Evening.
The sky had grown dark.
At last, the howling wind had fallen silent.
Outside Hui Lan's hospital room, Dong Xuebin and Liao Yimin, who had just gone in to visit her, pushed open the door and came out. Several people from Fenzhou City's education system were still waiting outside.
Dong Xuebin hurriedly asked, "None of you have eaten yet, right?"
"It's fine, County Chief Dong. We're not hungry," one cadre said.
"How could you not be hungry after running around all day? I'm here, so everyone should head back," Dong Xuebin said.
Liao Yimin also said, "We can't be of much help here anyway. Let's go eat first."
Dong Xuebin said to everyone, "Thank you all for today. You've worked hard." After a pause, he added, "I just spoke with Hui Lan. She'll need to recuperate for a while and won't be able to continue the inspection these next few days. Hui Lan wants everyone to head back first, and Director Liao knows about it too. But I think Hui Lan should leave with you all as well. Don't worry about the plane tickets. I'll make a call and arrange them in a moment. It should be a flight tomorrow morning. Go get some sleep tonight, have a proper rest, then head back to Fenzhou City in the morning."
Liao Yimin looked at him. "Are you leaving with us?"
"I still have some matters to deal with here, so I'm not leaving yet," Dong Xuebin said. "I'll have to trouble you to look after Hui Lan on the way. Thank you."
Li Zhixin had not finished packing.
Dong Xuebin had not finished settling his score either, so of course he would not leave.
"That's only natural. Why be so polite?" Liao Yimin said.
"Dinner and lodging tonight are on