Chapter 1032: Infinite Charm

"It doesn't matter, Xiaobai."

Zhong Yuemin looked at Zhou Xiaobai sincerely and said, "Kunminghu can be visited anytime; as long as you are willing, I can accompany you anytime."

"Thank you, Zhong Yuemin."

Zhou Xiaobai raised her hand to tidy the hair by her ear, her tone not as intense as just now.

Facing Zhong Yuemin's gentle words, she said somewhat apologetically, "This activity is very important to me."

"I know, I understand, really."

Zhong Yuemin smiled and comforted her, "After all, it's a foreign affairs activity, and it's something you're interested in; this opportunity is very rare."

He tried hard to ensure Zhou Xiaobai wouldn't feel apologetic and self-blaming because of his performance, being as careful as one would be with a flower.

Zhou Xiaobai finally revealed a smile, looked at him, and smiled slightly. "Thank you for your understanding; I will bring you a gift."

"No, gifts aren't important."

Zhong Yuemin looked at her earnestly and said, "Your smile is more important than anything else."

"Eww—"

Luo Yun really couldn't stand these two anymore, twitched her mouth, pushed her bike, and turned back into the courtyard.

Zhou Xiaobai glanced at her, smiled politely at Zhong Yuemin, and then went to chase Luo Yun.

"Hey! Xiaobai!"

Zhong Yuemin suddenly remembered something, called her to stop, and asked, "Are you coming back tonight?"

Saying this, he gestured to the sky that had already turned dark and said, "I can wait for you."

"Forget it, we have to get up early tomorrow."

Zhou Xiaobai waved her hand and said, "We are staying here tonight; you guys go back early."

After saying that, and glancing at Zhong Yuemin again, she pushed her bike and disappeared at the gate.

The gate closed by the security guard was the barrier that cut off Zhong Yuemin's line of sight.

"I really don't understand you; what for?"

Yuan Jun looked at his pathetic state somewhat annoyedly, curled his lips, and said, "Do you like her that much?"

"You don't understand~"

Zhong Yuemin still looked at the gate, even though Zhou Xiaobai's figure was no longer there.

He raised his head slightly with satisfaction, looked at the night sky, and said, "She is like this moonlight, pure and flawless, lovable."

After saying that, Zhong Yuemin turned back, looked at the two, and confirmed, "She is the only one~"

"But she won't even let you touch her hand!"

Yuan Jun's sentence was like a giant hammer hitting Zhong Yuemin's heart.

"No, you can't say that about her."

Zhong Yuemin shook his head slightly and said with a bitter smile, "You have to know that the education she received since childhood and her growth environment wouldn't allow me to make any inappropriate moves toward her."

"She is pure, transcendent of the mundane."

He frowned, thinking about the adjectives he could think of, and emphasized, "Like a pure white..."

"White lotus?"

Zheng Tong raised an eyebrow and gave an answer.

"Right, like a white lotus that emerges from the mud without being stained, and is cleansed by the clear ripples without being demonized!"

Reminded, Zhong Yuemin seemed to have found his goal, pointed at Zheng Tong and confirmed, "Holy, noble, elegant, charming."

"You're beyond saving."

Yuan Jun shook his head slightly, looking at Zhong Yuemin like a fool, and reminded, "You clearly know that her identity couldn't possibly be 'emerging from the mud,' so where does the 'unstained' come from?"

After saying that, his mouth curled slightly, gesturing to the pitch-black gate and courtyard, and asked again, "Do you know what they will go play when they get on the boat?"

"Your thoughts are really filthy~"

Zhong Yuemin looked at Yuan Jun with amusement and confidence, counting, "People are just going to participate in an activity, and there are foreign merchants there; what kind of nonsense are you thinking about?"

"Won't, absolutely won't."

It was as if he was explaining to Yuan Jun, and also encouraging himself; he emphasized again, "Xiaobai is a good girl."

"When did your eyes go blind?"

Yuan Jun, out of brotherly affection, reminded him bluntly, "Look at her attitude toward that Li Xuewu just now; is it the same as it is toward you?"

"And!"

He narrowed his eyes slightly and confirmed, "She doesn't like you; she's just playing with you. When will you wake up?"

"You don't understand me, and you understand Xiaobai even less."

