Chapter 923: Keep playing music, keep dancing~

"What did you say?"

Li Xuewu frowned slightly and glanced at Xiao Jianjun.

The other party's voice had become quieter and quieter as he spoke, and Li Xuewu hadn't even heard the end of it.

Zuo Jie opened his mouth to speak, but upon seeing Li Xuewu's gaze, he shut it immediately.

Xiao Jianjun's face flushed red; he stood there, his head almost buried in his crotch.

"I... I want to find a job with you here..."

"Lift your head up."

Li Xuewu's voice remained the same, yet it carried an undeniable weight: "There is no money on the ground here for you to pick up, and even less so is there any job for you that requires you to bow your head."

Zuo Jie stood to the side and could feel Xiao Jianjun trembling; at their age, they cared most about their pride.

Regardless of what happened in the past, the fact that Xiao Jianjun had come voluntarily meant he was truly in a difficult spot.

Or, as Li Xuewu had once said, if you don't work hard yourself, who are you putting on a show for?

He actually cared about his pride too; back when Li Xuewu asked him at the Summer Palace if he wanted to follow him and learn how to do things, he had actually wanted to refuse.

But then he thought of his parents far away and the situation at home—when you've lost your dignity, what use is pride?

Later on, he learned from Li Xuewu that when you're out in the world, you earn your own respect.

Including the time Li Xuewu stood up for him at the Moscow Restaurant and the second time at the Six Nations Hotel, which allowed him to truly stand tall.

Actually, what is this so-called pride anyway? It's invisible and intangible; what's there to regret?

Working for Li Xuewu, he had never been treated like a beast of burden or wronged, and no one had ever bullied him by throwing their weight around.

On the contrary, the people here respected him quite a bit, except for that little brat Luo Yun.

So, when Xiao Jianjun came to apologize today, he knew what the other party meant.

Why didn't the people who got beaten up come to apologize? Why did it have to be Xiao Jianjun, who had nothing to do with it?

Not to mention, even if those people had come, he would dare to say:

The past is the past, and now is now. I'm standing right in front of you; look at me, how much do I resemble who I was before!

He wouldn't even need to lift a finger; the security section here could beat them into submission.

Li Xuewu said that the strength of an individual can never compare to the strength of a collective.

Xiao Jianjun only recently learned this truth; coming to apologize to Zuo Jie didn't count for much.

A man needs pride, but he needs to be upright and honorable even more. Besides, he hadn't done anything wrong; he had just stood on the wrong side.

Since he had come here and happened to run into Li Xuewu, it saved Zuo Jie from having to act as a go-between.

In his heart, he just wanted to be like Zuo Jie and find a job here; at the very least, he could earn enough money to support himself.

In their circle now, the atmosphere wasn't great; people would do anything for money.

Xiao Jianjun didn't want to degenerate, and he didn't want to sponge off his parents, but he had run into a wall everywhere he went looking for work with his diploma.

In the end, he thought of Li Xuewu and Zuo Jie, whom he had met before.

Li Xuewu didn't care what he was thinking, just as he didn't care whether or not he deserved the beating he got.

He sized up Zuo Jie, who had lifted his head; he was young, but his spirit seemed to have been lost.

"After I talked to you last time, where did you go?"

"Li... Li Ge."

Xiao Jianjun was stunned by Li Xuewu's question, then paused and replied: "I went to the frontier. My dad said it builds character."

This answer made Li Xuewu raise an eyebrow slightly, and he asked amusedly: "Your biological father?"

Xiao Jianjun was stunned again by the question: "Ah? Yes... yes, my biological father."

"Then your dad really dotes on you."

Li Xuewu nodded and said: "There isn't really any work left here; everything that could be arranged has been."

After these words were spoken, Xiao Jianjun's face immediately fell. Although he had been mentally prepared, being rejected upon coming to ask for a job still made his heart go cold.

Most cadres in this era had passionate hearts, and when it came to their children's education, they were mostly willing to let them take on responsibilities.

This was also the reason why so many outstanding talents emerged in the next generation.

Xiao Jianjun's father suggested that his son go to the frontier to gain experience and see the vast world, also intending for him to avoid the disputes and turmoil in Beijing.

But Xiao Jianjun couldn't sit still; after staying for a few months, he couldn't bear the climate there and ran back.

