Chapter 1500: Twice a year

"Give me a copy of the environmental sanitation engineering management plan for the Steel City Industrial Zone."

After the administrative meeting ended, Zhang Guoqi walked out of the conference room together with Li Xuewu.

"Now that Comrade Dong Wenxue is in charge of business coordination, the entire setup of the Liangma River Industrial Zone has been dumped on me. I really have a headache for the moment."

He lit a cigarette for himself, took a puff, and said, "Especially the environmental sanitation."

"It's an ecological industrial zone, after all. If there's a problem with environmental sanitation, it would be a huge joke."

When he said this to Li Xuewu, he didn't show the slightest bit of pride or complaint; he appeared very frank and natural.

Dong Wenxue had been removed from his post as Director of the Liangma River Industrial Zone Management Committee due to his involvement in the safety production responsibility accident at the No. 4 furnace of the Steel City Metallurgical Plant.

While it was called business coordination, in reality, he was being given the cold-treatment under the protection of Li Huai De.

Dong Wenxue was now mainly responsible for the preparation and implementation of the group's visit and communication project to East Germany. In fact, he had been isolated from the group's internal work, which also made it convenient for the accident investigation team to handle the matter.

Why did Zhang Guoqi use the word "dumped"? He was a person who worked rigorously, so there was naturally a reason for him to use the word this way.

Dong Wenxue's current situation looked bleak, but in reality, major issues were being reduced to minor ones, and minor ones were being resolved entirely.

At the very least, Li Huai De hadn't kicked him while he was down, so his position wouldn't fluctuate.

Being isolated from the group's work now was precisely the opportunity and space for the investigation team to distinguish responsibilities.

Zhang Guoqi naturally knew this. Once the investigation report was released, there was a high probability that Dong Wenxue would avoid the risks and continue to concurrently manage the Liangma River Industrial Zone.

The Red Star Steel Group had numerous subsidiaries, mostly concentrated in three regional areas.

The Liangma River Ecological Industrial Zone located in Jingcheng, the Red Star Industrial Zone located in Steel City, and the Trade Management Center located in Jinmen.

The Trade Management Center in Jinmen mainly concentrated key businesses such as trade management, external services for the United Savings Bank, technology development and output, the capital settlement center, and supply chain centralized procurement.

Gao Yaqin, as the group's Chief Economist, was mainly responsible for the work in that region.

Why was it Gao Yaqin?

It was very simple; she had come together with Zhang Guoqi, and this was only the second year; her foundation was unstable.

Entrusting the Jinmen Trade Management Center to her responsibility was something Old Li could still feel at ease with.

A key point was that Gao Yaqin had been transferred from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation; she had no connections in the industrial system, and she was single-mindedly focused only on her work.

There was no need to mention the Red Star Steel City Industrial Zone; it concentrated almost all of the group's heavy industrial enterprises and had also set up a leading group office across regions, which was equivalent to circling out a sphere of influence.

Li Huai De couldn't say he completely trusted Li Xuewu, but his ideology and the goals he pursued in his work were consistent with Li Xuewu's.

Besides, Old Li couldn't find anyone more trustworthy or capable than Li Xuewu.

Therefore, by supporting Li Xuewu to go to Liaodong, Old Li had made a move that looked risky but was actually very stable.

Looking again at the Liangma River Ecological Industrial Zone in Jingcheng, this was a very complex region.

It wasn't just because the group headquarters was located here, but also because the group's major general companies, scientific research, welfare, education, services, and light industrial enterprise systems were also set up in the industrial zone.

The work that the group leaders were mainly responsible for was basically concentrated here. What would you say this place was?

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a place of fierce competition, ambushes on all sides, and flashing swords and shadows. How could Old Li feel at ease handing over this crucial industrial zone to him to be responsible for?

It could only be Dong Wenxue. Even with the No. 4 furnace accident, and even with the pushing and pulling of certain people, Old Li hadn't wavered in his determination to use him.

Zhang Guoqi was very clear that because his own foundation was still shallow and he had made a principled mistake last year, Old Li had pulled him over to do temporary work.

If you're doing temporary work, you have to have the awareness of doing temporary work. If you really wanted to burn three fires with great fanfare, you would burn yourself before the first fire even caught.

