Chapter 879: Calling the Wind and Summoning the Rain

Ai Ai Jiaqing's anger was still very useful; at least Li Li Xuewu didn't treat her as an eagle to be tamed anymore.

And in the subsequent negotiations, both sides made compromises, so the progress immediately sped up.

The initial probing inevitably caused certain contradictions; Li Li Xuewu of course wasn't afraid of contradictions appearing.

Both sides stuck to their own words; only when contradictions appeared would they affect the final direction of the negotiation.

And in the handling of special problems, Li Li Xuewu had sufficient ability and advantages.

So now Ai Ai Jiaqing didn't take the bait and stated it clearly, so he didn't trip her up anymore.

The Red Star Wufeng Food Factory mainly operates in the production of canned food, cold drinks, ice cream, and other ready-to-eat foods.

Wufeng Hong didn't care what strange things Li Li Xuewu added to this food factory; Ai Ai Jiaqing only cared about canned food.

In the discussion of the factory construction plan, the Steel Rolling Mill gave a total of more than a dozen varieties and categories.

Including but not limited to:

Meat canned food: steamed, seasoned, pickled, smoked, sausage, viscera, etc.

For example, steamed pork, braised pork.

Poultry canned food: white-cooked, deboned, seasoned, etc.

For example, white-cooked chicken, deboned chicken.

Aquatic canned food: oil-immersed (smoked), seasoned, steamed, etc.

For example, oil-immersed mackerel, mackerel in tomato sauce.

Fruit canned food: sugar water, syrup, jam, juice, etc.

For example, sugar water mountain peach, grape canned food.

Vegetable canned food: beans, green vegetables, mushrooms, tomato sauce, etc.

For example, green bean canned food, mushroom canned food.

Li Li Xuewu specifically mentioned seafood aquatic canned food, because there was cooperation with the Jinmen Seafood General Company.

So the canned food category also covered different types of seafood such as crabs, conch, scallops, clams, sea cucumbers, squid, octopus, etc.

Regarding the procurement and introduction of mechanical equipment, Li Li Xuewu also took the initiative to coordinate with Ai Ai Jiaqing and asked Wufeng Hong to purchase a batch of mechanical equipment on their behalf.

Through communication with foreign businessmen at the trade fair, he learned that the current advanced empty can production equipment had abandoned the domestic seemingly advanced production process.

Domestically, automatic punch presses for continuous cover punching, automatic gluing machines, continuous dryers, disc plate cutting machines, semi-automatic soldering machines, automatic sealing machines, etc., are used to produce empty cans.

And abroad, four-stage machines are commonly used for empty can production.

This equipment combines processes such as corner cutting, block cutting, end folding, and rounding into one operation.

Not only are workers reduced by four times, but labor productivity is greatly improved, mechanical damage to tinplate is reduced, and quality is improved.

At the same time, by comparison, empty can production is based on semi-manual production domestically, except for iron cutting and soldering, all are operated by machines, and the equipment can basically be connected into a production line.

Li Li Xuewu pointed out in the construction plan: The quality and quantity of export commodities are a challenge for the food factory.

Traditional manual production of empty cans will definitely not keep up with the production rhythm; it must satisfy this high-intensity production demand from the beginning.

And regarding the procurement needs of other equipment such as pre-cookers, end cutters, graders, slicers, roller knives, screw juicers, etc., Li Li Xuewu also waved his pen, not afraid of high costs!

Wufeng Hong's invested 250,000 yuan is prioritized for equipment procurement; the land is ready-made, and how much can factory construction cost.

The most important raw material production base Li Li Xuewu had long been prepared for, not afraid that factory construction would not be arranged in time.

Including Jinmen, Jicheng, Bianjiang, and other offices, they had already been researching and investigating this problem.

Production equipment and technology are two points Li Li Xuewu attaches great importance to, and he put forward the same requirements in the construction plan for the winery discussed later.

But the liquor industry is a different field from the canned food industry, and has different requirements for manufacturing technology and skills.

Making canned food can be infinitely improving the participation of mechanized production, reducing human intervention, and avoiding affecting hygiene and food quality.

But liquor brewing technology is not; large-scale replacement of manual labor by mechanization will inevitably lead to detours.

This thing called liquor has been studied by ancestors for thousands of years, and there is already a set of mature and perfect brewing skills.

The biggest difficulty of mechanization is precisely that it is difficult to simulate manual operation techniques to meet the requirements of parameters such as steaming, entering and leaving the pool, distillation, etc., resulting in low liquor yield and affecting the quality of the liquor.

