One day…
Two days…
Three days…
Tuesday.
Dong Xuebing accompanied Qu Yunxuan for three days in Beijing before parting with her unwillingly. He had brought her to almost all the tourist attractions in Beijing. They are from Beijing but had never been to these places. They had a good time, and Dong Xuebing focused on Qu Yunxuan and the baby inside her. They went to the cinema, hot springs walk in gardens, beauty salon, etc.
“I am going to be a father…”
“I am going to have a son soon…”
“Son… The daughter is fine too. Hahaha…”
On his way back to Yan Tai County, Dong Xuebing hummed a melody and changed the lyrics to ‘father, son, daughter.’
Yan Tai County.
Dong Xuebing returned to his apartment in the County Party Committee Quarters. He changed his clothes and charged his phone before picking up the phone in his apartment. He happily wants to share his happiness with someone but discovered he has no one to share this news with. Call his mother to tell her that she is going to a grandmother? But what about marriage? How should he answer his mother if she asks about his marriage? He also cannot others at work, as having a child born out of wedlock is a taboo in the government service.
Dong Xuebing looks at his watch, and it is 10 am.
Dong Xuebing is not ready to tell anyone that he will be a father and left home for his car.
The Investment Promotion Agency. Dong Xuebing drove his Mercedes MPV to the office building and alighted.
At the entrance of the building, Dong Xuebing saw Business Section One’s Zhang Fan walking out. He saw Dong Xuebing and quickly greeted him. “Chief Dong.”
Dong Xuebing smiled and nodded. “Xiao Zhang, where are you going?”
Zhang Fan replied. “Section Chief Lin asked me to meet an investor.”
“Alright. Do your best.” Dong Xuebing walked passed by Zhang Fan and patted his shoulder. “Watch out for your safety outside.”
Zhang Fan was surprised and wondered what happened to Chief Dong. He was nervous earlier because he heard that something had happened to Chief Dong’s family. He saw Dong Xuebing rushing out of the Agency. But after a few days, Chief Dong had suddenly changed to another person. From his expression, he seems to be in a good mood.
Dong Xuebing is in high spirits after knowing he is going to be a father.
On his way upstairs, Dong Xuebing greeted all the staff members he met warmly and even encouraged them.
Agency’s Chief Office.
Dong Xuebing entered his office, and someone had cleaned up the place.
Dong Xuebing nodded and took out his cigarettes. He crossed his legs and started thinking of his child’s name. Should I use two characters or three characters for my son’s name? Huh? I still don’t know if the baby is a boy or a girl. I should think of two names now. Oh, I must take the baby’s ‘eight characters’ into consideration for the name too. Maybe it’s too early to be thinking of this.
Knock… knock… someone knocked on the door.
Dong Xuebing smiled. “Come in.”
The door opened, and Lin Pingping and Jiang Hailiang entered.
“Xiao Lin, Xiao Jiang.” Dong Xuebing waved to them. “Have a seat first. Haha…”
Lin Pingping and Jiang Hailiang exchanged looks. Those staff members did not lie to them about Chief Dong is in a good mood today.
They sat down but did not say a word.
Dong Xuebing looked at them and asked. “What’s wrong?”
Lin Pingping replied. “Chief. I heard the County’s Finance Department had not issued the fund to us.”
“Really?” Dong Xuebing asked curiously. “I had not asked about the fund, but it should be in last Friday before I leave, right?”
Jiang Hailiang replied. “But Director Luo told us that the fund is not in yet, and we cannot issue the bonus and commission. The staff are getting upset and don’t seem to be motivated these two days.” Over the weekends, Jiang Hailiang had closed a deal. From what Dong Xuebing promised, the Office Department should issue the commission and bonus immediately. But Dong Xuebing was not around, and the Office Department cannot release the money. That’s why Jiang Hailiang came to look for Dong Xuebing, as he will get a share of the bonus for this deal.
Dong Xuebing frowned. “The staff are getting upset? Then what are you doing as their leader?”
Jiang Hailiang kept quiet.
Dong Xuebing continued. “We are a government department, and all of us are getting paid by the County. The bonus and commission from the projects are only to motivate them. What’s wrong? The bonus is late, and all of them refuse to work? What are they thinking?” Dong Xuebing paused for a second. “Since I promised to give out the bonus, can I go back on my words? Tell the staff to look for me straight if they are upset!” Jiang Hailiang is too short-sighted and impatient.
Jiang Hailiang dared not rebut Dong Xuebing and kept quiet.
Lin Pinging saw Jiang Hailiang got a scolding from Dong Xuebing and dare not say anything.
Dong Xuebing looked at both of them and called the Office Department. “Hello, Director Luo. Come to my office now.”
