Chapter 530: Escape Plan

Staying out all night was no longer a big deal for Li Xuewu; after all, he wasn't a child anymore.

Li Shun didn't make a move, just squinted his eyes and gave him a dirty look.

The words from a few days ago had been said in vain; it seemed this boy needed physical persuasive education.

Li Xuewu hadn't had time to explain, and seeing his father turn into the room, he had to let out a sigh of relief.

"Had breakfast?"

Yu Li stood at the screen door watching the show, and only asked Li Xuewu after Li Shun had left.

Li Xuewu tilted his head and looked at Yu Li: "If I got beaten, what would you do?"

Yu Li couldn't help but laugh out loud when she heard this, but seeing Li Xuewu's threatening expression, she had to wave her hands and say in a tone like she was coaxing a child: "I promise not to laugh out loud like that."

"Heh~"

Li Xuewu sneered, turned to look at Bang Geng, who was swinging a tin bucket into the courtyard, and asked: "If your mom hits you and someone watches the show, what would you do?"

Bang Geng had been busy finishing his homework last night and had woken up a bit late this morning, but he still insisted on going to the pond to catch small fish and shrimp.

He had originally wanted to greet Wu Shu, but he didn't expect to be hit in the face with such a life-or-death question.

"I advise you not to learn from me, Wu Shu."

Bang Geng curled his lips, rubbed his butt sensitively, and said: "Last time I threw away Uncle Sha's key, my mom hit me again."

"Hahaha~"

Yu Li laughed even more happily at this, covered her mouth, and whispered an explanation to Xi Lin, who had come out to watch the show.

Li Xuewu smiled and pinched the big-faced cat's big face: "You should have done it more secretly."

"But there's always someone to snitch, isn't there~"

Bang Geng sighed: "Huaihua wants to tell my mom everything she sees."

Li Xuewu nodded in understanding, said to Xi Lin, who was laughing with Yu Li: "The hearts of men are not what they used to be, and the customs of the world are going downhill."

Bang Geng didn't quite understand what Wu Shu meant, raised his face and said: "Wu Shu, the weather is good today, there's no wind."

"Hahaha~"

"Hehe."

Li Xuewu looked at Bang Geng helplessly: "Go, go feed the chickens."

As if telling a secret, Li Xuewu whispered to Bang Geng: "But remember not to tell them what just happened, otherwise the chickens will laugh, and that would truly become 'chicken laughter' (mockery)."

"Li Xuewu! Who are you talking about!"

Bang Geng still didn't understand what was going on—what chickens, what laughter? How could chickens laugh?

Over there, Xi Lin was already angry, pouting and clawing at him with a fierce face.

Li Xuewu threw the bag to Yu Li and ran toward the backyard, crossing the hanging flower gate.

"Hahaha~"

Xi Lin didn't dare chase him past the hanging flower gate. Old Man Li of the Li family had long been displeased with her hanging out with Li Xuewu; if she chased him and made a scene, he would definitely frown.

But seeing that bad guy laughing happily, she was even angrier.

It wasn't that she thought about it in a certain direction because Li Xuewu said they were chickens, but that she cared about this bad guy making jokes about such things.

No one in this courtyard knew about her past, but that didn't mean she didn't care about it herself.

"If you have the ability, just hide in the backyard and don't come out!"

They had been together for a long time, and no one thought anything of their bickering, except for Xi Lin, who cared about this but couldn't show it.

Yu Li carried the bag to the inverted room to put it away, and Bang Geng, carrying the broken water bucket, wanted to ask Aunt Xi Lin what the chicken laughter meant, but seeing Aunt Xi Lin's cloudy face, he didn't dare ask and ran to the backyard with the bucket.

It was as if he really understood some bad things from his conversation with Li Xuewu.

"Why are you running?"

Qin Jingru was standing by the chicken coop feeding the chicks; her labor finally had results.

Twenty-three chicks, yellow feathers, brown feathers, black feathers—several kinds.

Seeing his aunt ask, Bang Geng stopped his feet, was stunned for a moment, and replied: "I don't know."

Qin Jingru turned her head helplessly: "Go feed the chickens, it's time to eat."

"Oh."

Bang Geng responded and continued running to the backyard with the broken water bucket, greeting the First Aunt who was coming out of the old lady's room.

