Chapter 1614: Complaining

Will Li Xuewu go to Beijing Chemical?

Of course not. Although jumping out at this time would still have opportunities to grow, the layout he spent his efforts on would be ruined.

Don't look at Bai Changmin's nice words; if you really believe his words and transfer over, you will be manipulated by the other party.

The deputy general manager he promised?

Hehe—he counts for a fart.

When the time comes, if he doesn't give you the deputy general manager position, can you still roll on the ground and ask him for it? He wouldn't laugh at you to death.

There is only one way to make people respect you, and that is to eliminate anyone who dares to look down on and offend you.

Do you know what kind of image the mainland has internationally in this era?

A thorn, a martial artist, lit and ignited.

Any offense dares to fight back with force, truly achieving convincing people with virtue, letting the other party wake up, and clearly recognizing our force value.

Don't be deceived by the impression of the era. We indeed showed a friendly side to some regions and countries, such as Africa, Albania, and other countries.

But you have to know that we also "helpfully" helped some countries move their capitals.

Hey, the capital was used well, why wasn't it used anymore? And even came up with the name New Delhi. Are you not friendly!

Being a person is also the same principle. You can't expect everyone to show respect for your sturdy build, unless you can really punch them.

Bai Changmin is talking nonsense on the phone, and he is also putting pressure on him. Li Xuewu doesn't care.

Just completed the first round of negotiations with Liaodong Industry a few days ago. Next is to study the conditions of Beijing Chemical.

Liaodong Industry has already drawn a circle for this comprehensive project, which is also the general scope he proposed. The two sides are just in their first formal contact.

So what general content has been finalized?

Li Xuewu will never do a loss-making business. You can't say that because Liaodong Industry needs something and Beijing Chemical has something, you hit it off.

Since Liaodong Industry hopes that the Red Steel Group will act as a middleman, and Beijing Chemical wants the Red Steel Group to be the leader, then this matter must be decided by Red Steel.

If it were an ordinary person doing a project of pulling strings, encountering this situation, they would have long dragged both sides together to match them, no matter what, they wouldn't lose money.

But Li Xuewu is not the kind of person who can take a detour when seeing fat meat. If he doesn't meet it, that's fine; if he meets it, can he still turn a blind eye?

Pesticides and fertilizers needed by Liaodong Industry must be there, and nylon, chemical fiber, and synthetic resin technology that Beijing Chemical can provide must also be obtained.

The rest, such as plastics, paints, and flame-retardant materials, must also be there, and Li Xuewu even added a more important item: crude oil refining.

What does he want to do?

Borrowing a chicken to lay eggs, an old routine.

In this world, what money-making business isn't a routine of borrowing a chicken to lay eggs?

KTV uses other people's wives to make money; short videos use other people's talents to make money; games use other people's time to make money; Didi uses other people's cars to make money; food delivery uses other people's kitchens to make money; lotteries use other people's luck to make money; even what everyone knows, banks use other people's money to make money.

Even more so, insurance companies use other people's lives to make money.

Beijing Chemical wants to take root in Liaodong. Isn't the Red Steel Group just right to perfect the production closed loop of raw materials and parts for light and heavy industries such as automobiles?

What is crude oil refining for?

It can be said that it is for United Energy, because the Red Steel Group owns its own gas stations, just like many other factories or units.

Most gas stations in this era won't be open to the outside world, without business indicators and procedures, only supplying internal vehicles and related vehicles.

Except for gas stations owned by units, other supply points need to purchase gasoline or diesel with oil tickets.

Do you know why the promotion of Steel Auto's car products in the civilian market is so slow?

Because even motorcycles with the lowest fuel consumption face the situation of difficulty in using oil.

Factory staff near United Energy gas stations have the willingness to buy motorcycles, while others who cannot buy gasoline will hesitate.

They can apply to the unit or find other ways to solve the difficulty of using oil, but very, very few can truly do this.

The sales volume of Comet motorcycles is very high. On one hand, it is low fuel consumption; on the other hand, the purchasing power is concentrated on cadres.

Whether it is the cadres of the Red Steel Group or cadres of other units, they all have the ability and methods to get the gasoline used by motorcycles.

Then why can three-wheeled motorcycles sell very well?

