Chapter 1062: The Storm Before the Rain

"Leader, a call from the city."

Peng Xiaoli was on the phone; seeing Li Xuewu walk into the office, she covered the receiver and asked him.

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and gestured with his hand that he would take it. Peng Xiaoli hurriedly said something into the phone and handed the receiver to him.

"Yes, this is Li Xuewu."

The call was from Zhao Fuchun, a supervisor at the city's Industrial Bureau, and his tone was very anxious.

"Oh my, this phone of yours finally got through."

Zhao Fuchun said anxiously on the other end of the line: "If you didn't pick up again, I would have had to send a car to visit you in person."

"You're joking, I'm truly sorry."

Li Xuewu said with a wry smile: "The phone in my office hasn't been disconnected; I was in a conference call with the leaders over in Steel City."

Zhao Fuchun didn't believe him at all. A conference call might have been possible, but would they use the phone in Li Xuewu's office? What if there was work to be done?

This was just an excuse the Steel Rolling Mill was using to put them off. Zhang Dayong had called everyone he knew over there, and no one picked up, so it had to be him calling.

Zhang Dayong had given him an order: he must contact the Steel Rolling Mill today, and if that didn't work, he had to go there in person.

Go there in person?

What for?

To go there and get slapped?

This was the exact moment the Steel Rolling Mill was feeling angry and aggrieved; whoever showed up would bear the brunt of their rage and take the responsibility.

Everyone was watching; the first person to go to the Steel Rolling Mill would be the one who had poked the hornet's nest and had to apologize, unless it was a much higher-ranking leader.

That was why Zhao Fuchun would rather have his secretary keep calling; he wanted Li Xuewu from the Steel Rolling Mill.

It was straightforward; he had known last time that Li Xuewu was in charge of the Steel Rolling Mill's main projects, and it was Li Xuewu who had received Zhang Dayong this morning.

Now that a problem had arisen and the Steel Rolling Mill's reaction was so intense, he wouldn't believe for a second that Li Xuewu wasn't behind it.

"Brother, at this point, let's stop trying to fool each other. Tell me the truth: what exactly does the Steel Rolling Mill want?"

Zhao Fuchun said very sincerely: "Don't look at it as if I'm only responsible for this little patch of land; as long as you speak up, I'll break my head trying to help you coordinate with the leaders."

"Officially, the Steel Rolling Mill is still part of Beijing's industry and is still under my jurisdiction."

"Personally, we are friends, and my relationship with Director Li is also good, so it's still up to me to handle."

He really knew how to talk; with a few smooth words, he made it seem like the Steel Rolling Mill was being unreasonable and seeking profit, while he became the good guy who still wanted the Steel Rolling Mill to owe him a big favor.

Li Xuewu really wanted to tell him over the phone: "You're dreaming!"

Oh, now that something has happened, you're calling me 'brother,' but who the hell was it this morning that wanted to fill in the river?

When Zhang Dayong came here to issue a challenge, why didn't I see you take the initiative to coordinate?

"Oh my, Director Zhao, you're saying this too late."

Li Xuewu held the phone and said regretfully: "When Deputy Director Zhang came over this morning and talked about filling in the river to create land, I was shocked. I said I'd give you a call to ask about it, but the office said you weren't there."

"Oh my—I was so anxious and frustrated, I could only report this matter to our Director Li."

He was also devious; the other party's words contained hidden traps, intentionally trying to trick him into admitting that the nature of this matter had nothing to do with the city.

Do you think Li Xuewu would fall for that?

If he didn't use his words to trap others, it would be out of the kindness of his heart; could someone else trap him?

"You know Director Li's temper; how could he take this lying down? Once he heard it was because the Steel Rolling Mill needed land, he had no choice but to make the decision to protect the ecology and relocate the factory site."

"You can rest assured—!"

Li Xuewu promised into the phone: "Our factory will definitely not cause any trouble for the city. This morning, we already contacted the industrial authorities of several provinces to vacate space for our city as soon as possible."

"Tsk—how can you say that!"

Zhao Fuchun was so anxious on the phone he was about to pull his hair out. He advised: "You are all being too impatient. The leaders didn't say they were going to fill in the river right now; isn't it still in the feasibility study stage?"

"But time waits for no one, Director Zhao; you have to understand our position."

Li Xuewu said helplessly: "Our three-year plan and five-year plan have just been completed, and the workers' new village has just started construction. The city changed the land planning here, so we are also in a difficult position."

