Official Career Storm
Chapter 640

Chapter 640: Chapter 640

Si Qingqing was not as composed as Chen Zixiang when she received the notification.

Ever since she was relegated to the administrative department, she had been harboring a grudge.

She understood, however, that unless something unexpected happened, her career would peak as the director of the administrative department.

Despite holding a deputy bureau-level ranking, it was of no real use.

Yet, as the saying goes, heaven never seals off all exits. Finally, an opportunity had come her way.

Director of the Judicial Bureau, at the bureau-level!

Most importantly, she would be the top executive in the committee!

She would no longer have to stay in this wretched place!

She grabbed her handbag, disregarded the gazes of the others in the department, and strode confidently out the door.

In the administrative department, she didn’t even have her own office and squeezed into the main office with the other staff.

Because of Zhang Xiaoxian’s suppression, her colleagues in the administrative department showed her no respect at all.

On the surface, she was the head of the department, but in reality, she was no different from the minor clerks.

In the Judicial Bureau, she would finally have an office of her own.

She wouldn’t have to stay here and suffer any longer.

Just the thought made her feel delightful.

As she exited, by sheer coincidence, she bumped into a little old man—Secretary Zhang Xiaoxian.

As usual, she didn’t even look at him, just snorted softly and continued walking.

Zhang Xiaoxian furrowed his brow, "Director Si, where are you going during working hours?"

Si Qingqing snorted, "None of your business!"

"Si Qingqing!" Zhang Xiaoxian rebuked, "What sort of attitude is that?"

Si Qingqing rolled her eyes, too lazy to deal with him, and swayed her slender waist and hips as she walked away.

Her graceful figure stirred in Zhang Xiaoxian a burning desire intermixed with rage.

This woman, Si Qingqing, was unappreciative and shortsighted!

He had merely expressed his fondness for her and yet she had rudely rejected him.

He held power, and naturally, he intended to teach her a lesson to show her who really ran the City Government Office!

However, what he didn’t expect was that Si Qingqing, true to her stubborn nature, showed no intent to bow her head even after being dismissed from her deputy secretary role.

"Si Qingqing!" Zhang Xiaoxian called after her, "If you leave now, don’t bother coming back!"

However, Si Qingqing, as if she hadn’t heard him, didn’t stop her steps and turned away, leaving the corridor.

Zhang Xiaoxian’s face darkened, and just as he was about to have someone issue a disciplinary action against her, Li Jun approached from the opposite direction.

"What’s wrong, Secretary Zhang?" Li Jun inquired upon seeing his unhappy expression.

If Jiang Yuan was considered the real power holder of the city government, then Secretary Zhang was the second in command.

His influence was far greater than many might imagine.

Even Jiang Yuan engaged with him on equal footing, never putting on airs.

Zhang Xiaoxian’s network in Lingjiang’s political arena was extensive and solid.

Staring in the direction Si Qingqing had gone, Zhang Xiaoxian said coldly, "Our Director Si’s temper is getting bigger and bigger!"

Li Jun, aware of their feud, coughed and said, "Secretary Zhang, the Standing Committee has already decided to appoint Director Si as the Director of the Judicial Bureau."

Zhang Xiaoxian’s expression froze for a second, then he raised his eyebrows and pondered for a few seconds before asking, "Secretary Li, do you know who recommended Director Si?"

"I heard it was Secretary Chu."

"Secretary Chu indeed has a discerning eye. Director Si was really underutilized in the administrative department. The Judicial Bureau is the perfect place for her to excel."

Watching how quickly and naturally Zhang Xiaoxian switched his attitude, Li Jun couldn’t help but marvel.

No wonder this Secretary Zhang had managed to stay in the City Government Office for decades; look at this seamless change in his demeanor.

He still had at least a decade or more to learn such a skill.

After Li Jun left, Zhang Xiaoxian returned to his office and made two phone calls, confirming that Si Qingqing had indeed gone to the Judicial Bureau.

He knew Chu Xiao’e was part of Wu Qiangwei’s faction.

Was Si Qingqing trying to ingratiate herself with Wu Qiangwei?

