Chapter 1390: Fat Pig Fills the Pen

"This one of yours isn't very good—"

Li Xuewu looked at the large pile of garbage fenced in by wooden boards in the corner of the wall in the distance, turned his head to the factory director of the Steel City Electronics Manufacturing Plant, Bi Yuding, who was following him, and said: "I mentioned this problem when I went to the Automobile Manufacturing Plant the day before yesterday. As a result, you guys are quite something; you even know how to use a 'fig leaf' to fence it in."

"Look for yourself." He pointed his finger at the garbage mountain in the distance and asked Bi Yuding: "Can you cover this thing up?"

"Even if you can cover up the garbage pile in front of your eyes, how can you cover up the garbage pile in your heart?"

He turned around, sized up Bi Yuding from head to toe, and said with some dissatisfaction: "You, Old Bi, aren't a 'filthy' person, are you?"

How ruthless Li Xuewu's words were, Bi Yuding had already learned when he worked in the Red Star Factory office. Furthermore, the two had worked in the same department for nearly two years, and he had deep feelings about it.

How to say it, every sentence didn't contain dirty words, but every sentence was inseparable from dirty words; he could disgust you to death, "filthy" you to death.

Although he was mentally prepared and had past experience, he still blushed when he heard this.

Bi Yuding was an honest man and couldn't stand this kind of criticism, especially when he was truly wrong.

"Secretary-General, I must explain this." The Deputy Factory Director of the Electronics Plant, Yang Zili, who was accompanying the research behind the two, reported softly: "We also knew about your research situation at the Automobile Manufacturing Plant and are preparing to rectify it."

"Oh—preparing to rectify it."

Li Xuewu glanced back at Yang Zili, then looked at Bi Yuding and asked: "Then why cover it up?"

Bi Yuding was so anxious; he wanted to glare at Yang Zili, but was afraid of leaving traces that would annoy Li Xuewu.

What kind of temper did Li Xuewu have? He ate soft but not hard; if he wanted to clean you up, he absolutely wouldn't point you out.

What was Yang Zili thinking? Didn't he know what kind of relationship he had with Li Xuewu?

At the Automobile Manufacturing Plant, Li Xuewu didn't point out the problem on the spot, but only said it at the symposium.

Today, he said it to him on the spot, and with a tone of criticism—what on earth did this mean?

Damn! This means he's a "trusted aide"!

Why are you doing this to me? Didn't you see me obediently listening and taking it? This is a matter of attitude.

If Li Xuewu trusts you, he must be serious with you, even criticizing you in formal occasions. When he finds a problem and looks at you with a smile without saying a word, that's when you're in trouble.

So Bi Yuding hadn't panicked at all just now; his silence already indicated his attitude—resolutely obeying Li Xuewu's instructions, without a single complaint or opinion.

And the result?

Yang Zili, you're being a bit sentimental, aren't you? You don't think I'm going to thank you, do you?

I thank your ancestors for eight generations!

"This—" Yang Zili's face was sheepish, having been asked a question by Li Xuewu that hit his ribs.

How was he supposed to answer? Did he have to explain how this "fig leaf" was a waste of money and labor, becoming a joke?

"Secretary-General, we will rectify it next; we will give you a rectification report within three days." Bi Yuding had to stand out at this time; he was afraid Yang Zili would make another stupid move.

Li Xuewu didn't agree, just scanned him up and down, turned around, and continued walking forward.

Bi Yuding twitched the corners of his mouth, turned his head, and looked deeply at Yang Zili, as well as the other members of the Electronics Plant leadership team behind him.

Brothers, if you can't help, don't add trouble, okay?

Today, my big brother came to see my attitude, not to see me perform. Why are you all so active?

"Which production line has the greatest pressure on electronic component material inventory?" Li Xuewu stood in front of several production workshops, scanned the entire row of Electronics Plant workshops, and added: "I mean specifically imported electronic components."

"Still televisions and radios."

Bi Yuding stepped forward, stood beside Li Xuewu, and explained softly: "We are already adding to the import order volume, but the annual import quota is limited."

"You can't chase this thing out."

Li Xuewu frowned slightly, curled his lips, and said: "People want to choke your neck; you say 'loosen it a bit, let me catch my breath'—why should they let you catch your breath?"

Asking this, he turned his head to look at Bi Yuding and said: "I'm not instigating you to engage in that 'distinguishing between inside and outside' set, but the saying 'those who are not of our race must have a different heart' isn't necessarily a crooked theory."

