Chapter 840: A pair, especially beautiful

"Old Uncle, since we're cooperating, you can't hold anything back."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and invited Li Li Zhengfeng and his group toward the conference room, saying as they walked: "If you have any opinions, feel free to raise them."

"It's quite good."

Li Li Zhengfeng nodded with a smile and said to Li Li Xuewu: "You are the professionals when it comes to industrial production; what opinions could I have?"

This was in private, and he felt it was appropriate for Li Li Xuewu to call him 'Old Uncle' to show closeness.

Li Li Xuewu's mouth for coaxing people was like a deceptive ghost; he could trick a good person into limping.

Li Li Zhengfeng regretted not meeting Li Li Xuewu sooner.

Li Li Xuewu, however, thought that if he had met him sooner, he would have been limping long ago.

The two of them walked in front joking, which naturally represented the smoothness of this inspection.

Li Li Zhengfeng said he had no opinions, but grabbing Li Li Xuewu's arm, he still smiled and hinted: "We designed the gun, and we've handled the individual equipment too, but this money... should it be..."

"Ah~ haha, money, huh."

Hearing him mention money, Li Li Xuewu laughed and brushed it off: "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten. I was just about to ask you about the progress of the recommendation work for the 66-6 precision shooting rifle."

"Hey! Why are you asking me about this!"

Li Li Zhengfeng looked at Li Li Xuewu in astonishment and said: "Aren't you responsible for the sales work!"

"Yes, I am responsible."

Li Li Xuewu nodded and said: "But didn't you say you were responsible for the recommendation work?"

He explained to Li Li Zhengfeng with a straight face: "Think about it, how many people do I know? I don't have a single connection responsible for equipment review and procurement!"

"I knew you were a slippery one!"

"Trying to welch on the debt, are you!"

"Trying not to pay, are you!"

Li Li Zhengfeng pointed at Li Li Xuewu, seeing his look of trying to welch, and said helplessly: "Fine, fine, who told me to be bewitched and get on your pirate ship!"

"Next Tuesday, I have an appointment with the General Armament Department; show me what you've got then."

He raised his hand, wanting to pat Li Li Xuewu's shoulder to act cool for once, but Li Li Xuewu was too tall, and he couldn't reach.

If he stretched enough, he could reach, but that would look too ugly, so he ended up patting Li Li Xuewu's arm, feeling a sense of unfulfilled desire.

Hearing the good news, Li Li Xuewu quickly lowered his shoulder; why didn't he say so earlier? He was his own uncle, what was wrong with a pat on the shoulder?

Li Li Zhengfeng looked at him, the corners of his mouth twitching.

This nephew was also the type who wouldn't release the eagle until he saw the rabbit, and who would call anyone 'mother' if they had milk.

You want to pat me? I'm not letting you!

The group walked into the conference room and began discussing gun production and further R&D.

Li Li Xuewu clearly stated that the foundation for cooperation between the two sides was weak and they should focus more on the R&D and manufacturing of key weapons.

According to his plan, the core idea of the initial cooperation was to play to their strengths and avoid weaknesses, and to be high-quality and inexpensive.

The existing Type 56 gun family already occupied the mainstream position, and the General Armament Department would not have the capacity for updates and iterations for some time.

The Light Weapons Institute had the responsibility and obligation to develop new light infantry weapons, but the Rolling Mill did not have this obligation.

Li Li Xuewu's requirements were very simple: based on the Rolling Mill's existing industrial foundation, it was impossible to invest massive resources into military R&D.

The two sides shouldn't think about making rifles better than the Type 56; in the current environment, even if they were made, they couldn't be sold, and there would be no short-term return on investment, only self-inflicted trouble.

They should follow the R&D path of the 66-6 precision shooting rifle and develop things that were not in the military's current equipment sequence, or where there was a large gap.

Most importantly, they should be cheap, quality-assured, and convenient for combat needs.

Li Li Xuewu said the 66-6 rifle could be sold because this rifle was already in use by the Soviet troops and had been verified on the battlefield in Annam.

And the entrenching tools, daggers, mess kits, etc., that he entrusted the Light Weapons Institute to design, were all replaceable products.

That is to say, the procurement and application of these small hardware items would not affect the use and equipment updates of frontline troops.

Their influence was far less than the huge impact brought by weapon iteration, making them convenient for the replenishment and selection of military equipment; this was the sales strategy Li Li Xuewu thought of from the other party's perspective.

