Chapter 1650: Devil's Deal

"Why go around in a circle to pick me up?"

Yu Haitang walked out of the Broadcasting Building with her bag and saw Peng Xiaoli standing at the door in a cotton overcoat.

She felt warm in her heart, but she still complained.

"Why didn't you wait in the lobby? Are you cold?"

Married for more than two years, Peng Xiaoli had long known what kind of personality she had, so he didn't care at all.

He threw away the cigarette butt in his hand, tilted his chin, and said, "I just arrived, I was smoking, so how could I have the nerve to go into the lobby?"

"You don't usually act like this on weekdays. What's wrong?" Yu Haitang looked him over and asked, "Are you getting promoted?"

"Nothing of the sort—" Peng Xiaoli said arrogantly, "Qian Youqiong gave birth, a big fat boy."

Hearing him say this, Yu Haitang curled her lips and said, "Envious? Let's go home and have one too."

"Hehe—" Peng Xiaoli looked at her with some surprise; she hadn't agreed to this before. "What's gotten into you today?"

"What? Are you unwilling?"

Yu Haitang raised her eyebrows, deliberately pursing her lips to tease him, "If you're unwilling, let's wait another two years."

"I'm willing, I'm willing." Peng Xiaoli wouldn't miss this opportunity; he stood up straight from beside the motorcycle, took her bag flatteringly, and asked, "You weren't stimulated by Qian Youqiong, were you?"

"Does having a child need someone to stimulate you?"

Yu Haitang poked him and scolded, "Hurry up, it's freezing."

"I'll tell you an even more stimulating piece of news."

Peng Xiaoli explained while starting the motorcycle and twisting the throttle, "Gu Cheng's arrangement has come down; he's going to the Medical and Educational Bureau."

"Really—" Yu Haitang asked in surprise, "Section Chief? Or Deputy Section Chief?"

"How could it be Deputy Section Chief? Old Su still has to give some face, and besides, he has to save face himself."

"That's really something—" Yu Haitang pursed her lips and said, "Coming in as a Section Chief, he's saved three years of struggle."

"Not necessarily," Peng Xiaoli saw her get on the back seat of the motorcycle and twisted the throttle to head out, explaining loudly, "He's going to the Organization Section; I'm afraid he'll have to grind for a few years before he makes it."

"Oh, isn't this a double happiness?"

Yu Haitang only then reacted, patted his shoulder, and asked, "When are they inviting guests?"

"That's still early. Let's go to the hospital to see Qian Youqiong today." Peng Xiaoli explained, "You give her 5 yuan."

"Giving it today?" Yu Haitang didn't mind the 5 yuan; usually, the gift money for relatives was five mao or one yuan, but Peng Xiaoli and Gu Cheng were close friends, and the relationship between the two families was quite good.

Furthermore, both families were dual-income households with high incomes; gift-giving was just a matter of courtesy, so they didn't really care about the amount.

"Give it today, and when she finishes her confinement, we'll send some children's clothes; nothing else is needed." Peng Xiaoli explained in the cold wind, "It's better than squeezing into someone else's gift account; it looks better."

"You're the one with all the tricks—"

Yu Haitang was wearing a woolen overcoat, sitting on the back seat of the motorcycle, which was considered a cut above on the way home from work.

Her rank wasn't high enough to use official vehicles, although the Broadcasting Station was an independent unit and could completely use vehicles across ranks.

But Yu Haitang had ambition and didn't want to stumble on this kind of problem. Don't look at the fact that the Group wasn't investigating these problems now; the Group's management was changing, and who knew what kind of wind would blow.

Her current position was at a critical point of being neither up nor down, so she couldn't afford to be blown away by the wind just for the sake of comfort.

Others didn't understand the affairs of the Group's Management Committee, but she knew them clearly. That Deputy Director Zhou who came from the city wasn't a good person; who knew when he would take her as a typical example to operate on.

So she didn't take the office vehicle even though the Broadcasting Station had one; she just rode her bicycle to and from work.

It wasn't far anyway; riding a bike took only six or seven minutes, maybe a bit more if there was traffic.

Peng Xiaoli coming to pick her up was because he was afraid it wouldn't be convenient to ride a bike after dark and after the snow; this wasn't the first time.

