Chapter 1547: I'll make you look good

In this day and age, the vocabulary used to describe men is not as scarce and monotonous as in later generations, where there is only "handsome" and "cool."

Words like masculine and robust, simple and natural, confident and firm, mature and steady, etc. —this is the social fashion and values of the time; there is no such thing as a "sissy" aesthetic.

If one's appearance is truly extraordinary, and at first glance is so stunning that it defies description, one would also be praised as being "truly handsome" (jun).

That's right, "jun" is the bottom line for describing a man's appearance, while "junqiao" (pretty/handsome) can only describe a woman's demeanor.

In later generations, you can call your idol "junqiao," but you can't do that at this time. Daring to praise a man like that is an insult.

When Li Xuewu was young, he was quite confident, an existence that absolutely didn't lose to the young version of Louis Koo.

It's a pity that he hasn't heard anyone praise his appearance as handsome for a long time, and hasn't even heard any relevant adjectives.

Because of the scar on his face, regardless of the reason for the scar, his appearance here has been defaulted by most people as a vocabulary that cannot be mentioned.

Actually, Li Xuewu doesn't care much about this. Women often say that men become sloppy once they start a family; perhaps it really is like that, with all their thoughts focused on how to support the family, not paying much attention to image management.

If one day a man starts to pay attention to his external image, and even looks in the mirror often, then he must have found a "sister" for his wife and reignited his heart for love.

What kind of person is Li Xuewu?

Views on him within the group vary, but he is not a complicated person and is not difficult to evaluate.

It should be the mentality of "a thousand readers have a thousand Hamlets"; he is a three-dimensional image.

At least in Gao Yaqin's mind, he can be called an excellent comrade and a good friend.

So, what gift did she prepare for Li Xuewu, and why did she leave it until after work to give to him?

More than ten minutes after the music for the end of the workday rang, the "not handsome at all" Li Xuewu appeared at the door of Gao Yaqin's office. Her secretary held back a smile and opened the door for him.

"What is this stuff?" Li Xuewu looked with a strange expression at the clothing rack placed in the office, on which hung more than a dozen pieces of clothing that looked super fashionable in this era.

"Didn't you have a good stroll through the local market when you passed through Hong Kong last time?"

Gao Yaqin stood up from her seat, hugged her arms, sized up Li Xuewu's figure, raised her eyebrows, and asked, "Even if you didn't have time to go shopping, you had time to look outside, right? This is the most fashionable attire for young people in Hong Kong."

"Do you think I'm a country bumpkin?"

Li Xuewu glanced at her with a chuckle, reached out, and pinched the jeans on the rack, saying, "I saw this stuff a long time ago; it's no different from our work clothes."

"There is still a difference in the fabric production process; you can't evaluate it simply by the thread."

After all, Gao Yaqin is a woman, and her commercial perspective inevitably falls on clothing, hats, shoes, and bags.

She stood in front of the rack, looked at Li Xuewu, and said, "I noticed last time I went to Hong Kong that the local attire is much more open than ours in the mainland, but I didn't have time to research it."

"This time the time was quite ample, so I took Xiao Lin to stroll around carefully and selected some representative clothing to bring back, to see if it could catch your eye."

"For me to see? Not a gift for me?"

Li Xuewu glanced at her with a smile, and then observed the clothes she brought back.

"What's your idea? Do you want to do the textile industry?"

"We have this foundation, don't we?"

Gao Yaqin held the rack, looked at him, and said, "We've been cooperating with the No. 2 Textile Factory for three years, right? The scope of business shouldn't be limited to wool thread textile, nor should it only focus on labor protection clothing manufacturing."

"Are you thinking of doing foreign trade?" Li Xuewu reached out and pulled up a skirt with very economical fabric, raised his eyebrows, and reminded her, "Do you dare to wear this on the street in the mainland?"

"Nonsense—" Gao Yaqin rolled her eyes at him, reached out, and slapped his arm away, saying, "Even at home, I wouldn't dare to wear it. I already said it's representative."

"If we only do clothing foreign trade—" Li Xuewu pondered for a moment, looked at the clothes on the rack, as well as the shoes and leather bags laid out by her secretary Wang Lin, nodded, and said, "If there's a channel, of course we can."

