MMB Chapter 1531 Tianjin
Chapter 1531 Tianjin
Chapter 1531 Tianjin
“I don’t object to you using any complicated thinking to consider this change in the group, nor will I stop you from using any means to compete for so-called interests.”
On the dock, in the cold wind, the hem of his coat fluttered, reminding him that it was time to board the ship.
Li Xuewu looked Xu Sinian up and down, emphasizing, "I won't tell you anything about patience bringing peace or not worrying about short-term gains or losses. But you have to know that there are countless possibilities in a person's life, and no one can define who lives or dies."
Without waiting for Xu Sinian's response, he unusually reached out and patted him on the shoulder before turning and boarding the passenger ship.
The Hongxing-Kejia ferry travels back and forth across the Bohai Bay year-round, taking only four hours from Yingcheng Port to Tianjin. Li Xuewu rarely took this ferry.
Xu Sinian stood on the dock, the wind blowing his long hair on one side, which he had been trying to hide his baldness, wildly dancing in the wind, much like his mood at that moment.
Li Xuewu never pats people on the shoulder; no, to be more precise, he rarely pats people on the shoulder.
Those familiar with the group's secretary-general know that he appears extremely fierce, and considering his past work achievements, he seems like a ruthless person.
But the situation was quite the opposite; it wasn't that Li Xuewu was kind-hearted, but rather that he knew Li Xuewu was extremely sensible.
Because he is extremely tactful in his conduct and actions, he rose to a high position at a young age, leaving people with no real objections.
Xu Sinian received him with such care, accompanying him for nearly two days, which not only demonstrated his emphasis on this change in the group, but also his respect for Li Xuewu himself.
First, he needed support within the group. Stepping down from his position as director of the factory office, he naturally lost the opportunity to network with other group leaders.
Moreover, it was his own confusion that led to the widespread rumors that he and Li Xuewu were sworn brothers.
With Li Huaide disliking him, the only person he could rely on and count on was Li Xuewu.
Secondly, the claim that Li Xuewu held a low-ranking but powerful position, doing the work of a deputy bureau chief while holding a mid-level position, is completely unfounded.
The group's secretary-general has never been a part of the Red Star Factory's conventional organizational structure.
It was Li Huaide who was determined to promote him to the position, and he created this position separately in the management committee.
To say that the deputy secretaries-general under Li Xuewu will also have a chance to rise in rank is utter nonsense.
Compared to Li Xuewu, no one could advance from the position of secretary-general to the central government.
Even if they were given the opportunity, they wouldn't have the ability or the vision. Shi Ruoweng couldn't do it, Wang Zongli couldn't do it, and he certainly couldn't.
All of them combined did not have as much influence as Li Xuewu in front of Li Huaide.
Being able to directly influence Li Huaide's decisions is equivalent to having the ability to directly influence the Group's Management Committee's decisions on changes. This is the foundation that Li Xuewu laid with his achievements, and there is no room for ambiguity.
If Li Xuewu had made a wrong prediction or taken a wrong step since he came from Hongxing Factory, Old Li would not have trusted him so much.
As the saying goes, everyone makes mistakes, but so far Li Xuewu has never made a mistake in judging the situation, which is why he unconditionally obeys and trusts Li Xuewu.
If he doesn't even believe Li Xuewu's words, then he has lost his foothold in this position.
Li Xuewu's boat left, but he was still standing on the dock, pondering what he had just said.
It's not hard to understand, but its implications are complex.
-
Wang Min and others did not board the passenger ship with Li Xuewu. Li Xuewu's research activity ended when they arrived in Yingcheng.
The 11th was a Saturday, and Li Xuewu boarded the ship in the afternoon to make it to that time.
From the moment he boarded the ship, he was already on vacation, while Wang Min and the others took the train back, arriving in Gangcheng just as it was time to get off work.
That's why Xu Sinian said he was very sensible in his dealings with people; weekends were a precious time for rest for people in this era.
Before the university study campaign, there was simply the concept of weekend rest. In recent years, however, more and more activities have left everyone exhausted and demoralized.
