MMB Chapter 1372 Suspected of Being a Scoundrel
Chapter 1372 Suspected of Being a Scoundrel
Chapter 1372 Suspected of Being a Scoundrel
January 11, 1969, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
The "Red Star Evening News," which airs daily at 7 PM, has just ended. The Red Star Radio station's signal operator skillfully switched the broadcast line to the "Red Star Interview" program studio, which only airs on Saturdays.
As a section of electronic organ version of "The East Is Red" fades out, the sound effects of steel mill forging and rolling are mixed in.
Hongxing Steel Group broadcasts the main station's core programs in real time at its radio station branches in Beijing, Tianjin, Gangcheng, Yingcheng, Fengcheng, and other places.
Regions with more than 100 employees are eligible for coverage of CCTV's radio programs. Hongxing Steel Group hopes its employees will care about the group's growth and share in its development opportunities.
Almost every employee in the group who owns a radio listens to the United Industrial Radio Station's programs on time. This shows their concern for the group's development and their active participation in its construction.
The "Red Star Interview" program, broadcast every Saturday at 7:30 pm, is a core program that many factory workers cannot miss. Every week, the interview program generates hot topics among the factory workers.
From top to bottom, from the collective to the individual, this program has become an indispensable part of Hongxing Steel Group and its employees. It is also a witness to and participant in the rapid development of Hongxing Steel Group.
There's no need to deliberately look up at the time on the wall, nor to put down your bowl and chopsticks. Today is the last workday of the week, and after the evening news music, the familiar and anticipated sound effects of the "Red Star Interview" program will inevitably follow.
The opening remarks of the pre-recorded broadcast were familiar to everyone; it was dinnertime for families across the country. Compared to usual, they had even more anticipation today.
The Group's Joint Industrial Newspaper has already published news that today's interview program invited Li Xuewu, a member of the Group, to the studio. While I may not feel the spotlight, I can certainly say that it was highly anticipated.
The male and female announcers delivered a passionate speech in unison: "Gears mesh tightly! The furnace fire illuminates the red flag! This is Red Star Radio Station, using sound waves to transmit sparks and forging the era with steel!"
The male announcer's deep voice: "Fellow listeners, as the sparks from the group's metallurgical plant illuminate the morning light, and as the mining dragons of the United Energy Corporation awaken the frozen earth, good news keeps pouring in on the revolutionary road—"
The female announcer spoke in a clear, bright voice: "Steel rolling mill workers use abacuses to calculate world-class steel rolling parameters! Electronics workers use calipers to overcome malfunctions in imported machine tools! We are not afraid of anything!"
The broadcast was followed by the crisp sound of abacus beads mixed with the roar of machine tools.
The male announcer quickened his pace: "Today, 'Red Star Interview' visits Li Xuewu, the creator of the 'Three-Year Plan and Five-Year Plan'! A model of youth cadres and a founder of the production and technological revolution!"
After the impassioned speech, the male and female announcers sang in unwavering chorus: "Grasp revolution and promote production! The more difficult the situation, the more we must move forward! Let us witness in the sound waves how the working class throws imperialism, revisionism, and reactionaries into the dustbin of history!"
In the broadcasting studio, the music in the headphones suddenly intensified: the brass intro to "We Workers Have Strength" burst forth, as if injecting energy into the spirit.
After the sound effects finished, Yu Haitang flipped the switch and began today's interview program.
"Good evening, listeners of the Red Star Interview program. I am your host, Yu Haitang."
Her voice was clear and melodious, and because of years of broadcasting at a high pitch, it also had a slight raspy quality, making it very powerful and magnetic.
"Today we are honored to have Mr. Li Xuewu from Hongxing Steel Group as our guest in the studio. Hello."
"Hello, host, good evening, listeners. I am Li Xuewu from the Group Management Committee."
Standing outside the broadcasting room, watching the broadcasting scene through the thick soundproof glass, Wang Lu raised her eyebrows slightly and glanced back at Zhao Yajun behind her.
