dognovel Chapter 1448 The Strongest Newcomer King
Chapter 1448 The Strongest Newcomer King
Chapter 1448 The Strongest Newcomer King
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation's welcome banquet was a great success, with both hosts and guests thoroughly enjoying themselves.
The guests were well-behaved, and the host was hospitable; none of them got drunk or ran away.
Despite the insistence of Cheng Kaiyuan and others, Li Xuewu and his group returned to the machinery factory's guesthouse.
The full name of the machinery factory is Fengcheng Machinery Manufacturing Plant of Hongxing Steel Group, which was originally Fengcheng No. 1 Machinery Manufacturing Plant.
Anyone who has witnessed the industrial enterprises of Northeast China during that era should know that, regardless of production capacity, their land area alone was among the highest in the country.
When it comes to learning from the Russians, the industrial enterprises in Northeast China are particularly like that teacher. As a result, many products produced by these enterprises are crude, large, and unrefined, to the point that southerners can't even tell whether the items in their hands are Russian or Northeastern.
Sturdy, durable, and made with high-quality materials are characteristics of products from Northeast China, just like the workers of this land, and the factories reflect this as well.
With the support of Liaodong Industry, Hongxing Steel Group completed the full acquisition and transformation of Fengcheng No. 1 Machinery Plant two years ago.
The management model of Hongxing Steel Group was the most talked about at the time.
Steady, accurate, and ruthless: none of the original factory's main leaders were to be let go; those who were just loafing around were all dismissed; and those who were just filling positions without contributing anything were all sent away.
A large meeting was held before the takeover, and advance notice was given that an audit would be conducted, causing a large number of people with guilty consciences to voluntarily transfer out.
Despite these actions, the group resolutely carried out the audit work.
As a result, those who took a chance were directly handed over to the newly established disciplinary inspection team, a case of making an example of someone to deter others.
Li Xuewu didn't know what the atmosphere was like at Fengcheng No. 1 Machine Tool Plant in the past, but looking at the well-ordered production, the serious and conscientious enterprise management, and the spirit of constantly exploring and innovating in the field of CNC machine tools, he knew that today's machine tool plant was definitely not the No. 1 Machine Tool Plant of the past.
"The biggest change is not in people, but in organizational discipline."
When Zhang Lixian, deputy director of Fengcheng Machinery Factory, was seeing Li Xuewu and others upstairs, he explained: "The first thing we did after taking over the machinery factory was to read out the group's disciplinary requirements regarding production and daily life."
"We have studied all of them, including the 'Safety Production Regulations,' the 'Ten Prohibitions of the Group,' the 'Safety Production Standardization,' and the 'Emergency Management Regulations.'"
He pointed to the ground and said, "The current order and tranquility are the result of rigorous discipline. Only after we have a stable order can we begin to develop."
“In the first half of last year, Deputy Director Jing mentioned at an office meeting that the development data of Fengcheng Machinery Factory was not very good.”
Gao Yaqin looked at Li Xuewu and said, "What we were talking about back then should have been the same as the previous year."
“I remember, I hadn’t started working in Liaodong yet at that time.”
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Deputy Director Jing speaks based on data. She often says that data cannot lie."
"Hehehe—" Gao Yaqin and Cheng Kaiyuan both chuckled when they heard him say that.
Zhang Lixian didn't understand what the two leaders were laughing about. He knew that Deputy Director Jing liked to say this, so what was so funny?
Li Xuewu noticed his confusion, ignored Gao Yaqin and the other person's laughter, turned to him and said, "I don't agree with that statement."
"Doesn't data lie?"
He raised his eyebrows and emphasized, "Data is cold and emotionless, so how can it be considered deception? It doesn't represent the whole picture."
"Of course, corporate management should look at data and use data to evaluate and measure workload and performance, but it's not absolute."
Li Xuewu stopped in front of his room and said to Zhang Lixian, "We must adapt to local conditions and realities, and we cannot use data and indicators to measure management quality."
He pointed at the other person and said, "This is why I haven't used task quotas and data to restrict you since I came to work in Liaodong."
"Thank you for your understanding and support, Secretary-General. We will certainly live up to your trust and understanding."
