Chapter 6 Fair Competition

  Ding Xiaoman finished speaking and stormed out of the door. Tao Ruxuan, on the other hand, was a bit flustered. What did this little girl mean? Supposedly, her relationship with Liang Hongyan had nothing to do with him, whether it was sarcasm or ridicule, it was all her usual style, but why did she get angry? Was it...

  Thinking of this, Tao Ruxuan's mouth twitched slightly, but he didn't laugh out loud.

  The voice of Qu Jian came from outside, and as soon as he saw Tao Ruxuan, he lowered his voice and said: "Little Tao, I have something to tell you. This time the department is going to implement democratic evaluation for the conversion of regular stocks. I heard that Old Ma in the office said it seems to be selected from among you, Ding Xiaoman, and Liu Bin. You can't take this lightly, converting a regular stock may not be a big deal, but administrative levels are step by step, one step at a time, and one step cannot be delayed. Moreover, if you don't get evaluated this time, it will also leave a bad impression on the leaders and everyone."

  Tao Ruxuan was quite puzzled and asked, "If the evaluation is not good, how can it still leave a bad impression on leaders and everyone? Isn't it always said that this time is no good, let's try again next time?"

  "The composer waved his hand and smiled, saying: "That's just a lie to comfort you. What can be said? You've already lost the election, what else can the leader say? Once you lose, it means you're not capable in everyone's eyes. The speculation of others is not important, but the leader's opinion matters. The leader will think, 'If he wasn't selected, there must be a reason.' Is it because of lack of ability or poor relationships with others? Whatever the reason, the leader's impression of you will be greatly discounted. In today's bureaucratic system, once you lose the trust and attention of your superiors, do you think you'll have another chance to rise?"

  Here is the translation:

  "Speaking of which, Qu's family let out a snort of laughter, as if dissatisfied with something. He continued: 'Besides, nowadays people are all very utilitarian. If leaders have a good impression of you, they will give in to you and flatter you. They will also try their best to speak well of you in front of the leader. Once you fall out of luck, if the leader says you're no good, they'll also ruthlessly kick you while you're down. When the wall falls, everyone pushes it; when the drum is broken, people beat it randomly. So I advise you not to be too careless.'"

  Tao Ruxuan's back felt a chill as he listened to Quanjia's words. When Liang Hongyan first told Tao Ruxuan about this matter, although he was somewhat depressed, he didn't think it was a big deal. He thought that whether it was this year or next year, it was just a difference of one year, and besides, he was just a section-level cadre, not some kind of major official. Moreover, Ding Xiaoman and Liu Bin had both joined earlier than him, so it was only natural that they would be promoted a year earlier than him.

  However, after listening to Qu Jia Sheng's analysis, Tao Ru Xuan didn't dare think that way anymore. He must fight for it, and he secretly made up his mind, but still tried to keep a calm face, and replied lightly to Qu Jia Sheng: "Thank you, Director Qu, I will definitely try my best. But everyone is not easy, let's see who gets evaluated. I believe in the leadership of the department and everyone's vision."

  Tao Ruxuan thanked Qu Jia Sheng vaguely. The real competition is not on the surface, nor in words, but in actual actions.

  The composer pointed at Tao Ruxuan with a smile and said, "You're just too kind-hearted, thinking everyone is good." Then he became serious again and continued in a low voice, "During your business trip, I heard that Liu Bin has been running to the homes of several department leaders. Now, except for Liang Hongyan's home, he has probably been to all the other families."

  Tao Ruxuan was taken aback for a moment, thinking that this Liu Bin was indeed not a simple person, his actions were also very quick, it seemed that he had already made up his mind to win. Liu Bin himself was in the ministry office, and had more contact with people from all sides, and his relationship with the leaders was also relatively familiar, which was definitely an advantage that could not be ignored. Competing with him would likely require some effort.

  So what should I do next? Is it also like Liu Bin, going to the homes of several department leaders for a turn? However, doing so is equivalent to following in someone's footsteps, and the significance is not very great. But if you don't go, then you will be one step behind, and those department leaders will think what? They will definitely think that Tao Ruxuan is arrogant, and more realistically, they will say that since Tao Ruxuan doesn't take me seriously, I won't take Tao Ruxuan seriously either. In this way, being eliminated becomes a foregone conclusion.

  Tao Ruxuan was thinking to himself, but Qu Jia Sheng suddenly looked around and lowered his voice, smiling ambiguously as he continued: "Of course, if Liang Hongyan can speak up for you at the department meeting, that's a different story. Sun Dianmin will have to give Liang Hongyan some face after all."

  What does this old man mean? Two sentences of careless words may have revealed two abnormal relationships. First, why did Sun Dianmin want to give Liang Hongyan face, of course, it was because Liang Hongyan had an abnormal relationship with the county party committee leadership; secondly, why did Liang Hongyan want to speak for himself at the departmental meeting? Naturally, he had an unusual relationship with Liang Hongyan. Qu Jiaosheng said such words, which means that Qu Jiaosheng also believed that his relationship with Liang Hongyan was abnormal.

  Apart from Qu Jiayin in the Propaganda Department, probably no one else could ask such a question in this veiled and vicious narrative way.