Zhao Yajun understood the meaning in her gaze and couldn't help but smile slightly. The listeners who had been waiting by the radio to listen to the program on time likely shared the same thought: it really was Li Xuewu from the group being interviewed.
It's not that Li Xuewu is particularly difficult to invite, or that he's extremely busy. Rather, many people know that Li Xuewu is very low-key.
In particular, there were rumors circulating within the group recently that Director Li was somewhat dissatisfied with your work and was about to adjust his job.
At this moment, Li Xuewu appeared in the interview program in a high-profile manner. Many listeners who were not prepared were stunned and stopped what they were doing, unwilling to miss any content on the radio.
Wang Lu only came to understand Li Xuewu's personality after becoming his secretary. Coupled with her familiarity with Haitang's "unyielding ambitions," her amused expression was quite normal.
Even the staff outside the broadcasting room couldn't help but smile. They had finally managed to get him!
After getting off work, Yuan Hua saw Li Xuewu's car arrive in front of the radio station building, and together with Yu Haitang, they went downstairs to greet him.
He picked up Li Xuewu around 6:45 and has stayed with him ever since.
Similarly, many people who had already finished get off work knew that Li Xuewu was going to be a guest on the talk show, and they were reluctant to leave, so they all came to the broadcasting room to watch the excitement through the large glass window.
Today's opening remarks were truly unique; they were recorded last night, and they still sound incredibly exciting today.
Especially the annotations about Li Xuewu's work achievements, looking at Li Xuewu's youthful face, give people a feeling of being in a dream.
Then listen to Li Xuewu's deep and full voice greeting him; the moment he opens his mouth, he's described as a "walking bass cannon" and "floating hormones." Who could resist his sexy and charming mature allure?
Sitting diagonally opposite Li Xuewu, Yu Haitang's face was slightly flushed, as if she were excited. But her voice was somewhat unsteady, and she couldn't hide the trembling she was trying to suppress, as if her soul had been struck.
Although people usually think his voice is pleasant, he often plays the role of organizer in meetings, daily office work, and life, which is something that people haven't really noticed.
But today, sitting in the broadcasting room, his voice was captured and broadcast through professional-grade microphones, and then fed back to everyone's ears. This magnetic and alluring quality was amplified infinitely.
Some people are born with great voices; they are the embodiment of singing and broadcasting.
However, some people have loud, magnetic voices, and after developing a calm and composed personality, they may also possess this characteristic.
Of course, even with such a voice, personal charm is still a factor.
Remember what Lu Xun said? Women only like bad boys, not bad men. How many women who say they're not visual creatures aren't actually attracted to good looks?
Even if you have a heavenly voice, if you grow up to look like Captain Jia, you'll still have a natural air of sleazy.
This sound, when relayed to the listeners' ears, becomes another form of enjoyment in today's program.
***
"Boss, I heard you talk about yesterday, today and tomorrow before the program started."
Yu Haitang subtly lowered her hand and squeezed her thigh hard; that greeting had completely ignited her passion.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she dared not twist her body or adjust her posture; she could only force herself to restrain herself.
With a seductive tremor in her voice, she asked Li Xuewu, "Could you share with us your yesterday, today, and tomorrow?"
"I received the interview notice yesterday, came to the live broadcast room today, and will rest tomorrow."
Li Xuewu started today's interview with a joke, and this simple and humorous misinterpretation set a lighthearted tone for the interview.
Although no one laughed out loud in the live stream, everyone still had a smile on their face.
Radio is cold electricity, but sound is art with warmth, and interviews are a fusion and collision of linguistic art and personal culture.
Yu Haitang and Li Xuewu cannot show the audience the expressions on their faces, but they can convey their emotions to everyone through the broadcast signal.
"What if we compare the past to yesterday, the present to today, and the future to tomorrow?" Yu Haitang asked with a lighthearted tone and a smile, "How do you understand this?"
