dognovel Chapter 1522 Gold buys horse bones
Chapter 1522 Gold buys horse bones
Chapter 1522: Thousands of Gold to Buy Horse Bones
What does Wang Xin mean?
Dong Wenxue invited Li Xuewu to lunch at noon, having learned from Li that Li Xuewu wouldn't be coming to work in the afternoon.
"I don't know, maybe they heard it."
Li Xuewu smiled nonchalantly, pointed to Wang Lu waiting for them at the top of the stairs, and asked, "Your office is tidy up nicely. Here's a reward for you. Tell me what you want."
"Of course!" The lunch break had already passed, and even with Dong Wenxue present, Wang Lu remained relaxed and natural. She boldly joked, "The Secretary-General speaking out is certainly a step forward."
"Hehehe—" Dong Wenxue chuckled as he looked at Wang Lu, who was dressed in a crisp work uniform and exuded a capable and mature aura. There was a hint of affection in his eyes.
The two were not related by blood, but with Li Xuewu around, Wang Lu received a lot of care from him at the company.
Putting everything else aside, whenever there's something good, Dong Wenxue always asks Wang Lu to handle it first, leaving everyone else helpless.
Some people criticized Li Xuewu for nepotism after making this arrangement, but Dong Wenxue wasn't afraid of that, since they weren't relatives to begin with.
"Okay, that's progress, right? That's good."
Li Xuewu nodded with a smile, then turned to Dong Wenxue and said, "Where do you think would be suitable for her?"
“I think—” Dong Wenxue also looked Wang Lu up and down again, pretending to be critical, before saying, “I think it would be most suitable to arrange for her to go to the union.”
"Hahahaha—" Li Xuewu laughed and invited him downstairs together. He nodded to Wang Lu, who was both embarrassed and somewhat pleased, and said, "Deputy Director Dong has already agreed to your request, so why don't you quickly say thank you?"
"Hey—how did it become me agreeing?"
Dong Wenxue had just stepped downstairs when he almost tripped over his words. It was truly impossible to guard against the trap set by his own student.
“My relationship with Xiong Zhuxi is so-so, so I’ll have to get your help with this.”
Li Xuewu didn't take it as a joke. He stepped down the stairs and explained to Dong Wenxue, "I heard you guys used to play chess together?"
"These government agencies, they'll never get rid of their habit of believing everything they hear," Dong Wenxue shook his head helplessly and said, "I went to visit him when he was in the hospital, and we chatted about work over a game of chess. I never expected it to spread like wildfire."
“No wonder Deputy Secretary-General Chen wants to rectify the work atmosphere and enforce discipline,” Li Xuewu said, raising an eyebrow. “I think we should organize several rectification campaigns every year to give them a good talking-to.”
“When have you ever been too lenient?” Dong Wenxue glanced at him and said, “In the end, isn’t it all the same? That’s human nature.”
After exchanging only that one sentence, he turned around and glanced at Wang Lu, who was following behind him. His expression softened considerably, and he said, "How many couples have you paired up recently? The reputation of the 'Little Matchmaker' is quite impressive."
"Deputy Director Dong, you're making fun of me—"
Wang Lu smiled slightly, a little embarrassed, and explained, "I was only asked by my friends to do these things; I didn't take them on my own initiative."
"I know, it's famous."
Dong Wenxue was really good at joking, and Wang Lu couldn't explain herself clearly, so she could only laugh awkwardly.
"Sure, joining the union is a good idea."
He stepped into the hall and said to Li Xuewu, "Last year, when Yin, the deputy director of the trade union, took office, he told me that the trade union activities in our group were not very good or lively, and the workers were not very enthusiastic about participating in the activities."
He then turned back to look at Wang Lu behind him and said, "If I send him elite troops, he'll be overjoyed."
"Thank you, Deputy Director Dong—"
When Wang Lu saw that her second brother had also turned to look at her with encouraging eyes, she boldly expressed her gratitude.
Dong Wenxue waved his hand and walked towards the canteen with Li Xuewu, explaining, "Comrade Bencheng is indeed not in good health. His daily work is handled by Deputy Director Yin. You should have met him before."
"We haven't had much contact; we've only met a few times."
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "He came from the ministry? I think I heard Director Li mention him once."
"Yes, it's also to take care of Comrade Bencheng."
