Chapter 139: Mastering Productivity

Ning Weidong did not care about what Li Yuanchao was thinking.

Although the Li Family was very powerful, this kind of power was not the sort that could ignore everything.

It was not the kind of power seen in some novels, where a single word could bankrupt a family, or where one could casually acquire some company and leave someone with nothing.

Even if the Li Family were stronger, they were still within the rules; he had no way to cross those rules to threaten the Wang Family or the Zhao Family.

At worst, the two sides would simply not cooperate; there was no need to carefully curry favor.

Furthermore, Li Yuanchao himself could not represent the Li Family.

In the Li Family, among the brothers and sisters of this generation, neither Li Kangmei nor Li Yuanchao were core figures.

Therefore, even with Ning Weidong's temperament and experience, knowing it would make Li Yuanchao unhappy, he did not deliberately avoid it or act more tactfully.

And Ning Weidong doing this was not entirely on a whim, but rather a necessity to place both sides on a relatively equal footing before cooperating.

Because of Zhao Ruyi's personality and age, she was clearly in a weaker position in front of Li Kangmei.

And since Ning Weidong was brought by Zhao Ruyi, he would naturally be drawn into this position as well.

Moreover, Ning Weidong's background was lower; if he did not state his stance when necessary, he would only be pushed into an even lower ecological niche.

That was not a result Ning Weidong wished to see; even if he didn't cooperate with the Li siblings this time, he would not yield on this point.

This was also why, just now while target shooting, Ning Weidong did not yield and shot five consecutive bullseyes.

He was telling Li Yuanchao and Li Kangmei clearly: I, Ning Weidong, will not suck up to you.

If we can play together, we play; if we can't, we won't compromise ourselves.

The Li siblings were both smart and received Ning Weidong's signal very accurately.

The two of them did not have much of a reaction.

They had long since looked into the person that was Ning Weidong; a man capable of subduing Zhao Ruyi would certainly not be a good-for-nothing.

But as for exactly how much weight he carried, they still had to see what kind of logic Ning Weidong could put forward.

Ning Weidong said: "The reason I said I look down on the profits from Approval Documents is not because there is little benefit contained within, nor is it out of consideration for future risks..."

The Li siblings frowned in unison.

Ning Weidong continued: "The main reason is that there is absolutely no technical content involved; in the end, it's all about connections and backdoors. This kind of industry without any technical threshold is destined to be a big dye vat. Once a person stays in it for too long, they will degenerate, whether psychologically or physiologically, and will gradually lose the patience to do things in a down-to-earth manner."

Speaking to this point, Ning Weidong deliberately paused, looked at Li Yuanchao with some profound meaning, and then continued: "Once that happens, if the situation changes in the future and this can no longer be done, the person will be completely ruined."

Hearing Ning Weidong say this, Li Yuanchao, despite being quite shrewd, could not help but change his expression.

Deep down, although he also felt that this Approval Document business was not a long-term plan, he had never thought about it from Ning Weidong's perspective.

In an instant, he instinctively wanted to refute Ning Weidong, thinking this was alarmist talk.

But the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back.

Because Li Yuanchao suddenly realized that Ning Weidong was right.

Having experienced the ease of earning tens of thousands of yuan every month without any effort, if he were asked to go back to the factory to do a job for a few dozen yuan a month, would he still be content? One must know that earning several dozen yuan a month now was already a quite high salary.

Li Yuanchao took a deep breath, adjusted his mindset, and said in a low voice: "Then what do you think we should do in five or six years?"

He heard what Ning Weidong meant.

To see if a person truly has ability or just knows how to boast, one only needs to see if they have a feasible solution after raising a problem.

This was the key.

There are many people who can see the crux of a problem at a glance and can grasp the key issue.

But when asked to solve the problem, they are completely at a loss.

Ning Weidong replied: "Of course, we must master productivity! Master more advanced productivity as much as possible!"

Li Yuanchao frowned.

Ning Weidong said: "Productivity is the foundation of everything. Why was Napoleon able to sweep across Europe? Because the productivity of the French Empire was the most prosperous. Why was Germany able to break through like bamboo during World War II? Because Germany's productivity was the best in Europe. Why did America and the Soviet Union stand as two powers after the war? It is for the same reason."

Ning Weidong said in a low voice: "Looking at history, our China stood at the pinnacle of the world for thousands of years, only declining in modern times. But after more than a hundred years of arduous struggle, we have climbed out of the mire and are destined to return to our original position. And if we want to revive and surpass America and the Soviet Union, we must master productivity more advanced than theirs..."

Standing in the present, it was impossible to imagine the magnificent development of Xia Country in the coming decades.

The Li siblings could not fully understand the vision in Ning Weidong's heart either.

Li Kangmei said seriously: "Are you talking about factories?"

Ning Weidong shook his head and said: "Factories are certainly a manifestation of productivity, but having factories alone is not enough; we still need vast manpower, technology, capital..."

Ning Weidong did not say more, just stopping at the point.

Li Yuanchao realized: "So, the Approval Document is just preparation you made for the next step of the plan, using these few years to build up capital?"

Ning Weidong did not hide it anymore and nodded: "Yes, using Approval Documents to raise startup capital is my initial plan. As for the next step... it is still too early to say."

