Chapter 11

But Chu Tianshu did not lose his composure despite his disappointment. He sat down, picked up his cup for a sip of water, and let out a long, dejected sigh.

Qian Meihua, the oldest and most senior among the four, with the quickest tongue, put on a sympathetic face and advised, "Xiao Chu, you're still young, and you have plenty of opportunities. However, your classmate really picked a bad time to call, right when the director was speaking."

"Hmph!" Chu Tianshu slammed his cup down hard and said, "When a person is down on their luck, even cold water can get stuck in their teeth. Blaming anyone else is just a waste of time."

Liu Chunna, the youngest and most beautiful in the Comprehensive Department, frowned and said, "Hey, Xiao Chu, can you show a bit of class?"

Chu Tianshu looked at Liu Chunna and said irritably, "At a time like this, who cares about class? Comrade Xiao Liu, if you're so classy, why don't you go to the 'village assignment' in my place?"

Liu Chunna's face turned pale, and she quickly said, "No, no, no, Xiao Chu, don't scare me. I heard that Shuhezi Township doesn't even have a proper toilet, just open-air latrines. If I were sent there, I wouldn't last a year. I'd be dead long before that."

Seeing Liu Chunna's panic, Chu Tianshu felt a bit sorry for her and said half-jokingly, "Comrade Chunna, you don't need to worry. Go back and ask your future father-in-law, and no one will dare to do anything to you."

Liu Chunna's face turned red, and she said firmly, "I won't go to him."

The pure and beautiful Liu Chunna had met a young man a few days ago through an introduction. He was said to be the son of a leader in the Beihu District Public Security Bureau. However, on their second meeting last night, the young man had tried to undress her, and Liu Chunna, feeling both embarrassed and angry, had fled from his embrace and run home. Asking him for help now would be like throwing herself to a wolf.

After a moment of silence, Liu Chunna asked timidly, "There are still several people in the Secretarial Department. The quota for the assignment might not necessarily fall on us."

"Ah..." Fan Yibing imitated Tian Keming's usual scolding tone and said, "Comrade Chunna, are you a pig's brain? The Secretarial Department has always been a step above the Comprehensive Department. This kind of lousy job will only fall on us in the Comprehensive Department."

Fan Yibing was right.

In the Secretarial Department, Qi Daguang had just been promoted to department head, so he was safe. Zhao Pingyuan and Zhang Guoping both had connections and were close to Tian Keming. Given Tian Keming's shrewdness, he wouldn't provoke them during this sensitive period of competition for a higher position.

There was also Wan Peng, who had been transferred from a subordinate enterprise to replace Cai Guoliang. He was a good writer and honest, and Tian Keming, who was good at flattery but lacked real talent, relied on Wan Peng to do the work. Therefore, Wan Peng wouldn't be sent away easily.

The silence was oppressive, a dead silence.

This dead silence was suddenly broken by Tian Keming's rude scolding.

"Talking nonsense with the door closed in broad daylight. It seems your Comprehensive Department has too many people and not enough work. You four are all too idle." Tian Keming pushed the door open forcefully, and his roar was loud enough for the whole building to hear. "It's almost eleven, and the newspapers still haven't arrived. You four can just sit here and do nothing, not even bothering to check?"

Everyone in the office knew that Tian Keming had a bad habit of reading newspapers while on the toilet, and it had become so ingrained that he couldn't go without them.

Knowing that Tian Keming was picking a fight, Fan Yibing stood up, smiled, and offered him a cigarette, saying, "Director, don't worry, I'll go check." Without waiting for a response, he ran out.

Tian Keming walked around the office with his hands behind his back and suddenly asked Liu Chunna with a smile, "Xiao Liu, are you adapting to the work?"

Caught off guard by Tian Keming's sudden kindness, Liu Chunna jumped.

Liu Chunna stood up respectfully, lowered her head, and said softly, "I, I..."

Tian Keming laughed and said, "Xiao Liu, don't be nervous. Everyone has a process of adapting to work. If you have any difficulties, you can come to me directly."

Liu Chunna looked up, feeling relieved, and said, "Thank you, Director, for your concern."

Chu Tianshu, before Qian Meihua could, poured a cup of water and offered it to Tian Keming with a fawning smile, saying, "Director, please have some water."

But Tian Keming didn't take it. He just "hmpf"ed through his nose, his smile fading, and glared at Chu Tianshu, scolding, "Xiao Chu, you pig's brain. You've been in the office for almost two years, and you still don't understand the rules. Should you be interrupting when a leader is talking to someone else?"

Damn! Being called a pig's brain twice in one morning, Chu Tianshu was angry but had to suppress it, forcing a smile and saying, "Yes, yes, Director, you're right!" He then awkwardly stepped back, unsure whether to hold the cup or put it down.

