Chapter 173: Don't Fear a Thief Stealing, Fear a Thief Coveting

Zhang Dajun was stunned for a moment; he had not expected Ning Weidong's focus to be on this.

He replied, "It is Division Chief Liu from the Mechanical Bureau. Is there a problem?"

Ning Weidong frowned.

The situation regarding Section Chief Zhang was now basically settled; both he and Manager Wang of the Erqing Lushe were Special Agents long hidden by the enemy. The reason they had not rushed to make arrests earlier was to dig deeper into the two of them, hoping to uncover a whole string of them and wipe out the entire nest.

This was also why, once Zhang Dajun discovered that Section Chief Zhang had close contact with Shi Xiaonan, he had been so anxious to come find Ning Weidong—he was terrified that he would be implicated.

And Section Chief Zhang's deliberate attempt to have Shi Xiaonan contact Division Chief Liu had an obvious purpose as well.

Ning Weidong pursed his lips and did not say much more to Zhang Dajun, indicating there was nothing else and telling him to head back first.

Once Zhang Dajun left, Ning Weidong returned to the room with a serious expression.

Zhao Ruyi came out from the inner room; she had originally wanted to hear how he would explain things, but seeing his expression, she immediately set those thoughts aside and asked, "Weidong, what happened?"

Nowadays, she and Ning Weidong shared the same fate—if one prospered, both prospered; if one suffered, both suffered. Ning Weidong absolutely could not afford to make a mistake.

Ning Weidong did not hide it from her; if it had been Bai Fengyu, he might have felt a bit guilty, but regarding Shi Xiaonan, he was truly righteous and self-confident.

He concluded by saying, "You don't understand the situation in the Dazayuan. It's a bit better now, but if this had happened a few years ago, if real trouble had broken out, everyone would have been dragged down with it."

Zhao Ruyi suddenly understood, but asked in confusion, "This matter has nothing to do with us, why are you..."

Ning Weidong waved his hand and said, "It's not about Shi Xiaonan, it's about that Division Chief Liu~"

Zhao Ruyi was surprised: "Division Chief Liu?"

Ning Weidong said, "In my memory, the leader above my older brother seems to be surnamed Liu, and their bureau seems to have a big project going on recently."

Zhao Ruyi understood in an instant; since it concerned Ning Weiguo, it was no wonder Ning Weidong was so serious.

Ning Weidong said, "I'll take you back first, then I'll go to my brother's place."

Zhao Ruyi said, "Business comes first. Do I need you to take me? I'll ride my bike back myself."

Having said that, she acted with swift resolution, picked up the large bag of dirty laundry she had just packed, and walked outside.

Ning Weidong felt a sweetness in his heart; although Zhao Ruyi had all sorts of shortcomings, this spirited, dashing quality of hers was truly unique.

She was nothing like some women who, when encountering trouble, would be dawdling and long-winded; when you were already overwhelmed, you would still have to worry about their emotions, and if you didn't pay attention, they would hit you with a "Do you not love me anymore?"

Zhao Ruyi was also quite strong; she carried the large bag of clothes as if it were nothing, and once outside, she used a rope to tie it to the back seat of her bicycle.

Just then, Bai Fengqin came out from the room next door. Seeing Zhao Ruyi, she didn't avoid her, but instead walked up and said, "Sister Zhao, are you heading back?" As she spoke, she stepped forward to help Zhao Ruyi steady the bundle of clothes.

With the college entrance exams over, Bai Fengqin was completely relaxed. For the past two days, she had been sleeping soundly, waking up after ten o'clock each time, and then just idling about, waiting for her scores.

She felt she had done quite well on the exam this time and had a high chance of getting in.

This made her smile even more radiant.

Because Zhao Ruyi came by often, she had become familiar with Bai Fengqin.

Zhao Ruyi could sense that the look in Bai Fengqin's eyes when she watched Ning Weidong carried a different kind of affection.

