Chapter 1176: The

"Little chubby—sit on the door pier—crying and shouting for a wife—"

At the entrance of the hanging flower gate, in a patch of shade, Liu Yin and the old lady each held a little chubby child and sat on small stools to enjoy the cool.

Also present were several old ladies from the courtyard, as well as women coaxing their children.

These people sat in a circle, talking about the short and long of seven families and eight families.

Any big girl or young man from the courtyard who passed by them would inevitably have to bear a certain amount of pressure.

Unless it was someone like Li Xuewu, who had a thick skin, was married, had children, and had no scruples.

"Sleeping for so long—"

Liu Yin saw her son coming out from the inner courtyard. Only when he reached them did she say this to him.

Li Xuewu was very cooperative and yawned, which made the women sitting in a circle giggle.

"A big cadre still wants to sleep in—"

Fourth Aunt from the Sun family next door teased him with a smile, and he didn't mind at all.

The fan in his hand patted the head of the "Big-Faced Cat," signaling him to give up his seat.

The lazy cat didn't react at first, but after being hit, he understood.

Like a little dog, he jumped up and gave the small stool under his butt to Wu Shu.

"How long has it been, haven't seen him so idle. If he wants to sleep, let him sleep."

It was the old lady who felt sorry for her grandson. She held Li Ning in her arms, shook him, and said with a smile: "Little Ning and the others went to the street. Seeing you sleeping so soundly, they didn't disturb you."

"Li Xue organized it, right?"

Li Xuewu fanned himself with the fan, not caring about the pained look in Jia Zhangshi's eyes opposite.

He said sleepily: "She robbed me of twenty yuan last night, saying she wanted to buy new sandals. Mom, you have to reimburse me."

"Who cares about you! Hahaha—"

Liu Yin scolded her son. The little girl had been spoiled by this brother, but after saying this, she laughed herself.

It was still because there were conditions. If there weren't, Li Xue wouldn't have the qualifications to be spoiled even if she wanted to.

The Big-Faced Cat crouched beside Li Xuewu. His grandmother had given up her stool for him, but he wouldn't go over to sit.

This child should be in the rebellious period, and a very fierce one at that.

What is the rebellious period?

It's that you tell him to sit, he insists on standing; you tell him to eat, he insists on eating shit.

"Go, buy two bottles of soda—"

Li Xuewu heard the hawking in the hutong and tapped the Big-Faced Cat's head with the fan.

Everyone knows what a fan is; it doesn't hurt when it hits someone. He was just deliberately trying to anger Jia Zhangshi opposite.

He curled his lip and instructed: "I want orange-flavored ones, the kind that are ice-cold!"

"Got it!" The Big-Faced Cat, hearing Wu Shu's instructions, dashed out with a "whoosh."

He wanted to run out, but realized Wu Shu hadn't given him money yet.

"What are you doing?"

Li Xuewu saw the Big-Faced Cat standing beside him without moving, raised his head and glanced at him.

Bang Geng blinked and reminded: "You haven't given me money yet."

"Drinking soda still needs money?"

Like a bandit, Li Xuewu blinked his eyes, his gaze shifted to the opposite side, only to be understood but not expressed.

Bang Geng understood. He hesitated for half a second and turned to look at his grandmother.

He opened his mouth and said: "Grandma, give me five mao!"

"What for?" Jia Zhangshi asked knowingly, busy with the needlework in her hands, pretending to be confused.

The other old women saw Li Xuewu teasing and didn't speak, just watching the fun with a smile.

"I want to drink soda—"

Bang Geng was truly a filial grandson. He walked to his grandmother's side and wanted to reach into her pocket.

He knew where his grandmother usually put her money. "If you don't give it to me, I'll go home and look under the bed myself—"

"Am I owing you!"

Jia Zhangshi was anxious, patted her grandson's little chubby hand, glanced at the bad guy opposite, and couldn't bear to part with these few mao.

Looking back, she scanned the old lady and Liu Yin of the Li family. Can't the adults in the family manage him?

The old lady was over sixty, and her grandson was already married and had children. She only cared about her great-grandson now.

Liu Yin couldn't save face, glared at her son, and told him not to mess around.

Who in this courtyard didn't know that Jia Zhangshi's money was strung on her ribs?

Want it? You have to use pliers to pull it down.

Jia Zhangshi thought that with the adults here, you have to be well-behaved, right?

