Chapter 1215: You Are Busier Than De Gaulle!

"Yo, Xiaobai, bought a motorcycle?"

Yu Li smiled and sized her up, especially the Comet motorcycle beside her.

Now this motorcycle is very popular among young people.

If you say you are one of the "wan zhu" (hooligans/tough guys) crowd, and you are just a small fry following behind, that's fine.

Because you riding a bicycle is also felt to be justified, and people even feel you should be running on the ground.

However, as long as you want to mix well in this crowd and have face, you must have one.

Whether it's a "wan zhu" or an old soldier, especially the old soldiers, they have more money and love face more.

In the eyes of old soldiers, face is nothing more than two things: what you wear on your body, and what you ride underneath.

Whether it's a car or a woman, it's all the same.

Yu Li really wanted to buy a motorcycle. Li Xuewu wanted to buy it for her, but she refused.

Of course, her salary savings were enough, and there was even a discount price.

It was just that she had been hesitating until now; she was still worried that riding a motorcycle to and from work would be too ostentatious, and it was really too cold in winter.

So, this idea had been hesitating from July until now, and she still hadn't bought one.

She was waiting, waiting for more people to buy motorcycles, waiting for more motorcycles to appear on the streets.

Today, seeing Zhou Xiaobai riding one, and it was the first one she knew in this big courtyard, she was curious, and her heart was itching like a cat's claw.

Zhou Xiaobai wasn't someone who liked to show off, nor would she compare herself with anyone.

She had this capital since she was young, and the environment she lived in didn't require her to proactively show off or compare.

Facing Yu Li, she would never show off her proud background and higher education.

The affinity and ability the other party possessed were exactly what she needed to learn and borrow from.

So Yu Li showed closeness, and she also showed kindness.

"Sister, want to try?"

She was quite generous, lifted her leg and got off the motorcycle, and handed it to Yu Li.

Yu Li took it, smiled and said, "What if I drop it? You're so careless."

"Hi, this is all plastic, not easily broken."

Zhou Xiaobai didn't know much about the situation of motorcycles, but she couldn't stand Li Yuanchao and the others nagging in her ears every day.

At this moment, she pushed Yu Li to sit on the motorcycle, then taught Yu Li how to shift gears and how to accelerate.

Of course, she didn't forget to teach Yu Li how to park and squeeze the brake.

Don't look at it as just a 50CC machine, but this thing has a small frame, is light, and runs as soon as you twist the throttle.

Especially for female comrades riding it, the speed can reach about one hundred.

Think about it, this little thing going at one hundred, ordinary roads can't support it.

Smooth roads like big squares are fine, otherwise you'd have to ride a roller coaster if you exceed seventy miles.

"Really agile, and quite easy to ride!"

Yu Li, under Zhou Xiaobai's hand-in-hand teaching, circled the flower hall twice near the parking lot at the entrance, and only then stopped with a smile.

At this moment, the patrolling security, the service staff and coaches going to work, and the members coming for training all teased the two when they passed by.

Zhao Lao Si stood at the entrance of the security room with his arms crossed, laughing and teasing, clapping from time to time, and playing around with a few sentences.

Yu Li jumped off the motorcycle, smiled and handed the car back to Zhou Xiaobai, asking, "How much did you buy it for? Did you use the discount policy?"

"Does Xiaobai need to buy it herself?"

Zhao Lao Si strolled over, touched the handlebar of the motorcycle with envy, and teased, "How many young talents in the capital are dying to offer their favors proactively!"

"It's just that there's no queue. If there were a queue, wouldn't it have to line up from our gate to outside Xizhimen!"

"Go to hell—"

Zhou Xiaobai scolded him, turned to look at Yu Li and explained, "Someone wanted to give it to me."

"Who? Zhang Haiyang?"

Zhao Lao Si knew all about Zhou Xiaobai's pursuers, and at this moment, he squinted his eyes and asked with a smile, "Or that Zhong Yuemin who waits for you to get off work every day?"

"You know quite a lot—"

Yu Li glanced at him and asked amusedly, "Could it be... you also have thoughts about our Xiaobai? Otherwise, why stare at her every day?"

