Chapter 1134: Meat Bun Thrown at a Dog

"The examination venue has been chosen at the Steel Institute."

In Li Xuewu's office, Jing Rong, the head of the Red Star Factory Education Comrade Comrade Li Chu, was reporting on this year's enrollment examination work to Li Xuewu.

"With the summer vacation approaching, the examination conditions are quite favorable, and we can even recruit students temporarily to help out."

Jing Rong was originally the deputy director of the President's Office at Tsinghua University; he was recommended by Li Congyun to serve as the person in charge of the Red Star Factory's educational management institution.

Jing Rong did not feel there was anything amiss in reporting his work to Li Xuewu.

The organizational management work of the Red Star Factory is quite unique, limited by the current construction of multiple projects and the small number of leaders in the Management Committee.

Li Xuewu has taken on the task of organizational coordination, and all operational work must go through the process starting from him.

Therefore, Jing Rong had to report on educational work not only to the Personnel Office and the Organization Office but also to the Management Committee Office—that is, to Li Xuewu.

"The Steel Institute is also quite supportive of our work; otherwise, with so many applicants, finding a place to hold the examination would be a problem."

Jing Rong looked at his open notebook and continued his report: "Choosing to organize the examination and interviews at the Steel Institute has another advantage."

"The Red Star Vocational Technical College has already established a progression pathway from the college to the Steel Institute."

"Therefore, it allows candidates to personally experience their future goals and direction."

He smiled as he said this, looking at Li Xuewu: "You have no idea how many people are pulling strings to get their children in here; the biggest goal for most of them is exactly this."

"Normal."

Li Xuewu picked up his teacup and took a sip of hot tea, smiling as he said: "A gentleman is open and honest; what is, is. The Red Star Factory doesn't need to lie."

"Establishing the Vocational Technical College is to lay the foundation for the future development of the Red Star Factory. It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to cultivate a person."

He set down his teacup and said candidly: "If we were afraid of the impact, we could have waited three years to announce the progression to the Steel Institute, but that wouldn't be necessary."

"Of course."

Jing Rong smiled and nodded: "It's just that the pressure on the Admissions Office is quite high right now."

"Fortunately, we have support from all sides—from within the factory, from brother units, and so on."

"That is as it should be."

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows: "Although the school and the education system belong to the Red Star Factory, the foundation of education is to benefit industry."

"The students cultivated from this education system will not just serve the Red Star Factory."

"More importantly, they will bring the Red Star Factory's management philosophy and advanced industrial practices to other brother units, truly realizing joint production and construction."

He pointed at Jing Rong, reminding him: "You must grasp the foundation of the Red Star education system; the roots cannot be crooked, and the body cannot be slanted."

"The Red Star Factory will fully guarantee this, including inviting the Wei Third Regiment to support the construction."

"Yes, I understand."

Jing Rong nodded and recorded Li Xuewu's words in his notebook.

He spoke about the examination arrangements, as well as the current organizational construction of the school's disciplines and the development of the teaching staff.

With the support of the Red Star Factory's original education system, from middle school to kindergarten, and given the educational conditions proposed by the Red Star Factory, there were enough teachers and students for him to choose from.

Of course, some students did not need him to choose; they would be arranged for enrollment automatically.

For example, those like Bang Geng, whose parents worked at the Red Star Factory, were classified as staff children.

Below middle school, staff children were exempt from examinations, but they were managed according to the examination-based promotion system.

In other words, those who failed to meet the grades in the primary-to-middle school promotion would not be able to attend middle school either.

Bang Geng was very confident about this; when he met Li Xuewu last week and was asked about his attitude toward school,

Bang Geng stated bluntly that he definitely wouldn't pass middle school, so he had long been pondering the business of raising chickens to support the family.

Indeed, Manager Jia was that pragmatic; he had a particularly clear understanding of his own abilities.

He had never thought of relying on his mother's status to figure out how to get into middle school.

Manager Jia had thirty-one chickens in his hands, twenty-seven of which were hens, producing at least twenty-five eggs a day.

At six cents per egg, that was a gross profit of one yuan and fifty cents per day.

Even after deducting fifty cents for consumption, he still made a net profit of thirty yuan a month.

Furthermore, he had no real costs for raising the chickens; rice bran cost very little, and their main food consisted of fish and shrimp from the river and wild vegetables from the park.

