Chapter 1432: Return to Beijing

"Two acres of land and an ox, wife and children, warm kang—"

Bang Geng brought the cooked millet porridge to the dining table, humming and chanting: "Eat cornmeal buns, eat pickles, save money to buy public bonds..."

Just as he was about to go and get the steamed buns sitting on the pot, he suddenly discovered a woman standing at the kitchen door.

No, it should be said that it is a beautiful woman.

The woman was hugging her arms, leaning against the door frame looking at him, her smile very bright, as if she had been standing there watching him for a long time.

"Aunt Zhang! How can you be here!"

Bang Geng looked at the other party in surprise, and frowned and asked: "Why are you dressed like this?"

Hmm... how should I put it? This beautiful aunt is dressed a bit cool. Although it's the dog days and the weather is hot, it shouldn't be this hot, right?

"Heard you live here, so I came."

Zhang Songying held a water cup in her hand; it looked like she had just come down from upstairs looking for water to drink.

She smiled and looked at Bang Geng and said: "Grown a lot, just still so fat."

"You haven't answered my question yet."

Bang Geng's eyebrows twitched when he heard her say he was fat, thinking: I didn't even say you were fair.

"Didn't I answer you."

Zhang Songying was wearing Li Xuewu's shirt, walked into the kitchen barefoot, looked at the breakfast on the table, and nodded, saying: "Okay, you can cook."

"I could cook long ago—"

Bang Geng blushed and looked away; hmm... that shirt is really white, snow-white.

Zhang Songying is a friend of Qin Huairu, naturally very familiar with Bang Geng, and still treats him as a child.

At this moment, she straightened her waist and pinched his fat face, amusedly saying: "You even blush."

"I didn't..." Bang Geng moved his body, blushed and went to the stove side, grabbing the water scoop and adding water to the pot messily.

He didn't know why he wanted to add water to the pot; maybe he felt the weather was a bit hot.

This is... mom's friend!

"Did you plant this sticky corn?"

Zhang Songying tasted the sticky corn on the table and nodded, saying: "It's quite delicious."

Her appearance made Bang Geng even more afraid to look at her directly, just adding water to the pot, the frequency faster.

Zhang Songying glanced at him amusedly, turned and went out of the dining room, "Go wash up first, eat immediately."

Woo—woo—

Bang Geng only felt his ears and nostrils were about to spray fire, and the top of his head was steaming; his whole person was red and hot like a locomotive.

Uh—seems to have forgotten to confirm, how could Aunt Zhang be here?

"Are you still not getting up?"

Zhang Songying came upstairs, seeing Li Xuewu still sleeping, walked to the bed and pushed him, saying: "Bang Geng has already prepared breakfast; it will be cold if you don't eat."

"Hmm, getting up—"

Li Xuewu said so, but his eyes were still closed, only his hands were a bit dishonest.

"I said breakfast is not this."

Zhang Songying patted his hand amusedly, and pointed to his forehead, saying: "How are you still like a child."

"Haven't you heard a saying, men are teenagers until they die."

Li Xuewu let go of his hand, turned over, opened his eyes slightly and said: "I don't want to either, it's just that my hands sometimes don't listen."

"Sometimes I'm the same, my hands don't listen." Zhang Songying's hand reached into the quilt, and Li Xuewu was immediately energetic, his sleepy eyes becoming bright.

"Woman, you are playing with fire—"

He pointed at Zhang Songying and said: "Don't take lessons as enjoyment."

"I know I was wrong; don't you plan to teach me again?"

Zhang Songying pretended to be a look of seeking advice, quite a bit of the momentum of not letting go of the green mountains.

"It seems you really owe a lesson."

Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes slightly and said: "Give you an hour..."

"Breakfast should still be hot in an hour, right?"

Zhang Songying untied the buttons of the shirt, looked at him with charming eyes and said: "Do you want to first..."

"What are you looking at me for?"

Li Xuewu took the sticky corn from the basin, glanced at Bang Geng, and said: "Go to work after eating."

Bang Geng's eyebrows twitched, signaling the Aunt Zhang sitting opposite the dining table, wanting an explanation.

