Chapter 680: Heart's Desire

Li Xuewu looked at Wang Xiaoqin suspiciously and asked, "What's the situation?"

"Haven't you heard?"

Wang Xiaoqin looked at Li Xuewu and explained, "The notice from above yesterday said that university enrollment has been delayed, and the situation ahead is unclear. Many high school students have chosen to participate in school work assignments."

After saying that, she gestured to the materials at hand and said, "These are the people who were added yesterday; they are all high school students."

"I've greeted each school, saying that the recruitment of high school students is not limited by time. As long as they want to come, register, pass the physical test, and have a qualified political review, they can all come."

She patted the materials on the table and said, "This is catching a good time. Those who don't have connections at home, can't find work in the city, are anxious to earn money to support their families, or have no hope for university."

Wang Xiaoqin finally said with a smile, "We've picked up the leftovers."

"Heh, high school graduates are still very precious."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "If they were all high school graduates, that would be great. Then our Public Security Brigade would be awesome."

"Keep dreaming."

Wang Xiaoqin teased Li Xuewu and then said, "I'm already happy enough with these hundred-plus. Counting the others who are junior high graduates, our team's quality can be considered the best in Beijing."

After saying that, she looked toward the playground and said, "Shen Fang even said that if university students came, he wouldn't know how to conduct training."

"Hahaha~ Shen Fang is the one dreaming!"

Li Xuewu laughed and took the list to look at it. Although he didn't recognize anyone, the more he looked, the more satisfied he felt.

High school students, ah. Even if they were taken to the Steel Mill or anywhere else, they would be considered treasures.

It wasn't to say that high school students at this time learned much knowledge or understood many skills. Compared to high school students in later generations, they might have learned much less knowledge.

What Li Xuewu valued was that under the limitations of this era, they could still choose to go to high school instead of vocational school.

Vocational school could assign work, but high school couldn't.

Daring to go to high school meant having a certain confidence in taking the university entrance exam, or at least having strong learning ability.

This also concerned belief and perseverance; at least they were braver than other students.

What's more, Li Xuewu valued their future. Whether they continued to go to university after developing in this period or stayed within this system to develop, Li Xuewu was optimistic about them.

If they could be cultivated from the foundation, with both technology and theoretical knowledge, they would definitely become outstanding talents within the Beijing system in the future.

Good heavens, over a hundred university "leftovers"—it was truly as Wang Xiaoqin said, they had caught a good opportunity.

"I heard from Shen Fang that your younger sister is also graduating from high school this year?"

Wang Xiaoqin asked tentatively, "Do you have any arrangements?"

She asked this very cleverly. She didn't directly ask Li Xuewu if he wanted to arrange for his sister to come in, nor did she give any suggestions; she just asked about the arrangements.

Li Xuewu put down the materials in his hand and said with a bitter smile, "I just found out about the school suspension. I haven't even gone home yet. I'm afraid she'll come looking for me to cry tonight."

"The relationship between you two is really good."

Wang Xiaoqin said with a smile, then lowered her head to look at the materials in her hand, waiting for Li Xuewu's answer.

If Li Xuewu couldn't open his mouth, she would say a few more words.

But if Li Xuewu had other preparations, she wouldn't worry about it.

Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said, "The week before last, I talked to her once. It seems she has the intention of going to the Steel Mill. I don't know if it's because there are too many police officers in the family and too few workers, and she wants to enrich it, heh."

"Isn't it good to go to a factory? It shows your sister is smart."

Wang Xiaoqin smiled and said, "Good benefits, high wages, and she can enter the government office. It's so appropriate; it's not worse than our place."

After saying that, she glanced at Li Xuewu and added, "Besides, for a girl to be dancing with knives and guns, it's so worrying."

She was clear about what Li Xuewu had just said. Counting him and his younger siblings, two were police officers. His father, younger brother, and wife were all doctors. His older brother and sister-in-law were all teachers.

Put this way, if Li Xuewu's sister went to the Steel Mill, wouldn't that enrich the family's occupational categories?

To tell the truth, this whole family was truly capable, all good seedlings, all promising. She truly envied the Li family's life.

Especially someone like Li Xuewu who could toss and turn and take care of the family, arranging the family in an orderly manner.

