Chapter 819: It's almost there

Organizational learning meeting.

Generally defined as: in order to promote long-term efficiency and survival and development, in the practice process of responding to environmental changes, various adjustment activities made to its fundamental beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and structural arrangements.

And in the implementation of adjustment activities, this purpose is realized through formal and informal interpersonal interactions.

It is very clear that the purpose of Yang Yuansong presiding over the Party Committee organizational learning meeting is to implement and carry out the leading position of the Party organization in the production process of the Rolling Mill.

Emphasized the publicity and study of the "Notice on Grasping Transformation and Promoting Production" regarding the industrial sector from the higher level.

On the 14th of this month, which was last Sunday, the higher level issued an important document notice, the purpose of which was to limit the increasingly severe situation at present.

The document stipulates that "the big learning activities at all levels below the target should still be carried out in combination with the original 'four rectifications and cleanups' deployment."

Requires that students and young brats from Beijing and other places should not visit and study at units and community teams at all levels below the target, and should not participate in debates at all levels below the target.

At the same time, it requires cadres and commune members at all levels below the target not to go out to contact learning.

This document notice is implemented in response to the spread of the influence of big learning and big discussion activities under the big environment.

For production units, an important document instruction was also issued on the same day, which is the content that Yang Yuansong emphasized learning at today's organizational learning meeting,

The "Notice" requires industrial, agricultural, transportation, and finance and trade departments to immediately strengthen or form command agencies at all levels to ensure the normal progress of production, construction, scientific research, and other work.

At the same time, it requires that employees should stick to their posts, and employees' big learning activities should be carried out in their spare time.

The most important point is that no organization or student should enter these industrial and mining enterprises, scientific research, and design institutions to visit and study.

It seems to be a kind of restriction and control by the higher level on the external situation, but in fact, regarding this document notice, it can be understood more deeply and thoroughly.

Yang Yuansong mentioned at the meeting that production construction is an important purpose and activity basis in the factory's work and development process.

Should seek truth from facts, correctly guide and lead all factory employees to love labor, and complete production tasks.

Learning and discussion are indispensable activity forms in the process of organizational construction and development, but they must rely on correct organizational agencies, comprehensively and thoroughly build organizational procedures, and obey the leadership of the organization.

In his speech, he pointed out: The Rolling Mill is currently facing a critical period of major transformation and comprehensive development, which is a challenge for the Rolling Mill and the Rolling Mill's management structure.

In the process of era transformation and development, the Rolling Mill always represents the interests of the vast number of employees and represents the absolute advanced nature of Beijing's iron and steel enterprises.

The Party Committee and the factory administrative team have played an irreplaceable role in the process of executing leadership and organizing production tasks.

The development of the Rolling Mill cannot be separated from the correct leadership of the Party organization, cannot be separated from the hard work and efforts of the vast number of cadres and employees, and must correctly view today's Rolling Mill.

Comprehensively implement the spirit of the higher-level instructions and work requirements throughout the factory, and deepen the argumentation relationship between the transformation thoughts of big learning and big discussion in production work.

Must deeply understand the guidance and instructions of the higher-level organization on the current key work of the Rolling Mill, strengthen the management and control of various departments and units, improve ideological understanding, and enhance and continuously strengthen the study of document instructions......

At the meeting, regarding the learning requirements put forward by Secretary Yang Yuansong, Management Committee Director Li Huai De made a statement speech.

Resolutely obey the requirements of the higher level, implement the decisions of the organization, and unswervingly implement the decision-making deployment of the higher level.

In his speech, he pointed out that the current development of the Rolling Mill deeply needs the guidance of the higher level, and the factory's administrative management work urgently needs the help and support of the organization.

The requirements in the "Notice" regarding industrial production work are hitting the current ills, are in line with the needs of the Rolling Mill's current key work, and represent the requirements of the vast number of employees.

Next, the Management Committee will formulate and implement correct lines, principles, and policies in accordance with the requirements of the "Notice," do a good job in the organization and propaganda education work of big learning activities, and play the vanguard and exemplary role of all organizational members.

Li Huai De emphasized: Although the Rolling Mill's current organizational work has achievements, the development of big learning activities has stepped onto the right track, and transformation work is in full swing.

However, one must see the situation clearly, do one's own job well, be an old ox that works silently, but also look up and look back.

