Power and Wealth

Night. Yao Cui’s house.

Dinner started in the courtyard.

Yao Cui and Yao Li carried the food out from the kitchen. Their parents were sitting beside Dong Xuebing nervously.

“Dinner is ready.”

“Please go to the table, Mayor Dong.”

“That’s right. Try our Cui Er’s cooking.”

“The tea is cold. Xiao Li, add hot water.”

“Xiao Li, get Mayor Dong another cup of tea. The tea leaves are on the coffee table.”

Yao Cui’s parents did not give Dong Xuebing a chance to speak.

Dong Xuebing saw Yao Cui had brought out all the food and turned to her parents. “Aunty, Uncle, don’t be so polite with me. I am not used to it. Yao Cui and I were classmates for many years and got along well in school. Please don’t treat me like an outsider. Just treat me like how you did yesterday.”

Yao Cui’s mother smiled. “Yesterday? We didn’t know you were our Deputy Mayor yesterday.”

Yao Li sat at the table nervously.

To Yao Cui’s family, a Deputy County Mayor is a high-ranking officer, and there are only a few Deputy Mayors in the County. They hold Deputy Division Chief rank, and Dong Xuebing is the most powerful Deputy Mayor among them. He is the Executive Deputy County Mayor and also a Party Committee Member. The other Deputy Mayors got to listen to his orders. They could feel something weighing down on their shoulders when sitting beside him.

Dong Xuebing replied. “It’s alright. Only outsiders will call me Deputy Mayor. Yao Cui and I are not outsiders. Just call me Xiao Dong. Will do.”

Yao Cui’s mother replied. “No… no… no…. We cannot address you that.”

Yao Cui’s father added. “That’s right. We cannot do that.”

Yao Cui laughed and interrupted them. “Dad, Mum, stop being so polite with Xuebing. You all are making him uncomfortable. If you don’t want to address him as Xiao Dong, you call him Xuebing, and Xiao Li can call him Brother Dong.”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “Yes. It’s settled.”

Yao Cui’s father nodded. “Alright.”

Yao Cui’s mother noticed Dong Xuebing had not put on an air and knew their family had met their benefactor.

Yao Cui’s father raised his glass. “Mayor… Xuebing. Let me offer you a toast. Thank you for promoting our Cui Er.”

Dong Xuebing quickly raises his glass. “I am the one who needs Yao Cui’s help. I cannot accept your thanks. Let me offer you this toast instead.”

“Non… no…. I should be offering the toast.”

“You are my elder, and I should offer the toast.”

“No, I must offer this toast.”

“Let’s just drink.”

“Alright. Cheers.”

Both emptied their glasses, and Yao Cui stood up with her glass. “Xuebing, I will offer you a toast.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “No need. You just recovered and should not be drinking.”

Yao Cui’s father added. “Cui Er must offer this toast.”

Yao Cui nodded. “I must finish this glass today. I will not say much. Thank you.”

“Don’t be like this. Fine… I will finish this glass while you take a sip.” Dong Xuebing replied.

When Dong Xuebing was drinking the alcohol, he noticed Yao Cui had finished her glass.

Dong Xuebing had mentioned he was new here and needed a local like Yao Cui to assist him this afternoon. He repeated it when he entered the courtyard. However, Yao Cui and her parents knew he could get anyone to assist him. Furthermore, she was the county's lowest staff member and did not know much. They all knew Dong Xuebing was trying to help her by promoting her and appointing her as his secretary.

They must return this favor and drink this glass of alcohol.

Yao Cui suddenly said during dinner. “Xuebing, you still have not told me what you did to get promoted so quickly after we graduated. How did you climb so fast?”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “It’s luck. I told you before.”

Yao Cui laughed. “Save it. Haha…. I don’t believe you.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “It’s hard to tell you in a few sentences, and I don’t know where to start. I will tell you in the future.”

“Ok. Let’s eat. How’s my cooking?”

“It’s delicious. It tastes much better than my cooking.”

“Eat more. Here…. Try this dish. This is my specialty.”

An hour later.

