dognovel Chapter 1434 When I Grow Up, I Want to Fly a Plane!
Chapter 1434 When I Grow Up, I Want to Fly a Plane!
Chapter 1434 When I Grow Up, I Want to Fly a Plane!
"Compared to Beijing, are there any differences in life and work in the steel city?"
Zheng Fuhua turned the teacup over and reached for the teapot to pour water, but Li Xuewu was quick and picked it up first to pour him a cup.
"There's no difference; everyone's incredibly busy."
Li Xuewu smiled, put away the teapot, looked at him and said, "If you want to visit Steel City, I would be very happy to do so."
"It's too far. I haven't even figured out how to get around the capital yet—"
Zheng Fuhua shook his head slightly, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and put it down with a hiss, saying, "We'll see. With you in Gangcheng, I can go to the Northeast anytime."
"To put it bluntly, I'm not insulting you," Li Xuewu said with a smile, "you're like a donkey, you'll never get out of the circle of the capital."
"Hehehe—" Zheng Fuhua chuckled bitterly upon hearing this: "Isn't that an insult to me?"
He composed himself, looked Li Xuewu up and down, and said, "But to be honest, I misjudged you. I didn't expect you to be so capable."
"Hey—you swear quite rudely—" Li Xuewu smiled and tapped him, then took the teapot and refilled his teacup.
"How capable am I? I know it myself."
He put down the teapot and said, "If I were to say that I could meet your standards, it would be back in the past, but I haven't been in charge of security work for a long time."
"Your professional skills no longer need my affirmation or evaluation."
Zheng Fuhua picked up his teacup and took another sip, saying, "I was talking about you now. I heard you're doing quite well at the steel group."
"Let's have a clear conscience—"
Li Xuewu also picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Nothing in work is perfect, and life is the same."
"Forcing yourself is not only making things difficult for yourself, but also for others. It's unnecessary and not worth it."
"You can see clearly."
Zheng Fuhua understood the consoling meaning in his words; it was meant for him.
He put down his teacup, nodded slowly, looked at the street scene outside the window, and said, "After all the ups and downs, the rights and wrongs, the successes and failures, let it be."
"Otherwise what? Do you still want to start a rebellion, like an old horse still eager to gallop in its stall?"
Li Xuewu chuckled, his teacup trembling in his hand. If he hadn't drunk the tea, he probably would have spilled it all over his pants.
Zheng Fuhua was amused by him and lowered his head to chuckle for a while, which relieved him of the pent-up frustration that had been building up in his heart for many days.
"I'm getting old. My thinking can't keep up with the times. I'm always thinking about showing off."
He comforted himself, saying, "Actually, it's good to take a rest. Life is short, so we have to live for ourselves, right?"
"Oh—you've come to terms with it!"
Li Xuewu smiled and picked up the teapot again, filling his teacup to the brim.
"In the days to come, you should spend more time with your family, enjoy your grandchildren, raise flowers and walk your birds. If that's not possible, you can learn Tai Chi."
He filled his teacup, picked up the teapot, raised an eyebrow at Zheng Fuhua, and said, "My dad is practicing right now. If you don't mind that he's not very good at it, you can join in."
"Hey, what's with all this talk about disliking or not disliking?" Zheng Fuhua tapped the table with his finger and said, "I've never actually seen a real martial arts expert, though I have witnessed their fists and feet."
"What era are we living in? Still using fists and kicks?"
Li Xuewu chuckled, patted his lower back (which wasn't holstered), and raised his chin, saying, "Beyond seven paces, a pistol is the fastest; within seven paces, a pistol is both fast and accurate."
He turned around, picked up his teacup, and said, "I've also practiced martial arts, and to be honest, it's somewhat useful for improving my health."
"If you really want to rely on this mediocre skill to scale walls and travel thousands of miles a day, you'll have to listen to the radio!"
Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and joked, "Or you can just lie on your pillow and dream, these two can grant your wishes."
"Hehehe——"
Zheng Fuhua chuckled, his mood becoming increasingly relaxed. Even the waiters in the teahouse could tell that Director Zheng was very happy today.
After leaving the company, Li Xuewu took his two children to the courtyard house to meet his mother and the old lady before accepting the invitation.
We had planned to have dinner together as a family tonight, but Gu Ning has two surgeries today and can only come over tonight.
Li Xuewu really wanted to enjoy his vacation, so he didn't even see Lao Li, but instead went to see his former boss.
