Afternoon.
Da Feng County.
Dong Xuebing ordered a pot of chrysanthemum tea with rock sugar at a roadside tea house. He crossed his legs, watched the cars and people walking by, and slowly took sips of his tea. Around half an hour later, he did not notice anyone following him, but he will not put down his guard. Maybe they are still around, and he had not noticed them yet.
“Young man.” The boss walks over. “Do you want me to add water?”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “Please add some. Your tea tastes good.”
“sigh… but the business here is not good. Other than the people staying around here coming to my open-air teahouse, there is no one else. My teahouse cannot be compared to those popular teahouses.”
“I still prefer open-air teahouses.”
“Haha… then stay around for a while more.”
The weather is colder in the north, and it’s rare to see such open-air teahouses here compared to the southern regions. Dong Xuebing is from Beijing and grew up in Hutongs. During summer afternoons, neighbors will gather in their courtyards to have tea. This open-air teahouse reminds him of his childhood.
Ring… ring… ring…
Dong Xuebing answered. “Hello, I’m Dong Xuebing.”
“Xiao Dong, it’s harder to get you than the City Mayor.” Chief Xu Yan laughed.
“Chief Xu? Oh, my phone died. I had just charged it and switched it on.” Dong Xuebing quickly put down his teacup. “Are you in Feng Zhou City? I am waiting to host you.”
Xu Yan laughed. “I was officially appointed yesterday. I tried calling you, but you seem busy.”
“Huh? So fast? I thought you would arrive next week.”
“Yes. I received the orders and came over immediately. Where are you now?”
“I am in Da Feng County handling something.” Dong Xuebing mentioned his location casually. “I have nothing to do in the afternoon and am having tea here to relax. Haha…”
Xu Yan replied. “Alright. Wait there for me.”
“Huh? Wait for you?” Before Dong Xuebing could say anything, Xu Yan hangs up.
About 15 minutes later, a black Audi A6 stopped in front of the teahouse and Xu Yan, in her uniform, alighted. She waved to the driver, and he parked under the shade nearby. Dong Xuebing had not met Xu Yan for a few days, but he noticed her changes. He almost did not recognize her with her hair pinned up. She looks prettier, and her fitting State Security Uniform outlined her curves.
Dong Xuebing quickly walks over. “Ah, Chief Xu. How come you are here?”
“Why can’t I come here?” Xu Yan looks at the table. “Are you going to invite your former leader to have tea? Huh?”
“Of course! Please have a seat.” Dong Xuebing quickly pulled out a chair and shouted to the boss. “Hey, Bro, give me a pot of your best tea!”
The teahouse’s boss saw the words State Security on Xu Yan’s uniform and got a shock. He quickly rushed inside to brew a pot of tea. For commoners, State Security is a secretive and powerful department. Dong Xuebing also think this way in the past. Still, after working in State Security for a while, he realizes it is not that secretive. This is a special department, but it is not as secretive as others think.
The tea is served. It is a pot of Longjing tea, and it’s not even the superior type.
Dong Xuebing poured a cup for Xu Yan. “Why are you in Da Feng County?”
“I am here for work.” Xu Yan smiled. “We have some problems with foreign investors in the past, and the higher-ups are afraid something might happen again. That’s why I brought my men over to monitor the situation.” The actual reason is that they are afraid of foreign spies among the investors. “Oh, I am also here to see you too.”
Dong Xuebing paused for a second. “How do you know I am here?”
“You are always creating trouble, and it’s hard for me not to know about your whereabouts. My subordinates had mentioned you in their report.”
“Huh? My name is registered with the State Security?”
“Haha… the report is about the foreign investors and some other investors. They had only mentioned your name briefly and is not targeting you.”
Dong Xuebing was relieved to know that State Security is not watching him.
Dong Xuebing could smell the tea from Xu Yan’s breath one meter away. “Your temper is still the same as before. When can you change? You are always getting yourself in trouble and making others worry for you. How did Da Feng County offend you this time? You even dare to come to their turf to snatch investments?”
When he mentioned this, Dong Xuebing got mad again, and he told Xu Yan everything.
