dognovel Chapter 1638 Loyalty
Chapter 1638 Loyalty
Chapter 1638 Loyalty
It was already past 1 a.m. when Li Xuewu came out of the light guerrilla unit. On his way upstairs, he ran into Feng Xingke, the general manager of the Labor Service Corporation. The two chatted for a few minutes and arrived at the office at exactly 2 p.m.
In just one morning, there was no snow left on the road when the car left the college. The same was true in Liangmahe Ecological Industrial Zone, where the cleaning effect was even better than in the city.
When he mentioned this on the way upstairs, Feng Xingke even smiled and introduced him to the labor service company's achievements over the past year.
There's a reason why the Liangmahe Eco-Industrial Zone does such a good job in sanitation and landscaping.
How many snow removal vehicles can be seen in the city? The labor service company has prepared a full 20, and they started working on the roads as soon as the snow started last night, without any delay.
You might say that Honggang Group has a large number of employees, so this amount of snow is nothing compared to their manpower, but that's not how you calculate it.
Delaying three hours of production time or affecting three hours of employee rest time costs significantly more than mechanized operations.
Furthermore, the smooth roads in Liangmahe Ecological Industrial Zone have brought convenience and security to economic work.
The lateness of any employee or manager will indirectly affect the operation and development of the entire group.
Instead of wasting employees' enthusiasm and productivity, it would be more practical to spend some money on purchasing machinery and equipment.
Machinery is indeed superior to manpower. The power of the snow removal vehicles could not be seen in the light snow, but this snowstorm, which could be considered a disaster, finally highlighted the advanced nature of the group's leadership decision-making.
Upon entering the Liangmahe Ecological Industrial Zone, the workers hopped on bicycles. The road surface was slightly icy, but it didn't hinder their riding at all.
Red Star Radio broadcast the news in its morning announcement, reminding employees to pay attention to commuting safety, but made no mention of calling on them to participate in voluntary snow removal work.
According to Feng Xingke, the existing workforce of the labor service company is fully capable of supporting the group's labor service work.
In recent years, due to personnel system reforms, many employees have been transferred to labor service companies, especially those who are over the age limit and lack competitiveness in the transfer pool.
These individuals have performed exceptionally well in their work over the past ten or even several decades and possess a strong sense of belonging to the group.
Honggang Group cannot possibly "sweep away" all its employees, nor can it allow those who cannot be properly resettled to starve to death.
Without a competitive skill or the physical strength to work in a construction company, one can only do basic manual labor.
The personnel system reform process lasted for three years, and the three-year plan formulated last year still focused on the reform of the group's organizational and personnel system as a key task.
In the process of the group's establishment and growth, organization and personnel are an important and indispensable part.
Labor service companies, tertiary industry companies, construction companies, and other positions that involve manual labor are open to employees who are changing jobs.
These days, not everyone is conscious, a brick in the socialist system, moving wherever the leaders tell them to. Some are unwilling.
There's nothing you can do if you're unwilling. The system and policies aren't targeted at any one person; everyone is evaluated from top to bottom, including the leaders.
Li Huaide even set up a performance evaluation procedure for himself, requiring him to report at the annual general meeting of all employees and need the approval of the employees' representatives to recognize his achievements.
The general manager must be impartial and lead by example; when it comes to evaluating individuals, it comes down to their abilities.
The capable rise, the weak step aside; there are no conditions to discuss.
Today's snow removal activity is the best example. In the past, if a colleague in the same workshop performed well and had excellent skills, he could stay in the workshop and not have to work outdoors in the wind and snow.
If someone falls behind in the assessment, they have to be reassigned to the sanitation team, where they have to endure even the heaviest snow and work hard.
The one from the workshop rode by on his bicycle, while the one who had been transferred to the sanitation team stood by the roadside leaning on a shovel—a stark contrast.
There's a saying that goes, "Honggang Group doesn't employ useless or idle people."
"Secretary-General, didn't you have lunch?"
Li Xuewu had just returned to his office, and hadn't even taken off his coat, when Su Weide's useless man and everyone else's idle man arrived.
