I Only Wanted to Be a Low-Level Government Official - Chapter 5: Ups and downs

The temporary assignment officially ended yesterday. Wang Jianguo patted him on the shoulder and said, “You did a good job,” then handed him this form: “Go back to your original unit and report for duty.”

Former employer.

His former workplace never even received a desk.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Feng stepped into the courtyard.

The guard peeked out from the gatehouse, glanced at him, and gave him a subtle look—Qin Feng understood that look: three parts curiosity, three parts wariness, and four parts the implication of “You dare to come back, kid.”

I encountered several staff members while going upstairs.

Some people pretended not to see him and hurried past with their heads down;

Some people nodded politely, but their eyes darted around;

There was also an older woman who hesitated to speak, but finally sighed, turned around, and went into the office.

Qin Feng smiled bitterly.

He knows why.

The day Li Guofu was taken away, he followed behind the people from the Discipline Inspection Commission.

The entire agricultural bureau saw it—the new recruit who hadn’t even reported for duty yet had sent his future boss to jail.

This reputation is now infamous.

The personnel department is on the fourth floor.

Qin Feng knocked on the door and went in. Inside, a woman in her forties was sitting and typing on a computer.

Upon seeing him, she paused in her movements.

“Comrade, I’m here to report for duty.” Qin Feng handed over the notification form.

The woman took the order, glanced at the name, then looked up at Qin Feng, her expression as complicated as a spilled spice bottle.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end she just nodded: “Oh, Comrade Qin Feng. Please wait a moment.”

She took the list, got up, and went into the inner room.

Qin Feng could vaguely hear voices inside, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying.

He sat down on a chair in the outer room and looked around—rules and regulations were hanging on the wall, and a potted green ivy with slightly yellowing leaves sat on the windowsill.

A few minutes later, the woman came out, followed by a young man wearing glasses.

“Xiao Zhang, take Comrade Qin to complete the formalities,” the woman said in a businesslike tone.

Xiao Zhang pushed up his glasses: “Brother Qin… this way please.”

The procedures were completed surprisingly quickly.

Filling out forms, submitting photos, receiving work permits, and registering personal information all took less than half an hour.

Holding his brand-new work ID—which bore his name and the words “clerk”—Qin Feng felt even more uncertain.

That’s it?

What about the job position?

Where’s the office?

The leader won’t see me?

Xiao Zhang seemed to sense his confusion and whispered, “Brother Qin, Director Liu said… he wants you to go to his office. Fifth floor, the innermost one.”

Director Liu?

Qin Feng remembered: Liu Wanli, the executive deputy director, was temporarily acting as the director.

He thanked him and went upstairs.

The corridor was quiet, with only the sound of his own footsteps.

As we passed several offices, some people peeked out through the cracks in the doors, their gazes quickly disappearing upon contact.

The director’s office door was closed.

Qin Feng knocked on the door.

“Please come in.”

Pushing open the door, I found the office to be smaller than I had imagined, but it was very tidy.

The bookshelves were filled with books on agriculture, and a calligraphy scroll hung on the wall that read: “Serve the People.”

Behind the desk sat a man in his fifties, with a square face and his hair neatly combed; it was Liu Wanli.

“Director Liu.” Qin Feng stopped.

“Oh, Comrade Qin Feng has arrived.” Liu Wanli put down the documents in his hand, a smile spreading across his face. “Sit down, sit down.”

Qin Feng sat down in the chair opposite him, but only sat on half of his buttocks.

Liu Wanli looked him up and down, his smile unchanged: “Hmm, quite a handsome man. I heard you performed exceptionally well during your secondment to the Discipline Inspection Commission; Director Wang Jianguo even called to praise you.”

“It’s all thanks to the effective guidance of our leaders,” Qin Feng said.

Just polite words.

Both of them knew it was just polite talk.

“You’re… thirty this year, right?” Liu Wanli flipped through the files on the table. “Although you just joined our bureau, we welcome a capable young comrade like you.”

Qin Feng’s heart skipped a beat.

This opening line doesn’t feel right.

Sure enough, Liu Wanli changed the subject: “However, there’s a special situation now. The position of library director at the municipal party school has been vacant for some time, and they urgently need someone.”

The Party School leadership contacted our bureau, wanting to second a capable comrade. After some consideration, I think you’re the most suitable.

Qin Feng’s mind went blank.

Party School?

Library director?

