MMB Chapter 1433 Children
Chapter 1433 Children
Chapter 1433 Children
"Secretary-General, was the journey smooth?"
Han Jiankun stood guard on the platform. As soon as Li Xuewu got off the train, he saw him and ran over to greet him.
Li Xuewu smiled and handed him the luggage, saying, "Aren't you busy today?"
"Nothing much, just plenty of free time."
Han Jiankun smiled and took the suitcase from the train attendant; it was a bit heavy.
The Hongxing Steel Group's brand is very useful at Beijing Railway Station, which is why Han Jiankun was able to come to the platform to pick him up.
This sign is useful, but that doesn't mean it's useful in all railway systems.
The train attendant helped me with my luggage, and I only managed to get him to show me his work certificate; the job title on it looked rather impressive.
The train conductor didn't show up, apparently unsure how to receive him, and made an excuse about being busy.
Li Xuewu certainly didn't care about such trivial matters. Even without the train conductor's help, he wasn't in his seventies or eighties and couldn't carry his luggage.
"It's better to be busy. Don't be so polite next time, just arrange a car to come over."
Li Xuewu patted his arm, and the two walked together out of the platform.
Every time he returns, he informs the group, and the general management department arranges a car to pick him up.
Eight out of ten times, Han Jiankun would come in person, unless he had urgent work to attend to.
"I really have nothing to do, I'm just killing time anyway."
Han Jiankun walked beside him and explained with a smile, "I dropped off Jingru and her daughter first before coming to pick you up. If the train isn't delayed, we'll have dinner as soon as we get home."
"There was nothing I could do; we ran into some trouble on the way."
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "I thought it would be two or three hours late, but I didn't expect the driver to be so ruthless in chasing the time, and it was only half an hour late."
"I can always guess it, it'll always be late."
Han Jiankun exited the station and headed towards the parking lot, while Li Xuewu followed behind carrying a small piece of luggage.
Although this wasn't his first time returning to Beijing, a comprehensive comparison showed that the number of people entering and leaving the train station this time was significantly less than since the beginning of the year.
The exit was no longer so crowded, and the scattered pedestrians were no longer the carefree young people.
It must be said that the strong wind swept away everything, leaving not a single speck of dust behind, demonstrating its formidable power.
He wasn't being sentimental or affected, trying to say something for those young people; he was simply lamenting how suddenly times had changed.
"The security situation in the capital has improved considerably."
The luggage was already in the trunk. Han Jiankun came back and took the small bag from his hand. Seeing him looking at the situation at the train station, he knew what he was thinking.
He gave a brief introduction, then didn't say anything more. After putting down his small bag, he went to open the car door.
Li Xuewu just stood in the parking lot for a few moments, listened to Han Jiankun's introduction, said nothing, nodded, and got into the car.
A new model of Shanghai, with insufficient production capacity of the Hongqi brand, has become synonymous with the region's top brand.
Of course, for a company like Hongxing Steel Group, which has made great strides in the tertiary industry and even facilitated its corporatization, the Shanghai-branded car is nothing special.
If it weren't for the tight import car supply channels in recent years, and the strict quotas for Hongqi cars, the group's leaders would have changed cars long ago.
At Hongxing Steel Group, cars from Shanghai are considered relatively luxurious. If all goes well, the Tianjin Trade Management Center, in conjunction with the International Business Department, will be able to open up import channels this year, at which point it will be certain that the group's leaders will be getting new cars.
If you have money, why not spend it wisely, or waste it on trivial matters?
"Is Dongdong eight months old?" Li Xuewu, sitting in the passenger seat, asked. "Can he crawl yet?"
"Jing jing, you can sit up by yourself now."
When Han Jiankun heard him ask about his beloved daughter, he smiled and said, "She can grab things, but climbing is difficult for her."
"No rush, it's normal."
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Li Shu developed quickly when she was young, and she was ahead of other children her age in everything. But when it came to Li Ning, she was a bit slower."
“Li Ning has become sensible; he even knows to give Dongdong toys.” Han Jiankun turned to look at him and said, “When I come out, I’ll come with you to pick you up.”
“I heard from his mother that he’s started to be naughty now.” Li Xuewu talked to Han Jiankun about his child without showing any signs of fatigue, only anticipation of going home early.
