Chapter 1080: I am not that person!

"What did the French Foreign Affairs Office make an appointment with you for?"

On the way back from the credit union, Li Xuewu sat in Jing Yunong's car.

Jing Yunong had also drunk a bit too much, but her brain was still clear, she just had a clumsy mouth, and she still knew to ask Li Xuewu about the Foreign Affairs Office.

Li Xuewu reached out and patted Li Xue's shoulder in the passenger seat, signaling the water cup in her hand.

Li Xue was pricking up her ears to listen, and was startled by her second brother, after handing over the water cup, looking at her second brother carefully helping the leader open the cup lid, she always felt something was not quite right.

"Not very clear, but it must be related to the cooperation proposed by French businessman Chantelle last time."

He handed the teacup to Jing Yunong and asked: "Can you hold it steady? Don't make me feed you, right?"

Jing Yunong glanced at him, took the water cup and took a sip of hot tea, and her stomach felt much more comfortable.

But as soon as her stomach was hot, the alcohol gas surged up again unconsciously, rushing her until she couldn't help closing her eyes, enduring the uncomfortable feeling of dizziness.

"Cooperation is also the business of the economic commissioner, the cultural commissioner made an appointment with you, wouldn't it be that she has taken a fancy to you?"

She was drunk, her body was uncomfortable, and her nose was stuffy, and the words she said also carried a nasal sound.

Li Xuewu took the water cup from her hand and tightened the lid again, helplessly: "There's no way, who let me be gentle and elegant, a talent."

He handed the water cup to Li Xue, who was rolling her eyes back, leaned on the seat and shook his head: "If I accidentally captured the heart of a French beauty, that's not what I wanted."

He turned to look at Jing Yunong and said seriously: "I really don't want to destroy the profound friendship between the two countries."

Jing Yunong's mouth was about to curl to her ears, and she rolled her eyes like Li Xue: "What, are you afraid of being sent for a political marriage?"

"Hey—! Don't say that! It's possible!"

Li Xuewu said righteously: "Don't say it's one French woman, even if you add ten or twenty, my heart is still a red and hot Chinese heart!"

"Twenty! Aren't you afraid of exhausting yourself!"

Jing Yunong was too lazy to talk nonsense with him, and reminded: "I don't oppose meeting, but be careful, there are no small matters in foreign affairs work."

"Understood, cultural commissioner, I know what they do, she made an appointment with me, I can't be surprised."

Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes and reminded: "This is a cat and mouse game, the difference is who is the cat and who is the mouse!"

"You want to be a cat, but not a good cat!"

Jing Yunong glanced at him and said: "If you want to be a mouse, then it's even more true to the name."

"Can we still chat properly?"

Li Xuewu twitched the corners of his mouth, signaling her to pay attention to the influence, didn't she see a little mouse in the passenger seat staring at you with big eyes?

Li Xue saw her second brother winking and felt even more suspicious; she always felt that her second brother had something going on with the leader.

"Speaking of cats and mice, I do have a little guess." Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes and reminded: "It might be related to Mr. Z coming a few days ago."

"Heh—flies don't bite seamless eggs."

Jing Yunong had already restrained a lot, but her tone still carried a bit of resentment: "Handle this matter yourself, don't play too big, be careful it's hard to end."

"By the way, what did No. 2 Auto say to you?"

She frowned slightly, closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, her gold-rimmed glasses raised halfway, full of fatigue and depression.

Li Xuewu grabbed her hand and generously helped her press the acupoints on her palm.

Jing Yunong opened her eyes suddenly, the first thing she looked at was not Li Xuewu who was molesting her, but Li Xue in the passenger seat.

And at this time, Li Xue was sitting upright, looking ahead, as if she hadn't seen anything.

She then turned her head and glared at Li Xuewu, wanting to withdraw her hand, but didn't succeed.

Li Xuewu just kneaded it like this, and reported: "One is the supply chain matter, wanting further development, laying the sales channel into our office network."

"The other is the special vehicle matter, they want to eat our chassis technology, and then produce chassis, specifically for the supply chain system."

"Finally, they want to cooperate in producing buses."

Li Xuewu shook her wrist and asked: "Is it better? Don't drink so much next time."