When he left, his family still had his back, but when he returned, his home was already empty.

It wasn't that his parents hadn't told him they were moving; all the household goods were still there, but his parents had been sent down to different places.

His siblings had either gone to relatives' homes or returned to their ancestral home. He was all alone; wherever he went, he was a burden.

The money in his pocket was gone, and he was on the verge of starving on the street. If he didn't come now, he would definitely have to go begging.

"Well~ there is actually such a job."

Li Xuewu naturally saw his predicament, but young people all had stubborn tempers; if he didn't grind down that bit of pride, how could he ever settle down to work?

Xiao Jianjun was pulled back from the abyss by Li Xuewu's words, and he felt hope rekindled.

"Li Ge, you say it, I'll do anything!"

"Don't make such absolute promises."

Li Xuewu smiled slightly, patted his arm, and said: "If I let you go back to the frontier, will you do it?"

"Ah? Go back to the frontier?"

Xiao Jianjun really hadn't expected this result; he thought he would be staying in Beijing.

"Li Ge... are you going to the frontier?"

"Not me."

Li Xuewu looked at his expression and explained simply: "A few friends want to go there, and they happen to need someone familiar with the local situation."

"That..."

Just as Xiao Jianjun hesitated, Li Xuewu nodded and said: "It's alright, think about it first, we'll talk about it later."

After saying this, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

"Are you stupid!"

Zuo Jie poked Xiao Jianjun and cursed in a low voice: "Are you looking for a job, or is Li Ge asking you for a favor!"

"The frontier!"

Xiao Jianjun said with difficulty: "I just couldn't stand it there, that's why I came back..."

"Bullshit! Is the frontier you went to the same as the one Li Ge is going to?"

Zuo Jie glared and said: "If you have money, you're a big shot everywhere; if you don't have money, you're a grandson everywhere."

As he spoke, he pointed at Li Xuewu, who was almost at the car, and said to Xiao Jianjun: "The opportunity is right in front of you. Do you want to be a big shot, or do you want to be a grandson?"

Xiao Jianjun stared at Li Xuewu, knowing Zuo Jie was right. He steeled his heart, turned, and ran over there.

Just as Li Xuewu was about to close the car door, Xiao Jianjun shouted loudly: "Li Ge, I'll go! I'll go!"

"No need to shout so loudly~"

Li Xuewu looked at him amusedly and said: "I'm not forcing a good woman into prostitution, sending you to the Eight Great Hutongs to sell yourself. Why so resentful and tragic~"

Xiao Jianjun followed Li Xuewu's gaze toward the guard room; the guards there had walked out of the room and were watching him cautiously.

That was true; this kid suddenly rushing over to stop the car was the first time they had seen such a thing in this courtyard.

Zhao Lao Wu was also stunned, his hand already on the grip of his gun, meaning he was ready to act.

Xiao Jianjun saw his movement and was scared out of his wits. Where did this guy come from? He's so reckless!

Li Xuewu began to size up Zhao Lao Wu standing over there; this fierce expression and the courage to act at a moment's notice were indeed suitable for the frontier.

Of course, he couldn't say that he was also afraid of this bastard touching his gun in the courtyard. It wouldn't matter if he hit the flowers and grass, but if he really had an accidental discharge, or didn't aim right...

"You, come here!"

Li Xuewu sat in the car, pointed a finger at Zhao Lao Wu, and shouted: "That's right, you, stop spacing out."

Zhao Lao Wu was a bit dazed, not knowing what Li Xuewu wanted with him.

Before he could react, Zhao Lao Si, who had just told him to go out and keep watch, rushed out of the room and gave Zhao Lao Wu a flying kick right in the butt.

Zhao Lao Wu was kicked high into the air, and his fierce image instantly shattered.

"Are you a tiger or what, so spaced out! Didn't you see Director Li calling you!"

After Zhao Lao Si finished speaking, he gestured for his younger brother to follow him over quickly, saying as they walked: "Hurry up, if you're going to be this reckless, I shouldn't have brought you along!"

"Hey~ hey~"

Li Xuewu got out of the driver's seat, lifted his chin at Zhao Lao Si, who was approaching, and asked: "What's wrong with you?"

"What?"

Zhao Lao Si was stunned, looked back at his brother Zhao Lao Wu, and thinking Li Xuewu was asking why he hit someone, he explained: "My brother, he doesn't understand human..."

