Chapter 1596

"Did you receive the news?"

On the way downstairs to eat, Gao Yaqin appeared as if she were waiting for him.

"How come I heard something so confusing?"

She reached out and pressed the elevator call button, turned her head to look at Li Xuewu, raised her eyebrows, and asked, "Making an issue out of Deputy Director Cheng—what does this mean?"

"How do you know they are making an issue out of it? Could it not be that Deputy Director Cheng has a problem?"

Li Xuewu turned his head to look at her, also raised his eyebrows, and said, "You need to pay attention to your stance."

"Is it me who's afraid, or you?"

Gao Yaqin rolled her eyes, walked into the elevator, and curled her lips, "Can't you say two words of truth?"

"Tell the truth? There has to be someone to listen."

Li Xuewu put his hands in his pockets and didn't care at all that there was a driver in the elevator car, saying bluntly, "I don't know about making an issue or not; I just know he's not having a very good time right now."

"You know that and you still say it—"

Gao Yaqin glanced at him, narrowed her right eye deliberately, and asked, "Could it be that you have a grudge against him?"

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled and looked at her candidly, saying, "How did you know?"

When these two first entered the elevator, the driver was still very cautious, but after listening to two sentences of their conversation, how was this like primary school students arguing? It was too childish.

"I think so too. If there wasn't a grudge, you wouldn't be kicking someone when they're down like this."

Gao Yaqin looked away and said indifferently, "Did you read the morning newspaper? Pay attention to studying."

"Thank you for your concern; I've already studied it."

Li Xuewu licked his upper teeth and said, "I firmly support the leadership and decisions of the superiors, and I firmly follow the organization to work wholeheartedly..."

"Do I need you to give me a lecture?" Gao Yaqin poked him with her elbow impatiently and said, "Annoying, stay away from me."

"Can I squat on top of the elevator?"

Li Xuewu looked at her with amusement and said, "Or maybe you should go down first, and then I'll go down after you, so I don't annoy you."

The driver couldn't help it anymore, pursed his lips tightly, and his shoulders were twitching, which made Gao Yaqin unable to help laughing, "Too lazy to bother with you—"

"You, your heart is terribly bad."

Li Xuewu pointed at her with a smile and said, "You don't solve your own problems, you only know how to add trouble for comrades."

"Don't make yourself sound so good."

The elevator reached the first floor; Gao Yaqin rolled her eyes at him and stepped out of the elevator first.

Li Xuewu nodded to the driver with a smile and followed her out.

"What do you think of the article in the newspaper?"

Surrounded by staff walking toward the cafeteria, he didn't avoid anything and asked bluntly.

Gao Yaqin thought about it seriously, then said softly, "The louder the thunder, the smaller the raindrops."

"What do you think?" After she finished speaking, she looked at Li Xuewu, "How do you see this article?"

"Me? About the same as what you think."

Li Xuewu said while walking, "How can the people of the world unite? Without a core leadership ideology, it's a pile of loose sand, and we can't lead anyone."

"If you really want me to say it, sometimes we can't be too selfless and too soft-hearted."

He walked to the tray collection area, took two steel trays, handed one to Gao Yaqin, carried one himself, and walked toward the queuing window.

"The situation in Annan is quite special. Since they can persist for 9 years without being defeated, they can persist for another 9 years."

"Is that what you think?"

Gao Yaqin looked at him in surprise and said, "I felt you had other views several times before, especially regarding the aid policy for Annan."

"Believe it or not." Li Xuewu found a random line to queue up in, turned his head to look at her, and said, "Within ten years, this snake will definitely bite us back; it's an ungrateful white-eyed wolf."

"Why?" Gao Yaqin frowned and reminded him, "Without us, they would have been defeated long ago."

"Yeah, without us, they would have been defeated long ago." Li Xuewu shrugged his shoulders and said, "But you have to change your way of thinking: without us, they would have already lived a happy capitalist life."

"..." Gao Yaqin looked at him speechlessly, and it was a long while before she frowned and said, "I can't understand this way of thinking, and I don't dare believe they would do that."

