Chapter 1275: Loyalty and Righteousness Are Hard to Balance

"Do you think it can succeed this time?"

Gao Yaqin hugged her arms and stood downstairs, watching the car Chantal was riding in leave the office area.

And Li Xuewu stood by her side, looking at the car of the Sanhe Stock Company that was driving over, revealing a confident smile.

"It's a bit meaningless for you to ask this now."

As luck would have it, the car Chantal was riding in crossed paths with the car Nishida Kenichi was riding in.

Whether intentional or unintentional, the drivers of both cars slowed down when they met.

In other words, even in the dark night, the people in the cars had guessed who was sitting opposite them, more or less.

"Seriously," Gao Yaqin turned her head to look at him and said seriously, "If we talk about negotiation tactics, you are the one who is truly formidable."

"Hey! Talking is talking, laughing is laughing, but you can't insult people—"

Li Xuewu felt that this sentence tasted wrong no matter how he heard it; what does "you are the one who is truly formidable" mean?

"Look, I'm praising you, and you're still not happy."

Gao Yaqin smiled and said to Dong Wenxue on the other side, "Do you think he is a bit too cautious?"

"Always feeling that whatever others say is calculating against him."

"It's good to be cautious—"

Dong Wenxue was actually good at chatting, rounding off the words, "In the position of Secretary-General, if there isn't a sufficiently cautious attitude—"

The remaining words didn't need to be said; those who understood, understood.

"Leader, the Sanhe Stock Company's car is here."

Fan Hua, who was the Director of the Foreign Affairs Office, did an excellent job; she was careful, responsible, and efficient, especially in foreign reception, which gave Li Xuewu a lot of face.

Without comparison, there is no harm.

Previously, when Zhang Shicheng took over from Sha Qizhi, the leaders only had one requirement for him: follow the established rules, and do the foreign reception work well according to the existing work order and organizational process.

But even with such a low requirement, Zhang Shicheng still made a mess of the foreign work, and even poked a big hole.

Not only did he get himself involved, but he also implicated his patron Cheng Kaiyuan, almost bringing Old Cheng into the bureau together.

For a cadre who couldn't even copy homework well, being dealt with could only be said to be his own bad luck; there was no need to save or redeem him.

Li Huai De was also very annoyed; while secretly cursing that mud couldn't support the wall, he still had to find Li Xuewu and ask him to rearrange people.

This was just like the personnel in the reception center back then; Yang Fengshan insisted on taking care of his brother-in-law, and as a result, his brother-in-law fed him a big pile of shit.

Asking Li Xuewu to arrange people had an immediate effect.

And Fan Hua, like Qin Huairu, was a good comrade who could understand words and do practical things, so her work naturally received the appreciation and satisfactory affirmation of the leaders.

"Mr. Nishida, hello."

Dong Wenxue, reminded by Fan Hua, stepped forward as soon as Nishida got out of the car, smiled, and extended his hand to greet him.

Nishida Kenichi was very polite, caught Dong Wenxue's hand with both hands, and responded with a smile, "Good evening, Mr. Dong, you are really too polite."

"Hello, Mr. Nishida."

Gao Yaqin, who had already met him and had simple communication, also stepped forward to shake hands and greet him.

"Good evening, Miss Gao, sorry to have kept you waiting."

Nishida Kenichi was very polite, politely expressing thanks and saying it was hard work.

Finally, when he reached Li Xuewu, Nishida Kenichi appeared even more familiar and close, even hugging his arm and joking.

The height difference between the two sides was really too big; he wanted to hug Li Xuewu's shoulders, but he would have to jump to do that.

With his height, hugging Li Xuewu's waist was just right, but if he dared to do that, Li Xuewu guaranteed he could make his height shrink back by three centimeters.

"On the way here, I seemed to have seen Ms. Chantal of the Santa Ya Group," Nishida Kenichi asked very bluntly, "Did I see wrong?"

"No, you didn't see wrong."

Li Xuewu saw the gazes of Dong Wenxue and Gao Yaqin and answered calmly, "It was indeed President Chantal of the Santa Ya Group."

