MMB Chapter 1657 Men Are Toxic
Chapter 1657 Men Are Toxic
Chapter 1657 Men Are Toxic
"Retain them? How? Where will they be used?"
Jing Yunong asked three questions in a row, then came from the kitchen to the sofa with a teacup, sat down, and looked at him, asking, "What are you thinking?"
"Are these the flowers you grew?"
Li Xuewu gave an irrelevant answer, reaching out to pluck the pink flower in the pot next to the sofa, only to have it slapped away by her.
"I'm asking you a question—"
Jing Yunong said with some dissatisfaction, "Why are you so fickle? I was just about to say something to you."
She didn't want to talk about work in bed, but he insisted on talking endlessly. Now that she wanted to ask, he stopped talking.
She glanced at Li Xuewu and said indifferently, "If it's inconvenient to say, then forget it."
Remember this: if a woman takes a step back, and you dare to take a step back too, even half a step, she'll go crazy.
"There's nothing inconvenient to say."
Li Xuewu, being a bit of a busybody, continued to pluck at the tenderly blooming flower, thinking, "I have to give Old Li a way out."
"Is this an attempt to give Old Li a way out?"
Jing Yunong looked at him suspiciously and asked, "Isn't this giving Lao Su a way out? You've got it backwards, haven't you?"
"When have I ever been confused?"
Li Xuewu looked up with amusement, then looked at her seriously and said, "You look much prettier than these flowers today."
"Get lost—" Jing Yunong glared at him irritably and said, "If you don't want to leave, stay here. I'm not kicking you out, but don't keep teasing me."
"Old Li can't stop himself." Li Xuewu still didn't plan to stay here; he was a little too tempted to cross the line of morality.
Yes, that's right, he's a person with moral principles.
"Otherwise, they wouldn't have called me."
He rubbed his palms together, shook his head with amusement, and said, "You should know how difficult this phone call was for him."
"He's just being stubborn," Jing Yunong said irritably. "He played a winning hand terribly."
I've heard that more than once.
Li Xuewu waved his hand and leaned against the sofa, saying, "He also regretted it. When he told me about his goals, they didn't seem to make any sense at all."
"And then? You believed it?"
Jing Yunong looked at him and asked, "Do you believe that his recent actions are all for the good of the group and for everyone's good?"
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled and said, "I don't believe it."
She knew it was like this. Old Li's skills were actually quite high in the team, especially in organizational management and personnel work, where he had unique talents.
How many outrageous things has Old Li done over the years?
But if you just go to the workshop and ask around, you'll find that while some people talk about these things as a joke, very few actually criticize Lao Li.
To put it bluntly, Old Li is never harsh on his subordinates, especially when it comes to benefits and compensation; he is extremely generous in those areas.
Some people say that since he's not spending his own money, he naturally doesn't care about the cost.
However, Lao Li's personal development is tied to the group's development; if the group's financial statements don't look good, he can't take off.
"Old Li is actually willing to do things."
Li Xuewu leaned forward, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "It's just that I lack a bit of luck and talent."
"So what else does he have?"
Jing Yunong rolled his eyes, crossed his arms, and asked, "Is it you who can't handle the pressure, or is it Old Li who can't take it anymore?"
"I don't care, maybe he just couldn't take it anymore."
Li Xuewu thought for a moment, took another sip, then put down his teacup and said, "You're in the group, so you should understand the situation better than I do."
“But I can’t talk to any of them.” Jing Yunong straightened his pajamas to stop his eyes from wandering.
It wasn't that she wasn't afraid of his glances, nor did she care about him taking advantage of her; it was just that when that gaze swept over her... she wanted it again.
"My mission is complete."
She coughed lightly, picked up her teacup, and said, "When are you going to keep your promise?"
"What promise did I make?" Li Xuewu had barely asked when he saw her glaring at him and said with amusement, "Look at you, why are you in such a hurry—"
With his arm resting on his right leg, he raised his chin and said, "The outcome is still uncertain. Shouldn't we wait until the dust settles before settling the payment?"
"I'm afraid you'll renege on your promise—"
Jing Yunong took a sip of hot tea and said bluntly, "I've figured it out. You don't know how to trust people."
"Heh—" Li Xuewu glanced at the room with amusement, thinking to himself that they were now turning their backs on him. Who was bothering whom just now?
