Chapter 162 – Secretary of City Party Committee offered a seat! (2/2)
Dong Xuebing nodded and went over to the meeting room. The meeting room was already set up by Guo Panwei and Chang Juan. Dong Xuebing then left for the smaller cafeteria to check on the lunch preparations.
There were loud applauses outside of the cafeteria as Secretary Xie’s convoy arrived.
Dong Xuebing’s rank was too low to be going out to receive the VIP. He was also not in the mood to do so. He stood in the smaller cafeteria and looked out. He could see Secretary Xie and his assistant alighting from the vehicle. Xie Guobang’s nose and lips were similar to Xie Huilan. He had a stern look and sharp eyes. He had the imposing manner of a Politburo member.
This is Secretary Xie! He is very different in real life compared to TV!
Dong Xuebing looked at the group of leaders behind Xie Guobang, and Zhen Anguo receiving him. Although Dong Xuebing is now dating Xie Huilan, he is still not accepted by Xie Huilan’s family. Xie Guobang should not know him.
“Chief Dong.” Deputy Director Zheng from the Sixth Bureau suddenly appears in the cafeteria. He walked over and asked softly: “The higher-ups don’t approve your transfer?”
Dong Xuebing sighed. “Chief Zhen refuses to let me go. There is nothing I can do about it.”
Deputy Director Zheng patted Dong Xuebing’s shoulders. “What are your plans?”
“What plan can I have? I think I will never be able to leave the State Security.”
“You are still young and will have many opportunities in the future.”
Dong Xuebing shook his head. He is on the verge of falling out with Zhen Anguo now. What Zhen Anguo promised him might not even come true, let alone getting opportunities in the future. After missing this opportunity, Dong Xuebing might have to remain in the State Security for the rest of his career.
On the other side of the branch, Secretary Xie and his party entered the main building. They remained inside for almost an hour.
It was already lunchtime, and the staff members were in the main cafeteria having lunch. The smaller cafeteria was still empty. There were a few empty tables for Secretary Xie and other leaders.
Zhen Anguo whispered to Secretary Xie’s assistant. “Secretary Shen, does Secretary Xie have any plans for lunch? We had prepared lunch for him in the smaller cafeteria……”
Secretary Shen walked over to speak to Secretary Xie.
Xie Guobang was still looking at the old buildings in the branch. He turned to his assistant and said. “Let’s go to the main cafeteria.”
Zhen Anguo was not surprised. He knew many leaders prefer to dine with ordinary staff members. This was to portray an image that they were close to the people on the grounds. He turned to Yan Lei. “Get the General Affairs People to clear up space in the main cafeteria now! Party Secretary Xie is going to have lunch there!”
Yan Lei ran to the smaller cafeteria.
Dong Xuebing and the Sixth Bureau’s Deputy Director were still chatting.
Yan Lei saw them and frowned. “Chief Dong! You are so free! Hurry up! Party Secretary Xie and the City leaders are going to the main cafeteria to have lunch! Chief Zhen asks your General Affairs Office people to shift the tables over now!”
Dong Xuebing was still pissed, and when he heard Yan Lei mentioning Zhen Anguo, he replied coldly. “Since when am I free? Ah? I don’t need to watch the food?”
Yan Lei points at Dong Xuebing angrily: “I don’t have time to argue with you!”
“You think I like to speak with you?!”
But Dong Xuebing knew that the City’s leaders’ visit to the branch was significant. Even Minister Lui cannot be compared to the City Party Committee’s no.1. He ignored Yan Lei and went over to the main cafeteria to get some people to help him carry the tables over. He asked some staff members who were dining to move to other tables about 5 meters away.
After a while, Xie Guobang entered the cafeteria.
The main cafeteria felt like someone pressed the mute button. Everyone was looking at Xie Guobang secretly.
Xie Guobang looked at the ceiling and said. “I had visited the Eastern District. Although the buildings here are in slightly better conditions, it is still in bad condition.” He pointed upwards. “There are water stains. It should be from the rain. Old buildings have leaked on the roof, and it is dangerous.”
Zhen Anguo replied. “Yes. This building is decades old. We will try our best to repair it.”
Xie, Guobang, nodded. “You have to make sure all the staff is safe. If you can’t even guarantee their safety, how can they work in peace? Safety is a major concern.”
Zhen Anguo, Cheng Haimei, and the rest were standing there listening to Xie Guobang.
Dong Xuebing was preparing the tea at the tables. Party Secretary Xie glanced past him and did not look at him. Dong Xuebing guessed that Xie Guobang should not know about him. If that’s the case, he does not need to go over to greet him. He pretended nothing had happened. Anyway, he still felt Xie Huilan was joking with him.
