Power and Wealth

Chapter 1157: Staying at Mayor Jiang’s apartment

After 9 pm.

The sky is dark.

Upstairs. Mayor Jiang’s apartment. Jiang Fangfang opened the door. Dong Xuebing checked the surroundings before entering the apartment. He wanted to leave the door open to prevent gossip. He thought for a while and closed it.

Jiang Fangfang’s apartment is directly one floor above his.

This was Dong Xuebing’s first time in Jiang Fangfang’s apartment.

The apartment was spotless but not nicely renovated.

“Sorry to bother you.”

“Have a seat.”

“Do I need to change my shoes?”

“No need. This is not wooden flooring. Tea?”

“Err…. Plain water is fine. Thank you.”

“Make yourself at home. There are fruits on the table. I bought them this morning.”

“Ok. I will go back after I get my keys. Err…. You don’t need to host me. You can go and rest if you are tired.”

“It’s fine. I sleep late.”

Dong Xuebing sat on the sofa. He did not sit upright as it would make him look restrained. But he did not lay back as it would make him look too casual. He looked towards the kitchen and saw Jiang Fangfang putting the kettle on the stove. Afterward, she walked to the shoe rack and removed her heels. She took out a pair of yellow slippers and changed into it.

Jiang Fangfang was wearing casual clothes today. She wore a white blouse and yellow pants.

“Were you waiting outside since afternoon?”

“Yes. I went to a teahouse for tea earlier.”

“Did you have dinner? Are you hungry?”

“Not really. I had some nuts at the teahouse.”

“That’s not dinner. Alright. I know.”

Jiang Fangfang kept her heels and returned to the kitchen. She started chopping and cutting something.

She is making dinner.

Dong Xuebing quickly stands up. “Mayor Jiang, you must be tired. You don’t need to make dinner for me. Take a break. I am not hungry.”

“Have some food. I am almost done.”

“You made dinner for me, and I….”

Dong Xuebing did not reject Jiang Fangfang’s offer. Maybe she is hungry too. She had previously cooked and washed his clothes, and he still felt awkward. When did a leader cook and wash a subordinate’s underwear and socks? He also remembers the picture of her husband and her in her office.

Sigh…. What a coincidence.

Why did her husband look like him when he was young?

Twenty minutes later.

The kitchen door opened, and the fragrance filled the living room.

Jiang Fangfang walked out with a plate in an apron. She looked at Dong Xuebing. “Let’s eat.”

“Let me help.”

“Ok. Wash your hands first.”

“Ok. Thank you.”

Dong Xuebing took the plate from Jiang Fangfang and placed it on the table. He looked around and saw the restroom.

The bathroom smells nice. A lemon flavor air freshener is placed by the window. The washing machine cover is opened, and a few pieces of woman’s clothing are inside. There’s also a blue bra under the clothes.

Stop looking and wash your hands….

Dong Xuebing said to himself and quickly washed his hand.

Jiang Fangfang had set the table.

“Let’s eat.”

“Ok.”

Dong Xuebing had tasted Mayor Jiang’s cooking, and it was delicious.

“Thanks for going to Beijing.”

“It’s my duty.”

“How was it?”

“Oh, it should be done. We should be receiving the money soon.”

Jiang Fangfang looked at Dong Xuebing. “How much are we getting.”

Dong Xuebing smiled. “The Finance Ministry agreed to issue 50 million RMB.”

“50 million RMB?” Jiang Fangfang narrowed her eyes. “50 million?”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “I wanted to tell you this morning, but the money is not in. I don’t dare to make any promises. I asked before I returned, and the money should be in these few days.”

Jiang Fangfang nodded. “Good job.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “I am too embarrassed to return if I cannot get the funding.”

“It’s 50 million RMB. I did not expect you to get so much. Even 5 million RMB is a great help to our County, let alone 50 million RMB. We can do a lot for the County with the extra money. You had done something significant for the County, Mayor Dong.” Jiang Fangfang looked at him. “I can finally believe the results in your resume.”

Dong Xuebing replied embarrassedly. “Thank you.”

Jiang Fangfang slowly said. “All right. We are resting and should not talk about work. We shall talk about this during the Party Committee meeting tomorrow.”

Dong Xuebing smiled. “All right. Let’s eat.”

Jiang Fangfang replied. “I can cook soup if these are not enough.”

‘No need. It’s enough. I don’t want to trouble you anymore.”

They finished the food, and Dong Xuebing helped Jiang Fangfang clear the table and do the dishes.

After 10 pm.

Both sat in the living room to watch TV.

Jiang Fangfang did not chase Dong Xuebing or even look at the time.

It was Dong Xuebing who kept looking at his watch. Why is Secretary Li so late? It’s getting late, and it’s not suitable for a man and woman to remain in an apartment at this hour. He is fine, but it’s not good for her reputation. She is a widow, and her parents are not living with her. It’s not right to visit a widow at night.

One minute….

Three minutes….

Five minutes….

Dong Xuebing got restless. “I should be going, Mayor Jiang.”

Jiang Fangfang turned and looked at him. “Where are you going without your keys?”

Dong Xuebing replied helplessly. “It’s late, and I should not be bothering you.”

“I am not sleepy.”

“But….”

“I will help you make a call.”

Jiang Fangfang took out her phone and made a call. No one answered, and she called another number.

Jiang Fangfang ended the call a while later and said to Dong Xuebing. “Xiaona had drunk a lot, and Old Pu dared not let her leave. He arranged a room at a nearby guesthouse for her. Most guests there are drunk, and I think no one can return your car today.”

Fine….

I wasted my time waiting.

Dong Xuebing said. “I will go and find a hotel.”

Jiang Fangfang replied. “There are no hotels nearby, and the nearest is quite far. The bus services ended at this time, and it’s dangerous for you to walk there.”

“I have to go even when it’s far. Or else, where can I sleep?”

“You can stay tonight if you don’t mind.”

Dong Xuebing quickly replies. “No… I cannot do that.”

Jiang Fangfang points to the guestroom. “I have a guestroom.”

Dong Xuebing cleared his throat. “It’s still not suitable.”

Jiang Fangfang glanced at him. “No one saw you coming in. Just leave earlier tomorrow, and I think Xiaona should have returned the car by then.”

Huh?

This sounds wrong….

Dong Xuebing still felt a bit awkward. “I should not be spending the night at your place as a man. It’s too….”

Jiang Fangfang smiled faintly. “I trust you.”

You trust me, but I don’t trust myself.

“You had an exhausting day. The flight, long-distance bus, and still had to attend a wedding banquet. I don’t want you to tire yourself out.” Jiang Fangfang said. “If you want to stay in a hotel, you can walk towards the west. It is about two kilometers from here. If you are lazy, you can stay here.”

Dong Xuebing hesitated.

What should I do?

Dong Xuebing wanted to stay here with a beauty like Jiang Fangfang. This apartment is better than those rundown hotels in Zhen Shui County. If he insists on leaving, it might affect their relationship after she displays her trust in him.

But….

But….

Dong Xuebing hesitated for a while before he made a decision. “Then I shall trouble you tonight.”

Jiang Fangfang replied. “It’s fine.”

Sigh…. I will stay here tonight.

Dong Xuebing was lazy to travel so far. He had wanted a good rest since the afternoon but could not return to his apartment. Furthermore, Mayor Jiang had suggested this, and he had no reason to reject her. She is right. They had nothing to be afraid of since they had not done anything wrong. Also, no one saw him entering her apartment, and no one will know.

“It’s late. Have a good rest.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “Yes. What about the blanket and pillow?”

“It’s all inside the room. I also have a new toothbrush and towel. I will bring them to you.”