149: Chapter 149 When one attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!

"Hello, President! Hello, Department Head!"

Everyone in the office hurriedly stood up to greet them, including the Deputy Director, who had been arrogant just a moment ago but now wore a respectful smile.

The President of Handong University nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping casually across the office, before finally resting on Zhou Ming, who was still standing stiffly in front of Deputy Director Wang's desk with an unpleasant look on his face.

Seeing this, the Department Head quickly stepped forward and asked with a smile, "Deputy Director Wang, what is this about...?"

Deputy Director Wang felt a jolt in his heart, but he reacted extremely quickly. His face immediately twisted into an expression of helplessness and heartache, and he spoke before Zhou Ming could open his mouth:

"Department Head, President, you two have come at just the right time. I am criticizing comrade Zhou Ming!"

"This young man is frivolous in his work attitude and lacks a sense of responsibility. Several basic tasks assigned to him have all had errors!"

"It has seriously affected our department's student work and the development of our academic atmosphere! I am making him reflect deeply and temporarily adjusting his work..."

He spoke rapidly, adding fuel to the fire, wishing he could paint Zhou Ming as a black sheep who was good for nothing.

He had demonstrated his "strict management" in front of the leaders while simultaneously confirming Zhou Ming's "problems"—truly killing two birds with one stone.

Zhou Ming's heart sank to the bottom of the valley, and his face turned even paler.

He knew that being "defined" in this way by the Deputy Director in front of the President and the Department Head meant his future at Handong University was likely to be bleak.

However, to everyone's surprise, the President did not express an opinion immediately after hearing the Deputy Director's words; he didn't even frown.

He simply raised his hand, gently interrupting the Deputy Director's incessant "report," and looked at Zhou Ming with a calm gaze, asking:

"You are Zhou Ming? A counselor for the 23rd grade of the School of Political Science and Law?"

His voice was gentle, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Zhou Ming was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly nodded, his voice slightly tight: "Yes, President, I am Zhou Ming."

"Hmm."

The President showed a faint, formulaic smile on his face and nodded.

"Young man, having drive is good, but you must also be grounded! In the department's work, you should learn more from the older comrades."

Just as Zhou Ming thought this was merely a routine encouragement from a leader, the President changed the subject and said to the Department Head beside him:

"Old Li, I think comrade Xiao Zhou has a good foundation! Having been a counselor at the grassroots level for so long, his perspective might be a bit limited."

"Should we... consider giving him more responsibilities and transferring him to a different position for some training?"

More responsibilities? A different position?

The smile on Deputy Director Wang's face froze.

Department Head Li of the School of Political Science and Law was also slightly taken aback, but he immediately reacted and agreed with a smile: "President, you are very thoughtful. Young people certainly need training in multiple positions. I wonder what you have in mind...?"

The President pondered for a moment, then said as if it were a casual thought: "Over at the Academic Affairs Office, they seem to be missing a deputy, someone to be responsible for student status management and some coordination of teaching operations."

"Although the work is a bit trivial, it is very good for training! I see that comrade Xiao Zhou is meticulous and studied in the School of Political Science and Law, so he has strong logical skills. He could go and try it out."

Academic Affairs Office? Deputy Director?

Don't let the title of Deputy Director fool you; it's not actually an administrative position, and it doesn't even count as a deputy section-level rank.

At most, it counts as a section-level establishment.

But for a small counselor like Zhou Ming, who had no background, had only been working for a few years, and had just been criticized by the Deputy Director in front of everyone as being good for nothing, this was practically ascending to heaven in a single step!

The air in the office completely froze.

Everyone widened their eyes, looking at Zhou Ming in disbelief, then looking at the smiling President, doubting if they had heard correctly.

Deputy Director Wang's expression became incredibly dramatic in an instant, turning from red to white. He opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word for a long time.

He had been desperately trampling on Zhou Ming just a moment ago, and in the blink of an eye, the President was going to promote Zhou Ming to Deputy Director?

Almost on the same level as him?

This slap to the face came too fast and too hard, didn't it?

Didn't they say Zhou Ming's family offended the Qi family? Why is the President still helping him so much?

Zhou Ming himself was also stunned, his mind blank, completely unable to understand everything happening before him.

Deputy Director of the Academic Affairs Office?

Me?

Named personally by the President?

This... how is this possible?

"Of course, this is just a personal suggestion of mine."

The President seemed not to see everyone's shock, his tone remaining calm.

"Specific personnel arrangements still need to follow organizational procedures."

"Department Head Li, have your department communicate with the Personnel Department and come up with a plan as soon as possible."

"Yes, yes! Rest assured, President, we will definitely implement this quickly!"

Department Head Li nodded hurriedly. The look in his eyes when he turned to Zhou Ming was completely different, filled with inquiry and... a hint of underlying apprehension.

The President nodded at the still-stunned Zhou Ming again: "Work hard."

Then he turned and left the office, accompanied by Department Head Li, as if he had really just passed by and casually arranged a trivial matter.

It wasn't until the figures of the President and the Department Head disappeared outside the door that the silence in the office was broken.

With a "buzz," the sound of discussion erupted.

"Zhou Ming... no, Director Zhou! Congratulations, congratulations!"

"That's right, Brother Zhou, you've been hiding your true strength!"

"You must take care of your old colleagues in the future!"

The colleagues who had just been avoiding him like the plague now seemed to have changed faces; they enthusiastically crowded around him, congratulating him in a cacophony of voices, their faces filled with smiles.

The speed of their change was astonishing.

Deputy Director Wang stood where he was, his face livid. He didn't know whether to leave or stay, feeling so awkward that he wished he could crawl into a crack in the ground.

Zhou Ming was surrounded by his colleagues, his mind still spinning. It wasn't until someone patted his shoulder hard that he gradually came back to his senses.

Deputy Director of the Academic Affairs Office... named personally by the President...

A name flashed through his mind like lightning—Shen Wang!

That's it!

It must be him!

Besides that younger cousin who had suddenly established a connection with Secretary Sha, who else could have such massive influence to make a university president personally intervene and so abruptly promote a small person like him?

A complex and indescribable emotion surged into Zhou Ming's heart.

There was the wild joy of surviving a desperate situation, the trance of ascending in a single step, and even more, an indescribable... shame and gratitude.

He had previously felt that he couldn't bring himself to ask Shen Wang for help, and even held some resentment toward Shen Wang.

Yet Shen Wang... had quietly solved a massive problem for him and even gave him a future he wouldn't have dared to dream of!

Zhou Ming gritted his teeth, struggled for a moment, and finally took out his phone, walked to the corner of the corridor outside the office, and dialed Shen Wang's number.

The call was connected quickly, and Shen Wang's voice, calm and gentle as always, came through: "Hello, cousin?"

Zhou Ming's throat felt tight. He took a deep breath before saying in a low voice: "Xiao Wang... I... I just received notification that the school... is transferring me to the Academic Affairs Office. Thank you... thank you."

His speech was a bit stuttered.

On the other end of the line, Shen Wang seemed to chuckle, his tone relaxed and natural: "Cousin, what are you saying? You are my own cousin, we are family!"

"Family doesn't stand on ceremony! Work hard at your new position, and if you need any help, just tell me anytime."

Family...

Zhou Ming held the phone, his eyes suddenly feeling a bit hot.

"Right! We are family..."