Chapter 10: We're Going Roller Skating, Will You Join Us?

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The other drunken men quickly regained their senses, but Liang Jiyong kicked one approaching him with a powerful blow. That kick sent the 160-pound man flying over two meters, only stopping when he collided with his companions. Liang Jiyong reached out and grabbed a nearby buzz-cut man, who looked sturdy and was probably the toughest among them.

However, Liang’s hand passed through the man’s arm and clamped onto his neck. With a forceful push, he pinned the man against the wall. The buzz-cut let out a muffled chuckle but couldn’t speak. In under twenty seconds, Liang had efficiently taken down three men. The others, who had been charging forward, abruptly halted.

“You brat, let go or you’re dead meat!” shouted a young man with long hair, who fancied himself artistic, pointing at Liang.

“Deserve a beating!” Liang retorted, staring at the long-haired youth.

Instinctively, the young man stepped back, clearly afraid Liang might attack him next.

“Coward!” Liang sneered, then released his grip on the nearly suffocated buzz-cut man.

“Get lost. Don’t go acting like a hooligan after downing some cheap liquor!” Liang added.

The buzz-cut panted heavily and glared fiercely at Liang. “This isn’t over!”

With that, the man stormed off. Liang dismissed it with disdain. The others, seeing their comrade leave, helped their fallen companions and fled in disarray.

Inside the restroom, Di Yutong peeked out and, seeing the group gone, pulled Su Wanqing out as well.

Nearby, Zhang Ning looked on, somewhat stunned.

He had been beaten by Liang Jiyong three times before, but now he sensed Liang’s combat prowess was far superior—much stronger than before. Otherwise, even gathering five men, he wouldn’t have managed to injure Liang.

Liang’s body was unchanged, but years of military training had sharpened his awareness, reflexes, and combat experience immensely. These useless brawlers were no match, whether seven, eight, or a dozen.

Among that group, only the buzz-cut man had some skill, but Liang’s preemptive move had clearly made him realize he stood no chance, so he fled.

Liang guessed that man was either a soldier or had military training, likely linked to law enforcement.

Still, Liang wasn’t worried. Local police wouldn’t come to Red Flag Factory over such a minor incident.

The factory and surrounding area were relatively autonomous, with their own police bureau. Unless it was a major criminal case, local police wouldn’t arbitrarily arrest factory workers.

“Are you both alright?” Liang asked. Neither appeared injured, which was a relief.

“I’m fine. One guy pretended to be drunk to take advantage of me, but I put him out with a kick. Seeing they were many, I pulled Wanqing to the women’s restroom,” Su Wanqing explained.

“Alright, let’s inform Uncle Su; we should head back!” Liang said.

“What time is it now? Not even eight yet. Since we’re in Yunzhou, how about we go dancing?” Di Yutong suggested. She loved dancing but usually only went when Liang was there to protect her from harassment.

Liang frowned slightly. He used to enjoy dancing but now had little interest.

“Forget it. I’m a bit scared now,” Su Wanqing said. After last night’s fight in the dance hall and now this one, she felt like a trouble magnet.

Though it wasn’t their fault but those ill-mannered men’s, she didn’t want any more fights.

“Fine, you made the call. I can’t argue,” Di Yutong said resignedly, knowing Liang would side with Su Wanqing.

“Security in Yunzhou isn’t great nowadays. Better to avoid dance halls. Ask Uncle Su when he’s leaving. There’s a roller skating rink nearby; we can go there instead!”

“Great!” Di Yutong quickly agreed. Dancing or skating made no difference; she just wanted to spend time with Liang.

Su Wanqing nodded and headed to the front desk to call her father, hoping to avoid seeing his guests.

Zhang Ning stepped back and whispered to Liang, “The guy you grabbed by the neck just now is Chai Lin, nephew of the deputy director of Yunzhou’s bureau. He’s quite vindictive, so be careful.”

“Thanks. We’re heading to skate. Want to come?” Liang asked.

Hesitating briefly, Zhang Ning nodded. Since Liang seemed to have no hidden agenda against him, he was willing to hang out with the two beauties.

After dinner, Su Kui had other plans. Since he had been drinking, he let Liang drive the car and likely wouldn’t return home tonight, so Liang was to escort Su Wanqing back.

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Liang Jiyong was already an experienced driver and had even served as Su Kui’s driver a few times.

Su Kui was the deputy factory director and technically should have a full-time chauffeur, but he preferred to drive himself, occasionally pulling drivers from the team as needed.

Liang drove, Zhang Ning rode shotgun, and Su Wanqing and Di Yutong sat in the back.

Less than five minutes later, they arrived at the roller rink. Though it was already eight o’clock, the place was bustling, the prime time.

Most customers were under twenty; over twenty, people preferred dancing to skating.

Although Liang was accompanied by two beauties, his notorious reputation kept any troublemakers at bay.

Inside, Su Wanqing and Di Yutong skated close to Liang, while Zhang Ning, feeling frustrated, soon spotted a junior schoolmate and gave up trying to get near Su Wanqing, instead pursuing her.

After more than an hour, nearing ten, Liang left, dropping Zhang Ning and the schoolmate off before driving out of Yunzhou back to Red Flag Factory.

Su Wanqing and Di Yutong were exhausted, leaning against the back seat, asleep. Liang drove steadily back.

In this era, an Audi was a luxury car. The top leaders of the city government enjoyed Crowns, but Audis were standard for deputy department-level officials in Yunzhou.

