MMB Chapter 1551 The Chicken Soup Will Be Wasted
Chapter 1551 The Chicken Soup Will Be Wasted
Chapter 1551 The Chicken Soup Will Be Wasted
Why should we pay attention to the Northern Industry News?
Wang Yajuan followed Li Xuewu to his office, looked at him with puzzlement, and asked, "Are you still hung up on that reporter Liu?"
She certainly didn't doubt that Li Xuewu and that female reporter had sparked a romance, but she felt that Li Xuewu was making a mountain out of a molehill by dwelling on the matter.
Li Xuewu looked up and glanced at her, then his gaze returned to the documents in his hand.
“If you keep thinking about it, there will be a response.”
He placed the document he had finished reading on the desk, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "This sentence might not be about me, but about her?"
Aren't you being overly suspicious?
Wang Yajuan walked to the side of his desk, bowed slightly, looked him over, and asked, "Did she attack you again?"
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled, put down his teacup, turned to look at her, and asked, "Do you think I arranged for you to keep an eye on her because of this?"
“Just kidding—” He drooped his eyelids, turned his head, picked up a pen, made a note on the document, and explained, “The attitude of the Northern Industry Daily is problematic.”
"There's a problem, there was a problem."
Wang Yajuan raised her eyebrows and emphasized, "But I haven't seen them make any other moves recently."
She still didn't understand what Li Xuewu was sensitive about, or whether he knew something she didn't.
"It will be too late by the time you find out—"
Li Xuewu signed his name and put the documents aside; that pile contained the ones he had already read.
He picked up a new book he hadn't read before and placed it in front of him, flipping through it as he spoke: "The enemy is in the sky, on the ground, in the water, and next door."
The documents he needed to see were the results of work accumulated over the past few days, and he had to sign them. So he was in a hurry to see them, but he also had to carefully check them before he could sign them.
However, this focus did not prevent him from dealing with Wang Yajuan's questions; he even shared his experience in struggle with her.
"What we can do, and what we must do, is to keep an eye on them, capture them, and eliminate them."
The document in his hand wasn't too troublesome; he glanced at it a few times, found no problems, and started writing, but muttered something fierce under his breath.
Wang Yajuan was startled, but her voice softened as she asked, "You mean they also..."
“You could describe it as ‘still harboring wicked intentions,’ and I wouldn’t think that’s an exaggeration.” Li Xuewu looked up at her, tilting his head slightly to emphasize, “Because that’s the truth.”
Wang Yajuan's lips parted slightly, showing great surprise. "I thought... she had said that..."
"Do I need to teach you the principle of knowing a person's face but not their heart?" Li Xuewu closed the file, holding the pen upside down in his hand, and said, "Are you doubting me?"
"No, I just don't understand."
Wang Yajuan straightened up, glanced at him with a puzzled look, but still said, "You don't need to doubt my loyalty."
"Hmm, loyalty, for whom?"
Li Xuewu couldn't help but smile, put the document aside, sat up straight, and said, "That reporter Liu has a very complicated background and connections."
"If you are still in contact."
He looked at Wang Yajuan and nodded very seriously, saying, "Don't speak carelessly, think twice before you act."
“We don’t have much contact. She did call me a few times, but it was all for business.”
After thinking it over carefully, Wang Yajuan said seriously again, "She called several times wanting our factory's promotional materials, but I didn't give them to her, and she never called me again after that."
"Maybe she thinks you're stubborn and don't know what's good for you," Li Xuewu chuckled meaningfully, then picked up a document and read it as he said, "She's incredibly capable; she's running around everywhere trying to find a daughter-in-law for that guy."
"Who? Whose daughter-in-law?"
Wang Yajuan didn't understand what he meant and looked at him suspiciously, asking, "Could it be that she wants to..."
"Haha, you think too much."
Li Xuewu knew she had misunderstood. He looked up and pretended to look her over seriously before shaking his head with a light laugh and saying, "Although your appearance, character, and background are all sufficient, there is one thing that doesn't meet the requirements."
"What? What are you talking about?"
