Chapter 1601: Fish on the Chopping Block

"Come here." Li Xuewu hooked his finger, and a visible look of fear piled up on Banggeng's face.

"Wu... Wu Shu..."

Banggeng shuffled his feet, moving even slower than going to the execution ground, his mouth mumbling.

"Schoolbag." Li Xuewu saw that the kid deliberately didn't pick up the schoolbag, but came toward him instead.

Banggeng looked at him, then at the schoolbag at his feet, revealing a smile uglier than crying.

"There... there's nothing in the schoolbag."

Li Xuewu didn't speak, just looked at him like that.

"Wu Shu, it's so late..."

What could Banggeng do? Being stared at by Wu Shu, he knew he couldn't get past this hurdle.

"Open it." Li Xuewu raised his chin.

"There's nothing..." Banggeng hesitantly opened the schoolbag; Li Xuewu's gaze moved down, and there was a handgun wrapped in the schoolbag.

"What is this?"

Li Xuewu glanced at him, reached out and took the gun out, and almost laughed out loud when he saw it.

"Where did it come from?"

"Picked it up..."

Banggeng hung his head, not daring to look at him.

Li Xuewu snorted and said, "You're really good at picking things up; help me pick up a few more."

"This is the only one..." Banggeng was still arguing, "I just saw it, so I picked it up."

"There's dog shit on the road too, why don't you pick that up?" Li Xuewu shook off the cloth strips wrapped around the gun body, only then seeing the full picture of the gun.

"What do I want dog shit for..." Banggeng mumbled, "I want a gun."

"I have a cannon here, do you want it?"

Li Xuewu glanced at him sideways, weighed the gun in his hand, and asked, "Can you explain clearly where it came from? If you can't explain it clearly, or can't remember, I'll have your mother come over, and you can tell her yourself."

"Wu Shu—" Banggeng whined and begged, "I'm just using it for self-defense."

"What danger do you have to defend against?"

Li Xuewu took the gun apart, counted the bullets inside, there were seven left; truly dangerous.

Although the gun body was a bit worn, the overall condition was okay; it was the kind that could truly fire.

The reason he wanted to laugh at first sight was because this gun was too famous; it often appeared in movies, especially with guerrilla leaders or martial arts team leaders.

Its formal name is Mauser, but it has many nicknames: some call it the Mirror-Polished Box, some call it the Box Cannon, and others call it the Broomhandle or the Select-Fire Pistol. It has numerous twin brothers, a complex production origin, and is quite famous.

"Who knows when danger will come." Banggeng muttered, "Always prepared."

"You have quite the reasoning." Li Xuewu took the bullets out of the magazine, threw them on the coffee table along with the gun, and said, "Load it for me to see."

"Alright!" Banggeng was stunned for a moment, then happily leaned over to the coffee table, pressed the bullets into the magazine one by one, loaded it, and even pulled the trigger, aiming at the light bulb as if to perform his shooting skills for him.

"Now do you still say it was picked up?" Li Xuewu twitched his mouth, looked at him and said, "I'll give you one last chance."

Banggeng was dumbfounded, looked at the gun in his hand, then at Wu Shu, only then realizing he had been tricked.

"Wu Shu..." The joy on his face disappeared, like a rooster that had lost its feathers.

"Three, two..."

"I'll say—" Seeing Wu Shu counting down, he couldn't hold on and explained defeatedly, "I bought this gun."

"Good, good job."

Li Xuewu shook his chin, looked at him and said, "You're more awesome than me."

"I didn't dare to play with this when I was young; you've really got guts."

"I'm really using it for self-defense."

Banggeng argued desperately, "Wu Shu, think about it, I go back and forth from the pier every day, and sometimes I go out with my aunt; can I do it without some gear?"

"You don't know, the road is dark; if you don't have the guts to suppress them, it really won't work."

"How to suppress? By scaring people with an antique?" Li Xuewu looked at him amusedly and said, "Believe it or not, carrying this thing out could make people laugh their teeth off."