However, in order not to affect normal working hours and order, the meeting was scheduled for the weekend, a time when young couples should be strolling in the park, shopping for groceries to support their families, and visiting their elderly parents.
The decision not to give a holiday for the traditional Spring Festival may seem like a sign of high enthusiasm for reform, but in reality, those who take the initiative to make grand pronouncements are always the same group of people with ulterior motives.
They are just as hateful as the parents who take the lead in calling for Teacher's Day gifts from the parents' committee.
If you want to contribute to socialist construction, you can certainly work overtime yourself; who's bothering you?
Li Xuewu was really afraid that people would gossip about him behind his back, so he rarely worked on weekends. He didn't work, nor did he recommend that others work.
Unless it was a wartime standby post or a shift work post, heavy industrial enterprises in this era rarely stopped work on weekends. It is normal for the lathe workshop to have this situation, because it needs to be cleaned every week.
On this weekend, the processing plant under Red Star, which owns lathes and CNC lathes, organizes workers to clean up iron filings and waste, and clean the public areas of the workshop.
Li Xuewu never encouraged people to work overtime or do voluntary labor at the factory on weekends, but he did not object if the organization required it and the masses actively participated.
It's just a requirement that the cafeteria provide a meat dish as a reward; if they don't provide enough, you can complain.
Socialist construction can never rely solely on spiritual incentives to manage enterprises. Li Xuewu prefers to think about problems from a practical perspective and use varying levels of material rewards in conjunction with spiritual incentives to achieve management.
Therefore, the cadres and workers under him respect him, value him, and dare to tell him the truth.
A leader who is willing to consider even your daily necessities and rest time deserves respect, right?
The research team all went back, but his secretary, Zhang Enyuan, stayed by his side, because it was work.
Just like those on standby, secretaries don't have regular rest time. If Li Xuewu needs to rush back to the group for a meeting, he has to go back to Beijing with him.
If Li Xuewu's purpose for this trip was to take a vacation, he wouldn't need to come even if he had to attend a meeting at the group.
Zhang Enyuan was actually willing to learn from him, especially his principle of being tactful in his conduct and actions.
Even such a large passenger ship is not very stable at sea, and those who lack experience in traveling by ship are bound to experience seasickness.
Fortunately, he had accompanied Li Xuewu on this route several times and had already found a way to deal with it.
As soon as the secretary-general boarded the ship, he read and wrote in his room. After preparing the necessary tea for the leader, he went to the passenger ship's restaurant and found a corner to eat something.
That's right. You don't need to deliberately look at the waves outside the window, nor do you need to feel the slight rocking of the ship. Just focus your attention on things and think about your recent work. Time will take away your mental reactions.
"Secretary Zhang? You must be Secretary Zhang."
Zhang Enyuan raised his head blankly, looked at the man walking towards him, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "You are...?"
"Hello, Secretary Zhang, I'm Wang Hui." The man smiled and extended his right hand, introducing himself: "I used to work in the sales department, then I was transferred to the Tianjin Trade Management Center, and now I work in the supply chain dispatch center."
He listed a long list of his work experience, and finally explained, "When I first entered the restaurant, I thought you looked like me, and upon closer inspection, it really is you."
With a warm and friendly air, Wang Hui sat down with his tray before Zhang Enyuan could even offer him a seat.
After he sat down, she seemed to just realize what was happening and asked apologetically, "Secretary Zhang, may I sit here?"
"It's alright, there's no one else here."
Zhang Enyuan smiled and nodded, saying, "I just arrived, I didn't expect anyone to recognize me."
"I met you when the Secretary-General came to the Tianjin Trade Management Center for research."
Wang Hui explained with a smile, "It was in the first half of last year. You and the Secretary-General were having lunch in the cafeteria, and I was sitting at the next table."
"I'm really sorry, I didn't notice at the time." Zhang Enyuan smiled politely and said, "I've been traveling to quite a few places this year."
"You've met quite a few people, haven't you?"
