Chapter 1374

"Er Ya, how does it feel to fly in a plane?"

"Oh my god, it scared me to death!"

"Hahaha—"

On Saturday, after working continuously for two days, Li Xuewu finally finished his backlog of work and found time to treat his family to a meal.

It was held right at the Sihe Academy; everyone who could be called was called, and even Er Ya came along with them.

When he went to Jin Ling, Li Xuewu had prepared so many gifts in big and small bags, so how could his mother-in-law shortchange him when he returned? There were not only gifts for him and Gu Ning, but also for the children.

She didn't forget those at home either, including the old lady; the families of Li Xuewen and Li Xuecai were not left out either.

For the old lady and Liu Yin, she gave high-quality fabric for clothes, as it was truly rare to give ready-made garments in this day and age.

Giving gifts to the men and children was simple: if the men smoked and drank, they were given cigarettes and alcohol; the children were given stationery and toys.

For women, especially those of a certain age, jewelry couldn't be brought out, as they weren't a wealthy family after all. Fabric for clothes became the best gift for social interaction among women of this era.

What kind of clothes to make depended entirely on the other party's preference, and showing the finished product to the other party later was another form of reciprocal social interaction.

Touching the silky fabric, although the old lady and Liu Yin were polite in their words, scolding Li Xuewu for not having them accept such heavy gifts, the joy and smiles in their eyes could not be hidden. The two also expressed their gratitude to the in-laws to Gu Ning.

Gu Ning didn't have much of an impression of gift-giving, but she could imagine that it must have been her mother-in-law who entrusted Li Xuewu to bring gifts to Jin Ling.

Even if her mother-in-law hadn't thought of preparing gifts, Li Xuewu wouldn't have let it slide; he would have prepared them on her behalf.

In-laws getting along doesn't focus too much on the value or quantity of gifts, but on the thoughtfulness and the sentiment.

Regarding the politeness and gratitude of the great-grandmother and mother-in-law, Gu Ning smiled and accepted it, also learning from Li Xuewu to convey her mother's regards.

"When will the in-laws be back?"

Hearing Li Xuewu mention Gu Yan's marriage, Liu Yin asked with concern: "Is it before the New Year or after?"

"Oh my—" Before her son could answer, she gently patted her thigh and sighed with regret: "In a blink of an eye, you two have been married for almost three years, and the number of times we've met the in-laws can be counted on one hand."

"My mother-in-law misses you too; she said that after the New Year, she will definitely come to the house to see you and the old lady." Li Xuewu smiled and replied, while also answering his mother's question.

Actually, Gu Ning should have been the one to answer at this time, but her mind wasn't on this, and Li Xuewu wouldn't blame her for that.

Gu Ning realized it belatedly, glanced at Li Xuewu, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, and she turned her head away, her face showing a bit more of a smile.

"They really should come to the house to sit for a while; these are true relatives." Liu Yin looked at the old lady and said, then looked at Li Xuewu and urged: "Your brother-in-law is getting married, you should also put some heart into it."

"Mm, I know, Mom." Li Xuewu replied: "When I left, my mother-in-law told me that the two of them want to buy a house in the Workers' New Village; this is to accommodate Zhou Yao."

"Aren't they just true relatives." The old lady put the fabric aside and nodded: "You, as the brother-in-law, should help arrange things more."

Li Xuewu smiled and agreed to the exhortations of his mother and grandmother; even without their reminder, Li Xuewu remembered this matter.

Buying a house was simple and convenient; Zhou Yao was already a person from the factory and was also a cadre, so it was nothing more than a matter of money.

His mother-in-law could let him help choose a house because Gu Yan came back with money. With the salary he had saved himself and the support from his mother-in-law, buying a 100-square-meter place was not a problem.

Li Xuewu didn't participate too much in this matter; Gu Yan still had a few days of leave, so he let the young couple choose for themselves.

The information about the apartment buildings was right there; once they chose, paid, and got the keys, he would just find a suitable construction team to renovate it.

There was no need to worry about furniture and appliances; they could be chosen from the group's tertiary industries. If they liked better furniture, he could also instruct the Da Lao side to measure and customize a set.

There wasn't much else in terms of soft furnishings and preparations; as a brother-in-law, he could help arrange things, but he couldn't overstep his bounds.

After all, the house renovation had to depend on the young couple's preferences, as they were the ones who would be living there in the future.

