Chapter 541

Li Xuewu naturally did not admit to having explained anything to Qin Huairu; he was a man, so would he really make things difficult for a woman who liked him to the point of madness?

If it wasn't madness, then what was it? The Rolling Mill had indeed investigated the issues regarding both Qin Huairu and Zhang Songying.

Back when Yang Yuansong was in charge of the comprehensive work of the Party Committee, he had investigated the contents of the whistleblower letters regarding Li Xuewu in terms of disciplinary and supervisory issues.

And what was the result?

Baseless, framed, slandered, fabricated facts...

As long as you went to investigate—properly investigate—the disciplinary and supervisory personnel would all provide a very comprehensive and reasonable investigation report.

Deputy Division Chief Li Xuewu was completely framed, and the contents of the whistleblower letters were untrue.

Moreover, during the investigation process, it was discovered that Deputy Division Chief Li Xuewu was loyal and reliable to the organization, had firm beliefs, and had no acts of corruption or bribery.

Except for establishing a small treasury within the unit, but which unit didn't have one?

If they really investigated Li Xuewu for this, they would likely be reprimanded by the leaders above.

Because since it was already a small treasury, Li Xuewu had even less reason not to take it directly, but rather to take it through such a method of compounding crimes.

It must have all been used for official business; what would they do if they found that out?

Should they give Li Xuewu a letter of commendation instead!

If one were to say Li Xuewu had problems, that would be denying the investigation results of that time, denying the work achievements of the Rolling Mill Party Committee's disciplinary and supervisory department, denying the policies formulated at that time, and denying today's excellent disciplinary and supervisory order.

Therefore, in the Rolling Mill, those who talked about these things were just the idle women in the offices; those with real ability never said such things.

Upon hearing that Gu Ning knew about these things, Li Xuewu actually hoped someone would go to the Rolling Mill to investigate his issues in this regard.

Yushui naturally didn't know what Li Xuewu was so confident about; at this moment, being comforted by Qin Huairu, she thought Li Xuewu had taken the initiative to shoulder these responsibilities or had honestly apologized to his partner or something.

When eating together in the evening, Yushui secretly looked at Li Xuewu several times, which made Seeing Sha Zhu glare at his sister repeatedly.

In the end, Li Xuewu was nudged by Seeing Sha Zhu, and following Seeing Sha Zhu's gaze, he finally discovered Yushui's look over there.

"What are you doing? Is it a crime to be handsome!"

Li Xuewu glared at Seeing Sha Zhu, then continued eating the rice in his bowl.

Seeing Sha Zhu looked at Li Xuewu with a "subway grandpa" expression, then carried his rice bowl and insisted on swapping seats with Li Xuewu.

The people at the table were amused by Seeing Sha Zhu's antics and no longer paid attention to this matter.

However, Diliya took advantage of the time she was picking up food for Yushui to secretly say something to her, and Yushui pursed her lips, turning bright red.

The others at the table glanced at each other and then looked at their own rice bowls.

April 8th, Tuesday.

Li Shun sat in his living room, counting on his fingers; today was the 18th day of the third lunar month, the year of Bingwu, the year of the Horse.

The month of Renchen, the day of Dingyou; suitable for weddings, travel, moving, engagement, praying for blessings, sacrifices, and seeking medical treatment.

Today really was a good day; it was suitable for his son to get married and register, suitable for himself to offer incense and pray to the ancestors, and because of his son's wedding, it was also suitable for sacrifices.

What fit him even better was that he had to go to work today, and it was suitable for patients to seek medical treatment from him...

When Li Xuewu came out of the backyard to go to the front yard to eat, he passed by his door and saw his father calculating like that inside the room.

He didn't know what his father was calculating while sitting there with his eyes half-closed, but he looked to be in a decent mood.

He was just thinking about going in to tease his daughter, but seeing his father's expression change after noticing him, he quickly stopped his steps and went to the front yard.

On a day like today, how could Li Shun let his son off? He provided the morning wake-up service once again.

But Li Xuewu, holding onto the fact that he had gotten up early on Sunday only to sit in the room like a fool and be an eyesore, stubbornly slept in today.

Anyway, there was no need to rush to work this morning, right? Who would make things difficult for someone getting married?

Except for a stern father.

