Chapter 1680: Tokyo Girl

The shipping route from Jinmen to Yingcheng is the golden route of the Shipping Service Center, under the Labor and Safety Service General Company of the Red Steel Group.

From the first 5,926-ton passenger ship, the Red Star-Passenger A, in 1968, it has developed to now possess 7 passenger ships of various tonnages, fully covering the employee commute route from the Group headquarters to the Liaodong industrial base.

From the initial employee commute guarantee to the current comprehensive shipping and passenger transport, the development history of the Red Star Shipping Service Center is a microcosm of the Red Steel Group's development toward the modern industrial era.

On May 6th, Li Xuewu took a passenger ship provided by the Shipping Service Center from Jinmen to Yingcheng for research, accompanied by Ding Zhicheng, Deputy General Manager of the Labor Service General Company.

Also on the same ship were Andrew, President of Italy's Jinbo Shipping, and his beloved daughter, Catherine.

Here, it is not appropriate to introduce Catherine's position as General Manager of Jilixing Shipping, let alone her status as a self-made entrepreneur; it is not suitable.

"People keep asking," Ding Zhicheng said with a smile, "why the Shipping Service Center isn't placed under the Shipping Management General Company."

He couldn't help but shake his head, "No matter how many times I explain it, there are still people who ask this."

"Why?"

Catherine's Chinese is very good, so naturally, she could understand Ding Zhicheng's words.

"Isn't your management agency under the Shipping Management General Company?"

"Hahaha—"

Seeing her ask the same thing, Ding Zhicheng couldn't help but laugh out loud, looking at Li Xuewu with an expression that said, "I told you this would happen."

Li Xuewu also smiled and explained to Catherine, who was sitting beside him in a white suit, "Although the Shipping Service Center's passenger ships are now open to all ordinary passengers, its essence is still a unit serving the Group's employees."

"This differs from the definition of the Aviation Transport Service Company under the Shipping Management General Company."

He looked up at the seagulls passing overhead, squinted slightly against the bright sun, and continued, "The Shipping Management General Company and the Labor Service Company are both Group-affiliated general company-level units; in principle, their weight is equal."

"It's just that the service targets are different."

Andrew was smoking a cigar; he straightened up, tapped it in the ashtray on the round table, and said, "The Red Steel Group is not a purely corporate entity."

"Of course, the Group's definition isn't just a company either."

Li Xuewu turned his head back, looked at Andrew, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, and emphasized, "The Group itself has administrative management attributes."

"Just like your business jets." Andrew spread his hands in understanding and leaned back in his chair.

"Is your Red Star No. 1 also in the Service Company?" Catherine actually had a certain understanding of the Red Steel Group, after all, she had been working in the mainland for many years.

This time, accompanying Li Xuewu across the sea with her father, she also wanted her father to go to Yingcheng to see the empire she had built.

"That plane of yours is really good," Andrew waved the hand holding his cigar and emphasized, "Especially the service, it's excellent."

Seeing Li Xuewu nod in response to his daughter, he then asked, "How much did the Santa Ya Group sell it to you for back then?"

"It didn't cost anything," Li Xuewu smiled faintly and explained to him, "It was a gift for the founding of the Red Steel Group."

This remark was pointed, making Andrew slightly embarrassed; some things were now harder to say.

Over these years, the cooperation between the two sides had regressed compared to the Santa Ya Group; although the cooperation was deepening and continuing, this relationship was like sailing against the current—if you don't advance, you retreat.

This situation certainly couldn't be blamed on Catherine's lack of effort; it had to be said that after Andrew returned to Italy, he shifted the focus of his operations to Europe.

For Jilixing Shipping to take root in Yingcheng and cooperate smoothly with Yingcheng Shipping, he had to admit that Catherine was young and promising.

However, to say how hard Catherine was working was a bit of a stretch; Jilixing Shipping was actually still in Andrew's hands.

They say that when father and son go to battle, they work together, but Catherine and her father had developed a rift due to interests.

Therefore, while managing Jilixing Shipping, she used these resources to establish her own commercial channels and industries.