Look up to see if one is walking correctly, look back to see if one is doing correctly, and if it is good enough......

Li Xuewu was very sure that Secretary Yang and Director Li were saying the same words, but they were two different things.

One was talking about the front gate tower, and the other was talking about the hip bone.

One wanted to bring the dead back to life, the other wanted to cut the weeds and dig up the roots. The surface was sunny and bright, but under the table, it was already a clash of arms.

When Li Xuewu was recording, he also raised his head to look at Deputy Factory Director Cheng in front. This one was actually very deep.

There is an old saying that is good: Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. Cheng Kaiyuan was the number one person when he was at the Machinery Factory.

Factory director responsibility system, the factory director was the actual number one person of the factory at that time.

But now it is different. Political power comes from many doors, and the Rolling Mill now has three management teams.

Not to mention that he is now the number two person of the factory office team, and not to mention that he mastered the factory director's pen after Yang Fengshan left.

Just say now, does he dare to go against Li Huai De and prop up the factory office team again?

The answer is a bit confusing, making people unable to see clearly.

Just when everyone thought he would carry the flag, he had no movement.

Even Yang Yuansong was flashed by him and had to stand in front himself to confront Li Huai De.

Li Xuewu now can't see whether he is biding his time or is content with being mediocre.

No one would doubt his ability, but no one can understand his intentions.

Li Huai De doesn't trust him, and letting him enter the Management Committee is more to slap Yang Yuansong in the face.

In the factory office team, Cheng Kaiyuan also has no help. Not to mention Jing Yunong, Nie Chenglin has been on sick leave for several days.

If it were himself standing in his perspective, how would he open this situation?

First, stay out of the matter and stand firm; then drive the tiger to swallow the wolf, sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight; then come again with four taels to move a thousand catties, and occupy the mountain to be the king?

Under the current situation, don't even think about it. Li Huai De will definitely not give him this opportunity.

Yang Yuansong can't fight Li Huai De. He just stands high, has a loud voice, and roars a few times, which is useless.

As long as the Management Committee still has the significance of existence, Yang Yuansong can't break Li Huai De, and Cheng Kaiyuan can't turn over.

If Cheng Kaiyuan wants to wait for this wind to pass and liquidate the Management Committee, that is wishful thinking. With more than ten years of time, he just needs to have this patience.

The higher level cannot be broken through, and the middle and lower levels have even less opportunity.

The middle is Li Xuewu's influence range, mainly the Security Department, supplemented by the Logistics Office, Sales Office, and Dispatch Office.

The periphery includes but is not limited to the Propaganda Office, Party Organization Department, Discipline Inspection Office, Audit Office......

Even the Technical Office and Production Comrade Comrade Li Chu that Cheng Kaiyuan himself is in charge of have inextricable links with Li Xuewu.

Below?

Below is even worse.

Various departments, workshops, and units have layouts of the Management Committee, and the factory's administrative power has been restrained by the Management Committee.

Below can't make any big waves, and the whole factory doesn't allow any more waves below.

Who wants another duel between Red Flag and East Wind? Wasn't the chaos of more than a month enough?

Everyone up and down is tired, exhausted, and hurt. Now seeking stability is good.

Cheng Kaiyuan not moving, perhaps it is seeing this posture of seeking stability below, seeing the demands of the vast number of employees.

So he is waiting, waiting for the Management Committee to finish itself, waiting for Li Huai De to destroy himself.

Li Xuewu thinks that he didn't see it comprehensively; the chaotic flowers are gradually confusing the eyes.

Seeking stability is a state of the Rolling Mill, which does not represent other factories, or that the external situation is also like this.

At least on the surface, the wind outside is still blowing, and there is a situation of intensifying.

Other factories are also like this. There are very few factories like the Rolling Mill that are relatively stable, and even fewer have such a safe situation.

There are many reasons for the difference, and a few are more prominent.

One is that the progress of the Rolling Mill's big learning activities has always been pushed faster than outside, and the situation is more stable than outside.

When outside was still engaged in big learning and big discussion, the Rolling Mill had already started to be chaotic.

When outside started to be chaotic, the Rolling Mill had already entered the guidance and propaganda stage.

This just meets the requirements and policies of one document after another from the higher level, and the correct line is confusing.

Now the higher level requires stability, but the Rolling Mill had already stabilized long ago, and stabilized at the beginning of the month.

