Chapter 1327: Sister-in-law, I'm Hungry

"Such a big piece of fat meat, isn't it normal for someone to be thinking about it?"

Bu Bu Qingfang went to the tea cabinet to brew a cup of tea herself, turned back, and complained to Li Li Xuewu: "You should find a full-time secretary."

"No matter what, you are also a factory leader. The Secretary-General doesn't have a full-time secretary; what do the department managers below think?"

"I didn't pinch their brains. Do they need to learn from me how to think?" Li Li Xuewu said indifferently: "There isn't much time left for me; there's no need to waste human resources."

"You're such a good person, but who remembers your kindness?"

Bu Bu Qingfang walked back holding the teacup, glanced at Li Li Xuewu, and asked: "Does Director Li have any specific arrangements?"

Her eyes widened, and she asked tentatively: "Did he say when you are leaving?"

"Why, in a hurry? Hehe—"

Li Li Xuewu chuckled. Seeing her pout, he shook his head slightly and said: "Before the dust settles, who can say for sure."

"Perhaps I won't be able to leave, and I might struggle in this position for a few more years."

"Hmm, you'd better be good." Bu Bu Qingfang took a small sip of the teacup and said amusedly: "If you stay for a few more years, you'll be fulfilling me."

"Hahahaha—" Li Li Xuewu laughed heartily.

He, the Secretary-General, didn't block Bu Bu Qingfang's path. He could do this position, but Bu Bu Qingfang couldn't.

Even if she had more seniority and experience than Li Li Xuewu, it wouldn't work. The few badges on Li Li Xuewu's chest were the most valuable.

When Old Li originally proposed Li Li Xuewu to serve as Secretary-General, many people talked about Li Li Xuewu's age, but no one said he wasn't qualified. Being able to get recognition from above shows the gold content of those medals.

Therefore, working in the organization, one must strive for honors; they are your hard currency at all times, and sometimes even those with connections have to give way.

Of course, this refers to sometimes; a connection like Miss Dong has already exceeded the cognitive scope of ordinary people.

The two had a tacit understanding and a certain degree of trust, so they joked a few times and returned to the main topic.

"We won't care about the ship situation of the compensation trade, but we must do a good job in docking and coordination."

Li Li Xuewu put the document in his hand aside, his fingers tapping lightly on the office desk, and said: "We must have the substance, and the face must also be presentable."

"This is called throwing a stone to ask the way." Bu Bu Qingfang's corners of her mouth curled up slightly, looking at Li Li Xuewu, and said: "I heard that the Vice President of Santa Ya Group, 'Benz', has invited Deputy Director Cheng to eat several times."

"Heh—who gave him such an unlucky nickname?" Li Li Xuewu laughed out loud, looked at Bu Bu Qingfang, and said: "Anyone can make this joke, but we can't; it's not very friendly."

"I'm just telling you." Bu Bu Qingfang raised her chin and said: "Regardless, this business social interaction is really playing the capitalist set. You say, can Deputy Director Cheng resist the sugar-coated bullets?"

"Hehe, I don't know about that."

Li Li Xuewu shook his head slightly, looked at her, and asked: "How do you know this news again? Listening to all directions, huh."

"Don't mock me. I went to eat with my lover and happened to see it." She glanced at Li Li Xuewu and said: "Does someone in propaganda necessarily spread gossip? This is called job discrimination."

"Fine, I wouldn't dare wear that hat." Li Li Xuewu picked up the pencil on the table and tapped the draft paper, "The Yingcheng Port area has just been planned, and it hasn't been under construction for many days, but there are quite a few people aiming for shipping opportunities."

"Who else? Oh—" Bu Bu Qingfang asked just one sentence, then nodded understandingly, "Jilixing Shipbuilding, right."

"What?" She asked jokingly, raising her eyebrows: "Deputy Director Cheng's sugar-coated bullets don't know the result yet, but you've been defeated at the beauty pass?"

"Hahahaha—" Li Li Xuewu chuckled and said: "Heroes have a hard time passing the beauty pass, right? I'm not a hero, so it's even harder."

"No way?" Bu Bu Qingfang examined Li Li Xuewu suspiciously, "Who in the group doesn't know you? You cherish your feathers the most."

"How is that possible... Oh—I know."

She suddenly realized and pointed at Li Li Xuewu, saying with a smile: "So you were the one throwing a brick to attract jade."