As for being moved to the point of wanting to have a child for Peng Xiaoli, or being stimulated by Qian Youqiong, that wasn't the case; it was mainly because the keynote of the Group's Representative Congress had been set, and her position shouldn't have any major changes in the next two years.

Work had long been sorted out; having a child in more than half a year wouldn't delay her career at all.

However, listening to Peng Xiaoli introduce Gu Cheng's arrangement, she still thought a lot.

Just as Peng Xiaoli bought some fruit from the market and the two walked toward the United Hospital, she asked softly, "Did Gu Cheng talk to the Secretary-General? Why was it arranged like this?"

"He went to find the Secretary-General, wanting to go to Liaodong for tempering."

Peng Xiaoli explained with a smile, "But he was pushed back by the Secretary-General, roughly meaning his ability wasn't up to standard."

"You two are half a catty and eight taels," Yu Haitang looked at the sense of superiority on his face and said with amusement, "What are you proud of?"

"I'm just stronger than him." Peng Xiaoli stared and emphasized, "What kind of environment is he in, and what kind of environment am I in? Who does he follow, and who do I follow?"

"Don't look at the fact that he's a Section Chief now that he's gone down, but don't even think about getting promoted within five years. I'm different."

He tilted his chin and explained, "I have hopes of being promoted to Section Chief next year, a solid production management department, one step at a time, and I definitely have a chance to be promoted to Deputy Division Chief within four years."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, look at how capable you are!"

Yu Haitang recognized his words, but still curled her lips and mocked him, "I don't know, I thought this was a done deal."

"Let me tell you, don't talk about this with Gu Cheng!"

She shook his arm and reminded him softly, "Don't spoil people's fun at this time."

"I know that—" Peng Xiaoli nodded and said as he walked up the stairs, "But he's made it out, so he has a bright future. We're not in the same system."

"Alright, stop bragging—" Yu Haitang signaled to the Obstetrics and Gynecology inpatient department and found the front desk to ask for Qian Youqiong's ward.

But she didn't expect Nie Xiaoguang to come over from the inpatient department with a lunch box, and the two sides bumped into each other.

"Oh! Section Chief Peng, Station Master Yu."

Nie Xiaoguang greeted with a smile, the smile on his face appearing a bit strange, as if he had just been thinking about something dangerous.

Peng Xiaoli looked him over and frowned slightly, "Why haven't I seen you lately? What have you been doing?"

"Nothing, don't I go to work every day." Nie Xiaoguang curled his lips and said, "What would I eat if I didn't go to work."

"You are..." Yu Haitang pointed to the lunch box in his hand and asked, "Is someone sick?"

She glanced at the Obstetrics and Gynecology department; it couldn't be Nie Xiaoguang's mother, so it could only be Han Lu.

Nie Xiaoguang raised his eyebrows and said, "Our Han Lu is sick; I'm here to deliver her food."

As he spoke, he signaled toward the stairs and said, "I have things to do, you guys go ahead, let's talk later."

He really didn't care what Peng Xiaoli and Yu Haitang were doing, and it seemed he didn't take this encounter to heart.

Watching his retreating back, Yu Haitang looked at the frowning Peng Xiaoli and asked, "Is he still in contact with the Secretary-General?"

"How is that possible—" Peng Xiaoli snorted lightly, "The Secretary-General is righteous, but he also cherishes his feathers most. How could he be a good person to such an incapable person?"

"Looking at him, he's a bit pathological."

Yu Haitang also frowned lightly and said, "Han Lu is sick, does he have to be so happy? That smile isn't a good smile."

"Don't worry about them—" Peng Xiaoli withdrew his gaze from the stairs and continued walking, saying as he walked, "This kid is holding back evil; it will be a problem sooner or later."

"And I heard from others that he and Han Lu aren't a proper husband and wife relationship at all; who knows what evil he's holding back."

"How do you know?" Yu Haitang looked at him and said, "Is your circle so well-informed?"

"It's almost common knowledge."

Peng Xiaoli didn't hide it from her and explained bluntly, "He wants to avenge his father's murder; everyone knows this."

"Now even Director Li doesn't dare to provoke him. If he wasn't afraid, why would he arrange Han Lu for him?"

"This is truly—" Yu Haitang frowned in disgust and said, "Forget it, don't talk about them, it's disgusting."

