Chapter 731: Falling Out

At the mere thought of the distance between the capital and Yangcheng, Ding Fengxia felt a sense of powerlessness.

She had traveled to Yangcheng by plane, but Gu Haitao would not allow Gu Yan to fly; he had to take the train.

The reason was simple: Gu Haitao felt that only Ding Fengxia was entitled to enjoy the family benefits commensurate with his position.

Their children were no longer small; they each had their own status and positions, and they could no longer take advantage of the public.

Therefore, if Gu Yan wanted to visit his father and mother, he had to take the train; he could forget about a plane ticket.

Unless, like Gu An, he could fly a plane himself and go wherever he pleased.

When Mu Hongyan left the capital, she also traveled by plane, but that was under Gu An's family benefits.

Fortunately, it only took three days to get from Yangcheng to the capital at that time; it was a mercy Gu Haitao hadn't made Gu Yan ride a bicycle.

Of course, this was just a father's strict requirement for his children; he didn't truly believe there was any difference between riding a bicycle, taking a train, or flying.

The point was the issue of benefits; if Gu Yan could rely on his own ability to take a rocket, Gu Haitao would be the first to be happy.

The girls were a different story; there was only one daughter in the Gu family, Gu Ning, so she was a bit more pampered.

Especially Gu Haitao—his doting on Gu Ning wasn't apparent on the surface, but in his actions, he never let her suffer a loss.

When Gu Yan was young, he never enjoyed the benefit of security details; if someone cornered him, he had nowhere to seek justice.

Look at Gu Ning, then!

It really was a case of some dying of thirst while others drowned; same father, different fates.

Gu Haitao never hit or scolded his two sons; he would just say one sentence—that what they were doing was wrong—and Gu An and Gu Yan would never do it again.

He didn't talk much usually, spending most of his time at home in the study; the children respected him more than they feared him.

Gu Ning's personality was just like Gu Haitao's: if you didn't speak first, she wouldn't either. If father and daughter both refused to speak, they could go a whole year without saying a word.

Therefore, Gu Haitao, who was sparing with words toward his two sons, spoke more when he was with his daughter.

After understanding her thoughts, whether it was about taking college entrance exams or finding a partner, he fully respected her opinions.

Although Gu Ning had liked someone before, that kind of puppy love was worthless in his eyes.

After Ding Fengxia spoke to their daughter, he only asked about her requirements for a partner, then set four principles for finding her one.

Once these four principles were out, Gu Ning didn't object, but those who heard them were stunned for a long time.

Everyone in the compound knew what kind of personality the Gu family's daughter had, and those in the circles outside the compound knew it too.

That was why there was Gu Ning, who had never had a partner; Gu Ning, who dared to go to the battlefield; and Gu Ning, who was abnormally cold.

His daughter's increasing steadiness made Gu Haitao satisfied, but it also made him worry about her future.

It was easy for a family like his to find a partner for their daughter, but not easy to find a *good* one.

After several twists and turns, Gu Ning was annoyed, Gu Haitao was tired, and only Ding Fengxia remained worried and anxious.

That led to Dong Wenxue introducing Li Xuewu. There were others who did the same thing, all close relatives entrusted by Ding Fengxia to help select a suitable young man.

Fate likes to tease people; Li Xuewu had once served in the Yangcheng regional troops and was considered Gu Haitao's soldier.

Later, Li Xuewu signed up to follow the troops to the front line, where he met Gu Ning again.

After much tossing and turning, the two returned to the capital like Mars colliding with Earth; it seemed they couldn't *not* be together.

Ding Fengxia often said her son-in-law was good and that she had chosen him, but in reality, she knew this son-in-law was more chosen by her daughter herself.

Without that determination during the photo selection that day, there probably wouldn't have been their meeting at the Gu residence, let alone what followed.

At first, Ding Fengxia didn't know the scar on Li Xuewu's face had anything to do with her daughter. Seeing her daughter choose an "ugly son-in-law," she was angry with her for a while.

But Gu Haitao insisted that she meet whoever her daughter chose, and she had no other choice.

The saying "don't judge a book by its cover" was the first lesson her son-in-law taught her. In the days that followed, the Gu family became increasingly convinced of this choice.

