Power and Wealth

Afternoon.

The sun is out.

The snow started melting, and it finally felt like spring.

Dong Xuebing finished his lunch after Mayor Zhong, Secretary He, and the rest left, and he chatted with Xie Huilan.

Xie Huilan smiled. "Why are you looking at me like that? Huh?"

Dong Xuebing blinked. "I want to smoke. Can you give me a cigarette?"

Xie Huilan narrowed her eyes. "Do you think it's possible?"

"Yes." Dong Xuebing smacked his lips. "Help me buy a packet of cigarettes."

"I don't think so. You are not well yet. How can you smoke? Do you think you are made of steel?"

"I am made of steel. You can give me a few punches and see if I can feel anything."

"Stop boasting. You will not get cigarettes, but you can get as many injections as you want. I will tell the nurses to give you an injection to curb your smoking urge."

"Don't…. Fine…. I will not smoke. Can you push me out for a while?"

"Haha…. Where do you want to go?"

"Just walk around the hospital and get some sunlight."

"You know how to order others around."

"It's not often I fall sick. Just this once."

"Fine. Let me serve you this time. Haha…. Put on more clothes."

"My body is aching, and I cannot move. Huilan, help me put on my clothes."

Xie Huilan was amused. "You don't seem to be injured at all. Stop pretending."

"I am not pretending, and my body hurts. I am an optimistic person, and that's why I look well. I can wear myself if you don't want to help." Dong Xuebing pretended to be mad.

"Alright. Raise your arm."

Dong Xuebing smiled when Xie Huilan helped him put on his coat. He sat there and enjoyed Xie Huilan's service. All this while, he had been cooking, washing, and caring for her. Finally, he gets to enjoy being served like a king. He might not have this chance again.

Xie Huilan helped Dong Xuebing into the wheelchair and smiled. She pushed him out of the ward.

"Where should we go?"

"Left turn."

"And then?"

"Right turn, and another right."

"And then?"

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"Huh? We went the wrong way. The elevator is on the other side."

Xie Huilan: "……."

Dong Xuebing apologized. "I forgot the way. Sorry…. I did not mean to order you around. Err…. Let's go back the same way."

Inside the elevator.

They were alone in the elevator, and there was no camera. Dong Xuebing said. "Huilan, I had gotten great credit this time, right?"

"Yes."

"It's a big credit, right?"

"Yes. You saved many lives."

"Do you think this is an opportunity for me to move up?"

Xie Huilan laughed. "Is this everything in your mind? You are just thinking of getting promoted."

Dong Xuebing argued. "A leader who doesn't want to be promoted is not good. Furthermore, I have done a lot for people. If promotion is all I think about, I will not risk my life to save them."

"Fine… fine…. You are right. Hahaha…."

"Do you think it is possible?" Dong Xuebing will not hesitate to save others when they are in danger, but that does not mean he has no desire to move up the ranks.

"You had gotten a good reputation and political credit this time, and the Provincial Leaders noticed you again. These are good for your career progression, and no one can doubt your ability and results. But you had just gotten promoted to Deputy Division Chief recently. How are you going to get promoted? When I was your age, I did not get promoted so fast. Be content with what you have. Just seize the opportunity when it comes."

"This means it's possible."

"Yes. A little. The current term is ending, and there will be many reappointments and openings."

"Terrific. I will ask and must try to seize this opportunity even if I fail." Dong Xuebing was promoted a few months ago but had outstanding results. He solved several cases in the Commission for Discipline Inspection and gained many credits outside his work.

"I will help you ask around." Xie Huilan replied.

"Yes. Let's try out best and move up together."

"I don't need it. Hahaha…. I just entered the Party Committee and can't move up."

Dong Xuebing likes this feeling of having a common goal with his wife.

Dong Xuebing and Xie Huilan saw nearly one hundred people when they walked out of the hospital building. The hospital staff was talking to them, and the nurses looked troubled. The nurses saw Dong Xuebing and quickly walked over.

"Director Dong, they are looking for you." A nurse said.

"Looking for me?" Dong Xuebing looked at the crowd and saw a few familiar faces.

Those people saw Dong Xuebing and got excited.

"It's Director Dong!"

"Director Dong had come out!"

Everyone shouted.

Passerby and patients looked towards them, wondering what had happened.

A couple and a small boy walked out of the crowd. That boy was the last Dong Xuebing rescued yesterday.

The woman was very agitated. "Director Dong, we heard you have woken up…. We…. We are here to visit you."

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"Don't mention it." Dong Xuebing smiled and looked at that boy. "Is he alright?"

The woman's eyes turned red, and she said to her son. "Hurry and kneel before Uncle Dong to thank him!"

The small boy kneeled immediately. "Thank you, Uncle Dong."

Dong Xuebing got fright and quickly waved his hand. "Don't do that. Sis, what are you doing? This…. Don't do this. He had just recovered. Ask him to get up."

The woman sobbed. "My husband protested in front of the City Party Committee Building that day and attacked you. But…. But you risked your life to save our son…. I…. I…." The woman slapped herself suddenly, and her face turned red. "I am sorry! I am sorry…."

Dong Xuebing panicked. "What are you doing?"

Xie Huilan added. "Stop doing that."

The woman did not listen and continued to slap herself.

The woman's husband stopped his wife. His eyes were also red. "Stop hitting yourself. This has nothing to do with you. It was all my fault." That man said and slapped himself hard. "Director Dong, thank you for saving my son. Thank you."

A few more people started talking.

"Thank you, Director Dong."

"Our family is grateful to you."

"You are a good official! You will live a long life!"

"We will never forget what you did for us! Thank you!"

"I will not forgive anyone who says you are corrupted!"

Everyone, especially the family members of the ones Dong Xuebing saved, was agitated.

An old man hit his son's leg with his walking stick. "Director Xiao Dong is a good man! How dare you protest against him!? Are you blind?! Your daughter would be drowned if not for him! I will beat you to death if anything happens to him! Kneel!"

A man clenched his teeth and kneeled towards Dong Xuebing.

The man's mother also bowed with tears in her eyes.

At the same time, all the civilians bowed toward Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing was not used to this and quickly said. "Don't do this, everyone. It's my duty, and there's nothing to thank me for."

Xie Huilan walked over to help an old man up. "Please get up."

That old man refused stubbornly and continued to bow before Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing pushed the wheelchair over. "Everyone, please don't do this. I cannot accept your bow. It's our duty to save others as Party Members. Please get up. Sis, ask your son to get up. The floor is cold." He turned to the hospital staff. "Please come over and help them up."

The nurses quickly went over.

It took over five minutes for them to help the civilians up.

After that, the civilians started to present their gifts.

"Director Dong, I prepared chicken soup for you and your wife."

"Here are some health supplements. Please get well soon."

"Here's mine. It's not expensive, but you must accept it!"

Dong Xuebing quickly accepted their gifts. "Alright…. I will take it…. Thank you, everyone. Thank you."

Everyone who saw this scene was touched.