Chapter 1605

"You should sign it too."

After watching Hong Min sign, the cadre surnamed Zhao called Li Xuewu over and pointed to the family member column.

Hong Min had no objections; she stepped aside and placed the fountain pen on the table.

"If you feel it is necessary."

Li Xuewu did not touch the pen. Instead, after glancing at the other person, he took his own pen from his breast pocket and signed his name in the relative column.

He did not write these three characters as easily as it appeared on the surface; signing meant agreeing to the cremation, meaning he would never see his third uncle again.

Li Xuewu put away his pen and looked back at his third uncle; the farewell hall was exceptionally lively today.

One should probably use the word "lively" to describe it—those who should have come did, and those who shouldn't have come also did.

Li Xuewu believed that his third uncle would never be angry, because he was, by nature, a broad-minded and kind person.

"If you have any other requests."

After confirming the signature, the cadre surnamed Zhao looked at him and sighed, "Feel free to bring them up."

"Hmm, there is one thing I need to trouble you with." Li Xuewu took a cigarette from his pocket, handed one to the other man, and nodded slowly, saying, "I want to send my third uncle back to his roots."

"Back to the capital?" The man was stunned, but he looked at Hong Min and asked, "Have you two discussed this?"

Hong Min raised her head, her eyes bloodshot, and biting her lip tightly, she looked at Li Xuewu and asked, "Are you not even going to leave me a memory?"

"Please don't say such things. You no longer need my third uncle's reliance or comfort, do you?"

Li Xuewu turned to look at her and said flatly, "You were husband and wife once; let each other go."

"How he treated you, and how you treated him—there is no need to mention it from this day forward."

Right in front of the cadre surnamed Zhao, he said bluntly, "I thank you on behalf of my third uncle while he was alive, but I have no way to forgive you on behalf of my third uncle after his death."

"Let's leave it at that. We are leaving today."

He said this last sentence to the cadre surnamed Zhao; his words were very firm and brooked no doubt.

The farewell hall was crowded at this moment, and last night's events had already spread. The gazes of the crowd were fixed on this side, intentionally or not. Some young people had been arranged to come over specifically because they were afraid Li Xuewu would suddenly cause a scene, which would look bad for everyone.

Therefore, many people heard their conversation. Linking it to Li Tong's sacrifice, the family members had raised questions and demanded an autopsy the moment they arrived, and had even miraculously found people from the Investigation Department to intervene overnight. Many people had been dragged out of bed to provide statements; how could it be kept hidden?

There are no airtight walls in this world; pointing fingers was the least of it—the name "Pan Jinlian" had already been called out.

The cadre surnamed Zhao said nothing more, nodded slowly, and left to arrange the cremation matters.

In fact, this work should have been handled yesterday afternoon, but it had been delayed by Li Xuewu's questioning.

And this morning, Li Xuewu had received a positive reply from Ji Weidong, which was why he finally signed the cremation papers.

During this time, his second uncle and Li Xueli unexpectedly remained silent, not saying another word about the matter.

Perhaps the father and son had talked, perhaps it was a kind of tacit understanding, or perhaps it was the final respect for the deceased.

At the very moment his third uncle was pushed into the cremation furnace, everyone standing before the furnace door lowered their heads one after another.

Hong Min collapsed to the ground in tears, along with Li Xuehan; no one pursued whether their kneeling farewell touched upon the sensitive nerves of this era.

The leaders of his third uncle's unit had come and had long since shaken hands to express their condolences, but they did not wait for the cremation to end before shaking hands and saying goodbye, coming and going in a hurry.

Li Xuewu never belittled honor, but at this moment, he had a new understanding of the relationship between life and honor.

"Second Brother." Li Xuehan, supported by Li Xueli, rested on a bench for a while before forcing himself to walk over and ask blankly, "Does my dad have to go back to the ancestral grave?"

"Yes." Li Xuewu couldn't help but sigh as he looked at his younger brother, gently patting his arm as he said, "I discussed it with Second Uncle on the way here."

"Then..."

"Listen to me." Li Xuewu interrupted his brother's question, nodded slowly, and explained, "Your future is in the military; train well and be a good soldier."

"Remember what your dad told you."

