Chapter 167 – Bureau Chief Xiao Dong reports for work! (1/2)

2 days later.

Yantai County, County Town.

Dong Xuebing had forgotten how long since his last visit to his hometown. He walked along the street and looked at the cars and people passing by. Yantai County was a backward area. One could not see any expensive vehicles on the road. The buildings and dressing of the passerby were the same as what people wore in Beijing’s countryside 10 years ago. But the overall environment here is much better than Beijing. The air is fresher, and the place is quieter.

Dong Xuebing took in a deep breath of fresh air and walked into a meat pie shop.

The business of this shop was considered good. 3 out of the 8 tables in the shop were occupied, and Dong Xuebing could smell the fragrance of meat pies from outside.

Dong Xuebing had just landed and took a long-distance bus here. The food on the plane was rubbish. Dong Xuebing was starving when he reached Yantai County. He sat at an empty table and shouted towards the kitchen. “Boss, give me a serving of Beijing meat pie.”

“Ok!” The female boss stuck her head through the curtains and replied.

After a while, a piping hot meat pie was served.

Dong Xuebing took a bite. The skin was thin, and the meat was tender. It tastes much better than what he ate in Beijing. It feels more authentic!

Beijing Meat pie was originated from Hebei province. But Hebei and Beijing were close. Yantai County is only a 3-hour drive to Beijing City. It is very near, and there are not many differences in the culture. The food, habits are similar. This was also why Dong Xuebing was overjoyed when Xie Huilan arranged for him to transfer to this county. If he was posted to the southern or Northwestern regions, he might not get used to it.

1 bite…… 2 bites…… 3 bites……

Dong Xuebing ate slowly. He wanted to devour it, but he is a Deputy Bureau Chief now. He had to watch his image.

After about 20 minutes, all the other customers had left.

The female boss walked out with a bowl of porridge. “Young man, this bowl of purple rice porridge is for you.”

Dong Xuebing raised his head. “This is in the house? Thank you.”

The female boss does not have any customers now, and she took off her apron and sleeves. She sat beside Dong Xuebing and asked. “Your accent is from Beijing? How many years have you been in Yantai County? Are you working or studying?”

Dong Xuebing smiled: “Work.”

The female boss was surprised: “Ah, you look very young. I thought you are still studying. Did you start working young?”

Dong Xuebing replied: “Haha, Sis, you also look very young. I also can’t tell that you are the boss of this shop.”

The female boss laughed. “You have a sweet tongue. I am already 40.” Most people in the F&B industry are friendly and chatty. This female boss is one of them.

Dong Xuebing did not know much about Yantai County and wanted to ask around. When the female boss starts chatting with him, he took the opportunity to ask her. “Oh, how is the security around here?”

The female boss frowned. “In this era, there is no place safe. It’s the same everywhere.”

“You sound like our Yantai County’s security is not very good.”

“You can say so. Anyway, it’s the same in every county. There are thugs and gangsters collecting protection fees and creating trouble. They will come by every few months. Those idiots! I will get back at them sooner or later!”

Dong Xuebing was not surprised. This was also common in Beijing. “Did you report to the police?”

The female boss snorted. “Report to the police? They are just another group of hooligans collecting protection fees. They charge even higher than those hooligans. When I just opened my shop, two police officers came by to have lunch. They hinted to me asking me to give them money, and they will protect my shop. I pretended not to understand them, and the next day, a group of hooligans came. They threw a fly into my meat pie and insisted my shop is unhygienic. I suspect they are in cahoots. Those bastards.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “You cannot say that. There are black sheep everywhere.”

The female boss does not know this young man is the newly appointed Public Security’s Deputy Bureau Chief. “You are still young and do not understand a lot of things. Never mind. Let’s talk about other things.”

Dong Xuebing asked about other things and had a better understanding of the security in Yantai County. He paid for his food and went to report at the County Government Office with his transfer order.

The County Government Office building is located along Chunjiang road, a bustling road.

Dong Xuebing went up to the guardroom, and the guards called in to ask for confirmation before letting him in.

It was a Deputy Department head from the Organization Department that came out to receive Dong Xuebing. Deputy Department Head Han smiled and shook Dong Xuebing’s hand. “Chief Dong, I heard that you are young. But I never expect you to be this young. We have been waiting for you. I represent the County’s Party Committee to welcome you.” After some pleasantries, Deputy Department Head Han saw Dong Xuebing’s luggage and smiled. “Let me send you to the Public Security Bureau. They will arrange your quarter for you.”

Suddenly, Deputy Department Head Han’s phone rang. He answered it and seems troubled.

After he hung up, Dong Xuebing said. “Department Head Han, if you are busy, I can report to the Public Security Bureau myself.”

“How can I let you do that?”

Dong Xuebing declined his offer, and Department Head Han did not insist. But he still called for a driver to send Dong Xuebing to the bureau. Dong Xuebing could tell that Department Head Han was not overly enthusiastic about meeting him. When Xie Huilan was arranging for Dong Xuebing’s transfer, she did not let anyone know about Dong Xuebing had made used of the Xie’s family connections. This was the reason why Department Head Han treated him normally. Before coming here, Xu Yan and Xie Huilan had reminded him to stay low. This was also what Dong Xuebing wanted. He wants to learn from Deputy Chief Liu Hua. Keep a low profile and be unnoticeable.

After a while, the car stopped in front of the County Public Security Bureau.

Dong Xuebing was slightly disappointed when he saw the few office buildings in the compound. He thought the State Security’s office buildings were rundown. But this County Bureau was also the same. The office buildings were all old and rundown. Even the floor tiles were full of cracks. The paint was peeling off the wall fence, and this place was much worse than the Western District Branch. Seem like Yantai County is a poor area and does not have enough funds to maintain the buildings.