Wang Hui didn't pay attention to Zhang Enyuan's words, and knew it was normal that the other party didn't recognize him.
He took a bite of noodles, swallowed it politely, and then said, "I came back from Fengcheng. I was supposed to take the train, but I couldn't get a ticket for that line. Then I thought this line would be fine too."
The good thing about Honggang Group's own passenger ships is that they provide excellent food service to ensure employees' commuting, so no one goes hungry.
The noodles are freshly cooked, knife-cut noodles, very chewy, and paired with ready-made chili oil and gravy, it's incredibly delicious.
"You don't mind if I eat garlic, do you?"
Wang Hui gestured to the garlic cloves in his hand and said with a smile, "Eating noodles without garlic is like missing half the flavor."
"Hehe, please make yourself at home—"
Zhang Enyuan smiled and looked at him, saying, "This is a restaurant, there's no need for so many formalities."
"Then I won't be polite."
Wang Hui laughed as he peeled the garlic cloves with his hands, explaining, "Since I couldn't buy a train ticket from Fengcheng to Tianjin, I bought a ticket from Fengcheng to Yingcheng."
"It's the same if you take a boat from Yingcheng to Tianjin."
His smile was radiant, and his youthful energy made the dinner table anything but dull.
Zhang Enyuan didn't care about his purpose in asking him to have dinner together; he considered it a way of diverting his attention.
It's just the time it takes to eat a meal.
That was his initial thought, but as time went on, he increasingly regretted his decision.
This young man is polite and speaks very well, but there's one thing about him: even a bowl of noodles can't shut him up. He's really good at talking. No wonder he works in the sales department; it's a perfect fit for his major.
"I don't know if it's presumptuous of me to ask this," Wang Hui said for a while before turning to Zhang Enyuan and politely asking, "What brings you here...?"
"I'm accompanying my boss on a business trip." Zhang Enyuan didn't hide it. Since the other party was on the same boat and had introduced himself, there was no point in hiding it.
Honggang Group's security forces are very comprehensive, even bordering on paranoid.
According to what he knew, the ship was heavily armed, supposedly to deal with pirates.
That's quite a joke. When have pirates ever come to the Bohai Bay? It's obvious who they're protecting against.
They take even pirates this seriously, and they are extremely serious about the safety of the ship.
Even without mentioning that Li Xuewu was on the ship, there was a weekly round-trip passenger route, and quite a few leaders would use this route to commute. If anyone got into trouble or if any bad rumors spread, the shipping department's work for the year would be for nothing.
Therefore, Zhang Enyuan was not worried about any danger, unless the other party wanted to get something out of him.
Do you really think that his face is as recognizable as Li Xuewu's, and that everyone can recognize him?
He certainly doesn't deny his fame, but it's limited to a small circle, like the office.
Especially when standing next to Li Xuewu, everyone's eyes are on the leader; who would look at him?
Therefore, he didn't quite believe Wang Hui's claim that he remembered Wang Hui's appearance because he happened to sit at the next table during their research trip in the cafeteria.
Of course, we can't rule out the possibility, but it's still too low, so low that he's wary.
"Oh, the Secretary-General is on the ship?"
Wang Hui stared wide-eyed as if he had just realized something and asked, "You weren't with him?"
"Hehe, the boss is reading a book."
Zhang Enyuan smiled and replied, "I didn't eat enough at noon, so I'll just grab a bite."
"Understanding, especially secretarial work."
Wang Hui nodded understandingly and said, "My brother-in-law also works in an office. Like you, he has to find time to eat."
"Hmm, you work in the dispatch center?"
Zhang Enyuan didn't want to give him a chance to talk about the leader, so he changed the subject to the other person.
"Yes, Headquarters Dispatch Center."
Wang Hui explained, "My main responsibility is business communication, which means running errands."
He smiled slightly and explained his job duties with a joke.
Putting aside speculation and suspicion about the other party's motives, Zhang Enyuan actually quite admired his mindset.
“That’s great, you can travel all over the world.” He looked at Wang Hui and said with envy, “Unlike us, who stay in one circle for a long time.”
