Power and Wealth
Chapter 552 – Wedding banquet in the adjacent street!
Before noon.
11 am.
Dong Xuebing went to Liu Xiang Hu Tong to check on the progress. The debris had been cleared, and he drove back to the Subdistrict Office for lunch. When he was about to reach the Subdistrict Office, he heard the sounds of firecrackers.
Why are people letting off firecrackers during this time?
Is it a wedding?
Dong Xuebing frowned and drove towards the firecrackers sound.
Ping An Street. This street is not under Dong Xuebing’s jurisdiction. It is under Ping An Subdistrict Office, and it is located diagonally next to his office building. He can see the street from his office’s windows. Guang Ming Subdistrict Office was at Huai An Yi Li formerly and had moved to its current location a few years ago. Their current location is one street across Ping An Subdistrict Office. That street acts as the boundary between both Subdistrict Office.
One hundred meters….
Two hundred meters….
Three hundred meters….
Dong Xuebing finally found the place where people were letting off firecrackers.
Someone is holding their wedding at a big restaurant. A convoy is parked in front, and it is very crowded.
Dong Xuebing took a look and is not interested. He made a turn and was about to leave.
But suddenly, someone called him. “Director! Director Dong!”
Dong Xuebing looked around and saw Wang Yuling waving to him from the restaurant‘s entrance. He remembered her mentioning she had taken time off from work to attend her friend’s wedding. He drove over and parked by the roadside.
Dong Xuebing alighted. “Director Wang, why are you here?”
Wang Yuling laughs. “My high school friend is getting married. Director, are you here to attend the wedding too?”
“I just happen to pass by this area.” Dong Xuebing replied with a smile. “Alright. I am leaving.”
Wang Yuling stopped Dong Xuebing. “Wait. The banquet is starting, and you should come along.”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “It’s your friend’s wedding, and I don’t know her.”
“My friend’s husband is Director Chu’s son, and many people from the District Government are here.”
“……. Director Chu?” Dong Xuebing had heard of this name.
“Yes. Ping An Subdistrict Office’s Director, Chu Qinghua.”
Dong Xuebing remembers this person. The adjacent Subdistrict Office Director’s son is holding his wedding today. He had not met Chu Qinghua as he is new to the area, but he had heard of him.
Wang Yuling’s political wisdom is not high and insists Dong Xuebing enter the banquet with her.
Dong Xuebing smiled. Although many of the District’s Leaders are attending, Chu Qinghua did not invite him. Why should he attend the banquet? But he frowned as he thought about it. I am your adjacent Subdistrict Office Director, and you had invited Wang Yuling. Why didn’t you send me an invitation or give me a call? This is so disrespectful! He thought for a while and felt he would be embarrassed if he left now. Others will think that he left because he did not receive the invitation. Damn! It is too embarrassing! I will attend the wedding and not give you a red packet since you all are not giving me face!
Dong Xuebing does not act or behave like others. “Director Wang, I will join in the fun. Let’s go.”
“Eh? Who is this?” A family member of the wedding couple walks over.
Wang Yuling laughed. “This is our Subdistrict Office, Director Dong.”
Wang Yuling’s reply attracted the stares of surrounding people. Everyone turns and looks at Dong Xuebing, who is standing in front of his Cayenne.
“That guy is Director Dong?!”
“The guy who beat up others?”
“Why is he driving a Porsche? Is that his car?”
“Damn! This Subdistrict Office Director is so daring to drive this car.”
“This car is worth at least a few million. Why is the registration plate from Beijing, and it’s 9999?!”
“I think this car is slightly better than Director Chu’s son’s wedding car?”
“Slightly better?! Even two imported Mercedes Benz cost less than this car. Is that guy Guang Ming Subdistrict Office’s Director?!”
“He is such a showoff. Even our District’s top tycoon doesn’t drive such expensive car.”
Dong Xuebing’s appearance attracted many people’s attention. Most of the people there are the Leaders and staff of Ping An Subdistrict Office, and some are from other Subdistrict Offices. Although the rest of the District did not know about what he did, the surrounding Subdistrict Offices had heard about it. Most of them, especially the people from Ping An Subdistrict, are curious about him. They are speechless after seeing him. This guy is a troublemaker like the rumors. Other than him, who else dare to beat up civilians in Nan Shan District? Who dares to drive a multi-million car around?!
