Chapter 1576: Treat It as a Matter

"Oh, you're back." Li Huai De opened his eyes and glanced at the person who entered the door, greeting him with a tired rub of his eyebrows: "Did you just arrive home?"

"What's wrong with you?"

Li Xuewu frowned slightly and looked him over, asking concernedly: "Is there something uncomfortable with your body?"

Li Huai De raised his hand to signal Liu Bin to go out, then pointed to the opposite side and said: "A bit exhausted, don't know the reason."

"Have you been staying up late recently?" Li Xuewu sat in the chair, carefully looked at his complexion, and said with his eyebrows drooping: "It doesn't look very good."

"How about I call home?"

He sat up straight and explained: "I'm not a professional. Even if it's for conditioning and treatment, I have to invite a professional to see you."

"Hehe—" Li Huai De knew what he meant, chuckled, looked at him, and said: "Too much trouble, let's make an appointment for the day after tomorrow."

"Are you sure—" Li Xuewu looked at him and emphasized: "If you really feel uncomfortable, you must see a doctor in time. Illness can't be dragged."

"Don't worry, I know my body."

Li Huai De supported the sofa armrest and sat up, picked up the teacup, and asked: "How was it? This trip to Jin Ling."

"With nearly a year of preparation, the organizational structure and work environment are naturally no problem."

Li Xuewu nodded, placed his hands crossed in front of him on the desk, and introduced: "I, Deputy Director Gu, and General Manager Gao talked to the comrades in charge of the Sales Corporation and the branch company respectively. The relevant instructions, spirit, and requirements have already been conveyed to them."

"Although many cadres and staff were drawn from the group and other departments, the enthusiasm and passion for work are very high."

"Hmm, what about the business side?" Li Huai De nodded, put down the teacup in his hand, and asked: "Was the handover smooth?"

"It might continue for a period of time."

Li Xuewu spread his hands and explained: "After all, it's not as simple as cutting it in half with one knife."

"On the night of landing, the person in charge of the Jin Ling region, Deng Yuanneng, accompanied by the Deputy General Manager of the Sales Corporation, Yang Xiaofen, made a work report to us."

When he spoke to this point, he paused, raised his eyebrows, looked at Old Li, and said with some hesitation: "This candidate..."

"It was nominated by Deputy Director Su."

Before Li Xuewu could finish questioning, Li Huai De had already impatiently shifted the blame.

He also frowned and emphasized: "I asked Comrade Yunong, and she isn't very satisfied with this person either."

"I'm not clear about the specific situation."

Li Xuewu nodded slowly and said: "You also know that I haven't been paying attention to the work of the sales line, so—"

Seeing Old Li nod in understanding, he continued: "Look at the specific situation in specific work. I can't say what kind of feeling I have about him, it's just... not very reliable."

Li Huai De's eyebrows furrowed even tighter when he heard him say this person wasn't reliable, and the fire in his eyes was about to be lit.

"Some comrades just like to play the piano randomly."

He threw the pen in his hand further away, looked out the window, and said pointedly: "Meddling in things they shouldn't."

Li Xuewu wasn't sure if this finger-pointing at the mulberry and locust tree was suspicious of him, so he bypassed this topic very directly, not wanting to set himself on fire.

This also showed an attitude of being selfless; he had never actively, and even less willingly, intervened in personnel work.

Seeing him silent, Old Li also knew his words had hurt the innocent, but he was very satisfied with his attitude.

"Don't worry about this matter."

He said gloomily: "I will let Comrade Yunong watch him. As long as it doesn't work, we'll replace him immediately to prevent future trouble."

Saying this, he looked at Li Xuewu and said: "The first batch of technical personnel from East Germany has arrived in Beijing. You represent the group to meet them and host the welcome banquet."

"You should go, after all, they have arrived at our 'home'."

Li Xuewu declined and explained: "If there are no special circumstances, I plan to return to Steel City tomorrow afternoon."

"Some situations need to be handled as soon as possible."

He pointed to the desktop in front of him and emphasized softly: "No matter how big the wind is in the front yard, the backyard can never catch fire."

