Power and Wealth
Chapter 1153 – That is Mayor Dong
Before noon.
Zhen Shui Hotel.
Red paper cuttings are pasted at the entrance, and people are setting off firecrackers.
This is Zhen Shui County’s best hotel, but it is worse than any other hotel in Fen Zhou City. Any ordinary hotels in second or third-tier cities are bigger and nicer than this hotel. Zhen Shui County is impoverished, and no investors want to invest here. The people here have no buying power, and investors will not get any returns. It formed a vicious cycle and made the County poorer.
People crowded outside of the hotel. They were low-ranked staff, and many were unqualified to join the leaders to receive the brides at the family quarters.
The crowd is around twenty to thirty people.
Everyone is looking towards the west, waiting for the wedding convoys.
The wedding couples’ friends and colleagues were among the crowd.
“Why are they not here yet?”
“They are an hour late.”
“Shh…. I heard something happened.”
“Ah? What happened?”
“I heard something happened at the family quarters from a friend.”
“Eh, look. The wedding convoy is here. It’s Secretary Zhang’s family.”
A few Audis appeared, followed by a long line of cars.
“Quick! Set off the firecrackers!”
“Yes…. Set off the firecrackers!”
Crack! Crack! Secretary Zhang’s guests started to set off firecrackers.
Another wedding convoy appeared behind them. It’s Secretary Pu’s family.”
“Secretary Pu is here.”
“Set off the firecrackers!”
“Eh? Look at that leading car!”
“Leading car?! What leading car?”
“Ah! That’s a Land Rover!”
“It looks like the top-tier Range Rover!”
“It is a top-tier Range Rover! Damn! It’s a 4 million RMB car!”
“Look at the registration plate! Beijing 6666! Where did this car come from?”
“I thought Secretary Pu’s family wedding convoy’s leading car was an Audi? When did they change to this luxury SUV?”
The Land Rover captured everyone’s attention the moment it appeared. The crowd went silent when the black Land Rover stopped at the hotel’s entrance. Everyone was staring at that luxury car, and those who heard of the car’s price tag were shocked. Secretary Pu’s family might have lesser cars than Secretary Zhang, the Land Rover costs ten times an Audi. The total value of Secretary Zhang’s family convoy cars is less than that of Land Rover! The Land Rover immediately made Secretary Zhang’s family look bad.
The people got out of the cars.
“That car….”
“Old Sun, this is….”
“That is Mayor Dong’s car.”
“Huh? Mayor Dong’s?”
“Yes. I heard it is his car.”
“Huh? How can he own such an expensive car?!”
“I am not sure. It was what Mayor Dong said earlier.”
Many people were shocked by what they heard and looked at Dong Xuebing, who had just gotten out of a car.
Another piece of news started to spread.
“Oh, isn’t Secretary Zhang’s leading car a Lexus?”
“That’s right. I saw it earlier. Why did they change it to an Audi?”
“Sigh…. Don’t talk about it. The Lexus and Mayor Dong’s Land Rover got into an accident.”
“Ah?”
“Is that true?”
“Then Secretary Zhang….”
“Let’s not talk about this. Can’t you see Secretary Zhang is looking terrible?”
Zhang Wanshui looked terrible, and Secretary Pu and his wife were beaming with joy. Pu An has always been suppressed by Zhang Wanshui regarding power, position, and faction. This is the first time Pu An has won against Zhang Wanshui. He felt proud and happy when he sees his daughter and son-in-law smiling.
“Taotao!”
“Hi, Xiao Tao!”
“Congratulations!”
Pu Tao’s classmates went up to congratulate her.
Pu Tao smiled and returned their greetings. “Thank you. Oh, Niuniu, you are here. You said you were busy when I called you.”
That woman smiled. “I must be around for your wedding.”
“Stop lying. Where is your husband?”
“He is busy with work and cannot make it today. He asked me to congratulate you.” Niuniu said and looked at that black Land Rover. “This is a good car. Where did you get this car, Taotao? I lived in Zhen Shui County for almost thirty years and have never seen such an expensive SUV.”
Pu Tao looked toward Dong Xuebing. “I borrowed it.”
Niuniu laughed. “Since when do we have a wealthy person in Zhen Shui County?” She followed Pu Tao’s gaze. “Is that his car?”
