Chapter 963: Just Talking of Wind and Moon

"Back for only such a short while? And you're leaving already?"

Yi Zhonghai, wearing a blue cloth cotton-padded jacket and holding a hammer in his hand, greeted Li Xuewu with a smile as he emerged from his home.

"Going out for a bit, I have some business. I'll be back tonight."

Li Xuewu first responded, then pointed at what he was holding and asked, "What are you doing...?"

"The gatehouse window frame cracked, I'm fixing it up."

Yi Zhonghai always wore that same gentle, tolerant smile. As the First Uncle of the courtyard, he still had to take on the work of a maintenance man.

He naturally didn't need to worry about the repairs for each individual household, but for the public equipment and facilities in the courtyard, someone always had to step up.

"You're busy enough."

Li Xuewu smiled, lit a cigarette for himself, walked over to the First Uncle who was waiting for him, looked him over, and asked, "Recovering quite well, aren't you?"

"Better, all better."

The First Uncle nodded with a smile and walked toward the outside with Li Xuewu, saying as they walked, "How busy can I really be? It's just this little bit of work."

As he spoke, he looked at Li Xuewu and asked, "Did you just tell everyone in the courtyard about our factory's policy to build replacement housing?"

"Sigh! Seven out of ten families in this courtyard are workers from our factory~"

Not waiting for Li Xuewu to answer, he first let out a sigh, then said, "If everyone really moves away, who knows, I might not even need to do this work anymore."

"Why? Don't you want to live in a new apartment building?"

Li Xuewu took a puff of his cigarette and then said with a smile, "People dream of living in apartment buildings; they're clean and convenient."

"Hey~ I'm afraid I won't be used to it."

Yi Zhonghai shook his head slightly and said, "It's fine for me and your First Aunt at our age, but if we get older and our legs and feet aren't nimble, we won't even be able to find anyone to help us downstairs."

"But still, new apartment buildings are a good thing."

He nodded affirmatively to Li Xuewu and said, "Whether it's from the perspective of standardized factory management or convenience in daily life, it's a very good thing!"

"If an advanced worker representative like you says it's a good thing, then the factory did the right thing with this matter."

Li Xuewu smiled and comforted him, "If you think the floor is too high and inconvenient, you can choose the first floor; it's suitable for coming and going."

"For a couple like you and your First Aunt, it's better to keep it simple. A small forty-square-meter unit, one bedroom, one living room, with a kitchen and bathroom—it's easy to keep tidy, too."

"No need to talk about the First Uncle's family!"

Wang Laoqi was standing in the outer courtyard holding a hand saw and smoking, with two benches placed against the wall and some wood on top, clearly busy working along with the First Uncle.

He had sharp ears and had long since heard their conversation. Seeing them walk out, he smiled and chimed in, "Never mind forty square meters, even the largest eighty-square-meter one, the First Uncle can afford it!"

"Hehe, Seventh Brother, your family has many people, you'll need the eighty-square-meter one."

Li Xuewu teased him with a smile, glossing over the topic so the First Uncle wouldn't lose face because of his bluntness.

The First Uncle just glanced at him, still smiling, and said, "I'll see after I think about it. There's still the Old Lady in the back courtyard."

"Hey~~~"

Wang Laoqi shook his head as if putting on a show and said, "If I'd known our factory had this trick up its sleeve, I should have listened to my dad back then and kowtowed to the Old Lady to support her in her old age."

"You? Hehe~"

Li Xuewu curled his lips, looked at him amusedly, and said, "With the personality you and Seventh Sister-in-law have, arguing every three days, I'm afraid you wouldn't even wait until the day of the housing replacement before you'd have sent the Old Lady off."

"Hahaha~"

Wang Laoqi had just heard Li Xuewu call him Seventh Brother, and he felt so comfortable inside.

They used to live in the same courtyard, and Li Xuewu was younger than him, so of course, he would call him Seventh Brother when they met.

But that was in the past. Now, Li Xuewu was not what he used to be; who wouldn't have to call him Deputy Director Li or Factory Leader when they saw him?

But look at him, as long as he was back in the big courtyard, he still called him Seventh Brother!

If someone else said his wife was loud and reckless, he would be unhappy and start cursing, but since Li Xuewu called her Seventh Sister-in-law first, anything else he said was just a joke.

