MMB Chapter 1532 Walking Out Openly and Honestly
Chapter 1532 Walking Out Openly and Honestly
Chapter 1532 Walking Out Openly and Honestly
"Go to medical school? Study medicine?"
Li Xuewu's furrowed brows did not relax; instead, they showed a hint of helplessness and amusement.
"With her personality, why would she study medicine?"
"Look at what you're saying, what's wrong with her personality?"
Wu Shuping smiled at him and said, "It's been over a year, can't people be allowed to improve?"
"As you said yourself, it's been over a year."
Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "How much can change?"
“That’s not necessarily true—” Wu Shuping stood up to get hot water, saying, “I’ve heard what you were like before you joined the army.”
As she said this, she glanced back at Li Xuewu with a meaningful smile.
"Besides, you haven't even seen the person yet."
She returned with a thermos, added hot water to Li Xuewu's teacup, and continued, "There's a saying that goes, 'A girl changes a lot as she grows up.'"
"Wouldn't it be better if it were as you say?"
Li Xuewu didn't dwell on the topic too much, as he wasn't sure he'd be able to see her even after returning this time.
Over the past year, Zhou Xiaobai had written to him several times, but he hadn't replied to any of them.
It's not about adhering to the "three no's" principle, but about giving a confused teenage girl some time.
Perhaps even Zhou Xiaobai herself didn't know what she wanted over the past few years.
Like other young people of this era, except that she has better family conditions and more life choices, but the era she lives in is just as complex.
They are confused yet confident, admiring yet rebellious, yearning for recognition yet recklessly accepting others' opinions.
Young people's mistakes are always easily forgiven, let alone their life choices.
Li Xuewu didn't think that Zhou Xiaobai relying on him was a particularly correct choice, and he never instilled this idea or influence in her.
Just as Wu Shuping said, she really grew up, matured, and became more mature during her year in the army, and learned to make life choices carefully.
So it's better not to reply. Even if she comes back to the capital to study, let's see each other again someday.
As for the talk of leveraging connections and owing favors, Li Xuewu didn't feel that Zhou Xiaobai owed him anything.
With Tianjin Shunfeng Trading making a smooth landing, Li Huaide was also deeply entangled in this ever-advancing chariot, and his initial goal had been achieved.
If one day he has to choose to end Lao Li's role, and Lao Li tries his best and is not destined to die, then he will personally push this chariot into the abyss and ask Lao Li to die.
When the investigation reaches the source, it should stop when it leads to the name Zhou Xiaobai.
The documents left behind by the Red Star Factory, and all of Zhou Zechuan's investigations, will become Lao Li's death warrant.
Li Xuewu couldn't guarantee that he could help Lao Li avoid all the calamities, but he tried his best to help Lao Li solve all practical difficulties when needed.
Don't think he can solve all of Lao Li's problems, but he can guarantee to send Lao Li on his way.
This is the source of their confidence in orchestrating the scheme.
He's supported Zhou Xiaobai for so many years, spending real money on her; even a rich girl wouldn't live this kind of life. I believe Zhou Zhennan won't blame him.
This was Zhou Xiaobai's own choice, and also the capital she had to make during her adolescence. Without Li Xuewu, who else would have the capital or the ability to give her this experience?
So far, putting aside the issues of leveraging external forces and incurring debts, even if Zhou Xiaobai continued to receive a salary from Shunfeng Trading, he wouldn't feel like he was losing out; on the contrary, he felt it was well worth it.
How much money could a girl who has never experienced the extravagant lifestyle of the capitalist world possibly waste?
He was really looking forward to Zhou Xiaobai, once he matured, becoming a business partner.
If things really go as he wishes, he'll be willing to continue investing, and then he'll be investing in her as a person.
"Want to take a bath?" Wu Shuping heard the laughter upstairs. After putting down the thermos, she went upstairs first, said a few words to Sister Lu, and then came down to ask him.
Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said, "I stayed at the shipyard guesthouse last night; the conditions were quite good."
"Taking a bath can relieve fatigue."
Wu Shuping did not follow his lead, but instead turned around and gave a message to Sister Lu upstairs.
Coming downstairs again, she said helplessly, "Kids get harder to take care of when they're older; they're like little monkeys."