The First Aunt responded with a smile, looked at the chicken coop, and then glanced at the open door of Li Xuewu's house.

Li Xuewu was washing his face and changing clothes inside the house. It wasn't that he hadn't washed at Following Lou Jie's place, but he had walked back from the lake in the morning and was covered in sweat again.

Yu Li bumped into the First Aunt at the moon gate, greeted her with a smile, and came toward Li Xuewu's place.

"Don't wear this one, it's a bit thick."

Yu Li stood at the screen door and saw Li Xuewu putting on a shirt, so she stopped him, went into the inner room, found a short-sleeved shirt, and handed it to Li Xuewu.

"It's not cold this morning, just wear this one."

Li Xuewu took it and looked at it: "Newly made?"

"No way."

Yu Li raised her eyebrows: "Your Sister Qin made it; she sent it over the day before yesterday."

"Is that so?"

Li Xuewu also raised his eyebrows and said: "I have such good popularity?"

Yu Li naturally knew what Li Xuewu meant, rolled her eyes, walked over, and pinched Li Xuewu: "Are you starting to be disobedient again?"

"No way."

Li Xuewu smiled and said: "I was on duty at the brigade."

"Yeah~"

Yu Li gave him a "you're lying" look, grabbed Li Xuewu's belt, and said: "Did you lose your pants and leather belt while on duty at the brigade?"

Li Xuewu looked down; it was indeed the new pants Following Lou Jie had found for him, and the leather belt was also the new one Following Lou Jie had bought for him.

"Hehe, I don't know whose it is."

Li Xuewu was stubborn: "Maybe I put on the wrong one; there were quite a few people in the duty room."

Yu Li wished she could pinch this bastard hard. He was so tall, how many people could there be in the whole Jiaodaokou?

"Just keep lying to me, you'll regret it one day."

"I'm quite regretful now."

Li Xuewu changed his shirt, buckled the holster onto his belt, and took the pistol Yu Li handed him, casually pinching Yu Li's chin.

"If we had built the house a few months later, wouldn't I have had to go find a place to stay?"

Yu Li slapped Li Xuewu's big hand and said: "Just keep messing around, in the end, I'm the one who's tired, I'm the one who's bullied."

"Hehe."

Li Xuewu listened to these "tiger-wolf words" and shook his head confidently: "Don't worry, there will be bread, and there will be cream."

"Hurry up."

Yu Li pinched Li Xuewu again; this bad guy always had bad things to say.

Li Xuewu tidied himself up quite neatly today because Dong Wenxue was coming back to report on his work.

Also, today was the first day of April, and there should be a new look to welcome the final tranquility before the storm.

Cough, it had nothing to do with tranquility; it was truly tranquil.

"Hmm~~~"

"Kucha kucha~"

"Chi~"

There were commuter freight trains from the Steel Mill to the Red Star Training Ground, but you couldn't use freight trains to the Steel Mill; you had to use trains.

Usually, passenger carriages would be attached to freight train dispatch missions for the transfer and commuting of cadres and workers between Beijing and Steel City.

The connection between the two factories was extremely close. The Steel Mill didn't produce steel raw materials, nor did it produce fuel for steel rolling.

Because it was a large independent factory, it produced raw materials, and fuel like coal would be transported from Steel City.

It was said that this was to save costs, but Li Xuewu didn't know how this go-it-alone production model saved costs.

Maybe it saved time arguing with other departments or units.

Such large factories had the confidence to say "don't beg others," even transportation wasn't begging others.

Li Xuewu stood on the platform of the dispatch workshop, behind him were several cadres from the Security Division.

After all, it was the head of the Security Division coming back, so Li Xuewu, as the deputy division chief in charge of work, still had to give his teacher full respect.

From the moment Dong Wenxue got off the train, everyone in the Security Division had to be careful to add "Deputy" when calling Li Xuewu, otherwise it might be very awkward.

"Hehe, no need for such a big formation, right?"

Dong Wenxue came back with his secretary, and his luggage had already been taken by the sharp-eyed Han Zhan.

Li Xuewu took the initiative to step forward and shake hands with his teacher, smiling: "I said they were voluntary, you wouldn't believe it, right?"

Dong Wenxue shook hands with Li Xuewu and didn't answer this question, but shook hands with the five cadres from the Security Division who came to pick him up one by one.

