Chapter 1368

"Secretary Li, please, help me out and let me see Director Li." Dou Yaozu was as humble as could be, pleading with Li Huade's secretary, Li Haiyang.

Truth be told, his personal relationship with this high-ranking secretary of the Steel Group was quite good; they were the type who could call each other brothers at the dinner table.

On ordinary days, whenever he gave gifts to Director Li, he never left out Li Haiyang or the driver, so he was quite generous.

But putting aside the true depth of their friendship, even the gifts he had sent were enough to warrant the other party helping him out in a critical moment.

Unfortunately, Dou Yaozu was ultimately unable to see the truth.

It made no sense for him to come begging Li Haiyang at a time like this; whether or not he got to see the Director wasn't something Li Haiyang could decide.

Even if he let him in, it wasn't certain that Director Li would say anything good to him; at best, it would be perfunctory or disdainful.

It might even bring trouble to both of them.

Especially after the incident with Deputy Director Zhang's secretary, Huang Jianguo, the Comprehensive Management Department had become jittery and suspicious, with everyone afraid to stand out.

And that was even more true for Li Haiyang, who had followed Li Huade for five years, yet always treated Secretary-General Li Xuewu as his mentor.

On the surface, their relationship didn't seem special, but anyone with a discerning eye could see from the way he treated Li Xuewu that it was one of respect.

As for Dou Yaozu's background and origins, no one else might have known, but Li Haiyang, having been the first to make contact, knew them clearly.

If it weren't for the Secretary-General's care, would he have had what he had today?

He was just a man of shallow vision; you couldn't say he was selling out his master for glory, but it was certainly an act of betrayal.

The Secretary-General hadn't even lost his power yet, and he was already impatiently sucking up to Director Li, switching sides.

Regardless of how politely Li Haiyang treated him, it was only for the Director's sake; in his heart, he looked down on him.

Even having received so many gifts from him, he felt not a shred of gratitude. He knew too well what the man was after—he was just targeting his position as the head secretary, lacking the genuine care the Secretary-General had shown him on ordinary days.

He had been working at the Group for six years; he wouldn't claim to have seen through all of human nature, but he knew that in war, there are no constant formations, and in water, no constant shape. Who could say which cloud would bring rain? Yet Dou Yaozu dared to claim the Secretary-General was finished?

Truly, a petty man causing trouble, reaping what he had sown.

Regardless of what he thought, he wouldn't show it on his face; the slickness of a Group head secretary was well-known.

"Deputy General Manager Dou, please don't make things difficult for me."

Li Haiyang, with a very troubled expression, took Dou Yaozu's arm and walked him toward the stairwell, whispering a reminder once he saw no one was around: "You shouldn't have come to see the leader at a time like this."

Although Li Haiyang's refusal was blunt, the undisguised closeness was still warming. But with the dark clouds hanging over Dou Yaozu's head and the fatal lightning strike ready to fall at any moment, he was terrified, and his face twisted into a look of impending tears.

"Coming to the Group to find Director Li so openly like this will only invite gossip. It's not appropriate for either side."

Li Haiyang patted his arm to comfort him. "How about this: you go back first, and when the leader has arrangements here, I'll find a way to notify you."

Dou Yaozu couldn't fail to hear the excuse, and he was truly desperate. He grabbed Li Haiyang's arm and wouldn't let go.

"Secretary Li, I really have an urgent matter."

He pleaded in a tearful, hushed voice, "Please, help me out. We've known each other for a while; I'm not here to cause trouble."

"Listen to me, Deputy General Manager Dou." Li Haiyang's expression grew more solemn as he looked at him. "Stillness is better than movement."

"Do you really think you can convince the leader by coming to find him now?" He narrowed his eyes. "The most pressing issue is figuring out how to solve the problem, right?"

"If you really have an idea to share the leader's burden, I won't stop you. I'm trying to think of a way myself."

"At least let me communicate with the leader?"

Dou Yaozu had a ring of blisters around his mouth from the stress, and his speech was whistling through the gaps. His eyes were bloodshot.

