Chapter 834

"Yo~ man! How did you find the time to come back today?"

Yan Fugui seemed to be deliberately blocking Li Xuewu, standing in the courtyard with a smile, just happening to run into Li Xuewu coming out of the backyard.

Li Xuewu yawned and looked toward the sunset; the sun was indeed in the west, but it was evening!

"Isn't it because I missed you~"

Li Xuewu's mouth was really good at blathering; he could spout nonsense without it costing a cent.

"What's up? Third Uncle, did you pick up some money?"

"You must have picked up a lot!"

Li Xuewu smiled and pointed at the other party, emphasizing: "You wouldn't be able to smile like this if it were less than a yuan!"

"Hey~ stop teasing me~"

Yan Fugui waved his hand, denying it with his mouth, but the smile on his face couldn't be hidden.

"Third Uncle has gotten his wish~"

He Yu Shui's voice came from behind him, and when he turned his head, she had already arrived in front of them.

"Don't you know yet? Third Uncle quietly got things done, and he's putting on a show for you!"

"What's this about?"

Li Xuewu watched her come over and say that, his footsteps didn't stop, and he watched as he entered the hanging flower gate.

Facing Li Xuewu's inquiry, He Yu Shui didn't pay attention either; her figure had already flashed past the screen wall and headed toward the side rooms.

Looking at Third Uncle again, he really looked like a mouse that had stolen oil.

"This child, just talking nonsense."

Yan Fugui explained to Li Xuewu with a smile: "Don't listen to her; it's just that I solved the matter of our family's second son's job... halfway."

"Solving a job is a good thing~"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and asked with a smile: "But what's this about it being halfway?"

"Hey, isn't it just about the academic credentials~"

Yan Fugui said seriously: "I heard that those who were brushed out of the Rolling Mill were all those without graduation certificates."

"Does your Yan Jiefang have one?"

Li Xuewu said with a smile: "He's been resting at home for half a year, and there's no one in charge of work at the school; how could he get a graduation certificate?"

"Oh~ I see~"

Li Xuewu pointed at Third Uncle, suddenly enlightened: "You're at the school; this matter is easy to handle~"

"No~ everything is done according to the rules!"

That's what he said, but anyone could see what the smile on his face meant.

"Including our neighbors in the alley, everything is done according to the rules."

When Yan Fugui said this, his face still carried a hint of pride.

Li Xuewu guessed it; this person was also taking advantage of his proximity to the water to get the moon first, perhaps using his connections at the school to take on profitable work.

The Rolling Mill does indeed require a graduation certificate; this is proof of a junior high school education and also the benchmark for the factory's recruitment quota.

No one cared before, but now it has become a hot commodity.

"I've already inquired."

Yan Fugui explained to Li Xuewu: "The Rolling Mill is going to recruit a large number of workers this year; this is just the first batch, and there will be more later!"

"Is that so?"

"Yes, it seems so."

Li Xuewu's response to his inquiry was also one of feigned ignorance; there was no truth in his mouth.

Yan Fugui didn't pay attention either; he had gotten accurate news, and they would be recruiting again next time, and there would also be academic requirements.

"I helped our second son prepare his graduation certificate, so he'll be steady for the next recruitment."

He gestured toward his leg and said: "In another two months, his leg injury will be healed, so it won't delay his registration."

As he spoke, the smile on his mouth increased, and he said confidently: "We've prepared everything; doesn't that mean the recruitment is halfway done?"

"Heh~ that's really true~"

Li Xuewu laughed: "Recruitment is a matter for both sides; you've prepared everything on your end, so it's just waiting for the Rolling Mill to agree, right?"

"It really is halfway done!"

Li Xuewu had to admire Third Uncle's train of thought; this logic was impossible to refute.

Yan Fugui also heard the teasing in Li Xuewu's words, but didn't pay attention, and said with a smile: "Our eldest said that when the time comes, he will find someone to help."

"Hmm, that's as it should be."

Li Xuewu nodded, gestured toward his own home, and said: "You go ahead, I'm going home."

"Hey, don't go yet~"

Yan Fugui was anxious; I've been laying the groundwork for so long, and you want to leave just as you've got the hook in your mouth!

"It's mealtime, come to Third Uncle's house for a drink."

He was pretending to be generous, but they hadn't even started a fire in the house; he was saying he wanted to treat him to a meal right now.

