Chapter 1399: Thunder and Rain

"Outside the long pavilion, beside the ancient road, the fragrant grass reaches the sky. The evening breeze brushes the willows, the flute sound is residual, the sunset is beyond the mountains."

On the platform in early spring, a group of young people dressed as junior high school students sang "Farewell" with tears, sending their former classmates, friends, brothers, and sisters onto trains heading south and north.

The young singing was continuous, spreading to every corner of the platform. The clear eyes contained persistence in faith, but the voices revealed confusion and longing for the future.

"At the end of the sky, at the corner of the earth, the friends are half scattered. A ladle of turbid wine exhausts the remaining joy, tonight's parting dream is cold..."

Perhaps infected by this parting singing, the platform was filled with faint sadness, and passengers also lowered their voices, even focusing on listening and watching that youthful parting.

Li Xuewu stood on the platform outside the carriage for a long time. The station cadre who came to send him off introduced softly: "This is not the last batch. There are passenger transport tasks every week, from all over the world, all half-grown boys like this..."

Banggeng stood on tiptoe, stretched his neck to look at the liveliness over there, but his heart was unspeakably sad.

"Go say goodbye to your mom."

Li Xuewu lowered his head, looked at the big-faced cat looking up at him and said: "She is still waiting for you."

Banggeng opened his mouth. He expected to get the reason for his inner sadness from Wu Shu, but didn't expect it to be so simple. It turned out that at the time of parting, he would also be sad.

Looking back, his mother was still standing behind the lounge door, her eyes full of reluctance and worry for him.

"Go, from today on you are an adult, you must solve problems in a man's way."

Li Xuewu patted his shoulder and said: "I'll stand here and wait for you, there's not much time left."

Banggeng nodded hesitantly, stepped toward his mother's direction. With the station duty personnel blowing the whistle, his steps became faster and faster, until he rushed into his mother's arms.

"Mom—"

"Banggeng—"

The accumulated tears finally fell. Qin Huairu thought she wouldn't shed tears again, until Banggeng ran over and called her "Mom."

The mother and son hugged and cried bitterly, as if they wanted to cry out all the depression and the resentment hidden in the bottom of their hearts over the past year, not leaving any regrets at the time of parting.

The capital is a thousand miles away from Steel City. Correspondence takes at least a week. That is the longing of relatives.

Qin Huairu couldn't imagine, in her heart, how Banggeng, who was still a child, would live alone outside.

She didn't dare to think, didn't dare to think about the suffering her son would endure, the crimes he would suffer. Once she thought of these, she couldn't stop her tears.

Liu Guoyou took advantage of the gap between the station leader and Li Xuewu's greeting and took the initiative to chat a few words.

He was in the capacity of a parent, in the capacity of a neighbor in the courtyard, thanking Li Xuewu for his help, and also entrusting him to take care of Banggeng, saying that if there were any difficulties, he could send news to the family.

Li Xuewu looked at him with a smile, didn't speak, giving Banggeng a chance was what Qin Huairu had begged him for long ago, and it could be considered fulfilling the fate between the two.

To be honest, Qin Huairu hadn't actively begged him for anything or wanted anything all these years, only Banggeng this child. How could he let Qin Huairu down.

Qin Huairu had already decided to send the child to Steel City. Liu Guoyou's attitude at this time was still a bit late.

He understood Liu Guoyou as a man who had to have responsibility and face, but if you don't sweep a house, how can you sweep the world.

If you can't handle the things at home, how much can you do at work? Perhaps Qin Huairu took a fancy to this point of him, fearing that he would climb too high and walk too fast.

"Secretary-General Li, I wish you a smooth journey."

The station duty leader saw the signalman waving the flag, took the initiative to shake hands with Li Xuewu with a smile, and said goodbye.

Li Xuewu also nodded with gratitude and said: "We are all one family, don't be so polite in the future."

He shook the other's hand and emphasized: "Must give me a chance to thank you when you go to Liaodong."

"Good, will definitely go to disturb you then."

The duty leader agreed very refreshingly, let go of his hand, waved his hand, and sent him onto the train.

Banggeng didn't even have time to say anything to his mother. The duty officer's whistle became more urgent. He wiped his tears and rushed toward the carriage quickly under Liu Guoyou's urging.

