Chapter 47: Boiling Sweet Potatoes

  The next morning, as usual, Chu Tian Shu was the first to enter the office. Just after tidying up his desk, Liu Chun Na arrived. She hurriedly did the cleaning and boiled water, making tea for all four of them.

  Chu Tian Shu sat down at his desk and began writing his weekly work plan. Although the comprehensive affairs department's work had always been planned without much change, he and Fan Yi Bing had developed a habit of organizing their own tasks, even before becoming the head of the department.

  About a few minutes later, Fan Yibing and Qian Meihua also arrived one after another, and the office gradually became lively.

  When Tian Keming was around, everyone was afraid of making mistakes and being scolded, so they all worked passively. If something was uncertain, they would avoid it if possible, and if they couldn't avoid it, they would go ask Tian Keming for instructions before doing it. In short, the principle was to do less rather than more, in order not to be scolded by Tian Keming.

  Now that the plague god is gone, the mood of the four people has improved a lot, and their initiative and enthusiasm for work have also increased. Everyone in the comprehensive affairs department is eager to do miscellaneous tasks, not only feeling less tired than before, but also more relaxed and happy.

  The originally estranged staff of the Secretarial and Comprehensive Departments have become much closer, greeting each other warmly and discussing solutions to minor problems together, creating an unprecedentedly harmonious atmosphere in the office.

  Colleagues from other departments were still quietly asking Qi Daguang for advice, but after just one weekend, how did the office suddenly gain such a strong sense of cohesion?

  Zhi Daguang had a hard time speaking, he was very clear in his heart, after experiencing the storm of dinner on Friday, his position in the office had fallen to an all-time low, and it was not an exaggeration to describe him as being completely ostracized. Now Zhao Pingyuan and others have completely rallied around Chu Tian Shu.

  However, in the mind of SASAC leaders, Qi Daguang is still ranked ahead of Chu Tian Shu.

  Around 9 o'clock in the morning, Guan Haoyu arrived.

  Approaching retirement, Guan Haoyu rarely goes to work normally, and the daily work of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission is basically handed over to Huang Rishan to take charge. Gradually, everyone has a number in their hearts, and when Guan Haoyu comes to the commission, it means that there are relatively important matters that need him to make decisions.

  As expected, Huang Rishan followed and entered Guan Haoyu's office, gave a brief report for a few minutes, and immediately called Qi Daguang to his office, asking him to prepare the materials for the reform of state-owned enterprises and notify the persons in charge of each department to attend a meeting at 9:30 in the small conference room.

  Zhidaguan agreed, but didn't move his place.

  Huang Rishan looked at him suspiciously, understood Qi Daguang's intention, and said: "Xiao Qi, you just represent the office as a non-voting delegate."

  Zhi Daguang happily rushed out of the door and back to the office, where he loudly ordered Zhao Pingyuan and others to prepare materials. He himself made phone calls one by one to the heads of various departments, notifying them to arrive at the meeting on time at 9:30.

  After finishing the specific things on hand, Chu Tian Shu went online to search and download relevant information about Lingyun Group, and learned that Wu Mengdie's position in the group was Executive Vice President.

  Just as I was about to continue searching for her personal file, the office door was gently pushed open and Qi Daguang walked in with a notebook in his hand, saying seriously: "Xiao Chu, I'm going to a meeting, just saying hello."

  Chu Tian Shu listened and couldn't help but laugh, but in her heart, she understood very clearly that Qi Da Guang's greeting was fake, and what he really wanted to tell everyone was that he was still the core leader of the office.

  Chu Tian Shu smiled and said: "Qi Ke, you're too polite, what's the hurry, no need to greet me."

  Zhidaguan hypocritically said: "Xiao Chu, both the Document Security Department and the Comprehensive Department are offices, what's going on between us, we should communicate with each other."

  Chu Tian Shu said: "Oh, is that so? What kind of meeting are you going to have?"

  At this question, Qi Daguang was embarrassed. In his view, knowing the agenda of the meeting is a political treatment for department heads. From the heart, he did not want to tell Chu Tian Shu.

  Qizhi Da Guang hesitated, and Chu Tian Shu said: "Qi Ke, sorry, I shouldn't have been nosy."

  Fan Yibing, Liu Chunna and Qian Meihua all looked at Qi Daguang with strange eyes, as if to say that they had just been discussing something important and were about to discuss a conference topic, but suddenly pretended to be forced, which was too hypocritical.

  Zhi Daguang could only awkwardly smile and vaguely say: "Oh, it seems to be about the restructuring of state-owned enterprises, I'm not very clear about it either." After finishing speaking, he chatted with Fan Yibing and Qian Meihua for a few more sentences before turning around and leaving.

  So soon? Chu Tian Shu was greatly shocked.

  Although he has never worked in the enterprise reform office, he is still very familiar with the internal working procedures of SASAC. Once the restructuring plan reported by the Instrument Factory is approved, SASAC will formally notify the city government to report it.

  Generally speaking, the competent department has agreed, and other departments in the city will not extend their hands into others' work scope, let alone raise too many objections. The plan's passage is just a matter of time.

