Chapter 1588: The Taste of Conspiracy

"This fish is really fragrant—"

Li Shu only used three spoonfuls to finish the fish meat her father had picked for her, her little mouth still licking it in aftertaste.

"Heh—" Zhou Yao couldn't help but laugh like a pig. She thought of Li Shu's stubbornness when she first entered the courtyard.

"Hahahaha—" Like a chain reaction, everyone at the dining table laughed, looking at her, looking at Li Shu.

"Who was it that said fish wasn't delicious?"

The most annoying one was naturally Ji Wang Weidong, who teased Li Shu, "Fish is so cute, isn't it a pity to eat it—"

"I didn't—" Li Shu shook her little head stubbornly, pouted, and quibbled, "It wasn't me who said it."

"Don't look at me!" Li Ning sat beside his sister, always feeling that the adults' gazes were also looking at him, and said guiltily, "Sister didn't say it, so it's even more impossible for me to say it."

He was quite good at arguing, turning his head to look at his sister to confirm, "I don't dare to say two if my sister says one."

"Hey? You didn't say that when I came this afternoon—"

Ji Wang Weidong raised his eyebrows, "Didn't you tell me that in this family, if you say go east, your sister doesn't dare to go west?"

"I didn't!" Li Ning was anxious, denying in a panic, "That's not what I said!"

"Li Ning—" Li Shu could see the reality, narrowed her eyes slightly, looked at her brother, and raised her eyebrows to release a harsh word.

"Sister, Ji Bufan played with your pencil box."

Li Ning wouldn't sit and wait for death. Since Uncle Ji was unkind, don't blame him for being unrighteous. He decisively wanted to drag Ji Bufan into the water.

The little fatty didn't know what was going on, eating dumplings with his mouth, turning his head to look at his sister and brother, looking blank.

"Fine, we'll talk about this after we finish eating." Li Shu seemed like a big sister, her gaze swept over Li Ning and Ji Bufan, and she raised her eyebrows to release a harsh word.

"It wasn't me who wanted to take it." The little fatty Ji Bufan reacted, pointed at Li Ning, and said, "Brother said it was his stationery box and let me play with it as I pleased."

"Who let you play with it—" Li Ning had a mournful face; he just knew this little fatty wasn't a good thing, just like his father.

"Hahaha—" Ji Wang Weidong had seen enough fun. He liked teasing these children, and wasn't afraid of them fighting.

Han Han Yating couldn't bear to look at him, glared at him fiercely, and said, "You wouldn't be happy if they didn't fight, right?"

"Children, what's there to be afraid of fighting." Ji Wang Weidong said indifferently, "Only by playing and making trouble can the feelings be deep."

He signaled to Li Li Xuewu and said, "Look at me and Li Li Xuewu, isn't it the more we make trouble, the deeper the feelings."

"Uncle, did my dad beat you too?"

Li Ning's brain turned fast. At this moment, he looked at Uncle Ji and asked a particularly scene-appropriate question.

"Pfft—hahahaha—" Everyone reacted and almost laughed out loud. What was called "children's words have no taboos."

"Do you think your dad can beat me?" Ji Wang Weidong narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at the little brat Li Ning, raised his eyebrows, and said, "Uncle is a martial arts master."

"What master?" Li Ning looked at him suspiciously and asked, "What does master mean?"

"It means being more powerful than your father."

Ji Wang Weidong didn't care either; he was just a bit improper. The atmosphere today had reached this point, and he couldn't lose his son's face.

"Don't listen to him, Dad is more powerful." Li Shu touched her brother with her hand, emphasized in a low voice, "Uncle is drunk and bragging."

"My dad didn't brag—" Ji Bufan turned his head to look at Li Shu and said, "My dad is just more powerful than your dad!"

"Then let my dad fight your dad—" Li Ning learned the appearance of an adult, looked at him, and said helplessly, "There's no other way. Cows are hard to find, and dads are all here."

Everyone stopped talking at this moment, looking at the children, looking at Ji Wang Weidong, looking at how they would end this.

Ji Wang Weidong glared at the bad boy Li Ning, coughed, and said, "Uncle and your dad are good friends, how can we fight? Fighting is ultimately wrong, right."

"But you just said playing and making trouble is good—" Li Ning had an innocent appearance, looked at him, and said, "I really want to see how powerful you are."

"Cough—" Li Li Xuewu deliberately coughed a long sound, looked at Ji Wang Weidong with a smile, and said, "It's been quite a while since we met, and I don't know how your skills are."

