Chapter 658

Li Xuewu was the one who saw the assertiveness in his teacher's wife's personality, which was why he shivered on his teacher's behalf.

Just like a monkey tied to the teacher's wife's hand, no matter how joyfully it jumps, it still cannot escape that rope.

Always trembling with fear, even tasting an apple makes one afraid of losing face.

Li Xuewu curled the corners of his mouth, looked back at the street where his teacher's house was located, and secretly rejoiced; although Gu Ning was equally stubborn and cold, she understood better how to make trade-offs.

Compared to Han Shu's control, Gu Ning had more capital for self-pride, much like in Shu Ting's poem "To the Oak."

If I love you—

I will never be like the climbing trumpet creeper, using your high branches to show off myself;

I must be a kapok tree beside you, standing with you as the image of a tree.

You have your copper branches and iron trunks... I have my red, heavy flowers...

(Look up this poem yourself; I cannot put it all here just to pad the word count.)

Li Xuewu also knew of Gu Ning's icy purity, so he would never embarrass her, and even less would he let himself be like Dong Wenxue, placing himself in an awkward position.

The relationship with Gu Ning was more like two lonely hearts huddling together for warmth.

By the time the car arrived at his godmother's house, Li Xuewu was still thinking that perhaps Gu Ning was smarter than him; at least at certain times, he could not understand Gu Ning.

"Didn't I tell you not to bring anything!"

Godmother Wang Shuhua had long been waiting for her godson to visit. Seeing the courtyard gate move, she rushed out of the kitchen, just about to greet him with a smile, but when she saw the two pieces of meat in Li Xuewu's hands, she widened her eyes and chided him.

"Look at what you're saying; is it really so excessive for me to bring something when I come home?"

Li Xuewu said to his godmother with a chuckle, then greeted his godfather Zheng Shusen, who was walking out of the kitchen: "You aren't reading, sir?"

"Heh, isn't it because you've come?"

Zheng Shusen also looked at Li Xuewu with a smile, his face full of affection, and greeted him: "Your mother said that reading can wait, but you shouldn't be late for your meal."

After finishing, he asked Li Xuewu: "Why didn't you bring your wife and child over?"

"Don't even mention it."

Li Xuewu walked into the kitchen, hung the beef and mutton on the rack, turned back to look at his godfather and godmother, and said: "Li Shu woke up at four o'clock and insisted on going out to play; she wouldn't stay in the room."

He washed his hands in the basin, dried them with the towel his godmother handed him, offered his godfather a cigarette, and after both had lit up, he continued to explain.

"She made a fuss all morning. I said I'd coax her into taking a nap, but when I woke up, everyone in the house was gone."

Li Xuewu took a puff of his cigarette and said with a smile: "I asked at the retail department, and it turns out my mother took the old lady, carried Li Shu, and brought the three daughters-in-law along with Li Xue to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy fabric, saying they wanted to make dresses."

"Hehehe~ Your mother is really something; what time is it now?"

Wang Shuhua said with a smile: "Dresses were what we wore when we were young; do young wives still want to wear them now?"

"That, I wouldn't know."

Li Xuewu reached out to go into the kitchen to help, but was pushed out by his godmother.

Zheng Shusen also looked at his godson with eyes full of smiles. Seeing him pushed out, he waved his hand and said: "Let your mother busy herself; we'd only be in the way."

"Just listen to you, you're just being lazy when asked to help."

Wang Shuhua heard her husband's words, chided him with a smile, and turned to busy herself in the kitchen.

Zheng Shusen didn't mind being scolded; he pulled Li Xuewu to sit in the shade of the courtyard, smoking and chatting.

"I heard your father-in-law is in Yangcheng? Is the whole family moving there?"

"It's temporarily settled in Yangcheng, but the family hasn't moved."

Li Xuewu placed his cigarette butt on the edge of the stone table and took the teapot from his godfather's hand to brew tea himself.

While busy with his hands, he explained: "It's my mother-in-law and her sister-in-law; one went to Yangcheng, the other to Changan. My brother-in-law is still at school in Changshan."

"I was just saying, it was your godmother who saw your mother-in-law at your house."

Zheng Shusen said, then took a puff of his cigarette, nodded, and said: "It's good to be in Yangcheng; it's quiet."