"I'm asking you!"

Li Xuewu looked at him with a strange expression and asked: "What's with this accent of yours? Why do you have such a heavy Northeastern flavor!"

"..."

Xiao Jianjun stood to the side watching the two talk, his heart already unable to complain.

Li Ge was talking about others, but wasn't his own accent also full of that flavor?

"I don't have an accent..."

Zhao Lao Si was also dumbfounded now. As soon as he finished speaking, he felt it himself and quickly covered his mouth with his hand, his face full of shock!

Holy crap!

Why do I have this accent!

When did this happen! ~

My Beijing native purity is gone!

It's over~ it's over~ it's not pure anymore~

Li Xuewu looked at his expression amusedly, gestured at Zhao Lao Wu, and asked: "Who did your brother learn that from?"

"..."

Zhao Lao Wu's expression was exactly the same as Xiao Jianjun's now. He didn't even dare to look at Li Xuewu, because he recalled that his own accent didn't seem pure anymore either.

Learn it from whom? Even if it wasn't from you, you have an inescapable responsibility!

"It must be those bastards from the Northeast!"

Zhao Lao Si wanted to say "bastards," but then he thought that in front of Li Xuewu, he really shouldn't say that, so he finally managed to correct himself.

Li Xuewu didn't care about this and said with a smile: "This is really 'giving you a Northeasterner, and returning me a hometown'!"

After teasing Zhao Lao Si, he sized up Zhao Lao Wu again and asked: "Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Ah?"

Today, all of Li Xuewu's questions were hitting them right in the neck; one question made them jump, and whoever was asked would say "ah."

"Reporting to Director Li, not... not yet..."

He said this with very little confidence; when people are poor, their ambitions are short, and when horses are thin, their hair is long.

In the past, their family was in difficulty and they had many brothers; who would be willing to marry their daughter into their family?

Later, both brothers found jobs here, but they were never able to bring money home, so the matchmakers still didn't dare to come to their door.

It was said that once they found work, girls would like them, but the reality of the gap left both brothers helpless.

Zhao Lao Si didn't worry about his own; there were plenty of girls who had taken the initiative to be with him, so many he couldn't even push them away.

It was the same now; as long as he went out, he could definitely find one.

It was just that he was afraid of delaying his work, so for the sake of his career, he remained single.

His younger brother's main problem wasn't actually work or salary, but that his brother was too honest; he believed whatever people said, giving people the feeling that he was a bit slow.

Now that Li Xuewu was taking the initiative to ask, it gave Zhao Lao Si a glimmer of hope.

Everyone knew that Director Li had many girls around him; was someone liking his brother's honesty?

Could it be that Director Li was here to act as a matchmaker? That would really be a windfall!

"Director Li, you know my brother; he's very honest. Girls nowadays..."

Zhao Lao Si smiled obsequiously, constantly saying good things about his brother.

Li Xuewu nodded understandingly and asked: "Do you like girls from the frontier?"

"The frontier?"

Zhao Lao Si and Zhao Lao Wu straightened their necks upon hearing this, especially Zhao Lao Si, who gestured with both hands under his chin and asked: "Are you talking about the ones like this?"

"Mm-hmm, something like that."

Li Xuewu nodded vaguely and asked: "Do you like them or not?"

"Like! Like!"

Not only was Zhao Lao Wu in a hurry to answer, but even Zhao Lao Si answered ahead of time.

If his sister-in-law wasn't in a hurry, finding a sister-in-law for his brother first would also be fine; he liked this exotic style.

Especially since Li Xuewu had asked like this, there must be a frontier girl who had taken a fancy to his brother.

There was a frontier girl at the recycling station, and there used to be an even prettier girl named Xilin; he had heard of them.

One look and he knew Director Li had resources in this area and was going to introduce a girlfriend to his brother!

"Director Li, we like them very much!"

Zhao Lao Si said earnestly to Li Xuewu: "Look, is that girl..."

"If you like them, that's good, that's good."

Li Xuewu nodded with a smile and said to Zhao Lao Wu: "Go home and prepare. Next week, come with me to the frontier. Since you like frontier girls so much, you can work and live in the frontier from now on."

"Ah!!!"

The mouths of the Zhao brothers were wide enough to fit a lightbulb; one could see how shocked they were.

