Chapter 203: Waiting for News

Ning Weidong first asked about Natasha's condition, and only after a few pleasantries did he get to the point: "Brother Liu, Sister-in-law, I heard that Sister-in-law still has relatives in the Soviet Union..."

Natasha and Liu Guangzhi looked at each other; they had long been mentally prepared.

Natasha had previously guessed that Ning Weidong was going to such lengths to help them because he was after her family back home.

Otherwise, there was simply no way to explain Ning Weidong's motives.

Now that Ning Weidong had pierced through this layer of paper with a single sentence, it actually made them feel a sense of relief.

Natasha pursed her lips, was silent for a moment, and said slowly: "To be honest, I was born and raised in China. I have no impression of the Soviet Union at all; I haven't even been to the Soviet Union..."

Ning Weidong listened patiently and was in no hurry to speak.

Natasha continued: "Ever since my parents left China when I was nine and placed me in the care of Uncle Zhang, I lost contact with them. Now that you say I have relatives in the Soviet Union, I suppose that must be the case."

Having said this, Natasha paused, her gaze looking at Ning Weidong with profound meaning.

This was the first time Ning Weidong had held an in-depth conversation with Natasha; this woman was quite extraordinary.

But thinking about it, it made sense; her parents were not ordinary people to begin with, and the family she was placed with later was not composed of common folk either. Having been influenced by them since childhood, she was naturally exceptional.

Ning Weidong decided not to beat around the bush and spoke openly: "As far as I know, your father is named Jiluoliaofu, and he is currently the factory director of the Far East Khabarovsk Tractor Factory. Your mother lives in Stalingrad and is a University Professor, while your maternal grandfather is an Air Force Major General..."

Blah, blah, blah—Ning Weidong laid out the information he had mastered.

There was no expression on Natasha's face, but a flash of loneliness crossed her blue eyes.

In fact, over the years she had wondered if her parents had encountered some difficulties or dangers when they returned back then, or if they had simply died, which was why they had abandoned her here and ignored her all these years.

But the situation Ning Weidong described shattered this line of thinking. It was very clear that whether it was her father or her mother, they were both doing very well—one was a factory director, and the other was a professor.

However, it was not hard to imagine from their respective positions that they had long since gone their separate ways; from Khabarovsk to Stalingrad, it was over five thousand kilometers.

For a moment, the few people present were silent.

Liu Guangzhi, meanwhile, wore an expression of surprise.

Although he had known some of Natasha's past, he did not know the situation of the father-in-law and mother-in-law he had never met.

Furthermore, he and Natasha could be considered a couple who had shared hardships; they had lived quite bitterly these past few years, and he had assumed Natasha's parents were long gone. He had not expected it to be like this.

Listening to Ning Weidong's implication, Natasha's biological parents were not only alive, but they were also not common folk in the Soviet Union.

Previously, he had said Ning Weidong was after Natasha, and he had just felt there was no other reason, but now it made sense.

Ning Weidong continued bluntly: "Sister-in-law, I would like to establish contact with your father through certain channels..."

Natasha remained expressionless, listened to Ning Weidong finish speaking, thought for a moment, and said: "Section Chief Ning, Manager Zhao, I don't know what your purpose is in contacting him. But I will say this upfront: it has been many years, I have no contact with them, and there is no talk of affection. If you are counting on me to play a major role in this, I advise you not to have too high expectations. Of course, you two have been a great help to our family, so I will certainly cooperate with you actively; that is absolutely no problem."

Ning Weidong nodded; this woman, Natasha, was even calmer and more rational than he had anticipated.

Natasha added: "However, I also have some requirements."

Ning Weidong said: "Sister-in-law, please speak~"

Natasha said: "First, we cannot keep living here. I hope you can arrange a house for us."

Before this, Natasha and Liu Guangzhi did not know Ning Weidong's purpose, and they had been on edge.

Now that things were laid out, Natasha realized her own value, and she did not act coy; she immediately put forward corresponding requirements.

At the same time, this was also a test. By asking for a house right away and watching Ning Weidong's reaction, she could roughly assess her weight in Ning Weidong's eyes.

Ning Weidong could also guess Natasha's thoughts, but he did not haggle; while that might have allowed him to manipulate Natasha, it would have been meaningless.

In Ning Weidong's view, Natasha asking for a house the moment she opened her mouth was actually nothing.

Natasha continued: "Second, Beijing household registration for our family."

Ning Weidong said: "These are not problems."

With both sides having clarified their conditions, the subsequent matters were simple.

After talking for a few more sentences, Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi returned to the inner courtyard.

Ning Weidong said: "Ruyi, have Ning Wei go find a house tomorrow. Put some effort into the household registration matter."

