MMB Chapter 1552 The wings are hardened
Chapter 1552 The wings are hardened
Chapter 1552 The wings are hardened
"Boss, Happy New Year!"
Ding Wanqiu still looks so old-fashioned, or you could say he's a veteran, the key word being "old".
Of course, he's not young, but he looks to be in good health, the kind of person who walks with a brisk pace.
"You too, Happy New Year." Li Xuewu shook hands with him, looked him up and down, smiled and nodded, asking, "Was your journey smooth?"
"Smooth sailing. I slept, ate, ate, and slept all the way to the capital." Ding Wanqiu sat down on the sofa at his gesture and said with a smile, "It was great."
After taking off his leather overcoat, he was wearing a cotton-padded jacket with a longevity character pattern underneath, and it was clear that he was in good spirits.
The fact that he pays attention to his image shows that he is living a fulfilling life.
Both Zhao Laowu and Zhao Laoliu, who succeeded Zhao Laowu in working on the frontier, reported this in detail in their letters.
Perhaps sensing the deeper meaning in his employer's gaze, Ding Wanqiu smiled rather sheepishly and said, "You're doing very well, employer?"
"Hehe, not bad." Li Xuewu picked up his teacup and said with a smile while Yu Li was serving him tea, "I heard you're doing quite well."
"Hey, I'm that age now."
Ding Wanqiu thanked Yu Li as he spoke, took the teacup and replied, "Don't listen to the nonsense from Lao Wu and Lao Liu, those two lads really don't know anything."
"Hehehe—" Li Xuewu laughed unkindly. Besides him, Yu Li also knew what the fifth and sixth brothers had reported.
Ding Wanqiu couldn't let his guard down in front of Yu Li, after all, a man always has to save face.
Yu Li, always one to bring up topics she didn't want to broach, sat down on the sofa next to Li Xuewu and asked with a smile, "Why did you come back alone? Where's your boyfriend?"
"Stop joking around—"
Ding Wanqiu knew this hurdle would be difficult to overcome, and that these two would not let him off easily, but what could he do when he couldn't avoid it?
"What girlfriend? I just felt sorry for her and wanted to help her. I didn't expect her to take it seriously."
"Isn't it good?" Li Xuewu smiled at him and said, "It's rare to have someone who loves and cares for you at your age."
"Forget it, I'm just too lucky in this life." Ding Wanqiu blew on the tea leaves in his teacup, took a sip of hot tea, and said, "I won't cause her any more trouble."
"I heard she brought a child with her?"
Yu Li previously served as the director of the recycling station management office, so she naturally knew all about these matters.
She tentatively asked, "People say companionship is essential in old age, what are your thoughts on that?"
"We didn't mean anything by it."
As if afraid that Ding Wanqiu might be embarrassed and unable to speak the truth, Yu Li emphasized, "This is a good thing. We would really like you to have someone to keep you company."
"Thank you both for your kindness."
Ding Wanqiu clasped his hands together in surrender and shook his head, saying, "It's really not suitable. It's not because she has a child, but because I don't want to hold her back."
“This is all I have to do in my life. I’m grateful to my employer for not taking me for granted. I’ve been running around and wandering to make a living.” He looked at Li Xuewu and said, “If one day my employer grants my wish and I can finally fulfill it, I will die without regrets.”
"I respect your choice."
Li Xuewu's answer was very frank. He looked at Ding Wanqiu and nodded, saying, "I have carefully considered the arrangements for you this time."
“I know it’s my employer who’s taking care of me.”
Ding Wanqiu nodded in agreement, saying, "You are being considerate of my advanced age and my reluctance to leave my homeland. The harsh and cold frontier is truly unbearable."
"That's not right, is it?" Yu Li asked, amused. "You look fatter to me."
“Hey—” Ding Wanqiu pulled back the fat on his belly and emphasized, “This is just the result of hardship and swelling.”
"You also have artistic talent?"
Yu Li couldn't help but laugh, and stood up, saying, "Alright, I'll go prepare dinner to reward you for your hard work and your bloated figure."
"Just some pickled vegetables or side dishes will do. I really don't like eating meat anymore," Ding Wanqiu reminded Yu Li as she walked away. He then turned to Li Xuewu and explained, "I've made up for all the meat I missed out on in the past few years. I don't want to eat it anymore."
He shook his head in frustration and said, "I smell like lamb on myself now, like I've fallen into a sheep pen."
"Is this a happy kind of trouble?"
Li Xuewu picked up his hot tea, took a sip, and looked at him, saying, "It's not easy for us to eat beef or mutton in the mainland."
"You should forget about it," Ding Wanqiu said with a knowing smile. "To be honest, I really am a little homesick."
"I couldn't sleep a wink all night when I heard you were going to transfer me back."
He waved his hand gloatingly and said, "Of course, those brats were just as envious as I was, and they couldn't sleep all night."
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled and asked, "They want to come back too?"
"That's bullshit." Ding Wanqiu was quite adaptable to the local environment; when he arrived in Northeast China, he would speak a few words of Northeastern dialect.
"When they heard I was coming back, they all got excited, one by one." He tilted his head and said, "But when I actually asked them to come back and stay for a few days, none of them wanted to."
"Oh?" Li Xuewu turned to look at him with a puzzled expression and asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"You've been there, don't you know?"
Seeing that Yu Li had gone to the kitchen, Ding Wanqiu muttered to himself, "Besides Xiao Jianjun who brought his girlfriend, the other guys have a few good ones."
"With branch offices and representative offices in the border regions to support us, and distribution resources at our disposal, we can't even spend all of our monthly salary. Isn't that wonderful?"
He winked and explained, "The rules and regulations are a bit looser in the border areas, especially in the last two years, a lot of educated youth have come here, and they're having a great time."
“They envy me for coming back. If they were to come back and be restricted, even a month would be too long. They would have to come back every half month. What a load of rubbish.”
“It seems you all live a very good life—” Li Xuewu said, looking at him with some envy. “I should have gone to the frontier more often.”
“You really should go.” Ding Wanqiu raised his eyebrows and said, “Those old customers are still thinking about you. They said that when you left, you promised to go back in the summer, but you haven’t been back for three years.”
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu still found it amusing to recall the absurd things he had experienced with Li Huaide when they went to the frontier.
He made a fortune that time. The snow disaster killed cattle and sheep, and the beef and mutton were transported to the capital by train. That winter, the air in the capital was filled with the smell of mutton.
The workers at Hongxing Factory experienced for the first time what real welfare meant!
The refrigerated train also started operating from that time. In order to ensure supply, the Hongxing Factory later modified another train, forming a double-train cycle.
Even though the border regions haven't experienced any major snow disasters in recent years, transporting beef and mutton to Beijing has become the top priority for the special trains from Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill every autumn.
To be honest, if they hadn't gone to the frontier with Lao Li back then, they wouldn't have been able to find a reason to propose the plan to develop tertiary industries to Yang Fengshan at the office meeting at that time.
It was precisely because of the large quantities of wool, leather, and beef and mutton that the Red Star Factory earned its first pot of gold and tasted the sweetness of the tertiary industry.
Having eaten beef and mutton, and put on sweaters and leather jackets, canceling this industrial development plan would be harder than climbing to heaven.
It was with the support of the employees that Li Huaide was able to rise to power.
It can be said that without the trip to the frontier, Li Huaide would not be where he is today. Therefore, in recent years, Li Huaide has been very concerned about the work of the frontier office, especially trade.
The year after Honggang Group was established, the Group's Sales Headquarters was established, and branches were subsequently set up in several important cities, one of which was the Wucheng Branch.
After several years of hard work, the Wucheng branch has grown to a considerable size. With the expansion of its scale and the development of its distribution network, a frontier branch will be established sooner or later.
Thanks to the influence of the Wucheng branch, the recycling station's distribution network in Wucheng was fully established. It not only had its own office, but also a fixed business and advanced transportation such as cars.
Just as Ding Wanqiu said, those lads were having a great time on the frontier. They missed home, but they might not really want to come back.
Ding Wanqiu came to Gangcheng to meet him in order to report on his work. He gave Li Xuewu a detailed account of his work and achievements in the border region over the past few years.
Li Xuewu trusted him and listened attentively. After all, he was the first person in charge of the frontier office, and he was the one who laid the foundation.
Arranging for his second child to take over his post in the border region was out of respect for and nurture of the second child, as well as respect for the border recycling station.
The recycling station has made a lot of money over the years. Besides the fact that the distribution work is indeed profitable, there are also these young people working hard in front of it.
Everyone says they have more money than they can spend, and they work so hard at such a young age. He has to let them spend money like water and enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from their hard work.
It's just that the border regions are too remote. There are good things there, but they're not as expensive as in the capital. Ding Wanqiu enjoyed the exotic atmosphere for several years and still dressed very well, which shows that the cost of living wasn't that high.
"You can wash your hands and get ready to eat."
Seeing that they had finished talking, Yu Li reminded them from the kitchen.
Li Xuewu got up and took Ding Wanqiu to the bathroom to wash their hands before coming to the restaurant.
“Now that we live closer, I’ll have to come here more often.” He was quite eloquent, teasing Yu Li, “Not for anything else, but just for Director Yu’s cooking skills, I’ll come more often.”
"That's great! You'll come visit often."
Yu Li smiled and said, "We may not have much else, but we can afford to treat you to a simple home-cooked meal."
“I said I was going to Jicheng. When I passed through Tianjin, I really wanted to stop and see Xilin.” Ding Wanqiu said with emotion, “It’s been several years since I last saw her. We even went to Jicheng together back then.”
“You’re all back now, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.” Yu Li put some food on his plate and offered him a drink, saying, “Even if you go, it won’t be convenient, Ge Lin isn’t home.”
"Still in Gangcheng?" Ding Wanqiu looked at Li Xuewu in surprise, and as if afraid that he would misunderstand, he explained, "I heard it from Xiao Jianjun."
Xiao Jianjun has been going back home a lot in the past two years. One reason is to visit relatives, and the other is to date Su Yu. They have already met each other's parents, otherwise they wouldn't be living together so shamelessly.
"I'll be back soon." Li Xuewu said casually while eating rice, not intending to elaborate on the topic.
Of course, Ding Wanqiu could also see this, so he tacitly refrained from asking any further questions.
Li Xuewu understood his intentions; he simply wanted to find out about the situation in Hong Kong.
Wen San could go, Li Wenbiao could go, even Ge Lin went, so he wanted to go too.
That's right. Ding Wanqiu clearly had a chance to settle down. Zhao Laoliu said that the woman was devoted to him, but he still couldn't forget his enemy in Hong Kong.
To put it simply, he didn't miss his family in the port city as much.
In Li Xuewu's mind, Ding Wanqiu was definitely a ruthless man. He was able to send his wife, children and elderly parents to Hong Kong for more than ten years, just to wait for a result.
He just wanted to see if he could keep his businesses.
Given the urgent situation at the time, and knowing he couldn't stay, he decisively sold the gold bars to Li Xuewu in exchange for only five thousand yuan.
You have to understand, his father put in a lot of effort to acquire this mansion back then, and it definitely couldn't be compensated by a dozen gold bars.
But his resolute decision to flee when the situation was just collapsing demonstrates his strong will.
However, he encountered the wrong people. He had been cunning all his life, but he was tricked by a group of opera singers. He desperately ran back and sought refuge with Li Xuewu to make a living.
Saying it's just to make a living is nothing more than having an identity so that you can get Li Xuewu's protection and avoid being purged.
He wanted to reunite with his family in the port city, but he wanted to kill those opera singers even more; their betrayal and deception were a disgrace to him.
That's right, he didn't care about the dozen or so gold bars, but he was resentful about the humiliation.
Li Xuewu knew exactly what he wanted to do, and he didn't necessarily want to exploit his value before letting him leave; rather, he had other concerns.
Such a person is like a caged tiger, with a gaping maw ready to devour people. If he were released, it would inevitably cause a huge uproar, and what would happen next would be beyond his control.
Don't think that Hong Kong is separated from the mainland by mountains and seas. In fact, the mainland knows about the major events that happen in Hong Kong every day, and can even know them by heart.
If a major case occurs, what is the first thing to pay attention to?
Of course, it's about identifying both parties involved. Old hands like Ding Wanqiu can investigate any case, and everyone associated with the recycling station will be investigated.
Especially regarding the club's real estate, Li Xuewu couldn't guarantee that no one could find any dirt on it, so precautions were necessary.
Ding Wanqiu was aware of this situation, so he tried his best to suppress his inner impulses and chose to remain patient.
Since Li Xuewu had promised him, he wouldn't go back on his word; otherwise, the consequences would be even more complicated.
a man of his words.
***
"If you don't come soon, I'm going back."
After dinner, the two chatted for a while, and Li Xuewu took the initiative to see him out.
Yu Li arranged for him to stay at the Youth Club, and Lao Jiu drove to pick him up, parking his car right at the entrance.
Ding Wanqiu had been holding back all night and couldn't smoke indoors, so he lit one for himself outside.
Are you currently shuttling between Beijing and the steel city?
He looked at Li Xuewu and asked, "The passenger ships are no longer running, so taking the train must be quite tiring."
“It’s not all by train; sometimes we take airplanes too,” Li Xuewu explained with a faint smile. “It’s a perk for the group’s management.”
He only gave a brief explanation, ignoring Ding Wanqiu's envious gaze, and stopped at the courtyard gate.
Ding Wanqiu knew he had something to say, so he stopped in his tracks.
“I’m concerned about your matter. Biaozi is investigating it in Gangcheng.” Li Xuewu looked into his eyes and said, “I have some concerns about sending you to Jicheng, which I have to tell you.”
Seeing that he spoke so frankly, Ding Wanqiu couldn't help but straighten his back; his master did have a method to his work.
“First and foremost are local relations, especially in forestry,” Li Xuewu emphasized, his eyes narrowing. “Most of the recycling station’s distribution business is in forestry, which is both a good thing and a bad thing.”
"What?" Ding Wanqiu asked, looking at him in surprise, "It's Xilin..."
“Xilin did nothing wrong. After all, everything is difficult at the beginning,” Li Xuewu said calmly. “But now that the framework has been set up, we can’t rely too much on forestry resources.”
"Go to Jicheng and think things through carefully. You need to support at least two more industries, otherwise you will be at the mercy of others sooner or later."
He reached out and tapped Ding Wanqiu's chest, saying, "It's not clear yet, but the things I heard a few days ago sounded a bit strange."
"Don't think you can rest easy just because I have relatives in the forestry industry."
Li Xuewu said sharply, "Two years is enough time for you to get these sorted out, isn't it?"
Ding Wanqiu had been to Jicheng before and had some understanding of the local situation, but he was not very clear about the situation in the last two years. However, he was still confident.
"Secondly, it's about the scope of business and its impact."
Seeing that he nodded, Li Xuewu continued, "We have already established a foothold in Jicheng, so let's move on to other cities and set up branch stations."
"Is the current situation..." Ding Wanqiu asked hesitantly, "appropriate?"
“With the situation so complicated, fewer people are paying attention to what you’re trying to do.” Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, “Ask Zhao Laosi tomorrow; he has experience in this area.”
Ding Wanqiu raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. He was overly sensitive to the Zhao brothers, especially Zhao Laowu, who had made him overly sensitive.
Just imagine, he even had to write a letter to report how many times he went in one night and how much money he spent. He was practically standing naked in front of Li Xuewu, with absolutely no privacy.
The problem is that this kid doesn't understand anything. You try to reason with him, he just grumbles and then goes back to doing the same thing. You really can't hit him, and you can't scold him.
Several times he considered killing the other man and burying him in the sand dunes, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Now, after hearing Li Xuewu introduce Zhao Laosi to him and ask him for advice, he expressed deep skepticism.
"One last thing, keep a close watch on the mountain."
Li Xuewu tapped his chest lightly with his finger again, emphasizing, "These people have lived a life of danger for generations, barely managing to make ends meet, and their appetites are still huge."
"Don't worry, I have a way to deal with them."
Ding Wanqiu didn't care about that and agreed very seriously.
Li Xuewu believed he had the ability, so he opened the courtyard gate, walked to the roadside, and said, "We still need manpower in Gangcheng, and we also need tough guys in Yingcheng. Don't be too ruthless."
"I understand, we have to be careful even if we have to use it."
Ding Wanqiu nodded and smiled when Lao Jiu opened the car door for him, then assured Li Xuewu, "They won't starve, but we won't let them eat too much either."
He chuckled and said, "People who are too full are more likely to make mistakes."
Old Jiu couldn't help but shiver when he saw the man's sinister smile in the darkness; this old man didn't seem like a good person.
-
On February 18, Li Xuewu set off back to Beijing and arrived at the western suburbs airport in less than four hours. Flying is much faster than taking the train.
Unless it was urgent official business, he was not qualified to commute by plane. He was attending group office meetings and several other departmental meetings.
It's clear that Li Xuewu is more serious and responsible about the group's work than last year. He used to avoid these kinds of meetings if possible, but now he attends them whenever necessary.
More public appearances and comments at meetings are essential for stabilizing and enhancing his influence, and he wants to return to Beijing where he can relax these duties.
Starting this year, he will definitely commute by plane more and more often, and official expenses will become a major expenditure.
"Goodbye, Secretary-General—"
Zhou Xiaoling always managed to get his flight assignments, and she was responsible for all the service work on the plane by herself.
Her sweet smile was only for him.
"Secretary-General, Director Li is waiting for you."
Liu Bin met Li Xuewu at the bottom of the suspended ladder, raised his hand to indicate the large red flag not far away, and said, "Let's set off now."
"Thanks for your hard work."
Li Xuewu patted him on the shoulder, and Zhang Enyuan followed behind, carrying their luggage, and got into the car together.
Actually, he didn't want to ride in Lao Li's car. Every time he rode in it, he felt like he was being stared at, but Lao Li just wanted to boost his prestige.
Do you think Old Li meant well?
If Old Li truly meant well, Li Xuewu wouldn't have the heart to punish him.
When Tong Jingyunong met him in Fengcheng, he said that this time Lao Li was definitely going to make a big fuss, and no one could stay out of it.
In Li Xuewu's view, if any changes are to be made, they should be small and targeted, rather than stirring up the whole pond.
But Old Li's heart had become wild, and no one dared to provoke him at this time; they could only avoid him altogether.
Regarding the incident a few days ago, if he hadn't suddenly gone out to conduct research, the group might have required him to make a clear statement.
What stance is he supposed to take? He's just a secretary-general, not even a vice president, yet he dares to make a statement in this game?
He always maintained a clear mind. Although he was one of the 11 members of the management committee, he was just someone who did the work and had little decision-making power.
If he does too much, too much, Old Li will be the first to not tolerate him; that's the rule of the game.
The current situation is that after the group completes its formalization process, Lao Li is going to take action to rectify the working order of the group's management committee.
To put it bluntly, he wants to take back everything that was originally distributed among everyone. How can someone be called a group general manager if they don't have any power?
It seems that Su Weide and Gu Weijie are both in danger, as is Jing Yunong, who has always cooperated with him. Anyone involved in organizational and personnel work, as well as key business operations, will face pressure from Lao Li.
Did Li Xuewu experience this kind of pressure?
Of course, there is. When Lao Li wants to consolidate power, it will be all-encompassing; showing no favoritism to his relatives is the only way to go.
Rather than saying that Li Xuewu and Jing Yunong dug a huge pit together, it would be more accurate to say that they had no other choice.
He knew perfectly well that Su Weide had ill intentions and was keeping a close eye on Dong Wenxue. Once Dong Wenxue was gone, Li Xuewu would be next.
Even at times like these, he would join forces with Jing Yunong to promote Su Weide to power, with the aim of weakening Li's ambition and curbing his arrogance.
The real stability lies in the overall stability. As for Su Weide's schemes against Dong Wenxue and himself, they will be affected when Lao Li takes action.
Li Xuewu didn't want to be branded a scheming villain; everything was Li Huaide's fault for being arrogant and Su Weide's own doing.
He was just the secretary-general of the group's management committee, a minor figure, a supporting character.
Who wouldn't want to be the protagonist? But being the protagonist is too dangerous, so let's start with a supporting role.
Even if the sky falls, the main character will hold it up!
So whether Liu Bin's arrival with the big red flag was a test or a way of flattering him, Li Xuewu only emphasized a few times that it wasn't necessary to do that, and if it continued, he wouldn't care anymore.
The attitude has already been made clear; whatever Li Huaide does is his own business. We can't keep emphasizing it every time.
Perhaps this is the attitude that Lao Li wants to see.
"The organizational structure of the hospitality company has been set up, and we are just waiting to discuss its implementation at the meeting."
Liu Bin sat down next to him and opened his notebook to give a work report.
He was certainly entitled to hear Liu Bin's report; it was a necessary procedure before the meeting began, especially since he was Liu Bin's supervisor.
"The vocational and technical college has basically completed the reconstruction of 721 College, and the name change was completed before the end of the year. It is now called 721 Continuing Education College."
“It’s still necessary.” Li Xuewu sighed and said, “Many of our group’s cadres don’t have enough basic qualities and need to strengthen their learning.”
"Position does not determine ability. We need to establish a long-term management mechanism that allows for both promotion and demotion to maintain the vitality of the group's management work."
He also emphasized his own opinions regarding Liu Bin's report, which were to be recorded and reported to other leaders.
The car sped along from the airport until it turned onto the Liangmahe Bridge, where it slowed down slightly. Pedestrians on bicycles frequently passed by on the non-motorized vehicle lane, making the scene quite lively.
"It's definitely warmer inside the pass."
Seeing that they had finished talking, Zhang Enyuan smiled and remarked, "It's still snowing back home, but the trees here are already budding."
“Come back in half a month, and the plum blossoms will be in full bloom,” Liu Bin said with a smile. “They’ll be climbing all over the branches in big clusters, crowding together and looking quite beautiful.”
“The plum blossoms and pear blossoms in the capital are famous.” Li Xuewu nodded in agreement, “Especially the fruit trees planted along the riverbanks, which are a battleground for beauty in spring.”
"The Spring Festival has just passed, and it's already quite warm," Zhang Enyuan said with a hint of envy. "It will probably take another two months for the steel city to get this warm."
"It wasn't cold in Beijing this year, and the greenery in the industrial zone has survived," Liu Bin said with a smile. "Perhaps it's because the heating pipes are buried underground, but anyway, the trees in our industrial zone sprouted earlier than those outside."
"The original design was better." Li Xuewu nodded as he looked out the car window and said, "This way, we can see the flowers blooming earlier."
After crossing the bridge, the car didn't go too far, because the group's office building was not far away. In summer, the garden view would cover the podium building, but now it was still bright and airy.
Local newspapers in Beijing have criticized Honggang Group's "money-spraying" behavior in the construction of the Liangmahe Ecological Industrial Zone. The general view is that the limited funds should be used for industrial production and construction, rather than these fancy projects.
Old Li has never directly answered these kinds of opinions, but he has complained a lot in private: What's it to you!
***
"I know you're busy, but I still called you back." Li Huaide stood up and said after seeing him enter the room, "The group needs you now."
When will we no longer need it?
Another question is, does the company need me, or do you, Lao Li, need me?
"Even when you're busy, you have to prioritize." Li Xuewu shook hands with him and said, "You called me back so urgently, there must be important work to arrange."
"Okay, come on, sit down and let's talk." Li Huaide gestured for him to sit across from him at the desk, while he himself sat down behind the desk again.
"You should be aware of the policies from above recently, right?"
He glanced at Li Xuewu, took two documents from the pile of files on his desk and placed them beside him; these were the instructions Li Xuewu had received.
He certainly wouldn't oppose the group's work plan; he simply didn't participate in the decision-making and dissemination work, thus avoiding it through research.
Li Huaide's decision to bring him back is partly a test of his attitude, and partly a decision to summarize and assess the next steps in the implementation plan.
He believed that Li Xuewu's assessment of the situation was even better than his own.
There was no way around it; Li Xuewu never missed a chance.
Seeing Li Xuewu nod silently, Li Huaide breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The current situation is a bit tense, and the group needs you to steer it and protect it."
"It's my duty," Li Xuewu said, looking at him. "As long as the group needs me."
“Of course the group needs you.” Li Huaide crossed his arms on the desk in front of him and looked at him earnestly, emphasizing, “That’s why we called you back from thousands of miles away.”
After saying that, he pushed two documents over and said, "I have already issued the instructions to set up a special task force as required by my superiors. What do you think we should do next..."
Li Xuewu glanced at the document but didn't take it. He had already read the text in the document, so there was no need to read it again.
Even if he knew what to say about Lao Li, he wouldn't say it.
Old Li has gone astray; he's actually making him take the blame.
What does Li Huaide mean?
He had already made up his mind to bring Li Xuewu back, but he was unsure what other consequences might result from doing so.
But by presenting his opinion to Li Xuewu and forcing him to express his opinion, he was also observing Li Xuewu's attitude. He was prepared to take action if Li Xuewu uttered those words.
Li Xuewu remained silent, damnably silent.
"What?" he asked, looking at Li Xuewu's expression. "Do you have any objections?"
"No." Li Xuewu raised his head, looked into his eyes, and said, "I will resolutely obey the organization's decisions and arrangements."
"Oh, that's good, that's good."
Li Huaide's eyes betrayed his disappointment; he said "okay" but that didn't necessarily mean he was happy.
Li Xuewu did not stay in his office for long. He briefly discussed the progress of the merger of Tadong Airport, talked about the hospitality company and the continuing education college, and then left.
After all, Old Li called him back for these reasons, so he couldn't just pretend and not do it anymore.
His silence made Lao Li uneasy, and his lack of cooperation also made Lao Li feel somewhat ashamed and annoyed.
They've finally grown too big for their britches and can't hold on anymore.
Li Xuewu knew he was unhappy, but he couldn't expect him to be happy forever; he couldn't take the blame for that, as it would cause endless harm.
So far, he can guarantee that he will not be left out in the future "reset". He has worked hard for so long, how could he fall into Lao Li's trap?
Old Li might be courting death, but this guy doesn't.
Old Li is unhappy now. At most, he won't support him and will ignore him for a while. His current base is in Liaodong, so Old Li can't do anything to him.
So he left resolutely, but also helplessly.
When I passed by Jing Yunong's office, I found the door closed, because Deputy Director Jing was still in Fengcheng at that time, and perhaps he had already started to head to Gangcheng.
"Secretary-General, are we going to report for duty today?"
Zhang Enyuan and others were waiting in the office. Seeing that he looked unwell, he took the initiative to ask him a question.
Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "It's too late today, I won't go, I'll go tomorrow."
After saying that, he glanced at the time on his hand, looked up and told Zhang Enyuan, "Go to the office and get the agenda for tomorrow's meeting. I won't be here this afternoon."
"Secretary-General, let me see you off..."
Before Zhang Enyuan could finish speaking, Li Xuewu waved his hand and said softly, "I'm going home first. I didn't even come back for the New Year. I need to find some time to reunite with my family."
Zhang Enyuan understood his meaning, of course; it wasn't just about reunion, but also about giving up.
Li Xuewu didn't care what others thought. He only met Deputy Secretary-General Ji Jiuzheng in the elevator, chatted briefly, and then got out of the elevator as soon as it reached the first floor.
Ji Jiuzheng was also about to go out, but he only left the hall after watching Li Xuewu get into the car.
Li Xuewu's return this time was very sudden, catching everyone else off guard, including the deputy secretaries-general.
Before the group was formalized, everyone had something to look forward to, or at least something to be wary of. Now, they're like wild dogs that have broken free of their reins, running around recklessly.
Ji Jiuzheng's heart was also unsettled. Behind every wave of trouble, there was always someone stirring up trouble, hoping to gain a false reputation and advance further by relying on such waves.
It's not uncommon for cadres like him to lose themselves in the tide of progress. Seeing others rise to prominence and then reflecting on their own situation, it's normal to feel a little tempted.
But the tides come and go, and who can accurately predict the timing and seize every opportunity?
Li Xuewu?
Not necessarily. What's the big deal this time?
Although it was just the two of them talking in the general manager's office, after he came out, related speculations turned into rumors and gossip.
Li Xuewu's face was grim, and Li Huaide's face was also unpleasant. Surely they couldn't have been having a pleasant conversation.
Considering Li Huaide's purpose in recalling Li Xuewu, the outcome is not hard to guess.
There are always people in the group who are curious about these things. They may be genuinely curious, or they may have ulterior motives. They can analyze 180 possibilities from every move of the senior management.
Surely one of them is correct?
-
"Brother Li, you're back!"
Er Ya was a little surprised. She hadn't received his call asking her to come back, and when she heard the doorbell ring, she thought it was someone else, but she didn't expect it to be him.
"Yes, something came up at the company, so I came back early."
Li Xuewu walked into the yard carrying his bag and casually asked, "Are the children all home?"
"No, they went to their grandma's house."
Er Ya closed the gate and caught up with him, saying, "Third Brother came to pick me up in his car. He's been playing there for the past few days."
"Haven't you come back yet?" Li Xuewu turned around and glanced at her, then said with a smile, "Finally, you can relax a bit."
"Hehe, it's actually not bad—"
Er Ya said with a smile, "Li Shu and Li Ning are both sensible now."
"You really think so?" Li Xuewu looked at her suspiciously, shook his head with a smile, went into the hallway to change into slippers, and asked, "Did you write home?"
“Yes, I write every month, but my mom always tells me not to,” Er Ya said with a smile. “I didn’t listen to her. Actually, she cares about me too.”
Writing letters is expensive because the pen, paper, envelope, and stamps all cost money, unless you have the time and resources.
Li Xuewu believed that in Er Ya's village, apart from the village officials, no one else had these items.
Even if the village officials were willing to help her mother write and read letters, they couldn't avoid the consumption of letter paper, envelopes, and stamps, which all cost money.
Of course, these days some people make their own envelopes, and others reuse old stamps; he didn't think anyone in Er Ya's family had that skill.
Therefore, when Er Ya wrote letters home, it was mostly a one-sided way for her to let her family know she was safe, or to send money or tickets home. She rarely received any letters from home.
"It's almost Chinese New Year, how about I give you a holiday to go home and visit your family?" Li Xuewu suddenly remembered this before going upstairs, turned back to look at her and asked, "You must be homesick, right?"
"Um... Brother Li, I don't miss home."
When Er Ya heard him say that, her face suddenly turned pale, and she looked at him nervously and said, "I don't miss home at all."
"What's wrong with you?" Li Xuewu looked at her strangely, then understood, and pointed at her with amusement, saying, "I just told you to go home and visit, I didn't say I wouldn't use you anymore."
He stood on the stairs and looked at Er Ya, saying, "You don't need to worry that your sister Qin will take your job. If I say I need you, I will never let you go."
"Of course, if one day you find a partner, get married, and start your own little family, your sister Xiaoning and I will wish you all the best."
“Brother Li…” No one knew which words touched Er Ya’s heartstrings, but she wiped away her tears again.
Li Xuewu walked up the stairs helplessly and said, "Think it over carefully. If you really miss home, go back and visit. Stay for a few days and then come back. Let Jingru take your place for a few days."
Not getting a reply from Er Ya, he chuckled and went upstairs to the second floor. He took a shower, took a short nap, and then changed his clothes before coming downstairs.
“Brother Li…” Er Ya heard the voice coming from the stairs, came out of the kitchen and looked at him, saying, “I… I’m not going back, it’s too much trouble.”
"Besides, I don't have anything important to do when I get back." She lowered her head and twisted the hem of her clothes as she said, "Let's... let's talk about it later."
"Alright, whatever you say." Li Xuewu didn't insist. He understood all too well how far it was from the capital to the small mountain village in Jicheng.
It's not about how far the journey is, but rather that the cost of going home is an unnecessary expense for her and her family.
Li Xuewu paid her a decent salary, just like Qin Jingru had done, and she also received pocket money.
But she sent all of these back to her hometown. She was never seen spending money recklessly at home. Even her clothes were either gifts from Gu Ning or made by herself from cheap fabric.
It's quite rare for a young woman to be this frugal.
Li Xuewu was also thinking that he would help her find a good partner when she got a little older, so as not to let down her hard work over the years and her care for the children.
But to whom should this child be introduced?