Peng Xiaoli had no intention of talking about this either, but at that time he was Li Xuewu's secretary, and Nie Xiaoguang was a driver; they could be considered comrades who crawled out of the same trench.

It's just that among the few people who were Li Xuewu's secretaries and drivers, Nie Xiaoguang was the least motivated.

Li Xuewu's first secretary, Sha Qizhi, is now the Deputy General Manager of the Sales General Company and General Manager of the International Business Department, a deputy division-level cadre, and his career is quite successful.

Li Xuewu's first driver, Han Jiankun, is now the captain of the General Office's small car team, a deputy section-level cadre, and also very successful.

To compare with Nie Xiaoguang, there's Yu Zhe, but Yu Zhe is a bastard, but his work and marriage are not bad at all. Yu Zhe has been the most glorious during this period.

Listening to their circle's discussion, this time Yu Zhe went to Steel City, either to kill in all directions or to lose his head.

Anyway, it's these two things, but looking at the fact that the Group's supervision team in Beijing couldn't do anything to him, but was instead messed up by him, he wouldn't be honest when he went to Steel City.

The key is that Yu Zhe is different from Nie Xiaoguang; Yu Zhe has the Secretary-General supporting him, while Nie Xiaoguang is alone.

Yu Zhe is doing things for the Secretary-General, while Nie Xiaoguang is for private revenge; their fates and endings must be different.

Arriving at Qian Youqiong's ward, the few people had another round of greetings, and the focus of the topic was naturally the fat boy.

In the ward, Qian Youqiong's parents and Gu Cheng's parents were all there; both sides of the elders were naturally happy.

Gu Cheng wasn't there. Peng Xiaoli didn't see him and asked, only to find out that he had gone home to stew chicken soup because he felt sorry for his wife, and he had to cook it himself.

Both sides of the elders were laughing when they talked about his fuss, but they were also proud and happy for Gu Cheng, who had made further progress.

Gu Cheng wasn't there, so Peng Xiaoli couldn't stand this liveliness; he left Yu Haitang to chat for a while, while he went out to smoke a cigarette.

Just at the corner of the stairs on the right, he had just taken the first puff when he heard someone laughing and discussing, saying that young people nowadays play wildly, taking the dry path instead of the water path, and ended up being sent to the hospital for emergency rescue...

Peng Xiaoli was slightly stunned, glanced at the stairs, and thought to himself, could this wild player be...

After the bell for off-work rang, Li Xuewu waited for a while before going downstairs; he had already told Qi Yan to prepare the car.

It was the Land Cruiser he drove yesterday. The Old Lady and the others were still staying at home today, but he didn't have a place to go back to.

He had already told his family to let the Old Lady and the others stay for three days before going back.

Li Xuewu drove the car out of the headquarters, thinking about things while driving. At this time, the car was passing the intersection of Tuanjie Road and Commercial Street, which was the location of the United Hospital.

He saw a familiar figure in front, glanced at it when the car passed, and saw Han Yating's figure.

He drove for a while, then pulled the car steadily to the side of the road, pushed open the door, got out, and stood on the roadbed.

At this time, Han Yating was riding a bike with her child, and she was very surprised to see him, greeting him with a smile, "Secretary-General!"

"Why didn't you tie a scarf?"

Li Xuewu looked her over; she was only wearing a cotton hat, but her face was frozen into two red apples.

At this time, a small figure on the back seat of the bike behind her looked at him; it turned out the scarf was on the child.

"Forgot his when we came out in the morning."

Han Yating explained with some embarrassment, "The two of us said to ride slowly when we came out, to avoid the cold."

Li Xuewu walked to the back seat, stretched out his hands, looked at the little boy with a smile, and asked, "Can I hold you, little uncle?"

"Call uncle, how did Dad teach you?" Han Yating held the handlebars and turned back to say to her son, "Don't you recognize Uncle Li? He bought you toys when you were little."

"Uncle Li—" Ji Bufan listened to his mother's words before calling out to Li Xuewu.

His voice was crisp, but he only showed a pair of eyes, looking strange and clever, very much like his father, Ji Weidong.

Li Xuewu took his little hand, picked him up from the back seat, bounced him, and asked with a smile, "Are you this heavy?"

"Mom said if I eat a lot, I'll grow tall!"

