Chapter 176: Water Heaters and Refrigerators

Ning Weidong said, "An ordinary night watchman wouldn't have that kind of look in their eyes."

Zhao Ruyi didn't keep him in suspense either, replying, "You actually guessed it. Old Man Zheng was in the same company as my dad back in the day, and he only retired from the military after he got injured and became slightly disabled..."

As soon as Ning Weidong heard this, he understood; this was an eye placed here by Zhao's father, and at the same time, a kind of warning to tell Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi not to do anything out of line, and not to think that just because they were outside, they could do whatever they pleased.

Of course, the so-called "out of line" things here did not refer to that business between a man and a woman.

Ever since the marriage alliance was confirmed, the relationship between Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi had been set in stone.

What Zhao's father was guarding against was the two of them running this company outside without restraint and acting recklessly.

That was why he placed Old Man Zheng here.

The two of them entered the courtyard and reached the second gate.

They immediately smelled a scent of paint, and Ning Weidong was slightly surprised: "Did you have the Chuihua Gate repainted?"

Zhao Ruyi said with a smile that she had found the old master craftsman who built the Great Hall back in the day.

Ning Weidong examined it carefully.

Although this courtyard had been renovated before, they hadn't dared to make it too flashy, as it was easy to make people jealous.

Now that this place counted as a work unit, there were fewer scruples about collective property.

Zhao Ruyi, however, treated this place as her own territory, so of course, she had to spruce it up properly.

The entire Chuihua Gate had been painted, and the bright colors made one's eyes light up at first glance.

Walking in through the Chuihua Gate, the covered corridor inside had only been half-painted, and in some places, the paint hadn't dried through yet, which was why there was a smell.

However, being outdoors, it didn't really affect anything.

Arriving at the North Room, Zhao Ruyi said, "By the way, a water heater has been installed here. You can take a shower in a bit to cool off."

Ning Weidong said in surprise, "You even installed a water heater?"

Zhao Ruyi smiled triumphantly: "Got it from Japan."

Ning Weidong suddenly realized; it must have come by sea.

However, there weren't many people who could afford this thing right now; it would likely take another ten years or so before it became popular.

Ning Weidong chuckled: "Together?"

Zhao Ruyi rolled her eyes at him: "Don't be ridiculous. Wait until tonight. Aunt Qin will be sending food over in a while; what would it look like if someone saw us?"

Ning Weidong was just teasing her, then asked again: "Where is it installed?"

Zhao Ruyi led him toward the East Room.

There had originally been a side room here, which used to be a storage room with a door opening to the outside.

Now, Zhao Ruyi had converted it into a bathroom for the lounge.

Because of the sewer issue, it could only be used for showering and urinating; for defecation, one still had to go outside.

The room was tiled with white ceramic tiles and had a faint scent of soap.

Zhao Ruyi followed behind and took out an undershirt and a pair of loose shorts: "Prepared these for you; change into them after you wash."

Ning Weidong turned back and kissed her; such thoughtfulness clearly showed she had put in the effort.

A summer shower was quick, and there was no need to scrub; just rinsing off made one feel clean and refreshed.

Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi went one after the other, and they were finished in just over ten minutes.

They took half a watermelon out of the refrigerator and sliced it.

After showering, blowing the electric fan, and eating chilled watermelon, Ning Weidong almost didn't want to go home to live.

Although there was an electric fan at home, this place was superior just for the "ability to shower" and "having a refrigerator."

While cutting the watermelon, Zhao Ruyi brought up the matter that hadn't been finished on the phone during the day: "That Natasha, you insisted on bringing her to Beijing. Give me the bottom line—what exactly are you thinking?"

The origin of this matter was that Liu Yun and her husband had taken the initiative to find Ning Weidong, hoping he could find a way to help Liu Yun's eldest brother's family transfer back to Beijing.

The inside information about this three-courtyard Siheyuan was the reward.

But later, because Liu Guangzhi's spouse—that is, Liu Yun's sister-in-law—was a Soviet Union citizen, complications arose.

Based on Zhao Ruyi's understanding of Ning Weidong, he shouldn't be dwelling on getting this done just to fulfill a promise.

Especially after learning some of Natasha's situation, Ning Weidong had paid extra attention to this matter, which clearly wasn't that simple.

Ning Weidong reached out, picked up the watermelon, and took a big bite. He didn't even spit out the seeds, just swallowed them whole, and mumbled, "What could I be thinking? That Natasha, her dad is currently the director of the Far East Khabarovsk Tractor Factory. I want to see if I can use this connection to make contact with the other side."

"Make contact with the Soviet Union?" Zhao Ruyi frowned: "Last time I had dinner with my eldest brother and the others, when your sister-in-law's work was mentioned, you were leaning toward the Soviet Union. Are you so certain that our relationship with them will ease?"

"This is an inevitable trend," Ning Weidong said with conviction: "It's the general direction, but it doesn't affect me bringing them to Beijing this time."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ruyi perked up. She sat astride the chair, leaned on the backrest, and listened while eating the melon.

Ning Weidong continued: "Ruyi, I mentioned to you before that someone from Hong Kong came to see me..."

Zhao Ruyi nodded.

What Ning Weidong was talking about was An Ning's cousin, An Zhiyuan.

Zhao Ruyi's reaction was quick: "Are you talking about smuggling? Didn't you refuse at the time?" Ning Weidong said, "Refusing meant I didn't want to work with them, but that doesn't mean we won't do it ourselves."

Zhao Ruyi frowned; the nature of smuggling and the reselling of Approval Documents were completely different.