"I don't believe it—"

Banggeng stiffened his neck and said, "If I pull this thing out, they'll all have to run away."

Li Xuewu had to admit that the words just now were to coax him; what Banggeng said was the truth.

Just a half-grown kid like this, if he really pulls this thing out, no one on the opposite side would dare to bet that his gun has no bullets; if they get hot-blooded, they really dare to fire; the more people there are, the braver he is.

However, if he really pulls this thing out, it's fine if he scares the other party, but what if they really fight?

Li Xuewu never thought about letting the recycling station be mixed with any color, especially this kind of thing.

Don't look at Ji Weidong shipping things out by the boatload to Ate, those are two different things.

Among the tough characters at the recycling station, how many use this thing? None, not allowed.

Even if you carry a kitchen knife in your arms, he won't care, because a kitchen knife is a life tool, but a gun is not.

In the complex environment of Hong Kong, very few gangs use this thing, and the recycling station is even less allowed.

Once you get used to this absolute force, it's hard to adapt to thinking with your brain, and sooner or later something will happen.

"You can scare them without carrying this thing." Li Xuewu picked up the hot tea from the coffee table and took a sip, "Who would argue with a fool."

"I'm not a fool—" Banggeng retorted, then lowered his head, full of dissatisfaction.

"If I were to tell you about convincing people with virtue, could you understand it?"

Li Xuewu looked at him, saw him silent, nodded slowly and said, "Then I'll tell you, the recycling station never needs people who use this kind of gear; can you understand that?"

"Why?" Banggeng raised his head, frowned and asked, "You still carry a gun."

"Me? Hehe—" Li Xuewu laughed, "Do you want to compare with me?"

"I use this legally, you can't."

He raised his eyebrows and said, "I need to deal with situations you will never encounter in your life."

"To put it bluntly, your aunt doesn't need you to carry this thing to give her courage; they use their brains."

"I don't know..." Banggeng pouted, still not understanding, and also not convinced.

"You'll understand slowly; just reading books isn't enough, you have to learn to follow the rules." Li Xuewu said lightly, "The rules of the road."

"You use this thing once, it might be useful, but they will never be afraid of you."

He pointed to the box cannon on the coffee table and said, "Do you expect to be awesome with it for a lifetime?"

"If, the second time you meet someone, they take out more gear, what will you do?"

"Fight! Who's afraid of whom!"

Banggeng was at the age of being reckless, speaking without thinking, saying whatever came to mind.

"Fight whom?" Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "When the time comes, you'll be scared to death."

"Don't talk about dead people; have you ever seen blood?"

He glanced at Banggeng with disdain and said, "If people beat you to death, is it worth it?"

"Conversely, if you beat someone to death, can you still run away? In the end, you'll have to eat a bullet too."

Banggeng didn't speak this time, lowered his head, stood there, couldn't tell if he understood or not.

"You've been in Steel City for more than a year, have you learned anything?" Li Xuewu sniffed and looked at him, "Have you thought about what to do when you grow up? You can't really be a big thug, right?"

"If you think so, go home early."

He tapped his fingers on the armrest and said, "Even people like your Uncle Biao and Uncle Guodong wouldn't dare to say they are thugs; you want to do this?"

"I want to be like you guys..."

Banggeng mumbled, "Always have money to spend, always have women..."

"Ahem—" Li Xuewu cleared his throat, glanced at him with a bad look, and said, "Don't talk nonsense; and besides, is that all your pursuit?"

"This goal is already very high—"

Banggeng was quite realistic, looked at him and said, "I think this kind of life is the most awesome."

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu laughed, "Then you have to distinguish clearly, whether to take my path or their path."

"Is there any difference?" Banggeng raised his head and looked at him, "Aren't you guys in the same gang?"

"Who told you that?" Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows, "When did I become in the same gang as them?"

"Then..." Banggeng was stunned; his cognition all along was blurred at this moment.

"With your current cognition, it's very hard to understand the complex situation here." Li Xuewu took a deep breath and said, "Even if I tell you, you won't understand."

