Chapter 529: I

"Hehe."

Li Xuewu's face darkened, and he sneered: "That won't do. The Security Division has too many people; he needs talent there, so keep them all."

"Don't worry about this matter."

Xu Sinian said coldly: "If I don't slap that big mouth until he spins in place, I'll consider his flesh too thick to handle."

"No need."

Li Xuewu knew Xu Sinian's temper. This wasn't just slapping Li Xuewu's face; it was also slapping Xu Sinian, who was in charge of university student distribution.

This old Xu wasn't the "good guy" he appeared to be; he had plenty of underhanded tricks.

Li Xuewu held the cigarette with his fingers and waved at Sha Qizhi, not calling him to light it.

"I actually think this is a good thing. 'If it's meant to die, it will; if it's meant to scatter, it will.' Although the Security Division doesn't follow that old feudal set of 'loyalty and liver-gall,' we have no interest in such talent either."

"You're quite open-minded."

Xu Sinian said, then asked: "Do you want me to help you transfer two more over?"

"Forget it, really don't need to."

Li Xuewu smiled and said: "The Security Division isn't a front-line unit; there aren't such high academic requirements, hehe."

After replying to Xu Sinian, Li Xuewu hung up the phone. It was the busiest time of the morning; he didn't have time to chat.

Sha Qizhi placed the brewed tea by Li Xuewu's hand, then asked softly: "Is it the three newcomers?"

"Two."

Li Xuewu emphasized, then squinted at Sha Qizhi and said: "Tell Director Yu that Huang Shiwen and Fu Linfang have applied to transfer to the Service Division. Don't block them; handle the transfer procedures properly."

Sha Qizhi glanced at Li Xuewu, then responded and went out to find Yu Decai.

Yu Decai was also stunned when he heard the news, then threw the file in his hand in annoyance.

Sha Qizhi told Yu Decai Li Xuewu's opinion, so Yu Decai couldn't say anything more.

But thinking about how two people applied for a transfer together, and both transferred to the Service Division—they had already caused a scene before. He didn't expect Wang Jingzhang of the Service Division to be so shameless, failing to transfer them from above and playing tricks from below.

"Alright, I know."

Yu Decai responded, sent Sha Qizhi away, paced in his office, but still walked toward the large office.

It was just after work started, and everyone in the large office hadn't entered their state yet.

Whether they were cadres or clerks in the agency, the first thing after starting work was inevitably a cup of tea.

Those with the means drank good tea; those without had some coarse tea.

After all, they were intellectuals; without a bit of tea to pave the way, they felt their writing lacked spirit.

Once the tea was brewed, they inevitably needed a newspaper. The factory office subscribed to the ministry's newspaper, the Party newspaper, and the factory's own newspaper.

One copy of each; whoever came first grabbed it to read, and those who didn't grab one waited.

Zhou Yao and the others were new comrades, so of course, they weren't going to grab newspapers from the veterans, nor did they have this habit.

Today, the corner of the office looked very strange. Zhou Yao was lowering her head to organize documents, Huang Shiwen was distracted, and Fu Linfang's face was strangely red, her eyes scanning the door from time to time.

"Cough, Linfang."

Huang Shiwen called out to Fu Linfang timidly, then glanced at everyone in the office. Fu Linfang, who had looked over, asked: "Do you think... will it..."

Fu Linfang glared at her. Work had just started; who could know for sure?

Besides, such things couldn't be discussed in the office. Early in the morning, everyone hadn't put their minds on official business yet and was dying to chat about some gossip.

Huang Shiwen was glared at by Fu Linfang and knew she had panicked, but she just had no bottom in her heart.

If the transfer went through, it would be fine; at most, she would offend the leaders here.

But if the transfer didn't go through, or if the leaders here refused to let them go, that would be troublesome. They would be tormented to death by the leaders here.

She also didn't expect it would be in their name that the transfer was applied for. If she had known, she wouldn't have made this decision.

It was agreed that the Service Division would coordinate, but now it had become them wanting to go, and the Service Division passively receiving them.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be.

But once on the pirate ship, it wasn't easy to get off. Huang Shiwen resented Fu Linfang, but Fu Linfang was the same. They were classmates, so she couldn't say it out loud.

Zhou Yao heard the small movements of the two but ignored them.

