Chapter 31

Ouyang Meimei threw a flirtatious glance and said with a seductive pose, "Ready to be at your beck and call, willing to serve you, how about it?"

"Sure, I'll make you feel great!" Chu Tianshu stood up, pinched her chin, and said, "Let's go, give me one more smile, darling."

Ouyang Meimei laughed again, her body shaking with laughter.

After leaving Ouyang Meimei's office, Chu Tianshu couldn't help but feel inexplicably excited. Although he was only a section chief with the benefits of a department-level position, this finally allowed him to勉强挤入了国资委内部的干部序列，有了这一步，日后的进步才有基础。

Heaven has finally opened its eyes! I, Chu Tianshu, have finally had a turn of good fortune!

Tian Keming hastily packed his personal items in the office, declined Huang Roshan's invitation to a farewell dinner, and slipped out of the SASAC office building during the noon break.

The red-headed document appointing Chu Tianshu as the head of the General Affairs Section was issued to all departments that afternoon.

Chu Tianshu soon felt the change in people's attitudes towards him. Those who used to call out, "Xiao Chu, bring me the newspaper," now greeted him warmly at the end of the day, calling him, "Director Chu, it's time to go home."

People in the office were so fickle.

Two days ago, Chu Tianshu was an unknown, low-level clerk, almost everyone could boss him around, and no one took him seriously. But now, overnight, he had transformed from a person marked for demotion to the head of the General Affairs Section. Most of the department personnel, unaware of the inside story, believed he had special background and connections, and no one dared to look down on him anymore.

Only Qi Dagang, the head of the Secretarial Section, turned pale with anger and resentment when he saw the document. He had spent five or six years and relied on several layers of connections to become the head of the Secretarial Section. Chu Tianshu, who had only been there for two years and had no known connections, suddenly became his equal.

However, Qi Dagang's anger and jealousy could not change the fact that Chu Tianshu had become the head of the General Affairs Section.

Feeling indignant, Qi Dagang wanted to vent his frustrations to Tian Keming and find out about Chu Tianshu's background. But he found that the bald head was no longer in the director's office. He had to go to Ouyang Meimei to learn that Tian Keming had been "sent to the countryside."

Qi Dagang couldn't help but feel secretly pleased.

With the director's position vacant, wouldn't this be an opportunity for promotion?

Back in the large office, Qi Dagang gathered Zhao Pingyuan, Zhang Guoping, and Wan Peng to inform them of Tian Keming's demotion and Chu Tianshu's promotion.

Zhao Pingyuan was the first to curse, "Damn, wasn't Chu Tianshu supposed to be demoted? How did he suddenly get lucky and become the section head?"

Zhao Pingyuan had often flattered Tian Keming and given him many favors. A few days ago, Tian Keming had personally promised to make him the head of the General Affairs Section, but now Chu Tianshu had taken the position, leaving him extremely unbalanced and furious.

Zhang Guoping and Wan Peng, as office personnel, didn't have great ambitions, but they still had a desire for advancement. They were naturally unhappy that the less experienced Chu Tianshu had been promoted.

Qi Dagang looked at their expressions and said openly, "Brothers, Director Tian has been sent to the countryside, and the office can't be leaderless for long. We in the Secretarial Section must unite, not for the sake of a promotion but for our pride. We can't let the General Affairs Section people boss us around."

Zhao Pingyuan immediately responded, "Right, in terms of seniority, background, and coordination skills, the office shouldn't be led by that Chu Tianshu. Director Qi, the Secretarial Section brothers are counting on you."

Zhang Guoping and Wan Peng also chimed in, "Director Qi, we'll follow your lead."

Qi Dagang took out a pack of soft Zhonghua cigarettes and passed them around, saying, "Good, let's find a chance to give him a taste of our strength and show him what the Secretarial Section is made of."

After hearing these two pieces of news, some people in the office felt schadenfreude, but more felt envy and resentment. However, almost everyone believed that the office needed a leader, and the promotion of a deputy director was inevitable.

Most people thought Qi Dagang had an advantage over Chu Tianshu, given his background in the Secretarial Section, where most office directors had come from. But a few believed that Chu Tianshu, as a dark horse, had his reasons and might not necessarily be outmatched by Qi Dagang.

In the office, once a promotion opportunity arose, natural competitors would form. One person could become another's rival without any preparation.

Currently, Qi Dagang's rival was Chu Tianshu.

The actual work in the General Affairs Section didn't change much, and the staff remained the same four people. However, now that Chu Tianshu was the section head, the other three vied to do the menial tasks like fetching water, sweeping, and cleaning.

Fan Yibing felt uncomfortable, but Chu Tianshu didn't act arrogantly. He still called Fan Yibing "Brother Fan" when he came and went. After a few days, Fan Yibing gradually calmed down.

