Chapter 1059: A Stunning Success

"Are the membership conditions for the Youth Association too high?"

Yu Li frowned slightly, "Judging by current economic income, taking out 100 yuan a year for membership fees, I estimate not many can afford it."

"Moreover, the age limit is not lower than 16 and not higher than 25; these conditions are too harsh."

"These are just membership screening conditions, not core assessment conditions. You didn't see the point."

Zuo Jie sat up straight on the sofa and explained very earnestly, "Age and membership fees are merely standards for testing people's hearts."

"Moreover, the benefits that can be enjoyed upon joining far exceed the assessment requirements. Li Ge gave a guarantee on this point."

Li Xuewu nodded, not in a hurry to explain, but signaled him to continue.

"Core assessment conditions include education, background, work, hobbies, etc."

After several months of tempering, Zuo Jie already had the appearance of a young talent.

When reporting work, he no longer had his previous laziness or playfulness; he was very rigorous.

"The requirement of 16 years old and above guarantees the legality and compliance of the Youth Association's creation foundation, while also allowing for an investigation into the target's development potential."

Although his notebook was open, he didn't look at it; clearly, he had memorized these things.

"Based on a high school education, if one has already started working, this condition can be relaxed to junior high school, but an investigation and assessment of the work situation must be conducted."

"For high school graduates who haven't started working, an investigation of their background must be conducted, and assessments must be made regarding knowledge, social skills, eloquence, hobbies, and future life planning."

"For those with a high school education or above who have already started working, an investigation of their work situation must be conducted, and an interview assessment of their family background and comprehensive strength must be made."

Zuo Jie closed his notebook and said, "The level of education is a major standard for membership assessment. People without learning ability won't have much potential either."

"In other words—"

Yu Li thought and asked, "Those with learning look at learning, those without learning look at ability, and those with both learning and ability also have to look at background."

"Yes, but ultimately, it's about looking at potential."

Zuo Jie nodded and said, "For those who haven't started working, they haven't been tempered, so the basis for judging potential can only be learning and interests."

"For those who have already started working, one can naturally evaluate a person's potential from their work ability and social ability, and then conduct basic and personality assessments."

He spread his hands and said, "No one is a god, and I'm just a young person myself, so naturally I wouldn't dare assert who will have a future and who won't."

"However, I can weave the sieve finer, and what I scoop up will ultimately be better. Don't you think so, Li Ge?"

"Hmm, that makes sense—!"

Li Xuewu smiled and nodded at him, took a sip of the teacup Zhou Xiaobai handed him, and asked, "How many people have you recruited? Are there ten?"

"No, seven, temporarily seven."

Zuo Jie said very frankly, "The Youth Association adheres to the principle of 'better to have nothing than to have something inferior,' being responsible to the organization and responsible to the members, strictly guarding the entrance."

"What is the channel for joining? Self-registration? Or..."

Yu Li thought and asked, "How is the interview arranged? Is it you who interviews, or did you find someone to help?"

"Interviews are mainly managed by the club."

Zuo Jie explained, "I'm very familiar with Deputy Division Chief Wang Zheng; she helped me a lot. Of course, there are also Brother Huang and Brother Ma and the others."

"As for the channel for joining, I'm temporarily considering a sponsorship system: two quotas per year for club members, and three quotas per year for club management."

He looked at Li Xuewu and asked with a smile, "Li Ge, can our funds afford it?"

"Haha—don't ask me, I don't know."

Li Xuewu smiled lightly, pointed to Yu Li, and said, "Ask Director Yu. Although your money bag isn't managed by her, she knows how much there is."

"Even with fifty members and seven managers, that's only one hundred and twenty assessment quotas a year."

Yu Li raised her eyebrows and asked, "What's the elimination rate? Won't they all pass?"

"On the contrary, it might be very strict."

Zuo Jie touched his nose and said, "Tentatively, recommendations start in February each year, assessments start in March, and formal absorption happens on May 4th, Youth Day."

"Of course, this year is the first year, and the situation is relatively special. The assessments and investigations are all done by me, mainly relying on the relationship with Sister Wang Zheng."

