Power and Wealth

Morning.

People started to work.

A few staff members were rushing to the office building because they were late.

Yao Cui was one of them. She had overslept because of her flu medication. She rushed to work after waking up and arrived only 5 minutes before work started.

Damn!

I am going to get scolded again.

Yao Cui locked her bicycle outside the office building and ran into it.

County Government Office Department.

Secretarial Section One office.

Yao Cui saw everyone had arrived, and she was the latest.

“Xiao Yao, why are you so late?” A Deputy Section Chief asked.

Yao Cui quickly explained. “I took flu medicine yesterday and woke up late.”

The Deputy Section Chief replied impatiently. “You are full of excuses. This is not your first time coming in late.”

Yao Cui replied. “Sorry, Chief Chen. I will be early next time.”

“Enough… go and print the documents and pour a glass of water for me.” Deputy Section Chief Chen instructed.

Most Secretarial Section staff had worked there for more than five years, and Yao Cui had entered the government service for two to three years. Her job was to do miscellaneous stuff like serving tea or photocopying document.

Yao Cui was used to it and quickly went to the printer.

A girl around Yao Cui’s age walked over quickly and gave her a document. “Cui Er, here.”

Yao Cui nodded. “Sigh…. I will photocopy it now.”

Xiao Hong whispered. “Are you feeling better?”

Yao Cui replied. “I took medication yesterday and feel much better now.”

Xiao Hong reminded Yao Cui. “Deputy Section Chief Chen is not in a good mood. Don’t talk back to him.”

“I understand.” Yao Cui replied. “Go back to work, or he will get mad when we talk.”

Xiao Hong nodded and said. “Let me know if you cannot finish your work. I will try to help. You are late today, and the leader will surely give you lots of work.”

“Thanks, Xiao Hong.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Haha…. I will go and work.”

Xiao Hong and Yao Cui were close in Secretarial Section One and were not close to the rest. The reason was simple. They entered the government service together and were ordered around by their seniors. They tried to help each other, but Xiao Hong was not as pretty as Yao Cui. She also does not have a good figure and does not stand out. The seniors got used to ordering Yao Cui around, and her status in the department was the lowest.

Print document….

Serve tea, pour water….

Yao Cui finally finished all the tasks given to her by her leaders.

When she finally got to rest in her seat for a while, she received new orders.

“Xiao Yao, help me type this document.”

“Xiao Yao, the flask is empty. Go and top up the hot water.”

Two middle-aged staff started ordering Yao Cui again.

Yao Cui was mad but did not say anything. She had offended Ma Lin and Chief Cai yesterday, and Director Ma’s weird attitude toward her made her nervous. She was also late this morning and got to stay low.

Xiao Hong stood up and said. “I will type the document.”

The Secretarial Section senior staff said. “Then Xiao Yan will top up the flask. Thanks.”

Yao Cui had no choice. She took the hot water flask and went downstairs to the pantry. Their county is poor and cannot employ helpers to clean their offices and get hot water for them.

Suddenly, footsteps got louder.

Chief Cai entered the office.

“Chief Cai.”

“Chief Cai.”

Deputy Chief Chen and other staff greeted Chief Cai.

Chief Cai nodded and looked at Yao Cui, who was about to get hot water with the flask. “Xiao Yao!”

Chief Cai’s voice was loud and sharp.

Yao Cui jumped and thought he had done something wrong. “Sorry, Chief Cai. I took flu medication yesterday and woke up late.”

Chief Cai replied. “It’s alright.”

Yao Cai and all the staff were surprised and looked at Chief Cai. They wondered what was wrong with her. Why she looked like she was in a good mood today?

Chief Cai smiled and asked. “Where are you going?”

Yao Cui lifted the hot water flask. “Oh, there’s no more water, and Brother Wang asked me to fill up the flask.”