Ji Bufan wasn't shy, or maybe he had already remembered who he was; at this moment, his little mouth started babbling.

Han Yating stood to the side and asked with a smile, "Are you just off work? Why are you driving yourself?"

"Mm, just came out from the headquarters side."

Li Xuewu walked to the car, pulled open the back door, signaled to Ji Bufan, and asked, "Is it good to take Uncle's car home?"

"Good!" Ji Bufan first responded excitedly, then hesitated and looked back, asking, "What about Mom?"

"Don't want Mom anymore," Li Xuewu teased him deliberately, "Come home with Uncle; Uncle has a big sister and a big brother at home."

"No! I want Mom—"

Ji Bufan was annoyed, jumping on his feet, wanting to get off the car, reaching out for his mother.

Li Xuewu patted his butt with a smile and said, "Then let Mom get in the car too. Then will you take Uncle's car?"

"That's okay." This kid was really clever; hearing him say this, he sat in the back seat.

"Forget it, Secretary-General, it's not far."

Han Yating said with some embarrassment, "The two of us walk like this every day; we're used to it."

"Get in the car first." Li Xuewu signaled to the back seat, pointed to her bike, and asked, "Are you going to store it at the hospital, or should I hang it on the roof of the car and take it back?"

"Secretary-General—" Han Yating hesitated for a moment, then took her bag off the handlebars and explained, "I have to use it for work tomorrow. Can your car fit it?"

Li Xuewu didn't talk nonsense; he lifted her ladies' bicycle and placed it on the roof rack of the Land Cruiser. This was originally a rack for the discipline department to install communication antennas.

He used the rope in the trunk to fix the bike, then let Han Yating get in the car, and he himself got into the driver's seat.

"There's a funeral in our courtyard. I'm afraid our Old Lady and the children will be scared, so I took them all to live at our house."

Li Xuewu explained while turning the steering wheel to get back on the road, "I don't have a place to stay, so I went to the courtyard, and didn't use a driver to send me; driving myself is more convenient."

After saying this, he looked at the mother and son from the rearview mirror and asked, "Is your unit's official vehicle so tight? Even you, the deputy editor-in-chief, don't have a car?"

"No—" Han Yating untied the scarf for her son; it was hot in the car, and she was afraid the child would sweat, so she explained, "They said they would borrow a car from the lower units, but I didn't let them borrow it."

"Who said they would help you borrow a car?" Li Xuewu asked indifferently, "Ding Zigui or Liu Songhua?"

Ding Zigui is the General Manager of Red Star Literature and Art Publishing House, and Liu Songhua is the Editor-in-Chief of the Publishing House, so he asked this.

Red Star Literature and Art Publishing House is a department-level unit with three subordinate section-level units, which are the United Broadcasting Station, United Industrial Newspaper, and Art Troupe.

Yu Haitang is the person in charge of the United Broadcasting Station, so she is a section chief. Han Yating was a section chief when she was at the International Hotel, and was promoted by one level when she was transferred to serve as deputy editor-in-chief.

Yu Haitang's rank would care about the use of official vehicles, but Han Yating had the qualifications to enjoy this kind of treatment.

The Red Steel Group has its own automobile manufacturing plant. Although it is very strict about the use of vehicles in various units, it wouldn't be lacking a vehicle for a deputy department-level cadre. Could he not be angry?

Han Yating also heard the anger in his tone and explained softly, "Last year, the Group required us to carry forward the spirit of self-reliance and try not to apply for financial budgets..."

"Do the management of your publishing house all ride bicycles? I'll ask Ding Zigui and Liu Songhua tomorrow."

Li Xuewu glanced at her from the rearview mirror and said with dissatisfaction, "Don't you know my phone number, or don't you know where my office is? Why didn't you tell me about this kind of thing?"

He was truly angry. Ji Weidong wasn't home and had long entrusted this mother and son to him. If they were wronged, would he be willing?

There is one thing he admits, which is that he rarely visits Han Yating and her son because it's inconvenient.

Even if there is a relative relationship, even if Ji Weidong entrusted them, he couldn't do this. Others wouldn't say anything about him, and he wouldn't care if they did, but Han Yating couldn't stand it.

He didn't go, but he often urged Ji Yuxiu to go home and take a look, or let Li Xue go to visit.