"Can Li Ning be as mischievous as Li Shu?"
Taking the opportunity, Han Jiankun complained, "When I took Jingru and her daughter home, she was scaling the walls and leaping across the rooftops. Er Ya was so scared that she cried."
"Sigh—" What could Li Xuewu, the old father, do besides sit in the car and sigh bitterly?
He wanted to fly home as soon as possible, grab his daughter, and slap her bottom a few times to scare her.
But he knew that once he got home and saw his daughter's attempts to please him, he wouldn't be able to stay serious.
He only goes home twice a month, and he doesn't even have time to spend with his daughter and son, let alone discipline them.
He wanted to be a loving father, but that would mean Gu Ning had to be a strict mother. He knew Gu Ning's feelings for the children; she appeared serious on the surface, but was actually very caring.
Gu Ning was injured when she was a child, so of course she didn't want the children to be hurt again.
Li Shu had been afraid of her since she was a child, but Gu Ning had never even touched her. On the contrary, Li Xuewu was so angry that he wanted to slap her a few times, but Li Shu was not afraid of him.
"I do hope that Dongdong will be as brave as Li Shu when she grows up. It's better for a girl to be a little more capable."
With both hands on the steering wheel, Han Jiankun suddenly uttered this sentence.
Li Xuewu smiled and looked at him, saying, "What? You're starting to worry now?"
He shook his head with amusement and said, "A son is no longer under his mother's control once he grows up. We'll have to see how things go from here."
“I even told Jingru about it.”
Han Jiankun rarely had anyone he could confide in. He was no longer the taciturn man he used to be when he was Li Xuewu's driver; he kept talking non-stop.
"She asked me if I preferred a daughter or a son, and I told her I preferred a daughter."
He smiled and said, "This isn't just to appease her or deceive her. I just really like little girls; they're much cuter than little boys."
"But, watching her grow up day by day, my heart is aching like this, can you understand me?"
Han Jiankun turned to look at Li Xuewu and said with a smile, "Just thinking about whether she'll be bullied after she gets married makes my heart ache—"
“You have to think like this: Jingru married you, have you ever bullied her?” Li Xuewu advised him. “Who doesn’t want their children to live a happy life? If you always think the worst, when will it ever end?”
"Besides, we all live our own lives, one day at a time. Who can guarantee that everything will go smoothly and peacefully?"
He raised his chin and said, "I advise you to live your life well, cherish every day with your family, and be able to make sure you don't waste your time is a blessing."
These words were spoken to Han Jiankun, and they came from his own heart. He felt that without his family, he would be like a rootless duckweed in this world, and what would be the point of living?
Being filial to your parents is giving yourself an explanation for your life; raising your children is giving yourself an explanation for your death.
We have to do something and leave something behind after coming into this world, otherwise wouldn't we be at a great loss?
The next life?
Stop joking around. You haven't even figured out how to live this life, and you're already thinking about some vague and uncertain next life?
Li Xuewu is an atheist and a staunch materialist. He believes that when a person dies, everything is extinguished, and there is no next life.
Biology explains a person's life from birth to death in great detail, so that we should live each and every moment to the fullest, lest we have many regrets before we pass away.
What he said seemed like old clichés and profound truths, but Han Jiankun was able to listen to it.
His mother had a quarrel with him over the child, and in a fit of anger, she went to his older brother's place.
Han Jiankun was an open-minded and simple person, and filial piety towards his mother was his due duty.
His older brother knew this too, so when his mother went there in a huff, she didn't complain at all when she called back, only telling him to take good care of Qin Jingru and the child.
There should be this kind of bond between brothers. If someone tries to sow discord between them, then life becomes unbearable.
Qin Jingru kept urging him to go to his older brother's house to pick up his mother, but Han Jiankun had his own ideas. He called his older brother several times and learned that his mother was in good health, so he didn't rush to pick her up.
The old lady was getting on in years, and her husband had passed away suddenly, so she became a bit eccentric.
He couldn't argue with his mother, so he decided to live separately for a while so that when they reunited, they could still think of each other and cherish their relationship and fate.
He wasn't thinking about his feelings and fate with his mother; the bond between mother and son was ordained by God.
As the old saying goes, "A person doesn't despise their mother for being ugly, and a dog doesn't despise their home for being poor." That's the point.
