Power and Wealth

Evening.

The sun was halfway down, casting a fiery glow across the horizon, burning like flames.

Dong Xuebing, who had just returned from the Investment Promotion Bureau site in the city center park, took a quick shower after returning. He washed away the sweat, shook his head feeling refreshed, exhaled, turned off the shower, dried his hair, and went out to find clean clothes.

At that moment, his phone rang.

The county was calling again.

Dong Xuebing knew they were concerned, fearing any accidents. He wasn't annoyed, picked up the phone, and pressed the answer button.

"Hello, Secretary Meng."

"Where are the foreign businessmen?"

"They went to bed in the afternoon."

"Is tomorrow's itinerary set?"

"It's set. I discussed it with Ms. Zhang, the leader of the delegation. We'll depart tomorrow morning at 8."

"Depart at 8, include buffer, and you should arrive before 10, right?"

"We can make it. It'll be 10:30 at the latest, definitely not beyond 11."

"Alright, understood. You don't need to worry about the banquet and reception work. The county will make the most thorough preparations. Mayor Jiang and I will personally go to welcome the foreign businessmen. Your job is to bring them over, not one less."

"Rest assured, there won't be any mistakes."

"I trust you to handle things, but you're in the city after all."

"I understand. I'll keep a closer eye on it. I won't let the foreign businessmen be snatched away."ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ ɴovᴇl_Firᴇ.ɴet

"Good, I'll leave the city side to you, Mayor Dong. You've worked hard."

This was the second call from Meng Rui today and the fifth call from Zhen Shui County to Dong Xuebing. It showed how much they cared and were excited. After these instructions and inquiries, Dong Xuebing, who was initially relaxed, now felt a bit nervous. In the blink of an eye, he called Chang Juan and Chen Yunsong, asking them to be more vigilant. If any foreign businessmen came out or if any personnel from the Investment Promotion Bureau contacted them privately, they must notify him immediately.

He thought the real battle would be tomorrow, but considering it, the moment the foreign businessmen arrived, the war between various investment promotion departments had already begun.

It was time for dinner, so let's go out to eat.

Dong Xuebing grabbed his bag, ready to go out. But the next moment, the doorbell rang. Opening the door, there was an Investment Promotion Bureau staff member.

"Mayor Dong, Director Lu wants you to go to his room."

"Alright, I got it."

In a business room.

Lu Weiguo sat on the sofa, accompanied by several leaders and staff from the city's Investment Promotion Bureau, about five or six people, sitting or standing.

"Mayor Dong is here," Lu Weiguo looked at him.

Dong Xuebing nodded, "What can I do for you, Director Lu?"

Lu Weiguo gestured for him to sit down, "Nothing much. Just to inform you that there will be a small banquet around 8 in the evening. It's for the staff of various county-level Investment Promotion Bureaus. If you haven't had dinner, wait a bit, and then we'll have a task assignment meeting after dinner."

"Understood."

Lu Weiguo then looked at him and asked, "I heard you discussed the arrangement for tomorrow's itinerary with Ms. Zhang. What did she say?"

Dong Xuebing replied casually, "Ms. Zhang said we'll start by inspecting Zhen Shui County in the morning."

Lu Weiguo frowned, "Ms. Zhang told me we would discuss it tomorrow morning. When did she decide to go to Zhen Shui County in the morning? Is it already confirmed?"

Dong Xuebing nodded, "Ms. Zhang decided it."

The City's Investment Promotion Bureau people looked at Dong Xuebing, apparently not believing his words.

Lu Weiguo remained silent for a while, not saying anything.

Dong Xuebing wanted to see what trick Lu Weiguo was playing but didn't speak.

Finally, Lu Weiguo said, "Mayor Dong, here's the thing. I don't mean to prevent foreign businessmen from visiting your Zhen Shui County. After all, you invited them, and they should naturally prioritize your county. There's nothing wrong with that. However, the city organizes this investment promotion event, and you invited them in the name of the city's investment promotion event. The investment promotion event's purpose is to share resources and maximize investment implementation. So, you should also consider the comrades from the city and other districts and counties. Moreover, the City Party Secretary and Mayor also attended the dinner tonight, expressing the same sentiment. I think, maybe, let's not go to Zhen Shui County tomorrow. Let's schedule it for the day after tomorrow or the day after that. It doesn't make much difference. Tomorrow, let the foreign businessmen attend the investment promotion event, understand the project situation, and explore the city. After all, this is the urban area right outside the hotel, not far from Central Park. When foreign businessmen come, they can't skip the city's investment promotion event and go directly to Zhen Shui County for inspection, right? They arrived today, need to adjust to the time difference, and haven't even looked properly at the investment promotion event venue."

Don't go to our county?

Prioritize your city.

Dong Xuebing thought Lu Weiguo could be quite amusing. During the investment promotions fair, the city's Investment Promotion Bureau has been bothering Zhen Shui County. They want Zhen Shui County to make sacrifices first and consider the city and other districts and counties.

Nonsense.

Are you dreaming?

