novelslam Chapter 1441 A good match
Chapter 1441 A good match
Chapter 1441 A good match
"During my return to Beijing, Comrade Zongfang took over the work at the metallurgical plant."
At the last factory office meeting in August, Li Xuewu said a few more words before the meeting ended.
"If there is important work, you can contact me by phone or by confidential telegram."
He tidied up his notes, nodded, and said, "I ask that you all work together as one in the days to come. Thank you."
"I also wish the Secretary-General a safe journey and many good news, hehehe."
Chief Engineer Wang Zhijun made a joke, then looked at Executive Deputy Factory Director Yang Zongfang and said, "Now it's up to Comrade Zongfang."
Yang Zongfang glanced at him, then turned to Li Xuewu and asked, "Haven't you decided how many days you'll be back?"
The team members, who were tidying up documents in preparation for the next meeting, slowed down their work and listened intently to the list.
"The family matters may take two days, and there are three meetings at the group, so the timing is uncertain."
Li Xuewu didn't try to be mysterious and explained frankly: "The three meetings were about Shenyang Aircraft Corporation's second round of negotiations and the construction of the International Hotel."
"There's also an economic work conference for the second half of this year, which happens to coincide with this time."
He stood up, carrying his notebook and thermos, and walked outside with Yang Zongfang, who had also stood up. As they walked, he said, "At least a week."
"It takes so long?"
Yang Zongfang frowned slightly and asked, "What about the Industrial Leading Group?"
Since Li Xuewu said at least a week, it's very likely that it will be ten days to half a month.
He understands the procedures and nature of this kind of meeting; it's impossible to finish discussing everything in one go.
Li Xuewu only mentioned the theme of the meeting, without mentioning the topics discussed.
If discussions and research are conducted, and the opinions of the expert panel are heard, a week is definitely not enough time.
"Just do what needs to be done."
Li Xuewu glanced at him and said, "You guys stop working even though I'm not home?"
"No, it's just that I'm worried about not being able to contact you in case of an emergency."
Yang Zongfang offered an explanation, then added, "Zhang Enyuan is going back with you?"
"Yes, we're taking him back this time."
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "I'll have him contact you if there are any issues or comments."
"That would be best. I'm overwhelmed with organizational and personnel changes, organizational development, technological innovation, and the installation of new equipment. You need to get back as soon as possible."
This may not necessarily be Yang Zongfang expressing his grievances, but it certainly contains an element of showing loyalty.
If Li Xuewu had a different identity, if he were the head of a metallurgical plant with no other position, do you think Yang Zongfang would have taken the initiative to express his opinion in this way?
Under absolute power and pressure, any trickery is just a paper tiger, easily exposed.
The reason Li Xuewu dared to reorganize the organizational structure in Liaodong in a subtle yet decisive manner was because of his position as secretary-general.
Just now in the conference room, Li Xuewu simply handed over all the work of the metallurgical plant during his return to Beijing to Yang Zongfang in accordance with organizational procedures. Look at everyone's reaction, and how insidious Wang Zhijun's words were.
If a leader is unable to perform his duties for an extended period, the normal procedure would be for the executive vice president to take over the overall work.
Of course, Li Xuewu didn't go all over the country. In three to five years, he would only return to Beijing for half a month at most, so everyone was wary of him.
Yang Zongfang's takeover of all work was only temporary. Although he would have a brief opportunity to gain experience, he would eventually have to hand over the reins.
Therefore, Yang Zongfang had no intention of being arrogant, nor did he want to see the ugly faces of others.
Sure enough, he asked Li Xuewu a question and then followed him out of the conference room.
Along the way, he had to tell Li Xuewu about his concerns and his attitude towards his work.
During Li Xuewu's absence, while fulfilling his management responsibilities, he also had to bear corresponding obligations and risks, which cannot be left unsaid.
The reminder to Li Xuewu to come back soon is a single sentence with multiple layers of meaning, perfectly showcasing the maturity and wisdom of a workplace elite.
Some people asked, since Yang Zongfang possesses mature and wise qualities and can humble himself to obey Li Xuewu's leadership, what was his situation before?
As Lu Xun once said, "If the shoes are crooked, even if the feet are normal, you will still go astray; if the shoes are straight, but the feet are crooked, you will still go astray."
