Power and Wealth

Afternoon.

The banquet ended.

The guests walked out of the hotel. Some returned to work, and some returned home. Dong Xuebing did not leave. He waved Yao Cui over.

“Mayor Dong.”

“How much do you all give for wedding gifts?”

“Huh? The County Leaders would give before the wedding.”

“I was away the past few days. I must give Secretary Pu a wedding gift. How much is suitable?”

“Our County’s economy is not good, and most people would give a few hundred. I think you can give 1,000 RMB.”

“Alright. I will give one thousand RMB. I did not bring any red packets with me. Can you help me get one?”

“Ok. I will help you ask around. What about Deputy Secretary Zhang? Do you need another red packet for them?”

“Just one red packet will do.” Dong Xuebing is still angry with Zhang Wanshui. He will not give his family a red packet.

Yao Cui smiled wearily. Most government leaders, especially leaders at Dong Xuebing’s level, would leave some leeway. He drives a 4 million RMB car and smokes a few hundred RMB a carton cigarette. One thousand RMB is nothing to him. But he refused to give Secretary Zhang’s family a wedding gift. She wanted to persuade him, but many people were around. She nodded and went to look for an empty red packet. They might be former classmates, but she knows her place. She would not persuade Dong Xuebing in front of others as she is only his secretary.

The red packet is here.

Dong Xuebing stuffed one thousand RMB into it and walked to Pu Yao.

“Mayor Dong.” Pu Yao saw Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing smiled and passed the red packet to her. “Congratulations.”

Pu Tao quickly rejects it. “No need, Mayor Dong. You helped us a lot today and lent us your car.”

Dong Xuebing pushed the red packet into her hands. “Just take it. It’s my gift to you, and you cannot refuse.” He cannot give much money as people might talk behind his back. Pu An is the Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary and will not accept anything more than one thousand RMB.

Pu Tao looked at her father. “Dad….”

Pu An nodded. ‘Ok.”

Pu Tao accepted the red packet. “Thank you, Mayor Dong.”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “It’s alright.”

“Oh, your car key.” Pu Tao remembered the key.

Dong Xuebing waved his hand. “You are going back. Just use it first.”

Pu Tao replied. “You don’t have to do that.”

“It’s fine. Just park the car downstairs tonight.”

“How are you going back later?”

“There are so many cars here. I can get a lift. Haha….”

Dong Xuebing did not take his car and left. He took the lift downstairs and was prepared to return to the family quarters for a nap.

Downstairs.

Outside of the hotel.

Most of the guests left, and only firecracker residue outside.

Dong Xuebing was about to flag a cab when a domestic car stopped before him. The windows rolled down, and Jiang Fangfang waved to him.

“Mayor Jiang. You are still around.”

“Yes. I am waiting for you.”

“Oh, sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Come in. I will give you a lift.”

“Ok. Thank you.”

Dong Xuebing got into the rear passenger seat and sat beside Jiang Fangfang.

The driver is Mayor Jiang’s secretary, Li Xiaona, and not Old Wang today. She smiled at Dong Xuebing and started driving. She peeps at Dong Xuebing through the rear-view mirror and feels Mayor Dong is Mayor Jiang’s lucky star. Before Dong Xuebing came, Mayor Jiang was suppressed by Secretary Meng and his men. But after he came, he fought the other Committee members for her at the meeting and pulled the Finance Department’s Chief and Deputy Chief to their side. Even the neutral Secretary Pu An expressed his intention to join her now.

This is a lucky star….

Pu An is joining Jiang’s faction because of Mayor Dong’s accident and lending his car to his daughter.

The Jiang faction is getting stronger, and Li Xiaona is excited. She had been waiting for this day. She felt Mayor Jiang should be happy, although she did not show it. For a Mayor to wait fifteen minutes by the roadside without calling or rushing, Dong Xuebing explains it all. Dong Xuebing is an excellent help to Mayor Jiang. He might look like Mayor Jiang’s husband, but she had never seen her wait so long for someone.

On the roads.

Jiang Fangfang is a quiet person. She read her papers quietly and did not say anything.

