Chapter 1207: Interesting!

"Comrade Li Xuewu, have you seen the news?"

Jing Yunong walked in from outside the conference room and patted Li Xuewu on the shoulder as she passed by.

Li Xuewu turned his head to look at her and asked, "What news?"

"That computer thing—"

Jing Yunong let Li Xue set up her notebook and teacup, then sat sideways in her chair.

She brought up the topic with great interest, saying, "They say it's the country's first large-scale digital transistor computer."

"That wouldn't be the first one, would it?"

Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said with a smile, "One was built in '58, and a digital electronic computer was built in '59."

"What are you two talking about? What's a computer?"

Xue Zhifu walked in from the doorway and asked the two of them with a smile, "I heard you chatting away from the doorway."

"High technology, technology more powerful than the human brain," Li Xuewu explained. "Currently, it's being applied to the field of mathematical calculations."

"More powerful than the human brain?"

Xue Zhifu looked at the two of them in disbelief and said, "Isn't this thing invented by humans, too?"

"Hehehe—"

Everyone in the conference room laughed. Jing Yunong teased him, "Tractors were also invented by humans; can you compete with one in strength?"

"I know that. There are already hundreds of various models of computers in the country."

Li Xuewu set down his teacup and continued, "This thing sounds mysterious, but the principle is actually very simple."

"However, current transistor computers still have many drawbacks, and there is still a long way to go before true industrial application."

"I heard it weighs over a hundred tons?"

Xue Zhifu was no old antique; he had looked into the development of related technologies, and this question revealed his knowledge.

Li Xuewu nodded and said jokingly, "When computers develop to the size of a notebook, that will be the time for true widespread application."

"Let's talk about that a hundred years from now—"

Jing Yunong gave him an amused look; the way he daydreamed in broad daylight was quite interesting.

Over a hundred tons compressed into the size of a notebook? Even the factory's compressors couldn't manage that.

If this wasn't daydreaming, what was? In any case, she didn't believe it.

"It's almost the end of the year, and all walks of life are starting to report their work," Li Xuewu said, not minding Jing Yunong's skepticism. He smiled and changed the subject. "The newspapers are full of reports on achievements and successes."

Besides the successful development of the transistor computer, other high-tech news included the successful development of the first automated stereo camera.

"It's quite lively. Is everyone showing off their family assets?"

Xue Zhifu unfolded the newspaper he had brought and said while reading, "There's a bumper harvest of grain this year; it's said that production increased by 10%. Have you seen this news?"

Li Xuewu and Jing Yunong both fell silent after hearing his words, and the smiles on their faces disappeared.

Whether it was a true bumper harvest or a false one, who could really know?

Li Xuewu had said before that data is compiled by people, and it is very likely to be deceptive.

Would you believe the GDP growth rate?

When the economy is bad, it somehow grows more than when the economy is good; who exactly is making the contribution?

As people who eat commodity grain, they couldn't feel whether the grain harvest was bumper or reduced; they would never go hungry.

When Yin Mancang came to the house, he said that this year, not a single girl in the Red Star Commune married out; there were quite a few who married in.

More than twenty housing plots were approved, and many young people still wanted to move into the village under the guise of relying on relatives.

If life were good, who would marry in? If there were money in their pockets, who would abandon their homes and businesses?

In this day and age, there wasn't such a close relationship between villages; some even set up cannons to bombard each other.

Looking at the newspapers, the economic situation is bright, farmers have a bumper harvest, machines are running everywhere, workers are working hard, everyone is getting rich...

If you don't believe it, read the newspaper yourself.

"Oh! The meeting has already started!"

Cheng Kaiyuan walked in, paused slightly when he saw the state of the few people there, raised his eyebrows, and made a joke.

Xue Zhifu was still holding the newspaper, while Jing Yunong was writing materials.

Li Xuewu really wanted to leave him hanging for a moment, but he was worried about affecting the unity of the Management Committee.

Therefore, since Xue Zhifu and Jing Yunong didn't speak, he had to pick up this joke; it couldn't be left on the floor.

"You're late, Deputy Director Cheng," Li Xuewu said with a slight smile. "The newspaper reading session has already begun."

