Power and Wealth

Afternoon.

District Party Committee Building.

Knock, knock. Dong Xuebing knocks on the Party Secretary’s secretary office.

“Come in.” A young voice said.

Dong Xuebing entered the secretary’s office. “Is Secretary Wang around? I am here to report.”

There is only a young man in the office. He was the one who received him yesterday and is around 27 to 28 years old. Dong Xuebing only found out he is Secretary Wang’s secretary, and his surname is Cang. He heard secretary Cang had gained the trust of the Party Secretary, and he did not stand to greet him. “Are you Director Dong of Guang Ming Subdistrict? Have a seat. You might need to wait a while.”

“Alright.” Dong Xuebing took out his cigarettes and offered one to secretary Cang. “Have a smoke?”

Secretary Cang waved his hand to reject the offer and continued with his work.

Dong Xuebing saw secretary Cang’s cold attitude and kept his cigarettes. He had not mentioned whether Party Secretary Wang is around, and Dong Xuebing can only wait on the sofa.

Five minutes…

Ten minutes….

Twenty minutes….

Ring… ring… ring…. Secretary Cang’s office phone rang.

Secretary Cang cleared his throat and answered. “Good afternoon…. Oh, Chief Meng… Yes… yes…. Please hold on and let me ask for you.” He walks out of the office and returns twenty seconds later. “Secretary Wang has no visitors now, and he asked you to come over… Alright… Yes… Goodbye.”

Dong Xuebing frowned. “Secretary Cang.”

Secretary Cang looks at him. “I had told Secretary Wang, and he asked you to wait a while.”

Chief Meng? Even if he is a Department Chief, he is holding the same rank as me. I had waited for twenty minutes, and I should go in first. Are my matters not important? Dong Xuebing is losing his patience, but he continued to wait.

Thirty minutes….

Forty minutes….

Ring… ring… ring… Dong Xuebing’s phone rang, and it is the Subdistrict Office’s number.

Dong Xuebing answered. “Hello?”

“Director Dong, I’m Qu Yiqiang, from the Disciplinary Work Committee. Are you in your office?”

“Secretary Qu? I am at the District Party Committee. What’s wrong?”

Qu Yiqiang hesitated for a while. “Something happened at the Administrative Service Lobby. Comrade Wang Yuling had gotten into an argument with some civilians.”

Wang Yuling again?

Dong Xuebing frowned. “What happened?”

“An old lady, who has to walk with the help of a walking stick, met Director Wang at the lobby and asked her where is the service counter. Director Wang directed her upstairs, but it was the wrong counter. The old lady has difficulties in walking and wastes twenty minutes of her time. She found out the counter she is going to is located on the first-floor service Lobby when she comes downstairs again. She got mad and demanded Director Wang to apologize. But Director Wang got agitated and started arguing with her. She even scolded that old lady.”

Dong Xuebing’s face changed. “Wang Yuling scolded her?”

Qu Yiqiang sighed and replied. “Yes.”

Secretary Cang overheard Wang Yuling’s name and looked over.

Dong Xuebing suppressed his anger. “I know. Try to control the situation. I will return after I finish my work here.”

Qu Yiqiang did not receive any instructions from Dong Xuebing and did not say much.

Dong Xuebing knows why Qu Yiqiang has called him. If it were someone else, he would have scolded and taken disciplinary actions against the staff. A government servant would receive disciplinary actions if they scolded civilians at their workplace regardless of the reason. Furthermore, Wang Yuling had given the wrong directions at first. But she is the District Party Secretary’s Niece. Suppose Qu Yiqiang was to pursue this matter. Who knows if she will complain to her uncle. If the District Party Secretary has something against you, it will be hard to survive at work.

Dong Xuebing is getting frustrated with Wang Yuling! It’s fine if she doesn’t respect him, yet she is creating trouble at the Subdistrict Office.

Secretary Cang asked suddenly. “Yuling is working at Guang Ming Subdistrict Office, right?”

Dong Xuebing looks at him. “Yes.”

“She is a good staff.” Secretary Cang guessed Wang Yuling might have caused trouble and hinted to Dong Xuebing. “She is young and is prone to make mistakes. We must be forgiving towards youngsters, and Secretary Wang has high hopes for her.”

What’s the meaning of this? Are you trying to warn me?

Dong Xuebing narrowed his eyes. Secretary Cang is telling him to be lenient to Wang Yuling and not to hold her responsible. He has used a condescending tone, which is unlike what other secretaries would use. He sounded like he is Dong Xuebing’s superior. His rank should either be a Deputy Section Chief or a Section Chief and is not as high as Dong Xuebing. That’s why he felt very uncomfortable when he heard secretary Cang’s tone.

Dong Xuebing is almost at his boiling point. “I will handle Director Wang’s issue properly. Secretary Cang, when can Party Secretary Wang….”

“Wait a while more. He should be free to meet you soon.”

Dong Xuebing had waited for almost an hour, and something crops up at the Subdistrict Office. He needs to rush back, but he can’t leave now as secretary Cang had informed Wang Anshi about his visit. What would Secretary Wang think if he leaves now?

One minute…

Two minutes…

Dong Xuebing heard the sounds of a door opening along the corridor. It seems to be the District Secretary’s Office.

Secretary Cang quickly open his office’s door and saw a middle-aged man about to knock on the door.

“Secretary Cang.”

“Oh, Director Sun.”

“Is Secretary Wang free?”

“Please wait. I will ask him.”

One minute later, Secretary Cang came out from Party Secretary Wang’s Office and said to Director Sun. “Secretary Wang asked you to go in.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Dong Xuebing overheard and asked. “Secretary Cang, I had been waiting for almost an hour.”

Secretary Cang replied emotionlessly. “Director Sun has something urgent. You can…”

Urgent?!

Does that mean my matters are not urgent?

Even if Wang Anshi does not want to approve my application, or Xiang Daofa had told him something bad about me, you all should not treat me like this. I have never offended you all, and what’s wrong with me coming here to report to you? Is this how you all want to treat me?!

Dong Xuebing nodded and left the office without saying anything.

Secretary Cang did not expect Dong Xuebing to leave suddenly and is stunned.

Dong Xuebing finally knows the District Party Secretary thought nothing of him! Just like Wang Yuling!

You all had not taken me seriously from the start and still want me to respect you?

F**k you!