"The relationship between countries is like the relationship between people; you can't be too close at any time." Li Xuewu turned his head to look at her and said, "People will say you're meddling in other people's business."

"Of course, you're always right."

Gao Yaqin looked at his back for a long while before saying with a solemn tone, "But I don't hope for this situation to happen."

"I don't hope for it either." Li Xuewu didn't even turn his head, only his tone became a bit indifferent as he said, "But facts are facts and cannot be changed."

"So, you've been making an issue of the aid projects since that time?"

Gao Yaqin had carefully studied Li Xuewu, including his various experiences since he started working.

Otherwise, how could she have discovered that Li Xuewu was so sensitive to the decisions related to Annan and North Korea?

During the Red Star Factory period, it was originally a heavy industrial enterprise, but Li Xuewu at that time actively coordinated with the factory and other joint units to eat up a portion of the aid projects.

"Eating up" here didn't mean wasting, but using products from several units to top it off, converted into production tasks and funds.

In the following years, the Red Steel Group would take the initiative to undertake such projects every year, mainly in the form of clearing inventory.

There were many categories of tertiary industry, especially the food industry, not only in the aid projects for Annan but also in the aid projects for North Korea, accounting for a considerable proportion.

"Whatever you think is fine." Li Xuewu glanced at her. When it was his turn to order, he chose two dishes—one meat and one vegetable—and took two steamed buns.

"So, the article this morning."

Gao Yaqin also quickly finished getting her meal and caught up with him to ask, "Do you have the same view as me?"

"Of course." Li Xuewu found an empty table, raised his hand to signal her to sit opposite, and after sitting down, continued, "I think the Americans are about to be unable to persist."

"How do you say that?" Gao Yaqin widened her eyes and asked in surprise, "Where did you hear that news?"

"Where would I hear it? I saw it myself, in the newspaper."

Li Xuewu tapped the table with his finger and looked at her, saying, "A piece of news published in the newspaper a few days ago: on May 4th, at Kent State University in Ohio, the U. S. National Guard opened fire on anti-war protesters, causing 4 deaths."

"I dare say that once this incident is out, it will further intensify the American public's questioning and weariness of the Annan War."

He spread his hands and said, "We drew the 17th parallel for the Americans; they can't fight their way over, they can't promote stability in the south, and there's anti-war sentiment internally. How much longer can they persist?"

"..." Gao Yaqin was completely shocked. Because Li Xuewu prompted the Red Steel Group to undertake part of the aid projects, she went to Jin Ling and Hong Kong several times and learned about the situation of the Annan War from the side, but she had never thought of such a set of logic.

Perhaps there were people hoping for the war to end every day, but she had never heard of such a train of thought that truly sorted out when the war should end.

"Is it only people who have participated in war, or who have been soldiers, like you, who can think of these things?"

She couldn't understand it and could only attribute this thinking ability to Li Xuewu's past experiences.

Li Xuewu shrugged his shoulders, looked at her, and said, "You should now consider how the branches led by the Jin Ling area can do a good job in economic development in the post-Annan War era."

"Don't doubt my stance; I'm only stating facts." While eating, he tapped the tray with his finger and emphasized, "Fighting doesn't necessarily mean there are no benefits, and not fighting doesn't necessarily mean there are benefits."

"What do you mean?" Gao Yaqin glanced at him and asked, "So you think it doesn't matter whether we fight or not, and what's important is whether we can get benefits?"

Snap—

Li Xuewu snapped his fingers, and although he didn't say it, he had already confirmed her statement.

"I admit that a stable geopolitical environment can bring us economic development, but given our current situation, I don't think this level of effort is of any use."

He shrugged his shoulders and said, "Of course, I'm not denying that there's a problem with the strategies formulated by the superiors; I'm just speaking from my perspective."

"And my opinion is of no use to the superiors, but it's better for our group to be pragmatic."

"—I understand." Gao Yaqin looked at him for a long while before she fully understood the meaning behind these words.

"Remember to invite them to the Import and Export Trade Fair in September." Li Xuewu nodded with a smile and reminded her, "They don't necessarily lack money."