Perhaps knowing that Li Xuewu was registering today, the food in the inverted house this morning was very good, and everyone also offered their blessings to Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu said a few words to everyone with a smile, then sat down and started eating.

Hot noodle soup; the inverted house had many people, so eating this meal wasn't easy, and there was even a poached egg in Li Xuewu's bowl.

No need to guess, it must have been Yu Li's special care for him.

After finishing breakfast, Li Xuewu went home to get the application documents, his own identification, the household registration book, and all the necessary paperwork.

At this time, it wasn't very convenient for ordinary people to get married, let alone someone like him who wore a uniform, and Gu Ning who wore a military uniform.

But fortunately, he had a powerful godmother who had already spoken to the Civil Affairs Bureau, so he just needed to take the photos and go over.

So Li Xuewu was now going to pick up Gu Ning; the photos had been prepared long ago, taken with Zhou Wang Yamei's help, and she had helped run to get them developed.

Gu Ning's household registration and identity documents had been taken away by Gu Ning on Sunday night, so this morning, Ding Fengxia looked at the calendar on the cabinet at home, and her mood was also very complicated.

Watching her mother-in-law stare at the calendar, Mu Hongyan knew today was the day her sister-in-law was registering, and her mother-in-law knew it too.

"Mom, time to eat."

"Oh."

Ding Fengxia looked at the photo frame next to the calendar again; it was taken when Gu Ning was a child, the little girl's expression was a bit reserved, and also a bit stubborn.

Walking into the living room again, watching her daughter-in-law help prepare the porridge bowls, she couldn't help but sigh: "From today on, on ordinary days, it really will just be the two of us women left in this house."

"Mom, Xiao Ning isn't living far away."

Mu Hongyan knew her mother-in-law's mood, but she was the daughter-in-law, so she could only comfort her with words.

"Not far is still not the same."

Ding Fengxia said with a smile: "Even if she lives next door, she's already someone else's daughter-in-law."

Mu Hongyan took a porridge bowl for herself, sat down, and glanced at her mother-in-law, wanting to say something, but held back.

If she explained everything to her mother-in-law at this time, could she stop her sister-in-law from going to register?

But her sister-in-law had already said she would handle this matter herself, and coupled with the good mood from her mother-in-law and father-in-law's phone call last night, she didn't know if she should say it out loud.

Ding Fengxia seemed to see what her daughter-in-law was thinking, but didn't rush to ask; they were at the dining table, and there was still a server present.

After breakfast, when the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law went upstairs to tidy up and prepare for work, Ding Fengxia asked the question in her heart.

"Mom."

Mu Hongyan hesitated for a moment and said: "Li Xuewu, have you and Dad thoroughly understood this person, Li Xuewu?"

"What do you mean?"

Ding Fengxia heard that her daughter-in-law's words weren't quite right, glanced at the stairs, and then took Mu Hongyan's hand into the study.

This place had been renovated, it was confidential and soundproof.

Seeing her mother-in-law like this, Mu Hongyan knew she had to speak; she couldn't hold it in anymore.

Especially watching her sister-in-law's appearance at work yesterday, she thought about how sad her sister-in-law might be.

After entering the study, Mu Hongyan told her mother-in-law about what happened at the hospital last week and her own visit to Li Xuewu yesterday.

Including what she asked from that person named Yu Haitang, and what Li Xuewu himself said, she told her mother-in-law everything.

Ding Fengxia sat in the chair listening to her daughter-in-law the whole time, her expression very serious, but she didn't show anything.

After finishing, Mu Hongyan looked at her mother-in-law's expression, wondering if there would be a huge wave or the calm before the storm.

"I see."

To Mu Hongyan's surprise, her mother-in-law just nodded and said she saw.

Shouldn't her mother-in-law be angry?

"I know about this issue."

Ding Fengxia said in her daughter-in-law's surprised gaze: "It was back when Li Xuewu was hospitalized."

"You...!"

Mu Hongyan was shocked, because at that time, Li Xuewu hadn't confirmed his relationship with her sister-in-law yet.

"This matter was investigated by Xiao Qi."

Ding Fengxia nodded and said: "The result of the investigation at the time was that Li Xuewu had a girlfriend, but it was involved in the case, and his personal emotional life before going to the south was also quite complicated."