Unfortunately, she still hadn't lived clearly for most of her life.

The little demon king in this courtyard had grown up, not flown away.

Li Xuewu turned his face away, pretending not to see his mother's threats and warnings.

Good fellow, everyone laughed in unison and looked at Jia Zhangshi, while Bang Geng was tearing at her clothes pocket.

"Give, give, give!" Jia Zhangshi had no choice. In front of everyone, it wasn't good to be short of her grandson's soda money.

She patted away Bang Geng's little chubby hand, found two mao notes from her pocket, and handed them to her grandson in front of the envious eyes of Little Little Huaihua and Xiao Dang: "You are my living ancestor!"

The two girls in the family never got their grandmother's reward, let alone pocket money; they even had to wait for their brother to fill his stomach first before they could eat.

That's why Bang Geng was fat and the two girls were thin and small.

According to Jia Zhangshi's concept, giving birth to girls is a money-losing business; no matter how well you raise them, they are raised for others.

Like the Li family, spoiling their daughter so much is purely because they can't think straight. They have money and nowhere to spend it.

Twenty yuan for sandals—how much does it cost to make a pair of cloth shoes with straps? Isn't it the same to wear?

Leather sandals, just for this season, and they can't even handle mud when it rains. Buying them is just for freshness.

Don't look at Qin Huairu being a cadre and earning a lot now; their family is still living a tight life.

"Not enough!" Bang Geng looked at the two mao in his hand and shouted: "Give me three more mao!"

"What for—"

Jia Zhangshi glared at her grandson and said: "What soda costs five mao? It's just two mao!"

"Wu Shu said he wanted orange-flavored!"

Bang Geng was pushed by his grandmother, but his hand was still reaching out to grab the money in her pocket.

Jia Zhangshi was anxious, glared at Li Xuewu, and said to her grandson: "You drink yours, he won't drink it, he's teasing you!"

"Orange-flavored!"

Li Xuewu shook the fan, dodged his mother's slap, and said to himself: "The kind that is ice-cold—"

"Are you giving it to me or not! The soda seller is leaving!"

Bang Geng said anxiously: "If you don't give it to me, I'll go home and look under the bed myself..."

"Give, give, give, you're killing me—"

Jia Zhangshi was really scared of this living ancestor. He even dared to tell her where she hid her money!

Bang Geng was also a donkey. He took his grandmother's small money bag, took out three mao, and then stopped.

Looking at the grandson who flew out like a wisp of smoke, Jia Zhangshi glared at the bad guy opposite, her back teeth about to bite off.

Liu Yin was so angry she slapped her son and scolded him in a low voice: "There's some at home and you don't drink it, just coming here to tease things!"

"The ones at home don't taste as good as the ones bought fresh," Li Xuewu used the fan to fan his son and nephew, looked at the two little guys and teased: "Right? Little chubby—"

"Giggle—"

The two little brats looked somewhat alike; one look and you could tell they were Li family children.

Teased by Li Xuewu, Li Ning stared at his father with wide eyes, while Li Tang laughed.

A child's laughter always has the magic to heal the soul, and the smile on Li Xuewu's face became sincere.

Li Xuewu didn't mind Jia Zhangshi's muttering, and looked at Third Aunt on the other side.

"Are Yan Jiefang and his wife out again?"

Seeing his mother glaring at him, Li Xuewu didn't mind, and asked with a smile: "Didn't you help look after the child?"

What is "picking the pot that isn't open"?

Hey! Li Xuewu just had this eye for things, specifically picking the pot that wasn't open.

Liu Yin was so angry she really wanted to hit her son; are you trying to say the courtyard is too peaceful, and you're only happy if you're fighting?

Hou Qinghua was teased by people every day because of her granddaughter.

The second son married the eldest daughter-in-law, and no one gossiped about it. Instead, it was her fault.

Just because her son was having a tantrum with her, and because she didn't look after the child, she became the laughingstock of the neighbors.

You say what mistake she made. It's natural for a son to be filial to his mother. He didn't hand over the money he earned to the family, and even dared to mention splitting the family. He deserved it!

It's just that these words can be said in the heart, but it's hard to say them in front of outsiders.

However, what does the family matter have to do with the opposite side?

Hou Qinghua raised her head and looked at Li Xuewu with disdain, turned around somewhat awkwardly, and was too lazy to pay attention to him.