However, Han Yating didn't live in Ji Weidong's house for long before returning to her mother's house, so visiting was a bit inconvenient.

He was angry that Ding Zigui and Liu Songhua didn't give him face, and also angry that Han Yating didn't take the initiative to fight for it.

This was the welfare treatment she deserved. To say she was carrying forward the style, it was fine without children, but looking for trouble in this cold winter?

Some people say that cadres' children are children, but workers' children are not children?

Li Xuewu never thought so. When the Workers' New Village wasn't built, it was he who proposed to equip commuter buses.

Now most employees live in the Workers' New Village, and the distance to the United School is only a five or six-minute walk.

Only in special cases like Han Yating's, the commuter bus isn't worth running for her alone, so she can only walk.

But it's rare to see employees in her situation now. Not many have ancestral property like Seeing Sha Zhu, and who wouldn't want to live in a building if they rent a flat? Now there are fewer commuter buses.

Hearing the dissatisfaction in Li Xuewu's tone, Han Yating knew his character even better and didn't dare to explain anymore.

"I'll apply when there's a suitable opportunity."

"What suitable opportunity?" Li Xuewu glared at her from the rearview mirror and said, "I'll call Ding Zigui tomorrow."

"Forget it, Secretary-General." Han Yating knew he would be like this and said embarrassedly, "I'll say it myself."

"Don't worry about it; if you wait for yourself to say it, it will be the year of the monkey." Li Xuewu couldn't get angry with her either. Raising a child alone, Ji Weidong could often come back, but it was calculated by the month; when he was busy, he wouldn't come back for three or five months.

Especially this year, shipping and navigation work was tense, and he rarely saw Ji Weidong. He could understand Han Yating's bitterness.

Ji Bufan heard the conversation between his mother and uncle. Seeing them stop talking, he asked his mother what was wrong in a low voice.

Han Yating knew he had misunderstood and explained with a smile, "Uncle isn't angry; Uncle feels sorry for Mom."

"Oh—" Ji Bufan thought for a while, looked forward, and asked, "Uncle, do you work with my dad?"

"No, your dad is in another unit."

Li Xuewu couldn't vent his anger on the child, so he replied with a smile, "Why, do you miss Dad?"

"Missed—" Ji Bufan counted with his fingers, "Dad hasn't come back to see me for one, two, three months."

"Then Uncle will call your dad and ask him to come back to see the child." Li Xuewu teased him with a smile, "When your dad comes back, you tell him that if he doesn't come home often, you won't want him anymore."

"No—" Ji Bufan emphasized seriously, "I want Dad."

"Hahaha—" Li Xuewu chuckled, reached back to touch his little head, and asked Han Yating, "He was born in May 1967? I remember it was May?"

"Yes, May in the solar calendar." Han Yating's eyes were all on the child, and she responded with a smile, "Birthday is in April in the lunar calendar."

"In a blink, how fast time has passed."

Li Xuewu sighed, "When I first met you, you were still a little girl, heroic and high-spirited."

"No—" Listening to the leader's praise, Han Yating also sighed with emotion, "Still a little girl, the child is already three years old. When he grows up, I'll be old."

"It's fast; children grow with the wind."

Li Xuewu said while driving, "He is three months younger than our Li Ning; Li Ning was born in February in the solar calendar."

"Li Xuewen's family's child was also born in 1967, right?" Han Yating asked, "I remember they are the same age."

"Mm, more than a month older than Li Ning."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Do you remember Li Wenbiao, who used to make uniforms for us? His daughter was also born in 1967."

"Ah, I remember him—" Han Yating nodded, thought of something, and asked, "Where is he now?"

"Together with your Ji Weidong."

Li Xuewu looked at the rearview mirror and asked, "Didn't Ji Weidong mention him to you?"

"He never mentions this at home."

Han Yating lowered her head and explained, "He says it's to keep the two of us safe; not knowing anything is safer."

"Mm, that's true; he thinks thoroughly."

Li Xuewu nodded and continued, "Seeing Sha Zhu's family's child was also born in 1967, as well as my brother-in-law, and the child of Li Wenbiao's uncle's family."

He smiled and said, "That year, I just kept hearing news of children being born."

Actually, Li Xuewu hadn't mentioned his godson Li Xin yet. Li Xin was also born in 1967, a month older than Li Ning and a week younger than Li Tang. That year was truly, he could always hear this kind of news.

