Chapter 1049: Not Understanding the Business

"Why haven't you left yet?"

Looking at Ji Weidong, who had hopped into the car, Li Xuewu asked with a hint of disdain: "You haven't been sacked, have you?"

"Can't you think of something good for me! I've only been back for a few days, for heaven's sake!"

Ji Weidong said with dissatisfaction: "It hasn't even been a month. Are you already sick of me?"

Li Xuewu glanced at him and asked: "What use is it if I'm sick of you? Are you leaving?"

"Not leaving. Why should I?"

Ji Weidong said cockily: "Beijing isn't your home. You can't control me!"

"Still the same—!"

Li Xuewu couldn't be bothered to deal with him and said to Han Jiankun: "Stop at the intersection ahead. He wants to get off."

"Who said that! I'm not getting off!"

Ji Weidong stiffened his neck and said: "You just drive. Wherever your leader goes today, I go. I'm determined to mooch this meal!"

Han Jiankun remained unmoved, knowing that Ji Weidong was a good friend of the leader; it wouldn't do to take his joking seriously.

"Don't you have a home?"

Li Xuewu twitched the corner of his mouth, narrowed his eyes, and glared at him: "Or did Han Yating kick you out, leaving you homeless?"

"Our relationship as husband and wife is great. Don't be so jealous; we're better than you two!"

Ji Weidong shook his head and said: "Whatever you say is useless. You're treating today. I'm going to slaughter you for a meal, and I want something good!"

"Heh—"

Li Xuewu sneered and said: "Jiankun, let's go. Turn around and head back to the factory. We're having special training tonight; no eating!"

"Are you an iron-fisted miser? What's wrong with me eating one meal of yours?"

Ji Weidong stared at him with wide eyes and said: "I didn't get things done for you, right? That car, those people—isn't it deserved for me to eat a meal of yours?"

"Ah, so getting things done means I have to provide a meal?"

Li Xuewu looked at him, nodded, and said: "Fine, you've got a point. I concede!"

"Hey—! That's more like it!"

Ji Weidong, as if he had won an argument, shook his head and said: "Little comrade, you should flatter me more and suck up to me. It'll be good for you."

"Fine—alright, I'll suck up to you."

Li Xuewu reached out and patted Han Jiankun's shoulder: "Let's go, to the International Hotel. Today, I must treat Mr. Ji, who has come from afar and worked so hard, to a grand feast!"

"That's... hey? There's no need for the International Hotel, right! Why be so polite!"

Ji Weidong had just wanted to show off, but then felt something was wrong. Was his contribution enough to warrant the International Hotel?

His wife was a manager at the International Hotel; how could he not know the prices there?

For him, living in Hong Kong, the prices there naturally weren't high.

But for the mainland, that was already a high-consumption venue. If Li Xuewu treated him there, who knows what he might end up owing him.

No! Can't fall for this trap!

"That... Jiankun, right? Why are you driving toward your leader's home? I want a home-cooked meal today!"

He turned back to Li Xuewu and said: "We're all friends. A simple home-cooked meal will do. I'm not picky."

"Hey—! How can that be!"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said: "Look at you, coming back from so far away, dusty and tired, and you've helped me with so many things. How could I let you eat a home-cooked meal?"

"No! Must eat at the International Hotel!"

"No! I'm not eating!"

Ji Weidong finally saw it: the guy was trying to scheme against him again. This was definitely a huge pit.

If he went and ate happily, wouldn't he have to mortgage his underwear to him? If he then asked him to risk his life, would he do it or not?

If he didn't, could he spit out what was already in his stomach?

"Not going, I'm not eating at the International Hotel!" Ji Weidong refused clearly: "Even if I go, I won't get out of the car!"

"Really not going?"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said: "I'm genuinely wanting to treat you to a grand feast."

"Not going! I don't trust you!"

Ji Weidong was always blunt with him; his head shook like a rattle-drum, refusing to go no matter what.

"Alright then, don't say I didn't give you a chance."

Li Xuewu pointed at him and said: "It's you who doesn't want to eat the grand feast. Don't blame me for being stingy!"

"Pfft—!"

Ji Weidong curled his lips and said: "You arrange it yourself. Anyway, I don't accept rewards without merit. I know how to measure my own contributions."