"Since the news has already spread, I assume the Discipline Inspection side will want to talk to me. What am I supposed to say?"

"We've reached this point, and you're still acting confused!" Li Haiyang frowned at this implied threat. "Even if Discipline Inspection comes to talk to you, do you need to ask the leader what to say?"

He swept a sharp gaze over Dou Yaozu and said coldly, "What do you take the leader for? A two-faced villain?"

"No, that's not what I meant." Dou Yaozu was very flushed with embarrassment and explained, "I was just anxious and misspoke. Secretary Li, please don't take offense."

He pointed to his mouth and smiled bitterly. "In just one night, I've broken out in blisters from the stress. I haven't even had a bite to eat."

"Really, I'm truly at my wit's end. I just want to beg Director Li for an idea so I can get over this hurdle."

"Sigh—" Li Haiyang sighed helplessly, looking at him with trouble. "We've known each other for a while; if I really shut you out, it would look like I was acting on my own, cold and heartless."

"No, no, I've already begged you." Dou Yaozu bowed as politely as he could. "If you help me, I'll be eternally grateful. I wouldn't dare hold a grudge."

"Alright, Deputy General Manager Dou, please stop embarrassing me." Li Haiyang nodded. "I can't handle your oaths."

He looked toward the hallway and the offices, then whispered a reminder while pointing at the floor: "You wait here; I'll go probe the leader's attitude."

"If it's not right, you'll at least be prepared. But one thing: if I can really help you, I don't want your thanks. I'll just consider it fulfilling our brotherhood."

"Say no more, brother. I'll remember this." Dou Yaozu showered him with words of gratitude.

But the use of "brother" in the workplace only made Li Haiyang look down on him more, and he couldn't help but curse him as a low-life in his heart.

Dou Yaozu stood there watching Li Haiyang leave, feeling miserable. He had become someone who couldn't be seen in public. Thinking of what he had done, he wanted to slap himself.

Regret?

Was there such a thing as regret medicine in this world?

If he had listened to Li Xuewu earlier, focused on his own business, and not meddled in the mess of the Red Star Steel Group, he wouldn't be in this disaster today.

It was all his own greed, forgetting his place and trying to reach the sky in a single bound.

Li Xuewu had warned him earlier not to take steps too big, or he'd tear something, and now he felt it deeply.

If he had stayed with Li Xuewu, heart and soul, he wouldn't have needed to suck up to a brat like Li Haiyang.

But regret was meaningless now. The most pressing issue was to extract himself from this quagmire.

"How does he still have the face to come?"

Li Huade's expression was terrible after hearing Li Haiyang's report. He snorted coldly, "He's lower than a pig or a dog."

It was unclear whether he was cursing Dou Yaozu's character or his competence, and Li Haiyang didn't dare to guess.

He gently advised, "He looks terrified, waiting for you to give him an idea."

"He remembers me now?"

Li Huade curled his lip. "If he wasn't so good at scheming, wouldn't there be someone else to give him an idea at a time like this?"

Li Haiyang didn't dare take that bait; Dou Yaozu had visited many leaders since becoming Deputy General Manager of the Construction Engineering Company.

Not to mention anything else, he had to maintain a relationship with Deputy Director Xue, who was in charge of engineering, and Deputy Director Jing, who was in charge of finance.

Who didn't know that Deputy General Manager Dou had money? He didn't leave out even the secretaries and drivers, and he was quite the face.

Even Director Li himself used to call him "Old Dou," drinking and chatting, intimate and harmonious, with silver flowing freely.

Now, he turned his face faster than turning a page, and when it came to settling old scores, he didn't leave a shred of face.

He was a low-life who had just occupied the right time and place, allowing him to be powerful for a few days.

He knew he had silver, but he didn't have to throw it around like that. If it weren't for Li Xuewu's sake, he wouldn't have bothered with him.

Otherwise, if he had been dragged into the construction company system, it would have been easy to shake out his family's assets. He really thought he was something.

"Leader, should we stabilize him first?"

Li Haiyang gently reminded him, "Seeing how anxious he is, like a headless fly, if he bumps into the wrong place and says the wrong thing, it'll cause trouble, and you won't look good either."

