Chapter 2030
10 oâclock.
Beijing Hotel.
They had rented out a hall and a small banquet room; the engagement party had already started with guests arriving. The scene was grand and lively.
âBrother Ran, congratulations!â
âThanks, Xiao Cheng, please come in.â
âXiao Ling, wishing you a long and happy life together.â
âThank you, Uncle Sun, thank you, Aunt Zhang.â
âWow, you two look stunning today.â
Xie Ran and Fang Shuiling were outside, personally greeting guests, and were extremely busy.
At that moment, Dong Xuebing and Xie Huilan arrived at the banquet hall with their child. Seeing the glowing happiness on Xie Ran and Fang Shuilingâs faces, Dong Xuebing smiled.
âSis! Brother-in-law!â Xie Hao called out, eyes lighting up.
Fang Shuiling quickly approached. âSister, Brother Dong, youâre here?â
Dong Xuebing grinned, âDidnât we just change what you call me the other day? Why are you back to calling me Brother Dong?â
Fang Shuiling blushed and softly said, âBrother-in-law.â
âThatâs more like it,â Dong Xuebing laughed. âHonestly, I think this engagement banquet is unnecessary. Might as well go straight to the weddingâsave all the trouble.â
Xie Huilan chuckled. âYou talk too much. Come on, letâs go in.â
âAlright, weâll head in. You two go ahead and greet your guests.â Dong Xuebing carried the child and walked inside.
Inside, Xie Guobang, Han Jing, and other elders from the Xie family were all present. The old patriarch of the Xie family was seated at the main table, chatting happily with several other elders, including members from the Fang family. Judging by the cheerful conversation, everyone seemed to be getting along well. Dong Xuebing and Xie Huilan went over to greet each elder but didnât linger long, especially not at the main tableâthose conversations werenât something they could easily join. These elders might look ordinary, but they were the kind of people whose words could shake the whole country. Even if Dong Xuebing wanted to chat, he wouldnât fit into that circleâdifferent league entirely. RïŒĄâá»áÎĆ
A little over ten minutes later, as the engagement banquet was about to begin, more and more people arrived.
Xie Ran and the others were swamped, nearly overwhelmed. Todayâs guests were all prominent figuresânone of whom could be slighted.
âIâll take the child,â Xie Huilan said. âYou go help out.â
âAlright, Iâll go.â Dong Xuebing handed the baby to her and stepped in to assist.
âHey, Brother Dong!â Chenâs youngest son and his father had just arrived and immediately saw Dong Xuebing.
Dong Xuebing greeted them warmly, âUncle Chen, welcome! Youâre an honored guest. Please come in, weâve saved seats for you.â
But Chen Guo didnât go in right awayâinstead, he seemed keen to chat. âI heard youâre getting promoted again? Let me congratulate you in advance.â
Dong Xuebing said, âNothingâs confirmed. Just rumors.â
Chen Guo laughed, âItâs practically official. Stop pretending.â
His son was shocked. âDad, Brother Dongâs getting promoted again?â
âI didnât tell you?â Chen Guo said. âThis time itâs the position of City Party Secretary. Your Brother Dong isnât just anybody. Since you two know each other, you should learn from himâlearn everything you can. If you pick up even a fraction of his skill, I wonât have to worry about you once you graduate and enter the system.â Chen Guo held Dong Xuebing in very high regard. Though he was politically aligned with the Fang family, who had long been enemies with the Xie family, he had still personally attended Dong Xuebing and Xie Huilanâs wedding. Heâd always respected and admired Dong.
The son immediately said, âIâll learn from Brother Dong.â
Dong Xuebing laughed awkwardly. âYou flatter me, Uncle Chen. Iâve just been lucky. Please, go on inside.â
As they entered, more guests arrived.
