dognovel Chapter 1656 Taking Another Step Forward
Chapter 1656 Taking Another Step Forward
Chapter 1656 Taking Another Step Forward
Ma Baosen puffed out his belly, glanced down the corridor, and seeing no one, grumbled as he came out of the office.
"Hey!"
Oh my god!
Wang Min's "hey" almost scared Ma Baosen so much that his voice changed.
You scared me to death—
"Hey hey hey-"
Wang Min raised an eyebrow with a mischievous grin and said, "What are you thinking about? Didn't you hear me calling you?"
"When did you call me?" Ma Baosen knew he was doing it on purpose, glared at him, and said, "Are you trying to pull a fast one on me?"
"Oh, oh! Look at this!" Wang Min leaned back slightly, feigning displeasure as he looked him over and said, "The market has gone up?"
"Oh, right, she's Secretary Ma now!"
He tilted his head and said sarcastically, "How about I apologize to you? Don't make things difficult for me with the boss."
"No need for an apology." Ma Baosen glanced at him, unable to bear Wang Min's smug and arrogant expression, and rolled his eyes, saying, "You can just die here."
"You're really ruthless! We're brothers, for goodness' sake!"
Wang Min reached out to pull him, but Ma Baosen dodged him.
"Who's your buddy?" Ma Baosen curled his lip and said, "You've got the wrong person, comrade, it's daytime!"
His speaking skills had now reached some of his master Zhang Enyuan's level. He raised an eyebrow at Wang Min and asked, "I heard you're dating two girls at the same time?"
In Northeastern Mandarin, measure words are rather abstract. A "group" can be two or more, depending on the quantity.
Wang Min is certainly capable; he has a high level of education, is young, has a stable job, and is appreciated by his superiors.
Especially now that he's leading a team and is about to become a section chief, those young girls are swarming around him like flies.
Ma Baosen's experience as a secretary to a leader was like a sudden awakening; his tone of voice changed, and he began to say only half of what he meant.
See, you don't need to hear about it to ask if it's two girls.
"What? Are you envious?"
Wang Min raised an eyebrow and said, "Those rumors about me are all false, but what you're saying about me is definitely skill."
He looked Ma Baosen up and down and said, "You don't have a girlfriend yet, do you? I'll introduce you to one."
“You’d better stay away from me,” Ma Baosen said impatiently. “I’m afraid I’ll end up eating your leftovers.”
“What kind of talk is that—” Wang Min followed in his footsteps, babbling on and on: “I’m a respectable person.”
"Aha!" Ma Baosen stopped and looked at him, asking, "Did I say you were being inappropriate?"
“Then you—” Wang Min was stunned for a moment, and was about to speak when he heard Ma Baosen say, “I mean, why are you always bothering me instead of doing anything serious?”
"Look at you, don't be so heartless—"
Wang Min leaned closer and whispered, "Brother, I just wanted to ask you for a favor, you wouldn't refuse to do me that, would you?"
He covered his right cheek with his hand and looked at Ma Baosen, saying, "If you refuse me, you'll be slapping me in the face."
"Really?" Ma Baosen was no longer the little follower he used to be. He raised his hand and gently touched Ma Baosen's right cheek.
He knew that one shouldn't hit someone in the face, and he also knew that Wang Min had no bad intentions and wasn't a bad person, so it was okay to joke around.
"I hit you, so what?"
He raised his chin and said, "I know about your matter. I'll talk about it when I'm in a better mood."
"Hey!" Wang Min was furious. He pointed at him and laughed, "You're a wolf from Zhongshan, you become arrogant once you get what you want!"
"Hey! You were right!"
Ma Baosen pointed at him and said, "I'll give you a chance to say it again. Do you dare?"
"You son of a bitch—" Wang Min slapped his neck hard and said, "I'll remember you, Secretary Ma."
"Wow, you remembered me so easily?"
Ma Baosen curled his lip and said, "Then when the leaders need to finalize the details of the branch office in a few days, won't you still have to remember me?"