"Yes, yes, I understand that. I am also coordinating this matter with the leaders; I don't approve of it either."

Zhao Fuchun said on the phone: "The leaders' intention is also to consider it; after all, this is just an opinion, it hasn't formed a resolution yet."

"That's exactly what we're afraid of. The city has been delaying the final planning opinion, so we haven't dared to invest or start construction. Look!"

Li Xuewu said helplessly: "The school just threw in 200,000, and it all went down the drain, including the construction of the ecological factory area; now it all has to be torn down and rebuilt."

"Of course, I'm not complaining to you."

He curled his lips and said: "We are friends, so I'll tell you the truth from the bottom of my heart: the Steel Rolling Mill has no choice but to leave now. Someone has an opinion about us; if we don't leave, we're finished."

"Who said that! How come I don't know!"

Zhao Fuchun said in a pretentious tone: "I am the person in charge of your supervisory department; I haven't made things difficult for you, have I? Who would dare to have an opinion about you?"

"Sigh, let's not talk about it; I can't make things difficult for you."

Li Xuewu sighed and said: "Our Director Li said that a higher official crushes people; we can't afford to offend them, so we can only afford to hide."

"Today, the school construction site and the tertiary industry construction site have both stopped work; we accept the losses caused."

He took the initiative to introduce: "The leaders' intention is to move the production base to Steel City, including the tertiary industry and joint production industries."

"The future group headquarters will be placed in Hebei Province or Henan Province, and the trade management center will remain in Tianjin. This cannot be considered a hasty response."

Li Xuewu said as if he had let it slip by accident: "Our leaders had considered how to face the situation if problems arose in local relations, so this plan was already decided."

"No—brother, I've never heard you say that!"

Zhao Fuchun said in a difficult position: "Aren't we close enough? I have always supported the development of our factory."

"I know, I know, our Director Li has also mentioned your help."

Li Xuewu said regretfully: "It's a pity, our bond has come to an end, but having said that, there is still some time left."

"We are still in the site selection stage, and the construction period will take about three years. Whether it's industry, scientific research, or workers, everything has to be done slowly."

"Director Zhao, I consider you a friend, so I've said a bit too much; you have to help me cover for this."

Li Xuewu smiled and exhorted: "The factory leaders are still in a meeting, so I won't chat with you anymore. You go ahead and get busy; I still have to see a few guests."

Zhao Fuchun saw that Li Xuewu clearly didn't want to talk anymore, and he couldn't afford to lose any more face, so he could only hang up the phone.

To say he had successfully gotten through the call wasn't entirely fruitless; at least he had obtained the Steel Rolling Mill's next deployment and direction.

Hebei Province, with an outlet to the sea, is very close to Tianjin and Beijing, located on a plain with convenient transportation. If they really put the headquarters there, it would certainly have advantages.

At the very least, it would definitely be much better than Beijing in terms of land and policy.

Now that the Steel Rolling Mill was asking for thousands or tens of thousands of acres of land, the person in charge of industry over there would be eager to take the initiative to give them tens of thousands of acres for development.

Picking up a large group enterprise headquarters for nothing would bring how much economic benefit to the local area; at the very least, they could achieve great results in employment.

Henan Province, a large plain province, is rich in coal and iron resources, rich in human resources, with vast land, convenient transportation, and outstanding people.

Although it is far from Beijing, it borders Shaanxi, Zhejiang, and Shandong provinces, and has the Yellow River running through it for shipping. Even if they develop light industry in the later stages, it would be convenient.

Although Zhao Fuchun was guessing in his heart that this was the Steel Rolling Mill setting up a smoke screen to scare them, he didn't dare to gamble, because the locations of these two provinces were truly excellent and enough to satisfy the needs of the Steel Rolling Mill.

Most importantly, the next step for the Steel Rolling Mill is to upgrade and become a group, and it doesn't need to communicate relations under the feet of the Son of Heaven in Beijing that much.

Once they have the rank and group resources, it is naturally better to go out; the vast world is where one can accomplish much.

In Beijing, even the group leaders aren't considered top-tier, but if they go to Hebei or Henan, the treatment of Li Huai De and others will naturally be different.

Look at the leaders of the 17th Factory Group located in Jicheng; aren't they holding high local positions?

