Evenings. North Heping Street.
It was early November, and it was chilly in the morning and evenings. There was a cold breeze. Dong Xuebing had only worn a shirt to work, and the material was not thick. But he was not cold. His whole body was burning due to his excitement.
When Dong Xuebing was about to walk up the stairs, he saw his neighbor Section Chief Xu and his son, Xiao Dong.
Xiao Dong, who was holding on to some reference books, the face changed when he saw Dong Xuebing. He keeps staring at Dong Xuebing.
Section Chief Xu looked at Dong Xuebing for a while and told his son: “Let’s go.”
“Ok.” Xiao Dong looked away from Dong Xuebing and went up to the stairs with Section Chief Xu.
It’s been a while since Dong Xuebing met Xiao Dong. The last time they met was at the Civil Service Entrance Exams. Xiao Dong should be preparing for the next exams which werein the first quarter of the year. Dong Xuebing could felt the irony. Two months ago, he copied Xiao Dong’s answers and barely pass the exams. Two months later, Xiao Dong was still preparing for the exams, and he was already a party member and a Deputy Chief!
Level 3. Dong Xuebing pressed the doorbell of unit 302. Qu Yunxuan’s unit.
Ding-dong, Ding-dong. No one opens the door.
Dong Xuebing was puzzled. At around 4 pm, Aunt Xuan had sent an SMS to him, telling him that she will prepare dinner. How come she was not at home? Dong Xuebing took out the spare key given to him by Aunt Xuan and opened the door. He wants to help wash the vegetables and cut the meat first. But when he entered the apartment, he could smell the fragrance of shampoo. It was the familiar smell of Head & Shoulders Shampoo.
“Xiao Bing?” Qu Yunxuan walked out from the bathroom with only a white towel. Lots of her fair skin was showing. Her deep cleavage, long legs…… She was sexy……
Dong Xuebing immediately bushed. “Errr…… I didn’t know you are at home. I…… had pressed the doorbell, and no one opened the door.
“I am using the hair dryer just now and didn’t hear the doorbell.” Qu Yunxuan lowered her head and looked at herself. She was also blushing.
“Errr…… I…… I will go back first.”
“Why are you going back? Come in and close the door.”
“Oh…… Yes…..” Dong Xuebing quickly closes the door. He was afraid other people will see his Aunt Xuan wrapped in a towel.
In the living room, Qu Yunxuan flicked her damp hair and poured Dong Xuebing a glass of tea. “Have some tea first. I need to change.” She was gentle, and her breath smells of alcohol.
After Qu Yunxuan closes the door, Dong Xuebing realized what happened. “You are drinking just now?”
Qu Yunxuan replied from the room: “Yes. I drank with a client during lunch. I am still feeling giddy now.”
“If you can’t drink, don’t drink. You might get drunk.” Dong Xuebing was worried.
“Haha, I know. When I meet clients, I will normally bring Xiao Tao from my team. I seldom drink when I am meeting clients. But I had no choice today.” The bedroom’s door opened. Qu Yunxuan walked out. She was wearing a cream colored silk slip dress, and she adjusts the temperature of the air conditioner. She turned to Dong Xuebing and smiled. “Tell me what you want to have for dinner?”
“Oh, I need to tell you something first.” Dong Xuebing said. He was excited to share this good news with her.
“What is it?” Qu Yunxuan laughed and rolled her eyes. “Look how happy you are. You are grinning like a fool.”
“Hehehe…. It’s……” Dong Xuebing cleared his throat and paused for a while. “Our branch has a Party Committee Meeting this morning. After discussion, they decided to promote me to be the General Affairs Department’s Deputy Chief. But because of my length of service and experience, my rank is still the same, but my salary and benefits had increased. That’s all.” Branch Bureaus under Direct-controlled municipality are Divisional level agencies. The General Affairs Department is Section level, and the General Affairs Office under the General Affairs Department is Deputy Section level. Unless it was those senior officials like Zhou Changchun that was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief, the rest of the deputy chiefs can only receive Deputy Chief rank’s salaries and benefits, and not hold the actual rank.
Qu Yunxuan sat down beside Dong Xuebing on the sofa and moved closer to him. She playfully knocked his head 3 times: “Stop bluffing!”
Dong Xuebing replied anxiously. “It true. The order will be out these two days!”
Qu Yunxuan raised her arm to scare him: “You really think I am drunk? I will beat you if you still try to bluff me.”
“Ahhh…… Aunt Xuan, it’s real. I am not lying. Almost everyone in my branch knows about this.”
“You are only 23 years old and have just entered the bureau for less than 2 months.” Qu Yunxuan still does not believe him.
Ring, ring, ring….. Dong Xuebing’s iPhone 4 rang. He answered. The caller spoke loudly, and Qu Yunxuan could hear it. “Hello? Is this Chief Dong? I am Old Liu from the Political Section. I am calling to congratulate on your promotion. Hahaha. I was still telling my wife about you yesterday. I told her that you are very capable, and you will be promoted soon. I am right. Come over to my place for dinner some time. I will ask my wife to cook something good for you.”
“Thank You Chief Liu…… I will visit you at your place some other day.”
After hanging up, Dong Xuebing smiled and waved his HP at Qu Yunxuan. “Did you hear what he said?”
Qu Yunxuan was stunned. “Xiao Bing! You are really the Chief of your office?”
“It’s Deputy Chief.”
“Deputy Chief is also a Chief!” Qu Yunxuan reached out and pinched Dong Xuebing’s cheeks, shaking his left and right. “Since when you become so capable? How old are you and you are getting the Deputy Chief’s salary and benefits? Tell me, why are you so capable?!”
Dong Xuebing was slightly embarrassed by Qu Yunxuan’s praises. “Hehe, it’s all luck.”
Qu Yunxuan seems to be more excited than Dong Xuebing. “No. We must celebrate your promotion. Eh, you should have told me earlier. If I know about your promotion earlier, I will buy more food back. Why not we eat out today?”
“There is no need to be so troublesome. Just any two dishes will do.”
“Ok.” Qu Yunxuan got up and wore her apron. “I will cook a wonderful dinner for you now.”
Dong Xuebing rolled up his sleeves and followed: “Let me help you.”
Qu Yunxuan turned and poked his head, making Dong Xuebing move a few steps back. “My little Chief, you don’t need to do anything today. Just sit there and wait for dinner.”