"Do you expect him to be quiet and reserved?"
Li Xuewu glanced at her with amusement, then thought for a moment and asked, "Do you have any plans to move back to the capital?"
"Where to move to? To the workers' new village?"
Wu Shuping glanced at him, shook her head slightly, and replied, "It's fine living here. I don't want him to cause any more trouble."
Do you have any concerns?
Li Xuewu crossed his right leg, leaned against the sofa, and sized up Teacher Wu. "Traveling back and forth between Beijing and Tianjin is quite inconvenient."
What could I possibly have to worry about?
Wu Shuping stood by the sofa with her arms crossed and said, "Even if I go back to Tsinghua University now, can they still hold a grudge against me because of my history?"
“Your sister-in-law advised me not to go back, saying that some people are unwilling to admit their mistakes, so as to avoid further trouble.”
"Listen to her, she's right—"
Li Xuewu sighed deeply and nodded slowly, saying, "Even with her background, her current situation at school isn't exactly good."
"How could this happen?" Wu Shuping lowered her arms and sat on the sofa, frowning as she asked, "She comes from a poor peasant family and has impeccable revolutionary credentials—"
“Who’s going to reason with you?” Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, “The current situation is that the Workers’ Propaganda Team exists in name only, but its influence still exists.”
He tapped his fingers on his knee and said, "The real decision on school work and life is still undecided. In the end, there will inevitably be chaos and a mess."
"But surely it shouldn't involve her?"
Wu Shuping didn't believe that Zhao Yafang, with her temperament and personality, would get involved with those people.
"How do you say something?"
Li Xuewu smiled helplessly and said, "The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease."
"If she hadn't taken maternity leave, the scandal at the end of last year would have affected her."
"Seriously... sigh—"
Wu Shuping opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end she could only sigh. What could she say in the face of this situation?
"When I first received the message asking me to go back to teaching, they said they were preparing to resume classes, and everything was getting better."
Li Xuewu calmly explained, "My older brother was overjoyed to return to school from the prison, but three months passed without any students showing up for class."
He looked at Wu Shuping, raised an eyebrow, and said, "The storms that are affecting this era are far more significant than you imagine, especially now."
"Then why did you make me move back?"
Wu Shuping glanced at him and said reproachfully, "Don't you think I'm causing you enough trouble already?"
“You’ve already cut off your escape route, so what trouble could there be?” Li Xuewu chuckled as he looked at her and said, “Those who truly want to destroy you are ultimately those who covet you and are jealous of the benefits you’ve gained.”
“Once you’ve moved away from them, you’ve moved away from the risk, so you’re safe now.”
He sighed and said, "Unlike my sister-in-law and my elder brother, they are still caught in the vortex and cannot escape."
"So Xue Wencai went to graduate school?"
Wu Shuping works for the group, so of course she knows about Li Xuewen's activities, and she also meets with Zhao Yafang frequently.
Li Xuewu shrugged and said, "What else can we do? Let him waste his time at school?"
"My older brother is a man who is easygoing, and he is also unambitious, but you can't describe him as a good-for-nothing."
"Studying literature? What else is there to say?!"
Wu Shuping also remarked with emotion, "Back then, in our group, your older brother was the most knowledgeable."
"We found him something to do."
Li Xuewu smiled slightly and explained, "The Institute of Physics needs people. He has mastered enough theoretical knowledge and it's time for him to spend some time in the laboratory."
"Sir, the hot water is ready."
Sister Lu, holding Li Xin, stood at the corner of the stairs and reminded the two of something. Li Xin twisted his body to come down.
"Daddy—Daddy—"
The speech wasn't very comprehensive, but the conversations between Dad and Mom, as well as everyday conversations, were coherent.
Li Xuewu stood up with a smile, walked upstairs, took his son Li Xin from Sister Lu's hands, and kissed him.
Despite not seeing him for a long time, Li Xin remained affectionate, hugging his neck and giggling.
"Thank you for your hard work, Sister Lu." Li Xuewu first thanked Sister Lu for her hard work before going upstairs.
Ms. Lu originally thought that when Teacher Wu returned to Beijing for work, she would also take her child with her.
Unexpectedly, Wu Shuping had no intention of arranging for the child to go to Beijing, so she still had to work in Tianjin.