"If it weren't for the hardship of long-distance driving, this job would really be worth mentioning."
Wang Hui also complained with a smile: "I'm lucky if I can be home for a week a month. My mom has to contact me in advance if she wants to see me."
"Hehe, is your family from Beijing?"
Zhang Enyuan could hear his accent and remembered his self-introduction, which said he was from the sales department.
The group's current sales office is not the original sales office of the Red Star Factory, and there have been significant changes in personnel, with many new people joining as far as he knows.
The actual sales department is now called the Marketing Management Department, and the sales department is under the jurisdiction of this department.
Many people from the original sales department were transferred to lower-level units for training, such as the sales headquarters.
However, if someone mentions that they used to work in the sales department, they must be a veteran of the Red Star Factory.
"My dad used to be an accountant in the factory."
Wang Hui nodded and introduced himself: "I retired in 65. I am the youngest in my family."
"Then you've come at a good time."
Zhang Enyuan glanced at him and said, "These past few years, very few employees' children have entered the factory."
"Hey—times are changing!"
While eating noodles, Wang Hui chatted casually, "My dad also says I'm lucky, that I always seem to have the best luck."
What a smart person! They managed to stop the conversation even after it had gone this far.
Zhang Enyuan finished eating first, and looked at him with a smile, already having made his judgment.
This might be a scout sent by the Tianjin Trade Management Center to gather information about their activities.
Although it was the first time I had encountered it, it wasn't the first time I had heard of such underhanded tactics.
Subordinate units get incredibly nervous when they hear that their leaders are coming to conduct research, or even just passing through.
What do you do when you don't know when the leader will arrive? Send a scout out the way!
Wang Hui is Benbo Ba, or you can call him Babo Ben, anyway, he's here to anchor their position.
I don't dislike it, but it's still quite off-putting.
Zhang Enyuan had also worked in the business department and had done inspection preparation work, so he knew this mentality.
But he never imagined that someone would use such an extravagant method to lay an ambush in advance.
But then I thought about who the head of the sales company was, and it made sense; that person almost got into trouble last year.
Everyone said that the secretary-general spoke well of him at the meeting, and that the chief economist Gao Yaqin also protected him.
Actually?
Zhang Enyuan dared not say whether General Manager Zhuang was General Manager Gao's man, but he knew it was definitely not related to the Secretary-General. Even if something was said in the meeting, it was just normal work, and there was absolutely no intention of covering up for him.
Having narrowly escaped death, President Zhuang was probably still shaken, which is why rumors of a connection between so-and-so began to circulate.
In fact, Zhang Enyuan also felt that it shouldn't be spread like this, because having another secretary-general wasn't a big deal, since the secretary-general was good to everyone.
But this relationship involves General Manager Gao. If there's a real connection, that's fine, but if there isn't, it means you've offended someone who truly has one.
Even he hated fence-sitters, let alone leaders.
This was clearly a blunder, and the Secretary-General looked on with disdain when he heard the news.
So the question is whether President Zhuang will appear at the dock to wait for the Secretary-General. If he does, then President Zhuang is really quite foolish.
In critical times, the more panicked you are, the more disastrous things will become.
He chatted with Wang Hui at the restaurant for about an hour before getting up to say goodbye.
Wang Hui didn't pester him, and didn't even try to probe him during their conversation.
A young person who knows how to behave appropriately, having been trained in the business department, is not annoying.
Li Xuewu's cabin was neither too far nor too close to the restaurant, making it convenient for dining while avoiding noise.
Actually, the cabin he was in was already very comfortable, with not only a comfortable bed but also a desk.
These conditions are clearly intended for the leaders who are traveling by ship; the shipping department also has its own ulterior motives.
It's not always the top leaders who get on board, but if they happen to be there and no one does, it could be troublesome.
"Secretary-General, the food in the restaurant is quite delicious. If you're hungry, I can get some back for you."
Zhang Enyuan walked into the room, glanced at the teacup on the table, picked up the thermos and added hot water.