"Hahaha—" Cheng Kaiyuan appreciated the gesture and said with a smile, "Look at that, I said I should come early, but once I get busy, things get delayed."

Xue Zhifu had his usual cold face; he had been like that since he was in charge of discipline and supervision, so he didn't pay any mind.

As for Jing Yunong not giving him a good look, there was even less need to care; not being cursed at was already a good thing.

He was quite tactful; in this room, the only person who could talk to him was Li Xuewu.

"What news are you reading?"

Cheng Kaiyuan glanced at Xue Zhifu and asked Li Xuewu, "Why such a serious expression?"

"The Canton Fair next month—"

Li Xuewu was spouting nonsense, not a single word of truth in his mouth.

Cheng Kaiyuan asked in a muddled way, and he answered in a muddled way.

The corners of the mouths of the few secretaries in the room who were preparing for work twitched. They looked at each other and almost laughed out loud.

Deputy Director Li's ability to spout nonsense was truly unique!

"What about the Canton Fair?"

Cheng Kaiyuan really couldn't make sense of it. He picked up his teacup and asked, "Wasn't it decided long ago that we wouldn't participate?"

"We didn't intend to participate," Li Xuewu explained. "But we were thinking of inviting foreign businessmen to be guests."

"Oh—"

Cheng Kaiyuan nodded in understanding. He was in charge of production work, and this matter didn't fall under his jurisdiction.

However, his former secretary was the current Director of the Foreign Affairs Office, Zhang Shicheng.

So he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Is no one willing to come, or...?"

"If no one came, we wouldn't be this worried," Li Xuewu rubbed his face and said, "Those who made money here last year are coming with even more people this year."

"I'm worried about how to receive them properly."

"... Oh, hehe, that's a good thing!"

Cheng Kaiyuan realized he was being played; it wasn't like that at all.

He used the act of drinking tea to hide the embarrassment on his face, thinking that what he had done in the past few months was indeed quite unlikable, but what could he do?

If he wanted to get ahead at the Red Star Factory, relying solely on his own solo efforts, it would take him eight or ten years.

So what if he stood on Old Li's side now? It was about biding his time, playing along, and saving the country through a circuitous path.

Cheng Kaiyuan had thought about it; with Old Li's current conduct, relying entirely on Li Xuewu to assist with work, it was bound to end in disaster.

If Heaven had not created me, Cheng Kaiyuan, the Red Star Factory would have been in eternal darkness.

Today was the last office meeting of October, and also the last Monday.

The previous weekly work report had already publicized the progress of this year's production, sales, and organizational construction.

One could tell from the relaxed smiles on the faces of the factory leaders walking into the conference room that the data was very impressive.

After merging sixteen enterprises, while undertaking part of their production tasks, they could still complete various task indicators ahead of schedule; one could only say the Red Star Factory was a fortress.

When Gu Weijie came in, she brought another piece of good news... if, for the sake of argument, it counted as good news.

"It should be said that there are two pieces of good news," she set down her notebook and asked with a smile, "Which one do you want to hear first?"

"I want to hear the second one—"

Li Xuewu replied with a smile, "Listening to you say it like that, the second piece of news must be the good one."

"How did you know which one I was going to say first?"

Gu Weijie gave him a playful look, rested her arms on the table, and said seriously, "Organizational news: the higher-ups require schools at all levels to actively implement the notice on resuming classes..."

"Isn't this written in the newspaper?"

Xue Zhifu shook the newspaper and reminded her while looking at her, "This was yesterday's newspaper; does this count as good news?"

"Doesn't it count?"

Gu Weijie gave him a meaningful look, then scanned the crowd and said, "Then let's talk about the second piece of good news. It is also organizational news; just listen to it for now."

"Starting next month, the higher-ups will conduct organizational inspections of the Red Star Factory's leadership team. This is good news, right?"

Is it good news? Is it?

The expressions of the crowd didn't seem to think so; the atmosphere had cooled down quite a bit.

"Starting in November?" Jing Yunong turned to look at her and asked, "Is there a specific time?"

"No, it just says starting next month."

Gu Weijie looked at her indifferently and said, "I heard this news too; as for its accuracy..."

"I don't doubt what you're saying," Cheng Kaiyuan nodded, his expression appearing slightly serious as he said, "Perhaps it has already started; that's also possible."

