Chapter 678: Dismissed?

Li Xuewu took a sip from the teacup on the table and asked casually, "How long has it been?"

"Not short."

Dou Yaozu smiled and said, "After deducting the workers' wages, the labor protection supplies purchased for them at the beginning of the month, and the construction machinery, tools, and so on, we are already in the black."

As he spoke, he bowed slightly, leaned in toward Li Xuewu, and whispered, "I have over twenty thousand in cash on hand alone, and that's not even counting the outstanding project payments."

"Heh~"

Li Xuewu looked at Dou Yaozu, whose eyes were filled with pride, and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Quite impressive. To have earned so much in such a short time shows that this industry is truly profitable."

"Yes, it's all thanks to your help."

Being praised by Li Xuewu felt better to Dou Yaozu than eating a cream popsicle in the middle of summer.

Li Xuewu considered this for a moment, gestured for him to sit in the opposite chair, and then asked, "What are your aspirations?"

"Aspi... aspirations?"

Dou Yaozu was momentarily stunned by Li Xuewu's question, not knowing how to answer.

Weren't they just talking about money? Why the sudden shift to aspirations?

"Aspirations, meaning your ideals. What kind of construction team do you want to develop Dongfeng Construction into in the future? What level of capability?"

Li Xuewu explained with a smile and then tossed him a cigarette from the table.

Dou Yaozu caught it clumsily, but stammered, "Aspirations... I don't seem to have any. Just taking on jobs, doing the work, and earning money, I guess."

"Heh, what kind of jobs do you want to take on?"

Li Xuewu gestured toward the office building outside and said, "A building like this can be built using manual labor, though it takes longer."

"But this is only six stories. What about ten stories? Twenty, thirty... or even a hundred-story skyscraper? How would you handle that?"

"Carrying things on your shoulders and using handcarts?"

Li Xuewu tapped the ash from his cigarette, scraped his temple with his thumb while holding the cigarette, and continued, "If you were tasked with building a six-story building or a large bridge within a set timeframe, could you take that job?"

"If you can't get the jobs, how can you do the work? How can you earn money?"

"Understood, understood."

Dou Yaozu nodded and said, "You want me to use the current profits to buy machinery, right? To increase construction speed, reduce the burden on workers, and improve efficiency."

"Good, those library trips weren't in vain."

Li Xuewu pointed at Dou Yaozu, took a drag of his cigarette, and said, "The building materials you're using now are transported by the Steel Mill's motorcade. What if you get a job where there's no motorcade? Or do you not want to earn that part of the money?"

"Motor vehicles?"

Dou Yaozu widened his eyes, scratched his head, and said, "Twenty thousand yuan doesn't seem like enough to buy many, and I don't really have a use for them yet."

"I'm just using it as an example!"

Li Xuewu smiled, put down his cigarette, and gestured with his hands, "For instance, if you had motor vehicles now, wouldn't you be able to factor that budget into your business negotiations?"

"What about scaffolding? Do you know that installing an electric hoist in the middle of the scaffolding can lift cement vertically, instead of having workers push carts back and forth?"

"You really should learn more about these work processes."

Li Xuewu picked up his cigarette, took a puff, and said, "Our Design Office has engineers. You're familiar with them now; you could go talk to them."

"That..."

Dou Yaozu saw Li Xuewu rubbing his fingers and understood what he meant: go to the engineers to design the machinery, then have them build it for use.

But it would cost money—the kind of payment that wasn't just the standard processing fee for the Steel Mill.

"Hey~~~ it won't cost much. Wouldn't a design fee of twenty or thirty yuan be fine?"

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, "I know people, but it's not convenient for me to step in. This isn't worth the trouble. Don't be stingy; small money can accomplish big things."

"Understood, I'll get on it right away."

Dou Yaozu stood up, paused, and asked, "Then... should all the profits be used to purchase and manufacture mechanical tools?"

"If you want to earn more money, take on more work, and support more people,"

Li Xuewu gestured to Dou Yaozu and said, "Investment is very necessary, especially at this time. Having our factory make these machines can save a lot of money."

"Just say they are specifically for residential construction sites, ask for a lower price, and when the project is over, you take them away. Who's going to stop you?"