Zhao Lao Wu was smart and reacted quickly this time; he pointed at his older brother and said to Li Xuewu: "Director Li, it's my older brother who likes them."

"Bullshit! I didn't say I liked them!"

Zhao Lao Si also reacted, pulled his brother, and then asked Li Xuewu with a bitter smile: "Director Li, why are you sending my brother to the frontier?"

"Work needs."

Li Xuewu looked at Zhao Lao Si and said: "I think your younger brother has the air of a fierce general and should be tempered in the four desert lands. He will surely become a great talent in the future."

"The pond of the club is ultimately too small to raise a great dragon."

As he said this, Li Xuewu patted Zhao Lao Wu's arm as if he valued him highly and said: "When you arrive at the frontier, you must have the ambition to serve the country, work steadily, and take care of your health. There are too many girls there!"

Zhao Lao Wu was truly on the verge of tears. The leader valued him so much, as if the whole plan wouldn't work without him going to the frontier; what else could he say?

He wasn't stupid, nor was he purely honest; he was just used to his brother taking the lead and was just used to acting slow.

Of course, he couldn't say that going to the frontier was for the sake of girls; he still had that much awareness.

Zhao Lao Wu stood at attention and saluted, promising Li Xuewu: "I will serve the country and take care of my health!..."

"Pfft~~~"

Xiao Jianjun had never seen anyone so honest; he couldn't help but laugh out loud upon hearing this.

Zhao Lao Si saw his brother being mocked and also felt he had lost face, especially being mocked by an "old soldier" like Xiao Jianjun.

He was a ruffian, the other party was an old soldier; they were natural rivals, and he didn't like the look of him.

Out of respect for Director Li, he naturally wouldn't say anything, but after seeing the command car leave, he pulled his brother and wanted to leave.

"Wait, brother."

Xiao Jianjun called out to the other party, took the initiative to reach out his hand, and said: "My name is Xiao Jianjun, and I'm also a member of the group going to the frontier. We'll be comrades-in-arms from now on, so please take care of me."

Zhao Lao Wu didn't know the other party's intention and looked at his brother, waiting for him to make the decision.

Zhao Lao Si sized up Xiao Jianjun and asked: "You're from the West City, right? Which courtyard are you from?"

Without waiting for the other party to answer, he said to himself: "We ordinary folks can't afford to call you brother."

"So much hostility~"

Xiao Jianjun didn't care about this, smiled, withdrew his hand, and said: "It doesn't matter which courtyard I'm from. Once we've entered this courtyard, we're all the same."

"Not the same!"

Just as the other party finished speaking, Zhao Lao Si glared and emphasized: "You are you, we are we; we are not the same!"

"Let's go!"

After saying this, he pulled his brother and headed toward the guard room.

Zhao Lao Wu looked back at the young man who was still smiling at him and didn't know why his older brother showed such strong hostility toward him.

If it was purely because of the identity opposition between an old soldier and a ruffian, as the other party said, once they entered this door, there was no difference.

"Can't figure it out, right?"

Pulling his brother into the guard room, Zhao Lao Si glanced out the window and then looked at his brother.

Zhao Lao Wu didn't hide anything from his older brother and stated his thoughts directly.

"Are you a tiger! ~"

Zhao Lao Si glared and asked: "Do you know what you're going to the frontier for? Do you think everyone who goes together is a friend?"

"What for?"

Zhao Lao Wu really didn't know and looked at his older brother blankly.

"What you do doesn't matter; what matters is who you do it with!"

Zhao Lao Si gasped for air; he was truly nervous about his brother's personality, which would lead to him being sold and still helping others count the money.

"No matter what you go to do, you cannot make friends with them!"

"Why?"

Zhao Lao Wu became more confused the more he listened; why was his older brother speaking so vaguely?

"Feed them shit! Why!"

Zhao Lao Si cursed: "What advantages do you think you have that Director Li would choose you? Why did he specifically name you!"

Zhao Lao Wu was asked several questions by his older brother in a row, and not only did he not get the answer, but his inner confusion grew even more.

"Don't know, right! That's the reason!"

Zhao Lao Si pointed at his brother's nose and said: "Because you're reckless, you're stupid, you don't understand anything, you don't know anything, you only know how to charge forward!"

"Do you understand!"

He wished he could pry his brother's brain open and stuff his own thoughts inside.