Because those who buy three-wheeled motorcycles in Beijing for freight or other forms of transportation must be affiliated with a collective.

That is to say, they can purchase oil tickets according to certain indicators and quantities based on the certificates given by the collective, so that they can complete the supply and sales closed loop.

Among all gas stations in Beijing, only the gas stations of the Red Steel Group that have been classified under the management of the United Energy Petroleum Sales Branch will sell gasoline and diesel to car models produced by Steel Auto without limit.

Now the Petroleum Sales Branch is facing various awkward situations.

First is only supplying cars produced by Steel Auto. With the increase in sales, the petroleum sales points haven't expanded rapidly, and the phenomenon of supply falling short of demand has already appeared.

The Petroleum Sales Branch currently has two sales areas, namely the Liaodong area and the Beijing area.

The Liaodong area has three gas stations, namely Steel City, Yingcheng, and Fengcheng, which are transformed and upgraded from the factory's own gas stations.

The Beijing area only has one gas station applied for during the construction of the industrial zone, which is the Liangmahe Ecological Industrial Zone gas station.

The four stations belong to different cities, and the supply of gasoline and diesel comes from the local petroleum supply and sales company, which is the predecessor of PetroChina.

Don't mention Sinopec; these two were originally one family. Now they are called the Petroleum Supply and Sales General Company. The fact that the three oil barrels have the same root and origin is very clear.

Although Mr. Z announced as early as 1968 that we had removed the hat of an oil-poor country and oil could be completely self-sufficient.

But! Here I still have to say a "but." But there is also a premise, which is that the current domestic car and other mechanical ownership hasn't reached its peak, oil production capacity is improving, and the total industrial volume is also developing.

The current situation is that the United Energy Petroleum Sales Branch faces situations where indicators are exceeded every time, often appearing in situations where there is no oil to sell.

Secondly, it is the supply-demand relationship. Limited by the joint supply and sales system, many joint units and even car manufacturing enterprises have written to the Red Steel Group to apply for their own cars or products to enjoy the sales system of United Energy.

Gas stations haven't increased, but the demand for oil is increasing day by day. This supply-demand relationship is seriously inverted, and the situation is quite awkward.

On one hand, it is the limited flow of the Petroleum Supply and Sales Company, and on the other hand, it is the growing demand for oil. In the era of planned economy, the Red Steel Group can only declare an oil usage plan once a year. The efficiency of this is clear at a glance.

Does the Petroleum Supply and Sales Company really have no oil?

Not necessarily. The cadres of United Energy run around, and they can always deduct some indicators from the supply and sales company every month.

That is to say, there is still oil, but it cannot be given casually without indicators and plans, because it needs to be stored, and without production plans, the chemical plant won't produce more.

Then is it necessary to build an oil refinery in Liaodong?

This is equivalent to the power station system that Bu Qingfang has been doing. Energy supply is the lubricant for industrial development, and it is needed at any time.

Li Xuewu has a plan to build the oil refinery in the Yingcheng Port Area. Although it is a bit far from the inland oil fields, it is close enough to the sea.

Don't think that owning an oil refinery is equivalent to owning an infinite energy supply. That is a big mistake.

Because crude oil production is also fixed. Without indicators and plans, where can you get crude oil to refine into gasoline and diesel?

However, no one can refuse the temptation of owning an oil refinery, even Li Xuewu can't.

Of course, some people will say that the Red Steel Group only has four gas stations and wants to run an oil refinery. If you are given four ships, you would have to plunder the Atlantic!

Do you know what strategic investment is?

In the general environment of industrial enterprises being decentralized to provinces and cities nationwide, building an oil refinery and expanding energy-related businesses will be much more convenient.

Especially in Liaodong, the Red Steel Group already has the foundation of industry, and can even unite with Beijing Chemical to open another chemical industrial cluster.

United Energy lays out the industrial power field. If it can also master the oil refining and sales business, it will definitely be a qualitative improvement for the Red Steel Group's industries in Liaodong.

Because Liaodong industry also lacks oil. Adding an oil refinery and adding an energy supply unit with experimental nature is equivalent to increasing the speed and quality of transportation, adding an engine to industry.

Li Xuewu saying he wants to manage Northeast Asia is not a joke, but the premise must be to firmly take root in this land of the Northeast.