Zhou Xiaobai knew Yu Li was joking, so she followed her words, looked at Zhao Lao Si with a smile, as if very much looking forward to his answer.

Originally he was here to watch the fun, but he was teased by the two. Could Zhao Lao Si eat this loss?

"Hi, how come these thoughts of mine can't be hidden, but you saw them."

He said shyly, "Who wouldn't like Xiaobai when they see her? Not liking her is being a grandson!"

"Hahaha—"

Although she knew Zhao Lao Si was joking, Zhou Xiaobai was still very happy.

Especially thinking about the one in her heart, if he knew someone was scolding him, what kind of expression would he have?

"And then—"

Yu Li looked at Zhao Lao Si with a meaningful look, turned to look at Zhou Xiaobai and asked, "And then what happened, who exactly bought it?"

"I bought it myself," Zhou Xiaobai shook her head proudly and said, "I didn't lack this money originally; it's just that I didn't need it for a while."

She pouted and said angrily, "Don't even mention it. I regretted it as soon as I bought it."

"Why bother with them? It's meaningless, wasting my four hundred plus yuan for nothing—"

"What's wrong, why?"

Yu Li frowned and asked, "With whom? Why are you getting angry?"

"It's Zhong Yuemin and them—"

Zhou Xiaobai got angry when she mentioned this, and the momentum of showing off the motorcycle just now was all gone.

She handed the handlebar to Zhao Lao Si, didn't care about her own car, took Yu Li's arm and walked back while saying, "They insisted on giving me a motorcycle."

"If it was bought with his own money, I wouldn't be this angry with them. The key is..."

"What the hell? Bought with borrowed money?"

Yu Li listened to Zhou Xiaobai's complaints and asked amusedly and curiously, "Didn't they make money?"

"They made money, but they make it fast and spend it fast. Don't you know them?"

Zhou Xiaobai rolled her eyes and said, "As long as they have money in their pockets, the first thing they think of is eating."

"Look at them, one by one, they've been eating for three months, their faces are all round, all fed to their bellies."

She said impatiently, "I was kind enough to refuse his gift, saying I didn't need this, please work hard."

"I really didn't expect them to pull this on me. What have I become!"

"It's okay, don't be angry—"

Yu Li persuaded her and said, "Just because of this, you bought a motorcycle yourself?"

"I just want to let them see, don't always think that just because you have some money, you can do whatever you want."

"Hmm, ambitious—"

Yu Li nodded, thinking that this young lady's ambition was supported by Li Xuewu.

What kind of ambition is this? It's just getting angry.

"Let me introduce, Group Leader Yang Jun of the Ministry's work group. You haven't met him yet, right?"

Li Huai De saw Li Xuewu come over and proactively introduced him, "This is our Commission Office Deputy Director Li Xuewu. He also concurrently holds the work of the security group."

"Hello, Group Leader Yang, I am Li Xuewu."

Li Xuewu smiled and proactively held the hand the other party extended, greeting him with a smile.

From Li Huai De's introductory words, one could tell a bit of meaning.

Li Xuewu's main position quietly transformed from the person in charge of the security group to concurrent management.

In other words, his main position became Deputy Director of the Commission Office, and his concurrent position became First Deputy Leader of the Security Group.

You don't say, with such an introduction, the complex situation of the security group became much clearer.

During the special period, the factory management committee strengthened the management and leadership of security, and arranged for a deputy director of the commission office to serve as the deputy leader of the security group, which was justifiable.

Although the cadres in the factory agency all knew where Li Xuewu's basic foundation was, the work group just couldn't pick out the relevant faults.

"I've long heard that there is a young talent in the Red Star Factory. Seeing him today, it really lives up to its reputation."

Yang Jun's style was watertight, and his attitude seemed very warm, as if he were very kind.

But as far as Li Xuewu knew, this one was also a smiling tiger, and his reputation wasn't as good as his.

"You are overpraising me," Li Xuewu smiled and said politely, "Youth is youth, talent is not dared to be accepted, still need to learn and train more."

"Too humble—"

Yang Jun let go of the hand he was holding, introduced the two standing beside him and said, "You should have heard of him. The youngest criminal investigation expert in the Ministry of Public Security."

