Power and Wealth

Chapter 1332: Doing household chores with a beauty

Afternoon.

The government offices ended work.

Dong Xuebing looked at the time and left his office with his luggage.

Dong Xuebing’s office phone did not ring, and no one knocked on his door in the afternoon. Even the County Government department heads dared not to visit him. They might have thought Dong Xuebing would be in a bad mood after losing his temper. They do not want to bother him during this period. Dong Xuebing was speechless, too. He needed some materials earlier and had to call to get someone to send them over. The female staff member used to have a loud voice but was cautious and mumbled softly when she delivered the materials. She kept glancing at him carefully. He thought to himself. “I was not angry with you all.”

It's time to go home.

I can get to eat Mayor Jiang’s food.

Dong Xuebing could not go home with Jiang Fangfang after work. He has to avoid gossip and rumors, and she is swamped. He does not know what time she can finish work. He decided to go home first. He pulled his luggage to his Land Rover.

“Mayor Dong.”

“Oh, Secretary Li.”

“Are you going back to the family quarters? Let me help you with your luggage.”

“No need. I am fine now. How come I did not see you around today?”

“Mayor Jiang asked me to check the townships’ situation, and I just returned.”

It was the mayor’s secretary, Li Xiaona. She was covered in dirt, and her shoes were muddy. Pieces of leaves and branches were stuck on them. Dong Xuebing laughed.

Li Xiaona patted her clothes. “Stop laughing at me.”

Dong Xuebing quickly said. “I am not laughing at you. Some village roads are not well maintained, and this is normal. Are you going home?”

Li Xiaona nodded. “Mayor Jiang asked me to go back and rest.”

“Are you driving?”

Haha… I got my transport.”

“What transport?”

“My bicycle. I am riding back.”

Dong Xuebing saw her massaging her arms and legs and knew she was tired. “All right. Let me give you a lift.”

Li Xiaona waved her hands. “No. I will feel bad.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “Come in. We are going to the same place. It’s on the way.”

Li Xiaona hesitated and said. “Then… ok. My legs are aching, and I don’t know if I can ride my bicycle back.”

Dong Xuebing loaded his luggage in the rear passenger seats.

Li Xiaona helped.

They got into the car after loading the luggage into the car. Dong Xuebing drove, and Li Xiaona sat in the front passenger seat.

Li Xiaona looked at Dong Xuebing after he started driving. “I heard you lost your temper at those people here for money today.”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “The phone had been ringing nonstop, and they even came to my office to make a scene. They harassed Mayor Jiang, and I decided to fall out with them. These people did not know when to stop until they were scolded. See, they stopped coming now.”

Li Xiaona smiled. “Yes. No one dares to ask for money now. I was puzzled when I was at the township. Why did everyone stop calling me to ask for funds? I learned about it after I returned.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “We can have some peace these few days.”

Li Xiaona agreed. “That’s right. It was tiring.”

The County Party Committee Family Quarters.

The car stopped in front of the apartment building.

Li Xiaona released her seatbelt and said. “Thanks for the lift. I am going up.”

“Oh, wait a minute.” Dong Xuebing remembered something and grabbed his luggage to the front. He opened it and took out a box.

Li Xiaona blinked. “This is…”

Dong Xuebing passed the box to her. “I brought this from Beijing. I don’t know if you like it. It’s a small gift for you.”

Li Xiaona quickly refused. “No… I cannot accept it.”

Dong Xuebing insisted. “Take it. I bought it for you.”

Li Xiaona glanced at the box and was speechless. “This is not a small gift. It’s a Chanel perfume. It’s an expensive brand.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “It did not cost much.”

Li Xiaona felt awkward. “You are a leader. You should not be giving me a gift.”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “It’s for you. Try and see if you like it when you are back. All right. Go back and rest.”

“This is the latest perfume from Chanel. How can I dislike it?” Li Xiaona smiled. She tried to refuse again but accepted it in the end. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“How about you come to my place? I want to treat you to dinner.”

“Haha… no need. It’s a small gift.”

“It’s a small gift to you but not to me. This bottle of perfume cost more than my one month's salary.” Li Xiaona paused for a second and said. “My parents are around. Come over for dinner.” She thought Dong Xuebing was afraid of gossip and rumors, and she mentioned her parents were around.