"Fine, then let's find a suitable place." Li Xuewu patted Han Jiankun's shoulder without saying anything else; there was an unspoken understanding.

Ji Weidong looked suspiciously at Li Xuewu, then at the driver in front. What the hell was said? Where were they actually going?

The command car entered the East City under the last fiery red reflection of the sunset. It didn't head toward the Sihe Academy, nor toward the direction of the Haiyuncang, but headed straight for the club.

"Hey! So mysterious. I thought we were going somewhere else; it turns out it's this dump."

Ji Weidong watched the vehicle glide through the streets, enter the alley, and then turn into the large courtyard. His mouth was curled up to his ears.

Before he even got out of the car, he started complaining: "If I'd known, I would've found a place to treat you!"

"It's alright, the engine hasn't even been turned off yet."

Li Xuewu was about to pull back his leg from getting out of the car and said: "You give me the address, I'll have the driver find it, and we'll go eat at your place."

"Hurry up, why are you so petty!"

Ji Weidong thought to himself, he was just putting on an act, why was it so tiring? Couldn't the guy just play along?

As he spoke, he pushed Li Xuewu out of the car and hopped out himself.

The spring breeze at the end of March had already blown into people's hearts; it wasn't cold, nor was it hot, especially at this sunset hour—it was extremely comfortable.

Someone once said that whether you are creating, managing, or traveling, you must come to Beijing to live for a period of time.

What you see and hear will surely give you some different insights and realizations.

At this time, the Northeast must still be cold, and while the temperature in the South is warm, the humidity isn't comfortable.

Only the temperature around Beijing is just right; the end of March is truly excessively beautiful.

Ji Weidong surveyed the large mansion under the night curtain; the lights were connected, not like the day, but one could see people, roads, and trees.

Many houses were already lit. Standing in the parking lot and looking into the courtyard, it had the magnificence of an ancient, deep mansion.

"I say, not bad, brother."

Ji Weidong changed his previous "dump" comment, instead seeing the uniqueness of the courtyard.

In the nearest flower hall, red lanterns hung from the eaves, reflecting the ground in a reddish glow, warming people's faces, and brightening people's hearts.

The windows of the flower hall were decorated with glass, using a higher degree of light transmission.

Because the flowers and plants needed maintenance, it had to have sunlight and, even more, ventilation.

The nights in March weren't suitable for these delicate flowers and plants to see the starry sky; they still had to be kept in the flower hall.

However, standing outside and looking in, the lights were bright, and those few people were drinking tea and laughing—it was incredibly cozy and happy.

Seemingly having discovered Li Xuewu's arrival, someone stood up, walked to the window, and waved at them through the glass.

Li Xuewu smiled and waved back, gesturing toward the direction of the restaurant, declining the other party's invitation.

A beautiful scene on a beautiful night, with the moon rising—this place actually had the style of a great family estate.

Ji Weidong had seen the pettiness of Hong Kong; how could he not envy Li Xuewu's extravagance?

"I'm warning you, don't prepare anything too good; I don't want to eat it!"

Ji Weidong gave a heads-up: "I'm sick of eating exotic seafood and rare delicacies in Hong Kong. Now that I'm home, I just want to eat some home-cooked food."

"Rest assured, would I try to trap you?"

Li Xuewu impatiently gestured for him to walk together, saying as they walked: "I've discovered that you've become long-winded since you came back, acting all womanly."

"Are all Hong Kong people like this?"

"Don't point at the mulberry and curse the locust tree; I can tell what you mean."

Ji Weidong didn't take the bait, curling his lips: "I'll tell you in advance, I'm back to visit relatives this time; talking about work is just incidental."

"So—"

He looked at Li Xuewu and shook his head slightly: "Don't bring me trouble; I don't want to be your beast of burden anymore."

"Are you even worthy?"

Li Xuewu raised the corner of his mouth: "What kind of treatment do my beasts of burden enjoy? Someone like you wouldn't even enter my line of sight."

"I really want to tear that mouth of yours apart!"

Ji Weidong stood on the path leading to the backyard and looked back, asking: "Is the construction all finished?"

"Still missing some, I think."

