Chapter 1530: The Wolf Has Truly Come

"Secretary-General, you're still here."

Liu Bin knocked open the office door and, seeing Li Xuewu in conversation with Shangguan Qi, greeted him with a smile.

"It's just as you see; I wanted to leave but couldn't," Li Xuewu chuckled, gesturing for him to come in, and asked, "Is something the matter?"

"Director Li asked me to remind you not to forget tonight's gathering," Liu Bin reported as he walked to the desk. "Room 333 at Qinyuan Chun."

"Alright, I've got it." Li Xuewu nodded and explained to the bewildered Shangguan Qi, "It's a gathering organized by the automotive industry units of the visiting delegation. They intend to chat about the development of the automotive parts industry."

He sat up straight, picked up his teacup for a sip, and asked, "Do you have anything on tonight? If not, you can come along with me. Although you are in charge of the drone project, it's always good to listen to different perspectives."

"This—is that appropriate?"

Shangguan Qi was no fool; she could naturally hear the intent to mentor in her leader's words. What they were discussing wasn't important; what mattered was who she was discussing it with.

"What's inappropriate about it? Just come along and chat," Li Xuewu said with a smile as he set down his cup. "You're a scientific researcher; wouldn't you be able to dazzle them with your expertise?"

"Then I shall arrange it for Director Shang."

Liu Bin understood his leader's meaning. Seeing Li Xuewu look at him, he nodded and replied, "Just head over directly tonight."

"Thank you, Deputy Director Liu. I will certainly arrive on time." Hearing Liu Bin's title, Shangguan Qi did not dare to be presumptuous and responded very politely.

Liu Bin didn't pay much mind to this. After nodding to her and seeking further instructions from Li Xuewu, he turned and left.

"This is..."

Shangguan Qi watched him leave, and just as she turned back to take her leave, she saw the Secretary-General push a small box toward her.

She was somewhat surprised, her heart fluttering with excitement. Not daring to guess wildly, she tentatively asked, "Is this for me?"

"I called you to Germany, and you were sent away again only a few hours after landing, nearly running into danger. You don't hold a grudge against me, do you?"

Li Xuewu smiled, reached out to tap the gift box, and said, "It's for you, consider it compensation. A specialty from East Germany."

"Ah—I don't—" Shangguan Qi hadn't expected him to say this. She waved her hands repeatedly, explaining embarrassedly, "You've misunderstood."

"Keep it, it was bought specifically for you." Li Xuewu nodded and said, "According to the plan, it shouldn't have been so rushed. The visiting delegation prepared shopping funds for us, and the Group also prepared gifts for the comrades participating in this operation."

He looked at Shangguan Qi and explained, "You were the only one who didn't have time to enjoy this perk. Consider this my compensation to you; don't let it be a regret."

"How could that be—" Shangguan Qi wanted to open the box to take a look, but couldn't help being polite.

Li Xuewu stood up and said, "The office helped me block over a dozen calls this morning. I can't stay here any longer; I need to avoid the limelight."

His office was large. He walked to the coat rack at the door, took off his coat, and turned back to tell Shangguan Qi, who had followed him, "I won't come to pick you up tonight. You can arrange a car from the institute to go over; I will send you back."

"It's no trouble, Secretary-General."

Shangguan Qi replied repeatedly, "I'll just have my second brother take me there, and I'll call him to pick me up after dinner."

"Arrange it however you see fit; either way is fine."

Li Xuewu nodded with a smile, put on his wool overcoat, and signaled, "I'm taking a half-day off to go home and see the elders. You go about your business."

"Secretary-General, this—"

Shangguan Qi chased after him for two steps, gesturing to the box in her hand, wanting to be polite again, but saw Li Xuewu wave his hand and walk toward the elevator.

The office door wasn't even locked; he truly trusted her. Thinking this, she felt even more moved.

Looking again at the gift box wrapped in gray velvet, it felt as if she were holding a priceless treasure.

She suppressed the longing in her heart, returned to the office to tidy up, and only then closed the door and left.

It was only inside the elevator, with no one else around, that she opened the box. It was an exquisite diamond ladies' watch, small and elegant. The diamonds reflected the light from the elevator ceiling, dazzling and eye-catching.

Later generations say Swiss watches are world-famous, but in truth, German watches are the epitome of craftsmanship. The stubbornness engraved in the bones of the Germans allowed timekeeping tools to be displayed at their finest.

