Power and Wealth

Dong Xuebing is in his office reading the City's financial newspapers before noon.

There are three big words, Da Feng County, on the front page, and the article is about the upcoming Investment fair organized by them. It is a big fair and other than the Chinese businessmen. The shareholders of big corporations and Korean businessmen are invited. The County Mayor, Li Feng, is the main organizer.

No wonder Li Feng went to Beijing a few days ago! He is there to invite the businessmen.

Dong Xuebing frowned.

Knock… knock… Jiang Hailiang knocked on Dong Xuebing's office door.

"Hailiang." Dong Xuebing puts down the papers. "Have you read today's financial newspapers?"

"Not yet." Jiang Hailiang paused for a second and picked up the paper. His brows twitched, and his facial expression changed after two minutes. "What is the City Government doing? Investment fairs' articles are normally published on the last few pages. When our County organized an investment fair a few years ago, they featured us on the last page! Why are they featuring Da Feng County on the front page?! Also, Da Feng County had just snatched our project away, and the City Government is featuring them? This is too bias!"

Dong Xuebing asked. "How many projects can Da Feng County get from investment fair in the past?"

"They got six projects last year." Jiang Hailiang replied. "The total investment is more than 100 million."

"How did our County do in our investment fair two years ago?"

Jiang Hailiang looks embarrassed. "We got only two projects worth 20 million." He did not tell Dong Xuebing that one of the projects had been confirmed before the fair, and they had only gotten one project from their fair.

Dong Xuebing took the papers and read the article again. No wonder the City Government is siding with Da Feng County. They are much stronger than Yan Tai County in getting investments. After what happened yesterday, the City Government featured them on the front page of the papers. This is implying that Yan Tai County is nothing. Da Feng County can snatch your project and remove your staff from his position because they are better at getting investments!

Dong Xuebing knew the City government might not mean this way, but this article speaks a lot about their thinking.

The City government is too much.

Sister Xie had gone to the City government, and Dong Xuebing wonders what's the outcome.

Party Secretary Xiang had also complained to the City Government.

After Jiang Hailiang left, Dong Xuebing wants to call Xie Huilan to ask her about it, but he knows someone will tell him about the outcome when it is settled. He looks at his watch. It's noon, and he went downstairs to get his car. He is not having lunch at the Agency's cafeteria as he wants to visit Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian.

The Camry drove across three streets towards Hua Mei District.

One minute… five minutes… ten minutes…

Dong Xuebing slowed down as he passed by Peng Kenong's teahouse. He noticed a Health Department car parked outside of the main entrance, and someone is removing the seal on the front door. The fat boss is also there, and they exchanged a few words before the Health Department staff storm away. After that, the boss waved to a few workers to open the main door and carry to operate!

What is going on?

Dong Xuebing's face changed. The teahouse was only sealed for a few hours, and it can continue to operate? What are the seals from the Industrial Bureau and Fire Department gone?

Damn! After embarrassing our County's leaders, you all still dare to operate your business here?

Dong Xuebing stepped on the accelerator and went after the Health Department car. He overtook and cut in front of that car and forced them to stop.

Bam! Dong Xuebing got out of his car.

The Health Department staff was about to scold Dong Xuebing.

But the middle-aged man beside recognized Dong Xuebing and quickly stopped him. "It's the Investment Promotion Agency's, Chief Dong!"

The God of Plagues?! The driver got shocked. Luckily, he did not scold him and quickly got out of the car to greet him. "Chief Dong."

Dong Xuebing looks at them. "Who asked you all to remove the seal on that teahouse?"

One of the staff smiled wearily. "We also don't know what happened. This morning, I brought my men to seal that teahouse. The hygiene at the front part of the shop is still fine, but the back kitchen did not meet the requirements. But leaders from our department called and told us they had paid their fines and asked us to remove the seal. I don't know about the exact details…"

The department?

Dong Xuebing knew these staff would not be so daring to go against Party Secretary Xiang and Mayor Xie's orders. He returned to his car and called the Health Department Chief, Xu Xu. He had met Xu Xu at the Finance Department, and he was formerly a Pediatrician and is well mannered.

"Hello, Old Xu. I'm Dong Xuebing."

"Oh, Chief Dong."