"Oh, is that so—"

Following Li Xuewu's gesture and invitation, Nishida Kenichi stepped onto the steps.

He walked and asked as if casually, "I still don't know what happened..."

"Nothing, President Chantal has a new itinerary arrangement and has already ended this inspection activity early and returned to Beijing."

Li Xuewu's explanation was the same as not explaining, but it was equivalent to casting a hook; it was an old skill of a fisherman—whatever he said casually was fake bait.

Lying was impossible; since Nishida Kenichi asked like that, he must have seen who it was; lying would be inferior.

It was better to admit it generously; three parts true, seven parts false; anyway, Nishida Kenichi wouldn't believe everything he said; everyone was just fooling around with each other.

The business world is just like this; winning or losing depends entirely on one's own ability, and how much "truth" content you can distinguish in what the other party says.

Talking and chatting all the way, when they reached the reception room, Nishida Kenichi finally asked, "I haven't had time to ask yet, why was I invited over this time..."

"Oh, it's like this," Gao Yaqin took the initiative to explain, "The inspection and visiting activities are about to end. We want to hear the opinions and suggestions of old friends; after all, your side is the most front-end and cutting-edge in sales."

She signaled in the direction of Dong Wenxue and Li Xuewu and said with a smile, "Director Dong and Secretary-General Li introduced to me some of the fate between the Sanhe Stock Company and the Red Star Factory, as well as the composition of the current cooperative business."

"I look forward to both sides being able to further deepen cooperation, mutual benefit and mutual trust, and establish a long-term and stable trade and technical cooperative relationship..."

Nishida Kenichi listened very seriously, but in his heart, there was another kind of thinking.

The Red Star Factory is a bit cunning!

He had already heard some wind that the Santa Ya Group had hurriedly carried out negotiations with the Red Star Factory on the second day of their inspection in Steel City.

Tonight was very likely the time for the initial negotiations between the two sides, and his appearance was at the invitation of the Red Star Factory to meet here.

For the Santa Ya Group, a pattern of multi-party checks and balances had formed invisibly.

This should have been arranged by the Red Star Factory long ago; it was to put pressure on the Santa Ya Group and use the influence of the Sanhe Stock Company to facilitate the implementation of the negotiation results.

Although he hadn't figured out what the two sides had talked about, and even less knew the specific content and direction of cooperation.

However, he could already determine that the Red Star Factory pulling him over was to set up a pattern of multi-party checks and balances for the Santa Ya Group.

Nishida Kenichi didn't feel angry about being a chess piece for others; this at least reflected the influence and value he represented.

Getting angry couldn't solve the problem.

Now he had to consider what influence of his would affect the cooperation between the Santa Ya Group and the Red Star Factory.

Think about what businesses and foundations the Red Star Factory had, then think about what trade-related businesses the Santa Ya Group did.

Finally, think about the cooperative business between the Sanhe Stock Company and the Red Star Factory, as well as the technology and business capabilities they possessed.

The points where the three parties' businesses overlapped and intersected, as well as the content considered under divergent thinking, could be the focus of today's negotiations between the two sides.

First possibility: helicopter manufacturing and sales; second possibility: electronics industry-related; third possibility: international trade market.

It must be said that Nishida Kenichi's commercial sensitivity was really high; although it was impossible to guess everything correctly, he could judge the general form.

Reverse deduction, and he could reach a conclusion: since the Red Star Factory could talk about cooperation with the Santa Ya Group, it could also borrow the influence of the Sanhe Stock Company.

Since the Santa Ya Group could talk, we could also talk!

"Whether to pull the Sanhe Stock Company into the game, there's no need to rush to a conclusion now."

Li Xuewu pinched his eyebrows and looked at the time on his hand; it was already past eleven o'clock at night.

Busy from morning until now, he had only rested for less than an hour in the middle.

It wasn't just him; the speaking frequency of almost everyone in the lounge had slowed down, and their voices sounded a bit tired.