Wang Yajuan became increasingly confused as she listened, and walked over to him, frowning as she asked, "Could you explain it more clearly?"
"It's nothing, it was my fault."
Li Xuewu lowered his head to look at the documents, while mumbling a vague explanation: "Just know that she's not a good person, and be careful around her."
"What are you saying? Your words don't make any sense."
Wang Yajuan glared at him, then rested one hand on the desk, turned to look at him, and asked, "Do you think the Northern Industry Daily isn't going to let us off the hook?"
“Scholars, you know—” Li Xuewu glanced back at her, smiled, and said, “They’re all petty-minded.”
"What utter nonsense—"
Wang Yajuan was completely confused by him. She knew he wanted her to keep an eye on the Northern Industry Daily, but she still didn't know which aspect to keep an eye on.
Li Xuewu didn't intend to explain it to her clearly. These kinds of things are better left unsaid; being too direct could easily cause trouble, including with Wang Yajuan.
He never intended to take advantage of anyone, much less use Wang Yajuan's trust in him to instruct her to do anything wrong. One should always be kind and honest.
From the very first article published by the Northern Industry Daily about Honggang Group, the group's publicity department began to keep an eye on them, including the newspaper's own attitude and the investigation of the reporter who wrote the article.
The group's publicity department focused more on the event itself and the newspaper's attitude, without conducting a detailed investigation or research on the reporter.
But Li Xuewu was different; he came from a security officer background and was particularly sensitive to such matters.
When Liu Hongmei, a reporter from the Northern Industry Daily, published several articles targeting Honggang Group and even began to target him, relevant information about Liu Hongmei was placed on his desk.
Within the industrial system and in the Beijing area, Li Xuewu still possesses considerable influence. His club has many members scattered across the country like countless stars, yet their connections remain unbroken.
Although Li Xuewu is just an industrial enterprise cadre, the connections he has, or rather the support he can provide, are beyond what most people can imagine.
Who dares to say that Li Xuewu has no ability?
That's a joke. Honggang Group has a sales network and business contacts all over the country, with hundreds of affiliated units and connections in all walks of life. Who dares to say they don't need him?
Li Xuewu's current job involves more than half of answering and making phone calls, and even Li Huaide cannot ignore his social network.
He was just a reporter from a newspaper within the industrial system. No matter how complicated his background and connections were, could he escape the elaborate web that Li Xuewu had woven over four years?
Li Xuewu knew everything about her, including what she had done, how she did it, the social connections behind her, and the working relationships of her main relatives. The booklet wasn't very thick, but Li Xuewu knew it all.
Looking back, Li Xuewu's indifferent handling of his meeting with her was a sign of respect for the group's work and a restraint to prevent the situation from escalating further.
However, this forbearance does not mean that the other party can act as an accomplice, become even more ruthless, or even have their rekindled desire to cause trouble.
That's why he told Wang Yajuan to keep a close eye on the other party, wait for the right opportunity to capture and eliminate them.
-
"Director Zhang, you wanted to see me."
Wang Min hurriedly returned from outside, took off his coat, and saw Zhang Jing, the office director, coming out of the office. He then took the initiative to ask her a question.
Zhang Jingzheng had work to report to Li Xuewu's office, but when he saw him return, he said briefly, "We'll transfer some people from below. You'll lead a team to Fengcheng to support the Tadong Airport project."
"Huh?!" Wang Min had just taken off his coat, and now he's being made to put it back on?
"What do you mean, 'huh'?" Zhang Jing said as he walked out, "Contact the Tadong Airport project team and see what kind of support they need."
"Director, I just got back."
Wang Min casually tossed his coat onto the chair and jogged to catch up with Zhang Jing, reminding him, "We just finished with the steel company. I didn't get a break last weekend or the weekend before that."
"Why are you talking so much nonsense?"
Zhang Jing stopped and looked him up and down, saying, "Do you still have any revolutionary spirit? What happened to your oath to serve the people and dedicate yourself to the organization?"
"Director, you can't say things like that without feeling guilty—" Wang Min complained with a bitter face, "Someone introduced me to someone, and we've already postponed meeting three times. Is it going to be postponed any longer?"