"You also think this project can be done, right—" Gao Yaqin nodded with satisfaction and said, "A large part of our tertiary industry has been wasted."

"Of course, I mean the development opportunities have been wasted. You can understand what I mean, right?"

She waved her hand and emphasized, "The window period for economic development policies during this period is truly too rare. As long as you seize the opportunity, any project can be built up."

The window period for economic policies that Gao Yaqin mentioned was fought for by Mr. Z, and it was the basic principle determined early last year to increase export trade work.

Specifically, actions in trade work included the Red Steel Group enjoying the treatment of market-oriented experiments, and the higher-ups organizing multiple economic visiting groups to go abroad for inspection and research.

Although the experimental objects for market-oriented economic adjustments were not limited to the Red Steel Group, they could be counted on one's fingers.

Only enterprises with representativeness and development potential could get this policy, and the Red Steel Group's performance among these experimental objects was the most outstanding and excellent.

And the successive inspections and research abroad brought back advanced technology and management experience from abroad, which to a certain extent promoted the speed of domestic economic development.

But one should also see the rigorous and rigid environment of the mainland toward economic policies at present. The "rare" that Gao Yaqin mentioned is enough to describe the difficulty and arduousness of economic and trade work at this time compared to the comprehensive reform and opening up of later generations.

In order to let the Red Steel Group develop rapidly and complete its initial accumulation within a limited time, Li Xuewu could be said to have racked his brains; he was truly driving on the edge of a cliff.

Gao Yaqin could feel that every step the Red Steel Group took was extremely arduous, and she thought of discussing it with Li Xuewu the first time she had the idea of starting a business.

These clothes were truly inconvenient to bring home. If discovered by someone with ulterior motives, and a hat was put on her, she would be finished.

But these things were also inconvenient to show to the public, so they could only be displayed to Li Xuewu in the office, and she could only use a funny excuse to invite him over to discuss.

Li Xuewu didn't expect her to bring him any gifts either; the two of them didn't have any "private friendship."

If it were said that Deputy Director Jing brought him a gift after returning from official business in Hong Kong, he might still believe it, just like when he went to East Germany, Deputy Director Jing changed into a German watch.

Gao Yaqin? He still respected her very much.

While the other party was holding a picture album and materials to introduce in detail the prosperity of the garment industry and the shoe and hat manufacturing industry in Hong Kong, Li Xuewu was thinking about the timing of the mainland doing OEM for Hong Kong clothing.

Perhaps some people would say it was later, and some materials were more willing to unify the time to after 1982.

Actually, that's wrong. Trade exchanges between the mainland and Hong Kong had never stopped, and relevant industrial cooperation had always existed, but it wasn't carried out through cooperation between private enterprises, and some materials weren't disclosed.

Just like the pork from Quzhou and the water from the old table's house—without these, Hong Kong would starve or die of thirst.

Under the propaganda environment of later generations, who would know that there were two trains every week sending live pigs from the mainland to Hong Kong, and the source of Hong Kong's tap water pipelines was in the mainland.

Of course, not just anyone had the qualifications to come to the mainland to invest and build factories, and not just anyone could come to the mainland to carry out cooperation such as compensation trade.

Investing and building factories would be around 1978, and clothing cooperation would be earlier. Li Xuewu guessed it was 1973 or 1974.

Why?

The reason was very simple, because Old Nixon came in 1972, and the situation in Northeast Asia underwent earth-shaking changes.

Hong Kong was no longer the only window for the mainland to participate in foreign trade cooperation, and Japan's initiative was unimaginable.

The Japan of this era still had a spirit of reflection, and even more young people worshipped ***.

Just like the reception meeting Li Xuewu just attended, Japan had many representative figures and merchant groups coming to the mainland for visits and exchanges every year.

If it weren't for the red line pressed by the Ugly Country, Japan would have long since signed a normal intercourse agreement.

There was no country more hopeful than Japan to obtain trade rights with the mainland; this was the result of the influence of the geographical environment.

So looking back, would it be too early to start the construction of the garment manufacturing industry now?

