Chapter 1312: This damn charm

"Xiaoling? Why are you here?"

Wang Lu had just come out of the office when she saw Zhou Xiaoling from the dance troupe coming upstairs.

She was a famous optimist, with friends everywhere, especially in the dance troupe.

These girls had money and leisure, were beautiful and loved beauty, and could always have endless things to say when they got together.

Seeing Wang Lu, Zhou Xiaoling was stunned for a moment, then greeted her with a smile: "I came to find you."

"Liar—" Wang Lu curled her lip and said with a smile: "If you were coming to find me, would you need to come upstairs?"

"Speak, what are you here for?" She stood at the stairwell and waited for Zhou Xiaobai to come up before laughing softly: "Is it to find Secretary Liu?"

"Can I only come to find him?"

Zhou Xiaobai rolled her eyes and retorted: "Stating again, I have no relationship with him whatsoever. Please don't spread rumors, or I'll serve you with the 'big punishment'."

Little Liu was named Liu Zhen, Secretary to Xue Zhifu, and was currently pursuing Zhou Xiaoling.

"Yo-yo-yo—and serving the 'big punishment'." Wang Lu sized her up and asked amusedly: "So fast? That shouldn't be—"

"What 'fast'? It never happened." Zhou Xiaobai rolled her eyes, gestured toward the direction of the office, and asked: "Is the Secretary-General in?"

"Yo, I really didn't expect this."

Wang Lu raised her eyebrows, looked at her, and said: "Our leader already has a child; you have no chance."

"You, day after day, what are you thinking about—" Zhou Xiaobai retorted: "Bold and daring, you even dare to crack jokes about the leader!"

"I'm bold and daring, at most I just crack jokes about the leader." Wang Lu pointed at her arm with her finger. "You, on the other hand, are thinking about the leader."

"You've gone bad since you got married—" Zhou Xiaobai slapped her hand away, turned, and walked toward the office. "Do you want to come with me?"

"Of course, I have to protect the leader."

Wang Lu really wasn't just there to watch the fun. Out of respect for the leader and protection for her friend, it was more appropriate and convenient for her to be present at this time.

"You really are a good comrade!"

Zhou Xiaobai shook her head, both angry and amused, walked to the door of Li Xuewu's office, and knocked: "Secretary-General, this is Zhou Xiaoling."

"Zhou Xiaoling? Don't know her." Li Xuewu said without raising his head.

"Leader—" Seeing Li Xuewu joking with her, Zhou Xiaobai walked into the office coquettishly. "If you want to pretend you don't see me, you have to be more serious—"

"Look, I told you you couldn't come."

Wang Lu followed behind and teased: "At most one more chance for you to speak, and I'll have to ask you to leave."

"Leader, Wang Lu is bullying people, and you're bullying people too—" Zhou Xiaobai pouted and stood at the side of Li Xuewu's desk.

"Yo—" Li Xuewu raised his head, sized her up with a feigned serious look, and said: "Is this Zhou Xiaoling? You've become prettier."

"Hehe—" Zhou Xiaobai, who was pouting and pretending to be angry, couldn't help but laugh out loud, triumphantly looking back at Wang Lu, who gave her a big eye-roll.

"Given that you told the truth, I forgive you." Seeing Li Xuewu point to the opposite side, signaling her to sit down, Zhou Xiaobai said happily, feigning generosity.

"Hmm, you really have become prettier." Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, took a sip of warm tea, and nodded: "Summer is the season for beautiful girls."

"I finally know why Li Xue made progress so fast." Zhou Xiaobai said with some jealousy: "If I had a good brother to teach me these principles of speaking and doing things, how good would that be."

"Who was it that secretly told Li Xue to call him 'Second Brother' together?" Wang Lu teased, picking up a cup of tea and giving it to her: "Now you're envious that Li Xue has a good brother?"

"Are you from the engineering team?" Zhou Xiaobai turned her head to look at her and retorted: "Why are you always tearing down my stage—"

She gestured toward Li Xuewu's direction with a feigned serious look: "I still wanted to perform well in front of Second Brother, but you ruined it all."

"I'm helping you with an attitude of being serious and responsible to the organization." Wang Lu said with a smile: "So the leader can see your true colors."