"You don't know whether they lack money or not." Gao Yaqin looked at him with amusement and said, "You want them to exchange with products, right?"

"Director Li likes fruits produced in Annan." Li Xuewu's answer was a bit off-topic, but every word was to the point.

He said with a smile, "Tantu cars, Lark III helicopters, the latest configured synthetic battalion equipment system, etc. I think war is the best way to test equipment."

"Of course—" Gao Yaqin looked at him meaningfully, nodded, and said, "I think so too."

"So I'll have to trouble you." Li Xuewu smiled slightly and said, "There are less than four months left until the opening of the Joint Import and Export Trade Fair."

"I have already suggested to Director Li that Deputy Director Dong should preside over this project."

Gao Yaqin gave an answer that surprised Li Xuewu, looked at his expression, and smiled, saying, "I knew you would be like this."

"Are you serious?" Li Xuewu was indeed very surprised; he didn't expect Gao Yaqin to have such a "selfless" side.

"Of course, do you think I'm a rash person?" Gao Yaqin said indifferently, "I'm not omnipotent; I still understand the principle that many hands make light work."

Li Xuewu looked her over for a long while, then nodded with a smile and said, "I believe Deputy Director Dong won't let you down."

"No, I believe you won't let me down." Gao Yaqin's chopsticks pointed in his direction, emphasizing, "You won't stay out of it, right?"

"If you really need my help, you don't need to go to such great lengths." Li Xuewu said meaningfully, "If you say the word, would I dare not offer my humble services?"

"Hehe—" Gao Yaqin chuckled, her gaze toward him full of disbelief.

Mr. Lu Xun said it well: if you don't risk the child, you won't catch the wolf.

If she didn't risk this project, would there still be a place for her on Li Xuewu's boat in the next stage?

She was the Chief Economist in charge of economic development work. Even if she handed this project over to Dong Wenxue to be responsible for, how much credit could she lose?

Besides, at their stage, credit and achievements were no longer that important; influence on work and the group was.

Dong Wenxue's current situation was awkward; the Technology Development Department he was responsible for had no bright performance, and the Liangma River Industrial Zone was basically a lost cause.

At this time, she reached out to pull him, which not only gained his favor but also added points for her with Li Huai De and Li Xuewu.

Don't look at Old Li being troubled by problems at this time, don't look at Li Xuewu fleeing to Liaodong, and don't think Dong Wenxue would be lonely from now on; she knew the calculations involved very well.

The more these three ghosts were in this kind of crisis, the more tightly they would unite. With a disaster like Li Xuewu, who in the Red Steel Group could be their opponent?

Su Weide? Zhou Wanquan? Heh—

"Secretary-General, I'm sending you a jar of tea."

During the lunch break, Gu Cheng suddenly knocked on the door and walked in, politely raising the tea jar in his hand and explaining that his father-in-law gave it to him.

"Did your father-in-law give it to you, or did you take it yourself?" Li Xuewu sat up from the sofa, looked at him, and asked, "Don't tell me it's the same as mine—you took it yourself?"

"Hey! I stopped doing that kind of thing a long time ago."

Gu Cheng knew the leader was joking with him; he laughed and placed the tea jar on the coffee table, explaining, "Back then, that was also Peng Xiaoli telling me to do it."

"Neither of you is a good cookie."

Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, took a sip, looked at him, and asked, "What are you here for? Don't tell me it's just to send me a jar of tea?"

"Nothing, just dropping by."

He glanced at the door intentionally or unintentionally and said with a smile, "Haven't seen you for a long time; I wanted to learn from you."

"Delaying my lunch break?"

Li Xuewu had just taken a nap; he was already awake, just not in a hurry to get up.

Whether it's a nap or an early sleep, don't rush to get up after waking; close your eyes and rest for a while to let your heart adapt to the rhythm before getting up.

He cherished his life and hoped to live to be a hundred.

"No, I know your lunch break time." Gu Cheng laughed and said, "If I hadn't timed it right, you would have beaten me out."

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu looked at him with a smile and asked, "What are you really here for? Spit it out."

