Power and Wealth

Qu’s apartment.

Living room.

Dong Xuebing’s mother immediately asked: “What’s going on?Tell me.”

Qu Yunxuan also asked: “You pass the test? But didn’t youdid badly for your administrative aptitude and essay tests?”

“Ermmmm. I did not do badly for the test. You all are theones who misunderstood me and all of you had never asked me about the test.”Dong Xuebing laughed embarrassedly. “Later, I felt that I still have to passthe interview and I am not confident. That’s why I did not tell you. I don’twant to give you false hopes. Errr...... Do you still remember I had gone out inthe morning of the day before yesterday? I had gone for the interview thatmorning. During the interview, I felt my replies were not good, and I was in the 4^th place. Ithought I had failed the interview. But they had just called me, asking me toreport to the Western District Branch Bureau next Monday. They told me that Iam hired.”

Dong Xuebing’s mother grabbed his hand. Her lips weretrembling: “You really pass? You are not lying to me?”

Dong Xuebing replied: “Hahaha. I don’t dare to lie to you.”

Mrs. Xu stuttering asked: “Is this a mistake? What is yourscore for the written test?”

Dong Xuebing looked at the mother and son. “My overall scorefor the test is about 130.”

“130?” Xiao Dong grasped. “You really scored 130 for youroverall score?”

“My clever boy...... my clever boy......” Dong Xuebing’s motherstarted to cry. Her tears were flowing. She was holding on to Qu Yunxuan’s handand was lost for words. “Yunxuan, did you hear it? Xuebing had passed. My sonis now a Civil Servant.”

“Yes, yes. I heard it.” Qu Yunxuan helped to wipe her tears.“This is a good thing. Stop crying.”

Dong Xuebing’s mother could not stop her tears from flowingdown. “I am too happy. Really very happy.”

Qu Yunxuan laughed and playfully knocked Dong Xuebing’shead: “You this rascal had done usproud.”

Dong Xuebing was feeling very emotional too.

After a while, Dong Xuebing’s mother finally stopped hertears. She wiped her face and immediately said: “Yunxuan, don’t cook lunchtoday. Come over to my place for lunch. I will go downstairs to buy morevegetables and meat. I will prepare a feast.” She turned to Mrs. Xu and XiaoDong. “You and Xiao Dong don’t leave too.Come over to my place for lunch.”

Mrs. Xu slowly forced a smile: “No thanks. I...... I still havesomething on in the afternoon.”

Xiao Dong gritted his teeth: “Mum, let’s go.”

Qu Yunxuan asked politely: “Why not stay a while longer?”

“We still have something on later. You all can carry on.”

Mrs. Xu dragged Xiao Dong out. Before leaving, Xiao Dong looked at Dong Xuebing jealously. Hecan no longer be arrogant and proud. Dong Xuebing becoming a Civil Servant wasa massive blow to this mother and sonpair.

About 10 minutes after they left, there was the soundof things being thrown about from upstairs. Shouts could also be heard.

“Stop hitting our son.” It was Mrs. Xu’s voice. “Stop hitting.”

“Dad......”

“Even that kid from the Dong Familyis better than you! I will break your legs today!” It was Section Chief Xu’svoice.

“Ahhhhh.......”

Dong Xuebing felt good hearing Xiao Dong screaming in pain.

During lunch, the overjoyed Dong Xuebing’s mother drank twobottles of beer. “Xuebing, you have made me proud. Mum had never been so happy my whole life. Help me top up my glass. Iwill finish this bottle today.”

Dong Xuebing was also feeling proud and helped his mother, and Aunt Xuan poured beer.

Qu Yunxuan reminded: “Don’t let Sister Luan drink so much.She will get drunk.”

“It’s ok, it’s ok.” Dong Xuebing’s mother was smiling andraised her glass. “Yunxuan, let me toast you. These few days, you had helpedXuebing a lot. If it were not for youhelping him to cook and wash his clothes, he wouldnot have so much time to study.”

Dong Xuebing heard this and quickly raise his glass too.“Aunt Xuan, thank you.”

Qu Yunxuan waved her hand and said: “Sister Luan, Xiao Bing,don’t say that. Xiao Bing had saved my life. Let’s not thank each other. I amyounger than you, so I should be the one toasting you. Cheers.”

Evening.

Qu Yunxuan returned home, andDong Xuebing’s mother was humming an eighties song while packing her luggage.

Dong Xuebing can’t bear to see his mum leaving: “Why do youhave to leave so early? Can’t you stay for a few more days?”

“The village is starting school soon. I had wanted to returna few days ago, but I saw you were down. That’s why I stayed to accompany you.”Dong Xuebing’s mother smiled. “Now, you have entered the government service, and I have no more worries. It’s time I go backto the village.” Beihe Province was not far from Beijing and was only a 3 hourscar ride away.

Dong Xuebing helped his mother packed two middle schoolChinese Language teaching materials. “Let me send you off tomorrow. You mustremember to take care of yourself.”

Dong Xuebing’s mother smiled. “Don’t worry about me. Youmust be careful when working in a governmentagency. It is the most competitive place in China. Our family has no background, and it will not be easy for a commoner to be promoted. It’s fine ifyou remain as a low-level staff and not be promoted. I just want you to besafe.”

Dong Xuebing nodded listlessly. “I know.”

If it were 2 monthsago, Dong Xuebing would be contented if he could find a 2,000 RMB a month joband an average woman as his wife. He and his wife will take a loan to buy anapartment and live happily ever after. He had never imagined his life willchange so much. He was now a civil servant.

Since getting the specialpower, things had been going smoothly for him in the right direction.

Be an officer? It does not seem to be an unrealistic goal.

What’s the road ahead?

What’s my next step?

At night, Dong Xuebing was deep in thoughts while lying onthe couch. Since he was able to enter the government service and have the specialpower ‘Back,’ he felt he should plan hislife. If he were still an average person, he would be satisfied to be promoted to a Deputy Divisional Chiefafter working there for 10 to 20 years. But now, Dong Xuebing can turn back time. He should be able to usethis ability to get power and wealth.

Set the goal as Section Chief? A village mayor? A County Mayor?Or a Provincial Bureau head?

Getting the rank of a Section Chief before retirement at 60years’ old? Huh? Is this goal set too low?

Then how about Divisional Chief? Will it be too high? DongXuebing was not even confident of reaching the rank of a Deputy Section Chief.Divisional Chief was too far away.

But......

After a while, Dong Xuebing slapped his lap. “That’s it!”

Dong Xuebing decided to set his goal “higher.” Of course, if it was possible, he alsowanted to be promoted from a Staff Member to a Section Head level, from aSection Chief level to a Divisional Chief level, from a Divisional Chief levelto a Bureau Director level, from a Bureau Director level to ProvincialMinisterial level and from Provincial Ministerial level to National Level......Yes. This will be my goal.

Dong Xuebing wants to enter the Central Committee.

He wants to enter the Political Bureau of the CentralCommittee of the CPC!

Dong Xuebing had set this unrealistic goal as his target inhis heart.