Power and Wealth

Evening.

Dong Xuebing looked at the moon from Wang Fu's standard room and smiled. He lit a cigarette and smoked by the window. He felt relaxed in the city he grew up.

Dong Xuebing finished a cigarette and closed the windows. He lay on the bed and called Xie Huilan’s younger cousin, Xie Jing.

Ring… ring… ring….

“Hello, Xiao Jing.” Dong Xuebing said.

Xie Jing replied. “Bro-in-law…. Haha…. What do you need from me?”

Dong Xuebing smiled. “Nothing. How are you and your boyfriend? Have you met him recently?”

Xie Jing cleared her throat. “I met him once. Sun Kai is doing well at the school you recommended and was promoted to team leader. He asked me to thank you.”

“It’s nothing. I did not do much either.”

“Sun Kai would be jobless if it wasn’t for you.”

“No…. Xiao Sun is capable and honest. He will find a way out without me.”

“Which organization in Beijing will dare to hire him after what my parents say?”

“Are your parents still angry?”

“Yes, and I think….”

“Huh?”

Xie Jing paused for a few seconds and said. “They seemed to know you had arranged a job for Sun Kai at Lu An City. Sorry, Brother Dong. I dragged you into this.”

Dong Xuebing smiled. “They will know eventually. My mother is in Lu An City, and Sun Kai was transferred there. Everyone will know I am behind it. It’s fine.” He did not think much about it as he was prepared. He knew he could not hide it and should not interfere with Xie Jing’s family affairs. However, he could not reject her pleas after she cried.

“Oh, where are your parents?” Dong Xuebing asked.

Xie Jing replied. “My Mum is watching the news, and my dad is outstation.”

Dong Xuebing asked. “He is outstation? When will he be back?”

Xie Jing said. “I am not sure. I think he will be back the day after tomorrow. Are you looking for my Dad?”

“Ah, nothing. I am just asking.” Dong Xuebing replied. “It’s fine. Rest early and take care of yourself.”

Xie Guoliang is outstation and will be back the day after tomorrow.

Dong Xuebing hung up the call without asking Xie Jing too much. He also did not tell her he was in Beijing and would go to the Finance Department to ask for money. Her father, Xie Guoliang, is the First Deputy Minister of the Finance Ministry, and Dong Xuebing should look for him. But he is not around and feels awkward calling him because of Xie Jing’s boyfriend incident. He still does not know if Xie Jing’s parents are angry with him. Sigh….

What should I do tomorrow?

Let’s try using the usual method first.

Dong Xuebing must not fail this mission. After getting appointed, this is his first task, and he must prove himself.

10 million RMB….

I must get it at all costs.

Next door.

Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei entered a room and sat on the sofa.

Compared to Dong Xuebing’s positivity, they seemed to be down.

Chen Xiaomei asked. “Chief Yan, will we support Mayor Dong in getting the fund?”

Yan Yizhi glanced at her and said. “What are you saying? What do you mean by going to support him?”

Chen Xiaomei asked cautiously. “I am afraid Secretary Meng might get mad with us. Mayor Dong had argued with him and offended other Committee members. I think Secretary Meng does not want Mayor Dong to succeed. Should we….” They had worked together for many years and did not hide anything from each other. They were both on Secretary Meng’s side and could discuss openly. Chen Xiaomei could not tell what the higher-ups were thinking and wondered if they should create some problems for Dong Xuebing. If Dong Xuebing could not get the fund, Secretary Meng could continue suppressing Mayor Jiang and her people. She felt this was what Secretary Meng wanted. However, she was unsure if she guessed his intentions correctly and came to discuss them with Yan Yizhi.

Yan Yizhi waved his hand. “We should do what we are supposed to do.”

Chen Xiaomei nodded and waited for him to continue.

Yan Yizhi continued. “But we have many National-level impoverished counties in our country. The Central Government will not give out funds whenever they ask for assistance. Did you forget what happened when we came to the Central Government in the past few years? They ignored us completely, and Secretary Meng only gave Mayor Dong one week. Even Mayor Jiang might not get a single cent in a month.”

Chen Xiaomei nodded. “That’s right.”

Yan Yizhi continued. “We are here as a formality and do whatever Mayor Dong asked us to do. It has nothing to do with us if we can get the fund. After all, it was Mayor Jiang and Mayor Dong who suggested this. They will be the ones getting embarrassed.”

Chen Xiaomei kept quiet for a few seconds and said. “I understand.”

However, Yan Yizhi wished they could get the fund. He is the Finance Department Chief, and his authority will increase if his department has funds. He does not want to be bugged by other departments for funds or go to the City and Provincial Governments to beg for money. He knows it is almost impossible for the Central Government to issue funds to them after the Provincial Government rejected Secretary Meng. He sighed. Working in Zhen Shui County was tough, and he had had enough of it. He would ask for a transfer to another place if he had connections. Even a Finance Department Deputy Chief in another County or District holds more power than Zhen Shui County Finance Department Chief.

Ring… ring… ring….

Chen Xiaomei looked at her phone. “It’s my cousin.” She answered. “Hello?”

A middle-aged man said. “Xiao Mei, have you all arrived in Beijing?”

Chen Xiaomei replied. “Yes. We arrived a few hours ago.”

“Are you all coming to ask for funds again?” Chen Xiaomei’s cousin grumbled. “I told you many times it will not work even if you come every month. The higher-ups will not issue funds, and the Finance Ministry leaders cannot help you. It might be possible if one of the Finance Ministry’s Deputy Ministers agrees. But I had worked here for so many years and had only met them a few times.”

Chen Xiaomei said. “I understand. Sorry to trouble you, Brother. But the County Party Secretary ordered us to come, and we had no choice.”

“Just don’t harbor any hopes.”

“I know. We will not put you in a difficult position.”

“Good that you all are prepared. When are you all coming?”

“We should be going tomorrow morning.”

“Ok. Call me when you all are at the entrance. I will bring you all in. But I cannot promise that the leaders will meet you all. I am only a Deputy Chief here and don’t know if the leaders want to help. After all, I was promoted to Deputy Section Chief not long ago.”

Chen Xiaomei was surprised. “You are a Deputy Section Chief now?!”

“Yes. A Deputy Chief retired recently, and I took over his position. Sigh…. It is nothing to be proud of, and you had become a Deputy Section Chief earlier than me.”

Chen Xiaomei replied. “It’s different. You are a Deputy Chief of a department in the Central Government, and I am Deputy Chief in an impoverished grassroots county.”

“Alright, stop flattering me. Haha…. Come early tomorrow, and I will try to arrange a meeting with the leaders.”

“Sure. Thank you.”

“Ok. I still got something on. Bye.”

Chen Xiaomei used to be close with her cousin, but she had to trouble him every year when they came to the Finance Ministry. Her cousin was frustrated, but he still tried to help because of their relationship. Otherwise, they might not even get to enter the compound. All cars and people got to register before entering.

Chen Xiaomei looked at Yan Yizhi after hanging up. “Chief Yan.”

Yan Yizhi had overheard Chen Xiaomei’s conversation with her cousin. “Your cousin is a Deputy Chief now, and we might succeed this time. Hmm…. Let me think.”

Chen Xiaomei asked. “Should I ask my cousin to help or….”

Yan Yizhi clenched his teeth and said. “I think we should trouble him and ask him to help us arrange the meeting with the leaders. It would be great if we could get the funds. Mayor Dong and Secretary Meng’s rivalry has nothing to do with us. I only know our Finance Department needs money.”

Chen Xiaomei nodded.