Chapter 429: You Have a Ghost in Your Heart

"Sss~"

Seeing Sha Zhu sat on the ground for a long time before he came to his senses.

He looked at the broken soil chunks at his feet and reached out to touch his head.

"I damn well said I felt flustered, so it was you, damn it!"

He shook the blood off his hand and stepped on the soil chunk.

Stepping on the soil chunk wasn't enough to vent his anger, so he stood up unsteadily, wanting to find someone to reason with.

But damn, there were many people setting off explosives on the city wall at this moment; who knew who had blasted this over.

"Truly a damn grandson!"

Seeing Sha Zhu spat, muttering about a "bloody disaster," and ran home.

He hadn't changed his temper; he just had nowhere to vent it.

He couldn't run over and kick the city wall twice, or he'd really become a fool.

When passing the city gate, he really looked up.

It turned out the clay used to fill the city wall was too solid, and the workers couldn't dig it out; who knew which idiot came up with the idea of using detonators to dismantle it.

Of course, the dosage and the target of the demolition were controllable, otherwise, what would have hit Seeing Sha Zhu's head would have been city wall bricks.

By then, forget about jumping and cursing; he might have been eating at a funeral feast.

Seeing Sha Zhu ran all the way home, entered the gate, and ran directly to the Li family.

If anyone asked, the words in his mouth would inevitably be: "When a person is unlucky, even drinking cold water gets stuck in their teeth, and even farting hits their heels."

He lifted the door curtain of the Li family and pushed the door open to shout, but saw someone even unluckier sitting there changing medicine.

Li Shun was startled when he saw Seeing Sha Zhu covered in blood.

"How did this happen?"

As he spoke, he let go of the medicinal cotton in his hand and went to check Seeing Sha Zhu's injury.

It's said there's no oil and salt shop that doesn't open, but very few people came directly to Li Shun's house for medical treatment.

These past few days had been evil; red injuries were one after another.

"They are dismantling the city wall on Beidajie, and the soil chunks from the blast hit my head."

"Sss~ Ugh~"

Qin Jingru, who was turning her head away from looking at Seeing Sha Zhu, couldn't help but laugh out loud when she heard this.

How unlucky must one be to let soil chunks hit them until they bled.

"Dismantling all the way to Dongzhimen?"

Li Shun checked Seeing Sha Zhu's head injury, took a scraper, and helped Seeing Sha Zhu shave his hair.

"No~"

Seeing Sha Zhu knew what Li Shun meant and smiled embarrassedly.

"It wasn't hit while passing Dongzhimen; I went to Beidajie to wander around."

"Why go there!"

Liu Yin helped Li Shun prepare hot water and cleaned up the hair Seeing Sha Zhu had shaved off.

"The neighborhood committee sent a notice a few days ago, saying they were dismantling the city wall over there and that families should manage their children well and not let them go play there."

"Hi~ this matter has to be blamed on my dad."

Seeing Sha Zhu was quite optimistic, joking, "The neighborhood committee said to manage the children well, but no one manages this child, so I got hurt."

"Don't move!"

Li Shun saw Seeing Sha Zhu swaying around, so he tapped Seeing Sha Zhu's head with the scraper and then started shaving again.

"Master, do you not need to marry a wife after taking the precepts?"

Seeing Sha Zhu started joking with Li Shun after being tapped.

Li Shun saw he was being frivolous and didn't bother with him; this kid must be talking nonsense again after seeing Qin Huairu's sister.

Liu Yin was kind-hearted and joked, "Your master still has worldly ties, so how could he answer that question for you."

"Hahaha~ Sss~"

Seeing Sha Zhu was laughing heartlessly when Li Shun frowned and pressed on Seeing Sha Zhu's wound.

"I'm not a barber; if you move around again, I can't guarantee I won't open another cut for you."

Scaring Seeing Sha Zhu, Li Shun shaved the area around the wound clean and then started bandaging.

How could there be no pain with medicinal powder? The pain made Seeing Sha Zhu grimace, and combined with his bald image, it made Qin Jingru, sitting opposite, laugh even more.

Liu Yin looked at these two heartless people, thinking that if they really got together, they would be happy even if they lost their home.

After cleaning up Seeing Sha Zhu and finishing Qin Jingru, the two left the Li family's door one after another.

"Whoa! ~~~"

Yan Jiefang exclaimed when he saw Seeing Sha Zhu and Qin Jingru's image, and then started laughing loudly.