The Red Steel Group established itself in Steel City because it had the foundation of the Metallurgical Plant, plus the right time, right place, and right people. Steel City also hopes for the Red Star Factory's investment.

Similarly, Yingcheng Shipping is a real investment. Even if it is building a port area, the locality is enjoying this kind of return.

The same goes for the Fengcheng Machinery Factory. What the Red Steel Group paid is not just the acquisition funds, but also precious experience and technology.

Without investment, there is no return; without return, people won't let you take root and sprout on this land.

So this time, don't rush, take it slow. He wants to firmly bring the Beijing Chemical Group over and use capital means to complete the acquisitions required by the project.

Previous ones were all small troubles. This time it is large-scale capital operation. The engineering construction involved is not a small amount.

The Red Steel Group must participate throughout the process to ensure that it earns enough benefits in this project, not only to cultivate the reputation of the Beijing Chemical Group but also to support the benefits of Beijing Chemical's third-tier industries in Liaodong.

He not only wants to do it for those people inside the group to see, but also for the leaders above, as well as the management of other brother units to see.

What is modern enterprise management and business means, what is the operation and layout of the capital market, what is enterprise groupization.

Only this once, he wants to lay the foundation of his talent in enterprise and industrial management within the group, and let those who question him shut up.

At the same time, he must let the leaders above see his talent and give him more authority and trust, so that he can walk to a more important position.

Let brother units see, it is "flowers blooming outside the wall, fragrant inside the wall," helping him stabilize the situation, and also creating a talent persona.

Today he dares to refuse Shenfei, the group's trust in him has almost collapsed, but tomorrow he refuses the same cooperation, hoping everyone will shut up.

"Secretary-General Li, didn't disturb you, did I?"

"Where, it's just a bit surprising." Li Xuewu smiled and shook hands with Liu Gang, the person in charge of the Changhe Machinery Factory who visited suddenly.

Liu Gang explained with a smile: "The work in Fengcheng is finished, and I am preparing to return to the factory. I thought and thought, and still wanted to come to you to take a look."

"Hehehe, welcome, welcome." Li Xuewu smiled politely, examined him, and asked: "Did you come from Deputy Director Lu's side?"

"Yes, he asked me to bring his regards." Liu Gang let go of his hand, smiled and joked: "Said it's not to urge you to handle things."

"Hahaha—" Li Xuewu smiled and waved his hand: "Even if he urges me, it's useless. My way of handling things is very slow."

"That's different from the situation I heard." Liu Gang was invited to a meeting room, and said with a smile: "Everyone says you, Secretary-General Li, do things vigorously and are the most decisive."

"That also depends on the time, right?"

After Li Xuewu sat down, he waited for Zhang Enyuan to set the tea, then looked at the other party and asked: "You came to me, it shouldn't just be to take a look, right?"

He raised his eyebrows and said: "Or you say what you want to see, so I can arrange for people to make preparations?"

"Look—" Liu Gang raised his head, smiled and said: "I said you are a straightforward person, doing things directly enough."

"A lot of work recently, time is too tight."

Li Xuewu didn't act either, explained frankly with a smile: "If you had said hello in advance, I could have let the secretary set aside time. Now..."

"Don't worry, I won't cause you trouble."

Liu Gang was easy to talk to, waved his hand and said: "I'm just itching to see Steel Flight, especially your Lark and Jaguar."

He looked at Li Xuewu deeply, then changed to a serious expression and said: "Deputy Director Lu told me your opinions and suggestions."

"Oh—" Li Xuewu had already guessed why he came, nodded slowly and explained: "Just a little immature idea, please don't mind."

"How could I." Liu Gang looked at him with a smile and said: "Hu Bureau introduced your actions and contributions in the Red Steel Group."

He also said very bluntly: "Being able to single-handedly create the Red Steel Group's third-tier industries, especially Steel Flight, respecting your opinions is what should be done."

"You are still too polite." Li Xuewu's expression was light; he looked at him and emphasized: "It's best if the opinions and suggestions are useful. If they are useless, don't believe them; just treat it as me talking nonsense."

"So I came." Liu Gang looked at him very seriously and said: "You not only introduced the KH-4, but also introduced France's Lark and Jaguar, right?"

"You must have some understanding of helicopters, so you put forward those opinions and suggestions."

