Power and Wealth

Afternoon.

Everyone in Guang Ming Subdistrict Office is angry.

“Have you heard it? Ping An Subdistrict Office is nominated for the role model unit.”

“I know! How can they get nominated?! Are the judges blind?!”

“They are role models?! I think they cannot even get past the first inspection round!”

“Our Province had nominated more than a dozen units, but only one or two can be selected. They will never be selected.”

“That’s right. Li Zhi Restaurant had caused noise pollution at that time, and many residents complained against them. But Ping An Subdistrict did not send anyone to check on them! How can they be a role model unit for National Respect and Care for the elderly? Who have they respected before?!”

“But the District Government is supporting them.”

“Sigh… it’s a role model unit. It will be terrific if we are the ones that got nominated.”

“They must have used their connections. They will never be nominated if they go through proper channels.”

Side building.

Office.

After instructing his men to work on the Nursing homes, Dong Xuebing sat at his desk to smoke. He needs to get a significant achievement urgently. He had offended too many people and has not taken a side. He doesn’t have a superior in the District. The latter can help him, resulting in him drifting further away from the District Government. He felt outcasted by the District and other Subdistrict Offices from this meeting. It is not a good sign and is creating pressure for him. If he can get an outstanding result, for example, the role model unit’s nomination, all his troubles will be solved. The District and others will not do anything to him even when they are unhappy with his working style.

But… these are not happening.

Dong Xuebing knows it’s hard to get the National Role Model unit and the National Advanced unit. Just getting nominated is difficult enough. He must do a good job, and he must also have good marketing and show good results. He has to ensure no one can find any problems in his work. All these are the criteria to get nominated.

Chu Qinghua!

Ping An Subdistrict!

Dong Xuebing narrowed his eyes and snubbed his cigarette.

Ring… ring… ring… The caller display showed “Mum.”

“Hello.” Dong Xuebing answered unhappily. “Mum, what is it?”

Luan Xiaoping asked. “What happened? Are you busy?”

Dong Xuebing sighed. “It’s just some problems at work. I’m fine. Eh? Are you outside?” He can hear cars honking in the background.

“Yes. I have just finished work, and I am thinking of visiting you.”

“Oh, alright. Come over.”

“It’s Nan Shan District, Guang Ming Street, right? I don’t know where your quarter is. Where do I wait for you?”

“You can wait for me at the garden east of Guang Ming Street. It is not far from our quarters.”

“Ok. See you later.”

“Oh, can you help me buy some groceries? I don’t have any food at home.”

“You are so lazy.”

Dong Xuebing looks at the clock after hanging up and continues to finish his work. He left ten minutes early and drove to Guang Ming Street garden.

It was around five plus when Dong Xuebing reached. He could not see his mother and sat on a bench to smoke.

One minute….

Five minutes….

Ten minutes….

Suddenly, Dong Xuebing saw Luan Xiaoping walking with bags of groceries at a distance.

Dong Xuebing stood up and walked towards her. He noticed there were others with his mother. There is a man in his forties, a woman in her forties, and another man in his thirties. They are dressed in suits and don’t look like a family. They look more like Government staff, and that middle-aged man is smiling and talking to Luan Xiaoping.

“Hi, is this Ping An Street?”

“Ping An Street is on the other side of this road. This is Guang Ming Street.”

“Oh, are you staying around here? Do you know where the nursing homes are?”

“I don’t know. I am not staying here.”

They kept asking Luan Xiaoping about this area and asked her where the elderlies usually gather. Luan Xiaoping is wary of them and keeps staring at them.

Dong Xuebing felt something was amiss and quickly walked over. “Mum!”

“Xiao Bing.” Luan Xiaoping was assured when she saw Dong Xuebing. She is afraid these three people are criminals who are going to abduct women.

Dong Xuebing looks at those three people. “This…”

“I don’t know them.” Luan Xiaoping whispered. “I don’t know what they are trying to do.”

The middle-aged man smiles when he sees Luan Xiaoping is wary of them. “I’m sorry if we scared you. We have no other intentions. Sorry to disturb you.”

