Chapter 196: One-Finger Zen

Han Han Yating previously looked down on Xu Ning. This person was too slippery; everything he said and did was utilitarian. But after getting along for a long time, she discovered that this person had different sides—for example, loyalty, blood, and seriousness. Even the slickness she found most annoying had turned into knowing how to handle interpersonal relationships.

"No situation. Except for the office you instructed, I looked at them all. Very normal. I didn't confiscate some small private things."

Li Li Xuewu nodded and asked Xu Ning, "How is your situation? You look better."

Xu Ning raised his injured arm, grinned, and joked, "It takes a hundred days to heal from a broken bone or tendon, so I have to rest for a while. But our Security Section people are all made of steel and iron. I feel I can still fight. Looking at your dark circles, I'll go tonight."

Li Li Xuewu shook his head and said, "Forget it. With your body, you'll be in the hospital after one night. Just stay on duty in the factory area; there will be a time when you're needed."

Xu Ning pointed at Li Li Xuewu's face and said, "Look at your complexion. It's terrible. This is a protracted war. You don't want to fall down first like me, do you?"

Han Han Yating looked at Li Li Xuewu's complexion and echoed, "Yes, Li Kezhang. Your complexion is really not good. Let me go. Anyway, he was picked up by the Factory Office today, so he'll just be sleeping when he goes back. There shouldn't be anything going on."

Seeing Li Li Xuewu still wanting to speak, Xu Ning persuaded him again, "Li Kezhang, if you don't let me go, you have to let Li Kezhang Han go. Go back and rest. Tomorrow, isn't that person going fishing again? We three are the only ones who can take over. You have to work even harder."

Seeing that both of them were persuading him to rest, Li Li Xuewu thought of the old saying that you see true feelings in adversity. Now that everyone in the factory must know he was about to be taken down, the fact that these two could still care about him showed that his efforts hadn't been in vain.

"Fine, then I'll rest for a day today. Thank you, Li Kezhang Han."

Han Han Yating saluted Li Li Xuewu and said, "Guarantee to complete the mission."

Seeing that it was getting late, Li Li Xuewu said a word to the two and went downstairs to go home.

On the way, Li Li Xuewu was on full alert. Whether it was the short gun at his waist or the long gun on his back, they were all loaded. He was afraid that someone would play a "decapitation operation" on him.

When he entered the Bai Bai Xiyuan and parked the car steadily, he saw the old grandmother come out wrapped in clothes. She had obviously seen him from the window. She didn't ask why Li Li Xuewu was so late, but asked if he had eaten, and went to close the gate of the Bai Bai Xiyuan.

Li Li Xuewu thought that if there was food at home, he would have a bite. If not, he wouldn't eat and would eat tomorrow morning.

The old grandmother said that food had been left at home. Li Li Xuewu didn't return to the side room, but went to his own house first.

Just as he walked into the second gate, he saw the Third Master walking out of the house. He wasn't carrying anything, as if he were waiting for Li Li Xuewu. It just so happened that Li Li Xuewu entered the door, and the two walked head-on.

"Oh, Third Master, going out so late?" Li Li Xuewu was the first to greet him.

The Third Master walked with his hands behind his back and said with a chuckle, "Nothing, just strolling after eating. Li Ke is busy with official business, just getting off work?"

Li Li Xuewu heard this, and there was more to these words. He raised his eyebrows and looked at Yan Brother Jiecheng, who was peeking at this side from the window of the Third Master's house, and replied, "Busy or not, can I be as busy as you, a people's teacher? I'm so idle that I want to go fishing with you."

The Third Master tilted his head and said with a smile, "You? Do you know how? Knowing you're going to be idle, fishing is also a good hobby for cultivating the mind. If you really want to learn, I can teach you, but you have to pay tuition."

Li Li Xuewu saw that the Third Master was looking for trouble, so he said, "I really want to learn. Tomorrow happens to be Sunday. I heard that the fish in Kunminghu are big and numerous, and I want to try my hand at it. Why don't you lend me a fishing rod first, and I'll try my hand at it? If it doesn't work, I'll learn from you?"

The word "lend" was something the Third Master couldn't stand the most. It was a word that would never appear in the Third Master's house. Even his own son, Yan Brother Jiecheng, wasn't approved to borrow the bicycle, let alone the "Li Ke" who was about to be a "yesterday's flower."

