Chapter 543: It's Not My Fault~

"What?"

Yushui didn't understand what Li Xuewu meant. Why did he stop halfway through his sentence?

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "I'm just a twenty-year-old young man; what kind of love life could I have, let alone 'them'? So, 'them who'?"

Yushui's eyes widened at Li Xuewu's words, her mouth slightly agape. She truly didn't know how to describe her current mood.

It felt as if her brain had just been struck by a club; it was all chaos.

Li Xuewu didn't mind Yushui's expression. He looked down at the tea in his cup and said, "What do you think love is supposed to be like? Just being close? Or two people being attracted to each other, or having common goals to strive for?"

"I... I don't know."

Yushui still hadn't fully reacted, looking at Li Xuewu and shaking her head blankly.

"However, at least... at least it should be like that..."

"Mm."

Li Xuewu nodded, looked at Yushui, and asked, "So, besides the formal relationships you define, there are actually other definitions of relationships between men and women, right?"

Yushui nodded, then shook her head.

She used to have them, but now they seemed gone—it was all a mess, her mind a blank slate.

If Li Xuewu put it that way, then a relationship must have emotional resonance and people with common ideals and pursuits.

But if that were the case, what did that make Yu Li, whom she knew about? What about Qin Huairu?

Yushui looked at Li Xuewu, thinking about the relationships between Yu Li, Qin Huairu, and Li Xuewu, and asked hesitantly, "So, is it... interest?"

Li Xuewu blinked without answering directly. Instead, he smiled and asked, "Do you think your brother is better off choosing Xilin or Diliya?"

"Ah..."

Yushui hadn't expected Li Xuewu to ask this, but after thinking about it carefully, she understood what he meant.

"So, no relationship is singular."

Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then said, "As for me, the ones you mentioned are all independent, but marriage isn't, the first relationship I had after returning isn't, and my current wife isn't either."

"So that's why you rejected Yu Haitang."

Yushui seemed to understand Li Xuewu's meaning and asked tentatively, "And it's also a disguised way of protecting yourself... right?"

"You could say that."

Li Xuewu nodded with a smile and said, "She wanted too much, and I couldn't give it to her."

Yushui nodded in understanding. This was different from the traditional views of relationships she knew, but that didn't stop her from understanding it.

Simply put, some people came seeking him, and Li Xuewu used them if they were useful, naturally giving them some benefits in return.

But both sides understood each other's bottom lines and their own positions, and they wouldn't cross the line.

Yu Haitang not only wanted to cross the line but also wanted to take control, so even if she had value, Li Xuewu wouldn't associate with her.

Yushui thought it through and looked at Li Xuewu, asking, "So, what about Xilin? And that woman who came back with you last time... did you...?"

"What are you thinking?"

Li Xuewu laughed, "I'm not a lecher. Is my image in your eyes really that unbearable?"

Yushui looked at Li Xuewu seriously. Although she was a bit suspicious, since Li Xuewu had admitted to the affair with Yu Li, he wouldn't hide the matter of Xilin and the other woman.

And she knew that Li Xuewu couldn't have had anything going on with Xilin in the courtyard; she had been observing Li Xuewu all along.

Now that she had clarified this, she understood Li Xuewu's view on relationships even better.

There must be an exchange of interests involved, as that was the foundation, but it didn't necessarily mean there was that kind of relationship.

In other words, Li Xuewu was more unconventional than her traditional views—he followed his own heart.

"Aren't you afraid of trouble?"

"Me?"

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, "Would you betray your brother?"

Before Yushui could answer, Li Xuewu laughed, "You wouldn't betray your brother, and they wouldn't betray me. I have that much confidence."

Yushui squinted at Li Xuewu and asked, "Why are you telling me so clearly? Now that I know so much, you aren't going to kill me to silence me, are you?"

"What do you think?"

Li Xuewu gestured toward the pistol on the tea cabinet and said, "I've already prepared the gear. I'll carry you out tonight, dig a pit, and bury you, so your brother won't be able to find you for the rest of his life."

"Pfft~"

Yushui rolled her eyes in disdain. If he could say it out loud, it wasn't a threat.