"You mean..."

Mu Hongyan frowned slightly and asked: "Those two women in the rumors were his former... that's impossible."

Halfway through the question, Mu Hongyan denied it herself, shook her head and said: "I've seen those two women; one is around thirty, the other is also twenty-five or twenty-six, they are different in age from Li Xuewu."

Ding Fengxia sighed slightly and didn't answer her question, because the result Xiao Qi got from the investigation was that his personal emotional life was very complicated.

Since it was already said to be complicated, what else was there to say?

Mu Hongyan obviously saw this point too; at this moment, she widened her eyes slightly, looking at her mother-in-law in disbelief.

She was even more incredulous that Li Xuewu could be so bad.

Ding Fengxia sat in the chair, supporting her forehead with her hand, and said: "I have been observing this matter; he has a very good relationship with that saleswoman. If it weren't for the case, Xiao Ning wouldn't have had any contact with him again."

Mu Hongyan's brain wasn't working well enough now; she even suspected that her mother-in-law had done something in Li Xuewu's previous relationship.

Because she knew how much her mother-in-law cherished her sister-in-law, more than anyone.

"Is Xiao Ning struggling because of the southern matter?"

Mu Hongyan looked at her mother-in-law and asked: "Is it because of the scar on Li Xuewu's face that Xiao Ning is..."

"I don't know."

Ding Fengxia also had a very tired expression and said in a low voice: "Your father asked for Xiao Ning's opinion, and she insisted on having Li Xuewu."

"Dad... was it that day?"

Mu Hongyan remembered; that day, Gu Ning went upstairs to talk to her father-in-law on the phone, and when she came down, her expression was wrong.

It must have been that day; that day they decided to get married, her father-in-law must have made things clear to her sister-in-law.

"Hmm."

Ding Fengxia nodded and said: "Your father knew long ago, but investigating this kind of thing is useless. Li Xuewu is a living person, and his living environment is just like that."

"Investigating the past doesn't represent his present, and investigating the present is even simpler, because he has been investigated by the Rolling Mill many times in the past six months, and the branch bureau's political review has also investigated him."

While explaining, Ding Fengxia rubbed her forehead and said in a low voice: "Neither your father nor I can influence Xiao Ning's decision anymore."

Mu Hongyan knew what her mother-in-law meant; the last time Xiao Ning was in school, she had a conflict because of the Wei family's boy.

Although her sister-in-law wasn't the type to scream and shout, silence and indifference were more serious than being emotional, and besides, her sister-in-law's psychological state wasn't that good.

"But..."

Mu Hongyan thought of her sister-in-law and frowned: "How can feelings be a means to make up for mistakes? Even if one owes Li Xuewu, one cannot use one's own marriage as compensation."

"You still don't understand."

Ding Fengxia said helplessly: "At first, Xiao Ning felt it was owing, it was compensation, but haven't you seen her changes over these days? She's becoming more and more like Li Xuewu's personality."

Mu Hongyan frowned and thought; it was indeed like that. Now her sister-in-law smiled more and more, and her emotional expression when getting along with her family was becoming more and more natural.

What was even more terrifying was that her sister-in-law was becoming more and more like Li Xuewu; her way of expressing emotions, the structural characteristics of her language, and her way of communicating in terms of personality were all similar to Li Xuewu's independent and extroverted personality.

She had long seen that Li Xuewu was a social expert, but she hadn't expected Li Xuewu's ability to influence a person to be so powerful.

Actually, how could Li Xuewu have such a special ability? After Gu Ning went on a blind date with Li Xuewu, then met him by chance at the roast duck restaurant, and then the attack at the hospital, a series of things happened between the two.

It seemed as if there was a destiny in the dark, wanting Gu Ning to understand Li Xuewu and come into contact with Li Xuewu.

At this time, Ding Fengxia appeared, pushed her daughter from behind, and pulled Li Xuewu, which was why Li Xuewu and Gu Ning came together.

If one is willing to understand a person, then that person's personality characteristics are distinct, and it will influence the person who understands him.

It is especially normal between lovers; if it is someone like Gu Ning, who has personality defects, it is even more obvious.

This is a cause of the "couple look."