She didn't want to be a traitor, nor did she want to be an informant. She could only pretend not to know, and thinking that if these two left, the work of organizing documents would become even heavier, she started preparing in advance.

Just as the two women were struggling, Yu Decai appeared at the office door.

"Zhou Yao."

"Yes, leader."

Seeing the director looking for her, Zhou Yao stood up and responded.

Yu Decai looked at the two who were lowering their heads like quails over there, beckoned to Zhou Yao, and said: "Come here."

After calling her, he turned and returned to his office first.

Zhou Yao tidied the hair by her ear and walked out of the office, frowning slightly under the nervous gaze of Huang Shiwen and the suspicious gaze of Fu Linfang.

"Director."

As soon as she entered the office, Zhou Yao saw the director sitting behind his desk looking at her.

"Sit."

Yu Decai signaled, then crossed his hands and looked at Zhou Yao seriously.

Zhou Yao didn't know if the director knew something, stole a glance at the director's face, hesitated, but still sat opposite the director's desk.

Yu Decai looked at Zhou Yao for more than ten seconds before opening his mouth: "You've been here for some days. How is it? Are you adapting?"

"It's okay."

Zhou Yao's ears were a bit red; she reached out to tidy the hair by her ear, her fingers trembling slightly.

Yu Decai also saw the girl's embarrassment. According to reason, one shouldn't punish those who haven't made mistakes, and one should understand the bitterness of hiding the truth.

But this was an office, a government unit; there was no room for those kinds of reasons.

However, Yu Decai didn't intend to say anything to Zhou Yao. Compared to the other two, Zhou Yao had made a choice that made him gratified and satisfied.

"Do you know about Huang Shiwen and Fu Linfang applying for a transfer?"

"Director..."

Zhou Yao raised her head with difficulty and said: "I..."

Yu Decai already understood. Without waiting for Zhou Yao to hesitate or be troubled, he waved his hand and asked: "Can you tell me why you didn't leave with them?"

This sentence stunned Zhou Yao. This didn't seem to be the point of Huang Shiwen and Fu Linfang leaving.

According to logic, the leader shouldn't be angry, including being angry at her for hiding the truth.

"Actually, including the Division Chief, I am the same; we both had high hopes for the three of you."

Yu Decai paused, then continued: "The Division Chief even specifically instructed me to bring you up well. You are all talents, and I even set a series of training plans for you."

"Director."

Zhou Yao lowered her head and asked in a low voice: "Is it... is it that you and the Division Chief both feel I should be the one applying to leave?"

"Not really."

Yu Decai sighed and said: "Although the Division Chief also regrets this matter, he is relatively gratified by your choice."

As he spoke, he patted the double-prevention plan document on the desk that he had organized and rewritten with the three newcomers, saying: "If it weren't for the fact that we value you very much, you wouldn't be able to see these documents."

Zhou Yao nodded: "I know you treat us very well..."

"Alright."

Yu Decai said with a slightly bitter smile: "I called you here just to understand your ideological dynamics. Don't have any burdens, go back and work hard."

Zhou Yao looked at Yu Decai, thinking: You tell me not to have burdens, but if you hadn't asked me, I would have been fine. Now that you've asked, I've been terrified.

But since Yu Decai had said so, she could only stand up and prepare to leave the director's office.

Yu Decai didn't let Zhou Yao continue because he wasn't fragile enough to need comfort, and even less did he need comfort from a rookie.

"Their procedures are already being processed. You'll have to work harder."

Seeing Zhou Yao turn back to look at him, Yu Decai continued: "This work is basically coming to an end. You should hand over the work they left on their hands."

"I understand."

Zhou Yao didn't know if this counted as punishment for her, but normally, this work was done by the three of them under the director, and the handover should be to her.

She responded and turned to come out. Walking in the corridor, she still couldn't help but sigh.

Just as Zhou Yao was about to return to the large office, she saw the Division Chief walking out of the office with a woman.

"Then work hard. However, if there is such work in the future, you can discuss and exchange with the young people in our division."

Li Xuewu's face was still gentle. He stood at the office door and asked Yu Haitang: "By the way, I don't know if you have a partner yet."

Yu Haitang had come again, and this time the reason was very sufficient: according to the Party Committee's requirements, she was to interview Li Xuewu on the process of investigating the Fu Bin case in the Security Division.

Li Xuewu didn't want to say much about this, so he brushed it off, but he couldn't disrespect the Party Committee.

