National Tide 1980.

"How's the situation with Lao Sha?"

In the end, it was Ning Weimin who took the initiative to ask Zhang Shihui and woke him up from his one-sided fantasy.

"Ah, oh, look at my brain, I forgot to talk about the main thing. I was temporarily arranged in the reception room of those old masters. This old man, he actually brought his wife with him today. His face is also scratched, and there is a bandaid on it. It looks like the couple had a quarrel and the wife scratched it. But this guy seems to have prepared a valuable gift for you, it seems that he wants to ask you something important. Old Sha also emphasized to me that he had an appointment with you, and he seemed a little anxious. Look, when do you plan to meet?"

Ning Weimin rubbed his brows and said calmly, "No, I'm not going to see him for the time being. Let him wait. I can probably guess why he came. It's nothing more than President Song and President Zou's intention to reform the company and eliminate the company's malpractices. Lao Sha is now considered a parasite in the company. He has lived a comfortable life for too long and is not used to the sudden ecological changes. He is probably looking forward to pulling me in to help him."

"Worm?"

Zhang Shihui thought about it and said in a deliberately flattering way, "Well...if you don't want to see him and feel embarrassed. Otherwise...I can help you get rid of him..."

Zhang Shihui thought he was helping others in need, but he didn't expect Ning Weimin to just shake his head.

"Well, that's not what I meant. Lao Sha also has his own advantages. He has a wide range of interpersonal relationships and friends everywhere. He is also very smart. There is no loophole that he can't exploit, and there is no place that he can't take advantage of. He can say one thing to one person and another thing to another person. He can take advantage of anything. Such a 'little smart guy' is also a talent. Having a friend like him will be very convenient in many things. To be honest, when Pierre Cardon was just starting out, he made a lot of contributions to the company. It's just a pity that now that the company has grown to a certain scale and the internal requirements have changed, he still sticks to the original set and has become an obstacle to the company. The biggest problem of Lao Sha is that he is too shrewd. It has become a habit for him to take advantage of others. The company is now big. If he is allowed to continue to do so, the cost hole will become bigger and bigger. No matter who is the head of the company, it is impossible for him to sit back and watch this situation. But he still can't see through this. This is called stubborn..."

Listening to Ning Weimin's comments that seemed to be hinting at him, Zhang Shihui couldn't help but lower his head in thought.

But there was something that made him even more curious. After thinking about it, he couldn't help but ask, "So... do you want to help him or not?"

"Let's wait and see." Ning Weimin smiled faintly, "It's not that easy to ask for help. If it's too easy to get it, we won't cherish it. And that bastard Lao Sha is the most mercenary. I have to see if he is sincere, and see if he understands his situation and whether it's worth my help. Besides, there are different ways to help, and I have to think about it carefully. In addition, you know, I do have more important guests to receive. I have to meet the people from the Cultural Relics Bureau soon, and I don't want to let the deputy director of the Temple of Heaven wait for me too long. If nothing unexpected happens, the old director will retire this year, and it is natural for the old director to choose this deputy to take over. He can take the initiative to come to my door today to show goodwill, and I can't neglect him. So I will meet the people from the Cultural Relics Bureau later, so that people don't misunderstand that I am taking advantage. As for Lao Sha, please tell him to be patient and wait..."

"Okay, okay. I'll help you pack up and go to the front to make some arrangements."

As Zhang Shihui spoke, he poured hot water into Ning Weimin's teacup, emptied the ashtray in the room, and wiped the coffee table that was covered with water droplets.

He was quite perceptive and knew that the things Ning Weimin wanted to discuss in this room were important matters that could not be disclosed. Since there were no waiters serving him here, he took the initiative to lend a hand.

As expected, Ning Weimin felt very comfortable with this proactive and humble behavior.

Although she didn't say thank you, her attitude towards him was obviously much closer, and it seemed that she wanted to chat with him more.

"Shihui, if Lao Sha's situation were to happen to you, what would you do?"

"I'm definitely not happy about that. From a personal point of view, it's hard for anyone to accept such a thing. Regardless of whether he did something wrong or not, I actually understand Lao Sha emotionally. But fortunately, I'm not him. I haven't done so many things to enrich myself. At most, I ate and drank in the Altar Palace and used our tobacco shop to earn some money for purchasing goods. You know all this, not to mention that I have you to help me, so this kind of thing will not happen to me."

Zhang Shihui smiled. His words were not just a compliment.

After all, Ning Weimin arranged for Du Yang to move to Chengde for him. He always kept in mind this unremitting support and trust.

Moreover, he was not unaware that Ning Weimin had become a shareholder of Pierre Catton.

Since he has such a strong supporter, what else does he have to worry about?

But Ning Weimin unexpectedly said, "Me? What if I ask you to leave the altar?"

"This……"

Zhang Shihui was stunned by this sudden sentence.

He didn't know whether Ning Weimin was joking or serious. His eyes rolled around for a long time, and he became more and more convinced that Ning Weimin's opinion of Manager Sha was not just a casual remark.

