Power and Wealth

Chapter 1674

Afternoon.

Dinner is over.

Dong Xuebing is about to get promoted soon and is in a good mood. He hums a little tune while cleaning up the dishes and utensils, then strolls out of the kitchen.

"Shall we play mahjong?" Dong Xuebing suggests.

Han Jing corrects him with a smile, "We are playing mahjong."

Ci Lifen also chuckles, "Yeah, it's none of your business."

Dong Xuebing sweats, seeing that they are already setting up the table, "Why?"

"You can win without even looking at the tiles. What's the fun in playing with you?" Xia Yanzhen glances at him, "Playing with you is boring. Xiao Ran, come."

Xie Ran is puzzled, "Win without even looking at the tiles? Is my brother-in-law so good at playing cards?"

Xia Yanzhen says, "Is there anything your brother-in-law isn't good at?"

"Well, yeah." Xie Ran also laughs. His brother-in-law really can't be judged by common sense.

Dong Xuebing says, "Then I won't win without looking at the tiles. Let's play for a while."

Han Jing still doesn't want him to join, saying, "Then it's like letting water out, letting us win? Boring. You watch TV by yourself. Xiao Ran, come."

Xie Ran hesitates for a moment, then sits down.

The four of them shuffle the tiles and start playing.

Dong Xuebing is bored. He's been staying at home watching movies all week, and now that his job transfer is confirmed, he can't calm down. He's still slightly excited, so when there's a group activity, he naturally wants to join in.

Dong Xuebing moves a chair over and sits behind Han Jing. "Mom, let me see your tiles."

Han Jing laughs, "Okay, let's beat them."

Xia Yanzhen disagrees, "Sister-in-law, don't do this."

"Aunt." Dong Xuebing says, "I won't play, just watching my mom."

Han Jing is very happy, "Deal the tiles, come."

Ci Lifen smiles at Dong Xuebing, "You're not allowed to touch the tiles, come."

Dong Xuebing naturally supports his mother-in-law, putting in a lot of effort. At the beginning of the game, he didn't say anything. It wasn't until everyone had played four or five rounds that he started giving advices.

"Mom, don't play this one."

"Then which one should I play? This one is useless."

"Even if it's useless, you can't play it. Xiao Ran probably needs it."

"Oh? Really? So soon?"

"Yeah, play this one, this one, any of these."

"Okay, I will listen to you."

Sure enough, after two rounds, Han Jing won by self-drawing! When Xie Ran and Xia Yanzhen laid out their tiles, it turned out that they would have won much earlier if Han Jing had just played those two tiles.

Seeing this, Han Jing is very happy, chuckling for a long time, "Xiao Bing, collect the money for Mom, hehe."

Second round...

Third round...

Fourth round...

With Dong Xuebing's help, Han Jing won four rounds.

Xia Yanzhen pushes the tiles, saying helplessly, "I'm done playing."

"Yanzhen, can't handle losing?" Han Jing laughs.

Xie Ran now truly believes that his brother-in-law is very good at playing mahjong. He also admires him a lot. In his impression, there is nothing his brother-in-law can't do.

"It's not that I can't handle losing, but having Xiao Bing tell you which tile to discard is cheating. Everyone knows his abilities. Otherwise, let him help me with my tiles?" Xia Yanzhen says.

"Okay." Han Jing looks at her son-in-law, "Help your aunt with her tiles."

"Alright." Dong Xuebing moves a chair behind Xia Yanzhen.

As a result, under Dong Xuebing's guidance, Xia Yanzhen also won two consecutive rounds.

Finally, Ci Lifen couldn't stand it anymore and brought Dong Xuebing over to help her see the tiles.

...

In the afternoon.

After three o'clock.

Mahjong is over. Everyone is tired of playing.

Looking at the clock, Han Jing says, "Let's go back."

Dong Xuebing hurriedly says, "Why don't we eat dinner before we go?"

"Going back means I have to cook for your dad. The nanny went to Jiangnan Province with Huilan, and no one was at home to cook. If Mom doesn't go back, your dad will go hungry." Han Jing smiles.

Dong Xuebing says, "Then let's invite my dad to come?"

Han Jing says, "He doesn't even know when he'll get off work. It's not convenient."

Xia Yanzhen says, "Let's go, I have to go back too. I have a dinner appointment tonight."

Seeing that they all have things to do, Dong Xuebing says nothing else. He sees them off at the courtyard gate, "Xiao Ran, are you leaving too? Shall we have some drinks tonight?"

Xie Ran hesitates, "I have something to do."

Xia Yanzhen looks at her son, "Not coming home with me?"

"No, I'll go back later. I have plans with friends tonight," Xie Ran says.

Xia Yanzhen focuses and scrutinizes him, "Are you dating?"

"No," Xie Ran says calmly, "What are you thinking?"

Xia Yanzhen advises, "Hurry up. Do you know? Your sister is almost getting married."

Xie Ran impatiently says, "I know. Don't worry. I've got it under control."

