Chapter 127

“I want you to ask Huang Zengyue why he’s treating me like this,” Meng Zuoyi said, “At first, I just thought he was trying to take shortcuts, but… these days, I’ve been thinking it’s not that simple.”

“There must be some other reason. If I don’t know, I probably won’t be able to close my eyes. Qiao…”

Meng Zuoyi’s voice abruptly stopped.

Because he saw Qiao Wei’s expression.

He understood, “You know?”

Qiao Wei remained silent, “You don’t know?”

Qiao Wei said, “Between Zengyue and your third daughter… You don’t know?”

Meng Zuoyi was surprised, “The two of them, it’s nothing.”

They looked into each other’s eyes.

Meng Zuoyi said, “Tell me…”

Qiao Wei told him what she knew.

“Nonsense! They never dated.” Meng Zuoyi said, “The third daughter just had some feelings for him, so she asked for my opinion. After I analyzed it, the third daughter understood they weren’t suitable. So, it ended there.”

“But my third daughter admired him, so she recommended him to me. I just used him.”

“But if you’re saying he had something with my third daughter, that’s simply not true!”

The situation was complicated.

Someone might be lying, or maybe no one was lying, but each person saw the same thing through their subjective filter.

Everyone had their own cocoon.

“If he just wants to climb up, I respect him as a man. If it’s for this…” Meng Zuoyi sneered, “then he won’t go far.”

Qiao Wei fell silent.

Should she say he’s right?

People like Huang Zengyue who climb up usually shine for only about ten years.

After that, all their dirty laundry gets aired, and their career will no longer develop.

Meng Zuoyi finally let go of his grudge against Huang Zengyue.

He looked at Qiao Wei and asked, “Did you go to the library?”

Qiao Wei nodded.

Meng Zuoyi felt relieved. “You’ll find your place. Your marriage was well arranged, and you have both the ability and vision. Stay steady and don’t chase temporary glory.”

Rubbing his knees, he continued, “I may sound absurd saying this in my current state, but Qiao Wei, I believe the current situation won’t last long. Disorder will be rectified sooner or later. Our party has experienced this several times. There’s nothing to fear.”

But this time it’s particularly long.

Lasting for ten years.

He didn’t know.

Qiao Wei’s eyes welled up.

She wiped her eyes. “Secretary, you’re right. I think… at most ten years. As long as we hold on, it will pass.”

“Secretary, I came here to tell you, hold on!”

Meng Zuoyi smiled.

“If Huang Zengyue really has any conscience, he wouldn’t let me die,” he said. “Fine clothes won’t bear the night journey.”

“Could you ask him for me if starving me to death is his intention?”

“I don’t think so.”

Indeed, it wasn’t.

Qiao Wei went to the county government building.

Huang Zengyue was in a meeting, and she had to wait for over half an hour before she could see him.

Huang Zengyue briskly walked into the office. “Qiao Wei, why did you come today? Is the work at the library going smoothly?”

Having just finished the meeting and feeling parched, he was familiar with Qiao Wei and skipped the formalities, already pouring himself a cup of water.

Qiao Wei spoke, “There’s no food in the warehouse at the back of the health bureau.”

Huang Zengyue froze.

He slammed the teacup onto the table and opened the office door. “Xiao Pan!”

Qiao Wei stood up to Guan Tuwei, the Office Secretary, and did not betray Meng Zuoyi. At the time, she stood with Guan Tuwei.

Currently, Huang Zengyue did not retaliate against these people nor did he undermine them. On the contrary, he promoted and used these colleagues from the same office.

Now, Pan, the office secretary, was Huang Zengyue’s secretary, equivalent to what Huang’s secretary was to Secretary Meng.

Pan hurried in, “Director?”

Huang Zengyue asked, “How’s the food situation decided at the health bureau’s backyard?”

Pan replied, “Reduced to half according to the standard.”

The emphasis was on not letting them starve to death but not providing enough to be full.

Huang Zengyue said, “Go check it out. There’s no food there now.”

Pan exclaimed, looking at Qiao Wei, guessing the source of the information.

Qiao Wei admitted, “I went to see it today.”

Qiao Wei was truly bold. Pan greatly admires her for it.

“Okay. I’ll go and double-check.” He left.

