One o’clock in the afternoon.
Lunch finally arrived late.
A few local villagers lit fires under several large pots and started cooking.
Zhang Dongfang and his group had already eaten with the county officials. Dong Xuebing hadn’t eaten yet because he had just returned after two days away and was too busy all morning to get to it. When he saw the steaming aroma rising from the pots, he couldn’t help but gather around with the rest of the archaeology team.
The food from the large pots wasn’t gourmet—oil and flavor were lacking—but eating is about atmosphere. While chatting with Professor Chu and the archaeologists about the tomb and bantering with a few reporters, Dong Xuebing ate heartily.
Suddenly, Meng Hanmei ran up. “Secretary.”
“What’s up?” Dong Xuebing looked at her curiously.
Meng Hanmei gestured. “Step aside for a moment—urgent matter.”
Zhang Dongfang said, “The provincial party secretary is coming for an inspection.”
Dong Xuebing was stunned. “Just got notified? Why so sudden?”
Meng Hanmei said, “Apparently, the notice came this morning, but we only just found out.”
Dong Xuebing’s eyes narrowed, then he flared up. His gaze shifted to Xiao Dongnan, who TV reporters were still interviewing alongside a few provincial task force members. No wonder they acted so polished all morning—they already knew the provincial secretary was coming! Damn it. Fine, act all you want, that’s your business. But not even giving us a heads-up? What the hell is that? Deliberate sabotage?
Dong Xuebing stood up abruptly and walked over. “Excuse me, reporters—could we pause the interview? I need to speak to someone.”
The TV crew cooperated and turned off the cameras to eat.
Dong Xuebing stared at Xiao Dongnan. “Director Xiao, the provincial secretary is coming—why weren’t we informed?”
Xiao Dongnan frowned. “You didn’t know? I thought someone contacted you.”
Dong Xuebing replied, “The province notified you. If you don’t contact us, who will?”
“What’s your attitude?” Xiao Dongnan flared. “Watch your tone!”
“I’m talking to you just . Don’t like it? Then do your damn job properly, all right? You didn’t do what you should’ve. You didn’t coordinate anything. All you did was follow the TV cameras all day—is that your job?”
Xiao Dongnan snapped. “Who are you to lecture me?”
Dong Xuebing replied, “If you’re incompetent, I will lecture you.”
The two of them got into a heated argument. A crowd quickly gathered.
The provincial work team supported Xiao Dongnan, while the Jiaolin County people supported Dong Xuebing. Tensions rose, as if a fight could break out at any moment.
Zhang Dongfang urged, “Xuebing, calm down.”
Dong Xuebing said, “I am calm.”
Everyone knew Xiao Dongnan was in the wrong. He voiced an opinion about the tomb’s jurisdiction earlier that wasn’t his to give, insisting it belonged to Yanbei County—clearly biased. But regardless of his attitude toward Jiaolin County, failing to notify them about such a major inspection was inexcusable. He hogged the spotlight all morning while ignoring real responsibilities.
Still, Zhang Dongfang and others thought Dong shouldn’t have confronted him so directly. Xiao Dongnan was, after all, a provincial-level official. Even if he was clearly at fault, the proper way was to file a formal complaint, not shout at him in public.
Just then, a middle-aged voice called out from behind, followed by a group arriving at the scene.
It was Secretary Chen.
The provincial party secretary had arrived.
Everyone stood at attention.
Xiao Dongnan immediately shut his mouth and walked toward Chen, muttering, “You’re done, Dong.”
Dong Xuebing didn’t care at all. He’d had enough of Xiao’s nonsense. If this continued, Jiaolin County’s bid to become a city could face serious setbacks.
Secretary Chen and other provincial officials stopped to observe the situation.
Xiao Dongnan said, “Secretary Chen, I’m sorry you had to witness this.”
“What’s going on here? Why the shouting?” Secretary Chen asked calmly.
Xiao Dongnan jumped to blame first, “It’s Dong Xuebing from Jiaolin County. He started yelling at me out of nowhere, saying I didn’t notify him about your visit. But I did have someone inform them. He didn’t handle things, then turned around and made a scene. This is unreasonable behavior.”
Dong Xuebing snapped, “Who did you inform? Name them!”
Xiao Dongnan shouted back, “You see, Secretary Chen? That’s exactly his tone.”
Zhang Dongfang, Meng Hanmei, and the others were sweating nervously. This was risky. Dong was just a county-level leader, while Xiao Dongnan led a provincial task force that was far superior in rank. Moreover, almost everyone in the provincial government disliked Dong Xuebing except Deputy Governor Fang. If Secretary Chen decided to pin insubordination on Dong, it’d be over for him.
“Is that so?” Secretary Chen replied.
Xiao Dongnan kept saying, “Dong Xuebing’s methods are too aggressive—totally unfit to manage sensitive matters tomb. He lacks maturity and perspective.”
Xiao was trying to get Dong dismissed. Their feud dated back to helping Fang Wenping move homes, and Xiao had held a grudge ever since. Now he saw a chance to strike.
Secretary Chen glanced at Dong Xuebing and gave a neutral “Oh?”
Meng Hanmei whispered urgently, “Secretary, explain yourself!”
But Dong Xuebing didn’t care. He saw no need to explain. Go on, talk all you want.
Xiao Dongnan continued listing Dong’s “sins,” expecting Secretary Chen to reprimand or suspend him.
But to everyone’s shock, after a pause, Secretary Chen calmly said:
“All right then, Director Xiao. You will no longer serve as head of the work group. I’ll appoint someone else.”
Then he turned to continue the inspection, walking toward the tomb without another word.
Xiao Dongnan was stunned.
Zhang Dongfang and the others were dumbfounded.
Not only was Dong Xuebing not punished, but Xiao Dongnan was removed instead?
Only Dong Xuebing understood what had happened. Zhang and Xiao weren’t privy to the bigger picture. Yes, the provincial leadership disliked Dong because of his ties to the Xie family, a political rival. But now, Xie Ran was about to be engaged to Fang Shuiling. The Xie and Fang families were forming a political alliance. As a key Fang family figure, Secretary Chen wouldn’t dare suppress Dong anymore—in fact, he had even personally called Dong’s wife to offer congratulations at their child’s 100-day celebration.
There are no eternal friends, and no eternal enemies.
Xiao Dongnan was out of his depth and utterly unaware of the fundamental power dynamics.