Before noon.
Many high-ranking military officers had come to the small Da Feng County for Commander Xiong’s birthday banquet. Dozens of military vehicles parked in front of the restaurant and attracted a crowd. The restaurant’s door opened, and a young soldier walked out. He stood at the door and started checking the invitation cards.
Li Feng looked at Dong Xuebing. “Director Dong, you are….”
Dong Xuebing smiled. “I am not invited, and I shall not bother you.”
“I think we don’t need any invitation cards. I don’t have one either.” Li Feng showed his hands.
Dong Xuebing smiled to himself. “But I did not prepare any gifts. It’s not nice for me to enter.”
“I heard before I came.” Li Feng explained. “Commander Xiong ordered no one to bring any gifts. Anyone with gifts is not allowed inside.”
Dong Xuebing nodded and thought for a second. “Alright. Since I am here, I should go in and wish him a happy birthday. Let’s go.”
“Okay.” Li Feng turned to his men.
Li Feng and Dong Xuebing’s relationship improved after a short chat. They walked together towards the restaurant and buried their past. Dong Xuebing was not petty, and Li Feng showed his sincerity. It was a signal, and he decided to let the past go. After all, he had to be gracious in his current position.
Outside of the restaurant.
The group of soldiers entered, and it was Dong Xuebing, Li Feng, and his men’s turn.
Commander Xiong’s guests should be all from the military. He had not planned for a grand celebration and did not inform the local authorities. That’s why the guests here are too few for his position.
The guard looked at them and waited for their invitation card.
A County Government Leader stepped forward and said. “This is Da Feng County Mayor, Mayor Li, and City Discipline Inspection Director Dong. We heard it is Commander Xiong’s sixtieth birthday today, and we are here to wish him well.”
The guard looked at them emotionlessly. “Do you all have invitation cards?”
The County Government Staff replied awkwardly. “Err… no.”
“Sorry.” The Guard gestured for them to leave.
The staff said. “Sorry, can you allow us in? We had traveled here to attend the banquet.”
The guard did not reply and continued to check the invitation cards of the people behind them.
Li Feng and his men frowned. That guard had embarrassed them, and they had seen a few lower-ranking military officers entering the restaurant earlier. Li Feng is a County Mayor, and his rank is equivalent to a Platoon Commander in the military. Now, he cannot even enter the restaurant.
Dong Xuebing was not surprised as he knew this was the difference between the military and local governments. If it were a local government leader celebrating his birthday, the guard would allow uninvited people with special status to enter. They cannot stop people from entering as it would offend them. The local government focuses on harmony, and that’s the difference from the military. The lines are clear in the military, and they do not care what the local government thinks. The guard outside had received an order not to allow anyone without invitations to enter, and he followed it strictly.
The guests outside glanced at Dong Xuebing, Li Feng, and his staff, who were stopped at the door.
Li Feng was looking terrible. They had come to wish Commander Xiong happy birthday but were stopped at the door. It made them look bad, and he had asked Dong Xuebing to join him earlier. They were stopped, and he had made Dong Xuebing look bad with him. He was also afraid Dong Xuebing would blame him.
Dong Xuebing consoled Li Feng softly. “Mayor Li, I think Commander Xiong is afraid too many people will come. It would be too grand if the local government and surrounding county government leaders came. We just had a major earthquake here, and having such a grand celebration is not good. He should be worried about this.”
Li Feng understood the reason and was surprised to see Dong Xuebing not angry. He thought to himself. “When did this guy become so good-tempered? You almost tore down the hotel when you were not allowed to stay there during our Investment promotion fair.”
Dong Xuebing was mad, but he did not show his anger. He knew it was useless for him to be angry, and he did not need to barge in.
“So, now….”
“Let’s go back.”
“Yes.”
When Dong Xuebing, Li Feng, and his men were about to leave, they heard someone called Dong Xuebing’s name.
