Chapter 1354: The Group's Most Affectionate Man

"What has the Secretary-General been busy with lately?"

Zhang Jinsong, a cigarette pinched between his fingers, passed by Li Li Xuewu's office and encountered Su Weide, who was heading downstairs for dinner, at the stairwell landing.

Su Weide turned his head to glance, then feigned indifference as he said, "I heard it concerns the ordnance industry; things have been a bit hectic recently."

"I just passed his door and saw a room full of people."

As he descended the stairs, Zhang Jinsong remarked casually, "Our Secretary-General is certainly capable in both civil and military affairs."

"Heh heh heh, that is indeed the case."

Perhaps detecting the hidden meaning in Zhang Jinsong's words, Su Weide raised an eyebrow and chuckled in agreement.

Upon reaching the stairwell corner, he casually brought up the case involving the General Food Company, appearing neither fully concerned nor entirely unconcerned.

"Hmm, I actually haven't paid much attention to it."

Hearing him mention it, Zhang Jinsong couldn't help but turn to look at him, asking with a smile, "Director Su, you are a veteran of discipline and supervision; you must have some insights into this case."

"The comrades below are acting without method or rule; you certainly cannot stand by and watch," he teased with deep implication. "If you have any opinions or suggestions, you should take the initiative to guide them a little."

These words sounded completely irrelevant, yet were delivered with an air of selfless impartiality; what could this be but an attempt to sow discord between Su Weide and the others?

Deputy Director Zhang was responsible for operations and logistics within the Group, while also maintaining liaison with the General Energy Company and the Labor Service Company.

On the surface, Deputy Director Zhang appeared to hold no real power and had achieved nothing noteworthy.

If you thought that, you would be gravely mistaken; who told you that a leader overseeing operations and logistics lacks real authority?

The Logistics Division, the Services Division, and the Procurement and Supply Division had jointly established the Operations Management Department, a legitimate Group service and support unit.

Its subordinate Labor and Safety Service Company was the unit with the largest number of service positions in the entire Group, as well as the widest scope of services.

The United Energy Development General Company boasted an even broader operational reach; as an upstream enterprise for the Group's heavy industry, it was a joint venture funded and produced by multiple domestic and foreign capitals and enterprises—was this not significant?

Speaking broadly might seem too abstract and hard to grasp, so let us speak of the small: even the bath tickets and haircut tickets for the public bathhouses fell under his jurisdiction.

Of course, when saying these fell under his jurisdiction, it meant that the overall business coordination ultimately converged at his desk, not that he personally issued the bath tickets.

He managed the sky above (aviation services), the earth below (underground pipelines), and the air in between (daily sanitation); truly impressive.

However, Deputy Director Zhang had a very peculiar temperament; young and promising, he rarely joked, and one could often see him wearing a serious expression around the administrative offices.

Serious he was, but not harsh; he remained quite warm toward his subordinates, simply being very diligent about his work.

With no nonsense, no empty talk, a serious approach to tasks, and a background and status that stood firm, how could he fail to achieve results?

Ever since logistics and services were assigned to him, no problems had arisen, and both systems and quality had improved.

No matter how ruthless Old Li was in handling personnel matters, with no one in the entire Group daring to challenge Director Li, the sole exception was Deputy Director Zhang.

Regarding the several departments under the Operations Management Department, along with the Labor Service Company he managed, his personnel work was impenetrable.

Toward the United Energy Development General Company, however, Deputy Director Zhang did not display excessive harshness, essentially saving face for Director Li.

Li Li Huai De was a man of great cultivation; he usually prioritized politics and would rarely clash head-on with other members of the leadership team.

Yet everyone saw clearly as a mirror that with Deputy Director Zhang being so unyielding, he would receive little support from Director Li.

Of course, everyone could also see that Deputy Director Zhang relied entirely on the principle that only hard iron can forge strong steel.

There was no helping it; Deputy Director Zhang possessed such capability and upheld fairness in personnel matters below, so everyone acknowledged him.

For a time, Director Li's influence over personnel work encountered a rare vacuum within the Operations Management Department.

Some joked that it remained to be seen how long Deputy Director Zhang could hold out, but his future prospects were inevitably boundless.

This was pure nonsense; Deputy Director Zhang had no intention of conflicting with Director Li; the two simply had differing working styles.

No matter how outstanding Zhang Jinsong's abilities were, he had no delusional wish to replace Director Li.

He was not as "ambitious" as Su Weide; his arrogance equaled his confidence, so he did not hesitate at all when teasing Su Weide.

As members of the same leadership team, one must not only maintain an atmosphere of unity on the surface, but even when truly clashing, one must not clench a fist.

Recently, however, observant people could sense that the most fiercely competitive factions had begun fighting in earnest.

