Li Ji heard the sound and quickly raised his head. At first glance, I was also surprised.
It turns out that this person is Xiao Zhang, the account manager of the credit department of the municipal bank. Li Ji suddenly realized that he had not seen Xiao Zhang for a long time.
"Mr. Li, do you have business coming to the Rural Credit Union?"
Xiao Zhang's tone seemed too affectionate, as if he had met an old friend he hadn't seen for many years, which made Li Ji uncomfortable for a while.
"Well, yes, yes," Li Ji dodged to the side, "I, I'm looking for a classmate..."
"Oh, oh." Xiao Zhang nodded and looked at Li Ji with some suspicion.
Li Ji always felt that there was something different about Xiao Zhang today. After looking at it several times, I noticed that Xiao Zhang was not wearing CCB work clothes.
Usually in the industry, Xiao Zhang wears work clothes all year round and rarely changes into other styles of clothes.
Li Ji felt a little strange and asked, "Manager Zhang, are you coming to the Rural Credit Cooperative to discuss business?"
"Discussing business?" Xiao Zhang was startled and quickly waved his hand, "No, no!"
"Oh, we're here to find someone."
"No, no!" Xiao Zhang still waved his hand.
Li Ji didn't understand: "Then what are you doing here?"
"Mr. Li, you may not know yet," Xiao Zhang said, "I am now transferred to the Rural Credit Cooperative."
"Ah? I've been transferred to the Rural Credit Union!"
"Yeah, it's been more than a month."
"You guy, why didn't I say a word to see you off?"
Li Ji smiled and lightly hit Xiao Zhang's chest.
"Oh, blame me, I left in a hurry," Xiao Zhang looked a little unnatural, "At that time, Mr. Li was still at the Chengdong branch..."
Li Ji thought about it and nodded slightly: "Xiao Zhang, if you are free someday, call Xiao Zhu and I'll be the host. Let's get together again."
Xiao Zhang was about to speak when he suddenly heard a "ding" and it turned out that the elevator had reached the first floor.
When the two of them walked out of the elevator, Xiao Zhang hesitated and said, "Okay, Mr. Li, it depends on your time."
"Look at my time?" Li Ji smiled, "I have time now."
Xiao Zhang obviously didn't expect it. He was stunned for a moment, and then he said in a hesitant voice: "Mr. Li, I, I have something to do at home tonight..."
"Well, okay then, let's make an appointment another day."
While they were talking, the two of them walked out of the building and came to the road. Li Ji waved his hand: "Manager Zhang, see you later."
"Mr. Li, goodbye." Xiao Zhang responded and walked in the other direction.
Xiao Zhang walked very slowly, stopping from time to time and looking back at Li Ji. After walking for more than ten steps, Xiao Zhang suddenly turned back and trotted to catch up with Li Ji.
"Mr. Li, wait..."
Hearing the shouting, Li Ji quickly turned around and saw that it was Xiao Zhang. He was a little surprised: "Xiao Zhang, is there anything else?"
"Li, Mr. Li..." Xiao Zhang hesitated and lowered his head.
"What's the matter, Xiao Zhang?"
Li Ji was puzzled.
"Mr. Li, I..." Xiao Zhang lowered his head.
"Xiao Zhang, what's wrong with you?" Li Ji laughed, "Isn't it because you are no longer at CCB that you have learned to be deep and secretive in your words?"
"Mr. Li, I'm sorry..."
Xiao Zhang raised his head, looking ashamed.
"What do you mean? What are you sorry for?"
"What happened last time, I..." Xiao Zhang's voice dropped.
"Hey, it's all over, why are you mentioning it?" Li Ji smiled, "You still remember it so clearly, I had forgotten all about it a long time ago. Besides, it doesn't have anything to do with you."
"Mr. Li, I'm really sorry," Xiao Zhang's eye circles were slightly red, "I can't help it, my wife has no job, and I still have a mortgage to pay..."
"Hey, where did you go?" Li Ji kicked aside a stone at his feet and patted Xiao Zhang on the shoulder, "Go back quickly, your wife must be waiting for you at home."
"Well, okay," Xiao Zhang nodded gratefully, "Then, I'll go, Mr. Li."
"Let's go quickly and go back often when you have time..."
Li Ji felt inexplicably sad.
Xiao Zhang nodded, said no more, turned around and left. In the rising dusk, Xiao Zhang's rickety back straightened up a lot.
Li Ji stared, his eyes gradually becoming serious.
Voices were heard not far away. Several people were chatting and laughing, walked out of the office building, went down the steps, and were heading this way.
Li Ji took a quick look and saw that the figure in the middle looked very much like Han Mei. He was so frightened that he quickly turned around and ran away without looking back.
Back in the dormitory, Li Ji found the set of books sent by Han Mei and carefully wrapped the book covers in newspapers. After eating, he sat at the table and watched.
Later, he called Liao Ying and told her everything that had happened recently. Liao Ying was silent for a long time and then said in a low voice: "See for yourself..."
Li Ji was a little confused, and suddenly missed the days when Han Mei often called him.
When he went to work the next day, Li Ji only brought one book to the office.
Fortunately, he was the only one in the office, and President Ye had never been here before. Liu Min came almost every day, but she would leave immediately after putting down her documents and rarely stay for long.
Li Ji read several documents that Liu Min sent over yesterday, thought about them carefully, and then carefully wrote down his own opinions.
There are still more than three months until the end of the year. Just like a student who is studying, he is preparing for the big exam of the year.
These three months are the most critical. The branch's performance, Ye Xin's whereabouts, and even his own fate will all be revealed in these three months.
Li Ji was a little nervous.
Now the branch reports deposit and loan data to him every day. But for several days, nothing seemed to change much. Although deposits and loans have not declined again, they have not grown much.
