Power and Wealth

The sky darkened.

Dinner was served.

The four of them sat down in the house to eat and celebrate.

Xie Huilan remained calm, but Luan Xiaoping, the mother-in-law, was the happiest. The higher her daughter-in-law's official position, the prouder she felt. While others praised her son's abilities and skills, Luan Xiaoping didn't care much about her son's capabilities. In her eyes, the most gratifying thing her son had ever done was to find two terrific daughters-in-law.

Qu Yunxuan raised her cup to Xie Huilan, "Congratulations."

"Thank you," Xie Huilan smiled and clinked glasses with her, "Congratulations too. I heard that you're doing an excellent job as a TV host. The provincial station has invited you over more than once, right? Even the central station's program team has called you."

Qu Yunxuan gently touched her daughter's head, "It's still under negotiation. I'm not sure if I'll go."

"Oh, Yunxuan is going to be promoted too," Dong Xuebing quickly toasted her, "That's great. Why not go?"

Qu Yunxuan smiled, "The local station's work is already busy enough, and there's no fixed tto get off work. When will I have tto take care of my obedient daughter if I go to the central station?"

Dong Xuebing immediately volunteered, "I'll take care of her, I'll take care of her."

Luan Xiaoping was the first to object, "Forget it, you're just a big child yourself. How can you take care of a child?"

Dong Xuebing retorted, "Hey, why can't I? I'll be fine."

"If my goddaughter learns from you, she won't know what she'll turn out to be when she grows up," Xie Huilan also disagreed and chuckled, "You, Brother Dong, lettell you in advance. After my son is born, he will follow me. Otherwise, my mother raises him, but you can't do it. With your temper, always ready to fight and argue with people, if my son learns your ways, what will becof him when he grows up?"

Luan Xiaoping and Qu Yunxuan both laughed.

Dong Xuebing was speechless, "Hey, why do I dislike listening to you guys so much? What's wrong with me? I don't believe it. You'll see if I take care of her for two months."

Qu Yunxuan worriedly said, "You'd better not."

Dong Xuebing was frustrated, "Mom, look at them."

Luan Xiaoping said, "Huilan and Yunxuan make sense. You're too lazy. How can you take care of a child? Unless you live together with them, and you take care of the child together, then Mom will feel at ease."

Dong Xuebing said, "Huilan is going to the south. We can't live together."

"Yes, going to the south. Ah, you guys are something. After finally reuniting for a few days, you will live apart again. This will have an impact on the child's future growth. Children are better off being raised by both parents. I think you should consider it. I know you guys have a lot of work-related matters, many of which are beyond your control. Mom won't say much about it. You figure it out yourselves." Luan Xiaoping looked at her daughter-in-law and said, "Oh, Huilan, when are you leaving? Your due date is getting closer. Are you leaving now?"

"I definitely won't leave until after giving birth," Xie Huilan smiled, "After giving birth."

Qu Yunxuan looked at her, "Wouldn't it be too rushed to go to the south after finishing your confinement?"

Xie Huilan took a bite of food, "Work needs to be done, and there's no other way. The positions have already been arranged. The earlier I go, the earlier I can start working. Otherwise, there might be variables. Mom, I just thought about it. The accident here will probably be handled in two more days. By then, I'll go back to Beijing with Xiao Bing. My mom has already been in touch with the hospital there for two months. I think it's better to return to Beijing to give birth."

Luan Xiaoping nodded, "Alright, it's safer this way. You guys can leave in a few days, then. Mom will pack your bags for you."

Xie Huilan smiled, "Don't bother yourself, we have Xiao Bing, let him pack."

Dong Xuebing snorted, "You think offor physical work but not for good things." After speaking, he took the daughter from Qu Yunxuan's hands, chewed svegetables, and fed them to his daughter; seeing her enjoy it, Dong Xuebing couldn't help but smile and kissed his daughter's forehead, "My daughter is the best, haha. Con, smile at your daddy. Daddy will take you out to play later."

Ring ring ring.

The phone rang.

"Whose phone is it?" Luan Xiaoping asked.

Dong Xuebing suddenly remembered it was his own, so he reluctantly handed the daughter to Qu Yunxuan, checked the number, and then got up from the table, "I'll take this call."

Xie Huilan chuckled and sipped her tea, "Why so secretive?"

Dong Xuebing felt guilty, "No, why would I be secretive?"

Qu Yunxuan also glanced at him with her child in her arms, but she supported Dong Xuebing and said, "It must be an old colleague contacting him. Such a major traffic accident even made it to the provincial newspaper. Others have probably seen it too."

Xie Huilan squinted, "You're defending him."

Dong Xuebing pretended not to hear and quickly went to the kitchen to answer the phone, whispering, "Hello, Sister Yu."

Yu Meixia's voice sounded gentle, "Xuebing, I hope I'm not disturbing you. I saw in the newspaper that you were in a car accident, so I was worried. Qianqian is also very concerned about you. She has been urgingto call you and ask how you are. Are you at home?"

"Yeah, just having dinner. I'm fine, Sister Yu. I didn't take that minor incident to heart. Don't worry. How are you and Qianqian?"

"We're both fine. Qianqian misses you."

"Hehe, do you misstoo?"

"I do."

"Alright, I'll csee you tomorrow evening."

"Okay."

"I have ssocial engagements during the day, but I'll cafter dinner."

After quickly exchanging a few words, Dong Xuebing hung up the phone. When he cout of the kitchen, he still tried to put on a severe expression, intending to make up snonsense, but Xie Huilan immediately saw through him.

"A woman?"

"No, a man."

"Why did you have to run to the kitchen to answer the phone if it's a man?"

"Oh, the call was important."

Xie Huilan waved her hand, "My son is about to be born. I'm too lazy to bother with you now. If you want to fool around with someone, go ahead. I can't control you even if I want to."

Dong Xuebing clicked his tongue, "Look at you: one phone call, and you're making a big deal out of it."

"That's because I know what kind of person you are. When you see a pretty woman, your eyes light up. I don't even need to say it."

Dong Xuebing stared, "When did my eyes light up?"

"I don’t have tto deal with you now," Xie Huilan rubbed her belly, feeling complete.

Luan Xiaoping also knew her son's temperament well, "Huilan, Yunxuan, eat more. This boy has always been like this. I'll talk to him later."