"I just said—" Bu Bu Qingfang almost slapped her thigh, speaking with dancing eyebrows: "How come the port hasn't been built yet, and one after another is flocking here, starting to lay out in advance."

"Otherwise, why say they are capitalists? Their business sense of smell is very sensitive, and we need to learn more." Li Li Xuewu didn't deny Bu Bu Qingfang's guess and said earnestly: "Previously, I was responsible for this work, but now it has been handed over to Deputy Director Gao."

"The Comprehensive Management Department should do a good job in service and reception, and provide legal and document support to Deputy Director Gao."

"No problem, I'll make arrangements when I go down." Bu Bu Qingfang responded earnestly, then lowered her voice slightly and asked tentatively: "The specific investment promotion process... I'm afraid it won't be done until next year or the year after, right?"

"Look at the project progress." Li Li Xuewu didn't close the door on the words, nodded, and explained: "Zhongrun is responsible for part of the investment promotion business, and will integrate corresponding resources at that time."

He didn't explain too much for a very simple reason: Bu Bu Qingfang wasn't asking about work, but time.

It was the time for the specific execution of this work, whether it was after Li Li Xuewu went to Steel City to be responsible for the management of Liaodong industry.

Actually, this question was a bit redundant. The three-point connection of Yingcheng, Steel City, and Fengcheng, Dong Wenxue is responsible for laying the foundation and integrating resources for the industrial development chain, eating half the credit.

Relying on this credit, Dong Wenxue jumped from director to deputy factory-level leader in just three years, and then to group leader.

The remaining work will be handed over to him, and he will eat the other half of the credit.

And after Li Li Xuewu eats this half of the credit, he can advance one step further from the status of director-level Secretary-General.

Only after he digests and fully integrates the industrial development in Liaodong, can he advance another step when he returns to the capital.

Similarly, when the time limit arrives, Dong Wenxue, who is responsible for the operation of the Liangma River Ecological Industrial Zone in the capital, will also go up another level.

This is the push-and-pull planning of Dong Wenxue and Li Li Xuewu.

You want to ask if Li Li Huai De will allow the two to operate like this?

He has no choice. Dong Wenxue and Li Li Xuewu, one handles the outside and one handles the inside, helping him arrange things inside and out in an orderly manner.

To put it bluntly, leaders are very lazy. Since someone is willing to do things, and he will leave sooner or later, he has to cultivate his own successor.

From now on, whether it's Dong Wenxue or Li Li Xuewu, they pose no threat to his latter half of time at the Red Star Steel Group.

So look at Bu Bu Qingfang, who has been in the organization for a long time, what does she focus on?

Time, that's right, it's time.

Only by grasping every step of Li Li Xuewu's jumps can she borrow the momentum and follow him for a step or two.

She doesn't dare to think about the position of group leader within five years; she has to wait until Gu Gu Weijie, Jing Jing Yunong, or Gao Gao Yaqin are gone.

The leadership team needs female cadres, but the Red Star Steel Group's leadership team doesn't lack them; it's almost becoming yin-heavy and yang-light.

Look at how the union chairman is hindered; he's been hospitalized for years.

"Hurry and enter the courtyard, don't be polite."

Li Li Xuewu came back late from work. Even Li Ning was picked up by his brother-in-law, and Zhou Yao, who had changed into casual clothes, was also there to greet him.

Not wearing a work uniform, Zhou Yao in a floral dress lost a bit of her heroic spirit and gained a lot of gentleness.

Standing beside her was Li Shu, who was curiously examining her. I don't know what was just said, but her face was slightly red.

"I've discovered that every time a guest comes to the house, my unit has something going on, and it has to happen together."

Li Li Xuewu carried his handbag, closed the car door, and asked Zhou Yao with a smile: "First time coming to my home, right? This counts as recognizing the door."

"Yes." Zhou Yao shook her fingers a bit embarrassedly, and Li Shu, who was holding her fingers, also came back to her senses.

"Should I call you Little Aunt-in-law?" Li Shu asked curiously, blinking her big eyes: "Why don't you speak?"

"You can call her Little Aunt now." Li Li Xuewu looked at Zhou Yao's red face and finally knew what they had just said.

He taught his daughter a sentence, then asked: "Who taught you to call her Little Aunt-in-law?"

"Brother-in-law, tired after a busy day?"

Before Li Li Xuewu could finish his question, Gu Yan took the initiative to pick up Li Shu, who was about to speak, and walked into the courtyard, saying as he walked: "I bought some braised food. Let's have a drink together tonight."

