Power and Wealth

Noon.

The smell of delicious food filled Villa No. 1.

“Come. Lunch is ready.”

“Brother-in-law! Tell us about your adventure!”

“What adventure? There’s nothing to talk about.”

“The whole city is going after you. How did you come back?”

“Xiao Hao, stop bugging your Brother-in-law. Have your lunch, and stop asking questions.”

“Dad, I am curious. I want to hear my idol’s glory feats.”

Everyone chatted happily over lunch. Zhong Lizhen listened and watched them with a smile.

Xie Guojian picked up some food and placed it into her bowl. “Eat more, Lizhen.”

“Yes. Thank you.” Zhong Lizhen ate her food and smiled.

Han Jing also places some food into her bowl. “Here, have some of these. You had suffered in the past few months. Try my food.”

“Thanks, Sis.” Zhong Lizhen remembered. “Oh, what is Xiao Dong working as?”

Han Jing glanced at Dong Xuebing and smiled. “Didn’t Xuebing tell you?”

Zhong Lizhen replied. “He did not even tell me he is Huilan’s husband. I only know about it here. I am curious about his occupation.”

Han Jing smiled. “He is a civil servant.”

Zhong Lizhen paused for a second. “Which department is he from? State Security or Public Security?”

“No.” Han Jing replied. “He is currently a grassroots county’s Executive Deputy Mayor.”

Zhong Lizhen almost choked on her food. “A Deputy Division Chief?!”

Han Jing nodded. “Xuebing had some achievements, so he got promoted so fast.

Dong Xuebing’s position was higher than Zhong Lizhen’s expectation. Deputy Mayor.

Xie Hao laughed and interrupted. “Aunt, you don’t know how capable my Brother-in-law is.”

Xie Hao was about to continue when Dong Xuebing stopped him. “Shut up and eat your food.”

Xue Hao chewed on a piece of beef and continued. “Hehe…. My Brother-in-law is modest and doesn’t allow me to tell others. This is what I am working towards too.”

Xie Guojian gave Xie Hao a stare. “Your Mum and I will be grateful if you have 1% of Xiao Bing’s capabilities.”

Ring… ring… ring….. Xie Guojian’s phone rang.

He looked at the number and walked aside to answer.

After lunch.

Everyone is full.

Xie Guojian returned after his phone call and said something to Xie Guobang and Xie Guoliang. He turned to the younger generation. “Xiao Hao, Xiao Ran, and Xiao Jing. You all go back first.”

Xie Hao protested. “I want to chat with my Brother-in-law.”

Xie Guojian scolded. “Just go back.”

Xie Hao wanted to retort when Xie Jing pulled him away. “Alright. I will send you back. Aunt Zhong has just returned, and she must be busy.”

Xie Ran added. “Let’s go, Xiao Hao.”

They knew the older generation of the family had something to discuss, and they should not be around.

Xie Hao waved to Dong Xuebing listlessly. “I got no chance to speak to you today. I will look for you tomorrow. You must teach me martial arts.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “Let’s talk again.”

“It’s settled then.” Xie Hao said.

They chatted for a few minutes before they left the villa.

Inside the villa.

Dong Xuebing looked at the elders. “Mum, Dad, I am going back now.”

Xie Guojian laughed. “You cannot go. You and Lizhen are the VIPs today.”

Xie Guobang said. “A military higher-up, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and many other departments officials are coming to fetch Lizhen.”

“Fetch me?” Zhong Lizhen asked. “I can go there myself.”

Han Jing quickly replies. “You cannot go anywhere now. It’s dangerous.”

Xie Guojian nodded. “Other countries’ eyes are around especially Beijing. It was Xiao Bing who sent you back. It’s safe with him around because of his combat power. He can handle all types of situations. You will be in trouble if you go around alone. You all might not know Florida is in a mess now. Foreign affairs are facing tremendous pressure. The local authorities there are suppressing the Chinese businesses as revenge.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “It’s my fault. I should have held back.”

Xie Guojian waved his hand. “It’s not your fault. You have done nothing wrong. You had brought Lizhen back. Let the higher-ups handle the pressure.”

Dong Xuebing took a deep breath. “Is that research so important?”

Xie Guojian replied. “It is more important than you imagine.”

Zhong Lizhen kept quiet.

Xie Guojian looked at Dong Xuebing seriously and asked. “Xiao Bing, were you all captured by the CCTV at the airport?”

