Officialdom: Reborn in the 90s, all I want to do is quit my job and make money.

Bustling and prosperous, yet also in a daze.

Lin Yu was completely stunned when he came out of the mayor's office.

Stepping on the red carpeted corridor felt soft and yielding, like walking on clouds; every step felt unreal.

Zhou Quan saw him to the door, patted him on the shoulder, and looked at him with an expectation that said, "Do a good job, I believe in you."

Lin Yu responded with a stiff smile, but his heart was bleeding.

It’s over.

Barbie Q is here.

You've got the wrong script!

He couldn't help but wonder what had gotten into him just now? Why couldn't he control his loose tongue?

Mingming's plan was to resign and start his own business, chasing the spring breeze of reform and opening up, registering hundreds of trademarks, hoarding a few plots of land, dabbling in treasury bonds, doing whatever he wanted, making a small fortune, and then completely settling down to enjoy the dull life he hadn't had enough of in his previous life.

But now?

Not only did he fail to successfully "make a name for himself" within the system, but he was also thrust into the spotlight, with the mayor personally shining a spotlight on him.

Tomorrow, he will stand in front of a group of bureau chiefs and directors to deliver his "reactionary report" which is intended to expose his own hypocrisy.

What kind of situation is this?

What's the difference between this and a patient who wants euthanasia being forcibly dragged out of bed by a doctor and told that not only is he in great health, but he has also been selected to participate in the Olympics?

The more Lin Yu thought about it, the more sorrow welled up inside him, enveloped by a tremendous sense of absurdity and powerlessness.

He felt like he was Sun Wukong, thinking he could somersault 108,000 li in one go, but when he looked up, he found himself still in the palm of Buddha's hand.

And this "Buddha" even smiled and said to him: "Young comrade, I see that you have extraordinary talent. I will entrust you with the great task of spreading the scriptures and treasures in the future."

All Lin Yu wanted to say was: Thank you!

He walked away dejectedly, his mind a complete mess.

Go and tell the leaders of the Industry and Commerce Bureau that you want to support individual businesses and revitalize the private economy? Wouldn't that be a slap in the face to their state-owned enterprises?

Go and tell the urban management leaders to fence off the messy street vendors and give them official status? Wouldn't that negate all their past work on "city appearance improvement"?

To suggest to the tax authorities that these small vendors receive tax reductions or exemptions? Wouldn't that be undermining the government's budget?

And the Public Security Bureau, the State Commission for Restructuring the Economic System...

and many more!

Lin Yu's steps suddenly stopped.

He stood at the corner of the stairs, the sunlight from the window shining on his face, yet he felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

He blinked slowly, and the bubbling porridge in his mind seemed to begin to settle, with a terrifyingly clear thought slowly surfacing.

Yup!

Why should I be afraid?

Why the hell should I think this is a dead end?

This is clearly a broad and promising road!

Go tell those bureau chiefs my ideas: how to bankrupt the factory, how to make the workers set up street stalls, how to disrupt their proud "order"... Isn't this the perfect opportunity to cause them trouble and make them cause me trouble?

Mayor Liang is open-minded and willing to accept new things, but that doesn't mean that the bureau chiefs under him who are guarding their own little plot of land are equally open-minded!

In those days, a department was like a mountain stronghold, and a bureau chief was like a mountain king.

Trying to make a move on their territory is harder than climbing to heaven.

What would happen to a young man in his early twenties who, in that kind of setting, spouts nonsense and advocates those "heretical" ideas?

Those pampered gentlemen who are used to listening to reports, drinking tea, and reading newspapers would surely have treated him as heresy and a monstrous threat, and would have devoured him alive!

When the time comes, the Industry and Commerce Bureau will say he's disrupting the market, the Urban Management Bureau will say he's damaging the city's appearance, the Tax Bureau will say he's undermining the foundation of the nation, and the Public Security Bureau will say he's creating hidden dangers... Everyone will rise up against him.

The law does not punish the masses. Even if Mayor Liang admires him, he would not offend all the heads of powerful departments for the sake of him alone, right?

The best outcome would be to shelve this report, kick this troublemaker to the curb, and get rid of him so he won't bother you anymore.

That's it... done!

Thinking of this, Lin Yu felt a sudden sense of clarity and hope.

One second it was a dead end leading to the gallows, the next it became a starlit avenue to freedom.

He couldn't help but want to laugh.

I see, I see!

I am still too young and my thinking is limited.

They always thought they could get it done in one go and make the big boss get angry and fire them.

But we forget that sometimes, the real resistance comes from the middle management.

The top leader is thinking about the city's development and his political achievements.

The bureau chiefs, on the other hand, were more concerned with the power and interests of their own departments, and with preventing any trouble from arising.

My report is precisely designed to ignite a fire in their most comfortable place.

Do you think they'd agree? They'd be furious!

In an instant, Lin Yu felt like he could do it again.

He straightened his back and his steps became lighter.

The dejected look on his face vanished, replaced by an excited, eager expression.

It's just going to a meeting, isn't it?

Isn't it just about giving a presentation?

Just you wait, leaders. Tomorrow I'll teach you a lesson about what the sugar-coated bullets of capitalism really are! I guarantee it will make your blood pressure skyrocket and make you slam your fist on the table in anger!

He hummed an off-key tune and swayed back to his office at the University of Science and Technology.

As soon as he stepped inside, he sensed that something was wrong.

The office, which was originally drowsy, was now unusually alert.

A dozen pairs of eyes suddenly focused on him.

In those eyes, there was curiosity, speculation, schadenfreude, and a hint of awe.

Old Liu was sitting in the corner. When he saw him come in, the cold smile on his lips froze on his face before he could even take it off.

He never expected that Lin Yu would return unharmed after being gone for so long.

This isn't right! That's not how the script goes!

Lin Yu ignored their stares and walked straight to his seat.

Just as he was about to sit down, a figure with a dark face blocked his way.

It's Director Wang.

"Lin Yu!"

Director Wang's voice wasn't loud, but it was filled with suppressed anger, like a volcano about to erupt.

"Well done, Lin Yu, you've really made something of yourself!"

"Do you even respect me as the director? Do you even respect our office?!"

"You finished writing the report, but didn't show it to me, your direct supervisor, and sent it straight to Secretary Zhou! What, is my little temple too small to hold such a big Buddha?"

"I think you're not trying to show off, you're trying to reach for the heavens!"