Power and Wealth

Evening.

7.30 pm.

Yao Cui’s house courtyard. Yao Cui’s parents kept asking her to make calls to help her brother get a job with good benefits.

Yao Cui did not think it would work. “I cannot do it. I don’t have the influence.”

Yao Cui’s father gave her a stare. “Who says? You are the Executive Deputy County Mayor’s secretary.”

Yao Cui replied helplessly. “What if the other party refuses? How about I speak to Xuebing first?”

Yao Cui’s mother smacked her lips. “What have you been doing in the government service? I am more knowledgeable than you. You don’t need to trouble Mayor Dong for this small matter. All you need to do is say the word. Mayor Dong got to take care of our County’s economy and get investments, and we must not trouble him for small matters like finding a job for your brother. He also does not know anyone in the departments. How is he going to help?”

Yao Cui replied. “I understand. But it’s too awkward.”

Yao Li interrupted. “Dad, Mum, and Sis, you all don’t need to worry for me. My job can wait, and I don’t think I can enter a state-owned enterprise. I can work in any factory.”

“Cui Er, just try making a call.”

“Let’s wait for a few days. It is not suitable for me to call now.”

Yao Cui refused and wanted to consider.

Yao Cui’s father did not continue. “Never mind. Cui Er has just been promoted, and many people do not know her. Let’s wait for a few days first. Also, we don’t know how powerful the Deputy Mayor’s secretary is. That leader’s secretary’s family living on our street might look glamorous. Still, we don’t know what is happening behind the scenes. Let Cui Er work for a while first.”

As they were talking, someone knocked on their door.

Knock… knock….

Yao Cui’s mother went over to open the door. “Who is it?”

The door opened, and a man in his thirties stood outside. He saw Yao Cui’s mother and smiled widely. “Nice to meet you, Aunty.”

Yao Cui’s mother blinked. “You are?”

Yao Cui’s father said. “Let him enter first.”

The door closed, and that man greeted Yao Cui’s father politely. “Hello, Uncle.” He turned and walked towards Yao Cui. He shook her hands. “You must be Secretary Yao. I am from the Industrial and Trade Bureau. My leader had sent me to apologize. Our men had fined your family’s breakfast stall a few times, and it was a misunderstanding.” He took out an envelope full of money. “These are the fines you paid, and my leader asked me to return them to you.” He turned and bowed to Yao Cui’s parents. “It was a misunderstanding. Sorry.”

Yao Cui paused for a second and said. “We should pay the fine as we are operating without a license then. I will not accept this sum of money. Take it back.”

That man panicked. “No… no…. It was our mistake. Your license has been approved, and someone will send it to you tomorrow. You must take the money.” He placed the envelope on the table and left in a rush.

Yao Cui and her parents were confused.

“We got the operating license.” Yao Li said. “They did not want to approve it previously.”

Yao Cui’s mother said proudly. “They don’t want to issue the operating license to us because we did not give them money. Cui Er has become the Deputy Mayor's Secretary, and they are trying to suck up to her.”

Yao Cui’s father counted the money and laughed. “They returned the exact amount of the fines we paid.”

A few minutes later.

Knock, knock…. Someone knocked on the door again.

Yao Cui went to open it, and it was a middle-aged man. She thinks for a while and remembers he is their County Hygiene Bureau Deputy Chief Zhang.

Yao Cui asked. “Why are you here, Chief Zhang?”

Deputy Chief Zhang quickly said. “Please don’t be so polite to me, Secretary Zhang. Just call me Old Zhang.”

“Huh? Please come in.” Yao Cui let Deputy Chief Zhang enters the courtyard and introduced him to her parents.

Yao Cui’s parents heard he was a leader and got up to receive him.

Deputy Chief Zhang panicked and said. “Please remain seated. I am only staying a while. Our department had gone to your breakfast stall and fined you all for hygiene issues. I reprimanded them. They are too much. Don’t worry. I will teach him a lesson again tomorrow morning. I promise it will not happen again. Oh, this is the fine you paid. I had brought it with me.”

Yao Cui’s mother replied. “It’s alright, Chief Zhang.”

