Chapter 86: Farewell to the Blue-Collar Life

Burton’s Western Restaurant was the best in town, and after tasting the oysters on his plate, Ning Kong understood that the reason for the lack of customers wasn’t the chef’s skill, but rather the steep prices and the fact that the cuisine didn’t suit most local palates.

The surroundings were elegant and tranquil, and the gentle strains of a serenade left Ning Kong feeling relaxed and at peace. Glancing at the three women seated with him, each beautiful and charming in her own way, he was overcome by a deep, irrepressible sense of happiness and contentment.

Lu Jing set down her knife and spoke softly to Ning Kong. “Xiao Ning, we’ve talked it over and think you should take a break. You’ve been working non-stop for over seven months now, and it weighs on us. Take some time to rest, will you?”

Ning Kong hadn’t expected Lu Jing to say this. He glanced at Mengmeng and Yi Zheng and quickly understood their intent. “It’s fine. I’ll just cut down on my workload in the future. I’m a man, after all—I can’t just eat and drink for free, can I, Mengmeng?”

“Don’t give me that!”

Ning Kong had always found Mengmeng the hardest to handle. Hoping to win her over, he added the question, but Mengmeng was having none of it. She glared at him, her almond eyes fierce. “I’ve heard from Jing and Yi that you’re stingy. You get the top salary at the factory but never spend a penny. In these seven months, you must have saved at least thirty or forty thousand with your salary and bonuses. Will a few days off really starve you?”

Yi Zheng chimed in. “I think you should take some time off. Everything’s running smoothly at the factory now, and everyone would understand. How about this: take three months off, keep your full salary, and come back when you’re ready. Also, you should spend some time with Jing and help her find something to keep her occupied. She shouldn’t be like me, cooped up at home doing nothing.”

Ning Kong heard the deep note of melancholy in Yi Zheng’s words, and he felt grateful for her concern, even as he pitied her.

Seeing the concern in each of their eyes, Ning Kong thought for a moment and nodded. “All right, I’ll take a break. Yi Jie, I know you’re not much involved with the factory these days, and the new manager and accountant are doing a good job. Me stepping back will probably help them take charge, so the workers won’t always come to me for every little thing. Didn’t Jing just buy a computer? I hear there’s this new thing called the internet—maybe I’ll spend some time online and see if I can learn something new.”

“You’re leaving the factory?” Yi Zheng was surprised, just like Lu Jing and Mengmeng. “What will you do after that?”

Ning Kong replied earnestly, “With my strength, there’s nothing I can’t do. Even if I ever run out of options, I won’t starve. Worst case, I can always haul cargo at the docks, and if things get really bad, I can sell strength pills at the market—a secret family recipe!”

The three women burst out laughing at this, not expecting him to joke about selling fake medicine. Mengmeng covered her mouth, giggling. “Sure! There’s a small market near my school full of people selling that stuff. I’ll come shout with you after work.”

When the laughter subsided, Yi Zheng grew serious. “Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t try to change it. I know that whatever you do, you’ll excel. Tomorrow I’ll call the factory manager and have him give you a year-end bonus—don’t interrupt! Just hear me out. Everything you’ve done is plain for all to see; you deserve a bonus. Besides, even though I don’t manage much at the factory, I don’t want the workers to feel abandoned after you leave. So don’t argue.”

“No way! I’ve only worked there seven months; giving me a full year’s bonus would be a problem. First, what would management think? Second, what about the workers—would they take it as a precedent? Money matters, but how you use it matters more. I don’t want to cause trouble for you or for future management. If you’re really going to give me something, just make it three months’ salary, like the standard severance at private companies. That’s plenty. My monthly pay is forty-five hundred, so three months is thirteen thousand five hundred—enough for me to be lazy for a year.”

Hearing this, Lu Jing and Mengmeng agreed that Ning Kong’s suggestion was more appropriate than Yi Zheng’s.

Yi Zheng, however, perceived a deeper meaning in his words: that he didn’t want to create any issues in her relationship with Fang Xiong. Though Fang Xiong was wealthy and wouldn’t care about the money, he certainly cared where his wife’s loyalties lay.

Yi Zheng looked at Ning Kong with gratitude, her eyes growing moist, but she quickly lifted her head and smiled. “Fine! I’m glad to save the money. It’s settled, then. So, when are you planning to leave?”

Ning Kong realized he’d have to find a place to park his Beijing Jeep. Parking at Lu Jing’s apartment complex was fine on occasion, but not too often. Besides, he’d need to get some fake papers for the car tomorrow. All that would take at least three days.

He replied, “The day after tomorrow. There’s not much to pack in my dorm, just a few clothes. I need to say goodbye to Master Li and a few others, and I still have next month’s parts procurement list to go over with the new manager and accountant so there’s no confusion.”

With everything decided, the mood lightened. Before leaving the restaurant, they agreed to hit a bar together, but Yi Zheng had to take a call from her mother and reluctantly bid them farewell. Lu Jing asked Ning Kong to bring the car around, and after dropping Yi Zheng off at her mother’s, the three of them returned to Lu Jing’s apartment, laughing all the way.

Back home, the two women took turns showering while Ning Kong sat at the computer, browsing the news and checking the website of the medical college where he once worked, moving about the internet with practiced ease. After entering a string of usernames and passwords, the familiar interface of the medical forum appeared before him.

Seeing his old colleagues chatting and leaving messages on the forum, Ning Kong felt a surge of emotion and his eyes grew damp. Saddened, he shut off the computer and went to the living room to quietly sip tea. Almost unconsciously, his right hand picked up the remote and switched to Guangxi Satellite TV, where the credits for “Focus” were just scrolling by.

Mengmeng, fresh from her shower and fragrant, curled up on the sofa beside him and wrapped her arms around his neck, closing her lovely eyes. Ning Kong kissed her tempting lips and helped her settle beside him, the two holding hands and whispering about how much they’d missed each other, both yearning for a deeper intimacy.

Lu Jing, cheeks aglow, came to sit at Ning Kong’s right. He could wait no longer; as soon as Lu Jing had a sip of water and caught her breath, he wrapped his arms around both women and led them into the bedroom.

That night, Ning Kong was wild, as if intoxicated by some potent elixir, tireless in his passion until Lu Jing and Mengmeng begged for mercy again and again.

After the storm, all was quiet. Lu Jing, exhausted, lifted her head and glanced at the sleeping Mengmeng. She nestled into Ning Kong’s arm, stroked his face, and asked contentedly, “You’ve worn Mengmeng out tonight. Xiao Ning, why are you so excited today?”

Ning Kong smiled. “Today, I said farewell to blue-collar life. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be living the easy life, waited on hand and foot. Isn’t that worth getting excited about?”

“Pfft! You’re incorrigible.”

Lu Jing didn’t believe his excuse, and playfully punched his chest, only for Ning Kong to roll over and press her beneath him once more. Amidst sweet kisses and magical caresses, the lovely Lu Jing soon surrendered again…