Chapter 1178: I Am a Very Decent Person

"Deputy Director Shi, good morning—"

"Hey, hello—"

In the corridor, Shi Ruoweng, who had returned from Wangjie, responded enthusiastically and modestly to everyone who greeted him.

Word in the government office was that Deputy Director Shi had changed.

After laboring in Yingcheng for more than half a year, it was as if he had become a different person.

The previous gloom and arrogance were nowhere to be seen; he was polite to everyone he saw.

The smile on his face was sweeter than the urine of Union Chairman Xiong, who was being treated for diabetes.

You couldn't say everyone loved him, but he was as enthusiastic and open as a flower to everyone he met.

"A snake-and-scorpion smile; it looks fake and creepy."

Gu Cheng held his arms, a cigarette in his hand, glanced at the commotion on the other side of the corridor, and turned to ask Peng Xiaoli at the corner of the stairs, "I heard Deputy Director Sha was promoted?"

"You just found out?"

Peng Xiaoli exhaled a puff of smoke, his expression slightly melancholy, looking up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, truly a depressed young man.

"Still thinking about her?"

Gu Cheng sized up his good buddy and said helplessly, "You have to learn to let go; don't make things hard for yourself."

"Yeah, let go—"

Peng Xiaoli lowered his gaze again and said in a low voice, "What qualifications do I have to not let go?"

"So sentimental?"

Gu Cheng walked over, bent down to peer into his eyes, and asked with amusement, "Don't tell me you've been secretly reading love poetry magazines?"

"Sigh—"

Peng Xiaoli couldn't be bothered to pay attention to him, took a puff of his cigarette, and asked, "Slandering your superior like this, aren't you afraid he'll give you a hard time?"

"Am I stupid?" Gu Cheng rolled his eyes, took a puff of his cigarette, glanced at the corridor, and then said while exhaling smoke, "Could I say this to his face?"

As soon as Shi Ruoweng returned, he had Ding Zigui reorganize the division of labor for the Management Committee Office, taking charge of factory affairs.

Li Xuewu still handled coordination and part of the organization work, while Ao Yuhua coordinated with Li Xuewu to handle the Committee Office and other organization work.

Gu Cheng, who was the captain of the small motorcade, was under Shi Ruoweng's management—the superior Peng Xiaoli was talking about.

"Besides, I only say these things to you. How many friends do I have?"

After speaking, Gu Cheng kicked Peng Xiaoli's shoe tip with his own, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Deputy Director Li made quite a move this time; how come you aren't among them?"

"How long have I been here?"

Peng Xiaoli glanced at him, turned around, faced the side window, and said, "What? Do you have ideas?"

"That's a funny way to put it. Who doesn't want to advance?"

Gu Cheng curled his lip and said, "I dream of advancing, to better serve the people!"

He shouted the slogan loudly, but he still had some self-awareness.

"But I haven't achieved any merit, so it's not good to make demands of the leader, right? But you're different!"

Gu Cheng looked sideways at him and said, "Deputy Director Sha was promoted to deputy section chief in less than half a year."

"How old is he, and how old am I?"

Peng Xiaoli knew it clearly; there was no way he would get hot-headed just because of Gu Cheng's few words.

"He's already thirty; he could have been promoted to deputy section chief long ago," he curled his lips and explained, "Even this time, his promotion to section chief was suppressed for half a year."

"So what if it was half a year?" Gu Cheng shook his head slightly and said enviously, "He can be considered to have achieved success."

"At the time, everyone was saying that Deputy Director Li arranged for him to set up the External Affairs Office for the external activities at the beginning of the year."

He whispered, "Who among those with sharp eyes didn't know this was a great merit? If he did well, he was definitely going to advance."

"According to you, it was a March affair, so there should have been results in May."

Peng Xiaoli glanced sideways at his good buddy and said, "It's already August!"

"It's just three months late!"

Gu Cheng took a puff of his cigarette, exhaled slowly, and said enviously, "Deputy Director of the Tianjin Trade Management Center, a section-level position—"

"Tsk tsk tsk, it might be the ceiling of my life."

"Don't belittle yourself," Peng Xiaoli said with a smile, "The leader still appreciates you very much."

"Forget it, that leader of yours is too dangerous; I don't dare to get close."