Zhang Lixian said with some emotion, "Since last year, we have achieved rapid growth in production targets, and the completion of other tasks is also among the top in the group."
"Great sound and sound, great skill but no workmanship."
Li Xuewu smiled and patted his arm, then turned to Gao Yaqin and Cheng Kaiyuan and asked, "Would you like to come to my room for a while?"
"It's late, you should get some rest."
Cheng Kaiyuan glanced at the time on his hand and said to Zhang Lixian, "Comrade Lixian, let's leave here. Go back and rest early."
"Then please have a good rest, and if you need anything, just let the staff know." Zhang Lixian introduced very politely, "We also follow the group's service standards here, and there are staff on duty 24 hours a day."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work today."
Cheng Kaiyuan was the first to extend his hand and shake hands with him, then turned around and went back to his room with a smile.
Gao Yaqin didn't say anything, shook hands with him, and then walked towards her room.
Zhang Lixian stood there watching the two leave before turning to Li Xuewu and saying, "Then, Secretary-General, you should also get some rest."
"Go back now, you've had a long day."
Li Xuewu shook hands with him, and only after he left did he open the door and go inside.
As mentioned earlier, this is not an industry built by the group; it was acquired and taken over.
If it were a property owned by the group, the guesthouse would never be of such high standard or have such a good environment.
As Zhang Lixian just mentioned, the service standards here are aligned with those of the group's guesthouse.
He was right; Li Xuewu felt a familiar atmosphere as soon as he moved in.
What's different here is the hardware; you can tell how magnificent this place used to be just by looking at the ceramic toilets and pure copper faucets.
This guesthouse of Fengcheng No. 1 Machinery Factory may not have been built by itself; it is very likely that it was taken over from a large enterprise in the former Fengcheng.
This city has no shortage of luxurious buildings. Since the beginning of this century, Northeast China has been an important industrial and economic city in Northeast Asia.
***
dong dong——
A knock sounded on the door. Li Xuewu wiped his hands on a hanging towel before stepping out of the bathroom and opening the heavy solid wood door.
"Is it just the two of you who came?"
Seeing Zhao Dezhu and Zhou Changli standing awkwardly and nervously at the door, Li Xuewu glanced at them briefly before turning around and walking inside. "Come in, make yourself at home."
Zhao Laosi and Zhou Changli exchanged a glance, but Zhao Laosi couldn't glean anything from Li Xuewu's expression, and his unease grew stronger.
It was Zhou Changli who nudged Zhao Laosi, signaling him to go inside first.
Zhao Laosi was so angry that he rolled his eyes. They were already at the gates of hell, so why did he care who died first?
They are truly brothers in arms, willing to go to great lengths for you, and also willing to stab you in the back.
It's no wonder the two of them swore an oath of brotherhood by kowtowing to the ground.
Today, in this calamity, the vow has indeed come true: We do not ask to be born on the same day, in the same month, in the same year, but we ask to die on the same day, in the same month, in the same year!
Okay, let's die together.
Not daring to keep Li Xuewu waiting any longer, the two hesitated for a moment before entering the room one after the other, looking as listless as if they were heading to the execution ground.
"What? You want to talk standing up?"
Li Xuewu was already sitting on the sofa, crossing his right leg as he looked at the two people who had entered the room.
puff-
Unexpectedly, Zhao Laosi, who had walked in first, knelt down after he finished speaking.
Zhou Changli, standing next to him, was still in shock, like a pig that had been startled too much.
Are you two really sworn brothers? If you're going to pull this stunt, couldn't you at least give me a hint? You've already knelt down, what am I supposed to do?
Just as Li Xuewu's gaze swept over, Zhou Changli, who was still hesitating about whether his knees were strong enough, had no choice.
puff-
He knelt down respectfully and consciously, at the same level as Zhao Laosi.
The unwritten rules of the martial arts world dictate that we share both good times and bad.
You might ask if we're missing the phrase "sharing the good fortune"?
If you're asking this question, you're definitely not a member of the martial arts world, and you've never been involved in it.
Sharing hardships is reality, sharing happiness is the goal. Can you treat the goal as reality?
As for why Zhao Laosi knelt down as soon as he entered the door, he had his own explanation.
Known as Master Zhao in the Beijing gangster circle, he had long seen through the ways of the underworld.