To put it this way, if Qin Huairu hadn't been promoted, she wouldn't have been earning as much as her son.

Of course, if she hadn't been promoted, Bang Geng wouldn't have been able to raise thirty-some chickens in the courtyard.

Manager Jia was now a manager in name and deed—a true "chicken boss."

It was no wonder he wanted to end his schooling early and devote his limited energy to the infinite cause of chicken farming.

However, not everyone was as lucky as Bang Geng; there were many who were just drifting through life.

Therefore, rather than being idle at home, it was better to arrange for them to return to school.

Some parents were quite cunning; they would wait until their children were old enough and then have them take the examination for a lower grade.

In other words, they wouldn't have them take the high school entrance exam they were qualified for, but would have them take the middle school exam instead.

The educational system reform over the past two years had been quite chaotic, with the 5+2+2 system transitioning to a 6+3+3 system.

Li Xuewu had caught the tail end of the five-year primary school and four-year middle school system.

That was why he was so young when he graduated from high school.

Their batch was all like that; they started working at sixteen, not because they dropped out, but because they had graduated from high school and couldn't get into university, so they came out to work.

The Red Star Factory's education system directly adopted the latest execution standards, which was a six-year primary school and six-year middle school system.

Students coming from the five-year primary school system were only thirteen or fourteen, or at most fifteen, when they graduated from middle school, so there was absolutely no problem with them retaking the middle school entrance exam.

Moreover, these cunning parents had learned through internal news that there were too many people applying for the Red Star Factory's school this year, and the pressure of the examination would definitely be immense.

Anyone who lacked confidence in their own grades—those who had just been playing around for the past year and hadn't persisted in self-study—felt timid; there were tens of thousands of people fighting for the spots.

Did the Red Star Factory Education Comrade Comrade Li Chu care about this situation?

Actually, they didn't; this had been anticipated when the enrollment examination plan was formulated.

They simply set a hard age limit for middle school enrollment, not allowing anyone over sixteen, and for high school, not over nineteen.

Middle school graduates returning to retake the middle school exam had a solid foundation and were highly competitive, but that had little to do with the Red Star Factory.

The fundamental goal of selecting excellent students for cultivation, molding them into talent, and serving the development of the Red Star Factory remained unshaken.

Therefore, this voluntary choice of middle school or high school was seen by the Comrade Comrade Li Chu as voluntary and appropriate.

Furthermore, the enrollment for the vocational technical college's secondary specialized majors was also a major hot spot.

Anyone with a middle school diploma and under the age of sixteen could apply.

After three years of study in the secondary specialized school, if their graduation exam grades were qualified and their usual academic performance and conduct were excellent, they could enter the factory to work.

This channel was the core direction for the Red Star Factory to renew its production workforce.

Students coming out of the secondary specialized school would become the foundation workers in the workshops or on the front lines.

While those who finished middle school and then went on to take the college entrance exam, or even the Steel Institute exam, were aiming for technical or cadre positions.

If you had the ability, you could naturally strive for it, but students with self-awareness would all choose the schooling channel most suitable for themselves.

The Red Star Factory's unified planning of recruitment through the college training system also had another benefit: screening.

In addition to the fact that the students cultivated possessed higher development potential and work levels, there were two hurdles from primary school to secondary specialized school: the primary-to-middle school promotion and the middle-to-secondary specialized school promotion.

For those who were not diligent in their studies or had poor grades, the factory didn't need to play the villain and bear the bad reputation of refusing to hire staff children.

At the same time, it also blocked the industrial inheritance system of children following in their fathers' footsteps.

This was the ultimate goal of Li Xuewu's suggestion to perfect the education assessment system.

From the day school started on September 1st, there would be no more "children following in their fathers' footsteps" at the Red Star Factory.

All staff children would enjoy excellent educational resources, but those who were not diligent and did not possess the ability for production or higher excellence would naturally be eliminated.

Even if the staff were anxious, they couldn't blame the factory; the opportunity was given to them, and the examination was fair.

On one hand, it ensured the excellence of fresh blood from the source; on the other, it achieved the goal of rejuvenating the cadre ranks through management.

Three years later, when the Red Star Factory became a group, the first batch of college graduates would step into their work positions.

They would become the youngest and most distinctive talent in the Red Star Factory's management and technical positions.

