Chapter 974: The Mine

What?!

I've become a landmine?!

Zhou Xiaobai looked at everyone blankly; their expressions meant exactly that!

Clang~

The ice cube in Liu Shaozong's mouth fell back into his glass, making a crisp sound.

This actually jolted the others out of their thoughts, and they all looked at Li Xuewu in unison.

Given Li Xuewu's status and the current situation, he wouldn't be joking.

Then... that girl's identity must be truly extraordinary.

To make Li Xuewu say that everyone would die, whose daughter could she be?

They all mixed in the Beijing circles; they admitted their own ranks weren't high enough, but they really couldn't think of anyone with the surname Zhou...

No!

It couldn't be... because the other party had no children, so that meant...

In an instant, the three of them were frantically screening targets in their minds, but there were simply too many people with that surname.

Even among that tiny group at the very top, there were no fewer than a dozen people surnamed Zhou; how could they check?

Li Xuewu didn't introduce her, and they didn't dare ask, so the atmosphere fell into a sudden silence.

Luo Yun walked behind Zhou Xiaobai, poked her with her finger, blinked, and whispered a reminder: "Li Ge is using you!"

"What?"

Zhou Xiaobai turned her head to look at her, shook her head, and said, "Using me for what?"

"You're so silly!"

Luo Yun looked toward the sofa, covered Zhou Xiaobai's ear with her hand, and whispered, "He's using your father's status to scare those people."

"Oh~ and then?"

Zhou Xiaobai nodded indifferently and said, "I understand that much."

"If you understand, then why are you still..."

Luo Yun raised her eyebrows, looked at Zhou Xiaobai in surprise, and whispered, "Don't tell me... have you two done that?!"

"Get lost~"

Zhou Xiaobai glanced at Li Xuewu sitting on the sofa, then pushed her to the wine table furthest away and whispered, "Stop talking nonsense. Li Ge is a good person!"

"A good person?!"

Luo Yun looked at her in disbelief and whispered, "Hasn't he fed you some kind of love potion?"

As she spoke, she pulled Zhou Xiaobai, glanced cautiously in that direction, and said, "Have you ever thought that Li Ge might have other motives for calling you out to play?"

"I haven't thought about it; I came along on my own initiative."

Zhou Xiaobai said very firmly, "It was you—he insisted that I call you."

"So I'm the extra one, right~"

Luo Yun looked at her speechlessly; she felt like singing, "I shouldn't be here, I should be under the car..."

"Aiya~ what are you thinking~"

Zhou Xiaobai explained, "I mean he didn't ask me to come; I wanted to come myself. There's no such thing as using anyone."

"Besides!"

She glanced at Li Xuewu's back and said, "Look at how difficult things are for him right now, how hard it is for him."

"I..."

Luo Yun held her breath, almost vomiting blood from frustration with her little sister.

It's difficult for him?

It's hard for him?

Have you forgotten that he just smashed someone with a wine glass?

"Xiaobai, tell me the truth."

Luo Yun took Zhou Xiaobai's hand and asked seriously, "Are you two sure you don't have that kind of relationship, right?"

"Mm!"

Zhou Xiaobai nodded very seriously and said, "No, really, there isn't."

"Then... then last night?"

Luo Yun looked at Zhou Xiaobai suspiciously and asked, "You two were in the same bed... he didn't... um?"

"... No!"

Zhou Xiaobai hesitated for a moment, then confirmed, "Really, no!"

"I really believe you!"

Luo Yun covered her forehead in frustration and said helplessly, "If you didn't have that, you wouldn't have hesitated for that second."

"I...!"

Zhou Xiaobai wanted to defend herself, but she didn't quite know how to say it. She glanced at the living room again, turned back to Luo Yun, and emphasized in a low voice, "Kissing and touching don't count!"

"I * @%￥&%*"

Luo Yun's words rolled around in her mouth, but in the end, she couldn't say anything.

The conversation started up again over in the living room, but the two of them stood in the corner, neither knowing what to say.

After a good while, Luo Yun asked, "Him being like this... knowing he's using you, aren't you unhappy?"

