This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

As night fell, Du Heng’s sister-in-law, Zhang Sumei, prepared a table laden with dishes.

There were still the same few people, not one or two more as they had hoped.

His older brother, Du Ping, looked around with satisfaction. His daughter was in college, and his son was healthy and lively. His younger brother had a successful career. Even though he and his wife had gained a few wrinkles, they were in good health.

This year, nothing in their family seemed to have changed, yet everything felt different—they were more prosperous and happier than before.

The only regret was that his thirty-year-old younger brother, Du Heng, was still a bachelor.

Du Ping raised his glass. ”The new year has arrived! Let those who need to study, study diligently, and those who need to work, work hard.”

His sister-in-law nudged Du Ping. ”If you don’t know what to say, say less. Eat.”

Du Ping glared back at her, feeling she had interrupted his important speech as the head of the household. However, when he turned his head, he stopped the platitudes and instead directed his words at Du Heng. ”Xiao Heng, your career is successful now, and your future is limitless. But after the New Year, you’ll be thirty—actually thirty-one by Western age, virtually thirty-two by East Asian age, and nearly thirty-three by the most generous count! You’re really at the age to get married. Be more proactive next year.”

Du Heng stared dumbfounded at his older brother. How did I become thirty-three in just one sentence?

But seeing his older brother’s earnest gaze, Du Heng hurriedly nodded in agreement.

His sister-in-law glared at her husband, displeased with his comment during the New Year celebration. She immediately picked up her drink and said, ”Come on, let’s toast! Wishing everyone good health in the new year.”

After the reunion dinner, Du Heng took his nephew Du Yi and niece Du Xuejing to the yard.

As beautiful and splendid fireworks bloomed in the sky above Jinzhou City, their gazes took in the lit-up cityscape. Colorful pyrotechnics illuminated the mountain ridges, making them look like giant beasts.

”It’s Chinese New Year!” little nephew Du Yi shouted, using the sparkler in his hand to light the fireworks at their front door.

Du Yi jumped and laughed, beside himself with joy, while Du Xuejing was more reserved, standing quietly behind with her phone, capturing the beautiful moment.

Du Heng was also very happy.

Not only was it Du Yi’s first time setting off fireworks at their home, but it was also the first time for Du Heng, a thirty-year-old man, to set off fireworks he himself had bought.

Before this, he and his family had only ever been spectators on New Year’s Eve. At most, they would set off a 5,000-shot string of firecrackers in their own yard, which was considered a great luxury.

”Du Heng, Happy New Year!”

”President Du, Happy New Year!”

As Du Heng was immersed in the sound of his fireworks, his heart swelling with emotion, cheerful congratulations came from nearby.

Du Heng turned to see Liang Lihai and several other young men about his age.

In Central Lake, it was customary to visit each other on New Year’s Eve. People would gather in small groups for drinks to catch up, play cards to relax, or just sit around and brag.

However, over the years, no one had ever come to Du Heng’s house.

In the past, Du Heng and Du Ping would take the initiative to invite people over for drinks and to liven things up, but everyone would only agree verbally and never actually show up.

After two such attempts, Du Ping stopped asking, and Du Heng couldn’t care less; it was better if they didn’t ask, and even better if they didn’t come.

Today, for the first time in Du Heng’s memory, people had taken the initiative to visit.

”Come on, let’s go in and pay New Year’s respects to Brother Ping and Sister-in-law Zhang Sumei first, and then we’ll have some drinks.”

”Let’s go, hurry up.”

While Du Heng was still in shock, the group of four or five people had already clamored towards his house.

Upon entering the yard, they started shouting loudly, causing Du Ping and Zhang Sumei to hurry out to greet them.

For thirty years, this was the first time people from the village had voluntarily visited their house on New Year’s Eve. Du Heng couldn’t tell if he felt happy or bitter.

If I hadn’t become the Dean of the Health Clinic this year, and if Big Brother’s sheep farming hadn’t taken off, would these people have come?

Du Heng suddenly chuckled. Why am I thinking such ridiculous things? Then, a slow smile spread across his face as he walked into the yard to help his older brother greet the guests.

”Du Heng, you’re the Dean this year! Shouldn’t we celebrate properly? Let’s aim for you to become the Dean of the Municipal First Hospital next year, hahaha!”

”That’s right! From now on, we’ll have to call you President Du, not Du Heng anymore.”

They all acted very familiar with Du Heng, telling jokes as if they were close friends.

Du Ping was overjoyed. He took out the Maotai Du Heng had bought for him for the New Year and warmly invited everyone to sit on the kang bed. His sister-in-law, Zhang Sumei, was also busy, cutting meat and preparing cold dishes for the group.

”Wow, Maotai! My goodness, you really are a leader, drinking such fine wine! I’ve only ever seen this on TV. Du Heng, this bottle must cost thousands, right? You must be making a lot as a Dean.”

Du Heng just smiled and said nothing, instead helping his sister-in-law hand out chopsticks.

Nearby, Liang Lihai felt the comment had gone too far and surreptitiously nudged the speaker. ”Great wine! I’ve never had the chance to drink it before. Let me have a few more sips today to broaden my horizons.”

The man who had just spoken also realized his words might have been misconstrued and hastily added, ”Du Heng, come on, let’s all have some of your good wine.”