Li Xuewu was still reading, and without looking up, he said, "No need, I'm not hungry yet, I'll talk to you later."
"I just met a pretty interesting young man at the restaurant. He said he used to work at the sales department of the former Red Star Factory."
While tidying up the table, Zhang Enyuan reported softly, "He's currently working at the Tianjin Supply Chain Headquarters Dispatch Center. He said he's going on a business trip to Fengcheng."
"Hmm, did you ask about my schedule?"
Li Xuewu is very perceptive; Zhang Enyuan may rarely encounter such situations, but Li Xuewu has seen and experienced many of them.
This is why there was no cell phone or GPS tracking. Back when he was in charge of security at the local company, he did a lot of preparation for inspections, fearing a sudden attack.
How did he deal with it?
It's a bit bizarre, really. He was friends with a junior manager in charge of the fleet at the provincial company, and he got the fleet management account and password over a single drinking session.
Anyone who has had contact with the management of the company's fleet in the future will know what this means.
He knows the location, speed, remaining fuel, and mileage of all official vehicles of the provincial company.
Unless it's actually the leader's own car passing by temporarily, no one can penetrate his protective net.
In this day and age, there's no way to defend against it; there aren't even cell phones. He guessed that the other party's method of communication was probably a short-range radio transmitter.
That thing is really not difficult to operate; they just need to send a message after their ship enters the Haihe River.
It will take some time to get from the Haihe River to the dock where the trade management center is located, which will give the other party enough time to prepare.
Because of his extensive experience, Li Xuewu instantly recognized Zhang Enyuan's background when Zhang Enyuan reported these things impartially.
There's no need to consider coincidences, because if it were truly a coincidence, Zhang Enyuan wouldn't have specifically reported it to him.
"No, he's a very sensible young man."
Zhang Enyuan smiled and said, "I just asked one more question. He wanted to invite me to his home in Beijing for dinner."
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled softly, refocusing his attention on the book.
It's often said that his theoretical knowledge is even stronger than his professional skills, and this isn't an illusion; it's the result of hard work.
He used to read long books, but not those from this era. Although they had historical continuity, some of the content changed after the turning point.
So he was also learning again, but he had the experience and methods to learn, and he could concentrate on it.
Novels and theoretical knowledge are different; novels are more accessible and the language is easier to understand.
Theoretical books create a reading barrier due to their rigid and serious terminology and the need for necessary theoretical support.
To put it simply, you can tell whether you can understand or get into a book of genuine theoretical knowledge the moment you open its cover.
Being literate and having thoughts and culture are two different things.
The slogan "We must be thoughtful and cultured young people of the new era" has been around for so many years, and it's still being chanted because many young people don't realize that they really lack ideological education and their cultural level is really just average.
***
The passenger ship arrived at Tianjin Haihe River Pier No. 78, also known as the trading company's pier, on the evening of the 11th.
When the Red Star Factory decided to purchase the building here to set up a trade management center, the port was still very desolate and few ships docked.
Three years have passed, and the changes are considerable.
Li Xuewu watched helplessly as the dock facilities were restored and more ships docked.
In fact, there are fewer and fewer shipping and passenger vessels these days, especially on inland rivers.
However, the unique nature of shipping and the insufficient carrying capacity of railways have meant that inland waterway shipping has always existed.
Li Xuewu estimates that in another ten years or so, it will be very difficult to see large ships sailing in again.
A yacht belonging to Jili Star Ships was moored at the dock; that was Catherine's mobile office.
However, the fact that this ship is here does not mean that Catherine is also in Tianjin. Li Xuewu knows that she went to the port city.
During his trip to East Germany, Hongxing Steel Group acquired a lot of valuable assets, and Catherine's 500 million yuan was not taken for nothing.
She obtained camera manufacturing technology, as well as procurement channels for water pumps and medical equipment.
Moreover, with Li Xuewu's help, she also gained access to import channels for mining equipment by leveraging her financial advantage, which was quite a big deal.