That's why he laughed the loudest this time, without the slightest regret for missing out on the larger housing replacement area because he didn't support the Old Lady.

This kind of person was blunt and spoke without thinking, but his mind was simple. Although he was muddled in life, he was open and clear in his conduct.

You could tell from the fact that the First Uncle, who had just been offended by him, didn't hold it against him that this Wang Laoqi wasn't a bad person.

If he were a scheming person, would he be able to come along with the First Uncle to fix the gatehouse window?

Look at Yan Fugui; he wouldn't even take an extra look if he were strolling at home, afraid of spending money and afraid of exerting effort.

"Deputy Director Li, ordinary workers have replacement housing, do leading cadres have it too?"

"Why are you curious about this?"

Li Xuewu glanced at him, nodded with a smile, and said, "Cadre housing is more special. Replacement housing has grade-based subsidies and even more special contribution subsidies."

"Ah? Why don't we have them!"

As soon as Wang Laoqi heard that cadres had special treatment, his face changed instantly. He stared with wide eyes and asked, "Isn't this unfair!"

The First Uncle frowned slightly and was about to scold him, but Li Xuewu waved his hand and stopped him.

"Who told you workers don't have them?"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and explained to him, "Ordinary workers are the same as ordinary cadres; neither has special treatment."

"But rank-and-file cadres and mid-to-high-level workers are the same; they all enjoy position and technical treatment, and it even includes factors for special contribution assessment."

"Take the First Uncle, for example. An eighth-grade worker enjoys the same housing preferential policy as a division-level cadre."

"And you? Seventh Brother!"

Li Xuewu looked at Wang Laoqi and said, "You've been in the factory for ten years, right? When will you pass the third-grade worker exam?"

"Third grade... what's the use of third grade? It's only six yuan and six more~"

Wang Laoqi wilted at this moment and stiffened his neck. He knew that Li Xuewu hadn't told them this at the gate of the hanging flower gate just now because there were no high-level workers among them, and even mid-level workers were few.

It was even rarer to have an excellent worker like the First Uncle who had a stack of awards; it was useless to talk about it.

Especially since Liu Guangqi was still there. He had come for the house to support his old age; if Li Xuewu had stated this policy, he would definitely have a knot in his heart.

Why?

Because the Second Uncle used to be a seventh-grade worker and had won many awards and made many honorary contributions; the replacement housing would definitely enjoy many preferential policies.

But now? The Second Uncle almost couldn't even keep his job; if he wanted to change houses, he would have to pay out of his own pocket.

Can you say Liu Guangqi's narrow mind could handle this psychological gap?

Don't let a good thing turn into a bad thing. Even if Wang Laoqi had no brains, he figured this point out.

"I... I'm just like this."

He shrugged his shoulders. Once the awkwardness passed, a smile returned to his face. He looked at Li Xuewu and asked, "Your house is big, and you're a factory leader, you must be changing to the biggest one!"

Saying this, Wang Laoqi looked at the First Uncle and asked, "How big is the largest cadre apartment? Is it one hundred and twenty?"

Then he sighed with emotion, "Good heavens! Over a hundred square meters! How many people can live in that!"

"Hmm, I'm not changing."

Li Xuewu wasn't afraid they would have concerns and said very frankly, "The household registration book was already split a long time ago. My parents' house won't be changed to me."

"The inverted room here has to be used by the West Courtyard, and the back courtyard is intended to be left for my maternal grandfather to support him in his old age."

After finishing, he flicked the cigarette ash, took a puff, and said again, "The place I live now is close to Xiao Ning's hospital, so it's convenient for her."

"Hmm, that's true too."

Wang Laoqi took the last puff of the cigarette in his hand, stubbed it out on the wooden block, nodded, and said, "Once this replacement housing policy came out, everyone was panicked. After hearing your explanation, I feel relieved."

"Do what's convenient for yourself."

The First Uncle raised his head and gestured toward the gatehouse, saying, "Let's hurry up and work. Xuewu is busy too."

"Got it!"

"Hehe, I just threw away my cigarette~"

Wang Laoqi promised with a smile, and seeing Li Xuewu offer a cigarette, he smiled and took it with both hands.

Li Xuewu pointed to the inverted room and said to them, "If you need anything, go call them to help. Don't be polite with them; the boys all have strength."