Zhong Yuemin looked at Yuan Jun and said kindly, "I understand what you mean, and I also know she doesn't like me right now."

"Although that's the case, I will still like her."

He said somewhat confidently, "It's impossible that if you are good to others, others will reward you; you just have to do your own persistence well."

"This is a world-famous quote."

Zhong Yuemin was very afraid the two wouldn't believe him, and even emphasized it.

But Yuan Jun scoffed at this sentence. Making meaningless sacrifices just for the white moonlight in his heart?

"Yuemin, you really make me feel like a stranger now."

He shook his head slightly and said, "I didn't expect you would because of such a... alright."

Seeing that Zhong Yuemin was a bit unhappy, Yuan Jun knew the principle that loyal advice is hard to hear, so he chose to shut up.

"I know what you want to say, nothing more than that my liking is without dignity."

Zhong Yuemin nodded earnestly and said, "But what I want to say is, if you like someone, don't care about dignity."

He looked at Yuan Jun and emphasized, "Xiaobai explained to me, and apologized!"

"She even explains to me when she goes out to play and socialize with that person; that proves she has feelings for me, otherwise why wouldn't she explain to you?"

"I... damn...!"

Yuan Jun was completely speechless. Yes, why didn't Zhou Xiaobai explain to him? This question stumped him all of a sudden.

It has to be said that love makes people lose their direction and confuses their brains, but the logical thinking in this situation is really unexpected.

Zhong Yuemin felt he had won the argument against Yuan Jun and convinced the other party, and said confidently, "I can abandon dignity for love, and this is not self-degradation."

"On the contrary!"

He pointed at Yuan Jun and taught, "No need to care about dignity; I want to like her, so I like her. Now I don't like her, I can like her again in a few days; the initiative is in my hands!"

"You're really... a genius!"

Yuan Jun looked at Zhong Yuemin, who was obsessed and full of philosophy, and finally knew how mental illness was acquired.

Zhong Yuemin smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Xiaobai is a good girl."

"I think Yuemin is right, but"

Zheng Tong interjected from the side, "Maybe she has a good friend, that Luo Yun is also a good girl; she was reminding her just now."

He explained, "Getting on the boat is getting on the boat, and going out to play doesn't matter; with Luo Yun there, what could happen."

"Why?"

Yuan Jun glanced at him and said, "I just don't like her; she's noisy."

"That's because you're looking at people through colored glasses."

Zheng Tong emphasized, "That Zuo Jie who handled the fighting dispute last time, the one from the large courtyard, Luo Yun is his girlfriend."

"You even know this?!"

Yuan Jun looked at Zheng Tong in surprise; when had the usually mischievous Zheng Tong ever cared about girls?

Zheng Tong couldn't answer the two's suspicion for a moment, stiffened his neck and defended, "I just heard it casually!"

"Oh—I know!"

Zhong Yuemin and Yuan Jun elongated their voices, looked at each other, and then Zhong Yuemin pointed at Zheng Tong and broke it, "So you like her!"

"I'm not!"

"I don't!"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Zheng Tong was flushed by the two, defending himself, "I just heard it casually!"

The three pushed their bikes and walked along the street, their figures elongated under the moonlight.

And among the three figures going away, a voice still emphasized: "It's true!..."

The ospreys cry in the river, on the islet in the stream.

The graceful lady, the gentleman's good match.

Although the lady is good, there are times when she cannot be sought; if the lady's heart is already taken, what is sought?

Club courtyard, Zhou Xiaobai held Luo Yun's hand and wouldn't let go, persuading her in a low voice.

Luo Yun was walking forward annoyedly, counting Zhou Xiaobai's childishness and selfishness in her mouth.

But Zhou Xiaobai was also full of grievances; until they reached the dormitory, closed the door, and sat on the bed facing each other.

"I didn't promise him anything, and I'm not anyone to him, so why should I be responsible for his sacrifices?"

Zhou Xiaobai complained with a pout, "I need feelings, but can't I have friendship? Even choosing friends requires selection?"

"But he likes you, and he came specifically to pursue you."

Luo Yun reminded, "His purpose is very clear; do you want to play dumb?"

"I didn't, but he didn't say it explicitly."

Zhou Xiaobai leaned against the head of the bed, twisting her body, and said, "I just decided to get to know him, and didn't say we were going to develop into any relationship."

