Chapter 7: Workplace Wisdom

Chapter 7 Workplace Wisdom

At home, Xu Moxing was practicing using the wheelchair with the caregiver when Su Lichen was at work.

"Xiao Su, you're finally back. Everything settled at home?" The boss greeted him warmly as soon as he saw Su Lichen at the office.

"Pretty much. I might need a few more days off later to take a family member for a follow-up."

"Oh, that sounds serious. No problem, just let me know if you need to take time off."

"Thank you for understanding, Boss Zhou."

Su Lichen thanked his boss appropriately.

Zhou Ping, also a salesman, glanced at Su Lichen and then looked down and kept working.

As soon as he saw Su Lichen that morning, Zhou Ping couldn't help himself.

"Manager Su, you're back? I heard you took a long leave. Everything okay at home?"

During his leave, some colleagues had proactively messaged Su Lichen to check on him and ask if he needed help.

But Zhou Ping wasn't among them.

Zhou Ping was a relative of the boss. The company was a medium-sized trading firm, quite profitable, but it also had many people who got in through connections.

Among these relatives, some were normal colleagues, while others used their connections to bully coworkers.

Zhou Ping was the worst when it came to bullying. His work skills were poor, but he was very jealous.

He and Su Lichen joined around the same time, but Su Lichen's performance now far surpassed his, so others naturally teased him about it.

In a private company, not a state-owned enterprise, even if you have strong connections, not everyone will grovel. There were always some "troublemakers" who wouldn't suck up to just anyone. Sucking up to the boss was one thing, but sucking up to a relative like Zhou Ping? What was the point?

Worst case scenario, they'd quit. Some people didn't care about stability; their main concern was that the salary was enough to live on. If they weren't happy, they'd just switch companies.

After Zhou Ping's question, a few people glanced over—some curious, some sizing things up, and one or two with smiles that were perfectly measured.

Su Lichen sat down across from him and turned on his computer. "It's fine now, thanks for asking."

Zhou Ping chuckled, loud enough for those around to hear. "Yeah, having good results makes a difference. No matter how long you take off, the company will wait for you. Unlike the rest of us, we're afraid to take even a single day off because the boss might complain."

"Really? I remember you took three days off before Qingming Festival and two more after, right? You're from the neighboring city, just a few hours away by car. Guess you had a lot of graves to sweep. That must have been tough."

Su Lichen said, sounding genuinely concerned. "If five days off aren't enough, you can ask the boss for more. I'm sure if it's Brother Ping, the boss wouldn't have a problem with it."

Wasn't that just a dig at him for being a connection hire?

Zhou Ping was speechless.

"Hahaha." What made Zhou Ping even more furious was that a fresh graduate nearby, who was eating breakfast and scrolling on his phone, burst out laughing at something funny.

Zhou Ping shot him a look, but the guy hadn't even heard their little exchange—he was still laughing at his phone.

Zhou Ping was fuming but couldn't let it out.

Xia Rui, the customer service representative assigned to many of Su Lichen's clients, secretly sent him a private message on WeChat.

"Zhou Ping contacted the clients from India and the Middle East a few days ago."

Su Lichen showed no reaction.

"He told the boss a few days ago that since you had family matters, the big clients couldn't be left unattended, so he would take over for now. Just giving you a heads up."

"Thanks, Sister Rui."

Su Lichen hadn't been seriously following up on the Indian client.

Indians tend to exaggerate and lack a sense of contract.

But the boss saw it as a big account, thinking the Indian market was huge and the company was sizable.

Su Lichen didn't take it seriously, but he didn't go against the boss's wishes either.

Since Zhou Ping liked to steal his clients, Su Lichen decided he could have that one.

But Su Lichen wouldn't let Zhou Ping have the Middle Eastern client.

Zhou Ping underestimated how easy it would be. In business, when it's just company-to-company, there are plenty of alternatives. If a client prefers another company's services, they'll switch.

Zhou Ping himself was a connection hire and relied on that to get many resources. How could he not understand even this?

Su Lichen shook his head to himself.

He opened his computer email. He had already seen the message the day before and had made his assessment.

But since Sister Rui was willing to give him a heads-up, Su Lichen was happy to return the favor.

The email was simple: "Confirmed with the client regarding the personnel change. The client expressed understanding and agreed that I would continue the follow-up."

This was an email from the Middle Eastern client forwarded to Su Lichen. Before his leave, he had even informed his important clients about the change.

As for why the Middle Eastern client forwarded it to him, both he and the client understood without needing to say anything.

Su Lichen had been following up with them for a year to secure the deal. Every time they came on a business trip, Su Lichen found ways to meet them.

He also often sent them local specialties.

Su Lichen leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers on the desk a couple of times.

At noon, Xu Moxing sent a photo of his lunch to Su Lichen.

"Patient meal, but Sister Zhang made it pretty good. PS: Sister Zhang is the caregiver you hired."

Su Lichen chatted with Xu Moxing while eating.

An older colleague teased him, "Xiao Su is still so lovey-dovey with his girlfriend, it makes people jealous."

Su Lichen smiled but didn't respond.

Soon after joining, when colleagues gossiped about his love life, he openly admitted he had a partner.

They occasionally teased him, but it was harmless—just a way to make small talk.

It was a little after three in the afternoon.

Zhou Chengzhi walked past Su Lichen's desk with a cup of coffee, paused for a moment, and glanced down at Su Lichen's screen.

"Oh, would you look at my memory," he said cheerfully, with a hint of concern in his voice. "Xiao Su, I had Zhou Ping take over the Middle East and India clients for you. You just focus on your family stuff. Once they sign, you'll get your cut. Don't worry."

Su Lichen looked up.

He looked at Zhou Chengzhi's smiling face and suddenly thought of a saying — the hardest thing to guard against isn't someone who's openly bad—it's the person who smiles while 'helping' you.

Because he said "you'll get your cut," but these were mine to begin with.

Su Lichen smiled too.

"Okay, if that's how you want it, Boss Zhou, I'll go along."

Zhou Chengzhi was taken aback, clearly not expecting him to be this agreeable.

He also knew that these two clients were referred to Su Lichen by his existing clients, who thought highly of him — a referral from his own clients.

Moreover, Su Lichen had been following up for a long time; strictly speaking, they weren't company-provided platforms or resources, but came from Su Lichen's own channels.

But Zhou Ping had been wanting to take over these clients, and had mentioned it to him many times. It just so happened that Su Lichen had taken a long leave due to family matters.

Zhou Chengzhi thought that since Su hadn't been able to close them in so long, maybe someone else could seal the deal, so he agreed.

"I'll head over now. Let me know if anything comes up."

He walked away with his coffee.

Su Lichen watched his back, then looked away and continued reading his emails.

Xia Rui at the next desk leaned over and lowered her voice: "Are you really letting him take over just like that?"

Su Lichen didn't look up.

"He won't be able to close them."

"Are you so sure?"

Su Lichen didn't answer.

But he knew the answer.

You've gotta know your limits.

He's got a big appetite—hope he doesn't bite off more than he can chew.

He went back to reading emails and handling his tasks, looking just the same as always.

Only he knew that when Boss Zhou said "you'll get your cut," he was seething inside.