Gu Cheng stood at the door and looked into the office. Seeing that it was indeed him, he smiled and walked in to greet him.
Li Xuewu turned around and saw it was him. He nodded and casually explained, "I went to the light infantry station and ate there."
"I knew it! I hadn't seen you in the cafeteria." He said with a smile, "Normally, you would have eaten lunch in the cafeteria after you came back from class."
"You called me? Is something wrong?"
When Li Xuewu heard him say that, he walked behind his desk, sat down, and started organizing his documents. He casually asked a question.
"Hehe—there is something I need to do."
Gu Cheng smiled sheepishly, stood to the side of his desk, blinked, and explained, "By the end of the year, I'll have been working for Deputy Director Su for three years."
"Hmm, so what if it's been three years?"
Li Xuewu raised his eyelids and glanced at him, saying, "Should I give you a medal for three years of secretarial work or something?"
"Hey—what have I done to deserve this!"
Gu Cheng was quite the storyteller. He chuckled and said, "I wouldn't say I'm just sitting in the toilet without doing anything, but I'm definitely just occupying a position without doing anything. I don't deserve any medals."
"Well, at least you have some self-awareness."
Li Xuewu sized him up and down, then looked at the documents and asked casually, "Speak, what do you want?"
"I'm not in a hurry, I'm not thinking about anything. It's our Deputy Director Su who's in a hurry."
He winked and explained, "He's already spoken to me, praised me, and asked me if I have any ideals or aspirations."
"Hehe, ideals." Li Xuewu said with a light laugh, "You're quite idealistic, aren't you? Why don't you tell him about them?"
"Yes, I told him, and he got upset."
Gu Cheng explained in a pretentious manner, "I told him that my ideal and ambition is to be his secretary for life."
"Ha—" Li Xuewu couldn't help but laugh out loud.
“I think,” Gu Cheng said with a chuckle, “that what I’m doing isn’t idealism, but revenge, malicious revenge.”
“Then you must have misunderstood Deputy Director Su. He’s also very reluctant to part with you,” Li Xuewu joked. “How can he live without you?”
"Haha—it's not as serious as you make it out to be."
Gu Cheng said with a mischievous smile, "Anyway, he gave me a long lecture about how young people should step out of their comfort zones, go out and explore, and that there is much to be done in the vast world outside."
“My answer is simply two words—” he said comically, standing at attention and saluting: “Loyalty!”
"Go away, go away, get out of here!"
Li Xuewu watched him clowning around, his cheeks aching from holding it in, and snapped at him irritably, "If you have nothing better to do, go outside and shovel snow."
"Hey, where's the snow for me to shovel?"
Seeing that he was in a good mood, Gu Cheng leaned into the desk and asked softly, "Boss, what should I do?"
"You're asking me?" Li Xuewu glanced at him sideways and said, "Who am I supposed to ask?"
"No way—" Gu Cheng said with a wink, "I don't believe anyone else, I only believe you can guide me through my confusion."
"Listen to me?" Li Xuewu looked at him and said, "I'm telling you, you should listen to Deputy Director Su's arrangements."
"..." Gu Cheng was speechless for a moment, then looked at him and asked, "Do you doubt my loyalty?"
"Don't talk nonsense—" Li Xuewu glared at him and asked, "Don't you have anywhere you want to go?"
"Of course I am. If this place doesn't want me, there are plenty of other places that will." Gu Cheng curled his lips and said, "I've already thought it through. If he can't tolerate me, I'll go to Liaodong with you."
He looked at Li Xuewu expectantly and asked, "Boss, I heard that you are going to set up the Northeast Headquarters in Steel City?"
"That's not a place for me to stay."
Li Xuewu twitched the corner of his mouth and reminded him, "Don't always think about the industrial sector. What era are we living in? You're still using outdated ideas."
As he flipped through the documents, he said, "You are young cadres who represent the future of the group, so you should learn new ideas and strive to be good young people."
"We must combine our own hard work with the development of the company, and shine in the most ordinary positions."
These words completely stunned Gu Cheng. He hadn't expected the secretary-general to speak so eloquently and to emphasize his point as if he were a reporter.
"Peng Xiaoli has gone to work in the industrial sector."
