Chapter 1335: If there's something to do, really go for it

"What's going on with Liang Zuodong?"

Li Huai De sent Zhang Changming out the door; before the car left, he turned back and asked.

Li Xuewu didn't answer immediately, but watched the black Shanghai-brand sedan drive away, then sighed faintly and whispered: "Possessed by a ghost, perhaps."

"It's that there's a ghost in his heart." Li Huai De wasn't very satisfied with his answer; he walked toward the garden with his hands behind his back.

Li Xuewu followed half a step behind him; taking advantage of this moment before departure, the two had some things to say, one after the other.

The secretaries didn't dare follow too closely, nor did they dare stay too far away, trailing ten steps behind and observing the leaders' expressions.

Wang Lu rarely followed Li Xuewu on field trips; this was a rare opportunity, and it was also a semi-vacation situation.

It was Li Xuewu who took the initiative to ask her if she wanted to come out and look around.

With Wang Lu's personality, since he was willing to bring her out to play, what else could she not be willing to do?

Although Wang Lu's personality had matured a lot after marriage, her innocent and lively mindset was still there.

She also knew that coming to Tianjin in October could only mean two things: stroll, eat.

If the time was longer, it would be stroll-eat-stroll-eat-stroll-eat...

After all, it was work; Second Brother had already been very caring toward her, and in name, she was a secretary brought out, but in reality, it was a vacation given to her.

These two days she went to the Quanye Market, hearing that the women's clothing counters here had very fashionable clothes; she had heard of it for a long time, and this could be called sea-shopping.

Sea-shopping? Where did she get the money?

Wang Lu was a Grade 25 clerk with a monthly salary of 37.5 yuan; Zhao Yajun was a Grade 12 police officer with a salary of 40.5 yuan.

If you say the young couple had a salary of over 70 yuan a month, it was enough for her to stroll and eat, but you didn't count their consumption.

Daily meals for the couple were both in the cafeteria, one meal costing two to three mao; if Zhao Yajun didn't eat well, she wouldn't be willing.

At this time, the cafeteria food was indeed cheap, but that was also relative.

Ask Zhao Yajun; which week did he not eat two or three meals of braised pork? His complexion was much ruddier than before.

In a month, the couple spent about 25 yuan just on food, and there were daily expenses.

Soap, tooth powder, cloth, haircuts, telephone, shoe repair, car repair, watching movies, buying fruit...

After a month, just daily expenses would be another 20-plus yuan.

As long as you are living a life, everything costs money; this city is not comparable to the countryside.

If you say that in later generations, earning 3,000 a month, you don't know how it disappeared after receiving the salary; in fact, it was just these small things that were spent.

Zhao Yajun was very frugal, but he couldn't stand Wang Lu daring to spend money on him; she herself was also raised pampered, so how could she be willing to be frugal.

Another thing, Zhao Yajun had been working for three years and hadn't saved much money at all; it was all supported to his family.

Even after marriage, he still had to give his family 20 yuan a month; this was still because the village had money-making projects and the family had money.

Adding the couple's salaries together, it was 78; how much was left now?

Very little left, almost no savings.

But even so, Wang Lu was still a good girl with ambition; for the future of the small couple, she still saved a sum of money in the bank every month, sometimes 20, sometimes 30.

Calculating this bill, the salary of over 70 yuan was simply not enough.

Not enough, what to do?

It doesn't matter; who told her to have a good father.

When the couple said they were getting married, the house was provided ready-made; if living expenses weren't enough, Wang Lu would act like a bandit and reach out to her father for money.

Her father gave, her mother gave, her brother and sister-in-law also gave; every month her own salary couldn't be spent, simply couldn't be spent.

So among the girls and young wives in the group unit, who didn't envy her, all saying fools have fool's luck.

Mm, these words don't sound very pleasant.

Wang Lu didn't think she was a fool; she just lived very carefree.

Wearing the skirt she bought yesterday, wearing a wool sweater on her upper body, she didn't care at all whether this counted as office business travel.

