Chapter 1183: She was too good at adding extra points

"The nightlife has only just begun."

Xu Si looked at his watch and asked Li Li Xuewu, "Do you want to go out for a spin?"

"With you?"

Li Li Xuewu glanced at him sideways and chuckled, "Two grown men?"

"What do you want?"

Xu Si smirked, "Whatever you want, I'll prepare it for you."

"Then get two, nothing over eighteen."

Li Li Xuewu leaned back on the sofa with a smile, squinting slightly, and said, "It's been a hard year, time to enjoy ourselves."

He crossed his right leg and said with a smile, "Let's learn from Director Xu; shouldn't this be called the 'Yingcheng Experience'?"

"Two eighteens, no problem—"

Xu Si tapped his cigarette butt, extinguished it in the ashtray, and said with a smile, "I can't easily find you two twenty-eights right now, but as for eighteen, I have as many as you want."

"Leader—"

Fan Hua carried a notebook, gently knocked on the door, and greeted Li Li Xuewu.

Seeing Xu Si looking over, she took the initiative to greet him as well.

"Fan Hua, right? Haha—"

Xu Si actually stood up, shook her hand, and greeted her, "Don't be formal. Since you're here with me, just treat it like home."

"Director Xu, you're too kind—"

Fan Hua replied with a smile, "I haven't even had a chance to thank you for your generous hospitality yet."

"Hey—" Xu Si feigned dissatisfaction, "You're being formal again!"

He gestured toward Li Li Xuewu and said, "What kind of relationship do we have? It's been so many years."

"It's fine, go ahead, go get some rest."

Li Li Xuewu's face was slightly flushed; he had been quite relaxed at the dinner table earlier, drinking a bit with Xu Si and the others.

He naturally understood and trusted Xu Si and Yingcheng.

Being too stiff or formal would easily lead the Yingcheng cadres to misunderstand, especially given his status.

Even if this dinner had started at ten, if the boat arrived at eleven or twelve, Xu Si and the Yingcheng leadership team would still have waited for him.

Only after the wine was drunk could tomorrow's business be discussed properly.

It was already nearly twelve, so he waved his hand and said to Fan Hua, "Get some good rest, and tell everyone they worked hard today."

"Alright, Leader. You get some rest early too."

Fan Hua nodded with a smile, exchanged a few more polite words with Xu Si, and then left.

"Used to be in the Security Section, right?"

Xu Si walked back, sat down, and said with emotion, "You've produced quite a few capable people under your command—Xu Ning, and Wei Tong too."

Wei Tong had been transferred from the Security Department's Training Section to Yingcheng at the beginning of this year to serve as the Director of the Security Department.

No need to dwell on why the branch factory's Security Department was only at the section level; the number of workers was high, and the corresponding departments and security personnel were numerous.

This kind of high-level staffing was normal, and soon there would be no need to dwell on it anyway.

Once the First Red Star Factory completed its promotion and group-formation process, the branch factory's Security Department would be officially justified.

"How is Wei Tong doing?"

Li Li Xuewu leaned forward slightly, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked at Xu Si, asking, "How is his performance?"

"A soldier trained by you, do you even need to ask?"

Xu Si nodded with great satisfaction and said, "He can fight and he can carry the load; he's a good hand."

"That's good—"

Li Li Xuewu was in a very relaxed state; the two were in the reception room of the guesthouse.

Xu Si's secretary was at the door, so there was no fear of anyone coming in to disturb them.

He let out a long breath, carrying a hint of the smell of alcohol; Xu Si was the same.

"Security work must be grasped at all times."

Li Li Xuewu looked at the scene before him and said, "This kid is too honest; he's more suited for the security system."

"You're a qualified head of the family."

Xu Si looked at Li Li Xuewu and asked, "Have you considered yourself?"

He asked pointedly, "There's no need to wrong yourself like this, is there?"

"Haha—"

Li Li Xuewu raised his finger slightly and chuckled, "It's not as serious as you make it out to be."

"Normal personnel changes in the agency; you and I are the same, we have to follow the rules of the game."

"But the person who sets the rules of the game must have some awareness, right?"

