Chapter 138 – Lunar New Year! (1/2)

Lunar New Year.

It’s Lunar New Year’s Eve today, and people in Beijing calls this day, the 30th.

Sounds of firecrackers can be heard everywhere. Everyone can feel the celebration vibes along the streets. Dong Xuebing’s mood was also excellent. He had received the official confirmation of his promotion to Deputy Section Chief from the higher-ups yesterday and was overjoyed. After pasting a pair of couplets and a “Fu” word on his front door, he returned to his apartment to start wrapping the chives and pork dumplings.

But Dong Xuebing’s only regret for this New Year was it was as quiet as before in his house.

Aunt Xuan is not married and had to return to her parents’ and grandparents’ house to celebrate. This was because she has a big family. She had left for her parents’ place yesterday morning and should return after the New Year holidays. Dong Xuebing’s mother was currently on the way back to Beijing, and Dong Xuebing could only knead the dough himself.

Ring, ring, ring. Dong Xuebing’s phone rang. It was an unknown number.

“Chief Xiao Dong, I’m Old Yan. Hahaha, I am calling you to wish you a happy new year.”

Dong Xuebing was surprised and replied: “Happy New Year to you too.”

Old Yan chatted with him for a while. Dong Xuebing remembered that he is different from before. Not only people will be calling him to wish him Happy New Year, he also has to send his greetings to his leaders. He cannot visit the State Security’s quarters to visit His leaders personally. His promotion was an exceptional case and if he visits the leaders, there will bound to have gossips and rumors. It would be worse if he brought New Year gifts for the leaders. State Security is different from other government agencies. So, after pondering for a while, Dong Xuebing start to call Zhen Anguo, Xu Yan, and other leaders to send his greetings.

“Chief Xu, I am calling you to wish you a Happy Lunar New Year. Thank you for taking care of me all this time. This coming year, I will continue to work hard and follow your footsteps…….”

“Chief Zhen, Happy Lunar New Year. I wish for you to have a prosperous year……”

Dong Xuebing even called Xie Huilan to wish her. No surprises, her number was the hardest to get through. Dong Xuebing had only called Chief Xu twice and Chief Zhen four times before the line got through. But he had to try dialing Xie Huilan’s number 18 times before he could reach her on the 19th call. He wonders how many people were calling her to send her Lunar New Year’s wishes. This is the peak period for people to call their leaders.

After calling all the leaders, Dong Xuebing continued to knead the dumplings’ dough.

Ring, ring, ring. Dong Xuebing’s phone rang again.

It was Tan Limei who called. “Hehe, Happy Lunar New Year, Chief Dong. I hope this coming year will be a good year for you.”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “Thank you. I also wish the best for you and Sun Zhuang.” She was one of his closest subordinates, and he could be more casual with him.

“Thank you. Eh? Why is your place so quiet? Are you alone?”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “Xiao Tan, stop adding salt to my wounds. Hahaha. My mother is on her way back. This year will still be both of us. If not, why would I be kneading the dough for dumplings myself.”

“Ahh…… This should not be happening. I will go over with Zhuang Zhi to help you.”

“It’s fine. Thank you.”

“My family has our reunion dinner at night, and I am quite free now. If it is convenient, I can go over now. Errr…… Actually, Zhuang Zhi and I have a small request. We had planned to go over to your place on the first day of New Year to speak to you.

Dong Xuebing heard what she said and did not stop her. “Ok, then. Come over for lunch.”

The doorbell rang when Dong Xuebing hangs up the call.

Dong Xuebing thought his mother had reached and went over to open the door.

But it was Guo Panwei. He had two big bags with him. “Chief Dong, Happy New Year. These are some gifts for you. Here. I will not bother you anymore.” The unspoken rule was to visit the leaders on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd day of the Lunar New Year. But Guo Panwei knows about Chief Xiao Dong’s family background. He does not have many relatives, and Guo Panwei came over to see if he could help with anything.

Dong Xuebing laughed. “Come in, come in. There is no need for gifts.”

Guo Panwei looked into Dong Xuebing’s apartment: “Errr…… is it convenient?”

“Of course. I am alone at home. My mother will be back later. Come in for a sit.”

“Thank you. Hope I had not bothered you.”

……

Outside of the apartment building.

Dong Xuebing’s mother, Luan Xiaoping, walked towards the building. She saw all households had hanged red lanterns outside of their windows and kids playing with firecrackers. Luan Xiaoping smiles to herself. Since her son had entered the Civil Service, she had not returned home. Now, she could finally see her son and was overjoyed. But she was also worried about her son. Luan Xiaoping knew she had a weak character and would cry easily. Dong Xuebing was matured and kept a lot of things from her to prevent her from getting worried. She wondered how Dong Xuebing was doing in the government agency. He kept telling her that everything was fine with his work and she wonders if he was telling her the truth.

“Eh, Sister Luan?” An old neighbor saw Luan Xiaoping and went over to greet her. “Happy New Year.”