He raised his eyebrows and signaled to the children, "It's a coincidence today, why don't we compare notes?"

"Do you think I'm afraid of you—"

Ji Wang Weidong called out unconvinced, "You wait until I finish eating, I'll definitely compare notes with you properly."

"My dad..."

"Alright son, let's eat."

Ji Bufan just wanted to wave the flag for his father, but was pulled by his father, who also signaled him to eat quickly.

Li Ning, like his sister's expression, had his eyeballs rolling around, and one could tell at a glance that he was pondering some bad things.

"See if you still brag—" Han Han Yating glanced at Ji Wang Weidong and amusedly picked up a piece of fish meat without bones for her son.

The octagonal hall was spacious enough, and the Li family's dining table could seat more than a dozen people. The atmosphere was this lively from the beginning.

The male comrades drank wine, and the female comrades also joined in and drank a glass of red wine, laughing that dumplings with wine are always better.

The windows were open. At this time of year, there was no fear of mosquitoes and insects. The evening breeze was the coolest, taking away a trace of dryness after drinking. Eating and chatting, old friends reuniting, was the most intoxicating.

"Is Watching Li Xue still in Liaodong?"

Originally intending to clean up the dining room and kitchen together, it was Xiao Yan and Qin Qin Jingru who reached out to stop them, saying they couldn't turn around.

Li Li Xuewu's dining room was spacious enough, and the kitchen was the same. Where was it that they couldn't turn around? This was the way of hospitality.

In their hearts, except for Gu Ning, everyone else was a guest; Qin Qin Jingru thought so too.

Coming to Li Li Xuewu's house, she didn't treat herself as an outsider.

So, Zhao Zhao Ya Ping took the initiative to make hot tea, but Gu Ning signaled her not to guard here, and let her go back to the room to read.

Wang Lu held the teacup, looked at the male comrades chatting in the courtyard, turned her head, and asked Gu Ning.

"Hmm, her brother said she went to Fengcheng."

Gu Ning found sugar and dried fruits and placed them on the coffee table, signaling them, "Take them yourselves."

"Hurry up and don't be busy, Second Sister-in-law." Ji Ji Yuxiu came out of the bathroom, waved her hand, and said, "We're not outsiders."

Sitting on the sofa together were Han Han Yating and Wang Lu, as well as Zhou Yao, who didn't talk much.

Ji Ji Yuxiu pulled her second sister-in-law to sit on the sofa, sat down herself, and the topic naturally turned to family.

Li Shu originally intended to find an opportunity to clean up the two younger brothers, but seeing her father and the others chatting in the courtyard, she simply put on another coat and went crazy in the courtyard with her younger brother and younger sisters.

For children, there was nothing more fascinating than the courtyard at night. The range outside the door light was like a mysterious world to them at this time, full of temptation.

"Are you and Zhao Yajun the same age?"

Ji Wang Weidong took a puff of his cigarette. He had been suffocated at the dining table just now. After driving the children away, he lit it.

Li Xuecai still sat with Zhao Zhao Yajun, just like at the dining table, chatting softly about something.

He didn't pay much attention; after all, he was his brother-in-law.

"We are the same age, I'm one month older than him." Li Xuecai introduced with a smile, "He calls me Third Brother."

Zhao Zhao Yajun nodded, his eyes full of curiosity when looking at Ji Wang Weidong.

He had heard this name many times. When he first entered the factory, someone in the section knew the other party.

If you count it, they could be considered relatives by marriage, but he didn't know what the other party's identity was.

Even if they were in the courtyard, there were few opportunities for them to meet, and he hadn't heard any introduction about him from Second Brother.

It was at the dining table that Li Xuecai explained two sentences to him quietly, but he couldn't say how accurate it was.

A person who often disappears and often appears.

He was no longer the reckless teenager who sat on Second Brother's motorcycle and entered the city for the first time; now he could be considered a city person.

Several years of work experience in the Security Section made it very easy for him to understand what this kind of elusive identity meant.

"Is Zhao Yajun working in the Security Section?"

Ji Wang Weidong put down his crossed legs, picked up his teacup, and drank, but his gaze was measuring Zhao Zhao Yajun.

"Yes, I work in the Security General Team."

Zhao Zhao Yajun didn't understand why his second brother suddenly called him over for dinner when he came, but now he had a few guesses.

"Security General Team?" Ji Wang Weidong looked at Li Li Xuewu and asked, "Reorganized from the original factory guard team?"

