Chapter 1573: Half a Catty to Eight Taels

"Deputy Director Zhang."

"Deputy Director Zhang, Deputy Director Liu."

Just as the group walked into the lounge, greetings began from the person closest to the door.

"Comrade Weide, hello."

Deputy Director Zhang, who was in charge of organizational work at the First Ministry of Machine Building, stood implicitly in front and recognized Su Weide, who was closest, at a glance.

The hand he extended was also enthusiastically received by the other party, and greetings and flattery poured in like raindrops.

Li Huai De stood to the side, smiling like a Doraemon. He turned and introduced to Deputy Director Liu from the city, "Deputy Director Su is an old subordinate of Deputy Director Zhang; they're even closer than we are."

"Hahaha—"

Hearing the tone, Deputy Director Zhang laughed and shook Su Weide's hand, turned to point at him, and raised an eyebrow, saying, "You, Li Huai De, don't be so sharp-tongued!"

"Hahahaha—"

Li Huai De wasn't afraid of him. Now he was the Director of the Red Steel Group Management Committee and General Manager. His rank wasn't lower than the other party's.

"I'm just envious!"

Who in the room didn't know that Li Huai De had forged his scolding to perfection, scolding people with a smile.

Li Xuewu turned to look at Dong Wenxue and Zhang Jinsong, blinked his eyes, and all three laughed.

"No need to introduce Comrade Zhifu."

Li Huai De bypassed Su Weide, pointed at Xue Zhifu, and introduced him to the two, "He is now the Chief Engineer of our group."

"Growing quite fast these past two years!"

Deputy Director Zhang shook hands with him. Although his attitude wasn't as enthusiastic as it was toward Su Weide, it was still intimate.

"Just learning from the leaders." Xue Zhifu had been working in the supervision system and was transferred to the industrial system later. Deputy Director Zhang, who was in charge of organizational work, naturally knew him.

A person who had been tempered by years of supervision work stood there with an upright spirit, and one could tell what kind of person he was at a glance.

His tone when speaking to Deputy Director Zhang didn't show a bit of humility; it was like an old friend.

"Hahaha—" This naturally led Deputy Director Zhang to shake his hand with a smile, his eyes full of approval.

Deputy Director Zhang's main work was managing cadres. While managing, he also cultivated them. In terms of comprehensive quality cultivation of cadres, it had to be said that he had his achievements in cultivating a cadre with supervision work ability into an industrial engineering management cadre.

So the look in Deputy Director Zhang's eyes, besides approval, also held gratification and a little bit of pride.

"Deputy Director Liu." When Li Huai De led Deputy Director Zhang to shake hands and exchange greetings with Gu Wei Jie, he also shook hands with Liu Xiangqian and exchanged greetings, his attitude becoming a bit more polite.

"Comrade Zhifu, we meet again."

Liu Xiangqian was the First Deputy Director of the Beijing Management Committee. He had previously presided over the groupization and merger of the Red Star Factory with sixteen industrial enterprises, as well as other automotive industry resource integration projects.

His impression and attitude toward the Red Star Factory were complex, and his view of the cadres who had come all the way from the Red Star Factory was also complex.

But this didn't prevent him from coming here today to express goodwill to these cadres who were already in the management of the Red Steel Group.

Cooperation benefits both; fighting harms both.

No one is a fool. Although the Red Steel Group had been devolved to local management, it also held the plaque of a market-oriented industrial enterprise pilot unit under the First Ministry of Machine Building, so they couldn't be too hard.

So, shaking hands with Su Weide and Xue Zhifu, he spoke very little, but his attitude was very warm.

"Comrade Wenxue doesn't need an introduction, Comrade Jinsong came the year before last, Deputy Director Liu probably hasn't met him."

Li Huai De introduced all the group's leadership team members to Deputy Director Zhang and Deputy Director Liu. Others "didn't need an introduction," but Gao Yaqin and Zhang Jinsong were specially introduced.

Actually, he did it on purpose. The two had worked in the Red Steel Group for more than two years, how could they not have had contact with the city?

He rarely went to the city for meetings these past two years. If there was work to discuss in any aspect, the leader in charge would go to the city.

With the rise and development momentum of the Red Steel Group, even if they weren't sitting in the front row, they were still eye-catching.