He looked at Li Xuewu and reported, "It is expected that 40 people will formally become members of the Youth Association on this year's Youth Day."

"Hmm, very good. Things are precious because they are rare."

Li Xuewu handed this project to him to handle, with Wang Zheng bringing him up and Huang Gan helping him; the general direction was no problem.

"The number of people isn't important; what's important is organizing the activities and people's hearts well."

"Yes, I've discussed this with Sister Wang Zheng. The Youth Association mainly focuses on learning and tempering, and the member resources provided are also like this."

Zuo Jie reported, "First is learning resources, including culture, art, physical arts, and professional skills like shooting."

"Second is identity resources. Possessing the identity of a Youth Association member, after passing the annual assessment, there is an opportunity to be promoted to the membership qualification of the Dongfeng Number 1 Club."

"Youth Association members will also have customized exclusive badges, numbers, clothing, briefcases, etc., to facilitate contact and mutual help in work and life."

"Finally, there are political resources. The Youth Association will organize exchange activities regularly and invite members of the Dongfeng Number 1 Club to participate in exchanges."

Zuo Jie looked at Li Xuewu and said with a smile, "Wu Ge, I've formulated many learning plans; you must support us a lot."

"Haha—! I don't care!"

Li Xuewu joked, "President Zuo has ability and talent; these problems are naturally nothing to you, so why would you need me?"

"Wu Ge~ stop teasing him!"

Luo Yun glanced at Zuo Jie, stood up, walked to Li Xuewu's sofa, and sat on the armrest.

"You still have to draw a line for him. How old is he? Even if he's tempered, he doesn't have proper work experience. You can't just let go and not care."

"Look—!"

Li Xuewu pointed amusingly at Luo Yun, who was pushing his shoulder, and asked Zuo Jie and the others, "Isn't it good to find a girlfriend? Someone cares about you."

"Hahaha—"

The few people in the room followed Li Xuewu's words and teased Zuo Jie and the others, all laughing.

Luo Yun felt a bit embarrassed, pushed Li Xuewu's shoulder, and said, "Wu Ge, I'm also a member of the Youth Association. I'm fighting for my own interests."

"Hmm, this explanation is good; it sounds more mature than the one just now."

Li Xuewu didn't care about Zuo Jie's nepotism; he knew Luo Yun and Zhou Xiaobai were both in the Youth Association, which could be considered being close to the water to get the moon first.

"The steel mill has some benefits, including joint trade and internal benefits. I can decide to allocate some to you."

He took a sip of hot tea and said, "The service department will connect with the steel mill's trade supply chain one after another. You just wait for the allocation."

"And there are the steel mill's internal resources, including preferential prices for cars and motorcycles, enrollment qualifications for the factory education system, etc."

Li Xuewu put down the teacup, looked at Zuo Jie, and said, "Resources are never enough. It depends on how you use them. Relying solely on material enjoyment and political resources to attract members is far from enough."

"The Youth Association can also walk a path with its own characteristics: learning in growth, tempering in growth, and realizing in growth."

He nodded slowly and said, "Even if Youth Association members don't get into the Dongfeng Number 1 Club in the future, they must be outstanding figures when they go out."

It's hard to get into the Youth Association, and even harder to get into the Dongfeng Number 1 Club; this is a standard perception.

The Youth Association can investigate work and background, absorbing members for cultivation and assessment.

But the screening conditions for the Dongfeng Number 1 Club are fixed; the primary condition is deputy division level and above.

That is to say, even if you join the Youth Association, if you don't reach the deputy division level or above during your youth cadre period, you won't be able to enter the door of the Dongfeng Number 1 Club.

This door exists virtually, but it also exists tangibly; the threshold is deputy division.

It could be said before that Wang Zheng was a regular section chief, but she was the one who joined at the very beginning, just like Luo Yun and Zhou Xiaobai of the Youth Association.

Of course, these two were Li Xuewu's own people whom he was cultivating; their future was guaranteed.

Li Xuewu had very high requirements and expectations for the Youth Association.

It wasn't just the "nursery" for Dongfeng Number 1, but should be the incubation port for young cadres.