"No~ Third Uncle, you're being so nice, I'm a little scared~"

Li Xuewu raised his arm to dodge Third Uncle's reaching hand, looked Third Uncle up and down with suspicious eyes, and said with amusement: "Are you okay?"

"Tsk~ look at what you're saying!"

Yan Fugui said with a smile: "What could be wrong with Third Uncle~ isn't this just missing you~"

"Hey~ why are you learning this line from me too~"

Li Xuewu found this line really too familiar; hadn't he just finished saying it himself!

Learning it and selling it on the spot?!

"No~"

Yan Fugui looked at the gazes of the people in the courtyard, pulled Li Xuewu, and whispered: "Isn't this just wanting to have a word with you~"

"You have something to say, right?!"

Li Xuewu turned his head, squinted his eyes, looked at Third Uncle, and said: "Definitely! You wouldn't pay attention to me if you didn't have something to say! You hate me too much to do that!"

"Hey! That's going too far!"

Yan Fugui seemed to want to latch onto Li Xuewu, his hand pulling on his arm and refusing to let go.

He had learned from the lessons of the previous few times; he was afraid that someone would come to disturb him while he was talking to Li Xuewu.

Three times!

Every time he finished laying the groundwork and just wanted to talk about the real business, hey! Someone would come over to make trouble!

Every time he talked about business, he would run away; every time he talked about business, he would run away; this time he had grabbed his hand, let's see where you run to!

"Why would I hate you!"

"I watched you grow up, and we're neighbors living across from each other, right?!"

Yan Fugui couldn't pull Li Xuewu, but he wouldn't let Li Xuewu leave either, and he even said: "Don't worry, Third Uncle absolutely won't ask you to handle any business!"

"That's enough, right?!"

"Hmm, let go of your hand first."

Li Xuewu watched his clumsy performance with amusement, gestured to the hand on his arm, and said: "I'm going to trip and fall because of you, don't blame me for it later~"

"Tsk~"

Yan Fugui pulled Li Xuewu to his door, but Li Xuewu gestured to the table and chairs where Yan Jiefang and the others usually worked and sat down.

He couldn't resist, so he had to let Li Xuewu be, and sat down right at the door.

Li Xuewu pointed to his house and said straight to the point: "If you have something to say, speak up; I have to say a word to my mother and then I have to go home, the food is ready at home."

"Hey~ it's good that your Third Aunt started the fire, that's good..."

Yan Fugui still wanted to be polite, but Li Xuewu waved his hand and didn't let him continue.

If he really had the heart to treat him to a meal, who would start a fire to cook right now!

"Then... Third Uncle will tell you his heartfelt words."

Yan Fugui understood now; Li Xuewu was immune to both soft and hard tactics and was guarding against him.

"You understand the situation in our family, so Third Uncle won't hide anything from you."

"Jiefang, he's young, and I've been busy with work, so my discipline hasn't been strict; if there's anything wrong, Third Uncle will apologize to you here..."

"No!"

Li Xuewu looked at Third Uncle with raised eyebrows and asked with amusement: "What kind of act are you putting on?"

"Red Detachment of Women? Nan Batian? It shouldn't be that serious!"

The more he listened to Third Uncle's words, the more wrong they sounded; how did it turn into him oppressing the good people!

"No~"

Yan Fugui pressed his hand down, looked at Li Xuewu, and knew that his tone wasn't gentle enough and his language wasn't polite enough.

"Third Uncle is saying that you guys can be considered childhood friends, you're all in the same courtyard, he's younger than you..."

"Wait, wait~"

Li Xuewu raised his hand and tapped the table, looking at Third Uncle seriously and saying: "You don't have to say that, I'm so ashamed~"

"What's the matter!"

"Man! Let's put everything on the table; there's really no need for this."

Li Xuewu's words were becoming less and less polite; was this trying to ruin himself?

There was no need to have another scene like "the master's wife kneels for you"; that would really make it impossible for him to explain himself in this courtyard.

"If you want to talk about Yan Jiefang's matter, I'll make it clear to you."

Li Xuewu tapped the table and said seriously: "He knows best what he has done, and you, as his father, know even better."

"Everyone knows what kind of person I, Li Xuewu, am in this courtyard; there's no need to make it so complicated."

"To put it clearly, I don't have the time to pay attention to him, and I'm not as base as you think."

"More than half of the people in this courtyard work at the Rolling Mill; I won't say I've helped every family, but I haven't been biased, and I haven't missed anyone's business."

