Power and Wealth

Dong Xuebing’s fight with the driver only lasted less than 20 seconds.

Fast!

It was too fast!

Many people did not even see what happened clearly, and the driver was already on the floor. He was hit by a stone and can’t get up anymore.

“Old Zheng!” The dark complexion female tour guide looked at the driver. She could not accept that her driver was beaten. As illegal tour guides, they had gotten into fights often. Old Zheng had never disappointed her in the past. He had fought 3 men in the past and won. What’s wrong with him today? Old Zheng lost to a skinny young man?

When everyone got over their shock, Sister Cao was the first to shout: “Good! Beat him to death!”

Dong Xuebing dis not stop. He ran forward and gave a hard kick on the driver’s injured leg.

The driver shouted out in pain on the ground and tried to kick Dong Xuebing back with his other leg.

Dong Xuebing stepped back and stomp on the driver’s ankle. Crack! He almost broke the driver’s ankle.

“Ah!!!!” The driver shouted at the top of his voice.

One kick!

Two kicks!

Three kicks!

Dong Xuebing was cursing and swearing as he kicked the driver: “You think you are great? You think you can grab Aunt Xuan by her hair?! You are asking for it! You dare to stare at me? F**k you! I will kill you!” Dong Xuebing unleashed all his anger, and most of his kicks were on his hand which had grabbed Qu Yunxuan earlier. After stomping for a few times, he stepped on the driver’s left hand and remained there.

The driver’s thumb and ring fingers were bent at a weird angle. His fingers were fractured.

Qu Yunxuan worrying said: “Xiao Bing. Just teach him a lesson will do. Don’t kill him.”

Dong Xuebing did not listen and continued to kick and stomp the driver with all his strength.

“Old Zheng!” The tour guide was panicking. She knew when she and the driver were hitting the two reporters, someone should have called the police. If they were delayed by this young man, then they will not be able to escape. This was why the tour guide ran up to Dong Xuebing and to hit him. She needs to rescue Old Zheng.

“Careful!” Qu Yunxuan shouted.

Dong Xuebing saw the tour guide from the corner of his eyes. This tour guide had also hit Qu Yunxuan and her colleague. He did not care whether if she was a woman. He turned and threw a backfist. It landed on the tour guide’s face, and she flew one meter away.

The illegal tour guide fainted on the spot.

The driver shouted: “Xiao Hong!!!!!”

Sister Cao felt better after seeing Dong Xuebing beating up these two. She got up and ran over to Qu Yunxuan. “Yunxuan, are you ok? Are you hurt anyway?” She saw Qu Yunxuan was fine except for her messy hair and was relieved. “Your friend can really fight! Is he trained in martial arts? Even that big size driver is no match for him!”

Qu Yunxuan also did not know when did Xiao Bing become such a good fighter.

Suddenly there were sounds of police sirens approaching them.

Qu Yunxuan quickly ran over to stop Dong Xuebing. “Xiao Bing. Stop. The police are here.”

Dong Xuebing looked back and cursed. He gave one more kick to the driver and stopped unwillingly. He still has not vented his anger. He had to be careful when he touched Qu Yunxuan’s fingers. But this bastard dare to grab her by her hair! How can this bastard be let off so lightly?

About one minute later, two police cars stopped beside the minibus.

3 policemen alighted and saw the two people lying on the ground. They were shocked: “Who called the police?”

“I am the one who called.” Dong Xuebing stepped forward and pointed to the two people lying on the ground: “These two are operating an illegal tour agency. Not only they force the tourist to buy stuff, they also broke my friend’s camera. They also hit my friends. There! All those people on the minibus had seen the whole incident. If I arrive any later, my friends will be injured severely. I am only trying to defend ourselves.” Dong Xuebing pushes all the blame to the illegal tour guide and driver.

The policeman looked at the driver on the floor and then looked at Dong Xuebing: “You are the one who beat him up?”

“Yes.”

This was too ruthless. The policeman frowned and wanted to question Dong Xuebing more about the incident.

But the driver, who knew he can’t escape, start scolding. “Bastard! Didn’t you want to beat me to death? Come on! What are you waiting for? Come and hit me!” The driver knew that the young man could not do anything to him after the police arrived.