"Hehe—Director Ma, stop fooling around—"
Wang Min is truly capable of taking things in stride; his previously cold face now displays a smile, even a hint of flattery.
He patted Ma Baosen's arm and said, "Look at you, what kind of relationship do we have? Would you cheat me?"
"Yes, I would never cheat you, let alone anyone else."
Ma Baosen raised an eyebrow, smiled, and looked at him, asking, "So, who do you think I'd scam?"
"That can't be—" Wang Min chuckled and leaned closer to ask, "You heard the news about when the branch office was established, right?"
He raised an eyebrow and said, "Tell me about it, and I promise this news won't reach a second person."
“You promise? Okay, I believe you,” Ma Baosen smiled. “But I need to know first.”
He tilted his chin, gesturing towards the leader's office, and said, "Why don't you go ask and come back to tell me?"
"I also assure you that the information you told me will not reach a second person's ears."
"You—you've gone astray!"
Wang Min pursed his lips and pointed at him angrily, saying, "Learn something from your master, okay!"
"Thank you! I'm learning—"
Ma Baosen was already impatient with these people who came to pry for information, so of course he said whatever was most infuriating.
He stood there watching Wang Min leave, then turned around with a smile, humming a little tune as he headed towards the confidential room.
That's how it is in government offices; even the slightest whisper of something can turn into a sandstorm.
Especially when it comes to personnel and organizational matters, the discussions often begin even before the leaders have started their meetings.
You know what, they're just spouting nonsense. Six or seven out of ten times they're right. As for whether they're just guessing, that's another story.
As for Ma Baosen, he dared not and could not open that door, otherwise he would be the first to be scolded by his master.
No wonder there's been a lot of undercurrents in the organization lately. The group suddenly loosened restrictions, and there are rumors of a Northeast branch being established. Otherwise, people in Liaodong wouldn't be so on edge.
To be honest, this speculation is an old one, mentioned once or twice a year, but it always comes to nothing.
However, this year is different. This is the third year that the Secretary-General has worked in Liaodong, and it is also the year with the biggest changes in the group's organizational structure, which inevitably leads to speculation.
Some have already made predictions that the Northeast branch will be established in the second half of the year, before the secretary-general returns to the group headquarters.
They said the project was basically doomed if the secretary-general failed to establish the Northeast branch before returning to the group headquarters.
The Northeast Branch is the name used within the organization, but those familiar with the actual situation of the project know that this branch should be called the Northeast Industrial Development Corporation of Honggang Group.
Judging from the unannounced project name, it is a branch office at the head office level.
Besides, how could a company set up by the secretary-general be just a branch office?
Therefore, you can tell who knows the stuff and who's just watching the show from the way they use their names.
Wang Min is certainly an insider, but he's confused because he's involved. Right now, he's just hoping the branch office can be established so he can settle on a position.
Conversely, why did the group suddenly loosen its grip and give the Northeast Company the opportunity to be established?
***
"Old Li is going crazy."
Gao Yaqin flew to the steel city to handle the automobile city project. When she met with Li Xuewu, she couldn't help but rub her forehead and start complaining.
Li Xuewu was already used to the people in the management committee treating him like a confidante, so as soon as she spoke, he put down his pen.
Has he talked to you about it?
Gao Yaqin looked across the desk, frowned, and asked, "Even if they told you on the phone what to do next?"
“No,” Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and asked calmly, “Do you think he would ask for my opinion before doing anything?”
“He should have done it,” Gao Yaqin said bitterly. “If he had asked you first this time, would he have been able to handle so many things?”
"I really can't understand how he managed to squander such a good hand."
"You don't know?" Li Xuewu smiled and said, "President Li is a well-known money-giving boy and a pioneer in donating money at the mahjong table."
Do you know what he's going to do now?
Gao Yaqin was clearly breathing heavily through her nostrils; she was genuinely angry. "He wanted to take over Deputy Director Gu's position."
"Hmm, and then?" Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and asked, "What was Deputy Director Gu's reaction?"
"Deputy Director Gu hasn't left yet!"
Gao Yaqin twitched the corner of her mouth and said, "You think she would passively cooperate with him? What a joke."