What kind of work Zhou Yao did—actually, from the moment Li Shu asked that, she knew who had taught her.

Who else could it be but Gu Yan—

But the Secretary-General was here, and it was the Secretary-General's home, and also the home of her future sister-in-law, so she could only endure it fiercely.

She would settle this account slowly later.

"Is it to entertain those provincial office leaders?" Zhou Yao tasted the carp stewed and asked Li Li Xuewu, "I heard Zhao Hongtu Automobile is selling very well."

"Delivered 6 units, Beijing Automobile ordered one, and cooperative units ordered 6." Li Li Xuewu explained: "Judging from the current order volume, the sales performance is okay."

"It's already very good, after all, it's a special vehicle." Zhou Yao knew a little about the factory's business work, "But that car looks really practical, just like the signal lights we use."

"In terms of professional performance, it can't compare to signal lights." Li Li Xuewu glanced at her and introduced: "The manufacturing cost of signal lights is far higher than Zhao Hongtu. Just the vehicle-mounted equipment is worth a lot, and there are imported equipment and parts."

"Li... Brother Li, you're back." Li Li Xuewu and Zhou Yao entered the house. Zhou Er'ya ran out of the dining room in a panic and greeted them stammeringly.

Li Li Xuewu looked at her in surprise, then said amusedly: "Be natural, relax, this is home, not an office."

"That—I—" Zhou Er'ya still hadn't fully adapted to her current identity, and her answer was a bit vague.

Actually, she didn't know what she should say now. She had just learned from Qin Qin Jingru for a day, and it seemed her brain wasn't enough.

"This is the new nanny we just hired to help take care of our lives." Li Li Xuewu introduced Zhou Yao with a smile, then nodded to Zhou Er'ya and said: "Go do your work, don't be too reserved."

"She treats you as a leader." Qin Qin Jingru came out of the dining room with her belly, explaining with a smile: "I don't know what she's thinking."

"Take it slow." Li Li Xuewu didn't mind Zhou Er'ya's embarrassment, greeted Zhou Yao to enter the room, and asked Qin Qin Jingru: "Where is Han Jiankun? Why don't I see him? Didn't we say we'd eat together?"

"I took advantage of the supply and marketing cooperative not being off work yet and asked him to go buy some things." Qin Qin Jingru introduced naturally: "When I left, I was afraid you wouldn't be able to use them for a long time, so I just made do with the ones that were running out."

"Now it's good." She looked at Zhou Er'ya with a smile and said: "Er'ya's craftsmanship is still very good. She cooked the meal at noon."

"Is that so? Then our family's food is saved." Li Li Xuewu walked into the living room, smiled and said to Zhou Yao: "For more than a month, the four of us haven't eaten together many times."

"I heard." Zhou Yao said with a smile: "I heard you also found a tutor for Li Shu?"

"Spread from the organization?" Li Li Xuewu glanced at her, shook his head with a smile, and said: "System reform, emphasizing discipline, but in the end, it's still like a sieve. It's really hard to guard against."

"This isn't a confidential topic anyway." Zhou Yao didn't mind, sat on the single sofa, refused Gu Yan's gesture and invitation, and chatted with Li Li Xuewu pretending not to see it.

"I heard you found someone from the art troupe. I really haven't heard who it specifically is." She raised her eyebrows and said: "Are you cultivating Li Shu to learn art?"

"Learn some basic knowledge, just to stop her from being so mischievous." Li Li Xuewu sat on the sofa and took the teacup handed over by Qin Qin Jingru, saying: "If she really wants to learn art, she has to be that kind of material."

Saying this, Li Li Xuewu's eyes glanced at his daughter by the fireplace, full of helplessness and bitter smiles.

At this moment, having completed the task her uncle gave her, Li Shu finally got the toy gun her uncle promised her.

This gun wasn't the kind of fake gun that only makes a paper-drum sound that her father bought her; this one shoots caps, click-click sounds.

Have you seen the kind of revolver that smokes when it shoots? Actually, there were prototypes long ago, it's just that ordinary children haven't played with them.

What was an earlier prototype?

Have you seen the starting pistol that the sports meet starter shoots against a prototype iron plate? That might be the earliest prototype of this kind of gun.

Of course, in this era, the bear children in the capital all love to play with match guns—the kind that shoot matches, or shoot rubber bands.

You want to say that shooting matches is luxurious enough; how expensive must shooting caps be?

