Chapter 763: When there

Is it a pity?

Indeed, it's hard to just let go of a team built with manpower and material resources.

But Li Xuewu never intended to keep this team in his own hands from the beginning; otherwise, he wouldn't have added so many insurance policies.

Rather than saying it was left for Li Huai De, it's better to say it was prepared for Li Huai De all along.

Given Li Huai De's reckless style, it would be strange if he didn't crash a big hole into the Steel Rolling Mill.

Li Xuewu couldn't stop Li Huai De's plan, but he could perfect it and control the scope of the impact as much as possible.

Li Huai De wanted that position, and Li Xuewu wanted his own future.

He was a person of the Steel Rolling Mill. If the Steel Rolling Mill were riddled with holes, it would mean his own future had been harmed.

Gu Weijie had a rather subtle communication and exchange with him about this on the way to the club.

She was quite concerned about Li Xuewu's judgment and thoughts on the current situation, including his series of layouts, which was a cooperation with her and also the basis for their mutual trust.

Sorting through the things that had happened in the Steel Rolling Mill during this period, Gu Weijie knew that not putting Li Xuewu in an equal position to interact, judge, and communicate would be an insult to her own political consciousness.

This change in Gu Weijie's attitude of attaching importance to Li Xuewu was naturally not the first; the leaders in the mill were also consciously adjusting their attention and posture toward Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu's influence was expanding step by step, and he retained an implicit and moderate ideology, which forced them to focus more on Li Xuewu.

Ignoring Li Xuewu was equivalent to paralyzing oneself. From today's meeting, everyone could feel the aggressive momentum of Li Xuewu's first attendance.

It wasn't that Li Xuewu really held four cards to play against the factory director and secretary, but they all knew that Li Xuewu's performance today was absolutely not accidental.

The fact that Bu Fangqing and others could stand on Li Xuewu's side today represented that such a situation might happen in the future.

The actions of Bu Fangqing and others today were even less of a whim, but intentional, taking advantage of the situation to increase their right to speak at the poker table.

Previously, they were just there to raise their hands, but with this fierce tiger from the Security Division coming up, they had more room for maneuver.

Even if Li Xuewu didn't want to stand out, they would urge Li Xuewu to carry the flag, just like Li Xuewu used Li Huai De—this was an open conspiracy.

Of course, it couldn't be said that they really stood on Li Xuewu's side unconditionally.

This situation was entirely caused by the inequality of the right to speak at the meeting. As long as Yang Yuansong and Yang Fengshan intended to break it, this tacit understanding would easily disappear.

But there was one situation that wouldn't disappear, and that was the relationship between Li Xuewu and Li Huai De.

Since Li Huai De could cooperate with Li Xuewu today, conversely, Li Xuewu could also cooperate with Li Huai De on certain matters.

Since Li Xuewu could influence Kuang Yusheng and Bu Fangqing and others, didn't it mean he could influence the direction of the meeting together with Li Huai De on a certain matter?

Unless Yang Yuansong stopped convening Party Committee meetings, this was a deterrent.

Don't forget, Gu Weijie also had a vote.

New environment, new life, new tasks—everything was fresh, but the colleagues were still those same colleagues.

Wang Yajuan was learning how to do the work of the deputy captain of the Art Propaganda Team, and the first step started from lunch.

Although it was very close to the small canteen and the guesthouse canteen, they had to go to the big canteen for meals.

Zhang Li could have gone to the small canteen for meals, but because the Art Propaganda Team members came today and it was the first day of military training, she was worried.

After discussing with Wang Yajuan, for the next seven days, the Art Propaganda Team members would go to the canteen for meals together, executing training discipline.

In other words, walk together, eat together, and fully cultivate their discipline and team consciousness.

This was because time was tight; otherwise, Li Xuewu would have arranged for them to go to the Red Star Training Ground for professional training.

A team of people wearing uniform training clothes entering the canteen naturally attracted the attention of the workers eating there.

Those who were well-informed pointed at Director Guo, who was standing at the meal window arranging meals, and said: "Old Guo is really good at bootlicking, opening a separate mouth for them."

"What is this for? Doesn't look like the Security Division~"

"Indeed not, but there is some relationship."