"Hey! Understood!"

Dou Yaozu had never seen so much money in his life; he was truly a bit timid and felt uneasy about spending it.

After leaving Li Xuewu's office, Dou Yaozu thought of another question.

With twenty thousand yuan in profits, Li Xuewu hadn't even mentioned dividends and wasn't tempted by the money at all. What were Li Xuewu's aspirations?

He didn't know, but they must be very grand.

"Hello?"

After Dou Yaozu left, Li Xuewu continued to get busy. He had to return to the Sihe Academy after work today, so he had to hurry.

Sunday was a day off, and Li Xuewu planned to relax; he didn't want to be this tired.

Suddenly, the phone rang, and Li Xuewu held it to his ear.

"Division Chief Li, hello, this is Wang Shumin from the Steel City Steel Mill. You remember me, right?"

Upon hearing this voice, Li Xuewu's fountain pen paused. He moved his hand away, narrowed his eyes, looked ahead, and said, "Mm, speak."

Wang Shumin hadn't expected Li Xuewu's attitude on the phone to be so cold. She didn't believe Li Xuewu didn't know about her and Dong Wenxue.

But since he knew, and Li Xuewu was a Deputy Division Chief while Dong Wenxue was a Division Chief, why was he being so impolite on the phone?

She wasn't sure if Li Xuewu always spoke like this when answering calls at work or if he was just in a bad mood, but she had something to say, so she went straight to the point—after all, making this call hadn't been easy.

"Division Chief Li, it's like this: I have a relative working in our factory. With the mid-year meetings coming up, he wants to report his work to you."

"From the Steel Mill? Looking for me?"

Li Xuewu asked with a raised eyebrow, wondering why Wang Shumin would make such a call to him.

A relative, and from the Steel Mill at that? As a local from Steel City, where would she have a relative at the Steel Mill?

It was probably someone she'd just "recognized" recently, and as for the relationship, it was all about money.

"Yes, he's a clerk now, and he's hoping to advance during the mid-year meetings."

Wang Shumin was quite bold, mentioning the specific rank to Li Xuewu as if she expected him to handle it for her.

"Division Chief Li, he said that when the time comes, he definitely won't..."

"Have Division Chief Dong call me!"

Li Xuewu said this coldly and hung up the receiver directly, staring sharply at it as if he could see Wang Shumin on the other end.

Daring to call him here and even brazenly setting conditions—what else was she going to say?

That she wouldn't treat him poorly?

Ridiculous!

Even Dong Wenxue wouldn't dare talk to him like that. A mere clerk, and she thought she could call herself "Mrs." just because she climbed into his bed?

Li Xuewu was truly disappointed in Dong Wenxue's "management" ability. It seemed the impression he'd given Wang Shumin was that he was too much of a coward.

Thinking of this, Li Xuewu felt it was somewhat laughable. He curled his lip in disdain and picked up his pen to continue writing.

Refusing her was enough; there was no need to call Dong Wenxue. Calling him would just make both of them awkward.

The problem wasn't big; it was just that Wang Shumin's hands weren't clean. She must have accepted something from someone and found her way to Li Xuewu through roundabout means.

She was capable enough, knowing Dong Wenxue's clerk and being able to precisely locate him.

Li Xuewu shook his head with a smile. Every mid-year and year-end, some monsters and demons would jump out to scramble for positions.

And whenever this happened, it was the biggest concern for the factory's main leaders and cadres.

Some worried about being investigated for accepting too much, some worried about what to do if they couldn't deliver on their promises, and others worried about whether they'd received less than someone else.

Of course, there were also those who worried about these people accepting things and causing chaos.

The government office was a very complex place; human hearts were unpredictable. If you didn't send gifts, who would know who was real and who was fake?

What he found funny was that this person was also a bit of a fool. Going through a Division Chief's connection to find a Deputy Division Chief—wasn't that nonsense? How many copies did she want to send?

Wang Shumin might also be a novice, or perhaps she was being used. She hadn't said who it was. Li Xuewu would give Dong Wenxue some face, but if she dared to do this again, he would definitely dig her up.

"Division Chief, what's with that smile...?"

