Chapter 1119: Only the East Wind is missing

"What General Manager Zhou, Zuo Jie, are you mocking me?"

Zhou Xiaobai glanced at Zuo Jie, looked at Li Yuanchao, and nodded, "We're all classmates, don't be formal, just call me General Manager Zhou."

"Hahaha—!"

This was clearly a joke, but it stunned Li Yuanchao.

Seeing Zhou Xiaobai laughing out loud after she finished speaking, he followed suit.

"Alright! General Manager Zhou, today I finally know the true face of Mount Lu!"

Li Yuanchao was a very shrewd person; although he was confused in his heart at this moment, he said nice things with his mouth.

"I didn't recognize Mount Tai before, I've offended you, please forgive me!"

He raised his hand and saluted, joking with a smile, "Please take care of your old classmate in the future—"

"Hey—! Yuanchao, you really said it!"

Zuo Jie saw the suspicion and confusion in Li Yuanchao's eyes, pointed at Zhou Xiaobai with a smile, and introduced, "You can really call her General Manager Zhou."

"Go—Zuo Jie, we classmates are just joking!"

Zhou Xiaobai glared at Zuo Jie reproachfully, waved her hand at Li Yuanchao, and said, "Don't listen to him, he's been a bit floating recently, running a train with his mouth."

"What do you mean by this?" Li Yuanchao really didn't understand; he asked with a smile at this moment, "I didn't understand what you meant?"

He looked at Zuo Jie opposite the eight-immortal table and asked with a smile, "President Zuo, where is our old classmate working in Tianjin?"

"The person is right here, why don't you ask yourself—"

Zuo Jie raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "You are all old classmates, with a friendship tempered through a thousand hammers and a hundred refinements, isn't it deeper and longer than an outsider like me?"

"He's teasing you—" Zhou Xiaobai saw Li Yuanchao looking over and said modestly, "What high position, I'm just an errand runner."

"President Zuo just started saying General Manager Zhou, and I was a bit confused."

Li Yuanchao's eyes lit up and said, "But after hearing your modesty, I actually feel this matter is true!"

"Hey, General Manager Zhou, I'm not intentionally staring at you."

He raised his eyebrows and said, "My friend saw you coming out of the International Hotel several times; ordinary people can't get into that place."

"What kind of thinking is this—!"

Zhou Xiaobai glanced at him with a smile and teased, "If I say it, you don't believe it; if I say it's not, you suspect it!"

After she finished saying this, seeing Li Yuanchao staring at her, the suspicion in his eyes became more certain, so she had to nod and say, "I am responsible for a project in Tianjin."

"Wow—! There really is a project!"

Li Yuanchao heard a clue, widened his eyes, and said, "Xiaobai, tell me, what's your situation?"

Calling her General Manager Zhou earlier was completely classmates' joking, and he didn't believe at all that Zhou Xiaobai was a general manager.

In this era, joint companies, service companies, procurement stations, and other institutions all had general manager positions, but those were mostly old men in their forties or fifties.

Now that Zhou Xiaobai, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old yellow-haired girl, told him she was a general manager, could he believe it!

If he believed it, was his thinking sliding or was the system off track?

He didn't believe it; he really didn't believe it.

Therefore, he called her General Manager Zhou with teasing and joking, and even more suspicion and mockery.

It was just that he was curious, so he forced Zhou Xiaobai to continue.

He never expected that Zhou Xiaobai was speaking seriously this time, and she was really responsible for a project!

Therefore, he couldn't use the teasing and joking "General Manager Zhou" for the address; he called her Xiaobai, a close address he hadn't used even when they were in school.

Li Yuanchao had always been like this; he could hold his head high, and he could lower his head when wronged.

He said this was a real man who could bend and stretch, never acting on impulse, and deep planning could lead to long-term thinking.

What was Zhou Xiaobai's father's identity? No need to say. His father wasn't an ordinary person either.

Both belonged to the top level with excellent backgrounds, and they were of different genders, so they rarely had contact before.

It's not that male and female classmates didn't have contact at this time; on the contrary, the friendship, or love, between male and female classmates at this time was much more straightforward than in later generations.

Think about it, universities at this time had a study style, and students still had a backbone; it was exactly the era inheriting the characteristics of the youth of the era.

