Chapter 1221: He is courting death

"Why did you suddenly think of getting married?"

Li Xuewu's voice could sound surprised on the phone.

Xilin pursed her lips and said helplessly: "You don't want me, if I don't get married, can I wait for you for a lifetime?"

"Hahaha—" Li Xuewu chuckled: "Then I can only regretfully offer my congratulations; I have lost my love, and my mood is terrible right now."

"Thank you, thank you for being able to say that."

Xilin replied amusedly: "Even across the phone, thousands of miles away, I can hear the falseness in these words, but I am still very happy."

"But the blessing is sincere—"

Li Xuewu emphasized with a smile: "The regret is also sincere; I feel sorry for Seeing Gelin, who got married at such a young age; he's only in his teens?"

"Don't force me to scold people when I'm most moved—"

Xilin threatened with feigned dissatisfaction: "I have received your blessing, but don't be superficial; we want something practical."

"Oh, practical, what do you want?"

Li Xuewu said readily: "Is it because you know Guodong is getting married at the end of the year, and you want to join in the fun together?"

"How about this," he tilted his head and suggested: "Guodong is no different to me than you are; whatever he has, you have."

Without waiting for Xilin to ask, he explained: "I'll cover the wedding expenses, and I'll send you and Seeing Gelin a courtyard house as a new home."

"Beijing? We aren't going back to live there."

Xilin was joking, but didn't expect Li Xuewu to be serious, and actually wanted to give her and Seeing Gelin a courtyard house.

Houses in Beijing have never been cheap, from ancient times to the present, regardless of the period.

You might think it's very cheap across time and space, but if you look at it from the perspective of the time, that's not something you can imagine if you are struggling in the ordinary class.

Xilin met Li Xuewu by accident, and there was some ambiguity at the beginning.

Seeing Gelin was Xilin's tag-along, considered Old Baduo's entrustment before he died.

Simple and honest, without complex thoughts, Seeing Gelin only lived in Beijing for less than half a year before following Xilin to Jicheng.

If it weren't for Seeing Gelin's protection, it would have been very difficult for a woman like Xilin to gain a foothold locally.

Last time she went to Jicheng, Xilin asked Li Xuewu for his opinion on her and Seeing Gelin being together.

Li Xuewu didn't object, and even hoped to facilitate the union of the two.

Regarding Xilin's background, he could only say regret and sympathy; the same was true for Seeing Gelin.

Both were bitter people; if they didn't dislike each other and lived together, not only were their personalities suitable, but their lives were also very suitable.

Of course, both followed Li Xuewu from the frontier to Beijing, and their Beijing household registration was also given by Li Xuewu.

For the two to combine, it was natural to ask for Li Xuewu's opinion.

It was as formal as needing the organization's consent to get married now.

"No matter when, no matter how far you go, this is your home."

Li Xuewu was very serious, his tone very gentle: "The house is given to you, it's your small home, your future."

"I sincerely bless you, and I hope you can return to Beijing and hold the wedding with Guodong; it's rare to have such excitement."

"Hmm—thank you—"

Xilin hesitated for a long time on the phone before answering: "Thank you for your blessing, but we won't go back."

"Jicheng's affairs can't be let go, especially this year's work is very important; Seeing Gelin and I don't need a wedding ceremony..."

"I respect your choice," Li Xuewu said sincerely: "And I hope you can feel our gratification and blessings."

"I will, that's all, sorry to bother you."

Xilin thanked him very moved, then hung up the phone.

Suddenly, since that winter, such a long time had passed.

The four people who came from the frontier had all taken root.

Diliya married Seeing Sha Zhu, Pazile married Wang Yamei, and Xilin and Seeing Gelin also confirmed each other's lifelong happiness.

Perhaps this is the fun of life, a twist of fate.

"Oh my, don't send me off, don't want it anymore."

Zhou Changli waved his hand impatiently, signaling his sister and father not to bother anymore.

"It's not like I'm not coming back; I'll be back eight hundred times a year."

"This is caring about you—"

His sister scolded, and then looked at Wang Ya standing beside her brother, and asked with a smile: "You won't need us to care in the future."

