Chapter 861: Are you slapping faces?

"Director Sha, is my second brother in?"

"Oh, it's Li Xue."

Sha Qizhi was looking down at some documents and didn't pay much attention when he heard footsteps enter the office, only looking up once he realized it was Li Xue's voice.

"The leader is at home; why didn't you go directly there?"

Yesterday, the organizational structure underwent a major adjustment, and the Security Division was upgraded to the Security Group.

While Sha Qizhi's status as Deputy Director of the Comprehensive Office remained unchanged, his office location had changed.

There was a small room opposite Li Xuewu's office, originally the materials room for the large office, which had now been converted into his exclusive office.

Why couldn't Sha Qizhi have his own office before, even though that small office was clearly prepared for the leader's secretary, and only now was it being put to use?

Was Sha Qizhi's rank insufficient?

No, that wasn't it; he hadn't advanced beyond his recently promoted deputy section-level rank, but Li Xuewu's status had advanced.

What limited Sha Qizhi from having a small office wasn't himself, but Li Xuewu.

Previously, Li Xuewu was only a deputy division-level cadre, and he couldn't be assigned a secretary while fully responsible for the management of the Security Division.

Sha Qizhi existed in the capacity of Li Xuewu's clerk.

Although he was doing the work of a secretary, his status was still different from that of the secretaries to the factory leaders.

Generally speaking, the secretary to a primary factory leader would hold a primary or deputy position in a factory office section, and the secretary to a deputy factory leader would hold a deputy position or a deputy section chief rank in a factory office section.

Of course, there were exceptions, such as Li Xue, who came to find Li Xuewu; she had just joined the factory, her own rank was insufficient, and no matter what she was attached to, she couldn't move up, so she could only be a staff member.

But even as a staff member, she was a staff member of the factory office, which had much more room for development than a staff member of a division's comprehensive office.

This is the unspoken rule and ceiling of government units; what limits young people, or rather, what limits an office clerk, is never themselves, but more often external factors.

Li Xuewu previously served as Deputy Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission in the Party Committee; logically speaking, Sha Qizhi could have vacated that office.

However, Li Xuewu had always maintained a "scumbag" mentality of neither acknowledging, nor initiating, nor refusing his status as Deputy Secretary, which made Sha Qizhi afraid to be too high-profile.

So can he be high-profile now?

Not exactly; the reason still lies with Li Xuewu.

The rank and status of the Security Group are much higher than those of the Security Division, and the status and position of the person in charge of the Security Group have been significantly improved compared to the person in charge of the Security Division.

Let's put it this way: Li Xuewu was previously the person in charge of the Security Division, and now he is the person in charge of the Security Division and the Discipline Inspection Commission.

And it's the kind without a secretary, without a Party Committee, and without the organizational restrictions of a division; you understand now, right?

As impressive as Li Huai is now, the group leaders are just as formidable.

Without the supervisory agency, without the Party Committee's Organization Department for personnel supervision, and without the constraints of organizational supervision departments, the exercise of power is like a wild dog off the leash.

Starting yesterday, the Security Building began accepting and coordinating the staff from the original Discipline Inspection Commission to work there, and Sun Jian was so busy he couldn't even touch the ground.

Seven people were stuffed into the large office, so it was no longer appropriate for Sha Qizhi to work there.

There wasn't enough space, and Li Xuewu had many matters to attend to; if he were busy, it would affect others and delay his own work.

Especially since Li Xuewu's authority had increased, the number of people coming to report work would gradually increase.

When that time came, how could Sha Qizhi help the leader alleviate the pressure of reporting work without his own office?

Therefore, Sha Qizhi moved here, and there was also a rule that people coming to report work had to ask at his office first.

It was also starting today that the door to Li Xuewu's office here would often be in a closed state.

With the change in status, the problems to be dealt with also had to change; previously, section-level cadres could directly talk to him to report work, but starting today, that wouldn't work.

Primary section chiefs, or deputy section-level heads of major departments, would not easily see Li Xuewu, except for important work and reports proactively arranged by Sha Qizhi.

It wasn't that he became arrogant because his status was higher, but that there was more important work, and the energy focused on small matters had to be reduced.

If he had to do everything himself, splitting him into eight pieces wouldn't be enough.

Now, besides him, the Security Group had two deputy group leaders; if he didn't use them, was he supposed to leave them to read newspapers and drink tea?