All the fighting and killing, all the social niceties, it's all for fame and fortune.
He'll fight and kill for whoever can give him fame and fortune, and he'll listen to whoever can talk to him about human relationships.
The Zhao family has three brothers: Zhao Laosi, Zhao Laowu, and Zhao Laoliu. They all eat the food given to them by Li Xuewu and earn the money they risk their lives to support their families. Now that their employer has asked, "Do you want them to speak standing up?", he means they have to speak on their knees.
Although he hadn't attended school for many years, he could do reading comprehension questions; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to embark on an "official career" despite his humble origins.
Who do you think you are? The guy kneeling on the ground, Master Zhao, is a big shot in the Beijing gangster circle. He used to be the head of security at the most mysterious club in Beijing, and now he is the strongest newcomer in the world of all walks of life in Fengcheng.
Look at Master Zhao's outfit: black leather shoes, black trousers, and a leather belt that can't restrain his dignity, but can restrain his white shirt. Paired with his 3/7 parted haircut, he's bound to look like a cadre wherever he goes.
When the two arrived at the machinery factory guesthouse by car, even the security guards at the entrance couldn't figure out who they were.
Their work IDs were even more frightening.
One was the personnel manager of Dongfeng Shipping, and the other was the deputy general manager of a branch of Jinmen Shunfeng Trading. The security guards checking their credentials hesitated whether to salute them.
Zhao Laosi worked at the club for three years and studied with his teacher for three years.
The master he apprenticed to had no legendary past; all he had was decades of experience as a steward in a wealthy and powerful household.
This experience alone made Zhao Laosi the most disciplined young man in the club.
Li Xuewu liked young people who followed the rules, so he gave him a better opportunity.
During his three years at the club, he did nothing but greet members.
What are the identities of the club's members? Even if no one taught him anything, he gradually developed that kind of demeanor through long-term exposure.
To be honest, just by looking at him in that outfit, you really couldn't tell what level he was.
When you look at Zhou Changli kneeling beside him, this kid seems a bit more "pragmatic".
In September in Fengcheng, he wore a light leather jacket over a sailor shirt, and the most popular type of training pants among the Beijing gangsters. On his feet were a pair of training rubber shoes made by the Third Guard Regiment.
That explains why the security guard at the entrance downstairs hesitated when he saw their IDs.
If only Zhao Laosi came, the guards might have already saluted.
But with Zhou Changli dressed like that, the guard felt that something was not quite right.
Zhou Changli didn't think there was anything wrong with what he was wearing, and even if Zhao Laosi, who came with him, was dressed perfectly, it wouldn't stop them from kneeling together.
"The carpet here is very soft, isn't it?"
Li Xuewu tilted his head and looked at the two of them, saying, "I still feel more comfortable talking like this."
"Brother Li, we made a mistake."
It was Zhao Laosi who spoke up, making Zhou Changli explain that the two brothers might really die together today.
"Hmm, tell me." Li Xuewu frowned slightly, nodded, and said, "I'd like to hear what you have to say."
“Brother Li, Xi Yongzhong would never betray us, something must have happened.”
The first thing Zhao Laosi said upon entering the room was to admit his mistake and express his stance. His second sentence did not defend himself or his companion, but instead emphasized that Xi Yongzhong would never betray the organization.
Regardless of how Li Xuewu viewed their work and mistakes in Fengcheng, his words alone gave them a chance to explain.
Li Xuewu remained silent, but nodded, signaling him to continue.
Zhou Changli glanced at Zhao Laosi beside him. He could clearly feel Zhao Laosi's hand trembling. Was he afraid?
Nonsense. In his three years working at the club, Zhao Laosi had never seen Li Xuewu with such a serious expression. He had no idea what it meant, because he really had never seen it before.
I wasn't even this nervous when I went to his office to report on the situation of those troublemakers.
"On the evening of September 10th, Xi Yongzhong told me that he wanted to go to the market the next day."
Zhao Laosi clearly understood Li Xuewu's signal in his eyes, and then began to make his introduction.
"Changli and I have a clear division of labor: I am responsible for expanding the business, and he is responsible for providing services."
He knelt upright, his hands trembling, but his voice was without the slightest hesitation.