"Not at all~"

Zhou Xiaobai turned around indifferently, looked toward Li Xuewu, and said, "He didn't ask me to do anything~"

"Besides~"

She tilted her head and said, "Isn't it great to be able to help him~"

"..."

Luo Yun naturally didn't know the term "love-struck," but that was exactly how she felt right now.

Hugging Zhou Xiaobai from behind, she looked toward the living room and murmured, "Do you like him?"

"Mm!"

Being held by Luo Yun, Zhou Xiaobai felt the warmth from her little sister; without having to face her directly, she didn't feel so shy about some things.

Luo Yun sighed helplessly and said, "Are you going to marry him?"

"How is that possible!"

Zhou Xiaobai lowered her voice, but still turned her head in surprise to look at Luo Yun, saying, "He's already married."

"You know that!"

Luo Yun said speechlessly, "What are you thinking right now?"

"Waiting for him to divorce?"

"Or just be his mistress?"

"What promise did he give you?"

"Or have you just degraded yourself?"

"Neither~"

Zhou Xiaobai took a deep breath, looked in Li Xuewu's direction, and said, "He didn't make any promises to me, nor did he seduce me. It's my own wishful thinking."

"What do you like about him?!"

Luo Yun looked at Zhou Xiaobai, who was close at hand, and frowned, "I took you to the club to let you see the world, not for you to fall deeply in love and get stuck!"

"What about you?"

Zhou Xiaobai turned to look at Luo Yun and asked, "You like Zuo Jie; are you going to marry him?"

"... We're talking about you!"

Luo Yun pursed her lips and said, "Besides, when did I say I liked him, or that I was going to marry him!"

"Exactly~"

Zhou Xiaobai turned her head away and said faintly, "Aren't you doing the same thing as me, deceiving yourself and others?"

"We're different!"

Luo Yun said angrily, "No matter what, Zuo Jie and I are in a normal relationship; we can get married, or we can break up."

"How are we different?"

Zhou Xiaobai said faintly, "You and Zuo Jie are dating, enjoying your youth, and you're not sure if you'll get married in the future."

"I'm also enjoying love, enjoying my youth, and enjoying his goodness."

She patted Luo Yun's hand, which was resting on her stomach, and said, "It's just that you're not sure if you want to marry Zuo Jie in the future, while I've decided I don't want to get married."

"Right now, except for our different destinations, everything else is the same."

"But...!"

Luo Yun frowned and said, "The great... said that any relationship not aimed at marriage is hooliganism!"

"Then what about you?"

Zhou Xiaobai pulled the question back, looked at Luo Yun, and asked, "You're dating Zuo Jie; are you going to marry him?"

"I..."

Luo Yun spoke and spoke, not knowing how she had gotten herself tangled up. Finally, she let go of Zhou Xiaobai in frustration and said, "I'm not going to worry about you anymore!"

Youth always has fantasies and blindness.

Zhou Xiaobai was very clear about her current state, and even clearer about Li Xuewu's attitude toward her.

From beginning to end, he had never been overly intimate with her, let alone bullied her.

When she needed care and love, as long as she found him, she could get the warmest protection and understanding.

Actually, she wasn't sure if this counted as love, but who at her age could say for sure?

What should love actually be like?

She didn't know, hadn't seen it, didn't understand it.

If you don't even know the answer, how can you understand her youth and thoughts?

She already had the feeling of a racing heart, the beauty of kissing, and the happy times spent together.

By comparison, who didn't understand love?

Zhou Xiaobai wasn't unable to understand Luo Yun's words, but she liked Li Xuewu; couldn't they enjoy a beautiful time together without affecting his life and work?

If she could use her own little bit of ability to help him solve some problems, then Zhou Xiaobai was naturally willing.

Just like now, looking at the man who was wise, radiant, and speaking eloquently, who could not like him?

"I really don't like your line of reasoning."

Li Xuewu pointed at Zhou Gancheng and gestured to Liu Shaozong, saying, "Industrial development work cannot be judged by purpose alone when it comes to current pros and cons."

Saying this, he turned to look at Liu Shaozong and asked, "You are a leader in the Planning Department; the whole country is one chessboard. Which enterprise has made a promise to you that they can guarantee to achieve their goals after going back?"

"Of course that's impossible!"