He didn't ignore the opinions and suggestions put forward by Li Xuewu because of his pride in the Z-6 that was about to be put into production.

If it were someone else, he might have laughed it off, but with the endorsement of Lu Qiming and Hu Ke, plus the success of Steel Flight, how could he dare to underestimate it?

So after careful consideration, he still listened to Lu Qiming's suggestion and came to Steel City to see Li Xuewu to clarify the matter.

"I don't dare to say that." Li Xuewu thought for a while, and also answered very seriously: "Because I am not an engineering professional technical personnel."

He stood up, walked to the display rack, took down several helicopter models, and placed them on the coffee table between the two.

Actually, as soon as he entered, Liu Gang discovered that one wall of the meeting room had been painted with propaganda, about the Red Steel Group's corporate culture propaganda or something.

The other wall was a wooden rack, on which many such models were placed, especially three helicopter models with different shapes.

"You should know this model; it's the KH-4 we are currently producing."

Li Xuewu pushed the model forward and introduced: "After Kawasaki Heavy Industries got the authorization for the Bell 47, they lengthened the fuselage to 9.7 meters."

He gestured with both hands and introduced: "The rotor diameter was expanded to 10.7m, and the seats were increased to four."

"Especially the tuning and standard resetting of the engine."

"It uses a piston engine, right?"

Liu Gang certainly had paid attention to this model. The Red Steel Group was quite famous in the current domestic aircraft manufacturing field.

But under the fame, it also appeared very awkward, because the three models that Steel Flight had in production and was about to put into production had nothing to do with the mainland's helicopter industry.

Neither self-developed models, nor modified models, and not even obtained through formal channels. Even the procurement of various units was a bit secretive.

Why support Gan Flight to engage in helicopter production? It was to get rid of the instability of Steel Flight's "borrowed" nature and not put all eggs in one basket. Liu Gang knew very well that the Red Steel Group had made a lot of money selling helicopters, and even the domestic sales results were very good. If the Lark and Jaguar were put into production, even if it was for the sake of face, domestic units would take the initiative to place orders. Once it reached a certain magnitude, face and danger wouldn't be important anymore.

"Right, piston engine." Li Xuewu introduced very skillfully: "160km/h top speed, 320km range, 320kg effective payload."

He picked up the model and gestured: "In the past few years, Kawasaki Heavy Industries could sell dozens of them a year. Reconnaissance for the Ground Self-Defense Force, patrol for the Maritime Self-Defense Force, Thai and Australian customers—it really swept everything. I felt envious just looking at the data."

Liu Gang looked at him with strange eyes, a smile on his lips, and reminded: "But your Steel Flight has already achieved mass production, and is even grabbing their international market share."

"No, you're wrong." Li Xuewu put down the little airplane and said lightly: "We are eating other people's leftovers."

"The international market for this kind of small aircraft isn't very broad; it's biased towards the civilian market." He looked at the other party and explained: "Although our price is pressed very low, we lack necessary after-sales support. This point is very important."

"Moreover, Mitsubishi has the HSS-2 Sea King, and Fuji has the OH-6D Loach. They are still the big brothers in the international aircraft market."

"But you are about to have the Lark and Jaguar."

Liu Gang reached out and pushed the other two helicopter models, raised his head to look at Li Xuewu, and said: "You are still the price bandits of the international aircraft market."

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu shook his head with a bitter smile, picked up the Lark helicopter and emphasized: "Like the KH-4, we don't have authorization."

"Authorization?" Liu Gang looked at him unexpectedly and asked: "Does this still need authorization?"

"You certainly don't need it." Li Xuewu took a long breath, put down the model in his hand, leaned on the sofa and said: "The Z-6 belongs to a self-developed model. You can completely make advertisements generously in the international market."

"So..." Liu Gang frowned and looked at him, asking: "The three models you produce don't count as proper..."

"Right, not very proper." Li Xuewu smiled at him and said: "It can even be said to be an existence that disturbs the market. The original factory doesn't recognize it either."

"Then why sell you production lines and technology?"

Liu Gang looked at him puzzled and asked: "Aren't they afraid you will disturb the market?"

"Profit." Li Xuewu answered simply: "Selling airplanes and selling production lines both make money, and they are sure we can't sell normally."