After a while, Luo Haiting, who was dressed up nicely, entered the office.
Dong Xuebing asked. “The Finance Department had not wired the three million RMB to us?”
Luo Haiting hesitated for a while and sighed. “The money should be in last Friday. But we did not receive it, and I called them before the end of the day. The Finance Department told me that the County’s finances are quite tight, and the fund will be delayed. I even went to the Finance Department twice to check with them, but I was only told to wait for their notification. They did not even give me a reason, and it’s been a few days now.”
The Finance Department Chief is Ding Li, and he must be sore after what happened at the Ball. That’s why he is purposely making things difficult for the Investment Promotion Agency.
Dong Xuebing’s good mood is gone. You even dare to hold back the funds given to us by the Party Committee?! Ding Li is too daring. Dong Xuebing banged his desk angrily. “What the f**k are they trying to do?!”
Luo Haiting lowered her head. “Chief, sorry. I had not done my job well.” She knows what was going on and is furious with Ding Li.
“It’s not your fault.” Dong Xuebing waved his hand and asked. “Does our Agency has enough money in our account to give out this month’s bonus?”
Luo Haiting looked at Lin Pingping and Jiang Hailiang. “It’s not enough. The shortfall is too big.”
Knock… knock… knock… Someone knocked on the door, and Sun Shuli entered the office.
Sun Shuli entered and started grumbling. “Chief, Director Luo, and I went to the Finance Department this morning. They refused to release the fund, and I don’t understand what they are trying to do. We don’t have enough funds to give out bonuses and commissions to the staff, and the vehicle issue will not be solved. How are we going to continue with our work? The 500 million RMB target is already so stressful, yet they are not giving us the funds?! This is ridiculous.”
Everyone in the Agency is waiting for the three million Fund from the County Government. But now, they were informed that they had to wait until god knows when for the fund.
Sun Shuli has a foul temper and had argued with the Finance Department staff earlier in the morning. But the other party just refuses to release the money, and Sun Shuli had been furious all morning.
Luo Haiting bit her lips and looked at Dong Xuebing’s expression. “Chief, do you want me to make a trip to the Finance Department again?”
Dong Xuebing waved his hand and exhaled. “No need. I will settle this myself. All of you go back to work.” Dong Xuebing looked at Lin Pingping and Jiang Hailiang. “Section Chief Lin, Section Chief Jiang. Monitor your staff and tell them that the bonuses will be issued before the end of this week.” Although Dong Xuebing had scolded Jiang Hailiang, he knows he must settle this funding issue as soon as possible. If not, his reputation will be affected.
Lin Pingping and Jiang Hailiang quickly acknowledge.
After they left, Dong Xuebing called Deputy Mayor Zhao.
“Hello, Mayor Zhao. The Finance Department is not giving us the fund promised by the County Government. What’s the meaning of this? Are they trying to stop us from achieving the target?” Dong Xuebing asked angrily. “We don’t have enough vehicles, and now, we cannot even give out the commissions and bonuses. How are we going to get 500 million worth of investments? This fund is approved by the Party Committee. When did Ding Li become the higher-up of the County’s Party Committee?”
Zhao Xianglong frowned. “… alright. I will call them now to ask them about this.”
After hanging up, Dong Xuebing lit a cigarette and waited for Zhao Xinglong.
Dong Xuebing’s phone rang after a while. Zhao Xinglong said. “A construction project had run into some trouble recently, and the Finance Department had to use a large fund to settle it. This is an important project for the County and cannot be delayed. That’s why the Finance Department is running short of funds. Many other departments also did not get their funding.”
Dong Xuebing asked. “But there are some departments that had received their funds from the Finance Department, right?”
“The waterworks department and a few others had received.” Zhao Xinglong replied with an angry tone.
“Mayor Zhao isn’t the County’s main focus is on attracting investment, and had even set a 500 million RMB target for us! Why is the waterworks department getting their funding earlier than us?!”
Zhao Xinglong knew Dong Xuebing is feigning innocent. He had embarrassed Ding Li during the ball, and it will be weird if Ding Li doesn’t use this opportunity to get back at Dong Xuebing. “Alright. I will try to speak to them again.” What Ding Li did have pissed Zhao Xinglong.
But Ding Li is Xiang Daofa’s follower and will not give in to Zhao Xinglong. He is also targeting Dong Xuebing. It is impossible for the Investment Promotion Agency to receive the fund anytime soon. Dong Xuebing knew this and wanted to call Xie Huilan for help. But he thought for a while and decided not to trouble over a small matter like this. He will make a trip to the Finance Department.
Dong Xuebing’s good mood is gone because of Ding Li, and his face had become darker!