Had they not heard Director Su say that the General Food Company case involved massive implications, and who knew how many people would lose their hats over it?

Zhang Jinsong's words made Su Weide's ears itch with irritation, and he secretly cursed that this Deputy Director Zhang was no good either.

On the surface?

On the surface, naturally, he was all smiles; the cursing behind the scenes could not be revealed, after all, they were all seasoned actors.

"What insights could I possibly have? I am just speaking randomly."

Su Weide chuckled, feigning humility, "Does not the old saying go, 'If one is not in that position, one does not meddle in those affairs'? Haha."

He laughed it off, walked down the stairs alongside Zhang Jinsong toward Xiaoshitang, and nodded as he said, "One must know how to read the room."

"That is the first time I have ever heard such logic," Zhang Jinsong deliberately provoked him, chuckling lightly. "Do you know how to read the room?"

"Hahaha—"

Su Weide's laughter grew even louder, causing administrative staff who had come out for dinner upon hearing the off-duty bell to turn their heads and look.

Director Su had always been warm and generous; he wore a smiling expression whenever he saw anyone.

Whenever any administrative staff greeted him, they were certain to receive a nod of acknowledgment like that of a kind elder.

Those unfamiliar with his actual temper and character would mostly be won over by this demeanor and would speak well of him upon returning.

So, although Director Su had a reputation for severity in departments like Discipline and Supervision and the Security Division, among the lower ranks, he was indeed a nice old man.

Hmm, to think that a Deputy Director who once oversaw discipline and supervision for the Group maintained the image of a nice old man; just imagine how strong his ability to manage his reputation must be.

"In my view, the Secretary-General has not paid much attention to this case at all."

Zhang Jinsong seemed intent on not letting Su Weide off the hook; determined to stir up his resentment, he kept adding fuel to the fire.

With the cafeteria entrance in sight, he feared Director Su's mouth lacked flavor, so he decided to stir up some entertainment.

Su Weide, cunning as an old fox, would never fall for such a trap.

Even if he once had a temper and edges, over a decade of work in ministry-level administrative offices had long since worn those thorns smooth.

"The Secretary-General is busy with work; sooner or later, he will pay attention."

He took the initiative to lift the curtain of the Xiaoshitang, inviting Zhang Jinsong to go first; after allowing the other man to decline once out of politeness, he invited him again.

Having received his help, Zhang Jinsong felt too embarrassed to keep nagging, so the topic had to be dropped.

However, those deputy section-level cadres and above who followed them inside all took note of this closeness between the two.

"Is Deputy Director Zhang and Deputy Director Su on such good personal terms?"

Wang Lu returned with her meal and looked for a seat; seeing Gu Cheng and Peng Peng Xiaoli sitting together, she placed her lunchbox on their table.

"Then you've asked the right person—"

Peng Peng Xiaoli smiled, gesturing with his eyes toward Gu Cheng opposite him, and said, "This fellow is Deputy Director Su's number one confidant."

"Indeed, a confidant," Gu Cheng said self-mockingly, twitching the corner of his mouth before turning to Wang Lu and adding, "A confidant who is a major threat."

"Tsk—how boring—" Wang Lu, though clearly amused, still chided him, "You're a grown man, yet you still have no sense of propriety."

Gu Cheng took the criticism without anger, shifting his hips to indicate she should sit beside him.

Wang Lu didn't stand on ceremony; after sitting down, she looked across the table at Peng Peng Xiaoli and asked, "Deputy Li Kezhang Peng, why have you come again?"

This was, of course, a joke, since in informal address one never includes "Deputy" when referring to a Li Kezhang; doing so would simply be inviting trouble.

Their private relationship was quite good; Wang Lu felt no pressure sitting at this table and showed no hesitation in making whatever jokes she pleased.

"What do you mean 'again'?" Peng Peng Xiaoli replied with feigned dissatisfaction. "That word doesn't sound very pleasant; are you annoyed with me?"

"Whether I'm annoyed with you or not is irrelevant."

Wang Lu raised an eyebrow, gesturing toward the colleagues dining around them, and said, "What you're eating right now is paid for by our meal allowances."

"Exactly, exactly." Enjoying the spectacle and eager to stir things up, Gu Cheng, who felt their lunch lacked a fitting topic, chimed in with a smile: "The office canteen receives subsidies; you're basically taking advantage of us."

"I'm taking advantage of you?"

Peng Peng Xiaoli shot him a disdainful glance, then turned to Wang Lu and said, "I don't come back often; I just missed home, that's all."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah—"

Wang Lu looked at him with equal disdain and said, "You've come back eight times in one week, and you call two kilometers 'missing home'!"