Like his mother and the old lady said, they were true relatives; Li Xuewu acknowledged this point. If in-laws weren't family, then there would be no relatives at all.

The fact that his brother-in-law could settle his home under his nose also meant he was taking the initiative to look after him. He could see that this was the wish of his father-in-law and mother-in-law, and as a brother-in-law, how could he have any reason to refuse?

Not all couples in this world are as harmonious as he and Gu Ning, who have never had any conflicts since they got married.

Young men and women—as long as one side is mature, there won't be any fighting or bickering, but how rare is such a situation?

The main reason why Li Shun and Liu Yin valued and were satisfied with their son more and more was that they never had to worry about the young couple. Whether it was work or life, raising children, their days were well-organized.

The reason why Li Xuewu's father-in-law and mother-in-law were close to him and respected him was also mostly because of this. Living in Beijing meant there was no need to worry like this, but Jin Ling was thousands of miles away from Beijing; how could the couple not worry about whether their daughter's marriage was healthy and harmonious?

Ding Fengxia praised her son-in-law whenever she saw people, and it wasn't without the intention of coaxing him; her heart was still for her daughter.

This was true for Gu Ning, and even more so for Gu Yan. She was so shrewd; her son's devil-may-care attitude and his prospective daughter-in-law's seriousness and integrity formed a strong contrast. If she hadn't seen the two of them together laughing and talking, she wouldn't have dared to believe that the two could become husband and wife.

Li Xuewu jokingly said this was called "the zither and the zither-string in harmony," complementary personalities. Ding Fengxia had also seen more than one pair, and although she was happy on the surface, she still couldn't set her mind at ease. If her younger son and his wife could live under their brother-in-law's nose, there would be someone to resolve any conflicts.

Since they were in Jin Ling, even if they knew, they couldn't reach them.

Young couples, even more so, shouldn't quarrel often; they were already at a youthful and romantic age, and quarreling too harshly could easily hurt their feelings.

As long as someone was there to suppress it, they would eventually get along after a long time.

Therefore, although his mother-in-law entrusted him on the surface to help his brother-in-law buy a house and prepare for the wedding, she was actually entrusting the young couple to his care.

"How is the house in the Workers' New Village?"

Li Xue also received a gift, a fountain pen that Gu Ning had chosen and bought together with her mother when they went to the mall. Not only did Li Xue have one, but Zhao Yafang, Li Xuewen, Li Xuecai, and Ji Yuxiu, who were all working, had one too.

It was just that at this moment, Li Xue's attention was drawn by the conversation between her second brother and her mother, and she took the initiative to ask about the topic of the house.

"Why? Do you want to move out independently?"

How could Zhao Yafang not see through her sister-in-law's thoughts? She teased her deliberately: "Is living at home delaying you from finding a partner?"

"If I want to find a partner, living anywhere won't delay it—" Li Xue was a bit shy, hugged her sister-in-law's shoulder who was sitting on the side, shook it, and said: "You're still talking about me; who was the one who wanted to split the house back then?"

"Huh? —" Zhao Yafang could tell that her sister-in-law was talking about the house allocation at school in '65. She and Li Xuewen were still able to get a one-bedroom apartment thanks to the second younger brother-in-law, Li Xuewu.

It was just that in the past few years, the family's conditions had become better and better. The second younger brother-in-law and the younger brother-in-law both had their own properties. Although the father-in-law and mother-in-law didn't have requirements for them, they had ultimately set the rule of raising the elderly in the big house.

Coupled with the changes in the situation in the past two years and the arrival of Li Tang, she had long changed her mind and still felt that living in the Sihe Academy was comfortable.

Having someone help take care of the children and having a hot meal to eat when returning home—wasn't that better than living in the school housing and having to arrange everything oneself?

However, they didn't waste the housing at the school either; they tidied it up a bit to prepare for bad weather.

If the weather was bad and transportation was inconvenient, the two would stay at the school for the night to avoid the trouble of going back and forth.

Precisely because of this, hearing her sister-in-law's "accusation," she turned around amusedly and asked: "Are you also afraid of rainy and snowy weather?"

"Why wouldn't I be? I don't have a convenient car now."

Li Xue pursed her lips and said with a smile: "Before, I could still take advantage of the leadership's care and take some convenience in work. Now, where do I have the qualifications for a passenger car? Isn't it just pedaling with two legs?"