Seeing Sha Zhu wouldn't let him have his way; the fire in his stomach had nowhere to vent, so he reached out to grab Yan Jiefang.

"Zhuzi!"

At this moment, First Uncle walked in from outside and stopped Seeing Sha Zhu.

Then he looked at Seeing Sha Zhu's head and that indignant expression.

"How did this happen?"

First Uncle asked Seeing Sha Zhu, but his eyes drifted toward Qin Jingru, who was limping and turning back.

Seeing Sha Zhu getting hurt—this girl had the greatest suspicion.

Qin Jingru also saw First Uncle's look, and her anger rose.

She was already in this state, with only one good leg left, and she could still beat a grown man?

She couldn't care about laughing at Seeing Sha Zhu now and went to the middle courtyard in a huff.

Seeing Sha Zhu pointed at Yan Jiefang and said to Third Uncle, who walked out, "Third Uncle, manage your son well; someone would be beaten to death for going out like this."

Third Uncle stood on the steps with his hands in his sleeves and glared at his second son.

"Go home!"

Yan Jiefang curled his lips at Seeing Sha Zhu and turned back into the room.

Third Uncle looked at Seeing Sha Zhu's appearance and said, "You should manage yourself well; someone like him wouldn't be hurt to your extent outside."

It's said that other people's wives are good, and one's own sons are good; who wants to hear others lecture their own sons?

Seeing Sha Zhu was so angry he pointed at Third Uncle and said, "It's no wonder you have a cerebral thrombosis; with your character, your arms and legs should be tied up!"

"Zhuzi! How are you talking~"

First Uncle saw Seeing Sha Zhu acting crazy and wanted to shout, but Third Uncle over there was pointing at Seeing Sha Zhu, his mouth moving but unable to speak.

Seeing Sha Zhu was a madman; the more you tried to persuade him, the more he went for it.

Seeing First Uncle blocking him and Third Uncle unable to speak, he went even harder.

"With the way you manage your son, what good can come of it? One is heartless, and the other is wicked~"

"Seeing Sha Zhu!"

Third Uncle finally managed to squeeze out a sentence: "Make it clear, who is heartless, and who is wicked!"

Seeing Sha Zhu ignored First Uncle's obstruction, pointed at Third Uncle, and said, "Isn't it heartless to not want a proper wife and marry a slut!"

"Your family cleaning the house and dumping broken bricks at the door, and dumping dirt on Qin Huairu's second uncle—isn't that wicked!"

It was just the time to get off work, and everyone in the courtyard was there, so everyone heard what Seeing Sha Zhu cursed.

They were just watching the fun before, but they didn't expect to see such a big melon.

Many people didn't know about the previous matter, but everyone knew about the Yan brothers dumping broken bricks at the door; that was where Qin Jingru tripped yesterday.

Everyone knew even more about dumping dirt; Qin Huairu's second uncle had made a huge scene that afternoon, so it was Yan's second son who did it.

This Seeing Sha Zhu was crazy, but he rarely lied; the wickedness behind was true, so the heartlessness in front might also be true.

First Uncle grabbed Seeing Sha Zhu and wanted to drag him to the inverted house, not letting him shout here.

Second Uncle stood at the hanging flower gate, hands behind his back, watching the fun.

He had just returned; recently, the work of the safety operation design group was heavy, and he often came back late.

Seeing Seeing Sha Zhu acting crazy, he wanted to see First Uncle's fun.

Who didn't know First Uncle treated Seeing Sha Zhu like a godson, counting on Seeing Sha Zhu to support him in his old age.

"Old Yi, why are you pulling him, let him speak."

Second Uncle even pointed at Seeing Sha Zhu and said, "Tell us the detailed situation you know, don't be talking nonsense."

Don't let the poor get rich, don't let the official-obsessed hold power.

Second Uncle had just shown his face in front of the leaders, counting as a member of the design group, and now he was playing the official with Seeing Sha Zhu.

Seeing Sha Zhu knew Second Uncle's badness; he was just taking it out on everyone.

"Speak, speak my ass, if you want to know, go home and ask your son!"

Seeing Sha Zhu let First Uncle drag him past the hanging flower gate, but he didn't stop talking.

"That little sister-in-law calls your second son the most affectionately!"

First Uncle reached out to cover Seeing Sha Zhu's mouth, but how could he be a match for a big young man.

Seeing Sha Zhu dodged First Uncle's hand and shouted at Second Uncle: "The one who dumped dirt on people is your second son... Ugh..."

