Chapter 135

A chill ran down Yan Lei’s spine, and he felt fear.

Of course, he wasn’t afraid of the Qiao Wei in front of him.

He was afraid… as if he was about to lose her.

He bent down and lifted her up by her legs. “You’re being silly! Let’s go to bed!” 

He carried her upstairs.

Qiao Wei gazed at his profile in the warm and familiar embrace.

“I had a high fever for a whole day and night, with no one to care for me.”

“I went to the hospital with you in time.”

“Most people couldn’t endure that long with a high temperature and would suffer from dehydration.”

“I brought you back safely.”

“… Don’t you want to hear it?”

“No.”

Qiao Wei leaned her face against his shoulder. “Okay.”

No one is stupid, right?

There’s always been a willingness.

Yan Lei carried her back to their bedroom, tucked her into bed, and held her tightly, as if afraid she might suddenly fly away.

“Don’t you think about it? Without you, what would happen to Xiang Xiang? What about me?” he said softly, with a hint of resentment.

But Qiao Wei replied, “You would still live just as well as now.”

She looked up at the dark ceiling. This house was different from the old courtyard; it had a ceiling.

“You and I are the same kind of people,” she said firmly. “Even if we hadn’t met each other, we would still strive to live well.”

“We would never waste our lives.”

“That’s different,” Yan Lei hugged her tighter. “Even if I live well, it’s not the same without you.”

“It’s not possible.”

“Qiao Wei, neither Xiang Xiang nor I can live without you.”

He held her too tightly, making her unable to breathe.

Qiao Wei pushed him away, turned over, and faced him, nose to nose.

She stared at him.

Yan Lei tried to kiss her, clumsily like when he first brought her back from the provincial capital.

But he kissed her with sincerity, as if telling her—Others won’t do, it must be you.

It won’t do without you.

Qiao Wei felt herself gradually softening.

Yan Lei’s tenderness and purity enveloped her.

She lightly stroked his cheek with her fingertip in response to his kiss.

Love is like the tide, gently lifting people up, relaxing every limb and bone.

You’re not alone, because there’s always this person with you, no matter when.

…

With Huang Zengyue’s downfall and Meng Zuoyi’s rise, the spring in Bocheng this year was destined to be turbulent.

Up and down, it was dazzling.

Everyone said that Meng Zuoyi was still the same Meng Zuoyi from before, and the five years of trials only made him more steadfast. His experience of being XX became a capital in his resume, as stable as a rock.

Personnel changes were intense and frequent.

In the spring of March, Qiao Wei, the head librarian, received a transfer letter, got promoted, and was appointed as the deputy director of the Bocheng County Revolutionary Committee.

Qiao Wei showed the transfer letter to Yan Lei.

Yan Lei advised her, “Keep a calm mind.”

“Their affair is their own business.”

“Think about it, when Old Meng was XX, we were also in contact with Zeng Yue.”

Not only contact, but also cooperation.

In fact, at that time, Yan Lei thought Huang Zengyue was naive.

He actually kept Meng Zuoyi.

When dealing with Guan Tuwei, Huang Zengyue also remained silent for a while before agreeing to his demands.

Ultimately, these intellectuals, with their pens and political maneuvering, were still wary of matters stained with blood.

However, Yan Lei told himself that he and Huang Zengyue were separated by Qiao Wei. Their relationship was purely one of mutual interest and cooperation; there was no sentiment between them, and he had no obligation to warn Huang. Moreover, just as Qiao Wei had feelings for Huang Zengyue, she also had feelings for Meng Zuoyi.

Whether Huang Zengyue or Meng Zuoyi rose or fell, whether they lived or died, Qiao Wei actually didn’t lose anything.

So he remained silent.

Actually, from the day he learned of Meng Zuoyi’s rehabilitation, he knew that Huang Zengyue was in trouble. From the day Meng Zuoyi insisted on returning to Bocheng County, he had foreseen Huang Zengyue’s fate.

Sure enough, everything went as expected.

Playing politics doesn’t tolerate any hint of naivety.

