Chapter 1307: Backstabbing Old Li?

On June 11th, the Red Star United Construction Engineering Corporation, led by the Red Star Steel Group, was officially established.

This company also became the fifth branch at the general corporation level controlled by the Red Star Steel Group.

The Red Star United Construction Engineering Corporation primarily accepted investment and technical cooperation support from three parties.

The Santa Ya Group Construction Engineering Company provided construction machinery, corporate management, supervision, and technology; the Dongfeng 31 Construction Cooperative provided supervision, project management, and comprehensive technology.

The third party, and also the controlling party, was the Red Star Construction Engineering Company, responsible for the construction of engineering qualifications, the contracting of construction projects, the management of construction workers, corporate management, and comprehensive business management.

All three parties were construction engineering companies with differing natures; under the premise of complementary advantages, they would realize joint operations.

Why joint operation instead of a shareholding system?

It is very simple: at this time, there was no such thing as a shareholding limited company or liability company in the country; that would have to wait until after the Opening Up.

There is still an essential difference between a shareholding company and a joint operation company; the most obvious characteristic is the lack of a board of directors.

The Santa Ya Group did not possess investment qualifications in the mainland, but it achieved its joint operation goal flexibly through the form of technical and equipment investment.

The internal shareholding division was written into the technology introduction contract. If the Red Star Factory were to act like a rogue, the Red Star Construction Engineering Corporation would have no shares from the Santa Ya Group, but this kind of mutually harmful situation would not occur.

Looking again at the Dongfeng 31 Construction Cooperative, this collective enterprise possessed advanced project management and comprehensive technology.

The purpose of introducing this collective was to fully cover the cooperation with the Santa Ya Group, and it was also a means to realize modern scientific management.

To put it bluntly, the Red Star Construction Engineering Company could pull together a team of construction workers and had the ability to compete for construction projects and qualifications.

But it lacked management experience and engineering experience.

According to what Li Xuewu explained to Li Huai De, if one wants to quickly complete the setup of a construction company, borrowing external forces and necessary means is the fastest and best way and method.

The Santa Ya Group provided engineering technology, the Dongfeng 31 Cooperative provided management technology, and the Red Star Construction Engineering Company provided manpower and qualifications.

Three-party cooperation, complementary advantages.

Because of the technical support from the Santa Ya Group Construction Engineering Company, the Red Star United Construction Engineering Corporation directly broke through several standard lines while domestic construction industry execution standards were still imperfect.

In engineering construction operations, projects such as housing construction, municipal public works, electromechanical equipment installation, fire engineering, steel structure engineering, and construction decoration and renovation projects achieved upgrades.

Housing construction engineering included residential, commercial buildings, industrial plants, etc., which was reflected in the Liangma River Ecological Industrial Zone.

Buildings such as Riverside New Village, Riverside Garden, Riverside Avenue, the Twin Towers, the United Industrial Building, the Newspaper Building, and the Technology Research Institute all had the foundation of the three-party cooperation.

Similarly, the Steel City Industrial Zone and the Yingcheng Shipyard area also had related housing construction projects under construction.

And in municipal public works, projects such as roads, bridges, tunnels, and water conservancy and hydropower were also reflected in the construction projects.

The Red Star Factory's three major industrial zones involved various types of engineering construction, which was the main reason the Santa Ya Group used this as an entry point.

These engineering projects all had representativeness, and under the blessing of complete and sufficient investment confidence, new equipment, new gear, and new styles were chosen.

The Santa Ya Group's engineering and design teams communicated and collaborated to their heart's content with the Red Star Factory's engineering management team to reach the final goal.

This also included engineering projects such as electromechanical, fire, steel structure, and decoration and renovation.

The industrial exhibition hall project that Li Xuewu inspected a few days ago used steel structures, which were built under the guidance and leadership of the Santa Ya Group's support team.

According to what Lang Zhennan said, domestic steel structure buildings were still relatively rare; besides the lack of construction materials, there was also the issue of technology not meeting standards.

The most critical thing was the lack of design experience.

And Li Xuewu, in the process of discussing with Chief Engineer Xia Zhongquan, also emphasized the necessity and importance of aesthetics and design.

Therefore, in this construction engineering cooperation, according to Li Xuewu's requirements, besides providing some supervision and auditing work, the Santa Ya Group also increased its investment in design services.