Qin Huairu held her hands out, as if her son was still in her arms just like before, but her eyes didn't deceive her. Banggeng had already run onto the train, standing at the carriage door, standing in front of Li Xuewu and waving goodbye to her.

The whistle was melodious, the train moved slowly, accelerated, until it disappeared into the distance.

"Huairu, let's go, go back."

Liu Guoyou supported Qin Huairu who was still standing there, and persuaded softly: "The child has grown up."

"Yes, the child has grown up—"

Qin Huairu responded with difficulty in her dry throat, but her eyes were still reluctant to leave the direction the train left. That was her lifeblood.

"Think more about the good side, perhaps Liaodong has a blue sky more suitable for him to spread his wings and fly high."

Liu Guoyou sighed faintly, trying hard to persuade her. The couple hadn't rested well these days, and there was a big stone in each other's hearts, pressing so hard they couldn't breathe.

Qin Huairu walked back with his support, but she looked back every three steps, as if Banggeng could come back.

Liaodong... even if the blue sky of Liaodong is good, that is not Banggeng's sky. A thousand days at home is good, everything is difficult when going out.

If you can earn a bowl of rice at your doorstep, why bother breaking into Guandong? Is Guandong really easy to break into?

The worry in her heart couldn't be hidden, and she didn't think about covering up anything. She was open enough to Liu Guoyou.

It's just that a couple halfway through their lives, living together with a family, is already very difficult. Asking for heart-to-heart and mutual respect is wishful thinking.

She had so much bitterness in her heart, and so many tears in her eyes, but she didn't dare, nor could she confide in Liu Guoyou.

Reaching middle age, the most precious quality is forbearance, for herself, for her family, for the future.

She couldn't complain about Liu Guoyou, much less blame Liu Guoyou's two daughters. It was she who was too greedy.

She couldn't complain about her mother-in-law, nor could she be angry with the children. Until today, it was all her own fault.

On the contrary, she should be grateful to Li Xuewu. If there were no Li Xuewu, she wouldn't know how to handle today's family contradiction relationship, much less know how to persuade Banggeng.

She had a strong heart, but also two lines of weak tears. Strength is for herself, weakness is for her family.

Perhaps she owed too many people in her previous life, and this life she has to be a cow and a horse to pay it back. It's just that how many lifetimes will it take to pay back what she owes in this life.

Liaodong, not only has the people she owed in her previous life, but also the people she owed in this life, all are her concerns.

How unreasonable fate is, letting her concerns fold into double, suffering and tormenting her.

How about a hundred years of concern, a thought of reincarnation has no end.

"Ha—" Banggeng carried his luggage and stepped off the train, exhaling a white breath on the platform.

If he hadn't eaten breakfast in the carriage, it might be colder than now, even though the sun in the east had already risen.

He rubbed his hands hard, scanned the surroundings of the platform, and asked in surprise: "This is Liaodong?"

"This is Steel City." Li Xuewu got off the train but didn't walk toward the exit, because Yu Zhe was already waiting for him.

He didn't dare to be too high-profile in the capital, much less let the car pick him up on the platform. After all, that is the capital.

But it's different in Steel City. The Red Star Steel Group can more or less rank on this piece of land.

He didn't fear the cold, much less to show off his power. Letting Yu Zhe drive the car to the platform to pick him up was to save time as much as possible, because he still had to go to work today.

Perhaps this reason would be understood as an excuse for laziness, but to be honest, walking a few more steps or a few fewer steps doesn't matter to ordinary people, but he knows how to cherish it better.

He knows what to do at what time, and when he can be slightly indulgent. As long as he doesn't cause trouble for others, he doesn't avoid these conveniences he can enjoy.

Banggeng wanted to help him carry his luggage, but Zhang Enyuan was more active than him, and had long ago carried the leader's luggage to the trunk with Yu Zhe who ran over.

Banggeng raised his head and looked at him and asked: "Aren't we going to Liaodong? Is it Steel City or Liaodong?"

"Hehe, silly child—" Li Xuewu laughed lightly, touched his big head, and said: "Steel City is Liaodong, Liaodong is Steel City."

