Having achieved financial freedom, I reorganized my workplace.

Chapter 22 is awesome!

Lin Chen wasn't stupid; he roughly guessed that this guy had gotten the exam questions for tomorrow's written test.

How he obtained it is unknown.

Anyway, he's the kind of person who always finds a way, whether it's through legitimate means or illegitimate ones. Lin Chen probably knows that he has some connections; he has an uncle at the provincial company's comprehensive service center. He's not a leader, but he knows a lot of people.

Chen Lei was able to get into the city company because of this uncle's connections.

Chen Lei was lying in bed, feeling a little anxious.

Before leaving, he had repeatedly asked his uncle to help him find out who the examiners were.

Unfortunately, his uncle only got him the questions, not the standard answers, so he had to find the answers immediately. In this urgent situation, he had no other choice; they weren't available online either, so he had to ask Lin Chen.

However, he couldn't reveal too much. He knew Lin Chen's abilities; Lin Chen was an ultimate academic genius and a formidable rival. Back in school, he was always chasing girls and was always ranked first in his grade.

If I showed him the test questions, it would be disastrous.

Chen Lei was determined to pass this exam. His department's deputy director was about to be demoted to the position of director, and someone had already tipped him off. As long as he obtained the senior qualification certificate, the deputy director position would be a sure thing.

If Chen Lei were more generous and willing to share the test questions with Lin Chen, Lin Chen would definitely give him the answers without hesitation, and would also try his best to find a way to answer the questions if he didn't know how.

But this guy is as petty as a chicken; he treats Lin Chen like a thief.

Back in the school exams, Chen Lei would always try his best to sit behind Lin Chen, using threats and inducements to get Lin Chen to write bigger so he could copy. Lin Chen was too shy to refuse back then, otherwise Chen Lei would never have been able to graduate from South China Water Sports School.

Lin Chen didn't force it. Anyway, he didn't plan to improve. Everyone was a competitor, so it was understandable that others wouldn't let him see.

After a while, Chen Lei started making phone calls frantically.

"Hello, Mr. Zhang, this is Chen Lei. Sorry to bother you. Are you the examiner for the company's senior qualification certificate this time?"

"Oh no, do you know who the evaluation experts are this time?"

"I don't know, oh okay, thank you for your hard work."

Chen Lei hung up and made several more calls, but none of them were for the examiners. However, one person knew who one of the examiners was, so Chen Lei got their contact information and called them, but unfortunately, the examiner's phone was switched off.

Lin Chen's tense heart relaxed a lot.

Undeterred, Chen Lei went through a lot of trouble and actually found the examiner's wife's phone number and called her.

"Sister-in-law, is Brother Liu one of the examiners this year?"

"Yes, yes, his phone is off. Do you have any other ways to contact him? You should have a SIM card, right?"

The examiner's wife didn't respond and hung up after saying she couldn't reach him.

Chen Lei got angry, got up and started smoking, one cigarette after another, like a headless fly.

Lin Chen was secretly delighted to see that he couldn't find the examiner, but he was smoking and didn't open the window, so the whole room was filled with the smell of smoke. Lin Chen couldn't stand it anymore, so he went out for some fresh air since there was still time before dinner.

While walking downstairs in the rest area, he unexpectedly ran into Li Guanhua, the former station manager of the city's water plant next door. During the last station manager training session, this man in his forties was a team leader; he was technically proficient and kind-hearted, and Lin Chen had a deep impression of him.

"Director Li? You're taking the advanced certification exam too?" Lin Chen was somewhat surprised. "I always thought you were already an expert." This wasn't just polite talk; it came from genuine admiration.

Li Guanhua waved his hand with a wry smile: "I wish I could, but unfortunately it's not possible."

"In my heart, you are the expert," Lin Chen said earnestly.

"Your assessment makes me blush," Li Guanhua shook his head. "How many times have you taken the exam?"

"The third time. And you?"

"Me...?" Li Guanhua stretched out both hands and flipped them over again, "about ten times."