Seeing Li Xuewu ask about her personal emotional life, Yu Haitang thought she had already pried open a corner of Li Xuewu's wall, so she smiled and said: "I am currently single."

"Oh?"

Li Xuewu smiled and said: "That's not what I heard."

Yu Haitang knew who Li Xuewu was talking about and smiled frankly: "That's a friend, but we've interacted a few times, and our thoughts aren't consistent."

"Is that so? Hehe."

Li Xuewu smiled perfunctorily, then pointed at Yu Haitang and said to Sha Qizhi: "This is a rare beautiful girl in the factory, cultured and thoughtful. Help me see if there's anyone suitable in our division and introduce one."

After finishing, he patted Sha Qizhi's shoulder seriously: "You must complete this; this counts as a political task."

"Yes."

Sha Qizhi was also a bit helpless about this girl from the broadcasting station. Last time, the Division Chief had already made it very clear, but this girl just wouldn't give up.

Although the Division Chief was like that Tang Monk meat, this one seemed to be the only one charging forward for real.

But in the end, they couldn't tear their faces apart. This time, the Division Chief was also determined and arranged the matchmaking work on the spot, which was almost like taking action.

Yu Haitang thanked Li Xuewu with a smile very casually, and seeing Sha Qizhi raise his hand to signal he would see her off, she let him.

This was just a matter of talking, but Zhou Yao, who happened to be walking back from Yu Decai's office, seemed to have understood something.

The key was that it was too straightforward; she couldn't have misunderstood even if she wanted to.

When she crossed paths with Sha Qizhi, she saw Sha Qizhi nodding at her, and Zhou Yao also greeted him with a smile.

She looked at the girl's face with some gossip—and to be honest, she was really good-looking.

When she saw Sha Qizhi sending that person toward the stairwell, she turned around and didn't see the Division Chief's figure anymore.

Only she was left in the corridor. Thinking that even someone with Li Xuewu's status inevitably had difficult moments, her mood felt much better.

Thinking again that a Division Chief was being chased by a girl to the point of using such tricks to resist, she couldn't help but slightly upturn the corners of her mouth.

Although Li Xuewu enjoyed the experience of being chased by girls, he couldn't take it every day.

Especially this kind of work-related one, which conflicted with his principles.

Feelings are feelings, work is work, and life is life.

The result of mixing them together is a pot of porridge; don't even think about having a good time.

Noon, small cafeteria.

After Li Xuewu sorted out his work, he returned to the habit of spending half a day in each unit. This way, he ran around less and had more continuity in handling work.

Choosing to be at the Steel Mill in the morning wasn't entirely because it was convenient to go home after work at the Security Brigade in the afternoon; more of it was the cafeteria.

The small cafeteria here at the Steel Mill was independent, and its level was much higher than the one at the Security Brigade.

Although Li Xuewu wasn't a picky eater, he voted with his feet for these kinds of multiple-choice questions.

Just as he entered the cafeteria door, the lively atmosphere inside paused for a moment, and then, although the sound returned, it wasn't as enthusiastic as before.

He arrived a bit late; everyone was already seated when he walked in.

Seeing him sit down, Wang Jingzhang walked over from another table, holding a wine glass and a bottle of wine with a smile.

Everyone in the room held their breath, watching the show. Some with time on their hands had even started betting on how many punches Wang Jingzhang could take from Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu didn't make a move; he wasn't a section chief anymore, so where would he get such a big temper?

"Hehe, Deputy Division Chief Li."

Wang Jingzhang walked over, grabbed the cup covering the table in the middle, and was about to pour wine for Li Xuewu, saying repeatedly: "Thank you, thank you, thank you for the Security Division's support."

His words sounded polite, but they were actually full of hidden meaning.

The matter had already happened, and everyone knew what was going on. You, Wang Jingzhang, got the benefit and now come to sell your obedience—that's truly not decent.

However, the whip doesn't hit them, so no one cries out in pain. Watching the show is good~

Li Xuewu looked at Wang Jingzhang with a smile and reached out to cover the wine glass Wang Jingzhang had placed in front of him.

"I'm sorry, Division Chief Wang."

Li Xuewu said very politely: "Deputy Factory Director Li just issued a meeting notice, the content of which is for the Security Division, Logistics Division, and Dispatch Division to rectify work discipline together. Drinking during work hours—I'm afraid I'll be the one to be disciplined."

