Chapter 1089: Poked a Huge Hole in the Bucket!

"Ten, eight! Eighteen! Get it?!"

Seeing that this French woman was speaking only to David and wearing an expression of doubt, Zhou Zhou Xiaobai grew angry.

She didn't suspect for a moment that Wu Ge was deliberately playing tricks; she just felt this French bitch was no good.

"Eighteen? Eighteen years old, or eighteen of them?"

Seeing Zhou Zhou Xiaobai gesturing with her fingers in a rush to explain, Jima Roman guessed wildly.

Li Li Xuewu nearly spat out the tea he had just sipped; what the hell did she mean by eighteen of them!

Wasn't this slandering someone's innocence for no reason!

"Um... Miss Ma Ji, let's stick to today's main topic."

Li Li Xuewu pressed his lips together and asked, "Has Ms. Chantal brought good news?"

"Why can't it be me inviting you?"

Jima Roman raised an eyebrow, looked at him, and asked, "Can't I learn Chinese from you?"

She's so good at this!

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai, sitting aside, puckered her lips; her heart gave a thump—was this bitch trying to seduce Wu Ge? How was she so skilled at seducing men!

"That word you taught me last time was very interesting; I used it while communicating with the cultural officer at your foreign affairs office, and she was quite surprised."

"Wait! Miss Ma Ji..."

Li Li Xuewu widened his eyes and asked nervously, "You didn't tell her you were learning from me, did you?"

"What are you nervous about? Afraid I'll forget you?"

Jima Roman laughed and said, "Doesn't traditional Chinese culture emphasize respecting the teacher and valuing the Way? Of course I said I was learning from you; you are the teacher."

"... Actually, there's no need to respect the teacher quite this much."

Li Li Xuewu felt he had fallen into a pit; could this damn thing cause some kind of international diplomatic incident?

"That phrase I taught you is best used in not-so-formal situations, understand?"

"Tsk—haha! You're so cute!"

Jima Roman covered her mouth and burst into loud, unrestrained laughter, completely unconcerned that there were other guests in the restaurant at that moment; she was very carefree.

The morning sunlight was just right; a woman in her twenties was at the perfect time to bloom like a flower.

She knew so well how to radiate her charm and youth, attracting not only the attention of the men in the restaurant but also the jealousy of the women.

What was that saying again? In interpersonal relationships, if you take it seriously, you lose!

"You're the one who's truly cute!"

Li Li Xuewu knew he had been tricked; he lifted his teacup and scanned the gazes of jealousy directed at him.

A scattering of freckles, unhidden, yet making her look youthful and cute; blue eyes, a pale red complexion.

Set off by the sunlight, her skin was naturally white, and her hair was properly blonde.

Looking at this gorgeously dressed young lady, the men in the restaurant naturally felt envy and jealousy toward Li Li Xuewu.

"What is she laughing at? Mocking me?"

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai glanced at the other woman with some unease and sought confirmation from Li Li Xuewu: "What exactly is it? Did she understand my explanation?"

"She is mocking me."

Li Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and explained, "She wants to study Chinese with me, but I haven't agreed."

"Why? Agree to it!"

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai said huffily, "Let her also experience the difficulty and frustration of learning a foreign language!"

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

Li Li Xuewu looked at her, blinked, and said with a mischievous smile, "She has a shortcut for learning a foreign language: dating local men."

"What? How can there be such..."

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai wanted to say how could there be such a shameless woman, but fearing diplomatic repercussions, she held back; however, the glance she cast at Jima Roman now carried a hint of strangeness.

"What are you two saying about me? Bad things?"

After laughing, Jima Roman saw the two opposite her exchange a few words, after which the young girl's gaze toward her had changed.

Li Li Xuewu shrugged and explained, "I told her you like Chinese, but she doesn't believe it."

"Then tell her, I like the teacher who teaches me Chinese even more—"

Jima Roman held her coffee cup, raised her eyebrows, and her big eyes seemed to shoot electric sparks.

Li Li Xuewu ate Chinese food often but rarely ate Western food; even though he had work experience in a French-speaking environment, rules were very strict back then.

Especially in that place in Africa, keeping oneself pure and good was the most responsible attitude toward one's own life.

You see white people walking on the streets, but they are likely indigenous whites who have lived on that land for over a hundred years.

Although they speak French, black people also speak French, so the 'ailments' carried by black people can also be transmitted to those white people.

If you dare to eat Western food, you must be psychologically prepared to 'grow mushrooms'; the rate of hitting the jackpot is extremely high.