"Hey~ Go ahead and be busy, there's a lot of work~"

Wang Laoqi waved his hand with a smile, tucked the good cigarette Li Xuewu gave him behind his ear, and started working hard with the hand saw.

After Li Xuewu left and the sound of the jeep faded away, he finally raised his head, pursed his lips, and said seriously to the First Uncle, "It really is deserved that he's a leading cadre!"

"Qin Jie, aren't you cold?"

In the middle courtyard, just as the sound of Li Xuewu's command car disappeared, Yushui walked out of the house, tightening her scarf.

Seeing Qin Huairu standing in the courtyard washing clothes, she greeted her with a smile.

Qin Huairu turned her head to look at her and smiled, "Cold? It's so warm today."

After finishing, she looked at Yushui's attire and asked with a smile, "What are you doing? Dressed so beautifully~"

"Beautiful? Please don't make fun of me~"

Yushui put on her gloves, pushed the bicycle parked at the gate, and replied, "My classmates invited me out. They said a Shanghai barber came to the Xinfeng Barbershop in Wangfujing, and he can cut new styles."

"Qin Jie, do you want to come with me?"

"Xinfeng? That used to be the Four Unions, right~"

Qin Huairu shook her head with a smile and said, "It's too expensive. I can't compare with you; I have a whole family to support."

The "Four Unions" mentioned here refers to the four high-end barbershops—"Huaxin," "Violet," "Cloud Clothes," and "Xiangming"—that moved to the capital from Shanghai as a whole.

Qin Huairu had heard of them before but had never been, because she couldn't afford it.

A man's haircut cost eighty cents, and a woman's perm and dye cost two yuan and twenty cents. Who could afford that kind of consumption!

A haircut at the Jiaodaokou Barbershop only cost forty cents, and even that made her heart ache. Everyone in the family had their hair cut by her using scissors.

Now, of course, she could afford it, but her living habits hadn't changed. She saved where she could; spending that money felt too wasteful.

She used to follow fashion and perm her hair, but she didn't go to a barbershop for an electric perm; she used iron wires heated in a stove to perm it herself.

This was also a microcosm of life in the big courtyard. They were poor, so living meant having to be tight-fisted.

Yushui was naturally different. Her previous salary wasn't low, and now it was even higher. She was single, so of course, she could spend as she pleased.

"It's not that expensive anymore~"

Yushui introduced, "Isn't there reform now? Electric perms aren't allowed anymore; there are only haircuts, and it's also forty cents, just like at the gate."

"Forget it, my hair isn't long anyway."

Qin Huairu said to her with a smile, "You're a big girl, you should be beautiful, and it looks good when you're all dressed up."

"Fine~ You're not old yet, but your heart has already aged~"

Yushui teased her, greeted her, and pushed the bicycle out. She seemed to be in a very good mood.

Qin Huairu withdrew her envious gaze and continued washing the clothes in the basin.

Splash~

Jia Zhangshi carried a small basin of hot water and poured it into the laundry basin, finally reaching out to test the water temperature.

"Why didn't you say anything when the water got cold? Waiting until you're old and your fingers hurt like mine, right!"

"It's just these few pieces."

Qin Huairu glanced at her and asked, "Don't you need to go on duty at the gate today?"

"The gatehouse window was broken by those little brats making trouble last night. The First Uncle and Wang Laoqi are fixing it."

Jia Zhangshi glanced in the direction of the second gate and said to Qin Huairu, "If you want to go, just go. Can our family be short of the money for your haircut?"

"Not going, it's not long anyway, it's a waste."

Qin Huairu raised her hand to tidy the hair scattered by her ears and said while washing the clothes, "Mom, let's have steamed buns tonight. Thaw that piece of meat, and go to the vegetable cellar to pick two radishes."

"Why did you suddenly think of eating steamed buns?"

Jia Zhangshi picked up the clothes Qin Huairu had finished rinsing in the basin and said, "What day is it?"

"It's not any day, the little ones have been clamoring for it for several days."

Qin Huairu raised her head and looked at her mother-in-law, saying, "Put in more meat filling, make it the flavor you like."

"What difference does it make if I eat one more bite or one less bite?"

Jia Zhangshi was hanging up the clothes at this moment. She felt comfortable inside, but she said indifferently, "It's not a festival, it's enough to be full."

"It doesn't matter for this one meal."

Qin Huairu lowered her head, feeling the warmth in the water basin, and felt warm inside too.

