Chapter 315: The Jianghu is not just about fighting and killing

Facing his teacher's inquiry, Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said, "Not too many, but the people over there need to be replaced. Keeping silent is also a mistake."

Dong Wenxue frowned and didn't say anything, but his worry about the branch factory was obvious.

Li Xuewu took a puff of his cigarette and continued, "When an avalanche happens, no snowflake is innocent; in a collective collapse, no one is wronged."

Dong Wenxue nodded and asked, "What about that Yu Decai you mentioned?"

"Not worth using. I hate these two-faced people the most."

"Hehe."

Dong Wenxue shook his head and said, "Your standards are too high. It's impossible for everyone to be as easy to use as the ones you've trained yourself."

Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Maybe, but I don't like being backstabbed."

Looking at his proud disciple, Dong Wenxue stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and said, "Then do as you see fit. Since you've sent the Buddha, send him to the West."

As he spoke, he stood up and said to Li Xuewu with a firm tone, "Solidify this case, make it ironclad. Since Fu Bin wants to contribute, let him exert his final remaining heat."

Li Xuewu stood up with a serious expression and said, "Yes! I guarantee that Fu Bin will suffer until you return to take over."

Li Xuewu arrived at the Gu family's house at exactly six o'clock, neither early nor late.

When he left his teacher's house, Auntie Han had also given him two bottles of wine, saying they were for Li Xuewu's father.

On the way, Li Xuewu went to Daoxiangcun, which completed the New Year's gifts for the Gu family.

Because he had already called from the guard booth at the main gate, the guards had already opened the gate and were waiting for him.

Li Xuewu parked the car in the spot indicated by the guards, jumped out, and smiled at Ding Bianji and Gu Ning who had come out to greet him, "Auntie Ding, Happy New Year. Doctor Gu, Happy New Year."

He took out the peach cakes he had bought on the way from the rear cabin, along with two jin of yellow goat meat, two jin of dried fruits, and a large carp he had brought from home, and finally a brown bag.

The four gifts Li Xuewu had instructed his big brother Xuewen and third brother Xuecai to deliver to each house were four items, called the "four-box gift."

Coming to Gu Ning's house was the same; although there wasn't much of each, he still managed to make up four items.

"This child, didn't I tell you? You don't need to bring these things to Auntie's house. Your Uncle Gu isn't home, if he were, he'd have to scold you."

Because the guards and service staff came over to take them, Li Xuewu handed the things in his hands to them, leaving only the brown bag in his hand.

Gu Can's normal treatment included a driver, a chef, a boiler master, and a guard. If his health was poor, there would also be two health nurses and one chief physician.

But now Gu Can was in his prime, and his age was considered a "little brother" in his generation, so there were only four service personnel in the house.

"Auntie, it's nothing, it's all things we have at home. I just saw the peach cakes were made well on the way, so I bought some."

Gu Ning had been following behind her mother. Seeing Li Xuewu walk over, she also greeted him, "Happy New Year."

Li Xuewu smiled and handed the bag in his hand to Gu Ning, saying, "The bookstore incident last time was very regrettable. This is a gift to make up for it."

Gu Ning hadn't expected Li Xuewu to bring her a gift separately, nor had she expected Li Xuewu to give it to her in front of her mother, and her face turned red in a flash.

In this era, regardless of status, people were very conservative about relationships. You couldn't see men and women holding hands on the street at all.

Gift-giving was the same; even at weddings, exchanging gifts was done secretly.

Gu Ning was also a bit reserved, but after being reminded by her mother, she reached out and took it, saying with a red face, "Thank you."

Ding Bianji looked at the interaction between the two with a smile, pulled Li Xuewu's arm, and walked into the house, saying as they walked, "Call ahead next time you come. It's just Xiao Ning and me at home today."

Entering the house, Li Xuewu politely accepted the slippers Auntie Ding took for him.

Auntie Ding led Li Xuewu into the house and said with a smile, "Your Uncle Gu has work, it's like this every year. He's in Yangcheng now and won't be back until after the New Year."

Pulling Li Xuewu to sit on the sofa, Auntie Ding signaled for Gu Ning to pour tea for Li Xuewu, and continued to introduce to Li Xuewu, "Your big brother and sister-in-law have returned to Saibei."