Until they married, and until now, seeing her daughter living happily with a small family of her own, Ding Fengxia finally set aside her worried heart.

Gu Haitao never said he missed his daughter, but in his study at their Yangcheng residence, the photo frame on his desk held only a family portrait and a solo photo of his daughter.

A few days ago, a letter came from the capital, and Ding Fengxia gave the letter from her daughter and son-in-law to Gu Haitao to read.

Gu Haitao read it silently for a long time, likely reading it word by word, melting his longing for his daughter into his iron-blooded tenderness.

The "artwork" attached to the letter was also solemnly requested by Gu Haitao to be framed by his secretary and placed on his desk.

The secretary didn't understand which abstract artist had created this masterpiece. If it were precious, it should be mounted, but mounting required rice paper or proper oil painting paper; what was a crayon drawing on ordinary white paper?

He had thought it was a child's scribble, but seeing the leader's solemn expression, he didn't dare to think so anymore.

Thus, the crayon drawing on Gu Haitao's desk became a mystery in the office secretary's heart.

What Gu Haitao cherished wasn't the drawing, but the sentiment—the harmonious and loving life of his daughter's family of three.

Seeing the drawing, he saw the happy scene of his daughter coaxing her child and staying by her lover's side.

Gu Haitao had never praised his son-in-law Li Xuewu, nor had he ever sat down with him to drink and speak freely.

Entrusting Gu Ning to Li Xuewu was the greatest praise and recognition Gu Haitao could give him.

Ding Fengxia had also told Li Xuewu more than once that whether in life or work, if he had any difficulties, he should just tell her directly and not be a stranger.

That she could say this meant Gu Haitao approved; his sons couldn't borrow his light, but his son-in-law could.

Regrettably, his sons had no intention of borrowing his light, and neither did his son-in-law.

Li Xuewu had only made one request for help to his mother-in-law: he wanted to get to know the leaders of the Training General Department.

What kind of request was that? He probably felt it would be bad not to ask her when seeking military connections; otherwise, he likely wouldn't have called her at all.

Gu Haitao had a stubborn temper, and his two sons were the same—it ran in the family.

At work, his two sons would absolutely never rely on their father's name to get things done; they didn't even enlist within Gu Haitao's sphere of influence.

His daughter wasn't stubborn, but she was cold. She found a son-in-law who wasn't cold, who looked easygoing and steady, but in reality, was just as stubborn.

Young people who find a good father-in-law usually suck up to them every day, thinking of using them as a ladder to advance quickly.

But this son-in-law of theirs didn't even use the father-in-law's offer when he proactively opened the door, which made the couple feel both comforted and proud.

Why was Gu Haitao able to represent the capital and sit in Yangcheng?

He saw the big picture in the small details.

And why did Ding Fengxia dare to frankly admit her son-in-law's excellence at work?

Because she was selfless at heart.

Both were excellent talents who had received higher education, and they had a tacit understanding of seriousness and earnestness in the education of their children.

Their love was real; they wouldn't use beatings or scoldings to highlight it, nor would they spoil them to ruin them.

The saying about raising sons in poverty and daughters in wealth didn't hold true in the Gu family; all children enjoyed the same material conditions. There was no situation where Gu Ning had more and Gu An and Gu Yan had less.

The difference lay in education: the goal set for the two sons was to protect the country and devote themselves to reform, while the goal set for the daughter was to be willing to contribute, upright, and brave.

For all three children, all educational goals were achieved.

All three children were in the military; the two sons were on the front line and in a military academy, and the daughter had been to the front line, achieving the educational goals of contribution and bravery.

Sons raised in poverty lack vision and ideals, and daughters raised in wealth lack bottom lines and conscience; the Gu family wouldn't ruin their children to experiment with such nonsense.

Although the Li family wasn't a high-ranking cadre family like the Gu family, they shared commonalities in raising children.

Li Xue wasn't raised in wealth, and Li Huai and his brothers weren't raised in poverty—they were truly poor, which couldn't be helped, but there was no difference between the children.

The executors of education in both families were actually the mothers, Ding Fengxia and Liu Yin. Their expectations for the children were the same: the children carried the future of the family and shouldered the hopes of several generations.