“Actually, I don’t have enough experience or qualifications to look back on my past.” Li Xuewu’s expression became more serious as he said, “Counting from when I joined the army at the age of sixteen, I only have seven years of service.”
"If you ask me to look back at this point, with my current experience and abilities, I might be biased, immature, and impractical."
"Won't you feel a little smug?"
Yu Haitang asked in a soft voice with a smile, "You are the most outstanding young cadre in my mind, and I believe that many listeners also have the same opinion of you as I do."
"Thank you for your praise and recognition. I am very grateful, but I still have many shortcomings."
Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Just as you said, if I were to look back now, I would inevitably feel a little smug."
The two were smug. Yu Haitang spoke of it in a half-joking tone, without any derogatory meaning, but rather to reflect and elicit Li Xuewu's thoughts.
Li Xuewu's smug reply had a hint of self-deprecation.
It shouldn't be interpreted entirely negatively; Li Xuewu didn't completely deny his own achievements.
Yu Haitang, of course, would not do that. She looked at him with great admiration and said, "If you are proud of your past, I think it is easy for everyone to understand, after all, this is the path you came from."
"The achievements and experience you have created in the past have been validated today, and this is the pride of our group."
"Thank you. In fact, I must be frank: all the honors I have achieved in the past belong to the collective." He nodded and continued, "And all my so-called achievements should be attributed to the understanding and support of all my colleagues in the group."
“This is not a humble statement, but the truth,” Li Xuewu emphasized again. “This is the power of the collective.”
“It’s also the power of unity.” Yu Haitang raised an eyebrow slightly and nodded understandingly, replying, “You always have the ability to reflect and think things through in a timely manner. Was your decision to join the army after graduating from high school also a result of this kind of self-reflection and thought?”
"Yes, that's a fair way to understand it."
Li Xuewu frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then nodded in reply: "Back then, I was just like the revolutionary youth who are responding to the call of the times and heading to the battlefield of youth today. I also had the same confusion about the definition of youth and the understanding of the future."
“At the time, I didn’t quite understand my father’s advice to me to join the army. Later, when I was studying in the army, I learned a saying that goes like this,” he recounted: “The reason why people fall into confusion is simply because they think too much and do too little.”
"Of course, that's a very simplistic statement," Li Xuewu emphasized. "From a psychological perspective, the core reason why people feel lost is the vicious cycle of overthinking and lack of action."
“We know you wrote a book about psychology called ‘Criminal Psychology’,” Yu Haitang asked, looking at him. “Did you summarize the theories you just mentioned yourself? Do you also reflect on yourself, summarize your own experiences, or explore thoughts and spirits from more perspectives?”
"Well, it's not really time to talk about reflection yet."
Li Xuewu nodded slightly and said, "Who isn't confused during their youth? This conclusion wasn't drawn by me."
He frankly stated, "This is a psychological phenomenon, which has been confirmed in the discussions of many psychologists and authorities. It reveals how mental friction suppresses action and how a lack of action hinders the deepening of cognition."
Li Xuewu offered a brief interpretation of this psychological state from the perspective of psychological theory, but only touched upon it briefly.
After signaling to Yu Haitang that the topic could end, he continued, "If I were to look back, my time in the army would be the most fulfilling experience of my life."
"I've heard you say that you've read a lot of books, is that right?"
Yu Haitang nodded slightly, wanting to explore his past and delve into his heart through conversation.
In her speech, she had already lost control, and her tone became more urgent and eager. Of course, this state of mind subtly resonated with the listener's mood, so her emotional shift didn't seem out of place to outsiders.
Li Xuewu noticed it but didn't pay much attention, interpreting Yu Haitang's performance as improvisation. The interview program itself only had an outline; the depth of the performance was left to the audience.
Seeing that he had changed the subject, Yu Haitang followed suit and continued to guide him by asking, "I believe many comrades know about your writing style. Was your writing ability honed during that time?"
“Yes, a great melting pot of revolution.” Li Xuewu nodded in agreement and said, “In the army, I not only received training in combat skills, but also had the opportunity to learn all kinds of knowledge.”