Li Xuewu smiled and asked, "After hearing my view on relationships, what about you? Have you thought about when to start your next relationship?"

"No..."

Yushui, seeing Li Xuewu suddenly ask about her, shook her head dejectedly and said, "I'm not ready yet, but..."

At this point, Yushui looked up at Li Xuewu and said firmly, "I won't be as... unconventional as you."

"I believe that."

Li Xuewu nodded, raising an eyebrow, "Men are one thing, but if a woman did that too, she'd be the Empress Dowager reincarnated~"

"Hehehe~"

Yushui thought of something, covered her mouth and laughed, and gave Li Xuewu a playful tap, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Li Xuewu also laughed, refilled her hot water, and said with a smile, "Just keep what I said today to yourself; there's no need for a third person to know."

"Got it~"

Yushui nodded with a smile, responding lightly.

After talking with Li Xuewu for a while, the guilt in her heart had lessened, and the pressure on her had eased significantly.

Looking at Li Xuewu, who was mature, steady, independent in thought, and decisive in action, Yushui said again, "I'm sorry~"

"Heh."

Li Xuewu chuckled, glanced at Yushui, and said, "Do you need me to say I forgive you again?"

Yushui nodded, knowing the conversation was coming to an end. After hesitating for a long time, she finally said what had been on her mind.

"I know Yu Haitang's actions had a big impact on you, but she was just acting on impulse, so..."

Yushui looked at Li Xuewu tentatively and asked, "Can you not use extreme measures..."

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow at Yushui and asked, "You don't really think I've killed anyone with that gun, do you?"

"Ah?..."

Yushui was stunned for a moment, then understood Li Xuewu's meaning and stood up with a smile.

"Thank you. Although you aren't a perfect 'good person,' you aren't a bad person either."

"I thank you for such a high evaluation of me."

Li Xuewu replied with a smile while tidying up the tea set.

Yushui walked out of Li Xuewu's house with a smile and even ran into Yu Li when passing through the moon gate.

The two just exchanged greetings as they passed, and Yu Li naturally saw the smile on Yushui's face.

However, it was still early, so Yu Li naturally didn't think anything of it, though she was a bit surprised.

Once she entered the room, seeing Li Xuewu tidying up the tea set and heading into the inner room to change clothes, she couldn't help but ask casually, "Was Yushui here?"

"Mm."

Li Xuewu loosened his shirt, feeling a bit tired, rolled his neck, and without turning on the light in the inner room, said while undressing, "She blocked me at the front gate."

"Is that so~"

Yu Li responded, then went to the kitchen to put away the water. When she returned, she asked Li Xuewu, who was standing in the shadows of the inner room, "What did you talk about? Yushui looked so happy."

Li Xuewu turned to look at Yu Li, who was standing in the living room pretending not to care, and said mysteriously, "Love."

"Pfft~~"

Yu Li didn't believe Li Xuewu would talk about love with Yushui, because if that were true, Seeing Sha Zhu would be jumping up and down.

"Fine, don't tell me, as if I'm dying to hear it."

With a huff, Yu Li went to the bathroom to tidy up Li Xuewu's clothes.

Li Xuewu curled his lip and shook his head helplessly.

He was also very confused now; sometimes people didn't believe him when he told the truth, but when he talked nonsense, people took it as gospel.

It seemed some things really weren't Li Xuewu's fault~~~

"News from the New China News Agency: Cleaving through the Taihang Mountains, the Zhang River flows through the mountains. The people of Lin County have great ambition, vowing to rearrange the rivers and mountains..."

Li Xuewu heard this news report while washing up. He remembered—this was the artificial heavenly river that made the Taihang Mountains bow.

Ten years of labor, a source of life opened up by the working people with their own hands, becoming a symbol of the spirit of this era.

Yu Li looked at Li Xuewu in a daze and also listened to the report.

However, because it was a news report, it wasn't long, but it expressed the spirit of self-reliance and arduous struggle.

By the time he reached the Public Security Brigade, he heard Wang Xiaoqin talking in detail about the background and actual situation of this news.

Such news wasn't just reported randomly; it would definitely lead to relevant study and discussion, and Wang Xiaoqin had been prepared for this.

