Chapter 1586

"Really not going?"

Gu Ning looked him over with surprise and asked, "Are you angry? Because I came back late?"

"Heh, am I a child?"

Li Xuewu put down the newspaper, waved his hand, and said, "I've been tired all day, and now I have to stay up late? How could I take it?"

"Really?" Gu Ning was still very concerned about his feelings. She put down the bag in her hand, walked into the living room, and explained, "There was a sudden meeting to study the materials issued from above. I wanted to ask for leave, but the director wasn't there, and it was those people from the administrative group..."

She had just wanted to say that she wasn't familiar with those people, but her hand was pulled by Li Xuewu, and warmth traveled from his palm to her heart.

There was no need to continue the explanation; he understood her, and she understood him. That was enough.

"My son and I ate at the main compound at noon. Eldest sister-in-law made soybean paste noodles, and I listened to Dad talk for the whole noon."

"What happened?" Gu Ning glanced toward the dining room, but she was still pulled by him to sit by his side.

He wanted to pull Gu Ning onto his lap, but with the movement in the kitchen and the chattering coming from the small bedroom, how could she be so intimate?

"The children's good days are over."

Li Xuewu smiled, picked up a teacup, and handed it to her, saying, "Dad said it was his fault. He should have thought about enlightening the children sooner."

"What?" Gu Ning was stunned for a moment and asked suspiciously, "Enlightenment? Is it..."

"Traditional Chinese Medicine." Li Xuewu signaled for her to drink tea and explained at the same time, "It's to test the children's patience and also provide them with the joy of learning."

"There's joy in learning?" Gu Ning knew too much about learning. After taking a sip of hot tea, she said, "Is Li Ning willing to learn?"

"He's willing if someone keeps him company." Li Xuewu smiled, took the teacup from her hand, and said, "Li Tang is the same."

"So?" Gu Ning raised an eyebrow and asked, "How will they learn?"

"Send the children to the main compound on the weekend; Dad will take them." Li Xuewu smiled meaningfully, raised his eyebrows, and said, "He has a side that loves to be a teacher."

"Can't they be sent over on weekdays?"

It was evident that she was being driven crazy by the children's noise; Gu Ning even put forward a more proactive suggestion.

Li Xuewu smiled and pointed to the bedroom door; Li Shu was standing by the door frame eavesdropping.

"It should start with her." Gu Ning said without looking back, "It's time to temper her temperament."

It must be said, Western medicine practitioners still understand the bitterness of Traditional Chinese Medicine; everyone knows that studying Traditional Chinese Medicine will temper one's heart.

Have you ever seen a Western medicine practitioner cursing and fighting with a patient, but have you ever seen a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner shouting and screaming?

Western medicine starts from university, but Traditional Chinese Medicine starts from childhood, learning medical ethics and health preservation; everyone understands the principle that great anger harms the body.

Li Xuewu turned his head to look at his daughter, imagining what it would be like for his eldest daughter to sit behind the consultation desk of the Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic.

Old John's Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital? Haha!

What does it feel like to give up the opportunity to watch a ballet performance and choose to stay at home to accompany one's wife and children?

Li Xuewu had no regrets about this; missing the time spent with family is the real regret.

Li Shu secretly asked her younger brother at the dinner table what they had done with Dad today, which gave Li Ning a big fright.

Seeing his stammering appearance, Li Shu felt even more that there was a problem and kept asking questions.

The more she asked, the more panicked Li Ning became, frequently looking at his father. He was really afraid that his father would report him. The biscuits in the iron box weren't just four short; he had taken four more after returning. Had he been discovered?

It couldn't be that the White Rabbit candy given by the aunt had been exposed, right? Did his sister know he had used her name?

"So proactive?" Li Xuewu had long discovered the problem and signaled to Gu Ning, who also chose to watch the fun.

It wasn't until he was about to drive Li Ning into a corner that he teased his daughter, "Want to follow Grandpa to learn Traditional Chinese Medicine?"

"Dad, if I admit my mistake and apologize, can I not learn Traditional Chinese Medicine?" Li Shu looked at him pitifully and said, "It was because I heard Grandma say the medicinal wine was to be given to someone else that I tricked my brother into peeing in it."

