Chapter 868: Impressions of Yangcheng

"Clack—clack—"

"Creak—creak—"

The sound of the train colliding with the tracks effectively masked other sounds, both present and absent.

Only after Lou Jie clearly understood the strength of the man behind her was she allowed to rest.

Afterward, curled up in Li Xuewu's arms, she cherished every last day; she did not ask for eternity, only wanting to preserve the beautiful memories of their final intimacy.

The bed was called a small double bed, but it wasn't very spacious, especially since Li Xuewu was tall and broad-shouldered, which gave Lou Jie the perfect opportunity to get close to him.

Snuggled tightly against him, just like back at the Haizi Courtyard, the two of them slept in the same quilt until they woke up naturally.

Waking up naturally was impossible; they were attached to a passenger train, stopping at stations along the way.

At 1:40 AM, the train stopped at Changzhou Station for ten minutes, and the commotion on the platform woke them both up.

Lou Jie, having already slept, found it hard to fall back asleep. Watching Li Xuewu, who had drunk some warm water and laid back down, about to start snoring, she reached for his pistol in retaliation.

"What are you doing?! A sneak attack!"

"I can't sleep anyway..."

"..."

Li Xuewu looked speechlessly at Lou Jie, who was "ready for action again," and yawned, saying, "I can sleep."

"What does that have to do with me~"

Lou Jie rolled her eyes and said, "If you're capable, then sleep!"

"Fine, fine, fine! You said it!"

"Don't regret it!"

Li Xuewu's temper flared as well. He pointed outside and said, "Do you know where this is?! Changzhou! My nickname is Zhao Zilong of the East City!"

While talking tough, he drew his weapon and mounted the horse, pulling the reins, saying, "Today, no one calls for mercy until three hundred rounds are up!"

Lou Jie wasn't a pushover either, stubbornly retorting, "Whoever calls for mercy first has to call the other 'Daddy'!"

"Daddy~!"

Lou Jie was both cowardly and playful. Seeing it was nearly 3:00 AM and this guy still wouldn't stop, she had no choice but to admit defeat and call him Daddy.

Playing with a petty man, saying anything else was useless; you just had to call him whatever he wanted.

Lou Jie didn't really care about that; she just wanted to sleep now.

But with the arrow already on the bowstring, it wasn't something that could stop immediately just because she yielded and called him Daddy, so the train continued to clatter for more than half an hour before things finally settled down.

The journey from Jingcheng to Yangcheng took thirty-seven or thirty-eight hours. The train they were attached to was an express, with a total of seven stops.

The trip would take three days and two nights. Compared to the cramped hard-sleeper carriages, the official car was much more spacious.

After 7:00 AM, the secretaries were already up, washing up and tidying the place.

The task of attaching to the train did not include passenger services; everything except for meals had to be handled by themselves.

In other words, whether it was the commuter train to the Steel City or this official car, the crew would not come over to provide service.

Everyone in the hard-sleeper carriages consciously kept things clean and maintained hygiene, so naturally, they didn't need anyone to help.

Here in the official car, the secretaries were there to serve the leaders, so they didn't need to be told.

Sha Qizhi packed his luggage and, along with Li Haiyang and the others, went to the dining car for breakfast first. Estimating that the leaders would be up soon, he carried the prepared meal back to the official car.

When he knocked on the door, Li Xuewu was already up. Lou Jie opened the compartment door for him, showing no unusual expression.

At least in Sha Qizhi's view, this female comrade looked to be in even better spirits than when she boarded the train yesterday.

How could a secretary not have a clue? He didn't look where he shouldn't and set down the meal box, which contained breakfast for two.

Li Xuewu didn't pay attention to Sha Qizhi's behavior. The temperature on the train was high, so he was only wearing a shirt. He rolled up his sleeves, glanced outside the door, and asked, "Are the leaders up?"

"Haiyang and the others just went over."

Sha Qizhi tidied up the room and replied, "We got up early and ate breakfast together in the dining car."

"Prepare yourself. Director Li said there will be a special topic meeting this morning."

As Li Xuewu gave instructions, he took the hot towel Lou Jie handed him, waving his hand to signal her not to worry about him and to eat first.

Sha Qizhi made the bed, agreed, took the towel Li Xuewu had used to wipe his face, washed it in the basin, hung it up to dry, and then carried the basin out the door.