Lin Chen was so shocked he couldn't speak. He had personally witnessed the master craftsman's skills; how could he possibly fail the test?

"This time there will definitely be no problem," Lin Chen could only comfort him.

Li Guanhua laughed heartily: "To be honest, I gave up hope a long time ago. After taking the exam for so many years, don't you understand? It all comes down to connections and background. I'm taking this exam now just to get noticed and accumulate some sympathy points. Maybe when even the judges feel embarrassed, they'll let me pass."

"So dark?" Lin Chen knew there was something fishy about the exam, but he always thought that as long as his skills were good, he would be recognized. After all, the light of a firefly is easily overshadowed, but what if you are a lighthouse?

In retrospect, he was too naive. Even if you are a lighthouse, you cannot illuminate a blind person.

"The reality is even crueler than this; I'm being optimistic," Li Guanhua said in a low voice. "There are only so many spots available, and even those with connections don't get enough. How could those of us without connections possibly get a chance?"

Yes, of the 80 people who came to take the exam this time, you don't know how many of them have connections or backgrounds.

"Looks like I don't need to take the exam anymore," Lin Chen smiled.

"You're different." Li Guanhua patted him on the shoulder. "Last time in training, I saw that your theory was solid, and your practical skills were excellent. But remember, you need to know one or two examiners; they hold the power. Otherwise, even if you can fly a plane, it's useless. If they say you're unqualified, then you're unqualified."

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Lin Chen's head.

Yes, so what if you can fly a plane in this circle?

You are only capable if others say you are; if they say you are not, then even if you are, you are not capable.

Dinner was served at 5:30.

Lin Chen and Li Guanhua went to the base's canteen for lunch. The candidates ate at a buffet, taking their own utensils and getting their own food. The seating was not assigned, so they could eat wherever they wanted.

However, Lin Chen noticed that there was one private room that candidates were not allowed to enter, and there was a sign on the table inside that read "For Examiners Only".

About ten minutes later, six people, all dressed in sharp suits, walked into the dining room one after another, causing a commotion. They all went into the private room to eat. These people were, without a doubt, the examiners for this exam.

Lin Chen looked at them and didn't recognize any of them.

After eating and returning to the room, Chen Lei was nowhere to be seen; he had probably gone to eat as well.

He returned five minutes later, jumped directly onto Lin Chen's bed, and showed Lin Chen a high-definition, unedited photo on his phone: "Lin Chen, do you recognize anyone in this picture?"

Lin Chen recognized the photo immediately; it was of the examiner from the private room earlier. This guy had actually taken a picture of it secretly.

"I don't know him."

"You don't recognize any of them?"

"I don't recognize any of them. Who are they?" Lin Chen feigned ignorance.

Chen Lei didn't answer Lin Chen's question. Instead, he pointed to one of the people in the middle and continued, "Don't you recognize this person? He's our senior, right? He's in the student council. You were in the student council in college too, right? You really don't know him? We don't need to be very close. Just knowing which city and bureau they're from is fine. I can find his superiors and his colleagues."

That's awesome, he's a real genius.

For some people, success is not a given.

Lin Chen despised him, but also admired him. This person did look somewhat familiar, but Lin Chen only flirted with girls in college, not guys.

"I really don't know," Lin Chen shook his head.

"Ouch, my head hurts." Chen Lei scratched his head frantically, almost tearing it apart. "Hahaha."

But soon he burst into laughter again.

Damn it, is he crazy?

Actually, it was Chen Lei's uncle who just sent a message.

"I asked around and found two people I knew. I greeted them and sent them your exam admission ticket number."

For this exam, everyone has a unique admission ticket number, which you will know when you register.

Lin Chen is 015, and Chen Lei is 016.

After a while, Chen Lei went to take a shower.

Lin Chen sat on the bed, glanced at the exam paper, and placed it under his pillow, leaving a section sticking out.

Without any thought.

At that moment, Lin Chen seemed to be possessed by something.

She teleported instantly to his bedside, took out her phone, snapped photos like crazy, and then went back to her own bed and lay down.

This process.

Less than ten seconds.