"Don't spread this word out—"

His mouth was already starting to have a "clanging" sound, and he turned his head to point his finger at the Electronics Plant cadres following behind.

These cadres, including Deputy Factory Director Yang Zili and others, looked at each other, nodding while also feeling strange.

How could the Secretary-General be so... bandit-like...

Bi Yuding was very used to him being like this; the two hadn't worked together for nearly a year, and now listening to him felt quite nostalgic.

Only when Li Xuewu's speech had a "clanging" sound did it mean he was going to tell the truth, to speak the big truth.

Only at this time did he listen with full attention, because this must be Li Xuewu's core requirement.

"What is the export rate of your factory's export-type electrical appliances that truly went through customs last year? Who can tell me?"

He scanned everyone with a sharp gaze, and when he saw them look at each other without speaking, he frowned.

Bi Yuding looked at Yang Zili at this time, and Yang Zili was quite sensible, turning back to instruct the Office Director, letting the cadres accompanying them behind retreat a bit.

It was truly that the work content they were about to discuss with the leader was not suitable for public disclosure, otherwise, it would cause big problems.

Those cadres were also very sensible, following the Office Director to stand to one side and wait. Regardless of the doubts in their hearts about what secrets the leaders were about to discuss, they all looked blank on the surface.

"Secretary-General, regarding the electrical appliances that went through formal channels for export, we really haven't counted them."

Bi Yuding reported earnestly: "The sales work of the Electronics Plant's products is all arranged by the Group and handed over to the branch company of the Sales General Company in Steel City to be responsible for."

"Then you belong to 'closing the door and building a cart'?"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows, looked at him, and said: "In this point, you really aren't as good as Lü Yuan."

"He knows how to do market research and holds the sales data of the Steel City Automobile Manufacturing Plant in every city."

He raised his finger to point at Bi Yuding, his tone a bit impolite as he reminded: "You can't always walk with your head down; you have to look up, look forward, and look backward."

"If you can't see these, you will never know the fundamental reason why people are choking your neck and not giving you an increase in the import quota for electronic components."

Li Xuewu's face was serious, and his tone carried a fierce meaning as he said: "Are you going to fight a battle without preparation?"

"Hmm?" He frowned and asked a "hmm," his gaze simultaneously scanning the other members of the Electronics Plant leadership team.

"Secretary-General, I don't know..." Yang Zili was also full of confusion, looking at him and asking: "What does it mean for export electrical appliances to go through formal channels and..."

"Ask around a bit and you'll know."

Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes and looked at him, then scanned the others, and said: "The statistical number of Yazhi brand electrical appliances that went through customs is more than 30% different from the production capacity statistics of the Electronics Plant."

"Now think about it, do you know why people want to choke your neck?"

"This, this—" Yang Zili seemed to be hearing about this situation for the first time, looking at Bi Yuding with some confusion. He didn't know, but that didn't mean Bi Yuding didn't know.

Looking at the head of the Electronics Plant at this time, his expression didn't seem surprised, just frowning and thinking about something.

Other members of the leadership team looked at each other; some knew, and some hadn't paid attention to this data.

Some people are indeed aware of the situation in this regard, but since they are not in that position, they do not seek to influence its policy, and thus they have not meddled in other people's business.

At this time, following the Secretary-General's words and thinking deeply, everyone actually already had the answer in their hearts.

Yang Zili saw that Bi Yuding didn't intend to solve his confusion, so he looked at Li Xuewu again.

He wanted to ask if the Secretary-General wanted them to limit production capacity, or the indicators for electrical appliances leaving the factory through non-formal channels. This was Bi Yuding's business scope.

It was a bit strange that Bi Yuding, who had a soft personality, held this work in his own hands when managing the factory.

At first, everyone thought he wanted to fish for some profit; after all, Yazhi brand electrical appliances only did export trade.

And in the market demand where electrical appliances were lacking nationwide, the indicators for electrical appliances leaving the factory through non-formal channels were particularly precious.

But after a long time, they didn't see Bi Yuding make a fortune from this, nor did he accept anyone's gifts, which felt strange.

In the end, everyone unanimously believed that Bi Yuding was timid, afraid that everyone would fish for benefits from this, so he held it himself.

Although there were some complaints, thinking that Old Bi was also for the sake of disciplinary safety, this matter passed.

Therefore, apart from picking up goods through official channels, other quotas have always been Bi Yuding's work; no one else has ever intervened.