Negotiations are the most physically exhausting; fortunately, Li Xuewu was young, and fortunately, Li Xuewu's combat effectiveness was fierce; with him charging in front as the main force, Dong Wenxue and Gao Yaqin, who were assisting, could indeed feel this reduced pressure.

After sending off Nishida Kenichi, after initial probing and contact, he believed the other party had already understood the Red Star Factory's needs and the next development direction.

The beans had been planted, so just wait for them to bloom and bear fruit.

Whether the Red Star Factory wanted to take the Sanhe Stock Company along to play depended on whether Nishida Kenichi wanted to follow this game.

Without sufficient confidence and chips, how could the Red Star Factory show him their trump cards? Look at the cards first, then talk.

"Is there any problem with the purchase contract for the steel furnace slag from the Steel City Steel Factory?"

Gao Yaqin heard Li Xuewu's words and turned to look at Dong Wenxue; this was the business he was responsible for, and he had been busy with this matter all along.

"I used the banner of purchasing building materials," Dong Wenxue shook his head with a bitter smile and said, "The contract is signed, I'm just afraid that later..."

"Later matters will be dealt with later."

Li Xuewu said decisively, "I really am not afraid of them suspecting, and even less afraid of them investigating and surveying themselves."

"These slags have been piled there for decades, and no one has seen anything or found anything," he said firmly, "Without deliberate experiments, ordinary laboratories cannot produce accurate experimental reports."

"Since the contract is signed, then start transporting."

Li Xuewu looked at Dong Wenxue and reminded him, "Didn't the mountain behind our power station get hollowed out? Just use these slags to backfill; if asked, just say it's for ecology!"

"This reason of yours is quite plausible," Gao Yaqin looked at Dong Wenxue and said, "The direction of the mountain behind the power station can be used for some long-term planning."

"For example, ore screening, coal washing, ore pile accumulation, etc."

As she said this, the corners of the mouths of the secretaries doing service work in the reception room twitched; such big leaders, sitting here planning to deceive people.

Someone asked, Li Xuewu and the others mentioned it during the inspection, and mentioned it again in the reception room, so aren't they afraid that the Steel City Steel Factory will know?

Not afraid, because the spread of information not only needs channels but also needs authenticity, especially the spread of information between public entities, which is quite obstructive.

Also, the confidentiality awareness of employees in this era is very strong; basically, they won't talk about relatively confidential content of their company with outsiders.

What kind of place is a laboratory?

What kind of place is a reception room?

Who would think that laboratory personnel would reveal secrets, and who would think that secretaries would spread such news? This is self-destruction of one's future.

In later generations, you say if you can't stay in this company, you can jump to another company; in this era, whether you resign or are fired, it's no different from being permanently banned from working, which is equivalent to judging you to go home and wait for death.

Don't say people in this era live too seriously, because if you are not careful, it might be a lifetime.

Everyone has to be responsible for their own words and deeds, including leaders.

"The slag matter is settled; how is the factory studying the matter of jointly forming a construction engineering company?"

Gao Yaqin had been making up for lessons all along, but she still didn't understand some things thoroughly enough; working while asking, fortunately, Li Xuewu was here.

She knew very well that Li Huai De trusted Li Xuewu enough, and Li Xuewu was loyal enough to the Red Star Factory; many businesses were completed with his participation.

Including what was asked now, the Red Star Factory's planning for future business.

Before coming to the Red Star Factory, she heard a piece of advice: don't make friends with Li Huai De, don't play tricks on Li Xuewu.

Li Huai De is a villain, forgetting righteousness for profit, profit-seeking, although he knows how to use people and is resourceful, he is a thorough opportunist.

Li Xuewu is young and wise, has strict requirements for himself, does things cleanly and neatly, and has a strong ability to control the overall situation, having proven himself in multiple confrontations.

It is rumored that in the safe in Li Xuewu's office, there is a development plan for the next ten years he made for himself and the Red Star Factory.

The "Three-Year Plan" and "Five-Year Plan" originally proposed by Li Huai De were actually a small part of the collection in Li Xuewu's safe.

