Power and Wealth

Friday.

At about 10 am, Guo Shunjie returned to his desk afterreceiving a task from Chief Zhou in his office. He looked at the thick stack of documents and frowned. He thenstood up and walked towards Dong Xuebing, who was doing some data entries. Hesmiled and place the stack of papers onthe desk: “Xiao Dong, are you busy? Go through these documents. Chief Zhou saidthat there were too many spelling mistakes. You need to amend it. He needs itby noon.”

Should this be your job?

But Dong Xuebing wanted to maintain a good relationship withhis colleagues. “Ok. I will do it now.”

Guo Shunjie nodded and returned to his desk. He crossed hislegs and sat there drinking his tea.

11.30 am. Dong Xuebing and Tan Limei went upstairs todeliver a document.

On the way, Tan Limei asked softly: “Guo Shunjie asked youto do his task for him again?”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “We are colleagues, and we should help each other.”

“Hmph! What help each other? Guo Shunjie likes to order thenewcomers around because he knows the District Political Commissar. He acts asif he is the leader in the office. When I just arrived here, he had also askedme for lots of things. It’s sosickening.” Tan Limei grumbled. “Oh, before you and Sun Zhuang came, there wasa hardworking young man. But he left because of Guo Shunjie. Who can toleratebeing ordered around by him?”

Dong Xuebing was surprised. “Really?”

“Why should I lie to you?” Tan Limei did not say any more. “Just be careful.”

“I will. Thanks for telling me.” Dong Xuebing was thinking.Being in an organization was so much different than in school.

During lunch, Dong Xuebing passed the documents back to GuoShunjie. “Brother Guo, it’s done.”

Guo Shunjie did not say anything and flipped the documentand read a few pages. He nodded. “Good. Thank you.” Guo Shunjie saw Guo Panwei,Changjuan and the rest going out for lunch, he patted the empty seat besidehim. “Xiao Dong, sit. Let’s have a chat.”

Dong Xuebing sat down: “What is it?”

When both were the only ones left in the office, Guo Shunjiesmiled and said: “I think you are a smart person. You are much smarter than SunZhuang. What are your plans for your future? Have you have thought about it? Doyou have any goals?” Guo Shunjie’s tone was like a leader asking hissubordinate.

Dong Xuebing cursed in his heartandhalf-heartedlyreplied: “No. I still do not know if I could keep my position as a staffmember. I think I need to have some good results first.” Not everyone whobecame a civil servant will have an iron rice bowl. According to the rules, ifa newly posted civil servant received “Bad” appraisal continuously for 2 years,he will be asked to go. Of course, very few agencies will do this unless theperson’s performance was atrocious, or he had offended some leaders.

Guo Shunjie laughed. “Stop your pretenses. You have entered this office for a few days, and you should have heard about it.” He wasreferring to his relationships with theleaders. “Xiao Dong, if you follow me I can help you. I should be promotedlatest by next year. When the time comes, Ican easily give you a helping hand. There is nothing to lose.” He was very straightforward.

Huh? What’s the meaning of this? He tries to pull me over to his side? Follow him?

But you are also not a leader. Do I need to follow you?

Dong Xuebing knew that if he became Guo Shunjie’s follower,Guo Shunjie would surely order himaround. He might even have to serve him tea. Promotion? He does not have theauthority to promote anybody. Also if hehad the power to promote someone and he refusesto promote Dong Xuebing, there wasnothing Dong Xuebing could do. This was like a blank cheque.

Dong Xuebing wants to be promoted, but he was not stupid.After thinking for a while, he replied: “Brother Guo, thank you for thinking sohighly of me. But I have just entered the GeneralAffairs Department, and I am stilllearning the ropes. I just want to focus on the tasks on hand. I hope......” DongXuebing had to reject Guo Shunjie nicely. Dong Xuebing also did not want tooffend anyone, especially those with backgrounds.

Guo Shunjie’s facechanges instantly. “I have given you a chance.Have you thought it through?” He had asked the District’s Political Commissarcommittee for a promotion. He was thinking of how to get his own men to betransferred over to the new department if he got promoted next year. Bringinghis own men to the newworkplace would make his job easier. This waswhy he wanted to rope Dong Xuebing in. But Dong Xuebing rejected him, and he felt he had lost face.

Dong Xuebing hesitated for a while and replied: “I reallythank you for your offer, but I......”

Guo Shunjie immediately stood up with a grimace face: “Youdon’t know what’s good for you!” Dong Xuebing had successfully aggroed him.

Dong Xuebing slapped his forehead. Damn. In less than aweek, I had offended my colleague.

2 pm.

Guo Shunjie walked out of Chief Zhou’s room and walkedstraight to Dong Xuebing’s desk. He threw a stack of documents on the desk: “Copy 5 sets. Don’t mess up the pages. Iwant it before 4 pm.” Guo Shunjie’s tone was like a superior giving order to asubordinate.

Everyone in the office looked over. All of them wondered howdid Dong Xuebing offend Guo Shunjie.

Dong Xuebing was furious. Thiswas Guo Shunjie’s true colors. He really wanted to give him a kick inhis face.

If I follow you, I will be your underlings. If I don’t follow you, I still have to do your work. Whatother choices do I have? Damn. I had never seen anyone so unreasonable.

What a bitch.

After a while, Guo Shunjie went to the restroom for a smoke.Tan Limei and Zhuang Zhi asked: “Xuebing, what happened?”

Dong Xuebing replied with a forced smile: “Nothing.”

Both saw that Dong Xuebing was not willing to say and theydid not press on further. They returned back to their tasks.

Guo Panwei who was sitting nearby, looked at Dong Xuebing:“Xiao Dong, are you busy?” He pointed to a box beside him. “I am busy now. Helpme bring these to the Finance Department later.” Guo Panwei saw Dong Xuebing couldbe bullied and he also passed him his tasks. After that, he entered ChiefZhou’s office to brew tea for him.

Damn it!

When will this ever stop?

Dong Xuebing almost cursed out loud. Both Guo Shunjie andGuo Panwei were assholes.

Dong Xuebing finally understood “Being nice will be bullied.” He clenched his fist tightly. He knew thathe must do something to get out of this. If not, he will have to remain as a lowlystaff member forever.