"Ah?" Banggeng was dumbfounded, completely confused, just repeating the words Wu Shu just said blankly: "Steel City is Liaodong, Liaodong is Steel City."

Yu Zhe looked at him with a smile, took the luggage from his hand, walked to the back of the car and said affirmatively: "That's right, Steel City is Liaodong, Liaodong is Steel City."

Zhang Enyuan put the luggage away, walked over and opened the car door for Li Xuewu, his eyes also falling on this fat kid.

"This kid is really... big enough."

To praise a child, one must see his advantages. If he doesn't look good, say he has temperament. If he doesn't look too smart, say he is big. Anyway, the words spoken cannot offend people, and they are all good children in the mouth.

A half-grown boy brought back from the capital by the leader, not a relative, can't be much worse. Where would an ordinary relationship go as far as helping others raise children?

Not to mention it's the Secretary-General, whose own work is too busy, and still has the leisure to help others raise children?

Of course, whether this child is "someone else's" is still uncertain. There is no shortage of stories in this organization.

If you ask Zhang Enyuan if he knows this child? He naturally doesn't know, but he knows the child's mother.

Qin Huairu, who doesn't know her among the cadres in the group's organization? The director of the hostel.

How did Zhang Enyuan know her?

Very simple, returning to the capital with the Secretary-General, the Secretary-General wants to go home, what does he do? Naturally, stay in the hostel.

Previously, the subordinate branches of Red Star Factory basically didn't have an independent financial management system, so coming to the capital for business trips and staying in the hostel didn't cost money.

Accounted for, as long as there is an introduction letter and business trip certificate, he can stay in the hostel as long as he wants.

A major feature of the group's organizational institutional change is that first and second-level branches have independent financial management authority.

This time Zhang Enyuan followed Li Xuewu back to the capital, according to the needs of work, stayed in the hostel, and had to spend money on accommodation and travel.

Task finished, the day he came out, the person in charge of the hostel's finance issued him a consumption list and certificate.

He had to take this procedure with the official seal back to the Metallurgical Factory to find finance for verification.

How did the group run this system at the beginning?

Take money first, then verify, more refund and less supplement. This system is still being implemented in many enterprises in later generations.

But when Li Xuewu designed and planned this verification system, he had discussions with Li Huai and Jing Yunong.

According to his opinion, it is to apply first, then execute, then verify. The money and tickets used in the execution process must be paid by the executor. If they cannot be paid, they must go to the finance department to handle the loan procedure in advance, and the main person in charge must sign for execution.

Is there any difference between this and taking money first and then verifying?

Yes, the two systems have essential differences. To put it bluntly, the responsibility subject is different.

The first system, the executor goes to finance to get money. No matter what procedure is taken, what is thought is the more the better.

A thousand days at home is good, everything is difficult when going out.

If a leader wants to go on a business trip, let the secretary go to finance to get money. As long as you write a slip, you can take the money away. How much you spend depends entirely on the mood of the person concerned, and even the tickets are supplemented later.

This is a glaring financial management loophole.

The second financial management system is to eliminate this subjective wrong thought and loophole.

To go on a business trip, apply first. Whoever signs on the application form must bear the main leader responsibility.

First of all, in this step, the procedures and costs of business trips were standardized and compressed as much as possible, and the responsibility fell on the individual.

The application form is obtained, and there are two verification methods for business trips. One is self-payment, and the other is financial loan.

But no matter which verification method it is, it needs to complete the verification procedure in the name of the executor, which is to implement the main responsibility of verification on the individual, and align with the application form.

Another, financial loans implement responsibility to the individual. When borrowing money, you must calculate well. Too little is not suitable, too much is dangerous, which improves risk responsibility from subjective consciousness.

Secondly, spending public money is always big-handed, and borrowed money must always be careful.

This era has no introduction letters, work certificates, and business trip certificates, so it is really difficult to move an inch, and all food, clothing, housing, and transportation rely on the supply system, so the consumption ticket system is very perfect.

It is not as complex and chaotic as the ticket system of later generations. In this era, you can't hear the phone call of "Do you want an invoice?".

To be extreme, what if you lose money and tickets when you go on a business trip?

That's troublesome. Tickets can be supplemented after verification by multiple parties, but if money is lost, you can only supplement it yourself.