The United Energy Development Corporation, established by Honggang Group, is in dire need of a large amount of mining equipment. Catherine will first handle the procurement projects for water pumps and medical equipment in the port city, and then she will negotiate with the mining company upon her return.
There's no rush to implement camera technology. There are many camera manufacturers in China, so it's better to be cautious.
The equipment import channel is even more anxious because it does not involve the production process, and time is money.
First, she needs to establish trade channels. She needs to determine the distribution direction in the mainland, and then ensure that every shipment arrives at the port as agreed.
This is a business with a steady, long-term flow of profits; it's truly profitable, and she has also begun to get involved in international trade.
Hongxing Steel Group has an international business division in the port city. Purchasing through the club can save the bidding process of the Tianjin supply chain headquarters, which is more convenient.
She has temporarily achieved her goal of making a lot of money with Li Xuewu, but she doesn't know what the outcome will be. She is also under pressure to go home and get married.
"Hello, Secretary-General, welcome to Tianjin."
He Xiangdong, deputy general manager of the sales company of Hongxing Steel Group, Wang Wenyao, general manager of the joint trade management center, Huang Zhongmei, general manager of the supply chain headquarters, and Wang Ye, president of the Tianjin branch of Hongxing United Savings Bank, greeted him at the dock, making quite a grand spectacle.
Without a doubt, it must have been Zhuang Cangshu's arrangement.
He was quite sensible and didn't come in person, otherwise Li Xuewu would have really embarrassed him.
Even when He Xiangdong was there, Li Xuewu only shook hands with him after hearing his reasons.
"The trade fair and sales event at the beginning of the year will be held this month, and the first month will focus on the hardware industry."
When He Xiangdong saw Li Xuewu off, he personally explained the purpose of his visit to Tianjin.
Li Xuewu thought that while the trade fair was important and it was understandable for the company's vice president to be overseeing it, it was just too coincidental.
However, he could understand Zhuang Cangshu's caution, after all, he was under pressure and still wanted to achieve great things.
"Would you like to visit the Trade Management Center first? Our staff are still at work."
“I can already see it.” Li Xuewu, who was standing at the car door, looked up and pointed to the office building across the street, where the lights of the Trade Management Center were the brightest.
Moreover, almost all the windows of the entire building complex were lit up, resembling the scene of the 996 work culture in later generations.
"Are you that busy?"
After Li Xuewu got on the bus, he asked a question.
He Xiangdong sat down with him in the back row and explained with a smile, "It's like this every day of the year."
"Yes, I can tell you've had a tough time."
Li Xuewu pointed ahead and said, "Then let's go and see what the comrades are doing."
"You can eat in the cafeteria nearby."
He Xiangdong said with a smile, "President Zhuang said that you don't like extravagance, so we didn't prepare a welcome banquet for you. How about a working meal?"
"He's lying to you. I love eating fancy meals the most," Li Xuewu said with a smile. "Who doesn't like to eat well? Who doesn't like to hear flattery?"
"Then we're in big trouble—"
He Xiangdong laughed and said, "However, the food in our canteen is also very good, especially now. Those who are working overtime without going home deserve better benefits."
"If you work overtime at night, what about in the morning?"
Looking at the scenery along the shore outside the car window, Li Xuewu asked, "Comrades, you've worked very hard, and your fighting strength will be weakened."
"We also flexibly adjust our working hours according to the special nature of our work."
He Xiangdong pointed to the company building across the street and explained, "Many projects and tasks need to be completed overtime to prepare for the transactions to be conducted tomorrow morning, so the sales staff need to work overtime."
"Of course, they will be allowed to come a little later in the morning, and we have prepared subsidies."
He smiled as he looked at Li Xuewu and introduced, "Overtime pay and team bonuses."
"Yes, your work is special."
Li Xuewu watched the car arrive at the building and got out of the car after his secretary opened the door.
He first looked at the brightly lit lobby, then looked up at the newly built office building.
Honestly, it feels like a return to the 996 work culture. Back when I went to Beijing for a meeting, I would go out for dinner at night, and even after 10 p.m., I could still see office buildings that were brightly lit all night.
