Power and Wealth C.1516: Traffic AccidentMar 29, 2024

Morning.

The scorching sun blazed overhead, its intense heat rolling in waves.

After leaving the resort, Dong Xuebing got into his car, wiped the sweat from his forehead, immediately turned on the air conditioning, stepped on the gas, and drove off.

It had to be said the climate had become increasingly strange over the years. Strictly speaking, it was already early autumn, but the sun was still scorching hot. Dong Xuebing wondered if it was as hot in Beijing. The sultry weather could affect one's mood, but it also has benefits. Women on the streets were dressing more and more revealingly, wearing tank tops, crop tops, midriff-baring outfits, ultra-short shorts, high-heeled sandals—women in skimpy clothing swayed their hips as they walked along the street under their sun umbrellas, quite a sight to behold.

Dong Xuebing hummed a tune to himself.

His passionate nature remained unchanged. Dong Xuebing reckoned he would be like this for the rest of his life. It was perhaps his most prominent character flaw—he couldn't change, only control.

One hour passed.

Two hours passed.

Three hours passed.

It was noon, and the car finally entered the territory of Beihai Province.

Dong Xuebing didn't stop to eat. He thought he was not far from Fenzhou City, so he endured his hunger and planned to drive straight back. The faces of his mother, wife, lover, and children flashed through his mind, and a warm smile appeared on Dong Xuebing's face. At this moment, he was eager to go home. But the more impatient he became, the more likely problems would arise. When he reached a service area ahead, just past this highway exit was the territory of Fenzhou City, Dong Xuebing suddenly felt dizzy, feeling a bit faint. His head spun, and he almost lost control of the steering wheel. After a wobble, luckily, the Land Rover was in good condition, and nothing happened. Dong Xuebing couldn't help but chuckle wryly as he recovered.

Hungry.

Let's eat something.

Dong Xuebing parked the car, went into the service area supermarket, bought a loaf of bread, and started munching on the spot with a large bottle of sports drink.

Full.

Comfortable.

So Dong Xuebing returned to the car, shut the door, and drove through the toll gate. He had now entered the territory of Fenzhou City, with only half an hour's drive to the city center. Thinking of this, Dong Xuebing stepped on the gas and accelerated, overtaking one car after another. But he couldn't keep going fast after driving for a while, so he reluctantly slowed down. Frowning, he looked at several cars driving slowly ahead. In front of the Land Rover were several small cars, about seven or eight. In front of them was a bus, apparently carrying some students, probably returning from a field trip. Dong Xuebing couldn't see the situation further ahead because it was blocked by the bus's rear end.

Honk, honk, honk.

Many people ahead were honking their horns.

Dong Xuebing was puzzled. It wasn't rainy or snowy weather, and it wasn't a first-tier city either. How could the highway be congested? Why was everyone driving so slowly?

"Hey, move it!"

"What's going on up there?"

"Can't you drive? Let us pass!"

"Why are you all stuck in the middle? Move!"

Many sedan drivers rolled down their windows and shouted as they drove.

The road here wasn't comprehensive, but it wasn't narrow either. Even with a bus pressing ahead, there was still enough space for overtaking. Yet Dong Xuebing saw a small sedan driving alongside the bus, maintaining a leisurely pace. It seemed impossible to overtake, constantly speeding up and slowing down as if something was blocking the way ahead. As the people behind began to curse more vehemently, a boy's head popped out of the sedan's rear window, shouting at the cars behind, "There's a truck ahead! It's competing with the bus, driving in the middle of the road, swaying left and right, blocking everyone! This jerk thinks he's tough because he's driving a big vehicle. Wait until my dad overtakes him, damn it!"

Hearing this, the others joined in the cursing.

"Competing with us, my ass!"

"I have urgent matters to attend to!"

"These big trucks are becoming more and more arrogant!"

"The bus driver shouldn't be afraid to rear-end him from behind!"

The driver of the instigating truck had enraged everyone.

Not to mention them, even Dong Xuebing's expression turned angry. What's the point of competing? Why block our way and risk accidents?

As everyone continued to drive slowly, more and more cars accumulated behind, all blocked by the truck ahead.

But even so, the truck loaded with goods showed no intention of giving way, still jostling with the tourist bus carrying students.

Inside the bus were elementary school students, relatively young, probably in fifth or sixth grade. Some students, ignoring their teacher's attempts to stop them, shouted angrily at the truck ahead.

"Too much!"

"It was his fault just now!"

"Now he's trying to shift the blame and block us. Let's rear-end him!"

The students' childish voices were filled with anger.