"If you're afraid of inconvenience, then take a car." Liu Yin also saw her daughter's thoughts, but she was reluctant, so she scolded: "Others only decide to buy a house when they are getting married; are you buying a house because you are getting married too?"

"Mom—" Li Xue pouted and scolded. But she also knew that the decision-making power for this matter was not in her mother's hands.

"Why are you looking at me?" Li Xuewu asked amusedly.

Li Xue was a person of action; she let go of her sister-in-law's shoulder, came to her second brother's side, and deliberately acted like a spoiled child: "Second brother—"

"Oh my, oh my—" Li Xuewu pushed his sister away exaggeratedly, rolled up his sleeves deliberately, and said, "I've got goosebumps."

"Second brother!" Li Xue patted her second brother's shoulder dissatisfiedly and said: "Am I still your good sister?"

"You'll be one if you speak properly first."

Li Xuewu pushed her toward Gu Ning and said: "Hurry up and let your sister-in-law take a look at you; is there something wrong with your throat?"

"Hahaha—"

Hearing the laughter of her family, Li Xue found that she had become the comic relief. She took the opportunity to hug her second sister-in-law's shoulder and acted like a rascal. How could Gu Ning handle her like this? But she glared at Li Xuewu dissatisfiedly, and everyone laughed even more happily.

Ji Yuxiu looked at her sister-in-law with some envy; she knew that Li Xue had the thought of independence, and she envied this freedom.

If they were talking about living in an apartment, their family still had one vacant; if she really liked it, she would have moved back long ago.

Now it was her sister-in-law who was living there; if she moved back, her sister-in-law would be more than happy, as it would just add to the popularity.

It was just that living here not only had the care of her mother-in-law, but it was also very close to her unit; it took about ten minutes to ride a bike there.

Apartments have the benefits of apartments, and ground-floor houses have the convenience of ground-floor houses. Otherwise, why would Li Xuewu be reluctant to part with that house in the backyard?

Speaking of which, he not only had that property in the backyard, but he also had a detached house by the lake. It was just that the person was already gone, and he had never been back. It wasn't out of fear of missing her, but out of fear of his own soft heart.

"You're back? When did you arrive?"

Li Xuewu rushed to the club on Sunday to handle business and happened to run into Zhou Changli at the entrance.

Seeing this kid, he wasn't surprised, because it was he who asked Yu Li to greet Zhou Wang Yamei to arrange for Zhou Changli to return to Beijing.

In this critical period, when young people in Beijing were facing life choices, how could the recycling station system not take a share?

"Li Ge, I arrived home last night."

Zhou Changli still habitually regarded Beijing as his home; every time he came back, he said he was going home.

Of course, this kid had become slick; it couldn't be ruled out that he was suspected of buttering him up, but in his words, he regarded this place as his home.

Why? Because he was afraid Li Xuewu wouldn't trust him.

Everyone regarded this place as home and themselves as Li Xuewu's disciples, which also gave them face within the system.

Within the recycling station system, the young people from Beijing formed their own faction, and within this network of relationships, it was divided into many branches.

There were those who went over from the Sihe Academy recycling station, such as the Thirteen Guardians, who were highly valued and were key targets for cultivation once they went over.

There were also rascals who followed Zhou Changli over, but it was also divided into whether they had served in the club; those who went over from here were more trusted.

This time, Zhao Lao Si went to the Steel City and brought quite a few people; some were kids from the club, and there were also fitness coaches.

It was especially necessary to mention why these fitness coaches from the sports school also wanted to follow Zhao Lao Si to muddy the waters in the Steel City.

It wasn't just for the shiny... silver; it was the silver that dazzled their eyes. Zhou Changli wasn't the only personnel within the system who returned from the Steel City and had to stay at the club. Many who followed him out, whether they were sailors or business personnel, regarded the club as the headquarters of the recycling station's management system.

Here, there was everything for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, as well as eating, drinking, and having fun. Even if they went home to live, could it be as comfortable as staying in a guesthouse?

They were used to enjoying themselves outside; how could they eat the kind of bitterness at home? They would see their parents, leave the money, and then want to return here.

These rascals who followed him out to break through—not one of them wasn't like "Xiang Yu": if you are wealthy and don't return to your hometown, it's like walking in the night in embroidered clothes.

Only those who were truly wealthy dared to return home; those who didn't mix well were reluctant to return and didn't have the face to return.

