Chapter 102
Secretary Huang found Qiao Wei to be quite interesting. She was cheerful every day. As time went on, Secretary Huang also grew fond of seeing her smiling face.
Secretary Huang didn’t yet know that in later generations, this would be called “positive energy” or “emotional value,” but regardless of the concept, people naturally liked such individuals.
Moreover, she had real talent; the things she wrote with her pen were not hollow, but possessed a solid sense of power.
No wonder the leadership liked her and valued her.
“Qiao Wei, the Secretary is going to the city for a meeting tomorrow. You and I are both going along.”
“Okay!”
Qiao Wei’s response was short, crisp, and high-spirited.
It made one feel good just hearing it.
Secretary Huang smiled slightly.
Qiao Wei told Yan Lei, and Yan Lei asked, “Are you coming back the same day?”
“Yes.”
“What are you doing?”
“Attending a meeting.”
But for someone like Secretary Meng to go to the city, it usually wouldn’t just be for a meeting. There was a high probability of a dinner party.
“I forgot to ask Secretary Huang.” Qiao Wei had attended so many meetings in the county that she was used to it, and hadn’t thought of it at the time.
Yan Lei said, “If there’s drinking at the dinner party, just tell Secretary Meng that I don’t let you drink.”
This was using Yan Lei’s status as a shield. Yan Lei was on the same rank as Secretary Meng and they had met before; by bringing him up, Secretary Meng would have to help Qiao Wei block the drinks.
Using one’s husband as an excuse to avoid drinking sounded helpless, but it was an effective method.
Otherwise, given the dross of the drinking culture, a young and pretty female comrade like Qiao Wei sitting at the table would become easy prey.
Don’t think that this situation didn’t exist in this era.
Qiao Wei nodded, “Okay.”
The next day, they traveled to the city by car.
A car was, after all, much more comfortable than the military jeep.
The jeep that Driver Li drove required getting on from the back, with two long bench-like seats. It definitely wasn’t as comfortable as a sedan.
After the War to Resist America and Aid Korea, the country stopped importing American cars and mainly imported Eastern European ones.
Secretary Meng’s vehicle was a Volga, the best car in the entire county.
On this trip, Secretary Meng brought his two top writers: Secretary Huang and Qiao Wei. Because Secretary Huang was coming, Officer Pan didn’t need to come.
Since Qiao Wei was a female comrade, she naturally sat in the passenger seat, while Secretary Meng and Secretary Huang sat in the back.
Once in the car, Qiao Wei clicked her seatbelt on.
Secretary Meng laughed, “Little Qiao is even wearing a seatbelt.”
That seatbelt thing was just a decoration to people at this time. No one wore it at all.
They didn’t feel it had any use.
Qiao Wei turned and said, “This position is the most dangerous. When driving, if a danger comes head-on, the driver’s survival instinct will make them turn the steering wheel to avoid the danger, throwing the passenger seat over to shield themselves… Oh no, Driver Li, Driver Li, I don’t mean you, I’m talking about human survival instinct.”
Secretary Meng laughed heartily.
“Anyway, it’s safer to wear a seatbelt. Since this thing was designed, it has its meaning.” Qiao Wei urged them, “Everyone should wear one too.”
But people in this era… Secretary Meng waved his hand, “We aren’t as timid as female comrades.”
She couldn’t persuade them, not at all. They not only lacked safety awareness but were also particularly chauvinistic. Even the driver didn’t wear one.
Indeed, there were few cars on the road in this era, and the probability of a car accident was indeed very small.
Qiao Wei shook her head helplessly and turned to sit properly.
Secretary Meng pointed at her and laughed with Secretary Huang, saying, “Look at her, look at her.”
Secretary Meng was generous and consistently kind to the subordinates he appreciated.
In reality, he was a particularly strong-willed man. In order not to have his authority interfered with or even have the office director sidelined, he delegated power to his confidant, letting Secretary Huang take charge of the office.
He also valued Qiao Wei, appreciating her ability as a propaganda writer.
Now, Qiao Wei was practically ranked alongside Secretary Huang as one of his two tiger generals.
Secretary Meng’s speeches and reports all came from Secretary Huang’s hand; he was steady and proficient in everything within the system, basically never making mistakes. Articles for external propaganda and momentum-building were handed to Qiao Wei; her writing was particularly infectious and best suited for external propaganda.
The two tiger generals had clear divisions of labor, did not interfere with each other, and did not engage in internal strife.
Under his high regard, nowadays when Secretary Huang was occasionally not in the office, others would actually come to consult Qiao Wei when they had matters.
If Qiao Wei truly had ambitions for an official career, Secretary Meng could be called her mentor.
Under such high regard, Qiao Wei’s original plan of “coasting through the days and waiting to return to the town” was truly impossible. To slack off in front of such a strong-willed leader was no longer a question of whether the leader valued you or not, but a matter of offending people.
Qiao Wei had to give her all in the office.
They held a meeting for the whole day.