Dong Xuebing had not done this on purpose. If he knows there are many Leaders around, he will drive another car over. But since he had driven his car, it was pointless to hide.
The bride and groom had entered the restaurant, and everyone started going in.
“Director, shall we go in too?” Wang Yuling asked.
Dong Xuebing only knows Wang Yuling here, and he nodded. They started following the crowd into the restaurant.
Suddenly, a middle-aged man in his fifties walks over with a smile. “Are you Director Dong?”
Wang Yuling quickly whispered to Dong Xuebing. “He is Ping An Subdistrict Office’s Director, Chu Qinghua.”
Oh? Dong Xuebing smiles and extends his hand for a handshake. “I am Dong Xuebing. Director Chu? Haha… I had heard about you and had wanted to meet you. Sorry for coming uninvited.”
Chu Qinghua smiles. “I don’t have your number as you are newly transferred here, and I could not contact you.”
“Hahaha… congratulations on your son’s wedding.”
“Thank you. Please come in.” Chu Qinghua excused himself and went to welcome another Leader.
Although Chu Qinghua said he could not contact him, Dong Xuebing does not have any good impression. You can get my phone number easily if you ask around, and how can you not know our Subdistrict Office’s number? Moreover, you can get Wang Yuling to contact me. This is not a matter of you unable to contact me. You have no intentions of inviting me in the first place.
There are twenty tables in the restaurant, and they had booked the whole place.
Wang Yuling accompanied Dong Xuebing for a while and went off to meet her friends. Suddenly, Dong Xuebing saw a familiar person, and he walked over to greet him.
“Chief Pang? It’s been a while.”
“Oh, Chief Dong. No… I should address you as Director Dong now.”
Both shook hands and started chatting.
This person is Nan Shan District’s Investment Promotion Agency’s Chief, Pang Zhengyi. Dong Xuebing had met him when he went for a meeting at the District Government. They are not close, as Dong Xuebing knows he is Da Feng County Investment Promotion Agency’s Chief Pang Zhou’s cousin. Pang Zhou, who had snatched Dong Xuebing’s investment, was suspended because of Dong Xuebing and is now dismissed from the Government Service. Dong Xuebing knows that although Pang Zhengyi did not show any emotions on his face, he should not have a good impression.
The banquet is finally starting.
The wedding emcee hosted the wedding on the stage, and the servers started bringing out the food.
Chu Qinghua came over to welcome Pang Zhengyi and other District and Subdistrict Leaders. He also brought Dong Xuebing to a table near the main table. Everyone at this table is Section Chief rank and above, other than Wang Yuling. Although her rank is not high, her uncle is the District Party Secretary. That’s why Chu Qinghua arranged for her to sit at this table. Dong Xuebing only knows Pang Zhengyi and Wang Yuling and doesn’t know the rest. They did not talk and started eating after the food was served.
This wedding banquet is not a small event, but it is not considered a big event. Compared to the Leaders’ wedding ceremonies, this is considered very low-profile.
The wedding car is a Mercedes Benz, and this is not an expensive restaurant.
It is very rare to find someone fearless like Dong Xuebing in the Government Service. Most of them follow the rules and are afraid of gossips. That’s why they will try to keep it low, and some don’t even hold wedding banquets for their children. This is also why Chu Qinghua didn’t hold the banquet on the weekend. When Government Officials reach this level, they become worried about minor issues that can affect their reputation.
The ceremony ended, and everyone clapped to congratulate the couple.
After that, the newlyweds went from table to table to have a toast with their guests. The first table they went to was the Leaders’ table.
Dong Xuebing puts down his chopsticks and raises his glass. He congratulated the couple, and Wang Yuling had her arms over the bride’s shoulders and joked with them. They seem to be very close.
“Yuling, stop it.”
“Hehe… I can stop now, but I will go to your house tonight.”
As they were joking around, a family member from the groom’s side came over anxiously. “District Mayor Geng and Madam Yan are here.”