Jing Yunong was a little annoyed by his gaze, and frowned as he emphasized, "You haven't answered my question yet."
"Old Su? Or is it payment?"
Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and glanced at her, saying, "Old Su's matter is not yet settled; this is just Old Li expressing his opinion."
"Maybe he can come back, maybe he can't, but whether Lao Su comes back or not, the higher-ups have to acknowledge his sense of propriety."
He tapped his finger on the coffee table and said, "You know, Old Su has been gone for so long. If it were easy to handle, the news would have spread long ago."
"Think about it carefully, have you heard from him in all this time?"
What do you mean by that?
Jing Yunong frowned and asked, "Did you already know he could escape death?"
"It's not that I knew all along, but that he was destined to live."
Li Xuewu spread his hands and said, "Perhaps even he himself didn't expect that it was Old Zhou who kicked the ball at the last minute."
"Now that Li Huaide has taken the initiative to send a signal, it all depends on Lao Su's attitude. If he wants to get through this crisis, he has to make some kind of gesture, right?"
“I knew it—” Jing Yunong nodded knowingly and looked at him, saying, “You guys are playing the same old trick of using one tiger to devour another.”
“No, this time Lao Su isn’t a tiger, he’s shit.” Li Xuewu didn’t seem disgusted at all. He raised an eyebrow and said, “Old Li is going to dig out this pile of dog shit and make Lao Zhou stink so he can’t have peace.”
He wasn't disgusted, but Jing Yunong was. He frowned slightly and said, "Isn't he afraid that even he himself will be disgusted by the stench?"
"At this point, what else could he possibly be reluctant to part with?"
Li Xuewu said calmly, "Even Deputy Director Dong was willing to do it, desperately trying anything, like trying to revive a dead horse."
"You guys are really something!" Jing Yunong looked him up and down and asked, "And you? Did you also rise to a higher level because of Old Li's strategic planning?"
"Bullshit—" Li Xuewu stood up, walked up to her, reached out and lifted her chin, saying, "It's all your doing."
"If you keep doing this, you're not leaving."
Jing Yunong let him tease her, looking at him with a dazed expression, but uttered a harsh remark.
"Tonight really won't work, I have to entertain you."
Li Xuewu casually wiped her face and said with a smile, "I'll put it on the tab this time and pay it back next time."
"You haven't mentioned the payment yet."
Seeing that he was about to leave, Jing Yunong's eyes regained their clarity, and he calmly reminded him, "I dislike buying on credit the most."
"Be patient, and you'll get the bread."
Li Xuewu waved to her with his back turned, leaving behind a dashing silhouette.
Jing Yunong bit his lip and watched him leave before letting out a long breath and leaning back on the sofa.
This man is toxic.
-
Li Xuewu's statement about being entertained was not meant to fool Jing Yunong; however, it wasn't that others were entertaining him, but rather that he was entertaining others.
Gu Yan, the brother-in-law, is back.
"Brother-in-law, why are you only getting off work now?"
Hearing the noise at the door, Gu Yan straightened up from the vegetable garden and said with some complaint, "I've been waiting for you for ages."
"Why are you waiting for me? I'm doing just fine."
Li Xuewu smiled and pointed to the clods of earth he had turned over, explaining, "This won't do; you have to use the back of a shovel to break them up."
"They really treat me like an animal!"
Gu Yan slammed the shovel into the ground, strode out, and muttered angrily, "I'm not doing this anymore! Whoever wants to do it can do it!"
"Your sister's looking at you," Li Xuewu said with a smile, pointing to the second floor. "Is she going to praise you?"
When Gu Yan turned around, he realized it wasn't his brother-in-law joking; his sister, Gu Ningzhen, was indeed standing on the balcony watching him, but she certainly didn't intend to praise him.
"I told you I didn't need your help!"
He was like a mouse that had seen a cat; he braked suddenly, swerved, and picked up the shovel again to start digging.
Spring has arrived, and the air is filled with the scent of freshly turned earth.
Gu Yan was turning over the soil; Er Ya was preparing to plant a garden. Early vegetables like bok choy and radishes would have to be planted in March.
Don't be fooled by the fact that it's still cold in the steel city; in Beijing, it's really warm in March. Even at the same temperature, Beijing is warmer than the steel city.