"Hey, the meeting hasn't started yet, has it?"

Wang Jingzhang was a bit arrogant now; he wasn't under Li Huai De anymore. He and Li Xuewu hadn't gotten along well before, and now he was probably doing it on purpose.

People say you should enjoy yourself while you're successful, but he was enjoying himself a bit too much.

"Drink a little, everyone knows your alcohol tolerance."

Li Xuewu looked at the table over there; everyone had wine glasses in front of them, but no one had moved. Clearly, they were waiting to see this show of Wang Jingzhang toasting.

If the toast was accepted, it would mean Li Xuewu acknowledged Wang Jingzhang's wall-climbing behavior and couldn't find fault with him in the future, but it would also mean Wang Jingzhang would be one step above Li Xuewu.

If the toast wasn't accepted, it would mean Li Xuewu lacked manners and opposed the leadership's decision, and because it was two university students who applied voluntarily, he would lose both his substance and his face.

However, Li Xuewu didn't have the habit of indulging his bad habits. His hand didn't move, but he still said: "That won't do. I can't become a typical example at the meeting this afternoon."

As he spoke, he glanced at Wang Jingzhang and said: "Brother, I'm not like you, able to be so carefree, hahahaha."

"Hehe, hehehe."

Wang Jingzhang held the wine bottle, smiling on the surface, but the fire in his eyes was rising.

Li Xuewu had reversed the situation in two sentences. The people at the table he came from were already pushing their glasses away. Needless to say, with Li Xuewu's words, no one dared to drink this toast.

Although Wang Jingzhang knew Li Xuewu wasn't easy to mess with, he didn't expect he had prepared such a stable pit, only to be bypassed by him.

Not only was it bypassed, but he had also dug a pit for him in front.

Not only offending Li Huai De, but also losing Jing Yunong's momentum.

Ah, so it turns out that only Li Huai De's subordinates strictly follow discipline, and Jing Yunong's subordinates are all wine bags and rice sacks?

Was it because Li Huai De looked down on him that he kicked him over to Jing Yunong's side...

Li Xuewu ignored Wang Jingzhang, who was standing beside him with a changing face, picked up his rice bowl, and signaled to Xu Sinian opposite: "Push the dishes this way."

Xu Sinian looked at Li Xuewu with a smile, then looked at Wang Jingzhang, who was walking back with a red face.

He pushed the dishes by his hand inward and said to Li Xuewu with a smile: "You're quite greedy, not enough with what's in front of you, and you want to grab others'. Don't choke yourself to death."

As soon as these words came out, Wang Jingzhang, who had just sat down, turned the color of a shrimp. He was about to stand up and argue with Xu Sinian, but was pressed down by the Finance Division Chief beside him.

"Eat, eat."

Lu Yuan-shen patted Wang Jingzhang's arm and comforted him with a smile.

Arguing is meaningless; just take the advantage when you have it. If you really get into a fight, those two together could beat you into early retirement.

Wang Jingzhang also knew that even if he argued, he wouldn't get any benefit; instead, he would be humiliated.

Today, he took the initiative to toast, although he had the intention of suppressing Li Xuewu to vent his anger, it was mainly requested by Jing Yunong to ease the relationship with Li Xuewu and not make it so stiff.

But the result was obvious: Li Xuewu wasn't someone who would endure being bullied, and now there was an extra Xu Sinian.

Old Xu in the office wasn't someone who liked to stand out. Today, he was so prominent, not only because of his good relationship with Li Xuewu, but also because Wang Jingzhang had stepped on him.

The atmosphere in the small cafeteria was a bit strange for a while. Everyone watching the show lowered their heads to eat, their eyes glancing at the two tables from time to time.

The meeting Li Xuewu used as an excuse wasn't fabricated; it was real.

At 1:30 PM, hosted by Li Huai De, an office meeting attended by the Dispatch Division, Security Division, and Logistics Division was held in the conference room of the auxiliary building.

At the meeting, besides docking work with the three divisions, Li Huai De also gave a phased work speech.

Li Xuewu understood very clearly: Li Huai De wanted to stir up trouble, the kind of vague, hesitant trouble.

It seemed that Jing Yunong's stirring up of a leader had greatly stimulated Li Huai De, and the last blow hadn't caused Li Huai De any trouble.