This referred to the travel distance between the Food General Company's location and the factory office area, not the straight-line distance, which was even shorter.

The Food General Company had already moved out of the group's office area and constructed a new office building beside the three food processing plants.

Likewise, an independent factory zone and an independent organization would naturally require an independent canteen.

Peng Peng Xiaoli's claim of missing home was utterly bland, since the chefs on both sides had been taught by the same master.

"What do you mean eight times? How many days have I even been at the Food Company?" Peng Peng Xiaoli protested. "If you say you're annoyed with me, then you're annoyed with me."

"Is there any point in arguing over whether it was eight times or seven?"

Wang Lu tapped her lunchbox with her chopsticks and said, "I'm saying you're eating off our meal subsidy; do you understand?"

"I even brought you drinks!"

Peng Peng Xiaoli was simply playing along with Wang Lu's idle banter; otherwise, how dull would this lunch have been?

Gu Cheng sat to the side, beating the drum from the sidelines and enjoying the show, laughing heartily without a trace of the sorrow one might expect from someone isolated by leadership.

What sorrow did he have to feel? Did you ever see Peng Peng Xiaoli or Wang Lu showing any intention to comfort him?

This fellow's father-in-law was highly capable in the city, a native of the finance department, and he took great care of his son-in-law, Gu Cheng.

Don't ask why; it was simply that the Miss had fallen into his hands.

Gu Cheng's wife was named Master Qian Youqiong, but she was anything but poor; on the contrary, she was very wealthy.

Her appearance was quite ordinary, with a chubby oval face; though after looking for a while, one might find her quite pleasant to behold, she simply lacked worldly experience.

If one evaluated her this way, one might form an impression similar to that of Wang Lu, but in reality, their personalities were worlds apart.

Wang Lu could purse her lips and bicker idly with Gu Cheng, and she could also meddle in all sorts of unrelated matters, introducing partners to friends she had barely met.

Master Qian Youqiong would never dare do such things; even the matter of her liking Gu Cheng had been playfully exposed by Peng Peng Xiaoli first.

This girl truly had eyes but no pupils; she just had to fall for Gu Cheng, that kind of roguish, seemingly bad young man.

It bears mentioning here that Mr. Lu Xun once said, "If a man isn't bad, a woman won't love him," but what this sentence means is that women love men who are slightly bad, not men who are truly ruined.

Despite Gu Cheng always appearing careless and unreliable, the lad was indeed quite handsome.

Even his good bro Peng Peng Xiaoli had to admit this point: Gu Cheng could indeed make a living off his looks.

Just consider it: he doesn't wash his clothes at home, doesn't cook meals, smokes good cigarettes all day long, and engages in idle chatter; where does he get the ability to enjoy such fortune?

On his wedding day, many friends felt it was a pity, lamenting that this fellow's luck was truly damn good, actually managing to find such a wife.

Master Qian Youqiong worked in the Finance Department; as soon as the factory launched the Comet motorcycle, she was riding one.

Recently, the factory has been promoting the Gemini automobile; it is said that, worrying about Gu Cheng's hardship commuting to and from work, she intends to buy a Gemini so they can commute together.

Damn it, who the hell would ever pity Gu Cheng!

"Don't mention drinks; mentioning them makes me upset."

Wang Lu looked up, spotted someone looking for a seat not far away, waved her hand, and called out, "Zhou Ge, sit over here; there's space."

"Oh, it's him," Gu Cheng muttered under his breath; the person Wang Lu was greeting was Zhou Tan, Deputy Li Kezhang of the Design Section.

Who is Zhou Tan?

There is no need for an introduction here; everyone knows his wife, who is none other than Zhou Zhou Miaomiao, currently undergoing training and study in Gangcheng.

"You all arrived early; I came out late. If I hadn't found a seat, I would have had to take it back to the office to eat."

Zhou Tan greeted them with a warm smile and, following Wang Lu's gesture, sat down opposite her.

If you had never heard the rumors about him, upon first meeting you would only think him a gentle, refined, and humble gentleman.

A graduate of the Mechanical Design major at the Iron and Steel Institute, his assignment to the Hongxing Steel Rolling Factory matched his specialty; even without those bizarre life stories, his future path would have been very smooth.

The bizarre part was that he fell in love with Zhou Zhou Miaomiao, the most controversial dancer in the dance troupe at that time.

Afterwards, the two of them became a frequent topic of conversation among many people at the Hongxing Factory during their leisure time, yet he seemed not to care at all in his work.

Deputy Li Kezhang of the Design Section within the Design Department, his spouse held the rank of Deputy Section Member before going out for training; the couple owns a Comet motorcycle and took out a loan to purchase a 120-square-meter residence; would you call him a joke?