Li Xuewu had no excessive greed or stubbornness regarding power; what should be delegated should be delegated.

Once power is delegated, responsibility is also delegated, and the people below will have their own accountability.

If you hold everything in your hands, when something goes wrong, it's also in your hands.

Today was Li Xuewu's first day officially serving as Deputy Director of the Steel Rolling Factory Management Committee Office and First Deputy Group Leader of the Security Group.

However, there weren't many people coming to report work and ask for instructions, precisely because of this principle.

Sun Jian had already received Li Xuewu's requirements: requests and work reports were to be distributed and handled according to the urgency and characteristics of the situation.

What should be reported to Deputy Group Leader Xiao shouldn't be brought to him, and what should be reported to Deputy Group Leader Chu shouldn't be brought to Deputy Group Leader Xiao.

The Security Division's office system had always been very strict, and what Li Xuewu emphasized, no one dared to defy.

Li Xue let Sha Qizhi help knock open the office door, and when she saw her second brother in the room, she suddenly felt a sense of strangeness.

Was this still her second brother?

Along the wall, two more filing cabinets had been added, the desk had been replaced with a larger executive desk, the sofa in the room had also been replaced with leather, and even the desk lamp and telephone on the table were different from the ones they used.

"Why did you come?"

Li Xuewu was looking at documents, and when he looked up and discovered it was his younger sister, he asked with a smile before lowering his head again.

The exhibition documents for the Yangcheng Exhibition had arrived, and he had to hurry to finish reading them to make arrangements for the next step.

"Thank you."

Li Xue thanked Sha Qizhi, walked in front of Li Xuewu's desk with her hands behind her back in a somewhat spoiled manner, and pouted, "Can't I come?"

Sha Qizhi poured a cup of hot water for Li Xue at the tea cabinet, placed it on the table, greeted her with a smile, and went out.

This young girl hadn't been in the factory for long, but her wits were just like Li Xuewu's.

When she went to find him just now, she didn't ask about Li Xuewu's position, only calling him "second brother."

Now, in front of him, she was acting like this again, so he knew she wasn't here for official business.

Since it wasn't official business, there was no need for him, the secretary, to stay here.

How many good deeds had the Li family ancestors done to make the descendants so clever, one after another?

Not to mention Li Xuewu's achievements, just Li Xue, who was a secretary for Jing Yunong, had surprised many people in the government office.

Earlier, when Jing Yunong chose Li Xue as her secretary, everyone thought Deputy Factory Director Jing was trying to ease relations with Li Xuewu.

Later, it was proven that the relationship had indeed eased, and now it seemed they had even started cooperating.

Had Li Xue played an important role in that?

That was something they really hadn't seen, especially since Jing Yunong hadn't taken her along when she went on business trips.

Was the cooperation achieved, the relationship established, and now it was time for this little secretary to be "laid off"?

That wasn't the case; Jing Yunong seemed to have developed a penchant for teaching, and one could see her teaching Li Xue how to conduct herself and handle matters both in front of and behind people's backs.

What was this situation?

It was Li Xuewu's sister!

Her starting point was already very high, and now she was being personally mentored by a deputy factory director and deputy director!

What are you all trying to do!

Are you trying to work us to death!

Having an older brother to protect her was one thing, but now having a big shot leading the way, would this little girl be able to be a primary leader by the age of thirty!

Li Xue didn't have the awareness of being a primary leader yet; she stood by the desk, looked at the documents in her second brother's hands, and asked, "Are you going on a business trip again?"

"Mm, Yangcheng."

Li Xuewu flipped through the documents and asked, "Something up? Or do you want to tag along and play?"

"I'm not going~"

Li Xue walked behind Li Xuewu's chair, reached out to knead Li Xuewu's shoulders, and hummed, "I still remember when I went to Third Uncle's house when I was little, I was exhausted from the train ride!"

"Wait a second~"

Li Xuewu shrugged his shoulders, tilted his head to look at Li Xue behind him, and asked suspiciously, "What are you trying to do?"

"What do you mean what am I trying to do?"

Li Xue said with a very serious face, "I just want to help you knead your shoulders~"

"Stop messing around~"

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "When have I ever enjoyed this kind of treatment? If you have something to say, say it; don't mess around~"

"Hee hee~ Second brother understands me after all~"

Li Xue giggled, wrapped her arms around Li Xuewu's neck from behind, leaned on his back, and whispered, "I want to change positions."

