Chapter 97: Whether There Are Dates or Not, Take Three Swings

After getting off work in the evening, Ning Weidong went to find Zhao Ruyi first.

After all, it was the honeymoon period; there had to be the appearance of a passionate romance.

The two of them pushed their bicycles and walked out with the flow of people leaving work. Originally, Ning Weidong was supposed to see Zhao Ruyi home first, but he saw Ning Wei loitering at the gate.

Ning Weidong's heart stirred; this was something he had previously discussed with Ning Wei—if there were any situation, he should wait at the gate.

Noticing Ning Weidong stop, Zhao Ruyi, who was beside him, asked in surprise, "Is something wrong?"

Ning Weidong nodded: "You go back first~"

Zhao Ruyi didn't say much either; the two of them were not a normal couple to begin with, so there was no need for the affectation of being unhappy if Ning Weidong didn't see her off.

"Then I'm leaving first." After saying this, she got on her bicycle and followed the flow of traffic away.

Ning Weidong gave Ning Wei a look, and the two walked forward as if nothing were the matter. After leaving the front of the factory, Ning Wei crossed the road, came up to Ning Weidong, and called out "Third Brother."

Ning Weidong nodded, turned and entered a small alley nearby, and asked what the situation was. "You asked me to keep an eye on that person..." Ning Wei hesitated, leaving his sentence unfinished.

Ning Weidong frowned and said: "Is there a situation?"

Ning Wei shook his head: "Not exactly, but I always feel something isn't right."

Ning Weidong said: "Tell me in detail."

Ning Wei said: "Ever since that day, that person's movements haven't been suspicious. Only yesterday... he left his house at nine in the morning, went to Shichahai Park alone, sat on a chair by the lake, and stayed until twelve before leaving."

Ning Weidong raised an eyebrow. Staying out in the middle of winter, sitting by the edge of Shichahai for two or three hours? What kind of situation was this? If it were summer, sitting in the shade by the water to cool off would be barely plausible, but this was winter; even in broad daylight, it could freeze a person through, not to mention that Shichahai was still frozen.

Ning Weidong said: "Didn't see him have contact with anyone?"

Ning Wei shook his head: "No, that's exactly why I didn't report to you immediately."

Ning Weidong nodded, biting the skin on the inside of his lower lip, pondering what this could possibly be.

His first reaction was that Deputy Factory Director Liu might be a spy.

In the dead of winter, being alone by the edge of Shichahai was for meeting someone.

Although it wasn't like the fifties or sixties when there were enemy agents everywhere, in recent years, with the deepening of exchanges with the West, the number of people being planted or bought off had gradually increased.

Unlike the original spies, these people were often in it for money, or had their eyes dazzled by the decadence of the West.

They held certain positions and were able to come into contact with the outside world.

Ordinary commoners wouldn't be able to access relevant things even if they had the intention.

Deputy Factory Director Liu fit this criteria very well; he was from an intellectual background, had been impacted in previous years and sent down to the countryside, felt he had suffered a great injustice, and felt the whole world had wronged him.

More importantly, in the year before last and last year, Deputy Factory Director Liu had twice gone to Japan as a technical expert for exchange visits.

But to judge that Deputy Factory Director Liu had contact with the outside based on this, without hard evidence, was too far-fetched.

Then again, if the guess was right and Deputy Factory Director Liu really was a spy, and he was at the edge of Shichahai yesterday to meet someone, would Ning Wei and his people have already alerted the enemy?

Although Ning Wei was shrewd and careful, none of the few people with him were professionals; perhaps they had already been spotted by the contact yesterday, which was why the person ultimately didn't show up and left Deputy Factory Director Liu hanging there.

In an instant, various thoughts flashed through Ning Weidong's mind, and he said seriously: "Xiao Wei, pull everyone back; let's slow down on this matter for now."

Ning Wei breathed a sigh of relief inwardly and immediately nodded.