Pu Tao smiled and nodded.
“Wow…. He is a tycoon.” Niuniu shouts to Dong Xuebing. “Hey, little brother. Over here.”
Dong Xuebing looked towards Niuniu and pointed to himself, asking if she was calling him.
Niuniu smiled. “I am Taotao’s classmate. Are you a business owner, little brother?”
Dong Xuebing smiled and joked. “I also want to be a business owner, but the government does not allow it.”
Pu Tao was shocked when her classmate called Dong Xuebing ‘Little brother.’ She quickly pulls her back. “Niuniu, stop it. He is Mayor Dong.”
“Mayor Dong? What Mayor Dong?”
“Zhen Shui County’s newly appointed Executive Deputy Mayor!”
Niuniu was stunned and started sweating. “Huh? Why didn’t you say earlier?” She turned towards Dong Xuebing. “I’m sorry, Mayor Dong. I…. I….” She is Pu Tao’s classmate, and Pu Tao’s father, Pu An, is the County’s Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary and a Party Committee Member. She thought all the guests were lower ranked than Pu Tao’s father. She recognized all the high-ranking officials but did not expect that the young man was a Deputy Mayor.
Dong Xuebing smiled. “It’s alright.”
Pu An said. “Stop standing outside, Mayor Dong. The wind is strong today. Please come in.”
“That’s right.” The groom and Mrs. Pu usher Dong Xuebing into the hotel.
Pu Tao’s classmate, Niuniu, sighed after Dong Xuebing left. “I had embarrassed myself today. I should keep my mouth shut.”
Pu Tao laughed. “That’s right.”
Niuniu replied. “But how do I know he is a Deputy Mayor? He is so young.”
Pu Tao and her other classmates looked at Dong Xuebing’s back. They did not expect this young man to be their County’s Executive Deputy Mayor.
Pu Tao sighed. “Sigh…. It’s all thanks to Mayor Dong today.”
“Stop sighing. It’s your wedding today.”
“Haha…. Let’s not talk about it anymore.”
“Hahaha…. You had traveled around the County in a 4 million RMB Land Rover. You must be happy. Let me try it later…. Never mind. This is the Deputy Mayor’s car. I don’t dare to drive it.”
Inside the hotel.
The hotel has two ballrooms located on the east and west.
Guests attending the banquets must walk past a rest area in the middle.
Dong Xuebing did not enter the ballroom and is smoking in the rest area.
“Mayor Dong.”
“Hi, Mayor Dong.”
Dong Xuebing stood out today because of his Land Rover. However, he thought nothing about it and returned all greetings with a smile.
“Ah, you are smoking Zhong Hua cigarettes.”
“Here, have one.”
“This is a good cigarette. I must try it.”
Dong Xuebing smokes suitable cigarettes like Zhong Hua or Lan Fu Rong Wang. He always carries a few packets with him. The wedding banquets provide cigarettes for guests, but it’s all Yu Xi cigarettes. Yu Xi cigarettes cost twenty RMB a packet.
This guy is too wealthy.
Ten minutes later.
All the guests entered the hotel.
It is crowded with the two couples and their guests.
Dong Xuebing knew the banquet was about to start and snubbed his cigarette. He stood up and straightened his shirt.
“Mayor Dong, you still have not gone in?” Pu An finished receiving the guests at the entrance and came upstairs.
Dong Xuebing smiled and nodded. “I was having a smoke.”
“Chief Yan.”
“Chief Yan, you are here.”
Pu An turned and saw Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei.
Yan Yizhi is the County’s Finance Department Chief. He is the third most powerful official among the local departments, and many County Party Members thought highly of him.
Everyone knows Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei are from the Meng Faction. Pu An did not greet them after what happened between him and the Meng Faction today. He felt they would be attending Secretary Zhang’s son’s wedding banquet.
However, Dong Xuebing waved to them. “Chief Yan, Chief Chen. Haha…. Let’s go in together.”
Yan Yizhi returned Dong Xuebing’s greetings and followed him into Secretary Pu’s daughter’s wedding banquet.
Chen Xiaomei also followed them into the ballroom.
Pu An and a few Meng Faction staff in the resting area were surprised.