Asking for Death!

Noon.

City Finance Bureau, Office Building.

It was lunchtime, and the Finance Bureau staff on their lunch break had begun eating. Back when Dong Xuebin worked in Beihe Province, not to mention the city, even district-level finance departments had designated restaurants. Everyone basically went out to eat, and the Finance Bureau had money, so employee benefits were naturally good. But things were clearly different here. As Dong Xuebin went upstairs, he noticed that no one seemed to be going out to restaurants. Some people went downstairs to the Small Cafeteria in the compound, which could only accommodate a dozen or so people, while many others had brought their own meals. Lines had formed in front of the microwaves in the workrooms on the first and second floors, and people heated their food one by one, the scent of dishes drifting through the hallways.

Third floor.

By the stairwell.

Dong Xuebin and the others came upstairs.

"Are you all hungry?" "Not really, County Chief Dong."

"Me neither." "All right, then. Everyone, hang in there a little longer. Let's handle business first."

"County Chief Dong, should we go to Director Wei's office? But..."

"Director Wei is definitely in. Let's go straight there. Lead the way, Lao Yan."

"Uh, yes. It's the third room on the left down that way."

At that moment, a Finance Bureau staff member finally came over to stop them. Warily, he said, "Hey, wait a minute. What are you doing? Who let you come up here?"

Yan Yizhi said, "We're looking for Director Wei."

The man said, "These are the leadership offices. Unauthorized personnel are prohibited from entering. Go downstairs and register first. Someone will bring you up later."

Dong Xuebin looked at him. "Director Wei is in his office, right?"

The man frowned. "Who are you people?"

Chen Xiaomei said, "We're from Zhenshui County."

Upon hearing that, the man's expression changed slightly. "Zhenshui County? Oh, Director Wei isn't here. He's in a meeting. Come back tomorrow!"

Yan Yizhi patiently said, "Comrade, please let him know we're here. We really have an urgent matter to discuss with Director Wei."

Impatiently waving them away, the man said, "I already told you Director Wei went to a meeting. He's not here. Come back some other time."

"Comrade..."

"Go back, all of you."

Dong Xuebin could not be bothered wasting words on him. Without saying anything, he simply squeezed past him and slowly walked forward.

"Hey! What are you doing?" The man got angry.

Yan Yizhi, Chen Xiaomei, and Yao Cui saw this and followed him.

"Stop right there!" The man rushed up and grabbed Dong Xuebin. "What is wrong with you? If you're here to cause trouble, I'll call security!"

But how could he possibly be a match for Dong Xuebin?

Dong Xuebin did not even exert any force. With a slight flick of his wrist, the Finance Bureau employee lost his grip and staggered back several steps.

Without knocking, Dong Xuebin directly pulled open the director's office door.

The door opened, and a middle-aged man inside fixed Dong Xuebin with a gloomy expression.

Dong Xuebin looked at him. "Director Wei, right? Sorry to interrupt your meeting."

Wei Lin was the only one in the office. Clearly, it had nothing to do with any meeting. Dong Xuebin's words were an obvious jab, and he came in with his temper already flaring.

The staff member hurried in behind them. "Director Wei, they..."

Wei Lin waved his hand darkly. "I know. Xiao Zhang, go out."

The man gave Dong Xuebin and the others several hostile looks before reluctantly closing the door and leaving.

Once the door shut, Wei Lin turned an aggressive gaze on Yan Yizhi. "Lao Yan, you're barging into my office now? What are you people trying to do?"

Yan Yizhi said bitterly, "We have something urgent."

Wei Lin said, "You're the only ones with business? I have nothing to do?"

Yan Yizhi was about to speak, but Dong Xuebin waved him off. Before coming here, he had said that he would handle anything that might offend people. He could bear it, and he had never feared such matters. Besides, Yan Yizhi was much lower in rank than Wei Lin and lacked confidence when speaking. It would only weaken their momentum. Seeing this, Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei were naturally happy to leave it to him, and they stepped back with Yao Cui behind Dong Xuebin.

Wei Lin looked at him and knowingly asked, "And you are?"

Dong Xuebin calmly said, "I'm Dong Xuebin, Executive Deputy County Chief of Zhenshui County. We spoke on the phone before. Nice to meet you, Director Wei."

Wei Lin replied halfheartedly, "Oh, County Chief Dong."

Dong Xuebin said blandly, "We've been traveling all day. May we sit down?"

Wei Lin glanced at him, thinking that he was really not holding back. "...Sit."

Dong Xuebin had Yan Yizhi and the others sit on the reception sofa, while he sat in the chair directly opposite Wei Lin's desk. "Director Wei, I'll get straight to the point. We came here for money. I just met with Deputy Mayor Zhao, and he said the funds allocated to us by the central government are all with you. So we came to retrieve the remaining money as soon as possible. That's why we're here."