"As for what he thinks, that's his business; I can't control it."

She hugged her arms, looked at the quilt at the end of the bed, and emphasized, "These are all things he is willing to do himself."

"You also know what he did, right?"

Luo Yun helplessly held her forehead and said, "You say he is voluntary, but you can't ignore his concern for you, right!"

"This is not important; I can't filter out all the males around me with the standard of liking or not liking."

Zhou Xiaobai looked at Luo Yun and defended, "There are many people who like me; do I have to agree to all their requests?"

"Just because they did something for me, or paid something?"

She said with some dissatisfaction, "Everyone has the right to be liked, and the right to like others."

"You wouldn't even lie to yourself, would you?"

Luo Yun looked at her and said earnestly, "You know what you are doing; it's not the same thing as what you are saying."

"If you insist on this, sooner or later you will harm yourself, especially now!"

She looked at Zhou Xiaobai and questioned, "Is the choice you are making now really what you want?"

"I don't even know what I want, so where does the certainty and choice come from?"

Zhou Xiaobai leaned sideways, looking at the pitch-black outside the window, and muttered, "If you haven't tried it, do you know the taste of an apple?"

"I want to taste it; what do different apples taste like?"

"..."

Luo Yun looked at her, shook her head slightly, and said, "Love is not the same thing as an apple..."

"How is it not? I think it is."

Zhou Xiaobai interrupted, "They all have bitter, sweet, sour, and astringent."

She curled her lips, lowered her head, and said, "I want to experience more, at least know how many tastes love has."

After saying that, Zhou Xiaobai looked at Luo Yun and confirmed, "This has no harm, and besides, I haven't lost anything."

"Apples... are different."

Luo Yun shook her head slightly, looked at Zhou Xiaobai, and said solemnly, "You can eat bitter, sweet, and sour, but if you eat astringent, then there's no chance to taste others."

Ignoring Zhou Xiaobai's momentary daze, she continued to ask, "You say you haven't lost anything; what else do you want to lose?"

She looked at Zhou Xiaobai with amusement and said, "That is, it's him; if it were someone else, you would have eaten the astringent apple long ago, been eaten clean, and had the core thrown away."

"Hey! What are you saying~"

Zhou Xiaobai understood her words, blushed, and scolded, "Brother Wu is not that kind of person!"

"I didn't say he was that kind of person; I said it's fortunate he isn't that kind of person, but do you know what kind of person he is?!"

Luo Yun looked at her as if she were speaking a tongue twister and asked, "You say Brother Wu neither wants your youth, nor your cuteness and sensibility, and even less wants your active dedication."

"What do you say he wants from you?"

She shook her head suspiciously and asked, "Could it be he wants your coquettish playfulness?"

"What if~"

Zhou Xiaobai pursed her lips and smiled, lowered her head, and said, "What if he likes my..."

"Heh—don't be silly, he has a daughter."

Luo Yun smiled lightly, "He probably doesn't need you to provide him with this emotional value, but if you are willing..."

"I am of course willing!"

Zhou Xiaobai looked at Luo Yun and narrated earnestly, "He has the strong physique of a young man, the mature wisdom of a middle-aged man; he is the kind of person I respect and admire."

"Just as you said!"

She nodded, as if she had just figured it out, and said, "He really is a bit like my dad."

"You're crazy!"

Luo Yun widened her eyes and scolded, "You really take him as your dad?"

"Of course not!"

Zhou Xiaobai looked at her with eyes that said you were the crazy one, and emphasized with amusement, "I'm talking about the feeling, the feeling!"

"It's just that kind of feeling, lying in his arms, safe and warm, comfortable and... anyway, I can't say it."

Seeing Zhou Xiaobai's blushing face when she told this part, Luo Yun was somewhat dumbfounded.

Until she finished speaking, she asked blankly, "When you are with him, do you really want that?"

"Go away, only you would have such strange thoughts."

Zhou Xiaobai blushed, avoided Luo Yun's gaze, and emphasized, "He is a gentleman."

"Maybe, but not absolutely."

Luo Yun shook her head slightly, looked at Zhou Xiaobai, and asked, "Have you ever thought about his real purpose?"

She counted with her fingers for Zhou Xiaobai, "Allowing you to work and train here, taking you to enjoy travel life, giving you the opportunity to contact the outside world at the International Hotel..."