He thought that his mother should cherish her relationship and bond with Qin Jingru and their child.
The child was left at his house. We can't treat her differently just because she's a girl. That would be disgraceful.
"The most difficult position for a man is between his wife and his mother."
As the car turned onto the street, Han Jiankun said with emotion, "Fortunately, Jingru is sensible, and my mother is not a heartless person, so I can finally catch my breath."
"You make it sound so difficult—"
Li Xuewu looked at him with amusement and said, "You're nothing compared to this. Have you never seen a quarrel before?"
He watched Han Jiankun park the car, then turned around and said, "When you get home, ask Jingru about the stories of our institute from the past, and you won't complain about how hard it was."
"Hehehe——"
With Qin Jingru's big mouth, there's nothing she doesn't know about the neighbors in the courtyard.
What do the couple say to each other before going to bed at night?
We can't just talk about things that happen in bed every day. We've already talked about each other's parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It's time to talk about gods, ghosts, and strange tales.
During this time, one must always intersperse stories about neighbors or old stories that they have seen in each other's neighborhoods.
When a neighbor encounters something strange, they will tell him about their situation.
In this day and age, there are no social media accounts or short videos. To save electricity, people would lie on the kang (a heated brick bed) after turning off the lights but couldn't sleep, and would inevitably gossip.
Why are couples so close these days? Because these conversations bring them closer together.
Think about it, after a long day of work and busyness, you only have time to chat at night.
Since you only gossip about your spouse, you naturally consider them the most important person in your life.
In later generations, there are too many channels for venting. When couples have misunderstandings and conflicts, they don't deal with them. They either talk to their best friends or on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book). If this thing works, what the hell is the point of having a marriage certificate?
***
"Hey—who's this?"
On the way home, Li Xuewu was saying he was going to discipline his daughter, but as soon as he got home, before he even stepped inside, he was completely charmed by her.
Li Shu held a large bunch of flowers in her hand, deliberately hiding her face behind the flowers as she walked towards him.
Li Xuewu's heart had long been melted by his daughter's cuteness, and at this moment he only knew how to play along with her.
"Giggle-"
As she approached her father, a smile suddenly appeared on her face. Seeing the look of surprise in her father's eyes, Li Shu couldn't help but giggle out loud.
"Oh dear, you startled Dad!"
Li Xuewu wasn't this serious when he was acting with Li Huaide and his group; his daughter is truly his lifeblood.
"Dad, I miss you so much."
Li Shu was very good at acting cute, wrapping her little arms around his neck and refusing to let go, while pressing her little face against him.
You just say, who wouldn't be confused when they come?
Li Ning?
Are you talking about the boy who was holding a handful of foxtail grass and trying to get closer to his sister?
Okay, okay, you're all Dad's good children.
Li Xuewu has already accepted it; this child tries to imitate his sister in everything, but always manages to come up with something new.
What would it be like to have one in each hand, with over 40 pounds in the left hand and over 30 pounds in the right?
No need to think about it, even if the weight were doubled, Li Xuewu could still lift it up; this is the glory of being a father.
"But when they saw their father, they kept talking about him from morning till now, without stopping."
Qin Jingru stood at the door holding her child, smiling as she said to Li Xuewu, "If you don't come back soon, Li Shu will ride her bicycle to the intersection to pick you up."
"How about Li Shu rides her bike to the train station to pick up Dad next time?"
Li Xuewu smiled and looked at his daughter, asking, "Did you carry your father back?"
"it is good--"
Li Shu is really outspoken; she doesn't even know where the train station is, yet she dares to agree to anything.
Li Ning reached out and slapped his face, staring intently at him, meaning he wanted to go too.
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled and kissed him, saying, "You should come too. Dad has a lot of luggage, and he really can't bring back a children's bicycle."
Li Ning received the same emotional value as her sister, and now she chuckled as she clenched her little hands.
Is there any sound more intoxicating than the laughter of children?
"Eh-"
The little girl, who was being held in Qin Jingru's arms, saw Li Shu and Li Ning being held in her arms and pointed at Li Xuewu with some curiosity, babbling something.
Li Xuewu smiled and looked her over, saying, "Dongdong, you've gained weight again."