"Not entirely, it's quite complicated."

Li Li Xuewu held the teacup in his hand, looked at Zhao Zhao Yajun, and explained, "The group is formalizing, the organizational structure must be changed."

"The original security section, guard team, and fire brigade have all been upgraded and reorganized, and new departments have been established."

He switched hands to hold the cup, calculated, and said, "The Security General Team absorbed part of the security and factory guard team; the Fire General Team absorbed part of the factory guard team on the basis of the original fire brigade; and part of the guard team was transferred to the Inspection General Team."

"Now the group's security force isn't managed by one department, mainly divided into daily security and security duty."

Li Li Xuewu turned his head to look at Ji Wang Weidong and said, "The original factory guard team's tasks and mission were transferred to the militia regiment."

"Your group has many militia indicators."

Ji Wang Weidong nodded and said, "And you have money. When it comes to armed forces, you are the ones who can take them out."

"On the contrary." Li Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and explained, "Our factory's militia training results are very average."

"What's the situation? On purpose?"

Ji Wang Weidong looked at him puzzled and asked, "With money and equipment, your group doesn't care about this achievement?"

"Who doesn't like certificates?"

Li Li Xuewu smiled, shook his head, and explained, "This can be considered a consideration of our group."

"Even if we really fight, one more regiment or one less regiment won't play any role."

He put down the teacup and said seriously, "If we put more energy into production, then we are professional."

"Some people won't like hearing this."

Ji Wang Weidong smiled and said, "It's fine if other achievements lag behind, but this one cannot lag behind."

"Just like you said, our equipment is better."

Li Li Xuewu smiled, shook his head, and didn't care, "Besides, we have our own training base, and also united co-construction units like the Wei Third Regiment and the Light Arms Institute."

"If there's a surprise inspection, our Security General Team is the best of the best. It's hard to say one against ten." He pointed at Zhao Zhao Yajun and said, "One against three or five is no problem."

"Elite route." Ji Wang Weidong looked at Zhao Zhao Yajun, sucked on his cigarette hard, and after crushing the cigarette butt, said, "Many countries are doing this now."

"It's not deep-long, large-corps advancement, but vertical decapitation." He picked up his teacup, and his other hand gestured to explain, "Aircraft drop paratroopers to directly eliminate main targets, making your entire command and logistics system paralyzed."

"The experience summarized from the Normandy landing." Li Li Xuewu took a sip of hot tea, nodded, and said, "The true glory of paratroopers also started from World War II."

"Heh, by the way, you can also do this vertical decapitation." Ji Wang Weidong joked and looked at him, "Your group also produces helicopters."

"I really have this idea."

Li Li Xuewu tilted his head, glanced at him, and introduced, "The Hongxing Group supported the Wei Third Regiment with two KH-4 helicopters, and the Light Arms Institute combined with the Hongxing Group Research Institute to jointly develop communication systems and equipment systems."

"Good guy—" Ji Wang Weidong shook his head with emotion, "If this project is done, you will really be famous."

"I don't care, it's nothing more than a paper." Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Besides, my teaching direction now is criminal psychology."

"But you also wrote a book, 'Public Security Management'."

Ji Wang Weidong glanced at him, then looked at his brother-in-law Li Xuecai and said, "See? Learn from your second brother."

"Although you've only been working for less than two years, don't limit your vision to TCM and hospitals."

He pointed at Zhao Zhao Yajun and Han Han Jiankun and said, "You guys should also think about making breakthroughs in your careers."

The words were already so clear; the three looked at each other, and each had their own calculations in their hearts.

The moon was on the plum blossoms. The living room was much warmer than the courtyard. The children had already been called back, afraid they would catch a cold.

Han Han Yating was the first to propose leaving. Ji Bufan was walking unsteadily, looking like he could fall asleep at any time.

"I won't keep you any longer."

Gu Ning tried very hard to learn the polite words she had recorded in the past. Today's gathering made her a bit strained.

If it weren't for Qin Qin Jingru and Er Ya helping, she wouldn't have known where to start to entertain them.

"Sister-in-law, don't be polite. We'll come often in the future." Han Han Yating had been here several times and was familiar with Gu Ning, so she wasn't restrained, and smiled and called Ji Wang Weidong to come in and hold the child.

"... Ate is adding another order."

Hearing the greeting, Ji Wang Weidong turned his head and responded, and when he got up, he whispered to Li Li Xuewu, "I've already contacted Dong Wenxue; he's responsible for this project."

