Chapter 94: Watching a Movie and Eating Barbecue

After hearing the eldest son's assessment of Ning Weidong, Father Zhao could not help but be surprised.

He mused, "According to what you say, this Ning Weidong is actually someone who hides his true self?"

Zhao Lichun said, "I wouldn't dare say he hides his true self, but he is indeed not as incompetent as we understood him to be."

Father Zhao gave an "mm" sound: "That's fine too. If Ruyi can get along well with this young Ning, that would be good." He then asked, "That Ning Weiguo you met, what do you think of him?"

Zhao Lichun nodded: "I met him. He has the level of skill; it's no wonder the Wang Family is willing to invest resources in him. However... perhaps it has to do with his family background, his vision and boldness are still lacking."

Father Zhao waved his hand: "That's not important. Whatever vision or boldness, they all follow one's position. Once he reaches that position, he won't need much—three months—and he will naturally have the vision and boldness that position requires."

Zhao Lichun pursed his lips; in his heart, he did not agree with his father's view, but that was his old man, so even if he didn't agree, he endured it.

On the other side, Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi came out of the Dazayuan.

Ning Weidong pushed his bicycle and said, "What do you want to do? I'll state this beforehand: I don't have the money to treat you to a movie."

Zhao Ruyi rolled her eyes and retorted, "Look at that attitude of yours. I'll treat you, is that alright?" After finishing, she sneakily leaned in closer: "Hey, what you said just now, does it still count?"

"What counts?" Ning Weidong glanced at her: "You're all over the place."

Zhao Ruyi hurriedly explained: "It's what you said about taking me to make money, thirty thousand a month."

Ning Weidong had already forgotten about that bit; he had only said it earlier to dangle a carrot in front of Zhao Ruyi.

Anyone who trains dogs knows: give them a stick, then give them a biscuit.

The root of Ning Weidong's ability to threaten Zhao Ruyi was not actually those petty matters of speculation and profiteering.

If it were ten years ago, speculation and profiteering would indeed be a major issue, and if things went poorly, one could even be executed.

But times have changed; by now, the nature of it is far less serious. Among those in Beijing with a background like Zhao Ruyi's, whose family hasn't had someone do such things?

As for the death of Liu Xinwen, no matter what, it couldn't be linked to Zhao Ruyi.

Ning Weidong had just said it off the cuff.

What truly deterred Zhao Ruyi was actually that she did not want her father and her brother to know about this matter.

This is very easy to understand; most children, when they make mistakes outside, are most afraid of their parents finding out.

Therefore, the leverage Ning Weidong held was actually not very secure.

At times like this, one must use both kindness and severity; besides the threat, one must also dangle a carrot so as not to push too hard.

Just like a volcano, if you push too hard, it's easy for it to erupt.

Ning Weidong said nonchalantly: "Didn't you not believe it?"

Zhao Ruyi didn't feel a hint of a blush: "Who said that? I... I just didn't react in time. Tell me in detail, how to make thirty thousand a month."

Originally, Zhao Ruyi didn't want to eat a single bite of the carrot Ning Weidong had drawn; thirty thousand a month, what the hell was he dreaming about!

At the time, Zhao Ruyi only had one thought: This idiot thinks I'm an idiot.

But just now while eating, the attitude Zhao Lichun showed toward Ning Weidong made her heart waver.

Could it be that Ning Weidong actually has real substance?

If for no other reason, just because of her eldest brother's attitude.

There are only two people who can make Zhao Ruyi completely convinced: one is her father, and one is her eldest brother.

Especially her eldest brother Zhao Lichun; during the years from when she was eight to thirteen, it was almost entirely her eldest brother who took care of her second sister and her.

Just now, seeing Ning Weidong speaking eloquently in front of her eldest brother—although there were some things she didn't understand, looking at Zhao Lichun's demeanor, it was clearly not nonsense.

So, could what Ning Weidong said about being able to take her to make money, and even thirty thousand a month, not be nonsense? Carrying this little thought, Zhao Ruyi had taken the initiative to stay behind just now.

Her thinking was very simple: anyway, the arranged marriage with Ning Weidong was a foregone conclusion, and furthermore, there was leverage in Ning Weidong's hands. Instead of constantly being difficult, it was better to ease things up.

What if Ning Weidong wasn't bragging and could really take her to make thirty thousand a month? Even if he couldn't, three thousand a month wouldn't be bad either.

In short, since she couldn't resist, she might as well try to adapt. At least Ning Weidong was quite pleasing to the eye, and his combat power was high; he could suppress her, unlike those weaklings and wimps she knew before who would cry for half a day after one punch.

Ning Weidong raised an eyebrow at her: "Want to make thirty thousand a month?"

Zhao Ruyi hurriedly nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

Ning Weidong chuckled: "Watch the movie first, then I'll tell you." After finishing, he straddled the bicycle and pushed forward.

Zhao Ruyi gave a light hum, took two quick steps, and sat her bottom on the back rack of Ning Weidong's bicycle.

Immediately, the rear wheel let out a "creak."