"Lacking later maintenance, lacking original factory certification, who dares to buy?"

"Ah?" Liu Gang looked at him in shock and asked: "Then wouldn't it be smashed in your hands?"

"Hahaha—" Li Xuewu laughed, covered half of his face and said: "But we don't have inventory."

"..." Liu Gang was confused by him, looking at him blankly.

"There will always be someone to buy." Li Xuewu nodded slowly and explained meaningfully: "As long as the price is right, they don't care about after-sales."

Liu Gang still didn't understand, but knew that if he asked further, Li Xuewu wouldn't say it, not to mention their Z-6 was still in the research and development test stage.

"The Lark and Jaguar are both turbine engines." He asked about the purpose of coming here: "Can I go take a look?"

"Of course, I can even take you to fly."

Li Xuewu patted his knees with both hands and said: "Let's go, it's this time in the morning, let's go to Steel Flight for lunch."

Liu Gang was shocked by his words, completely unable to tell if he was bragging or joking.

Until he made a call, took him by car to Steel Flight's aircraft test field, and only then did he discover that he was being serious.

"No—" Liu Gang looked at him vaguely and asked: "Do you really know how to operate a helicopter?"

"It's very simple, just like riding a motorcycle." Li Xuewu turned back and smiled, taking him to the KH-4 helicopter parked there.

Someone was waiting there, seemingly not taking this kind of scene seriously. Could it be that they were used to it?

Liu Gang really regretted it. He shouldn't have just agreed to Li Xuewu like that. What if it fell down? Young people are like this; they don't have hair on their mouths and don't do things reliably.

But Li Xuewu didn't care about his hesitation. With Wang Xiaonan's help, he understood the condition of the machine today and put on sunglasses.

"Are you really going to fly it yourself?" Liu Gang was called over, his face a bit white, and he said vaguely: "Actually, I'll just take a look."

"It's still more intuitive to fly once." Li Xuewu didn't intend to let him go and jumped onto the plane first.

Liu Gang was from a technical background, but hadn't really piloted a helicopter himself. Today could be considered a small knife cutting the butt—opened his eyes.

He was almost pushed into the cabin by Wang Xiaonan, and then was slammed into the cabin, together with Li Xuewu, who was skillfully manipulating the helicopter.

And when Li Xuewu reminded him to wear his headphones well and turned on the engine, he knew that it was difficult to get off, so he could only be driven to the shelf, sacrificing his life to accompany the gentleman.

Hum—

Just after attending the completion ceremony of the Steel City United Hospital building, Li Xuewu took the train back to Beijing and started his vacation schedule for this month.

And at the same time, on a train from Beijing to Liaodong, a joint investigation team organized by Meng Niansheng, Director of the First Supervision Division, rushed to Steel City Metallurgical to start taking over the investigation of the No. 4 furnace workshop.

Li Xuewu didn't have the slightest intention of staying in Steel City to plan strategies, as if doing so could prove his innocence.

Actually, it didn't matter. He just wanted a vacation. Returning at this time could instead fall into the position of taking the initiative.

Actually, Li Haiyang didn't suggest him to leave at this time. After all, Zhou Wanquan didn't come, and Su Weide didn't come, so he could completely suppress Meng Niansheng.

Li Haiyang was certainly familiar with Meng Niansheng, and Li Xuewu was also very familiar with him. As early as when he served as the security section chief, this person was Yang Zongfang's colleague.

After so many years, Yang Zongfang had changed tracks and became the Executive Deputy Factory Director of the Metallurgical Plant, while Meng Niansheng was still struggling in the position of discipline inspection.

The reason why Li Haiyang said he could suppress Meng Niansheng was because he had served as Deputy Secretary of Discipline Inspection, which could be considered Meng Niansheng's leader.

Now Zhou Wanquan sent the other party to investigate the No. 4 furnace. If you say there is no point in it, who would believe it?

So Li Xuewu didn't want to put pressure on Meng Niansheng, nor did he want to make himself unhappy. Let them investigate.

If Su Weide doesn't find out something, he won't let it go, and Li Xuewu hopes he finds out something; he must find it out.

"Daddy—" Li Shu was pleasantly surprised to find that her father suddenly appeared at the gate. She thought it was her illusion.

