Chapter 1241: Petty Gu Ning

"What are you standing here for? What happened?"

Li Xuewu had just come over after washing up in the back courtyard, only to see the front courtyard bustling with activity.

Wang Laoqi and Seeing Sha Zhu were standing in the entrance hall of the third gate, peering toward the Yan family's place, whispering and discussing something.

Startled when he snuck up behind them, Wang Laoqi turned around in surprise, and only smiled when he saw it was him.

"I wondered who it was—"

He greeted him with great enthusiasm: "Happy New Year, Team Leader Li—"

Li Xuewu gave him a look but didn't correct his address.

Knowing he loved to joke, he gestured toward the crowd gathered in front and asked: "I'm asking you, what are you two watching here?"

"Hehe—"

Seeing Sha Zhu had his hands tucked into his sleeves, unable to hide the schadenfreude in his expression. He raised his eyebrows and gestured toward the Yan family's place: "A big spectacle."

"Someone took a dump at the Third Master's doorstep..."

Wang Laoqi had a faster mouth; before Seeing Sha Zhu could explain it clearly, he blurted out the truth.

Though this sort of thing was a spectacle, it was disgusting to talk about.

Having only said half of it, Wang Laoqi gave him a "you know what I mean" look.

Li Xuewu understood, but he was also disgusted.

"I really shouldn't have asked!"

He stepped down the stairs and said as he walked toward his home: "Better hurry up, we still have to go to work in a while."

"Got it, let's watch a bit longer—"

Wang Laoqi and Seeing Sha Zhu couldn't bear to miss the Third Master's spectacle; standing high up, they could see far, and they huddled together to gossip again.

This front courtyard was a tiny place, with the central axis serving as the path, and the other side of the path was packed solid by people from the courtyard.

Li Xuewu caught a bit of it; Third Aunt was cursing in the street, saying she didn't know which bastard son of a bitch did this.

In any case, the cursing was very nasty, with a strong suspicion of "pointing at the mulberry to scold the locust," because the only ones capable of doing such a thing were the children.

Why?

Because adults wouldn't do such a thing.

Just think, on New Year's, who would run to their doorstep to take a dump? If they were caught, it would be a life-or-death struggle.

Only half-grown kids would be so reckless; it was likely that someone in their family had offended the "little ancestors" in this courtyard.

However, the more frantic Hou Qinghua's cursing became, the narrower and more specific the target seemed.

Just think, there were only so many half-grown kids in this courtyard; who could do such a thing?

"Ya—"

Before Li Xuewu even entered the room, he saw Li Ning and Li Tang, the two brothers, standing by the window, clinging to it and peering out at the spectacle.

Seeing him approach, the brothers tapped on the glass one after another, chirping excitedly.

Being one-year-old children, they were just starting to talk; Li Tang and Li Ning could both clearly call "Mama" and "Papa."

It was just that they hadn't determined who "Mama" and "Papa" specifically referred to, so when they were anxious, they called out everything.

Sometimes when they were heading toward Grandma, they would also call "Mama" or "Papa," their little mouths smacking away—it was quite amusing.

The old lady said the first one was hard to raise, but the ones after were easier, because children learn by imitation.

Whatever Li Shu's temper was, or her playing habits, these two little ones were like little tails, learning to play and playing to learn.

By the time he entered the room, Li Shu was almost causing a ruckus with her two younger brothers, all wearing floral padded jackets, looking like little monkeys.

"Papa, Little Brother pooped!"

"Li Shu—" Gu Ning glanced at her daughter and reminded her: "If you tell lies again, Mama will be angry."

"Hehehe—"

Li Shu didn't care; she laughed and hid in her grandfather's arms, picking at her little hands and saying: "Stinky—stinky—"

"I don't know how they heard it."

Liu Yin brought the dumplings into the room and placed them on the kang table, explaining to Li Xuewu: "They've been making a racket about it all morning."

"Stop talking about it, it's disgusting."

Li Xue lived in the east courtyard with Ji Yuxiu; she had come back early in the morning to help wrap dumplings and set the table.

Ji Yuxiu was the same, wearing an apron, busy inside and outside the room, chiming in: "Exactly."

Zhao Yafang couldn't find a moment of leisure; she insisted that Gu Ning soothe the children while she followed her mother-in-law to wrap dumplings and tidy the kitchen.

She had said last night that as long as she didn't have to soothe the children, she would do anything; she was truly lazy.

"They've been arguing all morning, and the case still hasn't been settled."