He had served in frontline troops, had been a grassroots manager, and was now a regimental-level commander; he understood the needs and applications of equipment better than many others.

The cooperation between the Rolling Mill and the Light Weapons Institute was only an exchange in certain key points, or special fields.

But Li Li Xuewu didn't want to see them expand, or for the Rolling Mill to officially become a confidential unit.

In his speech, he also pointed out that the future cooperation model between the two sides should be that the Light Weapons Institute was responsible for design and R&D, while the Rolling Mill's hardware factory was only responsible for production.

Li Li Xuewu would provide more support in sales work, but the main entity should be the Light Weapons Institute.

To put it bluntly, the Rolling Mill was responsible for manufacturing parts and assembly, just like making nail clippers; we don't know what this thing is or what it's used for.

The Light Weapons Institute had the qualifications and the ability to bear the responsibility of military design and manufacturing, so they should be responsible for selling these things, and then everyone would make money together.

Li Li Xuewu wanted to use the Light Weapons Institute's tiger skin to seek a protective umbrella for the Rolling Mill.

Just like Xia Xia Zhongquan said, he could do this work, but he didn't have the qualifications, so Li Li Xuewu found someone who did to bear this responsibility.

The money shared with the Light Weapons Institute couldn't be saved; this was called riding an electric scooter to a bar—save where you should, spend where you should.

Without the Light Weapons Institute, the Rolling Mill wouldn't have the legal qualification to produce military weapons, and wouldn't be able to make this money.

The meeting also talked about the sales problem; the machines at the Rolling Mill were also money when they were running every day.

It wasn't that Li Li Zhengfeng really was in a hurry to eat braised pork; he kept talking about sales.

He also understood the processing costs and pressure borne by the Rolling Mill.

If sales and weapon procurement could be realized as soon as possible, it would be a guarantee for the existing cooperation and future cooperation between the two sides.

Li Li Xuewu provided several ideas to the Light Weapons Institute, focusing on the sales problem.

The recommendation and procurement work for new weapons had procedures, especially for this kind of rifle with Soviet characteristics, which required considering more factors.

Li Li Zhengfeng said he had an appointment with the General Armament Department, which was an idea—starting from the top, or solving the problem from the root.

If this path didn't work, Li Li Xuewu couldn't just wait to die.

He was prepared to sponsor a batch of 66-6 rifles to the Third Guard Regiment, and by relying on his own connections, focus on cultivating the ability of precision shooters.

As long as the weapons were reliable and formed a scale, he could take this unit out and do something big.

Once it appeared, whether this gun was good or not wouldn't need them to say; just looking at it would be enough.

Of course, compared to seeing the General Armament Department, this path would be more difficult and slower.

But slow work produces fine products; Li Li Xuewu wasn't in a hurry to recommend the gun all at once.

The General Armament Department wanted to procure 100,000 rifles, and he couldn't produce them all at once; when the time came, a single order from them, and who knew what the factory would be named.

Therefore, do what you can; it didn't matter if the military hardware production factory's inventory was a bit pressured.

Wasn't there the Investigation Department? If domestic sales didn't work, then go for foreign trade; let Ji Wang Weidong be the arms dealer.

The world wasn't peaceful right now, and selling this kind of rifle for a good price wasn't difficult at all.

He said the pressure was high, but that was just for the Light Weapons Institute to hear.

If they made money and just wanted to eat braised pork, could they still work hard after being fed fat!

Besides seeing the General Armament Department and using the Third Guard Regiment's influence, Li Li Xuewu had also thought about the Confidentiality Department.

Those guys would be interested in this kind of precision shooting rifle.

Although their usage quantity wasn't large, a mosquito's leg was still meat; the key was that they could advertise.

If the Confidentiality Department used a certain rifle to kill a target from an ultra-long distance, the advertising effect would be maxed out instantly.

Next, he was prepared to let the Light Weapons Institute engage in protective equipment research.

The production restrictions on weapons were too high; protective equipment was more suitable, and the Rolling Mill had advantages in this regard.

For example, bulletproof vests—this thing would sell well no matter when.

For example, individual carrying gear, bulletproof helmets, etc.; production wasn't taboo, and it could make money.

The morning reception was very smooth; everyone spoke freely at the end of the meeting, pooled their wisdom, and their opinions were recorded in the memorandum.

