MMB Chapter 1544 What is he going to do?
Chapter 1544 What is he going to do?
Chapter 1544 What is he going to do?
"What's so exciting?"
Li Xuewu stepped out of the elevator and saw a noisy scene in the large office, with a group of people gathered around.
Zhang Li came out from inside and, seeing his question, smiled and replied, "The official documents for the group's establishment have been issued."
"Oh, that's still quite timely."
When Li Xuewu heard that this was the case, he smiled and nodded, saying, "If you don't come soon, Director Li will get anxious."
"Hehehe—" Zhang Li covered her mouth and chuckled. The secretary-general could tell this joke, but she wouldn't dare.
"Deputy Director Zhang from the First Ministry of Machine Building is in Director Li's office; he brought the documents with him."
Zhang Li glanced in the direction of the general manager's office and quietly introduced it to him.
Li Xuewu glanced at her, nodded slightly, and said, "Is there something you need?"
"I really don't know," Zhang Li smiled sheepishly and replied, "Even Secretary Liu didn't go in, which shows that Director Li attaches great importance to it."
"Okay, I understand. Go ahead and do your thing."
Li Xuewu glanced at that spot only once before turning and walking towards his office.
This trip was on official business, not a day off, so he had to come to the office to report for duty. Although he was the group's secretary-general, no one would question whether he was absent without leave even if he didn't come.
But Li Xuewu did not relax his habits; he stuck to the rules and could not break them.
Since it was Monday, Zhang Enyuan, following his instructions, did not go to pick him up with the driver, but instead prepared the work of the Liaodong Industrial Leading Group for him.
"Secretary-General, the official documents for the group's establishment have been issued." As soon as he entered the room, Zhang Enyuan reported this good news to him. "I heard about it as soon as I arrived at work."
"Yes, I heard about it when I came."
Li Xuewu gestured towards the direction of the main office and said, "The corridor is quite lively."
"I'm happy." Zhang Enyuan smiled and moved the documents over to him, placing them in front of him. "It's an honor to see the group develop and the collective progress."
"That's a good thing." Li Xuewu nodded, sat down in the chair, and unbuttoned the bottom of his vest to make his working posture more comfortable.
Having made clothes for the emperor, the last emperor was quite fashionable, often wearing shirts with vests. These days, few people really follow this Republic of China style.
After winter set in, even though he knew his office was very warm and he usually wore shirts to work, Li the tailor, who understood the climate in Northeast China, still made him a vest.
It's not very thick, with three layers of fabric that protect the front and back of the chest, as well as the stomach and lower back. It doesn't get in the way while working, and it looks more three-dimensional and dignified.
This is an era where it's easy to overanalyze and label anything as bourgeois sentimentality.
Tell me, what's the difference between drinking coffee and drinking tea?
Both are refreshing drinks, but one is a local and the other is an outsider. Yet, coffee has inexplicably become a symbol of petit-bourgeois sentiment.
People in Shanghai are feeling hurt; how can they stand this situation when they have to dress up carefully just to go downstairs to buy groceries?
And you know what? Coffee sells really well in Shanghai, and it's also easier to find there.
Finding a can of coffee in Beijing isn't difficult; you just have to follow the footsteps of a specific group of people.
In areas with frequent foreign affairs activities, you can simply go to the Friendship Store.
A coffee shop on the street?
It's rare, not to say it's absolutely nonexistent, but it's almost impossible to find. People in Beijing rarely have this kind of style.
However, in order to cater to foreign customers, the International Hotel does offer coffee, which has become a symbol of the hotel.
When it comes to Russian food, young people of this era will definitely think of the Moscow Restaurant. When it comes to Peking duck, the first thing that comes to mind is Quanjude or Bianyifang. And when it comes to coffee?
Where did you buy this outfit?
Gao Yaqin walked in with a coffee cup, stood not far from the desk, and looked at Li Xuewu's clothes with great admiration.
Li Xuewu looked up at her, then at himself, and asked, "What's wrong? Is something the problem?"
"Nothing, just asking."
Gao Yaqin took a sip of coffee, sat down in the seat in front of him, and looked him over with a slight smile, saying, "You look quite elegant."
