Before noon.
In the compound.
One of the Baohong City officials accompanying them down was also a municipal cadre who had been at the private dining room dinner the previous night. He had long known about Dong Xuebin and Xie Huilan's relationship. Seeing the two of them putting on an act, shaking hands and talking, calling each other Secretary Dong and Secretary Xie, he found it rather amusing. Who were they trying to fool?
"Secretary Xie, what now?" Dong Xuebin asked.
Xie Huilan said, "It's not mealtime yet, is it? Shall we take a look around inside?"
"Sure. Then everyone, please come in." Dong Xuebin gestured for them to enter.
Xie Huilan smiled. "All right, we'll have a look around."
Dong Xuebin smiled. "Actually, there's not much to see. They're all temporary row houses, and the conditions are a bit basic. Please don't mind it."
A Xiaxing City cadre behind them immediately said, "Promoting the spirit of hard work and simplicity has always been one of our country's fine traditions. This is something we need to learn from your county." Though Dong Xuebin was only a County Party Secretary, he was their Municipal Party Secretary's husband. Naturally, the Xiaxing City officials had to say pleasant things. Secretary Xie might be able to handle matters impartially in an official capacity, but that was clearly only on the surface. They could not do the same. If they truly treated Dong Xuebin like an ordinary County Party Secretary, they would never have made it to their current positions. Wouldn't that make them Er Lengzi? Thus, the Xiaxing City group showed no sign of being there for an exchange or inspection. Anyone unaware of the situation might have thought Jiaolin County was Xiaxing City's superior unit.
Everyone headed inside.
Dong Xuebin checked the time,