Xu Si held his teacup and said, "If he doesn't even have that bit of awareness, who would still play along with him?"

"Hmm, you certainly dare to say it—"

Li Li Xuewu tilted his head to look at him and asked, "I heard people say you've even taken a mistress?"

Without waiting for Xu Si to answer, he continued, "Sure enough, there are more opportunities for exercise outside; you, Director Xu, even have rumors swirling about you."

"When people are popular, there's bound to be gossip—"

Xu Si curled his lips and smiled, not caring about the reminder and warning in Li Li Xuewu's words.

He knew clearly what should be done, what shouldn't be done, and what couldn't be done.

Compared to Dong Wenxue, his methods and abilities were higher and more ruthless, and his heart was harder.

These little things in the unit didn't matter.

Even if you didn't do it, people would still make things up about you, so why not do it and save yourself from being at a disadvantage?

As long as you don't do anything against your conscience or anything that harms the organization, then there's no problem.

Li Li Xuewu's pointed reminder already indicated the factory leadership's attitude.

What he chose to do was his business, but it couldn't delay work, affect work, or bring trouble to the factory.

Especially since Li Li Xuewu was the one saying this.

He looked at Li Li Xuewu and chuckled, "Even Director Li can't avoid it, let alone me?"

"Hehe—"

Li Li Xuewu glanced at him, nodded, and said, "That's why Director Li can especially understand you."

"Hahaha—"

Xu Si laughed, feeling a bit uninhibited after drinking.

In front of Li Li Xuewu, he was also very relaxed, and the pressure in Yingcheng was released.

In fact, whether the factory sends people down for research or heart-to-heart talks, the purpose is to appease and regulate the cadres below.

It's just that the methods are different; some people like to talk face-to-face, others like to talk in private.

But the purpose is the same; it just depends on which one everyone is suited for.

Xu Si didn't hide anything from Li Li Xuewu, laying out the problems regarding Yingcheng without reservation.

This was the correct approach; sitting in this position, you can't be crooked, otherwise, you'll have to move your seat.

He was a cadre parachuted down from the factory, so he naturally understood who he needed to rely on.

Li Li Xuewu squinted slightly, listening carefully as he spoke about organizational construction, talent cultivation, shipbuilding engineering, technological innovation, and so on.

This could be considered a work report, or it could be considered personal rambling; it just depends on how you interpret it.

He might have to say these things again at tomorrow's office meeting, only converted into official language.

"The hardest part isn't the technology, nor the equipment; do you know what it is?"

Xu Si looked at Li Li Xuewu and said earnestly, "People. It's personnel. This is the hardest part for the Yingcheng Shipyard."

"Let's start with the workers—"

He counted on his fingers: "Original employees and new employees, out-of-town employees and local employees, city employees and non-city employees... It's insane!"

"I have to say, it's insane!"

Xu Si said helplessly, "The Red Star Factory has thirty or forty thousand people and didn't split into so many factions, but this!"

He pointed at his feet and said, "Three or four thousand people, and they've created seven or eight groups for me. Isn't that strange?"

"What's so strange about that—"

Li Li Xuewu looked at him calmly and said, "The organization already has conclusions and experience regarding this."

"Outside the Party, there are no parties; inside the Party, there are no factions—that's a strange idea."

He pointed at Xu Si and said, "You're an old hand in the agency; do I still need to remind you to strengthen organizational study?"

"Yes, the Management Committee is currently in charge, lacking organizational leadership and care," he looked at Xu Si and asked, "But this isn't a reason for you to indulge yourself, is it?"

"You've only been in Yingcheng for a little over a year."

Li Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and reminded him with a slightly serious expression, "You cannot degenerate or become corrupt."

Xu Si listened to him in silence, not putting down the teacup in his hand, taking a sip from time to time.

Clearly, his heart was not calm right now; the alcohol had not dulled his ability to think.

"Sending you down to lead the team is to be pragmatic, but you also have to be idealistic."

Li Li Xuewu's tone didn't have much reproach; it was more of a reminder and advice.

"Combining the ideal with the pragmatic—wasn't this what you told the university students who came to the factory last time?"

"You still remember that?"

