Chapter 946

We're just having hot pot, don't misunderstand.

Nothing happened; Li Xuewu isn't the type to take advantage of someone in a vulnerable position or engage in such sordid affairs.

Who among those present doesn't know that Li Xuewu is the most upright person there is, right?

The hot pot restaurant was very lively. The three of them requested a corner table. Han Jiankun hadn't intended to come in, but Li Xuewu called him along.

He still remembered Qin Jingru's nagging, so he found a phone and called home to report his whereabouts.

Fearing that he might get internal heat, and also fearing that Lin Tingting might get internal heat, Li Xuewu only ordered a clear broth base.

They did order plenty of meat, though; Li Xuewu himself has a good appetite, and Han Jiankun also has a large appetite.

But even though the bowls and chopsticks were all prepared, Lin Tingting remained silent and didn't speak.

"Eat first. We can talk about things after we've finished eating."

Li Xuewu handed the chopsticks to her, tapped the table, and reminded her with that sentence.

Lin Tingting raised her head, took the chopsticks, glanced at the food on the table, looked at Li Xuewu's casual demeanor, and took a deep breath.

"Thank you."

"Mm-hmm, eat."

Regarding Lin Tingting's thanks, Li Xuewu's reply was very simple. Seeing that the clear broth in the brass pot was already boiling, he began to put meat into it.

Lin Tingting's gaze swept over the people in the dining hall, and then she also used her chopsticks to pick up a 'donkey rolls' (lǘ dǎ gǔn).

Eating hot pot is actually not suitable for conversation. If you really want to discuss some business or matters at the table, you would usually eat stir-fried dishes.

Hot pot is too rushed and also too particular about timing; the food you put in must be picked out and eaten in time, otherwise it will get tough.

The pot isn't very big, so you have to keep adding the food you want to eat in a timely manner.

And the fresh, fragrant, numbing, and spicy flavors make you impatient to eat the next bite, so after starting a hot pot meal, there is rarely any high-flown discussion.

Especially at this time, everyone has the problem of having an appetite but lacking meat. A table of hot pot costs two or three yuan; wouldn't your eyes be glued to the food?

Those who are truly chatting and laughing are the ones who can't eat anymore and are sitting there burping.

The three of them on Li Xuewu's side were eating quite fast; he and Han Jiankun are capable of eating, and they eat quickly.

Lin Tingting, however, had things on her mind and didn't eat much.

Han Jiankun finished eating first, went to the counter to get hot tea and brought it over, then went outside to smoke and tidy up the car.

Li Xuewu drank a sip of hot tea, picked up a pair of serving chopsticks, and placed some meat into Lin Tingting's plate.

"Are you finished eating?"

Lin Tingting raised her head to look at Li Xuewu, then lowered her head again and said softly: "I want to tell you something."

"It's just... it's just... I want to apply for a transfer, to go out of town, but they won't let me go here. Could you..."

"Go out of town?"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and asked: "Who won't let you go? The Supply and Marketing Cooperative or...?"

"I don't know the specifics either."

Lin Tingting said in a somewhat low voice: "I applied to our director, and he even agreed at first, but later he told me that policy doesn't allow it."

"But~!"

When she reached this point, she raised her head and looked at Li Xuewu, saying: "There has only ever been difficulty transferring into the city; there has never been difficulty transferring out."

"Director Ma said that?"

Li Xuewu asked, and seeing Lin Tingting nod, he then nodded and said: "Then there must be difficulties."

"How did you think of transferring out of town? Where do you want to go?"

"I don't know, anywhere. Far away is fine, as long as it's not in Beijing."

Lin Tingting's tone was somewhat casual, but she was lowering her head and didn't dare to look at Li Xuewu, which still exposed her concern.

Li Xuewu looked at her for a long while before saying: "It's impossible for the time being. You know the reason..."

"But!"

Lin Tingting put down the chopsticks in her hand, raised her head, frowned, and said: "Haven't my issues all been investigated clearly?"

"Mm, there is no conclusion yet for the time being."

Li Xuewu drank a sip of hot tea and said: "Until this case is solved, all the suspicious points are still there. You are the last person known to have had contact with her."

"If I'm in a hurry to leave, it means I'm a suspect, right?"

