NOVEL FULL

1979 My Life in the Era

Chapter 210: Walking on Two Feet

Chapter 210 Walking on Two Feet Compared to Wang Kaixuan's excitement, Hu Bayi was surprised but not that excited. Although Wang Kaixuan has a family background, he has never been in the organization. He came to Ning Weidong shortly after returning to the city and did not know much about some situations. However, Hu Bayi knew that his situation was not that simple. He was fired because he made a mistake. Even with Ning Weidong's help, it would not be easy for him to become a cadre again. Besides, although Ning Weidong's place is nominally a department-level unit, it does not mean that the deputy manager here is a deputy section chief. However, Hu Bayi was not blind, so there was no need to point it out at this time. And since Ning Weidong has mentioned it here, even if it doesn't work now, there may still be a chance if we think of a way in the future. As for Ning Weidong, he was not just making empty promises when he said this, but he really wanted to win over Hu Bayi. Compared with Wang Kaixuan, Hu Bayi is superior in both connections and personal abilities. Moreover, these two people are more than worth the sum of their parts. Working under him is much better than risking your life to go tomb robbing.

The three chatted for a while, and Hu Bayi and Wang Kaixuan left at the right time. The two returned to Wang Kaixuan's office. As soon as he entered the room, Wang Kaixuan picked up the white enamel teacup on the table, gulped down a big mouthful of tea, and grinned, "Old Hu, how is it? I said that heroes recognize heroes. Ning Weidong will definitely treat you differently when he sees you." Hu Bayi let out a long sigh and smiled, "I didn't expect that either, but..." Wang Kaixuan asked, "But what?" Hu Bayi shook his head and said, "It's hard to say, but I just feel like he knows me very well." Wang Kaixuan blinked his eyes: "Really?" Then he waved his hand: "No matter what, we are together again. Let's go to Quanjude tonight. I will treat you to the famous Beijing roast duck." Hu Bayi frowned and said, "Still going to a restaurant?" Wang Kaixuan chuckled, "Don't save me money." Hu Bayi smiled, feeling mixed emotions. He had previously imagined what would happen after meeting Wang Kaixuan, but he never expected it to be like this. Last night he lived in the new house bought by Wang Kaixuan. He spent more than 5,000 yuan to buy a house with a separate entrance and yard. The yard was one that Ning Wei helped find a while ago. It was not a quadrangle courtyard, as it only had houses on the east, west and north sides, with a total of eleven rooms. The yard in the middle was about ten meters square. This courtyard is not the siheyuan of the past, but a brick house built during the Republic of China period. Although it does not have the charm of the old siheyuan, it is more spacious and comfortable to live in, and what is more rare is that it has a toilet. If it weren't for the fact that this place is too close to the company and the price of nearly six thousand is a bit beyond the budget, Ning Wei would have recommended this yard to Ning Weidong. In the end, Wang Kaixuan bought the yard, so Hu Bayi had a place to stay temporarily when he came. Hu Bayi was happy for his good brother. With this house, Wang Kaixuan could finally settle down in the capital. On the other hand, he himself is just like weeds and duckweed. Fortunately, after meeting Ning Weidong today, he has found a temporary solution. As for what Ning Weidong said about the deputy section level, Hu Bayi did not take it seriously. Instead, he thought that if he could make more money like Wang Kaixuan, he could also help those sacrificed comrades.

…… On the other side, Ning Weidong was sitting in Zhao Ruyu's former office. Everything was the same as before, he didn't make any changes, Zhao Ruyu's previous arrangements were already very good. Ning Weidong was in a good mood. He didn't expect that on his first day at the company, a general like Hu Bayi would come. With Hu Bayi, things in Fujian Province will definitely go more smoothly. At the same time, another person came to his mind. Now that he is here, Dongyi Company will definitely not be like before, with only a few big cats and small cats. Ning Wei and his companions are the ones who are responsible for doing the actual work, and they are relatively young and lack the ability and experience, which is why he wants to bring Lu Zhou over. In addition to Lu Zhou's own abilities, he also has a background as a soldier, so if there is a suitable person, he can also be brought over. Then there are Hu Bayi’s comrades-in-arms. Although Hu Bayi’s roots are in Fujian Province, he originally served in the army in the northwest and was later transferred to southern Xinjiang to fight. Hu Bayi's comrades, on the other hand, had no connection with Fujian Province. At this time, another person Ning Weidong thought of was Duan Ming. Last time I met Duan Ming by chance in the bathhouse, I learned that Duan Ming was working in the northwest, and got to know Zhong Yuemin and others. Zhong Yuemin and his gang came from a large compound in the capital. Although they were not as powerful as Li Yuanchao, they were still very powerful. Zhong Yuemin was originally the core of the group, but his personality was too eccentric, he was imaginative and acted on impulse. He was okay as a friend, but not necessarily a good person to work with. On the contrary, Yuan Jun and Zhou Xiaobai are more reliable and have strong family backgrounds. Speaking of which, Yuan Jun's situation is very similar to Hu Bayi's, and the ranks of their fathers are not much different. It’s just that Yuan Jun’s luck and personality are better than Hu Bayi’s, and most importantly, Yuan Jun’s family background is relatively clean. Hu Bayi was more implicated by his grandfather. It was because of this that Yuan Jun was able to join the army directly without going to the countryside, while Hu Bayi had to go to the countryside for a year before he had the opportunity to join the army. Later, Yuan Jun's life became smoother than Hu Bayi's. As for Zhou Xiaobai, the daughter of Si Ling, she is even more despicable. But then again, Yuan Jun and Zhou Xiaobai are both in the army and it is impossible for them to come to Ning Weidong. If he wants to get in touch with them, he has to find another way. Ning Weidong thought for a moment, picked up the phone on the table and dialed "002". This is an internal call to Ning Wei's room. The phone was connected and Ning Wei was asked to come over. "Third brother, you called me~" Ning Wei's brows were filled with uncontrollable excitement. Ning Weidong said: "Xiaowei, go and call someone over for me..." Then he gave him Duan Ming's address.