"In our system, he should be one of the few cadres who concurrently holds the position of deputy regiment leader."

He sized up Li Xuewu with appreciation and said, "Many honors, strong ability, stable thinking, especially business ability."

"I've heard of you," one of the two people he introduced proactively extended his hand and greeted Li Xuewu, "Cai Zhixing from the Organization Department, the deputy leader of the work group stationed in the Red Star Factory this time."

"Hello, Director Cai, please take care of me."

Li Xuewu smiled and shook hands with him, saying politely and humbly.

Cai Zhixing let go of his hand, and the other one standing beside him extended his hand at the same time.

"Inspection Department, Zhou Zechuan, deputy leader of the work group this time, nice to meet you."

"Hello, Director Zhou, welcome to the Red Star Factory to work."

Li Xuewu smiled and shook hands, putting the welcome words on the last person.

Zhou Zechuan raised his eyebrows; he didn't say much, but his gaze was very good at observing people.

The one leader and two deputy leaders of the work group, Li Xuewu recognized them all before the work meeting started.

"I had business work in Steel City and Yingcheng a few days ago, so I let him run a trip."

Li Huai De saw that the introductions were finished and proactively explained for Li Xuewu.

"Just came back, right? It doesn't matter."

Yang Jun smiled and said, "We are just here to take a look; after all, the leaders have requirements."

"Don't delay the factory's work because of us; what it was like on weekdays, it should still be like that now."

He looked at the two deputy leaders beside him and said, "Leaders say, our work should pay attention to methods, use ears more and mouths less."

"You are too polite," Li Huai De laughed and said, "I still want to hear more of your valuable opinions; you must not keep them to yourself—"

"Hahaha—"

In the small lounge next to the conference room, a group of people sat or stood and laughed.

It was mainly Yang Jun and Li Huai De talking, while others echoed or added a sentence or two.

Li Xuewu was too tall; knowing that standing easily attracted topics, he proactively found a corner to sit down.

After laughing, Yang Jun waved his hand, his tone very sincere, and said, "To tell the truth, the Red Star Factory is developing very well; this is what the leaders said."

"Before we came, the leaders exhorted us repeatedly, absolutely not to cause trouble for the enterprise."

He nodded slowly and said, "I had a meeting with the group, and this is the opinion. Follow the work process."

"We just want to see how the Red Star Factory works on weekdays; it's that simple."

"Don't worry, we aren't here to find fault—"

Deputy Leader Cai Zhixing joked, "When people hear the work group is coming, they are like wolves and tigers."

He lightly touched Yang Jun's arm with the back of his hand and said, "What have we become? Devils?"

"Hahaha—"

This joke wasn't funny, but the people in the room all laughed.

Yang Jun laughed and pointed at him, finally emphasizing, "There are still some comrades who haven't established a good image in past work, right?"

"Take it as a warning, take it as a mirror."

Cai Zhixing nodded in agreement, "Not all enterprises need supervision and rectification."

"Advanced enterprises like the Red Star Factory should discover and find the secrets of success."

"Right, Comrade Zhixing said it well."

Yang Jun looked at Li Huai De and said, "So please don't keep it to yourself, Director Li; let us see and learn the secrets of the Red Star Factory's development!"

"Hahaha—"

Li Huai De laughed loudly, his eyes inadvertently looking at Li Xuewu's side.

Li Xuewu was also laughing, and the two's gazes briefly intersected, mutually informing each other of their insights.

(Li Huai De: Do you believe this?)

(Li Xuewu: I believe a der!)

"Deputy Director Li, sit here—"

The meeting was about to start. Li Xuewu followed a group of leaders out of the small lounge and walked toward the conference room.

Just as they entered the door, the leaders habitually walked forward.

In this day and age, meetings generally don't have nameplates, but the Red Star Factory has them, but they are only used on important occasions.

In daily class meetings or work meetings, everyone knows where to sit, and there are no outsiders present, so nameplates are rarely placed on the table.

Today was the same, because the three people from the work group caught Li Huai De off guard.

Originally, for today's meeting, the other party didn't submit an application to participate or attend.

