Chapter 1336: Future newspaper
Next day.
Morning 9 am. County Party Committee building.
Today is the monthly Party Committee meeting.
The County Government leaders and staff members arrived at work early. Everybody knows what will be discussed in today’s meeting. This was an essential meeting for them. The committee will decide how the County will use the Central Government funds, and the Meng Faction and Jiang Faction will clash. It will be a fight for resources and a clash of political views. Mayor Jiang used to be without supporters, and Secretary Meng would have the final say on how the County would use the fund. He would use the funds to balance the departments under him and make his men follow his direction. However, Jiang"s Faction is different from the past. Although it is less powerful than the Meng Faction, it cannot be overlooked. This will be an interesting Party Committee meeting.
After 9 am.
Dong Xuebing was slightly late because he had breakfast at the breakfast shop outside. He went straight to the Mayor"s Office when he reached.
Knock… knock… knock…
“Please come in.” It was Li Xiaona.
Dong Xuebing entered. “Secretary Li, is Mayor Jiang in?”
Li Xiaona’s att.i.tude towards Dong Xuebing improved a lot after the bottle of perfume. She smiled. “Mayor Jiang is inside. Please go in.”
“Ok.” Dong Xuebing walked over and smelled the Chanel perfume fragrance. He knew it was from Li Xiaona.
Inner office.
Jiang Fangfang was having tea behind her desk.
Dong Xuebing apologized when he entered. “Sorry, I am late.”
“It’s fine.” Jiang Fangfang replied calmly. “The meeting starts at 10. Have a seat first.”
Dong Xuebing noticed Jiang Fangfang wore the white blazer he gave her yesterday. She paired it with light-colored pants and a grey blouse. Her hair was pinned up, and she wore black heels. She looked elegant, and his gaze stopped at her chest area. He thought to himself. Did she wear that underwear underneath? He praised. “You look wonderful today.”
Jiang Fangfang smiled. “Thanks.”
Dong Xuebing was more casual with Jiang Fangfang after experiencing so many awkward and embarra.s.sing moments with her. “Can you tell me your bottom line for the meeting later?”
“About the road repair?”
“Yes. How much do you need?”
“My bottom line is 8 million RMB. I hope to get as much as we can.”
“What about Secretary Pu and Chief Jian?”
“I spoke to them.”
Dong Xuebing nodded. Eight million RMB should not be a problem, but he felt insufficient. It should be at ten or twenty million RMB.
9.30 am.
Dong Xuebing returned to his office to prepare the doc.u.ments.
Knock… knock… Secretary Yao Cui entered. “Mayor Dong.”
Dong Xuebing smiled and pa.s.sed some doc.u.ments to her. “I was about to call you. These are the doc.u.ments I prepared. They are about road repairs. Help me make a few copies. I need it later.” The Jiang Faction’s benefit is his benefit. He will give Mayor Jiang his full support and is prepared to go all out at the meeting later. He must get the funds for the road repair project. Not only will he get it, but he will also get the most funds available. This will be a good start for the Jiang Faction, and road repair is an important issue that cannot be delayed.
Yao Cui nodded. “Ok. I will go and do it now.”
Dong Xuebing asked. “Where are these few days’ newspapers?”
“They are in your drawer. I placed them inside every day.” Yao Cui replied.
“Ok. Go and photocopy the doc.u.ments. There’s still time. I want to read the newspapers first.” Dong Xuebing did not return for a while and needed to take note of the latest local news.
County newspaper.
This is the County’s only official newspaper.
Other Cities’ newspapers can be bought in the City, but their County does not issue it.
Dong Xuebing opened the drawer and saw a pile of newspapers. He did not read every copy. He flipped them, and Yao Cui returned with the photocopied doc.u.ments.
It was 9.40 am.
It was still early to go to the meeting room.
Dong Xuebing looked at the time and suddenly got an idea. He had acc.u.mulated a few minutes from the previous few days and had not used FORWARD. This ability allows him to look into the future. He knew it was a powerful ability when he first discovered it. Forward had warned him about the earthquake and helped him gain a critical political achievement. If not, he would not be promoted to Deputy Division Chief so fast.