These five people were all section-level cadres, representing Dong Wenxue's influence in the Steel Mill.

It also represented Li Xuewu's respect for him as his student and deputy.

"You've worked hard."

"Welcome home."

Li Xuewu brought not only strict discipline to the Security Division but also a lively atmosphere belonging to the youth, as well as superiority in thought.

One could tell from the way they replied to the leader's greetings that they wouldn't say stupid things like "The leader has worked hard."

Three cars came out of the factory office area, passing through the factory workshop production area one after another, and headed toward the office area.

"How many days can you stay this time?"

Li Xuewu sat in the back seat of the command car with Dong Wenxue and offered Dong Wenxue a cigarette, but Dong Wenxue didn't smoke.

"I smoked enough in the car."

Dong Wenxue waved his hand, then said: "How many days? I have to return tomorrow."

"So urgent?"

Li Xuewu put the cigarette back in the box and looked at Dong Wenxue: "Is the Steel Mill not going smoothly?"

Dong Wenxue looked at Li Xuewu and asked: "Do you think it should be smooth?"

After saying this, he looked out the car window, his expression a bit gloomy.

"Whether it's accepting a mission in a crisis or saving the emergency, in their view, the Steel Mill should be 'taking one step and looking at one step.' Who is looking?"

Li Xuewu looked at Dong Wenxue, who had turned to ask him, and didn't answer this question.

This "they," this "who is looking," all referred to that group of people.

Or it could be said to be those who represented a certain will or thought. There was no specific reference, no specific names, and no specific number of people.

Li Xuewu knew that no matter who sat in that position, they would do this, think this way—including him, and including Dong Wenxue, who was complaining.

The butt determines the brain; sitting in that position means doing what should be done.

"Hehe."

Dong Wenxue patted his student's shoulder and said with a smile: "I heard you're doing quite well?"

Li Xuewu turned to look at Dong Wenxue, smiled, and said: "If we compare it to being unenterprising, I'm doing okay."

"Hahaha~"

Dong Wenxue also knew that some things weren't something Li Xuewu could change. Today's predicament was of their own making.

In Dong Wenxue's view now, the position of the Steel Mill was a bit troublesome, causing complaints, but it was also fought for tooth and nail back then.

The predicament Dong Wenxue was complaining about now was precisely what others envied.

So struggle is the main theme of politics, and smiles are good topics between friends.

"You're doing better than I imagined."

Dong Wenxue shook his head after laughing: "At least you've smoothed out the work of the Security Division and have better control."

Li Xuewu nodded silently. He and Dong Wenxue had long ago set the strategy.

Master and student, taking turns to make progress, one inside and one outside, one outside and one inside.

Now Dong Wenxue was outside, and Li Xuewu was inside. After one cycle, the two would swap positions.

Dong Wenxue would come back to take a step forward, and if Li Xuewu wanted to make progress, he would have to go out to take over Dong Wenxue's position.

Only in this way could they constantly consolidate the foundation and make progress step by step.

The command car stopped directly in front of the Security Building. Dong Wenxue smiled and patted the silent Li Xuewu: "Keep your spirits up, young man, be ready at all times, haha."

After saying this, he stepped out of the car first and shook hands with the secretary of Li Huai De who walked over.

This was the secretary Li Huai De had newly scouted. He wasn't a young man, over thirty, a very mature person.

Li Xuewu hadn't had much contact with him. Although they met often, this person named Li Haiyang didn't seem to care for Li Xuewu.

Or perhaps he was busy with the tasks Li Huai De gave him and had no time to interact with these department heads.

Who knew? Anyway, Li Xuewu didn't care about him.

He had Han Zhan, who came over later, arrange Dong Wenxue's luggage in the duty room on the first floor; Dong Wenxue would need to take it with him when he went home later.

Unlike general cadres on business trips, Dong Wenxue's home was in Beijing, so he didn't need to go to the guesthouse.

But Dong Wenxue's secretary didn't have a home in Beijing. Li Xuewu beckoned to Sha Qizhi and introduced Sha Qizhi to Dong Wenxue's secretary.

After arranging for Sha Qizhi to help the other party settle in at the guesthouse, Li Xuewu glanced at the main office building and then headed to the Security Building to work.

There was still a lot to do today; at least Dong Wenxue's return had taken up a lot of Li Xuewu's time.

