Zheng Yuanhong ran over to see Cheng Jemin and quietly told him that the desk Dong Huacheng had found for him was in a terrible state, with cracks all over the surface. Cheng Jemin smiled dismissively and said, "If there are cracks, just patch them up. It's no big deal."
Zheng Yuanhong gave him a strange look, her beautiful eyelashes fluttering, revealing a hint of mischief and dissatisfaction. Suddenly, she covered her mouth and giggled secretly. Cheng Jemin, noticing her odd laughter, realized that his words might have been misunderstood by this married woman.
"Cheng Jemin, Director Dong said the office needs to be renovated, so we need to move our things out first." The office door was pushed open, and four or five young men in their twenties and thirties walked in. The one who spoke first was Pang Xiaoguang.
Seeing the malicious look on Pang Xiaoguang's face, Cheng Jemin really felt like slapping him. Dong Huacheng's timing for having the office renovated was clearly meant to embarrass him.
Cheng Jemin had long anticipated Dong Huacheng's underhanded tactics, so he wasn't particularly angry. However, Pang Xiaoguang's appearance was somewhat unexpected. Recalling the diary's records of this person's fickle nature, Cheng Jemin felt more at ease.
"I'm almost done packing up. You guys are here just in time, so I don't have to do all the hard work myself!" Cheng Jemin stood up cheerfully and started gathering his things. "Where have you arranged for me to go?"
Pang Xiaoguang had worked hard to earn the chance to show his loyalty to Dong Huacheng. He knew that only by further belittling Cheng Jemin could he erase the bad impression he had left on Director Dong. Therefore, he volunteered to help clean out Cheng Jemin's office and was the first to arrive.
Cheng Jemin's attitude, in Pang Xiaoguang's eyes, was just putting up a front. He smirked and said, "Oh, Director Cheng, Director Dong has given a lot of thought to your new office location. After all, you are an important figure in our department!"
Although Cheng Jemin had improved his self-control, he still felt a surge of anger at Pang Xiaoguang's brazen mockery. However, he reminded himself that only those who can smile even when they hate someone to the core can achieve great things.
Under Pang Xiaoguang's guidance, Cheng Jemin arrived at the large office. He saw a worn-out yellow desk with a few spots and a faint line of red text: "Donghu Water Conservancy."
Cheng Jemin recognized this type of desk, which was custom-made for the Water Conservancy Department in the early 1980s. Now, not only in the Water Conservancy Department but probably in the entire Donghu Provincial Party Committee, such desks were hard to find.
The position near the door was usually given to the least important person in the department. Dong Huacheng's intention was clear.
"Director Cheng, Director Dong went to great lengths to find you a good desk. This desk was once used by the former head of the Water Conservancy Department!" Pang Xiaoguang, seeing that Dong Huacheng was standing nearby, became even more enthusiastic.
Cheng Jemin nonchalantly put his things down and started cleaning the chair. Just as he was about to sit down, the desk wobbled. He looked down and saw that the legs were broken.
Dong Huacheng watched with a smile, his hands behind his back, and his belly protruding. "Xiao Cheng, although our material conditions have improved, we must not forget the spirit of hard work and frugality. The old leaders taught us that we should use things for three years, then repair them for another three years, and patch them up for another three years. As an outstanding cadre sent by our Water Conservancy Department, you must set an example of hard work and frugality!"
You, with your modern office equipment, want me to uphold the spirit of hard work and frugality? Cheng Jemin glanced at Dong Huacheng's pumpkin-like face and cursed inwardly. However, he tried to control himself. He had already upset Li Zhonghua with his report, and causing more trouble would not be in his best interest.
He was about to go down to support the farmers and couldn't afford any more issues in the next two days. Thinking this, Cheng Jemin instinctively glanced at Dong Huacheng's desk and noticed a stone inkstone.
Cheng Jemin knew that this inkstone was one of Dong Huacheng's prized possessions, bought during a business trip. He walked over and, without a word, picked up the inkstone and stuffed it under the desk leg. "Director Dong, you are absolutely right. I will firmly implement your instructions."
"Put it down!" Dong Huacheng, seeing Cheng Jemin use his beloved inkstone to prop up the desk leg, flew into a rage.
Cheng Jemin ignored Dong Huacheng's scolding and continued to place the inkstone under the desk leg. "Director Dong, you always do things that win the hearts of the people and are considerate. A broken piece of stone, you wouldn't mind, right?"