A poor couple has a hundred sorrows; a poor mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have an even harder time.

In the past, when life was bitter, the two of them were on guard against each other and calculating; life was meaningless, and it seemed like there were only tears in life.

Now that living conditions were better, the mother-in-law knew how to tolerate and care for her. Thinking about the future, her throat felt a little dry.

Life would get better and better; her family would also live in an apartment building and have a decent life.

Just as Qin Huairu was feeling emotional, she suddenly heard her mother-in-law ask in a low voice, "Are you having a falling out with him?"

"What? Hmm? ~"

Qin Huairu didn't react for a moment. She raised her head and looked at her mother-in-law, amused, "What are you talking about? Everything is fine..."

"I won't say~"

Jia Zhangshi curled her lips, glanced at her, and said, "You're stupid, do you think I'm stupid too? Trying to fool me, right?"

After finishing, she shook the clothes in her hand and said softly, "You used to make clothes for him all the time. Now, why are they all for the family?"

"What~"

Qin Huairu looked around. It was Sunday, and the courtyard was very lively. Everyone was busy, and no one noticed them.

She hurriedly helped her mother-in-law hang up all the clothes in the basin, leaned closer, and reminded her, "Why are you saying everything?"

"I want to say it~ If I don't say it, we won't even be able to eat steamed buns!"

Jia Zhangshi looked at Qin Huairu across the clothesline and said, "I heard him come back from the front courtyard, but I didn't see you greet him. Is it because you're hiding it at home, or is he being warm at work, or are you guarding against me?"

"Please stop talking, it's so embarrassing~"

Qin Huairu glanced at her mother-in-law and said, "He's a cadre now, how can he be like that? It's not good for him, and it's not good for me."

"Hmm, if you say so, then all cadres are good people~"

Don't look at Jia Zhangshi as muddled in other aspects; she was absolutely clear-headed in this regard.

"Is it that he dislikes you, or you dislike him? Don't tell me you found another one."

"Mom~~~"

Qin Huairu looked at her mother-in-law, not knowing what had happened. Why did she start saying such things today?

Jia Zhangshi was relentless. She gestured toward Banggeng in the room and said, "The child is growing up. If you make a mistake, you'll have worries in the future."

"I..."

Qin Huairu looked at her mother-in-law, who was walking into the room with the basin, wanting to say something but unable to open her mouth again.

Of course, there were no problems or contradictions between her and Li Xuewu; it was just that the distance in space and status had widened, and the relationship had changed.

In the past, Li Xuewu lived in the house, and they saw each other every day in the front and back courtyards, so it was naturally convenient.

Plus, at that time, Li Xuewu was only a deputy section chief, and there was a lot she could help with at work—not just in bed.

Now the situation had changed. Li Xuewu didn't live in the courtyard, and they couldn't see each other when going to or from work, so the contact naturally decreased.

Even at work, there was less and less she could help Li Xuewu with. What Li Xuewu talked to her about more was doing his own work.

Li Xuewu went to the guesthouse less and less, especially now that there was the International Hotel; all the factory's entertaining would be there in the future.

The alienation in life and work made Qin Huairu feel that being with him again was like she was taking advantage of him endlessly.

She already had her current life and her current job; she had to learn to be content.

Even if it was like what her mother-in-law said, her son and daughter were growing up, and it would be inevitable to rely on Li Xuewu for help in the future.

If it were like when they couldn't get enough to eat in the past, she could still let go, but not now.

He should have better people to accompany him, to enjoy a better life, and to associate with people who could help him, rather than being entangled by her and constantly being exploited.

She wouldn't be so arrogant as to think that she had also given a lot and helped him a lot, so she didn't owe him anything.

Precisely because she owed him too much, this was the time she should make the best choice for him.

She should listen to and think about what her mother-in-law said, but her life was her own. Just like when she chose to be with Li Xuewu in the beginning, this time she chose to leave Li Xuewu.

Mutual fulfillment was the most decent relationship.

The reason she supported and hoped to live in an apartment building when she heard about the factory's replacement housing policy was not just for enjoyment, and even less just for convenience.

Qin Huairu glanced at the big courtyard and knew in her heart that moving away from here meant breaking her past with him; in the future, they would be colleagues and friends.

She hoped he would be well.

"What are you doing?!"

