Chapter 1445: The Best Defense is a Good Offense

"Five kilometers, oh, I love you! If I don't run for a day, I miss you to death!"

"Five kilometers, oh, I love you! One day at a time for a healthy body!"

Having been in Steel City for over half a year, Bang Geng had followed Li Xuewu from the initial one kilometer, then two kilometers... and finally persisted to five kilometers.

Of course, while the slogans were shouted loudly, in reality, neither of them could manage five kilometers every day.

Li Xuewu's physical stamina was monstrous, so five kilometers a day was naturally a breeze for him, but he had to take leave twice a month, for two or three days each time, and Bang Geng wouldn't run during those periods.

Bang Geng also couldn't persist with five kilometers every day; the fourteen-year-old boy could run, but his foundation was too thin, and his body was too thick.

Even with this, he hadn't lost much weight, and the fat on his face still wobbled tremulously.

While washing clothes for the child in the evening, Qin Huairu discovered that the material of her son's clothes was all very good, yet they weren't the ones Bang Geng had brought from home.

No need to ask; it was impossible for Li Xuewu to make clothes for his son; it must have been the thoughtful gesture of the teacher he had found for Bang Geng.

When tidying up Bang Geng's room, the clothes brought from home stacked in the wardrobe hadn't been worn for a long time.

Asking Bang Geng, it turned out these clothes were all too small; he had grown taller.

In just over half a year, Bang Geng had shot up a head, and his shoes were a size larger.

He lacked neither clothes nor shoes, and even had several sets of undergarments. Knowing that the daily chores of this household were handled by her son, Qin Huairu felt both comforted and aggrieved.

What comforted her was that her son had grown up; what aggrieved her was that she had never enjoyed his growth.

When at home, Bang Geng didn't exactly have food brought to his mouth and clothes put on his back, but it was close enough.

His grandmother would have loved to chase him around to feed him, never wanting to tire out her precious eldest grandson.

Here, Bang Geng had actually learned to do housework; how was she supposed to feel about that?

Children grow faster in the hands of others; parents must be willing to let go.

Would she blame Li Xuewu for treating Bang Geng like an orderly?

Of course not, because she knew Li Xuewu's laziness was genuine—the kind that didn't even want to get up in the morning. Bang Geng's laziness was the kind spoiled at home, which could be corrected.

Besides, Li Xuewu hadn't shortchanged his son in any aspect of food, clothing, housing, or transportation, and had even guided his son to fall in love with reading.

If one were to ask what moved and comforted Qin Huairu the most, it was that last night after dinner, Bang Geng had consciously gone to the study to read instead of chatting idly with her.

Qin Huairu dared to swear to heaven that she had never imagined her son could have such a change today. Looking at Bang Geng studying by the lamp, she felt like kneeling and kowtowing to Li Xuewu.

Getting up in the morning, she was busy in the kitchen and saw the two of them changed and running outside. She had thought something had happened, and only after asking did she know they were going for a run.

To have such healthy living habits, a good living environment, ample study space, and apprenticeship opportunities—from this moment on, she truly revered Li Xuewu as a god-like man.

When she arrived yesterday, seeing her son taller and sturdier, she had thought he was still the same little fatty because of his chubby face.

It was only when strange yet passionate slogans drifted in from outside the window that she walked to the door and looked out, seeing the two of them running back shirtless, the sweat on their muscles appearing full of power under the rising sun.

She naturally knew what Li Xuewu's physical condition was like; it felt soft to the touch, but once he exerted force, blocks of muscle would emerge.

Now, seeing her son was the same, his chubby face contrasted with his sturdy body, appearing so adorable.

"Go take a shower; breakfast will be ready soon."

Qin Huairu greeted them with a smile and hurried back to the kitchen to get busy.

As the old saying goes, even a clever housewife cannot cook without rice; for this breakfast, she had truly plucked the last bit of remaining harvest from the vegetable garden.

If she hadn't searched with all her might, this breakfast wouldn't have been complete.

Someone might be concerned about how things were upstairs last night, whether there were any late-night stories.

The answer is... of course not. Qin Huairu was exhausted from the journey, and seeing the two of them reading seriously in the study downstairs, she didn't disturb them and went back to her room upstairs to rest early.

Sleeping until dawn, she had no regrets and no sense of loss; both she and Li Xuewu were very clear that the past was the past.