"Your big brother has to train after the New Year, so he took advantage of the time before the New Year to accompany your sister-in-law back to her parents' home to visit relatives. Your sister-in-law is also busy all year, so she can only take this time to go home and visit her parents."

Accepting the tea Gu Ning handed over, Li Xuewu listened to Auntie Ding talk about household matters with a smile, without any expression of impatience.

Chef Mi, who was busy in the kitchen, glanced at the living room and turned back to say to the guard Xiao Qi who was helping, "Ding Bianji is really happy today."

"Look at who came."

"Tsk tsk."

Chef Mi clicked his tongue as he looked at Li Xuewu's profile, then turned to ask Xiao Qi, "What is the status of this son-in-law of ours?"

Xiao Qi glanced at Chef Mi and replied casually, "That's not something we can inquire about."

"Oh oh oh."

Chef Mi nodded repeatedly, his face full of embarrassment.

"I was just asking so I'd know how to address him in the future."

Xiao Qi knew how to behave; he reminded Chef Mi and explained, "Ding Bianji received a call the day before yesterday and then told me. The one outside just got promoted to Deputy Division Chief, in the public security sector. Just call him Division Chief Li when you see him."

"Tsk tsk tsk."

Chef Mi took another look at the living room, examined him carefully, and couldn't help but be surprised, "Ding Bianji introduced him last time, he was 19? 20 this year?"

Xiao Qi didn't continue the conversation with Chef Mi, but focused on cleaning the vegetables in his hands.

In the living room, Li Xuewu talked about his recent work, the recent situation of his family, and also mentioned that he had told his family about Gu Ning.

Ding Bianji chatted with Li Xuewu with a smile. Hearing Li Xuewu say he had told his family about Gu Ning, she smiled happily.

Gu Ning sat quietly to one side listening, not knowing why that person was so talkative.

Especially hearing Li Xuewu's words, she couldn't help but lower her head.

The relationship between the two was quite wonderful now. When others were around, they seemed to have nothing to say, but when they were alone, they didn't feel time was hard to pass.

One liked quiet, liked reading, liked romantic things.

One liked thinking, was busy with affairs, didn't fully understand a woman's heart, but could understand eight or nine out of ten.

Although there were no magnificent experiences, their meeting and re-meeting could be considered fate.

So, rather than saying Li Xuewu chose Gu Ning, it was better to say Li Xuewu chose life.

He was a person who was calculating and had a tiger in his heart. Li Xuewu didn't dare to ignore the opportunities that were delivered to him again and again, for fear of suffering the consequences.

Then there was his feeling for Gu Ning. Li Xuewu couldn't say he disliked her. Meeting these few times, they had a feeling of being fellow sufferers at the end of the world.

But to say they had sworn eternal love, Li Xuewu couldn't do it, and Gu Ning didn't need it.

So Ding Bianji found the two of them more and more well-matched and pleasing to the eye.

Ding Bianji saw her daughter daydreaming and reminded her, "What about the gift Xuewu gave you? Haven't you looked at what it is?"

Li Xuewu smiled and took a sip of tea.

Gu Ning glanced at Li Xuewu, and urged by her mother, she took the bag on the sofa and opened it.

"It's really beautiful, it doesn't look like the styles we have around here."

Ding Bianji took the bag Gu Ning handed over to look at it and asked Li Xuewu, "Did you buy this on your business trip to the Northeast?"

Li Xuewu shook his head and said, "No, before the business trip, I found some good furs myself and entrusted a friend to find an old leather craftsman to make it."

Pointing to the bag in Auntie Ding's hand, Li Xuewu continued, "I drew the style for the craftsman. I didn't expect the craftsman's skills to be quite good."

Ding Bianji looked at Li Xuewu in surprise and then asked, "You even understand this?"

Handing the ladies' handbag to her daughter who was looking over, Ding Bianji also felt that Li Xuewu was thoughtful.

Li Xuewu had also thought for a long time about what to give a woman. Later, he thought of a saying from later generations: "A bag can cure all diseases," so he decided to give a bag.

Regarding the style, Li Xuewu didn't remember many bags for women from later generations, but ladies' bags were just those few styles over and over again.

Li Xuewu drew more than a dozen according to his memory and entrusted Wen Saner to find a leather craftsman to make them.

Not to mention, the craftsman's skills in this era were really not bad, not much different from those in Paris.

Purely handmade custom style, one of a kind in the world.