Second Brother said this time counted as a vacation. Since it was a vacation, then why wear work clothes; vacation is meant to be relaxed.

Li Haiyang, who was walking beside her, didn't know her thoughts, but also knew her carefree nature these two days, envying her to death.

Of course, being a secretary for the leader in the General Management Department and still being able to be so carefree, only Wang Lu had this unique privilege.

Even the former Li Xue didn't have such a free and easy manner.

But even Li Haiyang envied her; she also had a good popularity, let alone the General Management Department, even in other departments, there was no one saying bad things about her; friends were everywhere.

This was different from when Wang Lu first came to the factory; at that time, she was a dangerous person, the kind with water in her brain.

It was just that after long-term contact, everyone knew this was a happy fruit with a deep background who didn't seek progress.

Let's just say, if your unit has such a person, you'd better not offend her.

Think about it, she already has a background and connections, and still doesn't seek progress, posing no threat to you; what do you have to fight with her for.

From time to time, she would take the initiative to treat everyone, introduce blind dates, a warm-hearted person.

If you offended her, it would be equivalent to offending a group of people.

So look, Li Haiyang, who was already at the deputy section level and served as the deputy director of the General Manager (Director) Office, was very polite to her.

The two leaders in front were walking and talking "idle" words; the two of them followed behind, also talking idle words.

Wang Lu, of course, couldn't bear the silence; after walking for a while, she took the initiative to ask Li Haiyang about the situation of the leaders these two days.

Li Haiyang had defenses against others, but what kind of tricks could he play against Wang Lu; he smiled and made an introduction.

He also knew why Wang Lu asked this; it wasn't because she had been carefree for two days and felt she couldn't forget the secretary's work, taking the initiative to grasp some situation.

"In other words, this club is actually used as a business activity pier?" Wang Lu looked curiously at the surrounding resort area and asked: "What's fun about this place?"

"It's not finished yet; you'll know when it's operational; it's very fun." Li Haiyang smiled and introduced: "I also heard it from the leaders; there are leisure, entertainment, dining, and shopping."

"In this place?" Wang Lu arched her eyebrows and asked suspiciously: "It's a distance from the city; only a fool would come to buy things."

"It's not entertaining ordinary guests." Li Haiyang took the initiative to introduce: "The Secretary-General said this place mainly faces senior cadres of cooperative enterprises, as well as cooperative foreign businessmen and foreign resident employees."

He turned back and pointed to the construction site not far away, gesturing: "That is a shopping mall; Deputy Director Gao has already talked to the Tianjin supply units, and they will build a mall with unlimited supply."

"Because it faces foreign businessmen and foreign employees, the goods here will be priced by negotiation, and there will also be imported goods for sale."

"I don't care if he has a ghost in his heart or a ghost on his body." Li Huai De frowned slightly and emphasized to Li Xuewu: "It is strictly forbidden to engage in intrigue and dark maneuvers in the agency."

"Since the Group Agency Work Management Regulations have been implemented for more than a year, then strike hard."

He made a grabbing motion with his hand, speaking seriously: "Don't be reluctant to beat them; dare to strike down the black sheep."

"I was considering that the team just passed the running-in period, once..."

Li Xuewu paused here, looked at Old Li, and continued: "Bu Qingfang's transfer to the General Management Department, I believe, is a kind of restraint and warning for the department's management."

"You are just too cautious—" Li Huai De looked ahead, but his finger pointed at Li Xuewu's chest, and he sighed long.

"Mm—but you are the Secretary-General; the direction and principles of considering problems are different; you must talk about unity."

He stepped on the stone brick floor and walked forward slowly, nodding slowly: "Bu Qingfang going to the General Management Department seems to be right."

"But for this period of time, you still have to grasp the direction well."

Li Huai De turned his head to look at Li Xuewu and said seriously: "Don't chant the tightening spell for her, but the tightening spell cannot be absent."

"Will it be too tense?" Li Xuewu suggested: "Why not give Bu Qingfang more opportunities for training—"

"Take it slow, don't rush; she is not you."