Seeing Liu Shaozong remain silent, Li Xuewu spread his hands and said, "No one dares to guarantee that an enterprise project will definitely succeed."

"But!"

He pointed at Liu Shaozong and said, "Does that mean enterprise plans shouldn't be made, development shouldn't be pursued, and the Four Modernizations shouldn't be discussed?!"

"Our factory is the same!"

Li Xuewu nodded slowly and said, "We don't know how an enterprise should develop or progress, but we must create value."

"That's why we have the hardware industry, the shipbuilding industry, and the tertiary industry."

"Once things are produced, the problem of sales must be solved. Being included in a planned economy will inevitably face various restrictions, so we thought of the Yangcheng Trade Fair."

"We don't know what kind of results we can achieve at the trade fair; we might succeed, or we might fail."

Li Xuewu raised his hand to gesture toward the bow of the ship and said, "We never expected to meet Andrew from Italy."

"The shipbuilding industry wasn't on our list of key projects for this trade fair, but you can't just turn away business that's delivered to your door, right?!"

"Besides, while we are cooperating with Andrew, we are also cooperating with Bincheng Shipbuilding."

Li Xuewu asked Zhou Gancheng, "Can you say that our approach to foreign cooperation is incorrect and carries foreign-related risks?"

"Then why didn't you say he was risky when you let him into Yangcheng to attend the trade fair!"

"Ahem~"

Zhou Gancheng coughed lightly, nodded, and said, "I understand what you mean. We are teleological, and you are premise-based; our directions of thought are inconsistent."

"But if you want to carry out foreign-related work, shouldn't you first consider the work approach of the competent department?"

"Hey! You've said it all."

Li Xuewu patted his own knees, looked at him, and said, "If we really wanted to hide something from someone, or do something shameful, would you still be able to sit here?"

He pointed at Liu Shaozong and Gao Yaqin and said, "Even the leaders of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Foreign Trade wouldn't be here, right?"

"Mm, I actually really want to hear your opinion regarding the shipbuilding industry."

Gao Yaqin also crossed her legs, looked at Li Xuewu, and said, "Your introduction and explanation of the materials seem to reveal a bit of selfishness."

"If you insist on interpreting it that way, there's nothing I can do."

Li Xuewu said indifferently, "Yingcheng Shipyard currently has three projects underway. One is a thousand-ton cargo ship, which is the main business."

"One is a coastal fishing boat between two hundred and five hundred tons, which is a project undertaken from the Jinmen Marine Products Corporation."

"The last one is the yacht manufacturing project we are discussing now."

"Let's talk about this one!"

Gao Yaqin glanced at Liu Shaozong and said to Li Xuewu, "Is it appropriate for you to count technology export as industrial engineering?"

"Let me say one thing first: I am not aware of this."

Liu Shaozong waved his hand and said, "I also received the notice temporarily to come with this group."

"Heh~"

Gao Yaqin gave a meaningful chuckle, then glanced at him, looked at Li Xuewu, and waited for his answer.

Li Xuewu glanced at Liu Shaozong and asked, "Director Liu, wasn't this project of ours reported to the Ministry of Industry?"

"... Maybe it was, I'm not very clear."

Liu Shaozong answered vaguely, "I just took over this part of the work, so you go ahead and say your piece."

"Fine."

Li Xuewu turned to look at Gao Yaqin and said, "There are two reasons why this project is distinguished from foreign trade."

"One is that we don't have the technology; all the advanced technology comes from Andrew, and we only do the manufacturing."

"The second is that the yachts manufactured by Yingcheng Shipyard will not have any domestic traces; they will carry the label of an Italian factory."

"Therefore, we don't have the basis for foreign trade and can only report it based on industrial capacity construction."

After explaining, he looked at Liu Shaozong and asked, "Is that right, Director Liu?"

"Oh~ oh~"

Seeing the look in Gao Yaqin's eyes, Liu Shaozong stammered awkwardly and didn't give a definite answer.

Gao Yaqin said with some dissatisfaction, "I suspect you are deliberately evading foreign trade controls, including import and export commodity contract controls, transport controls, foreign exchange controls, etc."

"No! Absolutely not!"

