Chapter 99: Hardship First for Comrade Ning

After finishing his meal with Zhang Dajun, Ning Weidong went back to retrieve his bicycle, which he had left at the Police Station.

Zhang Dajun told him to wait for a call in the afternoon.

Ning Weidong did not offer endless thanks; in this matter, mere words of thanks were useless, and those two light, airy words were far less weighty than Ning Weidong's own value.

Zhang Dajun was willing to help, and it wasn't for the sake of his thanks.

At the bike shed in front of the Police Station, Ning Weidong unlocked his bike and was just about to leave when he suddenly heard someone calling him: "Ning Weidong!"

Following the sound, he turned his head and saw it was Liu Yun.

"It really is you! I saw you from far away and thought it looked like you." Liu Yun stopped her bicycle nearby and said with a bright laugh, "We really have a connection; we just bumped into each other the day before yesterday, and here we are again today. Are you at the Police Station on business?"

Ning Weidong nodded and said with a chuckle, "Just a small matter." As he spoke, he nodded to Zhang Dajun, who was waiting nearby: "Brother Zhang, you go ahead back~"

Zhang Dajun nodded, turned around, and went back into the Police Station.

Liu Yun glanced in that direction, opened her mouth as if to say something, but then hesitated.

Ning Weidong saw it but pretended not to notice, pushing his bicycle as he said, "I'm going to be late for work this afternoon. Next time, let's call a few classmates and have a proper get-together."

Liu Yun responded, watched Ning Weidong ride away on his bicycle, shook her head, and turned to enter the Police Station.

Ning Weidong slipped back to the factory.

After three o'clock in the afternoon, he received a call from Zhang Dajun, who indicated that the matter was done.

Tomorrow, he should have Bai Fengyu take her documents directly to find Director Yu at the Women's Office at the Street Office.

Ning Weidong smiled.

He had long known the principle of not bothering two masters for one task.

If he had listened to Zhang Dajun at noon and gone to the Street Office to find someone, only to go through another round of back-and-forth, let alone this afternoon, it might not have been settled even in two or three days.

Hanging up the phone, Ning Weidong smiled slightly; after this incident, his relationship with Zhang Dajun could be considered stabilized.

From now on, he would just need to slowly cultivate it during holidays and festivals, while also continuing to test Zhang Dajun's true character.

To see if he was worth further investment in the future, or if it should be limited to this.

Ning Weidong hung up the phone and was still pondering when it rang again.

Chen picked it up and immediately looked at Ning Weidong: "Weidong, Section Chief Li is calling for you."

Ning Weidong responded, stood up, and walked out, wondering what it was about.

Two doors to the east after leaving the Office was Li Peihang's room.

Ning Weidong knocked once and pushed the door open to enter.

He saw that Li Peihang's expression was stern; Ning Weidong felt a jolt in his heart and asked, "Brother Li, did you call for me?"

Li Peihang said in a low voice, "I just received news that there's been a situation at the Fourth Workshop."

Ning Weidong was stunned. How was it that just a few days ago there was the incident with Liu Xinwen at the Second Workshop, and now, only a few days later, the Fourth Workshop was joining in the excitement?

"Brother Li, what kind of situation?" Ning Weidong asked, following up, though he was puzzled inside. Why was he being called in so urgently because of an incident at the Fourth Workshop? Could the incident at the Fourth Workshop possibly be linked to him? Ning Weidong felt suspicious and grew alert.

Li Peihang said, "The situation at the Fourth Workshop is special. Although it is nominally under the Manager, it is under vertical management from higher authorities..."

Ning Weidong suddenly realized that this Fourth Workshop must have classified tasks.

Li Peihang explained a great deal, and finally said, "Last night, the original Security Officer of the Fourth Workshop, Wang Baocheng, rode his bicycle home after drinking and fell, sustaining serious injuries..."

Ning Weidong frowned and asked, "Brother Li, do you want me to go?"

Li Peihang said, "It's not that I want to, it's that Wang Kaifeng proposed it."

Ning Weidong was stunned and couldn't help but blink. What was Wang Kaifeng's intention? Judging by Li Peihang's introduction just now, the position of Security Officer at the Fourth Workshop was a pretty good job.

Although it was nominally just a Security Officer, he actually had four people under him, so it carried some power.

Furthermore, this position was a good resume builder, with more substance than wasting time in the Security Division Office.

But at the same time, the responsibility was also much greater.

In a place like the Fourth Workshop, it was fine when things were normal, but if any situation really arose, getting dragged into it would be a huge headache.

There was another thing: why did Wang Kaifeng take the initiative to let him go?

Was it because he was dating Zhao Ruyi, and knowing it would be hard to move him later, he wanted to make amends and ease the relationship?

As soon as this thought popped into Ning Weidong's mind, he snuffed it out.

Impossible! Based on his previous impressions, Wang Kaifeng was a very mature bureaucrat and wouldn't have such naive ideas.

An enemy is an enemy, and a friend is a friend; until the fundamental interests of both sides changed, no other factors could alter the existing situation.