When the wind started to blow earlier, Li Xuewu had implicitly reminded her.

Wang Xiaoqin also saw Li Xuewu arrange for his father to go to the mountains, so she discussed it with her husband at home and followed suit.

Now it seemed that she had truly listened to Li Xuewu's words, and she could now easily cope.

The two sat on both sides of the office desk, drinking tea while docking work. Li Xuewu had finished many tasks, and he came every day, so there was only today's work and what needed to be discussed with Wang Xiaoqin.

In the evening, because it rained heavily yesterday, Master Dou was afraid the road would be slippery and didn't go up the mountain.

So after dinner, Li Xuewu had no work, so he held Li Shu and went to the inverted room.

It hadn't been long since they finished eating here. There was a kang table in the west room, and everyone was sitting on the kang drinking water.

"Come, let the Ye Ye Erye hold you."

Seeing Li Xuewu enter the room holding the child, Ye Ye Erye Ye, who was sitting on the kang, smiled and reached out to tease Li Shu.

Li Shu wasn't afraid of strangers and could get along with people here, but seeing that there was nothing fun on Ye Ye Erye Ye's side, she pointed her little hand toward Yu Li, who had come over from the east room.

"Oh my~ who is this? Is it little Li Shu?"

Yu Li smiled, took Li Shu from Li Xuewu's arms, and asked with a laugh, "Did you miss Auntie~"

Li Shu wrapped her arms around Yu Li's neck, twisted her body to look at the people in the room, pointed with her little finger, and said something in babble.

Seeing Li Xuewu take a stool and sit by the kang, Yu Li signaled Chen Xiaoyan, who had come over from the east room, to pour hot water for Li Xuewu.

Seeing Chen Xiaoyan there, Li Xuewu asked with a smile, "Didn't go back with Guodong?"

"Just finished eating. He and Erhai went to the west courtyard to tidy up the warehouse."

Chen Xiaoyan explained and brought a cup of hot water to Li Xuewu.

There wasn't much to be particular about in the inverted room. When there was tea, they drank tea; when there wasn't, they drank plain boiled water.

There were many people, and the tea was never enough to drink, always running out.

Hearing Chen Xiaoyan say this, Ye Ye Erye followed up with an explanation, "The rain last night was too heavy, so I asked them to go down and see if there was any mold, and clear it out quickly, otherwise it would all go bad."

"Did it seep water?"

Li Xuewu remembered that when they dug the basement of the north warehouse in the west courtyard, they had done waterproofing.

"Shouldn't have. It's dry. When Lao Liu came back to get the flashlight just now, he mentioned it."

Yu Li, holding Li Shu, interjected, "If it seeped water, he would have come over to call people early."

"Nothing much."

Maternal Grandfather, who hadn't spoken, said, "The drainage ditch behind the house is dug well, and our courtyard doesn't store water either."

"There's nothing much left below either."

Master Dou hadn't gone. At this moment, he was looking for a back-scratcher on the kang to give to Li Shu to play with.

Li Shu wanted to take it, but was blocked by Yu Li.

"You don't know she likes to move her hands? If you give her this, you hold her."

"She has to be willing to let me hold her."

Master Dou chuckled and gestured toward Li Shu.

Seeing the big fat uncle scaring her, Li Shu widened her eyes and shouted, "Hit!"

"Hahaha~"

Everyone in the room was amused. Master Dou went to tease her again, but was dodged by Yu Li.

"You've all teased her into being naughty, teasing a good little girl into a living bandit."

After saying that, she bypassed Master Dou and stood on the other side, taking a small trinket from the desk for Li Shu to play with.

Seeing this, Li Xuewu found it was a small part from a radio, so he asked, "My older brother isn't home, so no one is fixing these things for you anymore, right?"

"Heh, he can't run away~"

Master Dou held his teacup and said with a chuckle, "I saved a pile, and I sent them all to him in one go. If I go to pick up goods, I'll bring them back on the way."

"Heh, how is he doing there?"

Li Xuewu chuckled, "Didn't scold you, saying he ran all the way there and you still wouldn't let him go."

