Chapter 1672: Just Live Well

"What do you mean by degeneration?" Li Xuewu asked with a dark face, "Are you degenerating, am I degenerating, or are you saying the Red Steel Group is degenerating?"

"It's no use telling me this."

Hu Ke spread his hands and explained helplessly, "The leader's meaning is to slow down, also for your own good."

"Of course, the leader attaches great importance to this project, otherwise I wouldn't have rushed over overnight, right?"

"I didn't say you don't attach importance to it."

Li Xuewu glanced at him, picked up his teacup, took a sip of hot tea, and said, "Then what should we do about this project now?"

"If you ask me, I'm certainly willing to persist." Hu Ke tilted his head and said, "But this project isn't just your Red Steel Group, right?"

"It involves so many enterprises, and the scope is so wide; it's inevitable that it will cause controversy."

He turned the teacup on the desk and said, "Deputy Director Lu has been worried since you first proposed this idea, and has been carefully deliberating, even thinking about stepping on the brakes."

"It hasn't even started running yet; if you step on the brakes now, there's no need to run, everyone just wait in place."

Li Xuewu said in a flat tone, "Wait until the ones pushing the cart come, or until everyone is finished."

"You don't have to be so disappointed," Hu Ke picked up his teacup and said, "I don't believe you didn't have psychological preparation."

"If it were just your family, it would be fine; you could toss it around however you wanted, and at worst, start over."

He took a sip of warm tea, then put down the cup and said, "But the current situation is very special; I was the one who was anxious."

Hu Ke couldn't help but sigh and said, "Ice three feet thick is not the result of one day's cold; I thought it was too simple."

"Isn't it too early for self-criticism and review?" Li Xuewu glanced at him and asked, "What did the leader say? What happens after slowing down? How long to change?"

"You don't have to blame the leader either," Hu Ke tapped his finger on the desk and emphasized, "He's also very anxious!"

"When did I receive the news? Think about how anxious he must have been when he heard this news."

"Why don't I recognize this person?"

Li Xuewu pointed to the internal reference Hu Ke brought and asked with a frown, "Are you familiar with him?"

"Met him once, a big newspaper's pen-pusher," Hu Ke looked at him and asked, "You don't think he wrote this article on his own initiative, do you?"

"Can you guarantee he didn't?" Li Xuewu drooped his eyelids and asked back, "Do I know who he is?"

"You might not have come into contact with them."

Hu Ke knew he couldn't get a cigarette from Li Xuewu here, so he could only smoke his own.

Lighting a cigarette, he straightened up and explained, "Generally speaking, these pen-pushers don't easily write articles on their own initiative; most of them are assigned topics."

"Even if I tell you who he is, can you go and cause trouble for him? This is an open discussion."

"Don't I know it's an open discussion?"

Li Xuewu glanced at him and said, "But if you say it's a discussion, who gave us the opportunity to participate in the discussion."

"If you really want to debate, I won't stop you."

Hu Ke took a hard puff, blew away the smoke, and emphasized, "You're not someone who hasn't written articles for the internal reference; you don't need me to recommend you."

"But there's one thing: Liaodong industry cannot accompany you in taking risks."

He looked at Li Xuewu and said decisively, "Still the same words, this isn't just your own business."

Li Xuewu's face grew even darker; he looked at Hu Ke without speaking, and the atmosphere in the office was extremely oppressive.

"The leader has already gone to the capital."

Hu Ke flicked the ash into the ashtray and said, "If it can be explained, then continue to do it; if it can't be explained, then do it later."

He looked at Li Xuewu and asked deliberately, "Are you very anxious?"

"Why would I be anxious? Can the Red Steel Group have another group-style transformation?" Li Xuewu responded flatly, "I'm indifferent."

"It would be fine if you were really indifferent."

Hu Ke sighed and couldn't help but ask, "Did Director Li talk to you when you went back this time? Did he say when you should go back?"

He was very concerned about Li Xuewu and the Red Steel Group.

"Your rank has been resolved, so it's time to slow down; it's not just this project."

"I'll work until the end of the year at most," Li Xuewu said very frankly to the other party, "The group won't give me any more time to stay here."

"Mm, time is a bit tight."