Currently, the procurement businesses for machinery, water pumps, precision instruments, medical equipment, etc., that interface with the Red Steel Group are all represented by Catherine's company.

Andrew came to the mainland this time because the Yingcheng Port area belonging to the Red Steel Group was about to start trial operations, and he couldn't miss this opportunity.

Watching his daughter's career flourish, he even suspected that if he didn't come, Jilixing Shipping would be hollowed out by his precious daughter.

He didn't even know if the cooperation quota for Yingcheng Port would be taken up; this is what they mean by "in a royal family, there are no fathers and sons," haha?

"It's just a business jet," Catherine curled her lips and said, "The French are the best at doing this kind of business."

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu just smiled when he heard her words, picked up his teacup, drank the hot tea, and didn't take up her point.

Andrew glanced sideways at his daughter; he had noticed that throughout the journey, his daughter's attitude toward Li Xuewu was somewhat different.

It wasn't as if he hadn't seen the openness of European society; young people's thoughts had more tension than old stubborn people like them.

So he wasn't angry at Li Xuewu for "guarding the house and stealing," nor did he complain about the fact that he had entrusted his daughter to him, not to be his mistress.

The fact was, his daughter wasn't stupid enough to give up interests for feelings, nor was she stupid enough to play with feelings for interests.

From the current point of view, the work was real, and the feelings were also real.

It's just that Li Xuewu's mind was too deep; he definitely wasn't someone his daughter could subdue.

He had never been a father who valued men over women, although hundreds of years ago Marco Polo brought the thoughts of the "Celestial Empire" back to Italy, those thoughts really couldn't be considered very advanced.

Catherine was able to create such a large family business in the mainland, which was no less impressive than her older and younger brothers.

But if placed in front of Li Xuewu, even his most outstanding eldest son might not be a match for this young man.

"Do you think she gave you the plane out of the kindness of her heart?"

Catherine glanced at Li Xuewu and emphasized, "With this plane in your hands, you are just giving them free advertising."

"Chantal is a shareholder of Dassault."

She snorted through her nose, "For so many years, large European enterprises haven't been able to penetrate the mainland, yet she easily accomplished it."

"A business jet in exchange for the promotion of a star enterprise—you can calculate whether it's a loss or a gain."

Andrew listened to his daughter's long-winded speech and sighed helplessly in his heart; business is the same as feelings—if you take it seriously, you lose.

In the business world, there is no winning or losing, just earning more or earning less.

Now saying that the Red Steel Group promoting Dassault Aviation is a loss—but when Chantal gave the plane, the Red Steel Group didn't have such a big reputation yet.

Giving a business jet for free was a courtesy exchange after both sides had carried out extensive cooperation and established a deep foundation for cooperation.

Now that his daughter explained this matter in the most commercial and straightforward words, even if he were Li Xuewu, he would feel unhappy.

"Actually, we are also good friends."

Li Xuewu put down the teacup in his hand, smiled at Andrew, and then said to Catherine, "We can also help Jilixing and the Jinbo Group with promotion."

"Hahaha—"

Andrew didn't wait for his daughter to take the bait and let out an unabashed laugh, pointed to the distant coastline, and said, "Really fast, we're almost there."

Fast your sister!

Li Xuewu glanced at him with disgust, turned his head to look at the sea, and Yingcheng Port was already visible in the distance.

"What kind do you like?"

Catherine glanced at her father, insisted on looking at Li Xuewu, and asked, "I'll give you a boat, a custom version, you can call the shots."

"I can see you're not being sincere."

Li Xuewu smiled, turned his head to look at her, and asked, "Don't you remember what happened with the Red Steel Group before the year ended?"

"That's not the same—"

Catherine pouted and said disdainfully, "Only those short, stubby people would be so stingy as to give a car as a gift; it's really shabby."

Li Xuewu was a little surprised by Catherine today; this generosity was a bit abnormal.

Looking at Andrew drinking tea with his head down, he realized that the father and daughter were competing.

Those who know him know that he is the most loyal and honest person; how could he possibly take advantage of the conflict between the father and daughter?