Ning Weidong's handlebars wobbled; he kicked the pedals hard twice to build up speed before he stabilized.

He complained: "I say, how much do you weigh?"

Zhao Ruyi was not like ordinary girls who treated their weight like a state secret; she said quite openly: "One hundred and thirty, so what?"

Ning Weidong wasn't too surprised. Given Zhao Ruyi's height, her explosive power, and those two large breasts, it wouldn't be scientific if she didn't weigh over one hundred and thirty.

And Zhao Ruyi had that kind of "fat-wrapped-muscle" physique; touching it felt soft.

Ning Weidong had already tested this point just now.

Ning Weidong said: "It's nothing, I'm just worried the bicycle can't take it. I'm over one hundred and eighty pounds, you're over one hundred and thirty; together, that's over three hundred pounds~"

Zhao Ruyi sat sideways on the back and rolled her eyes, taking the opportunity to reach out and hold onto Ning Weidong's waist.

Ning Weidong rode unhurriedly along the main road; the two of them looked very much like a young couple out for a stroll on a Sunday.

After more than ten minutes, the two returned to the old city.

Ning Weidong asked: "Which cinema are we going to?"

Zhao Ruyi didn't even think: "Let's go to the Geological Auditorium~"

Ning Weidong had no objections; he tilted the handlebars and headed straight for Fuchengmen Street.

The Geological Auditorium that Zhao Ruyi mentioned was just east of Fuchengmen Street, not far from the Dazayuan where Ning Weidong currently lived.

Ning Weidong was familiar with the road; he arrived at the Geological Auditorium, parked the bicycle well, and went to the ticket office to prepare to buy tickets.

There were quite a few people watching movies on a Sunday; fortunately, most were waiting to enter, so there weren't many people in front of the ticket office.

Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi went over, queuing while looking at the bulletin board nearby.

"Which one do you want to see?" Ning Weidong asked casually.

Zhao Ruyi saw a brand-new poster; on it was a man in a suit wearing a fedora, and below it was a line of blue text: *Gunshots in the Secret Service Bureau*.

"Let's watch this one, it wasn't here last week~" Zhao Ruyi pointed.

Ning Weidong wasn't picky; it was all the same to him what they watched.

As they were talking, it was their turn to reach the ticket window.

The ticket seller inside was a girl with a crisp voice: "Comrades, how many tickets?"

Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi looked at each other.

After a two-second pause, Ning Weidong said, "Buy the tickets~"

Zhao Ruyi blinked, not quite reacting. The ticket seller inside and the people waiting behind were all stunned; although it was an era of gender equality, Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi looked like a couple at a glance.

Moreover, Zhao Ruyi was pretty and tall; just standing there, she could attract quite a few gazes.

Although Ning Weidong didn't look bad either, it was indeed uncommon to go out to a movie and have the girl buy the tickets.

Seeing him so righteous, Zhao Ruyi would have endured it in private, but now in public with so many people watching, where could she put her face? She immediately retorted, "Why should I buy them?"

Ning Weidong said as a matter of course, "You said it, you're treating. Besides, you make sixty-seven a month, I make thirty-two, you tell me why?"

Zhao Ruyi blinked; these were the three conditions she had proposed, and she hadn't expected the boomerang to come back so quickly.

"Comrades, please hurry, people are waiting behind~" The ticket seller inside was also eating up the drama, but couldn't afford to waste too much time.

Zhao Ruyi was helpless; she glared fiercely at Ning Weidong, took a very pretty brown wallet out of her pocket, and pulled out a green two-yuan note: "Comrade, two tickets for *Gunshots in the Secret Service Bureau*, the two o'clock show, please."

The ticket seller inside couldn't help but glance at Ning Weidong, not expecting that it really was the girl paying for the tickets.

"Two tickets, two o'clock, here is your change, please take it." The ticket seller deftly passed them out of the window.

Seeing the purchase was done, Ning Weidong checked the time; there were still a few minutes left.

The previous show had already let out, and the people for this show were swarming in.

Ning Weidong very naturally took hold of Zhao Ruyi's not-so-small hand.

Zhao Ruyi's hand was a size larger than Bai Fengyu's; it felt smooth with no calluses or thick knuckles. It was said that one only achieved this effect after reaching a certain level in Internal Martial Arts.

Ning Weidong had never encountered an expert in Internal Martial Arts before and had only heard rumors, so he didn't know if it was true or not.

Regardless, Zhao Ruyi's hand was soft and felt very comfortable to touch.

Zhao Ruyi's cheeks flushed slightly; she had lived for over twenty years, and this was the first time her heart had raced from having her hand held.

It wasn't until they reached their seats that Ning Weidong let go.

Zhao Ruyi breathed a sigh of relief, but she hadn't expected that as soon as she sat down, Ning Weidong would naturally place his hand on her thigh.

Although it was winter, even through the thick clothing, Zhao Ruyi's body stiffened. She hurriedly pressed down on the hand that was rubbing back and forth, glared at him with a stern face, and whispered, "What are you doing!"

Ning Weidong grinned, leaned over, and said, "Not doing anything, what's wrong with touching my own wife?"