Love is the sacred and inviolable right of progressive youth, and it is normal social interaction.

Friendship is even more of a social interaction that must exist between classmates and colleagues.

However, Zhou Xiaobai's personality before wasn't as easygoing as it is now; she was quite gentle and elegant, absolutely not messing around with naughty boys.

It was just that she had seen many things in the club over the past year and mixed in society with people like Li Xuewu; how could her personality not change.

Still delicate and gentle, just with a bit more openness and clarity in her gentleness.

Li Yuanchao had seen Zhou Xiaobai here long ago, but he never had the chance to make contact.

Especially after learning that Zhang Haiyang and Zhong Yuemin in the veteran team both liked her, he had some special thoughts.

How was Zhou Xiaobai's appearance?

Dare not say she was the best among the girls in the courtyard, but she had to be considered the beautiful kind.

If you add her gentle personality, excellent study, and a father named Zhou Lang Zhennan, how high would her popularity be?

Li Yuanchao saying he had no thoughts was just talk; if he really chased Zhou Xiaobai, his father would be the first to agree and rush to help his son propose.

However, he knew very well how much he would lose face by doing this, and he might not even be able to mix in the veteran team.

Young people, their way of handling love and friendship is very naive.

Even Li Yuanchao, who looked very mature in his work, was the same.

Pulling Zhang Haiyang with his left hand and pushing Zhong Yuemin with his right hand—do you think he was really kind for the sake of his brothers?

Before, one could say Zhou Xiaobai was just good-looking and had a good background, without too many advantages.

Not the best-looking, not the best at studying, and not the most daring to play.

But now it's different; she is much more open in personality, humorous and funny in speech, and even has her own career before him and the children in the courtyard.

Don't talk about general managers; if they just had a job, these children wouldn't be wandering around the four cities on bicycles all day.

Now looking at Zhou Xiaobai, he was both envious and liked her; his two eyeballs were rolling around, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

Zhou Xiaobai didn't care what he was pondering in his heart; she just happened to know Li Xuewu was coming to the club today, so she followed.

Li Xuewu was in a meeting, and she had nothing to do, so she came to the flower hall to wait.

Zuo Jie had long invited Zhou Xiaobai to join the Youth Association, without any assessment.

Assess what?

As long as Zhou Xiaobai is by Li Xuewu's side for one day, her resources are top-notch; she can do whatever she wants, even more carefree than him.

Luo Yun told him that Zhou Xiaobai had a salary of over a hundred yuan every month, plus hundreds of yuan in bonuses; she lived in a villa in Tianjin and the International Hotel in Beijing, how carefree.

Likes imported watches, likes fashionable clothes, likes high-heeled leather shoes; no need to think, go to the mall and buy whatever she wants, properly a daughter of a thousand gold.

Zuo Jie could see that Luo Yun was envious, and even had some jealousy.

But he could see even more clearly that Li Xuewu couldn't possibly raise Zhou Xiaobai for nothing with so much money.

He asked Luo Yun seriously whether Li Xuewu and Zhou Xiaobai had that kind of relationship.

Luo Yun's answer was that the only two times Li Xuewu called Zhou Xiaobai out, she was there.

Even in Tianjin, on the sea, the three of them slept in the same bed.

Luo Yun didn't know about other times, but what she saw was that Li Xuewu was very restrained toward Zhou Xiaobai, and could even be said to be caring and doting.

It was completely not the way lovers get along; this could be seen from the fact that Zhou Xiaobai was still a virgin.

Zhou Xiaobai's mother is busy with work, but she isn't not going home or not seeing her daughter.

Does her own daughter have that or not? Others don't know, but doesn't she know?

Indulging Zhou Xiaobai to work in the club, go to Tianjin for training, and even go out to sea with Li Xuewu—if her parents didn't have a bottom line, would they dare not to manage her for so long?

If someone like Zhong Yuemin asked Zhou Xiaobai out to play, to go to other places to play, look at whether Zhou Xiaobai's parents would manage it or not.

Luo Yun had long made it clear to Zuo Jie that no one could shake Li Xuewu's position in Zhou Xiaobai's heart.

If he really wanted to eat her, Li Xuewu had eighteen thousand opportunities.

Even if he ate her, in a sense, it would be eating for nothing; it just depends on how Li Xuewu handles it.