“This position is at the deputy section chief level,” Liu Wanli added, his tone as if he were bestowing a great favor upon him. “Although you are a new employee, considering your outstanding performance during your secondment to the Discipline Inspection Commission, the organization has made an exception and promoted you. Report for duty today.”

Qin Feng opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but his throat felt like it was blocked by something.

What could he say?

You’re saying I don’t want to go?

They said I just returned to the Agriculture Bureau and haven’t started working yet?

Is this a demotion in name only, a form of exile?

“Director Liu, I…” Qin Feng began with difficulty.

“Xiao Qin,” Liu Wanli interrupted him, his smile fading slightly, “this is the organization’s decision, and also a sign of their trust in you. The librarian may sound insignificant, but the responsibility is immense.”

What is a Party School?

It’s a place for training cadres. The library there houses invaluable intellectual treasures.

We’re sending you because we value your principles and sense of responsibility.

One compliment after another was slapped on Qin Feng’s head, making him dizzy and disoriented.

“Of course, you can mention it if you have any difficulties.” Liu Wanli leaned back and picked up his teacup. “But I have to remind you that the Organization Department has already approved it. The documents have all been issued.”

If you still don’t understand after all this, you’re a fool.

Qin Feng stood up, his voice hoarse: “I will obey the organization’s arrangements.”

“Good!” Liu Wanli also stood up, walked around the desk, and patted him on the shoulder. “I knew you were a smart guy. Keep it up, I believe in you.”

I’ve already spoken to the Party School; you can just report to the personnel department directly.

When Qin Feng came out of the director’s office, he had a new registration notice in his hand—the official seal of the Organization and Personnel Department of the Municipal Party School was bright red and glaring.

He stood in the corridor, looking at the piece of paper, and suddenly wanted to laugh.

The first sword strike after landing was used to kill the bureau chief.

The second sword strike severed his own future.

Library director?

Deputy section chief level?

That sounds great. But he had done his research—the Party School Library was a notoriously quiet and unambitious place, with no power, no money, no future, just a job for retirement.

After the previous curator retired, the position remained vacant for more than half a year, as no one was willing to take it.

Now, this “hero” title has been passed over.

How ironic…

As Qin Feng went downstairs, he ran into an acquaintance at the corner of the stairs—Tao Yang, who had been on temporary assignment with him at the Discipline Inspection Commission.

Tao Yang’s eyes lit up when he saw him, but his expression changed when he saw the notice in the man’s hand.

“What are you doing…?”

“I’ve been transferred to the Party School.” Qin Feng forced a smile. “Library director, deputy section chief.”

Tao Yang paused for a few seconds, then lowered his voice: “They’re… sidelining you?”

“It’s a demotion in name only,” Qin Feng said. “It’s fine, it’s peaceful.”

“What a load of rubbish!” Tao Yang snapped. “That’s a retirement home! If you go there at such a young age, your life will be ruined!”

“You won’t be ruined.” Qin Feng patted him on the shoulder. “At least you’ll be a deputy section chief, and your salary will be better.”

He spoke lightly, but his heart was bleeding.

At thirty, I had just passed the civil service exam and was full of enthusiasm to do something, but I was assigned to manage the library.

What’s this?

Reward or punishment?

Tao Yang wanted to say something, but Qin Feng shook his head: “Let’s go, I still have to report for duty.”

The wind picked up as I walked out of the Agriculture Bureau building.

Qin Feng pulled his coat tighter and glanced back at the building where he should have worked for many years.

Perhaps we shouldn’t have had too high expectations in the first place.

—

The municipal party school is located in the eastern part of the city, which is more remote than the agricultural bureau.

The courtyard is large, with lush trees and several old-fashioned buildings nestled among it, so quiet it seems to be isolated from the world.

Qin Feng went to the personnel department, knocked on the door, and went in.

A woman in her thirties was sitting in the office, looking at documents on her computer.

“Hello comrade, I’m here to report for duty.” Qin Feng handed over the notification letter.

The woman took it, glanced at it, and her expression clearly froze for a moment.

She looked up and scrutinized Qin Feng, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, followed by sympathy—the kind of sympathy that seemed to say, “How did you end up here?”

“Comrade Qin Feng, right?” she asked to confirm.

“yes.”

“Wait a moment.” She picked up the phone and dialed a number. “Director Li, the library director has arrived… Yes, the one transferred from the Agriculture Bureau… Okay, understood.”