Dong Xuebing finished the dinner and left.

Yao Cui wanted to send Dong Xuebing back, but he rejected it. He walked towards the bus stop.

Inside the courtyard.

Yao Cui returned, and her parents called her to the room.

“Cui Er, your classmate is successful.” Yao Cui’s father said.

“He is more than successful. You might not know how the government service works. Most promotions will occur every three years, and he has only worked for three years to get to his current position. I am sure all his promotions are exceptional. You cannot find another twenty-five years old Executive Deputy County Mayors in our province. Our county is poor and seldom keeps in touch with other provinces. If he is posted to another County, he would have shocked everyone.” Yao Cui laughed and continued. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw him as the Executive Deputy County Mayor. He was quiet during our university days and had average results. I did not expect him to be promoted so fast. I can’t wait for our classmates' reactions when we have a class gathering. Haha…. We got another deputy Section Chief classmate, and he boasted about his achievements on his social media. Compared to Xuebing, he is nothing. They are not on the same level.”

“Are you talking about that arrogant guy you spoke to online?” Yao Cui’s mother asked.

Yao Cui nodded. “Yes. I did not tell Xuebing about him. I don’t like how that guy speaks. He made me uncomfortable.”

Yao Li smiled. “Sis, your rank now is the same as that guy, and you hold more power than him.”

Yao Cui’s mother added. “Look at Mayor Dong. He does not put on airs in front of us. How can anyone compare to him?”

Yao Cui laughed. “Xuebing has been humble and kind, and I like to have lunch with him. I know he will not put on air in front of his classmates and friends. I like his character.”

Yao Cui’s mother looked at her. “Why didn’t you two date then?”

Yao Cui was speechless. “Mum, what are you talking about?”

“It is too late now. He is married. Sigh….” Yao Cui’s mother was disappointed.

Yao Cui’s father said. “This is why you should not judge a book by its cover. Those quiet people in schools might do much better than others.”

Yao Cui’s mother reminded. “Cui Er, you must build a good relationship with Mayor Dong.”

Yao Cui’s father interrupted. “Is there a need to do that? They have had a good relationship since their school days, or Mayor Dong will not promote her and make her his secretary. He trusts Cui Er, and she doesn’t need to build any relationship with him. She needs to focus on her work and achieve some results. This is a good opportunity. If she performs well, she might become a village Chief.”

“That’s right. Cui Er, you must work hard.” Yao Cui’s mother said.

Yao Cui replied helplessly. “I don’t even know what a Deputy Mayor secretary does, and I need to ask others.”

“Didn’t you work in the Secretarial Section for three years?”

“Yes, but it is different from being a leader’s secretary. Of course, it’s not as if I don’t know anything. I need to know what to take note of.”

“Then you should ask now to prevent from making mistakes.”

“I will try my best. I don’t want to create trouble for Xuebing too. It would be embarrassing if she did not do well and caused Xuebing to offend others.”

Yao Cui and her family discussed this topic for a while.

Yao Cui’s parents were excited over their daughter’s promotion.

After 7 pm.

Suddenly, Yao Cui’s mother asked. “Cui Er, our former Executive Deputy County Mayor’s secretary, was popular in our area. Are you….”

Yao Cui looked at her mother. “What?”

Yao Cui’s mother replied. “Are you able to help your brother to get a job?”

Yao Cui thought for a while and said. “I am just promoted, and how will I ask others? I cannot call a company or factory and tell them to hire my brother.”

Yao Cui’s father laughed. “I think it might work.”

“Who knows me?” Yao Cui felt this is not correct.

Yao Cui’s father scolded. “You still don’t recognize you are a leader now. Why do you need to care what they think? Just call them and settle your younger brother’s job. He has been lazing around at home. Oh, don’t put him into a factory.”

Yao Cui’s mother added. “That’s right. Working in a factory is tiring, and you must take exams to enter government departments. But I think a state-owned enterprise is fine.”

Yao Cui was speechless. “State-owned enterprise?”

Yao Cui’s mother added unreasonably. “It is your duty as the elder sister to settle your younger brother’s job.”