Li Xuewu didn't pay much attention, because time was short. Such spirits would be gathered together in the mainstream, and by then, the things to be studied and discussed would be the same old stuff.

Remembering his eldest sister-in-law who was at home recovering from illness, Li Xuewu called Wu Youqing at Huaqing University, arranging to meet at the First Detention Center in a while.

After hanging up, he couldn't help but think of his younger brother and sister.

He knew history; his younger brother might graduate a few years late, and his younger sister might have to wait a few years before she could go to university.

Among this, he had to arrange for his brother not to be affected by the school, and his sister had to be arranged with a job first before waiting for the opportunity to go to school.

Then there were his big brother and father. His father was easy; if nothing else, he could go to Red Star Village to practice medicine voluntarily. But his big brother had to overcome the hurdle in his heart.

He didn't know if his big brother would hate the younger brother who personally "sent" him to the detention center to waste away his life.

Based on his big brother's lazy habit of reading books, he probably wouldn't.

It was too early to consider these things now. Li Xuewu finished his work at the Public Security Brigade and went to the First Detention Center.

Huang Gan had long been prepared. Recently, the paper mill's output had been rising steadily, and the "workers'" proficiency and enthusiasm were also steadily improving.

Although there were no profits yet, Li Xuewu had let Old Biaozi inject some funds in advance as a pre-sale payment for the paper.

Huang Gan wasn't short-sighted. Besides proposing a plan to improve the working, eating, and living conditions for the detention center, he also proposed a plan to improve the food quality for some of the inmates.

The accommodation quality couldn't be changed for now; they would have to wait until the paper and printing factories made a profit to handle that.

Of course, these were all plans, because there was indeed money in the account, but not much.

This was naturally intentional on Li Xuewu's part. Giving too much at once would make the donkey kick; that wasn't how things were done. It had to be a long, steady stream.

"Section Chief Wu is here?"

The guards at Li Xuewu's car recognized it and let him into the compound directly.

However, in the office area, Li Xuewu saw a command vehicle identical to his own. He didn't need to guess; it must be Wu Youqing.

And since only Huang Gan's clerk was waiting for him downstairs, Li Xuewu exchanged a few words with the clerk and went up to the second floor.

The second floor of the office area wasn't a later addition; it had been there from the start. It was likely that the prison warden had liked standing there to look down at the inmates, which was why such a high vantage point was set up.

After being taken over, it naturally became an office location. Standing in Huang Gan's office, one could see the general layout of the courtyard.

"The leader has been waiting for you. I didn't expect Section Chief Wu to arrive first; the two of them are drinking tea upstairs."

Huang Gan's clerk explained while knocking on the door of Huang Gan's office.

"Didn't we agree on ten o'clock?"

Huang Gan looked at his watch and complained, then waved his hand to signal the clerk to leave them alone, getting up himself to pour a cup of tea for Li Xuewu.

Huang Gan wasn't old—a year younger than Shen Fang—but he got along very well with Li Xuewu.

He was straightforward in personality and didn't put on airs with his subordinates, which was why he hadn't faced any resistance after being promoted to Deputy Section Chief and taking over this detention center.

Of course, no one dared to provoke him; his family practically monopolized this industry, so who would want to pick a fight with him?

Li Xuewu's decision to partner with Huang Gan on this was also because he valued this point. Unlike the 816th Regiment, this was his own business, and he couldn't afford to be careless.

Red Star Village—816th Regiment—Rolling Mill, Huaqing University—First Detention Center—Recycling Station; Li Xuewu was adept at playing with such setups.

This triangular structure, except for being unstable in terms of relationships, was very stable everywhere else.

"How are the security guards sent for training working out?"

Li Xuewu handed a cigarette to Wu Youqing and one to Huang Gan, who had brought the tea, and asked Wu Youqing while lighting his own.

Wu Youqing puffed on the cigarette and nodded, "They're good, really good."

As he spoke, he gestured toward the second floor of the office, "Professor Zhang's second son was naughty and got stuck on the fourth-floor railing. Good heavens, he climbed up with his bare hands and actually carried him down."

"Heh."

Li Xuewu laughed, "If that's how you use them, the people we trained will be wasted."