"What a pile of stinking dog shit—"

Li Huade threw his fountain pen down, annoyed. "Why did I ever trust him?"

That was an unreasonable thing to say; he had used him and taken his benefits, yet he was blaming his own judgment.

However, Li Huade had to admit that Li Haiyang's words made sense; he couldn't let Dou Yaozu go out and talk nonsense.

"In that case, ask him about the whistleblower letters."

Li Huade frowned. "I don't believe he doesn't know why they're targeting so many people, but only focusing on me."

If anyone else heard this, they might not understand who Li Huade meant by "targeting." But Li Haiyang, having been his secretary for so many years, understood immediately.

What else could it be? Regarding Shunfeng Trading, the Secretary-General was clearly involved, so why wasn't he in the letters?

Regarding Dongfeng 3-1 Construction, Dou Yaozu had vaguely said the Secretary-General held a large stake, so why wasn't that in the letters?

Finally, regarding Zhou Miaomiao and the others, why were the details in the letters so thorough? If there hadn't been an insider leaking information, how could it have passed the Director's side?

Especially regarding Shunfeng Trading, the Director wanted to ask the Secretary-General directly, but the two were currently at a stalemate, and neither wanted to speak first. He couldn't exactly go ask Zhou Xiaobai.

The two leaders from the Jinmen Aquatic Products Company were dissatisfied and had called privately to say something, but Li Haiyang didn't know what. But the Director had lost face, so he wouldn't have a good attitude.

Li Haiyang came out with the questions, relaying only what he could say and what Dou Yaozu could understand.

When these questions were thrown at him, Dou Yaozu broke into a sweat. He couldn't answer a single one.

How was he supposed to answer? By saying he was two-faced, betting on several sides, just to solve his organizational problems?

Or by saying he had schemed and plotted, even using the Director as a pawn, but just hadn't calculated it right?

"Deputy General Manager Dou, I've said what I can. The leader is truly angry, but he hasn't closed the door entirely."

Li Haiyang saw his expression change and knew what he was thinking, but he didn't force him, nor could he say anything harsh.

But the more peaceful he was, the less secure Dou Yaozu felt. He wasn't a smart man, but he wasn't a child.

After hearing Li Haiyang's words, he trembled and explained, "Shunfeng Trading has absolutely nothing to do with me. I know Zhou Xiaobai, but our relationship is ordinary."

"Deputy General Manager Dou, there's no point in saying that now. That's not what the leader wants to hear."

Li Haiyang frowned. "The leader wants to know why only he and the two from Jinmen Aquatic Products are in the letters."

"This—"

Dou Yaozu was in a difficult spot. He really didn't want to drag Li Xuewu into this, because he knew Li Xuewu's capabilities too well.

Even if the gods were fighting and the mortals were suffering, he didn't dare pull a god down from his horse.

Besides, he didn't have any evidence against Li Xuewu. Saying Li Xuewu and Zhou Xiaobai had a close relationship had nothing to do with this matter. He couldn't just say they had conspired to set this trap.

Not to mention that he didn't believe it himself; if he went to Li Huade with that, he'd just be suspected of trying to shift the blame.

"It doesn't matter if you don't want to say."

Li Haiyang didn't give him a chance to answer. It would be too difficult to get private information about the Secretary-General from him anyway.

"If you don't know about Shunfeng Trading, you must know about Dongfeng 3-1 Construction, right?"

He narrowed his eyes and asked softly, "The leader asks, what about the equity distribution and dividend accounts you mentioned earlier..."

"No..." Dou Yaozu flushed under Li Haiyang's gaze. "There are no equity distribution procedures, and no dividend accounts..."

"That can't be." Li Haiyang raised an eyebrow. "You said earlier... how did you get half the shares? Investment requires procedures, and dividends require accounts."

"There really isn't..."

Dou Yaozu felt like crying. He trembled as he explained, "... There was no capital contribution; it was a verbal agreement."

"... And there were no dividends; everything was reinvested into equipment and operations..."