Targeted cultivation, seamless connection—the talent needed by the factory would have already completed the corresponding training at the Vocational Technical College and could go directly to their posts.

Three years later, the Red Star Factory's internal education cycle would be realized, and there would be a steady stream of excellent graduates to fill basic-level positions.

The Red Star Steel Group would never have to worry about a shortage of talent, nor would it lack the ability to export talent externally.

Jing Rong had understood the education system construction plan that the Red Star Factory was about to implement early on.

At that time, he wasn't the designated person in charge; he was just contemplating and thinking from the perspective of an onlooker.

And when Li Congyun talked to him and proposed that he serve as the director of the Education Comrade Comrade Li Chu and general principal of the Red Star Factory, he was filled with enthusiasm.

It was very simple: the current situation at Tsinghua University wasn't very ideal, and the resumption of classes was delayed indefinitely.

The school's organizational work was basically at a standstill, and people were so idle they were bored to death.

Now, giving him a blank sheet of paper, with the Red Star Factory's abundant investment in education, educational equipment purchased from abroad, brand-new teaching buildings, and service teams—

With such a world of his own to act in, anyone would be moved.

The conditions promised by the Red Star Factory were even more generous, so generous they were almost unbelievable.

When the candidates were being recommended, it was Gu Weijie, deputy director of the Red Star Factory Management Committee, and Li Xuewu, deputy director of the Management Committee Office, who conducted the interview with him.

Gu Weijie was quite polite, only mentioning that the Red Star Factory Education Comrade Comrade Li Chu would be upgraded to a factory-level Education Administration Bureau in the future, a deputy-level bureau unit.

The person in charge of the Administration Bureau would simultaneously serve as the general principal and president of the Vocational Technical College.

The administrative salary would be calculated at Grade 12, which was 172.5 yuan, with housing and a car provided.

The house was a six-story Western-style building in the Ecological Industrial Zone residential area, 140 square meters.

The car was a Shanghai-brand sedan, with a dedicated driver.

This treatment was directly on par with Li Congyun's current treatment, equivalent to a vice president of Tsinghua.

Could Jing Rong not be moved?

However, Li Xuewu played the "bad cop."

The Red Star Factory Education Comrade Comrade Li Chu would fully implement an assessment system; not only would students have to undergo examinations, but teachers, professors, and cadres of the Comrade Comrade Li Chu would also have to accept assessments.

The students' assessment was their academic grades, while the teachers' and professors' assessment was the excellence rate of their students.

The cadres of the Comrade Comrade Li Chu, including him as the principal, would be assessed on their management ability.

In general, there would be small exams every year and big exams every three years; every hurdle had to be cleared.

If you failed the small exams, the Factory Organization Office would have a talk with you; if you failed the big exams, you would have to go back to where you came from.

Where could he go back to?

Coming out of Tsinghua, his organizational relationship had to be transferred to the Red Star Factory.

Otherwise, how could he be promoted along with the Red Star Factory, let alone collect his salary?

But if he wanted to transfer back from the Red Star Factory, could he? Would the position at Tsinghua still be waiting for him?

Never mind that position; even if he went back from being a top leader here to being an office director for someone else, could he be willing? Could he endure such a gap?

Therefore, the position of director of the Red Star Factory Education Comrade Comrade Li Chu was good, very good, but to truly shoulder this responsibility, the pressure was also great, very great.

Jing Rong now wished he could work twenty-four hours a day, to implement the work, to get ahead of the work, and to organize teacher training.

Indeed, the school construction site was still working overtime, and while the students hadn't been recruited yet, the recruited teachers had already begun training.

Even the professors of the Vocational Technical College had already begun compiling textbooks.

Currently, in the national university education system, textbooks were a loophole.

That is to say, if you studied finance at a university in the south, and I studied finance at a university in the north, the textbooks we studied were very likely different.

Of course, there were many differences later on, but in general aspects, they could still be unified.

The Red Star Vocational Technical College had many subjects set up to match the current and future development needs of the Red Star Factory, which belonged to a customized setup.

Therefore, the textbooks also had to be customized, which made it very difficult for the old professors.

On one hand, they had to go into the workshops for inspection; on the other, they had to organize seminars for communication and coordination.

This work had begun as early as late March or early April, and the progress was fast, but there were so many subjects to open.

Especially the old professors from Tsinghua, who wanted to "smuggle in contraband," wanting to open a "back door" for the college students coming to the factory for internships at the Vocational Technical College.