Dong Xuebing, with his temper, tapped the steering wheel impatiently for a while. His anger rose as well. Leaning from the window, he shouted at the front, "Move aside, everyone!"

Someone asked, "What are you doing, young man?"

Dong Xuebing replied angrily, "Let me pass, and I'll see if his truck is stronger or my car is stronger. I'll rear-end him if I can't overtake!"

Many of the students turned to look at him, astonished. They had just shouted about rear-ending the truck, but it mainly was just shouting. But this big brother here really meant it. If he wanted to rear-end, it wouldn't just be shouting. However, many sedan drivers thought Dong Xuebing was bluffing in anger. They estimated he was yelling a few words in a rage. But they didn't know that Dong Xuebing dared to ram a small yacht into a warship back then, let alone the Land Rover he was driving now. There was nothing he wouldn't dare to hit. This wasn't the first time Dong Xuebing had done something like this.

Ring ring ring.

The phone rang.

Dong Xuebing, driving with his left hand on the steering wheel, looked at his phone with his right hand. It was his wife calling, so he answered, "Huilan."

"Where are you now?"

"Just entered Fenzhou City."

"Almost there. I'll be waiting for you at home."

"Huh, you're not working today?"

"Hehe, my little husband rarely comes back. Sister Xie gave me half a day off."

"Well, finally, you said something heartwarming. Just for that, when I get back, I'll cook something delicious to treat my dear wife. But I guess it'll take a while. A truck ahead blocks the road, driving very slowly, swaying left and right and not letting anyone pass. Damn it, wait until I pass later, I'll show him who's boss. Call a few traffic police officers and catch him at the next exit."

"You don't always pick fights with people."

"I didn't provoke him. He's the one who got into a conflict with others, affecting everyone. Aren't you in charge of traffic now? These big trucks need to be managed. They think they own the road, blocking it whenever they want. Fine, let them block it."

The car, alongside the school bus and the small sedan, searched for a gap but couldn't find one to break through. It seemed like they were infuriated, too, so they slowed down and fell back, seemingly making way for Dong Xuebing. Seeing this, Dong Xuebing immediately became alert, his face darkened. Stepping on the gas, he was about to move forward. He was still separated from the front by seven or eight cars. With one press of the gas pedal, he instantly passed one car.

But at that moment, an anomaly occurred.

A screeching brake sound was heard from the front, followed by a rumbling noise, accompanied by the squealing of metal rubbing against the ground.

The school bus was blocking the view, and no one could see.

But this sound was familiar to many.

Many were stunned. Two years ago, there was a car accident.

And with such a loud noise and vibration, it was evident that the large truck blocking the road had overturned. Sparks from the friction on the ground could almost be seen in the distance.

They brought it on themselves.

The large truck was already carrying goods. Maneuvering recklessly with the tourist bus likely caused the vehicle to lose balance.

The overturned large truck was something many people took pleasure in, but at this moment, not a single person could muster a smile.

Because with the truck overturned, the next ones to be affected would be the vehicles behind it.

Sure enough, almost simultaneously, as the driver of the school bus, which was carrying the children in the front, did not react, the bus collided with the overturned truck in front with a loud bang. The body tilted and followed suit, sliding straight out onto the road.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The car behind hit the overturned bus's rear end forcefully. The speed wasn't high because everyone was being pressed down by the truck. The sedan's chassis was low and relatively light, so it didn't flip over; instead, it slammed into the overturned bus's rear. Next was a Buick commercial vehicle, and behind it, a Geely sedan smashed into the Buick's rear end. The cars behind them were all terrified. Everyone hurriedly hit the brakes, but it was slightly uphill. Astonishingly, the first overturned truck was transporting soybeans. The cargo area was broken open, and within two seconds, soybeans spilled like a golden sea, engulfing the cars behind. Following the Geely was an old Sonata. Although the driver hit the brakes, the tires slipped on the soybean-covered road. These round beans were even more deadly than snow; there was no friction, and they would propel the car even further. The Sonata didn't slow down and rammed into Geely's side. Finally, it was the car in front of Dong Xuebing. Dong Xuebing watched as the sedan's tires rubbed against the soybeans and inexorably slammed into them. Even with the handbrake pulled, it was still ineffective.

"Xuebing!"

"What's wrong?"

"What's that sound?"

Dong Xuebing's face changed. He didn't have time to talk to his wife anymore. He threw the phone aside. Instead of stepping on the brake, he turned the steering wheel sharply, tapped the brakes a few times, and charged towards a small space on the road without any vehicles.

There were too many soybeans.

The Land Rover also skidded out, spinning around on the road for a half-circle before finally avoiding the cars in front and behind, coming to a stop.