She was no longer the widow who needed a sense of security and job protection, and Li Xuewu was no longer the young man who had just started working and needed to mobilize all forces to build a foundation.

Both had achieved success in their respective careers and sincerely wished each other's families well.

Qin Huairu admitted that she used to be calculating and scheming, but under conditions of starvation, for a jin of cornmeal or a jin of rice, a person would do anything.

It is said that when the granary is full, one knows etiquette. Now that she didn't have to worry about food and clothing and had a promising future, Qin Huairu naturally learned propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame, as well as learning and cultivation; she could no longer demean herself.

Li Xuewu was even less of a man whose soul was dominated by desire; his excellence and kindness were the luckiest and most grateful choice of Qin Huairu's life.

Rather than saying he needed her, it was better to say he pitied her.

Qin Huairu never thought she had helped him with anything in her position at the guesthouse.

To be frank, Li Xuewu had reminded her several times not to deliberately collect information on guests, much less spread secrets she heard everywhere, and there was no need to report everything to him.

Placing her in the guesthouse was more like a hidden move that would never be activated.

It was because of him that she crawled out of the endless abyss, lived like a human being again, and gained self-esteem and decency.

Even every contact was her initiative; in a state of fear with no way to repay him, all she could give Li Xuewu was herself.

Qin Huairu wasn't flaunting her nobility, nor was she trying to clear Li Xuewu's name; she was just thanking him from a personal perspective.

If he really wanted to get something from her, he wouldn't have gone through so many twists and turns, and he wouldn't have had to help her take care of Bang Geng.

Therefore, she had to respect him and couldn't be shameless in her demands; marriage was her declaration of saying goodbye to the past, and also the final boundary line ending her relationship with Li Xuewu.

In subsequent reunions and encounters, she would always respect him and trust him with a grateful heart, treating him as her mountain.

Li Xuewu didn't know about the psychological changes Qin Huairu underwent during this trip to Steel City, and he had never cared about the changes after this relationship cooled down.

Life is like a bus; many people have different starting points for getting on, and different destinations for getting off.

What can truly be remembered is just having walked a journey together.

When Bang Geng was running with him, he said he didn't want to return to the capital at this time.

Li Xuewu didn't answer him directly, only telling Bang Geng that when he was fourteen, he already knew what was good and what was bad, and could decide many things for himself.

After breakfast, the mother and son saw Li Xuewu off to work.

Only after watching the Volga M24 leave did Bang Geng muster the courage to look at his mother and say, "Mom, I want to talk to you."

"The performing arts troupe can't be without equipment, can it? We can't just rely on shouting, right?"

Wang Yajuan pushed the application over again, looking at him and saying, "Just approve it; we are in a hurry to use this money."

"It's too much; even if I approve it for you, it won't pass the year-end audit."

Li Xuewu tapped the application she pushed over with the fountain pen in his hand and said, "If you get the money now and get things done, I'll have to provide an explanation at the end of the year, and I'll have to fill this hole next year. Tell me, is it worth it?"

"If you ask me, this is you lifting a rock only to drop it on your own feet!"

Wang Yajuan said indignantly, "The administrative procedures management regulations for the office were customized with your participation, and the group's financial management system was also customized with your participation. And what's the result?"

She looked at Li Xuewu and said, "You are the Shang Yang who enacted the Qin laws!"

"Hehe, I'm willing—"

Seeing she was unhappy, Li Xuewu picked up his teacup and said with a smile, "Even if my toes are smashed and swollen, I'm happy to endure it."

"Hmph—what are you so proud of?"

Wang Yajuan gave a light huff, pointed to the business application form he had pushed back, and asked, "Then should I do the application in batches?"

"What do you think? Are you asking me?"

Li Xuewu asked her back indifferently, "Do I still need to teach you how to do things?"

"I finally let you be my leader, and I've fallen into your hands."

Wang Yajuan took back the application, tilted her chin, and asked in a stubborn tone, "Then how much do you think is appropriate?"

"Execute according to the business application production standards in the financial management system."

Li Xuewu put down the teacup, pointed at her, and said, "Be a little smarter."

"I'll take your advice—"

Wang Yajuan grabbed the application and turned to walk outside without even a thank you or goodbye, showing she was dissatisfied.

Zhang Enyuan came in from the doorway and, seeing her go out with a stern face, quickly hid to the side.