Furthermore, regardless of what channels the electrical products went through, they were all coordinated and allocated by the Tianjin Trade Management Office of the Sales General Company; the procedures and formalities had no problems, which made them unable to suspect anything.

It wasn't until Li Xuewu asked today that they re-remembered the problems inside.

Bi Yuding was very clear that Li Xuewu definitely didn't want to limit non-trade export channels, but wanted to...

That's right, this is about to be a fight.

Actually, his cooperation with the Sales General Company was only limited to the allocation of indicators within the factory area; as for how the Tianjin Trade Management Center operated, he knew nothing.

It was just that Yazhi brand electrical appliances had briefly appeared in the black market around Steel City, but were later replaced by the Red Star brand.

The reason was very simple: the power supply voltage of Yazhi brand electrical appliances was different, and many plugs were different from domestic ones.

This wasn't a problem of changing lines and plugs, but that they couldn't be used at all. On the contrary, the domestic Red Star brand had no problems.

Therefore, regardless of Li Xuewu saying that the electrical appliances left through non-formal channels exceeded 30% of the Electronics Plant's production capacity, almost none of these 30% Yazhi brand electrical appliances truly stayed in the country, nor could they.

Who has the ability to change the circuit?

Then where did these 30% of Yazhi brand electrical appliances go?

Where else could they go? The guys at the Sales General Company were very bold. Especially those who returned from training in Hong Kong; they were originally very bold, and now they were acting like crazy.

He had also heard about this; although Li Xuewu hadn't told him, he hadn't hidden it from him either. It was the Group leader's decision, a strategic guidance opinion made by the Group.

Now it seems that the reason why Sanhe Stock Company delayed responding to the import of electronic components was because of this.

We cooperate, I supply you with core components, you steal from my house, and I still have to tolerate you?

If you weren't also choking my lifeline, I would have cut off your supply long ago; and you still want to expand production capacity? Keep dreaming.

"What are you looking at me for?" Li Xuewu saw him look over, twitched his mouth, and said: "You are the Electronics Plant factory director; do you still have to ask me about this?"

"That—that—"

Bi Yuding was truly about to cry; was this something a leader should say?

What do you mean "fight them a bit"?

Originally it was a cooperative relationship, and it was a joint development; it was an opportunity that was hard to come by, so how could he dare to be presumptuous.

Li Xuewu glanced at him, then looked at the members of the leadership team, none of whom looked like "thorns" who could fight.

Truly, "a bear of a soldier makes a bear of a squad, a bear of a general makes a bear of a nest."

"Don't be too honest—" Li Xuewu stared at Bi Yuding with dissatisfaction and said: "You've only been listening to your 'happy cooperation' with Sanhe these past few years; why haven't I heard you 'fight them a bit'?"

"Secretary-General—" Bi Yuding was truly about to cry; what kind of words were these for a leader to say?

What do you mean "fight them a bit"?

Originally it was a cooperative relationship, and it was a joint development; it was an opportunity that was hard to come by, so how could he dare to be presumptuous.

Li Xuewu glanced at him, then looked at the members of the leadership team, none of whom looked like "thorns" who could fight.

Truly, "a bear of a soldier makes a bear of a squad, a bear of a general makes a bear of a nest."

"Don't be too honest—" Li Xuewu stared at Bi Yuding with dissatisfaction and said: "You've only been listening to your 'happy cooperation' with Sanhe these past few years; why haven't I heard you 'fight them a bit'?"

"Secretary-General—" Bi Yuding was truly about to cry; what kind of words were these for a leader to say?

What do you mean "fight them a bit"?

Originally it was a cooperative relationship, and it was a joint development; it was an opportunity that was hard to come by, so how could he dare to be presumptuous.

Li Xuewu glanced at him, then looked at the members of the leadership team, none of whom looked like "thorns" who could fight.

Truly, "a bear of a soldier makes a bear of a squad, a bear of a general makes a bear of a nest."

"Don't be too honest; be careful that people look down on you." Li Xuewu pointed out the little brother he had chosen himself, and could only patiently guide him: "International trade cooperation and cooperation between domestic brother units are two different things; you can't be too honest."

"Besides, we have to keep a hand even when cooperating with domestic brother units; if you don't play tricks with the little devils, won't this Electronics Plant become theirs in the future?"

"Hiss—" Yang Zili seemed to have realized something.

And Li Xuewu glanced at him; he actually preferred using these "heart-heavy" types.