He finished speaking, he felt happy, and let First Uncle cover his mouth and drag him into the inverted house.

But Second Uncle and Third Uncle standing in the middle courtyard were petrified.

Third Uncle regretted it; he should have let Seeing Sha Zhu curse, why bother with this gossip.

Second Uncle also regretted it; it would have been better to go home and eat peacefully, why cause this messy thing.

Other people standing in the corridor or at the third gate looked at the room in the Yan family that was lit up, and then looked at Liu Guangfu, who was standing in the crowd with a changing face.

It would be difficult for this young man to find a partner in the future, and even Liu Guangtian would be affected.

Good heavens, they could form a theater troupe in this courtyard tomorrow, singing big plays every day.

Li Shun, who was about to pick up his bowl and chopsticks, heard Seeing Sha Zhu's words, put down his bowl, walked silently to the south room to take the medical box, and then stood at his own door.

Li Shun looked through the window glass at the opposite side, looking at Yan Fugui's situation.

Today, Seeing Sha Zhu's two heavy blows made Yan Fugui's already unbearable cerebral blood vessels even worse.

Li Shun stared at Yan Fugui, and Yan Fugui stared at the hanging flower gate where Seeing Sha Zhu had just left.

Second Uncle, standing at the hanging flower gate, stared at Liu Guangfu, and Liu Guangfu stared at Yan Jiefang, who was standing inside the door.

Yan Jiefang stared at the neighbors outside, and the neighbors stared at the Yan family's small room.

For a moment, the front courtyard actually had a brief tranquility.

But this tranquility was destined to be brief; with Second Uncle's shout, the balance was broken instantly.

"Little rabbit, you dare to run!"

"Dad!"

"Third Uncle!"

"Please invite Uncle Li quickly!"

"Finally arrived!"

Ji Wang Weidong stood in the carriage, looking at the buildings flashing past the window, knowing Wucheng had arrived.

Sleeping for a day, he only felt refreshed now; he, Ji Wang Weidong, was back!

Li Xuewu changed into fur clothes, handed his luggage to Qi Delong, and held the phone to talk to the front and back carriages about the handover at the station.

Actually, they didn't need to handle the handover; Jin Yaohui could just take their signatures and find the duty room to communicate with the other party.

Needless to say, there was martial law when the train departed, so it was impossible not to have it when the train arrived.

Listening to the whistle in front, Li Xuewu knew the train was about to enter the station.

The station they entered wasn't the passenger station, but the freight station.

The train passed directly through the passenger platform and moved forward for a distance, entering a freight workshop at the furthest end of the station.

Here, the things they had escorted all the way would be unloaded by a crane and loaded onto trucks to be transported to where they should go.

Of course, when the train stopped steadily, their mission was already over.

Li Xuewu and Li Huai De didn't even meet the handover party; Jin Yaohui took their signatures and directly found the duty room to communicate with the other party.

These two were both monkey-smart characters, so how could they touch this; they walked out after getting off the train, very afraid that someone would call them from behind.

The security team carried guns and light machine guns and couldn't leave the station at all, so they could only be arranged to stay on the train.

According to Li Huai De's estimation, this train could depart back to Jingcheng tomorrow.

Ji Wang Weidong's mission was also completed; logically speaking, he didn't have to go with Li Xuewu and the others, after all, they weren't from the same unit.

He could completely find a train back after finishing the handover here.

But he wouldn't!

He had an important mission that was urgently waiting to be completed.

"Where are we going to rest?"

Li Xuewu turned his head and looked at Ji Wang Weidong, who was shivering from the cold.

"Don't 'we' me; don't you have a place to go?"

"Damn! Can I not have a place to go?"

Ji Wang Weidong shivered and then said, "I was just asking casually."

Li Xuewu curled his lips and said, "We're staying at the reception house in front of the station; you don't have to follow us, we've found our way."

"Hey! What a coincidence, we're also going to the front of the station."

"Oh?"

Li Xuewu had a knowing expression and then asked, "Then are you in front of the train station or the bus station?"

"..."

Ji Wang Weidong gritted his teeth, climbed onto Li Xuewu's shoulder, and whispered, "My subordinates are following; give me some face."

"Oh~~~"

Li Xuewu nodded with a smile and asked softly, "You aren't a big-mouthed person, right?"

"Not big-mouthed, not big-mouthed~"

Ji Wang Weidong said softly, "My mouth is the tightest."

"I might need a car tomorrow."

"I'll come, I'll come."

Ji Wang Weidong's eyes lit up when he heard Li Xuewu make such a request, and he agreed without stopping.