In this situation, especially with Wang Lu right behind him, Dong Wenxue naturally said the nice things. Everyone in the group knew what was going on with Yin Xiaodong's arrival.
One advantage of moving the group headquarters to the new office building is that it no longer has to compete with the workers for canteen resources, thus avoiding conflicts.
The canteen has opened more than 30 service windows, and the staff preparing the meals have been arranged into two shifts, making the team much larger than before.
Li Xuewu was not present when the Gemini building was completed and inspected. He observed it while eating in the cafeteria. The layout and equipment here were also based on his suggestions, and a large amount of steel technology was used, making it sturdy and durable.
Compared to the old wood-fired stoves, the canteen on the second floor used gas stoves in a more modern way. The entire Liangmahe Industrial Zone was planned and designed according to the requirements put forward by Li Xuewu, which was very advanced.
Take residential buildings as an example. Who would have thought of reserving elevator spaces in the circular staircase and pre-installing telephone and network wiring conduits in the walls of the apartments?
Of course, the design drawings cannot be labeled as network conduit; instead, they are referred to as spare conduit.
Sufficient space has been reserved for extending the service life and functionality of the residential buildings.
To preserve the overall layout of the Liangmahe Industrial Zone within the timeline of future urban planning and development, preparations must be made in advance.
It wasn't that no one objected to this wasteful construction at the meeting, but Li Xuewu argued his case, presenting the changes over the past five and ten years as evidence. Ten years ago, who would have imagined that Hongxing Factory would be where it is today?
Li Xuewu didn't know about other companies, but he noticed that the canteen's duty desk was equipped with an internal telephone, indicating that Honggang was definitely ahead in the field of information engineering development.
"He's been hospitalized quite a lot these past few years."
Li Xuewu thought for a moment and asked, "How many years until he retires? His health can't be that bad, can it?"
"It won't be many years, five years at most."
Dong Wenxue selected his food at the window, handed over his meal ticket, and went to find an empty table with his tray.
Li Xuewu had a big appetite, so he chose two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, and also ordered four large steamed buns, while Wang Lu only ordered one steamed bun.
"What's up? Losing weight?"
This term is quite unfamiliar and novel to people of this era, but it is not difficult to understand.
Wang Lu shook her head with amusement and said, "I haven't had much of an appetite lately, I can't eat anything."
Is something wrong?
Li Xuewu smiled and raised his eyebrows, saying, "It's been dragging on long enough. If there's still no news, your mother-in-law won't be worried, but your mother will start asking you."
"Don't even mention it, the lesson they gave me the day before yesterday."
Wang Lu went with him to find Dong Wenxue, complaining helplessly, "It's all my fault for growing big but not small, always laughing like an idiot."
"That's not an exaggeration, it's just the truth."
Li Xuewu chuckled and glanced at her, saying, "You do look a little chubby."
"Ya Jun said I look prosperous."
Wang Lu shook her head with a wry smile and said, "He himself has gained ten pounds and doesn't even say it, but he says I've become plump."
"How can I gain weight from training every day?"
Li Xuewu searched around but couldn't find Zhao Yajun. The security brigade's training base was still in the old factory area, so she probably hadn't come over for lunch.
"Have you been practicing too little? Have you been slacking off?"
"Him? He's risking his life." Wang Lu snorted, then explained somewhat embarrassedly, "My mom makes him nourishing soup."
"Young man, do you need any supplements?"
Li Xuewu found it amusing and sat down opposite Dong Wenxue, saying, "Tell him to drink less; too much is as bad as too little."
"Yeah, I told him he didn't have to drink if he didn't want to, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it." Wang Lu wasn't afraid that Dong Wenxue would overhear her story, and she sat down next to Li Xuewu and started chatting away.
Dong Wenxue listened as well, occasionally exchanging a few words with Li Xuewu. The three of them sitting there eating naturally attracted a lot of attention.
Those who already knew about the relationship between Dong Wenxue and Li Xuewu were not surprised, but they were somewhat taken aback by Wang Lu sitting at the same table.
What's the relationship between them? How come they can sit at the same table with two of the group's leaders? It seems like she's the one who talks the most, and the two leaders are listening to her.
Not far away, Yuan Hua smiled and winked at Peng Xiaoli, who was sitting opposite him, and joked, "You're not going to go over and say hello to your old boss?"