“Eh? Isn’t this Director Dong? Why are you here?” The voice was loud.
Dong Xuebing turned and saw Liu Haibin. Commander Liu Guowei stood behind him.
Dong Xuebing smiled. “Commander Liu.” He ignored Liu Haibin. This County Tourism Bureau Deputy Chief was in too low a position for him to answer. Moreover, they had fallen out because of Xu Yan’s son’s incident. Liu Guowei had demanded Dong Xuebing be punished at the City Party Committee meeting, and there was no need to show him respect.
Liu Haibin looked at Dong Xuebing coldly. His father is the Commander of the local military base, and he is used to bullying others. He was never beaten up and was still furious over this incident. Before he could teach those kids a lesson, Dong Xuebing had brought them out of the military base. All the hatred turned toward Dong Xuebing. Seeing Dong Xuebing ignoring him made him more furious.
Liu Guowei looked at Dong Xuebing. “Oh, it’s you.”
Li Feng heard their conversation and knew who they were. He quickly greeted them politely. “Nice to meet you, Commander Liu.”
“You are?” Liu Guowei looked at him.
Li Feng quickly introduced himself.
Liu Guowei nodded. “I know you, Mayor Li. Why are you all standing here?”
Dong Xuebing felt Liu Guowei was asking the obvious. He just smiled and did not reply to him.
Li Feng replied awkwardly. “We are here to wish Commander Xiong a happy birthday, but we don’t have the invitation card. So….”
“Oh….” Liu Guowei nodded.
Liu Haibin interrupted. “Dad, Uncle Liu, Uncle Chen, and your invitation cards can bring people with them. Uncle Chen and Uncle Liu are here alone. Do you want to ask them if they will bring Mayor Li and his men in? After all, they are from Fen Zhou City too. It’s not nice to see them getting stopped outside.”
Liu Guowei thought for a second and nodded. “Okay.”
Liu Haibin said. “Mayor Li, let’s go in with us.”
Li Feng thanked him immediately. “Thank you, Commander Liu and Chief Liu.”
Liu Haibin added. “But we can only bring four people in. Mayor Li, there are four of you. I am sorry, Director Dong.” He tried to embarrass Dong Xuebing by implying only Da Feng County people could enter.
This was slapping Dong Xuebing.
Li Feng and his men’s faces changed when they heard this.
Dong Xuebing smiled. He was used to such treatment and knew what Liu Haibin was up to. He was trying to embarrass and create problems between himself and Li Feng. Liu Haibin, Liu Guowei…. I have not settled the score with you all, and you are trying to stir up trouble now….
Dong Xuebing said. “Mayor Li, just enter.”
Li Feng and Da Feng County could tell Liu Guowei, and Dong Xuebing were enemies and could tell Liu Haibin’s intentions. Li Feng thought for a second and turned to Liu Guowei. “Thank you, Commander Liu, for the offer. But I still have something to discuss with Director Dong. I cannot discuss with him if I attend the banquet. I would have to reject your offer.”
Dong Xuebing was slightly surprised.
“Up to you.” Liu Guowei looked at Li Feng and did not say anything else.
Liu Haibin stared at Li Feng coldly and walked away with his father.
Li Feng knew he had offended Liu Guowei and was worried. However, he had no choice. He was stuck between Liu Guowei and Dong Xuebing. He would offend Dong Xuebing if he attended the banquet and did not want Liu Guowei either. He thought for a while and decided to stand on Dong Xuebing’s side. He had dragged Dong Xuebing to enter with him, and the latter was embarrassed because of him. Secondly, Dong Xuebing’s wife is also a City Party Committee member. Although Liu Guowei was of higher rank and more experienced, she had more influence over the local governments. Lastly, it was because of Dong Xuebing. He knew how capable Dong Xuebing was and had offended him twice. He does not want to offend him again.
After serious consideration, Li Feng would rather offend a City Party Committee member than Dong Xuebing.