I've gotten used to it. These days, isn't having a job like this better than queuing up on the street?
Many housewives are unemployed, either waiting for small factories in the neighborhood to give them odd jobs or waiting for sewing cooperatives or similar organizations to start production.
Everyone talks about a new life and a new era, but in Sister Lu's opinion, nothing is more tangible than making money.
She had worked as a maid for the Lou family for half her life, and had no other skills except for serving them.
You say you're turning the tables and taking control of your own lives, but aren't there enough waiters in the city already doing this kind of job?
She wasn't ignorant; this kind of work still exists, it's just that ordinary people don't see it.
So even though she lived far from home, she was still willing to help Wu Shuping take care of her child.
Li Xuewu has been visiting less frequently this year, and the two only see each other a handful of times. She thought they had some kind of conflict and broken up, and she was very worried that Teacher Wu would be kicked out of the house. If that happened, she would really have a hard time making a choice.
I couldn't abandon the mother and child, nor could I work for nothing. Today, I finally felt relieved.
Teacher Wu has already established herself in Beijing, and even her personality has subtly changed.
Especially after meeting the lover who didn't seem like a lover to her, Ms. Wu really changed.
Looking at Ms. Wu's attitude towards Mr. Li today, it seems more like that of a couple who have lived together for a long time. The relationships between these people are really... complicated.
"Tell Daddy, do you miss Daddy?"
"think--"
"How about Daddy?"
"it is good--"
***
"Do I need you to coax me to sleep?"
Li Xuewu entered the master bedroom in his pajamas and saw Wu Shuping sitting on the bed reading a book, so he asked Li Xin.
Wu Shuping looked up from her book at him and said with a slight smile, "If you don't look for me now, look for Sister Lu. Then go to sleep obediently when it's time."
"Looks like I really should give Sister Lu a red envelope."
Li Xuewu smiled and walked to the bedside to sit down. He wiped the soles of his feet with a foot-wiping cloth before getting into bed.
"Let's talk about it during the New Year, I'm thinking about it."
Wu Shuping sat up straight, smoothed her hair, and said, "Giving too much or too little is not good."
"You decide, I'll pay."
Li Xuewu leaned against the headboard. The room was very hot, so he didn't cover himself with a blanket and just chatted with his legs up.
Wu Shuping turned her head and looked him up and down, then asked with amusement, "Aren't you feeling a great sense of accomplishment?"
"What do you mean by that?" Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, "Isn't it about a sense of participation?"
“Tired—” Wu Shuping pursed her lips, turned her body away and said, “Li Xin really misses you. He was still talking about wanting his dad before he went to sleep.”
"Unfortunately, I came back on official business this time, so I didn't have the time or opportunity to buy him a gift."
Li Xuewu picked up a book from the bedside table, opened it, and asked, "The little guy is three years old now, what does he like?"
"I don't know, maybe he's not close to me anymore."
Wu Shuping straightened her hair, leaned back against the headboard, and said with a hint of jealousy.
Li Xuewu said with a laugh, "I still suggest you take the child back to Beijing and spend more time with him."
“Who wouldn’t want to live with their own child?” Wu Shuping rolled her eyes at him, then remained silent for a moment before saying in a somewhat dejected voice, “He’s close to you, but he doesn’t even like his own father.”
Li Xuewu sensed the hidden meaning in her words, turned to look at her, and asked, "A letter from the frontier?"
"No, he wouldn't write a letter."
Wu Shuping lowered her eyes, propping herself up on one leg with her light purple silk pajamas, and said softly, "He didn't even consider Li Xin to be his child."
“I didn’t say I was going to send him that far,” Li Xuewu said, his hand on the page of his book, looking at her. “Why are you doing this?”
"No matter what you think, sending him to the frontier is my best choice."
Wu Shuping looked up at him and said, "I can't just watch him die, but I also can't forgive his stubbornness and choices."
Have you ever thought about Li Xin?
Li Xuewu tilted his head and looked at her, reminding her, "What will Li Xin do when he grows up and wants a father?"
"Isn't Li Xin's father you?"
Wu Shuping looked at him calmly and said, "From the moment he made his choice, he may have already given up on Li Xin."