Li Xuewu was in the middle of reviewing documents when he saw Han Yating walk in with a file.

"What is it? Didn't you rest at home for a few days?"

"No, there's nothing wrong anymore. Just resting, as long as I don't overexert myself."

Han Yating sat opposite Li Xuewu's desk as he waved his hand. She glanced at Li Xuewu's desk and asked, "Sha Qizhi hasn't returned yet?"

"Heh, he's probably forgotten to return home."

Li Xuewu looked up at her and said, "There are many beauties in the frontier, after all."

"If he heard that, he'd be scared to death."

Han Yating smiled and reached out to help Li Xuewu organize the documents on the table.

Li Xuewu held the file in his hand, looked at Han Yating, and asked, "Something up?"

"Yes."

Han Yating feigned composure, nodded, and then handed over the file in her hand very solemnly.

Li Xuewu took it suspiciously and asked, "This isn't an application for a transfer, is it? Or are you scared and want to resign?"

"No~~"

Han Yating knew Li Xuewu was joking. Who would resign while working? In this era, nobody resigned!

Li Xuewu smiled and opened the file in his hand.

Upon seeing it, the smile on Li Xuewu's face froze instantly, and he looked up at the person opposite him in disbelief.

"Really?"

"Yes."

Han Yating nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed, and lowered her head, not daring to look at Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu had an expression of both surprise and amusement, as if he'd been played.

After a "Heh," he tossed the file onto the table and said, "Playing hide-and-seek with me? And you want me to sign it? Tell him to come himself!"

"Division Chief~!"

Han Yating's face turned red. She was truly teased by Li Xuewu to the point where she couldn't keep a straight face, and she whispered, "He... he's busy with work~"

"Busy with... heh~"

Li Xuewu had been ready to curse, but in front of a subordinate—a female subordinate at that—how could he say such things? He could only offer a mocking smile.

"I'll tell you this: he's not much of a person, at least not financially."

"Ah?"

Han Yating didn't understand what Li Xuewu meant by that and looked at him in surprise, not knowing what to say.

Li Xuewu twitched his mouth, looked at Han Yating, and said, "You know his situation, right? What's this all about? And he's taking you with him?"

"Let's be clear first: I don't agree~"

Li Xuewu was full of smiles but feigned anger as he waved his hand, "When I introduced him to a partner back then, I didn't intend to lose a great general. He can forget about this."

"No~ Division Chief~"

Han Yating knew Li Xuewu was teasing her. She felt a bit embarrassed, tucked the hair behind her ear, and said, "He said he'll come back often."

"You believe him?"

Li Xuewu looked at Han Yating with a raised eyebrow and chuckled, "Then you might as well believe the sun will rise in the west."

After saying that, he pointed to the marriage application at hand and asked, "Have you really considered this? Once I sign this, you won't have a chance to regret it."

"Yes."

Han Yating nodded decisively. Although her face was still red, she had clearly thought it through.

Li Xuewu smiled, picked up his pen, wrote "Approved" on it, and signed his name.

"Oh my, last month you brought Fan Hua's marriage application to me, and I asked you the same thing. I didn't expect it to be your turn so soon."

"Thank you, Division Chief!"

Han Yating took back the application and thanked him with a smile.

Li Xuewu scratched his temple and said with a smile, "A 'thank you' isn't enough! Tell him to find a place to host me for a meal immediately, otherwise, I'm going to bring people to crash the wedding."

"We... we don't plan on holding a wedding."

Hearing Li Xuewu say this, Han Yating's expression changed slightly, but she still explained frankly to him, "His situation is a bit special, and it's happening at such a time, so we discussed it and decided not to hold one."

"Oh, I understand. As long as you two have discussed it, that's fine."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "His situation is indeed very special. If it needs to be kept confidential, tell Section Chief Jiang to have him set your file to 'protected'."

"Thank you, Division Chief."

Han Yating nodded with a smile and thanked Li Xuewu again.

Li Xuewu stood up to see her out, saying as they walked, "Then I'll sincerely offer my congratulations. Since it's not busy during this time, get some good rest."

"Understood, Division Chief."

