MMB Chapter 1523 The Wolf Has Really Arrived
Chapter 1523 The Wolf Has Really Arrived
Chapter 1523 The Wolf Has Really Arrived
"Secretary-General, are you still here?"
Liu Bin knocked on the office door and saw Li Xuewu talking to Shangguan Qi. He smiled and greeted him.
"Here he is, trying to leave but couldn't." Li Xuewu smiled, beckoned him in, and asked, "What's up?"
"Director Li asked me to remind you not to forget tonight's gathering," Liu Bin reported as he walked to his desk. "Room 333, Qinyuanchun."
“Okay, I understand.” Li Xuewu nodded and explained to Shangguan Qi, who was full of doubt, “The gathering organized by the automotive industry units of the visiting delegation is to discuss the development of the automotive parts industry.”
He sat up straight, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked, "Are you free tonight? If not, you can come with me. Even though you're in charge of the drone project, it's always good to listen to different perspectives."
Is this appropriate?
Shangguan Qi wasn't a naive girl; she could naturally understand the leader's intention to promote her. What they talked about wasn't important; what mattered was who they talked to.
"If there's anything inappropriate, let's go over and talk." Li Xuewu smiled, put down his teacup, and said, "You're a scientific researcher, you can easily fool them, right?"
"Then I'll arrange it for the officials."
Liu Bin understood what his leader meant. Seeing Li Xuewu looking at him, he nodded and replied, "We can go there directly tonight."
"Thank you, Deputy Director Liu. I will definitely be there on time." Hearing Liu Bin address her by that name, Shangguan Qi didn't dare to be arrogant and responded very politely.
Liu Bin didn't pay attention to this. After nodding to her and consulting with Li Xuewu, he turned and left.
"This is……"
As Shangguan Qi watched him leave, and turned back to say goodbye, she saw the secretary-general push a small box towards her.
She was somewhat surprised, yet her heart couldn't help but flutter with joy. Not daring to make wild guesses, she tentatively asked, "Is this for me?"
"I asked you to go to Germany, but I sent you away again just a few hours after you landed, and you almost got into danger. You're not blaming me, are you?"
Li Xuewu smiled and pointed at the gift box, saying, "This is for you, consider it compensation. It's a specialty of East Germany."
"Ah—I didn't—" Shangguan Qi didn't expect him to say that, and waved her hands repeatedly, explaining apologetically, "You misunderstood."
"Keep it, it was bought especially for you." Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Originally, it wasn't supposed to be this rushed according to the plan. The delegation prepared shopping funds for us, and the group also prepared gifts for the comrades who participated in this operation."
He looked at Shangguan Qi and explained, "You're the only one who didn't have time to enjoy this treatment, so consider this a compensation for you. Don't leave any regrets."
"How could that be—" Shangguan Qi wanted to open the box to take a look, but couldn't help being polite.
Li Xuewu stood up and said, "The office blocked more than a dozen phone calls for me this morning. I can't stay here anymore; I need to lay low for a while."
His office was large. He walked to the coat rack by the door, took off his coat, and turned to Shangguan Qi, who had followed him, and said, "I won't pick you up tonight. You can arrange a car from the office, and I'll take you there."
"No trouble at all, Secretary General."
Shangguan Qi replied immediately, "I'll have my second brother take me there. I'll call him to pick me up after we finish eating."
"You can arrange it however you like, anything is fine."
Li Xuewu smiled and nodded, putting on his woolen overcoat and indicating, "I'm taking half a day off to go home and see my parents. You go ahead with your work."
"Secretary-General, this—"
Shangguan Qi took two steps to catch up, gesturing to the box in her hand, wanting to be more polite, but saw Li Xuewu wave his hand and walk towards the elevator.
The office door wasn't locked, which showed how much I trusted her; thinking about it made me even more touched.
Looking again at the gift box wrapped in gray velvet in my hand, it felt as if I were holding a priceless treasure.
She suppressed her inner desire, returned to her office, tidied up, and then closed the door before leaving.
She was in the elevator, alone, when she opened the box. Inside was an exquisite diamond women's watch, small and elegant, the diamonds reflecting the elevator lights overhead, dazzling and eye-catching.
While Swiss watches are renowned worldwide, German watches truly exemplify craftsmanship. The ingrained stubbornness of the Germans has allowed timekeeping instruments to achieve their finest expression.