"Who's going to settle it? Do you think this is a play?"

Li Xuecai also said with a look of disgust: "Others see joy when they step out, but for them, when they step out, they see..."

"Why so much talk—"

Li Shun, soothing his eldest granddaughter, glared at the third son and gestured toward the cabinet: "Go warm the wine."

The old man was used to drinking warm wine in winter, especially in the morning; whether it was a few coins' worth or an ounce, it warmed the body.

On this New Year's day, the old lady and the old man didn't get off the kang, watching Liu Yin busy with the children.

On weekdays, they couldn't bear to see the children work hard; the big ones and small ones were all working, and as elders, they weren't unable to move their arms and legs.

Li Shun was different; no matter when, he sat there steadily, with the demeanor of the head of the household.

Now that he had grandchildren, ever since Li Shu was born, Li Xuewu and his brothers could joke around with him a bit.

But when it came to serious matters, or using this current tone, Li Xuecai didn't dare to be cheeky at all.

Hearing his father scold him, he quietly went to the cabinet to get the small wine pot to warm the wine.

"A person that big, and you still need to be told?"

Li Shun glanced at the third son who had slipped away, and taught his eldest granddaughter Li Shu, who was looking up at him: "I wasn't talking about you; Li Shu needs to learn to be good."

"Heehee—"

At three years old in name, but actually two and a half, little Li Shu understood everything; she knew Grandpa was lecturing Third Uncle.

When Third Uncle came in with the wine pot and cup, she even laughed and scraped her cheek with her index finger, shaming her Third Uncle.

Li Xuecai naturally didn't dare to provoke the "big demon king" with a backer at this time; he could only pout and make a scary face, but Li Shu wasn't afraid at all, just laughing non-stop.

The whole family set up two tables; the elders and children were on the kang, and the younger generation was on the floor.

Even the two little ones were sitting obediently in the arms of their great-grandmother and great-grandfather, gnawing on dumpling skins.

The warmth and harmony inside the room set off the noise outside the window even more.

The spectacle had escalated, because Li Xuewu heard Jia Zhangshi's voice, accompanied by Qin Huairu's shouting.

"Aren't you going out to take a look?"

Li Xuecai turned while holding his rice bowl and glanced at Li Xuewu beside him, reminding him: "There are many people from your factory."

"Just eat your food—"

Before Li Xuewu could answer, Zhao Yafang glared at him and said: "Mind your own business."

"The racket is unsightly, it's New Year's."

Li Xuewu didn't have any intention of worrying about neighborhood harmony; he just had to finish breakfast soon, as he had to read.

With all this chattering, he couldn't focus on reading either.

"It's fine, as long as no one is lying on the ground."

Li Xuewu ate his dumplings nonchalantly, picking up a piece of pig's trotter and placing it in Gu Ning's bowl.

Seeing Gu Ning look up at him with a troubled expression, he smiled and said: "Eat a piece, it brings wealth."

The Li family had the most comfortable and fulfilling New Year, with the whole family reunited and healthy.

During the New Year's Eve dinner, Li Xuewu didn't take charge of everything; he just brought whatever he had.

Beef, mutton, frozen seafood, fresh vegetables—just these made many families envious of the Li family's table.

Although they couldn't see it, by taking a few glances and smelling the aroma, they could guess that the Li family's New Year's meal was extremely lavish.

Li Shun was a cautious person; he didn't throw away bones or seafood shells casually, but packed them in a bag and threw them far away.

Over the past two years, he had seen too much intrigue, fratricide, and separation; the strings in his heart were pulled tight.

If the Li family ate well, someone might say something, but with Li Xuewu holding things down, plus the benefits from the Red Star Factory...

There are many employees of the Red Star Factory in this courtyard, and they are all well aware of what the Supply and Marketing Service Department sells.

Even if they eat well, it is because the Li family has many cadres and many employees; naturally, they eat well.

People may envy them, but there are truly few who dare to cause trouble for the Li family.

After keeping a low profile for two years, the most intense wind has already passed; even if it blows again, it won't be blowing at ordinary people like them.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the wind is blowing toward the young people, and perhaps it will blow even harder this year.

Otherwise, Li Xuewu would not have arranged for the third brother to come down from the mountain, relaxing his father's restrictions and vigilance.

Of course, those old moneyed people on the mountain still have to hide, because the wind targeting them has never stopped.

My cheap father-in-law, Lou Yu, rarely comes down from the mountain unless Li Xuewu calls him down for a meeting.