Watching the compartment door that Li Xuewu's secretary had closed behind him, Lou Jie's eyes flickered. She gestured toward the room next door and asked, "Who lives over there?"

"Director Li. Why?"

Li Xuewu sat down in the chair at the desk, opened the meal box on the table, and handed the chopsticks to Lou Jie.

Lou Jie sat on the edge of the bed, just within reach of the desk, which was convenient for eating.

"Do all the leaders in your Steel Rolling Mill like to bring female comrades into their compartments when they go out?"

"That's not necessarily true."

Li Xuewu understood the meaning behind Lou Jie's words and said with a smile, "Deputy Director Jing further down doesn't like that."

"Pfft~"

Lou Jie pouted slightly and teased, "Do you think I don't know Jing Yunong is a female comrade!"

Hey! You can't just say things like that!

It seems like nothing now, but looking back later, the term "comrade" was ruined by those bastards.

Lou Jie naturally didn't know what Li Xuewu was thinking. Seeing his mischievous smile, she assumed she had hit the nail on the head.

"Last night when I got up to use the bathroom, I saw a girl coming out of your Director Li's room..."

"Maybe they were discussing work," Li Xuewu said nonchalantly. "Leaders, you know, they're all busy, dealing with a thousand things a day."

"Don't you feel guilty saying that~"

Lou Jie rolled her eyes and said, "So you were that busy on your business trips before too?"

"Hehe~ How did we end up talking about me!"

Li Xuewu looked at Lou Jie with amusement and said, "Tell me, tell me, tell me! Where were we? Oh, right, that girl—what did she look like? Was she pretty?"

"Hmph! Men are all the same!"

Seeing Li Xuewu trying to brush her off again, Lou Jie changed the subject and huffed, "Not one good thing among them!"

"Who did I offend~"

Li Xuewu ate the steamed bun with pickles and porridge. Although the food on the train wasn't great, it was better than going hungry.

Moreover, this standard of food was already super high; the Steel Rolling Mill spent quite a bit of money attaching to this train.

Even though they had a cooperative relationship with the Jingcheng Station, being able to coordinate such a task was already quite good.

Seeing him only focused on eating, Lou Jie also puffed up her cheeks and started eating her meal box, no longer mentioning the girl she met at night.

Even if Li Xuewu didn't say it, she understood what was going on with such sordid affairs.

Never mind the Steel Rolling Mill; even in a tiny pencil factory on the street, anyone with a bit of power was a mess.

She had heard enough of it and had become immune to such things.

It had been less than ten years since her family withdrew their shares from the Steel Rolling Mill; there wasn't much she didn't know about the people and events there.

Bringing it up was just to scare Li Xuewu into causing less trouble in the future—if you don't want people to know, don't do it.

As for herself, what was there to be afraid of? She was leaving anyway. Even if someone saw, who could they investigate if they wanted to look into Li Xuewu?

Before leaving, the contradictions and indulgence in her thoughts made her somewhat paranoid and crazy.

So, Li Xuewu couldn't afford to provoke her. After finishing breakfast, he went to the conference room.

Li Huai De didn't hold the special work meeting for the trade fair at the Steel Rolling Mill, specifically choosing to hold it on the train.

For one, it saved time; for another, it was to unite the participants of this special task force.

If held at the factory, people's minds would be scattered, thinking about what they wanted to do in Yangcheng, and no one would care what he said.

But on the train, everyone was constrained, and their minds were set on Yangcheng, making the meeting easier to conduct.

At 8:30 AM, the heads of each group for the trade fair project gathered in the conference room.

There was no scrambling for sofa seats; everyone knew their place according to rank and status.

Even if there were empty sofas and seats, the men displayed their chivalry and gave them up to the women.

With over twenty people gathered in the conference room, especially on a moving train, everyone felt a sense of novelty, and smiles appeared on their faces unconsciously.

Li Huai De and Jing Yunong, accompanied by Li Xuewu, stepped into the conference room and took their seats on the sofas reserved for the three of them.

Li Huai De greeted everyone with a smile, asking if they had rested well and if breakfast was good.

Even those who couldn't sleep due to the clattering of the train or weren't used to the food applauded and cheered under the leader's concern.

After all, they were part of the trade fair team and had been selected for the official trip to Yangcheng; they felt they were a cut above their colleagues.