Of course, this refers to the German technology of this time. As for the so-called German craftsmanship or quality touted by e-commerce in later generations, stay far away if you see it; there isn't a word of truth in it.

Shangguan Qi hadn't thought about buying anything when she went to Germany, but she knew that if she had the opportunity, she intended to look around.

She just hadn't expected the time to be so tight; she hadn't even had time to sleep for a night before she was already on the plane.

Looking at the diamond watch in her hand, there was no need to describe the feeling in her heart. Her gaze was distant, as if she were thinking of something very far away.

"When did you get back?"

Liu Yin had been worried for a full week. Only when she saw her son appear safely before her did she finally heave a sigh of relief.

In her heart, or rather in the hearts of the common people, there was only one common perception of international relations: everyone who wasn't Chinese was a foreigner. They didn't distinguish which country they were from, nor did they expect to build relationships with anyone.

And the general perception of foreigners was that most of them lived in dire misery. Liu Yin even worried that her son would go hungry.

"I got home last night. It was two in the morning when I lay down."

Li Xuewu smiled, took his mother's hand, and explained, "It was too late, so I didn't tell you, thinking I'd come over today."

"I was just thinking of you. As long as you're back safely, that's all that matters."

Liu Yin patted the non-existent dust off her son, smiled, and looked him over carefully once more, her eyes full of relief and satisfaction.

"This trip went quite smoothly, right?"

"It was quite good, nothing happened."

Li Xuewu entered the house with his mother, greeted the old lady, and only then began to tease the youngest, Li Yue.

She was just a nursing baby, not even having learned to roll over yet. Seeing him make faces, she was frightened into crying, which made Liu Yin both angry and amused, and she slapped him.

"What's wrong, daughter? Did your second uncle upset you?"

Zhao Yafang returned from outside, smiled, picked up Li Yue to soothe her, pointed at the chuckling Li Xuewu, and introduced, "This is your second uncle. Second uncle is back."

"I heard the sound of you talking. I was just telling Yu Li that you were back, but she didn't believe me."

After soothing the child and placing her on her lap, Zhao Yafang sat on the edge of the kang, looked at Li Xuewu, and asked, "What is East Germany like? Is it fun?"

"I didn't go there for fun, so how would I know if it's fun or not?"

Li Xuewu amusedly poked the little niece's small hand with his finger and said, "I was too busy to even look at the scenery."

"Then that's a loss—"

Zhao Yafang said with a smile, "Ordinary people wouldn't dare dream of going abroad in their entire lives, yet you went and didn't even think to take a good look."

"It was a continuous grind, not a moment of leisure."

Li Xuewu turned to look at the old lady and said, "Actually, there's nothing much to see. It's no different from Beijing; they are both socialist countries."

"Is it richer than us, or poorer than us?" The old lady looked at problems most practically; chatting about this was just like chatting about daily life.

Those who didn't know would think Li Xuewu was talking about the second aunt next door, comparing whose life was better.

"They're about the same; they also have farmers and workers." Li Xuewu didn't explain in great detail, just said it as a bit of fun. "It's just that their land area is too small; it's not even as big as Hebei Province."

"Then that's too small—"

Perhaps the old lady didn't have much of an impression of Germany, but she knew roughly about Hebei Province.

If it wasn't even as big as Hebei, then what was there to be curious about?

"Are their universities better than ours?" Zhao Yafang asked curiously, "Did you go to their universities to look around?"

"No, no time. The top leader went." Li Xuewu explained, "He even gave a speech over there."

"I saw it in the newspaper, Deputy Director Li, right?" Zhao Yafang nodded and said with a smile, "We saw you too."

"I looked quite photogenic." Liu Yin smiled, clutching her hands, and said, "Your sister-in-law showed it to me, saying you were speaking at some banquet."

"There should still be photos of me in the papers these next few days." It was only in front of the elders at home that Li Xuewu would show off like this.

In the eyes of the older generation, being in the newspaper was considered a success.

Of course, not in the legal gazette.

"Yes—" Liu Yin looked at her son happily and asked, "What were you taking pictures for?"

"Photos from when I got off the plane last night."

Li Xuewu explained to his mother that his work in East Germany had been recognized by his superiors, giving him this opportunity to appear in the public eye.

Liu Yin and the old lady both listened intently, even sighing with emotion at the key points, feeling a sense of shared honor.

