A perfect life begins with changing the timeline.

Chapter 97 Unable to Drink

"Over the past few months, everyone has witnessed Li's transformation. From a primary school student to independently reporting news, securing the first exclusive interview with the lottery winner of 50 million, and demonstrating remarkable drive and insight during the 9/11 attacks, he has fully met the standards of a professional journalist. Congratulations, Li!"

"Splash splash ...

Applause rang out again.

Li Mu stepped forward slightly and bowed to everyone: "Thank you for your guidance and cultivation, teachers. Thank you, Brother Bie, Director, and the newspaper for providing me with this platform and guidance."

He thanked everyone present and the newspaper, and Zhang Zhengwen, smiling, waited for the applause to subside before continuing, "Being officially hired isn't the end, but the real beginning. It means you'll have to shoulder more responsibility and face greater pressure. But don't be afraid, the department is your strongest support. From now on, your articles will proudly bear the name 'Reporter: Li Mu,' which is an honor, but also a heavy responsibility. Little Li, your brother, and all of us have high hopes for you, so please don't let us down."

"I will certainly live up to the director's expectations."

Li Mu quickly thanked him again.

"Um.

""

Zhang Zhengwen nodded with a smile, then looked at Sui Kuan: "Keep up the good work, Sui."

"Uh... okay, Director, I'll definitely try my best!"

With Sui Kuan nodding, Zhang Zhengwen waved his hand: "Alright, that's all for now. Xiao Li, go to HR to complete the formalities later. Also, today is a good day, and as usual, we should celebrate the new recruits. We'll meet at our usual spot after get off work tonight for a banquet. The expenses will be covered by the department's budget."

"Oh!" Cheers erupted again.

Zhang Zhengwen and Bie Yan left together.

As soon as the two left, everyone in the office congratulated Li Mu.

Moreover, given Li's abilities as a young man, no one was surprised that Li Mu was able to be promoted to a permanent position.

After Li Muhao expressed his gratitude, the office returned to its usual peaceful routine.

At this moment, Sui Kuan leaned closer in and whispered, "What happened? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm not allowed to say."

Knowing what Fatty Sui wanted to ask, Li Mu lowered his voice and said, "When he talked to me yesterday, you weren't there, and he requested that we wait until he announces it today, so I didn't mention it to you. And—you're fine too."

At this point, Li Mu even winked at him slightly.

"Brother Bie put in a lot of effort."

His words were actually quite clever.

He didn't mention who forbade him to say it earlier, but his words sounded like he was guiding Sui Kuan toward Zhang Zhengwen's path.

The director ended up taking the blame.

But the last sentence is the key point: "You can also get a permanent position, so don't worry about me helping you."

The credit fell on Bieyan again.

Furthermore, Li Mu didn't even realize he was lying, because it was Brother Bie who personally admitted on Monday night that he had Sui Kuan mentored by a senior reporter for a period of time, so that once he graduated, he would be able to stand on his own.

Listen carefully to the implication; this is clearly a way of giving Fatty Sui a certificate that hasn't even been officially issued yet as a safety net.

It's like a reassurance.

Sure enough, Sui Kuan's eyes lit up instantly: "Really?!"

"How could that be false? We're just a matter of time, I'll just be faster than you."

"————Hehehe."

Sui Kuan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Li Mu then stood up: "I'm going to sign the contract."

"Um!"

Looking at Li Mu's retreating figure, Sui Kuan's eyes did not show disappointment, but rather shone brightly.

"Congratulations, Xiao Li!"

"Thank you, teacher."

With the signing of the labor contract, Li Mu officially became a member of the Southern Metropolis Daily. He was also the first among this batch of interns to be promoted to a full-time position. After thanking everyone, he put the contract away and left.

But instead of rushing back to his office, he walked out of the office building, went to a corner, and dialed his home phone number.

"Beep beep—Hello, who is it?"

"Mom? Where's Dad?"

"Third child? Your father just finished eating and is planning to go to town to contact the corn harvesters."

Upon hearing this, Li Mu quickly said, "Put the phone on speakerphone."

Thus, the couple, living far away in a rural area of ​​Henan Province, heard the news of their son's official promotion through the speakerphone.

"You've really been promoted to a permanent position?"

"Yes, I just signed the contract. Mom, Dad, I'm a full-fledged reporter now."

Following Li Mu's words, the elderly couple, who weren't exactly experts on the benefits of "promotion," immediately asked their most pressing question: "So, your salary increased by a certain amount? Will your company provide you with housing?"

"The salary is 1,760 a month, plus commission, but the amount of commission depends on how good the articles are."

"So tall? Okay, okay, that's fine—"

Instantly, the elderly couple beamed with joy.

Li Mu was finally able to say logically, "Mom, give me a bank account number. I just received my salary and bonus from my trip to America, a total of ten thousand yuan. I'll keep two thousand for myself and transfer eight thousand to you. Tell Dad to get his back treated and see a doctor as soon as possible. Buy some good food, and don't let him work too hard harvesting corn. If the land isn't suitable, we can lease it out. Now that I can earn money, I'll support you two from now on."

"I don't want your money, you can keep it yourself."

"This is my bonus. I can't spend it all here, so I'll mail it to you. From now on, my monthly salary will never be less than three thousand."

"Huh? That tall!?"

"Yes, I send some money to you two every month. I also get a bonus at the end of the year. Mom, you can tell Uncle that the money I borrowed from him for school will be paid back by the end of the year."