The person who spoke earlier signaled the girls queuing up and raised his eyebrows: "See that? Professional Art Troupe, transferred to our mill by Division Chief Li of the Security Division, establishing an Art Propaganda Team."

"Art Troupe?!"

"This figure and appearance are truly..."

People say that after three years in the army, a sow looks like Diaochan. The Steel Rolling Mill was in Beijing, so naturally, it didn't lack female workers.

However! The proportion of female workers was very small. The statistical data at the beginning of the year was 18.6%.

In other words, there were only more than 2,700 female workers in the whole mill, about one-third of whom were engaged in service and management positions, and the rest were workshop workers.

In a factory with high temperature, high risk, and heavy physical labor like the Steel Rolling Mill, female workers could only work for a short time on the front line, and there were restrictions on the number of people in the second-line positions, so the gender ratio in the mill was extremely uncoordinated.

With such a background foundation, suddenly seeing a team of girls with good figures and appearances, where would their eyes look?

Wang Yajuan naturally discovered the wolf-like eyes of those workers in the canteen. Although she felt uncomfortable, she remained serious on the surface.

They had their own small canteen on the railway side, unlike the Steel Rolling Mill, where they ate collectively.

When there were many people, the environment would be bad. This was inevitable, and it was also something they had to adapt to.

Wang Yajuan was now the deputy captain and naturally had to set an example for the team members. She knew that she couldn't show weakness at this time; otherwise, the team would be hard to lead, and it would also attract gossip.

Seeing her serious little face, those who were looking for fun sitting at the table laughed "chi-chi," and their eyes wantonly sized up these girls.

It wasn't that they hadn't seen such things before, but there weren't so many. Zhou Miaomiao and others naturally hated such people, but they didn't dare to stand out in this environment, only glaring back with their eyes.

It would have been fine if they didn't express their stance, but after glaring like this, those young workers were even more excited, as if they had gained some benefit, and laughed even louder.

Knowing that they were discussing their figures and appearances, this feeling was very bad, just like goods in a supply and marketing cooperative being discussed.

"What are you laughing at!"

Wang Yajuan couldn't help it. Seeing someone pointing at them and laughing wickedly, she immediately wouldn't let it go. She walked out of the team, stood by the dining table, and asked the person loudly.

That young man didn't expect this girl to dare to challenge him directly. Being scolded like this, and with the strange eyes of the people around, his face fell directly to the ground.

"Can't I laugh?"

The young man pushed away his lunch box, stood up, looked at Wang Yajuan, and said: "Besides, aren't you just here for people to look at?"

After saying this, he instigated the people around him: "Everyone, say, isn't it?!"

"Hahaha~"

The workers had high work pressure and a lack of spiritual entertainment. They loved to gossip and have fun on weekdays. Today, someone was looking for trouble, so they were naturally not afraid of big things.

Facing the laughter of the people around, Wang Yajuan's face turned red instantly. It wasn't from shyness, but from anger.

They were raised like treasures before, but now they had the feeling of a fallen phoenix not being as good as a chicken, and the grievance in their hearts surged up all at once.

"You!"

"What about you!"

That person held his neck and laughed wickedly: "Art Propaganda Team, aren't you here to serve our workers? When can I enjoy your service, hahahaha~"

"Hahaha... *ga*"

That person was still laughing while standing there, when he suddenly found that the laughter echoing him around had stopped abruptly. Looking over, everyone seemed busy eating, and there was no more fun to watch.

"What kind of service do you want?"

Zhang Li didn't know when she had stood behind the young man, pressing a large Type 54 pistol on her waist, squinting her eyes, and said coldly: "Do you want me to serve you? The detention room of the Security Division is very special."

The Security Division is the Security Division. Even the mice in the Security Division carry guns.

This was spread around the mill, but the Security Division was indeed required to carry guns when performing tasks.

Zhang Li was organizing military training for the Art Propaganda Team now, so naturally, she had to carry a gun.

Now what she was pressing in her hand was a large Type 54, her eyes staring at the young man, ready to make a move at any time.

Cold sweat fell from the young man's forehead instantly. He knew he had kicked an iron plate today.

Although his companions said that this Art Propaganda Team was transferred by Li Xuewu of the Security Division, he didn't feel that the Art Propaganda Team belonged to the Security Division.

