Chapter 58

“Exactly! They’re all seasoned veterans—sometimes hard to get moving, but you can’t just fire them all, can you? After all, the work still depends on them.” Xia He sipped her drink and sighed lightly.

“Su Minggang has only recently been appointed deputy branch manager, and he only got this opportunity after Zhao Wenjun resigned. He’s been cooperating with me fairly well so far.”

“Zhang Qunying was promoted by me personally—she naturally has no issues.”

Xia He went on analyzing: “As for you… I have the highest hopes for you—you’re more than qualified to be a section chief or director.”

“No way, senior sister. You know the bank still values seniority. I’ve only been working for a year and a half—I’m too junior.”

“Not necessarily. It depends on opportunity—and on the person.” Xia He smiled mysteriously.

“Senior sister, there’s more to what you’re saying than meets the ear.” Fang Qingye asked.

“It hasn’t been officially decided yet. Let’s not talk about that. Let’s go back to the issue I mentioned earlier.”

Seeing Xia He wouldn’t elaborate, Fang Qingye didn’t press further—it wasn’t his business anyway.

He picked up his beer can, took a sip, and added: “Actually, solving these veterans is simple.”

“You’ve got another trick up your sleeve?”

“Have you heard of the Great Leader’s eight commanders being swapped? You could do the same.” Fang Qingye spoke calmly.

“Oh! You thought of this too?” Xia He was surprised, setting down her drink.

“Right? So you’ve already considered it—why haven’t you acted?” Fang Qingye countered.

“Because the stakes are too high. Honestly, I’m worried it’ll hurt our branch’s performance this year.”

Women… their hearts are still too soft. Just look at Zhao Wenjun.

Fang Qingye sighed inwardly.

He thought for a moment and added:

“Your concern isn’t unfounded—but it’s about how you balance the adjustment. And there’s another more important issue.”

“What issue?”

“Since you find them intolerable and feel you can’t control them, dragging it out will only make things worse. Why not use the Liu Lin sub-branch incident as an opportunity to make a decisive move? Short-term pain beats long-term suffering! Have the guts to solve this!”

After listening, Xia He sat quietly sipping her drink, thinking deeply—then suddenly looked up, as if making up her mind.

“Alright… who should be swapped with whom?” she asked.

“Don’t ask me—I hate personnel matters. Gives me a headache.” Fang Qingye refused outright.

Though his relationship with Xia He was good and she trusted him, such unpopular tasks were best avoided.

As a woman, Xia He tended to overthink and hesitate—but once she decided, she acted swiftly and decisively.

Soon, she drafted a personnel transfer plan, which was announced after the branch manager meeting.

The changes weren’t massive—only one-third of middle managers were moved—but within the entire Jinghai Branch system, it was still a bold move.

Every branch faced the same problem as Nanxin Branch. Some branch managers were locals, tangled in webs of interest that kept them from acting freely.

Outsiders like Xia He, by contrast, found it easier to get things done.

But these were concerns for middle management. Fang Qingye and other regular staff just did their jobs and showed up on time.

That morning, shortly after Fang Qingye arrived at work, Cao Ting leaned over and whispered to him: “Xiao Fang, come with me—I need to tell you something.”

“Cao sister, what’s up? So secretive.” Fang Qingye said, but followed her out of the office to the end of the corridor.

“Xiao Fang, good news—the provincial branch plans to establish the position of branch assistant in county-level branches, with a provisional rank of Level 18 deputy section chief. Jinghai City is a pilot!” Cao Ting said.

After Dongfang Bank's restructuring, its original bureaucratic hierarchy based on ting, chu, and ke levels was replaced with a 25-level system where lower numbers indicated higher rank.

Fang Qingye currently held Level 21 as a senior teller. Level 18 was equivalent to deputy business supervisor or savings office deputy director—still commonly called deputy section chief.

“Cao sister, how do you know this? I haven’t heard anything.” Fang Qingye was puzzled.

“Zhou, the head of personnel at our city branch, is my husband’s uncle.”

Oh…

Hearing this, Fang Qingye suddenly understood.

Everyone said Cao Ting had connections because her father-in-law was a county official—but no one knew her husband had an uncle who was deputy branch manager at the city level!

No wonder she was so idle at the branch, and no one complained.

“Did Zhou tell you?” Fang Qingye asked.

“Yes. Yesterday, my husband and I visited his uncle’s house in the city. Over dinner, he mentioned it—the provincial branch meeting had already approved it, the official document is coming soon, and the city branch is taking it seriously. All candidates for branch assistant must be submitted to the city branch for approval.” Cao Ting said.

“Then, Cao sister, you’re a strong candidate.” Fang Qingye smiled.

“You can see it too—I have zero interest in official positions. I just come to work, go home, and take care of my child—that’s my real job.” Cao Ting replied, then lowered her voice: “Xiao Fang, you’re the strong candidate.”

“Me? My rank and seniority are nowhere near enough.”

“You don’t know—my uncle said the provincial branch leadership explicitly stated: this promotion must break seniority norms and fast-track outstanding young cadres. Besides you, who else in our branch qualifies?”

“There are plenty—anyone under thirty counts as a young cadre. We have over a dozen in our branch.”

“But none of them compare to you! You know how Xia Hangchang treats you! I’m telling you this in advance so you’re prepared—you must fight for it!”

“Thank you.”

Whether he wanted it or not, gratitude was due.

“Don’t be polite. Keep working hard—I believe in you! If you get it, don’t forget to treat me. And keep this quiet—no official document yet.”

“Don’t worry—I won’t say a word.”

The two returned to the office, one behind the other.

Fang Qingye didn’t take the matter seriously.

He had no intention of climbing the ladder at the bank. He worked just to have something to do each day—and to make it as comfortable as possible.

Talk to Xia He?

Forget it.

The next day, Fang Qingye finished breakfast at the cafeteria as usual, sat at his desk, and was about to brew tea and relax when Wu Shengli came in.

“Xiao Fang, Xia Hangchang wants you to go to the city branch with her—right now.”

“Why are we going to the city branch?” Fang Qingye asked casually.

“She didn’t say. Ask her when you get there.”

Seeing this, Fang Qingye didn’t press further. He packed a notebook and pen into his briefcase and headed out—only to be stopped by Wu Shengli.

“Here.”

Car keys!

“Xia Hangchang told you to drive.” Wu Shengli explained.

What the hell—am I your driver now?!

But in front of Wu Shengli, Fang Qingye couldn’t complain. He took the keys, went to the garage, and drove out the Passat. When he pulled up to the center, Xia He hurried down the stairs with her briefcase and got in the back seat.

Fang Qingye drove out of the compound onto Changle Road. Through the rearview mirror, he glanced at Xia He, who was reading documents in the back, and said:

“Senior sister, that’s a bit much.”

“What’s too much?”

Xia He looked up at him.

“You really think I’m your driver?!”

“Oh, this?” Xia He smiled. “Xiao Fang, don’t take it personally. It’s not what you think—Old Zhang drives, but he talks too much. His mouth isn’t tight.”

“So what do you want to say?” Fang Qingye asked.

“Nothing important. Just chatting.”

I @#%$…

Fang Qingye fell silent, too tired to respond.

Xia He burst into giggles.

“What? Mad? I was just joking.”

Xia He’s expression turned serious: “Today, I’m taking you to the city branch to meet Director Zhang and the other city branch leaders.”