So, being familiar with the two wasn't enough to describe Liu Xiangqian's familiarity, which was reflected when shaking hands and exchanging greetings.

After a "simple" introduction of Xiong Bencheng, it was Li Xuewu's turn to step forward to greet and pay respects.

His rank was the lowest, and he was the youngest, so naturally, he was ranked last, but the attention and focus on him weren't low at all.

"The most capable soldier in the industrial system."

Deputy Director Zhang pointed at Li Xuewu, his eyes full of admiration and praise, saying, "I've heard his name more than once from the leaders above."

This was said while looking at Li Xuewu, but it wasn't just said to Li Xuewu. One could tell by the expressions on the faces of the people around.

"Mr. Z is very concerned about your growth; he even asked about your work last time we met." He held Li Xuewu's hand and said, "He said you have strong ability, a long vision, the vigor of a young cadre, and also mature confidence and means."

"It's all for organizational work, for serving the people." Li Xuewu's expression became serious when he heard Mr. Z mentioned, "He is the role model I should learn from."

"Hmm, don't let down the organization's cultivation of you, and don't let down Mr. Z's expectations of you."

He never let go of Li Xuewu's hand, speaking very earnestly, "Work hard, young man."

"I definitely will, thank you, leader."

Li Xuewu nodded, his attitude very serious.

Deputy Director Zhang also nodded, let go of his hand, patted his arm, and said to Liu Xiangqian beside him, "This is the most capable cadre I've ever seen."

"Of course, I've seen it long ago."

Liu Xiangqian's attitude wasn't high-profile at all. He shook hands with Li Xuewu very frankly and said with a smile, "Welcome back to the big family of the Beijing industrial system. You are a cadre cultivated by the Beijing organization, don't recognize the wrong maternal home—"

"Hahaha—" Deputy Director Zhang laughed first when he heard this, and the laughter was very hearty.

The gazes of everyone in the room toward Li Xuewu, besides envy and jealousy, naturally didn't lack hatred.

Hatred isn't necessarily produced by conflict; it can also be envy to the extreme, which then becomes hatred.

Li Xuewu's attitude was always humble and orderly. He only shook hands and exchanged greetings with the two leaders before stepping aside.

He was the youngest cadre in the Red Steel Group's management and the cadre with the lowest rank. Now wasn't his main stage yet.

Being young was a main reason everyone in the room envied him, but it was also a fact. He didn't yet have the self-awareness to walk to the core position. How others saw him wasn't important; how he saw himself was the most important.

Are Deputy Director Zhang's praise and Deputy Director Liu's intimacy important? Besides attracting firepower by being prominent in front of people, they have no effect.

Of course, starting today, those words of Deputy Director Zhang will also be quietly known by everyone in the group, and the city's attention and focus on him will become a part of his influence.

But these influences aren't that important to him at the moment, or to put it bluntly—necessary.

Influence should be a gradual process, an accumulation of trust, and an improvement in ability.

Didn't Mr. Lu Xun say it? If you take too big a step, you'll easily pull your balls. You still have to walk steadily, one step at a time.

Whether it was Deputy Director Zhang from the First Ministry of Machine Building or Deputy Director Liu from the city, their purpose in coming today wasn't to meet and greet the Red Steel Group Management Committee leadership team, and certainly not to praise him, Li Xuewu. What did he have to be proud of?

It was precisely this attitude of not being happy by external things and not sad by oneself that made Deputy Director Zhang and Liu Xiangqian see his action of stepping aside, and the approval in their eyes became even stronger.

There is no scientific basis or indicator for evaluating how far a cadre can go, but one can estimate it from their words and deeds.

Maturity and restraint are precisely the qualities that a senior management cadre must possess, just like the one standing beside Li Huai De.

"Let me introduce to everyone, this is Comrade Zhou Wanquan, a new member who has joined our Red Steel Group leadership team."

Li Huai De introduced a circle, came back to stand in the center of the crowd in the lounge, signaled the middle-aged cadre beside him, and introduced him affectionately, "I believe everyone is no stranger to Comrade Wanquan. He previously worked in Beijing Industry. We count as one family."

"Hahaha—"

Following his joke, and then hearing Deputy Director Zhang's laughter, everyone in the room clapped with different expressions.

"You must not be polite."