"Do you mean that if the medicinal wine wasn't given away, you wouldn't have tricked him into peeing in it?" Li Xuewu asked amusedly, "What kind of logic is this?"

"But I've already admitted my mistake—"

Li Shu pouted and said, "I don't want to learn Traditional Chinese Medicine. I like singing, dancing, and drawing."

"You just like to play." Li Xuewu looked at his daughter, nodded, and said, "Learning Traditional Chinese Medicine is also very fun."

"Liar—" Li Shu still pouted her lips and said, "If learning Traditional Chinese Medicine is fun, why did only Third Uncle learn it, while you and my Eldest Uncle didn't?"

"That's a good question." Li Xuewu reached out with his chopsticks, picked up some meat, and put it into his daughter's bowl, saying, "Eat the meat."

"I'm not a child anymore—"

Li Shu looked at her father coquettishly and said, "You just don't want to answer my question."

"Look, why are you in such a rush? Isn't Dad just about to explain?" One plan failing, there was no embarrassment on Li Xuewu's face, even though Gu Ning was looking at him with a smile.

"Dad learned it when he was a child, but his aptitude wasn't enough." Li Xuewu said solemnly, "You don't know, Dad was very diligent back then. Grandpa was afraid Dad would hurt his body by learning too much, so he used a whip to beat him and wouldn't let Dad learn."

At this, not only Gu Ning, but even Er Ya, who was sitting on the side, couldn't help but twitch the corners of her mouth. The look in her eyes toward Li Xuewu was full of "deceiving a child."

Zhao Yaping lowered her head, trying hard to hold back her laughter; if the precocious Li Shu saw it, the secret would be out.

"Really?" Li Shu, who was shouting that she was no longer a child, widened her eyes and looked at her not-so-smart father with some pity. Dad was too pitiful; he wanted to learn Traditional Chinese Medicine but couldn't.

"Of course it's true." Li Xuewu nodded very seriously and said to Li Shu and Li Ning, "But don't ever ask Grandpa about this, because he also regrets beating Dad."

"That's why Dad never beats me."

Li Ning proudly raised his chin, and the look in his eyes toward his father was full of pride and happiness.

Li Xuewu smiled, looked at his son, nodded, and said, "The times have changed. I have time, and I have better ways to communicate with you, so I won't beat you."

"But I'll remind you, Mom's time is limited. Don't ever make Mom angry; the consequences are very serious."

"Hmm?" Watching him pretend to be a good person in front of the children, Gu Ning, who was watching the fun, was stunned, then looked at him unkindly, waiting for an explanation as to why she was the bad person.

"I just can't bring myself to do it—"

Li Xuewu leaned in and whispered, "I only see them a few times a month; I don't have enough time to cherish them."

Gu Ning's look remained unkind. So, she was the one who could bring herself to do it, and she was the one who should be the bad mother?

"Mom is good—" Li Ning, the little sycophant, came online. His big eyes were clever, as if he had seen the eye contact between his parents, and he took the initiative to say, "Mom doesn't beat me either."

Li Shu looked at her younger brother and wanted to give him a thumbs up. Not bad, little brother, you've learned this trick?

Gu Ning glanced at the siblings, said nothing, and continued eating. Could she be fooled by her son?

He just has no heart—!

"Don't move—" Li Xuewu wanted to be naughty, but Gu Ning reached out and pressed his arm, glaring at him to signal him to behave.

"Hmm? Something up?" Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows, his eyes full of surprise, "When did you find out?"

"What are you thinking—" Gu Ning glanced at him, turned her head away, and explained, "It's not possible these few days."

"Thank you for your hard work, wifey." Although Li Xuewu was a little disappointed, he didn't show it on his face.

He wouldn't do something like "one shot and pregnant," and he wouldn't let Gu Ning suffer such torture; the risk of infection was too high.

He rubbed his palms warm and stroked her belly, whispering comfortingly, "It's okay. We'll keep trying next time I come back. It's not like we have to have one right now."

"Do you like children that much?" Gu Ning turned her head to look at him and asked, "You don't even have time to spend with them."

"Partings are always short, and it's not like I'm not coming back." Li Xuewu lay down beside her, held her, and said, "At most three to five years, at the shortest two to three years, and I'll be back in the capital."