Li Xuewu's achievements and status now, in the eyes of some people, could no longer be compared with people Li Kezhang Haiyang and Zhong Yuemin.

Zuo Jie pulling Zhou Xiaobai into the team was to set up a benchmark for the Youth Association, letting these people see what resources they could get in the Youth Association.

Of course, Zhou Xiaobai's resources weren't obtained from the Youth Association, but he didn't say it, so who would know.

He wasn't Luo Yun, not Zhou Xiaobai's best friend; looking at Zhou Xiaobai from the perspective of an outsider, he was clearer.

Zhou Xiaobai could be considered raised by Li Xuewu, or lifted up; she would never be able to leave Li Xuewu in her life.

Zhou Xiaobai's parents couldn't see through the future situation, but if they followed Li Xuewu's steps, when Zhou Xiaobai was lifted to a certain height, who would take over?

No one could take over; Zuo Jie was very sure that a living expense of several hundred yuan a month, even a capitalist's young master couldn't afford to raise such a wasteful girl.

Finally, it could only be Zhou Lang Zhennan or Zhou Lang Zhennan's partner taking care of their daughter, including their daughter's career.

No need to do anything else, just escort their daughter's career.

Li Xuewu's calculation was open and aboveboard: I raise your daughter, you raise my career.

Zhou Xiaobai is a benchmark; what kind of benchmark?

She herself is a resource, and gathering together is a benchmark for a resource pool.

Zuo Jie doing the Youth Association naturally wasn't the goal, and the Youth Association wasn't Li Xuewu's goal either.

The Youth Association is the experimental field, the nursery, the incubator; cultivate a batch of promising youth from here, and incubate a batch of industrial prototypes.

From the Youth Association to the Dongfeng Club, it is an upgrade, a progress, and a step for resource contribution and acquisition.

This step isn't high, there is only one.

In a limited age, successfully do a career, jump out of the Youth Association, and enter the Dongfeng Club.

Saying it like this, you might feel it's not noble enough, a bit LOW, so let's change to a saying that reflects this era:

In the book "How Steel Was Tempered," the protagonist Pavel Korchagin said: The most precious thing for a person is life; life belongs to a person only once.

A person's life should be spent like this: when he looks back on the past, he will not regret wasting his time, nor will he be ashamed of being mediocre.

In this way, before he dies, he can proudly say: "I have dedicated my whole life and all my energy to the most magnificent cause in the world—the struggle for the liberation of mankind."

If you change the struggle standard and core of the Youth Association to this saying, don't you feel it's much more noble and respectful?

Actually, any noble saying has a simple core truth.

Zuo Jie communicated very seriously with Li Xuewu and also carefully studied Li Xuewu's purpose in supporting him to engage in the Youth Association.

Therefore, he organized member assessments and recruitment, held activities, and held salons with great difficulty.

The purpose is very simple: every member who walks out of here must be deeply branded with the Dongfeng mark.

Every project incubated from here should have Dongfeng's assistance and label.

Later, he wanted to hear others introduce him using "This is Zuo Jie of the Youth Association, Zuo Jie of the Dongfeng Club."

And it shouldn't just be "Zuo Jie of the Youth Association," "Zhou Xiaobai of the Youth Association," but also more people from the Youth Association developing their own careers.

People like Li Yuanchao have resources not inferior to Zhou Xiaobai.

What he lacks is positive thinking, unified understanding, and the belief of "only the east wind is missing."

Walking out of here, they only need to be missing the east wind, let go of their hands and feet, and have great achievements.

"Tianjin Shunfeng Trade Joint Company, you must not have heard of it; it's just a small project."

Zhou Xiaobai looked at Li Yuanchao with a smile and explained, "The framework of a consumer cooperative, a joint-stock unit, engaged in trade wholesale."

"Trade joint company?"

"The framework of a consumer cooperative?"

"Still joint-stock?"

Li Yuanchao was a bit confused, looked at Zhou Xiaobai blankly, and asked, "What's the situation? I still didn't understand."

"Speaking of it, it's a bit complicated, but actually it's not simple at all."

Zhou Xiaobai covered her mouth and teased, then explained, "It's obtaining the distribution rights for non-planned products from production units, and then transferring and selling them to supply units or internal units."