"Listening to you say that, will there be opportunities to go to East Germany in the future?"

Zhao Yafang was quite curious about the world abroad. While soothing her daughter, she asked, "Is it long-term cooperation?"

"There is such a plan, but it has to be done step by step." Li Xuewu smiled and looked at her, asking, "Why? Do you want to go to Germany to see for yourself?"

"If there's an opportunity, who wouldn't want to broaden their horizons?" Zhao Yafang said quite frankly, "If I were allowed to go, I'd definitely go."

"I'd be afraid you'd go and not come back."

Li Xuewu joked as he looked at her, "And then my big brother would be a bachelor again, unable to find a wife for the rest of his life."

"Your big brother would be more than happy."

Zhao Yafang explained amusedly, "I ask him to watch the kids, and I say I'm going out to buy something, and it's like sending him to the execution ground."

"The eldest was fine back then, it's just this little one."

Liu Yin smiled, poked Li Yue's little hand, and chimed in, "Every time she sees her dad, she has to pester him for a while; if she's not crying, she's making a scene."

"That's good. My big brother needs someone to cure his slow-moving nature." Li Xuewu looked at the nursing baby surrounded by everyone and said with a smile, "When Li Tang was little, he said he was noisy. Now that a noisier one has come, let her cure him."

"Ya—" Li Yue didn't know what she heard, but seeing everyone laughing, she laughed too, her little legs kicking hard as if she were in a hurry to grow up.

The family chatted and laughed, easing Li Xuewu's longing from his business trip and making up for the time the family hadn't been together.

Li Xuewu had come straight home from work. He stayed there until past four in the afternoon, and only then, urged by his mother, did he get up to go home and pick up the children. The old lady and Liu Yin also missed the children.

Since last year, when he went to work in Liaodong, there was no one at home to pick up and drop off the children, and Gu Ning was busy, so Li Shu and Li Ning went to their grandmother's house less often. Either they waited for him to come back together, or Liu Yin came to pick them up.

Li Tang had slept all afternoon. When he woke up and saw his second uncle, he insisted on going along, no matter how his grandmother coaxed him, saying his second uncle would be back in a while.

As a result, Li Xuewu drove the recycling station's car, bringing the little tag-along to pick up Li Shu from school.

"Li Shu—"

"Call me sister—" Li Shu truly didn't indulge her younger brother. Hearing Li Tang call her name, she slapped Li Tang across the face.

Li Tang was stunned by the slap, then aggrievedly called out "sister," losing all the excitement and swagger of riding in a car.

When they returned home and saw his second brother, who had been acting up on the sofa, obediently roll down and stand straight to listen to his sister's lecture, he finally regained his spirit. So, he wasn't the only one suffering under Li Shu's oppression!

Looking at his second brother again, his eyes held a bit of schadenfreude, because he only suffered once a month, while Li Ning had to suffer every day!

The two little brothers looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you laughing at? Go put on your clothes!"

Li Shu, like a little adult, instructed her younger brothers to dress themselves in the tone of her mother, looking very much like a big sister.

Of course, if Li Ning didn't dress well or correctly, she would also help tidy him up, imitating her second aunt, only Li Ning would inevitably get another slap.

Don't even mention it, Li Shu's hand was truly ruthless. She wasn't bullied at kindergarten, so she had to be the king and hegemon at home.

Li Ning was about to turn three. Without his parents to manage him, he was thoroughly naughty. Er Ya couldn't bear to scold him, and Zhao Yaping was busy studying. All the mischief Li Shu hadn't made, he tried out one by one.

The result was that the wicked have their own wicked ways. Before Li Shu came home from school, Li Ning made sure to tidy up his toys and wait at the door to follow the rules.

When the big devil sister wasn't home, he was the boss of the house. When the big devil Li Shu came home, she was the boss of the house.

So when Dad said they were going to Grandma's house for dinner that night, Li Ning happily clapped his hands, finally not having to face the big devil alone.

"I want to eat roasted pumpkin cakes."

While putting on his shoes, Li Ning was still lisping about what he wanted to eat at Grandma's house, and even discussed with his brother Li Tang how to eat them.

Li Shu, in front of her two younger brothers, was like a big girl, tidying up the butterfly hair clip on her hair until she looked beautiful.

"Go pick up Mom—"

Before getting in the car, Li Shu was still confirming the next itinerary with her father, thinking very considerately about picking up Mom.