"And your family!"

Li Xuewu tapped the table and said: "Haven't I put in enough effort and people?!"

"Have a conscience when you do things~"

"I'm not~"

Yan Fugui saw that Li Xuewu was angry, and his legs were a bit shaky; he didn't want this matter to be left unclear and then become even more serious.

He wanted to explain, but Li Xuewu wouldn't listen anymore, waved his hand and said: "Don't worry!"

Li Xuewu looked at Third Uncle and said: "Rolling Mill recruitment isn't under my control; if you want to find me for help, I'm powerless, and if you're afraid I'll make trouble behind your back, that's also impossible—I can't do it!"

"That's it, man, let's stop here today!"

Li Xuewu stood up, nodded, and said: "Use all the ability you have, don't keep thinking about me; it's irrelevant."

"Do you understand?"

After speaking, he didn't pay attention to Third Uncle's anxiousness and turned to head home.

His mother, Liu Yin, had long seen their movements, and hearing Li Xuewu's deliberately loud voice, she knew what Yan Lao Kou had pulled her son to talk about.

When Li Xuewu entered the room, Liu Yin said with dissatisfaction: "He really is something, he's so afraid that others will take advantage of him that he calculates against others even when looking for a job!"

"Don't pay attention to him."

Li Xuewu glanced at the inner room; his sister-in-law, Zhao Yafang, had come down from the kang, and he took the initiative to greet her.

"Didn't go out for a walk?"

"I'm feeling tired."

Zhao Yafang came out of the inner room, glanced at the house across the street, curled her lips, and was also quite dissatisfied.

"Narrow-minded people see everyone else's heart as being as small as a needle's eye; calculating people feel that there are no good people in this world."

"You're a cadre, don't lower yourself to his level; just treat him as an old fool."

Zhao Yafang walked to the side of the eight-immortal table and sat down in a chair, comforting Li Xuewu and speaking reason.

Li Xuewu nodded and said: "The more he cares, the heavier his suspicions."

He understood what Third Uncle was talking about; he had asked him for help several times before, all to make up for his ruthlessness toward Yan Jiefang.

A tiger doesn't eat its cubs; he really had broken his son's leg, and he would feel guilty for the rest of his life.

So when the Rolling Mill had a recruitment opportunity, he jumped around and tossed and turned.

Now that he really felt he had grasped the opportunity, he was just waiting for Yan Jiefang's leg to heal and for the Rolling Mill to recruit again, feeling that it would definitely succeed.

And at this time, he happened to see Li Xuewu and thought of Yan Jiefang, and even some conflicts between their family and Li Xuewu.

These things didn't count for anything in Li Xuewu's eyes, just fun in life, but in his eyes, they were major events.

No wonder people say the human heart is unpredictable; Li Xuewu didn't take him seriously, but he was the one who got scared first.

Liu Yin curled her lips and said: "You don't know him; he likes to use his position to pressure people and play those little tricks the most; your father finds this the most annoying, which is why he stays far away from him."

Li Xuewu nodded, understanding his mother's words, and said: "I felt something was wrong from his first few sentences, so I didn't let him finish."

"You were right to say that to him!"

Zhao Yafang had a sharp temper; she said to Li Xuewu: "If you had let him finish, nothing you said would have been appropriate."

"He might have been calculating this matter for a long time, just waiting for you to come back to block you."

His sister-in-law gestured to the door and said: "You were still sleeping in the back room, and he was wandering around the courtyard, his eyes always looking at the courtyard."

"Isn't that right? It's mealtime, and you were just about to wake up, so he was ambushing you in the courtyard."

"There's no need to deal with him; it's too demeaning."

Li Xuewu waved his hand, looked at his mother and asked: "Where are Yuxiu and Li Xue?"

"In the east courtyard; the two of them said they wanted to study."

Liu Yin didn't want to talk about these annoying things either; living a comfortable life was the most important thing; they had been neighbors across the street for decades, and this wasn't the only thing.

"Li Xue said that their leader specifically left her time to study more; they didn't even take her on this business trip, and she has the drive to improve herself."

"Hey, that's right."

Liu Yin said this, raised her head to look at her son and asked: "Why do people in the courtyard say that their leader has a conflict with you?"

"Don't listen to their nonsense."

Li Xuewu picked up a handful of chives from under his mother's hand to help pick them, and explained: "Don't you know what kind of person your son is?"