At noon, Dong Wenxue came forward and hosted a meal for the Light Weapons Institute, with Li Li Xuewu accompanying to build relations between the two sides.

There would be many opportunities for cooperation in the future, and if both sides took each other seriously, the work would be much easier to do.

Before one o'clock in the afternoon, Li Li Xuewu met up with Da Da Qiangzi, who was waiting at the train station, and took Sha Sha Qizhi and the others onto the train to Jicheng.

Because the distance wasn't far, Li Li Xuewu didn't look for trouble and ask for a soft sleeper carriage.

Three-by-three seats, just right for a few people.

From the moment they met at the train station, Da Da Qiangzi hadn't said much.

His face was stiff, and his eyes looking at Li Li Xuewu were filled with thought and confusion.

He had thought about it for half the night, not knowing how to choose or what to do.

He didn't dare to go directly to the Proprietor, because they had already clashed eyes at the dinner table.

The Proprietor's eyes were terrifyingly sharp, and his gaze was more like a knife that could kill.

This couldn't help but remind him of when they were in Jicheng, the Proprietor holding a knife...

But what did this have to do with him!

He had only done things according to the Proprietor's requirements; now that he wasn't allowed to do them, what was he supposed to do!

After the dinner party broke up last night, the Proprietor didn't even look at him and went straight back to his room; he had the heart to ask what he should do on this trip to Jicheng.

But he didn't dare, fearing that if he entered that room, he wouldn't be himself when he came out.

On one side was the Steel City trade he had already built the structure for, and on the other was the Proprietor's desire to lie low.

Especially in the face of the pressure and coercion under Li Li Xuewu's sowing of discord, his choice was crucial.

At least to him, it was like this: choose to follow the Proprietor's footsteps, give up the Steel City trade, and hold Jicheng.

Or choose to betray the Proprietor, keep the Steel City trade, and give up the Jicheng forces.

The Steel City trade was his; the Jicheng forces were the Proprietor's.

He clearly knew that Li Li Xuewu had first cut off one of the Proprietor's hands, transferred away Da Chun and the others, and then buried a pit for him.

Before taking over the Steel City trade, he would have guaranteed his loyalty to the Proprietor.

But now... this pit was just too comfortable to stay in.

When had he ever owned a jeep, or ever fully owned a decent woman, a decent career, a foundation to survive in the sunlight?

Facing those responsible for government units and factories, he could finally straighten his back and cooperate with them uprightly, without having to mess around in the dark for those few pennies.

Until he walked out of Jicheng, out of that street, out of the dark shadows, out of the Proprietor's shelter, he felt the sky was so big and so blue.

The feeling of being in charge of a project was just too great; he had people, money, and status.

A hillbilly who walked out of the mountains, for the first time, knew the feeling of a heartbeat when getting along with a woman.

City people called this love.

A female nurse, from the Steel City hospital; their encounter was a cup of wine, always warming his heart.

If he could talk about love properly, who would want to go find those old hags?

In short, he wanted a home in Steel City.

Now this goal was very close to him, within reach.

As long as he stayed in Steel City and continued to operate the trade, the other party would continue with him, get married, and have children.

And he, this hillbilly, would also become a city person.

He had never told the Proprietor how much he yearned for city life.

The Proprietor wouldn't let him say it, nor would he let them have such thoughts; earning money, buying things, and sending them back to the family in the mountains was the correct way to do things.

But the mountains were like a bottomless pit; no matter how much money they earned or how much exhaustion they suffered, they couldn't fill it.

The family always needed his contribution and effort.

But he didn't want to try anymore, nor did he want to fill that bottomless pit; he wanted to live for himself for once.

Now Li Li Xuewu had picked him to go to Jicheng; in his view, this was a choice, an opportunity.

He understood that only he could find those people and relationships in Jicheng and sort them out.

The three people Li Li Xuewu had sent over earlier were just for show and couldn't get anything done.

The Proprietor would never hand over the foundation of Jicheng to the other party; that wasn't just a foundation, it was the Proprietor's lifeline.

It was also the lifeline of those people on the mountain.

As long as the line in Jicheng was in their hands for one day, they in Steel City wouldn't be abandoned, nor would they be wronged.

If that line broke, they would become kites with broken strings; wherever people told them to drift, they would have to listen.

