Chapter 126: May

"Leader!" Wu Bingzhong shouted as soon as he entered the room, closed the door behind him, and hurried forward.

Ning Weidong couldn't help but frown at his appearance.

Although Wu Bingzhong wasn't exactly a man of high moral character, it had to be said that he was very methodical when it came to getting things done.

Ever since he threw his lot in with Ning Weidong and became the South Gate Squad Leader, he had performed quite well.

What is meant by "well" here isn't that he possessed any superb management skills, but rather his performance regarding information and intelligence.

Ever since Wu Bingzhong became a squad leader, it was equivalent to Ning Weidong directly controlling one of the four squads at the South Gate.

Originally, the Security Division had four squads at the South Gate, with Li Weibing and Wang Guoqiang each controlling two on the surface, which could be considered a balanced split.

But in reality, there was a lot of nuance to it; how shifts were arranged and how they were rotated all had their own intricacies.

While it appeared that each side had two squad leaders, in reality, Wang Guoqiang still held the advantage and controlled a larger sphere of power.

Now, Wu Bingzhong had inserted himself into the mix, completely breaking the original pattern.

However, the situation inside the factory couldn't affect the outside at all.

For example, the amount of resources Li Weibing and Wang Guoqiang provided to the outside still could not be cut off.

This was a tacit understanding formed after negotiations between several parties, including the Wang Family and the Zhao Family.

And specifically regarding Ning Weidong.

Wu Bingzhong's move could be called quite brilliant; it wasn't that he could control the South Gate through Wu Bingzhong—in fact, let alone one Wu Bingzhong, even if all four squad leaders were captured, the South Gate still couldn't be controlled.

Wu Bingzhong's true value lay in information and intelligence.

With Wu Bingzhong, Ning Weidong could monitor the vehicles entering and leaving the factory through the South Gate.

Which vehicle belonged to whom, who was the overt contact, who was the covert contact, and who had authorized the slip.

This was the true core information.

Having mastered this information, even if Ning Weidong was only a Deputy Section Chief in the Security Division, it was enough that no one could look down on him.

Since ancient times, position and rank have never been the fundamental elements that define power.

A person is an emperor because he controls the resources to be an emperor—military power, financial power, public opinion—only then is he called an emperor.

Conversely, even if one possesses the title, one can only be a puppet.

Likewise, it is the same principle for Factory Directors, Division Chiefs, and Section Chiefs.

At this moment, Ning Weidong had become a Deputy Section Chief and nominally succeeded Li Peihang, but whether he could actually hold onto it wasn't just a matter of words.

Power is a good thing; once it is grasped in one's hands, no one is willing to let it slip through their fingers.

Even if Li Peihang had been promoted to Deputy Division Chief and was in charge of the overall situation of the Security Division, it seemed like it was nothing to hand over the original authority to Ning Weidong.

But these past two days, Ning Weidong had clearly felt that after the initial excitement and agitation, Li Peihang had begun to calm down and redistribute power.

When Wang Kaifeng was still around, he had never even thought about this issue.

But now, times had changed, and after becoming the head of the Security Division, Li Peihang's mindset had changed, whether consciously or unconsciously.

It wasn't that he had any opinion about Ning Weidong, but as the head, there were some powers he had to keep in his own hands.

Ning Weidong was quite sensitive to this, but he didn't have much of a reaction.

His top priority right now was not to fight for power, but to stabilize his own foundation.

The most important thing among these was the correspondence education diploma; if he couldn't secure the diploma this summer, when the policy of "Worker-turned-Cadre" was implemented in the second half of the year, someone of Ning Weidong's age who had just become a Worker-turned-Cadre would definitely be removed.

At that point, his position as Deputy Section Chief would become awkward.

As for power, Ning Weidong wasn't worried; as long as Wang Guoqiang was still in the factory, the entire Red Star Factory would maintain its balance.

Coupled with Li Weibing's age disadvantage, they would definitely continue to try to win Ning Weidong over.

Taking a step back, even if Factory Director Li made a foolish move, Ning Weidong could choose to lean toward Wang Guoqiang.

There are no permanent enemies in politics; Wang Kaifeng could be said to have been unhorsed by Ning Weidong, but if Ning Weidong now showed signs of leaning toward Wang Guoqiang, Wang Guoqiang would certainly be very happy to accept him and turn hostility into friendship.

"What is it? Sit down and talk." Ning Weidong stood up, went to the side of the sofa, and sat down on his own.

Wu Bingzhong was slightly reserved; he was somewhat clever, and after defecting to Ning Weidong, he had positioned himself very correctly.

"Leader, there is a matter I would like to report to you." Wu Bingzhong sat on the sofa with his back straight, his hands placed properly on his knees.

"No need to be so reserved." Ning Weidong casually took out a cigarette and tossed one over: "Go ahead~"

Wu Bingzhong hurriedly caught it with both hands and said: "I have someone under me with the surname Sun, called Sun Jiacheng; he is an old-timer in the Security Division and used to be particularly close to Fan Datou..."

Ning Weidong took a puff of his cigarette. He had previously thrown Fan Datou into the Fourth Workshop under Ning Wei's nose; could he still be acting up?

He asked: "What's wrong with this person?"

Wu Bingzhong said: "These past two days, I've noticed he's always acting sneaky. He doesn't leave after work; before, as soon as work ended, he wouldn't stay a minute longer, wishing he had extra legs to get home. Also, after eating lunch, he used to always find people in the room to play Chinese chess or watch the commotion, but now he doesn't play chess and just wanders around the factory aimlessly..."

Ning Weidong listened and frowned.

What Wu Bingzhong said was actually a bit speculative; they were just some habits, not necessarily unchangeable.