"It can only mean that she doesn't want to manage it anymore. It's absolutely impossible that Old Li took it from her and stopped her from managing it."
"He's started playing badly again, isn't he?"
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Did you provoke him?"
"Us? To provoke him?" Gao Yaqin chuckled, picking up her teacup. "Right now, I'd rather comfort him and stop him from crying—"
She took a big gulp of tea, but it still couldn't quell her anger. She said indignantly, "He's doing this to you."
"Hmm?" Li Xuewu looked at her without speaking, waiting for her to explain what she meant by "aimed at him".
"Deputy Director Dong is in trouble this time."
Gao Yaqin put down her teacup, frowned, and said, "We all know he's been wronged, but reality is reality."
She leaned forward slightly, looked into Li Xuewu's eyes, and asked, "What are you really thinking? You're not really going to wait another three years, are you?"
"What do you mean?" Li Xuewu's eyebrows twitched slightly as he asked, "What do you mean I have to wait another three years?"
"Otherwise what?" Gao Yaqin spread her hands and asked, "Are you even going to be able to go back to the company this year?"
"Although you didn't receive any punishment, Deputy Director Dong and the others..."
She paused here, her eyes conveying a clear "you know what I mean" look as she looked at Li Xuewu.
Li Xuewu was amused by her. He glanced at the table and then looked at her, saying, "You should know that I cannot decide my own future."
“Even if we take a step back,” he emphasized just as Gao Yaqin was about to speak, “should I go back now?”
Gao Yaqin frowned, thinking about his words, and couldn't help but remind him, "If Old Li does things this way, he might not be able to get you back to Beijing."
“You underestimate President Li,” Li Xuewu said calmly, “No matter how much trouble he causes, he won’t die.”
“But he’s in a hurry to get you back to Beijing.” Gao Yaqin looked at him with some suspicion and said, “He’s in such a rush now because he’s paving the way for you.”
"What kind of road are you paving? A dead end?"
Li Xuewu's attitude turned serious, and he said, "Whether you believe it or not, I can tell you that the work in Liaodong is not over yet."
"I came to Liaodong with a goal and a mission. Before that goal is achieved, who can let me go back early?"
He tapped his fingers on the table, reminding him, "This only happens when people are dissatisfied with my work progress and abilities."
"How do you think I'm doing here?"
"It's not up to you—"
Gao Yaqin still firmly believed in her intuition and looked at him resolutely, saying, "I'm telling you all this for one purpose."
She glared at him and said, "If you're ready to go back to the capital, then hurry up, because you definitely don't want to clean up his mess."
“If you’re not ready to go back to Beijing, then I can tell you that you should be. You’re too far from the capital.”
She pointed to her ear and emphasized, "The news has been outdated for ten or eight years by the time it reaches you."
"Thank you, I'll be ready."
Li Xuewu rarely gave her a positive response, nodding and saying, "I advise you to calm down, the sky isn't going to fall."
"Of course, if the sky were to fall, I wouldn't be the first one to be crushed."
Gao Yaqin curled her lips and said, "But I don't want to die with you. You are all bad people, and you deserve to suffer this calamity."
This time, Li Xuewu rubbed his forehead and said he was annoyed. For the past six months, Gao Yaqin had been urging him to return to Beijing to keep Old Li in check.
But her starting point and her goal are different. How do you explain that?
"Old Su was afraid you would return to Beijing, so he went through all this trouble."
Gao Yaqin frowned and said, "He knows he can't stop you, but why did he do this to trip you up and block you for the past few months?"
"Think about it carefully yourself—"
She raised her chin and said, "Killing two birds with one stone only hit Deputy Director Dong, but it also startled Old Cheng and his easily frightened people."
"Now look what's happened. He's fallen from grace himself. Deputy Director Dong won't be able to move for at least two years. Who lost? Who won?"
Li Xuewu didn't care who won or lost. His fingers tapped on the table as he frowned and said, "Deputy Director Dong was prepared for this."
"Was he mentally prepared for being transferred?"