He was actually good at saving trouble; he didn't want to point fingers in the Liangma River Industrial Zone, so he directly copied the homework.

Li Xuewu had achieved results in the Steel City Industrial Zone, so I would just follow the established rules and learn from the advanced work experience of the Steel City Industrial Zone. There's nothing wrong with doing that, right?

How heavy was Old Li's suspicious nature? Others might not know, but could he not know while in the group?

He was about to go on a business trip to East Germany, so he must be very worried about these rascals at home.

So, before leaving, he wanted to catch one or two to kill as a warning to the others.

Whoever stuck their head out at this time was a big idiot. Old Su and the others hadn't been cleaned up less this year.

You might see the group's year-end work summary as brilliant and the results as dazzling, but you didn't see how many undercurrents were surging within the group this year.

Not to mention anything else, just talking about the organizational structure reform and organizational personnel reform that the group focused on promoting, how many units and departments had their positions adjusted?

Starting from the group level to compress the establishment, right after the official establishment of the New Jingcheng No. 1 Factory, and after the cadres originally affiliated with the Red Star Factory were transferred away, the group began to strictly require a "one principal, two deputies" system.

Units with smaller scales, less business volume, and fewer personnel only had one principal and one deputy position.

Don't talk about being too busy to handle the work. Under the tide of reform, if you're too busy to handle it, it means your work ability is insufficient, and you'll be replaced immediately.

The group level began organizational reform, and the general companies and subsidiaries below were even more so.

In the second half of the year, the group took advantage of the wind of the excellent results achieved by the organizational work reform in Steel City, established an experience summary and work group, and directly performed surgery on other units and enterprises of the group.

After investigation and research, they carried out precise cutting on some redundant departments and personnel.

Li Huai De mentioned one point at the organizational work meeting in the second half of the year, and that was that one must be able to go up and down.

Gu Weijie also insisted on this point in the organizational work in the second half of the year. Many units and departments were cut or merged by the group, and the intensity of compressing the establishment was very great.

Under the premise of no positions, administrative management personnel either sank to the grassroots level or were transferred out.

The group gave the green light to those who actively applied for transfer out, and supported them going to any unit of Jingcheng Industry, as long as there was a unit willing to accept them, they could go anywhere.

Under this vigorous work style, Li Huai De was scolded by many people.

But he was increasingly valued in the hearts of the First Ministry of Machine Building and the leaders above. Old Li had already become a star figure of reform within the industrial system.

The key was that under his leadership, the Red Star Steel Group not only passed the transition period steadily but also created dazzling results during this period.

Compressing the establishment and sinking management personnel resulted in a concentration of excellent grassroots talent.

By promoting younger graduates with university education experience to work and train in the group company and the organs of subordinate companies, the group's overall strength and work atmosphere presented a trend of rejuvenation.

Youth represented vitality, which was precisely the excellent quality and connotation needed by the Red Star Steel Group in the process of starting a business.

Management cadres who sank to the grassroots level could better grasp the group's work requirements and organizational construction needs, actively improve the construction of the Party's organizational structure according to the requirements of superiors, and fully grasp ideological construction work.

When the management level was more vibrant and the grassroots level was more stable, how could the group's work not achieve results?

If it were purely just being able to go up and down, this year's group couldn't be called treacherous.

In a group enterprise of less than 70,000 people, how many organ personnel were there, and how many cadres were there?

In one year, they screened from top to bottom, and the archives room of the Supervision Division was almost not enough. The person in charge of the Supervision Division who was responsible for this work, Zhou Zechuan, was even promoted to be the Deputy Factory Director in charge of production at the Metallurgical Plant because of "merit." Tell me if that's exciting enough.

Looking at others wasn't obvious, but looking at Gu Weijie, who looked nearly ten years older, it was most obvious; she even had white hair.

This year was a major exam for the group's cadres, and it was also a test for her, who was the main examiner responsible for organizational work.

Selecting and employing people, transferring and investigating people; other departments were all reducing people, only the Supervision Division borrowed clean young people from the grassroots level several times to handle special cases.

Li Xuewu could feel this serious atmosphere even in Steel City. The group's organizational work was on the road to nirvana and rebirth.

