10:30 AM
General Office
Paul and Jack happily followed Director Zane out to handle some business, leaving the office feeling lighter.
Tammy and Jane, who had been assigned tasks by Director Zane, also went upstairs to Section Chief Lee's office to pick up those two important documents.
However, it seemed the staff from the Confidentiality Section were still in a meeting, and only two junior clerks from the archives room were present.
Since such sensitive documents required the signature of a senior officer to be handed over, Tammy and Jane followed Director Zane's backup instructions: they brought the documents back to Section Chief Lee's private office for safekeeping.
Johny Lee was working on the attendance sheet at his desk. Seeing them return empty-handed, he asked sourly, "Finished delivering them?"
Tammy sat down in her chair with a sigh. "The leadership of the Confidentiality Section wasn't there. Section Chief Lee said to try again in the afternoon."
Johny looked around and, seeing no one else in the room except Samson (Moose) dozing in the corner, whispered, "Tammy, do you think my political background check isn't over yet? Otherwise, why is it that every time there's an important document like this, Director Zane never lets me or Samson deliver it? Is it... because he's afraid we'll peek?"
Tammy giggled. "I'm not clear on the specific audit protocols. What's the matter? Are you jealous of Jane and me?"
Johny clicked his tongue. "Would I go that far? I just feel like the leadership doesn't seem to trust me very much."
"It's not that they don't trust you, it's..." Tammy paused, looked around to ensure they were alone, and leaned in closer. "I wanted to remind you yesterday, actually. I think Director Zane might have a bit of a grievance against you."
Johny looked stunned. "That can't be! I didn't do anything!"
Tammy lowered her voice. "Let's get this straight first: this is just my personal opinion. Look, that day when you had the conflict with Jack over the water cooler, you intentionally didn't say you had been in Director Zane's office for business. Instead, you led Jack into saying nonsense."
Johny frowned, listening intently.
"Yes, in terms of the result, Director Zane scolded Jack. But have you thought about it from the Director's perspective? Your words forced Director Zane into a corner, making it so he had to discipline Jack publicly. Otherwise, after hearing a subordinate shouting outside that Director Zane's business wasn't as important as getting a drink of water, if the Director didn't speak up, where would his leadership prestige go?"
"Holy crap!" Johny heard this and realized it really made sense.
"So, although Director Zane didn't say anything, it's inevitable that in his heart... you know?"
Tammy was indeed someone who had navigated the government offices for over a year; she saw through the politics much more clearly than a college graduate like Johny who had just entered the real world.
"Director Zane just went out for business and took Jack along. That's the art of leadership.....giving a slap and then a piece of candy. It shows the Director's prestige and magnanimity while avoiding things getting too tense with subordinates. Moreover, there might even be an intention to knock you down a peg by excluding you."
Johny looked grateful. "Tammy, thank you so much. If you hadn't said it, I'd still be in the dark! I was wondering why Director Zane's attitude toward me seemed a bit different! So that's why!"
Sigh. I was still too green!
A fall in the pit, a gain in wit; I have to avoid manipulating the leader in the future.
Johny analyzed his shortcomings and learned a valuable lesson.
Suddenly feeling a bit cold, he walked to the floor-standing air conditioner and pressed the "plus" button, wanting to raise the temperature. But he didn't know if the button was broken or just stuck, as there was no response for a long time.
"You have to use some strength and press hard," Jane reminded him from her desk. "The contacts for the temperature buttons aren't good anymore."
"Why hasn't it been reported for repair?" Johny increased his force. With a loud beep, the temperature finally rose by one degree. "Good grief, this requires manual labor?"
Old Quinn, who was reading the newspaper, chuckled. "It's been reported for repair several times, but there are always problems.
Funding has been tight these past two years, and the higher-ups haven't approved a replacement. It's not just this air conditioner; look, the cooling for the water dispenser is also broken.
The electric kettle in Section Chief Lee's office won't automatically cut off power even when the water boils. Everyone is just making do."
At this moment, the office door was pushed open from the outside, and the one who walked in was the Director of the General Affairs Office, Section Chief Lee.
"Director Yancy needs someone to move some heavy boxes over to his office. Someone come with me."
Director Yancy (Yan Liang) was the supreme head of the Sub-bureau, the true top leader, holding even more power than the Commissioner.
Hearing that he was to help the big boss, Johny hurriedly volunteered and stood up. "Section Chief Lee, I'll go!"
Lee looked at him and smiled politely but dismissively. "Forget it, let Samson go instead. He has broader shoulders."
Samson hurriedly put down his work and followed Lee out.
Johny dejectedly slapped his forehead, feeling his sense of existence becoming smaller and smaller.
On the Road
In the car driving back to the West City Sub-bureau, Director Zane casually asked, "What do you two think of Johny?"
Paul, who was driving, was slightly taken aback. He glanced in the rearview mirror and replied, "Johny is too young. Although his work attitude is decent, he's a bit impetuous..."
He was afraid Johny would compete with him for favor, so he wasn't polite in his assessment.
Seeing that Zane's expression didn't change, Jack cleared his throat from the passenger seat.
"Director Zane, it's not because I had a conflict with Johny that I'm saying this, but he really is too immature. Just because he wrote a draft that satisfied Bureau Chief Yates, look how smug he is. He doesn't even respect you anymore. That day, if he hadn't set a verbal trap for me... if I had known you called him to the office... I wouldn't have..."
Zane frowned.
Jack stopped talking and chuckled inwardly. It seems Director Zane indeed has a grievance against that kid.
Paul also felt much more at ease. Director Zane doesn't value Johny that much after all; otherwise, he wouldn't have asked the two of us this.
Government Canteen
Johny, Tammy, and Samson were eating at a small table near the door.
While eating, Johny was considering how to dispel Director Zane's grudge and how to gain the trust of the two leaders of the General Office.
He thought and thought, but couldn't come up with a good way.
He couldn't help but sigh silently; the system was too complicated. If things continued like this, when on earth would he get promoted? He had to find another chance to prove himself!
From the corner of his eye, Johny saw Director Zane and Section Chief Lee enter the canteen one after the other.
Johny hurriedly called out "Director Zane" and "Section Chief Lee," but perhaps they didn't hear him over the noise of the cafeteria, as neither of them looked over. They sat directly at an empty table not far away.
Johny sat back awkwardly and quickly shoveled the food in front of him.
After taking just two bites of rice, Section Chief Lee suddenly remembered something. He frowned, his chopsticks hovering in mid-air.
"Old Zane, did I unplug the electric kettle in my room?"
Zane let out a small cry of realization. "I didn't pay much attention when we just came out."
He naturally knew Lee's electric kettle had a small defect; no matter how long the water had been boiling, it would never cut off power automatically unless it was unplugged.
"Should I go back and take a look?" Zane asked.
Lee waved his hand. "Let's eat first. It'll be fine for twenty minutes. It takes a long time to boil dry."
Both Johny and Tammy heard their conversation. Johny wanted to volunteer to check it, but thinking that there were important classified documents in Lee's office, he figured they probably wouldn't let him go anyway. He had to give up resentfully.
Suddenly, bursts of exclamations came from outside the canteen!
Everyone stopped eating and looked toward the windows.
"What's wrong?"
"There's a fire! The Grey Building is on fire!"
"What!?"
"Ah!?"
Authors Note:-
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