"Hahaha~"

Master Dou smiled and said, "Hey~~ Big Brother is doing great. He said he wants to teach Wu Laoshi and let Wu Laoshi help do it, so he doesn't delay reading."

"Heh~ that's truly my big brother!"

Li Xuewu smiled and took a sip of hot water, "We can't use Wu Laoshi for free. Give money when it's time to give money, and bring things when it's time to bring things."

"Understood, I'm thinking about it."

Master Dou smiled and said, "Didn't we send fruit cans down from the mountain? When I sent them to Big Brother, I also brought some for her."

"What about Huang Gan? Didn't let them buy some?"

Li Xuewu teased, "You have to harass all these units. Buying from anyone is buying, right?"

Master Dou smiled and said, "Don't need it there. Director Ma took it all. This thing doesn't even take up quotas, and they are willing to take it."

As he spoke, he even winked at Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu naturally understood what he meant. The procurement and distribution of the supply and marketing cooperative also had quotas.

In fact, it was the account book. If they purchased this kind of canned food, it wouldn't occupy other commodity quotas, and when they sold it, they would still sell it normally, wouldn't that create a large profit point?

There were too many things that could be operated here. During the last frontier cooperation, Director Ma had done a big one.

Otherwise, look at how the wind is blowing—does Director Ma look like he's afraid of the wind?

Without some ability, without some special payment, could he have such deep composure?

Li Xuewu knew his power, so he made it clear to Master Dou: get along well, and don't let go no matter what.

He naturally understood why Director Ma didn't want to eat with him, so except when he happened to run into him, he went there less.

Just know that this feeling exists, and Master Dou will handle it if there's anything.

"Not yet, no good fruit. Unless the batch from your factory's frontier comes, otherwise you wait until autumn."

Master Dou raised an eyebrow, "I've already talked to your factory's cold drink factory. When the time comes, they'll use their cold storage less, and we'll rent a big one to store a warehouse of fruit and do this canning slowly."

"You're getting too cocky."

Li Xuewu scolded with a smile, "Is the money from selling canned food enough for the rent of the cold storage?"

"Why wouldn't it be enough?"

Master Dou smiled and said, "I've calculated it with Ye Ye Erye. When the time comes, you just wait and see. We'll collect as many of those big white pears as we can this year."

"Heh~ fine, as long as you do it stably, anything is fine."

Li Xuewu was naturally happy to see his big brother's growth, being able to continue making canned food without contacting the cold drink factory through him, and being able to make plans starting now.

Since Wen San'er left, this kid had learned a lot and grown a lot.

If he could really pick it up, Li Xuewu would worry less here.

"Is the Steel Mill side all coordinated?"

Li Xuewu also heard Master Dou talk about the Steel Mill's fruit, so he asked.

Master Dou wanted to smoke, but seeing Yu Li holding the child and Chen Xiaoyan standing in the room, and Wu Ge not smoking, he didn't smoke either.

"Coordination is no problem. When the train arrives at the station, I'll arrange for people to weigh it. Your factory promised to help with transportation, and it will be sent directly to the supply and marketing cooperative's cold storage."

As he spoke, he sipped hot water and said, "Director Ma promised to swap goods with other supply and marketing cooperatives and distribute them as soon as possible. The canned food factory on the mountain is also ready to use a batch of goods, including the Beijing canned food factory and fruit wine factory I contacted earlier, who also promised to take them."

Li Xuewu looked at Master Dou's indifferent appearance and reminded, "Be careful, calculate everything clearly, don't be in a rush when the time comes."

A train, forty carriages—because of the installation of air conditioning, it used to be able to carry sixty tons, but now it could only carry forty.

And because it was fruit, the box density was different. The box density of grapes was 0.3 tons per cubic meter.

So a train could carry about 1,450 tons.

But converting it into jin was scary. Getting it from the Steel Mill at three cents a jin, Master Dou made a profit of five li per jin. This time, he could earn at least 14,500 yuan.

The supply and marketing cooperative definitely wouldn't be that expensive if they collected it according to the quota; it wouldn't reach three and a half cents.

But now Master Dou was giving the supply and marketing cooperative a price of three and a half cents, and the supply and marketing cooperative was willing to take it.

Why?

One was production. Currently, the fruit production around Beijing couldn't meet the needs of the current 20 million population.