This included architectural engineering design, urban planning design, landscape design, building electrification system design, etc.

Speaking of building electrification, the Red Star Factory invested huge sums of money in several building complexes such as Riverside New Village and the office building.

On one hand, it reserved space and pipelines for future technological development additions and supplements; on the other hand, it combined current advanced technology to give the building complexes a technological outer and inner coat.

The security and fire systems, elevator and communication systems, lighting and water supply and drainage systems, etc., which Li Xuewu paid special attention to, also received advanced technical support from the Santa Ya Group. Combined with the actual situation in the mainland, professors from the Tsinghua University School of Engineering presided over the related research and summaries.

Why is it said that the investors of the Red Star United Construction Engineering Corporation were mainly these three? Because there were other business cooperations.

The Santa Ya Group had been deeply cultivating the mainland for nearly two years and had a certain understanding and experience summary of the domestic construction industry.

In the negotiations, Chantal proposed a viewpoint: construction workers and technology could be solved through cooperation, and engineering projects could be obtained through the relationships of the Red Star Steel Group, so what about construction materials?

This involved the fundamentals of construction: cement, sand and stone, steel, coatings, paint, glass, etc. How to realize guaranteed supply?

The Red Star Steel Group could not agree to introduce more multi-party cooperation; the cake of the Construction Engineering Corporation was not that big.

But facing the question from Santa Ya Group President Chantal, the representatives of several parties had to think deeply.

In the process of thinking, Dongfeng 31 Construction Cooperative General Manager Dou Zhaozu proposed another question: technology and labor services.

That's right, electromechanical equipment, engineering equipment, and maintenance services were important issues that engineering construction companies must face.

It didn't look very troublesome, nor was it a very large scope, but its importance was not a bit inferior to the guarantee of construction materials.

The labor services he proposed included specialized operations, landscaping and maintenance, and auxiliary operations for earthwork engineering.

Once the skeleton is built, one cannot ignore the details, otherwise, it will collapse sooner or later.

Preparing and operating a company is a systematic project; it is absolutely not something that can be done by a leader just by slapping their forehead.

In order to solve the problem of construction materials, the Red Star Steel Group provided two plans: one was to fully contact the relevant construction material supply system to seek help and support; the second was to rely on one's own efforts, work hard, and acquire and merge a batch of construction material enterprises for independent operation.

After discussion, the representatives of several parties decided to walk on two legs.

One must contact construction material supply channels to solve part of the needs, and also establish one's own construction material production enterprises.

This was not difficult for the Red Star Steel Group; the energy of a trust enterprise was manifested—tertiary industry.

That's right, in the process of development, the Red Star Steel Group developed many tertiary industries and joint industries.

In the process of cooperation and construction of these industrial systems, it also developed some partners with strong comprehensive strength.

The construction material list proposed by the Santa Ya Group could all be supplemented and produced by the Red Star Factory through tertiary industry cooperation or the Trade Management Center, which could also be considered a kind of integrated investment.

Typical representatives: the brick factory and cement factory in Red Star Village, the brick factory, cement factory, and lumber mill in Chadian Farm, etc.

Materials such as coatings, glass, and sand and stone could all be supplied through cooperation, supporting a large number of people.

Regarding the auxiliary engineering and business proposed by Dongfeng 31 Construction Cooperative General Manager Dou Zhaozu, one could only practice internally.

Fully exert the advantages of the cooperative to establish a professional landscaping and maintenance, earthwork engineering, and professional operation engineering system.

In this aspect, some local cooperatives and construction companies would be introduced to realize operations; after all, these were not critical projects that would choke one's neck.

Why did the Red Star Steel Group absorb Dongfeng 31 Construction into the scope of cooperation? In these aspects, Dou Zhaozu had made sufficient preparations in advance.

Waterproof and anti-corrosion engineering, downhole operation engineering, sewage treatment engineering, landscaping maintenance engineering, etc. —these dirty and tiring jobs, let alone Red Star Construction not having professional technology and conditions, even the Santa Ya Group Construction Company, which had the technology and conditions, didn't want to do these jobs.

Coming thousands of miles to the mainland just to plant flowers, raise trees, and dig sewage? Wouldn't that be the biggest joke in the world?

Therefore, little chickens don't pee, everyone has their own way.

What Li Xuewu explained to Dou Zhaozu was very clear: the Dongfeng 31 Construction Cooperative had no advantages in this cooperation.