How can Zheng Fuhua not be considered his former boss? If it weren't for Zheng Fuhua's support, he wouldn't have had the stage to perform at the branch office.
Without his contributions at the branch office, he wouldn't have risen so quickly and achieved such a high position in the security department of the Hongxing Factory.
It's all about fate, he doesn't think it's because he's perfectly strategized, has everything planned out, or that the whole world revolves around him.
He couldn't say he was deeply grateful; it was just a matter of fate, but he still respected his former leader.
To be honest, he had seen all sorts of cadres, some good and some bad. Zheng Fuhua was no saint, but he was still a good cadre.
There are no saints in this world. Who hasn't made mistakes? Who hasn't made errors in their work? As long as you're human, you'll make mistakes.
He was not qualified to make a final judgment on Zheng Fuhua, but he had the ability to distinguish right from wrong, and he wanted to maintain this friendship.
Li Xuewu originally planned to take him to the club for a meal, as it would be more convenient there.
But Zheng Fuhua was too lazy to move, and even less willing to ride around in his car.
The Tuanjie Teahouse, located not far from the branch office, is just right for guarding the doorstep.
It was almost noon, and the two of them, despite their empty stomachs, insisted on drinking a lot of Biluochun tea.
Of course, the Biluochun tea served in teahouses during that era was truly Biluochun. But if you ask about later on, it's hard to say what kind of tea it was.
"I didn't mean to belittle you; I'm genuinely inviting you to come out and do something."
Seeing that the time was right, Li Xuewu used this as an excuse to reveal his purpose.
"If you really want to grow flowers, walk your birds, and enjoy your retirement life, you can come to our doorman's office."
He gave a thumbs-up and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Liangmahe Ecological Industrial Zone isn't too far from your home. It's a 20-minute walk, perfect for early morning or late evening."
"If you still have the determination of an old steed in its stall to gallop a thousand miles, then there's no problem."
Li Xuewu said earnestly, "Although I am no longer in charge of the Group's Security Department, I know that our Security Department is eager for talent."
"If you can come, you must be a professor-level person, the kind that you can't get invited even if you ask."
He tilted his head and coaxed him, "Just say the word, and if they knew you'd agreed, they'd be more than happy to carry you to your new post in a grand sedan chair, really—"
"Come on, all you've got is a mouth—" Zheng Fuhua shook his head with a smile and said, "Eight-bearer sedan chair, my foot! I know my own limitations."
He picked up his teacup, took a sip, composed himself, and said, "If I may ask, even if your Liangmahe Ecological Industrial Zone does a good job with security, and has a lot of manpower, what about the retired personnel..."
"Hey—what are you thinking?"
Li Xuewu explained with a smile, "This gatehouse is the mailroom, not the security guards standing at the main gate."
"You probably haven't been paying attention to the changes our group has undergone in the past year."
He waved his hand, picked up his teacup and took a big gulp, then picked up the teapot to refill the two teacups with warm tea.
"Isn't this the beginning of a group structure? The organizational structure will also be reformed."
Li Xuewu explained: "In the past, the Security Department was divided into three parts in terms of function, which were respectively established as the Security Corps, the Fire Brigade, and the Inspection Corps."
"The security department has retained the responsibility for maintaining security in the factory area, while the guard work has been handed over to a more professional security team."
He raised his hand, gesturing to the teacup, inviting Zheng Fuhua to have some tea.
"The Security Corps doesn't handle cases; it only focuses on maintaining stability. The Security Section, on the other hand, needs a certain amount of manpower to maintain a basic security environment."
Li Xuewu picked up his teacup and said, "Therefore, the Group Management Committee decided to take advantage of the organizational and personnel reform to gather cadres and employees who are about to retire or have already retired but have excellent work abilities to form the Security Department's Gate Guard Section."
"So he's just a gatekeeper?"
Zheng Fuhua understood and knew that the security work of Hongxing Steel Group had not been relaxed, so he asked with a smile.
Li Xuewu shook his head and said, "What's so interesting about the gate? Who would carry it away in the middle of the night?"
He was joking, and explained in accordance with the other person's words: "It mainly involves security monitoring, mail receiving and sending, and visitor management."
That's why I gave you two choices—
Li Xuewu explained with a smile, "I just saw two retired workers drinking tea with birdcages at the factory gate."
