Power and Wealth

Next day.

Morning, 8.30 am.

Dong Xuebing glanced at Li Zhi Restaurant as he drove past on his way to Guang Ming Subdistrict Office.

"Look, Director Dong is here."

"Have you all seen it on your way to work?"

"Yes. Li Zhi Restaurant's electricity is not resumed."

"Served them right. That restaurant's Boss had asked for it."

"That's right. It's been a day. Let's wait and see what he will do."

"Eh, do you think the blackout will last one day? They had paid their electrical bills."

"I think it will not end if he doesn't bow down. That is not our Director's style."

"I agree with you."

"What is our Director's style?"

All Guang Ming Subdistrict Office staff are united and had been talking about yesterday's incident. Their subdistrict and Ping An Subdistrict had clashed several times, but the former Director was a pushover. He was suppressed by Geng Xinke and did not achieve any outstanding results. He is too 'soft,' and Dong Xuebing is the opposite. Guang Ming Subdistrict Office became a tiger after he arrived and started attacking anyone who dared to offend him. This sudden change made all the staff speechless.

Party Secretary Office.

Dong Xuebing is going through the pile of documents on his desk.

Knock, knock. Zhou Yanru entered. "Director, have you taken your breakfast?"

"Not yet." Dong Xuebing smiles. "I worked up late and didn't have time."

Zhou Yanru placed a few plastic bags of food on the desk. "I saw your car passing by the breakfast stall this morning, and I guess you must have skipped your breakfast. So, I brought some for you. These are local products from my husband's hometown. It's some snacks, and you can have them. I will leave these here."

"Ah, I can't finish everything. You can just give me half of it."

"My husband had bought a lot, and I will be giving out to my staff later."

"Alright. I will give some to my mother." Dong Xuebing looks at the snacks, and it is not expensive. Zhou Yanru will not bring expensive staff to the workplace as there will be gossips. But Dong Xuebing felt it was not right for him to accept these gifts, as she had bought groceries for him the last time. He opened his drawer and took out two cartons of Zhong Hua cigarettes. "Give these to your husband."

When Zhou Yanru was about to reject, Wang Yuling entered the office. "Director… Eh, Sister Zhuo?"

Dong Xuebing looks at her. "Director Wang, you are here at the right time."

Wang Yuling looks at the two cartons of Zhong Hua cigarettes in Zhou Yanru's hands.

Dong Xuebing took out another two cartons of Fu Rong cigarettes and gave them to Wang Yuling. "I bought too many cigarettes. These two cartons are for you."

Wang Yuling was surprised. "I don't smoke…."

Dong Xuebing interrupted. "Give it to your boyfriend then. Take it."

Wang Yuling smiles and accepts it. "Ok. Thank you. These are expensive cigarettes."

Zhou Yanru saw Wang Yuling accepting the cigarettes, and she accepted it too.

These four cartons cost at least 2,000 RMB. Their families seldom smoke such expensive cigarettes unless during Lunar New Year or special occasions. They did not expect Dong Xuebing to give out four cartons of expensive cigarettes. It seems he is very wealthy. Dong Xuebing does not know he has so many cigarettes in his drawer. These are not given to him as gifts and are all bought by him. After his asset grew to a few hundred million, he stopped monitoring his expenditure. Sometimes when he forgets his cigarette, he will buy one or two cartons. He did not notice that he had kept so many cartons in his drawer.

Zhou Yanru and Wang Yuling thanked Dong Xuebing for the cigarettes.

Dong Xuebing shook his head. "Director Wang, are you looking for me?"

Dong Xuebing will address them as Director Zhou and Director Wang when they are discussing work.

Wang Yuling nodded. "The District's All-China Women Federation had given me a task, and I need to visit the neighborhood committees. But our cars… Can I use your Passat?"

Dong Xuebing smiles. "Go ahead. Director Zhou should have the spare keys. Just inform her will do."

The best car in Guang Ming Subdistrict is that old Passat, and Subdistrict Office's Directors are not assigned cars. That's why this car is assigned to the Office Department, and everyone can use it. Although this is the regulation, it is reserved for the Director most of the time. This is an unspoken rule, and everyone knows about this. If they need to use it urgently, they have to seek permission from the Director.

