Power and Wealth

Afternoon.

County City. Ma Yang Hotel.

After driving around the city to look for suspicious activities, Dong Xuebing returned to Ma Yang Hotel with his team.

Liao Huaxiong asked. "Is our accommodation arranged by the County Government?"

Dong Xuebing nodded. "Although we ditched them this noon, we still need a place to rest."

"Director." Luo Haiting looked at Dong Xuebing. "It is after 5 pm now. I will book a private room for dinner."

Dong Xuebing shook his head. "You all can go ahead. I have a dinner appointment this evening."

They entered the hotel lobby and saw a big red banner, ‘Welcome Commission of Discipline Inspection leaders." However, Ma Yang County Party Secretary Sun Yitao had learned his lesson. He did not send anyone to receive them. Dong Xuebing nodded with satisfaction and looked around the lobby. A few men were sitting there, and he knew they were from the local Government. They were observing his team and him. He also noticed the hotel staff looking at them and pretended not to know.

Dong Xuebing said. "Let's go. Leave the luggage here."

Dong Xuebing went to the check-in counter and placed his identity card on the desk.

The staff saw Dong Xuebing's name and took a deep breath. She immediately smiled and led them to their rooms without collecting any payments.

Upstairs.

Dong Xuebing had a room to himself. He unpacked his luggage and brewed tea. Liao Huaxiong, Luo Haiting, and the rest should have gone for dinner. His class gathering is at 8 pm, and he planned to have dinner with them.

7 pm….

8 pm….

Dong Xuebing went downstairs and stood at the entrance, waiting for his classmates.

A while later, a car arrived, and a few familiar faces walked toward the hotel. Dong Xuebing knew they were his High School classmates, but he could not remember their names.

The car stopped, and two people alighted.

"Eh, Wang Lei?"

"Liu Tingting?! Zhou Ran?!"

"Hahaha…. It's you all."

"How are you? It's been a while."

"Still fine. What about you all? Did you all come together?"

They immediately exchange pleasantries and start chatting.

Dong Xuebing remembered some of their names from their conversation. He missed his High School days. It was a time when he had no worries.

Dong Xuebing reminisced for a while and went up to them. "Tingting, Zhou Ran."

Everyone looked at Dong Xuebing. "Eh, you are Dong… Dong Xue…."

Dong Xuebing smiled. "Dong Xuebing."

One of them said. "That's right. Dong Xuebing! Why are you here this time?"

A female classmate added. "That's right. You did not attend our previous gatherings."

Dong Xuebing replied. "I was busy with work. I am in Ma Yang County for work and met Pang Shuo and Du Juan." He did not attend the previous gatherings because no one called him. But he did not bring it up.

"We have not met for almost seven years, and you still look the same."

"You all did not change too. I recognized you all immediately, haha."

Dong Xuebing's former classmates felt Dong Xuebing had a drastic change, but his appearance was still the same. He gave them a different feeling. He felt more reserved and mature.

A few more classmates arrived.

Everyone exchanged greetings.

Dong Xuebing was a loner in class and did not have many friends. He could not join his former classmates' conversations as he did not know them well.

Pan Shou and Du Juan arrived.

They were doing the best among everyone and should be the last to arrive.

Everyone was excited after they arrived.

"Wow…. Du Juan, you are prettier now."

"Haha…. I worked in the Western region for two years. I am looking worse than before."

"Nonsense. Pang Shou and you still look the same. You were promoted to Deputy Section Chief and transferred to Ma Yang County last month. Both of you are doing great."

"That's right. Both of you are doing the best among our cohort."

Pang Shou felt this was not the right place to talk. "Let's go in first."

Du Juan also signaled to them to lower their voices. "Let's chat in the private room."

The moment they entered the hotel, they saw the banner.

Everyone immediately understood why Pang Shou and Du Juan seemed to be cautious. They knew why both of them looked so worried. All Civil Servants are afraid of the Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Everyone stopped talking about sensitive topics and entered the elevator quietly.

Inside the private dining room.

Pang Shou was at ease. "Just order whatever you want. I am paying for this meal, and you should enjoy yourself."

A close friend of Pang Shou added. "That's right. Just order whatever you want. He can ask for a reimbursement."

Du Juan laughed. "We cannot do that today. The leaders are here for an inspection, and we must pay ourselves."

"Oh…." One of their classmates said. "Then just order some simple dishes. The food here costs almost the same as Beijing's three-star restaurants."

Pang Shou laughed. "Are you teasing me? I can still afford this meal. But don't order expensive alcohol. I can't afford that. The higher-ups are strict on our reimbursements lately. I am paying to avoid getting into trouble."

Du Juan looked at the quiet Dong Xuebing. "Xuebing, you should order something. Let's order a dish each."

Dong Xuebing smiled. "Sure. I will order a Kung Pao Chicken. Haha…."

Everyone ordered something, and Pang Shou asked the waiter to bring in a bigger table.

The table was changed quickly as the waiter knew Pang Shou.

"Come….let's sit at the table."

"Pang Shou, you should be sitting at the head of the table."

"No…. I cannot take that seat. Old Liu, you should be sitting there."

"Why can't you sit there? How about both you with Old Liu sit there?"

Pang Shou and Old Liu sat at the head of the table at the end. Old Liu is a businessman in Beijing, and he was one of the few in their class who did well. After everyone had found their seats, Dong Xuebing went to the last seat.

Ring… ring… ring…. Dong Xuebing's phone rang.

Dong Xuebing was about to apologize to the rest before answering, but no one noticed him. He smiled to himself and walked away to the windows to answer.

Dong Xuebing answered the call. "Hello, Sister Luo?"

Luo Haiting replied. "Director, we are about to have dinner now. Do you…."

Dong Xuebing smacked his lips. "Why are you all having dinner so late? Didn't I tell you not to wait for me?"

"We were not hungry earlier. Oh, Ma Yang County Party Secretary Sun Yishou came and wanted to treat us to dinner."

"Just go ahead. I still have something on here and cannot join you all."

𝑓r𝘦𝘦𝘄eb𝒏𝙤vel.c𝙤𝙢

"Should we accept his invitation or ignore him?"

"It's just a dinner." Dong Xuebing knew what Luo Haiting was worried about. "We ignored them in the afternoon because they had created a big commotion to welcome us. It's fine to have dinner with him. Everyone is tired and should have a nice meal. We are here for an inspection and need the local authority's support."

"Okay. I understand."

"Alright. Go and have your dinner. Remember, no one is allowed to drink alcohol."

"Don't worry. It will not happen."

Dong Xuebing returned to the dining table after hanging up.

A former classmate said. "Pang Shou, I noticed everyone in Ma Yang County seems nervous, and there are many traffic police around. What are you all doing? Is it because of the City Discipline Inspection leaders' inspection?"

Pang Shou smiled wearily. "The City Discipline Inspection leaders are not here to put on an act. The consequences are severe if they find anything. Everyone in our Construction Bureau is worried about their visit. Why do you think I set our dinner so late?"

That classmate grumbled. "Don't these leaders have anything else to do? They should just sit behind their desks. Why are they inspecting for no reason?"

Pang Shou just smiled and did not say anything.