In fact, Qiao Wei was also naive.

In the eyes of others, she was mature, sophisticated, and smooth, but only Yan Lei knew that sometimes she exuded an incredible innocence from her bones.

A kind of innocence much greater than Huang Zengyue’s.

Over the years, Yan Lei has observed and found that except for Guan Tuwei, she didn’t have intense hatred for anyone. She was extremely tolerant, showing a compassionate tolerance toward everyone, even those she didn’t like. This was in stark contrast to her quick reactions and smooth responses.

Like a puzzle.

But these contradictions in her fascinated Yan Lei deeply.

He persuaded her, holding her shoulders and kissing her forehead.

“I know,” Qiao Wei sighed deeply. “I know.”

It’s great, she had stepped out of that emotional state and returned to normal.

Yan Lei loved her most when her eyes were bright and her gaze was firm.

Qiao Wei went to the Revolutionary Committee compound to see Meng Zuoyi.

In that familiar office, Meng Zuoyi hurriedly put on his shoes and deliberately opened the window. “Let’s air it out.”

Qiao Wei leaned against her forehead. “You still remember that!”

Meng Zuoyi chuckled. “How could I forget.”

He would never forget the appearance of that young girl who stubbornly refused to harm Guan Tuwei.

She was so young and yet so courageous.

When everyone else distanced themselves from him, only she dared to visit him openly, fearing he might be killed by those people.

She had always been courageous.

The atmosphere was relaxed.

“I actually wanted you to be my first deputy,” he said, “but I know you wouldn’t agree.”

Qiao Wei nodded. “You should understand my reasons.”

At this time, people were divided into many factions. Everyone’s political orientation was different, so their choices were different.

It was clear that Qiao Wei had chosen to avoid this massive movement.

If she really had ambitions and wanted to stir up trouble, with her intellect and capability, backed by the military region, Huang Zengyue might not necessarily dominate alone.

Or, taking a step back, if she didn’t have such great ambitions but wanted to become the first deputy director of Bocheng County, she could have done so during Huang Zengyue’s time.

Not only was she a powerful ally, but everyone also knew that she wouldn’t backstab anyone; she was someone who could be completely trusted.

Everyone wanted to have a partner like her.

Huang Zengyue would undoubtedly be willing to bind himself with her and get her assistance.

But she didn’t seek power; she retreated to the library and enjoyed herself every day.

This kind of person, there’s a common term for them at this time, called a free spirit.

Of course, at this time, no free spirit would admit to being one.

But as long as you saw that she remained outside of all the revolutionary organizations and groups, you would know that she was a free spirit.

Qiao Wei was a typical free spirit.

When Meng Zuoyi was in the backyard of the Health Bureau, he often looked forward to her coming. Not only because she would bring food and medicine, but also because she was the rare sunshine in the dark years.

When he saw Qiao Wei, he could remember that people were supposed to live like this.

Meng Zuoyi nodded. “I know you. So, I’ll just give you the position of deputy director. Anyway, you shouldn’t just loaf around in the library. Come over and build up your experience early.”

China’s officialdom has always emphasized seniority and qualifications.

But that’s in normal career paths and official circles.

Qiao Wei stared at him. “Director… do you have any news?”

Meng Zuoyi tapped the table lightly with his fingers. “A movement. What is a movement? Since it’s a movement, it has a beginning and an end. Even if it’s still in full swing now, sooner or later it will end.”

So he brought Qiao Wei back to the government.

If she didn’t want to get involved, it was okay. She could slowly accumulate experience here instead of loafing around in the library. By the time this movement ended and everything returned to normal, she would have qualifications for her career.

Meng Zuoyi was not unkind to Qiao Wei.

He actually very much hoped that Qiao Wei would come to manage the propaganda department for him, but since she didn’t want to stay in such a contentious place, he didn’t force her.

He let her hold an idle position in the government.

Qiao Wei didn’t waste this meeting either; she fought for Zheng Ai to get the position of library director.

