Chapter 1454: Life and Death are Fated

"We are quite surprised and taken aback by the demands you have put forward."

Zhou Zicheng found it difficult to speak first at this moment; otherwise, there would be no room left for bargaining.

Therefore, Wang Xin looked at him first, and only after receiving his nod did he speak up.

"Are you surprised by our harsh conditions?" Gao Yaqin swept a glance at him, her gaze landing on Zhou Zicheng's face as she said, "Or are you taken aback by our candor?"

Since she was the primary representative at the negotiating table, she naturally aimed to go all out on behalf of the Red Star Steel Group.

She was a female comrade, after all; no matter how sharp her words were, she could be forgiven.

Li Xuewu, however, had been watching Wang Xin the entire time, even though the other man was just a spokesperson.

"Sincere cooperation, mutual achievement."

Wang Xin smiled and took over the conversation, saying, "Although we are sitting at the negotiating table representing our respective units, we share a common goal—that is, cooperation for mutual benefit."

"Therefore, no matter how harsh the conditions you have proposed today may be, in our view, they are to be expected."

He was, after all, the representative arranged by Shenfei to be responsible for negotiations and coordination; he certainly knew how to speak.

He neither called the conditions proposed by the Red Star Steel Group harsh nor appropriate, speaking only of the significance and goals of this cooperation.

Gao Yaqin also cast her gaze toward the person sitting diagonally opposite; no wonder Li Xuewu said he was a smart man.

"Since we are sitting here, we all have a determination to be candid."

Wang Xin raised his hand to gesture toward his colleagues and leaders beside him, saying, "Director Zhou being able to represent Shenfei here is proof of this."

Zhou Zicheng nodded, indicating his agreement with this statement.

Li Xuewu, meanwhile, looked at him; this head of the delegation might still have something to say.

"The reason I am surprised and taken aback is that I have seen the pragmatism of your side this time."

Wang Xin turned his head to look at Zhou Zicheng and nodded, saying, "I believe Director Zhou has seen it too."

"I am also hearing for the first time that your side is still conducting research on drone projects."

Zhou Zicheng smiled and nodded, taking over the conversation, "What I didn't expect even more is that your side has invested so heavily."

"Including manpower and material resources; in my view, this is not a bit inferior to Shenfei."

He raised his hand to gesture toward Wang Xin beside him and asked, "Our project R&D doesn't seem to have had a single investment exceeding five million, right?"

"Yes, there hasn't been one for a single project."

Wang Xin nodded in agreement, "Especially in the field of new aircraft; I am very shocked."

"Actually, Shenfei does have a drone project; of course, this is a secret project."

Zhou Zicheng briefly revealed a bit of a secret, strengthening the authenticity of his statement without affecting confidentiality conditions.

"Listening to the introduction by General Manager Gao just now, the direction of our drone R&D seems to be..."

At this moment, he looked toward the other side; that was Shenfei's deputy chief designer.

The other party nodded and confirmed, "If I heard correctly, there should be two directions."

"Our drone R&D is used as a guidance target, and also for long-range reconnaissance."

Zhou Zicheng was in management, but he was not lacking in understanding of the business, and he spoke quite logically.

"Your side's drones sound smaller and more refined, and the combat radius is also smaller."

He spread his hands and said, "The two types of drones should not be the same application scenario."

"However, I am very happy to see domestic enterprises expanding into emerging fields."

"It cannot be considered an emerging field either."

Li Xuewu looked at Cheng Kaiyuan, then looked at the other party and said, "The application scenarios for small drones are extensive; they are absolutely not limited to combat needs. Your way of thinking is too narrow."

"Even jet drones can be used for civilian aerial photography, logistics, and other directions."

He emphasized, "The Red Star Steel Group is an enterprise committed to providing solutions for various industrial developments and applications."

"Our products first consider the civilian market; they are suitable for a wider application space and are born to create a good life."

This statement indirectly reversed Zhou Zicheng's perception of the Red Star Steel Group's research in the aircraft field from another perspective.

However, Li Xuewu's statement also confirmed what Wang Xin had reported regarding the Red Star Steel Group's all-around development in categories such as automobiles, electronics, hardware, metallurgy, and minerals, its deep integration with the civilian market, and its rapid economic development.

Why did Shenfei want to cooperate with the Red Star Steel Group?

