Power and Wealth

After ten o'clock.

Taoranting Park.

The sky was dark and dim, with heavy snow swirling around and a mist hung overhead.

Dong Xuebing and Fang Wenping climbed to the top of the mountain within a few minutes, found a pavilion, and squeezed inside to sit side by side. In front of them, the lights were brightly lit, and the sound of firecrackers echoed in their ears. However, the whole park was probably just the two, giving off a lonely and chilly feeling.

Dong Xuebing asked, "Why did you come here?"

Fang Wenping looked into the distance and said, "I wanted to find a quiet place, any problem with that?"

"No problem with that, but look at the time," Dong Xuebing complained.

Displeased, Fang Wenping said, "If you don't want to be here, you can go back by yourself. I'm not forcing you."

Dong Xuebing said, "You're this drunk. How can I feel at ease going back? Alright, alright, I'll keep you company for a while. What's up with you today?"

Dong Xuebing said, "Just tell me, there's no one else here anyway."

A gust of cold wind carrying snowflakes swept through the pavilion, making both shiver instinctively. In this weather, it would be strange if it wasn't cold.

Fang Wenping tightened her mink coat and, crossing her legs, looked into the distance and said, "Even if I tell you, it doesn't matter. You think I live a glamorous life, don't you? But now, I don't even know how to celebrate the New Year. When I go home for dinner, my family looks at me with strange eyes. Colleagues visit, and subordinates come to pay respects, outwardly showing respect, but in reality, everyone has a sense of resistance in their eyes. They don't respect me, they fear me. Oh, what's the difference?"

Usually, Dong Xuebing wouldn't care about her, but today, Fang Wenping was drunk, so Dong Xuebing consoled, "Fear is also a form of respect."

Fang Wenping said, "But my family fears me too. Even the younger ones in my family are afraid of me."

Dong Xuebing acknowledged, thinking that her past deeds were too, well, something. "This..."

"On New Year's, the only person I can talk to is you, the grandson-in-law of the Xie family. Isn't that sad?" Fang Wenping said, "I know, everyone thinks I'm a heartless jinx who doesn't care about family. They're all afraid of me. No one dares to get close. Every year, I almost always eat alone. Colleagues visit in groups, afraid to come alone or stay for a meal. What's the point? What's the point?"

Dong Xuebing said, "You can't think like that. I'm in the same boat. When I worked at the grassroots level, I offended all the leaders. Forget eating together. They wouldn't even come to visit. Do you know what it was like? People would see me from afar and avoid me, afraid to even talk to me, worried that any word would reach some leader and offend them. But I got through it. What's the big deal? If people ignore me, I ignore them. I do my own thing with a clear conscience. What do I care what others say or think?"

Fang Wenping glanced at him, "You are similar to me."

"We're the same type of people. I saw that long ago." Dong Xuebing said, grabbing her liquor bottle and taking a big swig to warm up.

Seeing this, Fang Wenping also grabbed the bottle back from his hand.

Dong Xuebing awkwardly said, "I've already drunk from it, the bottle's mouth..."

Fang Wenping had already taken a swig from the bottle, "Hmm."

"Uh, it's nothing." Dong Xuebing felt his saliva must have touched Fang Wenping's thick lips, and his face heated up.

Fang Wenping put down the bottle, "You came to see me for something today, didn't you? Spit it out."

Dong Xuebing hesitated, "Let's wait until you're sober. It's nothing urgent."

"I said, spit it out. What's with all the hesitation?" Fang Wenping said, "You think I'm drunk?"

It's not that I think you are drunk. Dong Xuebing was momentarily speechless but said, "I'm tired of working here and want to transfer to a county in northern Shaanxi, Jiao Lin County. I don't know if you've heard of it. But there's no vacancy there, the Party Secretary and the County Chief are far from retirement, and there's no chance for a job transfer. I can't get there alone, so I want you to help me. I know it's your family's territory, and you have influence."

Fang Wenping frowned, "Jiao Lin County? Are you crazy?"

Dong Xuebing wasn't surprised by her reaction, "Anyway, I've made up my mind."

"I've heard of it. I even went there once when I was younger. Its economy is mediocre; its industry is mediocre, and agriculture is just so-so. Although it's better economically than other counties in the area, it's still very lacking. Why would you want to go there? Are you crazy or just looking for trouble?" Fang Wenping looked at him, "Is working under me that unbearable?"

Dong Xuebing defended, "It's not because of you. I want to go there. I don't want any other county, just Jiao Lin County. I have my reasons. The main issue is I can't make it happen from here. I need your family's approval. Can you help me?"

"No." Fang Wenping replied straightforwardly.

Dong Xuebing: "Why not?"

Fang Wenping said, "Why should I help you?"

Dong Xuebing said matter-of-factly, "Let me remind you, you still owe me a favor."

"I took care of your kid, didn't I?" Fang Wenping said, "So we don't owe each other anything."

Dong Xuebing was momentarily speechless, "Just help me out. Either the Party Secretary or the County Chief, transfer one of them. If anything comes up in the future, I'll help you in return."

Fang Wenping was silent.

"Director Fang." Dong Xuebing said.

Fang Wenping said, "Even if I arrange it, you still might not be able to go."

"That's not for you to worry about. I've taken care of everything else. It's just a matter of whether they can take me in." Dong Xuebing said firmly.

Fang Wenping looked at him, "You haven't made any mistakes. This is the first time I've seen someone willing to take a demotion to go to the grassroots level."

Dong Xuebing said, "I just want to do something for the common people, alright?"

Fang Wenping confirmed, "You've thought this through?"

"I've thought it through." Dong Xuebing confirmed, "No matter what, I have to go."

Fang Wenping paused, then said, "Alright, I'll arrange for the Party Secretary of Jiao Lin County to be reassigned. But you owe me a favor, got it?"

Upon hearing this, Dong Xuebing was immediately excited, "Deal."