"Mm~~ they won't be wasted~"

Wu Youqing narrowed his eyes, shook his head, and looked at Li Xuewu, "I'm having them act as instructors to train the other security guards."

"Damn~"

Li Xuewu looked at Wu Youqing speechlessly and asked, "Is that how your Huaqing University became a prestigious school?"

"Hahaha~"

Wu Youqing laughed, "Borrowing the enemy's techniques to defeat the enemy—it's not shameful."

Li Xuewu curled his lip, looked at Huang Gan, and asked, "Be careful when cooperating with him; don't let him trick me."

"Don't worry, I'm being careful."

Huang Gan flicked the ash with a smile and looked at Li Xuewu, "That, our detention center's guards also want to send some to your training ground for training. Is that okay?"

Li Xuewu looked at Huang Gan for a while with narrowed eyes. He deeply suspected that this kid was following Wu Youqing's lead.

"Sure, we welcome it."

However, Li Xuewu agreed quickly, saying with a smile, "The construction fee is 5,000—the standard rate. The training fee is charged per batch, and the planned batches must be no fewer than five."

"Damn~!"

Huang Gan rolled his eyes at Li Xuewu, realizing there was no chance of taking advantage of him, and had to say, "No problem, but you have to give us the money to train first."

As he spoke, he turned out his pockets, crying poverty, "You know, our detention center's finances are cleaner than my pockets."

"I believe you!"

Li Xuewu flicked his ash and asked Wu Youqing, "How's the printing press? I haven't been able to keep up with that recently."

"It's fine now."

Wu Youqing gestured toward Huang Gan with the finger holding the cigarette and explained, "I coordinated with Warden Huang. After calibration, we gave some tasks to our school. It's better than nothing; it's all practice."

Li Xuewu looked at Huang Gan and asked, "Is there any problem with printing books now?"

"No problem."

Huang Gan took a puff of his cigarette, thought for a moment, and said, "It's just that the efficiency is still slow."

As he spoke, he gestured to Li Xuewu and explained, "You know, it's an old machine, and the people aren't professionals, so we still need to break it in."

"So it's usable."

Li Xuewu leaned back on the sofa and asked, "How much paper have you saved up?"

"Not even ten tons."

Huang Gan gave a bitter laugh, then, fearing Li Xuewu would blame him, explained, "The workers' lack of proficiency is one aspect, and the instability of raw materials is another."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Since you've discovered the problem, solve it."

These were two problems. Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said, "I'll have someone contact the waste recycling company to buy back old paper and rags and other fibers, and I'll also help you contact the communes to try and acquire raw materials like straw fiber."

Huang Gan nodded. After all, the First Detention Center was a legitimate unit; even if they could carry out labor reform projects, they couldn't go too far, nor could they go out to acquire raw materials or carry out business activities.

This matter still had to be handled by the recycling station. Fortunately, the recycling station was perfectly suited for this.

"As for the workers,"

Li Xuewu thought for a moment, shook his head, and said, "That's a management issue. I can't help you with that; you have to find a way to handle it yourself."

"Mm."

Huang Gan nodded in agreement. This was his territory; if he couldn't even handle such things, then as Li Xuewu had said, they shouldn't play together anymore.

After finishing Huang Gan's business, Li Xuewu looked at Wu Youqing, "Have the drafts for the little storybooks come out? How many have been finalized?"

"About forty or so."

Wu Youqing didn't give a specific number. He explained, "New manuscripts are coming out every day, and the review and typesetting are constantly changing. However, the 'Idiom Stories' series has great vitality and can be done for a long time."

"Mm."

Li Xuewu thought for a moment and asked, "Can your school's publishing house distribute the 'Little Red Book'?"

"The '65 edition?"

Wu Youqing looked at Li Xuewu with a slight frown, "Why bring that up? The army is using it, but you guys don't need it."

"Just tell me if you can distribute it or not."

Li Xuewu still needed to be clear. If they couldn't, he would have to solve that problem first.

The "Little Red Book" and "Dragon-Slaying Techniques" were not the same thing. Dragon-Slaying Techniques could be printed at will, but he didn't understand the Little Red Book; it didn't belong to the local level.