"Hu—sigh—" Li Huai De took a deep breath, let out another long breath, looked at him, and sighed: "If everyone in the team had your awareness—"

This sentence wasn't finished, and the rest was all in the sigh.

Everyone like him?

Li Xuewu only felt it was funny; if there were ten of him in the team, Old Li wouldn't live through tonight; he was just too muddled.

"The report of the Northern Industry Newspaper, General Manager Gao told me." He didn't hide it and said frankly: "This must be prepared for."

"Disgusting like a fly!" Hearing him say this, Old Li's anger was drawn out, and he slapped the table and cursed: "Can't shake it off!"

"I'm afraid it's a lead, raising to the level of principle with ulterior motives." Li Xuewu leaned forward slightly, tapped his fingers on the table, and reminded him: "You must be on guard."

"It's aimed at me, I know."

Li Huai De nodded angrily and hummed: "Villain! A complete villain, a black sheep!"

He cursed like this, almost reporting the other party's ID card. Li Xuewu felt it was funny listening to it.

"I'll see the technical personnel after I get to Liaodong. Let's do the work at hand well first."

Li Xuewu didn't follow his words; he couldn't curse the street together with him, which was meaningless.

His attitude was always to work actively and stabilize the situation, which was the basis for Old Li to respect and trust him.

Old Li wasn't lacking in sycophants and flatterers around him, so he didn't need to compete in this track.

"Keep an eye on the sales side too."

Li Huai De rubbed his forehead and instructed: "Especially in foreign trade, if there is a part involving industrial production handover, you still have to be responsible."

"General Manager Gao is capable." Li Xuewu understood the deep meaning in his words, but emphasized: "Isn't she doing very well now?"

"General Manager Gao is of course capable." Li Huai De looked at him deeply and said: "But in foreign trade, we still have to maintain a cautious and serious attitude."

He tapped his fingers on the table and emphasized: "I feel more at ease with you following up."

Since the words had been made so clear, Li Xuewu was also the one who deliberately let him say so, so there was no need to continue to decline.

"I understand what you mean." Although Li Xuewu agreed, his expression was embarrassed, "I'll coordinate with General Manager Gao later."

"Hmm, I'm not worried about you doing work."

Li Huai De leaned back in his chair, turned his head slightly to look out the window, and said: "If it weren't for the fact that the Liaodong industrial work layout is more urgent, I would have arranged for you to train in the sales line."

He sighed regretfully: "That is the best battlefield for you to exert your talents."

Li Xuewu wouldn't comment or respond to this evaluation, because he didn't believe Old Li would think so; his technique of drawing big cakes was even more superb than Old Li's.

"Comrade Wenxue, sigh—"

Li Huai De just finished talking about his affairs, then turned back and sighed, saying: "There might be some trouble."

"Is it..." Li Xuewu frowned and looked at him, asking: "Where did a problem appear again?"

"Comrade Wanquan reported and asked for instructions from me." Li Huai De looked at him helplessly and said: "He wants to personally participate in the investigation of the Metallurgical Factory No. 4 furnace case."

"Oh, isn't that a good thing?"

Li Xuewu said indifferently: "This way, we can end the investigation as soon as possible and give a result that everyone is satisfied with."

He drooped his eyelids and said: "Deputy Director Zhou was transferred from the city; his stance can absolutely stand the test. I believe the group will trust the result he gives even more."

"You think so—" Li Huai De only said half of the sentence; he, of course, knew that Li Xuewu didn't think so, "That's right."

"However, regarding Comrade Wenxue's arrangement, the Liangma River Industrial Zone might have to be formally handed over to Comrade Jinsong to be responsible for."

He paused when he spoke to this point, looked at the change in Li Xuewu's expression, and then continued: "This is also for the purpose of protection."

"Standing from my perspective, I naturally can't understand." Li Xuewu hummed, indifferently: "Of course, General Manager Dong must be able to 'understand'."

"Sigh—" Li Huai De couldn't help but sigh when he heard this, nodded, and said: "The group is in a troubled time; many arrangements are not what I wish."

Li Xuewu didn't want to listen to his farting, turned the topic elsewhere, chatted for half an hour, and then left the office.