This sense of honor made the fatigue of the journey and the discomfort of the food disappear, replaced by joy and high spirits.

Li Huai De clapped along with a chuckle, then waved his hand to signal everyone to sit.

This time, Li Xuewu was participating in the work primarily as the Deputy Director of the Management Committee Office, so his seat was to the right of Li Huai De.

Sitting across from Li Huai De was Jing Yunong, whose face was also beaming with a warm smile.

After clearing the hurdle of Li Huai De, her career had entered a period of rise and progress.

To say it was smooth sailing would be an understatement; from the solid implementation of the joint enterprise's tertiary industry projects to presiding over the takeover and reorganization of the shipyard, and then to the reorganization of the organizational structure and taking on heavy responsibilities, she had gained a lot.

Including this trip to Yangcheng, Li Huai De had given her full respect and trust, truly entrusting the economic and trade work to her.

Although there was still Li Xuewu's restraint and interference in her work, wasn't that just the norm for government work?

Even without Li Xuewu, Li Huai De would have stepped in himself.

She was quite satisfied with the current state of affairs; Li Xuewu was a comprehensive talent, a good hand at business, and had unique insights into organizational management.

Working with Li Xuewu was much more convenient than working with Li Huai De.

Even if they had disagreements on certain work, Li Xuewu would always find a solution first.

If it really couldn't be solved, wasn't there still Li Huai De to coordinate? With a layer in between, many things were easier to say.

When the position is placed correctly, things are done with justification.

Li Xuewu had originally intended to ask Xia Zhongquan to sit next to Li Huai De, while he sat at the end.

Unexpectedly, Xia Zhongquan sat next to Jing Yunong, leaving that seat for him.

When he sat down, the way everyone looked at him was a bit different.

Although everyone had been mentally prepared to treat him as a factory leader when Li Xuewu became the Deputy Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, the shock of truly watching him step onto the stage step by step was indescribable.

Li Xuewu faced everyone's gaze calmly, opened his notebook, and listened to Li Huai De's opening remarks.

His gaze swept across the room; some made eye contact and nodded in greeting, some avoided his gaze and looked at Li Huai De, and others kept their heads down as if taking notes, not knowing what they were thinking.

Li Huai De spoke about the significance of this trade fair, mentioned the factory's emphasis on this activity, and emphasized the discipline for this trip.

After some inspiring and stern words, Li Huai De handed the speaking opportunity to Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu politely asked Deputy Director Jing to speak first. Li Huai De thought he wanted to talk about business content, so it would be better for Jing Yunong to wrap up.

But he didn't want to stand in front of Jing Yunong; that wouldn't be very good.

He liked being behind the scenes...

Jing Yunong understood Li Xuewu's look and smile and began to speak: "Deputy Team Leader Li wants to save the good stuff for last to share with everyone, right?"

"Hehehe~"

Everyone in the conference room gave her face and echoed her joke, applauding lightly to welcome her speech.

"How rare the opportunity for this Yangcheng Trade Fair is, I believe everyone knows without me emphasizing it."

Jing Yunong raised her hand to gesture toward Li Huai De and said, "Director Li almost wore out the threshold of the leaders above for this matter."

"Hahaha~"

Facing Jing Yunong's teasing, Li Huai De smiled knowingly, and seeing him smile, everyone applauded lightly to thank him for his efforts.

Burning incense and worshipping Buddha, settling down—Jing Yunong's first sentence naturally had to affirm Li Huai De's achievements.

Li Huai De couldn't say this himself, but as his deputy, she couldn't be ignorant.

If it really fell to Li Xuewu to say this, it would truly be not giving Li Huai De face.

They were all people of the scene; words were all sets of sets. If she mentioned Li Huai De, she had to mention Li Xuewu, otherwise, how could Li Xuewu affirm her?

"Our factory's action this time is 'sincerity leads to success, stone can be opened'."

Jing Yunong looked at the crowd and said, "With Director Li leading the charge and holding the sails, and Deputy Team Leader Li bravely taking on heavy responsibilities, pioneering and innovating."

"The preparatory work for the trade fair was all led and coordinated by Deputy Team Leader Li. I have seen this hard work with my own eyes."

When leaders are at a meeting, especially in front of grassroots comrades, words are naturally chosen to sound good.