"It's complicated enough; I understand all the words you said," Li Yuanchao curled his lips and said, "But when they are put together into sentences, I don't understand."

"However, Xiaobai, I really didn't expect you to be so capable now!"

He looked at Zhou Xiaobai with surprise and envy and said, "To tell you the truth, those classmates of ours, those I still have contact with, are all talking about this."

"We don't have suitable classes to attend; if we want to engage in a career, the situation doesn't allow it; everyone wants to do something practical and serve the people."

"Hahaha—!"

Zhou Xiaobai saw that what he said was interesting and said with a smile, "I think you're not bad; you're riding a motorcycle, and you're the one with the most face in the four cities!"

"Hey—don't mention it, I don't have the need to pretend in front of you."

Li Yuanchao waved his hand with a smile and said, "I'm a donkey dung egg, shiny on the surface, but actually this motorcycle has almost emptied my bottom."

"This isn't a donkey; take it out for a stroll, and if it's full, it can work; this is an iron donkey!"

He smiled bitterly, "The fuel tank is at the bottom; if you don't give it gasoline, it really won't walk."

"Hahaha—!"

This bitterness made Zhou Xiaobai and Zuo Jie laugh.

Zuo Jie pointed at Zhou Xiaobai and said to Li Yuanchao, "I advised her to buy a motorcycle to ride to work at the beginning, but listen to what she said?"

"I won't ride it—!"

Zhou Xiaobai said with a smile, "It's cold to ride in winter, hot to ride in summer, and you have to serve it when it's cloudy and rainy; it kicks its legs from time to time; do I eat this hardship?"

"Oh—! What you said is too right!"

Li Yuanchao grinned and smiled bitterly, "I'm serving it now, and I have to build a shed for it, and have to wash it every day; it's almost served as a grandfather."

"Afraid of losing it if parked on the side of the road, afraid of scratching it in the parking lot, and even want to carry it into the cinema when watching a movie!"

"Hahaha! Stop teasing me!"

Zhou Xiaobai covered her mouth, leaned on the eight-immortal table, and shook her shoulders; she was clearly teased enough by him.

Li Yuanchao saw that he had teased Zhou Xiaobai, finished complaining, and told his purpose.

"Xiaobai, what I just said about everyone planning a career isn't teasing you."

He gave a thumbs up and said, "Among our classmates, you are the most capable; don't forget me, think of me if there's anything good."

"What? If you want to make money, just say you want to make money; are you hiding it from your old classmate?"

Zuo Jie good-naturedly tapped the table, teased Li Yuanchao, and said, "Are you embarrassed to say it because I, an outsider, am sitting here? Should I leave?"

"Hey—! What kind of talk is this!"

Li Yuanchao didn't want Zuo Jie to leave; Zuo Jie was the bridge between him and Zhou Xiaobai talking about a career.

He smiled and held Zuo Jie's hand, saying, "I have nothing to be embarrassed about; I'm just envious of Xiaobai's success."

After saying this, seeing Zhou Xiaobai smile, he said again, "I just hope my old classmate can pull me, and bring me along, how to engage in a career and make money."

"Do you still need me to bring you?" Zhou Xiaobai glanced at him and said, "Are you mocking me? I heard you guys formed a small group; isn't it quite profitable?"

"Where did you hear this—"

Li Yuanchao had an anxious expression, shook the back of his hand, and said, "If we really made money, I wouldn't need to complain to you."

"We are just muddling through, catching a good time, falling into a few good things, eating one meal full and one meal hungry."

He looked at Zhou Xiaobai seriously and said, "We are all from the same school; if I really get rich, I will never forget your kindness, really!"

"Yuanchao still has ideas," Zuo Jie sat on the side, drank a mouthful of tea, and said, "He talked to me about wanting to engage in a career and wanting to take care of the little brothers under his hand."

"I think Yuanchao is not bad," in Li Yuanchao's grateful gaze, Zuo Jie persuaded Zhou Xiaobai, "Even if it's just doing business for your company, have a starting stage, have a chance to exercise, isn't that good?"

"Yes, yes, yes, President Zuo's words make too much sense!"

Li Yuanchao nodded and said, "Xiaobai, if your company has convenient business, take care of me too."

"You can rest assured, as long as you give me the task, I will absolutely not lag behind."