Qiao Wei sighed, “I know it’s not you. He also said it definitely wasn’t you. Alright, you know it in your heart. I’m going back.”

But Huang Zengyue stopped her. “Qiao Wei.”

Qiao Wei turned back.

He said, “If you have time, go there often. Those kids are hard to deal with. I can approve things here, but it’s hard to say once they’re passed down. I can’t watch over that side every day. Keep an eye on it for me.”

His actions even carried a hint of warmth, as if he was worried about a retired leader who had already left the stage. It almost made people forget that he was the one who ousted Secretary Meng from his position.

Indeed, he truly wanted Secretary Meng to stay alive.

Fine clothes indeed cannot bear the night journey.

Qiao Wei nodded. “Okay.”

In the evening, she sat cross-legged on the cool bed, looking up at the stars.

Yan Lei heated up some milk for her. “I added sugar.”

Yan Lei didn’t like it himself, but both Qiao Wei and Yan Xiang enjoyed it.

Yan Lei asked as he sipped his hot tea, “What are you pondering about?”

Qiao Wei blew the foam off the milk. “Fine clothes cannot bear the night journey.”

Yan Lei raised an eyebrow.

Qiao Wei smirked. “If Huang Zengyue insists on keeping me, perhaps that’s his intention too.”

Among those around her, only Qiao Wei knew about the thorn that had been stuck in his heart for years.

Only Qiao Wei could truly appreciate his fine clothes.

The stage of life needs its audience.

Yan Lei sat beside her, hugged her shoulders, and took a sip of his hot tea. “It’s okay. As long as you’re safe.”

“If you’re safe, I’m safe, and Huang Zengyue is safe too.”

“As long as everyone is safe, it’s fine.”

He asked, “What are you really worried about?”

Qiao Wei shook her head without saying anything.

As long as Meng Zuoyi could hold on until the day of vindication.

Vindication wouldn’t only come after ten years. During this period, some people would be unfairly treated, and others would constantly be vindicated.

What would happen on the day Meng Zuoyi finally endured it?

The food in the health bureau’s backyard had been adjusted. Of course, it wouldn’t be enough or good, but at least they wouldn’t starve and lie weakly on the bed board.

Director Xiao thanked Meng Zuoyi, saying, “Thanks to you.”

He praised him, saying, “You have a good eye for people.”

Meng Zuoyi chuckled, “If I had a good eye, I wouldn’t be here now. Go to bed early and conserve your energy.”

At the end of September, there was a light autumn rain.

On such days, the library would be deserted.

A row of small bamboo chairs was placed in the corridor.

Qiao Wei actually wanted to get some of those bamboo lounge chairs from home. But it would be too much, really too much. No matter how leisurely the job was, it was still a job, and it wasn’t appropriate to have such things.

As a compromise, they used public funds to buy small bamboo chairs, one for each person.

On rainy autumn days, the library staff sat together in the corridor, sipping tea.

Zheng Ai insisted, “The water temperature is still too high. It’s bitter.”

Others said, “I didn’t taste it.”

Zheng Ai said, “Your taste buds are not good. Mine are the most sensitive.”

Qiao Wei sighed, “We don’t have good tea sets.”

“That kind of thing is from the Four Olds, who dares. Let’s just make do with the enameled tea jar.”

Sitting in rows, Qiao Wei rested her feet on the corridor bench, tilting the front legs of the small bamboo chair and rocking back and forth.

Some were drinking tea, some were reading, some were murmuring poems that suited the occasion, and some were just daydreaming. Together, they listened to the autumn rain hitting the eaves, with water dripping and stones piercing through.

The atmosphere and sentiments here are hard to find elsewhere outside of this library.

Before Director Qiao arrived, everyone was extremely worried. Who knew she would be like this?

Qiao Wei looked at the sky and said, “It’s raining today, we might not be able to go out for a stroll.”

“Who knows, we might end up having a meeting in the auditorium instead,” everyone sighed.

The atmosphere became heavy, especially with the autumn rain, suddenly making the ethereal autumn day gloomy.

Qiao Wei sighed lightly and promised again, “When it snows in winter, we’ll roast sweet potatoes around the stove here.”

The air lightened up again.

There was something to look forward to in the enthusiastic anticipation of winter.

Yan Xiang practiced calligraphy while listening to the rain.