No company or unit affiliated with the group was allowed to set up management structures privately. Those who needed to must report to the group company, and only after investigation and research could they be approved to be set up and allocated management funds.

For any unit that set up management structures privately or borrowed and transferred grassroots personnel in violation of regulations, the person in charge would be removed from their post without exception; this had become a red line.

This year, Director Li was firing on all cylinders, looking just like a tyrant, not giving people a chance to catch their breath.

Zhang Guoqi wouldn't give him a chance to establish his authority. As soon as the meeting ended, he actively "leaned" toward the Secretary-General, Li Xuewu.

Thinking about it, it was funny; a member of the management committee and deputy director actually wanted to lean toward the Secretary-General. Who would believe it if it were said out loud?

But this was the fact. The pragmatic quality represented by Li Xuewu was precisely the protective umbrella he wanted.

Li Xuewu also saw through his little thoughts and said with a smile, "I'll make a call for it in a while."

"From now on, we'll be neighbors."

Zhang Guoqi pointed to the office in front and said with a smile, "Come over to visit often."

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu waved his hand with a smile and walked into his office.

That's right, the group organ officially moved into the Gemini office building. After the Jingcheng Red Star Rolling Mill fully stopped work and production and entered the demolition and relocation stage, and after other units and departments completed their relocation, the group leaders moved into their new offices as a whole.

Li Xuewu's office at the group headquarters was very close to the General Manager's office, separated only by a comprehensive office, and next door was Zhang Guoqi's office. Otherwise, why would he say they were neighbors?

The new office still carried the residual smell after renovation. It had been several months since the renovation ended, but perhaps because it hadn't been used, one could still smell a faint scent.

"Secretary-General, the materials you wanted."

Liu Huadong, a staff member of the First Secretariat Division, knocked on his door and placed a stack of materials on the desk. Fan Hua, the Director of the External Affairs Office, also walked in.

"Secretary-General, the meeting this afternoon."

Unlike the rigid and cautious Liu Huadong, Fan Hua appeared very relaxed when reporting work to Li Xuewu, and her tone was more natural.

"This return to Jingcheng was short, so I didn't let Zhang Enyuan come over."

Li Xuewu nodded to Liu Huadong, signaling that the materials had been received and he could go back.

The words that followed were said to Fan Hua. The two were also old colleagues, both from the Security Division.

This was Liu Huadong's first close contact with the Secretary-General. He had just been thinking about whether his performance was qualified, but now he felt a bit lost.

After saying goodbye to the Secretary-General, he walked out of the office reluctantly.

The opportunity he had just fought for was wasted like this. Who could have thought of it? The Secretary-General didn't bring his secretary back simply because his time back was short.

This actually confirmed the rumor that the Secretary-General was very respectful and caring toward the staff around him.

But it was an opportunity he had fought so hard for!

The Secretary-General's work task this time back was actually very heavy. Just this morning and afternoon, there were important meetings to be held.

In this situation, group leaders should bring their own secretaries to do service work.

But what about it?

Everyone didn't see Zhang Enyuan come back, so it was inevitable that some people would have different thoughts.

If one could really get the favor of the Secretary-General, wouldn't that be an opportunity to reach the sky in one step?

Fan Hua, however, could hear that the sentence the leader just said wasn't actually said to her.

It was just that Liu Huadong was only immersed in the emotion of loss and perhaps didn't hear it.

"You are too tired like this."

She didn't wait for Li Xuewu's permission and took the initiative to organize the materials on the table.

Although Li Xuewu didn't work in the group, his office had materials delivered.

Generally, more urgent ones were reported by the Executive Deputy Secretary-General Chen Shouzhi via phone at his discretion or handled according to the Secretary-General's authorization.

The remaining work was sent by the confidential secretary to Steel City to be handed to Li Xuewu for processing.

Li Xuewu's secretary, Zhang Enyuan, was selected from the Steel City Metallurgical Plant and hadn't been to Jingcheng many times.

Even the overall relocation of the group organ didn't have Li Xuewu present, let alone Zhang Enyuan.

There was a secretary's office here, but this was Li Xuewu's first time coming to his own office.