"It's not that I didn't give him a chance."
She avoided Li Xuewu's gaze and said calmly, "When he stands here, even if he hates me, even if he asks about the child, what will he do?"
Perhaps it was because she was talking about something painful, but tears kept falling; it was the kind of despairing heartache.
Wiping away her tears and catching her breath, she continued in a hoarse voice, "He didn't even bother to ask a single question or glance at the child. How can I expect him to listen to any of my explanations?"
"I've considered it too. If he really misunderstood, and things were cleared up, I'd be willing to wander the world with him, or even..."
When she got to this point, she looked up at Li Xuewu, then realized how ridiculous she was and shook her head slightly, asking, "You don't hate me, do you?"
"Are you telling the truth?" Seeing that she didn't explain, Li Xuewu pursed his lips and said regretfully, "It's the truth. Of course I won't hate you."
He knew what Wu Shuping hadn't said: she was willing to betray him to save her lover.
That's only human nature. What is there for him to hate? He certainly understands the principle that once a move is made, it cannot be taken back.
It is especially rare for Wu Shuping to speak her mind at this time, as if she has seen through the past and the future, and is drawing a clear line from today.
Am I stupid?
After a long silence, Wu Shuping shifted slightly and leaned against him, murmuring, "This is the time to comfort you, why make you feel upset?"
"Are you afraid that I will let you down, or let Li Xin down?" Li Xuewu seemed to see through her heart, and put his arm around her shoulder, saying, "There's no need for that."
“I know you are magnanimous in your actions and even more so in your character, and you wouldn’t stoop to the level of a petty woman like me.”
Wu Shuping raised her head, found a more comfortable position to lie down, and said, "Life is a long journey, and even the closest people may break up. It's just a matter of choosing two different paths."
“He will hate you.” Li Xuewu lowered his head and looked at her lying in his arms, reminding her, “Didn’t you ever think that one day he would repent and come back to you to ask for a chance to make amends? You didn’t even leave yourself that chance.”
Yes, he didn't say anything wrong; Wu Shuping didn't give herself a chance to forgive him.
"It's better for him to hate me than for him to hate you."
Wu Shuping shook her head slightly and said, "On the day I saw him off, I told him not to regret it."
"Is it him? Or is it a reminder to yourself?"
Li Xuewu scrutinized her profile. The gentleness of a southern woman had vanished in this turmoil. She had changed her hair to short hair at some point and looked more heroic, exuding the aura of a strong woman.
Perhaps only with him can I have the chance to lean on him, rest a bit, and speak my mind, which has been bottled up for so long.
"It's him, and it's also myself."
Wu Shuping twisted her body and lay down a little, looking into his eyes and saying, "Do you still trust me?"
"Like before?" Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and smiled, asking, "Like before tonight?"
"I have no other choice."
Wu Shuping reached out and touched his stubble, saying, "This is the only thing I can do for Li Xin."
What if I said it was completely unnecessary?
Li Xuewu looked at her and said, "You should be living a worry-free life now, and you don't have to worry about going to school, right?"
What else can I do for you?
What is Wu Shuping trying to achieve by saying and doing these things?
There were no complicated thoughts behind it; all I wanted was to give Li Xin an identity, a proper home.
Li Xuewu then presented a choice, much like how he had reduced the number of times he met with her and visited Tianjin less often over the past year.
Now he asks Wu Shuping what she still aspires to based on her existing material life, or what she doesn't need to do anything further, and he will consider everything he can provide. How does she then make her choice?
Wu Shuping pinched his chin, smiled brightly, and leaned forward to kiss him.
"The rest were all made for myself."
She looked into Li Xuewu's eyes, never having looked at him so closely before, her gaze conveying a deep connection.
There was no shyness, no awkwardness, and no intense feeling of a long-awaited reunion; it was all just natural and spontaneous.
She made a choice too, didn't she?
-
"Zhou Yamei said she would settle down in Beijing."
At the breakfast table in the morning, Wu Shuping changed into a women's business suit, and her white shirt was very eye-catching.
She took a sip of porridge, looked at Li Xuewu across from her, and asked, "Where will Yu Li go? Jicheng?"
"Why are you suddenly concerned about her again?"