"Hehehe, what do you mean by lend? We don't have that word in our house. If I lend out the fishing rod, how do you count the fish caught?"

The Third Master curled his lips and glared at Li Li Xuewu.

"Just now, at our dinner table, the eldest daughter-in-law said her aunt came and wanted to borrow the car to take her aunt around the Four Nine Cities. The second son said he was instructed by your Third Aunt to borrow the car to go to the countryside. The third son said he wanted to borrow the car on Sunday to learn gymnastics with the PE teacher."

The Third Master narrowed his eyes and asked, "Then do you know how I replied?"

Li Li Xuewu looked at the Third Master with amusement and shook his head, saying, "I can imagine the others, but your family's 'special system' is something I really don't know. I really want to hear how you handled it."

Facing such a complex car-use environment and demands, if it were a small car team, the team leader would have to scratch his head. In an ordinary family, they would have fought over a bicycle. But under the Third Master's planning, he cleverly gave all three children arrangements they thought were suitable.

"Hehehe, the eldest daughter-in-law's aunt wants to see the fun, right? She can accompany her aunt and walk to Wangfujing Street. That's great, watching the fun, right? Ride the bicycle and zoom over, then walk a few steps and arrive at Dashilan. If you go around there, it's even more lively."

"The second son wants to ride the car to the countryside, right? It's better to walk. It's not far, and the road there is hard to walk, so it saves on tires."

"The third son wants to go to the Temple of Earth to learn gymnastics, right? He can walk there. Heh, he doesn't even need to take the bus. Running after the bus, that's earning 8 cents, and he can exercise his body."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and gave the Third Master a thumbs up, saying, "You really know how to calculate. I have a different opinion on how Yan Jiekua goes."

Hearing Li Li Xuewu say this, the Third Master looked at Li Li Xuewu in surprise. This... is there anyone who knows how to calculate better than him?

Li Li Xuewu smiled, raised his eyebrows, and said, "Let Yan Jiekua run after the train. Train tickets are more expensive."

"Go away, you little brat, you're wicked."

Li Li Xuewu didn't care about the Third Master joking with him and asked again, "Are you going fishing tomorrow?"

The Third Master asked in surprise, "How did you know?"

Li Li Xuewu curled his lips at the bicycle over there and said, "None of the three children borrowed it, so it must be you using it."

The Third Master said righteously, "Of course I'm using it. I'm going to fish in the ice holes outside the city tomorrow. They borrow the car either to play or spend money, without any serious business. I don't spend money fishing. If I catch fish, I can sell them to the cafeteria where Seeing Sha Zhu works, and I can exchange them for money to live. That Seeing Sha Zhu is begging me to do things for him recently, he will definitely agree."

Li Li Xuewu looked at the "calculating" Third Master and secretly found it funny. If it weren't for him stopping it, it's hard to say whether you'll be able to go tomorrow. You're laughing with me today, but there will be a day when you cry.

"Then you really know how to live. Among the neighbors, I admire you the most. You really know how to live." As he spoke, he gave the Third Master a thumbs up again.

Li Li Xuewu put down his hand, gestured with his eyes at the small room over there, and said, "But, what's going on with Brother Jiecheng? I saw someone crying in that room?"

It turned out that after the Third Master sent away the three children, a conflict arose at the dinner table.

After hearing her father-in-law's words, Yu Li was already full of anger and had no heart to eat. Her father had begged her for this today. She thought it was the first time a new daughter-in-law had spoken, so she couldn't count for a word. But her father-in-law didn't give her face, so how could she go back to her maiden home in the future?

The Third Master hadn't thought about why he couldn't walk to fish, nor had he thought about what to do if he didn't catch fish. Anyway, he felt sorry for the bicycle and didn't want to lend it.

After the couple finished eating and went home, they started to quarrel. The Third Master didn't go to persuade them. Quarrel if they want, as long as they don't borrow the bicycle.

Now Yan Brother Jiecheng had fled the war to his mother's house, leaving Yu Li crying alone in the room.

The Third Master looked at his eldest son's room and said indifferently, "Sigh, the couple is just chatting. Why? Listening to you, you really intend to go fishing with me tomorrow?"

Li Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "You must have heard something from Yan Brother Jiecheng. It's just as you heard. I'm looking for a way to make a living, and I'll be idle from now on."

The Third Master showed joy but immediately straightened his face. However, he twitched the corners of his mouth and said regretfully, "Really taken down? What for? The eldest said so, and I thought he was just blabbering."