Based in East City, absorbing young talents for cultivation and influence, and then educated and taught by the Dongfeng Number 1 Club, it would inevitably become a star.

Dongfeng Number 1's temporary absorption standard is cadre status. This year, Li Xuewu intends to discuss with other management whether to introduce some scholars and scientific researchers to enrich the membership.

This place was originally a place for mutual learning and improvement, not a playground for eating, drinking, and playing.

Constantly introducing new knowledge and new ideas, colliding, reacting, fusing, and fermenting in a safe furnace until a new ideological foundation is produced.

"Wu Ge's meaning is that you must have your own thoughts, thoughts of realistic thinking, not wild fantasies. Don't set your goals too high."

Luo Yun looked at her boyfriend and exhorted, "Relying on Dongfeng Number 1 to run the Youth Association can be an orderly inheritance, but you must also have your own essence."

"I know, the essence is growth."

Zuo Jie said thoughtfully, "The most precious thing about the Youth Association is actually youth, the future, and possessing infinite possibilities and choices."

"Don't define it too clearly."

Li Xuewu shook his finger and said, "I haven't specifically defined its existence, so there's even less need for you to draw a circle for yourself and be limited within."

"Yes, I understand."

Zuo Jie raised his head and looked at Li Xuewu confidently, "I will make full use of the resources here and make full use of the interpersonal relationships here."

"Finally enlightened—!"

Shen Guodong smiled and patted his leg, "It still takes your partner to talk to you!"

"Hahaha—!"

Coming out of the management office director's office, Luo Yun joked and played with Li Xuewu.

She took Zhou Xiaobai's hand and walked out, while Zuo Jie was still saying something to Li Xuewu.

She and Zhou Xiaobai weren't going home tonight; they were resting in the dormitory. Zuo Jie was the same.

They left a step earlier. When they reached the entrance of the billiard room, Zuo Jie caught up.

"Wu Ge isn't going back tonight?"

"Don't know, why would I ask this!"

Zuo Jie was stunned by Luo Yun's question and said amusingly, "Should I go back and ask?"

"Are you stupid?!"

Luo Yun rolled her eyes and said, "You say you've received so much help from Xiaobai, why don't you think about helping out? It's just a matter of convenience."

"Oh—can you not mention this!"

Zhou Xiaobai did want to know if Li Xuewu was staying here tonight, but after Luo Yun said it, she herself felt embarrassed.

Even if Li Xuewu stayed here, she wouldn't dare to do anything; this wasn't Jinmen.

Zuo Jie reacted and said to Zhou Xiaobai apologetically, "I really didn't think of this, sorry, Xiaobai."

He pointed toward the entrance and said, "I didn't see Li Ge's car, which means he didn't intend to go back tonight. Maybe he's planning to stay here."

"What if he calls the driver?" Luo Yun rolled her eyes and said, "What's the use of you just guessing."

"Impossible, if he were going to call, he would have called long ago."

Zuo Jie shook his head and said, "Besides, the club management is having a meeting here tomorrow. Maybe he's thinking of saving the run."

Luo Yun pouted but didn't refute this sentence, instead pulling Zhou Xiaobai toward the dormitory, saying as they walked, "Next time you report to Wu Ge, remember to draft it; don't say whatever comes to mind."

"What's wrong? Wasn't this quite good today?" Zuo Jie shrugged his shoulders, not understanding, and said, "Wu Ge even said he was very satisfied just now."

"His satisfaction doesn't matter; you have to make him actively pay attention to you, understand?"

Luo Yun looked back at him and said, "You have to know, whether it's the club or the Youth Association, the core must be him, not you."

Walking into the courtyard, there was no one there now. She frowned and pointed at Zuo Jie, "Don't be arrogant, don't be self-righteous; ask for instructions more and report diligently."

"Is it necessary—"

Zuo Jie didn't want to hear Luo Yun say this, frowned and said, "Running this project was also requested by Wu Ge, and he was the one who pointed me to be the person in charge."

"You still know that!"

Luo Yun widened her eyes and scolded, "Setting rules, setting systems—have you asked Wu Ge?"

"Just know to ask your Sister Wang Zheng, right?"