Li Huai De didn't wait for Li Xuewu to finish, turned around, waved his hand, and said: "Regarding the control of the situation, she is still far behind."

"This time, regarding the Energy General Company, I can barely give Ji Jiuzheng a passing grade for his assessment, but he shouldn't feel relaxed either."

"Your conversation with him played a role." Li Xuewu said with a smile: "It can be seen that he really listened to your words."

"The group doesn't want cadres who listen; it wants cadres who can do business." Li Huai De pointed to his own temple and said to Li Xuewu with slightly narrowed eyes: "This brain of his is rusted."

"Heard that the above intends to increase the intensity of promoting training classes." Li Xuewu walked closer and whispered: "Should we also follow the prescription and add a dose of physical fitness and solid foundation?"

"Mm, I have thought about this matter."

Li Huai De raised his head slightly, his gaze somewhat scattered, thinking as he walked: "The above wants to establish an inspection team, right?"

Feeling Li Xuewu's nod, he continued: "These metaphysical things, if you don't do them, it won't work; if you do them wrong, it won't work either."

"You said to follow the prescription." He turned back to look at Li Xuewu and said: "Is this prescription definitely symptomatic? Is it definitely effective?"

"I don't see it—"

Li Huai De turned his head, shook his head slightly, and said: "This kind of movement that lacks experience, I think we should still maintain a cautious attitude."

"You are not a conservative, hehe." Li Xuewu said with a light smile: "Outside, everyone says you are the captain who masters the Red Star Steel Group and breaks the ice of economic development, a natural trade radical."

"Hehehe—" Li Huai De was also somewhat complacent after being praised, smiling modestly: "It's all just rumors."

"I don't dare take it seriously, so don't say it."

He turned his head and said to Li Xuewu with a smile: "If you really take these words to heart, the whole person will float."

"If a person floats, feet not touching the ground, then it's not a person, right, hehehe—"

Li Xuewu nodded in agreement and didn't comment on Old Li's words, because looking at Old Li's state now, he was floating.

"Conservative or radical, I don't care." Li Huai De continued: "Feet on the ground, doing work solidly and standardly, is the way to take for management."

He pointed to his front and said with some pride: "Those who think they have mastered some standards and habitually divide people into this faction or that faction are just afraid, right."

"Afraid of people's work style changing, hard to control; afraid of people's superb technology, hard to learn; afraid of this and that, right."

Li Huai De nodded slightly and said: "The development plan of the Red Star Steel Group was proposed by you; I firmly believe we are on the right path."

"The efforts and work we do today might not be understood by outsiders, and even the group's cadres are confused."

"This is not important; what's important is execution."

He pointed to his front again and emphasized: "Since the establishment of the Management Committee, I have been coordinating personnel work."

"Including early technical changes, institutional changes, and then personnel changes, this is all of one continuous line."

Li Huai De turned back to look at Li Xuewu and said: "Don't think we have done very well; you should know."

"You mean—" Li Xuewu opened his eyes slightly, arched his eyebrows, and asked: "You think those below will disobey in public but comply in private?"

"This is not what I think, but a fact that exists."

Li Huai De turned around and spoke seriously: "Research cannot see problems, nor can it ask for the truth; you and I both know."

"How does that saying go? There is a policy above, and a countermeasure below, right." His tone wasn't angry, but his attitude was very firm: "Doing management has always been a long and arduous journey."

"I am very reluctant for you to go to Steel City now; this is a test for the group, and it is the same for you."

"Perhaps you have already heard some opinions, from all directions." He said faintly: "Letting you go down, some people in the group are afraid, and some below are also afraid; what are they afraid of?"

"Afraid? Afraid of what?" Li Xuewu looked at his profile, his eyes narrowing slightly, "Ghost in the heart, or ghost on the body?"

"Hehe, I don't know." Li Huai De smiled and raised his head: "This requires you to feel it yourself."

"What is felt is not necessarily real." Li Xuewu rarely expressed his stance clearly: "Hiding the head and showing the tail, only by beating it will I know what kind of sacred being is hidden in this turtle shell, what it means."

