Power and Wealth

Afternoon.

Zhen Shui County.

Yao Cui’s house.

“Have a seat here, Xuebing. I will help my mum to prepare lunch.” Yao Cui laughed.

Dong Xuebing was surprised. “You know how to cook? How come I did not hear you talking about it in university?”

Yao Cui laughed. “We don’t have pots and bowls in our dormitory. I cannot cook even if I want to. I will let you try my food now.”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “I am looking forward to it. Alright. I will take a walk first and come back later.”

Yao Cui replied. “Ok. Just go ahead.”

Dong Xuebing told Yao Cui’s parents he was going out and left.

Dong Xuebing returned to his car in the neighborhood and took out some Fen Zhou City local specialties his mother had prepared. It was a few big bags, and he carried them back to Yao Cui’s house. It’s not nice to not prepare gifts when visiting someone’s house.

Yao Cui’s house.

Yao Cui and Yao Li were carrying out the dishes from the kitchen.

“You are back.” Yao Cui looked at the door.”

Dong Xuebing entered the house. “Yes. I went to take something.”

Yao Cui’s parents walked out and saw Dong Xuebing. “Where did you go? Take something?”

Dong Xuebing smiled and passed the bags to Yao Cui’s parents. “I worked in Hebei Province and brought some local produce with me. These are not expensive. Please accept it.”

The bags contained dried mushrooms and other dried food.

Yao Cui’s father looked at the gifts and accepted them. “Thank you.”

Yao Cui’s mother waved Dong Xuebing over. “Come and have lunch, Xiao Dong.”

Yao Cui said. “These are our local food. I am not sure if it suits your taste.”

Dong Xuebing sat at the dining table. “It looks delicious and smells great. I will not hold back.”

Yao Cui’s father laughed. “Don’t feel awkward, and eat as much as possible. Here, try this.”

“Sure.”

“Xuebing, have some of this.”

“Oh, I will help myself.”

“I cooked this dish. How is it? Hahaha….”

“Hehe, not bad. I didn’t know you were so good at cooking.”

Everyone chatted happily over lunch, and Yao Cui’s father asked his son to bring out a bottle of Baijiu. Yao Cui drank a small glass, and Dong Xuebing and her father drank the rest.

After a few rounds, Yao Cui’s father asked.

“Xiao Dong, are you married?”

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

Yao Cui’s father turned to his daughter. “Look at him. Twenty-five is the right age to get married. Why are you not anxious? How long are you going to drag?”

Yao Cui replied helplessly. “I still have not met the right person.”

Yao Cui’s mother interrupted. “Xiao Dong, do you have any university classmates or friends that are single? Introduce them to our Cui er. She is not young.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “I had not kept in touch with our university classmates after graduation. I am not sure.”

Yao Cui said. “Can we talk about other things, Dad? Xuebing, I will give you a toast.”

Yao Cui’s father laughed. “You are always avoiding this subject. Alright, let’s drink.”

After lunch.

The Baijiu was brewed themselves, and it was intense. Dong Xuebing’s legs were wobbly, and Yao Cui’s father was also drunk. Yao Cui’s mother got to help him up.

Yao Cui’s mother said. “I will help your father to his room.”

Yao Cui nodded. “I will let Xuebing sleep in my room. I got to return to work in the afternoon.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “I am fine. It’s time for me to leave. I will visit you all another day.”

“No.” Yao Cui supported him. “How can we let you go out when you cannot even walk steadily? Your company still has not arranged your lodging. Just take a rest in my room and have dinner here later. Just stay at my house for the night. We are classmates, and you don’t need to be so polite to me.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “No….”

“It’s settled. Let’s go.” Yao Cui helped Dong Xuebing towards her room. “Brother, come and help.”

“Ok.” Yao Li ran over and supported Dong Xuebing. “Brother Dong, watch your steps.”

Kids from poor families mature faster. Yao Cui knows how to care for others. She helped Dong Xuebing onto her bed and covered him with a blanket. “Take a nap.”

Dong Xuebing rubbed his temples. “I am getting sleepy.”