Liu Xiangqian understood his humor, reached out and patted his arm, and joked, "Those who come are guests."

"You are all one family, I've become a guest!"

Deputy Director Zhang pointed at him with a smile, and then looked at Zhou Wanquan and said, "Welcome Comrade Wanquan to join our industrial system. From now on, the city counts as your maternal home."

"Hahaha!" This "maternal home theory" of the two kept the atmosphere in the lounge active.

Zhou Wanquan also shook hands and greeted everyone in the room one by one under Li Huai De's signal.

When he stood in front of Li Xuewu, before Li Xuewu could speak, he said, "Hello, from now on we are comrades."

Li Xuewu was stunned for a moment, then nodded with a smile and said, "We were before too."

"Hahaha—" This witty answer made the onlookers secretly admire him.

Li Xuewu had never thought he had offended him anywhere, let alone had any conflict between them.

Let's put it this way: he looked at Zhou Wanquan's work resume. The other party didn't manage business work in Beijing Industry, but organizational work, and had worked in the organizational system for many years.

It could be said that the two had no intersection, whether in business or social interaction.

Li Xuewu hadn't even seen him; he only knew there was such a person in Beijing Industry. Now, what was this knife supposed to mean?

Could it be that he was also jealous of his youth?

Right in the 10th-floor conference room of the group's office building, the group cadre representative meeting was held, with Deputy Director Gu Wei Jie presiding.

At the meeting, Deputy Director Zhang from the First Ministry of Machine Building publicized the spirit of the superior's requirements and instructions in the "Notice on the Decentralization of Management of Enterprises Directly Under the Industrial and Communications Departments of the State Council (Draft)" issued on March 5, and provided a detailed interpretation.

Subsequently, Deputy Director Liu Xiangqian from the Municipal Management Committee read out the organizational cadre appointment decision. The "Decision" appointed Comrade Zhou Wanquan, Deputy Director of Municipal Industry, to the position of Deputy Director of the Red Steel Group.

At the same time, he also publicized the organizational work requirements to the Red Steel Group on behalf of the Municipal Management Committee, specifically mentioning the importance of the Party organization in industrial management, and requiring the Red Steel Group to actively carry out organizational restoration work and establish a corresponding core group.

The number of core group members wasn't mentioned, but it must be a small number, the core members who decide the group's work.

Li Xuewu had long expected that such a day would come, but seeing everyone's faces were serious, and some even frowned.

Of course they would frown. The Red Steel Group's organizational management structure had just been sorted out, and now there was another core group.

That is to say, those who get in have increased speaking power, and those who don't have decreased speaking power. After all, those who get in are the minority, and the majority are definitely unhappy, so there are more unhappy people.

According to the general situation, only the appointment decision will be read at the general meeting, and it won't be detailed to the division of labor.

Then who decides the division of labor?

Actually, before the organizational appointment, they will generally first seek the opinion of the person in charge of the unit, that is, first find Old Li for a talk.

Is Old Li's opinion important?

Of course it's important, but it's not the key factor in the superior's appointment, it's a consideration factor.

And in the talk on Old Li's side, without special circumstances, he cannot, and will not, refuse the organizational decision, but will express support.

Then in the subsequent talk, the organization will also mention the background and purpose of the relevant appointment, for example, strengthening certain shortcomings of the unit, or strengthening the construction of which aspect of the team.

Generally speaking, leaders won't directly criticize or point out what loopholes or defects the unit has. After all, it's an industrial enterprise, and they all have their own logic, so they can't slap them in the face.

And Old Li, as the person in charge of the unit, can understand the superior's opinions and requirements from here.

In weighing the pros and cons, he will either choose to obey the organizational decision and adjust the division of labor according to the superior's instructions and opinions.

Or, while accepting the organizational arrangement, he will explain the current division of labor and adjust it.

Once he gets the organization's consent and approval, he will work on it at the leadership team meeting held after the cadre representative meeting.

Generally speaking, the organization's intention has been realized, and the person in charge of the unit has also accepted the organizational arrangement. How to divide the labor is a suggestion, not a resolution, so it won't be very aggressive.

It's a very simple truth: being able to serve as the person in charge of a unit means that this team is led by him, the squad leader, and if the work goes wrong, it's also the squad leader who is responsible.