Of course, this refers to German technology at that time. When e-commerce platforms in later generations advertise so-called German craftsmanship or German quality, just stay away from them; they don't have any serious claims.
Shangguan Qi didn't plan to buy anything when she went to Germany, but she knew she had this opportunity and intended to do some shopping.
She just didn't expect the time to be so tight; she didn't even have time to sleep for a night before she was already on the plane.
Looking at the diamond women's watch in her hand, she was filled with indescribable emotions. Her gaze was unfocused, as if she were thinking about something very far away.
***
"When did you come back?"
Liu Yin was worried for a whole week, and only when she saw her son appear in front of her safe and sound did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.
In her mind, or rather in the minds of ordinary people, there is only one general understanding of international relations: that is, people are either Chinese or foreigners, regardless of nationality, and they do not expect to build relationships with anyone.
The common perception of foreigners is that most of them live in dire straits, and Liu Yin even worried that her son would go hungry.
"I arrived home last night and went to bed at 2 a.m."
Li Xuewu smiled and took his mother's hand, explaining, "It was too late, so I didn't tell you. I was thinking of coming today."
"I was just worried about you, and I'm happy to know you're back safe and sound."
Liu Yin patted off imaginary dust from her son's clothes, smiled, and looked at him carefully once more, her eyes filled with relief and satisfaction.
"Was the trip smooth?"
"It's fine, nothing's wrong."
Li Xuewu entered the house with his mother, greeted the old lady, and then began to amuse the youngest child, Li Yue.
The little baby, who hadn't even learned to roll over yet, was so frightened by his funny faces that he started crying, which made Liu Yin both angry and amused, and she patted him.
"What's wrong, daughter? Did your second uncle upset you?"
Zhao Yafang returned from outside, smiled, picked up Li Yue and comforted her, then pointed to the grinning Li Xuewu and introduced, "This is Second Uncle, Second Uncle is back."
“I heard you talking. I even told Yu Li that you were back, but she didn’t believe me.”
After calming the child down and placing him on her lap, Zhao Yafang sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and looked at Li Xuewu, asking, "What was East Germany like? Was it fun?"
"I'm not going there for fun, how would I know if it's fun or not?"
Li Xuewu chuckled and gently pried open his little niece's hand with his finger, saying, "I've been so busy that I haven't had a chance to admire the scenery."
"Wouldn't that be a loss?"
Zhao Yafang said with a smile, "Ordinary people would never dare to dream of going abroad in their entire lives, and even though you went abroad, you didn't think about taking a good look around."
"Working non-stop, without a moment's rest."
Li Xuewu looked back at the old lady and said, "Actually, there's nothing much to see. It's no different from Beijing; both are socialist countries."
"Is he richer or poorer than us?" The old lady was very down-to-earth, and she talked about this as if it were a casual chat.
Anyone who didn't know better would think Li Xuewu was talking about the second aunt next door, comparing whose family was doing better.
"They're pretty much the same, though they also have farmers and workers." Li Xuewu didn't explain in detail, just said it jokingly, "It's just that their land area is too small, not even as big as Hebei Province."
"That's too small—"
She might not recognize the name "Germany," but she'd have a general idea of what Hebei Province is.
It's not even as big as Hebei Province, so what's so surprising about that?
"The universities in East Germany were better than ours, right?" Zhao Yafang asked curiously. "Did you visit any of their universities?"
"No, I didn't have time. The big leader went there," Li Xuewu explained. "He even gave a speech over there."
“I saw it in the newspaper, Deputy Director Li, right?” Zhao Yafang nodded and said with a smile, “We saw you too.”
“It looks quite similar.” Liu Yin smiled, clenching her hands, and said, “Your sister-in-law showed it to me, saying what you said at some banquet.”
"My photos should still be in the newspaper these days." Li Xuewu only shows off like this in front of his elderly relatives at home; otherwise, he wouldn't do so.
In the older generation's mindset, being featured in the newspaper is considered a great achievement.
Of course, it wasn't published in the Legal Daily.
"Yes—" Liu Yin looked at her son with delight and asked, "What was the purpose of the photo?"
"A photo taken when I got off the plane last night."
Li Xuewu explained to his mother that his work in East Germany had been recognized by his superiors, which gave him this opportunity to make an appearance.
Liu Yin and the old lady listened intently, even clicking their tongues in admiration at crucial points, feeling proud of each other.
"From what you're saying, there will be another opportunity to go to East Germany in the future?"