"Hey, really have to say they are promising—"

Fourth Aunt from the Sun family wasn't a good thing either. Li Xuewu provoked, and she followed along to tease.

She deliberately looked at Jia Zhangshi and muttered: "The sewing cooperative has only been open for a few days, and it's booming. They've all brought money home."

"Isn't it," Jia Zhangshi pursed her lips with the needlework in her hand, raised her reading glasses and echoed: "Seven or eight mao a day, what can you do to earn so much?"

Who is she?

Of all the old women on this street, she has the most nonsense, nicknamed "Little Radio."

Short and long of seven families and eight families, as long as she heard it, it was equal to the people of the world hearing it.

If you ask her to do something serious, she has no serious ideas, but if you want to talk about "pulling the wife's tongue"—

See that? Fourth Aunt from the Sun family started the topic, and she knew who the spearhead was pointing at.

"Is your daughter-in-law there?"

Jia Zhangshi asked, "Didn't earn less, right? I've heard about it. If my eyes were good, I'd go too!"

"Don't mess around—"

Fourth Aunt from the Sun family patted her with a smile and teased: "Your daughter-in-law is a cadre. Do you need to go earn money?"

"Oh, cadre families also have to earn money—"

Jia Zhangshi was waiting for this sentence. She pressed the corners of her mouth hard to keep them from curling up, and had to be humble and continue down.

She didn't understand the truth of "commercial mutual blowing" before. She just bragged about herself when she went out, and people didn't bother to pay attention to her.

Later, she found the way. First flatter others, and others will naturally praise her. Then everyone is happy.

Of course, if you want to be more united, you have to find a common enemy to scold.

You don't have to work hard to find one in this courtyard; there's one ready-made.

Forced the eldest son to death, broke the second son's leg, hooked the eldest daughter-in-law to marry the second son, and didn't look after the child...

Let's put it this way: with the Yan Fugui family, the old women in this courtyard are very united, because they don't scold anyone else.

Li Xuewu watched with amusement, listening while shaking the fan, just treating it as listening to a crosstalk show.

"Wu Shu! Soda—"

The Big-Faced Cat ran in from outside, holding two ice-cold sodas with water vapor, his face full of silly joy.

Li Xuewu received them in his hands under Jia Zhangshi's angry gaze, and pulled the caps off with his hand strength, causing a burst of exclamation and admiration from Bang Geng.

The soda was nothing, but the "dog-leg" look of the grandson made Jia Zhangshi's head smoke.

This kid didn't listen to her, insisting on going against what the adults said, but when it came to Li Xuewu, whatever he said was what it was.

Whose child are you exactly?

Bang Geng didn't care about her, took his bottle from Wu Shu and drank it down.

"Ah—so refreshing!"

He let out a refreshing burp, completely ignoring the two little sisters looking at him with envy and greed.

Li Xuewu pulled off the other bottle, signaled to Xiao Dang, and asked with a smile: "Want to drink?"

Xiao Dang was stunned by the question and didn't dare to answer, but looked at her grandmother first.

Little Little Huaihua was small and had no thoughts. Seeing Wu Shu ask, she ran over happily.

Jia Zhangshi was about to vomit, muttering angrily: "Using you to pretend to be a good person, now that they're open, how can they be returned..."

It was because she was afraid she would really organize to return them that he pulled the caps off.

In the middle of summer, other people's children are either eating ice pops or drinking soda. Qin Huairu's three children only have Bang Geng who can get something sweet.

This kid is just at the age of being greedy, not thinking about his sisters at all, and the older he gets, the more he finds children annoying.

Bang Geng was thick-skinned, and Li Xuewu was willing to tease him, so only the eldest of Qin Huairu's three children dared to mess with him.

Li Xuewu handed the soda to Xiao Dang and instructed: "It's cold, drinking too much will give you a stomachache. Share it between you and your sister."

"Thank—thank you, Wu Shu—"

Xiao Dang felt the coolness in her hand, was stunned for a moment, and then laughed. She hadn't even drunk the soda yet, but her mouth was already sweet.

Li Xuewu smiled, didn't mind Jia Zhangshi's muttering, and used the fan to fan the two little girls.

Xiao Dang was very sensible, knowing to let her sister drink first, and then drank it herself after Little Little Huaihua finished.

Seeing Wu Shu arrange it like this, Bang Geng looked at the soda with a little less than half a bottle left, thought about it, and took the initiative to stuff it into Xiao Dang's hand.