"Isn't that your former boss?"
Peng Xiaoli rolled his eyes, munching on his steamed bun, and said, "If we're talking about connections, there are tons of them eating in the cafeteria these days."
"Everyone calls him the old leader, everyone goes over to greet him, he doesn't have to do anything else, he just deals with us."
"You still need a trusted old subordinate, what do you know?"
Sitting next to Yuan Hua, Gu Cheng raised an eyebrow to support his brother, saying, "With Xiao Li's relationship, there's no need for formalities."
"The secretary-general might not like it either."
Sitting opposite Gu Cheng, Qian Youqiong smiled and glanced at the two of them before turning to Peng Xiaoli and asking, "Right, Xiaoli?"
"When will you two learn the word 'restraint'?" Peng Xiaoli looked at the two helplessly and said, "You two have perfectly embodied the idiom 'as inseparable as glue'."
"What's wrong? Are you envious of our relationship?"
Qian Youqiong only learned three-tenths of Gu Cheng's mischievousness, which already made Peng Xiaoli unable to help but complain. What if it were Gu Cheng himself?
He looked at Peng Xiaoli and asked softly, "Tell us, are you two husband and wife, or just colleagues?"
"They look like husband and wife, but are more like comrades."
Sitting at the same table, Yuan Huazhen, who was really good at making witty remarks, joked, "Comrade Haitang, you don't hold meetings for me at home, do you?"
"Get lost! Keep your wicked thoughts to yourself. My husband and I have a great relationship. We won't give you another chance."
If Peng Xiaoli can't out-argue Gu Cheng, can't he at least out-argue Yuan Hua?
The reason these four people were able to sit at the same table is because Yu Haitang is very capable; her subordinates and lover were on the same side.
"I gave up on that fantasy a long time ago."
Yuan Hua quipped, "This is called facing reality, accepting it calmly, offering blessings bravely, and waiting to find the leaks."
“I knew you had ulterior motives for hanging around with us!” Gu Cheng joked. “On the first day, I advised Xiaoli to poison you, but he said he would spare your life so that no one else would have designs on you.”
"Ouch—tsk tsk tsk—"
Yuan Hua clicked his tongue and asked Peng Xiaoli with a smirk, "Now that you've won the heart of your beauty, do you still need to pledge your loyalty to us?"
"Who knows if you're a traitor?"
Qian Youqiong jokingly said, "What if you try to win over Director Yu by being two-faced and spreading rumors?"
"Is this the image I project to my comrades?"
Yuan Hua shook his head in frustration and said, "We set our hearts on the bright moon, but alas, the bright moon shines on the gutter—"
They were just joking around when they got together. If Yu Haitang were here, Yuan Hua might have said this in a joking tone, but in front of Peng Xiaoli, it was definitely a joke.
Yu Haitang is good, but she is no longer the most beautiful flower she once was.
In the past, the two of them worked at the radio station, and the duty room was filled with youthful hormones that could make people dizzy. But after becoming cadres, that feeling was long ago shattered by reality, and it no longer had that same feeling.
Everyone knows that first love is unforgettable, and there will always be a memory of high school that lingers in your mind. But when you actually meet your first love and see her now a married woman, do you still feel that lingering regret for that unforgettable smile on the playground under the sun?
So the reason Yuan Hua could get together with Peng Xiaoli and others to chat idly was because they were joking about their relationship.
"Let's get serious, this is related to the Secretary-General."
Gu Cheng tapped his chopsticks lightly on his plate and looked at Peng Xiaoli and Yuan Hua, saying, "We just finished a meeting this morning, and things are getting a bit weird."
"You got it from Deputy Director Su—"
"How could I possibly say that?"
Gu Cheng glanced at his lover, Qian Youqiong, and reminded her, "What leader would talk about something like this all the time?"
"Director Li has arranged for the Secretary-General to preside over the Group's Second Congress of Representatives of Active Learners, Model Units, and Model Soldiers in Studying and Applying Mao Zedong Thought. This was originally supposed to be the responsibility of Deputy Director Gu."
He put down his chopsticks, tapped his finger on the table, and said softly, "After this trip to East Germany, I don't know if you noticed that Director Li's attitude at the management committee meeting was much tougher."
"If you say so..."
