Power and Wealth

Morning.

County Party Committee Building.

Ten minutes before work starts, the government staff walks in slowly. They chatted and greeted each other.

Suddenly, a Land Rover drove into the compound.

“Eh, it’s a Land Rover.”

“Who’s car is that?”

“Haven’t you heard about it?”

“Heard about what?”

“That is Mayor Dong’s car.”

“Ah?! That is his car?! It’s an expensive car.”

Almost everyone turned and looked at the Land Rover.

Most of the County leaders had attended the weddings yesterday, and those who did not attend had heard what happened. The Land Rover crashed into the Lexus, Deputy Mayor Dong and Deputy Secretary Zhang’s argument, and the Finance Department’s Chief and Deputy switched sides. Everything that happened yesterday would cause a power shift in the County. Many staff were discussing it last night, and only a few do not know what happened.

The Land Rover stopped outside the County Government Building, and Dong Xuebing got out. He had returned home and changed.

“Mayor Dong.”

“Mayor Dong.”

“Good morning.”

Dong Xuebing nodded to a few staff and walked into the building slowly.

Many staffs started whispering among themselves after Dong Xuebing left.

“Mayor Dong had stood out this time.”

“That’s right. How can he drive a Land Rover to work?”

“He is not afraid of investigation. Maybe his family is wealthy.”

“But Mayor Dong had offended Secretary Meng this time.”

“Yes. I wonder what will happen at the Party Committee meeting later.”

10 am.

Small meeting room.

The Party Committee Meeting started. All eleven members were present.

The meeting room was slightly different today. No one said a word, but everyone was looking at Dong Xuebing. When Dong Xuebing entered the room, Deputy Party Secretary Zhang Wanshui and Publicity Department Chief Cheng Fuguang glanced at him. They did not show any expressions, but everyone could see the hostility in their eyes.

Dong Xuebing thought nothing about them and greeted Zhang Wanshui and other leaders.

Zhang Wanshui ignored him.

Cheng Fuguang nodded and returned the greeting.

Secretary Meng and Mayor Jiang were the last to arrive.

Meng Rui sat and knocked on the table. “Alright. Let’s start.”

Everyone looked at Secretary Meng, waiting for him to speak.

Meng Rui asked his secretary to give out a few documents. After all the Committee members had gotten a copy, he said. “Look at the report. This is our County’s current financial situation. I thought we could get through this month, but we will not last before the end of the month.”

A few leaders from the Meng faction glanced at Dong Xuebing.

Secretary Meng is attacking Dong Xuebing. The latter is in charge of the Finance Department and has asked the Central Government for funding. However, the County did not receive any news from him. Meng Rui continued. “Mayor Dong. I gave you a week, and you promised everyone you would get the funds from the Central Government. But where is the fund now? The County pays for the air tickets and accommodation. What are you and the Finance Department staff doing in Beijing?”

It's here.

Secretary Meng had started his attack.

Dong Xuebing was not surprised as he had embarrassed Zhang Wanshui and pulled the Finance Department’s No. 1 and 2 to his side. He knows the Meng Faction is furious.

Dong Xuebing did not reply and lit a cigarette. He acted as if Secretary Meng was not talking about him.

This guy’s shamelessness amused Pu An.

The Organization Department Chief Liao Haiwei, frowned and said. “The Organization Department had delayed the salary from almost two weeks. Many of our staff are complaining. I am afraid things might happen if this carries on.”

Cheng Fuguang added. “It is the same for the Publicity Department. Everyone is anxious.”

Deputy Mayor Ci Boyang nodded. “We cannot delay the salary any longer. We must settle the financial issue now. Mayor Dong, did you receive any news from the Central Government’s Finance Ministry?”

All the fingers are pointing at Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing smoked and looked down at the table.

Zhang Wanshui got mad and knocked on the table. “Mayor Dong!”

Dong Xuebing blinked and looked up. “Ah? Did you call me Secretary Zhang?”

Zhang Wanshui said angrily. “Everyone is waiting for your reply! Didn’t you hear it?”

Dong Xuebing smiled. “I know. I am thinking about how I should reply.”

Pu An interrupted. “We should not be blaming Mayor Dong for this issue. He was transferred to our County not long ago, and our County’s financial issue has been around for years. Things will not change overnight. Furthermore, we often went to the Central Government to seek assistance. We had never succeeded on the first trip. Everyone here should know.” Pu An, who has always been a neutral party, supported Dong Xuebing today. If his actions yesterday only showed his intentions, he is taking action now.