Among the librarians, there was a senior named Aunt Shen who had nothing to do and asked if Qiao Wei could let her teach Yan Xiang calligraphy.

Wow, in the future, a calligraphy class would cost hundreds! And someone wanted to teach for free!

What else could Qiao Wei say but agree?

In many ways, these colleagues at the library had a lot in common, such as patience. They did everything calmly and unhurriedly.

Compared to the lessons that didn’t teach much in school, Yan Xiang loved the library more.

Practicing calligraphy in the rain.

Aunt Shen spoke slowly, tapping his wrist with a small bamboo stick, explaining the key points to him.

Uncle Zheng said, “Let him write the few Song poems I asked him to memorize, killing two birds with one stone.”

Uncle Zheng loved poetry and made him memorize them.

Aunt Shen looked down upon him greatly and rolled her eyes directly, “Outsiders should not interfere, it’s like a mountain between different professions.”

Uncle Zheng clicked his tongue.

Qiao Wei learned to play Chinese chess from the oldest librarian in the library, Old Li.

In a previous life, an aunt in the ward had taught her a little.

But after that aunt left, no one could play with her anymore. Later, she lost her ability to take care of herself, giving up everything.

Only a phone stand was left on the bed frame, watching videos.

This was the most effortless, saving both physical and mental energy.

Waiting for death.

She had long expected to spend several years in this library, while chaos reigned outside, Qiao Wei hid here, calm as water.

Playing chess now was just right.

Every now and then, she would go to the backyard of the health bureau.

Sometimes she would secretly bring some medicine over.

The back of the neck was strangled by wires, looking bloody and painful.

It was said that there was a female worker named Zheng in the fertilizer plant who was particularly active. Every time she came, she would take the wooden sign to soak in water.

“I didn’t even know who she was,” Meng Zuoyi said, “Later they told me she used to be a teacher in our kindergarten and got hepatitis, so I transferred her away.”

It’s not even “forgetting,” it’s “not knowing.”

For Meng Zuoyi, the former secretary, it was simply a casual order, something not worth considering. Each person and event never entered his brain.

It might also be because among the people Meng Zuoyi had offended, she was the least worth mentioning.

When Qiao Wei went to see Meng Zuoyi, she would also take a look at Director Xiao.

Everyone at the library missed Director Xiao. But they didn’t have Qiao Wei’s status and connections, so they didn’t dare to enter and exit the backyard of the health bureau with a “get out of jail free” card like Qiao Wei.

As she visited more frequently, Director Xiao gradually began to trust her.

Finally, one day, he said, “In Room 7, on the third shelf, there are about ten boxes. I’ve marked them.”

Looking no different from other boxes, but inside were treasures from the library.

All were ancient books passed down locally.

Once destroyed, they would be lost forever.

Qiao Wei understood. She said, “I’ll do my best.”

Director Xiao said, “Don’t just do your best, promise me.”

Qiao Wei sighed helplessly, “How can I promise you? Considering the current situation, if anything happens, I’ll have to prioritize myself. No matter how precious those things are, they are not as precious as my own life.”

Director Xiao said, “If you don’t promise me, I won’t be able to sleep.”

The old man looked at her pitifully.

Facing great danger every morning and afternoon, perhaps he couldn’t sleep at night. Because Meng Zuoyi had also said similar things about not being able to sleep.

Qiao Wei softened and reassured him, “Alright, alright, I promise.”

The old man became happy and said, “Then it’s up to you, Director Qiao.”

That night, the old man went to Meng Zuoyi’s room.

Meng Zuoyi woke him up.

The old man said, “I need your help.”

Meng Zuoyi raised his eyelids.

The next day, a female librarian rushed in with red eyes.

“I just passed by the health bureau. They’re pulling out bodies, corpses.”

Half an hour before opening, everyone was cleaning. Upon hearing this, they stopped.

The librarian’s lips trembled.

“Director Xiao… Xiao hung himself.”

“Gone, free from suffering.” That night, Director Xiao had awakened Meng Zuoyi.

“I’m different from you.”

“You’ve been a soldier, able to endure any hardship.”

“As for me, I’m just a scholar, a mere scholar. The ancients didn’t deceive me.”

“Get up, help me. I can’t reach.”