I don't know who arranged it, but it was very similar to the furnishings and layout of his office during his time working in the Security Division.

A large desk with a side cabinet, newspapers and timely documents neatly placed on the table; a larger conference table placed on the side, piled with neat work documents; a square table facing the wall hanging the regional map, while other spaces were occupied by solid wood cabinets.

Of course, the office also had a reception area, with a single sofa and a three-person long sofa placed against the wall to save space as much as possible.

This was the new office building, and this was his office; otherwise, it really wouldn't be able to fit so many things. Fan Hua felt tired just organizing it.

"No, I have to call someone over."

She didn't wait for Li Xuewu's agreement, ignored her own work, and turned to go out.

Li Xuewu looked at the documents piled up in the room and also scratched his head with a bitter smile.

There were many documents here that had been moved from his Secretary-General's office at the Rolling Mill.

He had already taken away the important documents, but the retained documents and work tracking documents were still there.

"Come on, whoever I catch counts."

Fan Hua's voice came from the doorway, followed by Wang Lu's joke.

"You say it like I'm not willing to help the Secretary-General work."

The two walked into the office. Wang Lu looked at Li Xuewu and emphasized with a smile, "Leader, I took the initiative to apply to help."

"Hehe, good, I know."

Li Xuewu also responded with a smile and waved his hand at the two, saying, "Don't tidy up too much. It's fine to find someone else to tidy up when I come back."

"It's not very troublesome. They are all organized, just categorize them."

Fan Hua explained to Wang Lu in a low voice, "I don't trust others. The documents here..."

"I know." Wang Lu nodded in understanding and said, "I organized some of the documents here, so it's not difficult to tidy up."

"General Manager Zhang wants the plan document for the environmental sanitation management project of the Metallurgical Plant."

Li Xuewu looked at the materials in his hand and said at the same time, "Whoever of you has time, help me ask for it and send it to General Manager Zhang."

"Got it, don't you worry about it."

Wang Lu was as crisp as when she was his secretary and took the initiative to respond, "I'll be responsible for it."

"I have a lot of work recently. You work harder while the Secretary-General is in Jingcheng these few days."

Fan Hua gave a soft instruction and took the documents in her hand to the file cabinet to categorize them.

She knew about the relative relationship between Wang Lu and Li Xuewu, so she didn't worry that others would gossip; on the contrary, it was inconvenient for her.

She had been in the same department as the Secretary-General before, and even her husband, Ren An, was the same.

Now she was too active, which easily made people gossip, especially in her current position, which was the most complex department of the External Affairs Office.

"Secretary-General, the meeting this afternoon."

Fan Hua finished organizing the documents in her hand, saw that the leader was still looking at documents, and took the initiative to walk over and remind him softly, "Don't forget you have to speak."

"Hmm, I know." Li Xuewu just nodded and said, "The draft is ready-made."

This afternoon, Li Xuewu was to represent the management committee to make a work report to the entire group's employee representative congress. The draft of the report was naturally ready-made; this didn't allow for impromptu speeches or random adaptation.

Although he presided over the compilation of the report, not a single word on it was allowed to be changed.

It was normal to make mistakes in a speech, but the issued document must be the version discussed, researched, and passed by the management committee.

"Then don't forget to go down to eat."

Fan Hua signaled to Wang Lu and pointed at the watch on her hand to remind Li Xuewu.

"I still have something to do. Let Wang Lu tidy up here first, and I'll come over in the afternoon."

"Hmm, go do your work. It's fine to come back and tidy up when you have time."

Li Xuewu raised his head and looked at her, saying, "The office key is in the duty room."

"Hmm, I'll try."

Fan Hua didn't talk nonsense. Her "try" meant trying to finish tidying up while Li Xuewu was here.

Although Li Xuewu trusted her enough, she tried not to come here when the leader wasn't around.

If you say the leader's office key is managed strictly, then where did the documents on the table come from?

It's very simple; the duty room has the only key, and the other two are in the hands of the leader and the secretary, Zhang Enyuan. This is the content of the organ management regulations.

Every time materials need to be sent here, it must be done through the duty room to open the door. This is the procedure.