No way, who let Li Shu take on such a big job? Her uncle was willing to spend money, buying a small box of caps.

Li Li Xuewu was really afraid that his little allowance wouldn't be enough. This is dating, buying toys, and does he have money to buy cigarettes?

Fortunately, dating in this era isn't that expensive. If it were later, with lipsticks and bags, even if the family opened a mine, they couldn't afford it.

"I think she's quite smart." Zhou Yao looked at Li Shu with a smile, and teased Li Ning, who was standing beside them gnawing on a tomato, "Will he learn from his sister?"

"Learning by example." Li Li Xuewu said amusedly: "It's really the time when it's hard to manage. Sometimes even I have a headache."

Li Li Xuewu looked at Han Han Jiankun who entered the room and asked: "Is the old lady at home? If she is, pick her up."

"No, she went to my big brother's house." Han Han Jiankun carried a box in, not knowing what he bought, clanking.

He was still the same, always willing to work hard in Li Li Xuewu's home. Even as a team leader, he was still like a driver.

Looking back at Nie Nie Xiaoguang, who carried the box in, he was a driver, but like a team leader, with a cigarette stuck behind his ear.

Han Han Jiankun really couldn't bear to look at him. If the leader weren't there, he would have wanted to slap him.

This arrogant look was even more spirited than his.

Nie Nie Xiaoguang didn't know what was going on, put down the box in his hand, and went straight to the dining room, shouting: "Sister-in-law, I'm hungry."

If you don't beat this kid, it really won't work!

Han Han Jiankun's back molars were itching with hatred. This kid really didn't recognize strangers and was a bit too familiar.

He called Gu Ning "Sister-in-law" the first time he met her, and it was the same with his wife's side, not feeling any distance at all.

Qin Qin Jingru liked his personality very much, and Qin Qin Jingru's response came from the dining room, "It'll be ready in a moment, wait for Sister Ning."

Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives. It was lively in the room, and Gu Ning was back.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, Zhou Er'ya, who was in the dining room, saw her from the window of the octagonal hall and told Qin Qin Jingru timidly.

Qin Qin Jingru looked at her at a loss and was helpless. She had long told her not to be nervous, as it made everyone uncomfortable.

Also, she told Zhou Er'ya that she couldn't call Gu Ning "Gu Sister-in-law." She had discovered this problem when she came this morning.

Gu Ning, with her tolerant personality, couldn't help but twitch the corners of her mouth when she heard the greeting.

She had been married into the Li family for almost three years, and this was really the first time she heard someone call her "Gu Sister-in-law." This underworld vocabulary was too strange.

"Little—Little Sister Ning." This time Zhou Er'ya remembered, followed Qin Qin Jingru out, and shouted timidly.

It was just a mosquito-like movement. If it weren't for Gu Ning's good hearing, she would have really ignored it.

Gu Ning looked at her, her gaze soft, carrying a trace of fatigue.

She didn't respond to Zhou Er'ya's greeting, only nodded, smiled at Qin Qin Jingru, and everything was in silence.

Actually, she still hoped Qin Qin Jingru could stay at home to do things. She had long been used to Qin Qin Jingru's straightforwardness, handling everything in an orderly manner, and the state of not needing her to care about anything.

For more than a month, although the family hadn't cooked many times, she and Li Li Xuewu still deeply felt one point: neither of them were people who could take care of housework.

Being able to get off work on time every day was already her specialty. Colleagues at the hospital gossiped, and the leaders used the child being small to cover it up.

In this era, the military hospital was especially short of doctors, especially surgeons who could get on the operating table.

If you haven't stood on an operating table, you definitely won't understand the difficulty and hardship of high-intensity surgery.

Anyway, after returning home, she didn't want to do any housework at all, not even wanting to wash clothes.

Recently, she was especially grateful to Li Li Xuewu, and also felt the happiness of having a lover's support.

Li Li Xuewu not only actively took care of the children, played with them, gave her time to read and study, but also took on quite a bit of housework like washing clothes, giving her sufficient rest time.

Even if the clothes were washed by a washing machine, she was still moved in her heart. Qin Qin Jingru had already felt this kind of being moved.

She really didn't know what to say. When she was pregnant, she was very afraid of leaving this home, thinking about how to live if she lost this job.

But after leaving this home and living her own life, she slowly discovered that Han Han Jiankun had already grown up.

The salary and benefits of a deputy section chief were enough to support their family, not to mention the property left by her father-in-law.

How much money could an engineer save in a lifetime?