"He's tired now, otherwise my mother-in-law wouldn't have gone to take care of him."

Li Xuewu didn't mention other reasons; he only said his father-in-law's health was poor. It wasn't that he didn't trust his godfather, but that it wasn't necessary.

It was just to let everyone believe that the mother-in-law went to take care of the father-in-law, and also to let everyone feel that the father-in-law's health was not very good.

Showing weakness to the enemy is not a shameful thing; Li Xuewu had also explained this principle to his father-in-law in his letters.

Troops have no constant form, water has no constant shape, people have no constant state, and matters have no constant rules.

Actually, even if Li Xuewu didn't say it, with Gu Haitao's ability, he could understand the principle that a gentleman should borrow strength to act.

Zheng Shusen understood the meaning in Li Xuewu's words. After a long silence, he took a sip of tea, looked at Li Xuewu, and asked: "What about you? How have you been lately?"

"Heh, just barely managing."

Li Xuewu looked at Zheng Shusen and asked with a helpless smile: "You've heard about it?"

"Why ask me~ Hehe~"

Zheng Shusen looked at his godson with a smile and said: "You are still young; you shouldn't learn to be as deep as me. You need to have drive and courage; this is the time to ride the wind and break the waves."

"Forget it, I don't want to be a pawn crossing the river."

Li Xuewu smiled, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said: "There's nothing wrong with seeking stability at this time; anyway, I don't have any great ambitions."

"You're still acting humble with me."

Zheng Shusen smiled and pointed at Li Xuewu, but the look in his eyes was increasingly satisfied.

"Xuewu has always been very humble; why are you saying he's acting?"

Wang Shuhua walked out, chided Zheng Shusen, and then said to Li Xuewu: "Don't listen to your father; he's just teasing you. Let's be steady and take it slow; you're still young."

Seeing Li Xuewu achieve such success, Wang Shuhua, as his godmother, was already very satisfied.

It wasn't envy or jealousy; it was just out of concern for Li Xuewu. She actually hoped Li Xuewu would rise very high.

But it had to be realistic. Li Xuewu was still so young; working hard was fine, but he shouldn't be too desperate for advancement. He was already high enough as it was.

The sentence Wang Shuhua didn't say was that it is lonely at the top.

Li Xuewu, of course, understood his godmother's meaning and said with a smile: "My father is speaking in reverse; he's just afraid I'll be arrogant and is knocking me down a peg."

"My godson is very smart; he doesn't need to be knocked down."

Wang Shuhua wiped her hands and said to Zheng Shusen: "Go into the house with Xuewu; the dishes are ready, let's set the table and eat."

Li Xuewu extinguished the cigarette butt in his hand, stood up, and was about to help serve the dishes.

Wang Shuhua tried to stop him but failed; Li Xuewu had already entered the kitchen.

Zheng Shusen was poked by his wife, and not daring to delay here, he quickly got up to set the table in the house.

Li Xuewu's hands were large and strong; he picked up the bowls and chopsticks, carried a plate of peanuts, and walked out.

"Quickly go into the house, you don't need to busy yourself."

"Hey, my legs are diligent."

Li Xuewu responded with a smile and let his godfather open the door for him to enter the house.

There were only the two of them in the house, so eating was simple; sometimes they didn't even set the table.

It was only because Li Xuewu had come; otherwise, they would have just made do at the coffee table.

Once the table was set, the lunch was unusually lively, and Zheng Shusen was also happy.

When Li Xuewu brought another dish back, Zheng Shusen had already rummaged through the cabinet and found a bottle of good liquor.

"Look, hidden away three years ago."

Zheng Shusen showed off the liquor in his hand to his godson, then winked and whispered: "Cover for me; the two of us will drink it this noon!"

"No problem."

Li Xuewu also winked and said: "But you have to lead the main attack well; otherwise, I won't be able to provide cover."

"Rest assured."

Zheng Shusen gave his godson a confident look and said: "I still have a certain family status."

Li Xuewu curled the corners of his mouth upon hearing this; he certainly had family status, but it didn't seem like much in front of his godmother.

Perhaps seeing the doubt in his godson's eyes, Zheng Shusen waved his hand and said: "No problem, just watch."

