Evening.
Qian Meng Jian Guo Hotel.
Zhou Yanru is in a good mood and insists on treating Dong Xuebing and Xie Hao to dinner. They found a good restaurant nearby to have dinner. This restaurant was formerly called Old Beijing Qian Meng Restaurant, but it was renamed as Qian Meng Jian Guo Hotel after they merged with the hotel. (Jian Guo means nation-building.)
“Director, Xiao Hao, I will offer you two the first toast.”
“Don’t say this, Sister Zhou. Let’s just drink together.”
“No… I must offer this toast to you two. I will finish this glass, and you two can take a sip.”
“Haha… sure. I will also finish this glass with you.”
“Brother Dong, give me a glass of alcohol.”
“You are underage. Drink your fruit juice.”
“Huh? I will only take one sip.”
Xie Hao could not get the alcohol he wanted and sat there sulking. Wang Yuling, Zhou Yanru, and the rest are laughing. He is not a good student and will frequent pubs and discos with his friends. But Dong Xuebing will not allow him to drink when he is around.
After dinner.
Zhou Yanru was feeling tipsy and went to settle the bill.
Dong Xuebing did not pay for the meal as this is her way of thanking them. He looked at the time and passed his bank card to Xie Hao to book two hotel rooms.
“Director.” Zhou Yanru returned. “I want to thank you for today.”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “You had thanked me a dozen times today. Alright, this is only a small matter.”
“This concerns my daughter’s future. I…”
“We are not outsiders, and stop saying these.”
“Alright. I will not continue, but I will remember this in my heart.” Zhou Yanru replied excitedly. “Watch my performance in the future.”
Dong Xuebing had helped Zhou Yanru and Chen Chen was because he didn’t want to see Chen Chen cry, and Sister Zhou has been assisting him since he became the Director. He is grateful for her help and is willing to lend a helping hand. Also, it will be a good signal to the rest in Nan Shan District. Everyone will know he will return the favor to those who helped him.
After a while, Xie Hao returns with the room keys. “Brother Dong, I had booked the rooms.”
“You are quite fast.” Dong Xuebing kept his bank card and passed the keys to Zhou Yanru and Wang Yuling. “The hotel rooms are ready. If you all are tired, rest early. If not, you all can go shopping.”
Zhou Yanru asked. “Are we going to stay here?”
Wang Yuling added. “Director, the Beijing Office had made arrangements for us. This…”
“Chao Yang District is too far. Just stay here, and we can save time on traveling.”
Zhou Yanru and Wang Yuling don’t know if Qian Meng Jian Guo Hotel is a five-star hotel, but it should be expensive. They know people will talk behind their backs if Dong Xuebing submits it for reimbursement. He must be paying for the rooms from his pocket. They felt Dong Xuebing’s family might own a bank. Or else, how can he spend money like this?
Dong Xuebing doesn’t care about their activities at night and leaves with Xie Hao.
They boarded the Mercedes Benz. “Are you satisfied with my performance today?”
“Not bad.” Dong Xuebing patted Xie Hao’s back. “I can tell you will have a good future.”
“I think so too… Hahaha….”
“What’s with that laughter?”
“Ah… it’s so late now. Hurry and send me home.”
“You didn’t inform your parents?! Alright. Fasten your seatbelt.”
Xie Hao might be mischievous, but he knows what to say and what’s not to say. Dong Xuebing’s engagement with Xie Huilan is not announced to the outside, and only their family members know about this. That’s why he addressed Dong Xuebing as Brother Dong in front of Zhou Yanru and Wang Yuling.
7 pm.
PLA General Political Department family quarters.
The guards at the main gate saw Xie Hao and let them enter. Dong Xuebing continues driving to his house.
“We are here.” Xie Hao alighted. “Let’s go in, Brother-in-law.”
“It’s late, and I did not bring any gifts with me.”
“Let’s go. You don’t need to bring any gifts.”
Dong Xuebing thought for a while and felt it was not right for him to leave at the doorsteps. He opened his boot and saw a few cartons of Huang He Luo cigarettes. These might be gifts given to Qu Yunxuan or gifts she prepared to give others. But it’s better than visiting Xie Hao’s house empty-handed. He took out the cigarettes and entered the two-story house. Xiao Hao’s father, Xie Guo Jian, is the third son in the Xie Family. He is a Deputy Director in PLA General Political Department and holds at least a Lieutenant General rank. His wife, Ci Lifen, is a Leader in the National Press and Publication Administration. He had met both of them at Senior Xie’s mansion.