"Hahahaha—" Hearing Li Xuewu's words, Li Huai De couldn't help but laugh out loud, "I just like your boldness."

He pointed to Li Xuewu, and after laughing, lowered his head slightly: "I know you have a tiger in your heart, and I support you in taking drastic measures, but there are thousands of threads; don't entangle yourself in them."

"Letting you go to Steel City, with so many opinions appearing, it shows that both above and below have problems; you have to clarify them."

Li Huai De whispered: "I cannot suppress the opinions below, nor can I cover up the opinions above; this won't work."

"People all say I, Li Huai De, run a one-man show, a single pen."

He smiled bitterly and shook his head slightly: "Although I don't agree, since people have said it, I must reflect on myself, right."

"I can understand what you mean." Li Xuewu nodded and said: "Whether I go to Steel City is not important; what's important is in what capacity I go to Steel City, and from what perspective I do management."

Li Huai De stopped his steps, narrowed his eyes slightly to look at Li Xuewu, and listened to him continue.

His words just now didn't mean this, or rather, didn't only mean this; now it depended on how Li Xuewu understood it.

The words Li Xuewu spoke were a kind of attitude, or rather, the feedback from his conversation with Li Xuewu today.

Li Huai De's attitude and meaning were very clear; he didn't hope for Li Xuewu to be entangled in Steel City, or rather, entangled in the Liaodong Industrial Management Group; he hoped more for Li Xuewu to stand from the group's perspective to do management.

Was there any difference between this and Li Xuewu's work approach?

There was still a fundamental difference.

First, Li Huai De had such an opinion, which was to use his support to have Li Xuewu master Liaodong Industry in the capacity of Secretary-General.

This required Li Xuewu to respect his opinions in certain work approaches and attitudes, and keep his thinking consistent with his.

Or rather, further, to be restrained by him.

But was this what Li Xuewu wanted?

Second, Li Xuewu managing Liaodong Industry in the capacity of Group Secretary-General meant that the Liaodong Industry Leadership Group had to lean closely toward the Management Committee.

That is to say, the group team's influence and control range and intensity over Liaodong Industry were greater.

Li Huai De showed his hand on one hand, threatening Li Xuewu that the situation below was complicated, and without the group's support, he might not be able to handle it.

At the same time, there were many opinions in the group about him going to Steel City.

On the other hand, he proposed a solution, to stand out and coordinate several parties to help Li Xuewu stand firm and solve problems faster.

But did Li Xuewu need his coordination?

Accepting Li Huai De's restraint and coordination was equivalent to giving up part of his right to speak on Liaodong Industry.

After losing this part of the right to speak, the group's influence on him would be greater; then who was he going to listen to next?

He now had to make a response, in what capacity and posture to go to Liaodong, or rather, what mission he was carrying to Liaodong.

Or to put it more bluntly, was he going to Liaodong to be the head, or to be the butt.

It wasn't hard to see that Li Huai De's attitude toward his Liaodong trip was also quite vague, wanting to set up an ambush in advance and get a share of the pie.

He was acting as the referee, but also wanted to be the athlete.

Could Li Xuewu accept him entering the game?

"You just mentioned some comrades below, some units, who have insufficient confidence in executing the group's management and policies."

Li Xuewu deliberated for a moment and opened his mouth in a gentle tone: "I am not surprised at all that this appears in the process of organizational change, or rather, institutional change."

"When the train turns, there are always some people who cannot keep up with the pace of the times, cannot see the direction of progress, and will be thrown off."

He stood beside Li Huai De, his posture upright, his bearing steady; from the angle of Li Haiyang and Wang Lu not far behind, his momentum didn't lose to Director Li at all.

They, of course, didn't know what topic the two leaders were discussing, but they both understood that this topic must be very important.

Because the atmosphere between the two leaders couldn't be said to be swords drawn and bows bent, but it could be said to be somewhat stagnant.

Looking at Director Li's complex gaze, one knew that the Secretary-General must be speaking about opinions or topics he was particularly concerned about.

