Chapter 190 – Repaying debt! (1/2)

Saturday.

County Public Security Bureau’s family quarters.

After working his ass off in the village over the past few days, Dong Xuebing was exhausted. He returned back to his apartment in town and fell asleep the moment his head touched his pillow. Ring, ring, ring… Dong Xuebing’s phone was ringing, and he woke up. He looks at the clock and it was 8.15 am. He yawned and slowly got out of bed to answer his phone. “Mum, I am not working today. Are you coming over?”

Luan Xiaoping’s voice was shaking as she shouted: “Why did you hide something so important from me?!”

Dong Xuebing was confused. “Errr… what’s wrong?”

“You were almost beaten up by hooligans during your operation. Are you hurt?”

“Ah… it is just a small matter. I am not injured, and the case has been handed over to the Bureau’s Serious Crime Investigation team. The villagers in Da Wang Village, who dare not make police reports against the hooligans, heard those hooligans were arrested and they came out to report against them. We got all the evidence against them and those two leaders will not be released for at least a few years. Mum, don’t worry about me. What can a few hooligans do to me?”

“Everyone is saying that you fought against more than a dozen hooligans along! Is it real?”

“Who tells you that? I only fought against 6 to 7 of them.”

Luan Xiaoping knew her son well and asked. “When did you become so good at fighting?”

“Err… I had received training when I was with the State Security Party training school and have no problem fighting against those hooligans.”

Luan Xiaoping did not believe Dong Xuebing. How can someone become a martial arts expert after 1 week of training?

After hanging up, Dong Xuebing went to wash up and wanted to prepare breakfast. But there was nothing in his fridge, and he can only have instant coffee for breakfast. Over the past few months, Dong Xuebing had become accustomed to Qu Yunxuan taking care of him and had become lazy. Most of the time after he returned from work, he was too tired to clean up the house or cook for himself. As a result, his apartment was very messy.

Ding Dong… Ding Dong… Someone was at the door.

Dong Xuebing opened his door. “Oh, Chief Qin. Come in.”

Deputy Bureau Chief Qin laughed and entered. “Sorry for dropping by unannounced. Haha, am I bothering you?”

“Of course not. Have a seat while I prepare some tea for you.” But when Dong Xuebing opened his tea container, he realized he ran out of tea leaves. He smiled and waved the empty box at Qin Yong. “Chief Qin, do you mind plain water?”

Qin Yong did not let Dong Xuebing poured water for him and picked up the warm water flask. “I’m fine. I will pour myself.”

Dong Xuebing walked over and cleared the rubbish on the coffee table. “Sorry my place is very messy.”

Qin Yong laughed. “This is normal for single men. Brother Dong, have you ever consider hiring a helper?”

Dong Xuebing waved his hand. “I will make do with this first. If I really cannot stand it, I will consider hiring.”

After chatting awhile, Qin Yong said. “Last night, Chief Liang’s mother entered the hospital and is currently warded at the County Town’s hospital.”

Dong Xuebing was surprised. “What happened to her?”

Qin Yong replied. “I had visited her last night. She got a blood clot in her brain, and she’s out of danger now. But she is in her 80s and it is not looking good.” After discussing Chief Liang’s mother’s condition, Qin Yong stood up. “I still have some work in the Bureau. I got to make a move now.”

Dong Xuebing knew Qin Yong had dropped by to inform him about Chief Liang’s mother’s hospitalization. As subordinates, Dong Xuebing must pay a visit no matter what. After Qin Yong left, Dong Xuebing went out to buy some fruits and gifts, before going to the People’s Hospital by Taxi.

This hospital is the best in the County, but from the exterior, it was worse than the community clinic near Dong Xuebing’s place in Beijing. The medical facilities at the grassroots level cannot be compared to the hospital in 1st tier cities.

Patient wards.

Chief Liang’s mother was staying in a single ward, and Liang Chengpeng and his wife were there.

After entering the ward, Dong Xuebing asked. “Chief Liang, Big Sis, how is her condition?” Based on age, Dong Xuebing should address Liang Chengpeng as Uncle. But their positions in the bureau was not too far away from each other. That’s why Dong Xuebing addressed Liang Chengpeng’s wife as Big Sis.

Liang Chengpeng did not sleep last night and had dark rings around his eyes. “She is fine for now. Thanks for asking.”

Chief Liang’s wife brought a chair over for Dong Xuebing.