Zhao Yafang, however, was quite curious about the world abroad. While coaxing her daughter, she asked, "Is it a long-term collaboration?"
"I have this plan, but we have to take it one step at a time." Li Xuewu smiled and looked at her, asking, "What? You also want to go to Germany?"
"If given the opportunity, who wouldn't want to broaden their horizons?" Zhao Yafang said frankly. "If I were given the chance, I would definitely go."
"I'm afraid you'll go and not come back."
Li Xuewu looked at her and joked, "If my older brother stays single forever, he'll never find a wife in his life."
"Your older brother is overjoyed."
Zhao Yafang explained with a laugh, "When I asked him to watch the child and said I was going out to buy something, it was like sending him to the execution ground."
"The eldest was fine back then, but this youngest one was."
Liu Yin smiled and tapped Li Yue's little hand to chime in, "She always fusses and throws a tantrum as soon as she sees her dad, either crying or making a scene."
“That’s good. My older brother needs someone to keep his slow pace in check.” Li Xuewu looked at the baby surrounded by the crowd and said with a smile, “Li Tang was always a troublemaker when he was little. Now that we have an even more troublemaker, we’ll keep him in check.”
"Ah—" Li Yue didn't know what she heard, but seeing everyone laughing, she laughed too, kicking her little legs hard as if she was eager to grow up.
The laughter and chatter of his family eased Li Xuewu's longing for home during his business trip and made up for the long time that his family had not been able to reunite.
Li Xuewu came straight home from work and stayed there until after 4 p.m. before getting up to go home to pick up the children at his mother's urging. The old lady and Liu Yin also missed the children.
Since last year, he went to work in Liaodong, and there was no one at home to pick up the children. Gu Ning was also busy, so Li Shu and Li Ning visited their grandmother's house less often. They would either wait for him to come back to visit together, or Liu Yin would come to pick them up.
Li Tang slept all afternoon. When he woke up and saw his second uncle there, he insisted on going with him. His grandmother tried to coax him by saying that his second uncle would be back soon, but he wouldn't listen.
As a result, Li Xuewu drove the recycling station's car, with his little tagalong, to pick up Li Shu from school.
"Li Shu—"
"Call me sister—" Li Shuzhen didn't tolerate her younger brother. When she heard Li Tang call her name, she slapped Li Tang across the face.
Li Tang was stunned by the blow, then called out "sister" in a pitiful voice, all her excitement and arrogance from riding in the car gone.
When he got home, he saw his second brother, who had been riding on the sofa and causing trouble, obediently roll down and stand in front of his sister to listen to his scolding. Only then did he regain his spirits. It turned out that he wasn't the only one being oppressed by Li Shu!
Then, a hint of schadenfreude appeared in his eyes as he looked at his second brother, because he said he only suffered for one day a month, while Li Ning had to suffer every single day.
The two boys looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you laughing at? Go get dressed!"
Li Shu, acting like a little adult, imitated her mother's tone of voice, instructing her younger brother to dress himself, behaving very much like an older sister.
Of course, if Li Ning didn't dress properly or correctly, her aunt would help her fix it, but Li Ning would inevitably get another slap.
I must say, Li Shu is ruthless. She's not bullied at kindergarten, so she's even more likely to be the boss at home.
Li Ning is about to turn three. Without his parents to supervise him, he has completely let loose and become incredibly mischievous. Er Ya can't bear to scold him, and Zhao Yaping is busy with her studies. He has tried every kind of mischief that Li Shu never had before.
As a result, the wicked will always be punished by the wicked. Before Li Shu gets out of school, Li Ning will make sure to tidy up his toys and wait at the door to stand in line.
When the Great Demon King sister doesn't come back, he's the boss of this family. But when the Great Demon King Li Shu comes back, the sister is the boss of this family.
So when Dad said we were going to Grandma's for dinner that night, Li Ning jumped up and down and clapped happily, finally not having to face the big boss alone.
"I want to bake pumpkin pancakes."
While putting on his shoes, Li Ning still slurred and talked in a rambling voice about what he wanted to eat at his grandma's house, and even discussed with his brother Li Tang how to eat it.
In front of her two younger brothers, Li Shu acted like a grown-up girl, fixing the butterfly hair clip in her hair until she looked beautiful.
"Go pick up Mom—"
Before getting on the bus, Li Shu was still confirming the next steps with her father, thoughtfully thinking about picking up her mother.
