Chapter 1423: University student

"The red clouds fly over the sunset in the west, the soldiers return from target practice, return from target practice—the red flowers on their chests reflect the colorful clouds, and the happy singing fills the sky—"

Student Li Shu was wearing a miniature green military uniform, and the children in the kindergarten were dressed the same for the dance.

It was called a dance, but in reality, they were just walking in steps while carrying rifles made of cardboard. They weren't walking very neatly, but the children's childish faces were filled with the radiance of new life.

"This is the hope of the motherland."

Li Huai sat on a small stool and clapped very supportively. His gaze toward the children was full of human brilliance. One wouldn't know that he thought his own child was also attending this kindergarten.

Li Xuewu looked at him sideways, his lips twitching uncontrollably.

Just say how unreliable Old Li was. Knowing he was back on vacation, he called and asked him to go to the unit for a meeting.

Li Xuewu had three days of vacation; he could go to the meeting any day, but today was the only day he couldn't. Because today was the stage for Li Shu's June 1st Children's Day. If he dared to break his promise, Li Shu would definitely cry for him to see.

He had explained very frankly to Old Li on the phone why he couldn't go to the unit today. Guess if Old Li believed him?

Bullshit—if he had believed him, he wouldn't have come to the kindergarten to attend Li Shu's performance in person.

He just felt that Li Xuewu was stalling him, perfunctory toward him, and even the reason he gave was so childish and ridiculous.

Something about watching his daughter's performance, fulfilling his duty as a father, accompanying his family more—tsk tsk!

And the result?

He was the one who was a bit childish and ridiculous now.

You didn't see the expression of the kindergarten teacher when a big Red Flag car drove to the kindergarten gate. It was fortunate that Li Xuewu's house was very close to the kindergarten, otherwise...

Today was the June 1st Children's Day report performance of Li Shu's kindergarten, and the school invited parents to be the audience.

But there weren't many parents who actually came to the kindergarten to watch the performance, and most were grandparents.

Even if today was Sunday, the whole family mobilizing—young parents were either going to visit relatives or going to the street to buy daily necessities for the week.

They naturally cared about their children, but this was the case in this era. There was care, but not much.

As long as the child was warm and full, didn't cause trouble, and didn't fight, they were a good child.

As for talent performances, unless one of the parents was engaged in literary and artistic work, or a relative had professional ability in this area, no one thought of learning it.

Even a chaotic demon like Li Shu, who "abandoned martial arts for literature," became a literary and artistic vanguard, which showed the lack of parental cognitive sensitivity to cultivating children's arts.

It was already not easy to grow up safe and happy; what kind of artistic attributes were needed?

Why were parents in both cities and rural areas so capable of giving birth in this era?

It wasn't the lack of entertainment life in idle gossip; there was only one entertainment activity after turning off the lights at night.

On the contrary, the entertainment life of this era was much more positive and richer than in later generations. Even rural areas had night talks on the threshing floor, not to mention the working class who led the masses.

The reason why every family had so many children, and parents tried their best to give birth without fear of fatigue, was because the root cause was a bit heavy—they were afraid that one child wouldn't survive. Too many children were ruined in those years.

This nation had experienced too much suffering and had suffered too many insults. From being trampled on the ground to standing up, I don't know how many people had sacrificed.

And in this process, the survival of ordinary people was particularly difficult, and every family had a history of blood and tears.

Later generations talked about suffering, saying how difficult the ancestors were, but the history they knew wasn't much, and they might not even be able to tell the difficulty of a hundred years ago.

Why?

The reason is very simple: ordinary people who could live to see liberation weren't really ordinary people.

The true bottom layer of the old era had long been cruelly eliminated by history, and the bloodlines passed down all had some money and wealth, at least not ordinary people.

If you don't believe it, just find someone and ask about their family's situation a hundred years ago. Those who know will definitely be able to tell of an illustrious status, at least a small landlord.

A small landlord isn't considered a rich person, but their savings and stored grain could help them survive the initial catastrophes of the old era.