Especially in this project, Jing Yunong was the main person in charge of the economic and trade sector, and Li Xuewu and Li Huai De were helping her.

Thanking Li Huai De and praising Li Xuewu, she began to deploy and arrange work for this action.

Regarding the work details of group execution, she emphasized discipline and on-site performance.

Especially in dealing with external communication and publicity, she emphasized seeking truth from facts, being modest and prudent, and being serious and earnest.

Jing Yunong thought the contradiction points might appear in communication and interaction with foreign guests, leading to mistakes.

After all, the domestic social situation was different from the outside; national conditions were different, so the ways and methods of doing trade were also different.

The Yangcheng Trade Fair shouldered the pillar of foreign trade, opening its doors to welcome guests from all directions, especially in this sensitive period; there must be no foreign affairs issues.

After she deployed the work, Li Huai De took over the conversation and re-emphasized this point of foreign work; both of them were quite worried about this.

When Li Xuewu spoke, he pointed out the heads of the translation group and the publicity group to stand up, and gave them point-to-point instructions on the requirements of the foreign affairs department regarding foreign affairs communication in economic and trade work.

After the two made their statements, Li Xuewu reported to Li Huai De and Jing Yunong about several key publicity plans for foreign work, as well as arrangements for foreign affairs work at the trade fair, etc.

Seeing that Li Xuewu's arrangements for this work were so earnest and complete, Li Huai De and Jing Yunong let go of their worried hearts.

In the subsequent group deployment work, Li Xuewu still called the relevant heads to stand up point-to-point, detailed the process, emphasized the key points of division of labor, and deployed disposal plans.

He had a stack of documents at hand. When he talked about which group and which problem, Sha Qizhi would hand him the corresponding documents.

In the process of talking, Li Xuewu would also hand the documents to the corresponding group leader or person in charge.

This earnest and responsible attitude made Li Huai De and Jing Yunong nod repeatedly, and the group leaders present also felt admiration.

The plan was very detailed; it couldn't have been done by Li Xuewu alone, but to be so detailed, it would have been impossible without Li Xuewu's earnest responsibility.

The process was gone through one by one. Regarding which department and which group was involved, Li Xuewu emphasized, and Li Huai De and Jing Yunong also gave instructions.

The office meeting lasted from morning until noon. Because there was still content not finished, everyone ate in the conference room.

By 4:00 PM, all processes were docked, and the collaborating groups had a clear understanding. Everyone had another discussion meeting together.

Offering advice and suggestions, everyone was very motivated, and useful content for work was recorded and arranged.

By dinner time, everyone dispersed. Li Xuewu accompanied Li Huai De and Jing Yunong, as well as Chief Engineer Xia Zhongquan, and the four of them went to the dining car for a working meal.

Li Xuewu brought his own wine. Jing Yunong also drank a few cups, and the rest were distributed by him to other comrades in the dining car.

Everyone was a bit embarrassed to share the leader's wine, but there were also bold ones who took Li Xuewu's wine and said nice things about success.

Li Huai De smiled and told them not to drink too much, saying that after the trade fair ended, he would treat everyone to a celebration drink.

At this time, the dining car was mostly people from the Steel Rolling Mill. Although there was restraint in their laughter, they were genuinely happy to hear the leader's words.

Especially sitting in the same dining car as the leaders, the dishes were the same, and Deputy Team Leader Li took the initiative to distribute wine, which made them feel even warmer.

Because the leaders were there, everyone spoke very quietly while eating. Those nearby were listening intently to what the leaders were saying.

During the meal, hearing Director Li and others discussing work, their hearts were even more passionate and moved.

The leaders were working so hard for the Steel Rolling Mill; what reason did they have not to work earnestly and hard?

If one had to talk about hard work and toil, it had to be Director Li; he was truly too hardworking!

Working from dawn to dusk, dealing with a thousand things a day, diligent and hardworking, toiling day and night.

When the meeting was held in the afternoon, the train had already passed Qucheng. By the time their meal was over, some people were still lingering in the dining car playing cards and chess.

And in the hard-sleeper carriage, some were docking work, while others had already laid down to rest.

Zhou Miaomiao got down from the bunk, looked around, and then walked toward the official car.

Hearing the movement of the bunk, Zhou Xiaoling poked her head out from the lower bunk, curled her lips, and then shrank back.

