Chapter 528: What is Art?

Su Youfang's father was in the same system as Huang Gan's father.

However, most of her father's generation started their careers mid-way; they were all in the military before that.

So, the moment she saw Gu Ning, Su Youfang could tell she was "one of their own."

"I heard you're a doctor?"

"Yes, in surgery."

Gu Ning also sensed Su Youfang's personality, and with Li Xuewu by her side, she appeared poised and graceful.

"This is my first time out with him to meet his friends."

This sentence explained why she didn't know the other party, but it also showed she wasn't averse to interacting with Li Xuewu's friends.

Don't let Gu Ning's relatively introverted personality fool you; it didn't mean she lacked social skills.

After attaining a relatively affluent material life, the thing people need to do most is socialize.

Gu Ning had accompanied her mother to handle many occasions and had also attended numerous banquets at the Great Hall of the People with her father.

She just didn't like it, so she rarely went now.

"I understand. Huang Gan rarely introduces his friends to me either."

Su Youfang looked at Li Xuewu and said with a smile, "Huang Gan said you two are good friends and that you took great care of him during the training class."

"Hey! Honey!"

Huang Gan waved his hands while winking to stop her, saying, "How can you say such un-solidary things!"

"Yeah, you don't seem very solidary yourself."

Li Xuewu tilted his head, looked at Huang Gan, and said, "Let's find a time to chat about how you 'took care' of me. I've been thinking about beating you to a pulp."

"Hehe, it's all in the past, no need to be so polite."

Huang Gan chuckled and dodged the large hand Li Xuewu was patting toward his shoulder. He pulled his wife along, pointed toward the lobby, and said, "Anyway, let's go in; it's about to start."

Su Youfang was clearly doing it on purpose; she smiled again and said, "Right, we'll chat later. For instance, we can talk about how you ate all the local specialties, and how Huang Gan, being so helpful, gave his own portion to..."

"Oh, hurry up, the show is about to start."

Huang Gan knew his wife was getting back at him, so he hurriedly pushed Su Youfang into the theater.

Gu Ning smiled at Li Xuewu, and Li Xuewu looked back at Gu Ning.

"I'm really envious that you have friends like that."

"What's mine is yours."

Li Xuewu smiled and took Gu Ning's hand, saying as they walked inside, "But I don't have many friends like that. Just these few are enough to lead me astray."

Gu Ning pursed her lips and smiled. She didn't believe Li Xuewu's words; birds of a feather flock together, after all.

The theater environment at this time was quite average, just a little better than the one Li Xuewu went to for the movie last time.

After all, it was "high-brow art." Not only was the ticket price a bit higher, but the service here was also relatively better.

Because they arrived in a rush, there were quite a few people at the ticket gate, all queuing up.

When Li Xuewu brought Gu Ning in, he found Huang Gan and his wife and lined up behind them.

There were two ticket gates, separated by odd and even numbers at two different doors—one line on the left, one on the right.

Perhaps having signed countless treaties of "ceding territory and paying indemnities" to his wife, Su Youfang stopped digging pits for him by the time Li Xuewu walked over.

"Hey, there are really a lot of people."

Seeing Li Xuewu and Gu Ning lining up behind them, Huang Gan smiled at Gu Ning and said, "Thanks for the tickets. Youfang has been looking forward to this for a while."

Gu Ning stood in front of Li Xuewu. Seeing Huang Gan thanking her, she looked at Su Youfang and said, "No need to thank me. Didn't you give him the tickets?"

"Uh..."

Huang Gan didn't expect to stumble twice today. Didn't Li Xuewu say this girl was a bit introverted and had a cold personality...?

Su Youfang had long since seen that something was wrong with Huang Gan. She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, saying, "You'd better figure out how to explain this to Wang Zheng."

Huang Gan only felt bitter in his heart and couldn't help but look at Li Xuewu behind Gu Ning.

Li Xuewu tilted his head and gave him an "I can't help you" expression.

"Wang Zheng is going to kill me~"

"Remember to say thanks to Wang Zheng for me."

"..."

Because of the "damaging" friendship between Li Xuewu and Huang Gan, the corners of Gu Ning's mouth never lacked a smile.

After setting down the stone in her heart and traveling light, she felt even more that Li Xuewu was strangely wicked, and the friends he made were of the same ilk.