  After Zhai Daguang left, Chu Tian Shu sent a message to Tan Yufen, telling him that the State-owned Assets Commission was about to hold a meeting to discuss the restructuring plan of the Instrument Factory.

  Tan Yufen quickly replied that Zhang Wei and his group had already set off.

  After about ten or twenty minutes, the noise from downstairs grew louder and more boisterous. Chu Tian Shu could make out that Zhang Wei, Da Hu, and Lao Wan were among the loudest voices.

  The offices of the SASAC leaders and small meeting rooms are all on the second floor, and the noise from downstairs quickly spread upstairs.

  Before long, Qi Daguang rushed out of the small conference room, saying unhappily: "Xiao Chu, go and see what's going on? It's all chaotic, the meeting can't be held, and the leaders are getting angry."

  Chu Tian Shu quickly walked downstairs and saw at a glance that the leader was a tall, thin old man. Behind him were Zhang Wei, Da Hu Lao Wan and more than 20 laid-off workers. As soon as they stood there, the originally empty lobby became very crowded.

  The front desk attendant Xiao Hui and two security guards responsible for safety were blocking their way, refusing to let them in, which led to the commotion.

  Chu Tian Shu walked forward without any cover-up and directly asked Zhang Wei: "Zhang Wei, what do you want to do?"

  Chu Tian Shu had thought of this a long time ago. If he pretended not to recognize Zhang Wei on purpose, it would easily arouse suspicion and speculation.

  Zhang Wei said: "Director Chu, we want to find a leader to reflect on the problem."

  Chu Tian Shu said: "What are you arguing about, reflecting on the problem? This is a government office location, not a vegetable market. If things get out of hand, it will be an obstruction of official business and you will have to bear legal responsibility."

  At this time, the old man walked forward, adjusted his glasses and asked: "Comrade, we are representatives of laid-off workers from the Instrument Factory. We have come to the State-owned Assets Commission to reflect on problems, not to make trouble. Would you please inform your leaders that we want to see them?"

  "Comrade, what's your honorable surname?"

  The old man said: "My surname is Wu, and my name is Wu Shicai."

  "Oh, Master Wu."

  Zhang Wei said loudly: "What Wu Master, he is our factory's general worker."

  "Sorry," Chu Tian Shu ignored Zhang Wei and smiled at Wu Shi Cai, "Director Wu, if you want to report a problem, shouldn't you go to the Letters and Visits Office?"

  Wu Shicai said slowly: "We have been there, they replied that the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission is the competent department of the Instrument Factory, so we came here."

  Chu Tian Shu secretly sneered in his heart.

  These days, the petition office has to receive too many visiting masses every day. There are too many messy and unclear things, it's impossible to manage them all. For petitioners like those from the Instrument Factory who have a clear responsible department, they will definitely be pushed away if possible.

  Passing the buck and playing a game of hot potato is also a major trick used by many government departments when dealing with petitioners.

  Chu Tian Shu thought, if it weren't for Qi Da Guang forcing him to take a look, who would care about this matter?

  The chaotic scene had been going on for several minutes, and the outside of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission's office building was surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. The clerks from other departments also heard the commotion and peeked out to take a look, only to quickly withdraw their heads again as they saw a group of people surrounding Chu Tian Shu with an intimidating air.

  Only Fan Yibing and Liu Chunna came out and stood beside Chu Tian Shu, helping to persuade and explain.

  Chu Tian Shu put on a patient expression and said, "Alright, we're from the General Affairs Department of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. Tell me what's going on and I'll go ask our leaders if it's okay."

  "Hey! You can't fool us like that! We're from the Comprehensive Department, you know. If we don't see the leader today, we won't leave!"

  Dahu and Lao Wan and others loudly echoed: "Right, we won't leave."

  As they spoke, a few older ones sat down on the sofa by the door, while a few younger ones even lifted their legs and sat on the counter of the duty personnel.

  This made the scene even more lively.

  Chu Tian Shu saw their attitude was very firm, so he had to say: "Xiao Fan, Xiao Liu, you explain here first, I'll go report to the leader."

  Chu Tian Shu came straight to the conference room, knocked on the door, and Qi Da Guang welcomed him, asking: "Xiao Chu, what's going on?"

  Chu Tian Shu said: "The laid-off workers from the meter factory, they say they want to reflect on the problems and insist on seeing the leadership. No matter how I persuade them, it's useless."

  Chu Tian Shu had just roughly explained the situation when Ouyang Mei Mei jumped up and said in a mysterious tone, "Chu Tian Shu, you're also a department head, can't even handle such a trivial matter?"

  Chu Tian Shu was clear in his mind that Ouyang Mei Mei was taking the opportunity to retaliate, so he said: "Director Ouyang, I'm just a small directorial officer, nobody believes me. Why don't you, as the great Director, take the lead and try?"

  Ouyang Meimei's nose was almost twisted by being scolded, how dare she continue to talk back, her face sank and she stopped speaking.

  When encountering mass petitions, any leader would dread it and try to avoid it. If handled well, it's what they should do; if not, they're incompetent. Moreover, such incidents are usually mishandled.

  The leaders all looked at each other in dismay and lowered their heads without saying a word.

  Who is full and willing to stick out their neck to take this scalding yam?