Chapter 182: The Aging Sick Tiger

Ning Weidong returned home, and not long after, Ning Wei arrived.

Ning Weidong had known he would come; after all, having just instructed him to do something, he certainly had to return to report back.

Ning Wei was drenched in sweat.

Ning Weidong said, "Pour yourself some water to drink."

Ning Wei gave an "aye," and since he was not an outsider at Ning Weidong's place, he went to pour himself a cup of cold boiled water and gulped it down in two swallows.

Ning Weidong asked, "Is everything arranged?"

Ning Wei replied, "It's arranged. I first let her stay in our company's dormitory."

Now that Ning Wei had been transferred to Dongyi Company, because there were few people there, and since Wang Xueming and Zhao Chunlei were already following Ning Wei, plus Ning Wei's relationship with Ning Weidong, he became a manager as soon as he arrived.

For the daily big and small matters in the company, Zhao Ruyi was responsible for making decisions, and the actual execution was done by Ning Wei.

This allowed Ning Wei to invisibly control many resources.

Just like this arrangement for Shi Xiaonan.

In order to expand company personnel in the future, Zhao Ruyi had long ago let Ning Wei rent houses nearby in the company's name.

Don't look at how housing in Beijing has always been in short supply; if it is an institutional lease, it is still relatively easy to rent a house.

It is just that it is very difficult to find centralized courtyards or apartment buildings; they are all scattered rooms.

This time, Ning Wei arranged for Shi Xiaonan to stay in a Tongzi Building near Nanluoguxiang.

A total of three rooms were rented in that building; originally, Zhao Ruyi intended to recruit a few people who understood finance, preferably technical secondary school graduates.

She dared not even think about college graduates; current college students are also university students, all the pride of heaven, and upon graduation, they carry Cadre Status, which is not enough to go around for government agencies and large State-owned factories.

But things did not go as wished; not even one technical secondary school graduate had been recruited in over a month.

So these few dormitories were all empty, just right for Shi Xiaonan to stay in temporarily.

As for Zhao Ruyi's side, these matters were usually handled by Ning Wei, and Zhao Ruyi did not ask about them at all.

Ning Weidong nodded: "Then let's leave it like that for now."

Ning Wei responded, then added: "Right, when I came back just now, she asked me to pass on a message, asking if you could find time to go over tomorrow."

Ning Weidong frowned: "Did she say what it was about?"

Ning Wei said: "I asked, but she wouldn't say, only that she wanted to tell you in person."

Doubts arose in Ning Weidong's heart; he did not know what kind of act Shi Xiaonan was putting on this time.

However, he could not get anything out of Ning Wei, so he let him go back first.

After Ning Wei left, Ning Weidong reached for a cigarette, and while lighting it, he pondered what Shi Xiaonan meant.

But he could not figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking about it.

Given Shi Xiaonan's situation, she probably could not play any tricks.

……

At the same time, at the neighboring Bai Family.

The television was on, Bai Fengyu was doing needlework, Bai Fengqin was helping on the side, her eyes looking out the window from time to time.

Watching Ning Wei leave, she whispered: "Sister, did something happen? Brother Weidong went out in a hurry just now, and Ning Wei came over just now too?"

Bai Fengyu looked at the needlework in her hands, not even raising her head, and said calmly: "What could have happened, and what help could we possibly provide?"

Bai Fengqin was choked for words; it was indeed the truth. If it were a matter Ning Weidong could not solve, what could they do?

Bai Fengyu added: "Fengqin, in a little over a month you will be going to university. When you are outside, be more cautious and think thrice before acting."

Bai Fengqin gave an "um."

Bai Fengyu continued: "Also, when you meet people, especially men, you must be more guarded, you know? No matter what sweet talk they use, you must understand in your heart: what are they after from you?"

Bai Fengqin understood the meaning of these words; it was telling her not to let anyone trick her out of her virtue.

Pouting, she muttered softly: "I wouldn't look twice at those silly boys~"

Bai Fengyu raised her head: "What?"

Bai Fengqin hurriedly avoided her gaze: "Nothing. Right, Sister, after I leave, what will you do all by yourself?"

Bai Fengyu's hand paused, then she continued her work, lowering her head: "What do you mean what will I do? I'll just live as I live~"

Bai Fengqin hinted indirectly: "Sister, you are only in your twenties, are you really going to spend your whole life like this?"

Bai Fengyu was silent, and only after a few seconds did she say: "Then what else can I do?"

Bai Fengqin asked: "Has no one introduced anyone to you?"

Bai Fengyu looked up and rolled her eyes: "You dead girl, what nonsense are you spouting~"

Although Bai Fengqin knew about the relationship between Bai Fengyu and Ning Weidong, Bai Fengyu herself was not quite sure yet.

Bai Fengqin said: "I am not spouting nonsense~" As she spoke, she leaned closer to Bai Fengyu: "I mean, you have to consider more for yourself. That man surnamed Ma ran off and there's been no word; you don't even have a child, what are you still holding onto for him?"

Bai Fengyu said: "Who said I am holding onto him? It's just... it's just that there is no one suitable."

Bai Fengqin had no other intentions; she was just worried about Bai Fengyu's future.

She was truly grateful to this cousin; if not for Bai Fengyu taking her in back then, given her family's situation, it would have been impossible for her to have the opportunity to get into university.

Bai Fengyu had given her a hand at the most critical moment.

But thinking about how she was about to go to another province for university, and not knowing where she would be assigned to work after graduation or if she could return to Beijing,

she could not help but worry about Bai Fengyu's future life. ……

The next day, Ning Weidong got up early to go to work.