“While reading, I was also verifying my understanding and thoughts about youth, and sometimes I would put my insights into writing.” He said with a slightly lighter tone and a smile, “A few of my articles were fortunate enough to be published in the newspaper. It was from that time that I fell in love with thinking and writing.”
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Yu Haitang's eyes lit up as she said, "Our admiration and appreciation for your keen insight and writing skills today all stem from your past accumulation of knowledge."
She raised her hand in a gesture and asked, "How do you think your learning and experience in the military, as well as your success on the battlefield, have helped you in coming to work at the Red Star Factory?"
"I think these valuable experiences have been very helpful for my work at Hongxing Factory, and for me today and in the future."
Li Xuewu noticed her reminder, and the previous topic ended, smoothly transitioning to the current one.
He nodded slightly to show his understanding, and continued, following up on her question: "I have always believed that the enterprise and the collective represent the fundamental interests of our vast number of employees. We are the masters of Hongxing Factory, and also a part of the construction and development of Hongxing Factory."
"As Hongxing Factory has grown and developed, we, as members of the company, have also been learning and progressing."
Li Xuewu cleverly shifted the focus, attributing his personal achievements to the success of the company. In other words, Hongxing Steel Group is now successful, and he deserves a share of that success.
Of course, he didn't say it that way; instead, he divided the group's achievements and success into several parts.
Including the listeners sitting in front of the radio, all the group's employees felt proud at that moment. Just like Li Xuewu, they were also part of the Hongxing Factory and shared in this achievement.
Therefore, no one would question his words; questioning Li Xuewu's statement would be tantamount to questioning themselves.
Li Xuewu began his story by recounting his experiences after joining the security department, leading the audience through his memories of his work.
Anyone who is a veteran of the Hongxing Factory will feel something when they hear him mention some of the work conditions and policy changes, after all, these are his personal experiences.
The reason why the "Red Star Interview" program is so successful is that it has grasped the core meaning of reaching the hearts of the audience.
Li Xuewu's current speech is the same. While introducing and promoting himself, he also regards himself as an ordinary member of the 100,000 employees of Hongxing Factory, who is also learning and growing.
Through empathy, the audience no longer perceived Li Xuewu as a lofty leader, but as a flesh-and-blood comrade with experiences, who struggled and grew alongside them.
Looking back on the past and looking at today, what Li Xuewu said was all positive, words that could make the audience feel proud.
These contents also reflect how Hongxing Factory transformed from a municipal steel plant into a diversified group enterprise.
This confirms what he just said: as the company grows, the employees also improve. Everyone has contributed to the company's growth, and in doing so, everyone has learned from their experience.
When he recounted the events of today and the overall development of Hongxing Steel Group, everyone, including Yu Haitang, listened intently. This was perhaps the clearest opportunity the group's leadership had ever had to explain the group's current development strategy.
Li Xuewu's explanation was very down-to-earth, without any beating around the bush, and he did not exaggerate his own role or belittle others.
It was very frank and straightforward, summarizing the group's current situation in engineering construction, industrial development, and economic construction in terms that everyone could understand, which was quite an achievement.
He also counted on his fingers the achievements of several projects the group had built in the past, which are precisely the important pillar industries that have enabled the group to get to where it is today.
This also indirectly proves the correctness of the original "Three-Year Plan and Five-Year Plan." It cleverly responds to the praise given to him in the introductory remarks at the beginning of the program's recording.
"Now we have our own relatively comprehensive education and training system, and we also have a technologically advanced medical and recuperation system."
Li Xuewu spoke calmly and unhurriedly: "We have established an industrial production and economic corridor in Liaodong, a commercial zone in Tianjin that benchmarks international trade, and a comprehensive and integrated technology production and incubation center in Beijing."
"If there is anything to be proud of in the past, I would like to share that pride with all the employees who have worked hard and made outstanding contributions to the Group's glory today."
