Chapter 235: Strong Organizational and Practical Skills

Master Dou's name was Dou Yaozu. He was in his forties, but he looked a bit old—one would guess he was sixty.

Of course, whether it's the craft of a carpenter or a mason, exposed to the wind and sun, there isn't a single "fresh meat" among them; rather, "old cured meat" is the norm.

Come to think of it, Master Dou wasn't exactly from the Imperial Workshop, because by the time he was born, the Great Qing Dynasty had already fallen, and the corresponding permanent government units of the previous dynasty had also gone bust. At best, he could be considered a laid-off worker.

It was mainly due to his grandfather and father that he had never been accepted into any work unit.

But as for Master Dou's craftsmanship, Li Xuewu truly admired it. The furniture in his home wasn't made by Master Dou, but the furniture in the inverted-house was.

Don't just look at the surface of the furniture; look inside. Hey, you could hold a magnet to it and never find a single point of attraction.

It was a full mortise-and-tenon structure. Whether it was sturdy or not, Li Xuewu couldn't say yet, as he hadn't used it for many days.

But according to Li Xuewu's estimation, he wouldn't live to see the day this furniture broke.

Old Biaozi sometimes found the kang too hot and would sleep directly on the kang cabinet, and even with that big frame of his, the cabinet didn't show any signs of wear.

"Master Dou, come, have a cigarette."

The cigarette Li Xuewu offered Master Dou was a Zhonghua. It wasn't that Li Xuewu was the type to judge people and only give good cigarettes when he needed something from them.

Li Xuewu's smoking habits were inconsistent. If he happened to go to Dong Wenxue's office, he'd have at least a week's supply of Zhonghua.

If he couldn't get those, it would be Daqian Sect. If he couldn't even get Daqian Sect, then whoever's cigarette it was in the section—Feima, Warrior, or Production cigarettes—would do.

The cheapest one here was the Production cigarette from Wang Jianguo of the Security Section, at eight cents a pack.

Li Xuewu didn't mind; he'd puff hard until it smoked, and he'd smoke it with gusto, though his cheeks would ache afterward.

Offering cigarettes to others was also a matter of chance; he'd give whatever he was currently smoking in his pocket. Today, he gave Master Dou a Zhonghua; tomorrow, he might hand out Daqian Sect to the guard at the gate.

If he ran into the factory director the day after tomorrow, it might even be a Feima or Warrior he'd swiped, because those leaders had never smoked such "good" and "strong" cigarettes, and he had to let them have a taste.

Jokes aside, social bandit Li Xuewu dared to mess around with anyone, but no matter how much he joked, he would never do something like carrying two packs of cigarettes and offering the expensive one only to the "noble."

"Ai ai, thank you, how could I afford to smoke such good cigarettes?" Master Dou smiled and used his hand to shield the match Li Xuewu struck.

Some "particular people" in later generations didn't know where they got the "rule" that when lighting a cigarette for others, one match shouldn't light three people's.

One reason was somewhat logical: the length of the match was limited, so it could only light two.

The second reason was a bit superstitious, saying that three matches were only for burning incense, and that it sounded like the word for "scatter."

Li Xuewu didn't agree with this. If that were the case, the streets would be full of lighters, and you'd have to throw away a lighter after using it twice.

Li Xuewu lit one for himself, took a puff, and said, "Master Dou, there's another matter I need your help with."

Master Dou hurriedly spat out the smoke in his mouth and said, "You are too polite. If you have something to say, just say it."

Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes and said, "A friend's house also needs some renovations, but not major ones. Just rebuilding a stove and maintaining the interior and exterior."

Master Dou was a man who had seen the world; how could he not understand Li Xuewu's meaning? He thought for a moment and said, "I have two apprentices who grew up in our family since they were small. They were the ones who built the house for the wife I married. Give me the address, and I'll take them both to do the work this weekend."

Li Xuewu nodded, took a piece of paper, wrote down the address, added a few requirements, took the keys out of his pocket, and handed them all to Master Dou.

"Please don't worry about the materials. We'll settle the accounts together with the West Courtyard afterward."

Master Dou carefully took the note and the keys and said, "Don't worry. I'll go take a look in a while to see what's needed. We'll talk again when it's finished."

Li Xuewu nodded and stopped talking about this matter, instead chatting idly with Master Dou while working.

Master Dou also knew Li Xuewu was busy, so most of the time he just sat there without speaking.