Hu Ke thought for a while and asked, "Counting this year, you've been in Steel City for three years?"

Seeing Li Xuewu didn't speak, he nodded with emotion and said, "Time flies; you've really accomplished a lot of work over these years."

"Not worth mentioning at all; there isn't a single thing that's been finished."

Li Xuewu's tone was filled with regret, "Even if you gave me another three years, or even one year."

"It's useless no matter how many years you're given," Hu Ke smiled and said, "Work is never finished."

"Mm, I understand the logic; I just feel unwilling."

Li Xuewu looked out the window with some desolation and said, "From now on, I might rarely be directly responsible for industrial work."

"The wind and water turn, I believe you understand this logic." Hu Ke comforted him, "What's important is living in the present."

"The three years of the Red Steel Group in Liaodong are worth ten years of development in the past; what else do you want?"

He straightened up and said, "Even if you had three heads and six arms, and were omnipotent, could you really develop the Northeast company into a group?"

"Heh—" Li Xuewu also shook his head with a light laugh and said, "You're clearer-headed than me."

"I'm not clear-headed; I just haven't had the opportunity to be confused."

Hu Ke smiled and said, "So I advise you, don't do anything, let them argue; there will be a day when they argue it out."

"As for this project, still listen to the leader's arrangements," he said kindly, "Even if we force it to start, who will rush forward with us is still a question."

"We can't just be the two of us, right?"

"So you're just a lobbyist, right?"

Li Xuewu glanced at him flatly, "Alright, your mission is accomplished, you can step down; contact me when there's news."

"Don't be discouraged and quit."

Hu Ke saw him loosen up and said with a smile, "Don't let me comfort you here, only for you to run away when I go back to comfort them; I'll really be stuck in the middle."

"Don't blame me no matter what you think."

Li Xuewu sent him to the door, and he emphasized, "I came to Steel City as soon as I hung up the phone after hearing the news yesterday; we brothers are decent enough, right?"

Decent my foot; if there wasn't profit to be made, who would take whom seriously.

When you need them, they're brothers; when you don't, they're comrades.

"Won't it delay your work?"

Gu Ning looked at him with some hesitation and asked, "I thought you wouldn't be back until the afternoon."

"Nothing much, are you ready?"

Li Xuewu looked at the two children waiting at the door with their little schoolbags and smiled, "Whoever didn't bring a water bottle, I'm not taking them!"

"I brought it! Daddy!"

Li Ning jumped on the spot; his little schoolbag clanged, the sound of the military water bottle colliding.

A child who was barely four years old, carrying a water bottle—only Li Xuewu and his wife could be so willing.

"Since everyone is ready, let's set off!"

He raised his hand to signal the cruiser parked at the door and said, "Daddy is driving today; we'll go wherever we want to play."

"And we don't have to go home for dinner tonight."

"Daddy, where are we eating tonight?"

Li Shu wanted to sit in the passenger seat, but after thinking about it, she felt she should leave it for Mommy, so she slowed her pace and asked.

Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning and explained, "Mai Qinglan insisted we go to her house to eat, said the old man and old lady are there too."

"Are we going straight there when we get back?"

Gu Ning hesitated for a moment and asked, "Wouldn't it be too impolite?"

"It's fine, we're all family."

Li Xuewu smiled, pulled her hand, and explained softly, "If we go, don't ask about Biaozi, so she doesn't feel sad."

"Li Wenbiao isn't back yet?"

Gu Ning raised her eyebrows and asked, "Did he go to Hong Kong?"

"Mm, said he's quite busy." Li Xuewu shook his head slightly, turned to close the courtyard gate, and helped the children open the car door.

"Leaving Mai Qinglan and the child at home?"

Gu Ning didn't understand, glanced at him, and got into the passenger seat.

Li Xuewu held the two children and got into the back seat, then circled to the front to get into the driver's seat, explaining while starting the car, "Biaozi is serious."

Gu Ning glanced at him, a bit disbelieving.

Back then, he was the one who introduced her; when Li Wenbiao was seeing Mai Qinglan, he was also seeing another college student.

Heard that college student was still reluctant to let go of Li Wenbiao; how did someone who had one foot in two boats become a serious person?

