Night.
Xie Huilan’s apartment.
Dong Xuebing hugged Xie Huilan’s legs in the bathtub like hugging a priceless national treasure.
Water droplets run down Xie Huilan’s smooth legs.
Xie Huilan laughed. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing. I am admiring your legs. They are so smooth.”
“I am soaking them in water. Of course, they are smooth.”
Dong Xuebing doesn’t want to let go of her legs and moves closer to massage them. He grabbed a handful of shower foam and started washing her legs. It felt good to touch with all the foam.
Xie Huilan giggled. “Didn’t you say you are not going to wash my feet?”
“I suddenly felt like doing it. What’s wrong?”
“Sure. But you don’t need to wash my thighs.”
“Don’t you want to warm up your legs? I got to wash everything.”
“Hehe… thanks.”
“Don’t mention it. You will have to wash mine in the future.”
“Let’s talk about that another time. Haha…”
“Stop laughing.”
“Alright. I will wash your feet for you.”
Dong Xuebing said this, but he doesn’t plan on letting Xie Huilan wash his feet. “You will have a good life after we are married. I will massage, dry your hair and wash your feet.”
“That’s right. My Xiao Bing is so caring.”
“Yes. Is the water temperature ok? Do you want me to add hot water?”
“Ok. The water is getting colder.
Dong Xuebing turns the hot water facet before hugging Xie Huilan’s feet again. “Since we have nothing else to do, I need some advice from you.”
“What is it?”
Dong Xuebing is proud and doesn’t like to share his troubles with others. But they are getting married in a few months, and there’s nothing to hide. “It’s like this…. We had several phone calls after I was posted to Nan Shan District. Every time you ask me about my work, I will tell you that it’s going smoothly. Errr…. Actually, I was too embarrassed to tell you.”
Xie Huilan laughed. “Do you think I don’t know about anything?”
“How do you know? Who told you that?”
“No one tells me anything, but I read newspapers. Everybody knows you had beaten up so many civilians when tearing down illegal buildings.” Dong Xuebing blushed. “So, you know about it.”
“Yes. But I did not mention it as I know you are proud.”
Dong Xuebing argued. “I was doing my job and did nothing wrong.”
“Alright. What’s there to get agitated? What is it you want to ask?”
“Although I am doing well and had gotten some results…. Oh, we will be getting the National Respect and Care for the elderly’s model unit soon. Still, I had offended many people in the process. They are all the District Leaders, like the Organization Department Chief and Deputy Chief, the District Mayor, the District Party Secretary’s wife…. Errr…. They are all on bad terms with me.” Dong Xuebing did not hold back and told Xie Huilan what happened, including the clash with the District Organization Department Chief, Xue Qingrong. “Ah…. That’s about it. Sister Xie, you are smarter than me. Can you give me some ideas?”
Xie Huilan listened and was amused and mad. “Wow… you had offended the District Party Secretary, Mayor, and the Organization Department Chief, within two weeks into your job.”
Dong Xuebing laughed embarrassedly. “It’s not too serious. It is only some minor conflicts.”
“You beat up Xue Qingrong’s son, and you call that a minor conflict?”
“Sigh…. These are not important. Can you advise what I should do in the future? When can I get my Deputy Division Chief rank?”
“You had offended all the District Leaders, and you still want to get promoted?”
Dong Xuebing got mad and pushed Xie Huilan’s legs aside. “Fine… fine… fine…. I will not tell you anything in the future.”
“What’s wrong with saying these to you? Haha… alright. I know about it. You want me to offer some advice, right?”
Dong Xuebing kept quiet and did not reply to her.
Xie Huilan laughed. “Do you want my advice?”
“Of course. Hurry up and tell me.”
“You had done well by establishing your authority within the Subdistrict Office and getting full control over your subordinates. You also did well in your job by getting such results within two weeks. This is not an easy task. What you are lacking is your connections within the District. Even if you have close contacts in the City and Provincial Government, the District Government is your direct supervisor. Your contacts in the City and Provincial Governments are too far to do anything. What you should do now is build a good relationship with the District Leaders. It’s time for you to join a faction.”