"You're just finding trouble for me—"

Zhou Xiaobai first glared at Zuo Jie, then looked at the burning Li Yuanchao and asked, "Do you really want to do business for our company?"

"Just say it, as long as you open your mouth, I'll do anything!"

Li Yuanchao promised, "You know me; I still have some face in this four cities, and there are very few things I can't handle."

"Like Zuo Jie said, we are all classmates; helping is naturally no problem."

Zhou Xiaobai nodded, thought for a while, and said, "There is a batch of mixed timber entering the pass in Jicheng this month; you can earn at least this much, will you do it?"

She shook a palm at Li Yuanchao, not saying specifically how much the number was.

Li Yuanchao didn't care at all what her palm represented, but frowned and asked, "A batch of timber? A truck?"

"What are you thinking—what truck—"

Zuo Jie sitting opposite laughed and tapped the table, reminding, "Train, a train, is there any use of trucks for timber transported from Jicheng to Beijing?"

"Are you sure you really want to help me do business?"

Zhou Xiaobai's mouth twitched, looking at Li Yuanchao's suspicious gaze, and said, "Forty train cars of mixed timber, truck? Are you kidding?"

"Uh—that—"

Li Yuanchao was confused, looking at the suspicious gaze of the two, his heroic spirit was instantly poured with a basin of cold water.

He thought Zhou Xiaobai was engaged in soap or soda trade; this was just a bit too much!

"Uh—that—"

Li Yuanchao's face turned red, and he said awkwardly, "Xiaobai, I don't have this ability."

He didn't even dare to ask Zhou Xiaobai how much money that palm represented; this kind of money beyond his ability, even if he heard it, he couldn't earn it.

He had ideas about trying a truck of timber; the previous expression of disdain was just him showing off on purpose.

The purpose was to reveal his ability, so he could take more business from Zhou Xiaobai and have more room to exchange.

Besides, a truck of timber a month, the money earned was really not much, so there was no need to be surprised.

However, a train of timber was different, and it was forty cars; that was over a thousand tons, almost two thousand tons; where to sell it.

Timber processing factory? Furniture factory?

They all had fixed supply channels; how could they buy from him.

If he wanted to sell to the units under his father, a truck would be fine, but a train, and a train a month—his father could hang him up and whip him with a leather belt.

"Can you change to a smaller business, a smaller one."

Li Yuanchao was afraid of being looked down upon by Zhou Xiaobai, and explained with a dry smile, "You also know the situation of our family; where do I have the resources of a timber factory."

"Oh—this is my fault; I didn't think of this."

Zhou Xiaobai nodded understandingly, thought for a while, and said, "I remember the resources of the family."

In Li Yuanchao's gaze, who was surprised that she had so many channels to make money, she said, "Light Weapons Institute has a weapon promotion task, which is compatible with your relationship."

"66-6 sniper rifle, calculated based on a base of 100 rifles per procurement, 500 yuan per base; you can do this."

"Also, also, individual equipment, hanging gear, and carriers you can also do."

Without waiting for the confused Li Yuanchao to speak, Zhou Xiaobai, with an expression of seriously helping him think of ideas, said again, "Although the base of individual equipment and hanging gear is large, the bonus is small, but the procurement volume is large!"

"And carriers, Red Star Antelope jeep, directional troop promotion, 50 yuan per vehicle, this is more suitable!"

"Wait—wait a minute, Xiaobai, General Manager Bai!"

Li Yuanchao was completely confused by Zhou Xiaobai; hearing that she even started mentioning selling cars, he quickly stopped the other party.

He looked at Zhou Xiaobai in surprise and asked, "What you just said... not... you even started doing weapon business?"

This business was indeed compatible with his relationship, but it was also too compatible!

Think about it, he holding a 66-6 sniper rifle to his father's office, promoting this kind of rifle, or what Zhou Xiaobai said about individual hanging gear, carriers, etc. —what would his father

Never mind what he thinks; just imagine how his dad is going to beat him.

"President Bai, my dad won't let me touch this stuff!"

"Listen to me carefully, okay? It's a weapon promotion task for the Light Weapons Institute!"

Zhou Xiaobai rolled her eyes and said, "I don't have any weapon sales business in my hands; this is just a resource."

