Entrance of the restaurant.
Everyone looked at Dong Xuebing, Li Feng, and his men entered the restaurant. Why did they create a scene when they had invitation cards?
After they entered the restaurant, the guard asked. “Political Commissar Yan, that guy’s attitude was too much.”
That officer looked at the guard. “Shut up and use your brain for once. Do you think he dares to create a scene at Commander Xiong’s birthday banquet if he is a nobody? He dares to do it because he knows no one can do anything to him. Be smarter next time. If you are unsure, ask me. Don’t try to draw your gun next time. You are only making a fool of yourself.”
The guard retorted. “How important can he be?”
“How important? Didn’t you hear his invitation card’s serial number?!”
“Serial number?” The guard paused for a second. “What serial number?”
“002!” The officer patted the guest list and sighed. “This means when Commander Xiong made the guest list, he was the second person to get invited.”
The guard was surprised. “The serial number is according to the guest’s importance?”
“What do you think? You had almost offended someone important.” The officer threw the guest list at the guard. “Look at who the serial numbers 002 and 003 are.”
The guard looked at the list and inhaled deeply. The top 20 were all high-ranking military officers. Some of Commander Xiong’s former subordinates can only be 40th to 50th on the list. Even a Colonel is in 33rd place. That young man was holding serial number 002! Such rankings are essential in China, and people were mindful of who is higher on the invitation list. That guy was the second person Commander Xiong invited and should be someone extraordinary. He should not be as simple as a City Commission for Discipline Inspection leader.
“But…. I could not tell….” The guard tried to explain.
If the officer did not know the invitation cards were sent out according to the guest’s importance, he would think Dong Xuebing was a nobody, like a guard. Of course, Dong Xuebing could have impersonated the name on the list, but the officer did not dare to ask. He would offend Commander Xiong’s second most important person if asked.
“Just be careful next time.” The officer said. “You cannot judge someone based on his looks.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Alright. Carry on with your duties. I am going in.”
Inside the restaurant.
Li Feng asked. “Director Dong, you have the invitation card?”
Their relationship had improved a lot because of the incident earlier, and Dong Xuebing does not want him to misunderstand. “I did not know I was invited. You saw me answering my phone earlier, right? It was my wife. She said Commander Xiong had sent the invitation to our house.
Li Feng nodded.
Dong Xuebing’s wife, Xie Huilan, is a City Party Committee Member. The City Government has no dealings with the military, but she invited. Thinking back, it was not surprising as Liu Guowei was also invited.
The restaurant was decorated to celebrate the happy occasion.
Li Feng laughed. “Let’s find a seat first.”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “There are many empty tables there. Let’s go.”
Li Feng knew his position and pointed to a few empty seats at a table. “Let’s sit here.”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “Ok.”
This table was the sixth and was considered further from the main table. Li Feng felt Dong Xuebing and his ranks should sit at the back. The first table was for Commander Xiong and some generals. The second table was for high-ranking military officers. Liu Guowei and his son sat at the third table, and Liu Guowei was a Colonel and a City Party Committee member. Li Feng used him as a benchmark, and Division Chiefs should be seated a few tables away.
This was the situation in China. Ranking and positioning were important. If they sat at the wrong table, they would make a fool of themselves and offend others.
Liu Haibin saw Dong Xuebing, Li Feng, and his men entering the restaurant and turned to his father. “Dad, how did they enter?”
Liu Guowei glanced at the sixth table. “His wife is a Deputy City Mayor. Why can’t he enter?”
“He does not have the invitation card.” Liu Haibin complained. “How can the guard allow him to enter?”
“Maybe Commander Xiong had invited him. Alright. It is none of your business. Talk lesser and be mindful of your behavior.” Liu Guowei said.
“I know.” Liu Haibin replied and glanced at Dong Xuebing. He is around twenty-three to twenty-four and became a County Deputy Chief because of his father. He was still immature and liked to bear grudges. That’s why he was posted to the Tourism Bureau, a department without authority. If he were suitable to be a government official, he would be at least a deputy chief in the Finance Department.
Liu Guowei seemed to be concerned about this banquet. He scolded his son and continued chatting with the other military officers beside him. He seldom attends the City Party Committee meetings because he focuses on the military. The City Party Committee could not promote or transfer him, and Commander Xiong or the generals and officers at the banquet could decide his promotion. He hopes to be promoted before his retirement. He had demanded the City Party Committee punish Dong Xuebing and had vented his anger. That’s why he is not so concerned about him.