In 1958, the People's Daily had published it, and the first edition appeared in 1964.

Li Xuewu was asking about the third edition of 1965, which had been modified and expanded significantly, and had always been used for study by the army.

Wu Youqing thought for a moment and said, "I don't know the specifics, but last year, local areas could print it themselves, and they could also borrow the plates from the General Political Department. The paper molds could also be borrowed."

"That's good."

Li Xuewu tapped the sofa armrest and said with narrowed eyes, "Use eighty percent of the paper to print this."

Huang Gan and Wu Youqing looked at Li Xuewu in surprise, wondering what big job he had taken on to arrange things this way.

Li Xuewu didn't explain, continuing his arrangements, "Use the remaining ten percent to print notebooks with sentences in them, and use red for the covers."

"Is it because...?"

Huang Gan had been in contact with Li Xuewu for a long time and guessed Li Xuewu's preparation, but he hadn't thought about preparing these things for this purpose.

Li Xuewu didn't pick up the topic. Neither of them was at the grassroots level; they would understand if they thought about it.

Especially Wu Youqing; his school was already experiencing the wind, so he had a deeper understanding.

It was just that the Little Red Book hadn't been proposed yet; everyone was just running around following the trend. It would only be truly crazy when everyone had one.

Li Xuewu was just trying to take advantage of this time difference in the last few months.

These things could only be eaten for three years at most. The First Detention Center's paper mill and printing factory were, to put it bluntly, small workshops with limited capacity. They could take the first bite of meat without a problem, but later on, it would become increasingly bland.

"I'll be responsible for sales; you just focus on design and production."

Li Xuewu said decisively, "Settlement once a month. I'll pay in cash, and I'll never delay payment."

"I have no problem with that."

Huang Gan naturally trusted Li Xuewu and was the first to respond, "What to produce, what to print—I'm just closing the door to build the cart. How to open it, who opens it—that's not my concern."

"Mm."

Li Xuewu nodded. He didn't need Huang Gan to worry about how he drove this car. Now he turned his gaze to Wu Youqing.

Wu Youqing hesitated for a moment and said, "I'll handle it when I get back."

"The sooner the better."

Li Xuewu reminded him. He didn't necessarily need a firm promise from Wu Youqing. Unlike Huang Gan, Wu Youqing was more cautious and wouldn't promise 100% even if he was very confident.

The three discussed the subsequent issues in the office and then went downstairs to visit the factory.

The paper-making machine Li Xuewu provided was a new piece of equipment, not domestic, which had kept the master craftsmen Huang Gan found busy for quite a while.

The paper mill was a large warehouse connected together. Li Xuewu and Wu Youqing were led by Huang Gan and had to pass through three doors before entering the interior.

The raw materials were mainly waste paper, which went through processes like manual sorting, steaming, washing, and pulping to produce glossy paper, book cover paper, tiger-skin paper, etc.

Of course, they were mainly producing white paper now. Neat reams of white paper were bundled into large packages and transported to the warehouse area by workers wearing prison uniforms.

The arrival of Li Xuewu and the others naturally caught the attention of the "workers," but the stern reprimands of the guards made them focus on their work again.

Wu Youqing looked at the orderly work site and nodded to Huang Gan, "It's quite good."

Li Xuewu also nodded. It was truly not easy to achieve this under such forced labor conditions.

This also had to do with the current judicial management; factors like isolation, independence, and severity created special situations in special times.

After visiting the printing factory, Li Xuewu asked about the performance of the old machine. Huang Gan didn't know much about it.

But since he had been busy with it these days, he could naturally bluff a few words for Li Xuewu.

It could be said that it was as shabby as it could be; if it weren't for the fact that labor didn't cost money, it really wouldn't have any value for reuse.

However, Li Xuewu couldn't get his hands on a suitable machine for the time being. Having something was better than having nothing; regardless of whether it was a good donkey or a bad donkey, one that could plow the field was a good donkey.

Declining Huang Gan's invitation to dinner, Li Xuewu hurried back with Sha Qizhi because Han Yating had contacted Li Xuewu via wireless, saying the leaders were going to start talks at noon.