One of the purposes was that they valued the market conversion capability possessed by Red Star Steel.

Let's put it this way: there is not a single enterprise in the country that does not envy the Red Star Steel Group for possessing a monetization channel like the Jinmen Trade Management Center.

Similarly, the Red Star Steel Group utilizes its affiliated bank to cooperate with Hong Kong banks, bypassing foreign exchange channels to realize the powerful conversion of capital and technology, with internal supply and external demand developing in coordination.

Of course, they were envious; they envied the Red Star Steel Group for utilizing export profits to realize the enterprise's modernization transformation and complete equipment renewal.

Under the condition of possessing modern industrial production capacity, it realized a feedback loop to both the planned market and the free market.

The money earned from exports could not be brought back, but the factory's equipment and processes were renewed.

The factory utilized new processes and new equipment to increase production capacity and obtain more revenue.

At the beginning, very few people could see why the Red Star Steel Group was going around in such circles, but now they all understood.

Yes, they understood, but the opportunity to learn was gone; the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation had already blocked this path. There were no more approvals for domestic and foreign bank mutual exchange, nor were there any import and export trade licenses.

The path the Red Star Steel Group took was a new path of breaking through thorns and thistles, but the retreat had already been blocked; it could be said that there was no one before them and no one after them.

Other enterprises watched eagerly, but wanting to get a share of the pie could not be directly facilitated.

Wanting import and export trade channels and wanting to obtain opportunities for technological iteration could only be done by engaging in deep cooperation with the Red Star Steel Group.

Shenfei was the best aircraft research and manufacturing center in Liaodong, and also one of the four major aircraft manufacturing plants in the country.

According to this logic, Shenfei was not short of money; all research activities and equipment facilities had administrative appropriations, and they didn't need to think of ways to get money themselves at all.

But in reality?

Poor, difficult, and empty-handed.

Zhou Zicheng didn't say this out loud, but the shabbiness of the enterprise didn't need to be spoken.

Look at the cadres of the Red Star Steel Group sitting across the negotiating table, and then look at the accompanying personnel sitting behind them!

Not to mention anything else, just look at their unified attire and spirit; they had already outclassed the "ragtag army" sitting on Shenfei's side.

They wore unified "Bai Jiahei" (White Shirt and Black Trousers), even the briefcases they carried were so fashionable and elegant, and the notebooks spread out in front of them were all unified leather covers with gold-stamped text.

To speak of professionalism, although Zhou Zicheng had learned a lot about the other side's innovative management models from Wang Xin's introduction, seeing it today was even more shocking than what he felt when they last met.

Just from the plastic identification card and plastic badge clipped to the other party's chest, one could see the terrifying details of the Red Star management model championed by Director Lu of the Liaodong Industry.

The front of that red-backed identification card recorded the employee's basic information as well as a photograph.

In this era, using plastic as an office material was still very fashionable, and furthermore, it could be made so exquisite and clear.

Sitting across the conference table, he could clearly see the text and photo on the identification card on Li Xuewu's left chest; such a management tool made him think of a possibility, which was that no one would dare to impersonate a cadre of the Red Star Steel Group, nor was there the cost for such a crime.

According to Wang Xin's introduction, this type of identification card was first used by the Red Star Steel Group and was already a second-generation product; the first generation was metallic in texture, including the badge on the chest.

Don't look at plastic products as cheap in later generations, but at this time, plastic was also a scarce material.

Besides being exquisite, the lightweight and convenient plastic badge also possessed a certain degree of flexibility.

The commonly worn nickel alloy or other alloy badges of the present were heavy enough to pull shirts out of shape, and the pins would also stain the shirts.

What is called advanced? The truth is seen in the details, not to mention that their negotiation team traveled by private plane to Fengcheng to hold the negotiation meeting.

Shenfei itself was an enterprise that built airplanes, but as the head, Zhou Zicheng also had to helplessly admit that they did not have a corporate jet.

Without even a corporate jet, don't argue about whether it's luxurious or not; it's embarrassing.

Envy, really good, I want one!

When Li Xuewu pointed out the key point that both sides understood without speaking, Zhou Zicheng also became serious, and Wang Xin leaned his body slightly forward.

Who wouldn't want an advanced management model, who wouldn't want their own enterprise to burst forth with infinite potential, and who wouldn't want to be a group leader?