Yang Yuansong had shown him great kindness and promoted him, and he could not fail to express his gratitude.
Even if outsiders think he is overestimating himself and trying to break through a rock with an egg, he will still end up getting hurt.
You say he's naive, that he's not mature enough?
No, he was Yang Yuansong's man, yet he managed to hold such an important position as deputy director of the metallurgical plant for so many years without stepping down. Doesn't that show how Li Huaide viewed him?
Even if a loyal person is blindly loyal, it is still loyalty, and Li Huaide liked this kind of loyalty.
It's a pity that Yang Zongfang's loyalty was misplaced; otherwise, Old Li would never have treated him unfairly.
This also illustrates a principle: if you want to walk upright and honestly, you need to buy a good pair of shoes.
"Don't feel burdened, just do it boldly and confidently, what could possibly go wrong?"
Li Xuewu waved his hand with amusement and beckoned him to follow him into the office.
Yang Zongfang had gotten used to it; basically, after the factory's office meetings, Li Xuewu would invite him to sit in his office.
Even if there's nothing important to do, he'll still act like this.
What is this for?
It's very simple; it's helping him establish authority and deliberately showing trust and respect.
Yang Zongfang could feel all too well the rapid increase in prestige brought about by this trust and respect.
He had followed the wrong people and done the wrong things before, and was almost marginalized.
He was the deputy director of the factory management committee, but with Dong Wenxue and other leaders around, who would care about him?
But the situation is different now. Dong Wenxue had been at the metallurgical plant for three years without proposing the addition of an executive vice president, but Li Xuewu solved the problem in less than six months after arriving in Gangcheng.
After unexpectedly receiving this opportunity, he suddenly discovered that there were so many good people around him.
An executive vice president with the support of the secretary-general must possess immense prestige and influence.
His appointment as executive deputy naturally caused discontent among some people, regardless of whether they came first or later. On the surface, the metallurgical plant was calm during this period, and under Li Xuewu's absolute suppression, everyone performed their duties and cooperated happily.
But actually?
Even on a calm lake, there are undercurrents and ripples from time to time.
Without Li Xuewu's support, he didn't believe he could have broken through the encirclement.
So over time, he truly appreciated Li Xuewu's help and support.
Those earlier complaints have long since vanished.
Although he knew that Li Xuewu nominated him as executive vice president so that he would do more work and free up time for Li Xuewu to strategize.
The most discussed topic in the organization recently is when the Secretary-General will return to Beijing and, with the overwhelming momentum of Liaodong Industry, dominate the Group's Management Committee.
Currently, with various rules and regulations in place, the pressure on clerks in government offices is still quite high.
When under a lot of pressure, people tend to gossip, which is also a way of self-regulating to relieve stress.
Middle-aged people can come to terms with things and shift their focus to family and life, but young people yearn for a passionate youth, and even their conversations revolve around this kind of atmosphere.
The discussion was passionate enough, but lacked critical thinking; it wasn't something an average immature teenager couldn't come up with.
Think about it, carrying the prestige of Liaodong's industry, and even marching back to the capital... How naive.
However, their thinking is naive; it is true that Li Xuewu will return to Beijing with this kind of influence.
***
How old is your younger brother?
Yang Zongfang sat opposite Li Xuewu's desk and waved his hand in refusal of the cigarette pack.
Li Xuewu put down his cigarette pack and casually said, "He's twenty-two, a year younger than me."
“It’s normal for recent college graduates to be like this.” Yang Zongfang nodded and said, “They are at a good age and have a good starting point.”
"His personality is somewhat unconventional."
Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said with a smile, "I was afraid he would cause trouble, so a few years ago he went to work in the mountains with my dad for almost two years."
"Just to toughen up his character?"
Yang Zongfang was genuinely surprised that the Li family was so daring in their approach to education.
“It just so happened that we had this opportunity. We have a cooperative project with Dongcheng Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital on Chinese herbal medicine, so we sent him to my dad’s side.”
Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "I look a bit better now than before. I've been interning at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital for almost a year now."
"So you stayed at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital?"
Yang Zongfang looked at him and asked, "Were you worried about the impact if we didn't arrange for you to be at the United Hospital?"
