Two days later.
Navy vessel, afternoon.
Dong Xuebing could hear the strong winds from inside the cabin. Qianqian was afraid of the howling sounds, and he carried her out of the cabin.
The vessel was in a festive mood.
Soldiers were busy putting up New Year couplets and preparing dinner.
Dong Xuebing stopped a soldier. “Bro, what are you all doing?”
“Huh?” The soldier looked at Dong Xuebing. “It’s Lunar New Year’s Eve today.”
“Oh….” Dong Xuebing slapped his forehead. “I had forgotten about it after sailing for so many days.”
It was almost Lunar New Year, and Dong Xuebing cheered up slightly. Although his mother, Yunxuan and Huilan, could not celebrate with him this year, his daughter was with him. He did not feel lonely. He carried Little Qianqian up and let her sit on his shoulder as he walked around the inside of the vessel. She seemed to like to be raised high up and look down on others. She waved her arms and giggled loudly.
“Haha…. You are so happy.”
“Ya… ya….”
“Do you know you are one year older after New Year? You cannot cry anymore.”
“Yi… Yi… aah….”
After a while, the female soldier found Dong Xuebing and invited him to the vessel’s dinner celebration tonight. Dong Xuebing agreed.
Evening.
The gallery of the Navy vessel.
Dong Xuebing saw four tables set up when he arrived, and most of the soldiers were there. The food was prepared. Although the food was simple and the gallery was small, it still had a Lunar New Year festive mood because of the lanterns and red couplets.
Dong Xuebing greeted everyone. “Happy New Year.”
The soldiers replied. “Happy New Year.”
Dong Xuebing lifted his daughter’s hand and waved to everyone. “Little fellow, greet everyone and wish them good health.”
Little Qianqian giggled and let out some baby gibberish.
The soldiers laughed. “This baby is so adorable.”
“Happy New Year to you too.” A few soldiers went up to Qianqian and shook her hands.
Dong Xuebing felt good because his daughter was popular everywhere.
The Colonel and Officers arrived and wished everyone Happy New Year.
The Colonel smiled and looked at Dong Xuebing. “Xiao Dong, this is the best food we can serve as we don’t have much onboard. I hope you will like it.”
Dong Xuebing quickly replied. “It’s good. I am getting hungry from the smell.”
The Colonel laughed. “Great. Come and sit at the table.”
The three hostages from the smuggling ship were also at the dinner. They were taken into custody on the vessel as they didn’t have proper identification and were involved in smuggling activities. However, the Colonel was compassionate enough to allow them in this evening’s celebration. Niu Dazhao and his crew were on his cargo ship behind the Navy vessel back to shore, and they could not celebrate with them.
The dinner started.
The Colonel invited Dong Xuebing to join his table with the other Officers.
But Dong Xuebing saw that table was crowded and rejected the Colonel politely. He joined a group of soldiers at another table.
The Officers were puzzled. Why was the ship’s commander so polite and respectful to Dong Xuebing? They looked at each other and wondered what was going on. Only the female soldier, serving drinks to them, knew what had happened. But the higher-up had ordered not to reveal Dong Xuebing’s identity. This was the difference between military and government agencies. Military people would follow orders strictly.
“Eh?” Dong Xuebing looked around. “Why is there no alcohol?”
The soldiers also wanted to drink alcohol but didn’t dare to request it from the Officers.
A soldier looked at Dong Xuebing. “We are still on a mission and cannot drink.”
Dong Xuebing smacked his lips. “Didn’t you all complete your mission? How can we not drink alcohol during Lunar New Year’s Eve? It’s not a celebration without alcohol.”
The Colonel overheard Dong Xuebing and called the female soldier over.
The female soldier nodded and left the gallery. A while later, she returned with a bottle of Maotai and placed it in front of Dong Xuebing.
The Colonel smiled. “Xiao Dong, this bottle is for you. We will not drink.”
“This is a bottle of good alcohol.” Dong Xuebing thanked the Colonel. “Thank you.”
The Colonel stood up slowly and looked at his men. “Let me say a few words.”