Li Li Xuewu put forward requirements in the winery construction plan, insisting on adopting the traditional manual operation techniques of liquor brewing.

Mechanization replacement can only be used for relatively mature equipment and devices, such as grabs, cranes, and mechanical ventilation cooling beds.

The crane is a device used to realize the transportation of fermented grains in and out of the pool, a kind of machine that saves manpower, does not involve the technical level, so it will not produce an impact on the quality of the liquor.

Ai Ai Jiaqing is a leader among the new generation of young cadres and is an excellent talent who has undergone good education and testing.

In business management, she has a unique perspective and ability, and of course can understand Li Li Xuewu's opinions.

Wufeng Hong's investment and shareholding in the winery are higher than in the food factory, reaching 44%, which means the obligations and risks they will have to bear are also increasing.

Ai Ai Jiaqing took the initiative to ask Li Li Xuewu if he needed support in mechanical equipment, and Li Li Xuewu didn't express refusal.

But he put forward needs at the technical level.

Both sides cooperate; to speak frankly, now whatever Li Li Xuewu wants and does is for the sake of everyone's common interests.

The reason it is a discussion meeting, not a tit-for-tat negotiation meeting, lies in this.

Li Li Xuewu represented the Steel Rolling Mill and suggested to Wufeng Hong regarding the technical application of the winery to recruit professional technical workers, engineers, and special position talents in liquor brewing.

To put it bluntly, he wanted people, and wanted technical workers and engineers from Moutai through Wufeng Hong.

When Wufeng Hong proposed cooperation to build a liquor production factory, what they were aiming at was the off-site production of Moutai liquor.

Why?

Why, when Wufeng Hong was already acting as the agent for the export business of Five-Star Moutai liquor, did they still want to cooperate with the Steel Rolling Mill to build a factory in Beijing?

Since Ai Ai Jiaqing came to Beijing to inspect in May, what kind of tortuous story did they experience, and why did it take five months for Wufeng Hong to make this determination?

There is a realistic situation that must be said.

Li Li Xuewu had seen Moutai in the supply and marketing cooperative and had drunk it at the dinner table, but it wasn't the packaging he remembered.

What is the packaging of Moutai liquor now?

As far as the outer packaging is concerned, Moutai liquor bottles have four colors:

Domestic black glaze, yellowish-brown glaze, and reddish-brown glaze earth pottery bottles, and export white porcelain bottles.

Domestic liquor bottles use earth ceramic bottles produced locally in Renhuai, mainly of two types: one is gourd-shaped, and one is a two-section or three-section cylinder, commonly known as the "three-section bottle."

How should I put it, there were no conditions before, and everyone felt it could be used.

But now it is the commodity era; this kind of pottery bottle not only doesn't look good, but the sand holes also have the problem of leaking liquor.

And as far as sealing is concerned, Moutai liquor initially used the "oil paper + pig bladder skin + sealing paper" packaging method, and later used "cork + pig bladder skin + sealing paper."

The pig bladder skin naturally shrank after drying, sealing the bottle mouth; pig bladders weren't enough, so they changed to pig small intestines.

After 1959, domestic Five-Star Moutai liquor still used pig bladders, while export Moutai liquor was improved to corks covered with cellophane, covered with plastic sleeves, then labeled, and wrapped in leather paper.

Clearly, this was a last resort under limited conditions, but it still faced the problem of seepage.

In July of this year, the Moutai liquor factory received a notice from the Light Industry Ministry that domestic and export Moutai liquor should be unified into milky white glass bottles and red plastic screw caps.

However, the liquor factory's reply was that there were not enough bottles, and not enough bottle caps.

Why?

Because this white glass bottle was just successfully developed, and the purpose was to solve the three major problems of light avoidance, seepage, and aesthetic appearance.

The milky white glass bottle was designed and trial-produced by the Guizhou Glass Factory, but it caught up with this year's university study activities, and the project was terminated.

Not only did the bottle have a problem, but the bottle cap problem was also criticized by sales channels.

Because the bottle cap was hard to open, and the plastic bottle cap was considered low-grade by foreigners, and had chemical effects, etc.

Wufeng Hong coordinated with the Moutai liquor factory to study the use of aluminum caps as soon as possible, but now there weren't even enough plastic caps, where would aluminum caps come from.

The packaging problem was delayed and couldn't be solved, the winery's production efficiency couldn't be guaranteed, and the impact of the university study activities was widespread.

Wufeng Hong had invested in channel and product operation, waiting for the liquor now called Five-Star Moutai to change its outfit and re-export.

This stick hit hard, making Wufeng Hong have to consider the choice of off-site production.