Li Xuewu naturally didn't want to miss this opportunity. He could skip a meal, but he had to fight for what was rightfully his.

The command vehicle drove directly to the entrance of the guesthouse according to the instructions.

"Yo, Li Chu."

Wang Jingzhang stood at the entrance of the guesthouse. Seeing Li Xuewu get out of the car, he raised an eyebrow and said sarcastically, "You've returned at just the right time."

Li Xuewu didn't mind his tone and said with a smile, "I heard the food at the guesthouse was good today, so I made a special trip back."

"Is that so~"

Wang Jingzhang looked at the several section chiefs and deputy section chiefs standing at the entrance chatting and asked, "How come I don't smell the food from the small cafeteria? Don't tell me this guesthouse has your own people, Li Chu?"

The people around looked at Wang Jingzhang, who seemed like a mad dog, and couldn't help but shift their feet.

Damn it, if you want to go crazy, don't drag me into it. Why ask me such a question? I don't know anything.

Li Xuewu glanced at them indifferently and instructed Zhang Songying, who had come out to greet him, "Is your service awareness that poor? How did you provoke Section Chief Wang to say such things? Reflect on it properly."

"Yes."

Zhang Songying hadn't heard what Wang Jingzhang said, but since Li Xuewu had given such instructions, there must be some implication.

At this moment, Zhang Songying formally apologized to Wang Jingzhang and even said she hoped Section Chief Wang would give more suggestions to the guesthouse, promising that the guesthouse would humbly accept them and actively rectify the situation.

Wang Jingzhang looked at Li Xuewu, who was entering the house, and then at Zhang Songying, who was apologizing to him. He felt as if he had punched the air, feeling very hurt.

Bullying a female comrade who was also of a lower rank than himself—it really wasn't a face-saving thing to say out loud.

"Hehehe, don't take it seriously. I was just joking with Li Chu."

Wang Jingzhang naturally wouldn't let Zhang Songying's words stand, so he laughed and covered up the topic.

However, everyone around was watching, and he couldn't lift a rock only to drop it on his own feet, so he deliberately asked Zhang Songying, "What did your Li Chu do this morning? How come he returned just as the leaders were talking about holding a symposium?"

"Yo, Section Chief Wang, how can you say that?"

Zhang Songying lost her earlier politeness and said deliberately, "What do you mean 'our Li Chu'? We only have Section Chief Zhang and Deputy Section Chief Cen."

After saying this, she provoked the people around her, "Besides, it's not good for you to be asking about the leaders of other departments here. What if the leaders above hear you?"

Upon hearing this, the people around pretended to walk into the house, all speaking in polite phrases, letting each other go first, with no one paying attention to Wang Jingzhang.

Everyone knew the leaders were upstairs. Even if it wasn't about how the leaders above would view it, at the very least, the factory leaders didn't want their dirty laundry aired in public.

Wang Jingzhang looked at the back of Zhang Songying, who was walking into the lobby, his face dark with anger.

He wasn't standing at the entrance with the heads of several departments for any other reason than to see if he could join the leaders when they came over, so he could perform in front of the expert group and the leadership group.

This inspection involved not only leaders from the ministry but also leaders from the State Council and other ministries.

The focus was on how the rolling mill had responded to natural disasters over the past period.

Although everyone knew Li Xuewu had contributed significantly to the several earthquakes, that didn't stop other departments from trying to show off.

They hadn't seen Li Xuewu all morning, especially when the leaders were visiting key departments of the rolling mill. His absence made the heads of other departments happy.

If the most outstanding one wasn't there, did that mean others could stand out?

Although they were all scrambling to push forward, hardly any of them were actually relevant, because the leaders had been led by factory leaders all morning to visit this and that.

It was all about the achievements created by the rolling mill in recent years. When leaders came, the factory leaders naturally took the credit first; there was no room for departments to compete.

This was the routine for leaders coming down for inspections: first look at the great achievements, then have a meal of meat, eggs, and chicken, rest a little in the afternoon, and then go back where they came from~

Accompanying these leaders were the expert group, who were currently in the large office looking at materials.

The focus was on the dual-preplan submitted by the Security Department and the records of several earthquake relief efforts.