Dong Xuebing thinks to himself, what control do you have? You're dating a girl from the family's arch-enemy. If your mom finds out, she'll beat you to death. In fact, after meeting Fang Wenping a couple of times, Dong Xuebing is also a little disapproving of Xie Ran and Fang Shuiling's affair. Initially neutral, he hadn't intended to interfere with anything, but because of Fang Wenping's outspokenness, Dong Xuebing inevitably was influenced to some extent. He doesn't want to become family with Fang Wenping. According to seniority, will he have to call that old hag Aunt in the future? Ridiculous! Dong Xuebing is now becoming increasingly skeptical of the two of them. He figures there's not much hope for Xie Ran and Fang Shuiling. The obstacles are too great.

Several people have left.

Dong Xuebing watches their cars leave, then closes the courtyard gate and returns to the courtyard to sit under the Chinese toon tree. With his legs crossed, he ponders for a moment, then makes a few phone calls.

The first one is to Lan Xuewen from the petition office.

"Hey, Old Lan," Dong Xuebing says.

"Xuebing, wait a moment," Lan Xuewen says.

Dong Xuebing blinks, "Busy? Should we talk later?"

"No, I'm just on my way to the office. It's not convenient to talk here." After waiting a while, he hears the door closing sound, "Now it's fine."

Dong Xuebing says, "There's nothing else. I just wanted to let you know that the departments merged by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection this time don't include your petition office. The news I've heard is confirmed. It's the merger of the Party's Disciplinary Inspection Office and the Rectification Office to establish the Party and Government Supervision Office. Then, the Law Enforcement and Inspection Department and the Performance Management Inspection Department will be merged to reorganize the Law Enforcement and Efficiency Supervision Office. You can rest assured."

Lan Xuewen breathed a relief, "That's good. I don't want any trouble right now."

Although Lan Xuewen is considered part of the Xie family's faction, he doesn't hold a strong position or carry a significant Xie family label. In families like the Xies, those referred to as members of the Xie faction are cadres at the department level or direct relatives of the Xie family. Only with such status do they qualify. Lan Xuewen can only be considered someone close to the Xie family. Even though the fourth Grandfather of the Xie family is the head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Lan Xuewen cannot expect the Xie family to support him fully. So whenever it involves these matters, he always feels a bit worried.

After hanging up the phone, Dong Xuebing called Han Fei.

"Hey, Xiao Han, what's up?" Dong Xuebing asks.

Han Fei, on the other end, chuckles, "I'm at home, giving my old man a massage. Oh, it's exhausting, and my hands are sore."

Dong Xuebing laughs, "That's quite filial of you."

"Of course," footsteps sound for a couple of steps, then Han Fei whispers with a giggle, "Actually, I'm asking my dad to lend me money to buy a bag, so naturally, I have to be a bit filial."

Dong Xuebing is amused by her. Han Fei talks to him about everything; she really doesn't treat him like an outsider, "Is Uncle Han doing well?"

"Uncle Han? He's fine, as strong as an ox, even stronger than me." Dong Xuebing acknowledges, "I'm calling to inform you that the news is almost confirmed. In a month, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection will be restructured. Our eight supervision offices will become ten. The newly established Ninth and Tenth Offices will take over the provincial responsibilities of the Fifth and Sixth Offices. It's not directly related to our Eighth Office, but the new department may need to transfer some personnel, so it's not completely irrelevant."

Han Fei's eyes light up, "Really? Are you sure?"

Dong Xuebing reassures her over the phone, "Sure, no mistake."

"So that means I still have a chance?" Han Fei is excited, "With internal reforms and personnel adjustments; qualifications can be overlooked."

Dong Xuebing says, "I'm not sure about the adjustment's specifics, but it will happen in a month. We're probably still in a transition period."

Han Fei muses, "That's hopeful. I've wanted to be promoted to deputy department level."

Dong Xuebing chuckles, "Then you should try negotiating with Director Yin. Although the adjustment plan should still be decided from above, the department heads have a say."

Han Fei ponders, "With such a big reform, Director Yin probably won't have a say, and I'm uncomfortable asking Director Yin directly. What would I say? I don't want to work under you anymore, and I want to go to the Ninth or Tenth Office. It just doesn't sound right, even if Director Yin is friendly... unless Director Yin asks me about it, oh well, forget it, forget it, I'll think about it some more, maybe it's better to ask my dad."

"What position are you aiming for?"

"As long as I can be promoted to deputy department level, anything will do."

"Even a nominal supervisory officer?"

"Well, preferably a substantive position, hehe."

After a few more words, Dong Xuebing hangs up the phone.

His job transfer is almost certain. If he goes over, he probably won't be able to run the department alone, so he will have the authority to bring in a few people.

Han Fei?

She's a good girl, with a good character and family background.

Dong Xuebing has already considered bringing her over to help him, but nothing is finalized yet, so he hasn't said anything to Han Fei.