After finishing, he signaled Li Xuewu to quickly serve the dishes so as not to let his wife see any flaws.

Because Li Xuewu had come, Wang Shuhua had prepared four dishes, which was much richer than usual.

It was also good at this time; green vegetables were all in season, and there were many varieties of vegetables in the market.

Especially in the summer, the neighborhood had retail departments with 24-hour uninterrupted service, so those who got off work late could also buy vegetables.

Li Xuewu and his godmother each brought a dish back, and his godfather had already set the bowls and chopsticks.

"Quickly sit down and taste it; I specifically found someone to buy a small rooster."

Wang Shuhua signaled her godson to sit down and eat quickly, while she went to the washbasin at the door to wash her hands.

Seeing that his godfather hadn't sat down yet, Li Xuewu stood by the table and waited with him.

"Why be so polite? Why aren't you sitting?"

Seeing Li Xuewu hadn't sat down, Wang Shuhua turned her gaze toward her husband.

Zheng Shusen looked at the four dishes on the table and said to Wang Shuhua: "Xuewu hasn't been here for a long time, and you've prepared all these dishes, ah~"

After a bunch of padding, it finally omitted into an "ah."

Watching his wife walk over and look at him, Zheng Shusen waved his hand, signaling Li Xuewu to sit down with him.

He himself signaled Li Xuewu and asked: "Xuewu, do you have anything to do this afternoon? Want to drink a little? Your godfather has liquor here."

The way this was said, it was as if Li Xuewu had been complaining about not being given liquor here.

Li Xuewu was also a bit confused; it was agreed that he would provide support, so why had he become the main attacker now?

"It's you who wants to drink!"

Wang Shuhua glared at her husband, turned to look at Li Xuewu, and asked: "Do you have anything to do this afternoon? If not, drink a little; you're at your godmother's house, it doesn't matter."

What could Li Xuewu say? Could he let his godfather's mouth go empty?

"Then I'll have a little; I'll drink with my father. I haven't drunk in a long time."

This was said in a way that didn't connect to anything; he didn't know who he was talking about.

It seemed like he was saying he hadn't drunk in a long time, but it also seemed like he was saying Zheng Shusen hadn't drunk in a long time.

Everyone heard the same meaning in these words. Zheng Shusen, who had already brought the liquor back from the cabinet, had long since opened the bottle; fearing he wouldn't be allowed to drink, he quickly filled a glass for himself and his godson.

"Drink less, it's the middle of the day."

Before Wang Shuhua could speak, Zheng Shusen himself started lecturing Li Xuewu, advising him not to drink too much.

Li Xuewu also found it funny; where was this godfather's family status?

It had been such a long time, and he hadn't seen it at all.

And he was a cadre in the district; he wasn't even as good as his own father. At home, if his father wanted to drink, it wouldn't be this difficult.

Although he said he wanted to drink, Li Xuewu really didn't drink much; he just drank with Zheng Shusen.

Zheng Shusen was also using his godson to satisfy his craving; he didn't have this opportunity on weekdays.

There was no one else coming to this house; his son didn't come back once a month, and his daughter didn't come back once in half a year. Li Xuewu coming was considered lively.

The couple really treated Li Xuewu as their son; Wang Shuhua took good care of Li Xuewu and the recycling station at the neighborhood office.

And Zheng Shusen was always paying attention to Li Xuewu's personal development; otherwise, why would he know when there was any movement at the steel mill?

If Li Xuewu had difficulties and really encountered problems, Zheng Shusen would help without Li Xuewu even asking.

This was more direct than matters concerning his own son, because without the scruples of family affection, he could act more freely.

Li Xuewu had also deliberately come to eat this lunch here, to chat with his godmother about family matters and talk to his godfather about work.

He was mainly worried about the couple; both were in government-related departments, and this was the time when it was most taboo to take the wrong path.

However, his godmother and godfather were both honest people who lived their lives behind closed doors; they didn't have much social interaction, so they didn't commit any taboos.

Come to think of it, his godfather's lack of desire was his advantage; all these years, he hadn't thought about advancement, only about getting things done.

So, several times over these years of wind and rain, no one had used him as a scapegoat.

Furthermore, no matter how hard the wind blew, there was always a need for people to do things; one couldn't just get rid of the doers.

