CHAPTER 1492: CHAPTER 1300: UNUSUAL CHANGES_2

This morning, early at the break of dawn, the "inside stories" spreading like wildfire at the Greater China Region Headquarters’ Affairs Department were mostly negative rumors started by Shang Dadong and Zhao Xinyu—

Saying Bai Xiaosheng believes the Affairs Department is overstaffed, not a profit center, yet enjoys considerable benefits, completely unnecessary. First comes the major restructuring, the next step is layoffs, followed by a reduction in employee benefits...

Saying with stricter regulations coming into effect, future promotions and raises will be even harder...

Saying future evaluations will become unbearably frequent...

This kind of talk quickly made many people lose interest in working.

The employees in the Affairs Department feel their efforts, in the end, are neither credited nor appreciated, but rather deemed parasitic, and it’s intolerable.

Under deliberate guidance, there is even a trend of "grumblings and complaints" emerging among them.

Throughout the morning, Shang Dadong stayed in his office, using his private phone to contact those regional leaders recognized to have "common interests," while frequently receiving good news from his subordinates, feeling quite cheerful.

Of course, facing his subordinates, they were not explicitly informed—

The most displeasing part of the new system to them is that it cuts off the Senior Affairs Officer’s control over the Affairs Officer!

This is the most crucial part!

After all, who likes being controlled and having to watch others’ faces? Once promotions, salary raises, rewards, and punishments can break away from the Senior Affairs Officer’s grip, they won’t be so obedient anymore.

Shang Dadong and Zhao Xinyu had analyzed that with so many regulations combined, Bai Xiaosheng would definitely not release them all at once for everyone to see, especially since these have not been finalized, and details are yet to be perfected. Making changes after publishing would affect his presidential image.

At least, Bai Xiaosheng is unlikely to announce the new system within this week.

Shang Dadong and Zhao Xinyu are betting on this point, planning to fight a race-against-time battle of information asymmetry with Bai Xiaosheng. As long as chaos ensues and people become anxious, those regional leaders and even remaining Senior Affairs Officers will be affected, and their stances might change.

This would give them more opportunities.

At 10:15, just as Shang Dadong finished a call, there was a gentle knock on his office door.

"Come in!"

Shang Dadong thought it was one of his dispatched subordinates returning, and lazily called out.

He’d been on the phone long enough and was tired, intending to take a break, listen to the person’s report, and see if there was any new "good news."

The door opened, and a lean, monkey-like man walked in, giving Shang Dadong a humble smile before stepping forward eagerly.

"Cheng, any good news?" Shang Dadong asked, lazily sipping his tea.

The man named Cheng quickly reported all that he’d seen and heard.

Initially, Shang Dadong listened idly, but soon began to frown.

"I remember you came back a quarter of an hour ago, saying pretty much the same thing. What, did you come back just to repeat it to me? Do you think you’re a tape recorder?" Shang Dadong grew dissatisfied, glaring at him.

Ever since the man entered, Shang Dadong had been sipping tea and checking his phone, never looking up.

Annoyed by this "nonsense," he finally looked over.

This Cheng, in his forties, was one of Shang Dadong’s capable assistants and an affairs aide.

Actually, this man should have been promoted to an Affairs Officer, but Shang Dadong had grown used to him and kept him as one of his many assistants.

This man was also very tactful, never expressing unwillingness or desire for further advancement.

He knew that without Shang Dadong’s nod, he couldn’t gain any benefits through promotion!

As Shang Dadong looked over, he noticed this Cheng had a shifting gaze, seemingly having something to say but hesitant.

This guy isn’t dumb; there’s no need to tell one thing twice!

Shang Dadong frowned more deeply, a bit annoyed, "Just speak up!"

Cheng immediately swallowed, cautiously looking at Shang Dadong, "Officer Dadong, haven’t you logged into the intranet and seen something?!"

Shang Dadong frowned; he hadn’t been on his computer at all.

"The president’s office released new notifications, publishing some clauses of the new policy, and even seeking opinions from the grassroots." Cheng directly met Shang Dadong’s gaze.

The kind of look in Cheng’s eyes was something Shang Dadong had never seen, and it’s hard to describe, but there seemed to be a hint of excitement in his gaze.

"Now, everyone is discussing those! What you instructed me to say, no one is listening anymore, since the content differs greatly from the new policy entries posted!" Cheng murmured, his eyes gleaming.

Shang Dadong’s eyes flickered.

Bai Xiaosheng dares to announce the new policy...

No, Cheng said Bai Xiaosheng only released some entries of the policy seeking everyone’s opinion!

Shang Dadong felt a sense of unease.

Bai Xiaosheng only needs to release the parts favorable to Affairs Officers and aides; he doesn’t need to release the entire policy, waste effort explaining, or worry about whether other details require further scrutiny, and he gains huge support!

Bai Xiaosheng actually did this!

In his shock, Shang Dadong saw Cheng’s piercing eyes looking at him, feeling another jolt inside.

Normally, Cheng just needed to report truthfully, so why would he deliberately repeat the nonsense?

That earlier... could it be he wanted to keep something from me, or even try to trick something out of me, but didn’t dare to?!

And what kind of look is that!

The more Shang Dadong thought about it, the more uneasy he became, his gaze growing sharp.

Cheng immediately lowered his head.

"Get out!" Shang Dadong shouted angrily.

"Yes, yes." Cheng obediently walked out.

Just as Cheng was about to open the door, two knocks sounded from the outside, and the office door swung open.