"What else can we do? Just take whatever you say."

Zhang Shihui sighed dejectedly and acted like a bachelor.

"Anyway, this position was given to me by you. If you want to take it away, it's just a matter of a word. I will definitely obey unconditionally."

However, after just a few heroic words, he started to complain again.

"But...but why? Wei Min, are you trying to scare me? I didn't do anything wrong. I swear to God, I dare not do anything wrong. Who gave me a needle out of jealousy? Or do you think I didn't take good care of the altar palace for you? You can't just listen to one side of the story! You...what are you laughing at? Do you really have the heart to see your buddy become a laughing stock in the eyes of others? Let me be clear, I'm not afraid of losing my job, I'm afraid of losing face. You masturbated me for no reason, I can't explain to my wife, you, you..."

"What do you mean? I'm just asking. I didn't say I was really going to jerk you off."

Seeing his big reaction, Ning Weimin quickly explained.

However, the following words can actually be regarded as a warning, obviously giving Zhang Shihui a shot of prevention in advance.

"Of course, I won't lie to you. You can't tell what will happen in the future. As the old saying goes, if one's virtue is not in line with his position, there will be disaster. This is true for Lao Sha, and it is also true for us. For any company to develop, it needs fresh blood and more capable people, just like human metabolism. No one is irreplaceable. Sooner or later, one day, we will become an obstacle to the development of the company and the altar. Have you thought about this problem? I have thought about it. So I'm not afraid that you don't like to hear it. I have to tell you the truth. If the day comes when we really become an obstacle to the company, not only you, but also me, will have to step down for the good of the company and the altar."

"What? Obstacles from the company?"

Zhang Shihui was stunned for a moment, then shook his head, "What a joke, maybe I will have this day. How did you end up like this? You are a shareholder of Pierre Cardon. What's more, you have opened up the situation of Tan Palace overseas, and even the deputy director came to wish you a happy new year. How could you..."

"You're right, but have you ever thought about this? It's precisely because I'm a shareholder that I want to make the best use of everything in order to get more dividends and for the company to develop better. Otherwise, I'd be making things difficult for myself."

Looking at Zhang Shihui's stunned face again, it seemed that this was the first time he considered such a practical problem from this angle, and he was a little scared.

Ning Weimin couldn't help but retract his serious expression, patted him on the shoulder, and comforted him again.

"I'm just talking casually now, don't take this issue too seriously. What's more, even if we leave, what will happen? For us, we just lose a job. I tell you, leaving also has its advantages. If that day really comes, we may not live a miserable life. Believe it or not..."

Not to mention, these words actually made Zhang Shihui feel at ease.

If nothing else, the most important point is that the "we" in Ning Weimin's words reveals the meaning of advancing and retreating together.

Zhang Shihui certainly knows clearly whether a job at Pierre Cardin or the position of manager of Tan Palace can provide her with security, or Ning Weimin, her friend, will be more beneficial to her future.

As long as Ning Weimin is still willing to take him with him, what is he worried about?

What's more, I have known Ning Weimin for such a long time. Even though Ning Weimin has become so successful now, he has never done anything to "change friends for the better", let alone an old friend like Zhang Shihui who has been with him all the way.

Even his old colleagues at Chongwenmen Hotel got good jobs at Pierre Catton Building thanks to him.

Also, Ning Weimin rarely goes back to Shaner Hutong anymore.

But this time when he came back, he still invited old neighbors to a dinner at the Altar Temple before the New Year and gave everyone generous New Year gifts.

As the person in charge of Tangong Restaurant, Zhang Shihui saw all of this and knew it very clearly.

He absolutely trusts Ning Weimin's character.

So once he understood this, he immediately calmed down and no longer worried, "Okay. Just what you said is fine. Anyway, I, Old Zhang, don't believe anything else but you. I don't like to think about complicated things. Anyway, whatever you say, we'll do it. Whether to leave or stay, I'll listen to you, no opinion."

Ning Weimin also felt very pleased. He patted Zhang Shihui on the shoulder and was about to say a few words.

Just at this time, Luo Guangliang came back with three men in coats.

As soon as he entered the house, the leader of the three days came straight towards Ning Weimin. Before he arrived, he stretched out his hand with a smile on his face.

"Mr. Ning, Happy New Year. I'm here on behalf of the bureau leaders to wish you a happy new year. This small gift is my humble opinion." Ning Weimin no longer cared about Zhang Shihui and stretched out his hand to respond.

"Oh, I don't deserve it, Director Liu. It should be me wishing you a happy new year. Why are you so polite?"

"Don't say that. The dozen or so items you sent back this time are very precious. After evaluation by experts, almost all of them are precious cultural relics, and only two are ordinary cultural relics. So our bureau leader sent me to express my gratitude to you in person, knowing that you don't care about false reputation, and don't like red tape. But it would be too embarrassing if we don't express our deep respect to you, a patriotic person who has made long-term free donations and has social responsibility and commitment. In addition, our leader has another request. He hopes that you can attend a seminar on cultural relics lost overseas after the New Year. I wonder if you will..."