Han Yating pursed her lips, smiled at Li Xuewu, and walked out the door.

Li Xuewu also smoothed his hair, his smile remaining. He was happy for Han Yating and happy for his friend.

May all lovers in the world become spouses; don't miss the predestined marriage set in a past life.

The two of them had gone around in circles and ended up together; it showed they were truly fated.

Just as he was smiling, the phone rang again, startling Li Xuewu.

"Mm, this is Li Xuewu."

Li Xuewu walked back to his desk, picked up the phone, and listened while walking around the desk to sit down.

The voice on the phone made his movement to sit down pause slightly, and then he leaned back in his chair and said with dissatisfaction, "I thought you were done for."

The caller was Wu Youqing, the head of the Huaqing Security Division. The voice on the phone didn't reveal whether things were good or bad, but Li Xuewu's joke could test the waters.

Wu Youqing's voice was very tired and helpless. He smiled bitterly and said, "Just barely."

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "If I'd known, I would've helped you make up that little bit. Such a simple matter."

"Spare me, please!"

Wu Youqing complained on the other end of the phone and then asked in a low voice, "How's your older brother?"

"Just the same, he's at the Paoju."

Li Xuewu blew the ash off his desk and asked casually, "Is it over?"

"How could it be?"

Wu Youqing paused and then said, "But it should be fine for now. Later, I'll have someone send over the documents signed by Principal Li. You find someone to bring them over to handle the procedures."

"Who should go? Let my sister-in-law go."

Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said, "She's familiar with the situation and knows how to handle it. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to go. I reckon the security guards at your school gate are waiting to take revenge."

"Heh~"

Wu Youqing smiled bitterly and said, "You really are something. They're just kids; why take it seriously?"

"You're not there, so I have to teach him how to recognize people, so he doesn't mistake the good for the bad."

Li Xuewu said with a face full of disdain, "The team you're leading is mediocre; there are even traitors. If I were playing for real, I'd have crippled him."

"Alright, let's leave it at that."

Wu Youqing had clearly just finished handling the situation and must have heard something, which prompted him to make this call to Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu didn't pay attention to Wu Youqing's attitude. After hanging up, he asked Yu Decai, who had just walked in, "Is it time?"

"Yes, in the large conference room. All cadres at the division level and above must attend."

Yu Decai reported while preparing a notebook for Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu checked the time, stood up, took the notebook, and said, "If I keep getting this busy, I might as well be split in two."

"Remember to count me in; I can't keep up either."

Yu Decai said with a bitter smile and followed Li Xuewu out the door.

When Li Xuewu walked toward the stairs, Yu Decai went to the large office to call someone to follow him back to Li Xuewu's office to help organize the documents Li Xuewu had reviewed today.

While going downstairs, Li Xuewu was still thinking that Wu Youqing had called to ask about his older brother, Xuewen, but hadn't asked about Wu Shuping. It seemed intentional.

It was impossible for him to have heard about him going to pick up his brother but not heard about Wu Shuping.

He must have deliberately ignored this question and this person, meaning Wu Shuping was now being ignored by him and the Huaqing working group.

How to ignore?

Heh~ just count her as a missing person. Were there few of those these days?

Li Xuewu shook his head with a smile, walked out of the building, and brushed past the young people from the office who had returned from helping out.

These young people looked strong, but in reality, they were wasted in the office. Was there any good in having them level land as arranged by Master Dou?

Just as he heard the young people who had returned one after another say as he passed: "We're tired like dogs~"

This description was quite apt. Li Xuewu glanced at the young people washing their faces and hands by the faucet at the building entrance and went upstairs with a smile.

On the third floor, in the large conference room, Li Xuewu was considered late, as many people were already seated.

"What's the meaning of this?"

After sitting down according to the nameplate, Li Xuewu lightly nudged Xu Sinian, who looked deep in thought.

Xu Sinian glanced at Li Xuewu, turned back, and whispered, "Criticism and self-criticism."

"Damn~ it never ends, does it?"

Li Xuewu twitched his mouth and whispered, "Later, you criticize me, and I'll criticize you."

"???"

Xu Sinian turned his head sharply to look at Li Xuewu. He hadn't expected that this kind of meeting could be played this way.