Jing Yunong's secretary, Huang Yang, passed by the door and took the initiative to greet him.

"Is General Manager Jing in?" Li Xuewu didn't avoid that behind him was Li Huai De's office, and asked straightforwardly.

Huang Yang was stunned for a moment, then nodded and replied: "General Manager Jing is in the office."

She made a gesture of invitation, and seeing Li Xuewu nod, she hurriedly walked a step ahead, very afraid that the Secretary-General would suddenly break into the leader's office.

Specifically, she also glanced at Director Li's office, wanting to judge why the Secretary-General's face was gloomy.

Could it be that he was going to find General Manager Jing to quarrel!

Then wouldn't she become the one leading the way?

"Is East Germany willing to import our cars?"

Cheng Kaiyuan held a skeptical attitude toward this news, even though he had already seen the relevant documents.

Li Xuewu chuckled, turned his head to gesture to Gao Yaqin beside him, and said: "Look, another one."

Gao Yaqin raised her eyebrows and asked: "What? It seems—Cheng Zong lacks the necessary confidence in our automobile industry..."

Do you know what tone of voice a woman uses that is most aggressive? That is, a sentence has two or three stresses, and there is a pause for buffering in the middle.

It will occupy a certain initiative when talking about work. If it's about falling in love, the man will suffer; he will never be hard for the rest of his life and will be played like a dog.

"I'm happy." Cheng Kaiyuan explained with a smile, shook the document in his hand, and asked Li Xuewu: "Is this good news brought back by the Secretary-General?"

"I don't have this ability." Li Xuewu gestured to Gao Yaqin beside him and said: "It's all General Manager Gao's credit."

"You're humble again—" Gao Yaqin glared at him dissatisfiedly and said: "Is this interesting?"

"Expressing yourself as very great, and treating us as villains who eat and occupy more." Gao Yaqin curled her lips and explained to Cheng Kaiyuan: "It was the Secretary-General who laid the groundwork in East Germany."

"What's there to be humble about—"

Cheng Kaiyuan amusedly put the document on the desk, raised his eyebrows and said: "If you both feel embarrassed, you can count it as mine."

"Then you would be too embarrassed."

Jing Yunong, who had been crossing her arms and hadn't opened her mouth, opened her mouth with a critical hit, making the few people laugh out loud.

Marketing Department Manager Huang Wenli walked to the door and knocked, looking at the harmonious atmosphere in General Manager Jing's office, she was a bit confused.

Wasn't it rumored a few days ago that General Manager Jing and the Secretary-General had another scene, what is this today? Are they sick!

"Come in." The smile on Jing Yunong's face faded, replaced by a cold and pretty face, which made Huang Wenli adapt a bit.

"Leader, the sales data you wanted."

Actually, it was Gao Yaqin who called her on the phone, but let her come to General Manager Jing's office, so this happened.

Li Xuewu was sitting in the chair opposite the desk, and there was a cup of tea in front of him; just didn't know who made it.

She walked in and didn't see Huang Yang here; there were only four leaders in the office.

"The situation inside East Germany is relatively complex."

Li Xuewu didn't pay attention to the strangeness on Huang Wenli's face, and introduced to Cheng Kaiyuan who had just sat down: "They have a policy to issue a car to every adult citizen."

"With the development of their industry and the limitation of production capacity, as well as the explosive growth of the population, this policy is being executed more and more slowly."

He flipped his palms and said: "Locals told me that some people are queuing up to ten years later, just don't know if they can get the car in ten years."

"So East Germany's meaning is..."

Cheng Kaiyuan raised his eyebrows; he understood Li Xuewu's introduction, but still guessed cautiously: "Is it wanting to purchase our cars to alleviate this pressure?"

"There are several reasons." Li Xuewu didn't deny his guess, but explained: "First, East Germany is very short of raw materials for heavy industry, which limits their heavy industrial development to a certain extent, especially the steel industry."

"Of course, there are certain advantages in the fine processing field, but the clever woman can't cook without rice."

"The second is production cost."

