Chapter 1088: I

A side-parted hairstyle, a white shirt, a steel-strap watch, black trousers, black leather shoes—he was tall and handsome, not much shorter than Li Xuewu.

He Yu Shui's boyfriend, Dai Xiang Yang, stood opposite Li Xuewu, awkwardly extending a hand to greet him while Sha Zhu made the introductions.

Damn! They were wearing the same outfit!

Wearing the same outfit wasn't scary; whoever was uglier was the one who felt awkward.

Li Xuewu had a scar on his face, but you couldn't call him ugly. Those who saw him were either intimidated or simply felt he was formidable; no one ever called him ugly.

Because the scar was only on one side of his face, while the other side was handsome enough to mesmerize a whole crowd of young women.

Administrative-style suits were incredibly popular at this time, far more than in later generations, because the soil for them was much richer now.

Even with the same attire and the same height, the temperament they projected was vastly different.

Li Xuewu stood there with a natural, unforced authority; his expression was calm and gentle, making people feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze, yet no one dared to overlook his majesty. This was what you called presence.

Looking at Dai Xiang Yang, even though he was trying very hard to stand straight, he paled in comparison.

How big was the gap between a deputy section-level and a deputy division-level official?

Who knew? If you calculated it by normal promotion times, it might take ten years.

Moreover, Li Xuewu was an unconventional deputy division-level official who had long been in charge of comprehensive work and held the power of the gun; there was even a faint aura of killing intent about him.

This wasn't Li Xuewu intentionally trying to intimidate the other party; those familiar with him were used to it, and those who weren't rarely had the chance to come into contact with him.

Yushui had already gone into the inner courtyard, leaving Dai Xiang Yang standing at the entrance, which was truly awkward.

Fortunately, Sha Zhu's enthusiastic greeting dissolved the atmosphere that was about to freeze.

Since Dai Xiang Yang was dating He Yu Shui and had come to the house, it was only natural for him to take the initiative to greet the neighbors and residents of the courtyard; otherwise, people would talk.

You know how it is—people would gossip about the new son-in-law, saying he didn't even know how to say a word when he ran into people, like a mute.

Judging by Dai Xiang Yang's attire, he must have come from a wealthy family. He heard he was a deputy section chief in the technical department, and he carried an air of scholarly refinement.

With his talent and ability, he naturally wouldn't let the neighbors gossip or point fingers at him.

This wasn't his first time at the courtyard, but he offered cigarettes where appropriate and greeted people as he should.

"This is also someone from our courtyard, he lives in our back courtyard," Sha Zhu introduced. "This is also a leader from our factory, and my sworn brother."

He was just a cook; he dealt with big leaders often enough in his daily life, but when it came down to it, there wasn't really a rank to compare.

His sister dating a deputy section chief was, in his view, a top-tier match, especially since the other party's family conditions were so suitable—it was a cadre family.

Although his sister was also deputy section-level now, when it came to family background, he always felt they were a step lower.

That's why, having finally caught the opportunity, he wanted to regain some ground by introducing Li Xuewu and claiming he was sworn brothers with a factory leader.

"Hello, Li Chu. Please, have a cigarette."

Dai Xiang Yang was quite polite; there was no hypocrisy of flattery, nor the surprise of someone fawning over power. He offered the cigarette just as he would to any other neighbor.

Li Xuewu smiled and waved his hand. "I've quit smoking. Thank you, though."

He looked the man over and nodded. "A few days ago, I heard the Second Master of the back courtyard mention you, saying Yushui had found a top-notch, top-tier partner."

"He's a deputy section chief in the technical department at the textile factory, and his father works at the district bureau," Sha Zhu introduced with a smile. "I was looking for someone outside through connections, but I never expected to find someone right in Yushui's own unit."

"That's fate! Haha!"

Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Yushui is older than me, and you must be older than me as well. We'll see each other often, so just call me Xuewu or Comrade in the future."

"Alright—"

Dai Xiang Yang's first impression of Li Xuewu was quite intimidating, but seeing his temperament, he didn't seem like an evil person, and he was full of curiosity about Yushui's attitude.

It was only after his brother-in-law's introduction that he realized the man was a factory leader. He would never call him Xuewu or Comrade, but he agreed for the moment.

He smiled and explained to the others, "I was out running errands and happened to run into Yushui, so we came back together. I'll just go say hello to her and then head back."