"What's wrong? Did you make a mistake?"
Li Xuewu stood by the vegetable garden, amused, and looked his brother-in-law up and down, asking, "Did your sister find out about your lifestyle issues?"
"Otherwise, things wouldn't have come to this, would they?"
"You're just making sarcastic remarks—"
As Gu Yan turned over the soil, he gestured to the upstairs and whispered, "Say something for me, will you?"
"Let's go back and get some rest."
Li Xuewu raised his chin, gesturing towards the second-floor balcony, and asked, "Have you really gotten yourself into trouble?"
Gu Yan secretly glanced back and, seeing that his sister had really gone back, sighed and explained while leaning on his shovel, "I had a fight with Zhou Yao."
"Hmm—" Li Xuewu looked him over suspiciously and said, "Just because of this? That can't be, can it?"
"Even if you had a fight, it shouldn't have made your sister this angry, right?"
He raised an eyebrow and asked, "To be honest, did they argue or fight? Whose fault was it?"
"Well... she made a move too."
Gu Yan continued to argue, hanging his head and explaining, "You kicked my ribs and it hurt, so I fought back."
"You're really something—" Li Xuewu's smile faded slightly as he said, "You've come to me, the matchmaker, for an explanation?"
"No, I just wanted to ask you for help."
Gu Yan was quick-witted and sensed the dissatisfaction in his brother-in-law's words. He looked up, frowned, and explained, "She said she didn't want children, and I got anxious and..."
"Can't you speak properly?"
Li Xuewu glared at him, and seeing his dejected expression, he waved his hand, gesturing towards the hallway, and said, "Come on, let's talk inside."
Gu Yan wasn't a stubborn person. If he was wrong, he was wrong. He would speak frankly and wouldn't lie or make excuses.
Saying he wouldn't lie isn't because he lacks the wit, but because he wouldn't dare in front of his brother-in-law, who is a psychologist.
Think about it, he's a university professor now, and he's going to teach psychology to students. He doesn't have the confidence to lie to his brother-in-law.
At the door, he glanced into the living room and, seeing that his sister wasn't there, kicked off his shoes, put on his socks, and went into the hallway to find slippers.
His rubber boots were already covered in mud in the yard, so it wasn't appropriate to bring them inside now; you could tell he was being cautious.
"Second Brother," Zhao Yaping was playing with Li Ning in the living room when she saw them come in and got up to greet them.
Li Xuewu nodded, pinched his son's cheek, and asked, "Where's your sister? Why are you playing alone?"
"My sister is studying upstairs."
Li Ning raised her little face and explained excitedly, "The teacher criticized her, saying that she didn't review her lessons properly during the winter vacation, and her mother also scolded her."
"Really—" Li Xuewu glanced upstairs before saying to his son, "Then why don't you go up and keep your sister company?"
“She told me to get lost,” Li Ning shrugged and said, “It’s not my fault. I said a lot of nice things, but I just couldn’t help laughing.”
"So you're not planning to pick it up after all."
Li Xuewu chuckled, picked him up, and sat him on the sofa. "Uncle's here. Ask him if he's alright?"
“Uncle is in trouble—” Li Ning looked at his uncle first, then whispered to him, “Uncle made Mom angry and got scolded by her.”
"Really—" Li Xuewu glanced at his brother-in-law, who was sitting dejectedly across from him, and asked, "Did you ask your uncle what made Mom angry?"
"I don't know, I'm still young."
Li Ning shook his head, glanced at his uncle, and whispered, "But I bet it's definitely not because my uncle is bad at studying."
“That’s not necessarily true,” Li Xuewu put his son down, patted his bottom and said, “Go on, go play at the restaurant with your aunt.”
He told Zhao Yaping to take Li Ning away, then looked at his brother-in-law and said, "Marriage is a process in life, and it's something you have to learn."
"If you don't learn how to handle conflicts in your marriage, or if you don't handle them well, you will suffer like you are today."
“I’m not making any unreasonable demands,” Gu Yan said, feeling wronged. He spread his hands and asked, “Why can’t we have a child?”
“You’re wronged, and she’s wronged too. Turning over the ground won’t solve the problem,” Li Xuewu glanced at him, picked up the phone and said, “The one who tied the knot must untie it. Um, this is Li Xuewu. Help me get the security department.”
