The Seventh Day of the Lunar New Year.
Tuesday morning.
The New Year was not quite over in the strictest sense, but it was time for government offices to return to work. Outside, the sound of firecrackers had faded away.
A little after seven.
Inside Villa Number One at the Standing Committee Family Compound in the Capital City.
Dong Xuebin got up. After brushing his teeth and washing up, he came downstairs and caught the enticing aroma of breakfast drifting up from below—soy milk, fried eggs, and sausage. He immediately perked up and happily went downstairs to eat. He had come to his mother-in-law's house for dinner yesterday, and since it had gotten rather late afterward, he had not gone back home and had stayed here instead.
"Mom."
"Ah, Xuebin, you're up?"
"Yeah. Breakfast's ready?"
"Hehe, just in time. Come eat. Mom made it herself."
"Oh, you could've just had the housekeeper do it, or called me. How could I let you busy yourself so early in the morning? That wouldn't be right."
"You brat, stop with the fake politeness. Come on."
"Hehe, all right. I love my mom's cooking."
"Then eat more. Your dad's up too. He'll be downstairs in a moment."
"Okay, then I'll wait for Dad and eat with him."
After Dong Xuebin chatted with Han Jing downstairs for a while, Xie Guobang came down as well. The family of three sat at the dining table and had breakfast. Dong Xuebin had been plenty busy during the New Year, exhausted these past few days from entertaining leaders and hosting subordinates. So he was especially enjoying this leisurely life now. It was much better than living alone. At least when he opened his eyes in the morning, he did not have to lift a finger before someone made