"I'm not the kind of person who likes to cause trouble; I'm famous for being a nice guy at work, friends with everyone—where would a conflict come from!"

"I think so too~"

Liu Yin nodded in agreement and said: "If there really was a conflict, would that leader still appoint Li Xue as a secretary? That would be nonsense~!"

"Exactly, exactly~"

Li Xuewu nodded, looking at his mother with deep agreement, his eyes full of approval for his mother's wisdom.

He also chimed in: "You know how it is in the government; people believe whatever they hear, and there are even people who say I like to use my hands—it's so funny~ hehe~"

Zhao Yafang didn't think much of it at first, but as she listened, she couldn't help but laugh.

Although she wasn't in the same unit as her second brother-in-law, could she, as his sister-in-law, not know what kind of person he was?

Even if she hadn't seen it, she had heard about it!

You could say you were being talked about or slandered, but to say you were a good person was a bit much.

They were all family; it was fine to lie to outsiders, but how could he lie to his own mother!

Li Xuewu was a tall man, sitting next to his mother helping to pick vegetables, like a wall, but his mouth was now full of grievances—it really had a strange sense of humor.

It was them!

They were the ones who started it!

I hadn't even used my strength and they were already dead!

I really only fired one shot!

Who told them their skulls weren't hard!

Anyway, don't blame me~

He didn't eat dinner at home; after coaxing his mother and talking for a while, Li Xuewu went to the west courtyard for dinner.

At the dinner table, he talked about work with everyone; the vegetables on the mountain weren't coming down anymore, so he didn't have any work for Saturday.

The collection of antiques in the backyard had slowed down, which was related to the slight easing of the situation; Li Xuewu went to check specifically and decided it would be fine to wait a couple of days before dealing with it.

Mainly, he asked about the store's operations and told Biaozi about his business trip to Steel City next week.

This time he might be gone for several days; Li Huade attached great importance to the Steel City factory, and this might be his last visit to the branch factory before the end of the year; he was going to go all out in the coming months.

Li Xuewu and Dong Wenxue had laid the foundation for him, but he wouldn't feel at ease without seeing it with his own eyes; there was no sense of proportion in doing business.

After taking a turn in Jinmen, Li Xuewu had a certain plan here, and after taking a turn in Steel City, he also had to appease Dong Wenxue.

Even though he hadn't asked, he had been paying attention to the things Dong Wenxue had been involved in recently; this trip was to give Dong Wenxue a lesson and also to support him.

Cadres like Yang Zongfang couldn't be moved for the time being, nor could they be hit; if you hit them, things would get messy, so you could only knock them down bit by bit.

Going to Steel City represented an attitude, showing support for Dong Wenxue.

At the same time, going to Steel City at this time was like sending charcoal in the snow, making it easier to gain Dong Wenxue's loyalty.

When you're a leader, your heart is exhausted~

With him sitting in Beijing, Li Xuewu giving him advice, coordinating Jinmen trade, dispersing the danger of the egg basket, and consolidating Steel City's production, he set the tone for the transfer of heavy industry.

Then, he would have the time and energy to deal with Yang Yuansong.

If he didn't get rid of Yang Yuansong, he would always have a thorn in his side, and it would be even harder to force Cheng Kaiyuan to submit.

Seeing that results were about to be achieved, he wouldn't allow anyone who wasn't of one mind with him to share the fruits of victory at this time.

This wasn't sharing; this was stealing!

Therefore, he had to get rid of Yang Yuansong, subdue Cheng Kaiyuan, and thereby form a situation where he had the final say in the Rolling Mill.

Actually, it didn't have to be this troublesome; who told him to be greedy.

The success philosophy Li Xuewu taught him about the Rolling Mill was too rational and too tempting; he couldn't help but want to do the work.

This work was also getting more and more numerous, bigger and bigger; the scene was laid out, and his heart was tired.

Originally, he only needed to mess up the Rolling Mill, and then he would stand out alone and support the name of the Management Committee.

But now, he couldn't bear to part with this, and he couldn't destroy that; there was cooperation, and joint production, which bound his hands and feet.

Before, he said the Management Committee was in power and he wanted to enjoy life, but now looking at it, he shouldn't even think about it for the next three to five years.

Doing business and pursuing ideals was really too exhausting!

Why bring Li Xuewu to Steel City?