In later generations, after the Reform and Opening-up, there was a period when national self-confidence on the mainland was insufficient, and worshiping foreign things while belittling one's own became the mainstream.

As a result, all sorts of foreign trash and black trash were treated as high-grade goods and scooped into everyone's pockets.

And the result? How could truly good things cross oceans to come here just to make a living.

Only trash that can no longer survive in its homeland will migrate in large groups, becoming spreaders of mushrooms.

Of those who followed their black husbands back to Africa, how many dare to shout that they are very happy; most suffered brutal reality checks, shattering their princess fantasies.

During the years Li Li Xuewu was stationed abroad, he could bump into three princes and four princesses just by going out to throw away trash.

In that place, the children of chiefs are all called princes and princesses, yet he had even seen a chief turning screws; do you really think everyone called a prince rides a white horse?

Even Tang Seng damn well rode a white horse!

Li Li Xuewu paid no attention at all to Jima Roman's teasing; in his view, this level of intensity meant she completely mistook him for the typical shy type of mainland man.

"Forget it, you should still respect your teacher and honor the Dao; student-teacher romances are strictly forbidden here—a grave taboo that would get you executed."

"Holy crap—! For real?"

Hearing Li Li Xuewu say this, Jima Roman set down her coffee without taking a sip and stared at him in astonishment.

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai was equally shocked, but she was stunned by the sudden Chinese that had burst from Jima Roman's mouth.

What had she just said?

Holy crap? Who taught her that?

That's utterly wicked!

"I've already told you: we are extremely devoted in matters of emotion, including friendship."

Li Li Xuewu took a sip of hot tea and said earnestly, "Have you ever heard of these idioms: Director Guan and Bao dividing gold, high mountains and flowing water, friendship sealed by a slash of the neck, or bosom friends who never disagree?"

"We remain loyal to one lover for life, and toward friends we are even more faithful, never deceiving them."

"Alright then—are we friends?"

Jima Roman arched an eyebrow at him and said, "We French actually rarely have student-teacher romances either; it's not encouraged in our country."

Heh, isn't that statement a bit premature? In the future, you'll have a president surnamed Ma.

Don't call me illiterate for not knowing foreign surnames; some people even say Kobe's surname is Ke.

"If you put it that way, I feel much more at ease."

Li Li Xuewu smiled, looked at her, and asked, "So, did you ask me out today just to learn Chinese?"

"Of course not; or rather, not only to learn Chinese, but also to share some good news with you."

Jima Roman pressed her lips together slightly, smiled at him, and said, "Madame Chantal will return next week and wishes to schedule a second round of negotiations with you all on Friday."

"Good news! Has there been progress on the French side?"

While conversing, Li Li Xuewu did not forget to translate for Zhou Zhou Xiaobai; this was also a form of training.

It was not language training, but rather training in social skills and business communication techniques; if one truly intended to employ someone, one had to demonstrate a formal attitude toward their development.

The impression given to Zhou Zhou Xiaobai's family was that she was being groomed to achieve something in the business environment, while also being granted opportunities to engage with the outside world.

Otherwise, why had the couple Zhou Lang Zhennan and his wife delayed so long in causing him trouble, allowing Zhou Zhou Xiaobai to run wild?

"Madame Chantal has convinced the board of directors; now it depends on your sincerity."

Magi shrugged and said, "This trip to France was extremely difficult; you should be able to understand."

"Our factory has always been very sincere."

Li Li Xuewu tilted his head slightly and said, "Otherwise, I wouldn't have come here on a weekend to meet with you."

"Last time, your vice president failed to demonstrate any sincerity visible to us; I hope the good news you just mentioned is truly good news."

"William Robin? Heh—"

Jima Roman chuckled meaningfully, shook her head, and said, "Let me correct you: he is not our vice president; I am merely relaying the message."

"Furthermore, the Saintaya Group belongs to Madame Chantal; William Robin is merely an agent."

"I have actually had a question for some time, though I'm unsure whether it's appropriate to ask."

Li Li Xuewu lifted his head slightly, looked at Magi Roman, and asked, "Since you are a cultural attaché, why are you handling cooperative business matters for Madame Chantal?"

"What I mean is—"

He shrugged and explained, "Wouldn't this be the work of an economic attaché?"

"You just said yourself that this is break time; do you think economic attachés don't need rest?"

Jima Roman smiled and said, "Of course, of course I also need rest, but as a friend, I must make some sacrifices for Chantal."

