Power and Wealth - Chapter 168

Chapter 168






After leaving the bureau, someone called Dong Xuebing . He turned around, and it was the Office Director Hu Silian . Hu Silian was pushing an electric bicycle towards him with a smile . “Chief Dong, let’s go back to the quarters together . ” She was very considerate . She knew Dong Xuebing was new to the county and might not be able to find his way to the quarters . “Put your luggage on my bike . My bike basket is strong and can withstand the weight . ”

Dong Xuebing laughed . “How can I do this? You should ride your bike . I should not make you walk with me . ”

Hu Silian kicked the bicycle stand and went over to take Dong Xuebing’s luggage from him . “It is not far from here . Oh, the Bureau’s leaders are all not around and did not arrange for a welcome meal for you . How about coming over to my place for dinner? Haha, my husband’s cooking is delicious . ” As the Office Director, Hu Silian’s political wisdom is much higher than Dong Xuebing . Back in the State Security, Dong Xuebing’s work is similar to Hu Silian . But he had a foul temper and offended many people . Hu Silian, on the other hand, was the total opposite of him . She is an all-rounder and treated all the leaders well . Maybe it was also because she is a woman .

Dong Xuebing replied . “It’s fine . I am going to Hui Tian Village at night to visit my mother . ”

Hu Silian was surprised . Chief Dong’s hometown is also from Yantai County? She does not know about this .

County’s Bureau family quarters .

This is a small estate, and the buildings are about 20 years old . But the condition of the buildings is still okay . After Hu Silian brought Dong Xuebing to his apartment, he was speechless . The interior of the apartment was nicely renovated and well-equipped with home appliances . LCD tv, automatic washing machine, air conditioner, etc . It was almost like a hotel room .

After Hu Silian left, Dong Xuebing put down his luggage and lie down on the queen size bed . The grassroots level is very different from Beijing . They did not care about what others think . This apartment might even be better than Xu Yan’s residence . Oh, I should fetch Mum over to stay with me . She had suffered for most of her life, and it’s time for her to enjoy .

Dong Xuebing picked up his phone and called his mother’s village home .

“Hello? Who are you looking for?” It was a woman who answered .

Dong Xuebing replied . “I am Dong Xuebing . Is my mum there?”

“It’s you?” The woman paused for a while . “Wait a minute…… Xiaoping…… Xiaoping…… Your son is calling!”





After a while, Dong Xuebing’s mother, Luan Xiaoping, answered . “Xiao Bing? Why are you calling my house number?” Her son seldom calls her at home . He usually calls her at her school .

Dong Xuebing frowned . “Mum, who was that woman?”

“It’s your uncle’s wife . ”

“Hmph! She is still the same after so many years . She sounds like I owe her money!”

“Nonsense . Your Aunt cares about you . ”


“Mum, you don’t need to speak up for them . We know their true colors well . ” When Dong Xuebing’s father was sick, Dong Xuebing and his mum had tried to borrow money from them . But his Uncle and First Aunt’s families did not lend them a single cent . It was his Second Aunt, who was not financially well to do, lend them her life savings . Dong Xuebing’s relationship with his mother’s family soured over this incident . He avoided contacting them all these years . The only people he contacted from his mother’s family are his Second Aunt and her husband .

“Xiao Bing, are you looking for me? I am cooking now . How about I call you later?”

“Why are you cooking again? You have been at work the whole day, and Uncle’s wife is at home the whole day . Why are you cooking for them?”

“It’s fine . We are a family and don’t need to be so calculative . ”

“Mum, you are too honest . You should not do these!”

“I know what to do . This is none of your business . ”





Whenever he mentioned about his mother’s family, Dong Xuebing was furious . He got up from the bed and said . “I am in Yantai County now . I will go over to your place later . ”

“Eh? You are not working? Why are you here?”

“It is some work-related matters . I will tell you when I see you . I am heading over now . ”

“Have you taken dinner? I will call your Second Aunt’s family over too . We will wait for you to have dinner . ” During Lunar New Year, Luan Xiaoping had mentioned to Dong Xuebing before . Now, her son was finally willing to return home, and she was overjoyed . She thought her son had purposely took leave back to visit her .

Dong Xuebing boarded a long-distance bus and arrived at Hui Tian Village .

After alighting from the bus, Dong Xuebing saw his mum waiting for him . Dong Xuebing grumbled: “Why are you here? It’s so late, and it is dangerous for you to be here . ” The security around here is not as good as Beijing . “Who is at home? Are Second Aunt and her family here?”

Luan Xiaoping laughed . “Your younger sister (cousin, Second Aunt’s daughter) is still at work . She says she will be coming back soon . The rest have arrived . ”

Dong Xuebing held his mother’s hand . “Alright . Let’s go . Watch your steps . ”

“Haha, my eyes are still good . You don’t need to hold me . ” Luan Xiaoping patted her son’s hand and lead the way .

