Financial Workplace Survival Guide – CH 031

Chapter 31 ☆, A Ray of Hope.

Zheng Zaochuan’s cooking skills were truly impressive, but that didn’t make Xin Xin’s life any easier.

Her conflict with Yang Rui, initially a mutual disdain, had now escalated into an open quarrel.

To deal with a man like Yang Rui, all it took was flattery, currying favor, and submitting to him. Even without sacrificing any substantial benefits, the conflict between the two could be resolved.

But Xin Xin generally avoided open conflicts with others. Once she did, she was extremely stubborn and refused to admit defeat.

Mary advised her, “Just give in to Yang Rui. He’s the easiest to deal with.”

Xin Xin curled her lips. “You want me to beg him? Deducting someone’s pay for a work break? I can’t do that.”

Mary smiled and shook her head. “Zhao Xi has spoiled you. Bosses like Yang Rui are the norm. Be careful, or you’ll suffer.”

Sure enough, Xin Xin suffered the consequences.

Because Xin Xin refused to cooperate, Yang Rui couldn’t control her people, so he devised a shady plan. The company had a poverty alleviation project, so he transferred Xin Xin to a makeshift rural revitalization project department.

This department was established to support the local government’s rural revitalization efforts. Financial institutions assigned a few people to the villages. Ostensibly providing financial support for rural revitalization, in reality, they helped villagers apply pesticides and feed livestock—farm work under the scorching sun.

The village wasn’t far away, just outside the city. But Xin Xin, a city kid, had never done farm work. After just a few days in the village, she found herself exhausted and toilsome and even despised for her work.

Xin Xin returned home exhausted.

Zheng Zaochuan was busy in the kitchen. Xin Xin had assumed he was lazy and uneducated, but she’d discovered he was a skilled housewife.

“Wow, you’ve been digging coal. You’ve gotten so dark in a few days.” Zheng Zaochuan laid out the dishes and looked at Xin Xin with a smile.

Xin Xin pouted in frustration, nearly bursting into tears. Zheng Zaochuan immediately hooked her nose with his hand. “You’re constantly in the office, and you’re overly sunscreened. You must be vitamin D deficient. These two days are perfect for you to get some down-to-earth time and get some calcium. Do some farm work, and you’ll even develop a new skill. Kill two birds with one stone.”

Xin Xin was instantly convinced. If you only look at the positives in a situation, it’s actually quite good. Zheng Zaochuan is truly an incurable optimist. No matter how dire the situation, he can always offer some advice on how to survive.

“What about you? That thing about your company?”

Zheng Zaochuan explained while eating. “About that incident a few days ago: although I don’t have solid evidence, I suspect Su Chengjie set it up.”

“What’s going on?”

Zheng Zaochuan said nonchalantly, “I don’t know if you saw, but I was followed a few days ago, and Xibei and I made the headlines.”

Xin Xin struggled to swallow the food in her throat and feigned composure. “Oh, I didn’t see the news. Is Xibei the celebrity who endorsed your products? You and her were photographed together when your company first went public.”

An indescribable sarcasm and bitterness emanated from her words.

Zheng Zaochuan put down his chopsticks and looked at her with interest. “Are you jealous?”

Xin Xin, seeing his smugness, immediately became angry. “How could I be jealous?”

She was clearly jealous.

Zheng Zaochuan was happy but worried that teasing her further would completely anger her, so he explained seriously, “She and I are not in that relationship.”

What kind of relationship was that?

Zheng Zaochuan changed the subject. “But you know Xibei, she’s not very popular. Even playing a maid is a blessing. She doesn’t have many fans, so no one paid any attention to this topic, and it died down after a few days.”

Su Chengjie probably came up with another plan when one failed.

Zheng Zaochuan’s biggest draw is his constant gossip. Fortunately, he’s not married.

Taking advantage of his time at a cocktail party, Su Chengjie set up a trap for him.

Zheng Zaochuan said with great conviction, “I’m going to have sex with that woman that day, and I’ll go in with her. If she doesn’t seduce me, she probably has a second plan. The next day, she might accuse me of rape.”

Xin Xin was shocked. “He’s a board member, after all. He wouldn’t do something so reckless as to disregard the greater good.”

Zheng Zaochuan smiled wryly. “He was so kind to me back then, but I never imagined he’d be willing to cut off my support to get me out. It seems he’s truly at the point of a life-or-death struggle with me.”

Xin Xin heard a hint of sadness in his words.

Relationships are like this: once the seeds of suspicion are sown, they can’t be undone.

Xin Xin knew Zheng Zaochuan wouldn’t casually suspect anyone else. Since he was so certain it was Su Chengjie, he probably had evidence.

“Then can we expose him?”

Zheng Zaochuan sighed to the sky. “I found the woman from that day. I’ve confirmed that someone contacted her to deal with me. But the person who sent her the money was very secretive; it was a cash transaction.”

Xin Xin was at a loss for words regarding their internal struggle. She wanted to offer some comfort, but Zheng Zaochuan didn’t look like a defeated general, so she couldn’t offer any.

The two of them each discussed their own troubles, finished their meal, and sat on the sofa watching TV.

Zheng Zaochuan was watching and suddenly brought up an old topic. “Xin Xin, don’t you think we’d be happy living together? When your lease is up, why don’t you move to my place? I have a big house, and I can give you any of them.”

