Evening.
The sky is clear and is full of stars.
Dong Xuebing still has not taken his dinner and went to buy groceries at a nearby supermarket. He thought for a while and bought a few alcohol bottles before driving back to his quarters. On his way back, he called Xie Huilan’s phone. “Hello, Sister Xie. Are you still angry with me? Ah… I was forced to do that. They are trying to embarrass you in front of me. How can I let him off? Giving him a beating is considered a light punishment. Stop being angry with me, ok? I promise I will take note of my conduct in the future.” He had lost count of the number of promises he made.
Xie Huilan laughed. “Oh, I thought you will not admit it.”
Dong Xuebing also laughed. “I can fool everyone, but I know I cannot fool you. I know you will not believe me even if I denied.”
Luan Xiaoping’s call let Dong Xuebing understands a lot of things. Three people in this world understand him the most. Luan Xiaoping, Qu Yunxuan, and Xie Huilan. Even if he can fool everyone in the world, he can never fool these three women because they know him too well. Instead of denying it, he might as well admit.
“Sorry to make you worry. Err… can I treat you to dinner as an apology?”
“Haha… What’s there to worry about? You are Xiao Dong and even dare to beat up a County’s Mayor. I am afraid you will punch me one day.”
“What are you saying? Are you poking fun at me?”
After chatting for a while, Dong Xuebing noticed Sister Xie is no longer angry with him and added. “Have you taken your dinner? I will cook for you.”
Xie Huilan laughed. “After creating this mess, you still have the mood to cook? Haha… I have no time to eat your dinner. I am on my way to the City to meet a leader. Putting your impulsiveness aside, Da Feng County had crossed the line this time. Do they think this will end by claiming it is a misunderstanding? Should they give us an answer for snatching away our project?! I can make use of this video to force the City Government to give our County an answer. If not, our staff will not calm down. You can have dinner yourself.”
Dong Xuebing narrowed his eyes. “This incident is too disgusting. I saw Li Feng leaving the hospital with Peng Kenong in his car openly. This old bastard is too much. Don’t worry, Huilan. If no one wants to give us an answer, I will show them what I can do!”
“Don’t be rash.”
“I know… I know…”
After hanging up, Dong Xuebing’s phone rang again.
Luo Haiting called. “Chief, I knew nothing will happen to you.”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “Thanks for your concern. Have you eaten your dinner?”
“Not yet. I have just gotten off work and am walking out with Secretary Guo, Section Chief Lin, and the rest out. You have not taken your dinner? Can we give you a treat? Haha….”
“You all are together? Great. Come over to my place.”
“The County Party Committee Quarters? Sure.”
After Dong Xuebing reached the County Party Committee Quarters, his phone rang again. It’s Huitian Police Station Chief Liu Dahai.
“Chief Dong, I heard you have resumed your position.” Liu Dahai continued. “We got a fright, and Old Chen and I drove over to the County Town immediately. If you are really removed from your position, we will arrest Pang Zhou and teach him a lesson at the station. Even if we are dismissed, we will also take revenge for you. Luckily you are fine. But those people from Da Feng County are too much. I heard they are still around. Do you want to have them arrested?! Just say the word!”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “Thank you, Old Liu. Pang Zhou will not have a good ending after he returns. Oh, are you and Old Chen still in the County Town?”
“Yes. We are at the People’s Square.”
“Great. Come over to my place at the County Party Committee Quarters.”
“Ok. We will go over now. Is dinner provided?” Liu Dahai joked.
“Haha… dinner and drinks are on the house. Come over now. I still have not eaten yet!”
After entering his apartment, Dong Xuebing dropped his groceries in the kitchen. He felt that since he had invited so many people, he might as well invite a few more people. He called Deputy Team Leader Feng and Hu Silian to invite them over. This counts as a celebration of him resuming his duties. Hu Silian had not gone to the City with Xie Huilan and immediately agree.
About twenty minutes later, Luo Haiting, Guo Panwei, and Lin Pingping arrive.
Dong Xuebing opens the door to invite them. “Come in. I have not been back for a few days, and it’s a bit messy. The tea leaves are on the table, and you all can prepare yourselves.” These people are his trusted subordinates and friends, and he did not treat them as outsiders. After that, he returned to the kitchen.
Luo Haiting exclaimed. “How can you cook dinner yourself? Let me do it.”
Lin Pingping quickly walks over to help. “Chief, go and take a rest. Director Luo and I will prepare dinner.”
Dong Xuebing is not good enough to prepare dinner for so many people. “I still have a few more friends coming over later. They are not outsiders, and…” Suddenly, the doorbell rang. He smiles and goes out to open the door. “They are here.”