"Go on, go on. Chat for a while, no rush."

Sha Zhu smiled and let him pass, looking very much like a man afraid his sister wouldn't get married, appearing very eager.

Li Xuewu and the First Master found it amusing, but they both knew Sha Zhu's personality, so they didn't say much.

Dai Xiang Yang seemed to understand his brother-in-law's temperament as well; he smiled, nodded, and headed toward the back courtyard.

Watching his back, Sha Zhu shook his head helplessly and looked at Li Xuewu. "Well? Let me see through your eyes—what do you think of this lad?"

"You're being all scholarly—are you putting on a play?"

Li Xuewu scolded him with a smile, then nodded seriously. "He looks quite upright. His family background and upbringing must be very good, and his personality seems fine too."

Sha Zhu gave Li Xuewu a thumbs-up, nodding in admiration. "They all say you leaders are born with X-ray vision, capable of seeing through people's hearts."

He introduced him to Li Xuewu, "He's two years older than Yushui. He became a technician after graduating from junior college."

"His father works at the District Industrial Bureau, his mother works at the Labor Bureau. He has three older sisters at home and no other brothers. But there is one thing..."

Sha Zhu had never mentioned this to anyone else, but he didn't hide it from the First Master or Li Xuewu, because he himself was hesitant about it.

Li Xuewu heard the hidden meaning in his words, tilted his head slightly, and said, "It's your own sister. You have to keep your own eyes open when looking for a brother-in-law; don't just listen to what others say."

That was very clear. Everything he had said just now was just polite talk; don't take it seriously.

If Yushui isn't happy in the future, don't blame me for having poor judgment or failing to recognize the person.

Li Xuewu hated getting involved in karma more than anything. Although he wasn't a practitioner, he didn't want to invite unnecessary controversy.

Sha Zhu understood his meaning and sighed. "Yushui and I have relied on each other since we were small. Who else in this courtyard is there to talk to—"

He looked at Li Xuewu candidly. "This Dai Xiang Yang makes me hesitate as well: he's been married before and is currently divorced."

"Yushui is twenty-three, he's twenty-five. Divorced at twenty-five?"

Li Xuewu frowned slightly, looked at the First Master who was doing the same, and said, "Have you asked about the reason?"

It wasn't that he was making a fuss, nor was he looking down on divorced people; it was just that divorce was too rare during this period.

To get married, a couple had to pass organizational review and approval; divorce was even harder than marriage!

Later generations had a "divorce cooling-off period," and even cases with custody disputes were sometimes denied, but it was different back then.

If you mentioned divorce, the women's work group from the factory would definitely come to your home to do "work," whether it was educating the man or the woman, trying their best to persuade them to reconcile—you couldn't divorce.

You think it ended when the factory left?

No, the neighborhood committee would come next, another round of education and persuasion—you couldn't divorce.

When the neighborhood committee left, the neighbors would come, offering advice and mediation—still, you couldn't divorce.

If you really took that step and the couple divorced, well, just wait for the cold shoulders from all three parties.

The unit would blame you for ruining the factory's reputation, the neighborhood committee would blame you for ruining the neighborhood's atmosphere, and most importantly, the neighbors you saw every day.

People would say you ruined the courtyard's reputation and delayed their own children's chances of finding a partner.

To put it more seriously, if you were divorced, you'd better wait to be a bachelor for the rest of your life unless your family conditions and personal qualifications were exceptional; otherwise, you could only find someone of the same type.

And that was assuming the reason for the divorce was appropriate—for example, the common "incompatibility of ideals," "incompatibility of pursuits," or the other party's fault.

If you had a bad track record, just wait to be a bachelor—no one would date you.

This was the key point Li Xuewu was asking about. If the other party's family and background were excellent, and their work and personality were good, why divorce?

As long as the reason was acceptable, it wouldn't be a bad marriage after all; after all, time reveals a person's heart.

Since the other party dared to date a young, unmarried woman, they must have had confidence and weren't afraid of the impact.

Of course, things had to be looked at from both sides. Yushui herself had some of the constraints of this era.

Being a "widow-in-waiting" never sounded good, and it was hard not to have a knot in one's heart.

Especially since Yushui's last partner had died while on official business in another city, making it even more taboo.