Looking at his still-childish face, Li Xuewu couldn't help himself and reached out to wrap his arm around his shoulder.

"Don't resent anyone. Be a man; don't look back, look forward. Only then can your future go further."

"But... why?"

Li Xuehan frowned slightly and asked, "Uncle Zhao and the others have already prepared a martyrs' cemetery for my dad..."

"Xuehan." Li Xuewu's face became a bit more serious; he gripped his shoulders with both hands and emphasized, "Even if it's the second before walking into the funeral home."

Looking into his brother's eyes like this, he nodded slowly and said, "Third Uncle needs to go home; he needs someone to remember him."

"I remember him." Li Xuehan still didn't understand.

"Yes, you are his son, of course you remember."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "But he deserves for more family members to remember him."

"There is one thing I must urge you."

He squeezed his hand gently and reminded his brother, "Your eldest uncle knows about Third Uncle's situation, but your grandmother doesn't; we plan to keep it from her."

"I understand what you mean." Li Xuehan lowered his head and said, "My grandmother's health is poor; my dad said so."

"Hmm, I hope you can understand." Li Xuewu wrapped his arm around his shoulder again and comforted him softly, "A hundred years from now, your grandmother will also want to see your dad."

"Oh—" Li Xuehan responded, and after a long silence, he asked, "You guys..."

He raised his head, looked at his second brother, and asked, "Why are Second Uncle and you guys so... towards my mom..."

Since they arrived, even if he was numb, Li Xuehan had discovered that something was wrong between them.

Li Xuewu didn't know how to explain it either; he couldn't help but sigh again and said, "Xuehan, just like Second Brother just told you, people must look forward eventually; your mother is still young..."

"No!" Li Xuehan looked at him suspiciously, frowned, and asked, "Second Brother, what are you saying!"

He reacted quite strongly, tears falling uncontrollably, and looking towards the cremation furnace, he said in a hoarse voice, "My dad just left; how can you say that about my mom."

"Hmm, just consider it Second Brother's fault."

Li Xuewu pursed his lips, nodded slightly, patted his shoulder, and turned to walk towards the office.

Li Gan heard their conversation, thought for a moment, and followed, intercepting Li Xuewu at the door.

"Not going to tell Xuehan about this?"

"Second Uncle." Li Xuewu raised his head to look at his second uncle and said, "I've asked; Third Uncle indeed sacrificed himself while participating in a mission; it has nothing to do with Third Aunt."

"But—"

"And I've also checked on that man."

Li Xuewu knew what his second uncle wanted to say; he reached out and patted his arm, saying, "He indeed had a friendship with Third Uncle; they were comrades from the same squad."

"What kind of situation is this—" Second Uncle sighed helplessly and squatted on the steps.

"Your third uncle, he suffered his whole life."

"Things before he died aren't clear, and you still care about things after he's gone?"

Li Xuewu walked down the steps, looked at his second uncle, and said, "You also know I can't do anything to her; she has the right to make any decision after Third Uncle leaves."

"The only thing we can do is take Third Uncle home; we can't leave him here to be wronged."

"I understand." Second Uncle sighed long and hard, his expression one of helplessness.

"If you don't tell Xuehan, he will resent you."

He was also doing it for Li Xuewu's sake; running around busy and ending up with nothing to show for it—was it worth it?

Li Xuewu never thought about whether it was worth it; he only needed an answer—an answer for himself, and an answer for the old lady and his father in the future.

Taking Third Uncle back to his hometown, Third Uncle would still be Third Uncle—the old lady's son, his father's and Second Uncle's younger brother, not a lonely ghost far from home.

"Him resenting me is better than him hating his mother."

Li Xuewu also sighed long and hard, looking at the hazy sky, and said, "He is still young; he will understand later."

"I hope so—" Second Uncle stood up with some difficulty, feeling the drizzle suddenly falling from the sky, shook his head slightly, and said, "It's all fate—"

Li Xuewu knew the pessimism and emotion in his words; back then, the old lady hadn't agreed to the relationship between Third Uncle and Third Aunt.

It was simple: Third Aunt was a cultural soldier, a singer, which didn't fit the right path in the old lady's ideology.

