Evening, at 7 pm.
It was chaotic diagonally opposite Mei Lian Supermarket. Li Hong was beaten to the ground by Dong Xuebing and could not get up. She laid on the ground, shouting. “Someone is trying to kill me!” Lui Dafa’s wife was beaten up, and he can no longer stay still. His son, Lui Xiaolei, ran out of the car and charged towards Dong Xuebing. Dong Xuebing was blinded by his anger and shoved Lui Dafa, and Lui Dafa fell on the ground. After Lui Dafa was out of the way, Dong Xuebing swing his arm at Lui Xiaolei. Slap! Lui Xiaolei was slapped and fell on the ground!
“Xiaolei!” Lui Dafa shouted angrily. “Do you still have any respect for the law?! Ah?!”
Some onlookers shouted at Lui Dafa. “When the two of you attacked that woman earlier, why didn’t you all talk about the law?! You all only think of the law after you all are beaten up?! *Spit! Serve you all right!”
An old woman added. “You all had disfigured that pretty woman! You are lucky that young man did not beat you all to death!”
At this time, a few Police cars arrived.
“Chief Dong!” Five Police Officers ran over.
The Officers were shocked to see Chief Dong beating up a man and woman, and quickly ran over to stop him. Some of them held Dong Xuebing by his arms, and some held him back by his waist. One of the Officers recognized Lui Dafa and whispered to his fellow officers. They shook their heads in their heart. Chief Dong can even win against a Siberian tiger, let alone a man, woman, and kid. Why did you all piss him off?! Are you all too free and have nothing to do?!
After understanding the whole incident, the few Officers were speechless. They looked at Yu Meixia, whose face was covered in blood, and knew this incident will not be settled so easily.
“Chief Dong, this…” An officer asked.
Dong Xuebing points at Li Hong. “Bring her back for assault!”
“Yes, Sir!” The few Officers replied and walked over to Li Hong.
Dong Xuebing can’t be bothered with Lui Dafa and his wife and carried the fainted Yu Meixia to the nearest Police car. “Quick! People’s hospital!”
The driver dared not waste any time and sped off.
Dong Xuebing felt he hear aching as he looks at Yu Meixia’s bloodied face. He tried to tidy her hair, which was messed up by Li Hong when she grabbed her hair. After tidying up Yu Meixia’s hair, he held her hand tightly and prayed for her. He hopes the medical advancements can treat Yu Meixia’s wounds and not leave any scars.
……
Hospital.
Dong Xuebing had called the hospital on their way, and a few nurses and a doctor were waiting outside when they arrived. Dong Xuebing quickly carried Sister Yu onto a stretcher and pushed her into the hospital’s lobby. Along the way, the Doctor checked Yu Meixia’s condition and look at the wounds on her face. After a while, the Doctor frowned and sighed.
Dong Xuebing asked anxiously. “Doctor, will the patient be alright?”
“Her life is not in danger and had only fainted from shock.”
“What about her face?” Dong Xuebing is most concerned about this. “Will it leave a scar?”
“… I’m sorry.” The Doctor’s reply made Dong Xuebing’s heart skipped a beat. The Doctor continued. “Our hospital’s techniques are limited, and I can only clean her wounds to prevent infections. After that, we will have to wait for the wounds to heal, and there will definitely be scars. Also, the patient’s injury….” The Doctor looks at Yu Meixia’s face. “… the injury is too serious, and she can’t recover her looks. The scars will be very deep. Please be prepared.”
Dong Xuebing’s face turned pale. “What about skin grafting? Can skin grafting help?”
The Doctor replied. “Skin grafting can only be done in a specialized medical institution or specialized hospitals. Our hospital does not have the equipment to do this. But even if skin grafting is done, she will not look the same as before. There are many factors, and no matter how well she recovers and how smoothly the operation is, there will still be marks. Skin grafting can cover up these scars but will leave other scars. Also, it is costly, and there are risks involved.”
Dong Xuebing’s body swayed and stopped following the Doctor.