Unlike the two little boys who had already climbed into the car and were chattering away about what to eat for dinner, she has really changed a lot since starting kindergarten.
Just across the street, Li Xuewu drove into the hospital compound and took the children upstairs to pick up Gu Ning.
"Oh my, look who's here."
As soon as Director Liu from Gu Ning's department saw them coming upstairs, he came over and hugged Li Ning, teasing him.
Li Shu held her father's hand and took the initiative to greet Aunt Liu.
"Good girl, Li Shu is all grown up now."
Director Liu naturally recognized Li Xuewu. She was the deputy director when Li Xuewu and Gu Ning started dating, and she watched them get married.
"They're here to pick up Gu Ning? She's gone to check on the patients and will be back soon."
"No rush, we plan to visit the elderly together tonight," Li Xuewu explained with a smile. "It's the children who can't wait."
"Whose is this?" Director Liu put Li Ning down and looked at the little guy standing next to Li Xuewu. "They look like twins."
"This is my older brother's daughter, Li Tang. Call her Auntie." Li Xuewu patted his nephew's head and taught him how to greet her.
With a mother as shrewd and capable as Zhao Yafang, Li Tang would never show any timidity in public. He generously followed his sister's example and called her Aunt Liu.
"If you didn't ask, you'd really think they were twins."
Director Liu carefully examined the two boys and said with a smile, "They're really good-looking, and they look about the same age?"
"Less than a month." Li Xuewu nodded and asked, "Is the department busy right now?"
"Didn't Gu Ning tell you she got home?"
Director Liu stood with him at the door of the main office. When he asked this question, she explained softly, "Everywhere is short-staffed, and they're all competing with each other for people."
She glanced at the other end of the corridor and pouted, "If I hadn't been keeping a close eye on things, your Gu Ning would have been snatched away by the emergency room."
“I knew she was under a lot of academic pressure these past two years, so I didn’t dare to trouble her with anything at home.”
Li Xuewu didn't care about the hospital matters; he only cared about whether Gu Ningxin was working hard. Naturally, he wanted to praise his wife in front of Director Liu.
"Oh, if all our family members were as understanding as you, that would be wonderful. Who in our department wouldn't envy Gu Ning?"
Director Liu, ever the smooth talker, looked at Li Xuewu and said, "Leaving aside others, it's our old Xu, oh dear—"
Her exclamation, coupled with her expression of disbelief, made Li Xuewu instantly realize that she was flattering him.
"Mother--"
Li Shu, who had been listening obediently to her father and Aunt Liu's conversation, called out happily when she saw her mother coming over.
Gu Ning was also surprised by Li Xuewu and the children's appearance. "What brings you here?"
"Why didn't you tell me you had plans for tonight?"
Director Liu, ever so perceptive, smiled as he took the medical record from Gu Ning and urged, "Hurry up and change your clothes, don't keep Secretary-General Li waiting."
In terms of rank, Li Xuewu is higher than Director Liu, but they are not in the same unit or system, so there is no basis for comparison.
Besides, Director Liu is Gu Ning's superior, so Li Xuewu has to give her face no matter what. Her amiable manner is undoubtedly related to Gu Ning's background.
However, when it comes to Li Xuewu, Director Liu is also eager to speak of him. Hongxing Steel Group has built an industrial satellite city in Dongcheng. Who wouldn't be envious?
Li Xuewu is a member of Honggang's leadership team, and there might be times when she can be of help in the future. You can imagine how polite she is.
"I'm not finished yet—"
"Alright, go home early."
Before Gu Ning could say anything more, Director Liu patted her arm and said, "Next time Secretary-General Li comes back, just tell me you're on leave."
"It's tough work, let's all be understanding."
This can be seen as a response to Li Xuewu's earlier words of thanks, not giving Li Xuewu a chance to say anything more.
Li Xuewu didn't actually intend to elaborate further; his act of bringing the children to the department to pick up people already spoke volumes.
Gu Ning is not only a doctor at the hospital, but also a mother and wife. Everyone needs time to live their own life.
He didn't intend to affect Gu Ning's work, nor did he intend to cause trouble for Gu Ning with her superiors; it was just a way of showing concern as a family member.
Gu Ning was initially taken aback, but after changing her clothes and hearing the director's concern, she understood his intention.
Sometimes he's like that. Whether he's speaking or doing something, you might not understand him at first, but there will always come a time when you do.
"Mom, I want to eat baked pumpkin pancakes."
