Power and Wealth

Afternoon.

Mei He City.

City Third People’s Hospital.

The City’s economy is not much better than Zhen Shui County. The hospital is an old building that was repainted recently. The exterior still looked ok.

The ambulance entered the hospital and stopped outside a building. The door opened, and hospital staff and leaders rushed to check Dong Xuebing’s condition. The City might have informed the hospital, and all the hospital staff were waiting for the ambulance.

“Move!”

“Move aside!”

“Hurry! To the ER!”

“Xiao Lui! Blood pressure and pulse!”

“60, 90…. Pulse 52!”

“Fluid! Contact Director Zhang and Director Sun immediately and prepare for operation!”

“We called them! Director Zhang is not working today! He is on his way and will be here soon!”

A Deputy Hospital Director was in charge. They had received a call from a Health Ministry leader a few minutes earlier to save a patient at all costs. The Health Ministry oversees the hospitals, and the hospital leaders must obey them. They could sense the leader’s anxiety and knew this patient must be important.

ER.

Three doctors rushed in with Dong Xuebing and closed the doors behind them, leaving a doctor outside.

Yao Cui asked. “Doctor, is his life in danger?”

The doctor looked at her. “Are you his family? His wife?”

Yao Cui replied immediately. “No. I am Mayor Dong’s secretary.”

A nurse came over with a few reports and forms. The doctor looked at them and turned to Chen Xiaomei. “Are you his family member?”

Chen Xiaomei replied. “No.”

The doctor said. “Inform his family immediately. We will try to save him, but we need his family member’s consent for some procedures.” He passed a form to them. ‘Critical Condition Notice!’

Yao Cui turned pale. “Critical Condition Notice?!”

The doctor continued. “The patient’s condition is critical. Hurry and inform his family members.”

Yao Cui’s legs gave way, and fell on a chair.

Chen Xiaomei’s face changed, but she tried to console Yao Cui. “Don’t worry, Secretary Yao. The hospital will issue a ‘Critical Condition Notice’ for most operations. It’s not a big deal. Mayor Dong is blessed, and he will be fine.”

Yao Cui started crying. They were not only leaders and secretaries. They were also former classmates and had known each other for several years. Chen Xiaomei saw her crying and hugged her lightly. She wiped her tears and waited outside the ER nervously.

One minute….

Five minutes….

Ten minutes….

Minutes felt like hours and days….

Suddenly, footsteps rushed in from the end of the corridor.

Finance Department Chief Wei Lin and two Finance Department leaders arrived. Yan Yizhi was behind them, and he was covered in sweat.

Yan Yizhi shouted. “Old Chen!”

Wei Lin asked. “Where is Mayor Dong?”

A doctor replied. “He is inside.”

Chen Xiaomei saw Wei Lin and stood up angrily. “What are you doing here?!”

Yao Cui stopped crying and looked at Wei Lin coldly.

Wei Lin did not argue with them. He does not want anything to happen to Dong Xuebing. He grabbed the doctor and asked about Dong Xuebing’s condition.

Someone from the City Government finally arrived!

“Mayor Zhao!”

“You are here, Mayor Zhao.”

Wei Lin walked over.

But Zhao Xu ignored Wei Lin. He approached the doctor outside the ER and asked about Dong Xuebing’s condition.

A middle-aged man, who came with Deputy City Mayor Zhao, looked at Wei Lin and sighed. They seemed to be friends. “Old Wei.”

Wei Lin sighed and did not say anything.

He knows that it is useless to say anything and can only pray for Dong Xuebing’s safety.

The hospital cannot tell the Deputy City Mayor, ‘We will try our best.’ The doctor entered the ER and returned after one minute. He looked at Zhao Xu. “The patient’s condition is critical, but he is strong. He is not in a most critical state now. Director Zhang and Director Qian are operating on him. It will depend on his willpower now!”

Zhao Xu asked. “What is the survival rate?”

The doctor paused for a second. “It’s hard to tell. Maybe around 50%.”