The Red Star Steel Group could completely recruit the Municipal Engineering Construction Company to cooperate; the other party would be happy to come.

If one wants to manifest importance and advantages in cooperation, one must do the work to the extreme, to the point where others don't want to do it, aren't willing to do it, and can't do it as well.

Therefore, Dou Zhaozu was still very obedient and very willing to listen to advice.

In the past few years, he fully absorbed some construction professionals from universities to cultivate professional technical talent.

Those workers in his hands, no culture where there is no culture, no status where there is no status, what can they do?

There is only one answer: professionalism.

High-altitude operations, electrical operations, and other dangerous operations, high-intensity, high-risk injurious operations, high-tech, strong professional operations.

Anyway, as long as it is something regular construction workers dare not do and are not willing to do, they can use professional technology to complete it.

The Dongfeng 31 Construction Cooperative obtained 10% of the shares in this cooperation; it is not much, but one must look at the total amount.

The Santa Ya Group, relying on so much technical investment, only obtained 35% of the shares; isn't this awesome enough?

On the day the Red Star Construction General Corporation cooperation agreement was signed, Dou Zhaozu used his connections to buy an Hongxing Lingyang car as his personal vehicle.

Don't stare at the imported cars or Modu sedans on the street; that is not something his status can enjoy. If one sticks out, something will go wrong.

There are too many units in the city using Hongxing Lingyang cars, with all kinds of versions and models; him riding in one is not conspicuous.

The club has a Volga M24, and he can afford to buy one, but he doesn't have the fortune to enjoy it; when necessary, he can coordinate a rental.

"This car is actually quite good; I can even drive it," downstairs at the International Hotel, Dou Zhaozu said to Li Xuewu with a smile: "Sometimes I think the driver drives clumsily, so I go up myself and figure it out in two moves."

"One still needs to trust one's own driver."

Li Xuewu stood there looking at this top-spec Hongxing Lingyang, which looked quite small and capable.

"After all, you are a leader now; respecting the driver is equivalent to respecting your own post and profession, right?"

He glanced at the driver standing by the car and smiled gently, receiving a grateful look from the other party.

Dou Zhaozu was still a rough man, a bit hot-tempered, but he did things without a leak; it was just that he would show a low emotional intelligence side from time to time.

"How is the effect of the city version running on construction sites?"

Just as Li Xuewu said, Dou Zhaozu was a leader, and he also had to give the other party some face, so after saying one sentence, he changed the subject.

In this cooperation, Lang Zhennan served as the General Manager of the Red Star Construction General Corporation, and Dou Zhaozu served as the Deputy General Manager.

The Santa Ya Group side provided two important posts: Engineer Adolf served as Chief Engineer, and Designer Francois served as Chief Designer.

Specially, the deputy managers of the auditing department and the supervision department were both served by people from the Santa Ya Group; Li Xuewu's attitude was very serious.

Dou Zhaozu had adjusted his mindset recently and also knew that an arm could not twist a thigh, so he dared not go against Li Xuewu's wishes again.

Being able to obtain the post of deputy general manager was still due to Li Xuewu's support.

There were several deputy generals, but holding 10% of the shares, his right to speak was still very heavy.

Why did he, as an investor, want to serve in the Construction General Corporation?

It is very simple: the Red Star Construction General Corporation was established with the Red Star Construction Company and the Dongfeng 31 Construction Cooperative as the skeleton and main body.

Because of policies and other reasons, foreigners could not serve in important management posts in the general corporation, so there was little personnel intervention.

Of the three construction companies, only the Santa Ya Group was not merged; the Dongfeng 31 Construction Cooperative retained the Ancient Architecture Research Institute, and other personnel and equipment assets were merged into the Red Star Construction General Corporation.

Of course, this also included the office building of Dongfeng 31 Construction in the city, which was now the office building of the Red Star Construction General Corporation.

The Santa Ya Group could not be merged, nor could it invest a large amount of personnel and assets, but Dou Zhaozu's Dongfeng 31 Construction was different.

From the day the cooperative was established, Dou Zhaozu had been on pins and needles, very afraid that someone would come to investigate him or deal with him.

Having never eaten sesame oil in his life, he suddenly earned so much money and felt a bit of heartburn.

Afraid, extremely afraid, he hugged Li Xuewu's thigh tightly, very afraid that one oversight would lead to eternal damnation.