"Oh?"

Li Xuewu shrugged his shoulders, signaling for his sister to turn around and talk, but Li Xue hugged his neck tightly and wouldn't let go, meaning if you don't agree, I'm not getting down.

He had no choice but to ask, "Why?"

"No reason, I just want to change positions."

Li Xue shook her second brother's shoulders in a spoiled manner and pouted, "I've already stayed in the office, it's fine to go to another position~"

"Well, there has to be a reason~"

Li Xuewu asked, mimicking her tone, "Are you unhappy by Deputy Director Jing's side? Or did someone say something?"

"Or did you get restless, standing on one mountain and looking at another?"

"No~"

Li Xue's thoughts were exposed by her second brother, her tone instantly dropped, and she leaned on Li Xuewu's shoulder without speaking.

Li Xuewu smiled, guessing the reason for his sister's behavior.

"When I let you participate in work, I told you that I would have an influence on you."

"I know~"

Li Xue's voice was soft, like a child who had been wronged, looking for comfort from her brother.

"So, are you going to shrink back when you encounter some setbacks?"

Li Xuewu patted his sister's little hand resting on his shoulder and comforted her, "My sister isn't someone who gives up so easily."

"Mm~~~"

Li Xue made a light hum with her nose, expressing her dissatisfaction and pride toward her second brother.

And leaning on her second brother's shoulder, she seemed to have found a backer, pouring out her troubles.

She was young after all, small in age, troubled by the voices of the outside world; she could ignore one or two people, she could endure ten or twenty people, but now the people in the government office...

Li Xuewu listened to her dissatisfied complaints, which sounded like she was snitching, and her spoiled grumbling, and responded with a smile.

"Should I call someone to help you take revenge?"

"How to take revenge?"

Li Xue looked at her second brother's profile, not quite believing it in her heart, but thinking of her second brother standing up for her, she felt a bit excited.

"Of course, tit for tat!"

Li Xuewu pretended to be serious, turned his head back, looked at his sister, and said, "I'll take the people from the Security Group to your office to criticize them too!"

"Second brother! ~"

Li Xue saw that her second brother was actually doing "tit for tat" like this, knew he was teasing her, couldn't help but punch her second brother, and pouted, "What is this~"

"Hahaha~"

Li Xuewu smiled, took his sister's hand, let her stand by his side, and comforted her, "The best way to deal with rumors is to do it, and say it back."

"You haven't done it yet, and you haven't said it back, so people all think you're afraid."

Li Xuewu looked at his sister and asked half-seriously, "Are you afraid? Are you afraid of putting in the hard work to do it, afraid of bravely saying it back?"

Li Xue somewhat understood her second brother's words; she stood there with her head down, pursing her little mouth, and defended herself somewhat aggrievedly, "They all say..."

"Then deal with them one by one."

Li Xuewu replied very domineeringly, "First, do everything you should do, and then confront them face to face."

"You just have to have the determination to fight if you're not convinced!"

"What are you afraid of!"

"You are my sister!"

"If civil means don't work, at worst we'll resort to force! Right?!"

"Second brother~!"

Li Xue couldn't help but smile and pout, "I didn't say I wanted to act recklessly!"

"It's fine! Second brother isn't afraid of that!"

Li Xuewu smiled, tugged his sister's hand, and said, "You give them the civil treatment first, and second brother will give them the martial treatment!"

"I don't want that~!"

Li Xue smiled, somewhat proud of being spoiled, and said, "Mom says you act too domineering, making people afraid."

"Mom is listening to slander!"

Li Xuewu said stubbornly, "Look at how gentle your second brother is in the factory; others might not know, but don't you know!"

Li Xue pursed her lips and said with a smile, "Third Uncle came home crying, saying you were tripping him up, not letting his Yan Jiefang take over his job."

"Mom told me to tell you, don't lower yourself to his level, it's beneath you."

"He went to the house to make a scene?"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "I didn't hinder their family's Yan Jiefang from taking over his job; what does this have to do with me!"

"Alright~ Second brother!"

Li Xue had an expression of "I've seen right through you" and said, "You're even lying to your sister!"

Li Xuewu was suddenly speechless, looked at Li Xue, and asked, "What else did he say to Mom?"

"Just about you playing dirty."

Li Xue said indifferently, "He didn't just tell our Mom, he told everyone in the courtyard, talking about you behind your back."