"Hey! Xiaoxiao~"

She called her companion in the opposite bunk, gestured toward the direction of the official car with her eyes, and said, "Did you see?"

"Didn't see~"

Xiaoxiao looked calm, holding a water cup and drinking hot water, reading a copy of "Song of Ouyang Hai" in her hand.

Zhou Xiaoling reached out and patted her book, saying, "You've already entered the Steel Rolling Mill; you're already a steel warrior, no need to be so earnest!"

After finishing, seeing Xiaoxiao's dissatisfied look, she teased, "You really yearn to become a hero!"

"No, everyone yearns to become a hero."

Xiaoxiao picked up the book again and said indifferently, "I just admire heroes."

"Cut the crap~"

Zhou Xiaoling curled her lips and said, "What's the use of admiration? Can it get you a promotion or progress?"

As she spoke, she rolled her eyes and said with hidden meaning, "Others have already taken the initiative to strive for it; they're playing for real."

"You just talk too much."

Xiaoxiao glanced at her and said, "If you're not convinced, go take the initiative yourself. Why bother being sour here?"

"I wouldn't go~"

Zhou Xiaoling drooped her eyelids and said, "I think it's dirty~"

"Can't bring yourself to do it, can't open your legs, so you just talk behind people's backs?"

Xiaoxiao usually didn't like to talk and just liked to read, but when she did speak, it was absolutely shocking.

Zhou Xiaoling was flushed with shame by her words. Gritting her teeth, she jumped to her side, pinched her waist, and teased, "Is that all you can say about me!"

"That's a fact."

Xiaoxiao dodged her strange hand, patted her dissatisfiedly, and said, "Everyone has their own path. You walk your own; why bother gossiping about others?"

"I just think it's unfair."

Zhou Xiaoling hugged her legs and leaned against the wall, saying, "If we're talking about strength, culture, and quality, I'd admit it, but she..."

"What about me?"

Before Zhou Xiaoling could finish her sentence, Zhou Miaomiao's voice came to her ears.

Cold, arrogant, and with a hint of low-pitched tone.

Zhou Xiaoling hadn't expected the other party to return so quickly. Caught gossiping red-handed, her face burned instantly.

Zhou Miaomiao glanced at her, didn't make a scene, but sat on her bunk, kicked off her leather shoes, curled her legs, and hugged them just like her.

"Why don't you continue?"

"I want to~"

Zhou Xiaoling was annoyed and angry, rolled her eyes, and said, "You did it and you're afraid of people talking?"

"Did I ever say I was afraid?"

Zhou Miaomiao looked at her calmly and said, "The mouth is on your face; you can say whatever you want. I didn't cover it."

Zhou Xiaoling had thought the other party would tear her apart when caught red-handed, or find a chance to undermine her, but she never expected this calmness from Zhou Miaomiao.

Can shameless things be put on the table and discussed openly now?

So, was she the one who couldn't keep up with the situation, or had the moral standards of society dropped to this extent?

She flushed red and couldn't say a word. There were six beds in this hard-sleeper, and the other three hadn't returned yet, so they could still talk.

Xiaoxiao watched the two like fighting cocks, quietly raised her book to cover her sight, and chose not to see.

Do you think the dance troupe is all harmony and sisterly love?

Stop it. Wherever there are women, there are disputes.

Meeting face-to-face, they call each other sisters; behind their backs, they call each other scum.

What is shown to leaders and outsiders is naturally beautiful, but if you really live in it, there are plenty of messy things.

The situation Wang Yajuan encountered couldn't be called an exception; it could only be said to happen every year.

When Zhou Miaomiao insisted on introducing her to her cousin, didn't she have other intentions?

Changing direction, now Zhou Miaomiao had become the protagonist of the discussion, and naturally, she didn't feel comfortable either.

However, she was smart, had schemes, and had goals; she knew that tearing with her little sisters now would only implicate her own progress.

Standing high, one sees far; thinking more, one has more concerns.

Zhou Miaomiao reached into her bosom, took out a bag of peanuts from under her clothes, and threw it at Zhou Xiaoling.

"You are just ungrateful. No matter how I think about it, you guys won't get anything good."

Zhou Xiaoling looked at the peanuts in her arms in surprise, then looked at Zhou Miaomiao opposite her; the guilt in her heart seemed to have increased.