Before the meeting started, the three went upstairs and met Li Huai De, so they could only pinch their noses and accept it.

He thought that since there were people from the work group today, he took his notebook and chose a seat further back.

But who would have thought that someone was thinking about him and occupying the seat in front for him.

Shi Ruoweng, Deputy Director of the Commission Office, in charge of the organization work of the Commission Office, of course, also included organizing meetings.

At this moment, he was standing behind the seat Li Xuewu usually sat in, looking over here with a smile.

Very unexpectedly, the conference room suddenly quieted down, some were surprised, some frowned.

Of course, this kind of scene never lacks those who watch the fun and don't think it's a big deal.

"Deputy Director Li's usual seat."

Cheng Kaiyuan proactively introduced it to Group Leader Yang Jun, who was a bit stunned and turned his head.

His expression was very playful, and also seemed aggrieved and helpless, making people reminisce.

Yang Jun, Cai Zhixing, and Zhou Zechuan had all walked to the front and were looking over here.

They were also very surprised that such a situation would appear in the Red Star Factory's class meeting.

And looking at Old Li's face, it was already gloomy at this moment, and the look in his eyes toward Shi Ruoweng was like a knife scraping over.

It was just that Shi Ruoweng seemed to turn a blind eye at this moment, and also seemed to be immersed in the joy of enthusiastically helping Li Xuewu occupy the seat.

Everyone in the conference room who knew about this knew that when Li Xuewu drove Shi Ruoweng out of the door by advancing to retreat, today Shi Ruoweng came up with a trick of drawing the firewood from under the cauldron, exposing Li Xuewu's old bottom in front of the work group.

Everyone waited and saw, wanting to see how Shi Ruoweng would die today.

Of course, it was Shi Ruoweng who would die; who would doubt Li Xuewu's ability to remain calm in the face of danger?

Twenty-one years old and reached this position; without a few means, is it possible?

So, the class members, no matter how good their relationship with Li Xuewu was, just frowned and looked at Shi Ruoweng coldly at this time.

Helping Li Xuewu speak, that didn't exist.

The person who spoke at this time wasn't Li Xuewu's friend, but an enemy.

Li Xuewu, amidst the expectations of everyone in the Red Star Factory and the strange gazes of the three work group members, moved his feet forward in a flash, and even greeted with a smile, "Thank you for your hard work, Deputy Director Shi—"

Between the sparks and flints, the changes in everyone's eyes and mentality didn't even take two seconds, and he acted.

Just like that, calmly and directly, he walked to his seat, and even had the heart to be polite to Shi Ruoweng.

Of course, this politeness had less of the gunpowder smell everyone expected, and more of a bit of contempt and disdain.

Shi Ruoweng stood beside him, as if he were a subordinate, not satisfied even after receiving the leader's affirmation.

Li Huai De's tightly furrowed brows instantly relaxed, and everyone had a look of regret that the good show was really fast.

It was just that the gazes crossed, and the scene of cold greetings and taking seats instantly recovered, and no more attention was given to Shi Ruoweng.

He became the accident before the start of today's meeting, and also became the clown who everyone knew would end up like this in this accident deliberately created.

Everyone naturally knew he would make a fool of himself; they just wanted to know in what form Li Xuewu would clean him up.

In the end, ignoring became Li Xuewu's magic weapon to show his superb organizational ability and adaptability.

The three members of the work group, who had already shown great concern for his appearance in the lounge just now, quietly looked at each other when taking their seats, and decided in their hearts to raise this concern by another two points.

Without twelve points of attention, you really might not be able to see clearly the young talent sitting opposite.

Actually, thinking about it, you can know that being able to sit beside Li Huai De at a young age and suppress other leaders of the management committee is what kind of prestige.

Looking back, is this prestige?

At this level, is prestige useful?

The few of them who could represent the Ministry to come down for research were not wine bags and rice sacks, garbage and waste.

No matter what kind of careful thoughts that Deputy Director Shi had, they just saw it and heard it today.

And Li Xuewu's calmness and confidence made the three look at him with new eyes.

The youthful spirit and integrity of a young man were instantly reflected.

And in the subsequent meeting, Li Xuewu's ability and aura completely made the three understand why he sat in that position.

