Time returned to one minute ago.
"Shut up! Give me that camera!" The supervisor rushedforward to snatch the camera.
When Dong Xuebing did not use BACK in the day, he willpractice using it before he sleeps. After practicing for almost a hundredtimes, he was now used to the uncomfortableness of scenes changing. It tookonly a blink of an eye for Dong Xuebing to recover. He looked at the supervisorcoldly and dodged. He immediately shouted to the few workers who were diggingthe floor tiles behind the supervisor. "Stop digging! Stop! Stop whatever youare doing!" As Dong Xuebing was shouting to them, he was thinking of a plan.That box was buried under the tiles, and there was no reason the box did notcontain any treasure. This was a rare opportunity. But how can I get that box?These people were about to discover the box! Dong Xuebing must think of a way!
The few workers stopped and looked at Dong Xuebing,
"Who do you think you are to ask them to stop?" Thesupervisor turned and shouted: "Carry on with your work!"
The workers looked at each other and carried on using theirshovels to lift the tiles.
That grey stone tile was about to be lifted. Dong Xuebingwas anxious and loses focus slightly. The supervisor took this opportunity tosnatch the camera from Dong Xuebing. The supervisor tried to delete all thephotographs, and Dong Xuebing shout furiously: "You are asking for it!" He suddenlygot an idea. He reached into his bag and took out his new work pass and wavedit in front of the supervisor. "Do you know how to read? Look at this with yourown eyes!"
"What?" The supervisor was about to delete the pictures whenhe looked up.
It was a black leather card holder. The size was about thesame as a driving license. A silver national emblem with the words "Police," inboth English and Mandarin, was printed on the cover. The work pass had DongXuebing's photo, his name, and his appointment. Beijing City State SecurityWestern District Branch Bureau, General Affairs Office Deputy Chief. Of course,Dong Xuebing covered his personal details with his fingers as he held up hispass. He only showed the words "State Security" and "Deputy Chief."
The supervisor was stunned: "State Security?"
Dong Xuebing pointed to those workers who were trying tolift up the stone floor tile. "Stop working!"
The workers were afraid that the Supervisor would scold them,and they ignored Dong Xuebing's orders.
The middle age supervisor recovered from his shock andquickly shouted: "Didn't you hear what the officer said? Stop whatever you aredoing now!"
"Officer?" The workers were confused. Their supervisor wasstill trying to snatch that young man's camera, and the next moment, he wascalling him an officer? But all of them obeyed and stop working. They droppedtheir tools. Bang! The stone tile which was lifted about 30 degrees fell backon the ground.
The supervisor rubbed his palms embarrassedly and smiled:"Sir, I'm very sorry. I thought you are a reporter."
Dong Xuebing was relieved that he had gotten control of thesituation, and he remembered the supervisor's rude attitude towards himearlier. He was pissed. He did not care if the supervisor was more than 20years older than him and started scolding him: "Reporter? Can't you use yourbrains?! If I am a reporter, will I be taking pictures in front of you? Ah?Also, what's wrong with reporters? You are allowed to snatch a reporter'spersonal belongings? We are living in a law-abiding society! Do you know whatyou have done is against the law? Ah? Who do you think you are?!"
The supervisor replied with a sullen face: "No, no... It's amisunderstanding."
Dong Xuebing continued scolding for a while. "... Camera!"
"Ah... Here... I'm very sorry." The supervisor quicklyreturned the digital camera back to Dong Xuebing. He knew the State Securityhad the most authority. He could not afford to offend anyone from this agency,especially the leaders there. He did not even try to retort or argue. He onlywishes Dong Xuebing would leave this place. He did not want to be invited tothe bureau for "tea."
But Dong Xuebing had no intentions of leaving.
Dong Xuebing brushed off the dust on his clothes and walkedover to the workers. "Take a break first. I have some questions for you all."
The supervisor who was following behind stared at theworkers: "Answer this officer's questions truthfully. Do you all understand?"He was trembling inside. A State Security Officer was here.... Was he here toinvestigate a case or was he here to investigate about me? This should not be.I only harvested some stubborn residents who refused to move out. I did not doanything that compromises national security!
The workers looked at Dong Xuebing.
Dong Xuebing cleared his throat. "Have you all seen a tallman with a dark complexion in his forties around here?"
Everyone shook their heads.
The supervisor was relieved when he know that he was not theone who was being investigated. "Think carefully!"
The workers shook their head again. "We can't remember."
Dong Xuebing continued to pretend: "He is about 1.9 m talland have short hair."
"I don't think so." The worker with the northeast accentreplied: "We were focusing on doing our work every day and did not noticeanyone around here."
The supervisor also added: "Sir, I also did not see thisperson around here. Did he commit any serious crime?" Dong Xuebing ignored him,and that supervisor smiled embarrassedly. "Sorry... sorry..... I should not beasking."
Dong Xuebing looked at the condition of the floor tiles fromthe corner of his eyes and moved one step forward. He stopped directly on thatstone floor tile. "Ok. All of you carry on with your work. Don't tell anyoneabout what I said to you."
The Supervisor quickly replied: "Don't worry. We will notsay anything!"
Dong Xuebing nodded and took out his notebook to continuetaking down notes for his proposal.
The supervisor looked at Dong Xuebing and wonder why thisState Security officer was not leaving? What was he writing? He askedcautiously: "Sir, they are still working, and it is very dusty here. Yourclothes will be dirtied."
Dong Xuebing did not lift up his head and replied. "It'sfine. I will stay here."
The supervisor smiled and looked at his workers. He gesturedto them to carry on with their work.
A worker took a spade and looked at the stone tile DongXuebing was standing on. He opened his mouth and was about to say somethingwhen another worker quickly dragged him away. The workers went to work onanother part of the house. They continued to demolish the house.
An hour passed, and Dong Xuebing was still standing there.
Two hours passed. Dong Xuebing still did not leave.
Three hours was gone, and Dong Xuebing was still there.
It was dark, and the supervisor and the workers packed upand left with their tools. Dong Xuebing's stomach was growling, and his legsand back were aching. He looked around and made sure those workers would notreturn before removing his feet from the stone floor tile. He quickly ran to atoilet before having dinner at a nearby restaurant.
The opportunity to get rich was here!