Lin Tingting pursed her lips, feeling very helpless, and said despairingly: "If this case cannot be solved, then this matter will be like those things about my family, forever marked on my face, right?"

"You are thinking about the problem too simply."

Li Xuewu did not directly persuade her, but instead raised his hand to seal the stove fire under the hot pot with the lid, and said blandly: "If you want to talk about marks, those are marks you made yourself."

"What do you mean?"

Lin Tingting frowned at Li Xuewu and asked: "You are the one who has been helping me all along, right? Including my family matters and my unit matters. Is that right?"

"During the Great Learning movement, with the whips coming down one after another, I narrowly escaped every time. It was you, right?"

Li Xuewu neither admitted nor denied it. He has connections in the powerful departments and also in the supply and marketing system; it wasn't difficult for Lin Tingting to guess this point.

He picked up the teapot to refill her teacup with hot tea and said: "It wasn't me who wouldn't let you leave; it is indeed a policy issue."

After finishing, he looked at Lin Tingting's somewhat stubborn gaze and said: "I have never interfered with your life, and I have even less intention of making you feel troubled about the present."

Lin Tingting raised her hand to cover her face, and tears streamed down. She knew it, she knew it; where in this world is there love without reason?

Once or twice could be explained by coincidence and fate, but having dodged the knives blowing in her face one after another, how could she still deceive herself?

Her parents are gone, her brother is gone; the only person in this world who could achieve this is the person in front of her.

But she didn't want this. She didn't want to bear this heavy family background pressure, and she even less wanted to bear Li Xuewu's care for her, pretending not to understand, turning a blind eye, and deceiving herself over and over again.

After her parents' case ended, she had once thought about following them, but in the end, she didn't have that ruthlessness and courage.

She couldn't fail the love of her parents and relatives, and she couldn't fail Li Xuewu's love either, so she wanted to change her life as quickly as possible to walk out of the haze.

Later, she slowly discovered how naive and ridiculous her thoughts were at the time. The haze had never disappeared; it was truly accompanying her side.

People would come to visit her home regularly, and the gazes of the neighborhood committee and neighbors toward her were all filled with vigilance.

Her unit colleagues were mostly understanding, but after the Great Learning movement began, those criticisms seemed like cold arrows shot at her.

She wanted to leave, really wanted to leave, to stay far away from this place of right and wrong, to a place where no one knew her.

But historical issues are like heavy shackles locked around her neck, never to be freed for eternity.

In the waves of the Great Learning movement, every instance of trepidation and narrow escape would make her shed a layer of skin, and make her colleagues treat her even more differently.

What had she done, or what had she paid, to exchange for today's stability?

No, she was certain she had done nothing, and even more certain that her "lover" had done nothing. It was always someone silently protecting her.

If this case hadn't happened, she thought she would continue to pretend, pretend she didn't understand, pretend she didn't care, and just spend her life in this plain way.

But life is so unexpected, making her dignity be tortured over and over again.

Especially the moment she walked out of the investigation office today, the clerk's reminder completely tore off her mask and disguise.

Lin Tingting had never actively paid attention to Li Xuewu, and had never asked about his situation or information; she was afraid.

She was afraid that she wouldn't be able to help thinking of him, and she was even more afraid that she wouldn't be able to endure the inner torture, powerless and without reason to bear this silent, heavy care.

The surging self-reproach and regret, as well as the despair toward life, instantly filled Lin Tingting's entire inner world. She cried so sadly, so despairingly.

Seeing her like this, what could Li Xuewu do? "This feeling might have become a memory, but it was already lost at the time."

Li Xuewu wouldn't say words to persuade people; if he said them, she would probably cry even harder. Qin Jingru has deep experience with this.

So Li Xuewu sat silently on the side drinking tea, helping her block those surprised gazes looking over.

After about ten minutes, Lin Tingting stopped crying, took her own handkerchief to wipe her face, and said with a hoarse voice: "Thank you, I've caused you trouble."

"Hey~ why say that?"

Li Xuewu shook his head, looked at her and said: "It was just a small favor; you don't need to take it to heart. Just live your life well and get through your days well."

"Mm, I owe you too much, I can't pay it back."

Lin Tingting wiped her eyes, picked up the meat in her bowl and ate it, pursed her lips, and said: "The luckiest thing in my life is meeting you..."