Just sitting here, look at their titles; "Group Vice President" sounds much more senior than "Factory Leader," not to mention the benefits and treatment.

Almost without needing propaganda, the universal understanding within the industrial system was that the Red Star Steel Group's benefits and treatment were the highest and also the best.

In the whole country, the Northeast was also a leader among industrial enterprises, and workers could enjoy the best welfare resources.

When workers in other factories didn't even know about Shandong dates, Shenfei's workers could already eat hairtail from the Bohai Bay.

But compared to the Red Star Steel Group's abundant supply of non-staple food, hairtail was no longer fragrant.

Is free welfare the best?

This is a fallacy.

The Red Star Steel Group had almost no free welfare; free welfare only occurred twice a year, once on Labor Day and once on New Year's.

Other holidays only targeted specific groups for condolences, such as Teachers' Day and Children's Day.

The Red Star Steel Group possessed an independent education system, an independent medical system, and a non-staple food supply system; does this count as good welfare and treatment?

The Red Star Steel Group provided housing security, commuting security, financial security, and so on for employees; does this count as welfare and treatment?

Both sides sat at the negotiation table, each probing what the other wanted, and also pondering what they had in their own pockets, and whether they could exchange.

This was the second round of negotiations, but the Red Star Steel Group had already figured out what Shenfei wanted.

The Red Star Steel Group's management experience, welfare standards, trade channels, financial cooperation, technology introduction channels, and market transformation capabilities.

Then did Shenfei know what the Red Star Steel Group wanted?

Regardless of whether they knew or not, just as the meeting began, Gao Yaqin had already said it.

Shenfei's advanced manufacturing processes, advanced scientific research capabilities, abundant technical potential...

Hmm, they wanted too much; likewise, one couldn't blame the other party for being greedy, right?

One asks for an exorbitant price, and the other bargains on the spot.

"Whether this cooperation can be achieved or not, it will not affect the friendship between the two enterprises and us."

Wang Xin represented Shenfei in hosting the noon banquet, and he delivered an enthusiastic toast.

Shenfei's head, Zhou Zicheng, only showed his face before the banquet began, and after exchanging a few pleasantries with the Red Star Steel Group's negotiation leaders, he left early.

Wang Xin took over the initiative and stirred up the atmosphere at the scene, which appeared very enthusiastic.

Although everyone was very clear that Director Zhou left in a hurry to attend the noon office meeting.

The attitude expressed by the Red Star Steel Group and the opinion of seeking common ground while reserving differences had already placed sincerity on the table; they could not have no response.

To give an answer as soon as possible, they could only hold a meeting during the noon hour to finalize it.

Only Wang Xin was responsible for hosting the banquet; other Shenfei leaders were all holding a meeting in the conference room.

Wang Xin's opinion was already very clear; even though everyone was waiting for the afternoon's results and only sipped the fine wine in their hands, he was still full of confidence in the results of the negotiations and the meeting.

This could be seen a little bit from his excited attitude of chatting with Li Xuewu and others while holding his wine glass after he finished his toast.

It seemed as if this banquet was not a welcome banquet during the recess, but a celebration party for successful negotiations.

At this moment, Wang Xin could already be certain that the suggestion he strongly advocated would bring new development opportunities to Shenfei from the Red Star Steel Group far away in the capital.

"I heard it from Director Hu that Liaodong organized a financial investment meeting." He held his wine glass and chatted softly with Li Xuewu: "Is it investing in your group's international hotel project?"

"Hmm, Deputy Director Lu and Bureau Chief Hu have great courage." Li Xuewu praised sincerely: "I was also very surprised when I heard the specific amount of funds."

"I have to say, Liaodong Industry's enthusiasm and confidence in the Red Star Steel Group truly far exceeded everyone's imagination."

Wang Xin clinked his wine glass lightly with Li Xuewu's and said with a smile: "I am really very curious about what kind of magic the Red Star management model championed by Deputy Director Lu actually has."

"Haven't you already seen it?"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said: "The Fengcheng Machinery Manufacturing Factory is a ready-made example."

"Indeed, what you said is very correct!"

Wang Xin nodded in agreement, drank a small sip of white liquor happily, and said: "Very correct!"

This Shandong man always spoke with a bit of his hometown dialect, which sounded very interesting.