“F**k! You are asking for it!” Dong Xuebing was still furious, and after hearing what the driver said, he exploded.

“Wait! What are you trying to do?” A policeman in his 40s grabbed Dong Xuebing by his arm. “Follow us back for statements.”

The driver wiped the blood off the corner of his lips and laughed: “Come on! I’m waiting for you to hit me!”

“You are the one asking for it.” Dong Xuebing reached into his pocket and took out his work pass. He turned to the older policeman and said: “Give me 30 seconds.”

The policeman took a glanced at Dong Xuebing work pass and was stunned.

Dong Xuebing looked at him and repeated himself. “Just half a minute will do.”

The older policeman thought for a while and let go of Dong Xuebing’s arm. He waved for the two younger officers over and gave them a cigarette each.

The driver was stunned. “Ah?” What’s happening? Why were the policemen letting that young man go?

The two young officers were also shocked. “Sir, this.......”

The older police officer whispered softly. “He is our comrade from the same ministry.”

A young officer asked: “He is also from Public Security?”

“State Security.” The older policeman paused for a while and added: “He is the Deputy Chief of an office under State Security.”

The two young officers were surprised. They looked at Dong Xuebing’s back. “How old is he? How come he can be an officer at such young age? Eh? I remembered the offices under State Security are all “administrative” staffs. They are not involved in criminal cases investigations. Even I and Xiao Zhao cannot beat that man on the ground. How can he beat him up? How is it possible that an administrative officer is so good at fighting?”

The older police officer was also puzzled. “Who knows? Xiao Zhao, go and wake that illegal tour guide. After our comrade from State Security settled his score, we will go back.” Public Security and State Security were under the same system. They were considered under the same family, despite both departments seldom work together. But the top leaders from the Public Security and State Security had been transferred between both ministries. Compared to other government agencies, these two ministries were closer. Also, Dong Xuebing’s work pass indicates that he was from the Beijing branch, and this was why the older officer decided to close one eye.

Dong Xuebing walked closer to the driver.

The driver panics. “Police! Stop him! He is going to hit me!”

The few police officers were standing there smoking and looking up at the skies. They pretended not to hear or see anything.

“You are the one who asked me to come over to hit you.” Dong Xuebing walked up to the driver and squat down. He grabbed the driver by his hair like how he grabbed onto Qu Yunxuan earlier. Although the driver got short hair, Dong Xuebing was still able to catch and yank it!

Sssss........

Dong Xuebing forcefully grabbed and tugged hard. The driver could feel his hair was pulled out by Dong Xuebing. Dong Xuebing opened up his hand and blew the strands of hairs away.

“Ah!!!!!!”

.......

Beijing people were used to calling Public Security Police Stations as “Ju Zhi.”

Dong Xuebing, Qu Yunxuan, and Sister Cao spent two hours recording statements at the station. Luckily Dong Xuebing had his work pass with him, and the policemen there treated them well. They also closed one eye on the driver and the tour guide’s injuries. If not, Dong Xuebing would not be able to leave the station. The driver was severely injured, and it can’t be considered as self-defense.

Outside of the station.

“Aunt Xuan, let me see where you are hurt. Show me.”

“I am fine. It’s only some bruises, and it will recover in two days.”

“Aiya...... Show me now. We should go to the hospital for an X-ray.” Dong Xuebing had no chance to speak to Aunt Xuan earlier, and he was holding her hands examining the bruises. Dong Xuebing could feel her pain and do not care about his image in front of Qu Yunxuan. He scolded: “Those two bastards. Don’t let me see them again. Don’t worry. The police officers told me that they had been tasked by their higher-ups to investigate these illegal tour guides. Those two bastards will not have a good ending.”

Qu Yunxuan smiles, sweetly: “Yes. Serve them right.”

Dong Xuebing nodded in agreement and touched her hands lightly. “Is it still painful?”

“No.......”

“If you do not want to go to the hospital, then I will buy some medications for you.”

“No need. These are only some bruises.”

Sister Cao, who was looking at both of them, coughed loudly.