Another was value.

Although Master Dou was offering three and a half cents, there was no quota, so no tickets were needed.

Without the requirement for special tickets, the supply and marketing cooperative had a lot of room to maneuver.

Especially at this time, the exchange of commodities between units wasn't considered a violation.

As long as it wasn't for individual speculation and profit, it wasn't considered speculation.

Just collecting money, the supply and marketing cooperative earned five li more per ticket, so naturally, they wanted as much as they could get.

The Steel Mill's sales department also wanted to take this job, but they didn't negotiate well, and Li Huai De deliberately didn't let them take it, so it fell to Master Dou.

Li Xuewu had also instructed him, including Director Ma, and Li Huai De, not to leave anyone out. If you should go see them, you must go see them.

Courtesy demands reciprocity, and cooperation is pleasant.

In terms of being a person, Li Xuewu adhered to his duty and didn't dare to play this, but it didn't prevent him from letting Master Dou play.

He was a cadre, Master Dou wasn't.

As for Li Huai De driving the sales department people to run outside to find other commodities to pair, that wasn't something Li Xuewu could support.

He only wanted Steel City, Beijing, and Wucheng to be under his control.

These three places still had to be walked by Master Dou until he was familiar with them, and then it would be convenient to bring goods.

That car was from the Confidentiality Division. Li Xuewu wanted to say that bringing something was convenient, and there would be many opportunities to make money in the future.

But there were also many opportunities to spend money.

After Li Xuewu finished talking to Master Dou, Ye Ye Erye continued, "Have to ask you one more thing. We'll wait for antiques, but should we still collect furniture?"

Ye Ye Erye looked at Li Xuewu and explained, "I see many families using good wood, and the furniture is also old, just that it's been a long time and it's not fresh to people."

Antiques could be extorted, but there was no way to talk about furniture.

Some said antiques were the "four olds," but no one said the furniture used at home was the "four olds." That would make one a fool.

Moreover, furniture was something used daily, and buying and selling it wasn't a small amount of money.

Li Xuewu gestured to Master Dou and said, "Plan it with Ye Ye Erye. We will collect this old furniture. Use the name of 'old furniture renovation,' and when the time comes, send it all to the club."

"What's the use of collecting this stuff?"

Master Dou said dismissively, "There's plenty of this stuff, can pile up a lot. After collecting and renovating, few people are willing to want it, it's dead heavy."

"Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand."

Ye Ye Erye scolded Master Dou and then explained, "You don't need to talk about the value of this wood. Even the furniture itself is an antique. In the past, there were people who took this stuff as their heart's desire."

"Heh~"

Although Master Dou restrained his expression, he still followed up, "Now that we're living like this, eating one meal without the next, still thinking about heart's desire~"

After saying that, he learned from Li Xuewu, "We used to hang out with that Old San in the neighborhood, heh! The other day I saw him selling raided goods to raise money to buy rice, saying his waist was kicked broken, and even if it healed, he couldn't do heavy work."

"The one living in the front hutong?"

Li Xuewu had some impression of that person, raised his eyelids, and asked, "Didn't borrow money from you, right?"

"Where would I have money to lend him~"

Master Dou sipped hot water and said, "I've only been eating full for a few days? I saw him and just greeted him, saying that none of the young people around here are doing well."

After putting down the cup, he said, "I just say, the young ones can't earn money, how long can the old ones support their sons? No money, what heart's desire."

Ye Ye Erye and Maternal Grandfather were both sitting on the kang without saying a word, perhaps also thinking about this problem in their hearts.

They had memories of hunger and chaos, and also had personal pain, so they didn't want to experience what Master Dou said again.

Li Xuewu glanced at Master Dou and said, "Just do it if I tell you to. When the time comes, tidy it up with Maternal Grandfather and classify it well. There are many warehouses over there, store it temporarily, I have use for it."

"Got it, understood."

Master Dou perhaps saw the emotional changes of Maternal Grandfather and Ye Ye Erye, lowered his head, and agreed without saying anything more.

Li Xuewu talked to Ye Ye Erye about antique acquisition and also talked to Maternal Grandfather about furniture.