Seeing him like this, Li Xuewu also smiled and drank the wine in his glass, saying: "Once an expert makes a move."

There was no need for him to emphasize the second half of the sentence; it was a pun. Wang Xin looked at the wine glass in his hand with a bitter smile, and resignedly tilted his head back and finished it all.

Not much, two taels of liquor.

But for this meal today, wanting to extract the content he wanted to know from Li Xuewu was absolutely not something that could be dismissed with two taels of liquor.

If he wanted Li Xuewu to tell him everything he knew, he would have to pour at least five jin of liquor into his stomach.

But where did he have such a capacity for liquor? Perhaps at one and a half jin, he wouldn't remember what Li Xuewu said, nor would he be sure what he had asked.

Having already known from Hu Ke that Li Xuewu was a famous "Immortal of Liquor" in the capital, he didn't dare to take the risk; it was better to wait until after the framework agreement was signed to communicate in a friendly atmosphere.

If he couldn't talk about official business, he could only talk about feelings; starting from Li Xuewu's work and life since coming to Liaodong, and comparing the differences in customs between the capital and Liaodong, there were plenty of topics to talk about.

Wang Xin, who was thorough in every way, did not let Gao Yaqin and Cheng Kaiyuan feel neglected, and the atmosphere at the wine table was always very good.

Until a secretary walked quietly behind him and reported something.

Mount Tai collapsing before one's eyes without changing one's expression; this is the self-cultivation criterion for cadres.

Wang Xin truly achieved this point, but Li Xuewu had already seen a little joy in his eyes when he looked at him.

Sure enough, after the noon meal ended, the representatives of both sides took a short rest, and the afternoon negotiation meeting was held as scheduled, still in that conference room, still in the morning's positions.

"I am very sorry that I couldn't accompany the distinguished guests from afar to drink and talk happily; it was truly a poor reception."

Zhou Zicheng smiled and said politely: "I am very surprised that today's negotiations could have such smooth progress; our team members also used the noon time to urgently convene a temporary office meeting."

"We should thank Shenfei for the hospitality; this was the most sumptuous luncheon I have tasted since coming to Liaodong."

Li Xuewu changed his cautious attitude from the morning and took the initiative to take over the conversation to express his gratitude.

"Director Li asked us to convey his sincere invitation on his behalf; I believe that next time we go to the capital, we will have the opportunity to enjoy friendship time to our heart's content."

"This is our honor."

Zhou Zicheng replied simply, and then invited the deputy chief designer, who was the negotiation representative, to speak about Shenfei's cooperation conditions.

Since the Red Star Steel Group was not mean or harsh, Shenfei naturally had to maintain its demeanor.

On the basis of the morning's negotiations, the parts mutually recognized by both sides were basically determined.

The subtle differences were mainly reflected in the foundation and degree of association of the cooperation between the two sides.

Clearly envious of the Red Star Steel Group's progress, yet they were still deterred by the advanced nature.

Shenfei knew that the Red Star Steel Group had walked a special path of development; they wanted to learn, not copy, so the content of the framework agreement was full of contradictions and self-contradictions.

But in Li Xuewu's view, this kind of contradiction was more of a limitation and constraint of the era, an inherent characteristic of the thinking mode that hadn't had time to learn and change, and could not be used as a standard basis for judgment.

So when the other party proposed the hope of sending cadres to the Steel Group for exchange and learning starting from the second half of the year, Li Xuewu spoke up and said: "Since it is exchange and learning, why can't it be in the form of mutual dispatch of cadres?"

Amidst the slightly surprised expressions of Zhou Zicheng, Wang Xin, and others, he continued to ask: "Among three people, there must be my teacher; doesn't Shenfei's management have experience and advantages worth our learning?"

This sentence stumped Zhou Zicheng, because from the very beginning, the negotiations had set the tone that they wanted to learn the Red Star management model.

Sending cadres to learn was not a simple metaphysical action; it was a systematic investigation, learning, and summarizing of the Red Star Factory's management experience.

In the process of investigation and learning, it was inevitable that there would be prying and understanding of the Red Star Steel Group's operational indicators and secrets; this was what everyone was wary of.

Just now, Cheng Kaiyuan was frowning a bit; he could accept the form of a study class or expert lectures, but truly arranging for management personnel to intervene in the group's organization was a bit sensitive.