Compared with the original system of mutual shirking and unclear responsibilities, the advantages of the second financial system are very prominent.

Although many leaders had murmurs in their hearts when discussing at the meeting, they couldn't vote wrongly against their conscience.

Does the second financial system have no loopholes?

Just kidding, as long as it is a norm and system set by people, there must be loopholes. No one dares to guarantee this, but a more excellent management system reduces cost expenditure and lowers management risks, which is excellent.

Zhang Enyuan has been working for so long, and it is really the first time to go on a business trip. He finds it funny and absurd himself.

Compared with the current working environment, he really dare not imagine what kind of life he lived before.

If he were allowed to return to the previous work rhythm and life now, I'm afraid he would be unable to bear it and go crazy on the first day.

First business trip, first time going so far, he is fresh everywhere, and falls everywhere.

Fortunately, this time he followed the Secretary-General back to the capital, and still lived in the hostel owned by the group. Several mistakes and panics were quickly resolved with the help of the hostel comrades. Otherwise, with his busy work needs, I'm afraid this business trip task would be a mess.

First day of checking into the hostel, he couldn't find the hot water valve in the bathroom, completely didn't know how to take a hot bath. It happened that when he went out to ask, he met Qin Huairu, the hostel director who was patrolling the corridor. The two met for the first time and knew each other for the first time.

Hearing his self-introduction as the secretary of the group's Secretary-General Li Xuewu, the hostel director's face became a bit more enthusiastic.

At that time, Zhang Enyuan didn't know what this enthusiasm represented, and thought he borrowed the Secretary-General's light.

Until today, returning to Steel City, he saw that hostel director again in the train station waiting hall.

It's just that unlike when working, the hostel director who came to send him off was full of parting bitterness. What surprised him even more was that the hostel director sent her son to Steel City, and actually asked the Secretary-General to take care of him. What kind of friendship is this?

Seeing the familiarity between her husband and the Secretary-General, it is not difficult to guess that it must be a family friendship, generations of friendship.

From the capital to Steel City, the Secretary-General was still busy all the way, but he also took care of this child in his spare time.

Although it didn't reach the point of asking about water and food, he also instructed him to order meals in the dining car on time and not to let the child be hungry.

What he saw and heard all the way, and then Yu Zhe's attitude and performance toward this child after getting off the car, made him more and more convinced that this fat kid must be the Secretary-General's close nephew.

Li Xuewu got in the car. Without greeting, Banggeng also knew to follow him to the back seat, his eyes full of curiosity.

Yu Zhe looked at him with a smile, and got in the car with Zhang Enyuan. Under the signal of the commander, he drove off the platform, left the railway courtyard, and walked toward home.

It was Li Xuewu's instruction after getting in the car to go home first, then to the unit. Yu Zhe naturally followed.

What is Banggeng curious about? Naturally, this high-class sedan, and even more curious about Wu Shu's current status.

He also heard his mother talking about Wu Shu's work situation with his grandmother, but didn't take it to heart.

Now that he has come out to break through, he has long made up his mind to mix out a human appearance, otherwise he won't go back.

Then what kind of appearance is considered a human appearance?

This problem stumped Banggeng, and seeing this high-class sedan, and riding in it with Wu Shu, he had quietly regarded this car as his life goal.

Fresh clothes and angry horses, returning home in brocade clothes.

Just think, if he, Banggeng, could also ride in a high-class sedan home like Wu Shu one day, how glorious, how honorable, how proud that would be.

If there really is such a day, he swears he will laugh for ten minutes at his doorstep, and let his mother see what is called success.

Li Xuewu didn't know what this kid was thinking, and took a nap on the way home.

By the time he arrived at the villa courtyard gate, he was pushed awake by Banggeng, and stimulated by the cold air that surged in when Zhang Enyuan got out of the car, he woke up instantly.

"Why take so much luggage?"

Knowing Li Xuewu was coming back today, Zhou Wang Yamei left late on purpose, fearing he would be in a mess.

As a result, this mess couldn't be avoided. A full trunk of things was moved into the house by Yu Zhe and Zhang Enyuan.