Anyway, when her mother-in-law handed the family fortune to her, she didn't even count it, fearing she would make her mother-in-law unhappy.

But she could recognize the numbers on a few passbooks, and it wouldn't be a problem for them to have no worries about food and clothing for a lifetime.

Of course, this was what Qin Qin Jingru thought at this time; she perhaps didn't know what ghost these money would become in the future.

Little Stone from the Traffic Station has a famous saying: in this world, the least valuable thing is money.

Dinner was guided by Qin Qin Jingru, with Zhou Er'ya as the head chef, and the food revealed the fragrance of the Northeast.

Han Han Jiankun pulled Nie Nie Xiaoguang, who was sitting and waiting for food like a master, to the kitchen to help serve the dishes. Everyone was already seated at the dining table.

Gu Ning had gone upstairs to wash and change into light home clothes, looking very lady-like.

Hmm, only in a family with a nanny can the hostess be lady-like. Thinking of the hardship of this month, Gu Ning also let out a long breath.

"Let me explain in advance, I only told Er'ya the location of the seasonings, and didn't mention anything else. Everyone try Er'ya's craftsmanship."

Qin Qin Jingru organized with a smile: "Anyway, I ate a big bowl of rice at noon."

"Hmm, it's the taste of home-cooked food."

Li Li Xuewu tasted a bite of stewed eggplant, nodded with a smile, and praised: "It's much better than what I make."

Gu Yan followed his brother-in-law's chopsticks and tasted a bite, feeling it was a bit salty, but didn't say anything.

He had long been used to the taste of the food at home. The chef wouldn't dare to use heavy oil and salt, but the Northeast side would cook like this.

His brother-in-law's meaning was very clear: this little nanny was young and had just come to the home, so it was the time when her heart was bottomless.

At this time, one should encourage and support more, rather than disparage and belittle.

"I bought it from the supply and marketing service department of your factory." He held the wine bottle and poured for Han Han Jiankun and Nie Nie Xiaoguang first, then filled Li Li Xuewu's, and then filled his own. "They even asked me for my credentials, hahahaha—"

"Of course you need credentials." Li Li Xuewu waved his hand with a smile, signaling Han Han Jiankun and Nie Nie Xiaoguang not to be polite, "This is a benefit."

Regardless, Gu Yan's growth over these two years was seen by Li Li Xuewu. After becoming a company commander, this arrogance was restrained a lot.

That kind of arrogant look of looking down on others was gone, and he even knew to pour wine for Han Han Jiankun and Nie Nie Xiaoguang first.

One was Li Li Xuewu's former driver, and one was the current driver, but when they arrived at this home and sat at the same table to eat, they were guests. As Li Li Xuewu's brother-in-law, he had to be polite.

Besides, Han Han Jiankun was also an old acquaintance of his, both from the army. He had heard about them working in his brother-in-law's home for these two years, so he had to have a point of respect.

As for Nie Nie Xiaoguang, who looked like a little hooligan, although he didn't look at him, he had heard his brother-in-law mention that he was a ruthless character who dared to use a scraper to take a bite out of the Red Star Factory, so he called them brothers at the wine table.

It didn't matter outside, but in his brother-in-law's home, those who could sit at this table to eat must be people trusted by his brother-in-law.

So, being sincere was not a problem.

He brought his partner to recognize the door, and even more so had to have a mature look, otherwise his sister would scold him.

"Heard you are going to resign from the position of committee office director?" Zhou Yao tasted the carp and asked Li Li Xuewu: "The transition from the committee office to the Comprehensive Management Department shouldn't be that fast, right?"

"Sooner or later, there's no need to be deadlocked." Li Li Xuewu put down his chopsticks, picked up his wine glass, and drank with everyone, "It's also to support Bu Bu Qingfang's work; this step of hers really wasn't easy."

"People in the organization all say she has many tricks and is greedy." Zhou Yao smiled, looked at Gu Ning embarrassedly, and said: "Sorry, Sister Ning, I forgot that leaders don't talk about work at home."

"He has no one else to talk to." Gu Ning looked at her future sister-in-law and said with a smile: "I don't understand what he's saying either."

"I don't understand either." Gu Yan raised his wine glass and clinked it with his brother-in-law, saying with a smile: "That's why I admire my brother-in-law the most."

"Hmm—" Li Li Xuewu took a sip of wine, pointed at him, and said: "I like hearing words like this. If you can speak so well, say more."