Li Xuewu, while eating a meat bun, looked at her and asked, "Did Yu Li tell you to ask that?"
"Does she even need me to make the connection?"
Wu Shuping wiped her son's mouth and taught him how to use a spoon, explaining, "It was something I mentioned while chatting with Zhou Yamei."
"It's not decided yet, maybe."
Li Xuewu did not give a definite answer, while eating steamed buns and drinking rice porridge.
Zhang Enyuan was somewhat silent. He got up in the morning to help Sister Lu and tidied up the house.
He didn't listen to their conversation or try to guess their relationship.
Wu Shuping felt that Li Xuewu was not telling the truth, or that he shouldn't have said it at this time.
"Daddy, Daddy—"
Li Xin held the dumpling wrapper in his little hand, eager to hand it to Li Xuewu.
Li Xuewu accepted the compliment with a smile, which made him very excited.
Wu Shuping glanced at him with a hint of jealousy, then continued, "Whether it's decided before or after the New Year, people need time to prepare. Everyone has a lot of things to do, and handing things over takes time."
"Well, I see."
Li Xuewu simply responded with a nod and said nothing more, leaving Wu Shuping somewhat helpless.
This change has nothing to do with her, because her taking over Dongfeng Construction means that she has stepped into the limelight of United Construction, right under Li Huaide's nose, and there will be no more opportunities for easy changes.
In other words, previously it was Li Xuewu and Li Huaide behind the scenes, while she and Zhou Miaomiao were sparring.
Now she's stepped into the limelight to directly confront Li Huaide, putting the whole act to the test.
However, since Lao Li's trust company had almost gone bankrupt, Zhou Miaomiao never lived in that house again.
Li Xuewu glanced out the window and asked her, "Who lives next door?"
"Nobody's here, it's been quite a while."
Wu Shuping glanced at it, then looked at Sister Lu and said, "Sister Lu has always been in charge of keeping the house tidy."
"Yes, it seems to be vacant."
Sister Lu nodded slightly and explained, "I go there to clean once a month, only when Teacher Wu is home, otherwise I don't have time."
Li Xuewu only inquired about it briefly and didn't intend to discuss it in depth. After listening to her, he changed the subject and started talking about other things.
Breakfast was very good. Sister Lu steamed the buns fresh in the morning, and the filling was very generous.
Zhang Enyuan packed his luggage and went to the door to wait for the car. With Wu Shuping's help, he put on his coat and let her help him tidy up.
"I'm also heading back to Beijing tonight, a little later than you. If you have a meeting, wait for me."
"I will stay in the capital for a few days."
Li Xuewu glanced at her and said, "If you have time, you can organize the information on Dongfeng Construction. I'll ask you for it later."
Wu Shuping was somewhat surprised by his words and looked up to ask him a question, but he had already left.
"Teacher Wu, it's cold outside."
When Sister Lu saw that she was about to go out to see her off, she quickly reminded her, indicating that it was windy outside.
Even on a good day, temperatures in Tianjin can drop to minus ten degrees Celsius in winter. Wouldn't you catch a cold if you went out wearing a shirt at that time?
Wu Shuping turned around to put on her coat, but then gave up because she heard the sound of a car.
"Dad, Daddy..."
Li Xin had just wanted to cry, but his father said he had to go to work, and his mother was at home with him.
Only after his father left did he look at his mother with a pitiful expression.
"Dad has to work—"
Wu Shuping squatted down, picked up her son, and said with a smile, "You've grown so fast! Mommy can hardly carry you anymore."
When is Daddy coming back?
Li Xin leaned on his mother's shoulder, looking out the door. It was so hard for him to see his father.
"You want your dad?" Wu Shuping turned to look at her son and asked with a smile, "Then how about we go to Beijing to find your dad?"
She kissed her son's little face and said, "Let's go scare him!"
"Jump!" Li Xin understood his mother's words and excitedly repeated them.
Sister Lu asked with some surprise, "Are you going back to Beijing today?"
"You haven't been home for a long time, have you? This is a good opportunity to go home and visit."
Wu Shuping looked at her and smiled, saying, "From now on, we can stay in Tianjin if we want, and go to Beijing if we want. We can live wherever we want."