"Stop talking nonsense, go back quickly."

Zhou Changli saw Wang Ya's face was red, maybe it was from the cold, or maybe she was embarrassed by his sister.

He waved his hand impatiently and said: "If there's anything at home, go to the club to find Old Four, don't force yourself."

"Got it, said it so many times, annoying."

His sister was straightforward, glared at her brother, and exhorted: "Control your stubborn temper, take care of Sister Yaya more."

"She's going to work, what should I take care of—"

Zhou Changli turned his head away very straight-man-like, not wanting to pick up the thread his sister handed over; even the matchmaker couldn't tie it.

"It's okay, I can take care of myself."

Wang Ya lowered her head shyly and said: "My dad... don't bother with him, and don't lend him money."

This was the first sentence she said after getting engaged to Zhou Changli, and it was also the last sentence she exhorted to her future in-laws when leaving home.

Being able to say such words, one could see how disgusting her father was, and how much burden she had carried.

Zhou Changli's sister patted her arm, looking understanding.

The two families didn't live very far apart, and they knew each other's family situation very well.

Zhou Changli's family didn't look down on the Wang family, because Zhou Changli wasn't a good thing before either.

Saying the wind of the tough guys in the Four Nine City, wasn't it just hooligans?

Wang Ya's father was a spendthrift, but Wang Ya and her three younger brothers weren't bad.

Just this era, if it were earlier, with Wang Ya's beautiful appearance and ability to manage the home, it wouldn't be a problem to give her to a big family.

Just the bride price for three boys, was that even a thing?

So don't despise anyone, don't bury anyone.

Zhou Changli's father was an honest man, had been a boiler worker for many years, and earned hard money.

He had his own way of surviving to pull the children up; for Wang Ya, he was satisfied; no neighbors were dissatisfied with Wang Ya.

To say she could marry into the family, he was happy from the bottom of his heart.

To say three younger brothers-in-law, and one unreliable father-in-law, he could feel the pressure on Zhou Changli.

Fortunately, Wang Ya understood things, knowing that by her own strength, the three younger brothers wouldn't be able to marry wives in this lifetime, and she wouldn't be able to marry either.

23 at the New Year, who wants an old girl.

If people aren't forced to a certain point, which child isn't filial; but catching up with Zhou Changli's return, Wang Ya took her younger brothers to be unfilial once.

The siblings let her make the decision, don't think about the matter of trading her for a bride price; find a job, bring the money back, and you can marry a good wife without a bride price.

And for Zhou Changli, Wang Ya didn't look down on him at all, but it was her fate.

Wanting to live a proper life, but only able to find a hooligan.

Wanting to guard the home and land, but only able to drift.

Getting up in the morning, the siblings worked together to tie up their old father with a rope, and told the neighbors to untie him at noon.

Zhou Changli gave 200 yuan in bride price, all of which was tucked on her body, and she didn't intend to leave a cent for her biological father.

The three younger brothers didn't have a mother since they were young; the eldest sister is like a mother; whatever the eldest sister says to do, they do; they followed behind in unison.

Wang Ya talked to Zhou Changli, as long as jobs were arranged for the three younger brothers, he wouldn't have to worry about them anymore.

And as long as Zhou Changli was good to her, she would serve him like a grandfather.

At that time, Zhou Changli still had the heart to refuse, mainly because he couldn't save face, and even less willing to provoke this burden.

Neighbors were all waiting to watch the excitement; he didn't want to become a topic of conversation after tea and dinner.

But just hesitating, before he could think about how to say it, his father came in with a shoe sole, and beat him until he agreed without saying a word.

Afterwards, his father made it clear that Wang Ya, a big girl, took the initiative to come to the house to talk about this, already holding a determination to die.

This era, I don't know how many people hanged themselves because of this kind of thing.

Because of what? It's the face problem.

Just listen, after the opening, whose girl worked in a dance hall, and her parents forced her to death when she got home; that was the case then, let alone this era.

Customs, can't say good, can't say bad.

Zhou Changli dared to refuse Wang Ya, and when she went back, she would have no face to marry again, and no one would want her, because she didn't want her face anymore.