"Brother?"

Xiao Dang looked at the half bottle of soda in her hand, looked at her eldest brother suspiciously—what kind of madness is he having!

"Too cold, drinking too much will give you a stomachache!"

Bang Geng clearly couldn't bear the taste of the soda, but now he was pretending to be generous.

He turned his head away and didn't look at his sister, just stubbornly imitating Li Xuewu's speech.

The old women around were the sharpest. They looked at Li Xuewu, looked at the Li family, and finally glanced at Jia Zhangshi.

Even Third Aunt Hou Qinghua had a look of disdain, which made Jia Zhangshi's face turn red.

This is the life of the Sihe Academy. Today you talk about me, tomorrow I talk about you, just for fun.

"It's almost evening, you still have to go out?"

Returning from the Sihe Academy, Li Ning's energy was exhausted, and he was coaxed by Gu Ning to go upstairs to sleep.

Li Shu was the same, going shopping with her little aunt and little aunt-in-law, accompanied by her mother and eldest sister-in-law. She was happy.

The mother and daughters threw the little ones at home and only cared about her. How could she not be happy?

New clothes, new toys, after making a fuss in the Sihe Academy, she couldn't hold on anymore on the way home and fell asleep.

Li Xuewu carried his daughter into the room, handed her to his mother, went upstairs to change his clothes, and was about to go out.

Liu Yin also felt sorry for her son who didn't have a day of rest, busy on weekdays and busy on Sundays.

"Go to the club to take a look, not coming back for dinner tonight."

Li Xuewu changed his shoes at the door and told his mother: "I might come back very late. You should rest if you should. If it's too late, I won't come back."

He pointed upstairs and added: "I've already agreed with Xiao Ning."

"Oh, you say this..."

Liu Yin sighed, feeling a bit distressed: "The factory matters were just finished, why is there something at the club again."

Looking back at her daughter-in-law, she shook her head helplessly and said: "People all say I have a good son, a big cadre, but I don't feel it's worth it at all."

She sighed, sat down on the sofa, and said to Gu Ning: "I just hope the whole family is healthy. Sigh—"

Who doesn't want to live a happy life with a wife and children on a warm kang? But sometimes, the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility.

Li Xuewu never boasted about how much ability he had; he just did his best to take care of his family and help his friends.

"Wu Ge, I don't understand any of this," Shen Guodong smiled modestly: "You tell me what to do, and I'll do it."

"Yo, yo, yo, you're being modest!"

Yu Li smiled and went to turn on the electric fan, deliberately avoiding Li Xuewu.

No one understands Li Xuewu better than her. Li Xuewu strictly follows his father's instructions, focusing on health preservation starting at twenty.

And her? Even more ruthless than Li Xuewu!

Back then, this chicken soup was drunk quite a bit, all to nourish the body. Starting to nourish the body from nineteen or twenty—you listen to that.

Those who know it know it's health preservation; those who don't might think it's cultivating immortality.

"In another three months, should I call you Secretary Shen?"

"Stop messing around," Shen Guodong was really embarrassed, waving his hands repeatedly: "I'm just serving the people."

"Hmm—" Huang Gan, who was leaning on the sofa without any proper posture, let out a teasing sound. He looked at Li Xuewu and raised an eyebrow: "He's better at official jargon than you!"

"Hahaha—"

There were only a few people in the room, and they were all amused by Huang Gan.

Yu Li happily poured tea for everyone, and shouted outside, asking the waiter to bring a plate of watermelon.

"Good is good, what's there to be modest about," Huang Gan sized up Shen Guodong and said with a smile: "Especially here."

"Hehe, I wouldn't dare—"

Shen Guodong laughed, full of modesty and caution. Even if Huang Gan praised him, he wouldn't dare to respond.

He understood clearly in his heart: he was family with Wu Ge, and even Yu Li could barely be considered family.

Huang Gan? Who are you?

"Indeed, you've done well. Director Wang praised you."

Li Xuewu nodded with a smile, sized up his brother, and evaluated very fairly: "You can be considered trained, you understand the sense of proportion."

"Alright, I know you're happy in your heart."

Huang Gan glanced at Li Xuewu, took the hot tea Yu Li handed over, and said: "Managing this big business of the Beijing Recycling Station, and being busy here with me, and also getting involved with the street side."

"Director Huang, the street side wasn't something we took the initiative to get involved with."

