Chapter 651: Parting

Early in the morning, Li Xuewu felt as if the "Seven Armies had been flooded."

He had given his daughter a small mattress last night, but who knew how the child had squirmed; she had still drawn a map on the bedsheets.

Gu Ning, seeing Li Shu already pouting and on the verge of tears, had no choice but to scold Li Xuewu, telling him to get up quickly and hang the bedding out to dry.

Li Xuewu was helpless; he couldn't afford to offend either the big one or the small one, so he could only carry the bedding downstairs.

Qin Jingru saw Li Xuewu coming down and asked, "What happened?"

"Li Shu wet the bed."

Li Xuewu sighed helplessly, shuffled out of the foyer in his slippers, and headed toward the clothesline at the door to dry the bedding.

The old lady heard the noise, walked out of the dining room, glanced outside the door, and said to Li Xuewu as he returned, "Went to bed late again, didn't you?"

After finishing, she smiled and explained, "Li Shu goes once before bed, and she knows how to call for someone when she wakes up in the morning; she only wets the bed when she goes to sleep too late."

"It's fine, it'll be okay once it's dried."

Li Xuewu rubbed his face, looked at the courtyard outside the door, and said, "I'll go get the milk; you stay at home."

After saying this, he changed directly into cloth shoes and went out wearing his long gown and shorts.

Last Sunday morning, he had said he would start exercising, but he hadn't gotten up these past few days; the morning sleep was simply too sweet, and Gu Ning was too sweet—he couldn't get up.

Today was only because his daughter was causing trouble; otherwise, he could have had a good sleep.

But since he was already up, there was no need to go upstairs and face the "flames of the city gate" from Gu Ning.

Carrying the milk coupons and the milk book, he went to the neighborhood milk station to collect milk for his daughter, then carried the milk and circled around the lake.

Truth be told, it was rare to see people out during the day here, but there really were people taking a stroll this early in the morning.

It just wasn't as crowded as the side by the lake; after all, the people living here weren't as densely packed as in those large communal courtyards.

If Li Xuewu had to identify them, he didn't know a single one. Qin Jingru was different; he didn't know how she managed it, but she could recount the general situation of all the surrounding neighbors.

This little rabbit had a natural drive; she dared to talk to anyone, and once she started, she would just keep chatting.

People looked at her like she was a silly husky, but they didn't guard against her, and she had actually made a name for herself in this neighborhood.

But while you might think she was silly, she thought others were silly too. She carried that natural shrewdness of a rural person; she wouldn't mention a single word about Li Xuewu's family affairs, only prying into other people's business.

Li Xuewu had once accidentally overheard her chatting with the old lady, listing which family on this street was doing what, and what the status of another family was, just like reciting a menu.

It was fortunate she had no education; otherwise, wouldn't she have gone off to hang out with Ji Weidong?

Li Xuewu had only inquired about this street; most of the residents were cadres, and most were from the ministries—not high, but not low either.

Li Xuewu hadn't thought about making contact; it wasn't very convenient at this time, as people were guarded against one another.

Because it was the end of May, the storm had already formed, right above Beijing, ready to fall at any moment.

As far as Li Xuewu knew, those related to the cultural and artistic fields who could leave had already set off.

And those who couldn't leave, or were still watching, or relying on their connections, had all become cautious.

Li Xuewu wasn't a cultural person, didn't have a wide circle of friends, and wasn't fond of art, so he had nothing to do with this.

He had the paperwork and the property deed for living here, and he had no conflicts or disputes with anyone; it was very safe.

Strolling back to the small courtyard, Li Xuewu specifically looked into the backyard and the river ditch in front of the door; there were quite a few small water bugs, though he didn't know if there were shrimp or small fish.

If they raised chickens, they could learn from Banggeng and use these for feed.

Of course, that would only work if Qin Jingru was willing to do it; after all, it was tiring work.

But there must be plenty of fish and shrimp in the lake; Li Xuewu had seen people fishing by the lake when he was strolling.

It was like this at this time; there were plenty of fish, shrimp, and crabs, with no pesticides or chemical fertilizers—the natural environment was excellent.

Entering the courtyard, Li Shu was standing there with a small wooden stick, while Gu Ning was stretching out the bedsheet Li Xuewu had just hung up.

