"Fu Yingjie got Zhuang Hongxing transferred?"
Li Ye turned to look at Zhuang Hongxing and asked with a smile, "Old Zhuang, did Fu Yingjie pull strings for you?"
Fu Yingjie had been one of the active members of Li Ye's "little group of eight." After graduation, he had been assigned to the Dongshan Province Department of Industry and had been doing quite well these past two years, so it was entirely possible that he had helped Zhuang Hongxing out.
But Zhuang Hongxing hurriedly said, "No, no. I was assigned to the agricultural machinery factory in our county, and later the provincial capital needed technical personnel, so I was transferred through normal channels. Normal channels."
These days, using connections to get transferred was nothing shameful. Bragging about it a little among classmates could even be a point of pride. Yet Zhuang Hongxing had denied it cleanly and decisively at the first opportunity.
People said, "Those who hear the strings know the tune." How could Zhuang Hongxing fail to hear Li Ye's irritation toward Hong Zhiyuan now?
Fu Yingjie had followed Li Ye back then, calling him "big brother" between the lines. Zhuang Hongxing would still need to rely on this mighty god to "make good progress" in the future! If he offended Li Ye, wouldn't he be making trouble for his own prospects?
But Hong Zhiyuan grew anxious and snapped at Zhuang Hongxing, "What normal channels? Fu Yingjie obviously pulled strings for you. Aren't classmates supposed to help each other? What's so embarrassing about admitting it?"
Admit my ass!
At that moment, Zhuang Hongxing's heart was filled with regret.
He regretted letting his head get muddled and coming with Hong Zhiyuan to ask Li Ye for a favor.
Was it because Hong Zhiyuan had been his closest friend at school?
Was