9 am.
City’s Party Committee Family Quarters. Yang Zhaode’s apartment
Dong Xuebing did all the dishes, pots, and pans.
Dong Xuebing went out from the kitchen and saw Yang Zhaode reaching papers on the sofa. He thought for a while and wonder how to ask him for a favor. Dong Xuebing really wants to help his former Leader, and if Xu Yan can be transferred to Feng Zhou City as the State Security Bureau Chief, she can be a good help to him. But… Dong Xuebing cannot find the words. He looked at his mother, and his mother knew he needs to speak to her about something. After all, they lived together for so long, and she knows what Dong Xuebing wants with just one look.
Luan Xiaoping excused herself and entered the kitchen with her son.
After closing the door, Luan Xiaoping asked. “What is it?” Dong Xuebing smiled and whispered. “Mum… do you think it’s right for me to ask Old Yang for a favor?” Luan Xiaoping looks at Dong Xuebing. “What happened?” Dong Xuebing replied. “Do you still remember Xu Yan, Deputy Chief Xu? I had mentioned to you about her before. She is facing some problems at work and hopes to come over to our City. Uncle Yang had mentioned earlier that the City’s State Security Bureau’s Chief position is vacant. That’s why Chief Xu is thinking of…”
Luan Xiaoping nodded. “Repaying others’ kindness is right. You should help her.”
“But how am I going to ask Old Yang?” Dong Xuebing is afraid this might be too abrupt. After all, they had only met yesterday.
“This…” Luan Xiaoping thought for a while. “I will speak to him. If he doesn’t agree, I will ignore him.”
“Ahh… don’t… you better don’t interfere in this.” Dong Xuebing quickly stops his mother. “I will speak to him.”
Luan Xiaoping nodded. “If you want to speak to him, you better do it now. His Sister and Brother-in-law might be coming over for a visit soon. They had just called earlier. I think this is only an excuse to meet us.” Luan Xiaoping had met Yang Zhaode’s younger Sister and Brother-in-law once, but she is not together with Old Yang at that time. This meeting will be different. It will be an official meeting between Yang Zhaode’s family and Luan Xiaoping’s family. That’s why Luan Xiaoping is very nervous.
After coming out of the kitchen, Yang Zhaode asked Luan Xiaoping. “Xiaoping, are we going to lunch out or have lunch at home?”
Luan Xiaoping replied. “You decide. Isn’t your Sister coming?” “Ok. Let’s have lunch at home. It will be more casual.” Yang Zhaode smiled and looked at Dong Xuebing. “Let’s spit the work. Your Mum will wash the vegetables, and we will do the cooking.”
Dong Xuebing nodded. He had said he will cook lunch, but since Old Yang’s relatives will be coming over, he dare not cook everything himself. His cooking skills are not good enough.
After a while, Dong Xuebing sat on the sofa. “Uncle Yang… Err… I need a favor from you.” Yang Zhaode folds the newspaper and places it on the coffee table. “What is it?” “It’s like this.” Dong Xuebing thought for a second and continued. “You should know that I had worked in State Security for a period. I just received a call from my former Leader. She knows our City’s State Security Bureau Chief’s position is vacant and thinks she can be transferred over. She has connections on her side and should not be a problem. But the City Government… do you think you can… Ermm… if it’s too troublesome, it’s fine. After all, this transfer will be across provinces, and it is much harder.”
Yang Zhaode thought for a while. “Oh…” He paused for about ten seconds and rubbed his forehead. “It will be quite hard.”
Bam! Luan Xiaoping, sitting beside, puts down her teacup on the coffee table hard, showing her displeasure. She had been afraid her son will not agree to her relationship with Yang Zhaode and told her son how good he is over the past month. Now, her son is asking for a favor, and he is giving excuses? She knows her son seldom beg others for help, and this is making her look bad.
Yang Zhaode looked at Luan Xiaoping and smiled. “I am not saying I am not helping. This is really quite difficult.”
Luan Xiaoping did not hold back. “Aren’t you the Organization Department’s Minister? Human Resource is your job, right? What’s so difficult about this?” Dong Xuebing quickly interrupted. “Mum, it’s not like this. State Security is an independent department and reports only to their higher-ups. In short, it’s the Provincial State Security that governs the City State Security. Although it is a government department and must listen to the Organization Department, the Provincial State Security is more powerful, and manpower movement falls under the Provincial State Security’s jurisdiction. That’s why Uncle Yang says it is difficult.” Dong Xuebing still had not mentioned the City Mayor and Party Secretary.
Luan Xiaoping looks better after hearing her son’s explanation, but she is still mad. “I don’t know anything about the government service. If this is really impossible, then forget it.” She did not hold back her words like Dong Xuebing in front of Old Yang.