"He chose you because you have no relationship with the people he arranged; you are purer!"

Zhao Lao Si taught his brother word by word: "If you want to return from the frontier alive, remember: don't listen to anyone's words! Don't believe anyone's words!"

"And you can't get close to them! It will get you killed! Do you understand!"

"Understood~!"

Understood my ass; Zhao Lao Wu didn't understand at all, but he knew his older brother was doing it for his own good, so he just had to listen.

"I won't listen to anyone's words, I won't believe anyone's words, I won't make friends with them, I'll only listen to Director Li!"

"Bullshit!!!"

Zhao Lao Si was very angry at his brother's cleverness and cursed: "If he tells you to die, will you go die too!"

"Remember, I said everyone, no one is trustworthy!"

He was about to be angered to death by his brother; the one who couldn't be trusted most here was Li Xuewu, and his brother actually treated the other party as a good person!

Pfft! None of those who study are good people!

"You remember, if they tell you to do something, pretend you don't understand, pretend you don't know how to do it."

Zhao Lao Si taught his brother: "You can not listen to their words, not listen to Director Li's words, but you must find a way to tell Director Li what they said."

"Why?"

Zhao Lao Wu didn't understand his older brother's logic at all; why is this?!

"Because that's exactly what you're going there to do!!!"

Zhao Lao Si shouted at his brother's ear, as if shouting loudly could imprint these words into his brother's brain.

"Do you really think you're the Monkey King who can do anything? You're being sent there to supervise them, not to sell your life!"

Looking at his brother's blank expression and his action of putting his hand on the gun again, he was truly anxious and said: "Throw that piece of junk away! You're not allowed to bring it to the frontier!"

"Why?"

His brother seemed to only know how to ask this one question, but the hand tightly gripping the gun grip showed that he really liked this profession and really liked guns.

"Because if you don't have a gun, others won't shoot at you! Do you understand!"

Zhao Lao Si actually knew very well in his heart that his brother didn't understand, but he really wanted his brother to understand!

"You're going to the frontier to make money, not to go abroad to cause trouble; you don't need to sacrifice yourself."

As he said this, worried that his brother's emotions would never be controlled again, he squatted on the ground, covered his face, and couldn't speak anymore.

Zhao Lao Si was a bit self-blaming; how old was his brother, and he had to leave home to go so far away. If something really happened, how would he explain it to their parents?

But Director Li had spoken, and there was no room for them to refuse, because they had guns on their waists.

Of course, they could refuse, but as long as the refusal was spoken, neither he nor his brother would have to work here anymore.

Although there was no money to be earned here, at least there was food to eat and an infinite future.

But once they walked out of this door, they were nothing; they wouldn't even be able to beg for a meal.

He really wanted to go in his brother's place, but he was truly afraid he wouldn't be able to hold on.

He was regretful and self-blaming, and tears fell.

Zhao Lao Wu watched his older brother cry, so he also squatted to the side and comforted him: "I'll be fine, older brother, I'll be fine."

"Fine my ass!"

Zhao Lao Si wasn't cursing fiercely this time; he felt very bad for his brother.

"Remember, don't trust anyone, especially that bastard from just now; they have many schemes and are very bad!"

"I know, older brother."

Zhao Lao Wu nodded in agreement, listening to his older brother's instructions, and kept promising.

And Zhao Lao Si, like a nagging mother, kept instructing his brother over and over again not to listen to anyone's words and that saving his life was the most important thing.

The abnormal behavior of these two brothers made Xiao Jianjun very embarrassed, especially the shouting that came from the room after they went in.

"Is it done?"

"It's done~"

Seeing Zuo Jie come over, Xiao Jianjun nodded and said: "Thank you for today; if it weren't for you..."

"Hey~ why be so polite?"

Zuo Jie smiled and interrupted the other party's thanks, asking: "What was that about just now? Why did I see you calling the security guards when you saw Li Ge?"

"They said they were arranging for that person to go along."

Xiao Jianjun explained, shrugged his shoulders, and said: "But the older brother of the other party seems to be a ruffian, quite peculiar."

"Section Chief Zhao?"

Zuo Jie glanced at the guard room, then smiled and said: "You misunderstood; he's a very good person. You'll know after a long time."

After saying this, he sized up Xiao Jianjun again, seeing that his spirit was like a different person compared to just now.