Listening to her mother-in-law's explanation, Mu Hongyan hesitated, but still asked: "Then, can you and Dad tolerate him having other women?"

"Of course not."

Ding Fengxia raised her head to look at her daughter-in-law and said: "But this melon was twisted by force from the beginning; we don't know if it's sweet or not, but Xiao Ning knows, and your father and I can't twist it back by force anymore."

Mu Hongyan didn't know what this "twisted by force" meant, looked at her mother-in-law, and chose not to ask.

She guessed her mother-in-law wouldn't say, so for a moment, both were a bit silent.

Mu Hongyan thought that her father-in-law and mother-in-law discovered Li Xuewu had this kind of relationship during the investigation, but it might have been a past relationship.

After all, her mother-in-law also said Li Xuewu's past personal feelings were quite complicated.

What was found now was like this, but Li Xuewu's performance made her father-in-law and mother-in-law hope that Li Xuewu had grown after training in the army.

Who didn't have a young time, especially boys, and in that living environment.

Considering her sister-in-law's feelings for Li Xuewu, the two still had to look at her sister-in-law's wishes, whether she accepted Li Xuewu's past, or his present.

Just looking at her sister-in-law's emotions and behavior these few days, she knew her sister-in-law was also hesitant, but had already made a choice.

"Being parents, there is always helplessness."

Ding Fengxia looked at her daughter-in-law and said: "I know you care about Xiao Ning; we as parents, while caring about her just like you, also have to take care of her emotions and respect her choices."

As she spoke, she patted her daughter-in-law's hand and said: "Since Xiao Ning knows, looking at the two's performance on Sunday, it means things aren't as complicated as you think, and the broadcast announcer's behavior is also open to question."

"Yes, Mom."

Mu Hongyan nodded, but thinking of Li Xuewu's arrogance at the guesthouse, she still said: "You didn't see what he said at the time, introducing those two women to me, and... and saying there were more than just these two; it made me so angry."

"Hehe."

Ding Fengxia also smiled bitterly at her daughter-in-law's angry appearance and said: "Do you remember the situation when Literature brought him home for the first time?"

Mu Hongyan naturally remembered, nodded, and said: "Very individualistic."

Ding Fengxia nodded and said: "At that time, he had a partner, and one look showed the temper was very stubborn; he wasn't a calf that could be forced to lower its head to drink water. You went to his unit to question him like that, of course he wouldn't answer you."

While speaking, she patted Mu Hongyan's hand, and Ding Fengxia continued: "Moreover, since he dared to introduce those two women to you openly, it represents his explanation, and there must be no problems that can be found."

"No need to doubt, regardless of whether he is really or falsely involved with those two women."

"He is really too arrogant."

Mu Hongyan said hatefully: "If there's a problem, admit the mistake and solve the problem; if there's no problem, say there's no problem. Why be like this?"

"That's why I say his temper is stubborn."

Ding Fengxia nodded and sighed: "A twenty-year-old young man, yet he has a maturity not inferior to a forty-year-old; he can make you angry, and can make you understand his meaning afterwards, finding no reason to blame him."

"So he is a bad boy."

Mu Hongyan said with dissatisfaction: "How could Xiao Ning like such a..."

"Hehe, feelings are inherently very complicated."

Ding Fengxia shook her head slightly and said: "Just like Xiao Ning, both are stubborn donkeys, especially him, an even more capable stubborn donkey. Rather than hurting Xiao Ning, it's better to just go along with it; let's just act like we don't know about these things."

"Mom, does Dad think the same way?"

Mu Hongyan was still a bit surprised; whether Li Xuewu's matter was true or false, she didn't think her father-in-law would allow Li Xuewu to be like this.

"I love Xiao Ning, and your father-in-law loves her even more."

Ding Fengxia said helplessly: "Precisely because of Xiao Ning's situation, we have to think more for her, and even more stand in her position and perspective to consider this problem."

As she spoke, she patted her daughter-in-law's hand and sighed: "It's not that your father-in-law and I are confused; it's that some things can't be figured out, and some things can't be figured out."

What Mu Hongyan could think of at this time was that women are hard to be, and parents are even harder to be.

Gu Ning naturally understood her parents' painstaking efforts, but she wanted to make a decision for herself once; in these twenty-plus years, it was the only time she made a decision herself.

