Chapter 192
Monday morning . Dong Xuebing climbed out of his bed and saw Yu Meixia had already prepared breakfast after he walked out of his bedroom .
After Dong Xuebing washes up, he patted Yu Qianqian’s head and asked her to sit down together to have breakfast . Yu Meixia quickly pulled out a chair for Dong Xuebing and said . “Chief Dong, there are no eggs at home, and I went to buy rice, noodles and meat . ” She took out a small notebook and read out to Dong Xuebing . “The eggs cost 11 . 5 RMB, the rice cost…”
Dong Xuebing waved his hand . “Sit down and have breakfast . ”
Yu Meixia nodded and put her notebook aside . She sat down and immediately peeled a hardboiled egg for Dong Xuebing .
Dong Xuebing thanked her and took the egg from her . “Did you all have a good rest last night?”
“Yes . It’s been a while since we slept so well . Sleeping by the streets in the past few months were scary . Chief Dong, thank you for giving us a place to stay . ” Without debts, Yu Meixia could rest comfortably and finally got a good night’s sleep . Last night, she hugged Yu Qianqian and cried themselves to sleep . She also decided to be an excellent helper to Dong Xuebing and will serve him well . She does not want to let her daughter sleep along the streets with her again .
Slurp… slurp… Dong Xuebing looked at Yu Qianqian, drinking the porridge loudly and laughed . “Don’t eat porridge this way . You got to use a spoon and eat without making any sounds . You are not lady-like this way . ”
Yu Qianqian blushed and lowered her head . “So… Sorry…”
Yu Meixia quickly said . “We are from the countryside and don’t have any table manners . We… we will take note of it in the future . ”
Dong Xuebing laughed . “I am saying this for her good . Some bad habits must be changed . Sister Yu, I did not say anything last evening . When you served the rice yesterday, you stick the chopsticks upright in the bowl of rice . Do you know what that means? In ancient times, only people on death row will get a bowl of rice like this in their final meal . It is inauspicious . Haha… look at you… don’t apologize to me . Just don’t do this when there are guests . ”
Yu Meixia nodded . “I will not do this again . ”
The people in the countryside do not mind about these taboos, but people from Beijing view these seriously . Dong Xuebing was afraid they would offend others and reminded them . If his colleagues come over to his place and Yu Meixia served them like this, his colleagues might think he did this on purpose .
After breakfast, Dong Xuebing put down his chopsticks and said . “I’m full . I will be leaving for work now . ”
Yu Meixia put down her bowl and ran over to bring Dong Xuebing’s bag on the sofa for him . After passing him his bag, she quickly gets his coat for him and helps him put it on . Dong Xuebing smiled to himself and felt she is not his helper . She behaved more like his newlywed wife . Although Yu Meixia was clumsy at times, her massage and other services like helping him wear his coat, etc . let Dong Xuebing felt his 200,000 RMB was well spent .
“Will you be back for lunch?”
“No . You two can have lunch together . ”
“Ok… Please take care . ” Yu Meixia stood at the door and only closes it after Dong Xuebing walked down the stairs .
After leaving the quarters, Dong Xuebing strolled to the Bureau . The Buicks belong to the bureau and he cannot use it as his personal vehicle . Even Qin Yong, who was ranked higher than him in the Party Committee, did not have a personal car . That’s why when Dong Xuebing is not in Hui Tian Village, he will not drive the vehicle back .
After crossing a road, he saw a young man mending a roadside stall .
That young man is selling oil paintings . There were paintings of sunflowers and sceneries . It is common to see people selling portraits, but it is rare to see oil paintings . Dong Xuebing walked nearer and looked at the paintings . “Are these your paintings? How much are you selling these for?”
The long-haired man nodded . “These are the sceneries around Yan Tai County . 300 RMB each . ”
Some onlookers heard it and shook their heads . “Young man, no one will spend 300 RMB for these paintings . It is too expensive . ”
Dong Xuebing also felt this way . If these were portraits, 300 RMB is still reasonable . When he was about to leave, a police car stopped by . He looked over, and a pretty female officer was driving the vehicle . The rear passenger door opened, and Zhao Jingsong alighted with a smile .
Zhao Jingsong asked . “Chief Dong, are you going to the Bureau? Want a lift?”