And in Beijing, the Steel Rolling Mill's performance in the university study activities was seen by outsiders and could be called a model.

It not only guaranteed the smooth progress of the university study activities but also realized business development, proving that the Steel Rolling Mill's management team had combat effectiveness.

Wufeng Hong's assessment of the Steel Rolling Mill's current situation and future showed excellence, and deep cooperation could be carried out.

So, the first problem of the winery project now is how to copy and paste Moutai liquor to the newly built winery in Beijing.

Li Li Xuewu emphasized production technology and skills, and Ai Ai Jiaqing, representing Wufeng Hong, guaranteed that it would satisfy the winery's technical production.

But regarding packaging, Ai Ai Jiaqing put forward requirements.

That is, the packaging technology that the Moutai liquor factory hadn't realized must be realized here in Beijing.

This was also a not-so-small challenge for the Steel Rolling Mill; white glass bottles could be handed over to the glass factory's tertiary industry factory for production, but what about bottle caps?

"Then carry out technology introduction."

Li Li Xuewu was more decisive and firm than Ai Ai Jiaqing when facing choice problems.

"Are we not going to celebrate the New Year just because the dragon is calling?"

He pointed at the plan at hand and said: "We are a newly built factory, without historical burdens, and even less pressure; everything starts from new, and we must realize a leading position at the starting point!"

"Do you mean importing packaging technology from abroad?"

Ai Ai Jiaqing took a document from her assistant and handed it to Li Li Xuewu: "Aluminum cap plastic sealing technology, two million, including machinery and technical debugging."

"Two million?!"

"Buzz~~~!"

The people in the conference room exclaimed, surprised why this bottle cap technology was so valuable.

The Steel Rolling Mill spent 1.5 million to acquire the shipyard; a small bottle cap was more valuable than the shipyard?

What is aluminum cap plastic sealing technology?

Li Li Xuewu's brows also frowned, and he took the plan and looked at it carefully.

Ai Ai Jiaqing knew this was an important choice, so she didn't care about the discussion and debate of the crowd, but waited patiently for Li Li Xuewu.

Li Li Xuewu looked at the materials seriously, and the sound of the crowd's discussion became more intense.

Some said it wasn't worth it, some said there was no way; the challenge brought by technical blockade was unprecedented.

Maybe this technology wasn't worth money abroad, but when used domestically, they dared to ask for a high price.

Because you don't have it!

The people in the conference room started from discussing the winery packaging technology and finally rose to the overall situation of how to face the challenge of technical blockade.

"Knock, knock~"

Li Li Xuewu finished reading the materials, tapped the table with his fingers, and reminded everyone to be quiet.

And the discussion in the conference room stopped abruptly with his voice, and all eyes gathered on him.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu still frowning, but without too much embarrassment, everyone was looking forward to it, hoping Li Li Xuewu could think of a way to solve this problem.

"So!"

Li Li Xuewu turned to look at Ai Ai Jiaqing, pointed at the materials in his hand and asked: "Aluminum cap plastic sealing technology is actually two steps."

"One part is aluminum cap packaging with non-toxic rubber, and the other part is plastic sealing technology that wraps the aluminum cap, right?"

"???"

Ai Ai Jiaqing was stunned; she didn't expect Li Li Xuewu to understand it this way.

She didn't know how to answer this question for a moment, and could only nod: "You can also understand it that way."

"Aluminum caps are for easy disassembly and to ensure anti-counterfeiting technology, but can they be replaced with iron caps?"

Li Li Xuewu put down the materials in his hand, looked at Ai Ai Jiaqing and said: "Aluminum production, whether it's technology or resources, you also know the difficulties in this regard."

"Our mill has its own food packaging workshop; canned box lids are actually a kind of iron cap packaging."

"It's just changing a form."

Li Li Xuewu saying this was naturally not without a target; now liquor is mostly cork, but there is also iron cap packaging.

Li Li Xuewu saw iron caps when drinking Jiannanchun, and inside was food-grade rubber sealing.

"But..."

Ai Ai Jiaqing frowned and looked at Li Li Xuewu to remind: "Whether it's anti-seepage sealing technology or anti-counterfeiting technology, plastic sealing is indispensable."

"Plastic sealing~"

Li Li Xuewu paused, looked at Ai Ai Jiaqing and asked: "How do you handle cold fresh meat sold in Hong Kong?"

"This..."

Ai Ai Jiaqing widened her eyes; she had already thought of what Li Li Xuewu was going to say.

But her brain wasn't faster than her mouth; she was thinking about it, and she had already asked: "But that's food plastic sealing..."