Her explanation was vague, yet Li Li Xuewu understood clearly; his eyebrows lifted as if he had discovered something extraordinary.

Seeing the change in his expression, Magi knew her meaning had been caught by the other party, and she smiled meaningfully, saying, "You're thinking of something wicked, aren't you?"

"No, I'm only thinking of interesting things."

Li Li Xuewu grinned mischievously and said, "Isn't this leaking secrets? Be careful not to get disciplined."

"Heh—do you think all men in the world are like you? Loyal, devoted, conservative?"

Jima Roman curled the corner of her mouth and said, "Besides, this is no secret; there's no need to bear any guilt for speaking of it."

"You people really play quite—openly; that's what I mean."

Li Li Xuewu only spoke half the sentence, adding emphasis and explanation, which made Magi on the opposite side laugh.

She arched an eyebrow and said, "A lover is a lover, a mistress is a mistress; having a mistress does not equate to disloyalty in love, nor is there always love between lovers."

Jima Roman took a sip of coffee, leaned back in her chair with a relaxed demeanor, and said, "When one is in a foreign land, lying alone on a pillow makes sleep difficult; one must find some amusement."

"Amusement? Tsk—"

Li Li Xuewu smiled faintly, offered no comment, held up his teacup, and said, "It seems Madame Chantal is also an open-minded person who best understands how to weigh pros and cons."

"No, actually she cares very much and is quite petty; as I said, you should be able to tell."

Magi Roman arched an eyebrow and said, "The reason I am the one meeting you is not merely because I want to see you."

"It's useless; give up. I am a decent person; we don't have that kind of mistress culture."

Li Li Xuewu said with a smile, "I had planned to spend today with my family, but who can argue when work demands it?"

He shifted his teacup and said, "If there is nothing else, I will arrange the second round of talks with the Saintaya Group."

"You're leaving already? Can't we chat about some other topics between us?"

Magi looked at him somewhat surprised and asked, "Do I truly hold no attraction for you?"

"No, you've nearly bewitched me senseless!"

If Li Li Xuewu wanted to speak flattering words, couldn't he just spit them out effortlessly?

He stood up, smiled, and said, "I think if I don't leave quickly, I'm afraid I won't be able to walk at all."

"Hahaha—! You're truly humorous!"

Gema Roman stood up, shook his hand, and said, "Aren't you going to teach me another Chinese phrase?"

"Of course! No problem!" Li Li Xuewu blinked and said, "I'll teach you a colloquialism that pairs with the word I taught you last time; it also expresses astonishment, but it must be spoken with an affirmative tone."

"Alright, 'Wo Cao'—then what comes next?"

Maggie Roman was no fool; seeing that Li Li Xuewu was hardly a proper, honest man, how could the words he taught her be used casually?

After returning, she had privately consulted the translators at the Foreign Affairs Office and would not use them recklessly.

But this did not prevent her from continuing to learn new vocabulary from Li Li Xuewu; she simply found this man quite interesting, more humorous and far more open in character than any other Chinese men she had met.

Li Li Xuewu pinched his fingers together and taught her with clear enunciation: "Niu Bi~ It means very good, excellent!"

"I heard that French Foreign Affairs cultural attaché is studying Chinese with you?"

Inside the reception room, Zhou Zhou Gancheng wore a full Western-style suit, even sporting a tie, dressed very formally.

Li Li Xuewu sized him up and asked with amusement, "Is there some special foreign affairs event?"

"A guest from Africa; I'm just going over to help out, which can hardly be called a foreign affairs event."

Zhou Zhou Gancheng took a sip of hot tea and said with a laugh, "Foreign affairs events are a description reserved for leaders."

"Aren't you a leader now—"

Li Li Xuewu joked while glancing at him, then raised his hand to signal Zhou Zhou Xiaobai to go out and close the door.

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai, however, closed the door but did not go out; instead, she walked back in.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu's stunned and speechless expression, Zhou Zhou Gancheng could not help but want to laugh; sizing up Zhou Zhou Xiaobai, who was playing dumb, he asked, "Comrade Zhou Xiaobai also works here?"

"No, I am here to learn."

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai smiled slightly and said, "Listening to your conversation has been very rewarding; it greatly broadens one's horizons."

"Hahaha—!"

Zhou Zhou Gancheng laughed heartily, waved his hand dismissively, and said, "I am no leader, especially not in front of you two, so let's all sit together."

Li Li Xuewu was helpless against Zhou Zhou Xiaobai; scratching the back of his head, he asked, "Are the formalities settled? Have they arranged an office for you here?"