"Hello, Deputy Director Zhang—"

Not bad, Wang Yajuan could still take the initiative to greet him; it didn't look like she was truly angry.

"Deputy, Deputy Director."

Zhang Enyuan corrected with a smile, "Are you done talking with the leader?"

"Not done; he won't approve it for me."

Wang Yajuan was straightforward with him, raised the application in her hand, and went out.

Zhang Enyuan watched her leave with amusement before entering the office.

"Is Station Master Wang dissatisfied again?"

"Don't bother with her. If I made her satisfied every time, I wouldn't need to be the Secretary-General."

Li Xuewu picked up the teacup, shook it, and then placed it on the corner of the desk.

"How is the contact with the capital going? Is there any progress in the plan?"

Zhang Enyuan knew he wanted tea, so he walked over carrying the thermos from the tea cabinet at the door. While refilling the teacup with hot water, he reported, "There is news."

"It was Director Li's secretary, Liu Bin, who returned my call, saying Director Li is busy right now and really can't spare the time to talk."

"That doesn't matter; I'm asking how the situation is."

Li Xuewu waved his hand, watched him place the teacup in front of him, nodded, and said, "Director Bao and the others from the Dongcheng Credit Union have left Steel City; I calculate the time should be about right."

"Just as you expected, the group side is bustling—"

Zhang Enyuan set the teacup down before carrying the thermos back to the tea cabinet.

"Deputy Director Su introduced Jizhou Steel and Anyang Steel."

He took the notebook he had just placed on the tea cabinet, walked back, and reported, "General Manager Xue introduced the Beijing Television Factory and the Modu Motor Factory; Deputy Director Gu introduced..."

Zhang Enyuan had a decent memory; he remembered very clearly which group leaders had passively or actively introduced relationships to enter the field.

He spoke for a long time, all aimed at the International Hotel project.

Fundraising, right? In this era, the units that could participate in fundraising weren't just banks.

Actually, banks in this era didn't have as comprehensive business as later generations; banks within the planned economy system were all operating with tasks.

Restricted by policy, almost every bank was more or less involved in the investment field with conditions.

Why didn't the Dongcheng Credit Union have them?

Very simple; the Dongcheng Credit Union only had one mother-in-law above it, which was the Beijing Credit Union, and its investment flexibility was very high.

If it weren't for seeing the Dongcheng Credit Union participate in social investment in the last two years, especially earning a fortune by investing in several projects of the Steel Group, the investment world of Beijing banks would still be a stagnant pool.

If a ragtag team like the Dongcheng Credit Union can make money through investments, how could they, the main force, be willing to fall behind?

Having so many banks take the initiative to come to the Red Star Steel Group to seek investment projects didn't mean the capital operation market in Beijing had improved, but that the Steel Group's projects had become hot.

If other enterprises took projects to these banks for financing, they might be sprayed to death, but the Red Star Steel Group was different.

The Red Star Steel Group had already created several industrial miracles in a solid way, and news had vaguely come down that the higher-ups intended to use it as a reference point for the integration and comparison of the market economy and the planned economy, and many policies were unrestricted.

Of course, this was the only one; there was no other place.

Actually, there were quite a few enterprises or units like the Red Star Steel Group exploring experiments in certain fields, just not known to outsiders.

The Red Star Steel Group had its own overseas distribution channels, such as automobiles, food, aircraft, hardware, medicine, etc.

Red Star Steel also had its own import and export channels as well as capital exchange channels.

Not only that, the Red Star Steel Group was also a leader in fields like technology introduction and promotion, product marketing, and modern production.

The Dongcheng Credit Union had already verified the excellence of the Red Star Steel Group's projects with actual actions; they were following the trend and investing blindly.

If you asked them to close their eyes and invest in new projects of other enterprises, how would they dare?

So, the financial market seemed active, and everyone was taking projects to banks to talk about financing, but the result was only watching banks take the money they needed to curry favor with Red Star Steel.

Those who needed money couldn't get financing, and those who didn't need money were pushed away; it was truly infuriating!

If banks could be so keen on the Red Star Steel Group's projects, then there was no reason for joint units and other industrial enterprises not to participate.

Since the previous projects of Red Star Steel were all explosive, there was no reason for this project not to be explosive, so they had to rush to invest.

"Deputy Director Jing didn't participate?"

Li Xuewu looked at the documents on the table, the fountain pen in his hand writing from time to time.