He pleaded, "Director, you don't want me to be a bachelor for the rest of my life, do you?"
"So you're saying I can't find a partner, and I'm always so sloppy, and you don't look good either, do you?"
"Are you threatening me?"
Zhang Jing raised her voice slightly, seeing that he had stopped complaining, but the resentment on his face was still evident. She nudged Wang Min with her elbow and said softly, "Why are you so stubborn?"
"Director, what you're saying... a well-fed man doesn't know the hunger of a starving man—"
The office doesn't usually have a very serious atmosphere. Zhang Jing isn't a veteran cadre, and Wang Min and the others aren't old fogies either. They're not that far apart in age, so they talk very casually in private.
Seeing that the director wouldn't back down, Wang Min had no choice but to echo his words, "We've had two weeks of blissful romance in the office, but Lao Li and I have been having a tough time—"
The two weeks he mentioned weren't a time period, but rather the time it took for Zhou Peilan and Zhou Linghua to start a romantic relationship last year.
While romantic relationships are discouraged in the office, there is no explicit rule prohibiting them. The group's management regulations only stipulate that spouses and fathers and sons are not allowed to work in the same department.
As long as the two don't get married, it doesn't affect their work, and their superiors are accommodating, no one will say anything.
But Wang Min said that the dog food was unpalatable!
"What nonsense are you talking about? I haven't heard Xiao Ma complaining at all." Zhang Jing chuckled and gently patted his forehead, saying, "Just focus on your work, things will come in time."
“Little Ma? I didn’t want to talk about him if you hadn’t mentioned him—” Wang Min was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and almost jumped up to accuse Ma Baosen.
"You wouldn't believe it, but Xiao Ma and Xiao Yang from the finance department have gotten together!"
His expression and tone made him sound like a village auntie, just short of slapping her thigh and gossiping to Zhang Jing.
"What little pony and lamb—"
Zhang Jing looked at him with amusement and said, "I'm telling you, comrades should maintain harmonious relations. Don't create antagonism, and even more so, don't isolate each other."
"Who's isolating whom?" Wang Min said pitifully and aggrievedly, "They're always in pairs, coming and going, and we're not even allowed to say anything?"
He pointed to himself, then to the office, and said, "Right now, Lao Li and I are the ones who are isolated; we are the victims—"
"Alright, that's enough nonsense."
Zhang Jing found his antics amusing, patted his shoulder, and whispered, "I've met the girl that Old Liu from the union introduced you to."
"What? Director—" Wang Min's eyes widened instantly, sparkling with excitement as she looked at him expectantly and asked, "Director, how... how is that girl?"
"Not good enough for you."
Zhang Jing shook his head slightly and said in a tone of someone who had been through it all: "I'm not old-fashioned, but whether from the organization's perspective or from my personal feelings, I don't support this view."
He curled his lip and said seriously, "They're all from our factory. I can't say anything bad about them, I can only say you're not suitable."
Seeing Wang Min's mood instantly drop, he nudged him with his elbow again, raised an eyebrow and reminded him, "You're not bad looking, you're cultured and thoughtful, and you're also very humorous. Are you worried about not finding a girlfriend?"
"I don't have time to find a partner."
Wang Min said with a bitter face, "The union told me that there's no such shop left in this village."
"Don't listen to Lao Liu's nonsense—" Zhang Jing whispered a reminder to him, "The girl he introduced you to is related to him. Who do you think he'll side with?"
"Huh?" Wang Min looked at him with the same clear yet foolish eyes he had when he first graduated and entered the factory, which made Zhang Jing feel sorry for him.
"You just don't get it—"
Zhang Jing pointed at him, and said in a low voice with a hint of disappointment, "Not to mention our group's leaders, several mid-to-high-level managers also have eligible girls in their families. Haven't you ever thought about... you know?"
"What?" Wang Min was taken aback for a moment, tilting his head like a silly deer.
"Your dad and mom don't work in the industrial system, do they?" Zhang Jing frowned, and seeing that he was clueless, she pointed out, "You'll still need someone to look after you in this job."
"Ah! You mean...this!"