"After Xi Yongzhong came to Fengcheng with us, he first followed me around to government offices for a while, and later helped Chang Li coordinate the transportation of goods and supplies..."
"Who manages the accounts at the Fengcheng Recycling Station?" Li Xuewu suddenly interrupted his introduction and asked, "Does Xi Yongzhong manage them?"
"No, it was someone arranged by Sister Zhou."
Zhao Laosi had already understood the logic behind the question, and Zhou Changli could see the sweat on his forehead.
"It's not just the Fengcheng recycling station; since Sister Zhou took over as the head of the Northeast region, the accounts of all regions have been managed and collected by people she appointed."
He explained, "We are only responsible for registering the inventory books and keeping the inbound and outbound purchase documents. An accountant will come every week to tally the accounts and take away the data sheets."
"Although Xi Yongzhong also studied accounting and had helped us with the bookkeeping before, he was not in charge of the books."
Why explain it so clearly? Because this issue is too sensitive. Once it's confirmed that Xi Yongzhong was the accountant in charge of the books, then his disappearance will have a reason.
Whether the problem lies with them or with Xi Yongzhong himself, they are both to blame.
Therefore, it is important to clarify the key points of the issue so that Li Xuewu does not think they have ulterior motives.
“We know that Sister Zhou arranged for Xi Yongzhong to come to Fengcheng, but we have never targeted him.”
Zhou Changli was getting anxious. He straightened up and looked at Li Xuewu to explain, "We would never harm him."
"Changli! Let me speak—"
Zhao Laosi interrupted Zhou Changli, who was trying to speak, and shoved him aside, signaling him to shut up.
Is Zhao Dezhu smarter than Zhou Changli?
Or is it that Zhao Dezhu was more trusted by Li Xuewu than Zhou Changli?
Even Zhao Dezhu himself didn't believe it.
Because Zhou Changli started earlier than him and Li Xuewu, and also had senior disciples in this system.
Zhao Laosi was appreciated by Li Xuewu because he knew the rules, while Zhou Changli was valued by Li Xuewu because he dared to take risks and had a lot of courage.
The two have known each other since childhood and are now sworn brothers fighting side by side, so there's no need to compare them.
The reason Zhao Laosi didn't let Zhou Changli speak was because he knew his brother had a short temper.
This might be acceptable with outsiders, but not with Li Xuewu. They weren't there to explain their mistakes; they were there to report on the situation.
Some things don't need to be explained too clearly, as doing so would only make their situation more dangerous.
Li Xuewu glanced at Zhou Changli but ignored him, instead turning his gaze to Zhao Laosi.
“I dare say Xi Yongzhong could not have betrayed us because he was wearing ordinary clothes when he left.”
Zhao Laosi placed the canvas satchel he had brought with him on the ground, took out the contents, and explained, "This is the bag we opened while looking for him."
He gestured to the banknotes and red cloth bag in his hand and explained, "This contains his saved wages. We've calculated it; it's almost all of his savings."
"And this small peach wood axe, it is said to be the only thing his parents left him, which he has always kept on his person."
After hearing his explanation, Li Xuewu reached out and took the items.
They didn't have much money; the Thirteen Protectors only started receiving salaries in the last two years.
Before they started working at the recycling station, they could only earn ten yuan a month if they participated in the labor.
This ten yuan is for their living expenses, excluding food. It is intended for buying shoes and clothes, taking a bath, getting a haircut, and so on.
Don't think that they don't have to pay for their meals at the recycling station; ten yuan is a lot of money.
Living in a city, especially in Beijing, the expenses for a teenager are far beyond what one could normally imagine.
In particular, they have to pedal bicycles to collect recyclables during the day and stay up late to study at night.
It wears out clothes, shoes, and stationery.
Xi Yongzhong was among the first to start working, and he considered it thrifty to have saved more than 300 yuan.
Just as Zhao Laosi said, if he had ulterior motives, he certainly wouldn't have abandoned this money.
No matter how much money the other party offered him as a temptation, he would not give up his savings accumulated over many years.
In addition to the three hundred-plus yuan in banknotes, the red cloth bag contained, as Zhao Laosi had said, a small dark red peach wood axe.
It's called a small axe, but it only resembles one in shape and is really small; it's the kind that children wear to ward off evil spirits.
