Noon.
Central Party School, cafeteria.
Dong Xuebin, Han Xinghua, and a few others walked in, found a table to sit at, ordered some very ordinary-looking dishes, and picked up their chopsticks.
Director Mei looked at Dong Xuebin. "Little Dong, are you thirty?"
Dong Xuebin smiled. "Twenty-five this year."
Director Zhang was stunned. "So young? That's incredible."
Han Xinghua hadn't expected Dong Xuebin to be only twenty-five either, as he had assumed he must be twenty-eight or twenty-nine. "Yeah, when Lao Zhang and I were twenty-five, we were still working as editors at a newspaper office."
Director Zhang sighed. "Indeed. In the blink of an eye, it's been nearly ten years."
The few of them glanced at Dong Xuebin a few more times, but didn't pay it too much special attention. Who could come here for advanced studies without some kind of background? Who didn't possess a mentality of being a cut above the rest? Therefore, even though they were surprised that Dong Xuebin was already a Zhengke Level cadre at twenty-five, it didn't amount to making a huge fuss. After exchanging a brief remark about Dong Xuebin, the group launched into a lengthy discussion, tirelessly chatting about other matters.
"Have you guys seen the Class Monitor of Class One for this term's advanced studies class?" said Director Zhang.
"Haven't seen him, but I did catch wind of it," Secretary Chen said. "This election for class officers seems to have set a precedent."
Director Zhang nodded. "Seemingly only thirty-one or thirty-two? And a woman? Incredible."
Director Mei looked at him. "How's that? Who says our female cadres can't be class monitors?"
Director Zhang chuckled. "Little Mei, I didn't mean anything by it. Your temper hasn't changed a bit; you always love blowing things out of proportion."
Director Mei said, "I know