Xu Si shook his head with a bitter smile and said, "I still lack ability and my level is limited."

"Hmm, first have self-knowledge, then strive to catch up. What people fear most is having no self-knowledge."

Li Li Xuewu pointed at him and said, "You're the head, and you're telling me there are difficulties with personnel issues?"

"I'm telling you, other issues can be discussed, but personnel issues cannot."

He looked at Xu Si earnestly and said, "At the Yingcheng Shipyard, there are four or five thousand workers and four or five thousand engineering team members. How do you want me to talk? How can I help you?"

"If you can't handle personnel issues, I won't move these ten thousand people; I'll move you."

"Yes, it's my responsibility—"

Xu Si nodded, sighed, and said, "It's my fault for not leading the team well, causing trouble for the organization."

His words just now were not without complaints and shifting of responsibility, but Li Li Xuewu's attitude in response was also very clear.

Personnel reform at the grassroots and agency levels had been pushed from the main factory, and enough experience had been accumulated.

Now was the time to push it to the branch factories, especially in the few months approaching the Red Star Factory's promotion preparations.

After the promotion work was completed, the approval for the Red Star Factory's group formation would come down.

Within two years, the Red Star Factory had to complete the construction of various professional factories and the creation of various professional subsidiaries.

During this period, business would be adjusted, resources would be integrated, and the most important thing was personnel reform.

From bottom to top, from top to bottom, it related to whether the Red Star Factory could successfully complete the group-formation goal on time.

Things are done by people; personnel issues are the main contradiction in the Red Star Factory's reform and development process.

Li Li Xuewu came to Steel City with one purpose: to supervise and remind Xu Si to push forward personnel reform as soon as possible.

Compared to the construction of other branch factories and subsidiaries, Yingcheng Shipbuilding had an inherent advantage in business and organizational structure.

Even if the personnel structure here was very complex, Li Li Xuewu didn't care how many complaints he had; this issue had to have an answer.

Only after personnel reform at the grassroots and agency levels was pushed through could other work be carried out.

Why did Xu Si have complaints, and why did he slow down this work?

It was normal; his pressure must be very high, otherwise he wouldn't be so distressed.

He was an old hand in the agency, so he naturally understood the purpose of the leadership placing him in this position.

But as he said, personnel work is like a landmine; holding it in your hand, it could explode at any time.

The Red Star Factory held a major study activity for the past two years, and it caused such a stir; wasn't the root cause personnel issues?

Moving just a small group caused trouble; moving a large group would surely cause an explosion.

After Li Li Xuewu arrived, he first stabilized the hearts of the people, then called him for a heart-to-heart talk.

Mentioning Wei Tong implicitly was just telling him the factory's attitude.

No one could stop the factory's decision and deployment, and they wouldn't even hesitate to use the factory's Security Department.

What did Li Li Xuewu come for? He came to support him, to push him, and to help him make this decision.

Cadres sent down from the agency generally had one flaw: they were soft-hearted.

Specifically, they were conservative in thought, empty in theory, and insufficient in practice.

They didn't understand some issues fully, their determination to implement was not thorough enough, and their execution methods were not tough enough.

Dong Wenxue was like this, and Xu Si was also like this.

They didn't want to fall out or use ruthless methods against the cadres below, and they didn't want to touch, listen to, or do anything about problems.

Others could be eased, but the heads of various units had no room for discussion on this issue.

If even they were going to ignore and reject the factory's decision and deployment, then who else would listen to the factory?

So Li Li Xuewu's little whip cracked loudly; even if Xu Si was a lazy donkey, he had to run now.

The words had been made very clear; in this position, he had no other choice.

He had to resolutely obey the Red Star Factory Management Committee's decision and resolutely support the implementation of personnel reform and a series of work decisions and deployments.

Solve problems when they arise, handle difficulties when they arise; no one could be above the collective.

Li Li Xuewu had already pointed out Xu Si's concerns, whether private or public.

As long as public affairs don't suffer, private conduct can be educated and cultivated.

Now it depended on how Xu Si performed; Li Li Xuewu had come, and he had to give Li Li Xuewu and the factory a satisfactory answer, otherwise, he would be moved.