But that's impossible in Beijing. The political treatment like that of the 17th Factory—let alone Li Huai De liking it, even he would be envious if he saw it.

So if Li Xuewu dares to say it, he must listen; he has doubts, but he must believe it.

After hanging up the phone, he rushed to Zhang Dayong's office to report on his work while arranging for his subordinates to call Hebei and Henan to test the waters.

Zhang Dayong had been called to a meeting and only returned after a long time, full of anger.

What kind of meeting? A meeting to be lectured and criticized.

The committee sat together to discuss the Steel Rolling Mill's affairs; the higher-ups wanted an explanation, and the city had to provide one.

Now, how to give an explanation, and who should give it?

Zhang Dayong went to the Steel Rolling Mill this morning; the squad leader asked him to explain the situation this morning, and he also had a head full of lawsuits.

Can the words he said to Li Xuewu be said to the leaders? How to say it? Say he went to issue a challenge?

He couldn't explain it and could only look at Liu Xiangqian, but Liu Xiangqian was also wilted at this moment, frowning and not speaking, and had no intention of helping him speak.

The meeting made him feel autistic; he remained silent, not knowing how to explain.

Finally, all committee members spoke on this matter.

The result was that everyone said the Steel Rolling Mill's design and planning in the Liangma River Industrial Zone were good and that they shouldn't be doing any river-filling and land-creation projects.

A few days ago, he had taken the initiative to talk to these people, and they hadn't said that at the time.

Now the wind direction has changed; all committee members' opinions are to protect the Steel Rolling Mill, so who should they not protect?

Zhang Dayong now wanted to curse, especially since the leaders' intention was to appease the Steel Rolling Mill as soon as possible and eliminate the influence as soon as possible.

How to appease? How to eliminate?

Now the Steel Rolling Mill isn't making demands, but is putting on airs and seeking fame.

Listen to this: for the sake of the ecological environment, they want to take the initiative to abandon the current industrial zone and abandon the current production construction plan.

Good fellow, playing the game of retreating to advance is truly brilliant, forcing the city into a dead end.

Every sentence doesn't mention what they want, but every sentence implies they want everything; now it depends on how much the city can take out.

First is the issue of a sense of security; if this problem isn't solved, the Steel Rolling Mill will definitely not let go.

In other words, the issue of the Steel Rolling Mill's upgrade is absolutely stable; even if it weren't, the city would have to make it stable.

Why?

Because if the Steel Rolling Mill doesn't upgrade, Li Huai De is still a rank below them, and he won't have the guts to do things.

By then, if the city's planning comes up with a new plan, the Steel Rolling Mill will still be passive.

If things go wrong, when the Steel Rolling Mill achieves group status, Li Huai De might even be promoted to the city level.

Part-time, like Deputy Secretary or something; anyway, his influence will be greatly enhanced.

Secondly, there is the land issue; now it's not the Steel Rolling Mill taking the initiative to ask for it, because they have withdrawn their application, so you have to take the initiative to give it!

How much they asked for initially, you have to send that much now, and even add more.

Finally, regarding this part of the land planning, as well as the planning of the Liangma River, they must come up with a final planning opinion.

In other words, within three years, the Steel Rolling Mill wants to build its headquarters on the right bank of the Liangma River, and the light industrial zone and scientific research projects on the left bank, facing each other across the river.

And the Steel Rolling Mill wants to bundle and sell its current industrial capacity to the city, including old machinery, equipment, and production assets.

If you don't want it then, Beijing will have lost its Steel Rolling Mill; if you do want it, it's a burden destined to fall behind.

The current heavy industrial base of the Steel Rolling Mill will be cleared away, and this area will be built into a management headquarters with ecology as the core.

If you ask whether this design plan is good for the city, yes, of course it's good; it not only provides employment opportunities but also relieves the housing pressure in the city.

More than 100,000 workers and family members of the Steel Rolling Mill will move out; how many houses will be vacated?

But there are pros and cons; there are also many bad aspects. The de-heavy-industrialization of the Steel Rolling Mill directly affects the city's industrial layout.

Especially who will carry this burden three years later; they need to prepare.

Just receiving this equipment from the Steel Rolling Mill will cost how much capital, and then finding other industrial factories to put together a new Steel Rolling Mill, site selection, and construction.

Just think about it; this new factory needs the city to continuously invest and support it; how much money will that be?

Calculating this account makes Liu Xiangqian, who is in charge of industrial production in the city, have a headache.