He calculated with his fingers: "Adding up transportation costs, tariffs, and other costs, our Hongxing Lingyang Generation II is still cheaper than their local car procurement price."

"The third is the pressure from within."

Li Xuewu nodded slowly and introduced: "East Germany is at the forefront of the bipolar confrontation. Any fluctuation in public opinion will cause high attention from the north."

"So a series of procurement and cooperation actions by the industrial visiting group we organized last year still brought some ideological changes to East Germany."

He pointed to the document Cheng Kaiyuan put on the desk and emphasized: "Now introducing cars from us is a means to alleviate contradictions and stimulate probing."

"Contradiction? Probing?" Cheng Kaiyuan immediately thought of something, turned his head to look at Gao Yaqin and asked: "Is it what I think?"

"The actual situation learned by the International Business Department is that East Germany has gradually increased trade with Western countries over the past few years, and the total trade volume continues to rise."

Gao Yaqin explained: "Maybe they have their own helplessness, or another means and plan to handle bilateral relations."

"I only care about how much the group can earn from this project." When Cheng Kaiyuan looked at herself, Jing Yunong responded indifferently, "The group is very short of money now."

She was looking at the data document sent by Huang Wenli, and had already made several marks in her hand.

Huang Wenli stood to the side and couldn't get a word in, so she could only wait for the leaders to discuss a result, so she could take orders to execute.

"How many cars can a ship carry now?"

Cheng Kaiyuan looked at Gao Yaqin, then at Li Xuewu; one was responsible for the group's economic work, and the other was responsible for the group's industrial work.

Li Xuewu was in Liaodong, so he must be very clear about the shipbuilding data of Yingcheng Shipbuilding. He had only doubted Li Xuewu's conscience, but never doubted the other party's professional ability.

Young people have good brains, and their schemes are deeper. Think about it, who in the group team hasn't suffered losses from him? Even Old Su, who is courting death, doesn't dare to confront him head-on anymore.

"..."

"Almost." Gao Yaqin nodded and said: "But it must be the 10,000-ton cargo ship of the Santa Ya Group."

"Their automobile trade is booming." Li Xuewu chuckled and explained: "A cargo ship we delivered has already been transformed into an automobile transport ship."

"10,000 tons—" Cheng Kaiyuan nodded and said: "This can not only transport cars, but transportation costs can also be reduced a lot."

"If going to North Africa, food, hardware, electrical appliances, weapons, etc." Li Xuewu thought about it and calculated: "This trade volume can reach..."

"Around 5.5 million." Jing Yunong quickly gave the answer, even more accurately than him, "Excluding food and other trade items."

She tapped the desk with the pencil in her hand, looked at the few people opposite, and said: "But the actual profit is definitely not that much; international trade is not particularly profitable."

"It's us; the international trade we lead isn't profitable." Li Xuewu added, looked at the few people, and emphasized: "This situation might need decades to reverse."

"Must first solve the difficulty of industrial production." Cheng Kaiyuan nodded in agreement and said: "The road is long and the burden is heavy; Red Steel Group can still do a lot."

"Tired to death." Jing Yunong complained and threw down the pencil in her hand, saying: "It takes nearly three months of round-trip voyage to earn only about 2 million."

"The meaning is different." Gao Yaqin smiled and said: "Being able to open the East German market, we can try to output to the Northern Economic Community in reverse."

"That's a pure price war."

Li Xuewu stood up and said: "I dare to bet that half of the cars introduced by East Germany being distributed is already benevolent. They will definitely engage in small movements."

"Reselling, right." Cheng Kaiyuan smiled, raised his eyebrows and asked: "Will it attract more purchasers?"

"That depends on the attitude of the north."

Li Xuewu tapped the desk with the notebook in his hand and said: "Anyway, at the latest in two years, there must be a breakthrough in Northeast Asia."

"Alright, having money to earn is better than sitting there staring." Jing Yunong sighed, signed her name on the document, pushed it to Huang Wenli, but looked at Li Xuewu and emphasized: "The group is very short of money; any transfer of funds must have gains."

"Tell General Manager Gao and General Manager Cheng." Li Xuewu pointed at Gao Yaqin and Cheng Kaiyuan and emphasized: "This project has nothing to do with me."