"Do you think I want to?" Jing Yunong withdrew her hand and rolled her eyes: "Continue."

"Don't know where they heard it, Gu Litong is convinced that our factory is researching buses, and wants to use technical reserves and production power to stick a foot in."

Li Xuewu looked at her and raised his eyebrows, asking: "You say such people who take the initiative to come to the door to be slaughtered, how can I bear to do it, I can't bear it!"

"Hmm, you really have the feeling of a cat and mouse now." Jing Yunong raised her eyebrows and smiled: "The cat crying for the mouse is false mercy—"

She sat up straight, looked at Li Xue in the passenger seat and said: "You have a principle, kill the ugly ones, isn't it the same in the business world?"

"Who ruined my reputation—!"

Li Xuewu looked forward following Jing Yunong's gaze, the little mouse withdrew the peeking gaze just now and sat upright again.

The motorcade entered the factory gate, and the guards at the gate stood at attention and saluted, very standard and standardized.

There were two patrol cars parked at the gate, one was the original Willys, and one was the test car Red Star Hongxing Lingyang.

Both cars were equipped with warning lights and iconic paint, which were particularly easy to distinguish.

Other vehicles in the factory organ naturally didn't have iconic paint, but the Security Section did.

Especially in the situation where Li Xuewu had equipped all the vehicles needed by the Security Section before handing over the vehicle maintenance plant, even if many cars were maintenance vehicles.

Now other sections still had a shortage of official vehicles, but the Security Section had already greatly improved this situation.

That old side-car motorcycle had become a hot commodity, the only one in the entire Security Section, whoever rode it was stylish, cooler than driving an Hongxing Lingyang.

According to the division of functional departments, the Security Team's vehicle paint specifications were the same, just with different text.

"Discipline Inspection", "Security", "Fire Protection", "Safety Supervision".

Of course, this was only a large category, if it was refined, there were training and confidentiality, but these two departments uniformly used "Security" paint.

"Don't know whether to say your mind is fine, or say you have many tricks."

Jing Yunong looked at the repainted vehicles and security posts outside the car window, and could feel a kind of majesty and solemnity, but still teased Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu gave her another warning look: What tricks are many in broad daylight!

"Beijing No. 2 Auto is different, buying a horse bone for a thousand gold, it is the first automobile production unit integrated into our factory's automobile parts supply chain system."

Li Xuewu patted her knee quite recklessly and said: "It doesn't matter to eat their chassis technology, what matters is what we can get, about bus production capacity."

Jing Yunong felt a shiver from her heels to behind her ears when he patted her, and her face was even more rosy.

She pushed away Li Xuewu's bad hand, and still had to pretend to be serious: "Technology exchange has no winner or loser, it depends on who can produce good products."

"That's what I mean, the other party obviously wants a lot."

Seeing Jing Yunong didn't let him touch, Li Xuewu didn't act recklessly again, organizing the notebook at hand and saying: "Eat our technology, ride the joint industry's smooth ride, and want our sales channels."

The driver's technology was good, and the Shanghai-brand sedan stopped steadily in the office area courtyard.

The small motorcade returned, there were many vehicles at the gate, and they couldn't squeeze up for a while, so they parked where it was spacious.

Before getting off the car, Li Xuewu laughed wickedly: "If I don't fool Gu Litong into working like an ox and a horse for us, it will be as if I haven't mixed in the Beijing industrial world in vain."

Jing Yunong saw his wicked smile and couldn't help but squeeze her legs together, this person's charm was never shown openly, but he had to be wicked to make people unable to help themselves.

"Bad look—!"

She rolled her eyes at Li Xuewu, held the seat and got off the car with the car door opened by the driver.

Li Xue, who got off to help her, heard the leader's last coquettish scolding, and became more certain in her heart that neither of these two were good things!

"How about sending him to the factory hospital for an IV drip?"

Watching Li Huai De being carried down from the command vehicle, Ao Yuhua, the deputy director of the Management Committee Office, looked at Li Xuewu with concern and asked, "Nothing will go wrong, will it?"

"There shouldn't be any issues. Director Li didn't drink that much; he was just a bit too eager."

Li Xuewu observed Li Huai De for a moment and teased the group, "The opposing firepower was too intense, and our side couldn't hold the line. Director Li sacrificed himself for the factory."