Li Xuewu also stopped to look back and explained: "I've been busy with work lately, haven't come here much, haven't had time to look."

"Deep mansion, carved beams and painted rafters, golden and brilliant, blue bricks and grey tiles, powder walls and dark tiles, antique and elegant."

Ji Weidong paused after every sentence, his evaluation very sour, as if jealousy had proliferated.

Until he was invited into the private room, he was still sighing, saying that Hong Kong people were just geese living in pigsties, only knowing how to hold their heads high and cackle.

What is called elegance and grandeur, what is called a giant mansion of great wealth—in front of this courtyard, in front of this location, it was all trash.

"Just the two of us, don't prepare too much."

Seeing Li Xuewu washing his hands and instructing the waiter, Ji Weidong didn't forget to remind him.

Li Xuewu walked back after finishing his instructions, looking at him amusedly: "Are you afraid I'll trap you? We're good friends!"

"Pfft—! Stop!"

Ji Weidong curled his lips: "You specifically pick good friends to trap; don't I know you!"

After speaking, he surveyed the room, rolled his eyes, and asked: "How much did this courtyard cost to buy?"

"Why, do you want to set one up too?"

Li Xuewu looked him over, poured him a cup of tea with a teapot, and poured one for himself.

As the saying goes, "Raise a guest to buy wine, no monk doesn't offer tea." He wasn't a generous person.

Ji Weidong thought that even if he didn't jump into the pit or bury himself, he still had to be able to dodge it.

"There are plenty of mansions like this in Beijing, but not many in private hands. It counts as a scarce resource."

Li Xuewu introduced: "But if you look carefully, you should still be able to find some. Even if it's become a crowded tenement, you can entrust someone to settle it."

"Forget it—"

After pondering for a long while, Ji Weidong sighed leisurely: "Even you don't dare to live in this mansion you set up, what am I?"

"Besides, I'm in Hong Kong year-round. Setting this thing up is unclear and ambiguous. If I really let them mother and child live in, wouldn't that be trapping them?"

"Fine, seeing is possessing."

Ji Weidong drank a cup of tea, looked at the antique room, and said: "At worst, I'll come often in the future and look more; it counts as satisfying a craving."

"Have some ambition. Why would you like this style?"

Li Xuewu said amusedly: "Now it's all high-rise buildings, bright windows and clean tables; everyone yearns for civilization. Your thinking has regressed severely."

"You have the right to talk about me?"

Ji Weidong smiled and tapped the table: "No matter how much my thinking has regressed, I haven't gotten myself a deep mansion. Some people really have done it."

"This was all a coincidence, shoved into my hands. You don't know."

Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and asked: "Why, have you been living in a birdcage in Hong Kong? You like large mansions so much."

"Don't mention it, I really can't stand it."

Ji Weidong said helplessly: "At first, I couldn't understand what they were saying, all gibberish, unless I met people from the mainland, then it was okay."

"Another thing, there are many Southerners there, and they are united. Some things are hard to handle, and you can't talk it through; it makes you anxious."

"It's still better at home."

He held the teacup, looked at the vase on the small side table, and asked: "Real or fake?"

"What real or fake?"

Li Xuewu looked at him and said: "Can you speak properly?"

"If I don't speak properly, can you understand?" Ji Weidong stared: "Playing dumb, right? I'm asking you if the antiques are real."

"Don't know, just bought them to put here."

Li Xuewu picked up the teacup, took a sip, put it down casually, and ignored his nervousness.

Ji Weidong looked at it for a good while, then clicked his tongue and said: "There are many people doing this kind of business in Hong Kong. Many are from the mainland; it's exploding."

"Just this one, if it's a treasure, it's at least tens of thousands, and at most over a hundred thousand."

He acted as if he were very knowledgeable and introduced the antique business to Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu was happy to listen to him ramble; anyway, the dishes hadn't been served yet, just chatting nonsense.

Ji Weidong hadn't liked antiques before. This time, he didn't know what had stimulated him; he was wandering around the room, looking at things as if he could tell the real from the fake.

He didn't even think about where this was.

No matter how retro the decoration was, it wasn't an ancient aristocratic mansion; this was a restaurant, a private room.

A place for entertaining guests, how could it have real antiques?