Unlike the two little boys who had already climbed into the car and were chattering only about what to eat that night, she had truly changed a lot since she started kindergarten.

Just one street away, Li Xuewu drove the car into the hospital compound and took the children upstairs to pick up Gu Ning.

"Oh my, look who's here."

As soon as Director Liu of Gu Ning's department saw them coming upstairs, she walked over and reached out to hold Li Ning in her arms to tease him.

Li Shu held her father's hand and took the initiative to greet Auntie Liu.

"So well-behaved, Li Shu is a big girl now."

Director Liu naturally recognized Li Xuewu. She was still a deputy director when Li Xuewu and Gu Ning were dating, and she had watched them start their family.

"Here to pick up Gu Ning? She went to do rounds and will be back soon."

"No rush, we plan to go see the elders together tonight." Li Xuewu explained with a smile, "It's the children who couldn't wait."

"Whose are these?" Director Liu put down Li Ning and looked at the little ones standing beside Li Xuewu. "They look like twins."

"My big brother's, Li Tang. Call Auntie." Li Xuewu touched his nephew's little head and taught him to greet her.

Li Tang had a mother as smooth and slick as Zhao Yafang, so how could he be shy outside? He generously learned from his sister and called her Auntie Liu.

"If you didn't ask, I'd really think they were twins."

Director Liu looked the little brothers over carefully and said with a smile, "They look so good, are they the same age?"

"Less than a month apart." Li Xuewu nodded and asked, "Is the department busy now?"

"Didn't Gu Ning tell you when she got home?"

Director Liu stood at the door of the large office accompanying him. Hearing him ask this, she explained softly, "Everywhere is short-handed; people are even snatching staff from each other."

She glanced at the other end of the corridor and pouted, "If I hadn't been watching closely, your Gu Ning would have been snatched away by the emergency room."

"I knew she had a lot of pressure studying these past two years, so I didn't dare let her work hard on anything at home."

Li Xuewu didn't care about these hospital matters; he only cared if Gu Ning was tired. In front of Director Liu, he naturally had to take credit for his wife.

"Oh my, if all our family members were as understanding as you, who in our department wouldn't envy Gu Ning?"

Director Liu was even more eloquent. She looked at Li Xuewu and said, "Not to mention others, just our Old Xu at home, oh my—"

With her "oh my" and the expression of someone who couldn't bear to look, Li Xuewu understood in a second; she was flattering him.

"Mom—"

Li Shu, who had been listening obediently to the conversation between her father and Auntie Liu, shouted happily when she saw her mother walking over.

Gu Ning was also surprised by the appearance of Li Xuewu and the children. "Why did you come?"

"You have plans tonight and didn't tell me earlier."

Director Liu was very perceptive. She smiled, took the medical record book from Gu Ning's hand, and urged, "Hurry up and go change your clothes; don't keep Secretary-General Li waiting."

If talking about rank, Li Xuewu was higher than Director Liu, but the two were not in the same unit, let alone the same system, so there was nothing to compare.

Besides, Director Liu was Gu Ning's leader. No matter what, Li Xuewu had to give her face. Her friendliness had everything to do with Gu Ning's background.

However, speaking of Li Xuewu, Director Liu was also eager to please. The Red Star Steel Group had built an industrial satellite city in the East City; who wouldn't be jealous?

And Li Xuewu was a member of the Red Steel leadership team. It was possible that there would be times when she could use his help in the future, so how could she not be polite?

"I haven't finished my work yet—"

"That's enough, ah, go back early."

Director Liu didn't wait for Gu Ning to say more. She patted her arm and said, "Next time Secretary-General Li comes back, you tell me, and I'll give you a day off."

"It's also hard work; everyone should understand each other."

This could also be considered a response to Li Xuewu's earlier comment about hard work, not giving Li Xuewu a chance to continue.

Li Xuewu actually didn't intend to continue. The act of him bringing the children to the department to pick someone up was enough to explain the problem.

Gu Ning was not only a doctor at the hospital but also played the roles of mother and wife; she had to be given time to live.

He didn't intend to affect Gu Ning's work, let alone cause trouble for Gu Ning in front of her leader; it was just a kind of concern as a family member.

Gu Ning was initially a bit stunned, but until she came out after changing her clothes and heard the director's concern, she finally understood his intention.

Sometimes he was just like this. Whether it was speaking or doing things, you might not understand or hear it clearly at first, but there would always be a time when you understood and realized it.