He said somewhat indignantly, "Even he said that the industrial sector is where the most achievements are made, and it is also an essential path for cadres to grow."
"You're going to listen to him? Then go ask him. Why are you asking me?" Li Xuewu said calmly, "Go ahead and do what you're supposed to do. Don't interfere with my work."
"Tell me again, what does the group need me for?" Gu Cheng pleaded shamelessly. "You know this step is crucial to my career."
He asked with a pitiful expression, "You won't just watch me waste my youth and become just another ordinary person, will you?"
How special are you?
Li Xuewu looked up at him and said, "You're just a greenhorn who hasn't experienced the trials of grassroots work yet. I don't know how high your ideals are, but don't say them out loud, because I'll laugh if I do."
He pointed to the desk and said, "With your work experience and qualifications, could you handle being the head of the production department in a factory?"
"That position yields the most results, but it also carries the greatest responsibility. Haven't you heard that the higher you stand, the harder you fall?"
"You mean—" Gu Cheng thought seriously for a moment and asked, "That I should start with a simple position?"
"I have emphasized this point in the group's office meetings long ago: the worst thing we can do is to use the same secretary for an extended period of time."
Li Xuewu frowned slightly and looked at him, saying, "This will not only affect your career development, but also make your rank as unrealistic as your ideals."
"Tell me yourself, what are you most confident you could do if I asked you to go down here?" He sized up Gu Cheng and said, "A section chief. Think about how you would arrange things. Wouldn't that be awkward?"
It was awkward; otherwise, Gu Cheng wouldn't have come to ask him for advice.
As for following Su Weide's arrangements, Gu Cheng didn't dare to gamble on whether the old man would trick him; just considering his father-in-law's reputation wasn't enough.
He had considered becoming the head of the production department, just like Peng Xiaoli, or even more prestigious.
When Peng Xiaoli was sent down, he was the deputy head of the production department, and he is still the deputy head to this day.
Moreover, Peng Xiaoli didn't go to the core factory; it was a food factory converted from a tertiary industry, so it couldn't be considered a regular factory.
However, after listening to the secretary-general's words, he understood something: if he rushed into this step, he might end up tearing something out.
Suweid would certainly not mind helping him get to this position; it was his own choice, and if he didn't do a good job, it would be due to his incompetence.
When group leaders' secretaries are transferred to lower-level positions, the organization department and personnel department generally do not obstruct it; if the leaders want a position, they will provide it.
If Suweide really sent him to Liaodong, he would die without even knowing how he died, and in the end, where would he go to complain and seek justice?
"Then where can I go?"
Gu Cheng wore a bitter expression, his earlier playful smile completely gone.
Li Xuewu looked at him for a few seconds and said calmly, "Either go to the Education and Medical Administration Bureau or the Sales Department."
He certainly wouldn't let Gu Cheng down. That kid jokingly talks about loyalty, but he really does it well.
The bomb is about to explode. There's no need to let him die with Suvid at this point. It's better to jump out beforehand.
"Sales department?" Gu Cheng frowned upon hearing this, and said with a bitter face, "Doesn't that mean we have to travel all over the country?"
He hesitated before explaining, "My wife's due date is this month, and she's about to give birth. If I go to the sales department..."
"Then quit your job, don't do it anymore."
Li Xuewu, with droopy eyelids, said, "I spend all my time at home taking care of the kids; I have plenty of time."
Seeing that his tone had changed, Gu Cheng didn't dare to speak anymore and just stood there motionless, clearly afraid.
"Who doesn't have a family? Everyone in the company except you is single!" Li Xuewu scolded him impatiently. "Don't I have a family? Don't I have children?"
"According to your logic, I shouldn't go to the steel city; I should just stay in Beijing. The group shouldn't expand either. Everyone should just stay in their own homes and no one should leave. Is that really feasible?!"
He lightly tapped the table with his palm and said, "You want to improve yourself, but you're also picky. Does the company belong to your family?"
"What has enabled the group to achieve its current success? It's sales."
Li Xuewu pointed at him and said, "You are able to enjoy high welfare benefits because of the hard work of the comrades in the sales department."