Therefore, even though Li Xuewu did not participate in operations and did not invest much capital, Dongfeng 31 Construction was still controlled by Li Xuewu.

Being able to have today's achievements and acting as Li Xuewu's white glove was something he was willing to do, and he was also willing to lean against a big tree to enjoy the shade.

Therefore, when Dongfeng 31 Construction was merged into the Red Star Construction General Corporation, Dou Zhaozu celebrated that he had finally come ashore.

He and those brothers of his were now people with an organization and a formal establishment.

Although he also understood that the nature of a joint operation company was relatively special, the Red Star Steel Group's control was a kind of safety guarantee for him.

At least he no longer needed to contact in advance or register when coming to the Red Star Factory area; he was now considered one of their own.

He could enjoy the Red Star Steel Group's welfare system, have a work permit, buy housing, and buy daily necessities and electrical appliances at the Supply and Marketing Service Department.

Although his family had long since not lacked these, being able to enjoy this treatment by virtue of his status was also special to him.

"I feel, it's all the same." Dou Zhaozu looked at his driver and asked: "Is there any difference in driving?"

"Comfort, I guess; the suspension is softer, and the seats are more comfortable." The driver smiled and opened the car door to introduce: "Real leather seats."

"Hahahaha—" Lang Zhennan, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but laugh out loud. Seeing his own car arrive, he greeted: "Secretary-General, are you returning to the factory area? Shall we go together?"

"I still have some things to do; you go first."

Li Xuewu waved his hand, signaling him to do as he pleased, "Remember to go see Director Li after you go back; he is waiting for your report."

"Thank you, Secretary-General; see you tonight."

Lang Zhennan heard the care in Li Xuewu's words; letting him go see Director Li wasn't that just giving him a chance to perform?

Director Li did not come to today's signing ceremony; it was presided over by Deputy Director Xue and Deputy Director Gao; this was engineering and economic work.

The two leaders had already left; they were standing at the door waiting for their drivers to drive over.

Lang Zhennan's car was also an Hongxing Lingyang, configured last year; it was the car he used during his time as Director of the Engineering Division.

Now that the Construction General Corporation was established, his car had to be returned to the Engineering Division, and a new official vehicle needed to be purchased.

Li Xuewu still chose the Modu-brand sedan in this round of car purchase lists; all company-level general managers or factory directors had one.

The Secretary-General's work is not easy to do; one must keep the bowl of water level, otherwise there will be complaints and gossip.

His energy is very great, and ordinary people dare not speak ill of him, but in this position, since he has this authority and this spare money, why must he provoke everyone's unhappiness?

After sending off Lang Zhennan, only his own people were left downstairs, and Dou Zhaozu's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

"Will you attend the banquet tonight?" He looked at Li Xuewu and asked: "Do you need me to arrange it?"

"Normal hospitality, don't overthink it."

Li Xuewu looked back at him and reminded: "The Red Star Steel Group is currently pushing for compliant operations; you should grasp that."

"Yes, I've heard," Dou Zhaozu thought for a moment and asked: "Is it that over-spec operations are not allowed?"

"Many tasks have been restricted and regulated, including hospitality." Li Xuewu sat into the Hongxing Lingyang car, bounced his body, and said: "Since you are serving in the Construction General Corporation, you must also be disciplined and dedicated."

"While strictly requiring yourself, you must also constrain and educate the people under you well," he pointed at Dou Zhaozu and reminded him seriously: "Deputy generals must all bear major leadership responsibilities; be clear-headed."

"I understand, I can understand; it's a big group now, after all." Dou Zhaozu nodded and said with a serious expression: "Will there be more and more restrictions?"

"You really asked the right person—"

Zhou Miaomiao came out of the lobby, heard the last sentence the two were chatting about, and smiled to remind him: "The factory's work system was all revised under the Secretary-General's direction."

Dou Zhaozu treated them to lunch, but they didn't eat at the International Hotel; he said the food there carried a taste of tension.

Li Xuewu could understand his words; the International Hotel had a very strong commercial atmosphere, and if one sat there eating without talking about business worth tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands, one would feel it was a loss, and one couldn't eat well either.

The moment he and Dou Zhaozu stayed at the door was just waiting for Zhou Miaomiao.

After she came out, the three of them got in the car and headed straight for the club; the small kitchen there was the authentic one recognized by those who had been there.

