Chapter 78

When a person is down on their luck, even drinking cold water can cause a toothache.

Xiang Wanqing was implicated by the "Selling Myself to Save My Mother" program and was reassigned by the satellite TV station. The matter of Bai Yuduo being humiliated by Zhu Wangcai remained unresolved, and Zheng Xiaomin was dismissed by Ouyang Meimei on a pretext.

The series of events left Chu Tianshu extremely depressed, mentally drained, and in great pain.

Unable to tolerate Zhu Wangcai's frequent harassment and ridicule, Zheng Xiaomin's mother, after her stitches were removed, left the hospital before fully recovering. Zheng Xiaomin, who had taken over ten days off to care for her mother, returned to work at the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) only to receive a notice from Ouyang Meimei to go through the termination procedures, citing her absence for over ten consecutive days.

Zheng Xiaomin did not go to the personnel department to complete the procedures but came to bid farewell to Chu Tianshu with tears in her eyes.

Chu Tianshu was alarmed when he heard this. He consoled Zheng Xiaomin for a few moments and then went to negotiate with Ouyang Meimei, asking why she had not consulted the office before terminating the employment of a staff member in the Comprehensive Department.

Ouyang Meimei sneered coldly, "I am the head of the Organization and Personnel Department. Do I need to report to you, the deputy director of the office, when dealing with employees who violate labor discipline?"

Chu Tianshu patiently explained, "Director Ouyang, everyone in the SASAC knows about Zheng Xiaomin's mother's condition. She took a leave of absence."

"Everyone in the SASAC also knows the attendance rules," Ouyang Meimei shot back, giving Chu Tianshu a cold look. "You say she took leave, but where is the leave application?"

Chu Tianshu took out Zheng Xiaomin's leave application and placed it on Ouyang Meimei's desk. The start and end dates were clearly marked, and the current head of the Comprehensive Department, Fan Yibing, had signed it. Deputy Director Chu Tianshu, who was in charge of the office, had also signed his approval.

Ouyang Meimei glanced at it and sneered again, "Deputy Director Chu, you have quite a bit of power. Why don't you check the attendance rules of the SASAC? Can a deputy director approve a leave of absence for eighteen days?"

Chu Tianshu was speechless.

Ouyang Meimei stood up and said firmly, "According to the rules, a deputy director has only one day of approval authority. Do you understand?"

When Zheng Xiaomin submitted her leave application, Chu Tianshu intended to have Guan Haoyu sign it according to the rules.

However, Guan Haoyu did not come to work for several days, and Chu Tianshu was busy assisting Xiang Wanqing with the program. This delay caused him to forget about signing the leave application. Ouyang Meimei seized the opportunity to use the absence as a pretext to dismiss Zheng Xiaomin from the SASAC.

Seeing that he could not reason with Ouyang Meimei, Chu Tianshu decided to seek out the leadership to explain the situation.

Ouyang Meimei clearly saw through Chu Tianshu's intentions. She took out the termination notice from her drawer and threw it on the desk, saying viciously, "Open your eyes and look. The leave application you have does not have a leader's signature, but my termination notice has been signed by Director Guan."

Chu Tianshu was speechless. Guan Haoyu, who knew that Zheng Xiaomin was taking care of her sick mother, still agreed to her dismissal. This indicated that the violation of the propaganda department's "gag order" not only implicated Xiang Wanqing but also affected Zheng Xiaomin. The so-called absence was merely a pretext for retaliation under the influence of a powerful department.

The situation was now beyond redemption.

Seeing Chu Tianshu's helpless expression, Ouyang Meimei felt triumphant. She said disdainfully, "Hmph, if you have the ability, go find the journalists again and see if you can create another 'Most Beautiful Absent Employee.'"

Chu Tianshu did not want to waste more words with Ouyang Meimei. He slammed the door and returned to his office.

Zheng Xiaomin was still waiting for Chu Tianshu expectantly.

Chu Tianshu closed the door and said to Zheng Xiaomin, "Xiaomin, go and complete the termination procedures. I'll try to find you another job."

Zheng Xiaomin nodded and said with tears in her eyes, "Brother Chu, don't be troubled. I know that you and the others have offended many people by trying to save my mother. Sister Wanqing hasn't appeared on the program these past few days. It's all my fault; I've caused you all so much trouble."

Chu Tianshu said, "Xiaomin, don't say that. Your filial piety saved your mother. We just did what we could with a clear conscience."

Zheng Xiaomin fell silent for a moment and then lowered her head, speaking softly, "Brother Chu, do you still have the note I gave you?"

"What note?" Chu Tianshu pretended to be confused.

Zheng Xiaomin bit her lip, her voice as soft as an ant's, "Brother Chu, do you look down on me?"

Chu Tianshu shook his head and said, "Xiaomin, how could I look down on you? What kind of person do you think I am?"

"I know they look down on me, and you look down on me too. Everyone looks down on me," Zheng Xiaomin said, feeling deeply wronged, and ran out of the office in tears.