Therefore, keeping the Steel Rolling Mill and forcing the Steel Rolling Mill not to move its production base during the collectivization process has become the best way to solve this problem.

But they played it too far; they didn't expect Li Huai De of the Steel Rolling Mill to be so stubborn, wanting to quit at the slightest disagreement; who the hell can stand this?

Now it's not just that the Steel Rolling Mill is gone, even the ecological headquarters is gone.

Other members of the committee are pointing at the mulberry and cursing the locust tree, slamming the table; if this news spreads, they will be poked in the spine by the people in Beijing who rely on the Steel Rolling Mill for a living.

He heard that the higher-up leaders called the squad leader, although they only asked about it and didn't give any opinions or criticism.

However, the phone call came directly down; if it's not criticism, what is it? Is it encouragement?

The higher-ups aren't afraid of the Steel Rolling Mill relocating, because no matter where the Steel Rolling Mill moves, it's still a piece of meat in the pot; the higher-ups are angry at the city's actions.

What kind of mentality is this to manage and deal with the problems encountered in industrial development? It's not that work went wrong, but that people went wrong.

Even the Ministry of Industry has an opinion and specifically called to ask about the city's arrangements and opinions on this matter.

There is news that the Ministry of Industry is already contacting the Steel Rolling Mill, giving two plans: one is to continue talking with Beijing, and the other is to select a site for relocation.

"Been waiting for a while?"

Zhang Dayong frowned and glanced at Zhao Fuchun, asking: "Did you make contact, or did you go to the Steel Rolling Mill side?"

"I made contact; I got through to Li Xuewu, Deputy Director of the Steel Rolling Mill's Management Committee Office."

Zhao Fuchun stood up and replied: "After I finished the call with him, I came to you. Secretary Gu said you went to a meeting, so I waited here for you."

"Sit, sit down and talk."

Zhang Dayong waved his hand, signaling him to sit down, while he returned to sit behind the office desk.

"How is the situation? Did you ask clearly?"

"He told me roughly; that person..."

Zhao Fuchun curled his lips and shook his head, looking at Zhang Dayong and saying: "You also know, having seen what he's like, he's not very trustworthy; anyway, that's what I heard."

Looking at Zhao Fuchun's shaking head, Zhang Dayong took a sip of hot tea to disperse the fire in his throat and said: "Talk specifically, what did he say?"

"It's the reason for the Steel Rolling Mill's application, that set of rhetoric, you know, and also he revealed the Steel Rolling Mill's next relocation situation."

Zhao Fuchun looked at Zhang Dayong and reported: "He said that the Steel Rolling Mill wants to move the tertiary industry and joint industries to Steel City, and the headquarters to Hebei Province or Henan Province."

When he said this, Zhao Fuchun squinted his left eye and hesitated for a moment, saying: "I am skeptical about this; it's possible it's a smoke screen, intentional."

"Hmm, not necessarily a smoke screen."

Zhang Dayong sighed and said: "The news from the Ministry of Industry is that they are already contacting Hebei and Henan regarding the Steel Rolling Mill's application."

"What—!"

Zhao Fuchun was shocked; he hadn't expected Li Xuewu to have told him the truth.

He was an old hand in the government; as early as the first time he saw Li Xuewu, he knew this kid was absolutely a slippery eel.

Don't look at his youth; with that eloquence, the average person in the government office couldn't compare to him.

If you talk about deep experience, those who speak deeply aren't as quick to react as he is; if you talk about quick reactions, they don't know as much as he does; this kid beats everyone up and down.

So when talking to Li Xuewu on the phone, Zhao Fuchun was completely in a mindset of not believing a single word, which was also reflected in his report.

However! Now the leader's words proved that everything Li Xuewu said was true!

Damn! How the hell to understand this? Then are his other words true too?

"He mentioned to me that the current construction site has stopped work, and it seems they want to abandon the investment and construction project."

Zhao Fuchun frowned and said: "He said that the school construction site alone threw in 200,000."

"A lion opening its mouth wide—"

Zhang Dayong poured himself another cup of tea; he didn't know when a large blister had formed in his mouth, and it felt very painful to speak.

Zhao Fuchun looked at his anxious and angry appearance and said carefully: "Does the Steel Rolling Mill mean... we are responsible for the 200,000 economic loss?"

"What do you think? Otherwise, why would he mention this specific number?"