"Mom, I want to eat roasted pumpkin cakes."

Li Xuewu held Li Tang in one hand and Li Shu in the other, while Li Ning was in Gu Ning's arms. The little ones didn't stay idle while going downstairs.

"There's a social engagement at the unit tonight, Mom said to eat early." Li Xuewu explained to Gu Ning, "You all stay a while longer; I'll try to pick you up as early as possible."

"A social engagement at the unit?" Gu Ning held the child and got into the car, asking, "Why was it arranged for today?"

"It's those people who went to Germany together, all heads of automotive industry enterprises, wanting to chat about the parts industry."

Li Xuewu placed the two little ones in the back seat, got into the driver's seat himself, and drove out while explaining.

Gu Ning just listened. She didn't know much about Li Xuewu's work, especially after he became Secretary-General; his work was very complicated.

Back when he was in the Security Division, his work was basically just that, and the couple could talk about it clearly.

Now that Li Xuewu was often away from Beijing and had even been to Germany, Gu Ning felt mentally exhausted.

"What did Director Liu say to you?"

Gu Ning soothed Li Ning to sit still, turned her head, and asked, "Or rather, what did you say to her? How did her attitude change?"

"I was representing the family to express my stance; how could her attitude not change?" Li Xuewu smiled, glanced at Gu Ning, and explained, "Don't be too tired. The world will keep turning without anyone, but if the children don't have their mother's company, their childhood will be missing something and full of regrets."

Gu Ning thought about his words, lowered her head to look at her son, and said nothing more.

Li Xuewu sent the mother and children back to the Sihe Academy, and they ate a few bites at the dinner table, which counted as a reunion dinner.

Li Xue teased him, saying that going abroad once made him different, that he couldn't even eat a meal in peace.

Li Xuewu was also helpless. If he didn't bring Gu Ning and the children home for a reunion today, the next time would have to wait until he returned from Steel City.

Today, Old Li was being kind, which was why he gave him a half-day holiday. Tomorrow morning he would preside over the representative assembly, and in the afternoon he would fly back to Steel City.

The world would keep turning without anyone, but some work in Steel City had to be wrapped up by the end of the year, otherwise, next year's work couldn't be done.

However, the end was in sight. After the Liaodong industry was sorted out, resources would be integrated for key development.

In this process, frequent exchanges with the Group were inevitable, so he would have more time to return to Beijing.

Furthermore, the official group-level documents would be coming down soon, and the wind was picking up; he couldn't be absent at this point in time.

Therefore, he had no choice but to be busy.

"Secretary-General, we've been waiting for you."

As soon as Qin Huairu saw him get out of the car, she hurried out to greet him and reminded him, "Director Li has asked for you twice already."

"I sent Gu Ning and the children back to the compound." Li Xuewu explained simply, took a case of white liquor down from the back of the car, and said, "Remember to send hot water up in a while."

"Is this liquor strong?" Qin Huairu bent down to take a look and said in surprise, "You want to drink 58-degree liquor warm?"

"The people coming today are all heavy drinkers; if it's not strong enough, it's no fun."

Li Xuewu explained while entering the hotel lobby. Seeing that there were many guests, he turned back and asked, "Business is quite good, eh?"

"We rely on service and reputation—" Qin Huairu accompanied him upstairs and explained, "I'm busy with the guesthouse during the day, and I have to come over to watch for a while at night because I'm worried. It's almost a continuous grind."

"Hurry up and train some helpers; how can you handle all this?" Li Xuewu took a look from the second floor. There were many people, which showed how much Beijing lacked restaurants with good service and good taste at this time.

Of course, it wasn't that there weren't any, it was just that ordinary people couldn't go, nor could they afford to enjoy them.

Qinyuan Chun wasn't a place ordinary people could afford to consume at, but the atmosphere here was good, and business hours lasted until eleven at night, so it was mostly cadres who came for dinner.

Langtaosha had more common people. If you wanted traditional hot pot, it was naturally Donglaishun, but if you wanted authentic Sichuan cuisine and Sichuan hot pot, Langtaosha had opened up a new situation in Beijing.

The market also knew the background of these three brands: they were industries of the Red Steel Group, and Old Li's reputation for good food was well-known, with a very high credibility.

This era didn't focus on marketing, and leaders didn't like to show their faces, otherwise Old Li would definitely be standing in front of the camera doing a "Strict Selection" live stream.

