…
Knowing the location of Ning Zhongyi’s hidden treasure, Ning You naturally wouldn’t let it go.
Early the next morning, during working hours, she arrived at the place where Ning Zhongyi kept his stash.
This courtyard had a bad reputation.
There were no residents nearby, like a haunted house drifting outside the city.
Ning You took a running start and easily vaulted over the wall, entering the so-called haunted courtyard.
The moment her feet landed inside, she was startled by a blood-stained red silk cloth hanging from the camphor tree, fluttering wildly in the wind.
“Damn it, they really love acting like ghosts!”
It was already creepy in broad daylight—how much worse would it be at night?
Ning You looked around. The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and the house looked like it was about to collapse.
The yard wasn’t big, only three rooms.
She first entered the room directly facing the gate.
It was empty—nothing usable inside.
A rat crawled by in a sneaky manner, skinny and pitiful, a truly impoverished mouse.
Ning You knew that Ning Zhongyi, that deep and cunning old fox, wouldn’t hide things in obvious places. She started tapping and knocking around, looking for any hidden compartments.
After searching, she found nothing in any of the rooms.
“Could it be underground?” Ning You stroked her chin in thought.
Her eyes shifted as she scanned the courtyard and finally landed under the camphor tree.
The grass there looked off.
With that thought, she walked over.
Meanwhile.
Ning Zhongyi still hadn’t given up.
In his view, with his ability and experience, becoming a project leader should have been a sure thing. There was no way he wouldn’t even get into the team.
Since he had been excluded, there must be someone sabotaging him.
So Ning Zhongyi went to the factory leadership.
“Deputy Factory Director Zhao…”
Before he could finish speaking, Deputy Director Zhao lightly patted his shoulder and interrupted him.
“I know why you’re here. No need to say more. This matter… has already been decided by the factory. I can’t do anything about it.”
Seeing that Zhao had no room for negotiation, Ning Zhongyi’s heart sank.
He changed the subject.
“I understand. I won’t make things difficult for you, Deputy Director Zhao. I just want to know—why is it Chu Tianqing?”
Deputy Director Zhao seemed slightly surprised by the question and paused.
“Chu Tianqing has high political awareness and strong capability. He is fully qualified to be the project leader.”
Before Ning Zhongyi could respond, his gaze deepened.
“Most importantly—he has backing!”
Backed by the military district. How powerful is that?!
Who doesn’t know how important this project is?
Everyone is fighting for it!
Those who didn’t get it simply weren’t skilled enough.
Thinking of Ning Zhongyi’s poor reputation, Zhao gave him a subtle reminder.
“Old Ning, external issues must be handled after internal stability. I know you’re busy with work, but you should also pay attention to things at home.”
Boom—
Those words struck like thunder in his ears.
Ning Zhongyi widened his eyes in disbelief.
“Just because of that?”
Internal stability?
Memories flashed through his mind. Aside from the chaos caused by Ning You, nothing else seemed significant enough to match Zhao’s words.
But because of that—just because of that—he lost the chance to join the project?!
Deputy Director Zhao shook his head helplessly.
“That alone outweighs many other reasons. I don’t believe you truly didn’t know.”
Ning Zhongyi fell silent.
He was furious to the point of vomiting blood.
He lost such a rare opportunity just because Ning You caused trouble?
Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous!
Zhao then added casually, “It seems the leadership team visited the old factory director a few days ago. You couldn’t not know about that, right?”
Ning Zhongyi: “…”
He really didn’t know.
Seeing his confused expression, Zhao was speechless.
You didn’t even know something that big?
After thinking it over, he figured that although they were comrades, they were also competitors. No one bothered to inform him, which was understandable.
“Forget it, it’s in the past now,” Zhao said, waving his hand.
Then he comforted him.
“The list for the red infrared project team has already been posted. It’s finalized. Don’t dwell on it.”
“If this one doesn’t work out, there will be others. The country is developing rapidly and needs talent everywhere. As long as you have ability, there will always be a stage for you.”
Logically, Ning Zhongyi understood all of this.
But he was still burning with rage.
He had worked so hard for years, and now he was told to wait again—how could he accept it?
However, being extremely scheming, he did not show his dissatisfaction.
Instead, he gave a bitter smile.
“I understand.”
Zhao nodded in relief.
“Good. Opportunities will come. I have a meeting to attend, let’s talk another time.”
“Alright, thank you for your time today.”
After leaving the office, the smile on Ning Zhongyi’s face vanished, replaced by a dark, shadowed expression.
He hadn’t expected that he would actually be dragged down by that cowardly, useless daughter of his…
Especially when he thought about how he had been tricked out of a pile of big denomination bills yesterday—his eyes turned blood-red.
“Heh…” Ning Zhongyi suddenly laughed.
That laugh was cold and sinister, extremely unsettling.
Ning You, meanwhile, still had no idea her scummy father had learned the truth and now hated her to the core.
At that moment, she had finally found the treasure.
As mentioned earlier, she had noticed something strange under the camphor tree. When she got closer, she discovered that the top layer of soil was loose and fresh, as if it had been dug up recently.
Ning You’s eyes lit up. She pulled out tools she had prepared from her spatial storage and started digging enthusiastically.
She removed the soil and weeds.
Soon, a large wooden board appeared underneath.
There was a pull ring on it.
Ning You bent down and pulled.
Click!
It opened!
Revealing a small cellar-like space.
It was damp and dark, somewhat eerie from the outside.
Worried about lack of oxygen, Ning You didn’t rush down. She aired it out for a while and lowered a candle inside.
After confirming it was safe, she took out a bright flashlight and carefully climbed down.
The moment her feet touched the ground, she was almost blinded.
In the not-so-large cellar were several boxes. When opened, they were filled with jewelry, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and gold bars.
The quantity far exceeded her expectations.
It seemed that over the years, that scummy father had been secretly collecting valuables.
Honestly, as trashy as he was, he did have a sharp mind.
With these things, he could live extravagantly for a lifetime.
Too bad—now it was all hers!!!
Next, Ning You stored everything from the cellar into her space.
Of course, she kindly left the empty boxes behind.
She was sure her dear scummy father would be very “comforted.”
After clearing everything, she closed the cellar, filled in the soil, and restored the grass—leaving everything perfectly unchanged.
Still uneasy, she walked around the courtyard again carefully.
Then she dug up another box in the corner filled with big denomination bills.
After restoring everything again, Ning You clapped her hands in satisfaction and left.
“Dandan, sister has built you a kingdom. You can just lie down and win now!”
After emptying Ning Zhongyi’s hidden treasures, Ning You’s next plan could begin.
She went straight to find Chu Tianqing.