Also silent like Master Dou were Qin Huairu and the others in the workshop.

It turned out that yesterday afternoon, the Security Section had copied the disciplinary decision to the workshop and posted it on the Security Section's bulletin board.

The result now was that Qin Huairu and the other seven had been removed from their posts due to the security disciplinary action, and the workshop director was almost driven mad with anger.

"Tell me, do you people have any sense at all, eh? You're all grown adults, and you still follow others to go fight? Qin Huairu is a substitute worker; the barefooted aren't afraid of those wearing shoes, but are you all barefooted too?"

It was no wonder the workshop director was furious. This was a case of one radish for one hole; one person for one machine. Suddenly removing them from their posts—where the hell was he supposed to find people to work?

"Director, this matter is my fault. It's because I didn't guide Qin Huairu well that this trouble was caused." The First Uncle, seeing the workshop director glaring at Qin Huairu, couldn't help but speak up to explain.

The workshop director glanced at the First Uncle and said, "Master Yi, don't take everything upon yourself. Whether she even recognizes you as her master is still unknown. Who's grateful for your favor?"

The First Uncle's professional level determined that he still had some say in the workshop and even the Rolling Steel Mill.

Qin Huairu lived right across from them, and they were in the same workshop; he had always been the one guiding and teaching her.

But because she was used to calling him First Uncle, and "little widow apprentice" didn't sound good, she had never called him Master.

Although she hadn't called him Master, their neighborly relationship was okay. After all, Jia Zhangshi was still alive, which was why he spoke up for Qin Huairu.

The First Uncle pulled the angry workshop director and said, "Look, the situation in Qin Huairu's family is indeed special..."

The workshop director's rank wasn't low. Although he respected the First Uncle, he wouldn't indulge the First Uncle's way of speaking. It was usually fine to talk, but when scolding people, he didn't allow other voices.

"Is it special just because the family is special? Can you take people to go fight? Didn't you see the coordination announcement that was sent over? Where do you expect me to find people to work? Besides, look at these people—do they look like they regret it?"

These eight people had been instructed when they returned yesterday: only admit to the fighting, don't say anything else. So they unanimously decided that Qin Huairu would do the talking.

Seeing the workshop director furious, some of the timid ones couldn't hold back and wanted to speak up, but were pulled back by their companions. All of them kept their mouths shut.

The First Uncle said quite calmly, "The section chief of the Security Section is also from our courtyard, and I watched him grow up. If it doesn't work, I'll go talk to him and see if it can be eased."

Seeing the workshop director's attitude soften, he continued, "I already talked to Qin Huairu yesterday. I was originally going to wait for Li Xuewu to come home last night to talk to him, but I didn't wait long enough. He's definitely at work today, so I'll go find him right now."

The First Uncle had indeed talked to Qin Huairu last night, not for any other reason, but entirely out of his responsibility as the First Uncle of the courtyard. But he hadn't expected it to almost blow up in his face.

It turned out that when Qin Huairu went home, she hadn't told Jia Zhangshi about the fight, nor about being removed from her post. It was the First Uncle who had taken the initiative to go to their door to ask, which was how Jia Zhangshi found out.

Jia Zhangshi couldn't handle this news at all. As soon as she heard it, the fire in her heart flared up.

"Qin Huairu! Were you planning to hide this from me until our whole family starved to death! You spendthrift woman, pity my son's job; how am I supposed to live now?"

The First Uncle also hadn't expected that he had poked a hornet's nest. He didn't remember Jia Zhangshi's voice being this loud before.

He stood in the Jia family's room feeling very awkward, not knowing whether to go in or retreat.

Qin Huairu was quite calm because she knew Li Xuewu's subsequent arrangements, so she hadn't planned to go home and tell them. But she hadn't expected the "caring" First Uncle to ruin her plans.

The fight at the Rolling Steel Mill was considered a secret and should have rotted in her stomach. How could she dare tell her mother-in-law, whose mouth was like a cotton-padded trouser waistband? So Qin Huairu also had a headache looking at the situation in front of her.

The First Uncle kindly advised, "Bang Geng's grandma, it's no big deal. It's just fighting and brawling. Don't the young men in the factory do this often? It's nothing more than being suspended and removed from their posts for a few days. After a while, go talk to the workshop director, and they'll be back on the job."