Zhang Enyuan stole a glance at the documents on the desk, but his mouth didn't pause.

"Not just Deputy Director Jing, Deputy Director Cheng didn't participate either."

He reported softly, "Even Chairman Xiong, who is bedridden, introduced a unit to inspect the project."

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu asked with a light laugh, "Chairman Xiong is sick again?"

"I heard so; after the latest management committee meeting ended, he was tired and sick, and is currently recuperating at the United Hospital."

"Too hard-working; he really is an iron man." Li Xuewu smiled and arranged, "Make a phone call to his secretary to express my condolences on my behalf, and arrange for someone to send some fruit and gifts in my name."

"Should Yu Zhe go?"

Zhang Enyuan said softly, "Yu Zhe is still on leave in the capital and hasn't returned yet."

"That works too; let it be him."

Li Xuewu raised his head, looked at him, and asked, "Are you still in contact with Yu Zhe?"

Seeing Zhang Enyuan couldn't help but laugh, he also said with a smile, "Call and ask him if he's still coming to work; if his arms and legs are broken, I'll arrange someone else here quickly."

"Hehehe—" Zhang Enyuan said with a smile, "He told me he got a fire poker from his dad and is currently at home on a blind date."

"That's fine; blind dates are good."

Li Xuewu pointed with the fountain pen in his hand and said, "He can't keep muddling along in the office like this; if it goes on for a long time, even our faces will be lost."

"I think Zhang Meili is actually okay." Zhang Enyuan raised his eyebrows with a smile and said, "Regardless, she's a flower."

"Be careful your wife gets jealous!"

Li Xuewu looked at him with amusement and said, "No matter how beautiful Meili is, she can't be beautiful forever; if the family is gone, then everything is gone."

"You're right; Yu Zhe really should find a suitable partner at his age."

Zhang Enyuan became a bit more serious and reported softly, "I feel the atmosphere in the office isn't very good; if these..."

"Go report this situation to Comrade Mei Yi, and ask him to work with Director Dou to come up with a plan regarding this matter."

Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said, "I've also noticed that some trends in the office aren't right; it's time to rectify them properly."

"Just ask the Organization Management Division and the Labor Union to work together to treat both the symptoms and the root cause."

He looked at Zhang Enyuan and said, "You also ask Zhang Jing to pay attention to the handling process of this matter and summarize a report for me."

"You mean..."

Zhang Enyuan raised his eyebrows and asked softly, "Will other enterprises have this too?"

"This is accidental, but also inevitable." Li Xuewu nodded slowly, looking at the thick tome on the table, and said, "The more special the period, the greater the ideological fluctuations of the staff, and it's not surprising that they do some incredible things."

"But this is not a reason for indulgence and neglect." He tapped the desktop and emphasized, "Staff are limited by personal cognition and lack sufficient defense and vigilance against dangerous thoughts. We who do management cannot fail to think of problems ahead of time; if something really goes wrong, that's dereliction of duty."

"I understand what you mean."

Zhang Enyuan nodded and said, "I'll go find Factory Director Zeng now and report the materials and situation I have to him."

"Hmm, tell Yu Zhe, if he can't find a partner, don't come back."

Li Xuewu had also made up his mind; there couldn't be any problems around him.

Yu Zhe was different from Nie Xiaoguang; he was left by his side at Yu Li's request, because Yu Li was worried about his situation in Steel City, and it was also an opportunity for her younger brother.

Nie Xiaoguang was a time bomb Li Huai De placed by his side; no matter how Li Xuewu dealt with Nie Xiaoguang, it wouldn't be too much.

Of course, he and Li Huai De were playing chess; the chess piece Nie Xiaoguang wasn't wrong, he could only blame himself for being young, vigorous, and too foolish.

Clearly having a blood feud with Li Huai De, yet still wanting to pick up Old Li's worn-out shoes to wear.

He naively thought he could contact Li Huai De through Han Lu to complete the obsession in his heart, but what a stupid idea that was.

Han Lu marrying him was to eliminate the influence of her ruined reputation, and it was also a scheme of Li Huai De: to use his own strategy against him.

When Han Lu was lying on Old Li's bed, Old Li knew what Nie Xiaoguang was trying to do by digging his wall corner with his butt stuck out.

Simply put, Old Li helped him, pushed the wall down, and this wall smashed completely onto Nie Xiaoguang.