Xin Xin was stunned. The house Zheng Zaochuan had previously asked her to move into was the one he and Xibei had reportedly shared.

But today, he was inviting her to move into his own house.

“That house is for Xibei?” Xin Xin asked, almost unconsciously.

Zheng Zaochuan was stunned for a moment before softly replying, “Yeah. She said she liked it, so I gave it to her.”

Xin Xin fell silent, her gaze fixed on the screen, as if arguing with someone.

Zheng Zaochuan also remained silent, a complex, indescribable feeling lingering in the air.

For adults, silence is the best response.

Mary, observing from the sidelines, accurately defined the relationship between Xin Xin and Zheng Zaochuan as one of “mutual dependence, mutual affection, and yet also mutual struggle.”

Xin Xin hadn’t seen Mary recently, so during a break from work, they talked on the phone about work, and Xin Xin brought up Zheng Zaochuan’s time at her house.

“Xin Xin, you’re incredible! You didn’t even tell me you were living with Zheng Zaochuan.”

Xin Xin interrupted, “No.”

Mary was incredibly tolerant of those she favored. Xin Xin’s repeated concealment of crucial information from her friends would have been enough to have been banished from Mary’s inner circle of friends.

But because she knew Xin Xin well, Mary decided to let it slide. “Then I have nothing to feel guilty about. I’m with Zhang Qiao.”

“What? I don’t believe it.”

Xin Xin was incredulous. She had a hunch that Mary wouldn’t like Zhang Qiao. Yes, Zhang Qiao was not bad. But Mary wasn’t one to be easily moved. She was very proactive with people she liked. If she liked Zhang Qiao, she would have taken action long ago.

Mary laughed heartily on the other end of the phone. “Haha, I knew you’d be surprised. What’s wrong with Zhang Qiao? He’s handsome, young, and has good physical strength.”

Still in disbelief, Xin Xin warned, “Don’t play with people’s feelings. I’m out of resources. Zhang Qiao’s going to fail, and I might have to stay in the village permanently.”

Mary said nonchalantly, “Don’t worry, we’re all adults, and no one can hurt anyone. Let me report to you. Regarding your livestream, I’ve found a very suitable candidate, and I’m currently training her. When you come back, see if there’s any problem. If none, I’ll honorably retire. I promise you won’t be stationed in the village permanently.”

Xin Xin calculated the time and realized she might have to stay in the village for another month. As Zheng Zaochuan had predicted, aside from the initial few days of adjustment, she felt much more energetic now, chatting with fellow villagers, listening to bank staff explain projects to the villagers, and getting some down-to-earth work.

Most importantly, she didn’t have to see Yang Rui anymore. A little time was enough.

Xin Xin drifted through the day like this, and the rural revitalization program, where financial professionals rotated through the village, came to an end. Even as she retired, she discovered a huge business opportunity. Yumi Township, located 80 kilometers from Haining City, has been exporting agricultural products for many years.

Although local businesses were highly standardized and technologically advanced, they lacked effective financing channels, relying on indirect financing and high costs. After communicating with local businesses, Xin Xin discovered that many rural export companies across the country faced financing challenges. She considered collaborating with Fu Meng to develop a rural revitalization bond program encompassing multiple regional industries, potentially securing some government support.

Fu Meng was very interested in the project Xin Xin mentioned, visited in person, and decided to embark on a new venture with Xin Xin.

“After we complete this project, we’ll spearhead it. Then, I’ll report to headquarters, and we’ll contact companies in the northwest. We’ll target nationally designated impoverished counties with industries like tea and coffee, partner with local financial institutions, and issue bonds through various channels. This will not only reduce financing costs but also align with our company’s overall policies.”

Xin Xin and Fu Meng discussed the project, and they both immediately felt it was feasible. Xin Xin was cautious. Since Fu Meng wasn’t Yang Rui’s responsibility, and since this project would undoubtedly require the participation of qualified investors, Fu Meng would undoubtedly take the lead.

That day, the general direction of the project was finalized, and Fu Meng worked overnight to draft the proposal, presenting it directly to Chen Lisha the next day. After Chen Lisha took over, eager for some special project to shine and add to her achievements, she readily agreed and immediately reported it to headquarters, completing the entire process in one go.

By the time Yang Rui learned that this was Xin Xin’s proposal, the dust had settled. He was furious, but he couldn’t do anything about Xin Xin.

He had assumed that Xin Xin and Fu Meng didn’t have a close relationship. He hadn’t expected that, despite their seemingly fierce competition, they’d actually sidelined him when it came to business.

Chen Lisha, brimming with pride at the strong support she received from headquarters and the local government, felt deeply sorry for Xin Xin.

That same day, they spoke with Yang Rui. While they didn’t say anything harsh, they cautioned him, both overtly and covertly, against targeting talented individuals, lest they cause a loss of talent, with disastrous consequences.

Yang Rui was choking but could only smile silently. “I’m optimistic about Xin Xin. I sent her down there to gain experience because I think she’s young. I’ve always been objective, not personal. There’s absolutely no personal grudge.”

Xin Xin spent a month training in the village, and while she’d gotten a bit darker, she certainly had a triumphant return.