Indeed, the Art Propaganda Team didn't belong to the Security Division, but the instructor of the Art Propaganda Team belonged to the Security Division.

The scene froze instantly. Those who were watching the show earlier quieted down, either eating or hiding their eyes.

The Art Propaganda Team members who were queuing up also lost their anger, leaving only surprise and being moved.

This strict instructor really managed things. Not only did she manage them, but she could also protect them and maintain them.

The reaction of everyone in the canteen also proved the authority of the instructor and the Security Division from the side, making these team members have a new understanding of the Steel Rolling Mill.

Seeing Sha Zhu didn't go to the small canteen to be on duty today. He had discussed it with Master Qian, one day each, taking turns.

There were many people eating at noon, and he was helping to serve food at the window. Seeing the conflict, he came to watch the show.

But at this moment, Zhang Li of the Security Division was furious, and the sword-drawn atmosphere in the canteen for a moment made everyone feel that this meal was not good to eat.

Director Guo, who was still shaking in front of his eyes just now, disappeared instantly, running faster than a rabbit.

Seeing Sha Zhu looked toward the office, seeing that Old Guo had no intention of intervening in this matter, so he hurried out from inside the window.

"Hey! Hey! Director Zhang, Director Zhang!"

Seeing Sha Zhu walked between several people with a smile, slapped the young man on the back of the head hard, making him grin in pain.

Then he reached out and pressed on his shoulder to make him sit down, and at the same time said to Zhang Li: "Director Zhang, the young man's mouth has no door, he's talking nonsense."

After speaking, he looked at Wang Yajuan and said with a smile: "Yajuan, right? Yamei said last night that you were coming to our mill to work, and even asked me to take care of you. Look, isn't this meeting?"

Zhang Li glanced at Wang Yajuan and then at He Yuzhu. She naturally knew Seeing Sha Zhu and also knew that this person was in the same courtyard as the division chief and had a good relationship.

It was just that she didn't know who the Yamei that Seeing Sha Zhu mentioned was, and she didn't know why He Yuzhu wanted to get involved here.

"Hehe, my wife is in the same unit as her sister."

Seeing that Wang Yajuan did not speak, Seeing Sha Zhu opened his mouth to explain, then pulled Zhang Li aside and explained: "That kid is from Workshop Eight, an apprentice of our courtyard's First Uncle Yi Zhonghai. He's just a hothead, please don't hold it against him."

Zhang Li finally understood. No wonder Seeing Sha Zhu wanted to stand up and speak. It turned out he knew that after a circle, it had to be solved like this, so he took the initiative to stand up and help ease the situation.

Zhang Li, this director, not to mention the level, nor the size of the business she managed, since Seeing Sha Zhu called this title in front of everyone, she also knew that He Yuzhu was flattering her.

Furthermore, because the conflict of a few words escalated into a public security case, the impact wouldn't be good. She naturally wouldn't make a big deal out of it.

She wasn't from the Security Section and had no right to punish people. As long as she could scare people, ensure the face of the Art Propaganda Team, and ensure her management authority, it would be enough.

Nodding to Seeing Sha Zhu, Zhang Li looked at the young man with his head down, and then swept across the people eating around, saying: "The Art Propaganda Team is a deputy section-level unit of the mill's Propaganda Division. The team members mainly come from the Beijing Railway Art Troupe. Now they are a part of our mill and are your brothers and sisters."

She knew what everyone in the canteen was discussing. Since it attracted attention, it was better to speak openly.

"The work they do is no different from yours, just with different job divisions. Do you want to treat them differently?"

"Or are you discriminating against all service personnel who are not workshop labor!"

After shouting this last sentence loudly, the canteen became even quieter. Seeing Sha Zhu stood on the side and didn't dare to plead anymore, knowing that Zhang Li was going to define this matter.

Who dared to answer Zhang Li's words? Sweeping the toilet and assembling parts were equally glorious. Who dared to say discrimination?

"Director Zhang, we will definitely handle this matter in the workshop. Don't be angry. We don't have this meaning."

Seeing Zhang Li say this, a section chief from the Eighth Workshop who was hiding in the distance walked over and gave Zhang Li a guarantee.