It would have been better if the First Uncle hadn't said anything. Once he said that, Jia Zhangshi wailed even more fiercely, cursing Qin Huairu for being a spendthrift and saying that if she lost her job, the whole family would have to drink the northwest wind.

Anyway, the implication was that if she wasn't earning money after being removed from her post, she couldn't live. She kept talking about painkillers and retirement money, her eyes glaring at Qin Huairu as if she wanted to eat her.

Qin Huairu had no choice. Seeing her two daughters scared and hiding in the inner room, she could only advise, "We don't have to worry about food for now. The work at Li Xuewu's house isn't finished yet."

Mentioning Li Xuewu, the First Uncle thought that this matter was indeed under Li Xuewu's jurisdiction, so he said, "Isn't this Li Xuewu's work? Why didn't you go find him? I'll go find him. No matter what, you have to be able to live."

Qin Huairu didn't dare let the First Uncle go find Li Xuewu, so she blocked him and said, "It's trouble I caused myself; why bother him? First Uncle, you don't need to go. I'll listen to the factory's arrangements."

Before the First Uncle could advise her a few more words, Jia Zhangshi added a line from the side.

"Good, it's Li Xuewu who's playing tricks. This is killing the donkey after the millstone is finished. He wants to starve our whole family to death, and then..."

Qin Huairu didn't care whether her mother-in-law used "killing the donkey after the millstone is finished" correctly. Just as her mother-in-law was about to say "and then," she suddenly interrupted: "Mom, what are you saying!"

As she spoke, she kept winking at Jia Zhangshi. But Jia Zhangshi, who was furious, had only one thought in her mind: Li Xuewu and Qin Huairu had teamed up to cut off their family's source of income and then control their family.

"Shut your mouth, you shameless thing! Tell me, was it his idea? I knew it, I knew this was how it was—I'm going to go find him!"

Jia Zhangshi was no longer afraid of the big "Five-Four" pistol at this moment; she tore at her clothes, ready to head out and find Li Xuewu.

The First Uncle was also left completely bewildered, not understanding why the Li Xuewu in Jia Zhangshi's mouth sounded so strange.

Li Xuewu playing dirty? Killing the donkey after the grinding is done? Starving the Jia family? A Li-Qin alliance?

What on earth is all this? Even the actors in a grand opera wouldn't dare perform such a script.

"No, no, how could this have anything to do with Li Xuewu? Did you offend him?"

Seeing the First Uncle ask, Jia Zhangshi, who was being held back by Qin Huairu, said mockingly: "It would be better if we had offended him. Now, heh, I'm even ashamed to speak of it."

Qin Huairu saw the First Uncle rambling on incoherently, disrupting her entire plan, so she said with some irritation: "First Uncle, you should just go back. I am willing to accept the punishment myself; you don't need to worry about it."

Jia Zhangshi had been hoping the First Uncle would go with her to find Li Xuewu to bolster their momentum. Now that Qin Huairu was shooing him away and blocking her from leaving, she flew into a rage and slapped Qin Huairu directly.

This slap was delivered with such speed and force that Qin Huairu, who was in the middle of talking to the First Uncle, had no way to dodge it.

With a "smack," a five-fingered print instantly swelled up on Qin Huairu's face.

Xiaodang and Huaihua, who were hiding in the room peeking, were so frightened that they burst into loud wails.

Jia Zhangshi was also shocked by her own slap. Although she was a bit shrewish toward Qin Huairu, to be fair, she didn't abuse her, let alone dare to beat or scold her.

Even during the most intense conflicts later on, she only set up a spirit shed to torment Qin Huairu; she had never even used abusive language.

But today, it had touched Jia Zhangshi's bottom line. In this era, a formal job for a single-income family was their lifeline.

Originally, this lifeline belonged to her own lifeline, Jia Dongxu. Now that it had been given to Qin Huairu, only for Qin Huairu to lose it, how could she not be frantic?

Yet, even the most frantic rage was extinguished by her own slap; she stared blankly at Qin Huairu, who was clutching her face.

The First Uncle hadn't expected that his attempt to help Qin Huairu find a solution would lead to this point. He felt very awkward and couldn't help but say a few words to Jia Zhangshi: "How could you resort to hitting someone? If there's an issue, just talk it out."

As he spoke, he looked at Qin Huairu's bruised face. At this moment, the corner of Qin Huairu's mouth had already started bleeding; it looked like a very heavy blow.

