Chapter 1439: When I grow up, I want to fly a plane!

"Compared to the capital, is there any difference in life and work in Steel City?"

Zheng Zheng Fuhua turned his teacup over and reached for the teapot to pour water, but Li Li Xuewu was faster, picking it up to pour him a cup first.

"What difference could there be? It's all busy to the point of exhaustion."

Li Li Xuewu smiled, put the pot away, and looked at him, saying, "If you want to come to Steel City for a look, I'd be very welcoming."

"It's too far. I haven't even finished exploring the capital yet—"

Zheng Zheng Fuhua shook his head slightly, picked up his teacup to savor a sip, and set it down with a hiss, saying, "Let's talk about it later. With you in Steel City, I can go to the Northeast for a visit whenever I want."

"To put it bluntly—and I'm not scolding you—" Li Li Xuewu said with a smile, "You're just like a donkey; you'll never be able to walk out of the circle that is the capital."

"Hahaha—" Zheng Zheng Fuhua gave a wry smile upon hearing this: "And you say you aren't scolding me?"

He composed his expression, sized Li Li Xuewu up, and said, "But come to think of it, I really did underestimate you. I didn't expect you to have such great capability."

"Hey—you're quite harsh when you scold people too—" Li Li Xuewu pointed at him with a smile and picked up the teapot to refill his tea.

"How much capability do I have? Why don't I know it myself?"

He set down the teapot and said, "If I could catch your eye, that would have been in the past. I haven't been in charge of security work for a long time."

"Your professional ability hasn't needed my affirmation or evaluation for a long time."

Zheng Zheng Fuhua picked up his teacup, took another sip, and said, "I'm talking about you now. I hear you're doing quite well at the Steel Group."

"I have a clear conscience, I suppose—"

Li Li Xuewu also picked up his teacup to savor it, saying, "There's no such thing as perfection in work, and life is the same."

"If you really force yourself, you're not just making things hard for yourself, but for others too. It's unnecessary and not worth it."

"You certainly see things clearly."

Zheng Zheng Fuhua heard the consoling tone in his words; this was meant for him to hear.

He set down his teacup, nodded slowly, and looked at the street scene outside the window: "After all the twists and turns, the rights and wrongs, let it be."

"Otherwise? Are you still planning to raise a banner of rebellion or prove your mettle in your old age?"

Li Li Xuewu laughed, his teacup shaking in his hand; if the tea hadn't already been drunk, he probably would have spilled it all over his trousers.

Zheng Zheng Fuhua was also amused by him; he lowered his head and chuckled for a while, which finally dispelled the pent-up frustration he had been harboring for many days.

"I'm old. My thinking can't keep up with the changes of the times, and I always want to show off."

He comforted himself, saying, "Actually, resting is good too. A person's time in this life is limited; one has to live for oneself, right?"

"Hey—you've opened your mind!"

Li Li Xuewu smiled, picked up the teapot again, and filled his teacup.

"In the days ahead, you should spend more time with your family, enjoy your grandchildren, tend to flowers, walk your birds, or learn Tai Chi if nothing else."

He filled his own cup, raised an eyebrow while holding the teapot, and said to Zheng Zheng Fuhua, "My father is practicing it right now. If you don't mind that he's not very good at it, you can play along with him."

"Heh, what's there to mind?" Zheng Zheng Fuhua tapped the table with his finger and said, "I've really never seen a true master, though I have seen fisticuffs."

"What era is this? Still talking about fisticuffs."

Li Li Xuewu smiled, patted his waist where the holster wasn't, lifted his chin, and said, "Beyond seven paces, a pistol is fastest; within seven paces, a pistol is both fast and accurate."

He pulled his hand back, picked up his teacup, and said, "I've practiced martial arts too. To be honest, it's useful for strengthening the body."

"If you really want to rely on these cat-and-mouse skills to leap over walls or travel a thousand miles a day, you'd better go listen to storytelling!"

Li Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and joked, "Otherwise, you'll have to lie on your pillow and dream. Both of those can fulfill your wish."

"Hahaha—"

Zheng Zheng Fuhua chuckled, his mood becoming increasingly relaxed; even the waiter in the teahouse could tell that Director Zheng was very happy today.

Li Li Xuewu came out of the group, took the two children to the Sihe Academy first to see his mother and the old lady, and only then came to the invitation.

It was agreed that the whole family would eat together in the evening, but Gu Ning had two surgeries today and wouldn't be able to come over until the evening.

Li Li Xuewu really wanted to enjoy his vacation, so he didn't even see Old Li, yet he came to see his former superior.