Gu Cheng smiled bitterly, "Deputy Director Shi just gave him a trip-up, and he was sent to Yingcheng to be tempered for more than half a year. I don't dare to think..."

"This was all for his own good," Peng Xiaoli looked back at the corridor, his eyes full of contempt, and said, "Now that he's acting like a human, shouldn't he thank our leader?"

"Go tell him that!" Gu Cheng teased with amusement, "See if he thanks your leader or hates your leader."

"I don't need to go tell him. If you teach a person, they won't learn; if you teach them through experience, they'll learn in one go."

After Peng Xiaoli finished speaking, seeing someone coming from the corridor, he kicked Gu Cheng and took the initiative to greet, "Director Zhang."

"Smoking here—"

Zhang Shicheng nodded with a smile, greeted Peng Xiaoli, and walked downstairs from the stairs.

Gu Cheng's mouth was not one to let people off. He leaned over the gap in the railing, watched the person leave, and then curled his lip and muttered, "Looking human but acting like a dog."

"Hehe—"

Peng Xiaoli raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile, "Envious?"

"Bullshit!" Gu Cheng said disdainfully, "If I were willing to lose face, I'd be better at flattering than him!"

"But you aren't willing!"

Peng Xiaoli leaned in and teased softly, "You came together, right? He's already a deputy section chief."

This personnel adjustment was quite large, especially at the grassroots level, and a large area was changed in the government office.

Sha Qizhi was transferred to Tianjin, and Cheng Kaiyuan's secretary, Zhang Shicheng, was transferred to be the Director of the External Affairs Office, a deputy section-level position.

Growing up in the same office, how could Zhang Shicheng's progress not make Gu Cheng jealous?

Unfortunately, he was too anxious and had no opportunity. At the beginning, he was sent down to the small motorcade by Li Xuewu's power.

Actually, even if he wasn't anxious, it would be useless. If you can't be a secretary for a leader, are you just going to grind away in the office?

Being in the small motorcade was freer, and there were more opportunities to contact leaders.

It was better than this personnel adjustment, where everyone swarmed to the workshop to be ideological education group leaders.

Education group leaders didn't even count as a stock-level position; they could only be considered clerks, and they would be like that for a lifetime without achieving results.

"Deputy section chief is deputy section chief; who told me I don't have the luck—"

Gu Cheng was open-minded. Since he wasn't willing to lose face, he had to have a big heart; otherwise, he would be vomiting blood.

At this moment, he extinguished his cigarette butt, tilted his mouth, and said, "Now, buddy is counting on your promotion, Director Peng. I'm at your service, whatever you need."

"Bullshit—"

Peng Xiaoli knew he was talking nonsense, but he still bumped his shoulder and said softly, "Don't say buddy isn't loyal."

"This time, our Fire Department promoted someone to be the deputy section chief of the Third Section of the Committee Office. Should I introduce you?"

"Man or woman?"

Gu Cheng's eyes lit up, and he raised an eyebrow and asked, "How old? Even if she's married, it's fine."

"Brother, you're really starving!"

Peng Xiaoli patted his good buddy's shoulder understandingly and gestured toward the Security Building opposite, reminding him, "Her husband is the Security Stock Chief."

"Are you playing with me!"

Gu Cheng widened his eyes and said indignantly, "You're introducing someone who's already married!"

From material production to parts production, to supply chain channel management, to the creation of various professional factories and domestic and foreign supply and marketing channels.

From production to sales, a one-stop industrial structure, multi-department cooperation and supervision management, the general trend had been formed, and the future was promising.

He blinked and said meaningfully, "When has buddy ever treated you badly?"

"You mean..."

Gu Cheng's brain buzzed, he stared into Peng Xiaoli's eyes and blinked; it seemed he understood.

"Thank you for looking after me, leader—"

Fan Hua stood in front of Li Xuewu's desk, full of gratitude, and said, "I've caused you so much trouble, and you still..."

"Alright, that's in the past."

Li Xuewu looked up at her, nodded, and asked, "Is your health recovered? Who's looking after the child?"

"My mother-in-law is helping to look after her. Thank you for your concern."

Fan Hua had returned from sick leave and her face was round; it looked like her in-laws were taking very good care of her.

"Originally, I planned to go back to the unit and talk to the section chief to see if I could work the day shift..."

