LWDC Chapter 173

by Volare

Chapter 173: The Reason to Stay

Cheng Lingqi and Ning Fei were not “locals,” so they didn’t take the “us versus them” thing so seriously. Besides, based on what Liu Fan had done to the original Cheng Lingqi, it was only a matter of time before the current Cheng Lingqi escaped his grasp.

The only thing they discussed was how to safely bring back Cheng Lingqi’s two family members from Shen Zejun.

“It’s not that I’m worried Shen Zejun won’t let them go, but he keeps saying he has important business to take care of in Shashi, and he can’t find anyone trustworthy to guarantee the safety of Cheng, uh, my mom and sister, so they’re all still there,” Cheng Lingqi said. “I tried sending people to pick them up once, but they said my mom was sick at the time and couldn’t travel right away. I had no choice but to withdraw them for now.”

Ning Fei said, “If you send people a few more times, as long as Liu Fan hears even a little bit that Shen Zejun has been in contact with the other side, you’re definitely going to be in trouble.”

“That’s one aspect, but another is that I’m not really sure who’s trustworthy here,” Cheng Lingqi complained. “Cheng Lingqi himself said that the people he originally thought were trustworthy would betray him and abandon him for the sake of their ‘future.’ He’s been here for so long and still can’t figure out who’s trustworthy, and I’ve only been here for two years, how can I be 100% sure who to trust?”

Ning Fei sharply commented, “He was screwed to death and still doesn’t know who his real friends are. And you’ve got the script with God’s-eye view, and you’ve still been experiencing it firsthand for two years, and you still don’t know who’s trustworthy. What an excellent matching mechanism.”

“Anyone can talk big, so why don’t you help me figure it out?”

“Sure, then give me your whole official position so I can have in-depth contact with all your colleagues. And, you go find someone else to pick up your mom and sister?”

“…” Cheng Lingqi was silent for two seconds. “In that case, you go pick them up first. After you come back, I’ll tell you about everyone’s situation. Don’t you like analyzing? Just use your analysis to help me find them.”

Ning Fei laughed when he heard that. “…Ha.”

“Ha what!” Cheng Lingqi really didn’t like his attitude, as if he looked down on him. “Isn’t that what I have to do to achieve my goal? Didn’t you say you’d help me? You think I’m incompetent, then you do it.”

“Hahaha…” Ning Fei laughed completely. Then he stood up and walked closer to Cheng Lingqi. “I said I’d be your helper, and you want to completely pass the buck, don’t you?”

Cheng Lingqi opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Ning Fei raised his hand and gently patted his face. “Alright, who told you that you can only rely on me now? Don’t worry, I’ll help you, and only I will help you, Deputy Commander Cheng.”

Cheng Lingqi got goosebumps from the action and turned his head away to avoid him. “Just talk, don’t get touchy-feely.”

Ning Fei held out his little finger. “I only have one request for you: live well and wait for me to come back. Can you do that?”

“…” Cheng Lingqi slapped away the hand he wanted to hook fingers with. “Stop talking nonsense, you underestimate me too much. Be careful you don’t get caught in a ditch.”

Ning Fei didn’t hesitate too much and set off with people.

When he said “with people,” it really only meant one more driver and one helper. He couldn’t let too many people take up space in the car, because he still had to leave seats for Cheng Lingqi’s two family members. In addition, Ning Fei also got some weapons for self-defense, hiding some in the car, some in the luggage, and some on himself. Although cars were still rare these days, it was still a time of war, and Ning Fei had to be prepared.

Of course, he also hid enough money as a “stepping stone” in case of emergency along the way.

They traveled against the flow of refugees, ignoring all kinds of real and fake pitiful pleas for help along the way, and arrived in Shashi in two days.

There were still quite a few people in Shashi, but the streets looked a bit more disordered, and the atmosphere was more tense. Ning Fei found the most famous hotel in the area to stay in. Everything in the hotel seemed to be in good order. It was as if once the doors were closed, the people enjoying themselves inside were still in a peaceful and prosperous world, not bothered by the war in the world at all.

Ning Fei arrived in the evening of the first day and sent the driver to deliver Cheng Lingqi’s handwritten letter first. The next morning, he was sitting in the house where Cheng Lingqi’s mother and sister were staying—which was also Shen Zejun’s current residence.

“You’re saying you’re here to take me and Mom to Yucheng? We’re leaving in two days?”

Cheng Lingqi’s sister, Cheng Mengxiao, looked surprised. She subconsciously glanced at Shen Zejun and said awkwardly, “Isn’t that a little too fast…”

“It’s not too fast, Miss Cheng. In theory, you should have arrived in Yucheng long ago.” Ning Fei knew it wouldn’t be so easy to pick people up. He also scanned Shen Zejun’s expression and said leisurely, “Since Mr. Shen is temporarily unable to fulfill Deputy Commander Cheng’s entrustment, I’ll help solve the problem. The sooner things are settled, the sooner you can feel at ease, and it’s also safer for you, isn’t it?”

Cheng Mengxiao wanted to refute, but she couldn’t organize her words for a moment and stammered, “But, I still have some things to do here, not so soon…”

“What specific things are they? Deputy Commander Cheng’s intention is that if they’re not too important, just let them go. It’s more important to reunite as soon as possible.” Ning Fei looked at Cheng’s mother. “In this day and age, how rare it is for a family to be together, right, Madam?”