If you don't want to do it, there are plenty of people who do; if you don't want to offend people, there are plenty of people who want to be the villain.

"Leader, not resting yet?"

Li Li Xuewu had just come up from downstairs with the attendant when he saw Zhou Zhou Miaomiao coming out of her room.

Clearly, she had been waiting for him.

"Just finished reminiscing with Director Xu," he looked at Zhou Zhou Miaomiao, who had clearly washed up and changed clothes, and asked, "It's so late, are you going out?"

"No way, I was just worried about you."

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao really knew how to talk; after waiting at the door for Li Li Xuewu to come over, she walked with him toward his room.

She explained, "I went downstairs to get a towel and saw Secretary Wang was still there, so I knew you hadn't come up yet."

"Drank a bit of wine, talked a bit too much."

Li Li Xuewu smiled, and after the attendant opened the door, he was the first to enter.

He casually opened the door as wide as it would go; this was his attitude.

The attendant also wanted to follow him in, mainly to help the leader make tea and prepare bath towels and other toiletries.

But Zhou Zhou Miaomiao stepped in front of her first and said softly and politely, "Thanks, I'll handle it. You've worked hard."

"You're welcome—"

The attendant was experienced and naturally understood that they had something to talk about.

She didn't think much of it, because the leader had already opened the door wide and wasn't avoiding pedestrians in the hallway.

Of course, it was the middle of the night, and there was no one in the hallway anyway.

"If you need anything, you can come to the duty room to call me; it's on the first floor."

The attendant thought to herself that people from the capital were so polite, always using "you" (nin).

After giving instructions and being polite, she walked back, and even when she went downstairs, she didn't hear the sound of the door closing, so no other thoughts crossed her mind.

She just didn't know that this young lady from the capital was an old hand.

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao didn't close the door immediately; instead, she went to the bathroom to run hot water, then used the hot water to rinse the new towel she had asked for, and walked into the living room holding it.

"Feeling uncomfortable? Let me put this on your face."

Seeing Li Li Xuewu lying on the sofa with his eyes closed, she asked softly.

Without waiting for his response, she spread out the hot towel and folded it in three along the nose, leaving only the nostrils exposed.

"Mmm—thanks—"

Li Li Xuewu said in a muffled voice, "This wine has a strong kick. Thanks for taking care of me."

"You're being polite with me again—"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao responded softly, her voice ethereal and fading as she went to the bathroom.

After a short while, Li Li Xuewu heard her footsteps, which were a bit heavier.

"The water is a bit hot, bear with it."

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Li Xuewu felt his shoes being taken off.

"How can I be so embarrassed... Hiss—"

She was right; the water was indeed hot.

With his shoes and socks off, plunging his feet into the hot water made him shiver.

But after only a few seconds, he felt the blood throughout his body become active, feeling very comfortable.

"Phew—"

He let out a long breath, his mind instantly clearing up, as if all the alcohol fumes were being exhaled.

Tonight he hadn't put on much of an act; he had truly drunk a few glasses, otherwise, the cunning Xu Si would have definitely noticed.

If the drinking wasn't genuine, the conversation wouldn't be genuine either.

This was one of the few times Li Li Xuewu had truly drunk, and it was for the sake of work; he had to open up the conversation.

It was just that once the conversation opened up and the alcohol hit, his head felt a bit heavy when he went upstairs.

"Walking all day and drinking so much wine, only you could handle it."

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao went to the bathroom to wash her hands, then came back and took the towel off his face, saying softly, "Wait a moment, I'll heat it up again, and you can apply it again to wash away the fatigue."

"If I say thanks again, it would be a bit pretentious."

Watching Zhou Zhou Miaomiao walk back, he smiled slightly and said, "But I still have to say a sincere thank you."

He had just heard it; this time when Zhou Zhou Miaomiao went to the bathroom, the sound of the door closing came from the doorway.

It was very light, but his ears were very sharp.

"Alright, alright, I've received your thanks—"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao smiled, spread out the hot towel in her hands, and said affectionately in a coaxing tone, "Close your eyes—"

After reapplying the hot towel to Li Li Xuewu's face, she squatted in front of the foot basin, reached into the basin, and helped him knead his insteps and calves.

