Chapter 158: I Know Everything Now

Jiang Liya's sudden visit caught Ning Weidong off guard, and her purpose for coming was even more unexpected to him.

In fact, after confirming his relationship with Zhao Ruyi, Ning Weidong had already thought that Wang Guoqiang might back down.

As a mature politician, it was unlikely that Wang Guoqiang would act impulsively.

But it would only be backing down; Ning Weidong had not expected that he would take the initiative to seek reconciliation, or even cooperation.

This made Ning Weidong very vigilant.

When things are abnormal, there must be a demon.

It would be one thing if Wang Guoqiang were forced by the situation to swallow his pride for the time being, but Ning Weidong did not believe he was magnanimous enough to turn hostility into friendship directly.

It was just that in this situation, Ning Weidong could not directly refuse.

If he did that, it would be equivalent to leaving the other party with a handle, and Ning Weidong would become passive instead.

For now, Ning Weidong could only play along and handle it carefully.

He calculated secretly in his heart: "It seems the Trade Company for Zhao Ruyi must be accelerated, and the cooperation with the Li family siblings must also be implemented as soon as possible."

……

Just as Ning Weidong was pondering these things, Jiang Liya walked out of the alley and arrived at the main road.

Not far away on the side of the road, a light blue Shanghai Brand sedan was parked.

Jiang Liya walked over, pulled open the car door, and sat in the back row.

The driver didn't ask much, started the car directly, and drove quickly toward the Red Star Factory.

About twenty minutes later, it stopped in front of the Workers' Club at the Red Star Factory.

Jiang Liya got out of the car, walked straight into the club, and arrived at a lounge on the third floor.

"Factory Director." Opening the door, Jiang Liya called out.

Wang Guoqiang was in the room, focused on studying a chess record.

Under the window sat an old-fashioned arhat bed, on which was a kang table, with a chessboard and tea set placed on it.

Wang Guoqiang was alone, pinching a chess piece in his hand, slapping it onto the board.

Hearing Jiang Liya's voice, he didn't even look up, and responded: "Little Jiang is back~"

Jiang Liya closed the door behind her, stepped in her high heels to the side of the arhat bed, and sat down, not in a hurry to speak.

After more than ten minutes, Wang Guoqiang stopped, looked up, and said: "Did you see Ning Weidong?"

Jiang Liya responded.

Wang Guoqiang stood up, patted the non-existent dust off his hands, and chuckled: "What did he say?"

Jiang Liya recounted the situation of her meeting with Ning Weidong just now in detail, and finally said: "It can be seen that he is very wary of me."

Wang Guoqiang nodded, a grave expression inevitably appearing on his face, and muttered: "Li Kangmei, Li Yuanchao~ Besides the Zhao family, he actually pulled in the Li family too; that is indeed a good move."

Jiang Liya asked: "Factory Director, is this Li family very difficult to provoke?"

Wang Guoqiang smiled bitterly: "More than just difficult to provoke..." He briefly explained the background of the Li family, and Jiang Liya couldn't help but widen her eyes upon hearing it.

Originally, in her view, the Wang Family behind Ning Weidong was just a deputy position in the Mechanical Department, and the person from the Zhao family was also just a department head.

By comparison, the backer behind Wang Guoqiang was heavier.

However, now that it involved the Li family, the situation had changed again.

Jiang Liya was shocked in her heart, took a deep breath, and steadied herself.

Wang Guoqiang said: "No need to worry, no matter how strong the Li family is, what does it matter if we don't make an enemy of them~"

Jiang Liya nodded.

Wang Guoqiang said again: "By the way, what did old Wang say on his end?"

Jiang Liya said: "Vice Factory Director Wang has not replied yet."

Wang Guoqiang sneered: "Still that same indecisive character."

Jiang Liya said solemnly: "Factory Director, didn't you say that the problems with Vice Factory Director Wang might be very serious? Why are we..."

Wang Guoqiang said: "His problems are his problems; it does not hinder our tacit understanding on some matters."

Jiang Liya nodded.

Wang Guoqiang said again: "Currently, the factory is a pool of stagnant water. Li Weibing is a withered bone in a tomb, only wanting to wait for his retirement to land. Even when he seized the opportunity last time, he only used chips to pressure me and didn't take the chance to wipe me out. He is truly old."

Jiang Liya showed an expression of deep agreement.

More than ten years ago, she had seen Li Weibing's vigorous and resolute spirit, but unfortunately... the heroic figure of those years was no longer what he once was.

Wang Guoqiang turned and walked to the window to look outside.

Outside was the club cinema's huge 'human' character-shaped pitched roof; the sunlight shone right on the overlapping cement tiles, making one feel a bit dizzy looking at it suddenly.

Wang Guoqiang closed his eyes slightly and fished a cigarette out of his pocket: "After Kaifeng had his incident, I originally wanted to leave the factory and go directly to the local level, but the old leader wouldn't let me, insisting I stay and hold the fort..."

Speaking of this, a flash of helplessness crossed Wang Guoqiang's eyes.