"Meat is imported, is liquor not imported?"

Li Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said: "The machine for sealing meat food is large-mouthed, so just change it to be small, small enough to be the size of a bottle cap!"

"From sealing meat food, convert to sealing bottle caps!"

Li Li Xuewu said this, tapped the table lightly, and said: "If you want the sealing material to be green, change it to green; if you want it red, change it to red!"

"......"

Everyone listening to Li Li Xuewu's explanation, whether they understood sealing technology or not, was speechless.

Two million bottle cap technology was... just cracked like this?

Of course not; there is still a big gap between iron caps and aluminum caps, and integrated plastic sealing and split plastic sealing are not the same thing.

However, under current technical conditions, Li Li Xuewu could only think of this method.

That kind of packaging in later generations was imported from Italy; Li Li Xuewu now wants to find Andrew to purchase technology, but he has to agree to it.

Plastic caps can be drunk for twenty years, why can't iron caps?

Not to mention that iron caps are the product of replacing aluminum caps after plastic caps, Li Li Xuewu's technology is considered advanced.

Ai Ai Jiaqing was speechless; the technical problem she threw to Li Li Xuewu was solved just like that, and the words she wanted to say about increasing shares couldn't be spoken.

Everyone knew this liquor could be sold for money; now they only occupy 44% of the winery, how can they be reconciled.

Being able to take back 1% is hundreds of thousands of profits a year, a bright credit.

Li Li Xuewu saw Ai Ai Jiaqing staring and not speaking, raised his eyebrows, and asked: "Or, talk about the brand operation plan?"

"......"

Ai Ai Jiaqing wanted to stand up and scold; how could there be such a shameless person in the world!

No need to think, the cannery brand can't be separated from the factory brand, so this copied Moutai liquor must be under the winery's factory brand.

"Isn't it not very good for you to do this?"

After lunch, everyone found a place to rest; Li Li Xuewu and Lou Yan Jie were drinking tea in the courtyard.

Why do Yangcheng people love drinking tea; drinking a cup of strong tea in this hot weather to sweat, a little breeze is comfortable~

Li Li Xuewu lay on the rattan chair without any image; this is a rocking chair, hiding in the shade of the house, very comfortable.

Hearing Lou Yan Jie's words, he didn't make a sound, but stretched out his hand to grab the small teapot on the tea table.

"Are you sunning yourself like a master here?!"

Lou Yan Jie slapped his hand and looked at Li Li Xuewu, who was tilting his head and looking at her with one eye, and couldn't help but laugh.

Handing the teapot to Li Li Xuewu's hand, Lou Yan Jie muttered: "See how you end up in the afternoon~"

"End up what?"

Li Li Xuewu pretended to be dissatisfied and curled his lips, took a sip of Oolong tea, held the small teapot in his hand and replied: "This is called no father and son in the shopping mall; am I playing house with her?!"

After finishing, he drank another sip, then put down the small teapot, straightened his body, and let the rocking chair sway back and forth, leisurely and carefree.

"What should be fought for must be fought for; this is respect for business cooperation. If the brand is not under the factory brand, the manufacturer and distribution channels will eventually clash."

Li Li Xuewu explained to Lou Yan Jie seriously: "The manufacturer is the father, marketing is the mother, and the brand is the child."

"If this child takes the father's surname, the whole family is happy, but if it takes the mother's surname, that's two different things!"

He analyzed the disadvantages of the child being under the father's name and under the mother's name very seriously; in summary, the name is not correct, and the words are not smooth.

Li Li Xuewu spoke reasonably, but didn't see Lou Yan Jie's expression change.

After he finished speaking, Lou Yan Jie asked with a crying tone in her voice: "So, you are because of this reason, right?"

"Hmm?"

Li Li Xuewu was suddenly stunned on the rocking chair, and then realized the weather had changed; the sun disappeared, and it turned cloudy!

How did it turn to the problem of children again while talking!

He really wanted to slap himself; what kind of example did he give!

"That... how can you think so!"

Li Li Xuewu sat up and looked at Lou Yan Jie: "What I just said was about the food factory and the winery; why are you still overthinking~"

"Am I overthinking?"

Lou Yan Jie was moving her mouth, her eyes already filled with tears, staring at Li Li Xuewu without speaking.

"Sigh~~~"

Li Li Xuewu sighed long and helplessly: "I knew you would blame me; it's my fault for not being able to make you feel at ease."

"But this thing~"

He looked up at Lou Yan Jie and said embarrassedly: "I also want to..."

