Zhang Shifen’s job change wasn’t entirely without warning, but everyone just didn’t think she would agree.
Can the salary and benefits at a government agency compare with those at a steel mill? Certainly not, it’s not even close.
The gap is substantial, and even though the union chief had advised Zhang Shifen, after all, she would be a leader there, he was sure she wouldn’t change her workplace.
To his surprise, the union chief looked at the document in his hand and took a deep breath, "Old Zhang, look."
"Chief, I understand what you mean, you’ve said before that I should consider it carefully."
"I have thought it over for a long time, and with Xiao Na working now, I want to embrace new challenges."
"Chief, I know you will definitely bless me," Zhang Shifen said with a smile as she looked at the other.
The chief really felt like coughing up blood; why had she always suppressed Zhang Shifen if not because she knew her strength and capabilities?
If it hadn’t been for Zhou Dajiang’s incident, which affected her mental state—and considering the leaders felt she needed to care for her child alone, they didn’t want to overburden her at work—
she would never have become the chief. She had always known that if those things hadn’t happened, Zhang Shifen would have surely been the union chief.
And over the years, just as she expected, Zhang Shifen’s work capability had grown stronger and stronger. With her at the union, things were indeed much easier.
Yet, the more it was so, the more the chief was wary. Although she could continue in her position without making major mistakes,
there were solutions to prevent that, like moving her to the factory office—on the surface a promotion, but with less real power than the chief, leaving her anxious.
Now, however, Zhang Shifen wasn’t eyeing the seat beneath her buttocks; instead, she was switching tracks altogether to work at the city’s general trade union.
This only made the chief’s heart race even more. Hadn’t the city’s general trade union been keeping an eye on Zhang Shifen precisely because they recognized her talent?
She believed that once Zhang Shifen went somewhere new, who knew, she might really soar. By that time, what would everyone think?
On the surface, they might say it was the steel mill providing talent, but what would they say behind closed doors?
If the steel mill’s trade union that she led was doing a great job, of course, no one would whisper behind her back.
But if the work were not done well, even a slight comparison would make anyone with a brain guess what was really going on.
Zhang Shifen looked at the chief who was hesitating to sign, "Chief, may I sign?"
"They hope I can report for duty tomorrow or the day after," Zhang Shifen insisted, she had made up her mind this time; she had to leave.
Opportunities were not plentiful and wouldn’t wait for her forever. Staying here, she might be called the deputy chief, but who really took her seriously? Everyone knew it was the chief keeping her down.
The chief, seeing the look on Zhang Shifen’s face, could only sigh, "You and your husband..."
"It’s all for the revolutionary cause, I can decide." Why discuss with Zhou Dajiang? Even if he complained endlessly, what of it?
She hadn’t even expressed disdain for his lack of ambition, did he really have the nerve to criticize her?
With no choice left, the chief signed. After Zhang Shifen went to several departments, she finally managed to settle her transfer.
As for the work in her hands, it was easily handed off as well.
Not wanting Zhang Shifen to take all the credit alone, with every task, there would be someone working on it alongside her.
This made the handover very smooth. Concerned they might not understand, Zhang Shifen made sure to write everything down in detail, in quadruplicate.
One copy for the archive, one for the chief, and one for each person directly involved, each document also bearing three signatures.
The chief, looking at Zhang Shifen’s actions, said, "That’s not necessary."
"It’s better to make the handover clear so that if there’s a problem, we can sort it out clearly,"
"After all, this kind of thing has happened more than a few times," insisted Zhang Shifen.
The union clerks were, of course, trembling with fear; they had truly never expected Zhang Shifen to lose her temper .
Everyone knew that no matter how the section chief arranged the work before, she never had any objections, but today was truly beyond everyone’s expectations.
After a long stare-down with Zhang Shifen, the section chief reluctantly gave up, knowing that she now had support and was not afraid of the factory’s union section chief at all.
She was going to work at the City General Union, and theoretically, she could give directions on the work.
"Then let’s sign, a clear handover is better," the section chief conceded reluctantly.
With the section chief having spoken, the clerks, of course, had nothing else to say and took the pen to start signing.
One person, looking at the paper in their hand, stammered, "Um, um, Section Chief Zhang, if I encounter something I’m not sure about, may I ask for your advice?"
"Ask for advice? We’ll discuss it together,"
"Your work abilities have all been praised by the section chief," said Zhang Shifen coldly.
She didn’t want it to be this way. She was no longer working at the steel factory, but Zhou Lina was still there.
But Gu Wei was right; she was being promoted, not demoted, so why should she have to compromise?
Especially some people in the union, who had always looked down on her a bit; if she maintained a weak attitude, they wouldn’t treat Zhou Lina well either.
Moreover, even though the union’s work was busy, it wouldn’t be easy for them to bully Zhou Lina.
Everybody knew that this girl could call the police or something at any moment; who would dare to bully her and risk their life?
The section chief, watching the way Zhang Shifen handled the handover, suddenly started to regret her past actions, regretting why she had to burn her bridges.
Now, there was nothing to do but hope that the work at the union would continue to progress smoothly.
By the time she got off work, Zhang Shifen had finished all the handovers and made arrangements with the City General Union to start work the next day.
Zhou Lina had thought that Zhang Shifen’s leadership would put up some resistance, but to her surprise, everything was settled so smoothly.
It was truly unexpected. Zhou Lina started wondering if Zhang Shifen had some leverage over them, which was why she was able to sort things out so smoothly.
Looking at the stunned Zhou Lina, Zhang Shifen knew she was thinking too much, "She tried to show generosity in front of everyone, advising me to think it over."
"Now, I’m using her own words against her. What can she do?"
"We’ve all been colleagues for so many years, who doesn’t know who?" She was sure the other party cared about saving face and would agree even if reluctant.
Indeed, "Dealing with a person who values face is so easy."
"Mom, are you excited to go to the new workplace tomorrow?" Zhou Lina really wanted to know how Zhang Shifen felt about going to the new unit.
"What’s there to be excited about? Isn’t it just work wherever it is?" Zhang Shifen truly didn’t feel any excitement, "It’s all for the revolution."
Well, okay, when you think about it, right now everyone is eager to work in enterprises, isn’t it because the enterprises offer high incomes and good benefits?
The income and benefits at the institutional units really can’t compare with those at enterprises. "Maybe some people will still think you’re a fool."
They may think it’s foolish now, but in a decade or so, they will realize how coveted a job in the institutions can be.