Wasn't it always leaders criticizing subordinates and subordinates criticizing leaders?

Li Xuewu's eyelids drooped, and he said, "Otherwise, let's criticize Division Chief Xia together. He's a nice guy and won't get angry."

"You be a nice guy~"

Xu Sinian was truly scared by Li Xuewu's bad ideas. Before, he was the only one playing dirty; now he wanted to drag him into it.

*Cough*—he had only learned to be bad because of Li Xuewu; it must be that.

Li Xuewu saw the leaders coming in and stopped talking. If it came to being a nice guy, who could be better than him?

"Cough, cough, is everyone here? Then let's start the meeting."

Feng Daozong presided over the meeting, scanned the room, picked up his glasses, put them on, and began, "The theme of today's meeting is still the reflection on the 'Great Study, Great Discussion.' Our factory cadres' ideological awareness, consciousness..."

Meetings like this were frequent lately, and Li Xuewu had become accustomed to them, as well as to Director Feng's long-winded speeches.

It seemed the spirit from above hadn't changed quickly lately, so he had the time and energy to organize and thoroughly study it. Thus, his speeches lately increasingly reflected the main points of that spirit.

Correspondingly, most of these speeches started from the spiritual level, from consciousness and form, to expound on current requirements and changes.

From what Li Xuewu understood, and from the content of Feng Daozong's speeches, there was still debate above regarding this matter.

And it had been debated all along, causing debates to constantly emerge below as well.

There was an aspect of advocacy and stimulation, and an aspect of conservatism and maintenance. It was very contradictory, as if they were trying to find a balance.

This had gradually formed a similar contradiction within the Steel Mill.

Young people were feeling the call of the era, slowly trying and touching the edges of the era's ideology, and their hearts were also feeling this passionate power.

Thoughts were surging; the influence of ideology was enormous. When attached to the advocacy of the mainstream spirit, it became a surging power.

Within the waves, there would inevitably be people with strange intentions, opportunistic, hiding evil intentions, and doing shameful things.

Judging from the relevant cases handled by the Security Division recently, there was a force pushing the young people of the Steel Mill to stir up trouble.

Especially the appearance of the Red Guard group at Huaqing Middle School last month, which gave certain people special ideas.

What kind of people were easier to manipulate?

The answer was young people—hot-blooded, easily impulsive, shouting a couple of slogans, and willing to risk their lives for a bun.

Under the deliberate push of the era and certain people, these young people were constantly impacting the inherent order of the Steel Mill in thought and action.

And for the emergence of this situation, it would naturally be met with a counterattack from the inherent order.

Recently, Factory Director Yang Fengshan had spoken at the broadcasting station, and the Secretary had repeatedly emphasized stability and unity at the leadership meetings and organizational meetings.

Specifically, the grassroots Party organization of the Production Management Division, which had the most people and was also the most important, had begun to strengthen the spiritual and organizational management within the workshops.

The Propaganda Division was also actively cooperating, increasing the transmission and promotion of the correct understanding of the spirit in accordance with the deployment of the Party Committee.

One was a great wave, the other was a rock. The splashes created by the collision were a certain person, a certain organization, a certain group...

The meeting proceeded quickly. Director Feng had also learned his lesson and didn't engage in formalism by inviting worker representatives to attend.

Otherwise, this meeting would have turned into a protracted war. The first meeting had been a mess; they couldn't let all the meetings be a mess, right?

A lot had been said about criticism and self-criticism, and everyone was exhausted. The speeches at the meeting gradually became shorter and faster.

Li Xuewu could feel that there was no emotion left in everyone's speeches.

And in the final agenda item of the meeting, Feng Daozong's speech gave the meeting a wave of ups and downs.

"Too much has been said about the spirit. Everyone is tired of hearing it and tired of saying it. So today, let's talk about something concrete."

Feng Daozong looked at the people in the conference room and said, "Our working group has been here for nearly two weeks, and the relevant investigation work is almost complete. Next, I invite Deputy Division Chief Jin to make an investigation report on the Steel Mill's previous work."

"Alright, I will now make the investigation report."

