Financial Workplace Survival Guide – CH 004

Chapter 4 ☆, When two forces clash, the one who knows the situation prevails.

During Xin Xin’s hospitalization, in addition to Fu Meng’s visits, she also received warm messages of sympathy from many people in her department. The department wasn’t large, but many of them exemplified the saying “smiling but hiding a dagger” to perfection. When Zhao Xi was still around, Xin Xin was considered his trusted confidant. Just after she’d completed her three-year term, Zhao Xi gave her an exceptional promotion.

At the time, she was brimming with pride, believing she was more than capable and hardworking enough to handle the heavy responsibility.

Zhao Xi transitioned to the Finance Department and was quickly promoted to the top position. Following her transfer to the Investment Banking Department, Xin Xin collaborated with Zhao Xi on IPO financing projects. Despite working until two in the morning, she was still able to go out with Zhao Xi the following day while looking gorgeously put together. Zhao Xi’s most proud projects in Haining City, from financing to IPOs for multiple groups, were a result of both his exceptional personal abilities and Xin Xin’s unwavering support.

From every perspective, Zhao Xi was a good boss. After much reflection in the hospital, Xin Xin finally acknowledged that her anger toward Zhao Xi was more a result of her own high expectations than of any real sense of partiality on Zhao Xi’s part.

Even she had to admit that Zhao Xi had given her a platform, which she mistakenly viewed as personal ability. Fu Meng might not be better than she was at business, but she certainly had her own strengths.

The battle hadn’t even begun, but Xin Xin had already called it a day.

As soon as she recovered, she returned to work. On her way to work, she brought Fu Meng some local snacks as a gesture of goodwill. Fu Meng gladly accepted and politely discussed the department’s next steps with her.

Xin Xin was once surrounded by good people and favored by her superiors. Now the tide had turned. Regardless of how Fu Meng treated her, others weren’t treating Xin Xin the same way.

As soon as Zhao Xi left, the head of the sales department was promoted. As the saying goes, when one person prospers, everyone else prospers. The vice president of sales, and even the other managers, were all elated.

Xin Xin wasn’t particularly worried. Chen Lisha, the forty-five-year-old head of sales, had a very assertive style. When she was the head of sales, she had been battling with Ashley from the risk department for nearly twenty years, their back-and-forth acrimonious. But the war between the two great powers was all about superficial courtesy; it was a proxy war, a complex factional struggle.

Zhao Xi had come from headquarters, and everyone knew he was leaving. Xin Xin had been hired as a management trainee and would likely return to headquarters. Therefore, she had established her own faction and hadn’t participated in their conflict.

Even if there were to be a reckoning later, it wouldn’t be Xin Xin’s turn to worry.

However, Xin Xin hadn’t expected that upon returning to work, Lisa would summon her for a face-to-face meeting.

Xin Xin appeared calm, but her heart was trembling. Logically, she wasn’t Lisa’s person for the promotion, so it wasn’t her turn. And she wasn’t Ashley’s person for the liquidation, so it wasn’t her turn either.

Lisa was incredibly kind, smiling and pouring her a glass of water. She first expressed concern for her health and then asked about her work. After a long chatter, they finally got to the point.

“Xin Xin, you’re a promising candidate. Mr. Zhao’s work in Haining is worth three points, if not five.”

Hearing this, Xin Xin’s mind raced before she cautiously replied, “I’m lucky. Our company has a strong foundation. Plus, Mr. Zhao is incredibly capable. I’m the zero at the end. The company and Mr. Zhao are the one. Without the one, my zero would be nothing.”

After speaking, she carefully checked Lisa’s expression. Seeing that she looked calm, she smiled and added, “Plus, your previous strong management skills in the sales department and your strong client base are the icing on the cake for us as an institutional investor. Without personal business, an institutional investor wouldn’t be able to get off the ground.”

This wasn’t entirely untrue. Chen Lisa handled individual clients exceptionally well. While her work style was impulsive, she was also very solid and steady when providing investment advice to clients. She wasn’t negligent in attracting retail investors, nor was she overly flattering to large ones. Over the years, she had accumulated a loyal following.

As expected, hearing Xin Xin’s words, Chen Lisha revealed a hint of pride.

“Everyone says I got the job as general manager because I had connections with my superiors. But I know that for us brokerages, personal business is the foundation. We can handle institutional clients with other clients, but maintaining a strong relationship with a large client is a lifelong relationship.”

Xin Xin didn’t understand Chen Lisha’s intentions and suspected she was trying to get some gossip from Xin Xin about others in the company.

But, honestly, while Xin Xin didn’t make enemies at the company, she wasn’t overly friendly either. If Mary hadn’t shared some of the rumors with her, she would have been completely clueless. Furthermore, she had been hospitalized for several days, making it impossible for her to know anything.

Seeing Xin Xin remained silent, Chen Lisha stopped beating around the bush and asked her seriously, “I heard Fu Meng and Mr. Zhao have some issues. It might be a good thing for her to stay in the investment banking department. She’s a secretary by training, so she might not understand the business. But it might not be the best path for you either.”