After hanging up the phone, she stood up and said, “Director Li is in the next office. I’ll take you there.”

The head of the personnel department was an elderly man in his fifties with gray hair and wearing reading glasses.

Upon seeing Qin Feng, he took off his glasses and scrutinized him carefully as well.

“Comrade Qin, welcome.” Director Li said gently, “Director Liu spoke to me on the phone and said you are a good comrade with strong principles.”

Although library work is leisurely, it is very important.

Our Party School’s library has a collection of over 100,000 books, many of which are valuable documents.

We trust you with our business.

Qin Feng could only nod.

The procedures were completed just as quickly.

Twenty minutes later, he received his Party School work ID, meal card, and a key—with a small wooden sign hanging on it that read “Library.”

“The library is in the three-story building behind the main building.” Director Li personally escorted him to the door. “The first floor is the reading room, the second floor is the book depository, and the third floor is the office and rare book depository.”

There are currently two staff members in the museum, Lao Wang and Xiao Chen, both veteran employees, who will be your subordinates from now on.

He paused, then said meaningfully, “Xiao Qin, since you’re here, make the best of it. There’s no such thing as a job being high or low; doing your job well is contributing to the organization.”

“I understand, thank you, Director Li.”

After leaving the personnel department, Qin Feng followed the instructions and found the three-story building.

The red brick exterior walls are covered with ivy, and in late autumn, the leaves are half yellow and half red, which is quite charming.

Pushing open the door, the first-floor reading room was large, but empty.

There are a dozen long tables, chairs neatly arranged, and rows of bookshelves against the wall.

Sunlight streamed in through the tall windows, revealing dust particles dancing in the air.

quiet.

It’s too quiet.

It was so quiet that I could hear my own heartbeat.

“Is anyone there?” Qin Feng called out.

Footsteps could be heard from the second floor.

An elderly man in his sixties with gray hair came down, carrying a feather duster in his hand.

“Who are you……”

“I am the new curator, Qin Feng.”

“Oh, Director Qin!” The old man quickly put down the duster and wiped his hands on his clothes. “I am Lao Wang, Wang Fuquan.”

Director Li called and said you should report for duty today. Xiao Chen is organizing the bookshelves upstairs; I’ll call him down now.

“No need, no need,” Qin Feng waved his hand. “Let me check out the surroundings first.”

He walked around on the first floor and then went up to the second floor.

The second floor is filled with bookshelves, densely packed, and the air has the distinctive smell of old paper.

A man in his thirties was organizing books. When he saw him, he nodded shyly and said, “Hello, librarian, I am Chen Zhiyuan.”

“You guys go about your business,” Qin Feng said.

His office is on the third floor.

The room wasn’t big, but it faced south and got a lot of sunlight.

An old-fashioned desk, a rattan chair, a filing cabinet, and a pot of some kind of green plant with wilted leaves.

Qin Feng sat down in the chair, which creaked as it did so.

From the window, you can see the Party School’s playground, where several students are playing basketball.

Further away, the city skyline unfolds, with towering buildings everywhere.

He placed his work ID on the table and looked at the words “Curator” on it.

Deputy section chief.

At thirty, being a deputy section chief isn’t considered slow within the system.

But this deputy section chief position was in a corner that everyone had forgotten.

Qin Feng leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

He recalled the day he reported to the Agricultural Bureau, and the secret expectation in his heart—a stable job, a regular schedule, and perhaps the opportunity to do something meaningful.

What about now?

Surrounded by hundreds of thousands of books, watching the sun rise and set every day, waiting to retire?

My phone vibrated.

It was a WeChat message from her mother: “Fengwa, how’s your new job? Is your boss treating you well?”

Qin Feng stared at the screen for a long time, his fingers hovering above the keyboard.

Finally, he replied, “It’s great, Mom. The leaders value me a lot; they made me a deputy section chief right away. Working at the Party School is easy and stable.”

send.

He looked out the window; the sky was overcast, as if it were about to rain.

That’s fine.

If it’s a quiet time, then so be it.

At least, I no longer need to investigate anyone, nor will I be investigated by anyone.

A library is a library.

He stood up, walked to the bookshelf, and randomly picked out a book. The cover was yellowed; it was “On the Self-Cultivation of Party Members.”

Turning to the first page, there are pen-written borrowing records, the most recent one being five years ago.

No one has borrowed this book in five years.

Qin Feng smiled and put the book back in its place.

From today onwards, these books are under his control.