MMB Chapter 1447 This is what a smart person is like!
Chapter 1447 This is what a smart person is like!
Chapter 1447 This is what a smart person is like!
"Why don't you stay a little longer?"
Li Xuewu offered his mother-in-law tea, and then personally peeled an apple, cut it into several slices, and handed it to her.
Ding Fengxia enjoyed her son-in-law's care, but she still insisted on her own way of doing things.
“I also want to stay longer, but I can’t stop worrying about your father.”
She said with a hint of helplessness, "You all know him; when he gets busy, he never stops."
As she said this, she shook her head with a sigh, and looked at Li Xuewu, advising him: "You work in the steel city, and you and Xiaoning see each other very little. Don't let your relationship grow distant and fade. Take advantage of your youth, while the children are still young..."
"Mom—" Hearing her mother say this, Gu Ning blushed a little and reminded her with a hint of resentment, "It's late, go to rest."
"I didn't say anything else, you child." Ding Fengxia glared at her daughter with dissatisfaction, but also felt somewhat helpless. The only person she could never harden her heart towards in this life was her daughter.
"I couldn't see Mom off when she passed away, so you go and see her off."
Seeing that the mother and daughter were about to glare at each other, Li Xuewu quickly changed the subject, saying, "Bring the medicinal wine that Dad prepared. I've sealed it all up."
"It's all thanks to you thinking of him so often."
Seeing her daughter's stubbornness, Ding Fengxia felt even more that her son-in-law was considerate.
She sighed softly, "If it weren't for this medicinal wine, he wouldn't have been able to endure such intense work."
"Didn't they say another vice president had arrived?" Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and asked, "Dad wrote to me last time saying that his work had become much easier."
Just listen to him—
Ding Fengxia curled her lips and said, "Xiao Ning has inherited her father's temper; she's very stubborn."
As she said this, she glared at Gu Ning angrily, which made Gu Ning get up and go upstairs.
"Sigh—" Seeing her daughter like this, she was helpless and looked at her son-in-law, saying, "What can I do about my own daughter?"
"Actually, Xiao Ning has changed a lot."
Li Xuewu smiled and defended Gu Ning, but he was very careful not to overdo it.
To be honest, Gu Ning's ability to throw a tantrum in front of his mother and him is also a kind of personality change and growth.
Ding Fengxia knew her daughter well; even if she was dissatisfied or angry before marriage, she would never throw a tantrum.
When Gu Ning is angry, she becomes indifferent, even more so than during a marital cold war.
Now, having been "infected" by Li Xuewu, he has become much more lively, at least in terms of the richer variety of his emotional expressions.
In Ding Fengxia's view, this change was neither good nor bad. She hadn't seen the good side yet, but she had seen the temper tantrums.
“You have been very tolerant of her; I can feel it and see it.”
Ding Fengxia is very grateful for her son-in-law's sense of responsibility and actions, and admires his resilient and composed attitude towards work and life.
"In fact, Xiao Ning is extremely sensitive and easily hurt, which leads her to close herself off."
As a mother, she understands her daughter almost as well as a doctor; this is deep maternal love and heartfelt care.
“I know you are ambitious, and your father is very pleased to see your growth.”
She looked at her son-in-law earnestly and said, "But you still need to care more about the family. That's the only requirement your father and I have for you."
"Don't worry, I know what to do."
Faced with his mother-in-law's request, Li Xuewu said firmly, "Please also take good care of your health, Dad, so that we can do our best to be filial."
"We are content with just hearing that."
Ding Fengxia nodded in satisfaction, her gaze towards her son-in-law filled with admiration and pride.
“If it’s convenient for you, your dad and I will go to Guangzhou for recuperation during the National Day holiday. You guys can come too.”
"I can't agree to that because I've been quite busy with work lately, and I have two big projects to discuss."
Li Xuewu smiled apologetically, but still said, "I will talk to Xiao Ning and arrange for her to take the children to Guangzhou."
"If she doesn't want to, then forget it."
Ding Fengxia knows her daughter well; if she really doesn't want to go, she won't be in a good mood even when she gets to Guangzhou.
With two more young children, traveling would be very inconvenient, and she wasn't entirely at ease with them.
"I'll check with the group's business flights and contact you in advance if it's convenient."
Li Xuewu did not insist or make decisions on his own, but instead explained the travel arrangements.