Now Li Li Xuewu was taking him to Jicheng, which meant he wanted him to personally cut that line.

If he didn't do it, then the Steel City trade would have nothing to do with him, and Steel City life would have nothing to do with him.

Furthermore, he wouldn't have to think about the little nurse anymore.

This person's heart was vicious; with just one look, he could see the contradiction between him and the Proprietor, amplify it, and finally use it.

The Proprietor didn't speak, which was letting him make a choice: follow him, or follow Li Li Xuewu.

Follow him, then don't do anything; go back the way you came, come back the way you came.

When the time came, even without the Steel City trade, the foundation in Jicheng would still be there, and he would never starve.

But follow Li Li Xuewu, and he would have wealth and love, but would have to abandon his roots.

This kind of choice was just too painful.

Li Li Xuewu could see his pain, but facing his gaze, his internal decision didn't waver in the slightest.

He had never trusted these Jicheng people, nor had he ever given them trust.

They didn't even dare to hand their backs to him, so what loyalty was there to talk about!

Speaking of loyalty, it had to be Zhou Wang Yamei; she dared to hand her back to him, and supporting her back was really...

Four hundred kilometers, leaving at one o'clock; even an express train would take five hours.

It was exactly five-thirty when Li Li Xuewu and his group got off the train.

As soon as they exited the station, Li Li Xuewu saw Seeing Gelin's tall figure, standing there very conspicuously.

"What are you looking at?"

Li Li Xuewu sized him up and asked with a raised eyebrow: "Don't recognize me?"

"Wu Ge."

Seeing Gelin's voice was simple and honest; Li Li Xuewu asked, so he greeted him.

The people who came with him were all looking at him; compared to Li Li Xuewu, Seeing Gelin, who was even taller and stronger, gave them a feeling of being astonished.

If they knew Seeing Gelin's age, their jaws would probably drop to the ground.

"Why did you come alone?"

Li Li Xuewu patted his arm and signaled to walk down together; Second Uncle's car to pick him up was right below.

Seeing Gelin glanced at the group behind him and stayed silent.

Li Li Xuewu didn't mind; when they reached the jeep, he saw Second Uncle sitting in the car smiling at him.

"Get in the car first, the leaders are all waiting."

Second Uncle Li Gan patted the car door, his gaze sweeping toward Li Li Xuewu's back.

Two cars, just like Li Li Xuewu had told him; there was a dinner party in the evening.

Some things were better talked about while eating; the dinner party was arranged by Second Uncle, at the Forestry guesthouse.

Seeing Gelin stood by the car and said to Li Li Xuewu: "Wu Ge, I'll wait for you at home."

"Hey!"

Li Li Xuewu watched him greet him and then prepare to leave, and grabbed him.

"What did you come here for?!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but laugh and patted his shoulder, saying: "You damn well left, where am I supposed to find home!"

"Oh~ seems so."

Seeing Gelin thought about it; it seemed Xilin had told him to come pick him up.

He saw Li Li Xuewu had someone to pick him up, so he thought there was nothing for him to do.

Li Li Xuewu smiled, pressed his head, and stuffed him into the jeep.

Then he turned around and waved to the others, signaling them to get in the car too.

Da Da Qiangzi stood to the side; after everyone got in the car, he said to Li Li Xuewu: "Wu Ge, I'm going to find some friends, I'll come to the house to talk in the evening."

Li Li Xuewu looked at him, then nodded and said: "Be careful, I'll wait for you to come back."

Da Da Qiangzi didn't dare to meet Li Li Xuewu's gaze, nodded, and walked outside.

Second Uncle glanced at Da Da Qiangzi's back and asked with a raised eyebrow: "Private business?"

"Nothing, just small things."

Li Li Xuewu smiled at Second Uncle and jumped into the jeep.

The two cars sped along; the roads in Jicheng were very wide and easy to drive on, said to be newly repaired.

The Forestry office location wasn't in the mountains, nor in the suburbs, but in the city.

Passing by, Second Uncle even introduced it to him, saying it was the office location of some important department during the Manchukuo era.

Li Li Xuewu's gaze swept across the streets of Jicheng; it wasn't strange at all that there were old-style buildings here, because this place had been very prosperous before.

It was a heavy industry base now, but the foundation was also from before.

The Forestry guesthouse wasn't far from the office building; it looked low-key from the outside, but it wasn't simple inside.