"Are the materials complete?"

"Hmm."

When Li Xuewu walked into the courtyard, Gu Ning walked out of the living room, stood at the door to change her shoes, and let Li Xuewu take the bag she had placed on the cabinet at the door.

Zhou Wang Yamei walked out of the dining room, stood at the door, and looked at the two with a smile.

"Mom, are the aunt and uncle getting married?"

Fu Zhidong heard Li Xuewu's voice, carried his small bag, and ran down the stairs.

Waiting until he stood still at the living room door, looking at Uncle Li and Aunt Gu, Fu Zhidong widened his big eyes and asked his mother curiously.

He often heard that marriage was a big happy event, a happy thing, so he was very curious about happiness, and also very curious about marriage.

Marriage was still a very difficult thing for a four-year-old child to understand, and he understood the meaning even less.

But he had already started to explore the meaning of this vocabulary by observing the adults' behavior and changes in expression.

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at her son with a smile, then glanced at Li Xuewu and the other, and explained to her son: "Yes, Uncle and Aunt are considered married today."

"Wow!"

Fu Zhidong exclaimed in amazement without knowing why, but looking at Uncle and Aunt, they didn't seem to have changed.

Uncle was smiling, and Aunt also had a smile on her face; was marriage just two people smiling?

"Mom."

Fu Zhidong thought for a while and asked his mother: "Then when will I get married?"

"Hehe."

Li Xuewu held Gu Ning's bag and said to Fu Zhidong: "When do you want to get married?"

Fu Zhidong looked at his mother's smiling expression, then looked at the expression Uncle and Aunt had when looking at him, thought for a while, and said: "How about tomorrow?"

"Hahaha~"

The child's innocent words made everyone laugh, and Li Xuewu nodded at his godson, indicating he was very promising.

While Fu Zhidong was laughing along inexplicably, he took Gu Ning out.

Because of Fu Zhidong's childish words, Gu Ning was still smiling until Li Xuewu drove her to the Civil Affairs Bureau at Jiaodaokou.

Perhaps it wasn't just the child's words, but Gu Ning might just be very happy today.

Li Xuewu didn't speak to Gu Ning along the way; he was afraid of destroying this morning smile, a smile more dazzling than the sunshine.

The Civil Affairs Bureau here was a row of two-story gray townhouses, with a large sign with black characters on a white background hanging at the door. Li Xuewu carried their bags and walked straight inside.

At this time, there were no service halls or service windows.

There was no place for people coming to handle business to sit, and no opportunity to blame them for squatting.

Everything was handled in the office, and there were long wooden chairs in the waiting area.

Li Xuewu and the others came early, but they were still ranked fifth; someone had already come early to queue for marriage.

At this time, it was said that old social customs were no longer emphasized, but when it was a good day, one could still see that ordinary people still wanted to get some good luck.

Today was a good day, so there were many people coming to register. Li Xuewu wasn't in a hurry either, and took Gu Ning to sit on the chairs and wait according to the instructions of the civil affairs cadre.

The fourth in line was also a pair of young men and women in their early twenties; at this moment, the male comrade was sitting next to Li Xuewu.

Seeing Li Xuewu in a white short-sleeved shirt, black trousers, and black leather shoes, with a bag tucked under his arm, he couldn't help but look a few times.

Li Xuewu also saw the person next to him looking at him, but didn't care.

Gu Ning wasn't someone who loved to talk, and at this moment, she was inexplicably a bit nervous, so Li Xuewu just sat silently with Gu Ning.

The young man beside him who had been looking at Li Xuewu for a while spoke first: "Comrade, which unit are you from?"

Li Xuewu turned his head to look at this person and said with a smile: "From the Rolling Mill."

"Whoa, good unit."

This person looked very talkative, smiled, and introduced himself to Li Xuewu: "I'm from the street office, just assigned here."

"Is that so?"

Li Xuewu looked at the girl beside him, who also looked a bit nervous, and asked: "Are you two also getting married?"

"Otherwise? Hehe."

This young man pointed to the office doorplate and said: "Can't be here to collect grain coupons, right? Hahaha."

Li Xuewu nodded, smiled, took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and shared one with him.

"Celebratory cigarettes, but you can't smoke here."