Therefore, people are arranged, and how to use them and where to use them are decided by the squad leader. If they aren't used well, it's also the responsibility of the leadership team.

For example, if Zhou Wanquan from Beijing Industry appears to have a major work error within a year of being transferred to the Red Steel Group, or violates the principle regulations, then Li Huai De also has to bear the responsibility.

If the squad leader has the obligation to bear responsibility, he has the right to supervise, and organizational personnel and division of labor adjustment are the means he must have.

Think about it carefully, which unit's head doesn't have the ability to adjust organizational personnel and division of labor? There really isn't one. If they don't have it, they must be retiring, or they have been hollowed out. This is certain.

It is precisely based on this principle that leadership team members must respect the squad leader's opinion and must respect the squad leader's rights.

Therefore, after Liu Xiangqian read the organizational appointment and introduced Zhou Wanquan's work resume to the cadre representatives, Li Huai De also expressed gratitude to the two leaders who sent the cadres in his subsequent speech, and expressed welcome to Zhou Wanquan's arrival.

Zhou Wanquan's speech was arranged after Li Huai De's. The core of his speech was gratitude and honor: gratitude for the organization's trust, and honor to become a member of the Red Steel Group.

Of course, his speech was also a statement of position: he must respect Li Huai De's leadership, must unite the comrades of the leadership team, must work hard, and must not fail the organization's hope and trust.

Therefore, after his speech ended, Li Huai De also expressed recognition of this attitude in his concluding speech, expounded on the Red Steel Group's development philosophy, expressed welcome to his arrival again, and made hopes and requirements.

This is absolutely not a routine; this is a procedure.

Once the procedure is finished, whoever makes a mistake gets the whip. Primary and secondary must be distinguished, and the big and small kings must be clearly recognized.

After the cadre representative meeting ended, the group management layer, represented by Li Huai De, took the new member Zhou Wanquan all the way downstairs and out of the lobby.

If it were in the past, if Li Huai De were still the person in charge of a factory that wasn't big or small, he would definitely enthusiastically invite the two leaders to stay for lunch.

But the meeting ended before ten o'clock, and he wasn't the brother from back then anymore; he had also learned to be reserved.

After politely expressing his feelings, hearing that both leaders refused the invitation to stay for a meal, he took the opportunity to express his regret and expectation for the next meeting.

They were all senior cadres now. Mentioning drinking again, especially in this kind of work environment, seemed a bit demeaning.

Even Old Li rarely deals with drinking parties now, unless it's a high-end party or a gathering of his own people.

Although Li Xuewu hadn't written a "Chu Shi Biao" (Memorial on the Expedition) for him, he had also given him suggestions and opinions many times in private.

Old Li was willing to listen to opinions, especially those suggestions or opinions he put forward.

Li Huai De didn't believe in ghosts or gods; he only believed that Li Xuewu had worked at the Red Star Factory for five years and had never made a mistake.

It's easy for a person not to make a mistake for a month, hard not to make a mistake for a year, worthy of commendation not to make a mistake for three years, and if you don't make a mistake for five years, you must be a god.

When Li Xuewu reminded him that the times were murderous and he should be cautious in his words and deeds, Old Li began to distance himself from his circle of friends; when Li Xuewu reminded him to pay attention to unity and focus on the grassroots, Old Li began to go to the workshop; when Li Xuewu reminded him that finances were tight and he should value technology, Old Li began to tighten his pen.

It's not that he does whatever Li Xuewu tells him to do; he isn't Li Xuewu's marionette, and Li Xuewu isn't his shadow strategist, but he definitely won't do things Li Xuewu says can't be done. This is trust and tacit understanding.

Therefore, starting these past two years, few sycophants and flatterers have appeared around Li Huai De. His brain is clearer than anyone else's, and he knows he should be low-key and restrained at this time.

Unless it's a main leader from above who has come specifically to investigate the group, he won't show up to host them. He will arrange for other leadership team members to show up, and only show his face at the end.

Some say Li Huai De has floated, and now he doesn't hang out with his buddies, and some say Old Li has grown in status and is looking down on people.

No matter what others say, when they meet him, they will definitely respect the temperament he shows now even more.

Li Huai De wants this respect, and he has gradually understood the teasing remark Li Xuewu made: being low-key is the most awesome show-off.

