Chapter Ninety-Four: Assigned Duties

Zhu Xuan said, “Just don’t laugh in a minute. And don’t screw things up. Otherwise, I won’t cover for you. If it comes to it, I might even kill you outright and save myself the trouble.”

Hao Yingjun felt rather awkward. He knew exactly how Zhu Xuan was: when she said something, she was not joking.

Hao Yingjun said, “Sis, to be honest, you are actually pretty considerate. Even now you are still thinking about me. Thanks a lot.”

Zhu Xuan said, “I’m afraid you’ll drag me down, understand? Though I’m not afraid of him.”

That single sentence left Hao Yingjun completely shut down. He stood there without a word.

Before long, a small pickup truck stopped at the entrance. A broad, burly man stepped out, wearing a beekeeper’s hat. Gu Weimin hurried over, raising one hand high as he ran.

He shouted, “Director Wang!”

When he reached him, he immediately clasped the other man’s hand with both of his and exchanged pleasantries. “You’ve worked hard, you’ve really worked hard. It must have been a tough trip.”

Director Wang only kept smiling. He walked up before the others, took off his hat, and handed it to Gu Weimin.

Gu Weimin gestured behind him for everyone to applaud. Only then did a reluctant burst of applause sound out, thin and scattered. While clapping, Hao Yingjun even accidentally dropped the little flag in his hand and quickly picked it up again.

After the applause, the investigation team bowed in unison and shouted, “Greetings, Director Wang!”

Director Wang said, “All right, keep it low-key, keep it low-key. Still, I like it. Hello, comrades. You’ve all worked hard.”

At that moment, a sanitation worker suddenly appeared, sweeping up trash.

“Make way, make way,” the worker said.

Zhou Tong called out, “Ma’am.”

The worker turned to look at him, somewhat puzzled, as if asking what was going on.

Zhou Tong said, “Could you sweep over there? Don’t get it on Director Wang’s legs.”

The worker said, “Oh? A bunch of people running some extraterrestrial life enthusiasts’ association, and you still put on such a bureaucratic show. Should I go fetch a ceremonial guard for you too?”

The scene grew awkward. Gu Weimin hurried to support Director Wang and made an inviting gesture.

“Director,” he said, “let’s talk upstairs.”

Zhu Xuan said, “You’ve got an event at your office, so I’ll take my people and head out first.”

Gu Weimin said, “No, no, come upstairs together. Come on, all of you.”

A crowd surrounded Director Wang and went upstairs together. After they reached the floor above, they stood in two lines in the lobby just as they had downstairs.

Gu Weimin said, “Comrades. Director Wang Yixiong, our bureau chief, keeps the work close to heart and goes from the people back to the people. In order to solve the problem of the investigation system’s shortage of funds, Director Wang has launched more than ten businesses in succession, failing again and again, yet starting again and again. Bear-Bear Honey is the latest of his great efforts. In the future, all your congratulations and bonuses will be inseparably linked to Bear-Bear Honey. Let us applaud warmly for Director Wang’s spirit of putting the public first and forgetting the self.”

As soon as he finished, Gu Weimin led the applause. There was no helping it; they had to give the leader some face. After applauding for a while, Gu Weimin pressed his hand down to quiet everyone.

“Now,” he said, “please feel free to place your orders enthusiastically. I’ve already sent the purchase details into the group chat, our work group chat. The backend can see how many boxes each person buys.”

This time, when Gu Weimin was about to lead another round of applause, Director Wang pressed it down.

Director Wang said, “Old Gu, don’t keep bringing back that old habit of assigning quotas in a disorderly way. Work still comes first. But if everyone’s interested, you can try it.”

Gu Weimin said, “Ah, right, everyone, go ahead and place your orders enthusiastically!”