Dong Xuebing said at the end. “Don’t you think they are too much? You should know me well. If they don’t provoke me, I will not do anything. They are stepping all over our County. How can I still give in to them?”
Xu Yan laughed. “But you should also not scold Li Feng’s Secretary in public.”
Dong Xuebing replied. “I am only sharing this with you. I should have scolded him more. Do you know Li Feng and Deputy Public Security Chief Sun Pengpeng sent people to follow me this afternoon?! They are too much. They can snatch our investments and claim they have the right to do that, and the City Government supported them. But I cannot even come to their County? Why?!” He still has not done anything in Da Feng County yet.
Xu Yan nodded. “Some people only think for themselves. What Da Feng County has done is indeed too much.”
“You also agree with me?” Dong Xuebing continued. “That’s why I must vent my anger.”
“But you must not go overboard.” Xu Yan reminded. “It’s fine if you disregard Da Feng County. But the City Government…. The City Government is watching this investment fair closely. Do you understand what I mean?”
“I know where the boundaries are.”
“Ok. Just give me a call if you need help.”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “How can I bother you over such trivial matters? I can settle this myself.”
Xu Yan had just got appointed. Although she is the Chief, she still needs time to build connections and establish her authority. That’s why Dong Xuebing doesn’t want to trouble her. But Xu Yan could tell what he is thinking and laughed. “Speak your mind. How many times have I helped cover up for you when you are with the General Affairs Office? You are just a trouble maker. Haha…”
A young couple walked over and sat at the next table.
Dong Xuebing and Xu Yan saw them and did not continue talking about this topic.
After they finish their tea, Xu Yan smiled. “I still have not to change out of my uniform, and it’s not convenient to chat here. Let’s go. Can you be my driver today?”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “My honor.”
Xu Yan smiles and walks over to her car while Dong Xuebing was paying. Her expression was no longer smiling, and looks at the driver, who had alighted to open the door for her. “Old Sun, you can go back now. I still have something on, and you don’t need to fetch me.”
The driver hesitated. “Err… what about your safety?”
“I will be fine.” Xu Yan waved her hand.
The driver hesitated for a second and drove the Audi away.
After a while, Dong Xuebing stopped his Camry beside Xu Yan and was about to alight to open the passenger door for her. But Xu Yan smiled and waved her hand. She opened the front passenger door and got in. She fastened her seatbelt, and the seatbelt enhanced the outline of her voluptuous breasts.
Dong Xuebing took a glance and quickly looked away. “Chief Xu, where are we going?”
“We don’t have time for a good chat when you are in Beijing previously. Just drive me around the County while we chat. Haha… But it’s fine if you are busy.”
Dong Xuebing remembers Xu Yan has been alone for many years and felt sorry for her. “I am not busy.”
Dong Xuebing starts driving.
“Chief Xu, you…”
“You can call me Auntie Xu when we are alone. If you still address me as Chief Xu, I will get off here.”
“Err… then… I will call you Sister Xu. You had taken good care of your looks, and you look like you are only a few years older than me. Auntie will make you sound much older.”
Xu Yan looks at Dong Xuebing. “Are you making fun of me?”
“Haha… I am telling the truth. Sister Xu, if I don’t know you, I will think you are 30 years old at first glance.”
“And how old do you think I am a second and third glance?”
“Early thirties.”
“You sweet talker… Hahaha…”
Dong Xuebing joked and chatted with Xu Yan while driving around Da Feng County. After driving for a while, he notices Xu Yan kept looking at the side and rearview mirrors and the surrounding. He asked. “Sister Xu, you are…”
Xu Yan laughed. “You mentioned that Da Feng County had sent someone to follow you, right? I am wondering if I can catch anyone following you. But it’s a pity that I did not notice anyone. If not, I can take care of them for you.”
Dong Xuebing finally understood why Xu Yan is so free to accompany him for a joy ride instead of conducting her inspection. She is trying to stand up for him!
Dong Xuebing is moved but almost burst out laughing.
If Da Feng County continues to send people to follow Dong Xuebing, they will be in deep trouble! They will no longer be following Dong Xuebing alone. Xu Yan is also in the car!
Surveilling and following the City’s State Security Bureau Chief?!
Damn! This will be a serious offense, and many heads will roll!
