MMB Chapter 1540 I want you to look good
Chapter 1540 I want you to look good
Chapter 1540 I want you to look good
In those days, the vocabulary for describing men was not as limited and monotonous as it would be in later generations; besides "handsome," there was only "cool."
At that time, societal trends and values were such as masculinity, strength, simplicity, confidence, perseverance, maturity, and stability; there was no such thing as effeminate aesthetics.
His appearance is truly extraordinary, and at first glance, he is so stunning that it defies description, and one would praise him for being so handsome.
That's right, "俊" is the minimum standard for describing a man's appearance, while "俊俏" can only describe a woman's looks.
In later generations you can say your idol is handsome, but not at this time. To praise a man like that would be an insult.
Li Xuewu was quite confident in his youth, and was definitely no less than a younger version of Louis Koo.
It's a pity that he hasn't heard anyone praise his handsome appearance in a long time, and he hasn't even heard any related adjectives.
Because of the scar on his face, regardless of the cause of the scar, his appearance has become a taboo subject for most people.
In fact, Li Xuewu didn't care much about this. Women often say that men become sloppy once they get married, and perhaps that's true. He only focuses on how to support his family and doesn't pay much attention to his appearance.
If one day a man starts paying attention to his appearance, and even looks in the mirror frequently, it must be because he has found a girlfriend for his wife and rekindled his love for her.
What kind of person is Li Xuewu?
Opinions about him differ within the group, but he is not a complicated person and is not difficult to evaluate.
It should be that each reader has their own interpretation of the female protagonist; she is a three-dimensional character.
At least in Gao Yaqin's mind, he could be considered an excellent comrade and a good friend.
So, what gift did she prepare for Li Xuewu, and why did she save it for after get off work?
About ten minutes after the end-of-get off work music started playing, Li Xuewu, who was not particularly handsome, appeared at Gao Yaqin's office door. Her secretary, suppressing a laugh, opened the door for him.
"What is this?" Li Xuewu looked at the clothes rack in the office with a strange expression. There were more than a dozen pieces of clothing that were considered super fashionable in this era.
"Didn't you take a good look at the local markets when you passed through the port city last time?"
Gao Yaqin stood up from her seat, crossed her arms, glanced at Li Xuewu's figure, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Even if you don't have time to go shopping, you must have time to look outside, right? This is the most fashionable outfit for young people in Hong Kong."
"Do you think I'm a country bumpkin?"
Li Xuewu glanced at her with amusement, then reached out and pinched the jeans on the hanger, saying, "I've seen this before; it's no different from our work clothes."
“There are still differences in the fabric production process, so we can’t just evaluate it based on the amount of thread.”
Gao Yaqin is, after all, a woman, and her business perspective inevitably falls on clothing, hats, shoes, and bags.
She stood in front of the clothes rack and looked at Li Xuewu, saying, "Last time I went to Hong Kong, I noticed that the local people's clothing was much more open than that of the mainland, but I didn't have time to investigate."
"We had enough time this time, so I took Xiaolin around carefully and picked out some representative outfits to see if they would suit your taste."
"For me to see? Not a gift for me?"
Li Xuewu glanced at her with a smile, then began to examine the clothes she had brought back.
"What are your thoughts on getting into the textile industry?"
"We have the foundation."
Gao Yaqin, holding the clothes rack, looked at him and said, "We've been cooperating with the No. 2 Textile Factory for three years now, haven't we? Our business scope shouldn't be limited to wool yarn spinning, nor should we only focus on the manufacturing of workwear."
"Are you thinking of getting into foreign trade?" Li Xuewu reached out and pulled up a skirt made of very little fabric, raising an eyebrow as he reminded her, "Would you dare wear this on the street in mainland China?"
"Nonsense—" Gao Yaqin rolled her eyes at him, reached out and slapped his arm away, saying, "Even at home I wouldn't dare wear it. I already said it's representative."
“If we’re only doing garment export—” Li Xuewu pondered for a moment, looking at the clothes on the hanger, as well as the shoes and handbags that his secretary Wang Lin had laid out, and nodded, saying, “Of course, if we have the channels, that’s fine.”