Whether or not he goes depends on Gu Ning's wishes. Although he is Gu Ning's lover, he cannot make decisions for her on such matters.
Furthermore, Gu Ning also has her own career, and he cannot force her to sacrifice her career to take care of the family.
Just as Gu Ning didn't make that demand of him, husband and wife are one, and should be considerate of each other.
Ding Fengxia could feel her son-in-law's respect and consideration for his daughter. Although she felt a little regretful, she was mostly satisfied.
Thinking about it, she couldn't help but sigh. If she hadn't insisted on arranging Li Xuewu as her son-in-law, her daughter might never have found such a good match again.
what?
Was it Gu Haitao who made the decision in the first place?
Ding Fengxia firmly disagreed with this statement, because without her approval and support, no one could marry her daughter; this good son-in-law was chosen by her.
She dares to say that even with Gu Haitao here.
-
"Don't argue with Mom."
Li Xuewu lay on the bed and gently advised Gu Ning as she walked over with her hair down.
Gu Ning glanced at him only once before turning to sit on the edge of the bed, her back to him, and remained silent.
That's just how she is; if she doesn't want to say something, she won't say it, and she won't even look at you.
Li Shu seems to be following her example; she's a big devil at home and a proud little swan at kindergarten.
The teachers had heard about Li Shu's mother and father's situation to some extent, so they were not surprised by it.
With a good family environment and a nurturing atmosphere that fosters many talents, how can one expect her to be mediocre?
"Actually, Mom's favorite and the one she misses the most is you. Even my older brother and Gu Yan have to take a backseat."
Li Xuewu turned to the side and reached out to stroke her hair, continuing to comfort her, "Li Shu is also growing up, and she will become like you now."
"I won't nag Li Shu."
Gu Ning was still bothered by her mother's excessive nagging, and now she made him a promise.
However, Li Xuewu found this emphasis somewhat naive and ridiculous. Was this really a promise?
"Will she become sensible if you stop nagging her?"
Li Xuewu moved closer to her, wrapped his arms around her, and looked at her sideways, saying, "Think about how Li Shu talks back."
“Li Shu is not that kind of child.”
Gu Ning insisted, "I won't ask her to live any particular kind of life."
"But you are her mother, just like you are your mother's daughter."
Li Xuewu said earnestly, "You will eventually face the same problem."
"What role should we play in our daughter's life? Her growth is the countdown of our lives."
"If you keep saying that, I won't be able to sleep."
Gu Ning pushed his hand away in dissatisfaction, gesturing for him to move over so she could lie down.
Li Xuewu smiled, shifted his body so he was still facing her sideways, indicating that she could lie down.
Gu Ning glanced at his arm resting in front of her pillow, her lips twitched, but she still lay down.
Yes, she lay in his arms.
She remained vigilant, and if Li Xuewu offended her, she would resolutely sit up.
"Then let's talk about something happy."
Li Xuewu pulled her into his arms and told her about his mother-in-law's invitation for the whole family to go to Guangzhou.
After hearing this, Gu Ning did not immediately refuse, but turned to look at him and asked, "Are you going too?"
"I'm afraid it will be a bit difficult; there's not enough time."
Li Xuewu explained, "It's mid-September now, and I might not be able to finish the cooperation negotiations with Shenyang Aircraft Corporation in half a month."
"Another reason is that I've been away from the steel city for too long. After half a month, there must be a mountain of work piling up."
“Then I won’t go either,” Gu Ning said firmly after hearing his words. “I have surgery scheduled.”
"Won't Mom and Dad be sad?"
Li Xuewu still hoped that she would go out for a walk, especially with her father-in-law and mother-in-law taking care of them.
Gu Ning didn't want to go out, and he couldn't force her, so he could only advise her, "You should have a good talk with Mom."
"If we can't go this year, we'll go next year."
Gu Ning said calmly, "There will always be time to go."
Her way of thinking can be a bit naive when dealing with interpersonal relationships, including those with family members, perhaps because she has sensed that she is loved.
Before she came of age, she grew up under the care and love of her family. She may not have learned to perceive love, but she had already felt love and being loved.
If she were truly a cold-hearted person, she wouldn't have shown such sincerity and companionship to Li Shu.