"Your mother should have asked you, go to school, enter the factory, strive to be a cadre, step by step."

"I won't enter the factory—" Banggeng muttered, "Entering the factory is boring."

"So she allowed you to come to Steel City."

Li Xuewu looked at him and said, "I let you learn from your Aunt Zhou to give you more choices."

"You should also be able to see that even in the recycling station, there are several types of positions."

He pinched his fingers to show Banggeng, "The first type, your aunt, managers like your Uncle Guodong; they are each responsible for an area."

"The second type, people like Xiaobai and Er Gaze you met in Yingcheng, listening to commands and doing work."

"The third type, sailors, going on ships to do hard labor; the wages are quite high, enough for you to support a family."

"Then I—" Banggeng thought for a moment and asked, "I want... what do you think I can do?"

"What do I think?" Li Xuewu sized him up and said, "I want you to study hard, exercise hard, and become Manager Jia, not Captain Jia."

"That's what they call me..."

Banggeng still knew how to be embarrassed; he looked at the gun on the coffee table and asked, "Then... what about this gun?"

"Return it, and say you don't need this anymore; just relying on bragging is enough to scare people."

Li Xuewu stood up, didn't even look at the gun, walked to Yu Li, picked her up, and went upstairs.

Banggeng watched his aunt look at him sleepily, asking when he came back; he sat on the coffee table mumbling and responded with a dry laugh.

The next day, Hu Ke from Liaodong Industry found him; he had come specially from Fengcheng.

"You guys have quite a big scene here."

Hu Ke hadn't even gotten off the car when he saw Li Xuewu standing at the door waiting for him.

The two could be considered old acquaintances; they had always gotten along well and weren't too polite when they met.

"As soon as I entered your industrial zone, I felt the vigorous vitality, especially the engineering construction."

He turned his head to look at the direction of the street and asked, "How much longer until the underground project is completed?"

"I estimate—" Li Xuewu let go of the hand he was holding, raised his chin, and said, "At the very least, it will be the end of next year."

"So long?" Hu Ke asked in surprise, "How big of a three-defense project are you guys doing?"

"All factory areas must be connected and penetrated."

Li Xuewu led him to the main gate, gestured with his hand and introduced, "The main road entering the industrial zone is all hollowed out underneath, used as a backup cargo transport channel."

"Branch roads are built to connect each factory area, and parts connecting to residential areas are used for commerce."

He turned back, stomped his feet, raised his eyebrows and introduced, "The foundation construction under our feet is already completed; the entire project is expected to invest 9.8 million yuan."

"Really capable—a big move—"

Hu Ke glanced at him, re-examined the industrial zone, nodded and said, "In this way, you guys have really brought the three-defense project to life."

"Just the transport channel item alone, you guys can reduce a large amount of repeated construction expenses."

"No way, the planning at the beginning was still too timid." Li Xuewu smiled and led him toward the office building, explaining as they walked, "At the beginning, we didn't expect that we would have so many tertiary industries."

"That's enough." Hu Ke nodded, "According to the scale of your Group, and then budgeting for the future number of employees, this project is not prepared in vain."

"That's what I thought too, hehe."

Li Xuewu took the initiative to make a gesture of invitation; the two didn't go to the office upstairs, but stayed in the reception room on the first floor, which was both convenient and easy.

"There's no need for repeated construction to match the three-defense project for the corresponding number of people."

Without him needing to greet, the office clerk was already preparing tea; Hu Ke didn't come alone, and it looked like he really had something to find him for.

"It's still your Red Steel that has strength."

Sitting on both sides, Hu Ke looked at the cadres he brought, then looked at him and sighed, "If we really let our Liaodong enterprises do this, I can't say we can't take out this money, it's just that we don't have this brain."

"We also learn by doing, doing by learning."

Li Xuewu had already met the cadres he brought along during the handshake stage; he nodded at this moment, commercial mutual praise, can't be too proud.

"Alright, your Red Steel settling in our Liaodong can be said to have the right time, the right place, and the right people."