So, what these fitness coaches at the club saw were all wealthy and flashy "Xiang Yus."

Speaking of which, the treatment the club gave these fitness coaches or sports students wasn't bad. Their employment competition pressure was very high; those high school students didn't have job assignments, let alone those who practiced sports.

This era had very strict requirements for culture, and the same was true for sports activities; large-scale sports meets hadn't been organized for a long time.

Even the Red Star Factory only held one in '66, and never again after that; cultural performances were also very cautious.

The graduates of these sports schools in Beijing basically stayed at home waiting for pie to fall from the sky. Back then, it was Li Xuewu who accepted the favor of the Baji Quan and selected quite a few good seedlings from these sports schools to cultivate.

The club had been officially operating for two years, and various projects had recruited quite a few people one after another, but it wasn't to the point where everyone was arranged.

So the salary and treatment of the sports students recruited weren't low; compared to their peers and classmates, they were already considered lucky.

But this "luck" also depended on who they were compared to. They did service guidance work at the club, and some did security work; they listened to those rascals who came back on vacation talk about the swordplay outside.

Speaking of which, it was truly funny; in the eyes of these sports students, these swordplay, wind, frost, rain, and snow were a bit like child's play.

If we talk about "hands-on ability," three or five rascals couldn't beat them. Don't say that the rascals were more vicious and the sports students didn't dare to kill; those who said this simply didn't understand the sports students of this era.

Understand the first Martial Arts Conference after the founding of the People's Republic; they went on stage with real knives and guns, and it was stopped before it even ended. Who had heard of similar competitions being held after that?

These sports students followed new-style education, but they also had to worship masters, and what they learned were real skills.

At first, when they listened to these rascals talk about business outside and the dangers outside, they were still confused, but after listening more, they understood.

It was nothing more than using one's brain and having skills.

They didn't lack skills, and those who wanted to take the initiative to follow and make money didn't lack this brain. They thought their skills weren't worse than those rascals in the alleys; why could others make money and they couldn't?

So when Zhao Lao Si went to the Steel City, more than one sports student signed up, all of whom had skills in their hands.

Worried that Zhou Wang Yamei couldn't take over the command from Lao Biaozi and couldn't suppress the thorns below, with Zhao Lao Si's report, Li Xuewu agreed, and that was how the Eighteen Arhats broke into the Northeast.

There was a need for "skills," and there was also a need for "work." No matter how well these sports students could fight, they weren't as clever or as capable of work as the rascals who walked out of the alleys.

The veterans were worried all day long, but it was ultimately on the surface; Li Xuewu didn't dare to get involved easily and only arranged for Zuo Jie to recruit troops and buy horses, selecting some suitable ones to recruit into Dongfeng Construction to work.

Although the Jinmen Shunfeng Trade had suspended operations, the framework couldn't be scattered, and the Beijing sales team still had to retain its vitality.

This wind of going to the countryside blew too urgently; many people couldn't stand firm, but it could also be considered as the big waves washing away the sand.

Those who could truly stay behind were all awesome.

The people Zuo Jie selected still had to be cultivated as the management framework for restoring and standardizing the marketing system.

He had long recorded these candidates; they were those who performed well in the marketing system, had steady personalities, and weren't too maverick.

People Li Kezhang Haiyang and Li Yuanchao didn't need to be selected; their families must have arrangements, and they couldn't be kept. People like Zhong Yuemin, who fished for three days and dried nets for two, and were arrogant, couldn't be used either.

Unlike these scattered soldiers and rascals, the order Li Xuewu gave Zuo Jie was to focus on quality rather than quantity, and to select elite soldiers and strong generals.

And the task he assigned to Zhou Changli was to select those who were willing to break through, who dared to fight and struggle, all of whom could be taken to the Steel City.

Asking Zhou Changli to return to Beijing urgently to appease and recruit these rascals who were like headless flies, Li Xuewu had other purposes.

Beijing had veterans building a marketing system, which would continue to expand and develop to the surrounding areas in the future. The veterans who went to the countryside wouldn't necessarily dissipate; after leaving the marketing team, they could completely bring goods in reverse.

Gathered, they are a ball of fire; scattered, they are stars all over the sky.

Compared to the hard life in the countryside, these veterans who walked out of the Beijing marketing team would miss their past life even more.