"Are you sure it's not because I have a strong foundation?" Li Xuewu chuckled, lowered his head, and continued looking at his documents. "You didn't come to see me, did you?"
"It's not like it's 800 miles away, why would you need to make a special trip?"
Gao Yaqin put down her cup, crossed her right leg, and said, "Your fish has taken the bait."
"Oh, which fish?" Li Xuewu smiled faintly and said, "I've been casting out a lot of hooks lately."
"Ha—you're still a fisherman."
Gao Yaqin glanced at him up and down and asked, "What kinds of hooks have you set?"
"Can I tell you that—"
Li Xuewu smiled, closed the document in his hand, looked at her, and said, "What's up? Just say it."
"You're so generous, I love your personality." Gao Yaqin smiled and gave him a thumbs up.
Li Xuewu then added, "I might not be able to get it done for you."
"You have to take a deep breath to speak, don't you?"
Gao Yaqin laughed and rolled her eyes at him, saying, "Shen Fei has taken the bait. He'll be here tomorrow."
"A surprise attack?" Li Xuewu was slightly taken aback, then said with a smile, "They don't want to give us time to prepare? This must be Wang Xin's idea."
"Your old rival." Gao Yaqin didn't care whose idea it was, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said, "So? You're hosting again this time?"
“I’ve already said it, do you think I’m joking?” Li Xuewu glanced at her and emphasized, “If you hadn’t come back, I could have lent a hand, but now that you’re back, you’ll have to take charge of the economic work.”
"You're waiting for me to come begging to you, aren't you?"
Gao Yaqin pursed her lips and glanced at him, saying, "Alright, I'll ask you for help."
Jokes are jokes, but serious business needs to be taken seriously.
She looked at Li Xuewu seriously and said, "Although the terms have been agreed upon in the early stages of this negotiation, I think Shen Fei will definitely have other changes."
“You communicate with them a lot, so keep a close eye on them. Director Li said they are the ones most likely to cause trouble.”
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu couldn't help but laugh out loud, raising an eyebrow at her and asking, "Director Li has given important instructions on this matter?"
"Don't you think he's being a bit paranoid?" Gao Yaqin leaned closer and whispered, "At this time of day, everyone seems like a bad guy."
"Well, if you put it that way—"
Li Xuewu's lips curled up slightly, and he said with a hint of a smile, "His paranoia is very likely to evolve into a form of persecution complex."
"What paranoia?" Gao Yaqin was taken aback by the term he had just used. She paused for a moment, then glared at him with amusement and said, "Your psychology studies really paid off; you're putting them to good use here."
After all, it was in Li Xuewu's office, and in front of Li Xuewu, so she still had to leave some room for maneuver and didn't say that Li Xuewu was using all his scheming on Old Li.
If she dared to say that, Li Xuewu would dare to cry foul. He had never harmed Lao Li, and the two of them had worked together perfectly so far!
"Actually, it's not entirely his fault; Shen Fei's timing was just too perfect—"
Gao Yaqin raised an eyebrow, finished the rest of her coffee, and said, "Wouldn't this count as joining in the fun?"
"You mean the Third Ministry of Machine Building..." Li Xuewu only said half a sentence, but Gao Yaqin's gaze was full of understanding, and there was a tacit understanding between the two.
"At the last reception, that leader from the Third Ministry of Machine Building was eyeing you. This time, well, hehe."
Gao Yaqin put down her teacup and said, "If you say that Shenyang Aircraft Corporation's cooperation with us has nothing to do with the Third Ministry of Machinery Industry, I simply won't believe it."
Li Xuewu glanced at her silently, knowing that what she said was true, but she just wanted to keep it on a good surface. He didn't suspect that Shen Fei had any other intentions.
“It’s not that I’m making excuses or being lazy,” Gao Yaqin explained, spreading her hands. “The matter in Hong Kong is still unresolved, but Director Li has given a strict order for the overseas mineral development; there can be no failures.”
"This is one project, and we need to keep a close eye on things in Jinling. I also have the crude iron ore extraction project you came up with waiting for approval, so time is very tight."