She pointed at Zuo Jie and said, "Do you think Sister Wang Zheng and Brother Huang helped you the most? Do you still remember what you just said?"

"Think about it carefully—"

"What did I say?"

Zuo Jie followed Luo Yun and the others to the dormitory, confused, complaining, "What's wrong with you today? Why are you always picking on me?"

"I'm picking on you? You've really grown capable, don't know what's good for you, have you!"

Luo Yun stood still, turned around, looked at Zuo Jie, and said, "Think about what Director Yu asked you when you were reporting, how you answered, and what Wu Ge said when you wanted money!"

Just as Zuo Jie was still recalling these, Luo Yun pointed at his chest and questioned, "What do you mean you didn't see the point? Is this what you should say? What qualification do you have to talk to her like that!"

"Your Youth Association is so great, but isn't it holding activities in this courtyard? Do you know who manages this courtyard?"

Luo Yun glared at him and scolded, "I think your ability hasn't improved, but your arrogance has."

She pointed toward the management office and said, "Now you've come out, Shen Guodong and Yu Li stayed there to talk to Li Ge. Do you know what this means?"

"Don't be arrogant. Li Ge has already hinted at you; when you wanted money, he told you who to talk to."

Luo Yun looked at Zuo Jie like he was a fool and said, "Do you know what the agenda for the club management meeting tomorrow is?"

"It's that the daily management of the club is to be formally handed over to the management office. Yu Li will be your superior from now on, your proper leader!"

"Li Ge hinted to you several times to report to Yu Li, and Yu Li was also actively asking you. What are you doing? Getting impatient reporting to her!"

"I... I didn't either."

Zuo Jie seemed to understand what was going on, stammering, "I really didn't think that much. I was just thinking about getting things done. Setting those rules and regulations and interviewing members were all trivial tasks; I didn't want to trouble Wu Ge."

"So you dared to act on your own?"

Luo Yun sneered and nodded, "I don't know who gave you the courage. If Wu Ge hadn't nodded tonight, I'd like to see how your Youth Association would open!"

"Zuo Jie, you must listen carefully to Luo Yun's words. She isn't scolding you, nor is she belittling you or bullying you."

Zhou Xiaobai stood by and persuaded, "I felt you had a sense of contempt for Sister Yu Li at the time. Every time you reported to the key points, you looked at Wu Ge. Sister Yu Li's look at you wasn't right either."

"I know, Xiaobai, I didn't think much."

Zuo Jie sat on the wooden chair by the corridor, holding his head, and said, "I really didn't think about slighting anyone, and I didn't think about ignoring anyone."

"But you did it—"

Zhou Xiaobai pulled Luo Yun to sit beside him and said, "You don't have the experience of working in an agency, but you must know that he may not look, but you cannot not report."

"And, you don't know if he will look. Even if he doesn't look, he will hand it over to professional people to handle. Think about whether this is the case?"

"Hmm, I was busy and confused."

Zuo Jie covered his face and said, "Recently, I've only been thinking about how to set up the framework quickly, forgetting why I wanted to set up this framework."

He looked at Luo Yun and said, "But I can guarantee that everything I've done is open and aboveboard, and I haven't betrayed Wu Ge or betrayed the club."

"Otherwise, why do you think you were able to get financial and policy support from Wu Ge tonight?"

"Otherwise, why do you think you can still sit in this position and talk eloquently?"

Luo Yun glanced at him and said, "Wu Ge didn't bicker with you, knowing you're young and just starting your career, and there's always a time when you lose your head."

"However, it's already reached this point, and seven members have been absorbed, yet you didn't report to Wu Ge, and even acted on your own to set up some system."

She frowned and looked at Zuo Jie, asking, "Are you sure your personal relationship with Wu Ge has reached the point where you don't need to consider his suspicion of your loyalty?"

"Luo Yun, it's not that serious."

Zhou Xiaobai shook Luo Yun's hand and said, "The Youth Association, like Zuo Jie, is a seedling planted by Wu Ge; there must be a process of growth."

"But you can't expect Wu Ge to always be so tolerant and understanding of you."