"Just drying it isn't enough; it needs to be washed."

"How would I know?"

Li Xuewu twitched the corner of his mouth, turned his head to glare at his daughter, and said, "Hmph! It's all the trouble you caused!"

Li Shu mimicked him, turned her head, and looked into the courtyard, completely ignoring him. *I don't remember doing it; say whatever you want. *

Gu Ning walked over, took the milk from Li Xuewu's hand, and said, "Watch her; I'm going to heat the milk."

After saying this, she didn't mention the bedsheet again but carried the milk into the house.

Li Xuewu took a deep breath, then looked into the house, then at the "culprit" standing in the courtyard; Li Xuewu only felt wronged.

Who did I offend!

Last night, he had said to send his daughter downstairs to sleep, but she was the one who insisted on carrying her to bed; now that she had wet the bed, she was blaming him—where could he go to reason this out?

"Hit!"

"You really should be hit~"

Li Xuewu saw his daughter waving the small wooden stick and shouting "hit," so he squatted down beside her and glared at her with a bad look.

Li Shu, adhering to the principle of *I won't pay attention to you, and you shouldn't pursue me*, continued playing with the small wooden stick, not looking at her father's eyes at all.

The sun wasn't high this early in the morning, but the temperature was rising quickly, and it felt warm on the body.

Li Shu had broken into a sweat, and Li Xuewu had gained some body heat from his stroll.

Once he led Li Shu into the house, he was ordered by the old lady to serve his daughter and wash her face again.

This was the morning routine of a father raising a child; if no one helped, he would have to add several more tasks.

Like changing clothes, mixing milk powder, cleaning up...

Li Xuewu really didn't dare to imagine the situation when his sister-in-law gave birth and Gu Ning also gave birth.

"Eat, eat."

Li Xuewu led his daughter out clumsily, snatched the small wooden stick from her hand, and signaled that he was taking her to eat.

Li Shu, however, wanted to go upstairs to play, and the two of them had a tug-of-war at the stairs.

It was the old lady who walked over, held Li Shu, and teased, "If you dawdle any longer, your father will definitely be late for work."

"If I'm late for work, I'll spank her bottom."

Li Xuewu made a fierce expression at his daughter, but Li Shu wasn't afraid of him, because when they lived in the communal courtyard, her father would make this expression every morning when he went to work.

The chaotic morning finally ended with the arrival of the command vehicle and Sha Qizhi ringing the doorbell.

Li Xuewu smiled bitterly, picked up his leather bag, and walked out of the house, with his daughter's babbling farewell sounds behind him at the door.

No wonder they said married men didn't want to go home after work; if it were like this every day, with several children together, Li Xuewu felt it would be better to live at the Dongfeng Club.

The house was large, there were many courtyards, and there was distance between them; otherwise, the noise of these children could make a person explode.

He didn't know how his father and mother had raised them and their younger sister back then; weren't they annoyed by the noise?

"Everyone stand still, we're going to take a group photo together."

Li Xuewu's car had just arrived at the office area, and as soon as he got out, he saw Xu Sinian organizing people to gather by the flower bed in front of the main office building.

It was only after Sha Qizhi reminded him that he knew this year's intern university students were ending their internship, and the factory was organizing them to return to school, so they were taking a group photo as a souvenir.

The university students were all standing ready, and the photographer, a secretary from the factory office, was standing in front of the crowd, adjusting his posture with the camera.

Perhaps hearing the car, and seeing Li Xuewu get out, Xu Sinian, under Secretary Yang's signal, waved for Li Xuewu to come over for the photo.

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "I'm not going; I'm not a university student."

Xu Sinian ran over, pulled Li Xuewu, and said, "Hurry up, can you let the leaders wait for you?"

Li Xuewu declined, "Why are you pulling me to join the fun? Those sitting in front are all factory leaders; you want me to stand in the back as a university student~"

"Who said you aren't a factory leader?"

Xu Sinian pulled Li Xuewu, using a different logic, "These are university students; you will be their leader in the future, so if you aren't a leader, what are you? Hurry up."

Li Xuewu couldn't resist his pulling, so he had to follow him over.

Seeing Yang Yuansong signaling him to sit over, he quickly smiled and waved his hand, letting Xu Sinian arrange a position on the edge.