When the hot blood of youth begins to cool, the revolutionary enthusiasm begins to dissipate, and reason reoccupies the high ground, they will take the initiative to contact Beijing, and even open up ideas for marketing.

Even if the goods of the Trade Management Center couldn't adapt to the rural economic system, it was still a long-term operation.

After three to five years of training, when these veterans return, a portion of them will inevitably be unable to be placed, and will instead become an aid to the marketing system.

The veterans in Beijing combined with students from other regions, friends introducing friends, the seeds buried by the recycling station will take root and sprout, blooming into a future like flowers.

And the seeds of people's hearts yearning for wealth are like dandelions, drifting all over the country. At that time, the recycling station will also have the strength to support the comprehensive development of the marketing system; this is the true backup plan.

And laying out in the Northeast requires Zhou Changli to use the current marketing system of the Steel City, utilize the rascals in Beijing, exert their flexible brain advantages, and complete the construction of the entire Northeast marketing system as soon as possible.

His going to Liaodong isn't a transition; it's to use real knives and guns to truly make achievements; it won't work without influence in the Northeast.

The reason why he dared to arrange for Li Wenbiao to go to the Hong Kong City, keep Wen San'er and Shen Guodong in Beijing, and use Zhou Wang Yamei to take the lead, was because he was going to the Steel City to show his skills and didn't want to affect the brothers' enterprising spirit.

When Shen Guodong stayed in Beijing, he had to rely on him for everything. It was Li Xuewu who criticized him several times, which forced him to stand in front and start learning to independently manage the recycling station system.

Looking at it now, Shen Guodong's conservative personality is just right, and there haven't been any mistakes in the past two years.

Going to the Northeast this time, Zhou Changli and Zhao Lao Si are both people he wants to use—one to attack, one to defend.

Zhou Changli has a keen personality and extraordinary courage; he can hand over the manpower already cultivated in the Steel City to him, and together with Zhou Ziqiang in Jicheng, develop toward Bingcheng, attacking cities and seizing land.

The Maritime Carriage Plan is proceeding very smoothly; those so-called local snakes have already saved up a rich family fortune.

People are all greedy; how can they be satisfied with the benefits in front of them? Everyone is thinking about buying ships and going to sea.

Li Wenbiao wants to harvest a wave of leeks before leaving, and only then can he rest assured to hand over this work to Zhou Wang Yamei.

It's not that he's afraid Zhou Wang Yamei can't do this well; can someone who plays psychology not be able to fool these fools?

He is afraid that there will be waves in the early arrangements, affecting Li Xuewu's mood for taking office, and he doesn't want to add trouble to him.

Since these local snakes are preparing to go to sea to develop, the black market network managed earlier is no longer valued. Zhou Changli leading manpower to kill over at this time is just right to pick up a bargain.

Of course, Li Xuewu won't use Zhou Changli and these people to exchange for the market or cause trouble for the local area. Just as Zhou Changli himself said, we are doing serious smuggling business and can't mess around.

The instruction Li Xuewu gave him is to rely on Lao Biaozi's early layout to establish his own marketing team in major cities in the Northeast.

No need to worry about the black market, but to contact and expand the network as a formal distribution unit and collect business information.

There is sales, and there is also acquisition; organize freight stations locally.

The qualifications are all ready-made; with the endorsement of the distribution relationship of the Red Star Steel Group, use the brand of the Jinmen Shunfeng Joint Trade Company to organize a Northeast branch.

Well, the headquarters of the Jinmen Shunfeng Trade Company is about to close down, but the Northeast branch is about to be established in a booming way.

Such an arrangement not only formally opens up the Northeast market and paves the way for Li Xuewu to go to Liaodong to develop the economy with great vigor, but also has the consideration of gathering existing forces, putting an identity layer on the recycling station staff, and stabilizing people's hearts.

Zhao Lao Si is mature and steady, more suitable for defending the city. Zhou Changli and Zhou Ziqiang open up territory in the front, while Zhao Lao Si and Xilin do stability, operation, and logistics support work.

Only waiting for him to gain a firm foothold in the Steel City and sort out the work, can he start to promote these plans.

He only left himself three years in the Steel City; unlike what Li Huade and Dong Wenxue thought, one term after another, thinking about the changes and development of the situation, he couldn't wait to be re-elected for another three years.

Only three years are needed; he wants to be the person who truly holds the right to speak in the Red Star Steel Group.

Three years.

"Who are you looking for?"

