Afternoon.
County Party Committee Quarters.
In the past, Dong Xuebing had been sneaking into the Quarters to visit Xie Huilan. But this time, he is driving his Mercedes MPV in openly. The guards at the gate did not stop him, as everyone in the County government service knows this Mercedes MPV 500L belongs to Dong Xuebing. The guards don’t even need to look at the registration plate, as there are only a handful of such cars in the County.
Dong Xuebing alighted and looks at the keys Director Yao gave him.
Dong Xuebing’s apartment is on the third floor in the grey building on the left, and it is a different building with Xie Huilan.
Dong Xuebing did not carry his stuff and entered the building. He walks up the stairs to the third floor, and his apartment is the first unit beside it.
The apartment had been cleaned.
Maybe the higher-ranking officials are afraid of gossips. This apartment is worse than the Public Security Bureau Family Quarters. The flooring of this apartment, not ceramic tiles. The washing machine is an old model washing machine, and the air conditioner is the cabinet type of air conditioner. All the appliances and fittings are older in this apartment. Because Dong Xuebing is single, he was only assigned an apartment with only one room.
Dong Xuebing looks around and is still satisfied with the apartment.
Dong Xuebing is a Section Chief now, and he had to be careful in all aspects. If Director Yao had assigned a luxurious three-bedroom apartment to Dong Xuebing, Dong Xuebing would not accept. Who knows if Director Yao is going to frame him?
Dong Xuebing made a few trips between his car and the apartment to move his stuff before unpacking in his apartment.
Ring… ring… ring… Dong Xuebing’s phone rang. It is Xie Huilan.
Dong Xuebing answered. “… Hello, Mayor Xie.”
“Have you move over?” Xie Huilan laughed. “I saw your car through my windows. Have you finished moving your stuff? Do you want Old Yan to help you move?” Old Yan is Xie Huilan’s driver.
“No need. I had moved everything. Oh, why are you not at work?”
“I had come back for lunch, and I need to change for tonight’s Lunar New Year celebration.”
Dong Xuebing stood up, walked over to the windows, and looked over at the building opposite and saw a woman at a window. Dong Xuebing laughed and waved. “Sister Xie, I can see you. We are not very far away.”
Xie Huilan smiled and said. “The distance might seem not far, but we are actually very far apart. Haha.”
“Huh? This is too deep for me to understand.”
“Oh…” Xie Huilan asked. “I heard from Xiao Hu that lots of civilians went to send you off earlier.”
Dong Xuebing replied. “They are too passionate and had given me lots of eggs, vegetables, etc. Oh… I will pass some to you later. I will not finish all this food by myself.”
“Don’t bring it over. My apartment is packed with gifts and food now.” Xie Huilan replied.
Dong Xuebing had almost forgotten that Xie Huilan is the mayor. During Lunar New Year, she will receive many more gifts than Dong Xuebing.
“Xiao Dong.” Xie Huilan’s tone suddenly changed. “You had done a good job this year with the Public Security Bureau. The civilians sending you off and shedding tears for you is your best testimonial. Bring this spirit with you to your new position. Work hard, but you cannot use your usual violent method in your new position. To attract investors, you must change your work attitude and create a new image for yourself. Do you understand what I am saying?”
Dong Xuebing understood. “Yes. I will take note of it.”
“Ok. Your job at the Investment Promotion Agency is very different from the Public Security Bureau. Alright. I will see you tonight. Haha…”
After unpacking his stuff, Dong Xuebing looks at his watch, and it’s time for him to go to the County’s Party School.
This evening’s celebration is held at the County’s Party School grand hall.
When Dong Xuebing arrives at the Party School, the carpark is full. He drove around the carpark to look for an empty lot, and staff from the Party School saw him and pointed to another building at the back. Dong Xuebing drove over and found a lot at the back of that building.
There are too many people.
Dong Xuebing looks at the various departments’ leaders and staff and wonders if the hall can sit so many people.
Oh, the higher-ups had wanted each department to perform a program, and no one dares to be absent today. If every department sent three to five people to this event, there would be a few hundred people.
“Hahaha… Old Zheng, you are here too?”
“Old Xu, what program has your department prepared?”
“Secret… you will know what they will be performing later. Hahaha…”
“Oh, Director Liu, Director Sun… It’s been a while since we met.”
The front porch is filled with people greeting each other. Dong Xuebing felt it was too noisy and decided to enter the hall to look for a seat first.
But the hall is also packed.
Dong Xuebing saw a few familiar faces and greeted them. After that, he saw Qin Yong arriving.
“Old Qin, what time did you come?” Dong Xuebing walks over to greet him.
“I had just arrived and is looking for my seat.” Qin Yong replied. “I think it’s free seating tonight.” The Party Committee and Mayor will have seats reserved for them and are normally in the first and second rows. The higher-ranking officials will be seated in front, and Qin Yong, as a Deputy Bureau Chief, will normally be seated in the middle or back rows.
Dong Xuebing replied. “Let’s sit together at the back.”
Qin Yong laughed. “You should be sitting in front. How can you sit with me?”
“Are you poking fun with me? Let’s go.”
What Qin Yong said is right. Dong Xuebing should be seated in the front rows with his position. But Dong Xuebing does not want to be under the spotlight, and he still has not stepped into the Investment Promotion Agency yet.