This section chief was the leader of this young man. What he said was naturally useful. Zhang Li was also waiting for him.

With Seeing Sha Zhu's pleading, Zhang Li could not pursue it, but it didn't mean she wouldn't make a fuss about this matter.

The section chief wasn't qualified to eat in the small canteen. She was maintaining the team order outside just now and didn't find out that something happened here.

But she had been here for so long, yet the leader of this young man didn't appear at all. This wasn't bullying people.

Now it was fine. After this sentence was finished, this group of grandsons didn't dare to squint anymore. If it got bigger, they would all be punished.

Zhang Li looked at the section chief and then at Seeing Sha Zhu, saying: "You can keep it in your workshop to handle, but remember to report the punishment decision to the Security Division."

After speaking, she signaled the Art Propaganda Team who were queuing up and said: "Division Chief Li tried his best to transfer professional propaganda personnel, not for you to play around with."

After speaking, she pointed at the young man again and said: "And it's not for him to serve alone."

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

The section chief nodded repeatedly, cursing the young man to death in his heart.

Who is bad to provoke, but you have to provoke the Security Division. Is there anyone good from there!

This matter was not big, not small. If it were handled by the Security Division, it might be shot if it got bigger. If it were handled in the workshop, there was still room for discussion.

Just having to report the punishment decision to the Security Division and pointing out the relationship between the Art Propaganda Team and Li Xuewu, the section chief really didn't know how to handle it well.

If they wanted to go up, they could also handle this matter.

Now who didn't know that the head of the Production Management Division was a good friend of Li Xuewu? This matter didn't count as anything.

But they were workers in the workshop, and they were eight feet away from Kuang Yusheng. How could they be embarrassed to ask for favors from the leader?

The people around also understood that because of the teasing words, the future of this young man would be affected.

The matter was solved, Seeing Sha Zhu returned to the window, the section chief took the young man away, and Wang Yajuan also returned to the team.

For Wang Yajuan who took the initiative to stand out, the team members of the Art Propaganda Team had different thoughts, but for this deputy captain, they already had a little bit of recognition.

At least, when there's something to do, really step up!

Wang Yajuan went to work at the Steel Rolling Mill. Wang Yamei naturally knew. From the beginning, she had a premonition that Wu Ge wouldn't watch her sister have an accident and not care.

On Monday night, Wang Yajuan picked up her sister from work and got the words out of her sister on the way.

Wang Yamei was a little clever. She didn't say what she did, only saying that seeing her sister depressed at home every day, she told Wu Ge about this matter.

Although Wang Yajuan didn't believe that Li Xuewu would help her because she was sad about "unemployment," she could go to the Steel Rolling Mill because Li Xuewu was helping.

Don't care whether she went alone or a whole troupe went. Just like what she heard on Li Xuewu's phone, there were too many art actors now. Why choose the Art Troupe she was in?

Li Xuewu was successful in his career, had a harmonious family, and a happy marriage. Wang Yajuan naturally didn't think Li Xuewu would want to rekindle old feelings with her.

At least she was still sober and didn't think crookedly because of today's surprise.

From Wang Yamei's mouth, she also understood some of Li Xuewu's current situation.

She really felt that she was no longer in the same world as him, just like two parallel lines. Even if there was a gathering focus now, there was no possibility like in the past.

She knew Li Xuewu had changed when he frankly took his partner to see her performance.

Wang Yamei didn't feel as sensitive as her sister. She still felt that Wu Ge was still that person, just mature and grown up.

When Old Biaozi promised her that she could come to work, she thought Li Xuewu lived here. She was very excited thinking that she could see Wu Ge every day.

But in fact, Li Xuewu only came back once every Saturday because his parents were here, and he was afraid that the children would miss home and his parents would miss him after moving out after getting married.

Because Saturday was the last day of the work week, there weren't many people in the afternoon. Aunt Liu would also talk for a while when she came.

But she talked to Diliya and Yu Li, and talked less to her little girl.

Diliya didn't talk much, but after living in the courtyard for a long time, she also understood human relationships.

Saying Seeing Sha Zhu was a local, but she wasn't. Like her brother, she was rushing to Li Xuewu.

In this courtyard, she lived by relying on Li Xuewu and the Li family.