"Hmm, maybe there is."

Zhou Xiaobai thought for a moment and said, "That's why I say he is a gentleman, the kind of person I respect."

"He has never demanded anything from me, and often pays something for me."

Zhou Xiaobai said earnestly, "If he needs me to do something for him, I am willing, even if there is danger, even if there are difficulties, it is worth it."

"That's why I say you've fallen in love with him!"

Luo Yun said with wide eyes, "Deeply fallen in love with him, unable to extricate yourself!"

"This is the terrible thing about mature men, extremely dangerous!"

She shook her head somewhat fearfully and said, "He will make you throw yourself into the net, willingly do things for him; you have already been captured by him."

"Hehe, I can't ask for more."

Zhou Xiaobai shook her head and sighed with a light smile, "But he has never said so, and has never even done so, just like he has never actively responded to my initiative."

"It's not time yet; just wait, maybe what he wants has already been obtained!"

Luo Yun said with an expression that said I understand everything, "Men will always expose their nature one day, reveal their sharp claws, and tear you into pieces."

She pointed at Zhou Xiaobai's forehead and said, "You are just a little white rabbit full of fantasies in your head!"

"What about you?"

Zhou Xiaobai looked at Luo Yun and asked with amusement, "Has Zuo Jie revealed his claws, and reached out to you?"

Suddenly discovering that Luo Yun's expression was unnatural, she seemed to know something, and said in surprise, "Good! Luo Yun!"

"I'm not, I didn't!"

Before she could say anything, Luo Yun blurted out, "We really aren't... not the kind you think!"

"You still say!"

Zhou Xiaobai held her down, tickled her, and scolded, "You still say I'm that way; so you guys have long since... eaten the astringent apple!"

"When! Say! Tell the truth!"

"Ah~ Hahaha~ I don't want to~"

Luo Yun struggled hard, and even though she couldn't stop laughing from Zhou Xiaobai's tickling, she was determined not to say; it was too embarrassing.

This made Zhou Xiaobai angry, she slapped her butt hard and said, "You really!"

She sat on the side, tidying up her scattered hair, and said angrily, "You guys are so affectionate, and then turn around to mock me."

"We are in a normal relationship!"

Luo Yun sat up with a blushing face and emphasized, "We are single men and women; you are different."

"I'm just like this!"

Zhou Xiaobai hugged her arms and pouted, "Hmph!"

After huffing, she felt it wasn't enough, pinched Luo Yun's neck, and threatened, "Say! Say! What does it feel like!"

"Ah! Zhou Xiaobai! You're going to kill me!"

Luo Yun scolded coquettishly, then hugged Zhou Xiaobai and lay down, leaned into her ear and whispered, "It was uncomfortable at first, but later it was like flying on the clouds, hehe!"

"Ah! Aren't you embarrassed!"

Zhou Xiaobai slapped away Luo Yun's strange hand, then looked at her and asked, "Are you going to Tianjin with me or not!"

"Sigh——"

Luo Yun sighed lightly, looked at Zhou Xiaobai, shook her head helplessly, and said, "I'll accompany the gentleman to his death; who told me to be your mom."

"Go away!"

What is a best friend?

It's the group of people who follow you even when they know you're stupid.

Yuan Jun and Zheng Tong are like this, and Luo Yun is also like this.

In the early morning, just as the sky was getting bright, the command vehicle had already arrived at the club entrance.

Zhou Xiaobai and Luo Yun were wrapped up tightly and were sent into the car by Zuo Jie with a smile.

Zuo Jie naturally didn't worry that his girlfriend would have anything happen going out to play with Brother Wu.

With Brother Wu's eye, if he liked her, he would have liked her long ago; this courtyard is never short of girls.

Luo Yun seemed to think the same, and when she mentioned this to Zuo Jie, she didn't have any scruples.

The two are sincerely wanting to associate, especially in the situation where their parents and family are not around, warming each other seems even more like sticking together through thick and thin.

Originally, Sunday was planned to go to Kunminghu with Zhou Xiaobai, and then go shopping.

Now it's all ruined; after this trip to Tianjin, it's estimated that they can only return tomorrow morning.

The command vehicle sent the two directly to the dispatch workshop platform of the Rolling Mill, where a freight train was parked, with an official carriage attached to the tail of the freight train.

