Chapter 346: The Upper-Level Route (Part 2)

It would take two hours to repair the computer at the shop. This machine was Zhu Mei’s closest companion; without it and the internet, two-thirds of the door to the outside world was effectively closed. Consequently, Zhu Mei was deeply concerned. Hearing the two-hour estimate, she felt a palpable sense of impatience.

The shop was small, cluttered with computer components. The owner was a young, short man, standing barely one meter sixty. He wore thick glasses and had a faint ring of downy fuzz on his upper lip—not quite a beard, but not smooth skin either. He was unremarkable in appearance, but his hands were nimble. In a few swift movements, he had the computer disassembled.

Hou Weidong asked casually, “Is this your shop?”

“I graduated from the technical school, but they didn’t guarantee job placement. We had no choice but to open a shop to earn a living.”

“Is business good?”

“More people are using computers now, so we can barely make ends meet.” The young man’s words were modest. In reality, he had borrowed money from six relatives to start this business. He had originally planned to grind it out slowly, but unexpectedly, the business had been thriving. Within a year, he had recouped his costs, and his savings had already reached five figures.

Zhu Mei, naturally, could not hear their conversation. She stood beside Hou Weidong, her fingers sliding rapidly across the keypad. She moved with the agility of a square pigeon fleeing a predator, her speed blurring to the eye.

Hou Weidong had kept his mobile phone in hand to communicate with Zhu Mei. After reading her text, realizing he lacked her dexterity with the keypad, he took out his随身携带 (carried-along) notebook and wrote: “It will be fixed in two hours. Don’t worry.”

The young shopkeeper had initially been captivated by Zhu Mei’s finger work. He hadn’t realized she was deaf and mute; he simply thought the girl was romantic and beautiful. It was only when he saw Hou Weidong’s behavior that he understood the pure, pretty girl before him was deaf and mute. A sigh of regret escaped him internally. “Such a beautiful girl, why is she mute?”

He had graduated from middle school and then the technical school. Nineteen at graduation, he was now only twenty-three or twenty-four, an age filled with curiosity about the opposite sex. Although he knew the beauty before him was deaf and mute, he couldn’t help but steal glances at Zhu Mei.

Zhu Mei paid no attention to the young man; she was far more concerned with the computer.

Hou Weidong wrote in his notebook: “It’s still early. I heard Shazhou has a Dicos. It’s a foreign thing. Let me treat you to a meal.”

The food at Dicos was completely unsuited to Hou Weidong’s palate, but Zhu Mei ate with great relish, a slight sheen of sweat on her nose. Her face was turned toward a television screen. A singer, looking like a Hong Kong or Taiwan star, was singing and dancing. Two girls of Zhu Mei’s age stood beside the TV, staring intently at the screen.

Seeing this scene, the delicious food on Zhu Mei’s table suddenly lost its flavor. Through the internet, she knew this world had pop stars and fan clubs, yet she was forever insulated from them. At school, everyone shared the same fate, so her mood had been calm. But now, seeing peers of her age so engrossed in the television, this vast difference suddenly shattered her good mood.

She immediately fell into the depression and frustration that often visited her.

Hou Weidong did not notice Zhu Mei’s psychological shift. He had long finished his food and was listening to the music. His mind began to wander randomly—first to the upcoming meeting with Deputy Director Jiang, then to the Huofu Coal Mine, and finally to his next steps.

Zhu Mei stood up. Her fingers flew as she sent a text: “I don’t want to stay inside.” Shortly after, another message appeared: “I want to take the car to the highway.”

Hou Weidong finally noticed that Zhu Mei’s demeanor was off. He felt a deep pity for her. Hearing her request, he could not bear to refuse. He nodded and went to start the vehicle.

Before entering the highway, Zhu Mei sent another text to Hou Weidong, asking him to open the sunroof. Hou Weidong didn’t understand why, but he followed the instruction and opened it. They were driving toward Lingxi. After about ten minutes, Zhu Mei stood up, pushing through the open sunroof.

Hou Weidong was startled. He was driving and couldn’t speak to Zhu Mei, so he slowly pulled the car to the right and stopped. He took out his notebook and wrote: “This is dangerous. Get down.” Zhu Mei texted back: “I like it. It won’t be public.”

Seeing Zhu Mei’s stubbornness, Hou Weidong had no choice but to start the car again, though he slowed down significantly.

Facing the wind that constantly whipped past, Zhu Mei’s hair fluttered wildly. She opened her mouth wide, trying to scream, but no sound came out. Tears streamed down her face in strings, blown by the wind to her ears, then turning into晶莹 (crystal-clear) dewdrops that flew directly into the air, shattering into particles and vanishing.

“Facing the wind and shouting loudly can vent the unhappiness in your heart.” This was the method “Son of the Wind” had taught Zhu Mei. Today, she wanted to try it.

Back at the computer repair shop in Shazhou, the young man had already “fixed” the computer. In truth, it was just a minor software glitch, but he had gone through the motions of disassembling it to justify charging more. Once Hou Weidong and Zhu Mei left, he quickly reassembled the machine, reinstalled a few applications, and the computer returned to normal. Humming happily, he sang “I easily made five hundred yuan” to the tune of “Without the Communist Party, there would be no New China.”