They were all fake, bought from the recycling station for three or five cents a catty.

This room was full of vases and porcelain bottles. If you went to the backyard to look at the prepared guesthouse, there was even a Wang tripod in the lobby.

Four feet, two ears, bronze vessel, inscriptions carved, pointing directly to the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

Of course, it couldn't be from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, nor could it be from last week, but it should have a few decades of history.

Let's briefly mention an interesting thing here: in fact, the most ruthless and rampant time for antique forgery was during the early Republican period.

At that time, many masters of imitation truly emerged, reaching the point of being able to pass the fake for the real.

Calligraphy, paintings, porcelain, coins, bronzes, and even jade books could be forged.

Not to mention clay sculptures, stone Buddhas, wood carvings, and gold engravings, all adhering to the principle of being close to the original and never revealing the truth.

Even if the second master had spent half his life as a head pawn broker, he wouldn't dare say he had never been fooled.

There was also a period in later generations when this kind of forgery appeared crazily, but those were just small tricks picking up others' wisdom.

You say they imitate the ancient?

Actually, it doesn't even count; it's more likely to be called fabrication.

Just think, porcelain Ultraman could appear in the antique market of later generations; what couldn't they forge?

Except for the old man selling things, who was truly old, not a single thing was old.

The second master once told Li Xuewu the bottom line: he had time to check the ones he collected in the early stage, and he collected the fine pieces.

But in the middle and late stages of that period, it was all over; mud and sand were mixed together, and if the radish was pulled too fast, it wouldn't be washed.

Before, collecting a dozen pieces a day was considered a lot; later, it was thousands of pieces a day, as if it were an antique wholesale.

If it weren't for the fact that those selling during this period were collectors, the second master wouldn't have dared to collect them openly.

You say you wouldn't lose money at junk prices?

Stop joking. Bronzes could still guarantee no loss, but if it were porcelain and clay sculptures, you'd lose your pants.

So, if more than half of the antiques in Li Xuewu's warehouse were real and authentic, that would be a gain.

The second master wouldn't dare say they were all real; all the collectors in Beijing couldn't produce enough even if they broke their bones.

Of course, this has to be divided into several arguments; antiques actually depend on authenticity and influence.

You say real or fake? Li Xuewu even said the wine cup in his hand was real; it could really hold wine and be used for drinking, so how could it not be real?

So he also looked happily at Ji Weidong wandering around the room like a big fool looking for real antiques.

"Yo! Director Ji, what have you lost?"

Yu Li entered the room with a waiter carrying dishes and saw Ji Weidong crouching and sticking his butt out, looking at the large gall-bladder bottle on the ground.

Li Xuewu waved his hand, happily signaling her not to speak; he was watching the fun.

Yu Li first glared at him, then went to Ji Weidong's side and smiled, reminding him: "Director Ji, if you like it, I'll have it sent to your home. You can put whatever you want in it; it's not worth much."

"Hmm? Oh—oh—"

Ji Weidong understood; she was indirectly reminding him that this thing wasn't real.

He smiled awkwardly and said: "It's nothing, I'm just looking for fun."

As he spoke, he stood up, pointed to the intertwined flower vase on the small side table, and asked: "This—is that expensive?"

"Director Ji, don't bother."

Yu Li smiled and said: "Would we dare to put good things in this room? If it breaks, we'd definitely be heartbroken. Even these imitations are treasures."

"Of course, you can appreciate it and play with it; it still has some value."

"Is that so! I said so!"

Ji Weidong nodded as if he really understood: "Just now I saw some historical charm, but the light wasn't right. Hmm, hmm, that's it."

"I heard it from others too."

Yu Li helped the waiter set the table and replied: "If you like it, I'll introduce a master craftsman to you later."

"Good, good, thank you, Manager Yu."

Ji Weidong was easy to talk to and sat down happily.

Li Xuewu looked at his "sucker" appearance and joked: "You haven't suffered much in this regard in Hong Kong, have you? Just collecting antiques."

"No, absolutely not."

Ji Weidong shook his head like a rattle-drum and firmly denied: "I'm the one who picks up leaks; my eye is good enough."

"Hmm, your eye is okay."

Li Xuewu commented: "It's just that your IQ is a bit lacking. Come, eat a piece of fish to make up for it."

