Power and Wealth

Evening.

The sky is still bright, but the sun is setting.

Dong Xuebing checked the pair of pink diamond rings again before putting them into his pocket. He secretly sneaks out of the Central Party School again.

Diagonally across the road is a flower shop.

Dong Xuebing quickly enters it.

"Welcome." The florist smiles. "What flowers are you looking for?"

"Do you have roses?" Dong Xuebing looks around. "Red roses."

"Yes." The florist points to a corner. "Are you giving it to your girlfriend? How many do you want?"

Dong Xuebing made a mental calculation of his remaining money and said. "Hmmm…… 999 roses. Wrap it up nicely. Oh, how much is one rose?" He had never asked for the prices when he was shopping. But after spending all of his savings and getting in debt for the pair of rings, he only has slightly more than 3,000 RMB left.

The florist replied politely. "We are selling 3 RMB for a rose."

"3 RMB? So expensive." Dong Xuebing grumbled.

"This is the cheapest season for roses. Roses will cost more than 10 RMB during valentines day and winter."

"Any discounts?"

"I can give you a basket for free."

Dong Xuebing nodded. "Fine. I will take it."

"999 roses. Please wait." The florist quickly packs the roses into a beautiful basket.

Dong Xuebing felt pain in his heart when he took out 3,000 RMB from his wallet.

Dong Xuebing could not see the road before him when he carried the big basket. He walked along the streets and didn't get a taxi as he could not afford the fare from here to Xie Huilan's house. He only had slightly more than 100 RMB in his wallet, and he decided to walk out of the heavy traffic area. He bought a packet of 3 RMB cigarettes along the way.

Dong Xuebing coughed after two puffs. It's choking, but he can only afford this cigarette.

After leaving the congested area, Dong Xuebing flagged a taxi to Xie Huilan. The total fare was 118 RMB, and he paid with his remaining 120 RMB. He only has 2 RMB left in his pocket.

Beijing Party Committee family quarters.

Outside of Xie Family's mansion.

Dong Xuebing kept the roses in the corner of the garden before pressing the doorbell.

Ding dong…. Ding dong….

Xie Hao opens the door. "Hahaha…. My idol is here!"

Dong Xuebing laughed. "Can you stop calling me idol?"

"Hi, Xiao Bing." Han Jing went to the door to welcome Dong Xuebing. "Come in."

Dong Xuebing quickly greeted Han Jing. "Good evening, Auntie. Err…. I was in a rush and didn't bring anything with me. I will bring something the next time."

Han Jing pretended to be mad. "You don't need to buy anything. You brought so many gifts when you came every time. We have too many fruits and health supplements at home, and it's a waste to throw them when they turn bad. If you bring anything the next time, I will not let you enter."

Dong Xuebing still felt embarrassed. It's not he had forgotten. He doesn't have money to buy anything.

Xie Ran and Xie Jing are in the house other than Xie Huilan.

Xie Huilan smiles and looks at Dong Xuebing. "The whole family is waiting for you."

"Traffic jam." Dong Xuebing replied and greeted Xie Jing and Xie Ran.

Beijing City Party Committee Secretary Xie Guobang walked down the stairs and saw Dong Xuebing. He smiles. "Xiao Dong, you are here."

Dong Xuebing quickly stood up and greeted him politely. "Good evening, Uncle."

"Don't be so restricted." Xie Guobang waved his hand. "Have a seat. Wash yours, and let's start dinner."

"Ok."

"How is your training at the Party School?"

"Quite good. I learned a lot."

"Good." Xie Guobang nodded. "Treat this as a break. It will be useful for your work later."

Xie Huilan smiled and interrupted them. "Dad, how can Xiao Bing don't feel restricted when you are talking like this?"

Xie Guobang pointed at his daughter and laughed. "You brat."

Han Jing looked at her husband and laughed. "Look at our daughter. She is siding with her boyfriend now."

Xie Guobang, Xie Jing, Xie Ran, and the rest laughed.

Xie Huilan did not feel embarrassed. "Haha… Did I side with him?"

Xie Hao exclaimed. "Of course! You treated me differently. When are you going to treat me like this?"

Xie Jing joked. "I had forgotten most of my memories when we were young, but I can still remember Sis smacking my brother and I asses."