Only after coming to this era did he know how many good things we lost in later generations. Li Xuewu could only do his best to preserve some.

"Hehe, Auntie, I just know how to draw. I thought about it in my head and entrusted the craftsman to make it. As long as Doctor Gu likes it."

Gu Ning touched the soft leather surface, the delicate hardware, the unique style and pattern, and smiled at Li Xuewu, "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Seeing the two of them laughing and talking, Ding Bianji was even happier than if she had gotten the bag herself, and said to Li Xuewu, "Xiao Ning has always carried the cloth bag she used in school to work, and she wouldn't change it no matter how much I told her to."

Gu Ning looked at the layout with various small grids and small pockets inside, and one of the pockets had a small wallet made of the same material and style as this bag, and couldn't help but lower her head and smile.

This person was good at everything, except he was too talkative.

Seeing Gu Ning smile, Li Xuewu knew she liked it, so he smiled and said to Auntie Ding, "I didn't know how the craftsman's skills were, so I entrusted him to make this one. When I go back, I'll entrust him to help you make one too."

"No trouble."

Auntie Ding smiled and patted Li Xuewu's hand, saying, "Auntie is happy just seeing you two doing well."

Li Xuewu smiled and didn't talk about this anymore, but he had already decided that when he went back, he would have Wen Saner find that craftsman again.

You can offend anyone, but you can't offend your mother-in-law.

"Is Gu Yan not on vacation?"

Knowing Gu Ning had a younger brother, and Auntie Ding hadn't introduced him just now, Li Xuewu asked, and he had also promised Zuo Jie a condition.

"Hi, that little monkey."

Auntie Ding said with a smile, "He's on vacation, but it's like he's not. He's out playing every day, and I can't even catch a glimpse of him."

"That's quite good."

Li Xuewu smiled and said, "He studies and trains at school every day, it's hard to come home, he should relax."

"He just doesn't stop."

Although she was saying this, Auntie Ding still said with pride, "His grades at school are okay. You are all young people, communicate more."

Having only met Gu Yan once, Li Xuewu had a good impression of him; he didn't have any arrogance.

"Understood. After the New Year, when I'm done with this case, I'll ask him out to play."

"That's how it should be."

As she spoke, Auntie Ding also glanced at Gu Ning.

Li Xuewu naturally knew what Ding Bianji meant, so he smiled and said to Gu Ning, "Next time we won't go to the bookstore. My younger brother asked me to go ice skating. After the New Year, let's find a time to go ice skating at Kunming Lake together."

Thinking of Li Xuewu's performance at the bookstore, Gu Ning looked up and nodded at Li Xuewu.

Ding Bianji stood up and said to Li Xuewu, "You two chat, I'll go check the kitchen. It's just the three of us today, we'll eat peacefully."

As she spoke, she headed to the kitchen.

In the living room, only Li Xuewu and Gu Ning were left sitting somewhat awkwardly.

Placing the teacup in his hand on the coffee table, Li Xuewu said, "I met a psychologist on this trip to the Northeast."

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu and asked, "Did she make a diagnosis?"

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "What she said was roughly the same as what you told me. I do have the situation you mentioned. Although it's weakening, new situations have appeared."

Gu Ning frowned slightly and looked at Li Xuewu, waiting for Li Xuewu's explanation.

Li Xuewu shook his head and said, "She said my mental pressure is too great. Because of the previous situation, the situation caused by mental pressure has worsened."

"Did she say how to treat it?"

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "She prescribed medicine for me, but..."

Placing the prescription Zhou Ya Mei had given him in front of Gu Ning, Li Xuewu sat back on the sofa and said, "It seems to be a sedative-type medicine, but I don't trust Western medicine."

Gu Ning picked up the prescription to look at it, and after hearing Li Xuewu's words, asked, "Are you planning to take Chinese medicine? Or...?"

"Mm, haven't decided what to do yet."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "I haven't told my father yet, he might have a way."

"Is taking medicine enough?"

Looking at Gu Ning, who was asking him, Li Xuewu smiled and said, "You're a doctor, you should know that if you take too many sedatives, people become stupid. Chinese medicine is the same, every medicine has its poison. I just want to ask if my father has any treatment methods."

Gu Ning frowned and said, "Sedative drugs are still very effective, and this kind of illness is very troublesome. Controlling the dosage shouldn't have much impact."