The meeting Li Huai De held yesterday, plus Dong Wenxue's recall, all represented the restless Li Huai De putting pressure on Yang Fengshan.

What Li Xuewu could see for the moment was a conspiracy—that is, applying pressure.

Two weeks had passed since the last office meeting. Whether it was the joint enterprise or the construction of the residential area, the construction progress of these two major projects was relatively slow.

The construction of the residential area was relatively better; at least it had started at Liangma River Bay.

Li Xuewu could see the large construction site from upstairs, with people moving about, but not many machines, as the construction level of this era was limited.

He didn't know if it was because they were in a hurry to start, but they built the foundation first, not the access roads.

Li Xuewu couldn't see which side the main gate of the residential area opened to; of course, it was also possible he hadn't seen the design drawings.

Deng Zhiwang had been acting quite fiery recently, basically never seen in the unit; if he wasn't socializing, he was on the way to socialize.

The Steel Mill didn't have its own construction team, and the residential area was a big project, so there were quite a few construction units wanting to eat meat.

Don't look at it as a planned economy now, but getting work was also a performance record for the heads of units.

But there wasn't much room for the Steel Mill to make its own decisions on this kind of project. Since the above had allocated funds, the power to coordinate and arrange construction companies was also above.

However, Deng Zhiwang was supported by Yang Fengshan and was the general person in charge of the residential area construction, so some of his words were also very important.

"Division Chief, Secretary Zhang has been arranged properly."

When Sha Qizhi walked into the office, he saw Li Xuewu looking toward the river bay, reported softly, and went to tidy up the files Li Xuewu had approved.

"Tidy up, we're going to the branch bureau."

"Now?"

Sha Qizhi looked at Li Xuewu with some surprise. The Division Chief had just been brought back and he was ignoring him? Wasn't it bad to hide out?

Li Xuewu didn't have the heart to play mystery with Sha Qizhi. While putting on his clothes, he said: "Division Chief Dong will be busy today. We'll just happen to go to the branch bureau, and when we come back in the afternoon, we'll catch up with him."

Sha Qizhi smiled knowingly: "Alright."

The two tidied up and went out. When passing by the large office, Sha Qizhi whispered: "The transfer order is ready, the person has already left."

"Hmm."

Li Xuewu responded without caring. This matter made Sha Qizhi a bit angry and Yu Decai a bit guilty.

But Li Xuewu didn't intend to say anything, nor did he intend to create any public opinion in the Security Division.

The occurrence of this kind of thing, no matter who it was, wouldn't bring a good reputation.

Li Xuewu didn't have the heart to retaliate against the two university students, and even less did he intend to have a real fight with Wang Jingzhang.

This matter couldn't become a vortex that attracted Li Xuewu's energy; the movements from above were the key.

As for why Gu Weijie signed the transfer order, Li Xuewu didn't care, and he wouldn't ask a single word.

Regarding Gu Weijie, Li Xuewu didn't trust her, and he didn't want to lose the opportunity to communicate.

The command car drove out of the factory office area. Who knew how many people felt a stone fall in their hearts, and who knew how many people breathed a sigh of relief.

No matter if Li Xuewu was intentional or not, the interested people in the office area had already understood Li Xuewu's meaning.

"The branch bureau sent a message, urging you to improve the enterprise security system as soon as possible and complete the security work of the joint enterprise."

Sha Qizhi handed a document to Li Xuewu, then continued to explain: "Director Zheng has already approved it. There will be special security management on May 1st, and the work of the Security Brigade is very important."

"The work of the Security Brigade has always been very important."

Li Xuewu glanced at Sha Qizhi, then took the document and read it. This was a task assigned by the branch bureau.

The influence of one Security Brigade wasn't enough; it also needed to closely contact the enterprises in the area to do security force improvement work.

Last month, a shooting incident occurred at the enamel factory because someone went to the warehouse to steal things, and a conflict occurred when security stopped them.

At that time, there were two thieves and one security guard, so the security guard emptied the magazine.

"I don't want to see this kind of thing happen."

Li Xuewu raised the document in his hand and asked Sha Qizhi: "It won't happen in our factory, right?"

"Of course."

Sha Qizhi smiled, took the document from Li Xuewu's hand, lowered his head, and said: "Because everyone in our factory knows that you gave an order to the security guards on night duty."