As for Zhang Shihui, he did not feel dissatisfied at all because of being ignored. Instead, he felt more at ease after hearing these words.

That’s right, if he doesn’t trust others, he can still trust Ning Weimin.

Although Ning Weimin has been abroad in the past few years, the time they can spend together has become less and less every year.

Moreover, due to the differences in status and experience, the way they get along with each other has also changed greatly.

The subordinate relationship is becoming more and more clear, and they are not as close as brothers as before.

But Ning Weimin values ​​friendship and is a good friend, and this has never changed.

Apart from anything else, what kind of character is this person who bought back so many precious cultural relics and donated them for free?

If the donation is not hundreds of thousands, it must be millions, right? Maybe even several million.

Therefore, Zhang Shihui absolutely believed that Ning Weimin would never let him suffer any loss.

Even if one day he really doesn't let himself do it, he must have other arrangements.

Yes, Ning Weimin is such a capable person. For someone like him, what would it matter if he left Pierre Catton?

You will definitely be successful wherever you are.

What we need to do is to follow closely behind.

As long as you don’t fall behind, you will definitely have a bright future.

………………

In the reception room, Manager Sha’s wife Yao Lihua was very surprised by the environment she was in.

Since Manager Sha was often away from home, he seldom took her to social events or activities.

She was not able to accompany Manager Sha to Ning Weimin's wedding last time, so she had never experienced true wealth and had a serious lack of correct understanding.

It should be said that before coming here, her imagination of wealth mostly came from the images of wealthy people in Hong Kong movies.

I thought that Ning Weimin, whom I had never met, was probably like in the most popular movie in Hong Kong, using a gold lighter or even US dollars to light a cigarette.

After all, Manager Sha learned how to make a golden lighter from Mr. Ning.

But when I got there, I was shocked just by looking at the waiters' clothes in front of Yunyuan's gate.

Following the second gate, I took in the various pavilions and towers inside and felt dazzled. I didn't know what to appreciate.

After entering the house, even though this room was just a place for Yunyuan to entertain ordinary guests, she was still stunned and didn't know what to appreciate. She felt like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden.

This is not an exaggeration at all. Although the living room is small, it can fully reflect the owner's aesthetic taste, financial resources, and even cultural style.

First of all, the winter in Beijing is really cold.

However, the room was heated and it was very warm, without any smell of coal stove smoke.

There were actually fresh flowers in the room, in addition to a few pots of daffodils, which were quite common in homes in Beijing.

On the flower tables in several corners of the house, there are actually green leaves and fragrant flowers, as well as colorful Daphne odora.

It's so comfortable to enter this room.

The warm air hits my face and body, mixed with the rich fragrance of flowers, penetrating into my collar and sleeves, refreshing my heart.

Secondly, the whole house has a solemn style, with flower tiles all over the floor, clean windows and bright desks, and exquisite furniture.

More than a dozen armchairs were arranged in two groups against the two long walls in the room, separated by an eight-immortals table.

There is also a dedicated waiter in the room who is responsible for pouring tea and water for the guests and clearing away debris and garbage.

This kind of style is not something that ordinary people can usually experience.

That’s not all, even the hospitality provided for the guests was extremely thoughtful.

In addition to the four necessary tea bowls, each eight-immortal table also has five trays.

There were not only steamed buns, fruits, and candied melons, but also cigarettes and a variety of mixed dishes.

The cigarettes are domestically produced Mudan and American Marlboro.

The so-called mixed snacks are snacks that are a mixture of dried fruits and tea snacks.

In the past, when there were no Western candies, this thing was the most popular New Year's food among children and women.

The new year should be full of joy, and the colors of mixed dishes highlight this.

The red ones are hawthorn cake and red dates, the green ones are green plums and melon strips, the golden ones are smiling faces and oily dates, and the pink ones are peach preserves and walnut dip.

In addition, there are black melon seeds, white melon seeds, large and small peanut kernels, dried peaches, dried pears, dried apricots, raisins, dried apples, Cunjin soup, rice flower candy, peanut dip, peas, beans, broad beans, crabapple slices, black dates, dried persimmons, small sour dates...

As adults say, you can’t be picky when eating this thing. Just grab a handful and it will taste fragrant, sweet and crispy, and you’ll occasionally get a sense of surprise from an unexpected gain.

So think about what it's like to be in this room.

Even Yao Lihua and six or seven other representatives from several handicraft factories who came to pay New Year's greetings felt a little restrained sitting on their chairs.

Not to mention having a casual conversation, it's impossible to take the things on the table and enjoy them.

Most of them felt short of breath and even their breathing became rapid.

Only someone like Manager Sha, who frequently goes to foreign-related places and attends banquets, could take it lightly.

He drank the tea and ate the mixed food without paying attention to the people around him. (End of this chapter)