Li Xuewu wore one of these when he was a child, but it was shaped like a club and was more refined.
Why did Xi Yongzhong not wear these precious heirlooms from his parents on his person, but instead wrap them in red cloth?
The reason is simple: the little axe has cracked and is about to break into two pieces.
“We didn’t do this. It was like this when we found it, otherwise he wouldn’t have wrapped it in red cloth.”
Zhao Laosi explained, "We live together, and we won't touch his things, much less ask about them."
Li Xuewu put down what he was holding, looked at him, and asked, "How did Xi Yongzhong disappear?"
The fact that Xi Yongzhong didn't take any money, tickets, or belongings only shows that he didn't disappear with a specific purpose, but the two people in front of him are still suspects.
Zhao Laosi clearly knew this, so he said very seriously, "On September 11th, we ate fried dough sticks and soy milk at the stall in the morning, and then he left on his own."
"Because he told us the night before that he was going out for a walk, we didn't think much of it."
He explained, "We finished work in the evening and saw that he hadn't come back yet, so we went out to find him for dinner."
“The market closes at 6 p.m., so he has no reason not to go home. The black market opens at dawn, so he has even less reason not to go home.”
Zhao Laosi's voice trembled slightly when he got to this point, and he choked up as he said, "Chang Li and I both felt something was wrong, so we arranged for people to search everywhere."
"When we met up again, it was already the next morning. We hadn't been able to find anyone all night."
"How many people went looking for him?" Li Xuewu asked. "Where did they all look?"
“There were fourteen people at the recycling station at the time, and we also contacted our neighbors for help.”
After calming his emotions, Zhao Laosi reported, "There were probably more than forty people looking for him. Because we had a car and also informed the police station, we searched almost the entire city of Fengcheng that night."
“We’ve called every organization that’s connected to us and asked them about it. We’ve also sent people to search for places we’ve been to before.”
As he spoke, he pursed his lips tightly, his eyes glistening with tears, and looked at Li Xuewu, saying, "Brother Li, we really did our best. Even today, we are still doing everything we can to find him."
dong dong——
Just as Zhao Laosi was trying his best to explain everything that had happened in the past few days, there was another knock on the door.
The two men turned around and looked at Li Xuewu. Li Xuewu raised his chin, signaling Zhou Changli to open the door.
"Get up, sit down and talk."
"Brother Li..."
Zhao Laosi wiped away his tears and shakily got up, holding onto the armrest of the sofa.
Zhou Changli had already agreed to Li Xuewu's request and stood up to open the door.
He appeared more honest and calmer than Zhao Laosi, not because he had nothing to hide, but because he didn't feel responsible for what had happened.
From the capital to the steel city, and then to Fengcheng, he was loyal to Li Xuewu and never felt guilty, so he didn't think he had done anything wrong when things went wrong.
In his opinion, Zhao Laosi's reaction was a bit of an overreaction. Even if Xi Yongzhong really got into trouble, they should just find the real culprit and punish him severely.
People in the martial arts world are bound to get hurt eventually; if you're in this line of work, you're bound to get cut sooner or later.
"Who are you looking for?" Zhou Changli asked, frowning as he looked at the pretty girl at the door.
"Isn't this... Secretary Li's room?" The girl looked at his impatient face with some surprise, and even took a serious look at the room number.
"There is no Secretary-General Li here. You have the wrong room." Zhou Changli's reply was indifferent. He glanced at her and was about to close the door.
"Hey—why are you like this!"
Zhou Xiaoling was certain she wasn't mistaken; the rooms on this floor of the guesthouse had been booked by the group's negotiation team, and the man dressed in a flashy manner was definitely not a cadre from the group's headquarters.
She braced her foot against the door, frowned, and peered inside, asking, "Secretary-General, are you there?"
"Is this Comrade Xiaoling? Come here."
Li Xuewu's voice came from the room, forcing Zhou Changli to loosen his grip and open the door.
"Secretary-General, it's me."
Zhou Xiaoling frowned, glanced at the young man at the door, and stepped inside.
Everything seemed normal in the room, and the secretary-general didn't appear to be in any danger, except that there were still other people in the room.
"It's so late, you're still up?" Li Xuewu said with a smile. "I didn't even know you lived here."
