Chapter 35: If I don't work, you'll support me.
Excavators clattered, the smoke from the concrete mixing billowing in the workers' faces. The drilling machine, like a bizarre insect, shimmered golden in the sunlight. The roar of the machines and the cracking of the earth punctuated the tranquility of the land, a whirring sound of the frenzied struggle for profit. Li Wenjing stood on the site of the original hospital, the sand and dirt seemed to pour into her heart, the dust clouded her vision, and the cacophony of noise made it almost impossible for her to hear Pierre's words.
"The equipment has arrived, they can't stop work." Yu Di said to Li Wenjing.
"Have you explained it to him clearly? The weak foundation is a problem. If it's not dealt with properly, there will be an accident. This is a serious matter."
"I've told you everything, but he just doesn't agree."
"Why?"
Li Wenjing got angry and questioned him loudly in English, saying that he was also an engineer and knew the consequences, so why didn't he stop the project.
Pierre glanced at Yu Di, gave her some instructions, and then he pulled Wen Jing aside to talk to her alone.
"Ma'am, can I speak English?"
He asked first, and after getting Li Wenjing's confirmation, he rubbed his hands and wiped the sweat from his forehead. His beard was covered with dust, which mixed with the sweat and turned black.
"We are all engineers, and we are only responsible for engineering." He said, "I have reviewed the design plan you sent me, and I think you have done a good job."
Li Wenjing blurted out, "Then you should apologize to me."
He was also stunned for a moment. Li Wenjing continued, "Last time you were on the phone, your attitude towards me was very rude."
"I'm sorry, that's not the right way to talk to a lady."
"It's not the woman's problem, it's the project's problem. A mistake is a mistake, and if it's not corrected, it will cause safety problems."
“I’m sorry, I just didn’t expect a lady, even a Chinese…” He frowned and shook his head, “I’m sorry, this is an apology to the engineer.”
He was not as tough as he usually was in meetings or on the phone. He was actually a very good-tempered person to get along with. Li Wenjing was nervous before her first private conversation with him, but she felt relieved when they actually met and talked it out. But she was even more confused. He didn't say anything in front of Yu Di, so why did he have to talk to her in private now?
"I submitted your proposal, but Gustav disagreed."
"Why? Him!"
Li Wenjing's first reaction was that Gustav still held a grudge against her because of the Gu Weiyi incident.
"Pierre, to be honest, Gustav and I don't have a good relationship personally, but this project is very important. He should carefully consider whatever I say or propose."
"It has nothing to do with you. We all know you're after the project number. This is the board's problem. We don't have time."
Pierre sighed and blew the cement off his beard.
"Oil production must begin by next month at the latest."
"I don't understand. Why?"
Li Wenjing kept asking why, and he patiently explained to her.
"The company has invested a lot of money. If we don't produce oil for a day, it's a waste. It's also difficult for Gustav. He told us to produce oil first and then slowly solve the foundation problem."
"What's so difficult about him?" Li Wenjing's voice trembled. "If there's an accident, wouldn't it be difficult for the engineers? The hardest hit are the oilfield workers. They're black and Asian, not a single French person. If they weren't so poor, who would do such hard work?"
"So their salaries are even much higher than those of ordinary European engineers."
"A lot?" Li Wenjing sneered. "It costs lives. It doesn't matter. Oil is so valuable, like black gold. We can afford to pay any number of lives. I'll still say this to Gustav."
Li Wenjing took out her cell phone and said, "I'll call Gustav."
He stopped Li Wenjing, his face turned pale, and he stamped his feet, seeming a little uneasy. Li Wenjing just stared at him. He sighed, "You are a respectable engineer. I promise you, within my authority, I can stop part of it, but..."
He gritted his teeth and said, "I can't stop the oil wells where the equipment is coming in. I have to wait."
"Please hurry up."
Even if Li Wenjing wanted to go to Gustave to resolve the internal conflicts among the French, she couldn't. Pierre finally agreed, and she felt relieved by his promise. After the two of them finished their conversation, Li Wenjing sighed as she looked at the working drilling rig tower. Pierre reiterated his promise to her and called Gustave in front of her.
He went aside to make a phone call. Li Wenwenjing smiled and nodded at Yu Di. Seeing that they had reached an agreement, he was about to come over to congratulate her when the tower shook slightly. There was an earthquake.
Small earthquakes are common near the Great Rift Valley. Suddenly, a sharp metallic grinding sound emanated from the drilling rig overhead, and she quickly waved to Yu Di, "Run!"
After this shout, Yu Di seemed stunned and ran towards her in a panic. A beam on the support frame wobbled and broke, the breakage of the support frame like the beginning of a domino effect. The breakage of a single beam caused the entire structure to lose balance, and the tower began to tilt. The roar of the drilling rig became more rapid, as if it were a final wail, and the workers began to run, scurrying like insects across the grassland. Yu Di was pushed to the ground. Li Wenjing ran to help her, but was almost crushed. When she pulled her up, the support frame came crashing down.
She subconsciously pushed Yu Di away, and her vision went dark. The moment her arm was pressed down, she heard the sound of broken bones, and a sharp pain rushed to her head. A warm feeling flowed out. It was bleeding. Her vision went dark and she almost lost consciousness.
When she woke up again, there was a yellow ceiling above her head. When she turned her head, she saw Gu Weiyi's face. He was sitting in front of the bed, leaning against the wall and asleep. Li Wenjing wanted to touch his hand, but her hand could not move all of a sudden. Both hands were wrapped in bandages, as heavy as lead blocks, and she had no feeling at all. She refused to admit defeat and insisted on moving her hands. She was so anxious that she was sweating all over. Finally, she moved her arm, but suddenly there was a sharp pain, as if it was crushed by the support frame. She cried out "Ouch", and Gu Weiyi opened his eyes. They looked at each other, and he suddenly burst into tears.
Li Wenjing had never been good at comforting people. She was still thinking about how to comfort him and wipe his tears, but her hands were unable to move. Gu Weiyi stood up and gently held her in his arms. Li Wenjing's face was pressed against his chest, already flushed red with heat. She was too embarrassed to push him away, so she had to let him hold her. His tears fell on her face, like the rain that would not stop in the rainy season.
After he felt a little better, Li Wenjing spoke, "I remember there was an earthquake and an accident at the oil field... What happened afterwards? Was there a death?"
"No, several people were injured and are in the hospital."
"How lucky."
"Yes, I'm lucky. God bless you." He touched Li Wenjing's hair, his voice choking again. "I'm really lucky. If it had hit my head a little bit, I might not be able to save you. Wenjing, don't go to such a dangerous place again."
"It's my job, and it happens all the time."
"Then don't do this job. I'm really scared. I'm afraid I'll never see you again, that I'll lose you. What kind of crappy job is worth giving up your life for?"
He cried so much that his eyes were swollen like apples. Li Wenjing laughed and scolded him, "Who will support me if I don't work?"
He didn't say anything, took out his wallet from his bag, and placed his passport, ID card, and bank cards in front of Li Wenjing one by one.
"Everything I have is here," he said. "The money in the bank card is my earnings. There's over 10,000 euros, or 20,000 US dollars. I'll give it all to you."
"That's all? Aren't you a rich second-generation young master?"
He stared at Li Wenjing blankly.
"It's not even as much as the money in my card. Take it back and support yourself."
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