When the car reaches the family quarters, Jiang Fangfang puts down her papers and looks at Dong Xuebing. “That Land Rover… will it be fine?”

Dong Xuebing knew what she was asking. “It will be fine.”

Jiang Fangfang nodded. “I believe it will be fine, but you must be prepared for others to report you to the City or Provincial Government.”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “I was investigated by the Commission for Discipline Inspection more than three times, and they cannot find anything wrong. Oh, this is nothing to be proud of. I have won the lottery more than once, and my family is considered wealthy. I have my income statements and have reported my asset several times. I am new here and did not have the chance to inform you.” Most government staff will be fired if the Discipline Inspection investigates them. Not many are as experienced as Dong Xuebing.

Li Xiaona was shocked. Won the lottery?! Mayor Dong is too lucky!

Jiang Fangfang looked at Dong Xuebing. “5 million RMB?”

Dong Xuebing smiled awkwardly. “Tens of million.”

The car swerved, and Li Xiaona almost drove up the footpath.

Tens of millions?!

Mayor Dong had won tens of millions of RMB from lotteries?!

Jiang Fangfang had no big reactions. She smiled. “No wonder.”

Li Xiaona looked at Dong Xuebing from the rear-view mirror and thought to herself. His asset is enough to feed the whole of Zhen Shui County.

How much is tens of millions of RMB?

Even businessmen do not have so much cash.

Mayor Dong seemed to be modest in his tone. His asset should be more than tens of million RMB. It might be more than one hundred million RMB.

Li Xiaona thought to herself. Where did the higher-ups get this Executive Deputy Mayor from? He is young, rich, and capable. He is not a typical government official.

The family quarters.

The car stopped in front of the building. Li Xiaona turned and said. “We reached, Mayor.”

Jiang Fangfang nodded. “Just leave the car here and go back to rest.”

Li Xiaona glanced at Dong Xuebing. “Ok. I will leave the key here.” She said and left.

Dong Xuebing did not get out of the car. He knows Jiang Fangfang has something to say. “Mayor Jiang?”

Jiang Fangfang asked. “Is the Finance Department reliable?”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “Old Yan and Old Chen are fine. They expressed intentions to join us.”

Jiang Fangfang continued. “Good job. Secretary Pu is also your credit.”

Dong Xuebing smiled. “It has nothing to do with me. It was a coincidence. Who would expect Secretary Pu and Secretary Zhang’s children to hold their weddings on the same day and hotel? The hotel should tell them and prevent it. However, it was also because of their mistake, Secretary Pu….” If Secretary Pu had not fallen out with Zhanng Wanshui and the Meng faction, he would never join Jiang Fangfang even when Dong Xuebing lent him his car. The Meng faction forced Secretary Pu to join Jiang Fangfang.

Jiang Fangfang did not reply.

“Mayor Jiang?” Dong Xuebing blinked.

Jiang Fangfang glanced at Dong Xuebing. “The person in charge of wedding ballrooms is my man.”

Dong Xuebing was surprised. “Your people?”

Jiang Fangfang said slowly. “When both families booked the hotel for their banquets, the person in charge called me to seek my opinion. I pretended not to know anything and let them book their banquets on the same day.”

Dong Xuebing took a deep breath.

WTF?! No wonder I thought this was too much of a coincidence. Mayor Jiang stopped the hotel from informing Deputy Party Secretary Zhang and Secretary Pu.

Damn!

Who says Mayor Jiang is not interested in moving up?

Who says Mayor Jiang is not doing anything?

Thinking about it, how can an ordinary person become a County Mayor? None of these top leaders are ordinary folks.

Dong Xuebing smiled and thought for a second. He said. “I need to tell you. The accident with Zhang Wanshui’s family leading car was intentional.”

Jiang Fangfang was surprised. “Intentional?”

Dong Xuebing smiled embarrassedly. “Yes.”

After that, Dong Xuebing saw Jiang Fangfang’s lips curl, and she laughed. “Hahaha….” She did not stop laughing. “Hahaha….”

Dong Xuebing was awkward for a moment and laughed with her. He felt it was interesting.

Dong Xuebing immediately felt closer to Jiang Fangfang after laughing together.