"It's truly a cause for celebration; from now on, we are one family."

In the club's classical private room, Zhou Miaomiao smiled and poured Red Star Maotai for the two, "I toast the two leaders."

"Today, President Dou is the protagonist; toast him."

Li Xuewu was not a serious person, nor did he have a negative temper that would ruin the atmosphere; he raised his glass to toast Dou Zhaozu.

Dou Zhaozu feigned a look of fear and trepidation, toasted Li Xuewu with a more respectful attitude, and smiled as he clinked glasses with Zhou Miaomiao.

"I must thank the Secretary-General for the support and help along the way; otherwise, how could I, Dou Zhaozu, be where I am today."

He held the glass with both hands and said solemnly: "I don't know how to speak; the words are all in the wine; I will express more."

"Too polite—"

Seeing Dou Zhaozu finish his drink, Li Xuewu also drank the wine in his glass.

His social occasions were really not many now; Li Huai De rarely took him out to drink, even though he was the Secretary-General.

Among these enterprises or units that had connections with the Red Star Factory, who didn't know the great name of Li Xuewu, the Wine Immortal.

Li Huai De would rather take the two deputy directors of the Commission, Liang Zuodong and Bai Changshan, out to socialize than take Li Xuewu.

Because people would say he was cheating.

No matter how this round was drunk, once Li Xuewu sat there, these people's hearts would start to tremble, and they really wouldn't dare to drink.

Therefore, it wasn't that Li Xuewu's popularity was bad, nor was it that he took the initiative to stay away from socializing, but that people didn't take him out to play anymore.

Old Li was also afraid that his reputation would be ruined, so Li Xuewu, this kind of absolute-kill weapon, would not be used easily again.

Of course, the worse influence was that the "special brew" Li Xuewu kept for him at the guesthouse was becoming less and less, and increasingly lacking in taste.

Of course, Li Xuewu could still have a small drink with friends, but he only really drank one glass.

After all, whether there is alcohol in one's breath can be known by one sniff; one cannot be too fake.

"You should toast Comrade Zhou Miaomiao."

After eating a bite of cold dish, Li Xuewu smiled and signaled Zhou Miaomiao, who was pouring wine, to say to Dou Zhaozu: "Having been together for so long, she has helped you quite a bit."

"Should, should—"

Dou Zhaozu raised his glass and toasted Zhou Miaomiao: "Thank you, Sister Miaomiao, for your support and help; I'll finish it!"

"President Dou, you are too polite—"

Zhou Miaomiao smiled and looked at Li Xuewu; after Dou Zhaozu drank the wine in his glass, she also accompanied him with a glass.

"My contribution is not as great as the Secretary-General's; it's not worth you toasting me like this." She took the initiative to fill Dou Zhaozu's glass and added new wine to her own, saying: "I am very happy to have this fate with you."

"Your eye for people is really accurate—"

Dou Zhaozu praised Li Xuewu: "Putting people to their best use, putting Comrade Miaomiao in the post of the Foreign Affairs Office, you, high!"

He gave a thumbs up and said: "I admire you."

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu looked at him with a light smile, then looked at Zhou Miaomiao, and didn't say polite words.

Zhou Miaomiao was not promoted by him; it should be said it was Old Li's arrangement.

Even without his opinion, Old Li would have arranged for her to jump out of the dance troupe, either in the Commission or in the business department.

Dou Zhaozu also learned to be bad; he praised him, also praised Zhou Miaomiao, and even linked the two together; if that's not bad, what is?

"Let's have another drink; there will be fewer opportunities to drink together in the future."

After a few bites of food, Li Xuewu smiled and signaled Zhou Miaomiao, saying: "Your Sister Miaomiao is about to go to Hong Kong for advanced studies; you won't see her for at least half a year."

"Really! Hong Kong?" Dou Zhaozu obviously didn't know this news; he looked at Zhou Miaomiao in surprise, then at Li Xuewu, "Advanced studies, is it going to learn? Or—"

"I also just received the notification."

Zhou Miaomiao smiled and raised her glass to toast Li Xuewu, saying: "Thank you, Secretary-General, for your cultivation; without you, there would be no me today."

"Hmm, this sounds familiar."

Li Xuewu made a joke and drank the wine in his glass, giving her face.