"The airport dormitory environment is so-so."
Zhou Xiaoling first looked at the cadre sitting on the sofa with his head down, who seemed somewhat unfamiliar.
Although she no longer works in the group's headquarters, she still has a lot of contact with the group's cadres.
This year, the apartment building was completed, and she and her colleagues became the first lucky residents to move in.
Every time she returned to the apartment, she would run into the young cadres who also lived there, but she had never seen this person before.
What do they want to see the secretary-general in the middle of the night?
Zhou Xiaoling glanced at the two of them warily, then looked hesitantly at Li Xuewu.
Why is this girl making those eye movements? Li Xuewu looked at her in surprise.
"Second brother, blink if you're in danger!"
That was exactly what Zhou Xiaoling wanted to express, but he didn't seem to understand her concern.
"Whenever we fly to Fengcheng, we stay at the Machinery Factory Guesthouse whenever we have time."
As she explained, she walked over to Li Xuewu, her eyes still wary of the two strange people.
Li Xuewu seemed to understand her concern from her actions and eyes, and couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing.
Do I really need her to protect me?
“I thought you wouldn’t be back until very late, so I came up here as soon as I heard the noise.”
Perhaps sensing Li Xuewu's ease and naturalness, Zhou Xiaoling was finally certain that he was safe.
"Let me help you tidy up and see if there's anything that needs washing..."
"Thank you, there's nothing to wash."
Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Two friends from Fengcheng knew I was here today, so they came to see me."
"Oh—" Zhou Xiaoling glanced at the two of them again. The one who looked like a scoundrel was still very annoying, and the one who was sitting on the sofa with his head down also raised his head.
She's really ugly.
She simply made a mental assessment of Zhao Laosi's appearance out of habit, and then went to the tea cabinet to find a teacup.
"Let me make you a cup of tea."
Watching her busy herself, Zhao Laosi didn't know whether he should continue talking.
It was so late, and a girl had suddenly entered the room. He hesitated whether to get up and say goodbye.
"You continue with your story."
Li Xuewu didn't pay any attention. After speaking with Zhao Laosi, he nodded to Zhou Changli and said, "Go downstairs and wait for Dezhu in the car."
"Okay." Zhou Changli was that straightforward; he nodded in agreement and turned to leave.
Looking at Zhou Changli, who had escaped unscathed, Zhao Laosi silently thought: Good brother, for life.
Zhou Xiaoling looked at him with a puzzled expression, then came over with two cups of hot tea.
"As per your instructions and arrangements, we have launched an investigation into the events following his disappearance."
Zhao Laosi first cautiously looked at the slender girl who brought the tea, and then at Li Xuewu's attitude.
Seeing that he really didn't care, she continued with the introduction.
“Grin arrived on the same day you sent the message. He brought his hunting dogs, but he lost his way as soon as he went out.”
Why isn't Green here?
Li Xuewu took the teacup from Zhou Xiaoling and slowly sipped it.
Zhao Laosi simply nodded, thanked Zhou Xiaoling, and then replied, "He's still looking for someone."
"You arranged this?" Li Xuewu glanced at him and asked, "Any leads yet?"
"I think so too."
Zhao Laosi nodded and said, "Ge Lin thinks something has happened to him, and we need to conduct a thorough investigation of all suspicious targets."
“Chang Li and I discussed it and told him about all the suspicious individuals we could think of.”
"Including trading partners?"
Li Xuewu raised his fingers and pinched the space between his eyebrows, then closed his eyes slightly and asked, "Have you checked the coachman?"
Zhou Xiaoling couldn't understand what they were saying at all; she only knew that someone had gone missing.
From the ugly man in the white shirt, we can tell that the other person is looking for someone. Could he be a police officer?
That's quite understandable. My second brother used to be in charge of security work and even solved several major cases. It's normal for police officers from Fengcheng to come and ask for his advice.
She only heard it once and then paid no attention to it, focusing all her attention on her second brother.
Seeing his tired expression, she couldn't help but walk behind his sofa and reach out to massage his shoulders.
When Li Xuewu felt a pair of small hands pinching him, he opened his eyes and saw Zhao Laosi's slightly surprised yet quick head-down movement.