This child is quite sensible; he brought his own food rations, and quite a lot of them at that.
"Tell the old man, have you gained weight?"
Qin Jingru smiled and teased her daughter, then looked at her and asked, "You mean I've gained another pound and a half?"
"It's good that you're chubby, so you can grow up quickly."
Li Xuewu put Li Shu and Li Ning down, extended his finger for the little girl to shake, and said with a smile, "When you grow up, you can buy wine for your dad."
"Hehehe—" Han Jiankun carried his luggage into the house and laughed out loud when he heard this.
Qin Jingru chuckled and hugged her daughter, saying, "Come inside quickly, it's terribly hot. Sister Xiaoning said she'll be back in a bit."
"She didn't have surgery today?"
Li Xuewu changed into slippers at the door and felt noticeably cooler inside.
It's not the coolness of shade, but the coolness of the air; his house has air conditioning.
This was all thanks to that unreliable guy Ji Weidong; it took a lot of effort from installation to use.
Do you think you can buy whatever electrical appliances you want in this day and night, and use public power lines as you please?
Of course not. Using lights and telephones is fine; low-power appliances are no problem. But if you want to connect high-power appliances, then it will be a bit troublesome.
Why?
The electrical wires of that era were all made of aluminum wire, and they were made of multiple strands twisted together. Over time, when they were taken apart, white powder would be released, which was the result of them being unable to withstand the load.
It wasn't until 2000 that the national electricity reform replaced multi-strand aluminum wires with copper wires, enabling the free use of high-power electrical appliances.
What impressed Li Xuewu most was that his family always kept candles on hand because of frequent power outages.
Especially during the Spring Festival, there are power outages nine out of ten years, and we often only get to watch half of the Spring Festival Gala.
That's why some people say that your childhood and my childhood seem different.
To ensure that home appliances function properly, fuses do not blow, and transformers do not trip, the only solution is to replace the wiring and circuits, specifically the section of wiring from the transformer to the home.
Didn't they have copper wire in this era?
Of course there were, but at that time, copper production had not yet increased, and the production cost of copper wire was too high.
If you have the means and your home is close to a transformer, you can pay for the modification yourself and have your own dedicated power line.
Li Xuewu's family was able to enjoy air conditioning at a considerable expense.
Why are Qin Jingru and her son here?
Not only today, but during the days Li Xuewu was away from home, after the hottest period of summer began, Qin Jingru often came here to escape the heat, fearing that the children would suffer.
Gu Ning hoped she would come more often, as Li Tang was the same age as Li Ning, both two and a half years old.
My sister-in-law, Zhao Yafang, is pregnant and it's inconvenient for her to take care of the baby. Li Ning wants to send the baby to his grandmother's house, but the old lady can't take care of the baby herself, so it's best for the baby to stay at home.
But with the two siblings at home, Er Ya couldn't take care of them all, so Qin Jingru's arrival was just what was needed.
Zhao Yaping went home to help out during summer vacation, and Xiaoxiao only came over in the evenings and on Sundays. Gu Ning has really grown a lot and matured a lot in the past six months.
Taking care of children, managing a family, and balancing studies and work is incredibly challenging.
When she returned from the hospital and saw Li Xuewu, she felt like crying.
On one hand, I was excited, and on the other hand, I felt wronged.
Li Xuewu wanted to take her hand, but she felt embarrassed because there were too many people in her family.
Han Jiankun and Qin Jingru smiled and looked away to play with the children, while Er Ya went to the kitchen to busy herself.
The couple stood in the living room, watching their children play, looking at each other, with so much to say.
Li Shu is 4 and a half years old, Li Ning is 2 and a half years old, and Han Lidong is 8 months old. How can the three children play together?
It depends on Li Shu's opinion. Now that she's the boss, she gets to decide what toys she wants to play with.
Han Lidong didn't know how to play; he just sat there watching his older brothers and sisters play, occasionally grabbing a handful with his little hands.
"I thought you came back the day before yesterday."
Seeing that the couple was being reserved, Qin Jingru knew that it was mainly Xiao Ning who was reserved, so she took the initiative to bring up a new topic.
“Jiankun told me that the group leaders had returned from negotiations in Liaodong, and I assumed you had come back with them.”
"No, I haven't finished my work yet."