That depends on the goals Gao Yaqin planned.

"You should know that the garment industry is not just simple production work, right?"

Li Xuewu first confirmed this point, although Gao Yaqin said she had already taken people to research it.

Gao Yaqin understood his hesitation, nodded very seriously, and said, "I know. You want to say that the garment industry is not the first step, right?"

"Take jeans for example."

Li Xuewu took the men's jeans off the rack and explained to Gao Yaqin, "You said the fabric production process is special, but have you noticed that its garment-making process might also be different from the conventional processes in the mainland?"

"We are used to using buttons or ropes; they prefer using small hardware, and even use it for decoration."

He hung the hanger on the rack, squatted down, and explained all the special parts that the whole pair of jeans possessed, reminding Gao Yaqin that clothing design is a discipline.

Gao Yaqin listened very seriously, and was also thinking with a frown. After he finished introducing and stood up, she asked, "Your meaning is that we should first solve the design problem, and then we can think about production work, right?"

"Or..." She hesitated for a moment, looked up at him, and asked, "Are you asking me if we are doing OEM for Hong Kong, or independently operating a brand?"

"You have already emphasized that the opportunity in terms of time is rare, so how could you be willing to do wedding clothes for others."

Li Xuewu smiled, sat down on the sofa, crossed his legs, looked at Gao Yaqin, and asked, "I want to know first what stimulated you to think of doing a clothing project? This isn't our strong suit."

"What is our strong suit?" Gao Yaqin also walked over and sat down. "Must it be heavy industry, must it be the steel industry to have development advantages?"

"You certainly know that's not what I mean." Li Xuewu spread his hands and said, "At least the group's electronics industry and food industry were promoted by me, right?"

"That's why I asked you to come and discuss it."

Gao Yaqin took out a gift box from under the coffee table and threw it to him, saying, "This is the one for you."

"Yo, there really is a gift?"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows with a smile, looked at the packaging box in his hand, and asked, "There won't be any ambush, will there?"

"If you're afraid, then don't take it—"

Gao Yaqin's mouth curled up, looked at him provocatively, and said, "If you don't dare to take it, I can still give it to someone else."

"That would be too inappropriate. What if it's written inside 'Respectfully presented to Comrade Li Xuewu'?"

He opened the packaging box with a smile. Actually, he knew without looking that this gift was a fountain pen.

It was just such a long box; could it be a harmonica, or even less likely to be lipstick.

"Aiyou, too valuable—"

Li Xuewu looked at the Parker fountain pen in the box, raised his eyebrows at Gao Yaqin, and said, "If you don't have ulterior motives toward me, then you must have a big plan."

"That's why I asked if you were afraid."

Gao Yaqin smiled, took the teacup handed by the secretary, took a sip, and said, "The group's trade work foundation is Deputy Director Jing's credit, the security work foundation is your credit, and the steel city heavy industry cluster foundation is Deputy Director Dong's credit..."

She looked at the teacup in her hand and said indifferently, "To gain a foothold in the group and have a long-term future, I must have some achievements that I can take out."

"Too modest—"

Li Xuewu fiddled with the fountain pen box in his hand and said, "The group's foreign trade achievements in the past two years are such that whoever comes would have to say it's truly remarkable."

"But I feel it's not enough, far from enough."

Gao Yaqin chose to meet Li Xuewu after work just to be able to say these words frankly.

"If everyone thought like you." Li Xuewu looked at her with a smile and said, "Then our group wouldn't need three years to complete the second three-year plan."

He put the fountain pen box aside, looked at Gao Yaqin, and said seriously, "Engaging in the garment industry indeed has certain advantages, and the entry point is also very accurate."

"But the clothing industry is a very deep industry. The definition and pursuit of fashion are not something everyone can control."

Li Xuewu rested his arms on his knees and explained to Gao Yaqin, "Maybe skirts will be popular this year, so skirts will sell well. Maybe white will be popular next year, so white clothes will sell well."

"If you want to make this project a success, first of all, you must have a work team that keeps up with fashion and trends."

He pointed at Gao Yaqin and emphasized, "Relying solely on imitation won't last long, and you won't be able to build a brand."