Li Xuewu shook his head, then frowned and said, "My work doesn't allow for delayed reactions, so I don't drink a drop of alcohol during work. Now that it's not an occasion, I don't drink either. Moreover, I'm even more afraid to take Western or Chinese medicines that delay emotions."

"Then what do you plan to do?"

Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, took a sip of water, thought for a moment, and said, "Go see a doctor, do artificial treatment."

"Go to the Northeast?"

"Mm."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "She still has a level of skill, and our factory also has freight trains to Steel City. Basically, there's one every week, it's very convenient to go back and forth."

Gu Ning had already seen from the handwriting on the prescription that the "she" Li Xuewu mentioned was a female doctor.

Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning seriously and said, "I might have to go to the Northeast to perform a mission after the New Year. I hope you'll go with me."

"Me?"

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu in surprise, not knowing why Li Xuewu wanted her to go too.

Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning and said, "Steel City is far, but at the very least, it will be kept secret, and no medical records will be left behind."

Gu Ning looked into Li Xuewu's eyes and froze, knowing what Li Xuewu meant.

Li Xuewu must have known about her childhood, and again, when she told Li Xuewu about this illness last time, Li Xuewu must have known her situation.

Not seeing anything from Li Xuewu's expression, Gu Ning lowered her head and said, "Let me think about it."

Li Xuewu looked toward the kitchen, moved to the seat Auntie Ding had just sat in, and said to Gu Ning softly, "I can guarantee that no records will be left behind."

This was the reason Li Xuewu chose Steel City; it wouldn't be safe in the capital no matter what.

Gu Ning nodded without saying anything. She believed Li Xuewu's words; the current Li Xuewu had the ability to guarantee this.

Li Xuewu continued, "My concerns are the same as yours. Just like I'm worried that medicine will delay my reaction ability, I'm even more afraid that this situation will affect my work and life. But if you're sick, you have to get treated, right?"

Gu Ning covered her face and nodded, but still didn't speak.

Li Xuewu handed his handkerchief to Gu Ning.

Gu Ning paused for a moment and took it.

Watching Gu Ning wiping her tears, Li Xuewu knew she was more painful than him. He had only been like this for a few months, while she might have been tortured by nightmares for more than ten years.

The symptoms of mental illness aren't obvious to outsiders, but whoever suffers from it knows.

Li Xuewu's case was rare; his physical condition was too good, he could fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, not even taking 10 seconds.

But sometimes he was a bit irritable, but in the work of security, that didn't count for much. At most, others would say Li Xuewu was ruthless and serious, because Li Xuewu's basic mind and calculations were still there.

What he feared was someone like Gu Ning, who had childhood psychological shadows and hadn't received effective counseling for more than ten years, causing a certain psychological burden.

People in this era rarely paid attention to mental illness, thinking that mental illness meant being a lunatic, the kind that was hopeless.

In fact, mental illness is mostly caused by emotions not being counseled for a long time. Li Xuewu didn't think Gu Ning's situation was anything.

The concern of both was nothing more than the view of outsiders on the two words "mental illness" in this era.

Just then, Ding Bianji walked out of the kitchen. Seeing Li Xuewu sitting beside Gu Ning and Gu Ning wiping her tears, she asked, "What's wrong?"

Ding Bianji didn't think Li Xuewu would bully Gu Ning. With Li Xuewu's personality, plus her daughter's temper of eating soft but not hard, she didn't think they were having a disagreement at all.

Walking to Gu Ning's side to look, Ding Bianji said, "Didn't you two just say things were fine?"

Li Xuewu smiled and explained to Auntie Ding, "We were talking about things from the past. I was just saying I'd invite her to go to the Northeast to play with me after the New Year."

"Hi, this child."

Seeing they were talking about things from the past, Ding Bianji thought they were thinking of some sad people and things from the south.

"It's New Year's Eve, don't think about it anymore."

Touching her daughter's hair, Ding Bianji said to Gu Ning, "If you want to go play, then go. It's not far. Ask your director for leave and play for a few more days."

Comforting Gu Ning, she asked Li Xuewu, "Are you going to the Northeast after the New Year?"

"Yes."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "This case needs to be wrapped up, and there are some problems over there that need to be handled."