As he spoke, Cheng Jemin rubbed his hands and made a waving gesture toward Dong Huacheng.
This gesture, though slight, frightened Dong Huacheng. What if he slapped him in front of everyone? Even a cornered rabbit will bite. Seeing the unfriendly look in Cheng Jemin's eyes, Dong Huacheng changed his mind. "You can use the stone, but your self-criticism is still expected by the leadership!"
As he spoke, Dong Huacheng waved at Pang Xiaoguang and the others. "What are you looking at? Go and move the things."
"Let's go." Pang Xiaoguang waved, and the group left the office.
With their departure, the office seemed to return to its usual calm. Cheng Jemin sat at his desk, flipping through the materials he had brought and observing the office environment.
At this moment, there were still a few people working in the Water Conservancy Department's office, but they were all busy with their own tasks, and none of them spoke to Cheng Jemin. Hearing Dong Huacheng barking orders and directing people, Cheng Jemin understood that he was deliberately isolating him.
After sitting for half an hour, Cheng Jemin felt the urge to urinate and stood up to go to the restroom. Before he entered, he heard someone whispering, "This is great, he's getting too cocky. He even misinterpreted what Old Li said. He's in for a rough time!"
"A rough time? Dong Huacheng already gave him a rough time. You didn't know, did you? Dong Huacheng found several people to help him move and even gave him a desk used by the former head of the department!"
"That's a good desk. Maybe Xiao Cheng will have a bright future!"
"Indeed, he might become the next rising political star in the Water Conservancy Department after the former head."
The two people laughed. Cheng Jemin could clearly hear the sarcasm in their voices. He clenched his fists, ready to kick the door open. However, the words in the black diary calmed his anger.
Face is something you earn, not something you beg for.
Muttering this to himself, Cheng Jemin quietly left, but the fire in his heart burned even brighter.
Although the provincial party committee office building was old, it still looked solemn and dignified. The people working inside appeared very mature and serious, rarely smiling. Even when they did, it was formal and rigid, as if the air was filled with political tension. This atmosphere made Li Zhonghua feel both sacred and unfamiliar, oppressive yet familiar.
"Director Zhao, when you have time, come to our Water Conservancy Department. Our service company's seafood dishes are top-notch," Li Zhonghua said, following the fair-skinned young man with a flattering smile.
Li Zhonghua didn't have much affection for this Secretary Zhao. Although he didn't know why Secretary Liu chose him as his secretary, Li Zhonghua was still willing to cultivate a relationship with someone close to the leadership.
Secretary Zhao gave Li Zhonghua a haughty look and responded coolly, "Thank you, Director Li. I'll visit when I have time."
Although his words were polite, Li Zhonghua could clearly sense a condescending tone. This made him very unhappy. He thought to himself, even if you are the leader's secretary, I am still a full-time department head. What kind of attitude are you showing me?
However, Li Zhonghua couldn't say such things. These secretaries were not to be underestimated. They could stab you in the back, and you wouldn't even know it. Generally, once someone reached the position of a leader's secretary, they were on the path to politics. In a few years, they would become core figures in various departments. Could he afford to offend such people?
Thinking this, his dissatisfaction with the young secretary quickly dissipated, and he smiled as he walked into Secretary Liu Chuanrui's office.
"Secretary Liu, Director Li is here," Secretary Zhao said respectfully as he pushed open the door.
Li Zhonghua had met Secretary Liu Chuanrui a few times, but those meetings were mainly for conferences. This was the first time he was meeting Liu Chuanrui so closely.
Liu Chuanrui was wearing a dark blue suit and was sitting in his chair, signing documents. His square face was ordinary, but his slightly raised eyebrows gave him a fierce look.
Li Zhonghua had read some books on physiognomy, which described people with such eyebrows as having a strong personality. He wasn't sure if having such a strong-willed provincial leader was a good or bad thing.
However, he quickly dismissed this thought. His most important task now was to wait for the leader's attitude toward him. He stood respectfully a short distance from the leader, waiting for the secretary to speak.
Time passed slowly, and Li Zhonghua felt uneasy. He silently prayed that the leader wouldn't notice the part Cheng Jemin had added to his report.
"Ha ha, I got absorbed in signing a document. Comrade Zhonghua, please sit down!" Liu Chuanrui stood up from his seat with a hearty laugh.
PS: Monday, looking forward to everyone's continued support!