Li Xuewu denied it solemnly and righteously, "We are a key unit of Beijing's steel enterprises, a national industry, and a benchmark!"

He pointed at Liu Shaozong and said, "If you don't believe me, ask Director Liu; our factory has always been compliant in operation and management!"

"Right? Director Liu!"

"Ah? Right~ right~ right~"

Being named by Li Xuewu, Liu Shaozong looked at the stern-faced Gao Yaqin and could only nod in agreement.

Gao Yaqin's face was full of disbelief; her main purpose in coming with the trade negotiation team this time was to supervise whether this project of the Rolling Mill exceeded the scope of foreign economic and trade supervision.

Coincidentally, in the Rolling Mill's declaration of foreign projects, except for the food industry declared by the Five Fortune Firm, everything else, including hardware, electrical appliances, ships, handicrafts, etc., was declared as industrial manufacturing output. Do you dare believe it?!

Are hardware and electrical appliances also considered industrial manufacturing?

Why else would people say she had opinions about Li Xuewu? She wasn't targeting Li Xuewu, but the Rolling Mill.

The Ministry of Industry also put any benefits into their own pockets; as long as the rice was still in the pot, they didn't care how the Rolling Mill tossed and turned.

They didn't even care if foreign exchange was stored directly in Hong Kong banks during the economic and trade transaction process, or used directly for reinvestment or purchasing industrial equipment.

How could they manage this?!

Liu Shaozong really wanted to say, let's change positions and think about it; if you were in my shoes, would you restrict the factories below from purchasing industrial equipment from outside?

When Zhou Gancheng talked about foreign-related risks, they both had the same worries.

But when talking about project benefits, Liu Shaozong wouldn't let Gao Yaqin have her way; this was a matter of principle.

Gao Yaqin wouldn't let them off either; the right to export any commodity should be subject to the constraints and controls of foreign economic and trade departments.

Now you can evade control under the guise of industrial capacity output; tomorrow you'll be able to shit on the heads of the foreign economic and trade departments!

After successfully provoking the relationship between Liu Shaozong and Gao Yaqin, Li Xuewu looked at Zhou Gancheng again.

"If your Foreign Affairs Department really thinks there is a problem with this project, we don't mind reporting it upward to reinvestigate Andrew's corporate background."

"You don't need to threaten me~"

Zhou Gancheng waved his hand and said, "How Andrew is doing in Hong Kong has nothing to do with me; I'm not responsible for that area. I'm only here to talk about you this time."

"Doesn't matter."

Seeing that he didn't take the bait, Li Xuewu secretly thought the old guy was too cunning, but he said, "After I go back, I will report this matter truthfully to my superiors."

"Oh, by the way."

He seemed to have remembered something, rubbed his forehead with his middle finger, and said, "I have to attend a meeting at the ministry next month, and there will be an award ceremony then."

The three of them looked at him as he spoke, all frowning slightly, especially Liu Shaozong, who didn't think the "ministry" Li Xuewu mentioned was the Ministry of Industry.

Because the Ministry of Industry had no plans for awards, let alone awards for independent management and recognition of grassroots cadres, including the May 1st Labor Medal.

So the award Li Xuewu mentioned could only be for his other identity.

Zhou Gancheng obviously knew this, and after hesitating, asked seriously, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"You still need to be cautious."

Liu Shaozong reminded him tactfully, "Even if doing so solves the problem, it will leave hidden dangers in your life."

"It's normal for young people to be impulsive, but you are different."

Gao Yaqin also rarely spoke to persuade him, "Your status and your position directly affect the final result of this matter."

"If, and I mean if..."

She said with a worried tone, "Your actions cause a greater impact, or even spread to... have you thought about it?"

"If I can't even survive, why would I care if others die?"

Li Xuewu gave her a mocking look, then shrugged helplessly and said, "I don't even know who my opponent is; I have no desire to fight at all. I might as well just lie flat."

"Lie... lie flat?"

Liu Shaozong couldn't keep up with Li Xuewu's thinking; what kind of ghost thing was this?

However, understanding it literally and contextually, it seemed Li Xuewu was going to do it for real.

"Deputy Director Li, I especially understand you..."

"Good!"