Even if he comes to the capital, he just stays in the club, goes nowhere, and attends no meetings.

The New Year's goods and supplies were purchased and sent up the mountain by Shen Guodong; if you have money, you don't have to worry about not being able to buy good things.

Just like the pig trotters on the dinner table; this stuff is actually hard to sell and hard to buy.

It's said to be hard to sell because the meat on a pig is all the same price, and everyone wants to buy fatty meat; pig trotters are just a layer of skin, and the rest is all bone, so it's too much of a loss to buy them back.

It's said to be hard to buy because this stuff doesn't sell well openly, but in reality, it's all handled by the meat sellers at the supply and marketing cooperative.

If it can't be sold, it's heavily discounted, and internal consumption is considered a benefit.

Shen Guodong specifically told the supply and marketing cooperative to save more than twenty pig trotters for him before the New Year, and he asked Sha Zhu to help prepare them.

There is no shortage of equipment or craftsmanship for braising pig trotters, and the large pots in the outer courtyard kitchen are running all year round.

It's not that Gu Ning doesn't like to eat them, she just feels it's a bit unrefined.

With the elders of the family present, she always feels awkward and embarrassed if she has to hold a pig trotter and gnaw on it.

It wasn't until she saw her sister-in-law, Zhao Yafang, take the lead in gnawing on one that she felt at ease and ate the piece Li Xuewu had picked for her.

"You won't die a good death, you—"

The shouting and cursing outside the window became increasingly distinct; it was Jia Zhangshi being pushed toward this side by someone.

She hopped on one foot, pointed in the opposite direction, and cursed: "Whoever passed gas should eat it back! What are you bleeping about here, pointing at the mulberry and cursing the locust tree!"

"Alright, why are you arguing with her!"

Qin Huairu blocked her mother-in-law and persuaded: "She didn't name you specifically, forget it, let's go home and eat."

"This still doesn't count as naming names!"

Jia Zhangshi swayed her body from side to side and shouted with a hoarse voice: "She was just one step away from coming to our doorstep to curse!"

It wasn't clear what Hou Qinghua was cursing back from across the way, but Jia Zhangshi's words were heard clearly through the window.

The eyes of the three children were all drawn over, and the old lady and the grandmother also had expressions of astonishment and displeasure.

After all, it's the New Year; although it wasn't directed at their own family, it was right in front of their house, and it was truly unpleasant to hear.

Moreover, neither Hou Qinghua nor Jia Zhangshi are people who keep their mouths clean; the cursing was truly too vulgar.

To say they dug up their ancestors wouldn't be an exaggeration at all.

Everyone knows the feeling of such an argument; even if it's not directed at you, you still feel annoyed and don't want to listen.

Li Xuecai is young, and hearing it was bothersome; seeing his father and the old lady frown, he was about to get up, but was pulled back by Ji Yuxiu, "Why are you getting involved? Let me go out and take a look."

"Don't go, let Xuewu go."

Li Shun turned his head, frowned, and said to Ji Yuxiu: "It's a matter between neighbors, it's not convenient for you to go out."

"Hmm, it's not convenient to speak."

Li Xuewu finished the last dumpling, wiped his mouth, stood up, and said to Ji Yuxiu: "It wouldn't be appropriate regardless of how deep or shallow I get involved."

This was the truth; Ji Yuxiu is now in the branch bureau, and if she really had to come forward to resolve it, it would be an official matter, which easily hurts harmony.

From a personal standpoint, she is not yet a daughter-in-law of the Li family, nor is she considered a person of this courtyard, making it even harder for her to intervene.

The reason for letting Li Xuewu go out is because of his status as a factory leader, and he is also used to being authoritative in this courtyard; everyone respects him.

To be honest, if Jia Zhangshi hadn't been standing so close and cursing, disturbing the peace of the family, Li Shun really wouldn't want to get involved.

Just as Li Xuewu said, don't they have any sense of propriety themselves during the New Year?

As long as no one ends up lying on the ground, it's nothing; they'll just argue for a bit longer.

"What's going on here?"

After Li Xuewu went out, he didn't suppress anyone; Qin Huairu and her mother-in-law were nearby, along with the seventh wife and others.

He looked at them with a very puzzled expression and asked: "Making such a racket, are you not going to work today?"

"She is bullying people too much—"

Seeing Li Xuewu come out, the crowd originally thought there would be a spectacle to watch, but once they saw him speak like that, they all dispersed.