Perhaps after the calamity, they became ordinary people, but their survival rate was higher than the ordinary people before the calamity.

Even if they became ordinary people after the calamity, their undying cultural inheritance and family inheritance could still support them to return to the food and clothing class.

Therefore, there were almost no ordinary people in the bloodline inheritance of later generations. This wasn't metaphysics, nor was it babbling, but the truth of history and the choice of nature.

People's fate was made up of countless coincidences, and countless coincidences pieced together history.

The parents and kindergarten teachers in the audience looked over and explored from time to time, whispering while watching the program, as if guessing the identity of Li Shu's father.

It was one thing to be able to use a high-end Volga sedan, but what kind of family could afford the life of having a nanny and a tutor, given his usual dress and toys, and what Li Shu said about her family?

From the kindergarten teacher, they could know that Li Shu's mother was a doctor belonging to the kindergarten hospital, ordinary. So was her father special?

It looked like that—special to the point of being mysterious.

Li Shu's versatility, as well as her appearance that was completely different from her parents, almost all parents and teachers knew clearly that Li Shu was not of Han blood.

At least they could conservatively see this point. Perhaps Li Shu was of ethnic minority blood, but her facial features, skin color, and hair color were definitely not Han.

Why would such a child appear here? If there was no special background, how could there be such parents? That must mean Li Shu was more special.

Being more special also meant her true background was more miserable. Which parents could bear to part with their own child?

So looking at it this way, Li Shu being able to enjoy her current life and performing so excellently, wasn't it a kind of luck, a kind of historical coincidence?

Li Xuewu had no intention of observing the strange and probing gazes around him; he only felt that Old Li had changed.

Why was this old man so suspicious?

"Thank you—"

Li Shu performed with the other children and didn't forget to bow to thank the audience when accepting their applause. This obedient appearance didn't know how many parents it envied.

They didn't pay attention to the children's arts, but that didn't mean they didn't understand the benefits of arts.

But life and economic constraints made them very clear that children also had differences in talent.

"Performed really well!" Li Huai clapped, not sparing praise for Li Shu who ran down, smiling as if he were a toad.

"Thank you, Grandpa—" Li Shu thanked him with a smile, and then sat down beside her father.

Li Ning was in Li Xuewu's arms at this time, also learning from others to clap for his sister.

Only Li Xuewu and his son came to watch Li Shu's performance today. Gu Ning had surgery today, Er Ya had to be busy with housework, and Zhao Yaping had to be diligent.

And so, there was one more Li Huai.

It was other children's turn to perform. Li Shu's face still couldn't hide the excitement just now, and her applause was very active and enthusiastic.

"Li Shu is five years old this year, right?"

Li Huai looked at Li Shu with a smile. This child's appearance became more special as she grew up; she wasn't a national at all, and he had long known about the child's background.

"Five years old by nominal age, four years old by actual age."

Li Shu was very clear about her age; she introduced herself without needing her father to answer.

Li Xuewu touched his daughter's little head with pride and self-esteem, and Li Shu also cherished her father's love and admiring gaze.

Looking at these father and son, father and daughter, it would be impossible for Li Huai not to be envious.

Of course, he wasn't without descendants; he had two sons and one daughter, but they had all started their own families and almost never bothered him.

It also had to do with him not going home often. When he was young, he hadn't learned how to be a father, and the only reference he had was his father.

So what he showed was the image of a strict father; the children were afraid of him when they were young, and distanced themselves from him when they grew up.

It was almost impossible to see the kind of Confucian-like affection Li Xuewu had with his children. He envied Li Xuewu's youth and having both sons and daughters even more. If time could give him one chance, he would also want to be a father the children liked.

It was a pity that the hardest thing to find back in this world was time. He now understood a little why Li Xuewu told him so frankly that he wanted a little more time to accompany his children and family—it wasn't an excuse or a pretext.

"Are you going back to your parents' house in the afternoon?"

Li Huai heard him say that he didn't have time in the afternoon and had to have a meeting tomorrow.