Therefore, they both hoped that the child of Li Xuewu and Gu Ning would be a boy.

It wasn't that they disliked Li Shu or were distant from her, but the continuation of the family bloodline didn't represent a difference in love for the child.

Gu Haitao never held children, but when Li Shu went to their home, he would hold her and dote on her.

His eldest granddaughter's masterpiece was still displayed on his desk, and he looked at it often.

Needless to say, for the Li family, Li Shu was the first child, and Li Shun had even secretly recorded Li Shu's name in the genealogy—who would dare not acknowledge it?

Look at how mischievous Li Shu was now; whose responsibility was it?

Li Shun probably had to take half the responsibility!

It was natural for a child to throw things, but couldn't she be disciplined?

Why did Li Shu stop throwing things randomly after living here?

She was so naughty before; it was all because Li Shun spoiled her.

She even dared to throw her grandfather's medicine bottles!

What else did she not dare to do!

You dare to scold her!

She'll cry for you to see!

The kind that even two medicine bottles couldn't coax!

Do you think Li Shun didn't feel heartache?

But seeing his eldest granddaughter smile at him, what heartache? Throw another one for Grandpa!

She's really got spirit! Thrown well!

Doting on Li Shu had nothing to do with the desire for a male heir; if it were a girl, she would likely still be treated the same as Li Shu, spoiled beyond measure.

After the call to Yangcheng, the burden on Li Xuewu's shoulders felt much lighter; it wouldn't do for his father-in-law and mother-in-law to complain that the two of them were ignorant of the situation.

The room in the back courtyard was kept very clean; Yu Li came often, and family members came often too.

Li Xue came here to work every night. Li Xuewu had told her to move here, but she wasn't willing, and Liu Yin wouldn't allow it either.

Their home was very spacious now; it wasn't as if they couldn't fit.

Besides, there were too many boys in this compound; Liu Yin wasn't at ease with Li Xue living in the back courtyard alone.

Zhao Yaping used to come here often to watch TV, but after Li Xuewu moved the small monster to the front courtyard, she came less often, mostly just passing by while out for a walk.

Closing the door, Li Xuewu had just stepped off the threshold when he saw Liu Guangfu flying in through the moon gate.

Liu Guangfu was clearly stunned when he saw Li Xuewu, and his feet instinctively slammed on the brakes.

Once he stood still, seeing Li Xuewu's gloomy eyes, he was also a bit afraid.

Li Xuewu had told him last time that he could fly around outside, but not to run in the compound, fearing he would bump into someone.

He was busy with big things; how could he care about such requirements?

Besides, Li Xuewu didn't live in this compound often; his chances of crossing paths with Li Xuewu were so few, how many times could he run into him?

So he flew however he wanted.

He had run into people in the compound, but seeing him hanging out with the street urchins now, they didn't dare say anything to him, which made him even more unscrupulous.

He still remembered he was from this compound and didn't bring in any riffraff, but he himself had become a riffraff.

People in the compound muttered about him, and he knew it, but seeing the fear in their eyes made him feel excited.

But today was really unlucky; he ran into the compound's plague god. He had treated Li Xuewu's words as wind in his ears; he didn't know the consequences, but he knew Li Xuewu's prowess.

His brother lived in the bunk below him and had told him plenty about Li Xuewu's awesomeness at the Rolling Mill. Hanging out on the street, he had naturally heard the legend of "Li the Scarred."

Seeing Li Xuewu about to lose his temper, Liu Guangfu pointed at his home and stammered, "I went to buy medicine for my mom, I'm in a hurry..."

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow, his expression pausing slightly, and he took him at his word.

At least he didn't talk back, which meant this kid still had some fear.

Soon, there wouldn't be many days left for them to mess around; in a year or two, they'd all be off to the countryside for hard labor.

Li Xuewu used to think these people's fates were tragic and pitiful, but now he saw that pitiful people must have hateful aspects.

He didn't know about others, but in this noisy compound, every single one of them deserved to go do a few years of hard labor.

"How is Second Aunt doing?"

Li Xuewu glanced at the door opposite, took a cigarette case from his pocket, flicked one out, and tossed it to Liu Guangfu.