He spoke haltingly, but he managed to get the gist across, which put Li Haiyang's mind at ease.

Right, the Secretary-General wouldn't leave any loose ends. Dongfeng 3-1 Construction was like that, and Shunfeng Trading was the same.

Dou Yaozu couldn't produce any actual evidence, and the funds and accounts at Shunfeng Trading had nothing to do with the Secretary-General.

No wonder the whistleblower letters didn't dare name the Secretary-General; even if they had, they couldn't implicate him, which would only weaken their credibility.

"Deputy General Manager Dou, let me give you one more piece of advice. Please try to understand if it sounds harsh."

Li Haiyang's expression was serious. "You can't just say things without evidence. I'll pretend I didn't hear it, but if it reaches someone else's ears, it'll be a crime."

"Of course, you can decide for yourself. I'm just a small person, but I'm grateful for your past care, so I couldn't help but speak."

"I know. Thank you, thank you." Dou Yaozu's spirit collapsed, and he looked ten years older. Even his "thank you" was weak, and his face was deathly pale.

"If you really want to get through this, I advise you to take the initiative." Watching Dou Yaozu stagger away, Li Haiyang couldn't help but add one more thing.

But when Dou Yaozu turned back, Li Haiyang had already turned and left, showing no mercy.

"Is it true that those who sow evil reap their own destruction?"

"Even if you're desperate, you don't just run into someone's house like that. Who wants his thank-you gifts?"

Zhou Miaomiao watched Dou Yaozu's hunched figure go downstairs and closed the door with a bang, showing her annoyance.

Zhou Tan stood in the foyer and looked at her. "Didn't they say Discipline Inspection went down to investigate and the whistleblower was vague?"

"At this point, what's the point of obsessing over the whistleblower letters?" Zhou Miaomiao was smart; she walked back to the sofa and curled her lip. "This is called feigning an attack in the east while striking in the west, drawing the firewood from under the cauldron."

"Once the letters are out, the working group is forced into a corner. Whether they want to investigate or not, they have to."

She hugged her arms and sat on the sofa, eyes wide. "Yang Jun is truly unlucky."

"Why, is he afraid to investigate?" Zhou Tan was efficient; he was used to doing housework at home. He sat next to Zhou Miaomiao, his hands busy massaging her calves, looking very attentive.

"It depends on how they investigate." Zhou Miaomiao sneered. "It's not that he's afraid to investigate, but that he can't."

"Don't look at the letters as sudden; they just prove someone wants to fish in troubled waters, or use the working group."

Zhou Miaomiao looked like she understood everything, staring at the orchids in the corner. "Yang Jun isn't stupid; how could he be willing to be driven by others?"

"So, they're not investigating the letters?"

Zhou Tan was nimble; he looked like he did housework often. He sat next to Zhou Miaomiao, his hands busy massaging her calves, looking very attentive.

Zhou Miaomiao enjoyed it calmly and curled her lip. "They'll investigate, of course. It just depends on how."

"Are you worried they'll investigate you?"

Seeing the worry in Zhou Tan's eyes, she laughed, reached out, and patted her lover's face. "They won't."

"Right, even if they want to talk to you, they have to get my permission first." Zhou Tan didn't sound aggrieved at all; there was even a hint of firmness in his eyes. "We're husband and wife."

That was a promise, and a guarantee to Zhou Miaomiao.

"At most, it'll be a formality. Don't take them seriously." Zhou Miaomiao glanced at him and said lightly, "Don't worry. Old Li won't fall. The deputies might come down, but the top leader is chosen for talent. Someone like Old Su is useless."

She understood Zhou Tan's worry, which was that if Old Li fell, they would be crushed, or worse, left without support.

To be honest, Zhou Tan's worry and his indulgence and generosity toward her made Zhou Miaomiao feel a bit lonely.

This comfortable life didn't come from a righteous path. Even if Zhou Tan was so calm today, who could guarantee his future?

Zhou Tan was only a section chief now. What if he were a department head?

Zhou Miaomiao was a clever and transparent person; she had calculated everything long ago. Zhou Tan's display of heart-to-heart honesty didn't move her in the slightest; it was all cold, hypocritical acting.

