A Chance to Prove Himself!

Inside the General Office.

After Deputy Director Li left, the office was silent as the grave. Zhou Changchun rubbed his forehead gloomily, stared over the speech topic in his hand, then looked around after a while. "Same as last time. Director Yang didn't give any specific requirements. Hmm, Little Tan?"

Tan Limei, who had never complained about work before, actually looked at him pitifully. "Director Zhou, please spare me."

Zhou Changchun encouraged her, "Haven't you always been responsible for drafting documents? You're a college graduate. How hard could it be to write a speech? You can't expect Lao Yan and me to write it, can you?"

Tan Limei sighed. "Director Zhou, it's not like you don't know how high Director Yang's standards are. Last time, Pan Wei, Sister Chang, and I spent two days doing nothing but working on the draft Director Yang assigned. We wrote five or six versions, but not only did he use none of them, he even criticized me. I... I..."

Zhou Changchun said, "Director Yang said that only because he expects a lot from you. Put more thought into it this time."

Tan Limei lowered her head helplessly. "All right. I'll try again."

Zhou Changchun looked at Guo Panwei and the others. "Pan Wei, Little Chang, Shunjie, each of you write one too. Put some effort into it."

Chang Juan hurriedly said, "Director, I'm really not good with writing. Director Yang definitely won't like it."

Even Guo Panwei, who usually loved sucking up to leaders, hesitated this time. "Director Zhou, I'm afraid my writing won't catch Director Yang's eye either. How about..."

Guo Shunjie added, "Director Zhou, me too..."

Zhou Changchun got a little angry and slammed the desk. "Look at all of you, pushing and dodging responsibility. What kind of behavior is that? Huh? No matter how difficult it is, you have to take it on. It's for work, after all. Hurry up and write them. Try to finish the drafts tomorrow and send them to Director Yang." Zhou Changchun had been scared stiff by Director Yang after the last time. The General Office's draft had failed to satisfy Director Yang, and not only had the staff been scolded, but Zhou Changchun and Li Qing, the director and deputy director, had been chewed out as well. It had been extremely awkward for them. So when he heard that Director Yang wanted another draft this time, Zhou Changchun was utterly miserable. He had no idea how to muddle through it.

After work.

Dong Xuebin curiously caught up with Tan Limei. "Tanzi, wait up. Let's head out together."

Tan Limei sighed listlessly. "Which bus are you taking?"

"Number 46." Dong Xuebin walked beside her toward the courtyard exit. "What's wrong? Is the speech hard to write?"

"It's not that it's hard to write. If it were any other director or bureau chief, I could handle it alone without anyone else. But Director Yang is different. He... he..." After Tan Limei explained, Dong Xuebin finally understood. Director Yang's full name was Yang Yizhong. He was the branch bureau's deputy director, with the administrative rank of deputy division chief. Since Yang Yizhong had only been transferred over from the Chengdong Branch a few days ago, Tan Limei and the others did not know much about him. They only knew that the deputy director had a terrible temper, frequently shouted at his subordinates, and was extraordinarily demanding about written materials. He did not even look at ordinary drafts, and everyone in the General Office had been scolded over this recently.

Dong Xuebin mulled over Tan Limei's words, deep in thought.

The next day at work.

The first thing Zhou Changchun did upon entering the office was ask about the drafts.

Tan Limei said without much confidence, "They're written, but I can't guarantee they'll pass Director Yang's standards."

Guo Panwei, Guo Shunjie, and Chang Juan wore expressions much like Tan Limei's. None of them had any confidence.

"Mm." Zhou Changchun smacked his lips. "Then send them over and see what Director Yang says."

Dong Xuebin raised his head attentively. After watching Tan Limei, Chang Juan, Guo Panwei, and Guo Shunjie leave the office as though heading for the execution ground, he opened several Word documents on his computer and carefully studied the sample speeches inside. He had downloaded them online the night before. From the writing format to the polishing of individual sentences, Dong Xuebin had already learned quite a bit.

One minute...

Five minutes...

Ten minutes...

Guo Shunjie was the first to return. "Director Zhou, Director Yang said mine was a mess and had no structure."

Then came the dejected Guo Panwei. "Director Yang said... said..." Perhaps the words had been too harsh, because Guo Panwei was too embarrassed to repeat them. "Director Yang told me to rewrite it."

Chang Juan followed with an ugly expression. "Mine didn't work either."

Tan Limei was the last to enter. Everyone immediately turned their eager eyes toward her. "How was it?"

To their surprise, Tan Limei did not answer at all. She lowered her head and sat at her desk. Biting her lip, her shoulders trembled as she wiped away tears and began to sob.

The moment Zhou Changchun saw that, he understood. Hers had not passed either, and she had even been reprimanded. Sigh, what was going on? A single speech had stumped everyone? If this kept up, wouldn't the leaders think his General Office had no fighting strength at all?

Ring, ring, ring. The phone in Zhou Changchun's small office rang. He hurried back to answer it. "Hello... Oh, Director Yang... Yes... Ah... I see... I understand, I understand... But we... Then... then I'll have them rewrite it... Mm... Mm... Don't worry... Mm..."

Outside, Zhuangzi was gently comforting the teary-eyed Tan Limei.

Zhou Changchun rubbed his forehead irritably and slowly walked out. "Director Yang said the city bureau meeting has been moved up to tomorrow, so no matter what, he has to see the draft today. Everyone, put in some more effort. Follow Director Yang's train of thought carefully. Maybe the earlier speeches didn't hit the right note. Revise them."

Tan Limei cried, "Waaah, I... I wrote it exactly as he instructed."

Chang Juan said, "Director Zhou, we really did our best."

Zhou Changchun sighed. "I know it hasn't been easy for everyone, but we have to complete the task handed down from above. Think of something. Is there any way?"

Everyone lowered their heads. Not a single person spoke.

Zhou Changchun frowned. Just as he was about to forcefully say something, Dong Xuebin suddenly rose to his feet.

Zhou Changchun looked at him. "Oh? Little Dong, do you have an idea?"

"Uh, not exactly an idea." Dong Xuebin smiled awkwardly. "Director Zhou, if there's really no other way, how about I give it a try?"

"You?" Zhou Changchun was taken aback. "Can you write speeches?"

Dong Xuebin did not dare make too strong a claim, or people would think him frivolous. "A little."

"All right, then give it a try." Zhou Changchun did not hold much hope for Dong Xuebin, the newcomer. So many skilled writers in the General Office had failed to catch Director Yang's eye, so a new arrival had even less chance. He was only letting him write because he was treating a dead horse like a live one.

Dong Xuebin felt that this was an opportunity for him.

A chance to turn things around.

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