Beijing, Ning Ge whistled as he entered the house. In the living room, his eldest brother and Old Master Ning were talking, but they stopped the conversation when they saw him return.
"How come you’re only getting back at this time?" Ning Gang glanced at the time on his watch, the hands pointing at nine o’clock, and said, "You’ve been back for a few days now, which day have I seen you eat at home? Can’t your butt stick to the chair? You’re hardly ever home."
Ning Ge touched his nose and said, "I had to attend some social functions."
"Social functions from day to night, I think even the Chief isn’t as busy as you are. You’re running such a small business, how can you be busier than the Chief?" Ning Gang said sternly.
"Big brother, don’t you know the saying ’start small to go big’? Exactly because it’s a small business now, that’s why I need to push hard to expand it. Who can become big in one step?" Ning Ge argued.
"Still, you should find some time to eat with your family," Ning Gang glared at him.
"Alright, alright, I’ll eat at home tomorrow night, okay! I’m going to take a shower," Ning Ge shrugged and started to head upstairs.
Ning Gang shook his head and continued talking with Old Master Ning.
"I really don’t understand what Jiang Conghe is up to. It seems like he’s deliberately targeting Qi Taiguo. Dad, do you think maybe he suspects that Qi Taiguo is one of ours, and that’s why he’s intentionally suppressing him?"
Ning Ge’s steps halted, he turned around, deftly flipped over, and landed on the sofa.
"Weren’t you going to take a shower?" Ning Gang was startled and scolded him, "Sit properly, will you? What kind of behavior is that!"
With a wave of his hand, Ning Ge asked, "What were you just saying, big brother? Who’s trying to suppress Big Brother Qi?"
"It’s none of your business, go upstairs!"
"Hey, big brother, how can it be none of my business? It concerns my partner’s husband. Of course, I have to hear what this is all about!" Ning Ge pressed urgently, almost wishing he could pry the words from his brother’s throat.
Ning Gang gave him a stern look, but Old Master Ning said, "Let it be, let it be, it’s not a secret anyway. If he wants to listen, let him listen."
With Old Master Ning having spoken, what could Ning Gang say? He went on to say, "This year, the military on the frontier is due for a rotation, and Qi Taiguo’s name is surprisingly on the list. I looked into it specifically, and it was Jiang Conghe who recommended him. By all logic, it shouldn’t be like this. Jiang Conghe was previously in Jinling and just transferred to the Yanjing military. How could he suddenly take an interest in Qi Taiguo? Could there be an ulterior motive?"
Ning Ge knew that Jiang Conghe and his big brother were now political rivals in the military.
"Do you think, big brother, that Jiang Conghe is trying to cut off your influence?" Ning Ge asked, frowning.
"This is what Dad and I were discussing. You, always fooling around all day, how could you understand? Off with you, get out of here!" Ning Gang said impatiently.
"Ah, come on, if that’s the case, I can’t leave. There’s a saying, ’three cobblers with their wits combined can outdo Zhuge Liang.’ Maybe I could find a crucial point!" Ning Ge joked.
"What do you think is the crucial point?" Old Master Ning asked, wanting to test him.
Ning Ge stood up, paced back and forth twice, and said, "Jiang Conghe has always been in Jinling, only transferred back to Yanjing at the end of last year. He hasn’t even settled firmly in his position yet, so even if his political views clash with my big brother’s, I don’t think he’d be in such a rush to cut my big brother’s influence. After all, it’s most important to make sure one’s position is secure first."
Ning Gang’s eyebrows raised, and he exchanged a glance with Old Master Ning.
A glint of light flashed in Old Master Ning’s eyes. He didn’t expect this son, who seemed to be so frivolous, could indeed say something useful.
"Then what’s your opinion?" Old Master Ning continued to probe.
He was keen to see just how many bright ideas he could unearth from his youngest son!