"Of course, you can say that Hong Kong doesn't have any brands that can be taken out now, but what about the future?"

"You also think that we should independently operate a brand, this has more development potential..."

Gao Yaqin held the teacup and thought for a while before saying, "And we must also consider the attributes of the brand and the setting of sales channels."

"The development trend of brand clothing is agency." Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Even sales terminals. You can't open many stores in Hong Kong like we do with car service stores in the mainland."

"The value of cars and the value of clothing are different, which determines that the sales methods of commodities are different, and the service and management models cannot be the same."

Li Xuewu actually doesn't know much about clothing trade, but he possesses a broader perspective and more "experience."

When advising Gao Yaqin on this project, he tried his best to explain the key points he knew.

Gao Yaqin didn't just have a hot head when she did this project; one could see her ambition from the data collection.

It could be seen that the news of formal groupization had arrived, and the pressure on the group's leadership team members was truly not small.

Rumors could even spread that Li Xuewu was going to be transferred. You can imagine how worried Gao Yaqin, an outsider, must be.

Sometimes gossip isn't all fabricated; it does represent a certain trend.

Why would rumors spread that Li Xuewu was going to be transferred? It's because many people are talking about how he changed the fate of the Red Star Factory with his own strength. Someone listed his contributions since entering the factory. Initially, it was to study the secret of rising to the top in one step and rising step by step, but unexpectedly, they accidentally summarized his report card.

Li Xuewu alone could turn the tide and help the Red Star Factory leap over the dragon gate. If he were transferred to the younger No. 1 Factory in New Beijing to take the lead, wouldn't that mean the next Red Steel Group also had a chance to appear?

A larger Red Steel Group and two Red Steel Groups—this was a multiple-choice question placed in front of the leaders.

Of course, one also had to consider whether Li Xuewu was the core supporting the Red Star Factory to become a group enterprise.

Those who agreed with this view naturally thought Li Xuewu had the opportunity to be in charge of one side, while those who didn't naturally felt this news was nonsense.

Gao Yaqin agreed with this view, but she didn't think Li Xuewu would be transferred, because Old Li wouldn't let him go, and it wouldn't matter who came.

If it were her, it wouldn't necessarily be the case.

After groupization, the higher-ups couldn't watch them continue to huddle together or enjoy the group's development resources.

To put it bluntly, her transfer to the Red Star Factory was entirely a coincidence, and she didn't possess the foundation and influence for continuous development in industrial enterprises.

If she didn't have her own unique work achievements, then when the organization adjusted in the future, if they didn't move her, who would they move?

"Do design first or production first?"

Gao Yaqin thought for a long time before looking at him and asking, "You should be able to understand my idea: get the garment factory up first, even if it's imitation and OEM."

"While training workers, we can also continuously develop the scale of the garment factory and leave time for design."

"This line of thinking is correct, no problem."

Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at her, asking, "Have you ever thought about outsourcing the design part to a Hong Kong company, or establishing a design department in Hong Kong to recruit designers with trendy thinking to work?"

"Wait—you mean—"

Gao Yaqin suddenly felt as if a door had been opened for her, and she had entered another world.

"Design can be proprietary, but designers don't necessarily have to be cultivated by ourselves." Li Xuewu nodded and said, "You don't have to cook yourself if you open a restaurant, right?"

"That makes sense—" Gao Yaqin looked at him in surprise and asked, "Why didn't I think of that!"

"Then I'll accept this fountain pen."

Li Xuewu raised the fountain pen box with a smile and said, "I felt uncomfortable just now because I didn't earn the reward, but now I feel much more at ease."

"Hehe—" Gao Yaqin glanced at him with a light smile and explained, "Actually, this gift wasn't bought by me, nor was it sent to you by me."

She looked at Li Xuewu meaningfully and said, "This fountain pen was entrusted to me by President Lou of the Oriental Era Bank to bring to you. She said you knew each other before?"

"President Gao, I didn't expect you to learn to be bad."

Li Xuewu couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth, feigning dissatisfaction as he looked at her and said, "You don't even draft when you lie. Is the infectiousness of capitalism this strong?"