The First Uncle said with great concern: "How are you? Do you need..."

Before the First Uncle could finish, Qin Huairu glared coldly at Jia Zhangshi and said: "Aren't you going to find Li Xuewu? I'll point you to the place. He's at the steel mill right now, drinking with the factory director. Go ahead."

Jia Zhangshi let out a wail and plopped down onto the floor, howling: "Who am I doing this for? There isn't a single grain of rice left in the family's grain bag. You lost the job—are we all supposed to drink the northwest wind?"

The First Uncle also knew he had caused trouble, so he spoke up: "I have some surplus at home. I'll go back right now and get you a bag of cornmeal."

Recently, because the First Uncle hadn't been supporting Qin Huairu, he had a bit more surplus on hand, which was why he dared to make such a generous offer.

Hearing the First Uncle once again "support" her family's "anti-hunger" cause, Jia Zhangshi's crying dropped by an octave.

But who would have thought that Qin Huairu would look coldly at the First Uncle and say: "First Uncle, thank you for your kindness, but our family isn't short of food for the moment. It's getting late, you should go back."

No sooner had Qin Huairu finished speaking than Jia Zhangshi's crying suddenly rose by two octaves.

It truly surpassed Pavarotti's "Nessun Dorma" and was even better than the "Little Fan" aria from the little fat man.

The First Uncle blinked his eyes and said: "Huairu, I..."

Qin Huairu ignored the First Uncle, turned around, and went to call Xiaodang and Huaihua to eat. The meal had been brought back from Li Xuewu's house—it was ready-made.

Banggeng wasn't home because Seeing Sha Zhu was the head chef in the back room today. Banggeng had gotten familiar with that side, and ignoring the fact that Li Xuewu had said it was breakfast, he stuffed his fat face and ate over there.

Because it wasn't just Li Xuecai who thought Wen Saner and the others were talented; Banggeng thought so too. They spoke so damn well that he decided he had to join this gang when he grew up.

Wen Saner: "... a gang?"

Seeing the First Uncle still wanting to speak, Qin Huairu said without looking back: "It's getting late, and there are only women in the house. First Uncle, you should go back. If there's anything, we'll talk about it at the factory tomorrow."

The First Uncle then sheepishly returned home. He had already had a long talk with the First Aunt, so he had come today with a guilty conscience to plead for Qin Huairu.

He had thought that since he was standing up for Qin Huairu today and was now going to plead with Li Xuewu for her, Qin Huairu should be grateful to him. But after hearing the director's words and seeing that none of them had that intention, he felt otherwise.

Qin Huairu looked outside the door, thinking that the personnel department should be arriving around this time.

"First Uncle, Director, we know we were wrong and have caused you trouble. Li Xuewu was also just following regulations; the other party was pressuring him, and we don't want to cause him any more trouble, so we accept the factory's punishment."

Seeing Qin Huairu's attitude, what could the workshop director say? He snorted coldly: "Do you know what the punishment decision is? It's transferring you all to the service department to clean toilets. Do you think you're a hero for voluntarily taking responsibility? You harmed seven people and delayed the workshop's work progress."

Qin Huairu listened to the workshop director's lecture on the surface, thinking back to how they had joked on the bed that she would be transferred to clean toilets. She hadn't expected the transfer order to actually be for cleaning toilets. Although she knew it was a ruse, she couldn't help but secretly curse Li Xuewu as a bad egg in her heart.

Seeing that Qin Huairu had no expression of regret, the workshop director became even angrier. He pointed at Qin Huairu and said: "You were brought in with special treatment to begin with. You can't do anything right; even milling a part is slower than everyone else. I won't even mention the rumors. Do you have a grudge against these female comrades? You even have to drag them along when you fight."

Some of the male workers in the workshop who were watching the commotion treated it as entertainment. They had often been on the receiving end of these female workers' antics, but it was mostly just banter with no real malice.

The other female workers in the workshop, however, didn't find these people pleasing to the eye.

What kind of status did Qin Huairu have? The people she associated with were all "fools" or "schemers," and she often flirted and bickered with the male comrades in the workshop.

There was more than one married couple in this workshop, and there were plenty of single young men and women, too.

Married women were always more open than unmarried young girls and could handle jokes, so Qin Huairu's popularity in the workshop was mixed.

There were those she got along with—all women—and those she didn't, mostly young girls and young wives.