Recently, because he was preparing office furniture for the Public Security Brigade, Maternal Grandfather had been very busy. Today, seeing him, he was more tired than when he saw him last week.

He also advised him not to work too hard, and if there was work, call people to work together.

After talking for a while, seeing Li Shu didn't want to stay and wanted to go out to play, he took his daughter from Yu Li's hands and said, "Go, go, you're a living ancestor."

Teasing his daughter, Li Xuewu asked Yu Li, "Did Yu Zhe come to see you?"

"Yes, stayed for a while, said he wanted to go home and see."

Yu Li smiled and responded, tidying up the clothes on Li Shu.

Last week, Li Xuewu saw Yu Zhe while watching the training at the Steel Mill, so he asked him a few questions.

At this moment, he said to Yu Li, "He's training hard. I see he's someone who dares to risk his life."

"If he doesn't work hard, who will help him work hard? He's reached this step, if he doesn't improve, he's really finished."

Yu Li replied and said to Li Xuewu, "I made a few sets of clothes for Li Shu and gave them to Auntie Liu. Remember to take them when you go back tomorrow."

"Mm, understood."

Li Xuewu nodded, and after just two sentences, he held his daughter and walked out of the inverted room toward the hanging flower gate.

Li Xuewu didn't see if Li Shu was growing fast, but the weight on her body was obvious.

Her little face was chubby, not developing in the direction of Shin-chan, right?

And her little hands, the wrists were so fat that there were marks.

One egg a day, two big bottles of milk, and mixing in some food during meals—how could she not grow meat?

Returning home, there was chatting in the room.

They were all women. Li Shun wasn't home, Li Xuewen wasn't home, and even Li Xuecai, because there were no classes at school, followed them up the mountain.

Li Xuewu wasn't used to seeing his mother when he came back last week, but it was much better this time.

Perhaps it was because there was no father to serve, and his mother's life was more convenient.

Also, the children came back and made a few more dishes, otherwise, living with Zhao Yafang, it was hard to say how comfortable this life was.

Although the men weren't home now, the women weren't worried or thinking about them.

What was there to worry about? The two on the mountain were like family, and Zhao Gen was very polite to Li Shun when he went up the mountain.

Zhao Yafang went to the detention center with Master Dou two days ago, saw that Li Xuewen was living more comfortably than at home and eating better than at home, so she stopped worrying.

Today was just because Li Xuewu came back, otherwise there wouldn't be so many people in the Li family.

Even Ji Yuxiu, even if Li Xuecai wasn't there, still came to eat as usual.

Perhaps she was used to it, calling them directly, and the family treated her as a married daughter-in-law.

Liu Yin treated her the same as she treated Zhao Yafang. Now that the men in the family weren't home, she pulled Ji Yuxiu to move and live here.

Ji Yuxiu was also busy because her second brother was leaving, there was no one at home, and her mother-in-law took the initiative to say it, so she basically lived here.

She was busy, with the house at home, the house here, and her mother-in-law's house—three places to live and three places to take care of and tidy up.

But she was just waiting for her brother to get married, and the house at home would be given to her brother. When her brother left, she would tidy it up and cover it, and she wouldn't go back usually.

It was also because the Li family was close to her, her parents were away all year round, and she was close to this side.

Li Xuewu entered the room, and Ji Yuxiu took Li Shu, loving her to death.

Li Shu wasn't willing to play with Third Aunt, because Third Aunt always played with her. She treated Third Aunt as family, Third Aunt treated her as a doll.

"Your brother can really hide it, reporting his marriage at the last minute~"

"Hey~ don't talk about you, even I just found out."

Seeing his second brother ask, Ji Yuxiu said helplessly, "Can I catch his shadow?"

"A few days ago, he went out drinking and playing with fox friends, I thought he was leaving and saying goodbye to these people."

Ji Yuxiu curled her lip and said, "Who would have thought, suddenly he killed a return shot for me, and the partner he mentioned earlier also went with him, so it went yellow."

"Does he have any accuracy in his words? Borrowed money from me, said he'd pay it back in a few days, and the person ran away."

Li Xuewu watched his daughter being held by Ji Yuxiu and didn't care, found a place to sit, and said, "Day by day, five horses and guns."