Li Li Xuewu also cooperated with a look of regret and said, "Sigh, it's a long story. From now on, I'll hang out with you. Let's form a fishing team. You be the captain. You have a fishing rod, I have a landing net. Let's make it big and strong, and get rich."

The Third Master was secretly planning Li Li Xuewu in his heart and didn't see Li Li Xuewu's wicked look. He nodded and said, "That's great, but there's one thing: you have to buy your own fishing gear. These two of mine are for my own use."

Li Li Xuewu was thinking about how to monitor Huhu Zhengquan fishing tomorrow. It was a bit conspicuous for him to investigate alone. Having the Third Master cover for him gave him more confidence.

"Good, good, good. I'll go buy it early tomorrow morning. I've already inquired. There are no big fish in Haizi, but there are in Kunminghu. All the old hands go there to fish now."

The Third Master felt very comfortable in his heart. He patted Li Li Xuewu on the shoulder and said, "Hmm, then let's go to Kunminghu. I know that place. Can I not know? I'm an old fisherman. Also, don't be sad. There's no hurdle you can't pass. Look at your Third Master, haven't I come through wind and rain for so many years? You're still Little Li in the future."

Li Li Xuewu watched the satisfied Third Master go home, and then walked toward his own house with a wicked smile.

Qin Laoer Aunt, who loved to watch the fun, was looking over at the moon gate again. Seeing Li Li Xuewu and the Third Master separate, she walked quickly home, not even going to the restroom she was going to.

After entering the house, she said to the Second Master, who was drinking and listening to the radio, "I say, isn't this Li Li Xuewu about to be taken down? Why is he still chatting so happily with the Third Master? You didn't hear the wrong news, did you?"

Qin Laoer Master paused his wine cup and clicked his tongue, saying, "Nonsense. I asked several people, and they all said he caused trouble and was about to be taken down. Don't look at Old Yan smiling at him; who knows how he's laughing at him. That young Li Li Xuewu is also heartless. Sigh, I said he wouldn't last long. How about it? It went according to my words."

Liu Liu Guangtian, who was eating at the eight-immortal table, nodded and said, "You have foresight. It's fortunate we didn't crowd around him."

Qin Laoer Master curled his lips and said, "Last time in the workshop, you said you gave him an ashtray, and I wanted to talk to you. Look at your appearance, don't be servile. Heh, hmph, tsk~"

While lecturing his son, he took another sip of wine, unwilling to waste more breath teaching the useless son, and focused on listening to the national affairs on the radio, looking like "everyone is drunk while I am awake."

Now that his "investment" had failed, he had to listen to whatever his father said. Liu Liu Guangtian just focused on eating.

When Li Li Xuewu arrived home, he also had a meal. Today, Qin Qin Huairu came over to help tidy up as usual, cooked dinner, and steamed corn buns.

When Li Li Xuewu entered the room, everyone in the family was there. Liu Yin served the food that was kept warm in the pot for Li Li Xuewu, complaining that Li Li Xuewu didn't know how to eat on time.

Li Li Xuewu washed his face, took off his coat, and asked the people in the family, "The security guards who came in the morning went back?"

Liu Yin nodded and said, "They left long ago. They left after sending the person back. Why didn't they eat even when I kept them? They said they would come back on Monday morning."

Li Li Xuewu nodded and said, "I'll handle it then. Nothing happened today, right?"

These words were addressed to Li Xuecai and the others. Li Xuecai nodded excitedly and said, "Nothing. That car ride was really comfortable. It saved a lot of time going back and forth."

Seeing that his eldest brother and father nodded without speaking, Li Li Xuewu sat down to eat quietly.

When Li Li Xuewu had almost finished eating, the old grandmother came in and said to Li Li Xuewu, "The fire has been burning in the house in the backyard. If you want to see it, go take a look. If there's anything else to add, go tell Old San."

Old San here refers to Wen San'er. Wen San'er is only one generation lower than the old grandmother, so she called him Old San.

Li Li Xuewu nodded in agreement and said to Liu Yin that he had a mission to go out tomorrow morning, but the bedding and curtains for the new house hadn't been made yet. He wanted to ask a few people in the courtyard with good craftsmanship to help. He thought that after a few days of letting the decoration smell dissipate, he would move in.