Chu Tianshu sat in his office chair, lost in thought for a while. Finally, he steeled his resolve and called Wu Mengdie.

"Senior Sister, am I disturbing you?"

"No, I was just about to call you."

"Ha ha, what a coincidence."

"Tianshu, the ten thousand yuan you donated for me, please have the recipient sign a receipt and have the TV station stamp it as proof. The company's finance department needs it for accounting purposes."

"Oh, I've already taken care of it. I've been busy and haven't had the chance to send it to you yet."

"Tianshu, are you busy with the instrument factory's restructuring?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

"Deputy Director Chu, don't forget that Lingyun Group is also a bidder for the instrument factory. At this critical moment, I'm counting on your strong support."

"Senior Sister, you're teasing me," Chu Tianshu said, feeling embarrassed. "You should know that Deputy Mayor Tang is personally leading the effort. The other members of the steering group are at least deputy department level. I'm just a helper. The leaders are the ones in charge."

Wu Mengdie said half-jokingly, "So, now that you're a member of the steering group office, you've learned to speak in official terms."

Chu Tianshu was taken aback for a moment and then said hesitantly, "Senior Sister, really, I have no influence on the big picture..."

"Tianshu, don't underestimate yourself. Details determine success or failure!" Wu Mengdie countered. "To acquire and develop the instrument factory, which is a golden piece of land, requires a turnover of several billion yuan. But who has that much idle money? If it's delayed for a year or two under the pretext of benefiting the people and maintaining social harmony, even the biggest camel will be reduced to a skinny donkey by bank interest."

"Ah? Senior Sister, I'm not in a position to make decisions, and I didn't realize there were so many intricacies involved," Chu Tianshu said, feigning a sudden realization.

Wu Mengdie continued, "If it's delayed any longer, Lingyun Group will give up."

Chu Tianshu's heart skipped a beat. Tang Yifu had set a tone of rapid advancement at the first meeting of the steering group. Was it being driven by the bidders? He said vaguely, "Senior Sister, you're anxious, and the leaders are anxious too."

"Ha ha, at least you've told me the truth," Wu Mengdie laughed on the other end of the phone. "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. What did you call me for?"

Chu Tianshu had to admire Wu Mengdie's shrewdness and caution. She picked up on the unusual meaning in his seemingly ordinary words and promptly ended the topic, unlike those who would try to pry or dig deeper.

Chu Tianshu got straight to the point, "Senior Sister, since you've helped someone, help Zheng Xiaomin one more time."

"What's wrong? Does she need money?"

"No, she was dismissed by the SASAC for taking too much leave to care for her mother. You know, without income, Zheng Xiaomin and her family can hardly make ends meet, let alone pay for her mother's medical expenses."

"Get to the point."

"I want to ask you to help find Zheng Xiaomin a job. She is very smart and hardworking, and she can do a lot."

Wu Mengdie asked, "Do you want her to be paid a high salary?"

"Ha ha, Senior Sister, you've agreed. Thank you on behalf of Zheng Xiaomin."

"Chu Tianshu, I was just asking. You're quick to take advantage. I'm curious, why do you keep helping her when she's not related to you?"

"Senior Sister, Zheng Xiaomin's parents are laid-off workers from the instrument factory. Their lives are very hard. I'm really just helping out of sympathy, with no ulterior motives."

"Tianshu, my principle is to keep public and private matters separate. Saving Ling Rui, the Ling family can repay you in many ways. But if you recommend an employee to me, they must go through the company's normal hiring process. Of course, if she is part of your interest group, that's a different story."

"Senior Sister, I'm just a small civil servant. How could I have an interest group?"

"Tianshu, if you don't join Lingyun Group, you want to achieve something in your career. Without an interest group, you won't make a big impact."

Chu Tianshu smiled bitterly, "Senior Sister, you're right, but Zheng Xiaomin is struggling to make ends meet. How could she be part of my interest group?"

Wu Mengdie said, "So, you're still doing it out of personal interest?"

Chu Tianshu was taken aback and asked, "Senior Sister, what personal interest do I have?"

"By helping others, you can gain a sense of satisfaction, which is a form of personal interest," Wu Mengdie said with a smile. "But I'm a profit-driven businessman. What benefit can Lingyun Group gain from this?"

"Lingyun Group, as a well-known national enterprise, can gain social recognition, fulfill its social responsibilities, and promote social harmony."

"Ha ha, your smooth talk is very deceptive and persuasive, but it doesn't work on me. I provided sponsorship for the Zheng family through Qingyuan TV, which indirectly served as public relations. The cost and benefit were proportional. But now, if Lingyun Group gives Zheng Xiaomin a job, there's no benefit. In that case, I might as well take in the child of a connection."

Chu Tianshu was speechless. He secretly admired Wu Mengdie's business acumen. She always weighed the costs and benefits of any decision. If state-owned enterprise leaders were as meticulous, the instrument factory and other state-owned enterprises wouldn't have reached the point of insolvency.

At that moment, a brilliant idea flashed through Chu Tianshu's mind.

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