Dong Xuebing asked directly. "Didn't your department just sealed the teahouse beside Hua Mei Teahouse this morning because of their hygiene issues? Why is the seal removed?"

Xu Xu hesitated for a second and replied. "The Industrial Bureau and the Fire Department have also removed their seals."

"… Huh? What do you mean?"

"This order is not given by me. It is from the County Government, and I am not sure about the details."

Xu Xu did not continue, but Dong Xuebing got the hint.

This order is from the County's leader?! They had just sealed this teahouse, and now they are slapping themselves?! What are they thinking? Wait! Something is wrong. Dong Xuebing's face changed, and he parked his car by the roadside.

Ring… ring… ring… But before Dong Xuebing could make any calls, his phone rang. It's Hu Silian.

Dong Xuebing suppressed his anger and answered. "Sister Hu, what is going on with that teahouse? The seals…"

"It's Party Secretary Xiang who gave the order to remove the seals."

"Party Secretary Xiang? Why? This morning…"

Hu Silian sounded angry when she replied. "Earlier, a Provincial Leader's secretary called Party Secretary Xiang. I don't know if this is an order from that leader or it is from that secretary. But that secretary reprimanded him and our County. He implied that Peng Kenong had complained to the Provincial Government that Yan Tai County's investment had been unfairly treated. That Secretary said the Provincial Leaders take a serious view on this matter and want our County to think of the big picture. We must not disappoint investors or tarnish the Province's reputation. With the Provincial Leader's secretary backing Peng Kenong, who dares to seal that teahouse? That's why Party Secretary Xiang ordered to remove the seals."

Dong Xuebing's face changed. "They don't want us to disappoint the investors? Who is the one that started all these first? Peng Kenong is the one who stood us up! Why should we care how he feels? They still want us to protect him?! Do we owe him anything from our previous life?!"

"Peng Kenong does not have such strong connections."

"… Huh?"

"I heard that Provincial Government Leader is Li Feng's distance relative."

Li Feng? It's that goddamn Da Feng County again!

Dong Xuebing is about to explode. When your vehicle breaks down, I gave you a lift from Beijing. You are the one who belittled me and snatched our investor. After that, you even used your connections in the City Government to interfere with our County Government and tried to remove me from my position and scold our leaders?! Now, you even want to interfere with how our County's department enforcing the law?! After using your connections in the City Government, you are using your Provincial Government connections to suppress us?! Do you think Yan Tai County is your backyard, and you can do whatever you want?!

Dong Xuebing asked. "Sister Hu, I went to that teahouse before, and their fire exit at the back did not meet the requirements. This is not something that can be settled with just paying the fines. It will take as least two weeks for them to rectify the exit. Who is going to be responsible if anything happens during this period? How can Da Feng County interfere in our County's affairs?! Who gave Li Feng the rights to interfere?"

"The Provincial Government Leader's secretary had spoken, and we must obey even if it is wrong."

Hu Silian is also unhappy. Peng Kenong does not know any Provincial Leaders, and this must be Li Feng's doings. He is getting back at Yan Tai County for being embarrassed by the fake fall incident! Hu Silian is also furious with Li Feng interfering in Yan Tai County. They had snatched our investor and accused our staff. Does he thinks he is right to do all these? What sort of character does he have?!

Both Dong Xuebing and Hu Silian did not say anything as they are too angry!

A few seconds later, Dong Xuebing took a deep breath to calm himself. "Mayor Xie had gone to the City yesterday. Is she back? What did the City Government say?"

When he mentioned this, Hu Silian got more furious. "The City Government did not say anything!"

"Did not say anything?! What do you mean?"

"Party Secretary Xiang and Mayor Xie had complained to the City Government, but the City Government, especially the Deputy City Mayor who oversees the Investment Promotion Agency, ignored their complaints. It doesn't matter which County gets the investment as the investment still falls under Feng Zhou City. From what Mayor Xie told me, the City Government felt Da Feng County can snatch that investor from us. But I know it is because Da Feng County's investment fair is starting soon, and the City takes it seriously. They even help Da Feng County by featuring them on the front page of today's papers. During this period, Da Feng County is more important than us, and the City will side with them."

Dong Xuebing could not hold back any longer. "They can snatch the investor from us?!"

"… Li Feng has deep connections in the City Government too!"

Li Feng! Da Feng County!

You all are forcing me!