How could Zheng Zheng Fuhua not be considered his old superior? If it weren't for Zheng Zheng Fuhua's guidance, where would he have had the stage to perform at the branch bureau?

If he hadn't had his achievements at the branch bureau, he wouldn't have risen step by step and soared to success at the Red Star Factory Security Division.

Come to think of it, it was all fate; he didn't believe he was someone who calculated every move, devised strategies, and had the whole world revolving around him.

It couldn't be said he was deeply grateful, but having shared a connection, he still respected this old superior.

To be honest, he had seen plenty of cadres, all sorts of them—good ones and bad ones. Zheng Zheng Fuhua wasn't a saint, but he was still a good cadre.

Where in this world are there saints? Who hasn't made mistakes, and whose work hasn't had errors? As long as one is human, one will make mistakes.

He wasn't qualified to pass final judgment on Zheng Zheng Fuhua, but he had the ability to distinguish right from wrong, and he wanted to maintain this friendship.

Li Li Xuewu had originally thought about taking him to the club to eat, as it would be more convenient there.

But Zheng Zheng Fuhua was too lazy to move, and even less willing to sit in his car and wander around.

Staying right by his doorstep, the Tuanjie Teahouse not far from the branch bureau was just right.

It was approaching noon, and the two of them didn't mind their empty stomachs; they simply drank their fill of Biluochun tea.

Of course, in this era, the Biluochun in the teahouse was truly Biluochun; if you were talking about later times, who knows what kind of stuff it would be.

"I don't mean to belittle you; I am sincerely inviting you to come out and do some work."

Seeing that the timing was about right, Li Li Xuewu used this as a pretext to state his intention.

"If you really want to raise flowers and walk birds, and enjoy retirement, you can come to our gatehouse."

He gestured with his thumb, raised an eyebrow, and said: "The Liangma River Ecological Industrial Zone isn't far from your home; it's a 20-minute stroll, perfect for the morning and evening."

"If you still have the determination of an old steed in the stable aspiring to travel a thousand miles, then that's no problem."

Li Li Xuewu said earnestly: "Although I am no longer in charge of the Group's Security Division, I know that our Security Division is thirsty for talent."

"If you could come, you would definitely be at the professor level—the kind they couldn't even hire if they tried."

He tilted his head and coaxed him: "Just say the word; if they knew you were willing to agree, they would be dying to carry you to the position in an eight-bearer sedan chair, really—"

"Forget it, you and that mouth of yours—" Zheng Zheng Fuhua smiled and shook his head, saying: "Eight-bearer sedan chair? Don't I know how much I'm worth?"

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, composed his expression, and said: "Let me ask one more thing: even if the security work at your Liangma River Ecological Industrial Zone is done well, and there's strength in numbers, using retired personnel..."

"Hey—where did your mind go?"

Li Li Xuewu explained with a smile: "This gatehouse is just a dispatch office, not the security personnel standing guard at the main entrance."

"You probably haven't paid attention to the changes in our Group over the past year."

He waved his hand, picked up his teacup to take a large gulp, and then picked up the teapot to refill both cups with warm tea.

"Since we are about to become a group, the organizational structure is also being reformed."

Li Li Xuewu introduced: "The former Security Division has been split into three based on function, establishing the Security Corps, the Firefighting Corps, and the Inspection Corps respectively."

"The Security Section continues to hold the responsibility and authority for factory area public security management, while guard duties have all been handed over to the more professional Security Team."

He raised his hand, gestured to the teacup, and invited Zheng Zheng Fuhua to drink.

"The Security Corps doesn't handle cases, only stability maintenance, while the Security Section needs a certain amount of force to maintain the basic public security environment."

Li Li Xuewu picked up his teacup and said: "Therefore, the Group Management Committee studied and decided to take advantage of this organizational personnel reform to gather cadres and workers who are nearing retirement or have already retired and possess excellent work capabilities to form the Gatekeeper Section of the Security Division."

"So it's just watching the gate?"

Zheng Zheng Fuhua understood; knowing that the security work of the Red Star Steel Group hadn't slackened, he asked with a smile.

Li Li Xuewu shook his head and said: "What's so interesting about the gate? Who could possibly carry it away in the middle of the night?"

He was also joking, and followed up on the other's words to explain: "It's mainly for security monitoring, mail dispatch, and visitor management."

"Otherwise, why would I say I'm giving you two choices—"

Li Li Xuewu explained with a smile: "I also saw two retired workers at the factory gate with birdcages, drinking tea."