So, even an honest man like his father recognized it, let alone him who talked about loyalty.

Wang Ya also did what she said, took Zhou Changli's 200 yuan bride price, and really tied up her biological father, taking her younger brothers and leaving.

Didn't care about the difference between men and women, just used following the object out to earn money as an excuse, and handled the procedures from the street office.

The street office also knew what their family situation was; if it were an ordinary girl, she would have run away long ago.

Hearing that she was in a relationship with Zhou Changli and was going to work in Steel City, the street office didn't even ask and immediately handled the procedures.

Wang Ya and her three younger brothers were happy, but I don't know how her father was making trouble at home.

By then, neighbors would be talking, and it might be that they were going to make trouble at the Zhou family.

Zhou Changli wasn't afraid of this; he had many brothers; if he wanted to beat his father-in-law, it was just a matter of a letter.

But Zhou Changli's father couldn't do that; in-laws are always in-laws, children are always children.

Seeing Wang Ya say this, wasn't she still thinking about it, hating it and helpless.

"You don't need to worry about things at home, I'll look after them."

His father was a sensible person, persuading the two: "Work hard, live well, don't quarrel, don't worry about home."

"Oh my, got it—"

Zhou Changli was a knife-mouthed bean-hearted person; every time he came back, he would give his father money, one hundred, two hundred, not feeling bad at all.

It was just that he was young, mixed on the street, and still wanted face.

Zhao Lao Si and others at the entrance of the station stood with their hands on their hips to watch the excitement, making his face red, wishing he could stand far away from Wang Ya.

These days, the street office had long been spreading gossip about him, that a toad could eat swan meat.

Damn it! Who the hell is a toad!

His father and sister understood his temper, and after exhorting, they went back, leaving Zhou Changli to say goodbye to his friends.

Zhao Lao Si and others, besides teasing Zhou Changli for not coming back in vain this time, also brought him some specialties, Beijing specialties.

"I've lived in the Four Nine City for nearly twenty years, I don't know what specialties are here!"

Zhou Changli scolded and asked: "Who gave it to me?"

"Zhang Jianguo, sent someone to my place."

Zhao Lao Si shrugged his shoulders and said seriously: "He asked someone to bring a message, wishing you a smooth journey and an early birth of a noble son."

"Go to hell—"

Zhou Changli laughed in anger, scolded twice, but still seriously exhorted Zhao Lao Si: "Stay far away from him!"

"The farther the better, I'm afraid he won't live until I come back next time."

"I know, he is courting death."

Zhao Lao Si took a hard puff of his cigarette, narrowed his eyes and said: "The old guys have blown up the circle, they are all scraping him,"

What heaven-resenting and people-complaining thing did Zhang Jianguo do to provoke the old guys to blow up the circle?

Actually, it was nothing, just that kind of thing, face-saving thing.

For the sake of so-called Jianghu face, he played bigger and bigger, and didn't follow the original idea of eating what was in his hands first.

Because the situation had changed, no one was entangled in the ground anymore, all were in a crazy state.

The sensible people in the old guy circle had hidden, especially recently Beijing had several big economies, again seafood, again electrical appliances.

Those who had ability had long since stopped hanging out on the street, and didn't ride bicycles anymore; all were Comet motorcycles.

You want to say that riding this thing is majestic, walking in groups?

No, there's no such thing!

One by one, they were all busy, wishing they were busier than the street director.

Running to units one by one, either organizing seafood, or various welfare products, or electrical appliances that were most popular at the time.

This thing was also sold by the Red Star Factory, but it wasn't sold directly to the market, but to factory employees.

Three-production products, officially marked and numbered; these people didn't taboo flipping them.

You want to say that buying and selling isn't allowed, that depends on who, depends on who.

These kids, one by one, were absolutely rule-abiding, well water not offending river water.

They only ran to units at home, or relatives' units; who could do anything to them.

You want to buy in your own name, they wouldn't even bother with you.

Gather the numbers, gather them together to write a purchase application to the unit union to stamp, and then go through the public-to-public procedures.

They could approve electrical appliances or seafood point-to-point; if the procedure was a little bit off, it wouldn't work; supply and industry and commerce couldn't do anything to them.

