Before noon.
After leaving Senior Xie’s Mansion, Dong Xuebing and Xie Huilan went on separate ways. They had both drove over, and Xie Huilan returned to Yan Tai County, while Dong Xuebing returned home to pack his luggage. He will return at night or tomorrow morning. He went straight to a framing shop and used 10,000 RMB to get Senior Xie’s words framed up within ten minutes.
North Heping Road.
Dong Xuebing stretched as he opened the door of his apartment. This trip to Senior Xie’s Mansion is fruitful.
Dong Xuebing hums the National Anthem as he sat on the sofa.
Suddenly, the bedroom door open!
“Brother!”
“Xiao Bing, you are back?”
Dong Xuebing got shocked as he looks towards the bedroom. “Ahh… are you two trying to scare me to death? Why are you still here?” It was Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian. “Didn’t you return to Yan Tai County last night?”
Yu Meixia replied embarrassedly. “The bus broke down on the way and couldn’t be repaired. The driver told us to wait for the next bus, but it was too crowded and getting late. So… we came back…”
Dong Xuebing asked. “Where did you get the keys from?”
“… Qianqian has the keys.” Yu Meixia replied.
Qianqian blushed and softly replied. “When I come to Beijing, I was afraid both of you are not around. So, I secretly took Aunty Luan’s keys along.”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “You two are…”
Yu Meixia lowered her head. “Sorry…”
Dong Xuebing replied. “It’s not that I want to criticize you two. You all should get the driver to make an arrangement when the bus broke down. You all can return to the bus terminal to get another bus or give me a call. I might be busy, but I will still help you. You two are so pretty and are not familiar with Beijing. What if something happens to you all? Next time, inform me before you all do such things!”
Qianqian’s eyes turn red.
Dong Xuebing softened his tone and said. “Err… stop crying. I am not scolding you two. I am just worried about your safety.”
Yu Meixia looks at Dong Xuebing. “Err… are we going back today?”
“Yes. Let me take a rest, and I will drive back in the afternoon.”
“Should I get you a cup of tea?”
“Ok. I’m thirsty. Thank you.”
Seeing Qianqian feeling down, Dong Xuebing quickly comforted her and told her some jokes to cheer her up. When Sister Yu returns with the tea, Dong Xuebing secretly caressed her hands as he took the cup from her, making her blush.
As they were chatting, the doorbell rang.
Dong Xuebing wondered who it was as he walks over to open the door.
A man in his early thirties, small eyes, and sharp nose was standing outside. He is wearing a black suit with a briefcase under his arm. At first glance, Dong Xuebing could not recognize him. But after looking at him for a few seconds, Dong Xuebing laughed. “I thought who it is… Panwei!” Guo Panwei, Dong Xuebing’s former subordinate from State Security Western District Branch, General Affairs Office.
Guo Panwei replied politely. “Chief Dong, am I disturbing you?”
Dong Xuebing is happy to see his old subordinate. “No… come in… Sister Yu, brew tea.”
“No… let me do it. I will brew it myself.” Guo Panwei was still the same as before.
Dong Xuebing laughed. “Come in and have a seat. I am not your leader anymore. You don’t have to be so polite.” Guo Panwei immediately replied. “Chief Dong, if you had not recommended me to Chief Yan, I will not get the opportunity to take over the position of General Affairs Office’s Deputy Chief. I owe you a lot, and even if you are no longer with State Security, you will still be my leader.”
Dong Xuebing laughed and points at Guo Panwei. “You… your flattery skills are still so good.”
Guo Panwei quickly replies. “It’s from the bottom of my heart…”
“Haha… oh, how did you know I returned?”
“I visited my father at Si Ji Qing Qiao area and saw you driving a Mercedes Benz at a junction. I thought I saw wrongly…” Guo Panwei placed a bag of fruits on the table. “So, I bought some gifts for your place to visit you.” Dong Xuebing patted Guo Panwei’s shoulder. “Thank you. Have some tea.”
Guo Panwei greeted Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian politely and sat on the sofa.
After chatting for a while, Dong Xuebing found out after he left, Guo Panwei had a hard time at work. Actually, Dong Xuebing could also guess it. If Guo Panwei is doing well, he will not have time to visit him so urgently. After Guo Panwei was promoted to take over Deputy Chief, General Affairs Office’s Chief, Li Qing, was promoted. Someone from the Political Section took over him. He took back all the authority of the General Affairs Office, and Guo Panwei could not do anything. With Guo Panwei’s years of service and experiences, he should have been promoted to Deputy Section Chief a long time ago.