No need to mention Li Xuewu's own affairs; Gu Ning had never considered Li Xuewu a serious person, and Li Xuewu hadn't admitted to it either.

"If I didn't even have this bit of perception, I wouldn't need to do anything."

Li Xuewu smiled confidently, started the car, and headed toward the river embankment outside Steel City; he had long since made a phone call, they were going to the pier to play.

The Steel City pier wasn't the only one, but it was the largest and most convenient.

In the past, Dongfeng Shipping used this as a base; it was the golden river route from Yingcheng to Steel City.

Even now, with shipping shrinking day by day, supported by the Steel City distribution business, Dongfeng Shipping still maintained a volume of six or seven ships per month.

And as Dongfeng Shipping's headquarters moved to Yingcheng, it lost some of its bustle here, and even the investigation department people moved away.

Li Xuewu parked the car in front of the office of the pier management department, and Xiao Liu, who was stationed here, ran out and greeted him with a smile.

Liu Yongxiang, a soldier from the Third Guard Regiment, got a job at Dongfeng Shipping after demobilization and ran from his hometown to the Northeast to work.

"Leader, long time no see."

"You seem to have gained weight compared to before?"

Li Xuewu's memory was still okay; he had seen this kid, sized him up, and asked with a smile, "It seems the food here is not bad?"

"Hehe, thanks to your care."

Liu Yongxiang explained with a smile, "I had a foot injury for a while and couldn't follow the ship, so I came here to recuperate."

"Later, when they relocated and needed to form a rear-guard office, I recommended myself, thinking I'd rather stay on shore."

"Why? Don't want to be on the ship anymore?"

Li Xuewu held Li Shu and Li Ning and got out of the car, reminding them to follow Mommy closely and not to go near the big river.

"Too lonely, can't bear it."

Liu Yongxiang explained with a bitter face, "There were only a few people on a ship, and we had to work in three shifts."

"Originally, the captain took care of us and arranged for us people from the Third Regiment to be in the same shift."

He explained with a bitter face, "But who would have thought that during those days on the ship, we finished saying all the words we could say in this lifetime."

"Even if I see them now, I don't know what to say."

"Heh—" Li Xuewu sized him up with amusement and asked, "Found a partner?"

"Mm, met her while recuperating here." Liu Yongxiang seemed to have been seen through, lowered his head, and explained, "She's a nurse at the medical station."

"So it's a hero having trouble passing the beauty pass."

Li Xuewu picked out a few fishing rods with amusement and walked toward the river; Gu Ning and the three children had already walked to the river along the path.

"Just say you found a partner, why talk about being lonely on the ship."

Li Xuewu teased Xiao Liu deliberately, "If we arrange a nurse on your ship, would you all be willing to go back on the ship?"

"Don't dare think about it, something will happen."

Xiao Liu explained with a smile, "Three years on the ship, a sow looks like Diaochan; as soon as I got on the ship, the captain warned me not to bring girls on the ship."

"Earned enough?"

Chatting with Li Xuewu, it was as if his gaze and words could always see through people's hearts; Xiao Liu only said a few sentences before his bottom line was probed.

"How many years have you been running ships?"

"Less than four years, three years and a few months." Xiao Liu smiled shyly and said, "I came earlier than you."

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu carried the water bucket and fishing rods to the fishing platform someone didn't know who had built, found a stool for Gu Ning to sit on.

"I'm relieved that you guys have earned money."

He didn't decline and let Xiao Liu help him hook the bait and thread the earthworms.

No need to think, these earthworms were definitely dug by Xiao Liu in advance; if they had to prepare temporarily, they wouldn't have had the time.

Although it was late March, there was still a chill in the wind, but sitting by the river felt scorching.

The sun was just right, the river surface was sparkling, making people unable to look directly at it.

Gu Ning wore his sunglasses and had a different kind of chic, her gaze always on Li Shu and Li Ning.

The siblings remembered their father's instructions and didn't dare get close to the water, but they picked up stones at their feet and threw them into the water.

Li Xuewu hooked the bait and threw it out, handed the fishing rod to Gu Ning, but took the initiative to coax the children.

Xiao Liu looked at the fishing rod in his hand with some embarrassment; he had thought the leader was really here to fish with such interest.