However, she didn't rush to object. From their time together, she knew Ning Weidong was always a person with a good sense of proportion.

Ning Weidong continued: "And if we really want to engage in smuggling, although there is profit to be made domestically, the risks and hidden dangers are too great; there's absolutely no need to risk it for quick money..."

Zhao Ruyi's heart stirred: "You mean, we smuggle into the Soviet Union?"

"That's exactly what I mean," Ning Weidong nodded: "Their consumption power over there is stronger than ours, and don't look at how it seems like they are flourishing on the surface, forcing America to retreat step by step; in reality, their domestic economic problems are not small, especially their Council for Mutual Economic Assistance system..."

Ning Weidong rattled on for a long time, but Zhao Ruyi still frowned: "But what do we have to sell? Daily necessities, agricultural byproducts—they don't have enough, but we are short of them too~"

Ning Weidong said: "Since we're already smuggling, we should broaden our horizons. If we don't have it, we'll just find whoever does."

Zhao Ruyi's eyes lit up: "You mean Japan?"

It must be said that in this era, when it came to high quality and good value for money, Japanese products were well-deserved.

Ning Weidong smiled noncommittally: "Those are matters for later; let's take it one step at a time. I'll meet this Natasha and see what the situation is before deciding."

Zhao Ruyi nodded, understanding that Ning Weidong wanted to first establish a connection with the Soviet Union; only with this channel could they proceed to the next step.

Moreover, once this path was opened, making money was secondary; they might even be able to seize some political resources in the process.

If the next few years unfolded as Ning Weidong predicted, with relations between the two sides easing and normalizing, this kind of pre-arranged unofficial channel would be valuable.

Making money would instead become incidental, something that happened naturally.

As the two were talking, footsteps came from outside, and they heard a pleasant female voice call out, "Manager Zhao."

The windows were open for the summer, and both Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi heard it.

Zhao Ruyi said, "It must be Aunt Qin's daughter, here to deliver food."

Saying this, she got up and went outside.

Ning Weidong followed her out and stood on the steps in front of the northern door.

He saw a girl of about twenty-five or twenty-six standing beside the Chuihua Gate; she was quite beautiful, seven or eight parts resembling her mother, and she was very well-mannered, holding an old-fashioned lacquered food box in her hand and standing by the gate without rushing in.

Only when she saw Zhao Ruyi come out did she walk inside.

Zhao Ruyi smiled and called out, "Comrade Xiao Dang~"

"Manager Zhao, I've brought this for you on behalf of my mother. It's a lucky day today, as both dishes were cooked by my father himself. Please have a taste; it's absolutely delicious." The girl smiled and held the food box out in front of her.

Zhao Ruyi took the food box and said, "I told you last time, just call me Sister."

"Sister Zhao~" the girl replied. "Then you can call me Xiao Dang; that's what everyone at home calls me. If you need any errands run or chores done in the future, just say the word."

After saying this, she left very tactfully.

Zhao Ruyi brought the food box back and said to Ning Weidong, "Aunt Qin's eldest daughter; she sometimes helps her mother out. She's a very nice girl."

Ning Weidong had already realized this; he had seen Qin Huairu before, so he wasn't surprised to see Xiao Dang now.

Judging by Xiao Dang's appearance, she had likely returned from the countryside and was not yet working.

Her mother probably wanted her to become a familiar face to Zhao Ruyi, hoping to see if she could get her a job here later.

Ning Weidong didn't object to this; they were all irrelevant people anyway.

At the very least, Xiao Dang was easy on the eyes, and she conducted herself with propriety, which was not off-putting.

Zhao Ruyi sighed with some emotion: "Come to think of it, Aunt Qin has had it hard. Her husband died in a work accident over ten years ago, leaving her to raise three children on her own, plus a mother-in-law..."

Ning Weidong sat down and asked casually, "I heard you mention her father just now?"

Zhao Ruyi said, "That's Master He, a family-tradition chef. He never married, just waiting for Aunt Qin. It seems they only registered their marriage the year before last, which is why she calls him Dad..."

Ning Weidong acknowledged this; having already seen Li Yuanchao and Wang Kaixuan, it was no surprise to see Qin Huairu and Xiao Dang now.

He had no interest in concerning himself with other people's family affairs; it was all their own business.

But it had to be said, Master He's cooking was truly no exaggeration.

After eating a few bites, Zhao Ruyi said, "By the way, what did you think of Aunt Qin's daughter just now?"

Ning Weidong had a mouthful of rice, chewed a few times, swallowed, and teased: "What do you mean, what did I think? Is my big wife already scouting for a little one for me before she's even through the door?"

Zhao Ruyi raised her chopsticks, pretending to hit him but only feinting: "You wish! Don't be improper~ I meant letting her come to work at our company. Our business is slowly starting up, and we're short on clerks."

Ning Weidong said, "Do as you see fit."

Zhao Ruyi thought for a moment, pursed her lips and said, "Forget it then. This girl is quite pretty, and all sorts of people come here. If something were to happen, it wouldn't look good if word got out."

Ning Weidong knew what she was worried about.

If they really brought Xiao Dang in, it wouldn't be long before she got involved with some young man from a prominent family.

Given Xiao Dang's background, it was unlikely she could marry into such a family, yet she was a respectable woman and wouldn't be content to be a mistress.

If something really did happen, it wouldn't just be a matter of trouble—what would that make Zhao Ruyi?

Having made up her mind, Zhao Ruyi added, "By the way, there's one more thing. After we finished our phone call, Wang Pangzi came by this afternoon."

(End of chapter)