It was on the edge, but still in the middle, because those participating in the photo today were Secretary Yang Yuansong, Deputy Secretary Gu Weijie, Jing Yunong in charge of personnel, as well as Xu Sinian from the factory office, the head of the Personnel Department, and the head of the Party Organization Department.

Including him, there were only seven people, so it didn't look crowded sitting in front, and behind them were all the university students interning at the Steel Rolling Mill this year.

These university students had been interning in workshops, offices, and various departments for over two months, gaining a preliminary understanding and awareness of the work at the Steel Rolling Mill, laying a preliminary foundation for entering their future jobs.

During their internship in the workshops, some used their knowledge to participate in mechanical design, modification, standardization of production, and inspection and improvement of technological processes.

Those interning in the offices participated in various office tasks, declaration and management of important projects, and the creation and organization of documents.

Some felt their trip was worthwhile, some gained a lot, and of course, some were full of regrets.

This was perhaps a process they had to experience on their life's journey, which would influence their future temperament and character.

Because they were returning to school, the factory leaders didn't say anything about internship grades or job assignments on this occasion; there were only blessings and welcomes.

Li Xuewu didn't wait for Yang Yuansong and Gu Weijie to finish speaking before quietly returning to the main office building.

They were the ones in charge of this business; what was he, a cadre from the Security Department, doing getting involved?

The only one there who had a slight connection to him was Zhou Yao, who had been decided on in advance, but he couldn't say anything to her on such an occasion.

Everything that needed to be said was in the internship report and filed in her records.

Zhou Yao also watched Li Xuewu return to the office building. She wasn't very excited standing here today, because the time spent in the Security Department had been the two months of fastest growth in her life.

Having long received the department head's words, she knew she would definitely be able to return to the Security Department. Compared to the anxiety and confusion of other classmates, Zhou Yao really felt like she was giving herself a vacation, just as Director Yu had told her yesterday.

Among these university students, it wasn't just Zhou Yao who was looking at Li Xuewu; there were also Huang Shiwen and Fu Linfang.

These two were also university students initially assigned to the Security Department for internship, but due to their personal wishes and Xu Li from the Service Department, they had transferred to the Service Department for internship.

The results couldn't be judged; one had suffered a crushing defeat, and the other was like a flower in a mirror or the moon in the water.

After that accident, Huang Shiwen had become self-contained, losing the liveliness she had at school and the longing and innocence she had when she first arrived at the Steel Rolling Mill.

Fu Linfang had become more introverted, rarely speaking, working very hard in the Procurement Section, being extremely cautious, and even rumors about her and the department head had spread.

The two had transferred from the Security Department to the Service Department; he didn't know if they had achieved what they had longed for when they left.

However, Zhou Yao knew that staying in the Security Department must have been a very correct decision.

She had heard that among their class, those who had their file comments written by the department head were fewer than ten.

And based on these comments, combined with their internship grades, this would definitely be the basis for their job placement upon return.

Some classmates interning at the factory office said that the positions were basically decided, and the relevant levels had been implemented; they were just waiting for them to finish graduation and return to report to the Personnel Department to see for themselves.

It was no wonder these university students were anxious and confused; having interned for over two months and become familiar with the environment, this reassignment meant all their previous efforts were wasted.

What they had gained were opportunities for training, knowledge learned, and connections made.

This was the purpose of the factory office arranging for them to intern on the front lines and in the offices—to have more contact and understanding.

But in the end, they still had to follow the factory's rules of the game; it was very cruel and very helpless.

There were only a few excellent spots, and returning meant becoming a director or deputy director-level clerk; weren't they all fighting tooth and nail for them?

Zhou Yao didn't know how her grades were, but at least she should be a deputy director-level clerk.

After all, she had participated in the compilation of the dual contingency plans, and her name was on the nationally promoted dual contingency plan text, which counted as an achievement bonus.

Plus the evaluation from the department head and the daily assessments, it should at least be like this.

Everyone was from the same school and familiar with each other before, but after the internship, it seemed the first period of competition had begun.

What they didn't know was that in their subsequent careers, as fellow university students, they would become each other's strongest competitors.

Society opened its arms to them, but also gave them heavy burdens and lessons.