After chatting for a while, Dong Xuebing learned that although the doctors said that Chief Liang’s mother is fine for now, she still got headaches and giddiness. The medication she was taking was not very effective, and the doctor suggests for her to go to a better hospital in Beijing for checks.

Dong Xuebing asked. “Are you bringing your mother to Beijing for a full checkup?”

Chief Liang’s wife sighed. “I also want to bring her over. But I am afraid she might not handle the traveling.”

Liang Chengpeng added. “Let’s see is she gets better after her treatment here. If she did not get better, we would go to Beijing.”

Dong Xuebing did not stay long in the ward and left. He walked down the stairs and passed the emergency room. There were rows of beds and lots of machine beeping. Dong Xuebing was about to leave that area when he saw the pretty mother and daughter, he met along the streets, on a bed in a corner. He remembered the mother is called Yu Meixia, and her daughter is Yu Qianqian.

Why are they in the hospital? Are they sick?

Dong Xuebing hesitated for a while and entered the ward slowly.

Yu Meixia was on the bed and looked very pale, coughing weakly. The past few days, she had been working in a small supermarket. She carried goods, cleans, cashier, etc. and might have fallen sick due to overworked. Since her husband pass away, she had never eaten a proper meal and she fainted last night.

Yu Qianqian was sobbing beside her.

Yu Meixia’s right hand was on a drip and she caressed her daughter’s head with her left hand. “Don’t cry. Cough…… I am fine.”

The nurse entered and stared at the mother and daughter, jealously. She was jealous of their beauty and hanged two packets of drips on the hook. “There are two more bottles of medicine. Go and pay for it first.”

Yu Meixia quickly refuse. “I am fine now and don’t need to be on a drip.”

The nurse frowned. “You caught severe flu and got a high fever. How can you not be on a drip?”

Yu Meixia replied stubbornly. “Last night I am on a drip and I don’t need it anymore. Qianqian, help me get off the bed. We will discharge now.”

Yu Qianqian cried louder and held on to her mother tightly. “Please listen to the doctors…”

Yu Meixia sighed. “We had spent a few hundred, and we can’t afford it.”

“We have money. You still have about 3,000 RMB. Mum… just get the medicine!”

Yu Meixia hugged her daughter with teary eyes. “Foolish girl. The money is for your school, and we cannot use it. I am fine…”

Yu Qianqian cried. “I don’t want to go to school. I just want you to recover…”

Dong Xuebing stopped in his tracks and was touched by what he saw. When his father passed away, his mother was also like Yu Meixia. She kept the most nutritious for Dong Xuebing and starved herself to save money to repay their debts. When Dong Xuebing thought back about those days, he still feels sad.

Dong Xuebing was moved by this mother and daughter pair again. He walked over and asked. “How can you not see the doctor when you are sick?”

Yu Meixia was stunned. “… Dong… Chief Dong… Why are you here?”

Yu Qianqian wiped her tears and greeted Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing took out his wallet and gave 1,000 RMB to Yu Qianqian. “Pay for your mother’s treatment, and if it is not enough, let me know.”

Yu Meixia quickly said. “Chief Dong, we cannot accept your money. Qianqian, return Chief Dong his money now.”

Yu Qianqian did not say a thing and ran out with the hospital bill left behind by the nurse.

Dong Xuebing looked at Yu Meixia. “You only worry about your daughter. If you are unwell, Qianqian will be too worried to go to school too.”

Yu Meixia’s tears rolled down her face. “Thank you.”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “Sis, you are much older than me and stop being so polite with me. It will make me feel uncomfortable.” Dong Xuebing moved forward and helped her lie down on the bed. “You are a patient now and should get more rest. You should recover with enough rest. Don’t push yourself so hard when you are sick. What did I tell you two before I leave previously? Call me if you all need help.”

Yu Meixia mumbled. “I am afraid I am troubling you.” Actually, she was afraid of Dong Xuebing, as Dong Xuebing is a high ranking Public Security officer.

Dong Xuebing sighed. “My father passed away several years ago, and my mother and I had gone through what you and Qianqian are going through now. We lost the head of our family and still got a lot of debts. But we still manage to pull through. I am sure you can do it too.”

Yu Meixia finally understands why Chief Dong kept helping her and her daughter. “You are a nice person.”

Dong Xuebing laughed and brushed it off.

After a while, Yu Qianqian returned with the receipt, and the nurse changed the drip.