He was already used to getting up every morning to run and exercise with Wu Shu, and then making breakfast.

Generally, when he made breakfast, Wu Shu would prepare work materials or read the newspaper.

There was no movement upstairs this morning; he thought Wu Shu overslept, and the morning exercise was naturally exempted.

He wouldn't go upstairs to wake Wu Shu up; besides the reason Aunt Zhou left, not allowing him to go upstairs, he also didn't want to go out to run and exercise in the morning.

Sleep, sleep, best to sleep until work time, so Wu Shu has no reason to pull him out to run.

Just didn't expect, Wu Shu who got up early didn't wait, but waited for the unexpected Aunt Zhang.

This just left Aunt Zhou, and another Aunt Zhang came; there are a bit too many aunts around Wu Shu!

Aunt Zhang came down and gnawed half a sticky corn, said she was going to wash up, and as a result, it took an hour to come down; does she need to wash up for so long? Or did they do something upstairs?

"There's no rush for work. Are you going to work today, Wu Shu?" Bang Geng asked, making conversation: "What time will you be back tonight?"

When asking this last sentence, he also looked at Aunt Zhang, meaning is Aunt Zhang still here tonight?

Li Xuewu couldn't be bothered to pay attention to him; this kid's skills are okay, at least the millet porridge was cooked very well.

Don't underestimate millet porridge; if not cooked well, it's easy to burn the bottom, or it might not be cooked.

The cooked millet porridge will have a layer of rice soup attached to it, the kind that can feed small children, very nutritious.

"Have you been living here since you came to the Steel City?"

Zhang Songying looked at Bang Geng who finished breakfast and refused to leave, and asked with a smile: "Just you two?"

"Wu Shu, can this be said?"

Bang Geng didn't answer immediately, but looked at Li Xuewu, raised his eyebrows and asked.

Li Xuewu didn't speak, just stared at him, warning him not to talk nonsense, be careful of five kilometers tomorrow morning.

Bang Geng understood, turned to look at Zhang Songying and answered very seriously: "Work secret, no comment."

"Chi—" Zhang Songying amusedly said: "What, still work secret."

She turned to glance at Li Xuewu, and said to Bang Geng: "Your mom is really something; if she wants you to have a future, she has to find a good master to teach you."

"Go back with your Aunt Zhang." Li Xuewu tilted his head at Bang Geng and said: "She teaches well; follow her to learn in the future."

"What's wrong with me teaching? Not better than you?"

Zhang Songying scolded him, looked at Bang Geng and said: "At least I don't need you to help me make breakfast."

"I can only make breakfast..."

Bang Geng curled his lips, looked at her and emphasized: "Lunch and dinner are eaten outside."

"... Learn something good." Zhang Songying looked at Bang Geng speechlessly and said: "What kind of person do you think your Aunt Zhang is, just using a child to make lunch and dinner?"

"Hear that? Don't need you to cook."

Li Xuewu held the rice bowl and drank millet porridge, and said with a smile: "Follow your Aunt Zhang and there will be meat to eat."

"Must have meat to eat—"

Zhang Songying raised her eyebrows and said: "Follow me back, go back to Beijing with me, eat meat every day."

"That, Aunt Zhang, you guys talk, I have to go to work." Bang Geng saw the city gate on fire, he had the danger of being affected, and hurried to slip away.

Listen further?

Listen further and he would become a sacrifice.

What exactly did Aunt Zhang come here for? Could it be that she really wants to take him back to Beijing?

"Whose house is this?"

Zhang Songying tidied the dining table, pointed to the bowls and dishes on the sophisticated bowl rack and said: "This absolutely cannot be handled by a man."

"Ask so much for what, you want to come and live?"

Li Xuewu held the teacup and drank, looked at the morning newspaper and said: "Go in the morning or go at noon? Jicheng is waiting for you, right."

"What's the difference between going in the morning and going at noon?"

Zhang Songying walked to the sofa, supported her hands on his knees, bent over and looked into his eyes and asked: "Do you want me to go in the morning or at noon?"

"Know when to stop, understand?"