"Fight them a bit; you can't just sit and wait for death."

Li Xuewu turned his head to look at Bi Yuding and continued: "Communicate actively with the research institute, and complete the technical blockade of all key components as soon as possible."

"Think carefully about the import quota for electronic components; curse them, act like a rogue, but don't let people choke your neck while you're talking; it's too passive."

After saying this, he took the lead and walked into the workshop, watching the production line through the corridor glass.

Everyone says the Red Star Steel Group's factory standards in Steel City are high and more in line with the requirements of modern factories.

Just look at the dust-free workshop built by the Electronics Plant; it's quite decent, and although it was built under the guidance of Sanhe Stock Company, they were truly willing to spend the money.

Of course, Li Xuewu doesn't remember favors; he shouldn't be soft at all when it comes to "knocking" the little devils.

On one hand, try to complete the localization of components, and on the other hand, learn and research in production to engage in domestic electrical appliances.

On the other hand, increase the non-trade export volume, and don't let Sanhe Stock Company earn too much and occupy the entire market.

He truly isn't greedy for money; wanting to give Zhou Ya more smuggling indicators—actually, the "Maritime Carriage Plan" isn't too profitable, and it basically subsidizes the overall plan.

Shipping investment, transit investment, personnel investment, and investment in agents at the target location, etc.

There is no such thing as "small profits but quick turnover" in this business; everyone is doing business with their heads tied to their waistbands, and every voyage is a "one-hammer" deal.

"Great luck, eat chicken tonight; ship capsizes and goods are lost, the whole village eats at the funeral"—that's how it is.

Previously, when Dong Mengyuan managed industry in Steel City, he was still worried that the Group's foundation in other industrial fields was weak, the objects of foreign trade were relatively single, and cooperation was relatively difficult.

But starting this year, the situation has changed.

First, from the Group level, the construction of the Tianjin Binhai Club and the formation of the Hong Kong Andrew Buyer's Club have built a bridge for foreign trade.

Secondly, from the policy aspect, looking up from the Group's perspective, one can clearly receive signals for vigorous economic development; it's just missing independent and clear documents for implementation.

Even Old Li has read the recent series of documents and started to focus on the layout of the Group's economic development.

If you ask Old Li what he has read, actually he hasn't read much of the document content; he only looks at the signatures on the documents.

If you say signatures are nothing to look at, and there's no content, then you're very wrong.

To use Old Li's words, this signature is equivalent to a wind vane; wherever the wind vane points, he rushes toward it.

Who has been rehabilitated, who is presiding over work, who has delivered a speech, who has formulated new policies—these are all contents.

It's not that Li Xuewu wants to overthrow and negate the management policies Dong Mengyuan had in Steel City, but to make adjustments.

Trade and cooperation are themselves a process of pulling and tugging; this is the healthy development Li Xuewu understands.

It's just that what he sees from the faces of Bi Yuding and the members of the Electronics Plant leadership team is surprise and confusion.

Perhaps they think Li Xuewu's words are too bold and his guidance on trade work is too radical.

But in Li Xuewu's view, how to lead a group of sheep into lions is a test.

He only has three years in Steel City; for the Electronics Plant, and for the Group, isn't it the same?

What happened in '72, others don't know, but can Li Xuewu not know? Without competitiveness, and without an international trade perspective, how much loss will they suffer?

He turned around the Electronics Plant for a whole day, just like at the Metallurgical Plant, the Automobile Manufacturing Plant, and the Aircraft Manufacturing Plant.

He wasn't wandering around aimlessly for this whole day, but was looking, asking, saying, and recording; it was true research, not fake fooling.

Judging from his series of actions recently, the workers in Liaodong industry have reacted most enthusiastically and directly. It's rare to see a living, moving Group leader; some people don't see one even once a year, but this time they saw enough.

In the workshop, in the cafeteria, in the dormitory, and in the warehouse, many workers are discussing this Group leader.

Fierce face, very young age, direct speech; whether asking questions or talking, he is very polite.

There is a big discrepancy with the Group leaders in everyone's impression; at least he isn't a worker saying this Secretary-General speaks with a "clanging" sound, but it doesn't make people feel disgusted; on the contrary, it's intimate.

It's not to say that the quality of the front-line workers in the Red Star Steel Group workshop is worrying, and that they all speak with a "clanging" sound, but this communication skill is very "grounded," making people feel comfortable.

