7: Chapter 7 Being harassed

Wang Yunfei asked suddenly, his tone carrying a hint of probing.

Xiao Bei put down his chopsticks, fell silent for a moment, and then shook his head:

"I don't know the specific reason either; perhaps I offended someone."

Xiao Bei did not reveal anything about what had happened between him and Qin Ruoxi.

Wang Yunfei nodded and did not ask further. He knew that some things were best left unsaid, and digging too deep would only be counterproductive.

"No matter what, you must take care of yourself."

Wang Yunfei raised his glass and said solemnly.

"Thanks, Yunfei. It's all in the drink."

Xiao Bei also raised his glass, clinked it against his, and downed it in one gulp.

After finishing their meal, the two walked out of the restaurant; the night had already deepened.

Wang Yunfei patted Xiao Bei on the shoulder and said with a smile:

"Let's keep in touch. If you need anything, don't hesitate to come to me."

"Alright, definitely."

Xiao Bei nodded and watched Wang Yunfei leave.

Standing on the street corner, Xiao Bei took a deep breath and looked up at the night sky. To be honest, at this very moment, he felt like crying.

He had worked so hard, serving his superiors with all his might, yet he still couldn't withstand a single word from someone with power.

A single word from those in power could decide his fate. Even if he had suffered enough grievances and been wronged to the core, he could only call out to the heavens and earth with no response, swallowing his broken teeth along with his bitterness.

As the saying goes: ten years of hard study is no match for three generations of business; three generations of business is no match for ancestors who carried guns; and ancestors who carried guns are no match for the boundless path of officialdom.

But what way was there to change the situation now?

Xiao Bei couldn't think of one.

With the current economic climate being poor, he couldn't easily resign. His parents were elderly and needed someone to look after them, so he had to endure it for now and pin his hopes on Qin Ruoxi, seeing if there was any chance for a turnaround...

Early the next morning, Xiao Bei arrived at the Archives Bureau on time to report for duty.

The Archives Bureau was located in an old building next to the former Municipal Government; the architecture appeared somewhat dated, and the sign hanging at the entrance was also a bit faded.

Walking into the lobby, the air was filled with a faint musty smell, and the surroundings were so quiet that he could almost hear his own footsteps.

Xiao Bei followed the signs, found the Director's office, and knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in."

A deep voice came from inside.

Xiao Bei pushed the door open and entered, seeing a middle-aged man sitting behind the desk, holding a document, and asking without looking up:

"What is it?"

"Director Feng, my name is Xiao Bei, and I am here to report for duty today."

Xiao Bei's tone was calm, and his attitude was respectful.

Feng Limin finally looked up, squinting his eyes to size up Xiao Bei for a few moments, the corners of his mouth curling slightly into a meaningful smile:

"Oh, so you are Xiao Bei, the one transferred from the Municipal Government Office?"

"Yes, Director Feng."

Xiao Bei nodded.

Feng Limin put down the document in his hand, leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest, and asked in an indifferent tone:

"I heard you were doing quite well at the Municipal Government Office. Why were you suddenly transferred here?"

Xiao Bei detected the sarcasm in his words, but his face remained calm:

"It was an organizational arrangement, and I obey the transfer."

"Heh, 'obey the transfer,' that sounds nice."

Feng Limin sneered, his tone carrying a touch of disdain, "But since you're here, you have to follow the rules of our Archives Bureau. This place isn't like the Municipal Government Office; the work is very leisurely, but it's not a place where just anyone can slack off."

Xiao Bei didn't respond, just stood there quietly, waiting for Director Feng's next instruction.

Seeing that Xiao Bei had no reaction, Feng Limin felt somewhat annoyed. He casually picked up a file from the desk and tossed it in front of Xiao Bei:

"This is your task for today. First, organize these archives, classify and file them by year and category. Remember, don't make any mistakes; these are all important historical materials."

Xiao Bei took the file and scanned it, discovering it was a pile of disorganized old archives that had clearly been backlogged for a long time.

He didn't say anything more, just nodded:

"Alright, Director Feng, I will finish it as soon as possible."

Feng Limin waved his hand, his tone cold:

"That's enough, go out. I'll call you if there's anything."

Xiao Bei turned and walked out of the office, closing the door gently behind him.

He had only taken a few steps when he heard Feng Limin whispering inside:

"Hmph, so what if you came from the Municipal Government Office? Once you're here with me, you have to behave and listen."

Xiao Bei ignored him and walked straight to the archives room.

The archives room was piled with all kinds of documents and materials, and the air was filled with the smell of old paper. He found an empty desk, put down the documents in his hand, and began to organize them.

Not long after, the door of the archives room was pushed open, and a female employee with a ponytail and watery eyes poked her head in. She was stunned after seeing Xiao Bei:

"Eh? Are you the new Director Xiao?"

"Yes, my name is Xiao Bei, and I just arrived today."

Xiao Bei looked up and said with a smile.

The female employee walked in, holding a stack of documents:

"Hehe, hello Director Xiao, I am Chu Yue from the archives room. Director Feng asked me to give you these documents to organize as well."

Xiao Bei took the documents and found that it was another pile of disorganized archives. He understood in his heart that this was Feng Limin intentionally making things difficult for him.

But he did not show any dissatisfaction, just nodded:

"Alright, I will process them as soon as possible."

Chu Yue looked at Xiao Bei, wanting to say something but stopping, and finally just sighed:

"Then please take your time organizing. If you need any help, you can come to me."

"Thank you."

Xiao Bei smiled and watched Chu Yue leave.

Only Xiao Bei was left in the archives room. He took a deep breath and began to bury himself in organizing the documents.

Time passed minute by minute. His movements became more and more proficient, and his efficiency increased. Although the work was boring and tedious, he did not slack off in the slightest; instead, he felt this was a rare opportunity for introspection.

At noon, Chu Yue came to the archives room again, carrying two lunch boxes:

"Director Xiao, take a break. I brought you lunch; it's homemade."

Xiao Bei looked up, somewhat surprised:

"Thank you, you are too kind."

Chu Yue smiled and placed the lunch box on the table:

"Don't be so polite. We are all colleagues. I saw you hadn't come out, so I knew you must still be busy."

Xiao Bei put down the documents and opened the lunch box. The aroma of the food made him feel a wave of warmth:

"Chu Yue, I couldn't tell, your cooking is actually quite good."

"It's just average."

Chu Yue chuckled, revealing two rows of white teeth, then sat down opposite him and said while eating:

"Actually, although the work at the Archives Bureau is leisurely, it's not without meaning. These archives contain many historical stories. Sometimes, as you flip through them, you find them quite interesting."

Xiao Bei nodded:

"Yes, history is the most truthful recorder. All we can do is organize these records well and leave them for future generations."

Chu Yue glanced at Xiao Bei, a flash of appreciation in her eyes:

"Director Xiao, I see that you are different from the others. They come to the Archives Bureau just to slack off, but you seem very serious."

Xiao Bei smiled:

"Since I'm here, why not do a good job? It's also doing something meaningful for society."

The two chatted while eating, and the atmosphere gradually became relaxed.

Chu Yue was a lively and cheerful girl who spoke with wit and humor, making Xiao Bei laugh out loud from time to time.

In the afternoon, Xiao Bei continued to organize the archives, and Chu Yue would come over to help from time to time. With her assistance, the work progress was much faster.

Near the end of the workday, Feng Limin suddenly came to the archives room. Seeing Xiao Bei and Chu Yue busy working, he frowned slightly:

"Little Xiao, how is the work coming along?"