"Stop talking, it's terrifying—!"

Hearing Li Xuewu say that the leader was fine, Ao Yuhua let go of her worries and asked helplessly, "Just how much did he drink to get this wasted?"

"I didn't—I'm not wasted—!"

Wang Yuzheng, who was helped down from another car, hadn't stood firm yet, and after a heroic statement, ran to the flower bed and vomited.

"You're in this state and you're not wasted?"

Ao Yuhua waved her hand, amused yet helpless, signaling for the people in the office to hurry and help, while she herself stepped in to help support Director Li.

Li Huai De opened his bleary eyes at this moment, scanned his surroundings, and nodded, knowing he was back at the factory.

"It's nothing. The liquor at the credit union was too cheap; it went straight to my head. I'll just have a little more tonight to clear it up."

He was as stubborn as a dead duck; he wouldn't admit his tolerance couldn't match theirs, insisting instead that their liquor was cheap.

So, according to him, he wouldn't get drunk on the steel mill's liquor because it was better than the credit union's?

That goes without saying!

The liquor Li Xuewu helped him store at the guesthouse was smooth and didn't go to his head; the taste was mellow and complex, truly Li Huai De's favorite.

Ao Yuhua couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Director Li, you've drunk yourself into this state, and you still want to 'clear it up'?"

"Yeah, just a little, to sober up."

Li Huai De shook his head slightly, his speech slurred, but his mind was still somewhat clear: "I'm not going upstairs. Take me to the guesthouse."

He blinked his sleepy eyes hard, nodded at Li Xuewu, who was still standing downstairs, and arranged, "You handle the aftermath; I'm withdrawing first."

After saying this, he climbed back onto Li Xuewu's command vehicle, unable to bear the sight of Wang Yuzheng, who was vomiting his guts out over there.

With that kind of drinking capacity, he still wants to advance?

Last time, when welcoming Mr. Z outside the factory, he had discussed with Jing Yunong and others about arranging for Wang Yuzheng to take the position of Director of the Third Industry Management Office.

But after returning from there, there had been no follow-up. Jing Yunong didn't know what medicine he was selling in his gourd either, so this time, when going to the credit union for negotiations, she took the initiative to arrange for Wang Yuzheng to accompany the team.

Her intention was very clear: she wanted to probe Li Huai De's thoughts. If Wang Yuzheng were really to be transferred, the new head of the Finance Office would need to be arranged as soon as possible.

Other office heads could wait a while, but the head of the Finance Office required a handover process because the responsibilities were too detailed and too great.

Just now, after the vehicle stopped, Gu Weijie, who had also drunk too much, didn't even come back; the vehicle went to the guesthouse, and she would be resting there tonight.

Li Huai De, as the leader of the team, had to bring the people who accompanied him downstairs and let others see his state.

At this time, cadres were very serious about their attitude toward work. You see, many people weren't busy near the end of the workday, but leaving only when the time was up was a matter of principle.

It didn't matter if leaders drank too much; it was all for the sake of work. As long as the factory was doing well, the employees were willing to soak their leaders in a liquor vat.

Of course, if the factory wasn't doing well and the benefits were poor, they would still be willing to soak the leaders in a liquor vat.

Li Xuewu was the only one who had made a round trip to the credit union and still had a normal complexion and state.

Although Jing Yunong felt a bit dizzy, she insisted on going upstairs to finish the remaining work.

Financial work was just like that; today's tasks had to be completed today. Dragging them to tomorrow would be a different story.

"Are you holding up okay, Team Leader Wang?" Li Xuewu walked up to Wang Yuzheng, patted his back, and asked, "Do you need me to send you to the factory hospital to get checked out?"

"Better not, this is embarrassing enough as it is."

After vomiting, Wang Yuzheng felt much better in his stomach. With the help of an office staff member, he washed his face at the courtyard faucet and felt instantly clearer.

He said with some shame, "I'm really sorry. My tolerance is average. I didn't say anything wrong just now, did I?"

"You're overthinking it. It's nothing. Everyone's tolerance is practiced little by little."

Li Xuewu comforted him with a smile: "You didn't say anything wrong; you just patted Director Li's shoulder and called him 'brother'."

"Ah—?"