Dong Xuebing stared out of the windows along the corridor blankly. He knew a woman’s face is very important, and if Sister Yu knew about this, she…
Damn!
Bam! Dong Xuebing punched the wall angrily!
Ring… ring… ring… Dong Xuebing’s phone rang, and it was Yu Qianqian.
Dong Xuebing’s hand shook as he answered. “… Hello.”
“Big Brother, why are you and Mum not back yet?” Qianqian asked. “I tried calling my mother’s phone, but she is not answering. Where are you all? I am hungry.”
Dong Xuebing forced a smile. “Your mother and I have something on, and we are still outside.”
“Oh… what time are you all coming back?”
“We might take some time… Just wait for my call at home.”
After hanging up, Dong Xuebing called his mother. “Mum, do you know where Hua Mei Estate? Qianqian is living there now. Can you help me bring her to your quarters and let her stay with you for a few days?” Luan Xiaoping asked what happened, and Dong Xuebing replied. “Sister Yu is injured, and I am in the hospital with her now. Don’t let Qianqian know about this first. I will speak to her in a few days.”
Fifteen minutes later.
The Doctor found Dong Xuebing and said. “We had treated the wounds, and it is more serious than we expected.”
“Is there anything else we can do?” Dong Xuebing took a deep breath. “She has to live with these scars… for the rest of her life?”
The Doctor sighed and said. “The medical standards in China is limited, but some medical institution overseas might be able to remove the scars. You can try your luck with the overseas hospital. I can help you contact some of my former classmates who have contacts with overseas hospitals. But the cost of such operations overseas will be very costly, and no hospitals can guarantee 100% recovery. No one knows what will be the outcome, but there is hope for a full recovery.”
Dong Xuebing brightens up. “Will she look exactly as before?”
“If she recovers well, it should be possible. But no one can guarantee that.”
“At least there is hope!” Dong Xuebing looks at the Doctor. “Thank you, Doctor. Please help me contact the best hospital. Money is not a problem.” Dong Xuebing does not lack money and will not mind spending all his money to let Sister Yu recover her looks.
The Doctor nodded. “Alright. I will help you contact the hospital.”
“Oh…” Dong Xuebing said. “Can you don’t let Sister Yu know her face is disfigured?”
“This…”
“I am afraid she cannot take it.”
The Doctor hesitated for a while and nodded. “Alright.”
Hospital ward.
When Dong Xuebing and the Doctor enter the ward, Yu Meixia was awakened. Her face was heavily bandaged, and she is looking at herself in the mirror. She is trying to push her bandages aside to look at her wounds.
“Don’t touch the bandages!” The Doctor stopped Yu Meixia.
Yu Meixia looked at them and asked anxiously. “My face… face…”
Dong Xuebing’s clenched his fist and pretended to be relaxed. He smiled and helped Yu Meixia out of the bathroom and let her lie on the bed. “Your face is fine. The Doctor says it is a minor wound and it will heal in a few days.”
Yu Meixia bit her lips. “Will… will it leave a scar?”
“No. How can it leave any scars?!” Dong Xuebing laughed. “The wounds are minor, and you should not overthink.”
“Doctor?” Yu Meixia does not believe Dong Xuebing and looks at the Doctor.
The Doctor hesitated. He had promised Chief Dong earlier, but he should not lie to his patients as a doctor. He only mumbled a short reply, “Don’t worry,” and it is up to Yu Meixia how to interpret his reply.
Yu Meixia sighed in relief after hearing the Doctor’s reply.
Dong Xuebing helped Yu Meixia pull up the blanket. “You heard the Doctor. Don’t worry too much. You are fine. That woman who assaulted you is arrested and leave the rest to me.”
Yu Meixia mumbled softly. “Sorry.”
“Why are you saying sorry? I should be the one apologizing to you.”
