Chapter 1366: Commendation Ceremony
One day…
Two days…
Three days…
Dong Xuebing was discharged from the hospital this morning.
Most of his injuries had healed, and he decided not to stay in the hospital any longer. There was a commendation meeting in the county today, and he must attend.
County Hospital.
Outside of the main building.
Dong Xuebing did not notify anyone, which might have attracted unnecessary attention during working hours. He completed the discharge procedures, picked up his belongings, and came downstairs. He waited at the entrance for a cab and received a phone call, which surprised him.
Ring, ring, ring.
It was Xie Huilan"s number.
Dong Xuebing put his things on the ground and leaned against the hospital wall to answer the call. "h.e.l.lo, Huilan. Why did you suddenly think of calling me early in the morning? Usually, you call at night."
A chuckle came from the other side. "I missed you, kid."
Dong Xuebing laughed, "Hey, I wonder if that"s true."
Xie Huilan chuckled, "Your background is noisy. Where are you?"
"Oh, I"m about to go to work. I am on the way." Dong Xuebing didn"t dare to tell her about his injury as Xie Huilan would scold him again.
"Hehe, how"s the work going?"
"It"s okay. I took on the role of Deputy Project Director a few days ago. It"s considered my first achievement since coming to Zhen Shui County. I"m still planning it, and things are going smoothly."
"How are your interpersonal relations.h.i.+ps?"
"They"re fine. I"ve already integrated into the circle."
"That"s good. I was worried you might offend people again. Hehe."
"I worry more about you. I will try to transfer back before you give birth. By the way, how"s the baby? All the check-ups went well?"
"I just checked yesterday. Everything is fine."
"Did you do an ultrasound to determine if it"s a boy or a girl?"
"The doctor said it should be a boy. Hehe. I told you back then, but you didn"t believe me. How about now?"
"It"s a boy?"
"We can see it pretty clearly now. It should be accurate."
"Haha, look at how happy you are. A boy is good. A boy is good." Dong Xuebing was also happy. Boy or girl were the same to him.
"I wanted a boy. Your mother, too. Yesterday, they were so happy after my call to them. It was late, but Uncle Yang"s secretary drove her from Fenzhou City to find me. She cared and cooked for me. I felt a bit embarra.s.sed. When you come, let your mom know her health isn"t good. I am fine."
"Look at how caring my mom is for you." Dong Xuebing enviously said, "I haven"t received this kind of treatment. I"ve been here for over two months, and my mom hasn"t come to see me once."
"How far is your place?"
"Only a three-hour flight."
"Hehe, then I will go and see you."
"Save it. You are just saying." Dong Xuebin snorted, "You have more going on there than I do. How can you come?"
"What if I can go?"
"You still should not come. You are pregnant and should not be running around."
"Hehe, considerate as always, kid. I decided to surprise you, but you have to kiss me first."
"What surprise?"
"You have to give me a kiss first."
"Hey, I"m outside."
"Don"t worry about it. Just give me a quiet kiss. Let me hear it."
Dong Xuebing was helpless, so he quietly made a kissing sound on the phone. "Okay, what"s the surprise? Are you getting a promotion? It can"t be this fast."
"You"ll know when the time comes. Bye."
"Hey, you said you"d tell me after a kiss."
"Hehe, I arrived at work. I have to go. Goodbye."
The call was abruptly ended, leaving Dong Xuebing speechless. It was like this every time. He might have scolded her if Xie Huilan had been standing before him. But he knew he didn"t dare to be too audacious in front of his wife. After all, she held a higher position, was older, and was pregnant. She is his precious treasure now.
Putting away his phone, Dong Xuebing hailed a taxi.
9 am.
County Party Committee Compound.
The taxi stopped at the gate. Dong Xuebing paid the fare, exited the car, and entered the compound. It was the start of the working hours, and many people were in the compound.
"Eh?"
"Mayor Dong?"
"Why did you get discharged?"
"Good morning, Mayor Dong."
"How"s your injuries?"
Many people were surprised to see Dong Xuebing, and they greeted him one after another.
They had heard that Mayor Dong had received over fifty st.i.tches for his injuries a few days ago, and they didn"t expect him to be discharged so soon.
Dong Xuebing greeted everyone, "I"m much better now. Thank you for your concern."
Mayor Jiang"s car also arrived. She seemed to notice him, and the car stopped before Dong Xuebing. The door opened, and Jiang Fangfang got out.
"You are discharged?" Jiang Fangfang said indifferently.
Dong Xuebing nodded, "The injuries are almost healed."
Jiang Fangfang looked him up and down, seeing that he was fine and did not say much. "There"s a commendation ceremony later. Since you"re here, prepare a speech."