"Please don't say I'm a good person!"

Li Xuewu waved his hand, interrupted her "heartfelt words," and said with a smile: "This heart of mine relies entirely on the brilliance of the organization. If you praise me too much and I start to get carried away, you'll be able to see that I'm not such a good thing."

"In my heart, you are always an interesting person."

Lin Tingting smiled, her teary eyes fixed on Li Xuewu's eyes. The regrets and missed opportunities of the past were all released after this moment.

"If it's convenient, please protect me more. I am truly powerless against this world."

"Don't say disheartening words. Life is lived by oneself; what's this about having ability or not?"

Li Xuewu first said that to her, then smiled, gestured to the door, and said: "Let's go, I'll send you back. I can't be late getting home either."

"Ah? Is your lover pregnant, right?"

Lin Tingting sorted out her emotions, quickly packed her things, stood up, and said: "It's embarrassing, I only focused on talking about my own affairs."

"It's fine, at least you knew to come find me when you had trouble; that means you still treat me as a friend."

Li Xuewu took her out the door, saw Han Jiankun sitting in the car and starting it, knowing the kid wouldn't freeze.

On the way, the two chatted about daily life. When getting out of the car, Li Xuewu urged her to work with peace of mind, to actively cooperate if there were any issues with the case team, and to live her life well.

Lin Tingting stood at the entrance of the alley, watching the jeep disappear before returning home.

She only felt that she had unloaded a heavy burden, and even her walking felt much lighter.

Lost love is never meant to be sacrificed, but to be savored alone after being aged; whether bitter or spicy, it is what it is.

Regarding Li Xuewu's late return, Han Jiankun wouldn't dare to leak a word, and Qin Jingru couldn't possibly ask.

The couple has rules for how they conduct themselves and do things; no matter where they learned them, they grasp the sense of proportion very well.

Actually, in Han Jiankun's view, whether there was something or nothing, if Li Xuewu really wanted to hide it, who could possibly know?

Some things weren't hidden from him, and he wouldn't care if he knew; it was also a form of trust in him.

He could roughly guess the situation of this woman today; it was nothing more than one of Li Xuewu's many ex-girlfriends.

It's nothing strange for an ex-girlfriend to come to him for help. Have you ever seen something even stranger, like executing an ex-girlfriend?

He really didn't think Li Xuewu would have anything happen with this woman, even if the other party was beautiful.

Why?

Saying it's intuition is a bit mysterious; actually, it's the experience he summarized as a driver for the small car team.

If there really was something, if the two really wanted to talk about emotional matters, could he have been called to eat together?

Calling him to eat together means he needs to be a witness for the leader, not for others to see, and even less for the family to see, but for the ex-girlfriend to see.

It's a very simple principle: I'm not afraid of bringing someone along, which proves I don't want to talk to you about private topics, and even less will I develop that kind of relationship.

So don't misunderstand me, and I won't give you the opportunity to say such things either.

When out and about, one's innocence is given by oneself. I advise everyone to learn from Li Xuewu: be cautious in speech and action, and keep yourself clean.

Li Xuewu returned home, first coaxed his daughter to sleep, then sent Qin Jingru and her husband away, and only then went up to the second floor.

He didn't even wait for Gu Ning to ask before he took the initiative to talk about tonight's dinner.

Gu Ning was also very surprised that Li Xuewu brought this up. She looked at Li Xuewu, who had come out of the bathroom after showering, and asked: "Does she have trouble?"

"I didn't ask too deeply."

Li Xuewu put on pajamas, shuffled in slippers, took a look at his sleeping daughter, and only then went to the study.

"She said she wanted a transfer, but the application to her unit didn't pass."

"Why did she come to you?"

Gu Ning closed the book in her hand and looked at Li Xuewu, asking: "Did she ask you to help pull strings?"

"It might not be just that."

Li Xuewu wiped his hair dry, took a look at the books on the shelf, and found some college textbooks.

"She's probably thinking of resolving past matters. The case she encountered this time should be adding insult to injury for her situation."

"Is it hard to handle?"

Gu Ning tidied the hair by her ear and said: "Should we ask Dad?"

"It's not to that extent."