Yet, she didn't feel that Bai Fengqin posed any threat; an orphan girl with no family background, no matter how pretty she was, was just a vase.

What's more, the universities she had applied to were all in other provinces. If she got in, she would be leaving for several years, and she didn't know where she would be assigned after graduation; it was highly likely she would stay there to work, so what was there to worry about?

Zhao Ruyi let go, used the rope to tie the bundle securely, and said with a smile, "Thanks, little sister Fengqin. By the way, now that your exams are over and you have time, come visit my place sometime."

Bai Fengqin's eyes lit up; she knew Zhao Ruyi's background and had a mind to go and broaden her horizons.

However, she also understood that Zhao Ruyi was just being polite and might not actually want her to go.

She turned to see Ning Weidong also pushing his bicycle out, assuming he was going to see Zhao Ruyi off. Watching the two of them pass through the Moon Gate, she couldn't help but pout and sigh again.

"What are you sighing about?" Bai Fengyu happened to come out of the room at that moment.

Bai Fengqin was startled, turned back, and said, "Sister, you scared me. Why do you walk without making a sound?"

Bai Fengyu patted her: "You're the one who walks without a sound~ You were lost in your own thoughts, what are you daydreaming about?" Without waiting for Bai Fengqin to answer, she looked toward the Moon Gate and asked, "They left?"

Bai Fengqin knew she was referring to Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi, and nodded.

Bai Fengyu withdrew her gaze: "By the way, didn't we say last time that after you finished your exams, our family would buy a television set~"

Bai Fengqin was stunned and asked in surprise, "Sister, are you really buying one?"

Bai Fengyu smiled: "Otherwise, would I be joking? I'll buy it now so you can watch your fill before school starts."

Bai Fengqin was overjoyed, but also a little worried: "It's not certain yet whether I'll get in~"

Bai Fengyu said, "What kind of defeatist talk is that? You will definitely get in! This Sunday, let's go to the department store and take a look."

Bai Fengqin suddenly remembered: "Sister, where did you get the television voucher?"

Bai Fengyu's eyes flickered as she said, "That? I bought it from a comrade at work. His family originally wanted to buy one, but then they changed their minds, so they sold it to me."

Bai Fengqin secretly curled her lip, thinking to herself that there was no such thing as a coincidence; this television voucher was definitely given by Ning Weidong.

Last time, it was also Ning Weidong who said he would help them buy a television once she finished her college entrance exams.

However, she didn't expose it, so as not to embarrass Bai Fengyu; after all, it was that kind of unspeakable relationship. Thinking of this, Bai Fengqin swallowed for no reason.

After leaving the courtyard, Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi rode together for a stretch of the road.

Zhao Ruyi suddenly said, "By the way, there's something I forgot to tell you."

Ning Weidong had been thinking about Division Chief Liu and Ning Weiguo, and upon hearing her, he came back to his senses: "What is it?"

Zhao Ruyi said, "Li Yuanchao came by yesterday afternoon and said he has a sedan, it came from Japan, seems to be called a Bluebird, and asked if we wanted it?"

"Bluebird?" Ning Weidong didn't react for a moment; before he transmigrated, he almost never heard this brand anymore.

It took a few seconds for him to realize it was a sedan under Nissan; at this time, it certainly hadn't come through official channels.

But compared to domestic sedans and the Beijing 212, it was still quite good.

This could also be considered a gesture of goodwill from Li Yuanchao.

Ning Weidong could see that Zhao Ruyi really wanted it, and the fact that she could still discuss it with him instead of agreeing directly was already quite remarkable.

Ning Weidong thought for a moment and said, "Our company does indeed need a car. By the way, do you know how to drive?"

Zhao Ruyi "tsk-ed": "Who are you looking down on? I could drive a 212 from Beijing to Tianjin when I was fifteen."

Ning Weidong could tell that when speaking of this, Zhao Ruyi carried pride, and there was a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

She clearly wanted this car.