"You've done so much for me, I have to do something for you, otherwise I'll feel bad."

Without waiting for Li Li Xuewu to refuse, she took the initiative to explain, "I don't have the ability to call the wind and summon the rain or move mountains and seas like you do; I can only do what I can."

"Too modest," Li Li Xuewu said in a very warm tone, "and too polite."

"I'm not being polite with you—"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao made a half-fist and began knocking on his acupoints starting from his calves, all the way up to his thighs.

After reaching his thighs, she changed from knocking to kneading; she actually had some skill, finding the acupoints.

"So, don't be polite with me, otherwise I'll feel even more guilty."

"Then I'll accept without modesty, hehe—"

Li Li Xuewu chuckled and joked, "I'm lucky enough to enjoy the treatment of being taken care of by the most beautiful girl in the entire Red Star Factory."

"You're just joking—"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao giggled and began kneading the acupoints on the inside of his thighs, the pressure just right.

"Whether I'm the most beautiful in the entire Red Star Factory is debatable, but I don't believe you haven't enjoyed better treatment."

"You really think too highly of me."

Since Li Li Xuewu chose to enjoy it, he relaxed his whole body.

He said casually, "I can't say I come from a poor background; that would be too hypocritical."

"But I haven't eaten fine grains for many days in a serious sense."

"Fine grains... haha—"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao couldn't help but purse her lips at his description and burst into laughter.

"The first time I knew about you, they all said you were a rough guy, the kind who was unlearned and unskilled."

"Oh? Who said that?"

Li Li Xuewu asked seriously, "When did I let them see me to know I was a rough guy?"

"Heehee—bad—"

She stood up, moved her steps, and squatted to one side, pressing and kneading the outside of his thighs.

"Later, as I came into contact with you more, the evaluations I heard about you became more and more real."

"Not all good evaluations, right?"

Li Li Xuewu said with a hint of self-deprecation, "I don't have many friends in the Red Star Factory."

"Look at what you're saying—"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao smiled and moved to knead the other side, responding, "I know, you don't need friends in the Red Star Factory; you need comrades."

"Hmm, you really understand me—"

Li Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Why didn't I discover this before? You're the one who understands me best."

"Heehee—"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao knocked on his leg and giggled, "You couldn't discover it before, because I only understood you in the last two days."

"It seems this trip of mine was definitely not in vain—"

Li Li Xuewu said with his eyes covered, "At least I gained a confidante, right?"

"You're elevating me too much; how could I dare to call myself your confidante—"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao stood up, bowed slightly, and kneaded the acupoints on his thighs, saying, "At most, I count as half a friend."

"Hehehe—"

Li Li Xuewu couldn't help but chuckle, "A friend is a friend; how can there be half a friend?"

He raised his hand and took off the towel on his face, looking at the girl before him, and said, "I'm not that mean, am I?"

"I didn't say you were mean?"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao pursed her lips and smiled, took the towel from his hand, squatted down, and helped him lift his soaked feet gently onto her knees to wipe them dry carefully.

"Lie down on the bed, let me press it for you; the effect is best right now."

She didn't care about Li Li Xuewu's gaze, reached out to help him stand up, walked to the bed, and took the initiative to help him take off his black trousers and the white shirt he was wearing.

"I brought a little medicinal wine; I usually use it myself. Try it and see if it feels comfortable."

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao gently pushed Li Li Xuewu to lie down, went to the bathroom to wash her hands, and then came back with a small medicine bottle.

"You really never let go of your gun?"

Just when she was helping Li Li Xuewu fold his trousers, she discovered the holster clipped to his belt.

When she returned, the pistol inside had been taken out and placed on the bedside table.

She explained nonchalantly, "I heard it from others, and every time I see you, I can see it too."

"Hmm, too many enemies—"

Li Li Xuewu lay on the pillow, his voice muffled, and said, "What I said just now, that I don't have any friends in the factory, wasn't a joke."

"Then there won't be any danger today, right?"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao naturally wasn't afraid, just joking on purpose, "Don't scare me, I'm timid."