Zheng Shusen was well-informed and told Li Xuewu a lot, including matters concerning the branch bureau.

Because Li Xuewu also worked at the branch bureau, he cared a bit more.

"You do things steadily, so I won't say much to you, but you must pay attention to your political stance."

After the meal, when Zheng Shusen took Li Xuewu back to the courtyard to drink tea, he pointed out to Li Xuewu: "Do what you should do according to your status; don't ask about other problems, and don't manage them."

After finishing, he tapped the teacup and said: "The teacup cannot do the work of the teapot, and even less should it think about becoming the teapot."

Li Xuewu didn't respond, just listened carefully while refilling his godfather's tea.

Zheng Shusen took a sip of tea and said: "You hold the gun in your hand; this is a matter that attracts attention. Don't think that just because you hide, others won't see you. There are many people who have their eyes on you."

"To be without desire is to be strong; this doesn't mean you really have no desires. If so, why be a cadre?"

Zheng Shusen looked at Li Xuewu and said: "If our organization were all cadres like this who are just waiting for retirement, then there would be problems."

Li Xuewu nodded, lit a cigarette for his godfather, and said: "Our Director Zheng ran into some trouble last month."

"That was his own doing."

Zheng Shusen said with a serious face to Li Xuewu: "Is the city's business something he can intervene in? Gao Zhen can take a stance; what qualifications does he have?"

"It's good now; people asked him to come out and take a stance, gave him a position, but does he dare to go?"

Li Xuewu pursed his lips and thought; his heart was already in turmoil. This matter with Director Zheng didn't seem as calm as it looked on the surface.

Zheng Shusen had perhaps drunk two extra glasses, and since Li Xuewu wasn't an outsider, he didn't hold back much in his words.

"He has trapped himself now; when gods fight, what business is it of a little ghost like him?"

"Mm, I understand."

Li Xuewu nodded and said: "It seems to be a change at the municipal bureau; he has also been tossed around enough this time. It is estimated that there will be no more reversals."

"He also thought so."

Zheng Shusen snorted and then said: "Just wait for retirement in this position; there is no possibility of further advancement."

After finishing, he shook his head and said: "Destroying one's own future is also because of overestimating one's own strength."

Li Xuewu listened to his godfather telling him about the wind and rain he couldn't understand, and gained a new understanding of the current situation.

After drinking a few cups of tea and seeing that his godfather was also sleepy, Li Xuewu bid farewell.

Zheng Shusen and Wang Shuhua didn't keep him long, knowing that young people had many things to do, unlike them.

Sending Li Xuewu to the door, Wang Shuhua urged Li Xuewu to call if there was anything, or to have someone find her at the neighborhood office.

Seeing that his godfather and godmother were sensible people, Li Xuewu felt relieved.

He agreed, got into the car, started the engine, and drove toward the neighborhood entrance.

In the district, Zheng Shusen had given up several opportunities to enter the city; by giving up disputes, he also gave up favors. Now that he remained in the district, his position was even more stable.

Especially since people in the city also had to give him face; they were all old acquaintances, and everyone knew clearly who was up and who was down.

In this way, no one in the district dared to provoke him, and he didn't provoke others; instead, he became noble and respected.

And his godmother was the same at the neighborhood office; if it weren't for his godfather being in the district and the children being grown, she could also have advanced.

Come to think of it, Godmother Wang Shuhua's ability was not weak; she was just willing to dedicate herself.

For her husband, for her children, and also for her career.

Now her seniority in the neighborhood was unique; no matter how much trouble there was, it wouldn't reach her.

Li Xuewu had come here worried about whether his godmother had any thoughts. Seeing her this time, his godmother had only one thought: it was best if no one provoked her; she had no other thoughts.

Leaving the neighborhood entrance, Li Xuewu turned the steering wheel and drove the car toward Dongsi Liutiao.

However, he didn't go to Dongfeng No. 1, but to another house in this alley.

It was also a two-courtyard house, but the regulations here were larger, possibly because the place here was large from the beginning.

Hearing a knock at the door, the two sisters who were practicing steps in the courtyard looked at each other, and both saw surprise and joy in each other's eyes.

The surprise was that only they lived in this courtyard, and others didn't know about it; they hadn't had any friends they knew visit.