Li Xuewu looked up at her and said: "Are you here to spend the New Year?"

"Hee hee—" Zhang Songying couldn't help laughing, bit her lip and looked at him and said: "Isn't it just coming for the New Year, catching you once, how difficult it is, do you know—"

"Then you can't eat a year's meal in one day." Li Xuewu shook the newspaper in his hand and said: "Be careful of eating too much, eating greasy, next time you don't want to eat."

"Rest assured, never get tired of eating—"

Zhang Songying stood up, took off her apron and said: "Okay, knowing where you live is enough; don't have to look forward to it, guard the dumpling meal for the New Year."

"Tidy up and go early; you should miss the train." Li Xuewu said with slight impatience: "There are only two trains to Jicheng; if you go at noon, you won't arrive until midnight."

"Let the driver send you to the train station in a while."

He folded the newspaper in his hand, stood up and instructed: "Remember what I told you, mind your own business, next time it won't be this kind of punishment."

"Good, good, good—" Zhang Songying said helplessly: "People are in the Jianghu, unable to help themselves."

"Not entering the mortal world, not in the Jianghu." Li Xuewu pointed at her, walked to the door and said: "Or you moved the mortal heart, otherwise how would people beg to you."

"He said so... forget it."

Zhang Songying sighed lightly, sent Li Xuewu to the door, saw his car already parked at the courtyard gate, and said: "You let the driver come back to pick me up after sending you; I can tidy up very quickly."

"Hmm, I know." Li Xuewu responded, turned back and looked at her and said: "Call in advance when you come to the Steel City again; I'll have someone pick you up at the station."

"Know—" Zhang Songying rolled her eyes at him, and said in a slightly spoiled tone: "You think I really want to come every day, every month—"

"It's all up to you; I welcome it."

Li Xuewu smiled, turned and went out the door.

Zhang Songying stood at the door looking at his back, bit her lip; this trip was really not in vain.

"Is this your opinion? Or someone else's?"

Li Xuewu looked at the application in front of him, raised his head and glanced at Wang Yajuan standing opposite the desk.

Wang Yajuan stared at him suspiciously, and after a long while, curled her lips and said: "Did you spray perfume?"

This counts as knowing the answer and asking, right? She is sure Li Xuewu doesn't have the habit of "fragrance," so how could there be perfume smell on him? That must be her nose committing a crime.

He doesn't spray, someone must spray, you say, how did he get infected?

Hmph—

Li Xuewu turned his head to smell, frowned and said: "Where is it, it's your smell, right."

"Pulling? Can I afford this?"

Wang Yajuan narrowed her eyes slightly, looked at him with suspicious eyes, and said: "You must be used to smelling it."

"Stop talking nonsense, asking you about work."

Li Xuewu knocked on the document in his hand and said: "Let you preside over the construction of the Liaodong Station, what kind of performance team are you engaging in."

He looked at the content on the application, drooped his eyelids and said: "You think you are letting you prepare for the TV station."

"Must the literary and artistic performance team perform on the radio station? Can't they perform on-site?"

Wang Yajuan said faintly: "Isn't it what you said, to use three years to do four things in Liaodong, this fourth thing is cultural construction."

She leaned forward and pointed to the document in front of Li Xuewu and said: "Isn't this serious cultural construction."

"I'm asking whose opinion it is."

Li Xuewu raised his head and looked at her and asked: "The group clearly requires no more branch institutions to be set up this year."

He pointed to the desktop and said: "You want to engage in the Liaodong Literary and Artistic Performance Team, where does the money come from?"

"Isn't this why I came to find you."

Wang Yajuan said as a matter of course: "You want to engage in cultural construction work, of course you approve the money."

"Makes sense—" Li Xuewu was amused and curious; the fountain pen in his hand pointed at her and said: "You still didn't answer my question."

"You just want to ask who gave me the idea, let me engage in this project, right."

Wang Yajuan tilted her head and looked at him and asked: "Are you always guarding against who wants to ruin you?"

"That's right." Li Xuewu looked into her eyes and said: "Besides comrades, there are enemies beside me."

"Making a mountain out of a molehill, grass and trees are all soldiers."