Li Xuewu didn't wait for him to finish and interrupted, "You understand me, so this matter is handed over to you."

"What?!"

Liu Shaozong looked at Li Xuewu with a blank face, not knowing what new trick this was!

"What is handed to me?"

"The problem~"

Li Xuewu spread his hands and said, "You especially understand me, so you must know my current situation, and even more so how I should handle it. You'll have to work hard!"

"I... Deputy Director Li."

Liu Shaozong was a bit speechless, but he endured the frustration in his heart and said, "This is your business!"

"Yeah~!"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "This is my business, so are you going to manage my business?"

"..."

Liu Shaozong had a belly full of words stuck in his throat, unable to say a single word.

But Li Xuewu must not be allowed to do what he wanted; once the sky was pierced, the first thing to be crushed when it collapsed would be them.

They were truly on the same boat now.

Someone threatened Li Xuewu, and they didn't help, but instead dragged his feet.

Then Li Xuewu chose to break the pot, so let's all finish together by punching a hole in the boat.

Zhou Gancheng's biggest worry appeared; if Li Xuewu chose to burn the bridges, he would definitely be the first to suffer.

Just like what he said on the train, it would be better not to affect his progress.

But the current situation was that if Li Xuewu really put the problem on the table, the first thing the organization would check was him.

Who instructed him to sabotage the Rolling Mill's business activities, and who instructed him to target Li Xuewu?

Tell me, what should he say?

Resist and be punished severely?

Fine, all problems would stop at his position; simply put, he would carry everything and bear all the consequences.

But could he afford to bear it?!

Li Xuewu was not an ordinary deputy-division-level cadre; he had friends, a background, and complex interest relationships.

By then, it wouldn't be a matter of him not wanting to talk; on one side were his own connections, and on the other were Li Xuewu's connections. If he didn't want to talk, he would just have to die.

Then, confess and be treated leniently?

Useless; that would only implicate more people to finish with him, including Liu Shaozong and Gao Yaqin, whose faces had already changed.

Even if they didn't directly participate in this matter, Liu Shaozong had said a blunt sentence: after returning to Beijing, someone would naturally come to settle this account with them.

This case had already brought down nearly three hundred people; if it started from him again, he was afraid it would be a sandstorm sweeping everything away.

In Beijing, where undercurrents were already surging, he didn't know how many families and innocent people would be implicated.

By then, even if he didn't want to die, he would have to.

Thinking of this, cold sweat began to break out on his back, and the wound on his forehead began to ache again.

Lie flat—Li Xuewu was lying flat, but they would all be flattened.

The three of them were now sitting on pins and needles, riding a tiger and unable to get off. Looking at Li Xuewu's innocent expression, they ground their back teeth to pieces.

Especially Liu Shaozong and Gao Yaqin; the looks they gave Zhou Gancheng now carried murderous intent.

Did we take your child to jump into a well? Why are you pitting us like this!

This matter originally had nothing to do with them; even if there were questions about the work, it could be handled slowly.

Now it was fine; Zhou Gancheng had implicitly expressed some things and dragged them into the pit together.

Following Liu Shaozong and Gao Yaqin "turning against each other," the two of them "parted ways" with Zhou Gancheng.

In just a few sentences, one was beaten, two were scolded, and in the end, it was all their fault.

No! It was each other's fault!

Li Xuewu was not wrong, but he couldn't be allowed to admit he was wrong, otherwise something big would happen!

Liu Shaozong signaled Gao Yaqin to persuade Li Xuewu, but Gao Yaqin didn't take his bait.

If she could persuade him, she would have done it long ago; did she need to wait until now?!

She didn't take Liu Shaozong's signal, but she signaled Zhou Gancheng with her eyes instead.

That meant: whoever caused the trouble should clean it up.

Zhou Gancheng was also very helpless; he clearly knew that this was a trap set by Li Xuewu to deliberately divide them.

But now that the facts were before them, even if they knew there was a problem, they had to bite the bullet and deal with it.

"Deputy Director Li, to be frank, I don't want to offend you, and I don't want to make things difficult for you, really!"

Zhou Gancheng paused and continued, "You should be clear about what kind of person I am from our brief contact."

