A few days later.
Saturday morning.
Houhai, quadrangle courtyard.
Dong Xuebing had been on leave for almost a week now. His unit hadn't notified him to return to work, and Dong Xuebing hadn't bothered to call them either. He spent these days at ho watching movies and TV shows, sotis driving out to try so well-reviewed restaurants. He considered it a vacation since he had nothing else to do. While Xie Huilan was busy, Qu Yunxuan didn't have ti, and Geng Yuehua and Yu ixia were also occupied. With nowhere else to go, Dong Xuebing just lingered at ho, treating it as an extended break.
Today was no different.
Dong Xuebing had moved his computer to the courtyard, plugged it in, propped his legs on the stone table, and started watching a movie while soaking up the sun.
Sipping on tea.
Watching the movie.
Cracking sunflower seeds.
Dong Xuebing was quite content. There was no indication that he had been sent ho to reflect by his superiors. Enjoying his leisure ti, one might even think he had been granted leave for so notable achievent. He didn't feel remorse for any mistakes he might have made or any punishnt he might have received. In Dong Xuebing's view, it was just a matter of ti before he returned to work. He felt quite good thinking about it, especially knowing that Fang Wenping, a higher-ranking official, was also at ho reflecting. Dong Xuebing felt like he had co out on top.
Ring, ring, ring.
A call ca in.
Dong Xuebing didn't bother to pause the movie. Seeing that it was a call from his colleague Han Fei, he answered it directly.
"Hello, Xiao Han," Dong Xuebing greeted.
Han Fei heard the sound on the other end. "Are you busy, Director Dong?"
"What could I be busy with?" Dong Xuebing chuckled. "Just watching movies at ho."
"Oh. Can you recomnd a good movie for ?" Han Fei was quite casual.
Dong Xuebing replied, "Detective Chinatown is pretty good. If you're into chick flicks, you can also watch Tiny Tis."
"Ah, I envy you. You're just resting at ho. I have to work on weekends these days. It's tiring. I want to take a month off," Han Fei sighed.
Dong Xuebing chuckled and joked, "What's there to envy? If you make a mistake, hit soone, or curse at soone, they'll give you a break."
Han Fei also laughed at the joke. "Hehe. I don't have your courage."
"Do you need sothing, Xiao Han? If you do, tell ," Dong Xuebing asked.
Han Fei hesitated montarily and said, "Well, there's sothing. I heard so news today, but I am unsure if it's reliable. I asked my dad, but he couldn't explain clearly either. It's not just ; He Zhou and Zhao Bang also heard about it. Many people in our unit are discussing it today."
"What's the news?" Dong Xuebing asked curiously.
Han Fei lowered her voice. "Our Commission for Discipline Inspection is going to establish new departnts, and there may be so adjustnts and changes to the existing departnts."
"Establishing new departnts?" Dong Xuebing was surprised.
"Yeah, that's what they're saying," Han Fei confird.
Dong Xuebing wondered, "We already have twenty-seven internal departnts. How can they add more?"
"They're saying it's to strengthen the frontline anti-corruption efforts, so they want to establish new departnts. Of course, there's been no official announcent from the leadership yet. It's just what everyone is saying. I don't know if it's true, but there must be so truth since it's being talked about so much. Maybe so people with insider information or family mbers know about the policies approved by the central governnt in advance. If it's true that they want to strengthen the frontline anti-corruption efforts, then it must refer to our first to eighth supervision offices. The Commission for Discipline Inspection only has eight direct supervision offices for case investigation. The other departnts, even the ones handling case reviews, are not considered direct. So, everyone is speculating that there might be adjustnts to our eight supervision offices," Han Fei explained.
Dong Xuebing furrowed his brow. "I haven't heard about this. Is everyone saying the sa thing?"
"Yeah, everyone's saying the sa thing. Director Yin didn't refute it either, but he's unsure about the details. I thought you might have so information," Han Fei said.
Dong Xuebing chuckled. "Still calling him Director Yin. No sense of hierarchy. Well, I don't know about this. I'm not as inford as you. I'll ask around later."
Han Fei grinned. "If you find out, you have to tell first."
"Sure, no problem," Dong Xuebing said helplessly. "But even if there are restructurings, it shouldn't affect us much."
Han Fei blinked. "I understand, but you never know. If they establish new departnts, leadership positions will open up, and then, hehe..."
Dong Xuebing laughed. "I didn't realize you were such a fan of officialdom."
Han Fei snorted. "Of course, who doesn't want to climb the ranks and make money? I've been at the deputy section chief level for over a year, and there's been no progress. I'm getting impatient."