Since the beginning of this year, the group's management system had become increasingly strict, and many details were scrutinized very tightly, especially the Confidential Division, which was very tense.

It was also because the group had several leakage accidents one after another, which made the leaders angry.

The most serious one even dealt with the leader in charge. Others might not remember, but the Director of the External Affairs Office, Fan Hua, definitely remembered, because it involved the newly appointed Vice President of the Santa Ya Group at that time.

Don't look at the good relationship with the leader; when something really happened, even if the leader didn't say anything, she would be hard to absolve from blame, at least she couldn't get over it in her heart.

After Fan Hua left, Wang Lu opened her mouth, "Her nickname now is Little Spinning Top."

Li Xuewu raised his eyelids, looked at the document in his hand, and said, "What about you? A matchmaker?"

"I'm an amateur—"

Wang Lu pouted and said, "This counts as doing a good deed, right? You can't blame me."

"You just like watching the fun."

Li Xuewu broke through the essence of her "doing a good deed," but it made Wang Lu laugh.

"If there's no fun, I'll create fun to watch." She explained with a smile, "You don't know, watching the awkwardness of those people dating is very interesting."

Isn't this a realistic version of binge-watching—

There were no TV dramas in this era, but it didn't hinder women's curiosity about love.

She was willing to spend time and effort just to join in this fun.

"What about Yajun? Doesn't he talk about you?"

Li Xuewu raised his head and looked at her while flipping the page, saying, "Busy with other people's business all day, delayed your own business, right?"

"Don't urge me—"

Wang Lu sighed and said, "Now his parents are urging, my parents are urging. They wish I were pregnant now so they could hold a grandson."

"You don't want a child?"

Li Xuewu didn't expect her to be so rebellious, looked at her, and asked, "Or haven't played enough yet?"

"Where—" Wang Lu took a breath and said, "I just simply feel it's not suitable now, my work and his work."

"He was just promoted to Deputy Captain last month. Now he's so busy he doesn't even have time to go home."

She wasn't complaining, just explaining the current situation of the couple, "It's hard for me to see him."

"Where did he go? Security Brigade?"

Li Xuewu really didn't care about the current security system. This was also to avoid Old Li's suspicion.

The group's security system, after his reconstruction and Wang Xiaoqin's management, couldn't be said to be deeply rooted, but it had to be said to have far-reaching influence.

He tried his best not to pay attention to personnel issues. This was also a gentleman's agreement with Old Li.

In reality, there was naturally no agreement, but the two reached a compromise tacitly.

He withdrew from the security system and moved toward a higher position, so naturally, he had to give up his past influence.

It's just that this kind of influence couldn't be given up just by saying so, and from time to time, it reminded him of relationships and personnel, including Li Xuewu.

Just take Zhao Yajun as an example; even he himself couldn't shake off Li Xuewu's influence, so what's the point of talking about completely withdrawing.

"I asked him to go to the Supervision Brigade, but he insisted on staying in the Security Brigade. He wouldn't listen even when I persuaded him."

Wang Lu was complaining this time, and it was only in front of Li Xuewu that she said such things.

"The work of the Supervision Brigade is relatively easy, mainly management and supervision, without having to stare at training and executing tasks every day."

She organized the documents on the desk and said, "You don't know how hard he works. He didn't even tell me when his arm was fractured. It was Big Sister who discovered it and scolded him."

What could Li Xuewu say when listening to her complaints? As a second brother, he might be able to say a few words, but he was also a leader. If the people below were working hard, could he say negative words?

However, he only needed to listen. For Wang Lu, this was a kind of comfort.

She had nowhere else to say it, so she said it today. In a blink of an eye, it was noon.

Seeing Li Xuewu stand up and point his hand to signal that it was time for her to eat, Wang Lu also felt a bit embarrassed.

"Second Brother, when are you leaving?"

She explained, "Yajun and I will go sit at your place."

"Go if you want to, why wait for me to be at home?" Li Xuewu waved his hand with a smile, signaling her to go together, "I'm leaving the day after tomorrow."

"How long will you be gone?"

Wang Lu put down the documents in her hand, followed him out of the office, and closed the door by the way.

The new office was different; even the locks were much more advanced, all imported goods.