Ning Weidong thought for a moment and said: "Imported cars... are too flashy, it's not quite appropriate right now. Let's wait another two years, when there are more on the market, then we'll trade up. For now, let's just make do with a 212."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ruyi felt a moment of disappointment, but it was only for an instant; she soon nodded: "Fine, I get it. Having a 212 is not bad either."

After finishing this topic, Zhao Ruyi added: "By the way, that Wang Kaixuan who came last time, he went to Min Province a while ago..."

Ning Weidong gave an "mm," knowing that Wang Kaixuan's father had previously taken root in Min Province, so Wang Kaixuan must have gone back to pull some strings.

Previously, Wang Kaixuan had no one to rely on in Beijing and no resources in his hands. Firstly, he didn't have the face to go back and find his father's old friends, and secondly, simply asking people for favors wasn't that easy. When someone like Wang Kaixuan went to look for them, they would mostly provide good food and drink, and if the request wasn't too excessive, they would help if they could. But that was all. After this one time, the favor would be considered settled.

Now, however, it was different; Wang Kaixuan went back this time carrying resources.

Sure enough, Zhao Ruyi went on to describe the situation.

The rank of Wang Kaixuan's father was not low, so his old comrades and friends from the past naturally didn't hold back. Wang Kaixuan gained quite a bit this trip, establishing many connections.

Moreover, Min Province is located in the southeast, where private economic activities are very active, and there is a great demand for certain important materials, so they are quite wealthy.

Ning Weidong couldn't help but reveal a slight smile.

Last time he saw Wang Kaixuan, he had been calculating in his heart whether he could activate the value in Wang Kaixuan.

Now it seemed he didn't even need to expend the effort; Wang Kaixuan had gotten on the right track himself.

They soon arrived near Taiping Bridge. Ning Weidong parted ways with Zhao Ruyi; Zhao Ruyi continued on to Fuxingmen, while Ning Weidong went straight to Ning Weiguo's home.

"Third Uncle!" Ning Lei opened the door, and seeing Ning Weidong, he immediately called out with a grin.

Ning Weidong ruffled his hair: "So happy to see me, did you cause trouble again?"

Ning Lei chuckled and took the opportunity to hide behind him.

Behind him, Wang Yuzhen glared at him, the meaning being 'you brat, just you wait,' then she turned to look at Ning Weidong: "Old Third, why did you come over at this hour? Did something happen?"

Usually, when Ning Weidong came over, he would call during the day and arrive before mealtime.

Coming after dark definitely meant there was something going on.

At this moment, Ning Weiguo also came out of the bedroom.

Ning Weidong closed the door behind him, changed into slippers, and said: "Zhang Dajun just came by and mentioned a situation."

Both Ning Weiguo and his wife turned serious; they knew who Zhang Dajun was.

Ning Weidong rattled off the situation, and at the end, he asked: "Brother, what's the situation with that Division Chief Liu?"

Ning Weiguo frowned deeply and said in a low voice: "Old Liu is my direct superior and an expert in the bureau. He usually has no hobbies other than listening to opera. I didn't expect..."

Wang Yuzhen's focus, however, was on Shi Xiaonan, and she couldn't help but click her tongue: "Shi Xiaonan actually did something like this?"

Ning Weidong wasn't too surprised. It wasn't about what kind of character Shi Xiaonan had; it was mainly because there is an old saying: 'Don't fear the thief stealing, fear the thief coveting.'

Everyone has shortcomings and weaknesses. It doesn't matter when things are normal, but when it comes to a critical moment, if someone is coveting you, with the intentional calculating against the unintentional, how many can pass the test?

When it comes down to it, Shi Xiaonan is just a woman who sings opera.

Neither Ning Weiguo nor Ning Weidong picked up the thread, and Wang Yuzhen just sighed and didn't dwell on it further.

(End of chapter)