Li Xuewu took the books and sat opposite the desk, picked up Gu Ning's teacup, drank a sip, and said: "Safety is not an issue for now; we'll talk about the rest later."

While speaking, he put down the teacup and looked at Gu Ning, saying: "Personnel related to the case cannot be trusted until the matter is concluded."

"..."

Gu Ning looked at Li Xuewu, and seeing that his expression wasn't joking, she was speechless for a moment.

Her husband is good at everything, except that he has too many schemes, and he is full of vigilance in interpersonal relationships, as if he's prepared for everyone to be a bad person.

You say he's not good like this? But his work is just like this. To support a family and protect the safety of his family members during this period, how could it be easy?

"Tell me if you have arrangements..."

"No arrangements. Telling you is just to let you know this matter exists, so you'll be prepared if she comes to visit later."

Li Xuewu opened the textbook and added: "She might not come. I mentioned you were pregnant; if she really comes, just receive her."

"Mm, understood."

Gu Ning didn't have any special reaction to Li Xuewu's frankness, no jealousy or joy; it was very plain, as if he were talking about some distant relative.

"Mm, is there any news from Jin Ling?"

Li Xuewu flipped through the book in his hand, chatting about daily life with Gu Ning while multitasking.

"Mom called me, it seems it was the weekend before last. Did she call you?"

"Mm..."

Gu Ning flipped through the book in her hand boredly, hesitated for a moment, then raised her head and looked at Li Xuewu, saying: "Can you stop telling Mom about my situation all the time?"

"Mm? What situation?"

Li Xuewu heard her say this, raised his head to look opposite, and then explained with a smile: "It's not that I want to say it; it's that Mom keeps asking."

"Don't tell her even if she asks~"

Gu Ning said with a bit of temper: "After you tell her, she'll come to nag me again."

"Okay~ okay~ okay~"

Li Xuewu nodded and said: "Next time I call Mom, I'll tell her you won't let me say it."

"-. -"

Gu Ning sat opposite, squinting her eyes at Li Xuewu, which meant: "How dare you, you brat!"

Li Xuewu felt the murderous aura from opposite, and said indifferently: "You're giving birth in two months. If you make Mom anxious, she might fly back to watch over you, believe it or not?"

"Hmph~~~!"

Gu Ning also knew that Li Xuewu was telling the truth, but why did it sound so threatening!

She hummed softly, pondered for a long while, and then instructed: "If she asks again, just say you don't know, you're not clear, you're very busy."

"..."

This time it was Li Xuewu's turn to be speechless. He raised his head and looked at his wife, asking: "Are you teaching me how to fool my mother-in-law?"

"Just say it like that!"

Gu Ning got a bit anxious, widened her eyes and said: "Who talks about their psychological state or physiological state on the phone! You're a man!"

"Look at you, what are you anxious about?"

Li Xuewu poured warm water and pushed it over, persuading her kindly: "What's wrong with being a man? I didn't talk about anyone else. Mom asked, so how do you want me to answer?"

"If I say I don't know, Mom will definitely let her imagination run wild and say I didn't take good care of you. What if she flies back then?"

"If I say you don't want me to talk about it on the phone, she'll still call to nag you, right?"

Li Xuewu spread his hands helplessly and said: "I can't handle Mom's temper; I can only say what there is to say~"

He was also like a dead pig not afraid of boiling water, losing all face in front of his wife: "With Mom, I only have one rule: leniency for those who confess, severity for those who resist."

"I can't be bothered with you~!"

Gu Ning looked at him, who was overbearing outside, grabbing Seeing Wei Guo's head and banging it against the car hood, but at home, he had "no will to resist" when it came to her mother-in-law. She was truly speechless.

Where is your capability!

Where is your overbearingness!

What happened to protecting me!

You should dare to say no to evil forces!

You can't even do this little thing, hmph~

Gu Ning pouted, stood up, and walked out. When she reached the study door, she suddenly stopped as if she remembered something.

She turned around lightly, stared at Li Xuewu, and asked suspiciously: "You won't go to my mom to complain about what I said tonight, right?"

"Hey! What are you saying! Am I that kind of person!"

Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning very aggrievedly, and said even more dissatisfied: "You really hurt my heart. Am I that kind of person in your heart?"

