33. Team Leader Koike
The first morning after vacation was filled with surprises, joys and dangers.
Surprisingly, before the regular meeting, Jiang Xuhuan actually held a wedding on National Day, and a low-key ring was already on her ring finger.
Chi Jin held the heavy box of candy, stunned, then a pang of pain. Sister Jiang had always been so caring towards her, so she couldn't afford to skimp on the gift money. With a broken heart and trembling hands, she transferred the 500 yuan gift money via WeChat. Seeing the successful transfer notification pop up on the screen, and the reminder that the balance had instantly dropped below double digits, she felt her breathing become a little more difficult.
"We're keeping it low-key in our hometown, so we didn't invite everyone. So, please have some candy."
"Congratulations! Oh, looking at the photos, they are such a perfect match."
"We have one less beautiful single girl in the editorial department."
"There's been a lot of National Day weddings lately. Isn't there an office romance going on in the New Sprouts editorial department? I didn't dare go to the wedding yesterday, fearing the company would investigate. I just sent a gift on WeChat."
Chi Jin couldn't take in a single word of the chatter surrounding the groom's family background, wedding details, and other editorial gossip. She simply stared at the remaining hundred-plus yuan in her WeChat wallet, mindlessly picking at her knuckles as she frantically plotted how to use that little money to get through the week before payday.
Fortunately, there was good news at the regular meeting. The column she and Qin Xiancheng were collaborating on was going smoothly, and one of their articles had even been selected for the next issue of People Around Us.
However, this "danger" came so suddenly that she was completely stunned.
Logically, the internal strife within Group A for the two newly added team leaders had nothing to do with her, a simpleton who was solely focused on producing quality content and had no ambition to manage anyone. But when the secret ballot results were announced, she unexpectedly heard her name—second only to Xiao Duan, who was eager and eager to compete.
"Did they call out the wrong ticket?" Chi Jin stood up in disbelief and almost stumbled to the front to look at the word "positive" on the whiteboard. "...this...I have no intention of fighting for it at all. Is this a mistake?"
From the audience, she could hear her colleagues' half-hearted flattery: "Editor Chi, don't be so modest!" "Those with great ability should work harder!" "We all have confidence in you!" "The waves behind push the waves ahead." The sound of these voices buzzed around her, making her feel dizzy. She couldn't figure out how this fire had caught up to her. How on earth had these people managed to get these two "unlucky guys" roasted in this fire when she and Xiao Duan were both away?
Listening to the flattery from the audience, she felt dizzy and couldn't figure out what was going on. How on earth had they managed to get these two unlucky guys up there when she and Xiao Duan were away?
Chi Jin anxiously picked at his fingers and looked at Chen Yisheng for help.
But Chen Yisheng frowned slightly, with a hint of undisguised surprise in his eyes. Obviously, this was not his arrangement, and it was even completely beyond his expectation.
Sitting here now, looking at the expressions of these old-timers, Chen Yisheng finally understood what was going on. He stood up and knocked on the table.
"Now that the team leaders have been selected, everyone should do their jobs well during this period, listen to the arrangements of Team Leaders Xiaochi and Xiaoduan, and cooperate with each other."
These words served as a protective amulet for Chi Jin, but her vision seemed to drift with white dots, and her gaze was unfocused. She didn't take in a single word of the editors' work arrangements. Her mind raced alternately between the small but crucial salary she received as a team leader and the precarious balance on her WeChat account. Thinking of the potential for increased tedious management work and interpersonal interactions, she almost wanted to run into a wall and die.
At lunchtime, the mystery was finally solved by Qin Xiancheng, a veteran. The three lunch buddies were joined by the newly promoted team leader Duan Xingche, who was overjoyed at his unexpected promotion and completely puzzled by the gloom surrounding his master, Chi Jin.
"Because there have been rumors recently that Editor-in-Chief Chen Yisheng is going to be promoted to Deputy Editor-in-Chief, truly entering the core management." Qin Xiancheng lowered his voice. "If this is confirmed, the structure of our editorial department will definitely be shaken up. Editor-in-Chief, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Responsible Editor, Team Leader, General Editor, Intern Editor, these layers of power will have to be reshuffled. It's still unknown whether Du Yanni or Deputy Editor-in-Chief Fang Tang will take over the position of Editor-in-Chief. What if... I mean what if, the person who gets promoted is someone we don't get along with, then the grassroots management positions like Team Leader will definitely be the first to be targeted to establish authority."
Qin Xiancheng, who is also the team leader, said so.
"What!" Duan Xingche slammed the table and stood up, "So that's how it is!"
"So those old bastards chose you two, the two easiest to manipulate and talk to, to take the blame, right?" Ouyang Yuan snorted coldly. "With all the twists and turns and intrigues, it's a good thing I left early."
Chi Jin poked the steamed bun with chopsticks in a depressed mood, with an expression that looked like he was about to cry: "Can you give me the 500 yuan first?"
"Don't even think about it, Xiaochi," Qin Xiancheng said with a wry smile, "Brother, I get 500 yuan a month, and it's all settled quarterly. I've never paid in advance."