Luo Yun narrowed her eyes and walked around the side of the gatehouse, looking at Zuo Jie, who looked a bit guilty, and asked, "Who were those two people at the gate?"

"Where are there two people?"

Zuo Jie turned his head to look, and seeing that the people had already walked around the corner, he turned back to argue a few words.

But Luo Yun didn't give him this opportunity at all. She walked in front of him, poked his chest, and asked angrily, "What do you mean by past feelings, what do you mean by..."

"Salute!"

Just as she was about to say more, she suddenly heard a security guard at the gate post shout "Salute," and then she saw the big gate open, and that familiar jeep drove in.

Li Xuewu saw that the two of them were standing at the gate tearing at each other, so he stepped on the brake right in front of them, lowered the window, and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Wu Ge..."

Zuo Jie had just greeted him when he heard Luo Yun beside him shout, "Li Ge, Zuo Jie is not honest, he's hooked up with those bad elements again!"

"Hmm? What bad elements?"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at Luo Yun, then turned his gaze toward Zuo Jie.

Zuo Jie looked at Li Xuewu with some difficulty, pursed his lips, and hesitated before explaining, "It's Dianzi and Chazi."

"Who?"

Li Xuewu couldn't remember who this was. He glanced at Zuo Jie and said, "Wait for me to park."

Saying this, he stepped on the gas and drove toward the parking space, leaving behind the bitter Zuo Jie and the triumphant Luo Yun.

"Don't think that just because I like you, you can do whatever you want!"

Zuo Jie blinked his eyes at Luo Yun and said, "My patience is limited!"

"So what!"

Luo Yun wasn't afraid of his threat at all. She stiffened her neck and stepped forward, saying, "I'm also telling you, I haven't agreed to be your girlfriend yet!"

As she spoke, she imitated Zuo Jie's gesture, poked him, and said, "Don't think that just because I gave you a little sunshine, you can shine!"

"Come over~"

Li Xuewu closed the car windows, threw the car keys to Zhao Lao Si, who had run over, and beckoned to the two of them who were fighting like gamecocks.

He didn't even look to see if they were following him, put his hands in his coat pockets, and walked toward the management office. There was still work to be done today.

Zuo Jie glared at Luo Yun and could only purse his lips and follow.

Luo Yun walked beside him like a little rooster that had won a fight, head held high.

She greeted the classmates or service staff they passed on the road from time to time, waved to Huang Gan, who was shouting at him from the window on the second floor of the billiards room, and led the two of them into Yu Li's office.

Yu Li was busy, and when she saw the three of them enter, she was stunned, then asked amusedly, "What's this, fighting?"

"I won~"

Luo Yun raised her little head, walked past Zuo Jie, went to the sofa, and sat down, waiting to watch Zuo Jie get disciplined with the attitude of watching the fun.

Yu Li stood up with a smile, walked to the sofa, poked Luo Yun's forehead, and then picked up a teacup and went to the tea cabinet to make tea.

Li Xuewu didn't pay attention to them. He walked behind the desk, sat down, took off his leather gloves, exhaled, and then pointed to the chair opposite, signaling Zuo Jie to sit down.

On the way here just now, he had already recalled who Dianzi and Chazi, whom Zuo Jie mentioned, were.

"Seeing Wei Guo let them come find you?"

"... Hmm, Seeing Wei Guo is in trouble~"

Zuo Jie explained after sitting down, "It's not that I contacted them; it's that they came to find me."

"Hmm, what do you mean?"

Li Xuewu moved some documents, let Yu Li put down the teacup, and raised his head slightly to look at the opposite side.

Zuo Jie pursed his lips, lowered his head, and said, "They said Seeing Wei Guo was stabbed in the stomach and needed money for surgery."

"Came to borrow money from you?"

Li Xuewu dealt with him while looking at the documents.

"Did you ask them how they found this place?"

"I asked, that was the first thing I asked."

Zuo Jie knew his meaning very well; he was afraid that someone was causing trouble behind the scenes.

He explained, "Dianzi and Chazi borrowed money from everyone, but it wasn't enough, so they found my home and asked my grandmother."

"Li Ge, I didn't tell them anything else."

Zuo Jie looked at Li Xuewu carefully and said, "They asked to borrow money, and I... thinking about the past, I borrowed thirty for them."

"Hmm."

Li Xuewu responded, still looking at the documents, and only after a long while did he continue to ask, "What about Seeing Wei Guo's parents?"