Now it's a mess; Nie Xiaoguang tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead, and was even put under a tight-fitting spell. Everything he does is under Old Li's surveillance, provided Han Lu still wants to advance.

Li Xuewu had long seen through what kind of person Han Lu was; this girl was ruthless.

Ruthless is ruthless, just brainless.

She had the determination and courage to climb onto Old Li's bed, but not the courage to get down.

Look at Zhou Miaomiao again; that's the character who is both scheming and ruthless.

Living upstairs and downstairs, one could tell who was the smart person by comparing them.

Yu Zhe wasn't Nie Xiaoguang; this kid could really be used if cultivated.

"Hey! General Manager Li, finally saw you—"

Bao Peigang blocked Li Huai De's car door with people, his attitude like a creditor blocking the door to collect debts during the New Year.

But in reality?

Actually, he was here to send money.

Tell me, isn't it infuriating? Old Li had to try every possible way to hide from someone like Bao Peigang who took the initiative to send money.

"That, Director Bao, I have a research activity to attend to here."

Li Huai De said with an awkward and helpless expression, "How about we make an appointment tomorrow, or when you have time."

"I have time today."

Bao Peigang stared and said, "Don't wait for tomorrow; choosing a day is not as good as bumping into one. Wherever you go, I'll follow."

He said shamelessly, "I'm not going anywhere today; I'm just following you."

"Hey—what are you doing?"

Li Huai De had one leg already in the car, but now he could only helplessly retract it.

He looked at Bao Peigang and the others and said, "We are all old friends; I'm just going to a site, how can I trouble you to accompany me."

"Don't be polite, Director Li; if you treat me as an old friend, I won't be afraid of hardship."

Bao Peigang tilted his head and emphasized, "You aren't going for research? Let's go; I'll be your secretary for a day."

He made a move to get into the passenger seat.

"We also drove here; borrowing your light, let us gain some knowledge."

Liu Cunxin and Zhang Wancheng, who came with Bao Peigang, said with slightly curled lips.

Isn't this fanning the flames—

Li Huai De saw they were coming for real, so he could only bitterly smile, pull Bao Peigang who was already sitting in the passenger seat, and say to Liu Bin, who was full of embarrassment, "Tell the textile factory I'll be there later."

"Okay, Director Li, I'll go make the call now."

Liu Bin watched the leader's performance with amusement; if he hadn't known the script early on, he would have been deceived by the leader's acting.

There was no research activity at all; the whole group knew Director Li didn't like going down.

Actually, it wasn't just Director Li; group leaders, and leaders of large and small departments didn't like going to the workshop; this was the default.

But there were exceptions; the security system, including cadres who came out, liked going to the workshop, going to the grassroots, or even going down to squat; this was all brought out by the Secretary-General.

Director Li received the notice at the main gate, which was why he was in such a hurry to get downstairs and pretend to run away; this was all done for Director Bao and the others to see.

The textile factory, the scrap material in the third industry, was an enterprise cooperating with the Beijing No. 2 Textile Factory; what was there to see?

What embarrassed Liu Bin was that just now Director Bao pulled him out of the car, and his action of sitting in the passenger seat almost made him laugh out loud.

"Look at you, what are you doing."

Li Huai De pretended to be helpless, pulled Bao Peigang, and greeted Liu Cunxin and Zhang Wancheng to return to the office building together.

It was like this: the whole office watched Director Li trying to run away, only to be blocked back; what was the situation!

"What's going on?"

Office worker Xiao Liu leaned against the window to look down, and seeing the leaders entering the building, turned to ask Gu Cheng, who was watching the fun, "Here to collect debts?"

"Hehe, here to send money."

Gu Cheng had also taken a glance just now, and was now walking back with a cigarette in his mouth.

Xiao Liu had sharp eyes; in just that instant, he saw what brand of cigarette Gu Cheng was smoking.

"Damn! Smoking Huazi for over fifty yuan a month, what kind of jerk is this!" He spat secretly and muttered, "If you didn't have a good father-in-law, what would you be!"

Indeed, the most correct decision Gu Cheng made in his life was to submit to Qian Youqiong.

Do you think he was wronged by marrying Qian Youqiong?

Whoever dared to say this, Peng Xiaoli could be angry enough to curse on the street, out of jealousy.

Peng Xiaoli was afraid his brother would suffer, and also afraid his brother would leave him alone to suffer.

