Chapter 53: Hearts are divided, the team is hard to lead

Ning Weidong did not expect that Wang Zipeng would take the initiative to invite him out.

Wang Zipeng was doing quite well at the factory, his wife was also a State-owned Worker, and his family circumstances were quite good; although he got by in the courtyard, he didn't really look down on others.

It wasn't until these past two years, when Ning Weiguo became a Cadre, that Wang Zipeng changed his attitude toward the couple.

But that was only for Ning Weiguo; he still looked down on Ning Weidong.

Yet unexpectedly, for some reason, Ning Weidong had caught the eye of Li Kebian.

Ning Weidong got off work at four o'clock, and Wang Zipeng also pushed his bicycle out an hour early.

The two arrived outside the factory gate, got on their bicycles, and Wang Zipeng said with a smile, "How about Shaguoju tonight for some boiled pork?"

Ning Weidong said, "That sounds great, Brother Wang is generous."

……

This meal was just the two of them, and they didn't return home until seven in the evening.

Seeing Wang Zipeng, who was seventy percent drunk, enter the backyard, Ning Weidong's mind remained very clear; his powerful physical constitution had increased his alcohol tolerance.

Wang Zipeng had a decent capacity for liquor; just now, the two of them had finished a bottle of Erguotou each, and Wang Zipeng could still ride his bicycle in a straight line.

Although Ning Weidong felt a bit dizzy after finishing, he drank a few mouthfuls of the hot soup from the boiled pork, and once he broke into a sweat, he sobered up.

At the table, Wang Zipeng initially just kept harping on yesterday's incident, criticizing Zhou Kun and speaking up for Ning Weidong.

After three rounds of drinks, the topic gradually shifted to the factory.

Wang Zipeng knew the various interpersonal relationships in the factory and his views on certain people like the back of his hand.

If it were an ordinary hothead, they would think it was just casual chatting, unaware of the hidden tricks involved.

These seemingly casual topics were things Wang Zipeng would tell someone else first thing tomorrow morning.

That person would use these answers to roughly judge Ning Weidong's stance.

If one were to play it slippery, be vague, and refuse to take a stand, it would seem the safest approach, but it would actually be the most foolish.

This attitude contains two subtexts: first, a lack of trust and a refusal to state one's position; second, being a fence-sitter who wants to see which way the wind blows.

But regardless of which one it is, it will lead to the most unfavorable result.

If this probing is based on a certain position or project where they want to promote and cultivate someone, encountering such an answer would lead to them being crossed off immediately.

And perhaps Wang Zipeng, still holding onto his original impression, was probing too bluntly.

The moment he threw out the first real question, Ning Weidong understood what was going on and was certain that Wang Zipeng had been sent by Li Peihang to sound him out.

Later on, at some unknown time, Li Peihang would suddenly throw out a question that Wang Zipeng had already asked to see Ning Weidong's reaction and how he would answer...

After putting his bicycle away, Ning Weidong entered the Upper Room: "Brother, Sister-in-law~"

The couple was listening to the news on the radio.

Ning Weiguo said with a smile, "You're back~ Where did Wang Zipeng take you?"

Before getting off work, Ning Weidong had called Ning Weiguo to say he wouldn't be home for dinner.

Yuzhen got up, brewed a cup of hot tea, and placed it in front of Ning Weidong: "Weidong, why did Wang Zipeng think to invite you to dinner?"

Ning Weidong said, "Why else? Someone told him to~"

Ning Weiguo raised his eyebrows: "You mean~ Li Peihang?"

Ning Weidong nodded.

Ning Weiguo pursed his lips and thought for a moment: "In theory, it could only be him, but this is too rushed; it doesn't really look like his style of doing things."

Ning Weidong had limited knowledge of Li Peihang, but since Ning Weiguo said so, it was likely correct.

Yuzhen, on the side, looked at Ning Weidong with renewed respect, even feeling a sense of unreality. That Ning Weidong could connect Wang Zipeng and Li Peihang was in itself quite remarkable.

At the very least, at that age, Ning Weiguo couldn't see through these things so thoroughly.

After saying a few more words, Ning Weidong returned to his room.

Yuzhen rinsed the teacup and said to Ning Weiguo, "What do you think Li Peihang is up to?"

Ning Weiguo was also pondering this question and muttered, "It seems someone has set their sights on Xu Jinshan; they must have touched a sore spot of his."

Yuzhen nodded in agreement and added, "I heard the new Deputy Factory Director who transferred to the Red Star Factory last year is quite assertive, and Li Weibing is under a lot of pressure. Yesterday, his wife called our mother saying she wanted to come over for a visit."

Ning Weiguo realized; he hadn't known about this situation before: "That must be it. If that's the case... Li Peihang is likely planning to use Weidong to break the deadlock."

Yuzhen couldn't help but worry: "Break the deadlock? Will there be any danger?"

Ning Weiguo said, "That shouldn't be the case; it's just a factory, not a battlefield. This is good, too. If Weidong wants to get ahead, he must have a position. If they weren't under such pressure, I'm afraid they wouldn't easily give Weidong this opportunity."

Yuzhen hesitated for a moment and reminded him, "This is indeed an opportunity, but I'm afraid there might be a trap. You must remind Weidong not to leave behind any leverage."

……

On the other side, Ning Weidong returned to the earthquake shelter.

Not knowing where he had gone to run wild during the day, Ning Lei had actually fallen asleep first.

The stove in the room was burning warmly, and Ning Lei's cotton-padded shoes were placed by the stove to dry, emitting damp steam.

Ning Weidong's mouth twitched; he could only take off his own shoes and place them by the stove to dry as well, a case of fighting fire with fire.

He took off his coat, washed up briefly, and lay down on the bed.

The not-so-sturdy wooden bed creaked again.

Ning Weidong folded his hands behind his head, leaned against the cold wall, and kept thinking.

He had a premonition that Li Peihang would come looking for him again soon.

He then thought of Xu Jinshan's situation.

Based on the current situation, there was clearly a chain behind Xu Jinshan that could generate huge profits.

Li Peihang was involved in this; it was hard to say for now if Li Weibing knew about it.

But as long as Li Peihang could be implicated, it would be enough to serve as a dagger aimed at Li Weibing.

This was the goal of the person behind Wu Bingzhong.

The matter ultimately pointed to the power struggle between Li Weibing and Wang Guoqiang.

Ning Weidong did not care about the outcome of their contest; with Ning Weiguo's relationship with the Wang Family, no matter who won or lost in the end, no one would touch him.

First, he was too small a grasshopper, not worth the effort, and it was even less worth offending Ning Weiguo, the son-in-law whom Wang Yuzhen's family was heavily cultivating, just to move against him.

Second, within the Red Star Factory, the struggle between the principal and deputy, Li Weibing and Wang Guoqiang, was not a life-or-death battle; in the end, they still had to maintain a state of fighting without breaking.

Although Wang Guoqiang was aggressive, as a deputy, directly overturning the Squad Leader was not a good thing for his future development.

Li Weibing's biggest issue was his age.

Age was a hurdle that no one could cross.

Once one's age was nearing the limit, it was hard to guarantee that those around them wouldn't start having other ideas.

Those with ambition would climb to other high branches or set up their own house; those without ambition, or those lacking ability, would think about how to use their final opportunity to fiercely cash in the resources they held and leave.

In other words, the hearts of the people had scattered, and the team was no longer easy to lead.

(End of this chapter)