It was obvious that Sister Lu's eyes lit up. She knew in her heart that the two of them must have talked about something last night, which was why Teacher Wu got the arrangement to take the child home.
But even if they return to Beijing, where will they stay? I heard from Teacher Wu that she's temporarily staying at her workplace…
“I’ll stay with the kids when I go back this time. Could you help me tidy up my house in the city?”
While coaxing her son, Wu Shuping instructed Sister Lu, "The location is in Dongcheng, a courtyard house. I don't know anyone here. If you have a suitable place, please help me find someone to clean it."
"Has it been a long time since you've lived here?"
Sister Lu was somewhat surprised, and suddenly realized that Teacher Wu must have made arrangements for bringing the child back to Beijing to live. It turned out that she had been given a courtyard house.
Thinking about it this way, she couldn't help but feel envious. No matter how good-looking or knowledgeable someone was, no one could compare to Teacher Wu's good fortune.
She had raised Li Xin, so she knew roughly what the situation was like in this family.
I felt an indescribable envy, but also happiness for Teacher Wu and myself.
Ms. Wu finally has a stable home, and she also has a long-term stable job.
Judging from the current situation, can she keep working until Li Xin goes to school? Maybe even longer.
When Li Xin starts elementary school, Teacher Wu will only be busier than she is now, as she has very few people she can trust.
So when she heard Teacher Wu say that she was going to tidy up the courtyard in Beijing, she had a happy smile on her face.
"It must have been uninhabited for a long time."
Wu Shuping coaxed her son to play on the ground, then put on her coat and introduced, "The house was probably renovated the year before last or the year before that, and no one has lived there since. There is furniture, but the living items need to be replaced. Please take care of it."
"Then shall we stay a few more days?"
Sister Lu suggested, "I'll go back and check the yard. Even if it's just cleaning and getting things ready, there needs to be a plan, right? I also need to help you take care of Li Xin. We might actually need to find someone to help us then."
"Just hire someone to clean."
Wu Shuping changed into her outdoor clothes and explained, "Give me a list of items to be repaired or added, and I will arrange for someone to tidy them up."
She had been working in Beijing for a year and her relationship with Shen Guodong was still good. It was better to ask him for help than anyone else.
Even though Li Xuewu gave her a courtyard house to live in back in Beijing, she considered this place her home.
What's hard to let go of isn't just the few years of life I've lived here, but also a point in the past that I'm anchored in.
Wu Shuping is unsure whether she will regret her choice today in the future, but she really doesn't have many other options.
Her relationship with Li Xuewu was easier and more direct than anyone else's, based on a very high level of trust.
Even her child bears the surname Li, and she has no relatives or friends in China. She is also in trouble. The only person she can rely on is Li Xuewu. What reason does Li Xuewu have to doubt her?
Zhou Yamei also faces the same difficulties raising a child, but her circumstances are probably not as favorable as Zhou Yamei's.
Does Zhou Yamei own a house in Beijing?
Yes, it was bought by Li Xuewu in the Workers' New Village, but it wasn't a detached house in the city.
She wasn't comparing herself to anyone; she simply understood that certain things required a response.
If you gain more than others, you must give more in return, otherwise you will eventually lose what you have gained.
Sister Lu was unaware of her plans, but she understood her situation and was actively making preparations.
Li Xin was also pleasantly surprised to learn that he was going to the capital to find his father. He was now obediently rummaging through his clothes, preparing for his upcoming trip.
Wu Shuping changed into her high heels, told Sister Lu what was going on, and then went out.
She still has work to do today, dealing with Shunfeng Trading and contacting Yang Zhao at Jinmen Station.
Li Xuewu transferred her to Beijing to take over Dongfeng Sany Construction Company and concurrently serve as the deputy general manager of Hongxing United Construction Engineering Corporation, but he did not ask her to hand over the work she had been in charge of at Shunfeng Trading.
After Zhou Xiaobai left, during the period when her distribution and purchasing rights were suspended by the Trade Management Center, she completed the work she had done in the past period and was well prepared to deal with any storm that might come at any time.
Unfortunately, Li Xuewu and her preparations were useless. The enemy retreated in advance, and even though they deliberately released bait, the enemy did not fall for it.
