Friday.
At one-thirty in the afternoon, Dong Xuebin handled Luan Xiaoping's discharge paperwork and took Mom back to the teachers' dormitory at County No. 1 Middle School. It was already nearing the end of December, and the temperature was getting colder by the day. Even in the afternoon, the warmest time of day, Dong Xuebin could feel gusts of bone-chilling wind hitting him head-on, drilling straight into his eyes, ears, nose, and collar. He was freezing. Fortunately, Mom's dorm had heating around the clock. Once he entered, his stiff hands and feet finally felt a little better, and the cold gradually melted away from his body.
"Mom, tomorrow and the day after are the weekend. Get some proper rest. Don't rush to prepare lessons yet."
"Other teachers have been covering my classes for so long. How can I not prepare? I'm fine now. Didn't the doctor say so too?"
"Even so, you need to be more careful. Remember to take your medicine on time. Hey, how about I stay here with you? I'm worried about leaving you alone."
"Mom isn't a child. Go do your work. Aren't you hoping to get promoted to Zhengke Level?"
"It's only a nomination. The chances of getting it are way too slim. I'm not even hoping for it."
"You still have to fight for it. What if?"
"...Yeah, I know."
After staying with Mom for a while, Dong Xuebin finally drove home.
At the County Public Security Bureau Family Compound, Dong Xuebin went into the bathroom and took a steaming hot shower, washing the chill from his body. As he bathed, he thought about the position of Director of the Investment Bureau. Anyone with eyes could see that since Dong Xuebin had offended Xiang Daofa, his chances of successfully taking the post were practically