Liu Guangfu caught it in a flurry and said with a dry laugh, "Still the same, the doctor has no way. Uncle Li prescribed medicine, but she complained it was too bitter and couldn't take it, so she didn't drink it."

After finishing, he scratched his head and said embarrassedly, "I tried to persuade her, but she won't listen."

Li Xuewu nodded, having no opinion on the matter; what did it have to do with him if she didn't cooperate with his father's treatment?

"Take better care of your family. You're the youngest, so you should shoulder more. Just because the Rolling Mill isn't hiring now doesn't mean it won't in the future, and it doesn't mean other factories won't hire either."

"Thank you, Brother Wu."

Liu Guangfu was quite moved by Li Xuewu's words; he was at that age where he lacked the ability to shoulder adult obligations but craved being respected as an adult.

Li Xuewu tossing him a cigarette meant he had grown up, was an adult, and was being respected.

And now, hearing these "heart-to-heart" words, telling him to take care of his family and his mother, made him feel the significance of responsibility for a man.

These were all good words; even though he was a figure on the street now, he still felt warm inside at Li Xuewu's words.

Li Xuewu waved his hand, not caring about his thanks. Just as he was about to walk out, he asked casually, "What's your brother doing lately? Seems like things are quite lively at his factory."

"Oh, he formed an organization with people from his factory. I don't know what it's called, they're busy making revolution."

Because of his earlier being moved by Li Xuewu, Liu Guangfu sold his brother out completely, saying everything he could.

Li Xuewu nodded knowingly, gestured toward the front courtyard, and then walked out.

He knew about Liu Guangtian transferring from the workshop to the branch factory; this branch factory was the tool factory established by the joint enterprise.

The workshop was almost finished, and they had transferred several basic workers from the workshop to serve as the main force, while also bringing along workers selected from other factories.

The tool factory's productivity wasn't high, and the equipment was very simple. This time, it was because of the establishment of the joint enterprise that they expanded production; otherwise, they couldn't have transferred Liu Guangtian and the others from the workshop.

The old workers from the tool factory were all transferred along, key positions were filled by transfers from the workshop, and the remaining quotas were divided among the other joint factories.

This was also the result of negotiations between Yang Fengshan, Jing Yunong, and these joint factories: using workers to replace hiring, which both preserved productivity for the factories and satisfied the Rolling Mill workers' demands for hiring.

If workers like Liu Guangtian were transferred away, their positions would open up; those with ability and quotas would move up, and the vacancies left behind could continue to hire people.

This method looked okay in theory, but in reality, it couldn't solve the fundamental problem.

The Rolling Mill's workforce was currently saturated, which meant that even if the joint enterprise used a portion of mature workers, the vacancies left behind would only reduce this saturation slightly and couldn't bring many hiring quotas.

It looked like many people had been transferred away, and workers were waiting eagerly for hiring; those who were hired were happy and stopped making trouble, but there were still more who hadn't been hired.

This kind of issue couldn't be satisfied unless they opened three more factories the size of the Rolling Mill.

There was a reason Li Xuewu was so concerned about Liu Guangtian; it would be August soon, followed by September and October, and basically, that would be it.

The liveliness would only last for this period; the liveliness afterward wouldn't have much to do with these people.

If Li Xuewu had any ideas, he had to get them done within this time; otherwise, once the time passed, the food would be cold.

However, judging from the news he got from Liu Guangfu, this Liu Guangtian was really quite capable of stirring things up; he had been transferred to the branch factory and could still dance around.

Li Xuewu would wait and see what kind of thing he could stir up.

At high noon, people in the compound were hiding at home or dodging the shade to chat; there was no one moving around.

Li Xuewu went out through the third gate and glanced at his home; because of the glass reflection, he couldn't see clearly what his mother was doing.

But he knew his sister-in-law wasn't in the room. He continued walking, passed the hanging flower gate, and glanced at the south-facing rooms, seeing Yu Li talking to his sister-in-law.

"Don't have to work this afternoon?"

Yu Li greeted Li Xuewu when she saw him enter; she had come here to tidy up the kitchen after seeing him from the hanging flower gate.

The three women took turns cooking lunch and tidying the kitchen, while the men ate in shifts and rushed back to work.