"Is that so~"

Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Then I have to repay him well, helping me make a name for myself."

"Mom said not to let you do that."

Li Xue twitched the corner of her mouth and said, "He's just that kind of person, it's not worth getting angry and annoyed."

"Do you think I have time to bother with him?"

Li Xuewu said amusingly, "Do you really think if I don't speak, he can arrange for Yan Jiefang to take over his job?"

"By then, not only will Yan Jiefang not be able to take over, but Ge Shuqin won't be able to either."

"Wait for Yan Jiecheng's child to take over?"

Li Xuewu sneered, "The day lilies will have wilted by then; who will still remember this matter."

"Then why do you want to help Ge Shuqin?"

Li Xue asked suspiciously, "You're not familiar with her, and she didn't come to beg you."

"Of course I'm not familiar with her, and she didn't beg me, but Yan Jiecheng is a person from the Security Division."

Li Xuewu turned his body, looked at his sister, and explained, "When doing work and making decisions, you have to consider problems from multiple aspects."

"First, set aside personal relationships; Yan Jiecheng is a person from the Security Division and was once my driver. Since the problem has been transferred to me, naturally I have to speak up for him."

"This is called impartiality."

"Let's talk about personal relationships."

Li Xuewu explained to his sister, "Standing from the perspective of a neighbor in the same courtyard, when you can't avoid these problems in their family, shouldn't you prioritize the weak and kinship?"

"Ge Shuqin has no job herself and is raising a child. If more problems arise in the Yan family, as Yan Jiecheng's widow and child, how should they survive?"

"This is called fairness."

Li Xuewu used this matter to teach his sister: "In the future, when you do things and make decisions that concern people's interests, you must pay attention. Don't worry about what others say; you must insist on being impartial and fair."

"Otherwise?"

Li Xuewu tapped the back of Li Xue's hand and said, "If you do whatever he says, and something happens later, what will you do if the Yan family doesn't care about them?"

"By then, what can the Steel Rolling Factory do, and what can I, as the person in charge of distributing resources, do?"

"This is called having no regrets."

Li Xue frowned slightly, thought about her second brother's words, and asked, "Like Mom said, is it not okay to ignore their business?"

"Sometimes when things come to you, you can't hide, just like this matter."

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "The consultation letter transferred from the Personnel Department asked me directly because Yan Jiecheng had driven for me."

"If I ignore this matter, or act as if I didn't see it, how do you think the people in the Personnel Department will view me? And what will the people in the Security Division think of me?"

"Let me add one more point."

Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes and asked, "Think about it, even if I helped Third Uncle get Yan Jiefang to take over the job, would he thank me?"

"Mm..."

Li Xue nodded hesitantly, seeming to understand some principles.

"Let's go back to your matter."

Li Xuewu looked at his sister and said, "Have you dealt with the current criticism fairly, impartially, and without regrets?"

Li Xue shook her head slightly, admitting that she wasn't as open and aboveboard as her second brother had described.

"Right? What we're doing still isn't enough."

Li Xuewu patted Li Xue's hand and comforted her, "You must have a fair and impartial heart, and also have the courage to have no regrets."

"Your current position is very good and can really temper a person. They are jealous of you and mock you precisely because they don't have the ability to reach this step, nor the courage to do so."

"Don't talk about changing positions again, okay? How sad would Deputy Director Jing be if she knew."

"Mm."

Li Xue nodded obediently, having taken her second brother's words to heart.

Just as they were talking, Sun Jian walked in with Xu Shibiao, the head of the factory office's vehicle fleet.

Seeing Li Xue standing by Li Xuewu's side like a little bird, they were almost startled, thinking they had stumbled upon something.

Upon confirming it was Li Xue, both of them laughed.

Li Xue felt somewhat embarrassed by the two of them, greeted them, and ran away.

Xu Shibiao's gaze followed Li Xue as she left before retracting it; he praised Li Xue to Li Xuewu, but in his heart, he couldn't help but feel envious.

If he had had such a connection as a backer back then, he would at least be a primary division-level cadre by now.

Just this little girl, who knows how many people in the office envied her.

Of course, he had also heard some rumors, mainly about her role between Deputy Factory Director Jing and Li Xuewu.

Wasn't it just relying on connections to get ahead? He felt very unfair for those people.