Li Xuewu nodded and responded: "The old lady isn't feeling well, I want to go over and see."

"That's your grandmother, right." Li Huai nodded and said: "Four generations under one roof, a joy for the whole family."

"The children are too noisy, I didn't think of bringing them." Li Xuewu looked at his son in his arms and his daughter beside him, and said: "When they were young, it was okay. After I went to work in Liaodong, my wife was busy with work, and the children were entrusted to teachers and nannies."

"I can understand your helplessness."

Li Huai seemed to understand him very well, looked at Li Shu who was sitting on the side like a little adult, and said: "Fortunately, the children are all grown up and sensible."

"Get the work in Liaodong straightened out as soon as possible, so you can have more time to come back and accompany your family and children."

He reached out and teased Li Ning, who was watching the performance intently, and said with a smile: "You are going to graduate this year too, I mean on the Steel Institute side."

"Isn't this notifying me to come back to get the graduation certificate." Li Xuewu smiled and said: "I have to thank Han Laoshi for letting me read a university."

"But you also know." He turned to look at Li Huai and mocked himself: "I basically mixed through this university; there were very few times I went to the classroom, and it was thanks to the teacher's tolerance and patient teaching that I barely graduated."

"Hey, I heard about it, you don't have to belittle yourself." Li Huai looked at the performance on the field and waved his hand: "Principal Pei came to the group a while ago, and we talked about your academic qualifications."

"He was very appreciative of your studies."

Li Huai turned his head and looked at Li Xuewu: "He wouldn't tell lies, and even specifically mentioned your few papers, as well as your graduation thesis."

"Very insightful, and also has a long-term vision. It's stronger than the university students of the same period."

"Principal Pei is too kind. I admit that I have richer work experience than my classmates." Li Xuewu smiled and said: "But when it comes to theoretical knowledge, I still envy them for being able to listen to the teacher's lectures in the classroom."

"If you sacrificed work to listen to lectures, I wouldn't be willing—" Li Huai said with a chuckle: "A graduation certificate can't compare to the group-building process of the Red Star Factory."

He reached out and patted Li Xuewu's knee and said: "We have all seen your work over the past few years, and we can't say any words of conscience."

Li Xuewu didn't evaluate Old Li's words today; he still couldn't figure out what Old Li wanted to do.

"I think it's enough. You are also one of the few cadres with a university diploma in our leadership team."

Li Huai teased with a smile: "At least your academic qualifications are already higher than mine. I envy you very much."

"You're joking." Li Xuewu smiled and shook his head: "Your work experience and rich experience can't be compared to what a university cultivates."

"If I could exchange, I would still be willing to exchange the university diploma in my hand for your experience."

"Hahaha—" Li Huai enjoyed Li Xuewu's recognition and affirmation very much, and chuckled continuously.

Li Shu looked at him somewhat dissatisfied. At first, she was very happy that there was one more person in the family and friends group.

But now she found that this grandfather was so talkative, talking endlessly, which disturbed her watching her classmates' performances. It was really annoying—

"Is your younger brother graduating this year too?"

Li Huai suddenly changed the subject and asked about Li Xuewu's family affairs.

Li Xuewu didn't look surprised, and introduced very naturally: "He has long been prepared to graduate, and has been interning at the Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine."

"Fortunately, my father watched him strictly, and he had the experience of interning at the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, so he was assigned to the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine smoothly."

Li Xuewu shook his head with feigned emotion, looked at Li Huai and said: "You might already know that this year's university student assignment policy is a bit special. My family and he don't want to go to the border region."

"Hmm, I know, Comrade Weijie told me." Li Huai nodded, expressing understanding: "She is also preparing to use this opportunity to recruit some excellent talent."

It was a good time for Gu Weijie to propose increasing the talent recruitment indicators. In the past, university students who were reserved or had concerns had no choice.

Those who had connections or had arrangements at home didn't count, but other university students were all dumbfounded when they learned about this year's assignment policy. They were previously happy that they could finally graduate normally this year, but were poured a bucket of cold water.