Wang Yuzheng's dizzy brain suddenly cleared up. The alcohol went straight to his head, and cold sweat broke out along the back of his neck. He was completely stunned.

He stammered and asked, "I... I called Director Li... 'brother'?"

"Hahahaha—!"

Li Xuewu laughed and patted his back: "I was scaring you. This trick is especially good for sobering up!"

"I... hehe... hehehe."

Wang Yuzheng's legs went soft. If it weren't for the office staff supporting him from behind, he would have sat on the ground. What kind of damn good idea was that!

He was sobered up, but he had almost been scared to death.

Watching Li Xuewu leave while laughing and joking, Wang Yuzheng sat down by the flower bed, lingering in fear: "This bastard, he'll joke about anything—!"

"Um... Deputy Team Leader Wang..."

The office clerk who went with them whispered a reminder: "Deputy Director Li wasn't joking. When you came out of the credit union, you really did pat Director Li's shoulder and call him 'brother'."

"Damn it..."

Following the return visits to the Steel Institute and the credit union, Li Huai De led the team according to the established return visit plan and visited the No. 3 Textile Factory on Saturday morning.

Based on the good cooperation in existing joint third-industry work, the two sides once again reached a series of new cooperation contents regarding third-industry textiles, joint trade, etc.

When communicating about the difficulties and opportunities faced by industrial enterprises in the new era and new period, the leaders of both sides discussed and exchanged opinions on problems that the factory should and could do at present.

They also finalized the next steps for cooperation regarding the exchange of factory cadres and employees, vocational and technical training, supply of welfare benefits, and other businesses.

On Saturday afternoon, Li Xuewu attended the personnel office meeting hosted by Gu Weijie, Deputy Director of the Management Committee.

Participating in the meeting were Wei Zaike, head of the Political Group; Ding Zigui, Director of the Management Committee Office; Li Xuewu, Deputy Director of the Management Committee Office; Xie Lan Zhi, Director of the Personnel Office; Yin Zaiwei, Director of the Organization Office; Bu Qingfang, Director of the Propaganda Office; and other deputy leaders of various offices.

The meeting finalized the allocation and placement work for the first batch of university student interns this year.

There were 357 people in the first phase. After a month of internship training, they were reasonably allocated according to the training plan and usage plan, based on the talent needs reported by various offices.

At the meeting, Gu Weijie emphasized the talent usage policy and requirements, demanding that all departments take the people back, use them well, protect them well, keep the lessons in mind, and strictly prohibit any further unnecessary losses.

At the meeting, the heads of the Personnel Office and Organization Office made statements. Li Xuewu, Deputy Director of the Management Committee Office and Deputy Head of the Security Group, made deployments and requirements regarding the safety management of these 357 high-quality talents.

After the office meeting ended, Ding Zigui accompanied Gu Weijie to the large venue to hold a general meeting for the 357 university student interns waiting for allocation.

Li Xuewu, on the other hand, called Wang Yajuan, the instructor of the Art Troupe, to go see the Cultural Commissioner of the French Foreign Affairs Office, Gima Roman.

"Deputy Director Li."

When Li Xuewu came out of the main office building, he saw Wang Yajuan waiting downstairs by the command vehicle.

When he got closer, Wang Yajuan, wearing a floral dress with a thin pink sweater draped over her shoulders, smiled and took the initiative to greet him. Her tone lacked the awkwardness from when they had met before; she was much more composed.

Li Xuewu raised his hand to hand his notebook to Peng Xiaoli, who had come out of the building, and looked at her, asking, "Why didn't you go upstairs to wait?"

"I arrived late and just happened to see Driver Han already waiting for you, so I didn't go up."

Wang Yajuan was quite articulate. She smiled and gestured toward the somewhat awkward Peng Xiaoli, saying, "Secretary Peng invited me, but I thought there was no need to be that troublesome."

"I see. Is work very busy?" Li Xuewu nodded at her. He didn't go upstairs either, just washed his hands and face at the faucet downstairs.

Peng Xiaoli wanted to go upstairs to get a towel, but Li Xuewu didn't let her; he took out a handkerchief and wiped his face.

"Sorry to trouble you to come with me. The foreign affairs personnel we are meeting today are in the field of culture and art."