Today happened to be Yu Li's turn, and seeing Zhao Yaping come into the room, she stayed a while longer.

Seeing Li Xuewu enter, Yu Li guessed that the two had something to say, and what they were hiding was likely Aunt Liu from the Li family.

"I have to, I just snuck out."

Li Xuewu waved his hand, letting Yu Li, who was about to leave, sit down; he didn't intend to speak to his sister-in-law alone.

Leaving Yu Li behind represented both trust in her and respect for his sister-in-law.

Yu Li didn't get up to leave immediately; she was waiting for Li Xuewu's look or signal. She couldn't put Li Xuewu in an awkward position without his signal.

Zhao Yaping didn't mind Li Xuewu leaving Yu Li behind and asked directly, "Why are you asking about financial matters?"

Seeing his sister-in-law's expression, Li Xuewu knew she had misunderstood, thinking there were rats in the recycling station and wanting her help to investigate.

Thinking about it, Li Xuewu asking this suddenly, and the only industry Zhao Yaping knew Li Xuewu had was this one, and it had someone managing the finances—if it wasn't a problem, what could it be?

"It's about the broader finances."

Li Xuewu looked at his sister-in-law sitting across the table and explained, "The recycling station's accounts were managed by my Third Uncle before; after he left, they were handed to Old Biao, and now Old Biao is too busy, so they were handed to Grandpa and Guodong and the others."

As he spoke, he gestured toward the west room, referring to the daily bookkeeping at the recycling station.

"And here, bookkeeping is separate from managing the money, and collecting money is separate from managing the money."

Li Xuewu looked at his sister-in-law very seriously and said, "Because the money and the accounts are in different places."

Zhao Yaping naturally understood the meaning of Li Xuewu's words. Mathematics wasn't her professional discipline, but this wasn't hard to understand—it was finance.

She hadn't asked about the accounts and money here, and this was the first time she had heard Li Xuewu explain it in detail.

But she just listened; she couldn't express an opinion or say anything before Li Xuewu finished.

These things weren't her father-in-law's, nor were they her husband's; they had nothing to do with her, and she wasn't jealous whether there was more or less.

It was just that Li Xuewu talking to her about this now meant he had something to ask of her. She had to listen to her brother-in-law's affairs; she would do what she could, and find a way for what she couldn't.

"I have some other... places similar to the recycling station... um... places."

Li Xuewu hesitated as he explained, fearing he would cause his sister-in-law to misunderstand or overthink.

However, his words were vague, but looking at his sister-in-law's expression, she seemed to understand and even nodded.

Since his sister-in-law could accept the meaning of his words, he could say more.

"Each place has people responsible for bookkeeping and collecting money, and all accounts and money are gathered into a general financial department for overall planning and expenditure, realizing the separation of revenue and expenditure."

Li Xuewu tried his best to explain it discreetly while ensuring he could explain it clearly.

Zhao Yaping nodded, indicating she understood Li Xuewu's words, thought for a moment, and asked, "So what do you want me to help you do? Manage the money?"

"No, manage the accounts."

Li Xuewu denied his sister-in-law's question very directly and stated his purpose.

Money wouldn't be managed by any specific person; that would be irresponsible to that person and irresponsible to himself.

But the accounts needed someone specialized to manage them—a financial director.

Li Xuewu didn't have many projects spread out now, but they were very scattered—a bit here, a bit there—all points that hadn't been connected into lines yet.

So these financial accounts seemed a bit difficult to organize, belonging to a "one-to-many" situation.

A proper unit's financial layout should be connected from top to bottom, with branch institutions having cross-business operations that could do account transfers, but rarely did branch institutions directly dock with a settlement center.

What Li Xuewu had set up at the First Detention Center was a settlement center—a beggar's version.

No tax business, only internal organizational fund and account management—wasn't that just a beggar's version?

Li Xuewu letting his sister-in-law manage the accounts was equivalent to handing the accounts to her, while the funds were managed by someone else, and spending money had to be handed to business personnel. The three were separated and didn't touch each other, which allowed for an approval procedure to be set up in between.

Business personnel handed the money they earned to finance; finance reconciled the accounts and handed the data and money together to the settlement center; the settlement center did the general ledger, and the fund management center planned the funds.