In fact, Ji Yuxiu said it backward. It wasn't because the previous partner wanted to go to Hong Kong with him that it went yellow, but because he ate back grass, had to go yellow, and had to take the person to Hong Kong.

A big girl, saying she was engaged and married to you, suddenly didn't want you, and had to pay compensation.

Of course, Li Xuewu hadn't seen Comrade Comrade Ji Weidong either, didn't know what happened inside, and didn't know how Comrade Comrade Ji Weidong talked to the person.

What he was thinking now were all guesses. Seeing Ji Yuxiu say this, he didn't even ask.

Ji Yuxiu perhaps didn't know, or knew but didn't want to say, so she explained it like this.

Regarding the money Li Xuewu said her brother borrowed from him, Ji Yuxiu had no thoughts. Her brother's relationship with Li Xuewu was even better than her relationship with Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu didn't say he had to pay it back, it was purely talk, she wouldn't take it to heart.

"Going to my parents' side might be better, married, can stand things."

"Your brother is getting married? When is the event?"

Liu Yin sat on the side listening to the two talking and understood some content, so she took the initiative to ask.

This was as it should be. The child of a relative is getting married, and you still need them to invite you? You have to take the initiative to help.

Besides, this whole family of relatives worked outside. She had met Ji Yuxiu's father, and both families had the intention of forming a marriage alliance, which was harmonious.

At that time, the meeting was arranged by Li Xuewu. Li Shun's own conditions weren't low, and they talked very well.

Not as high as Ji Ruixuan, but he wasn't afraid, after all, his relatives weren't just one Ji Ruixuan.

Now hearing that Ji Yuxiu's brother was getting married, Liu Yin wanted to reach out and help.

Ji Yuxiu held Li Shu and went to the side of the kang, smiling and explaining to her mother-in-law, "It's saved, Mom, my brother isn't holding an event."

After saying this, she whispered "reason of work nature" to her mother-in-law.

Liu Yin knew where Ji Yuxiu's brother worked, but didn't know specifically what he did.

Now that Ji Yuxiu said it, she thought so, but still said with some regret, "Not holding an event, isn't it a loss to the girl?"

"Hey~ I've seen that sister-in-law of mine, it's also this situation."

After saying that, she looked at Li Xuewu and said, "Isn't it the second brother's colleague."

"Is it~"

Liu Yin didn't know this and looked at her son with surprise.

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "It was introduced by me. The girl's family conditions aren't bad either, just right for him."

"That's truly appropriate, good thing."

Liu Yin said with a smile, "You are friends, and brothers, with this layer of relationship, it's good to take care of each other."

Liu Yin's mention of brothers didn't refer to the kind of brothers Li Xuewu and Comrade Comrade Ji Weidong were in the underworld, but brothers by marriage.

If you talk from the direction of Ji Yuxiu and Li Xuecai, they have to call each other brothers.

However, in reality, they didn't acknowledge each other. Comrade Comrade Ji Weidong called Gu Ning sister-in-law, and Li Xuewu was also prepared to call Han Yating sister-in-law, mainly each calling their own, not letting anyone suffer.

Taking care of them was a must, whether from the perspective of the relationship with Comrade Comrade Ji Weidong, or from the perspective of the relative relationship in the family, or from the relationship since getting along with Han Yating, they had to take care of them.

Li Xuewu heard his mother say it, remembered his younger sister, and beckoned to Li Xue, who was sitting quietly by the cabinet, and asked, "Come, didn't talk to Second Brother all night, annoyed with Second Brother?"

"No~"

Li Xue saw everyone's attention was on her, felt embarrassed, walked to Second Brother's side, and sat on the bed.

Li Xuewu looked carefully at his sister's expression and said with a smile, "How come I heard someone crying when they came home from school yesterday?"

"No~"

Li Xue knew Second Brother would tease her, lowered her head, and replied stubbornly, but her tone wasn't that confident.

Liu Yin looked at her daughter with some worry. Although she followed along and smiled seeing her son teasing her daughter, her concerned eyes had been on her daughter all night.

Since coming home from school yesterday, Li Xue had been crying secretly. After crying, she didn't speak. Zhao Yafang coaxed her and found out that the school had notified that classes were suspended and university enrollment was delayed.