"There aren't many people in the exhibition hall on the first floor; the business is all done upstairs."
Wang Wenyao, the general manager of the management center, took the initiative to raise his hand and introduced: "The actual time to get off work is around nine or ten o'clock at night. In addition to dormitories, there is also a shuttle bus to pick us up. The welfare conditions are really good."
"This is probably the busiest office area in the neighborhood."
Li Xuewu stood on the steps and looked around; only his position was the most eye-catching.
"You're right. People often come to watch the festivities at night, more in the summer and less in the winter."
Huang Zhongmei stood to the side with a smile and explained, "It's very lively when people get off work at night. We're worried about everyone getting into danger, so the security team stands at the door watching people get on their vehicles. We don't allow people to ride bicycles at night."
"Okay, the more you care, the more attentive the comrades will be. It would be best if there were no dangers."
Li Xuewu nodded and stepped into the Trade Management Center building, where the lights were even more dazzling.
The office building, which was completed last year, has been rebuilt on the original site, with the total number of floors increased to 9.
Is a nine-story building considered tall?
Even if it doesn’t count.
At that time, these buildings were considered the best buildings in the economic zone of Tianjin.
It may not be the tallest, but it is certainly a prominent part of the city skyline.
The original three-story building was already unusable, and even the companies that moved in couldn't fit their desks in it.
It's not enough now. The building has been increased in height, but the business volume of the trade management center and the number of related units have increased. If there weren't other buildings allocated to it, we might have to build more.
Honggang Group has established an important business segment of its sales headquarters here.
The branch managers who arrived today represent several business locations in Tianjin.
Joint trade, supply chain, joint savings bank, and sales and marketing company.
Good evening, boss.
Some employees recognized Li Xuewu and were surprised and taken aback when they saw him at this time.
Fortunately, he was still able to react and say hello.
Li Xuewu responded with a smile. It was only when he visited the integrated business command center that he truly witnessed the bustling activity in the trading hall.
It was almost seven o'clock, and the phone was still ringing non-stop. Someone was updating sales data on the large blackboard, and sales staff were walking back and forth between their desks, very busy.
Li Xuewu did not go inside. His presence would likely cause trouble for the other party, so there was no need for it.
I looked from the 3rd floor to the 7th floor before coming down to the cafeteria for my work lunch.
We said we'd treat him to a working meal, and it turned out to be a simple yet lavish welcome.
Li Xuewu did not feel slighted, nor did he mention whether they were deliberately trying to curry favor with him.
Someone has to take the lead. If they're willing to pretend to be incorruptible to please him, then he'll try to make them pretend for as long as possible.
He didn't care what they ate, it was just a meal anyway; what he really wanted to see was the work atmosphere here.
He had no research mission during his trip to Tianjin; rather, the other party overreacted.
Zhuang Cangshu probably had some expectations, or perhaps he was afraid that Zhuang would cause trouble here.
In short, the four of them took good care of him and didn't want him to find fault with them.
After dinner, the group chatted in the restaurant, each giving a brief report on their work and the recent business of their respective units.
Li Xuewu listened without offering any opinions or views, drank a cup of hot tea, and then left.
He didn't go to the guesthouse; his house was right across the street, next to where Li Huaide kept his mistress.
He Xiangdong and the others knew that he had a place to stay across the street, so they didn't mention arranging accommodation.
He simply reminded the driver to drive slowly and be careful, which was a very thorough instruction.
When Li Xuewu boarded the bus, he shook hands with each of them and said thank you for your hard work.
It was really tough. If it weren't for welcoming him, I probably would have gone home to rest long ago.
Leaders who come to work at unusual times are always disliked, and they're even more disliked if they also talk too much.
Wu Shuping knew he was coming back today, so she arranged for Sister Lu to make preparations.
As soon as he got out of the car, the gate to the courtyard opened.
"Sir, you are back."
"Sister Lu, you haven't rested yet?"
Li Xuewu smiled and nodded, then got out of the car with Zhang Enyuan.