Today's Li Xuewu, not only the three members of the work group, but even other leaders of the management committee could feel his full firepower.

From the problems discovered by researching the Jinmen Trade Management Center and the experience of business adjustment, all the way to the report on inspecting Yingcheng Shipbuilding and the shipping market.

When Li Xuewu spoke, others couldn't get a word in at all. They were too busy taking notes, worried about missing any key data as their pencils followed the materials, and everyone was surprised.

Including some department heads present, this was the first time everyone in the Red Star Factory felt Li Xuewu's full-state work ability display.

Especially some feasible opinions or suggestions he mentioned in the report could all be supported by research reports and data, which was very powerful.

The three members of the work group were all numb from listening. They had been here for nearly two weeks, and even before entering the Red Star Factory, they had done research on the relevant situation here.

They thought they were well prepared, but when listening to Li Xuewu's report, they were still holding the same work materials as other members of the management committee, but why did they listen and listen... and couldn't understand?

Li Huai De sat in the first seat, slightly squinting his eyes, like an old cat about to fall asleep.

But whenever Li Xuewu talked about key parts, reported to him, or asked for relevant opinions, he could give accurate answers or ask the class members to express necessary opinions.

From the problem being raised, to being explained clearly, to the analysis supported by materials and data, and finally the discussion, setting opinions, and setting processing conclusions, it was so smooth that the three members of the work group were dumbfounded.

Is the Red Star Factory class acting for us?

Was this rehearsed in advance?

Just to make us look good?

Not very likely. If it were rehearsed in advance, would they rehearse contradictions? What happened before the meeting started?

What was least likely to be a rehearsal was them watching Li Xuewu call the relevant person in charge to execute.

Right at the meeting, right after the problem was concluded and the processing opinion was set, he directly called the names of the relevant department heads present.

And watching the cadres whose names were called proactively walk out and sit at the other end of the conference table.

Just like that, Li Xuewu, on behalf of the management committee, talked directly to the department heads involved in the problem.

Handing over work on the spot, asking about execution attitude on the spot, setting execution deadlines and persons in charge on the spot.

For those involving other departments, there were a few chairs at the other end of the office desk facing Li Huai De, and a few people from a few departments sat there.

If the department head had opinions or difficulties, they raised them on the spot and solved them on the spot, quite fast.

The execution talk for the problem was finished, the department head stood up and returned to the list of attendees, and the management committee class continued the meeting to study and discuss the next problem.

Yang Jun and the three were really shocked. Looking at the attitude of everyone at the meeting site, this was really not acting. Just looking at the serious attitude that they were accustomed to, they knew.

Don't look at this set of processes being very long; in fact, the problems were handled very quickly.

Because the people who raised the problems and opinions, as well as those who fed back the execution, sat together. If there was something to say, they said it; if not, they passed. Mutual frankness, very fast.

Precisely because those who raise questions and opinions, as well as those who execute and provide feedback, sit together—speaking when there is something to say and moving on when there isn't, being frank with one another—the time passes very quickly.

In their minds, it usually takes at least three days to handle a problem, but here, it takes five minutes.

What kind of efficiency is this?

It saves all the time spent on reporting and communication, handling matters directly at the office desk.

All the leaders are here; whoever is in charge speaks, and the others raise opinions or questions.

Li Huai De, on the contrary, has let go of power and loosened the reins, even handing over the chairing of the meeting to the capable and highly efficient Li Xuewu.

He only takes responsibility for coordination and final decisions, which instead allowed Yang Jun and the others to see the secret behind the Red Star Factory's rapid development and steady work.

They had long set their sights on today's office meeting, seeing from the work brief that the meeting time was two hours.

An office meeting, two hours—what can you talk about?

Generally speaking, discussing four or five issues and preaching a few minutes of instructions is about enough.

Let's put it this way: office meetings rarely last two hours; they usually take up an entire morning.

Starting from nine in the morning and ending at twelve, that's three hours.

Or they might start early or even run late, lasting three and a half, four, or five hours.

There is so much work in the factory that when it accumulates to be handled together, it inevitably takes a large amount of time to discuss and study.

However, today, the Red Star Factory gave the working group a lesson in a novel way.