Luo Yun looked at Zuo Jie and said, "Even if Wu Ge understands, are you sure Yu Li can understand?"

"I didn't think about this, and I didn't know Yu Li was going to become my supervisor."

Zuo Jie sighed, "I've really been busy and confused lately; I haven't paid attention to anything."

"Only knowing to lower my head and plow the land, not knowing to look up and see if I've plowed someone else's land."

Luo Yun couldn't get angry at him and said helplessly, "Yu Li can take over the management office and is in charge of the office business on the recycling station side, with Su Qing helping her. Can't you see that?"

She asked with hatred for his lack of progress, "Didn't you have a good relationship with her before?"

"Yes, it's just that I'm busy and can't see her."

Zuo Jie scratched his right cheek, his face burning. He wasn't a fool; he was much smarter than Luo Yun and Zhou Xiaobai, otherwise Li Xuewu wouldn't have cultivated him.

The reason why Luo Yun and Zhou Xiaobai, who were bystanders, could see the signs that he was about to drift and reminded him was entirely because he was confused as a person in the situation.

Once these problems were opened up and explained, he himself reacted.

Today he came to report the work progress of the Youth Association to Wu Ge, but it was Yu Li who asked the questions, and she asked several times. He even thought Yu Li had an opinion of him.

Especially since Wu Ge never expressed an opinion, and he didn't even notice when he hinted for him to report to Yu Li.

Later, Luo Yun even had to take the initiative to stand up and help him smooth things over in front of Wu Ge.

He didn't even hear the truth in the sentence Wu Ge pointed at him, just treating it as a joke.

He was truly stupid. At Wu Ge's position, how could he joke casually when talking about work? It must have had hidden meaning.

"Stop pulling your hair. Will pulling it bald make you smarter?"

Luo Yun still felt sorry for him and couldn't bear to see him struggling and uncomfortable. She slapped his hand that was pulling his hair lightly and reminded him, "You know how to ease the relationship, right? I don't need to teach you this, right?"

"I know, I know."

Zuo Jie raised his head and smiled with exhaustion in his eyes, saying, "Thank you, Luo Yun. If you hadn't reminded me, I would still be complacent and unaware."

"Oh my, stop smiling; it's uglier than crying—"

Luo Yun slapped his face away in disgust and said, "Don't foolishly use those resources Wu Ge has already promised you. Ask Director Yu for instructions, understand?"

"I know, I know. I won't make this kind of low-level mistake again. Just this once! I guarantee!"

Zuo Jie patted his forehead with a bitter smile and said, "Next time I'm arrogant and conceited again, you slap me and wake me up."

"Hmph—who was the one who wasn't convinced just now?"

Luo Yun snorted, pouted, and turned away, not wanting to pay attention to him.

Zuo Jie was willing to let go. Although he still cared about the embarrassment in the office, he still took the initiative to hug Luo Yun and said, "I'm sorry."

"Oh my—why are you like this!"

Zhou Xiaobai stood up, covering her eyes as if she couldn't stand it, "In public, and you don't know how to take care of my feelings."

"Eh—you've really changed!"

Luo Yun slapped Zuo Jie's hand away. She wasn't used to having intimate actions outside, even at night, let alone outside.

However, this didn't delay her counterattack against Zhou Xiaobai: "Just now in the office, I don't know who..."

"Ah—Luo Yun! You dare say!"

Zhou Xiaobai pouted, blushed, and kicked Luo Yun, "Mutual harm, right!"

"Are you going back tonight?"

Yu Li sent Li Xuewu and Shen Guodong out and looked at Li Xuewu with some resentment.

"Do you want me to find someone to drive you?"

"No need, I'll just have Guodong drive me back; it's just a matter of driving a bit more."

Li Xuewu waved his hand to refuse, didn't look at Yu Li's eyes, and raised his hand to check the time; it was already 9:30.

He tightened his clothes and said, "I'll come over after 8:00 tomorrow. I'll start early, and I have to go see some relatives in the afternoon."

"I don't dare say what time they'll arrive."

Yu Li pursed her lips. She didn't believe Li Xuewu when he said he was taking Shen Guodong's car home.