Li Xuewu never thought of Gu Ning as an ice block; she was warm and affectionate, and could be considered a competent mother and lover to him and their family.
Therefore, he was sometimes willing to indulge her and enjoyed seeing her naive and childish behavior.
Even his mother-in-law, Ding Fengxia, couldn't stand it, saying that he spoiled Gu Ning too much.
That's right. Gu Ning was spoiled at home before she got married, but she believed that Gu Ning needed to grow up after marriage and take on the responsibilities and obligations of the family.
She's still being spoiled by Li Xuewu. Although they seem like a loving couple, as time goes on...
Perhaps love can be worn down by the daily grind of life, but that doesn't exist in Li Xuewu's home.
Because neither he nor Gu Ning takes responsibility for these things, they rarely argue or quarrel over trivial matters.
Li Xuewu never cared too much about her work, and she never caused him any trouble. This is what is meant by living in harmony and mutual support.
"If you're not going to sleep, how about we talk about Li Shu and Li Ning's education?"
Gu Ning turned her head and glanced at him, saying, "Li Ning will be three years old at the beginning of next year."
"Sending him to kindergarten so early?"
Li Xuewu looked at her with some surprise and said, "He has only just learned to speak, and many of his sentences are incoherent."
“Going to kindergarten made it a regular routine.”
Gu Ning was more heartless towards children than Li Xuewu had imagined. She leaned back, trying to find solace in his arms.
“His older sister is at school, and he is lonely at home alone. He often says he wants to go to kindergarten to play.”
Did Li Shu mention anything about kindergarten when she got home?
Li Xuewu turned to look at her profile and asked, "Is this what makes him want to go to kindergarten?"
"I think it's because no one plays with him."
Gu Ning thought for a moment and said, "Unless he goes to his grandma's house, he can only play at home by himself."
"I heard that his sister has a lot of friends in kindergarten, so maybe that's what he thinks."
"Once you start school, you lose your freedom."
Li Xuewu genuinely cares about his son, which shows he's a true father.
Will Li Ning regret his choice today when he doesn't want to go to school more than ten years from now?
At that point, he'll really have no choice but to go to school, whether he wants to or not. He'll be stuck on this one path.
-
On the 13th, Li Xuewu got up early and went out for a run as usual.
Right by the lake, without Banggeng's constant chatter and without Old Zhang's lonely figure, the two laps were extremely smooth and boring.
As soon as he arrived at the gate, Er Ya came out somewhat nervously and whispered to him, "The compound called."
The term "courtyard" refers to a traditional courtyard house. Er Ya had accompanied Gu Ning and the children to visit several times and was used to this term.
"What is it? Who called?"
Li Xuewu glanced at her and calmly said, "First, please get me a basin of hot water."
"It was Guodong calling."
As Er Ya walked into the courtyard, she offered an explanation.
Li Xuewu didn't respond to her request to continue, but instead stood in the courtyard, waiting for her to bring him hot water.
Perhaps influenced by his calm demeanor, Er Ya, who was carrying a basin of hot water, had calmed down considerably.
In his hands, besides the basin of hot water, he also carried his usual towel.
After helping him wash his face and wiping his back with a hot towel, Er Ya explained softly, "Brother Guodong said that our old neighbor in the courtyard, Aunt Er, has passed away."
"Yes, they are my neighbors who live across the hall from my house."
Li Xuewu nodded and explained, "He has been paralyzed on one side for the past six months, and there were signs all along."
Hearing his casual explanation, Er Ya calmed down and remembered Shen Guodong's instructions.
“Brother Guodong said you don’t need to go. There won’t be a funeral today, and he will pay your funeral expenses on your behalf.”
"I understand." Li Xuewu handed her the hot towel and said, "Your brother Guodong is very disciplined. You can ask him if you don't understand anything."
"I know, he told me once."
Er Ya nodded and said, "He told me when he came to deliver firewood last time that I could contact him if I needed anything."
"You can also turn to him if you have any difficulties in life."
Li Xuewu smiled and nodded, then gestured to the upstairs speaker and said, "You can also tell your sister Xiao Ning."
"Sister Xiaoning takes good care of me."
Er Ya, remembering how good Gu Ning had been to her, smiled and nodded, saying, "You've been very good to me too."
"Go ahead and do your work, I'll take care of things here."