He looked at Wang Yajuan, who was somewhat reserved and puzzled, and explained, "I am a complete layman in culture and art. Please help me coordinate."

"Xiaoli, you don't need to go. Find your own way back tonight."

Li Xuewu instructed Peng Xiaoli, "We'll have dinner and go straight home."

"Understood, Leader."

Peng Xiaoli helped Wang Yajuan open the car door, nodded at the Art Troupe instructor who returned a smile, and helped close the car door.

Helping open the car door was because the command vehicle had a relatively high frame, and the other party was a female comrade.

Furthermore, he didn't dare help Li Xuewu open the car door; he had been scolded by Li Xuewu for that before. He absolutely would not do what the leader didn't allow.

The vehicle drove out of the office area. The two people in the back seat, one relaxed and one reserved, seemed a bit dull.

Li Xuewu looked at the training ground they passed along the way, where members of the security team were training.

"Your Art Troupe is rehearsing programs, right?" Li Xuewu turned his head to look at Wang Yajuan and asked, "You seemed to have mentioned it once before."

"Yes, for May Day and May Fourth Youth Day."

Even though she was asked by him, Wang Yajuan didn't dare look into his eyes. She just looked at the communication console in front and answered, "We are performing at the factory for Labor Day, and we have to participate in the city's joint performance for Youth Day."

"Then will taking you out delay your rehearsal work?"

Li Xuewu smiled apologetically and said, "I didn't ask clearly. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I'm not responsible for specific business work now," Wang Yajuan explained, "Mainly ideological and political education and logistics work."

"Oh—who is responsible for the business management of the Art Troupe?"

Li Xuewu scanned her; she seemed a bit plumper than before.

Wang Yajuan lowered her head and said, "The dance team is managed by Zhou Miaomiao, and the business rehearsals have teachers and coaches specially selected by the planning group."

She answered, "The main work is managed by Troupe Leader Zhang Li. I am her partner."

After listening to her finish, Li Xuewu nodded and asked, "After leaving the front line of performance, how do you feel about your current work?"

"No... no particular feelings," Wang Yajuan squeezed the cloth bag in her hand and said, "Just idle."

"Are you afraid of being idle?"

Li Xuewu smiled slightly, looked out the window, and said, "But many people feel that work is hard and want to be a bit more idle."

"That's not it. It's just that I feel uneasy in my heart, always thinking about the days of training before."

Wang Yajuan didn't have anything she dared not say to Li Xuewu, even with the driver here.

But she didn't dare look into Li Xuewu's eyes; they seemed to have some kind of magic. Once she looked, she would lose her way and touch that string in her heart she didn't want to pluck.

"Then do you like management work, or front-line performance work?" Li Xuewu asked with a smile, "Can't bear to leave the stage? Or is it ideals and career?"

"Maybe it's the stage..." Wang Yajuan couldn't tell a lie in front of Li Xuewu. With someone finally there to whom she could reveal the inner struggle, she couldn't help but nod and admit this point.

Li Xuewu nodded slowly and said, "I once had a period where I missed the days when I worked in the Security Section immensely."

"At that time, I had plenty of personal time. For me, who had just returned to the city, there were too many fresh things in the capital waiting for me to discover and play with."

He turned his head to look at Wang Yajuan and said, "Do you know who I wanted to see most when I transferred back?"

"I... I don't... don't know..."

Wang Yajuan was almost startled by this question and nearly bumped into the back of the passenger seat. She hurriedly used her hand to hold the door handle to sit steady.

Li Xuewu smiled, didn't give the answer to this question, but shook his head slightly and said, "It's a pity that time never returns. Life is full of helplessness."

"I like lying on the kang in the backyard of the Sihe Academy reading books alone, like teasing Li Shu as she crawls all over the kang, like going out to have fun with my brothers."

"But when I thought this way, I turned back and realized I was no longer a nineteen-year-old youth."

Li Xuewu turned to look at Wang Yajuan and said, "I have to be responsible for my family, responsible for my daughter, responsible for my own future and the future of my brothers. Everyone for me, I for everyone."

Wang Yajuan didn't speak. Her gaze had been looking out the car window. Her moist eyes revealed an unsettled heart. Her throat was slightly dry and painful, as if something was blocked there.