If he were going home, he would have left Han Jiankun and the car waiting here long ago; there would be no need to take that Willys of Shen Guodong's.

Especially now, in the middle of the night, and his child at home is still young, how could he go back in the middle of the night.

This was a kind of saying. For those with children at home, especially the younger ones, they basically wouldn't go out to play in the middle of the night.

Furthermore, adults in the family would try not to go home too late, fearing bringing some dirty things into the house at night.

You say you don't believe in this stuff, but if a child cries and howls in the middle of the night for no reason, you can't find the reason either.

After all, the child is small; he can't speak, can't express what he's afraid of, or where he's uncomfortable.

You adults just suffer along with him; if he cries, you don't sleep, and it counts until dawn.

You can say the child is hot, the child is cold, the child has a rash—it's not this reason.

But can you guarantee there isn't?

Try not to go out wandering in the middle of the night; adults and children are the same.

You are a young person, so it's fine to party all night.

Wake up at 2:00 PM, eat breakfast at 4:00 PM, then eat, drink, and play until 9:00 PM, go straight to a bar for the night, and go home to sleep at 7:00 AM.

You can play all night and nothing will happen, even if you get drunk on the side of the road and get picked up, it's only physical damage.

Young people have strong vitality and won't attract this.

Li Xuewu himself isn't afraid, but he can't guarantee his child isn't afraid either.

So when he said he was taking Shen Guodong's car home, Yu Li just took it as him chatting.

Of course, since he had already explained it to her, she wouldn't get to the bottom of where he was going.

Where else could he be going!

"Hmm, just stop here."

Li Xuewu called Shen Guodong to stop and jumped off the passenger seat of the Willys.

Shen Guodong glanced at the gate and asked with a smile, "Climbing over the wall?"

"Heh, none of your business—"

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "Remember to maintain that courtyard of yours and Biazi's; don't ruin it."

After speaking, he signaled him to get lost quickly and stop delaying his business.

Shen Guodong gave an American-style salute and stepped on the gas with a mischievous smile, leaving.

Li Xuewu stood at the gate watching the car lights disappear at the street corner before turning and stepping onto the stairs.

He was just looking at which part of the courtyard wall was good to climb over when footsteps suddenly came from inside.

"Cough, cough—"

"Heh—stop coughing, open the door."

Li Xuewu recognized it was Tong Huimei's voice and greeted her with a smile.

Creak—

After the wooden gate bar was removed, one side was opened. Tong Huimei poked her head out to look, and seeing it was really Li Xuewu standing outside, she was both surprised and happy.

"You scared me!"

She opened the door to signal Li Xuewu to come in and pouted, "Jiaojiao and I were listening to opera. She said there was car movement at the door, maybe it was you."

"Then why didn't she come out?"

Li Xuewu entered the courtyard with a smile and teased her, "What if there were bad people? Don't come out next time."

"Even if there were bad people, they couldn't get in. People live all around here; if you shout, everyone will hear."

Tong Huimei had lived here for a long time and had gradually become familiar with the neighbors.

She couldn't say they were very close, but greeting each other when meeting, borrowing tools, or chatting was all fine.

With the foundation of neighbors, she and Jin Jiaojiao didn't feel afraid at night living here.

When neighbors asked about their work, they just said they worked at the club.

They were all in the same street, so they were familiar with that, and the neighbors didn't have their guard up against them either.

This courtyard was originally for opera singers; now that two girls lived here, wasn't that normal?

"She was afraid, saying what if it wasn't you and she'd be scared. Me too."

Tong Huimei said with a smile, "I was afraid you'd jump into the courtyard and call me to open the door at the bedroom door, which would be terrifying, especially after falling asleep."

"Got it, won't do that next time."

Li Xuewu followed the advice, caring about their feelings and not being overbearing.

Tong Huimei was already used to his gentleness, turned back to close the gate, dropped the bar, and followed him into the courtyard.

"Why did you come over today? Did you come from the club?"

She blinked and said, "I didn't hear you came to the club."

"Came over after work tonight."

Li Xuewu explained, "I was handling business over there, it got late, and I have work tomorrow, so I didn't want to go back and toss and turn, so I came here to rest for the night."