Staff in the comprehensive office who had participated in specific material collection and plan writing also privately revealed that Li Xuewu works with a clear train of thought, advanced thinking, high work standing, and has a strategic vision of looking far ahead.

Such a person is very terrifying; to play the struggle game with him is equivalent to putting one of your legs on the side of failure.

Of course, Li Xuewu sneered at these rumors, privately joking that he had made a plan for the next thirty years.

Everyone laughed, but they might have imagined his words, but more people were certain that Li Xuewu does things with rules and has a strong sense of purpose.

That is to say, the routine is quite deep.

Gao Yaqin also had deep feelings about this, because she had fallen into a trap set by Li Xuewu and almost killed herself.

Not to mention the distant past, just talk about now, just talk about this negotiation.

He made a specific negotiation plan the very night he received the negotiation news, one ring after another, completely confusing Chantal.

From the broken overhead crane to the precision of the replacement gears by the workers, he laid the groundwork, leading to the mastery and production process of numerical control machine tool technology.

Because there was no production technology for numerical control machine tools, there was no large-area layout of numerical control machine tools participating in production, and there were no high-precision gear units.

Pushing forward again, numerical production technology was available, but were alloy materials available?

This led to the non-ferrous metal resources already possessed by the Red Star Factory, including vanadium, titanium, cobalt, nickel, as well as magnesium ore, zinc ore, tungsten ore, etc., which could assist the metallurgical industry to produce new materials that meet industrial manufacturing needs.

This step not only left a negotiation foundation space for the smelting and cooperation of non-ferrous metals but also provided an explanation for the industrial layout development needs of the Red Star United Savings Bank and the Orient Era Bank preparing to seek Australian iron ore resources.

Extending further down, including the display of process technologies such as marine crankshafts, aircraft, and automobile manufacturing, implied the profound foundation of the Red Star Factory's existing metallurgical technology and production technology, interlocking and showing the thickness of the industrial chain.

Let's put it this way: when the three sat here tonight to review the negotiation process today, and when they studied the depth of the Santa Ya Group's ability to continue negotiations and fulfill the contract after signing the framework agreement, everyone in the reception room had a question to ask themselves.

That is, if they were to face the Secretary-General's negotiation plan, how much certainty would they have of escaping unscathed.

Commerce and politics are the same; there are no "ifs," because whether it is commerce or politics, they are based on existing facts to make appropriate judgments.

Therefore, "if" can only be asked of oneself, not of others.

If they were forced to tell the truth, the conclusion was simple.

The Secretary-General's technical feint, ambush on all sides, and resourcefulness, complemented by Deputy Director Gao's softness with hidden needles and final word, supplemented by Deputy Director Dong's powerful resource and information support, carrying out negotiations based on the basic economic development policy of "self-reliance + limited opening" in this era, no one could handle it.

Thinking back, it was the Santa Ya Group that was anxious first, anxious to stabilize the front, anxious to open up new investment fields and bases, which gave the Red Star Factory an opportunity to take advantage of, and with a relatively sincere attitude and solid cooperation foundation, quickly pierced Chantal's psychological defense line and won this game.

But to say they suffered a loss, Chantal couldn't be counted as one.

Commercial negotiations, where are there clear wins and losses? There is only talk of earning more or less.

Compared to the negotiation conditions brought out by the Santa Ya Group, in terms of the final framework agreement reached, she achieved this negotiation goal.

Mineral cooperation development was there, technical industrial output was there, and the most anticipated architectural engineering could also start negotiations.

Although she paid more for two helicopter production lines and related technology, as well as a business jet.

But relatively speaking, she also got the opportunity to participate in the Red Star Capital and the top ten investment banks in Hong Kong laying out Australian mineral resources.

Where are there wins and losses in commercial cooperation?

Take the cooperation of architectural engineering, just this one item, the Santa Ya Group has already stuck a foot in the interior construction market.

"The opening of the future construction market will still take a long time," Li Xuewu said in his answer to Gao Yaqin, "We cannot refuse cooperation in commerce and technology, and even less can we stop advanced technology from entering the interior."

