The next morning.
Nanshan District, Guang Ming Subdistrict Office’s family quarters.
Dong Xuebing’s apartment is a two-bedroom apartment on the sixth floor. It has a balcony and is has a north-south facing. It is airy, and the morning sun shines through the window at 8 am. Dong Xuebing yawned and looked at the time. He grabbed his cigarettes and lighter from the bedside, removed the wet towel from his forehead before lighting a cigarette, and went into the bathroom.
Ring…. Ring… ring…
Dong Xuebing wiped his face and answered his phone. “Hello, Mum.”
“Are you still sleeping?” Luan Xiaoping asked.
“Haha… I woke up. Where are you now?”
“I have just woken up too, and I am in my school’s hostel.”
“Eh? Why are you not living with Old Yang?”
“Stop talking rubbish.” Luan Xiaoping scolded. “We are not married. How can we live together? I have no lessons this morning. Is your apartment issued to you? Do you need me to tidy it up?”
“No need. It’s all done. Just go to work.”
“I am worried for you and want to take a look at your apartment.”
“Let’s talk another day again. I still have not settled down at work and will be quite busy these few days. I will visit you after this period, and you don’t need to worry about me. I am fine.”
“Alright. You must take care of yourself and remember not to skip meals.”
“I know. I had a feast with my colleagues last night. Haha…”
Dong Xuebing had drunk around 150 ml of Baijiu last night and felt the kick when he got home. When drinking the six bottles, he had used STOP to spit out the alcohol into a small drawer in the room. The small pots in the drawer are filled with the alcohol he spits. That’s why no one can make him drunk. He can even finish ten boxes of Baijiu, let alone one box. His alcohol capacity has no limits.
8.30 am.
Dong Xuebing got dressed and left for work with his bag. His mood is great today.
It’s only a five-minute walk, and Dong Xuebing did not drive. He is not assigned with a car, as the old Passat ‘assigned’ to him by the Office Department is shared by everyone. That’s why he did not drive it back yesterday.
Other than the Subdistrict Office Leaders, many Staff Members are staying nearby.
On his way to work, Dong Xuebing recognized some of the Staff Members from his Subdistrict Office.
“I got a fright last night. It’s an eye-opener!”
“That’s right. How did he finish a box of Jin Liu Fu by himself?”
“Are you serious? It’s hard for me to believe what you all said. How can someone drink a box of alcohol?”
“You were not at the dinner yesterday. Xiao Zhang and I, and many other colleagues, saw it with our eyes. Why should we lie?”
“That’s right. Our new young Director is not a pushover, and He fooled secretary Geng and the rest.”
“That’s right. Chief Peng and the rest had collapsed, and Secretary Geng was sent to the hospital.”
“Sigh… I had missed a good show yesterday.”
“I think no one in Fen Zhou City can match Director Dong’s alcohol capacity. It’s one box!”
“That’s right.”
“Shh…. Director Dong is behind us. Let’s not talk about this anymore.”
The Staff Members quickly stop talking when they notice Dong Xuebing walking over. They greeted him more respectfully compared to yesterday.
“Director!”
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, Director Dong.”
Dong Xuebing smiles and nodded. “Good morning.”
News of Dong Xuebing single-handedly making all four members of the Geng faction drunk spreads quickly. Some staff, who could not attend the dinner, were shocked. When Dong Xuebing enters the Subdistrict Office, everyone greeted him with respect and started to think about their office’s new political situation. Many of them thought this new Director does not have any backings and Secretary Geng will take away all his authority. But now, no one is sure about this. The new Director is not simple.
The Working Party Committee Secretary Geng Xinke has also reached the Subdistrict Office.
Geng Xinke is looking terrible, and he should have a bad hangover.
“Secretary Geng.”
“Good morning, Secretary Geng.”
Although everyone greeted Geng Xinke as always, he felt all of them are giving him weird looks. He felt angry when he remembered he was fooled by Dong Xuebing and vomited at the dinner yesterday. This is not only about his ‘face’ issue. It has also affected his authority. This might only be a drinking session, but it symbolizes a lot. He had wanted to show Dong Xuebing, the Boss of this Subdistrict Office, but he was drunk instead. This will give others that he is inferior to Dong Xuebing and can create many problems.
Dong Xuebing was about to go upstairs when he heard the Staff Members greeting Geng Xinke. He stops and turns. “Oh, Secretary Geng.”
Geng Xinke composed himself and returned the greetings calmly.
“How are you feeling?” Dong Xuebing has never been a forgiving person. “Are you alright now? What did the doctors say?”
Geng Xinke’s eyelids twitched. “I’m fine. I left the hospital after an IV drip.”
“Good to hear this. What about Chief Peng, Director Yu, and the rest?”
“Director Yu and Director Guo are still in the hospital and might not be here today.”
“Are they serious?” Dong Xuebing laughed in his heart. You all want to make me drunk?! You all should have learned your lesson this time. He pretends to be concerned. “Oh, tell them to have a good rest. I will approve their absence and will visit them at the hospital in the afternoon. Sigh… I got a fright last night, and we should cut down on drinking in the future. It’s good to get closer over some drinks, but our health is more important. If you fall ill because of alcohol, it will be a great loss to our Subdistrict Office. We should take note of this during our dinners in the future.”
Geng Xinke rolled his eyes in his heart. Dinners? Get lost!
Geng Xinke will never drink with Dong Xuebing again in his life. He can tell Dong Xuebing has a bottomless pit stomach, and more than a dozen men can make him drunk. Geng Xinke was fooled by him yesterday and kept thinking he would collapse with one more glass. But he got soberer the more he drunk, and Geng Xinke knows he is not on the same level.
……
Side building.
Party Secretary Office.
Knock… knock… Someone knocks and entered.
“Director, I have brought the document.” Zhou Yanru enters the office with a smile. “These are the tasks given to us for this month and some other documents.”
Dong Xuebing smiles. “Thank you, Director Zhou.”
“It’s alright.” Zhou Yanru replied. “Oh, Deputy Director Yu and Deputy Director Guo had called in sick today.”
“Ok. Let them have a good rest and don’t rush to come back to work.”
Zhou Yanru smiles as she poured a glass of water for Dong Xuebing. “You had given us an eye-opener last night. I was shocked when I saw you drinking a box of Baijiu. I am not bootlicking by saying this. I am impressed. My husband’s alcohol tolerance is nowhere near yours.” She paused and tapped her mouth lightly. “Ah… I said too much again.”
Zhou Yanru did not hold back in front of Dong Xuebing. She has been talking non-stop since she enters the office. But Dong Xuebing does not mind. He was touched by her actions last night. She had tried to help him drink and showed her tough side by going against Secretary Geng. As one of the bottom-ranking Leaders within the Subdistrict Office, she dares to stand up and stare at the Subdistrict Office’s No. 2. Many people don’t like people who switch sides easily, and Zhou Yanru’s fearless attitude impressed Dong Xuebing.
Dong Xuebing laughed and has accepted her in his heart. “I had worked in many departments and seldom see staffs as cheerful as you. Being cheerful will make my mood better, it’s important for a place like our Subdistrict Office. Don’t you think so?”
“Yes…” Zhou Yanru smiles. “Then can I continue like this in the future? I am talkative by nature and will feel uncomfortable if I cannot speak.”
Dong Xuebing is amused. “It feels good to hear you talk.”
Zhou Yanru showed hints of embarrassment. “It’s too exaggerated. It’s too embarrassing. Haha…”
Zhou Yanru left after chatting for a while.
In the room, Dong Xuebing crossed his legs and lit a cigarette. He had established his authority with the help of Geng Xinke and his men. This is a good start.