"What impact am I afraid of—"
Li Xuewu laughed confidently and looked at him, saying, "If Li Xue can get in, what can't he do?"
“We didn’t send him to the United Hospital because the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital is a better fit, and my dad also takes care of him regularly.”
“He followed in his father’s footsteps.” Yang Zongfang suddenly remembered something and nodded, saying, “I had forgotten that your family is a family of doctors.”
"We're not exactly a family with a long history; we just have some skills passed down from our ancestors that we use to make a living."
Li Xuewu humbly said, "My dad is alright in internal medicine, but he can only do simple surgeries; he can't do anything too complicated."
"Your spouse is also a doctor, so your family can be considered a medical family."
Yang Zongfang joked with a smile, "With three doctors in one family, they can organize a consultation."
“My wife is a surgeon, now specializing in cardiology and neurology, which is the exact opposite of my father’s.”
Li Xuewu was just chatting casually, and the family matters he mentioned were things that everyone already knew.
“Some time ago, she also made arrangements to learn some traditional Chinese medicine internal medicine from my father, saying that it would also be very useful for surgical procedures.”
"Is your spouse a graduate student?"
Yang Zongfang knew quite a bit about Li Xuewu, and chimed in, "Including your elder brother and sister-in-law, plus you and your younger brother, I really didn't expect there to be so many highly educated people here."
"What kind of high-level intellectual talent am I?" Li Xuewu smiled modestly and said, "It's all thanks to my teacher's dedication and responsibility that he didn't abandon me, otherwise I would have really embarrassed myself."
"So what if you're a college student?"
Yang Zongfang said with considerable envy, "This level of education becomes more and more useful as you progress."
His envy was undisguised, as was his loneliness and worry.
Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at him, saying, "You also want to pursue further studies?"
"Me? Heh, forget it."
Yang Zongfang waved his hand and said with a wry smile, "I can handle reading work materials and documents, but I can't read professional books. I don't have the patience for that."
"Speaking of college students, I have to admit they are better than high school students."
He pointed to his finger earnestly and said, "Look at those college graduates who recently joined the office, including Zhou Peilan and others from the leading group office. They learn quickly and have excellent comprehension skills. As long as we focus on nurturing them, they will definitely succeed."
"We used to think that graduating from high school was a high level of education, enough for our government offices. But look what happened."
He clapped his hands lightly, shook his head, and said, "Comparing people is a recipe for disaster, comparing goods is a way to appreciate quality. Only through comparison can you see the difference."
"It's a pity. Our group has worked hard these past few years and recruited a lot of college graduates. Look at the other factories."
Yang Zongfang curled his lips and said, "Given the current uncertainty in university admissions, there will be a gap of at least 5 to 8 years in this technology and talent pool."
He said with regret, "The thought that no more such insightful talents will join the factory next year makes me feel..."
“I understand. This is also the original intention of the group to actively promote and build joint higher education.” Li Xuewu nodded slightly and said, “Which company has the courage of our group to allocate hundreds of thousands of yuan every year for medical and educational investment? We wouldn’t even dare to dream of it.”
"Yes, just for this point alone, we have to say that you group leaders are visionary."
Yang Zongfang nodded and said with great admiration, "I believe that many managers in enterprises, like myself, will feel regretful that no college graduates will be reporting for duty next year."
"But at least we still have hope." He smiled and said, "Although I don't know how the students trained by vocational colleges compare to the current college students, it's better to have something than nothing, right?"
"It's normal for you to have this kind of anxiety; there's no need to compare yourself to others."
Li Xuewu explained with a smile, "Deputy Director Gu selects talent from universities across the country, while we recruit students from eligible children in Dongcheng. It's different."
"Universities cultivate well-rounded talents who are proficient in both management and technology, while young people trained by vocational and technical colleges are expected to start from the front lines."
"I also need to remind you that the organizational restructuring of the metallurgical plant and the training of outstanding young cadres must keep pace."
He pointed to Yang Zongfang and emphasized, "We can lament the gap in university education, but we cannot ignore the talent cultivation and organizational development right before our eyes."
Yang Zongfang carefully wrote down his opinion, nodded and said, "I'll meet with Haiyang later to discuss it, and I'll report back to you when you return."
"Okay, let's do it this way."