Li Xuewu hurried back because Li Huai De had called the Security Department; otherwise, they wouldn't have found Li Xuewu.

"Leader."

Li Xuewu walked into the guesthouse but didn't go upstairs, heading straight to the office on the first floor, where Li Huai De was waiting for him.

Seeing Li Xuewu enter, Li Huai De waved him over and smiled, "People are breaking their heads trying to stand in front of the leaders, but you've disappeared. What are you busy with?"

When a leader asks what you're busy with, it doesn't necessarily mean they want to comfort you, nor does it mean they want to reward you; it's possible they have an opinion about you.

"Hi, it's the branch bureau..."

Li Xuewu saw there was no one else in the room, offered Li Huai De a cigarette, lit one for himself, and explained, "The Public Security Brigade is on the right track, and we need to strengthen security in key units. I've been so busy I haven't had a moment to breathe."

Li Huai De didn't know about the branch bureau's business. Seeing Li Xuewu could explain it so clearly, he naturally had no way to verify it.

But he was dissatisfied with Li Xuewu neglecting the work at the rolling mill.

"I've talked to you about the division of labor before."

Li Huai De tapped the desk and said, "The branch bureau's work is important, but isn't the rolling mill's work important? You can't just treat the head when it hurts and the foot when it hurts."

"Yes, yes, it's my negligence in work."

Li Xuewu didn't skimp on words, nodding and taking the initiative to admit his mistake. Regardless of the matter, having a good attitude was the first step to solving the problem.

Li Huai De had a belly full of opinions, and seeing Li Xuewu's attitude, he couldn't say or scold him.

"Do you know that the expert group and the leadership group are coming to our factory for an inspection today? Why didn't you know to prepare in advance?"

"This, leader,"

Li Xuewu explained, "I arranged for the Security Department to do a good job with security and inspection preparations. They..."

"Are they the ones in charge?"

Li Huai De rebuked, "You are the person in charge of the Security Department. How could you be off-duty at such a critical moment? This is irresponsible behavior."

Li Xuewu knew Li Huai De wasn't talking about today's small matter; he was talking about him running away yesterday.

However, Li Xuewu acted as if he didn't understand, admitting his mistake repeatedly but refusing to take the bait.

After talking for a while, Li Huai De realized Li Xuewu's attitude and said coldly, "I still suggest you improve your ideological awareness, Comrade Li Xuewu. Your ideology cannot slip!"

"Yes."

Li Xuewu saw Li Huai De finish and asked with raised eyebrows, "However, leader, what's the situation with Section Chief Wang Jingzhang? He hasn't targeted me just once or twice. Just now at the entrance, he even..."

Don't hit someone in the face, don't expose someone's shortcomings.

Li Xuewu asking this was like rubbing salt into Old Li's wounds.

Wang Jingzhang used to be Li Huai De's number one henchman, a character who charged to the front. But after the division of labor was adjusted, he had become more distant from Li Huai De day by day.

Recently, he had even changed his allegiance and become a pawn for Jing Yunong, brushing up his presence in front of leaders with his service reforms.

At least Li Xuewu could see that the Service Department had indeed done work, and the results were quite obvious.

He hadn't been this jumpy when he was under Old Li, but he hadn't been this capable either. Did this mean Li Huai De lacked the ability to use people and the capacity to tolerate them?

Li Huai De didn't know if Li Xuewu was doing it on purpose, but the comfortable feeling he had after scolding Li Xuewu vanished instantly.

Now Li Xuewu might as well have used a look of disdain to say he couldn't control his own little brother. Changing allegiance was a big deal in officialdom; it represented not only the turncoat behavior of the person involved but also the incompetence of the master whose gate was cold and whose horses were few.

"I know."

Li Huai De nodded, frowned slightly, and said, "Don't pay attention to him; just do your own job."

After saying this, he took a puff of his cigarette, instructed Li Xuewu, "You'll go to the third floor with me in a while; you'll be speaking at the symposium."

"About what?"

Li Xuewu said in surprise, "I haven't prepared anything, and no one notified me to prepare in advance."

"The Factory Office wanted to notify you, but Director Xu couldn't find you."