Once these words were out, the crowd in the room fell silent for a moment again.

"If we calculate it this way—" Jing Yunong pondered for a moment and asked, "Then the time for the rumored adjustment of the leadership team is also confirmed?"

Rumors are sometimes not necessarily false; at the very least, they don't come from nowhere.

Since she asked this way, it meant she had heard of such news long ago.

In fact, it had long since spread throughout the agency; it had been spreading since June that the factory's Management Committee team was going to be adjusted.

This was inevitable; there were seven people on the Management Committee, but only five could sit here for meetings. Wasn't this in need of adjustment?

But how to adjust, and who to adjust, the higher-ups had never said.

It had been talked about since June, and now that it had reached the grassroots level, no one was talking about it anymore.

The probing wind had blown past, and it might be time for the real thing.

"At least four people need to be added to the team," Cheng Kaiyuan said to himself, "if Chairman Xiong is still there."

Factory Union Chairman Xiong Bencheng was also a member of the Management Committee team, but he had been on sick leave for years.

Cheng Kaiyuan's meaning in saying this was very obvious.

This time, if Xiong Bencheng were removed, five candidates would need to be added; at the very least, they had to maintain eleven people.

This was assuming no one was transferred away; it just depended on what the higher-ups meant.

Adding five people all at once; the Red Star Factory was really going to change.

In fact, the few people in the conference room had long been preparing for this day; what was meant to come would eventually come.

The normalization of the Management Committee team would definitely be realized before March of next year.

If they were ahead of schedule, then there was no need to think about it; it would definitely be at the end of this year.

It was now the end of October; inspections of the current team would be conducted in November, and it would be implemented no later than December.

It was to give the new members of the team time to adapt to the work, and the end of the year was the window period for cadre adjustments.

Being able to drag it out until now was only because the Red Star Factory had too many ongoing projects, and personnel reforms were in progress.

Giving them half a year to react, with the wind already blowing, was already giving them a lot of face.

The rumor was that there would be three deputy directors, and some would be selected from the sixteen merged enterprises.

Of course, this was a rumor; in fact, if they were adding, it should be four, not three.

The few people sitting by the conference table were all veteran organization members; they had long anticipated this news, but when the day really arrived, their faces visibly became serious.

Everyone knew what this news meant, and hearing it from Gu Weijie's mouth meant it was no longer just a rumor.

The situation that had just stabilized was bound to be stirred up and reorganized once again; by then, it would be chaos, with people turned upside down.

"All the leaders have come so early."

Just as the conference room felt slightly dull and silent, Deputy Director of the Management Office Shi Ruoweng walked in.

He greeted everyone with a smile, not specifically to anyone, but also greeting everyone in an amusing way.

It was just that his smiling expression looked a bit jarring to everyone, especially when he placed the notebook and teacup in his hand on the conference table.

That was not Li Huai De's seat, and Li Huai De's notebook and teacup would not be carried by him either.

Judging by the situation, was he here to attend the team meeting?

Gu Weijie frowned, glanced at him, and the pursed lips clearly showed she was unhappy.

Jing Yunong's gaze was sharper than hers; she stared at Shi Ruoweng, then looked at Li Xuewu.

Opposite them, Xue Zhifu narrowed his eyes slightly, tidied up the newspaper in his hands, and sat with his arms crossed, silent.

Only Cheng Kaiyuan nodded with a smile, but he didn't respond to the other party's politeness and greeting either.

Almost everyone, including the factory leaders sitting by the table and the secretaries preparing for the meeting, had their eyes fixed on Li Xuewu, watching what he would do.

As the person in charge of the Security Group, Deputy Director of the Management Office, and deputy leader of three important working groups, Li Xuewu was an attendee specifically requested by Li Huai De.

This attendance work of his had been going on for over a year, and the seat he occupied was still at Li Huai De's side.

Regardless of whether it was important or not, was an office meeting, such a serious organizational activity, something anyone could sit at the table for?

The Management Office was the department responsible for organizing meetings; Li Xuewu being able to sit at the table was not because he was the Deputy Director of the Management Office.

What did it mean for Shi Ruoweng to sit there so blatantly?

No need to think about it; someone must have arranged it.