Shen Guodong was afraid he would misunderstand, so he took the initiative to explain: "The relationships here can't be separated. I can be considered to have been ordered in a time of crisis."

"Cough, cough! Still trying to gild yourself?"

Huang Gan looked at him amusedly, nodded and said: "Don't let your imagination run wild. It's a good thing you're developing well."

He signaled to Li Xuewu, who was sitting behind the desk, and explained: "Old Pao and the others are too far away, like flying a kite. If you do well, it saves the head from being heavy and the feet light."

"Although Li Xuewu is suppressing it and nothing will happen, his identity is not convenient after all."

Having been in contact with these little brothers of Li Xuewu for a long time, and having more business dealings, there were more entanglements.

Huang Gan now not only manages a prison, but also holds the position of deputy director of the logistics department of the court.

What the logistics department does doesn't need much explanation. Shen Guodong can be considered his most capable helper.

This part-time job is a ladder for his progress, and it can also be considered a transition.

With Shen Guodong's help, it couldn't be easier.

Several projects of the Tianjin Chadian Farm have exerted force. With the help of the Red Star Factory's United Trade Center, combination furniture is selling well across the country.

Good fellow, the Chadian Farm released a big satellite without making a sound, shaking the leaders of the court to the point of scalp numbness.

Why?

The special train set off from Jicheng, straight to Tianjin. The wood entered the furniture processing workshop of Chadian Farm, and when it came out, it was still transported by special train.

One train after another was sent across the country. It's only been a few months, and the profit has exceeded the total income of last year.

The leaders of Chadian Farm were moved to tears; they finally saw money.

With money, they could improve their lives; with money, they could raise livestock and poultry; they could continue to expand the farm economy.

The labor of Chadian Farm achieved results. The credit belongs to the leaders of Chadian, but the leaders above naturally know who helped.

Isn't that right? Huang Gan's opportunity for progress came. As the deputy director in charge of assets, his first step after taking office was to visit Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu naturally knew what he meant, so there was this meeting at the club.

Shen Guodong used the big warehouse area approved by the street, and under Li Xuewu's suggestion and the street's support, organized a sewing cooperative, a packaging box factory, and a transport team.

The Western medicine factory is also investigating and learning.

They are all manual small factories, all OEM processing, and haven't formed their own brand and influence.

But in the eyes of the street, this has already exceeded the tasks assigned by the higher-ups.

A sewing cooperative alone brought employment opportunities for more than two hundred people, plus the packaging box factory and transport team—the economy of Jiaodaokou can be considered to have shaken up.

Of the hundreds or thousands of households in the street, there aren't many who really have jobs. Most are half-grown boys and big girls, as well as housewives and old men and old ladies.

Not to mention the retired and those in poor health, young people are wandering the streets, and the street is having a headache just looking at them.

So with small factories and the transport team organized by the recycling station, these young people have a craft to eat.

Those who make money are really making money. There are nimble-handed people in the sewing cooperative earning one yuan a day, earning as much as formal workers in the factory in a month, making people from other streets envious.

Why say Shen Guodong has the opportunity to accept the organization's investigation and become an activist?

Director Wang promised him that as long as it takes a year, he will be a member of the organization by this time next year.

By then, managing small factories and doing other things will be convenient.

Just as Huang Gan said, Old Pao and the others flew too far, head heavy and feet light.

If Li Xuewu hadn't been sitting in Beijing, this small group would have overturned long ago.

A big wave could drown them.

Yu Li wasn't joking either. With Shen Guodong's organizational status, he really has the qualifications to compete.

He is young now, but he has ability and influence. If he is really elected, wouldn't he have to be called Secretary Shen?

By then, even if Li Xuewu isn't in Beijing, he will have the ability to protect himself, and even more ability to take care of these businesses.

Shen Guodong hasn't been in contact with these, but Huang Gan understands very well.

On the one-third of an acre of the street, what others say doesn't count; the street is the first person responsible.

Therefore, handling local relationships and local human relationships is crucial.

"I

Good heavens, the Chadian Farm had quietly launched a "great satellite," shocking the leaders of the Department with how numb their scalps felt.

Why?

A special train departed from Jicheng, heading straight to Jinmen; the timber entered the Chadian Farm's furniture processing workshop, and when it came back out, it was still transported by special train.

It was shipped across the country carload by carload; it had only been a few months, and the profits had already exceeded the total revenue of the entire previous year.