It’s Liu Dafai, Deputy Chief Chen Fa, and Deputy Team Leader Feng.
“Old Liu, Old Chen, come in. Old Feng, you came over together with them?”
“Haha… no. We met downstairs.”
“Don’t need to change your shoes. Just come in.”
Everyone in the apartment is working in the County Government. Even when they don’t know each other, they have seen each other before. Dong Xuebing introduces them to each other.
Hu Silian is the last to arrive.
Hu Silian thought there will only be one or two people in Dong Xuebing’s apartment and was shocked to see six to seven people. It’s fine if it’s one or two people having dinner at home. They should be dining at a restaurant if there are so many people. After all, this is the County Party Committee Quarters, and it’s not good for others to notice. People might think they are trying to form a faction, and most ordinary leaders will avoid this. Only Chief Xiao Dong will dare to do this.
Dong Xuebing also knows this will be bad for his reputation.
But Dong Xuebing has a bad reputation and doesn’t mind what others say.
Everyone greeted Hu Silian when she arrives. She is easygoing and did not put on the Mayor’s secretary’s airs.
About twenty minutes later, the dinner is ready.
Dong Xuebing did not sit at the main seat and offered the seat to Hu Silian.
Hu Silian refused, and after some back and forth, they added a chair at the end of the table. Both sat at the main seat together.
Everyone drank during dinner and talked about this afternoon’s incident. Liu Dahai and Chen Fa are more direct and started scolding Da Feng County after a few glasses of alcohol.
Translator’s notes: The main seat or the seat of honor is normally reserved to the Chinese seating arrangement’s highest status. It is the seat facing the door. Guo Panwei, Luo Haiting, and the rest joined in, as they are still furious. Even Si Huilian also said. “Da Feng County’s people are too much.”
After a few drinks, Dong Xuebing received a call from Yang Zhaode. He quickly excused himself and answered the call in the kitchen.
In the living room, Luo Haiting sighed again. “This is close. If no one had recorded the incident, Chief Dong will surely be removed from his position.”
But Guo Panwei disagrees. “This is nothing.”
“Huh?” Luo Haiting, Lin Pingping, and the rest, turned and look at Guo Panwei. Dong Xuebing was almost removed from his position and this is considered nothing?!
Guo Panwei is slightly drunk. “When Chief Dong was in Beijing, he got into trouble several times…” He told them about Dong Xuebing’s feats in the past.
State Security is a confidential department, and all these happened in Beijing. News of what Dong Xuebing did in Beijing had not spread to Yan Tai County when he was transferred. Everyone at the table knows Guo Panwei was Dong Xuebing’s former subordinate and did not doubt his words. After they heard what Chief Xiao Dong did in State Security, they were stunned. This is not the first time Chief Dong was almost dismissed from the Government Service. He had offended his previous Bureau Chief and offended the new Bureau Chief after that. He had been almost dismissed or removed from his position several times.
No wonder…
Luo Haiting and Lin Pingping are speechless. They were still wondering why Chief Dong was so calm after that incident. It’s because he is used to being suspended or almost dismissed.
Liu Dahai, Deputy Team Leader Feng, and the rest, were also speechless. Chief Dong’s skill of creating trouble was trained when he was in Beijing.
Hu Silian looks towards the kitchen. Others can only see Chief Dong is always getting himself into trouble. But being almost dismissed or suspended several times, and yet he can still hold on to his position and rank is remarkable.
“Eh? What are you all chatting?” Dong Xuebing returned. “Why are you all looking at me like this?”
“Huh? Nothing…”
“Chief Dong, let me give you another toast!”
“Haha… Bottoms up!”
At the same time, news of Dong Xuebing’s punishment is canceled spreads around the County.
The leaders who are not on good terms with Dong Xuebing were speechless. How come he was only removed from his position for such a short time and can resume his duties? How come Dong Xuebing cannot be brought down?!
Although Dong Xuebing was being ‘accused’ this time, but his reputation got worse!
After this incident, almost everyone in Yan Tai County dare not to provoke this God of Plagues. It’s not they dare not offend Dong Xuebing. It’s because they are not willing to provoke him. The County’s Promotion Department Chief’s son, Qian Fei, had provoked Dong Xuebing, and a flowerpot landed on his head, making him an idiot. The former Investment Promotion Agency’s Chief Meng Xianglin had stepped on Dong Xuebing’s toes, and the elevator he was on, lost control, resulting him getting a stroke. Not long ago, the Finance Department had angered Dong Xuebing, and sudden blackouts, document went missing, air conditioners broke down, and a fire almost broke out in their office. This time, Da Feng County provoked him and instead of removing him from his position, Pang Zhou was dismissed!
He is really the God of Plagues!