With the formal contract as an excuse, Li Mu, who was also overjoyed at the prospect of finally relieving his parents' financial burden and fulfilling his filial duty, couldn't help but blurt out the words he had been holding back for so long: "Our family will never have to worry about money again!!!"

As the saying goes, "A person is in high spirits when good things happen."

Although Li Mu had completely adapted to the life of a "rich person" during this period, he still felt an indescribable joy when he actually said these words to his family.

It's like receiving parental approval.

That feeling—he didn't know how to describe it.

But at least from his father's instruction, "Third son, take good care of yourself," he felt a sense of power surging from within.

Perhaps this is what it feels like to be the pillar of the family?

Now he can finally rightfully take over everything in the family.

This will allow our parents to enjoy a comfortable and easy life, and also make life better for our two older sisters.

He remembered clearly how his two older sisters sold their gold and silver dowry to send him to university when he was admitted but didn't have enough money for tuition.

It's time to give back.

He returned to his workstation while thinking about it.

Then I started planning in my mind how to avoid being tricked into doing the things that Brother Lie mentioned.

Then it got to night.

Just before leaving get off work, he received another message from Fan Bing: "Brother Li, kill him?"

Li Muxin said, "Kill my ass! Do you think this is chess?"

I quickly replied, "Not today, the people at work need to eat today."

"what?"

"Tomorrow, I guess. We're definitely going to drink tonight. I don't even know what time I'll get home."

"Alright then. But I'm not free tomorrow. Jiang is coming tomorrow, the crew needs to meet up. By the way, Brother Li, are you free on Saturday? Come with me to buy a tennis racket? I'd like to sign up for a class."

Upon seeing the message, Li Mu thought for a moment and replied, "We'll see when the time comes."

"Hehe, that's fine then. Brother Li, you go ahead with your work. I'll go back to reading the script."

"OK."

Time flies, and it's time to get off work.

The people from the Arts and Sports Department were chatting and laughing as they prepared to go out for a meal.

When Li Mu walked out of the office, he saw several interns.

Upon seeing him, Li Wei quickly waved and exclaimed, "Li Mu, congratulations!!!"

Clearly, these people also received news of their official promotion.

However, no one was surprised.

Li Mu's exclusive 9/11 news report is undeniably valuable. While most viewers, or those who see the news, won't care who the reporter is, focusing instead on the content itself, industry insiders understand the significance of the story Li Mu obtained.

Rather than feeling envious, I would rather be the one to receive this news.

Thanks.

Li Mu thanked him, saying, "I'll treat you to dinner another day. Tonight won't work; it's a department dinner."

"Hehe, it's OK."

Li Wei nodded with a smile: "We were just waiting to congratulate you, after all, you're the first one to be officially hired. You'll be a big reporter from now on, so don't forget about us when there are benefits. Hehehe————"

Everyone exchanged pleasantries and compliments with him before finally parting ways.

Li Mu walked towards the restaurant not far from the entrance of his workplace.

This restaurant is a frequent gathering place for our company, and today it wasn't just the Arts and Sports Department staff who were there; heads of other departments were also present. However, these people weren't there to congratulate a junior intern reporter on being promoted to a full-time position, but rather to congratulate Bie Yan.

So after a brief greeting, the leaders went straight to the private room.

When Li Mu witnessed this scene, a thought struck him—

"Little Li, we're not leaving until we're completely drunk tonight!"

"Oh? Teacher Sun, I can't drink alcohol today."

He quickly shook his head: "I've been taking cephalosporin since I came back from the US. My throat is still inflamed, so I can't drink anything."

"—It's your inauguration banquet, as the host, isn't it appropriate for you not to drink? Are you trying to skip the bar?"

"No, no, no, Teacher Sun, it's true. My throat is still inflamed, so I can only have tea instead of alcohol tonight—"

"Old Sun, that's enough. Who's like you, always acting like a drunkard? Besides, 9/11 was such a disaster, Xiao Li must be under a lot of pressure, it's normal for him to get a little agitated. Don't push him too hard."

Someone came to Li Mu's rescue, and his colleagues in the office finally let him go.

So Li Mu substituted tea for wine, which was somewhat advantageous, but everyone looked at his earnest and sincere expression and didn't mind too much.

Moreover—once you become a full-fledged employee, you'll truly be one of us.

There's no need to make things difficult for us.

So they ate and drank happily.

The dinner started before 6 p.m. and lasted until a little after 8 p.m. before it finally ended.

Actually, I didn't drink that much alcohol.

After the banquet ended, someone went to Zhang Zhengwen in the private room and asked him to hang the bill there. Then, everyone gradually prepared to leave.

Li Mu walked with everyone, but after seeing everyone off, he returned to the restaurant and waited in the lobby.

He didn't tell Bieyan that he was waiting; he just sat to the side looking at the book "Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine".

Until a little after 9 o'clock —

"Xiao Li? Why haven't you left yet?"

Upon hearing this, Li Mu looked up and saw Bie Yan, whose face was flushed from drinking and who was clutching his wallet as if he was about to pay the bill.

"Uh—Brother, I was worried you might be too drunk to drive, so I was thinking of driving you home."

""

Bie Yan paused for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing: "Haha."

He then nodded: "Okay, wait for me a bit, we're almost done."

He didn't let Li Mu go straight back, nor did he ask him to wait in the car.

Instead, after settling the bill, he waved to Li Mu and returned to the private room.

When they reappeared, all the department-level leaders of the Southern Metropolis Daily, including Zhang Zhengwen, came out together.

"Little Li."

As Bieyan shouted, everyone saw him.

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