"These old bastards are all as cunning as monkeys. They all know that the reform of print media is a tough nut to crack. If you're not careful, it might end up in your hands. This morning, while you were away, they got together and flirted with each other! And you even brought them some homemade tuan kuai (cakes) made by Auntie!"
Chi Jin really felt like tears were about to fall, but she had clearly seen an editor send a message to Chen Yisheng yesterday to volunteer. How could the situation change so suddenly overnight?
"But this Tuantuan cake is soft and sweet, so delicious." Ouyang Yuan said, "Auntie is so skillful, thank her for me."
"Yes, yes! Master, please thank Auntie on my behalf too. It's really delicious, otherwise I'd be in a worse mood right now." Duan Xingche said, "I see everyone brings souvenirs back from their trips, and they say the atmosphere is wonderful. I didn't expect it to be so murderous!"
Chi Jin replied with a languid "You're welcome," his mind a jumbled mess. He faced two pressing issues: survival—how could he survive seven days on a hundred-plus yuan? And work—how should he handle the sudden appointment of "Team Leader Xiaochi"? Was he really going to lead this group of veterans, each with their own ulterior motives, to "revitalize print media"?
What you fear will come true. Just when you were most short of money, you encountered something that required money. It just so happened that Sun Ting had sent her a message about meeting her for dinner on Thursday night. She had previously said something like, "I'll treat you when you come to Jing City."
Chi Jin hadn't figured out a reply yet, so he just ignored it, thinking he was busy with work. He turned around and opened the nearly dusty "Qianjinding" homepage and got back to his old ways.
Fortunately, she was lucky enough to snag an urgent order soon: 40 yuan for an hour's dog walking in an upscale residential complex near her company. If she didn't have to work overtime today, she would have just made it in time.
Survival has been temporarily guaranteed, and now we have to deal with the thorny issue of "Team Leader Koike".
She found the young editor Guo Xin, who had sent a message to Chen Yisheng yesterday to recommend himself - he had just been transferred from Group B to Group A two weeks ago and was only a few years older than Chi Jin - and asked him to come to the tea room for a private talk.
Chi Jin said kindly: "Brother Xin, I remember that before the holiday, there were actually quite a few people, including you, who wanted to fight for the position of team leader, right?"
Guo Xin couldn't figure out her intention, hesitated for a moment, and nodded.
"We're both open-minded people, so I'll be frank. I remember a lot of people wanted to be in this position before the holiday. Why were Xiao Duan and I chosen?"
A flicker of indignation crossed Guo Xin's face, but he quickly confessed, "At first, a few people wanted to compete. But early this morning, those senior editors came to talk to us 'centrists' separately. Their implicit message was that you and Xiao Duan were the most 'suitable,' saying that young people have drive. Anyway... anyway, they generally think that reform is a fantasy and there's no need to get involved in this mess. But I... after all, I was transferred from Group B and wanted to make a difference. I have parents and children to support, so I thought I'd give it a try."
"Thank you, Brother Xin, for telling me this. I also understand their perspective. They're used to a stable life. We share the same suffering. We both really want to do something. Do you have any specific ideas about the reform of Faces or the work of the team? We can discuss it first."
"Yes, I do, but..." Guo Xin seemed a little hesitant, as if he had a lot of concerns.
"I understand. It's normal for you to have concerns, Brother Xin." Chi Jin immediately took over, making his attitude clear. "It's okay. You don't have to tell me the details now. I'll organize a discussion later. As long as you are willing to put forward your ideas at the meeting and support me, it will be fine. I hate it most when no one speaks."
Seeing Chi Jin's sincerity, and not trying to trick him or shift the blame, Guo Xin nodded, his tone tinged with a sense of shared hatred. "Alright. To be honest, I did vote for you. Because looking at our nursing home, it really looks like a bunch of retired people just lying around, and you're the only one who looks like a caregiver who wants to work."
Chi Jin wanted to cry but had no tears: "Just be a nurse, as long as you don't turn against us. Believe me, it's better to give it a try than not to try!"
Guo Xin thought Chi Jin had already made up his mind, and his tone relaxed: "Okay, Team Leader Xiao Chi! Then I'll go back and sort it out, and we'll discuss the meeting."
After seeing Guo Xin off, Chi Jin still felt uncertain. He hadn't been able to rest properly during this holiday, much less think about any major reform plans. This feeling of being entrusted with a task at a critical moment, of being put on the spot, was awful.
She had no choice but to go ahead. She took a deep breath and decided to consult the three editors-in-chief, even Du Yanni, whom she had always been at odds with. She had to be patient and try to get their opinions and learn some experience.
Her first thought was the reliable and highly skilled Chen Yisheng, but when she excitedly returned to the office, she discovered that this devoted worker wasn't at his desk. Remembering recent rumors about his promotion, she couldn't help but imagine the day when he'd never show up in the editorial office again.
It seems a little...uncomfortable.
Without thinking too much, Team Leader Xiaochi knocked on the door of Deputy Editor-in-Chief Fang Tang's office.
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