Li Xuewu didn't take her small compliment to heart; it was a genuine compliment, showing that this girl had grown up.
When she first came to our home, she was like a little quail; she would shrink her neck at the slightest disturbance.
If Zhou Ziqiang were to come and see his sister now, he would surely be astonished.
To understand the profound impact of city life on a young person, one only needs to look at the migrant workers who moved to cities in later generations.
Who is Aunt Er? Zhou Erya may never have even met her, but she can tell the importance and urgency of things.
The call was from Shen Guodong; she believed that this "gone" person must be very important.
The fact that they called to announce the death in the morning at least shows that this neighbor was no ordinary person.
She was wrong. Shen Guodong called so early to remind Li Xuewu not to be distracted by this matter.
He knew that Li Xuewu had a meeting this morning and would be flying to Fengcheng by private jet this afternoon, so he was very busy.
In this era, given the social relationships we had, if an old neighbor or acquaintance passed away, we would always go and visit them.
As a factory leader, once he learns of this news, or if Liu Haizhong sends a message through the factory, he will have to decide whether to respond or not.
Now that Shen Guodong has contacted him, even if someone comes to deliver a message, he can simply say, "I know, there are arrangements."
He didn't want Li Xuewu to be distracted by trivial matters, not only because he knew Li Xuewu was busy with work, but also because he was certain that Brother Wu wouldn't let this trip to Fengcheng go unpunished.
It has been three days since the third child went missing, and the result is still unclear; he has neither been found alive nor dead.
By this time, almost everyone in the recycle bin system knew the news. Although no one said it aloud, they all concluded in their hearts that Xi Yongzhong's chances of survival were slim.
If his kidnappers had any demands, they should have arranged for someone to meet them long ago.
If Xi Yongzhong had left on his own, there should have been some splashing water even under that inescapable net.
Zhao Laosi and Zhou Changli were clearly panicked; they hadn't expected to make such a huge mess of things.
Zhou Changli's decision to go to Fengcheng to take charge was Zhou Yamei's choice and support, while Zhao Laosi's move to Fengcheng was Li Xuewu's suggestion.
With the support of Zhou Yamei and Li Xuewu, the two should be able to make a big splash in Fengcheng.
Of course, this is all on the premise of safety.
Whether it's for yourself, for your business, or for everything, security is the most important thing.
So, Xi Yongzhong, the third of the Thirteen Protectors, was also among them who went to work in Fengcheng.
They were not surprised, nor did they need to speculate; the Thirteen Protectors were present in every recycling station system.
Apart from the frontier offices.
However, the person in charge of carrying out the duties of the Thirteen Protectors at the Frontier Office was Zhao Laosi's younger brother, Zhao Laowu.
Judging from Zhao Laowu's performance, the existence of the Thirteen Protectors not only included arrangements for learning and training, but also responsibilities of supervision and reporting.
Their actions are likely reflected in the letters the Thirteen Protectors mailed to their "hometown" every month.
This is an almost open secret; the recycling station's leaders didn't intend to hide it from them, but they also didn't offer any specific explanation.
Now that the people who were supervising and documenting their work have disappeared, how should they feel if they were in their shoes?
Zhao Laosi and Zhou Changli were wondering what Li Xuewu would think, whether they had done something wrong and were afraid that Xi Yongzhong would report them, thus choosing to kill them.
If Li Xuewu really thought that way, they would be terrified.
Therefore, no one was more eager to find Xi Yongzhong than the two of them, and no one hoped that Xi Yongzhong was still alive more than they did.
Even if some petty scoundrels foolishly arrest Xi Yongzhong, they still hope to ensure the safety of Lao San's life.
A letter from the capital clearly instructed that no effort should be spared and all resources should be coordinated to find Xi Yongzhong.
There's no need to wonder who issued this order; no one but Li Xuewu would dare to give such a high-profile command.
Whether they can find Xi Yongzhong, or whether Xi Yongzhong is still alive, is a test for them.
When people are alive, everything is fine, but when people die, they can forget about it; everyone's doomed.
This is the first crisis to occur within the recycling system. Without serious measures, the Thirteen Protectors who are responsible for oversight, or anyone else, will have no guarantee of their lives.
Therefore, Zhao Laosi and Zhou Changli turned pale with fright after discussing it, fearing that they would be used as an example to deal with.