This wasn't organized by the old professors, but they were willing to support it.

Why did Li Congyun strongly recommend Jing Rong to serve as the person in charge of the Education Comrade Comrade Li Chu?

It was to open up a second educational front at the Vocational Technical College.

That is to say, students from Tsinghua who wanted to study would be arranged to come to the Red Star Factory for internships.

In name, they were entering the factory to accept tempering, learning in labor and laboring in learning.

In reality, they had to be exposed to social practice, but systematic education and teaching couldn't be abandoned.

What could they do? They could only have Tsinghua support the Red Star Vocational Technical College, and have the Red Star Factory cover for them.

With so many training classes starting, plus the training classes, skill training classes, etc., organized by the Red Star Factory, it was easy to cover up the Tsinghua students attending classes.

As long as the students didn't cause any problems, there would be no problems; a reasonable explanation had to be given for this.

That was re-education and re-training.

Jing Rong's pressure was great, and the Red Star Factory Management Committee encouraged him to let go and work hard, but he didn't dare to be reckless.

He firmly kept in mind some necessary communication of problems and reporting of work.

In addition to reporting on the current organizational structure management plan of the Education Comrade Comrade Li Chu and the construction and training of the teaching staff, he also requested support and help from the Security Office for recent work.

Especially during the examination and interview period, order and stability must be maintained.

Regarding this point, Li Xuewu directly arranged for him to meet with Yu Decai, deputy leader of the Security Group.

He had already given instructions, and Yu Decai had already prepared two plans just in case.

As for the professors coming from Tsinghua, Peking University, the Steel Institute, the Art Institute, the Finance University, and other schools to apply for jobs, Li Xuewu also expressed a clear attitude on behalf of Li Huai De: come as many as you want, and we will arrange for as many as come.

The Red Star Factory would do its utmost to guarantee the treatment of these advanced intellectuals.

Currently, the teaching buildings and residential areas were still under construction, so the basic conditions were a bit poor, but the future treatment could definitely be guaranteed.

These professors were actually having a hard time; there were no classes at school, so there was no salary, and they didn't have any specialized skills, so they couldn't beg for food from society.

Therefore, the Red Star Factory would carry out rescue-style assistance and recruitment for these knowledge-based talents.

Their organizational relationships would be transferred to the Red Star Factory as much as possible to guarantee their safety and treatment.

Last year, when the Red Star Factory set up the Experimental Research Institute, not so many professors came; this time, it could be considered using education and teaching as bait to hook all these people out.

"People have come; we must protect them well and utilize them well," was Li Huai De's original words.

Old Li was also using actual actions to support educational work, and his movements in approving funds were very dashing.

With money, Jing Rong also had confidence, and after obtaining guiding opinions from Li Xuewu, he felt he had a bottom line in his heart.

"Then I won't disturb your work; I'll go down and implement these opinions and suggestions."

Jing Rong politely stood up, smiled, and shook Li Xuewu's hand, saying: "If it weren't for your guidance and help, I would really be dizzy."

"You're too polite, Director Jing."

Li Xuewu spoke quite candidly, shaking hands with Jing Rong before saying: "You are an expert in education and management; professional matters should be handled by professional people. I am here to serve everyone."

"Director Jing—"

At the office door, Peng Xiaoli was waiting with several people, clearly here to see Li Xuewu.

Jing Rong naturally knew Peng Xiaoli, and seeing the other party greet him, he also smiled and nodded.

Only while being polite to Li Xuewu, his gaze couldn't help but sweep toward the few people standing at the door.

An old man and a young man could be ignored, but this young woman was extremely beautiful.

"Goodbye, Director Jing—"

"Oh, good, good, goodbye, Secretary Peng."

If it weren't for Peng Xiaoli's greeting, perhaps Jing Rong would have lost his composure.

It was just that when he went to the corridor, he couldn't help but look back; the person was already gone.

He guessed in his heart that the young woman and the other two should be a family; what were they here to find Li Xuewu for?

It wasn't that Jing Rong had no experience, nor that he lacked depth.

He had just had a high-intensity, tense work session with Li Xuewu for half an hour.

When he came out, he was being polite to Li Xuewu, and naturally, he would look twice at someone good-looking.

It was just a meeting at the door, in the flash of an eye, how could he see anything clearly?