"Understood, got it, can't do it."

Li Yuanchao really wants to slap himself across the face right now; why was he spouting nonsense just a moment ago!

All that "whatever you say I can do," all that "I have pull in the capital"—what the hell!

Damn it—!

"Me, doing weapon sales in the capital?"

This sounds even more absurd than "I'm opening a supermarket on the Long March"!

"It's not your problem, President Bai; it's my problem."

Li Yuanchao is convinced now; he really didn't expect Zhou Xiaobai's resources to be so wild, with work available in every kind of resource and channel.

He really can't take this job, and he doesn't dare to.

"Please, take some more time to think about it; see if there's anything suitable for me. Don't make it too big; I'm not looking to get rich overnight, just want to practice first."

"I really didn't know you couldn't do this one; it's such a perfect match for the business, it's a real shame."

Seeing that Li Yuanchao had lost his arrogance and his cocky attitude, Zhou Xiaobai nodded and brought up the business she had prepared in her mind.

"You know that the Red Star Factory is establishing an automobile manufacturing plant and getting into specialized vehicle production, right?"

"I know, I know; isn't my motorcycle produced by the Red Star Factory?"

Li Yuanchao nodded and said, "Are you trying to get me to sell cars?"

"Close enough, not exactly, but not far off!"

Zhou Xiaobai raised her eyebrows and said, "Because the new cars are about to roll off the line, their factory and channels have a batch of early-stage refurbished models that need to be cleared from inventory."

"Of course, these are all refurbished old cars; they have fire trucks, patrol vehicles, and police vehicles."

She looked at Li Yuanchao and said, "The sales commission isn't much, but even the lowest is forty yuan; you can at least do this, right?"

Zuo Jie, sitting to the side, also nodded; this was something he had discussed with Zhou Xiaobai, and this business wasn't too much of a stretch.

"Can't do it, really can't do it."

Li Yuanchao didn't even think it over before shaking his head and saying, "Please, spare me; just pick the smallest, simplest one for me to try."

This wasn't him throwing a tantrum; he genuinely felt he couldn't do it.

If Zhou Xiaobai had said this first, given Li Yuanchao's personality, he really would have wanted to try.

But the repeated blows had completely destroyed Li Yuanchao's confidence in front of Zhou Xiaobai.

So, when he heard about the car sales business, he instinctively thought of the difficulties.

Nowadays, which unit doesn't think twice before buying a car? It's reviewed again and again, approved again and again...

He has no connections in society; bragging among old veterans is fine.

To find these kinds of connections, it would have to be through his dad's subordinates, but a big-ticket item like a car would inevitably be known to his dad, and that beating would still be unavoidable.

Li Yuanchao is scared and convinced; he knows Zhou Xiaobai isn't teasing him, but is helping him find suitable resources.

He thought Zhou Xiaobai was just playing around when she mentioned selling timber and weapons, but he certainly doesn't think so now.

These all have to do with the Red Star Factory and Li Xuewu, and as soon as he thought about it, he knew where Zhou Xiaobai got her resources.

Watching Li Yuanchao shake his head in refusal, Zuo Jie was stunned for a moment, and seeing Zhou Xiaobai's speechless expression, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch.

Did we overact? Has the guy's spirit been completely knocked out of him?

But Li Yuanchao was his first project, and he was intended to be the guide to pry open the network of connections behind him; what to do now that he's folded?

He couldn't think of any other resources to give the guy for the time being; even these old car clearance jobs were begged from Li Xuewu.

Zhou Xiaobai glared at Zuo Jie, then turned her head to look at the embarrassed Li Yuanchao under the other's pleading gaze.

"Seafood from Tianjin, suitable for the welfare and procurement needs of various units, enterprises, or factory unions."

To help Zuo Jie, she could only pick a business she was familiar with: "Starting at ten tons, you're responsible for finding buyers; once the procurement agreement is finalized, you don't have to worry about anything else."

"Fifty yuan commission for ten tons; you can do this, right?"

When asking this, Zhou Xiaobai was a bit cautious, fearing Li Yuanchao would say he didn't dare to do it, in which case she would truly be helpless.

Fortunately, Li Yuanchao had some confidence in this and could hear the helpless tone in Zhou Xiaobai's voice.

