Power and Wealth

Night. 10 pm.

County’s Party Committee Family quarters. Mayor’s apartment.

Dong Xuebing was in the bathroom, brushing his teeth with a new toothbrush. He rinsed his mouth and placed his toothbrush beside Xie Huilan’s purple toothbrush. After that, he turned on the heater and washed his face. Finally, it’s time to sleep.

In the bedroom, Xie Huilan was reading a book on the bed.

The dress Xie Huilan was wearing was on the chair, and she covered herself with a thin blanket.

Dong Xuebing entered the room shyly and asked. “Sister Xie, which blanket am I using?”

Xie Huilan looked at him and smile. “What blanket?”

Dong Xuebing points to the bed. “You only have a blanket. Do you have extra?”

“Hehe... you don’t stand on ceremony with me.” Xie Huilan closed her book and narrowed her eyes. “We are not married yet, and do you think it’s right for us to be sleeping on the same bed?”

Dong Xuebing mumbled. “Errr.... No... it’s not right...”

Xie Huilan laughed. “That’s right. You can sleep in the other bedroom, ok?”

Damn. I got excited about nothing. Dong Xuebing thought Sister Xie had asked him to stay for the night because she wants to sleep with him.

Xie Huilan covered her mouth as she yawns. “Hehe... go and sleep. I still have work tomorrow.”

Dong Xuebing took one last glance at Xie Huilan’s slim body and saw her switching off her bedside lamp. Dong Xuebing hesitated for a moment and walked a few steps forward in the dark. He could see Xie Huilan turning towards him, and he cleared his throat. “When parting, couples usually kiss... err.... Should we...”

Xie Huilan did not say anything and continued staring at him.

Dong Xuebing leaned forward and kissed her softly on her lips.

After a while, Dong Xuebing lifted his head. “Sis... can’t you be... a bit responsive?”

“How should I respond?”

“You should kiss me back, and don’t let me do all the work.”

Xie Huilan giggled and sat up to kiss Dong Xuebing on his lips. She looked at him playfully. “Is this alright? Hehe... Goodnight?”

Dong Xuebing took off his clothes in the other room and laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Images of Xie Huilan’s smile, her figure, and lips were still fresh on his mind. He licked his lips and thought about the kisses. His ancestors must have done a lot of good deeds for him to have the luck to date this wonderful woman.

Dong Xuebing let his thoughts wander until he fell asleep.

The next morning, the sun shone on Dong Xuebing’s face.

Dong Xuebing opened his eyes and looked at the time. It’s 5.40 in the morning, and there should not be many people around the family quarters. This is the best time to leave without anyone noticing. He got off the bed and washed up and dressed. He did not wake Xie Huilan as he wanted her to sleep a while more. He went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast and wrote a note for her before leaving.

Suddenly the bedroom door open. “Xiao Dong, you are awake?”

Dong Xuebing apologized. “Sorry to wake you up. It’s still very early, and you should sleep a while more. I am leaving now.”

“I’m awake.” Xie Huilan walked out of the bedroom. “Have you taken your breakfast? Leave after breakfast. There’s too much food, and I can’t finish everything.” Xie Huilan had just woke up, but she still looks so elegant as she walks towards the dining table. She looked at the note and smiles. “You even left a note for me? Let me see.... Sister Xie, warm up the food before eating. Don’t eat cold food as it is not good for your stomach. I am leaving and will come over when I have the chance. If you want to eat anything, just give me a call... Hehe...”

Dong Xuebing smiled. “Why are you reading it?”

Xie Huilan laughed and tucked her hair behind her ears. “Thank you. Wait for me to brush my teeth.”

Dining table.

Xie Huilan chewed on a piece of fried egg slowly and smiled. “Xiao Dong, your cooking is so good that I don’t want you to leave.”

Dong Xuebing felt good. “I can come over to cook for you when I am free.”

Xie Huilan nodded. “Do you need any of my help at work?”

“No...” Dong Xuebing thought for a while and looked at Xie Huilan. “Errr... Do you think it’s time for me to be a Section Chief?” Dong Xuebing had solved a big case recently, and with Xie Huilan transferring over to be the Mayor, he starts to think of promotion.

Xie Huilan laughed and points at him. “You... stop thinking about running before you can walk. Section Chief? Do you think it is easy? You had only joined the government service for slightly more than a year, and you are already a Deputy Section Chief and a Deputy Bureau Chief in the Public Security. Yet, you are still not satisfied? Compared to others and me, you are moving up very fast. Stop thinking about promotions all the time.”

Dong Xuebing wet his lips and asked. “What else do I lack to be a Section Chief?”

Xie Huilan looked at Dong Xuebing and put down her chopsticks. “You still lack a lot. Putting aside the situation in the Party Committee and not counting the people you had offended, just your length of service is not enough. How can a civil servant who had joined for slightly over a year be promoted so fast? Don’t tell me you don’t know about the normal procedures in the Government. Getting promoted in three years is considered very fast, and your promotion to Deputy Section Chief six months ago is an exceptional case. Now, you are still thinking of Section Chief? You think this is your private company?”

Dong Xuebing replied embarrassedly. “I am just asking.”

Xie Huilan laughed. “I know what you did since you transferred here. You had done well, and your results are equivalent to what others did in two to three years. I got to admit that you are very capable, but to be promoted to Section Chief on an exceptional basis, this result is not enough. If you want me to nominate you for promotion, you must have outstanding results. If not, I will look bad on me to put you up for promotion. Which Civil servant have you met that got promoted several levels in a year?”

Dong Xuebing scratched his head. “I still need more results?”

Xie Huilan nodded. “Yes. In your situation, you must get second-class merit or first-class merit, at least. Of course, even if you had gotten the first-class merit, it will still be hard for you to get the approval from the Party Committee. Now, Party Secretary Xiang has more power than me, and you can’t even qualify to be nominated if you don’t have any outstanding results. Hehe... do you understand?”

“Yes. I will work harder.”

Xie Huilan replied. “It’s good to be motivated, but you must not be greedy.”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “Yes. I will remember it.”

Dong Xuebing said this, but in his heart, he did not think so. It might be hard for him to be promoted to Section Chief, but how do you know it will fail without trying? Dong Xuebing’s political wisdom is not as high as Xie Huilan and did not consider a lot of things. Once he decided on something, he will not think of the consequences and do his best. This is also the reason he got the position of Deputy Chief in the General Affairs office and his current rank of Deputy Section Chief.

Dong Xuebing had his thinking.

Dong Xuebing does not care if the Party Committee approves his promotion, as it is early to think about this. He needs to think of getting a few more credits under his belt. It would be best if he can solve another case like the jailbreaking case, and it will be good for her resume. With another credit like this, he can be nominated for promotion and will get a chance to be a Section Chief. If not, even if he is close to all ten members from the Party Committee, he will also not get their votes because of his length of service.

After breakfast, Dong Xuebing decided that he will think of ways to get promoted.

Political points and results. These are what Dong Xuebing must get before the end of the year. His target is to be nominated for promotion!

Dong Xuebing does not need to hold important positions like Executive Deputy Bureau Chief, or head of the Finance Department, etc. What’s important to him was to move up the ranks and not the department.

Results!

Results!

Results!

With a target, Dong Xuebing becomes motived and wants to return to work as soon as possible!