Li Xuewu shook his head slightly, walked to the sofa and sat down. Looking at the three children playing on the floor, he explained, "President Gao and President Cheng are in a hurry to come back because they have something to do."
"There must be another big project."
Qin Jingru asked with some curiosity, "Are we going to have to transfer a large number of people from the capital again this time?"
"It's a new project, a big project."
Li Xuewu looked up at her and said with a smile, "However, it doesn't involve new processes, and we won't be transferring a large number of workers over. Engineers might be involved."
"He told me that the group has been undergoing frequent personnel changes recently, and he was afraid of being transferred."
Qin Jingru glanced at Han Jiankun, her gaze seemingly blaming him for not asking when something was wrong.
What is the relationship between the couple and Li Xuewu? Since they have this personal relationship, as long as it doesn't violate work discipline, why shouldn't we ask?
Han Jiankun was worried that he would be transferred, but he was also afraid of causing trouble for Li Xuewu, so he dared not ask.
Qin Jingru has a more straightforward personality and doesn't have any psychological burden.
"What's there to be afraid of being transferred? It's not far away."
Li Xuewu smiled at Han Jiankun and teased him, "Now, if you take a boat from Gangcheng, you'll reach Liangma River in less than two days. It's very fast."
"The more you talk, the more scared I get."
Han Jiankun smiled wryly and pointed to Dongdong playing on the ground, saying, "I can't live without my child."
It is said that a good man should have ambitions beyond his hometown, but once a father has a child, he can't go far.
"Who wants to leave the child?"
Li Xuewu looked down at his children, a hint of helplessness in his eyes, and said, "It would be best to live with my children for the rest of my life, but this is just a wish."
***
Han Jiankun and Qin Jingru's family ate dinner at home before returning home; the children were asleep when they left.
The main reason was that Han Jiankun wanted to see him and talk about his recent work, including his concerns about being transferred and the frequent changes in the group's organizational structure before it became a group.
Li Xuewu explained to him that this situation was normal, as the group leaders needed to adjust the organizational structure before the group was formally established to facilitate organizational work next year.
Once the group structure is completed, Hongxing Steel Group will be operated under a magnifying glass, and any slight movement will be amplified, making management very inconvenient.
As for whether Han Jiankun will be reassigned, Li Xuewu couldn't say for sure. He was no longer in Beijing and was no longer in charge of the daily management of the Comprehensive Management Department, so he didn't know much about many things.
This is a process with both gains and losses.
He has full authority to decide on almost all issues of the group's industrial enterprises in Liaodong. At the group level, he has to give up some things. If he tries to control everything, he will exhaust himself.
"Are you angry with me?" The moon was high in the sky when Li Xuewu came out of the bathroom, walked to the bedside and sat down next to Gu Ning. He took her hand and said, "I'm sorry I haven't been back for a month and a half."
"No, nothing's wrong at home."
Gu Ning tried to pull her hand away, but didn't; it was Li Xuewu who took the initiative to hold her hand.
It might be true that I'm not angry, but it's impossible to say that I don't feel any resentment or grievance.
"Where's your graduation certificate? Why won't you show it to me?" Li Xuewu teased her with a smile, saying, "You're better than me now, I can't catch up with you even if I wanted to."
"No way—" Gu Ning was a little embarrassed; he was too good at talking.
"You are now the most educated person in our family, even more educated than your older brother and sister-in-law."
Li Xuewu lay down beside her, smiling as he looked at her and said, "Let me interview you. Dr. Gu, do you have any thoughts on receiving this honor?"
He really knew how to put on an act, even clenching his fist like a microphone and bringing it to Gu Ning's lips.
Gu Ning looked at the fist in front of her with amusement, then at Li Xuewu, and pretended to bite him.
"It's an interview, so just say what's on your mind."
Li Xuewu smiled and withdrew his fist, but reached out and touched her face, saying, "Don't be naughty."
Gu Ning glared at him shyly and reproachfully, then turned over and replied, "I have nothing to say."
"How could that be—"
Li Xuewu was determined not to give up and followed up by asking, "Strictly speaking, you are more learned than our father. Don't you have anything to say?"
Seeing that Gu Ning was pretending not to hear with her eyes closed, he rolled his eyes and said with a wicked smile, "When we left Steel City, Bang Geng was telling me that we should have a banquet to celebrate, just like when we got married..."