Third Aunt, who grew up in the city, always had an indelible petty-bourgeois sentiment; even when facing Third Uncle, she was inexplicably arrogant—a point Li Xuewu felt most deeply.

But to be honest, Li Xuewu had lived there for a period of time; the couple lived quite harmoniously, and Third Aunt had done her best for him and never looked down on him.

This was all he could do for Third Uncle; the rest was God's will, so let it be left to God's will.

Third Uncle's photos were easy to find; Third Aunt liked taking pictures, so there were many black-and-white photos at home.

The cadre surnamed Zhao brought the urn, and the photo was pasted on it; the style was simple, just like Third Uncle.

With the other person's help, Li Xuewu and his second uncle worked together to collect the ashes.

Third Aunt Hong Min and Li Xuehan cried again, and finally, supported by Li Xueli, Li Xuehan held his father's ashes and the enlarged portrait, and they all got into the car.

There were two cars; one was the one he had driven, and the other was sent by Third Uncle's unit.

Because Li Xuewu proposed taking Third Uncle's ashes back to his hometown, the unit skipped the burial step in the cemetery, and the cadre surnamed Zhao explained the omitted procedures to him.

This involved some issues regarding preferential treatment and pensions; he was afraid of further complications, so he wanted to make it clear.

"Leave these benefits for my younger brother to handle."

After settling the others, he stood by the car and said to the other person in front of Third Aunt and Li Xuehan, "You've worked hard these days; I thank you on behalf of the family."

To the other person's surprise, Li Xuewu gave him a salute, a very standard one.

Regarding the salute, in the other person's view, Li Xuewu no longer had the qualification, because he only knew Li Xuewu worked in a company and was a high-level executive; there was no need for this form.

But he did not question it, not just because of the situation on the scene, but also because of Li Xuewu's complex connections.

Now even he couldn't be sure what Li Tong's nephew's true identity was.

Being capable was one thing, but he could make Hong Min obediently follow his arrangements with just one sentence.

This wasn't the eldest son of the family, nor was he Li Tong's eldest brother; even his second uncle had to listen to him.

He was just a person in charge of pension processing; at this moment, besides comforting and being polite, what else could he say? He could only agree with Hong Min on the time to hand over the pension.

Watching the two cars leave, the cadre surnamed Zhao shook his head and sighed slightly, not knowing what to say.

"Old Zhao, have they all left?"

The older sister who came to work with the office walked over and asked, her gaze also looking towards the door.

"Sister Yang, you guys should go back too."

The cadre surnamed Zhao nodded, lit a cigarette for himself, and said, "This matter is finally over."

"Over?" The woman called Sister Yang pursed her lips, gestured towards the door, and said, "Just wait and see; it'll be a scene sooner or later."

"..." The cadre surnamed Zhao's hand holding the cigarette froze, then he took a hard drag, shook the match in his hand, and said, "Then that's none of my business."

"Old Zhao, do you know what Li Tong's nephew's background is?"

Sister Yang was a gossip; she stood beside him, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Such a strong background?"

"Hey, I'm confused too." Old Zhao shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Li Tong did tell me he was just an administrator at a company in the capital; I didn't expect this."

"A company administrator? Pfft—"

Sister Yang sneered and said, "I didn't know a company administrator could have such great ability."

"Weren't you questioned too? Don't you know what his identity is?"

She pursed her lips and said, "The moment he arrived, he sidelined Hong Min; whatever he said went."

"What exactly is going on?" Old Zhao was actually confused too; he frowned and asked, "Why did they fall out?"

"Why wouldn't they fall out?" Sister Yang raised her eyebrows playfully and said, "The moment the three of them entered the hall, they saw Hong Min and that someone hugging each other; they were already cursing in the street."

"What?!" Old Zhao widened his eyes, frowned, and asked, "Really? With whom?"

"Who do you think?" Sister Yang sneered and said, "Don't look at how reserved she usually acts like a young girl; in the end, isn't she just Pan Jinlian reincarnated? Very loose."

"Is this true?" Old Zhao still didn't quite believe it and asked, "Who did you hear it from?"

"Never mind who I heard it from; just wait and see about this matter; you'll know who she hugged then."

Sister Yang hummed, "There's a show to watch this time; who knows how far it will go."

