Chapter 1037: Commendation ceremony
A few days later
Friday morning.
Dong Xuebing stood outside the hospital. He had recovered and was discharged from the hospital.
Suddenly, a Pa.s.sat stopped in front of Dong Xuebing.
Liu Hanqing got out of the car. “Director, I am here to pick you up.”
Dong Xuebing smiled. “Sorry to trouble you, Old Liu. I can take a cab there.”
Liu Hanqing laughed. “How can I let you do that? Please get into the car. Everyone is waiting for you.”
“Thank you.” Dong Xuebing nodded as Liu Hanqing opened the rear pa.s.senger door for him.
Liu Hanqing fastened his seatbelt and drove towards the City Party Committee Building. He said. “I should send you home to rest as you had just recovered. But the City leaders had arranged a commendation ceremony and had invited the Provincial TV station.” He looked at his watch and continued. “It’s 8 am now. The ceremony is around 9 to 9.30 am. Do you want to go home first?”
“How can I let the leaders wait for me? Let’s go to the ceremony first.”
“Alright.”
City Party Committee Building.
The car stopped, and Dong Xuebing and Liu Hanqing got out.
People were on the way to work, and they greeted Dong Xuebing.
“Director.”
“Director Dong.”
“How are you feeling, Director?”
“Good morning, Director Dong.”
Dong Xuebing smiled and nodded to the staff.
Dong Xuebing returned to his office and made phone calls.
“h.e.l.lo, Old Chen? Yes, I am back at work. Don’t worry….”
“Mum, I returned to work…. Yes…. I am fine. Help me inform Uncle Yang and Aunt Xuan.”
“h.e.l.lo, Old Liu? The nurses said you visited the hospital when I was asleep. Thank you. I am discharged now…. Yes…. I have recovered.”
Dong Xuebing called Geng Yuehua, Yu Meixia, and other former colleagues.
After making dozens of phone calls, Dong Xuebing called Xie Huilan.
“Huilan, why didn’t you fetch me from the hospital? What are you busy with?” Dong Xuebing asked.
Xie Huilan laughed. “Didn’t I tell you the term is going to change? I am swamped with work. Haha…. I cannot attend your commendation ceremony. I know you are fine and don’t need to fetch you. Oh, I will be switching off my phone when the meeting starts, and I will not be coming back these few days. Take care of yourself. Will you be fine by yourself?”
“What are you talking about? What can happen to me?”
“Alright. Take care of yourself.”
“I should be saying that. You are a few months pregnant. Be careful.”
“Yes. Haha…. I will listen to my Hubby.”
Dong Xuebing smiled after hanging up. Huilan used to call him a brat and started calling him Hubby more recently. It made him feel good.
Dong Xuebing looked at the time. It was almost 9 am.
Dong Xuebing left his office and walked towards the City Party Committee Grand Hall.
Grand Hall.
The hall was packed.
According to Dong Xuebing’s rank, he was supposed to sit in the third row. But it was his commendation ceremony, and he was brought to the first row with the other Party Committee members.
Everyone arrived, and the ceremony started.
The Provincial and City TV Stations had set up cameras along the corridors by the side, and reporters were taking pictures.
The first person to go up the podium was City Party Secretary Wan Fanglei, followed by City Mayor Zhong Zhengwei. They gave speeches before handing the microphone to Dong Xuebing. Dong Xuebing was used to giving speeches now. He felt nervous the first time and awkward the second time. But now, he was used to it and had memorized his speech.
After Dong Xuebing’s speech, his direct leader and a civilian representative went up to give a speech and presented a plague to him. The ceremony lasted more than an hour.
After 10 am.
The commendation ceremony ended.
Many people went up to Dong Xuebing after the ceremony.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Congratulations, Director Dong.”
“You have gain credit again. You must give us a treat. Hahaha….”
Dong Xuebing chatted with them and returned to the Commission for Discipline Inspection. He was hospitalized for a few days, and tomorrow was the weekend. He needs to clear his work today, or he will leave a wrong impression on the leaders.
Dong Xuebing finally cleared his backlog by the end of the day.
Dong Xuebing packed his stuff when it was time to go home. But he does not know where to go.
Xie Huilan had gone to the Provincial Government for meetings and will not be back for the next two days. Dong Xuebing felt bored staying at home alone and wondered where to go.
Dong Xuebing’s phone rang when he was thinking.
It was Xu Yan.
“h.e.l.lo, Sister Xu.” Dong Xuebing answered.
Xu Yan laughed. “How are you?”
Dong Xuebing replied. “I had recovered when you visited me at the hospital a few days ago. But my wife and Mum insisted I stay at the hospital for a few more days.”
“Good. Are you free tonight?”
“Huh? Yes. You….”
“Come over to my place for dinner. Let’s celebrate your discharge and commendation. Oh, bring your wife if she is free. I still have not chatted with your wife properly.”
“Oh, thank you. I was still thinking about where to go for dinner. Err…. Huilan had gone to the Provincial Government for meetings. She cannot join us today.”
“Haha…. Then come alone. I had bought the groceries.”
“Sure. I will be there.”