He turned his head to look at the people he brought, smiled and said, "If we talk about this again today, there's absolutely no possibility, right? Hahaha—"

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu also laughed, echoing, "I'm afraid it's very difficult."

"Fortunately, you are a Group enterprise."

Hu Ke nodded understandingly and said, "The result is also good, there is a certain degree of autonomy."

"Not much either." Li Xuewu was afraid he would put forward some high requirements, so he lowered his status first.

Perhaps seeing this point, Hu Ke looked at him deeply, paused and said, "I came this time to ask you for help; it's very urgent."

"Industrial aspect?" Li Xuewu tested first, which could be considered drawing a circle for him.

Help must be given, but it must be within one's power; Red Steel Group's main industries are all in Liaodong; under the eaves, one has to bow one's head.

Of course, Red Steel Group's headquarters is in the capital, sales are in Jinmen, and there are branches all over the country, finally separating the eggs.

Just looking at the attitude of the capital, Liaodong, and Jinmen toward the Group, one can feel this interest relationship.

If it weren't for that incident in March, Red Steel Group would still have room to pull with the capital.

Even now, Li Huai De is being beaten passively, but it's not that there's no chance to fight back.

Hu Ke represents Liaodong Industry; there was still a possibility of refusal in private, but not now.

Not just face, but also the lining.

"It's in the industrial category, otherwise I wouldn't have come to you for help with a thick face."

Hu Ke nodded slowly and said, "You also know that there is a shortage of chemical fertilizer nationwide now."

"Our Liaodong is a major agricultural province, urgently needing agricultural chemical resources, especially chemical fertilizer and pesticides."

He pointed his finger on the sofa armrest and emphasized, "Don't look at our province's fertilizer plants being among the best in the country, but in a true vertical comparison, we are still lacking a lot."

"So it's fertilizer plants and pesticide plants?"

Li Xuewu frowned, scratched his hair by his ear in embarrassment, and said, "Our factory has chemical industry, but those are plastic and sponge."

"What about Beijing Chemical?" Hu Ke looked at him and asked bluntly, "They are your Group's brother units, and the plastic and sponge factory are also your cooperation, right? Can you pull a relationship?"

"If you want to pull a relationship, this is of course no problem." Li Xuewu said very frankly, "If you say you want to meet today, then I can accompany you to the capital now, and we can meet anytime, anywhere."

Hearing him say this, Hu Ke understood, looked at him and asked, "What do you mean—"

"Even if you want to ask for help, you have to have a number in your heart, right?" Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows, "You say, I just want a fertilizer plant, then we have to think about how to get this fertilizer plant."

He tapped on the coffee table between the two, the crisp sound of wooden furniture making a thumping sound in Hu Ke's ears, also making him sober up a bit.

"What if we do integrated chemical industry like you guys?" Hu Ke was clearly prepared, looking into his eyes and asking, "Shouldn't their chemical factory also need this kind of industrial atmosphere?"

"Of course." Li Xuewu straightened his body and said, "Any industry, as long as it is united, shortening transport distance, can realize the goal of cost reduction and efficiency increase; cost is profit."

"Then can you give us some advice?"

Hu Ke smiled and said, "If we can attract enterprises like Beijing Chemical to our Liaodong and form an integrated chemical industry zone, I can also give you a guarantee here; whatever you want, I'll give."

"Don't say it so early."

Li Xuewu reached out and pressed on his arm, patted it lightly and said, "Let's talk about something practical first; what form do you intend to use for investment attraction?"

"Investment attraction?" This term came out, not only Hu Ke was stunned, but the others were also stunned.

It wasn't used wrong, but it was too appropriate.

"In form..." Hu Ke understood, looked at him and asked, "Are you asking if we want to intervene?"

"Of course, whoever comes has this concern."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "You also mentioned just now that times are not what they used to be."

"Hmm, this is a key issue."

Hu Ke nodded slowly, looked at him and asked, "What's your opinion?"

"Don't keep asking me—" Li Xuewu looked at him amusedly and said, "You are the big brother of Liaodong Industry."