No one was closer to Li Xuewu's core plan than her; she understood his thoughts: they couldn't let Old Li fall prematurely, nor could they let him get better now.
Therefore, Li Huaide's career will inevitably face many setbacks in the next two years and the next few years, but he will always be able to turn danger into safety.
While Li Xuewu is away from the capital, she will be in charge of carrying out this plan and will keep a close eye on Old Li.
So when Li Xuewu went to Steel City, everyone was speculating about what his backup plan was.
At first, people guessed it was his driver, Nie Xiaoguang, but Nie Xiaoguang turned out to be a coward who ended up losing everything.
After marrying Han Lu, the young man seemed to have given up all activity and there was no further news. Many people praised Han Lu for her remarkable skills, saying that she had turned an iron rod into a needle.
Some speculated that it was his secretary, Peng Xiaoli, but Peng Xiaoli didn't make any big moves in the food factory's production department. Apart from the news of her marriage to Yu Haitang, the head of the radio station, she seemed to have become a discarded pawn.
It's even more unlikely that it's Li Xue; no matter how ruthless Li Xuewu is, he wouldn't use his own sister as a pawn.
Therefore, every move Li Xuewu makes within the group is carefully analyzed to understand his strategic plans.
No one could have imagined that the pawn he had planted was a female colleague who served as the vice president of Dongfeng Construction at the United Construction Corporation.
United Construction Corporation also has offices in Beijing, and her office is located in the construction engineering command center of the group's headquarters building. However, very few people know her background. Li Huaide is the only one who knows her identity, but Old Li has never doubted her purpose in the group.
If Li Huaide hadn't said anything, no one would have known.
Therefore, no one could understand any of the actions Wu Shuping took against Lao Li, not even Lao Li himself.
A scholar will die for one who understands him. Wu Shuping's efforts have been rewarded, so she must work even harder.
What about Li Xuewu?
-
On the morning of the 19th, Li Xuewu arrived in Beijing by train but did not go to his workplace because it was the weekend.
Today was his real day off. After dropping Zhang Enyuan off at the guesthouse, he went home.
"Sister Xiaoning took the children to the mall." Er Ya opened the door and happily introduced him when she saw him return. "Aunt Liu is here, and so is Sister-in-law. They went together."
Are you home alone?
Li Xuewu carried his luggage into the courtyard and saw that Xue had already tidied up. He smiled and asked, "Are you tidying up the house?"
"I'll tidy it up while I have the time."
Er Ya smiled and replied, "Do you have any clothes to wash? I've just saved up enough for one wash."
"Yes, I'll give it to you in a bit."
Li Xuewu changed into slippers, hung his coat on the hanger, and went upstairs to the second floor.
They were really cleaning the house; all the doors were open, and half of the bed sheets and duvet covers were being changed.
"I can get it ready right away."
Er Ya, who had followed, explained somewhat flusteredly, "Please wait for me a moment."
"No rush, take your time tidying up."
Li Xuewu went to the changing room and changed into the outfit he was wearing, giving her the clothes he had taken off from his luggage along with them.
"Did they say they were coming back for lunch?"
"They didn't say, but they probably ate at the compound, or maybe they ate outside."
Er Ya said with a smile, "Last time they ate out, Aunt Liu treated them."
"Then why didn't you go with them?"
Li Xuewu teased her, "Even Ya Ping went, aren't you feeling wronged being home alone?"
"I really can't stand eating out."
Er Ya carried a large bag of bed sheets, duvet covers, and his clothes out of the master bedroom, complaining, "I just think the food at home is better, and I can eat my fill."
It wasn't that she wasn't full from eating out, but rather that she wasn't used to eating at restaurants and was always hesitant to start eating.
“I’m going out for a bit. When they come back, I’ll tell them I’m having dinner at home tonight.”
Li Xuewu changed into his outdoor clothes, but didn't take the bag he brought back; he only wore his overcoat when he went out.
Er Ya escorted him to the garage and reminded him, "I don't know how to clean cars. They've been sitting here untouched."
"It's not some delicate thing."
Li Xuewu knew what she was worried about, shook his head slightly, got into the car, and said, "Alright, go ahead and do your thing. I ate out for lunch too, so as not to bother you."