"Mm, the conditions are excellent, even better than my working environment at the Waishi Force, what a pity—"

Zhou Zhou Gancheng lightly patted the sofa armrest and said, "It would be great if we could always work here."

"That's exactly what I think; I'm just afraid you won't be willing to part with it!"

Li Li Xuewu smiled and glanced at him, asking, "When I converse with that French Foreign Affairs cultural attaché, surely not every record is reported upward?"

"What do you think?"

Zhou Zhou Gancheng twitched the corner of his mouth and said helplessly, "Can't you be a bit more proper? What kind of stuff have you been teaching her?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose and said with amusement, "Even the translators have come to me to complain, saying your conversations are like walking by the river; sooner or later, your shoes will get wet."

"I would like to have a serious conversation, but I haven't met any serious people!"

Leaning against the sofa, Li Li Xuewu said, "She was the one probing and seducing me; if I didn't act this way, what else could I do? Feed myself to the tiger?"

"Don't think about employing the methods of the Investigation Department; it's better if you remain pure!"

"How are we not pure?"

Hearing Li Li Xuewu's words, Zhou Zhou Gancheng became displeased; glaring at him, he said, "Don't judge a gentleman's heart with the mind of a petty person; we are protecting you!"

"Think about it yourself; what exactly did you two say!"

"What did I say?"

Seeing Zhou Zhou Gancheng's gaze drift toward Zhou Zhou Xiaobai, Li Li Xuewu said helplessly, "Do you actually believe those words?"

"I don't believe them, but I'm afraid someone else might!"

Zhou Zhou Gancheng reminded him, "In foreign diplomatic interactions, one must observe propriety; don't say just anything that comes to mind."

Li Li Xuewu shook his head with a bitter smile, not dwelling further on this issue as it was meaningless.

Just now, while chatting with Gema Roman, the other party had spoken about her own work experience; Li Li Xuewu had merely listened for entertainment, not paying much attention.

However, this had attracted the attention of Foreign Affairs Supervision, especially her provocative behavior.

As soon as he left the restaurant, he saw Zhou Zhou Gancheng signal him to come over here for a chat.

Chat about what?

Chat about discipline, chat about rules, chat about problems.

Foreign affairs work is just this rigorous and troublesome; indeed, one cannot speak about every damn thing like Li Li Xuewu does.

Seeing him fall silent, Zhou Zhou Gancheng thought he did not understand and had become angry.

He explained, "We are the same; have you ever seen me babbling nonsense with foreigners?"

"I understand; this is just in private."

Li Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Moreover, this woman is not quite right; she seems to have ulterior motives."

"As long as you know that, don't take the bait!"

Zhou Zhou Gancheng reminded him meaningfully, "If nothing happens, she can just brush off her butt and return to her country, but you could end up tying up your entire life."

"What do you mean? Is she..."

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai understood the protocols; normally, when staying by Li Li Xuewu's side, she would not voluntarily speak up.

But at this moment, she could not help but ask; the situation was simply too astonishing.

Li Li Xuewu took her hand, placed it on his leg, and patted it, comforting her, "It's just talk."

After speaking to her, he explained to Zhou Zhou Gancheng, "From the first day we met, I suspected; since Chantal has connections with the Foreign Affairs Office, why would she go to such extra trouble? I didn't expect she was treating me like a fish to be caught."

"Because you are a fish that smells too good—"

Squinting his eyes, Zhou Zhou Gancheng said, "They must have investigated your identity and background, including some of your connections; there is nothing surprising about that."

"Aren't they afraid I'll swallow the bait, spit out the hook, and then spray a face full of water at them?"

Li Li Xuewu crossed his legs; Zhou Zhou Xiaobai's hand rested on his thigh, and she did not pull it away, feeling this was more intimate, even shifting her body closer.

Zhou Zhou Gancheng watched the interaction between the two, the corners of his mouth twitching uncontrollably; what were they doing! Was this something he should be watching! How was he supposed to explain this if Lang Lang Zhennan asked!

"What loss? A woman?"

He glanced at his teacup and said, "At most, it was just a verbal spar during conversation; what loss could there possibly be? Compared to gaining you, it's not worth mentioning."

"Incomprehensible; on what grounds?"

Li Li Xuewu frowned and said, "Just because of an open-minded, good-looking woman? Do they think I'm that cheap?"

"What? Are you planning to file a complaint?"

Zhou Zhou Gancheng drooped his eyelids and said, "Are there so few people who have fallen into women's traps? Or do you think they offered too little?"

