Power and Wealth

Monday morning.

The sun is up and is shining through the windows onto the bed. Ring… ring… Dong Xuebing woke and grabbed his phone.

“Hello, who is it?”

“Director, it’s me, Zhou Yanru. Sorry to wake you up.”

“It’s fine. I was about to get up too. Are you all still at the hotel?”

“No. Yuling and I had returned to Nanshan District last night.”

“Oh….” Dong Xuebing opens his eyes. “Did something happen in the district?”

“Secretary Wang was admitted to the hospital for acute appendicitis, and Yuling is worried for her uncle. That’s why she rushed back last night. I am worried for her safety and followed along.”

Dong Xuebing frowned. “Why didn’t you call me?”

Zhou Yanru quickly explained. “I called you around 10 pm last night to inform you. But a lady answered and said, you are sleeping. That’s why I….” Zhou Yanru knows Dong Xuebing is not married but doesn’t know if he has a girlfriend. The woman who answered sounds mature, and she doesn’t know if she is his girlfriend, sister, or relatives.

A lady answered the call?

It must be Xie Huilan.

Dong Xuebing sat up. “Oh, I went to bed early last night as I was too tired. I should have sent you all back last night. Is Secretary Wang alright?”

“He is fine now. It is not very serious.”

“Did he undergo any operation?”

“Not yet.”

“That’s good. Alright. Let’s talk after I get back in the afternoon. Is everything fine in the Subdistrict Office?”

“Everything is fine. But some documents are waiting for your approval.”

After hanging up, Dong Xuebing scratched his head. Last night, he was in a deep sleep and did not hear his phone. But since Zhou Yanru and Wang Yuling had returned, he does not need to rush back. He looked around and did not see Xie Huilan. There is a set of breakfast on the bedside table and a note. ‘I did not wake you because you are sleeping soundly. Haha… I had returned to the County. Reheat the breakfast before you eat. Oh, someone called you last night. You can check your phone. That’s all.’

Dong Xuebing felt blissful as he read the note and looked at the breakfast. He felt they had already gotten married.

Sister Xie is also virtuous. She knows how to prepare breakfast for me.

Dong Xuebing quickly send out an SMS. ‘Have you reach?’

One minute later, Dong Xuebing’s phone beeped. Xie Huilan replied. ‘Still on the road.’

Dong Xuebing smiles. ‘Drive safely. You don’t need to reply.’

After washing up and eating breakfast, Dong Xuebing grabbed his newly bought laptop to the balcony on the third floor. He sat under the parasol to have his tea and surf the internet.

One minute….

Five minutes….

Ten minutes….

It’s around 9 am, and it’s still early. Dong Xuebing can enjoy a relaxing morning in the mansion. But when he was about to play some games on his laptop, his phone rang.

It’s Yu Qianqian’s number.

Dong Xuebing smiled and answered. “Hello, Qianqian.”

“Uncle….” Yu Qianqian’s voice is hoarse. “I…. I….”

“What happened?”

“No…. nothing. I miss you.”

Dong Xuebing smiles. “I also miss you. Where are you now?”

“I am in school.”

“Eh? Isn’t it the school holidays now?”

“We need to return to school today to take our graduation photo and collect our result slips.”

“I heard from your mother that you had good grades. You are our little genius. When school reopens, I will transfer you to a school in the City, and I will get you a gift.” Dong Xuebing had slept with Sister Yu dozens of times, and he sees Qianqian as his daughter.

“Thank… Thank you, Uncle.”

“Are you alright?” Dong Xuebing asked. “How come you sound like you had cried?”

“No….”

“Is it because your grades are not up to your expectations?”

“No…. My grades are good. I am fine…. I will hang up now.”

“Ok. Remember to call me if anything happens.”

“I know. Bye.”

“Bye.”

After hanging up, Dong Xuebing noticed he had lost the game and was kicked out by other players. He did not continue playing games and called Yu Meixia.

“Hello, Xiao Bing.”