Ding Bianji didn't inquire about Li Xuewu's work, just nodded and said, "If it doesn't affect work, then take her with you. She hasn't been out to play since she started working. In the past, your Uncle Gu would take her to Yangcheng every year, but she hasn't been since she started working, and she doesn't even go to Beidaihe in the summer."

"Alright, alright, don't cry."

Ding Bianji helped her daughter wipe her tears and said, "Dinner is ready, let's eat, don't let Xuewu go hungry."

As she spoke, she patted Gu Ning's back and said to Li Xuewu, "Let's go, Xuewu, let's eat."

Ding Bianji pulled Gu Ning and brought Li Xuewu into the dining room.

Because it was just the three of them, she only made four dishes.

Li Xuewu sat opposite Auntie Ding and the others, smiled, and refused Auntie Ding's offer to get wine, saying, "Auntie, I won't drink today. I'll come back to drink when Uncle Gu returns."

Ding Bianji said with a smile, "If you don't drink, then don't. I'm worried since you're driving."

Perhaps because Li Xuewu's visit today was a surprise, Ding Bianji was in high spirits and talked about some things from the past at the dinner table.

Including things about her and Gu Can starting their business. Li Xuewu didn't know much about it, but listening to the original account, he gained another level of understanding of that era of entrepreneurship.

Because they didn't drink, the meal was eaten very quickly. After the meal, Ding Bianji let Li Xuewu and the others rest in the living room, using the excuse of having something to do upstairs.

In fact, both knew this was creating an opportunity for the two to be alone.

The service personnel and guards should have been informed by Ding Bianji; except for refilling the tea at the very beginning, they never came out again.

When Li Xuewu and Gu Ning were alone, they didn't feel bored. This girl just didn't like to talk nonsense.

Following the previous lead, Li Xuewu asked about things in the south, and the two talked about things they had experienced in the army.

It might have been fate; the day Li Xuewu was injured and came down was the second day Gu Ning had arrived at the front line. If it had been two days later, the two wouldn't have met.

When talking about colleagues, Gu Ning clearly paused, and Li Xuewu also knew the reason.

"How is the one who gave me the anesthesia?"

"You mean Tong Yao?"

Li Xuewu nodded and asked, "That was her at the bookstore last time, right?"

Gu Ning frowned and thought for a moment, then turned to look at Li Xuewu and asked, "Are you immune to anesthesia?"

"Hehe."

Li Xuewu smiled and said, "You should know that anesthesia is ineffective for people who have been drinking alcohol for a long time or are drug addicts, but do I look like one?"

"Besides, as far as I know, some people have drug resistance to a type of anesthetic, but it wouldn't be so obvious, right?"

Gu Ning frowned and said, "After the surgery, I went back to look for the medicine bottle, but it was gone. When I asked the others, they all said they hadn't seen it."

Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning with a smile and asked, "Then why didn't you tell me when I got angry at you for the first time?"

Looking at Li Xuewu's relaxed expression, Gu Ning said very seriously, "In that environment, no one could guarantee what would happen."

"Actually, logically speaking, we should have changed the anesthetic for you, but you also know that we were all dodging shells to get to where you were."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "I understand, I saw with my own eyes... sigh!"

Gu Ning knew what Li Xuewu wanted to say and was silent for a while, then continued, "Although I felt something was wrong at the time, just like I couldn't doubt what you said, I couldn't doubt my comrades. At that time, she was my comrade."

"But the me of now can't forgive the her of that time. Maybe she was afraid of meeting me, so she applied for a transfer. She didn't tell us when she left, and I didn't inquire."

"Mm-hmm."

Li Xuewu nodded to show understanding. This is what it means to stand on a mountain and speak; even if Li Xuewu was there, he would have to call even the most cowardly person in the regiment a comrade and entrust his back to them.

"So, you endured it even when I said such nasty things back then?"

Gu Ning paused for a moment, examined Li Xuewu's scar carefully, and then said, "Actually, it was my fault too. Whoever performs the surgery is the responsible doctor."

Li Xuewu shook his head, smiled indifferently, and asked, "You said last time at the hospital that it could be..."

He gestured at his face and continued to ask, "How do you do it? Cut it open and sew it again?"

"..."

Gu Ning saw Li Xuewu's expression and couldn't help but twitch her mouth, saying, "Do you think it's sewing clothes?"

As she spoke, she pointed at the scar on Li Xuewu's face with her finger and said, "It's scar repair, not creating new trauma."