Dong Xuebing smiled . “Thank you . I would prefer to walk as this is healthier . ”
“Haha, Chief Dong, you are very healthy . ”
Dong Xuebing did not have a good impression of Zhao Jingsong . Firstly, he is from Hu Yiguo’s faction, and secondly, his son had harassed Yu Meixia and her daughter . Lastly, he had heard from Qin Yong that Zhao Jingxong is an old pervert . This rumor seemed to be accurate as his driver is a pretty female officer . Rumors of him eyeing Hu Silian, a married woman, should be right too .
After exchanging some meaningless pleasantries, Zhao Jingsong returned to his vehicle .
Dong Xuebing was about to leave, but after a few steps, he realized the police car had not moved off . He turned around and saw Zhao Jingsong standing in front of the oil painting roadside stall . He was staring at a painting of a small forest with the sun rising in the background . Dong Xuebing was puzzled . What’s going on? Other than women, this Zhao Jingsong is also interested in arts?
“Where did you get this painting from?” Zhao Jingsong asked .
The young man replied . “I painted these . 300 RMB for each painting . ”
Zhao Jingsong pointed to that painting . “This is which county’s scenery?”
“Yan Tai County’s Da Sen Mountains . ”
Zhao Jingsong became excited . “This painting is based on the real scenery or…”
“It is the scenery there . I had painted this yesterday morning . What’s wrong?” The young man was confused .
Zhao Jingsong took a deep breath and took out 300 RMB from his pocket . “Wrap this painting up . I want it . ”
Dong Xuebing, who was not far away, was surprised . 300 RMB for an oil painting? Is he crazy? There were more beautiful paintings in the malls selling for over 100 RMB . Why is Zhao Jingsong buying this painting from an unknown artist for 300 RMB? Dong Xuebing felt something was off and walked back . “Station Chief Zhao, what painting have you bought?”
Zhao Jingsong mumbled a reply and quickly carried the painting back to the police car . The painting was wrapped in a piece of cloth, and he seems to be afraid others will see the painting . Dong Xuebing felt Zhao Jingsong had treated this painting like a treasure and instinctively knew there must be something wrong with it . Although he does not know what the secret behind this painting was, he does not want to see Zhao Jingsong get this painting!
I must get this painting before him! After that, I can check for the secrets behind this painting slowly!
BACK 3 minutes!
Time returned to 3 minutes ago!
“These are the sceneries around Yan Tai County . 300 RMB each . ”
“Young man, no one will spend 300 RMB for these paintings . It is too expensive . ”
Dong Xuebing had returned to the time when he asked about the prices . He turned around and saw Zhao Jingsong’s police car coming closer . He did not hesitate and took out 300 RMB . “I want this scenery painting . Wrap it up for me . Oh… cover it with a cloth . ”
Suddenly, there was the sound of someone closing a car door . “Chief Dong, on the way to the Bureau? Want a lift?”
Dong Xuebing quickly stepped forward to block Zhao Jingsong’s view . “Thanks for your offer, but I prefer to walk . Walking is good for your health . ”
Zhao Jingsong glanced at the roadside stall behind Dong Xuebing and asked . “Chief Dong, you are interested in oil paintings?”
Dong Xuebing smiled . “Not really . I am just looking around . ”
The young man had wrapped the painting: “Here is your painting . There is a hook behind, and you can hang it on the wall with a nail . ” Dong Xuebing took the painting and bided Zhao Jingsong goodbye . Zhao Jingsong saw Dong Xuebing buying an oil painting from a roadside stall and felt he was pretending to be cultured . How can there be beautiful paintings in a roadside stall?
County Public Security Bureau .
Back in his office, Dong Xuebing removed the cloth from the painting and start checking the painting . However, there was nothing special about it . Could it be Zhao Jingsong is really into oil paintings and knew this is a masterpiece from some great artist? But that young man said these are his paintings and it was Yan Tai County’s scenery . Was that young man lying or there is something special in the painting which I have not to discover?
Dong Xuebing looked at the painting for almost 15 minutes and had broken the frame . But he still has not discovered anything .
Knock, knock… Dong Xuebing put the painting aside . “Come in . ”
“Chief Dong . ” Liu Dahai entered . There is a meeting in the bureau for all the Station Chief today, and he was here to report to his direct supervisor first . He said to Dong Xuebing about some sensitive cases that happened over the past few days . After finishing his report, he was about to leave .
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login