"Comrade Wang Lu, put away your good intentions." Zhou Xiaobai retorted: "When I met Second Brother, Second Brother hadn't met you yet."

The two "quarreled" in the office, and Li Xuewu was happy to watch the liveliness and excitement of the young people, a smile always on his lips.

It was because he saw this point that Zhou Xiaobai dared to be presumptuous in front of him, playing around with Wang Lu and calling him "Second Brother."

Ordinary people wouldn't dare to mess around in the Secretary-General's office; the two were only playing around because they were looking at his expression.

There was only one purpose: to make him happy.

Only when he was happy would the things she wanted to ask him to agree to be easy to say.

Wang Lu didn't know the purpose of Zhou Xiaobai coming here today, but as a friend, how could she not understand her appeal?

She would help where she could, even if it was just playing a supporting role, but the final decision still rested in Li Xuewu's hands, and she didn't know how to express her stance anyway.

It was as if two sparrows had suddenly flown into the office, chirping and making a scene for a good while.

"Second Brother, why are you so heartless."

Zhou Xiaobai suddenly turned her head, looked at him, and complained: "Li Xue is only eighteen, and you really agreed to let her go study in such a far place."

"Sigh—can I stop her?" Li Xuewu sighed, the smile on his face turning into helplessness. "You said it yourself, she's eighteen."

Zhou Xiaobai had set her sights on Li Xue from Guangzhou. At first, she had a purpose, and Li Xue was also very defensive toward her.

Later, as time went on, the two girls got along quite well.

What touches people most is sincerity.

It couldn't be said that they helped each other, but Zhou Xiaobai's current cadre status was indeed helped by Li Xue, who spoke for her in front of Deputy Director Jing.

Although it was said to be a coincidence, the Propaganda Department wanted to select a few professional art personnel for promotion, to be used for the management of performance teams and theater performances.

Zhou Xiaobai was one of the first batch of dance actors who came to the Red Star Factory with the literary and art troupe. Her seniority and age were enough; she just lacked connections.

There were dozens of people who came together at first; why was she chosen?

Thinking of Li Xue's friendship, she even prepared many things Li Xue needed to bring before leaving and went to the wharf to see Li Xue off.

So Li Xuewu looked at this girl with many schemes—from initial defense to now being able to accept her playing around.

"A long road tests a horse's strength; time reveals a person's heart."

Having many schemes doesn't equal being bad; it's nothing more than a kind of longing for a better life and future under the big environment.

It couldn't even be said to be a longing; it was being wrapped up in the flood, a young person of the era who had to pursue this kind of progress.

Everyone was in the same circle. Some people were promoted, made progress, so everyone ran toward this direction.

Even the most pure-hearted would be influenced by this trend.

In their dance troupe, the most beautiful one, but the one with the least enterprising spirit, the one who avoided leaders and liked reading, was writing an application to join the Party.

No one can escape the track of history; this is objective inertia.

The noon bell rang. Li Xuewu stood up and said to the two with a smile: "Let's go, I'll treat you to lunch. Order whatever you want."

"Are we going to the reception house to eat? I'll treat."

Hearing the bell, Zhou Xiaobai was startled. She had talked too much gossip and forgotten the time; the serious business hadn't been said yet.

Li Xuewu knew her purpose for coming, but some things weren't convenient to say in the office, and even less suitable to say after she called him "Second Brother."

He was a person who ate soft but not hard, not only looking at her relationship with Li Xue, but also looking at her growth and conduct.

If she was really a good seedling, he didn't mind helping her out and cultivating her.

"Isn't your salary all used to buy beautiful clothes? Do you still have money to treat?" Li Xuewu smiled and pointed at her. "Must be frugal."

"I only went shopping twice with Li Xue, and she remembered me—" Zhou Xiaobai wrinkled her nose. "I just like new clothes, new styles, no way, but I still have the money to treat."

She put on a happy face again, looked at Li Xuewu, and asked: "Second Brother, what do you want to eat?"

"That depends on who's treating." Li Xuewu took them downstairs and said with a smile: "If I'm treating, then we'll eat noodles."

"Then what if I'm treating?" Zhou Xiaobai asked with feigned worry: "You wouldn't want to sell me there, would you?"