"Is Ate still alive?" Li Li Xuewu shook his head amusedly, "Just to bet on a breath? Is it worth it?"

"This isn't betting on a breath." Ji Wang Weidong pointed his finger, opened his eyes, and emphasized, "He's very smart—"

Han Han Jiankun and Zhao Zhao Yajun took the initiative to clean up the tables and chairs in the courtyard, leaving time for the two to talk.

"He used to work for others, now it's his turn to be the local emperor. Can this be the same?"

Ji Wang Weidong walked into the foyer, raised his eyebrows again, and said, "You can still call him Ate now, but maybe in a few years you'll have to call him Mr. Ate."

"Heh—" Li Li Xuewu couldn't help but laugh. He really couldn't imagine the Kuwaiti youth who was hooking shoulders and backs with him and talking nonsense appearing in front of him with the posture of "Mr."

"Alright, tell him I'm waiting for this day."

"Who can say which cloud in the sky has rain." Ji Wang Weidong laughed, "Don't you think so."

"Still chatting—" Han Han Yating smiled and called him, "Chatting all night and still not enough."

"I still want to chat for a while, but he's already annoyed with me." Ji Wang Weidong pointed at Li Li Xuewu behind him and joked, "Every time he sees me, he asks, why are you back again."

"That means the number of times you appear in front of me is really too many." Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Just call next time, no need to come to the house, and also sponge a meal from me."

"Then it's settled, come to the house next time." Ji Wang Weidong smiled and reached out to Zhao Zhao Yajun, "Zhao Yajun, let's interact more in the future. We're all real relatives; if you have anything, just speak."

After speaking, he looked at Han Han Jiankun, shook hands, and said, "Let's not talk about us, you are Li Li Xuewu's direct line."

"General Manager Ji, you don't have to be polite with me."

Han Han Jiankun responded to his teasing with a wry smile. This "direct line" was used correctly, but was it necessary to say it out loud?

"We're all our own people, don't be polite."

Ji Wang Weidong smiled, patted the shoulders of the two, took his son from Han Han Yating's hands, and took the lead out of the foyer.

"Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, Xuecai and I are going back too."

Ji Ji Yuxiu and the others naturally wouldn't wait for a while before leaving. She pulled Qin Qin Jingru's hand and said, "You've worked hard."

"Oh, why are you being polite."

Qin Qin Jingru smiled and said, "You still have to work tomorrow, hurry back and rest."

Gu Ning was clumsy, so Qin Qin Jingru stayed a while longer, also to help Er Ya clean up, after all, it was very late.

"Leaving, Second Brother." Together with them were Wang Lu and Zhou Yao. The car lights at the entrance lit up, and the rumbling sound was continuous.

Li Xuecai and his wife drove here, and Ji Wang Weidong's family of three also drove. The only bicycle at the entrance was Han Han Jiankun's, and even Zhao Zhao Yajun was riding Wang Lu's small motorcycle.

Zhou Yao came over from work, so she drove a Hongxing Lingyang. She intended to send Han Han Jiankun and Qin Qin Jingru, but the two refused, saying it wasn't far from home, and they would ride their bikes back in a while.

Several cars left one after another in the bustle. The entrance to the courtyard finally quieted down, and Qin Qin Jingru, who had sent them out, let out a long breath.

"Heh, you've worked hard, Qin Jingru."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and glanced at her, nodded to Han Han Jiankun, and said, "It's too late, you three don't leave."

"There's a place to stay downstairs, it's too late."

Gu Ning also pulled Qin Qin Jingru's hand and said, "The children are all asleep, don't toss them around and catch a cold."

Qin Qin Jingru stayed here quite often, but that was when Li Li Xuewu wasn't at home.

If she brought the children to play, and it was late, she wouldn't go back, and would stay here after calling Han Han Jiankun.

It was just that Li Li Xuewu was at home today, so she was a bit embarrassed, so she looked at Han Han Jiankun.

Han Han Jiankun naturally felt sorry for the children, nodded and said, "Let them stay here, I have to go back, otherwise my mother will be worried."

"Then be early, don't be too late."

Li Li Xuewu nodded, instructed Er Ya, "Give the dumplings left for the old lady to your eldest brother to take back."

"No, it was already cooked when we came out..." Han Han Jiankun explained, but was stopped by Li Li Xuewu waving his hand.

"It was specially left for the old lady."

Li Li Xuewu entered the foyer, saw the children sleeping crookedly by the sofa, and said amusedly, "Are you going to make a floor bed?"

