Power and Wealth

In the blink of an eye, it was ten o'clock.

Xiao Qianqian had finally been coaxed to sleep by Luo Haiting and Dong Xuebing. It was not an easy task. Dong Xuebing finally understood the hard work his mother and Aunt Xuan had gone through. Taking care of a child was truly exhausting and required immense patience. Otherwise, it could wear a person out. Especially a lively and playful childlike Xiao Qianqian, who always made a fuss and cried loudly. Dong Xuebing felt utterly drained as if all the energy had been sucked out of him. When Qianqian was younger, he had cared for her a few times, but she wasn’t this troublesome. Now, the older she got, the more mischievous she became. Yet, Dong Xuebing couldn't bear to say anything. When Xiao Qianqian called "daddy," Dong Xuebing's heart melted.

Looking at the clock, Dong Xuebing softly said to Luo Haiting, "Sister Luo, it's getting late. It's almost ten o'clock. You should head back early."

Luo Haiting smiled, "It's fine."

Dong Xuebing said, "You've been busy all evening."

"I like children; it's no trouble," Luo Haiting replied.

Dong Xuebing smiled wryly, "But I can't let you stay up all night."

Luo Haiting glanced at him, "If I leave, can you handle it alone? Even though the child sleeps now, she might wake up at night, especially since your goddaughter is lively. I'm sure she'll wake up. Besides, I think she might be coming down with a cold. Your mother might have already passed it on to her. Didn't you hear her crying with a heavy nose just now? If she gets a fever, how will you manage alone?"

Dong Xuebing hesitated, "I don't want to trouble you too much."

"It's no trouble. I live alone, and there's nothing urgent at home," Luo Haiting said with a smile. "I'll stay tonight and help you care for the child."

Dong Xuebing thought momentarily, "Will it affect your rest?"

"It won't," Luo Haiting replied. "The little one is so cute. Honestly, I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving you alone with her. I'll stay for the night."

Dong Xuebing said, "Alright, thank you so much."

"It's no trouble at all," Luo Haiting said.

"Shall we sit outside for a bit? I'm not sleepy yet," Dong Xuebing suggested.

Luo Haiting nodded and arranged some pillows and blankets along the edge of the bed to prevent Qianqian from rolling off. She also moved a low table to block the bed in case Qianqian woke up and tried to climb out. Luo Haiting was meticulous, much more so than Dong Xuebing, and was very good at caring for children.

After making sure everything was safe, they went out and closed the door.

In the living room, Dong Xuebing said, "You've been busy all this time; you must be hungry. I'll make something to eat."

"I'm hungry, but let me do it," Luo Haiting said as she walked into the courtyard. "What do you want to eat? For a late-night snack, let's not make anything too greasy."

Dong Xuebing insisted, "No way, you've done enough. I'll make some noodles. You just sit back. Don't fight me on this, Sister Luo, or I won't dare to trouble you in the future." With that, Dong Xuebing headed to the kitchen to cook the noodles.

Luo Haiting followed him, "What are you making?"

"How about some fried sauce noodles?" Dong Xuebing suggested.

"Sure, I haven't had authentic Beijing fried sauce noodles yet," Luo Haiting said.

Dong Xuebing laughed, "I can't promise it'll be authentic Beijing style. I might not have all the ingredients, but I'll do my best. Please bear with me."

Dong Xuebing started preparing the fried sauce for the noodles. He used pork belly, which had the right balance of fat and lean meat for the best flavor. His refrigerator had everything he needed: yellow soybean paste, sweet bean paste, green onions, ginger, dark soy sauce, and cooking wine. He also prepared some raw garlic to eat with the meal. Dong Xuebing was meticulous with every ingredient and step, getting the timing right. Once the sauce was done, the noodles were cooked, and he prepared some small radishes as toppings, using the leftover sweet bean paste.

Luo Haiting watched in amazement. "So many steps?"

Dong Xuebing laughed, "It doesn't matter much for a casual meal at home. However, traditional Beijing fried sauce noodles have their process. Beijing cuisine might not be the tastiest, the most unique, or the most popular, but it’s all about the details—how you make it, how you eat it, and what you do afterward. Every step counts. If you miss even one part of the process, especially when serving guests, it’s seen as disrespectful. So, Beijing cuisine is like drinking fine wine—there are specific steps to follow, from preparation to the end. It's all part of the experience."

Luo Haiting smiled, "I’ve learned something new today."

Once the noodles were ready, they quickly finished their meal. Luo Haiting seemed to enjoy the noodles, eating until they were complete and rubbing her stomach. "I overate too much. Phew."

Dong Xuebing laughed, "Need to walk it off?"

"Yes, I need to walk a bit." Luo Haiting got up and walked around the room.

While she was digesting, Dong Xuebing cleaned up, washed the dishes, and then returned to the north room after about ten minutes, but Luo Haiting was nowhere to be seen.

"Sister Luo?" Dong Xuebing called out softly, not wanting to wake the sleeping child.

"Yes?" Luo Haiting's voice came from another room, the bedroom on the right.

Dong Xuebing was surprised and went to check. He found Luo Haiting already under the covers. A chair nearby was covered with her clothes, including underwear and stockings.

Luo Haiting looked at him, "I'll sleep here tonight. If the child needs anything, call me."

Dong Xuebing swallowed hard. Unable to resist, he checked to ensure the child's room was quiet, then closed the door and quickly got into bed.

Luo Haiting didn't say a word; instead, she wrapped her arms around his waist. Overcome with desire, Dong Xuebing couldn't help but pounce on her, unable to wait any longer.