Now the Red Star Steel Group gave another choice. Those university graduates without connections either followed the school's assignment to support the border region, or chose to settle in the Red Star Steel Group.

Now the Red Star Steel Group's recruitment conditions had even been raised; not everyone could come.

But even if the standards were raised, these university graduates were flocking to the olive branch of the Red Star Steel Group. They were voting with their feet.

Even if they had noble personalities and qualities, they ultimately had concerns. After all, they were human.

Was it the Red Star Steel Group with better conditions and treatment, or waiting blindly to be assigned to the border region? This last exam before they graduated—was this multiple-choice question really that hard to choose?

"I told her, no upper limit."

Li Huai looked at Li Xuewu and smiled: "Anyway, it's group-building next year. If we don't recruit these university students, those above will also arrange people down."

"Has Director Du talked to you?"

Li Xuewu had long expected this day. The Red Star Factory had been expanding continuously in the process of realizing group-building, expanding into multiple fields, and using joint-stock cooperation to prepare for the construction of more than thirty branches.

The original more than 10,000 people in the Red Star Factory had long been unable to meet the current production and work needs.

Even in the process of expansion and progress, they had annexed 16 enterprises in Beijing's industry and large industrial enterprises like the Fengcheng First Machine Tool Factory, but the principle of selecting the best for employment still made the Red Star Steel Group short of people.

Short of what kind of people?

You might not believe it, but the Red Star Steel Group is short of people in almost every position now.

You might say that the "Five-Year Plan" formulated by the Red Star Steel Group also said that they would use the first five years to continuously try personnel reforms and compress the total number of employees. How come they are still short of people now?

Yes, the current Red Star Steel Group looks like it has a large number of employees, almost reaching 100,000.

However, the huge number of employees cannot fully execute the policies and tasks required by the group.

The group lacks cadres, lacks young cadres with culture, experience, potential, ideas, and ability, not these old cadres now.

The workshop lacks workers, and also lacks young workers with culture, experience, potential, ideas, and ability, not these old workers now.

The "Three-Year Plan" had long ago set that by 1970, the whole group's industrial enterprises would realize technical and industrial reforms. Backward production equipment and processes would all have to be updated. Many old workers couldn't adapt or even operate these advanced mechanical equipment.

It is not denied that these old workers have decades of valuable work experience, but for modern workshops with new processes, new equipment, new materials, and new methods, they have truly become a burden and an existence that is backward.

Some old workers have strong comprehension and strong learning ability, and completed the new process learning assessment in the training organized by the group's technical department.

These old workers have become the backbone of the modernized workshops after the technical renewal and iteration.

Those old workers who couldn't adapt and complete the new process training naturally had to be eliminated.

They couldn't do production work well, so they couldn't go to the workshop to add chaos. They had to give up their positions to the first batch of new-era, modernized, young workers cultivated by the United Vocational Technical College who were about to graduate.

These young people might not be as experienced and skilled as the old workers, but they have vitality and potential, and have stronger obedience and learning ability. These comprehensive strengths are particularly important.

But even if the Red Star Steel Group had its own talent cultivation school, it was still very much in need of excellent talent, especially the proud sons of heaven—university students—in this era.

Every university student in this era was an excellent talent carefully cultivated by the school.

Look at how many people there are in a university in later generations—is 10,000 or 20,000 normal?

Do you know how many students there are in a proper university in this era? 1,000 or 2,000 is considered a lot.

Universities that haven't expanded enrollment are good universities.

Li Huai would rather have these blank-slate university students than the cadres coordinated by those above.

If university students are recruited and cultivated well, they are their own people with a strong sense of belonging. How many of those cadres are aiming to build the group's industry?

Some are even here to gild themselves and pick up the spoils. Li Huai is very resistant to this point.

But there is no way to resist. Even if they can recruit many university students this time, they ultimately cannot realize the group's structure in just one year of cultivation.