Given his status as a university student, given that he had won a beauty as his wife, and given his carefree and well-provided life, who could really say who was mocking whom?

To describe him as gentle and refined, a true gentleman, was not excessive in Zhou Tan's case; at the very least, Gu Cheng and Peng Peng Xiaoli could not compare to him in the slightest.

Without saying a word, just by sitting here, one could clearly sense the difference in their demeanors.

As for Gu Cheng, needless to say, he was a little ruffian, having been this way since childhood, but Peng Peng Xiaoli had cultivated under Li Li Xuewu for two and a half years.

(Readers who have eaten chicken know that two and a half years is one Kun-year!)

Yet look at what he learned while staying by Li Li Xuewu's side; his work capabilities had certainly improved, but his demeanor had also acquired a bandit's air.

Li Li Xuewu was gentle and moderate in conducting himself as a person, but decisive and swift in handling affairs; if he saw something displeasing, his words could be quite cutting.

Like master, like disciple; Peng Peng Xiaoli believed he had learned two parts of Li Li Xuewu's skills, with one and a half parts being in temperament.

Therefore, when observing these three male comrades, the contrast in their demeanors was extremely obvious.

Seeing Zhou Tan sit down politely, Gu Cheng and Peng Peng Xiaoli exchanged a glance, smiled in unison to greet him, and addressed him as Li Kezhang Zhou.

Since both had risen through the ranks within the government offices and both belonged to the shameless sort, these two young men did not look down on Zhou Tan in the least.

On the contrary, they greatly admired and respected Zhou Tan for his endurance and his willpower toward success and advancement.

The two were nearly ready to clasp their fists and bow to ask for experience, politely stating: "We also wish to advance."

"In such cold weather, bringing the meals back to the office would let them go cold."

Wang Lu, who happened to be popular and could talk to anyone, smiled and said, "We just live close by, so we're taking advantage of that."

"Is Li Kezhang Peng also coming to Xiaoshitang for a meal?"

Zhou Tan smiled to thank Wang Lu, then turned to look at Peng Peng Xiaoli beside him and said, "This place is not close to the Food Company."

"I came to the government offices on business, happened to catch mealtime, and was too lazy to run all the way back."

Peng Peng Xiaoli explained with a smile, then gestured toward Gu Cheng opposite him to introduce him: "This is Gu Cheng, Secretary to Deputy Director Su."

You see, Peng Peng Xiaoli was also a meticulous person; when speaking with Zhou Tan, he did not neglect his friend.

Furthermore, looking at his introduction, he stated the name first before mentioning the identity, which was a sign of greater respect for his friend.

Though the two might joke around in private, in front of outsiders they were good friends who helped and supported each other.

Wasn't Gu Cheng's rise to fortune due to Peng Peng Xiaoli giving him a hand? Now that Peng Peng Xiaoli had gone down for practical training, Gu Cheng was working very hard for him.

The workplace most needs friends like this, especially those who have shared hardships; they are particularly precious.

"Hello, we ought to know each other."

Zhou Tan showed no timidity nor shyness; instead, he proactively extended his hand to shake Gu Cheng's, treating it as their first proper acquaintance.

Yet within his greeting, he politely and subtly conveyed that the two were not strangers, quickly breaking the ice.

After all, he was a university student; though he spoke slowly and deliberately, he always managed to draw the attention of those around him.

"We have met a few times, just never had the chance to properly get acquainted."

Gu Cheng shook his hand before letting go, smiling politely as he said, "Li Kezhang Zhou's name often appears in the newspapers."

"You flatter me; it's just a small achievement."

Zhou Tan was humble yet not hypocritical; after the greetings, he picked up his chopsticks and joined them in cheerful conversation.

"We were just talking about the beverage matter." Wang Lu glanced at Peng Peng Xiaoli and asked, "Is your factory going into mass production?"

"Even if we go into mass production, you still won't get to drink it."

Peng Peng Xiaoli joked, "At least for the next few years, it won't be launched on the mainland; it's a product prepared for export."

"That's quite a move, and the target set is also large." Gu Cheng reminded him rather cautiously, "Be careful not to pull a muscle."

"Market research has already been conducted in the early stages; the Secretary-General is personally overseeing this project." Peng Peng Xiaoli explained with considerable confidence, "Stocking trials have also been carried out in Gangcheng and Southeast Asia, and the market feedback is acceptable."

"So it turns out it's a project overseen by the Secretary-General; that explains it."

Gu Cheng nodded in understanding, then looked at Wang Lu and asked, "Didn't you know about this?"

"The Secretary-General oversees many projects; must I know about every single one?" Wang Lu rolled her eyes, then looked across at Zhou Tan and asked, "Sister Zhou Miaomiao should be returning soon, right? This month?"