"Hahaha—" Hearing Li Xuewu's playful wording, the reception room instantly became lively.

Red Steel Group has no chemical resources, and Liaodong Industry didn't come to force them, so it was still a friendly cooperation between the two sides, and the atmosphere wouldn't be bad.

"You'd better think clearly."

Li Xuewu pointed his finger at him and reminded, "This will definitely be asked of you when the time comes."

"What if we lift the restrictions?"

Hu Ke narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at him and asked, "I mean, no matter what form, as long as they come to Liaodong to build a factory, we will support it?"

"Is the support you're talking about land or policy?" Li Xuewu said seriously, "Building a factory is not the goal; the goal is policy and sales."

"I have to make it clear to you; this kind of cross-regional factory building must be a tertiary industry."

He became even more serious, emphasizing, "Even if I bridge the gap between you and Beijing Chemical, it must be a tertiary industry, not within their planned production scope; consider this well."

"This is of course." Hu Ke understood his meaning, nodded and said, "We can't grab other people's resources, right."

"That's what I mean." Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows, "You also said that everyone is short of fertilizer, everyone is short of pesticides; why don't they build factories locally to expand production."

"Regarding the distribution channel—"

Hu Ke thought for a moment and said, "We will coordinate with agricultural materials for acquisition; don't worry about this."

"It must be written in the contract." Li Xuewu tapped the sofa armrest and reminded, "Your Liaodong Industry must also take necessary guarantee measures, otherwise, if several million are thrown in, and the produced fertilizer and pesticide can't be sold, it will be a joke."

"Another thing, this kind of tertiary industry generally won't be independent operation."

"Are you talking about joint operation?" Hu Ke looked at him, his gaze shifted to the accompanying cadres, thought for a moment, and then asked, "Is it joint operation with our enterprises?"

"It's best if it is." Li Xuewu said very frankly, "You aren't wanting an integrated chemical industrial zone, right."

"This is responsible—"

Hu Ke frowned and thought, "We also need to invest a part?"

"Otherwise?" Li Xuewu asked with a smile, "Do you think enterprises like Red Steel are everywhere, and you can just grab one to come to Liaodong?"

"Hehe—" Hu Ke also laughed, nodded and said, "Alright, we can put these on the negotiating table to coordinate; no problem."

"Then I have no problem here."

Li Xuewu spread his hands and said, "Beijing Chemical got a chemical plant's equipment from East Germany, which is exactly the fertilizer plant you need; the scale is very large."

"Really!" Hu Ke's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he asked, "Can this matter be done?"

"That depends on your sincerity."

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Anyway, I know they want to do tertiary industry."

"Think about it, building the factory in Beijing doesn't seem very convenient for them."

"That's true—" Hu Ke said with a smile, "Then does this count as tertiary industry, or main business?"

"I'll return to the capital in a few days and contact them; if it's feasible, we'll sit down and talk."

Li Xuewu looked at Hu Ke with a smile and said, "But I won't help for free."

"Oh, no problem." Hu Ke waved his hand with a smile and said, "If you have any requirements, just bring them up; do you want to jointly operate a chemical plant?"

"That's not it." Li Xuewu said with a smile, "We aren't interested in agricultural chemicals; I want to ask if you are interested in an aircraft manufacturing plant."

"There's no need to be so polite."

Gu An looked at the motorcade on the platform and was stunned, looking at his brother-in-law with some confusion.

Li Xuewu took the initiative to reach out and shake hands with him with a smile, saying, "Welcome to Steel City."

"This is the person in charge of Red Steel Group in Liaodong." Gu An glanced at him, no longer entangled in this matter, and turned to introduce Li Xuewu to the accompanying personnel.

Li Xuewu shook hands with them very politely one by one, while also sizing them up.

After the introductions, he invited the other party to board the waiting bus, while Gu An was invited into his own sedan.

The motorcade moved slowly, along the platform downward, out of the gate, and straight to the Red Star Industrial Zone in Steel City.

"Sat on the train for three days?"