"Daddy!" She ran over happily, threw herself into her father's arms, and her shouting even carried a crying tone.

Li Xuewu had been busy for the past two months and hadn't been home. Even if he returned to Beijing temporarily, he would return in the middle of the night and leave early in the morning.

Li Shu missed her father so much that she wouldn't let go after hugging his neck.

Li Shun held a book in his hand, looked at the father and daughter with a smile, and Li Ning, who was sitting beside him and wanted to get up and run over, was also eager to try.

"Yo! Xuewu is back—"

The neighbor in the courtyard went out, saw him carrying the child in, and greeted him with a smile.

Li Xuewu nodded in response, walked into the screen door at the entrance of the inverted seat room, and only then squatted down to look at his father and asked: "Why are you sitting here?"

"Been here all afternoon, cool."

Li Shun had long examined his son, tried hard to restrain his smile, and asked lightly: "Just back? Home yet?"

"Came over as soon as I put down my luggage."

Li Xuewu didn't have the self-made majesty of an old father, looked at the daughter in his arms with a smile, and the son and nephew who were sitting upright on small stools, and asked: "Studying? How's the study?"

"Not so good—" Li Tang sighed like a little ghost and explained: "Grandpa asked us to memorize books, we don't understand."

"Is that so—" Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and asked: "Then what did he ask you to memorize?"

"Grandpa taught us to memorize songs." Li Ning performed well and recited to his father: "Ephedra Decoction, Ephedra Decoction uses cinnamon twigs; almond, licorice, four kinds applied; fever, aversion to cold, headache and neck pain, panting and no sweat, taking it is suitable."

"San'ao Decoction, San'ao Decoction uses ephedra, apricot, licorice; the effect of clearing the lungs and relieving asthma is not low."

He recited two in a row, then opened his mouth, suddenly stuck, and explained in a small voice awkwardly: "I didn't remember the rest."

"Hehehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled and patted his daughter's back, asking: "Li Shu, how many soup head songs can you recite?"

"Hmm—" Li Shu just swayed her body, buried her head in her father's shoulder, and acted shamelessly, not wanting to get up, let alone be checked by her father.

Looking at her appearance, she wasn't much better than her younger brother.

Looking at Li Tang's distressed face, he didn't know how to comfort his father.

"Sigh—" Li Shun put down the book in his hand, sighed helplessly, and said: "Only memorized two paragraphs all afternoon."

Perhaps it was the crisis of having no successors, or the helplessness of not being able to be cruel to discipline his grandchildren, anyway, this sigh sounded ear-piercing.

Li Xuewu patted his daughter and comforted his father: "You persist a bit more, they are still young, they will memorize more slowly."

He also added insult to injury and emphasized: "When we were young, didn't we also not memorize two paragraphs in a day."

"Are you very proud?" Li Shun couldn't bear to lecture his grandchildren, but he could bear to lecture his son. He glared at him and said: "It's all your fault."

"I—" Li Xuewu looked at his son with bright eyes and his daughter who was acting shamelessly, laughing and crying. What does it have to do with him that the two children learn slowly?

But who let the old father be unreasonable, blaming all the children's poor learning on him, thinking he came back and disrupted their learning rhythm.

Well, fortunately he is his own son, otherwise he would have to be hung up and apologize. At this time, Li Shun's resentment, even if a dog passed by, would have to carry two charges.

"Xuewu is back?" Hearing the sound, Liu Yin came over from the front courtyard, crossed the hanging flower gate, and only then saw him, asking pleasantly: "Just back from Liaodong?"

"Hehe, came over as soon as I got home."

Li Xuewu smiled and explained to his mother: "The train was late, otherwise I could have been earlier. Only Er Ya is at home."

"I was saying let them come home for dinner."

Liu Yin walked over, looked at her son with a smile, and said: "Hungry, right? There are steamed buns from noon at home, want to pad it a bit first?"

"Not hungry, wait to eat together in the evening."

Li Xuewu waved his hand, wanting to let go of the daughter in his arms, but Li Shu still wouldn't let go, not knowing if she was embarrassed because she shed tears.

"What's this for?" Liu Yin smiled and reached out to pull Li Shu's arm, saying: "Miss your dad that much?"

"What are you doing?" Liu Yin laughed, reached out to pull Li Shu's arm, and said, "Do you miss your dad that much?"