"Oh my! The busy man has finally arrived!"

Liu Yang, Deputy Director of Jin Ling Automotive, saw him appear and greeted him with a smile, "We thought you weren't coming."

"I was afraid there wouldn't be enough liquor, so I took a detour to get some."

Li Xuewu gestured to the case of white liquor in his hand and said, "Brought back from beyond the pass, it's high-proof. Everyone drink up today."

"What kind of liquor is it that you treat it like a treasure? Is it better than Xifeng?" Tang Rongxuan of Sichuan Automotive smoked a cigarette and joked, "After I left Sichuan, I felt Xifeng and Fenjiu were okay, everything else is just average."

"That's because you haven't drunk the good stuff."

Li Xuewu took two bottles out of the case and handed them directly to Qin Huairu for her to warm.

"This liquor can't be drunk directly. It's more mellow after being warmed. Don't be in a hurry, everyone; we'll have a bottle each in a while."

"How about it? Have you seen the strength of the Red Steel Group?"

Wang Mr. teased everyone, "Drinking white liquor by the case. It seems we're in for a rough time today."

"Hahaha—I'm not refusing anyone!"

Dong Qiaomu waved his hand and said, "I'll take a bottle myself to set an example."

"Old Dong doesn't count, he's from beyond the pass."

Wang Mr. pointed at him and said with a smile, "He should drink two bottles."

"58 degrees, oh my—" Yang Aidong, who had already drunk a few cups, looked at the icon on the case and sighed, "A little stronger and it could be used as alcohol."

"There are female comrades here today, we have to drink in a civilized manner."

Li Huai De waved his hand with a smile, gestured to Shangguan Qi sitting together, as well as Qin Huairu whom he had pulled to the table, and set the tone for today's gathering.

He was for health preservation and had long planned to quit drinking, but he broke his abstinence in Germany. This time, he had to drink a little no matter what.

With Li Xuewu here, he didn't need to show his strength, but he wouldn't have face if he drank too much.

So, following Li Xuewu's arrangement, he called Qin Huairu over, which set the maximum limit for today's drinking table.

Just as Li Xuewu said just now, one bottle of liquor each.

Is one bottle of liquor each too little?

For ordinary people, a bottle of liquor is a bit much, but for these people who start with a capacity of one jin, it's nothing.

Is drinking capacity innate or cultivated?

This is the question beginners ask the most, and veterans say all sorts of things, but the truth is only one: drinking capacity equals stomach capacity.

Everyone is the same; if you risk your life, anyone can have a massive capacity. Once you drink a lot, you get used to it, and the fear disappears.

"Are Qin and I having a bottle each too?"

Shangguan Qi took the initiative to make a joke, but also borrowed Li Xuewu's words, inadvertently revealing the watch on her wrist.

Li Xuewu amusedly handed the liquor bottle to her and said, "Sure, women are no less capable than men. Our female comrades in Red Steel can also hold up half the sky."

"Don't listen to the Secretary-General."

Qin Huairu brought over the warmed white liquor and said to Shangguan Qi to relieve her, "This liquor makes you feel drunk just by smelling it."

"It was snowing outside when we came. This liquor warms the stomach." Li Xuewu smiled, took the liquor pot, filled everyone's cups one by one, and raised his own cup to greet them, "There are no outsiders at the table today. For the sake of unity and friendship, let's have one."

"That's well said. Without unity, where would friendship come from—" Dong Qiaomu smiled and was the first to finish his cup, hissing and saying it was authentic.

Sss—

Drinking white liquor at room temperature and drinking it after warming are two different feelings. Warmed liquor diffuses quickly. In the Northeast, it's generally drunk in the morning to warm the body.

This isn't nonsense. There was work to be done in the countryside during heavy snow, and men were the pillars of the family. If they didn't have strength, wouldn't that be the end of it?

But the cold in the Northeast at this time and the Northeast in later generations are two different things. Minus thirty or forty degrees was common. In later generations, days of minus twenty degrees were rare, and few people could experience this kind of cold.

Li Xuewu was in Steel City, wearing a pair of long johns, a pair of wool pants, a pair of cotton pants, and another pair of trousers on the outside. If he went out at night for less than half a minute, the cold could hit his skin. Minus thirty-nine degrees.

If you don't drink, you can't hold up at all; your blood would freeze.

It was also because he recalled the taste of the liquor beyond the pass that Dong Qiaomu's expression was something they couldn't understand; drinking it was like a knife.