"Not sure, depends on the specific itinerary."

Li Xuewu explained casually, "General Manager Dong is already doing the preliminary contact and preparation."

"I heard, is it a negotiation?"

Wang Lu asked curiously, "Are you going directly to negotiate?"

"How could it be that fast—"

Li Xuewu looked at her with amusement and said, "There still has to be a process of on-site investigation, but the leading leader won't stay that long."

"However, now that both sides have made contact, many things will be easier to push forward after going there."

He thought for a while and said to Wang Lu, "If you are interested in trade work, you must find time to learn a foreign language. This is very important."

"I'm starting to learn now? A bit late, right?" Wang Lu said with difficulty, "I only know a little Russian, learned it when I was in school."

"Russian is fine, but you have to be good at both speaking and writing. This counts as a hard indicator."

Li Xuewu explained with a smile, "I won't talk about the past, but now the standard for selecting people for the Foreign Trade Division established by the Sales General Company is this. If you want to go there, you have to study hard."

"Then forget it—"

Wang Lu shook her head in fear and said, "Actually, it's quite good in the office, at least the work isn't that tiring."

"Work and family, you have to take care of one." Li Xuewu persuaded her, "If you want Yajun to develop in his career, you have to sacrifice your own career ambition."

"If you have a pursuit for your career, then you have to let Yajun support you."

He looked at Wang Lu and reminded her, "If both of you want to develop and progress in your careers, then you have to sacrifice the child's development."

"Unless someone in your family helps you take care of the child, otherwise the situation is much harder than you think."

"Hmm, I've thought of all that."

Wang Lu sighed and said, "Even if I don't want one this year, I have to next year, otherwise his parents won't say anything, but my parents will definitely clean me up."

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled as he got off the elevator and said to her, "Or just go to the Union, train for two years, and then consider career development."

It was called training and development, but in reality, it was going to have a child. This was the treatment for those with connections.

Otherwise, what else?

Just give birth. It's not like there aren't people working with big bellies in their office. They only have maternity leave to rest when they are close to the due date.

And they have to come back to work within half a year after giving birth. Feeding the child is a troublesome thing.

But even if it's so troublesome, can they say they won't give birth? They can't even get over their own hurdle.

There are a few ruthless people like Zhou Miaomiao who haven't had children for more than two years after marriage.

Her husband, Zhou Tan, also has an attitude of letting things be, without caring about the pressure from both parents. The two are truly a fairy couple, famous for being envied in the organ.

However, Wang Lu doesn't dare to learn from them. Envy is envy, but if she really dares to do so, Zhao Yajun might spoil her, but her parents won't.

A married woman is no longer a child. It's impossible to be favored again.

Goods in the merchant's hands are treasures, but in the buyer's hands, they are orders that don't support 7-day no-reason returns.

"Strengthen the guidance of the four modernizations core values, improve the industrial organizational construction service structure, implement the industrial modernization strategy..."

"Through comprehensive reform and organizational ecological construction, promote the coordinated progress of production work and reform work, achieve the comprehensive development of the enterprise... gather strength, and strive for building a rich...!"

Li Xuewu's speech at the congress received unanimous approval and applause from the scene.

His speech was pragmatic, easy to understand, and had strong penetration, responding to the aspirations of the employees, naturally winning the approval and applause of the employee representatives.

After the meeting ended, Li Xuewu left through the passage behind the main stage with the management committee members, while the employee representatives left from both sides of the venue.

Zhang Guoqi actually wanted to find Li Xuewu to meet and talk, but she couldn't find him.

Even before the meeting started, she only met him in a hurry and didn't even say two words.

"Do you have anything to do today?"

Qin Huairu's seat wasn't far from hers, and she came over at this moment.

Both were employee representatives, and even their clothing was somewhat similar.

Actually, it was very normal. The employees of the group now basically wore unified clothing, and the difference lay in the clothing matching exposed at the collar and cuffs.

Both were people who weren't short of money now, so they were naturally a bit ruthless to themselves.

Zhang Guoqi was two years younger than Qin Huairu, but she was also thirty. Standing together, they were most able to attract the eyes of middle-aged men.

What is called "a woman in her prime," full of charm? They weren't old yet, so they naturally had plenty of charm.