"Only by selling products can the group make profits, develop, and provide and improve welfare benefits."
"You work in a government office too, so you see data reports all the time. Don't you know what the leaders look at every day?"
Li Xuewu curled his lips and looked at him, saying, "It's not like you're new to this job. Don't you have a complete plan for your career and professional life?"
He glanced at Gu Cheng and said, "Go back and think it over carefully. Once you've figured it out, go report to Deputy Director Su."
"Thank you, leader." Gu Cheng glanced at him listlessly, said thank you, and then turned to leave.
"Wait a minute—"
Li Xuewu remained unfriendly, taking a red envelope from the drawer and slamming it on the table.
Congratulations on becoming a father!
"Thank you, boss!" Gu Cheng instantly perked up and thanked him with a smile, "I didn't expect you to have prepared a red envelope."
He didn't go to get it, but explained apologetically, "The baby hasn't been born yet."
"Take it. I might not be able to make it to Beijing by then." Li Xuewu pushed it over, glancing at him sideways as he said, "You're going to be a father soon, you need to mature."
He feigned displeasure and said, "Do you want your child to be as useless as you?"
"Then I'll accept it—"
Gu Cheng pursed his lips, accepted the red envelope, nodded seriously, and said, "I will definitely consider it carefully and will never let you down."
“It’s about training—” Li Xuewu smirked and waved his hand, saying, “Get lost, don’t let me see you again, you’re annoying—”
"Alright, you go ahead and do your work—"
Gu Cheng, like a lackey, took the red envelope and walked out. He didn't look at the thickness of the envelope, nor did he care about it.
His wife is his only daughter, and their family isn't exactly struggling financially. Money is a valuable thing to him, but the red envelope given by the secretary-general went beyond the original meaning of money.
Is this money?
This is a reward for his loyalty!
"I heard you went to the light troop station?"
On her way back from the restroom, Gao Yaqin saw him in the office and turned in, rubbing her hands together as she asked, "What are you doing?"
"They said there's a new project, about rifles."
Li Xuewu looked up and saw it was her, but he didn't pay any attention to it. He didn't even get up and turned his gaze back to the materials.
An organizational work meeting, an annual summary meeting, and a workers' representative meeting will be held in the middle of the month.
That's how it is at the end of the year—lots of meetings and trivial matters.
Gao Yaqin pulled out a chair and sat down, crossing her legs as she looked at him and asked, "So, is it a good project?"
"Hmm?" Li Xuewu looked up at her, amused, and asked, "What kind of project counts as a good project?"
“I don’t know what your standards are for a good project, but for me,” Gao Yaqin said with a smile, “a project that can make money is a good project.”
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu said with a light laugh, "It's a pity, it's not considered a good project for me or for you."
"Then it's not very interesting—"
That's how pragmatic people are when it comes to economics, and women in the economics field are even more pragmatic; she has already lost interest in the new project at the Light Armory.
"Didn't you give them any guidance?"
She said with a laugh, "So that they can avoid taking some detours. That pitiful amount of funding should be used in the right places."
“There are no detours in scientific research.” Li Xuewu didn’t take her joke to heart and said casually, “All detours are preparations for unexpectedly encountering the right choice.”
"After taking many detours, you'll know how to take the right path. Research and development is just that process."
Li Xuewu put the materials he had finished reading aside, rubbed his eyes, and asked, "Have you finished preparing your meeting materials?"
"No—no—" Gao Yaqin leaned back in her chair wearily, sighed softly, and said, "The end of the year is the most annoying time, why are there so many things to do?"
"It's alright, it'll only be a month, we'll get through it." Li Xuewu picked up the materials again and looked at them, saying, "If you were in a local area, you would definitely feel even more tired than you are now."
"I can tell, you have much more energy than me."
Gao Yaqin sized him up a few times before asking, "Hey, Deputy Director Gu proposed at the core group meeting that this year's employee representative congress should be discussed in small groups."
"Have you heard? Which group are you going to be in charge of?"
"I haven't heard of that?" Li Xuewu looked at her in confusion and asked, "Who's in charge? Deputy Director Gu?"