"Hmm, you're a parent now; it's time to grow up."

Li Xuewu sized her up and reminded her, "You and Ren An are both young, and the future is broad. It's not appropriate to be in the same office."

"Yes, leader, I understand what you mean."

Fan Hua said very gratefully, "I have mental preparation, and Ren An is also very understanding."

"That's good. Ren An is more suitable for work in the Security Department," Li Xuewu smiled slightly, looked at her, and said, "You are more suitable for work in the government office."

"It's you giving me the opportunity," Fan Hua smoothed her hair by her ear embarrassedly and said, "It's just that going to work in the Committee Office, I'm afraid of losing face for you."

"Work hard, just try not to lose face—"

Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, teased her, and after taking another sip of hot tea, he said with a smile, "I believe you can do it."

"With your words, I'm full of confidence—"

Fan Hua was indeed very suitable for work in the government office. If it weren't for her family reasons, she could have been promoted to section chief by now.

But being promoted directly to deputy section chief after returning from leave still made her overjoyed.

At this time last year, she was still the deputy section chief of the Security Section, but after causing trouble, she was removed from her position by Li Xuewu and transferred to the Fire Department.

She had almost collapsed at the time, but fortunately, her partner Ren An didn't abandon her and supported her through it.

In a year, they got married and had a child, the couple was harmonious, and Ren An, in particular, had made substantial progress with her help.

Actually, Fan Hua herself knew clearly that the reason she could be promoted to deputy section chief at this time was, on one hand, because the factory had a "tailwind."

Director Li's speech emphasizing the acceleration of personnel reform and promoting the organizational innovation of the entire factory had already been distributed to the grassroots level.

On the other hand, she had to say that Li Xuewu was a person who cherished old feelings and didn't knock people down with one blow.

Finally, she had to thank her lover. Ren An had helped the leader handle some things at the beginning, which was why there was today's reward.

She hadn't been in the Fire Department for long, so she didn't have any merit; it was nothing more than the ability she had shown before, and the fact that she was in the leader's heart.

So, the first thing Fan Hua thought of after receiving the personnel notice was to thank Ren An, and then Li Xuewu.

"Actually, Yating asked me about it when I came back last month," Fan Hua said with a smile, "She wanted me to go to the International Hotel to help her, but later she told me the position was taken."

"It's not appropriate for you to go to the International Hotel."

Li Xuewu looked at her and said, "The nature of the work there is more inclined toward service and is more open."

He stopped there, and Fan Hua understood—it was still the issue of Ren An's position.

With Ren An in the Security Department, her work at the International Hotel would definitely not be easy to do. Which leader would trust her?

Unless it was like Han Yating, whose lover wasn't in the Red Star Factory, so she didn't have to worry about going anywhere.

"Yes, Yating told me," Fan Hua nodded and responded, "She said it was transferred from the tertiary industry, and it's also a female comrade."

"Cadre exchange plan, it's been there for a long time."

Li Xuewu nodded and explained slightly, "She was originally in the Textile Factory Union, and later served as a workshop director in the tertiary industry."

"Oh, I'll have a chance to get to know her later."

Fan Hua was just trying to talk more to the leader; it was also a means of workplace management.

This kind of inquiry wasn't considered taboo. If the leader was willing to talk, you listened; later, you would also know who was whose connection, avoiding the "Dragon King Temple being flooded by the Dragon King himself" and not recognizing your own family.

The leader saying these things was also a manifestation of closeness, allowing subordinates to better understand their attitude.

Work is done by people. Who dares to say there's no personal emotion at all? That's just nonsense.

Fan Hua chatted a few more times, and seeing someone coming to Li Xuewu's office, she took the initiative to say goodbye.

Li Xuewu gave a few reminders, then greeted the people who came in and had them sit on the sofa.

"Congratulations, you'll have to be called Li Kezhang Fan from now on."

Ren An was waiting for his wife at the corner of the stairs. Seeing Fan Hua come out, he took the initiative to tease her with a smile.

Fan Hua glared at him, her eyes full of joy and happiness.

She had found such a wooden block. At the beginning, many people in the Security Section pursued her, and they all said she was blind.

After the storm, she proved she wasn't blind. How could love at first sight compare to childhood sweethearts?