Before he could finish, Lou Yan Jie had already stood up and walked toward the hall, looking like she didn't want to continue talking to him.

Li Li Xuewu looked at Lou Yan Jie's back and sighed deeply again.

Since ancient times, sentimentalism has left only empty regrets; good dreams have always been the easiest to wake up from.

Now you know why Li Li Xuewu doesn't easily promise feelings to others.

As long as you use your heart and move your feelings, this emotion is a double-edged sword, hurting others and yourself.

Children?

Where is it such a simple problem.

It's fine if there are no children; if there really are children, the harm is even greater.

Li Li Xuewu looked up at the gloomy sky, as if it were his mood.

A cool breeze suddenly rose, blowing the clothes drying in the courtyard to sway gently; Li Li Xuewu picked up the cold tea and drank it fully, only bitterness remained.

Footsteps sounded behind him; Li Li Xuewu hadn't had time to turn around when he heard Wen San'er tease: "What's wrong? Proud in the shopping mall, frustrated in the love field?"

Li Li Xuewu glanced at him and said with a crooked mouth: "Third Uncle, why did I hear that Little Peach girl disappeared?"

"Go! Don't talk nonsense!"

Wen San'er widened his eyes, looked left and right, tapped Li Li Xuewu lightly, and taught him: "No big or small, what does her disappearance have to do with me!"

"Fine! ~~~"

Li Li Xuewu smiled evilly: "When I return to Beijing, I'll tell Third Aunt that I saw Third Uncle raising a little one in Yangcheng!"

"I...!"

Wen San'er gritted his teeth angrily, sat on the position Lou Yan Jie just occupied, and cursed in a low voice: "It must be Biao Zi who doesn't have a gate on his mouth!"

"No!"

Li Li Xuewu looked at Wen San'er with amusement and asked curiously: "Did you really bring Little Peach girl here?"

"You didn't... hmm?"

Wen San'er just wanted to say you didn't know, but looking at Li Li Xuewu's expression, which was even more surprised than his, he understood instantly.

"You tricked me!"

"Otherwise?"

Li Li Xuewu looked at him with amusement and said: "Yangcheng is thousands of miles away from Steel City, and I don't have a telegram here; do you think his phone call to here would say such irrelevant things?"

"I..."

Wen San'er pursed his lips, nodded with some frustration, indicating he admitted defeat.

"Fine, if you don't dig out this little thing of mine, you won't be able to sleep sooner or later!"

"Joke! ~"

Li Li Xuewu lay down again, teasing: "I never asked Biao Zi about this kind of thing; do you think I'm idle?"

While talking, he gestured with his eyes, made a gesture of stalking to Wen San'er and said: "I can see through the human heart; you are not a good thing!"

"Hey~ I'm not a good thing~"

Wen San'er looked at Li Li Xuewu and said: "You are like a crow standing on a pig; you can see others are black, but you can't see yourself are black!"

"I admit~"

Li Li Xuewu shook his head and said: "I'm not a good person, but at least I am open and aboveboard~"

"Unlike you, acting like an underground connection."

While talking, he also looked at Wen San'er with slight disdain and said: "At such an old age, still learning from others to raise a little~"

"How old am I?"

Wen San'er was both angry and amused, really wanting to tear Li Li Xuewu's mouth: "If I don't raise a little, should I learn from you to raise an 'old' one?!"

He was originally teasing Li Li Xuewu for just liking those older than him; the big sisters he associated with after returning from the south.

He didn't expect that as soon as his words were finished, the wind in the courtyard became quiet.

Wen San'er suddenly felt the pressure around him increase, and turned his head suddenly, only to find that Lou Yan Jie didn't know when she had returned.

"That..."

The corners of Wen San'er's mouth twitched. Looking at Lou Yan Jie's expression, his toes could have dug out a three-bedroom apartment in the courtyard.

"I... I was just joking with Li Xuewu..."

"Hmph!"

Lou Yan Jie looked at Wen San'er, then at Li Li Xuewu who was pretending to be confused, and snorted: "You are the one who learned to be bad like this!"

After scolding Li Li Xuewu, she took the small bag that fell on the chair, glared at Wen San'er again, and said: "Pfft, a pair of stinky hooligans!" After scolding, she returned to the hall direction.

"I... stinky..."

Wen San'er was speechless, looked at Lou Lou Xiaoe who left, and then at Li Li Xuewu, and asked: "So... you learned to be bad from me?"

"Otherwise?"

Li Li Xuewu had an "it's just like this" expression, rolled his eyes, and said: "Sister Lou can see it, and you still want to quibble!"