He raised an eyebrow and said to Zheng Fuhua, "Don't even mention how pleasant it was."
"Hehe, I'm not envious."
Zheng Fuhua picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "I've never kept birds in my life, and I don't even have the time to hunt them."
He put down his teacup, nodded, and said, "Alright, it's rare for you to be so busy, yet you still have time to come and keep me company after your vacation."
"It's good that you know I'm doing well. Just focus on your work, kid."
Zheng Fuhua looked at him with admiration and said, "I told you before that you were destined for great things and that your future was limitless. I was just too narrow-minded. You have a bright future ahead of you."
"If you put it that way, I'll be truly ashamed."
Seeing that he had finished drinking tea and hadn't immediately accepted his invitation, Li Xuewu didn't press the matter, which meant it wasn't something to be forced.
"I consider you a teacher, an old friend, and a respected comrade; you can't idolize me!"
"Go to hell!"
Zheng Fuhua chuckled and twisted his body, resisting the urge to reach for the cigarettes in his pocket several times.
His wife gave him a strict order: one cigarette a day, or he would have to write a self-criticism.
Having been a leader for half my life, I never imagined that even after retiring and returning home, I would still be led by someone else.
"Now that I'm retired, like you said, I should spend more time with my family."
He scratched his thinning hair on his forehead, looked out the window and sighed, "Give me some time to adjust. I also want to rest. I'm too tired."
"That's good. I was just worried you might not be able to stay still, so I'm giving you a suggestion."
Li Xuewu drank the tea in his cup without pouring any more, and looked at him, saying, "If you really want me to visit you three times, it's not that serious between us men. You decide what to do."
"Let me give you another piece of advice: if you can't stand it, go out and travel, see the beautiful landscapes of our motherland, and make up for your regrets."
"Life is not just about the present hardships, but also about poetry and distant places."
-
"I'm the boss in this family!"
Li Shu has grown quite the character; she's defiantly defying her aunt's intimidation and stubbornly shouting back.
Li Xue glared at her. "Say it again, and I'll give you one last chance."
"What! You dare to lay a hand on me?!" Li Shu retorted defiantly, "If you dare to bully me, I'll tell Grandpa."
"Telling your dad won't do any good, so why bother telling your grandpa!"
Li Xue deliberately tried to scare her, rolling up her sleeves and saying with a stern face, "I'm not even afraid of your dad, why would I be afraid of your old grandpa's old arms and legs?"
"Why don't you just say 'you old codger'? That would make you seem more imposing."
Seeing her bullying his daughter, Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, "If you dare to say that, I'll respect you as a man."
"Why don't you say so?" Li Xue turned around and glared at her second brother, saying, "Are you two bullying me?"
She wasn't about to back down, and turned to her mother, who was busy in the kitchen, and shouted, "Mom, do something about your son! He's always bullying me!"
"Wow, how old are you now!"
Liu Yin said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Are you all just sitting around doing nothing? Come and help me start the fire."
"Third Brother, go start the fire, that's one of your specialties—"
Li Xueguan was good at giving orders, but she also knew she couldn't control her second brother, so she always picked on the weakest link.
Li Xuecai was cracking sunflower seeds and watching the commotion when he unexpectedly found himself eating something strange.
"Why don't you go? You still know I'm the third brother? You have no respect for elders."
"Oh—" Li Xue raised her eyebrows and looked at her third brother teasingly, "Now you're Doctor Li, your status is different, you can only hold a pen, you can't hold a fire poker anymore, right?"
"You insisted on arguing with her."
Ji Yuxiu chuckled and gave him a push, saying, "Just do whatever she tells you to do. Can you argue with her?"
"Huh—" Li Xue wasn't going to let Ji Yuxiu off the hook either. Looking at the two of them, she curled her lip and said, "They're not even married yet, and they're already protecting each other—"
She clicked her tongue and said, "If they really get married, what good will it do for me, the sister-in-law?!"
"I'll marry you off as soon as possible!"
Ji Yuxiu jokingly threatened her, saying, "If you bully Li Shu, we'll all team up to find you a husband!"
"Yes! I'll find you a husband!"
Li Shu, though small in stature, was quite shrewd. Seeing someone backing her up, she jumped up and down, shouting, "Let's see if you're still so tough—"
"Whose side are you on?"
Li Xue was annoyed and tapped Li Shu's forehead with her finger, saying, "We both have the surname Li, what's hers? We're family."
