Inside the private dining room of the hotel.
Du Juan drank her wine and said. “We cannot decide what the City leaders should do, and we have no choice but to welcome them. They are from the City Commission for Discipline Inspection, and we must cooperate with them. You all have not met them. The Discipline Inspection leaders have no respect for our county. Our County Party Secretary and everyone from the County Office Department waited to welcome them. But they did not even stop for a second and drove past us. It was so embarrassing, and Secretary Sun’s face changed.
A classmate was surprised. “They are so overbearing?”
Du Juan replied. “Yes. We called the Discipline Inspection leaders this afternoon to offer to bring them around, but they rejected flatly.”
“Did you all offend them?”
“That’s right. Could it be you all missed out something or did something wrong?”
“I felt we had done our best.” Du Juan shook her head. “I don’t know if we had offended them in anyways. But they are the leaders and even our Party Secretary, and Mayors got to bow and receive them respectfully.”
Dong Xuebing smiled in his heart and did not interrupt them.
Businessman Old Liu said. “It’s fine. Both of you will move up fast, and you will be inspecting others.”
Pang Shou replied modestly. “Haha…. We are too far away.”
Du Juan added. “That’s right. It’s not easy to move up. We need experience and cannot make any mistakes. Sigh…. Let’s not talk about it.”
Old Liu replied. “It’s not easy for everyone now.”
“You are right.” another classmate added. “We would be in our thirties or forties before success.”
“Yes. Especially the civil servants. It would take at least ten years to reach that level.”
“Let’s drink and stop talking about it. It’s not easy for us to get together. Cheers!”
After drinking, one of the classmates suggested. “All of us have not met for more than a year. Let’s share what you are doing now and which industry you are in. Du Juan and Pang Shou can skip. We know they are government officials. Haha….”
Pang Shou smiled. “We are just working for the government and not officials.”
Old Liu started. “I am running a small company doing my own business.”
Another classmate added. “I am working in a Beijing bank.”
“Banking industry is good. How much is your pay?”
“A few thousand. It’s not a lot.”
Dong Xuebing listened to everyone and did not know if they were telling the truth. However, most were doing well, and the lowest salary was five thousand. They are working in Beijing and the salary there is higher than in other areas. Those not doing well should not have time to attend such gatherings.
Finally, it was Dong Xuebing’s turn.
“Xuebing, what are you doing now?” A female classmate asked.
Dong Xuebing smiled. “Just busy with work. My salary is not as high as yours. I am getting around four thousand.” His salary was around four thousand. Civil servants were highly paid, but it depended on the area. A staff member in Beijing is getting about the same amount as him. He works in Fen Zhou City, Hebei Province, and the salary cannot be compared to Beijing or the Central Government.
“It’s not too bad.”
“That’s right. Four thousand RMB is quite good.”
Everyone consoled Dong Xuebing for a while and stopped talking to him.
After everyone started working, class gatherings changed. They heard Dong Xuebing was not doing well, and they stopped talking to him. Dong Xuebing did not mind and continued drinking his wine. He had passed the age where he needed to impress others. He was only at the gathering to reminisce about his High School days.
Suddenly the door opened.
A middle-aged man, who is not a waiter, entered the private room.
Old Liu frowned. “What is it?”
Pang Shou and Du Juan quickly stand up. “Ah, Director Wang. Why are you here?”
Dong Xuebing can tell from Pang Shou and Du Juan’s expressions that this man should be someone from the County Party Committee Office Department or the County Government Office.
Director Wang looked at Pang Shou and said. “Our Party Secretary is going to have dinner with the City leaders, but all the private rooms are booked.”
Pang Shou immediately knew what Director Wang wanted, and he looked terrible. “The presidential suite and other ballrooms should be available.”
Director Wang frowned. “The City leaders do not like to be extravagancy. I only know you two here. Can you all move to another room?” He looked at the table. “You all are also finishing.”
Du Juan looked terrible but did not say anything.
Pang Shou was the same. This man is the County Party Committee Office Director. He is their leader, and they have to give up the room. Also, the Party Secretary is having dinner with the City Discipline Inspection leaders. Pang Shou and Du Juan cannot afford to offend any of them.
Director Wang looked at everyone. “Can you all move to another place?”
Pang Shou replied. “Alright. We are leaving now.”
“Ok. Sorry to trouble you.” Director Wang said.
Everyone was looking terrible. They were being chased away before they could finish their dinner. But they knew how powerful a County Party Secretary was. Pang Shou and Du Juan did not dare to say anything, and the rest kept quiet.
Pang Shou turned to his former classmates. “I am sorry for today. How about we end our dinner now?”
“Ok.”
“We are full too.”
“It’s alright. Let’s go.”
Director Wang nodded and was about to inform the leaders the private room was ready.
Dong Xuebing, sitting quietly in a corner, suddenly said. He looked at Director Wang. “Why should we leave? Who are you to tell us to leave?!”