Li Xuewu didn't look at his brother-in-law until they were out of the gate, saying, "Hard work."

"It's all work." Gu An glanced at the driver's seat, raised his eyebrows and asked, "Little Qi?"

"Captain Gu." Qi Yan turned his head and smiled, responded, and continued driving.

There was no one in the passenger seat; Zhang Enyuan had been arranged by him to the bus behind to be responsible for hospitality.

So only at this time did Gu An let down his guard.

"It wasn't easy to say on the phone." He turned to look at Li Xuewu and said, "Do you know what's going on?"

"The news our Group's leaders found out is that this order didn't come from the capital, nor the First Ministry of Machine Building."

Li Xuewu glanced at him and said lightly, "He asked me to hand it over according to procedure; you have to give me the necessary materials."

"There are no materials." Gu An frowned and reminded him, "I told you on the phone."

"So." Li Xuewu pinched his fist, looked at him and said, "You can't take the aircraft away."

"What do you mean?" Gu An looked at him and asked, "Do you intend to let us return empty-handed?"

"That..." He didn't think his brother-in-law would play with him, narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "What do you want to do?"

"Very simple, complete the materials."

Li Xuewu pinched his fist, looked at him and said, "Steel Flight is not only Red Steel Group's industry, but also Liaodong Industry's industry."

"Since when—" Gu An widened his eyes, looking at him and asking, "Liaodong Industry?"

"Yes, a part of it, joint operation nature."

Li Xuewu shrugged his shoulders and said, "Red Steel Group will receive twenty enterprises from Liaodong Industry in the second half of the year; this is considered a condition for joint operation."

"I don't quite understand this." Gu An looked at him and said, "Is this your temporary response?"

"No way." Li Xuewu said frankly, "If I really hand over the aircraft to you in such a muddled way, when something goes wrong, both of us will be finished."

He looked at Gu An and said with worry, "I'm responsible for the Group's industrial work in Liaodong; you are a relative who can't be reached by eight poles in Xijing; why? Think about it, why did they specifically let you come to receive."

"No materials, no procedures; if I give it to you, how will the Group's accounts be calculated?"

Li Xuewu pointed at Gu An and asked, "You took the aircraft back, how will you report?"

"The order isn't easy to use." He knew what Gu An wanted to say, widened his eyes and emphasized, "Think carefully, is this kind of thing something an order can explain?"

"Then what should we do?" Gu An frowned and said, "If you don't give it, I can only report it?"

"Right." Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes and said, "Just say Red Steel Group didn't say no, but there must be a procedure, because Liaodong Industry needs it."

"Are you sure?" Gu An looked at him and asked, "Will Liaodong Industry take this blame for you?"

"So we showed sincerity."

Li Xuewu sighed and explained, "More than twenty industrial enterprises on the verge of bankruptcy, I have to clean up a pile of messes for them."

"Understood." Gu An nodded slowly and said, "Forced by circumstances, right?"

"Yes." Li Xuewu turned to look at him and said seriously, "Gu Ning went to Jin Ling; I let her bring a message to Dad; if possible, transfer you away from the flight brigade, to logistics, or to the navy."

"What do you mean?" Gu An's eyebrows locked, staring at him and asking, "What do you know?"

"I don't know anything." Li Xuewu stretched out his fist and tapped his knee lightly, saying, "From this time, I am even more firmly suggesting that you don't be too prominent, it's best to adjust."

"Why?" Gu An knew his brother-in-law wouldn't harm him, let alone pit him, but he just didn't understand. "Do you think I'll be used as a gun?"

"Very likely." Li Xuewu knew his brother-in-law wasn't a waste, and emphasized seriously, "The energy you carry is too great."

He stretched out his fist and opened it suddenly, gesturing and saying, "Once danger appears, the influence will be far-reaching."

Gu An didn't speak; he was thinking, his brother-in-law's hint couldn't be more direct, but he wasn't reconciled.

He had never offended anyone, never thought about offending anyone, and never viewed effort as danger.

