Power and Wealth

After dinner.

Beijing, Wang Fu Restaurant.

Dong Xuebing returned to the private room and brought Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei into the elevator without saying anything.

Yan Yizhi asked curiously. “Mayor Dong, we are….”

Dong Xuebing replied. “The guesthouse in Beijing is too far. We will stay here.”

Yan Yizhi was shocked. “This place is too expensive. I think we should….”

Dong Xuebing replied nonchalantly. “It’s fine. I booked the rooms for five days and had paid.”

Chen Xiaomei said. “Mayor Dong, we… we should not let you pay.”

“It’s fine. I paid for the rooms. Let’s go.” Dong Xuebing did not book the rooms as they were Secretary Meng’s faction. He does not need to treat them so well. However, he was tired from the flight and did not want to stay in a cheap hotel or the arranged guesthouse. Anyway, the rooms cost nothing to him.

Upstairs.

Along the corridor.

The elevator reached their floors, and they stepped out.

A front desk supervisor and two staff were waiting for them. They smiled at Dong Xuebing. “You must be Mr. Dong. We have prepared the rooms for you. This way, please.”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.” The supervisor walked in front.

Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei had never stayed in Wang Fu Restaurant and thought all guests would receive the same service. No wonder this is a five stars restaurant and hotel, which is so expensive.

They reached their room.

The supervisor pointed to the rooms beside her. “It’s these three rooms, Mr. Dong.”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “Alright. Thank you. Sorry to trouble you.”

The supervisor quickly reply. “It’s my job. Have a good rest. We are going back to work. Please call the front desk if you need anything. My surname is Li, and I am the lobby supervisor. Let the front desk know if you need me. I will be here within five minutes.”

Dong Xuebing thanked her again. “Thank you.”

The supervisor left with her staff.

Chen Xiaomei said. “The service here is excellent.”

Yan Yizhi replied. “This is a five-star hotel. Of course, the service is good.”

Dong Xuebing did not say anything. He knows the service was good because he is the Xie Family’s son-in-law.

“Let’s go.” Dong Xuebing replied. “We will have a short meeting in my room first.”

Inside the elevator.

A staff asked curiously. “Who are those people, Sister Li?”

The supervisor frowned. “Stop asking.”

The staff scratched his head and did not continue.

They were curious. They had hosted government leaders before but had never seen their General Manager and Assistant Manager receiving them personally. These people were only staying in standard rooms. Only leaders from the Central Government received such treatment in the past.

That Mr. Dong looks like he is in his mid-twenties and does not look like a leader of the Central Government.

The supervisor said softly. “Be alert, especially towards that, Mr. Dong. Give them whatever they want, and don’t worry about the bills. Don’t ever ask them for money and put everything on the tab. He is someone we cannot offend. Even our Managers got to be cautious around him. Do you think he is a nobody?”

“I remember.”

“Yes, Sister Li.”

“Ok. Don’t ask anything in the future. I am saying these for your good. You might offend others unknowingly.”

“We understand.”

Inside the hotel room.

Wang Fu’s standard room is bigger than other hotels’ rooms. This was Dong Xuebing’s first time staying there, and he looked around curiously.

“Sit.” Dong Xuebing said.

There was a sofa in the room, and Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei sat there.

Dong Xuebing sat on a chair and said. “We will be going to the Finance Department to ask for funding tomorrow. How did our County do this in the past?”

Yan Yizhi looked at Chen Xiaomei and said. “We would first look for Chief Chen’s relative and ask him to bring us into the Finance Department. After that, we would look for the leader. However, we seldom meet the leader and can only fix an appointment to meet him. We might have to wait for a few days before we get to meet him. We might not even get to see him if we are unlucky. After all, we are not going through the proper procedures to request funding, and it’s up to the leader’s mood.”

Dong Xuebing asked. “How many times have we come to ask for assistance?”

Yan Yizhi replied. “We came almost every year. I had come in the previous two years, but….” He paused for a second. “We did meet the leader but had never succeeded in getting money. They do not care about us, and we can do nothing about it.”

Dong Xuebing frowned. “We did not even get a cent from them?”

Yan Yizhi nodded. “Yes.”

“This is tough.” Dong Xuebing thought for a while and said. “We will try your usual methods tomorrow.”

Yan Yizhi turned to Chen Xiaomei.

Dong Xuebing said. “We got to trouble you, Chief Chen.”

Chen Xiaomei replied. “It’s fine. I… I will contact my cousin later. I told him before we came and he would work tomorrow. It should not be a problem.”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “Alright. It’s settled. Just try your best. We will think of something else if it doesn’t work out. Have a good rest, and we will go to the Finance Department tomorrow morning. Let’s meet at the lobby tomorrow at nine.”

Yan Yizhi stood up. “Ok. We will go back to our rooms now.”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “Rest early today.”

Chen Xiaomei said. “Thank you for the meal, Mayor Dong.”

Dong Xuebing smiled and waved his hand. “Don’t mention it. Call me if you need anything. Do you all have my number?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Good night.”

“Good night to you.”

They left.