Looking at all the conditions, this Dai Xiang Yang ultimately had some issues; otherwise, why would Sha Zhu be so hesitant?

"I've asked around through people I trust. I didn't listen to the matchmaker's nonsense; I asked someone reliable."

Sha Zhu scratched his head. "They said they were married for three years, but the woman's belly never moved. They checked and found out there was a problem, and she couldn't handle the pressure, so they divorced."

When he finished speaking, the First Master's eyelids jumped, but he didn't show any dissatisfaction, knowing Sha Zhu wasn't doing it on purpose, nor was he malicious.

However, he couldn't speak now. The First Mistress had also been found to have a problem when she was young, but he had stayed with her through thick and thin for a lifetime.

With his income, what kind of woman couldn't he have married?

Standing in this position, how could he evaluate Dai Xiang Yang? Saying it was good wasn't right, and saying it was bad wasn't right either.

Even an honest official finds it hard to settle family disputes. After all, it involved the major matter of bloodline continuation and descendants; what if they had separated peacefully?

So his gaze fell on Li Xuewu, waiting for him to speak.

Li Xuewu didn't want to speak. What was there to say?

Yushui had already brought the man back to the courtyard, which showed her attitude. Saying anything more would make him the villain, which was bad.

Besides, Yushui finding a partner was something he was most happy about; that girl had truly scared him when she went crazy in his office.

He was a decent man; how could he do such a thing? So her finding a partner and getting married was a good thing.

There was an old saying: "Better to tear down a temple than to destroy a marriage." This was a major human matter; he didn't dare to speak nonsense.

"As long as you're sure there's no problem with his character, I think these things don't matter."

Li Xuewu said vaguely, "Living a life depends on the two people involved. Diliya didn't mind you being an old bachelor, did she?"

"We're talking about Yushui, why are you talking about me!" Sha Zhu said, dissatisfied. "Am I the same? I'm just picky; I don't want to find anyone!"

"Big Brother, I'm leaving now."

Just as they were talking, Dai Xiang Yang's voice came from the front courtyard. Looking back, Yushui was sending him off.

"Alright, alright. Not staying a little longer?"

Sha Zhu turned his face and smiled. "We were just saying, going out tomorrow?"

"Yes, I made an appointment to take Yushui shopping," Dai Xiang Yang explained with a smile. "I rarely go out when I'm working, so this is a rare opportunity."

"Alright, alright—" Sha Zhu's mind was a mess, and he couldn't handle it, but his eyes turned toward Li Xuewu.

Because of his movement, Dai Xiang Yang looked over here too, as did He Yu Shui.

"... Hehe, that's great, as it should be."

Li Xuewu was speechless and wanted to curse. Why do you keep looking at me for your family matters!

However, seeing the atmosphere was about to become awkward, he said, "Young people shouldn't just stay at home. Go out more, communicate more."

"What? Are you going to teach me how to date?"

Dai Xiang Yang nodded with a smile, but Yushui didn't buy it, glancing at him. "Are you showing off?"

After saying that, she didn't care about Li Xuewu and the others, told Dai Xiang Yang to be careful on the road, and returned to the courtyard.

Dai Xiang Yang was extremely embarrassed. He didn't know the situation—was the brother-in-law's sworn brother He Yu Shui's enemy? Why was she speaking so sharply!

Sha Zhu couldn't save face and scolded the back of Yushui, who had already passed the third gate. "How are you talking! Did you eat gunpowder! No sense of seniority!"

"Hehe, they grew up together, they're used to joking around. Don't mind it."

Li Xuewu explained with a smile and nodded to Dai Xiang Yang. "Yushui is a good girl. Have a little more patience and tolerance when you're together."

"Thank you, Li Chu. I know."

Dai Xiang Yang nodded seriously, greeted Sha Zhu, and left.

Watching his back, Sha Zhu said angrily, "I've never seen anything like it! The older she gets, the less proper she is!"

"Leaving after just staying for a little while?"

Li Xuewu, holding Li Shu, was following his mother out of the courtyard toward the west courtyard when he ran into Yu Li and Shen Guodong's car entering the courtyard.

After getting out of the car, Yu Li first smiled and greeted Liu Yin, then hurriedly took Li Shu to dote on her.

Yu Li hadn't been in the courtyard when Li Xuewu sent the mother and daughter here this morning, and especially since Li Shu hadn't been back much lately, she had seized the opportunity.