Gao Yaqin asked with a mocking expression, "Did you guys go too far?"
Li Xuewu did not answer her question, but glanced at her and said, "You should ask President Li about this."
"Him? Heh—"
Gao Yaqin sneered, "He doesn't even know what game he's playing; he's just a puppet."
"So what do you want?" Li Xuewu asked impatiently, looking at her. "To see a puppet show? Or to perform on stage?"
Gao Yaqin suddenly fell silent, just looking at him for a long while before nodding, standing up and saying, "I have a meeting, you go ahead and do your work."
He left with just one sentence and turned to leave.
Li Xuewu sat in his chair watching her back, frowned and thought for a moment, then thought to himself that Confucius was right: women and petty men are the hardest to deal with.
The onlookers got so excited that they wanted to join in the game.
-
"50,000 per person, 6 people in total, 300,000."
Ji Weidong cracked his knuckles and looked at him as he introduced, "This is the final price."
Li Xuewu didn't speak, but picked up his teacup and waited for him to introduce himself.
"Regarding the matter of Heiji Taniguchi, Kenichi Nishida will issue a formal apology and arrange for another president of Sanwa Co., Ltd. to come to the mainland for negotiations based on the results of the negotiations."
He shrugged and said, "It might be that Nakamura Hideji who you're on good terms with."
"Six people?" Li Xuewu frowned slightly and asked, "Who told you there were only six people on the ship?"
There were six passengers, and the crew was also on board.
Ji Weidong sat up straight, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "I asked him for a total of two million, including the boat and the people."
"That's enough. We need to leave room for your next round of negotiations."
He raised his eyebrows and said, "The rest is up to you. I've done my best."
"How did he do that?"
Li Xuewu glanced at him and asked, "I mean, have you found the person who planted the bomb on the ship?"
"We found it. We found it as soon as something happened." Ji Weidong shook his head and said, "I won't tell you the specifics, so you won't get upset."
"Sometimes I think it's all the fault of the times."
He seemed to have suddenly become a poet, uttering a remark without any apparent reason, which made Li Xuewu think he was about to improvise.
"My mission is accomplished. Now it's just a matter of negotiating at the table, and I won't get involved."
He picked up a lighter, lit a cigarette, blew out a puff of smoke, and looked at Li Xuewu, asking, "Have you been back to Beijing recently?"
"I'm back, on normal leave, what's wrong?"
Li Xuewu stood up, walked to the window, and opened it. He didn't like the smell of smoke anymore.
This is true even for non-smokers; their respiratory resistance even decreases.
Before, when he smoked, he wouldn't even notice the smell of smoke, let alone the nicotine churning and playing in his throat.
But not now. The smell of smoke is annoying, and it can even cause a dry and sore throat, and may even lead to a respiratory infection.
Seeing how spoiled he was, standing by the window and not coming back, Ji Weidong chuckled and stubbed out his cigarette.
"You have really strict rules here."
"That's still not as big as you, CEO Ji."
Li Xuewu's words were always insidious and vicious, even making a scoundrel like Ji Weidong, who was immune to all poisons, feel a pain in his lungs.
"Try not to go back too often lately, things aren't peaceful there."
Ji Weidong did think about his good friend, but they were like-minded and had nothing to do with sharing the same ideals.
"Is this something I can decide?"
Li Xuewu stood there with his arms crossed, his back to the sun, exuding a sense of oppression, yet his words were sharp and incisive.
"I wish I could be like you, able to come and go freely, transcending the Three Realms and outside the Five Elements."
He said with no small amount of envy, "Sometimes I really envy you. I don't see you do anything, but you live such a carefree life."
"There's nothing I can do about it—" Ji Weidong couldn't stand being praised, so he spread his hands and said smugly, "I'm better looking than you, so I should live a more carefree life than you."
“That’s true, shamelessness is a skill too.” Li Xuewu nodded, and only after he could no longer smell the smoke did he close the window and come back.
In February, the steel city already had heating. Although the air was still chilly, spring was returning to the earth, and the ice was thawing.