He raised his eyebrows and said to Zheng Zheng Fuhua: "That sense of contentment is beyond words."

"Hehe, I'm not envious."

Zheng Zheng Fuhua picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said: "I've never played with birds in my life; I didn't even have the leisure time to hunt them."

Putting down the teacup, he nodded and said: "Alright, it's rare that you're so busy, yet you can still come to keep me company after returning from vacation."

"Knowing you're doing well is enough; work hard, kid."

Zheng Zheng Fuhua looked at him with admiration and said: "I said early on that you would definitely amount to something and have a limitless future; it was my vision that was too narrow—you have a boundless future."

"If you say that, I'll really be too ashamed to show my face."

Seeing that he had had his fill of tea and hadn't immediately agreed to his invitation, Li Li Xuewu didn't force it; this wasn't something to be forced.

"I consider you a teacher, an old friend, and an old comrade; you can't treat me like an idol to be worshipped—"

"Get out of here—"

Zheng Zheng Fuhua twisted his body amusedly, several times wanting to reach for the cigarettes in his pocket but holding back.

His wife had given him a strict order: one cigarette a day; if he smoked more, he'd have to write a self-criticism.

Having been a leader for half his life, he didn't expect that after retiring and returning home, he would still be "led."

"Retired, just like you said, more time to spend with the family."

He scratched his sparse forehead, looked out the window, and said with emotion: "Give me some time to slowly adapt; I also want to rest for a bit—my heart is too tired."

"That's great; I was just afraid you wouldn't be able to stay idle, so I gave you a suggestion."

Li Li Xuewu drank the tea in his cup without refilling it, instead looking at him and saying: "If I really had to visit you three times at your thatched cottage, there's no need for that between us men; you decide."

"Let me give you one more piece of advice: if you can't stand it, go out for a walk, see the beautiful mountains and rivers of our motherland, and fulfill your regrets."

"Life is not just about the drudgery before your eyes; there is also poetry and the distance."

"I'm the boss in this house!"

Li Shu had grown bold, stiffening her neck and clamoring under the pressure of her little aunt.

Li Xue glared, "Say that again, I'll give you one last chance."

"So what! You wouldn't dare lay a hand on me!" Li Shu stiffened her neck and said stubbornly: "If you dare bully me, I'll tell Grandpa."

"Even telling your dad wouldn't work, let alone telling your grandpa!"

Li Xue deliberately scared her, rolling up her sleeves and saying with a straight face: "I'm not even afraid of your dad, could I be afraid of your grandpa's old arms and legs?"

"It would be better if you just called him an old immortal; that would make you look even more imposing."

Seeing her bully his daughter, Li Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said: "If you dare say that, I'll respect you as a real man."

"Why don't you say it?" Li Xue turned back to glare at her second brother, saying: "The two of you are bullying me, right?"

She wouldn't give in, turning to shout at her mother who was busy in the kitchen: "Mom, manage your son; he's always bullying me!"

"Oh my, how old are you now!"

Liu Yin said with a mix of amusement and annoyance: "You're all idle, right? Come help me tend the fire."

"Third brother, go tend the fire; that's your specialty—"

Li Xue was used to ordering people around, and she knew she couldn't order her second brother, so she always picked the softest persimmon to squeeze.

Li Xuecai was cracking melon seeds and watching the fun, not expecting to be dragged into it.

"Why don't you go? You know I'm the third brother, yet you have no sense of seniority."

"Yo—" Li Xue raised her eyebrows, looked at her third brother, and teased: "Now that you're Dr. Li, your status is different; your hands can only hold a pen, not a fire poker, right?"

"You insist on arguing with her."

Ji Ji Yuxiu pushed him amusedly and said: "Just do whatever she tells you; can you ever win an argument with her?"

"Hey—" Li Xue didn't intend to let Ji Ji Yuxiu off either; seeing the two of them now, she curled her lips and said: "You're not even married yet, and you're already protecting him—"

She clicked her tongue and said: "If you really get married, where will I, the little sister-in-law, get any good treatment—"

"Get you married off as soon as possible!"

Ji Ji Yuxiu scared her amusedly and said: "If you bully Li Shu, we'll team up to find you a husband!"

"Right! Find you a husband!"

Li Shu was precocious; seeing someone backing her up, she jumped and clamored: "Let's see if you're still so fierce—"

"Whose side are you on!"

Li Xue was annoyed, pointing her finger at Li Shu's forehead and saying: "We both have the surname Li; what's her surname? We're one family."