Looking at the young people outside the window with expressions of joy, longing, anxiety, and so on, Li Xuewu smiled, turned around, and returned to his desk to continue working.

Just as Li Xuewu was about to pick up his fountain pen, an unexpected guest walked into Li Xuewu's office.

"Director Li, busy, I see."

"Oh, Director Bi, a rare guest."

Li Xuewu smiled, stood up, walked out from behind his desk to shake hands with Bi Yuding, who had just entered, and then invited him to sit on the sofa.

Sha Qizhi, hearing the voice, came in from outside the door, greeted Bi Yuding with a smile, and then started making tea.

"I've heard that you, Director Li, are an excellent host, so I specifically came to taste whether your tea is fragrant or not."

Bi Yuding was clearly prepared; his polite remarks were very fluent, as if they had been rehearsed.

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said with a smile, "The tea leaves here were left behind by Director Dong; I don't have much taste myself, so I just drink whatever I can get my hands on."

Sha Qizhi brought the tea over and placed it in front of both of them; hearing the director's words, his ears couldn't help but twitch.

When would he be able to master the skill of speaking with hidden meanings as perfectly as this?

He actually wanted to stay in the office to continue learning, but the rules didn't allow it.

Bi Yuding was neither a superior nor a subordinate, nor a female comrade, nor someone from an outside unit; there was no reason for him to stay.

Moreover, coming to talk to the director at this time was clearly to discuss something inconvenient for others to hear; otherwise, he would have gotten straight to the point when he came in to pour the tea.

Watching Sha Qizhi leave the door, Bi Yuding exchanged a few pleasantries, took a sip of hot tea, pondered for a moment, and said, "We are all old colleagues; there are some things I'd like to ask for your opinion on."

"Oh? Director Bi, surely not?"

Seeing Bi Yuding say this, Li Xuewu was stunned for a moment, then smiled and deflected with a sentence.

Bi Yuding didn't explain or be polite but pursed his lips, looked at Li Xuewu, and said, "What is your view on the current political situation in the Steel Rolling Mill?"

"Or rather, do you have any views on the current stable situation?"

Seeing Li Xuewu's expression change, Bi Yuding knew that his question today was a bit abrupt.

Even if he had changed it, it still touched on the other party's bottom line.

But just as he wanted to change the question to let Li Xuewu understand that wasn't what he meant, Li Xuewu waved his hand, signaling him to drink tea.

Li Xuewu also picked up his teacup and took a sip before saying, "Since you've said you want to ask for my opinion, it's better to get straight to the point and make things clear."

"You, me."

Li Xuewu gestured between them and said, "Actually, there's no need to be so cryptic, right?"

After saying this, Li Xuewu also glanced around the office, meaning to tell Bi Yuding that there were only the two of them in the room, and the words wouldn't get out.

Bi Yuding frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and said, "It's Deputy Factory Director Li; he talked to me last night, wanting the Dispatch Department to actively participate in the 'Great Study, Great Discussion'."

"He also criticized our Dispatch Department for not being active enough in this study work and for not exerting subjective initiative."

Li Xuewu listened to Bi Yuding's words, knowing this was Li Huai De's next move after inciting the Logistics Department to cause trouble, and it was an even more intense action.

At this time, clearly knowing the situation wasn't very clear, Li Huai De still wanted to do this; it could be said to be somewhat crazy.

But Li Xuewu just listened to Bi Yuding's words without expressing any opinion.

Because he didn't know why Bi Yuding wanted to tell him these things, and what the purpose of saying them was.

He also didn't know if there were others behind Bi Yuding, and what their purpose was.

Concerning Li Huai De, concerning the Steel Rolling Mill, and especially since Bi Yuding's current attitude was also ambiguous, Li Xuewu couldn't, and didn't want to, express his position to him on this matter.

The relationship between the two hadn't reached such a point of closeness, nor were there any shared interests, and he had no kindness or desire to be a teacher to help others plan strategies.

Now Bi Yuding was saying more and more, as if he were treating him like a confidant, talking about Li Huai De's work arrangements for the Dispatch Department, and his words inevitably contained complaints and dissatisfaction with this behavior.