“You also think this project is feasible, right?” Gao Yaqin nodded in satisfaction and said, “A large part of our tertiary industry is being wasted.”
"Of course, I'm talking about wasted development opportunities. You understand what I mean, right?"
She waved her hand and emphasized, "The window of opportunity for economic development policies during this period is extremely rare. As long as we seize the opportunity, any project can be launched."
The economic policy window of opportunity that Gao Yaqin mentioned was something Mr. Z worked hard to secure. It was established at the beginning of last year as a basic principle to increase export trade.
In terms of trade, this is reflected in actions such as Honggang Group enjoying the treatment of a market-oriented experiment, with multiple economic delegations being organized to go abroad for inspection and research.
Although Honggang Group is not the only company experimenting with market-oriented economic adjustments, there are only a handful of such companies.
Only representative and promising companies can receive this policy, and Honggang Group stands out as the most outstanding among these pilot companies.
Meanwhile, overseas inspections and research trips brought back advanced technologies and management experience from abroad, which to some extent accelerated the pace of domestic economic development.
However, we should also recognize the current rigorous and rigid environment of domestic economic policies. Gao Yaqin's statement that it is rare to compare with the comprehensive reform and opening up of later generations is enough to describe the difficulty and hardship of economic and trade work at this time.
In order to enable Honggang Group to develop rapidly and complete its initial capital accumulation within a limited time, Li Xuewu went to great lengths, truly driving on a precipice.
Gao Yaqin could sense that every step Honggang Group had taken had been extremely difficult, and when she had the idea of starting her own business, the first thing she thought of was to discuss it with Li Xuewu.
These clothes are really inconvenient to bring home. If someone with ulterior motives finds them and puts a hat on her head, she'll be finished.
However, these things were not convenient to show to others, so they could only be shown to Li Xuewu in the office, and he could only be invited over to discuss them with a funny excuse.
Li Xuewu hadn't expected her to bring him any gifts, and the two didn't have any "personal relationship."
If it were said that Deputy Director Jing brought him a gift after returning from a business trip to the port city, it might be believable, just like when he went to East Germany, Deputy Director Jing exchanged his watch for a German one.
Gao Yaqin? He still respects her very much.
Just as the other party was showing brochures and materials detailing the booming garment and footwear manufacturing industries in Hong Kong, Li Xuewu was pondering the timing of when the mainland would begin OEM manufacturing for Hong Kong garments.
Some might say it was later, and some sources prefer to place the timeline after 82.
Actually, that's not correct. Trade exchanges between the mainland and Hong Kong have never stopped, and related industrial cooperation has always existed. It's just that it's not carried out through cooperation between private enterprises, and some information has not been made public.
Just like the pork from Quzhou and the water from Lao Biao's hometown, without these, the port city would starve or die of thirst.
In the propaganda environment of later generations, who could know that two trains every week would transport domestic pigs to the port city, while the source of the port city's tap water pipes was in the mainland?
Of course, not everyone is qualified to invest and build factories in the mainland, nor can everyone engage in cooperation such as compensation trade in the mainland.
The investment in building the factory was to take place around 78, while the garment manufacturing cooperation was to take place even earlier, which Li Xuewu guessed was in 73 or 74.
why?
The reason is simple: when Niger came in 72, the situation in Northeast Asia underwent a dramatic change.
Hong Kong is no longer the only window for the mainland to participate in foreign trade cooperation, and the initiative of the mainland is hard to imagine.
The Japanese of this era still possess a spirit of reflection, and many young people admire Mao Zedong.
Just like the reception that Li Xuewu just attended, every year many representative figures and business groups from Japan visit and exchange ideas with the mainland.
If it weren't for the United States pressing the red line, Japan would have signed a normal relations agreement long ago.
No country desires the right to trade with the mainland more than Japan, a result of the geopolitical environment.
Looking back, wasn't it too early to start building the garment manufacturing industry at this point?
That depends on Gao Yaqin's planned goals.
"You should know that the garment industry is not just about simple production, right?"