In this era, to talk about beauties, unless they were naturally beautiful and extremely good-looking.

Because of the simple and natural social atmosphere, very few women would wear makeup, and there weren't many conditions for it.

Li Kezhang Songying, who paid attention to a dignified appearance, you had to earn enough to afford it.

You only had four days off a month, and the wages you earned were only enough to subsidize the family; did you still want to think about drawing eyebrows, applying powder, and using rouge?

Therefore, walking on the street at this time, if you saw a beauty, she was definitely a beauty.

No need to doubt; there were absolutely no counterfeit products at this time.

Later generations say that beauties are all made up, and there are no ugly girls, only lazy ones.

How good-looking must someone be to amaze Jing Rong at this time?

"Director Li, long time no see."

Zhao Youkuan followed the secretary into the room and hurriedly shook hands with Li Xuewu to greet him.

Li Xuewu smiled and looked at him, asking: "Are you in good health? I heard from Ye Ye Erye that you haven't been moving around much lately?"

"Hey! He's busy all day—"

Zhao Youkuan saw Li Xuewu take the initiative to mention Ye Ye Erye Ye, and his nervous state relaxed quite a bit.

Entering this office, he couldn't help but feel nervous; it was truly oppressive.

Especially with the half-circle of filing cabinets, combined with the mural behind Li Xuewu, it felt very serious.

"This is my grandson, Zhao Zhiqiang, and my granddaughter-in-law, Wang Han Lu. Have you met them?"

Zhao Youkuan took the initiative to introduce the two young people who followed him in to Li Xuewu.

Saying they were young people, they were actually twenty-seven or twenty-eight, at least looking older than Li Xuewu.

Zhao Zhiqiang wore thick glasses and had an honest and introverted appearance.

He even blushed and felt embarrassed when greeting Li Xuewu.

As for his wife, Li Xuewu had met her; she was at home the first time he asked Zhao Youkuan to help mount that calligraphy.

But that was over a year ago, and Li Xuewu didn't remember it very clearly.

They didn't have any interaction; at the time, Zhao Youkuan had mounted the calligraphy but wouldn't take any money.

Later, when his grandson and granddaughter-in-law's work at the school was handled, he had sought out Ye Ye Erye Ye.

After Ye Ye Erye Ye spoke to Li Xuewu, Li Xuewu arranged for them to go up the mountain to continue teaching at the middle school, which counted as having a job.

The two sides hadn't really seen each other much, but since he was acquainted with Zhao Youkuan and the other party took the initiative to visit, he still arranged to receive them.

"Director Li, hello—"

Wang Han Lu was quite open; she wasn't as reserved as Zhao Youkuan, nor as wooden as her husband.

She greeted Li Xuewu generously and politely, following her grandfather-in-law's lead in calling him Director Li.

Li Xuewu smiled and nodded, not paying attention to her appearance.

She was indeed good-looking, but he wasn't lacking in that regard; after shaking hands, he invited them to sit on the sofa.

Peng Xiaoli, at Li Xuewu's nod, served the three of them hot tea and then went out.

"Visiting without greeting you first is truly an offense."

After Zhao Youkuan sat down, he felt even more reserved looking at Li Xuewu.

He hadn't felt this way in the courtyard; he only knew that this person had heaven-reaching abilities and a deep background.

He never expected it to be heaven-reaching; this was a "sky-piercing monkey."

Just looking at Li Xuewu's attire and the office environment, he knew that the Li Xuewu now was absolutely different from the one he had seen back then.

He carefully weighed his words, wanting to exchange a few polite pleasantries, but his mouth felt like it was blocked by stones.

The old-fashioned politeness, the underworld talk, or the professional jargon—none of it worked here.

He had spent his whole life in the mounting trade and had never seen any big shots, let alone had contact like this.

"Don't be polite; we are old acquaintances."

Li Xuewu saw his embarrassment and smiled, asking: "Is everything well with your life on the mountain? I heard you even planted a vegetable garden?"

"Hehe—just for leisure, to subsidize the family, not worth mentioning."

Hearing Li Xuewu know so much about him, Zhao Youkuan didn't hide anything anymore.

He looked at Li Xuewu with some embarrassment and said: "We have received your help and care, and our life and work on the mountain are both good."

"I like life on the mountain; it's a bit simple, but purer."