However, precisely because spring is coming, even during the day it feels colder and more biting than the winter wind.
He was only wearing a shirt, and after standing by the window for a while, he couldn't stand it anymore. If Ji Weidong didn't dare to smoke again, he would ask him to leave.
"You've come from the capital?"
"Yes, I'll go home and visit."
Ji Weidong looked up at him and said, "Yating told me about the car. Thank you."
Are you mocking me? Or are you blaming me?
Li Xuewu sat down and looked at him as he said, "I was not in the capital during that time, and I was in a lot of trouble."
He let out a sigh of relief before continuing to explain, "It's not that I'm deliberately distancing myself from her; I'm just afraid she'll get into trouble because of me."
"You're overthinking it. What do I have to complain about?"
Ji Weidong shook his head with amusement, holding his teacup, and said, "When I talked about her, she misunderstood and went astray."
"Don't even mention it from my perspective. You're her boss. If she doesn't talk to you about things, she deserves to suffer."
“She’s also afraid of getting into trouble.” Li Xuewu nodded slowly and said, “You know how the situation has changed; she’s probably scared.”
“Yes, I know,” Ji Weidong said, resisting his craving for a cigarette. “She’s always been timid, and then there’s the unusual nature of my profession.”
At this point, he tilted his head and looked at Li Xuewu, asking, "What rank is your brother-in-law at now? Would he be interested in coming to our unit?"
"What do you want?" Li Xuewu asked, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Don't you think I've had enough trouble already?"
"I meant well, haha."
Ji Weidong didn't even believe what he said, and smiled somewhat embarrassedly, explaining, "I've had enough of being outside, and I want to come back."
"You can't bear to part with your son, can you?"
Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, "The last time I saw him, he asked me to call you and tell you that he hadn't been home in a long time."
"Sigh—" Ji Weidong sighed and said, "After experiencing all the splendor, one feels weary. You'll understand once you go out and stay for a few years."
"I don't need to go out; just looking at you makes me tired."
Li Xuewu pointed at Xiao Ma, who appeared at the door, and instructed, "Do you know Director Ji? Book him a room, and also book a table of food and drinks for me tonight."
He looked at Ji Weidong and asked, "Going from Yingcheng? Directly back to Gangcheng?"
“Hmm,” Ji Weidong glanced at Ma Baosen first, and after seeing him leave, he explained to Li Xuewu, “Dongfeng Shipping’s base is to be moved to Yingcheng, and I’m here to coordinate this matter.”
Steel City does have a dock, the one that Li Xuewu and he acquired back then, the inland river dock.
In recent years, the volume of inland waterway transport has gradually declined with the construction of railway and highway networks, especially in the Northeast region.
The Northeast has a strong industrial base and money, which enables it to build railway and highway networks, resulting in faster transportation development here.
Inland waterway transport has drawbacks: it is impassable in winter and has limited carrying capacity. In particular, the accumulation of sand in the river channels significantly increases transportation costs.
With the development of road networks and the increase in the number of vehicles, the transportation costs of both rail and road transport are showing a downward trend.
Although inland waterway transport has not completely stopped, its main transport function is being replaced.
Dongfeng Shipping has basically secured domestic shipping rights for Yingcheng Port Area, so its focus will naturally shift towards Yingcheng.
Even now, many goods from Yingcheng to Gangcheng are transported directly by rail.
Ships are unloaded and loaded at Yingcheng Port, going directly to the industrial park without having to go through another process, saving a lot of effort.
Dongfeng Shipping has a hidden stake in the Investigation Department, and Ji Weidong came here to deal with this matter, as well as the people left at the dock.
Dongfeng Shipping moved away, and these people naturally had to go with them. Their leader knew he was coming to Steel City, so he handed this task over to him as well.
"Then tonight's dinner will serve as both a welcome and a farewell."
Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Don't think our food is simple."
Ji Weidong tilted his head and said nonchalantly, "I'm not a gourmand who eats lobster and abalone every day."
As he spoke, he seemed to remember something, raised an eyebrow, and said, "I've already taken care of those two people you asked me to arrange."
