Meanwhile, at Shengrun Group’s Public Affairs Department.

This department was essentially the marketing and public relations department, also responsible for monitoring public opinion. Their main job was to constantly monitor online sentiment and promptly address any negative news.

At the same time, this department was also involved in brand image building and similar work.

The vice president overseeing this department was absent, as he had immediately gone to report to Nie Yunsheng upon receiving the news about the courier kneeling.

The employees were all at their workstations, each appearing busy.

Of course, some might not actually be busy, but they had to pretend to be. After all, Shengrun Group was in a critical situation, and if anyone dared to appear relaxed and happened to be seen by the vice president, they might be fired on the spot.

A thirty-something employee stood up and looked around.

His hairline was receding badly, and both eyes had heavy dark circles, clearly the result of long-term overtime work.

After ensuring it was safe, he quickly approached the department’s deputy manager.

The deputy manager’s surname was Wei, and everyone in the department called him Brother Wei. Above the deputy manager was the department manager, and above that was the vice president overseeing the entire Public Affairs Department.

Actually, one could request leave from either the deputy manager or the manager, as both could approve leave forms. But Brother Wei was relatively kind and easy to talk to, and quite considerate of others in the department. So most people approached him when requesting leave.

However, this deputy manager now had a furrowed brow, his face filled with conflicted emotions.

Seeing the balding colleague approach, Brother Wei temporarily set aside his constipated expression and asked, “What’s up, Old Zhou? Do you need something?”

Old Zhou looked a bit embarrassed but still said, “Brother Wei, I’d like to take two days off this weekend. I need to accompany my wife for a prenatal checkup at the hospital.”

“I know the department has urgent work recently and needs overtime, but this matter really can’t be delayed, so…”

Brother Wei nodded: “Oh, alright, give me your leave form. But these two days are special. Mr. Nie said that Shengrun Express is at a critical juncture, and leave won’t be approved without special reasons. I’ll also need to seek approval from the vice president.”

“But don’t worry, prenatal checkups are important, and it’s the weekend, so your leave should be approved. I’ll do my best to advocate for you.”

Old Zhou was delighted, his face lighting up: “Thank you, Brother Wei! Thank you!”

After Old Zhou left, Brother Wei looked at the leave form in his hand, his face once again showing extreme conflict.

He pondered for a long time, and finally opened the minimized document on his desktop and deleted the leave form inside.

Actually, he also wanted to request leave!

Because this weekend was the day of Tenda’s special recruitment exam.

Brother Wei knew perfectly well: Was Old Zhou really accompanying his wife for a prenatal checkup? Not necessarily. Given Old Zhou’s situation, with his wife about to give birth, he completely met the requirements for Tenda’s special recruitment exam. Most likely, he was using the prenatal checkup as an excuse to request leave, but was actually going to take Tenda’s special recruitment exam.

And Brother Wei himself wanted to go too. Although his child was already 6 years old, which didn’t meet the “plan to have children soon” criterion, he himself was turning 35 this year, which met the age requirement.

But the unfortunate thing was that Shengrun Express and Headwind Logistics had suddenly gotten into a fight, and they were fighting fiercely!

Online public opinion showed signs of escalation.

In this situation, the entire Public Affairs Department had to be on standby 24 hours a day, ready to respond to new public opinion crises at any time.

Tenda’s special recruitment exam was designed to accommodate those already employed, so it was scheduled for the weekend. The fact that the normally no-overtime Tenda allocated so much overtime to recruitment showed how seriously they took this matter, and how considerate they were of these people.

But the problem was… in many companies, 996 or even 007 had become the norm. Who said taking an exam on the weekend meant freedom?

How could Brother Wei, as a deputy manager, request leave in this situation?

That’s why he was troubled.

And now, Old Zhou was also requesting leave, which added to his worries.

Brother Wei thought for a long time and finally decided to give up. Because if he only submitted Old Zhou’s leave form, it might be acceptable, but if he submitted both his and Old Zhou’s leave forms together, it would be too conspicuous and easily raise suspicion.

Even if the vice president didn’t connect it to Tenda’s recruitment exam, he would certainly be very unhappy about “requesting leave at a critical moment,” and might, in a fit of anger, reject both leave forms.

So, after much deliberation, Brother Wei could only give up his own leave opportunity to ensure Old Zhou’s leave was approved.

After all, Old Zhou had a lower position and less income, and needed this opportunity more. As for himself, he was at least a deputy manager with an income much higher than Old Zhou’s, so he didn’t have as much pressure.

Taking Tenda’s recruitment exam again in six months wouldn’t be a big deal; it would just be delayed by half a year.

After a while, the vice president returned.

“Old Wei, both of you come to the meeting room. There’s something important.”

The department manager went first, and Brother Wei, after some thought, took Old Zhou’s leave form and also went to the meeting room.