Saying this, his hand gestured toward his head, then said: "Shoot at the head."

"Hahaha~"

Li Xuewu waved his hand with a smile: "I was just saying."

"But they believed it."

Sha Qizhi also couldn't help but laugh out loud and said to Li Xuewu: "Last week, when the Security Division was patrolling, they found someone jumping over the wall to pick up iron. Do you know what the security guard said at the time?"

Before Li Xuewu could guess, Sha Qizhi raised his hand and said: "He said to the iron-picker, 'You really should have waited until night when there was no one around!' Hahaha!"

"Hehehe."

Li Xuewu was also a bit speechless. Ever since they saw blood and lost face at the execution ground, these guys seemed a bit abnormal.

It was as if they couldn't save the face they lost back then without personally shooting someone.

This was truly being considerate to others—bang, bang, loud.

The work of the branch bureau and the Security Brigade had a larger scope than the Security Division, but it also meant more people were participating in security management.

Shen Fang's key work now, besides training, was the establishment of the security patrol system and the training of the emergency command center.

It was impossible for the brigade's cadres to be on duty in the command room all the time. Li Xuewu's initial requirement was also for the squadron leaders to be the main ones, unless it was a special time, otherwise the brigade leadership wouldn't participate in duty.

The application of the command car last time made the leaders of the branch bureau see the convenience, and they had been coming to visit this side frequently recently.

Listening to Wang Xiaoqin, the branch bureau intended to establish a command execution center covering the entire area, covering all police stations and all security forces.

It was a bit similar to the 110 command center of later generations, but more primitive.

Li Xuewu didn't have much hope for this. The wind was coming soon, and the Security Brigade would likely be taken away, and Li Xuewu's position might also be taken away.

So he didn't have much energy for the branch bureau's work now. All the lines that needed to be prepared were prepared, just waiting for future development.

Wang Xiaoqin thought Li Xuewu had some move again, didn't dare ask, chatted a couple of sentences, and then parted ways.

Li Xuewu stayed at the Security Brigade until after four in the afternoon before returning to the Steel Mill.

According to his estimation, Dong Wenxue had to meet several leaders today to report on his work one by one.

So he would only be free to talk to him when it was time to get off work in the afternoon.

Just as he expected, when he returned to the Steel Mill, Li Xuewu was listening to Zeng Jinjun's report on police dog training when Sha Qizhi came in to remind him that Dong Wenxue was back.

"Control the quantity."

Li Xuewu stood up and walked to Zeng Jinjun: "Quality over quantity. There aren't many units in Beijing that need police dogs; you should exist more as a support force."

Zeng Jinjun was found for Li Xuewu by Ji Weidong. As soon as he came, he started helping the Security Division train police dogs.

The effect was very good. Although the branch bureau hadn't introduced them on a large scale, they would borrow police dogs from the Steel Mill from time to time.

This could also be considered creating income for the Security Division, because according to Li Xuewu's personality, there was no such cheap thing as borrowing for free.

Seeing that Li Xuewu had something to do, Zeng Jinjun responded and went out.

He saw the person Li Xuewu wanted to see in the corridor—the Division Chief of the Security Division, Dong Wenxue.

"Did you rest at noon?"

Li Xuewu let Dong Wenxue into the room, signaled Sha Qizhi to pour tea, and sat on the sofa with Dong Wenxue.

"You think I'm you?"

Dong Wenxue was very relaxed at Li Xuewu's place, leaning on the sofa, looking a bit tired: "Two days, my time is very tight

Li Xuewu nodded understandingly and said, "Was it smooth?"

Just as he finished asking, the sound of a broadcast came from outside the window; it was time for the broadcast station to play news and music again.

Dong Wenxue hadn't paid attention at first, but after a burst of music, he heard the announcer reading propaganda about the Security Division.

"This is even more impressive than me."

Dong Wenxue smiled and gestured, "You can even influence the broadcast station?"

He pointed at Li Xuewu with a smile and said half-jokingly, half-seriously, "Be careful that Secretary Yang doesn't deal with you."

"Hehe, I don't have that much influence."

That's what he said, but Li Xuewu felt quite helpless about the announcer at the broadcast station; things had been stated so clearly, surely they wouldn't have to eat him alive to be satisfied.