The various counties in the city were fighting for resources, like bargaining in a vegetable market.
In fact, not to mention a county or a city, just look at the national-level meetings of many countries leaked on the internet in later generations, or the UN floor; it was exactly the same. Some countries even started fighting during meetings.
One shouldn’t think of these people as too lofty.
Moreover, many leaders came from old revolutionary backgrounds, having served as soldiers in their early years, and their education level was not high. When they argued, they were very loud.
Several times, Secretary Meng slammed the table and shouted at people.
Such scenes required the leaders to roll up their sleeves and go at it personally. Qiao Wei couldn’t help, so she sat in the back, as well-behaved as an elementary school student.
At noon, they ate in the Cafeteria. She and Secretary Huang ate at the large mess hall, while Secretary Meng and other county leaders were at the medium mess hall; they were not together.
But sure enough, there was a dinner party in the evening, and Secretary Huang and Qiao Wei had to attend.
Qiao Wei was the only woman at the table. She wore a black cashmere coat, her cheeks were fair, her eyes bright, and she was young and conspicuous. The leaders couldn’t help but look at her a few extra times.
It wasn’t as excessive as in later generations; after all, in this era, a leader’s lifestyle was a very serious issue. But the drinking culture at the dinner table was inherited.
Sure enough, someone said, “Is this the new writer you’ve been cultivating? I’ve long heard of her name.”
Then they wanted to make Qiao Wei drink, with the attitude that not drinking was not giving face.
Before Qiao Wei could speak, Secretary Meng blocked it directly: “Don’t make things difficult for the young girl. Do you know who this is? A military dependent! Her husband is that Yan Lei! The youngest regimental-level cadre in the Military District! Division Commander Pan of the Military District even specifically told me to look after her. This is the first military dependent to work in the county, so no one is to make things difficult for this female comrade. Ah—”
There was never a drink that couldn’t be blocked, it just depended on whether the leader was willing or not.
Secretary Meng was such a strong-willed person; not only did he express his attitude, but he also brought up Yan Lei and Division Commander Pan.
The Military Unit regimental rank corresponded to a government administrative rank no lower than theirs, so everyone restrained themselves. They suddenly became kind and amiable leaders and elders.
The meal was eaten peacefully.
It got dark early in winter. Once they left the city limits, there were no more streetlights, and it was dim and dark.
Secretary Meng had drunk alcohol and was leaning back in the back seat sleeping. Secretary Huang hadn’t drunk, but he had been exhausted all day, especially having to take care of the leader at the dinner table, so he also closed his eyes to rest.
Qiao Wei wrapped herself tightly in her cashmere coat and looked at the scenery outside the window.
Gradually, both sides became too dark to see. It relied entirely on the headlights.
Qiao Wei also dozed off for a while. She didn’t know if she had fallen asleep, but she suddenly woke up, rubbed her eyes, and looked out the window; it was pitch black.
“Are we almost there?” she asked softly.
Driver Li also said softly, “Almost, almost.”
In fact, it wasn’t late; it wasn’t even eight o’clock yet. But without streetlights, it felt eerie.
Qiao Wei intended to close her eyes and sleep for a while longer, but just then, a black shadow suddenly appeared in the light of the headlights in front!
Qiao Wei’s pupils shrank!
The sound of tires screeching against the ground rang out sharply! The world spinning seemed to happen in an instant. Her body was thrown violently, and her head hit the car frame hard!
…
Qiao Wei opened her eyes and first saw the windshield covered in spiderweb cracks. As she regained consciousness, she felt pain in her head and shoulders.
She gasped for air.
After a few seconds, she felt she had regained control of her body. Turning her head, she saw Driver Li with his face covered in blood, slumped over the steering wheel. The driver’s side window was completely shattered.
Qiao Wei took a few more deep breaths, felt for the seatbelt buckle, and unlocked it. She first checked Driver Li’s breath and carotid artery; he was still alive.
She turned to look at the back.
The situation in the back was even worse.
These people had no awareness of wearing seatbelts at all. In this situation, they, like Driver Li, had collided with various parts of the car cabin during the violent jolting, and both were covered in blood.
Secretary Meng was unconscious.
The car door on Secretary Huang’s side had been jolted open, and he was slumped backward, his upper body hanging outside the car.
Qiao Wei pushed open the car door and got out. She almost couldn’t stand steadily at first; her head was painful and dizzy. She shook her head to fully wake up.
She quickly walked around the car to Secretary Huang’s side.
Secretary Huang’s eyes were open, his chest heaving rapidly: “Qiao Wei…”
Qiao Wei looked closely and saw a large piece of broken glass stuck in Secretary Huang’s thigh, with blood gushing out.
His face was covered in blood, which couldn’t hide his pale complexion, but what he said was: “Secretary, check on the Secretary…”
At this moment, shouldn’t his own life be the most important?
Was he really this loyal to the leader?
Qiao Wei didn’t care; she first helped Secretary Huang sit up. Otherwise, he would have almost fallen out of the car onto the ground.