Li Xuewu confirmed this first, even though Gao Yaqin said she had already led a team to investigate.
Gao Yaqin understood his hesitation, nodded very seriously, and said, "I know, you mean to say that the garment industry is not the first step, right?"
"Take jeans for example."
Li Xuewu took the men's jeans off the hanger and explained to Gao Yaqin, "You said the fabric production process is special, but have you noticed that its garment-making process may also be different from the conventional process in the mainland?"
“We are used to using buttons or ropes, but they prefer to use small hardware, even for decoration.”
He hung the clothes on the hanger, squatted down, and explained the special features of the jeans, reminding Gao Yaqin that clothing design is a science.
Gao Yaqin listened attentively, frowning as she pondered. After he finished his explanation and stood up, she asked, "You mean we should solve the design problem first before thinking about production, right?"
"Or..." She hesitated for a moment, then looked up at him and said, "You want to ask me whether we're doing OEM manufacturing for Hong Kong or running an independent brand?"
"You've already emphasized how rare this opportunity is, so how could you be willing to let someone else benefit from it?"
Li Xuewu smiled, sat down on the sofa, crossed his legs, and looked at Gao Yaqin, asking, "I want to know what triggered you to think of doing a clothing project? That's not our forte."
"What are our strengths?" Gao Yaqin also came over and sat down. "Does it have to be heavy industry, specifically the steel industry, to have a development advantage?"
"Of course you know that's not what I meant," Li Xuewu said, shrugging. "At least I was the one who single-handedly brought about the group's electronics and food industries, right?"
That's why I called you here to discuss it.
Gao Yaqin pulled a gift box from under the coffee table and tossed it to him, saying, "This is for you."
"Oh, there really is a gift?"
Li Xuewu smiled and raised his eyebrows, looking at the packaging box in his hand and asking, "There's no hidden trap here, is there?"
"If you're scared, then don't want it—"
Gao Yaqin curled her lips and looked at him defiantly, saying, "If you don't dare to take it, I can give it to someone else."
"That would be inappropriate. What if it says 'Respectfully presented to Comrade Li Xuewu' inside?"
He opened the box with a smile; he didn't even need to look to know that the gift was a fountain pen.
It's just a long box, how could it possibly contain a harmonica, let alone lipstick?
"Wow, this is so valuable!"
Li Xuewu glanced at the Parker pen in the box, raised an eyebrow at Gao Yaqin, and said, "If you don't have ulterior motives towards me, then you must have much bigger plans."
That's why I asked you if you were scared.
Gao Yaqin smiled as she took the teacup from her secretary, sipped it, and said, "The foundation of the group's trade work is thanks to President Jing, the foundation of the security work is thanks to you, and the foundation of the steel city's heavy industry cluster is thanks to Deputy Director Dong..."
She looked at the teacup in her hand and said calmly, "If I want to establish myself in the company and have a long-term future, I need to have some achievements to show for myself, right?"
"That's too modest—"
Li Xuewu fiddled with the pen case in his hand and said, "The group's foreign trade has achieved such results in the past two years. Anyone who comes here would have to say that it is truly remarkable."
"But I feel it's not enough, far from enough."
Gao Yaqin chose to meet Li Xuewu after get off work so that she could speak frankly about these things.
"It is certainly gratifying to be able to build skyscrapers on the foundation laid by you and President Jing, but I am more eager to achieve something personally. This is what I really think."
“If everyone thought like you,” Li Xuewu said with a smile, “then our group would be able to complete its second three-year plan in less than three years.”
He put the pen case aside and looked at Gao Yaqin earnestly, saying, "There are indeed certain advantages to engaging in the garment industry, and the entry point is also very accurate."
"But the clothing industry is a very complex one, and the definition and pursuit of fashion are not something that anyone can control."
Li Xuewu put his arm around his knee and explained to Gao Yaqin, "This year, skirts might be in fashion, so skirts will sell well. Next year, white might be in fashion, so white clothes will sell well."
"If you want to make this project a success, first of all you need is a team that keeps up with fashion and trends."