"I have something to report to you." Gu Cheng said softly, "Over at the Sanhe Stock Company..."

He held his teacup and drank hot tea while listening to him talk for three to five minutes, but his eyes narrowed slightly.

"I didn't dare tell Xiaoli about this."

After he finished speaking, Gu Cheng explained softly, "For one, I'm afraid of causing him trouble, and for another, I'm afraid it will change flavor after being passed on twice."

"Of course, the key still depends on your judgment; I'm just saying what I saw."

"Hmm, I know." Li Xuewu nodded, looked at him, and asked, "I heard your wife is pregnant? Living a good life?"

"Did you hear that from Peng Xiaoli?"

Gu Cheng said proudly, "He's just envious. Yu Haitang is focused on her career and doesn't want to give birth to him for the time being. Just wait until my son is born to really make him jealous."

He knew the leader changed the subject to protect him, so he talked endlessly about his own affairs, just for the interested parties to hear.

"I heard it from Wang Lu." Li Xuewu looked at him with a smile and said, "She said you're so happy you're in heaven, and you just know how to show off all day long."

"Leader, do you also think I'm too free?"

Gu Cheng was very concerned about his attitude and said embarrassedly, "I know it myself, but I just don't know what to do."

"When you don't know what to do, you should settle your heart and study." Li Xuewu nodded at him, put down his teacup, and said, "Study anything; as long as you learn it, it's fine."

"Study?" Gu Cheng asked blankly, "Go to the Vocational and Technical College to audit?"

"Both are fine, depending on your situation." Li Xuewu smiled and said, "The guesthouse is about to move, and the original site has been allocated to the 721 College, so it's not far."

"Over there..." Gu Cheng raised his eyebrows, looked at him with some hesitation, and didn't dare to say the rest.

Li Xuewu understood what he meant, leaned toward the sofa, and said indifferently, "The group forming the 721 College under the Vocational and Technical College system is not to supervise or restrict anyone."

"You should know what name Director Li gave the 721 College."

"I know, Red Star Steel Group Cadre College." Gu Cheng looked at him; although he still had some hesitation, he trusted Li Xuewu's opinion more.

Because Li Xuewu didn't need to ruin him; how much was he worth that the leader would need to scheme against him?

"Go ahead. Remember to let me know when the child's full-month banquet is; I'll give the child a big red envelope."

"Then I'll thank you in advance."

Gu Cheng wasn't polite at all, laughed, stood up, and said, "Try the tea; it's really good."

"Alright, I know." Li Xuewu stood up with amusement, walked a few steps, and sent him off.

A figure flashed by the door; it was Liu Bin, Li Huai De's secretary, holding documents and walking in.

"Gu Cheng, not resting at noon?" Liu Bin greeted him with a smile, stepped aside to make way for him, exchanged pleasantries, and then walked into the office.

"Secretary-General, Director Li specifically instructed to have these materials transferred to you for a look first."

He placed the documents on the office desk and reported, "It was assigned this morning; I didn't have time to send them to you yet. I figured you were awake by now."

"It's okay, my door wasn't closed."

Li Xuewu nodded, sat behind the office desk, and asked, "Where is Director Li going this afternoon?"

"There's a meeting at the ministry, and he has to go."

Liu Bin reported, "Originally, Deputy Director Zhou was arranged to go, but he said it wasn't very appropriate, so he went himself."

"Hmm, just leave these here."

Li Xuewu flipped through them casually, raised his head, looked at him, and asked, "Where is Director Li going this afternoon?"

"Okay, Secretary-General." Liu Bin nodded and replied, "If Secretary Zhang doesn't have time, I can come back to get them tomorrow."

"Okay, we'll see then." Li Xuewu said, his attention already on the documents.

Liu Bin glanced at him, and seeing there were no other instructions, he quietly went out the door.

Meeting Gu Cheng here just now surprised him; he couldn't say what his thoughts were.

Regarding the Secretary-General's prestige in the group and his influence on the organs and various branches, it was a rather vague impression in his view.

You could say he had no influence in the organs, but his instructions—not to say they were absolute—but he had worked for so long and hadn't seen anyone refute them yet.