"Didn't you and Dr. Gu think about having another one?" Han Yating teased with a smile, "Your family doesn't lack this condition."

"It has nothing to do with conditions; it's that she's too tired."

Li Xuewu drove the car into the street of her mother's house and explained with a smile, "Now she is a backbone of the department, a key training object; various training projects can be arranged until the year after next."

He pointed to the building in front and asked, "Is it here? I haven't been here for a long time and forgot."

"Yes! It's my grandmother's house!"

Ji Bufan was already jumping and shouting in the back; it was the excitement of arriving home.

Han Yating helped the child put on his hat and looked forward, asking, "Secretary-General, come upstairs for a meal before leaving."

"No, I have arrangements tonight."

Li Xuewu pushed open the door and got out of the car, taking her bike off the roof rack.

It was because of his height and strength that an ordinary person really couldn't do this so easily.

By the time Han Yating got out of the car holding the child, Li Xuewu had already helped her park the bike at the door.

"Secretary-General, just leave it there."

Han Yating put her son on the ground, held his little hand, and walked over, saying, "Why don't you eat before leaving."

"I really have a social engagement, I'm not lying to you." Li Xuewu squatted down deliberately and stuffed ten yuan into Ji Bufan's pocket.

"Secretary-General—" Han Yating refused in a hurry, "We don't lack..."

"Don't tear it; it's for the child." Li Xuewu glared at her deliberately and said, "It's not for you."

After saying this, he pressed Ji Bufan's pocket, held his little hand, and said with a smile, "Keep it to buy something delicious, okay."

"Good—" Ji Bufan covered his pocket with a smile and said, "Thank you, Uncle—"

"Hahaha—" Li Xuewu rubbed his little head, stood up, looked at Han Yating who was about to say something else, and said, "You don't have to worry about the car; wait for my news."

"Also," without waiting for her to speak, Li Xuewu pointed to her and instructed, "Remember to call if you have anything; don't make me say it a second time." 【1650-20

"Also," before she could speak, Li Xuewu pointed at her again and reminded: "Remember to call if anything happens, don't make me say it a second time."

"I know." Han Yating could feel his care and concern, and could only respond.

Li Xuewu nodded and said to Ji Bufan: "When your father comes back, come to uncle's house as a guest with your mother."

"Goodbye, uncle—"

Seeming to know he was leaving, Ji Bufan waved his little hand and said: "Remember to help me call my father!"

"Okay, I'll remember."

Li Xuewu was amused by his innocence, and after saying goodbye to Han Yating, he got into the car and left.

It wasn't that there were no neighbors coming in or out after work downstairs, but neither he nor Han Yating cared about these gazes.

In this day and age, you have to be responsible for gossiping.

He said he had a social engagement tonight, and he really didn't lie to Han Yating; Gu Litong from Beijing No. 2 Auto invited him to dinner.

Of course, without a legitimate reason, Li Xuewu generally wouldn't accept this kind of banquet.

It wasn't that he was afraid of any influence, he just couldn't be bothered to socialize.

Wang Mr., the vice president of Ji Auto, and Yang Aidong, the factory director of Changzheng Auto, had come, and Gu Litong invited the three of them to dinner.

Ji Auto and Changzheng Auto, like Beijing No. 2 Auto, were both truck manufacturers, and Wang Mr. and Yang Aidong both knew Li Xuewu; they had worked together in East Germany.

Needless to say, Beijing No. 2 Auto and the Red Steel Group had cooperation in multiple directions on the automotive project, such as Hongyun.

Ji Auto and Chuan Auto's truck project introduced from East Germany was also something Li Xuewu had been busy with; the parties had this kind of connection.

The banquet was held in the small cafeteria of No. 2 Auto. In this day and age, not everyone played as big as the Red Steel Group; being able to have a hotel that provided external services in the city, generally keeping a good chef, and entertaining guests in the small cafeteria was considered a high standard.

Li Xuewu's car was naturally unimpeded in the compound of Beijing No. 2 Auto and drove straight to the entrance of the small cafeteria.

Gu Litong's secretary was already waiting at the entrance, and seeing him get out of the car, he ran over to report that everyone had arrived.

The subtext of this sentence was: he was the only one missing.