Banggeng looked at this house blankly, and secretly looked at the woman wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

Where did Wu Shu send him? Don't sell him... If sold to such a beautiful woman, hiss... am I willing or unwilling?

"This is Qin Huairu's son, right?"

Zhang Enyuan and Yu Zhe moved things into the house. Zhou Wang Yamei walked behind Li Xuewu, turned her head and looked at the big fat kid walking behind, raised her eyebrows and asked.

Banggeng raised his head after the fact, and asked in surprise: "You know my mom!"

"Heh—" Zhou Wang Yamei laughed out loud, looked at the dull and silly fat kid, turned her head to Li Xuewu and said: "You brought him to Steel City, Qin Huairu won't cry to death, how could she bear to let go."

"She can't blame me even if she cries to death." Li Xuewu stepped into the porch, changed into slippers and said: "If she hadn't cried and begged me, could I have brought him out?"

Saying this, he took off his coat, and said to Yu Zhe: "You help your Sister Zhou clean up first. After cleaning up, wait for me. I'll take a bath first, change clothes, the sweat smell on my body is really unbearable."

Instructed Yu Zhe, he looked at Zhang Enyuan and asked: "Do you want to take a bath and change clothes? I use the bathroom upstairs, you use the downstairs, don't be restrained and polite."

"Tired you to follow me and can't rest."

He looked at the other party and nodded and said: "I'm on holiday to rest, you are on a business trip and can't rest, sorry."

"Secretary-General, don't say that—" Zhang Enyuan's heart surged, waving his hands repeatedly and saying: "Serving you is my job, how can I say it's hard."

He indicated outside the door and said: "My clothes and luggage are still in the car. I'll go to the bathhouse to take a bath after sending you to the factory later, and rub it well."

"Won't trouble you now, you get busy, Yu Zhe and I will wait in the car."

Zhang Enyuan said with a smile: "If you have nothing in the morning, I can still stuff a sleep in the bathhouse to relieve fatigue."

"Hehe, then arrange it like that."

Li Xuewu looked at him with a smile, turned and went up the stairs, and said to Banggeng who wanted to follow: "Listen to your Aunt Zhou's arrangements and instructions, if you don't listen, I'll tie you up and sell you to the Russians."

"Ah! —" Banggeng exclaimed in surprise. Arriving in a strange environment, he was really frightened by Wu Shu's words.

"Hehe—you really believe him!"

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at him amusedly, pointed to the cotton-padded jacket on his body and said: "Hot? Take it off."

"Ah? —" Banggeng seemed unable to speak, only knowing "ah, ah."

Just now his ears were buzzing, at a loss, and what he heard in his ears last was this beautiful aunt asking him to take off his clothes.

How could that be—

"Why are you blushing?" Zhou Wang Yamei saw this, really couldn't help it, this child is too interesting.

The beautiful aunt with gold-rimmed glasses teased him, and Banggeng felt his face was hot, as if roasted by a stove.

He didn't know why, didn't dare to listen to the aunt, much less raise his head to look at this aunt.

By the way, what did Wu Shu ask him to call her just now? Aunt Zhou? Or Aunt Zou?

Yu Zhe and Zhang Enyuan quickly cleaned up the things brought back. After all, this is not their home, and cleaning up carefully is just putting the boxes neatly, and they don't need to do anything else.

The two responded to this Sister Zhou with tacit understanding, and went to the car to wait together.

Zhou Wang Yamei first spread out the luggage Li Xuewu brought back to clean up, and looked at those Beijing specialties.

After a long time, there was no movement in the room, and she remembered that there was still one standing at the door.

"Do you plan to stand there for a day?"

She raised her head to look at the child, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, your Wu Shu won't sell you."

"He won't..." Banggeng had been peeking at her for a long time, and took the opportunity to observe this home.

So strange, this woman knows his mother, and lives with Wu Shu. Who is she?

Zhou Wang Yamei heard his muttering, couldn't help but laugh, and said: "Your meaning is I will sell you."

"I didn't say that—"

Speaking more, Banggeng gradually adapted to the environment here. Although he still didn't dare to look directly at the beautiful Aunt Zhou, he also boldly observed the furnishings and displays of this home.

"Don't worry, I'm a good person."

