Power and Wealth

Outside of the hospital.

The crescent moon is barely visible in the cloudy sky.

Meng Rui, Jiang Fangfang, Yan Yizhi, and the rest left the hospital. Driver Old Wang saw them and opened the car door.

They did not enter the car.

Jiang Fangfang look at Yan Yizhi, Chen Xiaomei, and Yao Cui. “Thanks for working hard today.”

Yan Yizhi quickly replied. “It’s our duty.”

Jiang Fangfang said slowly. “We only drove a car here, which cannot fit all of us. Get a cab. Secretary Zhang had booked hotel rooms for you all.”

Yao Cui hesitated. “I think I will stay. I will not stay in the ward and will wait in the corridor. Mayor Dong’s family is not here….”

Jiang Fangfang said. “Let’s go. You are Mayor Dong’s former classmate and should know him well.”

Meng Rui remembered Yao Cui was Dong Xuebing’s classmate, and he asked. “Oh, is Mayor Dong not on good terms with his family?”

Yao Cui was surprised. “Not on good terms?”

Meng Rui continued. “His relationship with his wife and mother.”

Yao Cui was confused. “No…. errr…. I am not sure.”

Meng Rui nodded and did not say more. He got into the car.

Mayor Jiang got into the car. Zhang Feng knew Yan Yizhi and the rest, had gotten some results today and he did not enter the car. He remained at the hospital with Chen Xiaomei and Yao Cui.

The leaders’ car left.

Yao Cui asked. “Secretary Zhang, what does Secretary Meng mean? What happened to Mayor Dong’s family?”

They were not from the same fraction and seldom interacted except for work matters. But this incident united Meng Rui, Jiang Fangfang, and the whole County. Zhang Feng and Yao Cui had not clashed before and had gotten closer.

Zhang Feng said. “I called Mayor Dong’s family this afternoon. His mother did not say she would come, and his wife…. His wife asked me to inform her when he is dead.”

Yao Cui gasped. “Inform her when he is dead?!”

Chen Xiaomei was speechless. What family is this?

Zhang Feng continued. “Anyway, Mayor Dong’s family is not coming.”

The nurse who was walking them out almost tripped when she heard. She worked at the hospital for years and had met many families. But this was her first time hearing family members say something like this.

After 9 pm.

Single ward.

The nurse returned and looked at Dong Xuebing with sympathy.

Dong Xuebing saw her. “Did they leave?”

The nurse nodded. “Yes. They went back.”

“Ok.” Dong Xuebing said. “Oh, is my phone damaged from my fall? Can you bring it over? I want to make a few calls to my family.”

The nurse did not reply.

“Nurse?” Dong Xuebing called her again.

The nurse replied. “I think you don’t need to call. I overheard them saying your wife and mother are not coming, and they said something nasty.”

“Ah? What did they say?”

“Your wife asked them to contact her when you are dead.”

Dong Xuebing was shocked initially, and then he laughed.

The nurse got angry with him when she saw him laugh. “How can you laugh?”

“You are getting anxious.” This nurse is cute. She pouted when she helped Dong Xuebing get his phone.

A few minutes later, she came back with the phone.

Dong Xuebing said. “I cannot move my hands. Can you help me dial a number? It’s saved in the phone book. Xie Huilan. Pass the phone to me after it gets through.”

The nurse followed the instructions.

Ring… ring… ring…. The line got through.

“Hello.” A woman said. “Are you dead yet?”

The nurse almost exploded with anger. How can you say such things? Your husband is hospitalized, and you are asking if he is dead.

“Wait.” The nurse said and held the phone against Dong Xuebing’s ear. “Here.”

Dong Xuebing said. “Hello, Huilan.”

“In the hospital?” Xie Huilan asked.

“Yes. The nurse helped me call you.

“How are you? How many ribs did you break this time?”

“Huh? I don’t know. My injuries are quite serious, and I almost died.”

“Just die. I am used to it now. This is not your first time, right?”

Dong Xuebing was speechless. “So, you know about it?”

“This is your usual trick. Even our Mum knows what you are up to. Go to the city to ask for money, pretend to be pushed off a building, and blow things up. Haha…. I still have not settled the score with you for going overseas, and you are creating trouble again. I am busy and cannot be bothered with you. Your life and death have got nothing to do with me.”

“Look at you… why are you getting angry again?”

Xie Huilan laughed and ignored him.

“I was forced. Don’t be angry. I will apologize when I see you. Err…. Can you help me call Mum? I don’t dare to call her.”

“Oh, are you embarrassed to call her?”

“Ah… my chest hurts…. I will hang up now. Bye.”

Dong Xuebing did not want to hear Huilan scolding him and quickly looked at the nurse.

The nurse quickly hangs up. “Why is your wife like this? I had never met anyone’s wife like this.”

Dong Xuebing laughed and did not reply.

Dong Xuebing’s mother and Xie Huilan worry about him.

But Xie Huilan said those things because they knew him too well.

Other people might be worried sick for him, but Luan Xiaoping and Xie Huilan lived with Dong Xuebing for too long.

Dozens of criminals are not Dong Xuebing’s match….

Dozens of armed pirates cannot touch him….

He killed dozens of soldiers….

How can a City Finance Department Chief in the office daily push him off a building?

This is bullshit.

Even a hundred Finance Department Chief is not Dong Xuebing’s match.

Also, the third floor?

Those who know Dong Xuebing will know this height will not kill him.

Dong Xuebing had survived an air crash, and that height was a few thousand meters.

Third floor?

Ten meters?

He would not be Dong Xuebing if he died from this height.