A loud laugh came through the door. âHaha! Xuebing!â
Dong Xuebing turned and quickly went to greet them. âMinister Qian, Aunt Sun!â
Minister Qian playfully scolded, âYou call my wife Aunt, but call me Minister? Hmm?â
Dong Xuebing grinned, âSlip of the tongue, Uncle Qian. Iâve been waiting for you both. My parents specifically told me to notify them the moment you arrivedâtheyâre inside.â
âNo rush, letâs chat for a bit first,â Minister Qian said kindly. âI heard youâre going to be appointed City Party Secretary?â
Dong Xuebing replied carefully, âIâve heard the news, but nothingâs certain yet.â
âOh come on, Iâve already confirmed it. Donât pretend,â Minister Qian said. âThe younger generation is truly impressive.â
His wife laughed, âExactly. Back when you were 27, you were still doing manual labor in a township. Now look at Xiao Dongâabout to become Party Secretary at this age.â
Dong Xuebing quickly replied, âAuntie Sun, youâre exaggerating. Iâm nothing compared to Uncle Qianâhe rose on true merit. Iâve just had some luck and fortunate timing. You really canât compare us.â
Minister Qian laughed heartily, âLook at how smooth-talking our Xiao Dong is.â He sighed, âYou just got married too early. If you hadnât, I wouldâve introduced my daughter to you. What a pity.â
Aunt Sun nudged him. âWhat are you saying? Huilanâs right over there. If she hears you, sheâll yank your beard like she did when she was a kid.â
Minister Qian instinctively touched his beard and laughed. âYeah, she pulled out half my beard back then. No wonder itâs so sparse now.â Meanwhile, Han Jing had seen them and came over to personally escort the couple inside.
Dong Xuebing stayed outside to continue greeting guests.
âXiao Dong, haha!â
âXuebing, letâs talk.â
âOh, youâre here too, Xiao Dong? How have you been?â
âYouâre Brother Xuebing, right? Iâm Liu Taoâpleasure to meet you.â
Funny enough, though todayâs main characters were supposed to be Xie Ran and Fang Shuilingâit was their engagement partyâonce people arrived, most ended up flocking to chat with Dong Xuebing. He quickly became the second most significant focus of the event.
Sons of prestigious families.
A Deputy Minister from the Organization Department.
A high-ranking official from the Ministry of Commerce.
A provincial leader from Xishan.
Many of them casually approached Dong Xuebing for a chat.
Why? Because of the news about Jiao Lin Countyâs institutional reform, and the rumor that 27-year-old Dong Xuebing was about to become the City Party Secretary. Nobody could afford to look down on him anymore. Most of these guests held higher ranks than Dong Xuebing, yesâbut when they thought about what they had achieved at his age? Nothing comparable. Not even close.
To achieve this much at 27âwhat heights might he reach in the future?
Everyone knew Dong Xuebingâs future was limitless. He was likely to surpass them all far. Thatâs why today unfolded the way it did.
And all of itâevery bitâwas something Dong Xuebing had fought for, step by bloody step!
Thinking back on his past, Dong Xuebing couldnât help feeling emotional. He started as an ordinary graduate from a poor family and a third-rate school. But through sheer effort, heâd clawed his way to where he stood today. It still felt like a dreamâalmost unreal.
Throughout the engagement banquet, Dong Xuebing was immersed in memories of his journey, his eyes filled with nostalgia.
Director of the General Office.
Deputy Director of the Public Security Bureau.
Director of the Investment Promotion Bureau.
Director of the Disciplinary Inspection Office.
One position after anotherâeach as vivid as yesterday.
Half a month later.
The State Council approved the restructuring of Jiao Lin County into a city, and appointed Dong Xuebing as Party Secretary of the newly established Jiao Lin City.
This was both the peak of Dong Xuebingâs political career so far, and the starting point of the next chapter.
But it wasnât enough.
He wanted to climb higher.
He wanted to go further.
This had been his dream from the very moment he joined the civil service.
It was Dong Xuebingâs lifelong, relentless pursuit.
He wanted the world to remember his nameânot for truth or lies, not for success or failure, not for right or wrongâbut to glorify the wild, unyielding life of an ordinary man!
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