"Hmm, Kenichi Nishida didn't see them, did he?"
Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and asked, "Nothing unexpected has happened, has it?"
"What could possibly go wrong?" Ji Weidong explained calmly, "It's been sent to the Oriental Times Bank as you requested."
He narrowed his eyes slightly and reminded him, "I have something to tell you."
"Hmm? Speak." Li Xuewu glanced at him, rarely seeing him so serious.
"Lou Xiao'e hasn't shown her face for quite some time." Ji Weidong sat up straight and asked with a slight frown, "Has she contacted you recently?"
"Hmm, normal contact." Li Xuewu frowned slightly and asked, "Do you feel something's off?"
“Something is definitely not right.” Ji Weidong leaned forward, resting his arm on the desk, and explained in a low voice, “Recently, Lou Xiaohan has been in charge.”
"Her second sister?" Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said, "Hasn't she been helping her with things all along?"
"But you can't stay out of the public eye forever."
Ji Weidong vaguely reminded him, "Even I haven't seen her in a long time. Are you sure nothing will happen?"
"You're in Gangcheng?" Li Xuewu glanced at him and said, "Why don't you go see her?"
"Do you think I can predict the future or have clairvoyance?"
"I'm doing this for your own good!"
Ji Weidong glared at her and said, "Don't let her find someone else after a few years, or give you a surprise by having a big, healthy son."
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu looked at him with a smile and said, "She made a mistake, and I won't let you off either."
"Why should I!" Ji Weidong retorted, his neck stiff. "I didn't cheat on you by having another man and a son! Why can't you forgive me?!"
"What are you doing there?" Li Xuewu pointed at him with a smirk and said, "If you can't even handle this little thing, then come back."
Are you threatening me?
Ji Weidong slammed his hand on the table and said, "Fine, let's see. I refuse to believe she's really trying to keep a mistress hidden away?"
Li Xuewu was certainly not threatening him, but Ji Weidong didn't dare to gamble with him. If Han Yating gave birth to another big, fat boy, he would be in deep trouble.
Although he was certain Han Yating wasn't that kind of person, he still felt Lou Xiao'e was still hopelessly infatuated with Li Xuewu, and now she was getting involved in something shady too.
Time is like a husky let loose from its leash; it disappears in the blink of an eye.
In March, as the spring breeze brought warmth and the cold winter dissipated, Li Xuewu did not receive Ji Weidong's report, but instead received good news about himself.
"Tell me slowly, what happened?"
Li Xuewu frowned slightly and looked at Ma Baosen, who had suddenly rushed into the office, and asked, "Were you chased by a dog?"
"No—no!" Ma Baosen placed a document on his desk with delighted eyes and reported in a low voice, "You've been promoted!"
"What the hell did I give birth to?"
Before Li Xuewu could even look at the document, he was shoved into the ground by the kid's nonsense. He turned around, glared at him, and said, "Stand back."
The kid tried his best to lower his voice, but it wasn't enough; he practically shouted in his ear to report.
He could even feel spittle flying onto his face.
"It's true, see for yourself."
Ma Baosen thought he didn't believe him, and pointed somewhat aggrievedly to the documents on the table, saying, "I just received them."
"What's the rush? Can't you stand at attention?"
Li Xuewu glanced at him and said, "Stand up straight and shut your mouth first. Speak only when you've calmed down."
"Um-"
Ma Baosen was obedient; he would stand at attention when told to stand at attention and shut up when told to shut up, but he still couldn't help but agree.
After teaching the kid a lesson, Li Xuewu finally looked at the documents he had brought. The documents were short, but they proved that the kid was right; he had been promoted.
Without any warning, he was suddenly promoted to deputy director, which was completely inexplicable.
Li Xuewu read the contents of the document several times to make sure it wasn't a joke before he began to ponder the meaning behind it.
Who delivered it?
He turned to Ma Baosen, who was standing to the side, and asked, "The group's confidential secretary?"
"Mmm, mmm mmm mmm—"
Ma Baosen is obedient, but too obedient, to the point that he's become disobedient in other ways.
