Siheyuan: The Era of Struggle

Chapter 360 Asking for leave
He Yuanchao and Li Jiefang chatted in the office for more than an hour.

Regarding the problems Li Jiefang was having at work, He Yuanchao did not give him a solution, but he helped him analyze the reasons why his work was not going smoothly.

"You are now a security officer of the Security Department, not a security officer. You have your own responsibilities and your own scope of work. Don't try to get involved in everything. Doing so will not only fail to improve your work performance, but will also cause dissatisfaction among other relevant personnel."

"Isn't this all the responsibility of our security department?"

After hearing what He Yuanchao said, Li Jiefang still didn't quite understand. He said with a puzzled look on his face, "When I did those things before, no one was unhappy! How can I make a mistake when I help now?"

Looking at the stupid subordinate in front of him, He Yuanchao said helplessly: "Before you helped, the credit belonged to them, but now you are also a cadre, how do you divide the credit? Whose credit is it?
Therefore, what you need to do most now is to take care of your own business. As for other things, either wait for your superiors to assign them to you, or wait for others to discuss with you. Don't act like you are trying to take credit for other things and meddle in other people's business."

In fact, this cannot be entirely blamed on Li Jiefang. He was a soldier in the army and was an ordinary security guard when he returned to the local area. He just followed orders and had no experience of being a cadre at all.

After being promoted, it is understandable that he is more proactive in order to show his performance, but he forgets that there is only so much rice in the bowl, and if you eat one more bite, others will have to eat one less bite.

If it happens once or twice, others will think you don't know the rules, but if you keep stealing food from other people's bowls, they will certainly not be polite anymore. Uniting to resist and exclude you is the lightest punishment, and there are precedents of more serious slander and framing.

Although Li Jiefang didn't quite understand what he heard and had not yet fully adapted to the change in his identity, he knew it was right to listen to He Yuanchao.

After sending off Li Jiefang, who was involved in a lot of lawsuits, He Yuanchao was not idle either. In addition to constantly making phone calls to inquire about the situation of various departments under the Security Department, he also kept planning various learning and training plans for the Security Department this year in his notebook.

After the steel plant was upgraded, although all the staff of the Security Department had not yet arrived at their posts, some things had to be arranged in advance and rules had to be established first.

Time passed very quickly as he was busy. He Yuanchao had just finished working on a rough plan when it was already time for lunch.

Hearing the clinking sound of lunch boxes hitting chopsticks and spoons in the corridor outside the office door, He Yuanchao raised his hands and stretched comfortably.

Just as I was about to get up and take my lunch box to the cafeteria, the phone on my desk rang suddenly without warning.

He Yuanchao heard the noise and without hesitation, he picked up the phone and said, "Hello, this is the Security Department of Red Star Factory."

Hahaha……

Hearing the noise on the other end of the phone, a hearty laugh came from the receiver, and then someone spoke: "Yuan Chao, it's different to have the descendants of the revolution! The confidence in speaking is much stronger than before."

Although telephones back then were not as advanced as those of later generations, people who were familiar with each other could still tell who was on the other end of the phone.

"Director Xia is indeed a public security officer. He is well-informed about this news."

Since Xia Shuliang knew that Zhang Min was pregnant, He Yuanchao did not hide it and joked openly.

The two exchanged pleasantries and joked on the phone before Xia Shuliang got down to business.

"Yuan Chao, I'm calling you right now for two main purposes. One is to congratulate you, and the other is to inform you to come to the branch office this afternoon for a meeting of department-level cadres."

He Yuanchao felt a headache when he heard the word "meeting". After traveling through time and becoming a cadre, he had to hold a small meeting every three days and a large meeting every five days. He had had enough of that.

"Director Xia, I have a lot of things to do at the factory. Can I not go to the meeting at the branch office?"

As soon as He Yuanchao finished his excuse, Xia Shuliang rejected him flatly, "No, Yuanchao, if it were normal times, it would be fine, I can just ask for leave and not come.

But this meeting was called by Director He, and you know he will be going to the Municipal Bureau soon. This is probably the last time he will preside over the meeting. If you don't show up, what will people think? Wouldn't that be a slap in the face to yourself?"

After hearing what Xia Shuliang said, He Yuanchao reacted immediately. It seemed that He Jianghai's promotion appointment had probably come down, but it had not been announced yet.

"In that case, I really have to go there."

After that, He Yuanchao asked about the meeting time, chatted for a few more words, and then hung up the phone. He stood up and was about to get the lunch box from the cabinet, but before he could move, the phone on the table rang again.

"Yo! You've been busy today."

He Yuanchao muttered as he raised his hand and picked up the phone again, putting it to his ear and said, "Red Star Steel Mill Security Department..."

"It's me who aided Korea."

Before he could finish his words, he heard Zhang Lide's voice on the phone.

He Yuanchao was very surprised to hear that it was his father-in-law, because Zhang Lide seldom called him.

Could it be that something went wrong with Zhang Zhao? Thinking of this, He Yuanchao didn't hesitate and asked directly: "Dad, what's the matter with you calling now?"

Zhang Lide on the other end of the phone didn't hesitate and directly stated the purpose of the call.

"Yuan Chao, I plan to go to your brother's military base, and I thought you could take a few days off and go with me."

He Yuanchao was stunned for a moment, but then he smiled and said, "Okay! I just don't know how many days we have to be gone. Can you tell me exactly how many days we have to be gone so I can ask for leave from the factory leaders."

The unit where Zhang Zhao was stationed was located in Yuantai City, Xishan Province, more than 500 kilometers away from Kyoto. The round trip, including the business trip, would take at least four or five days.

It was similar to what He Yuanchao was thinking. As soon as he finished asking, Zhang Lide on the other end of the phone said, "Please take five days off first. If it doesn't work, I'll talk to your leader then."

Neither of them was a lazy person, so they chatted briefly on the phone about the things they needed to do in Yuantai and agreed on a time to travel. Then, Zhang Lide hung up the phone first.

Otherwise it's fine, but if something happens, we all get together.

He Yuanchao took his lunch box to the cafeteria and ate his meal in a hurry. He did not return to the security department, but went straight upstairs to Liang Weimin's office.

Although he should talk to Mo Dacheng about asking for leave first, He Yuanchao thought about it while eating and felt that it would be better to say hello to Liang Weimin first.

Liang Weimin was eating in the office at the moment. When he saw He Yuanchao coming to see him at this time, he did not stand up. He continued to eat the steamed bun in his hand and said with a smile: "Find a place to sit. If you have anything to say, I will listen to you."

He picked up the thermos on the tea cabinet, walked to the desk and filled Liang Weimin's cup with water. Then He Yuanchao spoke about asking for leave.

"You need to find your supervisor about this matter!"

He Yuanchao picked up the cigarette Liang Weimin had placed on his desk and said with a smile, "I have to come over here and report to you, the leader!"

After saying that, he took out a cigarette, lit it and started smoking.

"You are not here to report anything. Is it because your wife is too strict and won't give you money to buy cigarettes that you come to me to beg for money?

Okay, I know about the leave request, go find Minister Mo right away!"

Looking at He Yuanchao who was smoking in front of him, Liang Weimin smiled and joked.

"Well, since you said so, I won't be polite to you."

As he spoke, He Yuanchao put the half pack of Mudan cigarettes in his hand into his shirt pocket, then quickly walked out of Liang Weimin's office.

Seeing this, Liang Weimin smiled and cursed, "Bandit style," and then ignored it. He lowered his head, looked at the documents on the table, and continued eating.

(End of this chapter)