The joy was the same; the number of people who knew they lived here could be counted on one hand, and that person was him.

Jin Jiaojiao was lively; she ran to the door, saw the familiar jeep through the crack in the door, and excitedly opened the gate.

"You've come!"

"Heh, what are you doing?"

Li Xuewu was stunned when he saw Jin Jiaojiao's attire, then smiled.

Jin Jiaojiao lowered her head and only then realized she was only wearing trousers and an undershirt. She had been practicing in the courtyard and got hot, and since there were no outsiders, she had gotten used to it and hadn't paid attention.

Now that she was teased by Li Xuewu, her face turned red with shame, and she ran into the courtyard hugging her arms.

Seeing her liveliness, Li Xuewu couldn't help but laugh out loud. He pushed open the other half of the gate, removed the movable threshold, and only then drove the jeep into the courtyard.

Just as Li Xuewu put the threshold back and wanted to close the gate, Tong Huimei's voice came from behind him.

"I'll help you."

Tong Huimei was dressed, in a green short-sleeved shirt, looking very delicate and beautiful.

Li Xuewu didn't need her to do anything; he closed the gate and dropped the bolt, then turned to look at her.

Seeing Li Xuewu turn his head, Tong Huimei was also shy and lowered her head, saying softly: "We were practicing in the courtyard; she's like a rabbit."

"Heh, I can see that."

Li Xuewu chuckled and took two bags off the jeep; these were the grain he had brought for them, and there were still some vegetables and meat in the car.

"I'll help you."

It was still that delicate voice, but her hands were reaching to take the rice bag.

Her heart was strong, but her hands had no strength.

Li Xuewu signaled at the vegetables in the car, letting her take those.

By this time, Jin Jiaojiao had also dressed and run out, her face still red, but the corners of her mouth were slightly curled up.

Li Xuewu carried the two bags, and the two sisters carried the vegetables and meat into the courtyard.

Guided by the two, Li Xuewu sent the rice and flour into the kitchen.

After looking around the kitchen, Li Xuewu asked the two with a smile: "The kitchen beams here seem much higher than the ones over there."

Hearing Li Xuewu's teasing, the two were so shy they couldn't stand it. If it hadn't been for Li Xuewu, they would really have been lonely ghosts.

"No matter how high the beams are here, I won't go to reach them."

Jin Jiaojiao wrinkled her nose and chided Li Xuewu delicately: "I still think I haven't lived long enough; with such a good life, I won't seek death."

Li Xuewu curled his lips and was pushed out of the door by the two with delicate chiding.

The furnishings in the courtyard were ordinary; a rack was placed under the eaves, on which were the tools they used for practicing.

This was what Li Xuewu had promised them; they could take whatever they needed from that warehouse.

He also hadn't planned to set up the opera troupe again so quickly; those things were just sitting there anyway.

Looking at them, they hadn't stopped practicing; their voices and figures were as good as ever.

Entering the main room, Jin Jiaojiao scrambled to make tea, saying that this time she had prepared tea leaves, specifically for him.

Li Xuewu could, of course, see their joy and gladly agreed to their preparation.

Li Xuewu hadn't held back when drinking with his godfather at noon; it would be embarrassing if his opportunistic behavior were seen through, so there was still some smell of liquor in his mouth.

Perhaps Tong Huimei smelled it; she soaked a hot towel at the basin stand at the door and handed it to Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu took it with a smile, nodded to thank Jin Jiaojiao for the tea, and while wiping his face, said: "Sit down, don't busy yourselves anymore; it makes me feel like a landlord, and I'm not used to it."

"Hee hee~"

Jin Jiaojiao had a personality that couldn't hide anything; she said whatever was on her mind, possibly because she was young.

Seeing Li Xuewu joking, she also teased: "You don't look like a landlord, but rather like a big official."

"Jiaojiao!"

Tong Huimei was startled by her sister's words and quickly stopped her in a low voice.

And Jin Jiaojiao also seemed to know she had said the wrong thing; she stuck out her tongue and lowered her head.

"Heh, your eye is still very good."

Li Xuewu smiled without minding, waved his hand at Tong Huimei, and signaled them to sit down and talk.