"This is a profound truth proven by the Qing Dynasty with three hundred years of national destiny."

He said with a calm tone, "We must admit that in engineering construction and construction equipment, and even in engineering management, we need to learn."

"A person's life is nothing more than needing to do two things: learn and respond."

Li Xuewu let out a long breath, looked at Gao Yaqin and Dong Wenxue and said, "Actually, think about it, enterprises are the same."

"I firmly believe that the choice at this moment is the most correct, and also the most in line with the needs of the era."

"Construction market—" Dong Wenxue hesitated and said, "Currently, the profit space in the country is not large; I see the Santa Ya Group's goal is still industry standardization, as well as the monopoly and market expectations for the construction equipment market."

"In this regard, the Red Star Factory can do a lot more," Gao Yaqin also reminded, "According to the actual situation I understand, many rural cooperatives are also taking related construction projects, although they don't have related qualifications."

"Qualifications are hard to say."

Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said, "The industry's binding force on professionalism is too low; our supply chain technology output is reversed, which is why we have the ability to formulate industry production standards today, but architectural industry is hard to say—"

"Indeed, how many years has it been."

Dong Wenxue nodded and said in agreement, "Thousands of years of thinking and cognition, without administrative means and mandatory requirements, it's hard to set this standard."

"So some units just simply hire construction workers to build, rarely asking if they have related employment qualifications and employment capabilities."

Gao Yaqin said with a bitter smile, "Some research institutes even find rural cooperatives in the countryside to contract projects because the price is suitable and the people are diligent."

"This is a big joke."

Li Xuewu said with a light smile, "Think on the bright side, will there be no accidents during the engineering construction process, and will the main body of the building never have accidents?"

"Once an accident occurs, who will be responsible? Furthermore, quality problems and subsequent maintenance and upkeep, who will be responsible for them?"

He tapped the armrest of the sofa and said, "Cooperation with the Santa Ya Group is to make the Liangma River Industrial Zone and the Red Star Factory's related buildings into benchmarks, into advertisements, into examples, to show those who need them."

"With the Red Star Factory's construction as the delivery standard, with the technology brought by the Santa Ya Group combined with the Red Star Factory as the technical standard, build a new style for the construction industry."

"Using technology to lead engineering needs, using advanced equipment to drive out bad money," Gao Yaqin thought and said, "This project will take at least five years to be effective."

"Don't rush, take it slowly."

Li Xuewu stretched his shoulders, smiled and said, "The leader's meaning is very clear: the system cannot be changed, but technical cooperation can be carried out."

"That is to say—" Gao Yaqin looked at Li Xuewu and guessed, "The Santa Ya Group invests with technology, and the share is calculated as a technical consultation fee?"

"Currently, it can only be like this."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "This is also a bold attempt; the industrial field absolutely dares not do this easily."

"With the construction branch as the main body, fully exert advantages such as human resources and business resources, introduce the East Wind 31 Construction Cooperative engineering management and the Santa Ya Group architectural engineering technical team, and form a joint construction engineering company."

He looked at Gao Yaqin and Dong Wenxue and explained, "Forming a construction company is the first step; the next step is real estate and property management companies."

Of course, Li Xuewu didn't say how far or how long the next step was.

Perhaps within ten years, the joint construction engineering company will have established an excellent engineering construction brand and reputation nationwide, and the Red Star Factory's engineering and construction machinery equipment will also become the main brand in the domestic engineering and construction market.

By that time, the market will be opened, and it will be time for the "next step" to go all out.

Think about it, actually, there isn't much time left for the Red Star Factory.

"Goodbye, Deputy Director Dong, goodbye."

"Take care—"

March 30th, weekend.

Steel City Wharf, Dong Wenxue led the team members to see off the inspection group led by Gao Yaqin and Li Xuewu.

Both sides exchanged pleasantries warmly on the wharf, shook hands one by one, and said goodbye; the scene was very enthusiastic.

The industrial competent leaders of Steel City who came to see them off also saw that behind this enthusiasm was the inspection group's recognition and appreciation of the Red Star Factory.