As she said this, she stood up, picked up her cup, and emphasized, "I still have to help Deputy Director Dong with the follow-up work on the introduction of East German technology and trade."
Did you tell Director Li these things?
Li Xuewu shrugged and said, "Of course I'll do my best to help, after all, we're comrades."
"However, you still need to complain to Director Li; you can't let him think you're idle."
"Do I really need to complain to myself?"
Gao Yaqin glanced at him, turned around and walked out speechlessly, saying as she went, "I'm really suffering."
Who knows if it's tough or not? Only she knows. If it's really tough, she can easily cut back on some of her work. It's not like there aren't any free people.
Li Xuewu glanced at the address book pressed under the glass. There were so many idle people in the team lately.
People shouldn't be idle, because idleness can lead to problems, and some people might even develop crooked thoughts.
What if you have ulterior motives?
Workshop workers all know that if something is crooked, you can just tap it with a hammer and it will still be usable.
Some people need to be challenged before they understand their place, what they should and shouldn't do.
-
"How was the renovation project of the old steel rolling mill decided?" Cheng Kaiyuan met Li Xuewu on his way to the canteen, and the two chatted as they walked.
The group's leadership team, at least on the surface, still manages to demonstrate unity and has never fallen out with anyone.
Li Xuewu held a special respect for veterans like Tongcheng Kaiyuan who had grown up alongside the Hongxing Factory.
Of course, when it comes to a real fight, this shred of respect is practically nonexistent.
"I don't know, they didn't tell me."
Li Xuewu shook his head, feigning ignorance, and looked at Cheng Kaiyuan, asking, "You were involved?"
“Where would I be?” Cheng Kaiyuan gave him a deep look and said, “With all this going on, how could you possibly find me?”
He probed meaningfully, "I thought President Xue would come to consult you. After all, it's rare for you to come back, and he would want to seize this opportunity."
The internal terminology within the group is somewhat chaotic due to the group's structured operations.
Calling them Director and Deputy Director is perfectly acceptable, as is calling them General Manager and Deputy General Manager.
To put it simply, within the framework of integrated management of the group's business and organization, the executive body is the management committee.
In other words, the management committee is responsible for formulating and issuing management policies for the entire Honggang Group.
This organizational structure was determined by the times.
However, Honggang Group is moving towards modernization and has already obtained the documents for the group's development. Therefore, it should align with modernization and benchmark against international company operating standards. Hence, there are two additional positions within the management committee.
For example, Li Huaide is both the director of the management committee and the general manager of the group; you can call him whatever you want.
For example, Cheng Kaiyuan is both the deputy director of the management committee and the deputy general manager of the group.
For group leaders like him, the titles they are addressed are generally influenced by personal preferences and actual work.
Cheng Kaiyuan is the business leader, so he is often addressed as General Manager Cheng or Deputy General Manager Cheng. Xue Zhifu also holds the title of Deputy Director of the Management Committee and the position of Chief Engineer, which is equivalent to the Deputy General Manager level of the Group, so he can be addressed as General Manager Xue.
But Li Xuewu's case is a bit different; he works in the group's management committee as the secretary-general.
However, he does not hold a management position within the group. In other words, from the perspective of actual management, he is the leader of the group, but from the perspective of the group's management standards, he does not seem to have a "proper" position.
When Gao Yaqin first arrived, she was at the division level, and last year she was promoted to deputy bureau chief. Only Li Xuewu remains at the division level within the management committee.
He is very special and unique, so the way he is addressed is quite simple; he is usually referred to as the Secretary-General.
The different titles reflect, to some extent, the instability and complexity of the current internal management structure of Honggang Group.
But can one judge a person's influence in the workplace simply by their job title or title?
The answer is no.
Just as you cannot ignore Li Xuewu's influence in the group and in Liaodong Industry, you also cannot ignore Cheng Kaiyuan's low profile and forbearance over such a long time.
After the last incident, Cheng Kaiyuan maintained his usual low-key and pragmatic style. If Li Xuewu didn't know who he was and what he had done, he would have been fooled by him.
The more one endures, the greater one's desires become.
Li Xuewu didn't find Su Weide scary; he just found him annoying and irritating.