When they entered the house, they saw a middle-aged woman in the living room. This woman is in her forties, but she is still black and doesn’t have many wrinkles.
This woman should not be a soldier or a helper.
Dong Xuebing looks at the woman, and the woman is looking at him.
Xie Hao laughed and greeted. “Aunt, why are you here?”
“I dropped by to have dinner. What’s wrong? Am I not welcome?” Xia Yanzhen joked.
“Of course, you are welcome. Where are my Mum and Dad?”
“Your Dad and Mum had gone to a dinner invitation. They had just left, and I am about to leave.” Xia Yanzhen did not stand up, and she looked at Dong Xuebing. “Who is this?”
Xie Hao laughed. “This is Brother Dong. My Eldest Sister’s boyfriend.”
“Huilan’s boyfriend?” Xia Yanzhen paused for a second and stood up for a handshake. “Xiao Dong, haha… I had heard a lot about you.”
Dong Xuebing quickly shakes her hand with both hands. “Nice to meet you… Aunt.” He doesn’t know how to address this woman.
Xia Yanzhen smiles. “Xia Yanzhen. You should address me as First Aunt. I am Xiao Ran and Xiao Jing’s mother.”
Xie Jing and Xie Ran’s mother?! Wife of the Ministry of Finance’s First Deputy Minister, Xie Guoliang?!
Dong Xuebing quickly changed the way he addressed her.
Dong Xuebing had met most of the Xie Family members, except Senior Xie’s youngest daughter, Xie Guohua, and her husband, Hou Xingan, and Xia Yanzhen. He had not met her during his two visits to Senior Xie’s mansion, and Xie Huilan told him her First Aunt has been working in a Northwest Province. She doesn’t have time to return.
“Have a seat, Xiao Dong.” Xia Yanzhen gestured to Dong Xuebing, and she continued to observe him. “Huilan had praised you when we spoke over the phone. I have wanted to meet you. Oh, why are you here? I heard you are working in Fen Zhou City.”
Dong Xuebing replied. “Yes. I am here for some official matters.”
Xie Hao saw they started chatting, and he sat on the sofa to watch TV.
Xia Yanzhen looked at Xie Hao and shook her head. She leans forward to take the electric kettle to pour water for Dong Xuebing.
“Let me do it.” Dong Xuebing quickly jumps up and taps up the hot water in Xia Yanzhen’s cup before pouring a glass for himself.
“Have a drink, and don’t mind me.” Xia Yanzhen laughed. “We are a family, and you don’t need to be so uptight.”
Dong Xuebing looks at Xia Yanzhen. “First Aunt, are you also here for official matters?”
“I had finished my term and was posted to Beijing last month. I will not be leaving Beijing for some time. We will have many opportunities to catch up in the future.”
“Oh, congratulations on your promotion. I didn’t know about this.”
“Haha… thank you. This is just a job transfer, and it’s not considered a promotion.”
Xie Hao laughed. “How is this not a promotion? Moving from a Bureau-Director to Deputy Minister is not an easy feat.”
“What do you know? Go and watch your entertainment news.” Xia Yanzhen laughed and shook her head.
Deputy Minister?! Dong Xuebing is speechless. Sister Xie’s family are all holding shocking ranks within the Government. Senior Xie was formerly a Premier. He is one of the National Leader, and Dong Xuebing heard he has a brother who is currently still serving in the Politburo as one of the Committee Members. Xie Huilan’s father is also a Politburo Committee Member and Beijing City Party Committee Member. He holds a Sub-national Leader rank. Senior Xie’s second son, Xie Guoliang, is the first Deputy Minister of Finance and holds a Minister rank. Xie Guojian should be holding a Deputy Commander position of a Military District. Now, Xia Yanzhen has been promoted to Sub-Provincial (Ministerial) level. He does not know what position she is holding, but she is still a Deputy Minister regardless of her role.
Xie Family’s second generation is doing very well.
Although no one had told Dong Xuebing about this, he knows the Xie Family focuses on the second generation. They might be thinking of pushing Xie Huilan’s father to reach the top position. Xie Guobang is in his fifties. He is only a step away from becoming one of the nine members of the top Committee of the Government.
Dong Xuebing started to let his imaginations run wild. The Xie Family is so powerful now. Will Xie Huilan become a Premier in the future?
PRC’s first female Premier.
Dong Xuebing got excited when he thought about this.