Seeing him come out and ask about her side, Jia Zhangshi's inner anger subsided quite a bit, but she still wouldn't let it go with her words.

"How big is Banggeng's intestine, to be able to pass such a thick..."

"Mom, stop talking—"

Qin Huairu also knew why Li Xuewu came out; it wasn't to uphold justice for them, as this kind of thing couldn't be upheld.

She reached out to stop her mother-in-law and said: "It's the New Year, is it worth it?"

"Alright, calm down—"

Li Xuewu didn't dwell on the fact that they were cursing at their doorstep and consoled them: "It's the New Year, a festive day."

"Sister Qin, go back," he pointed his chin at Jia Zhangshi and said: "There's no need, the three children are waiting at home for a meal."

"I'm already full from the anger!"

Jia Zhangshi also reacted, knowing that she had disturbed Li Xuewu, otherwise, no one from the Li family would have come out.

She let Qin Huairu pull her back to the middle courtyard, but her gaze toward Hou Qinghua still carried malice.

By now, the crowd had dispersed quite a bit; Li Xuewu glanced at the opposite side and pointed at Yan Jiekuang: "Clean it up."

Yan Jiekuang looked at his parents and kept his head down, not moving.

He and Yan Jie Di also knew it was shameful, but the excrement was placed at their doorstep, and young people of this age are the most impulsive.

Seeing Jia Zhangshi leave, Hou Qinghua was still hopping on her feet and shouting, "In this day and age, there are people who pick up money, but I've never seen anyone pick up curses. If you didn't do anything shameful, why are you standing your ground? Or is it that you have a guilty conscience!"

"Yan Jiefang, you clean it up."

Seeing that he couldn't order Yan Jiekuang, Li Xuewu's face became more serious, and he called out the name of Yan Jiefang, who was standing at his doorstep.

Without waiting for Yan Jiefang to answer, he pointed at Yan Fugui and said: "Third Uncle, it's not pleasant to look at, hurry up and clean it up."

Yan Jiefang didn't want to get involved in this, but he couldn't withstand Ge Shuqin pushing him, so he could only find a shovel to scoop up the dirt.

And Yan Fugui didn't say anything either; he, along with Yan Jiekuang and Yan Jie Di, pulled Hou Qinghua back into the house.

Hou Qinghua was naturally unconvinced, and although she said she was unconvinced while cursing, she still moved her feet.

If Li Xuewu were to turn cold, and there was still no peace, then that would be refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit.

"There are so many people in this courtyard, who did it?"

He said to the First Uncle: "From now on, every household should be more vigilant; don't let thieves come to your doorstep without knowing it, and then curse wildly."

Yi Zhonghai frowned; he had just tried to persuade them, but he couldn't stop two women from cursing in the street.

The neighbors who hadn't dispersed yet also walked home with the excitement of watching a spectacle; it's unknown what they were saying.

In any case, it wasn't anything good; could they be thanking the Yan and Jia families for their passionate performance, joining forces to present an annual blockbuster?

"Go home—"

When Li Xuewu was about to return to his room, he saw Banggeng running out gnashing his teeth and shouted, scaring the "Big-Faced Cat" so much that he didn't dare to leave the third gate.

It was just that this kid was staring at the Yan family with a face full of resentment; it didn't look like anything good.

Young people, too impulsive.

"Yo, taking a family portrait, are we?"

Ao Yuhua, who had just been transferred to the position of Director of the Personnel Department, was passing by on her way to work and saw a large group of security cadres taking a group photo in the office courtyard, and jokingly teased Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu turned his head and saw it was her, so he also greeted her with a smile: "Happy New Year, Director Ao."

"Happy New Year, Team Leader Li!"

Ao Yuhua stood still, examined the rare uniform on Li Xuewu, and said appreciatively: "It really has an imposing manner."

"It was originally arranged as a public photo, but I saw the opportunity was rare, so I decided to take a family portrait."

Li Xuewu explained with a smile: "I've been doing security work for two years, and I really don't have a photo like this in my hands."

"That should be taken—"

Ao Yuhua nodded and said: "If the publicity effect of the security team is good, I will also promote it in the Personnel Department."

"Hehe, the functions are different after all."

Li Xuewu nodded noncommittally and said with a light laugh: "Some departments of the security team are, after all, windows for serving the public."

"Publicizing the main information of the person in charge is to better, faster, and more comprehensively carry out service work."

He gestured toward the direction of the main office building and said: "The Personnel Department is still different from us; there are fewer opportunities to come into contact with the masses."