He isn't a high-and-mighty, paper-based excellent and wise Group leader, but ordinary and intimate like everyone else; his words make sense, and everyone can understand them.

Compared to the Group leaders in the eyes of grassroots workers, the impressions and feedback from cadres are generally not strong enough.

Why? Because the Secretary-General's attitude toward them is also average, and there isn't much intention to be close.

Dignity is not worth mentioning; it's just that there is no intention to be close or win over, and he emphasizes order and rules more.

Let's put it this way: judging from this Secretary-General's past work situation and his performance since arriving in Liaodong, he doesn't like cadres who report across levels and engage in small actions; it's too obvious.

It's just that in these years, many cadres like to do these things, especially during the "Great Study" activity period two years ago.

Deep inside, people all hide a little devil, and sometimes it will occupy behavioral initiative to harm people.

But now it seems that for a period of time in the future, the Secretary-General doesn't hope for such cadres to appear.

From the Metallurgical Plant to today, his trajectory and what he said and asked have been summarized by some people.

The important ones are the following points: production, safety, environment, economy.

Looking at it this way, the Secretary-General's management policy in Steel City will basically revolve around these key goals.

The garbage pile problem he mentioned at the Automobile Manufacturing Plant and the Electronics Plant was definitely not asked randomly.

These days, other enterprises waiting for his research are also asking which problems the enterprises that have finished the inspection need to pay attention to.

First is the environment; garbage piles cannot be piled up like mountains, they must be cleaned up in time, and attention must be paid to the factory environment.

Fortunately, a large-scale waste recycling station opened near the Steel City Industrial Zone recently, otherwise these industrial wastes would have to find a place for landfill treatment, which would be a waste of effort.

The Automobile Manufacturing Plant and the Electronics Plant are directly contacting the recycling station personnel to come and clean them up.

Why say that the waste recycling station over there is a large-scale recycling station? Because they use trucks, use grabs, and the mechanical equipment looks very advanced and professional.

Actually, these industrial wastes all have recycling value, but these enterprises don't have recycling capabilities.

It's truly not worth it to form an energy regeneration factory just for these wastes, so they are all used to being lazy.

Furthermore, this large-scale waste recycling station has qualifications and has public accounts and official seals.

The first cooperation didn't sign an agreement, but people from over there have come to negotiate garbage recycling cooperation business with each factory area separately.

And next door to the waste recycling station, which is the thermal power station laid out by the Group in Liaodong, the person in charge of the recycling station came to negotiate deep cooperation intentions.

It turns out this large-scale waste recycling station wants to do electrolysis technology and also do metal and non-metal recycling projects.

Electricity goes without saying; they also need garbage treatment cooperation, which is the treatment of combustible garbage.

Industrial garbage is classified; those that can extract metal must be diverted, and non-metals that can be treated and reused must be diverted.

Finally, the remaining garbage that cannot be reused must be burned, and those that cannot be burned must be landfilled.

This is different from the urban garbage treatment process, because the urban garbage that can be collected by the recycling station all has utilization value and almost never undergoes landfill and incineration.

And this waste recycling station just happens to want to do the treatment technology for industrial garbage and urban recycled garbage.

Electric energy is the main energy and power for modern industrial production; for waste recycling to move toward energy regeneration, it must experience the process of industrialization and professionalization.

Previously, waste collection stations and recycling stations classified the waste they collected and then handed it over to the general station.

Now it's not; the energy regeneration factory that occupied land and opened near the Steel City Industrial Zone at the end of the year is the first step for the three-party acquisition agreement of the Beijing Waste Company, Jiaodaokou, Nanluoguxiang (Supply and Marketing Cooperative) to move toward the downstream of the industry, specifically related to waste recycling and secondary sales stations.

Can do recycling, can do treatment, and the next step is to continue to cooperate with the Metallurgical Plant and other enterprises to do energy reuse projects; what they supply is production raw materials.

Never underestimate the renewable energy industry; if this business is done on a large scale, it can be as wealthy as a nation.

Of course, it is also normal if you say you have never seen a renewable energy company as wealthy as a nation, because this business cannot be done on a large scale.

"Uncle, do you like drinking coffee?"

Fu Zhidong leaned against the tea cabinet and watched for a good while before turning back to ask his uncle, who was over by the sofa.

Li Xuewu raised his head to look at him, then smiled and looked toward Zhou Wang Yamei, who was coming down from the second floor.