"How dare you—" Gu Ning was so embarrassed. Although she knew he was teasing her on purpose, she still couldn't help but glare at him with a red face.
This scoundrel is spouting nonsense with such a straight face, it's infuriating!
Li Xuewu chuckled and put his arm around her, saying, "What do I have to be afraid of? My wife has achieved academic success and is saving lives. Shouldn't we celebrate?"
"If you dare to go around telling everyone, I'll ignore you—" Gu Ning gave him a very serious warning and ultimatum. How serious? She meant she would ignore him completely.
In Gu Ning's world, the most serious crisis between a couple is ignoring each other.
She is somewhat withdrawn and introverted, but hopes her partner will be cheerful, responsible, and able to give her a strong sense of security.
Gu Ning couldn't take the initiative, so she hoped Li Xuewu could, preferably in a way that was... silly...
If you like someone, even their silly antics are nice.
Of course, in Li Xuewu's eyes, Gu Ning was gentle, proper, virtuous and intelligent.
The couple sees each other as the best, so absence makes the heart grow fonder, and tonight is especially romantic.
How romantic is it?
Both leisurely and slow-paced—
***
"This isn't our first collaboration, nor is it our first time working together, right?"
After a heated exchange in the conference room, Li Xuewu finally spoke with a smile.
He first glanced at Gao Yaqin, who was presiding over the negotiations, before looking at the Mercedes vice president opposite him.
This person also has a strong background. He suffered such a heavy blow at Hongxing Steel Group last time, but this time he can still sit steadily at the negotiating table as a business manager.
"I think instead of worrying about whether the future will be more or less by 1%, we should focus on getting the project up and running first."
Li Xuewu turned to He Yushui, the general manager of the International Hotel who was in charge of the project, and asked, "Has the Beijing Municipal Administrative Committee approved the relevant procedures?"
"It's basically finished."
He Yushui is not a core member of the negotiation team, but she is the general manager of the International Hotel and the ultimate person in charge of the project's operation, so she is also present at today's negotiations.
"You see, we attach great importance to this project. This procedure is not something that ordinary people can handle."
Li Xuewu looked at Mercedes, tapped the documents in front of him with his fingers, and earnestly reminded him: "I can tell you definitively that Santayar Group is the first to allow foreign companies to participate in the construction of major projects of the group. Whether there will be others in the future is another matter."
"If this cooperation goes smoothly and the results are satisfactory to all parties, then I can say that the future of Santayar Group in China has unlimited possibilities."
Mercedes glanced at him, then at Gao Yaqin, not rushing to give a definite answer, still hesitating and thinking.
Li Xuewu's sudden appearance at the final and most important negotiation meeting caught him somewhat off guard.
From the very beginning of this project, he was worried that Li Xuewu would appear in the negotiation team.
It's good news that the troublesome "foreign affairs expert" Li Xuewu did not participate in the negotiations for this project.
He had also heard that Li Xuewu had gone to Liaodong to oversee the management of the group's industrial enterprises.
However, President Shantal personally went to Liaodong to negotiate this project, and he is still unsure of the specifics.
Since the last time he caused a major problem for the group, his work authority in mainland China has been restricted.
Within the negotiation framework provided by Shantal, he was responsible for completing this series of negotiations.
The 1% increase or decrease mentioned by Li Xuewu not only represents the future profits for both parties, but also his ability to control the negotiation and manage the project.
The 1% on the contract doesn't seem like much now, but once the building starts construction and becomes operational, that 1% will be money, potentially in the millions.
Li Xuewu arrived unexpectedly for the final negotiation meeting. He didn't say much during the first half of the meeting, mostly listening to the discussions between the two sides.
Even though he didn't say anything, he still put some pressure on Mercedes. Today, Gao Yaqin was going all out, and he couldn't get a chance to make a move.
But when the negotiations reached their final stage, Li Xuewu suddenly spoke up, which became the last straw that broke the camel's back.
Li Xuewu did not participate in the specific negotiations, nor did he scrutinize the contract details; he simply intervened from another perspective.
He didn't talk about the contract details; he talked about the impact of the project and the necessity of finalizing the project as soon as possible.
This is precisely the goal pursued by the Santa Y Group and its president, Chantal.