Of course, he didn't know that Zuo Jie and Zhou Xiaobai were setting him up, thinking only that Zhou Xiaobai was painstakingly trying to help him find a way, only to find there were no suitable resources for him.

"Yes, yes, yes, I can do this!"

Li Yuanchao looked at Zhou Xiaobai with great emotion and said, "My dad should be going to the Economic Commission in the second half of the year; I have some ideas about this now. Thank you, President Bai!"

This "President Bai" was called with complete conviction and immense gratitude.

Especially seeing Zuo Jie's concerned gaze, Zhou Xiaobai looked as if she had let out a long sigh of relief.

He really felt embarrassed; he was such a loser, compared to Zhou Xiaobai, he was nothing!

Even Zuo Jie, whom he used to look down on, had such a big career, yet he had the nerve to brag in front of them about having pull in the capital.

He had pull, but only among the old veterans, and that was just messing around all day.

When it came to building a career and making money, he really hadn't expected that these people who usually seemed unremarkable had such great capabilities.

Convinced, truly convinced, heart and soul.

"How about this, President Bai, I'll treat you and President Zuo to lunch!"

Li Yuanchao felt both guilty and ashamed, so he took the initiative to make amends: "Let's go to the Dongfeng Restaurant; I'll make the arrangements."

"Sorry, I already have plans for lunch."

Zhou Xiaobai didn't care about Li Yuanchao's frozen smile, nor did she care about his awkward and sensitive gaze.

She shrugged her shoulders and said casually, "Wu Ge invited Prison Warden Huang, Chief of Staff Shen, Deputy Director Hu from the Liaodong Office in Beijing, Deputy Director Ren from the Municipal Office, Section Chief Xiang from the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission, and some other good friends to eat here. I have to help him out, so I really don't have time."

"This—this—"

Li Yuanchao was stunned by Zhou Xiaobai's explanation, stuttering and truly not knowing what to say.

Li Xuewu invited people to dinner and called Zhou Xiaobai along—what does this mean?

He didn't know exactly what Zhou Xiaobai's standing was with Li Xuewu, but he finally understood why she had so many resources in her hands.

Furthermore, he understood what means Li Xuewu's circle used to monetize their connections.

It was all above board; even if he knew, he wouldn't dare to have any crooked thoughts, let alone talk about it.

Why?

Because this method is surnamed Zhou, called Zhou Xiaobai.

He thought he knew, but what he knew was just a layer of smoke and mirrors.

Anyone who tried to use Zhou Xiaobai to take down Li Xuewu or the club's resources would soon find that the resources in her hands had nothing to do with the club.

The direction was wrong, so the target was wrong too.

With this buffer time, it would be enough for Zhou Lang Zhennan to charge in and out seven times; who could do anything to Zhou Xiaobai?

It's just providing distribution services for the Red Star Factory; whether she earns a lot or a little, that's none of your business.

So, from the very beginning, Li Yuanchao was confused and disoriented; in the web Zuo Jie and Zhou Xiaobai had spun, all he saw was what they wanted him to see.

If Zhou Xiaobai could be considered a handle, anyone who touched this handle would be finished.

Li Yuanchao certainly didn't know this, but he felt it was impressive.

He only felt that the club Li Xuewu had set up was truly awesome; not only could it maintain relationships and take care of classmates, but it could also monetize them.

So, the look he gave Zhou Xiaobai now had different colors and emotions.

If Zhou Xiaobai was the club's white glove, why couldn't he, Li Yuanchao, be another white glove?

You can always have a pair of gloves; he also wanted to possess these resources.

What he needed to do now was simple: cozy up to Zhou Xiaobai and figure out how she did things.

Since he couldn't get a lunch date, he wasn't discouraged and took the initiative to say, "It was my presumption; I really didn't know you had an appointment today. How about tonight?"

"Tonight, let's go to the Moscow Restaurant for Western food; their cream beef is a masterpiece!"

"Wu Ge and the others are coming out—"

Zhou Xiaobai had been staring at the management office the whole time and hadn't noticed what Li Yuanchao was saying.

She stood up in a hurry, and seeing Li Yuanchao's stunned expression, she nodded and said, "Alright, old classmate, I'm very happy to be able to help you."

"Don't—I really want to treat you to a meal!"