Zhou Wang Yamei's face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head as she headed to the kitchen; she felt more and more that Li Xuewu was a bad egg.

"Ahem, Uncle doesn't like drinking coffee." Li Xuewu picked up his teacup and said earnestly, "Uncle likes drinking tea."

"Then why did you bring a coffee machine back?" Fu Zhidong trotted over from the tea cabinet, threw himself onto the sofa beside him, and asked curiously.

"Because someone in our family likes to drink it." Li Xuewu looked toward the kitchen with a smug smile on his lips, just as the kitchen door happened to close.

She really couldn't stand his smugness; Zhou Wang Yamei also chuckled to herself in the kitchen, feeling only that he was too petty.

As for the little game the two were playing, Li Xuewu insisted on using such methods to provoke her; men always have a childish side, no matter the time.

"Let's go, time to put up the spring couplets."

Seeing her like this, Li Xuewu stopped teasing her; after all, they were in front of the child.

He set down the teacup and newspaper in his hands and led Fu Zhidong toward the study, where the spring couplets he and Zhou Wang Yamei had written together last night were kept.

That's right, today is New Year's Eve.

To prepare for this day, the two had struggled in the study for a long time last night, and they had even ruined several sheets of red paper.

It wasn't that Li Xuewu had too heavy a hand; it was really that Zhou Wang Yamei wasn't very cooperative and couldn't quite let go.

They were writing proper large "Fu" characters; what was there to be nervous about? She couldn't even hold the brush steady, and she wrote like a ghost drawing talismans.

In the end, she kept crying out that she was tired and couldn't take it anymore, so it was Li Xuewu who finished writing the spring couplets.

Li Xuewu's calligraphy was actually just average; he had only been forced by his father to learn it for several years since he was a child.

This stuff is fine for fooling those who don't know the craft, but if you really met an expert, it wouldn't be presentable.

Unfortunately, there are really many people in this day and age who write good calligraphy, especially since imitating the great masters of calligraphy is practically a pleasure, or rather, a cultural habit.

In later generations, it is difficult to find someone who writes good calligraphy, simply because the times are different.

Li Xuewu led Fu Zhidong to spread out the prepared spring couplets, checked the positions where they were to be pasted, and then walked outside carrying the paste, the two of them speaking auspicious words for the New Year as they walked.

It was Fu Zhidong's first time spending the Spring Festival with his uncle, and he found everything fresh, like a happy little bird.

Every year, his mother would take him back to his maternal grandmother's house for the New Year; it was monotonous and old-fashioned, with no fun at all.

He was young, but he matured early; his father was a taboo topic in the family, but every time the children at his little uncle's house called out "Daddy," what was he supposed to think?

Why did he look forward to his uncle being able to stay in Steel City for the New Year, even though his mother also reminded him that little sister Li Shu also needed a father?

But—he just wanted his uncle to stay.

When he truly learned that his uncle was going to stay in Steel City for the New Year, he couldn't even begin to describe how happy he was; he was looking forward to it every day.

This year, he didn't have to go to his maternal grandmother's house for the New Year, and he also had a father to paste spring couplets and set off firecrackers with.

In his heart, his uncle was his father, and his father was his uncle; his uncle even called him "son."

"The scenery here is uniquely beautiful, the landscape is so enchanting!"

Fu Zhidong stood before the main gate and read the characters on the spring couplets with a smile; it was full of joy, and it was more like he was showing off.

That's right, he had started school, learned to read and write, and could even read the characters on the spring couplets.

He was showing off to his uncle, waiting for his uncle to praise him.

Li Xuewu saw what his godson meant, but he didn't praise him directly; that would have been too boring.

"Let me tell you a joke—"

He chuckled and put his arm around his godson as they walked into the courtyard, saying as they walked, "What did people used to paste for spring couplets in the past?"

"The 'Fu' character?" Fu Zhidong didn't know what his uncle was going to say, so he only answered with what he knew.

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Yes, in the past, people would paste the 'Fu' character, paste it at the main entrance, and there were other kinds of spring couplets."

"Then why don't we paste them now?"

Fu Zhidong was also a bit curious, because he remembered that when he was little, his mother would paste the 'Fu' character when pasting spring couplets at home.

How was Li Xuewu supposed to answer this question? He couldn't answer it, because even if he did, Fu Zhidong wouldn't understand.

By this year, there had been some loosening of policies regarding the Spring Festival, and there was no longer a rigid requirement to abandon the concept of the Spring Festival.