Seeing his boss glare at him, he finally spoke up to explain, "It was delivered by the group's confidential secretary, but I heard him say that the document didn't come from the group."
"Nonsense—" Li Xuewu tapped his finger on the red stamp on the document and said, "Do you even need to tell me that?"
Ma Baosen didn't know whether his boss was happy or not. Why would he scold him if he was unhappy, and why would he scold him if he was happy?
Li Xuewu thought for a moment, then picked up the phone on the table and said, "Connect me to the general manager's office of Honggang Group. This is Li Xuewu."
The operator responded briefly and then fell silent. Knowing it wouldn't connect quickly, he put the receiver aside and frowned as he looked at the documents.
Of course, it wasn't the document about his promotion; he had already read that document many times, so there was no need to stare at it so intently.
It took more than ten minutes before Old Li's voice could be heard through the microphone.
"Hello? This is Li Huaide."
"Director Li, it's me, Li Xuewu."
Li Xuewu replied, "I received the documents sent by the confidential secretary, but I don't understand what they are about."
"Hehe—" Li Huaide said with a wry smile on the phone, "If you want to ask me, who am I supposed to ask? I'm completely clueless myself."
"Didn't pass the group's approval?" What Li Xuewu really wanted to ask was why Li Huaide hadn't passed the group's approval.
It's worth explaining here that even if a decision needs to be made by someone above Li Xuewu for promotion, Li's opinion will still be sought.
Shouldn't we at least follow the procedures for organizing a conversation?
No, the document was issued directly, even in the form of an official letter. No one came down to read the order aloud, as if his promotion was insignificant.
"What I can confirm is that this appointment did not come from the Ministry of Machine Building."
Li Huaide hesitated for a moment, then explained, "I called my supervisor, and he said he didn't know anything about it."
"So it's in the city?" Li Xuewu frowned and asked, "What does that mean? Are you trying to give me a sweet treat?"
"Hmph—" Li Huaide hummed twice and said, "Maybe, what if, it's very possible."
"That's really giving me too much credit."
Li Xuewu thought for a moment and asked, "What should I do? Should I write them a thank-you letter?"
"Hehehe—" Old Li was amused by his humor and said, "Actually, it's not a bad thing, right?"
"I was originally planning to do this last year, but if it weren't for Suweide causing trouble, it would have been done long ago."
He carefully said, "Don't express your opinion yet. Just do what you need to do and wait and see what they do."
"However, I can think of one possibility."
Li Huaide seemed to have anticipated this, explaining in a relaxed tone, "Your associate professor status came in handy."
"This is utter nonsense!"
Li Xuewu shook his head with amusement and said, "There are many associate professors in the group, but does that mean they can all get promoted?"
"So it depends on the individual."
Li Huaide remained silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "Comrade Wenxue is in a bit of a passive position."
"Is the situation complicated?" Li Xuewu asked. "When General Manager Gao came to Gangcheng last month, he mentioned this to me."
"Yes, it's more complicated than you think."
Li Huaide said somewhat helplessly, "I've spoken with the leader, and he has a positive attitude and view on this case."
"As you know, everyone's hope is for the case to be settled. This matter must be over and cannot be reversed."
"I do think it's a bit of a pity."
Li Xuewu also sighed and said, "There was no need to rush. I heard there are still many doubts that haven't been clarified."
"Yes, I know," Li Huaide said, then sighed, clearly under a lot of pressure.
"I've also spoken with my colleagues in the literature field."
He thought for a moment and said on the phone, "He's fine. He accepted the reality calmly and had a good talk with his superiors."
"Do you need me to return to Beijing?"
Li Xuewu understood the deeper meaning in his words and took the initiative to ask, "I heard that the situation has changed a lot recently?"
"Yes, it would be best if you could come back."
Li Huaide sighed again and said, "We should have a good talk."
Li Xuewu knew what Lao Li wanted to talk to him about, and he also knew what he should talk to Lao Li about. Even the other members of the group's management committee were waiting for him to return so they could have a good talk with Lao Li.