"Give it to me, you help me cast it."

Gu Ning saw his embarrassment, took the initiative to speak, and said, "I'll call you when I catch a fish."

"It's fine, Sister-in-law, it's not easy to catch fish here."

Xiao Liu cast the fishing rod, handed the grip to Gu Ning, and explained with a dry laugh, "The fish in the river are all smart and won't bite the hook easily."

"Daddy, I want to fish!"

Li Ning saw his mother holding two fishing rods and bravely ran back to protect his mother, but he didn't have as much strength as the fish.

"Give him a smaller fishing rod."

Xiao Liu was quite patient, smiled, took the smallest bamboo rod, tied the fishing line, picked a spot nearby, threw the hook, and handed the rod to Li Ning.

No need to think, Li Shu wanted one too.

After listening to Daddy's introduction and calling Uncle Liu, Xiao Liu made another one for Li Shu without stopping, which finally made the siblings quiet down.

Quiet, that was only for a short while; just when Li Xuewu was chatting with Xiao Liu about the batch of comrades who were demobilized and came to work at the shipping company, Li Ning couldn't help but ask him, "Daddy, why aren't the little fish biting the hook?"

"Don't talk, fishing requires quiet."

Li Shu stared at the position of the fishing float, shushed her younger brother, and reminded him, "You have to have patience."

"I'm not the earliest one to come down; there are those who transferred after working for two years."

Xiao Liu squatted beside Li Xuewu, eyes fixed on the two children, very afraid they would impulsively get close to the water.

Li Xuewu squatted behind the two children; he was always so patient with children.

"Where did they transfer to?"

Li Xuewu glanced at him and asked, "There are few like you, right?"

"Mm, some went to the South; the Yuezhou port is recruiting people."

Xiao Liu explained, "Some went to Yingcheng, some went to Jinmen; anyway, they go wherever our unit has business."

"I'm considered the most useless one."

He lowered his head and smiled, saying, "My family kept urging me to settle down, and I was a bit anxious too."

"How old are you this year?" Li Xuewu asked casually, "Are you twenty-seven yet?"

"Twenty-seven this year; I demobilized when I was twenty-three and was a soldier for six years."

Xiao Liu picked up a tree branch and scratched on the ground to introduce, "Originally I thought I could serve for a few more years, but I didn't expect to run into the troop reduction."

"Normal, didn't I transfer once too?"

Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Where is there a fixed direction in life? Maybe you'll want to change your way of living as you walk."

"Just like now, you don't want to be on the ship anymore and want to stay on shore to live a stable life; isn't this a change."

He looked at Xiao Liu and said, "Actually, think about it, do you really want to continue being a soldier? Could it be that you're used to that kind of life and don't know how to change your way of living?"

"Leader, don't laugh at me if I say it."

Xiao Liu explained embarrassedly, "Before I came out of our village, I didn't even know how to take a train."

"All the skills I have now were learned in the army; I can say that place is my second home."

"Understand, what's there to laugh at."

Li Xuewu pointed to Li Ning, who was whispering to his sister, and said, "Before them, I didn't know what it meant to start a family and establish a career."

"You should have been a veteran when I was a soldier." He shook his head and said, "I was kicked by my father to my third uncle's place."

"He said I would get into trouble sooner or later because I often caused trouble."

"Me too, my father always scolded me."

Xiao Liu smiled and agreed, "But I wanted to be a soldier, thinking there was a future in being a soldier; my father fought with the village head to get me the opportunity."

"He said I'd never be able to farm those few acres of land well in my whole life, and told me to just go out and carry a gun instead; if I had enough luck, I might still earn a future."

"It seems your father is very accurate in judging people!"

Li Xuewu glanced at him with a smile and said, "Don't you have a future now, and the future is boundless."

"I'm just lucky to have met you."

Xiao Liu laughed and said, "If it weren't for you giving me this future, I wouldn't know how to face my father."

"When you take your wife and children back, your father won't scare you anymore."

Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning, who was sitting quietly basking in the sun, and then looked at the two children who couldn't help but chatter.

What is called "small satisfaction in life is better than perfection"—this scene is it.

"Brother Wu, Sister-in-law, welcome, welcome!"