Yang Zhaode replied with a bitter smile. “Fine. Since our greatest Leader at home had said this, how can I not follow her orders? But this position and transfer are quite different, and the local government has a say in it. Xiao Bing, is your Old Leader experience enough? What is her position now?”
Dong Xuebing saw there’s hope and quickly replied. “She is definitely experienced. Her name is Xu Yan, Deputy Bureau Chief of State Security’s Beijing Western District Branch. She is in her early forties and held her current position for a few years.” Dong Xuebing continued to tell Yang Zhaode about Xu Yan’s current predicament and ended with. “Chief Xu is capable and had been working in State Security all her life.”
Yang Zhaode nodded. “I will not make any promises, but I will try my best.”
Dong Xuebing knew this transfer is almost completed with this reply. “Thank you, Uncle Yang. Thank you.” “Don’t mention it. Hahaha…” Luan Xiaoping also smiles and poured a cup of tea for him. “Have some tea.” Yang Zhaode really loves Luan Xiaoping and treated this matter seriously. He returned to his room after a few sips of tea to make phone calls. He must act fast as there will be many people eyeing this position. He needs to go by the proper procedure of nominating Xu Yan through the Organization Department and then use his connections to make sure she will get this position.
Living room.
Dong Xuebing said to his mother. “Mum, Old Yang treats you really well.”
Luan Xiaoping smiled blissfully. “Treats me well? Old Yang and his deceased wife do not have children, and he always hopes to have a son. I can tell he really likes you, and he even mentioned that all young men should learn from you last night.”
“Eh? Old Yang said this?” “Do I still need to lie to you?” Dong Xuebing is delighted. Old Yang does have good eyes.
Luan Xiaoping looks at her watch. “Old Yang’s Sister should be arriving soon. There’s not enough vegetables and meat at home. I need to buy some.”
“Wait.” Dong Xuebing stopped his mother. “You are the Minister’s wife now. Let me do all these trivial matters.” “Stop your nonsense. Hurry up and go.”
“Ok.”
Dong Xuebing drove to a Walmart supermarket in the eastern part of the City and bought one week supply of groceries. After returning to the City’s Party Committee Quarters, he carried the groceries out of his car and closed the door with his foot.
Suddenly, a familiar figure walks over.
“Eh? Chief Dong?” A woman is standing in front of the building’s entrance.
This woman is in her late twenties and is quite pretty. Dong Xuebing smiled and greeted. “Ms. Su?” Su Jia, Yan Tai County’s TV Station’s TV Host, had hosted Yan Tai County’s Lunar New Year Government Service celebrations. She had even helped Dong Xuebing with his magic performance. Although that was the only time they met, they are considered acquaintances. Dong Xuebing has a good impression of her, but she doesn’t seem to be here to send gifts as she is not holding anything. Why is she here? He suddenly remembered something. He had heard rumors that Su Jia has a strong background, and it seems to be true. Is she related to the City Government?
Su Jia saw Dong Xuebing carrying lots of shopping bags and thought he is here to send gifts. This is taboo, and both did not mention anything about it. If Su Jia had not met Dong Xuebing at the building entrance, she would not have called him. It is quite embarrassing to meet acquaintances while sending gifts.
But since they bumped into each other, they had no choice.
Su Jia smiles. “It’s so hard to meet you. Want to have dinner this evening? I really love your magic performance that time and had wanted to know you.” Dong Xuebing is also interested to know what background she has. “Sure. It’s an honor to dine with a pretty TV host like you.”
Su Jia laughed. “I am not pretty. Haha…”
“You are modest.” Dong Xuebing put down his grocery bags and took out his mobile phone. “Shall we exchange numbers?”
After exchanging numbers, Dong Xuebing carried his shopping bags and entered the stairwell with Su Jia.
They chatted for a while, and Su Jia said. “Chief Dong, I will go up first. I will call you later to confirm where to meet later?” Dong Xuebing nodded and knew Su Jia is trying to keep a distance to avoid misunderstandings.
Dong Xuebing purposely slows down to let Su Jia go upstairs first. He waited for a while before climbing up the stairs.
Click… it was the sound of the door opening, and Su Jia shouted. “Dad, Mum.” After that, the door closed.
The sounds seemed to be from the third floor. Dong Xuebing blinked. Dad, Mum? Su Jia’s parents are from the City Party Committee? He had not heard about this and continued his way to the third floor. He pressed the doorbell of Yang Zhaode’s apartment when he arrived.
Ding dong…
Dong Xuebing was stunned when he saw the person opening the door for him. “Eh?” Su Jia was also stunned to see Dong Xuebing. “Huh? Chief Dong? Why are you…” She opened the gate to let him enter, and she thought he must be here to give her Uncle gifts.
Dong Xuebing was also puzzled why Su Jia is at Old Yang’s apartment?