After sending off the two leaders who represented the First Ministry of Machine Building and the city, Li Huai De took the leadership team members back to the ninth floor.

Of course, it wasn't to the large conference room where the meeting had just ended, but to the Red Steel Group Management Committee's exclusive conference room.

The largest conference room on the ninth floor was this one. Originally, there were only eleven chairs beside the oval conference table, but now there was one more, and the nameplate corresponding to this chair was written with the three characters Zhou Wanquan. Every leadership team member who walked in would more or less glance at it.

Li Xuewu's position had changed, ranked last. This was normal. He used to sit next to Old Li, and arranging work was even more awesome than Old Li.

Starting from the beginning of last year, his seat was moved to the end, because he hadn't returned for many meetings, and by the time he returned, the situation had changed.

"Originally, I was going to keep the two leaders for a meal, but there are many meetings today, and many things to do."

After Li Huai De sat down, he didn't rush to start the meeting agenda, but looked at Zhou Wanquan, who was sitting on his left hand side below Gu Wei Jie, and explained, "At noon, Comrade Wei Jie will lead the team, and General Manager Gao and the Secretary-General have to go to Jin Ling to preside over the establishment ceremony of the sales general company's regional company."

"Comrade Wenxue has to coordinate the settlement work after the East German technical team lands; Comrade Kaiyuan has to go down to investigate, everyone is very busy."

He crossed his hands in front of the conference table, his gaze swept over everyone in the conference room, and said, "They didn't want to stay, and I didn't sincerely want to keep them."

Speaking of this, he smiled, and there were smiles on everyone's faces.

"It's all for organizational work, the leaders can understand these empty things."

He looked left and right with a smile and said, "There is one more new member in the leadership team today, I still propose once again that everyone express welcome to Comrade Wanquan."

"Thank you, thank you comrades."

Just as everyone looked at him and clapped, Zhou Wanquan stood up very humbly, bowed slightly, and clapped his hands to express his gratitude.

Li Huai De raised his hand lightly at the right time, signaling him not to be polite and to sit down and talk.

After Zhou Wanquan sat down, the applause stopped, and he nodded slightly and said, "According to organizational suggestions and requirements, combined with Comrade Wanquan's work resume, and also to strengthen the group's organizational supervision work, the superior arranged for him to come to the group to work."

Hearing him say this, the expressions of everyone in the conference room didn't change much, but Li Xuewu had been staring at Su Weide and still discovered that his fingers had stopped moving.

Looking toward Gu Wei Jie's direction again, the fountain pen on her notebook had been screwed on at some point, which showed that this news didn't come suddenly.

"Previously, our group's supervision work was the responsibility of Comrade Zhifu." Li Huai De first looked at Xue Zhifu, then raised his hand to signal Gu Wei Jie and said, "Later, Comrade Wei Jie managed it for a while."

Not knowing what he thought of, or seeing Li Xuewu, he raised his hand again to signal Li Xuewu and introduced, "Oh, by the way, the Secretary-General has also been responsible for supervision work."

"I was helping Deputy Director Xue."

Li Xuewu smiled slightly, emphasized, "Mainly cooperating with supervision work."

"We are all comrades, nothing to be humble about." Li Huai De smiled, looked at Zhou Wanquan, and introduced, "Comrade Xuewu's theoretical foundation is very solid."

"The Group Agency Work Management Regulations, the Group Organizational Cadre Management Regulations, the Safety Production Work Management Regulations, etc., were all revised under his chairmanship."

He pointed at the desk and affirmed, "In terms of organizational management, I believe you will definitely have common topics."

"I'm already looking forward to having a deep talk with the Secretary-General."

Zhou Wanquan looked at Li Xuewu with a smile, his eyes full of gloom, and Li Xuewu only felt his butt tighten, and the smile on his face became a bit fake.

"I see everyone has no opinion."

Li Huai De made the steadiest foreshadowing, then swept over everyone, and said with a serious face, "Then Comrade Wanquan will be responsible for the group's organizational discipline and supervision work."

He nodded slowly and emphasized, "Since the Great Learning activity started, the group's supervision work has been changing in a good direction."

"I believe that with Comrade Wanquan, a comrade who has worked in the organizational system for many years, presiding over supervision work, our group's organizational discipline and atmosphere will definitely be improved and progressed."

