Power and Wealth
Chapter 1566 – Aunt Wang’s family matters
Afternoon.
It’s not even one o’clock yet.
An Audi car parked at the entrance of an office compound not far from the lakeside, with misty mountains in the distance and a ring of lakes and streams nearby. Modern high-rise buildings also made the whole city look beautiful and clean. It’s apt to describe this place as having beautiful mountains and clear waters. Just thinking about working and living here is a very pleasant thing and can make one’s mood relaxed.
In the car.
Dong Xuebing sighed, “Such a good view. I want to transfer here.”
Xie Huilan smiled, “The good thing about the south is the nice scenery, but in winter, it might be tough, damp, and cold. Northerners might not be able to adapt.”
“But it’s still better than Beijing.”
“The north also has its advantages.”
“Come on, I can’t see it. Let’s switch.”
“Wait until you have enough experience in the Discipline Inspection Commission.”
“Is the City party committee compound ahead? Why did you bring me here? Is it appropriate for me to go in?”
“No one said you could go in. There’s still a lot of work for me. I can’t accompany you. I just took office, and it’s a busy time.”
“Then what am I supposed to do? I’m not familiar with the place.”
“You go see the child first, he’s at Aunt Wang’s house. I’ll go back to the City family quarters in the evening.”
“Alright, alright, go do your work. Give me the address, write it in detail. I might get lost later, and I can’t tell if this road is right. I can’t tell the direction.”
“They’re all built along the river. It’s not as clear as Beijing, which is divided into the southeast and the northwest. Alright, it’s done. This is Aunt Wang’s address, this is the family quarter’s, and here’s my door number.” Xie Huilan tore off a piece of paper and handed it to him, then reached into her pocket and took out several keys. “Family quarter keys. I will probably be home around seven in the evening. You prepare dinner for me, okay?”
“After my confinement, I still have to serve you?”
“Who ask you to be my little husband, hehe.”
“You always say the sweetest things. Alright, let’s go.”
“Oh, there’s one more thing. Aunt Wang and her husband came with me. We originally agreed to buy them a house here, but Aunt Wang refused. I couldn’t do anything about it and was too busy to deal with it. They’re renting their place now.”
“Okay, don’t worry about it, I’ll handle it.”
“Good, I trust my little husband to handle things.”
“I will take the car, huh? Find another one when you go home tonight.”
“Yeah, if not, ask for directions. It’s nearby, just a ten-minute drive.”
Xie Huilan took her bag, opened the car door, and got out, heading into the compound. She could see the guards and several staff or cadres coming out of the compound were busy greeting her respectfully.
Dong Xuebing also got out of the car, got into the driver’s seat, and stepped on the gas, driving away.
One minute.
Three minutes.
Five minutes.
Dong Xuebing had already turned around and didn’t know where he was. He didn’t even know where the City quarter he had just been to was. So, he had to slow down, and when he saw someone nearby, he stopped the car, rolled down the window, and looked at a woman on the side of the road. “Excuse me, ma’am, can you tell me how to get here?” After speaking, he took out the address his wife had given him and held it in his hand.
The woman glanced at him, shook her head, and walked away.
Another man came by, and Dong Xuebing asked him in the same words, “Brother, can I ask you something?”
The middle-aged man didn’t even look at the address, said he didn’t know, and then walked away.
Dong Xuebing was speechless and exited the car and asked several nearby people. An old lady mumbled a few sentences in the local dialect, which Dong Xuebing couldn’t understand. Finally, when he asked the sixth person, a young man pointed him in the right direction.
It was quite a hassle.
Asking for directions shouldn’t be this difficult.
Dong Xuebing felt helpless. After knowing the way, he returned to the car and drove there. He wasn’t used to it at all. The scenery here was good, but it was quite different from Beijing in terms of habits and atmosphere. Dong Xuebing felt quite uncomfortable. For example, asking for directions here, if it were in Beijing, people would give you detailed instructions. Almost everyone would be the same, even those native Beijingers; if they saw that you didn’t know the way, they would eagerly take you there directly and patiently tell you how to get there until you understood as if they were more anxious than you. Even if they met someone they didn’t know, they would apologize profusely and say, “Sorry, sorry, I don’t know either, please ask someone else sorry.”
Cultural differences.
A sense of belonging to a small circle.
There was no way around it.
Dong Xuebing could feel that this place was relatively exclusive. Once people heard his non-local accent, they were less inclined to help.
After one o’clock.
On the right side of the river.
A residential area.
Dong Xuebing drove the car, searched for the house number, and confirmed a place. He parked the car on the side, got out, and went over. It was a three-story building, relatively short. Aunt Wang’s rented place was on the third floor. This was a lively street, with many stalls selling things by the river.
Upstairs.
Dong Xuebing knocked on the door.
After waiting for a long time, the door finally opened.
