81: Chapter 81 If you don't want to work, then get out!

Wei Kang was left completely bewildered and stunned after being scolded by Secretary Zhao Wenbin.

Secretary Zhao was usually gentle and refined, with a scholarly air; why was he suddenly so furious now?

Wei Kang asked in a weak tone, "Secretary... Secretary Zhao, what is actually going on?"

Secretary Zhao Wenbin was absolutely livid.

Thinking of the Provincial Governor's stern and even grave tone just moments ago, he felt both alarmed and angry.

"What is going on? Go and see how your subordinates are doing their jobs!" Secretary Zhao Wenbin reprimanded loudly.

"That is a patent application for a key national project, and you damn well dared to stall it, making them wait in vain for two weeks! Who gave you people at the Patent Office the audacity to do that?"

Secretary Zhao Wenbin's voice echoed inside the car. The driver did not dare to make a sound, gripping the steering wheel tightly, eyes fixed straight ahead, not daring to say a word or even glance at the rearview mirror.

It seemed Secretary Zhao was truly furious this time, flying into such a rage.

It was the first time he had ever seen him like this.

As Wei Kang braced himself, enduring Secretary Zhao Wenbin's reprimands and asking questions, he finally understood the full story.

Suddenly, he took a deep breath, his chest filled with rage.

"Secretary Zhao, I will definitely give you an explanation regarding this matter and severely punish those subordinates."

"It's not an explanation for me, but for Xu's Heavy Industry!" Secretary Zhao Wenbin stated righteously.

"Yes! I will head to the Patent Office immediately. These guys who don't do their jobs properly—if I don't show them who's boss, they'll really think they own the place!"

Wei Kang hung up the phone and immediately rushed to the Patent Office.

At this moment, Xu Hao had finished his call and was no longer in a rush to leave.

However, Deputy Director Qin Shou clearly didn't want to let Xu Hao off that easily.

"What, still thinking of loitering here and not leaving?"

Deputy Director Qin Shou held a teacup, unscrewed the lid, took a leisurely sip, held a few tea leaves in his mouth, spat them back out, and then looked at Xu Hao with a grin, his face full of mockery.

A state-owned enterprise chairman? Hmph! No chairman is of any use; here, he is the boss!

If you want to apply for a patent, nobody can pass without his nod of approval.

Xu Hao was no longer in a hurry either. He walked over to the public bench in the Patent Office and sat down, not even bothering to look at Deputy Director Qin Shou.

Seeing Xu Hao's unperturbed demeanor, Deputy Director Qin Shou was instantly furious.

You're just a small-time chairman, what are you putting on airs for...

"Security! These two are obstructing official business and disrupting office order. Throw them out!"

Deputy Director Qin Shou said to the security guards with a vicious expression.

"Yes!"

The security guards were two retired soldiers. Although they felt sympathy for Xu Hao and the other person, they also knew that Deputy Director Qin Shou was the boss here now.

Therefore, the two stepped forward, intending to hoist Xu Hao and his companion up and throw them out.

Just then, a flurry of hurried footsteps came from outside. Immediately after, an angry roar traveled from afar, reaching everyone's ears:

"I'd like to see who dares!"

As the voice fell, Wei Kang walked in from outside.

As soon as he entered the Patent Office, Wei Kang's eyes, seemingly spitting fire from anger, locked onto Deputy Director Qin Shou.

Deputy Director Qin Shou was instantly startled, his heart skipping a beat. "Why... why is Director Wei here?" he thought to himself.

Looking at Director Wei's murderous gaze, for some reason, Deputy Director Qin Shou suddenly felt a sense of impending doom.

But, being a veteran of the officialdom, he quickly recovered his composure and explained to Director Wei:

"Director Wei, these two are acting like hooligans, causing trouble in the Patent Office, so I had security throw them out to prevent them from disrupting office order."

"Get out!" Director Wei shouted sternly. "If you don't want to work anymore, get out of that position immediately!"

After scolding Deputy Director Qin Shou, Director Wei pointed at his nose and said, "I'll settle the score with you later."

Having said that, he immediately turned around, walked quickly to Xu Hao, put a smile on his face, and said apologetically:

"Engineer Xu, I'm sorry. My subordinates don't know how to do their jobs properly; I've embarrassed you!"

Seeing this, everyone in the hall was stunned. The Director was actually so respectful to this young man?

His words even carried a hint of sycophancy. What was going on?

Especially Deputy Director Qin Shou; seeing this scene, he was instantly rooted to the spot.