Zhao Youkuan nodded slowly, slightly bowing his waist, and said in a pleading tone: "It's just that Zhiqiang and Han Lu are still young and want to come home to live."

"Their school is already organizing the resumption of classes, but I'm worried there might be more changes."

He tentatively asked: "I heard the Red Star Factory has also set up a new middle school; I don't know if it's possible to arrange for them to teach here."

"Director Li—"

Just as Zhao Youkuan finished speaking, before Li Xuewu could open his mouth, Wang Han Lu politely took over the conversation.

She felt her grandfather-in-law's words were a bit stiff; the debt of gratitude had already been settled, and speaking like this now was truly forcing someone.

Actually, whether it was pleading or asking for a favor, it should have been her husband, Zhao Zhiqiang, who expressed his stance.

But given Zhao Zhiqiang's personality, he was torn even about coming here to ask for help; having finally been dragged here, it was absolutely impossible for him to open his mouth.

Intellectuals all wanted to save face.

Wasn't this behavior just pulling strings and going through the back door? How could he, someone cultivated by the organization, open his mouth?

But Wang Han Lu couldn't help it; teaching on the mountain wasn't bad, and they received the same salary.

The two of them weren't people who craved enjoyment, but they had children.

The educational environment in the city and the educational environment in the countryside were still too different.

They could sacrifice and dedicate themselves, but they couldn't bear to let their children suffer in the mountains.

So, Wang Han Lu discussed it with her grandfather-in-law and found out that the Red Star Factory had built a new school, and middle school students from Red Star Village could also come to the factory school to study.

So she wanted to come and teach, to bring her children out; they couldn't stay in the mountains.

Zhao Youkuan could give up anything; he could even live in the countryside with his grandson and granddaughter-in-law.

If you wanted to talk about saving face, he was even more concerned about it than his grandson; the debt of gratitude to Li Xuewu was settled, and he had no way to open his mouth to ask for help again.

But faced with the education and life problems of his great-grandson, he had to cast aside this old face.

It was just that he easily misspoke when nervous, and the anxiety and self-reproach in his heart were beyond words.

Fortunately, there was someone in the family who could take charge, and Wang Han Lu took over the conversation.

"My grandfather was still hesitating on the way here, afraid of troubling you and afraid you were busy with work."

Wang Han Lu sat up straight, her hands pressed on her legs, her posture very upright.

Her speech was naturally upright and polite: "Zhiqiang and I have the heart to return to the city to teach, and it's also to better take care of the children."

"Knowing that the Red Star Factory is setting up a new school and has recruited middle school students from Red Star Village, and with you at the Red Star Factory, we thought of coming to find you to help us out and give us a chance for an interview."

She gestured to her husband, who was hanging his head like a quail, and introduced him: "Zhiqiang teaches math, and I teach Chinese. We are confident that we have the ability to teach middle school..."

"Did you bring your teaching materials?"

Li Xuewu didn't wait for the other party to finish explaining; he nodded, signaling that he already understood their intentions.

"Brought them, brought them—"

Hearing Li Xuewu say this, Wang Han Lu knew that half the matter was already done.

She hurriedly took two documents out of her backpack and handed them to Li Xuewu with both hands.

Li Xuewu took them while gesturing for her to sit and not be polite.

He placed the two documents on his lap and pointed to the teacup on the coffee table, signaling them to wait a moment.

The teaching materials were handwritten, and even the forms were drawn by hand, but they were quite rigorous.

The first page contained Wang Han Lu's personal information, educational qualifications, and work history.

Below that were the years she had taught and the classes she had led.

The back page contained her teaching achievements and award records.

It was indeed as she said; just looking at her teaching grades and award list was enough to know that her teaching level was sufficient.

Looking at the other pages, there were thoughts on teaching philosophy and outlines, as well as student management and reflections.

He didn't need to look at the more professional content in the back; he could understand it if he looked, but it would be a waste of time, completely unnecessary.

Setting aside Wang Han Lu's materials, he began to carefully read Zhao Zhiqiang's teaching materials.

As he looked at the materials, the three of them didn't dare to make a sound; it was oppressive and tense.

The fate of the whole family hung on a single word from Li Xuewu.

Zhao Youkuan pressed his hands on his knees nervously, while Wang Han Lu stared at Li Xuewu, observing his expression.

Zhao Zhiqiang was simple; he kept his head down from the moment he entered the room, as if he wanted to shrink his head into his crotch.

