15: Chapter 15 Reception Work

Xiao Bei raised his head and said.

The door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man with a slightly plump figure and a smile on his face walked in.

He was wearing a crisp suit and holding a document, appearing very respectful.

"Secretary Xiao, good morning!"

The middle-aged man said with a smile, "I am Hu Guanghua, Deputy Director of the Finance Bureau. I have come specifically today to report the city's fiscal budget situation to Mayor Qin."

Xiao Bei smiled slightly, stood up, and went to greet him: "Hello, Director Hu. Mayor Qin is currently handling some urgent documents. Please wait a moment, and I will go and announce you."

Hu Guanghua nodded repeatedly, the smile on his face becoming even brighter: "Good, good, good. Sorry to trouble Section Chief Xiao."

Xiao Bei was about to turn and go announce him when the office door was knocked on again.

This time, a tall, serious-looking middle-aged woman walked in. She was wearing a dark professional suit and holding a thick report.

"Secretary Xiao, sorry to disturb you."

The middle-aged woman's voice was crisp and clear, "I am Tian Lijuan, Director of the Municipal Development and Reform Commission. I have come today to report the progress of the city's key projects to Mayor Qin."

Xiao Bei nodded and said politely: "Hello, Director Tian. Mayor Qin is currently busy. Please wait a moment, and I will go and announce you."

Tian Lijuan nodded slightly, swept a sharp glance at Hu Guanghua, and said in a cold tone: "Oh, Director Hu, here to report work today too?"

The smile on Hu Deming's face froze slightly, then returned to normal: "Yes, Director Tian. The fiscal budget matter is quite urgent, and Mayor Qin has always attached great importance to it."

Tian Lijuan gave a soft snort and did not continue the conversation, clearly not friendly towards Hu Guanghua.

Xiao Bei sensed the subtle atmosphere between the two and grew vigilant inwardly.

He knew that while the city officials appeared harmonious on the surface, they each had their own agendas in private, especially the Finance Bureau and the Development and Reform Commission, which often clashed over budget allocation issues.

Just then, the office door was pushed open again, and a thin, middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses walked in.

He was holding a document, and his face showed some anxiety.

"Hello, Secretary Xiao. Is Mayor Qin in?"

The middle-aged man asked hurriedly, "I am Feng Guosheng, Director of the Municipal Transportation Bureau. I have an urgent situation to report to Mayor Qin today."

Seeing three officials visiting at the same time, Xiao Bei quickly weighed the situation in his mind, then smiled and said: "The three of you, please wait a moment. I will go and report to Mayor Qin now."

Hu Guanghua nodded with a smile: "Then sorry to trouble you, Secretary Xiao."

Tian Lijuan nodded slightly and said in a crisp tone: "Good, we will wait."

Xiao Bei nodded in acknowledgment, turned, and walked quickly towards Qin Ruoxi's office.

He knocked on the door gently, and after hearing a "Come in" from inside, he pushed the door open and entered.

"Mayor Qin, there are three leaders visiting outside at the same time."

Xiao Bei said respectfully, "Director Hu of the Finance Bureau, Director Tian of the Development and Reform Commission, and Director Feng of the Transportation Bureau. Director Feng says he has an urgent situation that he needs to report to you."

Qin Ruoxi was reviewing documents. Hearing this, she raised her head and frowned slightly: "Feng Guosheng? Did he say what it was about?"

Xiao Bei shook his head: "Director Feng didn't say explicitly, but judging by his appearance, the matter seems quite urgent."

Qin Ruoxi pondered for a moment, then put down the pen in her hand: "Let him come in first. The other two can wait."

Xiao Bei nodded: "Understood, I will go make the arrangements."

He walked out of the office and said to Feng Guosheng: "Director Feng, Mayor Qin invites you to go in first."

Feng Guosheng breathed a sigh of relief and nodded quickly: "Good, thank you, Secretary Xiao."

After speaking, he walked quickly into the mayor's office.

Xiao Bei turned to look at Hu Guanghua and Tian Lijuan and said with a smile: "Director Hu, Director Tian, Mayor Qin is currently handling Director Feng's urgent business, so it may be a short wait. Please go to the lounge area and sit for a while; I will pour you some tea."

Hu Guanghua still had a smile on his face, but his tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction: "Director Feng really knows how to pick his timing. What could be so urgent?"

Tian Lijuan gave a cold snort, her tone filled with sarcasm: "When is a matter from the Transportation Bureau ever not 'urgent'? Anyway, it's always about asking for money."

Xiao Bei smiled and did not continue the conversation, only saying politely: "Please wait a moment, I will go prepare the tea."

He walked to the pantry, brewed two cups of high-quality Longjing tea, brought them to the lounge area, and handed them to Hu Guanghua and Tian Lijuan respectively: "Please enjoy your tea."

Hu Guanghua took the teacup and said with a smile: "Secretary Xiao is truly thoughtful. To be so attentive at such a young age, it's no wonder Mayor Qin values you so much."

Tian Lijuan picked up her teacup and said indifferently: "Thank you, Secretary Xiao."

Xiao Bei responded with a smile: "You are too kind. This is what I should do."

He stood to one side, while inwardly observing the expressions of the two.

Although Hu Guanghua had a smile on his face, his eyes revealed a hint of impatience; Tian Lijuan remained serious, her gaze glancing towards the mayor's office from time to time, clearly quite dissatisfied with Feng Baoguo's "cutting in line."

Just then, the door to the mayor's office opened, and Feng Baoguo walked out, his face showing a look of relief.

He walked to Xiao Bei's side and whispered: "Secretary Xiao, thank you very much for this."

Xiao Bei smiled slightly: "Director Feng, you are too polite. Did everything go smoothly?"

Feng Baoguo nodded: "Mayor Qin has already given instructions, and I will go back and make arrangements now."

After speaking, he left in a hurry.

Xiao Bei watched Feng Baoguo leave, then turned to Hu Guanghua and Tian Lijuan and said: "The two of you, Mayor Qin is free now. Who would like to go first?"

Hu Guanghua immediately stood up and said with a smile: "I'll go first. I arrived before Director Tian."

Tian Lijuan frowned and said coldly: "Fine, let Director Hu go first. I will sit here, drink my tea, and wait."

Immediately after, Xiao Bei led Hu Guanghua into Qin Ruoxi's office, then continued to receive other arriving officials.

As mayor, Qin Ruoxi's daily schedule was packed full. No fewer than a dozen municipal bureau leaders came to visit each day. Whether they were reporting work or paying their respects, everyone scrambled to curry favor with this newly appointed female mayor.

As for why they did this, the reason was simple: the leader might not remember who came, but they would certainly know clearly who did not.

Even though Qin Ruoxi was not that petty, the political climate was such that everyone was afraid of being sabotaged, so they all did it. Consequently, Xiao Bei, as the mayor's secretary, also received unprecedented respect.

You have to know that before, when Xiao Bei was just an ordinary clerk in the Municipal Government Office, no one would spare him a second glance. Now, however, everyone called him "Secretary Xiao" or "Section Chief Xiao" with an incredibly respectful attitude, which left Xiao Bei feeling a bit dazed.

Approaching the end of the workday, Xiao Bei sent off the last official who had come to report work and let out a long sigh of relief.

He had spent the entire day receiving leaders from various bureaus and departments, arranging for them to meet with Qin Ruoxi, and was so busy he hadn't even had time to drink water.

He rubbed his slightly sore temples and was just preparing to pack up to go home when he suddenly caught sight of a black plastic bag on his desk...

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