The leaders of Chadian Farm were so moved that tears were about to fall; they had finally seen money.

Only with money could they improve their lives, raise livestock and poultry, and continue to expand the farm's economy.

The labor at Chadian Farm had produced results; the credit belonged to the Chadian leaders, but the leaders above naturally knew who had helped.

And so, the opportunity for Huang Gan to advance had arrived; as the deputy director in charge of assets, his first step after taking office was to visit Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu naturally knew what he meant, which was why this meeting at the club had taken place.

Utilizing the large warehouse area allocated to him by the neighborhood, Shen Guodong, under Li Xuewu's suggestion and with the neighborhood's support, had organized a sewing cooperative, a packaging box factory, and a transport team.

The Western Medicine Factory was also currently under inspection and study.

They were all small, manual-labor factories, all doing contract processing, and had not yet formed their own brands or influence.

But from the neighborhood's perspective, this had already exceeded the tasks assigned from above.

The sewing cooperative alone had created employment opportunities for over two hundred people, and with the addition of the packaging box factory and the transport team, the economy of Jiaodaokou could be considered to have taken off.

Among the hundreds or thousands of households in the neighborhood, not many actually had jobs to go to; most were half-grown boys and young women, as well as housewives and old men and women.

Not to mention the retired or those in poor health, the young people were wandering the streets, which gave the neighborhood committee a headache just to look at.

So, with the small factories and the transport team organized by the recycling station, these young people finally had a trade to make a living.

Those who made money were truly making money; some in the sewing cooperative were quick with their hands and could make one yuan a day, earning as much in a month as a regular worker in a factory, making people from many other neighborhoods envious.

Why else would they say Shen Guodong had the opportunity to be reviewed by the organization and become an activist?

Director Wang had promised him that as long as it took one year, by this time next year, he would be a member of the organization.

By then, managing the small factories and doing other things would be much more convenient.

Just as Huang Gan had said, Lao Biaozi and the others had flown too far, becoming top-heavy.

If it weren't for Li Xuewu holding down the fort in Jingcheng, this small group would have capsized long ago.

A single big wave could have drowned them all.

Yu Li wasn't joking either; with his organizational status, Shen Guodong really did have the qualifications to run for office.

He was young now, but he had ability and influence; if he were really elected, wouldn't he truly have to be called Secretary Shen?

By then, even if Li Xuewu were no longer in Jingcheng, he would have the ability to protect himself and, even more so, the ability to take care of these businesses.

Shen Guodong had never been exposed to these things, but Huang Gan understood them very well.

On the neighborhood's own turf, what others said didn't count; the neighborhood committee was the primary responsible party.

Therefore, handling local relations and local connections well appeared to be of vital importance.

"I was thinking of setting up a scrap processing plant," Shen Guodong cautiously suggested, "to process the collected scrap on the spot..."

"Go discuss it with Director Wang—"

Li Xuewu waved his hand, pointed at him, and reminded him: "Whatever you want to do, it must be conducted under the leadership of the organization."

"Your brother is right," Huang Gan reminded him: "The recycling station is already enough for you to support your family; don't think too big, it's too dangerous."

"You must set your sights far and serve the organization and the people more."

He shook his finger and said: "If you want to eat more, you have to have the stomach for it, you know?"

"Sss—"

A bowl of gravy was poured into the plate while hot, and in an instant, the scorched rice in the dish crackled and hissed.

"This is called the 'Number One Dish Under Heaven'! Emperor Qianlong loved eating this stuff."

Huang Gan smiled and gestured to everyone: "Over in Jin Province, they call it 'A Clap of Thunder on Flat Ground'!"

"Both names are very mediocre," Li Xuewu said indifferently: "It would be better to call it 'Hiroshima Nuclear Peace'."

"Hahaha—"

The evening dinner wasn't large; it was all their own people.

Shen Guodong had been specifically called over by Li Xuewu; he counted as a brother he was helping to bring to the forefront.

In fact, it couldn't be called a "white glove" or "black glove" situation; not to mention that Li Xuewu hadn't reached that point, even if he had, he wouldn't need one.

Running the recycling station was also so that the brothers would have a career to settle down and make a living; if they really wanted to get rich, they still had to look to Lou Jie's side.

"What a rare opportunity; everyone is very busy, especially Comrade Xuewu."

Huang Gan raised his glass and joked with everyone at the table: "Come on, let's have a drink for our friendship and for our gathering."