"Hmm—" Gu Ning had long been used to trusting him; she didn't even need him to explain these things. She just missed him.

Before marriage, she had no concept of marriage. Her eldest brother and sister-in-law were long-distance, and her father was often not at home. She rarely felt the sense of security that marriage brings.

Until she met him—domineering, humorous, brave, and upright, with a hidden naughtiness even in his smile.

These were things she hadn't seen in the boys around her or her classmates.

Choosing him, she discovered that life had so many colorful sides, and even her personality would change along with him.

Gu Ning could feel her own changes. Even if she couldn't feel it herself after a long time, she could see it from the feedback of her colleagues and relatives. She had indeed changed.

The warm breeze he blew in her ear, the warmth on her hands, and the tenderness in his words were what she cherished most.

"Are you going to the unit tomorrow?"

"In the afternoon. I have to go to class in the morning."

Li Xuewu was about to fall asleep. Hearing her ask, he opened his eyes again and asked, "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

"Then come back early in the afternoon?" Gu Ning paused and said, "Let's go to the main compound in the evening."

"It's okay, it's not like we won't see each other for a long time." Li Xuewu knew what she was thinking. He leaned his chin forward and whispered in her ear, "I'll try to come back more often in the future."

"Hmm—" Gu Ning's nasal sound carried shyness. This was a response of mutual understanding. Her hand also unconsciously rested on his, fingers interlaced, and she closed her eyes and slowly fell asleep.

Who can define happiness? Career, family—this is not a multiple-choice question, but a judgment question.

Li Xuewu never opposed her career, nor did he ever belittle her efforts. How could she demand anything of Li Xuewu?

A family is two people's business. When they first got married, Li Xuewu gave more; now, she gives more. Romance is always temporary, and a marriage of mutual support is long-lasting.

Using flowers, candles, diamond rings, or even bride price to test love and marriage is a mistake; it's just capital wanting to put a consumable value on priceless love and marriage.

If you like flowers and romance, and like money and long-term enjoyment, then you must have equal support and contribution. To live like a princess in a fairy tale, first, you must be a princess.

Of course, if you are a princess in a KTV, you do have the qualifications and conditions to demand romance and money, because you have marked a price for your life and future. Whoever has the conditions pays the bill.

Clearly marked prices and fair trade—even the King of Heaven has to acknowledge it. Just talk about money, don't talk about feelings; otherwise, it's fraud.

Using love or lack thereof to define the value of gifts and romance is defrauding consumers. Surely no one is being fooled all the time, right?

"What do you mean?" Su Weide glared at Gu Cang Ping'er, "You're threatening me, right?"

"Please don't misunderstand. I absolutely don't mean that." Gu Cang Ping'er bowed slightly and explained, "I'm just kindly reminding you. You wouldn't want to let Miss Takahashi down, would you?"

Su Weide just glared at him without speaking, because he knew well that the more one says, the more one errs. He had already made a huge mistake.

What place is this? This is the International Hotel.

Who is lying in the room? It's Takahashi Seiko, a salesperson from the Sanhe Corporation's Beijing office. He had just come out of the room.

And the guy in front of him in a suit and tie is Gu Cang Ping'er, the person in charge of the Sanhe Corporation's office in the mainland.

It seemed he had been set up, or rather, he had encountered a scam.

"Takahashi has always admired you."

Gu Cang Ping'er glanced at the flowers and small gifts on the coffee table, the corners of his mouth moved slightly, and he bowed and said, "I really didn't expect to meet you here. I'm truly sorry."

"And then?" Su Weide looked at him and said, "Miss Takahashi and I just talked about some things, drank too much, and rested for a while. I think you must have misunderstood."

"It's okay, I won't talk nonsense."

Gu Cang Ping'er raised his head and said with a smile, "Miss Takahashi has absolute freedom. These are all her private matters."

"I just came to greet you. Sanhe Corporation is a partner of the Honggang Group. We are friends."

He raised his eyebrows slightly, looked at Su Weide, nodded, spread his hands, and turned toward the door.

Su Weide just watched him until he gently opened the door and bowed to signal as he went out.

Too damn polite, and also too damn impolite!

"Mr. Su—" Takahashi's gentle voice came from the bedroom door, like a devil's temptation, exploding in his ears like poison.

