Chapter 169: Catching Wind and Grasping Shadows

The more Ning Weidong thought about it, the more suspicious he felt; if it really was Deputy Factory Director Liu playing tricks behind the scenes, there was definitely a problem with him acting so impatiently now.

Ning Weidong couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart; could it be that Deputy Factory Director Liu was about to make a move, forcing him to be so impatient?

Thinking of this possibility, Ning Weidong couldn't help but frown; if this were true, it would be far from simple! And thinking back to Chu Zhongxin's side, Chu Zhongxin had always had people keeping an eye on Deputy Factory Director Liu.

But recently, because of the discovery of Section Chief Zhang from the Street Office, Chu Zhongxin's main energy had been diverted, and it was feared that the surveillance on Deputy Factory Director Liu had become somewhat lax.

Ning Weidong narrowed his eyes.

If Deputy Factory Director Liu made a move at this time, Chu Zhongxin would likely be caught off guard.

"But, what exactly does Deputy Factory Director Liu want to do?" Ning Weidong was somewhat unable to figure it out.

The current situation at Red Star Factory, for Deputy Factory Director Liu, couldn't be called great, but it wasn't exactly terrible either.

Originally, as the factory director in charge of technology, the living space left for him between Li Weibing and Wang Guoqiang was very small.

Now, Li Weibing was waiting to retire and preferred to avoid trouble whenever possible.

Wang Guoqiang was focused on hunting down the other deputy factory director and couldn't spare any attention for anyone else.

Under these circumstances, Deputy Factory Director Liu's living space was actually looser than before.

However, there was a prerequisite for this: he did not know that he was already being watched by Chu Zhongxin.

Ning Weidong's frown deepened.

If Deputy Factory Director Liu found out through some channel that he was being watched, what would he do? This question hardly needed thinking; he would certainly try to escape immediately.

Escape where? This also didn't need much thought; naturally, he would flee to his inner spiritual home, which could be Japan, or perhaps Europe or America.

But a new problem arose: could he just run if he wanted to? That was clearly impossible.

The people looking for him and trying to win him over didn't truly value him as a person, but rather valued his position and the information and people he could access.

Once exposed, Deputy Factory Director Liu's value would be gone.

Ning Weidong didn't think that under these circumstances, those people on the other side would talk about morality with him, treat him as one of their own, or help him escape.

And Deputy Factory Director Liu was also a smart man; he would certainly realize this.

To ensure his own safety and his own value, he would definitely make full preparations.

Ning Weidong couldn't help but suck his teeth, making a "tsk" sound.

Could it be that Deputy Factory Director Liu was planning to pull off something big, getting his hands on enough classified information to make that side extract him?

Then, where was the most valuable thing at Red Star Factory that Deputy Factory Director Liu could access?

The answer was obvious: it was in the Fourth Workshop! Realizing this, Ning Weidong gasped.

No wonder Deputy Factory Director Liu would suddenly use a long-term, hidden arrangement.

Unfortunately, he underestimated Ning Weidong's status in Ning Wei's heart, and he also underestimated the ruthlessness in Ning Wei's bones.

This kid Ning Wei was born a wolf; he was not only ruthless to others, but even more ruthless to himself.

In his heart, only two people were special: one was his biological mother, and the other was Ning Weidong.

His mother went without saying; as for Ning Weidong, he had provided guidance, trust, and a respectable path during his most difficult and aimless times—in the old parlance, this was the grace of recognition.

So even when threatened, and knowing he might end up in prison, he had no intention of betraying Ning Weidong.

Ning Weidong reached into his pocket, pulled out a cigarette, pinched one out, and lit it.

He pursed his lips and shook his head; Deputy Factory Director Liu was still too hasty and had underestimated Ning Wei, ending up exposing himself instead.

Thinking of this, Ning Weidong immediately got up and walked out.

He was going to find Chu Zhongxin now to pass this information along immediately.

Although up to this point, this was all Ning Weidong's groundless speculation, without any hard evidence.

Ning Weidong didn't intend to go looking for any evidence either.

This was the benefit of being within a system.

One didn't need to cover every detail; others would naturally help coordinate.

Ning Weidong only needed to tell Chu Zhongxin his thoughts, and the subsequent work of verification and implementation would be arranged by Chu Zhongxin.

There would likely be two outcomes: one where Ning Weidong guessed correctly, and one where he didn't.

The former went without saying; even if it were the latter, it didn't matter, because Ning Weidong could fully afford the cost of this trial and error.

But just as he got outside and unlocked his bicycle, Bai Fengyu came out from the side and, seeing Ning Weidong, said with slight surprise: "Going out so late?"

Ning Weidong turned his head and smiled: "Going out for something; I'll be back in a while."

Bai Fengyu nodded: "Then take care of yourself."

Ning Weidong responded and pushed the bicycle out.

Bai Fengyu turned and went back into the room; she had actually come out just now to ask if Ning Weidong was hungry.

Because Ning Wei had come over unexpectedly in the evening, although Bai Fengyu had served a few extra dumplings, she was still worried that Ning Weidong hadn't eaten enough.

Inside the room, Bai Fengqin wasn't reading either.

At this point, straining to burn the midnight oil was not only useless but would instead increase her own nervousness.

Bai Fengqin had only looked over things briefly and was preparing to soak her feet and go to bed.

Hearing Ning Weidong talking to Bai Fengyu just now, Bai Fengqin, with her two white-and-pink feet soaking in hot water, looked up and said: "Brother Weidong went out again?" Bai Fengyu gave an "mm" sound: "In such a rush, I don't know what he went to do."

