Chapter Ten Taking Office on Horseback

  When Fei Chai returned home, it was already past one o'clock in the morning. The master bedroom door was closed, with only a sliver of light coming from the gap at the bottom. Feeling somewhat guilty, Fei Chai swallowed hard and quietly pushed open the bedroom door, only to see You Qian embracing their son, Fei Xiao Mi, fast asleep, with the bedside lamp still on. He didn't want to disturb them, and feeling uneasy, he tiptoed over to the wardrobe to find some bedding to sleep on the sofa, when he heard a soft voice behind him: "What's wrong? Isn't this big bed enough for you?"

  Faye suddenly sat up, turned around and saw Yu Qian's big eyes already open, smiling at him. He quickly put down the quilt in his hand, walked back to the bedside, bent down and whispered: "Not asleep yet?"

  "You're used to having your husband accompany you these past few days, can't sleep without him... honestly tell me, where did you sneak off to?"

  Fei Chai was taken aback by this question and his forehead began to sweat as he hastily said: "They're all runners-up, don't drag me out."

  "You're so anxious, I'm not that kind of woman who gets jealous over every little thing. In the future, when you start working in the government office, there will be many occasions where you'll have to entertain and socialize, if I get jealous every time, I can open a vinegar store."

  Yu Qian said this, and Fei Chai felt even more guilty towards his wife. He was just about to confess everything when Yu Qian covered his mouth and said: "Alright, do I not know you? You think I married you because of your wealth or power? No, it's because of your honesty. Alright, go to bed and sleep, just be gentle."

  With a sense of guilt, Fei Chai went to bed. Actually, that night, although Fei Chai was very passive, he didn't do anything bad either. It's just that it was his first time doing this, and no matter how hard the girl tried to arouse him, he couldn't get an erection. The girl even said: "Strange, your body is so good... relax a bit." Fortunately, during these intimate moments, he and Zhu Ya Jun were separated, otherwise Zhu would have laughed to death. So, with guilt and shame, Fei Chai's emotions were quite complicated.

  Fortunately, it was a peaceful and safe night, with nothing else happening. By the time he was woken up by his son Fei Xiaomiao, it was already broad daylight.

  Fei Chai rested at home for a week, but he didn't idle away. On the one hand, he was thinking about his future work plans. On the other hand, he took charge of all the household chores and even wiped down all the windows in the front and back of the house, making it much brighter inside. Yu Qian seemed to have become a shopkeeper who only knew how to put on makeup and watch TV, while Fei Yang helped with many household chores when she was at home.

  However, Fei Chai still accompanied his wife out a few times in the evening. Mainly because Yu Qian's sisters and friends wanted to see him. Although Fei Chai didn't like gatherings and parties, he thought that these women had kept his wife company during his absence, so he went along to show his gratitude. Despite feeling reluctant, he pretended to be nonchalant. However, Yu Qian seemed to have noticed his unease and asked him, "Now that you're back, can I still go out and play on weekends?"

  Fei Chai smiled and said: "You are marrying me to be my wife, not a prisoner. What's wrong with that? Just don't stay out too late every time. Staying up all night is bad for women."

  You Qian was allowed and felt quite happy, but turned around and said: "Staying up late is not good for men either, you should also stay up less, where can work be done?"

  Fei Chai naturally agreed with his mouth full.

  The whole family spent a happy week together. On the second Monday, Fei Chai got up early again, washed and dressed neatly, and gave his wife who was still lying in bed a light kiss before leaving the house happily. As soon as he walked out of the community gate, he saw a car coming to a stop not far away from him. The door opened, and Zhang Peng got out of the car, waving at him: "Director Fei, over here."

  Fei Chai hastily walked over, laughing and saying: "I'm not some director or anything."

  Zhang Peng also smiled and said, "This afternoon the bureau held a meeting, as soon as it opened you became the deputy director of the Financial Department. Although Wei is still acting as director, anyone with eyes can see that this is just a transition period, and that position will eventually be yours."

  Fei Chai said: It's often said that drivers in government agencies are also the most perceptive people, and indeed they're not wrong. But still, he said: "You can't say it like that, after all we have to follow the organization's arrangements."

  Zhang Peng replaced Fei Chai and opened the car door, saying: "That's it."

  Fei Chai got on the car and waited for Zhang Peng to get on too, then said: "Are you here specifically to pick me up? There are so many people in the bureau, am I a bit special or something..."

  Zhang Peng said while starting the car, "It can't be said like that. Today is a big meeting at the bureau, and Director Zhu is worried that you'll get stuck in traffic and be late. Since I live in a nearby neighborhood, he asked me to drive you back home after I'm done, so my first task today is to send you safely and on time to the bureau."

  Fei Chai couldn't help but secretly sigh that Zhu Ya Jun was a man who did things with precision, and he had already owed him many favors without even doing much work. He really didn't know how to repay them in the future. It seemed that this "brother sleeping on the upper bunk" was no longer the unlucky kid who would worry about failing at the end of the semester.