Did you think such a man had any prospects?

Of course he did; Li Xuewu spent more time looking at Zhao Zhiqiang's teaching materials because his teaching grades and award list were even more numerous and astonishing.

Wang Han Lu's materials looked very good and impressive, but he hadn't expected Zhao Zhiqiang's to be even more excellent.

But why was such an excellent teacher so introverted?

He couldn't even say a complete polite sentence when greeting him just now, trembling and stuttering.

This might be the origin of "don't judge a book by its cover."

Math teaching was much harder than Chinese teaching; if one won awards in math teaching, the difficulty was even higher.

It wasn't that middle school students couldn't learn math, but there were differences in grades and the speed of acceptance.

If the students learned well, it meant the teacher taught well; there was absolutely no doubt about that.

"Is he always like this?"

Li Xuewu finished organizing Zhao Zhiqiang's materials and asked Wang Han Lu.

Wang Han Lu didn't know what Li Xuewu meant, but seeing that he hadn't thrown the materials back, she felt there was a chance.

"He's not like this at home; he's quite capable with me—"

She glanced at her husband and explained to Li Xuewu with a smile: "He's very serious when teaching; no matter how much the students ask, he never gets annoyed. It's just in handling affairs."

"Zhiqiang is only bad at this one thing; he doesn't take charge."

Zhao Youkuan was an old hand; he could see a few signs of Li Xuewu's attitude from his relaxed demeanor.

He also felt there was a chance now, so he smiled and criticized his grandson: "If Han Lu couldn't take charge at home, it would be all over if we relied on him."

Hearing his wife's and grandfather's words, Zhao Zhiqiang managed to lift his head, but he didn't dare to look Li Xuewu in the eye, just smiling shyly.

"Focusing on teaching is very good—"

Li Xuewu nodded slowly: "In one's life, it's impossible to be an expert in everything."

He pressed lightly on the two sets of materials on the sofa armrest and said: "Being dedicated to work and obsessed with one's career, while setting other things aside, is not a bad thing."

"Thank you, Director Li—"

Wang Han Lu knew Li Xuewu's attitude now and thanked him excitedly.

Zhao Youkuan saw his granddaughter-in-law like this and also laughed.

"Don't thank me—"

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said: "The Red Star Factory middle school is short of teachers, and you are very excellent."

"I will hand your materials over to the Education Comrade Comrade Li Chu for verification and inspection; go back and wait for news."

"Thank you, Director Li—"

Seeing Li Xuewu say this, Wang Han Lu and her grandfather-in-law looked at each other and stood up to thank him in unison.

At the same time, they pulled up her husband, who didn't know what had happened, and said politely: "Sorry for the trouble."

"Alright, once you've come to the Red Star Factory, you're truly one of the family; do your work well."

Li Xuewu smiled at the wooden Zhao Zhiqiang and nodded, saying: "After you go back, make sure to arrange the teaching work in Red Star Village well."

He sent Zhao Youkuan and the three others out, and at the door, he even urged Wang Han Lu: "The Red Star Factory and Red Star Commune are joint construction units, so students from Red Star Village middle school can come to the factory middle school to study."

"After you go back, you must do a good job in mobilizing the students and their parents, encouraging them to walk out of the mountains and accept a better and more comprehensive education."

"Yes, I will definitely do a good job in mobilization."

Wang Han Lu made a formal guarantee to Li Xuewu, and then she and her husband thanked him again, leaving under Peng Xiaoli's escort with her grandfather-in-law.

How hot and tense the teaching resources at the Red Star Factory were, the children in the city who took the exam were all clear.

Students of Red Star Primary and Red Star Middle School whose parents were factory staff were directly merged into the new Red Star Primary and Middle School; those whose parents were not staff had to stay at their original schools and be transferred to the local authorities along with the schools.

However, when the policy was issued, Li Xuewu opened a door for Red Star Village and closed another.

Previously, to take care of Red Star Village, every time the Red Star Factory recruited workers, especially for the Security Office's guard team, they would recruit some young people from Red Star Village.

However, the Red Star Factory was going to progress and develop in the future, and all staff, including security, needed to be literate.

It was impossible to stuff people in like Zhao Yajun anymore, as it would cause dissatisfaction among others.

Therefore, Li Xuewu had already called Yin Mancang, stating that there would be no more direct recruitment from Red Star Village in the future, because the Red Star Factory had no recruitment channels externally either.

