Power and Wealth

Night.

It’s almost 11 pm.

Jiang Fangfang switched off the lights and the TV in the living room and went to the bathroom.

Splash… splash….

*Brushing sounds….

Dong Xuebing could not see Jiang Fangfang as the bathroom door was closed. He had nothing to do and thought of opening the windows to smoke. But he was afraid people in the opposite building would see him. He controlled his urge to smoke and paced around anxiously.

Twenty minutes….

Jiang Fangfang came out of the bathroom slowly. She speaks and does things slowly.

The living room is dark, with only faint lights from the bathroom.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“It’s fine….”

“You can wash up now. I took out the toothbrush.”

“Oh, thank you. Have a good rest.”

“Yes. You should sleep early after you wash up. Do you need me to wake you tomorrow morning?”

“I can get up myself. I will set the alarm on my phone.”

“Ok. Good night. You can knock on my door if you need anything.”

Dong Xuebing looked at Jiang Fangfang’s butt as she entered her room. He waited until she closed the door before going into the bathroom. The washing machine cover is closed. Maybe she noticed her clothes and bra were exposed.

Inside the guest room.

Dong Xuebing lies on the bed.

The blanket smells good. It has a womanly scent. Maybe Jiang Fangfang had used it before.

It’s comfortable, and Dong Xuebing fell asleep quickly.

One hour….

Two hours….

Dong Xuebing woke up suddenly. He sensed movements outside and heard some noises.

What is it?

Who is outside?

Dong Xuebing frowned and climbed out of bed quietly. He opened the door slightly and peeped outside.

The living room lights were still off, but the bathroom lights were on. Dong Xuebing could see faintly.

Dong Xuebing saw Jiang Fangfang was looking for something in a closet drawer. She had changed into white pajamas. It looked like a bathrobe, but it was much shorter.

It’s Mayor Jiang.

She frightened me. I thought it was some thieves or burglars.

But what is Mayor Jiang looking for in the middle of the night?

Dong Xuebing did not make any sound and watched Jiang Fangfang. He did not see what she was doing but saw her underwear. She does not know Dong Xuebing had opened his door and was bending over at the closet. Her short bathrobe pajamas were pulled up and exposing her butt. Her light blue underwear and butt were right in front of him.

“Huh?” Dong Xuebing accidentally made a sound.

Jiang Fangfang turned slowly. “Did I wake you?”

Dong Xuebing blushed. “No… I heard some sounds, and I thought….”

Jiang Fangfang noticed she was exposing herself and straightened her back. “I am looking for some medications. Go back to sleep.”

“Medicine? Are you sick?”

“No. It’s sleeping pills.”

“Ah? Are you taking sleeping pills? Do you have insomnia?”

“I had been taking sleeping pills for years since my husband passed away.”

“Ah…. You should not take these medications too often. It’s not good for your body.”

“I cannot sleep if I don’t take the pills. I forgot I had finished my pills today and can’t sleep. I came out to check if I have any more pills left.”

“You should go for a checkup at the hospital.”

“I did and undergone treatments a few times. But it is useless.”

Jiang Fangfang continued to check the drawers, but she did not bend over at the waist. She kneeled slightly and prevented herself from exposing her underwear.

It’s after 1 am.

Jiang Fangfang could not find any sleeping pills. “Never mind.”

Dong Xuebing asked worryingly. “Then what should we do?”

Jiang Fangfang was clear about her condition. “I will watch TV as I cannot sleep. Just ignore me and go to bed. You still need to work tomorrow.”

“How are you going to work without any sleep?”

“It’s fine. I will get my medicine from the hospital tomorrow after work.”

Dong Xuebing sighed in his heart. He did not expect the calm and quiet Jiang Fangfang to have severe insomnia. She needs sleeping pills to sleep every day. He knows her husband’s death causes this. “Mayor Jiang, I know a bit about medicine. You should stop taking sleeping pills. You had been taking them for a few years.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine. Medications are not good for your health, especially sleeping pills. It’s fine if you take it once or twice, but you cannot take it daily.”