Especially Tang Rongxuan from Sichuan Province, who was used to drinking Sichuan white liquor, where mellowness was the norm. He still wasn't used to this knife-like strong liquor.

"It's okay, drink more." Li Xuewu smiled, filled his cup, and joked, "After drinking this bottle, you can go play in the heavy snow shirtless and you won't freeze."

"I'm not in my right mind, why would I go play outside shirtless in heavy snow?" Tang Rongxuan looked at the white liquor in front of him amusedly and said, "You're putting us on the spot."

There wasn't a single person at the table, except for the atmosphere group Qin Huairu and Shangguan Qi, who wasn't an old fox.

Li Xuewu invited them to taste the strong liquor of the Northeast, and the meaning couldn't be more obvious. They had already tasted it after one cup.

"Not at all—" Li Xuewu laughed, explained, "I'm a native Beijinger. Before I went to the Northeast, I didn't think liquor could be this strong. Today, I just wanted to share this surprise with everyone."

"It's quite a surprise—" Wang Mr. was from Shandong and had a good drinking capacity, but at this moment, there was fine sweat on his forehead.

He wiped his forehead and said with a smile, "Just now Director Li was talking about how you've done a great job in Liaodong. It seems what he said is true."

Does this sound wrong?

According to his meaning, wasn't Li Xuewu's "great job" being used on liquor?

"Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles."

Li Xuewu raised his cup to toast them and said, "I'm a young man, not as knowledgeable as you all. I still focus on experience."

He finished his cup in one gulp, brightly showed the bottom of the cup, and said, "If I didn't have the work experience in Liaodong, could I have seen such good liquor?"

"If I didn't have the trip to East Germany, could I have met such good friends?"

He waved his hand to signal Qin Huairu to pour liquor for everyone, while continuing to bluff, "Today we have both good liquor and good friends. As hosts, Director Li and I must ensure our friends drink good liquor well."

"Hahaha—"

After Li Xuewu finished three cups in a row and urged everyone to drink three cups as well, Li Huai De took the initiative and slowed down the tempo.

"Actually, I said it back in Germany. After coming back, don't be in a hurry to leave. Let's have a good gathering; it's a rare opportunity."

He gestured for everyone to eat, introduced, "This isn't a restaurant outside, it's our Group's own industry. Everyone eat with peace of mind, the taste is absolutely authentic."

"I'm not in a hurry to go back." Wang Mr. ate a bite of food, wiped his mouth, and said with a smile, "I called our factory director and said I met Li Huai De and Li Xuewu of the Red Steel Group. He told me I must make friends, and he also welcomes friends from the Red Steel Group to visit Jinan Automotive."

"Look, I said Old Wang was cunning."

Tang Rongxuan pointed at him with a smile and explained to Dong Qiaomu and the others, "This is called playing hard to get, waiting for Director Li to invite him to stay a few more days."

"Welcome, I welcome anyone who stays a few more days."

Li Huai De waved his hand and said generously, "We'll take care of food and lodging. As long as friends don't look down on us, that's fine."

"Hey, look at what you're saying. Who would dare look down on the Red Steel Group?"

Yang Aidong said with a smile, "I'm thinking of going back to the factory to report first, and then come back to learn from you."

He looked at Li Xuewu and said, "I don't know when Secretary-General Li is going back to Steel City. I really want to go to Steel Automotive to take a look."

"Look, we thought of the same thing."

Dong Qiaomu raised his cup to toast Li Xuewu and said, "I'm planning to stop by Steel City on my way back to see what Steel Automotive is really like."

"You're all too polite, welcome, welcome."

Li Xuewu replied with a smile, "You don't need to be in a hurry to rush your time if you want to visit Steel Automotive. Stay in Beijing for a few more days, and you can go to Steel Automotive whenever you want."

"Secretary-General Li is taking the plane tomorrow afternoon."

Li Huai De introduced, "He's worried about the work in Steel City and is in a hurry to get back. You don't need to be in a hurry; stay a few more days and see our Liangma River Industrial Zone."

"If you ask me, let's organize a gathering."

Wang Mr. said with a smile, "I heard that the industrial core of Red Steel is all in the Liangma River Industrial Zone, and the cooperation with automotive industry enterprises in Beijing is also very close. With you, Director Li, taking the lead, we can also exchange ideas."