"Then you go back early, heat it up for Mom to eat in the morning." Qin Qin Jingru took the lunch box handed over by Er Ya and instructed, "Don't forget to put water in the vat in the morning, the water will be cut off."

"Got it." Han Han Jiankun responded, took the lunch box, greeted Li Li Xuewu and Gu Ning, and went out.

Quietening down, the three children, one by one, two upstairs, one downstairs, were all sent back to their rooms.

Qin Qin Jingru and Er Ya didn't let Gu Ning reach out again, and quickly cleaned up the living room and washed the teacups.

Li Li Xuewu could see Gu Ning's fatigue, thought she had to go to work tomorrow morning, so he said something to the two and took her upstairs.

The weather in May wasn't enough to sleep with the windows open. Gu Ning felt a bit cold after taking a shower, and closed the windows when she walked back.

"Tired?" Li Li Xuewu leaned on the pillow, waved his hand, and wanted to give her a hug.

Gu Ning shook her head, tidied her hair, and asked, "What did he come to you for?"

"Heh, nothing." Li Li Xuewu looked at his wife amusedly and said, "Just to see how I'm doing."

"What do you mean?" Gu Ning raised her eyebrows, "Just to see how you're doing?"

"Maybe he wanted to see my state." Li Li Xuewu stretched the thin quilt on his body and signaled her to get into the quilt quickly to talk.

"Maybe he heard something."

Seeing Gu Ning still looking at him, he explained, "Afraid I can't think straight? Heh, or maybe encountered trouble?"

"Then you—" Gu Ning kicked off her slippers and got into bed, asking, "Is there nothing wrong with your unit?"

"Would I not tell you if there was something?" Li Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said, "Rest assured, it's all small things, I can handle them."

"I don't really understand your..." Gu Ning hesitated and said, "If you have trouble, you can tell Dad."

"Hey—" Li Li Xuewu tilted his head amusedly and said, "It's not to that extent; what kind of hatred or grudge is it."

Gu Ning understood this sentence, saw that there was no difficulty on his face, so she nodded and said, "You know what I mean."

"Hmm, I understand." Li Li Xuewu held her in his arms and whispered comfortingly, "Being in the game, you have to follow the rules of the game. Everyone talks based on their ability; it's still fair."

Gu Ning didn't understand, but felt everything he said was right, so she reached out and rested on his chest, "I'm sleepy."

"Hmm, sleep." Li Li Xuewu patted her gently, just like coaxing a child, but he couldn't sleep.

Ji Wang Weidong coming to the house today wasn't just to care about his state, nor was it simply to pave the way for Han Han Yating.

Some things weren't easy to say at the dining table, but in the courtyard, he said some situations vaguely.

I don't know if Li Xuecai and the others understood, but Li Li Xuewu understood; he was here to warn him.

He was in the Investigation Department; there was no need to say what kind of nature this department was, and there were his father and mother.

This family of three had a quite strong sensitivity to the wind direction. Some things weren't easy to say clearly, and they didn't even dare to speak too clearly, but he still had to express it to Li Li Xuewu, letting him be careful.

Ji Wang Weidong wouldn't do useless work. He naturally knew Li Li Xuewu had a father-in-law relationship and could also learn about some situations.

But for the more sensitive ones, especially those related to... this kind of thing was naturally the faster he knew, the better, and the more detailed, the better. He must not get involved, and must not have any relationship.

He didn't think expressing it to Li Li Xuewu would leak anything, nor did he think Li Li Xuewu would betray him.

The relationship between the two was extraordinary, and there was a tacit understanding beyond verbal communication, which was the ability to perceive the storm.

Ji Wang Weidong and his parents were in Hong Kong, having a transcendent sensitivity and avoidance ability to the wind and rain. Even his wife and sister working in the mainland, he didn't think they had the ability to get involved in it.

Only his good friend Li Li Xuewu—he knew Li Li Xuewu's energy too well, and knew Li Li Xuewu's relationship network even better.

So, knowing Li Li Xuewu was at home, he specially brought his family together, and also let Li Li Xuewu call his relatives and friends together.

In such an occasion, whatever he said to Li Li Xuewu wouldn't arouse anyone's suspicion, and Li Li Xuewu would at least have a precaution.

Actually, he worried too much. Li Li Xuewu was very grateful to have such a good friend. He had long known the content Ji Wang Weidong wanted to warn him about.

Powerless, keep at a distance.