Su Weide narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a cold voice, "Nothing happened last night, right?"

"Deputy Director Su—" Takahashi's second call made Su Weide's hair stand on end.

He was finished. Lifestyle issues aren't considered issues, but involving foreign affairs, even the smallest issue is a big issue.

Not to mention that the other party was a salesperson for a group partner. He was truly blinded by greed; how could he have fallen into the other party's trap?

That's right, even now he insisted on believing that he had been set up, with high-end cars and beautiful saleswomen.

"How much money do you want? I'll give it to you."

Su Weide pulled up the pants he had just put on halfway, stood up from the sofa, and said, "Just name a number."

Takahashi stood there pitifully without speaking, lowering her head and shedding tears, her shoulders heaving.

Su Weide kept staring at her until he had finished dressing, but he didn't get her quote.

"Five hundred? One... how about eight hundred?"

He looked at her with some heartache and said, "As long as you speak up, I'll have someone send the money over in a while."

In this day and age, whose wallet would have five hundred or a thousand? The largest denomination was only the "Great Unity" (ten yuan), and the wallet would be bursting.

But he couldn't afford to lose face by saying ten or eight yuan. Takahashi had spent over a hundred just treating him to dinner last night. Was one night not even worth the price of a meal? Where would he put his face?

He really hadn't thought about possessing this Eastern flower for a long time; his mind was filled with the idea of just having a taste.

Now that he had calmed down, he realized that this flower was poisonous.

What is "losing money to avoid disaster"? He was willing to take out several months' salary to eliminate future trouble, as long as the other party accepted his money.

Unfortunately, Takahashi didn't seem to have that intention; she even seemed to have fallen for him.

"I'm sorry, I've caused you trouble." Takahashi bowed slightly in apology, looking pitiful, and endured her sobbing as she said, "Please don't misunderstand. Please go ahead."

She stood there hunched over, letting tears drip onto the carpet. A beam of sunlight slipping through the curtain gap shone exactly on that spot, and the dust splashed up by the teardrops was clearly visible.

Could it be that she really admires my temperament?

Su Weide was confused and looked at the woman in front of him suspiciously. She wouldn't even take money. What did she want?

He wasn't an indecisive person, just afraid that the other party would go back on her word and bite him again later.

"You really don't have any requests?"

Takahashi didn't speak, just shook her head, tears splashing. He seemed to see disappointment and regret.

What's going on? I'm almost fifty years old; my heart should have been as hard as iron and stone long ago. How can I not bear to see her cry, and even see disappointment and regret?

He had finally calmed down; it wasn't the impulse from when he first entered the room. Since the other party said so, he was decisive.

It's just that as the door behind him closed, standing at the doorway, he seemed to have touched a certain heartstring, his mind in a mess.

"Good morning, Deputy Director Su—"

The waiter in the lobby took the initiative to greet him, but he didn't react until he left the lobby.

When he saw the high-end car sent by Sanhe Corporation parked below the steps, he felt a bit more worried.

"Deputy Director Su." Secretary Gu Cheng helped him open the car door, his greeting as annoying as ever.

After getting in the car, Gu Cheng turned around again and asked, "Leader, are we going to the unit or..."

The driver was also waiting for his answer. The car had already started, but the speed at which it pulled out of the courtyard wasn't fast.

"Does this even need asking? Go to the unit."

Su Weide didn't want to see that annoying face right now. He turned his head to look out the car window; Beijing already had the morning rush hour.

But the morning rush hour in this era had little to do with cars; it was an army of bicycles, grandly heading to various units. It was the second day of Labor Day, and work was normal.

Gu Cheng sat up straight, observing Su Weide in the back seat from time to time through the rearview mirror, the corners of his mouth carrying a hint of a smile.

"The Secretary-General is back from Liaodong?"

After a while, the car was about to reach the Liangma River Bridge when Su Weide's voice suddenly came from behind.

"Yes, I heard he came back the night before last." Gu Cheng turned slightly to report, "But I didn't see him."

"Did he not come to the Group yesterday?"

Su Weide had already withdrawn his gaze from the window, looked at Gu Cheng, and asked, "Did he not even attend the Labor Day party?"