Li Xuewu stood up, shook hands with him, and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
***
Why was Yang Zongfang chosen and promoted to be the executive deputy director of the metallurgical plant?
For the same reason, Li Xuewu could not hand over the metallurgical plant to anyone he did not trust.
So, did he trust Yang Zongfang?
How could that be? He would rather believe Dou Changfang than easily believe Yang Zongfang.
Dou Changfang's stupidity is superficial, and it's the kind of stupidity he tries his best to hide. He can be easily manipulated with a little cunning.
Yang Zongfang was not stupid; on the contrary, he was very intelligent, with his own ideals and way of thinking. Such a person would not easily submit to others.
Why use Yang Zongfang instead of Dou Changfang or someone else?
The position of executive vice president of the metallurgical plant is a pursuit and a goal for others, but it means nothing to Li Xuewu.
He can push Yang Zongfang to this position, and he can also bring him down.
The reason why he doesn't use someone like Dou Changfang is simple: he can't stand the stupidity of his teammates. He would rather fight with wolves than lead sheep to their deaths.
Compared to others, Yang Zongfang at least considered things carefully and wouldn't do anything foolish.
It is precisely because of the existence of fools that Yang Zongfang, the executive deputy factory director, has to walk on thin ice.
No one was thinking of taking Li Xuewu down and becoming the group's secretary-general themselves, because that was an impossible goal.
But many people were determined to remove Yang Zongfang from his post, and for them, becoming the executive vice president was not a particularly difficult step forward.
Yang Zongfang may seem to be doing well now, but in reality, he is surrounded by enemies who are all plotting to kill him. He has no choice but to follow Li Xuewu.
This was an open conspiracy, and Yang Zongfang himself was well aware of Li Xuewu's purpose in doing so.
But did he have a choice?
Does Li Xuewu's scheming against others give them a choice?
He's not a game designer, so how could he play a life simulation game with you, telling you which way to go and which way to go, or he'll kick you into a ditch if you're even one step off?
-
I really want to kick you into a ditch—
Li Xuewu glared at Bang Geng, looking at his bruised eyes, and asked, "Did I bring you to Steel City to teach you how to navigate the underworld?"
"How did you talk to your mother when she passed away a few days ago, and what did you agree to?"
"This is not my fault."
Banggeng stood in front of the sofa, looking quite aggrieved, and stubbornly said, "They recognize me as their elder brother, I can't just stand by and watch them die, can I?"
"Oh, you've become the eldest brother now? Well done, young master, you're even better than me!"
Li Xuewu looked at him with a mixture of amusement and exasperation and asked, "May I ask, young master, which gang do you belong to, and how many men do you have under your command?"
"I'm on the cement road."
Banggeng pursed his lips, stole a glance at Uncle Wu, and muttered, "They insisted on recognizing me, but I didn't."
"Then why did you stand up for them?" Li Xuewu asked him curiously, "With your mediocre skills, you dare to stand up for justice?"
"It's just a group fight, there's no need for kung fu, and besides, it won't make any difference."
Bang Geng's rebellious side came out; he even dared to argue back against Li Xuewu.
"Let's put aside whether I blame you or not for now." Li Xuewu looked at him and asked, "Tell me what you think first. Do you want to continue your current life or do you want to go into the underworld? I'll grant your wish either way."
"You envy those big shots on the docks who can command the wind and rain, right? Tomorrow I'll send you on a ship and make you a big shot."
He raised his chin, gesturing to Bang Geng, and said, "If you want to continue studying here, then you'd better go and apologize to them."
"He even hit me—"
Bang Geng pointed to his eyes and said, "If anyone's going to apologize, it has to be someone else."
"Okay, here's the gun."
Li Xuewu pulled out a pistol from his waistband and handed it to Banggeng, saying, "Go apologize to him later. If he doesn't apologize, shoot him dead."
"Go on, the bullet is loaded."
Seeing that Banggeng hesitated and dared not take it, he waved the pistol in his hand and urged, "If anything happens to you, I'll arrange for someone to collect your body. Don't worry."
"Actually, I didn't intend to do anything to him..." Bang Geng hesitated.
When Uncle Wu was talking about himself, he really felt wronged, and he felt resentful, so they had to apologize to each other to feel better.
He wanted nothing less than to kill the other person.