This person was truly suitable for the system—indomitable, the kind who was determined to make progress.

Besides emphasizing work discipline, there was also the service requirement for the logistics system, which was the focus of work.

Broadly speaking, dispatch and security were counted within the logistics system, and the Logistics Division was a large division with many people.

Zhang Guoqi was clearly the role Li Huai De had chosen as the vanguard.

I don't know if Zhang Guoqi applied for it voluntarily; looking at Old Zhang's bitter face, it didn't seem like it.

But he had nothing to worry about. Li Xuewu knew very well that he couldn't be chosen by Li Huai De to do such work.

Everyone knew Li Xuewu would find trouble even without stimulation; if he were truly encouraged, there might be no one left above the deputy section level in the Steel Mill.

One who does logistics now needs to learn politics, combining logistics work to engage in major discussions and major studies.

Li Xuewu suspected whether Li Huai De had read that book, "Mein Kampf"; he thought this routine looked a bit like it.

The Steel Mill was now roughly divided into three factions. Factory Director Yang Fengshan, Deputy Factory Directors Nie Chenglin, Jing Yunong, and Deng Zhiwang were one faction, with Yang Fengshan as the undisputed core.

Deputy Factory Directors Li Huai De and Gu Weijie weren't quite one faction, because they were in a cooperative relationship, the kind that cooperated using Li Xuewu as an intermediary.

To put it bluntly, it was sneaky. Sometimes Li Xuewu also felt ashamed; didn't this make him a political pimp?

The remaining Party Secretary Yang Yuansong, Deputy Secretary of Discipline Inspection Xue Zhifu, and Labor Union's Xiong Bencheng were a loose force.

Yang Yuansong was a very easy-going and arrogant person. His control over the Steel Mill was about regulation.

That was to advance together and be inclusive.

Anyone who wanted to make progress could, as long as they showed ability and didn't outperform others by too much.

This was particularly prominent in Li Xuewu's appointment issue: he had to give Li Xuewu a position while limiting Li Xuewu's authority.

Li Huai De was the same. Li Xuewu had seen Yang Yuansong at Li Huai De's dinner table many times.

This wasn't normal. Anyone could see that Li Huai De was eyeing the position of Executive Deputy Factory Director.

To say there was no support from the Party Secretary behind the scenes, Li Xuewu wouldn't believe it.

Yang Fengshan was the Factory Director and naturally needed authority, but the Steel Mill also needed opposing voices and voices that restricted Yang Fengshan.

This voice naturally couldn't be Yang Yuansong. After all, he was the Party Secretary; if the confrontation was too fierce, the Steel Mill would be affected.

Yang Yuansong's brilliance lay right here: I won't confront you, but I'll cultivate an opponent for you.

Including secretly supporting Li Huai De, and not limited to indulging Gu Weijie to form an alliance with Li Huai De.

This made things interesting. He sat on the mountain and watched the tigers fight, always keeping Yang Fengshan in the upper hand but with Li Huai De's threat.

Then Yang Fengshan had to get his support on certain matters to achieve political goals.

The big leader taught Yang Fengshan about control, but Yang Fengshan only learned half of it, while Yang Yuansong had learned to apply it.

Including supporting Li Huai De in secret, and not limited to indulging Gu Weijie to form an alliance with Li Huai De.

Yang Fengshan represented the Party in executing work, so naturally, these two people, including Gu Weijie, had to support him.

Li Xuewu had also seen through Yang Yuansong's chess game early on, which was why he made the move to win over Gu Weijie.

It could be considered pushing the boat with the current. Otherwise, as a deputy section chief, the risk of being this political pimp was too great.

Now Li Huai De was energized again to reach for that piece of meat Yang Yuansong had hung up, clearly stimulated by the Party Secretary again.

But Li Xuewu saw something different. Perhaps having eaten too much honey, Li Huai De wanted to be immune. This time, the action was mixed with the meaning of a storm.

If internal strife introduced the trend from outside, it would exceed Yang Yuansong's control.

Li Xuewu didn't know if Yang Yuansong knew Li Huai De was doing this. He didn't want to wade into this muddy water, so he urged Sha Qizhi to run toward the Security Brigade as soon as the meeting ended.

In the car, Li Xuewu asked Sha Qizhi in the passenger seat: "Any news from Steel City?"

"Not for the moment."

Sha Qizhi turned around and asked: "Division Chief, do you have any arrangements?"