There were some staff members on the platform, as well as cadres who were carrying out cargo transport handover.

But there were also those who got off the official carriage to get some air and smoke; they didn't seem to be people from the Rolling Mill.

The two boarded the carriage under Han Jiankun's escort and found Li Xuewu, who was chatting with someone.

"Come."

Seeing the two, Li Xuewu waved at them, and then introduced them to the people beside him.

It seemed to be the ones they had met last time. Zhou Xiaobai and Luo Yun stood by Li Xuewu's seat; Zhou Xiaobai was in front, and Luo Yun consciously stood behind.

"My two little sisters."

Li Xuewu gestured to them and introduced, "Zhou Xiaobai, Luo Yun."

After saying that, he gestured to the other few people and introduced them to them, "Met last time."

"Yes."

Zhou Xiaobai greeted the three sitting opposite with a smile: "Hello Division Chief Liu, hello Division Chief Gao, hello Division Chief Zhou."

Because of her standing position, Luo Yun just nodded along with Zhou Xiaobai's greeting.

Zhou Gancheng and the others all had an understanding of the identity of the little girl standing in front; she was the bargaining chip Li Xuewu used to trick them and threaten them.

Now seeing Li Xuewu formally introduce her to them, they also nodded with a smile.

It wasn't a formal occasion, just a private gathering, so there was no need to be so serious.

And knowing the identities of Zhou Xiaobai and the other girl, naturally, it wasn't about scruples, but they could also form a good relationship.

Liu Shaozong pointed at Zhou Xiaobai and said she had left a deep impression on him last time.

As for how deep, and what kind of impression, he didn't say, and Zhou Xiaobai didn't ask; she didn't care much.

After chatting with the three for a few sentences, seeing Xue Zhifu arrive on the platform, she stood up to greet him outside.

"He really knows how to behave~"

Liu Shaozong raised his eyebrows at Gao Yaqin sitting opposite him, saying meaningfully, "No wonder he has this achievement at such a young age."

Gao Yaqin glanced at him, then looked out the window. Li Xuewu was standing in front of the British merchant representative in a black wool coat, his aura not inferior at all.

"Old Zhou, aren't you going down to welcome him?"

She turned her head to look at Zhou Gancheng, who was closing his eyes and resting, and said meaningfully, "This is your work."

"Today is Sunday, where does work come from?"

Zhou Gancheng opened his eyes, followed Gao Yaqin's hand to look out the window, and saw Li Xuewu's aura, not inferior at all, standing in front of the British merchant representative, and couldn't help but curl his lips.

He turned to Liu Shaozong and asked, "Your leaders at the Ministry of Industry don't appreciate talent; didn't you think about putting such a young cadre to good use?"

"Of course I thought about it, but I can only think."

Liu Shaozong smiled slightly and said, "Some seedlings have owners and can't be moved at will, otherwise you'll get beaten."

After saying that, he gestured behind him and reminded, "Deputy Director Li's little sisters are listening; be careful, if they go back and complain about you, you'll get beaten."

"Hehe."

Hearing his teasing, Liu Shaozong laughed out loud, especially looking at the two little girls.

Luo Yun rolled her eyes and muttered, "Childish!"

After saying that, she pulled Zhou Xiaobai and walked inside to find a place to rest.

Being despised by a little girl, Liu Shaozong's laughter stopped abruptly, and he felt quite awkward under Gao Yaqin's teasing gaze.

"Children nowadays..."

"Have more independent thinking than we do!"

Gao Yaqin interrupted him, half-emotional and half-reminding, "Have their own ideas, have decisions, have actions, and even more execution."

"Sigh——"

Liu Shaozong seemed to understand, or seemed to have remembered something, sighed leisurely, then shook his head and didn't say anything more.

Zhou Gancheng looked at the two little girls who had left and asked Gao Yaqin, "Is it so free on the weekend?"

"Aren't you the same?"

Gao Yaqin rolled her eyes at him and said, "How did I hear that he didn't invite you at all, and you came uninvited?"

"Who said that?"

Zhou Gancheng raised an eyebrow and said, "He called me first last night; if it weren't for my reminder, he might not have invited you two."

"Tsk~ tsk~ tsk~"

Gao Yaqin shook her head slightly, clicked her tongue, and said, "Old Zhou, I really didn't expect you to become like this; you were such a serious person before."