"Then we will absorb what we can use."

Ao Yuhua understood and said with a smile: "In the lobby, we can publicize the information of the persons in charge of each office, section, and main department, but this matter has to be handled by you."

She said embarrassedly: "I almost forgot that I am no longer a person of the Commission Office."

"Who said that? Why aren't you?"

Li Xuewu said with a smile: "The Commission Office is your eternal home; that's what I think anyway, hahaha—"

The police uniform was uniformly changed in 1966; the upper garment is grass green, and the lower garment is navy blue, with winter and summer uniforms being the same.

Traffic police are different; they can wear white helmet-style hats and white upper garments.

In winter, they can wear black leather short trench coats, and in areas north of the Yellow River, they can also wear riding breeches while on duty.

Of course, these are standard uniforms; factory security departments and government unit security usually have their own uniforms, with similar styles.

The uniform of the Red Star Factory Security Department didn't completely change with the situation from the beginning, and this year there were even slight modifications.

Because they have their own tertiary industry and clothing production channels, the factory security has three sets of uniforms: one for winter and summer each, and one for spring and autumn.

Summer is a blue short-sleeved shirt paired with blue trousers, wearing a blue peaked cap; winter is a blue long-sleeved shirt paired with blue trousers, wearing a blue winter cotton hat, and on duty, they are equipped with khaki cotton overcoats.

Spring and autumn are blue jacket tops paired with blue trousers, wearing a blue peaked cap.

The cap badges and collar insignias for the three seasons are all red, quite like the 72-style equipment.

What is mentioned here is only the regular uniform; the training uniform is a black special service style, limited to being worn during training and when performing special service tasks.

Why be unconventional and independent? Li Xuewu has his own considerations.

That art school dropout in Austria summarized an experience from actual combat, which is that uniforms are very important.

The Red Star Factory has significant differences from brother units in terms of welfare benefits and management systems.

Just talking about the security team, whether it's training or management, Li Xuewu dares to say that what he has brought out can beat the security of any other factory.

Of course, he is still very cautious; in this day and age, the security of some units is not cultivated by themselves, but is professional security.

He can only say that the security department he cultivated is superior to the security of most enterprises, so he must give certain psychological hints.

From clothing to equipment, from management systems to vehicle painting, he constantly reminds the security personnel that they are different.

Precisely because they are different, there are stricter requirements, more arduous training, and higher management standards for them.

"Taking what kind of family portrait, this is showing off troops."

Su Weide stood at the window, looked at the movement downstairs, curled his lips and said: "It's just that I don't know who it's for."

Gu Cheng cautiously brought tea to Ao Yuhua, the Director of the Personnel Department, and retreated without daring to say a word.

Ao Yuhua also found it hard to respond to Deputy Director Su's words, so she could only pick up the teacup to cover up her inner helplessness.

"Director Ao," Su Weide turned his head to look at her, raised his eyebrows, and asked: "There wasn't this program before, right?"

"Ah, you are talking about..."

Ao Yuhua held the teacup and looked up, stunned for a moment, before shaking her head slightly and saying: "Oh, there shouldn't have been."

Seeing that Su Weide had returned to his seat and was staring at her with sharp eyes, she could only tell the truth, unable to play dumb anymore.

"However, the security team has changed uniforms."

Even under Su Weide's pressure, Ao Yuhua still explained: "It should be to leave a souvenir."

"Isn't it said that photos are to be publicized?"

Su Weide glanced at her and then looked out the window.

Actually, sitting in his position, he couldn't see anything on the third floor; he could see the office building opposite, but it was useless.

There were still sounds coming from downstairs; it was Sun Jian, the Director of the Comprehensive Office of the Security Team, organizing cadres above the deputy section level to gather for a photo.

According to rank and height, he also had to take care of the female comrades; he was so busy that his throat was hoarse from shouting.

Li Xuewu just stood there watching, talking to Peng Xiaoli from time to time; it looked like Peng Xiaoli was reporting on work.

The previous group photo included the persons in charge of each branch, and now they were taking a smaller group photo, which belonged to the core strength of the security team.

The cadres who were being organized to take photos also knew very well in their hearts that the leader taking them out to bask in the sun wasn't entirely for that photo.

It could be said that the leader was leaving and wanted to take a group photo with everyone to leave a memory.

But one has to think about whether the leader will keep this photo under his desk in the future, constantly staring at everyone in the photo.

This is the core of the security team, and also Li Xuewu's main force; the fortune or misfortune of being in this photo is unpredictable.