"Old Zhao, don't blame me for not reminding you."

Her expression became a bit more serious, and she said, "Don't be vague about anything you need to explain to Li Tong's nephew."

"I've figured it out; this kid's murderous intent is no less than Wu Er's; something will happen sooner or later."

"How could that be—" Old Zhao waved his hand and said, "Don't talk nonsense."

"I'm talking nonsense?" Sister Yang sneered, "You were there this morning, weren't you? Can't you understand the ambiguous things he said?"

The cadre surnamed Zhao certainly understood, but he just hadn't thought about it deeply.

Hearing Sister Yang mention it now, he couldn't help but frown and say, "Really? Is there?"

"There is a kind of knife in this world that kills without showing blood." Sister Yang nodded with emotion, "Everyone says men and women are equal, but everyone is desperate to have a boy."

She looked into the distance and said helplessly, "This boy is just more useful than a girl, especially at times like this."

"We won't take the portrait."

Li Xuewu packed up some of Third Uncle's photos and looked at Third Aunt and Li Xuehan, saying, "Just the urn."

"Second Brother." Li Xuehan stood up, looked at him, and frowned, "We have to stop for three days at least."

He looked at his mother and said, "After three days, I will send my dad to the capital."

"That's seven more days round trip; is your leave enough?" Li Xuewu looked at him and said, "Don't go through the trouble; Third Uncle won't care about these things."

"He misses you; he will come back to see you."

"But—" Li Xuehan wanted to say more, but seeing his mother stand up, the words were stifled in his throat.

"Second Brother, you guys should eat before you go." Hong Min walked towards the kitchen and said, "I'll make it for you."

"Forget it, we're in a hurry." Li Gan looked at Li Xuewu and said flatly, "We're heading back now."

Li Xueli picked up Third Uncle's ashes; they were wrapped in thick cloth, heavy and very strenuous.

"Take care of yourself, take care of..."

Li Gan wanted to say more before leaving, but all that remained was a sigh, and he omitted the rest.

Li Xuehan stood there blankly, his face full of panic; he still couldn't figure out where the problem lay.

Why did Second Uncle and Second Brother all have this expression, not even wanting to stay at home for a single minute?

And his mother's abnormality made him want to speak but stop; she didn't even come out to see Second Uncle and the others off when they left.

Downstairs, Li Xuewu placed the ashes, looked back at Li Xuehan standing by the car, and said, "If you can get leave, take the train to the capital yourself."

"Your dad won't be buried for a while."

He reached out and patted his brother's arm, saying, "I will notify you once the specific time is set."

"Second Brother..." Li Xuehan gripped his arm, tears flowing, and asked, "Are you and Second Uncle angry at my mom?"

"Remember what I told you?"

Li Xuewu looked at him and reminded him, "Don't think about what I've done; look forward and live well."

"It's something my mom did, right."

Li Xuehan stood there with tears flowing, pursed his lips, and asked, "Is it something she did... something wrong, right?"

He tried hard to restrain his emotions, not wanting to think about the changes he had experienced from yesterday until now, but he couldn't help it.

Now his mind was full of these questions, and connecting what Second Brother had said gave him the answer.

But he couldn't bear to ask that question; he couldn't imagine his mother doing something to wrong his father.

So, he hesitated and asked about "something wrong."

Li Xuewu didn't answer; he just reached out and patted his shoulder, got into the car, and started it to leave.

In the rearview mirror, Li Xuehan stood there silently shedding tears; the three people in the car were also silently shedding tears.

Family affection had a more complex explanation at this moment, and life also had a different interpretation.

Just like Third Uncle, who drifted to Yangcheng when he was young, settled down, got married, and had children.

In the end, he was empty-handed.

Think carefully, look slowly; people walk halfway through middle age, half a life of toil for whose merit?

Power is empty, fame is empty; in the blink of an eye, a mound of earth in the wilderness.

Fate is empty, karma is empty; past and future lives leave no trace.

Wife is empty, children are empty; after the prosperity, on the road to the Yellow Springs, we will never meet again.

"Third Uncle, soul returns to hometown—"

This trip was too urgent; Li Xuewu couldn't afford to delay his work, and neither could Second Uncle.