Dong Xuebing is feeling guilty. This incident arose from the conflicts between Lui Dafa and him and had nothing to do with Yu Meixia. If he had not tried to vie for the promotion with Lui Dafa, Lui Dafa’s son would not find trouble with Yu Qianqian, and all these will not happen. When Dong Xuebing thought about what Lui Dafa and his family did, his blood started to boil again.
Dong Xuebing walks out to the corridor to call the Bureau. “How is it?”
“Li Hong had been brought back, and we are recording her statement now.”
“Make sure you all interrogate that bitch and don’t let her be too comfortable!” Dong Xuebing said. “No one is allowed to let her go without my instructions!”
“Yes, Sir.”
When Dong Xuebing returned to the ward, the Doctor had left.
Dong Xuebing forced a smile and asked. “You still have not eaten dinner. What do you want to eat? I will buy it downstairs.”
“I am not hungry.” Yu Meixia was still shaken by what happened. “Qianqian… can you keep this from her?”
“I know. I had called my mother to fetch Qianqian and asked her to take care of her at her place. Don’t worry.”
Yu Meixia nodded and touched the bandages on her face again. “This will not leave scars?”
Dong Xuebing patted Yu Meixia’s hand. “No. The Doctor had said so earlier, right?”
Yu Meixia nodded. “Then I… I want to be discharged. It is too expensive here. Let’s go back.”
Dong Xuebing quickly stopped Yu Meixia. “Don’t worry about this. Lui Dafa and that bitch, Li Hong, will pay for your medical expenses. Just stay here until your wounds heal.”
“But…”
“Just listen to me.”
“… Ok.”
Dong Xuebing accompanied Yu Meixia until around 9 pm. when Qianqian called again. Dong Xuebing made up an excuse and passed the phone to Yu Meixia. Yu Meixia chatted with her daughter for a while before hanging up. She looked at the clock and said to Dong Xuebing. “Xiao Bing. It’s late now, and you should go home.”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “I am not leaving. I will accompany you tonight.”
“No need…”
“I have nothing to do at home. You should have some rest.”
Yu Meixia looks at Dong Xuebing in his eyes. “… Thank you.”
“Just go and sleep. Be careful when you turn. Don’t press onto your wound, and let me know if you need anything.”
“Ok.” Yu Meixia slowly closed her eyes.
After Yu Meixia fell asleep, Dong Xuebing let go of her hand and stood up. He looks at Yu Meixia’s face, and his eyes turned red. He walks out of the ward to have a smoke. He knew he cannot hide Yu Meixia’s disfiguration for long. She will find out when her bandages are removed, and Dong Xuebing wonders how he is going to console her.
The next morning, Dong Xuebing’s phone woke him up.
Dong Xuebing quickly walks out of the ward to answer the call.
“Chief Dong, I am from the Public Order Section.”
“What is it?”
“Li Hong was released last night.”
Dong Xuebing was furious. “Didn’t I say no one is allowed to release her without my orders?!”
The Officer replied. “It was Chief Liang who gave the order.”
Click! Dong Xuebing hung up and dialed Liang Chengpeng’s number.
Liang Chengpeng had just waked up and knew what happened when he saw Dong Xuebing’s number on his phone. He answered. “Xiao Dong… I know what happened last evening. I was the one who releases Li Hong, and she agreed to compensate 120,000 RMB as medical fees. This compensation is quite high, and this is only a civil dispute. There is no need to put her in custody. You should calm down.” Liang Chengpeng is from Xiang Daofa’s faction, and the Chief of the County’s Publicity Department had called him last night. He had to do him this favor. Furthermore, Lui Dafa will be promoted to Section Chief, and they are all on the same side.
“Chief Liang, how am I suppose to calm down?! My helper is disfigured! Do you know what disfigure means?! She is in her early thirties and is a woman! How is she going to spend the rest of her life?! You think everything will be settled by paying some money?!” Dong Xuebing shouted. “If they think money can settle everything, fine! I will disfigure Li Hong and Lui Dafa now! Compensation?! I will compensate them 200,000 and will disfigure them every day! I want to see what he can do to me!”