Given that Su Weide had no experience at the grassroots level, no amount of resources would make him amount to anything.
Old Su has been in the ministry for too long and is too naive. He seems to use his brain when he does things, but in reality, it's all about his backside.
Cheng Kaiyuan is different. He would never do something as hateful as Lao Su, because he would always make others take the blame for whatever he did.
He climbed his way up from the bottom, and he had plenty of tricks up his sleeve. It was just that he messed up at the Red Star Factory, but he would have been a ruthless and powerful figure anywhere else.
What else did the Red Star Factory say? This place is practically a fox den, with one big Li and one little Li...
Sigh, I can't talk about it anymore, it's all tears.
Cheng Kaiyuan had planned this all along: to develop his strength discreetly and never stand out, intending to watch Li Huaide bring about his own destruction.
How do you say that?
If Heaven intends for someone to perish, it will first make them go mad.
Do you see Lao Li now exhibiting arrogance, recklessness, and a refusal to listen to advice?
In his view, no. Li Huaide was able to pay attention to the demands of everyone in the team and try his best to coordinate and balance the wishes of all parties, which meant that he hadn't become arrogant.
Dealing with this kind of person is just asking for trouble. When Honggang Group was thriving, who dared to say they understood economic development policies and industrial development trends better than Lao Li?
Li Huaide sometimes ignores the opinions of certain people, and may even tend to suppress the momentum of certain people, but he can listen to Li Xuewu's opinions.
Don't be fooled by his frequent visits to the dance troupe to talk nonsense and stir up rumors; these are all minor matters.
Before Old Li loses his senses, he'd better lie low and stealthily, because Old Li fears him the most.
There is always a reason for the downfall of those in power. You can't imagine how arrogant they are until you get to know them or see the whole picture, but those in the know can tell at a glance.
When Xu Pidai's empire was about to collapse, do you think anyone knew it was going to fall?
Of course there are, but it's all hindsight. However, we can still glean some insight from the dust that rose up after the building collapsed.
Don't just look at the singing and dancing in the dance troupe; that can't cost a lot of money. You have to look at their performance.
How dare someone from the same province use the word "meeting" in the newspaper when they meet? What else could he be but arrogant?
So, most shrewd people can figure out who's capable and who's not just by thinking about it.
Looking at the group from this perspective, others might say he lacks insight, but how could Cheng Kaiyuan not?
Just ask the people below you, who in the group is the most boastful, who talks the most nonsense, and then you just wait and see, sit on a stool and watch, if he doesn't get into trouble, who will?
"Why is everyone complaining to me lately?"
Li Xuewu turned to look at him with amusement and said, "This morning, General Manager Gao was still complaining to me about how hard it was, and now you're telling me it's hard again."
"You don't think I'm some kind of clay idol in a local temple, do you? Trying to make a wish here?"
"Heh—hehe—" Cheng Kaiyuan couldn't help but laugh out loud, saying, "It's purely a coincidence."
"I hope so—" Li Xuewu glanced at him, picked up his lunchbox, got his food, and instead of going inside, found an acquaintance to sit next to.
“Secretary-General.” Ao Yuhua, the head of the personnel department, felt someone sitting next to her and turned around to see Li Xuewu.
The two actually have quite a history. Back when they were in the commission office, they were both deputy directors, but their careers took different paths later on.
When the group's organizational structure was being built, Ao Yuhua took a step forward and took over the personnel department, while Li Xuewu was promoted to work on the group's management committee.
Looking back now, Ao Yuhua can finally see the gap between the two, which is not only in terms of job rank, but also in terms of work ability and influence.
They were barely considered equals back then, but now they're worlds apart.
Of course, you could say that their job titles are the same, both being department heads, but their positions are different.
If Li Xuewu is truly relieved of his post, then he will have fallen to the level of an ordinary person and become her equal. Is such a possibility possible?
To catch up with Li Xuewu, she would need to go through at least the stages of deputy manager and manager of a major department. Whether she could overcome this hurdle in one step is uncertain, because the group has a rule that no one will be promoted from a major department without experience working in a branch office.