If this trend continues, it will be basically impossible to achieve the targets set by the provincial government by the end of the year.
Another news was also spread in the branch. Mr. Tao Xingchang suffered from a chronic illness and took leave to recuperate at home.
The atmosphere in the branch has also become different.
The office building seemed much quieter. It was rare to hear anyone talking loudly, and almost no one was seen chatting. When we met on the stairs, most of them were in a hurry.
Ye Xin also seemed to be busier.
He went to the province again and was busy visiting companies when he came back. Liu Min was often asked to send some documents over and asked Li Ji to handle them directly.
A few days later, the official notice of the provincial bank’s centralized training came down. The time is slightly postponed. I will report on the 5th of next month at the Provincial Cadre School.
The reason why I postponed it and chose the 5th is to avoid the busy work period at the end of the month and the beginning of the month. After all, these people who participate in credit training are the backbones and elites of each branch. Once they leave, they will have a great impact on their work.
The Provincial Cadre School is located in the eastern suburbs of the provincial capital, a garden-style building. It is said that famous designers from across the country were invited to design it, with small bridges, flowing water, and winding courtyards and cloisters, which is very much like the scenery of Jiangnan. People who have been there say that training at the cadre school is just like going on vacation.
Look at the time, the Rural Credit Cooperative's exam is also on the 5th. Perfect miss, no regrets left.
Li Ji felt at ease.
The choice without choice is the best choice.
Prepare well for the provincial recruitment competition. This is what President Ye has promised, and it is much more reliable than the one from the Rural Credit Cooperative.
A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush. Eat what's in the bowl first, and then talk about what's in the pot.
Because no matter how good your appetite is and how much you want to eat, it doesn’t matter whether you can eat it or not. If you can't eat what's in the pot and lose what's in the bowl, it will be a big loss.
Fortunately, the basic contents were similar. Although he knew he could not participate, Li Ji still read the book carefully.
Before I knew it, it was the end of the month.
On this day, Li Ji got off work, had a quick meal in the cafeteria, and then returned to the office. He has to wait for the accounts to be settled and the data reports from each branch to come up.
Ye Xin didn't go back either and stayed in the office. He is waiting too.
This month is a quiz.
But the results of the quiz are equally important. You can't expect a student who usually only scores 60% in the exam to suddenly surprise you with a score of 90% in the big exam.
It had already gotten dark.
The autumn wind is already quite cool. Li Ji closed the window and looked out at the deep night, and unconsciously thought of Wan Cheng again.
Now, no one mentions him anymore and people seem to have completely forgotten about him.
The real cause of Wan Cheng's death, the unaccounted funds, and the many stories hidden behind him all seemed to have been forgotten.
But Li Ji didn't forget.
Those mysteries often lingered in his mind, and they would suddenly pop up at a certain moment, making his blood boil and frightening him.
Maybe one day the truth will be revealed, or it may just disappear. Li Ji had no way of knowing.
A knock on the door awakened Li Ji from his deep thoughts. He hurriedly looked back and saw that it was Jiang Mingming, who was in charge of statistical work in the accounting department of the municipal bank.
"Mr. Li, the breakdown of statistics for each branch this month has come out. Please take a look." Jiang Mingming placed a dozen pages of reports on Li Ji's desk.
"Okay, go and do your work."
After Jiang Mingming walked out and closed the door, Li Jicai picked up the report and read it carefully line by line.
As he watched, his brows furrowed tightly, and the look on his face became increasingly grim.
Among the eighteen branches, except for the Chengdong branch, which still maintains strong growth momentum; although the other branches are also growing, they are only scratching the surface, and the growth rate is like a snail climbing.
The bank's overall data has only just reached the level at the end of last year, and it is still far away from the target tasks.
Li Ji put down the report with a solemn expression.
He knew that except Wang Shulan, the presidents of each branch were still waiting and watching. As for why Wang Shulan was like this, Li Ji couldn't figure it out yet.
The current situation is unclear. No one knows who will have the last laugh between the first-in-command and the second-in-command. Once you choose the wrong person and stand on the wrong team, it is no small matter.
Therefore, the safest way is not to offend anyone first, deal with it carefully, wait and see, sit back and watch the tiger fight, and wait for the mystery to be revealed.
There is strength in numbers. No matter what the outcome is, going with the crowd will never be a big mistake and is also the safest.
Tao Ping's medical leave must have been deliberate, with the intention of making progress by retreating. As long as he doesn't fall, no one will dare to act rashly. Anyone who wants to defect must think carefully.
After thinking for a while, Li Ji picked up the statistical report, walked out quickly, and knocked on Ye Xin's door.
"Come in!"
Li Ji opened the door and saw Ye Xin sitting on the sofa, sweating profusely and eating a bowl of hot and sour noodles.
"Would you like to try it?" Ye Xin wiped the sweat from her head and said with a smile, "This hot and sour rice noodle is so spicy!"
"President Ye, you can eat it," Li Ji smiled and waved, "I don't dare to eat it, it's too spicy."
"What, the results are out?"
Seeing the report in Li Ji's hand, Ye Xin pushed the bowl aside and straightened up.
"Well, take a look." Li Ji handed it over.
Ye Xin took it, read it twice, and put the report on the coffee table: "Haha, they are acting for me."
"President Ye, if this continues, there won't be much hope for the end of the year."
"Well," Ye Xin frowned and nodded, "that tiger still has quite a lot of energy."
Li Ji sat down and looked at Ye Xin intently.
Ye Xin tapped the armrest rhythmically with her fingers, pondered for a moment, and suddenly asked: "Xiao Li, what do you think we should do now?"
"President Ye, I think it's better to 'knock the mountain to shake the tiger'."
Li Ji said softly.