Bai Fengqin lightly pursed her lips, unable to help but think back to the morning when Ning Weidong took her to the exam site, sitting behind on the bike seat.

Ning Weidong was pedaling the bike in front, his strong and broad back seeming like a mountain, which couldn't help but make her think of her father.

Back then she was still a little girl, and her father was still healthy, riding a bike and carrying her...

Bai Fengqin sighed in her heart; tomorrow and the day after, Ning Weidong would still take her twice more, but she didn't know when she would be able to sit on Ning Weidong's bicycle again in the future.

Thinking of this, Bai Fengqin felt a sense of loss.

Bai Fengyu noticed her sister's mood and couldn't help but ask: "Fengqin, what's wrong?"

Bai Fengqin came back to her senses, her feet wobbling in the basin, and she hurriedly shook her head: "Nothing, just thinking about tomorrow's exam~"

Bai Fengyu advised: "Stop overthinking. When soldiers come, block them with generals; when water comes, cover it with earth. Didn't you say you did well on the test today? Tomorrow will surely be no different."

Bai Fengqin smiled.

Seeing that she was fine, Bai Fengyu turned around, squatted down, and reached under the cabinet to get something.

Bai Fengqin stared at her back; because she was squatting, her waist and hips looked exceptionally exaggerated, and the polyester pants clung to her buttocks, revealing the traces underneath.

Her mind drifted back to Ning Weidong.

She knew the relationship between Ning Weidong and Bai Fengyu, and she couldn't help but let her imagination run wild.

When she came back to her senses, a gust of wind blew in from the window, making her shiver and her knees suddenly knock together.

Then, her buttocks squirmed at the window, and feeling her own state, her cheeks turned red.

……

On the other side, Ning Weidong rode his bicycle out, unaware that a young girl in the throes of spring was thinking only of him.

Pedaling the bicycle rapidly, he arrived at Chu Zhongxin's home in a flash.

At this hour, Chu Zhongxin would normally have been off work long ago, but he hadn't expected to find no one there.

It was only after arriving at Chu Zhongxin's home that Ning Weidong learned Chu Zhongxin hadn't been home for the past two days.

He turned and rode his bike to the bureau, where he finally saw Chu Zhongxin, whose hair was a mess and who had dark circles under his eyes.

The ashtray in the Office was filled with cigarette butts, and there were bloodshot streaks in Chu Zhongxin's eyes; it was unclear how many days it had been since he had slept properly.

Seeing Ning Weidong, Chu Zhongxin had just finished a cigarette and pressed the butt into the clivia flowerpot on the windowsill, only to discover the ashtray could no longer hold any more.

He casually threw the cigarette butt on the ground, crushed it with his foot, and Chu Zhongxin said: "Weidong, what happened?"

Coming to find him at this hour, and even tracking him from home to his unit, it definitely meant something was up.

Ning Weidong was taken aback by his appearance, nodded, and said: "There is a small matter, but... how did you end up like this..."

Chu Zhongxin understood what he meant, grinned, reached into his pocket to pull out another cigarette, handed it to Ning Weidong, and said: "Thanks to you, we caught a big fish this time!"

Ning Weidong hadn't paid attention to the developments here since he brought Zhang Dajun in last time.

After understanding the situation, he couldn't help but frown: "Fourth Brother, can you still spare some manpower here..."

After hearing Ning Weidong finish explaining the situation, Zhang Dajun also frowned and said in a low voice: "Are you suspecting that Deputy Factory Director Liu is about to make a move?"

Ning Weidong said: "I think it's highly likely. Otherwise, he wouldn't have rashly played the move involving Ning Wei. Moreover, I suspect his target is likely the Fourth Workshop; otherwise, there isn't any intelligence of sufficient weight in the Manager."

Chu Zhongxin clicked his tongue; looking at him, one could tell things weren't easy on his end, or else Chu Zhongxin, as a leader, wouldn't have been worn down like this.

He was also in a difficult position regarding Ning Weidong coming over at this time.

Should he keep a close watch on Section Chief Zhang and Manager Wang to secure the fruits of victory, or split his forces to help Ning Weidong, based merely on his speculative guess?

At this moment, Ning Weidong didn't speak; anything he said now would be interpreted as applying pressure.

Chu Zhongxin had to weigh it himself and make a choice.

A moment later, Chu Zhongxin took a deep breath and said: "Fine, then I'll put my side on hold for now. Don't let that Liu fellow get away."

Ning Weidong was not surprised that Chu Zhongxin made such a decision.

First was Ning Weidong's own status, and second, both Deputy Factory Director Liu and Section Chief Zhang were discovered by Ning Weidong and handed over to Chu Zhongxin.

Finally, and most importantly.

If Ning Weidong guessed correctly and Deputy Factory Director Liu was about to run, it truly could not be delayed.

Conversely, as for Section Chief Zhang and Manager Wang, although they were more professional and hidden deeper than Deputy Factory Director Liu, there was no possibility of them escaping in the short term.

Chu Zhongxin could completely free up his main energy to handle the situation with Deputy Factory Director Liu first, and it wouldn't be too late to return to deal with those two later.

Ning Weidong slapped his thigh: "Fourth Brother, then there's no time to lose, let's act immediately!"

With this matter settled, Ning Weidong didn't need to worry about the specific actions; Chu Zhongxin would arrange them himself.

As long as they moved, Deputy Factory Director Liu definitely wouldn't be able to run. The only key was whether they could take advantage of this opportunity to round up everyone in contact with Deputy Factory Director Liu in one fell swoop.

Then there was the impact on the situation at the Red Star Factory.

Neither Li Weibing nor Wang Guoqiang would likely want this kind of thing to happen at this time.

(End of this chapter)