The four of them were laughing and joking when suddenly, two women walked out of the line on the right—one older, one younger.

At first, no one paid much attention, but unexpectedly, these two stood silently in front of Su Youfang.

Su Youfang raised her eyebrows and looked at the administrator standing at the ticket gate.

The administrator also saw the gaze from this side, coughed, and walked over.

"Go line up at the back."

"We are in line."

Before the older, short-haired woman could speak, the younger one spoke first: "You didn't write down odd or even numbers here. How were we supposed to know which side to line up on!"

Li Xuewu was tall and could see clearly; this woman clearly had some status, otherwise, she wouldn't be speaking so loudly.

"You still have to line up again."

The administrator clearly didn't expect this woman to be so arrogant. Seeing the lines on both the left and right looking over, he was a bit unable to step down.

"I saw you guys cutting in line."

"We aren't cutting in line!"

The young woman shouted with a fierce look: "It's because you didn't mark the left and right entrances. We lined up wrong and just shifted over."

Su Youfang was standing the closest and was stunned by this person's logic.

Huang Gan also turned his head to look at Li Xuewu, and Li Xuewu couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Her math must be very good; she even knows about 'shifting'."

Over there, they were arguing, and they didn't hear Li Xuewu's sarcastic voice. Huang Gan shook his chin, wanting to step up, but was held back by Li Xuewu.

Seeing Li Xuewu winking at him, Huang Gan understood.

Su Youfang didn't look back, but spoke up: "This counts as cutting in line. If you lined up wrong, go to the back and line up again."

"Who do you think you are!"

The young woman was arguing with the administrator, and upon hearing Su Youfang's words, the older woman acted like a dog, baring her teeth and shouting as she turned around: "What's it to you? Are you trying to show off?"

"Hey! What kind of attitude is that? You're cutting in line and you think you're right!"

Seeing this dog about to bite, Su Youfang didn't speak again.

She was a person of quality; she couldn't lower her standards to spray back at the other party.

If you can explain it clearly, do so; if you can't, don't say anything.

However, the people most affected by their cutting in line weren't the four of them, but the people further back. The young people behind weren't having it and pointed at the two, shouting.

"Get out!"

"Get out! You damn old thing!"

Seeing the older one had provoked public anger, the young woman turned her fire toward the people behind: "I just lined up, so what! Are you bullying us women?"

The administrator reached out to pull the woman's clothes and pointed to the back: "If you don't line up, I'm calling the police."

"Go ahead and call!"

The woman shook off his hand, pointed at the administrator, and shouted: "What right do you have to pull me!"

The older one turned around and roared at the administrator too: "You bastard, what right do you have to pull me!"

Well, the administrator pulled one, and both bit back.

The administrator hurriedly retreated. Seeing the administrator was afraid, the woman pressed forward and roared: "Just because you're a man, I have to be afraid of you, right!"

"You just like bullying us women!"

"I hate people like you who bully the soft and fear the hard the most!"

The mouths of these two were like machine guns—rat-tat-tat—spraying the administrator, then spraying the people behind, then spraying the administrator again.

The administrator knew these two women were shrews and couldn't be provoked, so he turned around to call for help.

The young one pointed at the administrator's back and shouted: "Go call! If you don't go, you're a coward. You messed with the wrong person today, let me tell you!"

"I'm not someone easy to mess with!"

"Right, messed with the wrong person. We aren't easy to mess with!"

The older one followed along, cursing and shouting. The people queuing behind were indignant, and those queuing in front and on the right were all whispering.

These two were clearly relatives; even after scaring off the administrator, they still looked like they had been wronged, their faces flushed red with anger.

When the two returned to the line victoriously, Huang Gan turned his head to look at Li Xuewu, and Li Xuewu blinked.

The people queuing behind were still denouncing the ones in front, but their voices were quieter. Everyone was here to watch the show; no one wanted to tangle with two shrews.

Huang Gan patted his wife's shoulder and said, "Turn around."

Su Youfang thought Huang Gan wanted to comfort her, so she said without looking back, "It's fine, just line up properly."

Although she said that, the two people standing in front were truly disgusting, especially the older one, who was still turning her head to glare at Su Youfang.

