Chapter 193: Noodles with Garlic or Garlic with Noodles

Ning Weidong was eating at the Second Canteen when Lu Zhou brought Liu Dong over.

Once the matter was explained, the chopsticks Ning Weidong was using to pick up food paused, and he frowned slightly in thought.

In fact, ever since Qian Dacheng came to find him, and after Qian Dacheng's beloved Ruyi had gone to see the two sisters of the Bai Family, he had guessed that the Qian family would make a move.

At this moment, Lu Zhou and Liu Dong did not know about Qian Xiaopeng's situation, so they felt it was strange that Qian Dacheng and Wang Rui were suddenly targeting Ning Weidong, but Ning Weidong, who possessed comprehensive information, found it normal instead.

As for personnel files, they were indeed a very good entry point.

To an average layman, this stuff is just a few forms listing some events, but an insider can easily see a person's true colors from them, thereby finding a breakthrough to deal with that person.

From this perspective, this move by Qian Dacheng was not wrong at all.

It was just that his luck was not very good, which was about the same as Qian Xiaopeng.

This is what is called bad timing.

Ning Weidong thought for a moment and said, "Old Lu, Xiao Liu, I know about this now. You did very well. And that comrade Xiao Hou, tell him later that I am very grateful to him."

Lu Zhou hurriedly said, "Leader, this is what we should do. If you have any use for us, just give the order."

Ning Weidong smiled: "No need for you to say that. By the way, Old Lu, there is one more thing. For this year's Advanced Producer award from the Ministry, I discussed it with Division Chief Li, and we have submitted your name from our division."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhou's eyes lit up instantly; even though his facial nerve damage made him look expressionless, he could not help but be slightly moved at this moment.

If being named an 'Advanced Producer' at the factory in the first half of the year was just a stepping stone, then this Advanced Producer award from the Ministry had a completely different level of significance.

If he were truly selected, his promotion to Deputy Section Chief would basically be a certainty.

"Leader..." Lu Zhou's emotions were stirred, and he felt extremely fortunate for his choice to stick with Ning Weidong back then.

Liu Dong, standing to the side, also felt his heart race.

The power of a role model is immense; why couldn't the current Lu Zhou be his future self?

As long as one has the ability and is willing to work, one can obtain opportunities for promotion here with Ning Weidong.

After sending the two away, Ning Weidong pondered carefully: if Qian Dacheng wanted to deal with him, what excuse could he find in his file?

The first thing is the issue of entering the factory.

The original body entered the factory with the help of Ning Weiguo, handled by Li Peihang.

Although some connections were used, there were no violations in principle.

At that time, the original body was a youth returning to the city, already carrying a labor quota, and the roles played by Ning Weiguo and Li Peihang were merely to secure the timing.

Furthermore, this matter involved Li Peihang.

If Qian Dacheng made an issue of this, it would be equivalent to tearing his face off with Li Peihang.

And Qian Dacheng still had to work in the Factory Office in the future; although Li Peihang could not defeat Wang Guoqiang and was also suppressed by Chu Chengfu, it would be a piece of cake for him to handle Qian Dacheng.

Another thing was when Ning Weidong was later transferred from the East Gate to the Office Building.

This operation also had no fatal flaws: first, establish a 'task force' through an emergency event, then have the 'task force' request a secondment.

This is also why it is said that power does not come from a position, but from a 'project'.

Only with a 'project' can one mobilize various resources: manpower, material resources, and funds.

This is also why a certain task force must have a top leader as a figurehead, while the real responsibility lies with the deputy team leader.

This is the so-called 'Neither authority nor titles should be lent to others; they are what the ruler controls.'

Ning Weidong's move here also could not be picked apart for any major flaws.

Then there was the later position of Deputy Section Chief.

This Deputy Section Chief position was a reward for Ning Weidong toppling Wang Kaifeng; to pick faults here would not be targeting Ning Weidong, but rather negating Li Weibing.

Although Li Weibing was about to retire, he had not retired yet.

Even if he had retired, there were still Chu Chengfu and Li Peihang.

No matter how much these two disagreed, since they inherited Li Weibing's political legacy, they had to maintain the corresponding stance, otherwise, it would be self-negation.

It is not that one cannot defect, but there must be a huge interest exchange involved, otherwise, no one would do such a thankless job.

Ning Weidong thought over and over, but he did not feel that Qian Dacheng could find any faults in his resume.

However, to Ning Weidong's surprise, Qian Dacheng actually found one!...

After work in the evening, Ning Weidong went to the Siheyuan as usual.

He didn't need to cook for himself here, and he could take a shower using the water heater.

Leaving his bicycle in the front courtyard, Ning Weidong greeted Old Man Zheng and saw Qin Huairu at the kitchen door brushing flour off her body.

Seeing Ning Weidong, she immediately greeted him: "Section Chief Ning is here~"

Ning Weidong said: "Aunt Qin, what delicious thing are you making?"

Qin Huairu said: "Manager Zhao said this afternoon that she wanted to eat noodles with soybean paste."

Ning Weidong smiled and nodded; although he didn't have much contact with Qin Huairou, it had to be said that this woman left a very good impression.

She was very good at talking, clean, and efficient in her work.

He turned and walked to the middle courtyard.

Because it was hot, especially with the afternoon sun, a sunshade had been set up in the courtyard.

This was the usual practice in Beijing's Siheyuan during the summer.

A sunshade was set up above, and a rocking chair was placed below.

Zhao Ruyi's hair was wet; she must have taken a quick shower after work while everyone else had left. At this moment, she had changed into a blue and white-trimmed short-sleeved tracksuit and was sitting by the stone table peeling garlic.