Shi Ruoweng wasn't a raw recruit; it was impossible for him not to know this.

There was no need to say what Li Xuewu relied on to sit here; now everyone's eyes were scrutinizing Shi Ruoweng, wanting to see what qualifications he had to sit here.

For a Deputy Director of the Management Committee, having a Deputy Director of the Management Office sit in front of him was a humiliation, right?

But for over a year, no one had ever said that.

Now another Deputy Director of the Management Office had come; was Old Li playing some ghost trick of "Crouching Dragon and Fledgling Phoenix"?

Shi Ruoweng stood there, slightly uneasy and embarrassed, wanting to sit down but feeling guilty.

But this position was what he dreamed of, what he had earned through effort; why couldn't he sit there?

Besides, the leader gave him the opportunity, and he didn't need to look at these people's faces to do his work.

So, after his greeting upon entering the room received no response, and faced with the cold glares of the leaders, one could imagine how he felt now.

You don't welcome me, but I insist on coming.

You don't want me to sit, but I insist on sitting.

He didn't know what the leader wanted him to do, but he had already guessed the leader's intentions and thoughts.

Even if he had to be Huang Gai for once, as long as it was what the leader needed, it was his goal to strive for.

Therefore, he was determined to sit in this position today; even the King of Heaven wouldn't be able to stop him!

Just as Shi Ruoweng finished his psychological construction, lowered his butt, and wanted to sit down under the gaze of everyone, Li Xuewu stood up.

"Look at how this matter turned out; it's all messed up!"

Li Xuewu tidied up his things with a smile, walked out with them, and said politely, "I might have misread the meeting notice. You sit over there."

"Uh—"

Shi Ruoweng didn't understand what was going on. He was stunned for a long while, and seeing Li Xuewu about to walk past, he hurriedly blocked him, half-politely saying, "You sit in your seat, I..."

"No, I misread the meeting notice."

Li Xuewu said politely with a smile, "It said the Management Office should attend. Director Ding isn't home, so I thought it was me who was supposed to come."

He raised his hand to gesture and said, "How can there be two Deputy Directors of the Management Office sitting in this conference room? Sorry—"

Once these words were said, Shi Ruoweng was directly put on the spot. The conference room was silent, and everyone was looking at the two of them.

One was playing the "shameless" card, the other was playing the "retreat to advance" card; now there was a good show to watch.

Li Xuewu didn't slam the table and curse, nor did he throw a tantrum to go and complain; he just used the "if you can do it, you come" move.

He framed Shi Ruoweng's appearance here as a misunderstanding of the meeting notice, emphasizing that there couldn't be two Deputy Directors of the Management Office in this conference room.

It seemed like an active excuse to ease the awkward atmosphere, but in reality, it was a serious statement of his attitude.

Whoever dared to place Shi Ruoweng at the conference table was insulting his character.

Either he stays, or the other stays; they couldn't both be here.

Li Xuewu had this confidence; he smilingly brought the conflict out into the open.

Whoever let Shi Ruoweng come, let that person stand out and tell Shi Ruoweng to get lost; otherwise, this matter wasn't over.

Li Xuewu actively vacated his seat for Shi Ruoweng; you ask him if he dares to sit?

After just coming in and doing such a huge amount of psychological construction, what was the result?

He just picked a corner seat.

The situation now was that at this conference table, he wasn't even allowed to sit in a corner seat.

Shi Ruoweng's face turned bright red; Li Xuewu's explanation and concession had suddenly cornered him against the wall.

He bent his waist, stuck out his butt, and couldn't sit or not sit; he was extremely embarrassed and ashamed.

"Where are you going?"

Li Huai De walked in from outside at this moment, followed by Union Chairman Xiong Bencheng.

Seeing Li Xuewu carrying his notebook and teacup, looking like he was about to leave, he reminded him, "The meeting is about to start, isn't it?"

"Oh, Director Li, I misread the notice."

Li Xuewu still used the same rhetoric, explaining with a smile, "Deputy Director Shi of the Management Office has come to attend the meeting, so I won't need to. I happen to have work to do in the group."

"Wait a moment—"

Li Huai De waved his hand, walked into the conference room with a frown, looked at the nervous and pale Shi Ruoweng, and asked, "Who let you in? Get out—"

He didn't give the other party a chance to explain, let alone any room for easing the situation; that tone was more suitable for saying "get lost."