Yuan Hua frowned and thought for a moment before asking, "Is it related to the No. 4 furnace incident in the steel city industrial zone a while ago?"
"You mean—" Peng Xiaoli also put down his chopsticks, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Director Li is dissatisfied with the statements made by Deputy Director Gu, Deputy Director Su and others in handling the matter of Deputy Director Dong?"
“It’s not easy for the Secretary-General to come back.” Yuan Hua pointed to the table and gestured towards the table that was attracting a lot of attention not far away, emphasizing, “How long has it been since you’ve seen them sitting together for a meal?”
"Others may not know, but Xiaoli, don't you know?"
He glanced at Peng Xiaoli again, then turned to Gu Cheng and asked, "What feedback has Deputy Director Su given? Are we just going to let it go like this?"
"What do I know? I'm just a figurehead." Gu Cheng emphasized his position with Deputy Director Su without any concern, and said frankly, "I won't know what he's going to do until after the fact. Now it's just a matter of whether he can't wait to start the surgery or I should take my leave first."
"If you ask me, even if it's a pile of stinky dog poop, you have to keep putting it in front of him. Even if you don't make a fuss, you still have to disgust him."
"You're the one who's a piece of shit—"
"I haven't finished eating yet—"
Gu Cheng and Qian Youqiong, a married couple, both expressed their dissatisfaction with Yuan Hua. Qian Youqiong even kicked him under the table.
Yuan Hua chuckled and explained, "The words may be rough, but the principle is sound. Think about it carefully."
"You're disgusting."
Qian Youqiong glared at him and quickly started eating, so that they wouldn't start talking about dirty things that would disgust her again.
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
Gu Cheng meant well, pointing to Yuan Hua and Peng Xiaoli and emphasizing, "At critical moments, the propaganda front is especially important, and it is also a battleground for military strategists. Putting aside the achievements for now, gaining the trust of leaders is the key."
"And you, Xiaoli."
After speaking about Yuan Hua, he looked at Peng Xiaoli and emphasized, "You should really think about Yuan Hua's suggestion carefully, don't take it as a joke."
"To us, the secretary-general is just the secretary-general, but to you, he is not just an ordinary old leader."
"Hey—did you hear me—"
Yuan Hua tapped his fingers on the table, raised an eyebrow, and said to Peng Xiaoli, "I'm doing this for your own good."
"You didn't even report to the Secretary-General when he came back? Are you waiting for him to leave so you can chase after him all the way to Steel City to report?"
Gu Cheng glanced at Peng Xiaoli with disdain and said, "What's there to be ashamed of? Do you have to make a name for yourself before you dare to meet him?"
"If you ask me, you're just uncultured and have picked up a bunch of pretentious, affected mannerisms. What kind of time is this?"
He leaned forward and whispered, "You've been in the production unit for over a year now. The leaders have just signed a huge food export deal in East Germany. Why don't you hurry up and go report to the secretary-general about your recent work so you can hear what the leaders have to say?"
"Listen to Gu Cheng, you can't go wrong."
Yuan Hua also became more serious and said, "It's best to ask the leaders for instructions. Either go to the sales company to be in charge of food sales, or summarize the production work experience and come up with some new ideas."
"Of course, it would be best if we could go to East Germany to coordinate the work."
Before he could finish his three serious sentences, his words had already taken a turn for the worse: "If you're going to stay for three to five years, that would be the best."
"Xiaoli has been gone for three to five years, and you think you have a chance to take advantage of the situation?" Qian Youqiong looked at him with amusement and asked, "You've spent more time with Director Yu than Xiaoli has today, how come you haven't gained anything?"
"Alas—what can I do when I'm just unlucky?"
Yuan Hua said with feigned helplessness, "If it weren't for him, why would I be wallowing in self-pity?"
"That was disgusting enough already, you don't need to add fuel to the fire." Qian Youqiong rolled her eyes and said, "You've worked with Director Yu for so many years and still haven't succeeded, what does that say?"
"I gave you a chance, but you still couldn't do it!"
The two teased Peng Xiaoli back and forth, but Peng Xiaoli was frowning and thinking about something, completely unaware of their jokes.
Gu Cheng, however, looked at his good brother, waiting for him to come to his senses.
Actually, Peng Xiaoli isn't stupid. If he were, he wouldn't have chosen a wife like Yu Haitang. Both of them are exceptional individuals; once they get involved, they become like monkeys.