Leaders’ giving speeches before the dinner started was a tradition everywhere. The Colonel praised the soldiers’ performance during the mission and told them the higher-ups were impressed with them. In the end, he thanked Dong Xuebing for his assistance in saving the hostages.
Everyone applause.
The Colonel raised his glass and gave a toast to everyone.
Dong Xuebing finished his glass of alcohol and filled the glass. After that, he stood up with his daughter in his arm and raised his glass. “Commander, I would like to say something.”
The Colonel nodded.
The few Officers looked at Dong Xuebing and wondered what he could say.
The soldiers kept quiet and waited for Dong Xuebing to speak. They were curious about him and wanted to know what he would say.
Dong Xuebing was a leader and was used to giving speeches. He cleared his throat and looked at the soldiers. “It’s Lunar New Year’s Eve today, and it should be a day where we celebrate with our families. However, you all missed this opportunity because of my daughter and our citizens. You all had risked your lives to save the hostages. As a father and citizen of the country, I would like to express my gratitude to you all. I am honored to celebrate with our country’s warriors today. This is the most meaningful Lunar New Year’s Eve in my life. Although our families are not with us, we are a family. Thank you for your hard work. Here’s a toast to you all, and I wish you and your families safe and healthy.”
Dong Xuebing finished his glass of Maotai.
The Colonel clapped, and the soldiers followed.
The Officers looked at Dong Xuebing in surprise. The speech was good enough to be shown on TV. It was as if he had prepared this speech beforehand. This was not what an ordinary Discipline Inspection staff could do.
Was this person a leader?
A Deputy Section Chief of the Commission for Discipline Inspection?!
This was the thought in everyone’s mind.
“Alright. Let’s start the performance!” An Officer clapped.
Dong Xuebing, who was eating, looked up. Performance? What performance?
Two men entered the gallery suddenly. They were dressed differently, and they started singing a duet.
Dong Xuebing understood what that officer meant. They could not watch the Spring Festival Gala, and the soldiers couldn’t drink alcohol. It would be a dull celebration without some performances.
Dong Xuebing looked at the duo and chewed on a piece of vegetable. He chewed it well and fed some to Little Qianqian.
Qianqian smacked her lips and enjoyed it.
Dong Xuebing laughed. “You just eat whatever you are given.”
Qianqian finished it and started grabbing Dong Xuebing. She wanted more.
Dong Xuebing drank some alcohol and fed his daughter again.
The soldiers were performing military songs, and Dong Xuebing had finished half the bottle of Maotai. He was getting tipsy and did not cheat with his powers today. He just wanted to drink today.
Two soldiers beside Dong Xuebing looked at him and offered a toast to him.
“Here, let’s drink.”
“Xuebing, here’s a toast to you.”
Both soldiers seemed to plot something.
“Alright.” Dong Xuebing knocked on their glasses and emptied his glass in one shot.
One of the soldiers asked. “Xuebing, how did you train your marksmanship?”
Dong Xuebing replied. “I did not train.”
Another soldier replied. “Impossible. You must have received professional training to get that accuracy.”
Although Dong Xuebing had drunk a lot, he was still sober. “What training? It was all luck. Oh, what type of soldier are you?”
The soldier answered. “We are snipers.”
Dong Xuebing hit the table suddenly. “Ah…. You two are the terrible shooters that day.”
Terrible shooters?!
The two snipers almost fainted when they heard it.
The other soldiers almost burst out laughing.
Dong Xuebing patted their shoulders. “I don’t mean to criticize you two. But your marksmanship…. How can you miss the target at that distance?”
The two snipers were frustrated and started eating without saying anything. They were embarrassed, but they got to admit Dong Xuebing’s marksmanship was much better than theirs.
Another soldier asked curiously. “Oh, are you a Commission for Discipline Inspection staff?”
This was the question in everyone’s mind, and everyone looked at Dong Xuebing, waiting for his answer.
Dong Xuebing told the truth after drinking. “Yes. I am the Director of a City’s Inspection First Office.”
That soldier was shocked. “A grassroots city?”
“Yes.”
“The Director?!”
“Yes.”
Everyone exchanged looks and saw the shock in each other’s eyes.
Even the Colonel and Officers turned and looked at Dong Xuebing in shock.