She also knew Grandma was teasing her, and was really embarrassed.

"Hehehe—" Li Xuewu smiled and explained: "Cried as soon as I came back, as if she was taught too harshly by my dad."

"—!" Li

"—!" Li Shun was just thinking about whether to change his teaching method when he heard his son tattling, and his eyes glared over immediately.

"I've been saying your dad is too impatient!"

At this moment, Liu Yin naturally chimed in: "The child is at a naughty age; how could she be constrained by you?"

Li Shun didn't want to argue with his wife, so he just kept glaring at his son for meddling and daring to tattle on him.

"It's not that I blame Dad for being impatient," Li Xuewu said, feigning depression. "Only the third one learned the ancestral craft; my eldest brother and I are too stupid."

"What are you saying now?" Liu Yin glared at Li Shun and said, "It's not easy for our son to come back for a visit, and you're just nagging—"

"..." Li Shun's nostrils flared instantly, and he squinted at his son: You brat, you're itching for a beating, aren't you!

"Alright, go pick up Gu Ning; come home for dinner tonight."

Liu Yin scolded Li Shun a couple of times, reached out to pull Li Shu's arm, and said, "Come on, go cook with Grandma. How did you help Grandma start the fire?"

"My mom will be off work in a little while." Li Shu was truly a handful; she let go of her father's neck, picked at her fingers, lowered her head, and muttered, "I want to go with Dad to pick up Mom from work."

"So you're not helping Grandma start the fire then?" Liu Yin teased her on purpose, saying, "Your grandpa still wants to teach you how to recite."

"I miss Mom—" Li Shu kept her head down, but started shedding golden tears, looking so aggrieved.

"Go, go," Liu Yin said with amusement. "As if you haven't seen her in ages."

"Dad, I want to go too!" Li Ning couldn't help but jump off the small stool and said excitedly, "I miss Mom too."

"I miss Second Aunt too—"

Li Tang was even more proactive than Li Ning; hearing that his eldest sister didn't have to recite and could ride in the car with his second uncle, he jumped up as well.

"Hehehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled dryly at his father, who was blowing his beard and staring, and reminded the three little ones: "You have to get Grandpa's permission."

"Grandpa—" Li Ning, relying on being the youngest, was the first to pounce on him, coaxing his grandpa: "Good Grandpa, I miss Mom."

Li Shun gritted his teeth, truly wanting to chase his son out with a stick; he insisted on causing trouble when he was trying to teach.

"Good Grandpa, I miss Second Aunt."

It wasn't just Li Xuewu causing trouble, but also the self-smart Li Tang; he was truly shameless, clinging to his grandpa's arm and shaking it back and forth.

Li Shu was much more formidable; she stood up from her father's arms and just kept shedding tears, determined that if he didn't let her go, she would keep crying.

"Go, go, go, sigh—"

Li Shun stood up, bracing his knees, sighed helplessly, didn't even look at his son who was smirking, and turned to head to the west courtyard.

"Yay! Hahaha—"

Li Ning and Li Tang were overjoyed, and even Li Shu stopped crying; she wiped the tears from her face with her small hands and grabbed her father's hand again.

The little girl had grown up; she wasn't as foolishly naughty as when she was little. She knew how to coax people, how to pester them, and even how to use coquetry and tearful offensives.

There was only one person in the family who knew how to act spoiled now; who could resist that?

When Li Yue grows up, Li Shu's level of importance might drop a bit, but she would always be the eldest daughter of the third generation of the family.

The term "eldest daughter" had been overused to the point of seeming worthless, much like the term "Miss."

But when applied to Li Xue or Li Shu, the term was still quite valuable.

Li Shun's salary went without saying; if it hadn't been for missing out on the good times, Li Xue could have lived the life of a young lady.

It was just that those years were too hungry, and with only Li Shun earning money for the family, supporting the old and the young, plus three growing boys.

In recent years, as the children grew up, married, and had their own children, Li Shun's salary finally showed its power.

Good heavens, it was over seventy yuan.

Don't think that because Li Xuewu's salary was high, the purchasing power of this era had declined; that was because he made great contributions and his rank was promoted quickly.

The true benchmark should be the neighbors in the courtyard; even Li Xuewen's family couldn't be compared to the norm.