Asking this—didn't you not attend either?

But Su Weide had a reason for not attending. He had been in frequent contact with Japanese businessmen recently, seemingly working on some new project.

He had changed cars, and he was also more spirited.

It must be said, keeping Gu Cheng by his side was the worst and most regrettable move Su Weide had ever made.

If he had just replaced him directly back then, it would have been passive at most, but now it was troublesome even if he wanted to replace him.

Don't forget that the Honggang Group was under local jurisdiction, and Gu Cheng's father-in-law worked in Beijing; his influence had increased.

If he wanted to make things difficult for Gu Cheng, someone would make things difficult for him. Regret was truly regret, but regret was useless.

Gu Cheng faced his alienation and contempt without any psychological pressure; he even used this leisure time to coax his wife well.

Who among the group leader's secretaries had as easy a time as Gu Cheng? Secretaries usually have to grind out time; he was lucky.

Why is the gold content of a leader's secretary so high? Because their work is truly too hard. There will definitely be a sentiment of the leader taking care of them. When they are sent down, they will definitely be given a good position and a good opportunity.

But Gu Cheng wasn't hard-working at all, and he didn't need to worry about others making things difficult for him. He was just waiting for the right time to be sent down.

And when the time came, Su Weide would still have to arrange a good position for him as if sending off a god. You tell me, is he smug or not?

The easier and smugger he was, the more Su Weide looked down on him, but even if he was angry, he had to hold it in his heart. Externally, he still had to say his secretary was good.

He looked down on Gu Cheng, and Gu Cheng wasn't of one mind with him either. An old fox and a little fox began to fight.

Gu Cheng had sensitively grasped the changes in Deputy Director Su, not just this car, but also his lavish spending.

Even though Su Weide did many things behind his back and almost never brought him along for social activities after work, he could always discover the other party's unusual changes from bits and pieces.

For example, Deputy Director Su's social circle was getting wider and wider, and he was going to restaurants more and more...

Mentioning the Secretary-General? What is this for?

Gu Cheng was very cautious and replied, "He shouldn't have come. You were sure not to attend, so I didn't squeeze to the front."

"Hmph hmph—" Su Weide's hmph didn't know who it was aimed at, but Gu Cheng felt a thick mockery.

He didn't care, and he didn't believe that this repeated loser of an outsider could make any waves in the Group.

Deputy Director Cheng had been taken away for a month, and he hadn't seen Director Li and the others panic at all. There was definitely content in this.

Qian Youqiong had wanted to help him inquire about news from home, but Gu Cheng stopped her. He didn't need to inquire about this.

Because he knew that the news he could inquire about from his father-in-law was absolutely not as comprehensive as what the Secretary-General knew.

Then why would he waste this effort? It would only make his father-in-law look down on him, as if he relied on his father-in-law for everything.

Unlike others, Gu Cheng's relationship with Peng Xiaoli was extraordinary, and Peng Xiaoli, as Li Xuewu's former secretary, had always been in contact with the Secretary-General.

It didn't matter how much contact; from the moment Peng Xiaoli became Li Xuewu's secretary, a certain label had been stamped on him.

And he could persist until now, even having the confidence to entangle with the one behind him, also because of his worship and trust in Li Xuewu.

Even if Su Weide wanted to mess with him, at most it would be a year or two. He didn't need his father-in-law's help; the Secretary-General would also fish him out.

So he was extremely bold, even grasping Su Weide's movements last night. The International Hotel was the Secretary-General's territory.

It must be said, Old Su truly had the guts of a bear and a leopard; he actually dared to stay overnight at the International Hotel. How many eyes were staring here, and with those Japanese women.

You don't let him laugh, how could he hold it in.

Since knowing that Sanhe Corporation had set up an office in Beijing and arranged some beautiful female staff, he and Peng Xiaoli had discussed this matter more than once.

The methods were very common, not despicable, but actually ineffective in the mainland. The Secretary-General had encountered temptations many times.

When Peng Xiaoli was secretary, he often accompanied Li Xuewu to meet them, and he didn't dare to leave even one step.

When the office first opened, there was only one woman, called Momotani something. It wasn't until after the incident that these people were replaced.

What happened? Others didn't know, but could he not know? Of course, he also knew what kind of goods these women were.