"Hahaha—"

The three of them came down from the office building. Along the way, cadres and clerks in the agency kept greeting him, and the two really felt a bit of "fox borrowing the tiger's might."

"Hello, Secretary-General, eating here at noon?"

Qin Huairu was on duty. Seeing him bring Zhou Xiaobai and Wang Lu in, she greeted them with a smile, nodding to the two in the greeting.

"Help me get two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes. For the staple food, let's eat rice?" Li Xuewu ordered the dishes, looked back at the two, and seeing them nod in agreement, continued: "And another bowl of vegetable soup. That's all."

While speaking, he followed Qin Huairu's gesture and came to the restaurant.

It was mealtime, and guests staying here or greedy cadres would also come here to eat. Seeing him come in, many people raised their hands to greet him.

"Let's sit here, it's cooler by the window."

Li Xuewu chose a seat and asked for two bottles of soda for the two.

Qin Huairu wanted to open a private room for them, but he didn't agree.

On one hand, it wasn't worth it, wasting resources; on the other hand, it wasn't convenient. Being with two young female comrades, there was nothing that couldn't be seen.

Closing the door might be easier to cause misunderstandings; talking openly was more appropriate.

He believed that what Zhou Xiaobai wanted to say wasn't suitable to be said behind closed doors either.

"Thanks, Director Qin, I'll do it."

Zhou Xiaobai and Wang Lu took the initiative to take the bowls and chopsticks and food, politely greeting Qin Huairu to sit down and eat together.

How could Qin Huairu be an eyesore? She pointed to the direction of the office with a smile, saying she had things to be busy with and had already eaten.

"Actually, I really envy Director Qin." Zhou Xiaobai watched Wang Lu and Zhou Xiaobai leave, then whispered: "From worker to cadre, that's my dream."

"Aren't you a cadre status now?" Wang Lu glanced at her and said amusedly: "Why are you envious of whoever you see?"

"This is called having an enterprising spirit—"

Zhou Xiaobai sized her up and said: "If I had an uncle like yours, I guarantee I wouldn't envy anyone."

"You don't have Second Brother—" Wang Lu raised her eyebrows and gestured to the opposite side: "Don't envy me."

"Second Brother, I want to make progress too much."

Zhou Xiaobai blinked her big eyes, looked at Li Xuewu, and said: "How about I call you uncle?"

"Hehe—what kind of talk is this." Li Xuewu was amused by her, put down his chopsticks, looked at her, and said: "Must make ideological progress; climbing relationships won't do."

"I'm making ideological progress; I love learning." Zhou Xiaobai helped him scoop vegetable soup. "How about you give me a chance to perform?"

A coquettish voice saying words with double meanings—which cadre could withstand such a test?

You tell me, is she wanting a work opportunity to perform ability, or wanting a closeness opportunity to perform technique? Smart girls are ruthless to themselves.

As long as Li Xuewu shows a hint of understanding now, she would dare to come to his room at the reception house tonight to report on technical work.

Of course, she also understood Li Xuewu's gentlemanly side; this sentence was also not without a teasing side.

What you can't eat is the most tempting.

"Opportunity, I really can't think of any opportunity here that needs you to perform." Li Xuewu looked at her and asked: "How about you boldly recommend yourself?"

Zhou Xiaobai hadn't been eyeing him for just one or two days. Factory leaders, department leaders in the agency—so many capable old men she didn't bet on, but she focused on this young potential stock.

Two years ago it was a potential stock; now it could be said to be a blue-chip stock.

She took a roundabout route, circled around Li Xue, but the goal was still Li Xuewu.

An eighteen-year-old girl, the only valuable time is this one time; she must find a ticket to the future for herself.

Director Li is of course good, powerful, and influential. Zhou Miaomiao's precedent is right there, but she doesn't envy it at all, and she won't flock to Director Li.

Only someone as shallow and shameless as Han Lu would go to snatch people.

What she appreciates is not just that opportunity, that power, but also the longing and pursuit of an excellent man.

So even with Wang Lu by her side, facing Li Xuewu's question, she boldly made a response.

"Second Brother, I won't pretend in front of you." Zhou Xiaobai put on a serious expression and said: "I heard the Service Department is preparing to build a flight service team."