"I understand." Er Ya saw his car off and went back inside only after closing the garage door.
Everyone in this family, except for the two children, is extremely busy; even she has a ton of things to do.
Li Xuewu is busy away from home all year round, returning home only once or twice a month. Gu Ning is busy at work during the day and has to study when she gets home at night. Zhao Yaping is the same.
Er Ya took on the responsibility of serving and managing the household, and fortunately, she had already become skilled at it.
Qin Jingru had taught her that when she was home alone, she should keep things simple, like noodles with canned food.
The food and drinks at this house were quite extraordinary. In the autumn, she went to a photo studio to have a picture taken of herself and mailed it home. Her mother wrote a letter saying that she had gained weight and was happy about it, and hoped that she would work hard.
Everything in the capital is wonderful, except for my family.
-
"This time the singing is not good, let's do it again, band members, please slow down the rhythm."
Jin Jiaojiao was very capable in directing the rehearsal, and she was also wearing her costume.
Her tone suggests that she still holds a certain level of authority here, stemming from her technical confidence.
Tong Huimei was already dressed up and, as she had instructed, led the team in another rehearsal.
As the singing became melodious, she glanced back and saw that person standing in the dim light.
The singing abruptly stopped, causing everyone on stage to suddenly realize what was going on.
Jin Jiaojiao was about to frown when she saw Tong Huimei staring intently at the audience. Following her gaze, she saw that the person they had been longing for had suddenly appeared.
"Take a break."
She turned to look at Tong Huimei and offered a reminder that there couldn't be no explanation on the spot.
Unexpectedly, Tong Huimei reacted and said, "No need, let's do it again, and get it right in one go."
Jin Jiaojiao glanced at her, then rearranged the steps as she suggested, and the sound of gongs and drums began...
***
"My sister didn't do it on purpose."
As if afraid of angering Li Xuewu, everyone went backstage to remove their makeup after the program rehearsal.
Jin Jiaojiao quickly tidied herself up and chased after him, only to breathe a sigh of relief when she saw him still there.
Seeing her anxious explanation, Li Xuewu shook his head with amusement and said, "It's alright, the show is what matters."
“You’re more dramatic than I am—” Jin Jiaojiao patted his arm with a smile and said, “It’s good that you’re not angry. I’ll be done soon, very quickly.”
"No rush, I came here today just to treat you to lunch." Li Xuewu explained with a smile, "Tell me what you'd like to eat for lunch."
"Peking duck? I've been wanting that for a while now."
Jin Jiaojiao said with a smile, "Since we started performing at the theater, we've only been thinking about it, we haven't had time to eat."
"You've worked so hard?" Li Xuewu smiled and nodded, saying, "Then we'll have roast duck for lunch."
"I've been craving this for so long." Jin Jiaojiao, who had been very serious on stage, reverted to her usual gentle demeanor in front of him.
Li Xuewu observed the changes in her; after not seeing her for a long time, she had gained a touch of heroic spirit.
"What? You're in charge now?"
“It’s all because of my older sister—” Jin Jiaojiao said helplessly, “The teacher said she should be the class teacher, but she insisted on pushing it onto me and making me suffer this burden.”
"Looks like you guys really are something else."
Li Xuewu said with a gratified tone, "It really wasn't easy."
"Without you, there would be no horn."
Jin Jiaojiao, however, was quite eloquent. She laughed and said, "Maybe my sister and I have long since become wandering ghosts, and no one will even know we've died of stench."
Li Xuewu glanced at her helplessly and said, "Why bring up things from the past?"
"How could I forget?" Jin Jiaojiao said calmly. "Even if you've forgotten and don't want to talk about the past anymore, I can't forget."
She pouted and said, "Who abandoned my sister and me there, leaving us to fend for ourselves? I will remember that for the rest of my life."
"They have left, but I firmly believe that they will come back one day."
She looked up at Li Xuewu and said, "Perhaps one day we will be able to walk out openly and honestly."
"Yes, I am ambitious."
Li Xuewu nodded and pointed to the people backstage, asking, "Were these all recruited later?"
"No, they came to me on their own."
Jin Jiaojiao introduced with a smile: "They are all from prominent families, and many of them have the potential to become stars."
"You know the situation; they have no other options, except for us..."