Zhao Dayong leaned back in his chair powerlessly, looked out the window, and said: "The leader's intention is to appease the Steel Rolling Mill as soon as possible and eliminate the influence as soon as possible."

"Appease... hiss—"

Zhao Fuchun seemed to understand and asked hesitantly: "Then you... what is the leader's intention for appeasement? It wouldn't be adjusting the division of labor, would it?"

"I don't know; let's get through this hurdle first. These things can only be considered later."

Zhang Dayong glanced at Zhao Fuchun, who was nervous opposite him; he knew he was worried about being adjusted himself, but he still said so.

He sat up straight, grabbed a fountain pen, and said: "If we can't get through this hurdle, there's no need to talk about these things; it would save trouble."

"I'll listen to you; you arrange how to do it, and I'll do it that way."

Zhao Fuchun knew it was useless to say anything else at this time; the two of them were grasshoppers on the same rope and had to get through the difficulties together.

Zhang Dayong didn't care about his craftiness, still letting himself make the decision; he had already said his piece, didn't he understand the meaning behind it?

He wrote a few opinions on the paper, finally signed his name, pushed it to Zhao Fuchun, and said: "It's late today; tomorrow, you represent the city and go to the Steel Rolling Mill, and just talk about these."

Zhang Dayong was full of exhaustion, sighed, and said: "Hard work for half a year, and in one morning back to before liberation; it's really damn humiliating."

"Yes, I'll arrange it right away."

Zhao Fuchun took the opinion, looked at it, raised his head, and asked tentatively: "Does Deputy Director Liu have any opinions or suggestions?"

"Heh—"

Zhang Dayong gave a cold laugh and didn't speak, but the words were already in that laugh; it was self-evident.

Zhao Fuchun knew what was going on, didn't ask any more, took the note, and got up to walk out.

When he reached the door, he looked back at Zhang Dayong; he had deeply engraved that lonely and regretful expression in his mind.

Returning from Zhang Dayong's place, Zhao Fuchun held the draft and thought all the way, pondering why Old Li of the Steel Rolling Mill dared to play the game of dying together.

He even dared to force the city to move Zhang Dayong; this time, I'm afraid even Liu Xiangqian won't have an easy time.

Thinking about it, it can only be described as a dog jumping over a wall in desperation; Old Li might have been pushed to the edge.

Once this move is made, at the very least, the city will have to take the initiative to help the Steel Rolling Mill apply for the upgrade and group work in the future.

Otherwise, if Old Li wants to make trouble, the city absolutely cannot handle his disaster.

Only by raising the rank of the Steel Rolling Mill and handing the problems and contradictions to the Ministry of Industry can the city be liberated.

Of course, only by protecting the Steel Rolling Mill can they talk about the equipment that the Steel Rolling Mill will eliminate three years later.

Just after he entered the office, his secretary came up to report on the work he had entrusted before he left.

"Leader, I called Hebei and Henan; they all said the Steel Rolling Mill hasn't contacted them, nor have they received news that the Steel Rolling Mill wants to relocate."

"What? They didn't contact them!"

Zhao Fuchun was stunned, then walked into the office with his secretary, sat in his chair, thought for a while, and said: "This is impossible; which piece of news is true?"

He muttered: "Li Xuewu said the Steel Rolling Mill contacted them, Deputy Director Zhang said the Ministry contacted them, and you said Hebei and Henan didn't receive any news."

"Which link went wrong?"

Zhao Fuchun raised his hand and gently patted the list of "ceding land and paying reparations" opinions, hesitating whether to talk to the leader about this matter again.

He said to his secretary: "Have you contacted the Ministry? Is there any connection you can ask to see if the Steel Rolling Mill has any contact with Hebei and Henan?"

"This..."

The secretary stood there awkwardly; he was just a secretary, how could he deal with people from the Ministry like the leader? This was too difficult for him.

Zhao Fuchun also reacted, waved his hand, and said: "Go do your work; I forgot about this; I'll call."

As he spoke, he called for the phone, directly asking for the number of his old classmate at the Ministry of Industry.

"Xiangfei, it's me, Fuchun."

He said into the phone: "We have a thorny problem here; yes, it's the Steel Rolling Mill's."

Zhao Fuchun knew this matter couldn't be hidden; he estimated that the Ministry's organs all knew about it.

It wasn't to the point of watching a joke or excitement, but there was definitely discussion and debate; he was now passive.