To put it bluntly, if she really quarreled with Seeing Sha Zhu and was wronged, the Li family would be Diliya's maiden home.

Although Li Xuewu didn't call Diliya sister, that was because Seeing Sha Zhu was there, but because of Pazile, he really didn't treat her as an outsider.

Li Xuewu's attitude determined the Li family's attitude toward her. Yu Li's situation was the same.

Why say the recycling station in the Bai Bai Xiyuan was a pure "family business"? There were no outsiders at all.

Yu Li and the others were talking, and Wang Yamei was listening to the gossip while tidying up the hygiene.

It was all about family affairs, firewood, rice, oil, and salt.

She only remembered that Wu Ge would come less in the future.

The days in the store were monotonous and boring, and everything done every day was repeating yesterday's story.

Wang Yamei hadn't thought about resigning, but their family wasn't what it used to be. At the age of ten or so, she already understood the helplessness and bitterness of life.

It seemed that the last time she was a "double agent," there was also her indulgent heart in such a crazy performance.

If life could really be as brilliant as fireworks, even if it was a temporary bloom.

These were things she had done before, but now she didn't dare to think about them.

This might be what adults call growing up.

Pack up the courage of young indulgence and be a vulgar person who calculates firewood, rice, oil, and salt every day, or call it a normal person.

She was used to being crazy in the East City and had seen all kinds of young people: "Wan Zhu" (tough guys), "Lao Pao" (old guns), "Biao Zi" (tough guys), "Xiao Wan Nao" (little playboys).

Wang Yamei was young and relied on her two legs, so she walked a bit further, at least her vision was longer than the children in the hutong now.

Children who grew up in some hutongs in Beijing hadn't even visited the whole city, and didn't know where those famous scenic spots and historical and cultural addresses were.

This city wasn't as important to them as it was to outsiders. It was more like a big mountain, a big mountain that they could never walk out of, wanted to escape from, but couldn't bear to leave the pots, pans, and trivial matters at home.

There were many people she knew who came to the store to buy things and sell scrap, but because Yu Li managed strictly and didn't allow chatting or making friends during work hours, she had gradually left that circle.

It might be the loneliness after the excitement dispersed that made her a bit depressed. From the beginning, when Old Biaozi told her about that adventurous plan, she wanted to go.

Now that the dust had settled, she only wanted Wu Ge to help her sister.

Where were those mysterious relationships that her sister guessed? It was nothing more than Li Xuewu's consistent style of not owing favors.

If there hadn't been her desperate payment this time, where would the deep sisterly love today come from?

Her sister used her last bit of face with Wu Ge to exchange for her current job, and she also used the opportunity she earned with her life to exchange for her sister's temporary peace of mind.

Someone said that the value of life lies in a beautiful life on the basis of survival.

Wang Yamei looked at the sunset shining through the store window and smiled slightly. She already had the basis for survival, and the rest was to find a beautiful life that could reflect the value of her life.

As usual, the store welcomed a peak of customers about half an hour after the general off-work time of the workers in the whole city.

It couldn't be said to be crowded, but there were constant guests, and there were always people in the store asking for prices and looking at things.

Wang Yamei was very busy. She didn't need anyone to instruct her or tell her what to do. She was already very familiar with the set of things for sales clerks.

Where did she know how many types of wood there were before, and she didn't know what hardwood furniture was, what was good, and what was bad.

Now she was clear about the door. A touch and a knock could judge a general idea.

Collecting furniture was a clever job, but it was made into a new way by her.

The store collected old furniture. It was cheaper to collect it at home, and more expensive to send it to the store.

Fortunately, as long as it was sent here, it could basically be concluded. After all, looking at new furniture, who would want to pull the old furniture back?

It was just that sometimes the grandfather also felt that this child Wang Yamei was a bit dark-hearted. She didn't fake the judgment of furniture, but as long as there was a flaw the size of a grain of rice, she would describe it as worthless.

In this furniture store, her tongue was the most agile, and because she looked good and spoke coquettishly, she held the people who came to send furniture and sell furniture to death.

At this time, men decided big things, and buying furniture was a big thing. After all, few women pushed carts to sell furniture.

And when buying furniture, it was also based on the man's decision, and Wang Yamei happened to be at the mouth of the man's wallet.