Zhou Zhou Miaomiao was socially adept; with a connected person suddenly appearing by Li Li Xuewu's side, how could she let such an opportunity slip?

Besides, before leaving Jingcheng for training, she had been a clerk in the Foreign Affairs Office, precisely engaged in reception and service work.

Her personality fit very well with outgoing types like Wang Lu; despite her poor reputation, she was still selective about the friends she made.

This situation was quite normal; had anyone ever seen ordinary goods among Zhou Zhou Miaomiao's circle of friends?

Among those who treated her affairs as gossip, how many were truly capable? Most were simply feeling sour, envious yet helpless.

"It is said she will return around the middle of the month; that is the plan."

Zhou Tan smiled and asked her, "Back when your husband was away on business, waiting for those half a year must have been very hard, wasn't it?"

"We weren't even married at that time."

Wang Lu emphasized somewhat embarrassedly, then added with a touch of envy, "You must be able to learn a great deal in Gangcheng, right?"

"We'll have to ask her after she returns."

Zhou Tan said with a smile, "We haven't exchanged letters or contacted each other for half a year either; they said it was inconvenient."

"It's the same for everyone; the Secretary-General hasn't heard from Li Xue in half a year either." Wang Lu pressed her lips together slightly, gesturing upstairs as she said, "The other day I saw him looking at the calendar pressed under his desk board; I knew he was missing his sister."

"This half year has passed quickly; in a flash, it's gone."

Zhou Tan nodded with deep empathy, saying, "In any case, there are only these half a month left; sooner or later, it won't differ by a few days."

"Exactly; she surely wouldn't return after the New Year."

Wang Lu smiled, took a bite of food, and then shifted the topic to discuss the Ten Outstanding Youths and the Ten Golden Flowers.

Peng Peng Xiaoli and Gu Cheng exchanged glances several times; they had just listened carefully to the conversation between Zhou Tan and Wang Lu.

Barring any unexpected events, among these elites trained in Gangcheng, several would inevitably emerge as Ten Outstanding Youths and Ten Golden Flowers upon their return.

Of course, Zhou Zhou Miaomiao had almost no chance of securing a quota for the Ten Golden Flowers, because someone did not want her to be too high-profile.

Even she herself probably did not wish to be so conspicuous, fighting for this so-called pathway to advancement.

She had already gone to Gangcheng, her future path was long since cleared, so why stir up this idle gossip? Would it not be better to make steady progress?

Those with ability did not compete, and those with power did not snatch; the true value of these Ten Outstanding Youths and Ten Golden Flowers had indeed increased considerably.

Did Gu Cheng and Peng Peng Xiaoli care about it?

Of course, they had nothing to fear, but they simply lacked such work achievements and influence.

Therefore, although the topic was discussed with great enthusiasm, it was mostly just Wang Lu borrowing the hottest subject currently circulating within the bureau to talk about.

What could be discussed at the dinner table was nothing more than what everyone could accept and what would not invite others' resentment; ultimately, there were only these few matters.

What was interestingly different was that while the Ten Outstanding Youths were fine, some lecherous individuals had actually turned the selection of the Ten Golden Flowers into a beauty contest.

Male comrades naturally favored such topics, and in their conversations, they had already designated the most beautiful young women and young wives in their own workshops.

The real controversy lay in the competition between the various branch factories and subsidiaries, as well as among the different departments of the bureau; there were quite a few female comrades of excellent appearance within the group, leading to great dispute and strong talk value, which was precisely how the gossip arose.

"Who wants to be one of those Ten Golden Flowers?"

Zhou Yao was busy with work in her hands; hearing the idle gossip brought by Wang Lu, she curled her lip and rolled her eyes.

Wang Lu merely chuckled, watching the spectacle Zhou Yao made.

Where there are lecherous people, there are also those seeking amusement; during the beauty selection, they had actually ranked Zhou Yao from the Security Division at the very top.

For no other reason than that a Diamond Beauty is still a beauty.

Zhou Yao was so angry she laughed, picked up the document she needed from the table, tossed it over, and chided: "You count as adding fuel to the flames!"

"Now you have wronged me—"

Wang Lu protested with a coquettish remark, then smiled teasingly and said: "I heard this from Gu Cheng's mouth; go find him."

"He is the most unreliable; go find him?"

Zhou Yao's friendship with Gu Cheng was mostly due to Peng Peng Xiaoli's connection; these two materials held some small influence within the bureau.

Both Peng Peng Xiaoli and Gu Cheng were sociable people; whenever there was any major or minor event in the bureau, they were bound to know about it first.

Do you think Deputy Director Su tolerated Gu Cheng jumping left and right beside him for nothing? Was it not because this lad had some capability and usefulness?