Li Xuewu held Li Tang in one arm and Li Shu in the other, while Li Ning was in Gu Ning's arms. The little ones were all busy as they went downstairs.
"I have a business dinner at work tonight, so Mom said to eat early," Li Xuewu explained to Gu Ning. "You two stay a little longer, I'll try to pick you up as soon as possible."
"A work-related social event?" Gu Ning asked as she got into the car with her child in her arms. "Why was it scheduled for today?"
"It was those people who went to Germany together; they were all heads of automotive companies who wanted to talk about the auto parts industry."
Li Xuewu placed the two little ones in the back seat, then got into the driver's seat and drove off, explaining as he went.
Gu Ning listened and that was that; she didn't really understand Li Xuewu's work, especially since he became the secretary-general, which made his job very complicated.
Back when he worked in the security department, his job was basically the same, and the couple could easily explain it to each other.
Now that Li Xuewu has been away from Beijing for a long time and has also gone to Germany, Gu Ning feels exhausted.
What did Director Liu say to you?
Gu Ning coaxed Li Ning to sit down, then turned to ask, "Or rather, what did you say to her? Why has your attitude changed?"
“I went to express my opinion on behalf of the family. How could she not change her attitude?” Li Xuewu smiled, glanced at Gu Ning, and explained, “Don’t overwork yourself. The earth will keep turning no matter who’s gone, but without their mother’s company, the children’s childhood will be filled with loss and regret.”
Gu Ning thought about his words, looked down at her son, and said nothing more.
Li Xuewu took his mother and children back to the courtyard house, and they ate a few bites at the dinner table, which counted as a family reunion meal.
Li Xue teased him, saying that he was different after going abroad, and he couldn't even eat in peace.
Li Xuewu was also helpless. If he didn't bring Gu Ning and the children home for a reunion today, he would have to wait until he returned from the steel city for the next time.
Old Li took pity on him today and gave him a half-day off. He will preside over the congress tomorrow morning and fly back to the steel city in the afternoon.
The earth keeps turning no matter who's gone, but there are some things that need to be wrapped up in the steel city at the end of the year, otherwise next year's work will be impossible.
However, the ordeal is almost over. After the industrial restructuring in Liaodong is largely completed, resources will be integrated and key development will be prioritized.
In this process, he will inevitably have frequent interactions with the group, which will mean he will spend more time returning to Beijing.
Furthermore, the official documents for the group's restructuring are about to be released, and things are starting to look promising; he can't afford to be absent at this crucial moment.
Therefore, he had no choice but to be busy.
***
"Secretary-General, we've been waiting for you."
As soon as he got out of the car, Qin Huairu quickly came out to greet him and reminded him, "Director Li has asked you twice already."
"I've taken Gu Ning and the children back to the compound," Li Xuewu explained simply, then got out of the car with a case of liquor on the back and said, "Remember to bring hot water up later."
"Is this liquor strong?" Qin Huairu bent down to take a look and asked in surprise, "58 degrees and you want to warm it up before drinking it?"
"Today's guests are all drunkards; they're not energetic enough, so it's no fun."
As Li Xuewu explained, he entered the restaurant lobby. Seeing that there were quite a few customers, he turned around and asked, "The business is doing well, isn't it?"
"We're all about service and reputation, aren't we?" Qin Huairu accompanied him upstairs and explained, "I'm busy with the guesthouse during the day, and I have to come over to keep an eye on things at night if I'm worried. I'm practically working non-stop."
"We need to train some helpers quickly, we can't possibly manage all this." Li Xuewu glanced down from the second floor and saw that there were quite a few people there as well, which showed how much the capital city lacked restaurants with good service and delicious food at this time.
Of course, it's not impossible, but most people can't go there or afford it.
Qinyuanchun is not a place that ordinary people can afford, but it has a good atmosphere and is open until 11 p.m., so it is mostly cadres who come here for dinner.
Langtaosha is a popular place for ordinary people. When it comes to traditional hot pot, Donglaishun is the obvious choice, but when it comes to authentic Sichuan cuisine restaurants and Sichuan hot pot, Langtaosha has opened up a new chapter in Beijing.
The market is well aware of the background of these three brands: Honggang Group's industry, Lao Li's delicious food has a good reputation and a high level of credibility.
In this era, marketing is not valued, and leaders don't like to be in the public eye. Otherwise, Lao Li would definitely be standing in front of the camera for a "carefully selected" live broadcast.
