Power and Wealth

Next day.

Morning.

Dong Xuebing got up early in his Party School dormitory. His first thought was not about the pink diamonds. Instead, it was money. After the auction ended yesterday, he asked Jia De Auction's staff how much he needed to pay. They told him he needed to pay 287 million, which had exceeded his budget. He doesn't have enough, and if he can't make the payment within two weeks, he needs to pay compensation, and the rings will be sold to someone else.

Dong Xuebing's roommate, Han Xinghua, is still sleeping.

Dong Xuebing quickly washes up and leaves his room to make phone calls.

"Mum, I'm Xiao Bing." Dong Xuebing said. "Are you at home?"

Luan Xiaoping replied. "I just woke up. What is it?"

Dong Xuebing cleared his throat. "Err…. How much money do you have?"

"I still have around two million. I had not touched the money in the bank card you left with me. What happened?"

"Can you let me use it first?"

"Oh, you run out of money to spend? I knew you would finish spending your money from the way you spend."

"Ah…. I didn't anyhow spend my money. I need it urgently, and I will return to you a few days later."

"Ok. I will go to the bank and transfer the money to you."

"Thanks, Mum."

"Oh, I still have around a hundred thousand of savings. If it is not enough, I can borrow from Old Yang."

"Oh…. No…. don't borrow from Uncle Yang."

Dong Xuebing felt awkward as he had given this sum of money to his mother and was taking it back from her. But he needs to pay for the rings first, and his mother has no use for this two million RMB. He is still short of 1 million, and he doesn't want to borrow from Old Yang. He can't borrow from Aunt Xuan as the money is for their daughter. He also cannot borrow from Geng Yuehua as it will be more awkward as he is buying a proposal ring for Xie Huilan. Furthermore, she is in her early thirties and will not have so many savings.

That's right. Xu Yan.

Dong Xuebing couldn't care what Xu Yan thought of him, and he could only borrow from his close friends.

Ring… ring….

"Hello?" Xu Yan answered sleepily.

Dong Xuebing felt apologetic. "Oh, sorry, Sister Xu. I didn't know you were still sleeping."

"Xiao Dong?" Xu Yan yawned and laughed. "It's fine. I was about to wake up anyway. What is it?"

Dong Xuebing stuttered. "Err…. I need…. Ermm…. It's like this."

"Just tell me what you want. What's there to being shy? Did you get into trouble again?"

"Ah? No. I just want to borrow some money from you."

"You want to borrow money?!" Xu Yan is amused. "You were driving Mercedes and changed to a Porsche. How can you need money?"

"It is an emergency."

"How much do you need?"

"500,000 RMB is enough."

Xu Yan agreed without thinking. "Ok. Send me your account number, and I will transfer it to you later."

"Thank you, Sister Xu."

"Don't mention it."

"I will return you once I get money."

"Take your time. I am living alone and don't need to spend much."

Dong Xuebing knows 500,000 RMB is nothing to a businessman, but it is a large sum for government staff. Xu Yan might be a State Security Bureau Chief, but her salary is less than 8,000 RMB. The living expenses in Fen Zhou City are high too, and she is willing to lend them to him. He is very grateful to her.

Noon.

Dong Xuebing sneaked out of the Party School during his breaks and went to the bank.

Dong Xuebing has almost 290 million from selling his damaged Cayenne, savings, salaries, and money he borrowed from his mother and Xu Yan. He had raised enough and rushed to the auction house to make payments and get the rings.

An office in the auction house.

Dong Xuebing looks at the pair of sparkling pink diamond rings in front of him. These rings are worth every cent he spent. After checking the rings, he got the staff to adjust the ring size. He made the bigger diamond ring smaller and the smaller diamond ring bigger.

The staff is puzzled. "Are you sure?"

Dong Xuebing nodded. "Yes."

"Please wait."

This ring is bought for Xie Huilan, and he must make her happy. That's why he planned to let her wear the bigger diamond ring.

The rings are ready half an hour later.

Dong Xuebing wore his ring and was satisfied with it. He placed it carefully in the box and left the auction house.

Everything is ready, and he needs to think of how he will propose."

Dong Xuebing called Xie Huilan. "Huilan, have you eaten?"

"Yes. I am in my dormitory, reading a book. Haha…. What about you?"

"I just finished lunch. Oh, I need to meet you tonight."

"Ok. I will wait for you in the backyard after my lessons."

"No. I can't tell you in the Party School. Err…. How about you return to our parents' house first? I might be late, and we will talk when I reach."

"Huh? Why so secretive?"

"You will know later."

"Fine. Haha…. I will be waiting at home. My father was busy and couldn't have dinner at my grandfather's house. Oh, call Xiao Jing, Xiao Ran, and Xiao Hao over too."

"Ok. See you tonight."

Dong Xuebing hung up and was feeling very excited. He can't wait to put the ring on Xie Huilan's finger.