"I know, smoking is prohibited in public places."

This young man smiled, took Li Xuewu's cigarette, but took two candies from his pocket and handed them over.

"Celebratory candies, you can eat them here, hehehe."

Li Xuewu smiled and took them, and handed one to Gu Ning.

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu; she didn't want to eat it, but seeing Li Xuewu looking at her the whole time, and the one talking next door also looking over, she had to take it.

"You won't be nervous after eating one."

Li Xuewu said to Gu Ning with a smile, then said to the young man next door: "Thanks."

"It's nothing, after all, it's the first time for everyone, later..."

This kid was smiling and talking, but felt a tightness at his waist and quickly swallowed the words in his mouth.

Li Xuewu looked at the dry-laughing young man and said: "Is your home around here?"

"No."

The young man winked at his partner, then explained to Li Xuewu: "I'm from the West City, demobilized and resettled; my partner is from here, so I came to work here."

Li Xuewu nodded knowingly and said: "That's quite good."

This kid looked at Li Xuewu and asked: "Are you from here?"

"Hmm."

Li Xuewu held the cigarette pack in his hand, nodded, and said: "From the hutong, an old Beijing native."

"Doesn't sound like it, hehe."

The young man said with a smile, because he heard Li Xuewu's accent sounded like it was from the Northeast.

However, there was no need to be serious about these things, so he asked casually: "Are you a leader's secretary?"

"Oh? Why do you say that?"

Li Xuewu looked at himself following the young man's gaze and found nothing special.

Can't be because of the bag tucked under his arm, right?

This kind of clutch bag was very common now; ordinary office workers all had one, and when riding a bike to work, it was either hung on the handlebar or placed in the front basket.

As for the style, one can imagine those social people driving Land Cruisers in later generations; trends are eternal.

"One look and I know you work in an office."

The young man commented on Li Xuewu: "Your outfit is not ordinary; you look very spirited, and coupled with your steady demeanor, leaders like this kind."

"You have a good eye."

Li Xuewu nodded with a smile, but neither confirmed nor denied it.

The young man's partner pulled his sleeve at this moment, telling him not to talk anymore, because the pair in front had already finished and come out.

This young man smiled, stood up with his partner, moved to a seat in front, and gestured for Li Xuewu to follow.

Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning with amusement, but Gu Ning ignored him; she knew this person had some bad quirks.

When the few sat down again, this young man smoked the cigarette Li Xuewu gave him and said: "Daqian Sect, for leaders, right?"

Seeing Li Xuewu nod, he winked his left eye at Li Xuewu, looking like he knew it all along, and said: "This is the basic skill of a police officer: observation; understanding the world is all knowledge."

"Quite impressive."

Li Xuewu nodded with a smile, looking like he agreed.

The pair in the second position and the pair behind Li Xuewu and the others heard the conversation between the two and couldn't help but look over.

At this time, whether it was a police officer or a leader's secretary, both were enviable professions.

Because they all had some professional benefits or professional conveniences.

Especially watching the police officer guess the secretary's profession in a few sentences, it couldn't help but make the people in front and behind pay attention to this side.

This young man saw the attention he attracted, couldn't help but raise his head, smiled at Li Xuewu and said: "Actually, I quite envy the work in the factory; even if it's security, it's always better than being busy with cases in the station every day."

Li Xuewu nodded with a smile; he could hear this kid was showing off to him, but these words weren't said to him, so he didn't pay much attention.

The jurisdiction of the Jiaodaokou street office wasn't small, but at this time, after Li Xuewu's plowing-like disaster from the previous year, personnel with the ability to commit major cases were basically on the roster, and minor cases were digested internally by the street office; where would there be cases to be busy with every day?

But they were all young people, and it was their wedding day, with their partners beside them; it was normal to brag.

Li Xuewu understood everything; it was just that Gu Ning kept nudging him, not letting him smirk so secretly.

"Haven't introduced myself yet."

This young man looked at Li Xuewu, who seemed to be listening to him, and felt a bit of goodwill toward Li Xuewu, taking the initiative to say: "My surname is Wang; if you have anything in the future, you can come to the station to find me."

Being able to say this was indeed not easy; generally, Li Xuewu wouldn't say this, because he was very afraid of trouble and wished no one would find him.

