Chapter 80: Dead

Ning Lei looked resentful, but he was at least temporarily spared from physical punishment, though the homework he had to write could not be reduced by a single bit.

Fortunately, after waiting a while, Ning Weiguo returned and did not actually start a second round, but instead asked about the situation at Ning Weidong's Manager.

Ning Weidong explained the situation from the day.

Ning Weiguo sighed and said, "It seems the dust hasn't settled yet; any outcome is possible~"

Ning Weidong said, "Both sides are stretched tight now; this situation cannot last too long."

Ning Weiguo agreed, "At most two days, perhaps... who will have the last laugh will be decided tomorrow." After finishing, he clicked his tongue: "Weidong, who do you think will have the last laugh this time?"

Ning Weidong said, "If we're talking about laughing, I'm afraid Li Peihang won't be able to laugh regardless of whether he wins or loses. If he loses, he'll be severely crippled, and even if he wins... he'll only resolve one crisis and won't be able to change his passive situation."

Ning Weiguo nodded; this remark by Ning Weidong hit the nail on the head.

This was also why, when Ning Weidong suggested yesterday that he go find Li Peihang himself, he gave up without even thinking about it.

Because Li Peihang, including Li Weibing, their value was depreciating rapidly.

According to the current situation, replacing Li Weibing with Wang Kaifeng was the general trend.

Li Weibing's personal resistance could not change the overall situation.

Unless the general trend reversed, or Wang Kaifeng made a fundamental error.

In reality, this was also why the people in Li Weibing's faction, including Li Peihang, had performed unsatisfactorily this time.

When it comes down to it, the momentum is gone, so people's hearts cannot settle, and they start having all sorts of ideas.

Things that could have been accomplished by working together can no longer be done.

The most typical example is Xu Jinshan.

If his mind hadn't wandered, how would he have dared to pull so many petty tricks behind Li Peihang's back?

The next day, Ning Weidong went to work as usual.

This morning, Chen and Feng Wen simply didn't show up.

A few people were also missing from other offices in the Security Division.

In the morning, Ning Weidong specifically went to the Factory Protection Team to take a look and found that some people hadn't come either.

Ning Weidong kept to himself and stayed in the Office waiting for the end of the shift.

But he didn't expect that at past two in the afternoon, Lu Zhou would actually show up.

Ning Weidong's office was by the stairs and kept its door open year-round.

Lu Zhou looked travel-worn; nothing could be read from his poker face, but the exhaustion in his eyes could not be hidden.

Ning Weidong observed him, estimating that this person hadn't slept for two days; there were bloodshot streaks in his eyes, and his whole body was taut, as if it were about to snap at any moment.

"Old Lu?" Wen Aiying was startled when she saw him like this.

Lu Zhou nodded at her but stared straight at Ning Weidong, saying in a low voice, "Comrade Ning Weidong, I have something to discuss with you."

Ning Weidong could see that Lu Zhou's state was abnormal; he didn't know what this guy had encountered, but he felt like someone who had lost everything while gambling.

Although Ning Weidong wasn't afraid of him, he didn't want to be the final straw that broke the camel's back.

If the other party really went crazy and lunged at him like a mad dog, even if he could beat the dog to death in the end, it wouldn't be worth getting splattered with blood.

Ning Weidong stood up with a smile: "Officer Lu, you were looking for me?"

Wen Aiying, who was on the side, was also a sharp person; her mind was even more sensitive, and she immediately stood up and said, "Um~ I have something to do, I need to go to the Union."

She stood up and walked out, giving Ning Weidong a look as she left as a reminder.

Ning Weidong smiled at her, while Lu Zhou remained expressionless. After Wen Aiying left, he closed the door behind him, stared straight at Ning Weidong, and walked over step by step... Ning Weidong frowned, his gaze sweeping over Lu Zhou's waist.

In this era, the factory's Security Division was equipped with guns, especially when carrying out certain missions, where they would even be directly issued rifles and hand grenades.

Sensing Ning Weidong's gaze, Lu Zhou frankly lifted his hem to reveal his belt and said, "Don't worry, I didn't bring a gun."

Ning Weidong was noncommittal but didn't let his guard down, pointing to the chair nearby: "Sit down, what do you want with me?"

As he spoke, he took a cup and poured a glass of hot water, placing it on the edge of the table not far from Lu Zhou.

Lu Zhou reached out and picked up the cup; the thermos had been sitting there all morning, so the water wasn't very hot, and he drank it in one gulp.

"He's dead~" Lu Zhou put down the cup and said this out of the blue.

Ning Weidong's heart tightened; he knew who Lu Zhou was talking about.

Xu Jinshan was indeed dead! It seemed that Li Peihang's side had taken the first step to eliminate this hidden danger.

Wang Kaifeng had fallen short at the final hurdle.

It was no surprise that Lu Zhou, being on that side, was in this state after failing, but what was the meaning of him pulling this stunt in front of Ning Weidong? Could he possibly be expecting Ning Weidong to sympathize with him?

After speaking, Lu Zhou completely opened the floodgates: "Under a culvert near the South City Railway Station, he was frozen to death alive."

Ning Weidong remained calm.

This method of death was 'reasonable'; sure enough, Li Peihang still had capable people under him.

It was just that Ning Weidong didn't quite understand: was Xu Jinshan's death such a huge blow to Lu Zhou?

He still didn't understand Lu Zhou's situation.

Having taken this mission from Wang Kaifeng earlier, Lu Zhou had essentially burned his bridges and staked everything on one throw.

If he had won, he would be a Deputy Section Chief; now... he had lost.

With Xu Jinshan's death, Wang Kaifeng lost the opportunity to use this matter to make a fuss.

Without crushing Li Peihang and failing to strike at Li Weibing, his promotion to Division Chief would continue to be shelved.

Having been in the Security Division for these years, Lu Zhou knew deep down that Wang Kaifeng was never a broad-minded person.

Someone had to take responsibility for this failure.

Lu Zhou was responsible for finding Xu Jinshan, so he certainly couldn't clear his name.

If he were scolded or even beaten, Lu Zhou wouldn't care, but he had worked hard for all these years just to go from 'Officer Lu' to 'Section Chief Lu', and now that was completely out of the question.

Lu Zhou was unwilling to accept this; why, after all these years of working conscientiously, being loyal and devoted, and charging into the fray, should he be the one to vent their anger on just because a small situation arose!

He steeled his heart, which was why he sought out Ning Weidong.

He knew that Ning Weidong had deep connections behind him, and at this moment, he also held a bargaining chip in his hand related to Ning Weidong.

After Lu Zhou's explanation, Ning Weidong understood his meaning; he wanted to defect.

He was just a bit puzzled and asked, "If you have this idea, you could go directly to Section Chief Li; what use is it to come to me?"

Lu Zhou pressed his lips together tightly and said in a low voice, "Li Peihang won't do; I cannot offer a pledge of allegiance to his side, and besides, once Xu Jinshan is dead, Li Peihang will be safe. He won't create extra trouble, and instead, he would suspect I have ulterior motives."

Ning Weidong looked at the person in front of him; although he looked distressed, he was still very calm.

At the very least, his grasp of Li Peihang's psychology was spot on.

It was just that... Ning Weidong caught the key point in his words and pondered, "So, you mean you have a pledge of allegiance for me?"

Lu Zhou's gaze was resolute: "Yes, I know Wang Kaifeng's entire plan. Although his target is Li Peihang, he has set up a diversion, intending to take you down first..."

(End of this chapter)