Xiaoxiao's eyeballs behind the book turned, and her mouth was about to curl to her ears.

"Are you going to..."

"Go to spend money, just like you said."

Before Zhou Xiaoling could finish, Zhou Miaomiao said sulkily, "Is it that you have to scold me no matter what I do?"

"No."

Zhou Xiaoling held the peanuts in her hand, looked at Xiaoxiao for help, and mumbled, "It's just that thinking of you... I feel it's not worth it."

"What is worth it, and what is not worth it?"

Zhou Miaomiao's tears fell as soon as she wanted them to. She wiped them away and pouted, saying, "Don't you know what I want?"

Zhou Xiaoling's words were stuck in her throat. In the past few months, Zhou Miaomiao had been the most diligent in the dance troupe.

After Wang Yajuan left, Zhou Miaomiao became the pillar.

And in her spare time from training, Zhou Miaomiao had expressed more than once that she wanted to be promoted, or even follow Wang Yajuan's path to progress.

Regarding the promotion and appointment of members of the cultural propaganda team, the factory hadn't issued relevant systems and documents yet; the relevant positions were still decided by leaders.

For example, Deputy Team Leader Wang Yajuan of the cultural propaganda team was promoted and appointed by Li Xuewu, and Instructor Zhang Li was too.

Zhou Miaomiao hadn't thought about going through Li Xuewu's relationship, and even thought about what to pay to get the other party's recognition.

In the past, there were some frictions with Wang Yajuan, which must have left a bad impression on Li Xuewu. She was trying hard to eliminate the influence of these.

Especially in the training of the past month, she had also actively communicated and exchanged with Wang Yajuan, easing the previous contradictions.

And in the process of interacting with Wang Yajuan, she also found that since leaving the dance troupe and stepping into a cadre position, Wang Yajuan's vision and attitude had changed.

From conversations and daily exchanges, it could be seen that she still cared about the past between the two. When she took the initiative to mention it, Wang Yajuan had already let go.

Zhou Miaomiao could naturally see whether the other party was sincere, but the fact that she could see it made her even more interested and yearning for this change in Wang Yajuan.

The fastest shortcut to changing a person's temperament is often the crossing of classes.

Compared to the accumulation of cultural knowledge and the growth of age, the improvement of status makes people stand taller and expand their vision.

This path of Li Xuewu was blocked—not because Deputy Team Leader Li was upright and didn't give her a chance to get close, but because Wang Yajuan stood in the way, and she didn't want to risk offending the other party again.

If you want to progress, as long as you can let go, which path isn't a path?

Young ones, old ones, what does it matter? Anyway, they are all things that can't be seen in the light.

She didn't want to make a scene, nor did she want to be arrogant. In the helplessness of progress, she chose to save face.

Xiaoxiao also put the book on her knees at this time, listening silently to her story.

Who in this world doesn't love vanity? Isn't worshipping the halo of heroes also a kind of vanity?

When she was lecturing Zhou Xiaoling, she inevitably showed disdain and contempt for Zhou Miaomiao, only she hid it well.

Zhou Miaomiao also knew that her actions were looked down upon by her sisters.

It really is that saying: if you don't want people to know, don't do it.

Getting out of bed in the middle of the night to go to the official car—there were four leaders there. Removing Jing Yunong and excluding the old-fashioned Xia Zhongquan, only Director Li and Deputy Team Leader Li were left.

Guessing here, there was actually no need to continue guessing. Thinking about the number of times Zhou Miaomiao and Director Li had run into each other during this period, one knew whose room she went to.

Zhou Miaomiao went in the middle of the night and returned in the middle of the night. Where couldn't those with hearts see her little actions? They just didn't say it.

"I did it, and I never thought about being afraid of you talking."

Zhou Miaomiao wiped her tears, looked out the window, and said, "Do you think I'm willing to steal a man in the middle of the night?"

"If I can let go and discard my face, as long as I can get what I want, believe it or not, he can call me to go at any time?"

Zhou Xiaoling moved her body to Zhou Miaomiao's side, hugged her shoulders, and persuaded, "Why bother~"

Zhou Miaomiao sobbed, remained silent, and her gaze was still looking out the window, only there was more firmness in her teary eyes.

"I know you envy Wang Yajuan, but not everyone can be Wang Yajuan."

"Also, you should have misunderstood her."