"Hey! Don't put a hat on me!"

Gao Yaqin rolled her eyes at him with a smile and said, "If it weren't for me, could you have gotten this fountain pen?"

"Then I have to thank you?"

Li Xuewu stood up, feeling both angry and amused, and said, "Forget it, I'm leaving. I feel like I'm losing money just by advising you one more sentence."

"You don't even think about it, can I afford to send such a valuable gift?" Gao Yaqin, who stood up to see him off, said amusingly, "Do you know how much this fountain pen is worth? Good heavens, I can't even afford it with a year's salary."

"But you still lied to me—"

Li Xuewu walked to the door and stopped, looked back at her, and emphasized, "I've remembered this time: guard against fire, guard against theft, guard against comrades!"

"Aiya, so petty—"

Gao Yaqin looked at him amusingly and said, "A big man, can I treat you to dinner tonight?"

"Can I still trust you? Don't dream—"

Li Xuewu glanced at her sideways and said, "If you really had this sincerity, you shouldn't have talked in the office today."

"Where do you want to talk?" Gao Yaqin teased amusingly, "Do you want me to find actors from the cultural troupe to wear these clothes and perform for you, and bring Director Li?"

"Don't even say that—" Li Xuewu pointed at her with a smile and said, "I won't watch, but if you want to set up the project as soon as possible..."

He didn't say the following words, smiled meaningfully, and turned to leave, earning a big eye-roll from Gao Yaqin.

If she really wanted to do this project, she would do it upright and honestly; how could she engage in any crooked ways as Li Xuewu said?

If there were really profits, could Li Huai De not do it?

She naturally knew about Old Li's romantic affairs, but she despised them in her heart and would never curry favor.

You say Old Li is so "carefree," so why doesn't anyone stand up and manage it?

"Hehe, are you afraid I'll really teach?"

Examples of pursuing relevant personnel for "style problems" will have to wait until after 50 years later. Manage it now?

As long as it's mutual consent, and as long as it hasn't reached an irreconcilable point, these things are handled by dilution.

Another thing, the land of gentleness is a hotbed of corruption, but there is still a process from style problems to economic problems.

Do you really think no one reported Old Li? He is in that position and is in the limelight; how could no one be watching him?

If he didn't have some means and didn't have some restraint, Old Li would have been brought down long ago; could he have stayed until today?

Gao Yaqin hadn't been in the group for just a day or two. She only heard that Old Li liked dancing and liked dance actors even more, but she hadn't heard that he liked yellow and white things (money).

In this day and age, there is no particularly large gap between the income of cadres and workers. Li Xuewu's current salary is only 130 or 140. You have to think about how much work he has done.

Compared with the income gap of several times, dozens of times, or even hundreds of times in later generations, this is nothing.

Many section-level cadres in the Red Steel Group are still riding bicycles to work. The ones who really sit in small cars are middle-level.

With the current living and working environment, there isn't much room for Old Li to play, and he doesn't need this either.

Even if he were given yellow and white things, he wouldn't be able to spend them. He has money but no coupons, so he can only stare. What does he want money for?

Internal group supply can satisfy most of the living needs of cadres and workers. Coupons aren't needed here, but for Old Li, he doesn't use much money either.

So even if gossip is flying all over the sky, in the absence of anyone standing up to make a scene, Old Li's carefree nature is truly carefree, and even carries a touch of romanticism.

You say he is engaged in power-for-sex transactions, but the promotion of cadres itself has many complexities; who can say for sure?

Some people can't stand Zhou Miaomiao's promotion, but they can't find evidence that her talent doesn't match her position. She is doing very well now, achieving better results than many old cadres.

So sometimes the things in the government office are really a muddled account, and no one can say clearly.

Just like Jing Yunong, who came out of the office and prepared to get off work, but saw Li Xuewu walking over from the direction of Gao Yaqin's office with a small gift box in his hand.

What would she think at this time and in this scene?

You couldn't be hungry, and even if you were hungry, there's still me. How could you lay a hand on that Gao Yaqin!

"So late, working overtime?"