"Got it—" Gu Yan filled his brother-in-law's glass again with the Five-Star Moutai, "You don't like flattery at work, I will definitely satisfy you with this."

"Just messing around—" Everyone laughed, and Zhou Yao saw Gu Ning glare at Gu Yan, and pinched his arm, "No proper shape."

"No proper shape—"

Li Shu heard this, learned the tone of her little aunt-in-law, and shouted at her uncle. Everyone laughed even more happily.

Zhou Er'ya held her rice bowl and curiously examined the people at this table.

Qin Qin Jingru had already introduced them to her, but she remembered some and couldn't remember others.

Where they worked, what their status was, what their position was—she didn't quite understand. She only knew Li Brother's status and position were the highest.

As for how high, she didn't quite know.

When she was sent here, her brother said a lot, summarized in one sentence: absolutely don't lose face for the family.

Someone who was feared even by her cousin who was so arrogant in the village—how high must Li Brother's status be? At least not worse than the township head.

Looking at the food standard in this home, and the wine they drank that she had never seen before, she didn't know if the township head had such a good life, she only knew the village head definitely didn't.

"Tha, thank you." Still in a daze, she suddenly felt her rice bowl sink, and saw a piece of fat meat piled on the rice.

How heavy can a piece of fat meat be?

In her view, very heavy, very heavy. At least she hadn't eaten a piece in a year. Even if the village slaughtered a pig and distributed meat, it was for the younger brothers to eat.

Being able to eat cabbage stewed with lard was already the best food.

Here she saw seasonings she had never heard of before, and looking at the meat stored in the refrigerator, she only felt an itch in her throat.

It was the impulse to bite into those meat foods one bite at a time. People without her life experience will never understand why people crave meat.

It was Qin Qin Jingru. When she was secretly observing the people at the dining table, she clipped a piece of meat for her.

Coming to the city, the first sentence she needed to learn was "thank you." It seemed city people would take the initiative to say thank you.

Does this count as city people being more advanced and having more quality?

"If you don't take the initiative, you can only go hungry." Qin Qin Jingru said with a smile: "The vegetables are in the bowl; whether you eat them or not, they are there, don't you think?"

"Right... right?" Zhou Er'ya looked at Qin Qin Jingru blankly. Wasn't she also from the countryside? How come her words were so reasonable?

Gu Yan stayed at home. Zhou Yao naturally couldn't stay overnight; it was Nie Nie Xiaoguang who drove her home.

Along with them were Han Han Jiankun and his wife.

It hadn't been this lively in this home for a long time. Several people had left, and the laughter and noise still remained in the dining room and living room. 【1327-197

It had been a long time since this house had been this lively; even though the guests had all left, the sounds of their laughter and play still lingered in the dining room and living room.

Gu Ning sat on the sofa holding a teacup, watching Li Shu and Li Ning frolic, and for a long while, she couldn't quite snap out of the excitement that had just passed.

Before Qin Qin Jingru left, she had asked Han Han Jiankun to help tidy up the dining room and kitchen, and naturally, Han Han Jiankun had called upon the oblivious Nie Nie Xiaoguang to assist.

So, by now, Zhou Erya had finished most of her chores; she first went to the bathroom to run hot water, and only then did she come to call Li Shu and Li Ning over to bathe.

"What do you think of Zhou Yao?"

Li Li Xuewu caught sight of Erya's cautious movements and asked, feigning nonchalance: "Are you dissatisfied with your future sister-in-law?"

"Do you think I'm that kind of picky person?" Gu Ning glanced at him, sipped her warm tea slowly, and said, "I don't care what kind of partner he finds; it's their life to live, not like they're marrying me."

"You mustn't say that in front of Mom; it would be so disheartening." Li Li Xuewu smiled as he looked at her and said, "An elder sister is like a mother. In Beijing, he can only rely on the two of us. If we don't take the initiative to arrange things, it really won't look good."

"Hmm—" Gu Ning was open to reason, and having understood the meaning behind Li Li Xuewu's words, she nodded in agreement.

The reason Li Li Xuewu had to speak to Gu Ning this way was that, from the very beginning, she hadn't placed much importance on Gu Yan dating.

The past is the past; since Gu Yan had decided to take things further with Zhou Yao, he and Gu Ning had to show some stance.

Today, Zhou Yao had been very proactive with both him and Gu Ning, but Gu Ning hadn't reacted, remaining in her usual indifferent manner.

Actually, you couldn't blame her; that was just how she was with strangers.

