Power and Wealth

Next day.

Morning.

The sun is bright, and the weather is good.

Dong Xuebing felt the blue sky was the only thing nice in Zhen Shui County. The sky here is much bluer compared to Beijing and Fen Zhou City. He can see the tall mountains and clouds far away. The lovely scenery and fresh air made him feel better as he walked to work.

Dong Xuebing was still far from his workplace, and his phone rang.

Ring… ring… ring…. The number is from the County Mayor's Office. He had saved the numbers of leaders and departments on his phone.

Dong Xuebing answered. “Hello, I am Dong Xuebing.”

A young woman said. “Hello, Mayor Dong. I am Mayor Jiang’s communication officer, Li Xiaona. Mayor Jiang wants to meet you when you arrive at work.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “Yes. I am on my way.”

“Ok. I will hang up then.”

“Ok. Thank you, Secretary Li, for informing me.”

“Don’t mention it.”

About 15 minutes later.

Dong Xuebing arrived at his workplace on time. He checked the time and went straight to Jiang Fangfang’s office.

County Mayor's office.

Dong Xuebing knocked and entered. The layout of Jiang Fangfang’s office was different. He had been here before, but he did not stop at the secretary’s office outside. Jiang Fangfang’s office is at the back of her secretary’s office. Anyone who wants to enter her office can walk past her secretary. Jiang Fangfang had brought him directly to her office, and he did not meet Li Xiaona that day. However, Li Xiaona was at her table, packing her stuff. She is in her twenties and has average looks.

“Mayor Dong.” Li Xiaona greeted.

Dong Xuebing smiled. “Nice to meet you, Secretary Na. Is Mayor Jiang free now?”

“Please wait while I check with Mayor Jiang.” Li Xiaona knocked on the door and entered. She closed the door behind her.

Dong Xuebing knew someone should be inside, or she would not close the door after she entered.

About ten seconds later.

Li Xiaona came out and said. “Mayor Dong. Mayor Jiang asked you to go in.”

A man came out of the office with Li Xiaona. Dong Xuebing had met him at his welcome lunch on his first day. He is Zhen Shui County’s Political and Legal Committee Secretary and Public Security Bureau Chief, Chu Peng. He is Jiang Fangfang’s only supporter in the County Party Committee.

Dong Xuebing smiled. “Chief Chu.”

Chu Peng seemed to be in a bad mood, but he forced a smile. “Mayor Dong.”

Dong Xuebing said. “Mayor Jiang wants to meet me. I will go in first.”

Chu Peng nodded. “Let’s have a chat when you are free. I got to go too.”

Inside the office.

Dong Xuebing knocked and entered. He closed the door behind him.

“Seat.” Jiang Fangfang looked at Dong Xuebing and kept the document she was holding in the drawer.

“Are you looking for me?” Dong Xuebing looked at Jiang Fangfang and remembered she had washed his socks and underwear last night. He took a deep breath to calm himself and sat opposite her.

Jiang Fangfang behaved as if nothing had happened. “I called you here to inform you the city had approved your nomination into the Party Committee. You are a Zhen Wei County Party Committee member. The City’s Organization Department will be meeting you later. The Party Committee is the top decision maker of the county, and I hope you will do your best for our County’s development.”

The Party Committee’s appointment is confirmed.

Dong Xuebing was overjoyed. He immediately thanked Jiang Fangfang and the organization.

Jiang Fangfang replied. “One more thing. Secretary Meng is back. You had not met him since you were appointed. You should report to him.”

Dong Xuebing paused for a second and nodded. “Yes. I will go after this.”

Jiang Fangfang nodded. “Alright, that’s all.”

Dong Xuebing left Jiang Fangfang’s office.

After Dong Xuebing left, Jiang Fangfang called her secretary in. “Xiao Li, come in for a while.”

Li Xiaona quickly enters the office. “Mayor.”

Jiang Fangfang said. “You don’t need to ask for permission the next time Mayor Dong comes and looks for me. Just let him in.”

Li Xiaona was surprised. “What if you are busy or have visitors?”

Jiang Fangfang repeated. “You don’t need to ask me when he is here.”

Li Xiaona nodded. “Yes. I know.”

Li Xiaona was confused after she returned to her seat. Dong Xuebing can enter Mayor Jiang’s office without any prior permission?! It’s OK if it is Chu Peng, as he is Mayor Jiang’s trusted aide. What if Mayor Jiang is busy? It is her duty to inform or ask her before letting any visitors enter her office. Why is she giving Mayor Dong this authority? Is it because of Mayor Dong’s background? It cannot be…. Everyone knows Dong Xuebing is here to gain experience and has a strong background. This is Zhen Shui County. Everyone’s background is useless, and Mayor Jiang should not be concerned about it. Li Xiaona had worked for Mayor Jiang as her secretary for many years. She had never seen her treating anyone like this. Why is she treating Mayor Dong differently?

Suddenly, Li Xiaona thought of a possibility. She remembered Dong Xuebing’s face and got scared. She quickly switched on her PC and looked for Mayor Jiang’s dead husband’s photographs.

This was when he was thirty….

Twenty-eight….

Li Xiaona found Mayor Jiang’s husband’s photograph when he was twenty-two and was shocked.

Resemblance….

Dong Xuebing bore a resemblance to Mayor Jiang’s husband when the latter was in his early twenties!

Li Xiaona slapped her forehead. She should have thought of it. It’s been a while since Mayor Jiang’s husband passed away, and she had forgotten about him.

Li Xiaona knew Mayor Jiang had lent her car to Mayor Dong, and this instruction…. No wonder Mayor Jiang treats Mayor Dong differently.

Mayor Dong looks like Mayor Jiang’s dead husband.

Or… could it be Mayor Jiang likes this type of man?

Regardless of the reason, Li Xiaona had to keep this to herself. She cannot let anyone knows about this.