"I very much agree with your confidence and point of view, and I also firmly believe we are on the right path."

Li Xuewu said seriously: "If on this path, some comrades don't understand our decision, I will explain it to them."

"Some comrades don't know how to do it, I will teach them." He looked at Li Huai De and continued: "But if some people choose to go against our decision, I will kick them out."

Hearing Li Xuewu say this, Li Huai De felt a chill in his body; he clearly noticed that in the last sentence, Li Xuewu didn't use the term "comrade."

This meaning couldn't be clearer: different aspirations, different paths, no common ground.

If you don't follow me, don't listen to me, then you are not my comrade, and I will get rid of you.

Li Huai De was thinking now, if he went against Li Xuewu, would he also be gotten rid of?

"The situation is difficult; comrades must be united and work hard." Li Xuewu sighed and continued: "If the situation below is so complicated that it worries you, as the pillar industry of the group, Liaodong Industry, perhaps the problems will be more serious and more complicated."

"I cannot say I carry justice on my iron shoulders, or clear the turbidity with an iron pen, but I have the confidence to handle and coordinate this problem well."

Li Xuewu looked at him and said: "Perhaps this is the significance and purpose of me going to Steel City and Liaodong as Secretary-General."

Li Huai De seemed to have heard something; his face was serious, his lips tightly pursed, not knowing if it was disappointment in Li Xuewu or regret for the bankruptcy of his plan.

"Of course, perhaps in the near future, I will also encounter the same predicament and problems as you."

Li Xuewu looked at him and said very understandingly: "Once I start to organize and rectify the order of Liaodong Industry, I will touch some people's interests and make their fears and worries become reality."

"Then, there will definitely be people who will attack me and slander me in front of you and other comrades."

He spoke here with great emotion to Li Huai De: "I hope you can understand me just as you understand yourself today; I, like you, don't hope to be a single pen, a one-man show."

Danger! Danger! Danger!

Li Huai De's inner alarm flashed; Li Xuewu was "pushing for an inch after gaining a foot," not only wanting to master Liaodong Industry but also preparing to run a one-man show, a single pen.

But he was a bit numb now, because Li Xuewu had completely understood and followed his meaning to strike a preemptive blow.

You say, how can he refute Li Xuewu now? Refuting Li Xuewu's reminder is equivalent to refuting what he just said.

Can the food you eat be vomited out, and can the shit you pull be sat back in?

Good job, Li Xuewu; I talk to you about the front gate tower, and you talk to me about the hip joint; I've been circled in by you.

"Regardless of the situation in Liaodong Industry, I have made ideological preparations; even if it's a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, I have to break through."

Li Xuewu looked at Li Huai De very seriously and gratefully: "If I don't go, who else can go? If I don't solve this complicated problem, do I have to force it back to you to be responsible?"

"I don't deny that I will be a furious Vajra, raising a butcher's knife to deter the petty, but I can guarantee this scale will not affect basic work and the situation."

He paused here, waiting for Li Huai De to digest it, and then continued: "As for the misunderstanding and opinions of other comrades, I can fully understand, and I am willing to make efforts."

"At the same time, I also hope to get your support, and maintain fairness and justice when coordinating and handling the opinions of other comrades."

Li Xuewu said firmly: "I believe other comrades also hope to get a sense of confidence and attitude from you."

"With your fairness and justice, I will have the confidence to make enough efforts to gain everyone's support."

Li Xuewu had said everything; now what could Li Huai De say?

Li Huai De couldn't vent his temper even if he had one now, because Li Xuewu had blocked all his paths.

What? You, the referee, want to enter the game?

Li Xuewu reminded him seriously that it was best not to do this, because it was very dangerous off the field, and swords had no eyes.

It was already a chaotic situation; if there was no referee and no order, the situation might become difficult to handle.

In other words, my forty-meter long sword is very sharp; if you don't help me hold back the last meter, everyone will be finished.

Damn! What did Li Huai De hear!

He heard warnings and threats, as well as reminders pointing directly to his heart and purpose, asking him to follow the rules of the game.