He pointed at Gao Yaqin and emphasized, "You can't go far by just imitating, and you can't build a brand."
"Of course, you could say that Hong Kong doesn't have any brands to boast about right now, but what about the future?"
"You also think that we should operate a brand independently, as it has greater potential for development..."
Gao Yaqin held her teacup, thinking as she spoke, "We also need to consider the brand's attributes and the setup of the distribution channels."
“The development trend of branded clothing is agency,” Li Xuewu nodded and said, “and even the sales terminals. You can’t open many shops in the port city like we do with car service shops in the mainland.”
"The value of a car is different from that of clothing, which determines that the sales methods of the goods are different, and the service and management models cannot be the same either."
Li Xuewu doesn't actually know much about the garment trade, but he has a broader perspective and more "experience".
When advising Gao Yaqin on this project, he tried his best to explain the key points he knew.
Gao Yaqin didn't just do this project on a whim; her ambition was evident from the data she collected.
It's clear that the news of the formal group formation has put considerable pressure on the group's leadership team.
If even rumors of Li Xuewu's impending transfer can be heard, you can imagine how worried Gao Yaqin, an outsider, must be.
Sometimes, rumors aren't entirely fabricated; they do represent a certain trend.
The reason why rumors circulated that Li Xuewu was going to be transferred was because many people were saying that he single-handedly changed the fate of the Red Star Factory. Some people listed his contributions after he joined the factory. Initially, they were trying to find the secret to rapid advancement, but unexpectedly, they summarized his achievements.
Li Xuewu alone was able to turn the tide and help Hongxing Factory achieve great success. So, if he is transferred to the younger Xinjing No. 1 Factory to take on a major role, does that mean that the next Honggang Group may also emerge?
One larger Honggang Group versus two Honggang Groups—this is a choice facing the leadership.
Of course, we also need to consider whether Li Xuewu supports Hongxing Factory to become the core of the group.
Those who agree with this view naturally believe that Li Xuewu has a chance to become the sole ruler of a region, while those who disagree with this view naturally think that the news is nonsense.
Gao Yaqin agreed with this view, but she did not believe that Li Xuewu would be transferred, because Old Li would not let him go, and it would be useless no matter who came.
She might not have done it the same way.
After becoming a conglomerate, the higher-ups cannot allow them to continue sticking together or enjoying the group's development resources.
To put it bluntly, her transfer to Hongxing Factory was purely by chance, and she did not have the foundation or influence to sustain her development in an industrial enterprise.
If she doesn't achieve any outstanding work results, who else will be replaced if the organization reorganizes in the future?
"Should we do the design first or start production first?"
Gao Yaqin thought for a while, then looked at him and asked, "You should be able to understand my idea: let's get the garment factory up and running first, even if it's just imitation or OEM manufacturing."
"While training workers, we can also continue to expand the scale of the garment factory, allowing time for design."
"This line of thinking is correct, no problem."
Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at her and asked, "Have you ever thought about outsourcing the design part to a company in Hong Kong, or setting up a design department in Hong Kong and recruiting designers with trendy thinking?"
"Wait—you mean—"
Gao Yaqin suddenly felt as if a door had been opened and she had entered another world.
“Design can be in-house; you don’t necessarily have to train your own designers.” Li Xuewu nodded and said, “You don’t have to cook for yourself when you open a restaurant, do you?”
“That makes sense—” Gao Yaqin looked at him in surprise and asked, “How come I didn’t think of that!”
"Then I'll accept this pen."
Li Xuewu smiled, picked up the pen case, and waved it, saying, "I was feeling a bit uncomfortable just now because I felt like I hadn't done anything right, but now I feel much better."
“Hehe—” Gao Yaqin chuckled and glanced at him, explaining, “Actually, I didn’t buy this gift, nor did I give it to you.”
She looked Li Xuewu up and down meaningfully and said, "This pen was given to you by Ms. Lou from Oriental Times Bank. She said you two knew each other before?"
"Mr. Gao, I didn't expect you to have gone astray."