"I might need to discuss things tomorrow; my subordinates aren't around."

"I'll come, I'll come."

Ji Wang Weidong knew what Li Xuewu was going to do; he wasn't afraid of Li Xuewu using him, he was afraid Li Xuewu wouldn't play with him.

"You are a vice division chief, and I am just a section chief; isn't it just listening to your orders?"

"Hahaha, then we really are a coincidence!"

Li Xuewu got Ji Wang Weidong's promise and said with a smile, "I just said the reception house in front of the train station is convenient; we thought of the same place."

"Hehe, hehehe."

Ji Wang Weidong looked at Li Xuewu's smug look and felt his teeth itching.

"That's right, you're so smart."

"Why be so polite, we're all good brothers; could I just leave you behind?"

Li Xuewu patted Ji Wang Weidong on the shoulder, followed Li Huai De out of the station exit, and went to the reception house diagonally opposite.

Ji Wang Weidong curled his lips; this grandson had the habit of eating alone, and if he didn't keep an eye on him, this trip would be in vain.

The cooperation discussed on the train was finished, and the benefits that should be fought for for the unit had been fought for; now it was time to think for himself.

He didn't believe Li Xuewu ran to the frontier in such a hurry just to seek benefits for the Rolling Mill.

It wasn't that he underestimated Li Xuewu's enthusiasm for serving the people; he just didn't believe there was a cat in this world that didn't steal fish.

The four men and women arranged on the train were all his confidants; if it wasn't for handling private matters, he, Ji Wang Weidong, would be a grandson!

Entering the reception house, Li Huai De and Li Xuewu naturally wanted the best cadre rooms, because their ranks were high enough.

Jin Yaohui and the others wanted standard rooms, and Ji Wang Weidong, because he had special credentials, actually wanted a cadre room next to Li Xuewu's.

Li Xuewu looked at Ji Wang Weidong, curled his lips, and went upstairs.

The whole group had been on the train for the whole journey; what they wanted now was naturally to eat and rest.

But Li Huai De couldn't rest; he had to tidy up in his room, and after contacting the Rolling Mill, he had to take Jin Yaohui to meet the ranch cadres.

Hearing that an enterprise from the interior was coming to collect beef and mutton, and didn't need to worry about transportation, they wished they could send the cattle and sheep over right now.

Li Xuewu, according to what was agreed with Li Huai De, split into two paths; he had to be responsible for contacting units in Jingcheng and doing coordination work.

Li Xuewu was familiar with this work; wasn't it just making phone calls?

The meals were brought in by the two cadres from the Investigation Department; seeing their section chief sitting on the sofa watching the Vice Division Chief Li making phone calls, they pointed outside, signaling to go back to eat.

Ji Wang Weidong waved his hand, signaling they could leave, and then picked up the big pancake on the table and started eating.

Li Xuewu frowned when he saw his appearance and turned his head to continue communicating with Zheng Fuhua on the phone.

It was past seven in the evening in the frontier, two time zones away, so it was already 9 o'clock on Zheng Fuhua's side.

But he had been waiting for Li Xuewu's call all day, so he didn't feel it was late or impatient at all.

"Director Gao is right beside me and wants to give you a few words."

Zheng Fuhua finished talking about the relevant business with Li Xuewu and handed the phone to Gao Zhen, who was sitting on the sofa.

"Comrade Xuewu."

"Yes, Director Gao."

"This frontier trip has been hard work."

"Reading ten thousand books, traveling ten thousand miles; with the leader's concern, it's not hard work."

"Hahaha, I'm really concerned about you."

Gao Zhen looked at Zheng Fuhua, who was laughing after hearing Li Xuewu's answer, and then said with a smile, "How is it? It's very cold there, right? Take care of your health."

"Yes, thank you for your concern, leader; the temperature difference between day and night in Jingcheng is also large, so leader, take care of your health."

"I'm alright, hahaha!"

Gao Zhen was truly happy at this moment, rarely showing a sense of closeness while holding the phone.

"Hearing Comrade Fuhua's report really gave me a fright, hahaha."

Zheng Fuhua lit a cigarette, smiled, and leaned back on the sofa, his face full of pride.

Twenty thousand—Gao Zhen bore the political risk and put all his effort into promoting the slogan "Disaster is heartless, people have love."

He dismantled a part of the budget, mobilized unit personnel to pay pre-purchase funds, and gathered twenty thousand to send to the Rolling Mill.