Landing in the capital, there was already a car waiting to pick them up.

Shen Guodong brought four cars, which could be considered fulfilling Third Uncle's final dignity; the ashes were to be deposited.

He traveled thousands of miles, not hesitating to fall out with Third Aunt to bring Third Uncle back, yet he chose to deposit the ashes?

No, Third Uncle's passing was a special situation; whether one believes it or not, one still has to choose a date.

It wasn't that he cared much about the blessings of descendants, but he wanted Third Uncle to leave better.

Actually, it's all nonsense; people are gone, so what does it matter if they leave well or not?

But there was an elder above, and his father was there; Li Xuewu couldn't be overbearing and make the decision.

If it were up to his own temperament, even if Third Uncle couldn't be buried immediately, it wouldn't matter if the ashes were kept at home.

There's an old saying: one shouldn't keep them in the Sihe Academy because the old lady is still there, but what if they were kept at his house?

But things couldn't be done that way; in Yangcheng, he could represent the Li family, but in the capital, he had his father.

Father Li Shun was the head of the family.

Only the old lady and the children were missing from the family; the rest of the eldest branch's children had come.

Gu Ning pursed her lips tightly, bowed slightly behind her sister-in-law, and didn't follow until they had carried Third Uncle's urn into the car.

Li Xuewu couldn't talk to her; he was in a rush to get to the funeral home, and no one was in the mood for small talk.

Li Shun was the most grief-stricken; sitting in the car, holding the urn in his arms, gently stroking the photo, tears streaming down his face.

Li Xuewu sat in the car with Second Uncle, Shen Guodong drove, and the four cars drove all the way to the funeral home.

On the way, he took the initiative to tell his father about the situation in Yangcheng and how it was handled—impartial, without any emotion; he was also afraid his father would misunderstand something.

Until the motorcade arrived at the funeral home, his father didn't say much; perhaps he accepted his explanation.

But towards Third Aunt Hong Min, he didn't have a word of blame; perhaps at this moment, he couldn't think of any words of blame, and he couldn't say anything harsh or resentful in front of his own younger brother.

People are gone; why say those things?

It hurts the living and insults the soul of the departed.

Li Xueli took the initiative to help, supporting the urn, and everyone went to the funeral home together to say goodbye.

Li Xue sobbed softly, holding her mother's hand; although she didn't have much contact with Third Uncle, she felt Third Uncle's kindness and warmth during that one trip to Yangcheng.

During the brief rest in the farewell hall, the family gathered around the urn to mourn, which gave Third Uncle's departure a touch of warmth, rather than a solemn atmosphere.

Shen Guodong brought people to handle the deposit procedures and came over to remind Li Xuewu that he could send the ashes over.

"Dad, Mom."

Li Xuewu gently supported them as they stepped back, and then he and his brothers escorted Third Uncle inside.

Eldest brother Xuewen, third brother Xuecai, youngest brother Xueli, along with him—the four nephews.

I don't know if Third Uncle could see this scene; if he really could, perhaps his gaze and smile would still be as warm as ever.

"Second Uncle, that child Xuehan..."

Liu Yin's tears couldn't stop; she choked as she asked about Li Xuehan's situation.

Li Gan nodded, explained Li Xuewu's arrangements, and comforted her softly, "Sister-in-law, don't cry anymore; Third Brother's life... sigh—"

"He was only at that age—"

Liu Yin covered the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief, but the tears just couldn't stop flowing.

The farewell hall was filled with sorrow, but the funeral could only be arranged up to this point; they would arrange the burial after calculating the date.

The Li family had an ancestral grave, and since the descendants had never been cut off, the grave site had not been reclaimed or leveled.

Sacrificed in the line of duty, not an unnatural death, Third Uncle was qualified to enter the ancestral grave; this was unquestionable.

Li Xuewu had done everything he could; the rest was left to his father to handle.

Everyone left the funeral home and arrived at Haiyuncang as discussed; there were still some things that needed to be made clear.

Er Ya had long prepared lunch, but everyone had no appetite and didn't eat much.

"The matter still needs to be kept from the old lady."

Li Shun sighed long and hard before saying, "You two should use the excuse of a business trip if you want to see the old lady."

