9:30 a.m.!
The Civilian Science and Technology Project Review Office at Dragon University of Science and Technology!
Because of Jiang Fan's controlled nuclear fusion document, Wu Zhiming had worked the entire night without rest.
When the professors headed to Huaqing at around six that morning, Dean Li had not let him go. Instead, he had told him not to leave his computer's side!
He also understood very clearly that if this document was indeed verified as correct, it would absolutely become a top-level national classified document!
Before leaving, Dean Li had ordered him not to let anyone see or forward the document from that moment onward!
Wu Zhiming had neither slept nor eaten all night, and now he was hungry and exhausted.
He could only fill his stomach with water!
Work at the Science and Technology Project Review Office started at nine. There were five people in the office: four reviewers and one director.
They were all used to slacking off, and even now, they had yet to straggle in!
A few more minutes passed before a reviewer walked in. Seeing Wu Zhiming sitting at his desk, he greeted him!
"Morning, Old Wu!"
"Morning!"
"Life is dull and work is weary, why face either so sincerely? How often can we drink our fill? Live free and easy while we're here."
Xiao Liu recited his little doggerel, openly and covertly mocking Wu Zhiming for arriving and leaving on time every day, never coming late or leaving early, only to earn the lowest salary in the office!
The reason was that he had offended Director Ma!
At a little past ten, Director Ma also strolled leisurely into the office.
He greeted the other colleagues with smiles, but the moment he reached Wu Zhiming, his face fell.
Last night, he had been enjoying drinks with several friends when Wu Zhiming called him over and over again. His friends had all laughed at him for being a leader who could not even control his own subordinate!
On top of that, Wu Zhiming had opposed him plenty of times before. Today, he had decided to teach him a proper lesson. Otherwise, where would his authority be in the future?
In truth, Wu Zhiming had never wanted to provoke anyone. He simply wanted to do his job well and discover some good projects for the country.
But Director Ma thought differently. Their department was merely a review department, and barely two projects passed in a year, so he simply coasted through his days. His salary would come all the same.
Several times, when work was too boring, he had planned to take everyone to karaoke to have some fun, only for Wu Zhiming to reject the idea outright and even lecture him.
At the time, Director Ma had felt he was in the wrong and could only swallow it. Afterward, however, he kept finding excuses to dock Wu Zhiming's pay.
"Well... Reviewer Wu, come to my office!"
Director Ma spoke coldly, then walked straight into the director's office in the inner room!
Wu Zhiming did not follow. Before leaving, Dean Li had instructed him to guard the computer without stepping away.
Sitting in his comfortable executive chair, Director Ma was calculating his next move. Although he had no authority to fire Wu Zhiming, he would still show him a thing or two today. Otherwise, the man really would stop treating him, the director, as his superior!
But even after a long wait, Wu Zhiming still had not come in. This puzzled him somewhat. When it came to work matters, Wu Zhiming was generally quite obedient!
What was going on?
Director Ma got up again and went into the office area, where he saw Wu Zhiming staring blankly at his computer!
Instantly furious, he walked over, slapped the desk, and barked!
"Reviewer Wu, didn't you hear me call you?"
The others in the office were startled by Director Ma's sudden outburst, but when they saw that he was angry at Wu Zhiming, they exchanged glances, lowered their heads, and chuckled quietly, all looking ready to enjoy the show!
"Director Ma, please say whatever you need to say here! I can't leave right now!" Wu Zhiming said!
"What? Is your backside nailed to the chair?" Director Ma sneered!
The others laughed along with him. Wu Zhiming said nothing and remained seated!
Seeing this, Director Ma sneered inwardly. He wanted Wu Zhiming to defy him, giving him just the right excuse to discipline him.
"Reviewer Wu, I'm warning you. Your behavior right now is open defiance of your superior. I have the authority to report this to the higher-ups and have you disciplined.
"How many projects have you reviewed this past year? And how many have entered research? Not a single one, right? The way I see it, you simply don't take your work seriously, and you have no real knowledge or ability whatsoever. You're wasting the country's resources here. If I were you, I would have resigned long ago. You're getting on in years, and I normally show you respect, but you just use your age to throw your weight around..."
Director Ma began spouting baseless accusations, his words growing so offensive that even his colleagues were finding them hard to listen to.
To be honest, although Wu Zhiming did not fit in with them, if they spoke with their hands on their hearts, he was absolutely the most enthusiastic and conscientious worker among them.
Director Ma had intended to teach him a lesson today anyway. One word led to another, and since he had already laid it all out, there was no need to spare his dignity. If he could not take it and resigned, so much the better.
Director Ma berated Wu Zhiming for more than ten full minutes, his later remarks too foul to bear hearing. Yet Wu Zhiming never talked back. All he could think about now was protecting the document on the computer.
"Director Ma, you must be thirsty. Have some water," one reviewer said ingratiatingly!
Director Ma took the cup, drank a mouthful, and glanced at Wu Zhiming. To his surprise, the man had not talked back at all. As long as Wu Zhiming raised his voice even slightly to argue, he could charge him with insubordination and send him straight home on unpaid leave, keeping his position open while he reflected on his behavior!
Looks like he could really endure it. In that case, I'll try something else!
"Reviewer Wu, in view of your insubordinate behavior toward your superior, your punishment is to clean the restrooms for a week!"
Wu Zhiming knew perfectly well that Director Ma was simply finding fault with him. No matter what he did, the man would not let him off.
For now, I just need to protect the document. Everything else can wait!
If it really comes to it, I'll resign and find an ordinary job elsewhere, as long as I can support myself!
"What are you still sitting there for? Go clean the restrooms!"
Director Ma barked.
Just then, rhythmic footsteps sounded in the corridor.
Then the office door was pushed straight open. Armed special police officers entered first and immediately surrounded them!
They were all startled, and each began searching their mind for any wrongdoing they had committed!
Director Ma looked the most nervous. Recently, he and a few friends had pooled their money to open a bar, and the state prohibited personnel at state institutions from running businesses on the side.
But that was only a disciplinary violation. Surely it could not have brought out the special police!
Just as Director Ma's thoughts ran wild, President Lu walked in with a military officer!
"This is Wu Zhiming!" President Lu introduced him!
The officer asked Wu Zhiming, "No one has touched it, have they?"
Wu Zhiming stood and answered seriously.
"No!"
"Move it out!"
At the officer's command, several special police officers immediately sealed Wu Zhiming's computer with tamper-evident strips and carried it out!
Then another group came in and took away everyone else's computers and office supplies!
Moments later, nothing remained in the entire review office but desks and chairs!
After the officer left with the special police, Director Ma asked President Lu in bewilderment!
"President Lu, our department isn't being abolished, is it?"
President Lu gave him a cold look and said!
"Your department isn't being abolished. You are!"
"Why?" Director Ma asked in shock!
"From now on, Wu Zhiming will serve as director of your review office. As for you, await investigation!"