Tong Huimei looked at Jin Jiaojiao and then said: "Since the master told you to sit, just sit~"

After finishing, she took the towel from Li Xuewu's hand and went to soak it at the door again, then walked back to Li Xuewu's side and gently wiped the fine sweat from his neck.

"Why are you driving in the middle of the day? It's so sunny~"

"Just finished some business."

Li Xuewu didn't feel uncomfortable being served by Tong Huimei; if he had any resistance, it would make the other party afraid.

Jin Jiaojiao pursed her lips and sat on the sofa beside Li Xuewu, not daring to speak anymore, but her big eyes were carefully examining Li Xuewu.

Being watched and examined by her, Li Xuewu just smiled, treating her like a child.

"Do you need anything here? Tell me, and I'll prepare it."

"Not at all~ It's already very good."

Tong Huimei wiped his neck and helped Li Xuewu wipe his arms. After she finished, she went back to soak the towel and hang it up.

"The two of us are just at home on weekdays; except for three meals a day, where would we have any waste?"

Li Xuewu nodded, took a sip of the tea Jin Jiaojiao had helped serve, and said: "If there's anything, call me; you can also go out for a stroll, but pay attention to safety."

"Don't want to go out~"

Tong Huimei, who had walked back, sat on his other side. There was a single sofa, but all three sat on the long sofa.

"A few days ago, I went out to buy vegetables and met some brats riding bikes causing trouble; if there hadn't been many people, it would have been hard to say."

Tong Huimei turned her body to face Li Xuewu and said: "It's very quiet in the alley here, but we two won't leave the courtyard before dark anyway, and we don't have anything to do."

"Mm, it's very chaotic on the streets lately."

Li Xuewu put down the teacup in his hand, leaned back on the sofa, and said: "Just live like this for now; there shouldn't be any safety problems. Be more cautious and alert."

Tong Huimei nodded in agreement and looked at her sister, knowing that Jin Jiaojiao wanted to go out for a stroll, always saying she felt stifled in the courtyard.

Jin Jiaojiao also stuck out her tongue, knowing she shouldn't run around; she was afraid there might be danger outside.

It wasn't life-threatening, but they were good-looking and always attracted the attention of those brats. Now that they were living alone, she was afraid someone might touch their home.

Borrowing Li Xuewu's words to wake up her sister, Tong Huimei looked at Li Xuewu again.

"You must be very busy lately."

As she spoke, she gently held Li Xuewu's hand. Li Xuewu could clearly feel her caution and her nervousness.

"It's mid-year, so there are many things; it's unavoidable."

Li Xuewu smiled helplessly and said: "Come to think of it, the instability you perceive outside is my responsibility; this is my job, and I haven't done it well."

"Don't be too tired."

Tong Huimei's voice was consistently gentle, just like her small hands, gently kneading Li Xuewu's hands, arms, shoulders...

"Work is never finished, just like our learning of arts; how can one say that after finishing an apprenticeship, one doesn't need to practice anymore?"

Comforting Li Xuewu while her hands didn't stop, she used what she had learned to help Li Xuewu relax.

"If only you were as organized as you are when practicing."

Li Xuewu leaned back on the sofa, his eyes slightly closed, and his expression relaxed a little.

Tong Huimei could clearly feel Li Xuewu's pressure and fatigue; her eyes flowed, and her hands slowly applied force, afraid that Li Xuewu, with his hard muscles, wouldn't feel the strength.

Jin Jiaojiao here had also long since learned from her sister, helping Li Xuewu with a massage, her small mouth pursed, as if she were doing a very serious job.

"Practicing is also difficult; one step is a hurdle. If you step over it, you pass; if you can't, you won't be able to pass this hurdle in your life, and your skills will stagnate."

Tong Huimei kneaded his arms and was about to help Li Xuewu knead his shoulders. Seeing him lying back, she pursed her lips and, not daring to look at her sister's eyes, stood up and sat on Li Xuewu's lap facing him.

Li Xuewu clearly felt that warmth for a moment, but didn't open his eyes, not wanting to make her embarrassed.

"Life is like a play; whose future isn't the same? Walk every step steadily, walk every step well."

Tong Huimei saw Li Xuewu's expression remained the same, and she also relaxed her nervousness slightly; she placed both hands on Li Xuewu's shoulders and began to knead.

