Chapter 175: 212

Upon receiving the call, Ning Weidong focused his attention and immediately asked, "What is the situation over there?"

Zhao Ruyi said, "The train tickets are already bought. Liu Guangzhi and his family of three are coming by train under the pretext of seeking medical treatment."

Ning Weidong gave an "Mm."

It had been decided beforehand to bring Liu Yun's older brother and Natasha to Beijing; since Natasha happened to be ill, it was the perfect opportunity to treat a minor ailment as a major one.

Ning Weidong asked, "Did they say which day they can arrive? And what about their living arrangements..."

Zhao Ruyi said, "Don't worry, I had Xiao Wei go handle it. I'm having one of the rooms in the company's back courtyard tidied up first. The tickets are for next Monday, so there's plenty of time. When they arrive, I'll have Liu Guangzhi register with the company first, and his salary will be the same as Wang Xuewen and the others..."

Ning Weidong nodded inwardly; one really does need to strike out independently to be tempered.

Zhao Ruyi used to just drift through her days at the Factory Office, not thinking about anything, but now she handles these matters and makes decisions without needing Ning Weidong to worry.

Ning Weidong immediately offered a few words of praise, which made Zhao Ruyi beam with delight.

In fact, when Ning Weidong first asked her to leave the Red Star Factory and set up this Dongyi Company, she hadn't said anything out loud, but she had been quite apprehensive inside.

Don't let her carefree and boisterous personality fool you; that was just how she was normally, when things were fine and there was nothing going on.

But founding a company was no ordinary responsibility.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly, which built up a great deal of self-confidence for Zhao Ruyi.

He then asked, "By the way, you insisted on bringing them all this way; what exactly are you thinking?"

"We'll talk about that when we get home." Ning Weidong could naturally not discuss his plans over the phone.

In a few more years, once switchboards replaced operators, the privacy of telephone calls would improve significantly.

But that was only relative; even before Ning Weidong transmigrated, if someone wanted to eavesdrop, there were technical means to do so.

Zhao Ruyi was just curious, and she changed the subject: "By the way, Wang Pangzi earned quite a bit from his trip back from Min Province this time, and he wants the two of us to have a meal."

Ning Weidong remembered that Zhao Ruyi had mentioned last time that Wang Kaixuan had returned to Min Province a while ago to find his father's former comrades and old acquaintances, and had made many connections.

Leveraging these connections, Wang Kaixuan had flipped several Approval Documents in less than a month.

Ning Weidong couldn't help but laugh and ask how much he had actually earned, as he really had no idea.

Zhao Ruyi said, "He handled four in total, earning about 6,700 in total, and the company's share was about 2,400."

Speaking of this, one could clearly hear the excitement in Zhao Ruyi's voice.

Ning Weidong was not surprised; this was just the beginning, and it was only Wang Kaixuan.

For an ordinary person, getting their hands on 6,000, nearly 7,000 yuan in less than a month—

In an era where the average salary was forty or fifty yuan, it was something one wouldn't even dare to imagine.

And Wang Kaixuan had previously been sent down to Ganggang Yingzi, working to earn work points; although he ate from the "big pot," he would be lucky to have ten yuan to show for it at the end of the year after converting his points.

Now that he had earned several thousand in a flash, one could imagine his state of mind.

Thinking of this, Ning Weidong asked, "By the way, after he got the money, what did he do with it?"

This kind of windfall, suddenly becoming rich, is the best way to see the true face of a person's inner self.

Most people will reveal their most unsightly side.

Zhao Ruyi said, "He didn't really do much, just ate and drank... Oh right, he once asked me if I had any connections, as he wanted to buy a house."

Ning Weidong was slightly surprised; he hadn't expected this reaction from Wang Kaixuan.

It must be said, this Wang Pangzi was actually quite reliable.

But upon further thought, it didn't seem strange.

Although Wang Kaixuan was not old, he had experienced great ups and downs and had seen the warmth and coldness of human relationships.

Back when his father was still alive, given his family background, he must have been the undisputed leader of the children in the compound.

Later, his father died, his home was gone, and he suffered for several years on the edge of the Daxinganling, watching his best friend leave to join the army while he himself faced a confused future.

These experiences were enough to temper a person.

If this still didn't work, it could only mean that the person was mud that couldn't be propped up on a wall.

But was Wang Kaixuan mud? Clearly not.

Ning Weidong said, "Fine, you handle the arrangements."

After hanging up the phone, Ning Weidong didn't dwell on the annoying business regarding Shi Xiaonan.

By four-something in the afternoon, seeing that it was almost time to get off work, Ning Weidong tidied up the things on his desk, preparing to leave.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

Ning Weidong glanced at the time, thinking to himself, who is so tactless to come at this hour?

He said "come in," and saw the door open to reveal Zhao Ruyi, who poked her head in with a grin.

Ning Weidong was stunned, then stood up and said, "Why are you here?"

Zhao Ruyi walked in smiling: "Not happy to see me?"

"Happy~" Ning Weidong went to greet her.

Zhao Ruyi closed the door behind her, stood on tiptoe, and hugged Ning Weidong like a koala; feeling her buttocks being grabbed, she couldn't help but blush and softly scolded him, "Pervert."

Ning Weidong chuckled; it was a pity his rank wasn't high enough to have a lounge in his office, otherwise... hehe.

After a brief moment of intimacy, the two separated.

Ning Weidong asked again, "Didn't we agree you'd wait for me at the company tonight? Why run all this way?"

Zhao Ruyi smiled and pulled a key out of her pants pocket.