"I think they offered too soon!"

Li Li Xuewu chuckled, took a sip of tea, and said, "Shouldn't it be cooperation first, then gradual contact, and finally an accident or finding some leverage?"

"We haven't even discussed cooperation yet, and they're urgently sending someone to make contact with me; do they think I'm young and lack resistance?"

"There could be two meanings to this; we still need to see whether the cooperation between the Chantal Group and your factory can be achieved."

Zhou Zhou Gancheng reminded him seriously, "Of course, even if cooperation is achieved, such moves will definitely not be lacking in the future; they might even offer you something better."

"Cooperation is cooperation, but remember to distinguish the nature of fundamental interests; don't earn just any money and lose your original intention."

"You should say this to our Director Li," Li Li Xuewu said jokingly; "as a deputy division chief, what decision can I make, let alone regarding interests?"

"I'm just reminding you; how you act is up to you," Zhou Zhou Gancheng stood up and said seriously; "the French targeting you is definitely not without purpose."

"If this time fails, next time they'll send someone else, more beautiful, more attractive, even carrying stacks of banknotes and who knows what else."

Zhou Zhou Gancheng tilted his head and said, "I believe you possess loyalty and conviction toward the organization, but you must also guard against bastards like this appearing around you."

He gestured toward Zhou Zhou Xiaobai and said, "Your practice of bringing a female comrade every time you meet her is correct; I hope you remain pure and healthy forever."

"Thank you, I will—"

Li Li Xuewu pressed his lips together, nodded seriously, and said, "Forever pure, forever healthy."

In the end, Li Li Xuewu couldn't escape; Zhou Zhou Xiaobai pinned him in the lounge and nibbled at him a few times; this Miss was going crazy, especially after hearing someone wanted to seduce him.

She used the pretext of reporting to Li Li Xuewu on the Tianjin seafood supply chain to get handsy and mouthy with him.

"You returned from Tianjin and haven't gone home yet?"

Upon hearing that Zhou Zhou Xiaobai had also stayed here last night and even wanted to drag him upstairs to sit for a while, Li Li Xuewu asked with amusement, "Didn't you say you were coming back to keep your parents company?"

"My parents aren't home; who am I supposed to keep company with?" Zhou Zhou Xiaobai said righteously; "I can only keep you company; anyway, you're not allowed to leave!"

Staying one night at the International Hotel must cost at least one or two yuan; did Zhou Zhou Xiaobai have the money to spend?

Of course she did; Li Li Xuewu's dividend wages from the seafood supply chain were all assigned to her, and he had never taken them back.

Why not take them back, letting Zhou Zhou Xiaobai spend lavishly and roam freely as she pleased?

Because Li Li Xuewu had never intended to make money from this seafood supply chain himself.

Whatever he intended to earn, he had already earned through the recycling station's distribution activities; the personal portion was deliberately given to Zhou Zhou Xiaobai specifically for her to spend.

On one hand, this Miss liked new things, yet her family wouldn't give her much money; Li Li Xuewu was willing to support her, cultivating her confidence in spending.

Now, at eighteen, she dared to stay at the International Hotel, drink coffee, eat seafood; coupled with her status and growing knowledge, Li Li Xuewu was very curious about what kind of existence she would grow into in the future.

On the other hand, it was a bit more complicated; it served as a patch for that villa in Tianjin, essentially the trap Li Li Huai De had set for him.

Since Li Li Huai De could dig a pit and set a trap for him, couldn't he turn around and set a trap for Old Li?

This trap not only had to ensnare Old Li, but also the two people from the Aquatic Products Company; only then would Old Li trust him and be willing to let himself be trapped.

All assigned wages were given to their families; only Li Li Xuewu's was given to Zhou Zhou Xiaobai.

Yet this did not arouse their suspicion; on the contrary, they felt it was only natural.

Li Li Xuewu was young and romantic; not only did he keep one woman at the villa, having a child with her, but he also kept Zhou Zhou Xiaobai.

No one believed he and Zhou Zhou Xiaobai were innocent; they were damn well sleeping in the same bed, so where was the innocence, unless their virginity was verified.

It was precisely based on this that Old Li willingly handed his leverage over to Li Li Xuewu.

If one day something happened to him, and Li Li Xuewu's connections didn't save him or even sabotaged him, he could drag these connections out, and they would all die together.

Who would die? Li Li Xuewu certainly wouldn't die.