"I heard someone spreading rumors, saying something about the Steel Rolling Mill relocating; I don't believe it, but there are people below saying this."

Zhao Fuchun played dumb on the phone: "I'm just asking you; is this true or false? If it's true, we can make arrangements; if it's false, we can tighten work discipline."

He thought that family ugliness shouldn't be spread; even if it was a matter everyone knew, it was better to keep it down.

He didn't explicitly mention Hebei, nor did he mention Henan, just to trick his old classmate's words while not leaking his own.

If he failed to steal the chicken and lost the rice, didn't get accurate news, and let his old classmate know his bad news, it would be troublesome if it spread around.

"What—? Shaanxi Province! They..."

Zhao Fuchun was surprised and wanted to say something, but he stammered and couldn't get it out.

He only heard his old classmate on the phone tell him that he didn't know where the Steel Rolling Mill was moving or who they had contacted, but he knew that the Deputy Director in charge of industry in Shaanxi Province was on his way to Beijing.

As for what the purpose was, he didn't explain much, or rather, since he was in the Ministry of Industry and knew about this, did he need to explain more?

"Isn't this just making trouble for no reason!"

Zhao Fuchun complained into the phone: "If you say Hebei or Henan, it's still possible, but Shaanxi Province doesn't meet the geographical conditions at all!"

He did know that Shaanxi Province's coal and iron resources were also very rich; what was said on the phone wasn't about geographical conditions or anything else.

Zhao Fuchun was now anxious because the Hebei and Henan matters hadn't been figured out yet, and another Deputy Director from Shaanxi had popped up.

The other party was so proactive and so respectful to the talented; that was already a sure win for the Steel Rolling Mill.

Thinking about it, it made sense; such a large piece of meat was thrown away by Beijing, and everyone wanted to catch it.

There was no movement on the Steel City side simply because the Steel Rolling Mill had already placed its industrial zone there.

But he couldn't guarantee whether Fengcheng would get involved; after all, that was a large city.

The entry of these cities or provinces would directly raise the Steel Rolling Mill's psychological asking price.

Could he still negotiate with the conditions given by Deputy Director Zhang when he went to the Steel Rolling Mill?

When he came out of Deputy Director Zhang's office, he was thinking about whether he could lower these opinions by one gear to negotiate.

If he could negotiate, of course, everyone would be happy, and he would have face on Deputy Director Zhang's side.

But if the Steel Rolling Mill didn't agree, wouldn't he have a process of adding weight, or asking the Steel Rolling Mill for a favor, saying he helped apply for more?

But now it seems that the opinions given by Deputy Director Zhang don't seem to satisfy the balance of the Steel Rolling Mill wanting to move away.

Just when he was angry and hesitant, his classmate Gao Xiangfei gave him another heavy piece of news.

The news just came from the office that Hubei Province had also sent people, and they came by plane.

Good fellow, they smelled the scent and flew over; they really wanted to rob it openly.

Deputy Director Zhang said he would go to the Steel Rolling Mill tomorrow, but maybe the Steel Rolling Mill would fly away tomorrow.

The Ministry of Industry's opinion was definitely biased toward the Steel Rolling Mill; one could tell from the handling opinions given, supporting talks with Beijing and also supporting talks with other provinces.

This loose condition was clearly to ensure the development and operation of the Steel Rolling Mill.

Three years of construction projects, millions of investment construction projects; who wouldn't be greedy?

"Hubei... why is Hubei coming to join the fun! Hubei..."

Zhao Fuchun also felt that his gums were about to get blisters, and he said indignantly: "Even if the Steel Rolling Mill relocates, they won't put the headquarters there, right? Where to go? Quzhou?"

After speaking, he thought for a while, shook his head, and said: "Impossible, absolutely impossible! No matter how developed the waterway is, it's impossible to go to the south."

He was a bit confused now; after finishing the call with his old classmate, he sat there looking at the paper on the table and completely lost his train of thought.

How the hell to negotiate this! Just fight?

"Leader, I mean..."

The secretary stood aside and reminded: "Shaanxi and Hubei heard the news, and even set off to Beijing to talk to the Steel Rolling Mill; then Hebei and Henan have no reason not to know, or not to have received the news!"

Bang—!

Zhao Fuchun slapped the table and cursed: "Haven't you figured it out yet? These bastards are lying to you!"