In other words, if you want to join the management committee and take on a management position within the group, you'll have to work two terms at a branch company.
Once you calculate it this way, the gap between the two is enormous.
"Hmm, why are you all alone?"
Li Xuewu sat down next to her, and Cheng Kaiyuan sat down opposite Li Xuewu.
"Hello, Mr. Cheng, are you all coming together?"
Ao Yuhua was quite surprised, but she still greeted him with a smile before replying to Li Xuewu.
"I just sat down and didn't notice you."
"Hehe, I could spot you at a glance." Li Xuewu smiled and glanced at her, saying, "Your hair looks great, you look much younger."
"The Secretary-General really knows how to praise people—"
Ao Yuhua is thirty-five years old this year, and she looks much younger after getting her hair permed.
That's why they say fashion is cyclical; the "mom curls" of later generations are actually popular in this era as well.
From Li Xuewu's perspective, the "mom curls" popular in those days were more natural than those of later generations.
Starting in 66, street-side barbershops did indeed ban perming services. Some criticized this, saying that perming was a pursuit of the Little Bolsheviks and was outdated...
But starting this year, perming and curling have become popular again. Since street-side barbershops don't offer this service, people use hot tongs to perm their hair at home.
Some skilled people can create beautiful wavy curls for you using only a single wire heated on a stove, and even give you a specific shape.
Of course, most of the hairstyles popular among lesbians originated from Shanghai, the birthplace of fashion and the trendsetter.
The most popular barbershop in Beijing must have barbers brought in from Shanghai, absolutely.
Before Li Xuewu's mother-in-law left Beijing, she was a regular customer at the barbershop in Xidan Market.
Gu Ning got her short hair styled there, but she didn't get it permed.
It is almost universally accepted that perming is mostly done by married women, and it is rare to see young girls getting big waves.
Ao Yuhua used to have two long, black braids, but now that they've been cut and permed, she looks completely different.
From this perspective, Ao Yuhua's transition from the Commission Office to the Personnel Department also involved a significant shift in her mindset.
"It's different now—"
Following Li Xuewu's words, Cheng Kaiyuan looked her over and nodded slightly in praise, "She does look young."
"Mr. Cheng, what do you mean by 'I'm still young'?"
Ao Yuhua wondered what the two leaders meant by sitting at her table. Did they want to adjust her position?
It's no wonder she thinks that way. After the group becomes formalized, it's unclear whether the higher-ups understand or not, but the middle-level managers will definitely be affected.
It's nothing else, but if there were no major changes last year and there are none this year, then next year will be completely disrupted.
I dare not say whether the group can bear such a risk, but I can only say that the cadres are also restless.
If things move, it will be before or after the New Year; if they don't move, we should give a definite answer from the next level.
However, the organization and personnel work of the entire group were all in Lao Li's hands, while the real executive power was in Jing Yunong's hands. One of them was busy with the group's restructuring, and the other was busy with the New Year's financial budget, so they both neglected it.
Now, Li Xuewu has only shared a table with someone, and Ao Yuhua has already started having all sorts of wild thoughts.
She thought to herself, but joked aloud, "You see, even the secretary-general doesn't want to look at me, which shows I'm getting old."
"Hehehe—" Cheng Kaiyuan smiled and looked at Li Xuewu, jokingly saying, "The Secretary-General doesn't necessarily like young girls."
In private, they were all part of the same team, so there was nothing wrong with it in front of Ao Yuhua. After all, she was a veteran of the Red Star Factory, so what could Li Xuewu say?
"I may not necessarily like young girls, but President Cheng definitely will."
Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow, dismissed the joke, and stuffed Cheng Kaiyuan's mouth shut.
Ao Yuhua, relying on her seniority, actually dared to laugh out loud.
Cheng Kaiyuan couldn't help but laugh as well.
Two years have passed, and he has raised Hu Yanqiu's child for two years. The matter is there, so what can't be said?
Besides, he was the one who made the joke first; who told him to be so cheeky and provoke Li Xuewu?
Everyone in the group knows that Li Xuewu is sharp-tongued and has a silver tongue; he is someone you absolutely cannot afford to offend.