It was Aunt Wang, holding Little Chong Chong in her arms, who was crying.
“Aunt Wang,” Dong Xuebing smiled.
Aunt Wang was startled, “Young Master Dong, you’re here.”
Dong Xuebing waved his hand, “Don’t call me Young Master, you’ll scare me. Just call me Xuebing.”
“Alright, then.” Aunt Wang hurriedly let him in. “Miss didn’t tell me you were coming. It’s a bit messy in here, and you…”
“It’s okay. I came to see the child.”
“Did you eat after getting off the plane?” Aunt Wang asked.
“Yes, I ate on the plane.” Dong Xuebing took the child from her hands, and the more he looked at him, the more he liked him. He couldn’t help but hug his son tightly and kiss him. “Good boy, do you miss Daddy?”
Little Dong Chong was still crying.
Dong Xuebing shook him gently.
“Do you want me to…” Aunt Wang asked.
“I’ll do it.” Dong Xuebing disagreed. He wanted to familiarize himself with his son more. He couldn’t always rely on Aunt Wang to soothe him. Otherwise, he might not be close to his dad in the future. “How is the child?”
Aunt Wang said, “He eats a lot and sleeps very well.”
Dong Xuebing chuckled, “That’s a good thing. Follow me.”
After closing the door, Aunt Wang followed Dong Xuebing into the house. They hadn’t noticed just now because it was in the downtown area and a bit chaotic outside. Now that the door was closed, Dong Xuebing heard voices inside the bedroom, and it seemed like more than one person was talking, and the bedroom was a bit messy too.
Dong Xuebing tilted his head, “There are guests?”
Aunt Wang sighed, “It’s my daughter. She brought her boyfriend over.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Dong Xuebing blinked. “Don’t you like that young man?”
Aunt Wang sighed, “It’s not that we don’t like him, it’s that he doesn’t like our family. My daughter has been dating him for a year, and we have no objections here. It’s up to the children to decide about their affairs. Xiao Shan said she brought him over for us to see, and we…”
In the living room.
There was a large pile of dishes on the table, but not much had been eaten, and they hadn’t been touched much.
Dong Xuebing said, “Did Huilan and I trouble you? You were doing fine in Beijing, and now you must come here to help us care for the child.”
Aunt Wang hurriedly said, “No, it’s not related to that. It’s just that Shan Shan probably hasn’t talked much about us with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend didn’t know I worked as a nanny, so he only found out today. Shan Shan’s boyfriend might feel a little uncomfortable.”
Dong Xuebing pondered momentarily, “Then we caused you trouble.”
“It’s not.” Aunt Wang quickly said, “Mrs. Han has helped us a lot. Mrs. Han also helped with Shan Shan’s school matters. It can be said that if it weren’t for the support from your family, my husband, Shan Shan, and I would still be in the countryside. We could never have come out. Young Master Dong, why don’t you sit here for a while? I have something to do inside. Auntie won’t keep you company for now.”
“It’s okay, you go ahead.”
“I’ll make tea for you. Have some first.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Aunt Wang opened the bedroom door and went in.
Dong Xuebing sat on the sofa, took a sip of tea, and then playfully entertained the baby. Unlike Xiao Qianqian, this little guy wasn’t as mischievous. Even though he had stopped crying after being comforted, his eyes remained calm without looking around. Dong Xuebing lifted him, but Little Chong Chong didn’t react.
Not bad.
Very steady. Follow me.
Dong Xuebing praised himself.
But while he was playing with the child, the movements in the bedroom inevitably reached his ears. It was impossible not to hear.
“Shan Shan, let’s forget about it.”
“Minghui, when you came…”
“I feel like we’re not suitable for each other.”
“What’s not suitable about us?”
“Let me tell you, my dad and mom are both intellectuals, and they both have urban household registration. It’s fine if your family only has a household registration issue, but what about the other things? How can I explain to my parents when I go back? Even if I tell them, they won’t agree. We don’t even need to ask.”
Aunt Wang’s daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend were arguing.
At this time, Aunt Wang’s husband spoke, “Shan Shan, look at you, everyone is saying this, and you’re still chasing after him. Aren’t you ashamed?”
Aunt Wang was also angry, “You go back, Minghui. Shan Shan doesn’t have to marry you. If you think our family conditions aren’t good enough, we don’t even think highly of you.”
Shan Shan pleaded, “Dad, Mom…”
Shan Shan’s father said, “No need to say more. It’s decided.”
“Dad, I, I beg you.” Shan Shan seemed to be crying.
Aunt Wang also didn’t listen and said to the man named Minghui, “You’re not welcome here. Leave.”
Minghui seemed annoyed, too, “I don’t even want to stay here even if you want me to. What’s the big deal about being a nanny? What’s with the arrogance?”
Hearing this, Dong Xuebing couldn’t listen anymore.