"Wait until I have some free time," Zhou Yao said bitterly: "I must crack down on this unhealthy trend."

"At that time, I will notify all units and see whether they care about their faces or not."

"Absolutely not; if you take a joke seriously and lose the fun, won't they just view you as a tigress?"

Wang Lu looked at the materials in her hand and said playfully: "It is only a matter of a month; once the selection results come out, it will be fine."

"The Secretary-General is right; issues regarding work style within this bureau must be grasped over the long term, regularly, at all times, and every single day."

Zhou Yao was truly somewhat angered, furious that these bastards were making fun of her; did they really not take the Head of the Security Division seriously?

Wang Lu did not persuade her further; regarding how this matter would proceed, Zhou Yao naturally understood clearly and would not truly splash dirty water upon herself.

"Can Li Baihui's case still not be concluded?"

She put down the documents in her hand, pointed at the text above, and looked at Zhou Yao to ask: "Is there suspicion, or is there a problem?"

"It is an issue with Discipline Inspection and Supervision; I have already reported this to the leadership."

Seeing her bring up serious business, Zhou Yao also reined in her temper, frowned slightly, and explained: "The Secretary-General's side should already know."

"I am not certain; he asked me to come and get the case report," Wang Lu reminded her: "But it is already year-end; if this case is not concluded..."

"Do you think I do not know? It is vexing me as well."

Zhou Yao stood up, walked out from behind her desk, poured a glass of water from the tea cabinet, and held it in her palms.

With a serious expression, she said: "But this case is somewhat strange."

"If Discipline Inspection and Supervision requested it be suspended or asked for cooperation in handling the case, that would be understandable," Wang Lu reminded her softly: "It is because a leader has inquired about this case that the Secretary-General sent me here."

"Which leader?" Zhou Yao's brows furrowed; she glanced at Wang Lu and similarly explained in a soft voice: "Do not be vague, can you?"

"If I tell you, will it be clear?"

Wang Lu's mind had matured considerably through exercise over the past half year; at this moment, however, she did not wish to fall into verbal disputes and only wanted to offer a reminder.

"Even if you do not say it, I know."

Zhou Yao set down the teacup in her hand, rummaged through a pile of old papers, and found a note; it had come from within the Quality and Safety Department.

As early as the middle of the year, after Li Li Xuewu and Wang Wang Xiaoqin had completely completed their handover, this Security Group began its organizational restructuring.

The Quality Supervision Division, Security Division, Fire Protection Division, Safety and Environmental Protection Division, and Comprehensive Management Division jointly formed the current Quality, Safety, and Environmental Protection Department.

The supervising leader of the Quality and Safety Department is Deputy Director Su; the manager is the third representative, Wang Wang Xiaoqin, who was also the original head of the Security Group.

The original deputy heads of the Security Group, Yu Yu Decai and Tai Juncai, along with Jin Guoguang, a cadre transferred from a merged enterprise, became deputy managers.

If the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Division had not been separated out, then Zhou Zechuan, the current head of that division, would have had a very high chance of serving as a deputy manager.

It is a pity; his background determined the current situation.

Wang Lu looked at the note issued by the Quality and Safety Department; it was an instruction made by Deputy Director Su on a work briefing, requesting the Security Division to conclude the case as soon as possible.

"Where there are people, there is a Jianghu."

Zhou Yao said with a look of disdain: "Where there is a Jianghu, there are contradictions and disputes; it is just that the methods have become a bit dirty."

"You did not spare them either."

Wang Lu put down that note, sighed, and said: "Since the Secretary-General has sent me to inquire, it is inevitably to deal with a perfunctory task."

She spoke with considerable helplessness: "You also know that the Comprehensive Management Department says I am lazy and stupid, with no other merits."

"If even I can accomplish things, would that not make it appear that there is no one in the Comprehensive Management Department, or even in the entire bureau?"

"You truly think openly and see clearly."

Zhou Yao could not help but glance at her and asked: "Regarding you, how has the Secretary-General arranged things?"

"Do you still need to worry about me?"

Wang Lu put away the helplessness in her heart, raised her head, looked at her, and smiled: "Since I am lazy and stupid with no other merits, I will ultimately not block anyone's path; who would bother using me as a stepping stone to trample upon?"

"Even if someone wants to trample on you, the Secretary-General would be angered," Zhou Yao looked at her and said seriously: "If anyone bullies you, just tell me, and I will help you regain your face."

"These words truly carry the flavor of the jianghu."

Wang Lu laughed, waving the documents in her hand as she said, "I'll take these back; whether the leadership reads them is another matter."

Her face resumed a solemn expression as she stated, "Pressure will undoubtedly exist; you must have a solid plan in hand."