Liu Yin and the old grandmother both agreed to help make the quilts tomorrow. At this time, the eldest sister-in-law, who was reading in the south room, said, "Second brother, it's not that sister-in-law doesn't want to help, it's really a coincidence. A classmate from the south is coming back tomorrow and will stay for two days. It just so happens that there is no class tomorrow, so we want to go out and gather."

Li Li Xuewu packed up the finished rice bowl, nodded, and said, "It's fine. There are many people in the family. Sister-in-law, you go do your business."

Seeing Liu Yin's complexion was not right, Li Li Xuewu hurriedly patted Liu Yin on the shoulder, hugged his mother, and said, "Mom, I'm going to find people to help tomorrow now, fearing that they might have temporary business. Tomorrow, I'll borrow the Bai Bai Xiyuan engineering team's food, provide two meals at noon and night, and concentrate on doing most of it tomorrow. For the remaining odds and ends, you and my grandmother work hard. I'll find Qin Qin Huairu to help, and it should be done very quickly."

Liu Yin said, "You go find Yu Li opposite. She has good craftsmanship. I've seen her handiwork. Her mother is also a good teacher. Go find your First Aunt, she's also fine. Plus Qin Qin Huairu, the five of us are enough. Our family has two sewing machines, Qin Qin Huairu's family has one, and your First Aunt's family also has one. Four sewing machines can finish the work in one day tomorrow."

Seeing that Liu Yin didn't give the eldest sister-in-law a hard time anymore, Li Li Xuewu responded and went out the door.

First, he came to Yan Brother Jiecheng's house. When he knocked on the door, Yan Brother Jiecheng opened it. This kid was obviously back from his mother's house. He glanced into the room and saw Yu Li sitting on the kang wiping tears.

Watching Yan Brother Jiecheng awkwardly let him in, it was obvious he was afraid that Li Li Xuewu would say he was loose-lipped, and also that he was embarrassed to let people know about his family's mess.

Yan Brother Jiecheng's room was too small. When Li Li Xuewu entered, he could only sit on the kang. Yu Li on the other side of the kang turned away in embarrassment, with her back to Li Li Xuewu.

Li Li Xuewu had already knocked on the door and entered, so there was no reason to hide or pretend not to see. He asked, "Why, Brother Jiecheng is already working, starting to make money to support the family, why is he still crying?"

Yu Li didn't speak. Yan Brother Jiecheng explained awkwardly, "That... Yu Li's family wants to use the bicycle. My dad said he's going fishing tomorrow and didn't lend it to her, so she's wiping tears."

Yu Li was also a bit embarrassed and stopped crying, but it wasn't easy to look over here.

Li Li Xuewu thought to himself that he had just chatted with the Third Master about this, so how could he not know? He was deliberately coming to the door to send "warmth" and "pick a fight."

"Sigh, this Third Master of mine, what can I say? Calculating all his life, even calculating against his own children."

Li Li Xuewu asked Yu Li loyally, "Sister-in-law, when do you need the car?"

Yu Li knew Li Li Xuewu had a bicycle, and it was a new one. Regardless of the tears that hadn't been wiped clean, she turned around and hurriedly replied, "Just use it for a morning, just to take my aunt around."

Li Li Xuewu nodded and said with a smile, "Outsiders haven't seen the fun of the Four Nine Cities, so it's right to take her around. This is also the hospitality of us Beijingers. This is a serious matter. I have something to trouble you with, sister-in-law, and the time matches up."

Seeing the couple look over, Li Li Xuewu continued, "My house in the backyard has been rebuilt, and I'm preparing to make some curtains, quilts, etc. My mom said she's seen your handiwork and wants to ask you to help. I'm going to drive a horse cart out to do business tomorrow, so I don't need the car. Sister-in-law, you ride it. When you come back at noon, you can just help me do some handiwork."

Hearing the good news Li Li Xuewu brought, Yu Li finally burst into tears and smiled. Without waiting for Yan Brother Jiecheng's consent, she first replied, "That's great. I'll definitely come back at noon, eat a meal, and go to your house to help."

Li Li Xuewu handed the key in his pocket to Yu Li and said with a smile, "Just go directly to the backyard. My mom and grandmother are both there. The car is under the window of the side room. Ride it away tomorrow morning."

After speaking, he walked out of their door. The room was too narrow. Yu Li was a bit excited, afraid that they wouldn't be able to move in the room, and it wouldn't be good to have any contact in front of Yan Brother Jiecheng. Besides, staying in such a small room was uncomfortable.