"I'm not willing to ruin other people's business, even if a blade were held to my neck, I wouldn't do it."

"However, this blade is not held to my neck; it is invisible, do you understand?"

Zhou Gancheng looked at Li Xuewu sincerely and said, "Since we have encountered a problem, I won't evade it. Let's think of a way to solve it together, is that okay?"

"Really, you speak!"

He gestured to Li Xuewu and said, "You can tell us your opinions or plans, right?"

"Right~ right~"

Seeing Zhou Gancheng ask, Liu Shaozong nodded and agreed, "After all, we are all comrades; some problems can be handled well, there's no need to make them sharp."

"As long as it doesn't violate principles, I have no opinion."

Gao Yaqin ignored the other two and looked at Li Xuewu seriously, "Work is work, principle is principle. If you need my help..."

She nodded slowly and said nothing more.

"If you put it that way~"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows, scanned the three of them, curled his lips slightly, and said, "I really do have a plan I want to chat with you about."

After speaking, he turned around and beckoned to the two people whispering in the corner, "You two stop talking, go pour some wine, one glass each, and we'll chat while we drink."

"..."

Zhou Gancheng: What did I just say!

Liu Shaozong: We seem to have been tricked!

Gao Yaqin: Is it too late to regret now?

"Hello, Deputy Director Li! Thank you for your hard work, Deputy Director Li!"

At the cargo transport terminal of Yingcheng Shipyard, Xu Sian led the shipyard's cadres to welcome them early.

This was the first time a leader from the Rolling Mill had come by boat, especially such a good one.

After getting off the gangway, Li Xuewu first shook hands with Xu Sian, then turned to the side and introduced Andrew, who had come down behind him: "This is the person in charge of our Yingcheng Shipyard, Comrade Xu Sian, whom you have met."

While Andrew was shaking hands with Xu Sian, he introduced Xu Sian: "Mr. Andrew, the person in charge of the Italian Gilly Star Shipyard."

"Hahaha! Hello, Mr. Andrew."

Xu Sian laughed exaggeratedly and shook hands with Andrew very vigorously.

This appearance made Andrew very awkward; he didn't expect the cadres here to be so enthusiastic.

Liu Shaozong and the others who followed were blank; they didn't know that they were being treated like a consolation group coming to deliver New Year's gifts.

Otherwise, why would the shipyard people be so enthusiastic?

Enthusiasm wasn't for them; they knew Xu Sian and Li Xuewu well enough—this was the look they only showed when they saw the God of Wealth.

After simple pleasantries with Andrew, Li Xuewu introduced Liu Shaozong and the other two to Xu Sian.

Xu Sian shook hands with them one by one very politely, just looking at the two in front whose complexions weren't very good.

Especially the last one—why was his forehead wrapped in bandages?!

Was he that dedicated?!

He had seen people bring their sons to work, and he had seen people bring their wives to work, but he had never seen anyone bring a bandaged forehead to work.

"Bumped it accidentally when boarding the ship!"

Seeing Xu Sian, that old guy, keep glancing at the other person's forehead while shaking hands with Zhou Gancheng, Li Xuewu took the initiative to explain.

Xu Sian's mouth twitched; at the edge of the bandage, a red bowl-shaped mark was vaguely visible.

He raised his eyebrows at Li Xuewu, meaning: don't try to fool me; this is a bowl-shaped mark, right?

Li Xuewu blinked at him, telling him not to be annoying—this wasn't a big deal, why fuss over it!

"Doesn't it look like it?"

He deliberately emphasized, "Doesn't it look like it was bumped?"

"It does! It does! It really does!"

Xu Sian laughed dryly, nodded, and glanced at Zhou Gancheng, thinking that this guy was really unlucky to have fallen into that bastard's hands.

No need to ask; this injury definitely wasn't caused by anyone else—the culprit was right in front of him, blinking at him.

"It does! If you hadn't said it, I would have thought it was a bump!"

"..."

Zhou Gancheng looked at them speechlessly, walked around them, and felt hopeless—as long as he wasn't embarrassed, others would be!

After sending off the group that had arrived at the port, Xu Sian, who was at the back, grabbed Li Xuewu's arm and asked with a raised eyebrow, "You did it, right?"