He looked at Tong Huimei with a smile and asked, "What's wrong, not welcome?"

"Look at what you're saying, I'm always happy whenever you come."

Tong Huimei said with a smile, "Jiaojiao too."

"What are you saying about me?"

Jin Jiaojiao pushed open the door in slippers. She heard Li Xuewu's voice and greeted him with a smile, "I just made a bet with Sister; I said it must be you who came, but she didn't believe it."

"Yes, yes, your ears are sharp."

Tong Huimei smiled and let Li Xuewu in, while asking Jin Jiaojiao to make tea; she herself went to the kitchen to get water for washing his face.

Jin Jiaojiao followed Li Xuewu into the room, helped him take off his coat, and asked with a smile, "Didn't you work today? It's not Saturday, is it?"

"I worked, went to the club after work."

Li Xuewu sat in the circular chair, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and looked around the room, asking, "Still burning the stove?"

"Yes, we practice at night."

Jin Jiaojiao walked to Li Xuewu with the teacup, placed it on the coffee table, and explained coquettishly, "We sweat a lot and wear little, afraid of getting sick, so we keep the stove burning."

"Hmm, is there enough firewood?"

Li Xuewu took a sip of tea. He had drunk quite a bit of tea tonight, so he'd be waiting to get up at night.

Jin Jiaojiao tidied up the fan and sword on the eight-immortal table and replied, "Enough. Brother Guodong sent quite a bit over and exhorted us that if we were missing anything, we should tell the club, and he would know."

"Hmm, he told me."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "I've been busy with work lately and haven't been able to take care of you. Is there anything you need in life?"

"Nothing needed, we're both simple."

Tong Huimei, who walked in with a washbasin, replied, "Anything needed can be bought, or tell the club, and Brother Guodong will send it over."

"We eat all three meals at the club; we don't even light a fire at home anymore."

She signaled the washbasin, stood on tiptoe to help Li Xuewu roll up his shirt collar, and wrapped a towel around him.

"Do you want me to help you wash?"

"No, I'd better do it myself."

Li Xuewu took off his watch and handed it to her, saying, "If you serve me like this, I'll have a burden. Doesn't that make me a young master of a landlord's family?"

"Look at what you're saying, where does that come from?"

Tong Huimei put away the watch, took another towel, and waited by his side until he finished washing, then held the towel to help him wipe his face.

Li Xuewu was tall; although she was slender, she still had to stand on tiptoe.

"I heard from elders before that young masters of landlord families were more comfortable than this—eating when food comes, reaching out when clothes come—that's not empty talk, it's true."

"Hmm, it sounds like everyone says so."

Li Xuewu nodded with a smile, looked at her, and asked, "Does opera text also have such introductions?"

"Plenty, but they are all passed over quickly."

Tong Huimei pointed to the books on the cabinet and said, "Books have plenty, some criticizing, some envying, and some discussing."

Li Xuewu hadn't paid attention to the books hidden on the cabinet here. Opera singers don't equal having no culture.

You can say they don't have diplomas because they didn't go to school, so naturally they don't have diplomas.

But to say they have no culture is nonsense. The culture in opera text is not a bit less than historical works, and even more interesting, just not rigorous enough.

For the same passage of singing, if you understand the background, era, and influence of the story in the opera text, and even understand it thoroughly, then singing it naturally carries emotion and flavor.

Otherwise, anyone can sing dry opera text; how could so few become stars?

Mai Xiaotian pointed out the path for the two. Just having a good foundation isn't enough, and just having a good voice isn't enough; you also need cultural heritage.

Competition between artists is real fighting. You have a good voice? Hey, I have one too!

You have good skills? Hey, I have them too!

I have cultural heritage, you might not!

Comparing and comparing, I compare you down!

Now the two have laid their basic skills very solidly. Following the Mai Xiaotian couple to learn opera, it's smooth sailing, improving by leaps and bounds.

But, after all, the two are still young—one eighteen, one seventeen—exactly the most critical period for skill growth.

Not walking step by step like laying basic skills or learning opera repertoire, but crawling.

