On the rostrum was a row of tables covered in red velvet. At the very edge, soone was already seated, repeatedly making announcents over the PA system to maintain order in the venue.
Hearing the urging announcents, Du Heng couldn't help but quicken his pace in search of his seat.
The first row, no doubt, must be for the top leaders or gurus of each workplace.
The second row would be for seniors with experience, or for those who won first or second prizes.
For , finding a seat in the third row would already be quite an achievent.
Du Heng knew his place. Reaching the third row, he started searching carefully from the very edge.
But none of the naplates bore his na, Du Heng. He searched from one end to the other but found nothing.
Du Heng touched his nose. Could it be in the second row?
Although he found it hard to believe, since his na wasn't in the third row, he had no choice but to look towards the tables in the second row.
Then, near the center, Du Heng actually found his na.
Du Heng looked around doubtfully. This seat—it's pretty good.
However, seeing people already starting to take their places on the rostrum and others settling into their seats, Du Heng had no ti for idle thoughts. He quickly pulled out the chair and sat down.
"Young man, which workplace are you from?" Du Heng had just sat down, not even having had ti to adjust his position, when an old man's voice ca from beside him.
Du Heng turned to look. Unsurprisingly, he didn't recognize the old man next to him.
"Sir, I work at the Municipal Maternal and Child Health Hospital."
"Your leaders really are sothing, not telling you anything."
"What's wrong, Sir?"
"These seats here are all for the first and second prize winners, and for the top leaders of each workplace. Besides, there are naplates at the front. If you sit here, you'll offend people."
The old man said with an earnest and serious tone, "Hurry and find a seat in the back. Otherwise, it will be very embarrassing when the person whose seat this is arrives."
That makes sense, Du Heng thought.
He'd heard he had only won a third prize; there was no way he'd be seated in the second row, especially in such a good spot.
So, he believed the old man and quickly got up to leave.
But his na truly wasn't in the third row. From the fourth row back, there were no naplates on the tables, leaving Du Heng in a montary dilemma.
Suddenly, he saw the registration staff at the entrance and slapped his forehead.
How could I be so muddled?
"Excuse , could you tell where my seat is?" Du Heng asked, handing his ID badge to the staff mber.
"Hello. Are you a regular attendee or an award recipient?"
"An award recipient."
The staff mber pointed forward. "The first three rows are for award recipients. There are corresponding naplates on them. You can find your na and take your seat."
Du Heng hesitated for a mont. "I found it, but it's in the second row. Could soone else have the sa na as ?"
"Is there a workplace noted under the na?"
"No."
The staff mber imdiately smiled. "Then there's no mistake, that's your seat. If there were duplicate nas, we would have noted the person's workplace under their na. Hurry and sit down; the conference is about to start."
Du Heng murmured an "Oh" and could only return to his previous seat. As he turned to leave, he completely missed the envious expression on the staff mber's face behind him.
The old man who had spoken earlier was chatting and laughing with the person beside him. Suddenly, a shadow flickered in the corner of his eye, and he saw soone sit down next to him.
When he turned back, he saw it was the sa young man from before.
"Young man, why are you back again?"
"I just checked, and this is indeed my na. Thank you, Sir."
The old man's eyebrows twitched. "Your na? You won an award too?" Seeing how young Du Heng was, he mused, "You must be here to collect the award on behalf of your workplace, right?"
Du Heng smiled and simply nodded.
Seeing Du Heng ignore him, the old man grew a bit displeased. "Young man, an award like this is only truly worth bragging about when you've earned it yourself. Using connections or resorting to opportunism offers no real advantages at events like these."
Does he enjoy lecturing people?
Du Heng glanced at the old man beside him. "Thank you for your concern, Sir. There's water on the table; why don't you have a sip before you continue?"
Is he implying I talk too much?
The old man was instantly annoyed and muttered, "So people just can't appreciate good intentions."
****.
Du Heng was exasperated.
What kind of person is this, cursing as soon as he opens his mouth?
What does he an, 'can't appreciate good intentions'? Isn't that like 'biting the hand that feeds you,' mistaking kindness for malice?
Is he calling a dog?
This old scoundrel really thinks he's so cultured.
"Please be quiet, everyone. The conference will begin shortly."
The voice ca from the rostrum again, causing Du Heng to involuntarily shut his mouth and stop paying attention to the old rogue.
If that announcent hadn't co just in ti, he really would have given the old man a piece of his mind.
The conference was boring, enough to make anyone drowsy.
Du Heng's initial excitent gradually turned into fatigue, and then into a feeling of complete listlessness.
If the head of the Health System hadn't been sitting in front of him, he definitely would have fallen asleep already.
Waiting like this was the most boring thing imaginable.
"Next, we will present the Scientific and Technological Progress Third Prize..."
Du Heng was suddenly wide awake. It's finally my turn.
When his na was called, Du Heng imdiately stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked proudly towards the rostrum.
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