"Yes, that's how Director Li arranged it."
Gao Yaqin pursed her lips and said, "Perhaps it's because you're in Liaodong that you've been assigned to the industrial group."
"Eight groups: industry, culture, technology, security, organization, logistics, finance, and economy."
She raised an eyebrow. "You're discussing finance and economics separately? Do you think there's something fishy about that?"
"Ahem—" Li Xuewu coughed lightly and said, "I didn't see that coming. It seems perfectly normal. Why are you overthinking it?"
"Am I overthinking it?" Gao Yaqin frowned and said, "Am I overthinking it?"
"Hehe." Li Xuewu put down his pen, crossed his fingers on the table in front of him, and looked at her, saying, "If you weren't suspicious, why would you ask me this?"
"I was just asking casually."
Gao Yaqin looked him up and down and said, "You're not overthinking it, are you?"
“If you’re not overthinking it, then I’m not overthinking it,” Li Xuewu said with a laugh. “I’ve never thought about why finance should be discussed separately from economics, nor have I thought about why they can’t be discussed separately.”
He pointed to the materials he was reading and said, "I've covered all eight of the points you mentioned. Even if I'm being overly suspicious, isn't that a valid point?"
When Gao Yaqin heard him say that, she narrowed her eyes and looked at him for a while before saying, "You are really cunning."
"Hey! Why are you swearing at me!"
Li Xuewu pointed at her, amused, and said, "You're going a bit too far. Are you trying to bully me in my office?"
"Who dares to mess with you?!"
Gao Yaqin curled her lips and said with drooping eyelids, "Turning your hand to make clouds or rain, it's terrifying."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Li Xuewu smiled and asked her, "Why don't you teach me? Explain it to me?"
"Come on—" Gao Yaqin said, leaning to one side, "How could I dare to teach you? I have that much self-awareness."
She glanced at the doorway before raising her chin and asking, "Have you spoken with Director Li?"
“Yes,” Li Xuewu nodded and said, “We talked about it when I got back.”
"Good, at least things are finally settling down." Gao Yaqin squinted slightly as she looked him over and asked, "When is Deputy Director Gu leaving? Has his destination been decided?"
"Huh?" Li Xuewu looked at her in surprise and asked, "Deputy Director Gu is leaving? Who told you?"
What kind of expression is that?
Gao Yaqin looked at him and said, "Don't tell me you don't know. In previous years, you were the one who gave the work report on behalf of the management committee. This year, it's her. Is that normal?"
"Hey! Think it over before you speak!"
She tilted her head, stared into Li Xuewu's eyes, and emphasized, "Don't try to fool me."
"What did I do to fool you?"
Li Xuewu shook his head with amusement and said, "Based on this alone, you're certain she's leaving?"
"If she doesn't leave, is it more likely that Old Su will?"
Gao Yaqin leaned over and looked at him softly, saying, "You won't let him go, and Director Li doesn't intend to let him go either."
Li Xuewu was speechless. How could anyone say something like that in this kind of situation? How was he supposed to respond?
"If he were smart enough, he should have applied for a transfer now, or even used his connections to get transferred out."
Gao Yaqin curled her lip and said disdainfully, "He's really foolish to think he'll stop until he's completely ruined."
"You're so smart, why don't you help him?"
Li Xuewu looked at her with amusement and said, "What if he's so grateful that he bows down and acknowledges you as his elder brother?"
"You're really talking nonsense—"
Gao Yaqin almost burst out laughing. She stood up to leave, but couldn't help glancing at him, pointing at him and whispering, "You're so cunning!"
"I'm not wearing ice skates, why would my feet slip—"
Li Xuewu ignored her and continued reading the documents. Her blunt revelation of his plan was also a form of attitude.
He never intended to scheme against her, but she was afraid.
-
Around the winter solstice, the days gradually shorten, and before you know it, it gets dark. The workday bell rings after dark.
He doesn't remember the school bell ringing after dark when he was a child; perhaps that's why adults have it harder than children.
Around 5 p.m., Sha Zhu used his office phone to tell him that an old lady in the compound had passed away.