Shouldn't I be the one to set the rules of the game? When is it your turn, a small Secretary-General, to be serious about the rules!

Li Huai De was very angry; he really wanted to tell Li Xuewu that provoking him was equivalent to kicking... kicking cotton!

Don't say Old Li was cowardly; Li Xuewu's attitude was very sincere now; if Li Xuewu was really provoked, flipping the table would be all filthy.

"Thank you, Secretary-General. I didn't expect to receive a gift as well."

Xiaoxiao was very grateful as she took a gift box from Li Xuewu's hands, her face full of surprise.

For the past two days after work, she had come to the Haiyuncang villa—or to be more precise, starting two days ago, she came here every day to tutor and help Li Shu with her piano and academic studies.

There was no way anyone could find fault with how Li Xuewu conducted himself or handled matters; even if it hadn't been prepared specifically for her, he would still be this generous.

"I don't have time to go to the mall. I entrusted the club manager to prepare it for me. It's just a small token of appreciation; I hope you like it."

"I like it very much. Thank you, Secretary-General."

Xiaoxiao looked at the pale blue silk scarf in the box, her mood incredibly bright; the feeling of being thought of by someone was truly wonderful.

Li Shu curiously stood on her tiptoes, craning her neck to peer at the box in Teacher Xiaoxiao's hands, wanting to see what was inside.

Hearing Teacher Xiaoxiao's excited tone, she felt that even the gift in her own hands didn't seem as appealing anymore, and she wanted the one the teacher had.

"Do you want to swap with me?" She shook the tin pencil case she had just unwrapped from her gift box and looked at Teacher Xiaoxiao earnestly, saying, "I don't mind, you know. This one is made of iron."

Her implication was: mine is iron, yours is cloth; if I swap this with you, Teacher, you're the one who gains.

Xiaoxiao glanced at the little one, pretended not to notice, silently put away the silk scarf in her hand, and said to Li Shu, "We still need to practice one more piece. We are going to start our lesson now."

"Teacher, Teacher, let me see your rag."

Li Shu refused to let Xiaoxiao off, jumping on her feet and reaching out, wanting to grab the gift box in the teacher's hand.

She hadn't yet figured out what the gift in the teacher's hand actually was; seeing a small piece of fabric, she mistook it for a rag.

Dad is really something, too; how could he give a rag as a gift?

If you ask why Li Shu thought it was a rag and still wanted to swap for it, the answer is too easy to understand.

She didn't need to think about what was good about that rag; she only had to look at the teacher's surprised expression to know it was a good thing.

At the very least, it had to be better than the stationery box in her own hands. What was so good about this tin box? She felt it was heavy to carry every day.

"Let's stop here for today." Li Xuewu watched his daughter about to throw a tantrum, and his son had also run out from Er Ya's room. Having finished distributing the gifts, he smiled and called out, "Do you want to go out and play?"

"I promise you, I'll go out and play with you." Li Shu looked at her father, pointed at the teacher, and asked, "Can you give me one of those rags?"

"So you want a rag, is that it?"

Li Xuewu smiled and gestured toward the kitchen, saying, "Dad will go find you one in a moment."

"I want that one—" Li Shu couldn't say what it was; she could only find a similar term to remind her father.

Right now, she looked exactly like a rabbit, jumping on the ground in frustration, wanting to swap for the teacher's gift.

Hmph, Dad isn't as good now that he's grown up.

Li Shu thought with no small amount of resentment; when she was little, whenever Dad went on a business trip, he would bring her either snacks or toys.

And now? He brings stationery?

Dad, have you ever thought about how hard I missed you while you were away on such a long business trip, and you bring me back this?

Even a toy pistol would have been fine.

"Alright, if you aren't going, then stay home and practice the piano with Teacher Xiaoxiao. We're leaving now."

As Li Xuewu said this, he really did pick up Li Ning, who had run over, stepped onto the stairs, and prepared to go back to change his son's clothes.

Xiaoxiao watched Li Shu quietly, waiting for her decision.

Was she going to go out and play, or stay and practice the piano with her?