Wang Min's face flushed instantly, and he stammered, "I don't need those... I'm not that kind of person..."
"What kind of person?" Zhang Jing glared at him and said, "I'm only telling you this because you've always behaved well. Don't be ungrateful."
"No, Director, I wasn't talking about you."
Wang Min realized he had misspoke and awkwardly explained, "I meant myself..."
"Alright—" Zhang Jing pointed towards the office next door and said, "I still have to report to my supervisor. Think about it carefully yourself."
Seeing Wang Min follow him again, still holding his arm, he said irritably, "Use your brain! Who's going to arrange a marriage for you? Can't you have your cake and eat it too?"
"Are all daughters of leaders spoiled brats? Are they all unruly and unreasonable?" He emphasized, "On the contrary, a good family can cultivate good girls who are more thoughtful, more cultured, and more ambitious."
Seeing that he was still confused, Zhang Jing nudged him and said, "You know Gu Cheng, the secretary of Deputy Director Su, right?"
"Do you know what he used to be like? He was even worse than you, just an office secretary."
He raised an eyebrow and said, "Now look at him, do you even know who his father-in-law is?"
"Kid, be smart. Life is only so-so. Don't be muddle-headed. Do your job well and perform well. Sooner or later, someone will notice you."
"Ah! Director—"
Wang Min seemed to have suddenly realized something. Seeing him heading towards the secretary-general's office, he suddenly remembered something and stopped him, asking, "I heard the secretary-general's sister is still single..."
"Hey!" Zhang Jing was startled and grabbed Wang Min's arm, glaring at him and cursing, "I'm telling you to be more careful, not to go looking for death!"
-
"I know, yes, I know."
Li Xuewu held the phone in one hand and nodded from time to time, while writing something on a document with a pen in the other hand, multitasking quite nimbly.
I understand how you feel.
He spoke calmly to the person on the other end of the phone: "Thank you very much for your concern for Hongxing Factory. The opinions of veteran cadres have always been a key focus of the Group's Management Committee."
"We expect to hear different opinions, and Director Li has emphasized this point many times during the meeting."
Li Xuewu was not surprised to receive such a call, after all, not everyone is qualified to call Li Huaide directly, and the general manager's office would not transfer the call.
However, he never filters out such calls, and the office dares not block his calls; that's a work principle.
The person on the other end of the phone was clearly holding back their anger, complaining for quite a while about the rejections and sarcastic remarks they had encountered recently.
What else could Li Xuewu say but try to comfort him? His job and his position dictated that if he wasn't the one to step forward, who else could?
After calming the other person down, he explained, "You are a veteran, so of course you can understand how much effort and sweat all the employees have put in to get the group to where it is today."
"Similarly, we also cherish the veteran workers who have made contributions and sacrifices to the Hongxing Factory, as well as the comrades who have been fighting on the front line for a long time."
Hearing that the other person was about to speak, he raised his voice slightly to emphasize, "If I had a choice, I certainly wouldn't want to see any employees being reassigned."
Just then, Zhang Jing walked in carrying documents, and slowed down when he saw that he was on the phone.
Li Xuewu pointed to the other side of the desk, indicating that he should sit down first, while he continued talking on the phone.
"Let me first give you a brief report on the current situation." He didn't wait for the other party to repeat those opinions, but instead introduced earnestly: "Honggang Group has signed a cooperation agreement with Shenfei, and most of the shares in the tertiary industry have been transferred to Shenfei."
"Currently, the group has acquired Fengcheng Tadong Airport and has also reached a series of agreements with Shenyang Aircraft Corporation on technology research and development and cooperation projects, including engine contract manufacturing."
Li Xuewu held the phone to his ear with his shoulder, while tightening a pen in his hand, and continued, "We cannot transfer workers from the tertiary industry back to the group. It would be unfair to the workers and unreasonable for the group's management."
He gave the other party a chance to speak in his attitude, but also emphasized the group's strategic goals.
"We cannot allow individuals to be transferred back to the group simply because they do not wish to leave. Individual interests must always come after the interests of the collective."