Even if he liked yachts, could he really ask for one at this time?

So, just when Catherine was being generous, he smiled and replied, "Forget it, your father will jump into the sea in pain."

"Hahaha!" Catherine laughed knowingly, her laughter hearty.

"What would I be in pain about? She is the General Manager of Jilixing Shipping."

Andrew took a puff of his cigar and said confidently with a smile, "Our family has always been generous to friends."

See that? This is the old hand; how smoothly he plays the "four ounces to move a thousand pounds" game.

Li Xuewu didn't intend to have his yacht, but he was thinking about Li Xuewu's favor, wanting Li Xuewu to be generous in the upcoming communication.

Didn't you hear what he said? Their family has always been generous to friends, so shouldn't Li Xuewu, as a friend, also be generous to their family?

He still didn't understand Li Xuewu's character; even if Catherine was willing to enter the game with her body, he still had the "Three No's" principle as a protective amulet.

As long as he insists on implementing the "Three No's" principle, there is no woman in this world who can manipulate him.

"Then you have to think it through—do you want a yacht from Jilixing Shipping or a ship from Jinbo?"

Catherine smiled and raised her eyebrows at Li Xuewu, emphasizing, "I am now the General Manager of Jilixing Shipping, but I can't call the shots for Jinbo."

"Oh—" Li Xuewu nodded knowingly, received the signal Catherine sent, and asked deliberately, "I don't understand; can you analyze it for me—is Jinbo's ship better, or is Jilixing's ship better?"

"There's nothing to compare!"

Catherine smiled like a fox, held her coffee cup, and said, "Jilixing Shipping's ships are all OEM-manufactured by Yingcheng Shipping."

She looked up at Li Xuewu and said, "If you want a ship from Yingcheng Shipping, you can have it anytime, but Jinbo's ships aren't something just anyone can own, even in Europe."

"Then what's there to struggle with?" Li Xuewu shifted his gaze to Andrew, his smile very meaningful.

Andrew also didn't expect that one day he would face this situation, where his daughter would turn her elbows outward.

She was being generous with her father's money, not treating the family's money as her own.

Of course, Catherine had already regarded Jilixing Shipping as her own private territory; she was afraid her brothers would covet it, so she kept it lukewarm.

Now, in order to align with the Santa Ya Group and reach the next cooperation, she was going all out.

Jinbo pays the money, she does the business, and the achievements are hers.

As for the yacht Jinbo gives the Red Steel Group, she doesn't need to pay for it, so why be stingy?

Whether she can inherit the estate is another matter; even if she doesn't spend this money, her brothers in Europe would spend it on debauchery anyway.

Therefore, Andrew encountered the most realistic backstabbing; although Li Xuewu wasn't a "yellow-haired guy," his daughter was truly rebellious.

In the past, Catherine would never have dared to do this so blatantly in front of him.

It was the relationship managed in the mainland, and the commercial channels established in the mainland that gave her confidence and courage.

Andrew wasn't angry; on the contrary, he was happy that his child could fly out of the nest and spread her wings in the sky.

However, his daughter's small rebellion cost him over a million; to say he wasn't in pain would be a lie.

Since he decided to give it to the Red Steel Group, it couldn't be too shabby; it had to be the top-tier business yacht to show Jinbo's strength.

Dassault Aviation's advertising was very successful; he couldn't lose face for his company with some junk.

"You have a saying in China, 'a grown daughter can't be kept,' right?"

Andrew sighed and said, "The wisdom of the Chinese people is truly worth our learning and reflection."

He stuck his cigar in the ashtray, nodded slowly, and said, "You say that a businessman's most precious wealth is credit; our family thinks the same."

"So, what my daughter promised is what I promised."

"Papa—" Catherine was moved by her father's sudden confession, looking at him with teary eyes, just like when she was a child.

Andrew smiled at his daughter and said, "I'm really happy to see you finally grow up."

"Although I haven't seen the achievements you've created here yet, I firmly believe this is the biggest harvest of my trip."

"Papa—" Catherine grabbed her father's hand across the chair.

What a display of father-daughter affection; ginger is indeed spicier when it's old!