In the government office, the only couple who could rival them were Zhou Miaomiao and Zhou Tan.
However, everyone knows what's going on with Zhou Miaomiao and Zhou Tan. Zhou Tan is the one who overtakes on the curve. Even if you step on the gas, you can't catch up unless you're willing to give up that little bit of green.
In terms of job rank, Yu Haitang is indeed more qualified than Peng Xiaoli, but in terms of potential, Peng Xiaoli's resources are definitely superior to Haitang's.
Yu Haitang is undoubtedly professional, but his management skills are just average. Since becoming the director of the radio station, apart from a few projects that were guided and supported by the leadership, he has not made any other significant achievements.
However, she also had a cautious side to her actions. After all, it was a publicity unit, and without caution, one wrong step could lead to utter ruin.
However, this also precisely limited Yu Haitang's development.
Starting as the director of a radio station, no matter how hard she tries, she'll eventually advance towards the management level of a publishing house. Can she compare to Peng Xiaoli, who has a more steady and pragmatic approach?
Peng Xiaoli is three years younger than Yu Haitang. From her position as secretary to the deputy section chief in charge of production in the production unit, she has taken a solid step forward. To be honest, in terms of size and subordinates, the secretary-general is definitely a good leader.
All that's left is to persevere and work hard; his future prospects are much broader than Yu Haitang's.
In terms of relationships and resources, with the Secretary-General's attention, Yu Haitang's extensive network of connections could never compare to Peng Xiaoli's.
It's said that Yu Haitang and Director Li have an unusual relationship, so naturally people view Zhou Miaomiao and others' "benefits" with prejudice.
As close friends, Gu Cheng did discuss this topic with Peng Xiaoli, both before and after their marriage.
Before the marriage, Yu Haitang took the initiative to express her desire to start a family with Peng Xiaoli, which also shows Yu Haitang's shrewdness.
Why was Peng Xiaoli, who had just been transferred to the production unit, chosen when her rank was clearly higher?
Because of Peng Xiaoli's powerful connections, if you really marry Peng Xiaoli, the gossip about her will soon disappear, and the factors that affect her progress will be completely eliminated.
Peng Xiaoli was also very concerned about these implications. They both worked in government offices, and he was a very well-informed person. He had heard about these rumors, but he never thought that they would be related to him.
After hearing about his friend's situation, Gu Cheng clearly explained the pros and cons to him, and even had someone investigate Yu Haitang's family background, which shows how deep their friendship was.
He also told Peng Xiaoli that Li Xue was no longer worth his attention. It wasn't that she was already taken, but rather that he was only interested in her and she was unmoved by his advances. This situation was the hardest to resolve.
Yu Haitang took the initiative to express her desire to start a family, and the choice was in Peng Xiaoli's hands. Even if he agreed, life wouldn't be too difficult.
Yu Haitang is a very smart person. She would never put pressure on Peng Xiaoli in his daily life, let alone bully him at home by taking advantage of her status.
Others might not know about Yuan Hua's jokes, but Gu Cheng certainly did. He and Qian Youqiong often visited Peng Xiaoli's home.
The two families got along very well, and Yu Haitang always gave Peng Xiaoli a lot of face in their daily lives, so the couple never had any conflicts.
After they got married, Peng Xiaoli took the initiative to talk to Gu Cheng once, and Yu Haitang really did not do that kind of thing, which debunked the rumors about Director Li.
While later generations boast advanced medical techniques and dazzling, lifelike technologies, this era didn't offer nearly as many tricks up its sleeve.
It's not that the technology doesn't exist, it's that there's no one to perform the surgery for you.
Therefore, Peng Xiaoli let go of her resentment, and the couple naturally had no conflicts. They were both career-oriented, and their relationship was even better than that of husband and wife.
***
"Secretary-General—"
Before Peng Xiaoli could finish her thought, Li Xuewu and the others had already come over, seemingly having finished their meal and preparing to leave.
Gu Cheng was much more relaxed than him; he stood up and greeted him.
Qian Youqiong and Yuan Hua also stood up one after the other to greet him, and also wished Dong Wenxue well, showing that they were very close.
Dong Wenxue nodded in agreement, but his gaze lingered on Peng Xiaoli for a longer period of time.