This was two different things from superiors arranging for cadres to take temporary posts for training; this was deconstructing the Red Star Steel Group's organizational structure.

If it was from the perspective and purpose of learning, it could still be understood, but what if there were other purposes?

The Red Star Steel Group at least shouldn't take this risk.

After the other party's opinion was proposed, not only was the reaction from the Red Star Steel Group side relatively sensitive, but even Wang Xin, who acted as the liaison, became a bit nervous.

He already knew the specific negotiation conditions and was worried that cooperation could not be reached on some detailed issues, causing the negotiations to break down.

Unexpectedly, Li Xuewu's statement hit the mark, directly untying the dead knot of contradiction from another angle.

Since Shenfei wanted to send cadres to learn, they could also accept reciprocal conditions, right?

This way, the risks borne by everyone were equal; who didn't have a few secrets?

The deputy chief designer who proposed this condition at the work meeting was sweating on his forehead.

It was Zhou Zicheng who made the final decision, nodding and approving Li Xuewu's point of view.

"I very much agree with and affirm Secretary-General Li's opinion; learning has always been mutual."

He said sincerely: "We are willing to humbly learn the Red Star Steel Group's advanced management experience and seek the true scriptures for improving technical production capacity."

"Likewise, we also welcome cadres from the Red Star Steel Group to come to Shenfei for exchange and learning."

Zhou Zicheng spread his hands and said: "We are willing and will certainly be able to bring out twelve points of enthusiasm to provide the best work and learning atmosphere for the comrades who come to Shenfei for exchange and learning."

"I am already looking forward to meeting in the capital."

Gao Yaqin took the lead in standing up, took the initiative to reach out her hand, and said: "Welcome you to be a guest at the Red Star Steel Group."

"Thank you, certainly—"

Being able to feel that the intention of the negotiation had been reached, Zhou Zicheng stood up and caught her hand to shake it.

The happiest one was Wang Xin; across the conference table, he reached out his hand to signal Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu smiled and shook hands with him, saying: "Welcome to be a guest at the Red Star Steel Group."

"Certainly, I have longed for it for a long time."

Wang Xin shook hands with him excitedly, and then went to shake hands with Gao Yaqin, who had just let go of her hand.

In the whole venue, he should be the one full of hope for this negotiation, and he sincerely wanted to connect the two enterprises together.

He was so excited because he never expected that such an important cooperation intention could be reached in the second round of negotiations; it was truly rare.

When shaking hands with Zhou Zicheng, Li Xuewu formally represented the Red Star Steel Group Management Committee Director and General Manager Li Huai De to issue an invitation to him, inviting him to meet in the capital.

A verbal invitation was not enough to express the importance and attitude toward this cooperation; Li Xuewu also handed over an exquisite invitation letter and a gift at the same time.

The invitation letter was written by Li Huai De himself, and the gift was a metal model of the KH-4 helicopter, the first model produced by the Red Star Steel Group's Steel City Aircraft Manufacturing Factory.

The model was made of the same metal material as the helicopter fuselage; not only could the propeller rotate, but the seats and operating structure inside the curved glass were also clearly visible, making it a very exquisite work of art.

The group had a specialized department to organize the production and creation of such works of art; each batch had a serial number, and it was an exclusive gift from the group to guests.

Zhou Zicheng looked at the invitation letter and model gift in his hand and appeared very happy.

With Wang Xin's help, he also presented return gifts to the Red Star Steel Group negotiation team leaders, namely Li Xuewu and the other two.

The gift was a pure steel pilot's watch, with identical styles for men and women, looking very exquisite.

Other negotiation team members also received corresponding gifts, which were fountain pens printed with the Shenfei logo; it looked like the inspiration came from the Steel Group.

On the afternoon of September 14, Li Xuewu parted ways with Gao Yaqin and Cheng Kaiyuan; the two would take a private plane back to the capital to report the results of this negotiation to the Group Management Committee.

Li Xuewu would take the train back to Steel City to use the short time to handle accumulated official business.

He would rush back to Fengcheng on September 16 to accompany Shenfei's signing team back to the capital together.

This was the result of the three of them discussing together after the negotiation meeting ended.

Zhou Zicheng and Wang Xin both sincerely invited him to be a guest at Shenfei and visit Shenfei's factory.

