Chapter 1985

Chapter 1985

From night until morning.

From morning until late morning.

By 9 a.m. the next day, the matter with the tomb robbers had finally been settled.

Dong Xuebing had been working on-site all night. After bringing down over twenty tomb raiders from the mountain, the Public Security Bureau immediately took them into custody. During interrogation, it was discovered that two more raiders were still up on the mountain. They had gotten separated in the chaos during a shootout with police and couldn’t be located. As a result, a large-scale search was launched by the armed police in the early hours, and it wasn’t until a bit after 6 a.m. that the last two suspects were finally apprehended on Qingluan Mountain. After that, the safety of the ancient tomb was re-confirmed, and Dong Xuebing hadn’t had a moment of rest.

Zhang Dongfang and several leaders from Jiaolin County also stayed at the scene. No one had gotten any sleep the entire night, and now that things were finally resolved, everyone looked utterly exhausted.

Dong Xuebing spoke up, “Everyone, go home and rest. You’ve all worked hard today.”

Zhang Dongfang said, “Secretary Dong, you should get some sleep too. You did the most work last night.”

“Yeah, I should go back—wait, I just remembered something!” Dong Xuebing suddenly smacked his forehead. “I have to return to Beijing today. There’s an urgent matter at home!”

Chang Linyo said, “What? That’s too far. You’ve been running around all night. You won’t make it!”

Dong Xuebing checked his watch. “No time. I have to go. Xiao Su! Xiao Su!” He called Su Yan over. “Quick, book me the soonest flight back to Beijing.”

Su Yan replied, “I’ll handle it right away.”

Dong Xuebing pulled out his phone to let his family know he was coming back—he had meant to tell them last night. But he got too busy and forgot. His mom and the others probably still didn’t know. However, after pressing the buttons a few times, he realized his phone screen was blank—out of battery. And there wasn’t much signal on the mountain, which had drained the battery even faster. With no time to waste, Dong Xuebing grabbed his driver, Xiao Wang, and told him to rush to the provincial capital as fast as possible.

On the way, Su Yan called. The flight had been booked using Dong Xuebing’s ID. The soonest flight took off in 20 minutes, which he definitely couldn’t make in time by car, so she booked one for 11:00 a.m. instead.

At the Airport

While waiting for boarding, Dong Xuebing found a payphone and tried to recall Xie Huilan’s number from memory. But he couldn’t get through. As for everyone else’s numbers, he couldn’t remember them at all. So he gave up.

Boarding started.

Dong Xuebing boarded the plane, fastened his seatbelt, leaned his head to the side, and fell asleep instantly. He was exhausted and needed rest.

At 1:20 p.m., the plane landed at the Capital Airport.

By 2:15 p.m., Dong Xuebing finally arrived by taxi at Houhai.

Standing before his family’s courtyard house gate, Dong Xuebing let out a wry smile. He tentatively pushed on the door—it wasn’t locked. Feeling slightly guilty, he peeked inside and quietly stepped in.

A dozen tables were still set up in the courtyard, covered with leftover plates, half-eaten food, and empty wine bottles. A few servants—likely hired for the day—were cleaning up. There was no sign of Old Master Xie; maybe he was inside. But nearly everyone else was present, chatting in the yard—his mother Luan Xiaoping, Yang Zhaode, Han Jing, Xie Guobang, Xie Guojian, and so on. All family, not a single outsider. No need to ask—clearly, the banquet was already over. Dong Xuebing had missed even the tail end. He was way too late.

“Hey, Brother-in-law’s here!” Xie Hao was the first to spot him.

Dong Xuebing was still standing near the side wall, unsure whether he should go in—and if he did, what he should say. But now that he had been seen, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and enter.

“Mom, Uncle Yang, Dad, Mom, Uncle, Aunt…” Dong Xuebing greeted everyone, then hurriedly explained, “I’m sorry—honestly, I meant to come back yesterday. The ticket was booked in advance. I even got to the airport. But something suddenly came up in the county, and I had no choice but to rush back. That delay pushed things way back. I didn’t finish handling it until after 9 a.m. this morning.”

Han Jing wasn’t too pleased. “You could’ve at least called, right? Huilan tried to call you, but your phone had no signal.”

Dong Xuebing said sheepishly, “I know, I know, it’s my fault. I wanted to call Huilan too, but there was no signal in the mountains, and then my phone died.”

His mother, Luan Xiaoping, was the angriest, glaring at her son. “What could be more important than your son’s 100-day banquet? That’s your flesh and blood! We even invited so many of our in-laws! And you, the father, don’t show up? I warned you repeatedly that you had to be here. You trying to make me die of anger!?”

Dong Xuebing hurriedly said, “Mom, this wasn’t an ordinary situation. We had 20–30 armed tomb raiders in our county. They exchanged fire with our officers. Three of our people were injured—one seriously. You tell me, as the county party secretary, could I leave at that time? I couldn’t! The county needed me. The people needed me. No matter how important my matters were, I had to put them aside.”

Luan Xiaoping snapped, “You always have a reason!”

Yang Zhaode nudged her. “Xiaobin did the right thing. That kind of situation—he truly couldn’t leave.”

Father-in-law Xie Guobang added, “Let’s not argue anymore. Let the kid get some rest. He’s been on the move nonstop. Didn’t even sleep last night.”

Dong Xuebing smiled, “I’m okay. I slept two hours on the plane.”

Luan Xiaoping, still flustered, stood up. “Two hours isn’t enough! Take a nap. I’ll go prepare a room for you.”

Scolding him was one thing, but she loved him dearly, too. That’s a mother’s heart.

Dong Xuebing smiled warmly, “Thanks, Mom.”

Luan Xiaoping gave him a sideways glare before tidying a room.

Just then, Xie Huilan emerged from the west wing, holding their baby in her arms. She was playfully teasing the baby’s nose. Little Dong Chong, now a few months old, was giggling nonstop.

“You hear your dad’s voice, huh?” she said to the baby. “Let’s go take a look. Skipping your 100-day banquet—he’s got some nerve!”

“Guhhh!”

“We should give him a beating!”

“Guh-yah!”

“Yeah, that’s right. Mama will hold you while you beat your dad.”

Xie Huilan was radiating maternal warmth, her whole demeanor soft and gentle.

Seeing this, Dong Xuebing couldn’t help but beam with joy. He rushed over and scooped his son into his arms. “Stop brainwashing our boy. Beat me, huh? Look what you’re teaching him.” He bounced the baby a bit. “Whoa, little guy—you got heavier again! Did you miss Daddy?”

The baby was a bit shy. He stayed perfectly still in Dong Xuebing’s arms and blinked up at him with big eyes.

“What’s this? You don’t recognize your dad now? Heh, one kiss and you’ll remember.” Dong Xuebing planted a big smooch on the baby’s chubby cheek.

Only then did the baby giggle and wave his little fists—utterly adorable.

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