"Hmm."

Li Xuewu hesitated and said: "Arrange it, we'll go to Steel City next week to see the construction of the security system and the development of safety work."

Sha Qizhi responded and recorded this itinerary with a pen.

Actually, with Dong Wenxue sitting in Steel City, where would the security system work need Li Xuewu to inspect?

A deputy division chief inspecting a division chief's work—this was truly a huge joke.

However, Li Xuewu and Dong Wenxue had a good relationship, so anyone could guess that this arrangement was just an excuse.

Sha Qizhi didn't know if it was because of the meeting just now. He hadn't heard anything outside the door and didn't know what had happened.

But to make the Division Chief make such a "runaway" move, something must have happened at the meeting.

Li Xuewu wasn't cowardly; he just didn't want to get involved with these factions in the factory.

Watching Li Huai De brewing a big move, if he didn't run, should he let Li Huai De use him?

In this world, only Li Xuewu could scheme against others; he never allowed others to scheme against him.

He had planned it well: hide in Steel City during the most intense time, thousands of miles away, not believing he could still be implicated.

But in the afternoon, while handling official business at the Security Brigade, he received a call from Dong Wenxue.

The factory notified that Dong Wenxue was coming back to report on his work.

That was the way it was put, but actually, it was a stage; Dong Wenxue was coming back to report on the progress of work in Steel City.

Including the results of the rectification campaign, the restoration of work order in the Steel Mill, and the current work progress.

Sha Qizhi looked at Li Xuewu, who was frowning slightly, and asked: "Then should we still arrange the itinerary for next week?"

"Arrange it."

Li Xuewu said in a "broken jar, broken smash" manner: "I can't just exile myself to the frontier for inspection."

After saying this, he smiled helplessly and waved at Sha Qizhi: "Do I look very kind? Everyone who catches me bullies me."

Sha Qizhi curled his lips when he heard this, not knowing how to answer.

How to say it?

Say that the people you are confronting are either deputy factory directors, factory directors, or party secretaries?

You even dare to confront the Division Chief for fun; does this count as being easy to bully?

Hearing this, Sha Qizhi grinned, not knowing how to answer.

As for being kind... Sha Qizhi also doubted this word for the first time today.

Li Xuewu sighed a few times and continued to busy himself with work.

After the Security Brigade received a special on-site education, the training effect was very obvious.

Li Xuewu specifically watched the training momentum of these team members on the playground; it was much stronger than before.

It was just that conditions didn't allow it. If it were up to his idea, he would stuff these people onto the special train of the Security Department and take them to Annan.

Nothing else, just fight with real knives and guns as volunteer personnel for a month, and they would inevitably be elite soldiers after coming down.

But he was just thinking wildly about this thought. If he really did that, if 300 went, having 100 come back would be considered many.

These were all drawn from other units. If the losses were so great, those units wouldn't come to fight him for his life.

He really couldn't play the real one, but Li Xuewu could still handle the fake one.

Shooting training had already begun. These team members were taken to the mountains in batches and exercised in the way of live-fire training.

Not only could they practice freely, but they could also raise some funds for the training ground.

Busy at the Security Brigade until after work, Li Xuewu had Sha Qizhi and the others drop him off at the second-hand market by the lake before getting out of the car.

He explained to them that he was going to look at the second-hand book stalls and intended to learn.

In reality, he was coming to Following Lou Jie's place.

"Yo, isn't this Division Chief Li?"

As soon as Li Xuewu entered the courtyard, he heard Following Lou Jie's somewhat sarcastic address.

"Busy with work during the day, not accompanying your partner after work, why have you graced my small courtyard with your presence?"

"Sss, sss."

Li Xuewu sniffed seriously, walked up to Following Lou Jie, and said: "Why is there a sour smell?"

"Go~"

Following Lou Jie rolled her eyes and said: "You're the one who's sour."

"Hehe, I am about to be sour."

Li Xuewu walked into the room with a big face, put down his briefcase, took off his clothes, and said: "Boil water for a bath; my body is sour."

Following Lou Jie leaned against the door frame and looked at Li Xuewu: "No, the water here won't wash you clean."

"Hey~ that's no fun."

Li Xuewu turned around to look at Following Lou Jie: "You were the one who supported me in finding a partner and getting married, and now you're like this? You can't go back on your word."

"Then I also..."