Now that they were in trouble, the whispers reaching the ears of these eight people were somewhat unpleasant.

"Heh, I thought she only had the ability to hook men. Who knew she was such a tough nut?"

"You'd better be careful; don't get blocked at the gate after work."

"She can only dream about it. I can smell the stench on them from three miles away, and now it's even worse—you can smell the stink from eight miles away."

"If you say that, you'll have to stay away from them when you go to the cafeteria later."

Where there are those who dislike, there are those who like—otherwise, why would it be said that popularity is mixed?

The young men watching from the side heard these discussions and saw that the eight of them were blushing with anger; they felt quite indignant.

"Have some decency. We're all comrades in the same workshop. Why are your mouths so sharp?"

"Exactly, your words are way too dense."

The young girls might just be cursing in their hearts to vent, but these young wives wouldn't let it slide.

"Oh, did that hit home for someone?"

"Heh, I'm afraid she just crawled off someone's bed last night, so of course she's speaking well of them."

None of these eight people were simple characters; they were the type who usually tore others' mouths apart. When had they ever suffered this kind of insult?

But these few were harboring "secrets" in their hearts. Although they bit their teeth in grievance, none of them retorted.

It was the young men who usually hung out with them who weren't having it.

Seeing these young men getting ready to lose their tempers and retort, the workshop director couldn't listen anymore. Why was it that every time he spoke here, someone kept interjecting?

"Go, go, go! The criticism meeting ends here. Go do what you're supposed to do. Have you finished all the work in your hands?"

These young wives didn't dare talk back to the director, but they still muttered under their breath: "Looking for an eggplant to replace a basket—see how you find wives in the future."

Just as these people were about to turn around, the workshop gate was pushed open.

"Oh, what's going on here?"

Sister Xie walked in with Xu Ning and a clerk from the personnel department. As soon as she entered, she saw the workshop director and Qin Huairu's group surrounded by workers.

The workshop director's rank was higher than Sister Xie's, but Sister Xie was from the administrative office, so the workshop director was very polite.

"Heh, Li Kezhang Xie, why did you come personally to lead people away?"

Sister Xie didn't care what these people were doing; she still had work to finish. The newly appointed director of the guesthouse had said his first sentence upon entering her office: he was Li Xuewu's soldier.

Sister Xie naturally knew that Dong Wenxue and Li Xuewu were playing chess, so she also attached great importance to Xu Ning. Bringing him to transfer people personally would be much faster than having subordinates do it.

"It's all for the service of the factory. Besides, could I not come personally to transfer people from your workshop, Director Zhang?"

The First Uncle and the onlookers weren't administrative staff, so they naturally didn't understand what Sister Xie said, but the workshop director heard that something was wrong.

When personnel come to take workers to the service department, it's usually called "leading people away." Only when it's a lateral transfer or a position adjustment is it called "transferring people."

This was why Director Zhang asked why she came personally to "lead people away," while Sister Xie said she came to "transfer people." Such jargon of unspoken rules wouldn't be used incorrectly, which was why the workshop director was stunned.

"Li Kezhang Xie, what do you mean?"

Sister Xie was in a hurry, so she didn't notice the atmosphere at the scene. She took out the documents, flipped through them, and said: "You received the coordination letter from the security department, right?"

Hearing about the coordination letter from the security department, the workshop director was certain that Li Kezhang Xie must have misspoke.

"Received it. Oh, what a shame, this Qin Huairu is too unreliable..."

The onlookers hadn't known what happened just now, but they knew the director was criticizing these eight people.

"Serves them right! Go shovel manure!"

"Stay away from them in the future, so you don't get it on you..."

Sister Xie handed the transfer order to Workshop Director Zhang and said: "Qin Huairu, Zhang Songying, and the other six are transferred from your workshop to the service department starting today. Sign it, and I'll take them away."

Director Zhang took it and signed the personnel transfer form at the top, while asking Sister Xie when they would replenish his staff.

But just as he was about to return it to Sister Xie, he discovered there was another transfer order underneath. Thinking it belonged to some cadre, curiosity drove him to flip it over. Once he saw it, he was stunned.

"This is...?"

Sister Xie took the document from Workshop Director Zhang. Seeing him ask, she said casually: "Oh, Xu Suozhang transferred the eight of them to the guesthouse again. We went to the service department to pick people first, so we signed the procedures directly. Your side is just a backdated ticket."