They wanted to resolve this matter perfectly before Li Xuewu arrived in Fengcheng.
However, as the time drew near, the dark clouds hanging over Zhao Laosi and Zhou Changli showed no signs of dissipating.
-
On the morning of September 13, Li Xuewu attended the 41st executive meeting of the Group's Management Committee.
The meeting heard and discussed the second cooperation negotiation plan with Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, which was formulated under the leadership of Li Xuewu in Gangcheng.
Gao Yaqin, on behalf of the negotiation team, submitted a work report and a statement of opinions to the management committee.
In her submitted statement, she mentioned the phrase "quick and decisive action," which, in detail, means to negotiate what can be negotiated and sign what can be signed, in order to avoid any unforeseen complications given the current complex situation.
Li Xuewu expressed his support and agreement with her opinion and supplemented the negotiation terms.
The key point is to sign a framework cooperation agreement, which will lay a solid foundation for cooperation on other projects in the future.
Li Huaide had already heard the two men's report on this opinion, but he still listened attentively on the spot.
After the two finished speaking, he called out Cheng Kaiyuan's name again, since Cheng Kaiyuan was a member of the negotiation team.
Cheng Kaiyuan had naturally communicated with the two men and made preparations in advance. At this moment, he also expressed his supportive opinions and attitudes.
Old Li did not hold a vote on this issue at the meeting. After understanding that most people had no objections, he instructed the three members of the negotiation team that since they wanted to resolve the matter quickly, they should not be ambiguous and that this trip to Fengcheng must yield results and gains.
To put it bluntly, we can't go for nothing.
Not to mention the manpower and resources consumed in organizing the negotiations, how much does it cost for a special plane to fly to Fengcheng once?
You said we can't go by train?
Sure, taking the train is cheaper and more convenient, and you don't have to go to the airport to transfer to a plane.
However, Hongxing Factory itself had its own agenda and scheming in cooperating with Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. How could it possibly lose its momentum and be at a disadvantage at such a crucial moment in the negotiations?
Therefore, a private jet is a must, a luxury business jet is essential, and the negotiation team must be top-notch.
If it weren't for some reservations, Li Huaide would have liked to send his big red flag over to show off his power.
Even though the Hongqi sedan couldn't go, the Foreign Affairs Office still contacted the machinery manufacturing plant to prepare a luxury car.
The negotiation team was uniformly dressed, exuding a powerful aura, and even when negotiating on the other side's home turf, they treated it as if it were their own.
So as soon as the management committee meeting ended, Li Xuewu and the other two went downstairs to their car amidst the anticipation of Li Huaide and other group leaders, and headed directly to the airport.
The journey takes three or four hours, so there's no time for lunch; we have to eat on the road.
With a business jet, the environment and conditions are naturally superior, and the members of the negotiation team, who were participating for the first time, were already looking forward to having an airplane meal.
Now that your wish has come true, what difference does it make if you take the same food to heaven to eat?
The answer is different moods.
"The International Hotel project may start much later, so don't wait for the guesthouse and the Riverside Garden residential complex."
Li Xuewu got out of the car and continued the conversation with Cheng Kaiyuan.
"It's already September, and the main construction hasn't been completed in three months."
He pointed to a spot in the air and said, "We'll do whatever we can. At least we need to get the framework of the guesthouse up this year so that construction can begin in the winter."
"It might be a bit difficult, there are procedural issues."
Cheng Kaiyuan was wearing a white shirt with the second button of the collar undone, clearly indicating that the two were having a rather enthusiastic conversation.
Downstairs in the factory office area, Cheng Kaiyuan deliberately got into the same car as Li Xuewu.
Along the way, Cheng Kaiyuan talked about the group's development and the work measures to be taken next.
Li Xuewu offered no commentary, only stating his own views, so the two got along very well.
“Without the International Hotel project starting, the special funds in the savings bank account cannot be accessed, and the projects for the guesthouse and the Riverside Garden residential complex cannot proceed.”
Cheng Kaiyuan threw away his cigarette butt and followed Li Xuewu toward the plane, emphasizing, "Haste makes waste. This is not a job that can be rushed."
"Hello, General Manager Cheng! Hello, General Manager Gao! Hello, Secretary-General!"
As they approached the plane, the flight crew was already waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs.
They were all beautifully dressed, vibrant young women; they were a sight to behold standing there.