"Too much nonsense—"

Wang Xiaoqin was the big sister; she didn't give him face at the dinner table and teased him, making everyone burst into laughter.

Huang Gan didn't mind; after clinking glasses with Wang Xiaoqin, they both finished the wine in their cups.

Don't look at the fact that Wang Xiaoqin was no longer in the powerful system; the Garrison District had the responsibility of maintaining public order and stability, so they might run into each other someday.

The bond between classmates had become even tighter because of the club Li Xuewu had started.

Every weekend there were movies and plays, small group dinners, or organized trips here for training and exercise.

After all, they were cadres in the discipline system; they couldn't lose their core skills. If they really became pot-bellied and couldn't pull a bow, it would truly be a disgrace.

Hu Xianjin was the second to raise his glass, smiling and congratulating Huang Gan on taking another step forward, which drew laughter and teasing from the group.

Wang Zheng commented on her brother: "In this life, he could rise to the top purely on luck; there's no helping it."

"Not to mention his background, I'm one of them too."

She had drunk a bit of wine, so she dared to speak; at this moment, she even mocked herself.

"Having a good spouse, a stable family; having a group of good friends, a smooth career; having a good sister, rising to the top..."

"You really know how to gild your own face!"

Huang Gan glared at his sister, picked up his wine glass to clink with Hu Xianjin, and pointed at him: "I know you're going to advance too; this drink counts as celebrating together."

"Where is Old Hu going?"

Wang Xiaoqin took the initiative to ask: "How come I didn't hear you mention it?"

"It's classified; if I didn't mention it, how would you know where I'm going?"

Huang Gan smiled, glanced at Hu Xianjin, and said: "This choice is truly not great; the path has narrowed."

"Work always needs someone to do it, right?"

Hu Xianjin was very open-minded; he smiled and clinked glasses with Li Xuewu, saying: "I actually quite like this new job."

"The path won't be narrow once you've walked it enough; here's to you!"

Li Xuewu smiled and drank the wine in his cup, pointed at Huang Gan, and said: "You think the path of logistics is wide ahead?"

"Think about Zhou Zhengquan—"

Wang Xiaoqin picked up her glass to clink with the one Huang Gan had placed on the table and drank half of it.

Her reminder actually made Huang Gan calm down and carefully consider what the two of them had said.

"When doing work, I have one principle," Hu Xianjin patted his waist and said: "Gun never leaves the body, pen never leaves the hand."

"Smart man—"

Wang Xiaoqin clinked glasses with him and drank the remaining half.

Li Xuewu reached out and patted Huang Gan on the back, smiled, picked up his glass, and asked: "One more?"

"One more!"

Huang Gan suddenly smiled, glanced at Shen Guodong sitting at the lower end, clinked glasses with Li Xuewu, and then took the initiative to clink with the other party.

Shen Guodong was very enthusiastic and excited; being able to sit and eat and drink with Wu Ge's classmates counted as progress.

After Li Xuewu gave him some meaningful encouragement, he didn't dwell on this issue with Huang Gan anymore and followed the group's topic to chat about other things.

The doubts in Huang Gan's heart had also been answered; after the relief, he was even more heroic, finishing every cup.

The evening banquet was very lively, and everyone's face was flushed with the redness of intoxication.

"News came from Steel City the day before yesterday, saying the 'Coachman Plan' is progressing smoothly, and they want to ask if you want to proceed to the next step as planned."

Yu Li was riding on Li Xuewu's back, her fingers pressing on the acupoints on his spine, which were all red.

There wasn't too much smell of alcohol; the dinner had lasted more than three hours, and everyone was drunk, except for him, who was the only one sober.

After arranging for the others to stay at the guesthouse, Li Xuewu didn't go home either, taking a rare day off for himself.

Of course, Li Xuewu was on vacation, and Yu Li was on duty.

Good evening, sir; Technician No. 8 is at your service; please look at the service card...

"Does such a small matter need asking? Is he that idle?"

Li Xuewu lay on the pillow, humming and hawing as he said: "I've noticed he's been talking a bit too much lately?"

"Hehehe—" Yu Li arched her body, using her elbow to press on the acupoint with a little force, but replied: "His wife is about to give birth, so he's feeling insecure."

"Hey—" Li Xuewu curled his lips, opened his eyes, and said: "I really did forget about that; is it these few days?"