Deputy Director Su had also grown up; he could eat Eastern delicacies, and he wasn't afraid of spoilage and diarrhea.

The Japanese like to eat raw things the most. What if there's poison?

"Who approved the renovation plan for Tadong Airport?"

Li Xuewu came out of the General Manager's office and asked Zhang Jinsong, who was on the side. The two were going to report.

"This matter should have been handled by General Manager Xue."

Zhang Jinsong shook the materials and notebook in his hand, with a cigarette clamped in his other hand, smoking as he walked.

This is a person who can endure. He said he didn't smoke, and no matter how long the meeting lasted, he wouldn't smoke; he only smoked heavily in private.

"It's impossible to be perfect; let's take it one step at a time." He blew a puff of smoke, flicked the ash, and said, "What if?"

"Heh—" Li Xuewu chuckled, looked at him, and asked, "Do you have the same idea as Director Li? Afraid the Third Ministry of Machine Building will go back on their word?"

"Is this kind of thing rare?" Zhang Jinsong walked to the door of Cheng Kaiyuan's office, paused, glanced at it, and then continued walking forward, "Caution is the parent of safety—"

Li Xuewu stayed a little longer than him, seeing that Cheng Kaiyuan's secretary, He Miao, was also not there, before moving forward.

"Then why don't you approve of General Manager Gao's opinion?"

Walking to the door of his office, he asked Zhang Jinsong, "Making Tadong Airport a joint-stock company can always be a bit safer."

"Will the higher-ups be wary that you are a joint venture?"

Zhang Jinsong glanced at him, raised his eyebrows, and went to his own office.

Li Xuewu also smiled lightly before entering his office.

After a month away, the smell in the room had changed.

After two big classes in the morning, his throat was also itchy, but he still had to insist on reporting the work situation in Liaodong to Li Huai De.

April wasn't just about waiting for news; the Group's grading work for its branches was proceeding one after another.

Basically, there were no surprises. The Hongxing United Savings Bank Head Office, Hongxing Steel Group Sales General Company, Hongxing United Construction Engineering General Company, Hongxing Steel Group Education and Medical Administration, and Hongxing Technology Research Institute—these five units became the first batch of deputy-bureau-level general company units.

In addition, the Hongxing Steel Group Steel City Metallurgical Plant was also designated as deputy-bureau-level, but it was a production unit, not a management unit.

In early May, the Group evaluated and graded the United Energy Development General Company, United Logistics Development General Company, and the soon-to-be-established United Investment Management General Company.

Except for these three general company-level units that had the opportunity to apply for deputy-bureau-level, only production units remained.

The industrial side in Liaodong was a bit troublesome. The Group was still discussing whether to establish a formal management structure, which involved grading procedures, so the management structure issue had to be solved first.

Li Xuewu had also mentioned this situation when reporting to Li Huai De just now. He wasn't sure how long the Group would discuss it; otherwise, they should just set the level first to stabilize people's hearts.

Of course, it wasn't the same as the metallurgical plant; it was graded according to the original situation, which was positive-division-level. Li Huai De was also considering it.

He had already understood Li Xuewu's consideration and opinion on this matter, which was to support the formation of a formal management structure.

This wasn't decided by the head, but by the butt.

Otherwise, why wouldn't Li Xuewu raise this opinion at the meeting? Because no one would think he would oppose this opinion.

There had long been rumors that the Group was going to establish an organizational structure or management company in Liaodong to oversee industry.

Li Xuewu didn't say it, but Li Huai De knew it in his heart.

Once a Liaodong Company or Northeast Company was formed, the first person in charge would absolutely be Li Xuewu, and Li Xuewu's influence would be officially confirmed in the Northeast.

He wasn't worried about whether Li Xuewu's increased influence would affect him. At least for now, Li Xuewu was standing on his side.

And the two had a significant age difference. Whether in terms of rank or seniority, Li Xuewu was still a long way from his position.

To get from the eleventh place to the first place, three to five years wouldn't be enough, and ten or eight years wasn't certain, so they had no conflict.

Especially now that Dong Wenxue had suffered a Waterloo, he was even less worried that Li Xuewu's wings had hardened and he could leave him.