And when business needed to spend money, they submitted an application; if it was appropriate, it was approved; if not, it wasn't.

Once approved, they could go to the settlement center to report accounts and collect money to do things; if things weren't done well, the business personnel would be dealt with.

A complete closed loop should also include administrative personnel handing back the receipts for the business to finance for account reconciliation.

But Li Xuewu's shop was a black shop; many of the accounts were black accounts. Where could he go to ask for receipts from public-to-public entities?

So, he had to be especially cautious about the approval power and account management power.

Gradually, accounts, funds, and taxes would all be separated. The more systematic, the better, including audits, which should also be separated or outsourced.

They say you have to win at the starting line; Li Xuewu had to configure everything this trust needed from the start so it wouldn't fall apart while running.

"I can find someone who hasn't graduated from elementary school to count money, but not for the accounts."

Li Xuewu looked at his sister-in-law and said, "A thousand-mile levee can be destroyed by an ant hole. Money can be counted clearly, but accounts might not be."

"I understand."

Zhao Yaping saw that Li Xuewu had explained it very clearly and even used the elementary school education level to count money to give her a lift, fearing she would overthink it.

This wasn't her industry, and it had nothing to do with her; her brother-in-law asked for help, so she would just do it.

"Give me a few days; I'll look at the finance books first. I won't give you a guarantee, but I think I can handle the kind of accounts you're talking about."

After finishing, she gestured to her body and said with a smile, "But you know my situation; Mom won't let me go out, so these accounts...?"

"Haha, don't worry, the accounts can be done at home, and you can go out too."

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Because the finance department is set up at my brother's place."

"The First Detention Center?"

Zhao Yaping was surprised, and only then did she understand why Li Xuewu said she could go out.

Wasn't it just that? Her mother-in-law wouldn't let her go out shopping or to school, but would she not let her go to the First Detention Center to see Li Huai?

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "It's at the First Detention Center. You're mainly responsible for management; there are specialized accountants there to do the work."

After finishing, Li Xuewu also touched his face with a bitter smile and explained, "I wouldn't have dared to trouble you, but I told my brother, and he said he didn't have the time."

"Haha~"

Zhao Yaping understood the helplessness in Li Xuewu's words; this kind of thing was naturally appropriate for brothers to help with, but she knew what kind of person her husband was.

But she laughed for another reason: "You set up the finance at the First Detention Center, so the accountant is...?"

"Hehe~ A cliff-edge step, a warning effect~"

Li Xuewu smiled, accepting his sister-in-law's teasing, and also stated the significance of doing so.

"The accountants are all old accountants; their skills are fine, but they have too many tricks, and they came from the old society, so I don't trust them."

Li Xuewu explained one more sentence, then looked at his sister-in-law and asked, "If you think there's no problem, I'll set it like this; I really can't find anyone else suitable."

"Good."

Zhao Yaping knew what her second brother-in-law meant by saying this; they were all family, and there was no need to be so polite when asking for help; it was just an expression of his concern for her.

Anyone could see that she was bored staying at home; usually, it was just her and her mother-in-law, and she couldn't get into reading, and they had already said everything there was to say—being pregnant was like being in prison.

Now that her second brother-in-law had spoken so earnestly, there was the factor of relying on her, but also the intention of finding something for her to do and seeing Li Huai more often.

Zhao Yaping accepted this kindness and intended to handle the matters her second brother-in-law had entrusted to her well.

She had been very polite, giving herself a few days to look at the finance books.

It could be said that if she could learn mathematics well, she could be an instructor; the only mountain in front of her was probably metaphysics.

Li Xuewu knew his sister-in-law's prowess; if she said she was learning a foreign language, she would just read books herself, and in ten days or so, she could read foreign books.

If there was a top student in this family, it had to be this sister-in-law; Li Xue could only be said to be hardworking, and her learning environment was also good.

Seeing his sister-in-law agree, Li Xuewu stood up with a smile and said, "It'll take some time; the First Detention Center is renovating the office, and my brother and Teacher Wu are going to start classes, so they'll just happen to clear out a few rooms for me."

Seeing Li Xuewu about to leave, Zhao Yaping nodded and said, "Just tell me when you're ready. But you have to be the one to tell Mom; you have more weight than I do, haha~"

"No problem, I'll have my brother tell her then, just say he misses you."