Secretary Yang held a meeting to engage in learning and wanted to beat the Management Committee, but Li Huai De started to restrain himself on Monday.

The notice given to Zhang Guoqi was even earlier than this meeting by one day.

Another one is organizational stability. The only factory leader who had a problem was Yang Fengshan, which did not shake the leadership and command role of the decision-making layer.

The middle-level cadre team only appeared a trace of disharmonious situation, but it was also eliminated.

There are many problems below, but with the progress of big learning activities, problems were gradually exposed, problems were gradually solved, and self-repair was quickly realized.

The last one is the layout. Li Xuewu's layout, Li Huai De's layout.

Some problems were detonated in advance, and the emotions and wishes of the employees were released in advance, using a more realistic and prominent side to let them see the situation after the transformation in time.

A carriage that was out of control was tightly held by Li Xuewu's reins, and by the way, he gave the person driving the carriage a slap.

Only at this time did they see clearly whether it was a road or a cliff in front.

How many people could participate in East Wind, how many people could participate in Red Flag, more were people who were coerced and blind.

The neutral faction is more. Disperse one, digest one, and the rest are driven back to the neutral faction, so aren't they all seeking stability?

Whose experience is the most profound?

It has to be Liu Guangtian who just walked out of the Security Department.

It can be said that he was born in the workshop, grew up under the "Red Flag," walked in the "East Wind," and did the Youth Society.

He indeed "had the luck" to participate in all activities, first Red Flag, then East Wind, then Youth Society, and finally returned to himself, just a workshop worker.

"Doing what?"

Li Xuewu came back from the main office building and just walked to the door of the Security Department when he saw Liu Guangtian hiding from him.

"Hiding from me?"

"No~ no~"

Liu Guangtian's face was full of "I am," but his mouth was still tough, saying no.

Squatting in the Security Department for a few days, his courage was a bit empty. Seeing Li Xuewu, he felt his legs didn't listen to him.

"If not, why are you backing off?"

Li Xuewu glared at him and then asked, "Have all the things been explained clearly?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes! I guarantee I explained everything!"

Liu Guangtian finally confirmed that Li Xuewu was interrogating him, and immediately stood against the wall, looking like he was ready to be beaten at any time.

Li Xuewu looked down on his cowardly virtue, nodded, and went into the building.

Liu Guangtian waited for a while, and seeing Li Xuewu didn't come out again, he poked his head to look into the door, and then slipped away.

He was really scared of this Security Department. It was too evil. His dad squatted, and he squatted. The whole family came to squat.

The third one didn't come here to squat, but went directly to the first detention center.

The only one left in the family was his big brother who lived far away and didn't get scraped. At this moment, he had to hurry home to tell his mom to be careful. The next one might be her.

A family of villains, can they stand it!

"Leader."

Seeing Li Xuewu come back, Sha Qizhi walked out of the large office.

Li Xuewu nodded and asked while walking to his office, "Did you pick up Han Laoshi?"

"Yes, I have already arranged for Jiankun to send her home."

Sha Qizhi replied, and followed Li Xuewu into the office.

"The plaque unveiling ceremony for the training base is ready, it's this Thursday."

While speaking, he continued to add hot water to Li Xuewu's teacup.

"The Garrison District and Civil Affairs side both said they would arrange for people to participate. Should we also invite the leaders to pay attention?"

Sha Qizhi put down the thermos, looked at Li Xuewu who was drinking tea, and explained, "After all, if only Deputy Section Chief Xiao goes......"

"Hmm......"

Li Xuewu hesitated for a moment, then pointed at Sha Qizhi and said, "Discuss this matter with Deputy Section Chief Xiao. I don't think there is any problem."

After finishing, he put down the teacup and sat behind the office desk, saying, "The Garrison District and Civil Affairs won't have much of a scene."

"Of course, preparations still have to be made."

Li Xuewu took the document and looked at it, and continued to say in his mouth, "Discuss it, arrange the scene well, and do a good job in organization and propaganda work."

After finishing, he raised his head again and pointed at Sha Qizhi, and exhorted, "You still have the contact information of those reporters who came to interview last time, right?"

Seeing Sha Qizhi nod, Li Xuewu said, "Contact them. If there is an arrangement for on-site interviews, arrange cars to pick them up, and send some canned food produced on the mountain as gifts."