Zhang Jing knew what kind of call he had received, so she stood up to refill his hot water and brought it back, shaking her head helplessly.
The group began organizing personnel reforms two years ago, and there have been voices of opposition to the group's organizational structure and the establishment of branches.
Especially retired cadres and veteran comrades, they have a strong sense of ownership over their work, but their thinking can be stubborn and outdated.
During the year or so that Zhang Jing worked with Li Xuewu, he saw him receive many such calls, but he never saw Li Xuewu show any impatience.
Some older comrades have very poor manners; when they get angry, they will say whatever comes to mind, regardless of the time or place.
The group is now facing another major challenge in terms of organization and personnel, namely, the main body of the tertiary industry is about to change.
Previously, the group held the majority of shares in the tertiary industry sector, making it the de facto controlling shareholder.
As the controlling shareholder, it is responsible for the operation of the tertiary industry, without setting up factories or branch factory management, and unifying the factory area and operating it under the unified management of the tertiary industry management office.
During the process of Hongxing Factory's group-oriented development, the organizational structure of the Third Industry Management Office remained unchanged; it simply transitioned to the Third Industry Management Company according to procedures.
Plans can't keep up with changes. The group originally intended to gradually sell off these shares and transfer operational control to the joint venture partner.
Unexpectedly, Shenfei wanted to develop tertiary industries and set his sights on Honggang Group's business, even though it was something the group was planning to phase out, it was still an industry.
When Honggang Group was organizing personnel changes, it reassigned some employees to work in the tertiary industry according to the assessment standards.
During this period, the group continued to establish branches, and some of the original steel rolling mill workers were transferred away because they were able to adapt to the new jobs and environment.
Workers who cannot adapt to the new changes will have to be reassigned to other industrial enterprises during the process of technological innovation and staff reduction.
The largest such event was last year, when nearly 30,000 people were separated from Honggang Group after the establishment of the new Jingyi Factory. Most of them went to Jingyi Factory, while the rest went to Beijing Industry.
The number of employees at Honggang Group has already dropped to less than 60,000. This transfer of the operating rights of the tertiary industry will change the status of more than 10,000 employees.
The change in status means that the employee's welfare benefits will change accordingly. Since the employee is not a member of the group, they will naturally not enjoy the group's welfare benefits.
Although Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) also mentioned in the agreement that it would fully guarantee the rights and interests of its employees, even the most skilled cook cannot make a meal without rice. Who can guarantee that SAC will be able to make its tertiary industry as good as Honggang Steel?
So dissenting voices emerged. These people didn't object to the group selling its tertiary industries; they only objected to no longer being able to enjoy the group's welfare benefits.
The plan to gradually reduce the number of employees by relying on the tertiary industry was decided long ago, and all members of the group's management committee were aware of it.
At this point, some retired comrades called to object. Li Xuewu could explain and comfort them, but there was nothing else he could do, since he was the one who proposed the plan.
Technological innovation and management upgrades mean that employees must also progress along with the company, or they will be eliminated.
Currently, there is no talk of layoffs at Honggang Group, and there is no talk of layoffs nationwide, unless there is a policy-driven layoff like the one in 60, otherwise it is unlikely.
Unable to lay off employees or go bankrupt, Li Xuewu could only come up with this solution: upgrading and divesting personnel while fully protecting their jobs.
The workers who remain after the various performance evaluations organized by the personnel department are naturally those who meet the production needs. Starting this year, the United Vocational and Technical College will also provide outstanding graduates.
Even after graduates enter the workforce, they are not guaranteed a job; they simply have the opportunity to compete for employment.
Industrial upgrading, technological upgrading, and worker upgrading are all necessary. Corporate management has always been ruthless, and even if it doesn't lack warmth, it's still a matter of responsibility.
Li Xuewu would not allow the group's employees to become homeless, but he wanted to ensure the company's advanced nature and competitiveness, since Honggang Group would face future challenges.
Although the person on the other end of the phone wasn't very satisfied with his report, they still accepted his explanation. At least he was willing to listen to their opinions and patiently provided answers.
After hanging up the phone, Zhang Jing breathed a sigh of relief for him.