"What the hell do you mean I did it!"

Li Xuewu stared at him and said, "So in your eyes, I'm not a good person, right? Anything that happens is my doing?!"

"So did I wrong you?"

Xu Sian tilted his neck, gestured to the ship behind him, and said, "With so few people, who would dare to fight in front of you?"

"Did I wrong you?!"

"..."

Li Xuewu's mouth moved, he looked at him, opened the car door, and said impatiently while getting in, "No~"

"See, I told you!"

Xu Sian laughed and got into the car from the other side, curling his lips, "The guy with the bandage is also a clumsy one; he didn't cover up such a bloody mark—did he do it on purpose?!"

"Don't know!"

Li Xuewu's mouth twitched, his gaze turned to the window, and he said, "The changes in the shipyard are really big!"

"... Is that how you chat?!"

Xu Sian pointed his finger outside the car window and said to Li Xuewu, "You just finished your research and left last month; we haven't had any external construction this month, so how did you see the changes?!"

"Your topic change is too abrupt!"

"I think the changes are quite big~"

Li Xuewu still looked at the shipyard outside the window and said intentionally or unintentionally, "If it keeps changing, I guess we'll have to change the person in charge."

"..."

Xu Sian looked at him speechlessly and said indignantly, "I'm not watching your show; I just want to have a bottom line in my heart!"

"Think about it, am I the kind of person who would stand on the sidelines and watch your show when you're in trouble!"

"Seems like it!"

Li Xuewu carefully examined Xu Sian's face and curled his lips, "Looking at it carefully now, it looks even more like it!"

"You hurt me!"

Xu Sian looked at Li Xuewu with pain, raised his hand, and said indignantly, "You've hurt the feelings between us!"

"Ew~ ugh~ so disgusting~"

Li Xuewu patted Peng Xiaoli, who was sitting in the passenger seat, and asked, "Do you think there are any feelings between me and Director Xu?"

"Leader."

Peng Xiaoli turned back and said with a smile, "Why do I see it as the falling flower has intentions, but the flowing water has no heart?"

"Hey! Xiaoli has made progress!"

Xu Sian pointed at Peng Xiaoli with a smile and said to Li Xuewu, "That's exactly what it means—the falling flower has intentions, but you, the flowing water, have no heart!"

"Get lost! You're the one who's..."

Li Xuewu cursed him with a smile, then patted the back of the passenger seat and said, "Speaking for your old leader, huh!"

"Good!"

He straightened his waist and said to the front, "I'll give you a difficult task; if you can't finish it, you can stay in Yingcheng to serve Director Xu!"

"Ah?!"

Peng Xiaoli looked back blankly, looked at Li Xuewu, then at Xu Sian, as if he were having trouble choosing.

Xu Sian gave him a light slap with a smile and said, "What are you looking at me for? There's no place for you here!"

After speaking, he carefully examined Peng Xiaoli and nodded, "He looks like a human now; he's followed a good leader!"

"Thank you, Director."

Peng Xiaoli used to work under him, and he was the one who asked for him to be in the factory office, so he was naturally the old leader Li Xuewu mentioned.

Li Xuewu leaned back against the seat, looked outside the car window, and said, "When we get to the office building, keep a close eye on Liu Shaozong for me; be careful he ruins things!"

"Who are you plotting against again?"

Xu Sian looked at Li Xuewu speechlessly and said, "So you came to Yingcheng with other motives?"

"What the hell kind of motives could I have!"

Li Xuewu pointed at the cars in front and said, "They are the ones with motives; it's them, and the people behind them, who are plotting against me!"

"Isn't Director Liu one of our own?"

Xu Sian didn't speak, and Peng Xiaoli tentatively asked the doubt in his heart.

Li Xuewu glanced at him, then looked out the window and said, "One of our own, my ass; only things done by one of our own are wicked enough."

Xu Sian glanced at Peng Xiaoli, who wasn't mature enough yet, thinking that in Li Xuewu's heart, perhaps no one was worthy of being called "one of our own."

However, regarding the question Peng Xiaoli asked, he also knew that he hadn't been with Li Xuewu long enough, and his learning wasn't deep enough.