Li Xuewu really felt the other party was being too familiar too soon. Bi Yuding was a very low-key and pragmatic person, always serious and earnest in his work, and had very few private social interactions.

At least in the banquets organized by Li Huai De that Li Xuewu had attended, he had only seen Bi Yuding twice.

Now that Li Xuewu was a deputy department head and a department leader, Li Huai De didn't look for him to join drinking parties anymore, so he didn't know the situation.

But it could be seen that Bi Yuding was also a person who didn't like socializing; looking at his social circle, he didn't have many friends or connections in the Steel Rolling Mill.

The Dispatch Department was originally managed by Nie Chenglin, but later, due to work and department adjustments, the Dispatch Department was assigned to Li Huai De.

And the original head of the Dispatch Department retired, and Bi Yuding was promoted from deputy department head to full department head.

He didn't know if there were any original connections, but anyway, under Li Huai De, he was a person who obeyed orders very well.

Perhaps it was this obedient attitude that made Li Huai De trust him, but he was also very cautious in using him.

The first unit Li Huai De chose to cause trouble was the Logistics Department, not the Dispatch Department; this was a manifestation of that caution.

Of course, it also had to do with Bi Yuding's personality of avoiding things whenever possible; he was the first to run away last time they played mahjong.

Li Xuewu just sat and listened to his complaints, while drinking tea and thinking about his purpose for coming.

When he was really tired of talking, Bi Yuding finally stopped, looked at Li Xuewu, and asked, "If it's convenient, can you tell me how the Security Department is staying out of it?"

"Hmm~"

Li Xuewu took a puff of his cigarette, squinted, and said, "How did you see that the Security Department is staying out of it?"

After saying this, without waiting for Bi Yuding to answer, he reached out to flick the ash and complained, "Did you forget that I just received a warning disciplinary action a few days ago?"

"This..."

Bi Yuding also hesitated and sighed, feeling a sense of shared misery.

He had thought that the Security Department hadn't participated in it, so there must be some way or method; Bi Yuding just wanted to ask Li Xuewu if he could bring him along.

Actually, coming here today, he had also made a great determination and had high hopes; it wasn't something everyone could do for a full department head to bow to a deputy department head.

After Li Huai De talked to him last night, he sat in his study at home and thought for half the night; the only way out was Li Xuewu.

Just looking at the various records Li Xuewu had set at the Steel Rolling Mill, he knew this person had great ability and ambition.

Calling it asking for advice, actually, what was the difference between this and visiting a wharf to ask for care?

He also wanted to stay out of it, do his own work well, and complete his own tasks; he had no further extravagant hopes.

But the situation didn't allow it; there were quite a few people in the Dispatch Department, and the scope of management was very broad; it was a proper large department, a production department.

Li Huai De wouldn't allow him to stay out of it; he either had to charge into battle or wait to be adjusted.

Since he was going sideways, it was impossible to go up, because he had no resources in this regard, and Li Huai De wouldn't allow it.

Who could allow someone else's foot to appear within their sphere of influence? Just look at whether Wang Jingzhang's Service Department still came to Li Huai De here to report work!

Going up didn't work, so he could only go sideways; he couldn't go down, could he?

Going sideways to huddle for warmth, he still had no resources or foundation in this regard; he didn't socialize on weekdays, so where would he get friends?

After thinking it over, only Li Xuewu was this potential stock, even though he was a deputy department-level cadre.

He was a full department-level cadre; would it be embarrassing to follow a deputy department-level cadre?

Hehe, so what if he was a full department-level cadre?

Was Xu Sinian a full department-level cadre?

He still treated Li Xuewu as a brother!

Xia Zhongquan and Kuang Yusheng were almost as old as Li Xuewu's father, but look at these two people; they were almost shouting "666" behind Li Xuewu.

These people could be brothers and friends with Li Xuewu, so why couldn't he join this small group?

Didn't the Dispatch Department have resources that Li Xuewu could use?

Not necessarily~

Another reason Bi Yuding took the initiative to contact Li Xuewu was that the news of Li Xuewu entering the Party Committee was basically confirmed.

Now saying Li Xuewu was a factory leader, although it was a bit of an exaggeration, it wasn't too far off.

Being able to enter the Party Committee meant having a vote on the Steel Rolling Mill's decisions, and a vote meant having a say.

