Power and Wealth

Morning.

County Party Secretary Office.

Knock, knock…. Dong Xuebing knocked, and a middle-aged man said, “Come in” from the office. He opened the door and closed it behind him.

“Good morning, Secretary Meng.”

“Oh, you are?”

“I am Dong Xuebing. I am here to report.”

“Ah, you are Mayor Dong. Sit.”

Dong Xuebing did not sit with half his butt touching the chair. He sat properly as Secretary Meng, whose rank was not too far apart. Of course, he did not lean on the backrest, as he must show his respect. He took a good look at Secretary Meng. The latter is a middle-aged man with a mustache who looks ordinary. He should be in his fifties, and he has the aura of a leader.

“How is it?” Meng Rui looked at Dong Xuebing. “Have you gotten used to Zhen Shui County?”

Dong Xuebing smiled. “Yes. The environment and people here are nice.”

They exchanged pleasantries and did not talk about anything important.

They chatted for a while, and Meng Rui said. “We have a Party Committee Meeting to discuss our County’s finances later. Prepare yourself for the meeting.”

“Alright.”

“I will see you later.”

“Ok. I am going back now.”

Dong Xuebing thought Meng Rui would try to recruit him and had prepared his answer. He still does not want to join any sides, but Meng Rui did not bring it up. Dong Xuebing could only think of a few possibilities. First, Meng Rui thought nothing of him, and it didn’t matter if he joined. Second, Meng Rui is confident he will join his side. After all, Mayor Jiang’s influence in the County was no match for him. Third, Meng Rui is in a bad mood or has not managed to borrow money from the Provincial Government. He has no mood to recruit Dong Xuebing. These reasons are all possible, especially the second reason.

Along the corridor.

Dong Xuebing thought for a while and returned to the Mayor's Office. As the County Government’s No. 2 and is in charge of the Finance department, he should meet Mayor Jiang before the Party Committee Meeting start. He was assigned to oversee this department yesterday and had not yet checked the County’s financial status.

Mayor Office.

Dong Xuebing knocked on the door.

“Please come in.” Li Xiaona said.

Dong Xuebing entered and asked. “Is Mayor Jiang in?”

“Mayor Dong.” Li Xiaona immediately stood up. “Mayor Jiang is not in her office but will be back soon. You can….” She wanted to ask him to wait outside but remembered Mayor Jiang’s instructions earlier. “You can wait in her office.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “I will wait here.”

“It’s fine. You can wait inside.” Li Xiaona said.

“Alright.” Dong Xuebing turned and entered Mayor Jiang’s office.

Li Xiaona looked at Dong Xuebing’s back with complicated feelings.

Inside the office.

Dong Xuebing noticed Li Xiaona looking at him weirdly and frowned. Why did Secretary Li treat him differently from earlier?

What is going on?”

Mayor Jiang is also treating me differently. Why is everyone so weird?

Dong Xuebing touched his face and thought to himself. Since when did I become so charming?

One minute….

Two minutes….

Mayor Jiang is not back yet.

It was a last-minute Party Committee meeting, and Mayor Jiang should be busy now.

Dong Xuebing sat in the office and looked around curiously. Suddenly, he noticed a photo frame on the desk, facing Mayor Jiang at an angle. From his position, he could see part of a man’s face, which looked familiar. This photo was not on her desk earlier when he visited. Who is this man?

Dong Xuebing got curious and knew this man should be Jiang Fangfang’s dead husband. He wants to see how her husband looks, but the office door is open. Mayor Jiang is not around, and he will not close the door. He looked out of the office and could not see Li Xiaona.

No one will know if he looked at the photo.

Dong Xuebing knew this was wrong, but he was too curious. He wants to know what her dead husband looks like.

Dong Xuebing got up and walked over. He took a glance at the photo.

The glass on the photo frame was covered with fingerprints. Jiang Fangfang must have touched the photo countless times. It was a photograph of a couple. The girl is Jiang Fangfang, in her early twenties. She looked fresh from school and did not look as pretty now. The background is a school building, and Dong Xuebing looks at that man. He was stunned. Why is his photo here?

Damn!

What is going on?

Dong Xuebing looked at the photo carefully again, and the man in the photo was not him. He had never met Jiang Fangfang before coming to Zhen Shui County and had never taken pictures with her. The man’s nose and some details differ from his, but his eyes and mouth are almost identical. Overall, this man looks 70 to 80% like him.

This man is Mayor Jiang’s husband?!

How come he resembles me so much?!

Dong Xuebing immediately understood many things. Why did Mayor Jiang lend him his car instead of others… why did she cook dinner for him and wash his clothes…. He looks like her dead husband, and she treats him as his replacement.

Dong Xuebing immediately got all the answers.

Suddenly, there were sounds outside. Jiang Fangfang seems to be back.

“Mayor.” Li Xiaona said. “Mayor Dong is here. He is waiting in your office.”

“Ok. I know.” Jiang Fangfang walked slowly into the office and closed the door behind her.

Dong Xuebing had returned to his seat when he heard Jiang Fangfang returning, and he stood up to greet her. “Mayor Jiang.”

“Are you looking for me?” Jiang Fangfang asked as she walked to her seat.

Dong Xuebing said. “It is regarding our County’s finances.”

Jiang Fangfang stood before her desk and saw the photo frame. She reached out and pushed it facing down. “What is it?” She pulled out a drawer and kept the photo frame.

Dong Xuebing pretended he did not notice it.

A few minutes later.

Dong Xuebing left the office. He was still thinking about that photograph on his way back. He could not describe his feelings or know how to handle them. He found out why Jiang Fangfang treated him so well but still could not understand her. Sigh…. He still needs time to understand her better.

10 am.

The Party Committee meeting is about to start.

This was Dong Xuebing’s first Party Committee meeting. He had not attended such meetings before. He must be prepared.

Small meeting room.

The Party Committee members start to enter the meeting room.

Party Secretary: Meng Rui

Mayor: Jiang Fangfang

Deputy Secretary: Zhang Wanshui

Organization Department Minister: Liao Haiwei

Discipline Inspection Secretary: Pu An

Political and Legal Secretary: Chu Peng

Publicity Department Chief: Cheng Fuguang

United Front Work Department Minister: Jian Xiangrong

Party Committee Office Director: Jiang Hai

Deputy Mayor: Ci Boyang

Of course, Executive Deputy Mayor Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing should be positioned after Chu Peng based on the powers and authorities. Every County is different, and his position should be in the middle. However, he is now in the County and one of the last few committee members.

Dong Xuebing found his seat and drank his tea from his thermos flask.

Some leaders started chatting with Dong Xuebing.

“Mayor Dong…”

“Haha…. Old Jian still has not met Mayor Dong. He is our Province's youngest Deputy Mayor leader.”

“I had not visited the County Party Committee building these days. Nice to meet you, Mayor Dong. I am Jian Xiangrong. I am in charge of the United Front Work Department.”

Dong Xuebing returned their greetings and remembered their names. Yao Cui had told him about the County’s political situation and the relationships between the leaders.