"Hey! You—" Seeing him greet and leave with a smile, Gao Yaqin wished she could go up and pull him back to beat him up.

And Cheng Kaiyuan was still kept in the dark, looking at Li Xuewu's departing back with a dazed expression, turned his head and asked: "What? This project... also has a relationship with me?"

Jing Yunong looked at him like he was a fool, really didn't have the mood to explain to him, turned her head and exhorted Huang Wenli: "Your Marketing Department will take the lead, and the Finance Department will follow up."

"Okay, leader." Huang Wenli endured the twitching of the corners of her mouth, took the document, glanced at the helpless and amused expression of General Manager Gao, and went out with her head down.

What is called "managing the killing but not the burying," what is called "digging a hole yourself and letting others jump in," she had learned a lesson today.

The car trade list finalized in the first batch only had three models: Comet motorcycle, Aries, and Hongxing Lingyang Generation II.

It was too directional; no wonder Li Xuewu was so sure that East Germany would engage in small movements.

This is somewhat similar to the thinking of "supporting war with war." Introducing cars from Red Steel Group, one part is handed over to the country, used to alleviate the emotions of the people.

What about the other part? Of course, it's to sell it, earn the price difference, and continue to maintain this trade.

It's explosive!

East Germany relies on its special status to pluck wool from left and right, especially after the technical cooperation opened up the trade barriers with the East, trying to expand the scope of trade.

The industrial and economic visiting group that succeeded last year not only brought them the hope of solving internal contradictions but also found the optimal way for technology realization.

There really aren't many countries on Earth that can match the current East German technical development.

You think about it, East Germany's overall industrial technology system comes from the north; coincidentally, East Germany is also undergoing transformation in this direction, and the technical systems of both sides are very compatible.

Another thing, East Germany has an old foundation to eat, and the East has vast light industrial and agricultural product resources; both sides can realize complementary advantages.

Finally, East Germany can output technology to the East, and the East doesn't dislike their technology being backward, willing to introduce industrial standards that aren't first-class. You say, are they willing or not?

Turning back to look at Red Steel Group, even if Li Xuewu explained clearly that East Germany is plucking wool, should this business be done or not?

Of course it should be done; not doing it is a fool.

East Germany deserves to earn this money. Is there any possibility for Red Steel Group to lay out its own sales channels?

Automobile product output is absolutely an industrial invasion; the characteristics are quite obvious. Li Xuewu wishes East Germany could introduce and resell Red Steel Group's products.

Being a bit cheaper is also fine, even if it's just for volume.

As long as the cars can be sold, Red Steel Group can launch more automobile manufacturing plants, introduce more production technology, and cultivate more and more mature technical workers.

And when the automobile industry is mature as a whole, there are more automobile manufacturing plants, technology is advanced, and workers' technology is mature, then production costs will be even lower.

If Li Xuewu presided over this project, he would even be willing to lower the export price by another step to exchange for more market share.

Cars, with the current industrial manufacturing level, there won't be too many problems within ten years. Which family can buy several cars within ten years?

As long as the market share goes up, there will be an opportunity to export more high-end automobile products next.

The market often carries cognition and credibility.

Li Xuewu has already called Xu Sinian, and Yingcheng Shipbuilding has also put the professional automobile transport ship construction plan on the agenda.

According to his requirements, the new automobile transport ship must have larger tonnage, more transportation space, and smoother loading and unloading channels. Anyway, it's one word—professional!

He doesn't mind East German young people having one car per person, because East Germany's policy has loopholes and certain hidden dangers.

This batch of cars, excluding those resold to other countries, won't be too many left for the domestic people to be distributed.

Li Xuewu has already reminded Sha Qizhi to arrange for people to watch the East German automobile market; Red Steel Group's cars will soon flow into the market.

There are also "Old Sixes" (sneaky people) in the high levels of East Germany.

"Are you really leaving tomorrow?"

When getting off work, Gao Yaqin met him and raised her eyebrows: "Next Monday, the People's Congress and Constitutional Amendment Meeting will be held above. Don't you want to wait for the result?"