Mai Qinglan stood at the door to welcome them; seeing the two fish Li Xuewu

"Not at all, how could I have that kind of ability?"

Li Xuewu explained with a smile, "Little Liu from the pier had someone catch them with a net; I sacrificed two packs of cigarettes for these two fish."

"Then that was a bargain; it's not easy to catch fish this big nowadays."

Mai Qinglan said with a smile, inviting their family of four into the courtyard, and introduced Gu Ning to her mother and father, who had come out holding the child.

"Hello, Grandpa, Grandma." Gu Ning smiled slightly and greeted the elderly couple, Mai Xiaotian and his wife, which left them feeling somewhat flattered.

There was no need to mention the relationship between Li Xuewu and his son-in-law; they naturally knew about Li Xuewu's background and connections.

Upon learning that the family of four had arrived, the elderly couple couldn't wait to tidy up their home until it was spotless, just so they wouldn't be looked down upon.

In fact, they were overthinking it; Gu Ning was never that kind of person. She was cold in temperament, but her personality wasn't the type to keep people at a distance or ignore everyone.

"Please don't go to any trouble; we're all family."

Li Xuewu took Tiger Girl from the old lady's arms and teased her with a smile, "How old are you now, still letting Grandma carry you?"

"Even at six, I still want Grandma to carry me!"

Tiger Girl smiled and hid behind his shoulder, knowing that saying such things was a bit embarrassing.

"Six years old and still letting Grandma carry you?"

Li Xuewu asked with feigned surprise, "Then can your grandma still carry you?"

"She can carry me; Grandma is super strong."

Tiger Girl emphasized this in a sweet voice, but her gaze was fixed on Gu Ning, her eyes full of curiosity.

She did see Li Xuewu often and knew he was the 'Big Uncle', but she hadn't seen the 'Big Aunt' much.

Even if she had seen her back in the capital, she had forgotten.

"Is your name Tiger Girl?" Gu Ning reached out to touch her small hand and asked with a smile, "Aren't you called Li Qi?"

"My formal name is Li Qi," Tiger Girl said, pulling her hand back a bit shyly, and leaned into her Big Uncle's arms to emphasize, "My nickname is Tiger Girl."

"Is that so—" Gu Ning looked her over and said, "How old are you?"

"Tell Big Aunt how old you are."

Hu Huilan patted her granddaughter's back to remind her, "Aren't you going to school? Tell Big Aunt how old you have to be to go to school."

"I'm three and a half, I can go to school now."

Li Qi straightened up, rubbed her small hands, and looked at her mother, saying, "I'm a big kid now."

"That's right, Li Qi is a big kid now."

Mai Qinglan smiled and tapped her daughter's small hand, saying, "Then why don't you go down and play with your brother and sister?"

She gestured toward the brother and sister who were standing in front of the sofa, looking around the house, and said, "Your sister and brother are big kids too."

"Okay—" Tiger Girl had already noticed the two children who had come to the house, and now that her mother had asked, she readily agreed.

Li Xuewu placed her in front of Li Shu and instructed, "This is Uncle Biao's little sister; you need to take good care of her."

"I know, Dad," Li Shu replied earnestly, then pulled Li Qi's small hand and said, "Come on, we'll take you to play."

"Just stay under the window, don't go outside the courtyard gate."

Hu Huilan gave a worried instruction before turning back to Li Xuewu, saying, "You all sit for a moment, I'm going to the kitchen."

"Do you need our help?" Li Xuewu walked to the kitchen door and asked with a smile.

Mai Qinglan waved her hand readily and said, "It's fine, Brother, you all rest for a bit; the meal will be ready soon, no need for your help."

"Then we'll just wait to be served at the table."

Li Xuewu was a guest, so naturally, he didn't want to cook; he couldn't, and Gu Ning couldn't either, so it was just a polite gesture.

Gu Ning sat on the sofa, having just looked at the furnishings in the room, and could tell that this family was also cultured.

If those who perform opera weren't cultured, they wouldn't be able to understand the opera scripts.

Of course, those who perform opera don't necessarily do academic research; they are merely a medium for the dissemination and continuation of culture, or rather, art.

Only by discovering the power and insights that fit the era from within art can one be called cultured, or be called a master or artist.

