Power and Wealth

Chapter 1808

Afternoon

County Committee

In the Secretary's Office

The room was not large, but it had an inner chamber that was reasonably adequate. Overall, it felt a bit shabby. The walls were peeling in many places, and there were some water stains around the windows, possibly from rain leaks. Dong Xuebing did not doubt that the county didn’t intentionally give him a particularly poor office; they wouldn’t do that. So, this was still a relatively decent office. In other words, if even the county secretary's office were in this condition, the offices of other officials and departments would likely be in even worse shape.

"Secretary, the environment here is somewhat lacking. Please make do with it," Meng Hanmei said, perhaps noticing Dong Xuebing observing the room.

Dong Xuebing took out a cigarette and politely waved it at Meng Hanmei, not to offer her one but to check if it was acceptable to smoke in her presence. As Meng Hanmei quickly nodded, saying it was fine, Dong Xuebing lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, and said, "It's alright. I don’t feel it’s too bad. It’s fine as long as it’s functional. I’m not too particular. You'll get used to it eventually, haha."

The main points had been discussed, and the necessary introductions had been made.

Meng Hanmei paused, glanced at her watch, and said, "I’m not sure about your plans for the afternoon, so I’ll make it quick and not delay your work."

Dong Xuebing waved his hand, "I don’t have any plans. Go ahead, take your time."

Meng Hanmei said, "There’s just one last thing—about your driver and secretary."

Dong Xuebing hesitantly replied, "You arrange the driver for me. I won’t worry about it."

The driver, especially for a county committee secretary, was a significant and often coveted position. Sometimes, the trust in a driver could be higher than that in a secretary, as leaders often rely on their drivers for personal matters, even if they don’t use their secretary as much. It was important to trust the person, and their character had to be carefully considered. Dong Xuebing didn’t even think twice before handing the selection to Meng Hanmei. This already indicated his trust in her.

Meng Hanmei also appeared serious and formal, "Alright, since you trust me so much, I will carefully select someone for you. Once I’ve found suitable candidates, I will bring them to you for review."

Dong Xuebing responded casually, "No need to review; just choose someone and let it be."

Meng Hanmei had already shown her intent to align with Dong Xuebing. Naturally, he needed to reciprocate to some extent.

Dong Xuebing examined the candidates’ files critically, and his process was methodical yet deeply personal. He dismissed the first few candidates with a decisive air:

“Not imposing enough—excluded.”

“No official demeanor—excluded.”

“Eyes and nose too sharp—excluded.”

To an outside observer, Dong Xuebing's criteria might have seemed overly arbitrary, perhaps even a touch superficial. But Dong Xuebing himself didn’t see it that way. He believed that a photograph could reveal much about a person’s character. This wasn’t about superstition or astrology; instead, it was about the subtle hints of one's true nature that could be discerned from their appearance. Unlike the mystical beliefs surrounding facial features or star signs, Dong Xuebing held that true demeanor reflected a person’s experiences, environment, and values—a more reliable indicator of character.

Of course, he acknowledged that mistakes were possible. Nothing in life is absolute, and sometimes, a person lacking appearance or demeanor might rise to heights. Dong Xuebing knew that even with the best intentions, outcomes could be unpredictable. But that was the nature of life. He believed in making decisions based on his judgment and standing by them, even if they were wrong. This confidence in his decisions was a cornerstone of his robust and fearless nature. Dong Xuebing didn’t seek to be infallible; he trusted his choices.

After thoroughly reviewing the files, he set them aside with a sense of finality. “I’m done.”

Meng Hanmei, observing his reaction, asked, “Do you find any of them suitable? If not, I can introduce them to you. They’re all under my supervision, so I’m quite familiar with them.”

Dong Xuebing inquired, “Are there other candidates?”

Meng Hanmei shook her head. “The others either have problematic backgrounds or deficiencies in work abilities. I didn’t choose them. Do you find these candidates unsatisfactory?”

Dong Xuebing wanted to maintain her enthusiasm and not belittle her efforts. “It’s not that I’m dissatisfied. I know you’ve put in a lot of hard work on this. I appreciate it. However, I had someone in mind for a while now.”

Meng Hanmei looked puzzled. “From the County Office?”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “Yes, from the County Office. Specifically, Su Yan was a deputy section chief in the Secretary’s Office. I’ve met him once and heard about his involvement in the black car incident. He seems promising, though I’m unsure about his exact capabilities. He feels right for me.”

Meng Hanmei’s expression grew complex. “You mean Xiao Su?”

Dong Xuebing smiled. “Yes, that’s him. Arrange for him to come over. I want to meet him.”