It wasn't even as good as serving Li Xuewu.

At the very least, Li Xuewu wouldn't lie to her. Even if he disliked her, he would pat her face and not let her kiss him.

"I still don't quite understand." Zhou Tan asked carefully, like a student. "Why won't the top leader come down? What does this have to do with talent? Why would the deputies be different?"

"Do you not know how Old Li got up there?" Zhou Miaomiao turned to look at him. "You know, so why wouldn't the leaders above know? Think carefully: the leaders above clearly know his methods and background, so why do they still use him?"

Before Zhou Tan could answer, Zhou Miaomiao explained bluntly, "To put it simply, even if Old Li has many problems, they are small problems that won't affect the big picture."

"What is the big picture? It's that under his organization and leadership, the Red Star Factory grew and strengthened into the Red Star Steel Group."

She patted Zhou Tan's hand, signaling him to massage her shoulders, but she didn't stop talking.

"Compared to the current development of the Red Star Steel Group, do you think the contents of the whistleblower letters are important?"

"But—" Zhou Tan massaged his wife's shoulders harmoniously, his technique very professional; it was clear he had studied it carefully.

He asked hesitantly, "Wouldn't it be fine to replace him with someone equally capable?"

"You've read too many books. You don't understand the word 'endure'." Zhou Miaomiao turned and glanced at him. "Understand the way of governing subordinates?"

"You can be strict with yourself, but you can't be strict with your subordinates, or you'll work yourself to death. The same principle applies: the leaders above couldn't possibly find a cadre more suitable than Old Li."

"Even if they found one, who could guarantee they would do better than Old Li? What if it affected development? Do you think replacing a top leader is that easy? Replacing a deputy has little impact."

Zhou Miaomiao turned to look at Zhou Tan. "Actually, the logic is simple. Old Li's mistakes can still be corrected, and his value far exceeds the impact of replacing him, so he can be used."

"Just watch. The whistleblower letter matter will definitely be raised high and put down lightly. The ones who will suffer are those people."

As she said this, Zhou Miaomiao's gaze drifted toward the door.

Zhou Tan raised an eyebrow and asked softly, "You mean... will Dou Yaozu go find the one downstairs?"

"He'd have to have the guts of a bear!"

Zhou Miaomiao curled her lip at him. "Have you forgotten who her husband is? He'd be better off just going to beg for forgiveness."

"Tsk—" Zhou Tan finally reacted. "Are you so sure this was arranged by Li Xuewu?"

Slap—

Zhou Miaomiao raised her hand and gave Zhou Tan a light slap on the face. Her eyes were full of charm, but her tone was a warning. "Don't call him by his full name anymore; call him Secretary-General."

Seeing the grievance and confusion in Zhou Tan's eyes, she patiently explained, "Without a sense of awe, if you get used to it, you'll slip up sooner or later. You're my lover; I won't harm you. I'd rather you offend Old Li than offend Little Li."

"If you offend Old Li, he'll deal with you openly. If you offend Little Li, you'll die without knowing who harmed you."

"Am I that scary?"

Li Xuewu shook the newspaper in his hand. The headline was the good news of the completion and power generation of the Fuchun River large-scale hydroelectric station.

He didn't look at Dou Yaozu, who was sitting on his left, but looked at Zuo Jie, who was sitting on his right. "Have your parents left?"

"Yes. I said I wanted to arrange for them to meet you, but my father had concerns, fearing he would bring you trouble."

Zuo Jie answered very frankly. He had grown quite a bit in the two years he had been by his side, and he believed his parents had seen that too.

This time, Zuo Jie's parents had returned from the Third Front, and one of their purposes was to take Zuo Jie to the Southern Frontier.

The reason was simple: the child was grown, and they couldn't just let him wander around outside. As for the career Zuo Jie wrote about in his letters, the couple was half-skeptical, but they did their best to support him.

Dongfeng 3-1 Construction actually had the help of Zuo Jie's father, but the other party didn't fully believe he was being valued here.