“No, I must return you.” Deputy Chief Zhang replied. “I had checked. There are no issues with your stall’s hygiene. They had abused their powers, and I will deal with them after I return to the office.”

Yao Cui’s father said. “It’s not that serious. Let’s forget it.”

Deputy Chief Zhang replied. “You must keep the money and accept our compensation. We will feel bad if you all don’t accept it.”

Yao Cui is not stupid, and she replied. “We can accept the fines we paid, but we will not accept the compensations.”

Deputy Chief Zhang replied. “Alright…. I apologize again on behalf of the Hygiene Bureau.”

Yao Cui replied. “It’s alright. Our breakfast stall is still lacking in hygiene.”

They chatted for a while, and Deputy Chief Zhang left. But the door was closed, and someone knocked on the door again. She does not knock this person.

It was a man, in his thirties, in a suit.

That man saw Yao Cui and shook her hands with both hands. “Nice to meet you, Secretary Yao. You might not know me. I am our County’s Printing Factory’s HR Chief.”

The printing factory?”

Yao Cui’s father had asked his friend to help Yao Li get an interview at this factory.

This is a state-owned enterprise and has good benefits for its staff.

Yao Cui’s father asked his friend to help Yao Li get a job there, but they did not accept him. Yao Li was rejected in his first interview. It’s been three to four months, and they did not expect the printing factory’s leader to visit them.

Yao Cui shook that man’s hand. “Nice to meet you. Please come in.”

That man replied. “Sorry to bother you all at this hour.”

Yao Cui’s parents learned fast and did not stand to receive him. They sat there and nodded to that man.

That man said. “Nice to meet you, Uncle, Aunty. Ah, this must be Xiao Li. He is full of talents. Good….” He looked at Yao Li and nodded.

Yao Li felt uneasy because he had met this man before. He had interviewed Yao Li and was rude to him. During the interview, he even criticized Yao Li and said the latter was unsuitable for the printing factory. However, this State-owned enterprise’s HR Chief changed utterly.

Yao Cui’s father looked at him. “Why are you here for?”

That man replied. “I could tell Xiao Li was a talent when he came to our factory for an interview. I asked my men to monitor him, and we will groom him to be a leader. I am here to invite Xiao Li to join our unit. We will give him the best benefits.”

Yao Cui’s parents were surprised.

Yao Li was stunned and did not say anything.

That man continued. “I have spoken to my leaders, and Xiao Li will be a supervisor when he joins us. We can negotiate the salary and benefits.” He paused for a second and said. “We don’t want to miss a talent like Xiao Li, and that’s why we are making him a good offer. This is the first time we are hiring someone to be a supervisor. We know about Yao Li’s abilities, and it will be a loss to our unit if he doesn’t join us.”

Yao Cui’s mother’s lips twitched.

Yao Cui’s father kicked her leg’s lightly to remind her.

Yao Cui paused for a while and turned to Yao Li. “What do you think, Brother?”

Yao Li quickly said. “I… I will listen to you, Sis.”

Yao Cui thought for a while and said. “Give it a try, then.”

“Alright.” Yao Li was excited. This is a State-owned enterprise, and he will join as a supervisor.

Yao Cui turned to that man. “Thank you. My brother is honest. Please take care of him.”

That man understood what Yao Cui meant. Asking him to take care of Yao Li meant not to let anyone bully him at work. He was speechless. Who dares to bully Yao Li when his sister is the County’s Executive Deputy Mayor’s secretary and former classmate?

Yao Li’s job was settled.

That man left, and Yao Cui’s parents sighed with relief.

They knew a County leader’s secretary was powerful, but they did not know she was so influential. Cui Er was interviewed by the Organization Department today, and so many people visited them in the evening. They returned the fines they paid and offered Yao Li a job.

These were not the only visitors.

Visitors came one after another.

Some were County leaders who wanted to meet Mayor Dong, and some wanted to treat Yao Cui to dinner. One of them even tried to introduce her to a boyfriend!

Yao Cui’s parents were speechless.

Yao Cui was too influential.

This is the power of an Executive Deputy County Mayor.