But he couldn't ignore his brother-in-law's opinion; Li Xuewu, who worked in an enterprise, had a more complex work and survival environment than him.

It could be said that his father might not believe what he said, but his father was very likely to believe what Li Xuewu said.

The reason he hadn't received news of the transfer was perhaps because his father was verifying his brother-in-law's suggestion during this time.

And Li Xuewu telling him this suggestion directly was the moment when danger was about to arrive.

The motorcade drove directly to the former Metallurgical Factory Guesthouse, which was now the Unity Hotel.

The Unity Hotel belonged to the Hospitality Service Management Branch of the Property Service General Company of Red Steel Group.

The guesthouses belonging to the Group in Fengcheng, Steel City, Yingcheng, Jin Ling, etc., had all been changed to a unified name.

Office Director Zhang Jing had long been waiting here with people; seeing the motorcade enter, he took the initiative to greet them.

"Arrange for Captain Gu and the others to check in."

Li Xuewu gave an instruction after getting off the car; after people got off the Hongtu No. 1 car, he said to Gu An, "I won't send you in; let's have a meal together tonight, I'll treat you personally."

"No need to treat." Gu An replied coldly, "We brought meal money."

It seemed like the talk had collapsed; this was the first impression given to the accompanying team, because the two didn't speak smoothly.

Li Xuewu didn't give face either, and after greeting, he got into the car and left, leaving everyone looking at each other.

"Is there no need to cause extra trouble?"

Gao Yaqin rushed to Steel City; as soon as she entered the office, she stared at him and said, "Since Director Li has already agreed, why do you have to block it?"

"Director Li agreed?" Li Xuewu looked at her, stood up and pointed to the sofa, asking, "When did he agree? Did you bring a clear instruction? Black and white?"

"You—" Gao Yaqin was stunned by what he said, then frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Literal meaning." Li Xuewu looked at her deeply, walked to the sofa first and sat down, saying frankly, "I don't trust him."

"You think so because—"

Gao Yaqin walked over and sat down, narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at him, asking, "Or do you feel he is playing another role in this matter?"

"Precisely because I don't know many situations, I don't trust him."

Li Xuewu raised his head, looked directly into her eyes, and said very frankly, "The same goes for you."

"No need to be so polite; you've never trusted me anyway." Gao Yaqin curled her lips, leaned back on the sofa, hugged her arms and said, "What now? What's the use of calling me here?"

"Also, everyone at the meeting is asking, what kind of business is it to take over for Liaodong Industry for no reason."

She looked at Li Xuewu suspiciously and asked, "A deal you made with them?"

"Right, that's correct." Li Xuewu nodded and said, "I need someone to endorse."

"Can they hold it?" Gao Yaqin sneered, "Don't sell you out when the time comes."

"Hehe, that would be interesting."

Li Xuewu said calmly, "Director Li let you come to clean up the mess? Replace me?"

"What do you think?" Gao Yaqin narrowed her eyes and looked at him, "Who dares to come at this time?"

"It's me, I guess, with no foundation."

She snorted and said, "No one can replace you, especially at this time; everyone is afraid of you."

"I have no doubt." Li Xuewu shrugged his shoulders indifferently, "Those who can walk into my office are either asking me for something or are afraid of me."

His gaze was sharp as he looked at Gao Yaqin and said, "If I leave them an opportunity, it's equivalent to giving up the struggle and becoming fish on the chopping block."

"I really don't understand—"

Gao Yaqin sighed and said, "How did they suddenly aim at you."

"It couldn't be simpler." Li Xuewu said without surprise, "They have been eyeing me for a long time."

"It's always been, it's been from the beginning."

He nodded seriously and emphasized, "As long as I am still in Liaodong, as long as Deputy Director Dong is still in the Group, this kind of thing won't end."

"Then what do you want to do?" Gao Yaqin looked at him suspiciously and asked, "Now you've left people over there, and you're asking people to produce necessary procedures."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Li Xuewu said calmly, "I can only tell you that what Director Li said to me on the phone was to handle things according to procedure, and I am also handling things according to procedure."