But this time, the mature temperament Zuo Jie displayed and his seasoned way of doing things truly impressed his parents.

Seeing their son's living conditions and the savings Zuo Jie deliberately showed them, they were completely convinced.

Li Xuewu actually wanted to meet his parents, but there was no practical need; he just wanted to show his face to prove it to Zuo Jie.

Now his parents didn't need that, and they were even more afraid that too close a contact would cause misunderstandings and trouble, so he skipped it.

The turmoil in Beijing over the past few months had truly frightened them, and as soon as their work here was done, they hurried back to the Southern Frontier.

Dou Yaozu sat on the side, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles, his bald head covered in sweat.

For three days, he had sought every connection he could, and finally, he was notified by Discipline Inspection to go for a talk, which meant he had finally given up hope.

What else could he do? He had no qualifications to beg for forgiveness; he was just a fish on the chopping block, waiting to be slaughtered.

"Brother, Dou the Manager came to me for help."

Zuo Jie was honest after all; he didn't want to see the other party sitting opposite him grinning, and he felt itchy in his back teeth just looking at him.

"I didn't know you had grown so capable, learning how to fix things for people." Li Xuewu glanced at him and then looked at Dou Yaozu. "You've also made progress, losing to a young man."

"Leader, every mistake is my fault. You can beat me or punish me, I'll take it. Please, I beg you, leave a way out for my old brothers. It's me who dragged them down—"

Dou Yaozu spoke earnestly, but seeing Li Xuewu's gaze turn cold, he couldn't finish his words.

"So it's my fault now? Who wants to cut off your brothers' way out? That makes me very sad."

Li Xuewu put down the newspaper and picked up his teacup. "Old Dou, although we have an age gap, after three or four years, we can be considered old acquaintances. I haven't treated you unfairly, have I?"

"No, it was my own greed."

Dou Yaozu looked like he was mourning, sitting there with a look of accepting any punishment.

Li Xuewu, however, couldn't stand his pathetic appearance. Killing someone is just a matter of cutting off their head; had he killed anyone? Why go to such lengths?

Go out and ask around; everyone knew he had a compassionate heart and couldn't bear to see human suffering.

Calling him a living Buddha wouldn't be an exaggeration.

"Let's skip the pleasantries here. Our friendship isn't worth two taels of meat; you already weighed it when you sold me out."

Li Xuewu spoke bluntly, and Dou Yaozu broke into a sweat. Even though it was winter, it felt like he had walked out of the dog days of summer.

"Leader, I was truly wrong. I don't ask for your forgiveness, I only ask that you don't abandon Dongfeng Construction. It's your hard work too!"

Dou Yaozu was desperate. Seeing Li Xuewu speak like that, he slid off the sofa and knelt on the ground with a thud. Zuo Jie, who was sitting opposite him, stood up and dodged.

"My fault, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have been greedy, shouldn't have been overly ambitious. If I had listened to you, I wouldn't be in this disaster today."

As he said this, he slapped himself more than a dozen times, the sound of the slaps not fake at all. Zuo Jie, standing on the side, felt his own face ache, as if he were feeling it too.

"I told you long ago, I don't care about your share. Two years ago, or three years ago?" Li Xuewu thought for a moment and shook his head, looking at Dou Yaozu. "That's what I said, right?"

"You were the one who begged for this karma, and I never took a penny of your money. Now that things have turned out this way, it's my fault?"

He looked at Dou Yaozu kneeling on the ground. "From the time we met until now, I haven't owed you a single penny in our accounts."

"Fortunately, we still have this innocence between us, otherwise I, Li Xuewu, would really have become the overbearing villain in your mouth."

Dou Yaozu didn't dare to argue, just kept slapping his own face. His mouth was already bleeding, but he didn't dare stop.

This had a bit of the "rivers and lakes" spirit. His father, his grandfather, and those before them were all craftsmen; wasn't that the "rivers and lakes"?

Fame and fortune were right in front of him; he should have held onto his original heart, but he had craved that wealth and forgotten who he was.

"Brother, this is too ugly to look at."

Zuo Jie couldn't help but advise him softly, "If you don't want to see him, I'll ask him to go back now."