Diliya was a daughter of the grassland, open-minded, without so many twists and turns, and spoke straight. There were those who liked her, but it wasn't very suitable for doing business.

So Yu Li let her sit inside the counter while she was pregnant.

And Yu Li was slightly more stable than Wang Yamei, with a mature energy, and was more suitable for receiving the elderly and women when introducing furniture from a family perspective.

Yu Li and Wang Yamei cooperated tacitly, with clear division of labor, and everyone knew what kind of guests they should receive.

Because there was a fist product like the glass coffee table, the furniture was easy to sell.

Very interestingly, Old Biaozi and Ye Ye Erye and others calculated, and together with Grandfather, built a display wall for several glass coffee tables.

Not very high-end, using wood to make frames, equivalent to several glass windows placed in the store.

Guests didn't need to go to the backyard to pick any patterns; they could see the whole thing in the house.

The dyed glass coffee tables with themes like "Celebrating the Harvest," "The East is Red," "Facing the Sun Flower," and "Great Production" were vivid, just like New Year pictures.

Wang Yamei helped Ye Ye Erye here, sent a porcelain bottle that had just been collected to the backyard, met Shen Guodong coming in from outside, and said: "Brother Guodong, I'll open the door."

The Bai Bai Xiyuan gate was retained by the original supply and marketing cooperative and had no external lock, so it couldn't be opened from the outside, only from the inside.

After sending the porcelain bottle, Wang Yamei went to open the big gate for the tricycle that came back.

Wasn't it a tricycle? They all came back at this point. Three tricycles had already stopped at the door, and the boys were back.

Shen Guodong also saw that there were many people in the store. After Wang Yamei opened the big gate, he told her not to worry about it and to be busy with the store's business. He took two boys to the warehouse to sort and pack the scrap.

Scrap was classified when collected, but the tricycle bucket was only so big, so it couldn't be classified and loaded. So it had to be tidied up again after returning, weighed and packed.

This was to record the labor achievements of the boys, and also to calculate the accounts.

They were the advance team. Half an hour later, tricycles would return one after another.

Anyway, they wouldn't fall behind the sunset. It was okay before, but now Old Biaozi gave a death order that everyone must arrive home before dark.

It was really dangerous at this time. Even in the city, some street offices didn't care about things anymore, and beatings happened often.

Not to mention far away, just the few little cubs in the Yan family and Liu family in the courtyard didn't brag less about how they fought with the big team in a certain place when they came back.

These little cubs didn't have light or heavy hands, but unlike professional bad guys like Old Biaozi, these people fought with whatever was at hand.

The most commonly used was the cowhide belt with a steel buckle. A swing to the head would leave a triangular opening, very fierce.

Now there were fewer little gangsters on the street. Gangsters were forced to use forks to stab people, but they didn't dare to confront a group of people.

Especially these little cubs all divided the territory and mountains, and they were all family when they were together.

They were allowed to make trouble themselves, but as long as one was made, it would be a big deal.

The key was that there were people and forces endorsing them at this time, and they were true violent people.

Old Biaozi considered himself to have a little face in Jiaodaokou during the day, but if something happened at night, even if he found it back later, he would feel at a loss.

It didn't matter at night, so he didn't want to take this risk in the dark.

"Who did Brother Biao go to the mountain with?"

"It's Big Lao."

Everything was almost tidied up. Shen Guodong glanced at the parking space in the warehouse, which was empty, and all the boys were there, so he asked Yu Li who came out to pick up firewood.

Yu Li was preparing to cook dinner, busy with her hands, and explained to Shen Guodong who came to help: "The wood on the mountain is almost dry, so I just happened to follow to take a look."

A whole house of people eating, so there was a lot of firewood used, all prepared dry wood. Shen Guodong had a good physique, so he carried it into the house by himself.

Because he had to settle the accounts, the boys all went back to wash their faces, and he happened to be left alone in the back.

"Wu Ge has to come back today, why so late?"

"Him? It's not bad if he comes back before dinner."

Seeing Sha Zhu shook his apron and tied it on. He didn't cook dinner often before, after all, he was a chef.

But later he got married and had a wife, so he couldn't let his wife cook.

So whenever it was Diliya's turn to cook, he would help.