"Exchanging ideas is no problem. We have cooperation with the Second Automotive." Li Huai De said with a smile, "Except for Beijing Automotive, which I can't invite, there's no problem with other units."

"Hahaha—" Everyone couldn't help laughing when they heard his teasing.

"Since coming back from East Germany, I haven't seen Wang Youhan again—" Wang Mr. raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "Back then we were drinking together. After landing, he left without even saying hello, tsk tsk."

"Who told you to get involved with Red Steel."

Tang Rongxuan joked, "If you aren't afraid of the influence, is Deputy Factory Director Wang afraid of the influence?"

"Yes, after going back, I still have to explain the relationship with Red Steel."

Yang Aidong also liked to watch the fun. At this moment, he lumped Beijing Automotive together and teased Li Huai De.

"Hey, how do you do this multiple-choice question?"

Wang Mr. spread his hands and looked at the few people, saying, "He said he wanted to pull us to form an automotive parts supply system with the First Automotive, and conversely, we have to implement the set of processes and procedures they set."

"Director Li, what do you say we should choose?"

He looked at Li Huai De and said, "Red Steel has now also given us an option. You tell us how we should choose."

"Let me say one thing. I'm not saying this from the perspective of Red Steel, it's the reality." Li Xuewu took over the conversation and said, "No matter which side you choose, it won't affect our relationship and cooperation in the future."

"Even if you choose Beijing Automotive and the First Automotive to jointly form a parts supply chain, and then come to us for equipment and process cooperation, we are all willing to provide it. We won't carry out a technical blockade."

He waved his hand and said, "We don't look down on what Beijing Automotive and the First Automotive are playing at, nor are we willing to compete with them. It's meaningless."

"That's exactly what it means." Li Huai De nodded and said, "Red Steel's supply chain system is open. Even if township enterprises want to build cars, we will take orders, and we treat everyone equally."

He looked at the few people and said, "We don't know if the township enterprises across the country will become Jinan Automotive, Harbin Automotive, or even Sichuan Automotive in the future."

"We do supply chains and the automotive industry to promote the development of the automotive industry, and it's also based on the philosophy of serving the people."

Li Huai De raised his hand to tidy up his hair, which was about to disappear, and said frankly, "I only knew when I went to East Germany that the slogan they shouted was to give every adult a car."

"Regardless of how well their policies are implemented, having this benefit shows they have the strength."

He tapped the dining table with his finger and said, "When will we also have the confidence and ability to issue a car to every young person?"

"No, we don't need to issue cars. Let young people have the strength and ability to buy a car."

This was a bit high-profile, and the song was high, so the response was few. A brief silence appeared at the dining table, leaving only Old Li's voice.

"I won't hide it from everyone present. Last year, Steel Automotive's annual production capacity exceeded 100,000 units. This number is absolutely number one in the country."

He proudly gestured with a finger and said, "Whether it's Beijing Automotive or the First Automotive, do they dare compare production capacity with us?"

"Let me say one more thing. Even if they come up with this parts industry cooperative, can't we afford our own supply chain?"

Li Huai De tapped the table again and said, "Even a single Steel Automotive can consume most of the supply chain's orders."

"If there is a need in the future, we will build new car manufacturing plants. It's possible to achieve this goal nationwide."

As soon as this sentence came out, Liu Yang of Jin Ling Automotive raised his eyebrows. He had been paying attention to Red Steel's movements, especially the statements of Li Huai De and Li Xuewu. If Red Steel really intended to build a factory in the south, it was very likely that they would choose Jin Ling as their target.

The Red Steel Sales General Company's Jiangnan section company was in Jin Ling.

"So we are not afraid of challenges, and we have an even fairer heart for cooperation." Li Huai De slowed his tone, raised his cup, and said, "I'll put these words here: cooperating with Red Steel will definitely not make you regret it."

Liu Yang held his wine cup, hesitant. If you could believe what was said at a drinking table, Xiang Yu wouldn't have had to commit suicide at Wujiang.

What he feared most was cooperating with Red Steel, which would lead to a situation of inviting a wolf into the house. Who knew if today's gathering was a show put on for him?

Regardless of the analysis, within three years, Red Steel would definitely build a factory in Jiangnan. One Steel Automotive could no longer satisfy the needs of the automotive industry.

So, the wolf has come, the wolf has truly come. ===== CHAPTER 1531 =====

So, the wolf is here; the wolf has truly come.