"Work hard; don't worry about the living environment."

Zuo Jie guided him: "I don't know what Li Ge is arranging for you to do, but it definitely won't be dangerous work."

Seeing Xiao Jianjun was still confused, he smiled and explained: "Because he has plenty of people under him who can fight and wrestle better than you; he doesn't need to put you through that."

"That's true."

Xiao Jianjun pursed his lips and said: "One step at a time; Li Ge didn't say what we're doing, where we're going, or who's going."

"Don't worry~"

Zuo Jie said very confidently: "As long as it's Li Ge's business, you can do it boldly and confidently, just wait and see!"

"To the frontier?"

"Right."

After dinner, Li Xuewu sat at the edge of the kang table in the inverted room, drinking tea and holding a meeting with the people in the room.

Shen Guodong felt confused about his sudden proposal: "Everything is fine, why suddenly send people to the frontier to open a recycling station?"

"Just listen to him; why so many questions!"

Just as his words fell, Chen Xiaoyan poked him and reminded him in a low voice: "Wu Ge is talking; stop interrupting~"

Shen Guodong loved his home and cherished his partner; it wasn't that he was afraid of Chen Xiaoyan, but that he had no parents since he was young and hoped to have someone to rely on.

So Chen Xiaoyan's gentle reminder didn't make him lose face, and he followed her words and shut his mouth, listening to Wu Ge.

"It wasn't a sudden decision."

Li Xuewu took a sip of tea and said: "My plan is that wherever the rolling mill's office opens, our tentacles will reach."

"At the very least, we must ensure we have power in key areas."

He was clear about the worries of the Ye Ye Erye, Shen Guodong, and others, which were nothing more than the fear that there wouldn't be enough manpower and that they wouldn't be able to manage it.

"The frontier office has been operating for almost a year; the geographical relationship is already very good, and it's convenient to carry out work."

Li Xuewu explained: "Especially the distribution business; the rolling mill has a large volume of business there. This is a big cake, and it will only get bigger."

"Of course, there were people doing it before, but the personnel of the frontier office need to be adjusted."

Li Xuewu just gave a simple explanation and didn't tell them too much.

It was Yushui, sitting at the edge of the kang, who knew a little; she was now the director of the spinning workshop of the rolling mill's joint factory, so she didn't lack inside information.

"This time, I'm prepared to let Ding Wanqiu take the lead."

Li Xuewu scanned the people in the room; they seemed relieved, as if they had heard the final approval.

"Are you afraid of being transferred to the frontier by me?"

"Hahaha~"

The people in the room couldn't help but laugh upon hearing his teasing; they were all a bit embarrassed.

Shen Guodong's reaction just now was so strong because there was no one else available at home, and he was afraid Wu Ge would send him to the frontier.

Li Xuewu looked at everyone with a smile and continued: "Guodong, send a message to Xilin, let Ding Wanqiu return to Beijing to wait for me."

"The Fourth Master Quan Yongcheng and the Fifth Master Guan Yongqiang have been in Steel City for a while, right?"

He asked, and without waiting for Shen Guodong to answer, he continued to arrange: "Let the Third Master Xi Yongzhong take the Sixth Master Sun Yongli to Jicheng."

"Understood."

Shen Guodong knew that from now on, Jicheng would be Xilin with Ge Lin, and then with the Third and Sixth Masters helping out, doing business together with Da Qiangzi.

Steel City would be Brother Biao and Sister-in-law Biao, with the Fourth and Fifth Masters, doing business together with Zhou Ya Mei.

Hong Kong would be the Third Uncle with Er Hai'er, with the eldest and second eldest, doing business together with Zhang Wanhe.

Wucheng would be...

"Is Ding Wanqiu the only one in Wucheng?"

Shen Guodong asked in surprise: "Isn't it too..."

"What? Do you want to go help?"

Li Xuewu teased him on purpose, and seeing his terrified look, he laughed: "I'm scaring you; if I let you go, Chen Xiaoyan wouldn't agree."

"I don't mind."

Chen Xiaoyan said with a smile: "A great man reads ten thousand books and travels ten thousand miles; it should be so!"

"Look, Chen Xiaoyan has more ambition than you!"

Li Xuewu mocked Shen Guodong, and seeing his shameless look of not wanting to go far, he was truly helpless.