In fact, after discovering Deputy Factory Director Liu's abnormal situation yesterday, Ning Wei had become vigilant.

It was just that there was another voice in his heart at the time, feeling that he might be overthinking it; after all, it was just going to sit for a while, and no hard evidence had been found. If it were just chasing shadows, he was afraid Ning Weidong would think he was timid.

But all through last night, he tossed and turned, and the more he thought about it, the more wrong it felt.

Ning Weidong pursed his lips and rode his bicycle straight home.

Since he had suspicions about this kind of thing, he couldn't afford to be wishful.

Not to mention that he had already formed a grudge with Deputy Factory Director Liu.

Encountering this situation, one must definitely "take three swings whether there are dates or not"—what if one hits? But he couldn't count on Ning Wei and the few people around him; letting them tail someone or throw a sucker punch was fine, but if they really had to face professionals, those few people would be hard-pressed to be of any use.

He had to find professional people to do professional things.

All the way home, Ning Weidong pondered while pushing his bicycle into the Dazayuan.

But he was startled by the scene in the front courtyard.

He saw people gathered in a circle, making a racket, and some were shouting; they were actually fighting again! Ning Weidong thought to himself, "Good heavens," and stopped to crane his neck and peek inside.

He was tall and could just see over the tops of people's heads.

He saw that inside the circle, Zhou Kun and Wang Kai were both covered in dust and grappling.

Wang Kai had already been injured; the corner of his eye was split, and his face was covered in blood.

Although Zhou Kun's face was fine, the left sleeve of his cotton-padded jacket had been torn open, and the cotton inside was scattered everywhere.

Lu Daye, who was nearby, was shouting "Stop" and "Don't fight," but no one was listening to him.

Instead, someone—he didn't know who—was standing in the crowd egging them on. Looking closely, the one egging them on was none other than this guy Wang Zipeng.

Seeming to sense Ning Weidong's gaze, Wang Zipeng turned his head, immediately gave a silly grin, squeezed out a path, leaned over and said: "Weidong, just got back!"

During the day, he had heard that Ning Weidong was seeing Zhao Ruyi from the Factory Office. While surprised, he truly admired Ning Weidong for daring to make a move on that tigress.

He still remembered that three years ago, when Zhao Ruyi first joined the factory, some young men went to provoke her, speaking in an unclean manner.

Zhao Ruyi didn't say a word and directly served them four "fracture packages," sending those young men to the Factory Hospital.

Ever since then, Zhao Ruyi became famous after that one battle.

Ning Weidong responded and gestured toward the inside, asking: "What's it about?"

Wang Zipeng pursed his lips, holding back a laugh: "These two were drinking together; it was fine at first, but you know what Zhou Kun is like—his mouth is so vicious~ He probably wanted to comfort Wang Kai..." Speaking to this point, he couldn't hold back and laughed out loud: "He said Shi Xiaonan is a loose woman."

Ning Weidong raised an eyebrow, also not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

In this kind of matter, the one being cursed was Shi Xiaonan, but the one being slapped in the face was Wang Kai.

After all, Wang Kai and Shi Xiaonan weren't divorced yet, just separated.

Even taking a step back, even if they were divorced, one shouldn't say it like that.

Wang Zipeng looked inside again: "Could Wang Kai take that? He said right then that Zhou Kun only found a loose woman when he was looking for a partner..." He said with schadenfreude: "And so they started fighting~"

Ning Weidong didn't know what to say either; as the old saying goes, don't mention shortcomings in front of a short person.

These two characters were something else; they couldn't say a nice word, instead insisting on pulling at each other's heels—it would be a miracle if they didn't start a fight.

At this moment, Lu Daye inside finally managed to pull the two apart with great difficulty.

Wang Kai and Zhou Kun were still glaring at each other angrily.

Seeing them pulled apart, the crowd had no more spectacle to watch and dispersed one after another.

Ning Weidong greeted Wang Zipeng and was about to push his bicycle back to the side courtyard.