It looks like the supervising leader really can't get along with Team Leader Li; even if Team Leader Wang Xiaoqin is in charge in the future.

But... it's true that everyone has no bottom line in their hearts.

This time, Deputy Director Dong and Team Leader Li are both leaving the security department; so how should they walk their path in the future?

Those above the section level are easy to talk about; if it doesn't work, they'll just be transferred; anyway, the leader can see them.

What about cadres at the deputy section level and below?

In the future, if group management is implemented, it will be even harder for these small shrimps to get ahead.

Of course, they don't know that Deputy Director Su upstairs is having a headache and cursing by pointing at the mulberry and cursing the locust tree, feeling resentful because not a single security team cadre has gone to report work to him for so many days.

It's really true, why hasn't anyone gone to report work? This is so disrespectful to the newly arrived leader.

In Su Weide's mind, even if Dong Wenxue and Li Xuewu had managed the security team like an iron bucket, there must be a place where it leaks.

Never expected, not a single point!

As long as someone came to report, he could follow the vine to find the melon, take the opportunity to disintegrate the power of Li Xuewu and Dong Wenxue, and disrupt the layout of the security team.

"Publicizing the persons in charge is a good thing and should be supported."

Seeing that Ao Yuhua had not expressed her position for a long time, Su Weide also knew that this was a hard stone and could not be shaken for the time being.

The previous words were just a probe to see if she had any possibility of loosening up.

It was heard that Li Xuewu had hurt her face when handling Cheng Kaiyuan, and the girl who was brought down was her connection.

Although Li Xuewu and Ao Yuhua worked in the same department, according to what Gu Cheng said, the relationship between the two was very average.

Since they couldn't make contact now, it meant that Li Xuewu's power was too hard, or that Ao Yuhua had another backer.

No matter what, he had to round off this sentence.

"Is there any problem with preparing the training class for grassroots discipline inspection cadres?"

Su Weide paused, then looked at Ao Yuhua and said: "A thousand-mile dike collapses in an ant nest; one has to be on guard."

"Yes, it's arranged for mid-February."

Ao Yuhua introduced: "If the personnel side takes professional training, it still has to be coordinated with the Security Team Discipline Inspection Section. What do you think..."

"Hmm, I'll talk about it—"

Su Weide didn't make things difficult for her, nodded very frankly, and said: "Strengthening infrastructure is indispensable."

"Then I will contact the school today."

Ao Yuhua was not ambiguous in her work and responded readily: "The joint school has organized several training classes, and there are some currently in progress. I will ask them to organize the teaching force."

"Yes, but it's best to combine theory with practice."

Su Weide said: "It is necessary to enrich the thinking of grassroots supervision forces and arm their supervisory skills."

"Understood, I will convey your requirements."

Ao Yuhua stood up and said: "Then, if you have no other requirements, leader, I will go and arrange it."

"Good, okay, go—"

Su Weide nodded, picked up the teacup, and made a gesture to drink water, with no intention of seeing the guest out.

After Ao Yuhua went out, he put down the teacup and glanced at the door; Gu Cheng, who was just coming in, bumped into him.

Gu Cheng was coming in to clean up the teacups; he had been diligent and cautious during these days, not daring to have the slightest slack.

If being a secretary for a leader is a good job, then he would be willing to exchange positions with anyone.

He originally thought that Su Weide was just using him for a few days as a cover and would replace him after finding a suitable secretary candidate.

But after these days, he didn't feel at all that this Deputy Director Su had any intention of selecting and examining secretary candidates.

What? He took a fancy to me!

He felt bitter in his heart, not daring to show it at all.

Just as Peng Xiaoli said, he tried hard to maintain loyalty to the Red Star Factory, impartial and unswerving.

"What year did Deputy Director Ao come?"

Su Weide, who was looking at documents, suddenly asked this, and then there was no more sound.

Gu Cheng's heart trembled, knowing that what should come had come.

How does that saying go?

If it's a blessing, it's not a disaster; if it's a disaster, you can't avoid it; Su Weide was still going to take action against him.

"What's going on with you and Gu Cheng?"

On his way home from work, Li Xuewu suddenly remembered something and asked Peng Xiaoli in the passenger seat: "Broke up?"

"Where—"

Seeing the leader ask this, Peng Xiaoli explained with a wry smile: "He told me that the situation is difficult, and the time to test friendship has arrived."

"He said it's inconvenient for us to associate, so we should go underground."