If you say he disagrees with the plan, can we hold one last discussion meeting?
Okay, but there's no need.
The terms have basically been agreed upon, and further negotiations would be a waste of time for both sides. The key is to gain the upper hand.
Instead of discussing initiative, Li Xuewu talked about influence and timeliness, which really hit his weak spot.
Leading negotiations doesn't require involvement in every detail, much less meticulous examination and research; his role is simply to make the final decision.
The reason Li Xuewu appeared at the final negotiation meeting was arranged by Li Huaide.
He only had a few days off, how could he possibly give up time with his family to work?
There was nothing he could do; Li Huaide had already arranged his vacation time, and Liu Bin had even sent him the schedule.
He used to review Lao Li's schedule, not giving Lao Li any time to slack off.
Now Old Li's revenge is here, and it's all on the agenda. Isn't this just turning the tables on the Heavenly Gang?
It's understandable that he would complain about Lao Li, but with work looming ahead, he couldn't refuse to do it.
So Li Shu and Li Ning were in the next lounge, and Wang Lu was playing games with them.
Bringing a child to work is a statement in itself: "Old Li, don't go too far!"
Old Li was even more adept at stirring things up. He paid his secretary, Liu Bin, to buy a whole bunch of snacks and toys, truly knowing how to exploit Li Xuewu's weaknesses.
“I was completely unprepared to have you attend the meeting, which surprised me greatly.”
Since they've committed to the investment, Mercedes must agree with Li Xuewu's statement that time and efficiency are the most important things. Shantal doesn't care about that 1%; it's a test for him, not for Red Star Steel.
The worst-case scenario would be if he deliberately sabotaged the project.
However, when he was signing the bet, he was still somewhat unwilling and said this to Li Xuewu.
Gao Yaqin glanced at him with amusement, then looked at Li Xuewu with a meaningful look in her eyes.
Foreigners can even sow discord?
Mercedes boasted that his words were flawless, and Li Xuewu and Gao Yaqin might not have understood them, but he overestimated the emotional intelligence of Europeans and underestimated the profound heritage of thousands of years of Chinese civilization.
A rich kid like him wouldn't last three months at Hongxing Steel Group; those old hands in the bureaucracy could easily outmaneuver him.
By praising Li Xuewu so highly and deliberately neglecting Gao Yaqin, the implication is that Gao Yaqin is inferior to Li Xuewu.
Li Xuewu has already said that Hongxing Steel Group and Santay Group have been cooperating for a long time, and Mercedes has also been working in the mainland for a long time. Can't you tell who has a higher position, Li Xuewu or Gao Yaqin?
Of course he can tell the difference; this was intentional.
That's why Gao Yaqin gave Li Xuewu an amusing look; those foreign foxes are so naive!
"Actually, I think it doesn't matter who talks to you."
Li Xuewu stood up with a smile, extended his hand and said, "We share the same ideals and goals as the Santayar Group, and we firmly believe in that."
"We also firmly believe that friendship can overcome all difficulties and bring us new opportunities for cooperation."
"Of course, we believe it too."
Mercedes reluctantly stood up, shook hands with him, and said, "I hope we can cooperate well."
"It's a win-win situation—"
After letting go of his hand, Li Xuewu tapped him and then led the way outside with a flourish.
Gao Yaqin politely shook hands with him and left with Li Xuewu with a smile.
The Santayana Group's negotiating team was received by the Foreign Affairs Office and the project's communication team.
There's no need for Gao Yaqin and Li Xuewu to stay here all the time; it's not like Xiangtaer came in person.
Li Xuewu's graceful departure precisely demonstrates his confidence in this project and also illustrates his growing influence within the group.
Only enough self-confidence can support an interesting soul.
"Secretary-General, have the negotiations concluded?"
Hearing the noise in the corridor, Wang Lu peeked out from the lounge and greeted him when she saw him come out.
Li Xuewu smiled at her, nodded, and asked, "Are Li Shu and Li Ning well-behaved?"
"I'm a little sleepy, I need to go to sleep."
Wang Lu looked back at the child, stepped aside and explained, "Liu Bin bought a lot of things, saying that Director Li asked him to buy them. The two of them played with them all morning."
"Let's go, let's get some more good stuff."
