Power and Wealth

Afternoon.

End of the work day.

Dong Xuebing took a bus back and lay on his bed, thinking about what had happened today.

Dong Xuebing was facing two problems now.

First, which side should he join?

Second, how is he going to start his work? How can he achieve results fast?

The rest are all minor issues compared to these two problems. If Dong Xuebing wants to be promoted and transferred back early, he got to solve these two problems. He needs results and a recommendation from a local leader. With the help of Xie Huilan and her family, he should get the promotion. So, picking the right side is essential. He would fail if he was suppressed by the leader and had no power. He thought for a while and felt he should not rush. He should familiarize himself with the place first.

Rushing to achieve results….

Rushing to prove himself….

These will give others a wrong impression of him.

Dong Xuebing calmed himself and looked at the time. It was after 6 pm, and he was feeling a bit hungry. His apartment was empty, and there was nothing for him to eat.

I should have bought some food on my way back.

I can only go out and see if there are any restaurants open.

Ring… ring… ring…. Dong Xuebing’s phone rang. It was Yao Cui.

“Have you eaten, Xuebing?”

“I am about to go out for dinner.”

“Come and eat at my place.”

“No. I have eaten at your place for the past few days. I feel bad to bother you all.”

“It’s fine. Are you treating me as an outsider? How about I go over to your place to cook for you?”

“No need. You came and cleaned up my place yesterday. It’s not good.”

“Are you afraid of people gossiping about us? It should be fine as I am your secretary, right? We don’t have any secretaries of the opposite sex as the leader. Err…. You, wife, are around, and it might be…. Never mind. Go and have your dinner at a restaurant.”

“I am not afraid of gossip. I just don’t want you to be tired. We are friends after work, and I cannot be asking you to clean my place and cook for me.”

“It’s alright. Are you not treating me as a friend?”

“Haha…. Of course not.”

“Alright. Call me if you need anything. I am your secretary, and being on call anytime is part of my job. My friend told me this afternoon that a secretary had to work 24 hours without rest.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“Anyway, just call me, and I will be there.”

“Ok. I will call you if I need help.”

“Hurry and get your dinner.”

Dong Xuebing smiled to himself after hanging up. He was grateful to meet a former classmate here. It made him feel at ease. At his level, he must be cautious when speaking to others here. He cannot share his problems, emotions, or feelings with others here except for Yao Cui.

Dong Xuebing left his apartment to look for a restaurant.

There were a few restaurants outside the family quarters but looks dirty and unhygienic. Dong Xuebing lost his appetite when he saw the restaurants. He is not a picky eater and is fine eating at such places back in Beijing. Some dirty roadside stalls sold good food in Beijing. The dirtier it was, the better the food was. However, it was different here. These were ordinary restaurants without any specialties. Dong Xuebing looked around and did not find any markets. He could not get groceries as he was unfamiliar with this place. He could not eat at restaurants and could not find any markets. There’s also no McDonald’s or KFC around either.

Fine. I will go back.

I will not die from missing dinner.

Dong Xuebing is young and can withstand hunger. He thought nothing about it and walked back to the family quarters. The family quarter was rundown, and the surrounding had nothing. There were no plants or facilities. It was just pathetic.

Downstairs.

This is the estate’s second building.

Dong Xuebing was about to enter the building when he noticed a beautiful woman.

It was Jiang Fangfang, Zhen Sui County’s Mayor.

Dong Xuebing stopped.

Dong Xuebing remembered Mayor Jiang was wearing a light color suit at work today, and she had changed. Her clothes were now fashionable. It’s normal for female leaders to change after they get home. Xie Huilan also likes to dress casually after work. They cannot dress casually to work as people would talk about it. She was wearing white baggy pants, black stockings, and black heels. Her top was a red coat, and her hair was pinned up in a bun.

Beautiful.

It’s hard to imagine you can find such a beautiful woman in a rundown county. Although Jiang Fangfang is in her thirties, she is still very attractive.

“Mayor Jiang.” Dong Xuebing greeted.

Jiang Fangfang turned and nodded. “Oh, Mayor Dong.”

Dong Xuebing looked at the rubbish bin in front of her. “Are you throwing out your trash?”

Jiang Fangfang nodded gracefully. “I had not been taking out the trash for a few days. Didn’t you finish work early today? Did you go for dinner?”

Dong Xuebing smiled. “I did not eat.”

“Why?” Jiang Fangfang asked.

“The restaurants…. Err… does not suit my taste.”

“And you are not eating?”

“I am not that hungry. I will look around later at night.”

Jiang Fangfang threw her last trash bag into the bin and looked at Dong Xuebing. “Even though you are young, you must take care of your health.”

“Yes. I will buy some groceries later.”

They chatted as they entered the hallway. This building was for the County Government leaders and their families, and Jiang Fangfang was staying there too. Dong Xuebing was living one floor below her.

They walked up the stairs together.

Mayor Jiang is Dong Xuebing’s leader, and he cannot walk in front of her. He purposely walked one step behind her to show his respect. He regrated this decision. Jiang Fangfang walked slowly, and he got to take one step at a time behind her. He had met several female leaders like Xu Yan and Geng Yuehua. Even Xie Huilan does things quickly. But Jiang Fangfang is the first female leader that does things slowly.

They finally reached the third floor after a while.

Dong Xuebing is impatient and has never climbed the stairs so slowly in his life. He was covered in sweat when he reached his floor. On his way up, he sneaks glances at Jiang Fangfang’s body.

“Are you staying on this floor?” Jiang Fangfang turned.

Dong Xuebing replied. “Yes. I am staying at this unit.”

“Wait for me here.” Jiang Fangfang continued upstairs.

Dong Xuebing was stunned and did not understand what she meant. Wait for you? Why are you asking me to wait?

However, Dong Xuebing stood there and waited as Jiang Fangfang was his leader. He waited and looked upstairs.

Five minutes later.

Click… click… click…. Footsteps can be heard from upstairs.

Jiang Fangfang appeared at the stairs, and she looked at she was floating down the stairs. Her body did not move when she walked.

To Dong Xuebing’s surprise, he saw Jiang Fangfang holding a plastic bag of vegetables, meat, and eggs.

“Why are you….” Dong Xuebing was confused.

Jiang Fangfang replied indifferently. “I am staying alone and have not taken my dinner. We can eat together.” She said and entered Dong Xuebing’s apartment. “You are from Beijing and have never lived in this environment before. You still have not gotten used to it and will not like the restaurants outside. You also cannot find the market. The market is not far from here, but it is secluded. I will let you know where the market is another time.”

Dong Xuebing was stunned for a second and quickly followed her. “Thank you. Let me cook, and you can try my cooking.”

“Next time. I will cook it this time.”

“How can I let you cook?”

“It’s fine. Go and watch tv.”

Sweat was flowing down his forehead. “No, Mayor Jiang.”

Jiang Fangfang did not reply and walked slowly into the kitchen. She turned on the tap and started washing the vegetables without any expression on her face. She looked like she was smiling, but she was not.

“Let me wash the vegetables.”

“It’s alright.”

Dong Xuebing was anxious. How can he let his leader cook dinner for him? Mayor Jiang is a leader with actual authority.

Is she trying to pull me to her side?

Even if she wants me to join her side, she does not need to lower herself and cook for me.