"Is he sick—"

Li Xuewu listened to these few lines of melodramatic and cheesy words, couldn't help but twitch his mouth, and said: "Tell him to watch fewer movies; his brain is lost."

"He's babbling, I have no way to deal with him."

Peng Xiaoli turned his head and said helplessly: "I've persuaded him, I've talked to him, he's just like a lunatic."

"Leader—" he hesitated for a moment, and seeing Li Xuewu look at him, he still asked the doubt in his heart: "Why did you arrange for Gu Cheng to serve Deputy Director Su?"

"Why? Is it not allowed?"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows, knowing that Peng Xiaoli would ask this; he had probably been holding it in for several days.

He turned his head and looked out the window; the plum blossoms on the roadside had bloomed.

"On which mountain you are, you sing the songs of that mountain, understand?"

"But—" Peng Xiaoli asked hesitantly: "You clearly know that Deputy Director Su understands his background and connections—"

"What background and connections does he have?"

Li Xuewu turned his head, looked at Peng Xiaoli, and said: "Gu Cheng's background and origin have been examined by the organization; there's no problem, right? Then what's inappropriate about him serving as a leader's secretary?"

"Don't form cliques, and don't isolate yourselves. The reason Gu Cheng is as confused as a headless fly is because his thinking is immature, his understanding is inaccurate, and his ability is not up to standard."

"Then why did you still..."

Peng Xiaoli just wanted to ask again, but suddenly reacted to what the leader meant.

He was stunned for a moment and understood everything; the leader was using this "unqualified" state of Gu Cheng.

From Gu Cheng, one could reflect on Deputy Director Su, and it also expressed Li Xuewu's most obvious attitude.

What attitude?

First, Gu Cheng is entangled in the change of identity and the embarrassment of being stuck in the middle, and can't help but want to pass information to this side.

Li Xuewu is clearly warning Su Weide: You came to the Red Star Factory alone, but this is all the people of the Red Star Factory.

I don't have to use these means to deal with you, but I can still make you wary under the open cards; then even if you are a tiger, you have to lie down for me, and if you are a dragon, you have to coil for me.

Second, Gu Cheng's status as an open card to Su Weide, then isn't Su Weide's status to the Red Star Factory and Li Huai De also an open card?

What state Gu Cheng is in before him is what state he is in for the Red Star Factory Management Committee team.

Do you, Su Weide, also want to make the mistakes Gu Cheng made?

Third, Li Xuewu put Gu Cheng in front of Su Weide, not giving the other party the right to choose a secretary at all.

Now Su Weide dares to refuse Gu Cheng's service; that is openly wanting to get serious with the Management Committee team.

Speaking of which, does he dare to make this decision?

Gu Cheng's performance of clique-ism, mountain-top tendencies, and isolation; do you, Su Weide, also want to engage in this?

Li Xuewu played three moves against the other party, and finally left a door for the other party, a reverse multiple-choice question.

In other words, he warned Su Weide that if he wants to achieve success in the Red Star Factory, there is only one path to take.

Put down prejudice, put down obsession, abandon clique-ism, and truly treat yourself as a cadre of the Red Star Factory to do work.

Otherwise, the Red Star Factory cannot accommodate him; he will be like Gu Cheng is to him, constantly being remembered by the Red Star Factory to kick him out.

Therefore, when he accepts Gu Cheng, the Red Star Factory will accept him.

The process of educating Gu Cheng is also the process of his own redemption.

Li Xuewu has always played open schemes, whether it's against Gu Cheng or Su Weide; it's truly a chain of strategies.

Thinking of this, Peng Xiaoli's back was already breaking out in cold sweat; when did the leader start laying out this game?

Thinking again about what Gu Cheng came to tell him today, Deputy Director Su wants to establish a training class for grassroots discipline inspection cadres at the joint school.

He doesn't need to think much to know that whenever such training classes are held, it's for action or other purposes.

What can be intuitively thought of is that Deputy Director Su wants to select suitable personnel, exert his influence, and cause trouble from the grassroots level.

Why not use the middle level?

Because all middle-level cadres of the security team have already told him with facts that this is an iron plate, and you can't kick it.

Then Su Weide can kick it if he cultivates from the grassroots?

Hey, from this point, it can be seen that Su Weide definitely didn't come here for a short-term goal.

He has been here for half a month, and there is no plan to go down for research, nothing more than wanting to cross the sea in secret and avoid Li Xuewu's edge.

It also includes the wariness of other Red Star Factory leaders toward him.