Everyone sees him, the secretary-general, as the rope that can keep Old Li in check. As long as Old Li doesn't throw a tantrum, everyone is willing to live in peace.
Judging from Zhou Wanquan's behavior in recent months, he clearly intends to take the initiative to ease tensions.
When Gao Yaqin came to Gangcheng, she asked Li Xuewu who won and who lost. Old Li lost miserably, but did Zhou Wanquan win?
What a joke! They've already been dragged out to clean up the mess for the joint investigation team, how can they be considered to have won?
If he really won, he should take advantage of the momentum of being suppressed by Lao Li and shrink himself into the mud.
He should wait until the game is updated before stepping in to take over everything. Only then can he sit back and watch the tigers fight, allowing the snipe and the clam to contend while the fisherman reaps the benefits.
What does it mean now?
It's like losing both your wife and your army; you tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice instead.
Old Li seemed even more anxious than Li Xuewu had anticipated. He hung up the phone and immediately arranged for the Red Star No. 1 flight.
Li Xuewu barely had time to finish explaining his work before he hurriedly took a car to the airport.
"Secretary-General, hello," Zhou Xiaoling, dressed in a flight attendant uniform, greeted him with a smile and offered to help him with his luggage.
Li Xuewu glanced at her; her face seemed to have some makeup on, making her look very refined.
"Aren't you cold wearing so little?"
"It's alright, we brought coats."
Zhou Xiaoling smiled and led him into the cabin while explaining, "It was a bit cold in the lounge earlier."
"It's still winter in the steel city, unlike Beijing where spring has already arrived."
Li Xuewu sat down and said to her, "No need to prepare anything. I'm going to take a nap. I didn't rest at noon today."
"Okay, I'll get you a blanket."
Zhou Xiaoling's service was so attentive that he fell asleep in his seat before she even brought him a blanket.
I've been working on that book on emergency firefighting every night these past few days. If I don't sleep during the day, I always feel like I don't have enough energy.
Actually, a young man like him doesn't have that much energy; it's just that the mountain of work has taken a toll on his energy.
Why do government offices prefer to assign tedious tasks to young people? Because the older generation has become numb and lost their passion for serious work.
Later generations of internet giants are the most pragmatic. They see news reports and feel sorry for those engineers who are forced to leave their posts in their thirties.
However, capital's choices are the most realistic. Looking at this from another perspective, do those big companies not want even a middle-aged engineer?
That's impossible; there must be a reason.
Of course, we can't generalize and condemn everyone; nobody can really explain what "optimization" even means, right?
As the plane was landing, Li Xuewu felt turbulence and shaking. When he opened his eyes, he found the cabin to be somewhat dim.
Looking out the window at night, the city lights resemble flames on ashes, some scattered, some forming lines, and others stretching out in large patches.
He turned around and found Zhou Xiaoling sitting in his direction, looking at him with a smile in her eyes.
Li Xuewu smiled and moved the warm blanket covering him to express his gratitude.
Zhou Xiaoling's smile grew even brighter; if the plane hadn't landed, she would have liked to look at him for a few more minutes.
A small convoy of three vehicles was already waiting on the tarmac. As soon as the gangway was set up and Li Xuewu stepped out of the cabin door, Liu Bin came to greet him.
"Secretary-General, the leader is waiting for you in his office."
"At this time?"
Li Xuewu frowned slightly, glanced at his watch, and then nodded and said, "Okay, let's go to the group headquarters."
The secretaries worked together to load the luggage onto the vehicles, and the convoy quickly set off, heading straight for the headquarters of Honggang Group.
You could almost sense Old Li's anxiety; this time, it took at least ten minutes less than usual.
The convoy arrived at the headquarters building, and as soon as it came to a stop, an employee helped open the car door. Li Xuewu stepped out of the car, glanced at Ma Baosen, and instructed, "Take care of yourself, you don't need to follow me."
No one knows what Director Li talked about with the secretary-general who rushed back from the steel city during this time after get off work, but the next day news suddenly came out that Director Li had actually gone to the ministry to apply for Su Weide to stay on.