In normal circumstances, she would have hoped for Li Shu to study with her and reduce the time spent playing outside, because her own time was limited.

But now, the Secretary-General had said he was taking them out to play. Note that the Secretary-General used the word "we" here.

Which meant he would be taking her along as well.

"Sigh—" Li Shu thought for quite a while before she finally raised her head to look at Xiaoxiao and said, "I'm doing this all for you."

"What does that mean?" Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow, looked at the precocious Li Shu, and asked, "Do you want to explain that clearly?"

"Does that even need asking?" Li Shu sighed helplessly and said, "Since you want to go out and play so much, I have no choice but to accompany you."

"It's you who wants to go out and play so much—" Xiaoxiao was truly impressed by this little girl; how could she have so many tricks up her sleeve?

It was clearly she who wanted to go out and play; first, she used this to make a deal with her father, and after being seen through, she came to coax her to earn a favor.

She's only three and a half years old; where does she get such cleverness!

This Sunday, Beijing welcomed a beautiful day with crisp autumn air and clear skies; many people chose to take their children out for a stroll.

Aside from mountain climbing that leaves one drenched in sweat, or uninteresting historical sites, the cultural exhibition currently being held at the Industrial Exhibition Hall in the Liangma River Industrial Zone outside Dongzhimen was actually worth a look.

The Volga sedan sped along the straight road, carrying Li Ning's anticipation, Li Shu's indignation, and even more of Xiaoxiao's overflowing joy, as it drove toward the Industrial Exhibition Hall.

Gu Ning hadn't wanted to come, but Li Xuewu had discussed it with her for quite a while, even using himself and the children to persuade her.

Li Xuewu had just arrived home from Tianjin; if it weren't for it being Sunday, he wouldn't have had any vacation time after returning.

Today's weather was perfect, and both children were home; it was just right for a family outing.

More meaningfully, Gu Ning hadn't accompanied her son and daughter out to relax for a long time; she had been buried in thick books lately.

With Li Xuewu's gentleness and the children's anticipation, even if the study tasks at hand were heavy, Gu Ning had no choice but to put them all aside.

In the back seat, Li Ning was like a little monkey, climbing from his father's side to his mother's to look at the scenery outside the window, then climbing back from his mother's side to his father's to make faces at his sister.

Li Xuewu could clearly feel that since Li Shu started school, her personality had matured a lot, and she had learned to control her emotions.

This wasn't because a teacher had taught her some principle, but because by interacting with children of her own age, her horizons had been broadened.

Children also think; there are some things they can do, and some things they cannot, and they want to be praised everywhere they go.

Especially in a collective environment, they are even more eager for honor and praise.

If there are many children in a family, this desire is obvious; even if there are only two children, they will make comparisons.

"Dad, I want a balloon—"

Fortunately, car ownership in this era wasn't very high; otherwise, just finding a parking space would be a problem.

After leaving the parking lot, Li Shu pointed at the window of the gift sales service department next to the visitor service center at the entrance of the Industrial Exhibition Hall and shouted that she wanted a balloon.

"Your factory really knows how to do business."

Gu Ning glanced at it, turned her head to Li Xuewu, and said, "Why do I feel like this was your idea?"

"You actually guessed right." Li Xuewu also smiled bitterly and said, "I just didn't expect this tactic to be used on me."

"Was it really your idea?" Xiaoxiao looked at the Secretary-General curiously and asked, "Is there some logic behind it?"

"There's no special logic; it's just to generate revenue." Li Xuewu smiled slightly at her and explained, "If a cultural exhibition relies only on selling tickets, it's impossible to maximize profits."

"It's very easy to understand, isn't it?"

Perhaps seeing the confusion in Xiaoxiao's eyes, he continued to explain, "There are only two types of people who come to see a cultural exhibition."

"One type hopes to complete their own learning and gain emotional value, and the other hopes that others will learn and gain emotional value."

"Are you talking about young people and children?"

Xiaoxiao quickly understood the meaning behind his words, widened her eyes slightly, and said, "So, the things sold here are all related to the emotional value you mentioned?"

