Ning Mingxia’s eyes quickly flashed with annoyance.
"I haven’t met him, and I don’t want to." She said disinterestedly.
The Machinery Factory was thriving; indeed, a fine establishment.
The Factory Director was said to be very capable.
But to become a Factory Director, one must be of a certain age.
She was young and beautiful, with a good education and family background. Why on earth would she consider an old man?
Isn’t that disgusting?
Ning Mingda spread his hands helplessly and shook his head, "I’m afraid it’s not up to you!"
Once their father stood firm, neither he nor his sister dared to resist.
Ning Mingxia was a girl with her own opinions.
"My legs are on my body; if I don’t want to meet him, then I won’t," she insisted.
Ning Mingda smiled ambiguously.
"I support you."
Of course, Ning Mingxia could tell that her brother was just looking for a laugh. She huffed and went to wash her hair.
With her short hair, the washing was quick, done in minutes.
She entered the room, drying her hair.
Seeing Ning Mingxia come in, Ning Jianhua set down the newspaper and asked,
"What have you considered about meeting Xiaogu?’
His gaze fixed upon Ning Mingxia as he spoke.
Piercing and inescapable.
Feeling annoyed, it showed on Ning Mingxia’s face.
"Dad, I’m still young, why rush to get married?
What’s so great about that Xiaogu that you keep bringing him up?"
She was puzzled. What charm could an old man have to warrant such persistent mention by her father?
She was so bothered she felt calluses forming on her ears!
Ning Jianhua said with resignation, "What delusion has you believing you’re still young? Your mother married me at 17, and by 18, she had your brother.
You’re almost 20 now, without a partner. Tell me you’re still young?!"
Saying so, he pinched the bridge of his nose, his head aching.
A daughter spoiled into being too opinionated was not necessarily a good thing.
Ning Mingxia pursed her lips, feeling wronged, "But I don’t want to marry.
Dad, isn’t it nice for me to stay at home with you? Are you tired of me?"
Ning Jianhua was somewhat gentler with her, scared as she was; she dared to speak her truth.
"You are my daughter; even if you stay home for a lifetime, I won’t tire of you, but you must marry eventually."
He sighed.
"I wouldn’t harm you. Xiaogu is steady and responsible, with stable employment and a good family background. He’s a fine young man to entrust your life with.
If you marry him, I will be at ease."
Marriage isn’t just about the man, but also his family.
The Gu Family’s reputation was among the best.
If Mingxia married into the Gu Family, she wouldn’t have to worry for the rest of her life.
But Ning Mingxia remained skeptical, feeling her father was exaggerating.
If that Xiaogu was really that great, how could he still be single?!
"But I don’t want to marry," Ning Mingxia struggled.
The very thought of Mr. Gu being much older than herself made her stomach turn sour.
Ning Jianhua glanced indifferently at Ning Mingxia.
That emotionless look made Ning Mingxia swallow the words she was about to say.
For a moment, Ning Mingxia felt even more averse to Mr. Gu.
Seeing her quiet down, Ning Jianhua said, "I heard Xiaogu is going to the Machinery Factory tomorrow; just take a look at him. If you really don’t like him, then forget it."
These words seemed like a step back.
However, thinking of Gu Yingzhou’s handsome and extraordinary face, Ning Jianhua felt confident.
If Mingxia agreed, he was very optimistic about the marriage.
After all, it’s easier for a woman to chase a man; like grinding an iron rod into a needle with persistence.
"Dad, are you saying that if I’m not pleased with him, you won’t force me?" Ning Mingxia’s eyes brightened as she asked.
Ning Jianhua responded coolly, "When have I ever spoken idly?"
Ning Mingxia, reassured, showed a relieved smile.
"Fine, I’ll see him tomorrow," she agreed readily.
Just then, someone knocked ’bang bang bang’ on the Ning Family’s door.
Ning Mingda went to open it.
A skinny, dark-skinned youth handed him a letter.
"Is this Ning Jianhua’s place? Someone asked me to deliver this letter to him."
After saying that, he stuffed the letter into his hands and ran off.
"Huh?" Ning Mingda wanted to ask more, but the messenger had disappeared.
"What a rush to reincarnate!" he muttered, then turned back home.
If he had the courage to sneak a peek inside the letter, he would realize that it hung over his head like a dangling sword.
Regrettably, he didn’t dare.
And faithfully handed the letter over to his father.
Ning Jianhua opened the letter with a puzzled expression.
He scanned it through quickly.
After reading the contents, his face turned ashen.
Then, he abruptly looked up at Ning Mingda.
A penetrating gaze with a deep chill.
Frightened, Ning Mingda felt weak in the knees.
"Dad, why are you... looking at me like that?"
Wh-wh-what’s going on?!
His heart thudded wildly, a chill creeping up his spine.
Ning Jianhua let out a cold laugh, wordlessly taking the black whip off the wall.
"Engaged in the black market?"
"Robbing the Army of its public property?"
"Ning Mingda, do you think you can defy heaven?!"
Ning Jianhua spoke softly.
The last sentence seemed so light it might dissipate in the air.
Yet, each word carried the oppressive urgency of an impending storm.
When Ning Mingda heard what Ning Jianhua said, his heart turned cold.
Seeing his father bringing out the whip that hadn’t seen use in years, he was so scared he nearly collapsed on the spot.
"Dad? Dad, please calm down, let me explain," he said, scrambling towards the door, desperate to escape.
Before he could reach it, a harsh lash whistled toward him.
Whoosh—
To avoid the whip, Ning Mingda stepped back.
The whip closed the door with its strike.
Ning Mingda realized he had missed the opportunity to flee.
He was so scared that he knelt down.
Blubbering, he pleaded,
"Dad, I was wrong, I’m truly sorry. I shouldn’t have been involved in the black market, I shouldn’t have stained your name. I’ll change, I won’t do it again, never again..."
Ning Mingxia had no idea her brother had dared to get involved in the black market.
Shocked, her eyes widened.
"Brother, you actually engaged in the black market, what nerve you have."
With such severe crackdowns outside, and yet her brother dared to meddle in black market affairs, impressive.
Ning Jianhua’s fury was at its peak.
He lashed out with the whip.
"Ow..." Ning Mingda cried out in pain.
Hearing the noise, Ning Jianhua not only showed no mercy, but his frown deepened even more.
His son was far too lacking in manliness.
In the Army, every young man bled without tears.
He had barely been hit by one lash, and he was already making a scene, crying and howling.
Too delicate!
He was overly pampered! It was also his fault for not having disciplined Ning Mingda for the past decade. Now, trying to do so was too late.
"What are you crying for? Even your sister knows better than to get involved with the black market; aren’t you supposed to know better than her?"
As Ning Jianhua spoke, he delivered several more lashes.
Ning Mingda’s shirt ripped, revealing large swollen patches of skin.
"Dad, please stop beating me; I’ll be a goner if you continue.
I never showed my face in the black market; nothing will happen. I won’t deal with those matters anymore, I won’t ever again..."