Seeing the young man say it, Li Xuewu also reached out his hand and shook hands with the young man.

"My surname is Li, I work in the Security Division of the Rolling Mill."

"Whoa, then we can be considered half-colleagues."

The young man said quite unexpectedly: "The leaders of the Security Division are hard to serve, right?"

After finishing, he shook his head and said: "That's still better than a female leader, better than a younger female leader."

Hearing him grumble, his partner beside him nudged him, telling him not to talk nonsense.

At the same time, she looked at Li Xuewu guardedly, as if Li Xuewu would spread gossip.

Li Xuewu smiled slightly, indicating he had no hostility, and even less offensive power.

The young man was also a bit carried away by the eyes of the people around him; at this moment, although he was nudged by his partner, he only lowered his voice and said to Li Xuewu: "The director of our station is a woman, a little girl."

Li Xuewu nodded with a smile and said: "Heard it seems to be a girl."

The young man curled his lips and said: "I just reported for duty too; no investigation, no right to speak, but she doesn't look like she has any ability."

After finishing, he shook his head slightly and said: "At least for our kind of powerful department, we still need deterrence and shock power; a little girl..."

Li Xuewu nodded knowingly and didn't say anything.

This young man saw Li Xuewu didn't pick up the topic, so he didn't say anything more; the pair in front finished another one, and the two moved forward with the queue.

The first pair was handled in the office, and the second pair waited on the chairs in the office.

So Li Xuewu and Gu Ning, as the third pair, could only wait at the door.

Looking at the young couple who went into the room, Gu Ning turned to look at Li Xuewu and asked: "Is it Ji Yuxiu he's talking about?"

"Should be."

Li Xuewu nodded and didn't explain anything.

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu's expression and continued to ask: "Did you arrange it?"

Li Xuewu turned to look at Gu Ning, paused, and said: "No."

Gu Ning looked into Li Xuewu's eyes and asked again: "Why don't you explain it to her?"

"Who? Yuxiu?"

Li Xuewu pointed his thumb backwards and asked: "Or the one in the room?"

Gu Ning just looked at Li Xuewu without speaking, because these two answers were one answer.

Li Xuewu pursed his lips and said: "Ability isn't something you say with your mouth, nor is it something you can see with your eyes."

After saying this to Gu Ning, Li Xuewu added: "She chose to walk this path herself, so she has to experience these things."

Gu Ning nodded as if she understood, then turned her head away.

Li Xuewu looked at her and asked: "Are you still nervous?"

"I'm not nervous."

Gu Ning looked at the flower bed outside the window opposite and argued with Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning's expression with amusement, feeling that Gu Ning sometimes had a cute side.

After a few more minutes, the room called for the next one, so Li Xuewu followed Gu Ning into the office.

Now it was their turn to sit on the bench at the door and wait; the pair who chatted earlier was standing by the desk handling the procedures.

There were two tables placed opposite each other in the office; a male comrade sat at the inner table, and a female comrade sat at the outer table.

The male comrade was responsible for checking documents and materials, and the female comrade wrote the information on the marriage certificate and pasted the photos under the male comrade's prompt.

After a certificate-style marriage certificate was written and the photo pasted, it was handed to the male comrade for another check, and then "click," the special marriage seal was stamped on it.

The young man surnamed Wang and his wife were very happy when they received the marriage certificate and gave celebratory candies to the two comrades handling the documents.

Li Xuewu looked at the young couple who were being "involuted," touched his pocket, and found nothing—cleaner than his face.

If he gave cigarettes, the male comrade would be fine, but what about the female comrade?

If he gave a pack to each, wouldn't that scare them? It was Daqian Sect, after all.

So Li Xuewu had some opinions about this young man surnamed Wang.

While the two walked out the door with smiles, Li Xuewu and Gu Ning came to the front of the desk following the prompt of the next one.

When handing over the household registration book and marriage proof materials, the male comrade reviewing the materials raised his head after seeing Li Xuewu's name, stood up, and said with a smile: "Division Chief Li, hehe, I was just telling Director Wang that when you came here, you should have come directly to find me."

"Hehe, Director Wang was also afraid of delaying our work."

