Power and Wealth

Chapter 1346: Jiang Faction’s gathering

Yao Cui’s house.

Courtyard.

The sky was still bright.

Dong Xuebing stopped in the alley outside and got out. He took the dinner ingredients, like vegetables, eggs, meat, etc., and stood outside Yao Cui’s house.

The door was ajar.

Knock… knock… no one answered.

Dong Xuebing entered. “Yao Cui?”

Yao Cui’s parent’s room door was opened. They seemed to be out.

Yao Cui said from her room. “Xuebing? Why are you so early?”

Dong Xuebing walked over. “Secretary Li came and asked me to go home after you left. I went to the market to buy some ingredients and came over.”

“Ah… I told you not to get anything.”

“It’s not nice to keep eating at your place for free.”

“It’s fine. You don’t need to be so calculative with me.”

“I’m not. Haha… Did you just come home?”

“Yes. I just came back a few minutes before you. Wait for a minute. I need to tidy up my place.”

Dong Xuebing stood outside Yao Cui’s room. He did not think much and entered. “I wanted to give you a lift, but I saw you riding your bicycle when I came out. So, I… Huh?” He was talking as he entered her room and was shocked.

Yao Cui was also shocked. She was in her heels and trying to buckle her bra behind her back. Her light green bra was exposed, and she wore a flowery skirt. She was not wearing a top!

“Ah!” Dong Xuebing was shocked.

Yao Cui blushed and quickly covered her chest. Her bra strap slides down when she lets go of it. Part of the right breast was exposed. She quickly shouted. “You… Go out first!”

Dong Xuebing quickly left the room and closed the door. His heart was racing as he saw everything. “Didn’t you say you are tidying your room?”

Yao Cui stomped her feet. “Why do you believe everything I say?”

Dong Xuebing sighed. “I would not go in if you tell me you are changing.”

Yao Cui grumbled. “I was embarrassed to tell you. Why didn’t you knock before you come in?”

Dong Xuebing replied. “I thought you were moving your furniture to tidy and I could give you a hand… Ok. It’s my fault.”

The door opened.

Yao Cui was dressed and walked out.

Dong Xuebing looked at her clothes and the jade-green heels. “Beautiful.”

“Huh?” Dong Xuebing lied. “No… I did not see anything.”

Yao Cui gave him a stare. “Do you think I believe you? You must have seen everything.”

Dong Xuebing cleared his throat. “It’s my fault. I will punish myself by cooking a sumptuous dinner for my beautiful classmate.”

Yao Cui laughed. “You are good with words. Let’s prepare dinner together.”

Dong Xuebing looked towards the other room. “Where are your parents and brother?”

Yao Cui replied. “They went to visit relatives and will not be back today. It will be the few of us.”

“Stop lying.” Dong Xuebing smacked his lips. “You must have asked your parents to leave, right? Why did you do that?”

Yao Cui smiled. “Chief Yan and Chief Chen are coming, and my parents felt uncomfortable around them. They did mention they want to visit our relatives these few days. So I asked them to go.”

“I will not dare to come if you do this. I wanted to visit your parents, and you asked them to leave.”

“All right… I will not do this again.”

“I bought something for your parents from Beijing. Don’t forget about it. It is in my car. Remind me to get it before I leave.”

“Ok. I remember.”

“Let’s start preparing dinner.”

“Ok. Chief Yan and Chief Chen should be arriving soon.”

Dong Xuebing carried the groceries into the kitchen and saw the kitchen counter. Yao Cui had bought ingredients, too.

Yao Cui rubbed her temples. “I told you not to get anything.”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “You can keep some in the fridge.”

“My fridge is not big enough.” Yao Cui grumbled. “It is a waste if it cannot fit into the fridge. These ingredients are not cheap, and we cannot finish everything.”

Dong Xuebing remembered Yao Cui was alone at home and said. “I will call Secretary Pu and Minister Jian to ask if they are free.”

Yao Cui nodded. “Ok.”

Dong Xuebing walked out to the courtyard to call them. Jian Xiangrong was free and agreed immediately. Secretary Pu was still at work and said he would try to come. Dong Xuebing thought about it. He had invited the prominent members of the Jiang Faction, and he should ask Jiang Fangfang, too. Although she might be busy today, he still called her.

“Mayor Jiang, it’s me.”

“What is it?”

“Are you outside? I am at Xiao Yao’s place, and we bought many ingredients for dinner. Minister Jian and Chief Yan are coming. Secretary Pu will be coming later.” Dong Xuebing smiled. “It’s just a few of us. Do I have the honor of inviting you over for dinner?” He was in a good mood.