She unbuckled his belt, pulled it out, and felt for a handkerchief in her pocket.
There were no disposable tissues in this era, so Qiao Wei was accustomed to carrying two handkerchiefs just in case.
She first wrapped the belt around Secretary Huang’s thigh, looping it loosely. The moment she pulled out the glass, she pressed the handkerchief tightly against the wound, quickly tightened the belt, and stopped the bleeding.
Secretary Huang’s breathing remained rapid as he watched his colleague Qiao Wei do all this.
After doing this, Qiao Wei went to the other side, opened the car door, and checked Secretary Meng’s breath and carotid artery; he was also still alive, just unconscious.
Now, there were two unconscious people.
Only Secretary Huang and she were conscious.
“Qiao Wei…” Secretary Huang weakly directed her, “You, you go nearby and see if there is a village, think, think of a way…”
Qiao Wei directly rejected his arrangement: “It’s pitch black, it’s hard for me to find a village. Both of them are unconscious, and I don’t know if they have internal bleeding. We need to get medical attention as soon as possible; we cannot delay. And you, you cannot delay either.”
How could Secretary Huang not know that seeking help from villagers might delay the three injured people, but if they didn’t go to find villagers, what other way was there?
Driver Li was also unconscious, and the car had rolled from the road into the wilderness. Although it was now on all four wheels, there was no driver to drive it.
He had just thought that no one could drive, when he saw Qiao Wei climb in from the passenger seat, kneel on the seat, and laboriously drag Driver Li toward the passenger seat.
Secretary Huang’s eyes widened: “Qiao Wei, you…”
What are you doing?
Qiao Wei was not short, but for her, dragging an unconscious grown man was still too difficult.
She finally managed to drag Driver Li to the passenger seat. She had to be thankful for this kind of old-fashioned car; between the driver and passenger seats, there was only a bare gear stick, with no other objects or structures, making it a connected space.
Qiao Wei closed the passenger door, quickly walked to the driver’s side, got in the car, and slammed the door shut.
Secretary Huang was a bit incredulous: “Qiao Wei, can you drive?”
“I can’t!” With three people’s lives in her hands, no matter how calm Qiao Wei was, her hands were shaking with nervousness. “Steering wheel, gear, brake, gas pedal… clutch? Clutch…”
She wasn’t lying.
She only knew how to drive an automatic. She had learned automatic from the start because it was simple. Who had the chance to drive a manual in later generations?
She never thought that one day, she would have to drive this kind of car.
“Clutch!” Qiao Wei shouted, “Huang Zengyue! How do you step on the clutch?”
Secretary Huang said, “I don’t know, I don’t know how to drive!”
Driving in this era was a skill mastered by a few professionals.
Ordinary people wouldn’t touch a car in their entire lives. Unless there were family connections to arrange it or the unit selected and recommended you, it was very difficult to learn driving skills.
“Forget it.” Qiao Wei gritted her teeth and started the engine.
Although she hadn’t learned to drive a manual with a clutch, she had watched when she was at driving school, and still had some memory.
She had to step on the clutch first, then release it slowly.
Qiao Wei thought she released it very slowly, but the car stalled immediately.
Secretary Huang’s lips were tightly pursed into a line.
Qiao Wei stalled it a second time.
The third time, Qiao Wei released the clutch very slightly, and this time, it finally didn’t stall.
Finally, the clutch could be released completely; Qiao Wei gave it gas, and the car started moving.
“Gear!” Secretary Huang suddenly reminded her.
He was a very smart person with strong learning ability. He had ridden in the car with the leader many times; although he couldn’t drive, he had seen it many times and had an impression.
Driver Li usually shifted gears when giving it gas.
Qiao Wei received the reminder, shifted gears, and the car’s speed finally picked up, no longer like a snail.
With a push of the gas, it rushed up the slope from the wilderness and returned to the road.
When it came to the quality of hospitals, Lin City’s was definitely better than Bocheng County’s, but they had been driving all the way, and they were already too far from Lin City and closer to the county seat.
Qiao Wei turned the steering wheel and drove toward the county seat.
She glanced at the rearview mirror and shouted, “Huang Zengyue! Wake up!”
Secretary Huang was about to lose consciousness, but he snapped awake with a jolt.
He saw in the rearview mirror that his colleague Qiao Wei’s face was deathly pale, blood was flowing down her right temple, and tears were also streaming down.
She must be afraid.
In the pitch-black winter night, among three colleagues, two were unconscious, and one was bleeding so much they were about to lose consciousness.
She was driving an unfamiliar car, not skillfully, speeding on the night road toward the county seat.
She was braver than many people he knew.
“Talk to me…” Huang Zengyue said, “Talk to me… don’t let me, don’t let me pass out…”
“Qiao Wei… I’m counting on you…”
“Okay!” Qiao Wei wiped the tears from her face, “Huang Zengyue, you stay awake for me!”