Not to mention the unanimous greetings and warm smiles.
Cheng Kaiyuan stopped talking, smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. Having learned his lesson, he was particularly cautious in matters of love and sex.
Li Xuewu and Gao Yaqin were much more outgoing. Compared to Cheng Kaiyuan's rigidity and reserve, he took the initiative to shake hands with Zhou Xiaoling and the others.
Gao Yaqin joined him and shook hands with everyone.
Seeing the two of them like this, Cheng Kaiyuan then stepped into the third position and shook hands with everyone.
This makes it seem like Li Xuewu is the high-ranking leader, and the two of them are just accompanying him.
In fact, Zhou Xiaoling didn't care at all whether Cheng Kaiyuan shook hands with them or not; she only cared about Li Xuewu's attitude towards them and towards her.
The secretary-general still appeared elegant and composed, showing no surprise or unusual thoughts in response to their welcome.
Everyone was wearing new uniforms and skirts, and it was one thing for President Cheng to pretend to be a gentleman, but why didn't the Secretary-General react at all?
Gao Yaqin saw right through the girls' thoughts and eyes. As she was going up the gangway into the cabin, she teased Li Xuewu, saying, "I didn't expect you to be so popular."
They say a man is in his prime at forty, so am I still a budding flower?
Li Xuewu smiled and sat down in the chair. He didn't have much luggage, just a simple bag.
Just now, when he boarded the plane, Zhou Xiaoling had thoughtfully placed his luggage on the overhead rack.
"Yes, of course it counts, it's a flower bud."
Gao Yaqin found it amusing and couldn't help but tease, "From now on, I'll call you Flower Bud."
"Then shall I call President Cheng 'One Flower'?"
Li Xuewu turned to Cheng Kaiyuan, who had just sat down, and asked, "What should we call General Manager Gao?"
"Call her a country bumpkin, she makes a fuss over the smallest things." These were Cheng Kaiyuan's exact words, which were unpleasant to hear, so Gao Yaqin threw the cushion behind her back at him.
"Hehehe—" The members of the negotiation team who were putting their luggage in the cabin all laughed.
Judging from the atmosphere during this trip to Fengcheng, everyone was very confident, and their eyes were full of energy.
If we follow the plan decided at the management committee meeting, there will definitely be a good result tomorrow.
Li Xuewu was still thinking about the task Li Huaide had given him in private: to test Shen Fei's attitude.
If Shenyang Aircraft Corporation has other channels of contact with Santay Group, then a resolute and planned counterattack must be carried out.
As Lao Li said, no one can challenge the bottom line of Hongxing Steel Group, not even Santayar Group.
-
“That Deputy Factory Director Wang is also a smart man.”
As Cheng Kaiyuan savored the simple meal served by the flight attendants, he said to Li Xuewu on the other side of the conference table, "The reason we chose to send you the invitation was because we valued your role in the group's external affairs."
"What does this mean?"
He waved the bread in his hand and said, "This shows that Shenfei and that Deputy Director Wang know us very well."
"It's impossible that we're the only ones who understand the principle of knowing yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Others don't fight unprepared battles either."
Gao Yaqin eats very carefully and never spills a single crumb on the conference table.
As she ate, she said, "The fact that they responded positively to our negotiations after the first contact shows that they had already planned and prepared for this."
"That's why the first negotiation didn't go through."
Cheng Kaiyuan said with a smile, "They have ulterior motives, and we have ulterior motives; we're both the same."
"Negotiation is a process of compromise."
Li Xuewu beckoned to Zhou Xiaoling and said, "Let's see who can resist the temptation and surrender first."
"Secretary-General, is there anything I can help you with?"
Zhou Xiaoling walked to Li Xuewu's side, bowed slightly, and asked softly if he needed any help.
Li Xuewu turned to her and said, "Please refill my tea. The bread you prepared is delicious."
"Thank you, it's what we should do."
Zhou Xiaoling nodded happily at Li Xuewu's praise and said, "I'll go get you some hot tea right now."
"If everyone is as polite as the Secretary-General, then we'll have to be just as courteous every time we fly?"
Gao Yaqin smiled and looked at him, saying, "I've noticed that you're always very polite to the staff, no matter where you go."
"Isn't that what we should do?"
