Ning Xi went upstairs to find Ruan Liping to ask about the situation and whether anything big had happened at work while she was away.

But her office door was locked.

"Director Ruan went out early in the morning with Director Qin and others." Xiaoping, an assistant in the office next door, was also an acquaintance of Ning Xi and took the initiative to tell her the information she had.

Ning Xi felt even worse after hearing this.

"Has Director Jiang gone?"

"No, Deputy Director Cheng went."

She glanced at the file bag and suddenly came up with an idea. "Xiao Ping, can you lend me your pen?"

"It's on my desk, feel free to use it."

Happiness Food Factory, conference room.

A circle of leaders sat around the long table, no one said a word, as if they were waiting for something.

A clerk knocked on the door and came in. "Leaders, there's a call from the Commerce Bureau. A comrade named Ning Xi has been assigned to deliver the documents immediately."

Qiu Wenbin, the director of the Xingfu Food Factory, closed his notebook and smiled apologetically at everyone: "Our factory is relatively small, and we don't have a car. Otherwise, driving would be faster."

Director Qin quickly stood up and said, "What are you talking about, Director Qiu? It's all my fault for coming directly to the factory. Otherwise, I probably could have brought it here as well."

Director Qiu: "Director Qin, you're taking the blame on yourself. We agreed yesterday to come early today, and you can't predict the future."

Ruan Liping sat opposite Director Qin and glanced at Director Yan who was sitting above her. The other person was looking at the newspaper intently with his head down, as if he had automatically blocked out the outside sounds.

Originally, the leaders of various departments gathered here to discuss the merger of the two food factories.

As a result, a situation suddenly occurred. Director Qiu received a notice saying that a decision had been made on the matter and a document had been issued and sent to the Commercial Bureau yesterday evening.

Merging factories is a big deal. The placement of employees and the replacement of leaders are all big issues. If not handled properly, something bad may happen.

At this moment, Ruan Liping also began to feel uneasy.

Because the part of this matter related to the Commercial Bureau was handed over to her and Director Qin to handle, and the higher-ups also intended to conduct an investigation.

Director Yan will be retiring soon, leaving his position vacant. Their director is going to be promoted, so someone will have to take up the position of director.

However, this has nothing to do with Ruan Liping, because it is impossible for her to jump directly to the position of director, but she can compete for the position of deputy director.

There are currently four deputy directors in the bureau. No matter which one takes the position, his position will definitely be...

The person currently competing most fiercely with her is Qin Xianyu.

While she was wondering if there would be any condoms today, Director Qin spoke again: "But don't worry, everyone. I know the comrade who delivered the letter, and he's very reliable!"

Another food factory leader flattered, "Director Qin has always been a caring and supportive person with his colleagues. I'm sure every employee in the Commerce Bureau knows this, right?"

Zhu Liangcai, who was also present at the meeting, frowned. What was the meaning of these people praising this Qin?

Director Qin smiled pretentiously and said, "That's not true. The Commerce Bureau has nearly 200 people. How could my memory be that good? But Comrade Ning Xi is different. She's truly outstanding!"

"Oh? What's so good about it?"

Yan Xueping folded the newspaper carefully, sat up straight, looked at him seriously, and listened attentively.

Director Qin was speechless for a moment. He hadn't even gotten to the point yet, so why did this person speak first?

He heard that Ruan Liping had made connections with higher-ups and was in contact with Director Yan. She had even gone to their house for dinner some time ago, but he wasn't sure whether the plan had worked out or not.

If it succeeds, the situation will be extremely disadvantageous to him.

Therefore, he wanted to take this opportunity today to deliberately bring out the close relationship between Ning Xi and Ruan Liping, and rely on Ruan Liping's relationship to do whatever he wanted without paying any attention to organizational discipline.

In fact, Ning Xi was just an excuse.

His real purpose was to prove that Ruan Liping could not distinguish between public and private affairs, protected her subordinates, and even had a poor grasp of people. She had no leadership awareness and was unfit to be of any importance.

Since something went wrong with the other party on such an important matter, Director Yan must have considered whether to continue supporting Ruan Liping.

Director Qin smiled kindly, "Director Yan, you may not know that Comrade Ning Xi and Comrade Ruan Liping, who is here with us, are close friends, as close as sisters, regardless of age difference!"

Qiu Wenbin looked at Ruan Liping in feigned surprise.

"Oh? If Director Qin hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten that Director Ruan is over 40 this year. It seems that her work tasks are usually quite easy. She looks so well-maintained that she looks like a woman in her twenties."

Ruan Liping finally understood what these people were planning. It was nothing more than seeing the big picture from the small details and making innuendos.

Unfortunately, even if they succeeded today, Director Yan’s mind would not change.

Because Director Yan looked up to Ning Xi because of the benefit he received from her, and not because he valued Ruan Liping that he cared about the situation of her subordinates.

Totally putting the cart before the horse.

If Ning Xi herself had no ambition in her career, and Director Yan did not want to do too much and give others a handle, it would be easy for Ning Xi to change her position now.

They are both doing grassroots work, but the difference between working in the municipal bureau and working in the provincial department is huge.

But it's not her style to let others bully her.

Ruan Liping tossed her hair. Her pretty face made the other leaders look even older. She smiled and spoke in a resounding voice:

"I was born to work. The harder I work, the better my spirits become. On the contrary, if I don't work, I feel listless and listless.

"But Director Qin, your current work is making you so tired. Look at the dark circles under your eyes. I'm afraid you haven't slept for several nights. It seems that we have to ask the director to assign you fewer tasks. After all, you are old and your health is not good..."

"Ahem, I'm just a little tired lately. I'm fine. Director Ruan, please don't rush to change the subject. Let's talk about Comrade Ning Xi."

Ruan Liping shrugged, not knowing who was the first to link appearance with work ability.

Alas, it’s hard to be a woman.

If you are good-looking, people will say it; if you are not good-looking, people will also say it.

Director Qin narrowed his eyes and said, "Comrade Ning Xi has only been working at our bureau for a few days. Do you know how long she's been on leave? Haha! Almost longer than her working hours!"

"Tsk tsk, I haven't had so many days of rest in the whole year." The best supporter, Director Qiu, said immediately.

Yan Xueping said seriously, "Hmm? Requesting such a long leave of absence should only be approved by a higher-level leader, right?"

During this period, he was busy with his son's problems, helping him to catch up on his knowledge and homework. He was so busy that he couldn't turn around, and no one talked to him, so he really didn't know much about Ning Xi's situation.

All I know is that she married the child of Old Zhao's family, and he asked his lover to send a generous gift.

Director Qin's heart sank, and he was thinking about how to say it without offending Director Jiang, because it was he who approved the leave, but it must have been Ruan Liping who put in the effort.

"Leader, Comrade Ning Xi has delivered the documents." The young clerk who came to notify not long ago handed the documents to Director Qin.