Dong Xuebing doesn’t believe these people are criminals. He saw that man’s jade pendant when he approached his mother. After dealing with antiques for so long, he can tell the dragon pendant is worth a lot. It is an ice-grade jade, and it is worth more than one million RMB. Which criminal will wear such expensive pendants to abduct women?

These people are asking about Ping An Street?!

They are asking about nursing homes?!

Dong Xuebing looked at them and asked. “Are you the leader of the Central Government’s National Respect and Care for the elderly inspection team?”

The three of them were stunned.

Cheng Yandong curiously asks. “You are?”

Dong Xuebing extended his hand for a handshake. “Guang Ming Subdistrict Office’s Director, Dong Xuebing.”

The three of them looked at each other and smiled. They did not expect to be recognized so easily, especially from a young Subdistrict Office Director.

Cheng Yandong shook Dong Xuebing’s hand. “Hi, I’m Cheng Yandong, from the National Committee on Ageing.”

The other middle-aged woman and the man introduced themselves. One of them is from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the other is from the Central Youth League Committee. Cheng Yandong is the team leader, and they should not be high-rank leaders. They should be Deputy Division Chief or Division Chief rank at most, and they don’t have much authority. But they are the inspection team for Hebei Province nominees and can decide which unit enters the next round. They are the big shots for those selected units.

Dong Xuebing replied. “Thank you for coming to Nan Shan District. I thought you were arriving tomorrow. Are your lodgings arranged? Should I make the arrangements for you?”

Cheng Yandong shook his hand and smiled. “We have booked our hotel rooms.”

The middle-aged woman looks at Cheng Yandong. “Team Leader, that way.”

Cheng Yandong nodded and said goodbye to Dong Xuebing before crossing the road to Ping An Subdistrict.

Dong Xuebing carried the groceries for his mother. “Let’s go.”

“Are they from the Central Government?” Luan Xiaoping asked.

Dong Xuebing nodded. “They are the inspection team for a role model unit award. I think they are planning a surprise inspection, but this has nothing to do with our Subdistrict.”

Luan Xiaoping nodded. “Shouldn’t you inform the District about their arrival?”

Luan Xiaoping reminded Dong Xuebing, and he smiled. “Ah… Seems like Old Yang had taught you a lot. Your political wisdom is higher than me now.”

Luan Xiaoping laughed. “You dare to tease me?!”

“Haha… I am praising you.”

Family quarters.

Luan Xiaoping stopped Dong Xuebing from helping and entered the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Dong Xuebing looked at his mother and sat on the sofa. Luan Xiaoping is right. The inspection team had arrived secretly, and he should have informed Ping An Subdistrict Office since he had met them. Although Dong Xuebing has a grudge with Chu Qinghua, he still has to inform him. After all, he had introduced himself to Cheng Yandong earlier. If the District Government knows Dong Xuebing knew the inspection team had arrived and did not inform anyone, he will be in trouble.

Dong Xuebing called Ping An Subdistrict Office. He did not call Chu Qinghua on his phone because they had fallen out.

Ring… ring… ring…

“Hello, Party Office. Who are you looking for?” A young man answered.

Dong Xuebing replied. “I am Dong Xuebing, from Guang Ming Subdistrict.”

The other party paused for a second. “Oh, I will transfer your call to Director Chu.”

“No need. The Central Government….”

The young man had transferred the call to the Director’s office.

Dong Xuebing is frustrated. Damn! Didn’t you hear me? Everyone in Ping An Subdistrict Office has no respect for me!

“Hello.” Chu Qinghua answered.

Dong Xuebing coldly replied. “I’m Dong Xuebing.”

“Eh?” There was a short pause. “Haha… Director Dong? What is it?”

What’s with this attitude?

Dong Xuebing can’t be bothered to waste time talking to him. “I met the Central Government Inspection Team’s leader on my way home. They are in Nan Shan District and are asking around for your nursing homes’ addresses. You all better be prepared.”

Chu Qinghua frowned. “They have arrived?” He doesn’t seem to believe Dong Xuebing’s words.

“I have informed you….”

“I know!”

Du… du… du…. Chu Qinghua hangs up.

F*CK!

Dong Xuebing is furious. I had called to ask you all to get ready for the sudden inspection, and you hung up on me?! What’s wrong with your attitude? You don’t even thank me and cut me off like this!

Old bastard!