"No, you hurry up and say sorry to me, otherwise this matter isn't over today!"

"Is that so~~~?"

Gu Ning squinted her eyes, pressed her brows, sized up Li Xuewu, and asked: "Then how did she know about my complaint last time that Mom controlled my exercise too little?"

"Is that so?"

"Did that happen?"

"How come I don't know?"

Li Xuewu looked at Gu Ning very blankly and asked: "Who have you told this to? Think carefully."

"What do you think?"

"I only told you!"

Gu Ning squinted her eyes at Li Xuewu and said: "Who else was home at night? Would I tell Qin Jingru this?"

"I know!"

Li Xuewu stood up and walked out, not even stopping when passing Gu Ning.

He pointed toward the master bedroom while saying to Gu Ning with certainty: "It must be Li Shu! This child can't be left alone now! She even knows how to call to complain!"

"???"

She had seen children who pit their parents, but she had never seen a parent who pits their child!

"Li Xuewu! Do you think I'm a fool!"

Li Shu in the master bedroom was woken up by the sound of her parents talking outside. She sat up groggily wanting to drink water, but felt something was wrong after hearing two sentences.

Truly: Waking up groggily in surprise, the scapegoat flies toward myself!

It's fortunate she heard this; how many things would there be if she hadn't heard!

How many scapegoats had she helped her dad carry before!

"Leader, there is some work that needs to be reported to you."

Sun Jian knocked on the door and walked into the office, reporting: "The third phase of the emergency training class, the third phase of the dual-plan training class, and the second phase of the security cadre training class are all starting together."

"Wei Tong over at the training ground wants to ask if it's convenient for you; he invites you to preside over the opening ceremony."

"What date?"

Li Xuewu flipped through the calendar on his desk, heard Sun Jian report that it was this Saturday, shook his head, and said: "I might not be able to make it."

"You know, there's a case over at the branch bureau, and there's work to be done at any time. It won't be solved in these few days."

Li Xuewu looked at the work daily report at hand, as well as the work schedule prepared by Peng Xiaoli, and said: "No, there's an office meeting on automotive parts procurement this week, and there's also work to coordinate in personnel."

"Is that so?"

Sun Jian stood in front of the desk and said: "Comrade Xu Ning from the Steel Mill arrives at the factory this afternoon. Should we also set aside time for him to report his work?"

"Mm, I won't see him today."

Li Xuewu put down the work daily report in his hand and instructed Sun Jian: "Let him go home and rest for a day first, and come to the factory tomorrow morning."

"About the training ground opening..."

"Like this."

Li Xuewu pointed at Sun Jian and said: "You talk to Deputy Group Leader Yu and ask him to preside over it. These three training classes should still be taken seriously."

"Yes, leader."

Sun Jian made a simple record and reported again: "Comrade Wang Zongli has completed the personnel transfer procedures. Regarding the position of Director of the Management Office at the training ground, what do you think...?"

"Does personnel have any opinions?"

Li Xuewu lowered his head to read documents and didn't pay much attention to the cadre issue he mentioned.

Sun Jian observed Li Xuewu's complexion and reported: "Personnel is still waiting for our opinion, including the Fire Department."

"Then wait a bit longer; it's not a matter of these few days."

Li Xuewu put the signed document aside and looked at him, saying: "It's almost the end of the year, and the personnel changes in the Security Group are already very large. We can slow down."

"Please ask Comrade Wei Tong to care more about the training ground management office, and doesn't the Fire Department still have a deputy section chief?"

Li Xuewu pointed at Sun Jian and reminded: "Pay attention to the Security Section; Comrade Zhou Yao is young after all."

"Understood."

Sun Jian made a record, greeted him, and left. At the door, he even nodded at Peng Xiaoli.

Peng Xiaoli watched him leave, his mouth couldn't help but curl. He still thinks Sun Jian isn't a good person.

Traitors all deserve to die!

Especially the old bastard who used him and deceived him!

Did he really think the other party was broad-minded enough to forgive what he and Gu Cheng had done?

It was nothing more than using his current status to suppress others with his influence.

If we talk about the level of secretarial work, his status would definitely not be below Sun Jian's, but now Sun Jian is using the influence of that matter to suppress him.

Many tasks that should have been reported through him are now all reported by the other party himself.