“I shall see about it.”

“We will wait for you.”

“Don’t wait for me. I don’t know if I have the time. Let’s talk about this later.”

Jiang Fangfang could not confirm if she were joining. She should be very late even if she comes. Dong Xuebing was not in a rush to prepare dinner. He entered the kitchen and told Yao Cui they started preparing the ingredients.

About ten minutes later.

Finance Department Chief Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei arrived.

“Secretary Yao.”

“Mayor Dong.”

They did not see anyone when they entered.

Dong Xuebing walked out of the kitchen, holding a bunch of wet vegetables. He smiled. “Old Ya, Sis Chen. Come in.”

Yan Yizhi was surprised. “You are…”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “I am washing the vegetables. Wait a while. Mayor Jiang, Minister Jian, and Secretary Pu should be coming. Xiao Yao and I are preparing the ingredients now.”

Chen Xiaomei quickly walked over. “No… no… how can we let you prepare dinner?”

“That’s right. Leave it to us.” Yan Yizhi snatched the vegetables from Dong Xuebing.

Chen Xiaomei wore that pair of white-colored jeans Dong Xuebing gave her. It was fitting and showed her curves. It made Dong Xuebing look at her legs. “It’s fine. I will let you all try my food today.”

Inside the kitchen.

Dong Xuebing continued to wash the vegetables.

Yao Cui was picking the rotten leaves of the vegetables, and Chen Xiaomei was cutting.

Yan Yizhi does not know how to cook. But Mayor Dong was preparing dinner in the kitchen. He cannot go outside or stand around and watch. He looked around and saw a few spring onions. He walked over and slowly pulled away the spring onions' bad parts.

A while later.

Jian Xiangrong and Pu An arrived.

“Minister Jian, Secretary Pu. You all are early.”

“Yes. I handed my work to my men and came.”

“Mayor Dong. Haha… Why are you preparing dinner?”

“Mayor Jiang might be coming later. I want to show off my cooking.”

“Old Pu and I cannot cook. But is there anything we can help?”

“No need. We don’t need so many people in the kitchen. Just have some tea and wait.”

The ingredients were prepared. They only need to throw them into the wok and cook. Mayor Jiang still has not confirmed if she is coming, and they cannot start cooking now.

Suddenly, someone entered the courtyard.

It was Deputy Mayor Lu Zhi. “Secretary Pu, Mayor Dong, Minister Jian, and Old Yan are here.”

Dong Xuebing did not invite Lu Zhi or know why he came. But he still invited him into the house. “Come in, Mayor Lu. Let’s have dinner together.”

Lu Zhi replied. “Mayor Jiang invited me.”

Mayor Jiang invited him? Dong Xuebing immediately understood. The quiet Deputy Mayor Lu wants to join the Jiang Faction, or Mayor Jiang would not invite him. Pu An and Jian Xiangrong understood, too. They chatted with Lu Zhi and drank tea. Although the Jiang Faction had few members, it was also the reason they were united.

Around 7.30 pm.

Jiang Fangfang arrived with Secretary Li Xiaona.

Everybody stood up when she entered the courtyard.

“You all are here.” Jiang Fangfang smiled. “I just finished my work. Didn’t I say not to wait for me? Why didn’t you all start first?”

Pu An smiled and replied. “We are not hungry.”

Jian Xiangrong added. “Yes. We had late lunch.”

Dong Xuebing interrupted. “We can be hungry now after you come.”

Li Xiaona burst out laughing. Jiang Fangfang pointed at Dong Xuebing, and everyone laughed.

“It’s time for me to show off my cooking. Wait here. I am going to cook.” Dong Xuebing turned and entered the kitchen.

Chen Xiaomei said. “Let me help.”

Yao Cui and Yan Yizhi followed. Li Xiaona also wanted to join.

Secretary Pu and Mayor Dong have the highest authority other than Mayor Jiang. They cannot let him prepare dinner alone.

Dong Xuebing rejected their offer. He smiled and stood at the kitchen entrance. “Don’t snatch with me. I came to Zhen Shui County for so long and encountered many issues. I had no time to treat you all. I am borrowing my classmate’s house to give you treat you all today. I am going to cook all the dishes. Of course, I cannot guarantee the food will be tasty.”

Pu An laughed. “It will be delicious.”

Jiang Fangfang smiled. “Then we will have a good dinner.”

“You all are giving me lots of pressure. I am going to cook. Haha…” Dong Xuebing turned and entered the kitchen to cook.