Chapter 64: Li Huaide Makes His Move

"Old Li, won't you help Ding Qiunan, and then we can go get dinner together?" Liang Ladi pleaded with Li Huaide while explaining Ding Qiunan's current predicament.

As a widow raising three children, Liang Ladi knew all too well how difficult life was for women in this era. No sooner had she arrived at the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill for training than she caught Li Huaide's eye. For the sake of her three children, Liang Ladi had no choice but to submit to him.

Liang Ladi's words aligned precisely with Li Huaide's own thoughts, and he secretly congratulated himself on discovering the situation so early.

One had to realize that Ding Qiunan was his trump card for securing another promotion. If someone else were to snatch her away behind his back, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

"Fine, everything as you say."

Even if Liang Ladi hadn't brought it up, he would have helped Ding Qiunan anyway. Now that Liang Ladi had spoken, not only could he win her favor, but he could also safeguard the prize that guaranteed his upward mobility.

"What's going on here?"

Upon seeing Li Huaide, Old Zhao from the security department recounted everything that had just transpired without omitting a single detail.

"Director Liu, what is the meaning of this? How can you threaten someone into being with you?"

For the time being, Liu Yishou didn't dare to provoke Li Huaide, yet he wasn't afraid of him either.

"Director Li, I suggest you stay out of my personal affairs. Whatever you need in the future, I can help you with. I'm sure you're aware of my medical skills."

"Hmph, are you attempting to threaten me now?"

Although Liu Yishou possessed formidable medical skills, bribing Wang Lin offered far greater benefits. Moreover, given Wang Lin's extensive connections, Li Huaide refused to believe that Wang Lin lacked friends with even more exceptional medical expertise.

"Someone come, arrest these two hooligans!"

"You wouldn't dare," Liu Yishou roared in fury.

"No, no, this has nothing to do with me! Qiunan and I are an item, and her parents have both agreed to it!"

Cui Dake lost his nerve. His legs turned to jelly, and he actually pissed himself in sheer terror.

Li Huaide looked at Cui Dake with utter disdain. Ignoring such an insignificant wretch completely, he cast his gaze upon the arrogant Liu Yishou.

"What? Do you intend to raise a hand against me, the director of the Revolutionary Committee?"

Liu Yishou's expression darkened. The authority of the Revolutionary Committee was extraordinarily high; upon the slightest pretext, they could arrest whomever they pleased. Unless absolutely necessary, he preferred not to cross them.

"Very well, I will grant Director Li this face. This woman is yours."

With that, Liu Yishou flicked his sleeve and stormed into the infirmary.

A murderous glint flashed in Li Huaide's eyes, but he said nothing further. Liu Yishou had been assigned by higher-ups; thanks to his brilliant medical skills and powerful backers, he had stepped right into the position of infirmary director. If he could avoid antagonizing Liu Yishou's patrons, he certainly preferred to do so.

"Comrade Ding Qiunan, are you all right?" Li Huaide asked, smiling as he looked at her.

Ding Qiunan furrowed her brows. Having already noticed Liang Ladi standing beside Li Huaide, she immediately realized that this man was no better than the others.

Before she could speak, however, Li Huaide continued, "I heard you want to go to university, but your parents are against it. Moreover, that Cui Dake keeps sending gifts to your parents in an attempt to buy you from them. Is that true?"

Ding Qiunan didn't conceal the truth and nodded directly. "Yes. What business is it of yours?"

"I can solve all your problems for you, on one condition: become the woman of Deputy Director Wang Lin."

"I'm sorry, I..."

Ding Qiunan was well aware that Wang Lin was already a married man. Wang Lin was a prominent figure at the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill; no sooner had she stepped into the infirmary than she overheard two nurses gossiping about him, full of regret that they hadn't moved faster to win his heart.

Naturally, Li Huaide knew what Ding Qiunan wanted to say. Cutting her off before she could refuse, he stated, "Rest assured, as long as Wang Lin takes a fancy to you, he can give you official status."

This made Ding Qiunan even more inclined to refuse. Under the nation's current monogamy laws, the only way Wang Lin could marry her was by divorcing his current wife. A man who would cast aside his wife for her sake—could she expect to be treated well in the future? Once Wang Lin set his sights on someone else, wouldn't she simply be tossed aside?

"I'm sorry, I..."

Anticipating her thoughts, Li Huaide interrupted her once again. "Don't worry, Wang Lin won't divorce his wife. His status is rather special; higher-ups have granted him special permission for polygamy."

"Oh."

Not only Ding Qiunan, but even Liang Ladi was astonished by Li Huaide's words.

Ding Qiunan was no fool. In an era strictly governed by monogamy, being permitted polygamy clearly indicated that Wang Lin's background was extraordinary. If he truly favored her, all her current obstacles would vanish completely.

Yet she had never even laid eyes on Wang Lin. To make such a commitment on the spot was simply beyond her.

"I—I need to consider this and give you an answer tomorrow. Would that be acceptable, Director Li?"

Hesitation tinged her voice as inner turmoil raged within her. She longed to attend university, yet she refused to trade her entire future for this single chance.

"Director Li, what are you doing in the infirmary? Are you feeling unwell? Do you need me to examine you?"

Just as Li Huaide was about to agree to Ding Qiunan's request and take Liang Ladi out for a good time, Wang Lin's voice rang out from behind him.

"Well, well, what a rare visitor! Younger Brother Wang, you've actually come to the factory."

"Hahaha, I just dropped by to see if the factory needs any help from me," Wang Lin replied with a hearty smile.

Li Huaide walked over to Wang Lin, lowering his voice to whisper in his ear while repeatedly gesturing toward Ding Qiunan.

"Younger Brother Wang, what do you think of that female comrade over there? Any interest?"

The very reason Wang Lin had come to the rolling mill in the first place was for Ding Qiunan.

Smiling, Wang Lin glanced at Ding Qiunan, nodded warmly in her direction, and answered, "Not bad at all, I like her. I only wonder if Comrade Ding Qiunan has any interest in me?"

Wang Lin spoke in a moderate tone, loud enough for all four people present to hear clearly.

The moment she laid eyes on him, Ding Qiunan's heart skipped a beat. Not only was Wang Lin young and handsome, but his gaze held only genuine appreciation rather than the greed and possessiveness radiating from the other men.

Hearing his words, she lowered her head in a blush.

Seeing her reaction, Li Huaide grinned wider than a blooming chrysanthemum and pressed on, "Comrade Ding Qiunan, do you have any interest in my Younger Brother Wang?"

"Yes." Her voice was barely a whisper, yet everyone present caught it clearly.

Leaning in, Liang Ladi felt genuinely happy for her; with Wang Lin by her side, she was certain Ding Qiunan's future would be filled with happiness.

"Let's go. I'll introduce you to your other sisters, and by the way, we'll go to your house to make things clear with your parents. We'll get our marriage certificate registered today."

Before she could process it, Ding Qiunan was pulled directly into Wang Lin's embrace.

Offering no resistance, she resigned herself to the traditional notion of following wherever her husband led.

"Okay, I'll listen to you, Brother Lin."

As Wang Lin turned to leave with Ding Qiunan, he paused to instruct Li Huaide, "Brother Li, we have five hundred catties of pork arriving tonight. Don't forget to arrange for someone to receive it."

Joy lit up Li Huaide's face at the news. "Ah, wonderful!"