Chapter 1370: You two are a couple?
In the courtyard.
Many people started discussing.
"What did she say?"
"Did we hear it wrong?"
"No, she said she will stay at Mayor Dong"s house."
"Huh, maybe the Deputy Mayor misspoke."
Everyone looked at the female Mayor from Fen Zhou City, wondering why she would say she wanted to stay at Mayor Dong"s house in front of so many people. It seemed unusual, and although people might make mistakes, someone in such a position would usually be careful about their words and actions. However, the Fen Zhou City officials showed no change in expression, looking quite natural, leaving the people from Zhen Shui County more puzzled.
Lui Zhi cleared his throat, "At Mayor Dong"s place…"
Xie Huilan said, "Yes, he won"t be home tonight."
"Not that." Lui Zhi blinked, "But at Mayor Dong"s house…"
County Government Office Director Ma Bin quickly interjected, "I"ll arrange a hotel immediately. The environment there is decent. Mayor Xie, what do you think?"
Hotel?
Why should Mayor Xie go to a hotel?
Officials from Fen Zhou City knew there was a misunderstanding.
An Education Department official from Fen Zhou City clarified, "Mayor Xie and Mayor Dong are family." But this explanation was a bit ambiguous.
The people from Zhenshui County suddenly realized.
No wonder she wanted to stay at Mayor Dong"s place. They were relatives.
They must be close relatives. Mayor Xie should be Mayor Dong"s sister.
But everyone was still puzzled. How come two people with different surnames were siblings?
At this moment, the roar of an engine came from the entrance, and a black Land Rover drove in. Mayor Dong had arrived.
The car stopped.
Dong Xuebing got out of the car. Seeing that Secretary Meng and others were ready and the car was here. It was evident that they were ready to go for the condolence visit. He was a bit embarra.s.sed, knowing they were waiting for him. Without looking towards Xie Huilan and the others, he quickly approached Secretary Meng and said, "Sorry, Secretary Meng. I kept you waiting. I just left the hospital, went home to change clothes, and showered." He had made significant contributions to the rescue efforts. The city had even praised him verbally. Today, he had just left the hospital and returned to work immediately. It was understandable, and Secretary Meng and Zhang Wanshui didn"t want to make an issue out of it. Besides, since Mayor Xie had mentioned that she was Mayor Dong"s family, they had to consider this aspect of face-saving.
Zhang Wanshui remained silent.
Meng Rui smiled, "No problem."
Some of the accompanying officials had already boarded the car.
"Go say hi to your family," Meng Rui said. "We"re getting ready to depart."
"Sure." Dong Xuebin looked towards Xie Huilan and the officials from Fenzhou City and then walked over.
"Mayor Dong," Liao Yimin quickly greeted with a smile. "Why were you just discharged from the hospital?" He thought it was about your injury from the fall a while ago.
Dong Xuebing didn"t say much. "I recovered fully a while ago. How are you, Chief Liao? How about your health?"
"It"s still the same headaches and fever. Just minor issues." Liao Yimin said.
"You must take care of your health. Don"t take it lightly. You should get a checkup later." Dong Xuebing was a.s.sociated with Xie Huilan, and he must show concern for her subordinates.
"Mayor Dong."
"Mayor Dong."
The other officials from Fen Zhou City also greeted him respectfully.
Dong Xuebing smiled in response and then turned his gaze to Xie Huilan, saying helplessly, "Why didn"t you answer my calls?"
Xie Huilan laughed, "Did you call?"
"I called several times," Dong Xuebing said.
"Hehe, I was in the car. Maybe I didn"t hear it."
Seeing this, Lui Zhi said, "Mayor Dong, Mayor Xie said she"s going to your place tonight. So, we won"t arrange accommodation for your sister at the guesthouse."
Dong Xuebing was puzzled, "My sister? Who is my sister?"
People from Fen Zhou City were a bit confused. Okay, these people still didn"t get it.
Meng Rui and Zhang Wanshui, along with other officials from Zhen Shui County, blinked and looked over. Didn"t that person say you two are family? Isn"t she your sister?
Lui Zhi also said awkwardly, "Mayor Xie isn"t your…"
Dong Xuebing sweated a bit, looking at Xie Huilan, "You didn"t tell them?"
"I thought you did." Xie Huilan smiled, "Let"s clear things up. They were confused."
Dong Xuebing thought it was indeed confusing. What was going on? Why did she become my sister? So, under the bewildered gaze of everyone, Dong Xuebing pointed at Xie Huilan and introduced, "This is my wife, Xie Huilan."
Stunning revelation.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
What? Such a beautiful woman is your wife?
Moreover, she"s a Deputy City Mayor and looks noticeably older than you.
Everyone was shocked beyond belief. This was unexpected for everyone. Suppose Dong Xuebing and Xie Huilan were of similar ages when the officials from Fen Zhou City mentioned them as family. In that case, people might have thought about a marital relations.h.i.+p. However, the age difference was evident; she was a stunningly beautiful Deputy Mayor. So, n.o.body expected that Mayor Dong would have the fortune of marrying such a high-ranking and beautiful wife.
No way. Is this for real?
But everyone knew that a Deputy City Mayor and a Deputy County Mayor wouldn"t joke about such matters.
Meng Rui, Zhang Wanshui, and other County leaders were slightly surprised. No one could easily access Dong Xuebing"s file, but Meng Rui had seen it. He vaguely remembered that Dong Xuebing"s wife was indeed surnamed Xie and worked in Fen Zhou City. However, Meng Rui didn"t remember the details clearly. So, when he heard them say they were family, he thought Mayor Xie was Dong Xuebing"s sister.
They are a couple.
Why does it seem a bit off?
Yao Cui and Ma Bin were also stunned for a moment.
Upstairs, Pu An and Jian Xiangrong heard about it and exchanged looks.
Mayor Dong always managed to surprise people time and time again, and this time was no exception.
A man with a limited background and an ordinary appearance managed to marry a woman much older than him and even several ranks higher in position. This seemed almost unbelievable to many. However, it also indirectly demonstrated Mayor Dong"s capabilities.
Many people admired him.
Lui Zhi felt embarra.s.sed, "Sorry, Mayor Xie, Mayor Dong, I misunderstood. My apologies."
Xie Huilan smiled with her crescent-like beautiful eyes, "No problem. We don"t have the typical husband-wife resemblance, hehe."
"It doesn"t look like it at all," Lui Zhi added. "Hey, congratulations to both of you on expecting a child. Let me extend my early congratulations."