"Does Yuan Hua have a girlfriend?"
After nodding, Li Xuewu inquired about Yuan Hua's personal situation.
“Secretary-General, it’s the Lunar New Year,” Yuan Hua said, feigning frustration. “Your question really chilled me to the bone.”
"Hehehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled and pointed at him, then said to Wang Lu beside him, "Didn't you introduce him to anyone?"
"Director Yuan doesn't need me to worry about him."
Wang Lu's eyes sparkled as she chuckled and said, "The radio station is right next to the performing arts troupe; what kind of people can't they find?"
"Oh, finally it's my turn."
Yuan Hua was even more shameless than Gu Cheng, chasing after Wang Lu and pleading, "The Secretary-General has spoken, you have to solve my personal problems this year no matter what."
"I owe you something—" Wang Lu was exasperated by his fussing and glared at him irritably.
"The four gift boxes will be delivered after I get off work today!"
Yuan Hua waved his hand and said, "I'm not like them. I'm more generous than them. Tonight, I'll treat everyone to hot pot at Langtaosha."
"Okay, you said it!"
Wang Lu pointed at him and said, "Meet in the lobby after get off work. If you dare to mess with me, you'll never find a partner in your life."
"It's alright, we'll take him away."
Qian Youqiong covered her mouth and chuckled, "Xiaoli and Gu Cheng are there."
"Have you been eating better since you got married?"
Only then did Li Xuewu look at Peng Xiaoli, who was standing there awkwardly, and asked, "Has Yu Haitang been cooking delicious food for you every day?"
"You look like you've gained weight compared to before."
Dong Wenxue had just sized him up and was now jokingly saying, "Aren't you in the production department? Judging by your progress, people who don't know better would think you went to the logistics department."
Amidst the laughter and chatter, Peng Xiaoli pursed her lips sheepishly and explained, "It's because our company's food has improved."
"I've noticed that everyone has gained weight this year."
Dong Wenxue waved, signaling them to come together. He chatted with Li Xuewu, saying, "People say that our group spends all the money it earns on food. I've never seen such a wasteful thing."
"If you ask me, they're just jealous—"
Gu Cheng curled his lip and said, "Is it wrong to make sure employees live well, dress well, and eat well?"
“I didn’t hear it. If I had, I would have dug him up on the spot.”
“You’re showing off—” Qian Youqiong glared at him, reminding him not to speak recklessly in front of the leaders.
It was just casual conversation after dinner, and the good-natured Dong Wenxue didn't pay any attention to it.
He glanced at Gu Cheng and asked, "Deputy Director Su said you are wise in appearance but foolish in reality. Are you really that smart?"
"He's just too daring."
Qian Youqiong didn't want Gu Cheng to lose face in front of his superiors, so she smiled and smoothed things over for him. Gu Cheng understood her meaning and nodded with a smile, saying, "My wife is right."
"Hehehe—" Dong Wenxue chuckled and nodded at him. He walked to the top of the stairs and said to Li Xuewu, "They are all promising talents."
"I didn't see it. Perhaps you could pay more attention to it?"
Li Xuewu glanced at the people behind him and said, "Did you all hear that? You should learn more from Deputy Director Dong in the future."
"You—" Dong Wenxue chuckled and patted Li Xuewu on the shoulder as he heard Gu Cheng and the others respond with amusement.
One Wang Lu wasn't enough, so they added these soldiers?
The situation was difficult, but he could understand Li Xuewu's good intentions. It was precisely the time when people were in need, just like Han Xin's strategy of selecting troops—the more the merrier.
These young people may seem unremarkable, but they were all trained by Li Xuewu. We'll see how useful they are once they show results.
***
"Shenfei wants to participate in the research and development of the drone project?" Shangguan Qi intercepted Li Xuewu in the office before he left.
“We don’t have any problems on our end.” She thought for a moment and then asked, “But does Shenyang Aircraft Corporation have funding for drone projects?”
"It's their deputy factory director who's interested in this project, but he's been hesitant." Li Xuewu sorted through the documents at hand; he couldn't go home for the time being, and he couldn't be idle during the conversation.
Shangguan Qi came for her classmate; Peng Xiaoli had just left, and he hadn't even had time to lock the door.
“You know Tadong Airport, right?” Li Xuewu looked up at her and explained, “Shenyang Aircraft Corporation plans to give it to us.”