"Am I not serious now?"

Zhou Gancheng touched his face and asked suspiciously, "Am I not serious now?"

"Hmm, not even as good as those two children."

Gao Yaqin nodded formally, then smiled slightly and said, "Especially the face, it's grown a lot."

"You are scolding me."

Zhou Gancheng smiled helplessly, then looked out the window and said, "Someone told me that if you don't make your face bigger, you'll suffer."

"You only understand the principle of suffering for the sake of face now!"

Gao Yaqin curled her lips and said, "If I had known this earlier, why would I have suffered in the beginning."

Saying this, she looked at Zhou Gancheng and asked, "I heard you have some origins with Deputy Director Li?"

"You only understand the logic of 'suffering just to save face' now!"

Zhou Gancheng hugged his arms, curled his lips, and said, "When I first met him, he was just a security cadre, just transferred back."

"But look at him now!"

He pointed his finger at the window, at Li Xuewu who was chatting and laughing with the foreign merchant in fluent English, and said, "He has already soared into the sky."

"Yo, why is there a sour smell here!"

Gao Yaqin frowned and teased, "Old Zhou, no way? You wouldn't be envious of Deputy Director Li's youth and achievements, would you!"

"Oh, it's as if you aren't envious!"

Zhou Gancheng twisted his body, looked at her, and asked, "Tell me the truth, have you seen such a young man?"

"I have, isn't he right here."

Gao Yaqin pointed at Li Xuewu outside the window, then said with a smile, "Seeing one like this is enough; too many and it's easy to get hit."

After saying that, she answered the question Zhou Gancheng just raised: "I don't envy his achievements, because that is his path."

She picked up her teacup and took a sip of hot tea, then shook her head slightly and said, "People's fate is destined by heaven; you haven't experienced his life, so where does the envy come from."

"Maybe, you didn't see the bitter times he had!"

"Hmm, quite a thoughtful sentence."

Zhou Gancheng smiled, looked at her and said, "No wonder you are from an ideological education background; you really have articles and insights."

"Hey! Old Zhou, talk is talk, play is play, don't scold people!"

Gao Yaqin pointed at him, then gestured to the few people outside who were about to get on the car, and said, "Watch, this trip is still a big drama."

Zhou Gancheng stood up leisurely, looked down at Gao Yaqin's eyes earnestly, and said, "Wait and see!"

After saying that, he walked forward, looking like he was going to receive the foreign merchant.

Liu Shaozong glanced at him, curled his lips, and said to Gao Yaqin, "Hypocritical."

Gao Yaqin smiled dashingly and said, "Nothing more than this, how can it be serious."

This pointed to the theme of the two's conversation just now, and then pointed to Liu Shaozong's evaluation of Zhou Gancheng.

Liu Shaozong drooped his eyelids, picked up his teacup, and said, "Their Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lost a lot of troops this time; look at him sighing, maybe he has already made a decision."

"Isn't this very normal?"

Gao Yaqin looked at the busyness on the platform with dignity, and said leisurely in her mouth, "Otherwise, why do you think he came?"

"The tree falls and the monkeys scatter; the father dies and the mother remarries."

She said with some emotion, "Sometimes the turning point of fate is in that instant, whether you are willing or not."

"He has good fate; the turning point hit Li Xuewu."

Liu Shaozong's mouth twitched slightly, and he said, "This time at least he knocked out a level; he is very happy inside."

"Envious?"

Gao Yaqin looked at him with a smile and said, "Didn't you hear Old Zhou just say, people, sometimes you have to have a bit of shameless energy."

After saying that, she gestured behind her and reminded him, "See, he's embarrassed to thank him to his face, so he's looking for an opportunity."

"Don't stretch it anymore."

Gao Yaqin advised, "How many fish are in the bucket after the wind and waves are all your own; who can grab them if they see them."

This sentence made Liu Shaozong's eyebrows jump; he lowered his head and drank tea, feeling a bit embarrassed.

He curled his lips and said Zhou Gancheng had at least advanced a level, but didn't say how much he himself had lost.

It was Gao Yaqin who broke his thoughts and also confirmed his guess.

The work changes of the three of them recently were very likely Li Xuewu's operation, or indirect influence.