Zhou Wanquan nodded when Li Huai De looked over, and didn't make a statement again.

"Like this, Comrade Wei Jie is currently responsible for supervision work, you two go down and do a good job of work handover." Li Huai De cut through the Gordian knot and arranged directly, "Transfer personnel from organization, personnel, and office to supplement the Supervision Division, and at the same time, officially transfer the Supervision General Team to the Supervision Division for management."

"The Supervision General Team is currently on my side."

Before Li Huai De could speak, it had already become an established fact. Su Weide wasn't willing to be cut like this, so he took the initiative to look at Zhou Wanquan and said, "Let's do a handover later."

"Thank you, Deputy Director Su, for your support." Zhou Wanquan nodded politely, but didn't show any intimacy.

Su Weide gave two dry laughs, but the sound sounded like he had eaten shit.

Zhang Jinsong turned his head to look at Li Xuewu, blinked imperceptibly, and then turned back to look ahead.

"With Comrade Wanquan joining, our work has become easier again."

Gu Wei Jie also knew that the arm couldn't twist the thigh, and now Old Li was just using them to operate.

So after understanding Zhou Wanquan's division of labor, she also stated her position passively, "After I return from Jin Ling, we'll do the handover, okay?"

"Okay, thank you, Deputy Director Gu, for your support."

Zhou Wanquan didn't have too much politeness, and didn't even say things like "no rush," thanking her just like he did to Su Weide.

Li Xuewu's eyeballs moved. His position happened to be able to see everyone's attitude clearly, like a high-definition scan of a camera.

The work Gu Wei Jie is responsible for in the group is very important: the Organization Department composed of the Organization Division, Supervision Division, and Comprehensive Cadre Division, as well as the Propaganda Department responsible for the group's propaganda work.

Now Li Huai De didn't say he wanted Zhou Wanquan to be responsible for organizational work, just stripped away the Supervision Division separately, and added personnel to strengthen the team construction. What does this mean?

Very simple, just think about the organizational work spirit publicized by Liu Xiangqian at the cadre representative meeting, and you'll know that the superior has started to value discipline and supervision work again.

So although there is no clear proposal to restore the position of full-time Deputy Secretary of Supervision, the relevant organizational structure and preparatory work must be laid out.

The superior must have talked to Li Huai De, otherwise he wouldn't have made such arrangements.

It was precisely because he thought of this point that no one raised an objection when hearing his division of labor arrangement at the meeting.

Other leadership team members are responsible for one or two departments, but Zhou Wanquan is only responsible for one division.

Of course, Li Huai De has given conditions, transferring personnel from other departments, which means it's not limited to one division.

Supervision Division 1, Supervision Division 2, etc.

After the supervision team is rebuilt, the Enterprise Supervision Department will also be established.

So there is an old saying, hearing the wind is rain. What kind of rain this is, is judged from the wind.

"Secretary-General, you work hard."

Li Huai De saw that Su Weide and Gu Wei Jie had no opinions, turned to Zhou Wanquan, and said, "After Comrade Xuewu returns, you two communicate. Agency work is his responsibility."

After saying this and seeing Zhou Wanquan nod, he then instructed Li Xuewu, "For the relevant organizational structure adjustment and personnel arrangements, have the Comprehensive Management Department come up with a plan."

"Okay, Director Li." Li Xuewu nodded and replied, "I'll arrange it after the meeting."

He responded to Li Huai De's arrangement and looked at Zhou Wanquan again, saying, "I won't be home for these two days, please ask Deputy Secretary-General Chen Shouzhi to contact you first. If you have any requirements, you can tell him."

"No special requirements, it's best if we can start work as soon as possible."

Zhou Wanquan smiled and waved his hand before Li Xuewu could speak, saying, "But no rush, I still want to wait for you to return, and let's sit down and have a good talk."

"It seems you two are cherishing each other." Li Huai De knocked on his notebook, looked at the two with a smile, and said, "Wait until you return, wait for the Secretary-General to return, and you two have a good talk."

After saying this, he didn't care about the laughter of the crowd, knocked on the table, and said, "According to the relevant requirements of the superior, the group is to form a core leadership group."

This sentence had enough force to make the meeting room return to seriousness.

"The organization appointed me as the leader of the core leadership group."

