The next day.
Friday.
As soon as he got up in the morning, Dong Xuebin, who was bending over in the foyer to put on his shoes and tie his laces, received a call from a Gu'an, Beijing number. It was from the National Respect for the Elderly Office, informing him that the Guangming Street Office had passed the preliminary review for the National Model Elder Care Unit and needed to submit an additional set of application materials.
It had finally come through!
Dong Xuebin's expression brightened. "Thank you. Where should we submit the materials?"
"The final review is being led by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Just prepare the materials and send them there."
"...All right, we'll deliver them as soon as possible."
"The central government's final review should already be underway. Try to complete the materials quickly, or it could affect the review results."
"Thank you for the reminder."
"Then that's it."
This was the first major matter Dong Xuebin had personally overseen since taking office. To him, this was real work, so naturally he took it extremely seriously. This National Model Unit achievement was exactly what he desperately needed. Although he knew full well that passing the preliminary review meant little—the central review group led by the Ministry of Civil Affairs would certainly eliminate more than half the units—the odds were at least thirty percent, and there was great hope. If they were lucky enough to be selected, not only would Dong Xuebin be able to add a bold stroke to his résumé, but he could also win tangible benefits for the residents in the street office's jurisdiction. As a National Model Unit, the district would definitely give them preferential treatment in fiscal appropriations alone, and many policies would lean in their favor as well. Holding office