Naturally, he also felt it was unfair, but he wouldn't say it out loud, and he wouldn't feel there was anything wrong with it.

Because this world is inherently unfair; "Are kings and nobles born with high status?" is only suitable for shouting in turbulent times.

Look at it now; it's only been a few years, and if a brat doesn't have a background, can they run wild on the street?

Don't say anything; jealousy and envy only show that their status isn't high enough, and they haven't suffered enough through the years.

By the time they reach his age, they'll see everything clearly.

Li Xuewu wasn't very familiar with Xu Shibiao; matters of the vehicle fleet were handled by Sha Qizhi and Xu Sinian, and they would arrange things.

Seeing him come now, he stood up somewhat surprised and shook hands with him.

Xu Shibiao, having received a handshake from Li Xuewu, excitedly stated his purpose: "Leader, Director Li has issued a work notice to us, wanting to solve the vehicle usage problem for our factory leaders."

"Oh, that's a good thing."

Li Xuewu smiled and gestured for him to sit opposite.

Xu Shibiao was very satisfied just to get a handshake from Li Xuewu; how could he dare to sit down and report work here?

"The leader's meaning is to solve the vehicle usage problem for sedans uniformly. I came over just to seek your opinion on what model you want."

"Do I have one too?"

"That doesn't seem quite right."

Li Xuewu looked at Xu Shibiao and said, "Isn't it to solve vehicle usage for factory leaders?"

"That... you are on the list for vehicle usage."

Xu Shibiao appeared somewhat uneasy and embarrassed under Li Xuewu's questioning, and for a moment, he really couldn't think of how to answer this question.

Everyone knew about Li Xuewu's rank, and everyone knew he wasn't a factory leader now, but who dared to say Li Xuewu wasn't a factory leader?

Go ask those primary group heads; who dared to say Li Xuewu was a level lower than them, and who dared to say they could lead Li Xuewu?

If Li Xuewu didn't change his car, they wouldn't have the confidence to change theirs either.

Therefore, Xu Shibiao very cunningly came to Li Xuewu's side first to inquire; if Li Xuewu agreed to change his car, then it would be convenient for others to change theirs.

But was changing a car really that simple?

Li Xuewu didn't think his rank had reached the point of riding in a sedan, especially during this period.

Xu Shibiao said Li Huai was the one who made the decision to change cars; this might be true, but it didn't necessarily mention him.

And he didn't know whose hand the so-called list came from; how could Li Xuewu take the blame for this?

The issue of benefits had always been a particularly sensitive topic in government units; people live for face, and trees live for bark.

He has it, I don't; why?

Li Xuewu didn't want to know if other deputy group leaders had changed to large sedans; asking would be a trap, so he simply refused.

Of course, since Xu Shibiao had come, he had to give him a legitimate reason.

"My situation is somewhat special."

Li Xuewu looked at Xu Shibiao and said, "I have to go out of the city often and go to the mountains, so a sedan is inconvenient."

"Also."

When Xu Shibiao wanted to persuade him further, Li Xuewu continued, "The car I'm using now has been filed with the Garrison District, and the radio on the car is convenient for my work."

"This..."

Xu Shibiao hesitated, not knowing how to continue persuading him.

The reason Li Xuewu gave was very formal and very clear; this was a work necessity and had nothing to do with personal wishes.

It was precisely because of this kind of reason that he couldn't speak.

"Let's leave it at that."

Li Xuewu ended the topic with one sentence, not giving him another chance to persuade him.

Sun Jian sent Xu Shibiao out, and when he returned, he reported to Li Xuewu in a low voice, "I also feel that this matter is somewhat wrong."

"Mm."

Li Xuewu just responded softly and didn't say anything.

Now that Sun Jian was leaning toward him, what he was thinking was nothing more than that Yang Fengshan had gone down, and his position in the Security Division had become awkward.

Especially now that the Security Group had been established, power was concentrated in Li Xuewu's hands.

If Li Xuewu was dissatisfied with him, then replacing him was only a matter of time.

This kind of power-concentrated system was too terrifying, and the execution was too high; one department was decided by the group leader himself, so who dared to challenge his authority?

At least the current Sun Jian was terrified, eager to express his intention to lean toward the organization, not hesitating to show a fawning expression.

Li Xuewu had no opinion on this kind of flattery, but he had no preference either; he only valued results.

Even if Sun Jian was like this every day, to the point where he felt disgusted himself, he wouldn't care as long as he could do the work well.