She looked at Li Xuewu's expression and asked: "Do you think I'm suitable to sign up for this service personnel selection activity?"

"Heard wrong, Service Department preparing?"

Li Xuewu ate a bite of food and introduced: "You should know about the institutional reform of the agency. The Service Department hasn't been responsible for specific business execution for a long time."

"Is it organized by the Labor Service Company?" Wang Lu reminded her: "Did you read the wrong notice?"

"That must be I didn't read it carefully, but it should be guided by the Service Department." Zhou Xiaobai explained: "The notice was passed from the Service Department to the Propaganda Department. After I heard the news, I wanted to ask for your advice."

The Labor Service Company is very large, and its scale is still in the process of further adjustment.

Institutional reform is a big project, and many departments are facing splitting and reorganization, especially agencies with complex business.

Now the full name of the Labor Service Company is 【Red Star Steel Group Labor and Safety Service Company】, which was adjusted according to Li Huai De's requirements, merging part of the Security Group's work.

The Labor Service Company is mainly composed of several parts: Administrative Management Center, Comprehensive Service Center, Comprehensive Training Center, and Shipping Service Center.

Each branch factory and branch company has dispatch teams from the Labor Service Company, all of which are managed and coordinated by the Administrative Management Center.

The service work of the group and the industrial zone is the responsibility of the Comprehensive Service Center, including reception, sanitation, greening, transportation, etc.

The Red Star Training Ground, previously managed by the Security Group, was divided into two in terms of business. Externally, it is the responsibility of the Labor Service Company; internally, it is the responsibility of the Personnel Department.

Including security training, emergency training, driving training, etc., as well as the Red Star Factory's original police dog training and equestrian training bases, etc.

Finally, and most special, is the Shipping Service Center.

The Red Star Steel Group opened a shipping route from the Liangma River Ecological Industrial Zone to the Steel City Dongfeng Wharf. There is one existing passenger ship with a passenger capacity of 856 people.

In addition, the special train carriages previously held by the Red Star Factory and the flight service team about to be prepared all need professional service personnel to support them.

The flight service team mainly includes two types of personnel: pilots and attendants.

Li Xuewu had already recruited suitable pilots from his brother-in-law, and the attendants naturally had to be his own people.

The Labor Service Company's meaning was to select female comrades with excellent basic quality, dignified conduct, and generous demeanor from the whole factory to execute this post.

The selected personnel would be entrusted to the Civil Aviation Company for training, to be used for the service and safety guarantee work of the Falcon business jet about to be received.

In the future, there will be transport helicopters joining the group's direct shipping brigade, which needs to cultivate a batch of reliable talent starting now.

Old Li naturally didn't care about these things, just told Li Xuewu the requirements. Li Xuewu made a plan and handed this work to the Service Department, which led to the selection notice Zhou Xiaobai saw.

Actually, there were flight attendants in China long ago, but not many people came into contact with them.

There aren't many civil aviation passenger planes, and even fewer enterprises have business jets. Where can ordinary people buy flight tickets? Enterprise leaders have to look at their rank.

Like the Red Star Steel Group, which is so awesome, besides strength, you have to look at opportunity.

Which general unit can afford to raise a passenger plane?

Of course, the Red Star Steel Group isn't rich enough to burn money, receiving a passenger plane and putting it there to eat money.

With Li Xuewu's personality, even Old Li's special train carriages were handed over to the Labor Service Company for operation. Could this business jet run away?

Cooperating with the Beijing Railway Station, those special train carriages underwent another upgrade and transformation.

Similar to the customized upgrade of Hongyun No. 1, these carriages became the ace of the special trains operated by the Beijing Railway Station.

Even if Old Li wants to use them, he has to say hello in advance; otherwise, they are on the road or at other stations.

The business jet is the same. The Labor Service Company operates independently. The pilots and attendants are their own people, only using the airport's resources.

Usually parked at the Beijing SD Airport, the Labor Service Company contacts customers and operates together with the airport. The profits are all used for the Labor Service Company's cost expenditures.

The flight attendant post Zhou Xiaobai is aiming for is indeed the same as the service staff at the International Hotel, having certain special treatments.

Besides flight subsidies, she can also encounter many opportunities on the plane.