Zhou Wang Yamei couldn't laugh or cry, proved herself, looked at Banggeng and explained: "We have met, don't you remember? I have been to that big courtyard of yours."

"When? Why don't I remember." Banggeng frowned and stared at Aunt Zhou's eyes and said: "I have a very good memory, you can't lie to me."

"Why would I lie to you." Zhou Wang Yamei continued to clean up the pile of things in the house, explaining in her mouth: "Three years ago, your Wu Shu got married, I went to your big courtyard."

"Ah—?" Banggeng responded first, and then asked suspiciously: "Was there you then?"

"What kind of talk is this—" Zhou Wang Yamei said amusedly: "It's only been a few years, even if there's no you, there's me."

"Ah, no, I mean—" Banggeng knew he expressed the wrong meaning, wanted to explain, but felt it was unnecessary, twitched the corner of his mouth and asked: "I don't remember you."

"At that time, you were naughty and smoking. You didn't walk on the ground but climbed the wall. Can you remember me?"

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at him with a smile and said: "Then do you remember Fu Zhidong who played with you that day."

"Fu... Fu Zhidong..." Banggeng opened his mouth and thought about it, his eyes suddenly brightened, and said: "There is a kid who is a bit clumsy and doesn't know how to scold people!"

"..." Zhou Wang Yamei looked at this fat kid speechlessly. She never thought that not knowing how to scold people became the child's shortcoming and label.

Seeing her expression, Banggeng also seemed to remember something, lowered his head a bit embarrassedly and said: "I really don't remember you then..."

"I am Fu Zhidong's mother."

Zhou Wang Yamei thought that such a big child would be very difficult to get along with, and communication is the first hurdle.

When Li Xuewu came, he mentioned to her that he would bring a half-grown boy back after the New Year to be his follower.

Really helpless and funny, this is not the old society, where does she need such a half-grown boy to be a follower.

In the old society, big official families would raise a few half-grown boys, washing clothes, pushing carts, pouring chamber pots, and when urgent, they had to coax the young master to play, be a horse stool for the grandfather, etc.

How many years have passed since liberation, where does she dare to use such a small follower, isn't that asking for trouble.

She also understands Li Xuewu's meaning. Isn't it just that there is a burden that can't be avoided and wants to throw it to her, and also gives her a chance to cultivate direct descendants, so as to pave

In the old society, wealthy and powerful families would always keep a few half-grown boys to do laundry, pull carts, empty chamber pots, and in times of need, coax the young master to play or act as a footstool for the master, and so on.

It has been so many years since liberation; how could she dare to use such a little follower? Wouldn't that be inviting trouble upon herself?

She also understood Li Xuewu's meaning; wasn't it just that he had a burden he couldn't shake off and wanted to dump on her? It was also an opportunity for her to cultivate a direct subordinate, paving the way for her to manage the enterprise in the future.

Li Xuewu is the kind of person whose thoughts are unfathomable to the average person. You see him doing things that are absurd and bizarre, yet he always manages to hit the key point, making you have no choice but to be convinced by him.

Therefore, bringing this child home is not to have him serve as a follower, but to serve as an apprentice.

As for whether he is her apprentice or Li Xuewu's apprentice, that depends on how Li Xuewu intends to use this child.

If he is to be used for appearances, then he is Li Xuewu's apprentice; if he is to be used for substance, then he is her apprentice.

Judging by Li Xuewu's instructions when he went upstairs just now, this apprentice is clearly hers—she must teach him whether she wants to or not, and she must use him whether she wants to or not. This is a nail Li Xuewu has driven in for the future.

As for who is to be nailed, that depends on who is not behaving and is about to cause trouble; this nail can kill.

Thinking of all this, Zhou Wang Yamei also felt quite bored. She put down the things in her hand and said to the chubby boy, "Did your Wu Shu tell you anything on the way here?"

"No—" Banggeng shook his head and said, "He just told me to listen to your instructions and arrangements..."

"Hmm, then that's settled." Zhou Wang Yamei's expression became a bit more serious as she nodded and arranged, "From now on, you will live at home. You can stay in the guest room on the first floor; go get your luggage."