Clearly, Mai Xiaotian and Hu Huilan hadn't reached that realm yet, and perhaps they wouldn't have the chance to reach that step in their lifetime.

But that didn't stop them from being influenced by art, being well-read and sensible, and having rich life experience.

"Biaozi had someone bring this back before the New Year; you should have a taste."

Mai Xiaotian very politely brought out a tin of tea, wanting to brew it for him personally.

Li Xuewu smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Uncle, I'll do it myself; please don't be so formal. If you're formal, I'll have to be formal too."

He used his hand to pinch some tea leaves into the cup, then took a thermos from the coffee table and poured hot water into the cup.

A warm, rich tea fragrance wafted up; it was clear that Old Biaozi hadn't cheated his father-in-law, and his filial piety was commendable.

"I wanted to ask you when I saw Qinglan at work last time, I thought you had returned to the capital."

"We did go back once," Mai Xiaotian said politely as he took the tea he handed over, explaining, "But we only stayed for half a month before coming back."

"Why? Can't bear to be away from your granddaughter?"

Li Xuewu smiled and glanced out the window, where the three children were squatting and using small wooden spoons to dig in the yellow soil.

This courtyard was bought by Mai Qinglan later; the old couple wasn't used to living in the previous apartment building, and there was no front or back garden to grow vegetables.

Chinese people are just like this; no matter how rebellious or carefree you are when you're young, when you get old, you'll fall in love with opera and gardening.

This is the agricultural-based mindset carved into the bones of Chinese people—not for the sake of how many vegetables they can eat, but for the sake of watching the vitality of the lush vegetable garden.

Listening to opera is because opera is like life, fleeting like a white horse passing a crack, and combined with one's own insights, one can look back on one's life.

"It's true, I missed her a bit, I can't bear to be away."

Mai Xiaotian laughed himself, nodded, and said, "When I was young, I often heard my master muttering that people are just 'cheap bones' when they get old."

"I didn't understand it before, but now I understand what it means."

He gestured to his little granddaughter outside the window and said, "If I don't see her calling me 'Grandpa' when I wake up in the morning, I always feel like something is missing."

"They asked me to go back to help organize an opera, but I was always absent-minded, so I told them I was old and no longer up to the task, and that they should hire someone more capable, hahaha."

"The club's performance troupe is quite busy, performing over a dozen times a month." Li Xuewu picked up his teacup and took a sip of hot tea, saying, "I heard about it during the New Year, they said there are so many people watching the opera."

"It's because the troupe is well-managed, and there's a wealth of talent now."

Mai Xiaotian sighed with emotion, "The lineage of Peking Opera was split into three strands; one became the main repertoire, and one chose to leave."

"The rest of these people have all gathered here with us."

He raised his hand and looked at Li Xuewu with some gratitude, saying, "Actually, they should be thanking you. If it weren't for you, sigh—"

"You're exaggerating, that's not the case at all."

Li Xuewu smiled and said politely, "I haven't done anything at all; even you know I'm an outsider and don't understand any of this."

"Since ancient times, so many things have been accomplished in casual conversation."

Mai Xiaotian felt a bit relieved and nodded slowly, saying, "You are a person who does great things, with a broad perspective."

"Sigh, I have my petty moments too."

Li Xuewu chatted happily with the old man, signaling to Gu Ning that she could walk around as she pleased and didn't need to be constrained.

Mai Qinglan came out of the kitchen, carrying a cold dish to place on the table, and seeing Gu Ning stand up, she asked, "Sister-in-law, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm just going for a walk." Gu Ning raised her hand to tuck her hair behind her ear and explained, "I've been sitting all afternoon, I'll go to the courtyard to see the children."

"They're playing so well," Mai Qinglan leaned against the window to take a look and said with a smile, "My daughter is finally happy today, having her brother and sister to play with."

"Is she going to kindergarten?"

Li Xuewu turned his head to look at her and asked, "Didn't you say you sent her last time we met?"

"Not at all, we sent her, but she wouldn't stay."

Mai Qinglan said helplessly, "She cried for over an hour, and the teacher really couldn't do anything, so they called the office and told me to pick her up."