Including foreign merchants and large enterprises like Five-Grain Bank, anyone could see that after the Red Star Factory obtained the qualification to form a group company, it had ushered in another strong development opportunity, perhaps called a takeoff.

"Oh, what a pity—"

The competent leader of Steel City's industry, Deputy Director Wang Lu, held Li Xuewu's hand and said intimately in a joking tone, "You are too busy; we haven't had a good chat yet, and you are leaving."

"I am also very sorry—"

Li Xuewu held her hand with both hands, smiled and said politely, "I have heard from Deputy Director Dong that you have helped and taken care of our factory a lot."

"Look, isn't this being too formal."

Although Wang Lu was a female comrade, she appeared very straightforward and generous, patted the back of Li Xuewu's hand and said, "The Red Star Factory taking root in Steel City means they are our Liaodong people; can we not help and take care of our own people?"

"Your words make me feel warm inside," Li Xuewu's smile became even brighter, and he said seriously, "I believe development is our common goal, and serving the people is our common ideal and struggle career."

"It is precisely because of having more leaders like you that our enterprise's development in the locality will be smoother and longer-lasting."

"Secretary-General Li, I will take your words seriously."

Wang Lu let go of Li Xuewu's hand but hugged his arm and said seriously, "I guarantee to you that the Red Star Factory's industrial production and investment construction in Steel City is the work I will handle first and most urgently on my desk."

"But you also have to understand our work; some needs and problems can be communicated between us; there is no need to go through the province, right?"

Her voice suddenly lowered, and she said softly, "I also know your factory's concerns, but we have been cooperating and getting along for so long; we should have a certain trust in each other, don't you think?"

"Including engineering construction, mineral development, industrial production, etc."

Wang Lu knew very well that wherever the Red Star Factory invested in industrial construction in the future, the industrial environment there would become the hen's nest that lays eggs.

So the hand holding Li Xuewu's arm was very tight, and the tone was also very low; she just wanted to bypass the province and talk about cooperation directly.

How could Li Xuewu possibly make a promise to her on such an occasion, at this time? This isn't a joke!

I'll just ask everyone reading here: who would chat about marriage and having children during the refractory period?

Isn't smoking a cigarette after the fact fragrant?

"Don't worry, I will definitely bring your wishes and goodwill back, and I will report to our factory leaders when I go back!"

Li Xuewu acted like a scumbag, saying things very nicely, but just wouldn't give a promise of marriage.

"I personally am very inclined to talk directly with the city; after all, our relationship is here."

He even deliberately patted Wang Lu's hand on his arm, giving the other party a look that said "I understand everything, you don't need to beep anymore."

Wang Lu was also a high-ranking official, with her own demeanor and restraint; how could she appear too low-key? This was just a kind of social skill.

Of course, she also knew that words said at the time of parting were very likely not to count, just like Li Bai back then; he wrote so many farewell poems, look at which one he fulfilled the promise of?

Today he was so sad he didn't want to live, tomorrow he was so depressed he was going to die, yet he was still drinking and having fun.

Scholars, after all, don't keep their word.

But as long as the posture is in place, if it doesn't work this time, it doesn't mean it won't work next time; Li Xuewu can't always slap her face.

With this politeness, even if it doesn't work next time, it doesn't mean it won't work the time after; Li Xuewu won't always slap her face.

She is smarter than Ge Ping, the industrial competent leader of Yingcheng, willing to put down her status, and more skilled in human relationships, fully utilizing the advantages of being a woman.

What? You ask if Wang Lu looks good?

A forty-something auntie, what are you asking!

Lu Xun wrote this sentence in the essay collection "Random Thoughts Under the Lamp":

A nation that has knelt for too long has altitude sickness even when standing up. Mention money and power, and pupils immediately dilate. Mention sex, and immediately get excited.

Mention morality, people's livelihood, humanity, and conscience, and everyone is as silent as a cicada, none of my business, not interested. Individuals who are shrewd to the bone form a strange ethnic group, and all humiliations and disasters are self-brewed.