Ning Weidong glanced at the white porcelain bowl on the table, which was filled to the brim; it must have been three heads of garlic.

He couldn't help but call out: "Whoa~ are you having noodles with garlic or garlic with noodles~"

Zhao Ruyi turned her head, immediately smiled, got up to greet him, and leaped toward Ning Weidong, jumping far and high into his arms.

At over 120 jin, it was only Ning Weidong; if it were an average man, he might not have been able to hold her up.

Ning Weidong supported her buttocks with both hands, pinched them while he was at it, and chuckled: "Don't leave tonight~"

Zhao Ruyi's cheeks turned slightly red, and she softly said, "Mm, my dad went to Shanghai."

Ning Weidong couldn't help but tighten his grip on her hands and asked, "How many days will he be gone?"

Zhao Ruyi whispered, "A whole week~"

For this week, Zhao Ruyi was essentially free from supervision.

After a kiss, Ning Weidong set her down, and the two sat down holding hands.

Zhao Ruyi asked, "By the way, I heard something happened in your courtyard?"

Ning Weidong gave an "Mm" and, without hiding anything, recounted the situation, finally adding, "When I run into something like this, how could I just stand by and do nothing~"

Zhao Ruyi agreed, "Indeed, that girl Fengqin finally managed to get into university; she shouldn't be bullied like that."

Zhao Ruyi had a pretty good impression of Bai Fengqin; she was a very pretty and motivated young girl.

As for Bai Fengqin having some vague feelings for Ning Weidong, Zhao Ruyi thought that was normal.

With Ning Weidong's looks, it would be strange if no one coveted him.

If she had to guard against every woman like a thief, she wouldn't be able to live the next few decades.

Compared to Bai Fengqin, it was that young widow Bai Fengyu who made her more cautious.

But it was only slight attention; Zhao Ruyi now held Dongyi Company in her hands, with an income of tens of thousands every month, so she really had no spare energy to think about those trivial matters.

Ning Weidong added, "This Qian Xiaopeng's older brother is Section Chief Qian from our Manager's Logistics Department."

Zhao Ruyi had just come from the Manager and immediately recalled, asking in surprise, "Is he Qian Dacheng's younger brother?"

Ning Weidong nodded.

Zhao Ruyi realized, "I remember now, it's that kid~ I even sparred with him a couple of years ago; he does have some real skill... wait, no, you kicked his leg and broke it in one go?"

Ning Weidong raised an eyebrow: "What, you don't believe me?"

Zhao Ruyi hurriedly said, "I wouldn't dare, you're the most powerful, okay~"

Ning Weidong said, "I don't know if he has real skill, but he's definitely not as fast or as strong as me, and he's a glass cannon—he broke the moment I touched him."

Zhao Ruyi rolled her eyes; people who practice martial arts are supposed to have sturdy bones and muscles, if he was a glass cannon, then ordinary people would be made of paper.

She then said, "By the way, I remember Qian Dacheng has a fourth uncle who seems to be a leader at the Mechanical Bureau."

Ning Weidong said, "I know. Last night I went to see my older brother and sister-in-law and told them the situation. My brother knows that man; he is very protective of his reputation and shouldn't get involved in this messy business."

Zhao Ruyi nodded and reminded him, "But you should be careful too. Next time you hit someone, hold back your strength a little. Don't break bones at every turn. As long as it's just external injuries, a fight is just a fight."

Ning Weidong responded, though in truth, he felt the same way.

When he fought Qian Xiaopeng earlier, he hadn't intended to break his leg; Ning Weidong had simply underestimated the combat power of this body after transmigrating.

Plus, there was the matter of a sudden burst of force.

Otherwise, in that situation that day, even if he had beaten Qian Xiaopeng into a pig's head, the other party would have had no choice but to accept it.

At this moment, Qin Huairu came over from the front courtyard and asked, "Manager Zhao, Section Chief Ning, how many times should I rinse the noodles?"

Zhao Ruyi stood up and asked, "Are the noodles cooked?"

Qin Huairu said, "They'll be ready in a moment."

Zhao Ruyi walked over and said, "It's so hot today, we definitely have to eat them cold, rinse them a few more times."

Ning Weidong went into the room and took two bottles of iced beer from the refrigerator.

Before long, they were enjoying hand-pulled noodles with sauce, paired with beer and garlic, eating to their heart's content.

It was just that when they went back to bed after dark to kiss, they were both disgusted with each other, so they could only bury their heads and get to work.

Until they were finished, Zhao Ruyi panted and said, "Next time~ next time we're together at night, we absolutely cannot eat garlic; it's just too pungent."

Ning Weidong, with his muscular physique, looked like he had been rubbed with oil after sweating, and he laughed, "Who told you to peel so much."

Zhao Ruyi said as a matter of course, "Eating noodles without garlic, the flavor is cut in half."

Ning Weidong was speechless.

Zhao Ruyi added, "By the way, Liu Yun's brother's family is arriving tomorrow. Should we have Qin prepare a banquet?"

Ning Weidong waved his hand: "Don't make it so complicated. Just treat it as fulfilling the promise we made to Liu Yun and her husband previously; being too enthusiastic might make it look like we have ulterior motives."

Zhao Ruyi teased, "You do have ulterior motives; you're still thinking about their sister-in-law."

Ning Weidong gave her bottom a "slap": "Nonsense, time for family discipline!"

Zhao Ruyi let out an "Aiya," pretending to be aggrieved: "I didn't say anything wrong." But inside, she was secretly pleased.

(End of chapter)