The library was Yan Xiang’s little world, and Qiao Wei somewhat regarded it as her backyard. She didn’t want others to meddle with it.

Meng Zuoyi unexpectedly knew Zheng Ai.

Qiao Wei was surprised.

“Old Xiao talks about him all the time,” he said. “There are only a few people in the library, and he talks about it every day.”

Then he suddenly said, “Wei Wei, you know, I appointed Old Xiao. He couldn’t have done it himself.”

The air became silent for a moment.

It would be even more depressing to say it back then, so they both understood without saying. One didn’t ask, and the other didn’t say.

Now that time had passed, it could be said.

Telling Qiao Wei, Meng Zuoyi also felt a sense of relief.

Some things needed to be said. Not everyone deserved to hear them.

It could only be for specific people.

He had been a soldier and was strong and robust. During those years, anyone who couldn’t handle things would ask him for help.

He said, “I’m very good at appointing people.”

Qiao Wei thought of the tree on the small road.

“Is it done by hand?”

“No need.”

“Who knows.”

“It might just be talk.”

Meng Zuoyi seemed to understand what she was thinking, he just smiled.

Neither of them mentioned the person’s name.

The past, the person whose body has disappeared, will eventually fade away in people’s memories.

Not even ashes remain.

But Qiao Wei suddenly felt nauseous.

It might be because of the unpleasant thoughts in her mind, or it might be because the smell of sweaty feet and smoke in the room mixed and couldn’t dissipate.

But this was a bad timing, how could this happen now, just when the conversation reached this point. Just as the nausea subsided, Qiao Wei wanted to explain to Meng Zuoyi, but as soon as she opened her mouth, another wave of nausea hit.

“Oops.” Meng Zuoyi stood up and fanned her with his hand across the table. “Are you okay?”

“It’s just…” Qiao Wei tried to explain, “I haven’t smelled smoke in the library for a long time…”

The library is a key fire prevention unit, completely smoke-free. That makes sense.

But Meng Zuoyi looked at her with his hands on his hips, a little puzzled.

“Weiwei, are you…?” he asked, “Could it be that you’re pregnant?”

Qiao Wei blinked.

What’s wrong with her? Meng Zuoyi found it amusing. “Your child is already eight or nine years old? Ten? How could you still be so clueless?”

Clearly being someone who has had children, why is she acting like a clueless young girl?

Even he, a grown man, could tell she was pregnant, yet she herself couldn’t realize it.

Qiao Wei was stunned.

She and Yan Lei had always been… oh no, there was one time, one time it didn’t work.

Qiao Wei remembered.

It was the night she was emotionally unstable because of Huang Zengyue’s death, wanting to spill everything.

Yan Lei wouldn’t let her.

That night, he comforted her especially gently, and she was emotionally fluctuating, in a daze. They both forgot to take precautions.

Just that one time and she got pregnant.

This kind of thing is really careless, there’s no room for luck.

Meng Zuoyi was amused by her stunned expression, pointing at her with his finger, laughing so hard that he shook his head.

“Have a few more while you’re young,” he said. “Many people, great strength, more people, more production. This is contributing to the country.”

Qiao Wei went back to the library to explain to Zheng Ai.

Everyone was reluctant to let Qiao Wei go, but they were also happy that Zheng Ai would be the next library director, it was truly a mixed feeling of sadness and joy.

Qiao Wei planned to wait for Yan Xiang to finish school and go home with him.

Now that Yan Xiang is ten years old, he doesn’t need Qiao Wei to accompany him to and from school anymore.

But who knew, before noon, Yan Xiang hadn’t returned yet, and Master Yan came.

Qiao Wei rubbed her forehead.

“Director Meng called me.” Yan Lei said cautiously in her office, “How are you feeling now? Are you uncomfortable?”

Qiao Wei said impatiently, “Thanks to you, I’m doing fine.”

Yan Lei hurriedly said, “It’s all my fault, all my fault.”

But his joy couldn’t be hidden.

He was so delighted at the arrival of this new life.

This was their child, his and Qiao Wei’s.