How this influence was produced, there is no need to delve into; maybe it was a sentence, maybe it was an article, even if it was a few rumors.

But the result was just like this; since the three of them had already arrived here, naturally they had determined guesses in their hearts.

Embarrassed, it might have something to do with the identity, level, and age between each other.

The carriage door closed, and the train issued bursts of whistles in response under the command of the signalman.

Feeling the start of the vehicle in the carriage, it didn't affect the conversation inside.

Li Xuewu raised his hand to signal Bao Peigang to drink tea, and said politely, "It was a temporary idea, and the itinerary was a bit tight; I hope Director Bao will forgive me."

"Hey! This is not far!"

Bao Peigang smiled, put down the teacup in his hand, and said, "You and Director Xue invited me out to play, how could I pick faults; we are friends."

He is indeed engaged in economics; this sentence is very four seas, wind and rain-proof.

Li Xuewu smiled and looked at him, saying, "It was Zhang Changming, the deputy general manager of Tianjin Aquatic Products General Company, who suddenly called me and said the sea waves today were very good, suitable for fishing."

"So I thought, who should I invite together?"

He leaned back in his chair and said to Bao Peigang, "Secretary Xiaoli reminded me, saying that since we are going out to sea to play, and everyone is a friend in commercial cooperation, how could we not call Director Bao."

"Oh? Is that so!"

Bao Peigang didn't care about the truth of this sentence, looked at Peng Xiaoli who was smiling and signaling, and nodded. "This sentence is right; remind your leaders more in the future, it's so lonely for one person to go out to play."

"Hahaha."

Li Xuewu laughed and waved at Peng Xiaoli, signaling him to go get busy, while he himself continued, "I've already told our Deputy Director Xue, if we encounter pirates at sea, we'll throw you down; you have the most money."

"Ahem—hahaha!"

Bao Peigang was teased by him into a cough, then looked at him with amusement and said, "I think you are the pirate!"

"Maybe!"

Li Xuewu rubbed his eyes and said, "Wear an eye patch, grow a beard, and put two kitchen knives on your waist; maybe you can do some no-capital business."

"Hey—no-capital business is not easy to do!"

Bao Peigang looked at Li Xuewu and said meaningfully, "Earn more, lose more; this is the hard truth."

"With you here, what am I afraid of!"

Li Xuewu looked at him with amusement and blinked, his words not without ridicule.

Bao Peigang was stunned, then laughed loudly, pointed at Li Xuewu and scolded with a smile, "There's no one like you to make fun of people!"

"How dare I make fun of you, God of Wealth."

Li Xuewu tapped the armrest of the chair, raised an eyebrow and said, "Deputy Director Jing is complaining to me, saying it's so unfair."

"She said she is also in charge of finance, and you are also in charge of finance, but she is too inferior to you!"

"Oh? Deputy Director Jing criticized me?"

Bao Peigang shook his head with a bitter smile and said, "Criticism is right, criticism is right; our unit really has a lot of work that needs to be improved."

"Work systems can be improved slowly, but work efficiency should be effectively improved."

Li Xuewu reminded meaningfully, "After the New Year, the spring breeze blew over, the snow on the ground melted, and the ice river disappeared."

He pointed to the big river passing by the window and said, "The trend is just right now, the moisture is just enough; if we miss the spring plowing, then every household will be busy with farming, who will care about whom!"

"Don't you think so?!"

"Yes, Deputy Director Li is right!"

Bao Peigang smiled and nodded, saying, "The season is important, opportunities are hard to find; we are also thinking about what grain we should plant."

He looked distressed, thinking and saying, "Afraid the sky won't be clear, afraid the sky won't rain, afraid the land will be dry, afraid the land will be flooded, and even more afraid of no harvest in autumn."

"Deputy Director Li,"

He looked at Li Xuewu earnestly and asked, "What grain do you think we should plant?"

"Me?"

Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled, "I say you reap what you sow; do you believe it?"

"Ah? Hahahaha!"

Bao Peigang reacted and laughed loudly, even Zhou Xiaobai passing by the carriage heard it clearly.

"Brother Wu?!"

Zhou Xiaobai knocked on the carriage door lightly and greeted, "Director Xue is looking for you."

"Got it."