Actually, they all knew, there was an expert behind this matter, nothing more than related to the Red Star Factory, getting these sources of goods.

But to say how much profit was made, this was really hard to check; after all, the goods came out of the Red Star Factory, and the money was hit into the Red Star Factory's account.

Can you say the Red Star Factory shouldn't wholesale goods?

Distribution, shrewd sales, the key is here; Li Xuewu intentionally opened a gap for Zhou Xiaobai in the factory channel.

Who approved this gap?

Whoever benefits approves it; Old Li's wife is Zhou Xiaobai's vice president, officially taking a salary; you say whose channel is it?

As long as Old Li doesn't have an accident, this channel won't have an accident; even if Old Li has an accident, Zhou Xiaobai won't have an accident.

Conversely, with Zhou Xiaobai's channel, Old Li wouldn't have to go out and have other accidents.

The risk is too big, no matter how high the profit is, he won't do it.

Li Xuewu takes care of Old Li, just like raising an electronic pet, very afraid that he will hurt his muscles and bones because of these materials.

This shield, Li Xuewu intends to use for a few more years.

So the seeds scattered in the Beijing market were grasped in Zhou Xiaobai's hands, and the contact was Li Huai De.

Those without ability couldn't guess, those with ability could see clearly at a glance.

You say you see clearly, who can they move?

Even if they want to take action, with what qualifications and reasons to take action, Li Xuewu laid out the game, he didn't unseal it, no one could break his game.

Zhou Xiaobai's hundreds of yuan of pocket money a month, do you think it's given for nothing?

As long as this money is kept clean and hygienic, then Zhou Xiaobai's parents won't stand up and say he delayed their daughter in their lifetime.

It can be said that Zhou Xiaobai, with his own strength, moved the old guy circle of the Four Nine City to roll in another direction.

After experiencing the wind and rain of these two years, these old guys had long been sober, enlightened, and knew to look towards money.

With this opportunity, everyone is a dreamer.

The pyramid-shaped sales network had taken initial shape, loose yet tight, quietly making the contradictions between old guys and tough guys dissipate a lot.

On the other side, the Zhou Changli laid out by Li Xuewu was constantly drawing the living forces of the tough guys, and more and more crew members were going to sea.

As long as the previous batch brought the money back, the next batch would follow, and whoever didn't follow was an idiot.

Those people Zhou Changli invited at the beginning, now regret hitting their heads against the wall; tough guys are majestic, but can they be as majestic as gold masters?

The hot atmosphere of the Four Nine City was drawn by Li Xuewu from both ends, drawing away the most essential parts, leaving only the dregs.

Zhang Jianguo, who didn't want to leave, didn't know that he had classified himself into the pile of dregs; otherwise, why would Zhou Changli say he was going to die.

The old guy circle was the same; not everyone had the ability to earn that economy, and there were those who couldn't.

The big brothers were all busy turning over a new leaf, and they became left-behind children.

So dregs against garbage, both sides started to rot.

Zhang Jianguo, in order to show off his ability, snatched the clothes and hats of the old guys; in order to kill him, the old guys started to create yellow rumors.

The fuse was precisely the red-faced disaster Tong Yan.

Just like the White-Haired Girl became the mobilization order for the struggle of layers, Tong Yan also became the fire seed that stimulated the contradictions of layers and finally formed a tragedy.

Just when Zhou Changli left Beijing with his fiancée, under the instigation of those with hearts, many dregs who were burned red with hatred and anger started actions against Zhang Jianguo.

At this time, Zhang Jianguo was no longer himself, but a scum described and exaggerated by rendering.

Did those dregs have direct hatred with him?

No, they were wrapped up, had hatred for such a type of person, but it was concretized on him.

From the transportation tools, one could see that those with status and mixed well had long since changed to Comets; those doing these things were still riding bicycles.

Rushing and crashing, whistling through the city.

Sometimes you would find that they suddenly gathered together like crazy in the middle of the night, long-distance raids, attacking some inexplicable location.

This location might be someone's casual remark during the day, or catching the wind and shadows; anyway, it was nonsense, but it was taken seriously as it was passed on.