"Okay, leader."

Sha Qizhi was taking notes in his hand while answering, but his heart was turning a thousand times, thinking about Li Xuewu's arrangement.

Although it was still one thing, it also involved several other things. He had to implement Li Xuewu's angle well and convey the leader's intention clearly.

"Also."

Li Xuewu looked at the document in his hand and pointed at the desktop with a fountain pen, saying, "The safety problem mentioned at yesterday's meeting must be taken seriously."

The document in his hand was the night duty plan newly formulated by the Security Section, as well as the security problem of personnel returning home after work or late after work.

"Those who can walk together should provide contact and organizational convenience. A contact area can be arranged on the blackboard at the gate."

"When the night is deep and there are few people, try to suggest staying in the factory to sleep. If you really can't find someone to walk with, arrange for factory security to escort."

Li Xuewu said in his mouth, and also made instructions on the document, allowing the Security Section to strengthen the frequency of night duty, and allowing escort personnel to be armed on duty.

Sha Qizhi held his notebook and said to Li Xuewu, "The situation is not very serious for the time being, but the factory dormitory building side is a bit unstable."

As he spoke, he handed a report to Li Xuewu and explained, "The students who came from Huaqing have been uniformly settled in Building 7 of the dormitory area."

"The administrator and security both said that someone was wandering around the factory area at night, and they bumped into these students several times."

"Got it."

Li Xuewu glanced at the document handed over by Sha Qizhi, first signed on the document in his hand, and then looked at the report after organizing it.

Sha Qizhi said it simply, but the report reported several situations encountered in detail.

After reading it, Li Xuewu also smiled helplessly. Huaqing students used to play very wildly, and their thoughts were open, often with astonishing actions.

"Tell the Comrade Comrade Li Chu about it."

Li Xuewu put the report back and arranged in his mouth, "Just say that a murder case happened in the factory, and night activities are not allowed to be less than three people. That's it."

Sha Qizhi took the report and also smiled, saying, "You are still very open-minded."

"Hey! These words cannot be used on me."

Li Xuewu smiled and pointed at Sha Qizhi, emphasizing, "I am still young, not an old stubborn, and even less an old thinker."

"Hahaha~"

Sha Qizhi smiled and took the document and report out, and went to arrange work with the people on the large office side.

Someone saw Li Xuewu's instructions on the report about college students running out at night to date, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Instructions:

If it's a last resort, okay;

If it's uncontrollable, forbidden;

At night, you must have one more person to light the way to go.

Everyone in the office was laughing and talking about the leader finding light bulbs for these young people.

Instead, someone saw it clearly, smiled and pointed at the instructions on the document and said this is the leader's art.

The reason lies in the fact that the people who come out to play at night are young people, and they are Huaqing students.

Young people always like to be different, always have rebellious psychology, and what you don't let them do, they prefer to go against you.

The leader's instructions are both humorous and fit the reality, making it easy for young people to accept.

The good time in the afternoon, like the heat in everyone's teacups in the office, quietly passed away.

Li Xuewu also busied himself for a while after the bell for getting off work rang, and then went downstairs.

"If I keep busy like this, I'm afraid I won't be enough if I'm split into three pieces."

Li Xuewu walked out of the building door, looked at the crowd getting off work happily, and complained with a bitter smile.

When he first took over the Security Department, he said he was busy, but he still had time to take his wife and children out to play.

Now the Security Department is in order, but he has no time to go out to play.

He is busy all the time, as if someone is always looking for him to talk about things.

When Zhou Ya got off work and met Li Xuewu at the door, she had to say something about the case.

Li Xuewu got rid of this girl with full enterprising spirit, jumped into the car and signaled Han Jiankun to leave quickly, fearing that something else would catch up.

Working for one more minute after getting off work is considered a loss, and he has already lost a lot today.

Originally, according to his habit, he could eat after washing his hands when he got home, but today it was a bit late.

Qin Jingru was used to cooking, first making the staple food, and the dishes started to be cooked after Li Xuewu entered the door.

Today, the staple food was almost cold, but the person hadn't arrived home yet.

If he didn't come back for dinner, Li Xuewu would call home. No news meant he would come back.

Dong Mengyuan had already prepared his schoolbag and clothes, because the big master brother said that he would send him home after dinner tonight.

