Next day.
Seventh day of the Lunar New Year. Work resumed.
Dong Xuebing woke up at 6 am and drove back to Fen Zhou City from his mother’s place. He did not return to his apartment and went straight to the City Party Committee Building. Many people were still in a joyous mood as they came to work.
When Dong Xuebing’s car appeared, they turned and looked at him.
Dong Xuebing was used to such stares at the City Party Committee Building.
He glanced at the staff and parked his car in the Discipline Inspection parking lot.
Dong Xuebing’s 4 million RMB Porsche was enough to attract stares from others. He was the youngest Deputy Division Chief in Hebei Province, and his wife was a Deputy City Mayor. He was involved in Secretary Wan’s nephew, Wan Sizhao’s death. After that, his daughter was kidnapped, and he did not appear at work for a long time. These were the reasons why everyone stopped and looked at him weirdly.
“Director Dong.”
“Happy New Year, Director Dong.”
“Good morning, Director Dong.”
“Xiao Dong, you are back. How was your New Year?”
Dong Xuebing returned everyone’s greetings politely.
Most of the Discipline Inspection staff were unwilling to interact more with Dong Xuebing and quickly left after greeting him. A few Inspection Discipline leaders only nodded to him and did not say anything. After all, he had been missing from work for almost one month, and it was rude not to greet him.
Dong Xuebing might have offended the City Party Committee Secretary, and everyone would try to keep a distance from him until the storm was over. Furthermore, his bad reputation had caught up to him, and everyone in Fen Zhou City knew about his nickname, the God of Plague. Everyone felt he was an oddball in the government sector and kept offending and creating trouble for others. It’s better to stay away from him. Few people in Fen Zhou City dared to provoke him, and few were willing to be friends with him.
Dong Xuebing was marginalized and isolated. Sigh…
Dong Xuebing shook his head. He was used to it and did not care how others looked at him.
Do whatever you all want.”
Even if I am marginalized, I can still live happily.
Dong Xuebing had a hoodlum character and did not feel pressured at all. He thought nothing about it and went upstairs with a smile.
Everyone saw him and was impressed with his mentality.
It might be easy to laugh it off, but not many can do it.
Inspection First Office.
Director Office.
It’s been a while since Dong Xuebing returned to his office. He checked his drawers and bookshelf and sat at his desk, drinking tea.
After a while, he started to think about his work after he was posted here. He had started work in the Discipline Inspection a while, and his results were considered good. Although his interpersonal relationship with others was terrible and had offended many people, he did not leave anything others could use against him. This was enough for him. As long as he made no mistakes, no one could do anything to him. All he needs to do now is to get more results. He still hopes to get promoted.
There’s no rush, and he got to wait for the right opportunity.
Knock, knock. Someone knocked on the door.
Dong Xuebing puts down his teacup. “Come in.”
It was Luo Haiting. She was the only one in Fen Zhou City Government that dared to go near Dong Xuebing.
“Director, I wish you a Happy New Year.” Luo Haiting wore a pair of tight red pants and a small jacket. She still likes to doll up exaggeratedly.
“Thank you. Happy New Year to you too. Have a seat.” Dong Xuebing gestured.
Luo Haiting sat in front of him. “How’s your Goddaughter? Everyone was so worried for you.”
Dong Xuebing smiled. “She has returned and is fine now.”
“That’s great.” Luo Haiting took out a stack of documents. “These are the reports and meeting minutes when you are not around.”
Dong Xuebing started looking through the documents. “Did anything happen these few days?”
“Not really. Our Discipline Inspection is not busy during Lunar New Year compared to other departments.”
The reports did not state anything worth noticing, and Dong Xuebing nodded. It’s good to be peaceful, as he has been too busy recently. He wants to stay low for a few days until things calm down.
“Oh, Xuebing. I forgot to tell you something.”
“What?”
“Zhan Guiping, Deputy Secretary Zhan had returned to work before New Year.”
“Oh.”
“He wants to meet you when you return.”
“Alright. I will go to his office now. Is he around?”
“I saw his car on my way to work. He should be in his office.”
Dong Xuebing nodded and left for Deputy Secretary Zhan’s office.
“Come in.” A man said.
Dong Xuebing entered the office and smiled. “Happy New Year, Secretary Zhan.”
Zhan Guiping smiled when he saw Dong Xuebing. He got up and walked over to receive him. “Haha…. Xuebing.”
Dong Xuebing was surprised. “Please don’t stand up.”
Zhan Guiping shook Dong Xuebing’s hand. “I heard what happened to you when I returned to work. I tried calling you but could not get through. Rourou and I were worried. It’s good to see you again.”
Dong Xuebing replied. “Thanks for your concern. I am fine. It just took a while to save my Goddaughter. Oh, how is Rourou’s waist?”
Zhan Guiping smiled wider and patted Dong Xuebing’s shoulder. They sat on the sofa. “She has recovered, and she is in good condition.”
Dong Xuebing knew Zhan Guiping was very happy. “Can she walk now?”
Zhan Guiping nodded. “She can even run. Xuebing, thank you for helping us contact the best doctor at the PLA hospital. That professor’s surgery was a success, and we stayed in Beijing for a few days. Rourou could move her toes days after the surgery, and she recovered fast. She can walk and run now, and the doctor says she has fully recovered. She needs to avoid strenuous exercise, and my family and I are grateful for your help.”
Dong Xuebing waved his hand. “What are you saying? All I did was contact the doctor and did not do much.” He paused for a second. “Furthermore, Rourou was injured at the hospital because of me.”
Zhan Guiping interrupted. “Don’t mention that again. It was not your fault. She would be gone if you had not risked your life to push her out. You are our family’s savior, and my wife asked me to thank you properly. She also wants to invite you to dinner at our house. After Rourou could walk, she kept asking about you.”
Dong Xuebing smiled. “Ok. Then I shall trouble Aunty someday.”
Zhan Guiping laughed. “Hahaha…. Alright. I will ask her to prepare a feast, and we can drink some alcohol.”
Dong Xuebing had one less worry after Zhan Rourou recovered. All this while, he felt guilty and blamed himself for asking the hospital staff to retrieve the equipment and medicine. If everyone had evacuated, Zhan Rourou would not have been injured.
However, Zhan Guiping did not think like this. Although his wife scolded Dong Xuebing, he still felt Dong Xuebing’s decision was correct. He would make the same decision if it were him. They are Party Members and Civil Servants and must put civilians first. Furthermore, Rourou had recovered, and there’s no reason to blame Dong Xuebing. His family had owned Dong Xuebing a huge favor, and his wife was also grateful. They were chatting yesterday and felt Rourou’s name was not good. When the hospital collapsed, she was paralyzed after getting hit by falling debris. Look at Dong Xuebing. He was buried in the hospital and could still escape after many days.
What does this mean?
This means the difference between them.
Zhan Rourou was dumbfounded. It was not that she was weak. It was Dong Xuebing who had a strong will to live. Who can escape unscathed in that situation?
Only Dong Xuebing can. He survived and was still unhurt.
This was not something an ordinary person could do. Dong Xuebing is built differently.
Dong Xuebing and Zhan Guiping got along well.
They chatted from around 9 am to 11 am.
Zhan Guiping’s return to work was a confidence boost for Dong Xuebing. With their relationship, he would have a great help within the Commission for Discipline Inspection. That’s what he needed the most now.
Translator’s notes: ‘Rou’ means gentle.
