Chapter 48: 047 Despicable Tactics

This skills competition consists of four events. Since many team members from various sub-branches registered for two events, according to the competition regulations, the first day will feature the manual cash-counting and bill-flipping voucher events, while the second day will cover Chinese character input and counterfeit bill identification, with the award ceremony held at 4 PM.

Team members with scheduled events will compete; those without will have free time.

Therefore, on the first day, many took the opportunity to stroll along South Main Street in the city center and the Zhongnan Shopping Center, while others went to the street office to watch a movie.

For this competition, food and lodging were self-funded by each delegation. That evening, the dozen or so members of the Nanxin Sub-branch dined together at the hotel.

The atmosphere was not good.

Because in the two events held today, the Nanxin Sub-branch was almost completely wiped out; apart from one team member from the Chaoyang Road Savings Office winning second prize in manual cash-counting, one team member from the Head Office Business Hall winning third prize in bill-flipping vouchers, and Chen Meimei from the Credit Section winning an Excellence Award in manual cash-counting, all other participating team members received "white skins" (zero scores).

Actually, this cannot be blamed on the Nanxin Sub-branch staff lacking proficiency; mainly, Xia He requested that this trip focus on training new recruits, so several veterans were not sent to compete, naturally resulting in poorer scores.

But Xia He still encouraged everyone: "It doesn't matter. There are still the Chinese character input and counterfeit bill identification events tomorrow. We will definitely achieve better results!"

"Exactly... everyone, don't be discouraged. Especially in the Chinese character input event, we will surely take the top spot!" Liu Meili also cheered everyone up.

"Sister Liu, no way? There's the 'Six-Fingered Key Demon' in the Chinese character input event. How could we possibly win first place?" someone immediately countered.

"Because we have a secret weapon!" Liu Meili smiled mysteriously, glancing toward Zhang Rong.

Zhang Rong seemed to have no reaction, eating with his head down.

"Secret weapon? What secret weapon?" Xia He looked at Liu Meili in surprise, not knowing what medicine she was selling from her gourd; even Su Ming and Wu Shengli were looking at her.

"Leaders, don't ask. You'll know tomorrow!"

Seeing that Liu Meili wouldn't say, no one asked further.

After dinner, some went out to stroll, others returned to their rooms to rest. At this moment, Chen Meimei quietly asked Zhang Rong: "Do you know what the secret weapon is?"

Zhang Rong smiled mysteriously: "It's me!"

"You?" Chen Meimei was surprised.

"Yes! I plan to use the Sogou Input Method."

"Ah? Will it work?" Chen Meimei asked again.

"I asked the city authorities, and they said it's allowed," Zhang Rong replied.

"I've used the Sogou Input Method too; its word and sentence creation function is extremely powerful. Add your typing speed, and Zhang Rong, you might actually beat Li Lifen this time." Chen Meimei was quite happy.

Whenever a unit employee won an award, she was happy.

"Hard to say..." Zhang Rong was modest in words but proud in expression. "Alright, no more talk. I need to find an internet cafe to practice some more."

"Go ahead, good luck!"

The next morning at 9 AM, the competition began as scheduled in the branch headquarters building. There were only eight computers for the Chinese character input event, but there were many participants, so they were divided into eight groups to compete sequentially. Each group typed an article of about 1,000 characters. Scoring was based on a certain ratio of time taken and error rate; the higher the score, the better.

After drawing lots, the Nanxin Sub-branch was assigned to the seventh group, estimated to compete in the afternoon, while Li Lifen's group, the Branch Headquarters Group, was also the seventh group!

The competition began. Ten-plus minutes later, the first group finished. Participants emerged from the room, and their scores were quickly posted at the room entrance.

The fastest was a typist from the Zhongping County Sub-branch, who took 6 minutes and 52 seconds, with an average typing speed of 152 characters per minute, made 6 errors, and finally scored 86 points.

"This group is no good; they're all wiped out," Liu Meili said. "The first-place speed is acceptable, but there are too many typos. They are far behind Li Lifen."

Zhang Rong knew that Li Lifen's best competition result was an average of 164 characters per minute, with not a single typo!

Subsequent groups entered the competition venue one after another, and scores were announced sequentially. When the third group's scores were posted on the wall, the onlookers nearby immediately erupted.

"Good heavens! Wang Xiaohong from the Wuyang District Sub-branch actually only used 5 minutes and 40 seconds! Isn't that about 171 characters per minute? Faster than Li Lifen's best result!"

"And not a single typo!"

"This is absolutely outrageous!"

Everyone began discussing. At this moment, Zhang Rong appeared from somewhere, whispering to Liu Meili: "This Wang Xiaohong is actually using the Sogou Input Method too!"

"How do you know?" Liu Meili asked hurriedly.

"I just went over to the Wuyang District Sub-branch side and secretly listened," Zhang Rong said.

"Wow... Sogou is indeed powerful! Li Lifen is estimated to fail this time! Zhang Rong, are you confident you can beat this Wang Xiaohong?" Liu Meili asked in a low voice again.

"I am confident. My fastest average speed can reach 180 characters!"

"That's good, that's good."

Liu Meili felt relieved. If it was truly as Zhang Rong said, the Nanxin Sub-branch could finally win a first prize in a single event.

But things turned out contrary to her expectations.

Before the morning competition ended, Wu Shengli was suddenly notified by the organizing committee to attend an emergency meeting. Ten minutes later, he returned.

"Director Wu, what did you discuss at the meeting?" Liu Meili asked curiously.

"Just now, the organizing committee announced that Wang Xiaohong's morning results are void," Wu Shengli replied.

"Why?" Everyone was very surprised.

"She used that so-called Sogou Input Method. This Sogou Input Method has a memory function. The organizing committee said that the unit's computers involve client secrets, so it cannot be used anymore," Wu Shengli replied.

"What kind of reason is that?!" Liu Meili appeared very angry.

Wu Shengli was somewhat puzzled. "Meili, why are you angry? This matter has nothing to do with us, right?"

"Director Wu, you don't know. The secret weapon I mentioned last night was Zhang Rong using the Sogou Input Method for the competition!"

"What?!" Wu Shengli looked again at Zhang Rong standing aside with an equally grim face, and immediately understood.

"It must be that woman Liu Lifen causing trouble! Afraid someone will steal her first place, using such a despicable method! No, I must go and reason with them!"

Liu Meili could no longer hold back and strode angrily toward the organizing committee office.

Entering the competition organizing committee office, people were already arguing inside. It turned out that the female team leader of the Wuyang Sub-branch, hearing her team member's results were cancelled, had also come to argue. Liu Meili's arrival made the room even more lively.

Yang, the chairman of the City Branch Labor Union, was the deputy director of this skills competition organizing committee. The top bank president served as director but only held the title nominally, so he was specifically responsible for the entire competition.

A big man naturally couldn't withstand the relentless bombardment from two old women; he was starting to feel overwhelmed. At this moment, a curly-haired woman interjected: "What's the use of your arguing? The organizing committee has already made a decision!"

"Li Lifen?!"

Liu Meili then noticed that at some point, this woman had slipped into the room.