"Auntie, why hasn't the master brother come back yet?"

The relationship between the Dong family and Li Xuewu is chaotic. From Dong Mengyuan's perspective, it is that the aunt's husband married the big sister-in-law.

Gu Ning was already used to the title in his mouth. She couldn't help laughing before, but now she just answered smoothly.

"It's almost there."

"You said that just now~"

Dong Mengyuan was already anxious in his heart. At this moment, he stood by the goldfish pond and looked again and again. Several times when cars passed by, he ran over to watch.

But before he could run over, the sound of the car was far away again.

His little mouth pouted, and he walked back to the sofa side quite dissatisfied, moving his butt and wanting to get on the sofa.

Qin Jingru smiled and glanced at him, and asked Gu Ning: "Should we do it first? Children can't stand hunger."

Drip~

Before Gu Ning could answer, the sound of a car came from outside again.

"It's the big master brother!"

Dong Mengyuan was not afraid of being disappointed again, jumped off the sofa and ran out, looking like he was in a hurry to open the door.

Li Xuewu was about to press the doorbell, and the gate opened.

"Big master brother!"

"Hehe~ Waiting anxiously?"

Li Xuewu smiled and looked at the little junior brother. The sunset glow sprinkled on the child's face, red and round.

Dong Mengyuan laughed "hee hee," pushed the gate hard, and revealed Qin Jingru's figure behind him.

The door was high, and the child couldn't open the bolt.

Qin Jingru smiled and pointed at his forehead, and said to Li Xuewu: "He has been asking when you will come back since Sister Xiao Ning got off work."

"I didn't~"

Dong Mengyuan didn't want to leave a bad impression on the big master brother, and stubbornly denied it.

He raised his small face to Li Xuewu and said: "I was afraid you were hungry."

"Is that so~"

Li Xuewu beckoned to Han Jiankun, walked into the courtyard with a smile, and said: "I thought you didn't like living at the master brother's house."

"How could that be~"

Dong Mengyuan followed Li Xuewu like a tail, and his little mouth said: "I like the master brother the most. There are toys here, and delicious food."

Speaking to the end, he stepped onto the steps, looked at the master brother changing his slippers, and then hesitated and said: "I am a little worried about my mom."

"Hehe~"

Li Xuewu smiled lightly and said: "Then we will go home after dinner. Don't say you don't want to leave then."

"Good!"

Before Li Xuewu finished speaking, Dong Mengyuan shouted the sound of good.

Children are all like this, yearning for and liking new environments, but they can never leave home, because they have mom and dad in their hearts.

Qin Jingru said a few words to Han Jiankun in the courtyard, and then walked into the house with a smile.

When passing by Dong Mengyuan, she flicked his forehead, causing him to chase Qin Jingru into the restaurant laughing.

Watching Li Xuewu sit down by the sofa, Gu Ning said softly: "Children are too annoying, I don't like them."

"It's my fault, I'm late."

Li Xuewu rubbed his face, explained in his mouth, and then said: "There are a lot of things in the factory, some were left before getting off work, so I rushed to do them."

After finishing, he moved his butt to Gu Ning's side, reached out and touched Gu Ning's stomach, and asked with a smile: "Did it make a fuss?"

Gu Ning pushed his hand away a bit embarrassedly, and said impatiently: "Don't be like this~"

In this era where kissing in public is considered offensive to public decency, Li Xuewu's intimate actions are suspected of corrupting children.

When the husband and wife were together, Gu Ning didn't care about this, but in the living room, especially with people in the restaurant, how could she be embarrassed.

Li Xuewu wanted to lean over to listen to her stomach, but it made her anxious again. She took the small train on the coffee table and hit the head that was stretched over.

"Hiss~~~"

Li Xuewu didn't feel pain, but still covered his head and pretended.

This scene happened to be seen by Dong Mengyuan who ran out, making him cover his little mouth and giggle.

"Shoo~ shoo~ shoo~"

Dong Mengyuan used his finger to scratch his face, and shouted at the big master brother with a smile: "Don't know shame~"

"Don't think you can catch me!"

Li Xuewu feigned anger and stood up as if to grab him, which made Dong Mengyuan laugh heartily as he ran out of the living room.

At four or five years old, it's the perfect time for being naughty and mischievous; as long as someone teases him, he has something to laugh about, looking completely free of worries.