Li Xuewu, of course, wouldn't explain any profound principles in front of the flight attendants; he would just smile and let it go.
While Zhou Xiaoling was refilling his hot tea, the three of them discussed their plans after getting off the plane, as well as the specific details of tomorrow's negotiations.
The business jet had only a small conference table, so the other members of the negotiation team could only sit in their own seats and listen carefully to the leaders' discussion.
Every now and then, someone would have a sudden inspiration and raise their hand to speak, adding to the discussion with the leaders.
"I bet that Deputy Director Wang from Shenyang Aircraft Corporation is waiting for us at the airport."
Just as the plane was about to land, Gao Yaqin looked out the window. Although she couldn't see any people on the ground, she could clearly see the airport below.
Little by little, it gradually grew bigger and bigger.
The experience of flying on a business jet is not as perfect or comfortable as that of a large airplane, as can be seen from the size of the special planes used by heads of state in later generations.
The biggest advantage of business jets is their lightness and speed, making it convenient to travel from one city to another.
As the Red Star No. 1 aircraft landed steadily on the runway of Fengcheng Airport, sunlight shone in from the western slope.
The meeting ended around 10:00 AM, and it was almost noon by the time we got to the airport.
The flight took three and a half hours, and the cabin door opened at 4 p.m., just as the sun was setting.
"Welcome, welcome, a warm welcome—"
Don't get me wrong, these days elementary school welcome ceremonies haven't become so common that most people wouldn't dare to enjoy or use them.
A group of young men and women, dressed in uniforms that clearly belonged to Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, stood at the airport to greet and cheer them on.
"I told you, this shrewd and cunning Deputy Factory Director Wang would definitely give us a hard time."
Gao Yaqin stood at the cabin door, looking at the welcoming red carpet and the procession below, and turned to say something to the two of them.
Just now, Li Xuewu and Cheng Kaiyuan yielded the position to Gao Yaqin, allowing her to stand in the first spot.
It didn't really matter. The three of them didn't divide up the responsibilities in the negotiation. The other party had already seen through the trick they played last time. In reality, they were just cooperating and putting on an act.
Li Xuewu and his group don't play by the rules; they'll suddenly flip the table while they're acting.
When the cabin door opened and Gao Yaqin was the first to appear at the door, the cheers from below grew even louder.
Wang Xin, standing at the front of the welcoming team, clapped softly, the surprise in his eyes not easily revealed to others.
To his surprise, Mingming received news that the three leaders from Hongxing Steel Group were the same ones from last time. He had already confirmed during the first round of negotiations that Li Xuewu was the main person in charge.
Looking at the cabin door now, shouldn't Li Xuewu be the first one to appear?
No, it's Gao Yaqin.
In the first round of negotiations, Mr. Gao did not have a particularly impressive performance; he was simply knowledgeable about trade and economic work and was the head of trade and economic affairs at Hongxing Steel Group.
Logically speaking, such a negotiation team should be led by her, but with a negotiation expert like Li Xuewu present, he doesn't believe that Gao Yaqin should be in charge this time.
"Welcome, welcome—"
Gao Yaqin was the first to step off the gangway, followed by Cheng Kaiyuan, and then Li Xuewu.
Therefore, Wang Xin shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with Gao Yaqin and Cheng Kaiyuan first, and then with Li Xuewu last.
"Director Hu heard you were coming and specially canceled his schedule for today, saying he wanted to have a good drink with you."
When shaking hands with Li Xuewu, Wang Xin was noticeably more enthusiastic and even made a joke.
Li Xuewu replied naturally, "That last sentence was definitely not said by Director Hu. Two cups are not enough."
"Hahaha—" Wang Xin laughed and raised his hand to gesture for them to walk along the red carpet to the car.
Xiao Zihong was prepared, but Wang Xin was even more prepared, bringing a whole fleet of luxury cars.
The only cars the machinery factory could find were from Shanghai, while Shenyang Aircraft Corporation brought three Mercedes-Benz cars.
This isn't an older model that was seized; it's a newer one. You don't need to ask how it came to be; it's all done through normal procedures. It's just that there's no service guarantee.
In those days, there were no "four-son" shops; car repairs and maintenance relied entirely on drivers and repair teams.
Even a Mercedes-Benz, which is expensive, is not a car that can run tens of thousands of kilometers without any problems in this day and age.