"Nothing much, let's go, go to your place."

Zhang Guoqi looked back at the direction the leaders left and took Qin Huairu's arm.

Qin Huairu followed her gaze and asked with amusement, "Didn't you see him?"

"Who?" Zhang Guoqi didn't pay attention, but reacted when she saw her mischievous smile, secretly pinched her, and pouted, "You dare to say anything."

The two left the gate of the venue together, walking together and whispering.

"You've lived a good life, and now you're going to mock me." She squeezed Qin Huairu's arm and asked with a smile, "You've forgotten how hungry and thirsty you were before, right?"

"Scare—" Qin Huairu looked around nervously, then glared at her and pouted, "You're the one who dares to say anything—"

"What are you afraid of? No one will hear even if you shout."

Zhang Guoqi said with a smile, "Or why don't you try shouting?"

"You've also learned to be bad—"

Qin Huairu pointed at her forehead and said with amusement, "Not depressed anymore?"

"What's there to be depressed about? Isn't life just like this—"

Zhang Guoqi sighed, looked down at the fallen leaves on the roadside, and asked, "I was just saying, how are you now?"

She raised her head and looked at Qin Huairu, saying, "We don't work together anymore, even meeting is considered a luxury."

"Isn't that so." Qin Huairu nodded and also sighed, saying, "You're a busy person now, it's really hard to meet you."

"You're mocking me again, aren't you?"

Zhang Guoqi shook her body, bringing Qin Huairu to tilt her body as well.

She pouted, "The business of the Food General Company is mostly in other places, plus building factories everywhere this year, do you think I'm sitting in the office easily?"

"I actually envy you—"

Zhang Guoqi looked at Qin Huairu and said, "You're more vibrant than before. A woman just needs the nourishment of love to live like a person."

"Go to yours—"

Qin Huairu rolled her eyes at her, knowing she didn't have anything good to say.

"Don't you know what I'm like now?"

She also sighed and said, "The old ones don't let me worry, the young ones make me worry. Am I still vibrant?"

"If you ask me, you brought it on yourself." Zhang Guoqi tilted her head and said, "What did I say back then? You wouldn't listen, had to rush into the grave of love without looking back. Now it's good, regret it, right?"

"Regret, I didn't regret, just a bit annoyed. The trivial matters of life are too annoying."

Qin Huairu let out a long breath and said, "You envy me, but I also envy you."

Saying this, she looked at Zhang Guoqi and asked, "I heard you bought a house in Riverside Garden?"

"I said this is a reward for a hard year, will you say I'm pretentious?"

Zhang Guoqi looked at her and shook her head helplessly, saying, "I always felt money wasn't enough to spend before, and two people together always quarreled over trivial matters."

"Now it's good, money is enough to spend, but the person to quarrel with is gone."

"He still doesn't have any news?"

Qin Huairu asked in surprise, "Didn't anyone in your husband's family want to go look for him?"

"Look? Where to look?"

Zhang Guoqi said with amusement and helplessness, "He was crazy poor at that time, learned from others to hunt for treasures, kept drilling into the mountains. Maybe he was carried away by wolves."

"Sounds scary, is it true or false?"

Qin Huairu asked suspiciously, "Didn't you say before that he went to do business with others?"

"Don't know, the news that came back was all kinds. I don't know what's true or false."

Zhang Guoqi shook her head and said, "I want to divorce now but can't find the person, and I don't even know if this person is alive or has long been dead."

"His family isn't that they don't miss him, it's just that they were tortured by him."

She explained, "He never stayed idle in his life, thought of one thing and did another, said he would do something and left immediately, without even using his brain to think."

"But I've also figured it out. If he's really dead, then I'll treat him as alive, always have to have something to look forward to. If he's still alive, I'll treat him as dead. This family is the same with or without him."

"You've figured it out."

Qin Huairu said with amusement, "You've even spoken out philosophy, one set after another."

"It's all forced out by life."

Zhang Guoqi let go of her arm, put her hands in the pockets of her wool coat, looked at her, and said, "Although the house in Riverside Garden is a bit expensive, I don't have much spending, so it's worth it."