Running into the courtyard, he saw the person who had come in with his senior brother rummaging through something in the storage room, so he stood there watching again.

"Huh~"

Han Jiankun was startled by this little brat when he came out of the storage room, nearly dropping the items in his hands onto his feet.

"What are you doing here?"

"Looking for things."

"Looking for what things?"

"Things to use."

"What are they used for?"

"..."

Han Jiankun's mouth twitched; when they went out last time, Qin Jingru had said that children weren't cute at all, and he hadn't believed her.

Now, though... he kind of believed it.

If he really had such a pestering little brat around, his head would explode.

Why did he have to ask about everything?

Li Xuewu stood in the foyer, glanced toward the storage room, then turned back to ask Qin Jingru, who was busy in the dining room: "Why didn't Jiankun come in?"

"I arranged some work for him~"

Qin Jingru said quickly, "I just happened to catch a big laborer."

At this moment, Han Jiankun also entered the foyer, put down the box in his hands, and smiled helplessly at Li Xuewu.

His helplessness wasn't because he had taken on the task, but because the little brat behind him was tirelessly pestering him with questions.

Dong Mengyuan was currently squatting there like a curious baby, watching him fiddle with the box, while still asking what was inside.

"I found a water pump while tidying the storage room the other day. I asked him to fix it up so I wouldn't have to carry water to water the vegetables anymore."

Qin Jingru spoke quickly, pulled a brand-new toolbox out of the small storage room under the stairs, handed it to Han Jiankun, and then chattered her way back to the kitchen.

Once she was in the kitchen, her voice carried back to Han Jiankun's ears: "Hurry up, dinner will be ready soon~"

Li Xuewu squatted down to watch Han Jiankun use a screwdriver to pry open the box, comforting him: "It's fine, don't listen to her. If it doesn't work, we'll just buy a new one. If it can be fixed, fix it; if not, wash your hands and get ready to eat."

Han Jiankun only responded with a sound, but his hands remained focused on dismantling the box.

Perhaps it was his experience with vehicle repair, or perhaps the skills he'd honed in the military, but he opened the box very skillfully and took out the water pump inside.

"It's an old one."

Han Jiankun said, his fingers wiping the nameplate on the surface of the pump body, which still had foreign characters on it.

Li Xuewu leaned over to take a look and said, "It's Russian."

"Yeah, and it's still new."

Han Jiankun examined it and gestured to the somewhat rotten box on the ground, saying: "It seems to be used with this box, for anti-foreign objects?"

Li Xuewu also shook his head, reached out to push aside Dong Mengyuan, who was also trying to poke his head in, and said: "This house has been around for years; the previous owner didn't move out very cleanly."

Han Jiankun didn't care what the previous owner had used it for; he just discarded the tin box, opened the oil cap, and changed the oil for this water pump that had been sitting for who knows how long.

Afterward, he connected the power to test it, and it was indeed new.

He had intended to lay out the water pipes, but there wasn't enough time; by the time he finished tidying up here, Qin Jingru's dishes were already out of the pot.

It was already dark, so Li Xuewu signaled for Han Jiankun to wash his hands, saying that they wouldn't do any more today and would find someone to finish it tomorrow.

"Don't bother, it's not much work."

Qin Jingru walked out of the dining room and signaled for Han Jiankun to follow her to the first-floor bathroom.

"Use laundry detergent to scrub well, otherwise it'll smell like machine oil."

She was the one who had Han Jiankun do the work, yet she was now nagging him with a tone full of disdain while tending to him.

They weren't even married yet, but she was already letting Han Jiankun enjoy the "joys" of married life.

Dong Mengyuan took advantage of the adults talking to reach out with his little hands to grab the water pump in the foyer, but Li Xuewu saw him, gave him a swat on the bottom, and he ran off to the dining room laughing.

Once everyone was at the dining table, Qin Jingru served rice to everyone and said briskly: "Tomorrow, have him bring some water pipes; I can lay them myself."

Li Xuewu glanced at her and said: "No need, just find someone to do it."

"Finding someone to do it is what's unnecessary."

There were other things in this house she couldn't speak on, but when it came to housework, she dared to argue with Li Xuewu.

"If someone comes, you have to feed them, give them tea, and cigarettes; it's too much trouble."