When they came out, Li Huai De expressed his apologies to the three of them quite embarrassedly.

"The Red Star Factory is currently in a period of volume expansion, personnel growth, and a sudden increase in business; these minor issues are nothing, please don't take them too much to heart."

Facing Li Huai De's apology, Yang Jun instead showed a tough side.

He said to Li Huai De: "Grasping discipline and personnel is a long-term and serious task, and it takes time to grind and build; I can understand that."

"Then thank you for your understanding—"

Li Huai De smiled and shook hands with him, joking: "Understanding is a virtue."

"Hey, I've already said it, don't mind us; just work as you should."

Yang Jun looked at Li Huai De with a smile and said: "I have a question that I've been holding back for a while."

"Mm, please go ahead," Li Huai De thought of what he wanted to ask, but pretended not to know.

Showing off requires taking it one step at a time; if no one takes the initiative to ask, the show-off isn't complete.

"I want to ask, this of yours—"

Yang Jun paused here, reorganized his language, frowned, and asked: "Was it like this before... this high efficiency?"

He didn't want to ask like this, as if his own unit's meetings were very inefficient.

But if he didn't ask, he couldn't get to the exact point, so he had to bite the bullet and frown; he really wanted to know what the Red Star Factory was up to.

We are all doing the same work; I clearly understood your business, so what's the result?

After one office meeting, he seemed to have remembered a lot of content, but also seemed to have remembered nothing.

It was mainly because the rhythm of the meeting organized and chaired by Li Xuewu was too fast, and he couldn't quite keep up.

Calling it vigorous and resolute wouldn't be an exaggeration; he is familiar with Old Li, so how could he not know what he's like?

May I ask, he didn't hear everything or understand it, yet Old Li heard it all and understood it all?

He is unconvinced!

He can be unconvinced by anyone, but he is especially unconvinced by Old Li.

What does he know about business work!

"Before... it wasn't like this before."

Old Li is quite good at putting on a show; after hearing him ask awkwardly, he pondered carefully before answering: "Before, we had to hold meetings for four or five hours."

"Indeed, discussing seventeen topics in one meeting, and it was finished in two hours?"

Yang Jun expressed his "disbelief," pointing at his watch and saying: "Five minutes for the opening and closing each, seventeen topics in one hundred and ten minutes, averaging less than seven minutes per topic? This, this, this!"

"Is it really like this?"

Old Li looked at his watch curiously, as if he had just realized this math problem.

Or perhaps he suspected that the other person's watch was not accurate, and that the factory he managed was really that impressive?

Yang Jun didn't want to talk anymore at this moment; he had already realized that Old Li was showing off.

And he had set a trap in advance, deliberately guiding him to be the straight man; he really wanted to slap himself for asking this question—it was truly annoying.

He really deserved to die for letting him show off so much.

Old Li's acting skills are actually okay; being with Li Xuewu, this veteran actor, even if his acting skills didn't soar, they certainly didn't diminish.

But today, Li Xuewu fired on all cylinders, increased the rhythm of the office meeting, and gave these working group people a lesson, which made him feel very satisfied.

Being so happy, he couldn't help but smile, but he didn't want the cunning Yang Jun to see it.

He also had a thick skin, and at this moment, he explained with a smile: "I really didn't notice it before."

"Before, our meetings were messy; we solved whatever problems we encountered."

Li Huai De invited Yang Jun to walk toward the office, explaining as they walked: "Later, in order to cope with the reform of the office system, our factory needed to improve work efficiency, and the Management Committee naturally had to set an example..."

Old Li still managed to show off; the other party wanted to leave, but was pulled back to the office by him.

Bragging is fine since they are all in the same system, and the Red Star Factory has already achieved results.

Now, it's not a matter of how Old Li wants to brag; even if he says he dreamed up an idea, Yang Jun has to bite the bullet and say it's impressive.

Actually, he wanted to leave because he wanted to follow Li Xuewu.

He wanted to see what Li Xuewu was like in his daily work state.

The two deputy team leaders had actually already started working; after the conversation ended, the dozen or so people in the working group dispersed to various agencies, branch factories, and workshops to conduct research and investigations, summarizing the work status of the entire factory.