It's called the Red Star Steel Group now, but it's not actually a group, it's still the Red Star Factory.

Because the official document only belongs to the department's jurisdiction. This year is the process of formation. It will be half a year before it truly realizes group-building and is called the Red Star Steel Group.

But when the group is officially established and the group's organ moves to the new office building, these vacant positions need to be filled in the shortest possible time.

You say there are many cadres annexed from 16 enterprises, enough for the Red Star Steel Group to use.

How is that possible? These industrial enterprise cadres annexed from 17 places are too much for the Red Star Factory to eat and too full, but for the Red Star Steel Group, which has developed for more than two years and is about to become a group-type enterprise, they don't count for anything.

As said before, the group doesn't lack ordinary cadres; it lacks cadres who can be used and are worth using.

Speaking from top to bottom, the group's leadership team currently has 11 people. Do you think that's enough?

How is that possible? Truly realizing group-building, business cadres and organizational cadres have to be diverted. The general manager is the business supervisor, the management committee director is the organizational supervisor, and ultimately it will form a board of directors resolution system.

Not all deputy general managers can attend the meeting, nor can all organizational persons-in-charge attend the meeting.

There will be more and more business leaders, at least there will be chief accountants, chief engineers, etc.

Management is like this. Large department managers have principals and deputies. There are two deputy managers now, and in the future, there will be at least three. Departments are like this, what about offices?

Office directors have one principal and three deputies, section supervisors have one principal and three deputies, plus staff.

The current number of organs is close to saturation, but they will be screened and eliminated in the continuously advancing personnel reforms. Li Huai prefers to use university students.

These few years have also been influenced by Li Xuewu; Li Huai has finally seen the usefulness of university students.

Hearing Li Xuewu ask about this, he nodded somewhat helplessly: "This is also a normal work process; it can't all be our old people."

"Being able to leave us time to train is already being polite."

He looked at Li Xuewu and said with a smile: "Xu Sinian, Kuang Yusheng, and others are the pillars supporting the group's industry. You must cultivate them well."

"This is certain, and I am also learning."

Li Xuewu nodded very seriously and said to Li Huai: "If Director Du really drops a batch of paratroopers, I think this is not a bad thing. Without pressure, there is no motivation."

"You always look at problems from another angle." Li Huai smiled and said: "Is this the secret to your continuous progress and improvement?"

"What kind of secret is this." Li Xuewu said with a smile: "If there is really a secret to continuous progress and improvement, it should be your cultivation and promotion."

"Hahahaha—"

Li Huai looked very happy. Before the kindergarten's June 1st report performance was over, he said goodbye and left.

Li Xuewu saw him to the school gate, and the two had another discussion before he got in the car.

"This person Yin Zhongyao can no longer be used. He has a crooked heart, improper behavior, and a bad style."

Li Huai said very seriously: "I understand your difficulties in Liaodong, but such cadres must be dealt with by thunderous means to avoid future trouble."

This was clear. Perhaps the cadres in the Metallurgical Plant and Liaodong industry didn't know that from the investigation of Yin Zhongyao to taking him away for investigation, Li Xuewu hadn't participated.

He naturally knew that the group had investigated Yin Zhongyao, but he just watched and didn't interfere.

Li Xuewu was very straightforward and cautious about his work in Liaodong industry. He wouldn't easily touch Old Li's tense nerves, especially organizational personnel.

He could naturally change and use the cadres in the factory, but he wouldn't easily move cadres at the deputy factory director level.

His not moving didn't mean he couldn't move. Old Li wouldn't allow anyone to be so disrespectful to him, or even be naughty.

Li Xuewu didn't speak, so he had to show something and take action. Therefore, Yin Zhongyao being taken away was the result of Li Huai's nod; otherwise, who would have the energy to pull off such a surprise attack?

"The leadership team still needs to be filled."

Li Xuewu very cautiously didn't give feedback on Old Li's words, but raised the necessary opinion.

"Organizational work is very important. I have also been considering appointing a standing deputy factory director recently."