“We gave Green every connection we could think of, including those coachmen.”
Zhao Laosi knew very well who the coachman Li Ge was talking about was, including his relatives.
People from Northeast China have a habit of calling on friends and family as soon as they make money.
The coachman's plan went very smoothly, and a large number of people paved the way for their friends and family at sea.
These friends and relatives earned their fortunes by carrying the entrustment and signals given by their loved ones with their lives.
Although the sea route was fraught with danger, it could not stop them from pursuing wealth.
It can be said that they followed one after another, with brothers dying for their brothers.
Death is not necessarily the end of life, but it can be a liberation.
Many people die on this road, so hatred and resentment naturally arise, and it's normal for them to come looking for trouble.
Therefore, Li Xuewu's first suspicion was that Lao Biaozi's plan had gone wrong, and the coachman had turned against him.
But the key to this plan is not money, and so far the recycling station has not made much money from it.
This is a series of initiatives focused on fostering a favorable trade environment and breaking down trade barriers in Northeast Asia in a different way.
Why did Southeast Asia develop so well in later generations, with its coastal cities becoming increasingly wealthy?
If economic exchanges can begin in Northeast Asia from this point onward, the Northeast, with its heavy industrial base, will surely become the economic center of the future.
Even if a strategic location is fraught with risks and crises, the inertia of development has the power to change established facts.
Not only did they not make money, they also caused a lot of trouble. What else could this be but a problem with the plan?
The first batch of coachmen were developed by Li Wenbiao through distribution and trade. They must know what kind of system the Shunfeng Trade and Recycling Station system is now developing in Fengcheng.
They abandoned the land they depended on for survival and went to sea to risk their lives. Those who actually made money could accept their fate, but what would they think if they didn't make money and died on their first try?
When the boat they rented, which cost them a fortune, sank into an accident, they certainly wouldn't think that life and death are preordained and wealth is determined by fate; instead, they would believe that the person who gave them the access had ulterior motives.
When people are gone, can they use normal thinking to consider the contradictory relationships within the problem itself?
Of course not, they'll just be angry.
Even the anger of a nobody can bring unpredictable crises to the development of events.
"Then investigate, and find out the truth before making any decisions."
Li Xuewu looked at Zhao Laosi and emphasized, "No need to hide anything anymore. After you go back, work with Zhou Changli to intensify efforts to develop the Fengcheng market."
"You mean..." Zhao Laosi asked hesitantly, "We don't need to worry about it..."
"Yes, we don't need to worry about the consequences."
Li Xuewu nodded and said bluntly, "I want to see who's chasing you while you run ahead."
With such a large-scale search, how could a living person just disappear like that?
Li Xuewu simply couldn't believe it was an isolated incident; there must be some problem.
It seems that the pie in Fengcheng is still too big; some people can't handle it and don't want others to covet it.
If you can't eat it yourself, you can eat it slowly, but if someone else has food in their mouth, you have to try your best to get it out.
Zhao Laosi understood what he meant: they were expanding and dominating the market without restraint, and if someone really had ulterior motives, they would jump out in a panic.
At that time, Ge Lin will keep an eye on the other party. As long as he finds even the slightest clue, this hungry wolf from the frontier will tear the other party to shreds and get to the bottom of Xi Yongzhong's disappearance.
"Well then, Brother Li, I'll head back first."
Now that he understood what Zhao Laosi wanted to do, there was no need for him to explain further or stay any longer.
He stood up, bowed slightly, and then turned and left cleanly without giving it another glance.
Li Xuewu watched as the door closed before looking up at Zhou Xiaoling, who was still massaging his shoulders.
Aren't you tired? Take a break.
"I'm sorry, Second Brother."
Zhou Xiaoling said apologetically, "I didn't know you had guests here, I thought..."
"Sit down, sit down and let's talk."
Li Xuewu pointed to the spot where Zhao Laosi had just left and gestured for her to sit down and talk to him.
Zhou Xiaoling obediently walked over and sat down, looking at his expression as if she was waiting for him to scold her.
"Thank you for your concern." Li Xuewu first expressed his gratitude with a smile, then asked, "How have you been doing at work and in life lately? Are you facing any difficulties?"
"Why do you ask that?"