"I'm prepared to let Da Chun, Zhao Lao Wu, and Xiao Jianjun accompany him."

"Da Chun?"

"Zhao Lao Wu?"

"Xiao Jianjun?"

These names were spoken by Li Xuewu, and the people in the room knew some and didn't know others; they whispered to each other, only then remembering who was who.

Da Chun worked at the club, Shen Guodong saw him often; Zhao Lao Wu was the same, and Xiao Jianjun had come along during the spring outing last time, so they all remembered.

It was just that counting Ding Wanqiu, these four people gathered together didn't look like they were doing business at all; they were just right for playing mahjong.

These four people had four identities, four backgrounds, and four cultural levels; putting them together was like going to the West to get scriptures—they had everything.

"Aren't you afraid they'll fight!"

"Not afraid~"

Li Xuewu smiled and said: "You don't know the frontier; Diliya is clear about it. Once they get there, they won't be in the mood to fight."

"Diliya said she never wants to go back."

Sha Zhu lay on the hot kang and muttered with a smile: "She said it's a nightmare-like existence."

"It could also be heaven."

Li Xuewu glanced at him; this old guy hadn't been to the frontier, so how could he know the goodness of the frontier.

Li Huai De knew!

Ji Weidong also knew!

On Sunday afternoon, after accompanying Gu Ning back from her parents' house, the car was loaded with some things her parents "didn't need."

He had an appointment with Shen Guodong in the evening, so he let Qin Jingru and her husband stay at home to accompany Gu Ning and the children, and he drove to the Sihe courtyard himself.

Dinner was as usual with a house full of people; Shen Guodong specifically called Qin Huairu, but she had already eaten by then.

By the time they finished dinner, Qin Huairu had brought Bang Geng over to visit.

Bang Geng had the nature of a monkey; he couldn't stay in the room, and after causing a ruckus, he ran off.

Diliya, who was pregnant, and the Third Uncle's wife, Fei Shanying, had eaten and gone home early to rest.

He Yu Shui was willing to listen to Li Xuewu and the others chat, so she sat in the room too.

Since she was there, her brother had to be there; he was very afraid that his sister would be left here and not go back, or that she would get lost walking from here to home.

Actually, Sha Zhu himself was willing to chat here; Diliya's body was getting heavier at home, and she didn't like to move around, saying he talked too much.

Even if he loved his wife again, this nagging item made men annoyed.

So the siblings both attended the meeting as non-staff members.

Li Xuewu didn't guard against them either; many things didn't need to be explained clearly; they had seen it long ago.

Nothing had happened for so long; could something happen today?

Sha Zhu had no great pursuits and wouldn't bother with Li Xuewu and the others.

What's more, Diliya was here, and his brother-in-law was Li Xuewu's direct subordinate, so he had to help with many things.

Qin Huairu could also be considered a non-staff member; she didn't hold shares or receive benefits from the recycling station, but she happened to run into it today, and it wasn't easy to leave.

There were far fewer people left than before: the Great Master, the Ye Ye Erye, Shen Guodong, Chen Xiaoyan, Yu Li...

Wang Yamei didn't attend this meeting as usual, and everyone deliberately didn't let this naive girl attend.

It wasn't that they were guarding against her, but that they didn't trust her mouth, and she was too young.

The Thirteen Guardians reading in the East Room were down to seven, starting from the Seventh Master She Yongwen, all the way to the Thirteenth Master Zhu Yongtong.

It was still okay for now; the older brothers went out to start businesses, and letters were often sent back, all saying things were great and glorious, and they were all envious.

Knowing Li Ge was going to use them, they were all working hard to read and study, preparing to show their skills once they went out.

These kids were truly hardworking; they only had a rest when it was windy or rainy all year round, and the rest of the time they had to earn their own food money.

Exposed to the wind and sun during the day, in the freezing winter, and studying hard at night; everyone who saw them said they were hardworking, except for Li Xuewu.

The path was forged by themselves; they were weeds growing in the wild. If you gave them too much sunshine and rain, they wouldn't know their own names or where their roots were.

The Ye Ye Erye was here; hardworking is hardworking, but could it really cost these kids their lives?

Suffering the bitterness of bitterness, only then can one be a person above people; no one needs to teach, no one needs to tell.

Walking out from here is the same as being here; earn your own money and spend it yourself; if you can't earn money, don't blame him.