Just as Second Brother said, it was really developing in this worst direction.

Li Xue was now being asked by Second Brother, and she also knew Second Brother wanted to comfort her and arrange for her, so she sat obediently next to Second Brother.

Compared to Li Xue's alienation when Li Xuewu first came back, she now trusted and was close to him because he had been in charge of the family.

She told Second Brother everything and asked Second Brother for a solution.

Li Xuewu was truly good to her, especially after getting married, Second Sister-in-law was also good to her, making the somewhat sensitive little girl rely on him even more at this critical life choice.

"The one I told you at the beginning of the month, have you thought about it?"

Li Xuewu teased his sister, "There's a result now. If you've thought about it, I'll arrange it for you."

After saying that, he glanced at Ji Yuxiu and said, "If you want to wear a uniform like your Third Sister-in-law, Second Brother has an opportunity here."

Seeing his sister raise her head, Li Xuewu explained, "The Public Security Brigade is recruiting, formal position, starting from the front line, right at home."

"In the future, if conditions allow, if you still want to go to university, you can take the exam nearby."

Li Xuewu looked at his sister and said, "This is just an opportunity to choose, it all depends on what you want. Second Brother can take care of you on either side."

Just this one younger sister, and a sensible one at that, Li Xuewu had to take care of her no matter what.

Not to mention the Public Security Brigade or the Steel Mill, even if she chose another profession, Li Xuewu would still have to use connections to take care of her.

"Second Brother~"

Li Xue called out hesitantly, then lowered her head and whispered, "Is there really no way to go to school?"

Li Xuewu gently hugged his sister's shoulder and said, "You have to believe that not everything in this world is fair,

Li Xue was held by her second brother, her shoulders twitching; it was obvious she was crying.

Gu Ning handed over a handkerchief. Li Xuewu took it to wipe his sister's tears and comforted her: "If you ask your second brother, you are young. You're only sixteen, so what's the rush? The future is still long. Maybe one day they will recruit again, and won't you still be able to go to school?"

"Then... how long will that take?"

Li Xue raised her head to look at her second brother, her eyes full of hesitation and hope, as if her second brother could decide this matter.

Li Xuewu was looked at by his sister and continued to wipe her tears, saying: "Then we also have to see what going to university is for. If it's just for a title, that's nothing; your second brother can definitely handle that for you."

"But if you want to learn culture, then your brother and sister-in-law are both at home. With your learning ability, you certainly won't delay your cultural studies."

"If you are thinking about getting a good job, that's even easier. Your second brother has plenty of work here. As long as you name one, your second brother will handle it immediately."

Li Xuewu looked at the endless tears and also felt sorry for his sister. He patted Li Xue's shoulder and said: "It's just a university. I believe in my sister's ability. Even without university studies, you will still excel in your work."

"Second brother... I... I just feel it's a bit of a pity."

Li Xue took the handkerchief from her second brother's hand, wiped her own tears, and said: "Big brother and third brother are both university students, I..."

"If you say that, your second brother will be unhappy."

Li Xuewu teased his sister and said: "What's the matter? Big brother and third brother are university students, so you respect them, but your second brother is a high school student, so that's not good enough?"

"It's not like that~"

Li Xue was asked in a hurry. She raised her head and waved her hands, wanting to explain, but for a moment she didn't know what to say.

At this time, Liu Yin took over the conversation: "Mom told you, right? Don't look at the fact that you are a daughter, but as long as you want to go to school, Mom will support your studies, no matter how long it takes."

At this time, Li Xue heard her mother speak and looked at her mother.

Liu Yin said: "Mom supports your studies so that you can learn more knowledge and gain more learning. When you grow up, you will have a foundation to stand on and a skill. It's not for you to earn back any face for Mom."

"Look at your big brother being a university student, and your third brother being a university student. Have I ever gone out to show off to others?"

"They are all our own children. If they have ability, it belongs to the children. Whatever they learn is what they learn. As parents, supporting children's education is an obligation and a duty. There is no reason to treat this as a matter of face."

After saying this, she gestured to her daughter in the direction of her son and said: "Don't look at the fact that Mom doesn't tell others about having university students in the family, but Mom is willing to tell others about your second brother. Why?"