Zhou Xiaoling unexpectedly countered, "Do I only come to you when I'm in trouble?"
"Oh, is that so?"
Li Xuewu nodded, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "It's better if there are no difficulties."
"I came to see you because I noticed that it might be inconvenient for you to live here alone."
Zhou Xiaoling offered an explanation before asking softly, "Second Brother, have I done anything to cause you distress?"
"A little bit—"
Li Xuewu chuckled, put down his teacup, stood up, and said, "Alright, it's too late. Go back and rest. I don't have anything else to do here."
"Please don't think I'm being nosy."
Zhou Xiaoling was not surprised by his integrity. She stood up naturally and said with a smile, "Last week, I went shopping with Li Xue, and she said you were in Beijing."
"I just knew you were busy, so I didn't dare to bother you..." She walked obediently to Li Xuewu and asked with a smile, "Are you sure you don't need my help?"
"Get along well with Li Xue."
Li Xuewu smiled and nodded, saying, "You're a good girl, and I believe you two can become close friends."
"Do I have a chance to become your confidant?" Zhou Xiaoling mustered her courage and looked at him, asking, "Even just as a confidant?"
"You're being a bit too greedy."
Li Xuewu ignored her strange thoughts and instead unbuttoned the second button of his shirt, saying, "When I go back to Beijing for vacation next time, you and Li Xue can come to my house again."
"Can I stay at your house again when I fly to Gangcheng?" Zhou Xiaoling took the initiative to reach out and unbutton the remaining buttons on his shirt, and said naturally, "The blankets at the metallurgical plant's guesthouse have a musty smell."
"Come whenever you want, but don't forget to bring your own food."
Li Xuewu readily allowed her to help him take off his shirt, and went to the bathroom wearing only his vest.
"Then it's settled!"
Zhou Xiaoling chased him to the bathroom door, but could only pout as she looked at the closed door.
She didn't hear a reply from inside, but she still excitedly opened the door and left with regret and anticipation.
At the duty desk in the middle of the corridor, the waiter smiled and nodded in greeting as she came out.
I just checked the time on my hand, and it's been less than five minutes since that man left.
Therefore, her gaze towards Zhou Xiaoling still carried politeness and respect, as well as a hint of suspicion.
She was certainly familiar with this flight attendant; the duty log in her hand contained the registration information of all the guests checking into this floor that night.
Zhou Xiaoling must have flown to Gangcheng less often than she flew to Fengcheng, and she must have stayed here more often than she stayed at the metallurgical plant's guesthouse.
Given their identities and uniforms, it would be difficult for the staff here not to recognize them.
Politeness and respect are for their profession; a hint of speculation is what defines the name Zhou Xiaoling itself.
It seems the value of the leader's statement, "Don't underestimate anyone in the group," is still increasing.
Take the flight attendant walking by, for example. Who would have thought that she has connections with the secretary-general?
There was no malicious speculation, after all, nothing can be done in five minutes, and she dared not say that the other party and the secretary-general were completely innocent, but only that there was such a relationship and influence.
There is envy, there is awe, and there is also reflection on oneself.
***
The negotiations on September 14th disrupted Shenfei's preparations and rhythm from the very beginning. Hongxing Steel Group did not play by the rules at all, giving them no chance to fight back.
The negotiation meeting was not tense or confrontational from the start; rather, the theme of the day was defined by a single sentence from Gao Yaqin, the vice president of Hongxing Steel Group.
"What does Shen Fei want? Hongxing Steel Group will definitely give it to him if it has it. Now, let me tell you what Hongxing Steel Group wants first."
She stated her conditions so frankly, without a trace of cunning or premeditation, showing such sincerity.
The sincerity of the story surprised Shen Fei and his group, leading them to doubt, and then to astonishment. Was a new trend emerging in Beijing?
Li Xuewu and Cheng Kaiyuan didn't interrupt, letting Gao Yaqin speak, while the people on the other side listened with tense expressions.
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation's negotiation team was afraid of mishearing something and thinking that Hongxing Steel Group was planning an ambush.
The results of it?
This was a frank and evenly matched contest.
Hongxing Steel Group has made its move; now it's Shenfei's turn to respond.
Who said sincerity is the ultimate weapon?
(End of this chapter)