This older one was probably in her fifties, nearing sixty, with a fierce look on her face that was truly frightening.

Huang Gan ignored her and reached out to grab his wife's shoulders, making Su Youfang turn around.

Su Youfang was also too lazy to look at that face in front, so she turned around accordingly.

Huang Gan lowered his head and whispered in Su Youfang's ear, looking like a couple where one had been wronged and the other was comforting them.

Seeing the two like this, the older one snorted and turned back triumphantly.

Hearing what Huang Gan said in her ear, Su Youfang leaned directly into Huang Gan's arms, as if she had truly been wronged.

Huang Gan supported his wife's shoulders with both hands and comforted her out loud.

The line slowly returned to normal, leaving only low whispers and the crowd's gaze toward the two in front.

The two felt no shame at all, standing in the line with their heads held high.

Just as this farce was slowly subsiding, suddenly, a "slap" sound!

"Who!"

Those who didn't see clearly heard the older woman's roar and all looked over.

They saw the older one covering her face, turning around, and standing in the line, glaring behind her.

"Did you hit me!"

Hearing the shout behind, the younger one also turned around. Seeing her mother-in-law covering her face and then seeing her mother-in-law questioning the couple behind, she also wanted to rush over.

But Huang Gan raised his hands innocently and said, "I don't have a third hand."

Indeed, because Su Youfang had turned around and the two were hugging, there was a gap between them and the older woman.

It's easy to say one person hit another and then retreated, but how could two people hugging hit someone?

The older woman also knew Huang Gan couldn't have hit her; she had just seen the two hugging, so she turned her gaze to the people behind them.

But she only saw that the two behind, while not hugging, were holding hands.

Seeing her look over, Li Xuewu didn't feel ashamed at all and raised the hand holding Gu Ning's, the movement of his arm causing his coat to flutter. "If it were my big palm, you probably wouldn't have had the chance to ask."

Seeing the pistol at Li Xuewu's waist, the old woman knew this person, who looked even fiercer than her, was not to be trifled with.

But she had been slapped hard, her face was swollen, and she had been so dazed she didn't have time to see who hit her.

By the time she looked at the people behind her again, they had all turned their gazes away; no one was looking at her.

The old woman covered her face, could only glare at the people behind, and let her daughter-in-law help her back into the line.

Actually, people in both the right and left lines had seen who hit her, but no one was going to say anything.

Gu Ning turned to look at Li Xuewu. Seeing his serious and blank expression, she couldn't help but purse her lips and laugh.

Li Xuewu lowered his head, winked his left eye at Gu Ning, and threatened, "Stay serious."

Gu Ning curled her lips and turned back.

After the two in front stood back in line, the whispering grew slightly louder, and some people were snickering.

Huang Gan turned his head and winked at Li Xuewu, and Li Xuewu nodded slightly.

"Slap!"

This one was even harder. Gu Ning was standing in front of Li Xuewu, and she winced just hearing the sound.

That must have hurt so much!

"Ah~~"

The older woman was slapped so hard she howled. She turned around as fast as she could, but all she saw were people acting as if nothing had happened.

This howl almost scared the ticket checker. No one was checking tickets anymore; everyone was watching the show.

Seeing her mother-in-law's mouth corner bleeding from the slap, the young woman hurriedly went to check, cursing at the people behind: "Who! Which bastard hit her?!"

Li Xuewu pointed at the older woman with the swollen face and kindly advised: "Comrade, you'd better check on your elder; I think she's bleeding."

"I don't need you to pretend to be kind!"

Seeing Li Xuewu's kind advice, the young woman hurriedly took out a tissue to wipe her mother-in-law's mouth, but she didn't believe these people behind her at all.

At this moment, Li Xuewu took a piece of gauze from Gu Ning's bag and handed it over.

"I'm a surgeon at the Beijing Fourth Hospital. Just a small gesture."

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu with some amusement, then thought, how did he know there were first-aid supplies in her bag?

Seeing that Li Xuewu was truly being kind, the young woman felt a bit embarrassed and thanked him: "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Li Xuewu said this and was about to return to the line, but the woman felt Li Xuewu was a good person and asked: "Did you see who hit my mother-in-law?"

"I'm sorry."

Li Xuewu pointed at Gu Ning and said: "I was whispering to my partner, I really didn't see."