"They're in trouble, because of Weimin's problem."

Zuo Jie lowered his head, squeezed his hands, and said, "His dad was also investigated for many things. Now he's the only one left in his family, and their house has been sealed."

"I don't know the specifics. Although we live in the same courtyard, I stopped playing with them a long time ago."

"Especially this time, Seeing Wei Guo ran back secretly. His behavior is more overbearing and fierce than before, so I don't dare to get close."

"Borrowing money doesn't matter, just don't get yourself into trouble."

Li Xuewu looked up at him and reminded him with his head tilted slightly, "If you save someone in the underworld, you have to be an underworld person yourself, and you'll have to bear the underworld's affairs in the future."

"I'm not~!"

Hearing Li Xuewu say this, Zuo Jie waved his hands in a panic and said, "I didn't think much about it at the time. Seeing Wei Guo used to take me out to play and spend money on me, so I couldn't just watch him die."

Saying this, he also emphasized, "Many people are looking for his whereabouts. It seems like the grudge is not small, otherwise, they wouldn't have come to me in such a hurry to borrow money."

"It's normal to have feelings and righteousness."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "I'm not blaming you, but reminding you that he owes you this favor, and I'm afraid he's going to cause you trouble."

"I don't want this money back."

Zuo Jie shook his head and said, "I had already made up my mind when I was at the gate. That's what I told them too; it doesn't count as borrowing money, it counts as paying back the money Seeing Wei Guo spent on me in the past."

"Hmm, fine, you've already given it."

Li Xuewu closed the document in his hand and exhorted, "Be careful when you go out recently."

After finishing, he gestured to Luo Yun, who was sitting on the sofa, and asked, "Are you two dating?"

"That..."

Zuo Jie lowered his head embarrassedly, not knowing how to answer.

Luo Yun, who had been listening without saying a word, stood up at this moment, leaned over to the desk, and emphasized, "Li Ge! No!"

She glared at Zuo Jie and said, "Who would like to date such a fool."

"I said you don't understand!"

Zuo Jie raised his head and retorted. In front of Li Xuewu and Yu Li, he really couldn't get off the stage; he usually followed Luo Yun's lead.

Just as Luo Yun was about to speak, she was hugged by Yu Li.

"Childhood sweethearts, innocent, and even more rare to be well-matched in social status. Are you two arguing over such a small matter?"

Yu Li glanced at Zuo Jie and said, "You can't act on impulse, only caring about brotherly loyalty. Have you ever thought that if you give money, the other party will pester you?"

"Have you ever thought that if you give money today, others will come to you again tomorrow if they have something? Everyone thinks that since you stand at the gate of this big courtyard, you might have endless money in your pocket."

"No wonder I say he's a fool!"

Luo Yun said angrily, "You are generous with money, but others treat you as giving alms at will. Not only do they not remember your feelings, but they also hate your dog-shit luck."

Zuo Jie's face turned blue and white as the two of them talked, and he felt that what Wu Ge said just now was much more tactful.

"I know, there won't be a next time."

"Fine, how big a deal is it."

Li Xuewu tapped the table with a pencil, looked at him, and said, "Don't walk on night roads recently. Who knows how many tails those two have behind them? The little brats don't know how heavy their hands are."

"Hmm, I won't go home, I'll stay here."

Zuo Jie thought that he didn't have the strength to protect himself, so everything he did was dangerous.

If it were Wu Ge who gave the money to the other party today, would he still need to worry about these dangers?

Li Xuewu threw the document in his hand in front of him and said, "You're bored recently, right? Go help Director Wang."

"Wang..."

Zuo Jie picked up the document and flipped through it. Only when he saw Wang Zheng's name did he know who Wu Ge was talking about.

This document was submitted by Wang Zheng regarding the use of assistance funds and visits to families in difficulty.

During this big study activity, there were countless cadres who went down, and naturally, there were those in their small group who couldn't hide.

Some time ago, Wang Xiaoqin proposed, Li Xuewu actively participated, and all members unanimously decided to establish an assistance foundation.

Recently, Wang Zheng had been running this work. Those with living difficulties or economic difficulties all had to use money from the assistance fund to solve them.

Zuo Jie was hearing about this for the first time. He looked at the document in his hand curiously and didn't notice Yu Li persuading Luo Yun in a low voice, and the two had already left the office.