"No interest, I don't do things that are worrying about the sky." Li Xuewu smiled and looked at her: "It's just that I can't catch up with the completion of the Workers' New Village cinema and theater next week."

"Why don't you stay for a few more days?"

Gao Yaqin said amusedly: "Is it a pity not to see the completion ceremony?"

"I heard that you had a say in the design of the cinema and theater." She said pointedly: "Do you want to be awarded the title of designer or engineer?"

"That would be great—" Li Xuewu pointed at her and said: "Help me go to General Manager Xia for this matter; treat it as a matter."

"..." Gao Yaqin looked at him speechlessly, walked into the elevator together and said: "Why don't you be awarded both? One isn't enough to highlight your genius ability."

"Hey! Use the word 'genius' cautiously!"

Li Xuewu pretended to be serious and glared at her, emphasizing: "What virtue and what ability, how can I afford this title."

"Ew—" Gao Yaqin twitched the corners of her mouth; the more she looked at him, the angrier she got. This person is really—is there an engine installed in his brain? Turning so fast.

That's right, Li Xuewu won't suffer any losses. In later generations, you can use the word "genius" at will, and even geniuses in various industries emerge one after another.

But in this period, there was only one person described as a genius, and it was given to him by others. Li Xuewu felt this title was a bit weird.

He had an absolute historical vision, knowing that the person who did this harbored evil intentions, and would even do ruthless things this year.

History will punish everyone who plots evil. Even if some people "land safely" by luck and survive, the ending won't necessarily be glorious.

Descendants?

China has 5,000 years of civilization history, and it hasn't been heard that any family in any dynasty could rely on the official hat on their head to pass on immortality.

On the contrary, it is families with cultural heritage and foundation that can withstand the irradiation of the sun.

Gao Yaqin's reaction was clearly half a beat slower than his. Thinking carefully, Li Xuewu's ability to walk to today is also because of this cautious attitude.

Walking out of the elevator, she took the initiative to issue an invitation: "Have time tonight? Let's have a meal together?"

"No time, have to accompany the children."

Li Xuewu's refusal couldn't be more straightforward, making the smile on Gao Yaqin's face hang up, looking at him with some resentment.

"Really have to accompany the children." He explained with a smile: "I only have these two days of vacation a month; you have to be considerate of my difficulties."

"Just a dinner, can it destroy your family?" Gao Yaqin, of course, heard the meaning in his words. What "accompanying children," he wants to go home to accompany his wife, right?

"It's not that I thought crookedly, and it's even less that you thought crookedly." Li Xuewu waved his hand and said: "It's that I want to work harder while I'm young."

He smiled and raised his eyebrows before getting in the car, saying: "It will be too late if I want to work hard when I reach your age."

"Hey! Comrade Li Xuewu!" Gao Yaqin was glared at by him, and asked unhappily: "Explain clearly, what do you mean by reaching my age!"

Li Xuewu wouldn't open the car door for her, signaled the driver and said: "Drive quickly, don't trap me in a place of unrighteousness."

The driver couldn't help but grin, gently pressing the accelerator; watching General Manager Gao's feigned anger in the rearview mirror, he almost laughed out loud.

Do group leaders also make this kind of joke?

"Hey, you're back." When Li Xuewu arrived home, he found that Gu Ning was already home.

In the afternoon, he called Er Ya from the office, saying that the driver would send the children home.

Er Ya told him that Gu Ning might go home early in the afternoon and take the children to Grandma's house. Li Xuewu was still thinking about whether to go over for dinner in the evening.

"Big brother and sister-in-law went back to her mother's house."

Gu Ning explained: "Maybe the elder's health isn't very good, saying they went back to take a look."

"Old man? Or the old lady?"

He looked at Zhao Yaping, who was sitting on the sofa with her head down, accompanying Li Shu and Li Ning to play with toys. It seemed there was indeed a situation.

But Zhao Yaping didn't go back; it definitely wasn't sister-in-law's decision. It must be that Zhao Gen had made arrangements in advance, not letting the little daughter go back.

"Dad also followed. I'm not very clear about the specific situation." Gu Ning looked at Zhao Yaping along his gaze, just didn't know how to comfort the little girl.