"Hmm, we're here now." Li Gan nodded and said, "Xueli and I will stay for one night and take the train back tomorrow morning; the unit can't be left without people."

"Sigh—" Liu Yin also sighed and said, "So far apart."

Everyone knew what she was talking about, but such is the world; who hasn't tasted the bitterness of parting with loved ones?

"Is Xuewu leaving tomorrow too?"

Zhao Yafang looked at him and said, "I heard Wen Saner's wife gave birth; should we bring something over?"

"Bring it; it's all prepared."

Liu Yin knew she was deliberately changing the subject, so she followed her lead and talked about the arrangements at home.

After talking about the gifts for Wen Saner, she asked about Li Xueli's wedding.

Li Xueli was filial and asked hesitantly, "With Third Uncle like this... should I postpone the wedding date?"

"It's an old custom; forget it."

Li Gan didn't speak; it was Li Shun who said it. He looked at the father and son and said, "Having the heart is enough."

"Exactly." Liu Yin also advised, "It's still a few months away; there's no need for so many rules."

"I never thought of this."

Second Uncle Li Gan sighed and said, "When I went to Steel City, I was discussing with Xuewu how to handle things in October."

"He said to bring the old lady over to stay for a few days, and I was thinking of asking Third Brother if he could come back."

After finishing this last sentence, he covered his eyes and sobbed, "Who would have thought... who would have thought..."

"Alright, Second Uncle." Li Xuewu reached out and patted his knee gently, comforting him, "Don't think about it."

"The gifts bought for them were paid for by Second Brother." Li Xueli said at this time, "Including the cigarettes and alcohol; shouldn't I share the burden with you?"

He looked at his second brother and said, "After all, we went together; consider it my filial piety."

"Don't add to the chaos—"

Li Xuewu glared at him and said, "What's this all about? Just persuade your dad well."

"What gifts?" Liu Yin asked, "Why do you need to send gifts?"

"It's those people Second Brother invited." Li Xueli explained, "And those people who helped Third Uncle; Second Brother sent gifts to all of them."

"This—" Liu Yin was surprised, "Is that how it's arranged?"

"You don't need to worry about it." Li Xuewu didn't want to explain too much to them, especially about Third Aunt's matter.

He looked at Li Xueli and said, "Let this matter end here; don't talk about it anymore."

Ji Weidong's people were invited by him; it was Ji Weidong's favor after all, so how could he afford to be indebted?

So, a carton of cigarettes and a bottle of alcohol for each person, including the cadre surnamed Zhao and others—he didn't shortchange anyone.

He wasn't showing off his wealth or putting on a show; he was just in an unfamiliar place and wanted to get things done as quickly as possible.

As for spending money, in his view, if money could save time, then spending money was more appropriate.

"Secretary-General, you're back."

At the group headquarters, everyone who saw Li Xuewu greeted him, their smiles 100% sunny.

Li Xuewu nodded slightly in response.

Zhang Enyuan was not there; he was alone, and when he returned to his office, Wang Lu was already waiting there.

"Not busy with work?"

"Nothing much; what could the union be busy with?"

Wang Lu brewed hot tea for him, brought it over, and said, "You suddenly came back; many people are surprised."

"What's there to be surprised about?" Li Xuewu picked up the teacup, looked at her, and said, "Do I have to say, 'Do not do evil, and you won't fear the ghost knocking at the door'?"

"Hehe—" Wang Lu smiled wickedly and said, "How do you know they didn't do anything evil?"

"Heh—" Li Xuewu took a sip of hot tea, put down the cup, pointed at her, and said, "You're a sly one."

"I guarantee it!" Wang Lu raised her hand and said, "I won't make any small reports to you."

"Besides, I won't slander anyone in front of you; that would damage my character."

She straightened her back pretentiously, but couldn't hold it for a few sentences and laughed herself.

"I came for my eldest uncle."

"What's wrong with your eldest uncle?" Li Xuewu looked at the briefing on the table and asked, "Did he ask you to come?"

"Him? An old antique—"

Wang Lu stood on one side of his desk with her hands behind her back, stood on tiptoe, raised an eyebrow, and said, "I'm just afraid Director Li will make things difficult for him; he's already like that—"

As she said this, she even imitated her eldest uncle's posture of slapping the table and challenging Director Li in his office; it was quite similar.