Luan Xiaoping smiled: “Happy New year to you too. How is your kid? Has he graduated from University?”

That neighbor replied: “He had graduated and got a job. But his salary is just enough, unlike your son, Xiao Bing.”

Luan Xiaoping was feeling good in her heart, but she did not show her happiness on her face. “Xuebing’s salary if also not very high. How much can a staff member earn? At most, he is getting 3,000 RMB a month and getting some gifts from the government during festivals.”

That neighbor was surprised: “That’s not right. I thought Xiao Bing had been promoted?”

Luan Xiaoping paused for a while and laughed. “He is promoted? His probation is not over yet.”

That neighbor replied: “But everyone here is talking about this. Oh, maybe I had misheard. Hahaha, but your Xiao Bing is still very capable. Even that arrogant Section Chief Xu was driven away by him. His unit is now rented out to a couple who sells clothing at North Heping road.” Luan Xiaoping was stunned again. Section Chief Xu? That government officer staying upstairs? Xiao Bing had driven him away? What does this mean? How did Xiao Bing drive them away? But before she could ask any more details, that neighbor said: “Oh, my relatives are here. I need to fetch them at the entrance. Come over to my place for tea when you are free.”

The confused Luan Xiaoping continued her way back home. Along the way, she was scared by the loud firecrackers.

Clink, clank, clink, clank…… Luan Xiaoping opened the door with her keys. “Xuebing, I’m back.”

“Mum? Why are you so late? Traffic jams?”

“The bus got delayed.”

“You must be Aunty. Happy New Year.”

Luan Xiaoping was surprised to see there were two men in the apartment. Other than her son, there was another man in his early 30s. From one look, she knew this man must also be working with the government. Luan Xiaoping, hanged her coat and entered the unit. “You must be Xuebing’s colleague. Happy New Year to you too.” She was puzzled why would her son’s colleague came over to his apartment on New Year’s Eve. She saw there was not even a glass of water on the coffee table, and she stared at her son. “You don’t know how to prepare tea for your colleagues?”

Dong Xuebing laughed: “He had just arrived too.”

Guo Panwei quickly stood up: “Aunty, I can pour myself. Let me do it.”

Guo Panwei took the hot water flask and poured a glass of water for Luan Xiaoping and Dong Xuebing, followed by himself.

Luan Xiaoping was stunned. She thought to herself. You all are staff members in the same office, why are you pouring water for my son? You are also much older than my son. After thanking Guo Panwei, Luan Xiaoping looked at him: “…… Errr….. How do I address you?”

Guo Panwei was sitting upright, with 1/3 of his butt touching the sofa. He replied politely: “Guo Panwei. Aunty, you can call me Xiao Guo.”

“Oh, you are also from the General Affairs Office?”

“Yes.”

Luan Xiaoping was speechless when she saw Guo Panwei being so uptight. She thought to herself. Am I that scary? All my students said I look gentle. Why was this man so nervous when he sees me? Luan Xiaoping sat down on the sofa. “Don’t stand on ceremony. Just treat this place as your own place. How is work? Are you all busy?” Luan Xiaoping was trying to strike a conversation.

Guo Panwei replied with his back straighten. “It’s festive seasons, and we are slightly busier than usual.”

Luan Xiaoping nodded. “How is our Xuebing’s performance at work? Did he get scolded by the leaders? This son of mine…… he always keeps everything to himself and did not tell me anything.”

Guo Panwei was stunned: “…… got scolded? Aunty, who dares to scold Chief Dong?” Guo Panwei said to himself. Someone did scold Chief Dong. Zhou Guoan and Guo Shunjie had scolded him before. But both of them were invited to have tea with the Commission for Discipline Inspection, and no one had seen them afterward. Since that incident, everyone will think twice if they want to scold Chief Dong.

It was Luan Xiaoping’s turn to be shocked. “Chief Dong? What Chief Dong?”

Guo Panwei was surprised. “You do not know?”

“What should I know?”

Dong Xuebing laughed and patted the back of his mother’s hand. “Mum, you have been working in the village and have not returned. That’s why I have not told you. I wanted to tell you about this when I see you. I am now the Deputy Chief of the General Affairs Office and joined the Party. Oh, my promotion to Deputy Section Chief was confirmed yesterday. I am now considered a government cadre.” He had not told his mother about his work was because he wanted to give her a surprise. He was overjoyed when he sees his mother’s facial expression now.

“Huh?” Luan Xiaoping was shocked. “You are promoted?”

Guo Panwei added: “Aunty, since the day Chief Dong joined the bureau, his performance cannot be compared. No one can achieve his results. He had completed impossible tasks and assignments. Even if Chief Dong is promoted to Section Chief…… no, even if he is promoted to Deputy Director, no one will say anything. It’s normal for him to be promoted.”

Luan Xiaoping was trying to digest what she heard. Results? She knows her son well. Since young, her son had been clumsy and not very smart. What results can he have? It would be a blessing if he did not get into trouble.