Li Xuewu couldn't help but twitch his lips, feigning displeasure as he looked at her and said, "You lie without even thinking. Is the power of capitalism really that strong?"
"Hey! Don't try to label me!"
Gao Yaqin rolled her eyes at him, amused, and said, "If it weren't for me, would you have gotten this pen?"
"Then I should thank you, right?"
Li Xuewu stood up, both amused and annoyed, and said, "Alright, let's go. I'd feel like I'm losing out if I gave you another piece of advice."
"Don't you even think about it? Do you think I could afford such an expensive gift?" Gao Yaqin, who stood up to see him out, said with a smile, "Do you know how much this pen is worth? Goodness, I couldn't afford it even with a year's salary."
"But you still lied to me—"
Li Xuewu stopped at the door, turned around and looked at her, emphasizing, "I'll remember this time: beware of fire, theft, and comrades!"
"Oh dear, how stingy!"
Gao Yaqin looked at him amusedly and said, "You're a grown man, how about I treat you to dinner tonight?"
"Can I still trust you? Don't even dream about it—"
Li Xuewu glanced at her and said, "If you were really that sincere, you shouldn't be talking in the office today."
"Where would you like to talk?" Gao Yaqin teased, amused. "How about I find some actors from the performing arts troupe to wear these costumes and perform for you, and bring Director Li along?"
“You know what—” Li Xuewu smiled and tapped her, saying, “I won’t look into it, but if you want to get the project approved as soon as possible…”
He didn't say anything more, but smiled meaningfully and turned to leave, earning Gao Yaqin a big eye roll.
If she really wanted to do this project, she would do it honestly and uprightly. How could she resort to such underhanded methods as Li Xuewu suggested?
If there were real profits to be made, would Li Huaide not do it?
She was certainly aware of Old Li's romantic escapades, and she held him in contempt, never intending to curry favor with him.
You all say that Lao Li is so "carefree," but no one is going to stand up and do something about it?
What's there to manage? These kinds of things are never something you can manage.
We won't see any real cases of holding people accountable for "moral issues" for 50 years from now. Why bother with that now?
As long as it's consensual and doesn't escalate to an unbearable level, such matters should be downplayed.
Furthermore, the "gentle pleasure quarters" are a breeding ground for corruption, but there is a process from a problem of conduct to a problem of economic corruption.
Do you really think no one reported Lao Li? He's in a high-profile position; how could no one be watching him?
If he didn't have any tricks up his sleeve or any self-respect, Old Li would have been ousted long ago; how could he still be alive today?
Gao Yaqin had been with the group for quite some time, and she had only heard that Lao Li liked dancing, especially dancers, but she had never heard that he liked gold and silver.
These days, there isn't a significant gap between the income of cadres and employees. Li Xuewu's current salary is only 130 or 140 yuan. You have to consider how much work he does.
This is nothing compared to the income gaps of several times, tens of times, or even hundreds of times that often exist in later generations.
Many section-level cadres at Honggang Group still commute by bicycle; those who actually drive cars are mostly middle-level managers.
Given his current living and working environment, there isn't much room for Lao Li to make a difference, and he doesn't need it either.
Even if you give him money, he can't spend it. He has money but no receipts, so what's the point of having money?
The group's internal supplies can meet most of the living needs of its employees. No tickets are needed here, and it doesn't cost Old Li much money either.
So even with all the gossip flying around, Lao Li's nonchalant attitude was genuine, and even carried a touch of romanticism, as long as no one stood up to make a fuss.
You say he engaged in power-for-sex transactions, but the promotion of cadres is inherently complex, so who can say for sure?
Some people resent Zhou Miaomiao's rise to power, but they can't find any evidence that she's not qualified for the position. She's doing a great job now, and she's achieved more than many veteran cadres.
So sometimes, things in government offices are a real mess, and no one can explain them clearly.
Just as Jing Yunong was leaving his office to go home, he saw Li Xuewu walking towards Gao Yaqin's office with a smile, holding a small gift box in his hand.
What would she be thinking in this situation?
You can't possibly be hungry. Even if you are, I'm here for you. How could you do that to Gao Yaqin?
