Power and Wealth

Noon.

Zhen Shui County.

The County Party Committee Building, County Government Office Building.

Yao Cui walked up the stairs nervously. She met other department staff on her way, who greeted her politely.

“Secretary Yao.”

“Have you taken your lunch, Secretary Yao?”

“Congratulations, Sister Yao.”

“Sister Yao, when are you giving us a treat?”

News of the County Organization Department interviewing Yao Cui had spread. Everyone knows Yao Cui was chosen as the Executive Deputy County Mayor’s secretary. Everyone congratulated her and tried to be close to her.

First floor….

Second floor….

Third floor….

Yao Cui returned the greetings politely and finally reached the County leader’s offices.

Yao Cui turned to her left and walked over.

She took a deep breath and knocked on the door lightly. Knock… knock….

Office.

Dong Xuebing was on the phone with his mother.

“Mum, it’s fine here. Don’t worry about me.”

“I am warning you. You must change the way you work.”

“I know… I will be nice to everyone.”

“Ok. Try to visit me when you are free. I don’t feel at ease when I don’t see you.”

“Ah, I am not a kid. I understand. I will find time to visit you. How are Huilan and Yunxuan doing?”

“They are fine.”

“Great. Call me if there’s an emergency. I will return immediately.”

“You need to drive for days to return.”

“I can take the plane. I can be back within a few hours.”

“Ok. Take care of yourself and stop offending people.”

Someone knocked on the door, and Dong Xuebing said to his mother. “I know. Alright. Someone is at my door. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Outside.

Yao Cui waited for a while and knocked on the door again.

A few seconds later, a familiar voice said. “Come in.”

Yao Cui was puzzled. How come this voice is so familiar? She opened the door cautiously. “Hi, I am Yao Cui from the Secretarial Section One. I….” She was nervous when she entered the office as she would be meeting the Executive Deputy County Mayor. The Executive Deputy County Mayor can decide many things which affect the whole county, and she was curious why she was chosen. But she was stunned when she saw the person behind the desk. Her jaws dropped when she saw Dong Xuebing.

“You….” Yao Cui was speechless.

Dong Xuebing laughed. “Hi, my former classmate. Haha….”

Yao Cui gasped. “Why… why are you here, Xuebing?”

Dong Xuebing shrugged. “This is where I work. Sit.”

“Isn’t this the Executive Deputy County Mayor’s office?” Yao Cui was confused and went out to look at the sign. It was the Executive Deputy County Mayor’s office, and she had not gone to the wrong office. She returned to the office and closed the door. “You… you….” She suddenly thought of a possibility and drew a deep breath. “Don’t tell me you are our new Executive Deputy County Mayor?”

Dong Xuebing replied. “Yes.”

Yao Cui almost fainted. “How is it possible?”

Dong Xuebing looked at Yao Cui. “You have not heard about it?”

“About what?” Yao Cui looked at Dong Xuebing. “I only know our new Executive Deputy County Mayor is very young and nothing else.” She paused for a second and continued. “I did not come to work yesterday, and I don’t know… it is you.”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “It was a last-minute transfer.”

Yao Cui was speechless. “But…. we are the same age.”

Dong Xuebing explained. “I entered the government after graduation, and I was lucky. I gained some results and got promoted.”

Yao Cui asked. “Did you promote me?”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “Yes.”

Yao Cui was not nervous and uneasy now. She sat on the sofa and said unhappily. “No wonder I got promoted.”

Dong Xuebing asked. “Are you mad?”

Yao Cui replied. “I am angry with you. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

Dong Xuebing laughed and walked over to her. “You did not ask.” He saw Yao Cui staring at her, and he continued. “Alright. We were chatting happily, and I was afraid telling you would affect our relationship. It’s my fault. Sorry.”

Yao Cui ignored him.

Dong Xuebing cleared his throat. “Do you want tea? I brought some from home. It’s delicious. Wait here.”

Yao Cui continued to keep quiet.

Dong Xuebing poured a cup of tea and gave it to her.

Yao Cui took the teacup and swallowed a few mouthfuls. She immediately sticks out her tongue. “Hot….”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “It’s hot water. Of course, it is hot.”

Yao Cui gave Dong Xuebing a stare. “Do you think keeping me in the dark is funny?”

“No… no….” Dong Xuebing replied. “I wanted to give you a surprise.”

Yao Cui replied unhappily. “Why didn’t you discuss it with me first? How can you make me your secretary without asking me?”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “Alright, alright…. I will tell them not to make you my secretary.”

Yao Cui gave Dong Xuebing another stare. “You had promoted me, and you want to demote me now?! Don’t even think about it!” She retorted and laughed suddenly.

Dong Xuebing knew Yao Cui was not angry and was playing along with her.

Yao Cui looked at Dong Xuebing. “You are capable. We have not met for three years, and you have become a Deputy Division Chief. You also become an Executive Deputy County Mayor, a powerful position. What results have you achieved to get promoted so quickly? I think you are the youngest Deputy Division Chief in our province.”

Dong Xuebing replied modestly. “It’s luck. I was just at the right place at the right time.”

Yao Cui smiled. “You are amazing. I remember you borrowing my notes when you skip classes, and I am your secretary now.”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “I happened to meet you here, and you are a local. You have also worked in the government service for a few years and know the people here. I am new here, and I need your help.”

Yao Cui laughed. “Then should I address you as Mayor Dong or Xuebing? Do I need to clean your office and take care of your living arrangements?”

Dong Xuebing waved his hand. “You can call me Xuebing when no one is around and help me with work. I can take care of the rest. How can I let my former classmate do these things?”

Yao Cui laughed. “That’s more like it. Alright. I am not angry with you now.”

Dong Xuebing looked at her. “Are you sure you are not angry anymore? Don’t bear grudges against me.”

Yao Cui replied. “What’s there to be angry about? I don’t need to serve drinks and photocopy documents anymore. I had also become a leader in the Office Department.” She laughed. “Thanks to you, I got promoted.” She rolled her eyes and said. “I finally understood why you made that bet when we met. You said I would be promoted within a week. You had planned to make me your secretary then, and I was foolish to accept that bet. You tricked me. You are up to no good.”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “I was kidding with you.”

Yao Cui replied. “I accepted the bet and lost. Just tell me, what do you want me to do?”

Dong Xuebing replied. “It was a joke. I don’t need you to do anything.”

Yao Cui said. “No. I must honor the bet.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “Alright. I will go to your place to have dinner later. You must cook and let me try your cooking.”

Yao Cui laughed. “No problem. Haha…. I called my Dad earlier, and he invited you over for dinner. They don’t know you are our Executive Deputy County Mayor yet. Just nice, I can cook for you. Thank you.”

Dong Xuebing waved his hand. “Don’t thank me. I need your help for my work here.”

Yao Cui laughed. “Sure.”

Dong Xuebing said. “I will rely on you in the future.”

“No problem. I will take care of you.” Yao Cui laughed. “I hope you will not regret making me your secretary. I don’t know anything.”

“Haha…. I can change my secretary anytime.”

“I dare you to change!”

They joked, and Dong Xuebing did not feel they had gotten distant from each other after knowing he was the Executive Deputy County Mayor.