Li Huai De said with dissatisfaction, then said, "Alright, it's about the dual-preplan content submitted by your Security Department. Prepare it first; I'll have my secretary call you in a while."

After saying this, he stood up, stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, and walked out.

Li Xuewu saw Li Huai De out, raised an eyebrow, and returned to his office.

There were probably countless eyes watching the guesthouse right now; even the slightest abnormality would trigger waves of low-voiced discussion.

Li Xuewu didn't follow Li Huai De's arrangement to write any speech draft.

Since it was a symposium, don't make it look like a report meeting. Reading from a draft wouldn't make these leaders notice him.

If he was going to do it, he'd do it off-the-cuff and improvise.

He had proposed the dual-preplan. Although most of the work during that period had been completed by his subordinates, his mind wasn't empty.

As for big scenes, Li Xuewu wasn't afraid at all. Anyway, he didn't know who was who; he'd just treat it as coming to learn.

Sure enough, right after lunch and a short rest, Li Xuewu was called upstairs.

Only then did the observant people realize Li Xuewu had been in his office the whole time. Seeing Li Xuewu go upstairs, their gazes followed him to the staircase.

Only a few people were allowed to attend today, making the opportunity precious. Li Xuewu had won the first spot because of the dual-preplan; otherwise, where would the Security Department have had a chance to perform?

Li Xuewu was arranged by the secretary to sit in the non-voting seat in the conference room, along with Xu Sinian and Kuang Yusheng.

The Production Management Department was the largest and most important department in the rolling mill. In the earthquake, the Production Management Department naturally achieved the best results.

So Li Xuewu wasn't surprised to see Kuang Yusheng here, but he was surprised by Xu Sinian.

"Why are you here too?"

Xu Sinian: "..."

Seeing Li Xuewu's look of disgust, Xu Sinian just wanted to curse. If he didn't know why Li Xuewu was here, he would have asked why the head of the Security Department was attending the meeting.

"Looking down on me?"

Xu Sinian looked at Li Xuewu and whispered, "I'm the person in charge of the Earthquake Relief Office."

Li Xuewu leaned back and looked at Xu Sinian suspiciously, asking, "Does our factory have this department?"

"You damn..."

Xu Sinian wanted to strangle Li Xuewu. Gritting his teeth, he retorted, "Otherwise, who do you think coordinated the materials and personnel? Who coordinated the budget for your drills and promotion?"

"Oh, oh, oh~"

Li Xuewu acted as if he had just found out and asked Kuang Yusheng, who was sitting beside him acting lonely, "Section Chief Kuang, did you know about this?"

Kuang Yusheng: "..."

*Are you two talking about your own business? Why ask me? I'm not familiar with you. The leaders are coming in a moment; don't drag me into this. *

Li Xuewu didn't care. He took his notebook and moved to the seat on Kuang Yusheng's left, sandwiching Kuang Yusheng between himself and Xu Sinian.

"I'm really sick of you."

Li Xuewu whispered to Xu Sinian while sitting down, "Every time I'm with you, nothing good happens. You always take the credit for easy battles, and when things get tough, you run away. You're even faster than me when it comes to claiming rewards."

"I damn!..."

Xu Sinian was separated by Kuang Yusheng and didn't dare to speak loudly. Seeing the secretary over there watching them, he could only lean against Kuang Yusheng and curse at Li Xuewu in a low voice: "Do you have any conscience at all?"

"I have too much conscience!"

Li Xuewu looked aggrieved, tidying his notebook while muttering, "But I really have no chemistry with you. It's better to get along with Section Chief Kuang."

After saying this, he asked the innocent-looking Kuang Yusheng, "Right, Section Chief Kuang?"

"..."

Xu Sinian, separated by Kuang Yusheng, didn't dare to speak loudly, and seeing the secretary over there looking at this side, he could only lean against Kuang Yusheng and curse Li Xuewu in a low voice: "Do you have any conscience left?"

"I have too much conscience!"

Li Xuewu looked aggrieved, and while organizing his notebook, he muttered: "But I really have no tacit understanding with you; it's not as good as getting along with Division Chief Kuang."

After finishing, he even asked the innocent-looking Kuang Yusheng: "Right, Division Chief Kuang?"

"..."