Although Sister Xie said it amusingly, the workshop director didn't laugh; his brow furrowed immediately.

What was this situation? The letter sent by the security department yesterday was to transfer these people to clean toilets as a punishment.

But these people were still with him, and their personnel files had already gone in a circle from his workshop to the service department and then to the logistics department.

What was the relationship between Xu Suozhang of the guesthouse and Qin Huairu's group?

All that was known was that Li Xuewu of the security department, Qin Huairu, and Yi Zhonghai were in the same courtyard.

But no one believed it was a security department connection. Who the hell would use that connection to get transferred to a toilet? So Director Zhang guessed it was the relationship between Xu Ning and these people.

Xu Ning's heart was not much different from Li Xuewu's; they were both like lotus roots.

As soon as he entered, he saw that the atmosphere in the workshop was wrong. Looking at the slap print on Qin Huairu's face, plus the gossip from the workers after Sister Xie finished speaking, it was certain that these eight people had been wronged.

Never mind that Qin Huairu was arranged by Li Xuewu, and never mind that these eight people were taking the fall for him; just speaking of the protective temper Xu Ning had learned from Li Xuewu, he couldn't tolerate this situation.

Xu Ning smiled at the workshop director and then said to Sister Xie: "Li Kezhang Xie, are these eight comrades now considered people of our guesthouse?"

Sister Xie looked at the scene, then at the workshop director's expression, and then at Xu Ning, and said: "They already are. The documents are all signed; even if you don't want them, you have to take them. I don't have time to run around with you."

Xu Ning nodded to Sister Xie in thanks and then said: "Since they are all here, I'll borrow Director Zhang's precious ground to give them some instructions. Once I'm done, you can take them directly to handle the procedures. I still have to go to Xu Suozhang's place to get the documents for the guesthouse renovation."

Sister Xie nodded: "You speak, and I'll take them away when you're done."

Xu Ning nodded politely to Workshop Director Zhang. It looked polite, but Xu Ning had been a security cadre for a long time, and he carried a certain majestic aura.

The onlookers who heard that these eight people were being transferred to the guesthouse were a bit unconvinced, and there was some private resentment, but seeing such a stern guesthouse director, they no longer envied Qin Huairu and the others.

If they were in the service department, they would be cleaning toilets; in the guesthouse, they would definitely be scrubbing toilets. Serving tea and water to others wasn't as comfortable as the workshop.

Xu Ning stood in front of Qin Huairu's group with a stern expression and said: "I come from a security background, and I value rules. I don't care about the past, but since you've entered my team, you must be well-behaved attendants."

Hearing Xu Ning's lecture, although the attitude was very stern, the people around felt something was wrong. Because Qin Huairu was a replacement, how could she be a formal attendant right away?

What happened to cleaning toilets?

Xu Ning ignored the discussions and continued: "In view of the strong organizational ability of Comrade Qin Huairu and Comrade Zhang Songying, and the strong practical ability of the others, I now appoint Comrade Qin Huairu as the head of the guest room section, working as a cadre, and Comrade Zhang Songying as a salesperson in the service department of the guesthouse..."

These personnel arrangements were supposed to be discussed after arriving at the guesthouse, but since these people were in a bad mood, he gave them some face here.

Zhang Songying was the clever woman who had spoken to Li Xuewu, and she was also the first person to take action after Qin Huairu ran out of the guesthouse.

She was a few years younger than Qin Huairu, very pretty, and had a good figure. To Li Xuewu, she had a thick, young-married-woman style.

But this young married woman was no ordinary person; she was a formidable character who really dared to take action. The slap to the little sister's mouth was delivered by her.

Zhang Songying knew Qin Huairu had connections, so even if she was aggrieved just now, she didn't retort to those people.

Now these eight people finally felt relieved; their faces weren't red, they weren't gasping for air, and they had the energy to glare at those people.

The people around them had their eyes opened. They were clearly the ones being criticized, but now they had been "punished" into the guesthouse, and the leader was even working as a cadre. Where could one go to reason?

God damn "strong organizational ability"!

God damn "strong practical ability"!

Xu Ning, who didn't care about reasoning, frowned and said: "Follow Li Kezhang Xie of the personnel department to handle the procedures, then go to the guesthouse to help. The renovation team will enter tomorrow, and you will go to the small auditorium to learn service etiquette."

It wasn't that Li Xuewu knew how to play games or anything, but Deputy Factory Director Li had borrowed someone from the International Hotel specifically to train these "country bumpkins."