After walking around the cafeteria, Xie Guobang sat down at the main table. Zhen Anguo, Xu Yan, and the rest joined him and sat according to their ranks. The rest of the City leaders did not sit at the same table with Xie Guobang as their ranks were much lower. They sat at the second table with Director Li Qing. Oh, Party Secretary Xie’s assistant did not sit down with him at the table. He stood behind him to help him serve tea.
Yan Lei wanted to impress Party Secretary Xie. He served the dishes slowly and would tell him the dish’s name. Dong Xuebing had lost interest in his wor. But when he saw Xu Yan staring at him, he still went to the kitchen to help serve the dishes. He did not tell Party Secretary Xie the dish’s name when he served it. His transfer was canceled and he does not have to mood to do his job.
“What is this dish?” Party Secretary Xie asked suddenly.
Dong Xuebing paused for a second and replied: “This is Sugar snail-shaped cake.” Dong Xuebing was the one who planned the menu. He also grew up in Beijing and knew all these snacks well.
Xie Guobang turned and look at Zhen Anguo. “Your cafeteria serves good food. Sugar Snail Shaped cakes are hard to make.”
Zhen Anguo does not know if Party Secretary Xie was blaming him for preparing a luxurious lunch.
Yan Lei saw Party Secretary Xie speaking to Dong Xuebing and was jealous. He quickly walked over and placed the next dish on the table. “Eight Treasures Lotus porridge.”
After a while, all the dishes were served. It was not considered a sumptuous lunch, but it was presentable.
Xu Yan knew the lunch menu was prepared by Xiao Dong and nodded. She was still very confident about Xiao Dong’s work. There might be a wide variety of dishes, but they were not expensive. The dishes only require more effect to prepare, and the ingredients were cheap. It will be too much if they serve shark fins or abalone to the leaders. The leaders might feel the branch is wasting their money and will not like it.
“Sit down and eat together.” Xie Guobanf looked at Yan Lei and Dong Xuebing.
Yan Lei immediately replied: “I will have lunch over there.” His rank was too low to dine with the Party Secretary and the other leaders at that table.
Dong Xuebing listlessly replied: “I will also have lunch there.” He was not pointing to the second table. He was looking at the other staff members in the cafeteria.
Xie Guobang said. “Just sit here. It’s just a casual lunch.”
The City’s Party Secretary had made the invitation twice, and this was not being courteous. He should be trying to show that he is close to the lower rank staff.
Xu Yan looked at Party Secretary Xie and then made an eye signal to Dong Xuebing.
Dong Xuebing thought to himself. This is an order from the leaders. How can I not sit down? He hesitated for a moment and was about to sit down on a chair in front of him. But Yan Lei quickly sat on the chair before Dong Xuebing. Dong Xuebing was stunned and looked to the side. That was the only vacant chair! His face turned black immediately!
Zhen Anguo knew Dong Xuebing, and Yan Lei does not like each other and was afraid Xiao Dong’s foul temper would act again. “Xiao Dong, there should be two more dishes, right? Go to the kitchen and check if they are ready.”
Dong Xuebing was about to explode. Damn! Why your secretary gets to sit down, and I have to serve the dishes? Everyone here can sit down except for your secretary! Can’t you see Party Secretary Xie’s secretary is still standing? F**k! Are you trying to make me look bad?
Zhen Anguo frowned when he saw Dong Xuebing’s expression. The Party Secretary had invited you to sit is because he is courteous. You think he is serious?
Everyone in the cafeteria was looking at Dong Xuebing. Everyone knows Chief Xiao Dong and Secretary Yan had differences.
But suddenly, Xie Guobang frowned and turned to his assistant. “Bring a chair over.”
Secretary Shen was stunned for a second and quickly carried a char over. He wanted to place the chair beside Yan Lei, but Xie Guobang gestured to the empty space beside him. “Here.” Secretary Shen did not say anything and put the chair beside him.
Then Xie Guobang waved to Dong Xuebing. “Dong Xuebing. Come and sit here.”
No one expected Party Secretary Xie would say this!
When Xie Guobang said this, everyone was shocked!
What did City’s Party Secretary say? Dong Xuebing? No one had mentioned Dong Xuebing’s name. They only called him Xiao Dong or Chief Dong! How come Party Secretary Xie knows Chief Xiao Dong’s full name? Damn! Party Secretary Xie knows Chief Xiao Dong? Party Secretary Xie purposely prepared a seat for Chief Xiao Dong?!
Zhen Anguo, Xu Yan, Cheng Haimei, and the rest of the branch leaders were stunned. The first thought that came to their minds was, how did Xiao Dong know Party Secretary Xie? They thought for a while and were shocked by the possible reason. Everyone turned and looked at Zhen Anguo!
Zhen Anguo also thought of it. He took in a deep breath. He knew the City’s Party Secretary will not invite someone of a lower rank to have lunch with him. He will never arrange that person to sit beside him! Party Secretary Xie was doing this…… as a warning to Zhen Anguo!? This was because Zhen Anguo had stopped Dong Xuebing’s transfer?!