Jin Liangcai received the signal from Feng Daozong, picked up the file on the table, scanned the conference room, and said, "In early May, after the spirit of deepening the 'Great Study, Great Discussion' was issued, the Steel Mill's cognition at the organizational level was not in place, the execution was not strong, and the work style was not solid enough..."

"Investigation: The Logistics Division's team management is scattered, ideological construction problems are prominent, and the relevant document spirit has not been understood..."

"During the study and discussion process, there was perfunctoriness and laxity, and the study goals were not met. The management personnel of the Logistics Division bear primary responsibility, and the relevant personnel of the Steel Mill's Party Committee bear secondary responsibility..."

Li Xuewu lowered his head, looked at the notebook on the table, listened to Jin Liangcai's speech in his ears, and his pen kept recording.

This investigation by the working group was relatively comprehensive; all departments had been visited, and all workshops had been visited.

The heads of various offices and departments and individual leaders had been interviewed, and some individuals had also reported on relevant work.

In this report, every department was named, some big, some small, some more, some less. The Logistics Division had the most.

Li Xuewu glanced at Zhang Guoqi, who was next to Xu Sinian, with the corner of his eye. This old brother's days were probably not going to be easy.

The working group wasn't shooting at shadows, talking about empty things; they had concrete evidence and materials. He had exerted so much effort for Li Huai De that he was bound to offend people.

Especially in the previous incidents, the Security Division had arrested people and hadn't released them. Not to mention anything else, the families wouldn't let him off.

If it were voluntary, it would be one thing, but if he were paid to do things, or if he were the one directing it, then when the families saw the working group coming, wouldn't they tell them everything?

Li Xuewu had heard that Zhang Guoqi had been called in for talks by the working group, and the working group had asked about Zhang Guoqi and the Logistics Division more than once during their visits.

This old Zhang was tough enough; he hadn't spat out Li Huai De at all.

And Li Huai De was also decent. Although he hadn't exerted much effort on the surface, the fact that Zhang Guoqi was still doing fine in the Logistics Division proved that Li Huai De had done some work.

However, listening to the content of the investigation report now, Zhang Guoqi was taking a big fall this time—the kind of fall where you die spitting blood.

Li Huai De had been tossing and turning these past few times, and the accumulated problems were already very serious and prominent. If the wind hadn't changed so quickly, his thunder would have exploded long ago.

But it was this kind of dancing on the tip of a knife that allowed Li Huai De to avoid danger time and time again while still causing trouble.

In the past week or so, as far as Li Xuewu knew, he and Zhang Guoqi had met with several youth representatives.

If you said this was all work and serious business, Li Xuewu wouldn't believe it even if he were beaten to death.

Especially under the strong pressure of the working group and the efforts of the factory director and others to calm things down, the emotions of these people were still constantly being accumulated and provoked.

Although Zhang Guoqi was badly hurt, as long as he could survive these few months and take a big disciplinary action, the next few years would still be easy to live through.

Of course, that was for the next few years; as for later, it was hard to say.

It was even hard to say for the next few years, because the history of "when the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked" was vivid in his mind.

"The above is the report on the investigation results regarding the Steel Mill's work style, execution ability, and the situation of carrying out study work. Please have the persons in charge of each department carry out rectification and consolidation according to their respective problems. The working group will continue to conduct strict inspections and supervision."

"Mm, Deputy Division Chief Jin has been investigating for more than ten days, and there's a pile of problems."

Feng Daozong pointed to the file at his hand and said, "So many problems, ah, what does this explain?"

"Ice three feet thick is not formed in a single day. The problems in the Steel Mill have been accumulated for a long time. You members of the leadership team all have responsibility and need to conduct self-criticism."

Feng Daozong's words were sharp, pointing directly at the Steel Mill's leadership team. His gaze swept across, and all he saw were serious and earnest faces.

"The Steel Mill has over ten thousand people, shouldering the expectations of the Steel Ministry, the organization, and the people. You are supposed to achieve results for everyone to see. Is this how you do your work?"

Li Xuewu watched as Feng Daozong had already slapped the table. The conference room was very quiet, with only the sound of his reprimand.