After doing it for a while, he saw Yu Li and the others in the kitchen, and it wasn't a thing for him to lie in the house, after all, his sister was eating here.

Simply, no matter whose turn it was, as long as he was at home, he would do it.

Yu Shui wasn't lazy either. She helped after work, and it wasn't shameful to be late.

At this moment, she took Yu Li's big ladle, horizontalized her chin, and said: "The small canteen is arranging work meals at night, saying that after the big meeting, there will be a small meeting."

"He is not in this small meeting, but he is in the big meeting."

Seeing Sha Zhu scooped some cold water into the hand spoon, brushed the pot, and said to Yu Li who was helping: "Tell Aunt Liu and the others, don't open the fire at night, eat together. Who knows when he will come back."

"Understood."

Yu Li responded, handed the vegetables to be washed to Old Six who came out to help, wiped her hands on her apron, and walked out.

After passing the screen door of the outer courtyard and walking to the hanging flower door, she happened to run into Qin Huairu coming in, and the two walked face to face.

It was Qin Huairu who took the initiative to speak, asking Yu Li what she was doing.

Yu Li smiled and said: "I was just about to ask you, what meeting is the mill holding again? Are Xuewu and the others going to be late?"

"Isn't it~"

Qin Huairu said with a smile: "Two meetings. The big one is an office meeting, with cadre appointments, and the small one is a Party Group meeting. He doesn't participate, so he won't be late."

Yu Li looked at the bag and flour bag in her hand and said: "Aren't you just back?"

"Didn't I go buy it?"

Qin Huairu signaled the Bai Bai Xiyuan, walked into the courtyard with Yu Li, and said: "Just deposited the car in the Bai Bai Xiyuan, and went to the supply and marketing cooperative next door without stopping. The children have been thinking about pancakes for a long time, and they are off work tomorrow."

After speaking, she pulled Yu Li and said: "Come to my house to eat?"

"Forget it, I'm afraid your aunt will be ashamed of me."

Yu Li made a joke with Qin Huairu and stopped at the Li family's door, signaling: "Zhuzi asked me to tell the family, eat at the Daozuofang at night."

After speaking, she smiled and pointed at the flour bag in Qin Huairu's hand, saying: "Your family is eating pancakes, so I won't call you."

"Virtue~"

Qin Huairu scolded her with a smile, and the two separated while talking.

Knowing that Yu Li got along well with the old people in the Li family, she envied it, but couldn't do it. If her mother-in-law knew she was selling favors to the Li family, she would poke a hole in the house.

When the two entered the courtyard, they saw the Yan family "setting up a stall" at the door. Several people in the Yan family were pasting matchboxes at the door.

Because Yan Jiefang was there, Qin Huairu just talked to Yu Li and didn't look over there, pretending she didn't see it.

After she entered the third door, the Yan family's Third Aunt curled her lips and said: "Only lived a few good days, and the butt is twisted."

After saying this, she was glared at by Yan Fugui, signaling the eldest daughter-in-law who was bowing her head, and the second son who was also bowing his head, and then said unhappily: "Cook!"

What is the head of the family? The one who can earn money is the head of the family. Yan Fugui took the salary, so Third Aunt had to listen.

If he asked her to cook, she had to cook. If he didn't let her manage Qin Huairu's butt, she couldn't say anything.

Qin Huairu didn't care about the Yan family's opinion. She was happy today.

The mid-year meeting adjusted not only cadres, but also temporary cadres.

For example, personnel like Qin Huairu and Zhang Songying who were acting as cadres were also within the scope of this adjustment.

In fact, what was adjusted wasn't the position, but the identity. After the decision was released at the meeting, the ten-day publicity period ended today, and they were officially determined to be cadre positions.

The two transferred early had Li Xuewu's influence, but it was very small. The main thing was that their work was indeed very outstanding.

In less than half a year, changing the guesthouse from dirty, broken, and rotten to the current high, big, and up, naturally won the recognition of all leaders.

No matter what position they were in before, if they did well now and someone mentioned it, they could transfer.

Zhang Songying could still endure it. After all, being a cadre wasn't a day

Zhang Songying could still hold it together; after all, she hadn't been a cadre for just a day or two, and she was simply feeling happy and satisfied.