Dong Xuebing said, "I"ll pa.s.s. I am not going on stage."
Jiang Fangfang walked ahead, "It is mainly your commendation. If you don"t speak, who will? Prepare a speech. If you can"t, let the Secretariat prepare one for you."
Dong Xuebing pretended to hesitate before saying, "Okay."
They entered the building and went up the stairs. No one was around, and Jiang Fangfang turned to him, saying, "Your body has suffered, and there"s no one to take care of you here. After I finish cooking in the evening, you can come to my place to eat. Bring your clothes and socks, and I"ll wash them for you when I have time."
Dong Xuebing awkwardly said, "I really can"t trouble you."
Jiang Fangfang said, "It"s a small matter, not a trouble."
"I cannot do this. I"ve already troubled you enough, Sister Jiang." Dong Xuebing smiled and joked, "Letting you take care of me like this, I might not be able to live independently in the future."
Jiang Fangfang smiled slightly.
Dong Xuebing changed the topic in a low voice, "Regarding Director Chu…"
Jiang Fangfang nodded, "It"s almost settled. Old Chu and his family appreciate your kindness."
Dong Xuebing knew that after the recent interactions between Mayor Jiang and Chu Peng, it seemed Chu Peng was leaning toward the Jiang faction. He was in a good mood despite he believed it was his duty to save Zeng Jinhua. He would have rushed to rescue and performed the surgery without hesitation, even if it was someone else. However, Dong Xuebing was happy to see Chu Peng realigning himself with the Jiang faction. It was a result he welcomed.
The two had already reached the upstairs.
In front was Dong Xuebing"s office. He was about to bid farewell when Jiang Fangfang suddenly stopped and looked at him, "You"ve always said that I take care of you, but in fact, I should thank you. Since you came to Zhenshui County, you"ve helped me a lot. I"ve seen it all and understand. My work wouldn"t have progressed so smoothly if you hadn"t come. This is an indisputable fact."
Dong Xuebing shook his head, "You"re exaggerating."
Jiang Fangfang said, "You"ve worked hard these two months."
Dong Xuebing immediately said, "It"s all for the people. It"s not hard at all."
After returning to his office, Dong Xuebing called Yao Cui, asking her to have the Secretariat prepare a speech for him as soon as possible.
A while later, the speech arrived.
Some officials who learned about Dong Xuebin"s discharge visited his office.
"Mayor Dong."
"How are you feeling?"
"Why didn"t you stay in the hospital for a few more days?"
Dong Xuebing engaged in polite conversation and expressed grat.i.tude to everyone. Unlike when he first took office, he now had considerable influence in Zhenshui County after going through so much.
10 am.
The commendation ceremony began.
Leaders from the entire county were seated in the small auditorium.
The meeting was presided over by a Deputy Director from the County Party Committee Office. He began with a brief explanation of the family quarter"s building collapse incident a few days ago. Then, a firefighter representative, who fearlessly fought on the front lines during the incident, gave a speech. Following that were representatives of the spontaneously organized rescue teams from the ma.s.ses and a representative from the family members of the collapsed building, expressing their grat.i.tude.
The last to speak was Dong Xuebing.
The deputy director of the County Party Committee Office loudly announced, "Finally, I have a statistic here. When the building collapsed, a person rescued twenty-one people from the building within half an hour. This is more than all the firefighters and members of the spontaneously organized rescue teams combined. Later, when the dormitory building collapsed, this person disregarded their own life, rushed into the building, despite sustaining serious injuries, persisted in rescuing the wounded." Pausing momentarily, he continued, "Now, let"s invite Dong Xuebing, Mayor Dong."
The applause thundered from below.
Other departments controlled by the Meng faction were relatively calm. Still, the leaders and officers of the Public Security Bureau were applauding enthusiastically. Dong Xuebing"s decisive actions and unwavering spirit had truly moved many people.
Dong Xuebing took the stage.
Everyone looked at him with various thoughts.
Lifting a ton-weight stone wall with his hands…
Suffering heavy injuries without blinking an eye…
Performing a complicated surgery…
Dong Xuebing"s deeds that day had long been spread, and many people had learned about them from the county TV news. After hearing the story, many found it hard to believe. There were rumors that Chu Peng, the Political and Legal Affairs Committee Secretary and the Public Security Bureau Chief, had recently become very close to the Jiang faction. People couldn"t help but be silent.
Who could have imagined that the Jiang faction, suppressed for so long, could turn the tables?
But Dong Xuebing had only been in the county for two months. The overwhelming advantage of the Meng faction had completely disappeared, and there was even a sign of being suppressed by the Jiang faction.
What a remarkable Mayor Dong!
Where did this person come from?