Because the situation in Steel City was laid out for him by Li Xuewu; no one could understand how many formations Li Xuewu had laid out in Steel City, and how many pits there were.

Li Huade wasn't Feng Daocong of the working group, who would crash forward with his eyes closed and not know how he died when he fell into a pit.

Bringing Li Xuewu to Steel City was to establish Li Xuewu's management position within the Management Committee, in the Rolling Mill, in the Steel Mill, and in trade projects.

Pulling Dong Wenxue and supporting Li Xuewu would make both of their positions more stable.

Li Xuewu's authority as Deputy Secretary was too low, and he could only rely on his influence, as well as Li Xuewu's own influence, to support this kind of management.

Originally, he, the Deputy Factory Director, should have had full control over the trade projects, but now there was a more suitable candidate, and he also wanted to relax.

As for the issue of trust, that was a long-term goal; he had to coordinate and communicate with Li Xuewu slowly.

Jinmen was only the first step; he would see how Li Xuewu handled that property and who he put in to manage the house.

Anyway, he wouldn't lose out, so he would just see how Li Xuewu did it.

Li Xuewu was also thinking about this problem; none of his good sisters were suitable to go to Jinmen, and there were no good sisters in Jinmen who could go live in a garden villa.

Therefore, the most urgent task was to find a sister in Jinmen?

This was really worrying~

"Wait for the news, at any time~!"

Li Xuewu sat in the jeep and instructed his big brother who had come to see him off: "I'm not sure what the situation is in Steel City; we'll talk when we get there."

Old Biaozi scratched his head and said: "I can't move if it's too sudden~"

"Move what? You don't have a home!"

Early autumn was passing, and the temperature in the Four Nine Cities was still high, but Li Xuewu's words were like the knife-like wind of midwinter, stabbing straight into Old Biaozi's lungs.

"Just your clothes and bedding, what else is there to pack?!"

Li Xuewu looked at his big brother with drooping eyelids and lectured: "Do you have a royal carriage or an army following you? Do I have to apply for a few train cars for you!"

"What they have in Beijing, they have in Steel City; what they don't have in Steel City, you don't need either. Go back and prepare, don't be in a rush when the time comes."

After lecturing his big brother, Li Xuewu stepped on the gas and drove out, while waving at the people standing at the west courtyard gate, signaling them to go back.

Li Huade had been running around recently, and he was also helpless; his business trip days were already scheduled until November.

The office was also calculating with all its might what the leader would need to prepare for the long journey.

Unlike the concept of long-distance travel for people of this era, Li Xuewu's idea was that the less luggage, the better; bring enough money, and you won't lack anything.

Old Biaozi had the idea of a country bumpkin, wishing he could carry his home wherever he went.

Li Xuewu didn't want to indulge his brothers' habit of spending money lavishly, but this trip to Steel City, the office had only prepared a week's worth of time.

Cutting off the beginning and the end, and then folding in the evenings and social engagements, how much spare time would he have to arrange the recycling station?

Therefore, when he called Old Biaozi to support him, he would need him to move immediately and reach his side at the fastest speed.

And he wanted to move house!

In the next ten years or so, including him, the brothers would have to make their home wherever they were!

Wen San'er and Erhai were going to Hong Kong; that was a long way away, and it would be hard for the brothers to gather.

Wen San'er was going to sit in command, and also to learn more advanced management skills.

Erhai was going to learn and grow; he didn't have much education, but he was young and still had potential and room for growth.

Li Xuewu didn't have a chance for him to learn and train in the country; the recycling station was just such a small place, with only a few people—what kind of development could there be.

Old Biaozi was going to take his wife to take over Wen San'er's shift; it was convenient for the uncle and nephew to hand over.

His big brother had more drive and could open up the situation; he had to be nailed to Steel City to help Li Xuewu guard this springboard in the Northeast.

Shen Guodong would stay at the Beijing headquarters for the time being; he and Xiaoyan were still young and homesick, and he still had to observe the three-year mourning period for his grandmother.

Finally, there was Li Xuewu himself; although the Rolling Mill was a small world, he couldn't stay idle.

So, when you're young, you pursue your career; wherever your heart is at peace, that is your hometown.

Of course, everyone has their own way of living; the environment and growth trajectory are different, and everyone thinks differently in their hearts.

Shen Guodong's parents and relatives were all gone, yet he was still homesick, but Old Biaozi's parents and brothers were all there, yet he didn't go home for years on end.