"An airport? What do we need an airport for?"
Shangguan Qi looked at him with a puzzled expression and asked, "Does helicopter testing and research not require buying an airport?"
"It's about operations; the group is also considering it."
Li Xuewu explained, "Shenyang Aircraft Corporation built a new airport last year, which is near their factory, so the Tadong Airport is redundant."
"Actually, it's too big. They're poorly managed, and the higher-ups aren't willing to allocate funds, so the situation is a bit awkward."
He tapped his fingers on the table and said, "I'm getting off-topic. Let's talk about drones. If they use Tadong Airport as an example, they can still allocate some funds to invest in research projects."
"Investment? What are they thinking?"
Shangguan Qi rubbed her forehead helplessly and looked at Li Xuewu seriously, asking, "Boss, tell me the truth, is there any hope for this project?"
"What kind of talk is that—" Li Xuewu scolded her, amused and curious, "If even you, the project manager, doubt your own project, how can your colleagues work?"
“It’s been over a year—” Shangguan Qi rested her head on her hands and leaned against his desk in a coquettish manner, her tone filled with helplessness and heartache, saying, “The research and development progress is so slow that I’m starting to doubt my life.”
"Don't be discouraged. Are you short of money?"
Li Xuewu teased her on purpose, saying, "If you need money, just say so, and I'll go and make an application to Director Li."
"And another thing is, someone is offering money to us willingly."
“You’re right—” Shangguan Qi said angrily, “Last time Director Li and Director Bao from Dongcheng Credit Union visited our office, Director Bao even asked me if drones could fly within three years.”
"What did you say?" Li Xuewu asked, looking at her. "You didn't tell him the truth, did you?"
"I said I couldn't guarantee it." Shangguan Qi laughed as she spoke. "He kept asking, so I told him maybe it would take off next month, or maybe it wouldn't take off for three years."
"He'll say the same thing next time he comes!"
Li Xuewu smiled and nodded, saying, "What does someone from a bank know about scientific research? Even if you explain it to him, he won't understand. Next time, use some technical terms and go through a bit more steps before telling him."
"I'm starting to feel a little guilty about spending this research funding." Shangguan Qi rested her chin on the back of her hand and looked at him, asking, "Are you that confident in this project?"
"Of course, I have more confidence in you."
Li Xuewu smiled and nodded, encouraging her, "Rome wasn't built in a day. The drone project involves too many technical challenges. Director Li and I have never been in a hurry, nor can we be."
Shangguan Qi only unconsciously reveals her girlish mentality in his office, even though she is actually older than Li Xuewu.
However, Li Xuewu's confidence and demeanor made Shangguan Qi trust and admire him unconditionally, ignoring their age difference.
Their seemingly casual gesture of leaning over the desk to talk, coupled with their coquettish expression, would surely lead others to misunderstand their relationship if they saw them.
Li Xuewu never cared. Shangguan Qi had always lived in an ivory tower, and only experienced the harsh reality during the time she returned to China and flew to Bingfei.
Once back in her comfort zone of going back and forth between two points, her somewhat childish personality resurfaced.
"But I'm getting a little anxious—"
Shangguan Qi sighed and said, "I took Peter to visit the research institute and discussed my project. He was very surprised."
"Geniuses are often misunderstood by convention, and they shouldn't be bound by reality, should they?"
Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow at her and said, "Peter's arrival has provided possibilities and opportunities for chip manufacturing, bringing us one step closer to the day when drones take off, hasn't it?"
"I hope so—"
Shangguan Qi took a deep breath, pursed her lips to compose herself, and reported, "As you requested, after reporting to President Xia, I helped Peter complete his identity procedures, and he has already started working."
"Don't rush, give him some time."
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "First, we need to develop the lithography system, and then we'll assemble a team to thoroughly understand the technology."
"That's what President Xia meant too. Peter said he could assemble a professional technical team in just six months."
Shangguan Qi explained, "My older brother has also been engaged in research in the field of optoelectronics. I discussed with him whether we should support Peter's project first."
“Okay, you decide.” Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said, “This time I’m in a hurry to get back to Liaodong, so I won’t see Peter.”
"Please tell him that if he can produce a lithography machine within six months, I will apply to Director Li to name the new optoelectronic research institute after him."
