Three days….
Five days….
Seven days….
One week had passed.
Guang Ming Subdistrict Office’s earthquake prevention and mitigation awareness campaign have been ongoing for a week. All the Neighborhood Committee had followed Dong Xuebing’s instructions, and almost all households have received a copy of the brochures. Dong Xuebing also used Song Qing’s suggestion and let the residents take quizzes at their promotion centers. Most residents read the brochures to win the prizes from the quizzes. Not all residents can remember everything on the brochures. Still, at least one member of their household remembers it. This is enough to save their family during the earthquake.
Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets his mind to it.
Everything is proceeding according to plan.
However, this incident had created controversies among the other Subdistrict Offices and the District Government. Problems start to surface.
Earthquake prevention and mitigation awareness? Those, who heard of what the Guang Ming Subdistrict Office is doing, felt Dong Xuebing has nothing better else to do. Why are you having this campaign now when nothing happens?
Dong Xuebing is at Huai An Neighborhood to inspect the Neighborhood Committee and gives orders to the staff. He ordered them to clean up an old building and clear the corridors and stairwells of obstacles. His phone rang. It was the Mayor’s secretary, Ma Jian.
“Hello, is this Director Dong?” Ma Jian asked coldly.
“Secretary Ma. It’s me.” Dong Xuebing replied.
“Come to the District Government office now. Mayor Geng wants to meet you.”
“Oh, what is it about?”
“You will know when you come.”
“Ok. I will go over now.”
Dong Xuebing felt he needs to speak to Geng Yuehua. A few days ago, the advertisement board incident made him realize that he needed the District Government’s support for his plans. He had to go through difficulties to remove a few advertisement boards, and he still had other plans. He can imagine how difficult it will be to implement them. Also, his Earthquake prevention and mitigation awareness campaign had hit a bottleneck, and the Subdistrict Office doesn’t have enough budget. He still needs to buy tents, stock up on disaster relief supplies, and print more brochures. Without money, all these will not happen. To get the District Government’s support, he needs to convince Geng Yuehua first.
District Party Committee Building.
Many people look at Dong Xuebing when he drives his Santana into the compound.
When Dong Xuebing got out of his car, Ping An Subdistrict Office Director Chu Qinghua walked out of the building.
“Director Dong.” Chu Qinghua walked over to Dong Xuebing with a fake smile. “I heard your Subdistrict is holding Earthquake prevention and mitigation awareness campaign. What are you trying to do?”
Dong Xuebing looks at Chu Qinghua and smiles. “Taking precautions.”
Chu Qinghua shook his head. “Bro, I am not criticizing you, but is this necessary?”
“Why not? Nothing is more important than the residents’ safety.”
“Fine. Good luck.” Chu Qinghua shook his head and left. He knows Dong Xuebing had made a stupid move. Everyone is trying to improve the economy, but he started an awareness campaign. This is asking for trouble, and the District Government will not allow it.
Upstairs.
Mayor Office.
Knock… knock…. Dong Xuebing knocked on the door.
“Come in.” Geng Yuehua said monotonously.
Dong Xuebing composed himself before entering the office, and he saw the slim and sexy woman behind the desk. After Geng Yuehua’s visit to his apartment one month ago, he had not seen her again. He wonders if she purposely avoids him or is very busy with work. He missed her badly and kept thinking of her body.
Geng Yuehua is wearing brown pants, black heels, and a white blouse.
Geng Yuehua looked up at Dong Xuebing and asked. “Do you know why I call you over?”
“No.” Dong Xuebing looked at her. “What is it about?”
Geng Yuehua said coldly. “Somebody had feedback that your Subdistrict Office is holding Earthquake prevention and mitigation awareness campaign. Is it true?”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “Yes. This is for our residents’ safety, and….”
“I don’t want to hear your explanation.” Geng Yuehua continues writing her report. “Stop it immediately.”
Dong Xuebing frowned. “Why?”
“You should know why.” Geng Yuehua continued. “Did you report this to the District Government? Is this campaign included in this year’s work report? Stop it if it is not in the report. I am warning you now.” She hit a stack of documents on her desk. “We had received numerous complaints and calls about you all. What you are doing now is spreading fears. What were you thinking? Go and clean up the mess you created!”
Dong Xuebing argued. “Mayor Geng, I had told you that a friend of mine had told me a major earthquake might happen in Hebei Province.” He knows this excuse cannot convince her and gives another excuse. “Of course, I checked with him again, and he was talking nonsense as he was drunk that day. But who can predict earthquakes? Who knows if a major earthquake will happen in our Hebei Province? There’s nothing wrong with taking precautions. Earthquakes are happening everywhere worldwide, and I am scared it might happen here. What’s the problem?”
Geng Yuehua stares at Dong Xuebing coldly. “You are full of excuses! This is formalism!”
Dong Xuebing retorted. “I don’t know what others told you, but I have a clear conscience.”
“Dong Xuebing! I am not discussing with you.” Geng Yuehua stared. “I am ordering you to stop as the District Government’s Mayor!”
“Mayor Geng!”
“That’s all!”
“I….”
“Get out!”
Geng Yuehua shouted and ignored Dong Xuebing. She continues to write something on a document.
Dong Xuebing took a deep breath. “This is not a place to talk. Can you come to the Subdistrict Office Family Quarters tonight?”
Geng Yuehua did not reply.
“I will wait for you and will explain to you in detail. Ok?”
“I asked you to get out!” Geng Yuehua looked at him. “Are you deaf?!”
Dong Xuebing replied helplessly. “I will be waiting for you tonight. You must come.”