"They give me the borrowing procedures, I give them the aircraft; it's that simple."

He straightened his body, looked at Gao Yaqin and emphasized, "Either I return to the capital, and you take over here; you can be responsible for signing and handing over."

"Why—" Gao Yaqin glared at him with a bad look and said, "Don't even think about it—"

"So?" Li Xuewu shrugged his shoulders, looked at her and asked, "Which side are you on?"

"Do I have a choice?" Gao Yaqin snorted unpleasantly, "Even if it weren't me, anyone who comes to you would be met with this set of rhetoric, right?"

"That's not necessarily true." Li Xuewu smiled easily and said, "Maybe some comrade is brave enough to let me return to the capital, and he stays here to handle this matter."

"Do you think we're all big idiots?" Gao Yaqin curled her lips, glared at him and said, "How do you plan to end this?"

"Borrowing procedures, can't not give them."

Li Xuewu emphasized seriously, "Whoever borrows, must write it clearly, transfer from the Group to me."

"I don't care if they return it or not; I believe the Group doesn't care if it loses or not, but!"

He tapped his fingers on the sofa armrest, the remaining words not spoken, but Gao Yaqin must understand.

"I'll report to Director Li." She sat there thinking for a long time, then stood up and walked toward the phone.

"Li Xuewu, only this once."

She stood at the desk, turned back to look at Li Xuewu and said with dissatisfaction, "You should trust me."

Li Xuewu opened his palm, signaling her to make the call first; trust or not, we'll talk later.

"You're really not a thing—"

Gao Yaqin cursed in a low voice, gritted her teeth and picked up the phone, asking for the Group General Manager's office.

There was nothing fake; she reported Li Xuewu's opinion and attitude directly to Li Huai De, and explained the purpose of the cooperation Li Xuewu reached with Liaodong Industry on behalf of the Group.

What could she say? She could only say that the Fengcheng Machinery Factory had reached a time when it needed to integrate more resources.

Li Xuewu hadn't even said this sentence, and he hadn't even thought about what Fengcheng Machinery Factory needed to integrate.

But now Gao Yaqin didn't give him a chance to explain, and even Li Huai De only needed a reason.

Now the reason was there, the purpose was explained clearly, and the pressure was passed back to Li Huai De's side.

Could Li Huai De be happy?

Of course dissatisfied; what did he arrange for Gao Yaqin to do? Counting the time, she had just arrived in Steel City for a while, and she could investigate so clearly?

To say there was no Li Xuewu's opinion in it, he wouldn't believe it even if he were beaten to death.

But what could be done? The Group arranged for a Vice General Manager level person to come down and stand with Li Xuewu; he couldn't come down himself.

Li Huai De knew very well that if he dared to come to Steel City, he would receive news of Li Xuewu returning to the capital halfway there.

Gao Yaqin was able to make the call because her stature wasn't high enough to support the sky there for Li Xuewu.

"Alright." She put down the phone, turned to look at Li Xuewu and said, "Now wait for the notification."

"Actually, I still have a class to attend."

Li Xuewu asked tentatively, "Anyway, we're waiting for news, should I return to the capital for class first..."

"You dare!" Gao Yaqin glared, "If you dare to leave, believe it or not, I'll follow you back immediately; anyway, this isn't my territory, you can do whatever you want."

"Fine, I'll treat you to dinner tonight."

Li Xuewu gave a thumbs up and said, "Take you to taste the Northeast specialty, stewed flying dragon with mushrooms."

"Don't think about using a meal to smooth over the psychological trauma you brought me." Gao Yaqin hung her eyebrows, looked at him and asked, "Can you tell me the truth, in this Red Steel Group, among these comrades, is there anyone you trust?"

"Yes." Li Xuewu pointed at her as a matter of course and said, "I trust you very much."

"..." Gao Yaqin: "Get lost—" ===== CHAPTER 1602 =====

"I do." Li Xuewu pointed at her as a matter of course and said, "I trust you very much."

"..." Gao Yaqin: "Get lost—"