Chief Cai’s face changed, and she stared at the middle-aged man. “Why are you asking Xiao Yao to get water for you? Can’t you get it yourself?! Huh?” She got mad and scolded the staff. “You are just sitting there and not doing anything every day. Are you expecting to be served every day? Who do you think you are? Huh?”

Old Wang was stunned after getting scolded by Chief Cai.

“Err…. Chief Cai….” Old Wang stood up and said. “I…. Sorry.” He dared not to retort Chief Cai as she was his direct supervisor.

Chief Cai continued. “Go and get the water yourself if you are thirsty.”

“Yes… yes…. I will go myself.” Old Wang walked over and took the flask from Yao Cui.

What’s wrong with Chief Cai today?

Why is she speaking up for Yao Cui? Did the sun rise from the west this morning?

Everyone, including Yao Cui and Xiao Hong, was puzzled.

Chief Cai used to order Yao Cui around in the past. Although she did not ask Yao Cui to get water or serve tea to her, she always picked Yao Cui to entertain guests. Why is she….

“Chief Cai, I….” Yao Cui asked.

Chief Cai’s face changed after scolding Old Wang, and she smiled at Yao Cui. “Don’t call me Chief Cai. You are treating me like a stranger. Just call me Sister Cai.”

Yao Cui was shocked.

Chief Cai asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing….” Yao Cui replied. “Sister Cai.”

“Good.” Chief Cai smiled and held Yao Cui’s hand. “Let’s go to my office to have a chat.”

Chief Cai brought Yao Cui to her office.

Office.

Chief Cai turned and poured a glass of warm water for Yao Cui. “Here, Cui Er. Why are you standing there? Sit.” Yao Cui felt uneasy when Chief Cai called her Cui Er.

“Huh? Thank you, Chief…. Sister Cai.”

“Haha…. Don’t mention it. Sit.” Chief Cai pulled Yao Cui to the sofa and patted the back of her hand. “You know how to keep secrets, Cui Er.”

Yao Cui was confused. “What did I hide?”

Chief Cai laughed. “Stop pretending. I know everything. I might not have been good to you in the past. Please forgive me.”

Yao Cui asked. “What are you talking about, Sister Cai? I don’t understand.”

Chief Cai was about to say something when she heard a commotion outside.

“Director Ma.”

“Director Ma.”

Ma Lin arrived.

Ma Lin looked around and asked. “Where is Xiao Yao?”

Ma Lin usually will not go to the Secretarial Section. As the County Government Office Department Director, he will call Chief Cai or give his orders over the phone. He will not come unless it is an emergency or an inspection. But he came today to look for Xiao Yao.

Deputy Chief Chen noticed something was wrong and said. “Yao Cui is in Chief Cai’s office, Director Ma.”

The office door opened, and Chief Cai and Yao Cui came out.

Ma Lin smiled brightly when he saw Yao Cui. “Are you feeling better, Xiao Yao?”

Yao Cui replied softly. “Thank you for your concern. I am better now.”

Ma Lin nodded. “Good. How’s work? Did you face any difficulties at work recently?”

Yao Cui replied nervously. “No…. everything is good.”

Ma Lin replied. “Ok. Have you heard about it?”

Yao Cui looked at him puzzledly. “Heard about what?”

“You still don’t know?” Ma Lin laughed. “You might be moving up soon. Be prepared. Hahaha….”

Moving up?!

A promotion?!

Everyone was stunned.

Yao Cui was also stunned. “I…. Director Ma, where am I going?”

Ma Lin did not answer her. He laughed. “You will know in the afternoon.”

Transfer or promotion is sensitive in the city or province, and the leaders will not announce it in front of so many people. However, this is not a taboo at the grassroots level, like in Zhen Shui County. The people here are more direct and are not mindful of these procedures.

Many people could not believe their ears when they heard Yao Cui would be promoted.

Xiao Yao has no backing from the higher-ups and does not have a good relationship with the leaders. How did she get promoted?

Even if Yao Cui was going to be promoted, Director Ma and Chief Cai did not need to be so polite to her.