Jin Jiaojiao stared with big eyes, her movements paused slightly, but she was glared at by Tong Huimei.

"Ugh~"

Startled, Jin Jiaojiao continued her previous movements, but the strength of her kneading was no longer as regular as before, sometimes big and sometimes small.

Li Xuewu didn't mind; he hadn't expected them to have any superb massage skills. If it came to massage, Sister Qin counted as one, and Yu Li counted as one.

Yu Li was even more professional than Qin Huairu; after all, she had specifically read relevant books.

However, it's like when you go to a bathhouse and go to the second or third floor; you wouldn't pick the same one as last time.

After all, when you lie there, the deepest memory should be the anticipation when you hear the knock at the door.

Who it is doesn't matter, whether it's black or white doesn't matter; you wouldn't even care what's in the small box she's carrying; you only watch the moment she walks in.

Dim light, a slightly quiet corridor, the moment she turns around, closes the door.

Her face is vague in your mind, and in your eyes, there is only the moment the door opened just now, the faint light in the corridor illuminating her figure, reflecting the surprise and fate of two strangers meeting for the first time.

And in your ears, you only remember clearly what she said: "Hello, sir, I am Technician No. 8..."

Does Li Xuewu want relaxation and massage?

If he really had muscle damage or physical fatigue, wouldn't it be good to go home and find his father?

That's an old Chinese doctor; massage is a treatment method of Chinese medicine, not the sheep's head posted on a glass door.

Now he is physically and mentally exhausted, mainly in his heart; he needs spiritual relaxation and comfort.

Things have happened one after another these past few days; Li Xuewu is watching the situation slide into an immeasurable fog day by day.

There's no need to talk about outside matters; just looking at the steel mill, Li Huaidong dared to take risks and put all his eggs in one basket, and Li Xuewu knew that this confrontation was about to reach the moment of king meeting king.

What's missing now?

Tearing off the mask?

But what does this matter? Is this mask really that important to both of them?

If it were really important, there wouldn't be so many disputes and things happening.

If this mask could really protect them and restrict them from fighting, then there would be no business for Li Xuewu.

So tearing off the mask is just a state; when they really meet with swords, that is the time to tear off the mask.

They fight, and Li Xuewu is the one dancing on the swords they use to fight.

Without fighting, there would be no brilliant dance, and there would be no stage for Li Xuewu to show his talent.

This is a complex and contradictory relationship. Li Xuewu hopes the steel mill will be stable, but things go against his wishes; history is pushing him to the stage.

All kinds of things, relationships are intricate, complicated, and intertwined. Li Xuewu is both the cat messing up the ball of yarn and the person looking for the thread to straighten it out.

Even Tong Huimei could see his distress; then how complex must the situation he encountered be?

The three of them were no longer on the sofa; Jin Jiaojiao laughed and wanted to help Li Xuewu step on his back, so she pulled Li Xuewu's hand to the bed in the inner room.

This house had a long history, including the furniture in the room, especially this bed in the inner room.

Calling it a bed with a frame actually refers to the frame on top of the bed, just like a small room.

People in ancient times might not have had a sense of security, so they liked to be surrounded and protected when sleeping.

Furthermore, it was warmer and more suitable for daily life.

Jin Jiaojiao pulled Li Xuewu here because she liked the frame and armrests on this bed; holding onto them while stepping on his back wouldn't make her fall.

Li Xuewu was also playing with them and didn't care how good her stepping on his back could be.

No matter how well you step, could it be as good as the 1380 standard Li Xuewu had enjoyed before?

"Hiss~~~ It's really powerful!"

"That's right~"

Jin Jiaojiao covered her mouth and laughed: "Half of the skill of opera singing is in the voice, and the other half is in the figure."

"And the figure relies entirely on foot strength to support; if the foot strength isn't practiced well, the body won't stand steady."

"Stop bragging, be careful and don't use too much strength."

Tong Huimei didn't let her sister talk about this anymore; they had already come here, and talking about these things always felt a bit embarrassing.

Seeing Li Xuewu lying on the bed, his clothes wrinkled, she signaled Jin Jiaojiao to wait a moment and reached out to help Li Xuewu take off his clothes.