"Oh! The busy man has finally arrived!"
Upon seeing him, Liu Yang, the deputy director of Jinling Motors, greeted him with a smile, saying, "We thought you weren't coming."
"I was worried there wouldn't be enough wine, so I made a special detour to get it."
Li Xuewu gestured to the box of liquor in his hand and said, "It was brought back from beyond the Great Wall. It's high in alcohol content. We've finished it all today."
"What kind of liquor do you treat like a treasure? Is it even better than Xifeng?" Tang Rongxuan from Sichuan Gas Company joked while smoking, "After leaving Sichuan, I think Xifeng and Fenjiu are alright, but the others are just so-so."
"That's because you've never had a good drink before."
Li Xuewu took two bottles out of the box and handed them directly to Qin Huairu, letting her heat the wine.
"This wine can't be drunk straight. It tastes better after being warmed up. Don't rush, we'll each have a bottle in a bit."
"So, how about that? You can see the strength of the Honggang Group now, right?"
Wang Xiansheng joked with everyone, "We drink baijiu by the case, it seems we're in for a rough time today."
"Hahaha—I'll take anyone!"
Dong Qiaomu waved his hand and said, "I'll take one bottle myself to set an example for you."
"Old Dong doesn't count; he's from outside the Great Wall."
Wang Xiansheng pointed at him and said with a smile, "He should drink two bottles."
"58 degrees, wow—" Yang Aidong, who had already drunk a few glasses of wine, glanced at the icon on the box and exclaimed, "Any stronger and it would be considered alcohol."
"Since there are ladies here today, we should drink in a civilized manner."
Li Huaide smiled and waved his hand, gesturing to Shangguan Qi, who was sitting with him, and Qin Huairu, whom he had pulled to the table, thus setting the tone for today's gathering.
He had planned to quit drinking for health reasons, but he broke his vow while in Germany. This time, he insisted on having a little.
With Li Xuewu around, he didn't really need to show his strength, but he would lose face if he drank too much.
So, following Li Xuewu's arrangement, Qin Huairu was invited along, and the maximum amount of alcohol was set for today's banquet.
Just like Li Xuewu just said, one bottle of wine per person.
One bottle of wine per person isn't enough?
For ordinary people, a bottle of wine is a lot, but for those who start with a pound, it's nothing.
Is alcohol tolerance innate or developed?
This is the question most often asked by beginners, and experienced drinkers have all sorts of opinions, but there's only one truth: alcohol tolerance equals stomach capacity.
You can drink as much as your stomach can hold; it doesn't matter if it's innate or acquired.
Everyone is the same; if they drink their fill, everyone can handle a huge amount. Once you've had enough, you get used to it and lose that fear.
"Qin and I each have a bottle, right?"
Shangguan Qi made a joke, but inadvertently revealed the watch on her wrist by taking advantage of Li Xuewu's words.
Li Xuewu chuckled as he handed her the bottle, saying, "Well done! Women are just as capable as men. Our women at Honggang can hold up half the sky too."
"Don't listen to the secretary-general."
Qin Huairu brought over the warmed liquor prepared by the waiter and came to Shangguan Qi's rescue, saying, "Just smelling this liquor is intoxicating, even if you don't drink it."
"It was snowing outside when we arrived, this wine will warm our stomachs." Li Xuewu smiled as he took the wine pot and filled everyone's cups. He then raised his own cup and said, "There are no outsiders at the table today. Let's have a drink to celebrate our unity and friendship."
“That’s well said. There’s no friendship without unity—” Dong Qiaomu laughed and downed his drink first, letting out a hiss as he said it.
Nourishes—
Drinking baijiu at room temperature and drinking it warmed are two different experiences. Warmed baijiu spreads faster, and in Northeast China, it is usually drunk in the morning to warm the body.
This isn't just made up. Even when the snow blocks the way in the countryside, there's still work to be done. Men are the pillars of the family; if they don't have the strength, everything will be in trouble.
However, the cold in Northeast China at that time was quite different from that in later generations. Temperatures of minus 30 or 40 degrees Celsius were common then, but in later generations, temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius were rare, and few people could experience this kind of cold.
In the steel city, Li Xuewu wore a pair of thermal underwear, a pair of woolen pants, a pair of cotton pants, and an outer layer of pants. Even if he went out at night, the cold air would reach his skin in less than half a minute, reaching minus thirty-nine degrees Celsius.