Passenger planes are already the top existence of this era. If operating a business jet, what kind of people can afford to use it?

With her cadre status, just being an attendant can't satisfy her pursuit. She wants to take a shortcut and be in management.

This business has just begun to be prepared. If she participates in it, she will inevitably be able to accumulate experience and go much faster than others.

At least she doesn't have to wait in the literary and art team, competing for the few promotion spots in the Propaganda Department every year.

What can Li Xuewu point out to her? What she needs isn't pointing out; she needs Li Xuewu's recognition and support.

"Did you agree to her?" Qin Huairu saw Wang Lu and Zhou Xiaobai leave, then followed Li Xuewu to the tea bar. "This girl has many schemes."

"Hehe, more than you?" Li Xuewu didn't turn his head, walked into the tea room, and found a cool seat to sit down. "Don't brew tea, just sit for a while and leave."

"Then drink black tea, go upstairs for a nap in a while." Qin Huairu asked for black tea from the bar and served it to the tea table beside him. "You won't rest well if you go back."

"Hmm—" Li Xuewu let out a long sigh, sat up straight, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said: "This is the work I do; is it like before?"

"Being a leader is busier than before; you are too hard-working."

Qin Huairu sat beside him and cared: "You're still young; some things should be let go if they can be let go. You can't be the only one tired."

"There are many miscellaneous things, cutting is constant, reasoning is chaotic, no head." Li Xuewu summarized his current work state, shook his head slightly, and said: "Wait."

"Like this, people coming to you to pull strings are starting to increase, right?" Qin Huairu glanced at the direction of the door, referring to people like Zhou Xiaobai. "You weren't the most impatient with these things before; why did you treat her to a meal?"

"Times change, nothing is certain."

Li Xuewu put down the teacup, looked at her, and said: "The previous position was too sensitive, and it was a business post, so there was no need to contact many people."

"Is it different now?" Qin Huairu looked at him and said: "You can't just grab everything, receiving everyone, right?"

"Hehe, do you have an opinion about her?"

Li Xuewu saw it, asked with a smile: "Tell me, what is there that I don't know."

"Is there anything in this factory you don't know?" Qin Huairu retorted, "Such a little fox can't be tamed."

"Who said I wanted to tame her?" Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said lightly: "Don't be too narrow-minded when using people. Who can listen to you for a lifetime, right?"

"You always have something to say—" Qin Huairu still didn't approve of his idea, but couldn't persuade him. "Wait until she grows up and bites you back, then you'll know the pain."

"Biting people? You have to see if your own strength is hard enough." Li Xuewu said, "Even if she is sharp-tongued, she can still break a few of her teeth."

"Bragging, don't I know if your strength is hard or not?"

Qin Huairu's courage also grew. She wouldn't have dared to talk nonsense in this kind of place before. Now there were no guests in the tea bar, and the waiters were far away, so she dared to say anything.

Li Xuewu looked at her amusedly and said: "Thanks for your concern. I heard your blind date was successful?"

"I just said there's no news in this factory that can be hidden from you." Qin Huairu rolled her eyes at him and said: "I won't invite you to the wedding; no banquet."

"Why? Is a second marriage not a marriage?"

Li Xuewu sized her up and asked: "Is it that you don't want to, or is it inconvenient for your partner?"

"I'm already thirty-something; what partner is there." Qin Huairu touched her neck quite uncomfortably. "If it feels appropriate, just get together and live. It's just a luggage roll; what marriage or not."

"The attitude toward the wedding determines the attitude toward married life to a certain extent. Your thinking is very dangerous."

Li Xuewu nodded and advised: "No matter where the problem lies, you must consider it carefully and how to handle it properly."

"Otherwise, you'll be the one suffering after marriage."

He only gave a hint and didn't go deeper. It could be seen that Qin Huairu was a bit awkward chatting about this topic in front of him.

But from the day she decided to go on a blind date, she knew she would have to face Li Xuewu sooner or later.

Her mother-in-law's suggestion was more direct: go on a blind date but don't get married, wait for Li Xuewu.

Qin Huairu had considered her mother-in-law's opinion at the very beginning, but she was also a woman; how could she afford to wait for Li Xuewu?