He glanced at Shangguan Qi, whose eyes were full of surprise, smiled, and asked, "What? Are you envious?"
"No—I am—" Shangguan Qi shook her head and asked softly, "Will this have any negative consequences?"
"This is an honor, what negative impact could it have?"
Li Xuewu smiled and encouraged her, saying, "You're the same. The moment the drone takes off, I'll apply for the establishment of a separate research institute for you, and we'll name it 'Shangguan Qi Drone Technology Research Institute'."
"That's too—" Shangguan Qi suddenly blushed, as if she was thinking about how a unit of the Red Star Steel Group would be named after her in the future. This honor was too heavy and too attractive.
Now that we're talking about her, think about Peter, who's only been here for two days. If he heard this news, he'd be furious.
"Don't mistreat him in terms of benefits and treatment."
Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said, "There should still be quotas available this year. I'll go and discuss it with Director Li and give him an apartment in the experts' building. He doesn't need to worry about the decoration and furniture; he can just wait to move in."
"President Xia will probably discuss the treatment of foreign experts with you," Shangguan Qi reported. "He asked me about the benefits and promotion channels that foreign countries provide for researchers, and I reported them truthfully. He should still be compiling and discussing them."
"Don't worry about that. Our group has always supported scientific research. Director Li attaches great importance to scientific research, as you know."
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "You should also talk to Peter when you come down. We are not just spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones; we have a sincere heart and enthusiasm for every foreign scientific worker who comes to China."
"I can understand that." Shangguan Qi thought of her parents' and family's current living conditions and felt a deep sense of gratitude towards the man in front of her.
If it weren't for Li Xuewu, even if her family enjoyed the special treatment given to them by Bingfei because of her, they would probably still feel uneasy.
Without fairness as a measure in resource allocation, whether the allocation is too small or too large, anyone with a conscience will feel uneasy.
Now she feels that she earned this treatment through her own abilities, and that it was a reward for the important contributions she and her family made to the group's scientific research work. She feels at ease enjoying it.
She bought her own car with her salary and bonuses even though the city hadn't yet started offering car ownership benefits.
Although it's quite eye-catching, no one in the Liangmahe Industrial Zone or within the group would call her a "little Bolshevik."
Those with ability are entitled to higher treatment; this is essentially the prevailing value within the Hongxing Steel Group.
Peter still remembers the envious look in his eyes when he saw her car after arriving at Liangmahe Industrial Zone.
It's not that no one in the group has spoken ill of her, saying that she spent a lot of money on the drone R&D project, but the project has been slow to progress.
The most direct manifestation of this is that drones haven't even been developed into concept models, let alone promoted.
What the people who said these things didn't know was that during the development of the drone project, the technical challenges they faced were topics that neither the domestic nor even the international scientific community had begun to study.
It could be said that in order to get the drones to take off, they braved thorns and brambles to carve out a path through the desolate wilderness.
We may not see the results yet, but regardless of whether the drones take to the skies or not, looking back at their research, it's already blossoming everywhere.
First, let's talk about the chip field involved in the drone project. Before this, the chips were all directly imported from Japan, or exclusively supplied by Santayana Group, or exclusively supplied by Geely Star Shipbuilding.
Whoever arranges the compensation trade will provide the core technology.
Hongxing Steel Group will always be an OEM manufacturer, never having access to core technologies, and will never have a chance to turn its fortunes around.
Once the drone project was launched, one of the first things the research team had to solve was the drone's "brain".
If even the chips are not independently developed, then how can there be any breakthroughs in the field of drone projects?
It was precisely because he was engaged in research and encountered difficulties that Li Xuewu was able to purposefully select Peter as his target.
Bringing people back from East Germany would only take six months, and a major challenge in the project would be overcome with a qualitative breakthrough.
The drone project involves numerous sub-projects. Through the research and development of each sub-project, these scientific research results are then combined with other projects to illuminate a technological tree.
Rather than saying that Li Xuewu is obsessed with drones, it would be more accurate to say that he has found a direction for the scientific research work of Hongxing Steel Group.
Shangguan Qi is young, and she shoulders the mission of the first generation of scientific researchers in Hongxing Steel Group, as well as the role of paving the way for future generations.
Whether she succeeds or not is not important; what matters is leaving future generations with the opportunity to catch up.