Li Xuewu could have arrived on time, but sending Han Yating and her child delayed him for a while.

At this time, Gu Litong heard the movement and greeted him; the two met in the lobby, greeted each other, and shook hands with a smile.

"Come quickly, Wang Mr. is just talking about you."

He smiled and invited Li Xuewu to walk toward the private room, joking as they walked: "Talking about your glory in East Germany."

"Why did they come to Beijing?" Li Xuewu glanced at him and asked: "Did you invite them?"

"No, they came for a meeting at the ministry."

Gu Litong explained softly: "We happened to be sitting together, and remembered you were also in Beijing, so we arranged dinner tonight."

As he said this, he pushed open the door and greeted with a smile: "Secretary-General Li is here, everyone applaud and welcome him!"

"Hahaha—" Yang Aidong had a loud voice, laughed, and applauded: "Secretary-General Li is late!"

"Met a friend on the way, sorry about that."

Li Xuewu waved his hand with a smile and said: "Why didn't you say anything when you came to Beijing? This makes me feel so embarrassed."

"There will be plenty of time for you to play the host!" Wang Mr. waved his hand with a smile: "But tonight it must be arranged by Comrade Litong."

"Although No. 2 Auto can't compare to Red Steel, tonight we are drinking Red Steel's wine." Gu Litong smiled and picked up the Five-Star Moutai: "It can be considered borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha, raising the grade."

"Is this grade still low?" It was hot in the room, so Li Xuewu smiled, took off his coat and jacket, pointed to the cold dishes already on the table, and asked: "Are you not living your life anymore?"

"Hahaha—" Gu Litong smiled and poured them wine, saying: "This is just the beginning, it can't even compare to Red Steel's fur. Let's just have a bite today, and tomorrow we'll go to Red Steel to eat the rich!"

"If you follow this standard, we can't be considered rich." Li Xuewu pointed to Wang Mr. and Yang Aidong and said: "Don't let the two leaders laugh at us for being extravagant and wasteful."

"It doesn't matter, we won't talk, we'll just eat." Wang Mr. joked: "Not afraid of eating well, the better the better."

"What? Did Ji Auto dump all its money into the new project and can't even open the pot?" Li Xuewu looked at him and asked: "Did you come to Beijing this time just to beg for money?"

"Hey! You really guessed it!"

Wang Mr. wasn't angry at his teasing at all, smiled, pointed at him, and said: "It's really aimed at you, Secretary-General Li."

"Don't aim at me," Li Xuewu said with a smile: "Who doesn't know we are the poorest this year."

"Just kidding, who believes that."

Wang Mr. reached out and touched Yang Aidong, asking with a smile: "Old Yang, do you believe him?"

"Don't believe it." Yang Aidong laughed and said: "If the Red Steel Group is the poorest, wouldn't we really starve to death."

"Exactly!" Wang Mr. tapped the table lightly, pointed at Li Xuewu, and said: "Don't borrow money from you, stop crying poor first."

At this time, the hot dishes were served one after another, and it could be seen that Gu Litong was truly treating his guests sincerely.

He first proposed three toasts as the host, welcoming the two guests, welcoming Li Xuewu back to Beijing, and the last toast was to celebrate the reunion of old friends.

After three rounds of drinks, Wang Mr. and Yang Aidong were not people who beat around the bush, looked at Gu Litong, and stated the purpose of inviting Li Xuewu to dinner today.

"You said when you were in East Germany that the automobile is an integrated chemical industry, and the more you get to the end, the more it will squeeze costs, right?"

Wang Mr. looked at Li Xuewu, and seeing him nod, asked seriously: "Does that include parts production?"

"What do you mean?" Li Xuewu tilted his head and asked: "Are you talking about our kind of parts supply chain, or your kind of all-inclusive factory model?"

"Comparing the all-inclusive model, will integrating parts production become a trend of cost squeezing?"

Wang Mr. explained first, then emphasized: "I'm talking about our kind of heavy truck or light truck."

Li Xuewu understood, put down his chopsticks, and said: "Whether it's a heavy truck or a light truck, just tell me if it's mass production."

"As long as it's mass production, standardized and integrated production of parts will reduce production and management costs."

He raised his chin and said: "You should all know the confidence of why the Hongxing Lingyang II can suppress the 212."