Qian Youqiong didn't get this surname for nothing; her father was a financial cadre, so how could she be "young and poor"? She never knew what it was like to lack money or food since she was a child.

Gu Cheng deserved to eat soft rice; with his sloppy look, he didn't even pass the first hurdle with his father-in-law.

But who let Qian Youqiong like him? She told her father, and her father didn't understand his goodness.

The daughter had changed her heart, so what could the father do? He could only pinch his nose and accept it.

After all, he was his son-in-law; no matter how much Old Qian looked down on him, he had to take care of him.

Look at Su Weide being arrogant above, ignoring people in the group; does he dare not use Gu Cheng?

So don't ask who Qian Youqiong's father is; just look at Gu Cheng's happy life and you'll know.

You say Gu Cheng is so arrogant outside, but when he gets home, doesn't he have to be a slave to Qian Youqiong?

On the contrary, after marriage, it was Qian Youqiong who served him; clothes were washed clean, and when eating, it was almost fed to his mouth.

Look at the cigarettes Gu Cheng smokes; these were all brought back from her maiden home by Qian Youqiong for the sake of her father's health.

Hmm, she wasn't afraid of Gu Cheng smoking being harmful to his health; she was her father's little cotton-padded jacket, after all.

How did the old saying go?

A good man has no good wife, a lazy man marries a delicate one; Peng Xiaoli often recited this.

"Good morning, Li Kezhang Peng."

Just as Xiao Liu finished muttering, he saw Gu Cheng's good buddy Peng Xiaoli coming over.

Peng Xiaoli was the deputy section chief of the Production Management Section of the Food General Company.

Don't look at this deputy section chief position as worthless, but he had two other identities.

The first layer, he was the former secretary of Secretary-General Li Xuewu.

The second layer, he was the lover of Yu Haitang, the station master of the Red Star Joint Radio Station.

Xiao Liu envied Gu Cheng's good fate, but he was even more jealous of Peng Xiaoli's planning and strategy.

The three of them entered the Red Star Factory almost at the same time; five or six years had passed, and he was still a staff member, but these two had already taken off.

Look, he had to take the initiative to greet Peng Xiaoli and nod and smile when he saw him.

Peng Xiaoli knew what kind of person this kid was and didn't intend to pay attention to him.

"Is Gu Cheng upstairs?"

"Just went in; we were just chatting." Xiao Liu explained with a smile.

He was gilding his own face, and borrowing Gu Cheng's gold at that.

He didn't have much of a future either.

Clearly only said one sentence, yet he treated Gu Cheng as his connection.

Peng Xiaoli wouldn't believe him; that jerk Gu Cheng was extremely arrogant now.

But the more arrogant he was, the more stable Gu Cheng's position beside Su Weide became; it was truly a little monk climbing the roof beam—strange and wonderful.

"Yo! Rare guest—"

Gu Cheng was reading documents in the office, the cigarette butt in his hand about to burn out, and he was pondering writing an article for Deputy Director Su.

A few days ago, Deputy Director Su went to the mountains of Miyun for research and asked him to write an article about the speech on the spot, with the purpose of summarizing and promoting.

Seeing Peng Xiaoli come in, he greeted him with a smile.

Peng Xiaoli looked around and asked, "Why are you alone? Where are the others?"

"You don't know yet?"

Gu Cheng pointed to the direction of the conference room and said, "Director Li called for a meeting."

"What meeting are they having?"

Peng Xiaoli habitually picked up the cigarette case and lighter from Gu Cheng's desk and lit one for himself.

Back then, before this kid fell into Qian Youqiong's hands, he had taken advantage of him and smoked his cigarettes.

Now he was just taking back the principal and interest; smoking Huazi wasn't excessive at all.

"Share splitting conference, extremely exciting, pity I can't see it."

Gu Cheng shook his head slightly, feeling quite regretful, and pointed to Peng Xiaoli's pocket to remind him, "You can smoke the cigarette, but return the lighter."

"Hmm? What lighter?"

Peng Xiaoli still wanted to play dumb, but Gu Cheng didn't buy it, stood up, reached into his pocket, and took the lighter back.

"This is all stuff I've finished playing with."

Gu Cheng shook his head triumphantly, pinched the lighter in his hand, and showed it to Peng Xiaoli, "This is imported; it's different from the kind of lighter I took from you."

"You damn, you forget your mother once you have milk—"

Peng Xiaoli laughed in anger and wanted to slap him, "Did you forget who helped you when you had no way to eat?"