Zhou Changli dealt with Li Xuewu, who came to the club to work, and had just smoked a cigarette at the entrance when he saw a kid with a familiar face riding a bike to the entrance, rushing in recklessly.

How could the security at the entrance tolerate him? Just as they wanted to stare, they saw Zhou Changli speak, so they stood in place.

"You look a bit familiar?"

"I think you look a bit familiar too."

Nie Xiaoguang was a reckless character by nature; seeing Zhou Changli's tone, he heard the meaning of a rascal.

The two stared at each other, and both seemed to have remembered something.

"Are you the one who hangs out with Zhang Jianguo?"

Zhou Changli seemed to have seen him before; thinking about who he could know in Beijing, it was nothing more than those big rascals.

Nie Xiaoguang was naturally not a big rascal, so he could only be a little brother following a big rascal.

Mentioning Zhang Jianguo, Nie Xiaoguang's eyes also had a bit of confusion; it had only been half a year, why did he feel as if a century had passed, and this name was so strange.

Yes, Zhang Jianguo had already been gone for more than half a year; the big rascal who once dominated the scene had already had his name scattered. Who could still remember him? Looking at this one in front of him, wasn't he also a big rascal once, but now he looks like a decent person.

The notice to go to the countryside had been delivered to everyone's hands; the neighborhood and parents' units were all applying pressure, and how many rascals were confused and helpless.

Even those veterans who were at daggers drawn became people in the same predicament; thinking about what they were fighting for in the past two years.

Perhaps feeling Nie Xiaoguang's confusion, Zhou Changli was also silent for a long time; it was a realization of the choices he once made.

"You're here to find Li Ge, right?"

After a long while, Zhou Changli came back to his senses, remembering what Zhao Lao Si had said, that this kid was driving for the leader.

Nie Xiaoguang nodded and said: "Usually at this time, the leader will come here; I'm also here to try my luck."

He absolutely didn't dare to go to Li Xuewu's house; it was fine when he was a driver, but it wasn't anymore.

The leader most tabooed family privacy; usually, he didn't see anyone who didn't have eyes bringing work to disturb him, and he was the same.

Zhou Changli understood and nodded, saying: "He just went in not long ago; they have regulations, I'll take you in."

Saying this, he explained the reason why the security at the entrance wanted to stop him, and also explained Nie Xiaoguang's identity to the security.

Nie Xiaoguang looked at the security, but it was a new face; he used to follow Li Xuewu here often, and the security all knew him.

"Thank you, Brother Zhou; if it weren't for you, I would have made a wasted trip again."

"Why be so polite." Zhou Changli glanced at him, handed him a cigarette, and signaled him to talk while walking: "With your relationship with Li Ge, you would have gotten in just by saying hello."

That's what he said, but Nie Xiaoguang didn't think he had such a big face; he was still worried in his heart that the leader would abandon him.

It was his lack of ambition that failed Li Xuewu's cultivation and expectations; he wanted to take revenge and chose to marry Han Lu.

Clearly, he took the initiative to share the leader's worries, wanting to play Han Lu, fishing from that side, but he didn't expect to fall into the water himself.

Li Xuewu was also straightforward; after he expressed his opinion that he wanted to stay in Beijing, he decisively changed the driver.

Master Han Jiankun didn't like him anymore either, and recently gave him quite a few cold looks. He could also feel that this Yu Zhe who took over from him had known the leader for a long time.

Whether the driving skill was okay or not didn't need to be thought about; he had been driving big and small cars for several years, how could it not be okay? What was important was that he had the leader's trust.

The two handed over very quickly, it could be said very quickly; they didn't even use ten minutes, a few words about the leader's itinerary habits, and handing over the keys was enough.

But until the moment he handed over the keys, he understood what this key meant to him.

Losing the key meant losing the identity of the driver, and also losing the reason for Li Xuewu to look after him.

He also persuaded himself not to be greedy; how could a big man rely on others' help? He could grow independently.

Li Xuewu also took care of him, arranging for him to stay in the small car squad, just not driving for the leader.

Han Lu naturally looked down on him; the combination of the two was originally a transaction, and also a gamble.

Today, I don't know what happened, but I wanted to see Li Xuewu by a whim; when he got here, he had a few regrets.

But following Zhou Changli to the office, the moment he truly saw Li Xuewu, he became a bit uneasy again.