Dong Xuebing tried soft and hard approaches, "Oh, Director Lu, I can't decide. Ms. Zhang proposed to go to Zhen Shui County tomorrow morning. The inspection team is here for Zhen Shui County. How can I tell them not to go? They might have different thoughts if we make them wait for a few days. Besides, Ms. Zhang has already agreed and should have informed her inspection team members. It's too late to change now. If we suddenly change our minds, they might think I'm untrustworthy, affecting their impression of Meihe City. Don't you think so? So, I suggest we first let the foreign businessmen go to Zhen Shui County. After they finish the inspection, there will be plenty of time. They can consider visiting the city or other districts and counties for inspections. It's the same, isn't it?"

Lu Weiguo stared at him, "Going to Zhen Shui County takes over an hour, and the inspection team is already in the city. They will naturally choose the nearest option, saving the investors a lot of travel time."

Seeing that Lu Weiguo was not giving in, Dong Xuebing’s tone turned harsher, "I don't understand what you mean, Director Lu. We contacted them for Zhen Shui County, and they want to visit Zhen Shui County the next day. Isn't that a normal thing? Why can't it be done now?"

Lu Weiguo said, "It's not that it can't be done. It's about postponing the inspection for a few days. It's all the same."

Having missed the opportunity, if they happen to be interested in projects from other counties and invest in them, similar projects in Zhen Shui County won't stand a chance to receive funding. It would be strange if they were treated equally.

Dong Xuebin said, "Isn't it the same if we postpone the inspection in the city and other districts and counties?"

"Can't Zhen Shui County have a bit of a broader perspective?" Lu Weiguo also felt a bit irritated by the remark.

Dong Xuebing retorted coldly, "I don't understand your meaning, Director Lu. We worked hard and invited so many foreign businessmen to the city. When the exhibition space in the park wasn't enough, we had to consider the overall situation and squeeze into the worst corner. When the hotel rooms were insufficient, we had to consider the overall situation and had a few people squeezed together. When domestic investors wanted to inspect our county, we had to consider the overall situation and obediently handed the investors over to Meiyang District. Now, we have to consider the overall situation again. We can't even consider the opinions of foreign businessmen. We must make sacrifices without hesitation, let the foreign businessmen go inspect other places first, and only then can we take our turn. Ridiculous! What are we doing? We came to participate in the investment promotion event, not to be treated like your grandchildren. Director Lu, I want to ask, the other districts and counties are part of Meihe City, so you care about them so much, but Zhen Shui County isn't. Who lacks a sense of the overall situation? You tell me."

Upon hearing this, Lu Weiguo was visibly angered.

"How can you speak like that?" one of the officials rebuked.

The other city's Investment Promotion Bureau members also stared at Dong Xuebing.

Towards Deputy Mayor Hua Li, Dong Xuebing might show some restraint. But, when it came to Lu Weiguo, the director of the Investment Promotion Bureau, Dong Xuebing, didn't hold back. Lu Weiguo held a higher position, but Dong Xuebing didn't report to him directly. Their interactions were minimal, and in terms of the weight of their respective positions, Dong Xuebing, as the Deputy County Mayor, evidently had a higher position than a director of a poor city's Investment Promotion Bureau.

Shouting.

This guy was yelling.

Dong Xuebing looked at them and said, "This is how I speak. It might be straightforward, but it's reasonable. Director Lu was the one who brought up the issue of the overall situation first. So, let's discuss it. Director Lu, I hope you won't mind my straightforward words. I am here for the work and our county. We are seeking fairness, principles, and rules. I'm puzzled. Why is Zhen Shui County treated unfairly, unable to enjoy even the most basic rights? Tomorrow morning, I will bring the foreign inspection team back to Zhen Shui County. The matter has been settled, and I won't make any changes. If the people from the city's Investment Promotion Bureau find it inappropriate, they can directly contact the foreign businessmen. Their legs are on their body, and I can't tie them up. If they are willing to stay and inspect the city first, then I have no objections. So, Director Lu and comrades from the city's Investment Promotion Bureau don't look for me or ask me about the foreign businessmen's itinerary in the future. I am the Deputy County Mayor of Zhen Shui County, and I will only do my job well. I will do everything possible to ensure that foreign investments are implemented in our country. As for other districts and counties, I don't want to care, and I can't manage. It's beyond my authority. I am just a small Deputy County Mayor, and my hands are not that long. I don't have such great power."

The words were infuriating, but the people from the city's Investment Promotion Bureau couldn't refute them.

To be honest, the intentions of Hua Li and Lu Weiguo targeting Zhen Shui County were too obvious. The subordinates were well aware of it. After Zhen Shui County came to the investment promotion event, they didn't receive any favor from the city throughout the process. Instead, they faced various suppressions. Other districts and counties also joined in isolating them. Now that Zhen Shui County had turned the situation around and gained the confidence to challenge the city's Investment Promotion Bureau, expecting Zhen Shui County to make sacrifices voluntarily was clearly unrealistic. Everyone has their temper, and it's strange if someone agrees willingly, especially considering Dong Xuebing's well-known strong personality.