Power and Wealth

Half an hour.

One hour.

An hour and a half.

The plane slowly descended.

The two chatted all the way, reluctant to part when they had to, speaking faster, trying to squeeze in more conversation.

Hou Wen asked, "Xuebingg, you have a child now?"

Dong Xuebingg nodded, "My wife just gave birth. It's a boy."

Hou Wen exclaimed happily, "Great! Then I'm officially his godfather."

Dong Xuebingg chuckled, "Sure, why not? But the child is being taken care of by a nanny. He didn't cthis time. When we go back, I'll introduce you. After all, we're both in Jiangnan Province."

Dong Xuebingg shook his head, "No, I'm still in Beijing. It's my wife who's here."

"Oh, so this time, your wife is on a business trip, and you're accompanying her?" Hou Wen asked.

"Yeah, haha, I'm just tagging along with her." Dong Xuebingg replied.

Hou Wen glanced at him, "Which company does she work for? Is it a state-owned enterprise, a private company, or a government agency? In which city?"

Dong Xuebingg answered, "She works for the Xiaxing City government. We are both civil servants."

Hou Wen slapped his thigh, "Alright, I'll inform my father when the tcomes. My father still has sconnections in Jiangnan Province. He probably knows quite a few leaders in Xiaxing City. Rest assured, if your wife encounters any trouble here, find me. I'll make sure to handle it for you. Previously, I couldn't do much in Beijing, mainly because there were too many officials. But here, you can leave it to me. I can't promise big things, but for small matters, my father's word will be effective."

"Hehe, no need," Dong Xuebingg laughed.

"Why are you being polite with me?" Hou Wen stared at him.

Dong Xuebingg wasn't being polite because he knew that if Huilan found something troublesome, Hou Wen's father wouldn't be able to help. He still didn't know what position Hou's father held, but he wasn't a provincial leader. However, seeing his old classmate say so, Dong Xuebingg didn't refuse. "Alright, I won't be polite with you then. If she encounters any trouble, I'll cto you. Oh, the plane has stopped."

Hou Wen regretted, "We haven't chatted enough yet."

"Yeah, that's true." Dong Xuebingg also smacked his lips, suddenly saying, "Do you have plans this afternoon and evening? How about we go out together?"

Hou Wen pondered momentarily, then slapped him on the back, "Okay, that's settled then. This time, traveling with many old men and following them around is no fun. Moreover, my parents are watching over me. Just thinking about it annoys me. Haha, today it's just the two of us."

"Alright, lettell my wife."

"You go ahead, I already informed my mom."

"Okay, we've landed. Let's talk more after we get off."

"Got it. My luggage is behind; I'll go get it; see you downstairs."

Dong Xuebingg picked up his small bag and followed the crowd downstairs. As soon as he exited, he took out his phone and dialed a number. The phone rang.

"I've arrived."

"I've arrived, too. Where are you?"

"I just finished dinner with slocal officials."

"Hey, listen, I met an old classmate at the airport, a guy from my old dormitory. He and his family are also here for a holiday. We chatted all the way and didn't get enough. I told him I might not find you immediately and suggested we go out together. It's been so long since we last met."

"Leavingbehind all by myself, huh?"

"Cough, cough, isn't this a special situation? If it works, Hou Wen and I will return in the afternoon, and the three of us can have dinner tonight."

"Just kidding with you, playing with you, kid."

"Yeah, let's contact each other later and discuss it again. For now, you can go ahead and walk around on your own."

"Not going for a walk anymore. I might have to go to a development zone for research in the afternoon, and the car hasn't arrived yet."

After hanging up the phone and putting it away, Dong Xuebing turned around and saw Hou Wen and his mother approaching, still talking. It seemed that Hou Wen's mother's expression wasn't too good.

"Mom, are you being reasonable?"

"I still need to carry your luggage for you?"

"I'm just going out to play with my classmates. How can I carry luggage while moving around?"

"Your dad asked you to cover as soon as you exited the plane. Why are you wandering around? He'll scold you if you make him wait."

The mother and son chatted for a while, and it seemed that Hou Wen's mother didn't want her son to go out with Dong Xuebing. She probably didn't think highly of Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing pretended not to hear and looked around.

Seeing Dong Xuebing ahead, Hou Wen told his mother, "Well then, let's go to my dad's place first. Dong Xuebing and I will drop off our luggage, and then go out."

Hou's mother asked, "Where are you guys going?"

"Why do you still care about where we're going?" Hou Wen was not pleased.

Hou's mother said coldly, "I don't want to bother with you. Do whatever you want."

Hou Wen snorted and walked towards Dong Xuebing. "Xuebing, let's go to the hotel first, put the luggage in my room, and then the two of us can find a place to drink."