It was true that conditions at home were better, not lacking food or clothing, but the three children were gradually growing up. She couldn't always be alone.

Li Xuewu hadn't asked for her more than a handful of times since they got married, and the interval was getting longer and longer.

She knew very well that it was her who took the initiative from the beginning, and now it should be her who takes the initiative to withdraw from this ambiguous relationship.

He didn't need her anymore, didn't need a woman in her thirties.

People are always selfish and must eventually think for themselves. Even if it's not for herself, she must think for the future of this family.

Now she is young and strong, but what about when she gets old?

There's always a time for headaches and fever; who can serve her in front of the bed?

Don't say children aren't filial; there are no filial children before a long-term illness. In the end, it still has to be the person beside the pillow supporting each other.

So, after going on blind dates for so long, she finally chose a suitable person.

Even if she wanted to keep hanging on, she couldn't. If she kept choosing, people would start spreading gossip.

This era is just like this. Saying your vision is high, saying you are shameless and flirtatious—all kinds of rumors will appear.

From blind date to marriage, the hardest part isn't the gossip of neighbors, nor the nagging and hatred of the mother-in-law, nor the worry and opposition of the children, but the man in front of her who gave her a new life.

Qin Huairu had done countless psychological constructions before she sat here, wanting to frankly and easily make this matter clear.

She just didn't expect Li Xuewu to be more detached than she imagined.

Right, he doesn't lack women.

For example, Zhou Xiaobai, who just left—young and beautiful. Can she be smarter than an old fox like him?

Just don't know why, looking at Li Xuewu's attitude, Qin Huairu was actually a bit unwilling, or was it the backlash of guilt?

"Cough, cough—let's talk about it later." She replied perfunctorily, and then asked as if casually: "How long until Songying can come back?"

"Not sure, look at the itinerary."

Li Xuewu sized up Qin Huairu opposite him. He already knew what she cared about; it was Zhang Songying's transfer to the Pharmaceutical General Company.

Speaking of which, Zhang Songying was still blessed by Qin Huairu to have today, which was also the reason she didn't want to suppress Qin Huairu.

The two of them had actually developed a momentum of competition without knowing it.

No matter how much Qin Huairu didn't want to make progress, she would compare herself with Zhang Songying, would let her imagination run wild, and feel lost.

She was thinking, was it her own fickleness, constantly going on blind dates that annoyed Li Xuewu, so he didn't give her a chance to get close again?

At the same time, he also didn't have the intention to take care of her.

"Did you replace the house?"

Li Xuewu looked out the window, and seeing her nod, continued: "Good, change to a bigger house, the elderly and children will live more comfortably."

"Especially after marriage, there should eventually be a room of one's own. With a separation, one can face the relationship squarely."

"I didn't know there were so many things to say about replacing a house and moving into a building." Qin Huairu shook her head slightly. "I just didn't want to live in the courtyard anymore, and didn't want to suffer in the old house."

"The houses in your front yard and back yard are sunny, not obvious. Living on our side, we don't see the sun all year round; I've had enough of it."

She complained, "Now that there are conditions, and there's no burden, the thing I want to solve most is the housing problem."

"Three rooms can only replace 25 square meters. The salary I saved in these two years was all filled in, and it was only enough to change to a 40-square-meter house." 【1312-21

"How much can one person save when they're earning a wage to support a whole family that doesn't work and is still in school?" Li Xuewu nodded and asked, "Didn't you have your partner chip in a bit? This opportunity is rare; it won't be easy to come by again if you miss it."

"I didn't think about asking him to pay. You should only live in a house you can afford," Qin Huairu said, looking at the teacup in her hand. "Otherwise, one day, things won't be clear."

A couple who marry later in life are ultimately separated by a layer of skin; she still had three children, and this blended family was bound to have many problems.

She was now taking out all her savings to buy a house, and there was no need to guess whose name would be on the deed; it certainly wouldn't involve any property disputes.

Thinking further, the living expenses after marriage and how to raise money when major events occurred would sooner or later lead to a mess.

When building a family and living life, if you don't have that mindset, you really should take precautions and calculate the accounts in your heart.

To avoid things getting messy when the time comes to split up.

"While the window hasn't closed yet, change to a bigger house. Tell me how much money you need, and I'll lend it to you."