Zhao Ruyi nodded: "I know."

Ning Weidong heard her tone and smiled: "What? Do you think they asked for too little?"

Zhao Ruyi did not speak, but it was as good as an admission.

Ning Weidong said: "Don't think this is the end of it."

Zhao Ruyi raised an eyebrow and said: "You mean they will increase their demands?"

Ning Weidong said: "These are just bottom-line conditions. As for whether they will increase their demands, it doesn't depend on them, but on our subsequent contact with the Soviet side. If everything goes smoothly and the value is immense, as people serving as a link, we will have to increase our offer even without them asking."

Zhao Ruyi realized: "That's true~"

Ning Weidong added: "I was a bit worried that Natasha might not be clear-headed, but now it seems that was unnecessary. This woman is not simple~"

……

At the same time, in the front courtyard's street-facing room.

After Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi left, Liu Guangzhi and Natasha also returned to the room.

Liu Guangzhi frowned: "Nasha, we are already doing very well now. Why did you have to bring up those two conditions just now?"

Natasha smiled: "What, do you think I'm too greedy?"

Liu Guangzhi glared at her: "What are you saying~ Who doesn't want more of a good thing? I... I'm just afraid of offending people~" Having said this, he lowered his voice even further: "You know what kind of background that Zhao Ruyi has. If she can get us back from Heilongjiang Province, she can send us back just as easily."

Natasha said with full confidence: "Don't worry, they won't. I haven't stopped reading the newspapers these past few years. Given the current relationship between here and the Soviet Union, the fact that they suddenly found me and want to contact my parents must hide a huge connection. It's either a mission from above or involves massive interests; they will absolutely not quibble just because I asked for two more conditions."

Liu Guangzhi frowned and pondered, clicking his tongue: "I still feel uneasy."

Natasha reached out and held him: "Don't worry, Guangzhi. We have suffered enough these past few years; this time, we are finally going to see the end of our bitterness and the beginning of our sweetness."

……

The next morning, Ning Weidong did not go to work.

He dialed a phone call to Li Peihang, saying he had some business.

Nowadays, no one at the factory would keep an eye on whether he went in or not.

Ning Wei arrived and was quickly sent off to contact a house, and then Ruyi began making phone calls to arrange for the household registration.

After finishing these two things, without waiting for the two of them to go looking, Liu Guangzhi took the initiative to come over.

"Section Chief Ning~" Liu Guangzhi stood at the doorway and knocked on the door, nodded to Ruyi first, then spoke to Ning Weidong, holding an envelope.

"Brother Liu~" Ning Weidong smiled and went to greet him.

Liu Guangzhi stepped over the threshold and sat down with Ning Weidong on the sofa nearby, while Ruyi sat behind the office desk under the window to the side.

Liu Guangzhi placed the envelope on the coffee table and said, "Natasha wrote a letter last night; it should be useful if you need to contact the Soviet Union." Ning Weidong smiled, thinking to himself that dealing with smart people is just less trouble.

Clearly, Natasha was very smart; she had it prepared without Ning Weidong even having to ask.

This letter was the stepping stone for contacting that Factory Director Jiluoliaofu of the Boli Tractor Factory, and also a very good excuse.

Purely personal, without a hint of official nature.

After all, it is normal for a daughter to write a letter to her father, even if Natasha was only an illegitimate daughter.

Liu Guangzhi did not stay long.

Ning Weidong saw him to the door, turned back, and picked up the envelope.

Once in his hand, it felt thick; she really had written quite a lot.

He took out the letter paper inside, four sheets in total, folded horizontally twice, all written in Russian.

Although Ning Weidong did not know Russian, from the neatness and fluency of the writing, it was not hard to see that Natasha had not let her Russian go to waste at all over these years.

Ning Weidong looked at Ruyi and said, "It's in Russian~"

Ruyi curled her lips, took it over with a smug look, and said, "At critical moments, you still have to rely on me~ Let me take a look for you."

Don't look at Ruyi as being a bit unreliable at times; she had received an elite education since she was a child, and her Russian level was very good.

After getting the letter, she quickly translated it with a flurry of words.

The content was nothing much; it was just in Natasha's tone, expressing some longing, as well as the past years, emphasizing how much she missed her father, and from beginning to end, she didn't mention a word about her mother.

Since she knew her biological parents were no longer together and was unsure of the reasons and circumstances of their breakup, Natasha very tactfully avoided topics that might touch upon the other party's nerves.

With this letter, Ning Weidong could openly and legitimately contact that Comrade Jiluoliaofu.

But the next step, how to make contact, remained a problem.

Currently, relations with the Soviet Union were still in a stalemate, and both sides had ostensibly severed contact.