Xin Xin’s heart was in turmoil upon hearing this. Companies aren’t like ironclad jobs; there are countless ways to exclude dissidents. In a flash, she imagined Chen Lisha was going to sideline her and eventually tell her to leave.

“General Manager, the relationship between Fu Meng and me is all speculation. We didn’t know each other before, so there’s no question of convenience. It’s all public business…”

Chen Lisha smiled. “Xin Xin, that’s the best thing about you: you never let personal feelings interfere with your work. I completely trust you in that. We’ve worked together for years, and honestly, I’ve watched you grow, so I understand that. But just because you don’t target others doesn’t mean they won’t target you.”

Xin Xin didn’t think this comment sounded like criticism, so she didn’t object. Chen Lisha continued, “Look, regardless of your personal abilities or qualifications, having you as a deputy is a waste of talent. But if you stay in the investment banking department, with Fu Meng overshadowing you, your future prospects will be limited. My suggestion is that you take over my duties in the sales department.”

Xin Xin’s morning anxiety was finally over, and she was shocked. She hadn’t expected Chen Lisha to offer her a position.

“It depends on whether you’re willing. The salary in the sales department might not be higher than your current salary, but the workload and content will be relatively simpler.”

Xin Xin smiled, “General Manager, I’m absolutely willing.”

Chen Lisha said simply, “Okay, then don’t tell anyone yet. Go back and wait for news.”

It’s true that after seemingly endless difficulties, there’s always a bright new way forward.

Xin Xin was so happy that she almost sang the song of the liberated serfs. After the setbacks she had suffered recently, she had almost decided to resign. Sometimes she felt melancholy; sometimes she felt she had fallen into a web of despair. She might as well return to her garden and farmland, rather than waste her life in the whirlwind of the workplace.

Now, with a sudden turn of events, her spirits were high, and she suddenly felt that office politics were nothing. Fighting the heavens, the earth, and the people was truly enjoyable.

After hearing the news, Xin Xin felt happy, but she still pretended to be submissive back at work.

Fu Meng, new to the company, was busy getting to know the situation. With everyone else hustling after her, they had no time to bother Xin Xin. She followed the routine and enjoyed the leisurely pace.

Mary hadn’t come to work during her wedding preparations. Life was so quiet that Xin Xin almost felt lonely.

Thankfully, Chen Lisha acted quickly, reporting to the higher-ups and issuing documents in one go. Within a month, Xin Xin was transferred to the sales department and took up her new position.

This must have come as a surprise to everyone. Mary called her to congratulate her immediately after hearing the news.

Xin Xin felt a little guilty. She considered Mary a friend, but this kind of thing really couldn’t be leaked beforehand. Fortunately, Mary saw through her concerns and said casually, “Come on, I’ll treat you to dinner. You don’t have to tell me secrets like this. You know I can’t keep my mouth shut. You telling me any secrets is painful for me, and it’s painful for you too.”

Xin Xin smiled and packed her things to leave. As she turned the corner, she heard someone talking in the tea room.

“What connections do you think Xin Xin has? Did Zhao Xi fight for her to get this position?”

“She’s really amazing. Zhao Xi is such a man, and with so many people chasing him, she’s completely captivated him.”

“It takes a certain amount of charm to get to the top thanks to men. You don’t know this. She got here because Hanhai’s CEO personally guaranteed her a spot.”

“How does she have connections with all these men? How did she get there?”

…

Xin Xin was terribly embarrassed. To leave, she had to pass through here. But if she did, she’d be caught eavesdropping. She didn’t really care about being gossiped about, but she couldn’t help but listen a few more times, and she had already missed the opportunity to suddenly appear.

“Boss Xin, are you off work yet?”

Xin Xin turned around. Behind her was her deputy, Lin Xiao. As she spoke, Xin Xin had no choice but to come out. In the tea room, several young women from the sales department greeted her. Their faces visibly darkened as they spoke.

“Everyone, go home and develop some hobbies. Work is for life. Don’t waste your rest time at work.”

Xin Xin meant what she said. She dedicated countless hours to her work. She had witnessed countless lifelong strong-willed Chinese women rise and fall in the workplace, experiencing success, hysteria, or despair.

But Mary couldn’t stop laughing at her words. “You’re amazing! You kill people without even realizing it.”

Xin Xin said helplessly, “You know me. I really don’t mind.”

Mary had been immersed in love for the past two days. She was radiant, and her already bright face was even more breathtakingly beautiful. She made a face and teased Xin Xin, “It’s lonely at the top. Tell me, when we first started, I didn’t realize you had such good career luck.”

Suddenly, Xin Xin remembered her own naiveté, staring at the few thousand yuan in her account every day, her biggest dream being a small raise.

Mary held out her beautiful, slender fingers. “Look at my ring.”

The diamond ring, though not very large, looked elegant and regal on her finger. Xin Xin smiled, suddenly remembering that she had truly considered marrying Zhou Yiran.

Have an ordinary job, find someone you love, and marry that person.

But fate played a trick on her. At thirty, she found herself caught up in the intrigues of the workplace, becoming the person she never imagined she would be.