He looked across the street and asked, "She didn't go home, did she?"
Because he was in Beijing, the call went through easily and quickly, and Zhou Yao was not surprised to receive his call.
Gu Yan only had one place to go in the capital: his second sister's house. If he truly wanted to resolve the issue, he would definitely go to his brother-in-law.
Because Li Xuewu was not only her brother-in-law but also her boss, the phone rang as soon as it was time to leave work.
"Brother-in-law, I am Zhou Yao."
"Hmm, are you on duty today?"
Li Xuewu asked a question first, and after hearing her answer, he slowly nodded and said, "If you're not on duty, I'll have Gu Yan pick you up and bring you home for dinner. Your sister misses you."
He didn't ask her on the phone, nor did he solicit her opinion; he simply said something that left Zhou Yao no choice but to accept.
Zhou Yao knew that her brother-in-law's call meant the final decision, and if she didn't step in, she would really be heading down a dead end.
She and Gu Yan still had feelings for each other, and it wouldn't be enough for them to divorce just because they fought. In her heart, she also hoped that her brother-in-law could step in and mediate.
Upon hearing her brother-in-law's words, she paused for a moment before agreeing, without mentioning that she would drive there herself, tacitly agreeing to wait for Gu Yan to pick her up.
Li Xuewu didn't care how much grievance Gu Yan felt. He waved his hand and said, "There's a motorcycle in the garage. Go pick up Zhou Yao and bring her home for dinner."
"I……"
Gu Yan was about to speak when he saw his sister coming downstairs. He didn't have time to complain, so he stood up abruptly and quickly left the house.
Li Xuewu frowned as he looked at his brother-in-law, who resembled a rabbit, before turning to Gu Ning, who was coming downstairs, and asked, "Did you scold him?"
"No, I can't be bothered with him."
Gu Ning glanced at her younger brother, who had run out without even putting on his shoes properly, through the open foyer, her eyes filled with disdain.
"I sent him to pick up Zhou Yao."
Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said, "What can we do? His parents aren't around. If we don't help him maintain things, who else can he rely on?"
"So immature—"
Gu Ning snorted, clearly angry, and frowned, saying, "If he dares to lay a hand on you again, beat him up."
"Forget it, what kind of brother-in-law hits his brother-in-law?" Li Xuewu smiled and gestured upstairs to ask, "How's your daughter?"
He asked with concern, "I heard from Li Ning that he got scolded by the teacher?"
"She was playing too much and didn't do her homework."
Gu Ning offered an explanation, but didn't elaborate on the topic. The couple had specific goals and methods for educating their child.
The most important point is that no matter how badly their children are doing academically, they will never hit or yell at them.
There is no such thing as being able to learn or not learning; it's just a matter of whether you take it seriously or not. They don't care about the child's learning itself, they only care about the child's attitude.
It is often said that parents are a mirror for their children. If you want your child to become a certain kind of person, you must first set a good example yourself.
She has made a mess of her own work and life, and is overwhelmed by her child's learning problems. No amount of scolding or beating works.
Learning and life are both states of being. Li Xuewu didn't ask about his daughter's studies; he just wanted to find out how she was doing.
Gu Ning's answer explained everything: learning is the child's own business, and she only emphasized the cause and effect of her daughter's bad mood.
Li Shu is playful but also very competitive, with a strong sense of never giving up, which is similar to her mother.
Looking at the quirky Li Ning, he seems to be imitating his father, with traces of imitation and learning always visible in his speech.
"Let's add two more dishes tonight, Zhou Yao is coming."
Li Xuewu walked into the restaurant, said something to Er Ya who was busy in the kitchen, and when she responded, he asked again, "Do you have any meat or vegetables?"
"Yes, I've made one. Shall I make another one?"
Er Ya stood at the kitchen doorway and explained to him, "Sister Xiao Ning said that Brother Gu has a big appetite, so I was thinking of eating a larger portion too."
“A bigger one is fine, they both have big appetites.” Li Xuewu nodded and said, “Add another meat dish, or if that’s not enough, go buy a duck.”
"No, there's meat at home."