But Li Xuewu, citing the reason that he had been away from Steel City for more than half a month, expressed his wish to have the opportunity to visit Shenfei again next time, and still boarded the train back to Steel City.

Secretary Zhang Enyuan had already received the news in advance and was waiting at the entrance of the train station with the driver.

As soon as he saw his figure, he took the initiative to step forward to take the luggage and said congratulations with a smile.

"Just normal cooperation."

Li Xuewu smiled, nodded to the driver who opened the car door for him, and got into the car.

Zhang Enyuan nimbly put the luggage in his hand into the trunk, and then jumped into the passenger seat.

"Factory Director Kong of Steel Flight has already received the news and is waiting for you in the office."

He turned around and said to Li Xuewu: "I have already reminded him that you won't go to the factory but will go straight home, but he still wants to wait for you."

"I won't go over; you tell him for me to get ready and act according to the plan."

Li Xuewu leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes slightly, his exhaustion undisguised.

Waking up at 7:00 in the morning, only resting briefly for half an hour at noon, and busy until 3:00 in the afternoon.

Even if he got a certain amount of rest on the train, it still couldn't eliminate the exhaustion of the intense meeting and the journey.

If it weren't for his body being strong enough, if it were old Li running such a tight schedule, perhaps his diabetes could have been exhausted into sugar-blood disease.

Zhang Enyuan had already understood his meaning, so he didn't report on work matters anymore.

Since the leader had already returned, he would be handling official business in the office all day tomorrow.

When the time came, whoever wanted to report work could be arranged to meet in turn according to his arrangements.

Li Xuewu had already told him that he had to return to Fengcheng on the morning of the 16th, and time was very tight.

Zhang Enyuan had already counted the urgent official business together as much as possible in the afternoon.

No matter how urgent the work was, he had to give the Secretary-General enough energy and time.

The car stopped steadily in front of the villa; before Li Xuewu opened his eyes, Zhang Enyuan and the driver had already gotten out of the car.

The driver helped him open the car door, while Zhang Enyuan went to the trunk to help him get the luggage.

"Wu Shu—"

The figure of the "Big-Faced Cat" appeared at the door, and then ran over.

"Alright, just send it here."

Li Xuewu raised his hand and signaled to Zhang Enyuan: "Just give the luggage to him."

"Then leader, please rest well."

Zhang Enyuan smiled and handed the luggage to the chubby boy who ran over, looked at Li Xuewu and said: "I will come to pick you up at 6:00 tomorrow morning."

"Thank you for your hard work, stay safe."

Li Xuewu nodded, and after Banggeng held the luggage steadily, he stepped into the courtyard.

From the open door, one could smell the fragrance of food wafting out; this was definitely not the smell delivered from a restaurant, because it wasn't that intense.

Only the smoky air that would exist from pan-frying and stir-frying in the kitchen, this felt like the taste of home.

Don't go to a restaurant and talk nonsense about tasting "mom's taste"; does the kitchen aunt also call mom?

"Aunt Zhou said you worked hard and wants to make red-braised pork and fried hairtail for you to eat."

Banggeng reported with a smile: "There is also very nourishing chicken soup, the kind I can drink too."

"Did you get fat again?"

Li Xuewu looked at him suspiciously and asked: "In the half month I wasn't home, did you persist in exercising?"

"Of course—" Banggeng held his neck and emphasized: "I exercise every day!"

"If you don't believe me, look—"

He rolled up his sleeves and gestured to the muscles on his arms and said: "Look at this tendon meat."

"This is also called tendon meat?" Li Xuewu pinched it amusedly and said: "Where does the fat come from on tendon meat?"

"This is the fat I accumulated for the winter, used for keeping warm."

Banggeng walked into the entrance hall with him, muttering: "I won't be cold this winter."

"That doesn't mean you need to accumulate fat on your face; does having a thick face also resist freezing?"

Li Xuewu changed his slippers and asked Zhou Wang Yamei, who was standing at the kitchen door: "You came back too?"

"I was a little worried about you."

Seeing that he was fine, Zhou Wang Yamei returned to the kitchen, exhorting: "Take a bath first; the food will be ready in half an hour."

"Just waiting for you to put it in the pot."

Banggeng put the luggage on the sofa and echoed with a smile: "I'm almost drooling."

"Hehe, eat more tonight."