"Use a scalpel to excise this part of the scar, then use scar suture techniques to repair it. Of course, it also requires medication assistance."

Li Xuewu nodded as if he understood, and asked, "How long will it take?"

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu and said, "The surgery time isn't long, but it probably isn't convenient to do it now."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "I understand, wounds don't heal in winter."

Gu Ning nodded and said, "Mainly because it's impossible for you to be hospitalized for recovery."

"Hehe."

Li Xuewu lowered his head and sighed, saying, "Everything is fate, nothing is up to oneself."

When Li Xuewu was about to leave, Ding Bianji came down from upstairs and directed the guard Xiao Qi to move things into Li Xuewu's car.

Li Xuewu hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Auntie, I'm here to deliver New Year's gifts, how can I take things back?"

Ding Bianji signaled Xiao Qi to move them, and she herself pulled Li Xuewu and said, "Your big brother will be back after the New Year, and the third one is never home. I can't count on them, so just take the New Year's gifts back. Find a time after the New Year to pick up Gu Ning and go home to sit for a while."

Glancing at Gu Ning, Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Okay, understood, Auntie."

Li Xuewu walked out the door and saw Xiao Qi loading quite a few things into the back of the car. He said somewhat embarrassedly, "Auntie, you've gone to too much trouble."

"Why be so polite?"

Ding Bianji said to Li Xuewu, "Basically, it's just Xiao Ning and me at home for the New Year, how much can we eat? The service office will allocate it regularly. Just take it back to entertain friends or give to relatives and friends, it'll come in handy."

Don't look at Auntie Ding's casual tone; these things were allocated according to the rank of Gu Can and Ding Bianji, and they were also things they saved up by living frugally.

The Gu family didn't accept things from outsiders, but they often gave things to others.

This "others" wasn't any leader or important family, but many were relatives from their hometown or children of old comrades-in-arms.

Dong Wenxue was raised by Gu Can, and it was Gu Can who found him his partner and arranged everything for his marriage.

That's why Dong Wenxue was so concerned about Gu Ning's affairs and talked to Li Xuewu many times.

Now Li Xuewu had become one of the few who could send things to the Gu family and could produce things.

No one could compare to Li Xuewu's treatment, according to Ding Bianji.

Bidding farewell to Auntie Ding and the others with a smile, Li Xuewu drove the car out of the small courtyard and headed home.

Perhaps because he drank tea at Dong Wenxue's house and tea again at the Gu family's, he couldn't hold it anymore when he drove to Gulou Avenue.

He parked the car on the side of the road, and just happened to run into a public toilet. Li Xuewu jumped out of the car, looked left and right, and walked inside.

When he first went in, he was startled, seeing two red eyes staring at him from inside the toilet, flickering on and off, and shaking from time to time.

Damn! Didn't they say spirits aren't allowed to become demons after the founding of the country!

Li Xuewu reached out to touch the M1911 in his bosom.

Just as Li Xuewu was about to pull out the gun, two coughs came from inside, and Li Xuewu realized these were two people smoking while squatting.

His eyes hadn't adapted after coming from the streetlamp environment into the somewhat dark space.

The two people squatting inside also saw Li Xuewu and were stunned, which is why they coughed.

This could be considered an unwritten rule; at this time, they were all dry toilets, there was no such thing as a partition, and the pits were all open.

The most difficult thing was that there were no lights. Those with conditions would use a flashlight, and those without would rely on memory to grope their way in.

They were really afraid that in the pitch black, someone would close their eyes and pee on them, so they usually held a cigarette in their mouth to signal that someone was there.

Another thing was meeting people squatting; if they were familiar, they could chat a bit. If they weren't familiar, they basically avoided each other's gaze; no one wanted to make friends in this place.

Seeing this big guy Li Xuewu come in, the two were also a bit afraid, so they started chatting after coughing.

One was that they were idle anyway, chatting could divert their attention so their butts wouldn't be cold.

The other was to tell this big guy who came in that the two of them knew each other, to save this big guy from looking for trouble.

"Hey, why haven't I seen your uncle's second idle one these past few days?"

"Cough~ cough~"

This person was perhaps choked by the smoke, coughed twice, and said, "Hi! Don't mention it, that unlucky child caused trouble."

"What happened?"

"Haven't you heard?"