This is also a weakening of his work prestige, greatly affecting the influence brought by his position.

If even the office director doesn't trust him, will other people in the office trust and respect him?

Over time, the leader will also feel he is unreliable. Why does everything have to be reported by the people below themselves?

What is a dull knife killing without seeing blood? Understand now? The water in this government office is very deep.

Fortunately, he isn't just eating for free. He has mixed in the factory office for two years; what kind of dog-shit mess hasn't he seen~!

"Leader, the document for Director Li has been sent over."

Peng Xiaoli first replied about his work, then continued: "When I just came out, I happened to run into Deputy Director Jin from the Third Industry Management Office going to Deputy Director Shi's room."

"There are rumors that Deputy Director Jin wants to build a new project in the Third Industry Management Office, to produce daily necessities or something."

"What daily necessities?"

Li Xuewu didn't raise his head, but his voice came out: "Is it this year's project or next year's?"

"It should be next year's."

Peng Xiaoli replied: "Finance has already closed the accounts for this year's budget. Even if he wants to apply, there's no money left; it must be next year."

"As for what to produce, I also heard Gu Cheng mention it. It seems to be plastic washbasins, towels, toothbrushes, and so on."

"Gu Cheng said it seems to be for sale as welfare items, and can also be supplied to the Rolling Steel Mill and the United Factory."

"Mm, good idea."

Li Xuewu nodded and said: "Deputy Director Jin's three fires upon taking office are about to burn. That's a good thing."

"Hehe, I don't understand this."

Peng Xiaoli smiled honestly, his eyes darting around, and said: "But I heard the project is self-funded by Deputy Director Jin, and he wants to hang it under the name of the Management Committee Office in the name of special welfare items."

"Is that so~"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows slightly, the smile on his face remaining, and said: "Regardless of where the project is hung, as long as it is beneficial to the factory, beneficial to production and life, it's all the same."

"That's what I thought too."

Peng Xiaoli smiled and brewed a new cup of tea for Li Xuewu, saying as he walked over: "In the future, we'll really be counting on buying cheap daily necessities in our factory. That's a big chunk of savings!"

"Let me tell you something interesting."

He stood in front of Li Xuewu's desk and said softly: "Gu Cheng, that kid, is honest. He heard this news and happened to run into Director Lü from the Third Industry Management Office."

The Third Industry Management Office, the Trade Management Center in Jinmen, and the Production Base Management Office in Steel City are all deputy-department-level units, uniformly managed under the Economic and Trade Leading Group Office.

The Director of the Economic and Trade Leading Group Office has one principal and three deputies. The principal is the Director of the Management Committee, Li Huai De, and the deputy directors are Dong Wenxue, Jing Yunong, and Li Xuewu.

The four of them form a leading group that fully manages the economic and trade work of the Rolling Steel Mill, without giving anyone else a chance to intervene.

Lü Peizhu was promoted from section chief in the Production Section to deputy department level this time, serving as the head of the Third Industry Management Office.

Jin Yaohui returned from the frontier office and was promoted from section chief to deputy department level by Li Huai De.

Both are deputy department level, but in terms of management ability and prestige, Lü Peizhu easily crushes Jin Yaohui.

But at their level, one cannot simply judge the comprehensive quality of a cadre by ability.

Jin Yaohui has a relationship with Li Huai De and has always worked in the government office, so he doesn't seem to be suppressed and doesn't care much about Lü Peizhu.

"Gu Cheng told Director Lü that the life of factory workers is nothing more than clothing, food, housing, transportation, birth, aging, illness, and death."

"For clothing, there is the textile workshop; for food, there is the canteen and welfare service office; for housing, there is the Workers' New Village plan; for transportation, there is the Automobile Manufacturing Factory."

"For birth and illness, there is the factory hospital, and in the future, there will be a general hospital; for old age, there is retirement security. The only thing missing is death."

Peng Xiaoli vividly described to Li Xuewu: "He told Director Lü, since Deputy Director Jin wants to produce daily necessities for everyone, when will our factory open its own crematorium and run a cemetery? This is serving the people wholeheartedly!"

"..."

Li Xuewu raised his head to look at Peng Xiaoli and asked: "Did you teach him to say that?"

"How could that be!"