When Er Ya saw that he was about to tell Zhao Yaping to buy a duck, she quickly went to the refrigerator door, took out some meat, and said, "I'll stew some more meat, it'll be ready soon."
"No rush, they won't be back for another half hour."
Li Xuewu glanced out the window from the restaurant and saw that the dandelion flowers in the corner were blooming. He smiled and said, "Just because Gu Yan helped with the work, we should treat him to a good meal."
Of course, this is a joke. When his brother-in-law comes to visit, he has never been stingy. Even if there is no meat, he will buy it on the spot and treat him well.
Before Gu Yan got married, his parents lived in Jinling. He would come here whenever he had a vacation, just like his own home.
He doesn't talk much to his sister, so they don't seem close, but they are actually very close siblings.
Even though Gu Yan angered Gu Ning again, he still asked Er Ya to add more meat dishes.
It was still cool at this hour, so the windows couldn't be opened. Li Shu came downstairs after finishing her homework, but her face was tense.
Li Ning had already dodged away. He was afraid that his sister would take her anger out on him. In a situation where stepping forward with the left foot or the right foot was wrong, it wouldn't be worth getting slapped.
Just as it was completely dark outside, car headlights shone on the open gate; judging from the noise, it was Ji Weidong's motorcycle.
Li Ning darted out of the room, ran to the foyer to take a look, and then ran back to report, "It's my uncle and aunt!"
Seeing that Gu Ning showed no intention of getting up, Li Xuewu had no choice but to get up himself to greet her, which he couldn't help but find amusing.
While it was said that Gu Yan was being scolded and punished by being made to till the land, Gu Ning actually also had a problem with Zhou Yao.
Otherwise, if her younger brother and sister-in-law quarrel, wouldn't she, as the older sister, have to step in and mediate?
But thinking about Gu Ning's personality makes it clear; she is genuinely angry, but she doesn't mean any harm.
"Brother-in-law," Zhou Yao greeted him as she reached the steps, "I heard the news, but I haven't had a chance to congratulate you yet."
"We're family, let's not talk about this."
Li Xuewu smiled and nodded, then asked, "Are you cold?"
"It's alright, I wore an extra layer because I'm cold."
Zhou Yao secretly glanced at his expression, her inner unease subsiding slightly. After changing her shoes in the foyer, she entered the living room, but her heart, which had just settled, started racing again.
Gu Yan followed behind, and although he didn't say anything, Li Xuewu knew that the young couple both wanted to reconcile.
If everyone understands, this is easy to say.
"Sister." Zhou Yao pursed her lips and greeted her anyway.
Gu Ning's reaction was indifferent; she replied, "Wash your hands and eat."
Zhou Yao glanced back at her brother-in-law, and seeing him nod, she went to the bathroom. Gu Yan wanted to go too, but Zhou Yao blocked him from behind.
They haven't made up yet, why are you trying to get closer to them!
Gu Ning had to play the bad cop, so Li Xuewu had to play the good cop. He originally wanted to play the bad cop, but being a brother-in-law was difficult.
When Er Ya heard the motorcycle, she started bringing dishes to the dining table. At that moment, the braised pork was ready, and its aroma instantly filled the restaurant.
"I want to eat meat!"
Li Ning excitedly climbed onto his dining chair, but kept an eye on his sister's expression. Seeing that she didn't say anything, he sat down.
The siblings' relationship was just like that of Gu Ning and Gu Yan. When Gu Yan came back from the bathroom and sat down at the table, he also noticed his sister Gu Ning's expression.
He was quite self-aware and sat next to Zhou Yao; otherwise, tonight's attack wouldn't have been a women's singles match, but rather a mixed doubles match.
"Start eating, stop staring."
Seeing that they were done, Li Xuewu picked up his chopsticks and gestured, "Eat more meat. Your sister specially asked Er Ya to prepare it for you. You've all worked hard."
Gu Yan and Zhou Yao had both picked up their chopsticks, but upon hearing this, they couldn't help but glance at their smiling brother-in-law.
The brother-in-law is the worst in this family!
My sister's anger is always visible on her face; you can always tell she's not happy. But my brother-in-law's anger is always expressed in his words, like a dull knife tormenting you.
Look at what you're saying! Who's working hard? What have they worked hard for?
That's why my brother-in-law is a leader; he's a master of the art of language. If you don't listen carefully, you might actually think he's showing concern for them and praising their hard work.