The result was that they were like mad dogs, biting at the air.

Kill that lowly dog!

This sentence inexplicably became the most exciting highest goal of the dregs.

Can't fight the thorn in the heart, can't you kill a dog?

Perhaps what these dregs wanted to defend was that their noble mentality and bloodline would not be defiled.

Zhang Jianguo, a hooligan, actually dared to associate with someone like Tong Yan; he really deserved to die!

Even if Tong Yan stank in their circle, she absolutely wasn't allowed to waste herself like this, waste the circle.

Even if she disappeared and married an ordinary person.

This is the most unbalanced hatred in the hearts of those people.

Wind blowing and cranes calling, grass and trees all soldiers.

The peaceful Beijing, the situation in the small circle of young people actually started to become tense.

Why Zhang Jianguo didn't dare to come to send Zhou Changli off personally was because he got the news.

Not only him, the tough guys of the Four Nine City started to squint.

The gun hits the bird that sticks its head out, at this time whoever sticks their head out is an idiot!

"Didn't have time to congratulate you."

Yang Jun looked at Li Xuewu sitting in the chair and said this opening remark.

Seeing the surprised look in the other party's eyes, he lowered his head slightly, looked at the document in his hand and reminded: "Your new book."

"Oh, thank you, Team Leader Yang."

Li Xuewu seemed to have just realized, nodded suddenly, and said thank you with a smile: "Personal realization, not worth mentioning."

"The newly published book title is called 'Defending the People', right?"

Yang Jun's understanding of Li Xuewu was somewhat beyond the expectations of other working group members in the office.

Today's conversation had always maintained a serious atmosphere; didn't expect that at Li Xuewu's place, Team Leader Yang actually used off-topic words as an opening.

Is it appreciation, or psychological tactics?

The two deputy team leaders, Cai Zhixing and Zhou Zechuan, didn't speak, but the jumping eyes proved that their hearts must be fluctuating at this moment.

"Can you tell us about the content of the new book?"

Yang Jun seemed really interested in Li Xuewu, raised his arms, and signaled: "Roughly is fine."

"Of course, if you think it's necessary."

Li Xuewu's expression and tone were equally peaceful, and he didn't care that the other party was paying attention to his work.

It was 2:15 in the afternoon; since yesterday morning, all factory leaders had been called to this office by the working group to carry out organizational talks.

Even Dong Wenxue, who was far away in Steel City, was called back.

This talk was regarded as the last task of the working group, and all leaders who were named attached great importance to it.

Start well, end well.

The working group had been in the factory for more than a month and a half; what should be seen had been seen, what should be turned had been turned, and what should be asked had been asked clearly.

By now, there should be a conclusion.

So, just like dismantling a blind box, everyone who entered this room had a nervous mood, and left with a mood of scolding their mother.

Unexpectedly, and seemingly reasonable, the working group finally arranged Li Xuewu's talk.

He shouldn't have appeared here, because the working group's inspection target was the Management Committee members of the Red Star Factory.

And Li Xuewu wasn't; he was still eight feet away from that position.

But he was arranged at the end, behind Management Committee Director Li Huai De.

The organization was lively; everyone was talking about this matter.

Wishing one by one they had long ears, so they could stick to the door and listen to what was being discussed inside.

Compared to the leaders' talks, people in the organization wanted to know more about Li Xuewu.

Everyone was speculating, arranging Li Xuewu to accept the organizational talk, the reasons and results were nothing more than two kinds.

Good, and bad.

Li Xuewu was the person in charge of the Red Star Factory's Security Group, and also the Deputy Director of the Committee Office; his work involved many people.

Otherwise, working group leader Yang Jun couldn't have followed him for more than a week.

Furthermore, Li Xuewu organized and coordinated the project establishment and construction preparation work of many projects in the factory, and even participated in the acceptance work.

Many department heads had to communicate and coordinate with him when reporting work to Director Li.

Everyone knew this situation.

You say it's beneficial, it really is; Li Xuewu built the most convenient bridge for communication between leaders and departments, accelerating business execution ability.

