Chapter 12 The Provincial Capital

The drive took nearly three hours. It wasn't particularly long, but it wasn't short either. By the time they reached the big city, it was already noon. While looking at the street scenery outside, Mrs. Gao said, " Jack, you've never been to this big city, have you? When we were in our city, you were my tour guide. Now that we're in this big city, I'll show you the way."

Jack's cheeks twitched a couple of times. He thought, Can I tell you that I lived a hard life in this big city for three years, and it was all thanks to your son, the bank president?

The provincial branch of G&S Commercial Bank would draw some "laborers" from the city-level branches and affiliated sub-branches every year. The term "laborers" was what Jack and the others privately called those who were drawn to work in the provincial branch, expressing their dissatisfaction with the frequent transfer of people for work by the provincial branch.

It was estimated that some of the senior management in the provincial branch looked down on those drawn from the grassroots. So, they used these people like they were livestock.

Saying they were like livestock was even being kind. At least livestock needed to be fed some forage. But these drawn people had to find their own way to solve their meals, and worst of all, they also had to find their own place to live.

This was really inhumane, but this was the style of this bank.

What was even more excessive was that the provincial branch wasn't short of money but was unwilling to spend it on these people.

Drawing a large number of people to work would surely incur a large amount of expenses each year if food and accommodation were provided.

It wasn't clear whether the people in the provincial branch were reluctant to bear this expense or whether the financial system didn't allow it. Anyway, the provincial branch was not responsible for the expenses of these drawn people at all.

So, each branch and sub-branch had to pay for the food and accommodation expenses of these people themselves. At first, this method worked. Some people even mixed in some random invoices for reimbursement. The bank understood that everyone had a hard time, so they turned a blind eye and reimbursed them, and everyone was quite satisfied.

But later, the financial system became stricter, and this situation of drawing people became the norm. There were also cases of reimbursing expenses that shouldn't be reimbursed. So, someone suggested issuing a fixed subsidy, giving a certain amount of money every day.

This method seemed good, but the problem was that the leaders were probably afraid that if the subsidy was too high, everyone would consume in "high-end" places, so they set the subsidy amount very low. They also said that this was for the good of everyone and their families.

What was even more irritating was that during the half-year of working as a "laborer" in the provincial branch, the unit only reimbursed the round-trip expenses once.

This made everyone very angry. Think about it. Whether they were men or women, it was impossible not to go home during these half a year, right?

Well, the transportation expenses had to be paid by themselves. But if they wanted to live better and eat better, they had to pay out of their own pockets, not to mention those who had special hobbies like drinking and smoking.

It wasn't that everyone couldn't afford this little money, but this matter was too frustrating.

In this way, no one was willing to work as a "laborer" in the provincial branch.

What if no one was willing to go? Then they would take turns. Whoever's turn it was would go, for half a year each, and no one should complain.

This was how it was originally decided. But one year, it was Jack's turn to be a "laborer". After the half-year term expired, President Gao just refused to send someone to replace Jack, making Jack work in the provincial branch like a donkey for three years.

During those three years, he could barely manage in terms of his life, but the workload was too heavy, and Jack lost more than ten pounds. The worst thing was that Jack had no friends in this big city. After work, there was no one to talk to, and he also suffered some mental torture.

But Jack gritted his teeth and persevered to keep his job.

Otherwise, President Gao would surely say to him, "If you don't want to do it, just resign."

Mrs. Gao's words brought back all of Jack's resentment.

Jack glanced at Mrs. Gao's white and chubby face in the rearview mirror and said indifferently, "Yes, this is my first time here. I still need auntie to help show me the way."

Under Mrs. Gao's commands of "Turn left, turn right, go east, go west", finally Jack parked the car in front of a large gate. Jack took a look. This seemed to be the residential compound of a certain unit.

"Hey, Lao Li, open the gate. I'm back." Mrs. Gao stuck her head out and shouted at the doorman.

"Oh, Teacher Yang is back."

As the doorman spoke, he opened the iron gate with a clatter.

The Audi drove into the compound and, under Mrs. Gao's voice of "Turn left, turn right at the end, yes, this is it", stopped in front of a building.

Jack already knew on the way that Mrs. Gao was going to the home of President Gao's elder brother. But Mrs. Gao had never said which unit's residential compound this was.

Lucy also seemed not to know. After getting out of the car, she helped Mrs. Gao out while looking around.

"I'm finally home. You should stay for a meal before leaving." Mrs. Gao said after getting out of the car.

Jack looked at Lucy and found that she was looking at him, as if waiting for him to make a decision.

Jack knew that they definitely couldn't stay for this meal.

So, Jack said, "Auntie, maybe next time. We won't stay for the meal this time."

Mrs. Gao was unhappy when she heard this and complained, "Why are you like this, child? You've driven such a long way to send me back. What's wrong with having a meal?"

Just as Jack was about to explain, Lucy said, "Auntie, it's not that we don't want to eat. President Gao has assigned us some official business, and we have to go to the provincial branch."

Mrs. Gao frowned and asked, "Really?"

Jack and Lucy quickly said, "Really, really—"

Mrs. Gao was a bit unhappy and muttered, "Your President Gao is really something. He kills two birds with one stone. He said he sent someone specifically to send me back, but he also privately arranged work for you."

Jack and Lucy both smiled. Lucy said, "Auntie, President Gao is like this. He can't forget about work at any time. Please be more understanding of him."

Mrs. Gao shook her head and smiled. Then she took Lucy's hand and said, "Then I won't keep you. Don't forget the thing I told you."

Lucy patted her hand and said, "I won't forget. I won't forget. How could I forget what you told me?"

Mrs. Gao was reassured and gave Jack a meaningful look, with satisfaction in her eyes.

After sending Mrs. Gao upstairs, Jack and Lucy went downstairs and sat in the front seats of the Audi.

Jack turned to look at her and said, "Did President Gao really arrange for us to go to the provincial branch?"

Lucy smiled and said, "If we didn't say that, we would have to stay for the meal. I don't mind, but I'm afraid you—"

When Jack saw that she stopped halfway through her sentence, he asked, "Afraid of what about me?"

Lucy just smiled and asked him to drive, saying that she would take him to have a good meal.

The place Lucy wanted to take Jack to was called "Yan Chi Huang", a relatively high-end hotel in this big city. However, Lucy had a poor sense of direction and wasn't familiar with this place. In the end, it was Jack who found the place himself.

After parking the car and walking to the entrance of the hotel, they saw a burly and handsome middle-aged man standing there. He smiled when he saw them.

"Come on, Jack. Let me introduce you to your brother-in-law."

Lucy pulled him and said with a smile.