"This suggestion was indeed proposed by me, but it wasn't just for the Industrial Exhibition Hall; I discussed it with the Sales General Company once."

Li Xuewu shook his head slightly, watching Nie Xiaoguang trot over to buy two balloons, giving one to Li Shu and one to Li Ning.

His care for the children could be described as doting and indulgent, possessing even more sincere affection than Han Jiankun.

This is called "love me, love my dog"; he respects Li Xuewu, is loyal to Li Xuewu, and therefore loves his children even more.

Li Shu smiled and thanked Uncle Guang, and Li Ning also smiled, imitating his sister, and let out a babble.

"For children, there are balloons, candy, comic books, etc.; for young people, there are photo opportunities, calligraphy and paintings, art pieces, etc."

Li Xuewu led them inside, and when passing by several stalls not far away, he gave them a brief introduction.

In fact, this cultural exhibition, assisted by the Sales General Company, was still very primitive; it was just art pieces, or pseudo-art pieces, coordinated by the Trade Management Center, thrown together randomly for visitors to choose from.

Fortunately, this era lacked such a unique cultural sales concept, so both young people and the parents of small children were very receptive.

These so-called art pieces mostly incorporated the characteristics of this era, such as badges, notebooks, playing cards, chess pieces, and so on.

Speaking of this, everyone actually knows where these things, which seem like art pieces but are actually crafts, came from.

Produced by the Detention Center Alliance, distributed by the Recycling Station, and placed in the Red Star Steel Group Industrial Exhibition Hall, they became art pieces.

Xiaoxiao listened to the Secretary-General's explanation and roughly understood the meaning behind Sister Aunt Xiao Ning's laughter at him.

Making industrial products look like culture makes them crafts; draping crafts in the cloak of culture makes them art pieces.

These art pieces are also too worthless.

Wait, who said these crafts are worthless? Nie Xiaoguang was preparing to buy some comic books for the two children.

The salesperson introduced that the stories and themes of the comic books here were all content from this cultural exhibition and were very rare.

These story comic books would only be sold during the cultural exhibition period; after this week ended, they wouldn't be available on the market.

Rarity, interest, culture—multiple elements combined; as long as children had a sense of comparison and curiosity, parents had no choice but to pay up.

While grumbling that although the paper quality of the comic books here was better, the price was also higher, and it really wasn't worth it.

But after saying that, they couldn't bear the children's longing eyes and painfully took out their money.

Because they didn't have to buy them, and the salesperson wouldn't over-promote; there was truly no shortage of customers coming to purchase in front of these counters.

The spiritual food for people in this era was truly too scarce; over the years, their demand and longing for culture had been very starved.

Now that the Liangma River Ecological Zone was organizing a cultural exhibition, you tell me how they could resist not coming to join in the fun.

The fun was there, the people came, and the economic benefits followed.

The Sales General Company was actually testing the Secretary-General's suggestions, gradually launching special activities in various events to generate revenue.

Li Xuewu was too familiar with those endless management methods from later generations; he summarized some and handed them to the Sales General Company. The marketing department treated them like treasures, and after testing them, they were amazed.

How were these methods thought up? Every time they looked at the Secretary-General, their eyes carried awe.

His grasp of the human heart and understanding of human nature—he was truly an expert leader capable of writing about criminal psychology.

Li Xuewu was lamenting here that the boomerang had hit himself, and he had finally fallen into the trap he dug; the Sales General Company's Organization Division was also lamenting that if business could be done this way, who would be their opponent in the future?

The interior of the exhibition hall was partitioned into many spaces using wooden boards and cardboard, with each space featuring a special cultural exhibition.

Including cultural characteristics from various regions and ethnic groups across the country, food, beautiful scenery, myths and legends, inspirational figures, and so on.

Li Shu looked on with envy, and her mouth watered, constantly pointing at the food map on the display board and asking her father when he would go on a business trip there.

For the sake of a bite to eat, she really wanted to exile her father to a more distant place so that she could taste the food from all over the country without leaving home.

(End of chapter)