Yao Cui smiled. “I got to return to my workplace for a while. My brother is in the next room. Call him if you need anything.” She had lived in Beijing for a few years and had a Beijing accent.

Dong Xuebing closed his eyes after Yao Cui left.

Dong Xuebing had not to use REVERSE to recover and took a nap.

The alcohol and Yao Cui’s scent on her blanket made Dong Xuebing sleepy, and he fell asleep quickly.

One hour….

Three hours….

Five hours….

It was dark when Dong Xuebing woke up. He looked at the time. It was after 8 pm. He sat up and walked out of the room.

The lights in the north room were on.

Dong Xuebing shouted. “Yao Cui.”

The door opened, and Yao Cui came out. “You woke up.”

“It’s already after 8 pm. Why did you wake me?” Dong Xuebing asked.

Yao Cui smiled. “You were sleeping soundly. You must be tired from the traveling, and I did not call you. Are you hungry? Wait for me in the room. I will heat dinner for you.”

“No need. I will eat outside.”

“I still have not taken my dinner. I was not hungry earlier when my parents were eating. Let’s eat together.”

Five minutes later.

Yao Cui’s room.

They sat at a small table and had dinner.

Yao Cui was still wearing the same attire as this morning. Maybe it was cold at night, and she wore a pair of thick stockings. Her skirt was wrapped around her hips tightly, and Dong Xuebing could see the outline of her underwear.

Dong Xuebing swallowed his saliva and continued eating. “Have you contacted our former classmates after graduation?”

Yao Cui replied. “I returned home after graduation and did not contact them.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “I wonder how everyone is doing. We should have a gathering.”

Yao Cui looked at Dong Xuebing and smiled. “Xuebing, I felt you were still the same when I met you earlier today. But after spending a few hours with you, I noticed you are more cheerful, and your temperament has changed.”

Dong Xuebing asked. “What temperament are you talking about?”

“I don’t know how to describe it. It’s just a feeling.” Yao Cui laughed and sat upright. “Did you notice any changes in me?”

Dong Xuebing looked at her from top to toe. “You changed slightly. You are prettier and more mature.”

Yao Cui rolled her eyes. “You are still the same. Always say nice things to others. Hurry up and eat. I will do the dishes later.”

After 9 pm.

Dong Xuebing and Yao Cui sat on the bed and chatted.

They had not met for a few years and were polite initially. As they chatted, they got more familiar and started to joke.

“I am quite happy to see you again.” Yao Cui said.

Dong Xuebing replied. “Me too. I did not expect to see you here.”

Yao Cui laughed. “I think this is fate. Let’s keep in touch more often in the future.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “Of course. I will be here for at least six months. I will keep bothering you and will visit your house for meals more often. You must not kick me out.”

“Just come. We will welcome you.”

Dong Xuebing looked at the time. “It’s so late now. You should go to bed.”

Yao Cui looked at the time. “It’s fine. You slept the whole afternoon, and you should be quite awake now. Let’s chat more, and you can sleep in my brother’s room. I had told him about it.”

“No. I can stay at a hotel.”

“What’s wrong? Are you looking down on your former classmate?”

“No…. alright. I will stay over at your place tonight.”

“That’s more like it. Oh, it’s cold at night.”

“A little. The temperature difference between day and night is quite big.”

“I am also feeling a bit cold. Let’s get on the bed and cover our legs with the blanket.”

Yao Cui took off her shoes and got on the bed. She sat against the headrest and covered her legs with the blanket. Dong Xuebing also took off his shoes and sat against the wall opposite her. He also covered his legs with the blanket.

They sat opposite each other with their legs under the blanket.

When Dong Xuebing adjusted his position, he felt his legs touching a pair of legs covered in stockings. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly moved his legs away.

Yao Cui did not mind and continued to chat with Dong Xuebing.

“Do you still remember Ruhua from our university?”

“Yes. What happened to her?”

“I heard she got married to a handsome guy.”

“Ah?! Are you sure?!”

“Of course. I got her wedding photos. Let me show you.”