Arriving here, Second Uncle didn't say much, just led him inside, entered a private room, and the atmosphere suddenly became enthusiastic.

"Must be the distinguished guests from the capital!"

As soon as Li Li Xuewu entered the room, he saw several people stand up from the sofa in the reception hall; the leader was very short, but his momentum was very strong.

Second Uncle smiled and introduced him: "This is Bureau Chief Ma, who is in charge of logistics in our bureau."

"Bureau Chief Ma, hello."

Li Li Xuewu greeted him proactively with a bright smile.

Bureau Chief Ma was very enthusiastic, shook his hand with a smile, and said: "Comrade Li Gan has mentioned you, a descendant who brings honor to his ancestors."

He first pointed out the relationship today, then sized up Li Li Xuewu with a smile and said: "Deputy Secretary Li, we are fated."

"Of course we are fated."

Li Li Xuewu laughed loudly and said: "I traveled thousands of miles to get here to meet you; if that's not fate, what is!"

"Hahaha!"

Bureau Chief Ma looked at Second Uncle Li Gan and laughed loudly: "Truly extraordinary, a young talent."

"With you praising him like this, I can brag even more to them! Hahaha."

Second Uncle Li Gan had been out in the world for so many years, long ago smoothing out his edges and training a set of smooth skills.

He laughed loudly, raised his hand to introduce the other leaders to Li Li Xuewu, all of whom were in logistics, as well as his own leaders.

Clearly, this dinner party today was centered around him as a link, to talk about feelings and cooperation.

This was what Li Li Xuewu had agreed upon with Second Uncle before leaving the capital; doing things in the Northeast, especially in unfamiliar areas, talking about feelings was better than talking about KTV—where else was he supposed to find that?

Li Li Xuewu brought five people from the Rolling Mill, but only one actually sat at the table.

But this one person managed to settle the whole table.

Bureau Chief Ma watched him drink cup after cup, while his side raised the white flag one by one, calling him a fierce general!

Once the drinking was done, things were easy to talk about.

Li Li Xuewu certainly wouldn't just knock everyone out; he was here to do things, not to fight a drinking war.

Second Uncle started the conversation, and he gave a basic introduction to the Rolling Mill's trade model.

In the introduction, he held back and didn't mention what the Rolling Mill wanted to do here, nor did he say what he was planning.

But just what he said was enough to shock the leaders present.

Are the young generals from inside the pass this fierce!

Opening his mouth, he wanted to sell cars, and unlimited quantities at that.

Right now, units buying cars actually needed to queue and beg for help.

No way around it, planned economy; you report the need first, and the car factory will queue the order; it would take at least half a year for the car to reach the unit.

But the Rolling Mill was different; if you wanted one, they could arrange for the railway to send it directly, no waiting, no application.

Of course, Li Li Xuewu also told the truth: the vehicle's performance was slightly worse than the 212, but its comprehensive strength could absolutely satisfy the Forestry's work needs.

You say using a jeep to pull logs? I don't dare guarantee that, but running errands up and down the mountain is absolutely no problem.

The mention of cars stunned the other party; Li Li Xuewu then mentioned the joint production products the Rolling Mill was working on.

Textile wool, canned food, leather clothes and shoes, firefighting equipment, etc.

It couldn't be said that Jicheng didn't have these things, nor could it be said that the Northeast didn't produce them.

But if you were talking about exchanging them in the form of counter-trade instead of going through the plan, they were still very interested.

Especially the fruit and meat products Li Li Xuewu mentioned; entering winter, these things were in short supply.

They didn't order cars for the time being, but with winter approaching, these welfare items were already being prepared.

Li Li Xuewu stood up, called Sha Sha Qizhi, who was waiting outside the door, and handed several samples to the leaders present for inspection.

Things from inside the pass had one characteristic: they were refined, more aesthetically pleasing than the Soviet-style manufacturing style inherited by the Northeast.

Even the canned food Li Li Xuewu brought looked very eye-catching in its outer packaging.

Especially the meat cans, marked with beef and mutton; these things were hard to find at this time.

In Jicheng, Forestry was a big player, a pillar industry; they had seen all kinds of good things, so they weren't unfamiliar with these items.

Li Li Xuewu didn't think about cheating them or doing a one-off deal.

Everything was suitable and reliable, focusing on being steady and trustworthy.

Government units at this time were very simple; as long as you knew someone and the relationship was good, they would trust you absolutely.

