Power and Wealth

Morning.

Outside of the breakfast stall.

The stall owner looked at his daughter and Dong Xuebing in surprise. “Cui er, you know each other?”

Yao Cui walked over. “Yes. He is my university classmate, Dong Xuebing. We were in the same class.”

Yao Cui’s father laughed. “It’s such a small world.”

Yao Cui looked at Dong Xuebing. “Why are you here, Xuebing?”

Dong Xuebing smiled. “Work transfer. I am transferred here.”

“What are you working as? Why are you posted here? Did you offend anyone?” Yao Cui asked in the same tone as her father.

Dong Xuebing was speechless. Who did I offend?

Yao Cui saw Dong Xuebing’s expression and felt she might have misunderstood. “It’s fine. This area is not that bad. The air is fresher than Beijing.” She looked at Dong Xuebing and said. “We have not met since we graduated three years ago. You still look the same. It’s windy outside. Let’s chat at my house.”

Dong Xuebing asked politely. “Is it convenient?”

Yao Cui pointed to a house. “That’s my house.”

Yao Cui’s father said. “Stay over for lunch. I will buy groceries after I close my stall.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “Don’t trouble yourself. It’s alright.”

Yao Cui added. “It’s not troublesome. It’s not easy to meet a former classmate. Stay for lunch at my place.”

“Sis, give me the bowls. I will wash them.” The tanned young man walked over.

Yao Cui passed him the bowls. “Oh, I have not introduced them. This is my father, and this is my younger brother, Yao Li. My Mum is cooking eggs at the back. I will introduce her later.”

Yao Li smiled.

Dong Xuebing nodded to him.

Behind the stall.

Yao Cui’s house is a few meters away from the stall in the adjacent street. It’s a small house.

The main road outside is asphalt, and the side roads are all uneven dirt roads.

Yao Cui smiled. “This place cannot be compared to Beijing. The County is poor, and the people here are also poor.”

“It’s fine.” Dong Xuebing looked around and then turned to Yao Cui. “Why didn’t you stay in Beijing after graduation?”

Yao Cui shook her head. “It is too competitive there, and I want to be near my parents. They are old, and I need to care for them.”

“That’s right.”

“Here, please come in.”

“Ok. Sorry to bother you.”

“It’s a bit messy. Please sit while I pour a cup of water for you.”

This might be Yao Cui’s room. It is small but clean.

Dong Xuebing sat on a small bed and looked at Yao Cui pouring water for him. She still kept her short hairstyle from her university days and looked slimmer. She was wearing a long flowery skirt and a white blouse.

Yao Cui.

Dong Xuebing remembered her.

Yao Cui was one of the prettiest girls in the university, and Dong Xuebing’s father passed away during that period. His family was poor, and he was ordinary. He kept to himself, and many of his classmates did not even know his name. However, Yao Cui was the only person who spoke to him. It was because her family was also poor. They often ate at a small restaurant in the alleyways because it was cheap.

Many years passed.

Yao Cui was still that Yao Cui.

“Here.” Yao Cui passed a glass of water to Dong Xuebing. “What are you thinking?”

Dong Xuebing took the water and laughed. “I missed our university days. Do you still remember we always ate together? I remember your favorite dish is Sichuan shredded pork with garlic sauce.”

Yao Cui laughed. “Yes. That small restaurant outside our school is dirty, but the food is delicious. I can eat Sichuan shredded pork with garlic sauce for a week, and I still miss it.”

“I will treat you when you go to Beijing.”

“Sure. I want to revisit Beijing. Oh, how long will you be working in Zhen Shui County? Are you here for a work trip?”

“I will be here for at least six months to a year.”

Yao Cui smiled. “Great. Let’s keep in touch. Are you living far from here?”

“I am not sure. My accommodation is not confirmed yet. I had arrived early and had not reported to my workplace.”

“So you don’t have any place to stay now? Just stay at my place. My brother can sleep with my parents, and you can sleep in his room.”

“No need. I can stay at a hotel.”

“Why spend your money on a hotel room? Our Zhen Shui County’s hotels are worse than the worse hotel in Beijing.”

“Are you sure?”

“You don’t believe me? Just look at our County Government Guesthouses. Those are thirty to forty years old buildings, and you got to be mentally prepared for your assigned lodging by your company. Our industrial, consumer standards and modernization score are the lowest in our country.” Yao Cui said and pointed to a small TV on the table. “Many households in the County town cannot even afford this 21-in color TV, let alone those in the village.”

Dong Xuebing looked at Yao Cui. “I heard you had become a civil servant.”

Yao Cui swiped her fringe. “Yes. I am working at the County Government office.”

“How is it?”

“I am only a staff member, and my job is only printing, photocopying documents, and writing reports. Oh, serving tea is also my job.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “It’s the same for everyone.”

“That’s right.” Yao Cui sighed. “Everyone says being a civil servant is good, and I only know about it after I enter. Let’s not talk about work. I get frustrated when I think about it.”

“Oh, are you married?” Dong Xuebing asked.

“Not yet. I have not met the right person yet. What about you?” Yao Cui looked at Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing replied. “I got married last year.”

They chatted for a while.