In fact, after Wang Kaifeng was arrested, he was quite passive in the factory, equivalent to letting people catch his pigtail.

Withdrawing at that time was the best choice.

Continuing to entangle here consumed Wang Guoqiang's personal political life.

He didn't say it out loud, but in his heart, he was actually unwilling.

……

On the other side, Ning Weidong saw Jiang Liya off and returned to the courtyard.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Bai Fengyu talking to Lu Dama: "You're asking about that woman just now~ Sigh, that is the mother of our classmate Fengqin; she came today to ask for some study materials."

As soon as Ning Weidong heard this, he knew that Bai Fengyu was helping him confuse the public.

Although he and Jiang Liya had no improper relationship at all, the reason why rumors are rumors is that they do not have to be based entirely on facts.

Especially now, Ning Weidong was riding high, and it was a time when people were jealous; how many people were happy to take the opportunity to splash dirty water on him.

Bai Fengyu took over the matter of Jiang Liya coming to find him, creating a different narrative to avoid everyone telling the same story.

Lu Dama is the "little loudspeaker" of the courtyard, very capable of spreading information.

Hearing Bai Fengyu say this, she was still a bit dazed: "That's right~ didn't you say you came to find Ning..."

Just as she was speaking, she suddenly saw Ning Weidong enter from outside, and she immediately stopped abruptly, laughing dryly: "Weidong is back~"

Ning Weidong smiled and called out "Lu Dama," nodded to Bai Fengyu, said nothing else, and returned to the side courtyard.

Lu Dama secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "I was wondering~ but you really couldn't tell from that woman just now, her daughter is already in high school?"

Bai Fengyu responded: "Indeed, I was startled too..."

After a while, when Ning Weidong had just sat down at home, Bai Fengyu came in from outside: "Weidong, how was the exam?"

She knew the importance of the Correspondence Education exam to Ning Weidong.

Ning Weidong smiled and reached out to pull her into his arms.

As it reached June, the clothes worn became thinner and thinner, and holding her was no longer like in winter, when everything one touched was cotton-padded jackets and trousers.

Bai Fengyu had only gone to the bathhouse in the afternoon, and there was a faint scent of shampoo on her hair. "The door isn't latched~" Bai Fengyu warned with her mouth but didn't push him away, instead half-lying into Ning Weidong's arms, feeling a large hand touch her belly, which was a bit ticklish, and she giggled: "Don't tickle me."

Ning Weidong chuckled, reached higher up, and teased: "Look at you, your whole body is ticklish, except for here."

Bai Fengyu rolled her eyes and said: "You silly thing, if there were ticklish spots here, how would I nurse the child~"

Ning Weidong was stunned, as it seemed very reasonable.

Bai Fengyu then whispered: "I'll come over tonight."

Ning Weidong asked in surprise: "Is Fengqin going to her classmate's house again?"

Bai Fengyu nodded shyly and blew a breath into Ning Weidong's ear: "Wait for me~"

Ning Weidong couldn't help but shiver, thinking to himself "this little vixen," and the force of his hand playing with the ball suddenly increased by a few degrees.

Bai Fengyu let out an "mm," enduring the pain while her cheeks turned red.

It was a pity that now was not the time; although the sky was getting dark, it was not yet seven o'clock, and people had not yet gone to sleep.

Bai Fengyu steadied herself and said: "By the way, last time you told me to go move around among the bigwigs at the Street Office."

Ning Weidong, playing with the ball, gave a somewhat distracted "mm."

Bai Fengyu said: "There is a Section Chief Zhang at the Street Office who has some family connection with Sister Liu from our Neighborhood Committee..."

"Section Chief Zhang?" Ning Weidong searched his brain for a Section Chief surnamed Zhang in the Street Office.

Since crossing over, besides the factory side, he had also gained some understanding of the Police Station and the Street Office in his residential area.

After all, sometimes a local official is better than a distant one, and with Zhang Dajun as a local snake, it would be even more effective.

Very quickly, he remembered who this Section Chief Zhang was, frowned, and said: "Just him?"

Bai Fengyu asked in surprise: "Is this person no good?"

Ning Weidong gave a light sneer: "He wears the title of a deputy section chief, but in reality, his words carry no weight; you shouldn't look for connections like that~"

Bai Fengyu said: "It wasn't me who found him, it was introduced by Sister Liu from our place, who said this Section Chief Zhang has great ability and told me to go find him if I want to become a permanent employee."

Ning Weidong clicked his tongue, thinking to himself, had he become arrogant? His eyes were looking upward, and to an average person, this Section Chief Zhang did indeed have some ability? But he always felt something was not quite right, thought for a moment and said: "Wait until tomorrow, I'll call Zhang Dajun to ask what the situation is."

That was exactly what Bai Fengyu meant; in fact, there was one thing she hadn't said.

Actually, she had met this Section Chief Zhang once before.

Once, when she went to the Street Office to handle some business, she had dealt with him once.

At that time, Bai Fengyu felt that the way this Section Chief Zhang looked at her was wrong.

Not long after that, she fractured her leg and it took nearly two months to heal; as soon as she returned to work, Sister Liu from their unit mentioned Section Chief Zhang.