Seeing them frowning and thinking, Li Xuewu said with a slightly arrogant tone: "If I were to release the news now that the Hongxing Lingyang III is about to go online, the people in charge of Beijing Auto wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. Do you believe it?"

"Hahaha—" Everyone couldn't help but laugh when they thought of the "clinging marketing" strategy Li Xuewu had formulated.

Although this move was a bit mean, it was really effective.

The Hongxing Lingyang car had been aiming at the 212 since its birth, from avoiding its strengths and attacking its weaknesses at the beginning to its comprehensive surpassing now; it's hard to say what kind of mood Beijing Auto has toward Li Xuewu.

When the higher-ups tried to match the two companies for cooperation, it didn't work out, and that public opinion storm really added a lot of fun to this kind of marketing.

But it's different now; the true rise of Red Star Auto had long since ceased to be something that a car manufacturing enterprise like Beijing Auto, which relied on a single brand, could suppress and confront.

Especially the supply chain system, which had completely changed the status quo of the domestic automobile manufacturing industry.

Now even heavy truck and light truck manufacturing enterprises have begun to pay attention to the parts supply chain system, which shows the influence of Red Star Auto.

"If we unite truck manufacturing enterprises to jointly build a parts production base in one region, and unify the production specifications of most parts, do you think this idea is feasible?"

Wang Mr. asked: "For example, in Steel City."

"Why didn't you say choosing Jicheng?"

Li Xuewu had long since seen through their thoughts, and at this time, he teased with a smile: "Straight into the base camp of the 17th Factory, catching them off guard!"

This joke almost made Wang Mr. roll his eyes, but he couldn't help but laugh.

Yang Aidong said with deep meaning: "It would be great if we could persuade the 17th Factory to take the lead."

This was true; the 17th Factory had the most complete truck parts production conditions in the country, even down to a screw.

If they could build a truck parts production base relying on the 17th Factory, it would be a gospel for truck manufacturing enterprises across the country, or rather, it would greatly compress production costs.

It's a pity, who dares to make this decision?

The existence of the 17th Factory is not just a simple definition of car production; it is a strategic layout.

Breaking the layout to provide parts for the national truck manufacturing industry? Even Li Xuewu wouldn't dare to make this joke.

"How about in Steel City?" Wang Mr. insisted: "You have mature experience, let's join hands to build the truck parts supply chain."

"Of course there's no problem, we'd be happy to have you cooperate." Li Xuewu picked up his wine glass, looked at them with a smile, and asked: "Have you never thought that if the parts are all produced in Steel City, the whole vehicle assembly can't be in Steel City?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?" Wang Mr. was stunned: "Move our factory to Steel City?"

Yang Aidong and Gu Litong also frowned, obviously disagreeing with Li Xuewu's opinion.

"It can be a branch factory—" Li Xuewu drank a mouthful of white liquor and explained: "From parts to the whole vehicle, without leaving Steel City, think about how much transportation costs can be compressed."

"Isn't this the same?" Yang Aidong frowned: "In the long run, how can the main factory compete with the branch factory."

"Is your regional consciousness so serious?"

Li Xuewu glanced at him and said: "Have you never thought about establishing a group company? Or a general company? Must you use the factory location to mark your enterprise location?"

He picked up a mouthful of food with his chopsticks, swept his gaze over the few, and said alluringly: "Think about it, building a production line in Steel City, how much can costs be compressed."

"Think about it again, Steel City concentrates so many vehicle assembly plants and parts production factories, how much can R&D costs be reduced."

The people at the table were silent, obviously shocked by the car city he described.

After the shock came deep thinking; putting aside the significance of building other factories, this form is the best choice for cost control.

And building a factory in Steel City, the whole vehicle rolls off the line and takes the railway line all the way to Yingcheng, and from the Red Steel Group's Yingcheng Port, it goes directly by water to any coastal city in the country to land; transportation costs are further reduced, and sales will definitely not be a problem if the price is reduced.

If it's done well, it can still have a place in the overseas market; just thinking about it makes the little heart beat thump-thump.

No wonder Gu Litong said that inviting Li Xuewu to plan is like making a deal with the devil; you can always be circled in by him.

?? Going to BJ tomorrow to attend the Writers Association training for 5 days, prioritizing guaranteed updates.