"Cut it out, I know what you're going to say."

Ji Weidong smiled and let Yu Li help pour the wine, teasing Li Xuewu: "Do you think I'm wasting money, buying things blindly?"

"I'm not a fool. I have capable people in my hands. Would I go buy these without professional help?"

He nodded to Yu Li to thank her, picked up the wine glass, and said: "My dad likes these things quite a bit. I collected some in Hong Kong; they're not great, but they're not bad either."

"Come on, welcome home."

Li Xuewu smiled, picked up the wine glass, clinked it with his, and said: "Although it's a bit late, it's sincere."

"Hmm—! It's fine."

Ji Weidong took a sip of wine, nodded, and said: "Even if you weren't sincere, I'd take it as sincere."

"What a character—!"

Li Xuewu waved at Yu Li, signaling her to sit down and eat together.

"Forget it, you and your old friend are reunited after a long time. I'll come over to clean up after you've finished eating."

Yu Li was polite, greeted Ji Weidong with a smile, and was about to leave, but was called back by him.

"Don't, don't, don't be polite."

Ji Weidong said sincerely: "I know you're in charge of the office business here now; I've been wanting to chat with you for a long time."

"Having time today is fate."

He gestured to Li Xuewu and himself: "Xuewu and I are good buddies; our feelings won't change no matter how many years pass without communication. Everything said today is friend-talk. You eat with us."

As he spoke, he had already helped her set the chair, even lifted a small wine glass that was covered, and wanted to help her pour wine.

"Director Ji, I'll do it myself."

Seeing him say this, Yu Li didn't stand on ceremony anymore, took the wine pot, poured herself a glass, and sat down next to the chair.

Seeing Li Xuewu and the other eat a few bites of food, she picked up her wine glass and toasted.

"I'm borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha, using our leader's banquet to make a friend like you."

Yu Li smiled and said to Ji Weidong: "Welcome home, and I wish you a happy and pleasant meal tonight."

"Good! That's well said!"

Ji Weidong smiled, raised his glass to clink with hers, and the two drank one.

After finishing, he let Yu Li help him fill the wine again, and said to Li Xuewu with a smile: "You really know how to recognize talent. Where do you find so many talented people?"

"Picking pearls from the vast sea, each relying on their own eye."

Li Xuewu clinked glasses with him again and finished the wine in the glass while he was shouting to drink slowly.

"Try this dish, it's very tender."

He picked up a piece of meat that looked like beef, put it on Ji Weidong's plate, and signaled him to eat more.

Ji Weidong was polite, picked it up, and ate it; it was soft and springy, very delicious.

"Hmm, don't say, this place looks classical, but this dish is fresh."

"Hmm, if it's delicious, eat more."

Li Xuewu smiled, picked up another piece for him, and signaled him to eat more.

Ji Weidong smiled and thanked him, and also asked Li Xuewu to try something fresh.

"I'm a regular here; I eat here every week for gatherings."

Li Xuewu didn't move his chopsticks much for the meat, basically eating the green vegetables.

"My dad is afraid my health isn't good, told me not to eat meat for dinner, only green vegetables, and not to eat too full."

He pointed to the wine in the glass and said: "Even drinking is an exception. I haven't touched the cup for a long time."

"You might not know, right?"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said: "I've even quit smoking; I've really learned to be good."

"I said so."

Ji Weidong finished the meat in the bowl, put down his chopsticks, and looked at Li Xuewu in surprise: "You haven't offered me a cigarette for a long time; so that's what's going on."

"Hehe—not smoking anymore, so I don't carry cigarettes, saving myself from craving."

Li Xuewu said lightly: "If you want to smoke, smoke your own; I'm not joining you."

"Fine, you're really something."

Seeing Li Xuewu speak seriously, Ji Weidong nodded and said: "If you quit smoking, I'll quit smoking too. Things you can accomplish, I can't, but quitting smoking is still doable."

"No need, what a big deal!"

Li Xuewu used serving chopsticks to pick up the meat in the jar for him again, signaling him to eat more.

"The chef here is a family chef, raised in a wealthy household early on. The craftsmanship is the most tricky and refined; ordinary people can't compare."

