and Director Yu saw his aura, he assumed that Tang Qing was either an official or a rich kid. But after hearing him speak, Director Yu knew this wasn’t the case. If he were an official, he would have...Chapter 360: Buying Gifts

"Senior Apprentice Uncle, Yunxi, what are you two doing here"

Bai Jing didn't expect to see Xiao Yu here. She could say that she owed everything to Xiao Yu today. In just a few days, she had risen from an ordinary deputy section chief clerk straight to the position of section chief. After only a few days as the section chief, yesterday afternoon, she received notice transferring her to this highly sought-after budget department.

"Mm-hmm, we're here for some business. You go ahead and get back to work; let's talk another time!" Xiao Yu nodded at Bai Jing before walking out. Yunxi also greeted Bai Jing and followed Xiao Yu out.

Seeing the two walk out, Bai Jing's originally excited expression calmed down, and she frowned slightly as she watched them leave. Although Xiao Yu's expression had been calm just now, Yunxi didn't look good at all. She thought to herself, What could be wrong with them They were fine a few days ago, but why are they ignoring me today

Suddenly, Bai Jing remembered their reason for being in the Ministry of Health. She knew that Yunxi worked in the Ancient City Bureau of Health, but she was now here as well. Could it be related to that special fund too

"Section Chief Bai, who is this" Just then, a man around thirty asked when Bai Jing was deep in thought.

“Oh… Director Li, this is my husband’s Master Xiao Yu!” Hearing the question from the middle-aged man, Bai Jing snapped back to her senses and quickly said.

"Oh…"

The man had some doubts as he knew that Bai Jing's husband was at least forty years old. How could this person be his master Although there were questions in his heart, he nodded understandingly nonetheless.

Suddenly, the man remembered something and looked up with a shocked expression, looking at Bai Jing and saying, "So you are Doctor Xiao from the deep sea"

“Yes! He should be the one you're talking about!” Bai Jing nodded in agreement.

"Why would they come here then" The man muttered to himself.

"The one next to Uncle Shifu is his girlfriend. His girlfriend works at the Health Bureau of an ancient city in Yan Province, and she came here for that fund!"

When Bai Jing heard Director Li's mutterings, she spoke up. She saw Yun Xi and Xiao Yu leave with stern faces and knew something must have gone wrong. Having worked here in the imperial court for nearly twenty years, even though she was just a clerk, she still understood quite well what was happening.

That’s why when she heard Director Li's mutterings, she hurried to say: Even though she had been transferred here to become a section chief, firstly, she hadn't taken up her post yet; secondly, she just arrived and didn’t understand many of the workings here. Also, she lacked reliable staff under her.

Moreover, Acting Section Chief Guchu, who had worked here for years and de facto served as section chief for half a year, was likely to have most of his people in this section. And since she had just arrived and snatched the position from him, he would naturally not cooperate well with her. Therefore, Bai Jing still needed some time before she could straighten things out here.

But seeing how Xiao Yu walked away earlier, she knew that Xiao Yu and Yun Xi’s business didn’t go smoothly. With all his help for her, she wanted to return the favor by getting this matter done for him, but since she had just arrived, she could only rely on Director Li.

Director Li was Secretary to Minister "Li Changtian" of Health; when he listened in on Li Hanbo discussing Xiao Yu, he heard a little bit. He also knew why Bai Jing’s promotion happened so quickly.

Hence, after hearing what Bai Jing said, Director Li turned around and looked at the few people in the office.

Inside the office, Acting Section Chief Guchu and those two men and women were dumbfounded when Xiao Yu walked up to them earlier. They could work here because of their own background, but compared to this Director Li, they had nothing.

This Director Li was Secretary to the Minister; as long as the minister remained in office, his power within the Health Department ranked pretty high.

Everyone also knew Bai Jing. Nowadays, the staff at the bottom talked about her the most—she truly skyrocketed.

If they had been skeptical before when Bai Jing was promoted after a file from the minister's office arrived, this time it would be different. This time, with the secretary of the Minister personally accompanying her to take up her post and walking all the way from the minister’s office to this budget section, how many people did they see along the way Everyone would believe that Bai Jing had a big background by tomorrow.

This was also what Li Hanbo decided after discussing with his father Li Changtian following Xiao Yu's phone call. They assumed that the relationship between Xiao Yu and Bai Jing was just ordinary, so they only promoted her rank from deputy section chief to full section chief, becoming head of a minor department.