Yes, life always has to move forward, age always has to grow, and that person can never wait for you at the intersection where you go home forever.

And you can never see that sixteen-year-old youth who was arrogant and reckless forever.

The meeting with Gima Roman went very smoothly. She didn't show much surprise or reservation about Li Xuewu bringing a young lady to the meeting.

Because of the language barrier, the communication with Wang Yajuan mainly relied on Li Xuewu's translation.

Although a foreign affairs cadre was sitting behind the three of them, it didn't affect their communication.

This was Wang Yajuan's first contact with a foreigner. She had seen foreign audiences when performing on stage before, but she had never sat down and chatted.

She was a bit surprised and unexpected that Li Xuewu spoke foreign languages so well. Wang Yajuan only remembered that Li Xuewu had learned Russian, but didn't remember he knew French.

There was a lot she didn't know. Li Xuewu also knew English. Writing might not be that fluent, but daily communication wasn't a problem.

Perhaps precisely because of this, Gima talked more with Li Xuewu and less with Wang Yajuan.

It must be said that French women always carry a kind of romantic and free-spirited aura, making people think of plants like lavender.

Maggie said she was 26 years old, entered the foreign affairs department after graduating from university at 21, and had been working in China for two years. She considered herself a China hand.

Li Xuewu looked at her bragging with amusement. If she dared to call herself a China hand after two years, would she dare to call herself Chinese if she stayed for a few more years?

"I can make dumplings, I can say 'Hello', 'Study hard', 'Love learning'!"

Seeing the suspicion and teasing in Li Xuewu's eyes, and even more seeing the smile on the corner of his mouth, Maggie emphasized very seriously: "I really understand China, and I understand Chinese people even better."

"Is that so!" Li Xuewu said with a smile: "It seems Miss Roman really understands China deeply, even knowing how to make dumplings."

Maggie could hear the teasing in his words, but didn't mind and said: "Actually, I want to find a Chinese man to fall in love with even more, so I can learn faster."

"Pfft—cough cough!"

The foreign affairs cadre sitting at another table behind her sprayed the coffee he had just drunk.

Li Xuewu mischievously translated this sentence of hers directly to Wang Yajuan, who was full of confusion.

After hearing it, Wang Yajuan also felt it was very absurd. To learn the culture of a country, one has to fall in love with a man from that country?

"I have to say, this idea of yours is very effective and direct!"

Li Xuewu raised his index finger in approval: "This is the most favorable way to learn foreign languages and foreign cultures, and the best way to learn the essence of the culture!"

"That goes without saying—!"

Maggie Roman raised her slender neck slightly and said with a bit of arrogance: "I am very interested in China's profound culture and am looking for a gentleman who can teach me."

"I know you Chinese men are all very gentlemanly, very shy, oh my—"

Maggie waved her hand with a smile and teased Li Xuewu: "Actually, falling in love is about talking, and then it's about love."

"No no no, Miss Maggie, you don't understand China deeply enough."

Li Xuewu explained with a smile: "Here, talking isn't important; what's important is love."

"That's why I say you Chinese are super hypocritical!"

Maggie Roman pointed at Li Xuewu with a smile: "Every day you talk about how the brothers and comrades of the world's proletariat are family!"

"But if you tell a person from Modu that they are family with a person from Yu Province, they will fight you to the death!"

"Pfft—pfft!"

The cadre behind her tried hard to hold back the coffee in his mouth this time, but it all sprayed out from his nostrils.

He hurriedly called his substitute colleague over to change shifts. He couldn't take it anymore; this woman was too ruthless.

When changing shifts and leaving, he couldn't help but give Li Xuewu a look, reminding him to hurry up and talk about business and stop joking around with this woman.

Li Xuewu also looked at Maggie Roman speechlessly. Teasing her just now was entirely out of his view of her arrogance, but now he wanted to take back that sentence.

This woman might not speak Chinese, but what she understood was definitely not as silly as she appeared on the surface.

"Um—Miss Maggie, actually you completely misunderstood," Li Xuewu explained, "We are all one family across the country, all comrade relationships."

"Hmm, comrade relationship, not family, right?" Maggie nodded with a smile, picked up her coffee to drink, and looked at Li Xuewu playfully.