"Oh my, Sister Miaomiao is about to make progress!" Dou Zhaozu finally reacted and said happily: "Congratulations, congratulations—"

He took the initiative to help Li Xuewu and Zhou Miaomiao pour wine, saying congratulations repeatedly; the happiness on his face was not fake.

On this woman, he really spent real gold and silver; now that Zhou Miaomiao was really lifted up, could he not be happy?

Compared to Li Xuewu, Zhou Miaomiao was easier for him to coordinate; the positions and environments the two were in were closer.

Both had a goal of climbing up.

The difference was that he climbed onto the fast car of the Red Star Factory by virtue of interest relationships, while Zhou Miaomiao climbed onto that big bed by virtue of professional skills.

"Today is truly a series of happy events; it's worth celebrating—"

Dou Zhaozu asked with a smile: "Is only Sister Miaomiao going to Hong Kong? After coming back, is she going to take an important post?"

"How could it be that simple." Zhou Miaomiao glanced at Li Xuewu and explained to Dou Zhaozu: "This time it's taking the opportunity of the International Business Department building an office in Hong Kong; the factory is sending us to see the world."

"In the list of people going to Hong Kong this time, I am considered the most ordinary."

Seeing that Li Xuewu didn't stop her, she detailed a few names, all of whom were people Dou Zhaozu should know.

"Director Sha Qizhi, who has been confirmed to be responsible for the International Business Department, Section Chief Xu Ning, who was transferred back from the Frontier Office..."

Speaking of this, Zhou Miaomiao looked at Li Xuewu again and asked: "I heard that Li Xue will also go this time, right?"

"I am not very clear about the specific reason," Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said, "By the time I saw the list, her name was already on it."

"Hehe, it was Deputy Director Jing who made the decision; I heard about it."

Zhou Miaomiao said with a smile: "This training opportunity is rare; everyone knows you are selfless, but who told Li Xue to have a good leader."

"You saying that makes me feel even more ashamed." Li Xuewu raised his glass and drank a small sip with the two, saying: "She is still young and is serving as a secretary; where would she need this kind of learning opportunity."

This matter really caused quite a stir in the agency.

At first, Li Xue was not on the list to go to Hong Kong, but after the list was submitted and summarized, Li Xue was on it.

Li Xuewu was the Secretary-General; after asking clearly about the reason, he made an instruction on the list, using the reason that Li Xue was young and only served as a secretary, not needing to go out to learn, and requested to cross out her name.

The Commission ran back and forth with the list; when it reached Deputy Director Jing, it received another kind of instruction: regarding Comrade Li Xue needing to learn advanced financial management knowledge, adapting to business learning and development needs...

Anyway, according to Deputy Director Jing's meaning, Li Xue had to go.

Deputy Director of the Commission Liang Zuodong held this list in his hand, as if it were a hot potato, caught in a dilemma.

Li Xuewu took the list to find Deputy Director Jing to argue; the two even had a big quarrel in the office, and finally, the list reached Director Li.

Everyone in the agency knew that the Secretary-General didn't want his own sister to go, didn't want to occupy such precious resources, but Deputy Director Jing intended to cultivate her own secretary, learn financial management, and stay in the financial system to work.

The two were deadlocked, each saying they had their own reasons.

The rumors that Li Xue only participated in this training because she had a good brother disappeared, and no one mentioned this again.

Instead, comments that she had a good leader appeared, but this was also something that couldn't be helped.

Everyone knew that after coming back from training and learning, one would definitely make progress.

This is a kind of hidden rule of the organization; going out for half a year of full-time learning is equivalent to working for a year in an important post.

The more important the training, the more important the meaning it represents.

The lawsuit reached Director Li; no matter what, Li Xuewu's reputation for fairness was spread out, and Jing Yunong's reputation for protecting her own also existed.

Good or bad? Doesn't exist.

Fairness and justice are of course a good reputation, but protecting one's own is not a bad reputation in the agency; who doesn't want their leader to protect them?

Li Huai De was generous and even less willing to see the two quarrel over this matter, so he waved his pen and provided an extra quota on the list.

That is to say, Li Xue neither occupied the original quota resources nor made her second brother feel embarrassed; killing two birds with one stone.

The Red Star Steel Group Sales General Corporation established the International Business Department; this plan had already begun to be executed early in the year.

When the Vice President of Ng Fung Hong came to Beijing, they were already coordinating and discussing this matter; with the cooperation of the Yingcheng Port area, this was not a big deal.