Zhang Enyuan carried his luggage and looked around the villa; it was indeed his first time here.
He had been to all the leaders' residences in Beijing, not to mention the one in Gangcheng. He truly did not know that the leaders had a place to stay here.
"Zhang Enyuan, my secretary."
When Li Xuewu entered the hospital, he introduced Sister Lu to Zhang Enyuan.
"I can do it, it's no trouble at all."
When Zhang Enyuan saw that Sister Lu was about to take the luggage from his hands, he smiled and politely declined, saying, "It's very light."
"Welcome to Secretary Zhang's office."
Sister Lu greeted him with a smile, gestured towards the foyer, and invited him to come inside.
"I'm going back to Beijing for a meeting, and I have nowhere to stay."
After entering the house, Li Xuewu took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack by the door. He explained to Wu Shuping, who was standing in the entryway to greet him, "Let's rest in Tianjin for one night before going back, so as not to be too tired."
"Tomorrow is the weekend." Wu Shuping greeted Zhang Enyuan with a smile first, then said to Li Xuewu, "You've planned this all along?"
"Time marches on relentlessly; there's no such thing as a perfectly planned schedule." Li Xuewu walked into the living room, looked around, and then turned back with a smile, asking, "Where's my son?"
"She's upstairs, she just finished taking a shower."
Wu Shuping couldn't help but smile and said, "I haven't had a moment's rest since I finished shopping."
She laughed because Li Xuewu didn't shy away from calling his son the secretary he brought home for the first time.
This composure gave her a sense of security.
She knew, of course, that Li Xin was not Li Xuewu's child, but Li Xuewu's behavior showed enough responsibility.
Zhang Enyuan was indeed startled. He thought he had misheard. How could Li Ning be here?
However, seeing the leader's calm attitude, I had other guesses in my mind.
Godson, the leader has a godson.
There are two in the steel city. One is bigger, and he lives with the leaders. The other is smaller, and he said he moved to Beijing.
He did know the details about the older one; he was the son of the head of the group's guesthouse.
These days, it's very common to adopt a godson. The fact that the leader brought him here shows that he's not considered an outsider, so he can't act too overbearingly.
So, taking advantage of the time while putting away my luggage, I quickly went back to my room on the first floor and didn't come out again.
When you arrive at your destination, settle down and sleep. Don't know what you shouldn't know, don't listen to what you shouldn't listen to, and don't ask what you shouldn't ask.
Wu Shuping didn't care about his arrival at all, because she trusted Li Xuewu more. How could someone he brought be someone she couldn't trust?
“I even said I’d see you when I was in Beijing last time, but when I asked Guodong, he said you went back to Liaodong.”
She brought Li Xuewu a glass of warm water that she had prepared beforehand, and sat down on the sofa next to him, explaining, "Why are you in such a hurry? Has the project already been finalized?"
“If this is really implemented, I won’t need to come back.” Li Xuewu took a sip of hot water before saying, “I’m really worried about Gangcheng.”
"What, something happened again?"
Wu Shuping knew a bit about his work, and raised an eyebrow, asking, "Really? Only a few days?"
“I’ve been gone for half a month.” Li Xuewu put down his water glass and said, “Including the time I’ve been back, it’s been a month. How could I dare to let go?”
"It's too tiring, mainly because it's mentally taxing."
Wu Shuping looked at him and said, "You have to keep an eye on everything, and be careful everywhere."
"Otherwise what?" Li Xuewu glanced at her and said, "Aren't you like this now?"
"I'm nowhere near as busy as you—"
Wu Shuping turned to face him and said, "I only have company matters to attend to, and I still have time to handle the recycling station work."
"Oh, by the way, Xiaobai's back, did you know?" She smiled, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Hasn't she contacted you?"
"Why is she back?"
Li Xuewu frowned slightly and said, "Didn't you say you were going to join the army? Can you come back whenever you want?"
"They said he got into medical school."
Wu Shuping looked at him and said, "You're back in the capital again, probably to give you a surprise."