Peng Xiaoli cried out in grievance: "Does that guy need me to teach him? He was never a good thing to begin with!"

"Fine, a pair of shit-stirrers!"

Li Xuewu scolded him, didn't bother with him anymore, and continued reading the documents.

Facing the leader's criticism, Peng Xiaoli blinked his eyes, pursed his lips, and smiled.

He didn't care. What did he have to care about? The leader just said he and Gu Cheng were sticks; what's wrong with that?!

But thinking about it, it's a bit dirty~

Peng Xiaoli has quite a bit of insight into how to gain the leader's favor and trust; ordinary people wouldn't be convinced!

You don't believe it?

He can even teach Li Xue. Look at how much Deputy Director Jing values Li Xue now.

Putting aside all relationships, just look at how Deputy Director Jing treats Li Xue?!

In this pile of government office work at the Rolling Steel Mill, if you talk about writing quality, theoretical knowledge, or seniority and background, he definitely wouldn't rank.

But if you talk about comprehensive quality, secretarial insights, and techniques, he wouldn't be convinced! He wouldn't be convinced by anyone!

What is the highest realm of secretarial work performance?

It's not how good your own performance is, not how high your execution ability is, but helping the leader achieve work performance and ensuring the execution of transmitted tasks is high—that's what's called good.

You must learn to endure, learn to observe. On one hand, you must fully perform your own duties; on the other hand, you must display your personal charm and become the leader's capable assistant.

Note: it's an assistant, not a secretary. Secretarial work could be done by a dog led over with two steamed buns.

(Sha Qizhi: F*ck your grandpa, I guess I was blind!)

Sun Jian wants to suppress him, wants to grab his resources. Peng Xiaoli certainly can't destroy unity and fight him head-on.

Doing that would be brave but foolish. His position is low and his words are light; doing anything would be wrong and would only waste opportunities.

Peng Xiaoli wouldn't fight him with real swords and guns. Sun Jian has the advantage of position; he has his own advantages.

For example, Sun Jian would definitely not dare to tell the leader about these rumors in the factory. He talks about them as after-dinner conversation; Sun Jian talking about them is stirring up trouble.

His status determines that he is destined to be closer to and more trusted by the leader than Sun Jian.

Sometimes Peng Xiaoli really wants to point at Sun Jian's nose and say: I can be a dog for the leader, can you?! You little trash, how can you compare with me!

Don't think the word "dog" is insulting; it's just a representative noun in a concrete sense.

It means assistance, reconnaissance, protection, loyalty, etc., not specifically referring to the animal.

For example, this time, Director Li wants to arrange Jin Yaohui, who returned from the frontier. Instead of asking personnel, he asks Deputy Director Li. What does this mean?

Deputy Director Li certainly can't go to others to pry into things; he can only choose a suitable position from his own sphere of influence.

The Third Industry Management Office has always been work that Deputy Director Li has been concerned about. After a series of storms, the pattern of dividing the world into three parts was basically determined, specifically expressed in the configuration of powers in the Economic and Trade Office.

Now Director Li isn't sharing food for Jin Yaohui from his own bowl, but instead occupies Deputy Director Li's share. What do you think Peng Xiaoli should do?

Of course, he should aim at Jin Yaohui's butt, which is exposed inadvertently, and bite the f*cker!

Director Li is testing Deputy Director Li's loyalty with this matter, so he is also using this matter to show his loyalty to Deputy Director Li.

Peng Xiaoli and Gu Cheng, this pair of bad seeds, are trying every way to stir up internal strife in the Third Industry Management Office, as if they are afraid Lü Peizhu and Jin Yaohui won't fight.

Today's report was just to see the leader's attitude. Having received the "criticism" of being a shit-stirrer, he certainly understood what the leader meant.

If you are willing to get dirty, of course you have to stir hard inside, otherwise why would the leader say that about them.

Sometimes, some things, it's not convenient for the leader to do, and even less convenient to say too thoroughly or too clearly.

At this time, the secretary needs to fully grasp the leader's intention and exert subjective initiative to complete this task.

Doing good things is certainly difficult, but if you want to do bad things, he doesn't need others to teach him; he just needs to restrain himself and perform normally.