Regarding the candidate for the person in charge of the International Business Department, after investigation by the Organization Division, Sha Qizhi's name was placed on Li Huai De's desk.

This was not Li Xuewu's effect; it was really that Sha Qizhi had achieved certain results in the Trade Management Center.

Several exhibitions and external cooperations all showed good adaptability and played a key role in external cooperation negotiations.

Li Huai De trusted Li Xuewu's ability to cultivate talent very much; although he knew Sha Qizhi was a person Li Xuewu cultivated and promoted single-handedly, he still decided to use him.

One must look at Li Xuewu's face, and also look at Sha Qizhi's ability.

This post was very important; to expand business in Hong Kong, without a certain foundation and ability, it would absolutely not work.

Sha Qizhi had a stable family, parents still alive, and many children; he was most suitable for external work; if he used someone else, he really wouldn't be at ease.

Of course, Li Xuewu was cultivated and promoted by him single-handedly; Sha Qizhi could also be considered a cadre he cultivated.

While Sha Qizhi went to Hong Kong for training and learning, he would also be responsible for the construction of the office; after coming back, he would serve as the full-time business deputy general manager of the Red Star Steel Group Sales General Corporation in the capacity of General Manager of the International Business Department.

One cannot do work without people; Sha Qizhi asked for Frontier Office Director Xu Ning, as well as Foreign Affairs Office Deputy Section Member Zhou Miaomiao.

This could also be considered returning a favor.

Li is Li Huai De's Li, and also Li Xuewu's Li.

Choosing Xu Ning was because of ability; he did very well in the Frontier Office, cleaned up the mess left by Jin Yaohui, and also made the office's business and scale the first among all offices.

Just this year, the Frontier Office was officially upgraded to a deputy-division-level branch, responsible for establishing the Frontier Trade Branch.

In the process of doing business with great vigor, Xu Ning obtained Li Huai De's trust, so he also harvested deputy-division-level treatment.

This time going to Hong Kong for training, after coming back, he would work in the Sales General Corporation and be cultivated as a key cadre.

Then what about Zhou Miaomiao? What does she have?

She has Li Huai De; just this one reason is enough.

However, her potential and ability were also enough to be cultivated; Li Xuewu hoped she would learn and develop in the direction of business and product marketing.

Sha Qizhi arranged for her to temporarily serve as Deputy Director of the International Business Department Office, and wait until the training ended before making adjustments.

Choosing her to go to Hong Kong also had the reason that she was married; Xu Ning got married at the end of last year, forced by the old lady at home.

Why could Li Xue, who was unmarried, also go? Because her second brother was the factory's Secretary-General; this could also be considered a kind of guarantee.

In the learning team, almost everyone was married or had given birth to several children; situations like Li Xue and Zhou Miaomiao were rare.

Zhou Miaomiao hadn't given birth, but she wasn't afraid; any fool knew she wouldn't make mistakes; in the Red Star Factory, no one had more resources than her.

"Did Zhou Tan agree to let you go learn?"

Li Xuewu looked at Zhou Miaomiao beside him and reminded: "At this time, absolutely do not have conflicts or problems."

"Don't worry, he supports me."

Zhou Miaomiao looked at the driver and said: "Last week we registered for a house purchase at the Housing Management Office and chose the largest square footage."

She smiled slightly, looked at Li Xuewu and said: "I can't bear to part with these seven thousand plus yuan, and he can't bear it even more; we have to work hard."

"I calculated carefully with him; my current salary and his salary added together have to pay off the loan for 10 years, and we can't have children yet."

Zhou Miaomiao raised her eyebrows and said: "But after I come back from learning, my salary will be the same as his; in less than three years, we will be able to pay off the loan."

"By then, whether we want children or enjoy a high-quality life, isn't it all something we obtained ourselves?"

"Hmm, you are right—" Li Xuewu couldn't help but laugh and said: "Couples like you who are so good at calculating and living are still rare; most people just live day by day."

"We are young, and the family doesn't have much support," Zhou Miaomiao said helplessly: "Up to now, including the bride price, we only have two thousand yuan in our hands; a house at 65 yuan per square meter is really killing us."

She and Zhou Tan borrowed from the United Savings Bank to buy a 120-square-meter residence; just the house payment reached 7800 yuan, which was indeed a huge sum of money.