This home, everyone really has their own understanding.

Li Xuewu had just returned to Haiyuncang No. 1 when he saw Qin Jingru sitting in the living room wiping away tears.

He glanced into the grandmother's room and saw the grandmother coaxing Li Shu to sleep.

This little demon was holding a pastry in her hand; although she had her eyes closed and was letting the grandmother coax her to sleep, she still sent a bite to her mouth from time to time.

He reached out and closed the grandmother's door, then glanced at Qin Jingru, who had already tidied up her emotions and stood up to hide from him.

"What's wrong again?"

Li Xuewu changed his slippers, raised his hand to take off the steel watch on his wrist, and walked to the sofa to sit down.

Qin Jingru mumbled and didn't speak, just lowered her head and pinched her fingers.

"Do you want to report standing up? Aren't you tired?"

Li Xuewu placed his watch on the coffee table and waved his hand to signal her to sit down.

"I heard a word from your sister tonight; just knowing the result was good is enough, right~"

"Hmm."

Qin Jingru covered her face and sat on the sofa with a miserable expression.

"How should I put it~"

Li Xuewu smacked his lips and said: "There are only two things you can't choose in this life."

"One is your parents, the other is your children."

"To put it harshly, if your children aren't filial, you can choose not to recognize them, but no matter what your parents are like, you can't cut them off."

Li Xuewu leaned back on the sofa, looked at Qin Jingru, and said slowly: "How your children are, how your parents are—isn't it all the same when you flip it over~"

"Just look at that unreliable father of Seeing Sha Zhu's; he hasn't come back for so many years."

"No matter how much Seeing Sha Zhu hates him or scolds him, when he gets married or gets pregnant, he still has to send him a letter."

"Look at that side again."

Li Xuewu pointed to the south and said: "His father had such a cruel heart, not wanting his own son or daughter, but when he heard the news, he still mailed back ten yuan."

"What are parents and relatives?"

Seeing Qin Jingru start crying again, Li Xuewu felt that everything he said today wasn't very pleasant to hear.

"I advise you, don't be in a rush to cry; slowly you will discover that today's bitterness doesn't count for anything, and there's more bitterness and difficulty ahead in the days to come."

"Wuwu~"

Qin Jingru couldn't hold it in anymore after hearing Li Xuewu's "comforting" words; she covered her face, stood up, and ran into her room.

The sound of her crying couldn't even be blocked by the door; a village girl's crying really was a howl at the top of her lungs.

The grandmother opened the door with a helpless face, looking at her second grandson and saying: "She was just coaxed to sleep after eating, and you provoked her again."

"I had good intentions~"

Li Xuewu spread his hands and said helplessly: "It's a piece of life experience; I wouldn't even be willing to tell an ordinary person!"

"You haven't even given birth to anyone, where did you get your life experience?"

The grandmother gave him a look of annoyance and looked toward Qin Jingru's room again.

"Great, she's going to cry for half the night now!"

Actually, the grandmother had discovered that Qin Jingru's expression wasn't right when Han Jiankun sent her back tonight.

She asked the young man, but he just smiled awkwardly and couldn't say anything specific.

It wasn't until after dinner, when she was washing the dishes in the kitchen, that the grandmother asked her.

Qin Jingru had been with the grandmother for a long time and had developed trust.

So she told the grandmother about what happened at noon and cried for a long time.

Li Shu was troublesome, so the grandmother went into the room to coax the child, leaving her to calm down in the living room by herself.

The grandmother hadn't expected Li Xuewu to return at this time, making her work go to waste.

Her second grandson even said this was persuading people?

And he persuaded them like this?!

This wasn't persuading them, this was pushing them toward a dead end!

"You go watch Li Shu, I'll go see her."

The grandmother beckoned, signaling Li Xuewu to hurry over.

Li Xuewu stood up helplessly, grabbed the watch from the coffee table, and asked as he walked: "Is Li Shu asleep?"

"Heh~ the sugar pastry is broken~"

Seeing him come over, the grandmother walked toward Qin Jingru's room, saying as she walked: "Only you know how to tease people, always finding things for me to do!"

Li Xuewu listened to the grandmother's complaints, smiled, pushed open the door, and walked into the inner room.

Li Shu was lying on her small bed gnawing on the pastry in her hand; seeing her father come in, she gave a grin and even sent the pastry stained with saliva toward her father.