"Hmm—tasted it, it's good."

Ji Weidong looked at the meat in the bowl, then at the jar, and saw there wasn't a piece or two left. He finally reacted.

It seemed there wasn't much to begin with, and he had eaten all this meat?

Had he eaten a lot?

Not much, right? What's the situation!

"That... Xuewu, what meat is this? It's surprisingly delicious."

Seeing Li Xuewu only letting him eat while he himself hadn't moved a bit.

It was fine that he said he couldn't eat meat, but Yu Li had eaten meat, yet she hadn't touched this dish.

Ji Weidong felt something was wrong and asked Li Xuewu: "So little, it's a good thing, right?"

"Not that good, just average."

Li Xuewu smiled and signaled him to eat, don't waste it, eat more.

"Can't eat anymore, tell me, what is this thing?"

Ji Weidong only felt he had fallen into a pit; this thing was definitely a treasure, something hard to get.

"If you don't tell me, I'm not eating."

"Director Ji, it's nothing, it's just bear paw specially left for you by Director Li." Seeing him like this, and having Li Xuewu's tacit approval, Yu Li explained.

It would have been better if she hadn't explained; once she did, Ji Weidong went numb.

"What the hell! Bear paw?!"

He was so surprised he almost jumped up, staring at the small piece left in the small jar and the small piece in his bowl.

Then looking at Li Xuewu's little fox appearance, how could he not know he had been tricked?

He just said he kept telling him to eat and eat more.

What kind of health preservation not eating meat, he was purely chatting nonsense with him.

"Li Xuewu, our friendship is at an end."

He said with a dejected face: "I almost brought a secretary to remind me, just to guard against you, and I still didn't guard against it."

"What are you saying, guard against me for what?"

Li Xuewu happily picked up the last piece of meat and gave it to Ji Weidong: "Good stuff, eat more, ordinary people can't eat it."

"Yes, this was honeyed long ago."

Yu Li introduced from the side: "It was sent to Director Li from the Northeast. He couldn't bear to eat it. Hearing you were back, he specially left it for you."

"Hmm—left it to trap me."

Ji Weidong sat in the chair, looked at the two pieces of meat in the bowl, looked up at Li Xuewu amusedly, and said: "Tell me, what's the matter?"

"What matter?"

Li Xuewu played dumb: "Eating is the matter, just eat your food."

"You're just talking nonsense."

Ji Weidong looked at him and said: "You set up such a scene, even bear paw is up, can I still eat it?"

"Just these two pieces, I really want to eat."

He pointed to the bowl and said: "Tell me what you want to do now. I'll see if I've eaten it, or if I should go vomit quickly, while it hasn't been digested yet."

"Stop being disgusting."

Li Xuewu picked up the towel on the side and wiped his hands: "Small matter, you can handle it."

"Actually, I didn't want to trouble you."

He nodded embarrassedly: "The matter caught up, and I couldn't free my hands for a moment. We're friends, right?"

"Hmm—tell me the matter first."

Ji Weidong said with a twitching mouth: "Wait until I see if this matter is righteous or not before mentioning the friend thing."

"Look at you, come, let's have one."

Li Xuewu smiled and toasted him, and Yu Li also raised her glass.

Ji Weidong looked at the two and asked: "This wine won't have an ambush, right?"

"Sip—"

After Li Xuewu finished, he showed the bottom of the cup and only waited for Ji Weidong to drink before laughing: "The wine is proper Moutai, it's just that this cup is a bit expensive."

"Damn—!"

Ji Weidong carefully placed the wine glass in his hand on the table and looked at it cautiously.

Then he said resentfully to Li Xuewu: "A chain of traps, right? I can't escape, right?"

He pointed to the wine glass and asked: "What is this thing, is it a real antique?"

"Hehe—not quite ancient."

Li Xuewu laughed lightly and looked at Yu Li.

Yu Li took over the conversation and said: "A set of wine vessels used by the Qing Daoguang Emperor, it just occupies the word 'Palace'."

"Damn, it's not ancient! But it's really expensive!"

Ji Weidong had already said he wasn't a fool. Look, the Daoguang period hasn't been dead for many years, but think about what this thing is.