Li Xuewu's many times of "running-in" with Catherine couldn't compare to this worldly emotion; he could only smile warmly as a foil.

He really didn't want their yacht; that thing was insanely expensive, and even if he didn't go out for a stroll, just parking it at the dock cost money.

This damn thing was more extravagant than the horses the Group kept in Liangmahe Park; those horses only cost twenty or thirty thousand a year, while yacht maintenance alone wouldn't be that low.

Compared to going out to sea to fish or dance, Li Xuewu preferred the feeling of galloping on a horse, especially a little Italian pony.

"Looking at the mountain runs the horse to death"—when the sun was high in the afternoon, the coastline could be seen, and when they actually went ashore, the sun had already become the sunset.

Knowing he had arrived, Xu Sinuian and Yu Decai both appeared at the dock, along with the members of the Yingcheng Shipping and Yingcheng Port area leadership teams.

Li Xuewu was naturally opposed to this kind of welcoming and sending off; he came to Yingcheng very diligently, and usually, the two of them wouldn't dare to make such a big fuss about welcoming him.

It wasn't because Andrew was there; they actually emphasized before Li Xuewu that this was to welcome Mr. Andrew, President of the Jinbo Group.

What else could Li Xuewu say? Since you are welcoming Andrew, be enthusiastic toward him, why are you sticking to me?

Did they know that the Group was about to carry out organizational assessments and discuss mid-year personnel transfers, so they came to brush their faces in front of him?

"We were just discussing this, who is responsible for the reception."

Xu Sinuian joked, "Of course, I want to receive you, but Comrade Decai said he hopes to communicate well with Mr. Andrew."

He clapped his hands and spread them, saying, "Now, are you coming with me, or are you going with Mr. Andrew?"

"We've agreed, if you go to Decai's side, you must take us with you."

He was truly loyal, not leaving behind his team members, and specifically emphasized that everyone would go together.

Li Xuewu glanced at him amusedly, then asked Yu Decai, "What good food is prepared for tonight? Is it as sumptuous as Yingcheng Shipping?"

"How can that compare—" Yu Decai also joked, "They specialize in mountain delicacies, we specialize in seafood."

Seeing Li Xuewu in a good mood, he also teased, "Why don't you decide? Of course, we all listen to you."

Since being disciplined by Li Xuewu last year and transferred to the Yingcheng Port area, Yu Decai had changed a lot, especially in his attitude toward work.

Li Xuewu didn't need sycophantic subordinates; he needed capable assistants.

Therefore, in the Yingcheng Port area, Yu Decai changed his previous steadiness and became vigorous, working with great courage and drive.

The two had some conflicts, but those were all work-related and wouldn't affect their personal lives; they didn't glare at each other when they met.

"Let me decide?" Li Xuewu looked at Andrew and asked, "What do you like to eat?"

"The guest follows the host's convenience," Andrew was quite capable, smiled, and replied in Northeast dialect, "I can eat anything."

"Hahaha—"

His Northeast accent wasn't as authentic as Catherine's, and everyone couldn't help but laugh when they heard it.

Li Xuewu also smiled at Xu Sinuian and Yu Decai and said, "Then today, let's have a grand celebration, with mountain delicacies and seafood on one table."

"However, we have a prior agreement."

He put away his smile, pointed at the two, and emphasized, "Pay attention to the influence, pay attention to the rules, pay attention to discipline."

"Understood, we won't eat whale, and we can't eat shredded kelp either."

Xu Sinuian teased, "Eat well, eat well."

"Look, Factory Manager Xu's level is still high!"

Yu Decai joked, "The summary is so on point, just forgot to emphasize how high or low his mountain delicacies are."

"Hahaha—"

Among these people, even the Italians could speak Chinese, and the communication didn't have any business atmosphere; it was as pleasant as old friends reuniting.

Actually, saying it was arranged in two tables was all Xu Sinuian's idle talk; there were no good restaurants in the area where Yingcheng Shipping was located.

The shipbuilding factory originally had a guesthouse, and the small cafeteria's chef had good skills, but it was far inferior to the current Yingcheng Tuanjie Hotel.