He waved at the enthusiastically seeing-off Yu Li couple and turned to the First Master's house in the middle courtyard. When he entered the door, he saw the First Aunt using paste to stick the shoe soles, and the First Master was drinking tea while listening to the radio.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu enter the room, the old couple was very surprised. Seeing that it was night, Li Li Xuewu didn't talk nonsense and stated his request directly.

The First Aunt agreed very readily and also agreed to use the sewing machine at home. They all lived in the same courtyard, so who didn't need whom?

Don't look at the rumors that Li Li Xuewu was about to be taken down. Even if he really was taken down, the First Master wouldn't step on him, because when Li Li Xuewu became the Security Li Kezhang, the First Master didn't curry favor with Li Li Xuewu.

Why? Just because the First Master was an eighth-level worker, which was a position that didn't need to beg anyone. The Rolling Steel Factory could change a Security Li Kezhang, and the leadership wouldn't even need to frown.

But to say replace the First Master, that was absolutely impossible. The Rolling Steel Factory was so large, and it wasn't said that there were several eighth-level workers. They were all treasures.

In this era, technical workers were tough. You, Li Li Xuewu, could be dismissed today, but workers wouldn't be dismissed. That position was his. Even if the workpiece wasn't done well, it was still his. No one had heard of demoting the First Master to a seventh-level or sixth-level worker.

Seeing that the First Aunt agreed, and not responding to the First Master's invitation to stay, he greeted the couple and went out the door.

Li Li Xuewu didn't intend to find Qin Qin Huairu to talk about this tonight. He would just say it tomorrow morning. But just as he walked to the backyard and opened his door, he saw Qin Qin Huairu and Banggeng turning over from the moon gate.

"I was just about to find you, and I saw you coming out of the First Master's house." Qin Qin Huairu walked over with a smile, and Banggeng also followed behind, nodding at Li Li Xuewu and calling out, "Wu Shu."

Since reaching a "strategic partnership" with Li Li Xuewu here last time, Banggeng was no longer afraid of "Li Li Erbala" as before. Although he still had to sweep the floor and feed the chickens, he dared to greet Li Li Xuewu normally when he saw him.

Li Li Xuewu opened the door, pulled the light string, and let Qin Qin Huairu and her son in.

This room didn't even have curtains, but the newly installed windows were very bright. Looking at the room from the outside, one could see clearly. He wasn't afraid of others misunderstanding. Besides, Qin Qin Huairu came with her son, so there were even fewer taboos.

"What's wrong? It's this late and Banggeng hasn't slept yet?" Li Li Xuewu poked the fire in the fireplace with fire tongs, threw two more coal balls in to make the fire burn more vigorously, and went to the kitchen to look at the heating stove, also refilling it with coal balls.

Although this room didn't have curtains or door curtains installed, it wasn't cold at all. The old grandmother had been burning the house for the past two days just to keep the room warm and dissipate the smell.

During the day, the old grandmother would come to open the windows for a while to change the air and close them when she left.

Because the heating in the room was already connected to water, she couldn't open the windows for a long time for fear of freezing.

Qin Qin Huairu entered the room but didn't answer Li Li Xuewu's words, instead looking around carefully.

This room was actually the same size as Qin Qin Huairu's house, but it was much neater than theirs, especially the snow-white ceiling, which looked even brighter under the glare of the incandescent lamp.

The furniture in this room looked like old furniture, but it carried a sense of historical weight. For the past two days, the old grandmother and the old lady had come over to turn around and would help Li Li Xuewu tidy up the hygiene. The furniture had already been wiped clean, without the "pearl covered in dust" look in the store, but became neat, plus the historical patina, one could tell at a glance that it wasn't an ordinary item.

"I just finished urging him to finish his homework and said I'd come to your house to see if there's anything that needs help tidying up. Now that I see it, your house is really well tidied. This sofa and wall clock are styles I've never seen before."

Seeing Qin Qin Huairu's surprise, Li Li Xuewu smiled and let the mother and son sit on the sofa, saying, "They're all second-hand goods, just for the cheapness."

Qin Qin Huairu was shrewd. She raised her eyebrows at Li Li Xuewu and said, "You're fooling me. I haven't eaten pork, but haven't I seen pigs run? Can I not tell if something is good or bad?"

As she spoke, she pointed to the sofa Li Li Xuewu let the mother and son sit on and said, "This isn't a cheap item. I've seen ones worse than this in the supply and marketing cooperative marked at over 30."