Wang Yajuan looked at him and said: "I thought of this myself, and also sought opinions from the publishing house."

Seeing Li Xuewu was serious, she pointed to the document and explained: "The publishing house's reply is, support the cultural construction work in Liaodong in principle, and related matters are subject to the application."

"Wouldn't it be fine to say so earlier?"

Li Xuewu lowered his head, wrote his opinion on the application, and signed it.

"The funds in my hand are not much, use them sparingly, survive this half year and then talk."

"I'm tired for you—"

Taking the application handed by Li Xuewu, Wang Yajuan looked at him and said: "Can't it be simpler?"

"I also want to be simpler, easier."

Li Xuewu tightened the fountain pen, leaned on the chair and looked at her and said: "I thought after coming to Liaodong, I could be like you, completely letting go of the shackles in my heart."

"Pity, I go where, the shackles follow where; I am not as free and clear as you."

"You also learn from me?" Wang Yajuan glanced at him and said: "Living as a lonely person, not recognizing relatives, like a walking corpse."

"Are you like a walking corpse now?"

Li Xuewu tilted his head, looked at her and said: "I see your spirit now is better than in Beijing; at least you now are the real you."

"Speaking tongue twisters?" Wang Yajuan curled her lips amusedly; seeing Zhang Enyuan appear at the door, she restrained her smile and said: "I plan to recruit literary and artistic actors from Liaodong; can you help me check?"

"Me? Forget it—"

Li Xuewu shook his head with a light smile and said: "I can't even distinguish drama, how can I help you check."

"Go seek help for business aspects yourself; you have connections in the publishing house; do you know how to make phone calls?"

He pointed to the table and said: "Go find Factory Manager Zeng for the organization side; ask him to help."

"It's really hard to ask you for help."

Wang Yajuan frowned slightly, took the document and left a sentence "Wait until we arrange the program, don't watch it," and turned away after saying this.

Zhang Enyuan widened his eyes slightly, watched her go out, and then walked to Li Xuewu's desk to report work softly.

He naturally guessed the relationship between Wang Yajuan and the secretary-general; both came from Beijing and were of similar age; it was natural to be familiar.

It's just that it's rare in this organ to be able to talk to the secretary-general like this.

However, looking at this Station Master Wang, the interaction with the secretary-general is not frequent on weekdays.

He is Li Xuewu's secretary-general and is relatively familiar with Li Xuewu's life; he dare not confirm whether the two have met in private, but they definitely don't meet much in the office.

Li Xuewu's work is very busy; not everyone has the opportunity and time to find him to report work; it has to be arranged by him.

Of course, it's not that no one brings documents directly to find the leader to sign; this is very normal.

As long as the time is urgent and the situation is special, the person in charge of the department below can directly find the leader, which also facilitates reporting and communication.

"How is the activity organized by the labor union?" Li Xuewu finished dealing with work, looked at Zhang Enyuan and asked: "It's been several days, why is there no movement?"

"Said it wants to organize a stage, and also wants to review programs, very lively." Zhang Enyuan nodded and reported: "Director Dou has been personally responsible for this matter, and has been on the scene for the past few days, saying it wants to create characteristics."

"That must be characteristic."

Li Xuewu smiled and said: "Really looking forward to it."

"Yes, this matter has been spread the most in the organ recently." Zhang Enyuan looked at his expression and reported softly: "Director Dou found many outside actors; heard that everyone has unique skills."

"Hehe, Northeast people all have unique skills, right." Li Xuewu nodded clearly and said: "Okay, best to be amazing."

He pointed to the notebook at hand, which was the signature record he just made, and said: "Isn't this, the radio station also wants to set up a literary and artistic performance team."

"Let them compare at that time, who does better, whose program has more characteristics."

Zhang Enyuan finally knew why Wang Yajuan came here just now; it turned out to be a challenge!

It's just that the purpose and original intention of Wang Yajuan and Director Dou engaging in literary and artistic performances are different; can this be compared together?

The secretary-general's meaning, that is to... compare hard?