Let’s try it.
Let’s look at tomorrow"s and the day after tomorrow’s newspapers.
Dong Xuebing wants to know how the Party Committee would utilize the funds through tomorrow and the day after tomorrow’s newspapers. He can devise a plan if he knows it beforehand.
The drawer in which Yao Cui placed every day’s newspaper will do.
Dong Xuebing placed his hand on the drawer and closed his eyes. He focused on the drawer and took a deep breath.
FORWARD!
One second…
Thirty seconds…
One minute…
FORWARD disabled.
FORWARD was slightly different from his other powers. Maybe the future has too many uncertainties, and it requires more time. Going one day into the future requires one minute of Dong Xuebing’s remaining time. He used one minute to see what was the Party Committee meeting outcome.
Dong Xuebing opened the drawer.
A new copy of the newspaper appeared on top of the pile in the drawer.
Dong Xuebing picked it up and looked at the date. It was not tomorrow’s morning papers but today’s evening papers. Yao Cui might be late tomorrow and placed the newspaper in the drawer late. That’s why there are only the evening papers, which will be published five to six hours later.
Sigh… I wasted the FORWARD.
I should use it for another thirty seconds.
FORWARD requires a longer time, and Dong Xuebing does not want to waste it. He decided to read the papers first.
Dong Xuebing started reading the headlines.
Huh?
This…
Dong Xuebing jumped out of his seat when he saw the headlines. What the h.e.l.l is going on? Why did this happen?
F**k!
Why did this happen now?
Dong Xuebing was speechless.
F**k! Why did this happen now?
Dong Xuebing cursed and threw the newspaper on the table. Luckily, he read the papers, or they would be disadvantageous. He flipped the newspapers, and the reports were related to the headlines. He was speechless and checked what time the incident happened. He used his lighter to burn the papers immediately. He cannot let anyone discover this newspaper. He could not let anyone see it tomorrow because tomorrow’s paper would be different. The future might change because of his actions today.
Dong Xuebing checked the time. It was 10 am.
Dong Xuebing quickly called Jiang Fangfang on his mobile phone. But her phone was switched off.
She switched off the phone.
Did Mayor Jiang leave for the meeting room?
Dong Xuebing called Discipline Inspection Secretary Pu An.
His phone was switched off, too.
Dong Xuebing quickly went upstairs, hoping to stop Jiang Fangfang. But he did not see her outside of her office. He rushed in without knocking and saw Li Xiaona. “Secretary Li, where is Mayor Jiang?”
Li Xiaona was stunned. “Mayor Jiang left for the Party Committee Meeting. Why are you here? It’s 10 am.”
Dong Xuebing slapped his forehead and rushed towards the meeting room. What should he do? Mayor Jiang had switched her phone off, and he could not tell her his change of plans.
After 10 am.
Dong Xuebing arrived late at the smaller meeting room.
Everyone was there except for Dong Xuebing.
Everyone started at Dong Xuebing when he entered. Meng Rui frowned and did not say anything. His supporters were not pleased. Only the Party Secretary and the Mayor will arrive last during important meetings. Other members will never be late. But Dong Xuebing was late for five minutes. Jiang Fangfang and Pu An looked at him puzzledly.
Deputy Secretary Zhang Wanshui chided. “What time is it now? How can you let Secretary Meng and Mayor Jiang wait for you?”
A while ago, the Meng Fraction and Jiang Fraction put aside their differences and worked together for the first time because the City had taken their funds. They cooperated because of common interest. But they will be discussing the fund’s usage today. It’s normal for them to be going against each other again. Zhang Wanshui had clashed with Dong Xuebing, and it was normal for him to tell him off.
Jiang Fangfang said. “Mayor Dong has not recovered from his injuries and has difficulties walking. He should be resting in a Beijing hospital if not for this meeting. I can understand if he is slightly late.”
Dong Xuebing replied. “My leg hurt earlier, and I could not walk. I got to apply medication. Sorry for delaying everyone’s time.”
Jiang Fangfang said. “It"s all right. Sit.”