133: Chapter 133 West Coal Yard Area

5:30 AM.

Lin Ning, looking disheveled and unkempt, crouched in front of the stove, raking out ashes and starting a fire.

His mother stood behind him, watching him like a hawk.

With hands covered in coal dust, Lin Ning raised his arm to rub his unbearably itchy face, filled with regret.

He had been wrong, terribly wrong! He should have agreed to his niece's request to stay and sleep with her last night instead of following his mother back to the rented house.

If he hadn't returned to this small bungalow courtyard, he wouldn't have been woken up from his sleep, wouldn't be crouching here starting a fire in long johns that had lost their elasticity years ago, wouldn't be getting scolded for raising dust while raking ashes, wouldn't be scolded for using too much or too little coal, and wouldn't be getting kicked for failing to get the fire going...

"Get lost! You useless thing!" Wang Hui kicked Lin Ning in the backside, shooing him away.

Lin Ning was shoved aside, and just as he was about to defend himself, his mother had already lit the fire.

He stood there blankly, unable to figure it out. "I lit it the same way just now!"

"Move! Why are you standing there like a post? Are you waiting for me to wash your face for you?" Wang Hui stood up, set the iron pot on the stove, and turned to see Lin Ning still standing there, her eyebrows arching in anger.

Feeling aggrieved, Lin Ning turned and left.

After washing off the stubborn coal dust and putting on his clothes, Lin Ning walked with a bitter face toward the dry toilet a hundred meters away—that was another ordeal.

He retched as he escaped, with only one thought in his mind—buy a house! Buy it today, move in today!! He meant it; even if God came down, it wouldn't change his mind!

Walking to the open space in front of their row of houses where he parked his car, he saw Wang Hui chatting with a few old men and women.

From afar, he could hear his mother's booming voice—

"Hahaha... It was only 150,000. It's just for his sister to get around in. I picked one that's spacious and easy to drive..."

"I bought it directly in his sister's name. I'm sending my son-in-law to get it registered today..."

"..."

Lin Ning paused for a moment, then walked over quickly, trying to stand tall and look energetic.

"Mom!" Lin Ning said with a clean, bright smile. "Hello, Auntie! Hello, Uncle!"

Wang Hui looked at her son's performance with satisfaction.

The old men and women laughed heartily. "You can't call us Auntie and Uncle; you have to call us Grandpa and Grandma."

As a showpiece, Lin Ning was obediently paraded around by Wang Hui to be shown off before they dispersed to go home and eat.

After breakfast, Wang Hui went to Lin Jing's house to see the child, and Lin Ning followed her out; he had quite a lot to do today.

When they arrived at Lin Jing's house, the couple had already finished eating and tidied up, while Weiwei was still in the room, sleeping with her little bottom stuck up in the air.

Lin Jing was surprised to see her brother. "Up so early? Didn't you sleep in?"

Lin Ning pursed his lips and glanced sideways at Wang Hui.

Lin Jing realized what happened and said to Wang Hui with concern, "He drove all day yesterday. Since he's back home, you should let him get some good rest."

Wang Hui rolled her eyes. "He's stupid as a rock, can't even light a stove. If he doesn't get diligent, he'll be completely useless and won't even be able to find a wife."

Lin Jing was displeased. "He moved into an apartment when he was seven; he's never had to light a stove. Besides, Lin Ning can make money, so why wouldn't he be able to find a wife? I'll find a few girls for him to meet in the next couple of days."

Lin Ning had been touched by his sister standing up for him, but upon hearing about a blind date, he quickly waved his hands. "I have a girlfriend."

Lin Jing frowned. "Didn't you break up? Are you getting back together with your ex?"

Wang Hui also frowned as she looked at him.

Lin Ning shook his head repeatedly. "No. I just started seeing someone..."

"You didn't say that last night!!" the mother and daughter scolded Lin Ning in unison.

"I..." Lin Ning's spirit was crushed, and he felt like a punching bag; he wanted to cry.

To think that he was like a little devil causing trouble for others outside, yet back here, he was like a spineless coward? Was the timing of his return yesterday just wrong?!

Wu Qingshan silently stepped forward to help his brother-in-law out of the situation. "It's time for work. If we don't leave now, we'll be late."

Lin Ning didn't dare stay at home and offered to drive Lin Jing and his brother-in-law to work.

He felt that his mother found him annoying, though logically that shouldn't be the case; usually, that didn't start until the second week, right? This time, he was already enjoying the treatment he usually got when leaving home to return to Beijing on the very first day.

While driving, Lin Ning complained about this morning's assault.

"Mom is going through menopause," Lin Jing said softly.

Lin Ning was stunned for a moment. His mother was only 49; how could she be in menopause? With today's living standards, his classmates' mothers didn't hit menopause until they were 54 or 55.

Lin Jing glanced at Lin Ning and lowered her head. "After Dad ran off, plus everything with you, she started having nights where she couldn't sleep and suffered from night sweats. I took her to the hospital, and the doctor said it was menopause."

Lin Ning's throat tightened, heat rushed to his eyes, and he pressed his lips together.

The car went silent. Less than five minutes later, they arrived at the guesthouse where Lin Jing worked and dropped her off.

Lin Jing looked gently at her brother's cold, stern face and comforted him softly, "It's okay now. Everything is fine."

Lin Ning's throat was tight, and he couldn't speak, so he just gave an "Hmm" in response.

The car started again, and they drove in silence until they dropped Wu Qingshan off at the coal yard.

Lin Ning got out of the car with his brother-in-law and stood in front of the coal yard's central building, looking around.

The area here outside the town, including the rest station, coal yard, and storage facilities, was even larger than the town itself, especially the coal yard.

Coal coming in from Mongolia or Russia was usually sorted and reloaded here before being transported out.

Therefore, this place basically operated twenty-four hours a day without stopping. Even at this time, not yet seven o'clock, the workers and drivers were bustling with activity.

Outside the town was a man's world.

Burly men were either hammering away under vehicles or leaning against cabs shouting. Shanxi dialects, Mongolian, and Russian, mixed with broken English words, collided amidst the smell of diesel and coal dust.

In Lin Ning's eyes, this only added a savage and rugged color to the scene. Although most of it was a light red, the occasional dark red hue seemed to tighten one's nerves, sounding a shrill alarm.

It reminded Lin Ning that this was his hometown, but it was also the border, and even the wind carried a roughness.

"Don't stay around here. Hurry back to town!" Wu Qingshan patted Lin Ning on the shoulder, offering silent comfort while giving a verbal warning.

Lin Ning wanted to say it wasn't necessary in broad daylight, and that he wasn't a child anymore, but he simply replied with a "Good."

"What time should I come to pick you up to go to the vehicle management office?"

"Four in the afternoon."

Lin Ning made an OK gesture.

He drove his car and specifically took a detour to circle around the west yard.

He narrowed his eyes.

Everywhere else, there were only one or two scattered dark red hues, but here—not only were there many, but these dark red hues were all gathered together.

Not far from those two groups of people, someone with a red so deep it was almost black was smoking, their eyes scanning the surroundings restlessly. The moment Lin Ning approached, their gaze shot over.

Lin Ning's radar instantly "went off"—that sensory perception of vigilance, observation, and ruthlessness.

It was more obvious and cruder than a spy's lookout, but it was definitely a warning.

Lin Ning remained calm and kept driving at the same speed, leaving directly.

The import and export cargo gathering area outside was becoming more crowded, but to Lin Ning, it felt exceptionally "gentle."