The young one looked at Li Xuewu suspiciously and didn't ask anything else.

Li Xuewu walked back to the line and winked at Huang Gan, who was looking over.

Huang Gan had an expression that said, "You're still the ruthless one."

The other people queuing were all watching this side, especially Li Xuewu; they felt a chill running up their feet.

You can't say these two didn't deserve it; they were just stubborn. After being hit twice, they still stood back in line.

But this time they got smart and both faced backward.

Hey, it's truly a strange sight—queuing with their butts facing forward.

It was just that the tickets were valuable and hard to buy, so even after two slaps, they didn't think about leaving to treat their injuries.

The two glared like searchlights, watching the people behind them, ignoring the mockery and the contempt.

"Slap!"

"Ah!"

"Hahahahaha~"

Seeing the young woman standing in front get slapped, the crowd queuing could no longer hold it in and burst into laughter.

Even someone like Gu Ning pursed her lips, turned around, and hid in Li Xuewu's arms, shaking with laughter.

The two knew they had provoked public anger and didn't dare to look for who hit them in front anymore. Supporting each other, they dodged the crowd's gaze and walked toward the entrance, to the very back of the line.

When the two were gone, Su Youfang came out of Huang Gan's arms and looked at Li Xuewu with a smile.

"You two are really wicked."

Li Xuewu complained: "It was your husband's idea."

"Pfft~"

Su Youfang rolled her eyes and said: "If he had that kind of wit, would he have ended up in jail?"

Huang Gan just wanted to say, "My wife knows me best," and thank his wife for her trust, but he didn't expect to get that response.

Li Xuewu didn't feel he had taken advantage either and said: "I wasn't like this before; I only learned to be bad after meeting Huang Gan."

"Get lost."

Huang Gan felt very hurt and curled his lips at Li Xuewu: "You were already that kind of person to begin with!"

"Hahaha~"

The four of them bickered, returning to the liveliness from before the farce.

At this moment, the administrator brought a few security guards out, but didn't see the pair of shrews in front of the line. Following the crowd's gaze, he looked to the back of the line.

Well, the fierce look from before was gone; how did they become pig-heads?

It was truly unwatchable. Huang Gan's slap wasn't much, but Li Xuewu's bear-paw-like slap—if he hadn't pulled his strength, he feared it might have been fatal.

The administrator discussed it with a few security guards, and then they dispersed.

The whispering in the line slowly dissipated as ticket checking proceeded. They entered the lobby and found their seats. Huang Gan didn't even need to look at the tickets, leading them directly to the middle of the third row.

This was the best position, the most comfortable for watching the play.

Li Xuewu and Huang Gan consciously sat on the sides, letting the two women sit in the middle.

The lights overhead were still on, and the four were still chatting and laughing.

"I watched it during the premiere the year before last, but I still haven't seen enough."

Huang Gan said to Li Xuewu across his wife, pointing to the right side of the stage: "Back then, I used connections to sneak in and watched it sitting on a small stool."

"That's a good spot."

Li Xuewu winked wickedly at Huang Gan.

Huang Gan instantly felt his waist tighten and hurriedly added: "Anyway, I came with friends, was just busy chatting, didn't really watch anything."

"What did you want to watch?"

Su Youfang was full of smiles, but her voice was fierce, just as fierce as the force in her hand.

"Receiving artistic edification."

Huang Gan grinned: "Of course I came to be educated, to learn the glorious traditions of the older generation, to revisit that cruel history..."

Su Youfang naturally wouldn't make Huang Gan lose face on such an occasion. She turned to Gu Ning and said: "You'd better keep a close eye on him; this one of yours is even wickeder than ours."

"Hehe, he wouldn't."

Gu Ning looked quite confident, smiling at Li Xuewu: "Do you like art like this?"

"What is art?"

Li Xuewu was full of earnestness and confusion, just like the innocent expression he had after the slap earlier.

Su Youfang curled her lips: "You don't even need a draft to lie. Are you a movie actor~"

"Sigh~ Huang Gan taught me everything."

Li Xuewu sat up straight, full of helplessness: "During training, he taught me how to date, how to date several people at once without being discovered."

"Li Xuewu!"

Huang Gan sat there, full of panic: "Don't slander me, people will die!"

