Chapter 7: Let's See Who Dares

Wu Guoquan pulled out his phone, glanced at the caller ID, waved his hand at Sun Quan, and pointed toward Zhang Jun before walking outside, answering as he moved: "Hello, it's me—"

Zhang Jun tried to leave, but Sun Quan blocked his path.

"Zhang Jun, you aren't going anywhere!" Sun Quan declared with an arrogant air.

"You want to stop me?" Zhang Jun said in a deep voice. "Let’s see who dares!"

He was no longer the pushover he once was. He had the confidence to back it up because he had found a powerful patron. From this moment on, he would no longer have to endure the faces of the people at this workplace. He had suffered in silence and tolerated them for five long years; now that he could finally hold his head high, how could he let this moment slip by?

Watching Zhang Jun’s bold and spirited demeanor, Sun Quan was consumed by fury. He sneered, "You’ve got guts! You hit me, you assaulted Director Zhou, and you still think you can run? Xie Xiaoya, what are you just standing there for? Call the security department in here!"

Xie Xiaoya stood up, dazed, and stammered, "Director, isn't that being a bit too excessive? My mentor must have had his reasons for what he did. He’s a good man; he wouldn't hit anyone without cause."

She was speaking up for Zhang Jun. Among all the colleagues in the room, she was the only one willing to say a few fair words on his behalf.

Sun Quan spat as he shouted, "Xie Xiaoya, are you sick in the head? He did nothing wrong? So, I’m the one in the wrong?"

Xie Xiaoya bit her lip, her voice barely a whisper: "I don't know. I only know that my mentor is a good man."

Sun Quan barked at someone else to make a call: "You there, Little Liu, call the security department! Hurry!"

Just then, Wu Guoquan returned.

He let out a sudden, thunderous roar: "What is going on? We are all on the same team; why are you calling security? Tell me, Sun Quan, did you leave your brain behind? How could you treat one of our own good comrades like this? Zhang Jun is the only person in our institute with a master's degree! You need to learn to respect knowledge and respect Zhang Jun!"

Shock. Everyone was utterly stunned.

The man who had been shouting to fire Zhang Jun just moments ago had returned from a single phone call with his entire attitude and intent completely reversed?

Sun Quan was so terrified he was left speechless, stuttering, "Director Wu, wh-what is going on? Didn't you order me to stop him and catch him to apologize to Director Zhou? You even said you were worried about affecting our partnership with the Provincial People's Hospital."

Wu Guoquan waved his hand dismissively. "What nonsense are you spouting? Is Director Zhou such a petty man? So what if Comrade Zhang Jun doesn't apologize? Comrade Xie Xiaoya is right—why did Zhang Jun hit someone? There must be a reason for it!"

The colleagues could hardly believe these words were coming from the Institute Director. It was inconceivable! Everyone stared at the scene in shock, more astonished than if they had seen aliens land on Earth or the sun rising in the west.

When Wu Guoquan turned to look at Zhang Jun, his face shifted into a smile: "Comrade Zhang Jun, you've worked hard. Over these past few years, you’ve labored thanklessly in our institute, picking up the pen and ghostwriting so many brilliant articles for us! On behalf of the entire institute, I would like to express my gratitude!"

Xie Xiaoya and the others exchanged bewildered glances. What on earth was happening? Had Wu Guoquan gone senile, or had he bumped his head while walking out just now? Why else would he treat Zhang Jun like this? At this moment, Wu Guoquan looked more like a fawning lapdog than a smiling tiger.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute was a state-funded public institution, and the director was a department-level official. Wu Guoquan’s rank was the same as Zhou Wenbin’s. For someone of his status to be bowing and scraping before Zhang Jun was unbelievable.

Zhang Jun saw through it all clearly. The phone call Wu Guoquan had just taken must have come from the Provincial Government office; it didn't matter who was on the other end. Wu Guoquan certainly knew by now that Zhang Jun was about to be promoted!

Zhang Jun asked with deliberate calm, "Director Wu, why this sudden change from arrogance to humility? You make me anxious!"

Wu Guoquan showed no trace of embarrassment. Having spent decades in the political arena, he had long mastered three essential skills: changing faces, thick-skinned maneuvering, and flipping sides. Even if Zhang Jun were mocking him, let alone saying something more vicious, he would accept it calmly and meet it with a smile.

Even if Zhang Jun were promoted to the Provincial Government office to serve as Ma Hongqi’s secretary, he would at best reach the rank of deputy department head, and that would depend on his future performance; otherwise, he would just be a section chief. His rank would still be lower than Wu Guoquan’s.

But! Rank did not equal power.

Although Zhang Jun was only a secretary, he was at the very center of power. In the entire provincial health system, Ma Hongqi was the highest authority! For Zhang Jun to become Ma Hongqi’s personal secretary meant he was a favorite in the leader's inner circle.

"Having someone in the capital makes it easier to be an official"—who wouldn't want to curry favor with the leader's secretary? If you wanted to build a relationship with the leader but had no way in, you had to befriend the secretary to act as a bridge. Even if you had a connection, to see the leader, you still had to pass through the secretary. While the leader's time and schedule were arranged by the secretaries-general of the Provincial Government office, the secretary was the most flexible person in execution and held discretionary power.

Because he guarded the door to the leader! If the secretary deliberately made things difficult for you, you might not see the leader's face for weeks or months.

Even though Wu Guoquan’s rank was higher than Zhang Jun’s, he still had to please him. To onlookers, his behavior was astonishing, full of dramatic twists and turns like a play.

Sun Quan was even more unable to comprehend it. A moment ago, Wu Guoquan was suppressing Zhang Jun to please Zhou Wenbin; why flip around and try to please him now? It was magical! It was completely unrealistic!

"Director Wu, what is wrong with you? He is just Zhang Jun, a deputy section chief in our institute. Is it worth it to suck up to him?" Sun Quan couldn't help but voice his thoughts.

Wu Guoquan shot him a sharp glare. "Comrade Sun Quan, that is where you are wrong! I am not sucking up to Comrade Zhang Jun; I am showing him care and concern! Comrade Zhang Jun, once you are by Governor Ma's side, we may not see each other as often. Let’s do this: tonight, we’ll have dinner and a few drinks to give you a proper send-off!"

The room erupted in an uproar!

Only then did Sun Quan realize with a jolt that Zhang Jun was truly going to work for the Provincial Government! Given Wu Guoquan’s attitude, it went without saying that Zhang Jun must have become Ma Hongqi's secretary. Sun Quan felt a buzzing in his head! What had he just done to Zhang Jun? He suddenly recalled what Zhang Jun had said: "You're suppressing me now, aren't you afraid I'll have a change of fortune?"

It was over! He was finished! Zhang Jun’s fortune had truly turned, and he was on the path to success!

The level of shock among the others in the office varied, each more exaggerated than the last. Some had their mouths hung open in an "O," while others stared, having forgotten how to blink.

Zhang Jun had made it! He had ascended to the top and turned into a golden phoenix!

The happiest person was, of course, Xie Xiaoya. She sprinted over, affectionately linking her arm through Zhang Jun’s, her beautiful eyes sparkling as she smiled brightly. "Mentor, we're having drinks tonight, right? I'll keep you company."

When she said the last three words, her gaze was alluring, her expression sweet and sugary, carrying a hint of mischievous intent that made one's heart race, sparking delightful fantasies of getting close to her.