"Besides, once you marry me off, you think you can run away?"
She curled her lip and said, "You'll have to get married in twenty years too!"
"That's still twenty years later than you!"
Li Shu was still unconvinced. I don't know where she learned it from, but she put her hands on her hips and said provocatively, "You should worry about yourself!"
"Hey! You've spoiled me rotten—"
Li Xue grabbed her arm and threatened, "If I don't establish my authority today, you really won't be able to control me, will you?"
"Grandpa—Grandpa—"
Li Shu initially wanted to ask her father or her third aunt for help, but when she turned around, she saw that her grandfather, who was the most protective of her, had returned.
"Grandpa—Grandpa—"
She really knows how to complain: "My aunt said you're an old hag!"
Li Shun had just returned from outside and hadn't yet figured out what was going on.
"Oh dear! You've even started sowing discord and framing people—"
Li Xue pulled Li Shu into her arms and slapped her twice on the buttocks.
Of course, she wouldn't hit her too hard; she wasn't her biological niece, but she was still her biological niece.
Because he considered her his own niece, he didn't go easy on her.
Like a mischievous monkey, Li Shu didn't care at all after being hit twice. She broke free from her aunt's restraint and ran to her grandfather to continue complaining.
She's a great mimic; she rattled off everything her aunt and the others had just said.
Li Shu even emphasized the phrase "old geezer," but she didn't mention that it was her father who started it. Do you think she's sensible or not?
"Is it okay for Auntie to say such things?" Li Shun didn't spoil the child unconditionally, after all, Li Shu was a big girl now.
He held his granddaughter in his arms and asked softly. Seeing his adorable granddaughter shake her head, he smiled and said, "Then Li Shu can't say things like that in the future, understand?"
"I won't say anything, Grandpa is fine!"
She was the best at acting cute, and now she hugged her grandfather's neck and said in a sweet voice, "I would never say such bad things—"
"Second brother, you can't just ignore Li Shu anymore." Li Xue was both annoyed and amused when she saw her eldest niece glancing at her while trying to please her grandfather.
She turned to her second brother and emphasized, "If this continues, there will be no place for me in the house. I'll become a bad person."
"How old are you? Still acting like a child—" Liu Yin walked into the house and gave her daughter a reproachful look. Then she instructed her second son, Li Xuewu, "Check the time. See if Xiao Ning is off work yet. Go pick her up a little earlier."
"Looking at the time, it shouldn't be too far off."
Li Xuewu smiled and raised his chin, gesturing in the direction of his younger sister, saying, "I'll go in a bit, let's see what's going on first."
"You're never serious either—"
Liu Yin knew, of course, that her son and daughter were joking and wouldn't take it seriously.
Laughter is never lacking in this home; it's proof of harmony and a symbol of family reunion.
Even if Li Xuecai became Doctor Li, he still couldn't escape the fate of guarding the stove door at home.
Who can he outmaneuver? His eldest brother isn't home from work yet, his sister-in-law is heavily pregnant, his wife is too delicate to be bossed around, his younger sister can't win an argument, and his second brother can't beat him...
Only Li Shu... never mind, it's best not to provoke Li Shu. Just like she said, she's the boss in this family.
If Li Shu really makes him cry, needless to say, his father will definitely glare at her.
Because Li Shu is his father's most precious daughter, even more so than his two grandsons.
He and Ji Yuxiu are preparing for their wedding, and they haven't decided how many children they will have after marriage.
My sister-in-law is planning to have a second child, but she also said this will be her last.
There was still no word from my second sister-in-law's side, but my second brother's family had an eldest daughter, Li Shu, and her first child was a son, so neither my father nor my mother had anything to say.
Having a child is a joy, not having one is also fine; that's the meaning of carrying on the family line.
The eldest sister-in-law was longing for a daughter, and her affection for Li Shu was genuine.
My older brother is quite laid-back; his interest in Li Tang is just a passing fad, and he's never as interested in Li Tang's books as he is.
My second brother likes children, but my second sister-in-law seems to have her own ideas, and given her background, who can say anything to her?
The final pressure fell on him. Ji Yuxiu didn't care whether having a child would hinder her career advancement, but he didn't want his family to affect her work either.
To date, the fact that Li Shu is the eldest daughter of four generations and the only girl in four generations of the family cannot be changed.
With Li Tang and Li Ning's mischievous antics around, everyone dotes on the quirky and clever girl even more.