"What are you standing there for?" Li Xuewu raised his head and saw them coming, and said faintly: "Find a place to sit yourself."

Nie Xiaoguang only glanced at him, and his head lowered.

Zhou Changli knew they had something to say, and didn't dare to stay with Li Xuewu for long; he smiled and pushed Nie Xiaoguang to sit down, then said he had something to do and left.

Li Xuewu didn't pay attention to him either, just looking at the materials in his hands, sometimes frowning, sometimes moving his pen to sign opinions.

Group work happens every day, recycling station work happens once a week; there isn't a day after a man becomes an adult that belongs solely to him.

After working for more than an hour, he straightened his waist, but saw Nie Xiaoguang still sitting there with his head hanging.

"I heard you got married?" Li Xuewu picked up his teacup and asked: "Why didn't you think of sending me a wedding invitation?"

"Mm... didn't entertain..." Nie Xiaoguang's voice was a bit hoarse; he raised his head and glanced at him, replying: "She said she didn't want to hold it, didn't want it to be lively."

"Blisters on the feet are all walked by oneself." Li Xuewu took a sip of hot tea, put down the teacup and said: "I won't ask how your newlywed life is now; I just want to ask if you regret it or not."

How could Nie Xiaoguang answer this question? Silence was his answer.

Li Xuewu really didn't want to manage him anymore; this kid seems unreliable, but actually has the heaviest heart, hating that Old Li doesn't die.

"Since you've already chosen, don't regret it." He still persuaded him: "Life still has to go on."

"I didn't think about managing it either; it's nothing more than a piece of red paper, it can't tie me down, and it can't tie her down."

Nie Xiaoguang spoke with a bit of clarity; at this moment, looking at the coffee table, he said: "Now living in her house, riding her bike, her salary is also higher than mine; anyway, I'm not at a loss."

"You can also be considered the founding ancestor of eating soft rice hard."

Li Xuewu glanced at him, his eyelids drooped; this kid's shameless appearance had his own style back then.

The truth is indeed as Nie Xiaoguang said; his salary can't compare to Han Lu's, and he doesn't have that ability to drill.

The house is Han Lu's, the car is Han Lu's; he brought a set of luggage into the house, which counts as white... white picking up a wife.

Although Han Lu looks down on him, she also clearly knows that with her reputation and state now, no one will want her.

Although Nie Xiaoguang also looks down on her, he ultimately takes care of her; during her small month, the family was all arranged by him.

Although the food he cooks isn't delicious, and he has to go to the cafeteria to get food back, she has to accept this sentiment if he can think of sending hot food home at noon.

Since they are already husband and wife, she didn't make a move to let Nie Xiaoguang sleep in the guest room; if he wants it, she gives it. Anyway, she isn't a big girl anymore, what's there to be reserved and precious about.

It's Nie Xiaoguang who can really endure; even if she is willing, he doesn't forget to use a mocking tone to remind her to pay attention to her body.

Say he's heartless, but he did everything; say he's righteous, but listening to him say these words, she wishes she could strangle him.

The two have been married for a while, hating each other and taking care of each other, which is why Nie Xiaoguang is confused today.

But Li Xuewu can't solve Nie Xiaoguang's confusion; he was also a sentimental person back then, and until now, he still owes a buttload of romantic debts that haven't been paid off, so what qualification does he have to be an emotional mentor for others?

Nie Xiaoguang didn't think he could hear any enlightening Sanskrit from him either; it was nothing more than being confused and stifled in his heart, wanting to find someone to talk to, but he couldn't find anyone in all of Beijing who could complain.

Staying in the office for more than half an hour, Li Xuewu asked him to eat together but he didn't respond; he left when he reached the parking lot.

You can't pull out someone who has drilled into a bull's horn; only when he wants to come out can he.

Zuo Jie was also considered to have drilled into a bull's horn.

It was also at noon this day that Luo Yun, who hadn't had news for several days, came here to find Zuo Jie, but stood at the entrance and didn't come in.

Hearing that she had come, Zuo Jie was a bit moved; after apologizing to Li Xuewu, who was eating at the same table, he hurried to the entrance.

"Why are you standing here?" He sized up Luo Yun, let her size him up, and greeted her while suppressing the awkwardness in his heart: "Have you eaten? Li Ge is here, let's go, let's eat together."

"Is there only eating in your heart?" Luo Yun stared at him and asked: "Why haven't you come to find me these days?"

