Power and Wealth

Noon.

City Finance Department Office Building.

It was lunchtime, and the staff were gone for lunch. When Dong Xuebing was in Hebei Province, the City and District’s Finance Department appointed restaurants. Most staff will go out for lunch. The Finance Department is the richest, and the staff has the best benefits. However, this place is different. Dong Xuebing noticed the staff did not go out for lunch. Some went to the cafeteria downstairs, and others brought their food. A line was formed in front of the microwave to heat their food.

Third floor.

Stairwell.

Dong Xuebing and the rest went upstairs.

“Are you all hungry?”

“No. What about you, Mayor Dong?”

“I am not hungry too.”

“All right. Let’s get down to business first.”

“Mayor Dong, are we going to Chief Wei’s office? But….”

“Chief Wei must be around. We will go to his office. Lead the way, Old Yan.”

“Huh? Ok…. His office is over there. The third room on the left.”

A Finance Department staff came to a stop them. “Eh! Wait! What are you all doing here? Who allows you to come up?”

Yan Yizhi replied. “We are looking for Chief Wei.”

That man said. “These are the leaders’ offices. You all are not allowed here. Go downstairs and register first. Someone will escort you all here.”

Dong Xuebing looked at the staff. “Is Chief Wei in his office?

That man frowned. “Who are you?”

Chen Xiaomei replied. “We are from Zhen Shui County.”

That man’s expression changed slightly. “Zhen Shui County? Chief Wei is not around. He went to a meeting. Come back tomorrow.”

Yan Yizhi replied patiently. “Comrade, help us inform Chief Wei. We need to meet him urgently.”

That man waved his hand impatiently. “I said Chief Wei is in a meeting, not his office. Come back another time.”

“Comrade….”

“Go back!”

Dong Xuebing cannot be bothered by this man. He continued to walk towards Chief Wei’s office.

“Hey! Where are you going?” That man got mad.

Yan Yizhi, Chen Xiaomei, and Yao Cui quickly follow.

“Stop there!” That man grabbed Dong Xuebing. “What’s wrong with you? Are you all trying to create trouble here?! I am calling the guards!”

That man is no match for Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing did not use any strength. He flicked his wrist slightly and broke free of that man’s grip, making him lose his balance.

Dong Xuebing did not knock and opened the door.

A middle-aged man was sitting behind the desk.

Dong Xuebing looked at him. “Chief Wei? Sorry to disturb you during your meeting.”

Wei Lin is alone in his office and is not in any meetings. Dong Xuebing said that with sarcasm.

That man quickly rushed in. “Chief Wei! They….”

Wei Lin waved his hand. “I know. You can leave, Xiao Zhang.”

That man stared at Dong Xuebing and left angrily.

The door closed, and Wei Lin looked at Yan Yizhi angrily. “Old Yan, what are you all trying to do? How dare you all barge into my office?!”

Yan Yizhi replied. “It’s urgent.”

Wei Lin said. “I am busy and have no time for you all!”

Yan Yizhi was about to say something, but Dong Xuebing stopped him. Dong Xuebing had said he would be the bad guy today. He will do all the offending as he is not afraid of anyone. Yan Yizhi’s rank is lower than Wei Lin, and they will look weak if they carry on. Yan Yizhi, Chen Xiaomei, and Yao Cui moved behind Dong Xuebing.

Wei Lin looked at Dong Xuebing and asked. “Who are you?”

Dong Xuebing calmly replied. “I am Zhen Shui County Executive Deputy Mayor Dong Xuebing. We spoke over the phone before. Nice to meet you, Chief Wei.”

Wei Lin replied arrogantly. “Oh, Mayor Dong.”

Dong Xuebing continued. “We are tired from all the traveling this morning. Can we sit?”

Wei Lin thought to himself. This guy is too shameless. “Go ahead.”