-
"I just wanted to ask you to have a drink—"
Sha Zhu led his wife and children into the courtyard, and upon hearing the commotion at the Li family's house, he peeked out the window.
Since the group implemented its housing security system, the neighbors in this courtyard have gradually moved away.
They either pooled their money to buy apartments in the workers' new village in the eco-industrial zone, or they used the houses in the courtyard as a replacement.
Anyway, everyone wants to live in a clean and hygienic apartment building, with a riverside garden right downstairs, which is very convenient for adults to go to work, children to go to school, and the elderly to go shopping and buy groceries.
Think about it, everyone says this compound is great, but what makes it so great?
The wind and rain never stop; it's drizzling outside and pouring rain inside.
Li Xuewu's courtyard is alright; there's an old man who takes care of things, and the brick floor is repaired every few years. Other courtyards don't even bother with sanitation.
This courtyard house used to have a toilet. Would the patriarch of a wealthy family take his servants out to the public toilet?
Because of the housing shortage, even the location of the toilets had to be changed, and the neighbors all use the public toilets not far from their doors.
But some people find it too far, or they dislike the cold winter nights. Those who have chamber pots can be more particular and empty them in public toilets, while those who have urinals will simply pour them out at the door when no one is around.
In winter, everyone would just grimace and remain silent when they saw the yellow ice shards at the doorway, but in summer, they couldn't stand it; it would get really annoying when it rained.
Don't go out! If you go out, you'll step into mud, and who knows what kind of mud it might be.
Therefore, in this alley, street, and even in Dongcheng, as long as you are an employee of the Hongxing Factory, or can find connections, you can buy a house or exchange it for another one.
Moving! We have to move no matter what!
They were so eager to go upstairs that they didn't care about the couple's lovey-dovey antics that would amuse the whole courtyard.
The couple, Mr. and Mrs. Wang, finally managed to have a bit of fun. The next morning, while they were brushing their teeth by the sink, Mr. Zhang came over with a toothbrush holder, smiling, and said good morning. He kept mentioning things like strengthening their exercise and using traditional Chinese medicine for health. Can you believe how annoying that was?
Relocation is relocation, but how much impact can the tens of thousands of employees from the Red Star Factory have across the city? At most, it might evoke envy.
But in Jiaodaokou, especially in the areas where the workers of the Hongxing Factory were originally housed, the courtyards and alleys feel empty after the workers moved away.
Looking at Li Xuewu's courtyard, there are a few households that aren't from the Red Star Factory, and they can't be moved either, otherwise it would have been completely emptied out.
These three families who didn't move out also live in the backyard and are Li Xuewu's neighbors.
There was no one else in the middle courtyard; Sha Zhu's family held absolute power, monopolizing the entire courtyard.
The front yard was even more exclusive; after the Yan family and Lao Qi's family moved away, Li Shun's family had the front yard all to themselves.
The same thing happened to the back room; Second Master led his boys to move it to the large warehouse.
Shen Guodong is married and lives alone with his maternal grandfather.
There are still many people during the day, which is quite lively since there is a recycling station in the west courtyard.
It quiets down at night. Even the young people who used to play cards in the gatehouse last year have left. Some went to the countryside, some went to factories. Anyway, there's no one left.
Yu Li from the East Courtyard rarely goes home, and when she does come back, it's usually to tidy up the house.
Later, he became too lazy to even tidy up the house and asked Xiaoyan to help look after it.
Ji Yuxiu's place is ready for people to live in; it's been prepared as a new house.
She and Li Xuecai got married soon, and the two lived in the East Courtyard from then on.
With Yu Li not home, the east courtyard became their private domain, making it even more spacious.
"I was looking for you! Where did you go?" Li Xuewu, who was eating on the kang (a heated brick bed), heard the noise outside the window and turned around to ask, "Have you eaten? Come and have a drink."
"You didn't even give me any advance notice."
Sha Zhu waved his hand and thanked Li Shun, who had accompanied Li Xuewu.
He knew that Li Xuewu had returned, and the Li family was reunited and happy.
However, his relationship with Li Xuewu was quite close, and since there were only a few neighbors left in the courtyard, their bond was stronger than before.
He sat by the window and spoke to Li Xuewu through the fine gauze curtain: "My brother-in-law said we should get together the day before yesterday, so we went to his place today. If I had known you were coming back, I would have prepared in the back room and invited him too."