Especially in the Northeast, they suffered many losses later on.

Of course, Li Li Xuewu wasn't a swindler, nor was he specifically engaged in trade; he was just using Jicheng as a link in the trade.

If Forestry wanted to cooperate, they would; if not, he had other directions for cooperation.

Bureau Chief Ma and the others looked but didn't say good or bad; Second Uncle glanced at Li Li Xuewu and didn't urge the leaders to make a decision, just continued to urge them to drink.

Li Li Xuewu proactively toasted a second round, stopping the talk about these things.

He stopped talking, and after two rounds of drinks, Bureau Chief Ma proactively asked what the Rolling Mill needed.

This meant there was a door open; if they didn't want to cooperate, they wouldn't have proactively asked.

Li Li Xuewu spoke frankly about the original intention of joint trade and the policies he relied on.

The Rolling Mill didn't have any must-have goods, nor did it stipulate what goods Forestry must use for exchange.

The cooperation principle he mentioned was one thing: fairness, fairness, and damn fairness.

To put it bluntly, the Rolling Mill was a platform.

Yellow wine and pearls from Yuezhou, meat and cotton from the frontier, aquatic products and seafood from Jincheng, light industrial and electronic products from the capital.

I'll give you what I have first, then you tell me what you want; across the country, it's all about vast land and abundant resources, and things being precious because they are rare.

If you say you want wood, I definitely won't do this deal with you.

There is wood outside the pass, but if I transport a trainload of wood into Jicheng, I'd be laughed to death.

Fair and reasonable, compliant exchange.

Bureau Chief Ma understood Li Li Xuewu's meaning, scratched his head, and directly pointed to the deputy director of logistics, asking him to talk about what they had.

That was, according to Li Li Xuewu's statement, things outside the plan.

That deputy director of logistics was a business-type leader and opened his mouth to say a lot.

Including various forestry resources, wood, dried fruits, dried goods, various Chinese herbal medicines, various mountain treasures, and skins.

Actually, Jicheng's mining industry was also very rich, but based on the current mining layout, it was far from the time to transport it out.

Li Li Xuewu held his wine glass and drank with the other party, only saying that he would maintain communication and contact with the other party next.

Saying this much meant today's business was done, and the remaining time was for feelings.

Li Li Xuewu let go of the restrictions and began to toast frequently, not fearing this kind of high-proof liquor brought by Second Uncle at all.

Bureau Chief Ma and the others were drunk silly; they were old comrades tested by alcohol, but they had never seen such a fierce warrior.

By the end, they really couldn't drink anymore; watching Li Li Xuewu pour wine into his mouth, their eyes were spinning.

When the drinking party broke up, Li Li Xuewu waved his hand, and let the few people who came with him put the things they had prepared into the cars one by one as they sent the leaders off.

Bureau Chief Ma also said polite words, feeling embarrassed to accept his gifts, after all, Li Gan was still here.

But Li Li Xuewu just said they were samples brought from the capital, asking the leaders to check them.

A box of various canned goods per person, economical and practical.

Second Uncle was working here and had face, but spending Second Uncle's face to do things for himself, how would the other party see it?

No matter how valuable Second Uncle's face was, could it be more valuable than the subsequent cooperation?

He didn't proactively ask for anything at the dinner table; whatever Forestry gave, he would talk about first.

But as agreed with Li Huai De, the office here was temporarily entrusted to the recycling station to act as an agent.

Li Li Xuewu wanted the recycling station to entrust Forestry to purchase grain in the name of the Rolling Mill.

This was the main thing; grain wasn't worth much, but the quantity was large.

The Northeast didn't lack grain, but once outside the pass, everywhere lacked it.

Transporting it to the furthest frontier office, the price of grain would instantly double several times.

Especially in the next two years, artificially causing grain production to decrease; holding grain in hand, what trade door couldn't be opened?

As long as it was compliant operation, as long as it was public-to-public exchange of products, this thing could be done.

As for wood, dried goods, and other specialties, these things didn't worry about selling; the train went south all the way, and everywhere could eat them.

The important thing was how Li Li Xuewu ate these things; wood was naturally most suitable to be converted into commodities.

And with Chinese herbal medicines, cooperation with the capital's Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine could be opened; next month, when talking about cooperation with Ng Fung Hong, Li Li Xuewu would talk about the export of patent medicines.