Li Xuewu naturally wouldn't refuse his godmother's good intentions, but they came at the right time, there weren't many people in front, so he didn't cause any trouble for others, and even less did he handle that annoying matter.

Although his status, coupled with his godmother's relationship, meant he could save some time coming here, this was the only time in his life, so what was there to be in a hurry about?

This male comrade shook hands with Li Xuewu and introduced Li Xuewu's status to the female comrade on the other side.

But it wasn't the Rolling Mill, but the branch bureau.

Obviously, the female comrade on the other side was also seeing Li Xuewu for the first time; she looked a bit surprised, and seeing Li Xuewu take the initiative to shake hands with her, she also greeted him with a smile.

The actions in the room made the pair behind Li Xuewu stare in a daze; wasn't it said that this person was a secretary?

If that was the case... then the sharp-eyed police officer from before was just...

Li Xuewu and Gu Ning's procedures went very smoothly; their documents were checked once, and the materials were only roughly looked at before being put into the file bag. After receiving the certificate handed over by the colleague, this male comrade stamped the big red seal very efficiently.

"Congratulations, Division Chief Li; congratulations, Doctor Gu."

"Thank you."

Li Xuewu thanked the two comrades who congratulated him and let them send him out of the office.

This treatment naturally made the crowd queuing behind surprised and gossiping, and made the pair in the room look at each other in surprise, their trust in the police officer's eye for people dropping a level in their hearts.

Just as they walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau's door, they saw the young man surnamed Wang from before pushing his bike over from the bicycle storage area with his partner.

Seeing Li Xuewu, the young man even waved with a smile, and Li Xuewu returned a smile.

It was quite a coincidence; Li Xuewu had just turned his head when he saw a sidecar motorcycle drive over with a "tut-tut-tut" sound.

After the sidecar motorcycle stopped in front of Li Xuewu and the other, Ji Yuxiu, whom Li Xuewu had seen long ago, jumped off the sidecar in a clean and neat uniform with a smile.

"Second Brother, I said it looked like your car; I almost missed it."

Ji Yuxiu saw Li Xuewu and Gu Ning, smiled happily, then blinked and asked: "How does it feel to get the marriage certificate?"

Gu Ning smiled, not knowing how to answer this question, but Li Xuewu nodded to Wu Zi, who was riding the motorcycle, and laughed: "Old Xing has made progress, and you have to work hard too."

"Division Chief Li, you're wrong there."

Wu Zi patted the fuel tank while speaking, winked at Li Xuewu, and laughed: "Isn't driving for a leader progress? Hehehe~"

Li Xuewu nodded with amusement and said: "Fine, maybe one day Director Zheng takes a liking to you and transfers you to drive for a leader; that would be even more progress."

"I wouldn't dare to hope for that."

Wu Zi said with a bit of a bad smile: "I just hope Team Leader Shen remembers me and transfers me to the Security Brigade; driving for you is also progress."

"Hehe, then you'll have to wait."

Li Xuewu said with a smile, then looked at Ji Yuxiu, who was curiously questioning Gu Ning, and said: "Want to know? Won't you know when you get married yourself?"

After finishing, he looked at Ji Yuxiu and asked: "What were you two doing?"

"Don't mention it."

Wu Zi took off his hat, scratched his head, and replied with a grimace: "Seeing those trivial matters every day."

Li Xuewu reached out and flicked the motorcycle's headlight, saying: "No major events is a good thing."

After finishing, he said to Ji Yuxiu: "Didn't make it to the one on Sunday; go to Haiyuncang this Sunday. You know the address; let your sister-in-law make it up to you with a meal."

"Then I'm really going!"

Ji Yuxiu was on duty on Sunday and didn't make it to the gathering; at this moment, seeing Li Xuewu set the status of sister-in-law in his words, she smiled and agreed.

Knowing Li Xuewu and the other were still busy, she said a word to Gu Ning and then stepped back.

Li Xuewu took Gu Ning into the car, waved to Wu Zi, and also waved to the young man surnamed Wang, who was watching Ji Yuxiu walk over to greet them in a daze, then drove Gu Ning away.

Ji Yuxiu walked to Wang Zhiqiang and said with a smile: "Finished registering? Congratulations, Comrade Wang Zhiqiang; how does it feel to finish registering?"

"Director... surprise..."