As they were reaching home, they saw a group of young men walking in the opposite direction . They were smoking cheap cigarettes and looked drunk . Some of them were staring at Dong Xuebing and Luan Xiaoping .

Luan Xiaoping saw them and quickly pulled her son aside and lowered her head .

Dong Xuebing looked at them: “Mum, who are these people? Why are you so afraid of them?”





“Our county produces gold, and these hooligans are working in the mines . They lived in the village . They will steal vegetables from people’s gardens and disturb the girls around here . They do all sorts of bad things . ” Luan Xiaoping was relieved when she saw the hooligans walking away . “Xiao Bing, stay away from them when you see them . We cannot offend them . I heard the officers from our Village police station is close to them . The hooligans dug up our sweet potatoes several times, and we reported to the police . But the police officers ignored us . ”

“Huh? Stay away from them?”

“Listen to me . You are working in Beijing, and your authority is useless here . You will not win them . ”

Dong Xuebing wanted to laugh . You are telling the County’s Public Security Deputy Bureau Chief to stay away from some hooligans? Are you joking with me?!

Dong Xuebing had been to this house a few times when he was young . Other than the date tree in the garden had gotten taller, nothing was changed . They walked through the front yard and opened the metal gate . They entered the compound . Dong Xuebing looked around . Almost the whole family was there . His grandmother, uncle and his wife, his First Aunt and her husband, and his Second Aunt and her husband . Only a few of his cousins are not around .

Other than his Second Aunt and her family, Dong Xuebing dislikes the rest of them . But he had to take note of his mother’s feelings and greeted everyone .

Dong Xuebing’s Uncle and First Aunt’s families ignored him . After all, Dong Xuebing had quarreled with them in the past, and they still remember it . Only Dong Xuebing’s Second Aunt and her family greeted him back . His Second Aunt walked over and held his hand . “Xiao Bing has grown up . Look, you are so much taller than me now . Come…… Sit here . We are starting dinner soon . ”

Dong Xuebing missed his Second Aunt too . “Second Aunt, you also look younger than before . How is your health?”

“I’m good . Haha . ”

Second Aunt’s husband laughed . “I heard from your mum that you are a leader with the government now?”

Dong Xuebing took out a packet of Chong Hua cigarettes from his pocket and gave a cigarette to Second Aunt’s husband . “Ha… It’s just a job . Have a smoke . ”

Second Aunt’s husband looked at the cigarette packet . “Oh, this a pack of good cigarettes . ”

Dong Xuebing’s uncle saw Dong Xuebing did not give him any cigarettes and frowned . “The leaders in State Security are worthless . Deputy Chief does not have any authority . ”

His wife laughed and added: “That’s right . The officials at the grassroots level have more authority . ”

Dong Xuebing turned and looked at them .

Luan Xiaoping was unhappy to hear them say these things about her son . But that’s her elder brother’s wife, and she cannot talk back at them .

The second Aunt retorted . “You cannot say this . Xiao Bing is still young and has a bright future . ”

Dong Xuebing’s First Aunt also dislike him and said: “Mum is hungry now . Let’s not wait for Xiao Jin and start dinner . ”

Dong Xuebing’s First Aunt and Uncle treated Dong Xuebing this way was because of their arguments in the past . Also, Dong Xuebing was working for State Security in Beijing . Beijing is the capital of China and had countless officials . Deputy Section Chief rank officers are nothing there . Outside of their workplace, no one will recognize them . This was why no one cares when they found out Dong Xuebing had become a Deputy Section Chief .

Dong Xuebing was trying his best to control his anger during this meal .

It was not only about his relatives’ attitude towards him . It was also the way they treated his mother .

Luan Xiaoping was like a servant in the house . She had to cook, bring out the dishes, pour tea, etc . Second Aunt and her even had to clear and wash the dishes after dinner . Luan Xiaoping’s health had never been good . In the day, she had to teach in the Junior High School, and after she returns from work, she will have to do these chores . Dong Xuebing’s Uncle’s wife is not working and does not help out at all . After dinner, she just sat on the sofa with First Aunt to watch TV .

Luan Xiaoping sense her son was about to explode and smiled . “Xiao Bing, you must be tired from the traveling . Go and take a rest . ”

Dong Xuebing stared at his Uncle’s wife and First Aunt’s family coldly . He was about to say something when the main door suddenly opened .

It was his Second Aunt’s daughter . Dong Xuebing’s cousin Tang Jin ran in, crying .

Dong Xuebing had not seen her for a while and could hardly recognize her . “You are…… Xiao Jin? What happened? Who made you cry?!”