"Hehe—"

Li Li Xuewu chuckled, "As long as you don't touch that gun, it's prone to misfiring."

Her fingertips were stained with the blood-activating and stasis-removing medicinal wine, which was easier to exert its medicinal power after being rubbed warm.

The pressure was moderate, along the palm, heart, heel, and tendon, then back from the arch to the toes; this was a complete foot therapy process.

Pressing the acupoints, relaxing the muscles and activating the collaterals, and relaxing the bones would make people feel the whole foot was numb.

Then from the feet to the calves, thighs, back, shoulder blades, arms, back from the fingers to the neck, all the way down along the spine, until the buttocks; this was a complete physical therapy process.

The two didn't have that many topics; since they skipped the politeness, only the practical remained.

Li Li Xuewu enjoyed it silently, and Zhou Zhou Miaomiao served him earnestly.

It must be said, she really had a knack for it; the strength and force she used were very seasoned.

If she hadn't told him to turn over, Li Li Xuewu would have fallen asleep.

"Comfortable?"

"Indeed—"

Li Li Xuewu let out a long breath, lying flat, eyes slightly closed, and asked, "Did you study traditional Chinese medicine massage?"

"I didn't study it seriously; these can be considered basic skills of the dance troupe," she explained very naturally, "The seniors taught us, and we did it for each other."

"You also know that we dance actors are the most prone to injury and the most afraid of injury."

She half-squatted beside Li Li Xuewu, rubbing the medicinal wine on her hands, and pressed it gently on his navel; a burst of heat expanded from her palms to Li Li Xuewu's whole body.

If there was qigong transmission in the martial arts world, maybe this was the feeling.

Or maybe those who write martial arts novels got their inspiration from here.

Otherwise, how could there be so many coincidences, right?

"We all practiced basic skills from a young age; the first lesson we learned was how to protect ourselves from injury."

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao had many topics when talking about her professional field.

"As we get older, we become more and more afraid of injury," she explained, "When we were young, injuries could heal, but now an injury is equivalent to retiring."

"So, I don't have any good memories of my childhood training; even if I was injured, I didn't dare tell the coach, and I just applied medicinal wine myself, very afraid of being eliminated."

Her palms were a bit rough, especially in the palm and tiger's mouth areas; these must be traces left by years of training.

No one's profession is easy; dancing and singing in a colorful private room to earn money—who would want to sit in front of a camera and call someone 'big brother'?

"I should know all this, right?"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao looked at Li Li Xuewu and smiled slightly, saying, "Has Wang Yajuan told you about these?"

"No, she hid a lot of things from me behind my back."

Li Li Xuewu looked very angry, saying, "She even hid this kind of skill from me; otherwise, why would I say I haven't eaten fine grains?"

"Hahaha—"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao really felt that talking and chatting with Li Li Xuewu was very interesting; he could always unhook the hook you threw out without you noticing, and then make you laugh out loud.

Perhaps this was the secret to his success?

"How did you and Wang Wang Yajuan break up?"

She asked this, sitting astride Li Li Xuewu's hips very casually, one knee propped up, pressing his hand on her knee, and kneading his arm gently.

"Hiss, forgot, really forgot."

Li Li Xuewu frowned slightly, thought about it seriously, and said, "I just remember I was sixteen at the time."

"Because you went to be a soldier?"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao was quite knowledgeable about his past, asking, "Is that the reason?"

"Doesn't seem like it; it was before that."

Li Li Xuewu thought about it, then said again, "It should have been her who proposed the breakup; we were too young at the time."

"You're certainly older now."

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao's eyes flowed, glanced at him, and she pretended not to care while pressing and kneading his palms and finger bones.

"After you broke up with her, did you date other girls?"

"Investigating me?"

Li Li Xuewu looked at her amusedly and asked, "You aren't sent by Wang Wang Yajuan, are you?"

"Heehee, she's my leader now," Zhou Zhou Miaomiao said with a smile, "I have to speak up for her."

"You really are a good comrade!"

Li Li Xuewu said with a double entendre, then said very frankly, "I didn't understand love at all at that time."