Li Xuewu responded in the carriage, then said to Bao Peigang with a smile, "Got up too early this morning; you rest for a while, we'll talk when we get to Tianjin."

"Good, you go get busy."

Bao Peigang stood up and sent him out the door, still exhorting in his mouth, "We are all friends, don't be polite."

When they reached the corridor, Li Xuewu took Zhou Xiaobai to their seats and asked about their arrangements.

"Found a soft sleeper, Luo Yun fell asleep again, saying she was very sleepy."

Zhou Xiaobai responded to his inquiry, and at the same time gestured to the carriage behind and asked, "Is this your friend?"

"Hmm? Who?"

Li Xuewu looked back; there was no one in the corridor.

Zhou Xiaobai pointed at the carriage, reminding her that she was asking about the carriage that just came out.

"Oh! Hehe, you mean Director Bao."

Li Xuewu looked at her with a smile and said, "Cooperative relationship, not a friend."

"Then he just..."

Zhou Xiaobai pursed her lips and asked, "He said you were friends, isn't it?"

"Of course not."

Li Xuewu looked at her with amusement and explained, "He runs his mouth off; he doesn't even believe the words he says."

"Eww—"

Zhou Xiaobai understood, curled her lips, and evaluated, "He really lives so tired!"

"Hmm, hit the nail on the head!"

Li Xuewu gave her a thumbs up, then entered their carriage, and said with amusement, "You guys really dare to occupy it; this is prepared for the leaders."

"I don't care—"

Luo Yun's voice on the bunk was somewhat lazy, complaining in her mouth, "Xiaobai called me up to pack at 4:30; I hate her!"

After saying that, she turned her body and looked at Li Xuewu and said: "Forgot to congratulate you, Brother Wu, on the birth of your son; it's really a great happy event!"

She was clearly saying it to Li Xuewu, but her gaze sweeping over Zhou Xiaobai carried a bit of provocation.

Zhou Xiaobai glared at her and also congratulated Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu looked at the two's childish behavior with amusement and patted the bunk, signaling them to rest.

Zhou Xiaobai felt a bit heartbroken listening to Li Xuewu's calm thanks.

"Rest, two more hours."

Li Xuewu said when he left the carriage, then closed the carriage door.

Seeing Xue Zhifu standing by the seat waving at him, he walked straight over.

"Got up so early this morning, didn't rest for a while."

Li Xuewu greeted with a smile, "It wouldn't be that the carriage was occupied by someone."

"Hehe, the little girl is quite cute."

Xue Zhifu teased with a smile, then gestured to the British merchant representative sitting opposite and said, "Come, just in time, Mr. Pike wants to talk to you more."

"Is that so? If your body allows it, I have the same intention."

Li Xuewu sat down beside Xue Zhifu with a smile and greeted the other party: "I wanted to remind you on the platform just now that we are taking the train to Tianjin, and then we have to float on a boat for a while; it's best to rest."

"Thank you, Mr. Li; actually, it's very interesting, the trip here."

Smith Pike greeted Li Xuewu politely, then explained, "The most important thing about going out to play is participation and the process; I don't want to miss the most meaningful part of this journey."

Saying this, he gestured to the teacup in front of him and asked, "Can this be called a tea party?"

"Hahahaha~"

Li Xuewu looked at Xue Zhifu with a light smile, then nodded to him and said, "It can also be called morning tea, or chatting."

"Oh! Chinese is profound."

Pike smiled and spread his hands, "There is infinite charm here, very attractive to me, especially your culture."

"After all, there are five thousand years."

Li Xuewu said proudly, "And it is the only civilization without a fault; if we want to understand an era, we only need to look up the data."

"Truly infinite charm."

Pike shook his head slightly with emotion, "You will eventually rise, and even stand at the pinnacle of the world again."

"Oh?"

Li Xuewu's eyes flowed, looking at the other party and smiling slightly, "Mr. Pike's words are rarely heard from foreign friends."

"They are ignorant, superficial, and stupid people."

Pike raised his eyebrows slightly and reminded Li Xuewu, "They are not worth your friendship."

Li Xuewu's gaze shifted, and he looked the other man over with a smile: "I rarely hear Mr. Parker's words from the mouths of foreign friends."

"They are all ignorant, superficial, and foolish people."

Parker raised his eyebrows slightly and reminded Li Xuewu: "They are not worth your friendship."