Both husband and wife were university instructors, high-level intellectuals themselves, receiving high salaries and high benefits.

Look at the third brother and his wife; one was an attending physician, the other a branch cadre, so their salary level was naturally very good, and their standard of living was also very good.

It was just that Zhao Yafang came from the countryside and lacked the romance of city life; most of the money in her hands went to expenses and savings.

Look at Ji Yuxiu; the couple spent money quite freely.

Whenever there was a new movie, the couple would definitely go see it; wherever there was good food, the couple would definitely patronize it.

Even in terms of clothing and appearance, if it weren't for the fact that they still had to be mindful of their professions, they would definitely be willing to spend money.

Even so, they had the elderly to take care of their daily lives, their house had been prepared long ago, and they had almost no pressure, so they bought whatever they wanted.

It had been decided long ago that Li Xuecai would move out as soon as he got married; just like with Li Xuewu, Li Shun gave him a sum of money.

Li Xuecai and Ji Yuxiu didn't want it, but they were scolded by Liu Yin when they tried to return it, so they finally kept it.

However, they had no financial pressure, and being young and cheerful, their salaries were enough to make their lives carefree and happy.

Liu Yin couldn't stand it but couldn't say anything; Ji Yuxiu was definitely different from Zhao Yafang, as she came from a high-ranking family and grew up in a completely different environment.

Sometimes when Ji Yuxiu bought new clothes, Liu Yin would urge Zhao Yafang to buy some too, to pick good ones, and she would pay for them.

And the result?

Zhao Yafang didn't compare herself to that; she didn't even take Ji Yuxiu buying new clothes to heart. As for the concept of money, she had long since developed immunity while managing accounts for Li Xuewu.

It could be said that even Gu Ning didn't know how much money Li Xuewu could earn in a year at the recycling station, but Zhao Yafang did.

Come to think of it, is it a bit awkward for a brother-in-law to give money to his sister-in-law?

But Li Xuewu gave it, and Zhao Yafang didn't want it—not pretending, but truly not wanting it, saying she didn't know where to put it.

The couple didn't even know where to hide the salaries they earned, so they eventually deposited them all in the bank; Li Xuewu giving so much money was just a burden.

Li Xuewu and his wife hadn't discussed this; Li Xuewu knew his younger brother gave money, and fearing his wife might have concerns, he asked about it.

Zhao Yafang was blunt: at the second brother's level, looking at his character and attitude toward the family, what meaning did it have whether they took the money or not?

Her own younger brother was arranged by the second brother-in-law, and her younger sister was also arranged by him, even living in their home.

She told Li Xuewu that not only were they not short of money now, but even if they were short of money one day, could Li Xuewu just watch and do nothing?

The elderly were seemingly supported by them, but in reality, Li Xuewu was spending the money; weren't the daily necessities in the house all sent by Shen Guodong?

By not taking that money, managing accounts for the second brother-in-law made them a family; by taking it, she would become a colleague working for him.

Therefore, the money couldn't be taken, and she didn't want it even if offered.

The smartest and most tacit understanding in the whole family was between Li Xuewu and her; the two of them had only mentioned money once and never asked about it again.

Zhao Yafang really wasn't short of money; Li Xuecai drove a car to work, but after three days, his father-in-law grabbed his ear and chased him home, forbidding him from showing off again.

Driving a car to a workplace where you could walk to in the time it takes to pass gas?

That car was only kept at home for long trips, and it was used more by Shen Guodong and the others at the recycling station.

Li Xuewu and his wife had a long commute, but even if they were given a motorcycle, they wouldn't want it, feeling it was too dangerous.

They weren't short of money now; they rode bicycles to work and took the bus on rainy days, which was safe and convenient.

What is an eldest daughter?

Zhao Yafang, who had a say at home and managed the household as the eldest daughter-in-law at her husband's home, counts.

Li Xue, whose father had financial resources, whose brother had strength, and who had a job herself, counts.

Li Shu, who lived the life of a young lady, had countless toys, had a tutor, and had parents with high status, also counts.

Someone who puts a basket of tangerines on a dirt kang in the Northeast, wears yoga pants, and is too lazy to get off the ground, only knowing how to order their parents and grandparents around—that's not an eldest daughter.