Sun Jian saw that Li Xuewu had no reaction and spoke again, "The vehicle usage issue was proposed by Deputy Director Cheng; I'm not very clear about who is specifically responsible for coordinating it."

Li Xuewu looked up at him, didn't speak, but his eyes carried a questioning look.

Sun Jian's gaze tightened, he immediately stood up straight, and said, "I'll go find out."

As he spoke, he had already turned and walked out, looking like he was determined to get this matter done well.

Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes; initially, he hadn't paid attention to the intention of Xu Shibiao coming here to inquire, but hearing Sun Jian say he didn't know who was coordinating it, he immediately became alert.

Cheng Kaiyuan proposing the car change wasn't anything, but why did the person responsible for the specific affairs have to hide?

If you say there's nothing fishy, only a ghost would believe it.

Tapping Sun Jian was just a casual act; for such a sensitive matter, he had already discovered something was wrong, yet he didn't go to find out, instead pulling strings with him here!

The way to make a horse run is to give it a whip, making it understand the principle of self-awareness.

"Leader, you called me."

Sha Qizhi walked in from outside the door, and seeing Li Xuewu was thinking, he couldn't help but ask.

Li Xuewu looked at him and nodded, "Regarding the Yangcheng Exhibition, I'll state a few points; you go coordinate with the relevant departments."

Now the Steel Rolling Factory's government office was moving, and it was chaotic; even if Li Xuewu wanted to call people for a meeting, he wouldn't know who to look for.

And the exhibition matter was a key point that Li Huai was particularly concerned about, so it couldn't be delayed.

Yesterday, the qualification documents for the exhibition were issued, and this morning the invitation letter and exhibition materials arrived.

After Li Xuewu read them, comparing them to the pre-prepared plan, he already had a rough arrangement in his heart.

Participating in the exhibition wasn't free; when you had sufficient qualification, you also had to pay 1% of the transaction amount as a handling fee.

This handling fee was used for the expenses required for hosting the Yangcheng Exhibition Trade Exchange, as well as the expansion and construction expenses for the Export Commodity Exhibition Hall, and annual expenses.

Don't think that 1% fee isn't much in this era, and don't think that the participating units won't sell much.

According to the transaction amount of last year's exhibition, one exhibition meeting could harvest a gross profit of over 7.5 million US dollars.

Is the country short of money?

No, it's not short of money; the country's economic system can't be measured by how much money there is, but by the gross national product.

Zimbabwe has a lot of money, but what's the use? It's too hard even for wiping your butt.

People's growing material needs are the most important development contradiction at present.

When the freedom to buy bicycles is realized, that will be when money becomes a problem.

Even buying non-staple food requires coupons; what's the use of having more money?

Of course, it's useless for ordinary people, but it's useful for factories.

After all, coupons limit what ordinary people can buy, while money represents the factory's production capacity.

Li Xuewu calculated the exhibition fees to be paid in his heart; naturally, the more, the better.

The more paid, the more it represents the total value of the goods traded this time; the orders the Steel Rolling Factory can obtain outside the planned production are all their own earnings.

The more paid, the more it represents the success of the Steel Rolling Factory's transformation, and the greater the influence, which is beneficial for future participation and work.

Therefore, he wasn't afraid of spending money, and the arrangements he gave Sha Qizhi were also bold enough to spend big money.

The number of staff going to participate in the exhibition this time would be at least several dozen, and if the project preparation team that had been prepared long ago was added, it would definitely exceed a hundred.

Li Xuewu waved his hand and required the Logistics Group to prepare a full set of work uniforms for the exhibition participants this time.

Including administrative suits, performance costumes, and suits to be used on special occasions.

In the customization of work uniforms, they had to be equipped with badges containing Steel Rolling Factory elements, and there had to be leather shoes, belts, and leather bags.

Men had to wear short-sleeved white shirts, and women had to wear knee-length skirts.

The chest had to be marked with the Steel Rolling Factory logo, and business cards had to be printed for the participating staff.

The project preparation team had already set off for Yangcheng today to make preparations; they had to familiarize themselves with the venue and arrange accommodation and all logistics work.

The leading cadre was Gou Zirong, who had rich experience in project preparation work.

Having achieved results in Jinmen, Li Xuewu thought very highly of him.