Cheng Kaiyuan admitted that he had been negligent and careless, and that he had not been cautious enough.
However, Ao Yuhua had no intention of letting him off the hook, and deliberately teased, "Who doesn't like young people, right?"
Cheng Kaiyuan: Who are you asking?!
What is Xiao Hu doing now?
Li Xuewu really dared to ask, looking at Cheng Kaiyuan with his eyes wide open, clearly asking about Hu Yanqiu.
Actually, there were no outsiders present. Hu Yanqiu came to the factory through Ao Yuhua's connections.
Hu Yanqiu's mother and Ao Yuhua were old classmates, so Hu should call her aunt.
Because of this incident, the relationship between Ao Yuhua and Hu Yanqiu's mother became very awkward, and they had no contact for two years.
Because he couldn't swallow this insult, he just said, "Who doesn't like youth?"
This hit Cheng Kaiyuan where it hurt; it was his own fault for not being careful in his actions and causing such a disgraceful incident.
The fact that he's sitting here suggests that people don't care much about these kinds of things these days, and also that he doesn't have any major problems.
Since Li Xuewu dared to ask, it means that he and Cheng Kaiyuan share the same attitude on this matter.
It was precisely because of his safety net that Cheng Kaiyuan escaped a disaster and did not completely fall into ruin.
So when he asked, Cheng Kaiyuan didn't hide anything in front of Ao Yuhua and explained, "I only saw her once last month; I just came back from my hometown."
"Not at work?" Ao Yuhua still regretted not keeping an eye on Hu Yanqiu. She felt guilty and sorry for her old classmate after such a thing happened to a young woman.
The two families had stopped communicating, and she didn't know how Hu Yanqiu was doing. She only knew that Hu Yanqiu was raising her child alone.
It's hard to say whose child it is, since there isn't that authoritative identification technology available these days.
DNA technology exists, but it's still in the laboratory, and it will take a long time before it's truly put into application.
As for whether the person involved knew or not, that goes without saying. What can they do if they knew, and what can they do if they didn't?
Cheng Kaiyuan's secretary is dead. If he doesn't raise this child, he'll just starve to death.
Hu Yanqiu has been kicked out of her family and cut off from all ties because of this shameful incident. What will happen to her children?
The reason Li Xuewu helped Lao Cheng in the first place was because he saw that Lao Cheng's actions were very kind and righteous.
He's smart enough to take on the responsibility of supporting Hu Yanqiu and her son without being reminded.
Judging from his calm demeanor now, the turmoil of that time and its lingering effects are still unfolding.
Do you think Cheng Kaiyuan has made no contributions to the group over the years? Are you looking at hard work rather than merit?
He was in charge of all the group's production work. Without a strong industrial foundation, could Honggang Group have achieved its current level of development?
That's why Old Li was lenient with him and didn't push him to the brink.
Actually, this situation is just right. With a tail hanging over him, Cheng Kaiyuan will never be able to turn things around.
However, he was also lucky. Even after all this trouble, his wife didn't leave him and acquiesced to his choice to raise the child.
The child is over two years old, and his features have matured; it's immediately obvious that the child isn't his.
This doesn't require a paternity test, let alone a blood test to determine kinship. It's either yes or no.
That kid was a carbon copy of Zhang Shicheng; Old Cheng was basically stuck with him.
“I asked someone to find her a job as a librarian, but she thought it was too tiring and didn’t want to go.”
Cheng Kaiyuan ate his steamed bun and replied casually, "The child is being taken care of by her mother. I've only seen her once in the last six months."
"What is she doing?" Ao Yuhua frowned slightly and asked, "Has her relationship with her family improved?"
"I heard that's not the case." Cheng Kaiyuan put down his steamed bun, took a bite of vegetables, and said, "Maybe she didn't want the child to suffer with her, so her mother took the child back and only lets her see him a few times a month."
"Are you allowed to visit them as well?"
Li Xuewu glanced at him and said, "It seems that this Xiao Hu is not a peaceful person."
“I don’t go there often, mainly to see the children. Her mother is a very nice person.”