Looking at Li Xuewu now, he asked, "Did the case you were handling have a reversal?"

"Don't know, I haven't paid attention recently."

Li Xuewu scratched his eyebrows irritably and said in a low voice, "Xiang Yunian is handling it."

"You trust him?"

Xu Sian raised his eyebrows at Li Xuewu, his mouth twitched, and he said, "Then you might as well trust me."

"Heh~"

Li Xuewu gave him a cold look and asked, "How do you know about this case?"

"How do I know about it?"

Xu Sian pointed at himself indignantly and said, "I'm here in Yingcheng to work, not to move my whole family to Yingcheng!"

"Such a big case, involving so many people—how could I not know!"

Saying this, he looked Li Xuewu up and down and said, "You're famous, you know that!"

"I didn't know before, but I know now."

Li Xuewu said helplessly, "All kinds of messy things are coming to me; this isn't even a case I'm handling, and I haven't done anything wrong!"

"Hey! You're wrong!"

Xu Sian pointed at Li Xuewu and said, "Your mistake is not being decisive enough, not being ruthless enough, wanting to use it to fish for bigger fish!"

"Now it's fine; the big fish has taken the bait and is dragging you into the water with it!"

"Actually, you're quite smart~"

Xu Sian belittled Li Xuewu, but now he was praising him, though the taste was a bit off: "You even know how to hit the cow across the mountain, using Xiang Yunian to fish for big fish."

"But have you ever thought that there are other people steering the ship on Xiang Yunian's boat?"

"Mm, lack of consideration~"

Li Xuewu leaned back against the seat, thinking about things, but said, "Am I a bit greedy?"

"What do you think!"

Xu Sian said indignantly, "Just think about it—this matter has reached my ears; how many people must be thinking about you!"

"That's why I took the Italian's boat here~"

Li Xuewu turned his head to look at Xu Sian and said with a smile, "If it were anyone else's boat, I wouldn't dare sit on it even if I had the guts."

"Fine! Forget I said anything!"

Seeing that they were about to reach the office area, Xu Sian curled his lips at Li Xuewu and said, "I don't know what kind of calculations you have, and I don't need you to tell me!"

"But as long as you have a place where you need me, just say the word; I won't say I'll help with all my might, but I'll definitely give it my all."

"Stop drawing big cakes for me~!"

Li Xuewu smiled, held his arm to sit up straight, looked at the car parked in front of the office building playfully, and said with emotion, "I really have changed; I'm so different from before!"

Turning his head back, he looked at Xu Sian and asked, "If it were the old me, what would happen today?"

"What else could happen?"

Xu Sian smiled helplessly and replied after the car stopped, "It wouldn't just be one person with a head injury."

"A ship was sailing in certain waters when a passenger accidentally fell into the water while watching the sea. Although a rescue was launched immediately, the waves were high and the wind was strong, and the passenger eventually went missing..."

"Hahahaha!"

Li Xuewu laughed loudly, pushed open the car door, got out, and walked toward the entrance with Peng Xiaoli's blank gaze on him.

Xu Sian followed closely behind; passing Peng Xiaoli, he frowned slightly, patted his shoulder, and reminded him: "Learn more, watch more; this is a rare opportunity!"

"Oh oh~"

Peng Xiaoli finally reacted, picked up Li Xuewu's bag, and ran after them.

In front, Li Xuewu, wearing a wool coat and a black tower hat, with a sturdy posture and extraordinary bearing, was already walking with Andrew and his group with a smile.

He was standing on the steps in front of the office building, pointing at the work area and talking to Andrew with a smile.

Judging by his expression and attitude, he was not affected by the twists and turns on the ship at all, nor was he intimidated by Zhou Gancheng's behind-the-scenes tricks.

He had the heroic and majestic posture of a young man who was high-spirited, pointing out the country, and waving his arms.

It made Zhou Xiaobai and the other girls yearn for him, dazzled and fascinated.

It made Liu Shaozong and the other accompanying cadres feel dazzled, stinging their eyes, and trembling with fear.

It made the shipyard cadres and workers look up in awe, full of wonder.

It can truly be said: With a sword at his brow and power in his hand, one call brings a hundred responses, shaking the mountains and rivers.