Wei Lin lowered his head and flipped through some documents without looking at him. "Financial matters fall under Mayor Zhao's authority. The higher-ups have already decided to manage the funds on your behalf. There's no use talking to me."

Passing the buck?

So they really were planning to stall us!

Dong Xuebin was not surprised. "Then we'll follow the normal procedure. Our county's finances have had a huge shortfall recently. Staff in almost every department have not been paid in a long time, and some debts remain unpaid. We're being pressed hard for repayment. The city only left us five million, and that is clearly not enough. I'll write an application now. I'd like to apply to the City Finance Bureau for forty-five million in funding."

Forty-five million?

You really want all the money back?

Wei Lin found it somewhat laughable, and he also felt Dong Xuebin was far too naive. The city had already withheld the money, yet they still had no sense of the situation? As Director of the Finance Bureau, Wei Lin knew the economic state of Zhenshui County, this National-Level Poverty County. He knew Dong Xuebin was not exaggerating. Zhenshui County truly was desperately poor. They were regular visitors to the City Finance Bureau, coming almost every year with their hands out for money. But the city was not rich either, so it had never given them much and had never wanted to. They feared Zhenshui County would get used to asking for money and become a burden on the city, so every time, the city told them to figure it out themselves. But knowing was one thing. Wei Lin was deliberately putting pressure on them, so of course he would not give them money. Five million was not enough? Their finances were tight? What did that have to do with him? Wei Lin was not in a hurry, and neither was the city.

Who could they blame?

They could not blame anyone else.

Wei Lin felt that, in the end, it was still Zhenshui County's own fault.

A man might be innocent, but possession of a treasure invited trouble. If they had only gotten a few million from above, the city would not have reached out. There was no need over such a small amount. But they had obtained a full fifty million! In Meihe City, a poor city itself, fifty million in funding was simply too tempting!

A tiny county like yours went to the central government without even informing the city? And you got so much money? As if the city would let you take it away! Once you soften up and lower your heads on your own initiative, then they could allocate five or six million to you. That would be enough for Zhenshui County's financial expenditures. But not now. With your tough attitude toward the city and the way you speak to me, why would I give you any money?

Without even thinking about it, Wei Lin said, "You can submit an application, but the city's finances are also very difficult. It definitely cannot be approved anytime soon. You should prepare yourselves mentally." Wei Lin made his position perfectly clear and sent them that signal. He was plainly stalling them. They could talk again once they corrected their attitude!

Dong Xuebin looked at him. "The city's finances are difficult? Didn't fifty million just come in? How could the Finance Bureau not have money?"

Wei Lin grew irritated. "Do I need to report the city's finances to you?"

Dong Xuebin looked at him coldly. "Calling it a report would be too much, but this is money given to us by the central government. I think you really do need to explain it to me!"

Heh!

Was he challenging him?

A mere Fuchu Level cadre, and he dared to argue with him?

Wei Lin was at the full department level. He was also a city official and held the important position of Top Leader of the Finance Bureau. So for an Executive Deputy County Chief from some poor county to confront him like this made Wei Lin deeply unhappy. He felt that these people from Zhenshui County had not put themselves in the proper position at all!

Wei Lin's expression turned cold as well. "This was decided by the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee. If you have objections, you can raise them with the city. County Chief Dong, don't use that sarcastic tone with me, as if we stole your money. The city has to consider the bigger picture. Meihe City does not have only one county, Zhenshui County. Besides, your county went directly to the central government to apply for funds. That was not procedurally sound to begin with. Now that the central funding has come down, we won't say anything about it. But is this funding really for your county alone? This is money the central government allocated to help lift Meihe City out of poverty. Your county isn't the only poor county in the city! Many of your fellow counties aren't much better off than you! So naturally, this funding must be used where it matters most! The city has already considered this!"

Dong Xuebin said coldly, "Where it matters most? What exactly does that mean?"

Wei Lin was not someone with a good temper either. Staring into Dong Xuebin's eyes, he said, "The city will manage this money for you first. As for how it will be distributed and used where it matters most, the city will make that decision. That is none of your concern!" Those words... had already torn away any pretense of civility.

Yao Cui nearly cursed when she heard that.

Yan Yizhi and Chen Xiaomei were infuriated by those words as well!

That was clearly money meant for us! Not only did you take it, you still had the nerve to sound so righteous?

What kind of logic was that? It was outright bandit logic! They were obviously bullying people!

County Chief Dong and we had worked so hard to get that money from the central government. We had endured who knew how many cold faces along the way, yet the city had done well for itself! It had not lifted a finger! It had not done a thing! With a few words, all the money became theirs? And they still acted like they were doing us a favor? After taking our money, they expected us to come here and humble ourselves, to speak softly and beg them? What kind of humanity was that!?

Dong Xuebin had not expected that not only would Zhao Xu wear the face of a rogue, but Wei Lin would also act so brazenly righteous. For a moment, he was so furious that he laughed instead!

They were asking for death!