Dong Xuebing replied. “Another day. I got something on later.”

Li Xiaona nodded. “All right. I will treat you another day.”

Li Xiaona helped Dong Xuebing carry his luggage to the building’s entrance. She wanted to carry his luggage to his apartment, but Dong Xuebing refused. She did not insist and returned to her apartment. She checked if she was alone and opened the box eagerly. She sprayed some perfume on her wrist and smelled it. She loved it and kept the bottle in the box carefully. Her impression of Dong Xuebing got better. Mayor Dong is generous. This perfume cost more than ten thousand RMB. She would never afford it.

Upstairs.

Dong Xuebing’s apartment.

Dong Xuebing opened the door and was hit with a gust of moldy and damp smell. He covered his nose. He was not back for almost a month, and it’s normal for the apartment to have this smell. The tables and furniture were covered with a layer of dust. This region was dusty and windy and accumulated so much dust in a month despite all the windows being closed.

I should clean up first.

I got to sleep here later.

Dong Xuebing put his luggage aside and started cleaning the floor. But he was tired after a long day. He stopped after a while and sat on the couch. He smoked and decided to continue cleaning at night. He opened his luggage and dumped everything on the coffee table. He started to unpack his clothes, cigarettes, gifts, etc. He brought a lot of stuff back. Shoes… perfume… clothes… cosmetics… and even branded women's underwear. The underwear was for Xu Yan to thank her for sewing clothes for him. She should be arriving these few days for her new appointment.

Ding Dong… ding dong…

The doorbell rang.

Dong Xuebing was unpacking and was puzzled. He opened the door and was surprised.

“Mayor Jiang.”

“Are you alone?”

“Yes. I am alone. Err… I thought you would finish work and consider visiting your place later. My apartment is messy.”

“It’s fine. Let’s talk inside.”

“It’s too dirty. How about we go to your place?”

“I am not scared. I can help to clean up.”

“Ah, how can I trouble you again? No…”

“I bought the ingredients. You got to let me in.”

“Sure… sure… sure… come. You don’t need to change your shoes. Pass me the ingredients.”

Dong Xuebing let Jiang Fangfang enter and closed the door. He took the ingredients into the kitchen and placed them on the countertop.

Jiang Fangfang was sitting on the couch when Dong Xuebing returned. She had poured a glass of water for herself.

“Ah, that bottle of water is cold.”

“It’s fine.”

“No… I will get hot water for you.”

Dong Xuebing returned to the kitchen to boil water. He brewed tea for Jiang Fangfang after the water boiled. The couch was dusty, and he patted the dust away. “It’s dusty here. It was only a month, and the whole place became like this. Let me get a cushion for you, Sis Jiang. Your clothes will be dirty.”

Jiang Fangfang replied calmly. “No need.”

Jiang Fangfang had changed. She was not wearing the same clothes at work. It was chilly at night, and she wore a pair of light grey tights, a loose white blouse, black heels, and black stockings.

They chatted over tea.

A while later, Jiang Fangfang looked at him. “Are you hungry?”

Dong Xuebing looked at the time. It was after 6 pm. “I am fine. Are you hungry?”

“No.” Jiang Fangfang looked around at the dusty living room and stood up with a faint smile. “It’s pretty dusty. Let me help you clean since I got nothing to do.”

Dong Xuebing anxiously said. “You don’t need to do that. I will clean tonight.”

Jiang Fangfang ignored him and went to get a rag from the kitchen. She wet it. “Men are not as meticulous as women. It will be uncomfortable to live if it is not clean. Just leave it to me.”

“You are putting me in a difficult position.” Dong Xuebing said.

Jiang Fangfang walked out with the rag. “What do you mean?”

Dong Xuebing replied. “You took care of me every time. I…”

Jiang Fangfang looked at Dong Xuebing and started wiping the TV console. “Let’s do it together. You will sweep and mop the floor.”

Dong Xuebing tried to stop Mayor Jiang, but she refused. He started sweeping the floor. Sigh… she washed his clothes and cooked for him previously and is helping him clean up his apartment now. He felt bad.