"Spring is like this, maybe they caught a cold." Li Xuewu said indifferently: "Aren't elders all like this? If there was really something wrong, Dad wouldn't have brought medicine."

Hearing him say this, Zhao Yaping raised her head, and hope rekindled in her eyes looking at him.

The countryside is like this; children are mostly raised by grandmothers who don't farm, so the children have deep feelings for the elders.

She is young and has to listen to the adults' arrangements in such matters, so even if she is worried about her grandparents, she doesn't dare to follow stubbornly.

"Listen for news, contact me if there's anything."

Li Xuewu seemed to be saying it to Gu Ning, but actually looked at Zhao Yaping, saying: "Need any medicine, or any relationship, you can call me."

"Thank you, second brother." Zhao Yaping's voice was a bit hoarse; don't know if it was from anger or crying.

Li Xuewu nodded, sat beside Gu Ning, and said: "I'll return to Steel City tomorrow. Do you want me to take the two children over and give you a few days off?"

"Don't toss around." Gu Ning looked at the sister and brother and said a bit dissatisfied: "If they follow you for a few more days, they will really become 'free-range sheep'."

"Sister, what is a 'free-range sheep'?"

Li Ning had good ears and didn't understand his mother's words, so he "quietly" asked his sister, but Li Shu was like a little adult, wishing she could cover her brother's mouth.

At this time, how could she pick up the conversation? Mom was clearly going to lecture them, looking for a breakthrough to deliberately fish them.

Sure enough, before Li Shu could explain, Gu Ning had already used a slightly serious tone to comment on the gifts the sister and brother brought back, as

Sure enough, before Li Shu could explain, Gu Ning had already begun to comment in a slightly stern tone on the gifts the sister and brother had brought back, as well as their behavior over the past few days.

It wasn't that Grandma and Grandpa had snitched on them, nor was it that their father had secretly complained about them; it was entirely their own carelessness and getting carried away.

They had managed to restrain themselves when they first got home, but once they went to Grandma's house, they couldn't help but show off their experiences in Jin Ling over the past few days—the good food, the fun things, the wonderful Grandma—deliberately making Li Tang crave them.

Gu Ning had wanted to stop the sister and brother at the time, but Li Shu and Li Ning were so caught up in their excitement that they couldn't possibly notice their mother's gaze, and so they couldn't put on the brakes.

The reason Gu Ning hadn't stayed there for dinner was partly to bring the children back and teach them a lesson.

Seeing that she intended to discipline the children, Li Xuewu ignored the pleading looks from Li Shu and Li Ning and stood up to head to the kitchen.

At times like this, he would absolutely not act as a shield for the children; if they were wrong, they had to admit it, and if they were to be punished, they had to stand tall. This principle was better taught by parents than by society.

"Er Ya, if you're not afraid of the distance later on, you can go to the market near the Red Steel Group's Workers' New Village to buy groceries," he explained to Er Ya, who was busy with dinner. "Our unit has built a new service market that cooperates directly with the supply and marketing cooperative, so the goods are quite complete."

"Isn't that too far?" Er Ya hesitated and said, "I usually buy groceries at the market right at our doorstep; if it's too far, I'll have to ride a bicycle."

"I'm just telling you, see how it goes," Li Xuewu smiled and said. "However, the service department there has the group's internal supply channels, and the meat, aquatic products, and even fruits and vegetables will definitely be more abundant than the market here."

"If you go, take my purchase permit; non-employees can't buy there," he instructed. "If anyone checks your identity, just call the Security Division."

"Got it, Second Brother," Er Ya replied, then asked, "Did they build a cinema in the Workers' New Village? I think I heard it on the news."

"Hmm, if you like watching movies, you can kill two birds with one stone." Li Xuewu listened to the situation in the living room, and seeing that it was about time, he headed back.

"Daddy is mean—" Li Shu pouted, not even wanting to pay attention to him.

Li Xuewu amusedly coaxed her, "How did I offend you again? I even took you to Grandma's house. You were praising Daddy on the plane, saying what a good Daddy I am, and now I'm mean?"