The news said it was to strengthen and respond to the stability of the current complex situation, improve the importance of the Security Department's safety and defense capabilities, and so on.

It sounded very mysterious, but he understood it; it was nothing more than Li Xuewu having things in his hands that others didn't dare to easily touch.

Including Yang Yuansong, Yang Fengshan, and Li Huai De.

He saw Li Xuewu's character very clearly; modest, cautious, fair in handling affairs, and selfless, he was a good cadre.

Coming to Li Xuewu for advice didn't mean he was lower than Li Xuewu, and there was nothing psychologically difficult to overcome.

It was better than biting the bullet and charging into battle for Li Huai De.

"I've basically understood what you mean."

After Li Xuewu explained to Bi Yuding how difficult his work was and how hard it was to handle, he also implicitly expressed his difficulty in being arranged by Li Huai De to be the bottom line.

When the big brother meets the second brother, each tells his own bitterness.

Li Xuewu also took a hard puff of his cigarette, frowned, and said, "I can't give you an answer to this matter, because both you and I are in the game."

This sentence was very sincere, but saying it was equivalent to saying nothing, which made Bi Yuding somewhat disappointed and discouraged.

However, Li Xuewu still pondered and gave him a suggestion: "Now that the workshop work is so busy and the product transportation situation is so tense, are you still sitting in the office?"

"Is...?"

Bi Yuding was also stunned for a moment by what Li Xuewu said, but he still looked at Li Xuewu hesitantly, waiting for him to continue.

Li Xuewu pressed the cigarette butt into the ashtray, looked at Bi Yuding opposite, and said, "Anyway, if it were me, I wouldn't be able to sit still; the steel from Steel City, the parts from Jilin City, the cargo reservation for the frontier at the end of this year—I'd be anxious for you."

"That... Director Li."

Bi Yuding's eyes widened, he leaned forward, and asked earnestly, "If I go out for research, what should I do if there's something in the department, or if I have something when I come back?"

"Why don't you submit a resignation?"

Li Xuewu looked at him amusedly and said, "I don't think there's anything wrong with going to the Labor Union; it's all serving the people."

"..."

Bi Yuding understood; Li Xuewu wouldn't trust him, and even less would he accept him, at least not now.

If he had said it earlier, would there have to be some kind of "letter of allegiance"?

Li Xuewu didn't lack this "letter of allegiance" from him, but since it was delivered to his door, he would just watch slowly.

Bi Yuding saw that Xia Zhongquan and Kuang Yusheng were doing well now, but he didn't know that they had been tortured to the point of wanting to die by Li Xuewu before.

If he didn't dig out all your old bottom, could Li Xuewu trust you?

Even now, among those who got along well with Li Xuewu in the Steel Rolling Mill, who wasn't in the assessment period?

Term: Permanent.

Li Xuewu's degree of trust in human nature was approximately equal to zero; unless one day you lay in a coffin and grass grew on your grave, he would believe you wouldn't betray him.

Regarding Bi Yuding, Li Xuewu had already been pondering in his heart during the long time he was listening to him; he would just use him slowly; anyway, it didn't cost money.

After sending the other party away, Li Xuewu returned to his desk, and Sha Qizhi also walked in to clean up the tea set.

"Director, you still have things to do this morning."

"Oh."

Li Xuewu looked at the time on his hand, nodded, and said, "Busy for a while longer, and then we'll set off."

Saying he was busy for a while, today's work wasn't easy either; seeing it was time to send his mother-in-law, Li Xuewu asked Sha Qizhi to take the documents and squeeze out time in the car to handle them.

The command vehicle went directly to the airport and waited for his mother-in-law and the others at the entrance.

He didn't stop the car; Xiao Hu stretched out his arm and waved at the command vehicle, and Han Jiankun followed Li Xuewu's instructions and followed.

The security at the airport entrance didn't recognize the two jeeps behind, but he recognized the big Red Flag.

He didn't dare to stop the two jeeps following the big Red Flag, watching the three cars go toward the airport tarmac.

And just as he was watching, a car drove out from the management office, guided these cars, and went directly to the aircraft parking area.

This time going to Yangcheng, Ding Fengxia only brought Xiao Hu, and the luggage was brought by the cadres of the courtyard management office with people.