"Damn it! Meeting and calling each other brothers, but stabbing in the back; truly villains!"

He pointed at the mulberry and cursed the locust tree: "You listen to them saying they didn't contact; they have contact, and are even drinking together; can they tell you?"

Zhao Fuchun stood up, paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, and said: "They can't wait for us to have a falling out, so they can take advantage of the situation and hook the Steel Rolling Mill away!"

Now he understood; the news the leader got and the news from Li Xuewu's side were verified, including the news his secretary asked about.

It was completely Hebei and Henan pretending to be confused and wanting to play a secret game.

"No! I have to go to the Steel Rolling Mill now! I have to see Li Xuewu and Li Huai De!"

Zhao Fuchun was afraid that long nights would bring many dreams, turned around, and was about to walk out of the office, but was stopped by his secretary.

"Leader, please look at the time."

The secretary pointed at his watch in a difficult position and said: "It's already 6:30; the Steel Rolling Mill should have been off work long ago; I estimate you won't find anyone."

"Damn it! Time passed so quickly?"

Zhao Fuchun cursed, adding to his own frustration: "Even eating shit, I can't catch it hot!"

"Not going, not going, already told the family."

Li Xuewu stood by the car and waved to Wei Zaike and the others, saying: "You eat and drink well; help me send my regards to Director Han."

After speaking, he got into the car and signaled Han Jiankun to drive.

It wasn't just Wei Zaike; many cadres in the factory were invited to dinner today.

On the surface, it was an invitation to dinner, but mostly it was to probe the Steel Rolling Mill's reality and news.

It could be people from the city, people from other provinces' offices, or cooperative units.

The purpose of the people inviting them was different, and the direction was also different, but the focus of attention was consistent.

That was whether the Steel Rolling Mill really intended to relocate, or where they wanted to move, what the conditions for relocation were, and what the needs were.

Near the end of the afternoon, Li Xuewu received no less than seven or eight calls, all for dinner invitations.

There hadn't been this many dinner invitation calls in the whole month as there were this afternoon.

Even he, who rarely socialized, was like this; just imagine how others were.

Fortunately, the cadres of the Steel Rolling Mill were all sober, knowing that at this time, they had to keep their mouths tight and not talk nonsense.

But they ate when they should eat and drank when they should drink; Wei Zaike just said that such an opportunity was rare, and he wanted to eat through all the good restaurants in Beijing.

Feng Xingke in the car said that if such activities were held once a month, his family wouldn't need to bring his food.

Good fellow, Old Li would lose half his life just holding one such event; once a month?

Is this ringing a bell in a temple!

Arriving at the door of his house in the evening, the sky was just turning dark, and it didn't feel cold at all.

It was just that there was a spring rain in the afternoon, and the air felt very moist.

Hearing the car, Qin Jingru opened the gate; seeing Li Xuewu and the other two enter, she greeted them to hurry up and wash their hands for dinner.

"Yo, how many dishes today? Why is it so fragrant? Extra meal?"

After Li Xuewu entered the house and changed into slippers, he bent down and touched noses with his daughter, making Li Shu giggle non-stop.

"Don't mention it; didn't you ask someone to send it home?"

Qin Jingru entered the dining room, and her voice came from the kitchen: "An old man sent it home, two crucian carp, one carp, isn't it?"

"Old man? What old man?"

Li Xuewu had too many things on his mind today, and for a moment, he really didn't remember.

Han Jiankun twitched the corner of his mouth and pointed him toward the big lake; you teased the man for a whole morning, and you forgot after just one day?

"Oh—old man!"

Li Xuewu remembered and asked suspiciously: "Why did he send the fish home!"

"Didn't you ask him to send it?"

Liu Yin came down from upstairs holding the child and said to Li Xuewu: "After you left this morning, he brought the fish basket home, saying it was what you wanted; we thought it was bought for Xiao Ning."

"Hmm, it has something to do with me."

Li Xuewu scratched his cheek and asked: "Did he say anything? Did he leave after dropping off the fish?"

What he wanted to say was, didn't the old man mention the apprenticeship banquet? When is he treating?

He was also teasing; he really dared to think; he dared to be someone's teacher with his technique?

Teach what? Teach idle chatter, teach a blind cat bumping into a dead mouse?

"Didn't say anything, just put the fish in the fish pond; Li Shu played with it all morning."

Liu Yin explained: "I was also saying that Xiao Ning's breast milk is enough, why did he think of buying crucian carp to nourish her body."