"... I..."

Wen San'er looked at Li Li Xuewu speechlessly, his expression helpless to the point of death!

I taught him to be bad?

I taught him to be bad!

He was originally such a thing!

Go and ask around Jiaodaokou! Although I, Wen San'er, am not a good thing, Li Li Xuewu is the proper little bad egg!

I still taught him to be bad?!

Why doesn't it snow in Yangcheng! I'm wronged to death!

Li Li Xuewu snorted and gestured to the hall, saying to Wen San'er: "Go, hurry up and apologize to others."

"Be a person!"

Wen San'er patted his thigh, pointed at Li Li Xuewu and said: "For a bad egg like you, whoever's girl follows you has bad luck for eight lifetimes!"

"Heh~"

Li Li Xuewu didn't care about his words, raised his eyebrows and said: "I'll tell my Third Aunt about this later~"

"You!"

Wen San'er felt like his little tail was caught by Li Li Xuewu, widened his eyes, wanting to say harsh words.

But when the words came out, his tone suddenly softened: "Do you still treat me as your Third Uncle! How can you dismantle your Third Uncle's stage!"

"Come, Third Uncle will light it for you~"

Wen San'er picked up the cigarette box, shook the cigarette and offered it to Li Li Xuewu, looking like he was admitting defeat.

Li Li Xuewu took the cigarette with amusement, didn't use him to light it, sat up and grabbed Wen San'er's hand holding the matchbox, stared into his eyes and said earnestly: "Little Peach girl will always be a girl, but Third Aunt will always be Third Aunt~"

While talking, he took out a match from the matchbox, struck it against the matchbox in Wen San'er's hand, and lit his cigarette.

"I prefer a handful of soil in my hometown, I don't love ten thousand taels of gold in a foreign land."

He took a puff, then smiled slightly and said: "Third Uncle, with Third Aunt here, I will always remember you are my Third Uncle."

"Sigh~~~"

Wen San'er listened to Li Li Xuewu's words, sighed deeply, and said: "Peach blossom debt, hardest to hide!"

"You also know, I am not a heartless person; she lost her virginity because of me, and took the initiative to help us, you say I... sigh~"

"I know."

Li Li Xuewu looked up slightly, exhaled a puff of smoke, and said: "Third Aunt is living in my room in the courtyard now; my grandmother will go back to live there soon."

"Not only will the people in the inverted room take care of her, but my mother and grandmother will also look after her."

"I know."

Wen San'er nodded and said: "I am of course at ease entrusting Fei Shanying to you; I know where my home is."

Li Li Xuewu reached out and patted his shoulder, didn't say anything, telling him about Fei Fei Shanying's situation was to make him feel at ease, without any threat.

Brothers go north and south to start a business and fight; there is really no saying who can't live without whom; they were poor when they were young, so they hugged together to be warm.

"Er Hai is in Hong Kong, arranged by Ji Wang Weidong to do things."

Wen San'er came out to report work to Li Li Xuewu; the teasing was just the appetizer.

"The route is considered easy to walk; met a few who didn't have long eyes, we showed our gear, and the other party dodged."

Li Li Xuewu didn't know what kind of security forces the Investigation Department had arranged for these cargo ships; this wasn't the part he was

But from Wen San'er's confident expression and tone, Li Li Xuewu could tell that the scale was not small!

"When Yang Erhai came out, he brought Quan Yongcheng, Director Guan Yongqiang, and Sun Yongli to Steel City, replacing Huo Yongfang and Meng Yongxiang to come out with me."

"Xi Yongzhong stayed in Steel City; there needs to be someone familiar with the situation to help Lao Biaozi do things."

The names Wen San'er mentioned were the Thirteen Guardians; Lao Si, Lao Wu, and Lao Liu went to Steel City to replace Lao Da and Lao Er.

Lao San, Xi Xi Yongzhong, remained in Steel City; this could also be considered a kind of arrangement by Wen San'er, as he didn't trust these few young brats either.

"Zhang Zhang Wanhe..."

When he got to Zhang Zhang Wanhe, he paused, looked at Li Li Xuewu, and said, "Some more people came from the hometown of Yingcheng, saying they were driven out by Da Da Qiangzi."

"Is that so~"

Li Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows, squinted slightly, took a puff of his cigarette, and said, "How affectionate and righteous~"

This remark had to be heard in reverse; Li Li Xuewu had originally placed Da Da Qiangzi in Jicheng specifically to have him draw hatred.

He didn't expect this kid to be so slippery; he actually didn't take action but chose the path of expulsion.