(This sentence was indeed said by Lu Xun)

Li Xuewu had deep feelings about this sentence; he was a very clean, self-loving, down-to-earth, hardworking, and enduring good comrade.

Wang Lu, who watched Li Xuewu board the ship, deeply doubted this sentence, just as she doubted the promise Li Xuewu just made to her.

This kid doesn't look like a good thing at all!

Becoming the Secretary-General of the Red Star Factory management team that is about to be group-based at such a young age, can someone who can convince the public in this position be a kind person?

"Didn't rest well last night?"

After Li Xuewu boarded the ship, he saw Maggie Roman rubbing her neck on the sofa with a frowning and pained expression.

"A little, had a nightmare."

Looking at Li Xuewu walking over and sitting by her side, she carefully sized him up, then turned her face away and continued rubbing her neck.

Li Xuewu didn't care about her attitude; a big girl always has those few days when her mood isn't smooth.

"What nightmare did you have? Tell me, maybe I can interpret the dream."

"Interpret the dream? Witchcraft?"

Maggie looked at him amusedly, pinched her neck and said, "I dreamed I was beaten, chased and beaten by a group of people, and then I was scared awake."

"Just this?" Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "This doesn't count as a nightmare, right?"

"I haven't finished yet—"

Maggie rolled her eyes and said, "After I woke up, I continued to sleep, and didn't expect to dream of this group of people again, and they even said to me: You still dare to come back!"

"Pfft—hahahaha!"

The few people sitting on the living room side who could understand French all burst out laughing; those who couldn't understand looked at them blankly, not knowing what they were laughing at.

Li Xuewu knew he had been played, picked up the teacup to signal, and said with a smile, "It seems your mood is better than you appear."

"Actually, it's not good," Maggie gave up on her neck, lay back on the sofa decadently, and looked at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, saying, "Just amusing myself; do you think I can really tell you my troubles?"

"Fine, count it as my being overly sentimental—"

Li Xuewu put down the teacup amusedly, opened his palm and said, "This morning I wanted to ask you, why didn't you go back with Ms. Chantal."

"She is anxious to return to France, and I am not anxious to return to the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office."

Maggie shrugged her shoulders without caring and said, "Have you ever seen a caged bird released that is anxious to fly back into the cage?"

"Comparing yourself to a caged bird?"

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Then your life is still better, and the working environment is not as arduous as we can imagine."

"What do you mean?" Maggie seemed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, narrowed her eyes and looked at Li Xuewu, "Are you saying I am feigning illness and being pretentious?"

"No, no, that's not what I mean."

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "Compared to your self-comparison to a caged bird, I remember a movie released in '62 called 'Prairie Fire'."

"I won't narrate what story it tells; the film reflects the working and living environment of workers before liberation; they compared themselves to cattle and horses."

"..." After a brief silence, Maggie pursed her lips and said seriously to Li Xuewu, "You are still saying I am pretentious!"

"Hehehe—" Fu Caining, who was resting and drinking tea on the side, said in French with a light laugh, "I can prove it; that is exactly what he means."

"Hey! President Fu, you can't turn your elbows out—" Li Xuewu said with a smile, "We are compatriots, we are our own people!"

"I'm just telling the truth." Fu Caining looked at him, "Hearing you mention President Chantal, I am very sorry that I didn't have more time and opportunity to communicate with her in depth."

"Maybe the fate hasn't arrived yet." Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Or you can stay in Beijing for a few more days; I believe there will always be this fate."

"Hehe—" Fu Caining looked at him and said, "Don't probe me; I hold a positive and optimistic attitude toward Hong Kong affairs."

"Especially after this relatively comprehensive inspection and visit, seeing the Red Star Factory's layout in Liaodong, I can really feel your factory's accumulation and strong production capability."

"If I can get your support and trust, then I believe the future of Yingcheng Port will definitely be very glorious."

Li Xuewu's pretty words were well-spoken; he turned his body slightly, elbow resting on the back of the sofa, just enough to take care of both Maggie and Fu Caining at the same time.