You might say Zhou Yao had been dating Gu Yan for several months, but this was Gu Ning's first time meeting her.

Even if she had seen Zhou Yao before due to Li Li Xuewu's work, she likely wouldn't have remembered her.

If you asked Gu Ning if she remembered what Li Huai De looked like, she would only know that Li Huai De was Li Li Xuewu's superior and the head of the Red Star Factory.

If you asked anything else—what he looked like or how old he was—she would have no impression, because in her heart, these things weren't worth remembering.

"Mom called and said she wants to arrange for them to go south." Li Li Xuewu pricked up his ears, listening to the commotion in the bathroom while chatting with Gu Ning about family matters. "I've mentioned it to both Gu Yan and Zhou Yao."

"Neither of them gave a direct answer." He glanced at Gu Ning. "When you have time, you should talk to Gu Yan about this too."

"It's not about rushing them, and it's certainly not about being anxious."

Li Li Xuewu explained, "It's been several months; we can't keep Mom from meeting the person, and Zhou Yao can't avoid meeting her future in-laws, right?"

"I'm telling you—he—" Gu Ning was annoyed; she frowned and looked upstairs. Gu Yan had drunk too much and had just gone back upstairs to sleep.

"Fine, I'll talk to him tomorrow."

As if she had been given a mandatory task, Gu Ning was most impatient with these trivial, bothersome family matters.

In her heart, whether Gu Yan was dating or bringing his partner to meet their parents, wasn't that all his own business?

That he wasn't proactive himself, but instead left Li Li Xuewu to worry, was Gu Yan's fault.

You see, Gu Ning didn't pay much attention to Gu Yan usually, but after all, she was his older sister, and she didn't coddle him at all.

As for Gu Yan, you couldn't say he was afraid of this sister, but if Gu Ning really spoke up, he would certainly listen.

This was the reason Li Li Xuewu spoke to Gu Ning; it couldn't always be him, the brother-in-law, stepping forward—what would Zhou Yao think?

Would she think the Gu family didn't approve of her, or looked down on her?

Li Li Xuewu had clearly explained the Gu family's situation to Zhou Yao, and she didn't feel that Gu Yan's family was particularly special.

Likewise, she didn't feel Gu Yan was special either; she hadn't held back at all when they first got together, which, ironically, made Gu Yan like her even more.

This is what they call "to each their own."

Li Li Xuewu heard Li Shu's giggling and Li Ning's flailing in his ears, and he knew they were acting up in the bathroom again.

Zhou Erya was quite experienced; she separated the two, bathed them individually, wrapped them in bath towels, and let them out.

"You don't have to help them bathe every time."

Gu Ning had already gone upstairs a step ahead. Li Li Xuewu stood downstairs, picked up Li Shu and Li Ning, and said to Zhou Erya, "Teach them to bathe themselves; just scrubbing them down every few days is enough."

"It's no trouble." This time, Zhou Erya understood Li Ge's meaning quite accurately; the corners of her mouth twitched, and she didn't say anything further.

Watching Li Ge carry the two children upstairs, she returned to the bathroom and washed the children's clothes.

Li Ge and Sister Xiao Ning's clothes could be washed during the day tomorrow; this was what Qin Qin Jingru had taught her.

She said Li Ge and Sister Xiao Ning had many clothes and wouldn't be in a rush to wear what they had changed out of today, unlike the children's.

Li Shu and Li Ning were at the age where they were mischievous; no amount of clothes was enough for them to change into.

It was fine that Li Shu was in kindergarten now; two outfits a day were enough. But looking at eighteen-month-old Li Ning, he really was a little rascal.

Li Shu was mischievous openly; whatever bad thing she wanted to do, she showed it on her face. But Li Ning learned from his sister to be mischievous in secret.

If you weren't paying attention for a second, he would start doing something bad; if you didn't watch him, you wouldn't even know what mischief he had caused.

By the time you discovered it, it was already too late.

She didn't feel that the two children in Li Ge's house were difficult to serve; it was just that there were a lot of particularities.

When she was taking care of her younger brothers at home, there wasn't so much to pay attention to; this was probably because there were fewer children in the city.

If it were really like their family, with eight children, they wouldn't be so delicate.

Hmm, in Zhou Erya's view, Li Shu and Li Ning were living a life of luxury, and they were raised a bit delicately.

After washing the children's clothes and taking a bath herself, she returned to her own bedroom.