"We received a consultation letter from above, wanting to organize the dual-plan materials and submit them."

Li Xuewu gestured toward the window and continued to explain, "I arranged for the comprehensive office to do some propaganda in the newspaper; I didn't expect the broadcast station to come and help too."

Dong Wenxue nodded, not caring about the broadcast station matter, and said with some surprise, "I didn't expect the seeds of this dual-prevention plan to really bloom and bear fruit."

"I didn't expect the heavens to be so cooperative either."

Li Xuewu shook his head with a smile and said, "It must be because of the earthquake; they've been focusing on asking about earthquake prevention."

"Hmm, there is such a thing."

Dong Wenxue leaned back on the sofa, thought for a moment, and said, "Many geological experts have gone to Xingcheng; it seems they want to establish a new department specifically for earthquake prediction."

"That's a good thing."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "I think the dual-prevention plan might be able to ride the east wind and take flight; it might even achieve the effect we envisioned."

"Hard to say."

Dong Wenxue squinted and thought, "But since it's already been done, let's do it well. Even if it doesn't meet expectations, it still counts as an excellent work performance."

"I'm not in a hurry."

Li Xuewu looked at Dong Wenxue and asked, "Does the factory have any intention of raising the level of the Steel Mill?"

"How is that possible?"

Dong Wenxue smiled and said, "Even if there were, it's impossible for them to reveal it to me. What are you thinking?"

"That's true."

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and whispered, "The secretary couldn't possibly take the initiative to apply for a level upgrade; it's more likely they'd suppress it, unless a change occurs."

"Hmm."

Dong Wenxue nodded, indicating he understood, and didn't need Li Xuewu to say more.

"Vice Factory Director Li is a bit anxious, wanting me to exert force in Steel City so he can use that force to strike."

"Better not do that."

Li Xuewu frowned slightly and said, "Yesterday we held a logistics system meeting; he was also thinking of having Zhang Guoqi make some noise, but Zhang Guoqi looked like he was about to pull a long face."

"He can't escape."

Dong Wenxue closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, his voice low.

"Ren Xiaoyu called me, saying things are very chaotic in the city, some people are dissatisfied and are engaging in petty tricks."

"Is this Vice Factory Director Li's confidence?"

Li Xuewu sat up straight, frowned, and said, "I don't think highly of the current situation, and I don't think now is a good time to help him."

"How could I not know?"

Dong Wenxue said in a low voice, "My information is better than his, but he is a leader, and some things are hard to handle."

"Then let's do something superficial."

Li Xuewu's voice was a bit sinister, but his tone was firm: "Next week I plan to go to your place to hide for a while, and let him toss and turn here."

"Hehe."

Dong Wenxue chuckled, looking at his student with some helplessness; this kind of sensitivity and decisiveness was something he hadn't expected.

"Aren't you afraid your position will be gone when you come back?"

"Impossible."

Li Xuewu said quite confidently, "He wouldn't want to replace me, because no one understands security work better than I do."

As he spoke, he tapped the sofa armrest with his fingers, then continued, "However, if the fighting gets intense, it's hard to say about the factory director's side."

Li Xuewu recounted his conflict with Yang Fengshan and introduced the recent situation at the steel mill.

Dong Wenxue also had a headache, but this kind of chaos was a good phenomenon.

Playing with fire is about the thrill; without chaos, how can they progress?

Just like when Fu Bin was in charge of work, if Li Xuewu hadn't found some trouble for him, how would he have had the opportunity for three consecutive promotions?

"What are Gu Weijie's thoughts?"

"You didn't talk to her?"

Li Xuewu looked at Dong Wenxue with some surprise; logically speaking, Dong Wenxue also had to report work to Gu Weijie.

Dong Wenxue waved his hand and said, "We chatted for a while, but didn't say much; she seems a bit hesitant."

"Maybe."

Li Xuewu also sighed and said, "Her rhythm is always out of sync with Li Huai De's, and I don't dare to persuade her too deeply; the adjustment period between the two will probably last for a while."

"I'm just afraid they'll end up in opposition."

Dong Wenxue pointed at Li Xuewu and emphasized, "That's not impossible."

"Hmm, I know."

Li Xuewu and Dong Wenxue naturally had no need to hide anything; the two talked a lot, more than they had with other leaders.