Ning Wei responded and immediately turned around and left. Less than an hour later, Ning Wei came back from outside on a bike, followed by a man, who was Duan Ming. Coming here, Duan Ming looked around and was secretly surprised. Ning Wei went to find him just now and told him the name of Ning Weidong. However, the last time he met Ning Weidong, he only knew that Ning Weidong was in the Security Department of Red Star Factory. What did Ning Wei mean by bringing him here? I was filled with doubts and vigilance. It was not until I reached the north room and saw Ning Weidong that I felt slightly relieved. "Manager~" Ning Wei called out. Ning Weidong raised his head from behind his desk, then stood up and said with a smile: "Old Duan~ I've been waiting for you for a long time." Duan Ming's face was full of questions: "Weidong, you scared me, what...what's going on?" Ning Weidong pulled him and said, "Sit down and talk." He then said to Ning Wei, "Xiaowei, quickly make a pot of tea." Duan Ming could see that from Ning Weidong's position and Ning Wei's attitude towards him, Ning Weidong's status in this courtyard was definitely not low. He asked, "Weidong, didn't you say last time that you were in the security department of Red Star Factory? Why are you here? I just walked in and saw a company sign hanging outside." Ning Weidong said with a smile, "Well, the last time I met you, you were indeed in Red Star Factory. You were just transferred here the day before yesterday and are a manager here." Duan Ming couldn't help but widen his eyes. Although he didn't know what kind of unit Dongyi Company was, the fact that it could occupy such a large yard here alone meant a lot of problems. And what does it mean for Ning Weidong to be the manager here! Thinking of this, his heart beat faster and he immediately realized that Ning Weidong must have something to ask him. At this time, Ning Wei brewed tea, poured it for the two people and left. Ning Weidong smiled and said, "Have some tea first, and then we can chat slowly~" Duan Ming was very smart. He had a rough idea of ​​the current situation in his mind and suppressed his anxious emotions. Ning Weidong took a sip of tea and didn't waste time beating around the bush. He got straight to the point and said, "Old Duan, last time you said you didn't have a job after returning to the city..." Duan Ming's heart trembled and he couldn't help licking his lips: "My current job... is hard to describe in a few words. Some of those who came back with me have already gone to sell big bowls of tea under Zhengyang Gate." As he said this, he looked at Ning Weidong with burning eyes. He knew very well that Ning Weidong was not bringing this up without reason. Ning Weidong said with a smile: "How about coming to my place?" Duan Ming thought to himself, "As expected," but he was not overwhelmed by the sudden good news. He knew that Ning Weidong called him here this time definitely not because of their previous friendship. Strictly speaking, he and Ning Weidong are just nodding acquaintances. Although we have drunk and fought together, there are too many people now and the friendship is no longer valuable. Why do people say that we would rather learn from the three sworn brothers in Peach Garden than from the single stick of incense in Wagang? There may be many factors, but the number of people is a very important one. No matter what happens, when there are too many people involved, things can go wrong and no one will be too emotionally invested in any one of them. So Duan Ming concluded that since Ning Weidong asked him to come and offered him a job, there must have been some exchange.