Following Lou Jie wanted to say that Li Xuewu couldn't hide it from her, but thinking that she had been avoiding this issue, she lost her confidence.

Li Xuewu patted the books he brought and said: "Found you a few economics books, you can take a look. I can't understand them."

"Just know how to enslave me."

Following Lou Jie said dissatisfiedly: "Are you trying to make me learn it quickly so you can kick me to Hong Kong to make money for you, so I won't be an eyesore here?"

"Look, look."

Li Xuewu smiled and said: "The vinegar smell is so strong, let's have dumplings today."

"Not eating, let you starve."

Following Lou Jie pouted. This person only knew how to change the subject; he would go off-track after two sentences.

But since he was here, she couldn't bear to kick him out, so she could only pout and go boil water.

Li Xuewu didn't mind, walked around the room, and picked up Following Lou Jie's notebook to look at it.

Actually, both understood that the feelings between them were more about desire, the lingering feelings after the impulse.

And because of Li Xuewu's initiative, Lou Xiao'e passively accepted Li Xuewu's healing.

Traditional women probably had this shortcoming: lacking an independent personality.

Although she was supported by Li Xuewu and helped by her family to learn to be independent, she still relied deeply on Li Xuewu for emotional belonging.

What Li Xuewu gave her was a different feeling; that kind of life-and-death experience was her deepest obsession with Li Xuewu.

"No!"

"Don't mess around!"

"Oh~"

They had agreed to wash their bodies with warm water, but as soon as the water was boiled, this bad guy changed his tune.

Following Lou Jie came to collect the clothes he had changed out of, and as soon as she bent over, she was pressed onto the desk.

"It's still broad daylight outside!"

"Oh my~"

"Uh! Wait, let me cook first, okay?"

"It's fine, let's have some pre-meal study first."

Li Xuewu held Following Lou Jie's hands behind her back with his left hand and opened the book Following Lou Jie was reading with his right hand.

"Read."

"You!... Uh!"

"Read, I have to check if you've been studying seriously during this time."

Following Lou Jie couldn't catch her breath from the bump and wanted to break free, but being bullied by this bad guy, she could only look at the book in front of her and read intermittently.

"Market information asymmetry~ ah~ market... subject~ hiss! is bounded rationality..."

Following Lou Jie was already cursing this bastard's ancestors in her heart. There was no such way to bully people; why did he have so many bad ideas?

But Li Laoshi's whip was truly powerful, so she couldn't help but read it out loud. It wouldn't do if the voice was too small, and it wouldn't do if she read too slowly.

"Slap!"

Li Xuewu smiled wickedly and withdrew his palm, saying: "This won't do. If you don't learn economics well, you can't do business. You just said you'd make money for me."

"Go to hell!"

Following Lou Jie was so ashamed her face turned red. Seeing this bastard loosen his hand, she wanted to turn around and bite him.

Before she could act, she felt her body lift into the air.

"Ah...!"

Following Lou Jie looked at the time on the wall; it was already past nine. Did this bastard come at 6:30?

"What to eat tonight?"

"Get lost!"

Following Lou Jie kicked the bastard beside her and lay powerlessly on the kang.

"Are you doing this on purpose?"

"What?"

Li Xuewu took a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, shook it, and put one in his mouth.

He wasn't in a hurry to light it, reached out and patted Following Lou Jie's Corgi-like butt, and said: "I'll give you a chance to bite me."

"Get lost!"

Following Lou Jie looked at Li Xuewu angrily and asked: "Why don't I have it yet?"

"You're asking me?"

Li Xuewu's action of lighting the cigarette with the lighter paused slightly. Ignoring the flame, he turned to look at Following Lou Jie and widened his eyes: "You suspect me!"

Following Lou Jie wrinkled her nose, glanced at Li Xuewu, and asked back: "Then why don't I have it yet?"

"You mean either I'm hiding it or I'm not capable?"

Li Xuewu lit the cigarette, threw the lighter away, and said to Following Lou Jie in a slightly aggrieved voice: "I've been working hard to plow the fields on time, and if the crops don't grow in the field, you blame the old man's seeds for being no good?"

Following Lou Jie squinted at Li Xuewu. Not a single word this bastard said was true; the more serious he was, the less you could believe him.

She reached out and grabbed Li Laoshi's "swinging stick," moved her body, and bit down.