The two grew up together since they were young. When it came to knowing each other inside and out, who could compare to him?

Just look at them getting married and having children; they didn't have to worry about anything, it was all handled by both sets of parents.

In the same compound, living especially close, they didn't have to cook, they didn't have to manage the children—who was as happy as she was?

The two laughed and joked as they walked downstairs. Fan Hua looked back at the person behind her and reminded her softly, "It's from the Technical Department."

"Is that so—"

Ren An scanned it after walking downstairs, and as he walked, he asked, "What's up?"

"Same as me," Fan Hua said softly, "They are all cadres adjusted in this personnel change."

She raised her eyebrows and recalled, "There are two people who were queuing up with me waiting for the organization talk."

"I actually know that man."

Ren An gestured toward his office after walking downstairs, and as he walked, he said, "He's the one with the rumors—"

He blinked and leaned in to remind Fan Hua, "The one whose partner is the dance team captain."

"You even know this?"

Fan Hua looked at him very unexpectedly and asked with feigned suspicion, "What? Do you also like the actors in the dance team?"

"Stop it, I only heard the gossip over there because of Zhao Yajun's matter."

Ren An opened the office door, let his wife go in first, and then followed.

"Stop saying these things; it has a bad influence."

Fan Hua sat in the chair and reminded him, "You also know whose connection Zhao Yajun is."

"The leader didn't care about this."

Ren An nodded, responding to his wife's words while explaining, "It was just privately speaking up for Zhao Yajun."

"He's liked Zhou Xiaoling from the dance team for more than a day or two; everyone in the section knows."

He took the initiative to pour hot water for his wife; he didn't have the airs of a Security Stock Chief at all.

Of course, in front of a deputy section chief and a "mother tiger," where would he have any airs?

"I heard the leader bridged the gap," Ren An raised an eyebrow, "That person just wouldn't agree, so Zhao Yajun found Wang Lu."

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have remembered. Someone from the dance team was also promoted," Fan Hua said while holding the teacup, "Wang Yajuan, who is also the deputy section chief of the Second Propaganda Section, was also with us."

"Too many, so many people were promoted this time."

Ren An shook his head, "The Zhou Xiaoling I just mentioned, they say she found a connection to become the performance team leader."

"Don't talk nonsense—"

Fan Hua glared at him, then looked at the door, and explained to him in a low voice, "Director Li originally wanted to expand the influence of the cultural and propaganda team, and internal promotion is as it should be."

"The one you mentioned should have something to do with Li Xue. I saw them together last time."

She raised her eyebrows and said, "In short, the relationships inside are very complicated. Don't gossip about anyone, and don't gossip in the Security Stock."

"Hi—this is just talk leading to talk; do I care about them?"

Ren An leaned against the desk, shook his head with a smile, and said, "The leader was right; you are indeed more suitable for the government office."

"I don't even know how Zhou Xiaoling used her connections, but you can know it's Li Xue."

"There's nothing mysterious about it. If you observe more and listen to the 'thief's talk,' you can know too!"

Fan Hua said with a smile, "There are many thoughts in the government office, and many mouths. There will always be leaks."

"Saying it's hard to mix, it's nothing more than laziness."

She summarized, "Take yourself too seriously, take others too seriously, take things too seriously."

"This doesn't count as an organization talk; don't be so nervous, hehehe—"

Li Xuewu sat on the sofa, looked at the crowd who seemed a bit cautious, and greeted them with a light laugh.

Peng Xiaoli served hot tea to everyone and then went out. The door wasn't closed, just as the leader said; this wasn't too serious a talk.

"We're seeing Zhou Tan for the first time; there's no need to mention Shangguan Qi," Li Xuewu waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the crowd in the room, and he nodded with a smile, "You are all the future and backbone of the Red Star Factory's technical field."

"Deputy Director Li has high expectations for you."

Xia Zhongquan interjected at the right time, "Director Li has also repeatedly emphasized the importance of scientific development technology, which is why we have today's meeting."

He gestured toward Li Xuewu and said very straightforwardly, "In this grassroots and middle-level cadre adjustment work, it was Deputy Director Li who withstood all pressure to increase support and inclination toward technical cadres."