Li Xuewu told Sha Qizhi and Han Jiankun to wait for him in the car, and he got out alone and walked toward the boarding ramp.

At this moment, his mother-in-law and Gu Ning were standing there, and Xiao Hu was having those cadres move the luggage onto the plane.

Passenger transport at this time was very closed; ordinary people couldn't buy plane tickets, and of course, luggage management wasn't as convenient as in later generations.

Because the identities of these people taking the plane were special, the things they carried were also very special.

When shipping first opened to the outside world, smoking and drinking weren't prohibited; that was a habit formed at this time.

Li Xuewu stood by the big Red Flag and talked to his mother-in-law; Gu Ning's expression was somewhat low, and she was pulled by Li Xuewu, signaling her not to be like this.

Ding Fengxia naturally could see her daughter's reluctance; she also couldn't bear to part with her daughter.

"You're already a mother, why are you still so clingy~"

Reluctance was reluctance, but toward her daughter, Ding Fengxia still smiled and said a sentence, dissolving the sadness in her heart.

Li Xuewu also comforted her, "I don't have time now, but I'll work hard and strive to give you time to visit Mom and Dad."

Gu Ning also heard the joke in Li Xuewu's words, pinched his hand hard, and didn't let him talk nonsense.

Ding Fengxia didn't mind this kind of joke; they were all one family, and it would be difficult to get along if it were really her lover's personality.

"I'll take this seriously; I don't know what the in-laws think, but I'm anxious to be a grandmother."

"Mom~"

Gu Ning was teased by Li Xuewu and her mother until her face turned red; they were parting, could they be more serious?

Li Xuewu just didn't want her to be sad, followed his mother-in-law's words, and said, "My mom is also anxious; she'll be happy to be a grandmother this New Year."

"You! Don't talk anymore!"

Gu Ning turned to Li Xuewu and scolded, "Don't talk anymore!"

"Hahaha~"

Ding Fengxia smiled and pulled her daughter, "Being a wife, being a mother, what's wrong with this? Mom has you, and you will have your own children; this is inheritance."

After saying this, she looked at Xiao Hu, who had finished loading the luggage and was walking down again, knowing the plane was waiting for her, so she exhorted Li Xuewu and Gu Ning, "You are all adults, people with families and daughters; think of each other in everything you do, and don't let your father and me worry."

"Don't worry, Mom."

Li Xuewu held Gu Ning's hand and said to his mother-in-law, "You and Dad take care of your health, and call home when you have time."

"Good, good."

Ding Fengxia held their hands, looked at them carefully again, then nodded and walked toward the ramp.

Li Xuewu and Gu Ning stood by the car, watched his mother-in-law wave and enter the cabin, and then left under the prompt of the airport management personnel.

Gu Ning didn't take that big Red Flag but told the driver to drive home, while she followed Li Xuewu onto the command vehicle.

The people from the courtyard management office shook hands with Li Xuewu, then got into their cars, and under the guidance of the airport car, drove outside.

On the plane, some passengers had already seen from the porthole who it was that came up after the plane was ready.

The luggage came up first, and the people came up after saying goodbye below; the passengers looked, but didn't recognize who this was.

But they all knew that anyone who could make the plane wait and enter in a big Red Flag to board directly wasn't an ordinary person.

And on this plane, they didn't recognize Ding Fengxia, but someone recognized the person who came to see her off.

Selena was sitting on this plane and saw Li Xuewu from the porthole.

Through Li Xuewu's interaction with these people, she learned that what Ai Jiaqing told her was true; Li Xuewu's background really wasn't simple.

The woman who boarded the plane, the woman who sent her off with him—she could probably guess what the relationship was.

No wonder Li Xuewu was so powerful, even Ai Jiaqing didn't dare to use power to suppress people; during the inspection process, Selena could clearly feel Ai Jiaqing's restraint.

Everything she saw today had an answer; this person had lied to her again; he wasn't from an ordinary family at all, he was lying to her again.

Would an ordinary family have a big Red Flag?

The plane took off, and Li Xuewu and Gu Ning sat in the car, watching the plane go straight into the clouds and gradually disappear from view.

"Let's go back, go home and have a good rest."