This was Li Li Xuewu's plan, which just happened to fit his professional plan of incorporating Liaodong into his own when he first started. For a period of time in the future, he would still take care of the group's work, but he would definitely not return to Beijing to work at this point in time.

Even in Liaodong, he felt the cold wind was biting, and he didn't have enough volume to deal with this magnitude of storm, so he should hide if he should hide, and should be cautious if he should be cautious.

The only thing that could make him worry was that the tree wanted to be quiet but the wind wouldn't stop. He didn't provoke right and wrong, but right and wrong actively provoked him.

"Secretary-General, this morning's newspaper."

Zhang Enyuan placed a stack of newspapers on Li Li Xuewu's right hand, on top of a stack of documents.

And he had already folded a corner of the top newspaper, reminding the leader that this was important content and needed attention.

Li Li Xuewu went to class in the morning and only came back at noon.

However, he didn't go directly upstairs, but walked around the machine, from the third floor to the sixth floor, and only returned to his office later. 【1588

Li Li Xuewu entered the foyer and saw the children sleeping in a heap by the sofa. He laughed, "Are you all going to sleep on the floor?"

"Then you should go back early and heat it up for Mom to eat tomorrow morning." Qin Qin Jingru took the lunch box handed over by Er Ya and instructed, "Don't forget to put water in the vat in the morning; the water is going to be shut off."

"Got it." Han Han Jiankun replied, took the lunch box, greeted Li Li Xuewu and Gu Ning, and went out the door.

Once things quieted down, the three children were each taken back to their rooms—two upstairs and one downstairs.

Qin Qin Jingru and Er Ya didn't let Gu Ning lift a finger; they efficiently tidied up the living room and washed the teacups.

Li Li Xuewu could see Gu Ning's exhaustion and, thinking that she had to go to work the next morning, said a few words to the two of them and took her upstairs.

It wasn't warm enough in May to sleep with the windows open; Gu Ning felt a bit chilly after her shower, so she closed the windows when she walked back.

"Tired?" Li Li Xuewu leaned against the pillow and beckoned, wanting to give her a hug.

Gu Ning shook her head, tidied her hair, and asked, "What did he come to find you for?"

"Hehe, nothing." Li Li Xuewu chuckled as he looked his wife over and said, "Just to see how I'm doing."

"What do you mean?" Gu Ning raised her eyebrows and said, "Just to come and see you?"

"He wanted to see my state of mind." Li Li Xuewu smoothed out the thin quilt on his body and signaled for her to hurry into the covers to talk.

"Maybe he heard something."

Seeing that Gu Ning was still looking at him, he explained, "Afraid I might do something rash? Hehe, or maybe that I've run into trouble?"

"Then you—" Gu Ning kicked off her slippers and got into bed, asking, "Is everything alright at your unit?"

"Would I not tell you if something were wrong?" Li Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said, "Don't worry, it's all minor stuff; I can handle it."

"I don't really understand those things of yours..." Gu Ning hesitated for a moment, then lay on the pillow and said, "If you have trouble, you can talk to Dad."

"Hey—" Li Li Xuewu tilted his head with amusement and said, "It's not that serious; what kind of deep hatred could there be?"

Gu Ning understood this sentence, and seeing that he didn't look troubled, she nodded and said, "You know what I mean."

"Mm, I understand." Li Li Xuewu pulled her into his arms and whispered comfortingly, "When you're in the game, you have to follow the rules. Everyone speaks based on their own ability; it's still fair."

Gu Ning didn't understand, but she felt that everything he said was right, so she reached out and rested her hand on his chest, saying, "I'm sleepy."

"Mm, sleep." Li Li Xuewu patted her gently, just like coaxing a child, but he couldn't quite fall asleep himself.

Ji Wang Weidong coming to the house today wasn't just out of concern for his state of mind, nor was it simply to pave the way for Han Han Yating.

Some things were hard to say at the dinner table, but in the courtyard, he had spoken vaguely about some situations.

He didn't know if Li Xuecai and the others had understood, but Li Li Xuewu had; he had come to warn him.

He was in the Investigation Department; there was no need to elaborate on the nature of that department, not to mention his father and mother.

This family of three was extremely sensitive to the shifting winds. Some things couldn't be said openly, and they didn't even dare to be too clear, but he still had to express it to Li Li Xuewu to make him be careful.

Ji Wang Weidong wouldn't do anything useless. Of course, he knew Li Li Xuewu had his father-in-law's connections and could find out some things.