"Do we have enough vehicles in our Subdistrict Office?" Dong Xuebing asked.

Zhou Yanru shook her head. "We have two cars shared between the various departments, and everyone has to take turns. Sometimes, we have to borrow the Work Party Secretary's car for urgent matters."

"Have we applied to the District?"

"The District will give us budget every year, and it is not enough for us to get new vehicles."

"Ok." Dong Xuebing points to the carpark direction. "I have a car, and I don't need that Passat. The rest can take the keys from you to use it."

"Errr… are you sure?"

"That's settled. If this still cannot solve the problem, I will speak to the District Government." Dong Xuebing knows the District will not give his Subdistrict Office new vehicles because of his relationship.

Ring… ring… ring… the phone on the desk rung.

Zhou Yanru and Wang Yuling heard it and were about to leave.

But Dong Xuebing answered before they could say anything. This is to show he did not consider them as outsiders. "Hello, I'm Dong Xuebing."

It's a call from the guardhouse. "Director, a man named Li Lu is downstairs…."

Dong Xuebing laughed. "Li Lu?"

"Should we let him enter?"

"I am busy. Tell him to come back in the afternoon."

"Alright."

Zhou Yanru is laughing in her heart. The Boss of Li Zhi Restaurant is here?! Why did you wait until now? All these would not happen if you did not create problems for us!

Wang Yuling had gone to the bride's house yesterday afternoon and did not know what happened. She quickly dragged Zhou Yanru to ask her what happened after leaving Dong Xuebing's office.

Afternoon.

When Dong Xuebing returned to his office after lunch, he saw a Silver Santana entering the compound. It does not have a registration plate, and it is brand-new. Many Staff Members saw the driver. It is Li Lu, the Boss of Li Zhi Restaurant.

Dong Xuebing pretended not to see him and continued to walk to the side building.

"Director Dong! Director Dong, please hold on for a second!" Li Lu got out of the car and ran after Dong Xuebing. "I am here to apologize."

Li Lu's expression is different from yesterday's. All the Staff Members are amused. If you had lower down the volume and switched off your speaker, you don't need to come and apologize. Why must you wait until our Director teaches you a lesson?

Dong Xuebing turns. "Oh, it's Mr. Li. Apologize? What have you done wrong?"

Li Lu was here to bow down to Dong Xuebing. "I did not control the volume yesterday and had disturbed your Subdistrict Office. I'm very sorry."

Dong Xuebing looks at Li Lu. "We are not the only ones that are affected."

"Yes… yes… I had disturbed the surrounding residents. I am very sorry, and we promise this will not happen again." Dong Xuebing did not reply to him, and Li Lu knows this issue cannot be settled easily. The main cause of Dong Xuebing's fury is the soybean residue dish in the afternoon. "Director Dong, our restaurant decided to sponsor your Subdistrict a Volkswagen Santana to show our sincerity. I had driven the car here. Please accept it."

Dong Xuebing smiles. Not bad. Li Lu had found out our Subdistrict Office has a shortage of cars.

This new Santana is the latest model, and it cost around 70 to 80 thousand RMB. Coupled with yesterday's losses, Li Lu's total loss is more than 100 thousand RMB, and it's all because of a plate of 10 RMB Soybean residue dish. He is not wealthy, and 100 thousand is a big amount. His heart is aching, but he has no choice. His electricity was cut, and his losses will increase if it is not resumed. He no longer cares about his 'face' and positions himself very low. He even apologizes to Dong Xuebing in front of all the staff members and leaders.

"It is all our fault." Li Lu replied sincerely. "I hope Director Dong and all the comrades can give us a chance to change. Oh, I have some dining vouchers with me. Please accept it." He can only hope Dong Xuebing can accept his gifts and he can reopen his restaurant.

Dong Xuebing laughed in his heart. Hmmm… this is the right attitude.

"……. Come to my office."

Translator's notes:

All-China Women's Federation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-China_Women%27s_Federation

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