Tian Keming changed his expression and said kindly to Liu Chunna, "Xiao Liu, the work in this office is deep and complex. You need to be observant and learn well."

"Yes, I'll ask for more guidance from you, Director," Liu Chunna said, gaining more confidence, speaking more fluently, and her voice becoming sweeter.

At this moment, Fan Yibing ran in, out of breath, and said, "Director, I found out. The person delivering the newspapers had a minor accident with an electric bike and a car. The traffic police are handling it, and he said it will be here soon."

Tian Keming's face turned stern again, and he scolded, "Xiao Fan, look at you. Couldn't you have waited downstairs to bring the newspapers up? You're always afraid of hard work and can't change your ways."

Damn! I ran up here to report back because I was worried you'd be anxious. Fan Yibing was seething inside but had to keep smiling, nodding, and saying, "Yes, yes, Director, you're right."

Fan Yibing couldn't sit still and said nervously, "I need to go check if the newspapers have arrived." He then hurriedly ran out again.

Tian Keming turned to Chu Tianshu and instructed, "Chu Tianshu, there's a cardboard box at the front desk. Remember to deliver it to Director Jian after work. Don't forget."

"Sure, I won't forget," Chu Tianshu quickly replied.

For Chu Tianshu, this was a good sign.

Tian Keming had come to assign him a task right after returning from Ouyang Meimei, indicating that his communication with Ouyang Meimei had been successful.

Chu Tianshu, feeling elated, asked, "Director, where should I deliver it?"

Tian Keming's face turned stern, and he scolded, "You pig's brain, of course to her place. Do you need me to show you the way?"

Jian Ruoming had been appointed as the deputy director of the Qingyuan City SASAC and was temporarily staying in a two-bedroom apartment in the "Tianyi Neighborhood" near the office building. The four people in the Comprehensive Department had been busy setting up the room and moving her belongings.

Being scolded again for no reason, Chu Tianshu wanted to slap Tian Keming's bald head. He cursed silently, "Damn, you've already called me a pig's brain three times today. I'll do whatever it takes to become the SASAC director, and then I'll see how I deal with you!"

Tian Keming didn't care about Chu Tianshu's sullen expression. He turned and waved to Liu Chunna, saying, "Xiao Liu, come to my office. I need to talk to you." He then stormed off.

Liu Chunna looked at Qian Meihua, then at Chu Tianshu, unsure of what to do.

Chu Tianshu avoided Liu Chunna's eyes, sat down, and clicked the mouse aimlessly.

As soon as Liu Chunna left, Qian Meihua said, "Hey, Xiao Chu, I noticed Tian Keming seemed very kind to Xiao Liu today."

"Really?" Chu Tianshu asked absentmindedly.

"Of course. Tian Keming never smiled in our office before, but today he was very kind to Chunna, showing great concern." Qian Meihua turned and smiled at Chu Tianshu, "Xiao Chu, don't you think this is unusual?"

"What's unusual about it?" Chu Tianshu countered.

From Qian Meihua's mischievous smile, Chu Tianshu knew she was back to her old ways, feeling relieved that she wasn't the one in trouble.

Qian Meihua said mysteriously, "Did you know? Bald men have particularly strong desires. I heard that the front desk girls, Xiao Min and Xiao Hui, the document room's Huang Li, and the cleaner, Wenwen, have all been targeted by Tian Keming."

Qian Meihua's jokes were getting out of hand.

Chu Tianshu couldn't help but shout, "Sister Qian, what are you talking about?"

Qian Meihua jumped up, "Hey, Chu Tianshu, what's your problem? I was just talking about Liu Chunna."

Chu Tianshu, unable to contain his anger, stood up and pointed at Qian Meihua, shouting, "You want everyone in the department to be in trouble so you can feel better, right?"

"Chu Tianshu, you're in trouble, and you're taking it out on an old lady. If you have the guts, go argue with Tian Keming," Qian Meihua sat down angrily, and her chair groaned under the force.

Sigh, no one has a good time under Tian Keming.

Chu Tianshu shook his head slightly, suddenly feeling a bit hypocritical. To avoid being assigned to the village, he had gone to great lengths to make Ouyang Meimei happy, almost to the point of being "seduced." What right did he have to sympathize with others?

Chu Tianshu looked at the clock in the bottom right corner of the screen: 12:01 PM. It was time to leave.

Qian Meihua was in a daze, and Chu Tianshu didn't move.

At this moment, Fan Yibing rushed in and shouted, "Xiao Chu, quick, help me."

Chu Tianshu looked up and saw that Fan Yibing was holding some newspapers in his left hand and had his phone to his ear, explaining something.