But for the more sensitive matters, especially those related to... such things were best known as early as possible, and the more detailed, the better. One must never get mixed up in them, and even less so have any connection at all.

He didn't think that expressing this to Li Li Xuewu would leak anything, nor did he think Li Li Xuewu would betray him.

Their relationship was extraordinary, and there was a tacit understanding beyond verbal communication—a shared ability to perceive the coming storm.

Ji Wang Weidong and his parents were in Hong Kong and had a transcendent sensitivity and ability to avoid the storm. Even regarding his wife and sister working on the mainland, he didn't think they had the capacity to be dragged into it.

Only his good friend Li Li Xuewu—he knew Li Li Xuewu's energy too well, and he knew Li Li Xuewu's network of connections even better.

Therefore, knowing Li Li Xuewu was home, he had specifically brought his family along and had Li Li Xuewu call his relatives and friends as well.

In such a setting, whatever he said to Li Li Xuewu wouldn't arouse anyone's suspicion, and Li Li Xuewu would at least have some precautions.

Actually, he was overthinking it. Li Li Xuewu was very grateful to have such a good friend; he had long since known the content of the warning Ji Wang Weidong wanted to give.

Powerless to change it, keep a respectful distance.

This was Li Li Xuewu's plan, which perfectly aligned with his original career plan of incorporating Liaodong into his path. For the foreseeable future, he would continue to oversee the group's work, but he would absolutely not transfer back to work in Beijing at this point in time.

Even in Liaodong, he felt the cold wind biting and piercing to the bone. He didn't have enough weight to deal with a storm of this magnitude, so he had to hide when he could and lay low when he had to.

Ji Wang Weidong cherished his life, and he cherished his even more than Ji Wang Weidong did.

The only thing that worried him was that the tree wanted to be still, but the wind would not cease. He didn't provoke trouble, but trouble actively provoked him.

"Secretary-General, this morning's newspapers."

Zhang Enyuan placed a stack of newspapers on Li Li Xuewu's right hand, on top of a stack of documents.

He had already folded the corner of the top newspaper to remind his leader that this was important content that required attention.

Li Li Xuewu had gone to class in the morning and only returned at noon.

However, he didn't go straight upstairs; instead, he walked around the agency, from the third floor to the sixth floor, before returning to his office.

In over half an hour, he had managed to get an understanding of the various units in the group, accompanied by Deputy Secretary-General Ji Ji Jiuzheng.

"Northern Industry News?" Li Li Xuewu glanced at the newspaper and saw that the top one was indeed this publication.

He put down the documents in his hand and picked up the newspaper to read. The headline was quite eye-catching: "Discarding the Watermelon to Pick Up Sesame Seeds."

Good, this headline was good; it was infuriating at first glance. Who was so stupid as to discard a watermelon just to pick up sesame seeds?

Oh, it turned out to be the Red Steel Group, which had long dominated the headlines of the Northern Industry News.

This article focused on how the Red Steel Group had put the cart before the horse, delaying the steel rolling industry for the sake of developing tertiary industries.

If it hadn't been published by the Northern Industry News, Li Li Xuewu would have even suspected that this article had been submitted by Kuang Kuang Yusheng.

Really, if there was any complaining to be done, it should be Kuang Kuang Yusheng from the Steel City Steel Rolling Plant writing an article to vent, saying the group had neglected them.

To say that the Red Star Factory got its start by relying on its own metallurgical capabilities and coordinating with its main business of steel rolling—and now people were saying the Red Steel Group wasn't attending to its proper duties.

If it were just this, Zhang Enyuan wouldn't have folded the corner of the newspaper to remind him to pay attention; after all, there had been countless similar articles published last month.

But the core of this article wasn't to denounce the Red Steel Group for not attending to its proper duties, but rather to "selflessly" help the Red Steel Group solve these erroneous problems.

The article suggested that Beijing's industry should actively intervene in the Red Steel Group and complete the separation and independence of the existing tertiary industries.

According to this logic, it would be like returning to the pre-liberation era, dismembering the Red Steel Group and, based on each production unit, stitching them back together into a few larger industrial enterprises.

In particular, the article attacked the Red Steel Group's decision to invest in the Liangma River Ecological Industrial Zone as completely wrong.

The viewpoint held that the economy at this time needed industrial support, so one couldn't talk about ecology or protection, and that the Red Star Factory's relocation of its steel rolling business to Steel City was a flawed decision to begin with...

Li Li Xuewu insisted on finishing the article, but he couldn't help but laugh in anger. What kind of brain could write such an article?