There was no panic, nor was there much sadness; it was as if I had expected it, after all, it was already quite a long time to have survived in that situation.
He simply asked a question, and Sha Zhu replied that the coffin had been prepared long ago and that the neighborhood had been informed.
Cremation is still encouraged these days, but it's not mandatory. Those with burial plots are naturally not afraid of ending up in the wilderness.
Yi Zhonghai is a native of Fengtai, having lived there for more than three generations. He moved to the city because he could no longer make a living there.
It would be easy to get him to find his ancestral grave, but Shazhu said that his grandfather was unwilling and just wanted to find any empty place to bury him.
They said it was because they were worried it would be inconvenient for Sha Zhu to go to the grave.
This is the pain of having no children to rely on. Although one may not be completely alone when one passes away, there is still a sense of regret.
Even if Sha Zhu is very close to you, he's not your own son. You have to consider his feelings even when it comes to things like visiting his grave after he dies.
Li Xuewu didn't say much, but asked if there was anything difficult about it. Sha Zhu said that he had already prepared and there was nothing difficult about it.
The old man had already taken leave, and as an eighth-grade worker, his status was naturally high enough that his supervisor was willing to grant him leave.
The bell rang to signal the end of the workday. Li Xuewu had already called Gu Ning and his family, so he prepared to pack up and head to the compound.
If they weren't home, fine, but if they were home, how could it be justifiable not to go and check on them?
Although the two families had little financial interaction or kinship, they had lived in the same compound for many years.
You say there's no connection, but this old man has been in charge of the courtyard for so many years, how could he be a complete stranger?
"You don't need to see me off. Have Qi Yan prepare a car for me. I'm not going home tonight; something's come up at the compound."
When Li Xuewu saw Zhang Enyuan come in to pack his things, he intended to take him home first before returning to work overtime.
He waved his hand and said, "Don't work too late. If you can't manage, go to the office and ask someone for help. Many hands make light work."
"I'm doing alright, I can manage."
Zhang Enyuan walked to the phone and said, "I'll get you a car. Qi Yan should be warming up the car right now."
"Hmm." Li Xuewu nodded, went to the lounge, and took out a pair of thick cotton trousers from the cabinet.
It wasn't that he was being dramatic; it had just snowed heavily, and it was a very cold time. Add to that the funeral arrangements that night, and just thinking about it made him feel cold.
He changed into a thick cotton coat, and when he came out, Zhang Enyuan reported that he had already communicated with Qi Yan and the car was waiting downstairs.
"Alright, you can go about your business."
Li Xuewu nodded and instructed, "If you don't want to go to the Unity Hotel, you can stay in my room for the night."
He picked up his leather gloves, without taking his briefcase, gave instructions to Zhang Enyuan, and left the office.
Downstairs, Qi Yan, wearing a military overcoat, was waiting by the car. He came over to greet him as he walked out of the building.
"Captain Han arranged the car."
He reported quietly, "He prepared some paper money for you in the trunk, saying you might need it."
"Okay, I got it." Li Xuewu patted his arm and said, "We don't need this on the first day."
It's not surprising that Han Jiankun could predict his schedule. In that position, if you don't understand or know the needs of your superiors, you won't last long.
This is why many people know that Han Jiankun once worked as his driver, yet they still allowed him to stay in that position for a long time.
Careful, steady, and never makes mistakes.
Even if it were Li Xuewu's former driver or his former secretary, no one would say anything.
Li Xuewu looked at the cruiser at the door and didn't say anything more to Qi Yan, after all, it was Han Jiankun's good intention.
According to the rules, as a group leader, he should not be driving a car himself. He does not have a driver's license for official vehicles issued by the group, which is a violation of regulations.
But since Han Jiankun is his man, who can challenge him?
If other group leaders also want to drive themselves, no one will stand up and say anything; it's better not to have a driver.
However, not many leaders are truly willing to drive themselves, since driving these days is both a technical and arduous task.
Li Xuewu didn't want Qi Yan to suffer with him, after all, who knows when it would end.
I opened the car door and got in. The heater was on the whole time, so it was quite warm inside.
He waved to Qi Yan, stepped on the gas and slowly drove off until he turned onto the road, at which point he picked up speed.