This time supporting the frontier and reducing losses from natural disasters, the Rolling Mill and a group of enterprises and units were at the forefront.

When Gao Zhen reported it up, he received affirmation from relevant leaders, who also expressed recognition for this form of support that was active and within their capabilities.

At this time, disaster relief was still stuck in the form of donating money and goods; this form of support in the form of trade to reduce losses from natural disasters could be considered opening up new ideas for disaster relief work.

Of course, Gao Zhen dared to do this because he had confidence and sufficient reasons.

The two trains from the Rolling Mill could bring back 3,600 tons of meat.

According to the acquisition price contacted by Li Huai De, the twenty thousand in support funds, and the meat distributed and sold through channels, that was double the profit.

This was still saying it was sold at market price; if it was sold at a premium, it was hard to say how many times it would flip.

This kind of opportunity wasn't always available; after all, without shouting that slogan, Gao Zhen wouldn't dare to do "business" even if he had two guts.

Of course, all the related units were nominally supporting, not trading.

If there weren't so many units participating together, Gao Zhen wouldn't dare to do it either.

"Comrade Fuhua asked me to give you a few words, but I didn't want to say them originally."

Gao Zhen held the phone and said to Li Xuewu, "You are a cadre with ideas, level, mature, steady, and worthy of trust."

"I just want to remind you to pay attention to cold protection and warmth, complete the mission early; Comrade Fuhua said the Public Security Brigade needs you, hahaha!"

"Yes, thank you leader, guarantee to complete the mission!"

Zheng Fuhua took the phone and instructed Li Xuewu on business a few more times, then put down the phone.

"Very proud, right~"

Ji Wang Weidong took a bite of the pancake and said enviously, "The director and vice director are waiting to talk to you on the phone, and they are even asking about your well-being, tsk tsk tsk~"

"Aren't leaders all like this~"

Li Xuewu had a confused expression, looked at Ji Wang Weidong, and said, "My leaders are always concerned about me like this every time I go on a business trip; aren't your leaders like this?"

"..."

Ji Wang Weidong looked at Li Xuewu and then at the pancake in his hand, suddenly feeling that the pancake in his hand wasn't fragrant.

After finishing the call with Zheng Fuhua, Li Xuewu called his uncle; this had been agreed upon long ago.

Of course, this uncle wasn't from Yangcheng, but from Huaqing.

No way, there were many relatives at home, and it wouldn't feel right if any of them weren't taken care of.

If this uncle's unit was especially rich, then if he didn't say a word, how could they meet in the future.

The units with the smallest volume here were the Investigation Department, Red Star Village, and that support group.

The Investigation Department's was a special case, equivalent to half-selling and half-giving, and the money handed over was just so-so.

However

Don't look at Li Xuewu and Ji Wang Weidong as if they're just messing around; he wouldn't actually drive him away. He's a top-notch piece of toilet paper for cleaning up messes.

The scale of Red Star Village and that regiment is also quite small, but what they need isn't meat, but live cattle and sheep.

This is a project Li Xuewu set up for the recycling station, preparing to purchase a batch of cattle and sheep to take back for breeding and raising.

It's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish; those little tricks Lao Biaozi and Yin Mancang were pulling really couldn't be brought out into the open.

Not to mention the high risk, a single gust of wind would blow it all away.

Li Xuewu transplanted a big tree right next to the two of them.

The mountain needs to be managed by that regiment. How can there be training and live-fire exercises without shooting guns? It's too dangerous; from now on, unauthorized personnel shouldn't go up the mountain.

The mountain can't be wasted either. Raising only pigs is too monotonous; raising cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, and geese is just right.

The recycling station provides livestock and poultry like cattle and sheep, Red Star Village provides labor, and the support regiment provides security.

Who could come to investigate this farm-plus-ranch model?

It is both the regiment's self-sufficient production base and a local village-level agricultural and pastoral farm.

Li Xuewu is best at keeping these kinds of muddled accounts; whoever investigates just ends up confused.

After making this round of phone calls, the Jiaodaokou Supply and Marketing Cooperative is the biggest player among the related units.

However, Director Ma doesn't want to take on the risk, but he promised they could accept cattle and sheep meat, which provided a safety net for the few families eager to recoup their capital.

Why else would they say that resource integration is an important means for revitalizing enterprises and developing the future?

If you ask how to integrate, I can't tell you, because who would do this without a big profit? Should I just give you the idea for free?

"Why do you have so much to say?"