Li Li Xuewu sat on the single sofa, took two candies from his pocket and threw them to Banggeng, then took out a cigarette and lit it by the fireplace.

Banggeng was polite to Li Li Xuewu. Seeing Li Li Xuewu throw him candy so casually, like throwing a cigarette to an adult, he thought this Wu Shu was really particular and much more dashing than Uncle Sha.

"Thank you, Wu Shu!"

Li Li Xuewu waved his hand indifferently, put the cigarette box on the coffee table in front of him, and said to Qin Qin Huairu, who was sitting next to him, "I was just saying that I wanted to find you to help with something. I thought it was late and inconvenient, so I didn't go to your house."

Qin Qin Huairu also had a belly full of words she wanted to say to Li Li Xuewu. Hearing Li Li Xuewu say he wanted to find her to help, she nodded and said, "You say it. Are you still being polite with sister?"

Li Li Xuewu knew what Qin Qin Huairu came to find him for. Seeing that she knew about his affairs and still treated him the same way, he said directly, "Do you have anything to do tomorrow? This room needs new cotton quilts and mattresses, and also kang quilts. And these fabric arts like curtains. I know you have good handiwork, so if you have time, come help me do it for a day tomorrow. We provide meals."

Qin Qin Huairu hit Banggeng, who was touching the coffee table, glared at him, and said, "Look at what you're saying. If you don't provide meals, I won't help you do it? It's just a craft job. Who else did you find?"

Since Li Li Xuewu said to do it for a day tomorrow, he must be thinking of finishing it all in one day, so he must have found a few people to do it together. At the very least, going to the First Master's house just now should have been to find the First Aunt.

Li Li Xuewu flicked the cigarette ash into the fireplace and saw the ash being sucked into the stove mouth. He thought this stove was really easy to use.

"Didn't find anyone else. Just my mom and my grandmother, plus Yu Li, First Aunt, and you. My mom said five people are enough. Also, I might need your family's sewing machine."

Qin Qin Huairu didn't care and said, "Fine. I'll come over after tidying up tomorrow morning. Have the cotton cloth and cotton been bought?"

Li Li Xuewu pointed to the inner room, and felt it was better to let Qin Qin Huairu see it first, so that if there was not enough, he could make up for it quickly. He stood up and led Qin Qin Huairu to the south bedroom.

Qin Qin Huairu glared at Banggeng and whispered, "Sit obediently here, don't touch things randomly." After speaking, she followed Li Li Xuewu to the south room.

Last time Li Li Xuewu finished tidying up the furniture, he put the cloth and cotton on the kang cabinet at the end of the kang. This kang cabinet was made by the old grandmother with solid wood. Not a drop of glue or paint was used. It was purely mortise and tenon fixed, and only clear varnish was used to cover the surface.

Shaking open the rolled cloth and that bag of cotton, Qin Qin Huairu was dizzy and said, "How much did you buy?"

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "My luggage set at the Rolling Steel Factory still needs to be used and can't be brought back. The luggage set in the side room has also been there for a long time, so I'm preparing to dismantle it to make kang quilts, so I still need to make two sets of bedding here."

Li Li Xuewu pointed to the rolled dark blue patterned and large-flowered quilt cover, and the white quilt lining cloth, indicating to use these cloths.

He pointed to the piece of white gauze cloth and the dark blue solid-color cotton cloth and indicated, "Make two sets of curtains, one set of white gauze that transmits light, and one set of dark blue curtains that don't transmit light."

Qin Qin Huairu touched the roll of white gauze cloth and said enviously, "Why are you so particular? Even making two sets."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "I don't have the time to embroider various patterns on the curtains like your family. I can only simplify."

Qin Qin Huairu was a woman and often did female work, so of course she knew what the two sets of curtains were for. But since Li Li Xuewu said so, she listened.

"Still saying it's simple. Look at your house, it's said to be an old house, but everywhere it carries new things. Is that a curtain box? Your grandfather's craftsmanship is really clever."

The old grandmother had her own persistence for woodwork. She couldn't help with the big pieces in the house, but every small piece revealed the old grandmother's care for this grandson.

Even that curtain box could be carved with hollow flowers, and after applying clear varnish, it showed the original flavor of the wood.

"My grandfather is really good to me. After all these are done, help me make a door curtain for the room door. Just use the outer skin of that luggage set in the side room, plus the old cotton dismantled. For the rest, help me think about what's missing. If it's not enough, I'll go buy it."