Qian Meihua was the first to call Chu Tianshu "Director Chu" after his promotion, but whenever Chu Tianshu wasn't around, she would say a few words to Fan Yibing that seemed to sow discord and secretly pass information to Qi Dagang.

The only truly happy person was Liu Chunna. Her bully, Tian Keming, had been demoted, and her admired Chu Tianshu had been promoted to section head. She worked even harder, as if she were working for Chu Tianshu.

Since Chu Tianshu's promotion, Qi Dagang had treated him coldly, always pulling a long face and trying to outdo him in every way, acting like Tian Keming's replacement.

Chu Tianshu understood that one person couldn't have everything. He always responded to Qi Dagang's sarcasm with a smile, calling him "Director Qi" warmly.

This made Qi Dagang lose his temper.

It's better to offend a gentleman than a small person.

Chu Tianshu didn't plan to be close to Qi Dagang, but he couldn't afford to offend him. After all, he had just gotten a promotion, and his roots in the SASAC were not as deep as Qi Dagang's. He couldn't make too many enemies, and as office colleagues, if their relationship wasn't smooth, it would affect their work.

By the weekend, Qi Dagang specially called Chu Tianshu to the Secretarial Section office and said, "Xiao Chu, you've been promoted, and the Secretarial Section brothers are all happy for you. They've mentioned several times that they want to celebrate with you."

Chu Tianshu readily agreed, "Director Qi, it's not a celebration. The office brothers haven't gathered in a long time. Since Director Tian is gone, Director Qi should organize this. I'll cover the expenses. Director Qi, where do you think is suitable?"

Qi Dagang was not at all polite, "The Triumph Hotel."

"Director Qi, you decide. I'll make the arrangements right away." Chu Tianshu called the Secretarial Section staff one by one, inviting them to join the gathering that evening.

Zhao Pingyuan and the others laughed and said, "If Director Chu is treating us, there must be good drinks and good food. Why wouldn't we go?"

Qi Dagang and Zhao Pingyuan's words sounded grand, but it was clear they wanted to take advantage of Chu Tianshu.

Chu Tianshu returned to the General Affairs Section and mentioned the evening gathering.

Qian Meihua and Liu Chunna immediately agreed.

Fan Yibing was reluctant and tried to excuse himself, saying he had a date with his girlfriend that evening.

Chu Tianshu pulled him aside and said in a low voice, "Brother Fan, the Secretarial Section guys can drink a lot. I might not be able to handle them alone. You have to help me."

Seeing Chu Tianshu's sincerity, Fan Yibing couldn't refuse and agreed.

After work, all the office staff gathered. Since they were going to drink, Qi Dagang didn't drive and they all took taxis to the Triumph Hotel.

The Secretarial Section was represented by Qi Dagang, Zhao Pingyuan, Zhang Guoping, and Wan Peng, along with the beautiful Huang Li from the Document Processing Room. The General Affairs Section was represented by Chu Tianshu, Fan Yibing, Qian Meihua, and Liu Chunna. They also invited the shift-changing Zheng Xiaomin, and the drivers Lao Miao and Xiao Zhu, who had no driving duties, making a total of twelve people, just right for one table.

It was unprecedented for the office to gather like this, something unimaginable in the Tian Keming era.

First, Tian Keming only cared about his superiors and didn't care about the staff. He would only drink and have fun with a few trusted people like Qi Dagang and Zhao Pingyuan. Second, everyone knew Tian Keming's bad temper and feared being scolded for saying the wrong thing at the table, so they would find any excuse to avoid it.

Once they entered the reserved private room, the first issue was who would sit in the main seat.

Qian Meihua said, "Today we are celebrating Director Chu's promotion, and since he is treating us, he should sit in the main seat."

Huang Li and Zheng Xiaomin echoed her.

Fan Yibing and Liu Chunna remained silent.

Qi Dagang, Zhao Pingyuan, and the others looked unhappy.

The atmosphere became tense.

This was a private gathering, and as the host, Chu Tianshu sitting in the main seat seemed natural. However, since everyone was from the office, the seating arrangement took on a different significance in Qi Dagang's eyes.

In other words, who sat in the main seat would imply who had the highest status in the office.

"Today is an office gathering, and Director Qi is the senior section head. He has more seniority than me, so he should sit in the main seat." Chu Tianshu held the chair and said with a smile, "Come, come, Director Qi, please sit. If you don't sit, no one else can sit either."

Qi Dagang finally smiled, mouthed some polite words, and sat down in the main seat. He patted the chair on his left and said, "Xiao Chu, you sit here."

Chu Tianshu, being on the same level as Qi Dagang, sat in the guest of honor's seat.

By seniority, Qian Meihua, who was older and more experienced, should have sat on Qi Dagang's right, but Zhao Pingyuan rudely took the seat first.

Qian Meihua glared at Zhao Pingyuan.