Li Shu was close to Yu Li too, hugging her neck and calling her "Little Aunt," letting Yu Li tease her and talk to her.

Shen Guodong parked the car, walked over, and chatted for a while. Taking advantage of the fact that everyone around the car was his own people, he talked about the situation in Jinmen.

Erhai had already headed to Jinmen; he had sent him personally and had also met that Wu Laoshi.

They weren't unfamiliar with Wu Laoshi. Because of Li Xuewen, Shen Guodong saw her often and had even sent her nutritional supplements.

It was just that Erhai hadn't met her, so he introduced them and let them get familiar with each other.

The villa Li Xuewu had arranged in Jinmen, and the arrangement for Wu Laoshi, who had left quietly, to live there, hadn't aroused Erhai's suspicion.

When he was in Hong Kong, he had also met that Mr. Lai, a capable person who truly played the economic game and was the right-hand man Lou Xiaoe relied on most.

According to Li Xuewu's arrangement, the two were one in the light and one in the dark, one inside and one outside, supporting the scene in Jinmen.

Also going with them were Old Seven, She Yongwen, and Old Eight, Fu Yongming, both of whom were lads who had been taught well here.

Of the Thirteen Taibao, only Old Nine, Dai Yongxing, and a few lads below him remained in Beijing; the others had gone their separate ways.

Even the five lads who remained now basically didn't go out on field missions anymore; the cars had long been rented out to young people from the neighborhood who were struggling to make a living.

There were certainly no shortage of young people in the neighborhood who were willing to lower their faces to make a living, and Shen Guodong knew how to behave—he didn't set up any selection system, relying entirely on introductions.

Those who knew the situation at the recycling station would bring their own nephews or young people they knew well to ask.

They all lived in the same neighborhood; Shen Guodong naturally knew who the guarantor was and what the young person was like.

He kept the suitable ones and just told the unsuitable ones about the hardships of the trade, trying to make them retreat in the face of difficulties.

You ask if those who weren't accepted would hold a grudge?

That was inevitable, but firstly, there was a guarantor to mediate, and secondly, the recycling station knew the etiquette.

Even for those they didn't take in, they didn't cut off their path to survival, just saying that the scrap they brought would be accepted as usual and wouldn't be short-changed.

Finally, Shen Guodong wasn't worried about anyone taking the opportunity to retaliate. The situation here was clear to the neighborhood committee and the waste materials company, and there was also the connection with the supply and marketing cooperative.

Not being afraid of an investigation was one thing, and another was that Ji Yuxiu's status was pressing down here—who didn't know she had worked at the neighborhood office before and had now gone to the branch bureau?

She wasn't considered a big leader, but among the lads in the neighborhood, who didn't have a family? Of those who dared to come here to cause trouble early on, how many were good?

Li Xuewu appeared here less and less, but his reputation became more and more deafening.

He had the final say at the Red Star Factory in the East City, held a part-time position at the Third Guard Regiment, had a good relationship with the branch bureau, and an even better relationship with the local authorities.

Don't even mention the lads in this neighborhood; among the "wandering masters" and veterans who mixed in society in the city, how many dared to run wild in this alley?

The iron plates hanging on the front of the recycling station's tricycles were just like the ones Old Biaozi and the others had jokingly written back then.

But back then it was a joke; now it was a signboard that no one dared to provoke.

As long as they saw a tricycle with such an iron plate, knocking on a wooden clapper to collect scrap, everyone knew it was from the Jiaodaokou Waste Recycling Station.

In terms of status in the underworld, Shen Guodong was a big brother when he was mixing with Li Xuewu back in the fifties and early sixties.

But in terms of status and strength, who dared to act like a big brother here?

No one dared to bully them when they saw such tricycles; those who were familiar would smile and greet them, trying to build a connection, and those who saw them felt they were mysterious.

The tricycle rental at the recycling station had a rule: no one was allowed to commit crimes, cause trouble, or cheat on weight or money.

Whoever dared to smash the recycling station's signboard, Shen Guodong had made a ruthless threat: there were plenty of sewing machines in the First Prison for them to pedal, and he would let them pedal for a lifetime!

So it was funny to say that these forty-something tricycles had become a gang-like organization, fair in trading, honest, not causing trouble, but not afraid of trouble either.