Li Xuewu's voice came from outside the room, causing Zhao Yaping to scold him with a smile.

Yu Li saw Li Xuewu out, and since she had to go to work, she went with him.

When they reached the outer courtyard, Yu Li deliberately took a detour with Li Xuewu toward the main gate, and only after they were outside did she say, "Congratulations~"

"Haha, you know?"

Li Xuewu looked at Yu Li with a smile and asked, "My sister-in-law told you?"

"Mm."

Yu Li also smiled, lowered her head slightly to tuck the hair behind her ear, and said, "Adding a person to the family is a great joy."

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said to Yu Li, "Since you know, prepare early."

"What?"

Yu Li didn't understand the meaning of Li Xuewu's words and suddenly looked up at him.

Li Xuewu tilted his head and said as a matter of course, "What what? Go help out when the months get bigger."

"Isn't there that someone else~"

Yu Li had some opinions about Qin Jingru; it was because she had seen her hanging out with Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu in the compound, and also because she had snatched the chance to walk with Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu didn't mind the implication in her words, waved his hand, and said, "Just prepare if I tell you to prepare. That someone, that someone—don't I know who that someone is?!"

These words showed trust in her and also expressed his intention to use her.

Yu Li curled her lips on the surface, but she was happy in her heart.

Seeing Li Xuewu still in that bandit-like manner, she didn't feel neglected; if this person were polite to her, that would be what made her panic.

Watching Li Xuewu get into the jeep and leave, Yu Li also walked toward the sales department, wondering if she should go to the Li family to help Aunt Liu make baby clothes.

But at the thought of children, Yu Li felt a sense of loss; she was a woman too.

However, when she was with Li Xuewu, she didn't make things difficult for him and proactively avoided such risks.

Without a proper name or status, what would it matter even if she really had a child?

It wouldn't be a good thing for him, for her, or for the child.

Having a child was for the sake of maternal love; if this love brought harm to the child, she would rather not have one.

Since she had chosen Li Xuewu, she would just wait for his arrangements.

Based on Li Xuewu's personality—others might not understand, but Yu Li knew his mind.

In this period, with this status, at this age, and with this family situation, how could he let another woman bear his child?

The Li family didn't have a throne to inherit, requiring more children to share the risk.

Nor did they have a vast fortune requiring many descendants to prosper the family.

She used to be at odds with Qin Huairu, but looking at Qin Huairu's situation now, she could think it through.

Qin Huairu was even closer to him than she was, but look at her now—does she dare to show even a hint of intention?

Knowing when to stop is much better than ending up with nothing.

Yu Li didn't know how things were at the Rolling Mill, but she could feel that ever since Li Xuewu married, Qin Huairu didn't dare to go near him either.

Greeting each other in the compound seemed intimate, but it was just the intimacy between friends; they didn't avoid people when laughing and joking, so what could be suspected?

Those who used to suspect Qin Huairu didn't say that anymore; they were used to it and felt it was impossible.

Actually, whether it's possible or not is just that—if Li Xuewu wanted to, could Qin Huairu refuse?

Whether or not there was still that layer of relationship with Qin Huairu wouldn't hinder their interaction.

Qin Huairu relied on Li Xuewu's power at work, and Li Xuewu trusted her, using the situation to guide it and forming a more stable influence.

She was the same; Li Xuewu didn't come back to live often now and didn't have intimate contact with her, but could one say she had broken off her relationship with Li Xuewu?

Qin Huairu didn't dare to look for anyone else, so did she?

Just drag it out; this life was basically like this. Even if she never had a chance for intimacy for the rest of her life, who else could she go to besides Li Xuewu?

Nighttime matters couldn't affect daytime matters; one still had to live during the day.

You couldn't say that because you didn't do nighttime matters, daytime matters would fail—then what would you eat? What would you drink? What would you wear?

Yu Li thought Qin Huairu was doing quite well—she had status, she had a life, and she had hope; what else did she need a man for?

Even if she looked for one, could she find someone better than him?

Why would someone better than him look for someone like her?

So, Qin Huairu saw it very clearly, and she was learning to see it clearly too.