Geographically, Yingcheng Shipping and the Yingcheng Port area were connected, true neighbors.

Yingcheng naturally favored these two twin stars of the Red Steel Group, so the land near the port area was allocated to Red Steel.

Of course, Red Steel didn't get this land to leave it barren; they were truly investing in building factories there, and Yingcheng naturally supported it as much as possible.

The ore dressing plant that had already risen from the ground was in the downwind direction of the port area, adjacent to the freight yard.

Those unfamiliar with port operations might not understand the geographical size of the port area.

The Yingcheng Port area was divided into several different types of cargo storage bases in the planning, and the storage capacity was counted in the millions.

For example, the coal storage area was divided into several blocks, and the warehouse names were also named according to storage capacity, such as three million, five million, corresponding to three million tons of storage, five million tons of storage.

Of course, saying "storage" here didn't mean there were really warehouses; it was very likely a large piece of hardened ground.

Coal, iron ore, etc., were piled up in the storage area, looking like small hills from a distance.

The downwind direction of the ore dressing plant was the industrial park of Beijing Chemical, which was the property of the soon-to-be-established Northern Chemical Industry Group.

That piece of land didn't belong to the Red Steel Group; it was allocated by Yingcheng later, just because of the convenience of the port, it was adjacent to the Yingcheng Port area.

The location where Yingcheng Shipping was originally located was a reed marsh, uninhabited for a long time, but now it had become the most prosperous area in Yingcheng.

The road from Yingcheng urban area to the port area was approved last year, and this year, with the port area about to operate, a brand-new eight-lane two-way road had been completed.

In this era, an eight-lane two-way road was already a model in the field of highway construction.

The project was a general contract by United Construction, and several construction companies in Yingcheng participated in the construction, which was a kind of joint venture.

United Construction needed the coordination of local forces, and the city's construction companies needed to learn the advanced experience of United Construction.

After this road was repaired, the development of Yingcheng truly moved into the fast lane.

At least at the dinner table, Xu Sinuian introduced that the supply and marketing cooperatives in Yingcheng had already put overseas products on the shelves.

In these years, the ways were very wild; with the "Maritime Coachman Plan" in front and the "Fishing Village Commune" behind, Yingcheng also enjoyed the maritime economy in advance.

One of Li Xuewu's goals had already been achieved, which was to open up the thinking of the people in the Northeast, not to stay in the comfort zone of the "eldest son of industry."

Those old iron brothers in Fujian could build high-rise buildings and marry concubines with sampans; why should the Northeast only sigh at the ocean while guarding the sea?

The prosperity of Northeast Asia actually didn't lose to Southeast Asia, especially in this era, both the North and South and the "Ghost" were in a stage of rapid economic development.

Some people might not believe it, but in this era, the richest among the little brothers in Northeast Asia wasn't the "Ghost," but the North; having a face-conscious big brother is good.

After the Yingcheng Port area project was approved and built, the planning of Yingcheng Shipping changed accordingly.

The guesthouse reconstruction plan in the original plan was cancelled, and later it caught up with the unified integration of the Group's guesthouse units last year, which led to the Tuanjie Hotel.

The Tuanjie Hotel planned and built by the Yingcheng Port area should be the one with the largest land area and the existence that rivals the Group headquarters guesthouse in service equipment and facilities.

The service equipment and facilities here were high because the Tuanjie Hotel in the port area mainly served foreign and economic work.

A large part of those who could stay here were port personnel, and they were foreign personnel.

As long as they didn't leave the scope of the port area, foreign personnel could enjoy a relatively free activity space here.

Of course, this was relative openness and freedom; there was no such thing as a concession in the mainland now, and those who came had to follow the rules.

According to international practice, once ashore, it is managed by the shore, and it is their territory on their own ships.

From the beginning of the planning of the Yingcheng Port area, there was no such thing as land division; all enterprises related to port business were in several office buildings connected together.

The Red Steel Group built the first high-rise building in the country in Beijing, and also built three office buildings with more than 20 floors in the Yingcheng Port area.