Every morning, the tricycles would rush out of the alley and head straight to all parts of the Four Nine City, as if it had really become an industry.

And this industry was protected by the neighborhood office; no one had ever questioned whether this business model of the recycling station was reasonable.

Whether it was reasonable or not wasn't for others to question; this was the neighborhood, and it all belonged to the neighborhood.

Li Xuewu's godmother sat in the neighborhood office, and Li Xuewu had made a huge name for himself outside—who dared to come and find trouble?

Hey! You don't say, Shen Guodong was a person with a deep background in this small underworld, but he had never been seen acting arrogant or domineering.

Li Xuewu's reputation grew stronger, but he was even more gentle when treating neighbors and customers, smiling at everyone and never causing trouble.

Including the people working at the recycling station, their attitude toward visiting guests was naturally even better.

Because Shen Guodong only said one thing to them: don't cause trouble for Wu Ge. If Wu Ge had trouble, they wouldn't even have food to eat.

The recycling station's reputation in the neighborhood was getting better and better, especially in recruiting young people to earn money to support their families.

Not only did they get praise from the neighborhood office, but they also got the maintenance and support of the neighbors.

For the past two years, whenever there was a major or minor event, the lads from the recycling station would always volunteer to help, sparing no effort.

The neighbors naturally saw these good deeds and remembered them. Now it was even more so: whoever dared to find trouble with the recycling station was finding trouble with them!

Because their nephews were now eating a meal at the recycling station and earning a family business.

Was collecting scrap profitable?

It was definitely profitable. As long as you pedaled the tricycle, you'd make nearly a yuan a day.

In a month, you couldn't say thirty-something, but as long as you worked hard, twenty-seven or twenty-eight yuan wasn't a problem.

Ask the workers in the workshop how much they earned a month and how many people they supported.

The young lads of seventeen or eighteen who came to the recycling station to pedal tricycles were all from families that couldn't afford to support them, so they had no choice.

When they came, they all said they were willing, but their faces were so unwilling that they might as well have shouted it out loud.

But as long as they had pedaled the tricycle for a month, if you asked them again if they were willing, they would tell you that whoever dared to snatch this job from them would be in trouble!

Shen Guodong had given up the bulk of the recycling station's profits, taking the path of small profits and quick turnover; anyway, he didn't count on the recycling station to make much money.

Even so, the daily accounting showed that the recycling station's turnover was much higher than before.

Forty-something tricycles, not counting the people carrying sacks to pick up scrap—every night, it was bustling with people coming to hand in tricycles and scrap.

The warehouse had long been insufficient. Shen Guodong went to the neighborhood office to find Director Wang. Li Xuewu's godmother remembered the recycling station's kindness and promised to help find a warehouse.

You see, there were many people in the Four Nine City now, and there was a lack of housing, but some houses were still empty.

Why weren't people settled in?

On one hand, the property rights were unclear, and they were afraid that people would come back with the deed to collect the house.

On the other hand, these houses mostly had high roofs and belonged to warehouses from before, so they weren't suitable for living.

Therefore, the property rights of such courtyards generally belonged to the neighborhood office. Director Wang naturally wanted to help pick a suitable one to make it convenient for them to use.

Shen Guodong had many thoughts and explained to Director Wang that he wanted to buy a courtyard with a warehouse in the name of the recycling station collective, so that it would be easier to avoid influence later.

Moving was one thing, but it was also inspired by Li Xuewu, who was quite attached to houses and land, so he naturally wanted to take more if he had the chance.

The one they were looking at today was the same; it was a material warehouse built by the Japanese devils early on, and now it belonged to the neighborhood office.

There were many such warehouses, and the famous Liu Yong Mansion in Lishi Alley, that is, the Liu Luoguo one, was a big warehouse during the puppet regime.

The one they were looking at today was the same; it was the residence of a high official early on, later renovated into a warehouse, and now it all belonged to the people.

"Eight big warehouses in total, with some old materials collected by the neighborhood office piled inside, now considered scrap."

Shen Guodong whispered to Li Xuewu, "Director Wang's meaning is that the neighborhood office is too lazy to deal with these, so they'll give them all to us, but the price..."

"If it's affordable, then take it. Why hesitate?"

Li Xuewu looked at him and asked, "Out of money?"

"That's not it. The money is all in Sister Yu's hands, and the accounts are all in Sister-in-law's hands. It's not hard for me to spend money."