"Okay, okay, okay, I lied."

Li Xuewu turned to Su Youfang: "I was slandering Huang Gan just now. There's no 'Juan' from high school, and no 'that' from university..."

Huang Gan looked at Li Xuewu, his teeth almost grinding to pieces. You could at least say the full name! Damn, there are probably streets full of people named Juan.

Su Youfang looked at Li Xuewu and smiled: "I didn't quite believe what you said just now, but after denying it like that, I believe it a bit more."

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said regretfully, "Your cultivation is too shallow, and your skills are not refined enough."

"Break up with Li Xuewu."

Huang Gan held his wife's hand and explained, "You must keep your eyes open; don't believe a word of his nonsense."

"What are you nervous about?"

After Huang Gan explained so much, Su Youfang asked just one question, which completely drained Huang Gan's energy.

He regretted it immensely now; he shouldn't have invited Li Xuewu out. No matter how you look at it, Wang Zheng wasn't as bad as this grandson Li Xuewu.

What saved Huang Gan was the announcer. Before he even had to think of an explanation, the lights overhead went out, and the show began.

Li Xuewu hadn't been exposed to much ballet, but he watched it very attentively.

The professional ballet dancers performed with great tension, able to draw the audience into that era and allow them to empathize with the original intentions of the Party back then.

The story took place on Hainan Island in the 1930s.

With revolutionary history as its backdrop, the dance drama tells the story of Qionghua, a maid who escaped from the tyrant Nan Batian's mansion. With the help of Party representative Hong Changqing, she transforms from a bitter and deep-seated rural girl into a member of the Women's Army with firm communist beliefs.

This is a microcosm of the era and a portrayal of history.

The entire performance lasted 140 minutes, with only a ten-minute intermission. Li Xuewu sat close enough in the second half to see beads of sweat on the actors' foreheads under the stage lights.

They truly possessed profound skill and gave it their all; whether it was tumbling or leaping, it all demonstrated the dancers' prowess.

Actually, Wang Yajuan was a ballet dancer, though not with this troupe; she had joined her troupe only after Li Xuewu had left.

So, Li Xuewu hadn't understood much when he saw it last time, but seeing it again this time, he was truly moved.

With the loud, resonant sound from the speakers, the lights overhead brightened again, and the audience in the hall all stood up to applaud.

This was something you didn't get in a movie theater, because the actors on stage were taking their final bows.

As the audience left, the actors on stage also returned backstage to remove their makeup; a good show had come to an end.

"How was it?"

Huang Gan raised an eyebrow and asked Li Xuewu quite proudly.

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "It was indeed quite good, better than I could dance."

"Hehe."

Su Youfang smiled and asked Gu Ning, "Is he this interesting when he's with you?"

Gu Ning smiled and looked at Li Xuewu, "Maybe."

The four of them moved out little by little with the crowd, and once they were out the door, they all let out a breath in unison.

The environment in the hall really wasn't great, and being this season, it smelled like everything; the air was very foul.

Only when they got outside did the air feel so fresh.

"Let's go, I'll drive you home."

Li Xuewu pointed to the jeep at the entrance and said, "I still don't know where you live."

"Forget it, we came by bike."

Su Youfang stood below the steps with Gu Ning, holding her hand and saying, "It was a pleasure to meet you both, and I'm very happy that Huang Gan has a friend like Li Xuewu. If you have time, come over to our place to hang out."

"Are you being sincere?"

Seeing Huang Gan go to get his bike, Li Xuewu teased Su Youfang with a smile, then followed Huang Gan to retrieve his own bike.

Huang Gan whispered to Li Xuewu, "You've ruined me."

"Is it that serious?"

Li Xuewu patted Huang Gan on the shoulder and said, "Didn't you tell me back then that you were the boss in your house?"

"You couldn't tell I was just bragging?"

Huang Gan raised his eyebrows and said quite frankly, "You'll know how troublesome women are once you're married."

Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Stop using that word, I can't help but want to laugh."

"Hehehe~"

Both of them were bad boys; they retrieved their bikes and headed back, each wearing a mischievous grin.

"You two are truly like-minded."

Su Youfang took the bike from Li Xuewu's hand, teased him with a smile, and then pushed the bike out with Huang Gan.

