A Good-for-Nothing

87. Jumping the Line Is Shameful (1)

Translator: Dragon Rider

“In order to implement Some Suggestions on Deepening the Sifting of Candidates for the Special Talents Training Program (STTP) of Special Action Groups of the Supernaturalism Management Bureau (SMB) of the Department of Homeland Security in 2018 issued by the General Office of the Central Committee, as well as Some Suggestions on Further Tightening up the Criteria for the Selection of Special Talents [C-G-D No.55 2018] issued by the Municipal General Office of the Coastal City, according to the total enrollment in the last five years and appraisal of applicants’ abilities reported by the general bureau of SMB, sub-bureaus of SMB and secondary action groups affiliated to district governments, our government has recently issued Some Suggestions on Strengthening the Selection of Candidates for STTP of SMB, which will help improve the sifting of candidates for STTP with a series of detailed stipulations.

The official notification document, time for registration, requirements and related stipulations concerning STTP of special action groups will be released on April fourth, delivered to all sub-bureaus and will be available on the online office system of SMB.

Those intending to apply are supposed to present themselves in designated examination centers to take the required selective tests at the designated time. All provincial sub-bureaus and municipal sub-bureaus are to log in to the office system and submit required information before March fifth. This announcement repeats every half an hour on this radio channel. Those intending to apply are supposed to enter their names at a designated time and place. If you have any queries, please contact our helpline immediately…”

In an office hall filled with the hum of voices, He Zheng was sitting on a stainless-steel chair with an amused look on his face, listening to the wordy and repetitive announcement that was repeating itself again and again in the radio, as if he would never get tired of it.

There was but one reason why He Zheng, a domineering bully, was listening so attentively – the announcer was Li Zong.

He Zheng wondered how that man appearing so busy had managed to find the time to record this tape.

But it was undeniable that Li Zong’s deep and sweet-sounding voice was very pleasant to the ears, heavy with some kind of bone-softening magnetism. Several girls who had come to this place to enter their names were discussing with each other in undertones, saying that they felt enchanted by this voice.

He Zheng quietly enjoyed these compliments with satisfaction, his heart brimmed with pride. How could not be proud? The announcer was his husband.

Thinking of Li Zong, He Zheng realized that he was not only a powerful exorcist but also an excellent announcer; he was a sophisticated host when in the living room, and a good cook when in the kitchen; he was capable of making both appetizing stewed chicken and health-preserving tea. After considering all aspects, He Zheng came to the conclusion that this man was young and promising, handsome and loaded, that he had limitless career prospects and was virtually a typical representative of highly inspiring idols in not only gay circles but also a lot of other circles as well.

The longer He Zheng thought about this, the more strongly he felt that marrying Li Zong had been a right decision. Never had this childe ever counted himself lucky, but at this moment, he couldn’t help but think, ‘Fortunately, that day on the plane, I put aside my pride and asked him for help, which was my first time doing that kind of thing. Now it seems that I’ll be living in happiness for the rest of my life.’

“Cutie! Cutie!” Zu Zhichong’s flustered and exasperated voice was heard and with that the smile on He Zheng’s face gradually faded away.

Poor Zu Zhichong not only had been doing all kinds of things for He Zheng as if he were a nanny, he also had to be careful not to anger him. ‘Why do I feel a slave?’

“Don’t give me that look. Fill in these forms right now. I jumped the line to enter your name for you, yet you’d been sitting comfortably in repose under a ceiling fan with your eyes closed. Shame on you guys receiving preferential treatment!”

He Zheng replied indifferently, “You have only the guy who made you my elder sect-brother to blame. Besides…”

He Zheng’s eyes appraised Zu Zhichong from head to toe and then, in a bland tone of voice, he added, “You received preferential treatment as well, didn’t you? The pot shouldn’t call the kettle black, right?”

Zu Zhichong was nearly angered to death by these words, thinking, ‘It’s true that I also have backers, but I still ended up being your errand boy. How could I compare with you?!’

Zu Zhichong sourly handed the forms to He Zheng and talked no more nonsense, “Let’s just get this over with. Follow me to the window to sign your name and get fingerprinted. Otherwise they won’t be able to validate your application in the system.”

The whole office hall was in an awful din and jammed with people. Zu Zhichong was a man who liked mixing with pretty girls. Since none of the posts in this office hall required the staff member to possess great fighting capacity, most personnel working here were female. Leading He Zheng, Zu Zhichong kept repeating, “Excuse me. Got to get by…”

Zu Zhichong directly elbowed his way to a service window, pushed the forms inside and whistled at the staff member in front of him. “Xiao Lu, I could use a favor.”

The girl slid him a sideways glance and huffed, “There are so many people standing in line behind you. Why can’t you do the same?!”

“Alas. I have orders from someone higher in the hierarchy to get this done immediately!” While making this remark, he pulled a sanctimonious face and winked at her.

Though saying she was unwilling to help, the girl unhesitatingly picked up the forms from the side, stamped them neatly and quickly and pushed them out to let He Zheng sign them.

He Zheng’s handwriting was terrible and his signature was an illegible scrawl. Without even glancing at the forms, he directly left his fingerprint on them with his thumb. Zu Zhichong pushed the forms back inside, patted He Zheng on the shoulder and heaved a sigh of relief in the knowledge that his job was done.

“All right. Mission accomplished. Let’s get out of here.”

When Zu Zhichong had been jumping the line, people behind him had not been happy about it but had not raised any objections, because they had seen that Zu Zhichong seemed to be well acquainted with the staff member and also had an employee’s card around his neck. When the two of them were leaving, a casual and unconcerned voice came from among the crowd. “Come on, Brother Zu, I could use a chance to jump the line as well. I’ve been waiting in this line for a full hour yet the window is still out of sight! Jumping the line is an exercise good for health. We should all do it when the occasion arises!”

Immediately, all others standing in line looked at Zu Zhichong scornfully, as if he were a competitor receiving preferential treatment. Zu Zhichong was only too anxious to strangle Jin Qianlai where he stood. ‘Son of a bitch! Whenever I meet this guy, bad things always happen.’

People around him instantly fell into heated discussion.

“We’re all here to enter our names, so we deserve to be treated equally. Even Supt. Li himself said that this registration would be open and fair. These two guys know the staff member, or maybe they are staff members, but that doesn’t give them the right to jump the line!”

Staying in this noisy and stuffy office crowded with people had been making He Zheng feel very fidgety all along. With these people yelling, his head felt as though it would explode.