Power and Wealth

Noon.

It was already eleven o'clock.

The minibus was supposed to have arrived in Jiaojin County long ago, but because of Dong Xuebing’s commotion, the vehicle was delayed by over half an hour. The highway had been exited, and they were now in Jiaojin County’s territory, as indicated by the sign.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Young man, you…”

“You should get off and avoid any trouble.”

“Yes, it’s best to avoid any problems.”

Su Yan and a few other passengers advised Dong Xuebing again.

However, Dong Xuebing still didn’t listen. “Thanks for your concern, but there’s a saying: ‘When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, block it with earth.’ I don’t believe they can make a huge difference.”

The old man said, “You don’t understand the situation. They might really…”

“A huge difference would be perfect,” Dong Xuebing retorted casually. “I’d like to see what they can do. It would be worth the trip.”

Su Yan looked at him, “You’re being stubborn. It’s pointless.”

Dong Xuebing chuckled inwardly but didn’t tell him. He was inherently combative. Since joining the system, Dong Xuebing has fought against colleagues, leaders, and other department officials. He never stopped. Although he didn’t want to admit it, he had to acknowledge that he enjoyed fighting. It brought him some excitement and pleasure, even if it sounded slightly twisted. Dong Xuebing thrived on conflict and found joy in it.

Not convinced?

Don’t believe me?

Fine, I’ll make you believe it. It’s that simple.

Dong Xuebing was only concerned that, although he hadn’t officially taken office yet, he was now the county party secretary—a high-ranking official. He had to be mindful of the impact his actions might have. This wasn’t Dong Xuebing’s usual style, but he needed to balance satisfying his desires and not letting things get too out of hand.

Ahead.

In the distance, several police cars were parked on the roadside.

“Hmm, police cars.”

“What’s happening up ahead?”

“Did there’s an accident or roadblock?”

“I don’t think so. I see a car passing through.”

Everyone glanced and discussed the situation.

A private car was in front of their minibus, and the police did not stop it, letting it pass. However, when their minibus approached, several police officers got out of their cars, made a severe gesture, and stopped their vehicle.

The minibus stopped.

The driver immediately jumped out of the vehicle and yelled at the police, “Officers, someone has hijacked the bus and assaulted people!”

The lead officer replied, “We’ve already received a report. Where is the person?”

“On the bus, over there,” the driver pointed to Dong Xuebing. He finally felt relieved. He had been nervous all along, fearing that he might end up like his unfortunate companion, being thrown off the bus by that young man. Now, he was relieved to see the police.

Their conversation wasn’t loud, but it was enough for the passengers to hear.

Su Yan clicked his tongue, his face darkening as he frowned. He wasn’t sure whether the big man who was thrown off had reported the incident through routine procedures or used his connections. If it had been through normal procedures, it might not have been a problem since it was a black car, and many witnesses were on board to testify to the overcharging. However, if it was through personal connections, it could be troublesome. Su Yan didn’t have any real power and wasn’t well-regarded in the secretary's office, so he couldn't do much, even if he wanted to help Dong Xuebing.

"I told you so," Su Yan said, looking at Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing remained unperturbed, as steady as a mountain.

There were two police cars and about four or five officers—quite a few.

At this moment, the driver hurriedly led the police onto the minibus. He had been afraid that Dong Xuebing might attack him, but with the police present, the driver gained confidence. He pointed angrily at the last row of seats and said, “It’s the person by the window.”

The police took a look. “Are you sure?”

“That's the one who hit someone, threw him off the bus, and threatened me to drive,” the driver said indignantly.

The police were surprised to see that Dong Xuebing was a thin, unremarkable young man. Usually, in such altercations, the attacker would be someone with a bad temper, but this person seemed calm and even a bit timid, which didn’t quite match the image of someone who could kick someone so far. Nonetheless, they didn’t question it further since there was a witness.

Officer Liu Xing stepped forward. “Is it you?”

Dong Xuebing looked at him. “What do you mean, ‘Is it me’?” fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

“Did you assault someone?” Liu Xing asked.

Dong Xuebing straightforwardly replied, “Yes, I did.”

Liu Xing glanced at him, thinking he was pretty candid, and then waved his hand. “Then come with us to the station for processing.”

Dong Xuebing smiled. “Aren’t you going to ask why I did it?”