"Hehe—" Hearing Li Xuewu take the initiative to greet her, Jing Yunong looked at the thing in his hand with a half-smile and said, "What a coincidence, the Secretary-General is also working overtime."

"Not a coincidence, President Gao summoned me to discuss work."

Li Xuewu heard the sourness in her words, raised his eyebrows with a smile, and emphasized, "Really discussing work."

"Tsk—" Jing Yunong curled her lip, turned her head to look at the elevator door, and muttered, "None of my business."

Slap—

So bold!

Jing Yunong's butt was slapped, and her face suddenly flushed red, but she was too nervous to look back.

This bastard is too bold. Where is this? This is the group, and he actually dared—to hit me!

She wanted to grind her teeth, but was worried that her reaction would be too big and attract attention. This feeling was too uncomfortable.

"Secretary-General, it's dark and the road is hard to walk."

The elevator door opened. Under the gaze of the elevator operator, Jing Yunong turned to Li Xuewu, who was walking toward the office, and "reminded" him, "Be careful."

From the perspective of the elevator operator, President Jing was narrowing her eyes and blushing, as if she was angry and was making threats to the Secretary-General.

She saw the Secretary-General wave his hand without looking back, and President Jing seemed even angrier.

Jing Yunong wasn't angry at all. She had already told Li Xuewu that she would make him look good tonight.

Having matched the code, she walked into the elevator with a cold face and said indifferently, "Help me press the first floor."

"Alright—alright, President Jing."

The elevator operator shivered nervously. She was glad that the Secretary-General didn't follow her downstairs this time.

Recently, the atmosphere within the group had been tense. Everyone knew it was because of the formalization of the group, and coupled with the fact that the group hadn't made large-scale adjustments to its organizational structure for two consecutive years, many people were looking forward to it.

Looking forward to what? Naturally, looking forward to those old things above lifting their butts and moving forward a step, so as to make room for them to advance and rise.

Has the organizational structure not moved for a long time? Didn't many people get transferred when the No. 1 Factory in New Beijing was established last year?

That's right, in order to support the construction of the No. 1 Factory in New Beijing, the Red Steel Group even took the initiative to support many cadres.

However, from the day sixteen enterprises were merged, the transferred cadres were divided into two situations. One was to be completely transferred to the Red Star Factory, first receiving organizational training, and then being assigned according to the actual situation.

The other was to carry out training on behalf of Beijing Industry. Except for some cadres who received organizational training, most were arranged in deputy positions in the rolling mill.

At that time, the rolling mill had two sets of teams from top to bottom, except for the management layer—one set for the Red Star Factory, and one set prepared for the No. 1 Factory in Beijing.

At that time, the workers in the rolling mill worked in three shifts, and it wasn't until the No. 1 Factory in New Beijing was established that normal shifts were restored.

Now the Steel City Rolling Mill uses new equipment and new processes, and has implemented three shifts again.

However, after the process change, the number of workers decreased, and the workload also decreased. Three shifts didn't increase the workload, but instead increased production while reducing the workload.

The Red Steel Group has been carrying out personnel changes since 1968. It can be said that there have been small movements but no big ones, and there have been no large-scale cadre adjustment movements.

This year is different. The group has been formally established. Will the relevant departments be adjusted? Will the heads of branches, factories, and relevant units be adjusted? These are all unknowns at the group level, and everyone is waiting for the results.

The group management layer with decision-making power has become the object of attention from top to bottom in the group. Wherever they go, people rush to greet them.

Li Xuewu returned to the office, put on his coat, and went downstairs with Zhang Enyuan. Even though it was an hour late, there were still workers coming in and out of the building.

There is no 996 in this era, but there is a duty system, especially for discipline departments and special business departments. This is part of the group's emergency work.

Li Xuewu had duty tasks during the Red Star Factory period, and it wasn't until after groupization that this arrangement was canceled.

Why?

Because the management hierarchy has been lengthened, and part of the decision-making power for risk response has inevitably been delegated, so that general risk work can be handled by the lower or middle levels.

For production units where accidents are most likely to occur, there is a company layer above, as well as a group department layer, which screens and isolates most of the accident handling needs.