He only worried whether his one-sided favoritism and support for Li Xuewu would cause opposition from others in the Group.

At this time, the Group shouldn't have disputes and contradictions. He still insisted on a united atmosphere. Even if there was competition, it should be conducted in a united atmosphere.

Li Xuewu didn't care about these. Grading only involved resource allocation and the hats of main persons in charge. A little more or a little less wouldn't affect him too much.

On the contrary, Xu Sinian was very nervous. Before returning, he went to Steel City to talk to him for a long time, meaning to push for Yingcheng Shipbuilding to be designated as deputy-bureau-level, so as to enhance his influence.

Xu Sinian's words weren't unreasonable. Given the Group's current situation and Li Huai De's view of him, the possibility of him staying at Yingcheng Shipbuilding was very high.

That is to say, he wouldn't be able to move for a year or two. If it was bad, he would have to work for another three years. He didn't want to lose out.

Even if he couldn't return to the Group, he should at least get the treatment he deserved when he retired.

These words were straightforward. Li Xuewu couldn't be so direct with Old Li after returning to Beijing; that would be harming Xu Sinian.

"How is it? What's the situation?"

Speak of the devil, and he appears. He hadn't sat in his office for long before Xu Sinian's phone call came through.

It was like an underground worker making contact; his voice on the phone carried a bit of tension.

Li Xuewu laughed and scolded, "Are you idle? If you have nothing to do, go to the workshop to help. Stop bothering me."

"Look, aren't I anxious?"

Xu Sinian was truly willing to lose face, flattering, "Who else do we have in the Group? Isn't it just you left?"

"That's enough. I just asked for you."

Li Xuewu was too lazy to listen to his rambling and explained, "The leader's meaning is to wait a bit longer, see the situation in the Yingcheng Port area next year. His meaning seems to be to integrate the port area and the shipyard."

"Didn't they say they wouldn't be combined!"

Xu Sinian was a bit anxious and said on the phone, "I only stopped managing the port area because I listened to his guarantee. Now he says they're going to integrate? You say I..."

"What are you anxious about—" Li Xuewu raised his volume slightly, reminding him, "Isn't there still more than a year? Plans don't change as fast as reality."

"Besides, the leader's meaning is to integrate resources; he didn't say the two units would be managed together."

He switched the receiver to the other hand and explained, "I don't think one person will manage both. Don't worry."

"I believe you if you say so, but I don't believe him."

Xu Sinian said lazily, "You wouldn't pit me, right?"

"Stop talking nonsense. The Yingcheng Port area has already been assigned to logistics, and it's not like there's only one Yingcheng Port."

Li Xuewu said impatiently, "Yingcheng Shipbuilding will always be in the Liaodong industrial sequence. This won't change."

"Don't worry, I'm relieved now."

Xu Sinian laughed and said, "Don't arrange another mother-in-law for me; that would be troublesome."

"That's it. Don't think about the grading matter." Li Xuewu said on the phone, "Broaden your horizons. You are a shipbuilding factory, not welded to Yingcheng."

After finishing the call, he didn't wait for Xu Sinian to ramble on and reached out to hang up the receiver.

Zhang Enyuan glanced from outside, walked in with documents, and reported softly, "The passenger car production equipment has arrived at the port."

"Hmm, has the transport plan started?"

Li Xuewu took the document and looked at it, saying, "Did this come back with the fleet?"

"I heard it's safer." Zhang Enyuan asked curiously, "Does maritime transport still have disaster risks like before?"

"It's not natural disasters." Li Xuewu raised his head, glanced at him, and continued looking at the document, explaining, "There are pirates."

"Pirates?" Zhang Enyuan was a landlubber and rarely came into contact with ocean shipping business, so he was a bit surprised, "In this day and age, there are still pirates?"

"Heh—" Li Xuewu chuckled and asked rhetorically, "What's wrong with this day and age? Can't there be pirates?"

He put down the document in his hand, raised his head, looked at him, and asked, "In your impression, do pirates still wear ragged clothes, holding big knives and spears, shouting and yelling?"

Zhang Enyuan didn't speak. He only had a one-sided understanding. Previously, there were pirates in the Northeast, but later they disappeared.