"Besides, if I get married off, do you think you can escape—"

She curled her lips and said: "Twenty years later, you'll have to get married too!"

"That's still twenty years later than you!"

Li Shu still wouldn't give in; not knowing who she learned it from, she put her hands on her hips and provoked: "You'd better worry about yourself!"

"Hey! You've been spoiled—"

Li Xue grabbed her arm and scared her: "Let's see if I don't establish my authority today; I really can't keep you in check, can I!"

"Grandpa—Grandpa—"

Li Shu had originally wanted to ask her dad for help or her third aunt for support, but when she turned her head, she saw her grandpa, who protected her the most, had returned.

"Grandpa—Grandpa—"

She was really good at tattling: "Little Aunt said you're an old immortal!"

Li Shun had just returned from outside and hadn't figured out what was going on yet.

"Oh my! You've even learned to sow discord and frame people—"

Li Xue hugged Li Shu in her arms and gave her two slaps on the bottom.

Of course, she wouldn't hit her hard; she wasn't her biological niece, but she was as good as one.

Just because she considered her a biological niece in her heart, she didn't hit her too lightly either.

Li Shu was like a little monkey; she didn't mind the two slaps at all, broke free from her little aunt's restraint, and in the blink of an eye, ran to her grandpa to continue tattling.

She was very good at mimicking; her little mouth chattered away, recounting the entire conversation her aunt and the others had just had.

Li Shu even specifically emphasized the "old immortal" part, but she didn't say that it was her dad who started it; you tell me if she's sensible or not.

"Is it good for Little Aunt to say such things?" Li Shun didn't just indulge the child; after all, Li Shu was a big girl now.

He held his granddaughter in his arms and asked softly; seeing his darling granddaughter shake her head, he smiled and said: "Then Li Shu can't say such things in the future, understand?"

"I won't say it, Grandpa is good!"

She was best at acting spoiled; she hugged her grandpa's neck and said sweetly: "I would never say such bad things—"

"Second brother, your Li Shu really needs to be managed." Seeing her eldest niece fawning over her grandpa while her eyes kept darting toward her, Li Xue was both annoyed and amused.

She turned to her second brother and emphasized: "If this goes on, there really won't be a place for me in this house; I've become the bad guy."

"How old are you, still acting like a child—" Liu Yin walked into the room, gave her daughter a reproachful look, and then instructed her second son, Li Li Xuewu: "Check the time; see if Xiao Ning is off work yet, and go pick her up a bit early."

"I'm watching the time; it won't be off."

Li Li Xuewu smiled, raised his chin, gestured toward his little sister's direction, and said: "I'll go in a little while; let me watch the fun first."

"You're not serious either—"

Liu Yin, of course, knew that her son and daughter were joking; how could she take it seriously?

This house never lacked laughter; it was proof of harmony and a symbol of reunion.

Even though Li Xuecai had become Dr. Li, he still couldn't escape the fate of guarding the stove door at home.

Who could he be tough with? His eldest brother hadn't returned from work, his eldest sister-in-law had a big belly, he couldn't bear to order his wife around, he couldn't win an argument with his little sister, he couldn't beat his second brother...

Only Li Shu... forget it, better not provoke Li Shu; just like she said, she's the boss in this house.

If he really made Li Shu cry, needless to say, his dad would definitely glare.

Because Li Shu was the apple of his dad's eye, more precious than his two eldest grandsons.

He and Ji Ji Yuxiu were preparing for their wedding, and they hadn't planned how many children to have after marriage.

His eldest sister-in-law was preparing for a second child, but she had also said this would be the last one.

There had been no news from his second sister-in-law, but his second brother had his eldest daughter, Li Shu, and their first child was a son, so neither his father nor mother had anything to say.

If they had them, they were happy; if not, it didn't matter—that's what "carrying on the family line" meant.

His eldest sister-in-law was hoping for a daughter; her fondness for Li Shu was not fake at all.

His eldest brother was more Buddhist; his fondness for Li Tang was just a passing phase, and nothing was as good as his books.

His second brother liked children, but his second sister-in-law seemed to have her own ideas, and with her background, who could say anything to her?

The final pressure fell on him; Ji Ji Yuxiu didn't care if her work would be delayed because of having children, but he didn't want her work to be affected by family life.

As of now, the fact that Li Shu was the eldest daughter of the fourth generation, and the only girl of the fourth generation, could not be changed.

With Li Tang and Li Ning's naughtiness before their eyes, everyone pampered the eccentric and clever her even more.