Guo Panwei complained to Dong Xuebing about his disappointment.
The new General Affairs Office Chief is not young, but he still has lots more years before he retires. Most likely, he will be staying in the General Affairs Office until his retirement, and he is blocking Guo Panwei’s career path.
Dong Xuebing sighed. “It’s not easy everywhere…”
“Sigh…” Guo Panwei also sighed.
“How is Sun Zhuang and Tan Limei?”
Dong Xuebing seldom contact his former colleagues after he was transferred to the grassroots.
Guo Panwei replied. “Xiao Sun was transferred to the Political Section, and Xiao Tan is still in General Affairs Office. Nothing had changed. Compared to you, we are far behind.”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “Let’s gather our former colleagues when we have the time for dinner. I will treat.”
“Chief Dong… Oh, I should address you as Bureau Chief Dong.” Guo Panwei said. “Are you still with the County Public Security Bureau?”
“No…” Dong Xuebing replied. “After Lunar New Year, I will be transferred to the Investment Promotion Bureau.”
Guo Panwei had not heard about Dong Xuebing after the latter was transferred. “As the department head?”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “The transfer order had just been issued.”
“Ah… congratulations.”
Guo Panwei was impressed. When Dong Xuebing was still in General Affairs Office, he was promoted twice. He was transferred to the grassroots level for less than a year, and he will be promoted again. It’s hard for a Deputy Section Chief to get promoted to Section Chief. His promotions are too fast!
Immediately, Guo Panwei starts to think. At first, he had wanted to ask Dong Xuebing for help, as Dong Xuebing is very close to Deputy Bureau Chief Xu Yan and other leaders. He wants to get promoted through Dong Xuebing’s help. Still, after hearing Dong Xuebing is getting promoted to the head of the County’s Investment Promotion Agency, he starts to have other plans.
Noon.
Dong Xuebing looks at his watch. “It’s lunchtime. Are you all hungry?”
Qianqian rubbed her tummy and nodded. Yu Meixia and Guo Panwei still have not eaten breakfast.
Dong Xuebing said. “Alright. I will call the restaurant to deliver some dishes over. Panwei, it’s been a while since we met. Let’s have some drinks together.”
Guo Panwei could tell Dong Xuebing’s apartment does not have alcohol and said. “I will go and buy a few bottles of alcohol.”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “Ok. There are a cigarette and alcohol shop 50 meters towards the west. Oh, help me get two packets of cigarettes. Yu Xi brand will do.”
“Sure.” Guo Panwei is feeling better as Dong Xuebing did not treat him as an outsider.
About half an hour later, the restaurant delivered the food.
Dong Xuebing passed his wallet to Sister Yu, but Guo Panwei insisted on paying.
During lunch, Guo Panwei raised his glass to give Dong Xuebing a toast. “Old Leader, I wish you a successful career.”
“Thank you.” Dong Xuebing thanked him and bottoms up.
After that, Guo Panwei also gave a toast to Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian. Guo Panwei dared not look down on the people around the leader and did not belittle Dong Xuebing’s helper and Yu Qianqian, despite her age.
Dong Xuebing noticed that and nodded with approval in his heart.
Dong Xuebing and Guo Panwei drank a lot during lunch.
Guo Panwei felt the time is right to bring up his request. “Old Leader, after you left, we felt lost. To be honest, I wish I can follow you and work under you when you were transferred. I don’t mind getting promoted as long as I get to work under a good leader. No one else in the city takes care of subordinates like you…”
Yu Qianqian heard it and started giggling.
Yu Meixia quickly pulled her daughter aside to stop her from laughing.
Dong Xuebing got the hint and looks at Guo Panwei. “Are you thinking of going to the grassroots level? I need to make it clear to you. The work is tough at the grassroot level, and it is very different from here.”
Guo Panwei straightens his back. “As long as I can work under you, I can take any hardships.”
Dong Xuebing thought for a while and nodded. “Alright. I will see what I can do after I return.”
Guo Panwei was overjoyed and quickly offered a few more rounds of toast with Dong Xuebing.
