Power and Wealth

Capital Beijing

Eastern district, North Heping Street.

Dong Xuebing was still in shocked over his death experience yesterday. If time had not miraculously rewind, he would not get the chance to see his mother and Aunt Xuan. This was the first time he was grateful for being alive. He fell asleep in the wee hours of the morning, as lots of things were going through his mind. This was why it was 10 plus in the morning when he woke up. He got up from his old squeaking spring couch and headed for the washroom. He washed his face and yawned. He called out at the bedroom: “Mum, are you awake?”

Dong Xuebing’s mother, Luan Xiaoping, replied: “I am awake, and I am cleaning up the room. Do you still want breakfast?”

“I will wait for lunch.” Dong Xuebing could feel something was off from his mother’s voice. He immediately pushes the door open and saw his mother sitting on the bed. She quickly wipes off her tears with the back of her hands when Dong Xuebing entered the room. His mother turned and looked at him and forced a smile and keeping an old black and white photograph into her wallet. It was her wedding photo, taken more than 20 years ago.

Dong Xuebing could feel his heart aching as he sat down beside his mother: “Thinking of dad?”

“No... I’m not.” Dong Xuebing’s mother carefully kept the wallet and rubbed her eyes. “I took it out for a look when I saw it while cleaning.”

This had happened countless times over the years. Dong Xuebing’s mother character was weak. Every time she remembers some unpleasant memories, she would hide in her room and cry. Dong Xuebing felt guilty and said: “Mum, it is all my fault for being so useless. I cannot study and does not have any skills. I don’t think I will pass the Civil Servant test. All I can do is to work part-time at Panjiayuan Antique Market during my holidays. If I was slightly more capable, I might have raised enough medical bills for dad, and he might still be around.”

His mother patted his legs: “Stop talking nonsense. I know my son is the most capable and he will be a top government official in the future.”

Dong Xuebing moved his lips but did not say anything.

His mother smiled and touch his hand: “Don’t think so much. I will make you a good lunch later.”

A plate of stir-fried garlic pork, a plate of steam cabbage and half a pot of congee. This was considered a luxurious meal in Dong Xuebing’s household. Usually, when he was alone at home, he would not bear to eat such dishes. He would just cook some rice and stir-fry some vegetables and eat it for lunch and dinner. It was not because Dong Xuebing was thrifty. It was because his family was really poor.

Dong Xuebing was 23 years’ old and was a graduate.

He had average looks and height. Everything about him was ordinary.

The savings at home was not more than 5 figures.

During the year when Dong Xuebing’s father was hospitalized, they had used up all their savings. In the end, they even have to sell away their house. The one-bedroom apartment they were living was rented. After his father passed away, his mother lost her job for taking too much time off. The living expenses in Beijing was too high, and his mother returned back to her hometown in the countryside to work as a teacher there. She was trying her best to earn enough money for Dong Xuebing’s university’s fees. She will only return to Beijing to be with her son for one or two months during the school holidays.

All the living expenses, rents, bills, etc. depended on Dong Xuebing’s mother miserable salary, which was not enough. This was why Dong Xuebing took out part-time jobs as cashiers in supermarkets or some odd jobs at the Antique Market during his holidays and weekends. Other than his school fees, he was paying everything else. He could make his own living without asking for money from his mother.

Life was tough, but 4 years had passed in a flash.

After lunch, Dong Xuebing’s mother kept the dishes and watched some old black and white programs on the TV. Dong Xuebing returned back to the bedroom and lay there staring at the ceiling in a daze. Now, all the universities in Beijing no longer provide a job for their graduates. He had just graduated from Beijing Union University. What will he do if he fails his Civil Servant test?

Sigh...... how good will it be if I really have supernatural powers?

But I had tried so many times last night and did not succeed even once.

Shall I try again?

The door creak and opened. Dong Xuebing’s mother came in and said gently: “I will be going upstairs to speak to Mrs. Xu. I heard that her son will be taking the Civil Servant test this year at the same location as you. I want to see if she can ask her son to help you out with your revisions. Xiao Dong is good with his studies.”

Dong Xuebing felt uncomfortable in his chest and mumbled a reply.

“I will be back later.” She said and closed the door.

Dong Xuebing gritted his teeth and calm himself down before he starts on his experiments.

Turn back! Move back! Retreat! Back!

Dong Xuebing felt his body moved, but when he looked around, there were no changes. Fine. Those were not the magic words.

Just when Dong Xuebing was about to start to say some random words, the bedroom door opened.

His mother came in and looked at him: “I will be going upstairs to speak to Mrs. Xu. I heard that her son will be taking the Civil Servant test this year at the same location as you. I want to see if she can ask her son to help you out with your revisions. Xiao Dong is good with his studies.”

Dong Xuebing was stunned and shouted: “Ah?”

It was exactly the same tone and words.

This was what just happened 50 to 60 seconds ago.

Seeing her son’s reaction, she said softly: “Mum knows that you have your pride, but her son, Xiao Dong had almost scored full marks for his exams last year. If he can help you with your revisions, you might stand a better chance of passing.”

Dong Xuebing replied in a daze: “That’s not what I meant”

His mother looked at him and said: “Then I will be going.”

After his mother left, Dong Xuebing gave himself a slap. That’s it! I succeeded!

Dong Xuebing quickly suppress his excitement and grabbed a small orange-colored alarm clock from the shelves. He stared at the hands of the clock and begin to repeat the “magic words.”

Turn back! Move back! Retreat! Back!

Dong Xuebing continued to chant these words from afternoon till night. After dinner, he continued chanting the words. Finally, at 12.02 am 28 seconds, he successfully made a move back the time and returned to 12.01 am 28 seconds. It was precisely 1 minute!

No words could explain the excitement Dong Xuebing had.

Dong Xuebing knew that the time on this alarm clock was not accurate and he ran over to switch on the old 29in TV.

A military program was on and the time was shown on the top right corner. 23: 59: 19.

Switching on the Tv should take about 19 seconds. That means when Dong Xuebing uses “Back” just now, it was exactly midnight. He blinked and made a bold hypothesis. This “Back” will reset at midnight, and he can only use it once a day. When he uses it, time will return back to 60 seconds before.

Oh my god!!!

If this was indeed real, lady luck had smiled on him!

Translator’s notes:

Panjiayuan Antique Market

Beijing Union University

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