This Audi 100 cost about 350,000 yuan. Red Flag Factory owned six, all purchased four or five years ago. Over the past three years, the factory’s fortunes seemed to worsen, as tonight’s dinner hosted by Su Kui hinted.

Ten years ago, Red Flag Factory was prestigious. Su Kui, a deputy director, was even more influential than a deputy mayor in Yunzhou.

The commerce bureau director, a regular official, had to cater to Su Kui’s mood when inviting him to dinner.

Now, the tables had turned: Su Kui, a deputy department-level official, was inviting a regular director. Thirty years can change everything.

Perhaps not thirty years—three years from now, Red Flag Factory’s glory would fade, much like the present state of Red Star Factory or the National Cotton Mill.

Though Liang foresaw the factory’s fate, he was powerless to change it.

He wasn’t alone in this insight, but the factory would decline step by step.

Beyond the broader environment, the most critical factor was the deeply entangled interests. No one dared touch the powder keg, lest it explode in their own hands.

Sighing, the car slowly entered the factory’s residential area.

Su Wanqing’s home was in Courtyard One, where factory leaders lived—deputy department-level and above—all in standalone two-story villas.

These houses were originally built for Soviet experts assisting the factory’s construction. After they left, the leaders occupied them.

Workers resented this but could only grumble silently. Equality was an illusion; survival of the fittest was the law.

Stopping in front of Building Nine, Liang turned back to wake the two beauties, but froze momentarily.

Su Wanqing was fine, leaning against the seat with her mouth slightly open—a delicate fairy, even drooling in sleep.

Di Yutong wore a long skirt and a sky-blue mid-sleeve blouse with lace. Unbeknownst to Liang, two buttons at her collar had come undone, revealing the ample curves of her bosom.

Though Liang had decades of experience and countless women in memory, those were past lives—half-real, half-illusion.

Now, his body was still nineteen, full of youthful vigor and innocence like a blank page.

He found his eyes unwilling to look away, a mischievous fire rising within.

Reason pulled his head back. Taking deep breaths, he forced himself to speak seriously: “We’re here. Time to get up!”

“Ugh...” Di Yutong yawned, and Su Wanqing opened her eyes.

“Ah...” Su Wanqing exclaimed.

Liang quickly turned around.

Su Wanqing reached out one hand to shield his eyes, the other to cover Di Yutong’s chest.

Liang had already seen everything, but hearing Su Wanqing say, “Don’t look or groping!” he immediately looked away.

Di Yutong was unfazed, finishing her yawn. “Don’t be so dramatic. We went swimming together; it’s not like we haven’t seen this before!”

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“That’s... not the same! You’re unbelievable...” Su Wanqing said, exasperated.

“Wanqing, go open the door. I’ll park the car. You both should get some rest,” Liang said.

“Okay!”

Su Wanqing got out and opened the door; Liang drove inside.

Only Su Wanqing and her father lived at home, as her mother and Su Kui had separated years ago.

They never divorced, but it was essentially over.

Rumors abounded. Liang heard that once Su Kui was caught cheating in bed, and Su Wanqing’s mother quietly left the factory.

Some said she went to Pingzhou; others, to another province. Liang hadn’t seen her in over three years—the woman he considered flawless.

He found it baffling that Su Kui, with such a perfect wife at home, could still seek other women.

He had seen the so-called Black Peony from the radio station—somewhat pretty, but nothing special. Maybe she was just more provocative-looking.

Perhaps Su Kui had grown tired of delicacies and wanted something wild?

Liang couldn’t understand Su Kui’s mindset, but such scandals were common.

“I’ll stay overnight with Wanqing. Jiyong, wait—I need to get some things from home. Please accompany me; I’m afraid of the dark,” Di Yutong said. Liang nodded.

Her home was also in Courtyard One. Her grandmother had once been the wife of a Soviet expert, though they apparently never officially married. These experts often stayed in China for a decade and had unofficial relationships for practical reasons.

When the experts left, Di Yutong’s father was just ten years old.

The Red Flag Factory was built in the 1960s, staffed by workers with deep roots, but the environment was complicated.

Especially for the wives and children left behind by the Soviet experts.

Ultimately, they survived thanks in large part to Liang’s father, Liang Dahong.

In that era, no one dared speak up for them for fear of repercussions.

But Liang’s father, a battle hero from the Korean War, wounded in the Sino-Indian conflict, and multiple-year labor model, had exceptional influence.

Thanks to his righteous words, Di Yutong’s grandmother and father survived and eventually lived with a widowed comrade.

Her father recovered, becoming a technical expert and one of the first university students after the resumption of college entrance exams.

By then, Di Yutong was already quite grown.

Today, her father was the chief engineer at Red Flag Factory, equal in rank to the deputy director.

This history explained Di Yutong’s warmth toward Liang, rooted in the teachings of their elders.

Though tired and sweaty after returning home, Su Wanqing went to shower after Liang and Di Yutong left.

Walking side by side, Di Yutong’s claim of fearing the dark was clearly a pretext. The streetlights were dim but not dark.

And the residential area was always safe.

Her request for Liang to accompany her was simply an excuse to spend more time alone together.

“Are you really going to take the university entrance exam?” Di Yutong asked again.

“Absolutely. More real than pure gold!” Liang replied confidently.

“But I feel like I’m dreaming. Your changes are too big!” Di Yutong said, turning to look at him.

Liang smiled slightly and nodded. “I feel like I’m dreaming, too. Let’s wait and see.”