Investigating the distribution connections, the Rolling Steel Factory still had a share; the recycling station conducted legitimate business, so where was the conflict of interest?

Investigating Li Li Xuewu would inevitably mean investigating Zhou Zhou Xiaobai; go ahead and investigate, as long as you aren't afraid of death.

So now Zhou Zhou Xiaobai appeared to be 'Little White,' but in the future she would become 'Little Black,' a Little Black whose face turned black at the slightest touch.

A monthly dividend of over one hundred yuan was a considerable benefit compared to the others, but for Li Li Xuewu, it meant nothing.

Using this kind of money to support Zhou Zhou Xiaobai was worth it no matter what; by that day, even Lang Lang Zhennan couldn't blame him.

How could he?

A daughter spending over one thousand yuan a year; even a family like theirs couldn't afford such consumption, could they?

Moreover, Li Li Xuewu hadn't actually done anything, so it couldn't be considered keeping a mistress; Li Li Xuewu was genuinely cultivating Zhou Zhou Xiaobai; what could he say?

Therefore, giving over one hundred yuan a month for Zhou Zhou Xiaobai to spend didn't hurt Li Li Xuewu's heart at all, not even a little; he even encouraged her to spend the money where it mattered most.

Drink more coffee, read foreign newspapers, learn foreign languages, exchange some foreign currency to stroll around the Friendship Store; girls must have confidence and knowledge.

If she truly grew into a new-era woman with thoughts, knowledge, and confidence, what kind of partner would she look for?

Li Li Xuewu's investments never suffered losses, nor were they ever wasted; at most, it was just a matter of when to reel in the hook and how big a fish to catch.

Just calculate how many big fish this single hook had already tied to one spot.

"Can you arrange for me to do some real work?" Zhou Zhou Xiaobai gnawed on her steak and looked at him pitifully as she said; "I'm a bit bored in Tianjin."

"Hmm? You're the General Manager! How can you be bored? Haven't they been requesting instructions and reporting work to you?"

Li Li Xuewu teased her, saying, "That's too inappropriate; aren't they sidelining you? I'll go talk to them later and criticize them severely."

"Aiya— it's not like that~"

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai said with difficulty, "It's just that those tasks are so simple, like signing things and such; I mean I want to do something substantial."

She thought for a moment and said, "Just like what Wu Laoshi does, or what Yang Zhao does."

"That would be such a loss of status!"

Li Li Xuewu spoke without thinking: "You are the General Manager; you should be in charge of the big picture."

"Oh, stop trying to coax me—"

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai shook his arm and said, "I knew you were just teasing me, giving me a General Manager title where I can't do anything; it just sounds nice."

"Don't be unaware of your own good fortune; not just anyone can be a General Manager!"

Li Li Xuewu teased her once more, then nodded and said, "I'll talk to Wu Laoshi later; you can follow her and learn how to do the work."

"Mm, okay! I will work hard!"

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai nodded with a smile and promised, "Wu Laoshi is very knowledgeable; I will definitely follow her and study hard."

As she said this, she pulled a cyan brocade pouch from her backpack and handed it to Li Li Xuewu, saying, "A gift for you, hee-hee—"

"Heh—he for me? What is it?"

Li Li Xuewu picked up the pouch, opened it, and looked inside; it was a jade seal, neither too large nor too small, very convenient to carry and use.

He held it out to examine it; the seal had already been carved, bearing his name.

"What is this thing? I don't recognize it!" Li Li Xuewu asked, looking at the small beast crouching atop the seal: "Did you buy an antique? Don't tell me you were cheated?"

"You're such a killjoy! Who would dare cheat me!"

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai pouted and said, "I had someone buy this for me; he wouldn't dare cheat me. I also had someone examine it, and they said it's an antique from the Qing Dynasty."

She pointed at the small beast on the seal and explained, "The person who carved the seal said this is a Xiezhi."

"So I'm from ancient times, is that it?"

Li Li Xuewu raised his hand amusingly to show her, pointing at the bottom: "Did the original owner of this seal also go by the name Li Li Xuewu?"

"Of course not; I forgot what his name was," Zhou Zhou Xiaobai explained. "I had the carving master scrape off that person's name and carve yours instead."

"..."

Li Li Xuewu had thought Zhou Zhou Xiaobai was joking, but the square seal pinched in his hand was clearly a fine item.

Tianhuang stone—if confirmed as a genuine antique, it would certainly be valuable, yet Zhou Zhou Xiaobai had scraped off the valuable inscription?!