"Is everything alright at home?" Li Xuewu turned to look at him and asked, "I heard Wang Yamei is pregnant? Is she still working?"
"She can't stay idle—"
Sha Zhu chuckled and said, "My brother-in-law wanted her to take a break, but she refused and is still here."
"Actually, it's nothing much." He lit a cigarette and said, "I'm alone at home during the day anyway, so it's better to have more people around here, which will make it easier to take care of her."
He just brought Delia and the child back. Because she was afraid of being bitten by mosquitoes, Delia only greeted them and thanked them before taking the child home.
What could Sha Zhu possibly have to do? He's probably just bored at night, so why not have a good chat with Li Xuewu?
"Well, we were saying we should get together tonight, so he came home with us after work."
He introduced Wang Yamei and Pazile's situation, and the Li family listened attentively. At the same time, Liu Yin and Li Xuewu also inquired about family matters.
Pazil was Li Xuewu's comrade-in-arms and a soldier he personally trained.
Pazil and his sister followed Li Xuewu from the foot of the Tianshan Mountains to the capital. He married Wang Yajuan's sister, Wang Yamei, and Shazhu married Pazil's sister, Diliya.
If we have to consider the relationship between Li Xuewu and Wang Yajuan, or the relationship between Shazhu's sister He Yushui and Li Xuewu, the two families are really not that far apart.
"Didn't you tell Pazil?"
Li Xuewu gestured to the door across the hall and said, "It's easier to handle things from the group's side. If he wants to buy a house, this courtyard is more convenient."
“I told him, but he himself is unwilling.” Sha Zhu took a puff of his cigarette, shook his head slightly and said, “He is honest. His father-in-law and mother-in-law only have two daughters. Wang Yajuan is definitely not coming back to retire. They are all relying on Wang Yamei and him.”
“He himself said that no matter how close he is to us, it is not as good as Wang Yamei’s parents taking care of her and her child. He has to focus on his career.”
"Okay, he's right to think that way."
Li Xuewu nodded, said something to his grandfather and father, and then put down his rice bowl.
"When I want to buy a house later, I can go to the new village to ask, there should still be new houses available."
“Wang Yamei’s house is big enough.”
Sha Zhu nodded and said, "That's the house that was allocated earlier, it's big enough."
When are you going back to Steel City?
He saw that Li Xuewu had finished eating and gone to the fields. It wasn't convenient to talk in the house. Everyone else had finally reunited, so why should he stay up all night?
"If you're not too busy, how about we meet at the back room tomorrow night? I'll prepare some hearty dishes."
Sha Zhu smiled and said, "Old Shang has been thinking about you and said he wanted to thank you."
"He's being too polite."
Li Xuewu came out of the house and offered Sha Zhu a cigarette from his pocket.
“It’s not like I took care of him. If you’re good at cooking, you’ll be in demand everywhere. You can talk to him about it.”
The old merchant was the same chef who had asked Li Xuewu for medicinal cuisine when he rode his bicycle there.
He lost his job in 1966 and no one dared to hire him, so he sought help from Sha Zhu.
Li Xuewu knew his situation. Although Hongxing Factory had tightened its recruitment quotas, it was still open to highly qualified personnel.
Are you not a highly qualified person if you are a good cook?
You should ask Old Li about this. Li Huaide has a million reasons to tell you that the Red Star Factory will always be short of good cooks.
"I'm not leaving tomorrow, but something's come up."
Li Xuewu waved his hand, indicating that he would smoke, and he wouldn't.
"I haven't been back for a long time, so I need to keep in touch with some of my connections in Beijing."
He looked at Sha Zhu and explained, "Especially my father-in-law's side. After my brother-in-law's wedding, all the favors were given to me."
"Oh, I heard about it."
Sha Zhu, smoking a cigarette, nodded and said, "Then let's wait until next time?"
"It'll be over soon, nothing's wrong."
Li Xuewu looked at him and smiled, "Isn't it because the third brother also has something to do?"
"Alright then, it's settled then."
Sha Zhu was easygoing and knew that Li Xuewu didn't have as much free time as before.
Even when I'm on vacation at home, I can't have a moment's peace; either the company is looking for me or someone I know is contacting me.
He boasted that his relationship with Li Xuewu was special; they were on the same side, so of course he couldn't waste Li Xuewu's time. They lived in the same courtyard, so everything was easy to talk about.