When it really comes to the point where group leaders need to make decisions, a phone call can get the corresponding instructions.

Another thing, Riverside Garden is about to be completed. By then, group leaders will live next to the unit and can arrive at any time if there is anything, which is the main reason for canceling the group leader duty system.

"Secretary-General, you just got off work."

"Mm, good, are you on duty?"

Li Xuewu came out of the elevator and responded with a smile to the workers who greeted him.

In the past, he could call everyone's name in the Red Star Factory office, but now he can't.

Thousands of people—even if he had the most powerful brain, he couldn't recognize all the workers, not to mention that personnel are dynamically changing.

"Send Secretary Zhang to the reception house first."

As soon as Li Xuewu got into the car, he gave an instruction to the driver. This driver was specially arranged by Han Jiankun to serve him during his work in Beijing, and they were already familiar with each other after contact.

The driver was very sensible and had withstood the test. He was very much looking forward to becoming his official driver, so he was very serious about doing things.

"Leader, I'll just walk over."

Hearing him say this, Zhang Enyuan knew that the leader had other arrangements tonight, so he asked a question.

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "Send you first, no rush for a moment. I have a social engagement tonight."

"Alright, do you have any arrangements for tomorrow?"

Tomorrow is the weekend. Zhang Enyuan wanted to confirm whether there were any itineraries for tomorrow so that he could prepare in advance.

"No, you go do your work." Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Let's strive to go back before the end of the month."

"Hehe, I'm afraid that's a bit difficult."

Zhang Enyuan had tried his best to classify and handle the work transferred from Steel City and simplify his work procedures.

However, after staying in Beijing for a long time, this kind of work transfer also had time limits and wasn't very convenient.

"If the document can come down next Monday, according to Director Li's meaning, the reception banquet will be held at the end of the month."

"Just making a show—"

Li Xuewu turned his head with a chuckle, looked out the window, and said, "After all the tossing, several days are gone."

The document was the document for the formalization of the group, which was the one Li Huai De asked him to take, but he didn't take this task.

He wouldn't ask for trouble. Li Huai De was in high spirits, so this list of gods should be taken by Old Li.

Want to be Jiang Ziya? Then you have to be prepared to be struck by lightning. Look at how fast Old Li has aged in these few years.

He used to be thick and dense, but now he's falling out until he's almost a cricket.

"This is a great happy event for our group."

Zhang Enyuan smiled and didn't dare to take this topic, only explaining, "It should be celebrated properly."

"The propaganda significance is greater than the practical significance."

Li Xuewu didn't oppose the celebration ceremony organized by Old Li; this was his big stage for success.

Whoever dared to deny his plan now was his enemy, and Old Li could do anything.

The car turned into the gate of the original factory area. In fact, only this gate was left now, and other parts of the courtyard wall had been demolished.

There would be no more production units here in the future, and the courtyard wall would lose its original role.

Coupled with the overall planning of the ecological industrial zone, the factory area would be transformed into an ecological park. Whether it was educational units, scientific research units, or the office buildings of branches, they would all be distributed in the park.

The designers from Europe had exhausted their efforts, determined to create a demonstration building complex in the Liangma River Industrial Zone, leaving a monument for the domestic design world in the future.

Of course, it also had to do with the Red Steel Group's investment. If there was no money, nothing could be done.

The factory road hadn't moved yet, and the newly built office building was still there. It was just that the row of houses where the United Savings Bank was temporarily located had been demolished.

At the same time, the service departments distributed on the left and right of the original main road were demolished, and now they had been relocated to the supply market built in the workers' new village.

Although there were still sporadic workers walking on the factory road and security teams patrolling, the factory without chimneys looked so desolate.

Some dangerous workshops were demolished, or had big "demolish" characters drawn on them due to layout adjustments.

Starting from November, the "demolish" character was the theme. The project department expected to complete all the parts of the original rolling mill that needed to be demolished throughout the winter.

There was no need to worry about where to dump the construction waste. The big pit in the west and the big pits left after building the dam all needed to be refilled. There were still construction machinery working during this time, and there were big trucks transporting bricks and tiles on the road.

