Power and Wealth

Chapter 1349: There is someone left behind in the building

Western room.

Yao Cui continued to massage Dong Xuebing’s head.

Dong Xuebing continued to peep down her blouse.

One minute…

Two minutes…

Three minutes…

Yao Cui was gentle, and the massage was good. He felt he might fall asleep anytime.

Yao Cui asked. “Are you feeling better?”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “It felt good.”

“You know how to enjoy.” Yao Cui grumbled. “My mum also did not enjoy my services.”

Dong Xuebing quickly replied. “Huh? I will massage your head if you are drunk next time. I learned Chinese medicine before. It will feel good.”

“Stop boasting.” Yao Cui laughed. “Chinese medicine? Do you think I don’t know what you studied?” They were from the same class, and she knew what they learned.

“I am not boasting.”

“Do you know Chinese medicine after reading one or two books?”

“I am serious. I also know Western medicine and surgeries. Why don’t you believe me?”

“Ya… ya… ya… carry on boasting. I will not expose you. Haha…”

Dong Xuebing: “……” He did not explain further.

Yao Cui said. “Are you ok now? Mayor Jiang and the rest are still eating.”

Dong Xuebing stretched. “I feel much better now. Thank you.”

Dong Xuebing felt better after a short rest. He got out of bed and could walk steadier than before. They returned to the northern room.

Inside.

The food had been heated.

“How are you, Mayor Dong?”

“I feel much better now.”

“Sit and have some tea.”

Dong Xuebing was full and did not continue eating.

Lu Zhi, Pu An, and the rest were still eating. Jiang Fangfang was talking on the phone away from them.

Jiang Fangfang returned and said. “The damaged family quarter will be demolished tomorrow morning. The City will send professionals to handle it. It has been confirmed.

Pu An nodded. “It should be demolished as soon as possible. Everybody will be worried if it was left hanging there.”

Jian Xiangrong drank a lot today and started to talk more. “Luckily, there’s no casualty, or this incident will blow up. Sigh… Old Chu is too much. The fire department had many issues, and the ladder malfunctioned at a critical moment. I don’t know how long it will take if Mayor Dong did not help them rescue that woman. Mayor Jiang, Chu Peng, and the fire department must be held responsible.” Chu Peng is the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee and the Public Security Bureau Chief. The fire department is under him. Jian Xiangrong was implying to use this incident as an excuse to target the Meng Faction.

Pu An thought about it and felt this suggestion was wrong. “This incident did not blow up, and Chief Chu…” He looked at Mayor Jiang.

Lu Zhi said. “Chief Chu had switched sides in the earlier Party Committee meeting, and this is too much.”

Everybody knew about this incident. It was Dong Xuebing’s first Party Committee meeting. Chu Peng and the former Executive Deputy Mayor had been Jiang Fangfang’s supporters. But the former Executive Deputy Mayor retired, and Chu Peng had drifted away from Jiang Fangfang. That was the first time Chu Peng did not support Jiang Fangfang at the meeting. He chose to give up his vote and got closer to the Meng Faction after that.

Everybody hates the one who sits on the fence.

Chu Peng would not go far in the Meng Faction. Only Secretary Meng thinks highly of him. But the other Meng Faction members had fought against the Jiang Faction for years. It will take a long time for them to accept him. Pu An felt this is where it goes wrong. Chu Peng might have switched sides, but he might return.

This might be possible.

The Jiang Faction needs to attract more members to its side.

Although they won against the Meng Faction this time, it was by luck. The Meng Faction still owns the majority votes, while the Jiang Faction only has Jiang Fangfang, Dong Xuebing, Pu An, and Jian Xiangrong. Four votes. They were still lagging behind Meng Rui. He will still have the final say in critical issues and decisions. Secretary Meng cannot call for voting on every issue as it will tell the higher-ups he calls the shots. The higher-ups will also question his leadership. But the Jiang Faction cannot afford to lose even once for important decisions.

What should we do?

How can we turn the situation around?

Pull another Party Committee member over? This is the best solution.

But almost all the Meng Faction’s people were long-time members. They will not join Jiang Fangfang. Chu Peng might be the only person who might join the Jiang Faction. After all, he had supported Jiang Fangfang in the past.

Everyone at the table understood.

Jian Xiangrong asked. “Mayor Jiang, Old Chu…”

Jiang Fangfang shook her head. She was full and was drinking tea. “I am not sure.”

Mayor Jiang gave an ambiguous reply. Is she unsure if she can pull Chu Peng over or why he switched sides?

Jian Xiangrong said. “I think it is impossible to pull Old Chu over. He…”

Jiang Fangfang said calmly. “Let’s not talk about work and politics today.”

Jiang Fangfang set the tone, and everybody did not continue with this subject. They started talking about something else.

The dinner ended after a while.

“It’s getting late. We should be going.”

“Thank you for the dinner, Mayor Dong.”

“Don’t mention it. I will cook again if you all think it is delicious.”

“Deal! The food is delicious. I am not flattering you.”

Everybody stood up. Some wore their jacket, and some packed their stuff. They were getting ready to leave.

Suddenly, Jiang Fangfang’s phone on the table rang. She looked at it and answered. “Hello, what is it?”

Pu An and Jian Xiangrong chatted as they walked out. Dong Xuebing, Lu Zhi, and the rest had gone to the courtyard. No one stayed beside Mayor Jiang as she answered her call. They stood outside and smoked. Mayor Jiang was around during dinner, and they did not smoke.

As the rest were chatting, Jiang Fangfang’s face changed.

She hung up and walked out. The words that came out of her mouth shocked everybody. “Hurry! To the Public Security Bureau family quarters now! Someone is still trapped in the building!”