"This also reflects the factory leadership's emphasis on technology—"

Li Xuewu took over the conversation, looked at the crowd, and said, "You have university students cultivated by the Red Star Factory itself, like Zhou Tan, right."

"There are also technical backbones who were transferred or adjusted with the project, like Shangguan Qi, right."

He nodded very sincerely and said, "Director Li told me that without the Technical Department, the Red Star Factory would be like having a broken arm."

"Then I want to say, without the Research Institute, the Red Star Factory would be like being blind, unable to see the direction of progress."

His serious tone and sincere words made the people sitting on the sofa look serious, and their sense of belonging and confidence in the Red Star Factory increased by several layers.

Li Xuewu focused on their growth and development and talked about the Red Star Factory's goals for scientific and technological development in the future.

He also emphasized the attitude of the Factory Management Committee and factory leadership toward scientific and technological leadership in productivity, encouraging them to continue to work hard in their new positions and create new brilliance.

The people sitting on the sofa had different moods, but their attitudes were unified.

Relying on scientific technology to develop productivity wasn't a one-day thing for the Red Star Factory. In more than a year, whether it was capital investment or safety guarantee, it was obvious to all.

Huaqing University was almost moving its laboratory over; it was almost becoming the Red Star Branch of Huaqing University.

The creation of the Red Star Vocational and Technical College, with its excellent teaching environment and rich teaching resources, made key Beijing universities, led by Huaqing University, covet and cherish it.

Being able to cooperate with the Red Star Factory to cultivate talents and preserve teaching staff was very rare in this era.

Especially with a large number of scientific talents pouring into the Red Star Factory and walking into the research institute laboratories.

One experiment after another, one achievement after another, were operated and produced directly through the Red Star Factory Technology Development Leading Group Office. The economic benefits fed back into the research institute, giving professors and students more room for learning and development.

In just a year and a half, there were more than two thousand university students interning at the Red Star Factory.

More than five hundred of them stayed and officially joined the job.

This also included university students directly recruited from other universities across the country by Gu Weijie, which effectively enriched the Red Star Factory's technical talent team and enriched the enterprise management team.

This grassroots and middle-level personnel change, Old Li's determination was partly derived from these university students.

University students in this era were extraordinary; they could handle things and could really shoulder responsibilities.

Especially university students who had been tempered by internships could be cultivated into workshop directors after being placed in the workshop for a year or two.

Not only Li Xuewu, but the entire factory, starting from Li Huai De, had already formed an awareness of respecting technology and knowledge, so university students interning at the Red Star Factory could feel safety and trust.

This cadre adjustment also included some middle-level cadres, mainly the result of the merger of sixteen factories.

There were also cases of project team mergers, such as the 701 project team.

In one month, the Bingcheng Aircraft Manufacturing Factory had already handled the organizational personnel handover procedures for these people.

With the successive arrival of the engineering team, the Red Star Factory Aircraft Research Institute quickly formed a scale.

Of course, the 701 project team was gone; it had been split up as early as the middle of last month.

Some personnel participated in the delegation to Japan, some were picked away by Shangguan Qi, and the remaining people would serve as supporting forces to establish the Aircraft Research Institute.

The current main work goal of the Aircraft Research Institute was to cooperate with the delegation to Japan to prepare for the construction of an aircraft manufacturing plant in Steel City.

At the same time, it also needed to organize and summarize the current domestic helicopter research and development situation, and build and investigate the supply chain market.

The former director of the 701 project team, Kong Xiaobo, was appointed as the deputy director of the Technical Department; the former deputy director, Bai Guangming, was appointed as the director of the Aircraft Research Institute.

The former chief engineer, Shi Zhiyuan, was appointed as the chief engineer of the Aircraft Research Institute (to Japan); the former deputy chief engineer, Qiu Guanlin, was appointed as the deputy chief engineer of the Aircraft Research Institute.

Qiu Guanlin's mood was very complicated. He was left in Beijing to cooperate with the Red Star Factory to organize forces to prepare for the construction of a manufacturing plant in Steel City.

In this regard, they had the most experience and could completely learn from Bingfei, which was also why the Red Star Factory gave them such good treatment.

Kong Xiaobo jumped to become an administrative department deputy, and Bai Guangming also served as the institute's head, which finally put their hearts at ease.