I can't stand it without drinking; my blood feels like it's freezing cold.
They were also reliving the taste of the wine from beyond the Great Wall. Dong Qiaomu's expression was something they couldn't understand; drinking it felt like being stabbed with a knife.
Especially Tang Rongxuan from Sichuan Province. This guy is used to Sichuan baijiu, which is usually mellow and smooth. He's not used to this kind of strong liquor that's like a knife.
"It's alright, drink more." Li Xuewu smiled and filled his glass with wine, jokingly saying, "After you finish this bottle, you can go shirtless and play in the snow without getting cold."
"I'm not feeling well either. Why would I go out shirtless in this snow?" Tang Rongxuan looked at the bottle of baijiu in front of him with amusement and said, "You're putting us in a difficult position."
Every single person at the table, except for Qin Huairu and Shangguan Qi who were in charge of creating atmosphere, was a cunning old fox.
Li Xuewu invited them to taste the strong liquor from Northeast China, the meaning of which was not too obvious, but they could taste it after just one sip.
“Where—” Li Xuewu laughed and explained, “I’m a native of Beijing. Before I went to the Northeast, I never thought that liquor could be so strong. Today I just wanted to share this surprise with everyone.”
"It's quite a surprise—" Wang Xiansheng is from Shandong Province and has a good alcohol tolerance, but now he also had beads of sweat on his forehead.
He wiped his forehead and said with a smile, "Director Li was just saying that you've done a great job in Liaodong. It seems that what he said is true."
Doesn't this sound a bit off?
According to him, wouldn't Li Xuewu's eloquence be wasted on drinking?
"read more, walk more."
Li Xuewu raised his glass to toast the group, saying, "I am a young man, not as knowledgeable as you all. I rely more on my experience."
He downed the wine in his glass in one gulp, smiled, and showed the bottom of the glass, saying, "If I hadn't had my work experience in Liaodong, would I have ever seen such fine wine?"
"If I hadn't gone to East Germany, would I have met all of you?"
He waved to Qin Huairu to pour wine for everyone, while continuing to flatter her, "Today we have both good wine and good friends. As the hosts, Director Li and I must make sure our friends drink the best wine."
"Hahaha--"
After Li Xuewu downed three cups of wine and persuaded everyone else to drink three cups as well, Li Huaide took over the initiative and slowed down the pace.
"Actually, I said back in Germany that after we came back, we shouldn't rush to leave. Let's get together properly. It's a rare opportunity."
He gestured for everyone to eat, explaining, "This isn't some outside restaurant; it's one of our group's own businesses. You can eat with confidence; the taste is absolutely authentic."
“I’m not in a hurry to go back.” Wang Xiansheng took a bite of food, wiped his mouth and said with a smile, “I called our factory director and told him that I had met Li Huaide and Li Xuewu from Honggang Group. He told me that I must make friends with them and also welcomed friends from Honggang Group to visit Jiqi.”
"See? I told you Old Wang was cunning."
Tang Rongxuan smiled and pointed at him, explaining to Dong Qiaomu and the others, "He's playing hard to get, waiting for Director Li to invite him to stay a few more days."
"Welcome, I welcome anyone who wants to stay a few more days."
Li Huaide waved his hand generously and said, "We'll take care of your food and lodging, as long as you don't mind."
"Hey, who would dare to look down on Honggang Group?"
Yang Aidong said with a smile, "I was thinking of going back to the factory to report for duty first, and then coming back to learn from your experience."
He looked at Li Xuewu and said, "I wonder when Secretary-General Li will return to Gangcheng. I really want to go and see Gangqi."
"See, we're thinking the same thing."
Dong Qiaomu raised his glass to Li Xuewu and said, "I plan to stop by Gangcheng Station on my way back to see what Gangqi is like."
"You're too kind, welcome, welcome!"
Li Xuewu replied with a smile, "Gentlemen, there's no need to rush when you come to the Steel Plant. Take your time to explore the capital. You can come to the Steel Plant anytime you like."
"Comrade Xuewu's flight is tomorrow afternoon."
Li Huaide explained, "He's worried about the work in Gangcheng and is in a hurry to get back. You don't need to rush, stay a few more days and take a look at our Liangmahe Industrial Zone."
"If you ask me, let's organize a get-together."
Wang Xiansheng said with a smile, "I heard that Honggang's core industries are all in Liangmahe Industrial Zone, and it has close cooperation with automobile companies in Beijing. With you, Director Li, taking the lead, we can also have some exchanges."