"You stood by and did nothing! Hmph!"

Li Shu stood with her hands behind her back, snorted with her little nose, and turned her head away, looking very aggrieved.

Li Ning looked at his father, then at his sister, and followed suit by putting his hands on his hips and snorting as well.

However, his snort lacked emotional depth and didn't even attract his father's attention.

Li Xuewu couldn't be bothered to pay attention to his son; the little guy wanted to copy his sister in everything, making him look like a little follower being disciplined by his sister.

"I stood by and did nothing?" He pulled his daughter's arm with a look of grievance and explained softly, "You saw the situation just now; how could I have saved you?"

"Think about it yourself, daughter. If I had spoken up, wouldn't I have gotten myself into trouble too?"

"Hmph! —" Hearing him say this, Li Shu seemed even angrier.

It wasn't just a simple snort, nor was it just turning her head away; she even turned her whole body around, facing away from her father.

Li Xuewu couldn't help but smile, but he still patiently coaxed his daughter, "Think about it again, do I have any weight in speaking on this matter?"

"If I had spoken up for you, wouldn't it have been counterproductive?"

He gently patted his daughter's back to comfort her, "Our Li Shu is the smartest. Daddy understood everything Mom said, so can't Li Shu understand it too?"

Li Shu didn't "hmph" again this time, but she cared about her dignity, and of course, she couldn't back down just because of what her father said.

So her little face remained tense, not giving her father any face.

"Mom criticized you today mostly because of your little brother," Li Xuewu leaned against the sofa arm, resting on the floor, and leaned toward his daughter to explain softly. "Look, your little brother doesn't know any better and wants to copy you in everything; how could he have any sense of propriety?"

"Daddy has to be busy with work and only comes home once or twice a month, and Mom has a lot of work to do too. Doesn't your little brother have to rely on you to guide him?"

Li Xuewu tapped his daughter's little hand and said, "You don't want your little brother to become an annoying, bad child, do you?"

"But—" Li Shu pouted with some grievance, "I don't want to be criticized either."

"That goes without saying; who likes being criticized?" Li Xuewu rested his head on his hands, lying in front of his daughter to explain, "Mom criticized you, but if you're sensible, you can teach your little brother so he won't learn bad habits, right?"

"Besides, Mom didn't just criticize you, right? Your little brother got criticized too, but he doesn't know any better, so he couldn't even understand it."

Li Shu glanced at her little brother, who was staring with wide eyes, and couldn't help but say with disdain, "He only knows how to copy me."

"That's right, our Li Shu is the smartest. If your little brother doesn't learn from you, who would he learn from?"

Li Xuewu reached out and patted his daughter, saying, "You should know where you went wrong, right? Sharing happiness and joy isn't wrong; what's wrong is the way you went about it."

"Hmm, I know I was wrong," Li Shu lowered her head and muttered, "Mom said we should share the toys and snacks we brought back with Li Tang."

"Wasn't Mom right?" Li Xuewu used the gentlest tone to tap his daughter's little tummy, "Think about it, how many good things to eat and fun things to play with has your aunt bought for you?"

"Li Ning is your little brother, and Li Tang is your little brother too. You are the big sister, so you have to take care of your little brothers and set a good example."

He leaned forward to look into his daughter's eyes, and seeing her shed tears, he didn't coax her, but instead asked, "Tell me, was Mom right? Was Daddy right?"

"Hmm—" Li Shu wiped her tears herself, nodded, and said, "I was wrong."

"Good girl, you really are the smartest in our family. You understood as soon as Daddy said it, right?" Li Xuewu then picked up his daughter and coaxed her, "Next time Daddy comes back, I'll bring you more good things to eat and fun things to play with."

"Hmm, I'll give Li Tang half too."

In her father's arms, Li Shu sobbed and said, "I won't make Mom angry ever again."

"Mom wasn't angry; she just hopes you can be good children." Li Xuewu glanced at his son and asked, "Does Li Ning want to be a good child?"

"Do good children get good things to eat?"

Li Ning was more direct than his sister; he tilted his head up and said, "If they do, then I'll be one."