Cheng Kaiyuan took a sip of hot soup and explained calmly, "I give the child twenty yuan every month. Her mother said that the previous money was all spent by Xiao Hu, so now the money is given to her and used directly for the child."
Twenty yuan is enough to raise a child.
Let alone raising one child, it would be enough to raise two half-grown boys. Yan Fugui earns 32.5 yuan a month, which is enough to support a whole family.
Of course, we must also recognize the difficulties of raising children, and different children have different characteristics.
“It doesn’t matter who gets the money, as long as the child doesn’t suffer.” Cheng Kaiyuan finished eating but didn’t stop, as if he really wanted to find someone to talk to, so he continued, “I gave the money to her mother.”
"Xiao Hu never asked you for money?"
Ao Yuhua knew Hu Yanqiu's character. Hearing that Hu Yanqiu's attempt to find a job for Xiao Hu had failed, he knew what had happened.
“They said that the money was originally agreed to be given to her, and therefore she should be given it to them.”
Cheng Kaiyuan gave a bitter laugh and said, "I've seen that child. She almost..."
He only said half of what he meant. In fact, he was also soft-hearted. If he condoned Xiao Hu's behavior, then the child would be gone, and only then would he be completely free of the burden he carried.
But he still couldn't bear it. What he didn't say was that it was he who took the initiative to contact Hu Yanqiu's mother to bring the child home, which gave him the right to visit.
Ao Yuhua was also puzzled. Given the resentment Hu Yanqiu's mother had harbored back then, how could she possibly accept Cheng Kaiyuan?
"Did you give her money?" Ao Yuhua couldn't eat anymore, her heart was clenched, and she put down her chopsticks early. Only Li Xuewu was unaffected and continued to eat heartily.
"They gave it to me, but not much."
Cheng Kaiyuan took a sip of hot soup, sighed softly, and said, "I bear responsibility for her mistake."
Ao Yuhua didn't know what to say. Even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes, let alone such a complicated situation.
But she knew that once Hu Yanqiu developed a habit of laziness, she would never be willing to work and earn money to support herself if someone supported her.
"She told me that she had several relationships, all of which failed because of her past."
Cheng Kaiyuan nodded and said, "She wants to leave the capital and live in a new city, and she needs my help."
"If that's really what she thinks, that's fine too."
After finishing his meal, Li Xuewu put down his chopsticks and said, "New environment, new life, new beginning."
"Hehe—" Cheng Kaiyuan just smiled and didn't continue.
Actually, the answer was already in Li Xuewu's words. Those were the most optimistic expectations, but even Ao Yuhua didn't believe them. He didn't even want to work in Beijing, and he wanted to live in another city? What a joke.
With Cheng Kaiyuan's care, Hu Yanqiu had a livelihood. When she wanted to leave Beijing, Cheng Kaiyuan had no choice but to cut off contact with her and even report to the security department.
why?
Fearing that she might die outside, people would think he killed her to cover it up, and Cheng Kaiyuan didn't want to get into any trouble.
He already smelled strong enough.
Now that he's said these things, regardless of whether Li Xuewu and Ao Yuhua will spread the word, he has a witness. If Hu Yanqiu really gets into trouble, he'll have a testimony.
Cheng Kaiyuan is no fool.
He knew he couldn't escape Li Xuewu's scheme, so he simply laid his cards on the table. He couldn't just kill him, could he?
Now, after hearing his emotional account, Li Xuewu is wary of Hu Yanqiu causing trouble.
"Sister Ao, come visit sometime."
Li Xuewu turned to Ao Yuhua and said, "After all, you're an old classmate. Without your help, this matter wouldn't have been handled so smoothly, right?"
He nodded and said, "Let's go see the child and also talk to Xiao Hu's mother to see what her attitude is."
"If there are no special requirements, then Mr. Cheng will no longer need to come forward. Just open an account for them at the bank and deposit money into it regularly."
Li Xuewu tapped his finger on the table and continued, "President Cheng and I trust you completely. Just work hard and keep an eye on the child's situation."
"If there are any problems, just arrange for the security department to handle it. I'll let Zhou Yao know."
Cheng Kaiyuan made a statement, and Li Xuewu couldn't remain silent; his next move would have to involve Cheng Kaiyuan.