This thing is an antique! Seals rely on their inscriptions to determine ownership and value; this girl is truly ruthless, treating an antique as if it were no antique at all.

Li Li Xuewu was now simply speechless, unable to utter a single word; he had felt the sincerity behind this gesture.

Seeing him like this, Zhou Zhou Xiaobai asked nervously, "You don't like it?"

"No, I like it very much; it's too rare."

Li Li Xuewu fiddled with the seal in his hand and asked, "What made you think of giving me a seal?"

"It's just... your seal is made of rubber; it doesn't look nice, so I thought..."

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai, looking at Wu Ge's expression, seemed to suddenly realize something; she knew she had messed up.

Li Li Xuewu smiled and waved the seal in his hand, saying, "I wouldn't dare use this one you carved for me; it's too conspicuous."

"Besides, my rubber seal comes with a security watermark; this one doesn't have that."

"Still, I must thank you for your kindness; I'll keep it as a collectible and use it as a private seal."

He put the seal back into the bag, then suddenly remembered something and asked to confirm, "You didn't take this from your father's collection, did you?"

When leaving the International Hotel, Li Li Xuewu encountered an acquaintance: Momotani Erika, the director of the Sanhe Corporation's Beijing Office.

She was not alone; beside her was a specialist from the British Consulate, introduced to him by Zhang Zhang Songying.

Neither party exchanged greetings; they merely nodded in acknowledgment before passing each other.

Zhang Zhang Songying saw him to the door and explained that this Momotani Erika had been very active lately, interacting with staff from many consulates.

In truth, even without her introduction, Li Li Xuewu could probably have guessed which country the man was from.

British men, once they reach a certain age, inevitably reveal their national characteristics.

It was Momotani Erika's actions that he found amusing; there was going to be some excitement to watch now.

On Monday, the Third Guard Regiment organized a truck convoy to the freight station to pick up the fertilizer.

According to the factory's dispatcher, the shipping containers loaded with fertilizer had been targeted as soon as they arrived at the port.

They said the requisition slips had already been prepared and the containers were nearly loaded onto trucks for transfer when they were intercepted by people from the Third Guard Regiment.

What was intercepted was not just the containers, but also the people who had prepared the slips and those responsible for transportation.

This time, they had really stirred up a huge mess!

Earlier, Li Li Xuewu had already warned Qi Qi Yaowu; the people of the Third Guard Regiment had likely been waiting at the Tianmen Port docks well ahead of schedule.

As soon as Li Li Xuewu made the phone call here, news arrived there, and a platoon rushed in.

At this time, a shipload of fertilizer had arrived at the port; who wouldn't be envious?

But the fertilizer on that ship had already been reserved by the Jingcheng Supply and Marketing Cooperative; it was classified as special transport cargo, and no one dared to requisition it arbitrarily.

However, the port staff discovered an oversight: two containers holding seventy tons of fertilizer remained.

They immediately contacted their people and prepared the requisition slips, while the dispatcher on that end began transferring the containers.

Yet they still couldn't make it in time; before the trucks could even depart, the people from the Third Guard Regiment arrived.

Just think about it: how old could the young platoon leader leading the team be? Would he be polite to the seasoned veterans at the port?

When some dispatchers refused to let them approach, a rifle butt struck one squarely on the forehead, and a military boot kicked another until he rolled on the ground; not a single person dared to speak up.

From those handling the requisition to the transporters and the receivers, not a single one was missed; they were all detained.

When people from the port came to plead for leniency, it was useless; they couldn't even get close. They had truly caused a massive disaster.

"Requisition" sounds nice, but at a time when fertilizer is scarce everywhere, if they borrow yours and never return it until after the planting season is over, what can you say?

By then, the fertilizer will have been snatched and scattered across the fields; are you going to make them dig it all back out for you?

There was no way to fight this lawsuit; one could only accept the bad luck.

But while such bad luck could be accepted if it happened to others, how could you seek recourse when goods were requisitioned right inside the port?

Yet this approach did not work with the Third Guard Regiment; they did not target those above or behind the scenes, but instead stuffed every single one of the handlers into shipping containers and transported them away.

Li Li Xuewu knew nothing about what had happened on Sunday, but the Tangu Port Office had received news; knowing it involved Li Li Xuewu, they had entrusted someone to inquire.

Trying to transfer a call from the Tangu Port Office to the Rolling Steel Factory and then finding Li Li Xuewu was simply nonsense.

Who would dare call Li Li Xuewu's home telephone unless the situation was extremely urgent?