This person held the cigarette and said with a broken voice, "Didn't you hear the noise of cars running on the main road on the night of the Little New Year?"

"No, I've been working the night shift for a while, just got back to normal."

"Hey, you missed a good show."

This person clicked his tongue and said, "On the night of the Little New Year, our side exploded. People were being arrested all over the street. The next day we went to the neighborhood office to watch the excitement, good heavens, the compound was full."

"Is that so!"

"You bet, they say two or three hundred were caught!"

"What happened?"

"You might not know, a fierce character came to our station. Good heavens, the underworld gave him the nickname 'Li Erbala'. It was he who led the team that night and caught all those little bastards who had been making a scene lately."

"That's a good thing, what does it have to do with Er Xian?"

"Hi! Unlucky, that bastard was playing cards with San Mazi from Fangjia Alley that night, and they were all caught together."

"Hey! That's really not a grievance, that San Mazi is the type who beats his father and scolds his mother, hehe."

"It can be considered a lesson for him. Yesterday I went to inquire, those who had serious crimes were all put in the slammer, and those who were nothing were all gathered in the neighborhood compound, sweeping the streets, cleaning snow, digging out public toilets, and cleaning houses for the lonely elderly."

"Hahaha, this idea is good. I was wondering why I couldn't see those bad boys around the house anymore."

"You think that's the end of it? Each was fined 200, and every time they work, they get work points. Those who don't want to work have to pay."

"Is this Li Erbala really that fierce?"

"You bet! That's a guy who dares to shoot. That bastard from the Old Yang family in Mao'er Alley was shot to death by him. That person gave the order in the neighborhood compound that if you shoot, shoot for the head, otherwise you think the neighborhood is so peaceful now?"

Seeing that the big guy was about to leave, this person also prepared to finish squatting.

"Look at our neighborhood, those thieves all went to the station to surrender, the little ruffians all went to report. Whatever Li Erbala said before had to be done. If you don't? Hehe."

Li Xuewu shook his gun, tidied up, and came out. It would be too embarrassing if people saw the scar on his face.

He got into the car and drove all the way to the entrance of the west courtyard. At this moment, the west courtyard was lit up. Before Li Xuewu could get out of the car, the main gate of the west courtyard opened.

In the car lights, Li Xuewu saw a horse-drawn carriage in the west courtyard, and everyone was unloading wood by the carriage.

He parked the car by the room across the courtyard and didn't turn off the engine, letting the car lights shine to make it convenient for them to unload the car, and also convenient for unloading the things in the back of the car later.

Li Xuewu jumped out of the car and asked Old Biaozi, who had opened the gate for him, "Why are you back so late?"

Old Biaozi closed the main gate and said as he walked back, "There was too much, we had to rest a few times on the way."

As he spoke, seeing the things behind Li Xuewu's car, he asked with a smile, "Didn't you say you were going to deliver gifts? Why did you bring back so much?"

Li Xuewu smiled and distributed cigarettes to the few people cleaning up the wood, saying, "New Year's gifts returned by others. Help me unload them in a while."

Old Biaozi held a cigarette and led Li Xuewu to the foot of the wall, pointing to a bag and asking, "Guess what I got?"

Li Xuewu glanced at Old Biaozi and opened the bag to look.

It was blackish, grayish, and some had a bit of white.

"From the mountains?"

"Hey, there are a few families living at the foot of the mountain, they dried them after picking them all summer."

What Old Biaozi brought back were mushrooms from the mountains. Their current state was dried, and they had to be soaked in warm water to be eaten.

"Are you planning to collect these?"

"It won't work this year."

Old Biaozi said regretfully, "They pick them for their own families to eat, few sell them. But I'm still prepared to go around. If I can collect some, good; if not, it's fine, and it can also prepare for next year."

Li Xuewu threw the mushrooms in his hand back and asked, "In whose name do you plan to do this? The recycling station and recycling shop can't collect this stuff, it has to be the native products company."

"Canteen."

Old Biaozi held the cigarette, his eyes darting around, and said, "We have so many people working here, it wouldn't be right not to have a canteen. Besides, didn't you say last time that setting up a canteen is also a way to make a living?"

Li Xuewu nodded and didn't talk about this year's affairs. He could toss and turn if he wanted to; it counted as hitting three poles whether there were dates or not.