At this moment, the broadcasting room and the surrounding area were completely silent, and Yu Haitang couldn't bear to break the atmosphere.
Guli'aisha stood in the crowd outside the broadcasting room, gazing intently from a corner at the man inside the glass window.
He was so profound, so captivating. Like the ocean, he possessed a vast heart and courage, and even more so, ambition and talent as boundless as the starry sky.
When I heard Li Xuewu talk about the group's layout in several cities and his perspective on future development and the development opportunities of each branch, it seemed very complicated.
But the radiant hope and confidence he exuded when he spoke of the industrial development of Liaodong and the construction of the industrial economic corridor completely plunged her into an endless abyss from which there was no way out.
Guli'aisha is a key announcer being cultivated by Red Star Radio. She has worked her way up from other programs to become a presenter of prime-time news broadcasts.
The female voice in the opening remarks of the pre-recorded program was hers. When she learned that the pre-recorded program was specially made for Li Xuewu's interview, she couldn't help but have some improper thoughts.
But she had been to Li Xuewu's home and could feel the warmth and coziness of that home. She appreciated Li Shu's cleverness, Li Ning's intelligence, and the dignified and poised demeanor that made her want to call Li Ning "Sister Ning."
She knew she wasn't right for him; all she could do was stand in the corner, gazing at him and admiring him.
However, when she thought about the purpose of his visit today and the confidence he displayed when looking ahead to the future of the group and Liaodong, she couldn't help but feel surprised and disappointed.
She heard that Li Xuewu was going to work in the steel city, to oversee industrial development in Liaodong.
Guli'aisha didn't want him to stay in the capital and miss out on better opportunities. She had just heard some speculations from people around her and didn't expect him to leave so soon.
Even though they worked in the same area, she rarely saw him. If he went to Liaodong, when would they see each other again?
She knew that thinking this way was wrong. Greed and guilt tormented her, and she couldn't even hear Li Xuewu's speech about the future of the group and her own future.
Before she knew it, time flew by. When she came to her senses and found that the crowd had started to applaud, she realized that Li Xuewu and Director Yu in the broadcasting room had taken off their headphones and stood up, smiling and shaking hands.
Yes, the interview is over. Judging from the applause in the audience, the program was a great success.
She was delighted, happy for him. But at this moment, she should have quietly turned away and disappeared into the crowd.
If, if I could see him just once more...
-
"Thank you. I am very confident that today will be the most successful episode of the 'Red Star Interview' program since its inception."
Yu Haitang reluctantly let go of Li Xuewu's hand, and kept praising him.
Li Xuewu said with a smile, "I dare not be proud of the past, and please do not be proud of today's past either."
He said meaningfully, "The most successful episode of 'Red Star Interview' should always be the next one."
"Leader—" Yu Haitang was deeply moved by his words and said excitedly, "Thank you."
"Thank you all for your hard work today, it's very late."
Li Xuewu smiled and nodded, raised his hand to check the time, and said to Haitang and Yuan Hua and others who came in after opening the broadcasting room door, "I'll treat everyone to a snack."
"Leader—" Yuan Hua, who had just pushed open the door and walked in, was about to congratulate him when he heard this.
Li Xuewu ignored his surprise, raised his finger and pointed out the glass window, then waved.
Everyone turned around and saw Li Xuewu's driver and security officers pushing two large steel barrels in the corridor.
"Thank you all for your hard work tonight."
Li Xuewu walked out of the broadcasting studio, smiled at everyone, and said, "I don't know how many people are still on duty tonight, so I asked the guesthouse to prepare two dishes. Please enjoy them."
"Thank you, boss, but I'm starving."
Yu Haitang, who came out with Li Xuewu, glanced at everyone and took the initiative to joke around. Everyone then realized and relaxed; Li Xuewu's invitation was genuine.
"Go find your lunchbox, don't go hungry."
This statement, seemingly made by Li Xuewu to Haitang, was actually also addressed to the radio station staff present who were too embarrassed to speak up.