But once Li Hanbo learned about Xiao Yu’s relationship with his family, he happened upon this budget section which needed another section chief. The value of the budget section was even higher than most divisions. If Bai Jing hadn’t just been promoted to full section chief and couldn't be promoted to deputy division chief, maybe Li Hanbo would have directly adjusted her position to that.

These section-level cadres and division-level cadres didn't make much of a distinction in their eyes. If it weren't for the purpose of currying favor, they would be too lazy to pay attention.

"Li... Li Director, Bai... Section Chief!"

Director Gu saw them approach with dark faces and entered the office. When he thought about how White Jing and Xiao Yu addressed each other, cold sweat ran down his forehead.

"Tell me what happened!"

The Li director did not speak to White Jing but instead walked over to sit on a chair in front of them. With an unfriendly expression, the Li director looked at Director Gu and asked.

"Director Li, Section Chief Bai, please have some tea." The woman around thirty years old brought two cups of tea to the pair as soon as they sat down.

"Director Li, Section Chief Bai, it's like this... ahem," the woman put down her teacup and didn't leave. Before Director Gu could speak, she began explaining what had happened in front of White Jing and others.

Director Gu looked at this talkative woman with a resentful face, wishing he could slap her to death. The other three people felt remorse as they stared at the woman, regretting that they hadn't thought to curry favor before Director Li and Section Chief Bai.

Hearing what the woman said, Director Li and White Jing understood the situation; how could they not know If nobody investigated this matter, nothing would happen. However, if someone did investigate it, there would be serious consequences.

"What's your name" White Jing asked the thirty-year-old woman in front of her.

"Section Chief Bai, I'm Tian Yu and am an officer here." The woman quickly responded when she heard that White Jing was asking her a question.

"Mm-hmm. Tian Yu, do well! It's my first day at work, so I'll need your cooperation as the old hands in this section," said White Jing to the woman.

Looking at this woman, White Jing thought that she couldn't be trusted but could still be of use now that she was new. Such people would reveal everything if given a little benefit.

"Okay, Director Bai, I have completed my task and need to report back to Minister Li!" After understanding the situation, this Director Li got up and said to Bai Jing.

Bai Jing listened to what Director Li said and then saw him out.

After returning, Bai Jing introduced herself to others in her department. However, she did not acknowledge that Chief Guo because regardless of how much hatred there is secretly among officials, they always maintain a good surface relationship; but at this moment, Bai Jing didn't care about it. She owed all her success so far to Xiao Yan and thus was too lazy even to pretend.

"Miss Tian, please bring me the recent projects of our department and all sorts of documents in my office for me to go through!" Bai Jing said to a woman around thirty years old before going back to her office.

After Xiao Yu and Yun Xi left, they arrived at the琉璃廠 (Jade Factory). Yun Xi wasn't stupid either; thus when she met Bai Jing outside the door, she knew that something unexpected would happen.

If it were a normal relationship, people might pretend not to know about your situation even if you didn’t mention it—because everyone knows "less trouble means less hassle." But now that the two of them barely knew each other, even asking for help wouldn't necessarily yield results. Who would bother with someone who doesn’t even speak up

However, Xiao Yu’s relationship with Bai Jing’s family was different; she believed they didn’t need to say anything, and Bai Jing would still figure everything out. Thus, Yun Xi could relax a little and focus on accompanying Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu considered that the gift for Grandpa Song's hundredth birthday should be neither too expensive nor too vulgar due to his status.

After much deliberation, he thought it best to give an artwork or some antique items as gifts. Hence, they went to琉璃廠 (Jade Factory). Although Xiao Yu had no knowledge of antiques, he could distinguish whether something was genuinely old and its quality.

When Xiao Yu entered the cultural street in琉璃廠 (Jade Factory), he saw a kilometer-long ancient road with various stalls and shops on both sides. All items here exuded an aura of antiquity regardless of their authenticity.

Xiao Yu came to Rong Bao Zhai based on Yun Xi's suggestion. As he usually had no interest in such things, he knew nothing about this place unless Yun Xi informed him that it was the right place to buy antiques.

While Xiao Yu and Yun Xi roamed around the Rong Bao Zhai store, everything here seemed authentic and valuable, but none of them caught his eye. It wasn't because the items were subpar; some just weren't suitable gifts for Grandpa Song.

Frustrated, they left Rong Bao Zhai and began to casually wander through琉璃廠 (Jade Factory), hoping to find something that would appeal to Xiao Yu's taste while being appropriate as a birthday gift for Grandpa Song.care system or even directly hospital administration; with just a few successful contracts among these hundreds of people, it would be enough for their company to thrive for years. Moreover, his commi...