Foreign businessmen who cooperated closely with the Red Steel Group had already completed the entry and decoration of the site, and even started office work in advance.

The units of the office building were only rented, not sold, including other land and buildings in the port area, which all belonged to the Red Steel Group.

Besides the office building, the largest building complex was the Tuanjie Hotel.

Banquet building, comprehensive building, Building No. 1... etc., could accommodate thousands of people to stay, completely prepared for the operation of the port area.

And it had already been prepared in advance; in the next 30 years, the port area would not need to increase construction costs, enough to use.

Because Jilixing Shipping was close to the water, it got the best floors and the best location, and Catherine's other companies also worked here.

The rent wasn't cheap, but it wasn't expensive either; office personnel lived uniformly in the Tuanjie Hotel, with service personnel responsible for logistics support, which was still very appropriate when calculated.

The banquet hall had large private rooms, and more than 20 people sitting together didn't feel crowded; Andrew saw the charm of eating at a large round table for the first time.

A dish passed in front of him, and he had to wait at least five minutes to eat it again; the emperors of ancient China were probably just like this.

He said the service of Red Star No. 1 was good, and he also liked this standardized service, which added a serious charm compared to European airlines.

After dinner, Andrew actually wanted to chat with him, but the meaning was still that he wanted Li Xuewu to be more proactive.

Coincidentally, Yu Decai came over at this time, and Li Xuewu didn't indulge him either; he chatted simply for two sentences, let him rest early, and left with Xu Sinuian.

Andrew was naturally very depressed, but the restraint of "old money" is hidden and not revealed.

Even with Catherine's complaints, he just pretended not to hear them.

Xu Sinuian took the initiative to find Li Xuewu, not to cooperate with him, but truly wanted to chat.

"You couldn't even wait for one night?"

Li Xuewu picked up his teacup and glanced at him angrily, snorted, and said, "With such little depth, what big things can you do?"

"What depth do I need in front of you!"

Xu Sinuian didn't need depth anymore, and he didn't need face either; facing Li Xuewu, he couldn't say he was sycophantic, but at least he was a bit too humble.

"I've heard everything; I won't say words of thanks, we're brothers."

"Who is your brother? Are you mixing in the underworld?"

Li Xuewu drank a mouthful of hot tea and said amusedly, "Have you been in the local area for too long that you can't even speak properly?"

"You want to laugh at me!" Xu Sinuian said bitterly, "When I came to Yingcheng back then, I was also scholarly, but I couldn't survive."

He patted the back of his hand and said, "People treat you like a little lamb; I was forced to learn to be so vulgar."

"Alright, alright, too scholarly, sour—"

Li Xuewu put down the teacup and said, "I don't know what exactly you've heard, I'll only tell you what I know."

"The stall of the Northeast Industrial Development General Company has been set up, someone has to do things, and the company must operate."

He emphasized, "The Group's plate in Liaodong is too scattered, unable to condense strength, and the Group is too far away, inconvenient to operate."

"So after comprehensive consideration, the headquarters of the Northeast Industrial Development General Company is set in Fengcheng, temporarily in Steel City."

Xu Sinuian listened very seriously; although he knew what Li Xuewu introduced, it might not be as accurate as what Li Xuewu said.

What others say doesn't work; what Li Xuewu says is the conclusion.

"In principle, I shouldn't disclose this to you, but considering you are also a party involved, this time it will be treated as an organizational talk; don't let it happen again."

Li Xuewu glanced at him and asked, "The organization is considering appointing you as the Deputy General Manager of the Northeast Industrial Development General Company; what are your thoughts?"

"Of course, I thank the organization and will resolutely execute the organization's decision."

Xu Si took a drag of his cigarette, stubbed it out in the ashtray, sat up straight, and said, "I will certainly not let down the organization's expectations."

"Hmm, any other thoughts?"

Li Xuewu looked him over and continued to ask, "Do you have any opinions on the subsequent development and personnel arrangements of Yingcheng Shipping?"

"I—" Xu Sinuian hesitated and asked, "Is the handover so fast? Can't I hold both posts?"