Duan Ming said: "Then I would definitely be happy to do it! But... I don't know if I have enough ability." Ning Weidong said: "Last time you said that you knew Zhong Yuemin..." Duan Ming's expression changed slightly, and he suddenly realized that this was the reason for all the fuss. But he was a little nervous. He knew Zhong Yuemin's character. If Ning Weidong wanted to find Zhong Yuemin through him, he was afraid that he would not be able to do so. But at this moment, I definitely can't say this, because if I say it, I'm afraid I'll miss the opportunity. He had been eating free meals at home for the past few months and had long been fed up with his mother and sister-in-law's innuendos and weird remarks. Duan Ming gritted his teeth and decided to take the benefits first no matter what. Unexpectedly, the next moment Ning Weidong changed the subject: "There was a man named Zheng Tong who was with Zhong Yuemin at the beginning. Are you familiar with him?" Duan Ming blinked his eyes, slapped his thigh and said, "So familiar~ Too familiar, Zhong Yuemin has gone to the army, and Zheng Tong and I are the only young people left from the capital..." Ning Weidong asked: "Are you still in touch now?" Duan Ming was embarrassed for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, he was in touch. He came back a year earlier than me and was admitted to the History Department of Jingcheng University last year." Ning Weidong saw this and knew that the rumor of "having a connection" was probably a lie, so he didn't expose it. He smiled and said, "He's a top student from Peking University. Find a chance to invite him out. I want to get to know him." Ning Weidong called Duan Ming and decided to start with Zheng Tong and contact Yuan Jun and Zhou Xiaobai. In Ning Weidong's opinion, the most valuable member of their small group from the compound was not the so-called 'protagonist' Zhong Yuemin, but Yuan Jun. Zhou Xiaobai is a girl. She has an older brother who is a military doctor. This is the standard configuration in many military families: boys serve in the army and girls study medicine. No matter how many resources Zhou Xiaobai's family has, they will not fall into her hands. In the end, she will most likely marry someone of the same generation and family background. It can be called a marriage of arrangement. Yuan Jun is more like Zhao Lichun, Li Yuanchao's elder brother Li Kangzhan, and Wang Yuzhen's elder brother Wang Chen. He is the next generation that the family has devoted all their efforts to cultivate. Zheng Tong, who played with them since childhood, came from an intellectual family and his father was a technical bureaucrat. Although he hangs out with Zhong Yuemin and Yuan Jun, they are not essentially the same kind of people. Zheng Tong has no roots. Once his father got into trouble, he became a rootless weed and he can only rely on himself. This is also the reason why Ning Weidong decided to start with Zheng Tong. Once successful, Ning Weidong will have his own network of connections in the capital city that are independent of the Zhao family. It’s not that Ning Weidong doesn’t trust the Zhao family, but Ning Weidong knows that walking on two legs is more stable. Duan Ming secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It wouldn't be difficult to ask Zheng Tong out. Ning Weidong patted him on the shoulder and said, "Old Duan, you are a capable person. Do a good job in the future." Duan Ming immediately changed his tone: "Manager, don't worry, I will definitely live up to your trust." Ning Weidong nodded and asked him to find Ning Wei to handle the formalities. Duan Ming is a man who knows his limits and he doesn't lower himself just because he and Ning Weidong are old classmates.

Watching Duan Ming go out, Ning Weidong stretched lazily. It is true that people feel sleepy in spring and autumn, especially at two or three o'clock in the afternoon. Ning Weidong rubbed his face and thought about making an appointment to meet with Li Yuanchao in the next two days. As the most important partner at the moment, Ning Weidong must inform Li Kangmei and Li Yuanchao about taking over Zhao Ruyu. Moreover, in the next step, if we open up the channel of Speedlink, we will not be able to have the whole thing to ourselves. Only by making the cake bigger and allowing more people to share the benefits can the cake be more stable. In addition to the Wang family and the Zhao family, Li Yuanchao must be among them, as well as Hu Bayi, Wang Kaixuan, Yuan Jun, Zhou Xiaobai... If possible, Ning Weidong would even not hesitate to bring Li Weibing and Wang Guoqiang in. Although the power of the two Red Star Factory leaders is very limited, they each have their own connections and factions behind them. As long as the interests are big enough, they may be able to sit at the same table and eat. …… At the end of the day, others left work. Before half past five, Zhao Ruyu's jeep stopped outside the door. Zhao Ruyu came in from outside wearing a windbreaker and trousers. She wore a white shirt under the open windbreaker and had a bun on her head, which was different from her previous outfit. We talked on the phone in the afternoon and Zhao Ruyu came over directly after get off work to have dinner together. After entering the second door, Zhao Ruyu quickly went into the north room. The weather is not so hot in the morning and evening, so there is no need to eat outside at the stone table. Ning Weidong was not in the inner office, but was sitting on the sofa in the meeting room waiting for her. Seeing Zhao Ruyi, he immediately smiled and said, "How do you feel about your first day at work?" Ning Weidong went to the department today, and it was also Zhao Ruyu’s first day officially working at the bank. Zhao Ruyi curled her lips and said, "What can I do? I'm so bored!" (End of this chapter)