Not long after arriving at his unit, Li Peihang came.

"Brother Li~" Ning Weidong stood up to welcome him: "What time is it, how do you have the free time to come to my place this early?"

Li Peihang sighed and plopped down on the sofa: "Sigh, nothing much, just came over to look around."

Ning Weidong said with a smile: "Perfect, I got some good tea a few days ago; let's brew some today and have us brothers taste it."

Li Peihang smiled and said, "It was your wife who got this for you, right?"

Ning Weidong was noncommittal, busy getting the tea leaves.

Li Peihang then asked, "By the way, your wife transferred to the Mechanical Bureau and started a Trade Company; how is that going?"

Li Peihang was aware of Zhao Ruyi's transfer.

Ning Weidong said, "It's alright. Brother Li, are you interested in starting a side business too?"

Li Peihang smiled, not denying it, and leaned back against the sofa: "In the current climate, my uncle is dead set on supporting Chu Chengfu, and Wang Guoqiang has also stabilized his footing; I have no hope left."

Ning Weidong heard the sense of dejection in his tone; it seemed he wanted to settle for the next best thing and secure some tangible benefits.

Ning Weidong steeped the tea and placed a cup in front of Li Peihang: "If you ask me, Brother Li, you're right to think this way. The current situation has changed..."

Li Peihang frowned and said, "Do you really think it can reach that point?"

Ning Weidong picked up his teacup and said indifferently, "Brother Li, it's useless to ask me whether it can reach that point; you need to look at what some people are doing."

Li Peihang fell silent; he was considered half a member of the inner circle and had grasped some information himself.

Before, they would take advantage of the convenience at the Red Star Factory to get some scrap steel, and they would feel terrified doing it.

But compared to those who are dealing in Approval Documents now, that little bit of money is simply not worth mentioning.

What tempted him even more was that, just as Ning Weidong had said, many people he knew, or knew of, who were of the same status as Li Yuanchao were all doing this.

If it were before, Li Peihang would still have had hope in his career and wouldn't have had other thoughts.

Now that his official career was hopeless, he had already angered Li Weibing by ignoring his instructions at a critical moment last time and deliberately holding Chu Chengfu back.

What was even more fatal was that, because of Deputy Factory Director Liu, the struggle between Wang Guoqiang and Chu Chengfu had not resulted in a clear winner, nor had it caused a situation where both sides suffered.

This was what made Li Peihang feel most helpless and awkward.

Reaching out to grab the cup in front of him, Li Peihang took a sip, not tasting much: "Brother, I understand. That... I have a brother-in-law; I'll have him go see your wife later."

Ning Weidong smiled; it seemed Li Peihang had already made up his mind, and coming today was just to test Ning Weidong's attitude.

However, given the relationship between Ning Weidong and him, he surely wouldn't refuse.

This could also be considered helping Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi's company make money.

Ning Weidong said, "That would be great. I'll call Ruyi in a bit."

Having said this, neither of them continued.

The follow-up cooperation would be discussed between Zhao Ruyi and Li Peihang's brother-in-law; there was no need for the two of them to specify.

If there were any discrepancies, arguing over interests and haggling over every cent would only make things look bad.

After Li Peihang left, Ning Weidong sat back behind his desk, not rushing to look at the Correspondence Education materials, pondering the impact of Li Peihang's move on the Red Star Factory.

Previously, because Li Weibing was going to step into the second line, with Wang Guoqiang, Chu Chengfu, and Li Peihang remaining, there was a vague sense of a three-legged balance of power.

It was just that Li Peihang and Chu Chengfu had split Li Weibing's influence in two; neither could go head-to-head with Wang Guoqiang alone, and cooperation seemed unlikely, making the situation very delicate.

Now that Li Peihang was withdrawing, it became a game between Wang Guoqiang and Chu Chengfu, with Li Weibing behind Chu Chengfu.

Ning Weidong couldn't help but click his tongue.

He had always thought Li Peihang was short-sighted and had average ability.

If he weren't Li Weibing's nephew, he wouldn't have been able to sit in his current position at all.

But looking at it now, he wasn't an ordinary person either; being able to make up his mind to pull out this time was something not everyone could do.

Meanwhile, in the Factory Director's Office on the fifth floor.

Li Weibing sat on the guest sofa, smoking while listening to his Secretary report: "Factory Director, Division Chief Li just went to Ning Weidong's office..."

Li Weibing's eyes narrowed slightly; because of his old age, his eyes were a bit cloudy. The sunlight from outside shone through the treetops, casting mottled light and shadows, giving Li Weibing a sense of lethargy, like an aging, sick tiger.

After listening, he gave a noncommittal "Hmm" and said nothing more.

The Secretary didn't speak again either.

After a long while, Li Weibing finished his cigarette, sighed, and said, "At least he hasn't gone crazy."

The Secretary knew Li Weibing was talking about Li Peihang, and also knew that two days ago, this uncle and nephew had had a fierce verbal conflict.

The usually obedient Li Peihang had directly talked back, venting the dissatisfaction he had been suppressing in his heart for a long time.

But they were blood relatives after all; blood is thicker than water.

After that time, Li Peihang finally didn't act recklessly, followed Li Weibing's arrangement, gave up his power in the factory, and concentrated resources for Chu Chengfu.

Li Weibing continued: "Tell Xiao Ge later to find time to go to that company of Ning Weidong's."

(End of this chapter)