Ji Wang Weidong had already finished eating. Watching Li Xuewu put down the phone, he said, "Wouldn't it be enough to communicate clearly in a few sentences?"

"That's you."

Li Xuewu picked up a pancake, stuffed it with lamb, spread some sauce on it, and started eating.

"What's wrong with me!"

Ji Wang Weidong looked as if his cat tail had been stepped on. Seeing Li Xuewu's meaningful expression, he said indignantly, "That's just how I work, and no one has ever said anything about it!"

"So that's why~"

Li Xuewu tilted his head and said to Ji Wang Weidong, "If my dad were a high-ranking official, and my second uncle were a high-ranking official, I'd be just like you."

"People would still have to say I'm a pragmatist, the kind who doesn't just talk big."

"I am a pragmatist!"

Ji Wang Weidong hates hearing others say he got where he is by relying on his father's connections, but since Li Xuewu said it, he has no way to respond.

"I didn't say you don't work."

Li Xuewu is like an old sow wearing a bra—he's got one trick after another when it comes to annoying people.

"I was talking about your style of speaking and doing things. I was talking about other people, saying they wouldn't dare do anything."

"You've damaged my character!"

How could Ji Wang Weidong believe Li Xuewu's sophistry? He was certain this grandson was just badmouthing him.

"This matter won't be resolved without some compensation!"

Ji Wang Weidong looked at Li Xuewu and said angrily, "I said it!"

"Mm-hmm-hmm."

Li Xuewu nodded indifferently, bit into his pancake, and said, "What kind of compensation do you want?"

Ji Wang Weidong rolled his eyes and said, "Tell me what you have, and I'll choose."

"Alright then~"

Li Xuewu took a bite of the pancake, counted on his fingers, and said, "I have something about someone finding a girl at a certain market... uh..."

"Are you even human!"

Ji Wang Weidong covered Li Xuewu's mouth as soon as he heard the beginning.

"I treat you like a brother, and this is how you treat me?"

"What a coincidence!"

Li Xuewu pulled down Ji Wang Weidong's hand, looked at this shameless guy, and said, "I wanted to say that too."

Ji Wang Weidong let go of his hand sheepishly and sat back on the sofa.

"I was just joking with you, why did you take it seriously~"

As he spoke, he pushed the meat plate toward Li Xuewu and said, "We're brothers, could I really ask you for something? You really don't know how to take a joke."

"What a coincidence!"

Li Xuewu said while rolling up his pancake, "I was also joking with you. How would I have any evidence?"

Ji Wang Weidong looked at Li Xuewu with resentment; he was about to be played to death by this grandson.

"Don't look at me like that, I really don't have any."

Li Xuewu said very seriously, "I don't have a camera, and I don't have a recorder."

Even though he said that, the look in his eyes when he looked at Ji Wang Weidong was still full of distrust.

"You don't trust me!"

Li Xuewu held his pancake and was about to imitate Ji Wang Weidong, saying he had hurt his feelings.

Ji Wang Weidong learned his lesson this time; he stood up and walked out.

"Hey!"

Li Xuewu called out, but couldn't call him back.

"With that level of cultivation, you dare to play games with me?"

Putting down the pancake in his hand, Li Xuewu picked up the phone and made a call.

This time, he wasn't calling his unit, but his home.

When a child travels a thousand miles, the mother worries; when a mother travels a thousand miles, the child doesn't worry.

Ever since his father fell during his last trip to Jicheng, Li Xuewu has made sure to let his family know whenever he goes on a business trip.

Unless it's a confidential or emergency mission, he generally lets his family know when he arrives at his destination.

In the past, when there was no phone, he even had Gu Ning go home once.

This time, Yu Li answered the phone, reported the family matters to Li Xuewu, and also mentioned Wen San'er's situation in Steel City.

There was nothing special about the family matters; it was all just trivial household stuff.

Yu Li didn't mention the farce in the front courtyard, only the operations of the recycling station in the west courtyard and the mounting work currently underway there.

As for the Steel City matter, the plan was going smoothly, everyone had returned, and they were expected to arrive home tonight.

The last phone call was from Lou Xiaoe. Both were surprised after they spoke, but they didn't say much.

After finishing with Yu Li, he made a safety call to his mother, who had been called over by He Yushui, and that was it.

After finishing the last pancake on the table, Li Xuewu didn't clean up; he locked the door and started to sleep.

He hadn't slept well on this trip either; not only was the train ride exhausting, but he was also worried and fearful in his heart.