However, both were cadres, and their salaries were high; paying back three or five hundred a year was not a problem, so it was just a matter of six or seven years.

This is much easier than in later generations; at least one doesn't have to pay for 30 years.

65 yuan per square meter, the commercial housing in Riverside New Village is indeed expensive, but there are reasons and values for it being expensive.

At this time, the construction cost should be between 40 and 45 yuan; the Red Star Construction Company used more engineering machinery, and construction materials were partially self-produced, so the cost was also around 30 yuan.

That is to say, each square meter of commercial housing only earned 35 yuan.

Don't say "only," because the Red Star Factory still had to bear housing allocation and welfare policies; commercial housing was just a kind of adjustment.

Let alone the 7800 yuan house payment being outrageous; without shared area, what is the concept of 120 square meters?

This is considered a luxury house that can be counted in Beijing; there aren't many such new residential quarters or school district houses in the city either.

It is precisely because they are young that Zhou Miaomiao and Zhou Tan have big guts; having two thousand yuan in hand is completely enough to buy a 40-square-meter residence, enough for a young couple to live and reside with two children.

But just as she said, to enjoy a high-quality life, how can it work if the house area is small?

The three sets Li Xuewu bought were also 120 square meters, costing him more than twenty thousand yuan in full.

Is it worth it? This is really hard to say.

He only spent 5000 yuan for the club courtyard, and those few Sihe Academy only cost less than twenty thousand yuan; three sets of apartment buildings cost more than twenty thousand.

This is like the concept of villas costing one or two million in later generations, and large open-plan units costing three or five million in the city; buying a house is buying a location, buying a policy.

At that time, Li Xuewu could pick up leaks, but now it's hard to say.

Opportunities like buying commercial housing with property rights openly like this can only be had by Red Star Factory employees.

School district, commerce, hospital, garden, water system, work, etc. —can Riverside New Village at 65 per square meter be expensive for being able to take care of so many conditions?

It still depends on individual needs; wealthy dual-income, triple-income, or even quadruple-income families are enough to support it.

Even for those without money, using housing in the city for replacement, and then borrowing from the United Savings Bank, one can also purchase housing of 30 to 40 square meters.

Li Xuewu went to see the physical house; a dual-income couple with children, a family of five living in 40 square meters, the space is very sufficient.

In this era, don't talk about pursuing high quality; if one really has money to buy 60 square meters, it's enough for four children to live in.

The 40 and 60 square meters mentioned here are not the concepts of later generations; they are solid absolute areas, absolutely enough to live in.

If you want to say how many children Zhou Miaomiao and Zhou Tan have to have to buy 120 square meters, and how hard the mortgage repayment is, there is no need for everyone to worry about that.

Director Li is warm-hearted and cannot bear the hardship of the Foolish Old Man moving mountains; he will definitely help them.

Of course, don't think crookedly; it's not helping them have children, it's helping them solve the pressure of buying a house.

Zhou Miaomiao told Li Xuewu about buying a house with a loan; the driver Nie Xiaoguang didn't believe it—with good big brothers like Li Huai De and Dou Zhaozu, why use a loan?

Is it looking down on Director Li, or looking down on President Dou?

If it's neither, then it's treating him like a fool.

"Nie Xiaoguang, I heard you are dating Han Lu?"

Zhou Miaomiao didn't treat him like a fool, only like a rough man.

Han Lu took advantage of the situation and climbed into Old Li's bed while she was away in Jinmen to avoid the storm; the two had long since fallen out.

This blockhead Nie Xiaoguang stabbed Old Li, but turned a misfortune into a blessing by entering the Red Star Factory, and even came to drive for Li Xuewu.

It can only be said that Li Huai De can endure and can accomplish great things.

But this bad guy Nie Xiaoguang is really not someone ordinary people can figure out; stabbing Old Li once wasn't enough, and he still wants to backstab Old Li?

She absolutely didn't believe that Nie Xiaoguang wanted to take over for Old Li; looking at him being Li Xuewu's driver, he might have some crooked ideas.

Of course, she was happy to see it; whether it was towards Old Li or Han Lu, if Nie Xiaoguang played dirty, she wanted to watch the fun.

"For now, I am pursuing her; it can be seen that she also likes me," Nie Xiaoguang really dared to say, "When we succeed, I will invite you to eat wedding candy."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1308 =====