"Forget it, it's a friendship after all."

Li Xuewu saw that he really didn't look like much, sighed, put down the teacup, and said, "What are your demands?"

The question was direct. Dou Yaozu didn't dare to hope for anything; his numb face was full of surprise. He could only shake his head, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably. He finally had a way to live.

"Because of you, many people lost their jobs." Li Xuewu stared at him fiercely, then felt it was meaningless. He stood up and said, "Since you can't do this job as manager well, step down."

He didn't even look at Dou Yaozu's reaction, but turned to Zuo Jie and said, "You go to Jinmen for me and invite Teacher Wu back."

"Leader, what about Director Li's side—"

Dou Yaozu knew Dongfeng Construction had nothing to do with him anymore, but he couldn't help but ask.

His heart ached; this was his hard work, and with just one word from Li Xuewu, he had to give it up. He couldn't bear it.

"Don't you understand yet?"

Seeing Li Xuewu leave without looking back, Zuo Jie blocked his way, frowning and reminding him, "Do you not want your life?"

"I—" Dou Yaozu's legs trembled, and his lips quivered, unable to say another word.

Falling to this end, he could be considered to have gotten what he asked for. Although the result was barely satisfactory, he had finally escaped the fire pit.

Of course, he didn't have Zhou Miaomiao's vision and scheming, and he didn't understand the power of those whistleblower letters.

Just like when he had rashly approached those leaders, feeling the hardship of being suppressed by Li Xuewu and wanting to start over, at this moment he only thought of himself; surviving was the most important thing.

Zuo Jie glared at him, urging him to prepare for the work handover as soon as possible. When he returned from Jinmen, this matter had to be finished.

Finished. Dou Yaozu hoped it was finished. Watching the two figures leave, he felt the world spinning, and everything went black.

"When you're unlucky, even drinking cold water gets stuck in your teeth." Zhang Changming stared at Li Xuewu with resentment. Seeing him sitting there calmly reading the newspaper, he reached out and snatched it away, not caring about Li Xuewu's annoyance. He muttered, "Let me see what national affairs you're concerned about."

"Is it just this?"

He scanned it twice, but it was yesterday's newspaper. The headline was about water conservancy, but the sub-headline was a repetition of content from a few days ago.

Actually, saying it was a repetition wasn't entirely accurate; saying the propaganda intensity had increased was more appropriate.

The People's Daily published an article making the act of going to the countryside a standard for measuring a young person's support for reform and their loyalty to the reform line. It was meant to create strong pressure in public opinion.

"The mobilization methods and means are a bit crude and forceful."

Zhang Changming scanned it a few more times, then said with a serious expression, "Saying that canceling urban household registration and stopping parents' wages is a bit... too much."

"Are you that free? How do you have time to come to Beijing?"

Li Xuewu snatched the newspaper back. In his heart, he actually agreed with the other party; this article and these means had indeed severely damaged the enthusiasm and self-esteem of the vast number of educated youth and their families.

But the situation and policies were as they were, and it wasn't targeting just one or two people; who dared to stand out and talk nonsense at a time like this?

"Your Director Li is performing actively—" Zhang Changming curled his lip, his words insincere.

"Ten thousand youth placement quotas, a big move."

He crossed his right leg and looked at Li Xuewu. "Since Director Li has such great ability, why can't he handle the small ghosts?"

"Why, do you have the talent to catch ghosts?"

Li Xuewu organized the newspapers on his desk and looked at him. "Should I introduce you to Director Li to try?"

"I'm here to watch the fun, not to join in."

Zhang Changming had a clear understanding of his trip. He leaned back in his chair and said in a cocky way, "Director Han is very angry—"

"Director Li is also very angry." Li Xuewu picked up his teacup and took a sip, looking at him. "Why don't you invite the two leaders to sit together and chat? Maybe they'll cool off."

"Wouldn't that be adding fuel to the fire?"

Zhang Changming turned his head away with a laugh, looked at the sunlight outside the window, and then said to Li Xuewu, "I'm sorry about my brother-in-law. I didn't make it clear to him, and it hurt your feelings."