Yet at this moment, someone from behind said, "Zipeng, what's going on? Why are so many people gathered here?"

Following the voice, a woman wearing a khaki wool coat pushed a bicycle in from outside; it was Wang Zipeng's wife, Qian Fangqi. Qian Fangqi's father was a Cadre at the Cotton Textile Factory, so she had a good family background growing up and was fair-skinned and clean-looking.

Her appearance in the courtyard was considered second only to Bai Fengyu and Shi Xiaonan.

She walked over while speaking and saw Ning Weidong: "Weidong~ I was just looking for you~"

Ning Weidong was taken aback and said with a smile, "Sister Qian, what do you need me for?"

Qian Fangqi said, "Weidong, look, you're at the right age; it's time to settle down and start a career. Tell your sister what kind of girl you like."

Qian Fangqi worked at the Cotton Textile Factory, where there were over ten thousand people, and more than ninety percent were women.

With such a large base, there were naturally some who stood out from the crowd.

Qian Fangqi didn't bring this up on a whim; Wang Zipeng had specifically spoken to her about it a few days ago.

He asked Qian Fangqi to look around, and if she could find a match for Ning Weidong, then after they got married, he and Qian Fangqi would be the matchmakers.

That relationship would be significantly different.

Wang Zipeng hurriedly tugged at her; he had only learned about Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi today and hadn't had time to go home and tell Qian Fangqi.

He lowered his voice and said, "Stop talking, Weidong has a partner."

Qian Fangqi was a bit dazed; she watched Ning Weidong greet them and leave before pulling Wang Zipeng to ask what was going on. Wang Zipeng pulled her toward the back courtyard and said in a low voice, "Let's talk at home."

Wang Zipeng's family lived in the west wing of the back courtyard, which, including the side room, totaled two and a half rooms.

They had also built an earthquake-proof shed outside to serve as a kitchen.

The two of them had only one child, who was usually taken care of in turns by the grandparents on both sides, so their living conditions were considered quite good in the courtyard.

Back home, Qian Fangqi complained, "Didn't you ask me to help look for someone suitable for Ning Weidong? How did he get a partner in just two days?"

Wang Zipeng said helplessly, "I only found out today too, that Zhao Ruyi from our factory..."

Qian Fangqi was startled and blinked her eyes: "Zhao Ruyi! That Zhao Ruyi?"

Wang Zipeng nodded: "That very Zhao Ruyi!"

Qian Fangqi said incredulously, "Isn't it said that Zhao Ruyi is a stone woman who doesn't like men at all? How..."

"What stone woman, that's all just gossip behind her back. As for Ning Weidong..." Wang Zipeng smacked his lips and said: "It's probably like a turtle looking at a green bean—they just hit it off~"

Qian Fangqi suddenly thought of something and nudged him with her arm: "Hey, you say Ning Weidong has a partner, what about Bai Fengyu in the side courtyard?"

People's eyes are sharp; everyone had seen the relationship between the original owner and Bai Fengyu, but out of respect for Ning Weiguo, no one said anything.

Wang Zipeng curled his lips: "What else can she do? Just break it off. Look at the background of Zhao Ruyi's family, and besides, with that woman's fierce temper, if the one surnamed Bai doesn't know what's good for her, she can just wait to go to the hospital and get a plaster cast~"

While they were talking about Bai Fengyu, Ning Weidong returned to the side courtyard and saw Bai Fengyu.

Bai Fengyu was standing inside her door looking through the glass; when she saw Ning Weidong, she pushed the door open and came out, saying with a smile on her face: "Weidong, off work already~"

This was the time when people were getting off work; although the side courtyard had few people, several households lived there, and two of them had open-air kitchens, taking out their stoves when cooking and putting them away afterward.

Both families had people outside, so Bai Fengyu couldn't make any overly intimate gestures. She pretended to go to the Cellar to get something, greeted Ning Weidong, but whispered very quickly: "Fengqin isn't here tonight."