"When talking about difficulties, everyone has something to say. When talking about study and execution, everyone pushes responsibility onto each other and is dilatory. What kind of work style is this!"

"If the working group hadn't come, would you have disbanded? Would you have packed your bags and gone back to Gao Lao Zhuang!"

"Do you have any organizational concept left? Do you have any organizational belief left?"

"Scrambling for positions, snatching fruits—everyone is a master at that. Doing work, doing practical things—everything is mediocre. Did the organization put you in this position to do these things?"

"It's simply nonsense!"

Feng Daozong reprimanded with a serious face, "How is the spirit from above understood? How are the relevant documents studied? There are records, there are follow-ups—how many are there?"

As he spoke, he flipped through the file, pointed to a place, and said, "Except for the Security Division, which has relevant meeting and study records, has study follow-up investigations, and has grassroots ideological dynamic analysis and summaries, other departments are just putting on a show, setting up forms, and engaging in perfunctoriness and coping."

"Is it just because the people in the Security Division know how to study? And have good work discipline?"

"Look at the problem manifestations of your various departments. In terms of discipline, management, and ideological supervision, the problems in the Logistics Division are particularly prominent."

Feng Daozong looked toward Zhang Guoqi's direction and asked, "How are you acting as the person in charge? Did we put you in this position to drink and eat meat?"

This remark hit the mark; Zhang Guoqi loved drinking and eating meat the most.

He often sponged drinks from Li Xuewu at the reception canteen, but he drank very cautiously because he had to work.

But when he returned home, he had to have wine and meat; if he didn't, he would get angry.

Fortunately, his salary was high, supporting his children and wife wasn't a problem, and the house was arranged by the factory, so he could afford to eat and drink.

But his behavior and habits were seen in this era as a representative of waste and greed, not doing practical things.

Although Feng Daozong didn't name him, it was almost the same as naming him; he was just short of reading out his ID number.

Li Xuewu saw that Zhang Guoqi was already blushing while sitting there. He had drunk alcohol at noon again; at this moment, his hangover was probably gone, and his heart must be half-cold.

He was also bitter in his heart and under great pressure, which was why he had increased the frequency and amount of his drinking.

He used to be able to hold it together at noon, but now there was a trend of losing control.

Especially when the working group investigated him and Li Huai De couldn't openly support or help him, his pressure was particularly great.

Now being criticized, he was like a drunkard, with a red face and a lowered head.

Being criticized in front of all the factory leaders and middle-level cadres, he also wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Li Xuewu didn't feel anything because Feng Daozong had praised the Security Division a few times; the expression on his face didn't change at all, as if he hadn't heard a thing.

After the meeting ended, Li Xuewu came out with Xu Sinian and separated at the stairwell, but Zhang Guoqi followed from behind.

"Sigh, work is hard to do~"

"When is it not hard to do?"

Li Xuewu glanced at Zhang Guoqi, who was sighing to him, and then walked down the stairs.

Zhang Guoqi said with a bitter smile, "It's not hard when it's easy to do, and it's not easy to do when it's hard. Tell me, which job can we choose?"

Li Xuewu saw him complaining to him, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, and said, "Why not go talk to the leaders?"

"Talk about what? Talk about retirement? Heh~"

Zhang Guoqi seemed to have seen through it, but the teeth he was biting exposed his inner agitation.

Li Xuewu didn't pick up the thread, walked out of the stairwell and into the lobby, and then continued, "I think there might be a rainbow after the storm, but the road ahead is long and arduous."

"But you have to be able to withstand the storm to see it."

Zhang Guoqi followed Li Xuewu through the lobby and into the office courtyard. With no one nearby, he whispered, "The working group matter is a bit tricky. This time, I might get a disciplinary action."

"So what if you get a disciplinary action?"

Li Xuewu asked, "Which person who does business doesn't get a disciplinary action? I'm carrying one myself."

"Can that be the same!"

Zhang Guoqi was about to die of anxiety and explained, "Can the leaders not know the reason for your matter? It had nothing to do with you, and it will be cleared in half a year, it doesn't even affect you joining the Party Committee. What about me!"