Shen Guodong scratched his head. "Director Wang's meaning is that the warehouse and the things inside are priced at 2,500 yuan, but there's a condition."

He looked at Li Xuewu and explained, "Originally, the neighborhood office was planning to open a small factory there, responding to the instructions of May 7th last year, but they didn't have time."

"But this can also be considered an organizational task. Every neighborhood office has to have one, and Director Wang wants us to expand the recycling station's business."

"How to expand?"

Li Xuewu pulled him to walk into the courtyard, and Yu Li, holding Li Shu, followed.

She took the initiative to explain, "Director Wang's meaning is that since these waste materials have to be handed over to the waste materials company for processing, why not do it ourselves?"

"Aren't we already doing it?"

Li Xuewu frowned slightly. "Aren't the waste books and paper all packed and sent to the paper mill?"

"Director Wang's meaning is, if it's convenient, it's better to set up a few small factories ourselves. She can help with the procedures."

Shen Guodong scratched his chin. "I'm just hesitant. If we open a neighborhood collective factory, how will it be calculated later?"

Li Xuewu looked at him and then at Yu Li. "What do you two think?"

Yu Li hesitated for a moment. "I think since Director Wang said so, it must be a project that is good for us and good for the neighborhood."

She looked at Shen Guodong. "Let's just start it. If it doesn't work, we can just stop it."

"The neighborhood office is on one hand wanting to complete the organizational task, and on the other hand wanting to settle some young people."

Shen Guodong pointed out the essence: "And there's also self-reliance and self-improvement, wanting to create income for the neighborhood office, after all, the finances above aren't loose."

"Then do it. But don't come forward yourselves; it's not very convenient."

Li Xuewu's eyes rolled. "Go tell Godmother that if you want this to last, you have to take a detour."

He instructed, "Pull the supply and marketing cooperative in, produce something they can sell, something that is convenient for the recycling station, and hang the nature on both sides."

"That... is it still the same as the recycling station?"

Shen Guodong asked hesitantly, "Need the neighborhood office's procedures, need the supply and marketing cooperative's qualifications, and then set up a small collective cooperative?"

"Yes, hang three signboards."

Li Xuewu's eyes twinkled. "The operating unit will be the recycling station as the main body, considered a secondary branch, so it will be easier to talk later."

"Understood, I'll handle this."

Shen Guodong understood instantly. This small collective was covered with three units' signboards. If they didn't check the neighborhood office and didn't check the supply and marketing cooperative, and only checked the recycling station, the recycling station also had three signboards.

This belonged to nesting dolls, with many units involved, and whoever checked would be confused.

The supply and marketing cooperative gave a special supply qualification for the product, solving the production problem, and the neighborhood office gave a legal identity, solving the problem of recruiting and using people.

Of course, these small collectives had to share a part of the profit with the neighborhood office and also pay a part of the water to the supply and marketing cooperative.

Originally, the recycling station hadn't thought about operating these, but the neighborhood office saw the reliability here and gave them the task of organizing production.

This could also be considered a huge benefit, and it even put a golden body on the recycling station.

If they gave face, they had to accept it; otherwise, they would be shameless.

After this was said, Yu Li reported the news from the club and the mountain to him.

Knowing he wouldn't come to the club tomorrow, she seized the opportunity and saved herself from going to his house to report.

One was that there had been progress on the Youth Association side. Zuo Jie was quite capable of tossing things around, having recently reviewed quite a few applications for membership, creating quite a reputation among the young people.

Not only did he announce the conditions for membership and the activity plan to be carried out, but he also announced a member management code, which was quite formal.

Regarding member management, it was the meaning Li Xuewu had mentioned at the beginning: there was entry and exit.

During their membership, members had to regularly participate in activities, including literature training, physical exercise, artistic cultivation, language learning, etc., which was quite attractive.

Young people all liked a lively scene and were even more competitive about their status: you got in, I didn't, why!

Yu Li told him this because she wanted him to fully understand the development of this Youth Association.

Most of the members in the Youth Association hadn't started working yet, and the lack of strict control was prone to problems.

Li Xuewu was thinking about this in his heart. He had a plan for the management and guidance of the Youth Association.

This could also be considered a game he was cultivating for the future, and it was also a game within a game.

These young people rarely had jobs, were impulsive in character, liked to compare, and were prone to hot-headedness.