Qu Yunxuan blushed and quickly pull back her hands from Dong Xuebing.

Sister Cao laughed and looked at Qu Yunxuan. “Yunxuan, Sister Qu, Team Leader Qu, you two...... have something going on.”

Dong Xuebing thought to himself. Of course, we have something going on. We even kissed before.

Qu Yunxuan stared at Sister Cao. “Don’t talk nonsense. Oh, I still have not introduced. This is Dong Xuebing. My....... Neighbour. He is working for the government. This is my colleague, Cao Ping. She is a reporter.:

Dong Xuebing shook her hands: “Sister Cao, how are your injuries?”

“I am fine.” Cao Ping grabbed his hand and thanked him. “Thank goodness you arrived just in time. If you arrive any later, we will be beaten up badly. This is the first time I encounter danger after working as a reporter for 2 years.”

Qu Yunxuan sighed. “It’s all my fault. If it wasn’t for me, you also do not need to come to Zhejiang Province and will not......”

Cao Ping consoled her: “Don’t talk about all these. We are good friends.”

Dong Xuebing could tell something was off from their conversation: “Aunt Xuan, yesterday you refuse to tell me over the phone. Did you offend any leaders, and this is why you are assigned with this dangerous task?”

Qu Yunxuan did not reply.

“Tell me quickly.”

Qu Yunxuan replied unwillingly: “I will tell you back in Beijing.”

Cao Ping changed the subject. “Oh Xuebing, you are working for the government? No wonder those officers treated you friendlier in the station. You are a leader in your agency?”

Dong Xuebing stopped questioning Qu Yunxuan and replied casually: “I am only a Deputy Chief at a small office. I am not considered a leader.”

Cao Ping had only wanted to say something beautiful and never expect Dong Xuebing to be a leader. She was surprised and asked: “You...... You should not be older than me...... Deputy Chief? Ahh...... you are capable.”

The 3 of them were chatting when a van suddenly stopped in front of them.

4 men alighted from the van: “The car broke down on the way here. Sorry, we are late. Team Leader Qu, Cao Ping, are you all hurt?” These people were also from the newspaper agency and had been to another province for work. They were supposed to fetch Qu Yunxuan and Cao Ping on their way back to Beijing. They received a call from Cao Ping two hours ago and knew what happened.

Cao Ping replied: “We are fine. Luckily Yunxuan’s friend came to our rescue.”

All of them chatted for a while, and Qu Yunxuan looked at Dong Xuebing before turning to a middle-aged man: “Old Qian, is there any space in the van? Can we give my friend a ride?”

Old Qian looked at the van: “Ah...... I’m afraid there is no more space. We can only fetch the both of you.” The back of the van was filled with equipment and space was tight even for two people.

“Then......”

Dong Xuebing was okay with this and said: “You all go back first. I can take the train.”

Qu Yunxuan thought for a while: “Sigh...... Then...... be careful on your way back.” Dong Xuebing nodded, and Qu Yunxuan looked at the locked money box he was holding. “I had wanted to ask you. What is in that box?”

Dong Xuebing did not answer her. “I will let you know some other days. This is a surprise.” He had planned to tell Qu Yunxuan after he sold the pearl necklace. “Oh...... after you are back in Beijing, return back to Heping Road. Don’t hide at your mother’s place. You still have to tell me what happened at your work.”

Qu Yunxuan nodded: “Ok. I will tell you tomorrow.”

Dong Xuebing stood there looking at Aunt Xuan, and her colleagues board the van. Before they close the doors, he could still hear Cao Ping telling the rest what happened excitedly.

“You all were not there. Yunxuan’s friend can fight really well. That kick was right on target......”

Dong Xuebing laughed and shook his head. He thought to himself. I can fight well? Anyone on the streets can knock me out with a punch. If Dong Xuebing did not have BACK, he would have been beaten up. So, BACK could also be used this way? He had learned something new. In the future, he could predict where his opponents would hit and not afraid of getting into fights.

Translator’s notes: ‘Ju Zhi’ is a Chinese short form for the police station. Some sort of local slang in Beijing.