It wasn't anything else; the risk in the Northeast Asian sea area was much higher than in Southeast Asia. Those over there were all weaklings; anyone picked out from here would be an existence that pirates couldn't confront.

"The risk of ocean shipping is still very high."

Li Xuewu pointed to the document. There wasn't just one ship, but also returning cargo ships, loaded with mining equipment, water pumps, and medical equipment from East Germany.

Today, with such a strict blockade, they could still sail ships into the Bohai Bay and enter Yingcheng Port. One has to say that the Santa Ya Group has some ability, and Shunfeng Ocean Shipping can be considered to have opened up the situation.

The equipment on this ship wasn't from the Santa Ya Group, nor from the Honggang Group, but from Catherine's.

Why didn't he say it was from Jilixing Shipbuilding?

Because this equipment and gear were Catherine's own investment, following the Honggang Group's benefits obtained in East Germany.

She helped the Honggang Group complete technology acquisitions, and at the same time, she also received the Honggang Group's support and help, obtaining channels for material procurement and entry into the mainland.

The Honggang Group Sales General Company would undertake the sales work for this equipment and gear; the two sides were in a cooperative relationship.

And the Honggang Group itself also had a demand for related equipment, such as mining equipment. The United Energy Mining Company had long been waiting, and it would be loaded as soon as it arrived at the port.

"Has the meeting time been set?"

Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "What did the office side say?"

"Seems to be waiting." Zhang Enyuan hesitated for a moment and reported, "There's no definite word there either. I went down to inquire; some say the leader is waiting for Deputy Director Cheng to return."

He asked softly, "Can Deputy Director Cheng still return?"

"Heh, what do you think?" Li Xuewu looked at him and asked, "Why do you think he can't return?"

"I don't know, I'm just asking."

Seeing him say this, Zhang Enyuan also understood in his heart that the leader would never easily reveal his confidence.

Seeing his attitude, it meant that Deputy Director Cheng would definitely return safely, and those people were about to be unable to hold on.

"They didn't say the specific situation, and I can't guess the specific time." Zhang Enyuan raised his eyebrows and said, "I don't know if you can make it back this time. If you can't make it, then..."

"I've already reported to Director Li."

Li Xuewu tapped his fingers on the desk and said, "Even if I can't make it, we'll just come back after the meeting is set."

"This Yangcheng Trade Fair has had big changes. It refuses the participation of industrial-trade integrated enterprises. The Group is going to take action."

He took the document and said while looking at it, "We always have to give an explanation to United Industry and United Enterprises."

"Why restrict industrial-trade integrated enterprises from participating in the trade fair?" Zhang Enyuan took a thermos to refill his teacup with hot water and asked at the same time, "Isn't increasing trade volume a good thing?"

"It's a good thing for the overall economy, but not necessarily for the organizers and competent departments." Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said, "They just want to establish prestige and require unified export channels. What are we counting as? Smashing the venue?"

"I heard the Group was invited to participate?"

Zhang Enyuan also had his own sources of information in the Group. He had only been here for two days and had already grasped quite a bit of news.

He reported softly, "I heard the Group refused. Is this not wanting to be a stepping stone for them?"

"There aren't that many twists and turns." Li Xuewu said straightforwardly, "Rules are rules. It's impossible to give us a green light, and the Group can't let export goods have two prices, so refusal is certain."

"This counts as an open conspiracy." Zhang Enyuan smiled, put the thermos away, and said, "It's not that they are stingy; they invited us, but we actively refused. It has nothing to do with them."

"Hehehe—" Li Xuewu couldn't help but laugh when thinking of this. This matter wasn't handled properly.

If they really didn't want troublemakers like the Honggang Group to participate, it would have been better to save the invitation. Why take off one's pants to fart?

Cheng Kaiyuan being taken away and Old Li requiring the Group to make a silent response in April was for the higher-ups to see, but it didn't mean the Honggang Group was going downhill and anyone could come and step on it.

Mr. Z's speech at the Yangcheng Trade Fair also proved this point. In May, the Group had already made instructions and adjustments regarding related work, and all projects had resumed production and operation.

A Honggang Group couldn't affect the overall situation, but the energy displayed still reminded some people not to bully others too much.

Looking at it this way, Cheng Kaiyuan is coming back. But in what posture and for what reason should he return?