You say it's harmful, it really is; the doggerel of "Big Li, Small Li, can't afford to offend either" isn't very pleasant to hear, and there are always people dissatisfied with this situation.

It couldn't be seen on weekdays, but reflected on the working group's desk, in the document materials, it wasn't like this.

Therefore, this time Li Xuewu was very likely to carry the pot.

As for carrying the pot for whom, that wasn't known.

The second possibility, the working group recognized his ability, or saw his importance in the Red Star Factory, and conducted organizational inspection in advance.

The purpose of the working group coming down this time was very clear, which was to investigate the work ability of the Red Star Factory Management Committee team.

Reinforcement would definitely be an action; where to reinforce, and how much, all depended on this investigation report.

And Li Xuewu, who played an important role in the development process of the Red Star Factory, would inevitably enter the line of sight of the work.

Therefore, this time Li Xuewu was very likely to advance.

Whether it was carrying the pot or advancing, it became the two directional topics of heated discussion in the organization.

In reality?

The talk office was still pulling idle eggs.

"Mainly ideological level." 【1

Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said very earnestly: "This book is a summary of how I view safety management work from the perspective of the Security Section, the Security Office, and the coordination of safety and security for the entire factory."

"It's not just management methods and techniques, and even more so, it's not just the problems encountered in work and the ideas for solving them; it's about the thinking."

He tapped his head and explained: "This book is my thinking on how to use a sound thinking model to promote the normalization of departmental ecological management and benign self-development..."

Listening to Li Xuewu's "high-flown talk," there was no sign of bringing this conversation into a tense or serious mood.

The three members of the working group felt that Li Xuewu was really just here to give them a lecture, and he just kept talking endlessly.

If you say Li Xuewu was deliberately delaying time, that's not really the case; it was Yang Jun who took the initiative to pursue the questions.

Moreover, the content Li Xuewu spoke about was listened to earnestly not only by the three of them but even by the other clerks in the room.

Once an expert makes a move, you know if there's anything there.

A true master only needs to use language and thought to convince you.

You can understand it, and even more so, you can feel the gap between yourself and him, and even understand the height of the content he spoke about at your cognitive level.

This is very powerful, because as long as you listen, you will have thoughts and gains.

What Li Xuewu spoke about was not empty, and he wouldn't repeat himself; throwing out a few arguments instantly attracted everyone's attention.

A clerk had already started recording his speech, especially earnestly, not wanting to miss a single word.

Until Li Xuewu summarized his own words and modestly expressed his apologies for the time just wasted.

The office was quiet for a few seconds, and then everyone woke up as if from a dream, as if they had come alive from an epiphany.

Clap clap clap—

Yang Jun took the lead in applauding, and applause instantly erupted in the office.

This is the effect Li Xuewu wanted; writing a book is not the goal, but to establish words for his work philosophy.

People have three standings: standing in virtue, standing in merit, and standing in words.

Who doesn't know Li Xuewu's virtue? Go to his home and the neighborhood to ask around—who doesn't say he has loved learning, kept himself clean, and been excellent in character and learning since he was a child?

Standing in merit goes without saying; the greatest merit is right there on his face.

Standing in words is the last step for him to embark on his career path, and also the most critical step.

Although he doesn't have abundant seniority, he uses his authorship to label his achievements.

This track is truly heaven-defying; an ordinary person really can't play it.

If your business ability is superb, you inevitably have to limp in your writing skills.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see what Li Xuewu is doing now; he is clearing the barriers of age restrictions and accumulating capital to leap forward.

Possessing so many conditions, and then being promoted and appointed—who can raise an opposing opinion?

This is an open conspiracy, the most unbreakable.

The key is that every one of Li Xuewu's achievements is solid.

Ability, strength, talent—Yang Jun asking him about writing a book, in the eyes of others, inevitably had the meaning of making things difficult.

It's nothing more than saying Li Xuewu had someone ghostwrite for him, using unscrupulous means for progress.

But in reality? The investigation of Li Xuewu had already begun.

Yang Jun observed Li Xuewu for more than a week and also observed the management of the Red Star Factory through Li Xuewu.

During this period, he came into contact with Li Xuewu and discovered that this young man is truly not simple.