Li Xuewu didn't pay much attention and let Tong Huimei help him; his mind was clear, and he was thinking about what his godfather had said at noon.

It was only when he had thought about it enough that Jin Jiaojiao signaled him to turn over, and only then did he discover that he was left with only a pair of shorts.

These two people were too quick; they only left him with one piece!

Liquor shouldn't be drunk in the future; it delays things too much. He was disarmed while dazed and didn't even know it.

They say the gentle village is a hero's grave; this is indeed true. Li Xuewu lay in the bed, the sunlight blocked by the mosquito net, as if in a hazy dream.

The brilliant spring light of wine and red lights, how many ignorant madnesses have been intoxicated; everyone has the right to have a dream...

Li Xuewu didn't know what the ending of life was, nor did he know if this was a dazzling paradise of desire, but he knew he hadn't lost his direction.

Tong Huimei knew, and Jin Jiaojiao knew, that the person in front of them, although half-asleep and half-awake, still had a shrewd brilliance in his narrowed eyes.

No one could eliminate Li Xuewu's vigilance. When Tong Huimei was organizing Li Xuewu's trousers, she didn't know when the pistol on his belt had been taken back by him and placed beside the pillow.

Tong Huimei didn't mind Li Xuewu's vigilance; this only showed that Li Xuewu had a sense of vigilance about his own safety environment. It wasn't that this place wasn't safe, but that he himself wasn't safe.

If one were to say it wasn't safe, they were two little girls, without the strength to truss a chicken, unable to even carry a bag of rice; where would they have the ability to threaten him?

They didn't even have the heart to think about this gun; they couldn't defend against it, and they knew they weren't qualified to be defended against by Li Xuewu.

This didn't know if it was a sorrow or a luck; if they didn't have this safe condition, perhaps he wouldn't have come here.

Being with Li Xuewu, they didn't dare to hope for anything, and even less dared to think about the future; they only knew Li Xuewu wouldn't abandon them.

Being with Li Xuewu, they also seemed to know that the only thing they could provide for Li Xuewu was a space to relax, or a space to think and ponder things.

They could see it, but couldn't understand why Li Xuewu's nerves were always tense; clearly, there were smiles on his face, but his eyes were full of calculations.

From the moment they met Li Xuewu, they knew that this man wasn't as young and inexperienced as he looked on the surface.

Old Man Ding was a close friend of their master; even Old Man Ding was humble and obedient in front of this person, so how could they not see Li Xuewu's power?

They had also guessed Li Xuewu's identity; it should be even more powerful than what Old Man Ding said; otherwise, there wouldn't be such a big scene.

Just look at those people in the Dongfeng Club; Jin Jiaojiao's curious question today almost startled Tong Huimei.

They were people of this era, but the environment in which they learned and lived, and the education they received from childhood, were all of the traditional kind.

What they heard from their master and mistress were also the customs and traditions of the early years, which led to their character of not leaving the house today.

But this character also included weakness, accommodation to fate, and going with the flow.

Now Li Xuewu was their fate; they didn't even dare to walk out of the gate of this courtyard to contact the outside world.

Bird in a cage, gentle village, relief from sorrow.

"Why did you come so late today?"

Huang Gan was playing table tennis with someone. Seeing Li Xuewu enter the courtyard, he made a smash and greeted Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu had already changed into a large undershirt and large shorts; he took the racket handed over by Wei Qing and touched it.

"Something happened at home; I just went to the gatehouse to take a look."

At this time, the student opposite Huang Gan scolded and signaled Li Xuewu to take over, accusing Huang Gan of having no sportsmanship.

Huang Gan curled his lips and said indifferently: "Winner takes all, loser accepts the bet; Old Liu owes me a meal."

Li Xuewu curled the corners of his mouth, looked at this kid, and asked: "Is there a stake?"

"Do you think I'm coaxing you not to cry?!"

Huang Gan was clearly winning like crazy; he had been taking advantage of these students and was very arrogant now.

"If you're afraid of losing, get down quickly; I'll just pretend you never came up."

"You've been winning against us all afternoon."

Wei Qing complained: "From cigarettes to beer, then to movie tickets, you're like you've come to stock up."

"Heh~ heh~ heh! Pay attention, I'm still here!"