Dong Xuebing thought for a while and rubbed Xie Huilan’s feet again. “Join a faction?”
Xie Huilan nodded. “Have you seen anyone who can get promoted without joining a faction and having a good relationship with the higher-ups?” Dong Xuebing was about to say he is someone like this but stopped. He recalls his time in the Government service, and he did join different factions at his previous workplaces. When he was working in Western District State Security Brunch, General Affairs Department, he had joined Xu Yan. When he was transferred to Yan Tai County Public Security, he joined Liang Chengpeng’s faction. After Xie Huilan was transferred to the County as the Mayor, he switched to her faction. The only exception is in Nan Shan District.
Xie Huilan continues slowly. “No matter how well you do in your job, no leaders will help you if you don’t join a faction. Your results might end up in someone else’s hands, and you might get into deep trouble if you make a slight mistake. They might even end your career because you don’t have anyone among the higher-ups to speak up for you. Such incidents are very common.”
That’s right.
Dong Xuebing had encountered many difficulties in the Nan Shan District because he did not join any factions.
Dong Xuebing smacked his lips. “I had wanted to join a faction, but the District Party Secretary is too much. I visited him, and I was made to wait outside by his secretary for more than two hours. Those lower ranked than me got to meet him without waiting. How can I tolerate this?”
“Look at you. It’s all because of your foul temper.”
Dong Xuebing paused for a second. “Should I look for the District Deputy Secretary or the District Deputy Mayor instead?”
Xie Huilan replied. “They don’t have the power to help you, and you might as well not join any factions. The people you offended are above them, and your subordinates might be in their factions. It will be much worse when you are sandwiched between them.”
Dong Xuebing thought about it and asked. “Then what should I do?”
“It’s better for you to get closer to the District Party Secretary or Mayor. They are the No. 1 and 2 of the District, and they have more authority than other Leaders.”
“But I had offended both of them.”
“I had met your District Mayor Geng Yuehua and Party Secretary Wang Anshi a few times during a meeting in the City Government. I can drop by your District when free and let them know about our relationship. They might give you a helping hand. I am sure they will give me ‘face.’”
Dong Xuebing knows Xie Huilan has the same rank as Wang Ahshi and Geng Yuehua, who can influence them. But he rejected without any hesitation. “No. I don’t need your help. I should settle this myself.”
Xie Huilan is not surprised. “See…. It’s about your pride again.”
“I don’t need you to talk to them.” Joining a faction cannot be forced, and Dong Xuebing doesn’t want to depend on Xie Huilan. “You don’t need to get involved. I will find an opportunity to speak to Wang Anshi and Geng Yuehua. Actually, other than Xue Qingrong, I had not offended them too seriously. Those are some minor misunderstandings. I shall see what I can do and join either one of their factions.” He cheered up after hearing the advice from her.
“Alright… I am done. Help me wash the foams off my legs.”
Dong Xuebing used the showerhead to wash Sister Xie’s legs. “Where’s the towel?”
“My towel is with me, and I can wipe my legs. Do you want me to wash your feet for you?”
“Are you serious?”
“Haha….”
“You are always laughing. You must be tired after a long day. Go and rest.”
Xie Huilan pulled out her legs from the bathtub. “Come to me if you encounter any problems at work. Don’t keep everything to yourself.”
“Ok. I will discuss with you in the future.” Dong Xuebing is used to settling his problems alone, and it felt good to discuss with Xie Huilan.
Sister Xie is right. It’s time for me to join a faction.
Dong Xuebing should pick a powerful Leader and join his faction. This will save him some problems and face lesser resistance when he is doing his work. He can continue to gain experiences and achieve results to get promoted.
Deputy Division Chief!
Dong Xuebing is determined to get it!