"If things come to a head, the Discipline Inspection Commission won't be able to block anything, nor are they worthy of trust; only true gold fears no fire."

"Rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

Zhou Yao nodded confidently, seeing her to the door while replying, "If it comes to scheming, I'm no novice either."

"I truly envy you—" Before leaving, Wang Lu looked at her with deep emotion, unable to hide the admiration in her eyes.

"If you really envy me, then come back to the Security Division."

Zhou Yao, however, did not take her words seriously and joked instead, "If you're in trouble, I'll go ask the Secretary-General for personnel."

"First, I'll arrange for you to train in the mountains for half a year; upon your return, I'll assign you to the Security Section for tempering. After three years, I guarantee you'll be a true hero."

"Get lost—haha—"

Wang Lu laughed and chided her lightly, clutching the documents to leave, when Zhou Yao suddenly pursued her with a question.

"Regarding Han Lu—" Zhou Yao hesitated slightly, narrowing her eyes as she asked, "Did you go over there and settle things?"

"You already know it's settled?"

Wang Lu looked at her with some surprise, her face growing more serious; glancing left and right, she spoke softly: "She admitted it."

"I was truly afraid she might attempt suicide or make a scene."

The corner of Zhou Yao's mouth curled with disdain as she said, "The Secretary-General tasked me with watching her, fearing she might go to extremes and cause a major incident."

"If you ask me, she can't bear to let go."

Wang Lu also curled the corner of her mouth, saying, "When I mentioned those few conditions, the greed and joy in her eyes bubbled out like water; even I found it shameful to watch."

"Never mind her; as long as she doesn't attempt suicide, that's enough."

Zhou Yao pointed at the documents in Wang Lu's hand, instructing softly, "It's best you don't get involved in this filth; if anything arises, just ask the Secretary-General."

"Rest easy, my Director Zhou!"

Wang Lu laughed and waved her hand, saying, "Anyone in this agency capable of scheming against me would have to be utterly hopeless. Off I go!"

"Hehe—"

Zhou Yao watched her carefree retreating figure, finding it amusing yet somewhat enviable; this was truly how one ought to behave while working in an agency.

"Sigh—"

"Sigh—"

"Hmm? Why are you sighing?"

Li Li Xuewu, hearing Nie Nie Xiaoguang driving ahead mimic his sigh, asked with amusement, "Do you have troubles too?"

"A man, how could he not have troubles?"

Nie Nie Xiaoguang replied with an air of arrogance, "If I say I've painfully lost my beloved, does that count as trouble? I'm not merely copying your sigh."

"Hmm, the phrase 'painfully lost my beloved' is a bit heavy."

Li Li Xuewu glanced out the window and asked with a faint smile, "Did you decide to pull back before the cliff, or did she decide to renounce evil and return to the right path?"

"No wonder you can write books; look at how you use words."

Nie Nie Xiaoguang clicked his tongue, saying, "Even if you tied me to a tree, beat me for three days, and starved me for several meals, I still couldn't come up with two idioms as apt as yours."

"Are you praising me?"

Li Li Xuewu felt both annoyed and amused; he really wanted to reach back and slap the boy across the face, for this lad was increasingly losing all sense of fear.

Perhaps he should take him to the western suburbs to watch target practice?

"Heaven and earth bear witness, it is absolutely true."

Nie Nie Xiaoguang, knowing when to stop, grinned from the front seat and said, "I haven't decided to pull back before the cliff yet; she decided first to renounce evil and return to the right path, becoming a good Miss once again."

"If you have no plans tonight, I intend to go back and drink with them, mourning my love that died before it ever blossomed."

"Your love came from an improper source; if it died, let it die."

Li Li Xuewu, in a poor mood, spoke with increased sharpness; gazing out the window, he muttered, "Barren land cannot bloom with delicate flowers; if any do appear, they must surely be poisonous."

"Since she has already decided to become a Miss again, whether she is poisonous or not no longer concerns me."

Nie Nie Xiaoguang sighed with considerable regret; deep down, he truly hoped to marry Han Lu, for only then could he joyfully become a father.

This joy of his was genuine; everyone has heard the story of holding the Son of Heaven hostage to command the warlords, and this lad possessed only that much cunning.

Of course, if you say Han Lu was foolish, she at least knew to use Nie Nie Xiaoguang to threaten Old Li, gaining even more than before.

Old Li perhaps sensed the thick malice emanating from this little brat; unwilling to become a father in his old age, he chose to strike decisively.

It was only Han Lu; letting this little girl profit from a horse's occasional stumble was fine—he would treat it as a donation, mere superficial effort either way.

If Nie Nie Xiaoguang had truly married Han Lu, she would have had no retreat, and his subsequent negotiations would likely have been difficult.