He waved his hand and said with a smile, "Everyone gets a share. Please, Comrade Yu Zhe and Comrade Zhao Yajun, do your part."
The two men standing in the corridor guarding the two large food barrels were Yu Zhe and Zhao Yajun, who had been recruited by Li Xuewu.
Wang Lu was also conscripted; she was responsible for distributing steamed buns or rice to these people.
"It's pork stew with potatoes! And cabbage stew with tofu!"
Someone was the first to retrieve their lunchbox. After the food container was opened, Yu Zhe and Zhao Yajun served them their food, and then someone jokingly announced the names of the two dishes.
Pork stew with potatoes—regardless of how much pork there is, just the fact that it contains pork makes it a meat dish, which is quite rare these days.
Another dish, stewed cabbage and tofu, is also not a casual dish. Bean products are not commonly seen. People might buy tofu when entertaining guests, but it's rarely eaten on ordinary days.
Today, Li Xuewu treated everyone to two hearty dishes, one meat and one vegetable, which made everyone present "drool with envy."
Although we can't eat to our hearts' content, it's already 8:30 pm, almost 9 pm, so who can force themselves to eat? It's all about the lively atmosphere.
"Boss, this is for you."
When Wang Lu handed the lunchbox to Li Xuewu, she deliberately showed a little emotion.
How could I not be upset? We had agreed to eat at a restaurant in the city, but he insisted on arranging for us to eat at a guesthouse.
If she had actually gone to the guesthouse to eat grilled fish, that would have been fine, but in the end she was still tricked and could only eat boxed meals here.
Although pork stew with potatoes is delicious, and cabbage stew with tofu is even more fragrant, what does that have to do with the promised treat?
Now it seems that not only was she herself schemed against, but her lover Zhao Yajun was also schemed against by her second brother. They're just getting ready to serve the food right now.
Everyone used to say that Li Xuewu was cunning and that ordinary people were no match for him, but today she finally got to experience his prowess.
Li Xuewu smiled as he accepted the lunchbox, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. He spotted a familiar figure heading towards the stairs, who didn't seem to be there for a meal.
He didn't make a fuss, but instead gave Wang Lu a wink, then turned around and sat down at the desk with Yu Haitang, Yuan Hua, and several other radio station managers to have lunch together.
Since it's for everyone's enjoyment, one has to be willing to lower oneself. He's here to promote himself; he's already done ninety-nine displays, why would he skip the last one?
Don't underestimate the power of sharing the same resources. His appearance on the radio for a talk show today might spark discussion in various fields. The radio station's influence is even more direct, given its proximity to the source.
His act of treating everyone to dinner can be seen as a way to win people's hearts and make his personal image seem more authentic.
But if you've already treated him to a meal, and then you just go downstairs and leave, troubling those hungry people who were waiting for the meal to follow you home, and then watch him drive away in his car, you can imagine how they'd feel. The purpose of the treat would be greatly diminished.
So he didn't plan to leave. Even though he was health-conscious and wouldn't eat after dinner time, he still had to put on an act and have a meal with everyone.
This meal might cost him more than half a month's salary, but it has a different meaning in the eyes of these employees.
They had never seen such a down-to-earth leader before. Combined with Li Xuewu's speech today and his past deeds, everyone had a deeper understanding of him.
They're all seasoned veterans in publicity work; as long as they have something in mind, what they put into writing is genuine and heartfelt.
Any future articles about Li Xuewu will be vivid and engaging, not empty rhetoric. Because Li Xuewu's candor is right before their eyes; if they can see it, how can they not write about it?
Of course, I can't write that Li Xuewu treated us to dinner today, but I can write about this insight in other stories.
Those with sharp minds have already realized that since Li Xuewu is here today, it means he doesn't shy away from this kind of publicity work.
It's quite normal, really. Every change in leadership positions requires the propaganda department to follow suit and exaggerate one's past achievements and accomplishments.