"Gulu lu ka~~~~"

"What are you doing?!"

Li Xuewu was truly stunned by Following Lou Jie's move. He was just joking earlier! This wasn't forcing a living person to hang themselves!

Following Lou Jie raised her head, looked at Li Xuewu, and said hatefully: "If the ox can't plow the field, would you say beef is better braised or soy-braised?"

"You're still the ruthless one!"

Li *plowing ox* Xu *tool man* Wu felt a bit hurt. Every time it was he who took the initiative to be bad, but he didn't expect to be played today. He had a feeling of being...

"Should I scream for help to cooperate with you?"

"Luo luo luo zuo!"

"Okay, okay, okay, I surrender, I won't scream, I won't scream."

"Get lost! Can you be serious!"

"Okay, okay, okay~ I'm serious!"

Eleven o'clock at night, Li Xuewu was tired and hungry.

But Following Lou Jie wouldn't give him food, and Li Xuewu didn't dare to speak or ask, fearing Following Lou Jie would bite.

"My dad said you met Uncle Ma and the others yesterday?"

"Who?"

Li Xuewu was rubbing his belly, and hearing Following Lou Jie ask, he replied: "Oh, yesterday, I did meet our dad, but I didn't see the people you mentioned."

Following Lou Jie turned around to look at Li Xuewu and said: "Uncle Ma went to my dad's house today."

"So what?"

Li Xuewu looked at the cigarette butt on the edge of the kang; it was the one he hadn't had time to smoke earlier. He relit it and put it in his mouth.

"Does it have anything to do with me?"

Following Lou Jie didn't answer Li Xuewu's question, but looked at her lover and said: "Uncle Ma also wants to get to know you, and even said he wanted to give you his small sedan."

"Hehe."

Li Xuewu chuckled and didn't take the bait. A businessman's words were even less believable than his own.

Current gasoline and diesel were all supplied by the system; you couldn't buy gasoline without a coupon.

Furthermore, current gas stations weren't open to the public; even if you got a gas coupon, you might not be able to get gasoline.

The gasoline and diesel at the recycling station were all obtained by the supply and marketing cooperatives and waste companies.

Seeing Li Xuewu's attitude, Lou Xiao'e understood what he meant. There was no surprise; this bad guy wasn't a fool who would take anything given to him.

"My dad stated the requirements simply, and he didn't mention it again."

Following Lou Jie smiled and said: "So don't think about the big sedan."

"I'm afraid it'll burn my heart if I sit in it."

Li Xuewu smiled and pinched Following Lou Jie's flushed cheek.

"He probably thinks my approach is too extreme, or maybe he thinks this wind is still unclear and wants to wait until the timing is clear before investing."

"This is in line with economic principles."

Following Lou Jie slapped away Li Xuewu's big hand and scolded him: "You can't expect them to believe in you unconditionally like me, like my dad."

"That's why they are always businessmen."

Li Xuewu said very knowingly, then said: "Don't worry about them. My broken ship only sets sail when the wind and waves are at their biggest. Only then will I sell boat tickets. Now, even if they want to buy, I won't sell."

Following Lou Jie rolled her eyes: "Profiteer!"

"This even scolds my father-in-law along with it."

Li Xuewu looked at Following Lou Jie and smiled wickedly: "This was all our dad's idea."

"I don't believe it!"

Following Lou Jie punched Li Xuewu and scolded: "You're doing it again! Last time you said it was my dad's idea, and this time you're saying it again. You're just a bastard, a big liar!"

"Hey! It's really hard to be a good person!"

Li Xuewu looked as if he had been wronged: "I'm taking the blame for my father-in-law here!"

"Get lost, it's one thing to bully me, but you're even bullying my dad."

Thinking about how she had felt so embarrassed when she went home last time to ask her father about that matter, Following Lou Jie got up and clawed at him.

"I'll fight you!" ===== CHAPTER 530 =====

Han Jiankun took the initiative to get out and help Zhao Gen's wife 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 take it and ran to find her mother shyly.

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

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

"Auntie, don't refuse, it's for the child."

After putting the money away, Li Xuewu quickly withdrew his hand and pointed to the guard room: "My colleagues are over there. When the bus comes, you can get on. I'll go tell them in a moment."

Actually, Li Xuewu didn't need to tell them; Sha Qizhi was already standing at the guard post, talking to the shift leader, Ren An.