She hinted in her words that Section Chief Zhang could help her become a permanent employee.

Bai Fengyu was not stupid; she felt at the time that Section Chief Zhang probably had ill intentions.

However, it wasn't easy to tell Ning Weidong this directly.

For one, nothing was set in stone, and saying it now would be suspicious of making groundless accusations.

For another, she didn't want Ning Weidong to think she was inviting trouble outside; she didn't know how Ning Weidong would react to such things.

Ever since she knew Ning Weidong was going to marry Zhao Ruyi, Bai Fengyu had carefully thought about her relationship with Ning Weidong.

If she wanted to maintain it in the future, she should try her best not to add trouble for Ning Weidong.

Ning Weidong did not know these thoughts of Bai Fengyu, and even if he had sensed them, he wouldn't bother to fathom them.

To put it bluntly, Bai Fengyu was just a canary to him—pretty and pleasing to the eye, a joy for the body and mind; Ning Weidong would never invest too much thought into her.

Yet at this moment, there was suddenly movement from the outer room, followed by Fengqin calling out "Sister."

Bai Fengyu was startled, immediately stood up from Ning Weidong's lap, nimbly straightened her clothes, and responded at the same time.

Ning Weidong looked toward the door, and then Fengqin poked her head in, called out "Brother Weidong," and looked at Bai Fengyu: "Sister, a lady has come to our house, she says she is from your unit, her surname is Liu."

Bai Fengyu had just been startled and was terrified that Fengqin would see Ning Weidong touching her; her heart was pounding, so she hurriedly responded and feigned: "Then Weidong, I'll go back first; you must help sister ask about that matter later."

Ning Weidong smiled, knowing she was just saying it casually to appease Fengqin, as if she had only come to find Ning Weidong for a reason.

After speaking, Bai Fengyu hurried out, but Fengqin tilted her head outside the door and didn't rush off, instead coming in to say: "Brother Weidong, you had your Correspondence Education exam today, did you do well?"

Ning Weidong said: "I think it was okay~ but Correspondence Education can't compare to the college entrance exam; the college entrance exam is next month, do you have confidence?"

Fengqin sighed and said: "I don't know why, the more I review, the less confidence I have; it seems like no matter how I study, there are questions I don't know. It's so annoying~"

As she spoke, she walked naturally to the edge of Ning Weidong's kang and sat down.

Ning Weidong was slightly surprised, not expecting Fengqin not to leave.

Ning Weidong had been sitting on the edge of the kang, and the two were sitting side by side with half a meter between them; he laughed dryly: "Adjust your mindset, and in another month, it will be over."

Fengqin let out a long breath and said: "That's right! Only one month left; once it's over, it will be fine."

As she spoke, she turned her head to look at Ning Weidong.

Ning Weidong was baffled by her gaze, and neither of them spoke.

After half a minute, Bai Fengqin suddenly said in a low voice: "Brother Weidong, if~ I mean if, back then if I had been a university student, would you have... with me..."

By the time she finished, Bai Fengqin's cheeks were flushed, and her voice grew quieter and quieter as she lowered her head.

Ning Weidong understood what she meant and couldn't help but chuckle.

He knew this girl was likely under too much pressure from her studies, causing her mind to wander and think about all sorts of nonsense.

Ning Weidong had been young once too; he remembered that in his third year of high school, some classmates who were usually well-behaved might suddenly do something out of character under the pressure of studying.

However, regarding Bai Fengqin, Ning Weidong really didn't want to get involved; the main reason was that it was too much trouble.

Bai Fengqin was different from Bai Fengyu.

Bai Fengyu was, after all, a young married woman; as for the saying that nothing tastes better than dumplings and nothing is more fun than... you know~ besides the thrill, another important reason was that she had a family and a household, making it easy to part ways without entanglement or trouble.

One could finish and wipe the slate clean, then pull up one's pants and leave.

But a young girl like Bai Fengqin, at least in this era, was not yet that unrestrained.

Facing Bai Fengqin's question, Ning Weidong thought for a moment and said: "Look at what you're saying; if you had been a university student back then, would you have agreed to go on a blind date with me?"

Bai Fengqin choked on her words; it was true.

Given Ning Weidong's circumstances back then, if she had been a university student, let alone meeting him, no one would have even dared to suggest it.

Thinking of this, Bai Fengqin couldn't help but give a bitter, self-deprecating smile: "That's right~ no matter what... we were never meant to be on the same path."

After speaking, she placed her hands on her knees, stood up, and said: "Brother Weidong, I'm leaving."

Ning Weidong also stood up and said with a smile: "Keep working hard."

As the two walked toward the outside, when they reached the doorway of the inner room, Bai Fengqin suddenly paused and whispered: "I know everything... about that business between you and my sister~"

Ning Weidong was stunned; if his hearing hadn't been extraordinary, he would have barely heard Bai Fengqin's mosquito-like voice.

Then, without waiting for Ning Weidong to respond, she suddenly ran out.

Ning Weidong, however, did not panic; so what if she knew?

(End of this chapter)