"Boss, please arrange these kinds of calls for us in the future," he said with concern. "Your time is valuable; we can't waste it all on these."
"You want me to get scolded too?"
Li Xuewu glanced at him with a wry smile, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Didn't you hear him cursing Director Li on the phone, saying his ears were stuffed with donkey hair?"
"If you have to deal with them all the time, you might as well quit this job," Zhang Jing said helplessly. "If you ask me, you should voice your opinions through proper channels."
He tilted his head and said, "The union holds regular seminars, and the office does receive visitors, so why shout from thousands of miles away?"
“If the discussion had been effective, they wouldn’t have needed to call me.” Li Xuewu shook his head and explained, “How many opinions have been relayed up from the office where they were responsible for receiving guests?”
"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore."
He put down his teacup, gestured to Zhang Jing, and asked, "Has Shen Fei replied yet?"
"The large aircraft project is still pending, but there's been progress on the R&D center," Zhang Jing reported, handing over the documents in his hand. "It's a collaborative project coordinated by the group and led by the research institute."
“One is the engine R&D center, in Fengcheng.” He pointed to the location of the document and introduced, “The other is the diesel engine R&D center, in Gangcheng.”
"They're not in the capital?" Li Xuewu asked, looking at the documents in his hand.
"This was discussed between the research institute and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. We're not entirely clear on how the location was chosen," Zhang Jing explained. "Bincheng Shipbuilding also participated in the diesel engine R&D center."
“Yes, I know that,” Li Xuewu said casually. “Bincheng Shipbuilding has a say in the field of marine engine manufacturing.”
"The group's message is that we should cooperate as much as possible," Zhang Jing explained. "Should I wait for news from the research institute, or should I communicate with the group directly?"
"Don't wait for the research institute; they're not very good at handling things." Li Xuewu shook his head slightly, put down the documents in his hand, and emphasized, "Report this to President Xia and see what his opinion is."
"Okay, I'll get on it right away." Zhang Jing took the documents and reported as he stood up, "The Tadong Airport receiving project team sent word that they need support, so I've arranged for Wang Min to lead the team."
"Okay, sure, they're short-handed."
Li Xuewu continued reading other documents, saying, "Keep an eye on things. Although the group has sent quite a few people, they are not familiar with the local environment."
"Understood. Comrade Wang Min's hometown is Fengcheng, so he knows that area well." Zhang Jing explained why Wang Min was chosen to lead the team, not wanting to leave Li Xuewu with any other impression.
Li Xuewu didn't pay attention to this, but as he got up to leave, he said, "Observe them more, and if there are any good talents, you can transfer them to the office."
Zhang Jing glanced at him in surprise, but seeing that he was still looking at the documents, she didn't dare to ask any more questions and left the office.
Since he took over the Liaodong Industrial Management Group Office, it has always been just the same few people. Last year they were extremely busy and have been trying to increase the number of staff.
But the leader neither said yes nor no, and just kept dragging it out until just now when he finally got accurate information: the people are still up to them to choose.
He wasn't surprised that the leadership had approved the increase in manpower, but rather the timing. If he wasn't mistaken, what would happen next...?
-
When the car arrived at Guanshan Road, it was already completely dark. That's how it is in Northeast China; it gets dark earlier than in the interior, at least half an hour earlier.
Almost every house on this street has its lights on. Even those families that experienced misfortune in the past have either moved away or suffered separation, loss of family, or death.
The houses on the street naturally fall under the management of the relevant departments and are then allocated to the appropriate personnel.
Zhou Yamei's house has been taken over by the metallurgical plant, so the property rights are not with the street office. It's not that no one has come to investigate, but they have all been turned away by the authorities.
Judging from Bang Geng's swagger, most people really can't figure out who he is. It's not that they're afraid of him as a person, but rather the connections behind him.
A chubby, fair-skinned boy who speaks in a mature and arrogant manner, and whose clothes are also quite unusual—who would dare to mess with him?
Unless you encounter a tigress.
"Uncle Wu, you're finally back."