Qin Qin Huairu sat on the kang, feeling the warmth under her buttocks, looking at the bright and clean room, and said with emotion, "When will our family be able to live a life like yours?"

Li Li Xuewu walked to the desk by the window, extinguished the cigarette butt in the ashtray on the table, put the fountain pen into the drawer, straightened the desk lamp, turned it on, and turned it off again.

"As long as you are willing to struggle, there will be such a day."

Qin Qin Huairu was used to this kid pouring chicken soup for her, so she didn't care about Li Li Xuewu telling her empty words. She stood up, walked to Li Li Xuewu's side, and asked in a low voice, "What's going on with the news in the factory?"

Li Li Xuewu saw Qin Qin Huairu walk close to him, raised his eyebrows, and smiled, "It's just like that. I'm going to be taken down, and I might go to the workshop to assemble parts with you in the future. By then, I'll have to rely on Qin Jie to take care of me."

Qin Qin Huairu punched Li Li Xuewu in anger. Looking at Banggeng studying Li Li Xuewu's "little monster" TV and radio integrated machine, she scolded Li Li Xuewu, "Why are you so unserious? You're about to be dismissed and you're still grinning. Tell sister the truth, is it true?"

Li Li Xuewu squinted his eyes and said, "The Factory Director said so, and Fu Bin also said so. But it won't be decided until Monday. Ninety-nine percent, I'm going to be taken down."

Qin Qin Huairu grabbed Li Li Xuewu's sleeve nervously and said, "Why are you so careless? Didn't you find any connections? Aren't you on good terms with Li Li Huai De? Why don't you go find him?"

Li Li Xuewu asked with a smile, "Who said I'm on good terms with Li Li Huai De? I've only been here for a few days, and we haven't even met a few times. You don't really think that because he's surnamed Li and I'm surnamed Li, he can take care of me, right?"

Qin Qin Huairu looked at Li Li Xuewu's expression, wanting to see what Li Li Xuewu was thinking, but this kid's face was like the face-changing of Sichuan opera, and she couldn't see anything at all.

"Didn't you sit together watching a movie that day? Later, didn't you drink together? Also, also, didn't you get him so many meat products? Doesn't he remember your feelings at all?"

Li Li Xuewu pulled away the sleeve in Qin Qin Huairu's hand, raised his leg and sat on the desk, and said to Qin Qin Huairu, "My good Qin Jie, where did you hear all this? It's all just a coincidence. You don't really think I have the supernatural power to get so many meat products, right? If I had them, I'd eat them at home every day. Why give them to the Rolling Steel Factory?"

Seeing Qin Qin Huairu's puzzled face, Li Li Xuewu explained, "There's nothing real about the relationships in the office. Only personal interests are real. I drink with him and get some meat, and we're good friends? There are no good friends in the office building. It's considered a good relationship if you don't point machine guns at each other. It's just short of pointing mortars at each other. Everyone wishes the other would die early so they can give up their position."

Qin Qin Huairu was amused by Li Li Xuewu's metaphor and laughed, even slapping Li Li Xuewu on the thigh, scolding, "Where is it as evil as you say? Then the people in the office building don't have to live."

Li Li Xuewu saw Qin Qin Huairu was close to him, so he thought about ending the topic early and asked Qin Qin Huairu, "Survival of the fittest, mortal enemies. By the way, what did you come to find me for?"

Qin Qin Huairu scolded, "Still saying it. I almost forgot because of your digression. Isn't it because I heard those news and came to inquire? I was afraid that the project in the Bai Bai Xiyuan would also stop, so I came to ask early."

Li Li Xuewu said with a wry smile, "That's the industry of my old grandmother and my few childhood friends. I just lent them the courtyard and the side room, it's not my industry. You just do it if you want to."

Seeing Li Li Xuewu playing riddles with her again, Qin Qin Huairu slapped Li Li Xuewu's thigh hard, wrinkled her nose, and said, "You're fooling me. Ah, your courtyard, your house, you pay for repairs, you provide meals, and you tell me it's theirs. I've never encountered such a good thing."

Seeing Qin Qin Huairu move closer to him again and even moving her hands and feet on him, Li Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows, gestured at Banggeng, and said, "What are you doing in front of the child? Still thinking about good things? They are working for their lives for me. Do you want to work for your life for me too?"

