On the road.
Inside the taxi.
As he drove, the driver glanced speechlessly at Dong Xuebin through the rearview mirror. Weren't you walking just fine on your own? Why were you even using a wheelchair?
"Sir, what's wrong?"
"Uh, nothing."
"...Oh."
"By the way, where in Fenzhou City are we going?"
"Just head over first. I need to make a call and ask."
"Alright, ask quickly. We're not far now."
Dong Xuebin called Xie Huilan again. Beep, beep, beep—this time, it connected.
"Hello."
"Hui Lan, it's me."
"I know it's you."
"Were you in a meeting just now? Why didn't you answer?"
"Mm, there was a last-minute small meeting."
For a deputy mayor like Xie Huilan, who had entered the Standing Committee, there were many kinds of major meetings—the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee, meetings in the province, meetings of the People's Congress or Political Consultative Conference. But within government offices, a "small meeting" generally referred to one a leader held with the departments under their charge.
Dong Xuebin smiled. "You wouldn't even answer my call during a small meeting?"
"It was urgent. Something happened here." Xie Huilan seemed to be outside, with people talking around her. He could not hear clearly. "Did you need something?"
Dong Xuebin could tell it was inconvenient for her to talk. "What happened?"
"Something in the education system."
"Your area of responsibility? Is it serious?"
"It's manageable. I'll tell you after I deal with it."
"Alright, go handle your business first."
"Mm, I'm hanging up. We'll talk this afternoon."
Then someone on the other end urgently called out, "Mayor Xie, they can't hold them back over there!" The call ended.
The driver looked at him. "Where are we going?"
Dong Xuebin said thoughtfully, "Just keep driving for now."
"How am I supposed to drive