"She's still too young," Li Xuewu said, looking at the three children outside the window, "Wait until she's a bit older."

"She's three and a half, almost four."

Mai Qinglan sighed and said, "Other people's children all stay, only our Tiger Girl doesn't want to go to school to play."

"Send her when she's older; your father and I don't have much to do anyway."

Hu Huilan came over from the kitchen with a dish, and hearing her daughter talk about her granddaughter going to school, she couldn't help but chime in.

"Didn't Li Shu and Li Ning both start kindergarten at this age? Is it still too early?" Mai Qinglan said, "Whose child doesn't go to kindergarten at three?"

This era was really just like that; parents worked in the factory, so where else would a three-year-old go if not to kindergarten?

Even month-old babies could get care, let alone kindergarten.

The Red Steel Group's investment in Steel City was synchronized; industry and daily life went hand-in-hand. As the number of workers increased, the residential areas expanded as well.

Speaking of residential areas, the Group's logistics department had also notified him to go and collect his house.

It was back at the end of the year before last; the Riverside Garden project, along with the Tuanjie Hotel which had been completed and in operation for over half a year, were included in the International Hotel project.

The International Hotel hadn't been built yet, but these two projects had been completed one after another.

The house that logistics asked Li Xuewu to collect was located east of the Liangma River Ecological Park, following the main road all the way inside.

Unlike the Workers' New Village, this residential area only allowed Group cadres at the deputy division level or above to apply for residency; others were not allowed.

The Group's leadership also lived here, right at the foot of a mountain, where there were thirteen small villas prepared for them.

During the construction of the Liangma River Ecological Industrial Zone, a lot of earthwork had accumulated, just like in Steel City, and it was piled up at the location of the park.

And as the construction of the industrial zone was completed, this earthwork lost its use.

Especially when the river channel was renovated, widened, and deepened, a lot of silt was excavated, creating the mountain where the Riverside Garden residential area was now located.

The mountain had become the best viewing spot to overlook the Liangma River Ecological Zone, and it was also a must-visit spot for citizens when they came to the industrial zone for fun.

The Red Steel Group didn't move the mountain away, but utilized it on the spot, planting many saplings on it, and after a few years, it was already lush and green.

Especially the fruit trees planted on the mountain, which bloomed in the spring, with petals dancing in the breeze, which was quite spectacular.

Those who had the conditions would bring cameras and their families to capture the moment, and looking down from the mountain, the small mountain hollow was where the Group leadership's residential area was located.

Li Xuewu didn't go back to choose the house, letting the logistics department allocate it randomly; he didn't even collect the keys himself.

Qin Jingru had been waiting for this day for a long time; the house inspection meant she was back on the job, becoming the head housekeeper of this new home.

Li Xuewu didn't plan to live there, so he let her find people to tidy up and renovate it, with all the money paid on his behalf by Shen Guodong.

Actually, the Group's logistics department had already entrusted United Architecture to provide several renovation plans for the leaders, but Qin Jingru didn't like any of them.

She had worked by Li Xuewu's side for several years, so naturally, she knew what kind of personalities he and Gu Ning had; how could they like those flashy things?

So, after asking Li Xuewu for instructions, Qin Jingru invited the old comrades from the Dongfeng 31 Architectural Design and Research Institute to help come up with a plan.

She cared a lot about this job, but she just acted a bit too proactively, which led Han Jiankun to remind her not to overstep her bounds.

She didn't take it to heart, not feeling that there was anything wrong with serving Li Xuewu's family; she was just the type of personality who liked to take charge of things.

When Gu Ning was at home, she often ran to the house to ask for Gu Ning's opinion.

She pestered Gu Ning until she was annoyed, and Gu Ning just told her to take full charge.

Actually, Qin Jingru's personality was quite similar to Mai Qinglan's; both had a very crisp and efficient energy, which Li Xuewu appreciated very much.

Of course, he didn't like women with such a strong personality; they wouldn't do as a wife, nor as a girlfriend.

Appreciation is just appreciation, it's not like they're dating; women are naturally better off having more drive than men.

"I originally planned to prepare four dishes today." Mai Qinglan brought the last dish in and said with a smile, "Thanks to those two fish of yours, we're eating six dishes today."