"Communication is no problem; we have a partnership with Second Automobile Works," Li Huaide said with a smile. "Except for Beijing Automobile Works, which I can't invite, there are no problems with other units."
"Hahaha—" Everyone couldn't help but laugh out loud at his teasing.
“I haven’t seen Wang Youhan since I came back from East Germany,” Wang Xiansheng said with a smile and raised an eyebrow. “We even drank together back then, but he left without even saying goodbye after landing. Tsk tsk.”
"Who told you to get involved with Honggang, huh?"
Tang Rongxuan jokingly said, "You're not afraid of the impact, but isn't Deputy Factory Director Wang also afraid of the impact?"
"Yes, we'll have to explain our relationship with Honggang when we get back."
Yang Aidong also enjoyed watching the excitement, and this time, the whole Beijing auto industry was thrown into the mix, which amused Li Huaide as well.
"Hey, how do I do this multiple-choice question?"
Wang Xiansheng spread his hands and looked at the group, saying, "He said he wanted to pull us together with FAW to form an auto parts supply system. In return, we would have to implement the technology and processes they set."
"Director Li, how do you suggest we choose?"
He looked at Li Huaide and said, "Honggang has now given us an option. What do you think we should choose?"
"Let me say this, and I'm not saying this from Honggang's perspective, but from the bottom of my heart," Li Xuewu continued, "No matter which side you choose, it won't affect our future relationship and cooperation."
"If you choose Beijing Automotive and Plant 17 to jointly build a parts supply chain, and then come to us for cooperation on equipment and processes, we are willing to provide them and will not impose technology blockades."
He waved his hand and said, "We don't respect the tactics that Beijing Automotive and Factory No. 17 use, and we don't want to compete with them. It's pointless."
“That’s exactly what I mean.” Li Huaide nodded and said, “Honggang’s supply chain system is open. Even if a township enterprise wants to manufacture cars, we will accept the order and treat everyone equally.”
He looked at the group and said, "We don't know if any township enterprises across the country will become like Jinan Automobile, Harbin Automobile, or even Sichuan Automobile in the future."
"We work in the supply chain and the automotive industry to promote the development of the automotive industry, and also in line with the concept of serving the people."
Li Huaide raised his hand to straighten his almost non-existent hair and said frankly, "I only learned when I went to East Germany that their slogan was to give every adult a car."
"Regardless of how well their policies are implemented, the fact that they offer this benefit shows that they have the capability to provide it."
He tapped his finger on the table and said, "When will we be confident and capable of giving every young person a car?"
"No, we don't need to issue cars. We should let young people have the means and ability to buy a car."
This was a rather high-minded statement, and its sophisticated nature led to a brief silence at the dinner table, with only Old Li's voice remaining.
"To be honest with everyone here, last year our annual steel and automobile production capacity exceeded 10 units, which is absolutely number one in the country."
He arrogantly held up one finger and said, "Whether it's Beijing Automotive or Factory No. 17, do they dare to compare their production capacity with ours?"
"Let me say it again, even if they manage to create this parts industry cooperative, can't we support our own supply chain?"
Li Huaide tapped the table again and said, "Even a single steel car can consume most of the orders in the supply chain."
"If needed in the future, we will build new car manufacturing plants, and this goal can be achieved nationwide."
Upon hearing this, Liu Yang of Jinling Motors raised an eyebrow. He had been paying close attention to Honggang's actions, especially the statements made by Li Huaide and Li Xuewu. If Honggang really intended to build a factory in the south, it was very likely that it would choose Jinling as its target.
Honggang Sales Corporation's Jiangnan branch is located in Jinling.
"Therefore, we are not afraid of challenges, and we have a heart for fair cooperation." Li Huaide softened his tone, raised his glass and said, "I'll put this here: cooperating with Honggang will definitely not make you regret it."
Liu Yang held his wine glass, his heart filled with hesitation. If one could believe everything said at a drinking party, Xiang Yu wouldn't have needed to commit suicide at the Wujiang River.
What he fears most is cooperating with Honggang, which would create a situation where he's inviting trouble. Who knows if today's gathering is just a show for him?
Regardless of the analysis, Honggang will definitely build a factory in Jiangnan within three years, as one steel plant is no longer enough to meet the needs of the automotive industry.
So, the wolf is coming, and the wolf is really coming.