  When Tao Ruxuan's gaze fell on Qu Jia Sheng's face, he found that Qu Jia Sheng's face was hanging with a smile that was difficult to grasp.

  "This time, I'm afraid I really won't be chosen."

  Tao Ruxuan suddenly realized that the person who had helped him just two days ago, whom he had almost regarded as a friend, was not so reliable after all. Perhaps Qu Jia Sheng's words were not malicious, but they also reflected his problematic character from another angle.

  "Is that so?" failed to get anything out of Tao Ruxuan's words, Qu Jia Sheng's tone was clearly tinged with disappointment. He patted Tao Ruxuan on the arm and comforted him, "Then let's think of other ways. After all, there are more solutions than problems."

  The composer's voice fell, and Yu Minhua came in from outside. Seeing the two people talking, she didn't interrupt them either, and went back to her own position, busy with her own affairs. Before long, Ding Xiaoman also returned.

  Tao Ruxuan took out a box of tea leaves, a cup and a silk scarf from his bag, gave the tea leaves to Qu Jia Sheng, the cup to Ding Xiaoman, and the scarf to Yu Minhua. Everyone obviously felt somewhat unexpected, Qu Jia Sheng first said a few words of thanks, and Yu Minhua also thanked him.

  Ding Xiaoman suddenly asked Tao Ruxuan: "Why did you give me and Old Qu tea leaves and a water cup, but Hua's sister got a silk scarf?"

  Such a question, obviously with ulterior motives. Tao Ruxuan hadn't even had time to respond when Yu Minhua also heard the implicit meaning and her face turned red as she handed the silk scarf to Ding Xiaoman saying: "If you like the scarf, let's exchange it, I just happen to be missing a cup."

  "You see, I've known you for a long time, and with good intentions, I bought you a cup. But you're still picking faults. It's almost better if I didn't buy it for you at all." Although his words were harsh, they carried a hint of affection, and even Tao Ruxuan himself was unaware of how he had suddenly become so hypocritical.

  The composer's voice also helped to persuade: "You little girl is just too much, you like to argue with others about everything. Why don't I just give you this box of tea?"

  Ding Xiaoman was taken aback, but she didn't take Qu Jia's words seriously at all. She pouted and hummed a response to Qu Jia: "What business is it of yours? I don't even drink tea, what do I need your broken tea leaves for?" After finishing speaking, she looked at Tao Ruxuan again, and her eyes showed a hint of tenderness. She hugged the cup that Tao Ruxuan had bought in her arms and stroked it for a long time before asking: "Did you really buy this cup specifically for me?"

  The meaning of this gaze was already very clear, Tao Ruxuan hastily dodged and said: "What else could it be?"

  Ding Xiaoman whispered: "I thought the silk scarf you gave to Hua Jie was specially bought." Her face was a happy blush.

  In fact, as Ding Xiaoman said, Yu Minhua's scarf was specially bought by Tao Ruxuan. Yu Minhua probably also understood this, and when Ding Xiaoman went to wash the cup with joy, the two of them looked at each other, their eyes met, and they had a tacit understanding.

  Afternoon just got off work and went home, not long after, Tao Ruyan, the daughter of my second uncle, came. She greeted Tao Ruxuan's parents at the door, then pushed Tao Ruxuan into the room, sat down and immediately burst into tears, saying she was bullied by the textile factory owner's younger brother-in-law.

  Ru Yan is the youngest daughter of Second Uncle, among the four children in the Tao family. She is three years younger than Ru Xuan, but she is the most beautiful and smartest among the three girls. However, after graduating from high school, she did not continue her studies and now works at a textile mill in the county.

  Tao Ruxuan suddenly got up from the bed, his face changed and asked: "How did the factory director's younger brother bully you? Won't he...?" Tao Ruxuan ultimately couldn't say that unpleasant and heart-wrenching word.

  Tao Ruyan immediately said: "No, what are you thinking? You just slapped me."

  "Why did he hit you?" Tao Ruxuan asked anxiously. In the past, bullying the Tao family was equivalent to seeking death. In Fen City County, who didn't fear Tao Dazhang, Tao Jinhut? But now that Third Uncle had gone to the provincial city, and with the passage of time, his reputation was gradually fading away. It was also reasonable that people no longer took Third Uncle seriously. Moreover, Little Sister Tao Ruyan originally looked like a movie star, so it was also reasonable that she attracted bees and butterflies. However, even if Third Uncle was no longer in Fen City, the Tao family's people couldn't be bullied by anyone.

  Tao Ruyan finally spoke up, saying: "After work at noon, my sisters and I were celebrating Yao Lili's birthday at a restaurant near the factory gate. The factory director's younger brother was also eating there. Since we all worked in the same factory and often saw each other, we didn't think much of it. Besides, we weren't even in the same private room. Later, the factory director's younger brother probably got drunk and came over to toast Yao Lili, saying he wanted to wish her a happy birthday. He just had to make a big deal out of it and insisted on drinking with Yao Lili. Of course, Yao Lili didn't want to, so he said she wasn't giving him face and slapped her. That really made me angry, so I went up and gave him two big slaps in the face, then threw him to the ground and kicked him a few times. As a result, when he got up, he slapped me too and cursed at me, calling me a little fox spirit."