Opening the situation in the form of a training class is a safe and good method, and it is a method that is effective for a long time.

He is also telling the Red Star Factory that he, Su Weide, didn't come here to fish for three days and dry nets for two, and then pat his butt and leave.

He wants to work here for a few years, cultivate influence from the grassroots, and then he won't be afraid of you, Li Xuewu, being here forever.

Li Xuewu understands his thinking very well, and he is not wary of or blocking his actions.

The Red Star Factory is not his, and the security team is even less so.

Trees move and die, people move and live; he is moving further, and what's important is to cultivate cadres who are close to him; he can't explore further down.

It's impossible for a team leader to cultivate security section chiefs, right?

So if Su Weide wants to be strong, let him go; in three to five years, perhaps he will also have an equal status with the other party.

At that time, we will meet at the peak.

"Did you go to my godmother's house?"

"Went."

"Did you go to Teacher Han's house?"

"Went."

Li Xuewu was calculating in his heart, comparing the New Year's greetings of his third brother, Li Xuecai, one by one.

He had to go to work and had no time to pay New Year's greetings, so he arranged for his idle third brother to go with Shen Guodong to pay greetings on his behalf.

It's just that this doesn't include the relatives of the Gu family; he has to go there himself to make a round; it's inconvenient for the third brother to go, and it would only cause resentment.

"Sunday, I can rest."

Li Xuewu thought for a while and said to Gu Ning: "Do you want to go with me? Mom will watch the children."

Gu Ning didn't speak, just looked at the child in her arms; Li Ning still clung to her, and when he woke up, he would burrow into her arms and not come out.

"Fine, I'll go by myself this year."

Li Xuewu and Gu Ning have their own tacit understanding; if she doesn't speak, it means she doesn't want to go; if she wanted to go, she would just need to nod.

"If you don't go, you don't go, but you can't let it bother you in your heart."

He enlightened Gu Ning: "It's meaningless to keep dwelling on past things; you can't be the same as them."

Gu Ning glanced at him, her mouth moved but she didn't speak, just looking impatient and unwilling.

It was all caused by loose lips; Gu Ning had been lonely and difficult to get along with since she was a child, and it was inevitable that relatives would spread gossip and talk behind her back.

Furthermore, the children of relatives weren't close to her either, and there was always comparison and secret competition in the past, so she was a bit petty.

Yes, that's right, Gu Ning holds grudges.

She remembers the words she heard and the rejection she received when she was a child.

"Actually, relatives are just like that; you can't let them limit yourself."

Li Xuewu understands Gu Ning's mood very well; in his previous life, when he went back to his hometown, his parents would urge him repeatedly on the phone: don't brag when you go home, don't mention your progress, and definitely don't talk about making money.

Why?

Because the only people in this world who truly hope you are well might be your parents.

"Do you want me to help you make them jealous?"

Li Xuewu leaned close to her and teased her in a low voice: "I have a few achievements here that I can show off; you can brag as much as you want, and I'll cover for you no matter how big you brag—"

Gu Ning rolled her eyes at him, the corners of her mouth curled up, but she still suppressed it and said: "Not going, if you want to go, go yourself—"

"Fine, I'll go myself."

Li Xuewu stood up with a wry smile, scooped up Li Shu, who was still making a fuss, from the ground and said: "Let's go, let's go home to sleep—"

The family of four finished their meal in the front courtyard and chatted for a while before coming to the back courtyard to rest; tomorrow is officially the start of work.

Passing by the third gate, he saw Banggeng squatting in the corner, looking sneaky, not knowing what he was doing.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you cold?"

"Shh—"

Banggeng made a gesture for him to be quiet, indicating that it was inconvenient for him to speak now.

Li Xuewu and Gu Ning each held a child, smiled at his playful appearance, and went to the back courtyard.

The stove in the back courtyard had been lit early, and it was warm when they entered the room; Li Ning had already fallen asleep, and after coaxing Li Shu to sleep, the couple lay on the kang and rested after saying a few words.

In the middle of the night, Li Xuewu was sleeping soundly when he heard a burst of shouting, and someone was hitting a washbasin and shouting something loudly.

By the time he put on his clothes and ran out, he saw it was Banggeng who was causing trouble; before the neighbors who had been woken up could curse at this unlucky kid, they saw Third Uncle, who was bare-bottomed, lying in the courtyard of the front yard.

"Third Uncle took a dump at his own doorstep!"

"Everyone, come out and see!"

(End of chapter)