It definitely wouldn't work for Ning Weidong to go directly, at least not right now.

And if he went rashly, they would know who he was.

This matter had to be planned carefully, though Ning Weidong roughly had an idea in his mind.

He said to Ruyi, "Sister-in-law has been in Budapest for a week now, right~"

Ruyi nodded, her reaction not slow either, and she pinched the letter and said, "You want to let Sister-in-law help you pass this letter over?"

Ning Weidong said, "There must be someone to help, and it just so happens Sister-in-law is over there, but don't be reckless; let's talk to Dad about this first."

Because it involved Ruyi's sister-in-law, one definitely couldn't act rashly; otherwise, if something really happened, neither Ning Weidong nor Ruyi could bear the responsibility.

Originally, Ruyi still had some resistance in her heart, thinking Ning Weidong wanted to contact Tan Limin privately, but once she heard Ning Weidong had already considered everything thoroughly, she couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief: "Then I'll go talk to our dad later."

After saying that, she thought again: "But I estimate that me saying it alone might not be enough; I'll have to call you over later."

Ning Weidong was not afraid: "If I have to go, I'll go; I never intended to do this sneakily anyway."

Ruyi was an impatient person; once she had something on her mind, she couldn't sit still, so she immediately packed her things and left.

Ning Weidong said, "Then hurry off; I'm not going to work today, I'll wait here for your news."

Just now Ruyi said that her father would call Ning Weiguo over to explain; that was the best result.

It showed that her father was not resistant to this matter and there was room for further discussion.

Otherwise, if he had rejected it directly, Ning Weidong wouldn't need to go.

After Ruyi left, Ning Weidong couldn't help but feel anxious.

He had just feigned composure; the success or failure of this matter lay in the single thought of his future father-in-law.

About half an hour later, the office phone suddenly rang.

Ning Weidong's heart tightened; he immediately reached out to pick it up and said "Hello."

Ruyi's voice came from the other end of the phone.

Ning Weidong asked hurriedly, "How is it?"

Ruyi said, "I haven't seen Dad yet~ There's a meeting this morning, I estimate it will be past ten o'clock; I called you first because I was afraid you'd be anxious waiting."

Ning Weidong let out a breath and gave a response.

He heard the phone hang up on the other end before slowly putting down the receiver.

The so-called "remaining calm even when Mount Tai collapses before one" can only be an ideal state, or like the poker-faced Lu Zhou.

Even though he had transmigrated once and possessed the experience of two lifetimes, when encountering critical matters, he still inevitably felt anxious about gains and losses.

Thinking of this, Ning Weidong took a deep breath to adjust his emotions.

Since he transmigrated, his greatest cheat was his foresight; even if this time didn't work out, there were still many opportunities, so there was no need to be anxious about gains and losses.

Instead, if he were called over by her father next, he would need to carefully weigh his words.

If there were no accidents, by next year at the earliest, or the year after at the latest, her father would be able to advance further, and by then the resources held by the Zhao Family would rise to a new level.

As a son-in-law of the Zhao Family, Ning Weidong's status in connecting with the Wang Family would be even more important.

By then, it would probably be time to jump out of this small circle of the Red Star Factory.

It was just that where to go next could not be seen yet.

And it was not something Ning Weidong could choose for himself.

With his thoughts wandering, Ning Weidong was a bit distracted, and unknowingly, the time was almost ten o'clock.

There had been no call from Ruyi, but instead, Ning Wei had returned from outside.

Ning Weidong had Ning Wei go out to look for a house first thing in the morning, not expecting a reply so soon, but who would have thought Ning Wei would run back before noon.

Only after asking did he find out that when Ning Weidong had him look for a house before, he hadn't just looked for those two places; Ning Wei had also found a few other houses that didn't meet Ning Weidong's requirements, which happened to be perfect for Natasha this time.

Ning Weidong suddenly understood and asked for the specific details.

Ning Wei said, "In my opinion, the most suitable one is a two-courtyard compound near Xuanwumen in the south."

Since he had promised to set up a home for Natasha, it certainly wouldn't be appropriate if it were too shabby.

Ning Weidong asked about the situation further and was generally satisfied, so he made the final decision: "There is no time to lose, this is the one. Hurry up and get the paperwork done, and have the residents in the courtyard moved out as well."

There were still a few families living in that courtyard, but Ning Weidong didn't need to worry about these matters; Ning Wei would handle them himself.

Ning Wei didn't stop to rest: "Alright, Third Brother, I'll go take care of it right now."

Who would have thought that just as Ning Wei left, while Ning Weidong was waiting for a phone call in the room, he saw Huaihua running in flustered from the Chuihua Gate outside.

(End of this chapter)