"I just remember that after I grew up, the girls around me were like a carousel, changing one after another."

He squinted slightly, letting her knead his other arm, and while recalling, said, "After she proposed the breakup, I never looked for her again."

"But I often saw her younger sister, and also knew some news about her."

"You and her younger sister..."

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao scratched Li Li Xuewu's palm and asked with a smile, "You're really bad—"

"Hehe—"

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "She's several years younger than her, a half-grown child like a little follower."

"I had a partner before I left to be a soldier, also very beautiful, gentle, she..."

"The last one after Wang Wang Yajuan?"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao asked curiously, "Or the only one? What happened to her?"

"She... her name is Dong Dong Wenwen..."

Li Li Xuewu's voice was very light, very gently saying this name.

As if using a little more force would wake her up or scare her.

"She was a year older than me, her grades were very good, and she was a good person."

He closed his eyes and introduced, "After I left, she got into university; she had a flowery age and a beautiful future."

Hearing the strangeness in Li Li Xuewu's words, Zhou Zhou Miaomiao was very tactful and didn't continue to ask.

Such a hopeful yet heavy voice let her know that this name must represent some special meaning.

After a long silence, Li Li Xuewu finally organized his emotions.

He smiled slightly and said, "I am a very self-centered person, and even if I know this, it's very hard to correct."

"In doing things and conducting myself, it's inevitable to be influenced by my personality, showing a domineering side."

Li Li Xuewu looked down and said to Zhou Zhou Miaomiao, "This will bring trouble and difficulty to others."

"Maybe this is the reason why I don't have many friends in the Red Star Factory."

"Everyone has self-consciousness, right?"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao sat down lower, pressing on his hips, and said, "Perhaps strong self-consciousness can support independent personality charm? Showing a confident side?"

"Hahaha—"

Li Li Xuewu was laughed out loud by this flattery, pointed at her with his finger, and said, "I'm very accurate at judging people."

"You're very suitable for service-type work, especially business related to communication and exchange with people."

"Like this?"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao lay down very boldly, looked at Li Li Xuewu, and asked, "Is this the kind of communication?"

She curled her lips slightly, smiled, and asked, "You always say I have potential, but you don't even know how deep I am, so how do you know how much potential I have?"

"I do often hear people say you are best at teaching people; I really want to learn communication and exchange techniques from you."

"You're not afraid of danger anymore?"

Li Li Xuewu looked at her indifferently and said, "Did I remind you not to touch that gun?"

"It was you who pointed the gun at me first—"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao was indeed very bold, looking straight into Li Li Xuewu's eyes and saying, "I've already agreed with Zhou Tan to get the certificate the second day I go back."

"If you teach me now, I still have a 'place to use my martial arts'; if you teach me later, it can be considered..."

"I've been saying thank you to you before, and I felt very embarrassed."

Li Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Now I can only say I'm sorry."

"Don't say sorry to me."

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao smiled slightly, sat up straight, bit her lip, and said, "Say it quietly to Zhou Tan."

Li Li Xuewu just said she had potential; look, there were too many parts that could be deeply excavated.

Ten percent of her potential had been developed less than three percent; no wonder she was so eager to learn.

He said his life was bitter and he hadn't eaten fine grains; it seemed Zhou Zhou Miaomiao's life was too rich, and she hadn't eaten coarse grains.

This girl had great affinity, was very enthusiastic about work, and possessed the necessary talent for communication and exchange in interpersonal relationships.

He was certain that Zhou Zhou Miaomiao would definitely be able to achieve results in her future work, whether in sales or service.

Because she was too good at adding extra points—

"What to do? Don't ask me."

The Yingcheng Shipbuilding leadership team gathered together for a morning meeting after hearing the news early the next morning.

At the meeting, someone asked for Xu Si's opinion; he was very straightforward, spreading his hands and letting everyone decide for themselves.

"Personnel reform work encountered questioning and obstacles from the very beginning of the project discussion."

Xu Si looked at everyone, patted the table lightly, and said, "But look, can anyone stop it?"