Dong Xuebing said, "Shall we make another appointment? Auntie…"

"Never mind her. Let's do our own thing," Hou Wen said, lowering his voice and gesturing behind him. "That's it. I'm already grown up. After all, I'm also a junior cadre in a state-owned enterprise. Look at my parents, still controllinglike I'm in elementary school every day. It's so annoying."

Dong Xuebing smiled, "Parents all hope for the best for their children."

"But it's too much. I'm almost fed up. They have no self-awareness at all. Do you know why I'm not married yet? The ones they introduced toare not up to my standards, and the ones I like, they disapprove of. The girl's family background may be better, but I don't like her. What's the use of that?" Hou Wen said helplessly.

"Every family has its difficulties."

"Yeah, let's go. Let's take a taxi."

Hou Wen walked ahead.

Dong Xuebing's bag was small, almost like he wasn't carrying anything. He turned around and saw Hou's mother holding a large suitcase. He said, "Auntie, lethelp you with that."

Hou's mother glanced at him. "It's fine."

"It's just a small thing." Dong Xuebing took it over.

Hou's mother didn't say anything else and let him carry it. "Thank you."

The three of them went to the taxi exit, waited for a while, and then lined up to get into a taxi.

Hou's mother sat in the front with a cold face and told the driver the nof the hotel. Then she remained silent, "Go to the Royal Hotel."

Hmm.

Royal Hotel?

Dong Xuebing suddenly felt a little familiar. He blinked and couldn't help but take out his phone from his pocket and look at the hotel address his wife had just sent him.

Royal Hotel.

It turned out they were going to the splace.

Then Dong Xuebing remembered something. This coincidence was too much.

They were all flying from the provincial capital of Jiangnan Province, going to Macau on a business trip. They were even going to the shotel. Dong Xuebing couldn't help but feel a little dizzy. He only realized that Hou Wen's father might have also been on this business trip organized by Jiangnan Province. It must be. He hadn't thought about it just now, but seeing an old classmate had made him too excited. Now that he thought about it, the two of them were probably traveling together with their families. Dong Xuebing couldn't help but smile at this unexpected turn of events. It was great that they could all hang out together these days.

Dong Xuebing glanced at Hou Wen, originally intending to ask, but seeing Hou's mother still in front, he said nothing.

Dong Xuebing smiled, "What a coincidence, I'm also going there."

Hou Wen hadn't reacted yet because the research this twas city leaders’ level, and he was also very clear about Dong Xuebing's family situation. His father had passed away, and his mother was a teacher in the village. In his impression, even if Dong Xuebing's wife was a civil servant, she was probably just a staff member. Hou Wen hadn't thought about it at all. He hesitated, "You're also going to the Royal Hotel? Your spouse is on a business trip. Your unit is generous. Although it's not the most high-end hotel there, it's still pretty good and not cheap."

Dong Xuebing said, "It will be reimbursed."

"Perfect. Then both of us can drop off our luggage first." Hou Wen chuckled. And we can also meet your wife. Oh, I'm looking forward to it."

"She might be busy this afternoon."

"Don't make excuses. You must letmeet her."

"Hehe, what excuses would I make? My wife is not someone who can't be seen."

"Then I'm even more looking forward to it. I wonder which girl is so blind to pick you. Haha."

"Just wait and see. Letgive you a heads-up. My wife is extremely beautiful, not to brag, she's absolutely stunning, enough to scare a lot of people."

"Keep bragging."

"Action speaks louder than words. I must let you see."

"Hehe, I'm waiting. Hurry up and letsee."

"I'll bring a camera later and must capture your expression."

"You're showing off now. Keep bragging. Quickly call your wife out." Beijing people have a distinctive way of speaking. Among close friends, especially when their relationship is particularly good, conversations often involve teasing and banter rather than praise. Hou Wen smiled with his legs crossed, "You used to be such an honest person, but now you've becmore talkative. According to what you said about stunning beauties scaring people away, I've only seen three or five over the years. By the way, your spouse is a civil servant in Xiaxing City, right? You should know the new Secretary of the City Party Committee in Xiaxing City, Xie… Xie…"

Dong Xuebing added, "Xie Huilan."

"Yes, that's her." Hou Wen clicked his tongue, "What it means to be beautiful, what it means to be stunning. Secretary Xie is a true example. I saw her on TV once, a news report from Xiaxing City aired on the provincial channel. It seemed like she was giving a speech somewhere. That face, that figure, that aura, that grace, heh, let's not mention it anymore. I've never seen someone so charming. And she's just in her early thirties and already the City Party Secretary."

"Beautiful, right?"

"Stunning."

"As long as you acknowledge it."

"What do you mean acknowledge? I acknowledge what?"

"She's my wife."