"Wu Ge."

He looked at it for a long while before raising his head and asking actively after Li Xuewu finished reading a document, "How do I help?"

"Follow Wang Zheng and do it. Whatever she tells you to do, you do it."

Li Xuewu glanced at him and then asked, "Your parents are not by your side, and your brothers and sisters are scattered in different places. Do you ever feel lonely?"

"Why wouldn't I? Sometimes I chatter to my grandmother."

There was no one else in the room at this moment, especially without the object of his affection, so he let go of his face.

"Our family is still considered okay. My dad and mom didn't make mistakes, they just couldn't come back because of work. You haven't seen how many families in our courtyard... sigh~"

He sighed when he said this, lowered his head, and said, "I don't live at home not because I'm afraid of Seeing Wei Guo and those people, but because I'm afraid... anyway, the courtyard is gloomy."

"Actually, you're quite smart."

Li Xuewu put down the document in his hand, looked at him, and said, "At first, I thought you were a bit careless, but later I realized you're not a bad kid."

"Have you ever thought that there are many young people like you?"

Seeing Zuo Jie raise his head at him blankly, Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "They are the same as you, or like what you said, their families suddenly suffered changes, and their lives lost goals and expectations."

"Some people will save themselves, like Xiao Jianjun, looking for opportunities to survive."

"Some people will degenerate, like Seeing Wei Guo, like a headless fly, hiding here and there."

"... Wu Ge."

Zuo Jie seemed to understand something, looked at Li Xuewu, and asked, "Are you asking me to..."

"Hmm, but take it slow."

Li Xuewu leaned over and tapped the folder in front of him, saying, "The families in difficulty here are all club members. You know what this means, right?"

"I understand!"

Zuo Jie nodded seriously and said, "I understand what you mean. I will focus on these people."

"Hmm, this counts as the foundation I'm giving you. You have to learn how to do things."

Li Xuewu leaned back in his chair and said to Zuo Jie, "Contact Master Dou more. He needs you to provide him with resources, and he can also provide you with resources."

"Understood."

Zuo Jie nodded and said, "Once this matter is settled, I will report to you."

"Good."

Li Xuewu smiled, looked at him, and said, "Since you like her, then treat her well. Don't bully her with male chauvinism."

"Thank you, Wu Ge."

Zuo Jie pursed his lips and smiled, then stood up, shook the document in his hand, and said, "I'm going to find Director Wang."

"Hmm."

Li Xuewu agreed and lowered his head to continue reading the documents.

The weather today was truly good, the big sun was high up, and the temperature had risen quite a bit just at noon.

The few heavy snows that fell some time ago still had piles of gray-white in the corners, which looked bright and shiny under the sun's irradiation.

Yu Li came back from the restaurant, met Huang Gan and others walking out of the billiards room, and reminded them, "The private room is already prepared, hurry over."

"Where's Li Xuewu?"

Huang Gan searched around, looked in the direction of the management office, and asked, "Still busy?! Is he addicted to work!"

"I'll go call him, you guys go first, the stove is already lit."

Yu Li gestured toward the restaurant direction and exhorted Ou Xin, "The dishes are all on the table. If you need anything else, go ask the kitchen; they're all there."

"Okay, Director Yu."

Ou Xin responded, glanced in the direction of the management office, and followed Huang Gan and the others toward the restaurant.

On the management office side, Li Xuewu was still looking at the documents, some from Steel City, some from Jicheng, and some from Hong Kong City.

The latest, and also the thinnest document, was from the frontier.

Xiao Jianjun hadn't gotten used to writing reports yet, and he didn't have this kind of work experience. The text he sent back was like a damn letter.

However, the general situation was written quite clearly. This kid's cultural level wasn't low; he just hadn't used it in the right place.

After he left the frontier, these people waited for a few days and then went to receive that big courtyard.

Sure enough, as he expected, it was already empty. Those frontier girls who danced seemed like a dream they had.

And now they were still living in the unit station of the Steel Mill Frontier Office, and they used cars borrowed from the office.

The main work now was to contact several local forces that had already finalized cooperation and complete the distribution tasks given by the office.

Ding Wanqiu was in charge of everything. Unlike when he was in Jicheng, this time he was the master, and his work became vigorous and resolute.

Xiao Jianjun, Zhao Lao Wu, and Da Chun were kept busy by him, with endless work to do every day.