"You drove here?" Ning Weidong recognized it as the key to the Jeep.

So it turned out Zhao Ruyi had come out to take the car for a spin.

Zhao Ruyi said, "It was just delivered this afternoon." Previously, Li Yuanchao had mentioned there was a Bluebird sedan, but Ning Weidong felt an imported car was too flashy and didn't agree; however, since Zhao Ruyi did have a need for a vehicle, they had gotten a 212 Jeep.

"Don't ride your bike tonight, let's drive back together." Zhao Ruyi was in high spirits.

Ning Weidong was also quite excited: "That would be great, but if I leave the car at the Manager, what am I supposed to do tomorrow morning?"

Zhao Ruyi pursed her lips and said: "I'll bring it to you again tomorrow morning, will that work~"

Ning Weidong pushed his luck: "Then if you leave home and pick me up for work, what time would that be~ How about tonight... the two of us just make do for the night at the company."

Zhao Ruyi's face flushed; how could she not know his intentions?

The Dongyi Company was originally a three-courtyard Siheyuan, and there weren't really any changes made when it was converted into an office.

On the west side of the North Room was Zhao Ruyi's Office, and a lounge was left on the east side, which Ning Weidong had specifically requested.

Usually, if Zhao Ruyi was tired, she could take a nap, or if she was caught off guard, she could spend the night.

As for the real purpose, Zhao Ruyi also knew it perfectly well.

The two had confirmed their relationship and taken the final step, yet they didn't have many opportunities to truly be together.

In this era, going out to rent a hotel room was basically impossible.

If they really went, and something went wrong and someone reported them, it would be no small matter.

Although Ning Weiguo and his wife had moved out and left the house to Ning Weidong.

But after all, Zhao Ruyi hadn't married into the family yet; it was fine to come over and help tidy up the house, but if she really stayed the night, it certainly wouldn't be good.

If it were during the day, one would still be on pins and needles, and it wouldn't be enjoyable.

It was just right to leave a place over there; that was their own territory, and they could do whatever they wanted.

Who knew that with one thing after another recently, there had been no opportunity to go over.

Today was just perfect.

Zhao Ruyi rolled her eyes at him: "Hooligan, always thinking about doing bad things!"

Ning Weidong chuckled: "Who told my wife to be so beautiful~ By the way, where did you park the car? You didn't drive it into the Manager, did you~"

Zhao Ruyi said: "Don't worry, I parked it outside the Manager. If I really drove it in and happened to run into the end of the workday, would I let people surround me and watch like a monkey?"

Ning Weidong smiled; this was the benefit of a high background, having seen and experienced things since childhood.

For Zhao Ruyi, while she was certainly very happy about a car, she wouldn't get carried away; she had seen them since she was a child, and according to her own words, she could drive from Beijing to Tianjin at fifteen.

Having gotten one this time, she didn't have the urge to show it off everywhere.

The two stayed for a while longer, and when it was time to get off work, they left the Office Building.

At the gate of the Manager, people were swarming out.

Ning Weidong didn't go to get his bicycle; he went straight out the gate with Zhao Ruyi and turned to the right.

From afar, they saw a military-green 212 Jeep parked on the side of the road.

The car looked ninety percent new; he didn't know where Zhao Ruyi had gotten it, and Ning Weidong didn't ask about her connections.

Sitting in the car, Ning Weidong looked left and right.

One could only say that cars at this time were quite crude.

Everywhere was hard sheet metal; except for the artificial leather seat under his butt, there wasn't a soft place to be found.

But then again, this was 1979; having a car was already pretty good, so why ask for all sorts of messy configurations.

Zhao Ruyi sat in the driver's seat, nimbly started the car, shifted gears, and pulled away.

Ning Weidong felt a slight sway, and this 212 started up quite smoothly.

Before transmigrating, Ning Weidong hadn't ridden in a 212, he had only heard of this legendary car.

It was said to be quite difficult to drive, especially the early versions.

It seemed Zhao Ruyi really wasn't bragging; her driving skills were quite solid.

At this time, there weren't many cars on the road, but traffic rules weren't that strict either, especially during the commute, where one could ride a bicycle right into the middle of the road.

But no matter what, a car was a car, and before long they entered the old city district.

The removable windows made all sorts of strange noises on the bumpy road, and on a hot day, there was no air conditioning, so it all relied on the wind blowing in while driving.

By the time they reached the company's Siheyuan and parked the car, both Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi were covered in sweat.

At the company, Ning Wei and the others had all finished work, leaving only a night watchman.

The sound of the car startled those inside, and a thin, elderly man of about sixty with graying hair came out from the gatehouse; seeing Zhao Ruyi, he hurriedly came down the steps and called out "Manager."

Ning Weidong glanced at him.

His right arm moved a bit stiffly, but it wasn't obvious.

"Uncle Zheng, have Qin stir-fry two dishes and send them over; I'll eat a bite here tonight." Zhao Ruyi instructed; neither she nor Ning Weidong had eaten dinner after work.

Uncle Zheng said "Aye" and couldn't help but take a look at Ning Weidong.

He hadn't seen him the last time Ning Weidong came.

Zhao Ruyi introduced: "Weidong, this is Uncle Zheng." "Uncle Zheng, this is my spouse, Ning Weidong."

Uncle Zheng smiled and nodded at Ning Weidong, but his eyes held a look of scrutiny.

He immediately responded and turned to walk north along the alley.

Ning Weidong followed into the courtyard and asked: "What's the background of this Uncle Zheng?"

Zhao Ruyi was stunned for a moment and asked in surprise: "How did you see that?"

(End of this chapter)