Li Xuewu smiled mischievously, reached out to take his daughter's fake generosity, and said: "Ah, my daughter is so well-behaved; you're going to sleep and not eating anymore, right? Dad will put it away for you~"

He said this, turned around, and put the pastry into a box and took it out.

Li Shu: "..."

(Bullying a child because she can't talk, right!)

When Li Xuewu returned to the room, he found his daughter's eyes were wide like copper bells, full of disbelief.

I was just being polite, a fake show of father-daughter affection; I didn't even think about tasting it, and you took it all away!

"Ya!"

Li Shu tensed her body and shouted at her father.

Li Xuewu looked at his daughter clenching her small fists and was truly anxious; he smiled and picked her up from the small bed.

"It's night, the sugar candies are all sleeping, and we should sleep too; when we have time tomorrow, we'll eat again."

"Eh~"

Li Shu didn't listen to this; she struggled in her father's arms, pointing her small finger at the door, her big eyes staring at her father, meaning you hurry up and get it back for me, it's fine tonight!

Li Xuewu patted his daughter's bottom, laughing in spite of his anger; who did she learn this savage look from!

There was no one like this bandit in his family; with a glare of her eyes, she really looked like she was going to take action.

She's like this now, what will she be like when she grows up!

If you don't beat her now, are you going to save it for the New Year!

Li Xuewu pretended to be gnashing his teeth and fiercely "hit" her twice.

Li Shu didn't care at all; her small hand insisted on pointing outside, and her eyes stared at her father: stop messing around with me, hurry up and get it!

"Fine! You won't listen, right!"

Li Xuewu nodded and said: "Your dad has even fiercer ones!"

As he spoke, he held Li Shu and walked outside; at first, Li Shu thought her father had surrendered, and her big eyes searched for targets in the living room.

She knew where all the good things were placed on weekdays, and as long as she wanted to eat, she just had to point at them.

But the further they went, the more wrong it felt; she was moving away from the living room, but why was she climbing higher!

Li Shu turned around, only to find that her father was going upstairs.

What!?

Can't afford to play, right!

Even bringing in reinforcements, right!

Fine, fine, fine!

You just wait!

Li Xuewu held Li Shu and went upstairs; after seeing Gu Ning reading in the study, he complained: "Look at your daughter..."

He was saying this, and then lowered his head to look at Li Shu, only to find that at some point, this little demon had closed her eyes!

Closed them!!!

She really knows how to act!

Who did you learn this acting technique from!

You can act even better than your dad!

Li Xuewu gritted his teeth and used his beard to poke Li Shu's small hand; this child could really endure, she didn't even laugh.

Gu Ning glared at him and said: "Why are you teasing her?!"

After speaking, she stood up holding the chair and signaled Li Xuewu to hurry up and put Li Shu in the inner room.

"Jingru has already packed your luggage, see if anything is missing."

She said this, and had already followed into the master bedroom, first going to the cloakroom to find a change of clothes and handing them to Li Xuewu after he put Li Shu down.

"Hurry up and wash up."

After telling Li Xuewu, she took a towel to wipe the pastry crumbs off Li Shu's hands.

At this time, Li Shu couldn't keep up the act anymore; her big eyes blinked as she looked at her mother, afraid of being scolded.

Gu Ning didn't scold her, just poked her small belly, telling her that eating pastries at night would make worms grow in her belly.

Li Shu touched her small belly as if it were true, and even tilted her head to look, as if she were really afraid that worms had grown in her belly.

Worms aren't fun, is it okay to grow fish?

Gu Ning poured warm water for Li Shu with a teacup and helped her stand by the bed to drink a few sips.

She would do anything with her mother, and do whatever she was told; as for others... it didn't matter~

Gu Ning finished feeding her water and let her stand by the head of the bed waiting, and she honestly stood there waiting for her mother.

If it were anyone else, she would have tried a backflip to see if the wooden floor in the room was sturdy.

Gu Ning returned, and seeing Li Shu waiting for her with eager eyes, she opened her arms to hold her.

"Are you sleeping with the grandmother tonight, or with Mom and Dad?"

Li Shu was over a year old and understood everything; Gu Ning asked this, and she pointed her small finger at the bed, signaling she wanted to sleep here.

Gu Ning nodded and said okay, held her and went to the cloakroom to find her small mattress and small pillow, and spread them in the middle of the bed.

You say she's troublesome, but she's smart right now; Gu Ning put her down to spread the bed, and she even knew how to help her mother.