"I was just looking for you to have a drink—"

Seeing Sha Zhu brought his wife and child into the courtyard, heard the liveliness at the Li house, and came to the window to take a look.

Ever since the Group's logistics housing security system was implemented, the neighbors in this courtyard had moved out one after another.

Either they pooled money to buy apartments in the Ecological Industrial Zone's worker village, or they swapped their houses in the courtyard.

Anyway, everyone wanted to live in clean, tidy, and hygienic apartments, where going downstairs meant being in a riverside garden, and it was very convenient for adults to go to work, children to go to school, and the elderly to go shopping and buy groceries.

Think about it, everyone says this courtyard is good, but where is it good?

It's never quiet when it's windy or rainy; it rains lightly outside, and it rains heavily inside.

Li Li Xuewu's courtyard was still okay; there was a First Uncle to manage things, and the brick ground was repaired every few years, while other courtyards didn't even care about hygiene.

This Sihe Academy had a toilet early on, but would the master of a wealthy family take his servants out to a public toilet?

It was because housing was tight that even the location of the early toilet had been modified, and the neighbors all used the public toilet not far from the entrance.

But there were those who found it far, or feared the cold at night in winter; those with chamber pots could still be a bit particular and pour them into the public toilet, but if it was a urinal, they would splash it at the entrance when no one was looking.

In winter, everyone just curled their lips at the yellow ice shards at the entrance without saying anything, but in summer, they couldn't stand it; when it rained, it stank.

Don't go out! If you go out, you'll step in mud, and who knows what it is.

Therefore, in this alley, this street, and even the East City, as long as they were Red Star Factory workers or could find connections, those who could buy houses bought them, and those who could swap swapped.

Move! No matter what, they had to move!

They were crazy about moving upstairs; who wanted to have their intimate moments heard by the whole courtyard?

Old Wang and his wife finally had a bit of romance, but the next morning, when they were brushing their teeth by the water pool, Old Zhang walked over with a toothbrush cup, smiling and saying "good morning," talking about strengthening exercise and traditional Chinese medicine health care—isn't that disgusting?

Moving is moving; Red Star Factory has tens of thousands of people scattered throughout the city, so how much influence can they have? At most, it makes people envious.

But in Jiaodaokou, especially in several areas where Red Star Factory workers were settled, after the workers moved away, this courtyard and this alley had a feeling of being empty.

And looking at Li Li Xuewu's courtyard, there were still a few families who weren't from Red Star Factory and couldn't move, otherwise, it would really be empty.

These three families who hadn't moved were all living in the back courtyard and were Li Li Xuewu's neighbors.

There was no one else in the middle courtyard; Seeing Sha Zhu's family was the only one left, enjoying the entire courtyard.

The front courtyard was the same; after the Yan family and Old Seven's family moved away, Li Shun's family enjoyed the front courtyard alone.

The inverted rooms were the same; Second Uncle took his boys and moved to the big warehouse.

Shen Shen Guodong had already started a family, and only Grandpa lived alone.

There were still many people during the day; after all, there was the recycling station in the west courtyard, which was still considered lively.

Once it got to night, it was quiet; even the young people who used to be the noisiest playing cards at the gatehouse last year were gone—some went to the countryside, some went to factories, anyway, there was no one left.

Yu Li in the east courtyard often didn't come home, and it was rare for her to come back, just to tidy up the house.

Later, she was even too lazy to tidy up the house and asked Xiao Yan to help look after it.

Ji Ji Yuxiu's side was prepared for people to live in; it had been tidied up as a bridal chamber.

She and Li Xuecai would get married soon, and after that, they would live in the east courtyard.

Yu Li wasn't at home, so the east courtyard became their family's exclusive enjoyment, even more spacious.

"I was just looking for you; where did you go?" Li Li Xuewu, who was eating on the kang, heard the movement outside the window and turned back to ask: "Have you eaten? Come have a drink."

"You didn't give a heads-up."

Seeing Sha Zhu waved his hand and thanked Li Shun, who had let him in along with Li Li Xuewu.

He also knew that Li Li Xuewu had returned and the Li family was having a lively reunion.

It was just that his relationship with Li Li Xuewu was deep, and there were only these few neighbors left in the courtyard, so their feelings were deeper than before.

He sat by the windowsill, separated by the fine screen window, and said to Li Li Xuewu: "My brother-in-law said to get together the day before yesterday, so I went to his place today. If I had known you were back, I would have prepared in the inverted rooms and let him come too."

"Is everything good at home?" Li Li Xuewu turned back to look at him and asked: "I heard Wang Wang Yamei is pregnant? Is she still working?"