***
After seeing Sha Zhu off, Li Xuewu returned to his room, but Liu Yin started talking about Sha Zhu's family.
"Should we say that fools are lucky, or that it's good to be confused?"
At this point, most of the family members had put down their chopsticks, but the children were still making a fuss.
Liu Yin sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and chatted with Li Xuewu and the others, saying, "How old was he back then? He Daqing abandoned his two children and ran off with someone else."
"Later, life went on in a daze. Everyone knew he had no trouble finding a partner, but they also said he would never find one and would be a bachelor for the rest of his life."
She leaned against the dining table and said, "But who would have thought that I would have a good wife and a chubby son in just three or four years?"
"He's not worried about the rain anymore. With his brother-in-law around, they can manage to get by..."
This is a well-worn topic, something Li Xuewu and the others already know.
They already knew what their mother was trying to say; it was simply about her attitude towards life.
When we returned from the courtyard house, Li Shu and Li Ning were already asleep.
Li Tang, that chubby little guy, was the most patient. He managed to keep Li Ning awake until he finally snatched the tin toy from his younger brother's hand and went back to his room to sleep with his dad.
Li Xuewu carried Li Shu, Gu Ning carried Li Ning, and the family of four returned home. Er Ya was still awake, waiting for them to come back.
"I didn't shower last night, so I'll just sleep like this and shower tomorrow morning."
Er Ya quickly tidied up the place where the two children slept, muttering softly to herself.
She seemed to have adapted to city life, and the fear and anxiety she felt when she arrived were long gone. She was still as serious and meticulous as ever when she worked.
"They said they would come back early, but once they started having fun, they couldn't stop."
Li Xuewu smiled as he put his daughter down and then took his son from Gu Ning's arms.
Two and a half years old is a fun time.
Li Xuewu doesn't spend much time with his son, but every minute and every second is precious.
Watching him grow up from a tiny child is a kind of spiritual practice in life.
"Go wash up, I'll do this."
Gu Ning let Li Xuewu have his way, and she and Er Ya helped take off the child's clothes and cover him with a blanket.
Li Xuewu bent down and kissed his daughter and son's cheeks before returning to the master bedroom.
When he came out of the shower, Gu Ning had already returned, and she had even changed into her pajamas.
"Aren't you going to wash up? You've had a long day."
I washed it when I got off work.
Gu Ning was probably a little tired; she leaned against the bedside and looked at him listlessly.
Li Xuewu dried himself off, changed into his pajamas, and got into bed.
"Take a few days off, before the kids start school, and come with me to the steel city for a few days."
He touched Gu Ning's somewhat thin face and said, "Anyway, nothing much is going on at home."
"There's a ton of stuff going on in the yard—"
Gu Ning hesitated, then leaned back on the pillow and said, "There are surgeries every day."
"Can't even get a week's leave?"
Li Xuewu leaned over and hugged her, gently comforting her, "You need to learn to regulate your mind and body and your emotions."
"If you've really worked hard and feel really tired, that's your body sending a signal that it needs rest. You can't wait until you're really sick to know to rest; that would be a huge loss."
"You know more about medicine than I do."
Seeing how concerned he was about her, Gu Ning smiled and reached out to touch his face.
Yes, the same goes for me, I've lost weight.
Li Xuewu raised his hand, grasped her hand, and pressed it against his face.
"I don't understand medicine, but I understand health preservation, and I know how to enjoy life and rest."
He pressed Gu Ning's hand and rubbed it on his face, saying, "The hospital needs you, but the children need you, I need you, and this family needs you even more."
"Promise me you won't work too hard."
"Hmm—" Gu Ning replied earnestly when she saw how serious he was.
That's just how she is; if she promises someone something, even if she only says "hmm" softly, she will still do it earnestly.
Li Xuewu released her hand and pulled her tightly into his arms.
Gu Ning felt the overwhelming love emanating from him and couldn't help but squint her eyes, thinking that this must be the enjoyment he was talking about.
-
"Do I still need to go?" Li Xuewu frowned as he held the phone. "Isn't it unnecessary?"
"Please have General Manager Gao speak with Director Li."
He instructed them like this: "Sign what needs to be signed, entertain when necessary, don't be stingy, but don't be overly generous either, just find the right balance."
The call was from Bu Qingfang, asking if he would attend today's signing ceremony.
The Santa Ya Group has agreed to the final cooperation plan, and the signing will take place today.