"I told Gu Ning the address, come over to our place when you're free."

"Be careful on the road."

Li Xuewu and Gu Ning stood there and saw them off before walking toward the car.

"They're good people."

"Are you talking about me?"

Gu Ning tilted her head slightly and ignored Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu just smiled, got into the car, and started the engine.

The evening breeze brushed against their faces, scattering a few flower petals.

The jeep didn't drive fast, and Gu Ning didn't mind Li Xuewu's dawdling pace.

"Sister Zhou... when did this happen?"

Hearing Gu Ning's question, Li Xuewu hesitated for a moment and said, "Yesterday, in the morning."

"Oh."

Gu Ning nodded, her eyes looking out of the car, letting the wind blow the hair on her forehead into a mess.

"Then, what do you plan to..."

"Zhou Ya Mei?"

Before Gu Ning could finish her question, Li Xuewu added, then said, "The case over in Steel City will be wrapped up soon."

Gu Ning turned her head to look at Li Xuewu, said nothing, and just watched him like that.

Li Xuewu also turned his head to look at her and asked, "Otherwise? What do you think I'm planning?"

"I don't know."

Gu Ning turned her head back, looked ahead, and said, "I haven't thought about it."

"Hmm."

Li Xuewu replied and said, "I made a promise to Fu Haibo, not for any commitment, but because he pays well—the real gold and silver kind."

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu again; this was the first time she had seen this other side of him, the side her father had spoken of.

This person was very complex; this wasn't just her father's words, but also her own feeling.

But it was precisely this feeling that made her have no desire to probe into Li Xuewu's other side.

She was a person, an adult, and she could feel Li Xuewu's feelings and thoughts toward her.

"I have some plans currently being implemented."

Li Xuewu said while driving, "Many, in various aspects, so sometimes I might cause you trouble."

After turning his head to look at Gu Ning again, he continued, "If you can't help but want to ask, just ask directly, and I will tell you."

After finishing, he paused and added, "You are the only one, the only person I dare to tell the truth to."

"No interest."

Gu Ning turned her head away indifferently, not looking at Li Xuewu, but after turning away, the indifferent expression on her face was ruined by the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.

Li Xuewu pursed his lips; he didn't explain this further to Gu Ning. The words had already been said, and he didn't believe Gu Ning didn't understand him.

"Mom went to buy quilt covers today."

Li Xuewu continued, "I estimate the quilts will be finished this week. I'm thinking of inviting our moms to gather at our place next Sunday."

"Hmm."

Gu Ning replied, not objecting.

Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning and said, "There's one more thing."

Seeing Gu Ning turn her head, he said, "I told you I have a godmother, right?"

"From the neighborhood office?"

"Yes."

Li Xuewu nodded, his eyes on the road ahead, glancing at Gu Ning from time to time, and explained his connection with Director Wang from when he was a child.

Gu Ning learned more about how this bad guy was forged from Li Xuewu's few words.

"Godmother invited me, saying once we get the certificate, we should go over for a visit."

Li Xuewu turned his head to look at Gu Ning and asked, "Your application has been approved, right? When are we going to get the certificate?"

Gu Ning turned her head and said, "No."

"Don't lie to me, I've already seen it."

Li Xuewu grinned mischievously, "It's right in your bag, the signatures are all done, you still want to back out?"

Gu Ning didn't look at him; she really couldn't help but want to laugh, but she didn't want to let him be smug.

But Li Xuewu had sharp eyes and had already seen Gu Ning's smile.

"Hehehe, actually if we count it now..."

"It doesn't count!"

Gu Ning emphasized, "You're not allowed to say it!"

"Alright, alright, alright!"

Li Xuewu kept one hand on the steering wheel and waved his right hand, saying, "Today doesn't count, tomorrow counts."

"Tomorrow doesn't count either."

Gu Ning leaned back in her seat and said, "Drive the car properly."

Li Xuewu widened his eyes, thinking to himself, isn't that exactly what I'm anxious to do!

"Then when does it count?"

Gu Ning pursed her lips and didn't answer, her eyes only watching the lights outside the car.

"Fine, I understand."

Li Xuewu nodded knowingly and said, "It counts after both families meet next Sunday, right?"

Gu Ning didn't commit, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and said, "Didn't we say May 1st?"