Of course, some enterprises and units would handle the issue of Spring Festival holidays flexibly and would not make things difficult for their employees.

There were also some leaders who were timid and strictly followed the policy, which meant not celebrating the Spring Festival.

If you wanted to paste spring couplets and set off firecrackers at home, no one would stop you, but you had to come to the factory to work and could not take leave.

The Red Star Group had been implementing a staggered holiday policy for three consecutive years, and during these three days, it even adopted a shift system.

That is to say, all employees had three days of New Year's leave, and how to arrange it was a matter for the workshop directors and the administrative offices.

For three years, no one had come to find fault with the Group, so the employees felt reassured and could safely celebrate the Spring Festival.

Of course, spring couplets were not allowed to be pasted indiscriminately; everyone was still being careful, and only dared to write the poems of "that person."

Li Xuewu certainly wouldn't cause trouble for Zhou Wang Yamei just to show off his calligraphy, and he didn't have the talent to compose spring couplets either.

The result of pretending to understand when you don't is to make a laughingstock of yourself.

"This year, the 'Fu' character in our house is pasted inside the room; it means 'good fortune arrives at home'." Li Xuewu could only explain it this way.

These short couplets about "seeing joy upon exiting the door," "lucky stars shining brightly," and the "Fu" character were absolutely not to be pasted outside, as they would be treated as feudal superstition. Even meeting relatives and friends and cupping one's hands to say "wishing you prosperity" was not allowed.

Having satisfied his godson's curious little head, he continued the previous topic: "There aren't as many couplets in the city as in the countryside; in the countryside, there are also 'great luck at the well and spring,' 'fat pigs filling the pen,' 'golden chickens filling the coop,' and so on, which are related to agricultural production."

"I know, there's also the Kitchen God." Fu Zhidong responded actively, saying, "My maternal grandmother's house has one."

"Right, on the 23rd before the New Year, we burn the Kitchen God." Li Xuewu popularized traditional cultural knowledge for his godson, "How does that saying go? 'Report good deeds in heaven, return to the palace to bring good fortune'; this Kitchen God is narrow-minded, so you have to persuade him well."

"Hee hee—" Fu Zhidong smiled as he opened the room door and said, "My maternal grandmother also says he is narrow-minded."

"I'm talking about spring couplets." Li Xuewu amusedly flicked his forehead and said, "Once upon a time, there was a young boy who was ignorant and incompetent; he thought that because he had read a few years of books and learned a few characters, he should help his family paste spring couplets."

"His family lived in the countryside, so they prepared a lot of red paper and asked a scholar to write a complete set of spring couplets. As a result, after he took them home, he couldn't recognize all the characters, so he started pasting them by guessing and bluffing, which led to a big joke."

Li Xuewu continued to lead him to paste them in other places, while continuing to speak: "When his father came back from the market and took a look, his nose was almost crooked with anger; he had pasted 'fat pigs filling the pen' on the inner room door."

"Hahaha—" Fu Zhidong naturally understood the joke his uncle told and only felt it was fresh and funny.

Li Xuewu also smiled, and at the same time advised his godson: "You must never make this kind of mistake."

"Uncle, I already know these characters—"

Fu Zhidong was very afraid that his uncle would misunderstand him as being an ignorant and incompetent young boy, so he hurriedly clarified himself.

Zhou Wang Yamei came out of the room, touched her son's little head, and said with a smile, "Your uncle is reminding you not to be arrogant and complacent, and even less to be overconfident, but to maintain an attitude of humility, modesty, caution, and respect for others."

Li Xuewu looked at her, speechless, his lips twitching as he wanted to ask her, "You've said it all, what am I supposed to say?"

"Hurry and go help your uncle; breakfast is already made, and your uncle still has to go to work today."

Zhou Wang Yamei gently pushed her son's shoulder; Fu Zhidong was still looking at Li Xuewu, waiting for his godfather to explain.

Seeing his mother's reminder, Fu Zhidong widened his eyes and asked, "Uncle, are you coming back tonight?"

"I'll be back, but it will be a bit late."

Li Xuewu pasted the couplet at the entrance, turned his head to smile at him, and said, "You can rest early; tomorrow morning we will set off firecrackers together."

Li Xuewu didn't know when people in the south pasted spring couplets, ate dumplings, and set off firecrackers; he only knew that in the north, people basically pasted spring couplets on the morning of New Year's Eve, set off firecrackers and ate dumplings in the evening, and ate another meal of dumplings on the morning of the first day of the Spring Festival, and that was the New Year.