Everyone in the Bureau knows Dong Xuebing had won the lottery, and a few hundred thousand is nothing to him.
Liang Chengpeng heard what Dong Xuebing said and shouted. “You better don’t create trouble!”
“Li Hong had assaulted someone, and she must pay for the price!”
Liang Chengpeng replied helplessly. “You dare to talk about others?! You had beaten up Chief Lui and his family yesterday. They had wanted to report this, and I had to talk to them for a long time. Just listen to me and take a step back. This matter will end here, alright?”
Dong Xuebing knew it is useless to say anything to Liang Chengpeng, and he will not let this matter rest.
Yu Meixia woke up and asked. “Xiao Bing, did anything happen?”
“Nothing happened.” Dong Xuebing suppressed his anger. “How are you feeling? Is your wound still painful?”
“It is not painful, but there is a burning sensation.”
“Ok.”
After settling Yu Meixia, Dong Xuebing left the hospital for the County Government.
…….
Outside of the Mayor’s office.
Dong Xuebing pushed open Secretary Hu’s office door. “Sister Hu, is Mayor Xie in?”
“Yes. You can enter.” Hu Silian was surprised by Chief Dong’s anger. Yesterday’s incident had not spread, and not many people know about it yet.
Dong Xuebing turned and knocks on the door.
“Come in.” Xie Huilan said.
Dong Xuebing entered the office and close the door behind him. Before Sister Xie can say anything, Dong Xuebing started complaining. “Mayor Xie! What is wrong with our Yan Tai County’s leaders? Just because I am nominated for the position for the Chief of Investment Promotion Agency with him, he asked his son to bully my helper’s daughter! His son tried to extort money from her and even tried to strip her in public! What has he been teaching his son?! Because of what that brat did, my helper’s daughter scratched his face, and Lui Dafa and Hong Li blamed it on my helper! They went to her workplace and disfigured her! Five long and deep scratches! The Doctor said that she can’t recover her looks! She is only in her early thirties and is disfigured! How can anyone do this?!”
Xie Huilan puts down the document she was holding. “What happened then?”
“Li Hong had been released and is not even detained! She says she will compensate my helper 120,000 RMB! How can 120,000 RMB be compared with someone’s future?!” Dong Xuebing gritted his teeth and said. “Everything started because of me, and I don’t know how to tell her that she was disfigured because of me!”
Dong Xuebing continued with his grumbles for a while before Xie Huilan understood what happened.
Xie Huilan frowned. “… What do you want to do?”
“I don’t care what I need to do! They must pay the price for what they did! This is not something that can be settled by compensating money!”
Xie Huilan looked at Dong Xuebing and said. “Have a seat first.” She stood up and went over to the water dispenser to pour a cup of water for Dong Xuebing. “Have some water and calm down. Stop being so rash whenever you face problems. You… When can you stop being so impulsive?” Xie Huilan reached over and unbutton a button on Dong Xuebing’s coat and buttoned it again. “You had buttoned your buttons wrongly.”
Dong Xuebing calmed down slightly. “Thank you.”
Xie Huilan continued. “There are many ways to punish someone, and you don’t need to use the most straight forward method.”
Dong Xuebing doesn’t understand what Xie Huilan meant.
“Tomorrow is the Party Committee meeting, right?” Xie Huilan calmly said. “Everyone thinks that you will lose to Lui Dafa. But if you get more votes and got the position, it will be a heavy blow to Lui Dafa. After you become the Chief of Investment Promotion Agency, he will be your subordinate, and you will have ways to deal with him.” Xie Huilan had been preparing for this upcoming Party Committee meeting these few days. This meeting will decide Dong Xuebing’s future, and she is very concerned about it.
Dong Xuebing understood what Sister Xie said.
That’s right. If I snatched Lui Dafa’s promotion from under his nose, it would be more satisfying than putting Li Hong under detention for a few days!
Dong Xuebing only want Lui Dafa to suffer and revenge for Sister Yu!
That’s right!
I must get my Section Chief!