But you could say he had influence in the organs, yet more than half of the people in this building hadn't greeted him, let alone said anything to him.

There were even people who didn't know who he was—those who had entered the group in the last year or two.

He worked beside Li Huai De and naturally knew what the leader cared about most.

Even in his view, Li Huai De's attitude toward this Secretary-General was also very vague.

He was certain that Li Xuewu was his most suitable successor in the future and the successor most needed by the Red Steel Group, but he also hesitated about whether the other party's growth was healthy.

It didn't exclude that he had behaviors of helping seedlings grow by pulling them. Even if Li Xuewu could withstand the test and had already proven his excellence with actual actions and work achievements, he was worthy of his current position and power, but.

Liu Bin knew that in the past two years, Li Huai De's support for the Secretary-General had fluctuated, and he had to rely excessively on the Secretary-General's decisions on key issues.

The last time he rushed to Liaodong overnight, he considered it his first time experiencing the Secretary-General's influence on the leader.

Conversely, he could also see Li Huai De's reflection and suppression of the Secretary-General's decision.

Clearly knowing that the Secretary-General's words were correct and the decisions were correct, Li Huai De was still very hesitant. He felt the leader was facing the Secretary-General with a self-contradictory mentality because he lacked this ability and had to rely on these opinions.

This lack of ability wasn't visible in ordinary times, but in today's world of ambushes, taking any wrong step for Li Huai De was a result he couldn't afford to lose.

Liu Bin knew too well how complex the organizational ecological environment of the Red Steel Group was today, and he was also in the game.

Maybe some people would say that Deputy Director Zhou Wanquan represented Beijing Industry, Deputy Director Su Weide represented the First Ministry of Machine Building, and someone else represented...

Liu Bin used to think the group's organizational ecological environment was complex, and Li Huai De seemed to control everything, but everything was not under his control.

Everyone had their own thoughts and goals.

Can you simply say that Deputy Director Gu always wants to take Li Huai De's place? No.

Because she herself had a lack of ability, and if Li Huai De really had an accident, it wouldn't be her taking over.

This wasn't said by her, nor by Li Huai De, but a fact basically recognized by everyone in the group.

Why has Deputy Director Gu been so steady these years, always doing staff welfare work?

She did it to consolidate and enhance her influence and trust in the hearts of the group's staff.

Without absolute confidence, she still had to support Li Huai De, the squad leader.

But she didn't dislike finding trouble for the squad leader.

Is it complex? Is it contradictory? Not at all.

Gu Weijie is like this, and so are the others.

Including the Secretary-General—Li Huai De cannot fully trust Li Xuewu, so how can he get the other party's full trust? This is a paradox.

Looking back, who represents whom is not absolute at all; being in the game, everyone is a chess piece.

Deputy Director Su wouldn't dare say he had absolute face in the ministry and could influence everyone, right?

It's the same for Deputy Director Zhou; he is now a cadre of the Red Steel Group, and it's the same—glory and loss are shared; he knows this very well.

Competing for influence and competing for the right to speak—anyone can see this, but the competition and cooperation behind it are a complex situation that cannot be untangled.

So, Gu Cheng appearing in the Secretary-General's office is not strange at all.

No matter how chaotic the environment is said to be, he doesn't feel it's chaotic, because some people feel the more chaotic, the better; they are waiting for the opportunity to fish in troubled waters.

It's just that from Liu Bin's perspective, he can still see one or two things: who is the fisherman, and who is the fish?

"You refused the invitation to the Yangcheng Trade Fair and instead held your own trade fair."

Jing Yunong grabbed a cushion from the sofa and threw it at Li Xuewu, who was fiddling with her phonograph.

"Can't you listen to me seriously?"

"You talk, I'm listening—" Li Xuewu studied it for a long while with his butt stuck out, turned his head, and asked, "Do you listen to this thing usually?"

"Don't listen, and I won't give it to you—"

Jing Yunong stared and said, "Are you listening to what I'm saying? Fiddling with that thing."

"Isn't it just an Import and Export Trade Fair." Li Xuewu stood up, walked back to the sofa, sat down, crossed his legs, and said, "Are you reluctant to spend money or what?"