Once the small mattress was spread, she didn't need Gu Ning to say anything; she lay down herself.

Who says children are hard to coax?!

It's all a misunderstanding!

When Li Xuewu came out of the bathroom, the mother and daughter were both lying down.

Looking at his daughter's adorable appearance right now, Li Xuewu could only sigh.

May the gods protect her, don't let her inherit my temper!

Li Xuewu knew too well how much he could make trouble; he was 100% sure he didn't have his father's tolerance, nor did he have the patience to educate children.

Hitting is impossible; once a little girl is sensible, you can't hit her—that's different from a little boy.

It can be said that he has a thousand ways to discipline a son, but not one good prescription for dealing with a daughter.

Because once a daughter's tears fall, he has no way out.

So, you must unconditionally maintain Gu Ning's authority at home; this is the final guarantee.

First, he went downstairs to tell the grandmother that Li Shu was sleeping upstairs, then went upstairs to turn off the study light, and only then lay down.

Gu Ning's body was heavy, and she slept a lot; she was already asleep when he entered the room, and Li Shu was the same, even snoring a little.

The night was quiet, like a lonely lamp, igniting the starlight of the Milky Way.

The night is cold and the dreams are long, but not as long as the vast sea of people; people leave and the tea cools, but not as cool as black hair turning to frost.

On Monday, Li Xuewu signed the report on "The Conclusion of the Wang Jingzhang Poisoning Death Case, the Fu Linfang Suicide Case, and the Zhang Guoqi Poisoning Case" in his office.

These three cases were related, and the relevant personnel would be received and transferred for handling in accordance with the Security Division's office regulations and case handling procedures.

Looking at the handling opinions regarding Fang Lining and Huang Shiwen in the document, Li Xuewu had originally wanted to write something.

But after thinking about it, he didn't move his pen, only wrote the two words "Agreed" in the opinion box and signed his name.

A thousand words cannot express the complexity of thoughts and the regret.

Every stroke of the pen cannot write out the various states of life, the bitterness, spiciness, sourness, and sweetness.

Putting down the fountain pen in his hand, Li Xuewu sighed.

"A person's life, long as it may be, is also short; look forward."

He reached out and pushed the document in front of him forward, looking out the window with a heavy heart.

Zhou Yao raised her hand to wipe away her tears, sniffed, and it took a long while before she went to take the document from the leader's desk.

She knew too well what this document represented; as long as the leader put down his pen, it meant that Huang Shiwen and Fang Lining's life paths were entering the countdown stage.

There were other classmates in the courtyard, but from the internship period, everyone was busy with their own things, and only the three of them still had some contact.

But in the end, Fu Linfang died, and Huang Shiwen walked toward a dead end...

For a person like Wang Jingzhang, three college students—it really wasn't worth it.

Opening this case to look at it, what was there? It was just a bit of selfishness at work, being swept along by the era without knowing how to advance or retreat, and losing one's heart.

The road of life is long, and if you can't get past such a hurdle, isn't that just making things difficult for yourself~

Li Xuewu got a reminder from Sha Qizhi at the door, stood up, and said to Zhou Yao: "Handle the follow-up problems well; if you lend a helping hand, they will suffer a little less."

He gestured to the door with his notebook and said: "I have a meeting," and then walked out.

He had seen too many romantic entanglements, and had personally experienced life and death; he had no tears to shed for these people, at most a sigh.

"Temporary Party Organization Meeting."

On the third floor of the main office building, in the small conference room, Secretary Yang Yuansong sat at one end of the table; it was clear that he was presiding over the meeting.

"According to the notice from the city, the Rolling Mill is required to establish a temporary Party Committee, with me serving as the Party Secretary, and Comrade Li Huade serving as the Deputy Party Secretary and Director of the Management Committee; the organizational identities of the other comrades remain the same."

Yang Yuansong coughed and continued: "Today, one thing is to announce this news, and the other is to emphasize disciplinary inspection work, while also deploying the next stage of organizational construction work."

"Our factory has had many problems recently; discipline is lax, people's hearts are scattered, and there has even been a poisoning case in the Discipline Inspection Section."

"The nature is very bad! Very serious!"

Yang Yuansong kept a straight face and said seriously: "The Discipline Inspection Department must take action! Be bold in taking action, investigate to the end, and never tolerate!"

Han Yating looked at the report again and looked suspiciously at the duty officer.