As soon as Li Xuewu entered the courtyard, Banggeng, unusually, came out to greet him, jogging over to remind him, "Aunt Yu Li is here."
"So what if you're coming? What's the rush?"
Li Xuewu looked him over with amusement and asked, "What's wrong? Did she bully you?"
“No—” Banggeng said awkwardly, “I thought she was only staying for a few days.”
"You don't welcome her to stay at our house?" Li Xuewu put his arm around his shoulder. This kid is 15, and he's growing really fast.
He had a good foundation; he grew up without a father and his family wasn't wealthy, but his grandmother and mother never skimped on his food.
Just look at all that flesh; it's big enough to grow tall.
He escaped the fate of being sent to the countryside and didn't have to suffer that hardship, which naturally didn't hinder his growth.
Growing taller isn't enough; you also need to be shrewd.
Last year, I sent him to Yingcheng for training, and he made a lot of progress. He has put his skills to good use. It seems that I still need to find him something to do this year, otherwise he will become useless.
"You're back. Dinner will be ready soon."
Yu Li's voice came from the kitchen. Li Xuewu could smell the aroma of the food as soon as he stood in the entryway. This house really couldn't function without a woman.
When Zhou Yamei used to live here, he could have a hot meal as soon as he came home. But now that he lives with Bang Geng, he mostly eats takeout, and occasionally he eats his own canned food and stir-fried canned food. He's long been tired of it.
"When did you arrive? Yesterday or today?"
Li Xuewu took off his coat and hung it on the hanger, handed his handbag to Banggeng, changed into slippers, went into the living room, and glanced into the kitchen.
"I arrived early the day before yesterday."
Yu Li turned to look at him and said with a smile, "The bathwater is ready. Go take a bath first, and then we can eat."
"I haven't felt this way in so long."
Li Xuewu shook his head with a sigh, then looked at the shifty-eyed Banggeng and said, "Go help out. You can't just eat for free."
Bang Geng was furious. He had been hoping that Uncle Wu would have a good talk with Aunt Yu after entering the house so that he could get rid of her as soon as possible. But what kind of things was he saying now?!
They just abandoned him for a bite to eat?
Didn't he cook?
Wouldn't it be better for two men to live together, each doing their own thing upstairs and downstairs?
Now that Aunt Yu Li is here, he won't have the chance to bring his girlfriend home as a guest, and it seems Uncle Wu won't have much of a chance to bring a girl home either.
What was Uncle Wu saying again?
To give up the whole forest for the sake of one tree—Uncle Wu is foolish!
***
Yu Li's care was meticulous; the bathroom not only had hot water but also pajamas prepared for her.
"Uncle Wu, are you done washing up?"
About half an hour later, Banggeng called out from outside the door, "Dinner's ready."
"Okay, I got it." Li Xuewu replied lazily, and came out of the bathroom a moment later. Wearing clean pajamas, he looked at the tidy house and nodded in satisfaction.
“There were baby roosters for sale at the market, and I bought one because it looked alright.”
Yu Li served him and Bang Geng a bowl of chicken soup each, and gestured to the chicken stew with mushrooms in the large bowl, saying, "I heard it was brought from the countryside, you should try it."
"It smells delicious." Li Xuewu first took a sip of chicken soup, his mouth full of fragrance. He then picked up his chopsticks and tasted the mushrooms, which were also full of fragrance.
Why add mushrooms when stewing chicken?
The reason is simple: mushrooms can enhance the flavor, especially when there's a lot of broth.
Banggeng couldn't wait any longer. Seeing him pick up his chopsticks, he quickly grabbed a chicken leg and started gnawing on it. There was a reason why he was fat.
Seeing him wolfing down his food, Yu Li just smiled and handed another chicken leg to Li Xuewu.
"Eat more if you like it, and I'll buy you more when we meet again."
Bang Geng, who was gnawing on a chicken leg, was slightly taken aback when he heard this. He looked at the chicken in his hand, then at Aunt Yu Li, and seemed to be struggling with some kind of intense internal conflict.
To be honest, Yu Li is absolutely amazing at cooking chicken. From the first time I tasted her chicken, I was determined to be her friend.
