Afternoon.
Dong Xuebing left Geng Yuehua’s house and drove to work. The earthquake is happening in less than twenty days, and everything is going according to plan. This made him relieved. However, he knows it is too early to be happy now. There’s still a series of problems to overcome. Earthquake response exercise is a critical part of his plan.
Dong Xuebing had read that future newspaper more than a dozen times. He had memorized every residential, commercial building that had collapsed. There’s not enough time to strengthen these building structures, and he needs an excuse to relocate those residents. That’s why the Earthquake response exercise comes in as a reason for Dong Xuebing to convince them to move.
Exercise….
How will he convince the District Government to allow him to hold such a major exercise? Furthermore, he needs to think about how he will implement it.
Dong Xuebing reached the Subdistrict Office while thinking about it. It is lunchtime now, and many staffs are entering the cafeteria.
Suddenly, a car entered the compound, and someone called him. “Chief Dong.”
Dong Xuebing immediately knows it is someone from Yan Tai County. Before becoming Guang Ming Subdistrict Office Director, he was the Public Security Deputy Chief and the Investment Promotion Agency Chief. All his former colleagues still call him Chief Dong. He turned around and saw the current Yan Tai County Investment Promotion Agency Chief, Sun Shuli. The one driving is the Business Section One Chief, Lin Pingping.
“Old Sun, Xiao Lin!” Dong Xuebing laughed and went over to welcome them. “Why are you all here?”
Sun Shuli laughed. “We have a meeting at the District Investment Promotion Agency this afternoon, and we are early. So, we decided to drop by to visit our old leader.”
Dong Xuebing waved his hand. “What do you mean by old leader? You are at least twenty years older than me. Are you teasing me?”
Lin Pingping had alighted. She smiles. “Chief, you are looking terrific now.”
Dong Xuebing smiles. “I have been so busy these few days, and I am looking good now is because of you all.” He looks at Lin Pingping. “Xiao Lin, you seemed to be in a good mood. How is your son doing?”
Lin Pingping smiles. “He is still as naughty as before.”
“Which kid is not naughty?” Dong Xuebing laughed.
“I am busy with work and have no time to watch over him.” Lin Pingping replied.
Sun Shuli added. “I was telling her to look for a partner on our way here. It’s not easy to bring up a child alone.”
Dong Xuebing agrees. Lin Pingping was the first subordinate to join him when transferred to the Investment Promotion Agency. He sees her as his trusted aide. She had left a great impression on him because of her capabilities and strong character. It’s not easy to be a single mother, especially the government service. Most leaders see her as immature and are not suitable to be promoted. But Dong Xuebing doesn’t care about all these as maturity has nothing to do with one’s capabilities, and he likes her strong character.
They chatted for a while.
After a while, Sun Shuli said. “Chief, if you are free, I would like to treat you to lunch.”
“Ok.” Dong Xuebing readily agreed. “I was about to go to the cafeteria. But you all had come to Nan Shan District, and I cannot let you pay. I will treat lunch.”
Sun Shuli shook his head. “No…. how can I let you pay?”
“What do you mean no? It’s settled.”
“Chief, I can’t let you pay.” Sun Shuli refused to let Dong Xuebing treat.
Dong Xuebing was surprised and looked at Sun Shuli. One person can change because of his position. When Sun Shuli was the Deputy Agency Chief, he only focused on bringing in investors and ignored Dong Xuebing most of the time. But after he took over Dong Xuebing’s position, his character changed. He needs to face the County Government Leaders lead his subordinates. His personality changed within a few months, and he became more talkative. He will never say such things in the past.
Sun Shuli had come for a purpose. He is grateful to Dong Xuebing because he had nominated him to be the Chief. This is the main reason why he got promoted to be the Chief. He knows he had not helped Dong Xuebing anyway and is not close to him. Another reason is Dong Xuebing’s relationship with Mayor Xie. That’s why he brought Lin Pingping along to meet Dong Xuebing. He hopes to foster a closer friendship with him through Lin Pingping.
Both fought to pay for lunch, and Dong Xuebing gave in at the end.