Li Xuewu ultimately couldn't harden his heart and completely sever this connection.

Qin Huairu looked at him and shook her head slightly, saying, "Forget it. It's not like I don't have to pay back money I borrow from you. If I really need a bigger one, I'll just take out a loan."

"I came to you because I wanted to ask about something." Since this matter was settled, she felt a sense of relief in her heart, composed herself, and said, "Last time, Director Li mentioned once at the dinner table that he wanted to open a restaurant in the city. Do you know about that?"

"I don't. When was that?"

Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "You believe what he says at the dinner table?"

"I just had a thought—" Qin Huairu said helplessly. "We've discussed it with Master Yang and Master Qian. If the leadership really has this intention, we'd like to open the guesthouse's catering department in the city."

"We'd still use the Red Star Factory Guesthouse brand, and the cooks and service staff would also be people from the factory." Seeing Li Xuewu narrow his eyes, she hurriedly explained, "I just want to increase profits and earn some benefits for everyone."

"Hmm, that's a good idea." Li Xuewu didn't mind her utilitarianism and emphasized, "Have you thought about how to balance this distribution of benefits?"

"If you really follow your idea, how will the profits of the branch store be calculated? How will the employees' wages and the welfare subsidies you want be calculated?"

He tapped his finger on the coffee table and warned, "Nothing has been done yet, so everything is easy to discuss. Everyone listens to you now, but what about later?"

"You have to know that wealth moves people's hearts."

Li Xuewu put down his teacup and said, "Think about this again. Consider it from the perspective of employee labor and benefit acquisition, and then consider what convenience it can bring to the factory and the employees."

"Sometimes good things can turn into bad things, and bad things can turn into good things."

Li Xuewu didn't rest at the guesthouse at noon; Qin Huairu was getting married, so it wouldn't be appropriate to keep brushing her teeth for her.

Li Xuewu was also a man with a bottom line; although he didn't have many, he ultimately had to consider certain situations.

He didn't ask about Qin Huairu's partner; she was in her thirties, so she shouldn't be that naive.

Besides, if he asked one more question, it would just make Qin Huairu overthink things.

Their relationship was originally a simple "deep affection between sister and brother," and it was enough to be sure that this neighborly sister-in-law would listen to him.

Don't take it too seriously; Zhang Songying's situation was a bit different from hers, and Li Xuewu had never seen Zhang Songying's husband.

Let alone him, even Zhang Songying hadn't seen her own husband for several years. They said he went out to make big money, but he never returned, disappearing without a trace.

The few times there was news, someone would bring word to the family, saying he was here today and there tomorrow, all over the country—he was everywhere.

In Zhang Songying's words, her husband was all over the world.

In this era, being able to run around like that was also a skill. Regardless of whether he made big money or not, he hadn't lived his life in vain.

He traveled all over the mountains and rivers, and his wife at home didn't need him to support her; he had the fate of a wandering immortal.

Zhang Songying told Li Xuewu when they were together that if her husband ever came back, she absolutely wouldn't lose her temper or scold him.

If someone like that could come back alive, it meant he had a big life; whoever argued with him would be the unlucky one.

Li Xuewu felt no pressure regarding Zhang Songying, but it was different with Qin Huairu. If they really met in the courtyard, how awkward would that be?

In fact, it wasn't just Qin Huairu; he was also cold-treating some other relationships. He couldn't delay people just because he was young and liked to play around.

There were some special situations he couldn't help; he ultimately had to be responsible.

For example, Zhou Ya Mei, for example, Ran Qiuye, for example, Tong Huimei, Jin Jiaojiao...

Calculating it like this, it seemed like there were still quite a few.

Li Xuewu sat down and reflected on himself, feeling quite annoyed. Why was he such a humble gentleman, so elegant and dashing?

Sigh—it's all to blame on his own damn charm!

Some relationships, some people, perhaps need time to cool down. Once he went to the Steel City, they would have their own lives.

Li Xuewu didn't have a domineering mindset. He had used Wi-Fi with passwords and Wi-Fi without passwords, and in fact, there was no difference.

Unless it was the kind of machine that activated data for the first time, but in reality, new machines aren't necessarily easy to use; those who know, know.