They genuinely wanted to praise Li Xuewu, because he had so many outstanding achievements.
On the contrary, there are very few extensive reports about him, because Li Xuewu had given instructions on how the publicity should focus more on the grassroots level, and he has always done so.
Having finally gotten this opportunity, everyone glanced at Li Xuewu in the office while holding their lunchboxes. Those who had the chance went over to say hello, while those who didn't went back to their own offices.
The propaganda front has always been a solitary endeavor, with articles rarely relying on others and preferring to be written in one go.
So while enjoying the stewed meat, some people started to ponder how to write a beautiful essay, considering from which angle to begin their thesis.
I'm sure tonight's events have been enough. With the propaganda machine in motion, many people will be focusing on Li Xuewu's superficial achievements.
One or two articles are fine, but if everyone rushes to write them, they definitely won't pass. So we have to find another way.
These people racked their brains to thank Li Xuewu for the meal, and they were so eager to stay up all night.
He had the spirit of repaying the emperor's kindness on the golden platform and being willing to die for him. Li Xuewu didn't know this, and if he did, it's hard to say whether he would be angry or amused.
-
"Boss, I sent her a copy."
After getting in the car, Wang Lu, worried that he might be concerned, proactively reported something. However, this statement was abrupt and left the others in the car wondering what she meant.
Li Xuewu waited until everyone had finished eating, especially Wang Lu and the others, and cleaned up before coming out.
Yu Haitang, Yuan Hua, and others escorted him to the entrance of the radio station, and watched him get into the car but he still didn't go back.
Even after the car had driven quite a distance, I could still vaguely see the silhouette of the radio station building in front of the rear window.
There were four people in the car. Yu Zhe was driving, Wang Lu was in the passenger seat, and Li Xuewu and Zhao Yajun were in the back seat.
He understood Wang Lu's answer, nodded without saying anything, and instead instructed Yu Zhe to take the two of them home first.
Wang Lu and Zhao Yajun's property was arranged by her parents in the city, so the commute was quite long.
He used both of their food today, so he had to show his appreciation.
Zhao Yajun wanted to be polite, but Wang Lu started joking first. She accepted it readily.
From a foodie's perspective, this meal's continuous downgrading was already unfair, plus it made her tired from all the work. What's wrong with enjoying herself now?
"Boss, I know you are magnanimous."
She turned around with a grin and said, "This meal doesn't count as treating me to dinner. You'll definitely have to arrange another one, right?"
"What do you mean, 'I'm inviting you to dinner'?" Li Xuewu asked, confused. "I don't remember inviting you to dinner."
"Hmph—" In private, Wang Lu didn't hold a grudge.
Especially now, in front of Zhao Yajun, who is Li Xuewu's secretary but also his sister-in-law by marriage.
This arrogant snort made Zhao Yajun laugh out loud, and Li Xuewu laughed even harder.
He turned to look at Zhao Yajun and said, "The day we came back, my sister-in-law mentioned you, Manliang, at the compound."
The car quieted down a bit, and Wang Lu turned to look at him, waiting for him to continue.
Li Xuewu's expression became more serious, though it wasn't visible in the dim light inside the car, his tone betrayed it.
He looked at the two of them and said, "Your sister-in-law said you two are ungrateful wretches, that you've disappeared since you got married."
Seeing his words, Wang Lu did not immediately defend herself, but glanced at Zhao Yajun and silently turned back.
Zhao Yajun's expression also changed, and he stammered, "Second brother, it's not..."
"What is it?"
Li Xuewu reached out and patted his knee, not criticizing him harshly. After all, this wasn't work, and Zhao Yajun wasn't a child anymore; they'd been married for almost half a year.
"That's your own sister. If you distance yourself from her, she'll be heartbroken."
Zhao Yajun lowered her head and remained silent for a while before nodding and saying, "I was worried that she was working too hard."
In the six months following his marriage, his family was very worried that he wouldn't have a good life and repeatedly asked his eldest sister to take care of him.