"It should be filled as soon as possible."

Li Huai nodded, thought for a moment, and then looked at Li Xuewu and asked: "What's your opinion?"

"If you ask me, then I hope the group can consider giving us one more person."

Li Xuewu said very earnestly: "If we count the standing deputy factory director, we need at least one organizational person-in-charge and one technical person-in-charge."

"Hehe—" Li Huai shook his head and laughed with emotion, looking at Li Xuewu and asking: "Do you know what Yin Zhongyao said about you when he came to the group to complain about you?"

"I really don't know this." Li Xuewu also raised his eyebrows with a smile: "You know, I don't care much about this."

"Having a chest full of bamboo—this is the true character of a great man—" Li Huai looked into the distance and pointed at Li Xuewu: "Villains can only see the gains and losses of interests in front of them. Just like your past performance, who can believe that you are a person who excludes dissidents and acts arbitrarily?"

"If Yin Zhongyao knew that you not only didn't monopolize power but also wanted more people to share your power, I really don't know what kind of mood he would be in."

"What power or not, this is work."

Li Xuewu said very seriously: "The power in my eyes is responsibility, obligation, and work needs. I cannot disregard normal work for my own selfishness."

"The Metallurgical Plant needs a standing deputy factory director to preside over basic work, and I have to take care of Liaodong industry." He said very frankly: "The Metallurgical Plant is at a critical period of technical iteration and needs a chief engineer to take the pulse even more. This is a normal need."

"Yin Zhongyao really should think about it carefully."

Li Huai sighed, looked at Li Xuewu and said: "He said he was wronged, but I think he really isn't wronged."

"Regarding the candidates for standing deputy factory director and chief engineer, you give an opinion. I'll ask Comrade Weijie and Comrade Weide about the organizational person-in-charge."

He nodded and said: "Of course, if you have a candidate in mind, you can also tell me."

"Organizational work still has to be handed over to professional people. This cannot be sloppy."

Li Xuewu didn't put forward a specific personnel opinion. Anyone could hear the meaning in Old Li's words.

Even if he was qualified to give personnel opinions, he wouldn't give them at this time. Old Li giving him two spots was already giving him a lot of face; pushing for more would be a bit impolite.

"We'll talk when you come to the group tomorrow."

Li Huai patted his arm and said with a smile: "Go back, accompany the children well. If I delay your time any longer, your daughter will hate me."

"Then I'll go to your office tomorrow."

Li Xuewu didn't be too polite or explain much. Li Shu was indeed a bit unhappy just now.

Clearly, Daddy came to watch her performance and accompany her to spend June 1st Children's Day, but that grandfather was so ignorant, chasing Daddy to her kindergarten to talk about work. It was really annoying—

"Really not staying for dinner?" Han Shu said to Li Xuewu with a smile: "We're stewing loach fish at noon."

"The old lady isn't feeling well, I have to go back and see at noon."

Li Xuewu politely declined Han Teacher's invitation to stay for dinner and explained: "I accompanied Li Shu to watch the June 1st Children's Day performance in the morning, and only had time in the afternoon."

"Don't mention it. The school didn't organize literary activities for Mengyuan. Their teacher is so careful."

Han Shu looked at Li Xuewu and asked: "You are familiar with the United School, right? Tell them too, there's no need to be so nervous. Even universities have opened up."

"I won't actively interfere with general business work, especially educational work."

Li Xuewu smiled and explained: "Universities are always the weather vane that feels the policy first. It's normal for the teachers and students of the United School to be more cautious."

Before getting in the car, he still reminded Han Shu softly: "Even universities should be cautious."

Han Shu's original smiling expression froze, then she nodded imperceptibly, indicating she understood.

"Xie Lan Zhi still wants to invite you to dinner. It looks like you don't have time. Let's have a meal together next time you come back. You won't hide from your Teacher Dong, right?"

"Why would I hide from him—"

Li Xuewu got in the car with amusement and said: "It's a deal then. Let's get together next time I'm on vacation."