"Get lost—"

Gu Cheng rolled his eyes at him and said, "You're the one eating shit and drinking urine; if you have something to say, say it, if you have a fart, let it out."

"Big matter—" Peng Xiaoli raised his eyebrows and asked softly, "Tell me about the share splitting meeting you just mentioned."

"I don't care about others, the Dongcheng Credit Union can invest 3 million."

Inside the conference room, Bao Peigang looked at Li Huai De aggressively and said, "Our only condition is to share the resources of the Red Star Steel Group in the International Hotel."

Are you dreaming?

Li Huai De glanced at him and just wanted to open his mouth to decline, but heard the other two speak.

"Our conditions are the same."

Liu Cunxin and Zhang Wancheng looked at each other, and he said, "The Industrial and Commercial Bank can take out 1.5 million."

"The Bank of China can also take out 1.5 million." Zhang Wancheng said, "The conditions are the same."

Alright, these three took out 6 million at once, much more straightforward than industrial enterprises.

Don't look at those industrial enterprises introduced by group team members being noisy; when you ask them how much they can invest, it's either ten thousand or hundreds of thousands, none over a million.

If you want to talk about investment operations, you have to look at the professional group; these banks are the big heads.

"Director Bao, it's just an International Hotel; how much is the total budget?"

Li Huai De persuaded him with a smile, "Actually, I'm not optimistic about this project; how about we cooperate next time?"

"Oh—you're not optimistic about this project." Bao Peigang elongated his tone, seemingly having understood, nodded, and asked, "Then how much did your Red Star Steel Group invest?"

"We..." Li Huai De hesitated here and explained with a smile, "We have no choice; it's all to deal with foreign businessmen and temper the construction team."

"The Red Star Steel Group invested 5 million in a project that the Director is not optimistic about."

Bao Peigang didn't know where he got the news, but he said it so accurately!

It wasn't inaccurate; this news was all designed and arranged by Li Xuewu to be spread; this was just bait for the fish in the net.

"If you can invest 5 million even if you're not optimistic, then how much will you invest in a project you are optimistic about?"

Bao Peigang looked at him quite dissatisfied and said, "Director Li, you've learned to be bad; you weren't like this before."

"There's no such thing as 5 million."

Li Huai De pretended to be reserved and waved his hand, saying, "We aren't investing in big projects this year, and we don't have 5 million to invest."

"Hehe, do you think I'll believe it?" Bao Peigang narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Do you know what the large amount of funds withdrawn by the United Savings Bank from the Oriental Times Bank in Hong Kong is for?"

Li Huai De really wanted to say he didn't know, but Bao Peigang was about to get angry.

"Hey, what is this."

His acting skills had been recognized by Li Xuewu; he was a true artist.

The exaggerated acting skills of the little fresh meat in later generations were just grandchildren in front of Old Li.

Just look at Old Li's face, six parts awkward, three parts helpless, and one part emotion.

He spread his hands and said, "This is a condition for cooperation with the Santa Ya Group."

"They provide low-interest loans for international trade, requiring the Red Star Steel Group to take out corresponding investment funds."

Li Huai De said with a serious expression, "Now we can say we don't lack money, we just lack technical partners."

"Then you can't treat us as dogs and lead us around!"

Bao Peigang said dissatisfied, "Tell me, how many times have I been to Steel City?"

"Li Xuewu even discussed the operation standards of the International Hotel with me hypocritically."

He patted the table and said, "If we hadn't kept an eye on it, we would still be kept in the dark when you signed the contract and started construction!"

"How could that be; the Secretary-General isn't that kind of person."

Li Huai De pretended to be surprised and said, "Is there any misunderstanding?"

"No misunderstanding, he really doesn't do human things!" Bao Peigang looked at him and asked, "You, Director Li, are a good person; you certainly wouldn't do such a thing without an asshole."

I... am I a good person?

Li Huai De almost stood up to look in the mirror; how did he not know about this?

But Bao Peigang was also too vicious; wasn't this putting him on a high shelf?

"Director Bao, there really is no investment quota left; you can't leave nothing for the technical partner, right?"

"I didn't say don't let you leave it."

Bao Peigang tilted his head and said, "Your group plans to invest 6 million, and the international trade loan is 6 million; what's left?"