While he was speaking, Cheng Kaiyuan remained silent, completely following the posture he had arranged.
Ao Yuhua never expected that asking a question during a meal would cause such a big problem.
She didn't want to accept this consequence, but she dared not disobey Li Xuewu's arrangements, so she could only remain silent.
"You don't need to feel guilty."
Li Xuewu understood her silence and said calmly, "The child is already two years old and should be more sensible. There will eventually be a result."
“Then…” Ao Yuhua looked at him and asked, “How should I put it?”
"Tell the truth, and do what needs to be done." Li Xuewu nodded and instructed, "You're a veteran in the factory and have handled this matter before. Since General Manager Cheng is willing to take on this responsibility, please work a little harder and try to handle it properly."
He reached out and patted Ao Yuhua's arm before turning to Cheng Kaiyuan and saying, "President Cheng, the child is old enough to remember things. If you think Xiao Hu's parents can raise the child, then please have Manager Ao go and make the arrangements. Don't go to visit anymore. If there are any other issues, there are other ways to arrange for the child."
This is like a landmine, planted by Li Xuewu himself. Now, Cheng Kaiyuan is about to be freed.
Cheng Kaiyuan breathed a sigh of relief, and his face showed some relief. He nodded and said, "I'll listen to you. Whatever you say, we'll do."
This matter has been brewing for so long, and the pressure is almost overwhelming him. Although the couple hasn't separated, their feelings for each other have faded, and he can feel it.
It would be best if this matter could be handled properly.
Ao Yuhua stopped objecting because Li Xuewu had just patted her arm, which meant she had to comply with Li Xuewu's request; it was a signal.
Of course, there was another reason why she chose to compromise, and that was Li Xuewu's reputation.
Li Xuewu never shortchanges anyone when assigning tasks; if he makes her suffer a loss today, he'll definitely make it up to her tomorrow.
It's not necessarily a matter of doing something today and compensating tomorrow; it could take a month, or it could take a year. Li Xuewu's reputation within the group is still very credible.
Cheng Kaiyuan has his own karma, and Ao Yuhua also has her own inner conflict. It would be best if they could resolve it themselves.
"Then I'll go there when I have time."
She responded to Cheng Kaiyuan's statement with a single word, but didn't make any promises.
How can you guarantee something like this? Whether it works out or not depends on her efforts. She wouldn't possibly betray Cheng Kaiyuan.
Even if she did that, Li Xuewu wouldn't let her go; she still wanted to get some resources from the two of them.
It seems that Li Xuewu is paving the way for his next move, and Cheng Kaiyuan has taken the initiative to show goodwill.
She won't be able to participate much in any changes the group undergoes, but with the two people looking after her, she'll definitely reap the benefits.
So even if she was reluctant, after analyzing the pros and cons, she now had to take on this task.
The news coming from the group's management committee changes every day, but what remains unchanged is the core pursuit of those few people.
No matter how much he tries to hide it, he can't escape the fact that he wants what he really wants. What does Li Xuewu want?
“That’s settled then. Contact President Cheng if anything comes up.” Li Xuewu tapped the dining table and looked at Ao Yuhua, saying, “You can contact me if you need anything.”
He looked at Cheng Kaiyuan and nodded, saying, "You have time, right? Let's talk about the automotive industry later. I'm thinking about how to proceed."
As he said this, he got up and took his lunchbox, and Cheng Kaiyuan and Ao Yuhua also got up at the same time.
Ao Yuhua did not follow them, but watched them leave before sitting down again.
Even though there was still food in the lunchbox, she didn't plan to eat it, calculating the gains and losses of this step in her mind.
No one can reap all the benefits in a game without getting into any trouble. Who has such a way of doing things?
Even Li Xuewu couldn't manage; the group is so large that he alone couldn't handle everything.
The fact that Cheng Kaiyuan was involved shows that his ambitions were not small. When the topic of the automobile industry came up, Ao Yuhua thought of the upcoming Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, which was a behemoth.
No matter how the group's resources are redistributed, the amount remains the same, so Li Xuewu has never suffered a loss.
Cars, airplanes... what is he going to do?