Power and Wealth

Night.

Around 7 pm.

The sky is almost dark, and Dong Xuebing’s kitchen lights are on. Someone is cooking inside. Dong Xuebing looked at Jiang Fangfang cooking for him through the kitchen’s glass door. He felt blessed and apologetic. She should be the only leader who washes clothes and cooks for her subordinate. He knew she was helping him because he looked like her dead husband.

Ring… ring… ring….

Dong Xuebing’s phone rang.

Dong Xuebing answered. “Hello, Xiao Yao.”

Yao Cui said. “I got off work, and I am going to visit you.”

Dong Xuebing glanced at the kitchen. “I am fine. You don’t need to come.”

“You are alone. How are you going to prepare dinner? I will leave after cooking dinner for you.”

“I had ordered food delivery.”

“Ah? You had taken your dinner.”

“Errr…. Yes.”

“Ok…. Call me if you need any help. I will go over immediately.”

“Sure. Thank you, my old classmate. Haha….”

Dong Xuebing did not allow Yao Cui to come because the Mayor was at his place. She is cooking for him, and he will not let anyone know as it would affect her reputation. He cannot even let his former classmate/secretary know.

Five minutes….

Ten minutes….

The kitchen door opened.

Jiang Fangfang walked out with a dish. “Dinner is ready. Let’s eat.”

Dong Xuebing pushed himself to the table. “Thank you so much. Thank you.”

Jiang Fangfang brought out all the dishes and rice. She set the table and took off the apron. “Let’s eat. Try my cook and let me know if you like it.”

“Your food is the best.”

“What do you want to drink?”

“Err…. I got an opened bottle of Maotai.”

Dong Xuebing did not like drinking as he could not drink much. But he could not smoke or drink in the hospital and craved a drink.

Jiang Fangfang looked at Dong Xuebing. “You should not drink. Alcohol is not good for your recovery.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “I will drink a small glass.”

Jiang Fangfang paused for a second and asked. “Where did you keep that bottle?”

“Under the coffee table. Thank you. You should drink some too.”

“I cannot hold my liquor well, but I will drink a bit with you.”

The bottle of alcohol was brought to the table. It was not a bottle of Maotai from the eighties. Even though Dong Xuebing is wealthy, Maotai from the eighties is rare. This is an ordinary bottle of Maotai available everywhere. The bottle still has around 300 ml of alcohol left. Jiang Fangfang poured two small glasses for them.

Dong Xuebing, sitting in the wheelchair, took the glass and raised it. “Here’s a toast for you. I am coming to Zhen Shui County for one month. Thank you for taking care of me.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“I will finish this glass. You can take a sip.”

Dong Xuebing emptied the glass in one gulp.

Jiang Fangfang did not hesitate. She drank slower, but she finished her glass too.

Jiang Fangfang emptied the bottle after filling their glasses. “I am not good with alcohol and cannot drink much. I will offer a toast to you. I know you fought with those villagers yesterday because of me. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Here’s a toast.”

“Cheers.”

Both of them took a sip.

Dong Xuebing’s limit is around one to two glasses if he does not use his powers. He was almost at his limits after that glass.

One mouthful….

Three mouthfuls….

Five mouthfuls….

They ate and drank slowly, and they became tipsy.

Dong Xuebing likes this feeling. Not drunk and only a bit tipsy. He ate Mayor Jiang’s food, sipped on the Maotai, and stole glances at her curvy body. Nothing is more enjoyable than this.

Jiang Fangfang put some food into Dong Xuebing’s bowl. “This incident is over. You got 50 million RMB from the Central Government and went to the City to get it back. You also got us one million RMB more. This fund has solved our County’s financial issues and will help with the County’s development. Although no one said anything, everyone knows this is your credit.”

“No…. this is everyone’s effort.”

“Don’t be modest. Everyone knows it.”

“I am not modest. This is a combined effort. I will not get the fund without the County’s support. Moreover, I am part of Zhen Shui County. This is my duty.”

“Let’s drink. Can you still drink?”

“Sure. Cheers! Sis Jiang.”

“Don’t force yourself, and don’t drink too much.”

“Yes. I know.”

Jiang Fangfang looked at Dong Xuebing after drinking. “I am puzzled. How did you train to be so good at fighting?”

Dong Xuebing smiled wearily. “You should have seen my file. I was from the State Security and entered the Public Security Bureau. We need to train yearly in these departments, and I learned close-combat fighting then. It’s not a big deal, and I was lucky yesterday. I would not win if those villagers received professional training.”

Jiang Fangfang said. “But you are injured with multiple fractures.”

Dong Xuebing could not answer her.

Jiang Fangfang paused for a second and slowly said. “You can choose not to answer. I am just curious. I got another question.”

“Err… what is it?”

“Did Wei Lin push you down from the City Finance Department building? You should not be pushed off the building with your skills.”

“Huh? I….” Dong Xuebing felt awkward and do not know how to answer her.

Jiang Fangfang smiled. “It’s fine. It’s a simple question.”

Dong Xuebing hesitated for a while and said. “I can tell you. I purposely fell out of the windows.”

Jiang Fangfang did not say anything.

Dong Xuebing laughed. “I am only telling you and no one else. You should know the City’s attitude at that time and that Chief Wei was too arrogant. We might not get a single cent back from them if I don’t blow it up. You can tell my temperament from the past few days. I admit I was a bit impulsive then.” Dong Xuebing and Jiang Fangfang had become closer as friends and colleagues. He did not treat her as an outsider, and he trusted her.

Jiang Fangfang looked at him. “What if something happens to you? What will you do?”

Dong Xuebing smiled. “I will not die.”

“What if….”

“Huh? There’s no what if.”

“You are confident.”

“I am confident, or I would not jump. Furthermore, it’s only the third floor.” If Dong Xuebing had died from this fall, he would have died several times before. Anyone who knows him will know this height cannot kill him. Jiang Fangfang and Zhen Shui County’s people were worried because they didn’t know him well enough.

“Don’t do it again.”

“Yes.”

Jiang Fangfang did not reply. She drank her alcohol and looked at Dong Xuebing. “I have something which I did not tell you.”

Dong Xuebing blinked. “What is it?”

Dong Xuebing felt this was interesting. They were exchanging secrets.

Jiang Fangfang looked at Dong Xuebing for a few seconds and said. “I was married, and my husband passed away. You should have heard about it.”

Dong Xuebing nodded.

Jiang Fangfang continued. “You looked exactly like my husband when he was young.” She took a photograph from her wallet and showed it to Dong Xuebing. “This is my husband when he was twenty-three.”

Dong Xuebing pretended to be surprised. “We looked the same!”

Jiang Fangfang nodded. “I was surprised when I saw you. I did not expect two people can look alike in this world.”

Dong Xuebing had been avoiding this topic. But Jiang Fangfang brought it up, and he asked. “That’s why you treated me….”

Dong Xuebing thought Jiang Fangfang would not reply.

Jiang Fangfang replied. “Yes. You remind me of my husband, and I cannot control myself to treat you better. I don’t know what’s going on with me.”

Dong Xuebing cleared his throat. “You are drunk, Sis Jiang.”

Jiang Fangfang took another sip. Her eyelids were closing, and she said calmly. “I know I drank a lot, or else I would not be telling you this. Yes. This is not a secret too. I always speak my mind and don’t like hiding anything from you. I feel happy to have dinner and drink with you. I know you are not him, but I can’t help it.”