A dozen or so openly, and a dozen or so secretly—this counts as attaching importance to the Red Star Factory.

Moreover, he, as the team leader, was only the leader of the open team; he didn't know about the secret one either.

Therefore, the higher-ups attach importance to the Red Star Factory and also protect it, giving them no chance to stir up trouble.

For an enterprise that has been "red-flagged" by the leadership, it can only be rectified, not reorganized; this is the bottom line.

"You are really hard to make an appointment with—"

Maggie Roman, the cultural attaché of the French Foreign Affairs Office, complained to Li Xuewu with a pout as soon as she saw him walk into the restaurant: "You are busier than De Gaulle!"

"Hey? Can you compare it like that?"

Li Xuewu smiled and said: "Mr. De Gaulle's life is not as easy as mine right now."

"Thank you—"

As he sat down and thanked the service staff, he looked at the few people at the dining table and said with a smile: "I can taste delicious food and fine wine with friends from Italy and France in my own country; Mr. De Gaulle might not necessarily be able to do that."

"You are too bad—"

Chantal looked Li Xuewu up and down and said: "Is this sowing discord?"

"No, this is emphasizing the importance of friendship."

Li Xuewu pretended to be serious and defended himself, then raised his glass to clink with them, saying: "My tolerance for alcohol is limited, please forgive me."

"Hey? That's not right, is it?"

Maggie took a sip, frowned at him, and said: "Are you joking? Last time!"

She pointed at Li Xuewu and asked Chantal: "Last time at the Red Star Factory, was it him who got that guy, that guy from East Africa, drunk?"

"I remember his name should be At."

Andrew swirled his red wine glass and said with a smile: "A hyena from Yemen who made a fortune."

"That's right, it was At—"

Maggie glared at Li Xuewu with a pout and said: "So you can also lie!"

"We call this kind of talk modesty."

Li Xuewu joked deliberately: "A land of ceremony, after all, one must show a kind attitude."

"Mm—"

Chantal shook her head slightly and said with a smile: "I know this kind of modesty too well!"

She pointed her finger at Li Xuewu and said: "They told me that the more modest Chinese people are at the dinner table, the more they can drink; they call this... call this..., how does that Chinese saying go?"

She thought for a long time but couldn't remember how to say that sentence, so she turned to ask Maggie.

Maggie didn't understand what she meant either and frowned in thought, but Andrew had been in the Northeast for a long time.

He had learned Chinese well, but he had learned it crookedly—he learned Northeast dialect.

As luck would have it, among the teachers who taught him Northeast dialect, there were a few from Huludao.

Just listen to it: an Italian speaking Northeast dialect to you in a suspicious tone.

"Yisi yisi eh—"

Note here: the Huludao accent, that "eh" is spoken with an upward inflection, a suspicious tone.

Maggie learned Mandarin, and although she spoke it haltingly and with a thick tongue, she could understand it.

At this moment, she also repeated: "Right! Yixi—"

"Yisi yisi! Yisi yisi!"

Chantal had wine in her mouth and couldn't speak, so she could only nod vigorously, indicating that this was what she meant.

She even raised her glass to celebrate with the two of them excitedly.

How should I put it? All four people present could speak French, so communication was not a problem at all.

However, there were three "old sixes" who insisted on speaking Chinese.

The result was... Li Xuewu, whose mother tongue is Chinese, felt confused and helpless.

Never mind who taught these three their foreign language; how could they teach them everything!

Today they even taught them "yisi yisi," so will they teach them "a little less" tomorrow!

It's too inappropriate; how many years of accumulated dinner table culture, and it was just given away so selflessly?

"Come on, yisi yisi!"

"Haha! Yisi yisi!"

"How much are you drinking?"

He Yu Shui rested her elbows on the bar counter, looking at Li Xuewu who had returned after seeing the guests off.

She naturally knew his alcohol tolerance; she just didn't know if this flush was from drinking or from the wind that had just blown.

Li Xuewu ignored her, asked for the bill from the bar counter, and nodded after looking at the price on it.

"Leader, the guests have already settled the bill."