"How could this happen? Isn't he just a small-time chairman? Even if it is a state-owned enterprise now, it's impossible for him to have any connection with Director Wei?"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Deputy Director Qin Shou's face turned pale, his heart rate accelerating.

Although he kept denying this answer in his heart, his slightly trembling body betrayed him.

Xu Hao stood up from the chair. Seeing the man who had arrived and the sincere attitude on his face, he also softened his expression.

"Director Wei is an upright person, but one bad apple can spoil the whole barrel. Correcting the style of work and enforcing discipline is something that must be done often."

Xu Hao offered a small reproach, which served to vent his earlier displeasure.

"Yes, yes, yes! Engineer Xu is right." Director Wei nodded repeatedly, knowing that Xu Hao was still displeased.

He had checked with the Secretary when he came; this phone call had come from Longdu. Hearing this news at the time, Director Wei's heart had instantly skipped a beat.

A phone call from Longdu—that could mean a lot of things.

After apologizing and expressing his regret, Director Wei took up the conversation. Knowing why Xu Hao had come, he hurriedly said:

"Engineer Xu is here for a patent application; rest assured, I will handle it for you personally."

"At most two days... no! One day! At most one day, I will have it sorted out for you, and then I'll have someone send it to your company."

Since Director Wei had said so, Xu Hao couldn't really keep a stern face anymore. He nodded, his expression softening considerably.

"Since that's the case, then I'll have to trouble you, Director Wei!"

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all!" Director Wei waved his hands repeatedly. "What happened today was our mistake; rest assured, we will definitely severely punish the relevant personnel."

Hearing Director Wei's words, Deputy Director Qin Shou and Xiao Li at the service window immediately turned pale.

"Mm-hmm." With the matter settled, Xu Hao made a move to leave.

However, another group of people walked in from outside. The person leading them was wearing a white shirt with a badge pinned to his chest.

As he appeared at the doorway, Director Wei's expression immediately became serious. "Secretary Zhao Wenbin!"

The others at the Patent Office saw him, and their expressions changed drastically, a sense of impending doom instantly filling their hearts.

Especially Deputy Director Qin Shou; the moment he saw Secretary Zhao Wenbin, his legs started trembling uncontrollably. It's over, it's completely over! Deputy Director Qin Shou's face turned deathly pale.

Secretary Zhao Wenbin ignored Director Wei and the others. The moment he saw Xu Hao, he walked straight towards him.

"This must be the Chairman of Xu's Heavy Industry, Mr. Xu Hao, right?"

On Secretary Zhao Wenbin's serious face, a warm smile immediately appeared, and he shook hands with Xu Hao cordially.

Xu Hao was taken aback, not knowing who this person was.

Seeing the confusion on his face, Secretary Zhao Wenbin realized and hurriedly explained: "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I am the Secretary of Jiangcheng City, Secretary Zhao Wenbin. I happened to be here today to inspect the work, and I didn't expect to run into Chairman Xu. It's truly fate, haha."

Secretary Zhao Wenbin introduced himself, taking the opportunity to find a reason for being there.

Xu Hao was instantly shocked. Even the Jiangcheng Secretary had come? Happened to be here to inspect the work? This reason was a bit too far-fetched.

Just who exactly did Old Zhou call?

"Secretary Zhao Wenbin, hello!" Xu Hao recovered his wits and shook hands with Secretary Zhao Wenbin.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xu Hao planned to return to the factory.

Hearing this, Secretary Zhao Wenbin offered to take Xu Hao back.

"It's on the way anyway, Engineer Xu, why don't you take my car back," Secretary Zhao Wenbin invited.

Hearing this, Director Wei was speechless and thought with some helplessness: "Secretary Zhao, at least come up with a better excuse. 'On the way,' my foot! You're on the way all the way to the suburbs?"

But thinking of Secretary Zhao Wenbin's status, Director Wei wouldn't dare say that even if his life depended on it.

The others saw Secretary Zhao Wenbin treating Xu Hao so cordially and even offering to take him back personally, and their hearts were already churning with massive waves of shock.

This was the existence of Jiangcheng's second-in-command, actually treating a young man so well.

They didn't have time to think too much; Secretary Zhao Wenbin and his entourage came and left in a hurry.

Before leaving, he took a deep look at Deputy Director Qin Shou. That gaze was as if he were looking at a dead man.

Deputy Director Qin Shou froze completely.

Seeing this, Director Wei sighed: "You reap what you sow! Deputy Director Qin Shou's path, I reckon, has come to an end..."