Li Xuewu's face no longer had the ease and smile from just a moment ago; instead, it became serious as he stared at Shi Ruoweng.

It was as if the other party had offended him and deceived him.

Facing Li Huai De's questioning, Shi Ruoweng, amidst the playful or meaningful gazes of the crowd, tremblingly tidied up the notebook and cup on the table, lowered his head, and walked out.

To use the inner thoughts of the secretaries present, it was more like he went out with his tail between his legs.

Passing by the doorway, Li Xuewu even heard the sound of the teacup lid clattering.

It looked like Shi Ruoweng's hands were shaking violently.

Li Huai De didn't even look at him, waved his hand, and greeted Li Xuewu, "Start the meeting—"

"Whoa—isn't it cold?"

Li Xuewu came down from upstairs and saw Zhou Miaomiao, wearing a spring and autumn work uniform, coming out of the first-floor corridor.

It was fine to wear thick wool inside this spring and autumn work uniform, but if she only wore a white shirt, one could only say that beauty is freezing.

After all, it was this season; the first snow had already fallen, and it was four or five degrees below zero outside. If she only wore that...

It was truly good-looking, especially with the contrast of others wearing cotton-padded jackets and trousers; dressing like this made her figure look even more slender and beautiful.

"If wearing a skirt didn't cause even more gossip, I'd really want to wear a skirt to work."

Zhou Miaomiao hugged the documents in her arms and stomped her feet; the high heels on her feet clattered on the floor.

She was originally from a dance troupe, so her figure was naturally impeccable, and her appearance was also striking. Dressing like this already looked a bit unconventional; if she really wore a skirt...

"It's too hot; I really can't stand it."

She complained helplessly, "Our office has three radiators; even pouring water makes steam. It's hotting us to death."

That's how the steel mill's building was; the hot water circulated quickly, and with it being burned every day, the temperature was naturally high.

In fact, Li Xuewu also wore very little in the office, but not as little as Zhou Miaomiao.

"Open the window to ventilate," Li Xuewu looked her over with a smile and reminded her, "Don't catch a cold."

"Thanks for the leader's concern—"

Zhou Miaomiao gave a sweet smile and said, "How about I treat you to dinner tonight? How about roast meat?"

"That's not very sincere, is it?"

Li Xuewu pointed at her with a smile and said, "You know I don't go out for social engagements at night, so you're doing this on purpose, right?"

"Then don't blame me for being stingy—"

Zhou Miaomiao said with a smile, "I'm sincere about treating you; if you don't come, I can't help it."

"Alright, I'll let you save a meal," Li Xuewu waved his hand and said seriously, "I have guests at home tonight."

"That's really unfortunate."

Zhou Miaomiao said regretfully, as if she were truly treating him, "Then let's make another appointment later."

"Next time, definitely next time," Li Xuewu said as he walked out, "Next time I'll treat you."

Zhou Miaomiao stood at the stairwell and watched him leave the building before heading upstairs.

In the office directly opposite the stairwell on the first floor, two young people were watching this scene.

"Since when did these two have such a good relationship?"

"Who doesn't have a good relationship with Deputy Director Li?"

The one sitting inside glanced at the one outside and reminded him, "Don't talk nonsense!"

"You're joking, right?" The younger one outside said strangely, "The relationship between these two is obviously very unusual."

"There's a reason for that; they're both the leader's people—" The one inside looked at the office, and seeing no one, whispered, "However, Deputy Director Li is a decent person."

"Didn't they say they changed?"

The one sitting outside widened his eyes and asked strangely, "How come I heard it's the current captain?"

"Hehe, dead ashes can still burn again."

The one sitting inside sneered, "Who says old feelings can't burn again? Isn't it even more convenient after getting married?"

"Haven't you heard that a woman beautifies herself for the one who appreciates her? Who is she dressing up for? Zhou Xianjin isn't here."

He raised his eyebrows and asked with a smile, "Hehe, you wouldn't happen to not know how Zhou Xianjin became 'advanced', would you?"

This guy's mouth was much more vicious than the other's; he curled his lips and said, "They say he's 'advanced', but we don't know which one he was to enter."