Qin Qin Huairu looked at her son who was "working" on the little monster, as if he could see people from the screen. Seeing that her son wasn't looking over here, Qin Qin Huairu didn't care at all and put her hand on Li Li Xuewu's thigh.

"I'm not afraid, what are you afraid of? If there really is such a good thing, I'll sell my life to you. You say it. As long as you take care of the future of my three children, whatever you want me to do, I'll do it without a word."

Li Li Xuewu's thigh felt a sudden shiver as soon as Qin Qin Huairu's hand was placed on it. This woman was too good at flirting. The position where her hand was placed was just right.

One inch forward is crossing the line, one inch backward is distance. Now it's just right, itchy.

"I'm a serious person. What selling or not selling? Also, I'm someone who's about to be taken down. What ability do I have to arrange for three children? Besides, aren't you afraid your mother-in-law will fight you to the death?"

Qin Qin Huairu moved her feet to block the door, her hand sliding on Li Li Xuewu's thigh. When she blocked the door, her middle finger bent and was buckled by her thumb, and then she flicked Li Li Xuewu's vital part lightly.

After teasing Li Li Xuewu with the one-finger Zen, Qin Qin Huairu looked at the man with a wicked smile in front of her and scolded, "Serious person occupying other people's houses and wives? Where did you hide Xu Xu Damao's wife?"

"Qin Jie, you have to be responsible for what you say. I, Li Li Xuewu, am a clean person and do things according to the rules. I wouldn't do such a thing. Xu Xu Damao's wife is Yang Hua, and she went to the south with him. Where would I hide her? Besides, this house is written in black and white."

Seeing Li Li Xuewu's innocent expression, Qin Qin Huairu flicked Li Li Xuewu's vital part again with her curved finger, pretending to be strict but laughing coquettishly, "I don't believe a single punctuation mark of what you say now. If you ask me, even if Factory Director Yang is taken down, I don't believe you'll be taken down. Anyway, I'm relying on you. I don't care if you're a Li Kezhang or not, the three children are left to you to arrange."

Li Li Xuewu was sitting on the desk, originally taller than Qin Qin Huairu. Seeing Banggeng looking over here, he smiled wickedly and blinked at Banggeng.

Banggeng seemed to understand, and seemed not to understand. He didn't know what his mother was saying to Wu Shu. His mother had her back to him, so he couldn't see her expression. He could only blink at Wu Shu, who was signaling him, and then continue to stare at the little monster.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu playing tricks with her son, Qin Qin Huairu raised her eyebrows and said, "Is it okay or not? Give me a word. If you're worried about my mother-in-law, I'll give you a definite word. Don't you see why my mother-in-law let me bring Banggeng here? It's to set conditions for you."

Li Li Xuewu smiled wickedly and said, "If you're not afraid of death, what am I afraid of? Fine, arranging is easy. Just follow my third uncle to collect scrap."

Having obtained Li Li Xuewu's "definite word," Qin Qin Huairu smiled and took her hand back, but during the process of taking it back, her fingers brushed lightly and unintentionally, and she scolded Li Li Xuewu again, "Fine, whatever you say, you arrange it. As long as you're not afraid of me biting you."

After testing the feel, Qin Qin Huairu said coquettishly, "Young man, you have plenty of capital."

Li Li Xuewu slapped away the mischievous hand and said to Qin Qin Huairu, "You really want to practice martial arts with me in front of your son? Pay attention to the influence. There are no curtains, and it's clear from the outside. I don't want to play live broadcast."

Qin Qin Huairu tidied up her expression and said, "Otherwise, why would I talk to you in a low voice? Banggeng is big and knows everything. Children talk a lot and don't have a gate."

Rice ball.

Li Li Xuewu laughed "hehe" and said, "Your mother-in-law taught him well. At the very least, she made it clear that there are no roosters, and eggs laid by hens can't hatch chicks."

Now that she had finished talking about private matters, Qin Qin Huairu wasn't afraid of speaking loudly and said to Li Li Xuewu in a normal voice, "Still saying it. When will that rooster be bought? Banggeng is waiting to hatch chicks."

Banggeng, who was "watching" TV, also chimed in: "That's right, Wu Shu. Didn't you say that one of those two chickens is mine? Aren't we preparing to eat eggs every day and chicken every month?"

Ps: Please vote for monthly tickets~ Big guys, if you have monthly tickets, reward them to the child~ ===== CHAPTER 197 =====