Saturday morning.
Tomorrow was New Year's Eve, and the crackling firecrackers bursting everywhere on the streets carried an air of celebration.
It was Dong Xuebin's first time spending the New Year in Yantai County. He strolled down the road, looking at the large red lanterns and red silk banners hung along both sides of the street, a faint smile appearing on his face. Old Xie's recognition, his promotion, the discovery of his ability, and Sister Yu's tenderness—so much good news piled together had put Dong Xuebin in an excellent mood. Humming a little tune, he let the March of the Volunteers drift from his lips.
That was what they meant by being refreshed by happy occasions.
A cadre's family member who had just come out of the Bureau Family Compound heard him and could not help feeling deeply impressed. Look at Director Little Dong's political awareness—he even hummed the national anthem.
At the county government compound, Dong Xuebin entered the Office Building and headed upstairs.
Outside a deputy county chief's office, he consciously raised his hand and knocked twice.
There were many rules in officialdom, and even knocking on a door was a matter of great importance. If a subordinate came to report work to a superior's office, knocking once would not do—it was impolite. Knocking four times would not do either—it was disrespectful, because knocking repeatedly could easily make it seem as though one were urging them. Only superior leaders were allowed to do that. When subordinates came to a leader's office, they could generally only knock twice, and they had to do so softly, not too hard. Otherwise, something as seemingly trivial as knocking on a door might offend someone without them even knowing when it happened. That was officialdom.
"Come in," a middle-aged man's voice called from