From now on, until twenty-six or twenty-seven, how high they can climb depends entirely on personal fortune.

If you say you're twenty-six or twenty-seven, you have your own performance style, your own perception and understanding of opera, then you've become a star.

Becoming a star isn't the audience praising you, and you become one.

It's your technique reaching home, attracting the audience to praise you, then you are considered a star.

To be more direct, the little black fat man in later generations—can you say his previous crosstalk wasn't good?

On the contrary, just listen to it; it's very addictive, indignant, scolding with laughter and cursing.

However, compared to the time he became popular, you can always feel that he was lacking some heat back then.

He was anxious—anxious for life, anxious for career, anxious for fame and fortune—so the artistic works expressed would be sharp.

What to do? Use time and culture to grind away the sharpness, accumulate, and then realize.

Tong Huimei and Jin Jiaojiao have also reached this stage. Their skills are very proficient; they learn what they learn, and they refine what they learn.

However, when the Mai Xiaotian couple taught them, they discovered that the two girls were accumulating and waiting to break out, walking too fast, too rushed.

Having ability is naturally a good thing, but you have to stretch it out. In old words, you have to cherish your blessings.

You deserve to enjoy so many blessings in this life, and you waste them all in your teens and twenties. Do you want to live or not?

An artist's career is short. Tong Huimei and Jin Jiaojiao's skills are now rapidly improved under the guidance of famous teachers, forming a strong contrast with the needs of reality performance.

This society has no soil for them to display their talents, as if they were isolated, as if they had learned dragon-slaying skills.

The two in life and dreams can only keep using learning to numb themselves.

Therefore, the loneliness in reality and the anxiety in learning have messed up their state of mind.

Learning well, learning fast, is useless.

Mai Xiaotian found some books from his collection and the club's library, handed them to the two, and exhorted them to finish reading and understand.

Jin Jiaojiao was still talking about this when she was tidying up and lying on the bed.

She couldn't read the books, especially when the words were densely stacked on a page.

When she was a child, she was forced to learn by her teacher's wife using the method of hitting her palms, including reciting poetry and opera text.

Now she has started learning opera, and she has learned so much, and she still has to read books, so she can't read them.

"Have you ever thought about what will happen in the future? Five years, eight years, fifteen years, or further."

Li Xuewu lay on the bed, looking at the gauze curtain on the top of the bed, and said, "Singing opera, life, or a certain stage of life, a certain pursuit."

"What do you mean? I didn't quite understand."

Jin Jiaojiao climbed up and lay on Li Xuewu's chest, looking at him and asking, "Can't we just live like this?"

"Heh, then what did you learn opera for? Just to live like this?"

Li Xuewu propped his head slightly and looked at her. Her lively eyes were like a little deer, pure and confused.

"Learning opera... learning opera is for singing opera."

Jin Jiaojiao thought for a moment, frowned slightly, and said, "But now we have no stage to sing opera, and we still need you to support us."

"Me supporting you is naturally what I should do."

Li Xuewu patted her slender waist and said, "Even if you want to live like this for a lifetime, I can support you."

"You don't need to consider making money to live, let alone consider all kinds of troubles in life; you only need to consider what you learn this opera for."

"I don't know..."

Jin Jiaojiao looked at Tong Huimei on the other side. Her sister was also looking confused, just not saying it out like she did.

"What I want to say is, just because you don't have a stage to sing opera now doesn't mean you won't have one in the future."

Li Xuewu pulled the pillow, propped up his head, and said, "The reason I support you in continuing to pursue this art is that I hope one day you can stand on the stage confidently and brilliantly, showing off the skills you've practiced for years, and making everyone's jaws drop."

"Really... really?"

Jin Jiaojiao looked at him in surprise and asked, "Can people like us also perform on stage? How long? How long will it take?"

"This doesn't depend on the external situation."

Li Xuewu looked at her and said, "It depends on when you are ready to be a stunning success."

"I... I think I know what you mean. I'll think about it, I'll think about it."

Jin Jiaojiao was thinking while holding her chin. Tong Huimei on the other side had already raised her head, looking at Li Xuewu with shining eyes and leaning forward. ===== CHAPTER 1060 =====