Xu Ning arrived in Beijing on the afternoon of December 17th. After getting off the train, he came to the Security Building to report for duty immediately.

But Li Xuewu had a meeting and didn't see him; it was Sun Jian who came out to receive him and told him the leader's arrangements.

This fully reflected Li Xuewu's concern for him, and even more, his trust in him.

Especially this time going to the frontier, Han Zhan said when handing over work to him that after this trip, he might be called Deputy Director Xu.

Xu Ning was naturally very clear about this point. From the Security Section to the Security Section, to the Guest House, to the Steel City Security Office, and now to the Frontier Office.

His position soared from a section member to a section chief level by riding a rocket. How could he not be clear about the significance of this trip to the frontier?

The most important significance of going to Steel City was to help Dong Wenxue stabilize the situation, and at the same time stand firm, fully opening up the subordinate hierarchical relationship between the Rolling Steel Mill Security Office and the Steel Mill Security Office.

Now he can be considered to have retired after achieving success. Dong Wenxue has firmly grasped the reins of the Steel Mill's carriage, and the Rolling Steel Mill's management of the Steel Mill has opened up all the joints.

It is not appropriate for him, this pair of black gloves, to remain in Steel City for Dong Wenxue, for the Steel Mill, or for himself.

Last time Li Xuewu went over for investigation and inspection, he had the intention to report his thoughts to the leader.

But it happened to coincide with successive changes in the factory, so he thought that if Li Xuewu needed him, he would be transferred sooner or later.

The two most capable people in Li Xuewu's hands are him and Han Yating, who belong to the first echelon of security cadres.

Han Yating is pregnant now and temporarily took the blame at the beginning of the month, so it's impossible for her to shoulder the heavy burden.

So as long as there is a vacancy, he must be in the first echelon. It's just that he didn't expect to go to the frontier.

Regarding this result, Xu Ning had no hesitation. It's three years or more anywhere; his section chief level definitely needs to slow down.

If Li Xuewu doesn't rise, he definitely can't rise. If Li Xuewu rises, the successor will definitely be him.

Even if it's not a step-by-step promotion, he is definitely in the optimal sequence of Li Xuewu's arrangement plan.

From the current perspective, the future Security Group might be Li Xuewu succeeding Dong Wenxue, Yu Decai substituting as the First Deputy Group Leader, and he returning to Beijing to further enter the group as Deputy Group Leader.

Of course, these are all thoughts Xu Ning had on the way back. Three years is not long, not short; anything can happen.

If he can't open up the situation in the frontier like that trash Jin Yaohui, the result of his return might not necessarily be better than that trash.

Li Xuewu has a complete cadre echelon to substitute in his hands. He knows that if he doesn't work out, someone will definitely replace him.

This kind of pressure isn't something Li Xuewu said, but it's clearly placed here. He can feel it himself and can't relax at all.

So, returning home on the 17th to reunite with his family and handle personal affairs, he came to the Security Building early on the 18th to wait for Li Xuewu.

He must see Xu Ning. Not only to listen to Xu Ning's report on his work in Steel City, but also to listen to his plan for going to the frontier, and at the same time to give further instructions and arrangements.

But there were many meetings today. First, he presided over the automotive parts procurement office meeting with Jing Yunong and Xia Zhongquan, and then held a personnel coordination meeting.

The procurement office meeting first listened to the procurement plan content reported by Xia Zhongquan, and then communicated with the automotive engineering experts and financial management present. Through discussion and analysis, the procurement direction and agreement content for all parts were basically determined.

To ensure production quality, safety, and efficiency, the procurement plan was formulated according to Li Xuewu's opinion, with special parts supplied by three factories.

That is to say, there are three procurement channels for non-substitutable parts. No matter which side has a problem, it will not affect the production line's vehicle manufacturing efficiency.

Now, we can't beat the 212 jeep in terms of quality, so he can only take the Rolling Steel Mill to play the rogue.

On one hand, it's independent pricing, fiercely suppressing prices, forcing procurement units to have to turn their attention to the Red Star Hongxing Lingyang jeep.

On the other hand, it's improving service levels, making the off-line efficiency of the Hongxing Lingyang jeep far exceed that of the 212 jeep.

The price isn't lower than mine, the output isn't higher than mine; I have to bite off a big chunk of fat from this market!