After all, he wasn't the one executing the Steel City mission himself, and if an unexpected situation arose, he could only activate Xu Ning.

But that was the last resort; he could only save their lives first and worry about the rest later.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly.

"Ssh~"

Just as Li Xuewu was sleeping, the train from Steel City to the frontier stopped at the Steel Rolling Mill's assembly workshop.

Wen San'er got off the train with two women and a child. Lao Biaozi had already come out of the duty room; he had received the news and was here to pick up the Third Uncle and the others.

"If you didn't come back, Third Aunt would have killed me."

"Hehe, it was a close call."

Wen San'er patted his nephew's shoulder, then took the documents Lao Biaozi had prepared and delivered them to the dispatch duty room.

Nothing else, just that all the goods on the train had been mortgaged to the recycling station.

From now on, the mission of the Beijing Xidan Market Procurement Service Department was complete.

Next was the business of the Beijing Scrap Company, the Joint Supply and Marketing Cooperative, and the Jiaodaokou Business Department of the East City Center.

Lao Biaozi and Wen San'er helped put their luggage into the rear compartment of the GAZ long-carriage vehicle, then drove them toward the factory guesthouse.

Zhou Wang Yamei had never been to the Steel Rolling Mill, but she had an inextricable relationship with this factory.

When they arrived in front of the guesthouse, Wen San'er didn't get out of the car, but let Lao Biaozi carry the luggage and take Zhou Wang Yamei and her son into the guesthouse.

"Third Uncle, doesn't he have any other property? Why arrange for them to stay in the guesthouse?"

Wen San'er felt a jolt when he heard Lou Xiaoe's question; this question wasn't right.

"You've asked the wrong person; we only see each other in the morning and evening."

Wen San'er played dumb, then pointed at Lou Xiaoe and said, "The one you're staying in is only because it used to be my house; otherwise, I wouldn't even know you were staying there."

"Is that so~"

Lou Xiaoe looked at Zhou Wang Yamei's slender figure and curled her lips.

"Coming from so far away, it's so inappropriate to stay in a guesthouse."

Lou Xiaoe turned her head and smiled at Wen San'er, "I was just thinking of asking; if it's inconvenient for him, our family still has vacant property."

"I really don't know about this."

Wen San'er gave a bitter smile; this woman was digging a hole again.

"I don't know exactly when he'll be back, but there should be arrangements."

"Oh~"

Lou Xiaoe looked back at the box of gold and asked, "Is the operating capital in the recycling station enough? If not, I'll get you some."

"Enough, enough."

Wen San'er knew she was beating around the bush to ask when Li Xuewu would be back.

Not to mention he didn't know, even if he did, he wouldn't dare say.

Where he would stay on the first day he returned was a big problem, and he didn't dare decide which day Li Xuewu would return.

"His follow-up plan will soon be realized, and the recycling station isn't in a hurry for these two days."

Wen San'er explained the recycling station's business, which could be considered reporting to Lou Xiaoe.

Because the finances of the west courtyard recycling station were ostensibly with Wen San'er, but in reality, they were in Lou Xiaoe's hands.

The management rights of the recycling station were nominally in Lao Biaozi's hands, but in reality, they were with Wen San'er.

Li Xuewu's management was always linked, and no one could fool him.

Just like this recycling station, which was nominally the old man's, but in reality, Li Xuewu decided everything with one word.

Even for such a big deal this time, Wen San'er didn't dare report his hardships to Li Xuewu, and he didn't dare to be arrogant at all.

Don't look at him cursing Li Xuewu for being mean and bad in the Northeast; when he returned to Beijing, Li Xuewu was still the person he trusted most in his heart.

After finishing this errand, he just wanted to return home safely, hug his wife and children, and sleep on a warm bed.

Lao Biaozi quickly helped Zhou Wang Yamei settle in, went out, got into the car, and said, "Third Uncle, it's all arranged, didn't even need ID..."

"Bang!"

Before Lao Biaozi could finish his sentence, Wen San'er kicked Lao Biaozi's driver's seat back.

"Stop talking nonsense, drive!"

This nephew was also a careless person; there was still someone sitting in the car, and he was saying everything.

How could that guesthouse be so good, letting you stay without money or ID?

Lao Biaozi also noticed the look his Third Uncle gave him and hurriedly turned the car around to drive.

Lou Xiaoe curled her lips and didn't ask anything.

She wasn't anyone to Li Xuewu, so why would she make things difficult for him in front of Wen San'er and the others?