"I see you have also done container transport business," Maggie looked at him and said, "Cooperating with the shipyard and trade output, this was laid out long ago, right?"

"Can only say that one gets what one seeks," Li Xuewu let out a long breath and explained, "We have an old saying: man proposes, God disposes."

"On the basis of possessing heavy industrial foundations of metallurgy and steel rolling, develop automobiles, ships, aircraft, food, hardware, medicine, finance, and other fields, and actively expand outward, building a logistics system of land transport and maritime shipping."

Fu Caining evaluated very positively, "This is the scale and industrial foundation a group enterprise should have, and it is also the reason why I have confidence in the Hong Kong area."

"Of course, it also includes your active cooperation with international trading enterprises like the Sanhe Stock Company and the Santa Ya Group."

"Besides containers, ports, and industry," she looked into Li Xuewu's eyes and asked, "What else are you preparing to do? Mineral resources?"

"Mm, there is this plan."

Li Xuewu also knew he couldn't hide it from her, and even less from everyone on this ship; if they didn't do mineral resources and only did trade, why build a port area?

"Liaodong intends to use capital and mineral enterprises to integrate local mineral resources, to carry out efficient and safe development..."

He half-truthfully explained the mineral development policy of Liaodong and the next move of the Red Star Factory; there were few people in this living room who could understand French and could invest in mineral resources, so he wasn't afraid of leaking secrets.

"How about it, President Fu," he looked at Fu Caining very expectantly and asked with a smile, "Does Five-Grain Bank have the intention to invest in interior mineral resources?"

"Coal mines? Iron mines? Zinc mines? Or rare metals?"

Fu Caining didn't know much about the distribution of mineral resources in Liaodong, but she probably knew a little, "Or precious metals, gold?"

She was right; the gold ore reserves in Liaodong were really not low, and the story of old mountain gold panning in "Crossing the Northeast" also had a real background.

"Coal and rare metal resources from Yingcheng to Steel City."

Li Xuewu said very frankly, "We have already mastered the smelting technology for related mineral resources; we are just missing forming a company to integrate resources."

Maggie had some understanding of the content Li Xuewu and Fu Caining were talking about, because the negotiations between the Red Star Factory and the Santa Ya Group were completed under her supervision.

However, according to what she understood, the two sides only signed a framework agreement; whether it was mineral resources or non-ferrous metals, they hadn't reached the stage of technical delivery yet, so how did it become mastered in Li Xuewu's mouth?

Could it be that in his mouth, signing a contract is equivalent to possessing?

Is there even a single true word in this man's mouth?

Before getting off the ship, Fu Caining didn't give Li Xuewu a definite answer regarding mineral development cooperation and investment, because she didn't believe Li Xuewu's words either.

However, in the remaining time, the two chatted about quite a few family matters.

Of course, it was hiding from Maggie, and they still used French.

They talked about Ji Weidong's work and life in Hong Kong, and also talked about the process of returning to Beijing this time to visit Han Yating and her son.

Speaking of the little grandson, the smile that bloomed on Fu Caining's face was genuine and warm.

"Still have to thank you for your care," Fu Caining said seriously, "Yating and Weidong have told me many times, and I haven't had time to thank you."

"Auntie, isn't it being too formal for you to say that," Li Xuewu naturally switched his form of address and said intimately, "Not to mention the friendship between Ji Weidong and me, I am Yuxiu's second brother, and also Han Yating's leader."

"I know, I know your friendship with Weidong, and I also know your care for Yuxiu," Fu Caining sized up Li Xuewu appreciatively and said, "But Auntie is sincerely wanting to thank you."

"I, as a mother and mother-in-law, have debts to the children, fortunately, the children can understand."

"Loyalty and righteousness are hard to balance," Li Xuewu nodded and comforted, "I believe the current separation is for a better reunion, don't you think?"

"You are right," Fu Caining let out a long breath, looked at him with a smile and said, "This sentence is also applicable to the relationship between Hong Kong and the interior."

"No wonder Weidong's father said you have great wisdom in politics."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1276 =====