He didn't drag his feet, but said very frankly and bluntly, "Comrade Wei Jie and Comrade Wanquan serve as members of the core leadership group."

You don't even need to look; there will definitely be people sitting beside the conference table who are unhappy, and it's not just one person.

So he was too lazy to be hypocritical, and after speaking about the superior's requirements, he stood up and said, "Alright, the meeting ends here, everyone go get busy."

Watching him stand up and leave, secretary Liu Bin came over and took away his notebook and thermos, and there were still people sitting by the oval conference table with gloomy faces.

Perhaps in their own view, that was seriousness, but anyone who saw it felt it was dissatisfaction.

"Everything was fine, yet they insisted on pulling this stunt."

Zhang Jingsong walked out of the conference room with Li Xuewu, not caring whether anyone might hear, and complained about this in his mouth.

In fact, it couldn't really be called a complaint; he certainly had the qualifications and the right to evaluate this kind of change.

Li Xuewu's attitude was much calmer than his, and he explained indifferently, "Perhaps it's to strengthen leadership; after all, it's under local management now."

"I'm talking about how these people do things."

He shook his head slightly, glanced at Li Xuewu, and said, "Like their butts are on fire; they do things without thinking about how it affects the people below."

"Hehe, you still have such fantasies?" Li Xuewu chuckled, curled his lips, and gestured toward the Comprehensive Management Department's office, saying, "I'll go hand over the work first, and when I get back, we'll get together."

"No rush, you go do your work."

Zhang Jingsong raised his wrist to check his watch and asked, "Do you still have time for lunch?"

"Yes, definitely," Li Xuewu stood at the door of Chen Shouzhi's office, smiled meaningfully, and said to him, "I really can't stomach the food on the plane."

"Same here. Off you go, I wish you a smooth journey," Zhang Jingsong nodded in understanding, smiled, and turned to leave.

Afraid of being overheard while talking?

It was just those secretaries in the hallway; some things were intentionally meant for them to hear, while other things, once encrypted, couldn't be understood by anyone but each other.

"You're bringing the children on a business trip?"

When Li Xuewu took Li Shu and Li Ning down from the car, Gao Yaqin glanced at him in surprise and then took the initiative to help hold Li Ning.

Li Xuewu then picked up Li Shu and explained, "Taking them to see their grandmother and grandfather; the old folks miss the children terribly, they haven't seen them once in a year."

"Your father-in-law and mother-in-law are in Jin Ling?"

Gao Yaqin didn't seem to have noticed news in this regard, though she did know who Li Xuewu's father-in-law was.

Cadres with a straightforward personality like Gao Cheng are rare; who wouldn't know who his father is? Even someone like Xu Sanduo knows, yet he still doesn't.

"How come you brought the children along?"

Gu Weijie's car arrived later. Only after she got out of the car did she discover Li Xuewu and Gao Yaqin each holding a child, standing at the gangway.

"The Secretary-General's daughter and son."

Gao Yaqin smiled and teased Li Ning in her arms, saying, "This little guy has a very sweet mouth."

The reason she said this was because when she picked up Li Ning, Li Ning imitated his sister's usual manner, called her "Auntie," and even said "thank you."

"Let me take them, Secretary-General."

Zhou Xiaoling took the initiative to take Li Shu from Li Xuewu's arms and was the first to send her onto the plane. A flight attendant went to take Li Ning, but was refused by Gao Yaqin.

"He's not heavy, and he's so fun to watch."

Gao Yaqin boarded the plane holding Li Ning just like that, while the secretaries and flight attendants moved the luggage up together. Li Xuewu and Gu Weijie walked at the very end.

"Didn't see you in the cafeteria at noon; did you go home to pick up the children?"

Gu Weijie glanced at him and said, "Do you have time to take care of them?"

"The children's grandmother and grandfather are in Jin Ling."

Li Xuewu explained once more, "The old folks miss the children and urged me to bring them over; the children miss their grandmother and grandfather too."

"They look so well-behaved and sensible," Gu Weijie nodded and said, "You and your wife are both educated; you must have insights into child-rearing."

"She has it harder; how could I have that much time?" Li Xuewu smiled and said modestly, "I can only lead by example and hope they choose what is good and follow it, and strive to improve where they are not."

"Is your wife still working at the General Hospital?"