If it's going to break, it will break; if it needs fixing, it needs fixing.
From the invention of the automobile to its use, it has been a process of maintenance and summarization, so you can often see drivers and workers repairing cars by the roadside, either with their butts sticking out or lying on the ground.
"I can't refuse such hospitality—"
The Mercedes drove all the way to Shenfei, and before Li Xuewu even got out of the car, he met Hu Ke.
"How could I possibly trouble Director Hu to come all this way!"
An office secretary opened the car door for Li Xuewu, and as soon as he got out of the car, he shook hands with Hu Ke.
Hu Ke smiled and tapped him, saying, "Don't try to fool me. I know you better than anyone!"
He turned to Wang Xin and said, "You guys better keep your eyes open. Don't say I didn't warn you. This is a smart guy. Be careful not to get caught up in his schemes."
"Thank you for the reminder, Director Hu. We will definitely be careful." Wang Xin followed Hu Ke's joke and said, "Last time we almost fell into Secretary-General Li's trap. This time, I insisted on asking you to come and give us your advice."
"Ah—that's more like it!"
Hu Ke squeezed Li Xuewu's hand tightly and said with a smile, "With me acting as your go-between, what is there that we can't discuss or reach an agreement on?"
"Of course I trust you. With you here, we have more confidence."
Li Xuewu shook his hand, applying a little force to show his attitude.
"Okay, tonight we'll only talk about feelings, not work. If we have a good talk about feelings tonight, we can schedule our work early tomorrow."
"Look, they even have a whole set of routines."
Hu Ke smiled and released his hand, then shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with Gao Yaqin and Cheng Kaiyuan to express her welcome.
"I'll make the arrangements today. With Secretary-General Li here, I wouldn't dare say we won't leave until we're drunk."
Wang Xin smiled and looked at Hu Ke, asking, "Director Hu, do you have any special arrangements? If not, I can take the liberty of making the decision myself."
"If you don't tell me, of course I won't tell you either."
Hu Ke said with a smile, "I dare say that whoever from Hongxing Steel Group comes to Liaodong will be treated with the utmost hospitality, and we won't leave until we're drunk."
“I dare not say this only to him.”
He grabbed Li Xuewu's arm and said, "Last time, I and Deputy Director Lu almost got beaten to a pulp. Luckily, we called a retreat early, or we would have lost face."
Am I really that heartless?
Li Xuewu looked at him suspiciously and said, "Every time I come to Fengcheng, it's you who insists I drink with you."
“We need to be reasonable. You were the one who organized the drinking, and you were also the first to say you didn’t want to drink anymore.”
He pointed at Hu Ke and said, "This time it's not up to you. We need to work on strengthening our relationship."
Listen carefully to what they're saying; don't assume they're just standing at the door chatting idly. A fierce battle has already begun.
Are they talking about drinking?
Yes and no. If it's not about drinking, then what are we talking about? Those who know, know.
It's about drinking, but it's also a contest, a psychological test and comparison of each other's spirit and momentum.
Li Xuewu engaged in a verbal battle with the group of scholars, single-handedly standing at the forefront and overwhelming the two who were trying to counter his arguments.
Hu Ke's willingness to provide support stems from the belief that Liaodong Capital's participation in the construction of Hongxing Steel Group's tallest building gives it the right to continue its financing activities.
Secondly, Liaodong industry also saw the essence of win-win cooperation. Cross-cooperation among local enterprises has come to an end. When it comes to business acumen, it has to be the people from inside the pass.
Ultimately, perhaps it was Shen Fei, or perhaps it was instructions from other leaders, that led to Hu Ke's involvement.
However, Li Xuewu did not agree with this kind of participation and refuted his purpose with just a few words.
The cooperation between Hongxing Steel Group and Shenfei does not allow third-party intervention; neither Santayar Group nor Liaodong Industrial Group are permitted.
At present, Hongxing Steel Group is not fully prepared for financing and will have to wait until the group is fully established.
Liaodong Capital rushed in, only to startle them and then make them jump up and down cursing.
Without a doubt, Hu may have his own reasons for coming, and Wang Xin's intentions must also be involved.
He was afraid that Hongxing Steel Group had other plans, which is why he asked Hu Ke to test the waters.
That's what makes a smart person.
(End of this chapter)