But there was one thing: he was the deputy chief engineer, and the researcher Shangguan Qi in the team was also appointed as the deputy chief engineer this time.

For no reason, he didn't even know what project the other party was researching. Hanging as a deputy chief engineer must mean being a project leader.

He had asked Kong Xiaobo and Bai Guangming, but they didn't know much either, only knowing that this project was in Beijing, in the future science and technology park.

Moreover, although Shangguan Qi's organizational relationship was in the Aircraft Research Institute, there was no corresponding organizational structure within the Aircraft Research Institute.

It was very strange, but not strange. They all had a spectrum in their hearts; this must be a confidential mission.

It was just that Qiu Guanlin was a bit unconvinced, but there was no way; people were on equal footing with him.

Of course, he thought it through later. Shangguan Qi's whole family came to Beijing, but he hadn't seen them.

The "not seen" here didn't mean the people weren't seen; they were all in the same living area, seeing each other with their heads down.

He meant that on the organizational structure list, only on the researcher list could he find the names of the Shangguan family.

That is to say, Shangguan Hongzheng, who had stronger knowledge and ability, that is, Shangguan Qi's father, didn't hold any position.

This was a bit abnormal, but it could be explained.

When the Shangguan family returned, Bingfei arranged for Shangguan Hongzheng to be in charge of technical management.

It was only later removed; perhaps there were concerns about this, so Shangguan Qi was arranged to stand in front.

If you think about it this way, it all makes sense.

The project that the Shangguan family was participating in, the main technical force was actually her father and brothers.

She was more responsible for administrative and external work, communicating with this Deputy Director Li of the Red Star Factory.

A confidential mission, still born from the Bingfei Factory, transferring many excellent researchers—what were they researching?

Sitting in Li Xuewu's office, the cadres of the Technical Department listened carefully to Li Xuewu's speech.

Subsequently, they each made statements, which were recognized and commented on by Li Xuewu.

After the talk ended, Li Xuewu took the initiative to send everyone out. When shaking hands and saying goodbye to Kong Xiaobo, the other party had many emotions.

Li Xuewu also encouraged the other party with a smile, saying that since they were here, they should settle down, carefully feel the working atmosphere of the Red Star Factory, and it would definitely not disappoint them.

Since everyone was here and Kong Xiaobo had become a deputy section-level cadre, he naturally knew which side to lean toward.

So, aside from gratitude, his words were full of loyalty. Who said intellectuals wouldn't flatter? Look at how comfortably he flattered Li Xuewu!

"Deputy Director Li, thank you."

As if on purpose, Shangguan Qi didn't leave with Xia Zhongquan and the others.

She stayed until the end, her tone grateful and gentle, making Li Xuewu's ears itch.

Seeing her hesitant expression, Li Xuewu beckoned, signaling her to follow him back into the office.

Peng Xiaoli, who was tidying up the teacups and cleaning, was stunned and didn't react.

Didn't everyone leave? Why did one follow back?

His reaction was fast; he smiled and nodded to Shangguan Qi, gestured to the teacup in his hand, and said, "I'm sorry, I'll prepare another cup for you."

"Thank you, no need—"

Shangguan Qi smiled and thanked him, gestured toward Li Xuewu, who was walking to the desk, and said, "I'll just say a few words."

"Wait a moment before cleaning," Li Xuewu sat behind the desk, picked up his teacup, nodded to Peng Xiaoli, who was looking over, signaling him not to stay here.

This was the tacit understanding between the leader and the secretary. Peng Xiaoli had long been trained.

He even opened the office door, which had been blown shut by the wind, to the maximum and covered it when he went out.

Why didn't the leader sit on the sofa but sat behind the desk?

After all, it was a female comrade. If you really met someone who was willing to give it all, it wouldn't be clear.

So, talking across the desk was quite good. Even if the other party climbed over, you could kick them back with one foot.

"Sit, don't be cautious," Li Xuewu said while searching for files on the desk, pointing to the chair opposite, "It's not our first time meeting, right?"

Shangguan Qi pursed her lips, then sat in the chair opposite.

"Don't say thank you anymore; I've heard enough of that all morning."

Li Xuewu gestured to the personnel appointment and removal notice in his hand, the kind sent to the whole factory, a thick stack, showing the wide range of this adjustment.

"It's your selfless and discerning eye for talent."