"Hey, you really want to wait until May 1st to get the certificate?"

Li Xuewu laughed bitterly, "That's the day of the wedding, the civil affairs office isn't even open, where are we supposed to get the certificate?"

Gu Ning didn't say anything more, thought for a moment, and said, "Let's talk about it after we meet."

"There's so much to do."

Li Xuewu curled his lips and said, "We have to visit the witnesses, I still have to visit the matchmaker, we have to take wedding photos, I have to prepare a token of love for you, and we have to..."

"It doesn't have to be that troublesome."

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu and said earnestly, "I don't need anything."

"Just consider it sharing the burden for me."

Li Xuewu didn't take Gu Ning's words to heart; regarding the wedding, Li Xuewu had the "imperial sword" given by his mother-in-law, so Gu Ning's words didn't count.

Gu Ning also knew that this matter was beyond her control, so she didn't argue further.

"Next week."

Li Xuewu said to Gu Ning, "After arranging for the two families to meet, we'll go shopping. We've known each other for so long and haven't gone shopping together even once."

"Actually, we have."

Gu Ning emphasized; she remembered, she remembered every meeting with Li Xuewu.

"Right, right, right."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "But that time was ruined by the two Wei boys, so it doesn't count. This time we'll make up for it."

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu and said, "You know, I really wasn't thinking about these things."

"I know."

Li Xuewu nodded, but insisted, "But what others have, you must have too. This is my final stubbornness."

"As you wish."

Gu Ning couldn't win against Li Xuewu, so she stopped talking.

The two of them just let Li Xuewu chatter on non-stop, with Gu Ning replying occasionally, as they drove toward the villa.

The next day, after breakfast, Li Xuewu went home to greet his sister-in-law's mother.

Having stayed in the city for a week, if it weren't to spend a few more days with her daughter, Zhao Gen's wife would have gone back long ago.

Fortunately, transportation was convenient now, and Zhao Gen's wife learned that her daughter was going on vacation, so she stopped worrying.

"Thank you, Xuewu."

"Hey, why are you being so polite with him?"

Liu Yin held her daughter-in-law's mother's hand and walked out with a smile, saying, "Her uncle often comes to the city; if you want to come, just come with him. The house is spacious, and there's plenty of room for you to stay, so don't be polite."

"It's been too much trouble these past few days."

Zhao Gen's wife wasn't good with words; she held Liu Yin's hand with some excitement and said, "Knowing you treat Daya like your own daughter, we have nothing to worry about."

The group walked out; Li Xuewu's car was at the door. Today, Zhao Gen's wife would take Li Xuewu's car to the steel mill and then take the steel mill's commuter bus back to the mountain.

Li Xuewen and his wife had already gone to work. Today, Zhao Yafang would ask her leader for leave, and it was Lao Biaozi who came over to help carry the things.

There were several bundles, including the fabric Liu Yin had bought with her daughter-in-law's mother yesterday, as well as clothes and stationery Li Xue had bought for Zhao Yaping.

Then there were the things Zhao Yafang had prepared for her parents' home; they weren't heavy, but there were many.

Seeing this, Sha Qizhi and Han Jiankun came over to help carry them.

After seeing Zhao Gen's wife and Zhao Yaping off into the car, Li Xuewu waved to his mother and the others, then got into the car and signaled for Han Jiankun to drive.

Zhao Gen's wife watched from the jeep's window as the figures waving goodbye at the gate disappeared around the corner of the alley, and only then did she turn to thank Li Xuewu again.

Li Xuewu waved his hand with a smile and didn't say any more polite words.

He knew Zhao Gen's wife couldn't let go in her heart, so he didn't force it; the way to make them feel less awkward was to not make a big deal out of it.

Li Xuewu talked to Sha Qizhi about the day's itinerary and made work arrangements.

Zhao Yaping sat in the middle, looking curiously at Li Xuewu and Sha Qizhi talking about work.

This wasn't her first time riding in such a car, but it was the first time she had felt this kind of atmosphere.

Especially since this car looked different from other jeeps, with instruments inside she didn't recognize.

Li Xuewu also noticed these big, curious eyes, smiled at Zhao Yaping, and seeing she was a bit shy, he didn't tease her further.