Where did the Chinese medicine in Hong Kong come from?

No need to think, it was absolutely sold from the mainland; even if it wasn't trade done by Ng Fung Hong, as long as there was a path, they would dare to do this business.

The Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the capital held prescriptions several people high; even if Li Li Xuewu had to trick them, he had to get them out.

Other dried goods and dried fruits, these things sold fast inside the pass, and went even faster by sea to Hong Kong.

Li Li Xuewu was very reserved at the dinner table, but in reality, he had long aimed at Jicheng.

The fact that this place couldn't open up the situation for a long time severely limited his subsequent layout.

People who dared to block him from making money, what kind of attitude would he have toward them?

Second Uncle arranged a guesthouse for the Rolling Mill people, but wanted him to go home to stay.

Li Li Xuewu said he had some things to do, made an appointment to have lunch with Second Uncle tomorrow, got into the jeep Second Uncle lent him, waved his hand, and signaled Seeing Gelin to drive home.

In the car, Seeing Gelin didn't speak, and he didn't open his mouth either.

No need to ask anything; when they got there, they would naturally see.

Xilin didn't come to pick him up, and Ding Ding Wanqiu didn't come either; only Seeing Gelin came, and he was practicing the Zen of silence.

Based on the words Wen San'er reported, Li Li Xuewu could roughly guess what had happened.

But when he arrived, Li Li Xuewu looked at Xilin lying on the kang, and was still surprised to the point of being unable to speak.

Xilin just looked up at him, and then tears fell, burying her face in the pillow, her shoulders trembling.

Ding Ding Wanqiu stood by the kang, his face full of guilt, his hands tucked into his sleeves, saying nothing.

Seeing Gelin was calm, went outside to fetch some firewood to burn the kang; after several months of life in the Northeast, he had clearly adapted very well.

The recycling station here was similar to the one in the capital: three low houses, a large area, but a very dilapidated courtyard.

Li Li Xuewu hadn't been here before, and it wasn't the location where he met Zhang Zhang Wanhe last time.

He didn't believe Zhang Zhang Wanhe lived here before, nor did he believe the other party's family foundation was only this one courtyard.

Li Li Xuewu sat by the edge of the kang, reached out and held Xilin's hand, pursing his lips, his breathing gradually becoming heavier.

Ding Ding Wanqiu knew he was going to lose his temper, and proactively opened his mouth to say: "I'm sorry, I let you down, I didn't do a good job."

"Tell me about it."

Li Li Xuewu took a deep breath, sat up straight, and patted Xilin on the shoulder.

Under Li Li Xuewu's signal, Ding Ding Wanqiu sat on a stool, and only then did he want to open his mouth to speak.

But before he could speak, a commotion came from the courtyard.

Seeing Gelin touched the stick by the door, saw Da Da Qiangzi push the door and enter, glanced at him, and went to burn the kang again.

Da Da Qiangzi scanned everyone in the room, and in the dim light, brought seven or eight people into this room.

"Wu Ge, I brought them here to plead guilty; you are a magnanimous person, please forgive them for the sake of the Proprietor and me working for you."

As he said this, he signaled the people behind him to come over and apologize.

Li Li Xuewu's gaze swept over them; these people's faces were filled with banditry, full of arrogance and conceit, making Da Da Qiangzi, who stood to the side, look even more humble.

"So it's the Proprietor himself."

One of them walked up, bowed to Li Li Xuewu, and said: "We mountain people are used to being wild and don't understand the rules, causing you trouble."

As he said this, he looked at the woman lying on the kang, his mouth twitched, and he said: "Please forgive the girl too; I've returned that knife that stabbed you, and the person was buried at noon, so you definitely won't see him again."

Li Li Xuewu's eyelids jumped, he let go of the hand he was tightly gripping, and subconsciously reached for his waist.

Seeing him about to move, Da Da Qiangzi "thumped" and knelt on the ground.

"Proprietor, if you have anything to say, say it to me, Da Qiangzi will definitely take it."

After saying this, he began to kowtow, saying: "Please forgive my brothers."

"Forgive?"

Li Li Xuewu looked at Da Da Qiangzi on the ground, then looked at the few people standing to the side with dissatisfied faces, and said: "I don't even know them, so how can I forgive them?"

After saying this, his hand was lowered, but he still asked: "Who are they?"