Eliminating dissidents and playing the game of "crossing the sea under camouflage."

"Help him."

Li Li Xuewu said in a somewhat low voice, "He is still young, his way of doing things is not yet mature, and he can't bring himself to take action; how can he accomplish great things?"

"Mm, understood."

Wen San'er felt a chill in his heart; he now understood Li Li Xuewu's attitude toward these people.

If Da Da Qiangzi wasn't willing to take lethal action, then he would have to help out and pile all the resentment of these people onto Da Da Qiangzi.

Coming down from the mountain, they inevitably carried resentment; following Zhang Zhang Wanhe, Old Wolf could only restrain a few.

From the moment Wen San'er heard that Xi Lin had been stabbed, it was as if he had grown eyes on the back of his head, constantly guarding against Zhang Zhang Wanhe and the others.

Although there was that one time Li Li Xuewu saved him in front of everyone, it was also done with a purpose.

Coming to Hong Kong this time, before asking Li Li Xuewu, he had even thought about keeping three out of ten.

Now, though...

One would be enough—one who is obedient and knows how to be grateful.

"Don't make the conditions too harsh."

Li Li Xuewu glanced at Wen San'er and emphasized, "People who do things shouldn't be fed too full, but they must be taken care of, especially those on the mountain; you must grasp this degree well."

"I understand."

Wen San'er nodded, indicating he understood.

He held the strings in his hands, one end connected to Zhang Zhang Wanhe and the others, and the other end connected to what these people cared about—their families far away on the mountain in Jicheng.

These people "struggling" in Hong Kong cannot be given the opportunity to settle down and start a family, otherwise, they would forget they still have a home in Jicheng.

But their lives cannot be too miserable either, otherwise, they would have no motivation to do things.

And the family in Jicheng cannot suddenly become wealthy; if they just came out and their families were already worry-free, then what motivation would they have to do things?

It's like filling a big pit; you have to drag the other party along, letting them clearly know that their ten parts of effort can be exchanged for one part of their family's food and warmth.

How dangerous Hong Kong is, Lou Yu had already told him that morning.

It is currently experiencing a financial crisis, and with so many people added to such a tiny place, the pressure is imaginable.

I heard a big shot is buying up land and buildings, and even invited a big shot from Ng Fung Hong to act as a guarantor, bottom-fishing and acquiring several firms and money shops on the verge of bankruptcy.

The most awesome thing is that they even acquired the 【Hong Kong Eastern Trust Commercial Bank】, which had suffered a run on the bank last year and faced bankruptcy protection, and was taken over by the Hong Kong government.

Now it's rumored that the owner behind this is integrating the Hong Kong Eastern Trust Commercial Bank, merging the businesses of those firms and money shops, and preparing to become a comprehensive bank.

This has attracted the attention of capital including HSBC and Standard Chartered, who are currently planning their countermeasures.

Of course, everyone is clear that the big shot Lou Yu mentioned is him.

It was his sudden appearance in Hong Kong, stirring up trouble with his massive acquisitions of various high-quality assets.

Including banks and money shops that were burdened with debt but had excellent mortgage capital; through Ng Fung Hong's guarantee, he hired a financial management audit company to rectify the financial business on his behalf.

Why did merely making an acquisition move cause such a big stir?

A dragon crossing the river, and a dragon wearing a mask at that—why is he called a mysterious financial big shot?

Lou Yu is very clear that this dragon is not himself, and the mysterious big shot being discussed in Hong Kong is also not himself, but Li Li Xuewu.

A bad kid who spotted the timing, stirred up the wind and rain, forcefully inserted himself, and kicked the Hong Kong people in their soft underbelly.

Starting from '61, Hong Kong experienced financial fluctuations, and in '65, it reached its peak.

Many banks went bankrupt, and various enterprises and companies, including the real estate industry, were crying and wailing from their losses.

And this year, the financial crisis hasn't passed yet; it's sweeping through Southeast Asia, and the mainland has started a "Great Learning" campaign.

Hong Kong has been strongly affected; the situation is turbulent, the property market has plummeted, and businessmen have adjusted their industrial layouts one after another, choosing to avoid the storm.

But at this time, there is someone going against the wind; while others are selling, selling, selling, he is buying, buying, buying—wouldn't you say that's strange!

The people selling off assets were bought out by him to the point of doubting their lives—was selling the right thing to do or not!

Where did this simpleton come from, entering the property market with such a massive investment, and specifically eyeing the good meat to eat?

He has inquired about the prices of famous buildings and land in the market, and when he encountered suitable ones, he acted even more decisively.