Qin Huairu was different; she had walked step by step from a village girl to the position she held today, and who could understand her hardships?

A village girl marrying into the city is one difficulty.

Losing her husband and needing to take over his job is another difficulty.

Transitioning from a temporary worker to a permanent one is yet another difficulty.

Having the opportunity to replace a cadre position with a worker is another difficulty.

Removing the "worker" label after replacing a cadre position is another difficulty.

Difficulty upon difficulty.

Heaven knows what she paid for today's good life, and who could understand the joy deep in her heart that she could barely contain?

Even for the meat pies the children had been pestering her about for a long time, she decided to be generous; today, there must be a small celebration.

Today is Saturday, and tonight the meals in the courtyard are eaten late; after a tiring week, one must eat something good.

Of course, this is for families with the means; saying "eat something good" just means a meal of flour-based food, or perhaps having a little bit of meat in the dish.

First Uncle's family naturally doesn't lack the means, but the old couple is used to being frugal, and they aren't seen eating anything special on weekdays.

Today, however, the Jia family across the way is both anxious and impatient.

The anxious ones are the children, waiting for their mother to bring back flour to make meat pies.

The impatient one is Jia Zhangshi; when Qin Huairu left early this morning, she said that today was the last day of the announcement period, and if they could just get through it, they would truly get what they wished for.

Jia Zhangshi specially went to the market today to queue for chives, just waiting to hear the news from Qin Huairu tonight that she had passed.

Although she knew that nine days had already passed and there wouldn't be any problems on the last day, she still couldn't help but mutter about it in her heart.

She didn't even do the matchbox-gluing work she usually couldn't go without; while sorting the chives in her hands, she kept looking toward the doorway.

Before she could see clearly, she saw Banggeng let out a shout, jump down from the stool, and run over quickly to hug his mother.

Qin Huairu was also happy to see her son come out; she smiled and pinched him, then stroked the hair of her two daughters.

With the flour bag snatched from her hands by Banggeng and her handbag taken by Xiaodang, Qin Huairu looked up at her mother-in-law, who was standing at the door wearing reading glasses and clutching a handful of chives.

"Mom."

"Hey~"

"What kind of meeting was it, to last so late!"

Just as Li Xuewu and the others arrived at the Bai Bai Xiyuan and before the car engine had even been turned off, Seeing Sha Zhu, who was standing at the Bai Bai Xiyuan entrance shooting the breeze with the boys, shouted a question at Li Xuewu.

"Just an administrative meeting; the Secretary spoke a bit more."

Naturally, he wouldn't tell Seeing Sha Zhu what kind of meeting was held at the factory in front of so many people.

If he stood there and said it, and everyone in the courtyard found out, what would that make him?

Xiaoyan took Li Shu from the old lady's hands and, while teasing her, walked toward the courtyard, simultaneously reminding Li Xuewu, who was exchanging pleasantries: "Aunt Liu and the others are all in the inverted-room."

Li Xuewu didn't even have time to respond to Xiaoyan before he started laughing and chatting with Shen Guodong and Seeing Sha Zhu.

Of course, it wasn't a simple administrative meeting; what kind of personnel appointment meeting gets dragged out until night to be held?

Holding a large meeting first, then a small one—this kind of arrangement itself is abnormal; combined with the situation over the past few days, those with a keen sense of smell could already detect that something was wrong.

How could things be right? Not a single factory leader has left; they are all still at the factory holding a Party Committee meeting, and Li Xuewu estimates it will go on until midnight.

If one were to talk about this matter, it actually started last week; on the 20th, two units here in Beijing underwent a major change in the political wind, which had just blown over to the Steel Rolling Mill.

At this time, a change in wind for units is normal, but the key is that these two units had only just finished changing not long ago—less than two months.

Added to that is the supplementary notice from the 22nd, combined with the changes in the working group over the past week; the factory naturally has to make adjustments to the direction of its future work.

When the wind direction changes, attitudes change, and the ways and methods of doing things must change.

The document says to slow down, but the actual work is urgent; the external environment is heating up severely, and Yang Yuansong and Yang Fengshan, who hold the helm of the Steel Rolling Mill, are now a bit bewildered.

There is no way not to be bewildered; it's not just them who are bewildered—everyone is.