Chapter 104: Internal Conflict

On the following, Liu Yicheng, Sister Chang Lingling, and the others also applauded, but their expressions were clearly displeased. Li Xuetie didn’t even bother to clap; he just stood there stiffly.

As for Xiao Weiguo himself, he didn’t care who was appointed team leader, as long as it didn’t affect him. Of course, it was obvious that things wouldn’t be as comfortable as when Shi Guanglin was around. Perhaps everyone was aware of this, which explained their reactions.

Standing behind Shi Guanglin, Shao Jiefang wore a broad smile and his face was flushed with excitement. After Shi Guanglin finished speaking, Shao quickly stepped forward and addressed the crowd: “Thank you to the organization for the trust. Moving forward, I will lead Team Three to perform even better and procure more supplies. I ask everyone to support my work.”

Once he finished, silence fell over the room.

Shao Jiefang’s face darkened from red to black at the cold reception, and he was clearly about to lose his temper. Seeing this, Shi Guanglin hurriedly stood up and said, “Everyone, just as you supported me before, please support Brother Shao. He is also an experienced procurement officer, and I believe he can lead everyone to greater success. Alright, you all discuss among yourselves; I’ll go check on Team Two and encourage them.”

With that, he waved his hand and left.

At that moment, Shao Jiefang’s voice rose two octaves higher as he announced, “Now, I’d like to brief you on this week’s tasks. We nearly completed last week’s targets, so I just signed a firm commitment in the director’s office. This week’s procurement goal will be 50% higher than last week’s. I hope everyone will work hard to meet the team’s targets. Are you confident?”

The room remained deadly silent.

Shao’s eyes seemed to blaze with fire as he stared at everyone. When he had been deputy leader, they treated him like he was nothing; now that he was finally team leader, they still ignored him—it was intolerable.

He singled out Liu Yicheng and called his name sharply: “Liu Yicheng! Are you confident? Answer me!”

Raising his voice, he demanded a response.

Liu Yicheng, unfazed by Shao’s attitude, replied lazily, “I can’t do it. Whoever can, let them do it.”

Shao turned to Ge Xu next. “What about you, Ge Xu?”

“Can’t,” Ge Xu answered bluntly.

Shao’s face shifted from red to black again. His gaze flicked to Li Xuetie but paused and settled on Xiao Weiguo.

Just as he opened his mouth, Chang Ling spoke up beside him: “Brother Shao, we’ve all been working our hardest these past few weeks just to finish the tasks. Now you increase the workload by half without any explanation? Who can possibly complete that? Besides, we’re one procurement staff member short this week. Before, our team leader’s procurement volume accounted for more than 30% of the whole team’s output. Who will fill that gap now?”

Shao Jiefang snapped irritably, “I don’t want to hear excuses; I only want results!”

Turning to Xiao Weiguo, he asked, “Xiao Weiguo, can you complete it?”

Xiao Weiguo didn’t even know what his task was for the week, but he recalled that his targets for the first three months were combined, and he had already completed them early.

“Team Leader Shao, I finished my first three months’ tasks long ago. Lin and Sister Ling both know that,” Xiao Weiguo replied.

Shao bellowed, “That was before you became a permanent employee. I don’t know how you got that status, but from now on, under my leadership, you must follow my orders.”

He then instructed Chang Ling, “Chang Ling, assign Shi Section Chief’s previous tasks to Xiao Weiguo, and increase his workload by 50% this week. Everyone else will also increase their tasks by 50% compared to last week. That’s all. Meeting adjourned!”

Ignoring any objections, Shao dismissed them with a wave and left, destination unknown.

The team members felt bitter and helpless, as if they’d swallowed something extremely sour but couldn’t voice it.

Liu Yicheng cursed first, “Damn Shao Jiefang, he really thinks he’s something special. I’m done serving him. If I only procure a pound or two of meat this week, I’ll damn well own it!”

He then turned to Ge Xu and asked, “Ge Xu, what are you going to do this week?”

Ge Xu paused from sorting documents and said simply, “As usual.”

Liu Yicheng frowned, “He’s acting like that, and you’re just quietly accepting it? With such a high target, do you think you can finish it?”

Ge Xu replied, “I’ll try my best.”

Liu Yicheng gave up and turned to Xiao Weiguo.

Xiao Weiguo was troubled, unsure how to proceed. He had never encountered such workplace problems in this life, though he often had in his past life.

Chang Ling then addressed everyone, including Li Xuetie: “Don’t act on impulse, especially you, Liu Yicheng. Keep doing procurement as usual this week. Get as much as you can and just pretend that one person isn’t missing. I’ll also report these issues to the various section chiefs.”

“Now, quickly take your slips to finance to collect the money and receipts needed for procurement, and get going as soon as possible.”

Upon hearing this, Li Xuetie and Ge Xu took their slips from Chang Ling and left.

Liu Yicheng sat sulking in his chair, motionless.

Xiao Weiguo remained undecided and planned to find Shi Guanglin later to ask about the details and what he should do.

He told Chang Ling, “Sister Ling, I’ll come see you again later,” then went off in search of Shi Guanglin’s office.

Using his intuition, Xiao Weiguo passed by several offices, trying to find Shi Guanglin’s new office since he hadn’t yet informed them of its location after his promotion.

At the end of the corridor, he spotted Shi Guanglin coming out. Xiao quickly approached and said, “Brother Lin…”

Coincidentally, two people exited another office, so Xiao corrected himself, “Section Chief, I want to report on some work.”

Shi Guanglin was friendly and pulled Xiao by the arm to a nearby office, apparently his new one.

The room looked quite bare, probably because it hadn’t been arranged yet—just a desk and two chairs.

Shi Guanglin inquired about the state of Team Three since his departure, and Xiao Weiguo gave a detailed report. Then he asked, “Brother Lin, what do you think I should do going forward?”

Shi Guanglin pondered for a moment and advised, “Weiguo, don’t worry about the workload for now. Procure as much as you honestly can; do what you’re capable of. If you can’t finish it, it’s not the end of the world. The targets are indeed a bit too high. As for Comrade Shao Jiefang, you’ll just have to tolerate him for now.”

Hearing Shi Guanglin’s words gave Xiao Weiguo confidence. Yes, he would procure as much as he could. After all, he was now a full-time employee and had nothing to fear.