"Xiaoling, go and invite Lao Liu over for me." After learning that Zhao Li hadn't returned for over an hour, Minister Yang didn't say anything, but simply asked Xiaoling to invite Zhao Li's backer over.
"Old Yang, what's wrong?" Minister Liu walked in and saw Minister Yang with a dark face.
The two have been friends for many years, but now they have been arguing repeatedly because of Zhao Li, which makes Minister Liu feel uneasy.
"Old Liu, we've been friends for so many years, together since we first entered the factory, and we were promoted to cadres together. Over the years, I believe I've done right by you, haven't I?" Minister Yang said calmly, looking at his longtime friend.
"Speak plainly if you have something to say. We're brothers, we don't mince words." Minister Liu raised an eyebrow, knowing that Minister Yang was trying to be polite first and then take action.
However, he guessed what it was about and gestured for Minister Yang to speak directly.
"Today I gave the college entrance examination quota to Comrade Xia Lan. After Zhao Li found out, she insisted that I had an improper relationship with Comrade Xia Lan and that I should have given the quota to her instead," Minister Yang said slowly.
Minister Liu frowned. "Go on."
"Later, Comrade Xia Lan suggested a competition on the spot, so I told the factory director about it. The factory director was very interested and invited Director Wen. Director Wen brought two test papers and asked Comrade Xia Lan and Comrade Zhao Li to do them in front of them..."
"Zhao Li lost?"
Minister Liu was not surprised by this answer at all.
How could he not know how learned Zhao Li is?
Minister Yang nodded.
"When Comrade Zhao Li was halfway through, Comrade Xia Lan had already finished, and with a very high accuracy rate. The factory director and Director Wen were very satisfied with her. Comrade Zhao Li slammed her fist on the table and said there was a problem with the test paper, thus offending Director Wen..."
"Then she said we were favoring Comrade Xia Lan, and then she ran out crying and didn't come back for over an hour..."
When Minister Liu heard Zhao Li yell at Director Wen, his face turned ashen.
Hearing the rest, Minister Liu was so angry that he couldn't say a word.
"Old Yang, you don't need to say anything more. You don't need to give me face. Just handle it however you see fit," Minister Liu said earnestly to his old friend, suppressing his anger.
"Don't blame me later for not giving you face..." Minister Yang glanced at Minister Liu.
"No, this is not your fault." Minister Liu must have some background to become a minister, and he was well aware of Minister Yang's reminder.
Zhao Li is disobedient and doesn't listen to instructions. She doesn't do her job well and even dares to skip work now. If it were anyone else, they would have been fired long ago.
Minister Yang had given him face by protecting Zhao Li for so long, but now Zhao Li even dared to scold Director Wen. Minister Liu didn't want to say anything more.
He can't help his sister-in-law.
If his wife makes a fuss about this, he'll just let it go.
"It's really not your fault, fire him!" Minister Liu said seriously. "My wife is making a fuss with me, and I won't tolerate it anymore."
"Okay." Minister Yang glanced at Minister Liu and immediately fired Zhao Li.
When Zhao Li finished lunch at home and leisurely returned to the department store, she had already been notified.
All the sales staff already knew that she had been fired, except for Zhao Li herself, who still thought she was working at the department store.
She lost to Xia Lan in the morning, which made her lose face. She didn't lift her head and prepared to go back to the deli counter.
"Excuse me, sir, this area is for employees only. You cannot enter."
Sister Yang threw the oilcloth in front of Zhao Li and sneered at her.
"Sister Yang, are you still half asleep? I'm Zhao Li." Zhao Li pointed to herself, thinking that Sister Yang must really be half asleep! She's getting old, and her eyesight is failing.
"Don't you know? Because of your absence this morning, you've been publicly criticized and fired." Sister Yang pointed to the bulletin board, where only one piece of paper was posted.
Zhao Li's expression changed, and she immediately walked over quickly. The notice was clearly written on it.
Comrade Zhao Li... has committed serious violations of discipline and is hereby criticized and expelled.
"Why are you firing me! I was so heartbroken because I lost this morning..." Zhao Li couldn't accept this outcome, tore down the notice, and rushed to the office.
"Wasn't the announcement clear enough?" Minister Yang glanced at Zhao Li indifferently.
"Before you joined the company, did no one teach you that being absent without leave would result in a demerit?" Minister Yang questioned.
"How could I have known such a thing?" Zhao Li said unwillingly.
"Now you know!" Minister Yang said dismissively.
"You can't fire me!" Zhao Li said through gritted teeth.
She had worked so hard to get this decent job, and she didn't want to go back to sweeping the streets.
"Oh? Why can't I fire you?" Minister Yang scoffed, wanting Zhao Li to explain.
“Because my brother-in-law is…” Zhao Li wanted to say that her brother-in-law was Minister Liu, but Minister Yang interrupted her as soon as she opened her mouth.
“I’ve already spoken to your brother-in-law, and he agreed with my approach. You can go ask him.” Minister Yang’s words shattered Zhao Li’s last shred of hope.
"Impossible! My brother-in-law wouldn't do that!" Zhao Li's expression changed, and she immediately ran out.
When they arrived at the personnel department, Minister Liu was reviewing Zhao Li's dismissal document. Minister Liu signed his name without hesitation, approving Minister Yang's dismissal.
"Sister...Brother-in-law!" When Zhao Li came over breathlessly, Minister Liu simply raised his head and glanced at her.
"This is our workplace, please call me Minister Liu," Minister Liu said coldly.
"Minister Liu...Minister Yang wants to fire me..." Zhao Li said hurriedly.
"I know, I just approved it," Minister Liu said expressionlessly, showing the document in his hand to Zhao Li.
“Minister Liu…” Zhao Li looked at Minister Liu in disbelief. How could he approve this…
"You can leave now. It's working hours, and I'm very busy," Minister Liu said coldly.
"Let's talk about it when we get home."
"..." Zhao Li's eyes were filled with tears. She felt as if she had been betrayed by the person she loved most, and she ran out crying.
Minister Liu glanced at her retreating figure and silently continued working.
I sighed inwardly, knowing that going home tonight would be another farce.
Zhao Li ran to Xia Lan's counter and reached out to slap Xia Lan.
Fortunately, Xia Lan was already on guard when she saw Zhao Li running over. When she saw Zhao Li slap her hard, she didn't hold back either.
He grabbed Zhao Li's hand with one hand and slapped her back hard with the other.
"Smack!!!!"
The loud slap made everyone pause for a moment, and they immediately turned around to look at them.
"Comrade Zhao Li, I've attacked you time and time again. What do you want? Do you think I'm easy to bully because I'm weak?"
After slapping Zhao Li back, Xia Lan walked out from behind the counter and stood in front of Zhao Li, who was covering her face.
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