"I was just saying, when will I have time to invite you all over for a get-together? I didn't see you during the Chinese New Year."
While serving meat to Li Ning and Li Shu, Li Xuewu said with a smile, "You are all young people, very busy with work, and this is the time to strive."
He glanced at Gu Ning and said to the two of them, "Your sister is worried about you, but she's afraid you won't have time. She's mentioned it to me twice already."
"I'm sorry, brother-in-law, I went for training a while ago."
Zhou Yao stopped eating and explained, "You had already gone to Steel City when I came back, and I was thinking of coming together with Gu Yan after he returned."
"It's just that—when you get busy, you forget about it."
"It's alright, we're all family."
Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Your sister just wanted to see how you guys are doing. Nothing's wrong. People in Jinling have also called to ask about you."
He paused here, then looked at Gu Yan and asked, "How long has it been since Xiao Yan wrote home? Mom's going to be angry."
"I had forgotten about that too."
Gu Yan was taken aback by what he said, and then explained, "I was exhausted from the intensive training during the Spring Festival."
“Okay, you all have legitimate reasons, which is understandable,” Li Xuewu said with a smile. “But you should also consider the feelings of the elderly.”
He glanced at Zhou Yao before turning to Er Ya and saying, "Er Ya used to worry about the postage when she wanted to write home, and now she still only writes once a month?"
“Yes.” Er Ya suddenly heard Brother Li mention her and nodded somewhat embarrassedly, explaining, “My mother and father have never been to the city and don’t know what’s going on outside. I want to tell them more about it.”
"That's great, your family must be eagerly awaiting your letter."
Li Xuewu glanced at her. They say girls change a lot as they grow up. Er Ya was sixteen when she came, so she's eighteen this year.
No longer the timid and cowardly person they were when they first arrived, they are now more open-minded and natural, having broadened their horizons through city life.
However, this growth did not breed arrogance. Li Xuewu's character can be seen from her insistence on writing letters home.
Gu Yan and Zhou Yao listened with a slightly embarrassed expression, and couldn't help but exchange a glance. They both felt that the food in their bowls tasted like nothing at all.
My brother-in-law is really harsh when he scolds people. He says one thing after another, and both of their faces are burning, like they've been whipped.
The meal was rather somber. Once Li Xuewu had made his point, he stopped rambling and patiently took care of the children.
Although he had been working in the steel city for more than two years, Li Shu and Li Ning's feelings for him had not faded.
They often only get to see each other once a month, so the children cherish the opportunity and try not to upset him, but rather to make him happy.
"Dad, you should eat meat too."
Li Ning is more mischievous than most kids. He's not just silly mischievous; he's actually quite mischievous and always has all sorts of novel ideas in his head.
To be honest, it's normal for Gu Ning to like Li Ning a little more since he's her biological son, but she has never hidden her affection for him.
Li Xuewu prefers Li Shu, and the couple each have their reasons. However, the siblings do not feel that their parents favor them, and the situation is quite balanced.
In Li Shu's eyes, her parents' love is different from Li Ning's; they are two different identities and two different perspectives.
The interactions between the father and son and the father and daughter at the dinner table made Gu Yan and Zhou Yao think a lot.
After the meal, Gu Ning made tea, but Gu Yan and Zhou Yao sat nervously on the sofa like prisoners waiting to be interrogated.
But they didn't hear any questions from their sister and brother-in-law, nor did they offer any reproach or reprimand.
My brother-in-law brought up some interesting stories about working in the steel city. My sister didn't say much, except for a few words about the children.
At this point, the brother-in-law will definitely lay the groundwork a bit, and then jokingly tease the brother and sister who are playing with toys in front of the coffee table.
At first, the two thought the time would be very difficult, but to their surprise, the brother-in-law did not mention having children until the tea was finished.
When Zhou Yao and Gu Yan came out of the hallway, they realized that although their brother-in-law hadn't said anything, it seemed like he had said everything.
When the couple looked back at the brother-in-law who had seen them off, they had an epiphany: they realized that some issues needed to be discussed between the two of them.
Gu Yan pushed the motorcycle out the door and took the initiative to put the footrests on her footrests. When she got on the motorcycle, she also took the initiative to adjust his hat. Everything was understood without words.