It's hard to say whether Hongxing Steel Group was in a hurry or Santay Group was eager to get involved.
Or, as Li Xuewu said, the two sides have a solid foundation for cooperation, and can quickly reach an agreement on any project they cooperate on.
What is the most crucial aspect of cooperation?
It's not about profit or investment, but about trust—that's the most crucial thing.
Without trust as a foundation, even the most lucrative investment returns and the largest investments are worthless in the face of a crisis of trust that could collapse at any moment.
From Xiangtar's visit to Gangcheng in May to discuss this project with Li Xuewu, to the formal finalization of the cooperation plan in August, it can be said that the process was neither fast nor slow.
"The United Industrial News should do a good job in publicity, and should work with Red Star United Broadcasting to form a unified message."
Li Xuewu concluded by saying, "Now that the project cooperation has been finalized, there's nothing to keep secret. Just publicize it openly."
"But don't be too arrogant. Like I said, pay attention to the limits and the pace."
Bu Qingfang is very steady in her work, not because she is a steady person, but because she has to be steady in her position.
Li Xuewu is no longer in charge of the group's daily operations; now, Director Li has transferred Chen Shuzhi from the ministry to take charge of these tasks.
If her work is flawed, or even leaves evidence against her, it will not only be a loss for Li Xuewu, but also the end of her career.
She would proactively report anything that Li Xuewu could decide or take charge of.
She didn't care if she didn't get a reply from Li Xuewu in time, or if she didn't get a reply at all.
As long as it's reported to Li Xuewu, he'll definitely see it. If you really want to emphasize something, just go back to the figure.
After hanging up the phone, Li Xuewu handed the paper airplane that had flown into his arms to his son and asked with a smile, "Who folded this?"
"My mom taught me how to fold it—"
Li Ning took the paper airplane, turned around and ran to his sister expectantly, asking, "Sister, shall we go play with airplanes in the yard?"
"No, can't you see how sunny and hot it is outside?!"
Li Shu is only four and a half years old, but she speaks eloquently, especially when it comes to her younger brother.
Li Ning really listened to her. Li Xuewu didn't see the consequences of not listening to his sister, but he firmly believed that his son would not get depression.
"Come on, let Daddy teach you how to fold the paper airplane that flew back on its own."
Li Xuewu could tell that his son was affectionate towards him, but he always kept it subtle.
There's no other reason. He's only a few years old, and his memory is limited. Not seeing his father for a long time will inevitably cause him to have doubts.
All Li Xuewu can do is try to give his son as many memories as possible during his childhood.
"Can it fly into the sky?"
Li Ning's speech is already quite fluent, thanks to the tireless guidance of Er Ya and Zhao Yaping, as well as the emphasis from Li Shu, his older sister.
Li Ning jogged over and grabbed a piece of cardboard from under the coffee table, handing it to him with an expectant look on her face.
At first, the son's wishes were normal, but they became more and more outrageous as time went on.
"How far can it fly? Can it fly a hundred meters? Can it carry people?"
One hundred meters is the limit of the distance he can imagine; this is merely a limitation in his expression, not his actual understanding.
In his world, even the distance from the house door to the courtyard gate is a long distance, and going from home to his grandmother's house is considered a long journey.
Children's world is small, but their imagination is rich; their inner world is vast.
Li Xuewu sat down on the ground, put his son in his pocket, and taught him how to fold paper airplanes.
Gu Ning came downstairs carrying her bag and was somewhat moved when she saw the three of them in such a state.
"I'm going to work."
"We're waiting for your good news of victory!"
Hearing her words, Li Xuewu smiled and waved his son's little hand.
The thing Gu Ning told him last night was what she needed to do at work today.
Li Ning and Li Shu were unaware of this, and Li Xuewu did not intend to tell them.
Firstly, it was to create a surprise, and secondly, it was because Gu Ning was busy and might disappoint the children unnecessarily.
Li Shu and Li Ning were already used to seeing their mother off to work and wouldn't cry or fuss about following her.
"When I grow up, I want to fly airplanes!"
Li Ning watched as his father threw out paper airplanes folded into different shapes, which then flew back to him. He laughed, jumped, and shouted out his dream.
Li Xuewu listened with a smile. At this moment, whatever his son said was good, even if he said he would drive for Didi when he grew up.
He didn't expect his son to stand on the podium, much less stand on the rooftop.
(End of this chapter)