Li Xuewu looked at him with a mischievous smile and said: "Otherwise, you'll be hungry for the five kilometers tomorrow morning."

He poked Banggeng's chubby face and said: "I bet you didn't persist in exercising."

"Then let's bet on something."

Banggeng shouted arrogantly: "Let's bet on you letting me go to Fengcheng, how about that?"

"Go to Fengcheng?" Li Xuewu looked him over and asked: "What are you going to Fengcheng for?"

"Didn't something happen in Fengcheng?"

Banggeng said very passionately: "You have to give me a chance to show my abilities."

"What abilities do you have?"

Li Xuewu walked into the bathroom, looked at the bathtub covered by the bamboo curtain, and knew that Zhou Wang Yamei had already prepared hot water for him; his heart felt warm.

Banggeng's heart was also warm; at this moment, he stood at the door of the bathroom, watching him soak in the bath, and insisted: "I can fight!"

"Oh, how many can you fight?"

Li Xuewu's tone couldn't be called suspicious, but it also lacked sufficient trust.

This made Young Master Jia very excited, and he tried hard to perform: "I can fight ten!"

"Kindergarten kids?"

Li Xuewu turned his head and looked at him, saying: "Do you think bragging to me doesn't require paying taxes, so you brag hard?"

"I said I can fight ten, I didn't say I fight ten at once." Banggeng argued: "A few days ago I also..."

"Hmm? What else did you do?"

Li Xuewu seemed to have discovered something, turned his head to look at him and asked: "Did you cause trouble?"

"No, just talking casually."

This kid obviously had a guilty conscience; before Li Xuewu could say anything else, he turned and left the doorway.

When Zhou Wang Yamei called him to eat, he had already fallen asleep in the bathtub.

Warm water really can wear away exhaustion and help sleep, but it also consumes physical strength and deepens exhaustion.

Facing the table of good dishes prepared by Zhou Wang Yamei, Li Xuewu's appetite was a bit lacking.

It wasn't that the taste of the food was wrong, but the exhaustion reaction in a state of hard work and fatigue.

"If I had known you were like this, I would have let you eat first and then soak in the bath."

Zhou Wang Yamei refilled a bowl of rice for him, her voice sounding a bit helpless: "Have another bowl."

"One bowl is one bowl—"

Li Xuewu took the rice, looked at her with a smile, and the meaning was self-evident.

Zhou Wang Yamei was both angry and amused, glared at him, and signaled to Banggeng, who was gnawing on a bone.

Li Xuewu didn't pay much attention, turned to tease Banggeng: "How have you been living these days when your Aunt Zhou and I weren't home?"

"How else could I live?"

Banggeng raised his head and looked at him suspiciously, saying: "It's just how it is."

"But seriously, Wu Shu."

He looked at Li Xuewu and pursed his lips: "The days you weren't home, I felt it was the most relaxed time since I came to Steel City."

"What do you mean? Annoyed by me?"

Li Xuewu ate a piece of pork rib and asked: "Or do you think I'm a burden?"

"Neither, it's just that being alone is very relaxed, a feeling of freedom."

Banggeng nodded seriously and said: "I finally understand why some people actively leave their parents after becoming adults."

"Just because of freedom?" Li Xuewu looked him over and said: "Are you not free when you are at home?"

"Do you even need to ask?" Banggeng curled his lips: "When my mom is at work, my grandma nags; when my mom is off work, my mom nags."

"Can you imagine how boring and helpless life is when someone nags at you non-stop from morning until sleep?"

Without waiting for Li Xuewu to answer, he shook his head slightly and sighed: "It's miserable!"

"How miserable? More miserable than running five kilometers?" Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said: "Or more miserable than being discovered when doing something wrong?"

"Being discovered is of course doing something wrong."

Banggeng gnawed on the bone in his hand and said coolly: "What isn't discovered is a secret."

"Makes sense—"

Li Xuewu finished eating, put down his chopsticks, and gave Banggeng a thumbs up.

"It seems that you might not have exercised these days, but you must have read books."

He nodded, looked at the proud Banggeng and said: "I hope you can be this tough and clever when trouble comes knocking."

"I'm going to Fengcheng, how can trouble come knocking?" Banggeng asked back: "Even if it comes knocking, is it still trouble if it can't find me?"