Dong Xuebing let Yan Yizhi and the rest sit on the sofa while he sat opposite Wei Lin at his desk. “Chief Wei. I will not beat around the bush. We are here to get the funds. I just met Deputy Mayor Zhao, and he said you are holding on to our funds. That’s why we are here to get back the remaining funds.”

Wei Lin flipped his document and did not look at Dong Xuebing. “Mayor Zhao is in charge of the Finance Department. The higher-ups have decided to hold on to the fund. It’s useless to tell me this.”

Trying to push us away?!

You all are trying to delay us.

Dong Xuebing was not surprised. “Then we will go through the proper process. Our County finance is in the red, and our staff has not gotten their salaries for a while. We also have debts to pay. The 5 million RMB left by the City is insufficient. I will write an application letter. I am applying for 45 million RMB from the City Finance Department.”

45 million RMB?

You want to get back everything?

Wei Lin is amused and feels Dong Xuebing is being too naïve. The fund is in the City’s pocket. Do you think you can get it back? Wei Lin knows Zhen Shui County is a national-level impoverished county. They are regulars at the City Finance Department. They would come to seek financial assistance every few years. But the City Government is not wealthy either. That’s why the City did not issue any funds to them. The City Finance Department would tell Zhen Shui County to sort it out themselves. Wei Lin is purposely making things difficult for Zhen Shui County this time. Whether five million RMB is enough is none of his business. He is not the one anxious.

Who’s fault is this?

It is not the City’s fault.

Wei Lin felt that Zhen Shui County created this mess for itself.

Who asked them to get so much money from the Central Government? If they did not get financial assistance from the Central Government, the City would not take it from them. Moreover, it is fifty million RMB. Mei He City is a poor city, and 50 million RMB is a significant amount.

A small county like you should inform the City before going to the Central Government. The City will not allow you all to take so much money. Bow to us, and we might give you a few million RMB. But now…. You all displayed a firm attitude. Do you think we will release the fund?

Wei Lin replied without thinking. “You can write an application letter. But the City’s finance is not well. We might not approve it. Be prepared.” He tells them that the City will not return the money unless they change their attitude.

Dong Xuebing looked at Wei Lin. “Didn’t the City just receive 50 million RMB? How can the City be poor?”

Wei Lin got frustrated. “Do I need to report our City’s finances to you?”

Dong Xuebing looked at him coldly. “You don’t have to report anything to me. But this sum of money was given to us by the Central Government. I think you must give me an answer.”

Hmph!

You want to create trouble?

You are only a Deputy Bureau Director. How dare you go against me?!

Wei Lin is a Bureau Director and a City Leader. He is also in charge of an important department. That’s why he is unhappy when an Executive Deputy County Mayor goes against him. He felt these people from Zhen Shui County do not know their places.

Wei Lin looked at Dong Xuebing coldly. “This is the City Party Committee’s decision. You can raise it with the City if you have any objections. Mayor Dong, don’t talk to me as if we had robbed you. The City needs to take care of a lot of Counties. Furthermore, it is improper for you all to seek financial assistance from the Central Government. We will not discuss this since the Central Government approved the fund. But this fund is not only for your County. The Central Government issued the fund to help Mei He City and the surrounding counties. We must use the money at the right places.”

Dong Xuebing replied coldly. “Right places? What do you mean by that?”

Wei Lin is also a hot-tempered person. He stared at Dong Xuebing. “The City will manage the fund for you all. We will decide how to distribute and where to use it. You all don’t have to know!” This sentence means their negotiations are over.

Yao Cui almost cursed.

Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei were furious too.

You all have robbed our money and still think you are right!

What logic is this? Are you all a robber?

Mayor Dong and I went to the Central Government to beg for funds and faced many difficulties. The City took away most of the funds without doing anything and expected us to beg them for a few million RMB?! This is outrageous!

Dong Xuebing did not expect Zhao Xu and Wei Lin to be so shameless. He smiled out of anger.

You all are asking for it!