"Don't look at me like that; I caught that fish, so he had to send it to me."

Li Xuewu looked at his mother's disgusted expression and went to the bathroom to wash his hands with a laugh.

When he came out, Li Shu looked at him eagerly and said: "Fish, fish is gone, Auntie caught it."

"Hmm, is it the fish sent today?"

Li Xuewu squatted down with a smile and asked: "Did you cry when Auntie caught your fish?"

"Hmm—"

Li Shu nodded her little head hard, turned around a bit embarrassed, and burrowed into his arms.

Liu Yin looked at her with a smile and "complained": "This little one made such a fuss this afternoon, saying Jingru caught her fish and wanting Jingru to put it back."

"Fish!" Li Shu pouted and looked at her father, saying: "My fish."

"Hehe, once it enters your fish pond, it's all yours, right?"

Li Xuewu smiled and wiped the sleep from his daughter's eyes, picked her up, and went to the bathroom to wash her face again; this little guy couldn't be fooled anymore now that she was sensible.

Before, she didn't understand anything and could be kept under control by scaring her; now, the more you scare her, the more she comes forward.

Just take the flower pots at home; if you turn the soil, you might find some toy parts, and you might even find a small car in a large flower pot.

It is estimated that according to a child's thinking, if you plant a melon, you get a melon; if you plant a bean, you get a bean; if you plant a small car, you get a new small car.

Li Xuewu never cared about Li Shu ruining toys.

First of all, the child is in the process of perceiving the world; from chewing with her mouth, to grabbing with her hands, observing with her eyes, listening with her ears, this is all a process.

It's just that his daughter is a bit violent and prefers to perceive and understand the world through hearing.

What sound does different metal make when it falls on the ground, what sound does it make when it falls on the wall, and what sound does it make when it falls in a flower pot.

She isn't very interested in the shape and function of toys, but prefers the colors and the sounds made by collisions.

At dinner time, Gu Ning, who was reading upstairs, came down and saw Li Shu still standing by the fish pond looking eagerly, so she asked Li Xuewu: "Didn't you tell her that what we are eating isn't her fish?"

"I told her, no use."

Li Xuewu said amusedly: "Her cognition is that as long as it enters the fish pond, it's hers; I don't know who this child's strength and dominance followed."

Gu Ning turned her head and glanced at him; is this question very difficult to answer? Would she know if she looked back at herself?

"Let's go, don't look, daughter."

Li Xuewu stood up from the sofa, went to the foyer, held his daughter's hand, and said: "When the weather gets warm, Dad will take you to catch toads by the lake, and then we'll raise them inside and listen to them croak every day."

"Croak? Little frogs?"

Li Shu understood this time; the storybook Qin Jingru told her had descriptions of frogs and their sounds; this was a window for her to contact the world.

Although the person who opened the first window of her life for her was a reckless young woman who hadn't even graduated from elementary school.

Don't say that; everyone has their strengths. Qin Jingru might not do well in other aspects, but she is definitely impeccable in taking care of children and cooking.

It can't be said that she does it very, very well; she can't compare to Seeing Sha Zhu or Master Qian.

But, home-cooked meals are just eating a familiar taste; if you really want to find those top-tier ones, you have to go to a restaurant.

But who can eat at a restaurant every day?

Li Xuewu's mouth was very picky; Yu Li didn't say less about him when she took care of him before.

Gu Ning was the same; she had a chef at home after growing up, and the craftsmanship was good.

After marriage, living here, she didn't feel Qin Jingru's craftsmanship was much different from the chef's.

At the dinner table, Li Xuewu helped his daughter pick out fish bones, mashed the fish meat, and fed her bit by bit.

It was mainly because he was afraid there were small bones or broken bones in the fish meat; the child was still young and wouldn't cough them out.

They were eating carp, and Qin Jingru stewed the two crucian carp into a milky white fish soup.

Gu Ning looked at the slightly fishy fish soup in the bowl and drank it down in one gulp under the expectant eyes of her mother-in-law and Qin Jingru, just treating it as drinking Chinese medicine.

"Daughter, is the fish meat delicious?"

"Delicious—"

Li Shu smacked her lips with a smile, letting her father feed her fish meat.

Li Xuewu fed a mouthful to his daughter and asked with a smile: "Then shall we eat the one in your fish pond tomorrow?"