"You also know I'm extravagant. If I don't think about the future, I won't have a place to retire when I'm old. This counts as a retreat for myself."

"Your conditions are much better than mine."

Qin Huairu said with envy, "I still have three children, still have to struggle."

"Isn't Banggeng independent?"

Zhang Guoqi looked at her with amusement and said, "You're really cruel as a mother, letting him go out to make a living at fourteen or fifteen?"

"Did I drive him away?"

Qin Huairu said angrily, "He almost pissed me off. Never seen such a stubborn child."

"As a mother, it's not that easy."

Zhang Guoqi bumped her with her shoulder and asked softly, "Do you still have contact with him?"

"Who? Go to yours—"

Qin Huairu wasn't playing dumb; she reacted in an instant, and the pout was real.

"Talking nonsense, I'm already married."

"Turned over a new leaf? Why don't I believe it?"

Zhang Guoqi said with amusement, "Your Banggeng is in Steel City. Every time you go over, you stay there. Didn't you feel moved?"

"Don't talk nonsense—"

Qin Huairu glanced at her and emphasized, "I told Old Liu when I went to Steel City to see the child. Our man has a small heart."

"Cut—" Zhang Guoqi pursed her lips when she saw her say this and said, "You think he's honest? What doesn't he know?"

"Back then, he pursued you just to find a way out. Is his mind that simple?"

She said with some disdain, "It's just you. If it were someone else, they would have turned their face long ago."

"He doesn't have any bad intentions."

Qin Huairu thought about Liu Guoyou's goodness and still defended him, "He's very good to me and the children."

"Why don't you say you have strength?"

Zhang Guoqi looked at her and said, "Even if he feels uncomfortable in his heart, he won't say it. This kind of person is the most terrifying."

"I didn't do anything wrong, what am I afraid of him for?" Qin Huairu emphasized seriously, "The past is the past. I can't let anyone down, and I can't hurt anyone."

"You're talking about me, what about yourself?" She signaled Zhang Guoqi and asked, "Looking at you just now, you've been looking forward to it. Haven't you seen him? Didn't you go to Steel City—"

"Seen, twice a year."

Zhang Guoqi took her arm again and said softly with a bitter smile, "Forget it, feelings are like this, can't be forced."

"I have heart, he has righteousness, that's enough. It's not appropriate to force ourselves together again, it's not good for him."

She seemed to have figured it out and looked at Qin Huairu frankly, saying, "I'm content with these few years with him."

"Haven't you tossed enough these few years?"

Qin Huairu glanced at her and said with amusement, "You should be content."

"So you're still not content?"

Zhang Guoqi teased her with amusement, "He doesn't live in the guesthouse anymore, can't you find a place to meet him?"

"Do you think I'm you?"

Qin Huairu looked at her angrily and said, "The children are also grown up, always have to save some face for myself, to avoid looking ugly when the time comes."

"Another thing, he's also faded."

Speaking of this, Qin Huairu lowered her head and said, "Just like you said, fate has arrived, and fate has ended. Don't find trouble for each other."

"Hmm, what you said is also true."

Zhang Guoqi nodded in understanding and said, "Halfway couples aren't easy. Since you've found a place to belong, cherish it."

"The child's problem is also being handled slowly. I've seen Banggeng in Steel City, he's quite distant."

"Don't mention him, I get angry just mentioning him."

Qin Huairu held her forehead and said, "Dating someone three years older than him."

"Hehe, I heard."

Zhang Guoqi said quietly, "Your son is really smart. He found a mother for himself."

"You just laugh—"

Qin Huairu looked at her and said, "I let his second uncle take him to raise chickens, he didn't want to come back, just likes to wander around in Steel City."

"Isn't he there?"

Zhang Guoqi bumped her with her shoulder, and the two walked into the gate of the guesthouse together, saying, "Even if there's no affection now, he's a nostalgic person, he will take care of Banggeng no matter what."

"He's nostalgic, but can I still rely on him all the time?" Qin Huairu smiled and took Zhang Guoqi into the courtyard. The past is the past.

But Zhang Guoqi didn't quite believe that Qin Huairu had really moved on; otherwise, why rely on her son in Steel City. ===== CHAPTER 1501 =====