Chapter 56: 055 Time to Deal with People

“Director Xia, I also bear responsibility—I haven’t properly trained my staff.” Jing Chunling admitted softly.

“We’ll discuss this after Director Duan returns!” Xia He’s face was tight with tension.

Director Duan didn’t make it back in time; the savings branch’s deputy director, Luo Lishun, hurried back after finishing company business, heard Xia He was in the office, and rushed over to see her.

“I heard you went to Lixing Company to attract deposits—did you finish the task?” Xia He asked.

“It’s done. Lixing’s CEO, Lei, has agreed to open a dedicated account with our sub-branch and has already deposited twenty million.” Luo Lishun replied quickly.

“You’ve worked hard.” Xia He’s expression softened slightly upon hearing this.

Luo Lishun had also learned about today’s incident at the branch. He wanted to ask about it, but the words died on his lips.

The boss wasn’t here—why should he provoke trouble himself?

So he asked nothing, simply standing by.

More than twenty minutes passed before a middle-aged man hurried in, face flushed and reeking of alcohol—he’d clearly been dragged straight from a drinking table.

He was Duan Yunshan, director of the Liulin Savings Branch. Clearly, the customer manager had already informed him of the incident; upon seeing Xia He, he immediately said: “I’m sorry, Director Xia—I failed to properly train my staff. This is my professional negligence.”

“You know that, Director Duan.” Xia He looked at him coldly: “Since you admit your negligence… I’m removing you as sub-branch director. Liulin Sub-branch operations will temporarily be handled by Luo Lishun!… Director Luo!”

“Director Xia, I’m here.” Luo Lishun answered promptly.

“From now on, you’re temporarily in charge of the sub-branch. Investigate today’s incident thoroughly—by this time tomorrow, I expect a full report and your recommendations for personnel discipline!”

With that, Xia He stood and walked out without another word.

On the way back, Xia He’s face remained stern, saying nothing. The other two naturally kept silent too. Back at the office, Fang Qingye went straight to his own office.

Personnel discipline had nothing to do with him.

“Hey, Xiao Fang, I heard you ran into trouble at the Liulin Sub-branch!” Cao Ting whispered from across the room.

“You already know?”

“With today’s communication, you’d barely left when I got the news!”

Cao Ting didn’t say who tipped her off; Fang Qingye naturally didn’t ask.

“Sister Cao, since you know already, let’s not gossip about it—it might cause bad impressions.” Fang Qingye said.

Cao Ting didn’t seem to care about Fang Qingye’s words; she continued: “Duan Yunshan is unlucky—his subordinate quarreled with a customer, and he happened to be out drinking… And Yu Bingshan too—he should’ve stepped in to defuse the situation! I heard he just hid to the side. Luckily you went over to help… Xiao Fang, you’ve always got clever ideas!”

“I just acted on the spot—we couldn’t just let Director Xia get yelled at, especially as a woman.” Fang Qingye smiled.

“Hmm… Just for that, Director Xia will definitely promote you! Yu Bingshan’s about to be in deep trouble.”

Fang Qingye said nothing.

In the office, it was taboo to discuss such matters.

But Cao Ting didn’t seem to care.

Fang Qingye understood: she had family connections—she wasn’t afraid.

Besides, Cao Ting didn’t seem to want promotion—she was here just for peace and a salary, as if she’d stepped outside the Three Realms and beyond the Five Elements.

People like that were untouchable in any workplace.

After work that afternoon, Fang Qingye went home, changed clothes, didn’t stay, and drove straight to his grandfather’s nursery. Since his parents went traveling, he’d been coming here almost every day—first to avoid the people who came begging for favors, second to get free meals.

Bai Ou often came too, helping his grandfather tend the nursery, pruning branches, diligently working. Fang Qingye occasionally lent a hand, but mostly just wandered around with Wang Cai.

Today, he was helping his grandfather sort and pile up the trimmed branches onto a three-wheeled cart to haul away when his phone rang—a stranger’s number, but a local one, so he answered.

“Xiao Fang, hello, I’m Duan Yunshan, director of the Liulin Town sub-branch.”

“Director Duan, hello. What can I do for you?” Fang Qingye asked.

“Xiao Fang, you saw what happened this afternoon. My management has problems, but the fault isn’t entirely mine. Zhang Baoguo—everyone in town knows he’s a scoundrel! And Yang Yue—why argue with someone like that? Couldn’t she just have swallowed her pride? Jing Chunling, head of the teller group—how does she train her staff?! And the customer manager, the security guard…”

Duan Yunshan listed everyone else one by one, brushing over his own role.

“I drank today because a friend’s son got married in town. Xiao Fang, you’re local—you know, you can’t skip drinking at such occasions! That’s why I was late for work.”

Drinking a couple of glasses and being late wasn’t a big deal—but you happened to be caught during a surprise inspection by your superior? Even worse, your superior saw your subordinate quarreling with a customer?

Who else deserves to be unlucky?

Fang Qingye thought these things, but of course didn’t say them aloud—he smiled and replied: “I understand, but talking to me won’t help—you need to explain it to Director Xia.”

“How dare I call Director Xia right now? That’s why I’m asking you—could you please speak up for me? I’ll be forever grateful!” Duan Yunshan said on the other end.

“Director Duan, why don’t you go to Director Yu?” Fang Qingye asked again.

“I did… He said I should talk to you—he said Director Xia trusts you, and you can get through to her.”

“Director Yu, don’t listen to Director Yu—he’s full of nonsense. I’m just a lowly clerk—how could I possibly influence anything? You should go to Director Yu, or call Director Su directly!… Sorry, I’m busy—goodbye!” Fang Qingye hung up immediately.

Xia He does trust me… but am I stupid enough to help you?

This is your fault!

Why did Xia He suddenly inspect your sub-branch? Don’t you have any sense?

Fang Qingye smiled, climbed onto the three-wheeled cart.

The next day, he went to work as usual. At three in the afternoon, he suddenly received a call from Xia He: “Xiao Fang, come to my office.”

Fang Qingye agreed and went upstairs.

He assumed it was about yesterday’s incident at Liulin Sub-branch, and knocked on Xia He’s office door.

“Xiao Fang, take a look—this is the report from Luo Lishun at Liulin Sub-branch.” Xia He handed Fang Qingye a file.

“Take your time reading it. Let me make you some tea.” She then brewed him her own Yuhua tea.

Whenever Fang Qingye visited Xia He’s office alone, she always made him Yuhua tea—he’d grown used to it.

Sipping the tea, Fang Qingye carefully read the report. The first part described the incident in detail, nearly matching Jing Chunling’s account but with more precision.

The latter part contained personnel disciplinary recommendations:

Aside from Duan Yunshan, who would be handled by the branch office, all other involved staff at the sub-branch received varying penalties:

The involved teller, Yang Yue: dismissed!

The lobby security guard: three months’ salary deducted!

Teller group leader Jing Chunling: one month’s salary deducted!

Fang Qingye read, his brow slightly furrowed.

“This report hasn’t been shown to anyone else. Speak your mind freely.” Xia He said.

“I have no objections to the basic facts of the incident, but I feel the personnel disciplinary recommendations are inappropriate.” Fang Qingye said.

“Why inappropriate?” Xia He asked.