“It’s fine.”

“Mayor Jiang, you….”

“Have a good rest, Mayor Dong.”

Jiang Fangfang switched on the TV and sat on the sofa. How can Dong Xuebing return to bed after seeing her in this condition? She is tired, but she cannot sleep. What if something happens to her tomorrow? She looked glamorous and became a County Mayor at a young age. But no one knows she is suffering alone.

Dong Xuebing walked over and asked. “Do you want to drink some alcohol?”

Jiang Fangfang waved her hand. “I tried, and it does not work.”

“You cannot carry on like this. Are there other ways to fall asleep without taking sleeping pills?” Dong Xuebing asked.

Jiang Fangfang replied calmly. “I started having insomnia when I entered the government service. But it was not as serious then. After I got married, my husband would read to me every day, and I could fall asleep after listening for a while. I got used to listening to my husband reading to me at bedtime. But… he is gone….” She did not continue and continued to watch TV.

Dong Xuebing looked at her. “Must it only be your husband?”

Jiang Fangfang nodded. “I am used to him reading to me.”

“Can it be others?” Dong Xuebing blinked.

Jiang Fangfang calmly replied. “My mother tried reading something to me, but it did not work. If it works, I will not be taking sleeping pills. I know taking so much medicine is not good for me.”

Dong Xuebing thought for a second. “How about I give it a try?”

Jiang Fangfang was slightly surprised. “Try what?”

“I can read something to you.” Dong Xuebing is worried about her health and does not mean anything.

Jiang Fangfang looked at Dong Xuebing. “It will not work.”

“Just try it. You cannot go on without sleeping. Anyway, I am not sleepy now. Just lie there and listen to me read something. We can think of something else if it does not work.”

“Don’t trouble yourself.”

“I worry when I see you like this.”

Jiang Fangfang waited for a while and said. “All right.”

Dong Xuebing said. “Return to your room while I get a book from the guestroom. I saw there are a few books inside earlier.”

“Ok.” Jiang Fangfang switched off the TV and returned to her bedroom slowly. She closed the door behind her.

Dong Xuebing went into the guestroom and took a book about economies from the shelf. He felt this was the most suitable book as the title alone made him sleepy. He went to Jiang Fangfang’s room and knocked.

“Mayor Jiang.”

“Wait a minute.”

“Ok.”

A while later, Jiang Fangfang said. “Come in, please.”

Dong Xuebing enters the room, and the table lamp is on.

Jiang Fangfang is lying on the bed under her blanket. There’s a bedside cabinet and a closet by the bed. Dong Xuebing noticed there was a rectangular white marking on the wall. It seemed to be a photo frame and had been there for a long time. Someone had just taken it off the wall. He looked towards the bedside cabinet and saw a big photo frame leaning against it. He could not see the photo.

This should be Mayor Jiang’s and her husband’s wedding photo.

No wonder Mayor Jiang had closed the door. She does not want to show Dong Xuebing her photo.

Dong Xuebing pretended not to know. There’s no chair in the room, and he asked. “Can I sit on the bed?”

“Yes.”

Dong Xuebing secretly peeped at her full breasts and started reading the book. He is not good at reading and stutters in some parts.

However, Dong Xuebing continues to read the book.

One minute….

Two minutes….

A while later, Dong Xuebing looked at Mayor Jiang.

“Mayor Jiang?”

“Mayor Jiang?”

Jiang Fangfang did not reply. She lies there quietly and has fallen asleep.

Dong Xuebing was surprised. Did this book on economics have a hypnotizing effect? I had only read a few pages.

Dong Xuebing thought only Jiang Fangfang’s husband could make her sleep and did not expect much. He only wanted to do something for her. Could it be that he looked like her husband, and it worked?

Never mind.

It’s good she fell asleep.

Dong Xuebing had a sense of achievement when she saw her sleeping. He pulled up the blanket for her and switched off the table lamp.