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu was also amused by her and nodded, "Your eldest uncle is quite fierce."

"Don't make fun of him." Wang Lu smiled bitterly and helplessly, "He's just not suitable to be a leader."

"Soft-hearted, poor with words, stubborn temper."

She counted her eldest uncle's faults on her fingers, "If I were to pick faults, I could pick a whole basketful."

"Your eldest uncle has so many shortcomings?"

Li Xuewu also teased her, asking while looking at the briefing, "Then how did he become a leader?"

"Who knows—" Wang Lu rolled her eyes and said, "What's more helpless is himself."

She said with real emotion, "It would be fine if he knew he wasn't suitable to be a leader, but he doesn't have the ability and yet insists on rushing forward; wouldn't you say he's stupid?"

"Oh—I just understood—"

Li Xuewu put down the briefing, leaned back in his chair, looked at her, and said, "You're not here to badmouth your eldest uncle; you're here to plead for him."

"No way—" Wang Lu smiled embarrassedly and said, "I'm here to please you."

"For your eldest uncle?" Li Xuewu looked at her amusedly and asked, "Do you really think your eldest uncle is stupid, stupid enough that he can't do anything right?"

"That's not it." Wang Lu pursed her lips and said, "He's just okay with technology, but other things..."

Speaking of this, she shook her head, as if she couldn't bear to badmouth her uncle.

"You really should get to know your eldest uncle; he's not as stupid as you say."

Li Xuewu stood up and said, "To be a mid-level manager, you might find some stupid ones, but you won't find any dumb ones."

"Stupid ones rush forward blindly and there are always a few who get ahead; dumb ones don't even know which way to rush—how could they get ahead?"

He pointed at Wang Lu and said, "Put away those little thoughts of yours; your uncle hasn't reached the point where he needs your protection."

"Then you..." Wang Lu asked hesitantly, "You won't vent your anger on him, right?"

"Hmm—" Li Xuewu pretended to think seriously, then looked at her and said, "Not necessarily."

"Ah?" Wang Lu was surprised, "Are you still going to deal with him?"

"Why? Can't I?" Li Xuewu joked, "How about I recommend him to the union to be your assistant?"

"Stop teasing me—" Wang Lu was startled by him and scolded, "You scared me to death."

"Hehe." Li Xuewu smiled, organized the documents on his large desk, picked them up, and walked out, "If you have nothing to do, contact Zhang Enyuan and ask him if there's any situation in Steel City these past two days."

"Then you won't blame me for being meddlesome?"

Wang Lu asked as he was leaving, but Li Xuewu had already gone out.

This kind of girl who has schemes but not many is truly interesting; her schemes are all written on her face.

Playing this set in front of him—she really doesn't treat him like a leader, thinking he would be fooled? What was she thinking?

"Sec... Secretary-General?"

When Li Xuewu walked to Li Huai De's door, Chen Shouzhi was just coming out; the moment he saw him, he almost popped his eyes out, as if he had seen a ghost.

"Why are you still at the group?" Li Xuewu frowned and looked at him, asking, "Is the Hong Kong matter handled? Or are you..."

"No, I'm handling it." Chen Shouzhi lost his usual composure, his voice sounding a bit distorted as he replied, "Please give me a little more time."

"It doesn't matter." Li Xuewu glanced at him and said while knocking on the door to go in, "If you don't want to go, then don't."

"..."

Chen Shouzhi's face turned pale instantly; how did that sound like "If you don't go, then don't live"?

"Oh, Secretary-General?" Li Huai De heard the movement at the door, looked over, took off his glasses, and asked, "Didn't you say you were going to Yangcheng? You're back so soon?"

"Handled it, so I came back."

Li Xuewu placed the documents in his hand on his desk and sat down opposite him.

"Liu Bin, no need." He waved his hand, signaling Liu Bin, who was about to pour tea, not to bother, "I'll just say two words to Director Li and leave."

Liu Bin looked at Director Li before leaving.

"Your family..."

"My third uncle passed away." Li Xuewu simply explained the process of going south.

Li Huai De was also moved when he heard it, saying, "Sometimes, human life is too fragile."