Pu An’s close friend, formally part of the neutral party, United Front Work Department Chief Jian Xiangrong, sighed. He said. “I agree with Secretary Pu. The responsibility does not lie with Mayor Dong.”

Jiang Fangfang drank her tea and did not seem surprised.

Jian Xiangrong had started to take sides.

Did Secretary Pu persuade his old friend, or Jiang Fangfang pulled him over?

Or did Jian Xiangrong feel he was the only neutral party left in the Party Committee and was forced to take sides?

Meng Rui narrowed his eyes and did not show any reaction.

Zhang Wanshui and a few Meng faction leaders frowned.

It was getting tense in the meeting room.

The Jiang faction is getting stronger. Jiang Fangfang was alone in the party committee in the past. Now, she has Dong Xuebing, Pu An, and Jian Xiangrong. She has four votes now. Although the Meng Faction is stronger, they must be wary of them now.

Zhang Wanshui retorted. “We wanted to use the education fund to ease our County's financial issues, and it was Mayor Dong who wanted to seek funding from the Central Government.”

Pu An looked at Zhang Wanshui coldly. “Secretary Zhang, I remember you had brought your men to the Central Government to seek financial assistance. What happened then? You failed to get any funds. Should we pursue your responsibility now?”

Zhang Wanshui’s face changed.

These two started arguing again.

The meeting had just started, and it was tense.

Dong Xuebing, who is under the spotlight, did not say anything. He finished his cigarette and snubbed it. After that, he copied Mayor Jiang and tasted his tea.

Jiang Fangfang continued to drink her tea calmly.

“Enough!” Meng Rui got frustrated by their quarrel and banged the table. When he was about to target Dong Xuebing again, Dong Xuebing’s phone rang. Most Committee Members, except for the Party Secretary or Mayor, will switch off their phones during meetings. Everyone saw Dong Xuebing’s phone ringing, and Meng Rui’s face changed. “Mayor Dong! We are in a meeting now!”

Dong Xuebing replied. “It’s an emergency. I am waiting for this call.”

Dong Xuebing ignored everyone’s stares and answered the phone. “Hello.”

“Is this Dong Xuebing?”

“Yes, it’s me. Who’s this?”

“I am calling from the Finance Ministry.”

“Oh, nice to meet you.”

“I am calling to inform you that the fund for Zhen Shui County is wired to your Provincial Government. You all should receive it by today.”

“Fantastic. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. I am hanging up if there’s nothing else.”

Dong Xuebing was relieved after hanging up.

Dong Xuebing looked up and said to everyone. “I just received a call from the Finance Ministry. The fund from the Central Government is approved.”

“What?!”

“Fund?!”

“From the Finance Ministry?!”

Other than Jiang Fangfang, everyone is stunned.

Dong Xuebing nodded. “We should receive it by today.”

Meng Rui opened his eyes wide. “How much?”

Dong Xuebing shocked everyone. “50 million RMB.”

Everyone exchanged looks and inhaled deeply. Even Secretary Meng looked shocked.

50 million RMB?!

50 million RMB?!

No one believed Dong Xuebing would succeed when he said he would go to the Central Government. This had happened several times, and the most they could get was one or two million RMB. But he had gotten 50 million RMB this time!

Meng Rui looked at Dong Xuebing. “Why didn’t you say earlier?”

Dong Xuebing thought to himself. How can I make a fool out of you all if I say it earlier? He replied. “I was waiting for the approval, and I cannot guarantee we will get it. That’s why I did not say.”

The few Committee members from the Meng Faction exchanged looks.

Five million RMB is enough to save Zhen Shui County, let alone 50 million RMB. If they receive this amount, the County will have the funds to develop.

This Dong Xuebing…. He had hidden his real abilities….

Dong Xuebing had been keeping quiet earlier because he knew what would happen.

But this is 50 million RMB! How did he get this amount from the Finance Ministry?!

Meng Rui looked at Dong Xuebing and nodded. “You had done well, Mayor Dong. Well done!”

Dong Xuebing smiled. “It’s my duty.”

The Meng Faction did not target Dong Xuebing for the rest of the meeting because his credit was significant.𝗳𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝐨𝐯𝗲𝗹.𝐜𝐨𝐦

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝐛𝐬𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝐫𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝗯𝐧𝗼𝐯𝐞𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀.