MMB Chapter 1590 Break His Legs
Chapter 1590 Break His Legs
Chapter 1590 Break His Legs
"Guodong? You're here."
Er Ya, wearing an apron, opened the door and greeted Shen Guodong with a smile.
"Where's Brother Wu? I'm here to find him."
Shen Guodong, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, rang the doorbell twice. When the door opened, he held the cigarette between his fingers, raised his chin, and said, "He sent me."
“Brother Wu is upstairs.” Er Ya stepped aside and nodded, saying, “He said you were coming and told me to keep an eye out for any noise.”
"Have you had breakfast?" He flicked the ash from his cigarette and looked at Er Ya with a smile, saying, "Have you gained weight again? If you keep this up, you won't be able to walk."
"No way—" Er Ya also felt that she had gained a lot of weight, but it was all happy obesity.
In the village, there are almost no fat people, unless they have some kind of disease. That's not fat, it's edema.
As for her now, she's really fat, not only fat but also strong, with incredible arm strength.
So when she heard Shen Guodong's words, she wasn't ashamed of her obesity, but rather embarrassed, as if she had eaten a lot but hadn't done enough work.
"Okay, this will make finding a partner much easier."
Shen Guodong came quite often and saw her frequently. Once they got to know each other, he started joking around with her.
"I'll ask around for you later. Look at this chubby girl, who wouldn't want her?"
"Brother Guodong—" Er Ya was truly embarrassed at this moment, and ran into the hallway with a red face after scolding him.
"Guodong." Li Xuewu heard the voices in the courtyard and waved from the second-floor window.
"Brother Wu, I'm coming right now," Shen Guodong replied, quickening his pace.
Although I come here often, I only go inside a limited number of times. Each time, I just deliver the supplies and leave.
He could get whatever he needed by coming once or twice a month, and Er Ya could make up for the rest herself with her food ration book and money coupons.
With Li Xuewu not at home, and the house filled with women and children, it's inconvenient even if they're as close as brothers.
Besides, he doesn't like coming here. Gu Ning likes things clean and tidy, so she has to change into slippers before entering the house.
Even if Xiao Yan keeps him clean while he's constantly running around, his feet will still smell.
The neatly arranged floral slippers on Brother Wu's shoe rack looked awkward on him no matter how he wore them.
On the second floor, the doors and windows were open, and a cool breeze stirred a corner of the curtains, making it much cooler than downstairs.
"Brother Wu?" he asked, peeking out. He had just been greeting him from the window, but where had he gone?
"Here." Li Xuewu picked out a few short-sleeved white shirts and a set of long and short sportswear from the dressing room and casually tossed them onto the bed.
"I'm still looking," Shen Guodong chuckled. He glanced at the clothes scattered on the bed and said, "Xiao Yan told me you stayed at the compound the night before last."
"Yes, your sister-in-law took the children to Jinling." Li Xuewu went back to the dressing room to look around, and seeing that there were no other summer clothes, he came out.
He glanced at Shen Guodong's expression and asked with a smile, "Did you come to the compound to look for me last night?"
"Yes, we'll go back at seven o'clock."
Shen Guodong looked at the boxes on the ground and asked, "Are these for the steel city?"
"Yeah, we don't have enough clothes over there."
Li Xuewu waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need help, and explained as he walked towards the study, "Erya will come up and tidy these up in a bit, come on."
“This is…” Shen Guodong saw him walk behind the desk, take out several bundles of money from the safe, and throw them on the table.
"Four thousand should be about right."
Li Xuewu glanced at the money on the table, thought for a moment, then pulled out a stack of cash from the safe and handed it to Shen Guodong, saying, "Four thousand five."
"Brother, why are you giving me so much money?" Shen Guodong was stunned and asked him in confusion, "We still have a surplus in our accounts."
"Wang Yajuan will contact you in a few days."
Li Xuewu picked up the warm tea on the desk, took a sip, and bluntly instructed, "You help her buy an apartment. You'll be responsible for the decoration and furniture. Just ask her about the styles."
He put down his teacup, then took his sidearm and bullets from the drawer, checked them, and put them in the holster.
"Huh? Brother..." Shen Guodong didn't expect this to be the case. He hesitated and looked at him, not knowing how to ask further.
He was certainly familiar with Wang Yajuan; he had even called her "sister-in-law" before. Now, it seemed like a broken mirror had been mended, and she had taken over as his replacement.
Xiao Yan once mentioned to him that Wang Yamei's older sister had never found a boyfriend. Later, she met someone, and they even reached the stage of discussing marriage, but then it fell through.
What happened? He was transferred directly to Liaodong, and coincidentally, Brother Wu also went to Liaodong afterward.
Xiao Yan's original words were that she didn't believe there could be such a coincidence in the world. Wang Yajuan didn't want to get married, she must still be thinking about Brother Wu, and Brother Wu didn't reject her.
He hadn't paid much attention to this before. Wu had many women around him, but none of them had amounted to anything, and they were all bound by mutual interests.
He had studied this relationship before; those who could truly manage a section within the recycling system all had their own "weak points."
For example, Yu Li, Zhou Yamei, and Wu Shuping.
Rather than saying that Brother Wu was a womanizer, it would be more accurate to say that he accomplished the most complicated things in a time-saving and effortless way.
Seeing Wu Ge's arrangement now, it's obvious that Wang Yajuan has rekindled her old flame with Wu Ge and is back in the game.
"She can buy whatever size she wants."
Li Xuewu looked up at Shen Guodong and said, "Whether it's 60 or 80, the money for the renovation and furniture is all here. If it's not enough, just ask me for more."
"Brother, I still have quite a bit of money."
Shen Guodong didn't touch the money on the table, explaining, "It's only been going in these past two years, and I've saved quite a bit. You can just take it from me when the time comes."
He really didn't know where the money in Li Xuewu's safe came from. In recent years, Brother Wu had rarely taken money from him, let alone so much.
Bundles of ten-yuan bills, 100 bills per bundle, amount to 1,000 yuan. Even if Brother Wu had a high salary, he couldn't have saved up so much money in just a few years.
Besides, he just saw that there was more than just these in the safe. Where did this money come from?
He and Li Wenbiao had already planned it out. No matter how hard they worked, they couldn't let Brother Wu lack money, and they certainly couldn't let Brother Wu make a mistake.
Only by taking one step at a time, steadily improving like sesame seeds blooming higher and higher, can their careers remain as stable as Mount Tai.
In recent years, apart from normal expenses and daily household use, they have hardly taken any money from the main account, all in order to seize opportunities for better development.
Furthermore, Li Xuewu had already bought them courtyards in the city, allowing them to settle down and have no worries, so they didn't have much time for such things.
They can share hardship and prosperity.
What he least wants to see right now is Wu Ge making a mistake because of money, that would be too much of a loss.
"What are you thinking about—" Li Xuewu looked at him amusedly, and seeing his embarrassed and hesitant expression, he knew that he had misunderstood. "This is my royalties."
"Royalties?" Shen Guodong was stunned again. He looked at the money on the table in surprise and asked, "You have this much money in royalties?"
"What do you think?" Li Xuewu walked out, took a short-sleeved white shirt from the hanger and put it on, saying, "Otherwise, what would I write books for?"
"A double win of fame and fortune?" Shen Guodong's smile contained both pride and envy.
"Stop talking nonsense, keep the money safe."
Li Xuewu glanced back at the banknotes on the table. He was really uneasy about leaving the money in the safe. Gu Ning would never need so much money; leaving it there was like a ticking time bomb.
It's perfect to use it now, so I won't have to worry about it anymore.
"Give her the rest of the money as living expenses. If it's not enough, add some more."
He put on his shirt and explained, "I'll be leaving in a bit. You can discuss anything and handle it yourselves. Contact me by phone if there are any special circumstances."
"Brother Wu, this Wang Yajuan..."
Shen Guodong couldn't resist, so he gathered up the money, walked over, and asked with a smile.
Li Xuewu smiled, reached out and patted his shoulder, saying nothing, everything was understood without words.
-
"Brother Ren? What a coincidence!"
Li Xuewu met Ren Xiaoyu, deputy director of the municipal government office and wife of Xie Lanzhi, president of United Savings Bank, in the train station waiting room.
Xie Lanzhi is the same Sister Xie who introduced Li Xuewu to his superiors when he joined the company, while Ren Xiaoyu and Dong Wenxue are childhood friends who grew up in Gu Ning's house.
So when Li Xuewu saw him here, he didn't address him by his official title, but instead called him "brother".
"Learning martial arts? What are you doing here—" Ren Xiaoyu was also a little surprised. He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray next to him, stood up, and asked with a smile, "Are you going back to Liaodong?"
"Yes, the 9:30 train."
Li Xuewu took the initiative to shake his hand and asked with a smile, "Are you also on a business trip?"
"Go to Jiaozhou to pick someone up." Ren Xiaoyu let go of his hand, pointed to the sofa, and said, "Sit down and we'll talk."
"You've been doing well lately?" Li Xuewu asked with a smile after sitting down. "I haven't seen my elder sister for a long time either. I last saw her during the Chinese New Year."
"Hey, it's just something to do at work." Ren Xiaoyu smiled and looked him over, saying, "You're doing well too."
"Apart from being too far from home, it's alright."
Li Xuewu chuckled and said, "Thanks to Gu Ning's understanding, she has never complained to me about anything."
"A man cannot be without a career; having a career inevitably means being constantly on the go."
Ren Xiaoyu nodded slightly and said, "You're lucky. What about those people who haven't been able to go home for years?"
“I’m doing alright, once or twice a month, depending on the situation,” Li Xuewu explained. “When I first went to Liaodong, it wasn’t good; I didn’t go home for the first two months.”
"They're hard to buy, but things will be easier in a few years."
Ren Xiaoyu glanced at his secretary who had sat down next to him and said with some envy, "Your company has better benefits than ours."
"Why don't you come and work for the company?"
Li Xuewu chuckled and teased him, saying, "Ask your older sister if she minds. We're family now, you can come to our company anytime."
"Me? Forget it—" Ren Xiaoyu said with a laugh, "Your older sister is obsessed with officialdom now!"
He waved his hand and laughed, "She's the boss in our family now, busier than me."
"Hehehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled and joked, "It's time to give my older sister a chance, it's the kind of job she wants to do."
"Sure, who says women are inferior to men?"
Ren Xiaoyu nodded and said, "The country advocates gender equality, so why should she sacrifice for this family? I should also make contributions."
“The kids are all grown up now, they’re easier to manage.” Li Xuewu raised his chin and said, “Unlike our family, sigh—”
“It will be great when they’re a little older, one daughter and one son, wouldn’t that be wonderful?” Ren Xiaoyu said, looking at him. “In a few years, when you come back, they’ll both be in school.”
"Look, the situation is hard to say."
After exchanging a few pleasantries and seeing that there was no one around, Li Xuewu steered the conversation toward work.
Ren Xiaoyu knew what he wanted to ask, picked up his teacup and asked with a smile, "You've all been feeling a bit uneasy since Zhou Wanquan left, haven't you?"
“Comfortable…” Li Xuewu looked into his eyes and hesitated slightly before saying, “How should I describe it? Maybe some people think this way.”
"What about you?" Ren Xiaoyu wanted to hear his thoughts.
“Me?” Li Xuewu suddenly laughed and said, “Although he has been here for a while, the two of us have never communicated privately.”
"Even their speech consists of the same few sentences from the meeting."
He stated frankly, "It's not that I'm blaming Deputy Director Zhou; it's also because I rarely return to the group."
"Hmm—" Ren Xiaoyu looked at him for a while before saying, "He knows about your background and connections, so you need to be careful of him."
"What do you mean?" Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and asked, "What background or connections does he know about me?"
"I know everything I need to know," Ren Xiaoyu said hesitantly. "I've talked to Wenxue about this, and he said you've made some preparations."
"I don't know what you mean."
Li Xuewu frowned slightly and said, "Does he also have a purpose in coming to Honggang to target me?"
"Well, how should I put it?" Ren Xiaoyu said after careful consideration, "You may have underestimated your influence in your group."
"I'll explain it to you in this way and you'll understand."
He pointed to the coffee table between the sofas and said, "If he wants to achieve anything in your company, he can't get around you."
"Do I really have that much influence?"
Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow, certain that the feeling he had when they locked eyes was correct—the other person harbored malice towards him.
“Hehe—” Ren Xiaoyu chuckled and said, “That’s why I said he knows you very well, very well.”
"He has worked in the supervisory system for many years and is a veteran in the city. He has a very steady work style and never fights a battle unprepared."
"I haven't offended him, have I?" Li Xuewu asked suspiciously. "Why does he see me as an obstacle?"
“Those involved are often blinded by their own interests,” Ren Xiaoyu said with a smile and a nod. “You think your group’s organizational structure is very healthy, but it’s actually full of loopholes.”
"They found out everything about you before they even went there. They knew who was with whom and what their relationship was. They were well-prepared."
"I didn't hear Teacher Dong say that."
Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes slightly, swayed his chin, and said, "He has no need to hide this, does he?"
"He thought you were shrewd and had anticipated this." Ren Xiaoyu glanced at him and asked, "I didn't expect it to be someone like this going to your place?"
“I had no prior dealings with him.” Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said, “It’s not about scheming; I have no conflict with him.”
“We don’t need to hide anything from each other,” Ren Xiaoyu said with a smile. “Your company wouldn’t be where it is today without you.”
He tapped his finger on the coffee table and said meaningfully, "These weren't my words, they were said by the city's leaders."
"Do you know how many people recommended you to take charge after the completion of the Xinjing No. 1 Factory?"
“Hmm—” Li Xuewu nodded slowly and said, “I have heard some rumors, but I didn’t take them seriously.”
"That's not just a rumor, it was so close."
Ren Xiaoyu cracked his knuckles and said, "The Beijing Industrial Park coordinated this matter with the Ministry of Machine Building. It was Director Du of the Ministry of Machine Building who rejected the application."
"Your opinions are very insightful; you're too young."
"I don't know, this is the first time I've heard of this." Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and asked, "Does Teacher Dong know about this?"
"Maybe so, he doesn't care about that."
Ren Xiaoyu sighed and said, "Your teacher Dong likes to do things in a very methodical way. He doesn't like to take shortcuts and looks down on unconventional methods."
"Whose relationship is he?" Li Xuewu asked bluntly. "I mean Zhou Wanquan."
“Him? It’s complicated.” Ren Xiaoyu thought for a moment and said, “I can only say that before he took office at your group, Deputy Director Liu talked to him.”
"Liu Qianjin?" Li Xuewu tilted his head and asked, "Isn't this normal?"
"It's normal, and it's not normal either," Ren Xiaoyu said with a smile. "It depends on how you interpret it. That's all I know."
"What does he want to do?" Li Xuewu's eyebrows twitched. "What mission did the capital give him? Or were there special instructions?"
"I can't say for sure," Ren Xiaoyu said frankly. "The reason I'm answering your question so cautiously is that I don't want to give you the wrong judgment."
“He sees you as an opponent, so you are the one facing him.” He looked at Li Xuewu seriously and emphasized, “You have to tell him what he wants to do yourself.”
"This is truly an undeserved disaster—"
Li Xuewu wiggled his chin and said, "He doesn't need to be Liu Qianjin's pawn, does he?"
"So you admit you have a conflict with Deputy Director Liu?" Ren Xiaoyu looked him up and down with a strange expression and said, "Think about it again, isn't your position the same as his?"
"A pawn?" Li Xuewu was slightly taken aback, then shook his head with amusement and said, "You should know me; I'm a very disciplined person."
“That’s not necessarily true,” Ren Xiaoyu said confidently. “You may think you’re very proper, but from someone else’s perspective, you might be a stumbling block.”
"Then let him bring it on," Li Xuewu said domineeringly. "Let's see who's tougher, him or me."
"In the end, it's a head-on collision, a last-ditch effort."
Ren Xiaoyu thought about it carefully, then shook his head slightly and said, "I really can't help with this. You won't need his background or connections even if I tell you."
"He's more direct in his actions than in his writing, but he's never vulgar."
"Would I be considered to be passively responding to a challenge?"
Li Xuewu suddenly laughed and said, "I really can't figure it out, why did he provoke me?"
“It’s already aligned, isn’t it?” Ren Xiaoyu picked up her teacup and looked at him, saying, “Don’t be discouraged, be bolder, the whole city is watching.”
"Whether he stepped on you or you provoked him, it's all a matter of your own abilities." He said meaningfully, "Your empty city ploy has already made him wary. If he can't ignite this first spark, hehe—"
"How is it?" Li Xuewu glanced at him, his sharp eyes carrying a hint of thuggishness.
Ren Xiaoyu wouldn't say what came next; he only told Li Xuewu that not only him, but many others were looking forward to this showdown.
Consider this a test for you.
-
"A test?" Li Xuewu was still thinking about this on the train. He had already prepared a plan, and it wasn't just aimed at Zhou Wanquan; it didn't matter who came.
He never expected that every paratrooper who came down would be a good friend, so it would be idiotic not to prepare at all.
He could tell from Ren Xiaoyu's tone that many people were either standing by and watching, or already knew about the matter and were waiting to see his reaction.
Such close attention to the Honggang Group, and even its methods clearly understood, made Li Xuewu feel a chill run down his spine.
What are you doing? Raising poisonous insects?
The documents on the small table were barely touched. He looked out the window, pondering the truth behind the scenes.
Liu Qianjin may not be the "mastermind" behind the scenes. Don't listen to Ren Xiaoyu's claims; he hasn't provided any concrete information either.
As the deputy director of the government office, it's impossible for him to say he didn't know Liu Qianjin's whereabouts.
Of course, if there is real danger, Zheng Shusen will not remain silent. Even if it is inconvenient to take action, he will give him a heads-up in advance.
This confirms what Ren Xiaoyu revealed: someone is watching them, to see if Zhou Wanquan can get past him, or if he can hold out in this battle.
If Zhou Wanquan wants to establish himself in Honggang Group, he either needs to provide sufficient resources or use methods to remove the influence of the existing people.
After becoming the Secretary-General of the Management Committee, Li Xuewu realized that at this stage, work performance was no longer so important; influence was what mattered.
As Zhou Wanquan is new to the area, he should be modest and low-key, cultivate enough prestige, and demonstrate his full strength before taking action.
Now he's in a hurry, very anxious, wanting to quickly gain some control of the discourse, so he can only step on someone and climb up.
Li Xuewu really wanted to curse. When did he become a pushover? Was he being too low-key? Did people think he was young and easy to bully?
I may be young, but am I easy to bully?
"Boss, here's your newspaper."
Li Xuewu had just sent Zhang Enyuan to ask the train conductor for today's newspaper, regardless of which one it was, just to pass the time.
He couldn't concentrate on the documents; his mind was in turmoil. He wanted to learn about the important news from the newspapers to better understand the changing situation.
"Okay, put it here for now."
Li Xuewu pointed to the small table, turned around and looked at him, asking, "There hasn't been any news from Liaodong these past few days, has there?"
"I'll leave the unimportant things for you to deal with when you get back," Zhang Enyuan reported. "The secretary of Deputy Director Yang at the metallurgical plant has been keeping me updated on the plant's activities."
"Hmm—" Li Xuewu let out a long breath, thought for a moment, and then looked at him and asked, "What do you think of Yang Zongfang?"
"Deputy Factory Director Yang?" Zhang Enyuan paused, then hesitated before replying, "I greatly admire his work ability, as you know..."
"Yes, yes, I understand what you mean."
Li Xuewu smiled slightly and said, "The rest, such as conduct and so on."
"I don't really know much about this." Zhang Enyuan couldn't help but laugh and said, "It's only because I'm your secretary that I have any contact with leaders like you."
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu also laughed.
"However, his colleagues at the metallurgical plant headquarters had a very good opinion of him. He was upright in his conduct and very steady in his work."
Zhang Enyuan was Li Xuewu's secretary. When asked questions by his superiors, he could not be vague or modest; he had to give a straightforward answer.
Just now, I first told him what I knew, and then expressed what he heard.
"He is now the executive deputy factory director."
Li Xuewu turned to look out the window again and said, "The current metallurgical plant is also a test for him."
“The metallurgical plant has a good foundation,” Zhang Enyuan said cautiously. “In addition, with your streamlining and reorganization, the technological transformation has proceeded very smoothly.”
"I know from a business perspective that last year's annual steel production increased by 47%, which is already a very good figure."
He picked up the thermos and refilled Li Xuewu's teacup with hot water, reporting, "Deputy Director Dong didn't achieve this level of success even when he was in Gangcheng."
"I'm also standing under the tree to enjoy the shade."
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "If it weren't for the foundation laid by Deputy Director Dong, I wouldn't be so relaxed now."
“You’re right.” Zhang Enyuan smiled and said, “The metallurgical plant has changed a lot in recent years, which can be seen from the morale of the employees.”
"Our group's comprehensive employee benefits system surpasses that of most other units within the system."
He put down the thermos and continued his report: "I inquired at the group and found that last year's expenditure on the construction of the employee welfare system accounted for 21.7% of the total budget."
"Anyway, I've never heard of any company that offers better benefits than us."
There's a reason it's so high.
Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked at him, explaining, "Didn't you ask how much our total number of employees decreased last year?"
"Without reducing the total number of workers, the cost would double."
He slightly raised his chin and said, "In recent years, technological innovation, equipment upgrading, tertiary industry development, and group advancement have all involved substantial high budgets."
"Even if the construction of the welfare system costs more, a portion can be recovered from the material support and supply and marketing system."
Li Xuewu put down his teacup and said, "The effects will become apparent starting this year. Just one workers' new village, a residential area for 100,000 people, how much value can it create?"
“This…” Zhang Enyuan asked hesitantly, “Under the current management system, can service and support units create real value?”
“It depends on how you manage it,” Li Xuewu said, looking at him. “Management directs service, and service creates value.”
"The construction of the entire Liangmahe Eco-industrial Zone will ultimately rely on these revenues to fill the gaps, and the tertiary industry will become increasingly independent in the next few years."
He sighed deeply and said, "Managing too few people is difficult, and managing too many people is equally difficult—"
-
"Hello comrade, I'm looking for Factory Director Li."
"Comrade, which unit are you from?"
The security guards at the metallurgical plant were not responsible for receiving visitors. Even if outsiders came to visit, they would still stand ramrod straight on their posts with steel guns in their hands.
The security office at the main gate also serves as a mailroom, and is usually staffed by three men over fifty years old, commonly known as the "mailroom grandpas".
When the group's organizational structure was changed, the responsibilities and functions of security personnel were adjusted. They no longer handled general affairs but instead focused on security work.
Such reception and mail handling tasks were handled by security guards or clerks, who were all selected from cadres and employees during the organizational restructuring process.
As they reach retirement age, they find themselves unable to keep up with the pace of technological change, lacking the necessary learning ability and energy, and thus losing their value for development.
However, among these employees are outstanding role models, advanced workers, and those who have made great contributions to the group.
The group cannot dismiss these people; they can only be placed in similar positions.
After being talked to and trained by the organization, these people gradually accepted the adjustment and continued to contribute their remaining energy to the gatekeeper position.
They are thoughtful, principled, have no family burdens, and are able to stay in their posts for a long time, making them the best choice for these positions.
When it comes to being conscientious and responsible, who can compare to the veteran comrade who has worked for the factory for decades and has long regarded the factory as his own home?
With armed guards on duty, all the gates of Honggang Group are impregnable.
All visitors must register at the gate before they can contact an internal unit to arrange for someone to pick them up or send them off.
It was Tuesday, and the entrance was quiet during working hours. Suddenly, a tall, upright young man arrived. The old man sitting at the entrance scrutinized him closely, his gaze like a scanner.
"My name is Qi Yan, and I'm here to report to Director Li." The young man took out his letter of introduction and handed it over, introducing himself: "These are my documents."
"Driver?" The old man glanced at the documents, paused slightly, and looked into the mailroom, asking, "Isn't the Secretary-General's driver Yu Zhe?"
The young man in front of me immediately asked Director Li a question. From the way he was addressed, I knew he wasn't part of the group, because they all called him Secretary-General.
"I don't know." An old man inside peered through the window at the documents, then looked at Qi Yan and asked, "Are you a recent discharge from the army?"
"Yes, the organization has arranged for me to report to Director Li." Qi Yan's answer was simple and clear, and he kept emphasizing that he wanted to see Li Xuewu.
"Call Secretary Zhang." The old man inside the window glanced at the young man.
Soon after the report was made by phone, someone came out of the office building and waved in their direction.
"Go in and take the documents."
The old man on duty at the entrance handed the materials to Qi Yan and pointed in the direction of the office building, indicating, "Secretary Zhang is waiting for you."
"Thank you, goodbye." Qi Yan took the materials and walked into the courtyard.
The three old men at the door looked at the young man who walked with a specific rhythm, and nodded knowingly.
"It seems the Secretary-General is going to need a new driver?"
"Otherwise what?" the old man inside the window said with a sneer. "That kid Yu Zhe is really unreliable."
"Hahaha—" There was a hint of lewdness in the laughter. No secrets stay hidden forever, especially since Zhang Meili's flirtatious charm could be smelled from two miles away.
"What do you think he was thinking?
Another old man clicked his tongue and said, "He doesn't like perfectly good young women, but insists on using his strength on old women. Is that alright?"
"Damn it, watch your tongue!"
The squad leader smiled and reminded him, "No matter what, he's serving the leaders. Don't talk nonsense, or you'll get into trouble."
"We're leaving now, aren't we?"
The old man outside the window scoffed, "If they don't leave soon, they'll become a laughing stock. Everyone knows about their mess."
"I heard that guy got married."
The squad leader explained, "His family must be quite well-off, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to find a partner after all this. He doesn't look like he's ever suffered."
"Nonsense, he's just spoiled at home—"
The old man outside the door scoffed, "What kind of person is Zhang Meili? She used to be a kept woman for the Luo family. She's greedy for money and treats everyone like a treasure. She's never seen anything like the world."
"Come on, that's ancient history." The squad leader reminded him, "It's fine to joke about this in private, but don't go around spreading rumors."
Luo Jiaping was originally a foreman at the steel plant, and Yang Yuansong and Li Xuewu took him down.
Everyone says to uproot them completely, but there are always one or two that slip through the net. It seems that in such despicable acts, who cares about the rotten fish and shrimp?
Despicable characters will eventually be buried in the dust of time, unable to withstand the test of time.
-
"Secretary-General, Comrade Qi Yan has arrived."
Zhang Enyuan led his men into the office and reported with a smile, "I've brought the people to you."
"Oh." Li Xuewu looked up at the door, then stood up with a smile and greeted, "Come on, Xiao Qi, you must be tired from the journey."
"It's no trouble at all." Xiao Qi put down his luggage, gave a standard salute, and said, "Sir, Qi Yan is reporting for duty."
"Don't be so polite, we're all comrades here." Li Xuewu smiled and shook his hand, looking him up and down before asking, "You haven't changed, you look quite energetic."
"Thank you, Chief..."
"At work, just call me by my position, or you can call me 'leader' if you want." Seeing his hesitation, Li Xuewu smiled and nodded, then let go of his hand and said, "In private, call me 'comrade'."
"Then I'll still call you 'leader'," Qi Yan smiled and said, "Dr. Gu asked me to pass on a message to you, saying that everything is fine in Jinling and you don't need to worry."
“Hmm—” Li Xuewu nodded slowly, gently placing his hand on his arm, gesturing for him to sit on the sofa.
"You're from Nanjing, aren't you?"
"Yes, sir." Xiao Qi was about to get up again, but saw him wave his hand, so he sat down with his hands on his knees and reported, "Director Ding of Changhe is doing well."
"That's good, that's good." Li Xuewu smiled more and asked him, "Did you come back with Gu Ning and the others?"
"Yes, I was entrusted by Director Ding to take Dr. Gu and the children home, and then I came to report to you."
"Okay, good." Li Xuewu looked at him with great appreciation. After Han Jiankun, he finally had a decent driver.
"Enyuan, take him to complete the formalities."
Seeing that Xiao Qi had no concerns, he looked at Zhang Enyuan and instructed, "Help him settle in, and tell Yu Zhe to make sure the handover is done in the next few days."
"Yes, sir." Zhang Enyuan nodded and looked at Qi Yan, who had already stood up, saluted, and said goodbye.
“Once you arrive at your destination, you don’t need to salute anymore while working in the company.” Li Xuewu patted his arms with both hands and said with a smile, “Adapt to your role as soon as possible and do your job well.”
"Yes." Qi Yan forced himself not to salute out of habit, but his reply still carried a unique firmness.
***
"Sister—" Seeing the leader go upstairs, Yu Zhe slipped into the kitchen and said with difficulty, "I haven't thought about transferring back so soon."
"What do you want?" Yu Li glanced at him and said, "Do you think I don't know what you're thinking?"
“I haven’t had enough yet—” Yu Zhe stubbornly emphasized, “I can learn so many good things from the Secretary-General.”
"I didn't see any," Yu Li glared at him and asked, "What haven't you done enough of?"
"Don't give me that nonsense, you hear me?"
Yu Li pointed at him and emphasized, "I don't have time to argue with you. Go do what you need to do, get the handover procedures done in the next few days, and go back as soon as possible."
"I don't want to leave—" Yu Zhe said shamelessly, "If you won't let me drive for the boss, I'll do something else."
“Go to heaven then!” Yu Li said irritably, “There’s not enough room for you on earth, so go to heaven.”
"You're not my boss," Yu Zhe muttered. "Why are you meddling in my affairs?"
"You're telling me this, right?" Yu Li, holding a stalk of celery, reached back to hit him, but Yu Zhe dodged it.
If I hadn't dodged, that slap in the face with celery would have definitely given me a fright.
“Let me tell you, Yu Zhe, I’m your older sister, not your mother,” Yu Li said bluntly, pointing at her younger brother. “Even if I take care of you, it’s only sometimes.”
"You really think you're lawless and nobody can control you, huh?"
She glared at him and said, "Do you believe I can send you back to the village to farm right now?"
Yu Zhe didn't dare to confront his sister directly. He didn't know that the family depended on his sister for a living, and that things were different now. He was referring to his sister, not their family.
He still had a conscience; even if he was dissatisfied with his marriage, he knew that most of the wedding arrangements were made possible by his sister.
So even though he was beaten today, he didn't dare to complain, and he certainly didn't dare to take the insults to heart; he could only listen.
"Go home and live a peaceful life."
Yu Li turned back to continue picking celery, emphasizing, "You're not allowed to live in the city. You can live wherever Xiaomin lives."
"sister--"
"Don't call me 'sister'." She turned around and glared at her younger brother, emphasizing, "If it weren't for Mom and Dad, do you think I'd really want to take care of you?"
"With your personality, where will you find such a good partner once you get out of here?"
She was getting impatient and said, "Don't be ungrateful. If you piss me off, I won't care about your parents. You can go home, farm, and take care of them in their old age."
"Get lost—"
Seeing that Yu Zhe didn't react, she showed no mercy and said irritably, "You have three days to leave Steel City. I don't want to see you even one more day."
"Where are you going? It's lunchtime."
As soon as Li Xuewu came downstairs, he saw Yu Zhe walking out with his head hanging low. He raised an eyebrow, looked towards the kitchen, and asked, "Did you have a fight?"
"I didn't bring his share—" Yu Li's words were laced with anger, and Yu Zhe quickened his pace.
Li Xuewu reached out and patted him on the shoulder, took out twenty yuan from his pocket and handed it to him, saying, "Take it."
"Boss..." Yu Zhe looked up and said shyly, "I have money."
"Don't give it to him, he's not a child."
Yu Li shouted from the kitchen, "You're married and still so clueless, you don't even have a brain!"
"Alright, if I want to scold you again, I'll have to go back to the capital."
Li Xuewu stuffed the money into his pocket, patted it, and said, "Say goodbye to your friends properly. A man should have true feelings and be a man of the world. Don't be stingy."
"Why did you give him the money—" Yu Li said reproachfully after watching her brother leave, "He doesn't have any decent friends, who knows where he'll put the money..."
"Oh dear—" Li Xuewu raised his chin and said, "He's such a grown man, let's give him some face."
He went into the kitchen to comfort him, saying, "Relationships that can be resolved with money are better than relationships where he's truly in love, right? Aren't you afraid he'll bring that Zhang Meili home?"
“He dares to—” Yu Li frowned and said, “My dad can break his legs.”