The report replied that they were still in the stage of getting familiar with the work. Station Master Ding's meaning was also to take the first step well first, and finish this winter's distribution task.

Director Xu Ning had already arrived at his post and was very good to them. Like them, he was also in the stage of getting familiar with the work...

"Time to eat~"

Yu Li pushed the door into the office, and seeing Li Xuewu still busy, she greeted him.

Li Xuewu glanced at her, put down the document in his hand, looked at the time on his hand, and then said, "Is it this time already?"

"Isn't it!"

Yu Li walked to the front of the desk to tidy up what Li Xuewu had read and approved, and urged him, "Hurry up, Prison Warden Huang and the others have all gone over. He's treating today, eating in the private room."

"What day is it?"

Li Xuewu stood up with a smile and said, "Did he get rich?"

"Which day is he not rich?"

Yu Li picked up the coat hanging on the chair with a smile, served Li Xuewu to put it on, and said, "Section Chief Ma also said he was rich and imposing, and coins popped out when he spoke."

"Hehe, that's how it is."

Li Xuewu said with a light smile, "Doesn't the old saying go, don't let a poor person suddenly get rich, otherwise even the gods can't control it!"

"Look at you~"

Yu Li tidied his clothes and scolded him with a smile, "He's treating you to hot pot, and you're still arranging him like this."

"Hmm, I'm really not wronging him."

Li Xuewu stood up straight, let Yu Li tidy him up, and said, "Today's scene is a Hongmen Banquet. I'm afraid the food is good, but the person is not a good person!"

"Why?"

Yu Li's movements paused, then she looked at him and asked, "Do they have something?"

"Who knows~"

Li Xuewu watched Yu Li finish tidying up, shook his shoulders indifferently, and said, "Have you ever seen him take the initiative to treat guests?"

"I was just saying~"

Yu Li curled her lips and said, "He came early in the morning and arranged for me to prepare the food, and even said he wanted to eat hot pot. Hey! ~"

"It's fine~ If it's a blessing, it's not a disaster; if it's a disaster, you can't hide from it. He's just a piece of toffee."

Li Xuewu said while walking out, "He called me yesterday to invite me to dinner, but I turned him down."

"Be careful~"

Yu Li sent Li Xuewu to the door and exhorted, "He spent so much money, who knows what he's calculating about you."

"Calculating what?"

"What can I calculate about you?!"

The big courtyard facing the parking lot was where the restaurant was located. The private rooms were the side rooms on both sides of the restaurant courtyard.

At this moment, the private room was filled with mist, and everyone was chatting enthusiastically, just as lively as the fire stove placed in the middle of the dining table.

A big copper pot was placed on the fire stove, which was much bigger than the pot at Donglaishun.

It was also different from the standard there; this pot completely satisfied a table of people to eat shabu-shabu.

As soon as Li Xuewu entered the room, he named Huang Gan and asked him if today's generosity was a Hongmen Banquet.

Huang Gan was suddenly set up by him, so of course, he didn't admit it, and kept complaining about being wronged.

Seeing him like this, Li Xuewu set him up even more, saying that since you said so, then today we only talk about wind, moon, and hot pot, not work. Whoever talks about work is a puppy.

"Hahaha!"

Ma Jun and others laughed when they saw Huang Gan eating a loss, especially Pei Pei, who helped Li Xuewu take off his coat and deliberately reminded him, "Huang Ge said he was going to calculate you when he was upstairs."

"Look at you guys!"

Huang Gan pointed at Pei Pei and said to everyone, "The reason why the revolution has not succeeded has been found! There's a traitor in our team!"

"You're the traitor!"

Pei Pei scolded him reluctantly, then helped Li Xuewu hang up his clothes and said, "I call this knowing the times makes a hero, abandoning darkness for light, open and aboveboard!"

"Eww~~~"

Huang Gan curled his lips, glanced at her with disdain, shook his head, and said, "The way these words are used~"

"Ya~!"

Pei Pei was annoyed by him, pushed him hard, but was hugged by him and spun around several times, then he patted her butt and put her on the chair.

"I'm rarely treating guests today. You don't have many chances to beat the rich. If you like to eat, hurry up and use your chopsticks."

"I believe this!"

Ma Jun raised his eyebrows and asked Ao Zhongliang, "Do you remember when he last treated guests?"

"Has he ever treated guests?"