Never mind a Security Officer position at the Fourth Workshop; even if Wang Kaifeng gave Ning Weidong a Section Chief position, it wouldn't change their basic relationship.

Then what was the meaning of this move by Wang Kaifeng? "Could it be that he wants to dig a pit and bury me?" Ning Weidong pondered inwardly, unable to figure it out for a moment.

Moreover, looking at Feng Wen's attitude this morning, he seemed to have the intention of easing the relationship.

Ning Weidong said, "Brother Li, so your meaning is..."

Li Peihang looked troubled and said hesitantly, "Weidong, how do I say this to you!"

Ning Weidong's eyes narrowed slightly, and his heart skipped a beat.

Seeing Li Peihang like this, it definitely wasn't anything good.

Sure enough, Li Peihang hesitated for a long time before finally saying, "To speak from the heart, if I were you, I definitely wouldn't go. But at the meeting this morning, the Manager already made the decision..."

Ning Weidong raised an eyebrow. The factory meeting had decided it, which meant Li Weibing hadn't blocked it! If Li Weibing had blocked it or dragged it out, there would still be room for maneuver.

For example, finding someone else to fill in, or emphasizing Ning Weidong's lack of experience and seniority; there were many ways.

But once the factory leadership had formed a decision, if Ning Weidong didn't want to go, he could only cite personal reasons.

This would be very disadvantageous for him.

Ning Weidong watched Li Peihang with a serious expression; there was no doubt that behind this, there was a deal between Li Weibing and Wang Guoqiang.

Sure enough, Li Peihang didn't hide it and said helplessly, "At the meeting today, it was passed that Director Chu Chengfu of Workshop One would be promoted to Assistant Factory Director..."

As soon as Ning Weidong heard this, he understood.

This Chu Chengfu must be Li Weibing's trusted aide, or a successor he is grooming; Li Weibing has wanted to promote him, but has always been blocked by Wang Guoqiang.

This time, it is an exchange: let Chu Chengfu be promoted to Deputy Factory Director in exchange for Ning Weidong going to the Fourth Workshop.

Politics has always been like this; there is no tender affection, only naked trade-offs.

Although Li Weibing is leaning toward the Wang Family, Ning Weidong is far from being able to represent the Wang Family; even if this move draws the Wang Family's displeasure, it is not impossible to remedy.

What's more, Li Weibing still has some chips in his hand, so the Wang Family side will not fall out with him over Ning Weidong.

It's just that Ning Weidong doesn't understand what the goal is for Wang Guoqiang to pay such a high price just to get him into the Fourth Workshop as a Security Officer?...

At the same time, diagonally across from Li Peihang's Office, inside Wang Kaifeng's Office.

Feng Wen stood before the desk, watching Wang Kaifeng setting up a chess manual.

Wang Kaifeng said indifferently, "Li Peihang called him away?"

Feng Wen nodded, "Yes, he just went over, and I came to report to you."

Wang Kaifeng nodded, but sighed, rubbing a handful of chess pieces in his hand with some irritability, making a "clack-clack" noise.

Feng Wen was equally puzzled in his heart: "Uncle, why is this? You just told me yesterday that we shouldn't provoke Ning Weidong, so why..." Wang Kaifeng tossed the chess pieces in his hand into the box and said crossly, "Do you think I want to?"

With a bang, he slammed the table hard.

Feng Wen was startled; it was the first time he had seen his uncle lose his composure like this.

Wang Kaifeng had always considered himself a scholar-general, loving Go, loving poetry, and priding himself on not changing his expression even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.

But at this moment, he could not control his exasperation.

Feng Wen knew that something major must have happened, and it was related to Ning Weidong.

Wang Kaifeng took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Someone above wants to go after Ning Weidong." Having said this, he gave another cold snort, disparaging Ning Weidong: "Self-righteous tricks, thinking that by becoming in-laws with the Zhao Family, he would be absolutely safe..."

Feng Wen felt a chill in his heart.

Previously, Wang Kaifeng had told him personally not to provoke Ning Weidong in the future, precisely because the news that Ning Weidong was seeing Zhao Ruyi had come out.

How had it suddenly changed again?

Seeing the confusion in the heart of this nephew who was usually quite capable in his work, Wang Kaifeng simply explained: "Misfortune, it is upon which happiness depends; happiness, it is in which misfortune lies. Ning Weidong seeing Zhao Ruyi certainly puts a protective talisman on Ning Weidong, but the golden light of the talisman will also bring him greater trouble..."

Feng Wen was quick to react and immediately understood; no wonder that after just one day, Wang Kaifeng had suddenly changed his tune.

Presumably, there is someone who cannot bear to see the Wang Family and the Zhao Family intermarry, and as an important link in the marriage, they want to make an issue out of Ning Weidong.

At the same time, Ning Weidong came out of Li Peihang's Office and stood in the hallway to light a cigarette.

Li Peihang had been quite frank just now.

Or rather, him calling Ning Weidong over was in itself representing Li Weibing to provide an explanation.

The central meaning was that the other side offered too much, he couldn't refuse, and could only let Comrade Ning suffer for now.