But when Uncle Wu handed him the pistol, he hesitated again.
Just because the young people on this street all call him "Big Brother," and just because someone bullied his underling, does he have to kill them?
Even if he hadn't read these books, let alone come to the steel city and read so many books, he would still know that what he was doing was wrong.
Besides, he's not stupid. Getting beaten up for standing up for someone is unjust enough; now he has to get shot for someone else too?
He didn't even remember what those kids' names were. If he died, people might not even cry, but his own mother would be devastated.
His life had just begun, and he really didn't think it was worth taking up a gun and fighting the other party.
"I'll go apologize to him right now."
Banggeng glanced timidly at Uncle Wu, whose face was full of seriousness, and then at Aunt Zhou standing on the stairs. Faced with two extreme options, he made a wise choice, turned around, and dashed out the door.
What if he actually takes your gun?
Zhou Yamei came down with her coffee cup, glanced at Bang Geng riding away on his bicycle, and then turned back to ask Li Xuewu a question.
"What do you mean, what to do?" Li Xuewu put away his pistol and said calmly, "If he dares to lay a finger on me, I can beat him to death."
It's one thing if the kid doesn't dare to take his gun, but if he really can't understand human language and takes his gun, then Li Xuewu wouldn't mind carrying out family discipline for Qin Huairu.
Such a child is unacceptable; just kick him away and get rid of him to avoid further trouble. Let him fend for himself.
"Zhidong told me that he carries a small knife on his waist, and it's very sharp."
Zhou Yamei walked to the sofa and sat down, then complained to Li Xuewu.
Li Xuewu, however, said dismissively, "Which boy didn't dream of wandering the world with a sword when he was young?"
“I know that dagger; He Yuzhu gave it to him for self-defense.”
"Aren't you afraid he'll use a knife?"
Zhou Yamei reminded him, "Children like this act without any scruples; they act impulsively and don't care about anything else."
"Don't worry, he doesn't have the guts." Li Xuewu shook his head and said, "Do you know what this is called? It's like carrying a dead rat on your belt and pretending to be a hunter."
“If he really had the ambition to make his way in the world, he wouldn’t have asked to come with me.”
He swayed his chin and said, "Many local thugs like to recruit teenagers like him, but he hasn't gone."
"Having a knife is good. At least you can make a move when necessary and have confidence."
"You men's ideas about raising children are indeed different from ours as women."
Zhou Yamei shook her head slightly with a sigh, took a sip of coffee, looked out the window and said, "It's impossible to distinguish which is good and which is bad; they all seem to make sense."
“It still depends on the parents.” Li Xuewu crossed his right leg and said, “I believe the saying ‘like begets like’ is universally applicable.”
"You've even started studying philosophy?"
Zhou Yamei turned her gaze back and glanced at him with amusement, "You're not capable enough."
"Have you forgotten?"
Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and reminded him, "Didn't I major in philosophy in college?"
"You call that studying?"
Zhou Yamei chuckled, put down her long legs that were crossed on the sofa, stood up and asked, "What time is your train tomorrow morning? Do you need me to send you to the train station?"
"Zhang Enyuan arranged a driver."
Li Xuewu leaned back slightly on the sofa, looked at the woman with a mature and sophisticated air, and asked, "How many days are you coming back to stay?"
"If you stay in Beijing for a few days, I'll stay in the steel city for a few days."
Zhou Yamei walked to the tea cabinet and poured herself another cup of coffee. She turned around, leaned against the cabinet, and looked at Li Xuewu, saying, "The work in Gangcheng has been delayed quite a bit. Let's take this opportunity to deal with it properly."
"Are you playing hide-and-seek with me?" Li Xuewu chuckled and leaned back on the sofa, looking at her. "Then why don't you come back tomorrow? That way you can perfectly miss the time I'm home."
"I didn't intentionally avoid you."
Zhou Yamei straightened up, holding her coffee cup, and walked over, emphasizing, "I can come back whenever I want."
"Hehe, you're really stubborn."
Li Xuewu chuckled as he looked up at her petite figure, teasingly saying, "Won't you start to believe yourself if you keep saying things like that?"
"Why wouldn't I believe what I've said myself?"
Zhou Yamei sat down beside him, gently patted him, and teased, "Am I just being stubborn, or is it your..."