  The car drove for a while and encountered a red light. Zhang Peng temporarily stopped the car and said, "By the way, Director Fei, I heard that except for you and Director Wei, there is only one old Zheng who was originally there in the newly established Financial Management Office. It still needs to transfer three or four people. I think Director Fei is also a straightforward person, so I'll just say it straight out - I want to come work at the Financial Management Office."

  Fei Chai was taken aback, "Isn't the Small Car Department a very good unit? There are many benefits, both open and hidden. But it's not convenient to ask people directly why they want to come here." So he said: "Oh, have you discussed this transfer with Director Zhu?"

  Zhang Peng nodded and said: "I mentioned it, Director Zhu said that the personnel matters handled by the Ministry of Finance need your approval, let me discuss it with you."

  Fei Chai thought to himself that he was new here and didn't want to offend anyone so quickly, but he wasn't familiar with Zhang Peng's abilities either, only knowing that he was a driver, so he said ambiguously: "Since Director Zhu knows about it, then there shouldn't be any problem."

  Zhang Peng, after all, had been a minibus driver for many years. He was exceptionally good at reading people's faces and immediately noticed the knot in Fei Chai's heart. He said, "Director Fei, I have to tell you, I also majored in geology."

  "Oh?" Fei Chai's expression changed slightly as he looked at Zhang Peng with a few more points of interest.

  "As soon as Zhang Peng saw the trick, he immediately added: "But, my education is only a junior college degree, so in this bureau full of undergraduate and graduate degrees, I can only drive. But it's nothing, if you think I'm not suitable for the financial department either, that's okay, haha."

  Fei Chai saw him retreat and advance, and quickly picked up the conversation: "Education can't prove anything. Everyone knows the position of Xiaochuan in the organization. Jingzhishu is a temporary institution after all, and its prospects are uncertain. You're still young, I'm afraid you'll miss your chance."

  "What a young age, and I'm already approaching thirty." Zhang Peng stepped on the gas as the light turned green, and said while driving: "I'm actually just not reconciled to it. After all, I majored in geology, how did I end up becoming a full-time driver? I still want to do some business in my lifetime, even if it's just for a few years, so that my studies won't be in vain. And with Director Wen from the branch office taking the lead, I'm sure I'll achieve something."

  Zhang Peng's words moved Fei Chai somewhat, after all, he was a business cadre from the beginning, and he knew that having no place to use his skills was a kind of suffocating feeling. In this way, he had some liking for Zhang Peng, this little guy.

  Arrived at the bureau, as usual, first went to Zhu Yajun's office to report, Zhu Yajun didn't say anything else, just said: "First attend the meeting, talk later after the meeting."

  At the global conference, apart from the usual clichés, when introducing Fei Chai, he was made to blush again, no matter what others thought, anyway, he himself felt that the praise for him was a bit too much.

  After the meeting, Fei Chai and the bureau leaders, along with several middle-level cadres from key departments, held another small meeting. They unanimously agreed that no matter how the Financial Management Office would carry out its work in the future, they first needed to set up a framework. The office was already available, so they used the fifth floor's conference room, rearranged the desks and chairs, and created an open workspace. A small room was also separated from the main area using glass doors to serve as Fei Chai's office. Although Wei Ju held the position of Director, since there was already a Deputy Director's office, no additional office space was allocated for him. Additionally, computers, printers, and other office equipment would arrive within a week; all that was missing now were personnel.

  When it comes to personnel, everyone says that they should listen to Fei Chai's opinion first. Although Fei Chai is not very familiar with the affairs of the organization, he is after all a clever person and knows that if he doesn't say something good, he will offend someone. So he pushes himself away, saying that he has just arrived and is still unfamiliar with the bureau, asking if there are any recommendations from the leaders and colleagues. However, it's unclear whether everyone looks at the future of the Economic Development Office or has a prior agreement, but they all push it away, saying that the Economic Development Office is a new department and no one wants to make any recommendations, so it's better for Fei Chai to choose the personnel himself.

  Fei Chai nodded at Zhang Peng's name, and Shen Xing was the first to applaud and laugh: "Good old Fei, you said you didn't understand the situation, but in an instant, you took away my best driver. You're really something."

  Shen Xing said that, it meant that everyone didn't have any problem with it anymore, and the matter was settled. However, Fei Chai still made a joke following the conversation: "What's wrong, Old Shen? If you can't bear to part with it, I'll leave it for you, so you won't regret it later."

  "Look at what you're saying, can't bear to part with it but have to, work is important, work is important, haha."

  "After talking about Zhang Peng's situation, Fei Chai said: 'I really don't understand the personnel in our department very well, as for other candidates, I really can't say anything.'"

  "Wei Ji said, 'That's easy, I'll just say a few words as the head of the personnel department. Old Liu, tell your personnel section chief to prepare all the files of our current staff members. Later, let Director Fei come over and take a look. After this check, we'll have an idea in mind. But I do have one thing to say to everyone: after Director Fei selects the talent, don't hide anything from me, whether it's a treasure or not. Don't be like Director Shen, who was reluctant to give up even a driver.' Everyone burst out laughing at this, and then Zhu Ya-Jun added a few more casual remarks before the meeting dispersed."