At the same time, it was leaked that this matter was not orchestrated by Wang Guoqiang.

Letting Chu Chengfu become Deputy Factory Director so easily did not fit Wang Guoqiang's intentions; for this situation to occur, there was only one possibility: someone above Wang Guoqiang spoke, and he had no choice but to comply.

Ning Weidong stood by the window in the hallway, took a deep drag of his cigarette, and thought rapidly.

He couldn't help but sneer, whispering to himself: "It really is... picking the softest persimmon to squeeze!"

In fact, the marriage between the Wang Family and the Zhao Family is fundamentally because both families have common long-term and short-term interests, not because the two young people will get married.

The marriage is more like an announcement to the outside world that we are on the same side; it is more of a formality.

Yet the other side does not start from the root, but makes an issue out of the 'formality'; to put it bluntly, they just want to disgust people.

Suppress Ning Weidong, and then see if the Zhao Family's daughter will still marry.

If she marries, it's a loss of face; if she doesn't, it will affect the established plans between the Zhao Family and the Wang Family.

"What a good calculation!" Ning Weidong looked at the bleak scene outside the window, his eyes becoming increasingly sinister.

When it comes down to it, it is still because his background is inferior.

If he were a son of the Wang Family and married into the Zhao Family, this kind of problem would never arise.

Unfortunately, he is only the younger brother of the Wang Family's son-in-law.

Ning Weidong had anticipated encountering similar problems early on, but he just didn't expect it to come so quickly.

Throughout history, crossing class lines has never been easy.

Back then, Ning Weiguo and Wang Yuzhen belonged to a special period and special circumstances.

Not only did the Wang Family have problems, but Ning Weiguo also needed to stand firm at a critical moment without wavering.

Only then did Ning Weiguo have his current status in the Wang Family.

But he cannot help Ning Weidong.

If Ning Weidong wants to cross over, he must find a way to hack through the thorns himself.

If he breaks through, it will be a broad and smooth road; if he doesn't... he will be crushed in the collision of larger factions.

Ning Weidong exhaled the last puff of smoke, stubbed out the remaining half of the cigarette on the concrete windowsill, and turned to walk out.

Passing the Office, he glanced inside.

Feng Wen was not there.

Ning Weidong did not go in, walked straight past, and went directly downstairs.

He got his bicycle at the bike shed downstairs and headed straight for Ning Weiguo's workplace after leaving the factory.

In the current situation, Ning Weidong fighting alone definitely won't work.

Besides, they are coming for the Wang Family; why should he be the one to stand at the front and fight a lone battle?

Since there is going to be a fight, it must be soldier against soldier, general against general.

And Ning Weidong must know to what extent he can obtain support from the Wang Family side.

This is the most critical thing.

Throughout history, in any struggle, there may be cases of the few defeating the many, but there is absolutely no case of the weak defeating the strong.

Any so-called victory of the weak over the strong is, in all likelihood, just a matter of "appearing weak" or "appearing strong."

As for whether to take the position of Security Officer at the Fourth Workshop, it depends on what cards are in hand and whether they can be played.

Ning Weidong pedaled his bicycle as if it were a wheel of wind and fire, arriving at the Mechanical Bureau in a gust of wind.

This was an old-fashioned Soviet-style building; Ning Weidong went up the stairs in front of the door, and directly facing the entrance was a large mirror over a person's height, with the words "Gift from Coal Bureau, February 1967" written in red paint in the upper right corner.

Beside the large mirror was the guard room, and inside was a wide terrazzo staircase with a red solid wood banister that had been polished to a smooth, shiny luster.

Ning Weidong went to the guard first: "Comrade, excuse me, I am looking for Ning Weiguo; my name is Ning Weidong."

In his memories, the original owner had been here once, but that was two years ago.

The elderly guard was reading a newspaper in the room; he looked up, pushed up the reading glasses perched on the tip of his nose to size up Ning Weidong, and pushed out a worn, hard-covered notebook: "Write your name and unit here."

Ning Weidong acknowledged him and took the pen to write it down.

Only then did the old man say: "Second floor, on the left, 207."

Ning Weidong said thanks and went up the stairs to knock open the door to Ning Weiguo's Office.

Ning Weiguo was stunned, immediately came out from behind his desk, and asked in surprise: "Weidong, what happened? Why are you here?"

Ning Weidong closed the door behind him.

This was the new Office Ning Weiguo had moved into; the things inside were all new, and the space was not small.

Ning Weidong glanced around, ignoring his dry throat, sat down, and said: "I have a situation here; I came as soon as I found out..."

There was nothing to hide from Ning Weiguo, so Ning Weidong poured out the situation he had just encountered, along with his own suspicions, all at once.

As Ning Weiguo listened, his expression grew increasingly grave; through Ning Weidong's account, he also realized the severity of the situation.

He had originally wanted to facilitate the marriage between Ning Weidong and Zhao Ruyi early, using the Zhao Family to provide a protective amulet for Ning Weidong, but he had not expected it to backfire, actually dragging Ning Weidong into an even larger whirlpool.

This was something Ning Weiguo had not anticipated.

(End of chapter)