Power and Wealth

That night, Dong Xuebing’s grandmother ordered Dong Xuebing’s First Aunt to clean up an empty room for him. But Dong Xuebing did not sleep in that room. He had not seen his mother for a long time and had to leave tomorrow. So, he slept with his mother in his mother’s room. They chatted until late at night. They talked about the past and his future. His mother even brought up the subject of his future marriage.

The next morning.

When Dong Xuebing got up, breakfast was ready. The whole family was waiting for them to have breakfast.

Luan Xiaoping entered the dining room and apologized. “Sorry. I woke up late. Is the porridge ready? I will go and serve it.”

Luan Xiaoping’’s sister-in-law stopped her and asked her to sit at the table. “I said yesterday that I will take care of these chores. Haha...”

First Aunt and her husband, Uncle and the rest, were treating Luan Xiaoping and Dong Xuebing with respect today. Last night, before Luan Xiaoping goes to bed, she passed the cigarettes Dong Xuebing bought to everyone and gave her mother 1,000 RMB. Yu Xi Cigarettes was considered an expensive brand of cigarettes. All of them don’t even bear to smoke this brand of cigarette during New Year. They felt Dong Xuebing was very generous with them. Another reason was Dong Xuebing had given them gifts, and that means he was willing to forget about the past.

After breakfast, Dong Xuebing said: “Mum, I got to leave for work. Do you want to come with me?”

Luan Xiaoping asked. “Why should I go with you?”

“Go and live with me. My apartment has two bedrooms.”

“I’m not going. I still need to teach. It is too troublesome to travel.”

Dong Xuebing nodded and did not say anything. After bidding his mother goodbye, he walked out of the house.

Dong Xuebing’s Aunts, Uncle, and his grandmother walked Dong Xuebing out of the house. “Xiao Bing, be careful on your way back. Do come back more often.”

“Ok. Don’t need to send me off.”

Not far from his mother’s house, Dong Xuebing noticed there was a police car parked along the roadside.

A police officer in his 30s saw Dong Xuebing and quickly alight and open the passenger door for him. “Chief Dong, Chief Liu asked me to send you back to the County’s bureau.”

Dong Xuebing thought to himself. Liu Dahai was quite considerate. “Never mind. You all still have to work.”

That officer replied. “Chief Dong, I need to go to the County Bureau’s station today.”

Dong Xuebing did not reject his offer and boarded the rear passenger seat.

County’s Public Security Bureau’s main building.

Dong Xuebing entered his office and put down his bag. He looked at himself in the mirror and straighten up his clothes before going to the Bureau Chief’s office. He knocked on the door, and someone inside said: “Come in.” Dong Xuebing walked in with his back straight and chest pumped out. “Chief Liang, I am Dong Xuebing. I am here to report to you.”

Liang Chengpeng, 51 years old, County’s Public Security Bureau Chief and County’s Public Security Party Committee Secretary. He does not take on the role of Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee and did not enter the County’s Party Committee. He looked at Dong Xuebing and said: “Chief Dong, you are young and promising!” Liang Chengpeng was muscular and looks like a straightforward person.

Dong Xuebing did not let Chief Liang walk forward to welcome him. He quickly steps forward and extends two hands to shake his hand. “Thank you for your compliments. I am young, but promising is still too far. I will do my best under your leadership. Do pardon me if I make any mistakes in the future.”

Liang Chengpeng laughed. “You are modest. What our bureau lacks is young men like you.”

Dong Xuebing does not like to deal with scheming people. His first impression of Chief Liang was quite good.

This was their first meeting, and it was only to introduce each other. Liang Chengpeng did not say a lot. After introducing himself, Dong Xuebing left and went meet Political Commissar Liu Weiye and Executive Deputy Bureau Chief Hu Yiguo. Political Commissar Liu was a quiet person. He only said something to welcome Dong Xuebing and did not say anything else. Dong Xuebing was the one who keeps talking. He only smiled and listen to him.

The No.1 and No. 2 of the bureau left a good impression with Dong Xuebing. But when Dong Xuebing went to the bureau’s No. 3, he met a problem.

Hu Yiguo was a plump man in his 40s. He looked at Dong Xuebing from head to toe, and the first words he said was “Haha, Chief Dong, you are very young...”

State Security is a specialized agency and will not reveal any information about Dong Xuebing’s accomplishment there. No one in the bureau knows about Dong Xuebing’s ability. Their only impression of Dong Xuebing was he is very young. This was the young Dong Xuebing heard the most today. But the way they said the word “young” was different. Chief Liang said he was young and promising. This was praising Dong Xuebing. But Hu Yiguo noted, “Chief Dong, you are very young.” His tone was questioning Dong Xuebing’s ability and looking down on him.

Dong Xuebing did not show his displeasure on his face. “Please guide me along in the future.”

“Don’t say that. Let’s learn from each other. Haha.”

Hu Yiguo shook Dong Xuebing’s hand and welcomed him. After that, he speaks appropriately.

But Dong Xuebing does not have a good impression of him.

Chief Liang called for a meeting in the morning and introduced Dong Xuebing to everyone by reading out his official transfer order. This should be done yesterday by the County’s Party Committee leader, but Dong Xuebing wanted to keep a low profile and rejected it. Secondly, Liang Chengpeng went to the City’s Bureau to have a meeting. This was why the announcement was delayed until today.

Under the watchful eyes of the leaders and police officers, Dong Xuebing stepped forward to give a speech. He had memorized this speech a few days ago. The speech was about how he will serve the people, take hardships, express his loyalty to the Party and Country, etc. The speech lasted more than 20 minutes, and Dong Xuebing received applauses after he ended. From this moment onwards, Dong Xuebing will be officially taking on the duties of Deputy Bureau Chief.

Noon. Liang Chengpeng, Liu Weiye, and the rest of Deputy Bureau Chiefs had prepared a welcome lunch for Dong Xuebing. What made Dong Xuebing speechless was the welcome lunch was not at the County Government’s guest house or a nearby restaurant. It was held in the bureau’s small cafeteria. The food was good. There were fish, prawns, meat, etc. But this welcome lunch was too pathetic. Even if there were no leaders from the County Government or I might be slightly younger, but at least show some respect for me.

Damn! Was I too low profile?