Only 50%? Zhao Xu took a deep breath and looked anxious.

Chen Xiaomei, Yao Cui, and Yan Yizhi overheard and got anxious.

Yan Yizhi patted Chen Xiaomei’s shoulder. “Mayor Dong will be fine. I reported what happened to Mayor Jiang. Secretary Meng and Mayor Jiang should arrive later this afternoon.” This will not end nicely if anything happens to Mayor Dong. The County will demand an answer from the City for this incident. But Mayor Dong’s condition is the top priority now.

No one said a word.

The area outside of the operating room is quiet.

Half an hour….

One hour….

Deputy City Mayor Zhao received a call and looked solemn. He seemed to be speaking to the City Mayor. “Yes…. I know…. Yes…. I will report once I get any information. Don’t worry!”

The operating room’s door opened after Zhao Xu hung up.

Everyone looked towards the room!

Two surgeons walked out and took off their masks. A nurse gave them water.

“Doctor!”

“How is he, Doctor?”

“Is Mayor Dong all right?”

Everyone rushed over to the doctor!

That doctor looked tired. “We saved his life, but he is not out of danger. It’s hard to tell, and we must observe his condition first.”

Zhao Xu was furious. “What do you mean by it’s hard to tell?! Just tell us if his life is still in danger!”

The Deputy Hospital Director replied. “Don’t be anxious, Mayor Zhao. The patient’s life is not in danger.”

Zhao Xu looked at him. “That means he is fine?”

The Deputy Hospital Director continued. “He is strong and has survived the most critical period. We need to see when he will wake and his recovery….”

Yao Cui and Chen Xiaomei sighed in relief.

Yan Yizhi and Wei Lin wiped their sweat off their forehead.

They saved Mayor Dong!

Mayor Dong is saved!

Chen Xiaomei asked suddenly. “Will there be any after-effects?”

The Deputy Hospital Director replied. “The patient has suffered multiple fractures. Although his injuries are not life-threatening, we cannot prevent any after-effects. We cannot guarantee he can recover fully.”

Zhao Xu paused for a second and said. “Arrange the best ward for him and ensure someone always looks after him!” He took out his phone and walked away. He should be calling the Mayor.

Suddenly, someone shouted from the operating room.

“Director! Director!”

“Director Zhang! He is awake!”

The two doctors and the Deputy Hospital Director were shocked. He is awake?! How can he wake up so fast? He should be in a coma for a few days with his injuries.

They quickly put on their masks and rushed into the operating room.

Yao Cui, Chen Xiaomei, and the rest rushed to the operating room’s entrance and looked.

A bed was pushed out after a while. Dong Xuebing lay there and looked pale.

“Xuebing!”

“Mayor Dong!”

“Are you all right, Mayor Dong?”

The doctor quickly says. “The patient cannot speak now. Don’t disturb his rest. We are sending him to the ward now!”

Yao Cui’s eyes turned red, and started to cry.

Chen Xiaomei could not stop her tears after seeing Dong Xuebing.

Zhao Xu ended his call and walked over to Dong Xuebing. “Rest well, Mayor Dong. You will get well soon.”

Wei Lin added. “That’s right. The doctors say you are out of danger.”

Dong Xuebing ignored them and looked at Yao Cui, Chen Xiaomei, and Yan Yizhi. He gave them an assuring smile. He felt terrible and touched when he saw Yao Cui and Chen Xiaomei crying. He had made them worried.

The bed was pushed away, leaving Zhao Xu and Wei Lin standing there awkwardly.

They did not know Dong Xuebing had planned everything. Everything was a setup.

You all want to make us feel disgusted?!

Fine! It’s my turn now!

Dong Xuebing is never afraid of any challenges. Third floor? Falling from this height is painful, but he is used to it. This pain is nothing compared to how many times he was shot in the US!

He felt good about Wei Lin and Zhao Xu’s reactions.

Do you all feel disgusted by what happened?