Imperial kiln use, authentic and even has a source and story. If he accidentally broke it just now...

"This wine can't be drunk, tell me the matter quickly."

Ji Weidong waved his hand and said: "Making you a friend, I've had eight lifetimes of bad luck."

"How hurtful that is to my heart."

Li Xuewu glanced at him: "It's just a matter of tens of tons of chemical fertilizer. Isn't it an easy matter for you?"

"Hmm, tens of tons?"

Ji Weidong learned to be cautious this time. Twenty tons is tens of tons, and ninety-nine tons is also tens of tons. Eating a loss in Li Xuewu's place, he learned a lesson.

Li Xuewu didn't make things difficult for him and spoke directly about the situation of the Wei Third Regiment, explaining the difficulties on the mountain.

Ji Weidong curled his lips after listening and asked: "So the tractor and agricultural machinery matter is also mine?"

As he spoke, he picked up the meat in the bowl and sent it to his mouth, saying: "I ate this meat."

Li Xuewu didn't speak, only waiting for him to finish the meat before continuing: "The tractor and agricultural machinery matter was handled by the Steel Mill, after all, there are several downstream units cooperating."

"Hmm?"

Ji Weidong touched his stomach, thinking about how to spit out what he had just eaten.

"Li Xuewu, you're trapping me again!"

"Hey, speak properly."

Li Xuewu smiled and said: "It's not as serious as you think. Rest assured, we're friends, would I trap you?"

"Our factory has re-created an internal education system and urgently needs educational teaching aids."

He said earnestly: "Education has always been a key content that our organization cares about. Our factory has exhausted all its strength."

"The construction of infrastructure is absolutely no problem, taking priority over all residential construction."

"Only excellent teaching materials and educational aids are missing, especially the gap with world-class levels is too large."

"Good! Isn't it just educational tools?"

Ji Weidong thought for a while, it didn't seem difficult, and nodded: "I'll help you with this matter. You speak, how much do you want?"

"Not much, just enough from nursery to high school, and then a vocational technical training college."

"Cough cough—just enough?"

Ji Weidong was almost choked to death, looking at Li Xuewu speechlessly: "It's difficult enough to get to high school, let alone world-class. I don't understand."

"I'll just set it up for you according to the standards of good schools in Hong Kong. The value isn't much, but do you know how much energy it will take?"

"I know, if I didn't know, would I entrust it to you?"

Li Xuewu said as a matter of course: "Why didn't I ask anyone else? I just feel you are trustworthy and reliable. Our leader said so too."

"Your leader really said that?"

Ji Weidong looked at Li Xuewu in disbelief; his words were rarely true.

Li Xuewu said seriously: "You've dealt with Director Li of our factory. That's exactly what he said, saying that if you mention education and medical matters to you, it will absolutely..."

"Wait! Did I hear wrong!"

Ji Weidong waved his hand to stop Li Xuewu: "What did you just say? Education and what? Why did I hear something mixed in?"

"Hey—! The workers are suffering!"

Li Xuewu sighed and said: "You know the current medical environment. Our factory has more than 30,000 people, and the production and labor environment is extremely dangerous."

"Even though I've been strictly grasping discipline and norms since I took charge of safety, production accidents still occur."

"Some accident injuries can actually be treated, but the medical conditions are limited, and rescue is not timely, causing tragic consequences."

Li Xuewu's narration was vivid and moving, very touching, but Ji Weidong just wanted to curse.

A whole set of teaching aids from nursery to vocational university was troublesome enough, and now there had to be a set of medical equipment and tools?

"What scale of hospital is your Steel Mill going to build? Is the current one not enough?"

Ji Weidong knew the matter definitely wasn't as simple as he thought. Since he was asked for help, this hospital, like the school, couldn't be small.

Sure enough, Li Xuewu composed his emotions and introduced seriously: "The Steel Mill is going to build an industrial zone in Liangma River that accommodates 100,000 residents and 300,000 production workers."

"So, in addition to building supporting educational facilities, we also need to build a comprehensive hospital that matches the number of workers and residents."

Li Xuewu looked at Ji Weidong and said: "Our factory has already given the factory hospital unlimited quotas for recruiting excellent doctors and is also contacting medical schools for cooperation."