The bar attendant reminded him: "The lady's secretary settled the bill and also asked for a receipt."

"Mm-mm—"

Li Xuewu responded while taking out his notebook and making relevant records according to the receipt.

"What are you doing?"

Yushui leaned over to take a look and asked: "They treated you to a meal, and you still want to pay it back?"

The notebook not only contained the previous itinerary of the French merchant Chantal, visiting Steel City and Ying City, following up on the progress of related projects, but also included the laying of the keel, the arrival and installation of new equipment, and so on.

Below the page was the memorandum for today's business entertainment, marked with detailed content.

"Isn't that too detailed?" she asked with a frown: "Didn't you say you were talking about work?"

"How do you do your job as a deputy general manager?"

Li Xuewu tapped her head with the pencil in his hand and curled his lips: "For foreign affairs entertainment, don't you have to write a report?"

After speaking, he closed the notebook in his hand, signaled the attendant, who was biting her lip to suppress a smile, to stamp the receipt, and noted the payment explanation.

"Don't you ever make mistakes?"

He Yu Shui raised her hand to rub her head; it didn't actually hurt, it was just a habitual reaction.

At this moment, she curled her lips and said: "Being so detailed, what kind of complex situation have you encountered?"

"There are no complex situations, only complex people," Li Xuewu put away the receipt, raised the notebook in his hand, looked at her, and said: "Learn from this; you won't suffer—"

"Pfft—coward—"

He Yu Shui muttered, and seeing that he was about to leave, she chased after him and asked: "Aren't you staying? It's snowing heavily outside!"

"No, I must be home before ten."

Li Xuewu's answer was crisp and firm; outside, let alone heavy snow, even if it were raining knives...

Hmm? Then it's better not to go back; what if I get hurt? Fortunately, it's just heavy snow today.

"Whew—"

After going out, he looked up at the gray sky; at this time, the Four Nine City did not have light pollution as serious as in later generations, and the sky was still black.

Later generations... the lights in commercial KTVs were brighter and more colorful than the night sky of Four Nine City.

"You really are a stubborn mule!"

He Yu Shui chased out, and wearing spring and autumn work clothes, she shivered from the cold and almost cursed.

"What would happen if you stayed for one night? Would it cost you your innocence?"

"Don't talk nonsense, how could I... cough cough!"

Li Xuewu turned his head and glared at her, signaled to the car under the steps, and said: "Hurry back; there are two children at home, how could I dare to stay outside."

"If you don't help out tomorrow morning, you won't even get breakfast, and I still have to send Li Shu back to the compound."

Saying this, he had already gone down the steps, and after getting into the car, he waved to Yushui on the steps.

Watching the jeep drive out of the compound, He Yu Shui, standing at the entrance, rubbed her arms, lowered her eyelids, and returned to the lobby.

Li Xuewu is still that Li Xuewu, majestic and crystal clear.

Fooling those foreigners even more, he settled the matter of the commercial tour group in one meal.

He is always so wise, comprehensive, and quick-thinking, making people admire and respect him.

But Li Xuewu is no longer that Li Xuewu.

The original Li Xuewu lived in the compound, while the current Li Xuewu lives in a home he must return to before ten o'clock.

A warm home with two children and a lover waiting.

It's just that for her, who feels the cold outside, the loneliness in her heart is even more obvious than what her body feels.

It can be seen that Li Xuewu saying these things is not rejecting her, and even less is it reminding her; rather, he ignored her, ignored her different kind of concern.

The inadvertent display of happiness is precisely what makes it appear more real in this kind of neglect.

Perhaps he only has care, concern, and tolerance for her, and even the only heartbeat is just that little bit of impulse between a man and a woman.

This is the sadness and pain she can empathize with most in today's snowy weather.

Sorrow is deepest on a late cool day; the haggard person is unbearable to pity.

Inviting wine to break the intestines, drunk after three cups; seeking fragrance and startling dreams, cold at the fifth watch.

The hairpin is slanted, the lady has tears; the flower fades, I have no fate.

The small building is lonely, the heart and the moon; it is hard to be like a hook, and hard to be round.

PS: Do you still remember a secret love that you couldn't get and couldn't let go of? Is that person doing well?