"I want to stay up for the New Year and wait for you to come back—" Fu Zhidong raised his little head and said earnestly, "Uncle, you must come back early; I'm waiting for you to set off firecrackers together."

Amidst the sound of firecrackers, a year passes; the spring breeze sends warmth into the Tusu wine. Li Xuewu ate breakfast with his godson's anticipation and entrustment, then got into his car and began today's itinerary.

Except for the Yingcheng Shipbuilding and Fengcheng Machinery Factory, which he hadn't toured yet, he had already toured all the enterprises of Liaodong Industry in Steel City over the past few days, including the weapons manufacturing plant.

After the New Year, he had to go to Yingcheng and Fengcheng; only after touring both places would he plan to return to Beijing for the New Year.

His Spring Festival holiday was pushed back to after the third day of the New Year; he wouldn't be able to rest until everyone had finished their holidays.

This was his commitment as the main person in charge of the Group in Liaodong, and also the responsibility of the enterprise's top leader.

Today was the last day of the year, and the Metallurgical Plant was already filled with a rich New Year atmosphere; many employees had already taken leave to return home for the Spring Festival or were rotating shifts to return to Beijing to visit relatives.

Compared to usual, the atmosphere in the factory was quieter, and the number of pedestrians on the factory roads had also significantly decreased.

Li Xuewu's car first went to the factory's administrative area to meet with Wang Shuqiong, the deputy director of the Metallurgical Plant, after which the two took one car to the factory hospital.

The Metallurgical Plant had been operating in Steel City for many years; there were long-retired comrades who had settled down here, as well as injured employees recuperating in the factory hospital.

The leaders at home today, including Office Director Liao Jinhui, were divided into three groups to visit the homes of injured employees and veteran comrades to express their condolences, which is commonly known as the "sending warmth" campaign.

Li Xuewu was in the same group as Wang Shuqiong; they first went to the hospital to visit employees who were injured and could not return home for the New Year, and then went to visit the homes of veteran comrades, making them the group with the heaviest task.

The Volga M24 was accompanied by a Hongyun van, which was loaded with rice, flour, grain, and oil, as well as the factory's special New Year gifts, some beverages, and small snacks.

What was the most fashionable New Year gift in this day and age?

Canned food; this was an indisputable answer.

And the Red Star Steel Group had its own food processing plant, and canned food was just one of many categories.

But the food plant's canned goods were divided into many categories: fruit, meat, vegetables, and so on.

Starting this year, the Sales General Company began to exert its efforts, concentrating the operation of mature products from the Group's various industrial enterprises, catching whatever holiday came along to join in the fun.

And so, canned goods packed in paper boxes became the most presentable New Year gift of the Red Star Steel Group.

Steel City still couldn't compare to Beijing, and the Group's operations here were still lacking a bit of heat. At this time, the Group had long since set off a sales frenzy for New Year gifts in Beijing.

Cooperating with supply and marketing companies and various joint units, they were selling New Year gift boxes like crazy.

Even the welfare of the Group's employees included this kind of thing.

Li Xuewu's idea for the Sales Company was to connect products with culture and combine them with life.

Wang Shuqiong, sitting in the back seat of the car, used her peripheral vision to size up this Secretary-General.

It wasn't that she didn't know Li Xuewu, it was just that the two were sitting this close for the first time.

Previously, whether Li Xuewu came to Steel City for research or just passed through, he basically hadn't had much contact with them.

Of course, this refers to private and relatively close field work; they had met during normal meetings.

Taking this opportunity, she also wanted to carefully observe this leader who was rumored to be polarized and acted in an unconventional way.

Li Xuewu keenly felt the probing gaze from beside him and calmly turned his head to look at her.

"Comrade Shuqiong, is there a flower on my face?"

"Wishing you a prosperous New Year and everything going as you wish; naturally, there is a flower on the Secretary-General's face." Wang Shuqiong didn't feel flustered after being caught in the act; she smiled and said, "It's a flower in full bloom."

"You really are a propaganda cadre; you're certainly better at talking than I am." Li Xuewu smiled, turned his head to look forward, and said, "Please also put in a good word for me later; I am a person with a relatively introverted personality and am not good at socializing."

"That's not true—" Wang Shuqiong looked at him jokingly and asked, "Are you even lying to your own people?"

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu just chuckled lightly.

Hehe, our own people—