Chapter 15: Who Gave You the Right?

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Deng Hong’s eyes blazed with fury as she fixed her gaze on Li Xiuyuan. Today, she was determined to set the young man straight. They hadn’t even started work yet, and he was already speaking so bluntly—what would happen once they were officially on the job?

The Personnel Department was a crucial division within the county government’s structure. While it might not rank in the top three, it was certainly among the top five.

Although she was just a senior officer in the Personnel Department, Deng Hong knew how to position herself appropriately. Even if a superior questioned her, she wouldn’t be intimidated.

Li Xiuyuan was momentarily stunned by Deng Hong’s outburst. Was this woman going through menopause or something? This was going too far—she hadn’t even handed over the notification of appointment.

“My name is Li Xiuyuan. I applied for a position in the County Government Office.” Li Xiuyuan stated his name plainly.

In an instant, Deng Hong’s expression froze, and most of her anger faded into embarrassment. The County Government Office?

Her Personnel Department could hold up ordinary units’ employees—for instance, Zhang Jun from the Water Conservancy Bureau, who was still processing his paperwork. The Water Conservancy Bureau’s leadership couldn’t do much about her.

But the County Government Office was different. It directly served the county’s top officials. The director of that office was part of the county leadership team.

For someone from that office to come personally to collect the notification of appointment, it meant she must have been unwilling to continue.

“I believe I have done nothing wrong. You should not withhold my notification, nor is it necessary for the director of the County Government Office to come and claim it.

If you insist on this, then I will go ask your superiors whether this is Personnel Department policy or your personal rule—who gave you such authority...”

Li Xiuyuan knew he couldn’t back down now; he had to remain firm.

Deng Hong opened her mouth, finally forcing out a smile more pitiful than tears.

“Comrade Li, there’s no need for this. I was just joking earlier. Work has been hectic, and I got a bit impatient. Please, have a seat, let’s talk.”

Deng Hong hurriedly tried to soothe Li Xiuyuan.

Holding back an employee from the Government Office from joining was tantamount to resigning herself from the Personnel Department. If this escalated, it would do her no good.

The people of the County Government Office were not to be trifled with.

Li Xiuyuan frowned and sat down. Nearby, Zhang Jun was dumbfounded. Was this the same middle-aged woman who had just roared at them? She had been so domineering earlier.

Why did she suddenly back down just because it was the Government Office?

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And how could she lose face so quickly? She had been so aggressive moments ago—was she really going to flip so fast?

“Comrade Li, I’ll process your paperwork right now. Have some tea. It’s hot these days, and many people come to collect their notices, so I was a bit irritable. Please don’t take it personally.”

Deng Hong poured a cup of tea for Li Xiuyuan.

“Tea is fine, but in this heat, some cold water to cool down is better for the temper,” Li Xiuyuan replied with a hint of sarcasm. Though he wouldn’t push the matter further, he wasn’t fond of Deng Hong, who abused her small authority.

Deng Hong’s face flushed. Being spoken to so slyly by such a young man angered her, but she dared not defy him. The Government Office was not someone she could afford to offend.

The rank of the Government Office was one thing; more importantly, it was close to the leadership. They saw each other every day. Who knew if someone might catch the leaders’ attention and be promoted to head of Personnel in a few years?

That was the advantage of a good department. It was also why she could be so overbearing with these youngsters—because the Personnel Department was a powerful place.

Zhang Jun didn’t dare utter a word. Deng Hong quickly finished processing Li Xiuyuan’s documents and handed him the notification.

“Alright, thank you.”

Li Xiuyuan took the notice and stood to leave.

“You’re welcome. If you need anything, just come by,” Deng Hong said with a smile, escorting him to the door.

Outside the Personnel Department office, a crowd had gathered to watch the commotion. Yet when the door opened, it was Deng Hong smiling as she saw Li Xiuyuan out.

Li Xiuyuan strode away, while the smile on Deng Hong’s face vanished, replaced by her usual sharp scowl. Anyone unaware would think someone owed her money.

Zhang Jun came out holding his own notification. Immediately, the crowd swarmed him.

“Was that guy a ‘connection’ too?” someone asked curiously. Deng Hong’s friendly demeanor toward him suggested he was favored, but Li Xiuyuan had come alone and even argued inside—something didn’t add up.

That sudden change was suspicious.

Zhang Jun scoffed. “Connection? He’s a big shot—working in the County Government Office. She can’t afford to mess with him.”

Now that he had his notice, Zhang Jun spoke more boldly. He was annoyed with Deng Hong—she ignored him from the Water Conservancy Bureau but smiled sweetly at someone from the Government Office. “Ugh!”

“A big shot in the Government Office, huh? When I applied, I saw that position too but didn’t dare to apply. The competition was fierce—I probably wouldn’t get it.”

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“Exactly. The day after registration, I saw hundreds had applied for that one spot. I didn’t have the guts.”

“Working in the Government Office is impressive. Being around the leaders all day, their experience is something we can’t match. If only I had exchanged contacts earlier—we’re all starting work together…”

“Yeah, if only I had exchanged contacts…”

The group sighed with regret. Meanwhile, Li Xiuyuan had boarded a bus to go home. As he settled in, he noticed an Audi parked on the street. The license plate looked familiar. Just then, Lin Jingya stepped out of the car.

“He’s really soared into the heights and become a phoenix,” Li Xiuyuan sneered but didn’t pay it much mind as the bus pulled away. They would meet again.

Lin Jingya arrived at the Personnel Department’s entrance, where people still discussed Li Xiuyuan’s matter. It was her first time at such a bureau, and she felt nervous.

Carefully, she asked someone waiting for their notification about the process, then waited at the door.

“By the way, when I came in, I heard you talking about some big shot—what’s that about?” Lin Jingya pulled a nearby young man aside.

The young man, noticing her beauty, enthusiastically recounted how a “big shot” from the Government Office had just put that middle-aged Personnel officer in her place. It was very satisfying.

Lin Jingya listened with envy. Unfortunately, she had applied only to the Street Office—not nearly as prestigious. She could only wait patiently.

“We didn’t even know each other before. If I’d known, I would have gotten their contact info. Working in the Government Office, who knows when that might come in handy,” the young man lamented.

Lin Jingya shared that feeling. The Government Office was a fiercely competitive place. Her ex-boyfriend Li Xiuyuan hadn’t even passed the interview, while this person was smoothly onboarded—impressive.

Such a key department—before even starting work, the personnel officer had to show them respect and smile warmly. Once on the job, the future was boundless.

If only she had come earlier—maybe she could have exchanged contacts too.