She had a house, she had a job, she had money; what else did she need a man for?

Isn't it better to earn your own money and spend it yourself? Why serve a master?

Li Xuewu told her not to rush, so she wouldn't rush; she would just work slowly—it was all daily work.

Now that Li Xuewu told her to prepare, she would prepare; once she went to Li Xuewu's place, he would have arrangements, and she would do whatever he told her to do.

As for Qin Huairu's sister, she had asked, but Li Xuewu didn't say, which meant Li Xuewu had other arrangements for that matter.

But even if she got close to Li Xuewu, what could happen?

Could she go back to the past?

"You weren't at the factory this morning; it was quite lively."

Yu Decai sat opposite Li Xuewu's desk, finished reporting the morning's work, and seeing Li Xuewu approving documents, he smiled and spoke about the morning's events at the Rolling Mill.

Usually, these things were said by Sha Qizhi, but Sha Qizhi hadn't been at the factory this morning either. Repeating it was too much trouble, so he just smiled and spoke about some important things in front of Sha Qizhi.

"I heard that Deputy Director Feng held a meeting with Yang Shuji and others, and after the meeting, they mentioned a situation."

Yu Decai's voice was very soft, but Li Xuewu, sitting behind the desk, and Sha Qizhi, standing by the filing cabinet, could hear clearly.

"Deputy Director Feng gave a suggestion regarding the report submitted at this year's mid-year meeting: that the Factory Party Committee should request Wang Jingzhang to serve as Deputy Party Secretary, not occupying the Rolling Mill's quota, and that the work above could be handed over to the working group to do."

Li Xuewu raised his head slightly, glanced at Yu Decai opposite him, and asked with a smile, "And then?"

"Haha, you guessed it."

Yu Decai said with a light laugh, "Yang Shuji naturally disagreed and directly rejected Deputy Director Feng's opinion, which made Deputy Director Feng slam the table."

Li Xuewu shook his chin and lowered his head to continue reading the documents.

This matter was very obvious: the working group wanted to intervene in the Rolling Mill's work, and while continuing to deepen their influence on the Rolling Mill's mid-level cadres, they also wanted to have their own voice within the Rolling Mill's Party Committee.

It was quite interesting that the working group had chosen Wang Jingzhang, a person they were originally going to abandon.

This situation was not unrelated to the commotion caused by the Youth Assault Team in the Service Office these days; perhaps the working group had seen another possibility in Wang Jingzhang.

Yang Yuansong naturally wouldn't let Wang Jingzhang move up. Not to mention whether his qualifications were sufficient, just based on what Wang Jingzhang had done before and what he was doing now, he wouldn't let such an unstable factor intervene in the Factory Party Committee.

What would that become!

As for the other conditions Deputy Director Feng mentioned, such as not occupying the quota, Yang Yuansong didn't even have the interest to listen and directly rejected them.

He was the Factory Party Secretary; naturally, he had the right to reject the working group's opinion.

Although this was very damaging to their mutual unity, Yang Yuansong didn't dare to loosen this opening on matters of principle.

Gu Weijie's operation to get Li Xuewu into the Party Committee had gone through many twists and turns, let alone a position of Deputy Secretary.

Although this position of Deputy Secretary wasn't for the Party Group, nor was it permanent, Yang Yuansong just wouldn't give him this opportunity, and Yang Fengshan and the others wouldn't either.

Even if they gave it, they wouldn't give it to Wang Jingzhang!

Looking at it this way, they had truly fallen out; the importance of the mid-year meeting made many people panic, anxious, and ready to jump over the wall.

Today was Friday; tomorrow was Saturday. There were two more days of office time this week, and the mid-year meeting would start on Monday. It could be said that the variables were in these two days.

Whoever could resolve the variables could resolve their own progress issues at the mid-year meeting.

Then wouldn't it be the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showing their own prowess?!

It was truly interesting.

There were even more interesting things!

Yu Decai organized his notebook and, before getting up to leave, said one more thing: "Deputy Secretary Gu accepted an investigation this morning."

"Who?"

Li Xuewu suddenly raised his head, narrowed his eyes, looked at Yu Decai, and then asked, "Who investigated?" ===== CHAPTER 732 =====