Li Xuewu walked into the lounge, hugged his daughter and son, and teased them, "You think you can get rid of us with this little bit? My vacation time is very precious."
"Can I have a hug from Auntie?"
Gao Yaqin, who came out with Li Xuewu, saw him coaxing the child out, so she handed the notebook to her secretary and amused Li Ning with a smile.
Li Ning glanced at her, then shyly hugged her father's neck.
Li Shu was brave. She patted her younger brother on the back and comforted him, "Don't be afraid, little brother. He's Dad's colleague."
"You must be Li Shu, right? You're so smart!"
Gao Yaqin smiled and reached out to tug at her little hand, asking, "Have you started school yet?"
"This question is a bit cliché, but I'll still answer it out of politeness." Li Shu's precocious words made everyone around her laugh.
Li Shu didn't know what they were laughing at, but she said proudly, "I'm going to kindergarten."
"Oh my, you're in kindergarten now. No wonder you're so smart."
Gao Yaqin smiled at her and said, "How about you have your parents bring you and your brother to visit your aunt's house sometime? Your aunt will buy you toys."
"My brother and I have lots of toys."
Li Shu had heard her mother say that she should not go with strangers, let alone go to strangers' homes, so she answered her mother's question with a seemingly unrelated statement.
Just as they were chatting at the door, Huang Wenli, the marketing management manager, and He Yushui came over to inquire about publicity matters.
"Should we send the message out now?"
"what is your opinion?"
Gao Yaqin didn't rush to answer, but instead looked at Li Xuewu and asked him a question.
Li Xuewu raised his chin and said, "Let the United Industrial Daily conduct an exclusive interview with both parties. It's not too late to announce it after the contract is finalized."
"If you start celebrating before even signing a contract, and things change, be careful that you can't take it all back."
"Did you hear that? Don't rush."
Gao Yaqin turned to Huang Wenli and said something, then looked at He Yushui and instructed, "Go through the emergency plan again to ensure that the operation and management of the International Hotel will proceed normally during the construction period after the contract is signed."
How can the International Hotel maintain normal operations and management while undergoing reconstruction?
Because the new site of the International Hotel is not on the original site, and it has the gimmick of being the tallest building, acquiring the land was relatively easy, as Li Xuewu personally drew the line.
He circled a few key positions, letting Gao Yaqin and her team negotiate with the capital; whoever succeeded would profit.
As for the original site of the International Hotel, it will be converted into the office building of the sales headquarters after the new hotel is built.
"You guys keep going, we'll head back now."
After Gao Yaqin handed over her work, Li Xuewu hugged the two children and said goodbye, "Call me again if you need anything."
"You're leaving already?" Gao Yaqin called out, "Aren't you going to sit in Director Li's office for a while?"
“I’m afraid he has other things on his mind.”
Li Xuewu went downstairs jokingly. Actually, he wasn't afraid of Old Li causing trouble because he had other things to do.
Zheng Fuhua invited him to lunch at noon.
It was during this trip back to Beijing that Shen Fang called him and said that Director Zheng had officially retired, without any transition to a second-line role.
Zheng Fuhua is actually not that old; he could easily work for a few more years.
However, due to various reasons, as well as a lack of luck and connections, he withdrew.
Shen Fang told him that Gao Zhen had indeed helped, but Gao Zhen himself was also in a lot of trouble.
In Zheng Fuhua's own words, this is the best possible outcome.
Why did Zheng Fuhua invite him to dinner?
As agreed back then, Zheng Fuhua still owed Li Xuewu a meal, a promise he made before retiring.
Li Xuewu had almost forgotten about this incident, partly because his current work meant he had less contact with the Dongcheng Branch and Zheng Fuhua.
He was no longer in charge of security work, and even if there was contact, it was mostly with Wang Xiaoqin from the Third Guard Regiment.
Li Xuewu made the call to express his gratitude for the care the other party had given him back then. He also had some ideas, which were something Shen Fang had asked him to do.
After retiring, Zheng Fuhua found it difficult to adjust to the sudden relaxation of life. The string had been pulled too tight, and the sudden loosening left him feeling lost.
Li Xuewu wanted to invite him to serve as a coach or instructor in the group's security department, as this experienced veteran had plenty of energy to contribute.
(End of this chapter)