"Heh—" Li Xuewu laughed lightly. "Saying that is boring. Do I care about your apology?"

"Whether you care or not, I have to say it, otherwise I won't feel right." Zhang Changming shrugged. "I made him resign. Consider it my apology to you."

"Hmm, Xiaobai is a bit angry."

Li Xuewu didn't pretend to be magnanimous. He said bluntly, "She complained to me two days ago, feeling bad about the effort of the past two years."

"If you put it that way, I feel even more guilty." Zhang Changming gave a bitter laugh and thought for a moment. "What does she like? Tell me, and I'll send it to her as an apology."

"Why don't you go say it yourself?"

Li Xuewu glanced at him, then pointed toward the door. "Have you seen Director Li?"

"Is that necessary?" Zhang Changming curled his lip. "He knows I'm here."

"I'll go back after talking to Discipline Inspection."

He tapped the table and thought about it, then said to Li Xuewu, "Does your Binhai Club need people? I'll send a manager to you. You've met him before, Pei Jungang. How about it?"

"Not great. Who sends a manager like that?"

Li Xuewu asked impatiently, "Are you getting a promotion? Is it a rank or a position?"

"Heh heh heh—" Zhang Changming laughed, looking like he couldn't hide anything from him, but didn't explain, instead talking about Pei Jungang's situation, looking like he was determined to send him to the club.

Li Xuewu didn't care. He had met Pei Jungang during training in Jingu, where he was in charge of fish inspection at the pier.

Over the past two years, relying on Zhang Changming's relationship, it seemed he had risen, otherwise he wouldn't have been evaluated as having broad connections.

If you asked why Zhang Changming was putting someone in the Binhai Club of the Red Star Steel Group in Jinmen, did that even need explaining?

People, they are forever greedy.

The excitement over the whistleblower letters lasted for a few days, but the relevant personnel didn't react, except for Dou Yaozu, who resigned on his own.

Discipline Inspection did launch an investigation, but it was mainly talks, and no one was taken away.

The focus of the discussion gradually deviated from the core and turned to gossip, which was being told with vivid details.

Li Xuewu, however, was very calm. Bu Qingfang chased him and asked several times, but he only replied with one sentence: "Trust the organization."

What could Bu Qingfang say? Bullshit.

However, affected by the whistleblower letters, Jinmen Shunfeng Trading took the initiative to stop business dealings with the Trade Management Center, but did not completely stop business operations, as if it were taking the initiative to avoid suspicion.

The restructuring of the Dongfeng 3-1 Construction management team went very smoothly, and Wu Shuping stepped onto the stage as General Manager.

Dou Yaozu resigned, and the position of Deputy General Manager of the Red Star Steel Group Construction Engineering Company was also taken over by Wu Shuping, which was a matter of course.

It seemed that just as Zhou Miaomiao had said, the whistleblower letters didn't cause a storm; they were just aimed at certain people.

Even Li Huade acquiesced to these changes and didn't express any doubt about the management changes at the Construction General Company.

Accompanying Wu Shuping to Dongfeng Construction were Zuo Jie and Dou Yaozu's nephew, Dou Yongkang.

Dou Yongkang was the young man who drove for Dou Yaozu; Li Xuewu had seen him once at the Wei Third Regiment dormitory construction site.

As for why Dou Yaozu was dismissed and his nephew was arranged to take his place, that was Wu Shuping's method.

Dou Yaozu wasn't convinced, but he had to be. Even if he wasn't, the brothers who had broken through with him were all convinced.

"Did he compromise?" Li Huade looked at the appointment report, his eyes narrowing. Thinking of Li Xuewu's methods, he felt a bit insecure.

He was a bit surprised by Wu Shuping's appearance, but he didn't oppose it, because he had long since grasped the other party's background.

On the contrary, Li Xuewu's arrangement in Jinmen—it was hard to say if this was a compromise, but it had certainly actively eased the relationship.

So, he was also hesitating. If he fulfilled Li Xuewu's wish this time, would that count as him losing?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1369 =====