She waved her hand, signaling Banggeng to follow with his luggage. She walked to the guest room door, pushed it open, and gestured inside, instructing, "Wash your own clothes, fold your own quilt, tidy up your own room, and pay attention to personal hygiene."

Without waiting for Banggeng to answer, she earnestly exhorted, "Do not go upstairs without being called. When I need you, you follow me out to handle matters; when I don't need you, you stay at home to help with housework. You must finish reading one book every week."

"Ah! Read books! —"

Banggeng's eyes were filled with surprise and absurdity. Ignoring Aunt Zhou's seriousness, he said bluntly, "I came to Liaodong to drift through society precisely because I didn't want to go to school and study—"

"Who told you that you came to Liaodong to drift through society?"

Zhou Wang Yamei frowned and said, "There is no society in Liaodong for you to drift through, and I am not a hooligan or a bad element."

She widened her eyes and emphasized, "I have already stated my identity to you; you should be able to trust me."

"I will make it clear to you now: your Wu Shu brought you to Steel City to cultivate you into a talent, not to have you act as a thug. There is none of that here that you imagine."

Looking at Banggeng's blank expression, Zhou Wang Yamei softened her tone and said, "I won't make things difficult for you. If you can accept what I've said, then stay. If you can't accept it, wait until your Wu Shu comes down later, and you can tell him to send you home."

"Go home? I'm not going home—"

Banggeng took a step back and said nervously, "I don't have a home anymore; you couldn't beat me into going back!"

Seeing Aunt Zhou's face harden, he hurriedly explained, "I'll learn to do things from you, I'll do the housework for you, it's just... can I... can I... not read books and study..."

He asked this last sentence very tactfully, but the difficulty and pleading in his tone were very obvious.

Zhou Wang Yamei, however, kept her serious expression and said, "No. You must learn how to do things and how to conduct yourself, you must help with housework, and you must also read and study. You cannot skip any of it."

She looked Banggeng up and down and said, "If you can't accept it, go tell your Wu Shu yourself."

After saying this, Zhou Wang Yamei ignored him and turned to go upstairs. At this time, Li Xuewu should have finished his shower, and she still had to help him find his clothes.

Banggeng stood alone at the doorway of the room, looking at the neat and clean environment inside, then at the exquisite furnishings in the living room, and finally thinking of himself back in Beijing, his face full of worry.

He hesitated and pondered, thinking of ways to plead with Wu Shu when he came down, trying his best not to read and study.

Unfortunately, until Li Xuewu had changed his clothes and come down from upstairs, full of energy, Banggeng still hadn't thought of a suitable reason to use as an excuse.

With no other choice, as Aunt Zhou came down with Wu Shu, he couldn't lie and had to bite the bullet and tell the truth.

Li Xuewu looked at Zhou Wang Yamei with some surprise, then looked at the "Big-Faced Cat" and said, "Reading and studying is good. I also have to read and study every day when I get home from work."

"It just so happens that we two can do it together."

He smiled and said, "From now on, when I read, you follow along and read too. Interests are cultivated, and reading is the same; you'll get used to it slowly."

"But what if I don't read?"

Banggeng said aggrievedly, "You are so busy every day, and Aunt Zhou said... Aunt Zhou said I have to read one book a week..."

"You read even when I'm not reading—"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and threatened him, "I'm just coaxing you; you'd better quit while you're ahead. If you don't listen, I really dare to sell you off."

He still had to go to work and had no time to bicker with this kid, so he gave Zhou Wang Yamei a look and went out.

Zhou Wang Yamei came down the stairs, looked at Banggeng standing at the entrance of the foyer, and said, "Did you hear that?"

She looked at the chubby boy and said, "Your Wu Shu said it: if you don't study, you won't even know when you've been sold."

"What's there not to know—"

Banggeng sighed, his shoulders slumped, and he said listlessly, "I don't need to study to know that kind of thing; haven't I already been sold as it is?"

"Secretary-General, you're back."

Liao Jinhui tried his best to put on a humble smile as he walked into the office and greeted Li Xuewu, who was behind the desk.

Li Xuewu raised his head, looked at him, nodded, and said, "Come, I have something to tell you."

"Alright, Secretary-General, please speak."

This was truly the first time Liao Jinhui had received a task from Li Xuewu. His heart was beating wildly at this moment, and he was full of trepidation.