Dong Xuebing thought for a second. “The CCTVs at the airport did not see us. It’s only the road outside of the terminal. But we were wearing sunglasses. So, it should be safe.”

“We need to be safe. Which roads did you all travel after leaving the airport?”

“We took a cab to Hua Lian shopping mall and went to a budget hotel to shower and change. We came here after that.” Dong Xuebing told Xie Guojian where they had been after arriving.

Xie Guojie nodded and made a phone call. “Hello, I am Xie Guojian. Yes. Tell Old Zhang to bring his men to delete the CCTV footage from the airport, Hua Lian Shopping Mall, and the budget hotel opposite it. Don’t use the local authorities. Do it yourselves.” Although Xie Guojie is from the PLA General Political Department, they have a special department doing secret operations. Deleting CCTV footage is a simple task for them.

Ten minutes later.

Xie Guojian puts down his phone. “Alright. Everything is arranged.”

Zhong Lizhen looked at him. “Sorry to cause trouble, Guojian.”

Xie Guojian replied. “What are you talking about? It’s not troublesome. Furthermore, I had not done anything. It is Xiao Bing who did everything.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “It’s nothing. It’s like a vacation.”

Dong Xuebing downplayed the situation, but everyone knew how dangerous it was. Others might not return if they went.

“Xiao Dong.” Zhong Lizhen looked at him. “I will call you Xiao Bing.”

Dong Xuebing replied. “Stop thanking me, Aunt Zhong. You thanked me several times on our way back. We are a family, and I should do this.”

Zhong Lizhen nodded and turned to Han Jing. “Can you lend me money, Sis? My cards were taken away at the research center, and I want to return the money to Xiao Bing.”

Han King laughed. “Just spend his money, and you don’t need to return. My son-in-law’s asset is more than ten times of our whole family.”

Zhong Lizhen took out her notebook.

Dong Xuebing quickly says. “You don’t need to return the money. It’s fine.”

“That’s different.” Zhong Lizhen insisted. “Sis….”

Han Jing took out her wallet. “Fine. How much do you need?”

Zhong Lizhen glanced at the notebook and said an amount.

Han Jing shook her head when she heard it was less than 1,000 RMB. She passed her the money for her to return to Dong Xuebing. She knew Zhong Lizhen well, and she was very stubborn.

Ding Dong….

The doorbell rang.

“They are here.” Xie Guojian said.

Xie Guobang stood up. “This is military affairs. I will not interfere.”

Xie Guoliang smiled. “I will go upstairs to chat with you.”

Han Jing joined the two brothers upstairs.

Dong Xuebing was about to leave but was stopped by Xie Guojian. “Where are you going?”

“Huh? I don’t want to be involved too.”

“But you are involved now. Haha….”

Zhong Lizhen opened the door. A young man and a middle-aged man are standing outside. She was excited to see them.

“Xiao Chen, Old Xu….”

“Aunt Zhong.”

“Sis Zhong.”

“It’s you all!”

The three of them were excited to see each other.

Dong Xuebing had met one of them. He was one of Professor Chen’s students who met him at the hotel.

“Where is Teacher?” Zhong Lizhen asked. “Is he here?”

They stepped aside, and Zhong Lizhen saw an old man leaving the car. His eyes sparkled when he saw her.

“Teacher….” Zhong Lizhen quickly ran over.

It was Chen Xuekai, Professor Chen. He looked at Zhong Lizhen. “Welcome back. Haha…. I can live a few more years after seeing you again.”

“Sorry, Teacher. I returned late.”

“No. You are not late.”

Zhong Lizhen used to follow Professor Chen, together with other students, when she was in China. Dong Xuebing could tell they were close.

Dong Xuebing and Xie Guobang did not interrupt and looked at them from the villa.

The young man saw Dong Xuebing.

“It’s you.” The young man frowned. He remembered his teacher, and he went to look for Dong Xuebing. They wanted Dong Xuebing to save Zhong Lizhen, and he refused. Professor Chen bowed and begged him to save Zhong Lizhen, but he disagreed.

Chen Xuekai looked towards the villa.

Dong Xuebing greeted politely. “Professor Chen.”

Chen Xuekai nodded and entered the villa with Zhong Lizhen. He asked. “The military only told me you are back, and I rushed here immediately. How did you come back?”