Han Jiankun gave him this car because he was worried about the roads being difficult to navigate in snowy weather; it was a thoughtful gesture.
It was worth the two years of development. Although the performance and handling of this car were not as easy as those of later cars, it still had a certain degree of advancement.
It's much more comfortable than the Red Star Antelope, and it's a perfect fit for Li Xuewu's build.
After a heavy snowfall, the nights are so clear that you hardly need to turn on your headlights, thanks to the streetlights.
There were many bicycles on the road when I got off work, and it took me half an hour to get to the alley.
He didn't dare park the car outside, but since the west gate was open, he drove the car inside.
The store could still be open for a while at this time, but there was something going on in the compound today, so it closed early.
The main gate of the west courtyard was open to facilitate the entry and exit of cars. Shen Guodong and a few others also came here tonight.
"Brother Wu."
Li Xuewu parked the car in the garage and nodded to the young people warming themselves by the fire in the west courtyard when he came out.
The coffin was placed on two long benches, its lacquer gleaming under the lights, clearly indicating that a fine coffin had been used.
Have you eaten yet?
He pointed to the lively scene in the back room and asked the group, "Why didn't you go inside?"
"It's too noisy, and the smoke is choking."
The older Liu Guangfu smiled and said, "They are discussing the funeral arrangements for tomorrow. You should go ahead."
"Okay, you guys stay here." Li Xuewu nodded, told them to be careful with the fire, and then went into the yard.
Sha Zhu and the others had already heard the car's movement. When they saw him enter the outer courtyard, they waved for him to come inside.
"Why did you smoke so much?"
Li Xuewu opened the door and was about to close it when he was choked by the smell of smoke inside.
So he decided not to close the door at all; if the windows hadn't been covered up, he would have opened them all.
You don't even need to look from the outside; you can see it just by standing in the passageway by the kitchen door—smoke is billowing out of the house.
Those who knew the truth would say it was from smoking, but those who didn't would think the house was on fire.
The people in the west wing are all older men, or rather, men who have a certain say in the courtyard.
The east wing was mostly occupied by young people and women, who were neighbors from the surrounding area, as well as former neighbors from the courtyard who had returned out of consideration for the old man's kindness.
A glance at the unfinished food in the kitchen told me that a feast was being prepared for tonight; Sha Zhu was truly generous.
However, judging from what Liu Guangfu just said, it makes sense that he plans to stay for just one night to prepare a feast.
"I was just about to call you to ask when you're coming."
Sha Zhu took a drag of his cigarette and said somewhat wearily, "We've scheduled to leave at 5 a.m., so we need to arrange for someone to go and dig the grave in advance."
"This is a time of great suffering."
Li Xuewu waved his hand, refusing the cigarette offered by the older neighbors, and explained, "I've quit for a long time."
Father Li Shun sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) with his great-grandmother, while several elderly people around the kang table were talking.
"Guodong has arranged trucks. Let's calculate how many people are going and then arrange how many trucks."
Sha Zhu explained, "There are several recycling machines here. My tricycle can use them. There are also Guangfu and Jiefang models."
"I drove one back, so it's included."
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "For the group's cars, remember to find a piece of white paper and stick the paint on them tomorrow morning."
"I might not remember, but I'll remember some of it if I study."
Sha Zhu made a note in his notebook, then looked up and gestured to Li Xuecai, saying, "He'll drive there tomorrow too."
Li Xuewu glanced at his third brother but didn't pay him any mind. They were all married and had established their own careers; they should have experienced the ways of the world by now.
These days, weddings and funerals are basically a matter of those with money contributing money and those with strength contributing strength.
The noise over here is really loud, and they're all heavy smokers. They've finally got free cigarettes, so they're smoking like crazy.
Li Xuewu couldn't stand it. After only a short while, his throat became uncomfortable, so he quickly got up and went outside.
"If you need anything, come find me in the front yard. I'll go check the back yard and then head back to my mom's house."
"The old lady went to your house, she's not home."
Sha Zhu explained, "Xue Wen is probably at home. You can come over later."
"Alright, get back to what you're doing."