Zhou Xiaoling shook Zhou Miaomiao's body and explained, "I should be able to determine that the relationship between Wang Yajuan and Deputy Team Leader Li you think of is not complicated; there is nothing you think."

Seeing Zhou Miaomiao turn to look at herself, she continued, "It's not that no one has talked about them, but I heard that Deputy Team Leader Li never has excessive contact with female comrades in the factory, and after work, he always goes home to accompany his wife."

"Did you see it? Or did you hear them say it?"

Zhou Miaomiao swallowed her throat, raised her eyebrows, and said, "You know they don't have anything now, but do you know that they were a couple when they were in school?"

"Ah?"

Zhou Xiaoling widened her eyes in surprise and asked hesitantly, "No way, really?"

"Do I have a need to lie to you?"

Zhou Miaomiao wiped her tears and explained, "The two were together until Deputy Team Leader Li joined the army. Now her sister is still working under Deputy Team Leader Li's care."

Looking at the surprised eyes of Zhou Xiaoling and Xiaoxiao, Zhou Miaomiao let out a long breath and continued, "You wouldn't know that our cultural troupe is about to be disbanded. Who presided over the acceptance?"

"You all know clearly why this is. Have you never thought about what's in here?"

"I'm not saying their relationship is abnormal now, and I've never said that."

Zhou Miaomiao glanced at the two, then lowered her head and covered her face, saying, "I envy that she once possessed an entire mountain, and is still sheltered by the mountain."

After she finished speaking, Zhou Xiaoling and Xiaoxiao looked at each other and fell silent.

It turned out that what they envied, cared about, and despised was never the truth of the matter.

And knowing the truth made them feel even more envious.

Who doesn't want to possess such a love, even if it was only once?

The train swept past the scenery in the dusk, leaving a bitter memory of youth in the hearts of the three girls.

At night, the train reached Hengyang Station, which was also the last stop before Yangcheng.

Li Xuewu got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. After twenty-something hours of travel, he especially missed the feeling of land.

However, the attached carriage didn't open its doors at the station, neither letting people on nor off. The door at the end of the hard-sleeper carriage was locked, just to prevent passengers from walking into the wrong carriage and ending up here.

Li Xuewu stood in the corridor and lit a cigarette, silently watching the strangers on the platform through the gap in the half-open curtain.

Actually, he liked trains very much—liked this kind of predetermined journey, knowing the destination, knowing the stops, but not knowing who he would meet.

As long as it wasn't for too long, his feelings would be even more intense.

In later generations, there seemed to be a movie called "Zhou Yu's Train." He forgot what it was about, but through the perspective of the heroine, he could empathize with this kind of happiness.

Just as he was lost in memories, the door of the soft-sleeper cabin was gently pushed open.

When he looked over inadvertently, the person who opened the door also froze in place.

At this moment, in this situation, awkwardness spread throughout the corridor.

Zhou Miaomiao stood there holding the cabin door, her face pale and at a loss. As the platform lights fell, Li Xuewu could clearly feel her trembling and shivering.

"Want one?"

Li Xuewu raised the cigarette case in his hand and gestured to her.

She couldn't hide; the corridor was so short, and the direction she came from was exactly the direction Li Xuewu was going back to.

Hearing Li Xuewu take the initiative to speak, Zhou Miaomiao's stiff body finally moved.

She closed the cabin door and walked to Li Xuewu's side, taking the cigarette case and the lighter from his hand.

She had never smoked before. She, who had strict plans for the future, didn't allow her teeth to turn yellow, and even less allowed her body to become sluggish.

But at this moment, she was really grateful that Li Xuewu gave her a cigarette and could still treat her as a person.

Looking at her clumsiness, Li Xuewu took the lighter and helped her light it.

"Cough—cough—cough—"

Zhou Miaomiao tried to imitate the appearance in her memory and took a hard puff, which resulted in her lungs exploding and violent coughing.

Cigarettes were not good to smoke; they were bitter, bitterer than tears, stinging the heart, more painful than losing face.

Li Xuewu blew out the smoke from his mouth, watching the panicked crowd on the platform—calling for children, supporting the elderly, holding the young—all the states of life.

"Thank you~"

After the first puff, Zhou Miaomiao knew to take small puffs. Although she still couldn't inhale, she had learned to exhale smoke.