Zhao Ruyi frowned and said, "There are so many people here!"

Don't look at Zhao Ruyi like she was a tigress; the current social climate was conservative, and coupled with her strict upbringing since childhood, even when her family had a crisis a few years ago and she wasn't with her parents, she still had her eldest brother to keep her in check.

Even if some people without eyes tried anything, they were scared off by her formidable combat prowess.

Only Ning Weidong, whom she couldn't beat, had caught her weakness.

Fortunately, Ning Weidong didn't push too hard; he withdrew his hand and whispered, "Then we'll wait until the lights go out."

Zhao Ruyi rolled her eyes at him and cursed, "Scoundrel."

Before the words had even faded, suddenly, with a "swish," the cinema lights went out.

Immediately following, a melodious bell chime rang out, and the classic 'Worker, Peasant, and Soldier' sculpture appeared on the big screen in front, along with the words for Changchun Film Studio.

As soon as the lights went out, Zhao Ruyi felt that hand return.

She was helpless and simply ignored it; instead, with so many people around, the darkness gave her a faint sense of excitement.

Fortunately, that was all there was to it, and besides, it was the dead of winter; inside her wool trousers were thermal leggings, and inside those were long johns, so she couldn't really feel much anyway.

Actually, this old movie was quite engaging as she watched it...

Nearly two hours passed in a flash.

Ning Weidong came out of the cinema and stretched his arms in a yawn.

Zhao Ruyi followed behind, still immersed in the plot of the movie.

Watching Ning Weidong walk down the steps in front of the cinema, she hurriedly followed and asked, "Where are we going next?"

Ning Weidong checked his watch; it was already four o'clock.

He gave the money to the auntie watching the bikes, took out his bicycle, and said, "I'm craving roasted meat. Treat me to a meal at Kaorouji, and I'll tell you the secret to making thirty thousand a month."

Zhao Ruyi blinked her clear, large eyes and said suspiciously, "Don't you lie to me."

After the two hours of watching the movie, her impulse regarding 'thirty thousand a month' wasn't as strong anymore.

Ning Weidong curled his lip: "Take it or leave it, it's not like I'm desperate for this meal of roasted meat from you." After saying that, he pushed the bike and started walking, not indulging her at all.

Zhao Ruyi was a sucker for this; she hurriedly followed: "Hey, I didn't say I wouldn't treat you, wait for me!"

Seeing Ning Weidong get on the bike, she hurried a few steps, sat on the back, and familiarly wrapped her arms around Ning Weidong's waist.

The distance from the Geological Auditorium to Kaorouji by Shichahai was not short.

Ning Weidong pedaled hard, from Xisi North Street to Di'anmen Street, then along the west side of Nanluoguxiang heading north... nearly three kilometers.

Seeing they were almost there, Ning Weidong let out a breath, wondering to himself when he could get a car to drive.

In the dead of winter, pedaling a bicycle hard, even with his abundant stamina, it was inevitably a pain in the rear.

But thinking about that right now was still too far off; even if he had the connections and the money, getting a car would be too conspicuous.

After parking the bicycle, the two of them entered the Kaorouji restaurant.

It was Sunday, and there were quite a few people eating roasted meat.

Over these past two years, due to considerations regarding countering the Soviet Union, the West has relaxed many restrictions, especially after 1976 and continuing into the early eighties, which saw a period of rapid economic development.

Coupled with policy changes, this allowed a portion of the population to have money in their hands, and restaurants that ordinary people previously couldn't afford also became popular.

When Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi arrived, it was nearly mealtime, and there were only two tables left in the restaurant.

They took a round table against the wall, and a waiter in the restaurant immediately came over to greet them.

The attitude was quite decent, and there was no such thing as "unprovoked beating or insulting of customers."

Besides, the moment Ning Weidong walked in, at one meter eighty-five tall and wearing a greatcoat, his broad-shouldered and thick-waisted frame was nearly a head taller than that waiter.

Some people are just aggressive, not stupid.

In the past, restaurant waiters belonged to the service industry and were accustomed to reading people's expressions, fawning over the powerful and trampling on the weak.

Seeing Ning Weidong and the woman, one tall and one beautiful, dressed in bright and clean clothes, they looked like people not to be trifled with at a glance.

Ning Weidong took the menu, glanced at Zhao Ruyi, and asked, "Want to drink something?"

Zhao Ruyi could drink, and her tolerance was not small, but just as she was about to agree, she had a change of heart and shook her head instead.

After all, this was her first time out alone with Ning Weidong, and if she really drank, when she got home later and her father and brother saw her, they would surely lecture her again.

Seeing her shake her head, Ning Weidong only ordered two bottles of Arctic Ocean soda.

He ordered a few plates of grilled meat, finally returned the menu to the waiter, and asked, "Can you stir-fry the cilantro-sautéed tripe?"

In the middle of winter, cilantro might not be available.

The waiter smiled and said, "Comrade, we only have frozen cilantro; the taste is no different, it's just that the presentation isn't great, so I hope you can bear with it."

(End of this chapter)