The headlights split the desolate darkness and arrived at the reception house that was still open for business.

The reception hotel established this year was expected to be completed by the end of next year, and it might be moved into the year after.

So the reception house in the park would still have at least two years of transition period.

Zhang Enyuan was temporarily living here while accompanying him to work in Beijing, and the conditions were still very good.

"Secretary Zhang, just now—"

Qin Huairu had also just finished her work and was preparing to get off work. Seeing the figure in the back seat when the car left, she couldn't help but ask Zhang Enyuan.

She naturally knew whose secretary Zhang Enyuan was, and also knew who was in the back seat of the car.

"Director Qin, you just got off work."

Where would Zhang Enyuan mention the leader? He just smiled and changed the topic, saying, "It's truly late enough."

"Isn't it? Something in the kitchen was delayed." Qin Huairu also had a heart as clear as crystal. Seeing him say this, she knew what he meant.

"Alright, you go do your work. Since it's still early, I have to hurry back."

Qin Huairu smiled and gestured toward the bicycle at the door, saying, "The kitchen prepared noodles tonight, you eat more."

"Alright, thank you Director Qin, you go slowly."

Zhang Enyuan greeted her and entered the lobby, while Qin Huairu pushed her bicycle and walked out.

Winter nights are dark early, and it's inevitable to walk at night, but she wasn't afraid at all.

Although the factory area was undergoing major demolition and renovation, it wasn't a place where just anyone could enter.

People from the factory security team often patrolled along the road, and there were security personnel staring at thieves at night.

Another thing, she didn't have to go back to the city now; her home had moved to the workers' new village next door.

Even standing in the courtyard of the reception house, she could see the workers' new village building complex not far away.

Those were hundreds of buildings. When the lights were on at night, it could truly be described as "ten thousand families with lights."

However, although the workers' new village was next door, she still had to ride her bike around the big road, because the original workers' dormitory was being demolished, and the road to the next door was blocked. Walking might still be possible to climb over, but riding a bike wouldn't work.

Detouring wasn't far. Entering the residential area from the gate at the school entrance could also be done while buying vegetables.

"Principal Ran? Is it Principal Ran."

The Riverside Avenue in the winter night was brightly lit, and the shops along the street under the streetlights were very conspicuous.

These shops were not open to the public, only receiving Red Steel Group internal workers. It was a small society.

Qin Huairu had just come out of the stationery store. Her two daughters asked her for stationery in the morning, and she had to buy it back tonight.

Her son almost broke up with her, so she couldn't offend her daughters anymore. Without Bang Geng by her side, Xiao Dang and Huai Hua also enjoyed the treatment that real daughters should have.

She unexpectedly met Bang Geng's former head teacher, the current middle school principal Ran Qiuye.

Ran Qiuye heard someone greeting her, but when she looked back, it was Qin Huairu.

"Director Qin, it's you." Both were in the same system, so naturally, they couldn't call her Bang Geng's mother anymore.

"I looked and it seemed like you, I almost didn't dare to recognize you."

How good Qin Huairu was at speaking! She walked in and greeted her enthusiastically, "You just got off work too?"

"Where, I'm already home, forgot to buy vegetables." Ran Qiuye smiled annoyedly and said, "Couldn't find anything to deal with after searching for a long time, so I had to come down again."

"What a coincidence, I'm also preparing to buy vegetables." Qin Huairu pushed her bike and gestured toward the supply market, saying, "How long has it been since I saw you? You haven't changed at all, still so young and beautiful."

"Stop talking, Director Qin, you are the one who is getting younger and more beautiful." Ran Qiuye smiled and said, "When you called me just now, I looked carefully before I dared to recognize you."

"What's young anymore? Bang Geng has already started working. In a few years, I'll be an old lady."

Qin Huairu still had to save some face in front of her son's former head teacher. She smiled and asked, "Principal Ran, are you still alone?" ===== CHAPTER 1548 =====

"What do you mean 'still young'? Banggeng has already started working; in a few more years, I'll be an old lady myself."

Qin Huairu still wanted to save some face in front of her son's former homeroom teacher, so she smiled and asked, "Principal Ran, are you still on your own?"