On the 28th, after the demonstration by the Steel Flying expert group and discussion with Shenfei's design team and R&D team, under the joint efforts of both sides, the cooperation plan and production condition demonstration report finally came out.

"Time is a bit tight."

Kong Xiaobo was still not satisfied, looked at Li Xuewu who was reviewing the documents and introduced: "We are prepared to carry out secondary demonstration and experience exchange."

"Can have, but this document must be reported to the group leaders to see as soon as possible."

Li Xuewu stopped the pen in his hand, raised his head and looked at him and Bai Guangming and asked: "You should understand what I mean, right? Three drums and exhausted."

"Understand, it should be reported now."

Bai Guangming looked at Kong Xiaobo; as the chief engineer of Steel Flying, this report also had his hard work, so he expressed great importance.

Although Steel Flying organized an expert group, the two factories did not have direct cooperation business.

What Shenfei values in the Red Star Steel Group is its technology in material smelting and precision manufacturing.

Shenfei also studied helicopters, but didn't realize production, which is very different from Steel Flying.

Actually, speaking of it, Kong Xiaobo and Bai Guangming have some lack of confidence in their hearts, especially facing these big brothers in the field of aircraft research and production.

What does Steel Flying have? Isn't it just having three production lines for three types of helicopters from micro to heavy? Besides these, what else do they have.

Hmm, saying this is easy to get beaten, it's just that they think so in their hearts.

Steel Flying's production capacity is excellent, but R&D capacity is backward and still belongs to the starting stage.

Other aircraft manufacturing factories, although manufacturing capacity is backward, and some haven't even properly produced a helicopter, they have the welfare of planned production, and drawings and R&D results are all interconnected.

Steel Flying belongs to the kind of freak in the ranks of aircraft manufacturing factories in the country, partial to the extreme.

Cooperating with Shenfei, both of Steel Flying have different thoughts, so they performed very actively.

Learning technology, exchanging, not cold.

Do you really think we are going to steal technology?

That's right, you guessed it; in this era, everyone developed like this; it's not cold at all.

"I will report according to the procedure here; you continue if you have the need for exchange and discussion."

Li Xuewu handed the document that had been reviewed and signed with opinions and names to Zhang Enyuan standing on the side, "Send it to the group as soon as possible, and hand it to the deputy secretary-general."

"Good, I'll do it now."

Zhang Enyuan didn't ask which deputy secretary-general this document should be handed to, because no need to ask.

One is Deputy Secretary-General Bu Qingfang who concurrently serves as the manager of the Comprehensive Management Department, and the other is Executive Deputy Secretary-General Chen Shouzhi; you say who should this document be handed to?

"Don't be self-abased, and don't be high-minded." Li Xuewu tidied up the documents in front of him and said to the two: "Steel Flying's path is correct; just continue walking down."

"Shenfei can provide original technology, can provide experience exchange, but really wanting to dig people—"

He shook his head slightly and said: "Might be a bit difficult; you have also seen it; their protection of technical talents is still very strict, and they don't give opportunities to start easily."

Look, how eager the Red Star Steel Group is for talents, even using "start."

"Secretary-General, do you think we have the opportunity to develop fighter jets?"

Kong Xiaobo, under the constant signaling of Bai Guangming, finally asked this question.

Li Xuewu looked at him with some surprise and asked back: "Do you think Steel Flying has this qualification?"

"We don't know either—"

Kong Xiaobo shook his head with a bitter smile, looked at Bai Guangming beside him, and said to Li Xuewu: "Fighter jets are really greedy; if doing export trade, that should..."

"Technical accumulation is too slow, and there are too many requirements." Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said: "How many parts does a helicopter have? Not even a quarter of a fighter jet, right?"

"I think it's better to be realistic; we are not even on the same starting line as others."

He pointed to the fighter jet model placed on the cabinet behind him; this was given to him by Shenfei Vice President Wang Xin.

Don't say, this Wang Xin can be considered a Red Star Steel Group research expert, even borrowing this kind of small creativity.

The Red Star Steel Group has this kind of model; various interesting products will be made into models for display.

"Want backup strength, we don't have it; want development time, we don't have it either; what do we have?"