With nothing else to do in the shop, he turned on his own computer and entered the chat room. His username was “Son of the Wind.” Seeing that “Fast-Talking Mei”’s name was grayed out, he knew Mei was not online.

“Fast-Talking Mei” was a mischievous girl. He had chatted with her under the name “Son of the Wind” for nearly half a year. They almost chatted for one or two hours every day.

“Son of the Wind” was short and plain-looking, insignificant in real life. Deep down, he was quite inferior and had never been in a relationship. Meeting “Fast-Talking Mei” had ignited his love fire. Judging from their conversations, Mei seemed to be a girl with little social experience, which boosted his confidence. He had invited Mei to meet several times, but she always found excuses to decline. This left “Son of the Wind” both sweetly pleased and bitterly frustrated.

Hou Weidong had been driving on the highway for over an hour. As they approached the Lingxi Province highway exit, police lights flashed behind them. A stern voice echoed from behind the Bluebird car: “Person standing in front, sit back in the car.” It was a patrol car from the Highway Management Office. Seeing someone standing at the sunroof, they had chased them down.

Zhu Mei had been standing at the sunroof, blowing in the wind for an hour. Her tears had dried, and her mood had lifted. Naturally, she couldn’t hear the police car’s shouts behind her. She remained leaning out the window, fully enjoying the pleasure brought by the speed. She felt like a bird that had broken out of its cage, flying freely in the blue sky.

Hou Weidong heard the shouts behind him. He slowly pulled over and patted Zhu Mei’s leg. He wrote in his notebook: “Get down quickly. The police are here.”

The police car stopped behind the Bluebird. A young officer got out, his face full of anger. He tapped the hood and said, “Get out. Show me your driver’s license.” He walked to the window and looked at the girl inside. She was pure in appearance and dress, not some strange-looking woman.

The officer was somewhat surprised. His attitude softened slightly. He said to Zhu Mei, “This is very dangerous. Do you know that?” Zhu Mei only knew the police were talking to her; she couldn’t hear what he was saying, so she smiled faintly. The officer then glanced at the driver and looked at the license in his hand, saying in surprise, “Hou Weidong.”

Hou Weidong recognized the man as a junior from the Law Department of Shazhou University, three grades below him. Shortly after enrollment, the freshman had voluntarily signed up for the campus discipline patrol, leaving a deep impression. Hou Weidong smiled. “Wang Bin, long time no see. Working at the Highway Management Office?”

Wang Bin handed the license back to Hou Weidong and smiled. “Senior brother, I heard you’re the director of the Development Zone in Yiyang. You’re doing well.” After chatting for a bit, he said, “Senior brother, when you become a big official, don’t forget to help your junior brother. Among all our seniors, I think most highly of you.”

Hou Weidong often used the highway, so he asked for Wang Bin’s phone number. As they parted, he said, “Junior brother, let’s keep in touch. Come find me when you’re in Yiyang.”

Back in Shazhou, after retrieving the computer, Zhu Mei quickly sent a text: “School bath time is from 5:30 to 6:00. I need to find a place to shower.” Hou Weidong saw that Zhu Mei had turned into a “big flower cat” (a mess), and said, “Then come to my place.”

After buying a full set of clothes at Shazhou Department Store, Zhu Mei followed Hou Weidong to Xinyue Building. While Zhu Mei was showering, Hou Weidong watched TV outside. His mobile phone rang again.

“Director Hou, this is Yang Liu.” Yang Liu hesitated for a moment on the phone, then said, “Director Hou, you are very familiar with Secretary Ji. Can you do me a favor? I don’t want to work at the New Management Committee anymore.”

“What’s going on?”

Yang Liu said, “Yesterday, the Organization Department issued a document appointing Yi Zhongcheng as Deputy Director of the New Management Committee. Yi Zhongcheng holds a grudge against me. I don’t want to work there anymore.”

Yi Zhongcheng had previously been the Director of the New Management Committee Office, while Yang Liu was the Deputy Director. After Hou Weidong took charge of the New Management Committee, he had moved Yi Zhongcheng to the Research Office, which had little function. Yang Liu had become Hou Weidong’s capable assistant. Because of this, Yi Zhongcheng held a strong grudge against Yang Liu.

Hou Weidong was well aware of these matters. He didn’t ask further and said, “Which department do you want to go to? Pick any. Secretary Ji will give me that much face.”

Yang Liu hadn’t expected Hou Weidong to be so straightforward. Her eyes warmed, and tears nearly fell. She said, “In front of Director Hou, I won’t hide anything. Since I’m transferring, can I be transferred to Shazhou?”

Yang Liu wanted to explain further on the phone, but Hou Weidong interrupted. “I understand. If you can’t go to the Municipal Party Committee or Government, go to a municipal department. You just won’t have a title. Are you willing?”

Yang Liu said, “What title is an Office Director anyway?”

“Good. I’ll give you a formal answer tomorrow.” In the New Management Committee, Yang Liu was the most capable assistant. Her current situation was also somewhat entangled with Hou Weidong’s, so he agreed to Yang Liu without hesitation.