It wasn't until it was almost time to get off work that Dong Wenxue stood up with some exhaustion and asked, "Has the wedding date been set?"

"May 1st."

Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Will you have time to come back?"

"Don't worry."

Dong Wenxue smiled and patted Li Xuewu on the shoulder, then pointed outside the door and asked, "Want to have a drink with me tonight?"

"Forget it."

Li Xuewu said mischievously, "If I go home to drink with you, I'm afraid your wife will kick me out."

"Hehe."

Dong Wenxue understood Li Xuewu's meaning; he was afraid that since they were like newlyweds after a long separation, he didn't want to be a third wheel.

Waving to Li Xuewu, Dong Wenxue left the room.

Li Xuewu arranged for Sha Qizhi and Han Jiankun to see him off, because since he wasn't working there anymore, Dong Wenxue didn't have a car there.

After seeing Dong Wenxue off, Li Xuewu took Yu Decai back to the office.

"Any news?"

"Yes."

Yu Decai hesitated, but still walked to Li Xuewu's side and whispered.

Li Xuewu's eyes remained squinted, showing no expression.

Until Yu Decai finished speaking, the hand that had been tapping the sofa clenched into a fist, then gently patted the armrest.

"You said... forget it."

Li Xuewu wanted to ask Yu Decai, but immediately dismissed the thought in his mind.

Yu Decai nodded and said, "I also don't suggest you intervene in this matter; after all, her status is a bit delicate, and it hasn't reached the point of no return."

"Whatever point it reaches is not something I can intervene in."

Li Xuewu leaned back on the sofa with some mental fatigue, closed his eyes, and said, "This kind of thing is really troublesome; it's hard to handle whether you go too deep or stay too shallow."

Yu Decai stood to the side, also frowning; investigating a leader was already taboo, and if one were to intervene rashly...

Li Xuewu, this student, would probably be fine, but he, someone trying to atone for his crimes, would be hard to say.

"If it really doesn't work, I'll make arrangements."

Yu Decai gritted his teeth and said, "The next exchange list..."

"It's just burying one's head in the sand."

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "Forget it, let it be; you just pay more attention."

Letting out a long breath, he patted the sofa armrest with both hands and said, "In the bureaucracy, this kind of thing is the most taboo and the easiest way to stumble."

"Yes."

Yu Decai nodded and said, "Actually, it's also because of the work environment..."

"No need to find excuses."

Li Xuewu stood up, walked to the desk, pointed at Yu Decai before sitting down, and said, "Why did I help you get your household registration? You must learn to summarize experience and lessons."

"Understood."

Yu Decai stated earnestly, "I will definitely keep myself clean."

"Hmm."

Li Xuewu nodded, picked up his fountain pen while opening a document, and said, "You can't expect all cadres to be as clean and white as you and me in matters between men and women, and to have the ability to reflect on themselves, so disciplinary supervision is a good thing."

"Yes."

Yu Decai nodded earnestly and said, "You have set a good example for our Security Division."

"Hey~"

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "I'm young after all, and I'm at the stage of practicing my original intentions; I have plenty of energy, so it's unfair to compare me with other cadres, and it's not appropriate to use my standards to demand things of our comrades."

Yu Decai nodded and said, "I'll discuss it with the Inspection Section to see how we can organize a special education activity."

"Combine looseness with tightness."

Li Xuewu pointed at Yu Decai and emphasized, "If you pull it too tight, the comrades will be resentful. While educating, it's best to organize the unmarried young men and women and hold a social mixer."

"That's a good idea."

Yu Decai smiled and said, "I think there's no one more suitable to organize it than you."

As he spoke, he suggested to Li Xuewu, "You're also in charge of the branch bureau; why don't you see if there are suitable units over there, and combine the two sides?"

"Hehe, you're overthinking it."

Li Xuewu smiled and said, "The Security Brigade has many young men and few young women; having two units mix isn't that just increasing the pressure on the young men in our division?"

"Then you have to think of a way."

Yu Decai smiled and added tea for Li Xuewu, asking, "Why don't you see if there are suitable units, the kind with many young women?"

"For example, a textile factory?"

Li Xuewu stopped writing, thought for a moment, and said, "You've reminded me; I think that could work."

Yu Decai put the thermos to the side, nodded, and said, "Your social circle is still the widest. Should I prepare for it?"