Shen Guodong and the others had already moved the wood off the car during this time. Li Xuewu saw that it was all dry wood; they must have run quite far to get it.

Grandfather and Old Man Ye had both exhaled white mist and taken the cigarettes from their ears, lighting them with matches.

A few people stood by the car and smoked a cigarette, talking about the situation in the mountains.

Perhaps because there were people going to pick firewood in winter, the dry firewood near the mountain had been mostly taken. Grandfather and the others had gone deep into the mountains to get it.

It was also thanks to having many big young men, otherwise, which family could bring back so much firewood?

Li Xuewu looked at the woodpile; this was enough to burn until spring.

After the few finished smoking, everyone lent a hand and moved the things from the rear cabin to the east room of the room across the courtyard.

Yu Li had already prepared the meal, just waiting for everyone to eat.

Letting the few finish their work, Li Xuewu drove the car into the garage, connected it to the water trough, and drained the water from the car.

After tidying up, he returned to the room across the courtyard.

Old Biaozi and the others had already washed up and were sitting on the kang eating.

Perhaps because they were tired and hungry, the few were eating ravenously.

Li Xuewu entered the room, took off his coat, sat on the edge of the kang, and looked at the few, saying, "Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, open for business in the morning, and rest in the afternoon. You've worked hard all winter, rest for two days."

Old Biaozi said with a smile, "Third Uncle also planned it this way, saying everyone should come here to wrap dumplings tomorrow."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Make a few more dishes, make it lively."

Lighting a cigarette, Li Xuewu asked Old Biaozi, "I see there are still cars left?"

Old Biaozi nodded and said, "The two cars I left for you are in the warehouse. There are seventeen others, but it's just a matter of these two days. Everyone knows that bicycles will rise in price after the New Year."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Take advantage of the first month to sell the things out quickly, don't let them sit on your hands. Nothing happened these past few days, right?"

Choking on a steamed bun, Old Biaozi said, "The industrial and commercial office came once, but after seeing our procedures and documents, they didn't say anything. Later, I went to the supply and marketing cooperative to find Director Ma, and then went to the neighborhood office to find Director Wang."

Li Xuewu squinted and asked, "Was there a report?"

"Mm."

Old Biaozi looked at Li Xuewu and said, "Director Ma called over there, and they didn't say anything, just said it was a routine inspection. Director Ma also told them that this is an affiliated organization of the supply and marketing cooperative."

As he spoke, Old Biaozi said to Li Xuewu, "This Director Ma looks quite gentle, but he's really not polite when he speaks. He told the other side explicitly and implicitly to stop being a busybody, hehe."

Li Xuewu looked at Old Biaozi, who was laughing "hehe," and said, "Don't get carried away. Keep it in mind after the New Year, go visit more often, and donate a few sets of chairs in the name of the recycling station."

At this time, the rank of the supply and marketing cooperative director might not be high, but their right to speak was rock solid.

Moreover, it was a big district director like Director Ma; being able to find Director Ma was also an opportunity given to Li Xuewu and the others by this era.

Old Biaozi nodded and said, "I know, Third Uncle already mentioned this. It was Director Wang who said someone reported it, saying we don't need to worry about it, he'll tell you later."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "In the future, if anyone asks about these things, push it to the neighborhood office and the station. Just say we're handling confiscated items for the neighborhood and the station. If there's anything, go find the neighborhood office or the station."

"Hehe, understood."

Old Biaozi got Li Xuewu's words and naturally knew Li Xuewu had a guarantee on his side.

Investigate the neighborhood office? Investigate the station? Hehe.

Looking at the few people eating, Li Xuewu asked, "Did Brother Zhu come back for dinner tonight?"

Yu Li glanced at Li Xuewu and said, "I made it first, but waited for Grandfather and the others who didn't return. Seeing Brother Zhu bring Yushui back, I scooped it out separately and served it to them."

Li Xuewu nodded and said to Old Biaozi, "I brought back a car, it's being maintained at the steel mill. Count it as confiscated this time, we'll keep it ourselves. Tell Third Uncle later to balance the accounts."

As he spoke, he stood up and said to the few, "You've worked all day, go wash up at the entrance after eating, and sleep early. I'm going to see Brother Zhu."

Sorry, I was invited to dinner today and wrote late. I declined twice but couldn't avoid it. Sorry, sorry. ===== CHAPTER 316 =====