"Have to go back tonight?"

Coming out of the inverted room, Yu Li asked this.

Qin Huairu walked behind and teased with a smile: "If you don't go back, are you sleeping on the street? There's someone waiting at home."

Yu Li rolled her eyes at her and scolded: "I didn't say a word right, and you caught me."

"I'm not, right~"

The two chatted idly, walked from the entrance to the hanging flower gate, and then dispersed.

Qin Huairu laughed and joked with her and went into the courtyard; Yu Li replied and went to the East Courtyard.

They were both long-term "expired" people; they could see Li Xuewu, but it wasn't easy to get him anymore.

They both felt the other had eaten well, and although they paid attention to the scale when joking, they were both sour.

Qin Huairu knew Li Xuewu basically went to the club every week and felt Yu Li could have a meal every week.

Yu Li thought Qin Huairu and Li Xuewu were both at the rolling mill, and Li Xuewu often had social engagements and was at the reception house more, so the two had more opportunities.

Actually?

Thinking of that word just now, it wasn't many anymore.

It wasn't that Li Xuewu was fickle or "desiring more," but he was really too busy to have time, and he had no interest.

His position at the rolling mill was just right, neither too high nor too low; he had to share the leader's work pressure and make decisions for the departments in charge.

Generally speaking, those who reach his position must basically be between thirty-three and forty years old.

It's not that you can reach this step just because you've reached the age, but that this position is more suitable for cadres of this age.

Mature and steady, stable family, good mentality, no hobbies that affect work, and can devote himself to work.

Comprehensive ability is stronger, and he can better handle the pressure of this position.

But, a twenty-year-old young man has begun to bear the pressure of a man in his thirties.

On one side is the glory of a man in his thirties, and on the other side is the interest that a man in his thirties has already lost most of.

But he hadn't lost it, but the abundance of work forced him to control himself.

So, being young and in a high position is not a good thing; it affects amateur life after work.

Look at Li Huai De; his life is so happy now, work is pressed down, and he gives it to young and strong people like Li Xuewu to do.

He takes the initiative to share work, young people feel trusted and recognized, and they have to thank him.

Without the constraints of heavy work, he doesn't go drinking after work, or he goes to social engagements, or he goes dancing.

Speaking of going dancing, there are too many restrictions now, and the venue is not convenient.

Originally, he had the intention of setting up a small dance hall at the Six Nations Hotel, but with the current situation, the art world, including dance and other forms of entertainment, is really like Wang Erxiao celebrating the New Year—one year worse than the next.

So if he wants to dance, he either has to go to the Workers' Club next to the office building, or he has to go to the reception house activity room.

The club is more convenient; it is occupied by the cultural propaganda team, and people practice overtime every night.

Of course, whether these people practice overtime because they see the leader coming often is hard to say.

Li Huai De has already met several actors from the dance team unexpectedly.

He thinks this is fate, and the girls of the dance team think this is destiny!

Director Li is generous, full of passion in his movements, speaks well, and seems to have talent in chatting, but he is a bit ugly.

But these are not important; it doesn't matter if a man is ugly or old; what's important is having wealth!

Director Li has wealth; as long as he goes dancing, his hands are never empty.

Chocolate, candy, cookies, and even coffee that everyone rarely sees.

These are all fine; sometimes Director Li will bring various cosmetics, many styles and brands they have never seen before.

Why else would Director Li be popular? Everyone likes to dance with him; this is called leaders going deep into the grassroots~

On Monday, Han Qingwei, director of the Jinmen Seafood Corporation, led a team to Beijing for a visit and inspection.

As the host, Li Huai De accompanied the other party to visit several projects in the morning, especially staying for the longest time at the food processing project in which both sides participated in cooperation.

At the cannery project department, both sides listened to the project leader's report together, then visited the construction site of the cannery and the food exhibition counter.

At the construction site, looking at the newly built factory area with foundations and pipeline lines already laid, Han Qingwei and Li Huai De both showed happy smiles.

Li Xuewu discussed the specific cooperation plan for the next step with Zhang Changming, deputy general manager of the seafood company, in the conference room.

After completing the preliminary intention plan, this part of the work was handed over to the negotiation teams of both sides, and the two boarded the train to Yingcheng together.

What are the two leaders staying in Beijing doing?

Of course, keep playing music, keep dancing~