Power and Wealth

Chapter 1320: Zhong Lizhen is sick

One day…

Three days…

Five days…

One week passed in a flash.

PLA General Hospital opposite Wukesong Arena.

Sun Kai’s condition stabilized, and he was transferred here. Dong Xuebing, Xie Jing, and Sun Kai’s family were there. Sun Kai’s ward was prepared and sent there when he arrived in an ambulance. It was a single-person ward.

Inside the ward.

Everyone was in the ward.

But Dong Xuebing was the center of attention.

Xie Jing asked. “When is your flight, Brother-in-law?”

“Tomorrow. I bought the ticket.” Dong Xuebing smiled. “Xiao Kai is fine, and I should leave. My unit is rushing me.”

Sun Kai’s mother held Dong Xuebing’s hand gratefully. “Thank you, Xiao Dong.”

Sun Kai’s father added. “Yes. You stayed with Xiao Kai at the hospital and did not rest well. You would rush down from home in the middle of the night when we called. We…”

Dong Xuebing replied. “You had thanked me several times. Don’t say these.”

Sun Kai’s eyes turned red as he looked at Dong Xuebing. “Thanks, Brother Dong.”

Dong Xuebing waved his hand. “It’s nothing. Rest well.”

Sun Kai nodded. “I had troubled you these few days.”

“Haha… All right. I got to go back and pack my luggage.” Dong Xuebing does not need to monitor Sun Kai after the latter was transferred to this hospital.

Sun Kai quickly said. “Mum, Dad, Sis, help me send Brother Dong.”

Sun Kai’s parents, sister, and brother-in-law walked out with Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing told them not to walk him, but they refused.

Morning.

After 10 am.

Dong Xuebing drove an Audi A4, which he borrowed from his mother-in-law's home. He tidied his house and packed his luggage.

All his matters in Beijing were settled.

Dong Xuebing felt relaxed.

He sat on the couch with a cigarette between his lips. He remembered Huilan’s reminder to ask him to contact her family more and called her uncles and aunts. He told them he was leaving and chatted with them. He called her parent’s home last.

Ring… ring… ring…

Han Jing answered. “Hello?”

“Mum, it’s me. Xiao Bing.” Dong Xuebing said. “Xiao Sun’s condition has stabilized, and I am returning to the county tomorrow. There’s an important Party Committee meeting.”

“Did you book your ticket?”

“Yes.”

“All right. Come back more often.”

“Sure. I will return when I get the chance. Oh, the car you lent me. I will drive over now since I got nothing on today.”

“You are not busy today?”

“I am free. What’s wrong?”

Han Jing thought for a while and smiled. “Can you send the car to your Aunt Zhong and leave the key with her? This car was prepared for her as she just returned. The US froze all her assets, and it’s inconvenient without a car.”

Aunt Zhong?

Zhong Lizhen?

Dong Xuebing agreed immediately. “Ok.”

Han Jing said. “I wanted you to visit Lizhen for me. She fell sick yesterday. She got flu and fever. I just found out when I called her, but she refused to go to the hospital. You met her before and should know how stubborn she is. No one can change her mind, and she lives at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ family quarters. It is a military-restricted area, and doctors cannot enter easily. You know medicine. I hope you can check on her. If her condition is serious, you must bring her to the hospital, even by force. Do you accept this mission?”

“Rest assured. I will complete this mission!”

“Haha… all right. I will leave this to you, Miracle Doctor.”

“Huh? Stop teasing me, Mum. I am not a Miracle Doctor.”

“I know you are tired. I would visit Lizhen if I got the time now.”

“It’s fine, Mum. I will go. It is almost noon. I will go there now. What is her address?”

Dong Xuebing notes the address and hangs up. He had nothing to do and drove to a pharmacy to get medication before going to Zhong Lizhen’s place.

Noon.

Chinese Academy of Sciences’ family quarters.

Dong Xuebing seldom comes to this area. This area is secluded. Although there were high-rise buildings, there were not many people.

Dong Xuebing got near and saw a big warning sign.

Military-restricted area. Armed soldiers were on guard at the entrance.

Dong Xuebing was used to it, and he stopped his car at the guard house.

An armed guard saluted and checked if Dong Xuebing had an entry permit. Dong Xuebing said. “I am visiting Professor Zhong, Academician Zhong.”