"The hospital should start construction in the second half of this year and should be completed by the end of the year. As for these advanced medical devices, you know..."

He looked at Ji Weidong and asked: "Can you watch the worker brothers live in a harsh medical environment and ignore it?"

"I shouldn't have been greedy and come to eat this meal of yours!"

Ji Weidong shook his chin and said: "A comprehensive medical security hospital that accommodates at least 500,000 people—do you know how much equipment is needed?"

"Still the Hong Kong hospital standard, right? I'm really convinced by you!"

He moved the wine glass away, looked at Li Xuewu and said: "Rome wasn't built in a day. I know the Steel Mill is developing fast, but there must be a process."

"Even if you have money now and get all the equipment, will you know how to use it? Can the medical level of the doctors reach this level of medical standard?"

"Don't dare to guarantee it, right?"

Ji Weidong pointed at the table and said: "Hong Kong is right there, it won't fly away or get lost. Take it slow. Whatever you need, I'll send it in bit by bit, okay?"

"I understand what you're saying, I understand it better than anyone."

Li Xuewu looked at him seriously: "But have you thought about the current and future international situation, as well as the internal situation changes and trends?"

"Are you sure you can transport these things into the mainland now? What about later?"

He looked at Ji Weidong and said: "I dare to guarantee that after all the machinery and equipment arrive, the most excellent doctors and scientific research teams will be recruited to participate in learning and research."

"I dare to guarantee that the Steel Mill will do its best to ensure the investment and construction of medical and education."

"I dare to guarantee even more that the Steel Mill will definitely achieve its construction goals within three or five years, and at that time, these facilities will be needed to ensure the operation of subsequent development."

"Now I ask you."

Li Xuewu looked at him and said: "Do you dare to guarantee that all equipment will enter the mainland without obstacles within the next five years?"

"Do you dare to guarantee that our doctors and scientific research teams will have enough time to adapt and learn within the next five years?"

The private room fell silent for a moment. Ji Weidong was thinking, while Yu Li was looking at the two with concern.

She had received news from Li Xuewu early on that she was to entertain Ji Weidong here today.

They were talking about some work of the Steel Mill; she just didn't expect the problem to be so tricky.

Whether it's education or medical equipment, it's actually not in the scope of confidentiality and blockade; basically, it's not.

But purchasing these things systematically isn't an easy task. Some equipment isn't something you can buy just because you want to.

Especially advanced medical equipment, many are pre-ordered.

One costs hundreds of thousands; which manufacturer would build it and put it there waiting for a hospital to buy it?

Some equipment even updates and replaces very quickly; it must be sold after being built, otherwise, it depreciates every second.

Even more equipment needs dimensions to complete supporting production. If you don't order in advance, which manufacturer would dare to produce it and let you cancel the order?

A manufacturer might only produce a hundred or so pieces of equipment a year; that's enough for them.

Every order is important enough.

So Li Xuewu talked to Ji Weidong in advance, which was to ensure that in the changes of the next year, or even the next three to five years, the Steel Mill's infrastructure wouldn't fall behind.

Especially to build a large comprehensive hospital, the medical capacity must cover the entire factory area and the entire industrial zone's workers.

At this time, the doctor force is the easiest to gather, and medical school graduates are also the easiest to gather.

If the Steel Mill gives up the last tranquility before the storm, then if it wants to develop rapidly in the future, it can only compete with others.

Li Xuewu arranged for personnel to grab college students, stating clearly that they wanted everyone, as long as they were college students.

What's important here includes medical students; this is the foundation for future hospital construction.

Cultivating a qualified worker might only take a year, but cultivating a qualified doctor takes five, eight, or even more than ten years.

This isn't just a simple matter of smashing money or feeding cases; it's a problem where the overall medical environment and foundation can have a greater impact.

Ji Weidong, considering problems from the outside, could see broad issues, as if he had hit the point, talking eloquently with reason and evidence.

But in Li Xuewu's view, nothing was as important as the construction of the Steel Mill.

He was the one doing the work, and he knew best what the Steel Mill needed right now.

Just think, Li Xuewu treated Li Huai's talk about business as a fart; could he listen to Ji Weidong?

The leader doesn't understand the business. ===== CHAPTER 1050 =====