-
Li Xuewu received a message from the group a few days after returning to Gangcheng: the higher-ups had taken serious action against Su Weide's problem.
There's no need to go into the details. Perhaps they were genuinely moved by Li Huaide's sincerity, and the authorities didn't completely condemn Su Weide.
As Lu Xun once said, "When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer."
Dong Wenxue has already taken on the role of security director and is also in charge of the technology department. Even if Su Weide is able to return, he will have lost his original responsibilities.
What's even more surprising is that Deputy Director Su returned to work at the group, but instead of returning to the management committee, he went to the trade union.
The union leader, Kumamoto Shigeaki, who had been bedridden for a long time, almost jumped up from his sickbed to cheer. He had finally made it through! Su Weide had arrived, and he could retire.
Indeed, Lao Xiong has spent almost all his time in the hospital these past few years, and he has been "plagued by illness" since before the United Hospital was even built.
Now that the hospital has been operating for almost three years, the organization should consider his health condition and allow him to apply for early retirement.
This can be considered as giving him some dignity.
Kumamoto was thinking of maintaining his dignity, but he didn't expect Suvid to be so undignified.
He was assigned to the union, but not to succeed Lao Xiong.
Kumamoto Naruto could have retired, and his position could have been made available, but they didn't give him that face. Even though there was a proper position available, they didn't give him that one.
Li Xuewu listened to Gu Cheng's report over the phone and couldn't help but find it amusing.
Gu Cheng worked at the Medical Education Bureau, which happened to be in charge of the trade union. When he went to a trade union meeting, he happened to witness Deputy Director Su handing over the reins.
It is said that enemies are especially hostile when they meet. When Suweide saw his secretary again, he only felt an indescribable frustration, but not any envy.
He is now a criminal, and the questions surrounding him remain unresolved; he could be dealt with at any time.
He was able to return to work at the group because Li Huaide took the initiative to express his willingness to temporarily suspend the investigation against him for the sake of the group's work and the stability of the organizational ecosystem.
It was as if a sharp sword was hanging over his head, and Li Huaide was holding a rope in one hand and a whetstone in the other, trying to scare him.
If we're talking about who's most troubled by Suweide's return, it's definitely Zhou Wanquan.
It wasn't exactly something to be proud of. Although everyone knew that Su Weide had returned to Honggang Group, there hadn't been a formal meeting to announce it.
Just like that, he came back, and then he left again, without a sound.
Rumors about Deputy Director Su were flying around the company, but Gu Cheng knew the truth.
After handing over his work, Suweide only stayed in the office for a short while before leaving as if his backside was on fire.
He subsequently took sick leave as per procedure.
This is quite interesting. He was the vice president of the union, so of course he would ask for leave from Kumamoto Sei, the president.
Interestingly, Kumamoto was in the hospital, so the two of them had a successful reunion there. They even asked for leave in person.
Gu Cheng said that from that day on, Deputy Director Su practically lived in the hospital and never returned to the group.
Li Xuewu couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. Old Li had pleaded with his superiors to let Old Su "half a horse" go back to the group, not to let him support a grandpa.
Kumamoto has the means to recuperate, but what right does Suvid have?
It's fine for a day or two, but if it goes on for too long, Old Li will lose his temper. What kind of dog is a good dog if it doesn't bite?
If he really can't bite anymore, then the hospital is not his final destination.
"Boss, here are your clothes."
Just as Li Xuewu hung up the phone, Xiao Ma walked in carrying a suitcase and reported with a smile, "There's more than one set."
"Where did this come from?" Li Xuewu glanced at it. The clothes were all new, and they looked like light green, but the material was a little different.
"It was mailed here, I brought it up for you."
Xiao Ma reported, "There are several addresses, but they all come from the capital."
Li Xuewu glanced at the mailing slips; they were indeed from Beijing, from the Third Regiment of the Guard, from the academy, and even from his family.
"This material is different from the ones I've used before!"
Little Horse rubbed it with his hands and said in surprise, "It's finer and stiffer than cotton."
“This is a blend.” Li Xuewu recognized it after a close look. He had worn this kind of fabric in his previous life. The era of Dacron was coming.
A few years ago, the chemical industry was already working on blended spinning technology, which involves blending polyester, nylon, and cotton into poplin to make summer clothing fabric.