"This makes me feel so uncomfortable." Zuo Jie could see her weakness, and his tone became much gentler, "How could I not come to find you? But your door was closed, and I couldn't jump in, could I?"

Ultimately, he couldn't bear it; Zuo Jie really went to Luo Yun's house to find her, but Luo Yun didn't want to see him, and even if he shouted, she didn't come out.

Zuo Jie didn't care about today's blame; girls are all like this, call it arrogant or call it pretentious. He was sincere in being with Luo Yun; Luo Yun gave him everything, so it was only right for him to give in a little.

Luo Yun pouted her lips, looked at him and asked: "Have you considered carefully whether you want to go with me or not?"

He thought Luo Yun came here to find him to make up, and looking at her appearance, it seemed so. It was just that Zuo Jie didn't expect her to bring this up again, and the smile that had just appeared on his face became a bit stiff.

It was just that at this moment, he didn't want to stalemate and push the relationship into the abyss, so he pulled her and persuaded: "Let's eat first; I heard you came and put down my chopsticks to come out, Li Ge is still over there."

"I'm not hungry; I just came to find you."

Luo Yun shook off Zuo Jie's hand, looked at him seriously and said: "I know you care about face, but my dad is also doing it for our own good. The quota is really running out, can you..."

"Luo Yun, listen to me." Zuo Jie made a serious expression, looked at her and said: "I didn't refuse you because of face; if I really wanted to be a soldier, I would have told my parents long ago."

"I chose to stay because of Li Ge's care and cultivation, and also because I can see the future here."

He held Luo Yun's shoulders with both hands and said: "Please believe me, my choice won't be wrong. Think about it, this place has been operating for almost three years without any problems, and those businesses are booming. Even if there isn't the kind of openness you talk about, isn't the inside more important than the face?"

"Zuo Jie—" Listening to his explanation, Luo Yun's tears fell, and she asked with a hoarse voice: "What should I do?"

"Woooooo—"

Perhaps she was truly sad, and even more confused about life choices. On one side were her parents persuading her to turn over a new leaf, and on the other was the lover who gave her everything; this multiple-choice question was truly too difficult.

Zuo Jie naturally hoped she could stay; he could see Li Xuewu's emphasis on this side, and knew even more about the recent successive big moves; a series of arrangements wouldn't be aimless.

Luo Yun was annoyed that he wouldn't let go of this makeshift team, but he could see the great potential here.

To tell the truth, he had already reached the management level here; to go to the army to be a soldier again, he was truly unwilling.

It was like conquering the country; seeing the situation of attacking cities and seizing land, it was all great, and he was about to become a veteran. But at this time, the person he loved asked him to go home and farm, just for stability; how could he be convinced?

So even looking at Luo Yun crying like a pear blossom in the rain, he couldn't open his mouth to say he would give up everything here and follow her.

The winter sun was very dazzling, the cold weather was piercing, and the injury to his feelings was piercing to the heart.

Zuo Jie couldn't bear to say goodbye, and Luo Yun couldn't bear to part with him either.

But young hearts ultimately have to mature; on this road, there is always one person who has to leave first.

Watching Luo Yun leave, Zuo Jie's heart was cut like a knife; her silence seemed to leave this multiple-choice question for later. Both couldn't make the final decision, so they temporarily shelved this love.

Luo Yun left, following her parents' arrangements to join the army.

Zuo Jie stayed, doing things according to Li Xuewu's arrangements.

Perhaps when they meet again, this multiple-choice question will have an answer; perhaps when they meet again, there will still be no answer. But whether there is or not, will the two still care about this answer at that time?

"President Chantal, on behalf of the Red Star Steel Group, I express serious dissatisfaction and warning to your side regarding the malicious spying on commercial secrets by your Vice President, Mr. Mercedes. Please follow basic commercial rules and etiquette..."

January 6th, Monday. The Red Star Steel Group took the initiative to interview the partner, the Santa Ya Group, to launch negotiations on the cooperation crisis triggered by the involvement of their Vice President, Mercedes, in the Zheng Xudong case.

During the meeting, Li Xuewu seriously expressed his side's dissatisfaction and solemnly stated his side's position. He warned about the instigation and bribery behavior of Mercedes in the case.

Chantal knew that this time it was truly dangerous; she would rather Li Xuewu spank her in private than have him slap her in the face at this time.

(End of Chapter)