"Then I'll take it seriously." Han Shu looked at Li Xuewu, then waved her hand with a smile, signaling he could go.

Li Xuewu came to collect his graduation certificate from the Steel Institute. Unlike other university students who had to take group photos and receive graduation certificates and assignment certificates, he wouldn't even appear in the group photo.

His name was in the class, but his classmates almost never saw him, and didn't even know his name.

This university was read for four years. The classmates might be tired or regretful, but for him, the homework was never boring, let alone relaxed.

He squeezed out work time to study, and the professors gave him one-on-one guidance and assigned homework. Only in this way could he barely keep up with the classmates' progress.

His graduation grades weren't the best, nor the worst—medium to upper. Especially in subjective theoretical exams, his scores were very high, and even some professors studied his papers with the attitude of reading them.

It was a simple truth: professors more or less lacked the most cutting-edge practical experience, and Li Xuewu didn't lack these experiences now. He naturally expounded these theories from the perspective of work.

Therefore, the tension expressed in the thesis was particularly moving. This was practice producing truth.

Regardless of the grades or the classmates, he had already graduated and become a fresh university graduate.

In this era, the power of academic qualifications wasn't obvious, but a university degree was still very respected.

The government attached great importance to university students. Li Xuewu's addition of a university degree wouldn't make him advance immediately, but it added thickness to his resume.

Even his mother, Liu Yin, held his university graduation certificate and looked at it carefully, unable to put it down.

Thinking back to how naughty Li Xuewu was, if he hadn't almost caused a "human life," he would have been a university student anyway. One family with three scholars—what an honor.

It was just that the little daughter was born at the wrong time. If she could still take the university entrance exam, that would be four scholars in one family. The old Li family's ancestral grave would be smoking with green smoke.

The children of the second and third families hadn't produced a university student yet. It could be seen that although she didn't have high culture, she was the mother of a university student.

Although it was said that the second son had grown up after working and became the pillar of the family, no matter

Although the second son had made progress after starting work and had become the pillar of the family, no matter how high his professional achievements were, he still lacked this university diploma to prove his worth.

Today, things were finally complete; Xuewen, Xuewu, and Xuecai had all obtained their university diplomas.

Liu Yin raised her head to look at her son and asked, "Now that university assignments are being made, does that mean formal admissions will begin soon?"

She asked this, but her concern was for her youngest daughter. Just now, when she was looking at the second son's graduation certificate, the youngest daughter had been watching along, and she looked a bit disappointed.

Li Xuewu also noticed Li Xue's expression and said with a smile, "It's hard to say for now. Even if it is restored, it might not necessarily be normal admissions."

"However, there is still a chance. If Li Xue is willing to give up her current job, she can go and study."

He reached out and patted his younger sister's arm, saying, "If you don't want to give up your current job, then work a little harder; studying while working is also an option."

"I'm not afraid of hard work—"

Li Xue firmly believed in her second brother's judgment. Since he said there would be an opportunity in the future, then there definitely would be.

At this moment, her face also showed a bit more expectation, and even her voice became much lighter.

After all, she was only 19. If she waited another year or two and learned to work and attend university at the same time like her second brother, she could persevere. Going to university was her dream and obsession.

Seeing his younger sister smile, Li Xuewu turned his head to look at the old lady and said, "Do you want to go to university too?"

"This child—" The old lady's health had already improved, but because the summer in Beijing this year was hot early on, her energy was still a bit lacking.

Seeing her grandson teasing her, she also smiled and patted him.

Li Xuewu brought the graduation certificates back to show them, partly to report the news and partly to make the elders happy. Even the tone of Li Shun's speech became much lighter, just like Li Xue's.

"The employment procedures for the third son have already been handled." Liu Yin took the initiative to introduce: "The former Vice President Zhao helped out, saying he wanted to transfer Xuecai to the United Hospital, where the conditions and benefits are better."

She gestured to Li Shun, who was sitting in a circular chair, and said, "Your father didn't agree; he wanted Xuecai to study and train at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital for a few more years, so that's how it was decided."