Qin Huairu and the others saw that Xu Ning had given stern instructions, but they all heard that it was to stand up for them, so they all responded cheerfully.

The eight of them held their heads high with smiles on their faces and followed Xu Ning and Sister Xie out the door.

They left the people in the workshop confused, looking at each other and feeling it was unbelievable.

The First Uncle also felt it was unbelievable. How did they become cadres?

Clearly, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were unhappy yesterday, and clearly, it was said yesterday they would go clean toilets. Now, they were working as cadres.

Xu Ning greeted Sister Xie and the others, then went to Xu Sinian's place to get the documents. This Xu Sinian was even more anxious than Li Xuewu; he handled special matters with special methods, and Xu Ning got the documents as soon as he arrived.

It wasn't until Li Xuewu picked up his lunch box and prepared to go to the cafeteria that Xu Ning returned.

"Master Dou, take this document back and get it stamped. Handle it quickly. If you can return before work ends this afternoon, you can collect the material fees today."

"Don't worry, I'll go to the neighborhood office to get it stamped right now."

Master Dou took the document, greeted Li Xuewu, and left. Li Xuewu didn't even have time to eat.

Xu Ning took his lunch box and followed Li Xuewu toward the cafeteria, talking about the incident in the workshop.

Li Xuewu waved his hand indifferently: "Minor details, don't worry about them. Your task is to start anew and build the guesthouse well."

Xu Ning nodded: "I know, I will definitely keep it in mind. By the way, Li Kezhang, there's something I need to tell you."

Li Xuewu smiled as he walked: "Call me Li Ke from now on, and I'll call you Xu Suozhang. Don't call me like that anymore."

Xu Ning also smiled: "Then I'll listen to you, Li Ke."

"Hahahahaha."

Li Xuewu laughed for a while and asked Xu Ning: "What do you want to say?"

Xu Ning looked at Li Xuewu and said: "Just now when I went to the service department to transfer people, Director Wang of the service department said that Deputy Factory Director Li had arranged for a teacher to be borrowed from the International Hotel under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Affairs Department to teach our service staff etiquette."

Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes after hearing Xu Ning's words: "That's a good thing. Learn more, improve more."

Xu Ning frowned: "I'm just afraid it's a sugar-coated bullet."

"Heh, a sugar-coated bullet? He has to have the sugar coating first. Be sharp. Use these eight people I gave you well. Whoever dares to reach out, chop their hand off."

Xu Ning knew this was Li Xuewu's private plot, otherwise he wouldn't have let him come, so he nodded firmly: "Guarantee to complete the mission."

But then he frowned again and said: "When I went to the logistics department to ask for the budget, a section chief in logistics intentionally or unintentionally mentioned that Liu Lan from the cafeteria wants to come to the guesthouse. What do you think?"

Li Xuewu didn't know if this was Liu Lan's own idea or Li Huai De's idea, but he had to give this face.

Because Liu Lan was neither Director Wang's person from the service department nor Director Zhang's person from the logistics department. Li Xuewu couldn't tell Xu Ning whose person she was.

Li Xuewu thought for a moment and could only nod: "Let her be the head of the catering section."

"Ah?"

Xu Ning was stunned. He didn't know what background this cafeteria attendant had to be made a section head directly.

Li Xuewu and Xu Ning entered the cafeteria to queue up, so they didn't continue this topic, but chatted about future management issues.

When it was Li Xuewu and the other's turn, it happened to be Liu Lan serving the dishes. Liu Lan was stunned when she saw the two of them come over.

Seeing Li Xuewu smile at her, she casually served a spoonful of vegetables into Li Xuewu's lunch box, and after reacting, she added another half spoonful.

Li Xuewu looked at the vegetables in the lunch box, feeling both amused and annoyed. He took the steamed bun handed over by Seeing Sha Zhu, nodded at Liu Lan, and went to find a place to eat.

Liu Lan was stunned when she saw Li Xuewu nod, but seeing Xu Ning in front of her, she reacted and excitedly served Xu Ning another half spoonful.

Xu Ning smiled and said: "You can't do this in the future. Our family foundation isn't rich."

Liu Lan naturally understood what Xu Ning meant and said gratefully: "Thank you, Xu Suozhang."

Xu Ning couldn't say much here, pointed to Li Xuewu's position, and walked over.