Li Xuewu shook his chin and looked at her with a smile too. This conversation couldn't go on.

"Last time I went back, Chantal and Dina both mentioned you," Maggie didn't hold onto Li Xuewu and said with a smile: "They have a very good impression of you, saying you are a talented politician."

"Um, Miss Maggie, people like us aren't called politicians, and the nature of our work isn't politics, but enterprise management."

Li Xuewu explained seriously: "Although I also have the status of a cadre, for now, it can't be called that. It's too big; I can't accept it."

"I understand, the definitions and systems are different."

Maggie nodded, looked at Li Xuewu, and continued: "Chantal has decided to invest in the mainland, and the partner is your enterprise."

"I'm honored, but we haven't done well enough yet," Li Xuewu replied with a smile: "I hope there will be opportunities to learn from each other and cooperate."

"This is the main purpose of why I invited you to meet today," Maggie also said seriously: "Ms. Chantal has returned to her country to handle this matter."

She explained: "The company's board of directors hopes she can explain this decision personally. After all, it's very special and very difficult, isn't it?"

"I fully respect Ms. Chantal's decision, and I also hope that both sides can develop broader economic construction and production cooperation."

Li Xuewu spread his hands and said: "But we are only an enterprise. What we can do for Ms. Chantal is only to provide some convenience in the mainland."

"As for international influence, or anything else, we are powerless."

"Of course, we all know this."

Maggie nodded and said frankly: "The Foreign Affairs Office is also very concerned about this cooperation and has already been communicating with the country through special channels."

"At the same time, here, I also hope your factory can give a certain response and support."

She didn't cover it up and said bluntly: "Regarding the ecological industrial zone, joint industrial production, and other projects, we have all learned about them, and hope Mr. Li can provide some support and help with materials."

"Regarding project applications, we also hope to communicate with higher-level competent departments to introduce Ms. Chantal's enterprise for cooperation."

"Hmm, what you said makes sense. Cooperation is like this."

Li Xuewu first affirmed Maggie Roman's words, then nodded slowly and said: "We express our gratification and appreciation for the efforts made by Ms. Chantal."

"However, regarding project applications, I have to explain the situation and requirements here to you."

He didn't mind the demanding tone in Maggie's words, but answered implicitly: "Regarding the ecological industrial project, the design plan and construction procedures provided by the Red Star Factory have already been submitted for declaration and review."

"And all cooperation units and technology suppliers have been finalized in the early stages. This point is not easy to change, and it is also being responsible for the project."

"And regarding the project materials, I can give some help, but this requires Ms. Chantal to negotiate the matter down; otherwise, everything is empty talk."

Li Xuewu didn't agree to any of the requests proposed by the other party, clearly telling her that he was someone who wouldn't release the hawk until he saw the rabbit.

The city still hadn't given a clear approval for the Liangma River Industrial Zone, so it wasn't a wise move to rush to introduce the French at this time.

Even if it were approved, Li Xuewu wasn't prepared to let the French follow along and get a piece of the pie.

The ecological industrial zone could use the French business's capital and technical support, but they absolutely couldn't participate in it or master any decision-making.

Maggie Roman looked at Li Xuewu's determination and tried to ask: "Can I meet with the competent leaders of your factory to report on the necessity of this matter?"

It seemed the other party was also someone who wouldn't turn back until she hit the south wall. Li Xuewu didn't mind Maggie's persistence.

He nodded and said: "I can help arrange it, but it will take some time."

"Why?" Maggie frowned slightly and asked: "Does Mr. Li have any concerns or worries about this cooperation?"

"No, it's not because of you, nor is it because of my personal opinion obstructing it. You misunderstood."

Li Xuewu explained with a smile: "Starting next Tuesday, factory leaders will visit industrial development departments in several provinces to exchange views on subsequent cooperation."

"So, it's not that we won't see you, but that we really don't have time, especially the leaders in charge of industry."

"That's really a pity. Ms. Chantal is still waiting for news from here."

Maggie Roman deliberately said this, and her interest in Li Xuewu gradually declined in the subsequent conversation.

Before the dinner ended, she made a special request: "Can you teach me a Chinese phrase?"

"Teach you Chinese? Why?"

Li Xuewu smiled unexpectedly and said: "You can hire a professional Chinese teacher, or date a Chinese boyfriend."