"You think too beautifully!" Li Xuewu said amusedly, "Don't you understand the principle that you can't have both fish and bear's paw?"

"You'd be hated enough if you occupied one of these two positions; you still want to occupy both? Don't you want to live?"

It was said to be an organizational talk, but everyone had just finished drinking, so it was just venting privately; he didn't deliberately keep a serious side.

Xu Sinuian naturally thought the same; he leaned back on the sofa and said, "I'm really a bit reluctant to leave Yingcheng Shipping."

"Then just stay here," Li Xuewu said indifferently, "Actually, Director Li also hopes you continue to shine in this position."

"When have I ever listened to him!"

Xu Sinuian suddenly sat up straight again and said, "I only listen to you; if you tell me to go to the Northeast Company, then I must go."

Li Xuewu looked him over amusedly, then drooped his eyelids and said, "I don't need to teach you how to do it; if Yingcheng Shipping isn't handed over clearly, just wait to mix here until retirement."

"Understood, I understand what you mean."

Xu Sinuian nodded and replied, "Three years ago, I listened to your advice; the problem of cultivating team members to take over has already been prepared."

"No need to tell me, just have a count in your own heart."

Li Xuewu raised his hand to stop his report and said, "Think about how to say it; someone will come to talk to you when the time comes."

"I'm going to the Northeast Company, what about the others?"

Xu Sinuian inquired, "I heard Old Kuang is going with me? What arrangements are there for the others?"

"Why don't I arrange for you to work in the Organization Department instead." Li Xuewu curled his lips and said angrily, "You haven't even finished your own business, yet you're asking about other people's business; handle your own stall first."

Xu Sinuian naturally understood what he meant; it was no good to ask too much about things that weren't his business.

"It's just that I'm afraid..." he hesitated and asked, "Is Director Li going to have any big moves?"

Xu Sinuian said he only had this one relationship in the Group's organs, but he knew all the Group's news; what does this explain?

After May 1st, Old Li's movements became more frequent, and the organizational personnel transfer work in the organs had been delayed, just waiting for Gu Weijie to leave.

But Gu Weijie wasn't a good person to mess with either; since personnel transfers were mentioned at the office meeting, she organized cadre assessments, which poked a hornet's nest.

Now, no one knows who Old Li wants to use, but the people Gu Weijie assessed are very likely to be reused by Deputy Director Zhou.

Everyone knows that Director Li's position in the Group is definitely stable, but Deputy Director Zhou also has some skills.

Now it can't be said that they are evenly matched, but it's a bit like they are equal.

Early assessment will inevitably be seen by Deputy Director Zhou; for the parties involved, they face two choices: either left or right.

And late assessment is very likely to miss the opportunity; no one dares to say that Director Li will definitely see them and use them.

In order to stand firm, the newly arrived Deputy Director Zhou will definitely uphold a relatively fair and just attitude toward this cadre selection and organizational personnel transfer.

So the organs were stirred up because of this matter, and for a while, no one knew who to choose.

Li Huai was still too impatient, and Gu Ning was unwilling to give him any face at all, which is why both sides ended up in such a state.

Thinking about how Old Li treated Gu Weijie back then, Gu Weijie's performance today is a bit unreasonable, but some people will understand.

Some things are unclear; the filth in the organs, who can say who is right and who is wrong.

"Why don't you talk to my father?"

Catherine lay on her side on the bed, supporting her head with her wrist, her arm propped on the pillow, looking at him and asking, "Don't you want the yacht anymore?"

"When did I say I wanted a yacht?"

Li Xuewu opened his eyes amusedly and glanced at her, saying, "It's always been you saying it, alright?"

"Ah! So it's still my fault?"

Catherine hit him amusedly and said, "If you don't want the boat, why are you angry with me? I've been speaking for you the whole time."

"Hmm, I'll just take it that you're kind."

Li Xuewu closed his eyes slightly and said while lying on the bed, "Seeing through without saying it out is still being good friends."

"What do you mean?" Catherine propped herself up, the quilt slipped, unable to cover those mountains, but she questioned with some shame and annoyance on her face, "You doubt my sincerity?"