During the mid-year evaluation of advanced workers, Zhou Tan unexpectedly obtained this qualification and also had an opportunity for advancement.

People who knew about his relationship with Zhou Miaomiao gave him this nickname: Zhou Xianjin.

Gossiping in the office definitely didn't start in later generations; it's always been there.

This is the seasoning of work; men and women both love to talk about it, and even those who don't love to talk about it love to listen.

The one sitting outside was laughing just now; he glanced at the Director of the Foreign Affairs Office passing by in the corridor and lowered his head to ask the one inside, "What's the relationship with this one?"

"You don't even know what his relationship is?"

The one inside had clearly arrived a few days earlier and seemed to have a deep understanding of the gossip and scandals in the agency.

He curled his lips and said, "Deputy Director Cheng's former secretary; he's a deputy section chief now."

"I know he's the leader's secretary," the one outside blinked his eyes and said, "Didn't you see it? His relationship is much harder than a secretary's."

"The Foreign Affairs Office has huge oil and water; many people are spreading it! They've even started ordering custom suits!"

"Let me tell you something no one else has heard!"

The one inside tapped the table and emphasized, "But I won't tell you for free; you have to treat me to roast meat tonight."

"Don't worry, even if you didn't say it, I'd still treat you."

The one outside had just been transferred here and was anxious to understand the situation; having someone point the way, he was naturally happy to pay.

The one inside gestured to the stairwell and asked, "How long has this one been at the Foreign Affairs Office?"

"Three months or so?"

He raised his eyebrows and asked again, "Think about it, who was it that went there a month earlier than him? You should know this!"

"It's Hu Yan..."

The one outside widened his eyes and was just about to shout, but was hit in the mouth by an eraser thrown from across the table, and he stifled it back.

Seeing the serious face opposite him, he grinned embarrassedly, then whispered, "Is it really her?"

"Let me teach you a lesson: keep your eyes open in the future!"

The one inside raised his eyebrows and reminded him, "Deputy Director Cheng has been valuing Director Zhang more and more. You can see the relationship is unusual; what is it for?"

"Think about it again; how long has she not appeared, and where has she gone?"

"Where did she go? Where could she have gone?"

The one outside was confused; he didn't react for a moment and said, "Isn't she at the Foreign Affairs Office? How could she..."

"With so many engineering projects being approved one after another, I'm afraid the construction period is a bit tight!"

Lang Zhennan wore a fur-lined hat and walked out of the office building with Li Xuewu.

He asked tentatively, "The leader's intention?"

"Otherwise? Could it be mine?"

Li Xuewu glanced at him and tightened his overcoat; the breath he exhaled was all white mist.

The days were getting shorter; at this time of night, it was pitch black by the time they got off work.

He raised his hand and patted Lang Zhennan's arm, comforting him, "I won't rush the construction period, but the leader is anxious."

"I also want to build Rome in a day," Lang Zhennan said with a bitter smile, "But our engineering volume is right here; five years of work finished in three—whoever comes, it won't work."

"The leader's intention is to clarify the order."

Li Xuewu explained to him, "The newspaper building, the comprehensive service market, the canteen building, the Red Star Hotel..."

He counted on his fingers, walked down the steps, and explained to him, "Building like a school is absolutely not okay; it delays the construction period of other projects too much."

"It should be like the hospital; anyway, the underground engineering is already finished, so pull up the main structure first."

"Stacking it with money?"

Lang Zhennan looked at Li Xuewu speechlessly and reminded him, "The construction progress is directly proportional to the capital consumption. Does our factory need to be this anxious? Wouldn't steady and solid work do?"

"Comrade, there are only two years left."

Li Xuewu looked at him and emphasized, "News has already come from above; inspections of the factory's Management Committee team will start next month, and the team will definitely be adjusted the month after."

"Some key issues aren't handled at this time; are we waiting for the new leaders to come and drag it out further?"

He tapped Lang Zhennan's arm with the back of his leather-gloved hand and whispered, "Make the plan; next year's projects must be placed in the leader's sight to work."

"Tell me the truth, is our factory running out of money?"

Lang Zhennan stood still in the office area and asked Li Xuewu straightforwardly, "It's the end of the year; is there no money?"

