment are truly concerned about you.
"Jemin, you're still young, and the road ahead is long. Now that Director Chen is gone, those guys are eager to show their loyalty, so their attitude toward you will definitely not be good! You have to endure everything. Anyway, you'll be going to the countryside soon, so listen to others' advice and eat well!"
Zheng Yuanhong was dressed beautifully today, as if she had prepared carefully, looking charming and alluring. She just wanted to chat with Cheng Jemin, feeling that he was different from the people in the office. Whether they were officials or ordinary clerks, they were all politicians, but Cheng Jemin was different. He was still a child, with a kind of primitive brightness.
In Zheng Yuanhong's eyes, people in politics shouldn't be too smooth or too worldly, but they shouldn't be too honest either. If they were too smooth and worldly, they would easily manipulate power and be cunning, leading to mutual oppression and not focusing on the right path. But if they were too honest, they wouldn't be smart enough and would easily get hurt.
After giving these well-intentioned reminders, Zheng Yuanhong felt there was nothing else to advise, and she looked at Cheng Jemin with infinite tenderness before leaving reluctantly.
Closing the door, Cheng Jemin suddenly remembered a passage from the notebook: "On this New Year's Eve, at the unit's gathering, Zheng Yuanhong drank too much and cried on my shoulder, saying, 'I've had someone in my heart for over a decade, but a fool doesn't understand my heart...'"
Thinking about this passage, Cheng Jemin couldn't help but feel his heart race. Could there be a blooming peach blossom in my emotional forest? Zheng Yuanhong wasn't an unpleasant girl. But then, Gu Xixi's delicate face popped into his mind, and Cheng Jemin tried to drive away these unrealistic thoughts. He was a man with political ambitions and didn't want to maintain close relationships with so many women.
The knocking on the door snapped Cheng Jemin out of his reverie. Just as he said "Come in," Pang Xiaoguang walked in. Pang Xiaoguang still had a smile on his face, but it was different from before.
"Ha, Brother Cheng, I just passed by the finance department, and Director Lu asked you to come over. If there's any good news, don't forget your brother!"
Why would the finance department want me to come over? Cheng Jemin, puzzled, looked at Pang Xiaoguang. Knowing from the notebook that Pang Xiaoguang was a despicable person who called him brother to his face but stabbed him in the back, and now without Director Chen's support, he would love to step on him, Cheng Jemin nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go over in a bit."
"Alright, I'll go first!" Pang Xiaoguang waved at Cheng Jemin and left with a hint of satisfaction.
Although Pang Xiaoguang tried to hide it, Cheng Jemin could still feel his satisfaction. After the door was gently closed, Cheng Jemin wondered if there was anything between him and the finance department.
After pondering for a few minutes, Cheng Jemin was sure there was no issue between him and the finance department. He drank half a cup of water and then slowly went to the finance department on the second floor.
As the financial hub of the unit, the heavy iron door of the finance department, though rusty, still announced its authority, warning everyone that this was a financial area where outsiders were not allowed. Cheng Jemin glanced inside and saw Deputy Director Lu Jinzhong chatting with a few people.
Cheng Jemin knocked and walked in. Lu Jinzhong glanced at him without saying a word. Xiao Ma, sitting by the door, smiled and said, "Brother Cheng, come in and sit down."
Cheng Jemin had been to the finance department before, and whenever he came, not only Deputy Director Lu Jinzhong but even the Director would warmly greet him. Now, Lu Jinzhong's behavior clearly indicated a problem.
"Director Lu, what do you need me for?" Cheng Jemin, used to such cold treatment, asked directly.
Lu Jinzhong didn't speak but continued to read his documents after taking a sip of water. Seeing this, Cheng Jemin felt a surge of anger and raised his voice, "Director Lu, may I ask what you need me for?"
"Xiao Cheng, don't you know how to respect others' work? You're not a new employee, so why are you so impolite? You interrupted my calculations, and now I have to start over. Do you know how much effort I put in just now?" Lu Jinzhong frowned, his voice tinged with anger.
Cheng Jemin had seen what Lu Jinzhong was doing when he came in. He was clearly giving him a hard time. Cheng Jemin tried to control his emotions, looking coldly at Lu Jinzhong, waiting for him to speak.
Lu Jinzhong glanced at Cheng Jemin disdainfully, thinking, "Director Chen is gone, and you're nothing now. Who are you looking at? I'll make you suffer today and show you who's in charge."
"Xiao Cheng, wait a moment, I'll talk to you later." Lu Jinzhong picked up a paper and started writing again.
Cheng Jemin paused, not saying a word. He knew what Lu Jinzhong was up to, so he picked up a newspaper from the bookshelf, thinking, "You want to waste time? I'll waste time with you."
After flipping through the entire newspaper, Lu Jinzhong put down his pen, pretending to be tired, and drank a cup of water. Then, as if waking from a dream, he said, "Oh, look at me, I forgot to get you some water, Xiao Cheng!"
But before Cheng Jemin could respond, Lu Jinzhong continued, "But your office isn't far, so I don't think you're thirsty."
Damn, can't you shut up? Cheng Jemin remained calm on the surface, but he was seething inside. Lu Jinzhong, who usually hummed and hawed, always had a belly full of words and a smile on his face, but his muscles were stiff.
"Xiao Cheng, there are some issues with these reimbursement forms. Look, the leadership signatures are missing, which makes it difficult for us!" Lu Jinzhong handed the forms to Cheng Jemin and said, "Brother Cheng, take these back."
Cheng Jemin glanced at the forms, which were from last month when he accompanied Director Chen. He had dealt with such forms many times since becoming Director Chen's secretary. Although the rules required leadership signatures, in practice, the signatures of the secretaries were enough.
In the past, the finance department had always processed his forms, even those without his signature. He had even signed and collected the money directly. Now, Lu Jinzhong was making him add the leadership signatures, purely to make things difficult for him.
Taking a deep breath, Cheng Jemin said calmly, "Director Lu, these forms are signed. If the higher-ups ask, just say I submitted them, and I won't make you look bad."
"Oh, listen to Xiao Cheng, how heroic! When you go to the countryside, do you need a ceremonial guard to wave flags and beat drums for you?" Lu Jinzhong sneered, took a sip of water, and continued, "Unfortunately, no matter how capable you are, you're leaving. If the leadership investigates, the responsibility will still be ours!"
"Ha ha ha" Lu Jinzhong's laughter made the others laugh along.
Cheng Jemin clenched his fists, feeling that he was prepared for this. How dare these people humiliate him like this?
Taking a deep breath, he said, "Director Lu, these forms are for Director Chen's previous business trips. If you have any issues, report them to the leadership."
"Hmph, Xiao Cheng, I'll hold you accountable. If you don't add the leadership signatures by the 5th, don't blame me for deducting your salary." Lu Jinzhong's face turned dark.
Making him get Director Chen's signature would not only humiliate him but also embarrass Director Chen. Looking at Lu Jinzhong's smug face, Cheng Jemin remembered the humiliations he had endured, as recorded in the notebook. He had chosen to endure them, but the result was further oppression and pressure.
Since I'm going to the countryside, why should I suffer at the hands of these bastards? Cheng Jemin's mind flashed with a thought, and he coldly said, "Deduct my salary? I'll see who dares!"
"Hey, are you thinking of hitting me, Xiao Cheng? If you dare to touch me, go ahead. Do you have the guts?" Lu Jinzhong patted his face.
"Slap" As he raised his face, Cheng Jemin's hand struck his face hard.
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