Da Da Qiangzi didn't dare to plead anymore, and didn't dare to lift the head he had kowtowed to the ground, just lying there.

"They say there are many bandits in poor mountains and treacherous waters; I didn't believe it, how did they become bandits?"

Li Li Xuewu looked at Ding Ding Wanqiu, who was keeping his head down and silent, and asked gloomily: "I didn't arrange for young people to go to the capital to train and learn?"

"Didn't I provide jobs for young people who want to make money to support their families?"

"The mountains lack oil and grain, and there are orphans and widows; didn't I tell you to send the life-saving grain?"

"Huh? Where did these bandits come from!"

"Mr. Ding."

Li Li Xuewu stared at Ding Ding Wanqiu and asked gloomily: "I just asked you a question, keep going!"

Ding Ding Wanqiu's forehead veins jumped, and he opened his mouth: "Proprietor, you are also well-read; haven't you heard the story of Mr. Dongguo and the wolf?"

"I am guilty, my eyes were blind, things went wrong; if you want to hit or scold, I, Old Ding, will take it."

As he spoke, he looked at Xilin on the kang and said: "The knife the girl received, I admit it; you can stab me."

"No need to be hypocritical, what bandits, wolves, and pointing at the mulberry to curse the locust tree."

At this time, a voice came from the few people at the door: "If you want to do something, just say it; stop talking nonsense with us here."

"Exactly, the person was stabbed by our brothers, Third Brother has already said the polite words, no need to be soft with Da Qiang Ge."

Someone looked at Da Da Qiangzi and said: "Even if the Proprietor didn't say we needed to kneel to do thief business, Da Qiang Ge, you went out, why are your knees so soft?"

"If we had known it would be like this, I wouldn't have agreed to work for some Proprietor; we didn't get anything else, but we had to kowtow first."

One person started, another followed; the third person looked at Third Brother and said: "Exactly! Third Brother, look at this guy, he's not suitable for us to keep anymore; let's go, don't delay other people's business."

The Third Brother who took the lead glanced at Da Da Qiangzi, looked at Li Li Xuewu, bowed again, and turned to leave.

With him leaving like this, Da Da Qiangzi was directly stunned.

He hadn't expected that he had risked his life to protect them, only to end up stuck here himself.

To say these people hadn't seen the world and didn't know the dangers outside, they had been mixing in Jicheng for so many years, so how could they have no eye for things?

Especially since he had knelt and kowtowed, they didn't know what was good for them!

Maybe they didn't know, but were pretending not to know.

Da Da Qiangzi looked at Li Li Xuewu with a pale face; at this moment, he discovered that Li Li Xuewu's anger was gone.

This wasn't a good thing; was the person in front of him a pushover?

"Xilin."

Li Li Xuewu pursed his lips, then patted Xilin on the shoulder, and said with emotion: "Kindness is for friends; facing wolves, one can only use a hunting rifle."

"Pazile used his family's lives to interpret this truth; why don't you understand yet?"

After saying this, he looked at Ding Ding Wanqiu and Da Da Qiangzi, and said: "I have an appointment with the Forestry leaders tomorrow to take you to meet them; from now on, you will do business in the sunlight."

"My time is very tight; I have to rush back tomorrow afternoon to report on the work here."

"So there's no need to drag this matter until the sun rises."

Li Li Xuewu's voice was very gentle and casual, but the words he said made Da Da Qiangzi's heart turn cold to the soles of his feet.

He couldn't hold on anymore and sat on the ground, his limbs ice-cold, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

It was over; the delaying tactic he had spent a long time thinking about on the train had declared bankruptcy, and the Proprietor was going to take action.

"That's fine; accompany Mr. Ding and go do things with Seeing Gelin, keep it clean, don't cause trouble for my Second Uncle."

After finishing with Ding Ding Wanqiu, he looked at Da Da Qiangzi: "I asked someone to help you ask about Nurse Yu's matter; their requirements aren't high, so why are you dragging out the marriage?"

"There's a house allocated by the unit, a bicycle, and two watches to set the date."

Li Li Xuewu's voice was like a devil from outside the world drilling into Da Da Qiangzi's ears; he stared blankly at Li Li Xuewu, unable to say a word.

"Don't worry about the house; I've already arranged it for you."

"The watches were arranged by Third Uncle; I specifically brought them for you from the capital."

"Plum Blossom brand, a pair, especially beautiful."