"Hmm, hmm, that could work."

Li Xuewu pointed at Yu Decai and said, "I think we should hold it at the guesthouse; it has a lake, trees, flowers, and a romantic atmosphere. If it really solves the marriage problems of the single young people in our division, you, as the director, will have achieved a great result."

"Then I'll be taking credit for your work, hehe."

"Haha, good."

The two joked for a few sentences, and the previous conversation faded away.

There were some things Li Xuewu had to entrust to Yu Decai, not just because of the conditions, but more for testing and utilization.

Li Xuewu didn't trust Yu Decai, so Yu Decai had to work hard to gain Li Xuewu's trust.

The relationship between the two was unequal, which meant Yu Decai had to let Li Xuewu see his work results in many matters.

"Director, this draft of the opinion has been completed; please take a look."

Just as Yu Decai returned to his office, he saw Zhou Yao enter with a document box.

After Zhou Yao put the documents down, Yu Decai opened the document and asked, "Is the handover all done?"

"Yes."

Zhou Yao nodded and said, "I'm rushing to finish their work, so it might take a while."

"Hmm, work hard."

Yu Decai didn't say any words of encouragement, nor did he say any words of praise; it was as if this work was just what she should be doing.

Zhou Yao pinched her fingers; she had been writing non-stop today, checking non-stop, while all the other comrades in the office were chatting idly.

She didn't know why only she was working, but she didn't dare to ask, and she didn't dare to complain to the director.

She silently turned back and returned to the large office to continue working on the progress that Fu Linfang and the others had deliberately left behind these past two days.

She might have to work overtime today because this work had a deadline, and the director was also busy; she had no reason to find excuses for not finishing it for the director.

In fact, that was indeed the case; the bell for getting off work rang, and she was the only one left in the office.

Everyone else had left, and she had even seen the division chief pass by the door; clearly, the leaders had also left.

Zhou Yao looked at the documents on the table, sighed, and continued writing.

Li Xuewu didn't notice anyone working overtime, nor did he notice Yu Decai working overtime in his office.

Just like when he was a section chief, he always felt he was busy while the leaders were idle.

Now that it was reversed, it was the same; he always felt the people below were idle while he was busy.

When he went downstairs, Sha Qizhi was already waiting, reported on sending Dong Wenxue home on the way, and began communicating about tomorrow's work.

When Li Xuewu arrived at the courtyard, Shen Guodong and the others had already returned, and the car had been unloaded; clearly, they had returned early.

After waving goodbye to Sha Qizhi and the others, Li Xuewu walked in through the open main gate of the west courtyard.

The large truck brought back from the border was parked in the middle of the courtyard, and Lao Biaozi was leading everyone in loading the car.

"Is it all done?"

"Yes, the weather has been decent these past few days."

Seeing it was Li Xuewu, Lao Biaozi replied, walked over, and introduced to Li Xuewu, "The mountain requested two hundred sets, enough to seat four hundred people; they have to be delivered tomorrow."

Li Xuewu took out a cigarette and tossed it to him, and seeing the tables and chairs were dismantled, he asked, "Reassemble them after they get to the mountain?"

"Hmm, it's more convenient for transport this way."

Lao Biaozi lit the cigarette, walked with Li Xuewu to the side of the truck, pointed to the numerical markings on the tabletops, and explained to Li Xuewu, "Every set of tables and chairs has markings, and they were dismantled in order; just assemble them in order when they get to the mountain, it's very simple."

Li Xuewu nodded and asked again, "Who's going with you tomorrow?"

"Hearing Da Lao, Ge Lin."

Lao Biaozi walked with Li Xuewu toward the warehouse and said, "The ones for the troops have to be loaded tomorrow. Brother Zhuzi set the date for the 27th, so we've been trying to rush the furniture work recently."

Li Xuewu glanced inside the warehouse and said, "You figure it out."

After finishing, he asked again, "How's the papermaking side?"

"The machines are already running."

Lao Biaozi nodded and asked, "Are we selling paper or books? There's still no movement from Huaqing."

"No rush, just have the paper that's produced ready; I have a big use for it."

Li Xuewu took a puff of his cigarette, his eyes squinted, watching everyone loading the truck.

Even if there were more paper, it wouldn't be enough for the big profit he was planning.