"So late? Working overtime?"
"Hehe—" Hearing Li Xuewu greet him, Jing Yunong looked at the things in his hands with a half-smile and said, "What a coincidence, the Secretary-General is also working overtime."
"Unfortunately, General Manager Gao called me in to discuss work."
Li Xuewu sensed the sourness in her words and raised an eyebrow with amusement, emphasizing, "Let's really talk about work."
“Timid—” Jing Yunong curled his lip, turned his head to look at the elevator door, and muttered, “What’s it to me?”
Snapped--
How bold!
Jing Yunong received a slap on the buttock, and her face suddenly turned red, but she was too nervous to turn around.
That bastard is too audacious! Where am I? This is the company headquarters, and he actually dared to hit me!
It's so uncomfortable to feel like you're grinding your teeth to powder, but you're worried that your reaction will attract attention.
"Secretary-General, it's dark and the road is difficult to travel."
As the elevator doors opened, under the watchful eye of the elevator operator, Jing Yunong turned to Li Xuewu, who was heading towards the office, and "reminded" him, "Be careful."
From the elevator operator's perspective, President Jing squinted slightly, his face flushed, as if he were angry and was making threats at the secretary-general.
She watched as the secretary waved his hand without turning his head, and President Jing seemed even angrier.
Jing Yunong wasn't angry at all; she had already told Li Xuewu that she would teach him a lesson tonight.
Having exchanged the secret code, she stepped into the elevator with a cold face and said indifferently, "Press the first floor for me."
"Okay, Mr. Jing."
The elevator operator shivered nervously, relieved that the secretary-general hadn't come downstairs with her this time.
The atmosphere within the group has been tense lately, which everyone knows is due to the group's formalization. In addition, the group has not made any major adjustments to its organizational structure for two consecutive years, and many people are eagerly awaiting further developments.
What are we hoping for? Of course, we hope that those old fogies at the top will lift their butts and take a step forward, so that we can make room for them to advance and get promoted.
Has the organizational structure remained unchanged for a long time? Didn't many people leave when the New Beijing No. 1 Factory was established last year?
Indeed, in order to support the construction of the new Beijing No. 1 Plant, Honggang Group even took the initiative to provide support to many cadres.
However, starting from the day the sixteen enterprises were merged, the transferred cadres were divided into two categories: one was completely transferred to the Hongxing Factory, where they underwent organizational training and were then assigned according to the actual situation.
Another option was to provide training according to the requirements of Beijing's industries. Apart from some cadres receiving organizational training, most were assigned to deputy positions in steel rolling mills.
At that time, the steel rolling mill had two teams, one for the Hongxing plant and the other for the Jingyi plant.
At that time, the steel rolling mill workers worked in three shifts. It was only after the establishment of Xinjing No. 1 Steel Plant that the normal shift schedule was restored.
Now, the steel rolling mill in Gangcheng has adopted new equipment and processes, and has started operating on a three-shift system again.
However, after the technological change, the number of workers decreased and the workload also decreased. The three-shift system did not increase the workload; on the contrary, it increased output while reducing the workload.
Honggang Group began implementing personnel reforms in 68. It can be said that there were constant small changes but no major changes, and there was no large-scale adjustment of cadres.
This year is different. The group has been officially established. Whether there will be any adjustments to the relevant departments, and whether the heads of the various branches, factories and related units will be adjusted, are all unknowns at the group level. Everyone is waiting for the results.
The group's management, who have the power to make decisions, become the focus of attention throughout the group, and wherever they go, people rush to greet them.
Li Xuewu returned to his office, put on his coat, and then went downstairs with Zhang Enyuan. Even though it was an hour late, there were still employees coming and going in the building.
There is no 996 work schedule in this era, but there is a standby duty system, especially in disciplinary departments and special business departments, which is part of the group's emergency response work.
During the Hongxing Factory period, Li Xuewu always had shifts, but this arrangement was discontinued after the factory was reorganized into a group.
why?
Because the management hierarchy has been lengthened, some decision-making power in dealing with risks has inevitably been delegated, so that general risk work can be handled by lower or middle management.