At this time, Li Xue also looked at her second brother. She knew what her mother meant.

When big brother and third brother were admitted to university, the parents were of course happy. They were happy for themselves, and also happy for their sons.

But the second brother is different. The second brother came back carrying a small bag of medals. He has shed blood for the country. He is not only the pride of the family but also a hero of the people.

Mother doesn't talk about the family's pride, but she can talk about the second brother, because no one can question or be jealous of the second brother's pride. In this world, only risking one's life is something that makes people envious but unable to be jealous.

Now she understands a little bit about what her second brother has done for the family, and she also understands what her mother said.

Face is ultimately one's own. It has nothing to do with family members. If you want to add color to your parents' faces, you still have to achieve results in your work and set an example in your conduct.

"It depends on your own choice."

Li Xuewu held his sister and said with a smile: "Our parents don't need you to earn honor for them. You living happily and joyfully is what your parents hope for most."

Li Xue lowered her head and thought, listening to her second brother's words in her ears.

"Actually, you are young. What does it matter if you stay at home for half a year? It's no problem to wait for news of recruitment."

Li Xuewu explained: "But in your second brother's view, people shouldn't just stay put and shouldn't be idle. Whether others talk or you feel stifled yourself, neither is very suitable. Your spirit and ambition will be worn away."

"First find a job to do, and slowly learn in the work, learning knowledge that you can't learn in school."

"When you are at home, continue to learn cultural knowledge with your big brother and sister-in-law. In case one day there is a sudden recruitment, your cultural level will be enough to maintain your state and break through the siege, right?"

"Mm."

Li Xue was persuaded by her second brother and nodded obediently.

Just as she said herself, crying was only because she felt unwilling. She attended high school and studied so hard, but in the end, it was all for nothing, as if all these years of effort had become a bubble.

Now, comforted by her second brother, she also knows that her family is worried about her. It is time to do as her second brother said: if there is no environment, you must create an environment yourself to continue learning.

"Then... second brother, where do I go?"

Li Xue raised her head and asked Li Xuewu: "I don't know what I can do. I... I have never worked."

"Hahaha~"

Everyone was amused by Li Xue's appearance. Although there was regret in these laughs that Li Xue couldn't go to university, as well as pity for the child, there was also praise for Li Xue's choice to walk out bravely.

Ji Yuxiu held Li Shu and walked over, smiling and teasing: "When people look for work, they either entrust someone or find connections. If there is a job, they go; they would even go to sweep the streets. You should be careful; maybe your second brother will arrange a street-sweeping job for you."

"Go~ stop scaring her, or you'll make her cry again."

Zhao Yafang smiled and drove Ji Yuxiu away, then said to Li Xue: "If it really doesn't work, just go to the detention center to accompany your big brother. Let your second brother arrange a job for you at the detention center, so you can also take care of your big brother."

"I... I'm not going to the detention center~"

Li Xue was a little anxious when her sister-in-law said that. She raised her head to look over, but saw her sister-in-law was smiling.

Knowing she was teasing her, she lowered her head in embarrassment.

"I'm not going to the detention center..."

Although she knew that what her sister-in-law said was all teasing her, she still instinctively and stubbornly said she didn't want to go.

Li Xuewu said amusingly: "Don't go out and say this today. If Huang Gan hears it, he will definitely be heartbroken."

Speaking of this, Li Xuewu smiled at his mother and the others: "Big brother heard about Li Xue's matter from somewhere over there, and even called me to say let Li Xue go to his place. She wouldn't be busy every day, just playing."

"He has good intentions."

Liu Yin said with a smile: "It's just that Li Xue is a girl; otherwise, the work at the detention center would be very worry-free."

Li Xuewu glanced at his sister and said: "That's right. At that time, I replied to him: a girl should naturally find a decent job, which is also convenient for finding a husband later, isn't it?"

"Second brother~~~"

Li Xue nodded in agreement with everything before, but only for the latter part, she shook her shoulders vigorously, expressing her dissatisfaction with her second brother's words.

"Haha~ alright, alright, no husband then. Our Li Xue will be a spinster for a lifetime, is that okay~"