Her own bedroom—what a strange term. This was her life now. Looking at the spacious room, the exquisite furniture, and the bright lights, she had been in this house for three or four days, and she still had a feeling of unreality.

Perhaps this was the good fortune her cousin had told her about.

In mid-September, the United Industrial Exhibition opened grandly at the Red Star Steel Group Industrial Exhibition Hall.

Remember, when you say "grandly," it must mean that heavyweight leaders came to participate in the event and delivered congratulations and speeches.

This era wasn't like later generations where terms were abused; they spoke as things were. If they said it was grand, it was grand.

Of course, this grand event wasn't just for the sake of the Red Star Steel Group, but also for the enterprises attending the exhibition.

The Red Star Steel Group was very good at handling people and affairs; they had both substance and style.

Since it was called the United Industrial Exhibition, the word "United" was the key. The products at the exhibition weren't just Red Star brands, but also products belonging to all the united units coordinated by the Trade Management Center.

The higher-ups also saw the significant meaning of this exhibition; it was a commercial activity based in the north that was more targeted than the Yangcheng Exhibition.

In this era, holding an exhibition in Beijing—do you know how much pressure Old Li was under?

It was thanks to Li Li Xuewu's effective planning, pulling in a large group of brother enterprises to stand together, that today's grand event was possible.

From the perspective of the higher-ups, the Red Star Factory was sharing the fruits of development, with the advanced leading the backward, sharing the path to success with other industrial enterprises.

From a horizontal perspective, the Red Star Factory was very generous, exhibiting its own independent brand products while also bringing them along to get rich together.

From the perspective of the lower levels, the exhibition was a transformation and an opportunity for sales work, moving from passive to active, and from tertiary industry to the development of the main industry.

How did the Red Star Steel Group develop? Wasn't it by turning its tertiary industry into an industry even more formidable than its main production?

Automobiles, hardware, aircraft, food, and other categories were dazzling. The exhibitors came from industrial enterprise teams across the country, and there were even heads of provincial offices in Beijing present to support their own enterprises.

In particular, the Andrew Buyer Club, far away in Hong Kong, organized a commercial team to participate in this exhibition.

With foreign merchants participating, it immediately ignited the enthusiasm of the exhibition and also elevated the "big" factor of this event.

Why was the Red Star Steel Group able to be the big brother of tertiary trade? Wasn't it because they seized the opportunity for foreign trade?

Although other industrial enterprises were also doing foreign trade, they still had to go through the General Trade Corporation, which had too many restrictions.

If they could gain the favor of foreign merchants through the exhibition and obtain opportunities for foreign trade, they would be happy just thinking about it.

It was a pity that the Red Star Steel Group's example couldn't be replicated; one test subject was enough. The Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade had long since entered the exhibition and carried out corresponding work.

However, the higher-ups' attitude toward the Red Star Steel Group's foreign trade achievements also caused a shift in the attitude of the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade in their work.

When carrying out foreign trade work, especially in pricing and quality negotiations, they should consult the opinions of the production enterprises more.

This single point of progress was enough to show the Red Star Steel Group's positive role in promoting foreign trade work.

If there really were a precedent like the Red Star Steel Group, opening up the gates for foreign trade, wouldn't the General Distribution Corporation be ruined?

Perhaps the higher-ups also wanted to use the Red Star Steel Group as a test subject to test and promote internal reforms in relevant departments.

The industrial exhibition was aimed not only at foreign merchants, domestic procurement merchants, and procurement quotas for the industrial system, but also at the common people.

The ticket price was twenty cents; whether you bought anything or not, as long as you entered, it was twenty cents.

The Industrial Exhibition Hall did not charge any fees to the exhibitors participating in this exhibition.

Likewise, they wouldn't share ticket revenue with them either.

Looking at the throngs of ordinary citizens pouring into the exhibition hall, you knew how much of the cost that twenty-cent ticket price could cover.

If you asked whether that twenty-cent ticket was worth it, the citizens carrying bags of purchases wouldn't answer you, because they didn't have the time.

Although supplies were limited based on tickets, the opportunity for the industrial system to openly supply industrial products to the common people was still too rare.

You couldn't afford a car, but you could at least afford a bicycle!

"Excuse me, this bike is mine." Someone reminded a foreign merchant who was looking at the bicycle, "Please move your hand away from my bike."

PS: I'm flying to Yunnan tomorrow. If there's no update, it means I'm too tired from the journey to write. I'll make it up all at once when I get back.

(End of chapter)