"I can't eat this much, so I'll share half with you." Li Xuewu broke off half of the chicken thigh and gave the rest to Yu Li.
Looking at the chicken in her bowl, Yu Li felt a sweet warmth in her heart. She looked up and gestured to Bang Geng, then said with a smile, "His mother wants him to come home for the New Year, saying he hasn't been home for two years."
"I ignored him, let him do whatever he wants."
Li Xuewu took a bite of rice, picked up a piece of pickled vegetable with his chopsticks, and said, "I wasn't home during the Spring Festival either; I ate at the government canteen."
"I made these dumplings myself." Banggeng shook his chin and said to himself, "It's not so bad to spend the New Year alone."
Yu Li glanced at him, then at Li Xuewu, and shook her head helplessly.
Remembering Qin Huairu's instructions, what could she do? The boy was already so big, and they weren't related by blood. Given Jia Zhangshi's temper, who would dare to mess with their family?
She had already figured out what Li Xuewu was thinking. The recycling center couldn't be maintained by the same people forever; sooner or later, new people would be needed.
Using outsiders is naturally not as good as cultivating your own talent. The Thirteen Protectors are a case in point. Otherwise, if such a risky business goes wrong, it will definitely implicate more than just one or two people.
"Where did you spend the New Year?" Li Xuewu ignored the arrogant, silly boy and asked Yu Li, "At the club?"
“No, it’s in the compound.” Yu Li smiled faintly and said, “Sha Zhu is trying to make the New Year’s Eve dinner more lively, and he persuaded Uncle Li and Aunt Liu to celebrate the New Year together as well.”
"An elderly man and woman came back and stayed for two nights, and they had their New Year's Eve dinner in the back room."
She described the scene on New Year's Eve, as if it were just yesterday, yet it had already been half a month.
“Since you weren’t home, Shazhu said something was missing.”
"There's no way around it, I can't live without it this year."
Li Xuewu sighed and said, "There have been many things going on this year. There was a safety accident at the steel and automobile factory, and everyone is in a state of panic."
"Yes, I've heard about it. Is it serious?"
Yu Li asked with concern, "Sha Zhu mentioned this while he was keeping vigil on New Year's Eve, saying that you might be punished."
“It won’t reach my level.” Li Xuewu put down his chopsticks, took another sip of chicken soup, and then explained, “It ends at the factory level. It’s just that the management of safety production work is upgraded before and after the New Year.”
“Honggang Group has done a good job in safety.” Yu Li comforted him, “Sun Lianhong’s second son-in-law in the neighborhood was run over by a machine and couldn’t be saved even after being rushed to the hospital.”
“In the past two years, there have been quite a few accidents involving employees from several factories in Dongcheng who live in our area, but we have rarely heard of any safety accidents happening at Honggang Group.”
"We're always on the defensive," Li Xuewu said slowly, nodding. "But it's a problem we can never completely prevent."
There are no absolute values in workplace safety. Even if there is no certainty, there are still chances. Later generations have such comprehensive safety management systems, yet they still cannot prevent accidents from happening.
"After you came to Steel City, Zhao Laosi also mentioned this matter, saying that you've been very busy lately." Yu Li looked at him with concern and said, "You still need to take care of your health."
"Hehe—" Hearing her concern for his health as always, Li Xuewu felt warm and gratified.
"Have you seen them?" he asked Yu Li. "Did you go to the youth club?"
“I went there, and I even met Biaozi’s wife.”
Yu Li smiled, holding her rice bowl, and said, "Their little girl is so pretty, all chubby."
"Two and a half years old, six months younger than Li Ning."
Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said, "I haven't seen Hu Niu for quite a while. Her mother works in a factory, and her maternal grandparents take care of her."
"Yes, I saw Mr. Mai." Yu Li nodded and said, "He seemed to be in good condition and was having a lot of fun playing with the children."
“That’s how it is when people get old.” Li Xuewu knew what Yu Li meant by bringing up children, but he didn’t shy away from it and even chatted about it for a bit longer.
Judging from her intense gaze, it seems I'll have wasted my time drinking chicken soup tonight.