But if it weren't like this, Li Xuewu wouldn't have planned this game; he just liked hot-headedness.

Of course, it was fooling others into being hot-headed.

On the way home from the courtyard, Li Xuewu was thinking about the second thing Yu Li had told him.

It wasn't from the mainland, but a message sent back by Sister Lou from Hong Kong, which had sparked a discussion in the think tank.

Following the start of the university study campaign last year, the influence had gradually spread to Hong Kong.

In this era, a large group of people in Hong Kong responded to and yearned for the mainland's management form.

Among them, a part of the people wanted to learn from the mainland's little cubs, holding books in their hands, shouting slogans, making the local managers miserable.

Of course, these people were mostly workers, belonging to the lower level in the current environment of Hong Kong, naturally yearning for the mainland's workers.

You say Hong Kong workers earned more, but they had no status, no protection, and were bullied, and anyone could rob them.

So some people kept standing up to cause trouble, and as a result, the local managers used powerful departments to solve these problems, while also creating contradictions.

Worried about being retaliated against by this side, the local managers had already discussed with the British mainland about withdrawing from Hong Kong.

The announcement of this document was naturally a major blow to Hong Kong, whose economy had just eased after the financial crisis.

Quite a few people with some family assets began to sell their property and leave Hong Kong, which was also the origin and reason for Hong Kong's first wave of immigration.

The economic situation that had just raised its head was hit hard again.

Sister Lou's meaning was, should they take advantage of this time to follow up and bottom-fish in real estate, while using the bank's convenience to receive and process these assets?

Since it was immigration, the price of processing assets was naturally a big clearance sale, and ordinary people couldn't afford to buy them, the market was sluggish, and the price was even lower.

So although Sister Lou asked in a telegram, in fact, Erhai gave the news that she had already started acting, sucking in like a sperm whale.

When Sister Lou left, Li Xuewu gave her a sentence: "When the general is abroad, he is not subject to the orders of the monarch."

Thousands of miles away, don't ask about everything at home; do what she thinks should be done boldly, and don't lose the opportunity.

The think tank on the mountain was arguing, not because they disagreed with bottom-fishing, but because they were arguing about whether this period was suitable for bottom-fishing and how to bottom-fish.

The news Yu Li conveyed was that some people hoped to wait a little longer, could start laying out, but don't give too high a price, continue to press down.

Quite a few people thought this way, mostly old guys who had been decisive in the business world back then.

They sat on the Miyun Mountain, remote-controlling the business war in Hong Kong, really having a feeling of being old but vigorous, hot-blooded and boiling.

Planning and maintaining, deciding victory thousands of miles away.

Another part of the people felt that the market changed too fast, and they weren't the only ones with capital; if they missed the first hand, they might not be able to keep up later.

So their meaning was that they could slow down, but they couldn't not carry out such business; they had to get it up.

Still another part felt that they should accelerate the development of mortgage and pawn, collect such dead pawns as soon as possible to form an industrial layout, and form a capital conversion chain.

The mountain was arguing happily, but Li Xuewu down the mountain had no interest in participating at all.

He wasn't a professional, and he didn't have rich business experience. Talking about the future with them wouldn't make him a fortune teller, and he couldn't talk about economics better than them.

These old guys were particularly conceited, all having survived the wind and rain back then; there were few simple characters, all old coins.

Helpless, dragons swimming in shallow water, controlled on the mainland, these old guys were itching, wishing they could fly to Hong Kong to kill all sides right now.

However, they were just talking for fun; the specific execution was still Sister Lou. The execution policy was sent over, and it was useless for this side to be anxious.

In fact, these old guys also knew that the reason Sister Lou could quickly gain a foothold in Hong Kong and open up the situation was not something they could do if they went to Hong Kong.

First of all, these old guys took out their family wealth and put it together; that financial strength belonged to the top.

Secondly, these old guys gathered in one place, pooled their wisdom, and gave the most favorable support to Lou Xiaoe, who was acting in Hong Kong.

Finally, there was the young and terrifying Li Xuewu down the mountain.

The relationship layout went to Hong Kong, supporting Lou Xiaoe to stand on the pyramid of Hong Kong finance.

The trick Li Xuewu used most was the triangular relationship: he, the think tank, and Sister Lou all had interest entanglements with each other, and none could leave the other.

