The next day, the General Office was bustling with activity.
As Dong Xuebin worked by the copier, he secretly observed the others.
"Little Tan, Director Li's speech draft is ready, right? Give it to me, I'll take it to Director Li," Guo Panwei said.
"Xiao Sun, are those documents printed? Director Xu is waiting to use them. Give them to me," Guo Shunjie said.
After speaking, the two exchanged a glance, the air thick with gunpowder. Ever since learning yesterday that Director Zhou would be retiring due to illness, Guo Panwei and Guo Shunjie had begun competing fiercely. Guo Panwei put his skill at flattering superiors to work, running around the bureau to "report on work" regardless of the occasion. The director of the Political Department and the precinct chief were especially high on his list of targets. Guo Shunjie also took the upper-level route, doing his utmost to perform before several leaders of the General Affairs Department, while gradually increasing his contact with the precinct's political commissar. Each displayed his own abilities, both of them fixated on the deputy director position.
On the other side—
Lao Yan was no different from usual. He sat in the back row with his legs crossed, drinking tea and reading the newspaper, utterly unconcerned with who would become director. Chang Juan was much the same, though compared with before, she seemed to speak more often with Guo Shunjie. She probably had greater faith in his chances of taking the deputy director post.
"Zhuangzi." Once the two Guos had gone out, Tan Limei asked with a grin, "Who do you think will get the position?"
Zhuangzi answered stupidly, "I don't know either, but everyone in the office has a chance, right?"
Tan Limei rolled her eyes at him. "They say you're dumb, and you really are... Forget it. Binzi, analyze it for us. Who has a shot?"
Dong Xuebin gave a self-deprecating smile. "Anyway, it has nothing to do with the three of us."
"Geez, isn't that obvious?" Tan Limei chuckled softly. "If any of the three of us became deputy director, the sun would rise in the west. What is it, Binzi? You look like you're a little tempted by that deputy director position. Hehe, don't take it to heart. We're still young. Give it three to five years, and both you and Zhuangzi will definitely have chances to move up."
Zhuangzi scratched the back of his head. "Actually, I think Binzi would be a good fit."
Dong Xuebin laughed at himself. "Stop flattering me. Don't I know what my own qualifications are?"
Tan Limei giggled. "To be fair, Binzi really is pretty good. But government offices aren't like ordinary workplaces. Being capable and hardworking doesn't necessarily mean you'll get promoted. Seniority, connections—those are what matter."
Dong Xuebin deeply agreed.
A while later, Guo Panwei was the first to return. His back was noticeably straighter than before, and a smile was plastered across his sharp, monkey-like face. He must have gotten some promise from a leader, because his confidence had clearly surged. "Lao Yan, stop reading the paper for now. Xiao Sun, there's no water left in the dispenser. Get someone to replace the jug. The bureau may send people over to inspect our work later. Everyone, perform well. Don't embarrass our office." Coming from Guo Panwei, who had always wagged his tail around leaders like a lapdog, the words sounded awkward no matter how one heard them.
Dong Xuebin snorted inwardly. What a face.
A few minutes later, Guo Shunjie also pushed open the door and entered the General Office. He glanced at Guo Panwei, then clapped his hands hard. Once he had everyone's attention, Guo Shunjie said confidently, "Let me say this. There's a meeting in the Third Floor Conference Room at one-thirty this afternoon. Come back early after lunch and get things ready. Little Dong, Xiao Sun, you two clean up the Conference Room. Little Tan, you'll prepare the documents and materials as usual. Mm, that's all. Get back to work."
Dong Xuebin was nearly furious. He wasn't even a leader yet, and he was already issuing orders? If either of them got the position, wouldn't that be unbearable?
Seeing that Dong Xuebin had not moved, Guo Shunjie's face darkened. "I'm talking to you. Didn't you hear me?" Guo Shunjie was ninety percent certain he could secure the deputy director position, and with Zhou Changchun no longer protecting Dong Xuebin, he naturally no longer took him seriously. After several days of restraint, he had returned to his usual arrogant self.
Anger flashed in Dong Xuebin's eyes as he replied coldly, "Didn't hear you."
Guo Shunjie laughed in anger. "Fine. Fine." He bent down and whispered into Dong Xuebin's ear, "Just wait until I become director."
Dong Xuebin did not back down. "I'm waiting." What the hell are you?
Guo Shunjie snorted. "Don't appreciate kindness."
At noon.
While they ate, Tan Limei gestured with her mouth toward the two nearby tables where Guo Shunjie and Guo Panwei sat. "See that? They're already putting on leadership airs. Even when Director Zhou was around, he didn't put on as much of a show as those two. Hmph. If they don't become deputy director, let's see how they save face."
Dong Xuebin listlessly took a bite of his steamed bun. "That may be true, but no one else is competing with them. This time, the director will probably be named Guo."
Zhuangzi quickly shushed them. "Keep it down, you two. Don't let anyone hear."
Tan Limei huffed angrily. "Heaven really has no eyes. Binzi is in for trouble this time. No matter which of the two Guos gets the position, Binzi's life definitely won't be easy."
Dong Xuebin spread his hands helplessly. "Sigh, what can I do?"
Dong Xuebin had analyzed it the night before as well. The first people eliminated from contention for the deputy director position were the three of them. There was no need to mention him and Zhuangzi—they had only been in the office for less than two months and were newcomers. In a country where seniority was deeply entrenched, their lack of experience alone disqualified them. Even though Dong Xuebin had just handled two impressive cases, he had no hope at all. Tan Limei was the same. She had only arrived a year earlier than Dong Xuebin and Zhuangzi, so her seniority was still far too lacking.
Then there were Lao Yan and Chang Juan. Lao Yan had once offended a leader at the municipal bureau and had not been promoted for years. He was also nearing retirement, so it was even less likely that he would be elevated now. At most, they might symbolically raise him to deputy section chief before he retired, and that would already be decent. As for Chang Juan, she had enough seniority, but her gender was a major hurdle. On top of that, she had left others with too frivolous an impression. The bureau definitely would not make her deputy director; she could not command respect.
After considering it from every angle, the only real contenders were Guo Panwei and Guo Shunjie.
Guo Panwei was on speaking terms with many higher-ups. If he also did some work below, his odds of taking office would be quite high.
Guo Shunjie had the political commissar's backing. If the political commissar truly set his mind on promoting him, Guo Shunjie might not even need to do much himself for the deputy director position to fall into his lap. Moreover, Guo Shunjie usually appeared steady and mature. All things considered, his chances of promotion were much greater than Guo Panwei's.
Mm, barring any surprises, the deputy director would definitely be one of those two.
Having reached that conclusion, Dong Xuebin fell into a gloomy mood. If he had another six months or a year to build up enough seniority, he would have fought desperately for this deputy director position. But now, there was no point in fighting or not fighting. He had absolutely no chance. At that moment, Dong Xuebin only hoped that someone with a better temperament would be transferred from another department to become deputy director. If Guo Panwei or Guo Shunjie took office, he probably would not have a single good day.
What rotten luck.
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