Chapter 120 2/2

Ration tickets from different provinces couldn’t be used interchangeably. Only national ration tickets could be used everywhere. People traveling on official business needed them and would exchange enough before their trip.

In this era, because they were rare, national ration tickets were almost considered hard currency, usable for anything.

But for someone going on a business trip, it was very difficult to accumulate so many national ration tickets.

Yan Lei was afraid Qiao Wei wouldn’t have enough, so he exchanged as many as possible.

After breakfast, they headed to the hospital. Yan Lei’s mother was still worried. “What about our things? They’re all left there?”

Qiao Wei chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ve locked the door.”

At the hospital, she needed to see a surgeon. When the triage nurse asked, “What’s the situation?”

Qiao Wei said, “It should be kidney stones.”

The word “should” could be omitted; Qiao Wei had known it was kidney stones from the beginning.

Because this was supposed to be something Yan Lei had dealt with earlier in the year when he had taken Lin Xixi home to visit and then taken his father to the hospital for diagnosis.

Having a God’s-eye view was quite convenient.

Of course, the doctor couldn’t just take her word for it. They conducted the necessary examinations and tests. The final diagnosis was kidney stones, with a suppurative infection, but they couldn’t determine if there were any complications.

Qiao Wei asked, “How should it be treated?”

“Surgery is necessary.”

“Okay, then please schedule the surgery.”

“That will have to be next month.”

Qiao Wei frowned. “Why?”

“The entire month is filled with study tasks; everyone is in meetings and doesn’t have time for surgery.”

Qiao Wei said, “As you can see, my family member’s condition is already very serious. Every day’s delay means more suffering.”

The doctor seemed a bit impatient. “But there’s nothing I can do. If you have the ability, go talk to the hospital director. Please step aside, there are other patients waiting.”

The people behind also chimed in, “Comrade, have you finished? We need to see the doctor too.”

This doctor wasn’t the decision-maker at all, so arguing with him was pointless.

Qiao Wei stepped out first and stood in the corridor.

Her face was pale, and the Yan family members didn’t dare to speak.

Qiao Wei had always been dominant. If even she couldn’t do anything, the three country bumpkins wouldn’t stand a chance.

Yan Lei’s father and Yan Zhu both gestured to Yan Lei’s mother. Yan Lei’s mother had stayed with Qiao Wei overnight and had become quite familiar with her. Qiao Wei was very friendly to her, so she wasn’t as afraid anymore and tentatively asked, “Qiao, Qiao Wei, what should we do?”

They couldn’t stay here until next month; it would cost money every day.

Qiao Wei sighed deeply, feeling helpless.

Seeing her sigh, just as Yan Lei’s mother was about to suggest, “Why don’t we go back first and come back next month,” Qiao Wei suddenly pulled out a lump of green from her military shoulder bag and then took off the bag and handed it to Yan Zhu. “Big brother, help me hold this.”

Yan Zhu obediently took it, holding the strap in his hands like a clothes rack.

Qiao Wei shook out what was in her hands with a rustle, and then draped it over her shoulders – it turned out to be a green military uniform.

Qiao Wei slipped her arms into the sleeves, where there was a red armband.

Buttoning it up, she took a military cap out of her bag and put it on her head, then pulled out a belt and tied it around her waist.

The three members of the Yan family were stunned. Now they understood why Qiao Wei’s military bag was so full today.

In the blink of an eye, Qiao Wei was dressed neatly.

This was her last resort. She had prepared for it, hoping she wouldn’t need to use it, but ultimately she had to.

She slung the military bag back over her shoulder, pushed Yan Xiang to Yan Lei’s mother’s side, and said, “Stay with Grandpa and Grandma, don’t wander off anywhere.”

Then she said to her in-laws and Yan Lei’s elder brother, “Wait here for me; I’ll be right back.”

Dressed in her military uniform, wearing a military cap on her head and a belt around her waist, with a red armband on her arm, Qiao Wei turned and walked towards the other end of the corridor.

People in the corridor saw her dressed like this and subconsciously made way for her.

The three members of the Yan family looked at each other.

“Sister-in-law’s outfit… seems like…” Yan Zhu whispered.

It looked like the outfits worn by those “talking heads” on the streets. They had seen them in both the county and the provincial capitals.

“What… what is she doing?” Yan Lei’s mother asked anxiously.

Yan Lei’s father whispered, “Whatever she’s doing, let’s just listen to her.”

After a while, Qiao Wei returned.

She said, “Let’s go back to the guesthouse first.”

Yan Lei’s mother asked, “What about the medical treatment?”

Qiao Wei said, “I’m here, and when the mountain doesn’t come, I’ll go to the mountain.”

Unfortunately, none of the three members of the Yan family understood what she meant.

Qiao Wei returned to the guesthouse dressed like this, startling the receptionist.

As Qiao Wei had expected, within two hours of returning to the guesthouse, the mountain came to Qiao Wei.

There was a knock on the door, and Qiao Wei, dressed in military attire, went to open it.

Outside the door, a middle-aged man accompanied by several people saw Qiao Wei’s outfit and knew they had found the right person.

“Comrade, I’m Zhang, the director of the First Hospital.” Director Zhang reached out to shake Qiao Wei’s hand and said, “Comrade, it’s our fault for not handling things properly. We have received your criticism and will make corrections.”

“Comrade, about that manuscript… it hasn’t been published yet, right?” Director Zhang asked nervously.

He was in a meeting outside, and the hospital’s phones had been ringing off the hook, urging him to come back quickly.

When he came back, he learned that a female revolutionary comrade had barged into his office and slammed a manuscript on his desk.

“Tell your director that I’m staying in Room 16 of the neighboring guesthouse.”

“Today if we can’t see him, then this article will be published tomorrow.”

Director Zhang was urgently called back and, sweating profusely, read through the manuscript. 

It was an article criticizing the medical system and hospital leadership. The hospital name was left blank, but given Director Zhang’s political acumen, it wasn’t difficult to see that this was a pre-prepared manuscript, ready to target any hospital by just filling in the name.

Unfortunately, it landed on his head.

That’s how the situation is nowadays. The more capable you are of toppling higher-ups, the greater the credit.

The writing in this article was too powerful, with sharp language and a deep understanding of central policies. It was unlike the crude writings posted outside on those big newspapers. It was clear that the author was someone within the system. Once sent to any newspaper, no matter which one, they would be eager to publish it.

In this day and age, the pen is indeed mightier than the sword.

The director was sweating, repeatedly asking his office staff whom they had offended.

Qiao Wei did leave a message behind. The secretary said, “Her family member has kidney stones and needs surgery. She said she’s waiting at the guesthouse. If they don’t meet today, it’ll be in the papers tomorrow.”

The director came with his team immediately.

He shook Qiao Wei’s hand, tears welling up in his eyes. “We won’t end up in the papers. Surgery, right? It’ll be arranged right away!”

In the neighboring Room 15, Yan Lei’s father and Yan Zhu had already heard the commotion and were peeking out.

Soon, Qiao Wei emerged.

“Dad, big brother, pack up your things and come with me,” she said calmly. “We can get admitted to the hospital now.”