"Stop messing around, Bang Geng is coming back, and I'm a serious person now."
Li Xuewu reached out and pressed his waistband, reminding her, "Once Pandora's box is opened, you won't be able to stop crying and screaming."
"Humph--"
Zhou Yamei gave a haughty snort, stood up and stopped teasing him. She was also afraid that Bang Geng would suddenly run back. Who knew what was wrong with this child? He always seemed to appear when you least expected it.
Has anyone worn the pajamas in the closet?
She placed the coffee cup on the coffee table and asked a question as if it were casual.
Li Xuewu was slightly taken aback, then asked, "What pajamas? Which wardrobe?"
"The one you like."
Zhou Yamei turned around and glared at him, reminding him, "The more you pretend to be confused, the more it proves that you have something to hide."
"Why would I pretend to be confused? You suspect I stole your pajamas?"
Li Xuewu curled his lip and said, "Do you think I'm a pervert?"
"Hehe, you're getting more and more involved. If you keep making things up, it'll be hard to make it all believable."
Zhou Yamei, with an air of certainty that he had something wrong with her, kept him hanging on.
Li Xuewu, on the other hand, insisted that he didn't know, had never seen it, and was completely irresponsible.
"The shower gel produced by Artistry has a very unique herbal and floral scent that is loved by many girls."
She walked to the sofa, leaned on the backrest, and looked down at Li Xuewu, reminding him, "A girl who can afford to buy these export goods must be one of the young ladies in your company, right?"
“I dare say I’ll go without food for ten days and I’ll guarantee you that during the time you were away, apart from Banggeng’s mother coming to see him and Xiaoning and the children coming to see me, not even a female mouse came to the house.”
Li Xuewu spoke very sincerely and earnestly: "If you believe me, you won't have this misconception."
"Oh—an illusion—"
Zhou Yamei nodded, looked into his eyes and said, "Indeed, some people will confuse the taste in their memories with the reality."
"but--"
She pointed a finger at Li Xuewu's nose and said, "If you close your eyes, would you mistake me for the person who stole my pajamas?"
"You're trying to trick me into closing my eyes, aren't you?" Li Xuewu stared at her and asked, "So that I can convince you to admit it under your own suggestion."
"Zhou Yamei, you've gone astray! You're using your psychology knowledge on me, aren't you?"
"Heh, you're still being stubborn."
Zhou Yamei smiled confidently, looked him in the eye, and called out, "Jia Geng, come in. Tell your Uncle Wu, can you go ten days without eating?"
"...Aunt Zhou, ten days..."
Banggeng's voice suddenly came from outside the window behind the sofa.
He stammered, "I can only last ten hours at most..."
"Now I'll tell you something," Zhou Yamei said, staring intently into Li Xuewu's eyes. "Your Uncle Wu is going back to Beijing for half a month, and I'll be staying at home during that time..."
She raised her eyebrows, determined to force Li Xuewu to surrender.
But Li Xuewu chose to persevere, believing that Banggeng could withstand the pressure.
A real man has to shoulder some responsibilities; otherwise, can he still be called a man?
"Jia Geng, Aunt Zhou is asking you now, during the time I was away from home, who did you see come to visit?"
A mischievous smile crept across her lips as she looked at Li Xuewu, who was cornered against the wall, and asked out the window, "Let's give your Uncle Wu some face. You just need to tell me who's wearing my pajamas."
"But I must remind you, a bet is a bet. If you dare to lie, you won't be eating for the next ten days."
"Son, do you see? These are women. We're all together."
Li Xuewu didn't hear Bang Geng's voice, so he quickly tried to boost his confidence and said, "Think about the heroic deeds of ancient times. What's wrong with going hungry for ten days? Just tough it out."
"Uncle Wu...I'm most afraid of being hungry..."
Banggeng's weak voice came through, and without waiting for Li Xuewu to persuade him further, he hesitated and said, "Aunt Zhou, I only need to tell one person so I won't go hungry, right?"
"Well done, Bang Geng! Someone like you would have been executed by firing squad in the old days!"
Looking at Zhou Yamei's smug yet annoyed expression, Li Xuewu could only grumble.