The production units most prone to accidents are above the company level and the group's major department level, which filters and isolates most of the accident handling needs.
When it comes to decisions that require the group's leadership to make, a single phone call is all it takes to receive the necessary instructions.
Another point is that the Riverside Garden will be completed soon, and the group leaders will live next to the office so they can come anytime if needed. This is the main reason for canceling the group leaders' duty system.
"Good morning, Secretary-General. You're just getting off work?"
"Okay, you're on duty?"
Li Xuewu stepped out of the elevator and greeted the employees who came to talk to him with a smile.
He used to be able to call everyone by name when he was in the headquarters of the Red Star Factory, but he can't anymore.
With several thousand employees, even the most brilliant mind couldn't recognize all of them, let alone the dynamic nature of personnel changes.
"Send Secretary Zhang to the guesthouse first."
As soon as Li Xuewu got into the car, he told the driver that this driver was specially arranged by Han Jiankun to serve him during his work in Beijing, and they had become familiar with each other after getting to know each other.
The driver was very sensible and passed the test. He longed to become his official driver, so he worked very diligently.
"Boss, I can walk there."
Hearing this, Zhang Enyuan knew that the leader had other plans for tonight, so he turned around and asked a question.
Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "I'll take you there first. There's no rush. I have a social engagement tonight."
"Okay, what are your plans for tomorrow?"
Tomorrow is the weekend, and Zhang Enyuan wanted to confirm with him whether he had any plans for tomorrow so that they could make preparations in advance.
"No, you go ahead with your work." Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Let's try to get back before the end of the month."
"Hehe, I'm afraid that's a bit difficult."
Zhang Enyuan has tried his best to classify and process the work transferred from the steel city, simplifying his work procedures.
However, if you stay in Beijing for an extended period of time, there will be time constraints on these work-related communications, which is not very convenient.
"If the document comes through next Monday, Director Li's idea is to hold a reception dinner at the end of the month."
“Clean up this beautiful scenery—”
Li Xuewu chuckled and turned to look out the window, saying, "It's been several days since we finished this."
The document was an official document of the group, the one that Li Huaide asked him to retrieve, but he didn't accept the task.
He wouldn't make a fool of himself. Li Huaide was in his prime, and it was right for him to take over the Investiture of the Gods.
Want to be like Jiang Ziya? You'd better be prepared to be struck by lightning. Look how fast Old Li has aged these past few years.
They used to be thick and black, but now they've all fallen off and are almost like crickets.
"This is a great event for our group."
Zhang Enyuan smiled, not daring to take the bait, and could only explain, "We should celebrate properly."
"Its propaganda value outweighs its practical value."
Li Xuewu did not object to the celebration ceremony organized by Lao Li, as it was a grand stage for him to achieve fame and success.
Now anyone who dares to oppose his plan is his enemy; Old Li is capable of anything.
The car turned into the original factory gate, which is now the only remaining section of the gate; the rest of the wall has been almost completely demolished.
In the future, there will be no more production units here, and the wall will lose its original function.
In addition, with the overall plan for the eco-industrial zone, the factory area will be transformed into an eco-park, where educational institutions, research institutions, and branch office buildings will all be located.
The European designers pulled out all the stops, determined to create a model architectural complex in the Liangmahe Industrial Zone and leave a monument for the domestic design community.
Of course, it is also related to the investment of Honggang Group. Without money, nothing can be done.
The original factory roads haven't been touched, and the newly built office buildings are still there, but the buildings that were originally the temporary offices of the United Savings Bank have been demolished.
Also demolished were the service shops located on both sides of the original main road, which have now been relocated to the supply market built as part of the workers' new village.
Although there were still a few workers walking on the factory roads and a security team patrolling, the factory, which had no chimneys, looked so desolate.
Some dilapidated workshops were demolished, or marked with large "demolish" signs due to layout adjustments.
Starting in November, the main focus here will be on demolition. The project team expects to complete all the demolition work on the original steel rolling mill throughout the winter.