Actually, my older sister's life isn't easy either. Although she doesn't have to worry about making a living, she still faces a lot of pressure from work and children.
His brother-in-law was, to put it nicely, a kind-hearted man, but to be honest, he didn't care about anything and relied entirely on his older sister.
His older sister already has a hard life, and if she has to work even harder to make a living for him, he will be really upset.
Another point is that the parents are too eager. Although Wang Lu's family is better off, the two are truly in love and there is no need to emphasize fairness too much.
Think about it, the difference in the upbringing of two people is inherently unfair, so how can you emphasize fairness in marriage?
His older sister came to help tidy up the house and arrange the furniture several times. Regardless of how hard she worked, the young couple felt guilty and sad.
Actually, everyone lives their own life. Even if the eldest sister doesn't come to clean up, they will clean up themselves.
It seems like he's just being lazy. If you say he's just being lazy, that's one thing, but what if Wang Lu and her family are suspicious?
Is the eldest sister, Zhao Yafang, being so proactive because she thinks Wang Lu is lazy, lacks life skills, and doesn't know how to live a good life?
Human hearts are complex. It's not wrong for the eldest sister, Zhao Yafang, to come to the family to help take care of the children at her parents' urging and instruction. Zhao Yajun and Wang Lu both know that this may not have been her true intention.
It's possible for them to visit us often, but when it comes to actually cleaning the house, they definitely can't keep doing it.
So one time, Zhao Yajun couldn't help but speak up and politely declined her older sister's help.
After that one visit, his older sister Zhao Yafang never came to his house again, and he felt too embarrassed to visit her.
The conflict was just a small thing, but it seemed as heavy as a mountain between the siblings, making it difficult to overcome.
Whose fault is this?
Zhao Yajun could admit that she shouldn't have refused her sister's help, but it did nothing to help her live an independent life.
He wouldn't be so heartless as to say that his older sister was wrong; he could only say that life is ultimately complicated.
Wang Lu is actually a very good person and works very hard. She even took the initiative to comfort him in this matter, asking him to apologize to his older sister and say some kind words.
But Zhao Yajun didn't make a move for a long time, and she gave up after trying to persuade him twice. After all, they were a newlywed couple, and they didn't quarrel because of her sister-in-law.
Especially from Wang Lu's perspective, she really hopes to have someone to help and guide her in life, but she doesn't want her sister-in-law to come to her house and work hard to help her, because that would be too uncomfortable.
This matter needs to be resolved between the siblings. If she, as the younger brother's wife, says too much or too little, it could lead to misunderstandings. Misunderstandings between siblings are easy to resolve; time heals all wounds. But if a rift and misunderstanding develop between the younger brother's wife and his sister-in-law, it might never be cleared up.
The person who can untie this knot could be the second brother, Li Xuewu, who is the eldest sister's brother-in-law, so he should be able to say whatever he wants.
Furthermore, he was also the leader of two people, so he had to listen to Zhao Yajun's instructions and grit his teeth to do them.
So when her second brother spoke, Wang Lu sensibly turned away, not putting pressure on Zhao Yajun and saving his face.
Zhao Yajun had already figured it out. It was just that his older sister was upset, and he hadn't done anything wrong, but he had to take the initiative to give her a way out.
If the stalemate continues, even if he is not wrong, he is still wrong for estranged from his siblings.
That's how it is between people, especially between siblings who grew up together.
Li Xuewu didn't hear his sister-in-law's complaints, but he could tell just by looking.
She tapped Zhao Yajun's knee, then stopped trying to persuade him and said in a slightly forceful tone, "How about this weekend, bring Wang Lu home for dinner, okay?"
"Yes, I understand, Second Brother." Zhao Yajun answered readily without hesitation.
Li Xuewu then looked at Yu Zhe in the driver's seat, pinched his brow, and asked, "Yu Zhe, how's your case going?"
This kid is really wild; before driving him, he was carrying a case involving suspected indecent assault.
(End of this chapter)