As the connection between the steel mill and the Red Star Training Ground grew closer, there was now a commuter bus between the steel mill and the Red Star Training Ground.

It wasn't a large passenger bus; it was generally a large truck.

This included supplies for the mountain, personnel working on the mountain, or goods traded with Red Star Village on the mountain.

There was a fixed trip every Monday. People on the mountain who wanted to come down had to catch the bus early on Monday morning, while those going up could wait for the bus coming down from the mountain to be loaded with goods before boarding.

The boarding point was generally at the main gate, so Li Xuewu had Han Jiankun park the car in front of the gate.

Han Jiankun took the initiative to get out of the car and help Zhao Gen's wife in the back open the car door, and Li Xuewu also got out from the other side.

After Zhao Yaping jumped out of the car, Li Xuewu took five yuan out of his pocket and stuffed it into Zhao Yaping's hand.

The little girl didn't dare to take it and ran shyly to find her mother.

"Xuewu, what are you doing? I can't take your money."

Li Xuewu walked over with a smile and firmly stuffed the money into Zhao Yaping's pocket.

"Auntie, don't push it away; it's for the child."

After putting the money away, Li Xuewu quickly withdrew his hand, pointed to the guard room, and said, "Those are all my colleagues over there. When the bus comes, just get on. I'll give them a heads-up in a moment."

Actually, Li Xuewu didn't need to give a heads-up; Sha Qizhi was already standing at the guard post, talking to the duty officer, Ren An, for the day.

"Xuewu, look at you..."

Zhao Gen's wife was also in a difficult position; when they came, the child's father had repeatedly warned them not to take money or tickets from the in-laws. She had blocked the in-laws, but she hadn't been able to block Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu waved his hand at Zhao Gen's wife and said, "Don't be polite, just consider it a small gesture from me as her second brother. I hope Yaping studies hard and becomes as learned as my sister-in-law in the future."

Zhao Yaping, held by her mother's hand, knew this second brother was good to her and said crisply, "Thank you... thank you, second brother."

"Good, come to the city to play when you're on break."

Li Xuewu still had to go to work, so he said a few words and got back into the car. Sha Qizhi had already taken care of things, and seeing Li Xuewu get in, he followed suit.

Watching Li Xuewu's jeep enter the factory gate, Zhao Gen's wife felt a bit lost.

She was a rural woman who had spent her whole life in the village; the life in the big city these past few days had left her feeling a bit dizzy.

She hadn't figured out how to catch the bus yet when she saw a person who looked like a cadre at the guard post smiling and walking toward them...

People in this era were generally traditional; even if their relatives were powerful, they wouldn't be so utilitarian.

But that didn't mean people in this era weren't utilitarian.

"Hello? This is Xu Sinian."

Just as Li Xuewu sat down, the phone on his desk rang.

Calling at this time meant they must have seen him go upstairs, and it must have been from the building across the way.

Sure enough, as soon as Li Xuewu answered, he heard Xu Sinian's slightly dissatisfied tone.

"What's wrong?"

"Don't ask me yet, let me ask you first."

Xu Sinian asked on the phone, "I sent you three college students the week before last; how are those three college students doing?"

"They're quite good."

Li Xuewu heard the hidden meaning in Xu Sinian's words, but he didn't understand the situation, so he just glanced at Sha Qizhi and said, "Our Director Yu has even been praising them to me."

"If you know they're good, why haven't you kept them?"

Xu Sinian complained, "Those three are the best-looking ones, and everyone is eyeing them—you know that. I thought of you first, brother, but look at you, hey!"

"What's the situation?"

Li Xuewu smiled and said, "What do you mean keep them or not? You make it sound like I'm raising livestock."

"So you really don't know!"

Xu Sinian grinned, "Hey, you're something else. Your house has been robbed and you don't even know it."

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow at Sha Qizhi, who was walking over, lit a cigarette, squinted his eyes, and asked, "Who's so bold as to steal from the Security Division?"

"Hehe, the leader has already approved the slip."

Xu Sinian sneered, his voice gloomy, "Huang Shiwen and Fu Linfang have actively applied for a transfer to the Service Division. Director Wang of the Service Division asked me to ask you if they have two particularly excellent male college students who have always wanted to go to the Security Division—is that okay?"