Xie Hao agreed. "She is always hitting me."

Xie Ran laughed. "She is teaching us to be good."

"See…. Xiao Ran is telling the truth." Xie Huilan laughed. "You want to bring up the past and settle the score with me? Fine. Let's talk about what happened when you were young. Xiao Jing, when you were young, you…."

Xie Jing blushed and quickly stopped Xie Huilan. "Please stop…. I'm sorry."

"Good to hear that." Xie Huilan turns to Xie Hao. "You…. Xiao Hao, when you were around seven or eight, you…."

Xie Hao panics. "We are not bringing up the past or settling any scores with you."

Everyone laughed.

Han Jing smiles. "Time passes so fast during that time. It seems like it was yesterday when all of you were kids, and your Eldest Sister is getting married soon. Thinking back, you all were cute."

Xie Hao shouts. "Sis, when are you getting married?"

Xie Guobang looks at his daughter. "I visited Senior Xie yesterday, and he asked you all to host the wedding this month. Your Mom and I will do the preparations."

Dong Xuebing is excited. Senior Xie had agreed.

Xie Huilan looks at Dong Xuebing with a smile. "I mentioned it before, but someone is not taking action. How can I get married to someone so insincere?"

Xie Jing laughed. "Brother Dong, Sis is waiting for you."

Han Jing scolded Xie Huilan jokingly. "How can you say such things?"

Suddenly, the news on the TV attracted everyone's attention.

Xie Hao shouted. "Look!"

The TV showed the pink diamond rings again, and the host said. "Jia De Auction had auctioned off this pair of pink diamonds, and the winning bid had exceeded everyone's expectation. The starting bid is 80 million, and the value is estimated at 200 million. But the final transacted price is 237 million RMB. With the commissions and other charges, this ring pair was sold for almost 300 million RMB. It broke our country's record of the highest transaction price for diamonds and the world record of the highest diamond ring sold. This diamond is indeed the most expensive in the world."

Xie Jing gasped. "Almost 300 million?!"

Xie Ran smiles. "Our country has lots of wealthy people."

"Wow…. Who is the buyer?" Xie Hao said. "The estimated value is above the market value. Why was it sold higher than the value?! This is crazy."

Xie Huilan, Han Jing, and the rest were watching the TV.

The host continues. "An unnamed young man bought the pair of rings. The auction participants told us the mysterious young man joined the auction when it was almost ending, and he wore a sunglass. He increased the bid consistently and suppressed all his competitions."

Xie Jing was shocked. "A young man bought the rings?! This is ridiculous."

Xie Ran thought for a while. "Maybe it was paid by his father, and he will get married. If not, why would he spend so much to buy those rings."

"Is there a need to mention it? The rings should be bought for his marriage." Xie Hao added.

Xie Jing enviously said. "It must be a grand wedding. This is so romantic."

"Romantic?! It's just because that guy is rich." Xie Hao argued.

Xie Jing gave Xie Hao a stare. "What do you know? It is not about the price of the rings. The girl will be touched when the guy is willing to splurge on her. That's why it is romantic."

Xie Hao grumbled. "Women are so troublesome. What romance?! Can it fill your stomach?"

Han Jing and Xie Huilan turned and looked at Xie Hao.

Xie Hao got a fright and quickly explained. "Aunt, Sis, I am not talking about you." He knows he is going to get scolded and quickly changes the topic. "Sis, how do you want Brother Dong to propose? I can offer some suggestions."

Xie Huilan laughed. "What's the point if I got to say what I wanted? It will make me look like I am begging him to propose. I am a shy person. Hehe…. Let him figure it himself."

Xie Hao and Xie Jing thought to themselves. A shy person?! You are the most shameless person at home.

Dong Xuebing suddenly stands up while they are chatting and walks over to Xie Huilan. "Huilan, I have something to say."

Xie Hao got startled. "Huh? What is going on?"

"Shh…. Shh….." Xie Jing quickly pulls Xiao Hao back.

Han Jing and Xie Guobang exchanged looks and smiled.

Everyone knows Dong Xuebing is going to propose. But they looked around and saw he did not prepare anything. He doesn't even have flowers with him. How can he be so casual?

Xie Huilan looks at him with a smile. "Oh? What is it?"