Li Xuewu didn't look at her, nodded, and didn't speak, which counted as responding to her thanks.

In the vast sea of people, he had seen and experienced too much. The first puff of a cigarette might be bitter, but after tasting too much bitterness in life, he finally knew that what he was smoking wasn't a cigarette, but five minutes of loneliness.

The train started. Li Xuewu returned to his compartment, no longer looking at the girl sitting on the side seat, nor thinking about what she had come to do.

The one Lou Jie met last night must have been her. From the moment Li Huai De filled in her name, Li Xuewu knew there would be such a beginning.

He didn't know what the ending would be. He had seen many movies, but couldn't remember the endings. Maybe this was human forgetfulness.

Just like Zhou Miaomiao hoped that in the future she would also forget today, and start a new life.

October 13th, Monday.

At 11:00 AM, the train stopped at the Yangcheng platform right on time.

Express trains, especially long-distance express trains, had their operational and service standards.

Attached passenger cars also had to follow the standards and regulations of the local railway bureau.

Specifically, according to service standards and coordination content, the Steel Rolling Mill's three carriages would not open their doors for release for the time being, but would directly enter the depot with the train.

And at the depot platform, the Steel Rolling Mill group met Deputy Team Leader Gou Zirong, who led the team to meet them.

If these hundred-plus people really took the passenger channel, they might lose a few. Besides, everyone was carrying luggage, so it wasn't convenient to gather.

Getting off the train, everyone followed the guidance of the comrades meeting them and got directly onto the large trucks with their bags.

Gou Zirong was really honest; it wasn't like Yangcheng didn't have passenger cars. Li Xuewu saw that Li Huai De's face was getting ugly.

Coming to Yangcheng was to create honor, not to suffer. For this trip, he had even coordinated the attachment of an official carriage, but upon arrival, they had to take trucks.

Li Xuewu could see Gou Zirong's dilemma. Hearing him whisper that it was close to the exhibition and vehicles were inconvenient, and that these four trucks were what he had begged and pleaded for, he understood.

Gou Zirong's relationship with Li Xuewu had always been good. During the joint trade project period, he had also actively cooperated with Li Xuewu's work.

For such a small matter, Li Xuewu naturally had to protect him. Seeing the comrades from the Steel Rolling Mill getting on the cars in an orderly manner, while Li Huai De stood aside in a dilemma, he took the lead and threw his luggage into the truck bed.

"Comrades, the leaders want to share weal and woe with everyone, squat in the same trench, and sit in the same carriage. Are you welcoming them or not!"

"Good! Welcome! ~"

Hearing Li Xuewu's question, the comrades in the truck bed were stunned for a moment, and then cheers erupted.

They had only seen these four large trucks and thought the leaders' cars were outside, so they didn't pay attention.

When they got on the car, hearing Deputy Director Li Xuewu of the Management Committee Office shout this meant there were no other vehicles prepared, and the leaders were going to ride in the same car as them, they were both surprised and delighted.

Li Huai De heard the cheers, and the seriousness on his face gradually disappeared, especially after hearing the voices in the truck bed scrambling to let him get on, he laughed out loud.

Li Xuewu first invited Li Huai De to get on the car, and then arranged for Jing Yunong to take another one.

Gou Zirong also knew he hadn't handled this matter well and had lost points in the leader's heart, so he was busy being polite.

Li Xuewu saw Xia Zhongquan sensibly get on the third car, grabbed Gou Zirong's arm, and signaled him not to hover in front of Li Huai De, but to hurry and arrange the freight carriage.

After everyone and their luggage were on the cars, Li Xuewu finally got on the last large truck.

With over a hundred people, four trucks were a bit crowded, but it was this atmosphere of unity that filled the convoy entering the city with laughter all the way.

Very few people in the exhibition team had been to Yangcheng and had only heard of it from newspapers and news.

Feeling the different warm sun, looking at the unique style of buildings on the street, and listening to their companions sharing the history of Yangcheng, everyone had a different impression of Yangcheng in their hearts. ===== CHAPTER 869 =====

Few among the exhibition team had ever been to Yangcheng; they had only heard of it through newspapers and the news.

Feeling the different warmth of the sun, looking at the unique architectural styles along the streets, and listening to their companions share the history of Yangcheng, each of them formed their own unique impression of the city.