"Never mind our Yingcheng Shipbuilding; this work started from the Red Star Factory, from the very core of the Red Star Factory. How do you want me to say it?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over, seeing the changes in everyone's expressions, and then continued, "Do I need to preach the pros and cons of personnel reform to you?"

"It's very simple; let's close the door and speak plainly: the factory wants to develop, wants to progress, so it must innovate."

"Director Xu—"

A team member frowned and said, "This isn't innovation; this is cutting our jobs, cutting everyone's jobs."

"Oh, are you afraid?"

Xu Si looked at him and said, "If you knew today would come, why act like that in the past?"

"I'm not afraid—"

He spread his hands and looked at everyone very freely, saying, "I'm the squad leader, I accept it; I'll take the responsibility. This time, it's nothing more than removing me from my post and letting me go back to retire."

"But—"

He slapped the table and questioned everyone, "If the factory removes me from my post, can personnel reform be stopped?"

"Do you think that among everyone sitting here today, there is anyone who can gain the trust of the factory leadership and take over my position?"

Xu Si waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter, say it boldly; whoever has this confidence, I support him."

"I will recommend him to Deputy Director Li, and when we return to the Red Star Factory, I will personally go to the leadership to recommend him."

The meeting hall fell into silence; everyone's eyes met, testing and observing each other.

Not a single person stood out, and even fewer showed a confident expression.

It was very simple: the Red Star Factory could not, and would not, allow a cadre from the original Yingcheng Shipyard to serve as the head.

Although the factory leadership spoke very well on the surface—that once you enter the same door, you are one family.

However, there was absolutely no possibility for people from Yingcheng Shipbuilding to advance in place.

It wasn't about guarding against them, and it certainly wasn't about discriminating against them; this was the rule.

Since the acquisition, Yingcheng Shipbuilding had never been in a state of collapse, so why would they take risks with personnel?

Xu Si's words were very straightforward and thorough.

The Red Star Factory wanted to implement personnel reform, which meant breaking the old organizational ecology and bringing in fresh water.

Cadres with old, rigid thinking would be sent down, and young cadres would be promoted to train.

One down, one up, forming a contrast and complementarity, while also giving the Red Star Factory more positions to arrange and adjust.

The Red Star Factory didn't lack cadres now; some units even had two sets of leadership teams.

Although this was in preparation for supporting the construction of a new steel mill in the capital, it also showed the Red Star Factory's current organizational structure state.

Excellent management cadres would definitely be kept by the Red Star Factory and would be reused after examination.

The management team of the capital steel mill had to transition to the group management team, and many personnel adjustments would occur during this period.

Personnel reform was not just the sinking of middle-aged cadres in Yingcheng Shipbuilding and the upward transfer of young cadres; it was a systematic, all-around personnel adjustment.

Cadres from the capital's Red Star Factory had to sink to the shipyard, and the shipyard's excellent young cadres also had the opportunity to be transferred to the main factory.

Regions that had formed cadre training ecological systems were nothing more than the capital, Steel City, Yingcheng, and Fengcheng.

Cadres in these four places hoped most to stay and serve locally; besides the reason of being close to home, it was nothing more than being attached to the working environment and interpersonal relationships they had operated for many years.

This kind of connection and collusion would make the organizational system run slowly, and human relationships were the shackles within it.

Li Li Xuewu considered this point when designing this set of personnel system reform.

So, regarding cadre assessment, adjustment, appointment, selection, etc., he had made relatively detailed and systematic layouts.

What the Red Star Factory had to do now, besides cutting inward and eradicating the poisonous roots to cure the root cause, was to cut outward quickly and eradicate the drawbacks to cure the symptoms.

"Deputy Director Li has come, and I have no room for choice."

Xu Si looked at everyone and said, "Don't say that I, Xu, am not loyal to my old buddies and brothers."

"Now there are only two paths to take; either you help me implement the factory's policies."

He tapped the table, paused, and then said decisively, "Or you go against me, and let's see if I can beat you into submission or if you can beat me into waste."

"In a while, Deputy Director Li will preside over the symposium, and I will be the first to express my stance; you can follow, or you can choose not to."

Xu Si stood up, pointed his finger at the table, and said, "I'll say one thing: whoever doesn't follow me, I'll hit."