The only external channel was to receive demobilized and transferred personnel, which was the policy from above.

To take care of Red Star Village's support for the construction of the training ground, and also to help Red Star Village, specifically, the middle school of Red Star Commune where Red Star Village was located was connected to the newly established Red Star Factory middle school.

That is to say, starting this semester, students from Red Star Commune middle school could come to the factory middle school for classes.

In the future, students from Red Star Commune primary school could come directly to the factory middle school to study after passing the exam.

This was considered making up for Red Star Village and repairing the loophole in the education enrollment examination.

If you wanted to send your children to the Red Star Factory middle school through the Red Star Commune school, you could, but you had to move your household registration to Red Star Village first.

"Leader, news from the Management Committee Office."

Peng Xiaoli walked into the room and saw Li Xuewu sitting back down at his desk.

He hurriedly reported: "The light patrol boat and cargo speedboat project at the Yingcheng Shipyard has started running, and they expect to produce an experimental boat before the end of the year."

"The insurance seminar will be held next Wednesday morning, still hosted by Director Li."

"Regarding the insurance operation plan for the Joint Savings Bank, President Xie wants to communicate with you; I've scheduled it for Monday afternoon."

"The Finance Office notified that the project funds from the French Saint-Aya Group have arrived in the account at the Oriental Era Bank."

Peng Xiaoli turned a page and continued reporting: "Next Saturday, the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Rolling Mill site will be held in Steel City. Director Li's meaning is to arrange for you and Deputy Director Cheng to attend."

"At the same time, we need to coordinate the production plan for the Saint-Aya Group's orders, mainly the production of parts such as bearings, hardware, and molds."

He finally reported: "The Saint-Aya Group seems a bit anxious, notifying us that their technical personnel are receiving training in Yangcheng, and the engineering equipment will arrive at the port in half a month."

"Next week..."

Li Xuewu pondered, looking at the work plan in his notebook.

"Regarding the insurance operation plan, you communicate with the Joint Savings Bank first, organize experts and scholars to discuss it, and give an opinion."

"I will discuss and study it with President Xie based on the experts' opinions before we can bring it to the meeting."

"As for the groundbreaking ceremony, I won't go. I'll discuss it with Director Li later; it's better to invite Director Ding to go. Please help me make an appointment with Director Ding."

"Regarding the production of parts, I will communicate with the Saint-Aya Group's office here and suppress it for the time being to see the progress of the acquisition of the Fengcheng First Machine Tool Factory."

He looked up at Peng Xiaoli and explained: "If the acquisition procedure for the First Machine Tool Factory goes smoothly, we will hand over this part of the orders to them for production, which will be a test."

"As for the architects training in Yangcheng, there's no room for negotiation; training should be done as it should be. This is the procedure, and it cannot be wrong."

Li Xuewu made a mark in his notebook and urged Peng Xiaoli: "Coordinate with the reception house and the engineering command center; while the French design team is stationed at the Red Star Factory, someone must accompany them within their activity range. Please ask the Foreign Affairs Office to send people to support."

He didn't trust these people; he couldn't accept their technology entirely either. He had to organize experts for verification and refer to the opinions and suggestions of engineering scholars.

This was the foundation of the Red Star Factory, not the Frenchmen's Lego blocks. It had to be designed well and built well; he didn't want to leave a mess and be cursed for a lifetime.

"As for the construction machinery, they don't need to worry. As soon as the ships arrive at the port, they will be allocated to the construction site immediately, and construction will begin at full speed."

"Oh, right—"

Li Xuewu tapped his notebook and instructed Peng Xiaoli: "On the 19th, the technical team from the Bingcheng Aircraft Manufacturing Factory will visit. I have to do the reception and communication work; please coordinate the work."

He stood up and took a thick document from the safe behind him to read.

This was a "generous gift" he had prepared for the 701 Project.

Since the other party wanted to "openly repair the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang," he would let them come and be like a meat bun thrown at a dog...

Hiss—is this metaphor not quite appropriate?

He stood up and took a thick document from the safe behind him to look at.

This was the "generous gift" he had prepared for the 701 project.

Since the other party wanted to "openly repair the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang," he would let the other party experience "a meat bun hitting a dog"...

*Hiss*—is this metaphor not quite appropriate?