Li Xuewu waved his hand, unable to bear it any longer, and walked quickly out of the back room without saying another word.
This year, not many people live here except for my great-grandmother, so the windows were only covered up on the west side.
Anyone who has lived in this place knows how drafty the wooden and glass windows are.
Even so, the smell of smoke didn't dissipate much, and some people, feeling cold, even closed the door.
Now that's great, after finishing the first cigarette, I still feel unsatisfied, so I'll inhale some secondhand smoke to get the full flavor.
The lights in the yard were all turned on, and the snow on the rooftops made it bright, so the backyard became much quieter.
When Li Xuewu passed by the front yard, he glanced into the house and saw that only his eldest brother was home.
When I called home in the afternoon, Er Ya told me that my sister-in-law and Li Xue had taken the child and accompanied the old lady home.
As for his mother, he saw her when he arrived at the Central Court; she was coming out of Sha Zhu's house.
"You're off work?"
Liu Yin glanced at her son and explained, "I'll look after the child. Diliya and Yushui are at your uncle's house."
"Alright, I understand." Li Xuewu nodded, glanced at Sha Zhu's house, and said, "If you're too busy, ask the people in the front yard for help."
"I can manage the workload, and the kids are easy to soothe."
Liu Yin explained, "He Zhuang went to his uncle's house. The little one was afraid of catching a cold, so we didn't dare take him out of the house and he had to stay at home."
She nodded and said, "Yame does want to take her, but Dilia doesn't dare let her, afraid that she won't be able to take care of her."
"I'll go take a look first." After listening to his mother's nagging, Li Xuewu walked towards the main room of the First Uncle.
The door was wide open, and even the windows were broken; this was the rule of the "cold room".
Actually, it's freezing cold, there's no need to follow the rules so strictly. It's just an old man's place in the workers' village, and he won't be living here anymore after this is all over, so that's why we did it this way.
Delia and Yushui stood guard in front of the coffin, while an old man sat to the side burning paper money.
Due to his status, Li Xuewu only bowed upon entering the house before offering his condolences to the old man.
An older woman had already dressed herself in her funeral clothes and covered them with a shroud. I don't know which elder had done it, but it was very proper.
"It's fine, don't worry about it."
The old man looked tired, but he still spoke with energy. He nodded at me and said, "If you're busy, you don't need to be here. Just take a look. I understand your intentions."
"Okay, I'll come over tomorrow morning."
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "I'll talk to Brother Zhuzi for a bit later; he's very busy right now."
"Yes, it's all thanks to him." An old man sighed and said, "I didn't intend to trouble everyone, but he was thinking of your aunt. She actually liked lively gatherings when she was alive."
He looked at the coffin and after a long pause, said, "I have no children and no attachments, so why should I endure this commotion?"
"Hey, it's thoughtful of you, Brother Zhu."
What else could Li Xuewu say? He advised, "With this ceremony, you can put an end to your worries."
He looked around and saw that the room was fairly tidy; the mirrors had been covered with cloths and the furniture had been moved.
It was cold inside. Although Diliya and He Yushui were dressed warmly, they were still shivering as they knelt there.
"Alright, go home and warm up."
Li Xuewu frowned and said, "This old lady doesn't care about your stuff, why are you holding on? If you have the energy, use it tomorrow."
He gestured to the old man and said, "I'll sit here with you for a while and chat. Go ahead, go ahead."
"What Xuewu said is true, hurry up."
The old man then noticed the two's condition, waved his hand and said, "The child is still at home, don't come over later. There are plenty of people ahead, you don't need to come tonight."
Upon hearing this, He Yushui helped her sister-in-law to her feet, glanced at Li Xuewu, and the two went out the door.
"They're all good kids—"
Yi Zhonghai looked at the two of them, then at Li Xuewu, nodded, and said with emotion, "In the blink of an eye, you've both started families and established careers, and we've all grown old."
"You haven't retired yet, what's with the old man?"
Li Xuewu looked at him and said, "The factory didn't say they'd keep you for a few more years, did they? They're not letting you go, are they?"
"Hey—" an old man sighed, "I'm feeling really down!"