"Whose money am I reluctant to spend?" Jing Yunong narrowed her eyes slightly and asked back, "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean seeing is believing."

Li Xuewu reached out and patted her thigh, reminding her, "Without absolute certainty, Old Li wouldn't have signed it."

"Take your hand away—" Jing Yunong kicked him, feeling itchy from his touch.

"This idea was yours, right?"

She stood up in her slippers, went to the tea cabinet to pour herself a glass of warm water, turned her head, and asked, "Why don't you stand at the front yourself?"

"I prefer standing at the back."

Li Xuewu smiled and said meaningfully, "It's easier to exert force that way."

Jing Yunong remembered the "story" on the sofa just now and rolled her eyes at him, saying, "You don't leave any opportunity for yourself at all."

"Opportunity? Do I need it?" Li Xuewu patted the sofa, said indifferently, "Even if it were given to me now, could I use it?"

"Do you also want this opportunity?"

He seemed to see something and deliberately teased Jing Yunong, "If you have any thoughts, feel free to say them; I support you."

"Hehe—" Jing Yunong looked at him coldly, sat sideways on the sofa, drooped her eyelids, and said, "Can you think of me?"

"Even if I thought of you, it would be useless." Li Xuewu pressed down on the foot she stretched out, raised his eyebrows, and emphasized, "You have to be low-key."

Jing Yunong tried hard to pull back, but couldn't pull it out. She glared at him and had to give up, frowning and saying, "What's the situation with Lu Yuanshen? Are you just going to leave him hanging?"

"That depends on what Old Li and Old Su think." Li Xuewu patted the back of her foot, rested his arm on the sofa, shook his head slightly, and said, "He has no spirit left."

"In your hands." Jing Yunong stared into his eyes and said slowly, "He has long had no spirit left, right?"

"Don't look at me as a conspirator."

Li Xuewu said with amusement, "I always convince people with virtue. If they are willing to support my work, that's the embodiment of my personality charm and work ability."

"Hmm, you talk, and I'll see if I believe it." Jing Yunong curled her lips and said, "Don't think Old Li and Old Su are fools who can't see your tricks."

"So what if they see them?" Li Xuewu spread his hands indifferently and said, "Which side can they abandon?"

"It's not me who's riding a tiger and can't get off now."

He tapped his knee with his right hand and emphasized, "Moving Lu Yuanshen is a trouble either way; if you don't move him well, it's easy to cause a chain reaction."

"You're the one who set this matter up."

Jing Yunong looked at him and emphasized firmly, "If it weren't for you, the accident at the Steel Rolling Factory wouldn't have dragged on for so long before being handled."

"And the problem with the No. 4 furnace at the Smelting Factory—wasn't it also you who obstructed it, which is why it dragged on until now, making the problem more and more troublesome?"

"What exactly do you want to do?"

She narrowed her eyes and looked at Li Xuewu, asking, "Even Dong Wenxue is in your calculations. Does this calculation also include me?"

"Want to hear the truth?" Li Xuewu picked up her teacup, took a sip, smiled indifferently, and said, "My calculations have never lacked you."

"You—" Jing Yunong really wanted to kick this bastard to death. She knew she had always been on his abacus, which explained why every step she took was so strange.

Can you understand the feeling of walking very smoothly for no reason, and then being pushed by someone?

Li Xuewu could naturally understand, because he was the one standing behind exerting force. Without his force, how could she walk so smoothly?

"Calculating means I need you."

Li Xuewu pressed down on the donkey that was kicking, comforted her, and said, "I haven't taken any action to harm you, have I? We cooperate tacitly; we are good partners."

"I—" Jing Yunong was pressed on the sofa by one of his hands. She struggled but couldn't break free. She just wanted to scold him, but was blocked by him again.

This bastard is really going to piss people off.

"The Joint Import and Export Trade Fair must be held smoothly." Li Xuewu pacified this donkey, patted her rosy cheeks lightly, and reminded her, "It must be smooth."