There's no need to worry about where to dump the construction waste. The large pit to the west and the remaining pit from the dam construction both need to be filled in. At this time, there are still construction machines working, and large trucks are transporting bricks and tiles on the road.
The car headlights pierced the desolate darkness, bringing us to the guesthouse that was still open for business.
The guesthouse project, which was approved this year, is expected to be completed by the end of next year, and residents may be able to move in the year after.
Therefore, the guesthouses within the park will still have a transition period of at least two years.
Zhang Enyuan accompanied him to Beijing for work and they are staying here temporarily; the conditions are quite good.
"Secretary Zhang, what just happened was—"
Qin Huairu had just finished work and was about to leave when she saw the figure in the back seat of the car leaving and couldn't help but ask Zhang Enyuan a question.
Of course she knew whose secretary Zhang Enyuan was, and she also knew who the person in the back seat of the car was.
"Director Qin, you're just getting off work?"
Zhang Enyuan would never mention the leaders; he simply smiled and changed the subject, saying, "It's really late."
"That's right, something came up in the kitchen and kept us in limbo." Qin Huairu was also very perceptive, and she understood what he meant as soon as she heard him say that.
"Alright, you go ahead with your work. I need to head back while it's still early."
Qin Huairu smiled and gestured to the bicycle by the door, saying, "The kitchen has prepared noodles for dinner, please have some."
"Okay, thank you, Director Qin. Please take care."
Zhang Enyuan greeted them and entered the hall, while Qin Huairu pushed her bicycle out.
Winters get dark early, so walking at night is inevitable, but she's not afraid at all.
Although the factory area is undergoing major demolition and renovation, it's not a place that just anyone can enter.
The factory's security team frequently patrolled the roads, and security guards also kept watch at night to catch thieves.
Furthermore, she no longer needs to return to the city; her family has moved to the workers' new village next door.
Even standing in the courtyard of the guesthouse, you can see the workers' new village buildings not far away.
Those are hundreds of buildings; when they light up at night, it's truly a sight to behold.
Although the workers' new village was right next door, she still had to ride her bike around the main road because the original workers' dormitories were being demolished, and the road to the next village was blocked. She might be able to get there on foot, but she couldn't do it on her bike.
It's not far to take a detour; you can even buy groceries on the way from the gate at the school entrance into the residential area.
"Principal Ran? Is that Principal Ran?"
The riverside avenue was brightly lit on a winter night, and the shops along the street were very conspicuous under the streetlights.
These shops are not open to the public; they only cater to employees of the Honggang Group, making it a kind of small community.
Qin Huairu had just come out of the stationery store. Her two daughters had asked her for stationery that morning, and she had to buy it for them that evening.
My son and I almost broke up. I can't afford to offend my daughter again. Without my son by my side, Xiao Dang and Huaihua are enjoying the treatment that a biological daughter should give them.
She unexpectedly met Banggeng's former homeroom teacher, who is now the middle school principal, Ran Qiuye.
Ran Qiuye heard someone calling her and turned around to see Qin Huairu.
"Director Qin, it's you." Since they were both in the same system, he couldn't call Banggeng "Mom" anymore.
"It looks like you to me, I almost didn't recognize you."
Qin Huairu is quite the smooth talker; as she walked in, she greeted him warmly, "You just got off work too?"
"Where? We're already home, but I forgot to buy groceries." Ran Qiuye smiled in annoyance and said, "I searched for ages but couldn't find anything to eat, so I had to come back down."
"What a coincidence, I was just about to go grocery shopping too, let's go together."
Qin Huairu pushed the cart and gestured to the supply market, saying, "It's been so long since I've seen you. You haven't changed at all; you're still so young and beautiful."
"Stop talking, Director Qin, you're getting younger and more beautiful." Ran Qiuye said with a smile, "When you called me just now, I had to look closely before I dared to recognize you."
"What do you mean 'still young'? Bang Geng is already working. In a few years, I'll be an old lady."
Qin Huairu still wanted to save face in front of her son's former homeroom teacher, so she asked with a smile, "Principal Ran, are you still single?"