Power and Wealth

Next day.

Morning.

Zhen Shui County Party Committee Building. Dong Xuebing entered the compound slowly. Today was Dong Xuebing’s official first day at work, and many staff greeted him politely.

“Mayor Dong.”

“Good morning, Mayor Dong.”

“Mayor Dong, good morning.”

Dong Xuebing smiled and nodded to them.

The County Government Office building.

Third floor. Executive Deputy County Mayor office.

Dong Xuebing was early today, and most staff were not at work.

Dong Xuebing noticed his office was clean when he entered. He placed his back on the table and started reading documents. The County Party Secretary was not around, and his duties were not assigned. He was unfamiliar with this area and had no connections to start working immediately. So, he started reading Zhen Shui County documents to familiarize himself with this place. He must be prepared to start work once assigned a task, or people will doubt his abilities.

Five minutes….

Ten minutes….

Knock knock…. Someone knocked on the door.

Dong Xuebing puts down the document and says. “Come in.”

The door opened, and Office Director Ma Lin entered. “Mayor Dong.”

Dong Xuebing looked at him. “Director Ma. What is it?”

“Are you used to your apartment at the family quarters? Let me know if you need anything or electric appliances. I will get someone to get it.” Ma Lin said. All the apartments at the family quarters have standard fittings, and the County Government has no money to get additional appliances for the leaders. Although an electric appliance might not be expensive, Zhen Shui County is poor to afford it. However, Ma Lin offended Dong Xuebing yesterday and is trying to mend their relationship. Even if the county government cannot afford it, he would get it out of his pockets.

Dong Xuebing smiled. “No need. Everything is fine.”

Ma Lin was at a loss when he heard Dong Xuebing. He wiped his sweat and stood there. “Mayor Dong, I…. yesterday….”

Dong Xuebing interrupted him. “What happened yesterday?”

Ma Lin paused for a second and said. “Nothing…. nothing….”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “Is there anything else?”

Under the guidance of Xie Huilan and after working in the government for so many years, Dong Xuebing had grown up a lot. He would scold Ma Lin for forcing Yao Cui to accompany him in the past and pick on him today. However, he did not do that now. He made Ma Lin guess what he is thinking because he knew this was scarier than raising his voice. He had to change his working style in a new environment. Of course, Ma Lin had not done anything to Yao Cui, or he would raise his fists yesterday. He is still the same God of Plagues who doesn’t care about consequences when he is mad.

Ma Lin saw Dong Xuebing’s expression and knew he was asking him to leave. He immediately passed a document to him. “One more thing. These are a few deputy Director resumes. Our County Deputy Mayor is not assigned secretaries or communication staff because of the lack of funds. Our departments are working on minimum manpower. However, our county government will assign an Office Department Deputy Director to assist you.”

A secretary?

According to the regulations, a County Mayor and Party Secretary are not qualified to have secretaries. Although they have secretaries, their secretaries are not holding secretarial positions. Their positions are Office Department Deputy Directors. Mayor Jiang’s secretary's primary duty is to assist Jiang Fangfang and will not interfere with the Office Department.

Different places have different practices for a Deputy County Mayor secretary.

Ma Lin told Dong Xuebing that Zhen Shui County Deputy Mayors do not have secretaries, but he was different. He can have a secretary because he is the Executive Deputy Mayor.

Pick a secretary?

Who should I pick?

This was Dong Xuebing’s first step after getting appointed, which is important to him. He is new here and is unfamiliar with this place. His secretary is critical to his work, and it would be best if he or she is local. He preferred someone young and mature. Actually, he had someone in mind.

Dong Xuebing looked at the Office Department deputy directors' resumes and put them aside. “Call the secretarial section and send the staff member files over.”

Ma Lin paused for a second and said. “Alright. I will do it immediately.”

A while later, a middle-aged woman entered the office nervously with a stack of files. “Mayor Dong. I am Secretarial Section Xiao Cai.”

Xiao Cai?!

This woman is at least fifteen years older than Dong Xuebing, and hearing her call herself Xiao Cai was awkward.

Luckily, Dong Xuebing used it. How they addressed themselves depended on their ranks and had nothing to do with their age.

Dong Xuebing looked at her. “Bring it over, Chief Cai.”

“It’s all here.” Chief Cai placed the files with both hands on the table. Her heart was pounding, and she wondered if Dong Xuebing was offended by her last night. She stood beside Ma Lin and waited for Dong Xuebing.

“Alright. I will look at it.” Dong Xuebing started looking at the files.

A while later, Dong Xuebing took out a file and nodded. “How is Secretarial Section One’s Yao Cui?”

Ma Lin blinked.

Chief Cai was not surprised and said. “Yao Cui is very hardworking and passionate about her work. She is helpful to everyone, and she can endure hardship. She is a graduate, and her education level is considered high in our County.” She praised Yao Cui to the skies.

Dong Xuebing waved his hand. “Does she have any weakness?”

Chief Cai thought for a while and dared not tell Dong Xuebing about Yao Cui’s weakness.

Ma Lin interrupted. “Her weakness…. Yao Cui’s biggest weakness is that she is too hardworking and does not care for her health. She fell sick yesterday.”

Dong Xuebing was amused. Are you telling me about her weakness or trying to praise her?

“I will take her.” Dong Xuebing said.

Ma Lin replied immediately. “Sure. I will make the arrangements immediately.”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “I know Yao Cui well. We were classmates in university.”

“Ah? Is that so?” Ma Lin pretended to be surprised.

Chief Cai said. “No wonder Xiao Yao is so outstanding. She is your classmate.” What has outstanding got to do with classmates? Moreover, their university is only a third-tier university in Beijing.

Ma Lin said. “Mayor Dong, I will get Xiao Yao to report to you.”

Dong Xuebing waved his hand. “No need. You can wait under the paperwork is settled.”

Ma Lin nodded and said. “It should be ready today. I will inform the HR department and settle the paperwork.”

As the Executive Deputy County Mayor’s secretary, Yao Cui will be promoted to Office Department Deputy Director, a Deputy Section Chief position. The County Organization Department must be informed. Most promotions are decided in Party Committee meetings, but the secretary differs. The party committee will approve it unless Yao Cui has serious issues.

Dong Xuebing had decided, and it was settled.

Dong Xuebing had purposely told them Yao Cui was his classmate because he knew he could not hide it. People will find out sooner or later. The second reason is people might gossip behind his back for picking a female secretary. Few leaders will pick a secretary of the opposite sex to avoid rumors. Telling everyone, they were classmates would stop these rumors. Yao Cui was also the most suitable person to assist him. She is a local, and they know each other well.

No one would say anything if Dong Xuebing picked his former classmate Yao Cui as his secretary. He can also help her in her career.

This is killing two birds with one stone.

Dong Xuebing made this decision after meeting Yao Cui in Zhen Shui County and knowing she worked in the Secretarial Section.