"What does it have to do with me—"

Jing Yunong shook off his hand, sat up, tidied her scattered hair, and complained, "Li Huai De has already signed it; can I still carry it and not give money?"

"What do you think is the significance of our group holding this exhibition?" Li Xuewu didn't respond directly to her complaint, but turned his head and asked her.

"Singing a rival show?" Jing Yunong pulled her hair together, pushed him, but couldn't push him away, so she had to let him sit beside her and said unhappily, "The superiors will think so."

"No, the superiors won't necessarily think so."

Li Xuewu rested his arm on her knee, looked at her close at hand, and said, "Even if they think so, it doesn't matter, because this isn't necessarily a bad thing."

"You mean, some people are happy to see the exhibition we created singing a rival show with the south, right?"

"Even if it fails, it's still a good show—" Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows with a smile and said, "Why would they want to stop it?"

"Aren't you afraid they'll trip you up?"

Jing Yunong supported her knees, looked at him, and asked, "Are you so sure that the trade fair you created can succeed?"

"It must succeed." Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "We put the equipment and machinery we can import there, and we put the imported goods there. Will they come or not?"

"We are not buyers; we are using the Sales General Company to act as a distributor." He raised his eyebrows and emphasized, "Yangcheng only exports without importing; we have both imports and exports."

"They do it twice a year; we do it once a year."

Li Xuewu said confidently, "Once a year, we exhibit the technology and equipment we can introduce, and exhibit the latest and most advanced products of the group and joint industries."

"Not much, even if the transaction volume is one-tenth of the Yangcheng Trade Fair, it's a success."

He shook his arm, moved Jing Yunong's knee, nodded slowly, and said, "Understand the significance of this yourself."

"Beijing Industry, right—" Jing Yunong looked at him, always feeling he was too smart, too good at calculating, and even more admired his brain that could calculate ten steps ahead for every step he took.

Even though Li Xuewu admitted to calculating her, her reaction was so big, and even if Li Xuewu had told her long ago, or she had seen it long ago, she would still choose to follow Li Xuewu.

From the changes that had occurred several times, it could be seen that Li Xuewu didn't know everything; he just calculated all possibilities.

Even if problems arose midway, he could make adjustments in time.

In other words, he calculates ten steps for every step he takes. Even if you see his third step, he still has the remaining seven steps to bury you in a pit.

Given the current situation of the group, she didn't feel she had the ability to avoid all malice.

Conversely, standing with Li Xuewu and forming a superficial opposition created many opportunities for her.

There was no one else in the group whose contradiction was as public as theirs, so she could attack or defend.

The dissatisfaction and anger she showed were for him to see, and also to cover up her own cowardice. You couldn't let him get the benefit and still sell well, right?

As for the next step, Beijing Industry, since he had already admitted it, he should give her a share. She believed this bastard wouldn't be stingy.

"Where are you going?" Seeing him stand up to leave, Jing Yunong asked with some reluctance, then realized and coughed, emphasizing, "Didn't you say your wife and children were sent away? There's a nanny at home; isn't it inconvenient?"

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled, raised his eyebrows, and asked back, "Why? Reluctant to let me go?"

"Who's reluctant to let you go." Jing Yunong stood at the door, waved her hands with her arms crossed, and said, "Hurry up and leave; I get annoyed seeing you."

"Okay, then I won't annoy you."

Li Xuewu picked up the car keys, put on his coat, and said, "I can't go home tonight, and it's not convenient to stay here, so I'll just make do on the street for the night."

"I believe your ghost—" Jing Yunong rolled her eyes and said, "You have the key to my house; saying it's inconvenient means you have somewhere else to go, right?"

"Going back to my mother's house; there's still a place for me in the courtyard." Li Xuewu put on his shoes in the entryway, raised his head, looked at her, and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I won't sleep on the street."

"Hehe—who cares about you—"

Jing Yunong stood at the door, arms crossed, and said, "It's best if you sleep on the street and let someone carry you away, so you don't harm others."

"You really have no conscience at all."

Li Xuewu pointed at her as he walked out the door and said, "Alright, next time you don't beg me, I won't come."