At the same time, Li Xuewu also required Sha Qizhi to notify the Steel City Trade Fleet that they could set off; from the Steel City cargo terminal to Yangcheng Port, compared to the Beijing exhibition team, who knew who would arrive first?

Just as Li Xuewu finished his arrangements, the telephone on the table rang.

After answering, he knew it was Li Huai calling to inquire about the candidate for the Director of the Economic and Trade Office Management Center.

At the meeting, Li Xuewu had already pointed out Cen Fuyao's name, and Li Huai was calling now to ask for his exact intention.

If the reason was sufficient, then Cen Fuyao would take office and open up new territory.

"Regarding the recommendation of Deputy Director Cen for this position, I have the following points of consideration."

Li Xuewu held the phone and said, "First, Deputy Director Cen's qualifications and age are sufficient to shoulder heavy responsibilities; Steel City should currently focus on stability."

"Second, Cen Fuyao has been in the Logistics Division for many years, possesses the ability to coordinate overall planning, and has excellent experience in coordinating various departments, making it convenient to handle management difficulties at the production base."

"Finally, the current organizational structure of the Steel Mill is incomplete, and the political ecology lacks confidence; I still suggest appointing a cadre with rich organizational experience to take office."

Sha Qizhi stood by and listened to Li Xuewu talking on the phone; he could probably understand these three points.

It was about the situation of Cen Fuyao, the former Deputy Director of the Logistics Division, going to Steel City to take office.

In the adjustment of the Steel Rolling Factory's organizational structure, Cen Fuyao was proposed to serve as the Director of the Steel City Production Base Management Center of the Economic and Trade Office.

However, this was only a position in the Economic and Trade Office, a task assigned to him by the Steel Rolling Factory, not specific work.

For Cen Fuyao to achieve something, he needed to have a certain right to speak in the Steel Mill and the production base.

Now Li Huai was calling to ask about the arrangements for this step.

Li Xuewu mentioned three points on the phone, clearly pointing out that some people in the Steel Mill were not trustworthy, or rather, that Dong Wenxue needed his support.

Li Huai didn't need a translator; he could understand the subtext of Li Xuewu's words.

"Tell me, what arrangement is appropriate?"

"My opinion is to arrange for Comrade Cen Fuyao to simultaneously serve as Deputy Director of the Steel Mill Management Committee, in charge of logistics and safety production."

As soon as Li Xuewu finished speaking, Sha Qizhi, who was standing by, raised his eyebrows.

Wasn't Deputy Factory Director Yang Zongfang the one in charge of this work in the Steel Mill now?

If it were arranged this way, wouldn't that mean...

Of course, Sha Qizhi wasn't someone with blocked eyes and ears; when the leaders went to Steel City a few days ago, he also saw some clues.

The Steel Mill's leadership team wasn't united and had cracks, which made Li Xuewu very unhappy.

This attitude directly determined the subsequent cadre adjustments and division of labor arrangements.

There was no need to wait for the next month; it hadn't even been two weeks, and look, the arrangement was coming.

Yang Zongfang was relieved of the power of Deputy Factory Director, and if he lost the work he was in charge of, he could just wait for Dong Wenxue to reassign his work next.

Transferring a cadre over and taking one down was the General Factory's thunderous means for branch factory cadres who didn't listen.

Especially since Yang Zongfang's attitude on the issue of taking sides was extremely willful, Li Huai had a very bad impression of him.

Although Li Xuewu was suppressing his anger, he was also impatient with his non-cooperation.

Both of them were in the Steel Rolling Factory, so naturally, it was impossible to bypass Dong Wenxue and take ruthless action against Yang Zongfang directly.

But in organizational work, Li Xuewu could make Yang Zongfang's previous efforts go to waste with one move.

Yang Zongfang's going to the Steel Mill was supported by Li Xuewu; at that time, the two were still in a very good personal relationship.

However, Yang Zongfang's approach to the Dong Wenxue matter made Li Xuewu alert, and even disgusted with him.

An ungrateful white-eyed wolf; what's the use of keeping him?

Letting Cen Fuyao hold the position of Director of the Production Base Management Center and concurrently serve as Deputy Director of the Steel Mill Management Committee, in charge of logistics and safety, was to sound an alarm for the cadres of the Steel Mill.

There was actually another reason for sending Cen Fuyao out that Li Xuewu didn't mention, and that was that Li Huai intended for Cen Fuyao to serve in the Steel Mill.