Li Yuanchao nodded, not digging for more. After a brief contact, he had a certain understanding of Ning Weidong's character.

Even if he continued to ask, Ning Weidong probably wouldn't reveal more; it would be better to talk about something more realistic.

Li Yuanchao simply stopped playing with the guns, and the few of them returned to the iron table and chairs from before, ordered a pot of tea, and talked while drinking.

Li Yuanchao said: "Since we've reached this point, I will tell you straight: I actually have a small collective trade company currently, affiliated under the Material Bureau, and I am already doing Approval Documents."

Zhao Ruyi could not help but show a surprised expression.

She had previously felt that Ning Weidong's idea was a bit risky; she didn't expect that Li Yuanchao had already started doing it.

Ning Weidong was not surprised.

With Li Yuanchao's status, such an operation was not surprising; Ning Weidong even estimated that there should be people doing it on a larger scale than Li Yuanchao.

Ning Weidong asked: "How much can you get in hand in a month?"

Li Yuanchao did not avoid the question and answered: "Twenty or thirty thousand, just small-time stuff."

Zhao Ruyi could not help but widen her eyes.

Before, when she secretly took some benefits at the Manager, she felt that a few thousand yuan a year was already quite a lot.

Li Yuanchao was actually making a net profit of twenty or thirty thousand a month!

However, Ning Weidong then said indifferently: "It is indeed small-time."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ruyi immediately shot her man a look, thinking to herself: *Can you not act so pretentious and live? *

It was just that she could only endure it here, and the corners of her mouth twitched unnaturally.

Ning Weidong, meanwhile, said as if nothing were the matter: "Under the Material Bureau, it shouldn't be outside of Beijing, right~"

Li Yuanchao nodded.

Ning Weidong said: "Since we are going to do this, we must do the work thoroughly; we cannot do it too crudely. With our status, getting the Approval Document is not difficult at all; we could take a casual bite and end up with our mouths full of oil. But wanting to make this big and do it well is not easy either. When it comes down to it, the core of the Approval Document is resources—who needs resources, where do the resources come from... Those who only want a sip of soup don't need to consider these problems, but we cannot afford not to consider them..."

After eating lunch, Ning Weidong carried Zhao Ruyi away.

The Li Family siblings saw them to the front gate, and watching the two walk away, Li Yuanchao asked: "Sister, what do you think of this person?"

Li Kangmei said: "He has some insight and ideas, it's just that his ambition is too great. I don't know what he actually wants to do?"

Li Yuanchao pursed his lips and said: "It doesn't matter. At twenty-something years old, who doesn't have ambition? I am actually more interested in seeing exactly how much substance he has; his tone is certainly boundless."

Speaking to the end, Li Yuanchao could not help but reveal a smile.

Li Kangmei said: "Have you decided?"

Li Yuanchao stretched his back and said as if nothing were the matter: "What is there to decide? How much worse can I get than I am now? It's nothing more than drifting along and waiting for death; I might as well mess around with him."

Li Kangmei nodded: "Then as you wish, you must gauge the limits yourself."

Li Yuanchao said: "Rest assured, I know."

On the other side, after Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi parted ways with the Li Family siblings, they rode for a few minutes before Zhao Ruyi took the initiative to ask to get off.

Ning Weidong knew she had something to say.

The two walked along the sidewalk by the road, and Zhao Ruyi asked: "Weidong, this Approval Document... is it really that profitable?"

Previously, Ning Weidong had told her that he could earn thirty thousand a month.

Zhao Ruyi hadn't taken it seriously; after all, in this era, what kind of concept was thirty thousand a month? It was simply unimaginable.

But today, after meeting with the Li Family siblings, Zhao Ruyi realized that what Ning Weidong said was not meant to fool her.

Originally, according to Zhao Ruyi's thoughts, if she earned a few thousand a month with the Li Family siblings, she would be content.

Zhao Ruyi was not a particularly ambitious woman to begin with, otherwise, she would not have easily agreed to a marriage partner like Ning Weidong.

"Of course~" Ning Weidong pushed the bicycle, walking at a leisurely pace, and said meaningfully: "Ruyi, do you have some misunderstanding about your own status? In ancient times, someone like you would be called a descendant of the nobility, with a hereditary title, sharing the fate of the state."

Zhao Ruyi rolled her eyes: "What nonsense are you spouting? What era is this now?"

Ning Weidong said: "The era doesn't change the principle... My meaning is, whether it is you or those two from the Li Family, you naturally possess resources that ordinary people cannot reach. Utilizing these resources, as long as it isn't too excessive, one can profit without risk. The Approval Document is just one of them, and it is the most moderate one."

Zhao Ruyi raised her eyebrows, unable to help but think of what Ning Weidong had mentioned to her earlier: the An Family had taken the initiative to reach out, hoping to use Ning Weidong to connect with her family to carry out their dealings.

Compared to that, the kind of edge-ball tactics using information asymmetry like the Approval Document really didn't count for much.

Ning Weidong reached out and took her hand, saying: "Rest assured, I have a sense of proportion. By the way, I plan to go to your house next Sunday to see our father; you go back and ask if it's convenient."

——

Eight thousand words tomorrow~(End of this chapter)