Both of them don’t lack money, and it’s just lunch. But fighting to pay for the meal is a way to show their politeness.
When the three of them were about to get into the car, Geng Xinke walked out from the office building. He is going out for lunch and saw Dong Xuebing. He glanced at him and continued walking. But he stopped suddenly and looked in Dong Xuebing’s direction. He is looking at Lin Pingping.
“Pingping?” Geng Xinke said.
Dong Xuebing, Lin Pingping, and Sun Shuli looked towards Geng Xinke.
Lin Pingping seemed surprised when she saw Geng Xinke. “Xinke?”
“You….” Geng Xinke walked over, and his eyes had never left Lin Pingping’s face. “Why are you here?”
“I am here for work.” Lin Pingping seems flustered. “You…. Are you working here? I thought you were working in the Education Ministry.”
“I was transferred here two years ago. Where are you working now?”
“Yan Tai County, Investment Promotion Agency.”
“Yan Tai County? How come I don’t know about it?”
“I was working there for a few years.” Lin Pingping took a deep breath. “We lost contact after we graduated from University. How do you know about it?”
The atmosphere is a bit weird.
Dong Xuebing looked at both of them and knew there must be something going on between them. He asked. “You both know each other?”
Lin Pingping pursed her lips and explained. “Xinke is my university classmate. Err… it should be schoolmate.”
Geng Xinke and Lin Pingping exchanged looks, but Geng Xinke avoided her gaze. After avoiding her gaze, he would look at her again before avoiding her eyes again.
Dong Xuebing thought to himself. What the hell are you two doing? Playing bumper car?
Dong Xuebing looks at both of them and says. “Oh, it’s not easy to meet former schoolmates. How about you two catch up with each other while I go for lunch with Old Sun?”
Sun Shuli did not object. “Sure.”
“Wait.” Lin Pingping quickly says. “How can I leave my Leaders behind? I cannot do this.”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “We are not outsiders and don’t need to talk about these formalities. Alright. I still have something to discuss with Old Sun privately.”
Lim Pingping smacked her lips. “Chief Dong, Chief Sun, I….”
Sun Shuli waved his hand. “Chief Dong had said it. Go and catch up with your friend.”
Dong Xuebing and Sun Shuli got into the car and drove out of the Subdistrict Office.
Sun Shuli laughed after the car left the compound. “I think something is going on between Xiao Lin and Xinke. Haha….”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “I think so too.”
“Who is Xinke?”
“He is our Subdistrict Office Work Party Deputy Secretary.”
Sun Shuli kept quiet when he heard this. He knows most Work Party Secretary and Deputy Secretary don’t get along well. He is afraid of saying the wrong things.
Subdistrict Office Compound.
Geng Xinke looks at Lin Pingping, looking back at him. Both looked at each other without saying anything.
They kept quiet for around ten seconds, and Geng Xinke looked at the Subdistrict Office staff walking around. “Let’s go out for lunch. It’s inconvenient to talk here.”
Lin Pingping bit her lips. “Forget it. I still have something on. Bye.” She turns and starts to leave.
“Pingping.” Geng Xinke called. “Can you do me this favor?”
Lin Pingping stopped and sighed. She calmed down and said. “I have a meeting in the afternoon, and I have only one hour.”
“Ok. Wait for me while I get my car.” Geng Xinke quickly drives his car to pick Lin Pingping before driving out.
In the car, Geng Xinke kept looking at Lin Pingping. “You had become thinner but did not change much. How have you been doing all these years?”
“Quite good.” Lin Pingping replied.
“Are you married?”
Lin Pingping paused for a second. “No. What about you?”
“Me neither.”
“You are not getting younger. Why didn’t you set up a family?”
Geng Xinke paused for a few seconds. “I had considered about it before, but after we… graduated, I did not meet the right person. What about you?”
“I am busy with work.”
“If I know you are working in Yan Tai County, which is so near, I would….”
“Stop.” Lin Pingping held her head and sighed. “Stop saying these.”
Translator’s notes: Geng Xinke is the father of Lin Pingping’s son?!