"She can't stay idle—"

Seeing Sha Zhu said with a smile: "My brother-in-law wanted her to rest, but she wouldn't have it, and isn't she still here?"

"Actually, it's nothing." He lit a cigarette himself and said: "It's just one person at home during the day; it's better to have more people here, and it's convenient to take care of her."

He had just brought Diliya and the child back, and because he was afraid of mosquitoes, Diliya only said hello, thanked them for their hospitality, and went home holding the child.

Seeing Sha Zhu had nothing to do, and he was worried about having nothing to do late at night, so he wouldn't let Li Li Xuewu go without a good chat.

"That's it; we said we'd get together tonight, so we came home together after work."

He introduced the situation of Wang Wang Yamei and Pazile, and the Li family naturally listened, while Liu Yin and Li Li Xuewu also asked a few questions about the family.

Pazile was Li Li Xuewu's comrade-in-arms and also a soldier he had trained himself.

Pazile and his sister followed Li Li Xuewu from the foot of the Tianshan Mountains to Beijing; he married Wang Wang Yajuan's sister Wang Wang Yamei, and Seeing Sha Zhu married Pazile's sister Diliya.

If one had to count the relationship between Li Li Xuewu and Wang Wang Yajuan, or the relationship between his sister He He Yu Shui and Li Li Xuewu as Seeing Sha Zhu thought, the two families really weren't distant.

"Didn't you tell Pazile?"

Li Li Xuewu gestured to the opposite door and said: "The Group is easy to operate; if he wants to buy a house, this courtyard is convenient."

"I told him, but he doesn't want to." Seeing Sha Zhu smoked a cigarette, shook his head slightly, and said: "He's honest; his father-in-law and mother-in-law only have two daughters, and Wang Wang Yajuan definitely won't come back to support them in their old age, so they're all counting on Wang Wang Yamei and him."

"He also said that no matter how close he is to us, it's not as good as Wang Wang Yamei's parents taking care of her and the child; he has to pursue his own career."

"Alright, he's right to think that way."

Li Li Xuewu nodded, said a word to his grandpa and father, and then put down his rice bowl.

"When you want to buy a house later, you can go to the new village to ask; there should still be new houses."

"Wang Wang Yamei's home is big enough."

Seeing Sha Zhu nodded and said: "That was a house allocated early on; it's enough area."

"When are you going back to Steel City?"

He saw Li Li Xuewu get off the kang after eating; it wasn't convenient to talk in the house, and since it was a rare reunion, how could he stay here and burn the lamp?

"If you're not busy, how about tomorrow night in the inverted rooms? I'll make a few hard dishes."

Seeing Sha Zhu said with a smile: "Old Shang has been thinking about you, saying he wants to thank you."

"He's too polite."

Li Li Xuewu came out of the room and offered Seeing Sha Zhu another cigarette from his pocket.

"It wasn't me who took care of him; good craftsmanship is popular everywhere, you tell him."

Old Shang was the medicinal cuisine chef Li Li Xuewu had sought out by bicycle early on.

He lost his job in '66, and no one dared to use him, so he sought help from Seeing Sha Zhu.

Li Li Xuewu also knew his situation; although Red Star Factory was tightening recruitment quotas, it was open to high-quality talent.

Do you think a good chef isn't high-quality talent?

You'd have to ask Old Li that question; Li Huai De had ten thousand reasons to tell you that Red Star Factory would always be short of good chefs.

"I'm not leaving tomorrow; I have things to do."

Li Li Xuewu waved his hand, signaling him to smoke his own cigarette, as he wouldn't smoke.

"I haven't been back for a long time, so I have to visit some connections in Beijing."

He looked at Seeing Sha Zhu and explained: "Especially on my father-in-law's side; after my brother-in-law's wedding ended, the human favors were all handed over to me."

"Oh, I heard about that."

Seeing Sha Zhu smoked his cigarette, nodded, and said: "Then how about next time?"

"It'll be soon, nothing much."

Li Li Xuewu looked at him and smiled: "Isn't it because the third one also has things to handle."

"Alright, it's settled then."

Seeing Sha Zhu was also easygoing, knowing that Li Li Xuewu didn't have as much free time as before.

Even when he was on vacation, he couldn't stay idle; it was either the Group looking for him or acquaintances looking for him.

He prided himself on his relationship with Li Li Xuewu being extraordinary; they were his own people, so of course, he couldn't delay his time—they were all in the same courtyard, so everything was easy to talk about.