Of course, he also wanted his colleagues to see that his seriousness was not wrong.

The result was that the working group members in the office all agreed with his point of view: this young man is not simple.

"Phew! How long has my second brother been inside?"

Li Xue had just returned, and upon hearing the news, she ran to the auxiliary building.

She knew that if her second brother was called in for a talk, Peng Xiaoli must also be here.

So at the side stairwell, the first thing she said when she saw Peng Xiaoli and Gu Cheng was to ask this.

Deputy Director Xue's talk time was one and a half hours, Deputy Director Cheng's talk time was one hour, Deputy Director Jing's talk time was two and a half hours...

These data were all in Li Xue's mind.

And the strange look on Deputy Director Jing's face when he came out also made Li Xue feel anxious and worried since yesterday.

Something happened; something must have happened!

"It's already been two hours, and a quarter more."

Peng Xiaoli's expression also became serious now, and Gu Cheng, who was standing beside him, was smoking one cigarette after another.

He is not Li Xuewu's secretary, but Gu Cheng is even more nervous about Li Xuewu than Peng Xiaoli.

At this moment, "one prospers, all prosper; one suffers, all suffer" became concrete.

Although life in the small motorcade was boring, as long as Li Xuewu was there, no one dared to touch a hair on his head.

Exercising and honing step by step, just waiting for the leader to need him—naturally, he would think of him and enable him.

This is Gu Cheng's career and mission.

"It's already the second longest time—"

Li Xue's hands were trembling with nervousness; she closed her eyes slightly, leaned on the windowsill, and murmured: "I told him to be careful, to be careful."

"It's useless for you to be anxious now," Peng Xiaoli raised his hand wanting to pat her shoulder, but didn't dare to do so, and finally could only comfort her: "Better wait until the leader comes out."

"In the morning, in the morning it should have been Director Li, right?"

Li Xue suddenly turned her head, looked into Peng Xiaoli's eyes, and asked: "How long did Director Li talk?"

"A little over an hour," Gu Cheng chimed in: "Not even a quarter of an hour more."

"Something must have gone wrong somewhere!" Li Xue said firmly: "Deputy Director Jing's reaction has been wrong since yesterday."

"What reaction?" Gu Cheng was stunned for a moment and asked directly: "Did he lose his temper? Or..."

Before he finished his words, he was glared back by Li Xue.

And Peng Xiaoli also raised his hand and patted his arm, signaling him not to ask about such sensitive topics.

Indeed, if it weren't for her second brother, and if it weren't in front of the two of them, Li Xue would never have said such things.

She had already reached a conclusion, and providing it for the two to analyze was enough.

Still want to ask about the leader's specific reaction?

Gu Cheng, what do you want to do?

"Director Li's expression wasn't anything special; I've seen it."

Gu Cheng knew he had asked the wrong thing; he took a puff of his cigarette and changed the subject: "That little bastard Li Haiyang is also cunning; he hid early."

"It shouldn't be; my second brother shouldn't be talked to."

Li Xue stood by the windowsill, looking at the white snow downstairs, frowning and saying: "What exactly did the working group ask yesterday? What did they find?"

"Wait a bit longer; I've already entrusted someone to inquire."

The cigarette in Gu Cheng's hand was also trembling a bit, his eyes fixed on the direction of the main office building.

Until someone appeared near a window and nodded at him, he darted out like a wild dog off a leash.

With a speed that surprised Peng Xiaoli and Li Xue, Gu Cheng quickly went down the stairs, and then returned to the main office building with the steadiest pace.

"Where did he go?" Li Xue asked in surprise: "Who did he entrust?"

"An acquaintance, from the Finance Department."

Peng Xiaoli looked diagonally opposite, trying to find Gu Cheng's figure appearing in a window, but it was in vain.

"This time the working group transferred personnel to help, and among them was someone from the Finance Department; they are likely executing audit work."

"This is... this is a violation!"

Li Xue widened her eyes in surprise: "How could the other party tell him? This..."

"How could it be impossible," Peng Xiaoli said without looking back: "Nothing to repay, so she offered herself."