Gu Weijie knows him quite well, and because of her relationship with Han Shu, she is also very clear about Li Xuewu's in-laws.

At this moment, she was very wise not to mention the other party and only chatted about Gu Ning.

"Yes, fortunately, it's right at our doorstep."

Li Xuewu invited her to enter the cabin door first before following her inside, "Taking care of children is a strenuous job."

This was also said while looking at the two children who were lively and laughing in the cabin.

Perhaps because of the presence of Li Shu and Li Ning, coupled with Gao Yaqin's proactive care, the cabin always maintained a joyful atmosphere.

Li Xuewu didn't even have to exert any effort; Li Ning sat beside Gao Yaqin, while Li Shu sat on the other side of her younger brother, showing the demeanor of a big sister.

Gu Weijie, however, took the initiative to sit opposite Li Xuewu. After the plane took off, she watched the flight attendant delivering snacks to Li Shu and Li Ning, turned her head, and said to him, "It's still good to be young."

"You're not old either," Li Xuewu smiled and teased her, "How about having another one?"

"I'm not trying to scare you, but now they advocate family planning," he raised his eyebrows as if he had a point, and said, "In the future, they won't even allow you to have more if you want to."

"Who would I have one with? You?"

Gu Weijie was quite open in this kind of setting. There were only a few of them on the plane, and the secretaries sitting in the back were also pursing their lips and giggling when they heard this.

In fact, setting aside work and the bit of competition in ideology, the relationships among these people on the committee were actually okay.

They didn't hold back in their private conversations, and sometimes the jokes they made were enough to make the secretaries blush.

Of course, they would absolutely maintain the necessary attitude and professionalism at work; perhaps it was precisely because of the pressure at work that the private jokes were even more relaxing.

Li Xuewu is still young and has the energy to make friends. By the stage Gu Weijie and the others are at, it's actually very difficult to make new friends.

Even for Li Xuewu, where would he find new friends in the last two years? Being a lone wolf is no joke.

Busy with work, busy with work; in the end, the friends are gone, and only opponents are left.

And sometimes opponents are also friends. When the day of retirement truly comes, as long as there isn't a blood feud, they can tease each other a bit when they meet.

This kind of joking now is more like a rehearsal for meeting after retirement; no one cares.

"Have one with me?" Li Xuewu amusedly gestured toward Li Shu, who was chattering away with Gao Yaqin about kindergarten friends, and Li Ning, who kept trying to compete for the right to speak, and said, "Do you think my pressure isn't high enough?"

"How many do you have?" Gu Weijie turned her head to look at the children and curled her lips, saying, "Didn't Wei Zai have seven or six at home?"

"How can I compare to him?" Li Xuewu said amusedly, "He was working in the countryside at that time; what else could he do at night after the lights went out if not have children?"

"You're different; you're young and educated," he also went straight for the jugular and asked Gu Weijie bluntly, "Have you never thought about finding another one?"

"Why don't you introduce one to me?" Gu Weijie was also game, looking at him and teasing, "People all say your level as a matchmaker is higher than your level as a Secretary-General."

"If you put it that way, I'll take it as the truth," Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "Why don't you tell me first, what kind of criteria are you looking for?"

"Finding someone like you would be fine."

Gu Weijie narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "I actually quite fancy you, just as long as you don't have a mouth."

"Hahaha—" Gao Yaqin, sitting on the other side, was laughing uncontrollably, looking at the two of them bantering, and said, "You two are six of one and half a dozen of the other; neither of you cares about the other's life or death."

Li Shu looked at her father curiously, then looked at the old auntie sitting opposite her father, wondering what she was thinking, but no one knew.

Li Ning, on the other hand, couldn't be bothered with who his father wanted to have another child with; the snacks sent by the pretty flight attendant auntie were endless, and he was already trying his best.

The plane landed at Jin Ling Airport, and there were already cars waiting on the tarmac.

It wasn't just people from the Jin Ling regional company, but also young people wearing green uniforms, accompanying a middle-aged woman standing there, craning their necks in anticipation.

"Grandma! Grandma!" Li Shu hadn't even come down from the gangway yet before she started shouting.

And Li Ning, who was following behind her, didn't know if he recognized which one was Grandma, so he followed along and shouted: "Grandma, I miss you—"