With a new machine, you have to set the parameters and run it to get proficient; it's very stiff.

Being together is for happiness. He had no interest in being a teacher, and even less leisure to plant and nurture flowers. It was enough to water them and enjoy them when he had time.

There are no girls who are forever eighteen, but there are always girls who are eighteen.

If you don't clear the space in your heart, how can you accept new, good girls?

On the 22nd, a weekend, Shen Guodong went to the club to report his work to Li Xuewu.

On the second floor of the billiards room, he saw Li Xuewu playing billiards, as well as a group of girls clapping and cheering.

"It's so lively here." Shen Guodong glanced at the few unfamiliar faces, walked to the opposite side of the billiard table, and said, "Brother Wu, do you have a moment?"

"Last shot, you sit down first."

Li Xuewu aimed at the cue ball, looked at the black eight, tested his feel, and with a 'pop', the ball went into the pocket.

"Too amazing—"

"Really amazing!"

If he weren't clear-headed, Li Xuewu would have almost lost himself in these exclamations of praise.

Who could stand this? Seven or eight girls in light-colored dresses clapping and cheering for you, their eyes full of hospitality.

"Where did you find them? Don't tell me you brought them." Shen Guodong lit a cigarette with a laugh and asked, gesturing toward the little girls gathered together and chattering.

Li Xuewu glanced over there and shook his head slightly, explaining, "Newly recruited employees, called over by Li Bai and Pei Pei. Do you know any of them?"

"I don't know them, definitely don't say I know them." Shen Guodong waved his hand and said, "Xiao Yan is very sensitive now; she's always afraid I'll learn bad habits. Don't set me up."

"You have such little courage; you'd be startled even if you met a cat on the road."

Li Xuewu looked at him with amusement, used his teacup, and asked, "What urgent matter did you run over for?"

"Nothing urgent, just that I haven't reported my work to you for a long time, and I always feel uneasy in my heart, so I wanted to ramble a bit."

Shen Guodong was also frank, leaned closer to Li Xuewu, and began to talk.

From south to north, from east to west, he told him everything about the various branches of the recycling station and the affairs of the Beijing Recycling Station.

Li Xuewu listened patiently. Although he had said long ago that he would let him and Yu Li make the decisions, he just wanted to cultivate them.

Now Shen Guodong was bursting with things to say; if he wasn't allowed to speak, he would be vague about the work below.

After he finished speaking, Li Xuewu asked unhurriedly, "How are things going over at the Jiaodaokou neighborhood?"

"It's going well, very well. They notified me that I'll be joining the Party next month." Shen Guodong finally gained some confidence and said with a smile, "Xiao Bai has supported the Beijing marketing side of things, so I've become much more relaxed."

"Have you inquired about whether many children of our factory's employees are engaged in transport and passenger transport?" Li Xuewu looked at him and asked, "I mean buying tricycles."

"You really asked the right person." Shen Guodong introduced seriously, "If you go to the street now and stop any one of them, ask them whose connection they are."

"Don't be vague; eight out of ten are children of your factory's employees."

He raised his eyebrows and said, "The transport tasks at the Beijing freight station are basically monopolized by these people. It's obvious that there are more tricycles on the street."

"Loans, basically all loans."

Shen Guodong knew that he valued the survival and life of the employees, so he introduced in detail, "There is a general lack of capital, and loans are the only way out for them to find a way to support themselves."

"It's also because they caught a good time. How can the flatbed carts in the city compare to modified tricycle motorcycles? There are plenty of people who need to hire carts."

"There are always people who aren't short of money." Shen Guodong shook his head slightly and said, "It's just that I can't spare the time, otherwise I would definitely utilize the remaining resources of the neighborhood and start a passenger transport commune."

"Wouldn't all the money be earned by you then?"

Li Xuewu took a sip of tea and said lightly, "Human energy is limited, but thinking can be expanded. Haven't you thought about handing the idea over to the neighborhood?"

"Just because you don't have time to do it doesn't mean others don't have time."

He looked at his brother and warned, "It's best to find a partner for yourself. You are too dazzling; it's easy to attract hatred."

PS: I might not be able to finish writing today. I'll see tomorrow if I can catch up on the progress.

(End of chapter)