"Unh-huh, he's back—"

Seeing Gu Cheng come out of the main office building and walking back, Peng Xiaoli pounded the windowsill with his fist and said: "This time he sacrificed too much!"

Indeed, for the sake of his future, Gu Cheng really gambled away the happiness of the second half of his life.

He is a wanderer, loving freedom and being unrestrained, but this time, in order to figure out what the working group discovered, he really tied himself up.

"Figured it out—"

Gu Cheng climbed the stairs with an unusually ugly expression and said to the two: "In April, overseas enterprises borrowed funds from the Red Star Factory's account, and the total foreign trade payment is 25 million yuan; it hasn't been cleared yet."

Boom—

Li Xue felt as if someone had hit her head with a hammer, and she almost couldn't stand.

Yes, it must be this; the purpose of the working group calling her second brother for a talk was this.

It's unclear who took the funds, and it's even more unclear who lent out the foreign trade payment; now all everyone knows is that the money is gone.

The reason Li Xue almost fainted is very simple: foreign trade, financial creation, fund operation... have always been the businesses her second brother is responsible for.

A gap of 25 million yuan—she would have to work for 50,000 years to pay it back, and even if the whole family paid it back together, they would have to live for ten thousand years.

"Li Xue! Li Xue! Are you okay?"

Peng Xiaoli couldn't care about etiquette anymore; he grabbed Li Xue and reminded her: "You have to trust the leader; he has never failed."

"Yes, my second brother has never failed."

Li Xue followed Peng Xiaoli's words to build her psychological defense; just now, it was because of Gu Cheng's expression—like he had lost his mother—that led her to drill into a dead end.

Since more than a month ago, Li Xue had been worrying about her second brother's situation.

It's just that her second brother didn't listen to her, acting willfully and going his own way.

He didn't guard against those working group people, and even played tennis with them, and heard that he brought many young girls to participate.

She was really going crazy; what was her second brother doing?

Li Xue guessed countless times that the working group found out about her second brother having many objects in the past, or found out about him having many ex-girlfriends now.

She never expected that her second brother would produce an astronomical figure like a bolt from the blue.

25 million—in this era, it's a very niche number.

What to do?

Li Xue said with her mouth that her second brother was calculating and strategic, but in her heart, she was thinking about 25 million, which couldn't be paid back in a lifetime.

Li Xuewu didn't know his sister's mood outside; otherwise, he would have wanted to laugh, and also felt comforted.

Because when his sister heard he was going to be in trouble, the first thing she thought of was paying back the money for him; it shows that the pocket money wasn't given in vain, and the sister wasn't loved in vain.

"The leader is out!"

Just when the three were worried, and while countless eyes in the corridor were staring, Li Xuewu ended the talk and walked out of the office.

"Three and a half hours; it's already dark."

Gu Cheng looked at his watch and then at the sky outside; he didn't know if this sentence was about the sky outside or his future career.

What did they talk about to take three and a half hours!

This was a question in the hearts of everyone watching Li Xuewu after seeing him walk out of the office.

Li Xuewu saw Li Xue, and also saw Peng Xiaoli and Gu Cheng, but didn't stop, let alone say hello, but calmly went downstairs via the middle staircase.

Everyone in the Red Star Factory machine room followed his figure with their eyes, secretly observing his expression.

In the night, the lights in the Red Star Factory office were bright, but they were dim and unclear when shining on Li Xuewu's face.

His steps were steady and vigorous, as stable as Mount Tai, but his face was solemn and ugly, and the peace he tried to make couldn't hide the panic in his heart.

Everyone's heart by the window skipped a beat.

And just after Li Xuewu returned to the Security Building, the news about the financial account deficit also spread completely.

The office building seemed to have ignited fireworks and firecrackers; the sound of discussion resounded through the clouds.

Some were celebrating, some were facing imminent disaster, some were unconcerned, and some were scheming.

Everyone was panicked when getting off work that night.

The lights in the factory leader's office were bright; the machine room staff getting off work turned their heads to look at the office area entrance, as if they could see the lights flickering.

Metaphysically a bit mentally disordered, everyone was looking forward to the latest news—who exactly was going to be finished.

If it were Li Xuewu who was finished...