However, judging by Wu Bingzhong's intent, he definitely didn't get along with this Sun Jiacheng. His words emphasized that Sun Jiacheng was close to Fan Datou.

Sun Jiacheng was a legitimate State-owned Worker; let alone Wu Bingzhong not liking him, even Ning Weidong couldn't just do whatever he wanted to him. At worst, like with Fan Datou, he could find an excuse to transfer him elsewhere and give him a hard time.

Ning Weidong waited for him to finish and said calmly: "Are you trying to... have this Sun Jiacheng transferred?"

Wu Bingzhong hurriedly waved his hands and said: "No, Leader, you've misunderstood. Once I discovered this situation, how could I just dump the trouble on you~" He chuckled as he spoke: "As a subordinate, it is my duty to share the burden for the leader. I mean, should we pay some attention to this person, Sun Jiacheng? He and Fan Datou... I'm afraid they might be plotting something in secret."

Ning Weidong raised an eyebrow; Wu Bingzhong's words actually made him look at him in a new light.

If Wu Bingzhong had come just to stir up trouble and wanted to have Sun Jiacheng transferred, Ning Weidong definitely wouldn't have helped him and would have developed a negative impression of Wu Bingzhong.

But looking at it now, he had underestimated this old guy.

He thought for a moment and said: "Alright, you keep an eye on him first, and report to me at any time if there's any situation."

Wu Bingzhong hurriedly said "Yes," stood up, and said: "Leader, I understand. Then I'll head back first."

Ning Weidong nodded with a smile and saw him all the way to the door.

After Wu Bingzhong left, Ning Weidong smiled amusedly, knowing that Wu Bingzhong actually had nothing at all to report today.

As for Sun Jiacheng, he was just a pretext; the goal was to go before him to hover about, express some loyalty, and show off his presence.

Having said that, Sun Jiacheng's situation shouldn't be groundless; perhaps there was some exaggeration, but it was likely not far off, and Wu Bingzhong wouldn't lie about this and squander his credibility.

"Sun Jiacheng~" Ning Weidong couldn't help but make a note of this name.

Just at this moment, the telephone on the desk suddenly rang.

Ning Weidong reached out, grabbed it, and said, "Hello."

Zhang Dajun's voice immediately came from the other end of the line.

Listening, Ning Weidong couldn't help but reveal an expression of surprise: "You mean, someone dug a tunnel under the well at the Neighborhood Committee, and the strange noises heard yesterday were from digging the tunnel?"

Zhang Dajun said: "Yes, just now Qian Qiang took people over and went down into the well to look; three meters deep at the bottom of the well, someone had chiseled out an opening..."

Ning Weidong narrowed his eyes; digging a tunnel in Beijing—he then thought of the Neighborhood Committee next door, just one alley away from the White Pagoda Temple, and immediately realized, could they be expert tomb raiders planning to dig straight across underground? But on second thought, that didn't seem quite right.

The main thing was the timing; it was only 1979, and the antique craze hadn't started yet.

As for antiques now, unless they were exceptionally good items, it was hard to sell them for a high price.

Unless...

Thinking of this, Ning Weidong's heart gave a start.

Unless these people could make contact Overseas, and after getting the items, smuggle them out directly.

Or more directly, someone outside specified a target, and then there was targeted "work" done here domestically.

"Could it be like this? Or am I overthinking it?" Ning Weidong pondered inwardly and spoke his thoughts.

On the other end of the phone, Zhang Dajun hadn't expected Ning Weidong to think of these things, and said in a low voice: "We have the same assessment, but unfortunately... the other party must have heard wind of it in advance..."

Ning Weidong wasn't surprised either; yesterday Bai Fengyu broke her leg, which had caused some commotion over at the Neighborhood Committee.

Although no one openly discussed it being a haunting, there was another person present at the time, and it must have spread afterward.

Generally speaking, those capable of taking on such a big "project" must be a gang, with some working underground and some keeping watch above.

Today, when Zhang Dajun sent people over again, they discovered the hole under the water well, but they didn't manage to catch anyone.

After explaining the situation, Ning Weidong hung up the phone and thought again of Bai Fengyu lying in the hospital; this was truly a disaster from out of the blue.

It was a pity they didn't catch anyone; otherwise, it would have been a great achievement for Zhang Dajun, and given his age and seniority, he might have been able to move up a bit.

With such a good opportunity, how could Zhang Dajun be willing to let it go? After talking with Ning Weidong, he immediately sent more men to track and investigate.

Unfortunately, there were no results.

It wasn't until more than a month later that Bai Fengyu was finally discharged from the hospital.

Her fracture wasn't considered serious, and she could go home to recuperate.

After May Day, the weather in Beijing turned warm, the pomegranate tree in the courtyard sprouted new buds, and people changed into more brisk spring clothes.

Because Bai Fengqin had to go to school and the college entrance exam was coming up, she couldn't afford to be delayed, so with the help of Lu Daye and Lu Dama, they had Zhou Kun ride a flatbed cart to pick her up.

"Second Brother Zhou, thank you for today~" Bai Fengyu, propped up by a pair of crutches rented from the hospital, got down from the back of the flatbed cart and thanked Zhou Kun with a smile.

Zhou Kun waved his hand: "What's there to thank, we're all neighbors, that... you be careful, I'm going back to wait for work."

Lu Daye helped carry the luggage and chimed in: "Go on then~ don't delay earning money."

Zhou Kun replied and pedaled the tricycle away in a flash.

Here, Bai Fengyu, leaning on her crutches—having practiced for a few days in the hospital, she didn't seem awkward—went up the stone steps in front of the Dazayuan.

——

I'm organizing the outline today, and I will strive to restore the update volume later on.

(End of this chapter)