"I've heard—"

He pulled Li Xuewu's arm, looked left and right, and then whispered, "Some people say the factory has lent out a lot of money and hasn't collected it back yet. Is that true?"

"Is this not a secret?"

Li Xuewu frowned slightly and said, "Who said our factory has no money? Isn't the project budget very ample?"

"I've heard it; you savor it."

Lang Zhennan rolled his eyes and said to him, "As long as someone spreads this thing, right?"

"Hehe—"

Li Xuewu chuckled and asked, "Let me ask you something practical: has the construction plan for the office building been brought out?"

"Almost; I've found experts to review it. What's wrong?"

Lang Zhennan looked at him and asked, "What does this have to do with funds?"

"The Red Star Factory dares to let the French help redesign the office building; do you think there's no money to build the building?"

Li Xuewu glanced at him and said, "Don't worry about the money right now; keep a firm grip on the engineering side."

"Three years have passed by one year; the main project must be launched next year."

He reminded him, "If the big project doesn't start next year, can you finish it in the year after?"

"Remember my words: don't worry about work that isn't yours; do your own work well, okay?"

Lang Zhennan's eyes lit up, and he nodded in understanding; there was already a look of gratitude in his expression.

Since Li Xuewu had already said so, it proved that money wasn't the problem.

No, money was a problem; to be precise, money was a problem for the Red Star Factory, and for certain people.

Saying it this way was a bit convoluted or vague, but the meaning he could understand was just like this; this was a big pit!

Lang Zhennan had been at the factory for a year and a half; his friendship with Li Xuewu started after the Engineering Office began the construction of the Liangma River Industrial Zone.

Speaking of friendship, it was actually just this bit of friendship at work; after a long time, they knew what kind of person the other was.

He quite appreciated Li Xuewu's ability and character, and Li Xuewu also recognized his ability and effort.

The two couldn't be said to cherish each other, but the tacit understanding that should be there was there.

At this moment, Lang Zhennan was very grateful for the friendship he had developed with the other party in the process of interacting.

Speaking of which, this bit of friendship was extremely hard-won.

Because everyone at the Red Star Factory knew that Li Xuewu had very few personal relationships, very few indeed.

Very few people in the factory had been to his home, and he very rarely visited others.

In this era, people like Li Xuewu were rare; visiting each other's homes was the standard for friends.

Female comrades would visit each other; in an era without mobile phones and telephones, wouldn't they just visit each other?

But there was none of that with Li Xuewu; he had never invited anyone to his home, nor had he accepted anyone's invitation to visit theirs; he seemed to be an insulator for personal relationships.

But you could see that he wasn't eccentric, nor was he stingy; he even had a very cheerful and generous personality.

To sum it up, he had principles; how could it not be difficult to have a friendship with such a person?

"Beep-beep—"

Just as Li Xuewu finished talking with Lang Zhennan and was about to get into the car, he saw a Red Star Hongxing Lingyang drive in.

At this time, the cars in the factory office area were all heading out, after all, it was time to get off work.

But it was rare for one to drive into the courtyard, which couldn't help but make people take a few more looks.

The driver seemed to know Li Xuewu; seeing him look over, he even honked the horn.

It definitely wasn't a factory car, because this was the office area; no fool of a car pool driver would honk in the courtyard; it could only be a car from outside coming to pick someone up.

Sure enough, the car stopped in front of the main office building, and Zhou Miaomiao, wearing a wool overcoat, walked out, carrying a small bag and getting into the car.

If the driver were Zhou Tan, Li Xuewu could eat his own car.

When this Hongxing Lingyang car came out, it stopped right behind Li Xuewu's car.

"Deputy Director Li, do you regret it?"

"Whoa—"

Li Xuewu saw clearly who was driving; he couldn't guess it no matter what—it was actually Dou Yaozu.

"I told you your roast meat treat wasn't sincere; it turns out you were borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha!"

"I'll give you another chance; are you going or not?"

Zhou Miaomiao said with a charming smile, "Why do you care who's treating? Just eat and drink well!"

"Hmm—I'm not going—"

Li Xuewu shook his head jokingly and said with a smile, "This isn't treating me at all; I'm not going to be a lightbulb—"

"What—"

Zhou Miaomiao seemed to have been misunderstood and couldn't help but explain, "This is my brother!"