Dong Xuebing shook his head with a smile. "You're already a deputy section chief at your age. That's quite fast."
Han Fei rolled her eyes. "But you're even faster. You're already a division chief. We're almost the sa age. Isn't that a bit too much? People die trying to compare themselves to others."
Dong Xuebing thought she didn't treat him like an outsider, daring to say anything. So, he adopted a threatening tone like the leaders do. "Alright, stop thinking about it so much. Don't listen to rumors. We don't know if they're reliable. If it's confird, the leadership will notify us. Just focus on your work."
"Got it," Han Fei replied.
"That's it for now. Get back to your work," Dong Xuebing said before hanging up.
Little did he know that as soon as he hung up, Lan Xuewen from the Petitions Office called.
"Old Lan," Dong Xuebing answered. "Taking a break today?"
"No, working overti. Are you at ho?" Lan Xuewen asked.
"Yeah, the leaders told to reflect at ho. Any issues?" Dong Xuebing inquired.
"I heard that there might be so changes to the internal departnts of our unit. Do you have any information? How will it affect our Petitions Office?" Lan Xuewen paused for a mont, then chuckled bitterly. "I'm just afraid our departnt might rge again, and I'll lose my position."
"You're still worried about your position?" Dong Xuebing laughed.
"It's hard to say. Nothing's certain," Lan Xuewen said. "My departnt has just started to settle down. I don't want any more changes."
"I'm not sure either. I just heard about it a few minutes ago from a colleague. I was watching a movie at ho, so I wouldn't have known if nobody had told . I'll ask around later. But even if there are changes, it probably won't affect the Petitions Office. Any other departnt can't replace the nature of your work," Dong Xuebing reassured.
"I hope so. That's what I'm hoping for, too." Lan Xuewen sighed. "Alright, I won't disturb your rest anymore. Let know if you hear anything."
"Sure, if I find out, I'll let you know," Dong Xuebing replied.
"Thanks a lot," Lan Xuewen said.
Of course, Lan Xuewen knew that Dong Xuebing could inquire about such news. It wasn't just because his father-in-law was a mber of the Politburo. With such a significant change, especially within the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the proposal must go through a Politburo eting. Moreover, the Xie family also had a grandfather who was a mber of the Politburo Standing Committee and the Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. If Dong Xuebing couldn't find out, then the news was probably just a false rumor.
People were feeling uneasy and restless. This was the current situation in the unit.
Although Dong Xuebing wasn't physically present at the unit, he could sense a hint of the atmosphere from the two phone calls. It wasn't surprising. If the news were true, it would indeed be a big deal. The main reason for the concern was the magnitude of the changes. Adding so departnts and rging others would naturally make people uneasy. What if they were in one of the departnts slated for adjustnt? It was hard to predict what might happen.
Change was the the of society. Unfortunately, most adults didn't like change because it ant uncertainty and instability, which unsettlingly agitated them.
He decided to ask around. But whom should he ask?
After so thought, Dong Xuebing decided to call his mother-in-law. The phone rang twice before she picked up.
Conversely, Han Jing seed to be talking to soone else. "Look, he says he has nowhere to go. Let find a place for you guys."
Dong Xuebing greeted, "Mom."
"Mom's here, hehe," Han Jing said. "Your call ca at the right ti. Your aunts are here with . They want to play mahjong, but we're short of one person and don't have a place to play. How about you invite us to your place? The courtyard in Houhai, right? Your aunts want to see it. Is that convenient for you?"
Dong Xuebing exclaid, "How could it not be convenient? If Mom wants to co, I'll welco you with open arms anyti. You didn't co the last ti I invited you. I've been eagerly waiting for you."
"My son-in-law is so sweet," Han Jing said to the person on the other end of the line. Laughter from two won could be heard in the background.
Dong Xuebing said, "I'll co pick you all up."
"No need, we have a driver. Just give Mom the address," Han Jing said.
"Okay, I'll text it to your phone. Will you co over now?" Dong Xuebing asked.
"Yes, we'll co now. We'll have lunch at your place. Last ti, Xiao Ran and Xiao Jing praised your cooking skills non-stop. This ti, let Mom taste it," Han Jing said with a smile.
"Sure, no problem. I'll go buy groceries," Dong Xuebing said. "Oh, by the way, we don't have mahjong at ho. I'll buy a set on my way back."
Han Jing agreed with an "okay" before adding, "You called just to ask about the changes in the internal departnts of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, right? You're quite well-inford. Anyway, Mom will tell you about it later when she arrives."
With that, she ended the call.
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