"You wish—" Jing Yunong saw him go out the gate, turned around, closed the door, and went to clean up the battlefield in her slippers.

Dinner was eaten at her place, and she "ate" the most.

"Oh, why are you so free today?"

As soon as He Yu Shui saw him enter the courtyard, she raised her eyebrows and asked, "Haven't seen you for a long time; have you been busy in Liaodong?"

"You bet, look, my accent has even changed." Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows with a smile and said, "I'm a Northeasterner now."

"Heh—" He Yu Shui found it funny, rolled her eyes at him, and said, "Pull the other one—"

"What are you back for?" Li Xuewu asked her back, "To see your brother?"

"Why would I see him? I'm here to see the child."

He Yu Shui pointed to the backyard and explained, "My sister-in-law is not convenient, so I bought some nutritional supplements."

"Hmm, I know, your brother told me." Li Xuewu nodded with a smile and said, "Congratulations on becoming an aunt again."

"What's there to be happy about? It's too noisy."

He Yu Shui looked him over and asked, "How many days are you staying back? Did you eat dinner?"

"Going back on Monday." Li Xuewu pointed to the courtyard and said, "I ate before coming; I have nowhere to stay, so I'll stay in the backyard for the night."

"Hmm? What's the situation?" He Yu Shui raised her eyebrows and asked, "Were you kicked out?"

"What kind of talk is that—" Li Xuewu explained with amusement, "Your sister-in-law took the children to Jin Ling to visit relatives, so I had to come back here to make do for a couple of nights."

He Yu Shui knew his family situation, and after hearing what he said, she understood—it was that the house was full of women, and he felt it was inconvenient.

"How long has it been since anyone lived in the backyard?" She blinked and said, "How about I arrange for you to stay at the International Hotel?"

"Do I need you to arrange it? I would have gone early if I wanted to." Li Xuewu pointed to the courtyard and said, "Alright, go do your work; someone has always lived in the backyard."

They only said a few words in the doorway, and when a neighbor entered the courtyard, he took the opportunity to say goodbye to Yushui.

He could face her calmly, but she was a bit reluctant; it was hard to see him once.

But since she had already come out, she couldn't go back; her brother was annoying now.

"Xuewu?" It must have been hearing the conversation at the doorway; Old Lady Da put on her clothes and came out, and seeing it was really him, she smiled.

"Old Lady Da, have you eaten?" Li Xuewu walked to the screen door and asked with a smile, "Are you alone?"

"What time is it, still haven't eaten." Old Lady Da looked him over with a smile and asked, "Have you eaten?"

"I've eaten." Li Xuewu nodded and explained, "Xiao Ning took the children to Jin Ling, so I came over from the unit."

"I just heard your movement."

Old Lady Da pointed toward the doorway with a smile and said, "I was saying, why did it sound like you, so I came out to see."

"Yushui, haven't seen you for a long time, chatted for a bit." Li Xuewu said, looking into the inverted room, which was empty.

"What time did Xiao Yan and the others go back?"

"They left after work, didn't eat here." Old Lady Da explained, "The days are getting longer, and after work, they all go home to eat; they only eat here at noon."

"So He Yuzhu doesn't come to cook anymore either."

Li Xuewu asked with a smile, "Are they solving their own meals at the big warehouse?"

"They cook for themselves; your second grandfather and the others are over there."

Old Lady Da hadn't aged much in these years and always had a living, but she looked a bit lonely at this time of night, probably because she was used to the bustle.

"I'll stay at your place for two nights tonight." Li Xuewu pointed to the inverted room and asked, "Do you have a quilt?"

"Yes, aren't you going home to stay?"

Old Lady Da was a bit surprised and said, "My sleep is light, and I have to smoke a bag of tobacco in the middle of the night. Aren't you afraid of choking?"

"Not afraid, going to the front courtyard to see my mother." Li Xuewu pointed to the front courtyard and signaled Old Lady Da to go together, but Old Lady Da waved her hand and said, "You go first, I'll burn another handful of firewood for the kang."

The grandson being able to stay on his side, he was naturally willing, agreeing cautiously, but his face was full of smiles.