Shangguan Qi saw that he was very casual, and the nervousness in her heart relaxed a bit. Her words also learned from others to flatter him twice.

It was just learning on the spot; her face still couldn't let go, and even the praise didn't sound that sincere.

"Something up?"

Li Xuewu looked up at her with amusement, then unscrewed the fountain pen in his hand and gestured, "Don't mind me; you say your piece, I can hear you, I just can't keep my hands idle."

"Sorry, I'm disturbing your work."

Shangguan Qi didn't know if Li Xuewu was telling the truth or deliberately reminding her. At this moment, her just-relaxed heart became nervous again.

"Should I..."

"It's fine, say it. What's the matter?"

Li Xuewu didn't look up, looking at the files in his hand, his fountain pen circling and dotting on the files from time to time.

"I remember telling you that the Red Star Factory and I personally don't have any bad intentions toward you, and we aren't a one-off deal."

After reading the file, he put his pen down at the end of the file and made instructions, but continued to say, "Whether in life or work, if you have any difficulties, just say it."

"If it can be handled, it will be handled; if it can't be handled, we'll find a way to handle it!"

He signed his name, looked up at her with a slight smile, and said, "How's that? Is that straightforward enough?"

"Hmm—"

Shangguan Qi had been back for a few years, but she had been living and working in the Bingfei Factory and hadn't been in contact with too much of the domestic society.

The time she came to Beijing was the most complicated work situation she had encountered, and also the most complicated interpersonal relationship.

She really couldn't figure out why Li Xuewu wanted to help her, and she couldn't figure out why Li Xuewu wanted to give such important work to her.

If it was about cherishing talent, the Bingfei Factory or other aircraft manufacturing plants could find relevant talents.

At first, she thought the Red Star Factory lacked scientific research strength and had no foundation, until she went to the scientific research workshop and research institute.

A real research institute, not the few rooms they visited when they first came.

Only at this time did she realize that the Red Star Factory already had a relatively good scientific research foundation and conditions.

She wasn't a child, and she wasn't a greenhorn. The scientific research situation and organizational situation in the country didn't seem to make it possible to hand over a project with high investment to a young person.

Oh, the leader in front of her was also a young person, but that couldn't count as a reason, right?

Hearing Li Xuewu's gentle tone, her thoughts flew, and she lowered her head to tidy her hair.

Seeing Li Xuewu opposite her lowering his head to look at the files again, she hesitated and took a golden pocket watch from her pocket, placing it carefully on the desk.

"Li... Deputy Director Li... I... I..."

As if she had done something wrong, her face flushed red, like a big shrimp that had been put into a frying pan.

She stammered, lowered her head, reached out to push the pocket watch forward, and said in a voice as small as a mosquito, "Thank you..."

"Hmm?"

Li Xuewu was turning the page, and only then did he notice the abnormality of Shangguan Qi, who was like a quail opposite him.

His gaze followed her red arms all the way to the pocket watch she pushed over, and his eyes couldn't help but freeze.

"What do you mean by this?"

"You—you don't misunderstand!"

Shangguan Qi's voice seemed to be squeezed out of her throat, nervous and trembling.

She explained in a voice with a hint of crying, "This is my father's. He said... he sincerely thanks... thanks you."

"Since it's your father's, why give it to me?"

The older generation of intellectuals liked pocket watches; they could be sold for money to save lives in critical moments, and they could be used for daily decoration and use.

The key was that this thing was the standard configuration of a gentleman at the beginning, considered a symbol of civilization, just like a walking stick.

Look at Xu Zhimo's photos; his hand never left the stick, and his pocket never left the watch.

Of course, those were all black and white photos; otherwise, you could see the little bit of "prairie color" on his hat.

A gold pocket watch—if you didn't have a chance to save a life or give it to someone in your life, you would have to take it into the coffin when you died.

Now that it was given to him by Shangguan Qi, he didn't think he was an old friend of the other party, worthy of a gold watch.

Of course, it might have something to do with saving a life, but the other party taking it out at this time must mean other property had long been looted.

As for who looted those floating assets, we won't talk about it here.

"Put it away," Li Xuewu didn't use a serious tone to lecture her, nor did he excessively show integrity; he just said very easily, "Our leader said, don't accept gifts."