Obviously, after reporting the courier kneeling incident to Nie Yunsheng, this vice president had received instructions and was now arranging for his subordinates in the Public Affairs Department to handle it.

First, he would explain to the manager and deputy manager, and then they would convey it to their subordinate core members, each handling their respective roles.

“Mr. Nie’s intention is very clear. This courier kneeling incident can serve as an opportunity to turn around the current public opinion. The specific methods…”

The vice president gave a grand discourse, explaining Shengrun Group’s upcoming strategy, then looked at the two: “Is everything clear?”

The manager nodded: “Clear!”

Brother Wei also reluctantly nodded: “Yes, clear.”

The vice president didn’t notice Brother Wei’s listlessness and continued: “Then get to work quickly! The sooner this news trends, the better. These few days are critical for our Shengrun Group, a challenge, but also an opportunity!”

“Go back and emphasize to everyone in the department that at such a critical juncture, everyone must stand with the company, work together, and share weal and woe! In principle, leave is not allowed these two days, and everyone must take this seriously. No one can think it doesn’t concern them!”

The manager nodded again and left the meeting room.

Brother Wei stood up but didn’t leave immediately, hesitating instead.

He touched the leave form in his pocket, really unable to just leave like this.

The vice president was puzzled: “Old Wei, do you have something to say?”

Brother Wei nodded: “Yes. It’s like this, Old Zhou from our department, his wife is pregnant, and he just asked me for leave to accompany his wife for a prenatal checkup this weekend. I was thinking this is a big deal, indeed quite important, so I agreed to it.”

“Here’s his leave form.”

“Given his special circumstances, could we perhaps make an exception…”

The vice president took the leave form, glanced at it, and immediately frowned, saying sternly: “Old Wei, you’ve been in this department for a long time, and now you’re also part of management. How could you do this?”

“If employees don’t have this awareness, don’t you? This is a critical moment, and if we allow this, it will affect morale! How can this leave form be casually approved?”

“Yes, I know prenatal checkups are important, but he could have both sets of parents or the wife’s friends accompany her to the hospital, right? It’s not like it has to be him?”

“Requesting leave for such a small matter, unable to distinguish between the important and the trivial, can’t he think of a solution himself? Does he have to add to the company’s troubles at such a critical juncture?”

“This weekend, Mr. Nie will be in the office, and will likely come to inspect. What will Mr. Nie think if he sees the Public Affairs Department not fully staffed?”

Seeing Brother Wei’s head dropping lower and lower, the vice president thought his words had hit home: “Understand?”

Brother Wei looked up, his face darkening with anger: “I understand my a**!”

The vice president was stunned: “You…”

Brother Wei was so angry his voice trembled slightly: “Listen to yourself, are you even speaking like a human being? Who’s the one unable to distinguish between the important and the trivial? Who do you think you are, an emperor from the old society? How dare you demand employees cancel important matters like prenatal checkups on holidays to work overtime and clean up the company’s public opinion mess?”

“We signed labor contracts, not indentured servitude!”

“And about this courier kneeling incident, it’s clearly because our regulations aren’t well-designed. Instead of solving the actual problem, you’re trying to gain sympathy and smooth over public opinion. Why call it the Public Affairs Department? Might as well call it the Damage Control Department!”

“I studied public relations to maintain a positive corporate image and communicate harmoniously with consumers, not to whitewash unethical companies!”

“I am a person with dignity and personality, not a slave to an unethical company!”

The vice president looked shocked, then angrily said: “Have you lost your mind! Do you not want this job anymore? If you don’t want it, then get out! Do you think the company can’t function without you? Let me tell you, there are countless people dying to join, and after you resign, you’ll be left with nothing!”

Brother Wei chuckled: “Don’t worry about me. I’m writing my resignation letter right now, and tomorrow I’ll take Tenda’s recruitment exam!”

“You… you…” The vice president sat in the meeting room, too angry to speak for a long time.

Brother Wei returned to his workstation and said to Old Zhou: “Sorry, Old Zhou, the leave wasn’t approved.”

“I’ve had enough of this job. I don’t want to do it anymore. I work to earn money and support my family, but I don’t want to go against my conscience, nor do I want my hard overtime work to become capital for this company to bully customers with impunity. I’m resigning right now. We’ll meet again someday!”

This series of unexpected events left the entire Public Affairs Department stunned.

How did the deputy manager suddenly get into an argument with the vice president? And it escalated to such an irreconcilable degree?

Especially since Old Wei was usually kind and good-tempered; it was rare to see him get so angry.

Next, the vice president also came to his senses and came out of the meeting room. The HR department immediately processed an ultra-urgent request, and in less than half an hour, Brother Wei had officially resigned.

Brother Wei didn’t say anything more, packed his things, and left.

The others in the Public Affairs Department didn’t immediately stand up for Old Wei, but a seed had already been planted in many people’s hearts…