"Who said you are going to Fengcheng?"

Li Xuewu looked at him seriously and said: "If trouble doesn't knock on the door for a day, I won't let you leave for a day; just wait, young master."

Zhou Wang Yamei watched the two of them bickering and watched the fun amusedly; she knew Banggeng had caused trouble.

"Do you want to rest well?"

After dinner, in the days without TV, of course, it was time to go to bed early.

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at him with concern and asked: "Aren't you going to the unit to be busy with work tomorrow? And you have to rush to Fengcheng the day after tomorrow..."

"Work is work, life is life; this is a principle."

Li Xuewu patted her arm, looked at her suspicious gaze and said: "Come, up, it's a matter of dignity; I can't let you look down on me."

"I have never looked down on you."

Zhou Wang Yamei glared at him coquettishly, knowing her concern had hurt his self-esteem.

"In my heart, you have always been a tall, mighty, and infinitely powerful image."

"Is it a bit late to say these things at this time? Why do I feel like you are comforting me?" Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes slightly and asked back: "Do you really think I'm bluffing?"

"Do I have to take the initiative to admit my mistake?"

Zhou Wang Yamei lay down beside him amusedly, patted him gently and said: "Alright, be good, sleep, ah."

"You provoked me first, Zhou Wang Yamei." Li Xuewu turned over, looked at her and emphasized: "Prepare for battle, comrade."

"You're serious, comrade."

Zhou Wang Yamei patted his chest amusedly and said: "Let's say it first, don't blame me for pestering you if you don't have energy at work tomorrow."

"I don't have this habit."

Li Xuewu propped himself up on his arms, raised his eyebrows at her and said: "But this sentence can be given to you; don't say I used too much force."

"Will you give me a chance to say these things?"

Zhou Wang Yamei only had him in her eyes, reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck and asked with a smile: "Or are you saying you need some time to complete psychological construction?"

"Good, don't cry in a while."

Crying was impossible; at most, she would howl a few times, but she would also try her best to restrain herself.

Zhou Wang Yamei didn't want to face Banggeng's strange gaze tomorrow morning, and even less did she want to explain why she cried.

The war she started would naturally be extinguished by her; she had enough experience to deal with this kind of scene; at worst, she would just faint.

"How is the Fengcheng matter?"

The moon was in the middle of the sky, the wind and rain dissipated; after Zhou Wang Yamei returned from the bathroom, she changed into pajamas and asked Li Xuewu, who was lying on the bed.

Li Xuewu hummed twice and then said: "People are still being looked for."

"Do you think it's the two of them..."

Zhou Wang Yamei didn't finish the rest of the words, but got back on the bed and looked at him.

"What do you think?"

Li Xuewu opened his eyes and looked at her, asking: "Are they worth suspecting?"

"How would I know? I didn't go to Fengcheng to see them." Zhou Wang Yamei frowned slightly: "But I thought about it for a long time and didn't think of the reason why they would do this."

"I can't think of it either, so I stopped thinking about it; let them go and do it."

Li Xuewu closed his eyes again and said: "No matter who caused the matter, there must be a purpose."

"I don't have the patience to wait for a long time for the horse's tail to be exposed and wear them out."

"In that case..." Zhou Wang Yamei asked hesitantly: "Will the Fengcheng business be destroyed, and even implicate Steel City and Jilin City?"

"That depends on what purpose the mastermind behind the scenes wants to achieve; you can't catch the wolf without sacrificing the child."

Li Xuewu opened his eyes, looked at the ceiling and said: "If you don't reveal flaws, can the other party take the bait?"

"But the price is a bit high."

Zhou Wang Yamei frowned and said: "It's hard to pull out and then operate back in."

"I never look at gains and losses in what I do; people are more important."

Li Xuewu reached out and touched her smooth face, smiled slightly and said: "Only with people can there be things; if people are gone, the hearts of the people are gone; who will do things?"

"Are you planning to let Banggeng go to Fengcheng?"

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at him and asked: "Isn't he a bit too young?"

"Follow along to learn and broaden his horizons." Li Xuewu turned his head to look out the window and said: "Having skills but no courage won't work."

"Lin Chong dared to go to Liangshan because he was at the end of his rope; if he had a choice, he wouldn't have become a bandit."

He sighed and said: "Let's see how he chooses; life and death are determined by fate."