Du Heng, his face wreathed in smiles as if he hadn’t heard the previous remark, said, ”You probably don’t know this, but I can’t hold my liquor. One glass and I’m out. You all drink with my older brother. I won’t join, so I don’t embarrass myself. I’ll play waiter for everyone today.”

Just as he finished speaking, the sound of heavy footsteps came from the yard. ”Du Ping, I hear you’ve hidden some good liquor, is that true?”

From the voice, it was Liang Limin, who was about Du Ping’s age, and it sounded like he had several people with him.

It was the first time in many years their home had been so lively. Du Ping was laughing more heartily than ever. Even though his wife, Zhang Sumei, was extremely busy, the smile never left her face.

On New Year’s Eve, every household was brightly decorated, filled with laughter, drinking games, and a festive atmosphere that permeated every corner. The Central Lake Police Station, however, was extraordinarily quiet.

Although everyone at the station was on duty tonight, it was very still.

Some people were watching the New Year Gala, with the television volume turned down low. Others were in a corner, on the phone with their families, speaking softly. Some were curled up asleep on the sofa, while a few just stared boredly at the telephone on the table.

As the sound of fireworks outside gradually faded, the officer staring at the phone turned his gaze towards the television.

BRRRRING!

The sudden ring of the telephone startled the police officer who had just looked away. Though reluctance was written all over his face, he quickly picked up the phone.

”Mhm... Okay, I understand.”

As he hung up, the officer shouted, ”We’ve got a report! Someone’s running an illegal casino with a crowd gambling at No. 27 Hugou Village! Three or four cars just drove into Hugou Village, and everyone who got out went into the courtyard of No. 27!”

As soon as the male police officer finished speaking, Gong Daoyang, who had been sleeping on the sofa, leaped to his feet. ”Damn it! I knew tonight wouldn’t be quiet. I didn’t expect someone to be bold enough to open a casino. They’ve really got some nerve!”

While speaking, Gong Daoyang had already straightened his clothes and put on his equipment. ”Xiao Zhang, you watch the station. Everyone else, with me! I’m going to bust them all in one go!”

Exiting the room, Gong Daoyang noticed large snowflakes beginning to fall. ”Liu Gong,” he asked, ”have Director Gao and the others returned yet?”

”I heard they’re on their way back. The two drunks were picked up by their families.”

”That’s good. Let’s go.”

Du Heng felt a pang of frustration watching the good Maotai he had bought for his brother being guzzled by others. It’s not that I’m stingy; I just hate seeing them waste good stuff.

However, there wasn’t much wine to begin with. He’d only bought one box for Du Ping since, in previous years, no one had ever visited their house, so they hadn’t prepared an abundance of liquor.

The older men couldn’t stand watching the youngsters snatching their good wine, so they shooed away a few of Du Heng’s peers. ”You kids, go find somewhere else to drink!”

Although Liang Lihai and the others still coveted the fine wine, they didn’t dare compete with these old-timers. Reluctantly, they retreated. ”Du Heng,” Liang Lihai said, ”since you’re not drinking, let’s go play cards instead.”

Du Heng knew ”playing cards” meant playing mahjong. There would be small stakes, just five or ten yuan, with no doubling of bets.

As long as you weren’t completely clueless or having terrible luck, you wouldn’t lose more than two hundred yuan in a night.

In this regard, Du Heng genuinely admired the young people of the village.

They loved playing mahjong but treated it purely as a recreational activity, unlike people from other places who, whenever such games were involved, seemed desperate to win everyone else’s money and strike it rich overnight.

Hearing the suggestion, Du Heng politely declined. ”You guys go ahead and play. I don’t know how.”

”Come on, come on! We elementary school dropouts can play. You’re a college graduate; your brain works much better than ours. You’ll learn it quickly. Just watch a couple of rounds, and you’ll get it.”

Du Heng still refused with a smile. ”I really can’t. You guys go. I’ll stay here and help pour drinks for everyone.”

Just as he finished speaking, the phone in Du Heng’s pocket began to ring urgently, giving him an excuse to get away from them.

”Liu Gong, Happy New Year!”

”Never mind that now. Get to the police station, quickly.”

”What’s wrong?”

”Director Gong’s collarbone seems to be broken, but he refuses to go to the hospital, not even the Health Clinic.”

Du Heng was alarmed and quickly asked, ”What were you guys doing? How did it happen?”

Liu Gong sighed heavily. ”It’s hard to explain over the phone. Just come and take a look, please.”

”Okay, wait for me. I’ll be right there.”

After hanging up, Du Heng immediately excused himself from Liang Lihai and the others, went inside to grab his coat and car keys, and then quickly left the house.

The group remaining in the yard looked at one another, unsure whether Du Heng genuinely had an urgent matter to attend to or if he was simply trying to avoid playing cards with them.

In the past, they might have made sarcastic remarks or simply turned and left.

But now, not a single person uttered anything about Du Heng being arrogant.

After waiting for two seconds, they acted as if nothing had happened, and with smiles, they went off to find a place to play cards.

Once in the car, Du Heng saw that snow had begun to fall quite heavily outside. He had intended to get to the police station quickly. However, seeing the ground already covered in white and considering it was already past ten at night, he involuntarily slowed his driving speed.