Qu’s apartment.
Living room.
Dong Xuebing’s mother immediately asked: “What’s going on? Tell me.”
Qu Yunxuan also asked: “You pass the test? But didn’t you did badly for your administrative aptitude and essay tests?”
“Ermmmm. I did not do badly for the test. You all are the ones who misunderstood me and all of you had never asked me about the test.” Dong Xuebing laughed embarrassedly. “Later, I felt that I still have to pass the interview and I am not confident. That’s why I did not tell you. I don’t want to give you false hopes. Errr…… Do you still remember I had gone out in the morning of the day before yesterday? I had gone for the interview that morning. During the interview, I felt my replies were not good, and I was in the 4th place. I thought I had failed the interview. But they had just called me, asking me to report to the Western District Branch Bureau next Monday. They told me that I am hired.”
Dong Xuebing’s mother grabbed his hand. Her lips were trembling: “You really pass? You are not lying to me?”
Dong Xuebing replied: “Hahaha. I don’t dare to lie to you.”
Mrs. Xu stuttering asked: “Is this a mistake? What is your score for the written test?”
Dong Xuebing looked at the mother and son. “My overall score for the test is about 130.”
“130?” Xiao Dong grasped. “You really scored 130 for your overall score?”
“My clever boy…… my clever boy……” Dong Xuebing’s mother started to cry. Her tears were flowing. She was holding on to Qu Yunxuan’s hand and was lost for words. “Yunxuan, did you hear it? Xuebing had passed. My son is now a Civil Servant.”
“Yes, yes. I heard it.” Qu Yunxuan helped to wipe her tears. “This is a good thing. Stop crying.”
Dong Xuebing’s mother could not stop her tears from flowing down. “I am too happy. Really very happy.”
Qu Yunxuan laughed and playfully knocked Dong Xuebing’s head: “You this rascal had done us proud.”
Dong Xuebing was feeling very emotional too.
After a while, Dong Xuebing’s mother finally stopped her tears. She wiped her face and immediately said: “Yunxuan, don’t cook lunch today. Come over to my place for lunch. I will go downstairs to buy more vegetables and meat. I will prepare a feast.” She turned to Mrs. Xu and Xiao Dong. “You and Xiao Dong don’t leave too. Come over to my place for lunch.”
Mrs. Xu slowly forced a smile: “No thanks. I…… I still have something on in the afternoon.”
Xiao Dong gritted his teeth: “Mum, let’s go.”
Qu Yunxuan asked politely: “Why not stay a while longer?”
“We still have something on later. You all can carry on.”
Mrs. Xu dragged Xiao Dong out. Before leaving, Xiao Dong looked at Dong Xuebing jealously. He can no longer be arrogant and proud. Dong Xuebing becoming a Civil Servant was a massive blow to this mother and son pair.
About 10 minutes after they left, there was the sound of things being thrown about from upstairs. Shouts could also be heard.
“Stop hitting our son.” It was Mrs. Xu’s voice. “Stop hitting.”
“Dad……”
“Even that kid from the Dong Family is better than you! I will break your legs today!” It was Section Chief Xu’s voice.
“Ahhhhh…….”
Dong Xuebing felt good hearing Xiao Dong screaming in pain.
During lunch, the overjoyed Dong Xuebing’s mother drank two bottles of beer. “Xuebing, you have made me proud. Mum had never been so happy my whole life. Help me top up my glass. I will finish this bottle today.”
Dong Xuebing was also feeling proud and helped his mother, and Aunt Xuan poured beer.
Qu Yunxuan reminded: “Don’t let Sister Luan drink so much. She will get drunk.”
“It’s ok, it’s ok.” Dong Xuebing’s mother was smiling and raised her glass. “Yunxuan, let me toast you. These few days, you had helped Xuebing a lot. If it were not for you helping him to cook and wash his clothes, he would not have so much time to study.”
Dong Xuebing heard this and quickly raise his glass too. “Aunt Xuan, thank you.”
Qu Yunxuan waved her hand and said: “Sister Luan, Xiao Bing, don’t say that. Xiao Bing had saved my life. Let’s not thank each other. I am younger than you, so I should be the one toasting you. Cheers.”
Evening.
Qu Yunxuan returned home, and Dong Xuebing’s mother was humming an eighties song while packing her luggage.
Dong Xuebing can’t bear to see his mum leaving: “Why do you have to leave so early? Can’t you stay for a few more days?”
“The village is starting school soon. I had wanted to return a few days ago, but I saw you were down. That’s why I stayed to accompany you.” Dong Xuebing’s mother smiled. “Now, you have entered the government service, and I have no more worries. It’s time I go back to the village.” Beihe Province was not far from Beijing and was only a 3 hours car ride away.
Dong Xuebing helped his mother packed two middle school Chinese Language teaching materials. “Let me send you off tomorrow. You must remember to take care of yourself.”
Dong Xuebing’s mother smiled. “Don’t worry about me. You must be careful when working in a government agency. It is the most competitive place in China. Our family has no background, and it will not be easy for a commoner to be promoted. It’s fine if you remain as a low-level staff and not be promoted. I just want you to be safe.”
Dong Xuebing nodded listlessly. “I know.”
If it were 2 months ago, Dong Xuebing would be contented if he could find a 2,000 RMB a month job and an average woman as his wife. He and his wife will take a loan to buy an apartment and live happily ever after. He had never imagined his life will change so much. He was now a civil servant.
Since getting the special power, things had been going smoothly for him in the right direction.
Be an officer? It does not seem to be an unrealistic goal.
What’s the road ahead?
What’s my next step?
At night, Dong Xuebing was deep in thoughts while lying on the couch. Since he was able to enter the government service and have the special power ‘Back,’ he felt he should plan his life. If he were still an average person, he would be satisfied to be promoted to a Deputy Divisional Chief after working there for 10 to 20 years. But now, Dong Xuebing can turn back time. He should be able to use this ability to get power and wealth.
Set the goal as Section Chief? A village mayor? A County Mayor? Or a Provincial Bureau head?
Getting the rank of a Section Chief before retirement at 60 years’ old? Huh? Is this goal set too low?
Then how about Divisional Chief? Will it be too high? Dong Xuebing was not even confident of reaching the rank of a Deputy Section Chief. Divisional Chief was too far away.
But……
After a while, Dong Xuebing slapped his lap. “That’s it!”
Dong Xuebing decided to set his goal “higher.” Of course, if it was possible, he also wanted to be promoted from a Staff Member to a Section Head level, from a Section Chief level to a Divisional Chief level, from a Divisional Chief level to a Bureau Director level, from a Bureau Director level to Provincial Ministerial level and from Provincial Ministerial level to National Level…… Yes. This will be my goal.
Dong Xuebing wants to enter the Central Committee.
He wants to enter the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPC!
Dong Xuebing had set this unrealistic goal as his target in his heart.