After seeing Seeing Sha Zhu off, Li Li Xuewu returned to the room, but Liu Yin started talking about Seeing Sha Zhu's family.

"Should I say he's a fool with a fool's luck, or should I say it's better to be ignorant?"

At this moment, basically everyone in the family had put down their chopsticks, and only the children were still making a fuss.

Liu Yin sat by the kang and nagged to Li Li Xuewu and the others: "How old was he back then? He Great Qing left the two children and ran off with someone."

"Later, his life was a mess; everyone knew he wasn't worried about finding a partner, but everyone also said he couldn't find one and would be a bachelor for life."

She leaned against the dining table and said: "But who would have thought, he has a good wife and a chubby son—it's only been three or four years."

"He doesn't worry about He Yu Shui's affairs anymore; with her brother-in-law nearby to take care of each other, they can all get by..."

These were all clichés; they all knew the situation.

They all knew what their mother wanted to say; it was nothing more than an attitude toward life.

When they returned from the Sihe Academy, Li Shu and Li Ning were already asleep.

Li Tang, that little fatty, could stay up the latest; he stubbornly kept Li Ning awake until he fell asleep, then snatched the tin toy from his younger brother's hand and went to sleep in his dad's room.

Li Li Xuewu held Li Shu, Gu Ning held Li Ning, and when the family of four returned home, Er Ya hadn't slept yet; she was waiting for them to return.

"You didn't take a bath at night, so just sleep like this; wash up in the morning."

Er Ya nimbly tidied up the place where the two children were sleeping, nagging softly.

She seemed to have adapted to city life; the fear and anxiety she had when she first arrived were long gone, and she was still as serious and careful as ever in her work.

"I said I'd be back early, but once I started playing, I couldn't stop."

Li Li Xuewu smiled, put his daughter down, and went to take his son from Gu Ning's arms.

Two and a half years old, just the right age for playing.

Li Li Xuewu didn't spend much time with his son, but every minute and every second was worth cherishing.

Being able to watch him grow up little by little was also a kind of practice in life.

"Go wash up; I'll handle this."

Gu Ning let Li Li Xuewu go, and she and Er Ya undressed the children and covered them with quilts.

Li Li Xuewu bent down and kissed his daughter and son on their little cheeks before returning to the master bedroom.

By the time he came out after his bath, Gu Ning had already returned, and she had even changed into her pajamas.

"Aren't you going to wash up? You've been tired all day."

"I washed up when I got off work."

Gu Ning was perhaps a bit tired; she leaned against the bed, looking at him, listless.

Li Li Xuewu dried his body, changed into pajamas, and got into bed along the edge.

"Take a few days off; while the children haven't started school yet, come to Steel City with me for a few days."

He touched Gu Ning's face, which had become a bit thinner, and said: "There's nothing much at home anyway."

"There's a pile of things in the courtyard—"

Gu Ning had her concerns; she lay back on the pillow and said: "There are surgeries every day."

"Can't you even get a week off?"

Li Li Xuewu leaned over, hugged her in his arms, and comforted her softly: "You have to know how to regulate your body, mind, and emotions."

"You've really been working hard, and if you really feel tired, that's your body sending a signal that it needs rest; you can't wait until you're really sick to know you need to rest—that's not worth the loss."

"You know more about medicine than I do."

Gu Ning looked at his earnest, concerned expression, smiled, and raised her hand to touch his face.

Hmm, the same, he had lost weight.

Li Li Xuewu raised his hand, took hers, and pressed it against his face.

"I don't know medicine; I know health preservation, and I know how to enjoy life and rest."

He rubbed Gu Ning's hand against his face and said: "The hospital needs you, but the children need you, I need you, and this family needs you even more."

"Promise me, don't work too hard."

"Hmm—" Seeing that he was serious, Gu Ning promised earnestly.

She was like this; if she really promised someone to do something, even if it was just a soft "hmm," she would seriously do it.

Li Li Xuewu let go of her hand and hugged her tightly to his chest.

Gu Ning felt the surging love coming from him and couldn't help but narrow her eyes; she figured this must be what he meant by "enjoying life."

"Do you still need me to go?" Li Li Xuewu frowned while holding the phone and said: "Is it necessary?"

"Ask General Manager Gao to talk to Director Li."

He instructed: "If signatures are needed, sign; if hospitality is needed, host. Don't be stingy, but don't be foolishly generous either; grasp the scale well."

The call was from Bu Bu Qingfang, asking if he would attend today's signing ceremony.

The Santa Ya Group had already agreed to the final cooperation plan, and they were signing today.