It seemed he needed to find a way to establish a good relationship with Secretary Wu.

Zhang Xiaoxian had been able to stay in the city government for so many years, serving many mayors, because he truly had exceptional abilities.

To those above, he acted with deference.

To those below, he flexed his power to the utmost.

However, he was cautious by nature and seldom offended anyone.

Before he dealt with Si Qingqing, he had someone investigate her family background.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t dare to suppress Si Qingqing for so many years.

But now that Si Qingqing had connected with Wu Qiangwei, he needed to modify his strategy.

To continue entangling with Si Qingqing could upset Wu Qiangwei, which would be a case of losing much for little gain.

Given his status, it was inappropriate for him to visit Wu Qiangwei directly.

He didn’t have the standing for a formal banquet, nor a reason.

Zhang Xiaoxian planned to approach from Song Guanchao’s side.

Song Guanchao had just fetched meals from the cafeteria and delivered one to Chu Xiao’e before he had even returned to his office when he received a mysterious phone call.

"Hello..."

"Secretary Song, hello, I am Zhang Xiaoxian from the City Government Office."

"Hello, Secretary Zhang."

"Secretary Song, do you have time tonight? I would like to invite you to a casual meal to express gratitude for Secretary Wu’s appreciation for Qingqing."

Song Guanchao became interested, this Secretary Zhang was indeed a clever man.

"I can’t confirm at this moment, as you know, Secretary Zhang, our schedules aren’t our own."

"Understood, understood, I’ll contact you later then, and perhaps we can also invite Qingqing along."

"Alright."

Entering his office, Song Guanchao opened his meal and casually mentioned the phone call.

Wu Qiangwei tilted her head, pondering for a moment, with no recollection of Zhang Xiaoxian.

But from Song Guanchao’s introduction, having been a secretary general for decades, the man was clearly no ordinary individual.

He had once sought to impose unofficial rules on Si Qingqing, and now that she had been promoted, he immediately invited her to dinner.

However, it wasn’t necessarily out of fear of Si Qingqing’s role as director, given the Judicial Bureau wasn’t a department of considerable power.

With Zhang Xiaoxian’s network, getting rid of a director wouldn’t be too difficult, though not extremely easy either.

Zhang Xiaoxian’s intention was to demonstrate an attitude to Wu Qiangwei through this event.

He didn’t want Wu Qiangwei to misunderstand because of his relationship with Si Qingqing.

He was a clever man.

Approaching the end of the work day, Zhang Xiaoxian called again.

Having agreed on the place, Song Guanchao thought it over and sought Chu Xiao’e.

"Are you busy tonight?"

Chu Xiao’e’s eyes curled into beautiful arcs, "No."

Song Guanchao realized she had misunderstood and gently coughed, "There’s a dinner, let’s go together."

"Sure," Chu Xiao’e agreed without asking what the dinner was all about.

If it was a dinner, wouldn’t there be drinking?

After drinking... It just so happened no one was at her home.

At six o’clock, they arrived at the restaurant.

Zhang Xiaoxian, playing host, was naturally there first.

He hadn’t expected that Song Guanchao would bring Chu Xiao’e too and suddenly felt that Secretary Song was not only clever but also knew how to navigate social situations.

He clearly knew the real reason behind his own dinner invitation.

Around six-thirty, Si Qingqing arrived fashionably late.

In the afternoon, Zhang Xiaoxian had to call several times before she answered. When she was told about the dinner invitation, Si Qingqing immediately declined.

Only when it was mentioned that Song Guanchao would also attend did she reluctantly agree.

Upon entering the private room, ignoring Zhang Xiaoxian, she greeted Song Guanchao and Chu Xiao’e first, before acting as if she had just noticed him, "Oh, Secretary Zhang is here too? Sorry, I didn’t see you just now."

Zhang Xiaoxian wasn’t bothered by her sardonic tone, but Song Guanchao couldn’t help but frown.

He suddenly felt that appointing Si Qingqing as director might not have been the right decision.

This woman was rather clueless.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr𝒆e(w)𝒆bnovel

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.