Back when Zhang Guoqi had an accident and the Logistics Division needed someone to fill the position, he wanted to arrange for Cen Fuyao to move up.

In the end, it didn't happen because the Secretary's side influenced it.

This time, with the major adjustment of the organizational structure, Cen Fuyao was adjusted to the Economic and Trade Office by Li Huai, and the intention was already very obvious.

Combining the three industries in Beijing, under Li Huai's nose, it was appropriate to use Yu De.

And Steel City was far away, so naturally, it was appropriate to use Li Huai's people.

Li Huai calling this phone was asking for Li Xuewu's opinion, and also probing Li Xuewu's attitude; further, there was Dong Wenxue's attitude.

He now needed Li Xuewu's support and Dong Wenxue's help; considering all parties, he had to give a proper arrangement.

Perhaps the entanglement of several parties had left him exhausted, and his attitude had softened to a certain extent.

It was just a position of Deputy Director, yet he had to probe Dong Wenxue and Li Xuewu's attitudes; it could be seen that his position now wasn't easy to sit in.

Hey! What do you call it when good things don't work but bad things do!

Li Huai's handling of the relationships between all parties really did fulfill Li Xuewu's words.

After lunch in the afternoon, before it was even time for work, Li Haiyang made the call.

He didn't say what it was for on the phone, just asked Li Xuewu to go over.

Li Xuewu asked if it was a leader summoning him, and Li Haiyang hesitated without giving a definite answer.

He was pondering what had happened, thinking that Li Haiyang wouldn't dare to joke with him, so he went to the main office building.

Just as he went up to the third floor, before he even reached Li Huai's office, he heard the news.

Li Huai had been hit!

And it was in the third-floor corridor, slapped in the face in front of many people.

Li Xuewu inquired and found out that the person who did it was named Nie Xiaoguang, a high school student.

Why did a high school student come to the Steel Rolling Factory to block the corridor and slap Li Huai?

Because Nie Xiaoguang's father was named Nie Chenglin, which was Deputy Factory Director Nie's own son.

Good heavens, his own father was suspended for investigation, and his own son immediately came to take revenge.

Li Xuewu frowned as he entered Li Huai's office and discovered that there was indeed a slap mark on his face, which showed that this slap was really solid.

Li Huai's attitude was still normal; he didn't get angry, and even less did he get furious.

Seeing Li Xuewu enter, he just waved his hand, gestured toward the young man being held down by the sofa, and let Li Xuewu take the person away.

Li Xuewu followed his gesture and looked at the young man sitting on the sofa.

A crew cut, a square face, full of disdain and mockery, with fuzz growing on his lips, looking like a "second-rate" youth.

Li Xuewu already knew his identity and understood his motive for slapping Li Huai.

Of course, this slap by Nie Xiaoguang didn't just hit Li Huai's face, but also Li Xuewu's butt.

Li Huai was hit, didn't that affect the work of Li Xuewu, the First Deputy Group Leader of the Security Group? If it wasn't his butt, what was it?

Someone could commit violence in the main office building, which showed that the Security Group's work hadn't been done well, and showed that Li Xuewu, the person in charge, was negligent and had responsibility.

Although Li Huai wasn't angry, he didn't express his stance either.

At this time, it was better for him not to express his stance; getting angry would only make him lose face and value.

There was no need to do this with a child, and a competitor's child at that.

Of course, this slap Li Huai took definitely wasn't a loss; at least from this moment on, no one in the Steel Rolling Factory would say anything about him anymore.

Just this magnanimity was enough to make everyone who attacked his private morality shut their mouths.

As for why he let Li Xuewu come to take the person and handle it, instead of calling Nie Chenglin directly, there were too many nuances in this.

Li Xuewu nodded and gestured to the two people holding Nie Xiaoguang's shoulders by the sofa.

Those two looked at Li Huai and both let go of their hands.

Nie Xiaoguang was quite arrogant; he tilted his chin, moved his shoulders, and looked at Li Xuewu provocatively.

Li Xuewu looked at this "second-rate" youth amusingly, raised his eyebrows, and asked, "Do you want me to put handcuffs on you?"

"One person does the work, one person takes the responsibility!"

Nie Xiaoguang was like a street hooligan, sitting there looking at Li Xuewu arrogantly and saying, "I hit the person; if you have the guts, come at me!" ===== CHAPTER 862 =====