"Fine, Mr. Li." Zhou Yamei reached out and stopped Li Xuewu, who was about to get up and run away, and said angrily, "You're giving me more and more surprises—"
"You've misunderstood, that's not how it is. Let me get up first."
Li Xuewu explained with a smile, "That kid was being naughty and teasing you on purpose."
"And then? A female mouse came into the house? And it wore my pajamas?"
Zhou Yamei reminded him, "You should know what a girl's intention is when she wears that nightgown, right?"
"Do you have ulterior motives towards me like you do?" Li Xuewu forced a smile and feigned nervousness, saying, "I'm so scared—"
"What are you afraid of? You're too busy enjoying yourself to care—"
Zhou Yamei couldn't take it anymore, so she slapped him in dissatisfaction, straightened up, and was about to leave.
Li Xuewu helplessly grabbed her hand, "Nothing really happened."
"Of course I will believe you."
Zhou Yamei turned to look at him and said, "Someone as meticulous as you wouldn't leave me any clues if you wanted to cover something up, unless you don't care."
"Can you please stop using me as a test subject?"
Li Xuewu said with a laugh, "One minute you're trying to trap me in a self-proving trap, the next you're digging a pit for me to jump into. Are you trying to write a paper because you lack experimental data?"
“I think Bang Geng is a great kid. You can use all these tricks on him. I strongly agree.”
"You know he can't keep a secret, and he still brings girls home."
Zhou Yamei looked at him and asked, "Are you planning to open a hotel here?"
"Am I the one charging or are they charging?"
Li Xuewu sat up with amusement, shook his head slightly, and called out, "Bang Geng, come here and explain this to your Aunt Zhou."
"Aunt Zhou, Uncle Wu is returning to Beijing tomorrow. Why don't you ask me again tomorrow?"
"Good boy, you have the guts!"
Li Xuewu was so angry he laughed, and shouted, "You'd better think this through. I'm only leaving for half a month, not that I'm not coming back."
"When I was in Steel City, your Aunt Zhou wasn't around. I could have starved you for half a month!"
"Aunt Zhou!" Banggeng cried out in a voice that was almost in tears, "I wore the clothes! I wore them, okay!"
Li Xuewu was furious and shouted, "You might as well just tell the truth!"
-
"Why did you choose this date? Did you have someone calculate it?"
Sha Zhu, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, stood with Li Xuewu at the front door. He glanced at the large red "double happiness" character on the door and asked softly, "Who did you ask to do the divination?"
"Why are you asking this?"
Li Xuewu glanced back at him and asked, "You want to get married again?"
"Hey—I don't have the guts."
Sha Zhu chuckled, and seeing that no one was around, he whispered to him, "It's raining. I don't think you two... you know anything, you just wanted to check the feng shui."
"..." Li Xuewu looked at him speechlessly and asked, "Are you serious?"
"Which one are you talking about?" Sha Zhu asked somewhat awkwardly, "You and..."
"I meant feng shui!" Li Xuewu glared at him, reminding him, "Don't talk nonsense. I'm fine, but do you still want to clear Yushui's name?"
“Feng shui…” Sha Zhu took a puff of his cigarette, glanced at the big tree at the corner of the alley and pondered, “Do you think that tree is hindering the marriage prospects of Yu Shui?”
"You're really good at causing trouble!"
Li Xuewu was truly speechless. What did it matter to the trees if the rainwater didn't get married?
Sha Zhu was serious. He looked at him and said, "I heard it from my aunt next door. Her niece hadn't found a boyfriend for several years. Then her father cut down the big tree in front of the door, and she got married the following year."
"Have you ever considered this possibility?" Li Xuewu looked at him and reminded him, "Is it because your second aunt's niece saw that the old man had chopped down all the trees, and if she didn't find a partner soon, he would chop her down as well, that's why she's in such a hurry to get married?"
"You're so funny—"
Sha Zhu chuckled, his face completely carefree.
Li Xuewu was both amused and annoyed, and said, "I advise you not to overcomplicate things with Yushui. I don't believe she can stay single forever."
"Sigh, I know my own sister well; she's as stubborn as a mule."
Sha Zhu nudged him with his elbow and said, "Principal Ran is single too, isn't he? So many people have tried to introduce him to potential partners, but he hasn't met a single one."