Asking around on the side would also make her feel uncomfortable; when Li Xuewu returned, she wouldn't even ask.

Who they were and how many there were had nothing to do with her.

She let Wen San'er and Lao Biaozi send her home, carried the box, and entered the house.

"Your mouth will get you into trouble sooner or later!"

Wen San'er poked Lao Biaozi and took him into the car to go home.

Lao Biaozi picked up four people this time and sent them home in three batches.

"I didn't expect it either."

Lao Biaozi started the engine and drove toward Wen San'er's house.

"This one seemed to live in the backyard before; I don't even know how she moved here."

"Hmph hmph~"

Wen San'er tucked his hands in his sleeves, lay back on the seat, squinted his eyes, and said, "There's a lot you don't know, stop asking."

Lao Biaozi curled his lips; he wasn't asking.

"Then can I ask how much money we can make this time?"

"You can."

"How much?"

"A lot."

Wen San'er squinted his eyes, nodded, and replied, "Enough to perform surgery on your mouth so you can only eat and not talk."

"Third Uncle, if you say that, I'm going to enter the courtyard."

The Haizi guesthouse was indeed not far from Wen San'er's house, just one road and a turn away.

The uncle and nephew arrived home while joking.

"It's already this late, going back will definitely disturb Grandfather and Second Uncle's sleep, so I might as well just stay here for the night."

As he spoke, Lao Biaozi pushed open the car door and jumped out.

Wen San'er was anxious; this bastard couldn't be provoked. There was only one bed at home, so where would he sleep?

"You stand still!"

It was already past ten o'clock, so Wen San'er didn't dare to shout loudly; he gritted his teeth and jumped out of the car to grab his nephew.

But who was Lao Biaozi? He was very agile, and he had already gone to knock on the door.

"Are you looking for a beating again!"

Wen San'er grabbed Lao Biaozi's hand and was about to take action, but the gate suddenly opened.

"Third Aunt, I've sent Third Uncle back, don't ask me for him anymore."

Lao Biaozi laughed, shook off Wen San'er's hand, put the luggage on the ground, got into the car, and ran away.

Wen San'er looked at his wife awkwardly; at this moment, he couldn't tell if Fei Shanying was happy or angry.

"It's late at night, are you two bored?"

"Not at all~"

Wen San'er laughed dryly, picked up the luggage on the ground, and explained, "It's this kid who said he wanted to stay at our house for the night; I was just driving him away~"

Fei Shanying moved aside, let Wen San'er into the courtyard, and then whispered, "How can you still be so unserious with your own nephew?"

"It was clearly..."

Wen San'er felt wronged; he couldn't explain it, and he had to deal with that brat tomorrow.

"Keep your voice down, the child is asleep."

"Oh, oh."

Wen San'er tiptoed into the room, put down the luggage, and was about to hug Fei Shanying.

Fei Shanying hit him and let him hug her.

"I missed you."

"Where have you been these past few days? Wait a minute!"

Fei Shanying asked, then felt something was wrong, pushed Wen San'er away, and asked, "Where did the smell on you come from?"

"What smell?"

Wen San'er's face flushed, he pretended to smell himself, and then said, "There's no smell!"

Fei Shanying looked cold, lowered her head slightly, and stared at Wen San'er's face.

"It's not about the smell now, you have a guilty conscience!"

"I have a wolf too~"

Wen San'er smiled and said, "I only have you in my heart, where would a ghost come from?"

"Don't be cheeky."

Fei Shanying lowered her voice, pushed Wen San'er's hand away, pointed at his clothes, and said, "There's a woman's scent on this."

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Wen San'er looked aggrieved and was about to jump, but was stopped by Fei Shanying's eyes.

It was because the sleeping child turned over.

After the couple made sure the child wasn't awake, Wen San'er complained, "I went to do business, where would a woman come from!"

"I smelled it, I saw it."

Fei Shanying stared at Wen San'er and said, "Confession brings leniency, resistance brings severity."

"Oh my~ I'm so wronged~"

Wen San'er didn't believe his wife's words.

Confess and be lenient, sit in jail; resist and be strict, go home for the New Year.

"I know!"

Wen San'er grabbed Fei Shanying's hand, looked enlightened, and said, "It's that person's!"

"That person?"

Fei Shanying looked at Wen San'er, waiting for him to make it up.

"Wife, let me tell you."

Wen San'er pulled his wife's hand, sat on the edge of the bed, and whispered, "I can't tell you a single word about what I did this time, but there were two women who came back with me?"

"Who?"