"Aren't you going to have some of this?" Li Xuewu smiled and looked at Mai Xiaotian, taking the initiative to ask, "Shall I keep you company for a drink?"

"If you want to have some, then let's have some—"

Ever since Mai Xiaotian stopped performing on stage, he had gradually developed the habit of drinking. He had always liked it, but in order to protect his voice for opera, he couldn't touch spicy things.

Now he didn't have that kind of physical strength or pursuit anymore, so he was living for himself.

"My dad isn't as good at drinking as you, Brother, you should take it easy."

Mai Qinglan joked, "My dad doesn't act crazy when he's drunk, but he likes to sing a couple of lines; don't scare the children."

"Hahaha—"

Li Xuewu knew she was joking. In this kind of situation, how could he force someone to drink? He just saw that the old man was craving a drink but was too embarrassed to say so, so he took the initiative to bring it up.

If he really wanted to drink, he wouldn't even drink at home if there were eight dishes.

"It's fine, drink if you can, sing if you can."

Li Xuewu poured a small cup for the old man and said, "Let's enjoy ourselves with today's food."

He gestured to the three children sitting at the kang table and said, "We adults see each other often, but the children rarely do."

"That's true—" Mai Xiaotian had a bit of a Hebei accent, and sitting beside him, he looked at the children happily and said, "We're finally all together today."

"Biaozi and I are no different from real brothers."

Li Xuewu raised his glass to Mai Xiaotian and said, "I hope the next generation can also be as close as brothers and sisters."

"That would be wonderful, let's drink slowly."

Seeing him toast, Mai Xiaotian very politely lowered his wrist, still paying attention to the boundaries in his attitude.

He had also heard from his daughter that this young man now held a high position, an existence he could hardly look up to.

Some people always feel that even if one reaches Li Xuewu's level, it's nothing; you can find a whole bunch of them just by flipping through the capital.

That's true, but also not true; it depends on how you look at it.

If you look at it in terms of quantity, then his level really doesn't count for much; the mainland is vast, and there are many hidden talents.

But if you look at it from a personal perspective, being in the midst of it, who dares to say that they can reach this height in their lifetime?

An official career isn't entirely about ability and means; there's also a little bit of luck. Even if you were as wise as the ancients, can you guarantee your luck is like a koi fish?

Amidst the clinking of glasses, because Mai Xiaotian had a little to drink, he gradually opened up and started talking to Li Xuewu about the past.

People in their line of work know the history of the capital the best.

It's not to say that their understanding, or what they say, is necessarily the absolute truth or absolute history; it's not like that.

A person's life belongs to an era; everyone is a witness to the progress of the era, and everyone has a unique perspective and definition of this era.

Whether it's what they saw with their own eyes or heard from others, it's all combined with their understanding of this era, forming their current view of past experiences.

Mai Xiaotian had a very good memory and could accurately describe all kinds of things from back then, various anecdotes about famous people, speaking with great clarity.

Li Xuewu teased him with a smile, "Since you're free now, why not write these anecdotes into a book for future generations to enjoy?"

"Writing a book is out of the question, I wouldn't dare."

Mai Xiaotian didn't end up getting drunk, waved his hand, and sighed, "Firstly, I don't have the ability, and secondly, I don't have the qualifications."

"Although a person like me has been liberated, I still have self-awareness."

He nodded and said, "We were just lucky enough to experience this era; what qualifications do we have to record it?"

"And I wouldn't dare to pollute such writing with these rumors."

"You're being too modest."

Li Xuewu smiled and wanted to pour him more wine, but was politely stopped by him.

"No more, one cup is just right."

Mai Xiaotian gestured toward Mai Qinglan, who was looking over, and explained softly, "When she was little, I was in charge of her; now that I'm old, she's in charge of me."

"People are just like this: when they're young and have no parents to discipline them, they say life is bitter; when they grow up and have no wife to manage them, they say they have no constraints; when they're old and have no children to take care of them, they say they're a dead end."

He sighed and raised his chin, but what was overflowing on his face was a feeling called happiness.

Princes, nobles, generals, and ministers—in the end, they are nothing but a handful of yellow soil. I've never heard of anyone who is immortal; how you live is how you live, just live well.