After all, the more Han Lu "invested," the greater her capital became, and the harsher the conditions she would propose.

Actually, negotiating at this moment was perfect; Han Lu had not yet made her investment, and he had already realized his own weakness.

The two were evenly matched; neither had suffered a loss.

Only Nie Nie Xiaoguang became the pawn sacrificed in this transaction, the fool in everyone's eyes.

Since Han Lu had decided to abort the illegitimate child in her womb, how could she, now regaining her status as a Miss, possibly look favorably upon Nie Nie Xiaoguang?

Even Zhou Zhou Miaomiao could find a university student as a partner; if she married a driver, wouldn't that place her one level below Zhou Zhou Miaomiao?

That would not do; she must surpass Zhou Zhou Miaomiao, otherwise she would rank lower than her in Old Li's eyes.

But if Zhou Zhou Miaomiao could find a university student, what sort of person must she find?

If this were a later era, with such capital and assets as she possessed, let alone aborting one, even aborting ten would still allow her to find someone better.

In this age, there were only undergraduate students, no graduate students for her to ruin; thus, one might say the times saved the graduate students.

You can't be like Han Lu, only researching "life."

When the car arrived at the International Hotel, Nie Nie Xiaoguang still wanted to go back and mourn that ill-intentioned love, but Li Li Xuewu dragged him out of the car by his ear.

"I'm giving you a task: pick someone suitable right here in the International Hotel today; if you can succeed, I'll handle your wedding."

Li Li Xuewu patted the driver's shoulder, giving him both encouragement and pressure, then stepped up the stairs.

As a mere yellow-haired youth, Nie Nie Xiaoguang lacked the restraint common among young people of this era and felt no hesitation about looking at the waiters in the lobby.

Blue vests, blue long skirts, small leather shoes, each one neatly dressed; these hotel waitresses might be the best-conditioned wives an ordinary employee of the group could hope to marry.

If it were anyone else, they might feel a bit timid, but in Nie Nie Xiaoguang's eyes, these Misses were all NPCs.

It was just a task given by his leader; what did he have to fear? After parking the car properly, he walked to the front desk and asked, "Have we met somewhere before?"

The receptionist, however, was quite refined; she politely rolled her eyes at him and said, "Oh, if it isn't the group's number one deep lover."

"Damn it—" Upon hearing this, Nie Nie Xiaoguang turned and walked away, his eyes full of helplessness; the task given by his leader was impossible to complete.

He hadn't expected that even the International Hotel in a remote unit knew his legend.

Furthermore, who gave him this damn nickname?

Nie Nie Xiaoguang said December was the season for breakups; Li Li Xuewu had originally thought he was talking nonsense, but unexpectedly, Maggie Roman said it was true.

"Will you miss me?" Maggie leaned closer, seriously stroking his cheek with her hand, and looking into his eyes said, "I don't hope you miss me; better to forget me."

This morning he received a call from Maggie, inviting him to meet at the International Hotel to discuss something important.

Li Li Xuewu had thought the important matter was merely a third meeting, but unexpectedly, this was the last one.

Having just transferred to become an Economic Officer at the French Diplomatic Mission, she was about to finish her term and return home, and there would likely be no chance for her to come to the interior again.

Actually, speaking strictly, an Economic Officer should be described as being laid off rather than finishing a term, as she did not yet have the qualifications for the latter.

Li Li Xuewu was also somewhat unclear about the French organizational system; civil servants starting and ending jobs seemed like a game.

Not rigorous at all.

However, he did very much cherish the time Maggie Roman spent with him in Jingcheng, as well as the value she provided him.

Don't get the wrong idea; Li Li Xuewu is not someone who covets beauty, nor is he any kind of spy; the value he spoke of was commercial.

When Maggie Roman served as Cultural Officer, Li Li Xuewu actively helped her apply for and pass the French Pavilion project in the Liangma River Industrial Zone, though unfortunately, it has not yet been completed and opened.

Later, personnel changes occurred at the French Diplomatic Mission; Maggie transferred to become an Economic Officer, contributing significantly to coordinating and assisting the negotiations for cooperation between the Red Star Steel Group and the Santa Ya Group.

Especially in her role as an intermediary coordinator, she communicated frequently with Li Li Xuewu, which resulted in the Santa Ya Group's unique commercial status within the country.

Of course, Chantal returned the favor, helping her considerably in her career; perhaps this return to her home country was the result.

Li Li Xuewu saw no loss on her face, but rather a bit of regret and reluctance to part.

"I will miss you, beautiful Miss."

"I will also miss China, and I will miss you."

PS: It's the end of the month; brothers and sisters, please reward me with a few votes, just for the sake of my three years without missing an update~~

(End of Chapter)