"Dad's considerations are naturally comprehensive."

Li Xuewu nodded and affirmed, "Xuecai is the hope for my father to pass on his mantle; no matter what he does, he won't harm the third son."

He had noticed some emotions on his third brother's face when he came home, and only now did he understand the reason.

His father was accustomed to the dignity of being the head of the household and was unwilling to explain certain things clearly to his son.

It was only because of his achievements at work and his progress in handling affairs that his dignity grew daily, which allowed his father to calm his mindset and be willing to communicate with him.

As for the third son, Xuecai, he couldn't reason with his father, and his father wouldn't explain things to him either.

Naturally, he had to build a bridge for his father and younger brother and explain the relationships involved.

"If we're talking about us brothers, the one Dad cares about and pays the most attention to is still the third son."

Li Xuewu deliberately used a joking tone: "It's just that neither the eldest brother nor I are promising; we ignore the family inheritance and have no talent in this area at all."

"Your father isn't biased—"

Liu Yin could naturally see the awkwardness between the third son and his father; speaking out to Li Xuewu was just to untie this knot.

She deliberately smiled and lectured her second son: "If we're talking about who he cares about and worries about the most, it has to be you."

"That's right." The old lady also chimed in from the side: "You were so mischievous when you were little."

"So Dad still likes the third son."

Li Xuewu teased his father and the third son: "It's just that now, whenever there's anything, Dad is willing to take the third son along; when has he ever thought of the eldest brother and me?"

"I want to take you along, but I have to be able to catch you first." Li Shun spoke up at this moment; perhaps because his mood had improved a little, he didn't even look at the third son.

Li Xuecai's expression was sheepish; he secretly looked at his father, then looked at his second brother with embarrassment.

He was a bit slow and a bit stubborn. The personalities of those who study medicine are all very simple and honest; anyone with crooked intentions can't learn Traditional Chinese Medicine well—this is different from Western medicine.

Even if he was angry that his father stopped him from going to the better United Hospital, he didn't dare to throw a tantrum.

Seeing his second brother speak so sincerely, he also knew that he shouldn't have been like that these past few days.

No matter what his father's thoughts were, just as his second brother said, his original intention must have been for his own good.

Just for this point, he couldn't throw a tantrum. It would be even better if he had the courage and ability to communicate with his father proactively, but unfortunately, he didn't.

"If you ask me, the third son really should go to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital to train for a few years first." Li Xuewu looked at his younger brother and said earnestly: "The environment and equipment at the United Hospital are very new, but the organizational structure has just been built. There are many excellent doctors, but you might not be able to find as good a connection as the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital."

"The master-apprentice relationship is too important."

He emphasized specifically: "Even the bench workers in the workshop are like this, let alone your medical field."

"With Dad at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, it's always much more sincere than President Zhao taking care of you at the United Hospital, right?"

"You really are silly—"

Liu Yin walked over and tapped her youngest son's forehead, lecturing him: "With your second brother around, do you still need Zhao Yufeng to take care of you?"

"You don't even think about it; who is Zhao Yufeng looking at when he takes care of you? You don't think your medical skills are so outstanding that the United Hospital is begging you to work there, do you?"

"First, ask Dad to find you a good teacher, and after training for a few years and gaining ability and status, then go over."

Li Xuewu said very bluntly to his younger brother: "The United Hospital is a newly formed hospital that values fairness and justice the most, and the competition is the most intense."

"A greenhorn like you going over there can only be an assistant to others; how boring that would be."

"Yes, I didn't think about actually going."

Li Xuecai looked at his father with embarrassment and said: "I already said everything would be listened to Dad."

Li Shun was naturally appeased by his son's reaction, but his face became even more serious, and he snorted with dissatisfaction.

Such was the dignity of an old father; even Li Xuewu had no choice but to look at his younger brother and smile bitterly.

"The third son has already graduated; the marriage with Yuxiu should be arranged, right?"