He stared at Old Li and asked, "Director Li, tell me the truth, what is the total budget for this project?"

"This is exactly what I want to say."

Li Huai De said seriously, "The investment amount for this project is extremely large, and the risk is extremely high."

He tapped the table and emphasized, "Even we are not sure about completing it in the end; please consider it more."

"No need to consider; we have already considered it."

Bao Peigang took out several documents from his bag, tapped them, and said, "This is the development prospect estimate we made; we understand the risk issues very well."

Actually, they didn't run to Steel City twice in vain; at least the last time, Li Xuewu introduced the construction project of the International Hotel to them in detail.

Now they knew themselves and the enemy, and it was easy to surround and kill Li Huai De.

Li Huai De looked at these reports and asked awkwardly, "Really invest this time?"

"Just invest this time!"

Seeing him like this, Bao Peigang was even more certain; there was no good thing in the Red Star Factory, they only knew how to eat alone!

"But how to do the project funds?"

Li Huai De stood up in embarrassment and circled the conference room.

At this moment, Liu Bin walked in, glanced at Bao Peigang and the others, and then found Old Li to report softly.

Coincidentally, Liu Bin's words were heard by Bao Peigang and the others.

It was that Secretary-General Li Xuewu had obtained an investment share of 3.5 million in Liaodong.

"Alright, I know."

Li Huai De's face became more embarrassed, as if he was about to jump off a building.

"I have a suggestion."

Zhang Wancheng, Deputy Director of the Bank of China, smoked a cigarette and said, "Since the Santa Ya Group's requirement is that your investment must correspond to the international trade low-interest loan."

He looked at Bao Peigang and the others and said, "Then reduce the low-interest loan; wouldn't that leave us an investment share?"

"How can this be—"

Li Huai De stopped his steps, patted the back of his hand, and said, "This project has a budget of 13.55 million, and it's not just you who want to invest, Liaodong side... forget it."

He only said half of his words, feeling it would cause misunderstanding, so he stopped.

Bao Peigang and the others couldn't misunderstand; they were anxious now.

"I think Deputy Director Zhang's opinion is very pertinent; even a low-interest loan is a loan; it's really not as fragrant as our investment."

Liu Cunxin persuaded with a smile, "Six million only; even with Liaodong's 3.5 million, that's only 9.5 million."

He raised his chin and said, "Isn't there still a gap of 4.05 million."

"You mean, we borrow 2 million? Invest 2 million ourselves?"

Li Huai De said bitterly, "In this way, you have become the major shareholders."

"We don't participate in actual operations—" Bao Peigang spread his hands and said, "We just want commercial resources and dividends."

He persuaded persuasively, "Your group also needs a large amount of funds to operate; why press everything on this project."

"Reduce investment, reduce risk—" Liu Cunxin also said so.

"It's just that these 2 million aren't all ours."

Li Huai De seemed very willing to listen to advice, hesitated, and said, "Technical cooperation also needs shares to support."

"We don't care about that; our 6 million can't be less."

Bao Peigang stood up, nodded to Li Huai De, and said, "Then that's it; after we go back, we will allocate funds to the account."

He didn't allow Li Huai De to say anything more, gave a wink to the other two, and went out.

Downstairs of the office building, the three of them looked back at the third floor before getting in the car, looked at each other, and smiles climbed onto their faces.

"How about it? I said one shouldn't be too polite to this kind of person." Bao Peigang said with a smile, "If you should be shameless, you have to be shameless."

"If you should be tough, you have to be tough."

Liu Cunxin nodded and said, "This old thing is too cunning; if we hadn't come today, we would have really let him hide."

"This project will definitely make money."

Bao Peigang said confidently, "They need technical cooperation, and from the beginning, they excluded our kind of investment."

"I estimate they will still find us to talk next, limiting our investment."

"Then hurry up and pay—"

Zhang Wancheng said seriously, "Once the money is paid, don't think about getting it back."

"Old Zhang is right, the best defense is a good offense!" Liu Cunxin said, "We can't miss this project."

"Then let's do it, pay first." Bao Peigang threw away the cigarette butt in his hand and said resolutely, "Can't leave an opportunity for the Red Star Factory."

PS: Two extra chapters will be updated simultaneously on September 1st. Please use monthly tickets to unlock the extra chapters. Voting through other channels cannot respond to the "Monthly Ticket Extra" chapters. Please pay attention. ===== CHAPTER 1446 =====