"Of course—not doubting—"

As soon as Li Xuewu opened his eyes, there were two big mountains in front of him; how could he say he doubted her sincerity at this time? She was too damn sincere!

"I didn't ask you for anything, is it necessary—"

Catherine pulled the quilt to protect her chest, glanced at him, and said, "Besides, what I want, you can't give me either."

"That depends on what you want."

Li Xuewu's influence from the mountains was gone, the signal was full again, the alarm bell of the "Three No's" principle rang, and his eyes were as quiet as a lake.

"Some things I can satisfy you with, some things still have to be done according to one's ability."

"Of course, what you said is also right."

Catherine seemed to know very well how to get along with him; she stroked his big hand and said, "What you have, what I want, you've given me."

"I'm not as generous as your father." Li Xuewu smiled and emphasized, "And I don't have the conditions to be generous with other people's things."

"Look at how scared you are—" Catherine glanced at him with all kinds of charm, turned off the bed, and walked to the bathroom gracefully.

Li Xuewu listened to the sound of the shower, pillowing his hands behind his head, thinking about how to return the three cards Andrew played.

This first card is naturally the old friendship; haven't seen each other for several years, have to give some face.

The second card is courtesy; Jinbo Group's move won't be too stingy.

The third card is the "beauty trap"; Li Xuewu doesn't believe Andrew didn't know his daughter would come to his room tonight.

If he had any requests or ideas, he would definitely tell Catherine; she wasn't some rebellious teenager and would definitely not defy her father's decision.

So Catherine came, which meant Andrew knew and didn't say anything; it was a tacit cooperation.

Andrew thought, no matter how much of a bastard Li Xuewu is, after lingering with his daughter for a night, he has to give a big face the next day, right?

He still overestimated Li Xuewu's bottom line and underestimated Li Xuewu's calmness; with Li Xuewu's character, even sending his illegitimate daughter would be useless.

The sentence Americans like to say most: "I don't mean to be rude, but business is business."

(I don't mean to be rude, but business is business.)

Li Xuewu is naturally loyal to friends, but work is work; in work, he can still insist on the principles of being public and private, not being emotional, rules first, and being cold and pragmatic.

It sounds a bit unfeeling, but this is the best response to human feelings.

If he were really emotional, there would be nothing for others to do.

Being able to create a seafood supply chain with Jinmen Aquatic Products, he could create all kinds of trading companies with others, even overseas.

By then, more than half of the foreign trading companies in Yingcheng Port would be his; what would be left for Catherine and the others?

How could Li Xuewu dare to be "ruthless"?

Because he is certain that Andrew can figure it out; even if Catherine has done so much and still can't take him down, others won't be able to get any advantage.

By then, everyone will compete fairly, which is actually very beneficial to him.

"Is your Group going to Japan?"

Catherine came out of the bathroom wrapped in a bath towel, and seeing him squinting his eyes and not sleeping yet, she asked, "Are you going too?"

"Going, what's wrong?" Li Xuewu looked at her and asked, "Are you going too?"

"What would I go for?" Catherine shook her head amusedly and said, "I can go 800 times a year; I'm already sick of it."

This is true; it's far from Yingcheng to Hong Kong, but close to Japan.

She is Italian, and she can be considered a former "pig teammate" with the Japanese.

Japan's economy has been doing very well these years; even she bought property in Tokyo, the kind of characteristic large villa.

Working in Yingcheng and resting in Japan basically saves more than half the time compared to going to Hong Kong.

"This is your first foreign economic and trade visit; you will definitely reach many cooperation intentions by then, right?"

Catherine asked with some concern, "Will there also be cooperation between ports?"

"Otherwise?" Li Xuewu didn't mean to hide it and said very straightforwardly, "Inviting the Red Steel Group over, what else could it be for."

"I knew it would be like this."

Catherine turned around and looked at him, emphasizing, "Don't get drunk in the arms of Tokyo girls; they are very bad."

"How do you know?" Li Xuewu asked amusedly, "Have you tried it?" ===== CHAPTER 1681 =====