"That's too difficult. I can't find one, I can't find a suitable one at all."

Maggie said with a hint of teasing in her eyes: "So I can only seize every opportunity to learn a sentence of Chinese from every Chinese person I know."

"Smart approach!"

Li Xuewu nodded with a smile and said: "I'll teach you a simple one, and it's a colloquialism we often use in daily life."

"Great, you must be a very good teacher." Maggie licked her red lips, waiting eagerly for Li Xuewu's teaching.

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and asked: "What do you use in French to express surprise or shock? 'Ah!', right?"

Maggie nodded, listening to him seriously.

"We don't use that in Chinese, but use 'Wo Cao!' to express surprise."

Li Xuewu was just like a professor, very seriously telling Maggie about the usage environment and characteristics of this colloquialism.

He was speaking French now, but the word "Wo Cao" was authentic Chinese. Wang Yajuan, who was sitting on the side, naturally heard it clearly.

She looked at Li Xuewu in surprise as he said "Wo Cao" to the French foreign affairs personnel one sentence after another.

And the other party?

It was the same, very seriously learning Li Xuewu's tone and saying "Wo Cao".

The two of them, one saying "Wo Cao" and the other saying "Wo Cao", shocked the foreign affairs cadre sitting on the other side, who turned his head frequently. The look he gave Li Xuewu wasn't right.

The meaning in that look seemed to be saying: You damn well taught our national essence to the French?!

"Wo Cao?"

When walking out of the restaurant, Maggie Roman was still chanting this phrase to fix her cognition of it.

She really believed that what Li Xuewu taught her was authentic colloquialism, because Li Xuewu's expression was especially upright and serious when he taught it.

Little did she know that the more serious Li Xuewu was, the less serious he was. Wang Yajuan, who had long understood the truth from Li Xuewu, looked at the two of them with an absurd expression.

"Thank you, Mr. Li. Useful knowledge has increased again!"

When sending Maggie Roman to the car, the other party still seriously expressed her gratitude to Li Xuewu, who politely sent her out, and also hugged him and Wang Yajuan.

But Wang Yajuan clearly saw that the other party had a suspicion of deliberately using her car lights to touch porcelain when hugging Li Xuewu.

When she hugged her, she didn't feel the rubbing sensation of the car lights, but with Li Xuewu, they were almost flattened and rubbed.

"Practice more when you go back. Learning Chinese isn't difficult. What's important is to speak more and speak boldly!"

Li Xuewu helped the other party close the car door and reminded her with a smile: "Come on, you can definitely do it."

Watching the car leave, Wang Yajuan looked at Li Xuewu, whose full smile had turned into a mischievous one, and hummed: "Very comfortable, right?"

"What?"

Li Xuewu withdrew his gaze, looked at her, and raised his eyebrows, then nodded and said: "Teasing a fool is fun, of course, but what does it have to do with being comfortable?"

"I'm not saying you're teasing her!"

Wang Yajuan avoided his gaze. At this moment, no one could resist Li Xuewu's charm.

She looked to the side and muttered: "They were all flattened. I don't believe you didn't feel it."

"What are you saying? I'm not that kind of person!"

Li Xuewu smiled and beckoned to Han Jiankun to come over. He helped her open the car door and said: "Besides, how big is hers? Even if they were flattened, they'd just be a pancake."

When he said this, he deliberately placed his gaze on Wang Yajuan's chest, causing her to be defeated and get into the car in a panic.

By the time they left, it was long past the time to get off work, so they went straight home.

The situation of meeting the French business was reported to the relevant leaders on Monday, but the leaders really didn't have time to handle this matter.

Li Huai De communicated with Li Xuewu, and it was better to wait until Chantal had confirmed the situation there before talking.

On April 15th, Cheng Kaiyuan, Gu Weijie, Jing Yunong, and Xue Zhifu, Deputy Directors of the Red Star Factory Management Committee, led teams to visit Hebei Province, Henan Province, Hubei Province, and Shaanxi Province to carry out industrial visits.

They made exchanges on building a new era of trade cooperation relations and the construction of an ecological industrial system, and at the same time, reached a series of cooperation with representative industrial enterprises and trade representative enterprises in these provinces.