She served Han Jiankun an extra portion, signaled for him to eat quickly, sat down beside him, and looked at Li Xuewu, saying: "I've handled water pumps at home before; irrigation work in the production team is all done by women anyway."

This was true; men were for heavy labor, and this kind of work was always done by women.

Seeing her say this, Li Xuewu signaled to Han Jiankun: "Then let's make it Thursday. I'm going to Jinmen for a business trip on Thursday; you and Jingru can handle this."

"Leaving again?"

Before Gu Ning could ask, Qin Jingru was already startled, saying: "Are you going to be gone for a long time?"

"Hehe~"

Li Xuewu chuckled and replied: "Three days, it'll be quick. It won't delay your good news."

"I... I didn't say..."

Qin Jingru felt embarrassed now, mumbling with a sheepish look, losing her earlier briskness.

Seeing Han Jiankun smiling on the side, she glared at him with dissatisfaction.

Isn't this all about your business!

It was just that the two were returning to the Han family this weekend, and Qin Jingru's family was coming to "inspect the house."

"Inspecting the house" is also called "kicking the threshold" or "meeting the in-laws," though it isn't entirely the same.

Specifically, it refers to the woman's family coming to check the actual situation of the man's home to see if it matches what the matchmaker described.

They also look at the attitude of the man's parents, the family's living conditions, and discuss the situation after the couple marries, etc.

Actually, this is a custom passed down from ancient times; not to mention the distant past, just look at the Qing Dynasty.

When a man marries a woman, the man prepares the house, and before the wedding, the woman's family comes to inspect the situation, checking the number of servants, whether the man has concubines, the layout of the bridal chamber, and taking measurements.

They take measurements because the woman's dowry includes furniture; this still exists today—Seeing Sha Zhu had originally planned to prepare dowry furniture for Yushui.

Customs change as they are passed down; some have been kept, some added, but it's roughly the same.

Qin Jingru was worried that Li Xuewu would be away on business and unable to look after the house, and since she had to take care of things here, she couldn't leave, which would delay her.

Don't look at how she seemed to disdain Han Jiankun; she was actually anxious about the wedding.

Seeing her embarrassment, Li Xuewu didn't tease her anymore and turned to explain the reason for his business trip to Gu Ning.

Gu Ning ate her meal, listening to him detail the work in Jinmen, without saying whether it was good or bad.

She knew Li Xuewu wasn't a kite, and she held no string to restrain him.

If Li Xuewu told her, she listened; if he didn't tell her, she didn't ask, and even if she heard, she didn't offer an opinion.

Originally, Li Xuewu didn't intend to ask her; this was official business—did he have to call home to ask his wife every time he went on a business trip?

Keeping public and private matters separate was Li Xuewu's principle.

He wouldn't talk about general unit matters at home; business trips were a special case, and he couldn't let his family worry.

"Tomorrow after work, I'll go pick up the old lady and Li Shu to come back."

Li Xuewu said: "I'm leaving Thursday, and I should be back by Saturday; it's very close."

"Pick some persimmons for Sister Han to take with her."

Seeing Li Xuewu had finished eating, Gu Ning said: "See what he likes to eat."

As she spoke, she pointed at Dong Mengyuan, who was shoveling rice into his mouth.

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said: "Then take more; we can't finish the vegetables at home anyway."

Glancing at Qin Jingru, he smiled again: "Thanks to having a diligent person at home, otherwise this courtyard would be as overgrown as Han Laoshi's house."

Dong Mengyuan knew his senior brother was talking about his own home, so he looked up and smiled: "My mom said the lawn looks more pleasing."

"Hahahaha~"

Li Xuewu couldn't help but laugh; although Han Laoshi was highly accomplished academically, he was lazy in daily life.

After dinner, Dong Mengyuan didn't even give his senior brother time to drink tea, urging him to go home.

Li Xuewu teased him, saying he didn't want to move without tea.

Dong Mengyuan, like a little clever spirit, said they had good tea at home that his dad had hidden away, and he would find it for him to drink later.

Having received his "bribe," Li Xuewu naturally had to deliver, so he went home with Han Jiankun to drop him off.

A child's emotional changes are very obvious; he was high-spirited when leaving home, impatient as they neared home, but when he saw his mother, he looked as if he'd been wronged, and tears even fell.

