Power and Wealth

Next day.

Morning.

Dong Xuebing did not bring any luggage. He only brought his work bag to work. He will be flying back to Beijing later today.

County Party Committee Building.

“Mayor Dong.”

“Good morning, Mayor Dong.”

A few staff greeted Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing returned their greetings and continued to the County Government Building.

Today was different from yesterday. Fewer staff greeted Dong Xuebing, and the ones who greeted him had done it for the sake of doing it. The staff members and leaders from the County Party Committee were not as friendly as yesterday. Dong Xuebing could feel it, and this was because of his actions at the Committee meeting yesterday. He did not care, and he was prepared after he decided to support Jiang Fangfang yesterday.

Inside the office.

Yao Cui was preparing tea in a thermos flask.

Dong Xuebing said. “Cui Er, you don’t need to brew tea. I will be flying off later in the morning.” He looked at the time. “I am leaving in two hours. I must go to a nearby city to catch a flight or be late.”

Yao Cui ignored him and stood there without saying a word.

Dong Xuebing asked. “What’s wrong?”

Yao Cui grumbled. “Who asked you not to bring me along.”

Dong Xuebing explained. “I want to bring you along, but you got work to do here.”

Yao Cui retorted. “I am your secretary. What work do I have after you leave?”

Dong Xuebing replied. “The departments I oversee will look for you when I am not around. You can also contact me anything when something happens here. Who is going to coordinate the work here if we are not around? Didn’t you say asking for money from the Central Government is tough?”

Yao Cui sighed. “I want to follow because I know it will be tough. You had helped me a lot, and I had not done anything to repay you. I felt bad.”

“It’s alright.”

“You will be bringing two people with you on this trip. Is it fine?”

“It does not matter.”

“Alright. I will stay and coordinate with you.”

“Yes. You can decide on all the minor issues. Just say it’s my order.”

“Haha…. You are giving me lots of power.”

“No. Secretary has this power.”

“Alright. I will decide for you on minor issues and consult you if anything major happens.”

“Ok. Haha…. I will bring some local delicacies from Beijing. I think it’s been a while since you ate Beijing roast duck.”

“Sure. I am looking forward to it.”

Dong Xuebing packed his bag and left his office.

Outside.

An old Geely was parked outside, and everyone was waiting for Dong Xuebing.

The County Government driver will send Dong Xuebing to the airport, and a middle-aged woman will sit in the front passenger seat. Dong Xuebing had met her yesterday. She is Chen Xiaomei, and she has a relative working in Beijing Finance Department. That’s why Dong Xuebing brought her along. Her relative is only a staff member in the Finance Department, but it will be helpful to Dong Xuebing. The Finance Department Chief, Yan Yizhi, sat in the rear passenger seat. They are going to the Central Government to seek funding, and he must be around.

Everyone got out of the car when Dong Xuebing appeared.

“Mayor Dong.”

“Mayor Dong.”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “Let’s go.”

“Ok.” Yan Yizhi opened the door for Dong Xuebing, but he did it unwillingly. Dong Xuebing knows he is on Secretary Meng’s side and controls the County’s finances. He would consult Secretary Meng if anyone, including Jiang Fangfang, needed money from the finance department.

Dong Xuebing looked at him and entered the car.

Yan Yizhi sat beside Dong Xuebing.

Chen Xiaomei did not say anything. She is Yan Yizhi’s trusted aide and is also on Secretary Meng’s side. They didn’t dare to show a bad attitude towards Dong Xuebing, but they were not happy to go with him. Everything had changed.

The car moved off.

Ten minutes….

Thirty minutes….

One hour….

No one said a word in the car, and they arrived at the airport.

No big cities were near Zhen Shui County, and the airport was tiny.

Dong Xuebing got out of the car and turned. “Thank you, Old Li.”

Driver Old Li quickly replies. “Don’t mention it. I am going back now.”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “Drive safely.”

Old Li quickly thanked Dong Xuebing and left after they entered the airport. He was polite to Dong Xuebing because the latter was still a leader regardless of which side he was on. Moreover, Dong Xuebing treated everyone with respect. Not every leader will wish their drivers to drive safely after they get out of the car.

Dong Xuebing will treat everyone with respect as long as they respect him.

Yan Yizhi looked at Dong Xuebing. He saw Dong Xuebing arguing with six Party Committee members yesterday and thought he was arrogant. He did not expect Dong Xuebing to speak to a driver politely. He was different from yesterday.