Li Xuewu spread his hands and said: "Besides having a large amount of export trade that helicopters can create, what else do we have?"

This sentence means that besides money, we have nothing; we can't compare with others.

The disappointment on Kong Xiaobo and Bai Guangming's faces was hard to hide; both were from technical backgrounds; it's very normal to have this kind of unrealistic ideal.

Since both came to his office to say it, it also means their hearts are still very vague. 【

"Study the helicopter well."

Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, smiled, and said: "Actually, helicopters also have combat attributes. In terms of battlefield importance, they are not inferior to fighter jets at all."

"I want to say that this isn't a combat domain, you should be able to understand that, right?"

"Mm-hmm—" Both of them were experts in this field, so they naturally understood Li Xuewu's words.

Fighter jets belong to the Air Force, while helicopters belong to the Army; even their combat directions are different.

"The combat environment for helicopters is more complex and harsh, and I think there is great potential."

Li Xuewu took a sip of hot tea and said to the two of them: "Have you ever thought that fighter jets have export restrictions, but helicopters don't?"

"As long as you don't modify them, the civilian helicopter market is vast, and we have great potential."

He tapped the desk and reminded the two: "Put more effort into market research and forecasting. Instead of watching other people's aircraft soar in the sky, it's better to become the king of land warfare, the premier land warfare expert."

Kong Xiaobo and his companion listened to his words, their eyes filled with deep thought and the excitement of rebuilding confidence.

That's right, helicopters also have a large market and a good future. The domestic helicopter market is currently unclear because there hasn't been a good aircraft in the country yet.

The Zhi-5 is certainly a good aircraft, but it is too old and can no longer keep up with the pace of the times.

The Alouette III, which Steel Aviation is about to mass-produce, can completely crush it; this is a contest of technological progress.

And the Puma has more potential in terms of transport. The group's introduction of these three helicopter production lines can be considered as giving Steel Aviation the time and motivation to produce, learn, and research simultaneously.

What is the price of a KH-4 on the international market?

The answer is 50,000 dollars, and the profit is quite substantial.

With money and ambition, Li Xuewu naturally wants to encourage them to get back on the right track.

An enterprise like Steel Aviation that is responsible for its own profits and losses shouldn't think about developing fighter jets; there is no foundation for it, and it's unrealistic.

"There are a lot of people eating here today, the staff can't keep up, so it was delivered a bit late."

Nie Liansheng had been here before, but times had changed, and he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.

Bang Geng was very hungry, but he didn't say much. He took the food box and went to the dining room.

Li Xuewu sat in the living room, waved at Nie Liansheng who was standing in the entryway, and said: "Come, come in and sit."

"Hey, I just finished getting busy too."

Nie Liansheng looked at himself somewhat embarrassedly; he still had the smell of stir-frying on him.

Even though he had ridden his bicycle for two miles, the smell on him hadn't dissipated yet.

Seeing that he was a bit reserved, Li Xuewu pointed to the sofa and said: "Sit down, let's talk for a while, it won't delay your work."

"No, no, I'm almost done with everything." Nie Liansheng caught the cigarette he threw over and said with a smile: "Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to come out."

"When are you planning to get married?"

Li Xuewu looked him over and said: "You have to give her a title, after all."

"What title or not, it's my loss for her to be with me." Nie Liansheng lowered his head slightly and said: "I'm so much older than her, sigh—"

"Now you know the gap, but it's too late?"

Li Xuewu tilted his head to look at him, then turned to look at Bang Geng, who was busy in the kitchen, and said: "A man must eventually have his own career; otherwise, even if a woman is delivered to your hands, you wouldn't dare to accept her. You're right, aren't you?"

What answered Li Xuewu was Nie Liansheng's silence. These words were like bait tied to a fishhook; once he nodded or voiced confirmation, he would be caught like a fish.

But would he be free if he didn't admit it?

"Prepare yourself. In the middle of next month, you are going on a long trip to handle a matter for me."

Li Xuewu signaled for him to smoke freely and said calmly: "After you return, I guarantee you will regain the confidence and prestige that a man should have."

"May I ask, how far is this trip?"