"Who's to say it isn't." Li Xuewu nodded, adjusted his mood, picked up the documents, and began to report, mainly on the work in Liaodong over the recent period.

Li Huai De knew the purpose of his visit but didn't interrupt him, listening very patiently.

Until Li Xuewu finished, he nodded slowly and said, "This year's situation is not as good as last year's; fortunately, you were in Liaodong, otherwise—"

He sighed and said, "Sometimes heaven doesn't follow human wishes; life is unsatisfactory eight or nine times out of ten."

"Everything going according to wishes is for immortals."

Li Xuewu nodded in agreement and said, "Defying heaven and changing fate is our organization's style, don't you think?"

"Oh, hahahaha—" Li Huai De looked at him, laughed, and didn't refute.

He just picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked, "How do you plan to handle the Steel Aviation matter?"

"I don't have much authority here, do I?"

Li Xuewu still looked at him and said flatly, "I've requested what needed to be requested, and reported what needed to be reported; now I'm just waiting to see what the other side does, or what the higher-ups do."

"You still insist on that material?"

Li Huai De put down his teacup, folded his hands over his lower abdomen, squinted slightly, and asked, "Unwilling to compromise?"

"This is a matter of principle." Li Xuewu nodded, "Matters of principle never need compromise."

"Alright—" Li Huai De looked at him for a long time before letting out a long sigh and saying, "There isn't much I can do either; just as you said, report, request, and the rest is just waiting."

"We all have to act according to the rules, don't we?" Li Xuewu asked back, and seeing that he didn't pick up the topic, he continued, "I told Steel Aviation to unlock the hangar doors and told them to take whatever they want."

"But they won't take it—"

He spread his hands and said bluntly, "Because they also know this isn't about the airplanes."

"I know, I know." Li Huai De looked out the window, his pursed lips carrying a hidden helplessness.

"Where this requisition order came from, let it go back to where it came from; come back with a different skin."

Li Xuewu said flatly, "Or they can take it themselves; the hangar doors aren't locked now anyway, take whatever."

"Have you thought about the consequences of doing this?"

Li Huai De didn't follow his lead but talked about his future.

"Have you thought about the future? This performance of yours can't be considered satisfactory to everyone."

"Impossible." Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said, "No one can make a decision that satisfies everyone, unless they sacrifice themselves."

"On the contrary, I am not someone who burns himself to illuminate others."

He shrugged his shoulders and said humorously, "Please forgive my selfishness."

Li Huai De glanced at him sideways, shook his head, and smiled bitterly, "You don't need to point at me; I didn't force you to do anything, you know that."

"Of course." Li Xuewu nodded slowly, "Otherwise I wouldn't be here to see you today."

"I have a suggestion." Li Huai De turned around, looked at him, and said, "You write something and ask the other party to sign it; wouldn't that settle it?"

"If we were only talking about official business today, then I would absolutely support doing that, because I've long wanted to do so."

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "But you know who is executing the receiving work."

Li Huai De stopped talking and just looked at him.

"You should be able to understand my stubbornness."

Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said, "If someone has an opinion about me, they could have just carried a rifle, rushed over, and put a bullet in my head; why the need to hide their head and show their tail, playing such a mysterious game?"

"No one has an opinion about you." Li Huai De said flatly, "It's you who have an opinion about yourself."

"I am very tolerant of myself." Li Xuewu retorted, saying strongly, "I would even be happy to see the other party rush over with a rifle, so I could give them a bullet."

He patted the pistol at his waist and tilted his head, saying, "Isn't that much more exciting than hiding? Isn't that exactly the result he wants?"

"I'll say it again: either you give the order, or you transfer me away and replace me with someone who dares to give the order."

Li Xuewu stood up and walked out, not giving the other party any face; there was no need to leave face at this time.

"There's no need to vent your anger on others, is there?" Li Huai De reminded him, "Deputy Secretary-General Chen."

"No, he is not 'others'."

Li Xuewu stood still at the door without looking back and said indifferently, "I'm going back to Steel City this afternoon; either you make a decision, or I will."

"If he still dares to disobey in public while complying in private, I don't mind killing this fat chicken to intimidate that group of stupid monkeys."