Han Shu smiled, hugged her son, and coaxed him: "Oh my~ why are you crying~ Did your senior brother upset you~"

Dong Mengyuan shook his little head, hugged his mother's neck, and didn't speak, just pouted.

Han Shu smiled and signaled for the two to come in and sit, but Han Jiankun moved the vegetable basket from the car into the house and then returned to the car.

"Have you eaten dinner?"

Li Xuewu went to the tea cabinet to check the thermos, wanting to brew a cup of tea.

Han Shu sat on the sofa, coaxing her son: "Don't bother, I didn't even boil water when I got back."

"Hehe~ Little Junior Brother even said he'd treat me to tea~"

Li Xuewu was too lazy to boil water; he didn't intend to have a long chat.

He walked back to the sofa, patted Dong Mengyuan's little bottom, and teased him with a smile: "Didn't you say you were going to treat your senior brother to tea? Go on, dig out all your dad's good tea for your senior brother."

Dong Mengyuan looked at his mother with embarrassment and mumbled: "No... no, we don't have tea at home~"

"Hey!"

Li Xuewu widened his eyes and scolded jokingly: "You're turning your back on me pretty fast, and we just left the house."

After speaking, he reached out to tickle him and said: "Do you still want to go to your senior brother's house in the future?"

"Giggle giggle~"

He wasn't crying anymore; he was giggling, playing around with Li Xuewu.

Han Shu smiled, patted her son, and persuaded him: "We can't go back on our word. Go, good boy, find some tea for your senior brother; look through them and see which one is good."

Having received his mother's permission, Dong Mengyuan turned over, got off the floor, and trotted to the study.

Taking advantage of the child being away, Li Xuewu took the initiative to ask about Dong Wenxue's situation.

"Is Teacher doing alright over there?"

"Mm, the problem has been solved."

Han Shu's tone was slightly lower, but still calm; there was no resentment or hostility.

Li Xuewu nodded and said: "The steel mill has already received the report letters. Secretary Xue from the Discipline Inspection Commission talked to me, and they agreed to temporarily shelve the issue and see how things go."

"It caused trouble in the end."

Han Shu said helplessly, then looked at Li Xuewu and said: "You should also learn a lesson; be careful not to associate with the wrong people."

"Yes."

Li Xuewu twitched his mouth awkwardly and said: "My circle of friends is very small and very clean."

(? Sister Lou, Sister Qin, Sister Yu, Sister Zhang, Sister Zhou, Sister Ran, Sister He, Huimei, Jiaojiao, Yajuan, Selina, Seeing Gu Li Aisha, Xiaobai, Ou Xin, Pei Pei... all give a like)

Han Shu glanced at Li Xuewu and smiled without a word; she never doubted her own judgment.

Seeing her silent, Li Xuewu could only thicken his skin and say: "Tomorrow I'll make a call to Steel City and ask them to pay more attention to Teacher."

"That's fine."

Han Shu nodded, agreeing with Li Xuewu's suggestion, then thought for a moment and said: "I've discussed it with Wenxue; I'll stay in the capital."

"Then visit home often."

Seeing her speak openly, Li Xuewu didn't beat around the bush.

"The commuter train is convenient; either Teacher comes back, or you take the child over there."

Glancing at the little junior brother making noise in the study, Li Xuewu suggested: "If you're not busy during winter and summer breaks, go stay there for a while."

"We'll see."

Han Shu replied indifferently, which counted as accepting Li Xuewu's suggestion.

If one were to ask the reason for this, she had reflected on it herself: had she invested too much energy in the child and her work, and given too little attention to Dong Wenxue?

The affection between husband and wife needs maintenance; there is no such thing as distance making the heart grow fonder.

Everyone is an adult, and their thoughts are so mature that they consider problems from a higher, more long-term perspective.

Not to mention Dong Wenxue this time, is this student in front of her an honest man?

It wasn't that the Gu family had said anything, but one could tell from Li Xuewu's personality and style of handling things.

Free-spirited, rigorous, open, responsible, and having his own opinions—how could such a man be confined by the shackles of a family?

Of course, everyone has their own style of handling things; someone like Dong Wenxue is relatively simple and prone to accidents.

If you can't even handle the surface, don't think about the substance; she handled the mess for him this time, and she'd ensure he never thought about playing around outside again for the rest of his life.

If you don't have the ability, just stay home honestly.