He really couldn't tell whether the Secretary-General's tone was good or bad, let alone know what the Secretary-General had in mind.

It was all his own fault for taking that wrong step back then. If he hadn't arranged for that old bastard Zhang Enyuan to help, he wouldn't have ended up where he was today, becoming a lonely man!

With the Secretary-General treating him with such an attitude, who in the Metallurgy Factory's administrative organs would continue to give him face?

Of course, the people in the office would still respect him, but the fear was gone; they were all just waiting for him to be laid off.

This feeling of being killed by a dull knife was truly too hard to bear. If the Secretary-General kept him hanging for another two months, the leadership wouldn't even need to use him as an example; his own spirit would already be unable to take it.

Whoever wants to be the Office Director can have it; he really couldn't withstand this kind of torture anymore.

He didn't know if today's instruction would be thunder or rain. He dared not receive thunder, nor did he hope for rain; he only begged the Secretary-General to show mercy and give him a way to survive.

Li Xuewu saw his inner trepidation at a glance but didn't pay much attention to it. He instructed in a flat tone, "The research and visit report on the various enterprises of the Group in Liaodong industry from a while ago has already passed the leadership's review. You take the lead in organizing it to form a plan as soon as possible."

"Yes, ah? Me... me?"

Liao Jinhui was extremely surprised. He looked at Li Xuewu and asked blankly, "Leader, that research..."

"What? Do you not want to do it, or are you unable to do it?"

Li Xuewu frowned and said, "If you don't want to do it, just say so; if you can't do it, I'll arrange for someone else."

"No, no, no—" Liao Jinhui was excited inside, and he stuttered when he spoke. He felt his heels and the back of his head trembling; it was surprise and excitement.

The leader had not abandoned him!

Just think about it: although he didn't participate in the formation of the research report, the leader didn't use anyone else either.

Think again: synthesizing and summarizing the research report and the opinions of the Group's leadership to form an implementation plan—what a great merit and honor this must be. This is the implementation plan for the Secretary-General's work in the Liaodong Industrial Leadership Group; to put it bluntly, it is the guiding policy for how work should be done in the next three years.

He is the person actually in charge. If he is the one to summarize and form this implementation plan into text, there will definitely be his traces and will in the details. Even if he considers and judges according to the leader's line of thought, he can still reflect his own existence.

Li Xuewu's furrowed brow did not relax; instead, he was sizing up his Office Director.

Old Li only gave him a reply at the very last moment, and in the report, he gave full affirmation and support.

Li Xuewu couldn't say what Old Li's attitude really was; he only knew that once the bow was drawn, there was no turning back.

Use Liao Jinhui?

No, he never said he would sideline him. This is the Office Director; he can't just take a salary without working.

Liao Jinhui is both the Office Director of the administrative organs and a key node for conveying his management will, as well as an important channel for those below to feed back important information to him.

The reason Li Xuewu entrusted such important work to him was to test the reactions from below.

In fact, he had already written the implementation plan; he had prepared it before he even came to Liaodong.

With sufficient research and investigation, the resulting research report was just a certificate to start the procedure.

Regarding that implementation plan, it had also long been fine-tuned and modified according to the actual situation and the opinions and attitudes given by the members of the Group's leadership team.

If he really waited for the research report to come out, then asked the Group's leadership for consultation and review to give opinions, then modified it, and then combined the relevant opinions to form a decision document, the opportunity would have long since passed.

He wants to rectify the industrial management order of the Group in Liaodong, wants to sort out the management direction here in the shortest possible time, and determine the coordination relationship of each enterprise.

Holding an implementation plan in his hand, yet letting Liao Jinhui take the lead in making a plan—he just wanted to see who couldn't sit still, who was going to rush forward, and who would surface.

Fishing is all about the unexpected; you deceive me, I fool you, let's see who can outplay whom.

This plan won't come out within three to five days, but the support he asked Bu Qingfang to transfer from the Group will definitely arrive.

This plan won't be finalized within half a month, but the preparations for the early stages of the plan's implementation will definitely be finalized.

Only when these people in Liaodong industry fight over the bone in Liao Jinhui's hand will he pull out his big machete...