"It should be; I actually wanted to ask him, but I was afraid of making him nervous."

Seeing Li Xuewu struggling, Yu Li softly reminded him: "It's summer, the season to properly nourish the body; don't neglect it."

"Stop messing around; does my body need nourishing?"

Li Xuewu straightened his waist, laughed, and said: "You should know me—"

He didn't know how Yu Li had figured out that he needed to nourish his body.

But if he listened to Yu Li, he would never have a moment of rest throughout the four seasons; he could be nourished in any season.

"Stop it! If you keep messing around, I'll pinch you!"

Yu Li pinched the flesh on his neck to scare him: "The last set wasn't even finished, and I've already forgotten where I started."

"Start from the beginning then—"

Li Xuewu smiled mischievously and wanted to turn over, but was firmly held down by the shoulders by Yu Li.

"I'm being serious!" Yu Li scolded him coquettishly and punched him, reminding him: "If you have time, remember to give Biaozi a call."

"He's not a child anymore," Li Xuewu shook his waist, finally settling down, and said: "He just doesn't have his parents around, so he's feeling insecure."

"Knowing that and you still don't take care of him!"

Yu Li helped Li Xuewu massage his head (the serious head) and emphasized: "Being so far from home, when something happens, it's inevitable that he'll panic."

"I won't call; his father-in-law and mother-in-law have already gone over," Li Xuewu said in a muffled voice: "He can't rely on his brothers for his whole life; he needs proper family."

Hearing him say this, the force of Yu Li's fingers couldn't help but increase by a few degrees, which Li Xuewu clearly felt.

Perhaps it was because Li Xuewu didn't speak, but she reacted herself.

The two were silent for a moment, but it was Yu Li who took the initiative to speak, asking: "What about me?"

She slowed down the movements of her hands and asked with some hesitation in her tone: "What do I count as to you? A brother?"

"Mm, a brother, the brother who sleeps on my 'upper bunk'."

Li Xuewu reached behind his back, held her lower leg, patted it gently, and said: "You're different from Biaozi and the others."

"How am I different?"

Yu Li sniffed, trying hard to organize her emotions, and the movements of her hands returned to their previous frequency.

She said in a low tone: "In your career, it's the same work, the same life..."

"Heh, I don't let my big brothers ride on my back—"

Li Xuewu caught her off guard, turned over, and faced Yu Li directly: "Are you feeling a bit sentimental today?"

"You're still joking?"

Yu Li glanced at him, turned over and sat on the bed, hugging her knees as she said: "My dad came to see me today and kept nagging me about coming here."

"Did he introduce a partner to you?"

Li Xuewu turned on his side, looking at Yu Li's silhouette under the moonlight; she looked a bit lonely and a bit lost.

He took the initiative to pull her over, let her lie on his arm, and said softly: "Parents' love is truly pitiful; he's thinking of your well-being."

"What about you?" Yu Li didn't dare look at him, but looked at the shadow of the ceiling under the night light and asked: "If I say it like this... will you be disgusted with me?"

"Heh, silly talk—"

Li Xuewu pinched Yu Li's chin and asked: "What are you afraid of?"

"Afraid that I'll be fickle? Afraid that I'll abandon you? Or afraid that I..."

"No!"

Yu Li raised her hand to cover Li Xuewu's mouth, looked into his eyes, and said: "I trust you..."

"You have to think clearly about what you want before you can understand what I am to you, and what you are to me."

Li Xuewu pressed her heart very sincerely and said earnestly: "The difference between you and Biaozi and the others is that they are brothers."

"They grew up in the same nest, but they will eventually grow up and fly toward a broader sky."

"What about me?"

There was still confusion in Yu Li's eyes; she didn't know what she wanted, nor could she figure out what she was to him.

"But you are different," Li Xuewu moved his hand, formed it into a heart shape, and smiled as he said: "You accompany me as I 'grow up', and I accompany you as you become a sister-in-law... as you grow old."

"You're coaxing me again—"

Seeing him acting mischievously, Yu Li scolded him and punched him, but couldn't bear to use force, like she was scratching an itch.

She pouted, and very unconfidently, asked in a voice like a mosquito: "Can I have a... mm—"

Some things don't need to be said; in fact, everyone understands, and it's actually worse if they are said out loud.

How could a good man like Li Xuewu, who was so loyal and righteous, bear to make her feel disappointed or embarrassed? It was better not to say it out loud.