The guard looked at Dong Xuebing. “I don’t have your records here.”

Dong Xuebing got out of the car. “You can call her and tell her Dong Xuebing is here.” He said and gave the guard his ID to register.

Security is tight in such places.

One needs to clear many levels of security clearance to enter.

The guard returned to the guard house with Dong Xuebing’s ID.

A guard inside recorded Dong Xuebing’s details and made a call.

Dong Xuebing was allowed to enter around seven minutes later. He drove into the compound and found an apartment building surrounded by small gardens, according to the address.

A few children around six to seven were playing there.

Dong Xuebing got out of the car and overheard the children reciting Pi. 3.2425926… A small girl, around six, could recite until the twentieth decimal place. The boys could only recite until the seventeenth or eighteenth place. Dong Xuebing was dumbfounded.

He could only remember until the seventh place.

Their differences were too vast.

Dong Xuebing had a newfound respect for the people staying there. The environment has an impact on a person. He was playing and running around when he was their age. How can he compare to these children?

Dong Xuebing went upstairs and knocked on the door.

Dong Xuebing waited at the door with the medication he bought.

The door unlocked after a while.

Zhong Lizhen appeared before Dong Xuebing. She was wearing a white gown, beige stockings, and black heels. 

Beautiful…

Zhong Lizhen was still so beautiful.

Zhong Lizhen looked at Dong Xuebing. “Why are you here?”

She looked pale and tired. Dong Xuebing felt terrible for her and said. “I heard you are sick. My Mum asked me to visit you.”

Zhong Lizhen opened the gate and let Dong Xuebing enter. “Come in.”

“Ok.” Dong Xuebing entered the apartment and looked around. He was shocked by what he saw.

A woman…

A beautiful middle-aged woman…

Dong Xuebing thought her house should be clean and homely. But Zhong Lizhen’s apartment did not look like a home. This is a two or three-bedroom apartment. It was big, and some unknown devices and five PCs were placed in the living room. One bedroom door was opened, and he saw a bigger PC inside. The only devices he recognized were PCs and servers. Although a computer science graduate, he could not recognize most flashing and beeping devices.

Damn…

What the hell is this?

Is this a home or a small research center?

Even the wooden floor was covered with A4 documents and small spare parts. The coffee table was full of test tubes.

The apartment was full of machines and had a metal smell.

Dong Xuebing could not stand it and opened the windows for her.

“I am speechless about you.” Dong Xuebing said.

Zhong Lizhen frowned. “Why did you open the windows?”

Dong Xuebing replied. “Didn’t you smell it? You got flu and fever. You must air your apartment. Ah… I don’t know what to say. Why is your home like this?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Why is it full of machines?”

Zhong Lizhen sat in front of a PC and started typing. She did not stop working. “How do you think a researcher’s home looks like? It’s all about the same. I will not serve you. Get yourself a glass of water. I got work to do. It’s needed urgently tomorrow.” She paused for a while and continued typing. “You don’t need to come. I am fine.”

Dong Xuebing said. “I am not surprised you fall sick, living in such conditions. This is too messy and full of radiation. How can your body take it?”

Zhong Lizhen replied. “I am used to it.”

“You should not do this. Let me clean up for you first. I will boil vinegar to clear the smell.” Dong Xuebing was about to move a device next to him to create room.

Zhong Lizhen’s face changed. “Don’t touch it!”

Dong Xuebing stopped. “Why?”

Zhong Lizhen saw Dong Xuebing did not touch her devices and said. “Don’t touch any devices you see in my house. They are critical. Any damages will affect my data.”

“I will be careful.”

“No!”

“Then let me take your temperature.”

“I am not running a fever. I don’t need it.”

“You need to take medicine. I brought them with me.”

“I am not taking them. I have not finished my work.”

“Taking medicine only takes a few seconds. It will not affect you.”

“Leave me alone. I can take care of myself.”

Dong Xuebing knew Professor Zhong was stubborn. He was slightly pissed when she refused to listen to him. He walked over and closed her laptop.

Zhong Lizhen’s face changed. “What are you doing?”

Dong Xuebing bent down and carried her to the bedroom. “You must rest now. There’s no negotiation.”

Translator’s notes:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wukesong_Arena