“It’s me. What’s wrong with Qianqian?”

Yu Meixia asked puzzledly. “Qianqian had gone to school today. Why are you asking?”

Dong Xuebing replied. “She called me earlier but did not mention anything. Are you all fine?”

“We are fine. Maybe she misses you.”

“Are you sure?”

“We are fine. Nothing had happened.”

“Ok.”

Dong Xuebing did not continue and hung up after chatting for a while. Sister Yu and Qianqian are soft and like to keep things to themselves. That’s why Dong Xuebing is always worrying about them. Yu Meixia is not good at lying, and he knows everything should be fine from her tone.

Dong Xuebing looked at his watch and surfed the net to pass the time.

More than one hour passed.

Suddenly, Dong Xuebing noticed a web post with the header, ‘Look! This is how students behave in schools.” He clicked on it, and there’s a link to a video.

Dong Xuebing clicked play, and the video started with an advertisement.

15 seconds….

10 seconds….

5 seconds….

Half an hour ago, this post was posted, but the views are moving up quickly.

The video started playing after the advertisement.

“Huang Tingting, I am going to start recording.”

“Don’t point the camera at me after you started.”

“Hehe…. I know….”

The camera showed the back of a few boys and girls in school uniforms. They are in a sports equipment room. The side stacks up basketballs, footballs, and exercise mats. Dong Xuebing is surprised because the uniform seems familiar.

The camera is shaky. It should be recorded from a mobile phone.

A few students are surrounding a girl in the same uniform. She is crying while holding her head in a squatting position.

“You are in Year Three?”

“Haha… all you know is cry. Such a disgrace.”

“Get her to kneel and crawl around.” The one talking is that female student Wang Tingting. “Hey, did you hear me? Kneel!”

Two other boys and a girl laughed. “Kneel! Kneel!”

“Didn’t you hear what Tingting said? Hurry up and crawl!”

The girl on the floor cried. “Sob…. No….”

Dong Xuebing got shocked when he heard the girl’s voice. Although the video is unclear and the girl lowers her head, he recognizes her voice and body. These boys and girls are bullying Yu Qianqian!

This video was recorded in Yan Tai County First Middle School.

It’s Qianqian’s school.

Dong Xuebing stood up immediately in shock. He could not believe what he saw.

The video has not ended.

Huang Tingting pointed at Yu Qianqian and scolded her. “Bitch! Why didn’t you apologize to me when you knocked into me along the corridor? You are asking for it!”

Yu Qianqian wiped her tears. “I…. I had apologized. I really did.”

“I didn’t hear it.”

“I’m sorry. Sob…”

“It’s too late now.” Huang Tingting grabbed Yu Qianqian’s hair and pulled her head between her legs. “Are you going to crawl or not?”

“No.” Yu Qianqian’s face is covered in tears.

Huang Tingting’s eyes turned cold. Slap! “Bitch!”

Yu Qianqian’s face had turned red from crying, and a handprint appeared on her face.

“You are asking for this.” Huang Tingting said and gave Yu Qianqian another slap. “Kneel down and apologize to me!”

Yu Qianqian covered her face and cried louder.

Huang Tingting shouted angrily. “Lei Zi! What are you waiting for?”

That boy, called Lei Zi, stepped forward with a smile and stomped on Yu Qianqian’s stomach.

Yu Qianqian fell onto the floor. She was still crying and started vomiting from that kick.

“Xiao Fan!” Huang Tingting went over and grabbed Yu Qianqian’s hair again. “Hurry up!”

Another boy laughed and picked up a basketball. He aimed and threw it hard at Yu Qianqian’s face.

“Hahaha……”

“I am asking you again. Are you going to kneel or not?”

Yu Qianqian plead. “Please… stop hitting me….”

The other girl, who did not hit Yu Qianqian, said. “Tingting, it’s enough. The teachers might notice if she got more injuries.”

The video ended.

But Dong Xuebing’s eyes are burning with rage. He threw his laptop aside and went downstairs to his car.

You all are dead!