As he spoke, he handed Li Xuewu a cigarette, they lit them for each other, and then he said, "This time I have to bear primary responsibility. If I get demoted again, I'll really be in big trouble."

"It shouldn't be that bad."

Li Xuewu took a puff, looked at Zhang Guoqi suspiciously, and said, "Not to mention whether Deputy Factory Director Li would agree, just being dismissed for work execution problems—that shouldn't be possible."

"What time do you think this is? What is the working group here for~"

Zhang Guoqi said with a bitter face, "Wang Jingzhang has been jumping around with the working group lately, almost to the point of washing their feet. What is he doing that for?"

"What for?"

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow, then widened his eyes and asked, "No way!"

"What no way! That's exactly it!"

Zhang Guoqi took a hard puff and then sighed, "With things turning out like this, a swap of personnel in charge is the most likely thing to happen. We are all in the support sector; swapping won't delay work."

"And, the most likely thing is that I'll be removed and replaced as a deputy."

Zhang Guoqi rambled to Li Xuewu with a face full of sorrow, as if saying it out loud would make him feel better.

It was the same last time, muttering away, and now this again.

Li Xuewu just listened while smoking, saying nothing, treating it as if he were chanting scriptures.

Zhang Guoqi, who had been talking for a while, remembered he hadn't asked Li Xuewu yet, so he looked up and said, "You tell me, what should I do?"

"I don't know, this is beyond my capability."

Li Xuewu pointed upstairs and said, "For this matter, my suggestion is still to solve it through the leaders. At least you have to gain the support of Deputy Factory Director Li."

"He naturally... should support me."

As Zhang Guoqi spoke, he didn't know why he lost his confidence. He frowned, thought for a moment, and asked, "What's the procedure on Wang Jingzhang's side?"

"I really don't know that. I just know he's serving the working group."

Li Xuewu wouldn't let anything slip. He smoked, and everything he said was just empty talk.

Zhang Guoqi was bold enough. To gain Li Xuewu's trust, he sneered, "Just being a dog, wagging its tail and begging for pity."

After saying that, he glanced upstairs and said, "Deputy Factory Director Jing's work energy is mainly on the joint enterprise. He wants a piece of the pie, but they won't give it to him, so he's making a scene."

"Making a scene about what?"

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and asked, "The crying child gets the milk?"

"Heh~ gets shit to eat!"

Zhang Guoqi's words were quite disgusting, which showed his hatred for Wang Jingzhang.

"That's a wallflower. Whichever way the wind blows, he leans. Now the working group is blowing the wind, so he's leaned toward the working group."

After saying that, he whispered to Li Xuewu, "I heard he's seeking to jump out of the Service Division with the working group, or use the working group's ability to parachute into the joint enterprise, or coordinate with Deputy Factory Director Jing to swap into a core department position."

Li Xuewu looked at Zhang Guoqi with amusement and asked, "He wants to go to a core department? Why not swap with Old Kuang? I heard Old Kuang doesn't even want to work in the Production Management Division anymore."

"Listen to his nonsense!"

Zhang Guoqi curled his lip, "Even if Kuang Yusheng leaves, it won't be Wang Jingzhang taking over. Everyone knows how much capability he has."

"But on Deputy Factory Director Jing's side, it's a critical period now. I'm afraid she won't make a scene with him. Whether he comes to me or goes elsewhere, she will support him."

After saying that, he spat in annoyance and said fiercely, "What's so good about the Logistics Division? Why is everyone eyeing it?"

He didn't think about himself; he had also thought about jumping out of the Logistics Division to go to a core department or taking over the residential project.

If Li Huai De hadn't stopped him and made him take the fall here, he might have become the second Wang Jingzhang. ===== CHAPTER 679 =====

"As for Deputy Factory Director Jing's side, it's a critical period now, so I'm afraid he won't make trouble with him. Whether he comes to me or goes elsewhere, he will support him."

After finishing, he spat in annoyance and said viciously: "What's so good about the Logistics Department? Why is everyone eyeing it?"

He didn't even think about himself; he originally wanted to jump out of the Logistics Department to go to a core department, or take on a residential area project.

If it weren't for Li Huai De not allowing it and making him take the fall here, he might have become the second Wang Jingzhang.