It wouldn't be funny if a small cadre said this; it was only a joke when someone like Li Xuewu said it.

Shangguan Qi was so nervous her heart was about to jump out of her throat. She was also... the first time she had done this.

"Give my regards to your father for me, please tell him to live well and work well, and don't think about the past anymore."

Li Xuewu smiled and pushed the gold watch back with his fountain pen, saying, "This must be your father's beloved object, so I won't take what others love."

Looking at Shangguan Qi, who suddenly raised her head with a blank look, he nodded and said seriously, "If there's a chance in the future, I'll ask him for advice on aircraft-related knowledge."

After speaking, he gestured to the books on aircraft manufacturing on the bookshelf behind him and said, "I'm shallow in knowledge, but diligence can make up for clumsiness. I quite like this discipline."

"You... this..."

Shangguan Qi didn't know if her way of giving the gift was wrong, or if her expression didn't meet the other party's requirements.

Her face turned a bit pale as she looked at the watch on the table, not knowing what to do.

"I know what you mean. It's not that you want to bribe me; it's sincere gratitude."

After he said this, Shangguan Qi nodded very seriously, but before she could speak, Li Xuewu continued, "But I am a cadre cultivated by the organization and have principles."

"No matter how much you appreciate my help in work, I cannot accept this gift; it's too valuable."

His attitude became very serious, but his expression wasn't stern; it was a calm sincerity.

"A gentleman doesn't take what others love, so please respect my principles and personality," he nodded and said, "You also believe that there are more good people in our team; otherwise, your family wouldn't have returned, right?"

"Then..." Shangguan Qi hesitated and picked up the pocket watch on the table, looking at Li Xuewu and asking hesitantly, "How should I thank you? My father is sincerely..."

"I understand, I understand what you mean."

Li Xuewu nodded and explained, "We haven't been together for long, so you might not know me."

"I'm more used to separating work from personal life," he explained, "Work is work, and personal is personal."

"I don't want you to feed back the help and gratitude I gave you at work to me personally; that's not right."

He smiled and lowered his head, looking at the files in his hand, and said, "After a long time, you'll know that I'm a very decent person."

"Sorry, I've caused you trouble again!"

Shangguan Qi lowered her head very shamefully, saying words of apology.

Dang—dang—

The fountain pen cap in Li Xuewu's hand tapped the glass on the desk.

Looking at Shangguan Qi, who had raised her head opposite him, he asked, "Have you had a good look around this ancient city since coming to Beijing?"

Seeing her blank look, Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Are you free tonight? I'll invite your whole family to dinner."

After speaking, he specifically added, "Making friends, I won't refuse."

"Ah?"

Shangguan Qi hadn't reacted, looking blankly at Li Xuewu, thinking he wanted this gold watch privately.

Li Xuewu's insight into people's hearts was excellent; he specifically pointed at her and reminded her sternly, "Don't do this kind of thing again."

"I can forgive you the first time; if there's a next time, I'll have to ask my colleagues in the Discipline Inspection to talk to you."

"Yes, I'll invite you to dinner!"

Shangguan Qi understood Li Xuewu's meaning, released the pocket watch in her pocket embarrassedly, and took the initiative to express, "You choose the place."

"If you invite me, I won't go—"

Li Xuewu saw her like this, and only then did he have a smile on his face, reminding her, "I'll arrange a car to pick you up tonight. Let's go taste the French food at the International Hotel. Isn't it famous for not being filling?"

"Hmm—"

Shangguan Qi didn't expect the leader to suddenly joke, and almost couldn't help laughing out loud.

She covered her mouth, stood up, bowed slightly to express her gratitude again, and then went out.

Perhaps they had experienced too much abnormality, and encountering a normal person made the whole family become fearful.

This wasn't the tragedy of the Shangguan family; it was the tragedy of the era. All Li Xuewu could do was contribute his own strength to gently smooth out the trauma in their hearts.

I'm afraid they hadn't realized yet how significant this project Li Xuewu proposed was for the future.

His gaze returned to the desk, but he inadvertently swept over that personnel notice.

An unexpected name appeared on the paper, making his brows wrinkle.

【Wang Han Lu, proposed to be the Deputy Director of the Office of the Education Management Department of the Red Star Factory.】 ===== CHAPTER 1179 =====