The one currently being integrated and renamed 【Oriental Era Bank Co., Ltd.】 directly paid the acquisition funds, as if money weren't money at all.

The financial big shots in Hong Kong are all confused—who is this person?

How did he judge that this wasn't the end of Hong Kong's prosperity, and so calmly purchase large amounts of real estate?

It wasn't until Oriental Era Bank Co., Ltd. cooperated with Ng Fung Hong and several other enterprises to invest in Oriental Commerce, another new company that was also acquired and integrated, that they finally understood the background of this bank.

So the background of this bank is *that* kind of background!

Those who were preparing to stir up trouble have all become cautious, fearing they might provoke someone they shouldn't.

Why is Ji Wang Weidong in such a hurry to shake people from Li Li Xuewu's side?

Because entering the Hong Kong real estate industry inevitably requires ensuring the intervention of a certain force, including using unconventional means to send some troublemakers to meet their God.

Ji Wang Weidong is different from the local people who play with machetes; he plays ruthlessly as soon as he makes a move, completely ignoring martial virtue, let alone any underworld rules.

Worshipping Director Guan Gong or setting up a grass hall—in his eyes, they are all just uncles, all damn ghosts and monsters.

The dragon crossing the river is fierce, and everyone in the underworld is in danger.

Only after Ji Wang Weidong stood firm did Lou Yu dare to buy, buy, buy; without the other party's protection, he would have been swallowed alive long ago.

Wealth should not be exposed; if you really dare to expose it, you shouldn't be afraid of being targeted.

What's more, there isn't much money in the current Oriental Era Bank Co., Ltd.; it's all advance payments and guarantee funds, and the real money is still in Li Li Xuewu's hands.

"How do you plan to handle that money?"

Wen San'er said hesitantly, "Hong Kong can't hold on much longer; Ji Wang Weidong has cut down I don't know how many probing tentacles from all sides, and now they lack a backbone."

"Can't things get done without money?"

Li Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "The money will arrive when it should; there's no need for him to urge me, I will give it."

Wen San'er is the person in charge of trade business; after communicating with Ji Wang Weidong, the pressure in this area is relatively high.

As soon as Zhang Zhang Wanhe and the others arrived at the pier, they were taken away by Ji Wang Weidong to do things, having gone through real mountains of blades and seas of fire.

And he came to Yangcheng also carrying a mission, which was to ensure that these twenty tons of gold would settle steadily in the vault of Oriental Era Bank Co., Ltd.

With these twenty tons of gold, Oriental Era Bank Co., Ltd. would be able to absorb deposits from depositors.

Most importantly, with this gold, Oriental Era Bank would be able to exchange for equivalent Hong Kong dollars from the note-issuing bank.

Exchanging for Hong Kong dollars is, of course, a losing business; how could Oriental Era Bank do such a thing?

Of course, it's to use the bank to revitalize the real estate industry and conduct installment loan business.

Real estate, construction companies, banks, and homebuyers form an internal circulation.

Coupled with businesses like commerce, shipping, foreign trade, and security, they form an external circulation.

A dual-circulation closed-loop operation creates a financial system with abundant cash flow.

Is the financial environment good at this time?

Of course, it's not good, but Oriental Era Bank doesn't engage in external loan business, nor does it engage in stock bubbles; its main business is still serving the development of enterprises under the Oriental system and making capital investments—how could it possibly lose money?

Twenty tons of gold, 1.7 billion Hong Kong dollars—I can afford it even if you call me a big water pipe!

From the day Lou Yan Jie arrived in Yangcheng, she had been handing over these tasks with her father.

Originally, as the mastermind behind the scenes, Lou Yu knew the ins and outs of this very clearly.

Now that his daughter is doing the handover with him, he is naturally teaching her everything he knows, without any reservations.

With the father and daughter swapping identities, when Lou Yan Jie goes to Hong Kong, she will appear in the identity of the big shot who has been stirring up trouble in Hong Kong for the past period.

And by that time, the various companies of the Oriental and Era systems will also begin to exert their full strength.

In Yangcheng, what Li Li Xuewu can give Lou Yan Jie are all the orders from the Steel Mill, including the capital base for cooperation with Oriental Commerce, all of which are handled by opening accounts at Oriental Era Bank.

How much she can retain naturally depends on Lou Yan Jie's own management, and also on Lou Yu's arrangements in Hong Kong.

Then why did Lou Yan Jie come to see Li Li Xuewu alone today?

Naturally, it was to talk about her brothers in Hong Kong, as well as the issues her father was worried about.

But is Li Li Xuewu willing to talk to her about these issues?