Nie Liansheng said cautiously: "You know my physical condition. Aside from the experience I accumulated in the past, my skills are far from what they used to be."

"My life is basically like this now, but if I mess up your business, I would feel deeply guilty."

"It's not as serious as you think. No need to put on that expression; no one wants to take your life."

Li Xuewu stood up, waved his hand, and asked: "Have you had dinner? Let's eat together."

Did Nie Liansheng have any room to choose?

The table had been set by Bang Geng. Seeing Wu Shu bring the other person in, he very sensibly prepared an extra set of bowls and chopsticks.

There were four dishes, all brought by Nie Liansheng. Li Xuewu never ordered dishes; it was all Bang Geng's arrangement.

He didn't know if the money he deposited at the restaurant was enough for this kind of consumption, but anyway, he had told the proprietress that he didn't have the habit of owing money or favors.

With Nie Liansheng there, he believed the proprietress would definitely understand the meaning behind his words.

"How much do you know about Hong Kong?"

Li Xuewu asked very bluntly: "Besides what you've seen on a map, have you paid attention to it before?"

"Hong Kong?" Nie Liansheng's hand holding the chopsticks hovered in the air, his expression blank, "Go to Hong Kong?"

He never imagined that Li Xuewu would arrange for him to go to Hong Kong to do things. Was his influence really that great?

"I'm asking you—"

Li Xuewu looked at him and said: "Say whatever you know, it doesn't matter."

"To be honest, I don't know anything."

Nie Liansheng shook his head slightly and said: "I have to look at a map just to know its exact location."

"Other than that, I only know it's under the jurisdiction of the British. What do you want me to do there?"

"Take a walk, take a look."

Li Xuewu said calmly: "Bring back what you see and tell me. It's that simple."

"It's not simple, is it?" Nie Liansheng looked at him and asked: "If you put it that way, I'm not confident at all."

"That really is what I mean."

Li Xuewu put down his chopsticks and explained to him: "Some work has run into problems in Hong Kong, and I need a professional person to go over and take a look."

"Then what do you need me to do for you?"

Nie Liansheng also put down his chopsticks and said: "I'm talking about real work, not just walking around and looking, like you just said."

"In a word: act when it's time to act."

Li Xuewu picked up his chopsticks and said: "As for where exactly to go and what to look at, someone will contact you when the time comes."

"Then do I need to prepare a will?"

This question from Nie Liansheng was not a joke at all; he looked at Li Xuewu very seriously while asking.

Li Xuewu, however, looked at him amusedly and asked: "How much inheritance do you have left that requires a will to distribute?"

Nie Liansheng was silent for a moment, and only after a long while did he answer: "There are, after all, some words I need to say to old friends."

"I advise you to put your heart at ease."

Li Xuewu took a bite of food and said calmly: "What's yours is yours, it won't run away; what isn't yours will never be yours, so don't force it."

"Don't waste time, and don't waste yourself." He handed his rice bowl to Bang Geng, signaling him to help him add more rice; the chili stir-fried meat tonight was a bit spicy.

On the 30th, Li Xuewu received a phone notification from the Group General Manager's office, requesting him to rush back to the group as soon as possible to attend an important meeting. The corporate jet had already flown to Steel City.

This meant even the plane had been prepared; only particularly important and urgent meetings had this kind of configuration.

After hanging up the phone, Li Xuewu made arrangements for relevant work.

Zhang Jing notified all heads of industrial enterprises stationed in Liaodong of his itinerary.

During his absence, the daily business of the metallurgical plant would be handled by Executive Vice Factory Director Yang Zongfang.

And the work on his desk that needed urgent processing and resolution was packed up properly by Zhang Enyuan, ready to be brought onto the plane.

At 3:00 PM that day, Li Xuewu took a car with his secretary Zhang Enyuan to the airport, boarded the group's corporate jet, and rushed to Beijing.

The flight attendant service was still provided by Zhou Xiaoling's team; she looked even more professional and attentive than before.

How could one tell?

The smile, of course; if you smile too much, it becomes fake.