Then she brushed past him and went to the Cellar as if nothing had happened.

Ning Weidong gave a playful smile; this woman couldn't stand the loneliness and was going to throw herself at him! But this wasn't the time to think about that. Ning Weidong parked his bicycle and immediately entered the Upper Room.

Ning Weiguo and Wang Yuzhen were both busy with dinner.

Seeing Ning Weidong, they couldn't help but be surprised: "Weidong, didn't you say you were with Ruyi tonight? Why are you back so early?"

Ning Weidong said, "I had something to do, so I let her go back first."

Wang Yuzhen said disapprovingly, "What could you have to do that's more important than being with your partner?"

Ning Weidong immediately told them about the anomaly regarding Deputy Factory Director Liu that Ning Wei had discovered.

Wang Yuzhen and Ning Weiguo both had puzzled expressions.

Ning Weidong said, "Brother, Sister-in-law, I suspect this Deputy Factory Director Liu might be a spy."

Both of them showed grave expressions upon hearing this.

Ning Weiguo said seriously, "Is there any other evidence?"

Ning Weidong shook his head: "Not for now. Once I had this thought, I had Ning Wei and the others withdraw. If it's true, they aren't up to the task."

Ning Weiguo nodded; doing it this way was very prudent.

Ning Weidong looked at Wang Yuzhen: "Sister-in-law, I'm considering whether to call Brother Chu over. He is a professional and has experience; if it turns out to be true, he could also make a great contribution."

Wang Yuzhen nodded secretly, looking at this brother-in-law with even more admiration.

Although Ning Weidong's performance recently had refreshed her understanding several times, this time, facing such a situation, he didn't try to be a hero, but was unusually calm and made the most prudent and reasonable choice.

This already possessed the qualities of a decision-maker.

Wang Yuzhen looked at her watch: "The grocery store hasn't closed yet; I'll go call the Fourth Brother and have him come over."

Chu Zhongxin was the fourth in his family, and the cousins called him that as well.

As she spoke, Wang Yuzhen untied her apron and hurried out.

Chu Zhongxin had a special job, and there was a telephone at his home.

Ning Weiguo patted Ning Weidong on the shoulder: "Weidong, you did very well; you didn't act on impulse."

Ning Weidong smiled; if he were in his early twenties, he might have really gone in himself.

There is no need to mention how great the appeal of showing off in public and establishing a career is to young people.

But Ning Weidong's real age was greater than Ning Weiguo's, so naturally, he would not do something thankless; it was better to just hand Chu Zhongxin an opportunity to earn merit.

A moment later, Wang Yuzhen returned from outside: "Fourth Brother will be here in a while." She added: "Weiguo, go to the Cellar and get another head of cabbage, and open a can of luncheon meat."

Ning Weiguo nodded, knowing that Chu Zhongxin probably hadn't eaten yet.

After bustling about for a while, the cabbage in the pot was almost stewed, and Chu Zhongxin's voice came from outside: "Yuzhen, Weiguo~"

Following the sound of his voice, Chu Zhongxin, draped in a military overcoat, walked in from outside.

"Fourth Brother~" Ning Weiguo went to greet him, and Ning Weidong followed, also calling out Fourth Brother.

Previously, he had always called Chu Zhongxin Brother Chu, but now that Ning Weiguo and Wang Yuzhen both called him that, he naturally had to change how he addressed him.

Once inside the room, Chu Zhongxin was in no rush to discuss business, asking first: "Where is that brat Ning Lei?"

Wang Yuzhen said: "Let's eat our own meal and ignore him; when he goes wild outside, he loses track of time."

Who would have thought that speak of the devil and he appears; before the words had even faded, Ning Lei burst in from outside like a gust of wind, having just called out "Mom," but then he saw Chu Zhongxin, froze abruptly, and instantly became well-behaved: "F-Fourth Uncle~"

Chu Zhongxin laughed heartily: "Whose roof tiles did you tear off again, you rascal?"

(End of this chapter)