It was hard to say whether the Red Star Steel Group was anxious or the Santa Ya Group was eager.

Or, just as Li Li Xuewu said, both sides had a deep foundation for cooperation, so any project could reach an agreement very quickly.

What is the most critical thing in cooperation?

It's not profit, nor investment, but trust—this is the most critical thing.

Without trust as a foundation, no matter how generous the investment return or how huge the investment, it would all be useless in the face of a collapsing trust crisis.

From the time Chantel talked to Li Li Xuewu about this project in Steel City in May, to the finalization of the cooperation plan in August, it couldn't be said to be fast, but it couldn't be said to be slow either.

"The United Industry News needs to do a good job in publicity, and it must form a unified stance with the Red Star United Radio."

Li Li Xuewu finally instructed: "Since the cooperation project has been finalized, there's nothing that needs to be kept secret; publicize it openly."

"But don't be too arrogant; still, pay attention to the scale and rhythm."

Bu Bu Qingfang was very steady in her work; it wasn't that she was steady, but that she had to be steady in this position.

Li Li Xuewu wasn't presiding over daily work in the Group; now it was Chen Shouzhi, who had been transferred from the Ministry by Director Li, who was responsible for these tasks.

If there were loopholes in her work, or even if she left a handle, it wouldn't just be Li Li Xuewu's loss; her career would also end there.

As long as Li Li Xuewu could make the decision, or could be the master, she would take the initiative to report.

Even if she couldn't get a timely reply from Li Li Xuewu, or didn't get a reply at all, she didn't care.

As long as she reported it to Li Li Xuewu, Li Li Xuewu would definitely see it; if he really emphasized something, she would just handle it when he got back.

Putting down the phone, Li Li Xuewu handed the paper airplane that flew into his arms to his son and asked with a smile: "Who folded this?"

"Mom taught me how to fold it—"

Li Ning took the paper airplane, turned around, and ran toward his sister, asking expectantly: "Sister, shall we go to the courtyard to play with the airplane?"

"No, don't you see how hot the sun is outside—"

Li Shu was only four and a half, but she spoke very logically, especially to her younger brother.

Li Ning really listened to her; Li Li Xuewu hadn't seen the consequences of not listening to his sister, but he firmly believed his son would definitely not get depression.

"Come, Dad will teach you how to fold a paper airplane that flies back by itself."

Li Li Xuewu could see that his son wanted to be close to him, but he was always reserved.

There was no other reason; he was only a few years old, and his memory was limited; he would always have questions in his heart about why he couldn't see his dad for a long time.

All Li Li Xuewu could do was try his best to give his son more memories during his childhood.

"Can it fly into the sky?"

Li Ning was already speaking very fluently, thanks to the tireless guidance of Er Ya and Zhao Zhao Ya Ping, as well as the emphasis of Li Shu, who was his sister.

Li Ning ran over, took the hard paper from under the coffee table, and handed it to him, looking very expectant.

It was just that at the beginning, his son's wishes were still very normal, but later on, they became more and more outrageous.

"How far can it fly? Can it fly a hundred meters away? Can it carry a person?..."

A hundred meters was the limit of the distance he could think of; this was just the limitation of his expression, not his cognition.

In his world, even the distance from the house door to the courtyard door was a long distance, and going from home to Grandma's house was considered a long journey.

A child's world is small, but their imagination is rich, and their inner world is very large.

Li Li Xuewu sat on the floor, holding his son in his lap, and taught him how to fold a paper airplane hand-in-hand.

Gu Ning came down from upstairs with her bag and was moved to see the father and son like this.

"I'm going to the unit."

"We'll be waiting for your good news of victory—"

Hearing her words, Li Li Xuewu smiled, raised his son's little hand, and waved.

What Gu Ning told him last night was what she was going to handle at the unit today.

Li Shu and Li Ning didn't know; Li Li Xuewu didn't want to tell them.

For one thing, it was for a surprise, and for another, he was afraid Gu Ning wouldn't be able to leave, which would just disappoint the children for nothing.

Li Shu and Li Ning had long been used to sending Mom off to work and wouldn't cry or make a fuss to follow.

"I want to fly an airplane when I grow up!"

Li Ning watched his dad throw the airplane he had folded differently, and saw it fly back; he laughed, jumped, and shouted his ideal.

Li Li Xuewu listened with a smile; whatever his son said at this time was good, even if he said he wanted to drive a Didi when he grew up, that would be fine.

He didn't expect his son to stand on the podium, and he hoped even less that his son would stand on the rooftop.