"Secretary-General, you can rest for a while. The plane should arrive at the airport at 7:00 PM." Zhou Xiaoling bent over and said softly to Li Xuewu: "Do you need me to get you a blanket?"

"Get one. I probably won't be able to sleep, but cover my legs, it will be a bit chilly."

Li Xuewu sat behind the small desk, looking at the documents Zhang Enyuan had prepared, and replied to her.

Zhou Xiaoling didn't care what he was looking at; she only felt a bit disappointed that the Secretary-General hadn't looked at her.

"Okay, I'll prepare it for you right away."

She confirmed softly: "One blanket. Do you need anything else to drink?"

"Tea, just keep it light."

Li Xuewu still answered very accurately, not giving Zhou Xiaoling any more time for idle chatter.

On the way back from the cabin, Zhou Xiaoling was a bit disappointed. She had been mentally prepared ever since she received the notification for the temporary mission, wondering if she should say a few more words.

She had inappropriate thoughts, but she also knew that Li Xuewu wouldn't give her a chance, and the two had even fewer intersections in their lives.

Especially after she transferred to flight attendant service, her contact with Li Xue had also decreased.

It wasn't that she didn't want to, but her working hours during standby were different from Li Xue's working hours.

Li Xue had long been on guard against her, but couldn't resist her persistent pestering, so the two were considered good friends.

Over the past two years, Zhou Xiaoling's "rules" had also given Li Xue a good impression, so she hadn't said anything about her.

It was just that without further progress in their relationship, she always felt uneasy in her heart, and she didn't feel confident even when calling him Second Brother.

From takeoff to landing, Li Xuewu had been busy the whole time. She had gone over to serve him several times, but failed to attract his attention, until the plane was taxiing and she came to handle the luggage and office supplies.

"How is work now?"

Li Xuewu raised his head and looked at her, asking: "Are you busy? Are you tired?"

"Busy, a little bit, but not tired."

Suddenly receiving Li Xuewu's attention, Zhou Xiaoling was caught off guard. She had been prepared to lose this chance to chat, but didn't expect him to...

"This mission was also received suddenly; our plane mostly handles these kinds of missions."

She explained proactively: "We are all on standby duty. If there's a flight, we fly; if there isn't, we have to wait at the airport until our shift ends."

"That's still quite hard work."

Li Xuewu nodded and said: "Take care of your health, care more about your family. How are your parents?"

"They're doing great. I don't live with my parents now, it's a bit inconvenient."

Zhou Xiaoling looked at him specifically when she said this, as if emphasizing something.

It was just unclear whether Li Xuewu understood or not, because he didn't have any special reaction.

"That's great, living independently so early."

Li Xuewu looked at the airport outside the window, nodded, and said: "How much longer until we stop completely?"

"Soon, it should be about three minutes."

Zhou Xiaoling knew he had lost interest in talking and had no intention of caring about her anymore, so she stopped the topic in time.

The plane was indeed as she said; after taxiing for about three minutes, it stopped steadily on the tarmac.

"Have time to come over and play at home. Li Xue has mentioned you several times, saying you've been busy with work."

Director Li's big Red Flag car was already waiting under the plane's stairs. Zhou Xiaoling stood by the cabin door, and when she was waiting for Li Xuewu to get off the plane, she heard him say this.

"Okay, I will contact her."

She said with a smile: "Last time I saw her, she said she would take me to Second Brother's house to play, saying Li Shu is cute."

"That doesn't sound like something she would say."

Li Xuewu shook his head and smiled, not caring about how she addressed him, and stepped down the stairs.

The Manager of the Comprehensive Management Department and Deputy Secretary-General Bu Qingfang was already standing by the car waiting for him.

"Secretary-General, all the group leaders are in the conference room, just waiting for you."

As soon as Li Xuewu got off the plane, Bu Qingfang proactively greeted him along with the driver.

The driver took the luggage from the flight attendant and went to the back of the car with secretary Zhang Enyuan.

Li Xuewu walked toward the car with Bu Qingfang, asking as they walked: "Are the materials I asked you to prepare ready?"

"Everything is ready. The experts in aircraft research are also here, waiting for your next arrangement at any time."