Li Xuewu was too lazy to pay attention to him. He used to be somewhat serious, but now that he was well-off, he just talked nonsense all the time.
Sha Zhu didn't give up and asked softly, "You still haven't said who the date was for. I'll go look for it later."
“Go find it, the scheduling supervisor calculated it.” Li Xuewu glanced back at him and said, “Xuecai is off today, and Yuxiu is off today, so today was chosen.”
"Holy crap—really?"
Sha Zhu exclaimed in surprise, "So casual? Your family really doesn't believe in this at all?"
"If you believed this, my dad would have chopped down that tree in front of the door a long time ago."
Li Xuewu turned around and looked at the alley entrance. More relatives and friends arrived. He said to Shazhu, "Think about it, is your rainwater problem bigger or mine?"
Sha Zhu stood at the door, pondering for a moment, wanting to reply to Li Xuewu, "You're the one with the bigger problem," but the man had already gone to greet him.
***
"Uncle Zhao, my uncle-in-law."
Li Xuewu smiled and stepped forward to greet them, saying, "My dad has been talking about you guys. Why haven't you arrived yet?"
The visitors were none other than Xuewen's in-laws, Yin Mancang, the director of the Red Star Commune and also Xuewen's uncle-in-law, Zhao Gen, Xuewen's father-in-law, Zhao Yajun, his brother-in-law, and Wang Lu and his wife.
Yin Mancang accepted his cigarette and politely let him light it for him.
"I said I'd go stay with Ya Jun for a while and see the two kids." He smiled and gestured to his brother-in-law Zhao Gen beside him, "He was afraid that coming too early would cause you trouble."
"That's not right. Uncle Zhao, please come into the yard. If you don't come soon, my dad will come looking for you."
Today, Li Xuewu is not a leader of Hongxing Steel Group, but the second son of the Li family.
My third brother Xuecai got married, and he didn't invite any outsiders, only relatives, neighbors, and people from the recycling station.
Li Xuecai went to pick up the bride, so Li Xuewu, as the second brother, had to help greet her at the door.
After exchanging greetings, lighting a cigarette, and exchanging a few pleasantries, you invite the other person into the courtyard for tea.
He was naturally adept at social etiquette and welcoming guests, and besides, his status made everyone who came feel honored.
This is only because he's a younger brother; another Li Xuewu wouldn't have treated him this well.
He stood there not to support his family, nor to give face to his younger brother, but to give Ji Yuxiu dignity.
They waited for Li Xuecai for a full four years; such a couple is truly rare these days.
Think about it, when Li Xuewu first met Ji Yuxiu, she was just a lowly errand girl in the household registration department, but now she's the deputy head of the public security department of the branch bureau.
Let's not even talk about being a good match in terms of social status. Just look at their work environments. The fact that Ji Yuxiu has stayed with Lao San all this time shows that she genuinely likes him.
Ji Yuxiu's parents and brother do not live in mainland China. She only has a sister-in-law here with her child. Who can she rely on?
She has been living and eating in the compound for the past few years and has long regarded the Li family as her own home.
The house that Li Xuecai was going to pick her up at today was one she hadn't lived in for a long time.
Previously, fearing it would have a negative impact, the Li family only jokingly called Ji Yuxiu "daughter-in-law" in private, but publicly treated her as their daughter.
It was precisely because of their sincerity that the Ji family dared to entrust their daughter to the Li family for upbringing.
Ji Weidong and Li Xuewu were friends, and Li Xuecai and Ji Yuxiu were lovers, so although the two families rarely met, they got along very well.
Who helped take care of Han Yating and her child while they were alone in Beijing?
Who helped Li Xuewu arrange things in Gangcheng?
Ji Yuxiu wanted to wait for Li Xuecai to graduate from university, and no one in the Ji family had any objections.
Lovers get married.
Li Xuecai, a kind and honest man, finally graduated, and the wedding he had been preparing for for three months officially arrived.
The gifts prepared by the Li family for the newlyweds were just as generous as the dowry from the Ji family.
True compatibility in marriage comes from shared values and beliefs.
From today onwards, Li Xuecai no longer needs to hide or sneak around, and he no longer needs to be afraid of his father's fire poker.
He had used this stick to hit his second brother before, for the same reason.
(End of this chapter)