Gu Ning had asked for leave these two days just to send off her sister-in-law and mother, thinking about helping to pack things.

But there was a limit to what she could help with; she just couldn't bear to part.

Li Xuewu signaled Han Jiankun to drive and send Gu Ning home first.

Gu Ning also leaned back in the backseat, letting Li Xuewu comfort her, unable to express anything.

The driver and secretary were there, so she was embarrassed to cry, and even more embarrassed to tell Li Xuewu.

When the car entered the city and arrived at Haiyuncang, Gu Ning's emotions stabilized a bit, but when she got out of the car, she discovered the bag Li Xuewu had left in the car yesterday.

"Someone gave it to me."

Seeing Gu Ning look over, Li Xuewu carried the bag and followed her out of the car, explaining only one sentence, then led Gu Ning into the courtyard.

Li Shu was standing on the path playing, and the old lady was helping Qin Jingru weave the fence.

Seeing Li Xuewu and the other two enter, the old lady straightened her waist and asked, "The in-laws should arrive today, right? Call them tonight and ask."

She didn't ask if the in-laws had left, just fearing Gu Ning would be sad; the old lady asked cleverly, and her words were full of concern.

And Gu Ning also understood the meaning in the old lady's words, nodded, and said, "They arrive today; I'll go change my clothes and come down to help."

"Go rest; there's no work here."

The old lady waved her hand and said, "Working every day is tiring enough; you only get one day off a week, so have a good rest since you finally have time."

Qin Jingru also looked up and said, "It's just this little bit of delicate work; I can do it alone, and the old lady is just handing me things; there's nothing for you to do when you come."

Gu Ning tidied the hair by her ear, looked at the old lady helping, and felt embarrassed to stay upstairs alone.

She held Li Shu, who was playing on the ground, and said, "Then I'll watch the child, and we'll go upstairs to play."

After saying this, she signaled Li Xuewu, held Li Shu, and walked into the house.

Li Shu: "..."

What does this have to do with me!

I want to play in the courtyard!

No! You don't want to be idle, but you can't grab me to do work!

Daddy, save me!

Li Xuewu also saw the helplessness in his daughter's eyes, but Gu Ning was somewhat sensitive at this time.

It seemed that since her family had left, she wanted to learn to be independent, share housework with the family, not let the in-laws say anything, and even less let her mother worry...

Li Xuewu understood Gu Ning's mood very well, so he let her be, letting her emotions vent.

He signaled the somewhat surprised old lady with his eyes, then followed Gu Ning upstairs.

On the second floor, Gu Ning put Li Shu on the bed, while she changed into home clothes.

Seeing Li Xuewu come up, Gu Ning went to hold Li Shu, who was somewhat stunned, and said, "In the future, you teach me housework, teach me to raise children, teach me..."

"Wife, wife~"

Li Xuewu called twice, interrupting Gu Ning's words, and when Gu Ning looked over, his right hand made a gesture of pressing down slightly, saying, "Mom will be fine, and Dad will be fine too."

After saying this, he pointed at Gu Ning, then at himself, and finally at Li Shu, saying, "You, me, Li Shu, including everyone in our family, will be fine; we are one family."

Saying this, he put the things in his hand on the bed, gently embraced Gu Ning, and held her in his arms.

Gu Ning also couldn't control her emotions and cried on Li Xuewu's chest.

Li Shu, held by her mother, didn't know what had happened, looked at her mother with a blank stare, and then looked at her father.

Li Xuewu gently took Li Shu, then put her on the bed, and sat on the bed holding Gu Ning.

"Be good, it's okay; Mom is going to take care of Dad."

Li Xuewu gently squatted down, looked up at Gu Ning sitting on the bed, and said, "Just like I need you, Dad also needs Mom, right?"

Gu Ning covered her face and sobbed gently; she understood Li Xuewu's meaning, but she still couldn't help crying.

Since she was a child, she had never been away from her mother and family for a long time; the home in the courtyard was her spiritual sustenance and safe haven.

But today, sending her mother off and watching the people from the Service Department help cover the furniture and decorations with cloth, she felt very sad in her heart.

Plus, sending her mother off made her feel even more that the bitterness of parting with family might be the bitterest thing a person could feel. ===== CHAPTER 652 =====