Liu Xing responded coldly, “You’ve already caused physical harm. What else is there to ask?”

Dong Xuebing pointed at the minibus. “This is a black car. Shouldn’t you understand the situation first? Why are you heading straight for me?”

Liu Xing calmly said, “That’s not our concern. Even if it’s a black car or illegal operation, it doesn’t mean you can assault people.”

He is ignoring the black car issue.

They’re only dealing with the assault.

Dong Xuebing laughed. “You are something. You’ve already jumped to conclusions without understanding the cause and effect, right?”

At this point, Dong Xuebing and Su Yan realized that the big man who had been thrown out sent these officers. They came directly to arrest someone without understanding the situation. There was no proper investigation, which was not how cases were handled. So, Dong Xuebing didn’t have a good attitude towards them.

Dong Xuebing didn’t speak, maintaining his calm demeanor, but when he did speak, it revealed his contentious nature. Liu Xing and the officers began to believe that this young man was indeed the one who had caused trouble. With the police and police cars present, they wouldn't relent.

Meanwhile, someone spoke up for Dong Xuebing.

A woman said, “They were the ones who were overcharging.”

An old man added, “That’s right. It was almost a robbery. You should have seen their attitude. It was too much. They tried to force people off the bus if they didn’t pay. And this was on the highway. Is this how they handle things? We all bought tickets; everyone here can testify that this young man didn’t start the fight. The person before him tried to grab him first, and that’s when this young man reacted.”

“Yeah, I saw it too.”

“It was that person who started it.”

“He deserved to be beaten. He was threatening us and trying to extort money from us. It was outrageous.”

“Officers, you’ve got the wrong person.”

“You should arrest that driver instead.”

“This damn black car, I won’t ride it again.”

The passengers all chattered in support of Dong Xuebing.

Seeing this, Su Yan, who was also well-meaning, took his credentials and showed them to Liu Xing.

Liu Xing glanced at it. “Secretary Su?”

“We’re all colleagues in the government. It’s not his fault. I’ve been watching the whole time,” Su Yan said.

Liu Xing returned the ID but remained stern. “We’ve already opened a case, and it will be processed. You don’t need to get involved.” The implication was clear: Liu Xing told Su Yan that even if he wanted to intervene, he couldn’t. The chief had assigned the task of handling the case, and the officers were obligated to take action regardless of the circumstances.

Liu Xing looked at Dong Xuebing again. “Come with us.”

Dong Xuebing asked, “What about the black car and the overcharging?”

“You don’t need to worry about that. We’re only investigating the assault,” Liu Xing said, visibly irritated by Dong Xuebing's stubbornness.

Dong Xuebing smiled. “So, in your eyes, illegal activities right in front of you are ignored, and today’s job is just to arrest me. You’re fine with all other criminal activities?” He paused, “I’m curious, who called your station? Was it your chief?” Some things were not supposed to be said, but Dong Xuebing didn’t hold back, causing the officers’ faces to darken further.

“Old Liu, stop wasting time with him,” one officer said.

Another young officer added, “Yeah, just arrest him.”

Dong Xuebing looked at them. “With so many people here as witnesses, proving that my actions had a reason and proving that this bus is illegal, you’re not even taking statements or dealing with the implicated people, just targeting me, right? Fine.”

Liu Xing said, “So now you’re saying you have justification for hitting someone?”

Dong Xuebing said, “So it’s okay for them to operate a black car and extort money? This minibus is under your protection, right? That’s how I should understand it?”

Liu Xing, fed up, waved his hand. “Take him away.”

At this point, Dong Xuebing laughed. “You’re sure you want to arrest me?”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Liu Xing snapped.

Dong Xuebing shrugged. “Fine, then I’ll come with you. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. I want to confirm—are you sure?”

With a stern face, Liu Xing replied, “Very sure.”

No one knew why Dong Xuebing was saying this.

Dong Xuebing stood up. “Alright, then let’s go.”

Dong Xuebing hadn’t wanted to make a fuss, considering his status. It would be embarrassing to argue with a few junior officers. But upon reflection, he changed his mind. This time, he wanted to make a grand entrance. Since he was taking on a leading role, rather than letting people figure out his temperament later, he’d let everyone know right away who Dong Xuebing was.

Arrest me?

Sure.