Li Yuanchao also stood up and said sincerely, "You've helped me so much; if I don't show some appreciation, I might as well stop trying to make it in the capital."

"Alright then, let's not go to the Moscow Restaurant; it's too far, and I'm afraid to go out at night."

Zhou Xiaobai picked up her exquisite little handbag from the chair and said to Li Yuanchao and Zuo Jie, "I'll treat you tonight; I've booked a room at the International Hotel."

She looked toward Li Xuewu and said casually, "Let's go eat French food; it'll save me from having to call a car to run back."

Seeing Li Xuewu coming over, she waved at Li Yuanchao and said, "That's it then, Li Yuanchao. I have things to do, so I'm leaving; we'll talk tonight."

Once she reached the door, Zhou Xiaobai turned back and pointed at Zuo Jie, who was seeing her off, reminding him: "Call Luo Yun too; I didn't see her last week, so have her keep me company tonight!"

"Wu Ge—!"

After giving Zuo Jie instructions, Zhou Xiaobai walked toward the group of people coming over, smiling and greeting the others as she stood by Li Xuewu's side.

Watching the group pass by not far from the flower hall, Li Yuanchao looked at Zhou Xiaobai's figure with some envy, also observing who the people passing by were.

"Don't take it to heart; Xiaobai didn't mean to slight you."

Zuo Jie naturally knew who those people were, and he smiled and explained to Li Yuanchao: "Zhou Xiaobai's parents don't allow her to go out and play at night."

"Understood, understood; don't I know about her family's upbringing?"

Li Yuanchao nodded and said, "Zhou Xiaobai has been well-behaved since she was a child; she never messed around with us. She's very obedient; she's a good girl."

"Besides, how did I get slighted? It's Xiaobai helping me out."

He smiled and said, "I've long heard that the service at the International Hotel is exceptional; the people who eat there are all from foreign embassies."

"I've always wanted to go, but never had the chance," Li Yuanchao said with a smile, spreading his hands: "Today, I'm basking in President Bai's reflected glory."

"Hahaha—you guys are classmates!"

Zuo Jie smiled and invited him back into the flower hall, saying: "Isn't helping each other what you're supposed to do? Sometimes I want to bask in her glory too, but I just don't have the ability."

"Stop it, you're much better than me—!"

Li Yuanchao gestured toward the group that had gone to the backyard and said, "Your relationship with this place is enough to make you famous in the capital; it's just that you're a generous person."

"Hey, right, I have a favor to ask."

Seeing a member of the Youth Society coming over, he hurried to his own business and asked in a low voice: "What's the consumption like at the International Hotel? How much does a table of French food cost?"

"What for? Didn't Zhou Xiaobai say she's treating us?"

Zuo Jie looked at him and said, "You want to treat us to the meal tonight?"

"Of course; she's helping me get things done, how could I let Xiaobai spend her own money?"

Li Yuanchao said very righteously: "Whether we go to the Dongfeng Restaurant or the Moscow Restaurant today, I'm sincere about it."

"If we're going to the International Hotel to see the world, then it's even more important that I treat."

"Alright! That's generous—!"

Zuo Jie gave a thumbs up and said: "Just for that, I know Zhou Xiaobai didn't help the wrong person; your classmate bond is just stronger than ours."

"But you'd better be careful," he whispered: "Zhou Xiaobai spends hundreds of yuan a month; she doesn't care about a French meal costing dozens of yuan, but you shouldn't..."

"It's fine, just give me a price!"

Li Yuanchao was bleeding inside, but he said very heroically on the surface: "I really don't know the situation at the International Hotel, and if I make a fool of myself, it'll be embarrassing."

"It's not as luxurious as you think; it depends on the specific situation."

Zuo Jie continued to provoke Li Yuanchao, saying: "Zhou Xiaobai purely has the capital; she stays in a three-yuan-a-night suite, so let's not compare ourselves to her."

"Good heavens—!"

Li Yuanchao widened his eyes, looked at Zhou Xiaobai's retreating figure, and tentatively asked: "What topics do those big brothers talk about?"

"What topics? I actually know a little bit, but it's pretty boring and uninteresting."

Zuo Jie looked back and said casually: "Probably import and export trade, development of heavy industry enterprises, ecological park project construction..."

"Yuanchao? What's wrong with you?"