“Oh, Mr. Ning is right. I haven’t seen Lingqi for a long time.” Cheng’s mother seemed to be someone who didn’t have much of an idea, but when it came to her son, she showed considerable concern. “It’s just two days, packing my luggage is a bit overwhelming…”

“Buy two suitcases and have the helper help you pack. Don’t take any unimportant big items or things you haven’t used in a long time. Deputy Commander Cheng has them all, or you can buy them again if you need them.” Ning Fei continued, “Deputy Commander Cheng has already prepared for your arrival, renting a spacious house suitable for a family of three to live in, and he’s also hired a helper. You’re always not going, and he’s the only one using it. In the past, he was always busy at the Commander’s residence, which is a waste.”

Cheng’s mother asked, “How is Lingqi…how has he been lately?”

Ning Fei thought to himself that they had been chatting for ten minutes, and only now did someone remember to ask about Cheng Lingqi’s situation. These two family members were really something. And it was the biological mother who remembered to ask. That biological sister didn’t care about her brother at all, and only thought about how to stay here.

“Deputy Commander Cheng, he… well, although he doesn’t want me to say it, you are his only remaining relatives and friends, so I’ll tell you this.” Ning Fei had already prepared for this question and immediately started acting. “He hasn’t been very successful recently. He’s often so busy that he can’t go home until late at night. If things continue like this, I don’t know when he’ll be sent to the front lines. He told me that after being busy until he was dizzy, he couldn’t help but feel desolate when he returned to that empty house. If his mother and sister were at home, he would think about having someone waiting for him at home when he went to work, and life would have some hope… Mr. Shen, wouldn’t you agree?”

“…Cough.” Shen Zejun was already feeling more and more awkward. “Going home from work and having someone waiting at home,” “a family of three happily together,” how did it all sound like…the life he was living now?

Cheng’s mother, on the other hand, was listening with increasing eagerness to leave. “Ah? Lingqi is living such a life, and he didn’t mention a word of it in his letter. That child, always reporting good news and not bad, he still needs someone to take care of him…”

When Cheng Mengxiao heard her mother say this, she was worried that her next sentence would be, “Then let’s leave right away,” and quickly laughed it off. “Hey, the way Mr. Ning puts it, it sounds like my brother should find a girlfriend.”

–Like Shen Zejun found you as a girlfriend?

Ning Fei gave a mocking chuckle. It was very slight, so slight that it sounded like Cheng Mengxiao’s hallucination.

“In his current situation, he doesn’t have the leeway to find a girlfriend. His top priority is to quickly bring you to his side so he can feel at ease.” Ning Fei paused, then leaned in closer and deliberately lowered his voice. “I heard that the military pay in Yucheng is tight now, and the financial system is also chaotic. Deputy Commander Cheng may not be able to send you 80 to 100 yuan every month after that. When there’s no money here, it’s probably going to be difficult to get food, clothing, and shelter. This house is so big, we can’t expect Mr. Shen to help pay for it, right?”

Shen Zejun was even more embarrassed when he heard this.

Ning Fei caught his expression and guessed: This big man wouldn’t be living in a woman’s house for free, would he?

“Lingqi is starting to run out of money?” Cheng’s mother’s reaction was more direct. She immediately patted her daughter. “Xiaoxiao, the money your brother sends is all in your hands. How much is left? If there’s any extra, give some back to your brother. We don’t need that much here…”

Cheng Mengxiao wrung her fingers. “Mom, we don’t have much left either. Rent, helpers, daily food and supplies, and winter clothes all cost a lot…”

Ning Fei listened to this expected answer and deliberately asked, “Are expenses in Shashi so expensive? I wonder how much the rent is here, how much the helpers cost, and how much it costs to eat every day?”

“This, this…” Cheng Mengxiao was completely frozen, not knowing whether to answer or not. Shen Zejun finally spoke up to defuse the situation. “Xiaoxiao probably can’t remember everything for a moment. Mr. Ning is asking so detailed, what are you planning to do?”

“Oh, I told you, I’m from the Southwest Chamber of Commerce. This trip is also a scouting mission to find out information.” Ning Fei said casually. “If it’s appropriate, the Southwest Chamber of Commerce may also come here to do some business.”

“I see.” Shen Zejun took this opportunity to try to change the subject. “I wonder what kind of business the Southwest Chamber of Commerce wants to do. I also do some trading, and if there’s an opportunity, I’d like to cooperate. In addition, I’ve made a lot of business friends in Shashi. Maybe I can introduce you to them. They often have gatherings. Why don’t Mr. Ning come with me in a few days to take a look?”

“Sure, thanks.” Ning Fei knew what he was planning in his heart, which was to stall him first and take his time. Ning Fei didn’t object, and only said, “It’s also good to give Madam Cheng and Miss Cheng more time to pack their luggage and settle local affairs, so they can feel more comfortable when they leave.”

Cheng Mengxiao said, “But I still have…still have work here!”

“Oh? I haven’t heard about that, and your brother hasn’t heard about it either, right?” Ning Fei wasn’t surprised at all, and casually asked, as if watching a child play a game, “Then may I ask, Miss Cheng, where do you work?”

“I…”

Knock knock knock!

A sudden knock on the door interrupted the conversation. The helper who was waiting in the gatehouse went to open the door, and after a while, came to the living room to report: “Sir, Miss, Madam, there are guests visiting outside, and the car is already parked at the door!”

Shen Zejun asked in confusion, “Who is it? No one said they were coming today.”

The helper replied, “It’s Boss Duan from the car dealership!”

——————–

Merry Christmas!!! Although not face-to-face, here I come!

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