Even if Tangu Port was in an emergency, what did that have to do with the Rolling Steel Factory? They certainly would not call Li Li Xuewu.

Instead, as soon as work began, Peng Peng Xiaoli reported the situation to him, saying the dispatchers were asking how to handle it.

"How would I know how to handle it?"

Li Li Xuewu snorted, holding his teacup as he said, "I don't know; just tell them I'm not here and let them find other connections."

"I estimate they will still have to come looking for you."

Peng Peng Xiaoli said with a smile, "The people are all at the Third Guard Regiment; those from the port chased over but couldn't even get through the main gate, and appealing to the Garrison Command is useless."

"Moreover, they are in the wrong; they dare not even raise their voices to explain, for the one who tied the bell must be the one to untie it."

He took Li Li Xuewu's teacup and refilled it with hot water, saying, "I estimate Commander Qi intends to teach them a lesson and also return a favor to the Rolling Steel Factory."

"Then let them wait a bit longer, so they do not remain arrogant and ignorant of respect, daring to requisition anyone's cargo."

Li Li Xuewu said impatiently, "Since we are going to make a move, let us do it thoroughly, allowing the Tangu Port Office to share in the light and gain some real benefits."

"Understood, I will go convey this immediately."

Seeing Li Li Xuewu's agreement, Peng Peng Xiaoli was about to leave when he remembered something and reminded him, "The Municipal Committee Office has news that coordination work in the city is difficult, as some units are unwilling to relocate."

"Pay no attention to this; it is now a city matter and has nothing to do with us," Li Li Xuewu said, waving his hand. "Whether they are demolished or not is no longer up to them to decide."

This was indeed true; since the profit sharing with the Rolling Steel Factory had already been settled, those dozen or so factories were essentially fish on a chopping block.

How they were sliced was not for them to decide; what they should do now was clear their accounts and comply with the resettlement arrangements.

The Rolling Steel Factory would not play the villain at this time; they would simply proceed as required, for if the plan could not be executed, they still had documents in hand to claim the land.

Peng Peng Xiaoli had been gone only a short while when he returned helplessly, accompanying Gu Gu Weijie inside.

Several people followed behind them whom Li Li Xuewu barely recognized, all looking as though they were burdened with a head full of lawsuits.

Seeing Peng Peng Xiaoli wink at him, Li Li Xuewu had already guessed who these people were.

Through Gu Gu Weijie's introduction, Li Li Xuewu learned they were from the port: a Deputy Director, a Business Director, and an Office Director.

"Ah, finally we have met you—"

The Deputy Director, surnamed Cao, immediately grasped Li Li Xuewu's hand upon approaching, greeting him warmly.

Li Li Xuewu nodded with a smile, inviting them to sit on the sofa, his attitude also very good.

"Deputy Director Cao is a classmate of mine from the Party School training program; that is why he came looking for me."

Gu Gu Weijie took the initiative to introduce, saying, "He claimed he could not even find the door to pay respects at the wharf and had bumped his head until it was swollen."

"Oh, Comrade Gu Weijie, you are absolutely right; did I not indeed bump my head until it was swollen!"

Deputy Director Cao's voice was quite loud, and his words were very sincere: "I begged everyone from grandfathers to grandmothers before finally finding the right direction; please do not take offense."

"Hmm, I have heard about this matter."

Since these were people brought by Gu Gu Weijie, Li Li Xuewu did not pretend ignorance or hide his knowledge; he gestured to Peng Peng Xiaoli and said, "Peng Xiaoli told me about it this morning."

"Deputy Director Cao arrived yesterday but could not find any connections with the Third Guard Regiment; after speaking with the Garrison side, he actually provoked Commander Qi Qi Yaowu's anger."

Gu Gu Weijie said with a smile, "So, he contacted me last night; I said this matter needed to be discussed properly, after all, it was the weekend and everyone needed rest."

"You may not know about this batch of chemical fertilizer; I contacted friends to specially requisition it for the Third Guard Regiment's reclamation area, as the mountain area is waiting for the fertilizer to be applied."

Li Li Xuewu said seriously, "Do not blame Commander Qi for losing his temper; anyone would be angry in this situation, and even I feel uncomfortable hearing about it."

He spoke quite bluntly, saying, "If today they can requisition the Third Guard Regiment's fertilizer, will tomorrow the Rolling Steel Factory's cargo also be requisitioned?"

"The people of the Third Guard Regiment are angry enough to arrest people; if I were pushed to the brink, I would dare to shoot people—do you believe it?"