In this era, the military came first, then the people, so this material was first used on green panels.
Ma Baosen curiously opened a shirt and held it up, saying, "It looks better than before."
"They all look the same, so where is the difference in appearance?"
Li Xuewu only glanced at it curiously and then didn't bother to study it any further. Dacron material is very scarce now, but in a few years, it will be the most popular fabric on the streets.
Actually, he prefers to wear cotton clothes because they are soft and don't feel stiff.
Honggang Group's work uniforms are divided into two categories: those for government offices and those for grassroots units. Each category is further subdivided into various styles based on different job types.
Li Xuewu had worn the work clothes in the machine shop before. They were made of cotton, which was a bit easy to get dirty, but they were really warm and comfortable.
The fabric of clothes has changed this year, and the style of clothes will also change in a few years. In an era when military uniforms were the fashion trend, this change also reflects the changes of the times.
Changing materials represents technological progress, while changing styles represents ideological progress.
Li Xuewu kept only one of the new outfits he had acquired, but seeing that Ma Baosen really liked it, he gave him the other one.
However, he was tall, so Ma Baosen had to alter it when he took it home, otherwise it would look like he was playing a gong.
"We need to expedite the mineral processing project."
When Li Xuewu inspected the third phase of the metallurgical plant project, he told Zhang Minhua, "You've essentially gained an additional branch plant."
“I actually went there once,” Executive Deputy Factory Director Zhang Minghua reported, standing beside him. “The progress is indeed not slow.”
"But you have to keep an eye on it, especially the connection with the port."
Li Xuewu turned around and reminded him, "The Yingcheng Port New Port Area may not be officially operational until the end of the year."
"The dispatching department is coordinating with the railway to secure a dedicated line quota. If they can get it, your line will be able to operate smoothly without any obstacles."
“That’s great,” Zhang Minghua said with a smile. “The day before yesterday, when Deputy Director Wang from the city came to our factory for research, he asked about the scheduling.”
"She comes quite often—"
Li Xuewu smiled and said, "It's a good thing that she's keeping an eye on you. You should ask her for help whenever you need it."
"Deputy Director Wang is indeed a good person."
Zhang Minghua said with a smile, "When they arrived, they asked us if we had any difficulties, or if we had any opinions or suggestions for them."
"She also said that if there are any problems, I can call her directly. Although I don't know how well she can handle things, she does sound very authoritative."
"She's still capable of getting things done; she's not just a figurehead."
Li Xuewu, with his hands behind his back, looked at the production workshop and said, "If you come to work in the steel city, you have to be prepared and conscious of dealing with the local people."
At this point, he turned and glanced at Zhang Minghua, saying, "If you don't handle local relationships well, your job will be very difficult."
“I understand, you told me that.”
Zhang Minghua pushed up his glasses and said earnestly, "We are also preparing materials and want to coordinate several projects with the city. It's a way of helping each other and developing together."
"The city has always wanted to learn from our current development model, such as the power plant model. We are just borrowing their flowers to present to Buddha."
He glanced at the other deputy directors of the metallurgical plant, smiled and said, "The rough processing project involves many procedures. We're also thinking about whether to cooperate with the steel city to carry out a rough processing step here."
"Outsourcing or cooperation?" Li Xuewu said as he walked back, "Don't expand too much. The group doesn't have any new project approval funds at the moment."
"You think project approval was difficult enough last year?"
He pointed with his finger and said, "This year is even more difficult, much more difficult than before. Director Li has already said that from now on, all project applications must pass through General Manager Jing's approval process."
"With overall profits declining last year, there's no money to start new projects this year. If you go into investment now, you're just walking into a trap."
"I understand, that's why I'm trying to find a solution."
Zhang Minghua is indeed eager to get things done. He is in an awkward position, and whether he can successfully take over Li Xuewu's position depends on his hard work and dedication.
Li Xuewu's move forward also foreshadows his departure, but what happens after he leaves? Who will take over the metallurgical plant?
He dared not think about the Northeast Company; everyone eyeing that piece of the pie was more powerful than him.
If I can figure out the things right in front of me and figure out my brother's situation, that's enough.
His younger brother, Zhang Mingyuan, was in Gangcheng at that time.