"Adopted, adopted brother and sister—"

Dou Yaozu sat in the car; one couldn't tell if his face was red or not, but he should have been somewhat embarrassed by what Zhou Miaomiao said.

He learned to give gifts, especially changing the patterns of giving gifts, from Zhou Miaomiao.

"It would have been better not to explain—"

Li Xuewu waved his hand with a smile and said, "Alright, I really have something to do today; next time I'll treat you."

Whether Zhou Miaomiao really wanted to pull him along, he didn't know, but Dou Yaozu definitely didn't want to.

Li Xuewu didn't have any mental cleanliness, he just felt that this combination looked a bit exaggerated.

If Zhou Miaomiao wanted a position, Li Huai De could satisfy her; if she wanted money, she didn't need to find Dou Yaozu to satisfy her, right?

And Dou Yaozu was quite an honest person; he didn't expect him to play the trick of "openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang."

Just didn't know if driving to the factory to pick someone up was done for Li Huai De to see, or if Zhou Miaomiao was expressing her stance.

A bit interesting, truly a bit interesting!

The guest who came to the house on Monday night wasn't a guest; it was Ji Yuxiu.

Perhaps she saw the news bulletin in the newspaper, or perhaps she heard some news; Li Xuecai on the mountain couldn't sit still.

He had promised his second brother that he wouldn't easily come down the mountain again; he didn't dare to call home, so he could only beg Ji Yuxiu to come to the house to inquire about the news.

"Just go back once you receive the notice."

Li Xuewu looked at Ji Yuxiu's embarrassed and expectant gaze and said with a smile, "I didn't intend to stop him from going to school, it's just that the eldest brother and sister-in-law said there was no need to worry."

"He just has that temper," Ji Yuxiu felt relieved after hearing the second brother say so and said with a smile, "He called me three times; he's that anxious."

"It seems he hasn't tempered his temper well."

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Scare him; tell him you won't let him come back, and he'll have to squat for another three years."

"Hee hee—"

Ji Yuxiu said with a smile, "He can't even squat for three days; he told me he'd come down the mountain as soon as there's news."

"Actually, there's still a wait; reporting for duty doesn't mean resuming classes," Li Xuewu said seriously, giving her advice, "Ask the eldest brother and sister-in-law, and you'll know how their studies are."

"But the situation is much better now; if he wants to come down the mountain, let him come back first."

"Then I'll tell him that; he can't wait."

Ji Yuxiu nodded with a smile and said, "When he comes back, I'll have him ask you for clarification..."

Halfway through her sentence, the phone on the small table rang. Li Xuewu picked it up to answer; it was Old Biaozi calling.

"What are you thinking? Have you gone crazy?"

On the phone, Old Biaozi was also asking if school had started in Beijing and if she could come back to school.

Of course, Old Biaozi had long since graduated; he wasn't asking for himself, but helping Mai Qinglan ask.

Mai Qinglan studied at the Central Academy of Drama and still had two years before graduation; she was still considered a college student at this time.

It must be said that this "big brother" really is righteous; he's muddled in life, but he doesn't act muddled in doing things.

On the phone, he asked Li Xuewu for help in arranging for his wife to return to Beijing to resume classes; she had to finish college after all.

This was considered a regret of Mai Qinglan's, and also a knot in her heart.

They were far away in the Steel City and hadn't received the notice, but they had seen the notice in the newspaper.

On one side was a child who had just turned a month old, and on the other was her own studies; Mai Qinglan was in a tangle for a while.

Her mother advised her to give up her student status, as she didn't need it anyway, but she just remained silent.

Old Biaozi couldn't bear to see her sad; he made a phone call, but he still had to trouble Brother Wu.

On the phone, he only had one sentence: "She's still a college student." What could Li Xuewu say?

"You're really something! Aren't you afraid your wife will get lost? Come back!"

"The child is almost three months old; where could she get lost?"

Old Biaozi arranged on the phone with a smile, "She'll live in the courtyard opposite the Central Academy of Drama; my father-in-law and mother-in-law will also move over to live together; that will be my home."

"The greatest ability of my life is not to let her have any regrets." ===== CHAPTER 1208 =====