This also caused the current arguing, but the purpose was the same, that is, everyone being good is the real good.

On the 27th, Sunday.

Li Xuewu came to the International Hotel at the invitation of the French Foreign Affairs Office cultural commissioner, Gema Roman.

Just as he entered the door, he saw Zhou Xiaobai standing in the lobby laughing and talking with Zhang Songying.

"Why are you here?"

Li Xuewu entered, and the two of them greeted him. Hearing him ask, they both laughed.

Zhou Xiaobai pursed her lips. "I'm here to see the world, aren't I? Didn't you tell me to come?"

"I also told you to go to Jinmen, why did you run back?"

Li Xuewu nodded to Zhang Songying and walked inside under her guidance.

Zhang Songying reminded him that the cultural commissioner had already arrived, or rather, had arrived last night and hadn't gone back, staying at the International Hotel.

Zhou Xiaobai followed him and chattered, explaining, "I also have rest time; I can't just work in Jinmen all the time. I have to come back to accompany my parents on Saturday and Sunday."

"Hmm? Your dad is here?"

Li Xuewu stopped his steps and looked at her with slight surprise, his heart skipping a beat.

Would Zhou Zhennan pull a gun if he saw him?

To say he had a ghost in his heart was impossible; after all, he had slept in the same quilt as Zhou Xiaobai without pulling a gun, so why would the other party pull a gun?

But the key was that he had slept in the same quilt as Zhou Xiaobai! This made him feel guilty.

Zhou Xiaobai saw him ask this and almost rolled her eyes to the ceiling, patting his back hard. "You're just taking advantage of me!"

"..."

Hearing her say this, Li Xuewu finally reacted, sighed helplessly, and said, "Go, go see the world. I'm busy here."

"Hey! What a coincidence! I'm busy too!"

Zhou Xiaobai became more and more excited, hugging his arm and saying, "I'll go see the world with you. I heard you're meeting a French woman; I've never seen a French woman."

Zhou Xiaobai became more and more energetic as she spoke, raised her hand to hold his arm, and said: "I'll go with you to see the world. I heard that the person you're meeting is a French woman; I've never seen a French woman before."

"Didn't you say you were coming back to accompany your parents?"

Li Xuewu shook his arm, wanting to pull it out, but suddenly touched her car lights, as if he were deliberately taking advantage.

Zhou Xiaobai's face turned slightly red, she lowered her head and didn't speak, and in a while, even her ears turned red.

What a sin—!

Li Xuewu didn't dare to move his arm randomly; in public, what if something went wrong?

Originally, this Zhou Xiaobai coveted his peerless appearance and spied on his excellent character; he couldn't give the other party an excuse to get him!

"Mr. Li, hello."

Entering the restaurant, at a position near the window, Gima Roman, under the sunlight, seemed like a lazy little kitten, greeting him with a sweet voice.

Looking around, she had long discovered Zhou Xiaobai's existence. When Li Xuewu sat down, she mischievously blinked her eyes and said: "It seems you are a passionate and romantic gentleman."

"I am not a gentleman, nor am I passionate, and even less romantic."

Li Xuewu calmly explained: "Here, we are not allowed to play with feelings, and we Chinese men are particularly loyal to feelings."

"Especially me!"

He emphasized with a smile: "The image of being upright, gentle as jade, and a humble gentleman is well-known among my unit colleagues and neighbors."

"But every time I see you, the girl by your side is not the same."

Gima Roman teased: "You don't have much persuasiveness doing this; they can't all be your sister, or a relative, right?"

She blinked her eyes, looked at Zhou Xiaobai, and asked: "Is she your lover?"

"What?"

Zhou Xiaobai didn't understand French, and seeing the other party talking noisily with Li Xuewu, she was a bit uncomfortable. At this moment, seeing the other party asking her, she was directly stunned.

Li Xuewu twitched the corner of his mouth and translated for Zhou Xiaobai: "She asked if you are thirty years old."

"What!"

Zhou Xiaobai, as if stepped on the tail of a cat, almost jumped up. This French woman actually dared to doubt her youth? What kind of eyes are these!

"Of course not! I am only eighteen!"

Gima Roman looked at Zhou Xiaobai, frowned, and shook her head. Her attitude was very firm and unhappy, and she looked at Li Xuewu suspiciously.

"Mr. Li, you are not honest—!"