Li Xuewu didn't notice Xu Ning's actions; it wasn't until Liu Lan and Seeing Sha Zhu sat down next to him with their bowls that he saw Xu Ning winking at him.

Seeing Sha Zhu placed a large bowl of stewed cabbage and potatoes on the table, held two steamed buns in his hand, and sat next to Li Xuewu. Seeing Liu Lan sitting next to Xu Ning with her rice bowl, he muttered dissatisfiedly.

"Why did you drag me over? Don't you know we're from the same courtyard? Don't you know we're best buddies? We eat together every morning and evening, and we gather together at noon. What's there to see?"

Liu Lan glanced at Seeing Sha Zhu and smiled: "Alright, alright, I know you have a good relationship with Li Ke, but don't overdo it."

Seeing Sha Zhu pretended to walk away with his bowl to threaten Liu Lan. Since Liu Lan had finally managed to drag Seeing Sha Zhu over, how could she let him go? Seeing Seeing Sha Zhu like this, she had to cooperate and say a few nice words.

"Yes, yes, yes, I know. You're amazing, alright?"

"That's more like it." Seeing Sha Zhu smiled and put the bowl back on the table. After sitting down, he said: "What do you want to say to my brother? You even called me over to keep him company. Let me tell you first: my brother is a selfless person. No favors or requests allowed."

Liu Lan knew Seeing Sha Zhu was joking, so she smiled and said: "Who said that yesterday..."

Seeing Liu Lan wanting to settle old scores, Seeing Sha Zhu laughed and joked: "Internal matters are not allowed to be spread outside. We have discipline."

Xu Ning smiled and interjected: "Section Head Liu won't be part of your internal circle soon."

Hearing Xu Ning's words, Liu Lan and Seeing Sha Zhu were stunned. Liu Lan reacted first and looked at Li Xuewu gratefully: "Thank you, Li Ke."

Li Xuewu smiled and pointed at Xu Ning: "You thanked the wrong person. You have to thank Xu Suozhang; he's your leader."

Liu Lan said gratefully to Xu Ning: "Thank you, Xu Suozhang."

Xu Ning also smiled and said: "What are you thanking me for? We'll be comrades eating from the same pot soon. No need to be so polite."

Li Xuewu smiled and looked at Liu Lan: "Section Head Liu has worked in the cafeteria for so long and has managed the small cafeteria's business, so she has experience in catering services. Therefore, I think you are competent."

Liu Lan smiled and said: "Guarantee to complete the mission, haha." Knowing that Li Xuewu and Xu Ning were both from security backgrounds and liked their subordinates to reply like this, Liu Lan replied accordingly.

Li Xuewu and Xu Ning both smiled; only Seeing Sha Zhu was still looking at Liu Lan.

"Liu Lan, you really are hiding your true colors. Your defection is very covert. You've become Section Head Liu without a sound. Not bad."

Watching Seeing Sha Zhu tease her, Liu Lan was very happy today, so she joked: "That's because you didn't go. If you had gone, where would I have a position?"

Li Xuewu smiled and looked at Seeing Sha Zhu: "Want to go? Chef He?"

Seeing Sha Zhu grinned and smiled: "It sounds like a big official position, but how big is your place? How many people can you manage?"

This was the truth. The guesthouse was a deputy section-level unit, and the establishment only had a few people. This was only possible because the service department supported a few quotas.

This was also why Huang Ping hadn't fully utilized the guesthouse before—because there weren't enough hands.

Xu Ning said unconvinced: "Our sparrow may be small, but it has all the internal organs. Our cadres are all proper cadres."

Seeing Sha Zhu looked at Liu Lan and didn't ask: "Is this 'proper' what I think it is? If so, then maybe it's not that proper."

Liu Lan also knew what Seeing Sha Zhu meant, glared at him angrily, and then looked at Li Xuewu: "Li Ke, I and..."

Li Xuewu put down the steamed bun in his hand and waved his hand: "Don't talk about this. Work steadily."

After giving Liu Lan a reassurance, he asked Seeing Sha Zhu: "Really don't want to come? Don't say I'm not being a good brother."

Seeing Sha Zhu took a bite of cabbage: "Not going. I'm afraid of starving to death with just those two people. Since you mentioned brotherly loyalty, I have to ask if you need me to help you introduce a chef."

Good brothers~

Ten thousand words per chapter, please vote for monthly tickets~