"Can't they find a few insiders to write articles?"

He tossed the newspaper aside and sneered, "They take ignorance and childishness for their own ability."

"The problem is that the person in charge isn't an insider."

Zhang Enyuan reported softly, "The Group's Propaganda Department hasn't made a move for a long time; will this cause discussion among the staff?"

"Director Li has already called the First Ministry of Machine-Building."

Li Li Xuewu said indifferently, "I don't know if it's useful, but in any case, an article was published today, wasn't it?"

"This kind of thing is really a headache." Zhang Enyuan frowned and said, "Is there really no way?"

"If a dog bites you, are you going to bite the dog back?" Li Li Xuewu glanced at him and said, "Just wait, this matter will be resolved."

That was what he said, but he hadn't expected Li Li Huai De to call him and ask him to come to his office to hand this task over to him.

"How am I supposed to handle this?" Li Li Xuewu spread his hands and laughed, "I can't just find a place to bury it, can I?"

"If you can handle it that way, then I'll support you unconditionally." Li Li Huai De pointed at him and said, "I'll help you dig the hole."

"Then that's settled; let's do it tonight."

Li Li Xuewu sat in the chair and said, "A dark night with a high wind is the perfect time for killing."

"If it were really that simple, it would be great."

Li Li Huai De sighed long and hard, looked out the window, and said, "They want to send Comrade Kaiyuan back, but he's unwilling."

"Who's unwilling? Deputy Director Cheng?"

Li Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow, his expression somewhat strange as he asked, "Could it be that he's been wined and dined somewhere so well that he's forgotten home and doesn't want to come back?"

"Hehe—" Li Li Huai De couldn't help but laugh, twirling his fountain pen in his hands as he looked at him and said, "Wait until he comes back and ask him yourself. I don't know if he's been eating and drinking well or suffering."

"If you ask me, we should respect Deputy Director Cheng's choice." Li Li Xuewu pursed his lips and said, "Look, they took the person away, unclear and unexplained, and now they want to send him back."

"There has to be an explanation—"

He clapped his hands and said, "What for? Are they playing games? If he really was wined and dined, then fine."

"If you ask me, if he really suffered grievances and really suffered, then he should express the proper attitude and fight to the end."

"Why don't you go to the Ministry?" Li Li Huai De didn't take his bait, but looked at him and said, "Ask Director Han for help and have the editor-in-chief of the Northern Industry Ministry come over for a talk."

"Me? I'm not going." Li Li Xuewu shook his head and said, "I'm afraid I won't be able to stop myself from taking action."

"Then I'll be even less able to stop myself—"

Li Li Huai De looked out the window and said indifferently, "The city called to express concern about this situation."

"Oh, applying pressure, are they?" Li Li Xuewu sneered, "What does this count as? Deceiving oneself and others?"

"What it counts as isn't important." Li Li Huai De shook his chin, "Who bows their head first is what's important."

"Wanting to maintain the authority of the competent department?"

Li Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes slightly and said disdainfully, "What are they thinking? Do they think the Red Steel Group is a soft persimmon?"

"Let me tell you, don't come to me for this matter. No matter what you say, I'm not going. Whoever wants to go, let them go."

He said meaningfully, "Instead of making things difficult for me, why don't you let the person who wants to go, go?"

Li Li Huai De turned his head abruptly to look at him. After a long while, he lowered his eyes, picked up his teacup, and said, "That would save trouble; perhaps it would be settled in bed."

"Heh—" Li Li Xuewu was amused by him, scratched his brow, and reminded him, "You'd better not say that. I've met that person, and the image is truly... nauseating."

"Then let him go, since he wants to go."

The smile on Li Li Huai De's face became a bit more playful. He patted the table lightly with his palm and said, "It's quite interesting, isn't it?"

"It's a pity I won't be able to see it."

Li Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, "I'm returning to Liaodong tomorrow. Such a scene must be very interesting."

"It is a pity." Li Li Huai De nodded and said, "Come back around the middle of the month."

"Has the meeting time been set?"

Li Li Xuewu glanced at him and said, "There are many things in Liaodong this month; I can only say I'll try my best to rush back."

"You can't miss such a good show."

Li Li Huai De twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "Another thing, I also want you to pick up Comrade Kaiyuan."

"Then it would be better to send him to Liaodong."

Li Li Xuewu tilted his head and provided Li Li Huai De with a different line of thinking.

He stood up and said with a smile, "I think Deputy Director Cheng might be happy to see that happen, don't you?"